Cleansing the Evil, Part I: "Prelude"

[The O'Connor Brothers]

Cleansing the Evil, Part I: "Prelude"

"Before man is life and death, good and evil; that which he shall choose shall be given him." -Ecclesiasticus

Just come inside and see
It's not just fantasy
It's where you want to be
I lead you through the maze
I give you liberty
I make you feel so free

I'll be your master - You're my slave
I'm like the wind that spreads the fire
A smell of evil in the air
Fire's burning everywhere

You lock me in
So that I'm under your control
You take possession of my soul
I won't give in
Though I have no place left to go
I'm gonna fight you 'till the end

"We were normal people once, just two guys trying to make a bloody living like any other two Irish mates could. We thought we had a easy life for the most part with the way things were, going to the pub, working the factory, paying bills. 'Boy were we wrong about' all that shite, 'til one night a bunch of pussy-lovin' Italian pricks took a loss from a bet too far. We were sitting at the pub watchin some good ol' futbol' on the tele, enjoying the fact The boys in Green were kickin' the Blues arse of course'. When it came time to pay up the Italians said the game was rigged, and we cheated plain and simple. We tried to reason with them until things got a little outta hand, and push turned to shove..."


Aidan-"C'mon now fellas it was after all a close game...well, if you want to call that whoppin' lead we had close. (chuckles) I'd say whatever doesn't sink your ship I suppose, but any stew would just be a man and call it even."

Austin-(Chuckles)"Aye...close game alright...close to a massacre!"

The two brothers chuckle turning to one another as they cling shot glasses together before downing an Irish Car Bomb. Their celebration shots after every game Ireland wins, standing beside the bar in their usual long-sleeved black shirts and jeans. While two of the most dangerous Mafia crime lords in New York, "The Colombo Brothers" stood disgusted. Robert, the younger of the two in his late forties was the Consigliere of the Colombo family. Robert often called "Roberto" by his mother, took her looks but closely resembled his father Antonio Colombo. A tall and stocky, gray-haired, beer-bellied, old man with a temper that flew off the charts. Robert faced trial on multiple accounts of first and second degree murder, abuse, assault and battery, and even rape charges. All of which he never felt the cold metal of handcuffs from. Coming from a family like the Colombos-he had his connections to every dirty cop, crooked judge, and fancy lawyer in the North-East. Robert being described as a "Cold-hearted" son of a bitch, was pretty much nothing more than an understatement...

Then there was Robert's older brother Vincent, the muscle of the family with a temper the size of Texas. Vincent was strong as an ox for being so late in his age, anyone who so much as looked at him funny usually became the victim. Vincent never made it through high school as a child, instead pursued the life of his father by stealing, fighting, and even killing for money. Their family's reputation was built upon this lifestyle. Vincent was just the one out of the family anyone would cross the street to avoid, and the one you never want to see at your doorstep. A six foot-seven, two-hundred and eighty pound man, who wouldn't so much as blink or flinch if you put a gun to his head. Most men who crossed their family would suffer the most from him, and facing the rope, the roof, the revolver, or the river. Vincent was well-protective of his family, and every last one of his family's investments...by any means necessary...

Robert Colombo-"Just remember who you talk to with that mouth o' yours...it could uh...get you into some trouble you don't wanna get into, understand?"

Robert grumbled under his breath standing beside his brother in front of the O'Connors at the bar, giving somewhat of a threatening look as he gestures his hands in a simple manner. While Vincent puffing away on a Cuban cigar behind Robert cracks his knuckles together, hoping the O'Connors were that stupid.

Austin-"Well then it looks like we better call it a day boys, wouldn't want you to miss supper now would we?"

Austin replies by a little coyly and arrogant with a smile, while wrapping his other arm around his brother's neck.

Austin-"Your lasagna might be getting cold..."

Vincent Colombo-"-Son of a bitch!"

Austin adds with a very audible chuckle as the comment frustrates Vincent to lunge towards the brothers, but Robert manages to restrain his brother and keep his composure.

