Post by Shadow on Jul 14, 2013 17:44:12 GMT -4
Morton, Mississippi
Our scene opens as Shadow stands next to his Firebird outside a familiar Chevron gas station. Deja`vu hits him like a ton of bricks. Shadow has been here before, he could swear it. As he looks around he sees the bustling one horse town staring at him. A bunch of hillbillies, Elle Mays and a single one eyed, saw toothed, three fingered sasquatch looking son of a bitch. It was early Friday afternoon, the weekend had just started. In a town like this, that meant drinking moonshine in the back of someone's truck out beyond what THEY called the boonies. No one here knew who Shadow was.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
The voice caused him to cringe. Shadow knew he'd heard it before. Maybe in a dream perhaps. Something about all of this was just too familiar. Turning, Shadow felt the blood drain from his face. The voice belonged to a mountain man carrying a big backpack. The disheveled gray haired grizzly approached Shadow. Even though the old man was leaning on a walking stick Shadow could see they were the about the same height.
"What brings you here?"
That voice... It all came back to him. It was dream, a nightmare really. In that nightmare Shadow stopped in Morton for gas one morning. The same Mountain Man was there too, said the exact same thing. The thought of what came later sent a chill up Shadow's spine. The car crash. One year ago a semi hauling a tanker full of liquid nitrogen drove off the highway and hit a tree. Had that dream not taken place Shadow might have been in that accident. The semi's blaring horn still echoed in his ears. His hand twitched as he felt the impact once again. There was a screech of twisting metal and the hiss of freezing molecules.
"You listening boy?" The old man's voice snapped Shadow back to reality. "I asked you a question."
"Huh?" Shadow shook his head. The gas pump dinged as it finished filing up his Firebird. Perfect timing.
"I asked you, what brought ya here?" He leaned on his walking stick as he approached Shadow.
"A job."
"What kind of job?"
In the nightmare, Shadow claimed to be an employee removal specialist. Shortly after that nightmare Shadow did just that. He started cleaning up the Meltdown Roster. For weeks Johnny Diamond kept booking Shadow against the rookies. Seeing if they measured up to APW standards. Being selected for such a position was something that filled Shadow with a sense of pride. Thinking on his match this week, his chest puffed out a little bit.
"I'm an employee removal specialist. "
"What does that mean?"
It was like they were stuck on repeat. Maybe just going through the motions.
"Companies hire me to take out their trash."
The change felt good. Despite the fact Shadow was in the exact same position he was a year ago, he didn't mind. As he stood there thinking, he spaced out again. Shadow thought about the past year. Meltdown: what a show. Several times, Shadow was thrust into the North American title spotlight. He never captured it. But that was because there was something a lot of people didn't know about Shadow. He was like Thanos, the Mad Titan - except Shadow was more cuddly. No, when it came to championships and only championships, Shadow had a subconscious desire to fail.
For years Shadow had stood against any and all challengers. He didn't care, he would decimate people. And when a title was placed on Shadow's shoulder, that drive was fueled even more. After awhile. It became boring. It was like being stuck in the Twilight Zone. Shadow didn't care about gold anymore. It's why he loved Meltdown, only one belt... lots of victims.
"You on dope boy?"
Again the Mountain Man's crackly voice brought Shadow back to the real world. Instinctively, Shadow shook his head.
"No."
"Want to buy some?"
"What?" Shadow was shocked. "No... Well... No!"
It was legal in some states now. Still, Shadow didn't smoke... anymore. The old man cackled again. As if he was bored of the conversation the Mountain Man hobbled off, then again he could have been looking for an actual customer. Shadow got in his car and a chill crept up his spine.
"Crazy old bastard." the big man said as he tried to shrug the whole situation off. "Think about Meltdown."
He was trying to distract himself. It didn't matter. Shadow knew he was going to check out the accident. It'd been over year since he'd been there. He couldn't help but wonder if the grass ever grew back. No, had to think about Meltdown. Had to think about Jace Savage.
Then again, something happened last year. Something that eventually sent Shadow's best friend off the deep end. It started in Morton, just after Mayhem. Right around the time Shadow started on Meltdown. He never would have expected how much he loved it on Meltdown. The atmosphere, the crowd. They were different than the Overdrive crowds. There was something special about them. Deep down, Shadow was going to miss that. He hoped it would follow him to Asylum. More thoughts kept injecting themselves in Shadow's head. He knew where his focus should lay.
