Post by Fiona McFly on Apr 14, 2020 15:24:26 GMT
Chapter IV
“REQUIEM, PART 2”
That same day, in Holodeck One…
Fiona McFly had been in some pretty weird places before.
Being in a familiar locale was weird enough.
Yet seeing a perfectly-detailed holographic image of her deceased husband Jack Gaither (heretofore referred to as “Holo-Jack”) gave her a sense of astonishment. He was the exact same height and weight as he was throughout his wrestling career, and he maintained that distinctive Texan drawl. The Chevy Vega -- that bright yellow 1972 model he once had restored -- was parked in the garage as Holo-Jack brought down a large toolbox from the shelf.
HOLO-JACK:
Name’s Jack...how ya feelin’ on this fiiiine sunny mornin’?!
FIONA MCFLY:
Not bad, just passing on through. Nice car…
HOLO-JACK:
Thanks, gotta keep that motor spruced up though. Parts for these babies are very hard to come by.
Holo-Jack nodded as he placed himself in a prone position on top of a rolling backboard and, with flashlight in hand, rolled himself underneath the car. He was prepping it for a clandestine tune-up, checking every inch of the chassis to make sure that nothing was leaking.
FIONA:
Jack, I know you’re busy tuning that car up and all--
HOLO-JACK:
Hold up…
A smokey aroma filled the air as Holo-Jack rolled out from underneath the Vega and sat up.
HOLO-JACK:
Shit, somethin’s burnin’...!
Holo-Jack quickly stood up and raced into the house from the side door. Fiona followed him into the kitchen, watching as he took a pizza out of the oven that was very much overcooked.
HOLO-JACK:
Well, sumbitch! Looks like someone was tryin’ to fix a barbecue pizza and wound up turnin' it into Krispy Kritters! C’mon in, it’s my house...at least, for the time bein’.
He paused, surveying the darkened crust that comprised the homemade dish whilst Fiona cautiously stepped into the kitchen area.
HOLO-JACK:
My wife and I were gonna have it rented out before movin’ to the ranch.
FIONA:
Your wife?!
HOLO-JACK:
Yeah, her name’s Fiona...
Fiona played things casual at first, pretending that she was merely a part of the holo-novel experience. She chuckled slightly as the 1980s-era 19-inch projection TV was showing an episode of The Price is Right.
FIONA:
The old television set…
HOLO-JACK:
Heh, I’m glad it still works. Them projection big-screens were big bucks back in the day...
Without warning, the sound of a large dog barking was heard. Holo-Jack raised an eyebrow as he stared at his companion, a male German Shepherd-Labrador mix.
HOLO-JACK:
Howdy Astro! Wanna go outside and play for a bit...
Fiona smiled as the dog approached her and sniffed, prompting her to gently massage his head.
HOLO-JACK:
This here’s Astro...and I think he likes you. It’s odd though ’cuz he’s pretty shy around strangers…
FIONA:
I’m a pet person, love cats and dogs altogether.
Fiona kept on stroking the massive dog’s soft coat of fur, gently massaging him behind the ears as he licked her left cheek. Then suddenly...
“Bloody hell, Jack, I’m starving! Where’s that barbecue pizza you promised me?! Don’t make me crack my whip on you…!”
...and Fiona raised an eyebrow. That sounded like me…she muttered, out of Holo-Jack’s earshot
FIONA:
How long have you been here?
HOLO-JACK:
I dunno. One day, I was teachin’ self-defense to a group of eager freshmen at Arlington High, and the next thing I knew...I was pullin’ into the driveway, right when you got here.
Fiona watched as Holo-Jack led Astro towards the back door...
FIONA:
History records that you died of a brain bleed, the day after Christmas in 2017…
...and the latter turned around and raised his right brow, noting Fiona’s slip-up.
HOLO-JACK:
The hell ya talkin’ about...this is the past! This is January 2016...if I’m right, this is the day I’m gonna tell Fi that I was gonna retire from wrestlin’, open up a school in town.
FIONA:
Jack...you never had a dog of your own, and that voice couldn’t have been mine...err, Fiona’s. This isn’t real, we’re both caught up in a collage of holograms and force-fields--
Holo-Jack cut Fiona off, distracting himself from the situation at hand.
HOLO-JACK:
Hrmm...wanna cold one?!
FIONA:
I beg your pardon…?!
HOLO-JACK:
A cold one -- one of these!
