“It can,” said Matthew slowly appearing in the room. “I can help them to make that happen. You have three young, healthy, albeit dead, men who can get into that gym, perform the way he wants them to, and take his drugs.”
“What if he asks you to lift weights beyond your abilities?” asked Hex. The all chuckled, shaking their heads.
“Hex, we can lift anything we like. A car or a feather. It doesn’t matter,” said Tahlako. “Archie is the strongest, or was in life, and appears so. He will go in wanting to have more power. I am the fastest. I will go in asking for more speed. Tony will ask for it all. He’s thin, not highly muscled. This man will see it as an opportunity. Especially when we walk in with a bag full of money. We will be adopted brothers whose parents have recently passed on and left us a large amount of money.”
“So, you will go in as a family?” asked Cam.
“We will go in as friends and adopted brothers, Tahlako and I. Tony will be our little brother. We thought we could even say that we have an older brother that was an elite athlete and at some point introduce one of you,” said Archie.
“And you’re certain no one will know that you’re, well,” grimaced Eric.
“Dead?” laughed Archie. “No. No one will know. We will need for you to create identifications for us. Driver’s licenses, appropriate birth dates, all of that.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this but it’s a good idea,” said Cam. “They can’t be harmed. The drugs won’t affect them. It truly feels as though it might be the safest way to handle this.”
“What happens if he does attempt to harm you?” asked Luke. The three ghosts stared at him. “I mean, what if he throws a heavy weight your way or forces you to run at a speed that’s detrimental to your, uh, your health?”
“Luke, you’re not listening, son,” said Matthew. “They cannot be harmed. They can do whatever is asked of them without pain, without complaint. They are your answer to this dilemma.”
“Okay. But we need to get you familiar with some of the terminology that this guy is going to throw your way. He’ll talk a lot about powerlifting and other sports. You’re going to need a crash course on the lingo,” said Luke.
“Take a seat,” smirked Rory, seated beside Trevon, Alec, and Tailor. “You’re about to get the fastest education of your life.”
“The four of us, as you know, are responsible for the strength training of our team,” said Rory. “Powerlifting is a strength sport that has gained global popularity in recent decades. It’s known for a focus on maximal strength and simple, measurable progress, powerlifting attracts everyone from recreational lifters to elite athletes.
“When it’s done right, when you have good coaches, powerlifting is celebrated for its community, discipline, and the foundational strength it develops.
“At its core, powerlifting is a sport centered around three primary lifts: the squat, the bench press, and the deadlift. Each lift tests distinct aspects of human strength, and together, they form a measure of an athlete's power and technique.
“In competitions, athletes are given three attempts at each lift, with their heaviest successful attempt in each being added to form their total score. Divisions are typically separated by weight class, age, and gender, ensuring accessibility and fairness across all levels.”
“The squat tests lower-body and core strength,” said Alec, “challenging lifters to descend until their hips are below their knees before standing back up. The bench press emphasizes upper-body strength, as lifters lower a barbell to their chest and press it upward to arm’s length. The deadlift, often considered the purest test of strength, requires an athlete to lift a loaded barbell from the floor to standing position. These lifts are central to powerlifting competitions but are also widely used in athletic training programs around the world.”
“Powerlifting, like any specialized sport, has its own set of terms that may seem unfamiliar at first,” said Trevon. “But understanding this terminology can make training and following the sport much more accessible. Know these basic terms. PR or personal record means the heaviest weight an athlete has ever lifted in a specific exercise.
“Rep or repetition means one complete movement of an exercise, such as lowering and raising the bar in a bench press. A set is a group of consecutive repetitions performed without rest, for example, three sets of five reps.” He nodded to Tailor to continue.
“Raw means lifting with minimal or no supportive equipment, typically just a weight belt and wrist wraps. Equipped means using specialized gear like squat suits or bench shirts designed to provide support and enhance performance. They may ask you to buy those. Don’t. It will piss him off. Just tell him that you’ve already got stuff and we’ll make sure you have what you need.”
“He may throw out terms like 1RM, which means one-rep max. It is the maximum amount of weight an athlete can lift for a single repetition. In other words, what they were trying to get that kid to do in the gym when Keegan and Ramey were there.
“Easier terms are ‘meet’ which is another name for a competition. Wilks Score is a formula that is used to compare the strength of lifters, regardless of body weight. Be cautious about this. If Tony starts bench pressing unusually high weight, it will seem suspicious.”
“The equipment is probably what will be unfamiliar to all of you,” said Rory. “The rack, is the stand that holds the barbell before and after a lift. If you’re asked to ‘lockout’, that means the final position of a lift when the joints are fully extended and the lift is complete.”
Tony, Tahlako, and Archie stared at the men nodding.
“Listen, I know that’s a lot but learning these terms helps athletes communicate with coaches and peers and allows newcomers to quickly integrate into the supportive powerlifting community. People make fun of weightlifting but weightlifting provides athletes in all sports with a foundation of strength, power, and resilience that translates directly to improved performance.
“Obviously, powerlifting itself is a competitive sport, its core lifts are essential components in the training regimens of football, track, and baseball athletes. These movements develop not only muscle strength, but also coordination, stability, and injury resistance.
“If it’s done right, when you train with the squat, bench press, and deadlift, bodies are conditioned to generate more force, move efficiently, and recover faster from physical challenges. This is why weightlifting is a cornerstone of modern athletic development programs.”
“So, all of you did this?” asked Archie.
“I certainly did,” said Trevon. “Football demands explosive strength, agility, and resilience. Powerlifting movements, especially the squat and deadlift, build lower-body power crucial for sprinting, tackling, and blocking.
“The bench press develops upper body strength needed for pushing opponents and maintaining position on the field. Regular weightlifting will help to enhance core stability. All of it can reduce the risk of injuries and increase an athlete’s ability to withstand contact and collisions.”