Aidan-"Whoa, whoa, mate...let's calm down now he was just takin' the piss out of you. Don't get all puffy and pissy for nottin', c'mon let's just grab a beer and have a seat."

Aidan cracks a little smile as he steps between the Colombos and his brother, trying to reason with the cranky Mobster family. Slowly moving to walk away, Robert reaches over Aidan's shoulder pointing to Austin.

Robert Colombo-"Better watch yourself you Irish piece o' shit, you better remember who you're talking to like that...you're going to regret that."

Austin-"-Yeah! Yeah! Big tough Mafioso! I'd love to see that!"

Austin continues to shout as Aidan chuckles pushing him back, while Robert Colombo simply glances back while exiting the bar and flipping them the finger.

Aidan-"Ay don't you know the Irish take that as an insult when you reject a man buying you a drink! Stupid fuckin' Italians..."

Aidan chuckles as both he and his brother turn back towards the bar, grabbing their mugs and toasting to a Ireland futbol' victory and a verbal victory over the Colombos.

"Rowdy" Roy-"Hey! What’ll it be boys? One more 'Teeth-Knocker' to settle your stomachs..?"

Roy was the bartender and owner of the tap, an old gray-haired and wise man who had the kind and good sense of humor. Always spoke with a thick Irish accent much like the boys, which was often confused for Roy's slightly country accent as well. Roy was always like a second father to the boys, doing favors for them anytime they needed, even loaning a few bucks when they were tight on the cash. Roy grew up as sort of the hippie, pothead, easy-going individual who could always make people laugh till they pissed themselves. Smiling as he walks up wiping the counter down, having heard the commotion just a moment ago. Flipping the hand towel over his shoulder carefully, allowing his long-gray haired ponytail wave along his opposite shoulder. The light blue irises of his eyes gleaming a bit under the dim lighting, as the boys slightly raise their glasses towards him.

Austin-"Nah...we're good..."


"Rowdy" Roy-"You boys stepping on the Colombo's toes again this week?"

Aidan-"No, not quite exactly, just my dumbshit brother here trying to get himself killed again."

Aidan smirks giving a gentle and playful swat upside the back of the head to his brother, who grins and slugs Aidan back swiftly in the arm.

"Rowdy" Roy-"Aye, just do me the favor and keep your traps sealed a'lright boys? I don't want them bringing any trouble in my bar, it's bad enough the bastards you boys either rid of or put behind bars now stirred up quite a mess."

Roy shakes his head with a smirk slightly, still in disbelief the brothers have done so much as vigilantes, putting evil men behind bars and protecting good, hard-working, innocent people from being disrupted. Much time had passed since then, and the boys had been lying low for quite some time. Not as copycats, not as imitators or wanna-be's, but true saviors-guardian angels protecting their home territory from very evil men.

Austin-"Ah, like the ol' saying goes Roy-out with the bad and in with the good."

Austin answers with a sarcastic tone and grin, tipping his head and mug towards Roy as all three men laugh. Austin was much like his brother, they never seemed to show anxiety or fear, but rather laughed or joked in those serious moments of trouble.

"Rowdy" Roy-"Just don't go runnin' around tryin' to get yourselves killed is all I'm saying, that's all. What more kind of bad situations and trouble could you two boys get yourselves into anyway?"

The brothers slowly turn and look at each other almost instantly while both sharing a smile, and turn back towards Roy who appears puzzled.

Aidan-"Actually, we will have you know we were just signed under contract to Action Packed Wrestling, and debut tomorrow night in our first tag team match."

Aidan smirks as he pulls out their official signed contract from his back pocket, holding it out in front of Roy as a stunned look turns to joy. Reaching out and taking it to read himself as he holds it up close, appearing to have a bit of trouble with his eyes at his age. Chuckling to himself as he reads on...

Austin-"That's right Rowdy, signed in fine print mate...."


