Rasslemania #1: The Asylum Mission

[Smash INC]

After the end of Survive & Conquer,
the APW was split into two -- Champions and Contenders.
this marked the beginning of the era known as the Countdown to Rasslemania.

Keaton Saint presents...
The Asylum Mission

INSERTION
------5:30 AM March 10, 2013. Outskirts of Winnipeg


"We'll be in Winnipeg shortly." Simple words were spoken by the vehicle driver as he concentrated on the road ahead.

"Are we prepared?" An important figure came into view, this was the Major.

"Visibility is OK, we're looking at the arena layout now and everything is ready on their end." A support team member piped in and explained the current situation.

"Good, then it's all about how he performs."

"Does this guy even know what he's doing?" A voice came in from the radio connection, explaining that James was ignoring some form of order on his end.

"Are you deaf James?" Major spoke as he heard some form of muttering on James' side of the radio. "You heard the man, we'll be in Winnipeg soon and you have to be ready."

A confirmation on the other end led James to mentally prepare himself as time moved on.

"One minute to drop off." The driver spoke again.

"This might feel like 130 MPH but in reality, well you'll see." Major explained. "This is one for the history books James, we'll get you into the arena without a single fan knowing when you arrived."

"Ten, nine, eight..." The final countdown began.

"Stretch your legs and run."

"Seven, six, five, four..."

"God be with you." Major spoke with an internal salute.

"Three, two, one." The countdown ended. "Go!"

With the confirmation, James left his arrival vehicle as it progressed onwards to draw the eyes and ears of every APW fan in Winnipeg at that point in time. James continued on down unknown roads and doubled his efforts to avoid any contact that might change his approach to the most important match of his life. His thoughts were not just on the immediate run, some of them took him to a time before now. The time he knew he would be a true contender before Rasslemania.


LEGACY
------Some time ago...


"James, I've got some important news." The words spoken were those from a friend but the delivery meant that the 'important' news was going to be groundbreaking.

"Major?" James responded, his face covered by his own efforts at shoegazing.

"It's been a long time coming but you've been given a chance to become the World Heavyweight Champion, to take on the legacy that it brings."

"I can rise to that level?" James lifted his face to reveal that of the man the world of wrestling knows as Keaton Saint.

"It goes without saying but the future of the Pillar Unit depends on you. On March 10th, Asylum becomes a mission like no other." Major explained, his eyes taking in every reaction from James.

"Nuclear fission?"

"No James, a mission." Major paused. "Success here means that the Pillar Unit will finally have some serious standing."

"What about the Tap Out mission?"

"Despite that success, the Pillars depend on everyone to do their part James."

"Even if it's just the two of us?"

"About that." Major paused and looked directly at James. "We'll have a strong support team behind you on this mission, you won't be alone."

"But it's still just TJ and myself at the end of the day."

"James, you'll understand in due time."


CODE NAMES
------7:13 PM March 10, 2013. MTS Centre, Winnipeg


James found himself counting down the minutes before he fought against Phil Atkenolov, the man who had been holding the World Heavyweight Championship for a sizable amount of time. Something had happened to him at Survive & Conquer however and he wasn't quite the same man since, Atkenolov was a stronger man than people had believed, but something was breaking him. The very opportunity that James had to become a champion was conjoined with the tragedy of a man being broken. That wasn't the only aspect of the mission however, the brief also explained that Atkenolov was to be given a way out of the arena after the match. The Asylum mission hinged on this being a success, not the result of the match itself.

"I'm sure I won't have to explain this to you fully, but if you fail for any reason you'll be proverbially stuck eating your meals out of bins."

"I know what I put on the line."

"Of course, this is why you won't fail." Major paused. "The enemy might be listening in so from here on out we'll be using code names."

"Code names?"

"Yes, your code name for this mission will be Naked Saint. I shall be referring to you as Saint from now on."

"What about you Major? What should I call you?"

"Let's see..." Major paused. "I'll be G, call me Major G."

"Got it."

"This kind of mission is the Pillar Unit speciality, you are to adapt to the environment on site and use it to your advantage. You're completely naked, just as your name implies."

"I see." Saint nodded in agreement.

"You've seen some of the support team already but there's one more person I'd like you to meet. I take it you remember The Boss, don't you?" Major smiled. "A legend and the foundation of the Pillars, she's part of the reason you have a title shot in the first place. She will be serving as the mission advisor, as I said before we shall have a support team for you."

"The Boss is?"

"James is that you?" It was the unmistakable voice of the Boss. The woman who had been instrumental in forming the Pillar unit in the first place.

"Boss?" Saint still felt a hint of surprise just by hearing her voice.

"That's right, talk to me."

"It's been a lifetime since that letter."

"You've lost weight."

"You can tell that from a voice?"

"Of course James, I know everything about you."