"Deal with Savage first." Shadow kept telling himself. "Worry about everything else later." It was easier said than done... for now.
Because while it seemed like Shadow was having trouble staying focused at the moment. He'd didn't know how quickly that was all about to change. Shadow didn't know that Jace Savage had already cut a promo trying to trash Shadow and discredit everything the big man had ever done. Once Shadow found out about that, he wouldn't be thinking about the accident, or Slade, or even Asylum. No, Savage would have Shadow's complete undivided attention. Last couple times anyone had ever received that, they were got a whole lot more along with it.
"Lets get to Biloxi."
Shadow cranked the engine as Ronny James Dio's "Holy Diver" kicks up already a minute and twenty seconds in, perfectly timed. The music sends a different kind of chill back down Shadow's spine. It's like he knows all of a sudden. A familiar smile creeps across Shadow's face.
"So, Jace Savage wants to dance with me?" He pushes the pedal to the metal as the wind whips through the rolled down window and through Shadow's hair. "Sounds fun."
He couldn't help burning rubber on the Chevron's asphalt. The car roared down the road causing residents to turn their head. This outsider alerted everyone here of his presence and that he was leaving. The sleeping sheriff snapped awake behind the wheel of his cruiser as Shadow soared pasted. He was too slow, he'd never catch Shadow now. Distance and speeding limit wise, Shadow was three hours away from Biloxi. He couldn't wait to get there. He'd be there in just under two.
Freud said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."
Carlin said, "Well sometimes, its a big brown dick."
Jace Savage, I'm talking to you. What's it like smoking a big brown dick while the YMCA construction guy rejects stand around jerking off? Don't answer that.
I know, I should have some measure of respect for you but after watching you the past few weeks all I see is a sham who says he's a self made man instead of some trust fund baby bitch. Bullshit. Look at you, smoking a cigar while Men at Work rebuild you stupid ass office? You know what I miss? I miss the AKA office. We didn't have problems like that. Granted we didn't have a building of our own, walls, plumbing or hell even a ceiling. But it was cooler than your pad.
And you know something else, Jace? You're the reason that one year ago, I left Overdrive and joined Meltdown; People like you. Greenhorns who think they are going to reform A.P.W, really piss me off. You're not the solution Jace Savage, you're part of the problem. Let me tell you why.
Rich boy bitches like yourself all want the same thing: everything. You crave it, can't live without it. Prime example, that ostentatious mansion you call a house. Who needs that? Oh yeah drunk dumbass Paris Hilton BFFs. Jace I can't respect you, and sadly, I doubt I ever will.
You haven't proven yourself. I wish I could say that you sticking it to that religious zealot Jerry Matthews was a moment of measure but compared to your last few showings, I call fluke. What else have you accomplished that was memorable? I'll bet on Overdrive when you got backstage and found that participation trophy for that embarrassing performance in the battle royal you thought you were something special. Jace, you poor pathetic bastard. Let me give you a nickel's worth of free advice, son. You're nothing.
I've watched you the past month or so Jace. Watched you get knocked around like a fucking toy. No, a piñata! You're nothing but 220 pounds of self serving greed on wheels. The next generation is right around the corner and Jace my boy... take a long look at yourself. You think that you're the poster child for the new generation? It's no mystery where these jackoffs that show up in APW come from. People like you, Jace, you sharpen your appetite to the point where you ignore the truth. Build yourself egos the size of mansions, indulge in every despicable desire, every eager impulse, grease your dull-ass dreams with Daddy's greenbacks and gold plate your fantasies so everybody becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes their own god.
But where can you go from there? And as you and your party posse are hopping from one foot to the next, who's got his eye on A.P.W? As the air thickens, the water sours, and even your own sweat takes on the coppery taste of bitter blood; pieces of crap like you just keep coming. You give yourselves no chance to think or prepare. You scream "I'm the future," when there is no future! It's a runaway train! A.P.W.'s got a billion Jace Savages all jogging into the future. And every one of them is ready to fist-fuck this company into a new era. Gangbang this place until it's a shell of what it used to be because they think NOBODY is watching the bottom line. And then it hits home! I'M HERE, Jace. It's a little late in the game to try to prep now! Just know that when this match is over your lungs will be heaving, your body will be broken, your eyes will be bloodshot, and you'll be screaming for someone to save you! But guess what? There' won't be anyone there. You're all alone, Jace. You think you're God's special little creature? No Jace; you're my NEXT VICTIM.
