Post by Shadow on Sept 2, 2012 19:51:09 GMT -4
[glow=silver,9,200]THEN...[/glow]
UCLA:
Aug 27: 6:15 AM
To Shadow, everything was in slow motion. The doctors and nurses were statues. Shadow weaved between them as he rushed toward the emergency room. The lighting shone down as he crawled through the crowd. He hit the doors with a “Bang!” He could see Slade lying on the gurney. A doctor was administering an adrenalin shot. Slade’s eyes snapped open. He looked into Shadow’s eyes.
They found him in the hotel room, passed out across the bed. Shadow got the call from Assassin. Apparently Slade tried calling Assassin but didn’t get the number completely dialed. Slade’s phone was found up against the dress. It rolled there when he dropped. Neighbors reported hearing a loud thump but no one seems to know why since his body was on the bed.
They medi-evacted him to UCLA after they realized he couldn’t be treated anywhere else. Shadow was close by. He was at the Police Impound picking up his charge, which Slade stole. Shadow dropped the cell phone. He couldn’t believe what they told him. It too about thirty minutes for him to make it to the UCLA medical center. By then the helicopter had just arrived. Slade was motionless, unresponsive and no one had any hope.
As Shadow burst into the hospital, he called for a doctor. He screamed for a nurse. Nobody came to help him. Shadow felt lost as he thought his best friend would die. Everything all the hatred, all the anger; it was gone. Shadow just wanted his friend back. He pleaded for someone, anyone to answer. Then he saw them wheel Slade down an adjacent hallway. Shadow took off!
He ran and maneuvered his way through the mass of bodies as he charged. Slade was just around the corner and Shadow knew it. This corridor was much wider, and the people were like a river. Shadow swam upstream. He saw the doors to the Emergency O.R. slam shut. Everything got slower. We come back to where everything started. Shadow slams into the door with a loud “BANG.” He peers through the single, thin pane of glass. Slade lays there. Shadow could not believe it he screamed at Slade to wake up but no sound came out. Then the doctors administered the adrenaline shot. Craven’s eyes snapped open and Slade locked eyes with Shadow. But he wasn’t awake. Those eyes were empty. Then they fluttered shut. Shadow dropped to his knees. He couldn’t believe his best friend was gone.
[glow=silver,9,200]NOW...[/glow]
Sept 3rd 9:00 AM
UCLA Medical Center
Time has passed since “The Main Man” went into his coma. Things have been dark. As Slade slept Shadow decided his friends needed to know. Damn the stuff going. Right now Shadow was the only one actually at the hospital. It was his shift. Dita shift started at noon. She would make sure Shadow got to Meltdown on time and that someone would be watching Slade as the show went on. But Shadow needed to talk to everyone he held the phone in his hand as he read the text message he was about to send. It was very important. The message simply read:
Ass Kicker’s Assemble!
Shadow hoped this would finally get everyone together and unite. He looked down as Slade, that long beard covering his face. Slade had been asleep for far too long. The heart monitor beeped slowly. His heart was barely beating, it was pathetic. Shadow approached his friend and pulled up a chair. As he sat there he took his friends hand and stared at the lifeless body on the bed.
Shadow: My entire life brother, you’ve watched out for me. I don’t know what to do.
He blinked as a tear began to well up.
Shadow: I remember the old days and when Seann would say to you. “Now you watch out for Steve, Slade. You keep an eye on him and make sure he stays out of trouble.” I always took that for granted and just wanted you to let me do it on my own. Now you’re not here. I don’t know where you are now. I don’t know if you can hear me. I want you to know I’m sorry.
A single tear rolled down Shadow’s cheek as he fought back the rest: The OPT.
Shadow: You should know, I’m going to make you proud Slade. I’m going to do what’s right like you taught me. I’m going to make it work and everything will be okay. Don’t you worry. Then one day, when we meet again brother I will have such wondrous stories to share with you. I can’t wait for the day that we can walk together my friend and converse. One day it will all be made right again Slade; I promise.
Shadow lowered his head. He wished Slade would respond but there was nothing. After all this time Shadow still did not hear anything or see anything. He was alone in the room. His friend was gone and Shadow knew he may never come back. Despite his anger Shadow held back his wrath. He would stay his hand until Slade returned. That was a really, really bad idea.
Later...
Assassin: So why are we all here?
An hour has passed. Slade is still in the coma; however, now Assassin and Dita are also there. Shadow was able to get them there early.
Shadow: Listen. When I’m done, you and I are on a plane for Vancouver. But right now we need to talk.
The giant stood before his two friends. He simply said the truth.
Shadow: Slade is gone. I know it’s hard to accept but we have to forge on without him. It’s what he would have wanted. I need you guys to know that I won’t let this sacrifice be in vain either. The doctors said he may have lost his mind. All those time being dropped on his head and knocked out could’ve screwed him up pretty bad.
Assassin: They said he was babbling about something incoherently, in the weeks coming up to it.
Shadow: Yeah, I heard the stories. He was stealing too. Pretty bad. I don’t know what he got himself into this time but the doctors have been performing MRIs and CAT scans with no results. Zero brain activity.
They all knew that this was not news.
Shadow: But I want you guys to know, I won’t get all pissed off like that again. I don’t know what happened between Slade and I that made him go off like he did, but I’m not mad at him and I don’t want you guys mad at me anymore either. So, we cool?
