Oh Yeah? Oh no! - A biographical look at Butch Thompson

By TalkLoud, FNF staff gossip columnist

Rumble in the Jungle. The Free-For-All Fracas in Station City. The Taranis Showdown in the Streets. Naraka’s Tunnels of Terror. Most of us have either attended a Butch Thompson S.T.R.I.F.E. event, or seen vids of the bloody good aftermath. Still, who is this man, this master of masters of ceremony, this tour de force? What is the story behind the man who plays a trumpet to announce his own arrival, jump-kicks for violence, and attempts to trademark the words “Oh Yeah!”? Little is known about Butch Thompson before his rise to fame, but we here at the Fringe News Feed have managed to uncover the past of this man of mystery.

The story of Butch Thompson begins in the mean streets of Akeir. Butch Thompson, was born to Solis Saltare, one of the premiere modern dance instructors of Akeir at the time and the owner of Astral Phenomena Studios, and Cassidy Cormac under the name Isiah Cormac. Butch’s life began much as he lives it now, loud, abrupt and the focus of much attention.

Cassidy was an up and comer in House Cormac, devoted to the church and the glory of the Empire. Described as a classic black-haired beauty, Cassidy was engaged to be married to Damien Charles Alexander Juntach, a brilliant duelist and heir-apparent to the CFO of Juntachi Steel. Their wedding day gala was to be the event of the season in Akeir, and Cassidy, a studious scholar, had been sent to the legendary Solis to prepare for the dances she would be expected to know for her reception. For almost a year, Cassidy trained with Solis, knowing she would be required to be the most skilled dancer at her reception in order to keep the reputation of House Cormac in high standing with the nobility of Akeir. After nine months of sweat and tears, the big day arrived...and so did little Butch. In the middle of her wedding ceremony, Cassidy began to go into labor. Not knowing she was pregnant, the invited physicians of House Eioph rushed to her side. Soon enough, her condition became apparent. Damien was enraged, knowing he was not the father, and grabbed his blade to duel Solis, whom he had long suspected of having relations with Cassidy. Solis, ready for an attack, was said to jump, pirouette, and kick Damien right in his face. In the resulting confusion, Solis fled.

Cassidy was kept under close guard by her House, who were rumored to be looking for Solis in order to have him executed. Solis was said to use his prowess as a dancer to stealthily infilitrate the location in which Cassidy was held, and abscond with her and their son. They fled to the Fringe world of Taranis, where the story of Butch Thompson truly begins. The family adopted the name Thompson, and opened the legendary “Mass Dive” club on High King Avenue. Solis and Cassidy, now going by the names Jazz and Bangles, ran the club for many years, and it was known as a place of dance, sport, and gambling. Butch had begun running sound and production for the family at the age of 13, and he had begun to develop a reputation as one of the most sought after DJs or MCs in Taranis. When he was 15, Butch was attacked by a local gang. using the skills he had picked up on the streets, and the moves taught to him by his father, Butch managed to hold off six of the thugs, unknown that he was being recorded by one of the onlookers. Within a month, the vid of Butch defeating his attackers, one quite brutally with a kick that lodged the attackers nose in his brain cavity, circulated Taranis. Butch found himself in more and more fights, each one more vicious and brutal than the last. Each time, a vid of the encounter found its way into circulation. The attention this received helped to keep the attendance at the club at all-time highs, everyone hoping to witness one of the Butch fights.

The Thompson family was growing prosperous, with his parents talking about retiring and leaving the club to Butch. Then, late one night, a group of local toughs struck the club and set fire to it, with his parents still inside. When Butch caught one of the thugs escaping, he managed to learn that Damien Charles Alexander Juntach was behind the attack. For years after that, Butch seemed to disappear.

There were rumors than a young man had sought out the Aeshma Matara Master Tugev, and that this same young man had defeated the dreaded Rumal Narr, a beast with two heads standing fifteen feet tall that could level a building with its shrieks. Using the spine of the Rumal Narr as his cestii, he defeated 99 Aeshma challengers in a row without rest in order to win the approval of Master Tugev and prove his worth. All it took was a single jump kick from Butch Thompson to lay the great Matara master low. It is said that the Aeshma recognize Butch as the only organism worthy of individual praise.

The stories after this time are even more fragmented. The name Butch Thompson briefly surfaced on the planet of Lethe when he became known as the greatest lover the weapon researcher Star Thistle had ever known. It was said that the inspiration Star Thistle received from the loins of Butch advanced the field of weapon technology five years in a single afternoon. The knowledge she received from his loving in the evening changed the field so much that current practitioners could only break down, cry, and curse the name of Butch Thompson for crushing their life’s work with a simple display of his intimate prowess. After laying the ladies of Lethe low, Butch was next spotted on the planet of Vairya.

Butch hearing of the vaunted skills of the Atar strove to test his mettle against those fierce silicate soldiers. If the stories can be believed, a jump kick to the face of one Kshathran that had turned into a statue not only moved her, but launched her into the other two Kshathrans that Butch was brawling, knocking them down as well. The impression Butch made on these warriors was such that Kshathrans are said to refer to a particularly well made suit of armor as “Thompson Proof”. Butch received the honorary Fists of Keresaspa during his time on Vairya, and was said to defeat the Dahhak Web Way Pirates known as the Ephemral Fleet during a casual stroll one evening.