Holo-Jack walked into the kitchen and pulled out several cans of Dr. Pepper from the fridge.
HOLO-JACK:
Dr. Pepper -- just what the doctor ordered! I can drink fifteen of ‘em and never lose a kidney…!
Fiona shook her head, opting instead to blow her “play dumb” cover. She started to believe that Holo-Jack truly was the real Jack Gaither, the man she loved more than anything else.
FIONA:
Jack...I want you to come back to wrestling, leave this starship with me. There’s a new wave going on in Imperial right now, and perhaps...you can have a chance to reignite your career and kick Steve Awesome’s ass someday!
HOLO-JACK:
Now why the hell would I wanna get back on the road with a strange woman who’s got some awfully silly tattoos, and besides...if history considers me dead, who the hell am I to argue with history…?!
Fiona threw her hands up and raised her voice.
FIONA:
You’re not just a wrestler, Jack -- in fact, you’ve got more years left in you than you realise! You’re a public figure who’s got a duty to the next generation of stars to keep working -- not be some fucking coach from the sidelines!
HOLO-JACK:
Don’t lecture me on duty, young lady. I was out on the road, breakin’ balls while someone like you must’ve been out there, bein’ a waitress at some hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere. Besides...wrestlin’ owes me a favor for a change, yes?
Holo-Jack placed several slices of the crispy barbecue pizza on a white plate before placing that, and a can of Dr. Pepper, onto a silver tray. He started marching towards the back bedroom, where the holo-novel version of Fiona (heretofore referred to as “Holo-Fiona” was waiting.
JACK:
This starship conspiracy theory of yours...very cute, very clever. Ain’t gonna fly with me, though. I’m gonna march in that bedroom, happily deliver this grub to Fi, and trainher as hard as I can ‘til she becomes the best ever -- and this time, it’s gonna be lots of fun! Nice talkin’ to ya -- feel free to make yourself at home.
Holo-Jack slammed the door in front of Fiona, who scowled before attempting to open it up -- only for the space around her to change.
FIONA:
What the devil…?!
It was what the Fredericksburg computer had warned her about, the sudden change in setting. Now she found herself being whisked down a narrow aisle by Holo-Jack and a trio of security guards. A large contingent of people were gathered around her, and they were cheering for the most part. Soon after, she found herself in the middle of a wrestling ring, surrounded by a crowd of close to 4,500 spectators who were seated in an octagonal configuration. The arena itself sported an American flag, a Texas State flag, and a Mexican flag in one section of the building, below a high-definition Jumbotron screen which featured a logo for “OUTLAW CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.”
Fiona had to yell out over the noise of the crowd.
FIONA:
This is definitely not the bedroom!
HOLO-JACK:
No, it ain’t -- it’s a helluva lot better than that!
FIONA:
Now what could possibly be better than the bedroom…!?!
HOLO-JACK:
The back of my Vega--HA! Welcome to the world-famous, newly-renovated Dallas Sportatorium -- and your opposition’s about to hit the ring!!
Fiona felt nervous as she listened to the roar of the crowd. She had never seen the Sportatorium before -- only heard about it through stories. In the real world, the building was torn down in 2003, but in the holo-novel, it was rocking and rolling with screams and shouts from all sides. At that moment in time, an entrance theme tune began to play.
FIONA:
This is too familiar...
Fiona’s jaw dropped in shock.
For it was the very first theme song she utiised in her career.
“I'm a sailor peg
And I've lost my leg
Climbing up the top sails
I lost my leg!
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping off...to find my wooden leg…”
Fiona developed a very concerned expression on her face as Holo-Fiona -- Holo-Jack’s wife in the story -- sauntered down to the ring. She sported bottle-blonde hair and a black BDSM outfit that revealed more cleavage than the real Northern Irishwoman would show off.
FIONA:
Now I could've sworn my boobs weren't that big when I first got started...
But what truly worried Fiona was her holographic doppelganger’s fetishistic cracking of her famous bullwhip as she stepped inside the ring, the crowd lustily cheering for some gratuitous violence. In this tale, Holo-Fiona played the role of a sadistic heel, and Holo-Jack smirked from ear to ear as he sauntered over to the opposite corner.
An attendant at ringside unveiled a black tarp, revealing a silver rack with handcuffs.
At that moment, Fiona realised that this was not going to be an "ordinary" wrestling challenge.
FIONA:
Oh, fuuuuck me....