Dita and Assassin stare at him as Shadow doesn’t say anything for a moment. They know how hard it is for a man like Shadow to say something like that. After a few minutes they finally open their mouths to speak at the same time. Then Slade’s hand twitches. Everyone gasps.
Shadow: Slade!
Across the world the human spirit erupts! They call “The Main Man” back from the brink! He begins to open his eyes slowly! Shadow suddenly slaps Slade in the face. Everyone gets quiet. A billion eyeballs bulge wide... Even Shadow’s! Definitely Slade’s!
Shadow: You’re awake!
Assassin: He’s awake!
Dita: It’s a Labor Day Miracle!
Everyone suddenly hugs. It is the most masculine chick moment in history. The heavens are cheering wildly. Slade looks like he was lobotomized as they embrace him. Doctors are rushing into the room. They push between the members of what used to be the Ass Kickers Anonymous and begin checking Slade Craven every way possible. Shadow and the others try to clamor and make their way back to their friend. Slade is still awake, he looks loopy but he is awake.
Even Later…
It’s almost noon Assassin and Shadow are standing in the waiting room. Dita is pacing. The doctors have been with Slade for some time and not released any information. It’s pissing everyone off. But they all keep their composure. Dita is not going anywhere so someone will be able to keep the two men up to speed. It’s right before they leave when the door to Slade’s room opens and out walks the throng of doctors. They stand at the door and begin to shake hands.
Doctor 1: Doctor.
Doctor 3: Doctor.
Doctor 2: Doctor.
They all continue to shake hands as Shadow barrels between them. He hits them like bowling pins, not on purpose. As he rushes into the room Slade sits there with the long beard hanging down his face. He looks exhausted, but he has a hot nurse, so Slade who will always be Slade, powers through the pain and exhaustion to look awesome as ever. She smiles at him as his friends surround his bed. Craven wastes no time, he asks the question everyone wants an answer to. He strokes his beard as he does.
Slade- How long was I out?
Shadow: Eight days.
Slade suddenly stops stroking his beard. He looks at it. The damn thing is too long.
Nurse: He let me get that face warmer off you. And welcome back Mr. Craven.
She reaches down and pulls the beard in a way that it just comes off. They all look at each other as the Nurse leaves them alone in the room. Suddenly they all just smile. Everything is going to be okay.
Michael Lively you disillusioned stupid ass son of a bitch. I’m sorry what was that you said? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of me beating your ass repeatedly in the past few months. Let’s look back, I beat your ass in the triple threat match, then walked all over you in the Battle Royal. What happened a week or so ago? Oh yeah big ten man tag match, you didn’t win that either.
So what was that you were saying? I wasn’t paying attention. Don’t worry; you have my undivided attention right now Michael Lively. You wanted to talk to Shadow? Shadow is here to speak.
Tonight you get to step into the ring with me all by yourself with the opportunity to change the past. You can finally make everything right in your life and I find that hilarious. You think that you actually deserve it too. You’re pathetic. Finally after all this time, you beat a woman to win yourself a nice little belt: another notch on your belt. Big whoop.
While you were busy phoning it in with Shane Borderland at Shockwave, I actually made something of myself. I promised to end Steve Stryker’s APW career and I followed through. Guess what my next promise is?
Tonight Lively, you get to see why Evan Envi ultimately fucked Meltdown with a roll of quarters. You guys had a reprieve, I was going to Overdrive and I was finally going to stop smashing up the Meltdown roster like the Hulk on Loki. Then what happened? Envi showed up and gave one more F-U to everyone here and beat me for the belt. Want to hear the real kick in the nuts for you Meltdown miscreants, I’m not mad.
Hell no I ain’t mad. I get to keep coming out here week after week and beat the ever loving snot out of one goofy ass want to be Cameron Wolves joke. Yeah I remember calling him the Canadian version of you once. Sounds about right and the only reason anyone would recognize your no talent ass up here is to confuse you with a local loser like Wolves.
Get ready Lively. Nontitle or not I can’t wait to get back in the ring tonight. Neither can the fans, they were so disappointed when they thought I would be leaving them all behind, but I’m not. No sir. I think I plan to settle in on Meltdown for a good long while. Someone has to run the Sanitation department, anyway. Too bad for you Lively. The past few weeks you’ve been on a roll. You overcame all the obstacles in your way and now Johnny Diamond wants to see the look on your face when you realize it was all a dream. Go ahead keep your little belt a little while longer. It’s the only comfort you’re going to have after tonight.
When I am done with you sir, the Diamond Standard will reflect the result I leave in the ring. Michael Lively our Personal Joke. You saved us from Carmen Rivera and you finally beat Shane Borderland. Who hasn’t? You’re list of accomplishment read a great deal of things but the one thing that the White Lion has not triumphed over is the Usher of Darkness.
Hunt me all you want, you’re not at the top of this Food Chain. I am not afraid of you Michael Lively and I don’t give a damn what you’ve done in the past. Tonight I get to shut you up in front of the millions of fans around the world. This is going to be a lot of fun. Find solace in the fact I am no longer the Xtreme champion. If I still were you better believe I would have given you a title shot, just so I could let loose on you to the ultimate degree. Oh well, pulverizing you with my bare hands will suffice. Get ready Michael Lively, Meltdown is about to go critical and you should know something. Just like the last few times I pinned your bitch ass in MY ring, this will not be quick but it sure as hell will be painful!
