Atlas: Back to the Present – Time Travel + Post Apoc + OP MC

John woke up the next day, the conversation he’d had with Atlas replaying in his mind. He remembered Atlas’s words with surprising clarity, their weight settling over him as he got out of bed.

“You’re not there to be the best fighter, John. You’ve got something none of the others do—brains. We need someone who can think on their feet, adapt, and figure out the shit that people won’t see coming.”

Atlas had leaned back, his confident grin unmistakable. “I wouldn’t have invited you if I didn’t you were up to it. This is just the beginning, man. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

John had been struck by that. It wasn’t just about his skill with weapons or his physical ability. Atlas saw potential in him that wasn’t immediately obvious. It was the kind of potential John had struggled to see in himself, especially after his previous setbacks. Atlas’s belief in him had sparked a flicker of hope inside him. *If anyone could turn this ragtag group into something formidable, it was Atlas.*

As John prepared for the day ahead, he thought about the challenge that lay before him. He wasn’t sure how he would measure up against the others, but he knew one thing for certain: he wasn’t going to back down. The words from last night were a beacon of encouragement, a reminder that he had something to offer beyond mere brawn.

---

Arriving early the next day, Atlas leaned against a training dummy, arms crossed, and turned to Alicia.

"All right, we've put together a pretty good team," he said, a grin spreading across his face. "But I'm going to need some things for training."

Alicia raised an eyebrow. The gym was already well-equipped with everything a fighter could need, from weights and treadmills to sparring equipment and a full-sized arena. "What more do you need?" she asked, genuinely curious.

"First of all, nutrition," Atlas began. "I want all the fighters on a solid eating plan. High protein, balanced macros, the works."

Alicia frowned slightly. "That’s standard for fighters, but we usually don’t cover that for recruits who haven’t signed a contract yet."

Atlas nodded. "I know it's not the norm, but it's only for a week. It won’t break the bank."

Alicia considered this for a moment. It was true that the cost wouldn’t be prohibitive, especially if it meant getting better results from the recruits. "All right, that’s fair. But what about your contract?" she asked. "You’re putting in a lot of work. You should be compensated."

Atlas shook his head, a faraway look in his eyes. "My contract?" he echoed, almost amused. *Hell, two years from now, I'll be gone. Money’s useless too.*

Atlas continued. "Here's what I’m thinking: Give me just enough to live on and a place to stay. Put the rest of what you'd pay me into what I’m going to ask for next."

Now Alicia was intrigued. "What are you going to ask for? High-paying fighter contracts aren’t cheap. She had been expecting to pay him a hundred thousand a year, for training the recruits and leading the SFB team.

Atlas smiled, the kind of smile that suggested he was about to propose something unconventional. "For the next week of recruit training, it'll be more of what we did today—basic physical endurance, sparring, stuff like that. But after that, the real training starts, and I'm going to need a few things to make it work."

Alicia nodded. "What do you need?"

Atlas pulled out his phone and showed her an Amazon link. The item displayed was a bouncy ball—well, not just any bouncy ball. These were racquetballs, but thicker and designed to take a beating. "I need you to get twenty of these, in different speeds."

Alicia stared at him, puzzled. "Racquetballs? Why?"

Atlas chuckled. "Think of them as training tools. I'm going to use them to improve the recruits' reflexes and hand-eye coordination. And I’ll need a room—actually, make that three rooms—where these balls can bounce around."

"Three rooms?" Alicia repeated, still trying to wrap her head around this. "That’s a lot of space."

"Yeah, I want them all training at the same time," Atlas replied. Then he paused, considering. "Actually, you’re right. We could run them through in circuits. One room should be enough, but it has to be big enough for at least three people to swing their weapons without hitting each other. Maybe repurpose the dance aerobics area?"

Alicia made a mental note. *That’s doable, though some of the regulars might not be happy.*

"Next," Atlas continued, his voice lowering slightly, as if he were revealing a secret. "This is the crazy part. I need you to get me a couple of these." He pulled up another website, showing automated robotic units—canine models designed for military use. They could patrol, attack, and withstand significant damage.

Alicia blinked, leaning in closer to the screen. "Attack training robots? You understand we don’t fight dogs in the SFB, right?"

Atlas nodded. "I know, but these will work on something I’m preparing. That’s why I said you can use the money from my contract to buy a couple. They need to be tough enough to take hits and compatible with the SFB training modules."

Alicia hesitated, knowing the cost of such equipment. "They’re fifty thousand each," she said slowly. "I think we can get …..one."

"One is better than none," Atlas agreed. "But make sure it’s well-equipped. And works well with the SFB tech, so it can register kills."

Alicia sighed, already mentally adjusting the budget. *Damn, this is going to be tight. But if I’m not paying Atlas directly..., maybe it evens out.* She looked at him, nodding in agreement despite her concerns. *Besides, he's done more than enough to prove he can get results. The gym was in rough shape financially, but if Alas pulled through? Maybe this will really be worth it in the long run.*

"And the third thing?" she asked, bracing herself for what might come next.

Atlas’s eyes lit up. "Mannequins."

"Mannequins?" Alicia repeated, genuinely baffled now. "You mean like store mannequins?"

"Exactly," Atlas confirmed. "But I need them to be sturdy enough to take hits with the SFB turned off. We’re going to use them for practicing precision strikes and combo attacks."

Alicia rubbed her temples, processing everything. "All right, that’s a bit unorthodox, but not unreasonable. I can make it happen."

“Yeah, they don't even have to be new, if they’re all beat up it’s fine as long as they can take a beating. Also I’m going to need a way to make them move quickly back and forth. I’m thinking some sort of bungee cord rig, so it can be released and then snap out and bounce back.”

Alicia looked a little confused but agreed to try to figure something out.

Atlas grinned, clearly pleased. "Perfect. This is going to be a good time."

Alicia couldn’t help but smile back, though she still wasn’t entirely sure what she’d just agreed to. But if Atlas’s past performance was any indication, she had a feeling that whatever he had planned, it was going to push these recruits—and maybe even the entire gym—to a new level. 

As Atlas walked away, Alicia's curiosity got the better of her. She stopped him, "Atlas, can you tell me more about why these requirements are so harsh? I get that you're aiming high, but what's the ultimate goal here?"

Atlas paused, his expression turning serious. "Look, Alicia, we're not just building a team to win a few fights. I'm aiming to create something exceptional. The SFB might be a great platform, but what we're training for is going to need the best preparation possible. If we can push these recruits beyond their limits now, they'll be ready for anything—We’re setting the foundation for something bigger."

“What’s bigger than the SFB?”

"What's bigger than the SFB, you ask? Well, that's a good question. Why don't you ask the UFC what was bigger than them before the SFB came out?" 

Alicia said. "Ooh, that makes sense."

"Like I said, I'm preparing for not just winning an SFB fight or even winning the championship title," Atlas continued. "I'm preparing to put together the best possible combination of people that can win a fight in ANY situation."

Alicia nodded slowly, beginning to understand the depth of Atlas's ambition. "That’s a huge goal, Atlas. Alright, I see where you're coming from now. Let’s make it happen."

Atlas's eyes sparkled with determination. "Thanks, Alicia. I promise, it'll be worth it."

*I really wish I could tell everyone about the portals and not come off looking like a crazy nutcase,* thought Atlas, *but as long as they keep buying my line of bullshit about creating a team that's the best on Earth, that's good enough for me.*

With that, Alicia watched him walk away, more convinced than ever that Atlas was on to something extraordinary.