Post by Admin on Jun 6, 2023 4:57:32 GMT
The Ranch
Strader Estate, Houston, TX
June 4th, 2023
“So there is a digital copy of your mom, my sister, in this alternate dimension?”
Tamika, Veronica, Victoria and Brooklyn sit out back on the back porch of Meghan Strader’s former Ranch, now owned by Veronica. The couple (Vee and Brooklyn) sit on the couch, their backs to the driveway where Veronica’s restored 1985 metallic black Chevy Silverado sits. Tamika and Veronica sit across from them in outdoor lounge chairs with an old coffee table that has a 60oz of Gibson’s Finest in the middle of it. Each woman with a rocks glass in their hands. Tamika looks slightly confused as Veronica and Victoria are trying to explain the other dimension that gave them their own bodies.
“Yeah, it’s a carbon copy of mom. When I brought her to the other dimension, I used my connections at Arasaka, who do this service, to have what is called an ‘Engram’ made of her. I have the Engram paired with the OS in mine and Brook’s apartment.”
“So kinda like K’s digital girlfriend in Blade Runner 2049?”
“Yes, exactly.”
The right side of Tamika’s brow rises and her nose scrunches up in thought, trying to comprehend the information being relayed to her.
“Can she ever have her own body?”
“Yes, but the body has to be a compatible match. The best option is family but there are exceptions to it.”
Tamika helps herself to some more whiskey, pouring some for Veronica.
“This sounds all so crazy but I was there with your mom on the island when you two tumbled out of the PORTA-POTTY last year so my mind is open… it’s just hard to comprehend.”
“Honestly Auntie, I have lived through it and I still have a hard time- - -”
Before she can finish her thought, the baby monitor on the large armrest lights up and the soft cry of Christian Michelle is heard. Veronica is up quickly.
“Be right back.”
Tamika watches her niece head inside and she softly turns her head back towards Vee and Brooklyn.
“How is she doing?”
Vee shrugs as she takes a sip of whiskey. Brooklyn, staying quiet, snuggles up to her lover, laying her red haired head on Vee’s shoulder.
“Well, she’s been angry at anything and everything but the little one brings her back down to earth. I have been worried about her. To get Outcast back, to have him taken away just as quick then to find his corpse in a RV parked in a Rest Area took its toll. Follow that up with losing mom and learning she was pregnant and Outcast wouldn’t be there to raise their daughter… I am surprised she’s still sane.”
“The baby is so sweet, I am not surprised little Chrissy calms her down.”
Before any of them can say anything else, Veronica comes back outside, the little one in her arms, bottle of formula in her hand.
“Want to feed her?”
“Does a Woodchuck chuck wood?”
Veronica shakes her head and chuckles as she puts her daughter in her Great Auntie’s arms. Tamika swoons over the wee one as she feeds her.
“Formula?”
“Yeah, because of all hardcore type matches, open wounds, pain meds… my milk isn’t good for her.”
While watching her great-niece eat up her formula, making silly faces, Tamika asks what she has been dreading.
“Can you girls take me to this place?”
Vee and Ronnie share a look, speaking telepathically, as twins do.
“If you really want to….”
“.... We can do that for you. It’s a bit unsettling at first.”
“It’s a program for the rich and elite of Night City and the world.”
“She knows she isn’t mom, but it was… what’s the word I am looking for?”
“It’s weirdly comforting.”
Tamika glances side to side, looking at her nieces, her mind racing a hundred miles a minute.
“Well, it obviously helped you through your pregnancy and bringing this sweet little angel into the world. I’m gonna call my Lil’Sweetness, yes I am.”
Great Auntie Tee makes little kissy faces at baby Christian.
“Whenever you wanna go, you can come with me and Brook.”
“How about when Lil’Sweetness is done eating?”
Victoria and Brooklyn’s Condo
The Glen, Night City, CA Alt. Dimension
June 23rd, 2079
Victoria clicks on her wrist device after Brooklyn steps through with Tamika and the portal dissipates. Tamika looks around, taking it all in. Walking over to the giant bay window that wraps around the condo, she witnesses a Cyberpsycho attack happening down on the street.
“Is it the wild-wild west here?”
Vee chuckles and nods.
“I guess you understand why I like your dimension so much?”
“I mean, I haven’t seen it all, but if that’s the thing that’s normal here, I can see why. Although, I’m sure the mass shootings in my dimension could give these people a run for their money.”
“Gonks everywhere.”
Vee looks around, confused as she was expecting the hologram of her mother would be powered on.
“Mom? Are you here?”
Tamika does her best to hide the look on her face, hearing her niece call a digital version of her sister “mom”. The elevator attached to the living room area dings and out walks “Meghan Strader,” shocking the three women. Victoria runs to her, hugging her tightly.