~TO BE CONTINUED~
“REQUIEM, PART 2”
That same day, in Holodeck One…
Fiona McFly had been in some pretty weird places before.
Being in a familiar locale was weird enough.
Yet seeing a perfectly-detailed holographic image of her deceased husband Jack Gaither (heretofore referred to as “Holo-Jack”) gave her a sense of astonishment. He was the exact same height and weight as he was throughout his wrestling career, and he maintained that distinctive Texan drawl. The Chevy Vega -- that bright yellow 1972 model he once had restored -- was parked in the garage as Holo-Jack brought down a large toolbox from the shelf.
HOLO-JACK:
Name’s Jack...how ya feelin’ on this fiiiine sunny mornin’?!
FIONA MCFLY:
Not bad, just passing on through. Nice car…
HOLO-JACK:
Thanks, gotta keep that motor spruced up though. Parts for these babies are very hard to come by.
Holo-Jack nodded as he placed himself in a prone position on top of a rolling backboard and, with flashlight in hand, rolled himself underneath the car. He was prepping it for a clandestine tune-up, checking every inch of the chassis to make sure that nothing was leaking.
FIONA:
Jack, I know you’re busy tuning that car up and all--
HOLO-JACK:
Hold up…
A smokey aroma filled the air as Holo-Jack rolled out from underneath the Vega and sat up.
HOLO-JACK:
Shit, somethin’s burnin’...!
Holo-Jack quickly stood up and raced into the house from the side door. Fiona followed him into the kitchen, watching as he took a pizza out of the oven that was very much overcooked.
HOLO-JACK:
Well, sumbitch! Looks like someone was tryin’ to fix a barbecue pizza and wound up turnin' it into Krispy Kritters! C’mon in, it’s my house...at least, for the time bein’.
He paused, surveying the darkened crust that comprised the homemade dish whilst Fiona cautiously stepped into the kitchen area.
HOLO-JACK:
My wife and I were gonna have it rented out before movin’ to the ranch.
FIONA:
Your wife?!
HOLO-JACK:
Yeah, her name’s Fiona...
Fiona played things casual at first, pretending that she was merely a part of the holo-novel experience. She chuckled slightly as the 1980s-era 19-inch projection TV was showing an episode of The Price is Right.
FIONA:
The old television set…
HOLO-JACK:
Heh, I’m glad it still works. Them projection big-screens were big bucks back in the day...
Without warning, the sound of a large dog barking was heard. Holo-Jack raised an eyebrow as he stared at his companion, a male German Shepherd-Labrador mix.
HOLO-JACK:
Howdy Astro! Wanna go outside and play for a bit...
Fiona smiled as the dog approached her and sniffed, prompting her to gently massage his head.
HOLO-JACK:
This here’s Astro...and I think he likes you. It’s odd though ’cuz he’s pretty shy around strangers…
FIONA:
I’m a pet person, love cats and dogs altogether.
Fiona kept on stroking the massive dog’s soft coat of fur, gently massaging him behind the ears as he licked her left cheek. Then suddenly...
“Bloody hell, Jack, I’m starving! Where’s that barbecue pizza you promised me?! Don’t make me crack my whip on you…!”
...and Fiona raised an eyebrow. That sounded like me…she muttered, out of Holo-Jack’s earshot
FIONA:
How long have you been here?
HOLO-JACK:
I dunno. One day, I was teachin’ self-defense to a group of eager freshmen at Arlington High, and the next thing I knew...I was pullin’ into the driveway, right when you got here.
Fiona watched as Holo-Jack led Astro towards the back door...
FIONA:
History records that you died of a brain bleed, the day after Christmas in 2017…
...and the latter turned around and raised his right brow, noting Fiona’s slip-up.
HOLO-JACK:
The hell ya talkin’ about...this is the past! This is January 2016...if I’m right, this is the day I’m gonna tell Fi that I was gonna retire from wrestlin’, open up a school in town.
FIONA:
Jack...you never had a dog of your own, and that voice couldn’t have been mine...err, Fiona’s. This isn’t real, we’re both caught up in a collage of holograms and force-fields--
Holo-Jack cut Fiona off, distracting himself from the situation at hand.
HOLO-JACK:
Hrmm...wanna cold one?!
FIONA:
I beg your pardon…?!
HOLO-JACK:
A cold one -- one of these!
Holo-Jack walked into the kitchen and pulled out several cans of Dr. Pepper from the fridge.
