A New Acolyte -1 cagewrestler

A New Acolyte

Wherein some questions are answered as to the events leading up to the finish of the first Lightweight Survivor Tournament.

Authors note- Please read the whole story before making judgments

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Shawn locked his bike into the rack provided by the strip mall. He reached into his pocket and counted out a little more than $40. He had been saving from odd jobs and his allowance for a while. He pushed open the door to the store and walked in, moving to the back. Row after row of vitamins, supplements, nutritional bars, meal replacements, and. . . .

Shawn placed the bottle on the counter. $39.95 for 120 capsules. He looked up at the guy at the cash register. He wasn't tall, but his biceps were as big as Shawn's thighs it seemed. Shawn clinched his lips together and nodded to himself. "Some day. . . no more of this stupid baby fat. . . I WILL have arms like that!"

Jackson Hart picked up the bottle, looked at it, and then looked at Shawn. "Now what do you want with a bottle of fat burners, kid? I've got dumbbells bigger than you!""Hey, I'm tired of being soft and not having any muscle. If this stupid baby fat won't go away by itself, I'll burn it off!" replied the kid.

Jackson shook his head. He had placed third in the state BB competition - with the natural group. He liked to win, he liked to build his body, but he didn't believe in the "better living through chemistry" route. "Kid, I get high schoolers in here every day looking for the silver bullet. Half of them wink and ask me what I have under the counter. No way a kid like you needs a Guarina extract jolt. Hell you take this stuff and you'll be wired for 24/7! Put your money back in your pocket." Reaching under the counter, Jackson said, "But as a matter of fact, I DO have something under the counter that will help you out. No charge, keep your money."

The bodybuilder plopped a spiral-bound book on the counter. "Bodybuilding for Teens". He pushed it toward Shawn. "On the house. Do it the old fashion way, kid."

Shawn walked out of the store frustrated. He HAD tried it the old fashion way. He wanted results and he wanted them NOW! He'd have to find help elsewhere.

*********

Shawn was in the crowd on that night that Geoffrey destroyed Zack. Well, Shawn had been in the crowd EVERY event night since Timmy had demolished him in their rematch back in midsummer. Part of it was a crisis in confidence, part of it was simply not being aggressive enough at asking both the TW administrators and the other guys for matches. Still, he would brood- he had a 3 and 1 record in TW, better than most, and was feeling like he was on the outside looking in.

As he watched the newcomer dismantle one of TW's more experienced wrestlers Shawn was in awe of this new blond wrestler. Although Geoffrey was only a couple of years older than he was, at this point in life that was enough to qualify for hero worship. Let the other guys boo and talk about Geoffrey behind his back, Shawn saw a new role model.

Later that night Shawn was back in the locker room. He hadn't been wrestling but he did work out in the practice facility and being on the TW roster had free access. He worked the group a little, congratulating some of the winners, giving a pat on the back to the losers, saying, "Tough luck, you'll get them next time!"

In the far corner he saw Geoffrey dressing. The blond had showered and was just pulling his shirt on over his towel-dried hair. He was talking to another dark-haired sixteen year old from JW who Shawn recognized as Max.. Geoffrey was laughing. "These guys think they are the only ones to ever get in a pro ring and put on a show! Man I was pumped tonight! What a rush!! Did you see him, curled up in a little ball like that?"

Max laughed. "Yeh, I want to get ahold of one of these TW lightweights. Heck, I may even pick on a middleweight, but I hear they are tearing up their open contracts as fast as they can!" Looking up he saw Shawn standing not to far away, staring. The teen was trying to work up the nerve to introduce himself. Max scowled. "Hey punk!! What are YOU looking at?"Shawn flashed his best smile. Based on passed experience, he knew it would either win them over or incite them into beating him to a pulp! "Hi guys. I'm Shawn. Geoffrey, I just wanted to tell you that you are the most AWESOME wrestler to hit TW! I wish I could get my body ripped like yours." The big blond smiled (flattery will get you far with giant egos) although Max stood back still scowling. "Thanks kid. As you seem to know, I'm Geoffrey," smiled the bigger boy, extending his hand, "and the guy giving you the evil eye is Max. He DOES bite, but I'll keep him on a tight leash"

Max dropped his posturing and grinned. Geoffrey continued. "I get the definite feeling I'm not the most popular guy with a lot of your friends, what makes you different?"