Austin adds with a smirk as he takes a swig from his mug.


"Rowdy" Roy-"Boys this is somethin', you could make a fortune doing this sort of thing. Ay! You fellas hear that down there?! My boys here are going to be on TV. every week!"

Roy shouts walking down the bar to the other locals drinking nearby, as a few whistle and cheer while raising their drinks. Showing off the signed Million-Dollar contract to his fellow customers, friends, and neighbors as the brothers keep to themselves with a quiet and well-reserved response. Meanwhile, the television nearby catches their attention as a news story interrupts the sports channel.

News Reporter-"This is Julie Summers with KBM News Channel 5, tonight we bring you this top and incoming story of a child kidnapping. It has been reported that a 5-year old girl was found dead this evening in an apartment building after being cut to pieces and cooked in an oven. Investigators say this may have been caused by Cannibalism or simply a homicide, yet no official world has been given to the investigation. Meanwhile, crime rates throughout New York continue to rise as assault and robbery cases continue to occur. More on these topics tonight, at 10..."

Both Aidan and Austin remain quite uncomfortably still and silent for a moment, appearing as if they've just been insulted. Austin stares at the television for a moment before locking eyes with his brother, lowering his eyes to his mug in his hand. Sitting silent as the look of disgust turns to a somewhat angered and displeased expression. Meanwhile Aidan remains looking up at the television angered and slightly stunned, resting his mouth to his fists with his elbows against the counter. Both appearing to have just felt an old flashback from their past it would seem...

Austin-"Aidan, do you think...maybe, we could..."

Aidan-"I already told you ONCE Austin, I'm not telling you again. We came too close last time, it got too hot; I'm not going to risk that again. I won't do it..."

Austin slowly turns in his stool towards Aidan, and stares a bit disappointed and confused while hearing Aidan's words.

Austin-"Listen to yourself, Aidan! You're saying you just want to sit here and do nothing, is that it?? Let's just sit here and turn our backs on our home, our family and friends. What if that were Dah' up there huh, what if that were Dah' that got killed. Is that what you want, just sit here and let this all happen..."

Frustrated, Austin slowly turns away silent and looks away from his brother a bit disgusted. Aidan slowly nodding to himself finally exhales carefully and turns his attention to Austin, appearing to understand his brother's words.

Aidan-"Do you remember why we used to do it, why we protected our home and so many innocent people? Why we did evil things to evil men, and why we never gave up. We kill one bad man, and maybe save a thousand innocent. That's the code of our family, Austin. That's what we believed in, and that's why we did it."

Austin slowly turns his head peering over his right arm to Aidan, and nods carefully now understanding his brother's words as well.

Austin-"Destroy and strike down all that which is evil..."

Aidan-"Spread the punishment to those which strike fear in the hearts of others, free the good from evil..."

Austin-"So that which is good may flourish..."

Both place a hand on the other's shoulder and nod with a slight smirk, embracing in somewhat of an "arm-wrestling" handshake. Revealing their "O'Connor" family last name tattooed on the same hand, as they've come to an understanding. Toasting their mugs to one another the boys chug their beer, meanwhile turning from their stools and heading to exit the bar...

Italian Thug- "You Irish faggots owe my boss some money..."

A thick accented Italian mobster standing well over six-foot eight and weighing over a possible two-hundred eighty pounds appears. Blocking off the doorway as both Austin and Aidan look all the way up and then to one another with a grin.

Aidan- "You ready for this shit, my dear brother?"

Austin-"Let's do some gratuitous violence."

To be concluded...

A video camera flickers on, and before it stand The O'Connor Brothers, Austin and Aidan.

Aidan-"'Scuse us for interrupting, but it appears we lads have a few things to get off our ol' chests y'see. Slade Craven and Shadow. Aye, we're mighty friendly lads with one another. But all that will be out of the picture simply come match time. Aye, we're new-comers and aye we're Irish drinking bastads. But don't get too carried away just yet, boys. We've done all our homework and research...so here's what we got..."