Though no one admits to being part of the destructive encounter, it is said that Butch pretended to be influenced by the powers of the Dahhak, and then grabbed his guard by his feet and wielded him as a giant club to defeat the rest of his captures. The Dahhak now refer to captives that pretend to be under their influence to be “pulling a Butch”. In fact, Dahhak can often be overheard to say “Make sure that one isn’t pulling a Butch”, when making business deals, referring to someone pretending to be less savvy than they actually are.

It was in the streets of Akeir that Butch Thompson went to meet his destiny. At a gala one evening, he had snuck into the event and challenged Damien Charles Alexander Juntach to a duel. Though he was now getting on in years, Damien accepted, still confident in his formidable skills. Butch, opting for his Fists of Keresaspa as his weapons, fought a long and protracted duel with the Junatchi swordsman. It is said that the onlookers could do naught but weep at the martial prowess on display. One woman was said to go into labor at the sight of Butch’s fighting skills, despite the fact she was not due for almost another month. If rumors can be believed, an elderly member of House Cormac suffered a heart attack during the duel, and Butch administered medicinal drugs to the man, all while continuing to do battle with Damien. It is said that both Damien and Butch were grievously wounded during the course of the battle, Damien made the mistake of disparaging the Butch’s parents, gloating about their deaths and his hand in it. It is said that Butch then shed his first and only tear since the deaths of his parents and said, “This is for Cassidy and Solis”, before kicking Damien in the head so hard that is simply exploded from the shoulders. Letting forth a shout that would become his signature, Butch shouted “OH YEAH!”

House Cormac was said to offer Butch membership within the House and Imperial Citizenship, due to their shock and horror over Damien’s actions. It was said that Butch simply gave a victory kick, stole a horn from one of the musicians at the gala, the same one he has now, supposedly, and blew it once. He left the hall then, never giving the House an answer, with his fists held high in defiance.

From here, everyone knows the story. Butch won the rights to the S.T.R.I.F.E. league in a game of strip poker against the Gymir Ski Bikini Team, received sponsorship from Nog’s Grog after an arm-wrestling contest and began his course to becoming a galaxy wide phenomenon. It is said that he still keeps a picture of his parents in his pocket at all times, and that a portion of all his proceeds go to help the orphans on the various planets he visits. Though he doesn’t fight any more, it is said that Butch is looking for an heir to take the Fists of Keresaspa from him, and gain the true Galaxy Champion of S.T.R.I.F.E. title, one that has never been claimed.

Butch Thompson is believed to be the fourth cousin thrice-removed from the Empress Gheverie. There are those who speak of Butch’s signature shout of “Oh Yeah!” being likened to the clap of thunder, and his horn emitting the fury of the storm. Is this a sign that perhaps Butch Thompson is the heir to the Imperial throne? Only time will tell. Until such time as the fate of Man rests on his shoulders, he will be there, bringing you the best in pitfighting entertainment. Of course, if asked about any of his past, he is sure to deny it, as the FNF had to do some deep digging in order to get the scant information we found. Humble as always, Butch is sure to downplay his past greatness, and focus on his current endeavors. Still, as long as he keeps bringing us quality entertainment, who are we to deny the great Butch Thompson? See you in the vids, Butch!

ALIEN INVASION?

By TalkFast


Peaceful Ambassadors, or a Move to Infiltratre Fringe Space?

Zigani ambassadors have been seen exiting the Gates on Fringe worlds bearing white flags of parlay. They speak cheerfully and politely to locals and when asked about Gymir said it had been "peacefully accepted into the glorious Ahramni Empire!"

Needless to say, not all Fringe worlds have welcomed these visitors.

Their previous Zygani attack on Tokpela shocked Fringer and Imperial alike (see previous FNF article “Alien Abduction”) and there has been no news from Ahramni-occupied Gymir at all and attempts to reach the cold planet via webway have met with failure. The only thing that webguides have reported back is that there is still a functioning Gate at the end of the path, it simply won't open.

An eyewitness in the Taranis capital said that the “ambassadors” fled with Rama's voice booming "AND STAY OUT!!!" after them. On the jungle planet Erlik they had a curt discussion with Warlord Gunn Verdan, before being escorted back to the gate by armed Aeshma. The Zygani representatives who traveled to Naraka spent a week meeting with various heads of corporations, but no word yet on how those discussions progressed.

On the Fringe planets Vaitarani, Vrita and Vajra the Zygani were allowed to visit townships within a day’s travel of the Gates and speak with various functionaries. Opinions of them on those worlds seem to be altering as the Imperium renews its venom against mutants and the various Tribe worlds begin to arm. (see previous FNF article “Imperial Crackdown”)

The Zigani diplomats have all offered the same thing: protection, inclusion in the Ahramni Empire, technology designed for mutants, a culture that accepts and glorifies advanced mutation and safety from other invading forces. As one of our sources commented: “All at the small small price of freedom.”