The right path....

What is this? Throughout the month we seen Jonny Fly promise revenge against the people who nearly stripped him of his career. Hell, we seen him carry out that revenge! But when push came to shove, when the main person behind Fly's near demise came face to face with him, Fly...did nothing. Could it be that Fly has finally found the right path? 

"Michael Goodman"

[Scene Begins] 

"Tell him I'll call him back!"

We are at Jonny Fly's New York office, where an assistant is trying furiously to get Fly to answer a phone call from TNT Owner Nic Hay. Fly is busy rummaging through a mess of papers that are sprawled out over his desk, a pile that is even taking shape on the ground beside him.

"It's one of your bosses! I'm not telling him you'll call back! Answer the phone!"

"God dammit!" 

Fly smacks the bottom of the phone on the left side of his desk. As it flips up in the air he catches it and holds it to his ear.

"It's Fly."

...

"Excuse me.......What?!......."

...

"No, I'm not cool with it!"

...

"This is bullshit, tell Nic he can't make me do this!"

...

"Whatever man, I will be talking to him, but you better send this clown over to see me at my office."

...

"Yes! Right now."

...

"Ok. By the way, whose my opponent this month?"

...

"Please. They must hate the Eurasian title."

...

"Whatever, I gotta go. Send your boy over."

Fly slams down the phone and mutters something under his breath before resuming his search through his papers. Fly's secretary is seen standing in the doorway to Fly's office.

"Um, Mr. Fly?"

Fly is half startled, dropping a few pieces of paper to the ground in the process.

"Where'd you come from!?"

"There's someone here to see you."

"Send him in, thank you."

Before the secretary can turn around a man pushes into the room from behind her. The man looks familiar to an extent, but it's hard to pinpoint how. He has with him a briefcase, and walks over to Fly's desk, takes a seat opposite it, and tosses his briefcase down, scattering more papers everywhere. The secretary leaves the room, as Fly looks on baffled.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Fly says the last line while pushing the man's briefcase off his desk.

"I'm Michael Goodman, I believe someone from TNT called you...correct?

"Ya..they did...about a minute ago. So how are you here already?"

"I was going to come by and introduce myself anyway. It's a pleasure to finally get to meet you!"

Goodman extends his hand across the desk, Fly however doesn't grasp it.

Alright, let me say something right now..I think your a stalker, and it'd probably be in your best interest to prove me wrong on that.

Goodman laughs. It's not an uneasy laugh, it's a genuine laugh you would make from a joke. Fly glares at Goodman across his desk, not laughing in the least.

It was just weird timing, I promise you.

Uh-huh. So Nic Hay has the brilliant idea of appointing me a manager, huh? Tell me, why did you take the job?

Nic said that he wanted to have someone from the company around you at most times. He values your presence in the company, and wants to make sure your around, and contractually he's allowed to do this. When I heard he was looking for someone last month, I felt with my long time background in the company, who better than me?

Long background in the company? How come I don't know you?

I've been a consultant since TNT re-opened several years ago. Consultants aren't on scene, I'm usually not at the shows.

Ok, fair enough. Now, tell me this, do you really know what your getting into? Have you, possibly, read about the things Kent did as my manager?

Read? No, I've witnessed. Quite a little tandem you had. I think you'll find me to be very similar, though. You know I'm in the TNT Hall of Fame, right?

Fly kinda squints his eyes as he looks over the desk.

No..I didn't.

I guess people like my work.

Fly scoffs at the statement. Just then, Fly's phone rings. He grabs the receiver still staring across the desk at Goodman.

What is it?

..

Great, send them in.

Fly hangs the phone up.

Looks like your about to get your first test as my manager. Detectives Myers and Cooper are here.

Before Goodman can answer back, Detectives Myers and Cooper have made their way into the room. 

Myers: Jonny, always good to see you.

Don't act like were cool. Last time ya'll tried to pin a murder on me, so, what would bring you all the way out to my office this time? More of the same?

We have a couple of questions for you.

Of course you do. But I really don't feel like answering them..however..my friend here would love to!

Fly points to Goodman across the desk. Goodman doesn't miss a beat.

What can I do for you guys?

Ok, what do you know about Chris Raygen?

The name of the Ridder Cash Loans mole, which should spark Fly's interest, curiously does not. He begins to again sift though papers as Goodman answers the detectives.

From what I know, he's dead. He tried to kill my friend Jonny here, last I knew. Why are you asking about him?

We found DNA linking him to the scene of the deaths involving Kent Strong and the 3 Hitmen members.

And why would you think we would know anything?

Were not saying that, but if you did, it would clear Jonny from the crime.

You don't honestly still think Fly killed Strong and whoever else those people are, do you?

Yes, we do!

This is ridiculous. I can personally attest for Fly's locations during that entire night, and I'm certainly not going to help out the two men who are trying to pin murder on him. Feel free to leave, guys.

Myers, realizing Goodman is of no help, pleads to Fly.

Jonny, come on, work with me here, if you know something you can clear your name.

Fly stops shuffling around papers, takes a deep sigh, and then responds.

Listen, last I knew of Chris Raygen he was being buried. Raygen infiltrated TNT as a wrestler, infiltrated The Dynasty as a wrestler, and ran a car driven by Mark Vincent and I into a tree. Vincent hasn't wrestled since. He tried to kill me at the scene of the accident, but Kent shot and killed him before he could! You guys did your investigation and found it self-defense, and from then on, I haven't even heard the name. That's all I know. 