"Slade, your motives and "plans" so to speak of coming to the APW to begin with, were flawed from the start. Sure, it’s easy to turn up a few lower card championships and work ya way up the chain lad, with people like this John Green fella having the gull to call himself a champion, but when you’re dealing with us? You’re simply illiterate as an arse with glasses when it comes to this story. You decided to come to the APW, because you enjoy arse-kicking? The O'Connor brothers have now graced the APW ring, and you believe that’s enough motivation to carry you, and one other nobody over here with you?"

Austin-"You've got to be bloody kidding me, give me a fucking break lad. Sure, we're new in town—but don't count us out just yet mate. The other half this tag team competition consists of men like you; who while can talk a big game, trot around, and simply cannot match it with in-ring talent. You came here simply to dethrone the best, and well lad-you just met your match. Simply because you couldn’t quite obviously, do it in the circle of anyone whose been deemed worthy to defeat."

"We're Irish drinking bastards, but our fightin' skill be just as matched as any bloke around here lad. We’ll be waiting and hoping and praying that you’re finally the boys who can back up the massive amounts of shit, and broken promises they make. We can expect to hear the typical shit squeezed out between your gapped teeth. The broken threats, the already been debunked philosophies, and the good ol’ story of the underdog tag team. It seems as if everyone who has emerged out of this cesspool of nothingness, have all read the same damn books on ‘’how to be a predictable wrestler’’. It’s a shame half you blokes can’t read, because theres only one John Green who could only add onto his arsenal."

Aidan-"Slade lad, you may preach otherwise but this is simply your stupidity talking out your arse. You and your lil mates run around here like it’s fuckin old days with your backstage interviews, and your in-ring promos. You haven’t shown us shite lad; that's quite a disappointment."

Austin-"And Shadow…that’s the guy with the current longest winning streak, right Aidan? These fat-over-sized wanker pricks are looking out for their selling merchandise and profits, too bad they couldn't make much off you lads. Show us you’re a true hero and save us all by climbing to the highest building ever built, and throwing your pathetic excuse of an ass off it-‘cause we’d be DYING to! Save us from you’re fantasy-like rants full of bullshit that makes guys like me yawn. If you had any sense of what it truly takes, which I’d bet my left nut you don’t-you wouldn’t waste Hurricane Jeff’s, the fans, or my time presenting us with the most unrealistic and dullest promos we’ve EVER seen. Shadow the former overdrive champion. Quite the accomplishment, isn’t it? It’s a shame you aren’t in the main-event picture, and once held back by the weight of that tin can that couldn’t even float in the same water that John Green has been drowning in the past what…year so they say?"

"Your power to devalue the Overdrive Championship, defend it three times or more, your first defense come a mere 11 days after your win, when you faced John Green at RassleMania V. Lad, that aint much of an accomplishment at all...that's more of an embarrassment. Now we know that you and your alcoholic friend are a couple of big Texas rednecks with sunglasses who don't know any better, but relying on homosexual and poking fun at our nationality jokes is not an good insult. Never was, never will be let us tell you that. It's a shite, effortless, crappy jab that ultimately shows your own lack of imagination and skill lads."

Aidan-"We'll see who backs up what they say tonight, then after we're done showing you lads a bloody good bar fight in that ring, we'll buy the drinks on us. Just remember...be careful what you wish for, hope you two are feeling Irish...or should we say....lucky."

Don't try to run away
I'll make you paralyzed
You know it's no way out
It's time to realize
You need me to survive
You know your soul is mine

I'll be your master - You're my slave
I'm like the wind that spreads the fire
A smell of evil in the air
Fire's burning everywhere

You lock me in
So that I'm under your control
You take possession of my soul
I won't give in
Though I have no place left to go
I'm gonna fight you 'till the end

I'll be your master - You're my slave
I'm like the wind that spreads the fire
A smell of evil in the air
Fire's burning everywhere