Shawn swallowed, "Here goes nothing" he thought. "Well did pretty well when the League first got started, won my first 3 matches, but I got on the wrong side of one of the older guys - Timmy especially after I beat him. Long story short, he royally kicked my butt in a rematch, and since then my action has been zilch except for some workouts in the practice gym. I look around and see everyone else getting sixpacks and building up their guns and I seem to be going nowhere. I was hoping you might let me workout with you some, learn some new, uh. . . techniques."

Geoffrey cocked his head and looked into Shawn's eyes. He had a feeling he knew what the kid was hinting at. "Tell you what, Shawn. I'm busy tomorrow, and probably need a day off anyway. Why don't you come by my place day after tomorrow, say about 4 in the afternoon and I'll show you my workout facility." He grabbed a piece of paper and pen and jotted down his address and cell phone number. "You can ask Max here. I can be VERY helpful to my friends, but just remember kid - - if you ever cross me you will regret it for the rest of your life!"

Shawn walked away on air. The threat meant nothing, the invitation meant everything. Things were going to change for him, he was certain.

As Geoffrey put the rest of his gear in his gym bag, Max questioned him. "Now exactly what do you need with a twerp like that?"

Geoffrey smiled. "Oh, he's not that bad. I think the kid might have some potential. Anyway, this isn't going to me one of those classic US vs THEM leagues. Believe me, you've got some JW guys who are more in tuned with the TW clichés and vice versa. Maybe this Shawn can help us sort things out.

*********

Max was talking with Geoffrey. Now things really WERE getting interesting. Max was telling him about the meeting yesterday where the TW officials had announced the first TW Lightweight Survivor Tournament. Both Max and Shawn were going to be in the tournament. It had taken a bit of discussion and a new pair of Nike's top of the line sneakers, but he had convinced Max that his plan was for the best.

The buzzer rang. "Master Geoffrey, we have a young man by the name of Shawn here to see you, shall I bring him back?" "Yes, Charles, it's OK, but you'd better escort him, don't want him getting lost first time here."

Geoffrey and Max were in the home gym, but this was quite a home. The gym was just as big and well-equipped as a commercial venture. Shawn was blown away. When he saw Max with Geoffrey, he got a little worried. They might have to wrestle each other in the tournament and he didn't know how that was sitting with Max.

Geoffrey grinned and spread his arms. "Welcome to my humble abode. This is the workout area, we've got a mat room through that door on the left, and across the way there through the double doors, we have a ring set up. Everything you need for training. You ready to get started?"

Shawn smiled broadly and dropped his gym back. "Sure, let me get some workout clothes on! But, uh Geoffrey. . . shouldn't I get uh... prepped for the workout?"

Geoffrey smiled. He had figured this was coming. "Just exactly what do you mean by "prepped" Shawn?

"Well, don't you have some, uh pills, or drops that uh, sort of help you out during your workout?

Max, being a great deal denser than Geoffrey had never quite grasped Shawn's true reason for approaching them in the locker room, and only now it finally dawned on him what the blond kid was after. Max went ballistic. "You think we're ROID-heads don't you? You think the only reason Geoffrey kicks butt is he's JUICED? You little punk I'm going to kick your ass from. . "

Shawn backed off, confused, his smile gone. Luckily for him, Geoffrey had long since figured out what was going on. He had plans for Shawn but first he need to educate him a bit. He grabbed Max and held him off. "Whoa, buddy, it's cool, just a little misunderstanding. Shawn, you seem to think I have a little extra help -and can help you. Where did you get that impression?"