HOLO-JACK:
Dr. Pepper -- just what the doctor ordered! I can drink fifteen of ‘em and never lose a kidney…!
Fiona shook her head, opting instead to blow her “play dumb” cover. She started to believe that Holo-Jack truly was the real Jack Gaither, the man she loved more than anything else.
FIONA:
Jack...I want you to come back to wrestling, leave this starship with me. There’s a new wave going on in Imperial right now, and perhaps...you can have a chance to reignite your career and kick Steve Awesome’s ass someday!
HOLO-JACK:
Now why the hell would I wanna get back on the road with a strange woman who’s got some awfully silly tattoos, and besides...if history considers me dead, who the hell am I to argue with history…?!
Fiona threw her hands up and raised her voice.
FIONA:
You’re not just a wrestler, Jack -- in fact, you’ve got more years left in you than you realise! You’re a public figure who’s got a duty to the next generation of stars to keep working -- not be some fucking coach from the sidelines!
HOLO-JACK:
Don’t lecture me on duty, young lady. I was out on the road, breakin’ balls while someone like you must’ve been out there, bein’ a waitress at some hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere. Besides...wrestlin’ owes me a favor for a change, yes?
Holo-Jack placed several slices of the crispy barbecue pizza on a white plate before placing that, and a can of Dr. Pepper, onto a silver tray. He started marching towards the back bedroom, where the holo-novel version of Fiona (heretofore referred to as “Holo-Fiona” was waiting.
JACK:
This starship conspiracy theory of yours...very cute, very clever. Ain’t gonna fly with me, though. I’m gonna march in that bedroom, happily deliver this grub to Fi, and trainher as hard as I can ‘til she becomes the best ever -- and this time, it’s gonna be lots of fun! Nice talkin’ to ya -- feel free to make yourself at home.
Holo-Jack slammed the door in front of Fiona, who scowled before attempting to open it up -- only for the space around her to change.
FIONA:
What the devil…?!
It was what the Fredericksburg computer had warned her about, the sudden change in setting. Now she found herself being whisked down a narrow aisle by Holo-Jack and a trio of security guards. A large contingent of people were gathered around her, and they were cheering for the most part. Soon after, she found herself in the middle of a wrestling ring, surrounded by a crowd of close to 4,500 spectators who were seated in an octagonal configuration. The arena itself sported an American flag, a Texas State flag, and a Mexican flag in one section of the building, below a high-definition Jumbotron screen which featured a logo for “OUTLAW CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING.”
Fiona had to yell out over the noise of the crowd.
FIONA:
This is definitely not the bedroom!
HOLO-JACK:
No, it ain’t -- it’s a helluva lot better than that!
FIONA:
Now what could possibly be better than the bedroom…!?!
HOLO-JACK:
The back of my Vega--HA! Welcome to the world-famous, newly-renovated Dallas Sportatorium -- and your opposition’s about to hit the ring!!
Fiona felt nervous as she listened to the roar of the crowd. She had never seen the Sportatorium before -- only heard about it through stories. In the real world, the building was torn down in 2003, but in the holo-novel, it was rocking and rolling with screams and shouts from all sides. At that moment in time, an entrance theme tune began to play.
FIONA:
This is too familiar...
Fiona’s jaw dropped in shock.
For it was the very first theme song she utiised in her career.
“I'm a sailor peg
And I've lost my leg
Climbing up the top sails
I lost my leg!
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping up to Boston whoa
I'm shipping off...to find my wooden leg…”
Fiona developed a very concerned expression on her face as Holo-Fiona -- Holo-Jack’s wife in the story -- sauntered down to the ring. She sported bottle-blonde hair and a black BDSM outfit that revealed more cleavage than the real Northern Irishwoman would show off.
FIONA:
Now I could've sworn my boobs weren't that big when I first got started...
But what truly worried Fiona was her holographic doppelganger’s fetishistic cracking of her famous bullwhip as she stepped inside the ring, the crowd lustily cheering for some gratuitous violence. In this tale, Holo-Fiona played the role of a sadistic heel, and Holo-Jack smirked from ear to ear as he sauntered over to the opposite corner.
An attendant at ringside unveiled a black tarp, revealing a silver rack with handcuffs.
At that moment, Fiona realised that this was not going to be an "ordinary" wrestling challenge.
FIONA:
Oh, fuuuuck me....
~TO BE CONTINUED~
Well howdy there pardner.