"And I know nothing about you despite all the time we've been around each other." Saint recalled the first meeting they ever had, it was a lifetime ago in wrestling terms but Saint could remember it so well.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I said, there were still so many things I wanted you to teach me."

"Maybe TJ could get away with saying that but not you." Boss inhaled deeply, reflecting on her next words. "There was nothing more you could learn from me."

"But how do I think like a champion?"

"I can't teach you that James, being strong in spirit and body is all on you. I could only ever provide advice on your technique."

"But there was so much--"

"--Personal feelings are one of the worst sins you can commit James. We're still a tool to be used in the greater machine."

"A champion can be a beacon of hope." Saint responded with his belief.

"James, sooner or later you're going to reach a point where you'll question what it means to defend a title."

"I'll wrestle to the end."

"But what end do you wrestle towards?" Boss asked Saint a probing question.

"I don't know."

"Which is something you have to learn out there, in the battlefield of the ring."

"But I still put all of myself out there."

"Against who?"

"Whoever my opponent is?"

"James, your opponents change over time. Think about Kurt Noble, a man who you were prepared to ally with long ago and how he changed over the course of time. There is no absolute enemy or opponent."

"I can think of one."

"Even he changes James."

"Never."

"And if you're wrong?"

"Hmm, do me a favour from now on."

"What is it?"

"Call me Saint."

"Saint? Ah, your code name. It suits you well."

"Saint?" Major G began to speak. "When you get to Atkenolov, make sure you do one thing."

"Do what?"

"Tell him that the march won't be stopped."

"I, er..."

"The time is about to come, get yourself ready." Boss was the last one to speak, Saint took her instructions to heart. He had to be ready, not just for the match but to assist Atkenolov following the aftermath.


DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE FIGHTING FOR?
------7:32 PM March 10, 2013. MTS Centre, Winnipeg

The music was the introduction that the world of wrestling knew, the siren call of the Patron Saint of Professional Wrestling. Tonight was the night the Naked Saint would find himself with the ultimate belt, the World Heavyweight Championship. In his path was the reigning champion Phil Atkenolov, a man of supreme intellect who knew how to break the defence of any he fought. Recent events had left Atkenolov in a weaker position but as a wrestler he was still a formidable foe. Before the match had even begun, Atkenolov was interrogating Saint.

"So Volgin won't even finish me himself, he has to send one of his men to do the dirty work."

"I'm from the Pillars." Saint replied.

"Anyone could say that." Atkenolov scoffed.

"They could, but nobody could stop the march."

"You really are him, the Gatekeeper."

"I'm here for the title and to free you."

"This isn't my prison."

"You're still a prisoner."

"Not because of THIS!" Atkenolov kissed the title. "It was Volgin!"

"Who is Volgin?"

"Mikhail Callahan Volgin, he heads an opposing force. He kidnapped me and he intends to take over the Asylum."

"But you're the champion!"

"Of what?! Volgin held me for so long I don't even know what DAY it is any more, not even the Warden knows how deep Volgin is in the network."

"But he can be defeated regardless.."

"Not by me, I'm a broken man." Atkenolov sighed. "But there's a chance."

"What kind of chance?"

"You have to prove you can beat me, prove you can be a true champion"

"But what the hell did he actually do to you?" Saint asked.

"Get me out of here and I'll tell you everything."

"I'd have to beat you first." Saint's sense were piqued by something that didn't appear right. Some of the fans weren't watching the match with the same interest and it took a moment before Saint realised that the exiled guards were returning with new vigour. "Something's wrong, look."

"Kadolot's squad!" Atkenolov winced. "They're headed by one of the most unpredictable men, Deli Kadolot."

"Kadolot?"

"Yes, Dirk and Hank were part of the squad and I had no chance to escape!"

"We're going to have to confront them."

"We?" Atkenolov looked shocked and began to plead. "I can't be seen doing it, you have to confront them."

"I know!" Saint exclaimed as he tackled one of Kadolot's squad head-on before being tackled by... Atkenolov!

"I'm sorry, I have to make it look like we're not in collusion."

"Grrr." Saint grit his teeth and formulated a plan in seconds, the World Heavyweight Championship could only be transferred via official channels which meant Atkenolov had to submit. "I can fix this."

"Wait wha--" Atkenolov asked before Saint launched into his plan of action, immediately using the chance to grab Atkenolov and deliver his best technique. Kadolot watched on with interest, seemingly not wishing to affect the ring action.

"Now. Find a way out!" Saint used the time to acquire the World Heavyweight Championship in order to provide a chance for Atkenolov to escape, they would meet later on and the Asylum Mission would be completed with Atkenolov delivered to safety and the title kept under Saint's custody. The success of gaining the title felt like a shock, but it took a moment for Saint to realise what a real shock felt like.

"Hahaha!" The voice was a new one and it belonged to someone who was filled with dangerous intent. "She wasn't kidding, the Martinez-1 packs a huge punch."