Shawn gulped. He was in enemy territory, outnumbered and for that matter either one of these guys could probably destroy him with no help. "Uh......well... you know, guys talk, and the JW guys had said there was no way you could out-muscle Conner without some sort of help, and after you demolished Zack, well, you just seemed so much stronger. . . "

The big blond grinned. "I am stronger! I wrestle at about 150-155 but I just hit 375 with my bench. I could curl YOU no problem. But I don't do drugs. You see this?" Geoffrey grabbed his crotch and grinned. "You may or may not have realized it by now, but this little attachment holds a lot of fun and pleasure for you and there ain't no way in the world I'm seeing my crown jewels shrivel to peanuts. Hey, I was in the same boat as you a couple of years ago, even tried to score some stuff, but this guy in the Nutritional Shop pushed off this stupid little book and told me to go home and do it the old fashion way!"

Shawn's jaw dropped as Geoffrey pulled out a tattered copy of the same book he had been given a few days ago. "Hey, I, I, I, am sorry," he stammered. It's just that everyone was so sure. I guess you want me to leave now."

Geoffrey shook his head. "I'm headed for the top because, I'm a lot stronger than people give me credit for, I've got more fighting skills than people give me credit for, I'm a lot smarter than people give me credit for, and I'm a lot sneakier than. . . well, I think they know how sneaky I can be, they just haven't seen the full force of my devious nature yet!" He grinned. "I knew EXACTLY what you wanted when you approached me in the locker room, but what the heck, it gave me the opportunity to get you here. Your problem is you think you need something chemical to give you an edge. It's the mental thing that does it! And as for the physical part, come over here, I want to show you something. . . "

Geoffrey led Shawn over to a piece of equipment that appeared to be a curl machine, but it was unlike any Shawn had seen. "Climb in the seat and put your feet there on the pad." Shawn did, and Geoffrey hit the "on" button. A computer screen flickered and an electronic voice intoned, "Welcome. Please give user ID."

Shawn looked at Geoffrey. "Just say your name - you won't believe this!"

Shawn spoke up. "Shawn". The computer came back. "Shawn. You are not in our database. You are a new user. Please stand by while your database is confirmed."

"What the. . .?

Max smirked. He had been through this process but was now an old hand at Geoffrey's gym. He offered his two cents. "It's measuring your weight, body mass height, everything. It will automatically adjust to the perfect setting for your body. Every piece of equipment in this gym is linked. The next one use will adjust automatically to you when you say 'Shawn'. Pretty cool, uh?"

Geoffrey spoke up. "Now try a curl."

Shawn placed his hands under the bar and curled the handled up toward his chest. There was absolutely no resistance at all. "It must be broken, or how do you add more weight?"

"Just try another curl."

The next curl, Shawn found much more difficult. "The machines sense your strength and are in a constant state of adjustment. They are designed to maximize your workout efficiency. If the machine senses you are losing strength it reduces resistance slightly, but it is programmed for you to perform the optimal number of reps and sets for each exercise."

"Wow! I'll get those guns yet!" grinned Shawn."Maybe, but it will take time. But more importantly you are going to build up your muscle strength, maximizing the strength for the muscle density. That's why you see some guys with baseball biceps that can't curl as much as someone with smaller arms. They have muscle mass, not muscle strength. Anyway, now that we've got you on the right track, let's discuss this little upcoming tournament in TW!"

"Hey, I apologize Geoffrey. I'm going to tell those guys who are spreading the steroid rumors that they are full of it."

Geoffrey grinned evilly. "No, don't do that. See, it scares an opponent when they think they are facing someone who may go into an uncontrollable rage or who has freaky strength. They've lost the mental battle even before they step into the ring with me. Nope, if they want to think that I have any advantage, or for that matter any of my friends, let em think so!"

*************

The tournament could not have worked out any better for Geoffrey's plans. He had convinced Max privately that if he would "put over" Shawn, the kid would be so grateful that they would have his loyalty forever. As the luck of the draw worked out, Max was able to set Mikey up for the kill and Shawn played the swerve perfectly. Shawn was already a pretty good wrestler, but as one of Geoffrey's acolytes, he was about to open a new page in his career.

end, for now