“Mom! How is this possible?”
“Your Fixer, Rogue. One of her Netrunners got fried in the Net. It was a compatible fit for the Engram and the Ripperdoc, Doc Ryder, gave me your mom’s face.”
Vee hugs her tightly, and Brooklyn, noticing the look of shock and disbelief on Tamika’s face, goes to her, placing a reaffirming hand on her shoulder. “Meghan” looks over, surprised to see Tamika there in the condo.
“Meeks? What are you doing here?”
Forgetting her sister died in her arms four months ago, Tamika embraces the physical copy of her big sister. She pulls back in shock, the icy blue eyes looking at her again, or in this case, for the first time.
“Megz… I… uh… this is surreal….”
“Girls, can we borrow your motorcycles?”
Strader Incorporated Canadian HQ
London, Ontario
June 5th, 2023
It’s a warm and sunny day in the hometown (well, one of the hometowns) of Scott Nash Strader’s bloodline of the infamous Strader Family. The reporters have been gathered for a string of announcements from the Online Championship Wrestling’s status and Tamika Strader’s status within OCW and outside of it. Outside in front of the tallest building in the city of London, One London Place, where Strader Inc Canada runs out of. A silver podium with the SI logo chiseled in the front, stands in front of the doors to the previously mentioned building name. The sound of camera shutters and mumblings of reporters intensifies as Tamika Strader, in casual wear of her cowgirl snakeskin boots, her signature green jeans held up by a belt with a CFH belt buckle, and an older Cowgirls From Hell white t-shirt. Tamika lifts the aviator sunglasses up from her face and uses them to hold her hair back. She smiles weakly, looking out the wrestling and corporate news reporters all bundled together.
“Thank you all for coming and hopefully your questions will be answered today.”
She opens a folder that had been sitting on the podium and we catch the newer green OCW logo.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I say this, but until further notice, OCW will not be moving forward with any show until the end of Summer when my team and I have gone over the immense amount of lawsuits conjured up since the days of Poblano into Adi’s days.”
“Jeff Jons of WrestlePedia. So what’s with “Outcast Championship Wrestling”?”
“Loophole that is allowing those left over to rise from the ashes while, again, me and my team figure out what the future of Online will be. Needless to say… times are changing. The last piece of news is that I am retiring from active competition.”
“Stephanie Nicole Sanderson of WrassleGossip, is it true that you are retiring due to pregnancy?”
Tamika cocks her head to the side.
“I’m not pregnant….”
“So the retirement is because of the inability to perform in the ring?”
“Someone is sassy. Before I ended up in OCW, it’s well known I went through fusion surgery in my neck and my most recent match in CU:LT has caused the repairs to come undone. I could continue to wrestle at the risk of becoming paralyzed, redo the surgery and wrestle with no real timeline of how long I could go and once again, end up paralyzed.”
“Inability to perform, thanks.”
Tamika goes to respond but stops herself.
“So to clarify, OCW is closed until all court cases are settled and my in ring career is over. With running Strader Inc globally and now raising my sister’s kids, it was time to make this call.”
Tamika almost considers taking questions, but can see that’s a bad idea looking over at Stephanie Nicole Sanderson’s slightly evil sneer.
“Thanks for coming out, any questions you may have can be directed to our PR team.”
Tamika hurries away as questions are being yelled at her. A hand finds her shoulder on the other side of the main entrance. Tamika melts at the sight of her Great Niece, Christian Michelle, in the arms of her oldest niece, Veronica. Tamika scoops up the little one and the two Strader women head towards the elevators.
“How did it go?”
“It went. I didn’t let them dig deeper into the OCW situation, and was as transparent as possible about my health and stepping away. Can you get that for me?”
Tamika leans her head toward the elevator button, as she continues making goofy faces at her great niece. Christian smiles brightly, and you can see the dark looks of her father meshing beautifully with Veronica’s.
“You are doing the right thing. Your health is more important than any tag team could ever be.”
“I feel like I am letting so many people down as of late but after going for that ride with the.. engram, right? The engram of my sister… helped me realize I have accomplished more in this business than so many have before me, I don’t need to feel guilty.”
They walk off the elevator and the little one plays with her aunt's hair while Veronica just smiles.
“I’m glad you found that comfort because you don’t owe anyone anything. I am just happy you were willing to give tag team wrestling a go again even though your physical health says no. I love ya, Auntie Tee. We both do.”
Veronica hugs Tamika, baby Christian in between smiling away as she grabs onto her mom’s hair, the trio of Strader women all laughing and giggling now.
“With having Lizzie and Clay now as well, it’s best I focus less on wrestling and more on Strader Incorporated and them. They are what is important. I know you will represent the family name out there. Same as John in IWF.”
The two walk towards the office, with much to discuss.