Ok. If you hear something though, it is your obligation to come forward. 

Fly scoffs.

If I'm the man you guys think I am, why would I come to you instead of just taking care of him myself?

The detectives don't answer.

Good day gentlemen.

Goodman gets up from his seat and ushers the men out the door. He closes the door behind him and sits back down at his seat. A stare from Fly greets him.

Impressive. Why'd you lie for me? I'm not paying you.

Your right, Nic is paying me. He's paying me to "keep you in TNT." I'm sure he doesn't mean it like this, but, getting rid of detectives keeps you in TNT.

Interesting.

No, interesting is planting the DNA of your dead arch nemesis at two murder scenes.

Fly smiles for the first time since the scene began.

I don't know what your talking about.

Goodman smiles back.

And you thought I was a tight ass corporate appointee..

..and a stalker, don't forget.

Uh-huh. Just so you know, I'm not going to go report to Nic every five seconds on what and how your doing. Not a chance. I'm just going to help out and keep you in TNT.

Sounds good. But, tell me what you know about Jason Sparks.

Honestly, kinda similar to you.

Fly eyes get wide.

Are you fucking kidding me?

Well, he had a rough childhood, and has developed an extensive arsenal of moves. He can beat you on the mat, through submissions, or thought the air.

Well I'll give you one big difference. He goes home at night pining for a World Title, and I have more to my name than any wrestler in history. Maybe it's just me, but that's a big fucking difference. 

Ha, ya. I'm just saying, if your going to try to prepare for him, be ready for everything.

Wait, prepare? No, no, I don't prepare for guys like Sparks. I got a camera coming in here, and I'm just going to tell this kid he'd have more success trying to pin Neptune, and then not worry about him anymore.

Goodman cracks a smile.

Sounds good.

In the meantime, I need you to call Markus Jayson, Kelvin Staylor, James Ramage, and the Clean Up Brigade and ask to see if they can meet me at the mansion sometime this week. Tell them I have a project that requires their "expertise."

 I can do that.

Well then Mr. Goodman, it was good to meet you. I look forward to working with you.

Fly and Goodman both stand up and exchange a hand shake. As Goodman begins to file out of Fly's office, a TNT camera crew files in. Fly nods for them to begin setting up and within minutes they motion to Fly that they're rolling. Fly begins his shoot.

Incredibly..

I didn't beat Nicky.

However, predictably, I didn't lose to the bastard either. Nicky was able to weasel his way to a tie. But please, don't fall victim to images. This in no way makes Mills my equal. I said it last month, that guy has crafted his entire career to follow mine. He has multiple times attempted to attack me, rather than go through me to reach the proverbial top of the TNT mountain. This match is just another example of Mills's inferiority and inability to win big matches.

Now, I'll be honest with everyone, I planned to make an example of Mills in that match. I planned to bleed his career dry right then and there. It would be fitting, would it not, to end his career in the ring, instead of outside of the ring, like he tried to do with me. Just another example that I make my statements on the canvas, and he makes his though pussy methods.

But something changed leading up to the match..

Maybe I'm just bored with Mills. Maybe I want to keep him around and deliver his punishment later. Who knows? I do however, feel a bit amused that I'm being wedged into the middle of this Jason Sparks, Nicky Mills soap opera. It's as if I suddenly need to care about their existence. Or maybe Nic is as tired of hearing "Oh, Jason stabbed me, I'm going to kill him" as the rest of us are, and is using me to get rid of them.

It's amusing, but I really don't care

However, Sparks does, he needs this match against me.

I mean, look at the evidence. This guy is coming off a legendary stint as International Incident's personal whipping boy. He isn't even close to a World Title contender, he's established nothing, he's gained no respect from his peers, honestly, he's just toiling in mediocrity. And how is it going to look on the Sparks-Mills front if Mills is able to wrestle me to a tie, and Sparks comes away looking like his house was just bombed?

A win against me, and remember this is extremely hypothetical, would in essence elevate Sparks to to upper ranks of MY company. People who have managed to beat me here in TNT, while few and far between, have seen their careers skyrocket. Anyone remember Crak Cokain? You probably do, but would you if he wasn't the only man in this companies fine history to beat me at a PPV Main Event with a World Title in the balance?

Doubtful.

Do you see what I'm getting at...Jason?

Fly begins to speak to Sparks through the camera.

Sparks, your undoubtedly going to try the "tough talk" routine with me. That's what people like you do. You try to impress me, then put me down, then guarantee a victory and so on. I know how it goes. Now, I hate to be blunt with you, but your just not that good. There is nothing that sets you apart from the dozens of other wrestlers out there. Oh, your "controversial," so is everyone with a mouth and an audience. What makes you special is winning. Sparks, your facing a man who hasn't lost a true singles match in years. A win last month against Major would of went a long way, he's tough, but naturally you lost. 

So I'm curious, Jason..how are you going to beat me?

And please..

Don't start telling me that your going to take out all of last month's frustrations out in this match. That your "anger" will make you wrestle better. If you can find Corwin Havens hiding in a dark corner somewhere, ask him how that worked out when he did it. It's going to take a hell of a lot more than "anger" to bring you to my level. So, my questions remains..it's on the tip of everyone's tounge..

How is itty-bitty Jason Sparks going to beat big-bad Jonny Fly?

Now Jason...this is when I allow you to speak......

With that the cameras cut off, and the scene fades from Fly's office.

[Scene Ends]

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