"But ho--" Saint was cut short as another shocking blow was delivered and a stark realisation hit him, this was Volgin. This was Mikhail Callahan Volgin, which meant they knew all along what the Asylum Mission was about.

"And as for this." Volgin took the title and examined it before dropping it on the floor. "I've got just what I need from this, isn't that right Atkenolov!"

Saint heard the name and turned to face the entrance ramp as fast as he could, the pain was intense but the physical trauma was nothing compared to what he saw next. Atkenolov had been caught escaping and was now being moved from the premises by a man who Saint could not make out. There were others there as well but it was the sole woman who made everything clear as day, the reason for the failure of the Asylum Mission. The Boss was there and she had defected to Volgin's side.

"You're not a--" Boss mouthed but Saint could not ascertain what the last part was before he blacked out.


AFTERMATH
------2:03 AM March 18, 2013. Winnipeg


"James, the situation has changed." Major was the first to speak, his was the face of a man who had spent the most difficult week in his life.

"How so?"

"We've got a chance to clear the name of the Pillars."

"What kind of chance?"

"Don't get too excited, it's a very slim one."

Time had passed since the outcome of the Asylum Mission, to the world at large it seemed as though Saint had made a success of it. He was the World Heavyweight Champion at last, but what the world didn't know would have changed that opinion completely. Volgin accomplished his own goals that night and ensured that the true purpose of the Asylum Mission had only been a success for his side. Something had happened to Atkenolov, Boss had defected and everything relied on one man to go back to the point of his failure and recover what had been lost.

It had been explained some time after to Saint that Volgin had taken the Asylum Legacy from the title, when Saint began to put the pieces together he understood that this meant a lot more than the initial attack implied. The legacy wasn't just a metaphor, it was a real thing being kept within the title. Atkenolov wasn't just a champion, he was a custodian and Volgin had broken that protection in seconds. Defending the championship was one aspect of the whole, Saint had to recover the legacy to complete his mission. That meant going into Volgin's secret base and retaking the legacy.

Find Atkenolov, stop Volgin's mission and finally, eliminate the Boss.

The name of the mission showed all the implications of this.

Naked Saint was to go back to Winnipeg and conduct Operation Saint Eater.

Keaton Saint presents...
Operation Saint Eater

LANDING
------4:37 AM March 19, 2013. Outskirts of Winnipeg


"We're taking a different route this time." Major explained. "Since we're not aiming to avoid the wrestling fans on this insertion, we're going to drop you off away from the arena and you are to uncover Volgin's base from there."

"Any intel on exactly where it is?"

"We've got some outsider support to help with that."

"Who?"

"They have code names of Adam and Eva specifically, Adam was stated to have infiltrated Volgin's forces and he shall give you the information you need to get to the base."

"Where do I meet this Adam?"

"At the arena, it appears that since Asylum Volgin has stepped up security in the perimeter. We're not certain on the exact reasons but it seems to be important."

"Understood." Saint nodded.

"And Saint, I'm going to be changing my code name."

"What's wrong with G?"

"Given the details of the mission and what you'll be facing, I shall be called Major Six from now on."

"Major Six?"

"Yes, you shall be taking on six high profile elements that contain the legendary Action Unit headed by the Boss herself as well as Volgin." Major Six continued. "The living members of the Action Unit all have code names representing something they bring to battle. They are Pain, Fear, End, Fury and Joy."

"So you're saying I should expect to face them all?"

"Absolutely, in another time this would be a rite of passage but right now it's the most important mission of your life."

"And that of the Pillar Unit."

"Of course."

"We're about to approach your landing point so get ready."

"I am." Saint said as he opened the vehicle door and exited it into a Winnipeg that was ever so slightly different to the one he had seen a week prior. Perhaps it was the sense of what had to be done that made it feel more oppressive, even darker than before. What mattered most was for Saint to make his way to the arena quickly but quietly, a matter that was broken before it had even begun. She was waiting in Saint's direct path, he had already failed.

"James, go home." Boss spoke flatly, she was directly in Saint's path as if she knew the exact path he could take before he took it. Before Saint could begin to respond to this, she moved with such an extreme pace that Saint was unable to see the attack coming until after he was struck by it.

"Argh!" Saint failed to muffle his pain.

"You cannot beat me James, and you have no hope of beating Volgin." Boss spoke with clarity. "My sons in the Action Unit await me, whatever Pillar you claim won't be enough."

"I don't believe it, why did you leave?"

"I never left James, you'll see that in time." Boss faced away from Saint. "You can still make it out of here, if I see you again your career will be finished."

"But Boss!" Saint shouted but Boss had already taken her leave. It took saint a moment to realise she had left a gift, a screaming alarm that would beckon Volgin's squad before long.

Saint had to escape, there was no other option.