Chapter Two – Lazarus Pit
The training felt odd to Ervin. Muscle memory carried him through a lot of the spots and bumps as if he'd rehearsed them countless times.
He nearly leapt out of his skin after he showered and looked at himself in the mirror. His fading gray hair was jet black; his skin that had eroded with time was fresher and younger. He was young again. He looked no older than twenty-four.
(What have I done?) Ervin paused. Some days he'd dream of having the opportunity to return to days of future past with the knowledge time had given him but now this was a reality.
"Hey, J.R.," The familiar voice of Larrell called before knocking, "You okay in there? Coach worried about you having a concussion and all."
"Nah, I'm good." J.R. Simmons reassured. "Wow," He whispered in awe.
Then, "Surprised by your newfound youth?" Aerostar asked from inside the shower.
"What the hell?!" Ervin backed away in shock. "Of all the places to surprise me and talk to me…why would you choose a shower where I'm damn-near butt ass naked?"
Aerostar thought for a second. "It is the only place I can speak to you without alerting the others."
"Umm, you ripped through away from their lives too. Shouldn't they have a right to know about this?" J.R. countered.
"Hmmm?" Aerostar tapped his knuckles on his forehead, "Perhaps you're right but the Taskmaster has forbid me from speaking to them."
"Okay, whatever," Ervin rolled his eyes as another knocked sounded on the door.
"Simmons," the voice of Peyton called through the door, "Are you okay?"
Aerostar quickly closed the shower door and concealed himself.
"I'm fine, coach." J.R. replied.
"Are you decent because I'm coming in?" Peyton called.
J.R. thought his heart stopped for a second. He was about to be standing in a room wearing little more than towel with Peyton Royce!
The door opened with a soft creak and inside walked the Australian beauty with a small flashlight in her hand. "I'm just worried about you. I don't want them to put you through the concussion program. I know your debut next week means a lot to you. You've worked so hard but…I can't sign off on your health unless I'm sure so…," she held up her index finger, "follow my finger."
Her dark hair, full lips and athletically toned body sent shockwaves through Ervin's refreshed shell. Suddenly, he felt it.
(Oh shit.) Ervin thought, lowering both his hands to hide his manhood.
Peyton's face blushed scarlet as she blinked the bulb of flashlight into the J.R. Simmons chocolate-brown pupils.
"Your long-term is the most important thing. If you have any headaches or anything you call me."
"Okay." J.R. nodded.
She softly squeezed his wrist.
J.R. shuddered, her hand inches from his covered manhood.
"Promise me, J.R." Staring into his eyes.
How could Simmons say no to a doe-eyed Australian MILF, "I promise, Coach."
"Peyton," She corrected. "When we're outside the ring you can just call me Peyton."
J.R. nodded.
"See you tomorrow." She smiled, leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
J.R. Simmons smiled, "That was awesome," he whispered.
Aerostar opened the shower door. "Ervin…."
"And now it's ruined," J.R. Simmons sighed.
"In order to discover The Mission Of The Taskmaster you and your friends have to find Eddie Guerrero's Journal."
"The what?" J.R. Simmons gawked.
"That Journal has all the information you need. One of the other NXT trainees has it." Aerostar explained.
"If you know who has it why don't you just get it?" Simmons asked wisely.
"I can not interfere. It is by order of-"
"The Taskmaster," Simmons rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah, okay. So I'll just ask around and figure out who has it."
"Farewell," Aerostar saluted, "for now." Crossing his arms.
Simmons stared at the low-rent Power Ranger, "Erm, I'm trying to get dressed. Can you leave?"
"No." Aerostar replied. "Teleporting through time-and-space burns a lot of energy and my battery is low."
Simmons glared at Aerostar, "Then get out so I can change!"
"I cannot. If the others see me then it can destroy this alternate timeline that The Taskmaster has created."
"So you're just going to sit there and be a peter-gazer and watch me get dressed?"
"I have no choice." Aerostar said.
"This is truly….some bullshit…this is truly…some bullshit." Simmons slammed the shower door and dressed in the cramped quarters before hurrying out into the night.
Larrell, Regina and G-MO all sat on the nearby bench chatting excitedly with many familiar faces that Simmons immediately recognized.
- Paige
- Bayley
- Aleister Black
- Finn Balor
- Velveteen Dream
(Huh?) Simmons paused. (How? I thought Bayley and Finn were on the main roster but with the alternate universe Aerostar's created I guess everything and anything is possible. Hell, maybe even the Ultimate Warrior is still alive.)
"Bout damn time," G-MO chuckled, "We thought Teacher's Pet was getting a bit of extra credit."
(Teacher's Pet?) Simmons thought.
Choice 1 (the first choice is made for you)
A) Ignore it
B) Tease G-MO (^y^)
"What's wrong?" Simmons chuckled. "You jealous?"
G-MO smiled, "A little. I ain't gon lie. Teacher is sizzling and steaming hot."
"Yeah she is." Larrell nodded. "I wouldn't mind getting put into detention if-"
"Good grief, guys." Regina drawled.
Paige raised a hand, high-fiving J.R., "Hating on Simmon's pimp game, Prince."
"I'm not hating." G-MO chuckled, "Maybe I'll take lessons if it's working."
Simmons thought for a moment. (One of these people could have Eddie's journal. But how would I ask about it?)
"Besides," G-MO began, "It ain't no fuuuuuuun," he Velveteen, Larrell and Finn began to sing, "If the homies can't have nooooooone."
"Then I guess you fellas will be having a boring day because I don't share." Simmons rebuked.
"C'mon," Finn chuckled, "We're only joking."
Aleister leaned close to Regina, his arm around her, "I'll call you later," placing a light kiss on her forehead before heading for the parking lot.
(In this world…Regina's dating…Aleister Black?) Simmons had to blink twice before glancing. (I know my and G-MO's ring names. What are Larrell and Regina's?) He wondered.
"Yeah," Larrell exhaled, "It's getting late and I still got a paper to write."
"I'll write it for ten bucks." Prince offered. "You know I type fast."
"My man," Larrell nodded, "You may have yourself a deal."
(Damn, I haven't asked about the journal yet.) Simmons scratched his head. "Hey, does anyone have any Eddie Guerrero tapes of his WCW days?!" He suddenly blurted out.
"I do." A familiar voice called with a smile.
She was petite with long cranberry-red hair, almond-brown skin, wearing secretary-reading glasses.
When Sasha Banks walked into the courtyard, Prince G-MO stood transfixed. The usually carefree, motor-mouth was slack-jawed and motionless as Sasha walked out of the performance center and pulled Bayley and Regina into tight hugs.
"Ready, sister?" Sasha smiled at Regina.
"Yeah, we should head back too." Regina waved bye to the squad as her and the girls walked past an approaching black Escalade.
"It's your uncle," Larrell nodded to J.R., "you didn't tell us he was in town, JR."
"Huh?" Simmons cocked his head as the window of the Escalade rolled down.
The legendary Farooq sat in the driver's seat, smoking a thick cigar, he watched as Sasha, Bayley, Regina and Paige sauntered away. His eyes wide and long pause strangled the oxygen in the parking lot before he cried out, "…DAMN!" Before inviting the trainees into the car.
As the young J.R. Simmons climbed into the truck all that was on his mind was his mission: The Journal of Eddie.
And now he'd just found the prime candidate. Sasha Banks.
"You froze again, man." Larrell elbowed Prince.
Prince shrugged, "What are you talking about…I never freeze."
"I saw it too," Farooq chuckled, "whatever happened to…'the Quavo', Prince?"
The young Simmons couldn't help but laugh. Even in this alternate universe, Prince was still smitten with Sasha.
What about Larrell? Was he chasing Alexa? Someone else? Did it matter? J.R. exhaled and stared through the windshield at the dark roads of Florida.
(Eddie's Journal. I may have already found it.)