So take yourself a moment and really re-think this grave you dug yourself. You want to run your mouth this week, last week and every other week before this about the same damn thing? Talk about how you're going to end my career like every other rookie on Meltdown said they would? Jace I didn't come back to Meltdown because I enjoy taking out the trash. No I came to Meltdown because I want to see what this new rising generation has to offer. Because when the day comes that I finally hang up my spurs, I want to know that APW is in good hands. That's why I love Meltdown so much, it was a driving purpose for me. Help groom the next age of APW. It's why I wasn't mad when I joined their roster a year back or when Alexander Duvall fired me from Overdrive. No, I wasn't mad. Then I heard this would be the final Meltdown for some time.
So yeah now I'm pissed, Jace. And guess what I'm going to take it out on you.
Not because you tried to disrespect me. Not because you're a rookie, but because this is the final Meltdown. I sacrificed EVERYTHING to come back to Meltdown and now it's gone. And now I'm left wondering, what do I have left to fight for?
Me. Plain and simple.
I have a whole new show to go raise hell on. Asylum. And while I'm there, maybe I can find out what happened to my best friend. maybe I can find out why Slade lost it and I had to bury him at Rasslemania, and maybe - just maybe I can find out just where he went.
But before I do that, I get to give the Meltdown crowd one more show, one last explosive ejection from APW: you.
Unlike you Jace, the crowd actually likes me. I don't have to pay the crew members to loop a cheering crowd over the air-feed because the people there can't stand the sight of me. Hell no. Every time I show up on Meltdown that crowd has ONE!
The fans don't love you. They love seeing you get your ass kicked. Jace Savage, the NewGen Rising? You boys are sinking and fast.
You'll never be like me Jace, you'll never be a Hall of Famer or an Overdrive Champion: you lack the conviction. Deep down you know that you're a failure. Ever since you found out Daddy paid your way through life, everything you ever "worked" for, everything that ever drove you; it was all a lie.
It's time to step up boy, clean yourself up, have some fucking respect for yourself. I'm not like anyone you've every faced before. There aren't many Old Ones like myself these days. This is your chance, tonight on Meltdown you prove President Jeff didn't make a mistake when he drafted you to Overdrive. You can knock me all you want, run your mouth about my past all you like, but that doesn't mean a damn thing to me.
Because your wrong. First and foremost you have no idea who I am. Open a book before you open your mouth. Look at the history, my history. I've stood toe to toe with some of the greatest megastars APW has to offer. I've made history in this place. What have you and your boyfriends done?
Jace, I think it's time that you and I engage in a knowledge transfer about your impending vocational paradigm shift. Here let me dumb it down for you, you savage. I'm about to bounce your ass out of APW like I did to every other disrespectful dickhead who decided he could dick with the big dog.
You're on MY show Savage. Meltdown was my home and you better BELIEVE, that I'm going to put her to bed right. When people look back on this day they won't be talking about how The Guv'nor took on Robina Hood. They might recall that sadistic satanic bastard ritualistically sacrificing Jerry Matthews. They will remember the return of the legendary Sally Talford as the trounces your buddy Rufio. No, the words one everyone's lips will be how savagely you were beaten... by me.
Because I don't need to call up my boys to come out to the ring to rescue me. Hell no. I'm going to go to town on your ass with what might as well be a pair of pliers and a blowtorch. You hearing me bitch? Jace Savage, I'm not done with you by a damn sight. That's right folks! I'm going MediEVIL on his ass!
Our scene opens as Shadow stands next to his Firebird outside a familiar Chevron gas station. Deja`vu hits him like a ton of bricks. Shadow has been here before, he could swear it. As he looks around he sees the bustling one horse town staring at him. A bunch of hillbillies, Elle Mays and a single one eyed, saw toothed, three fingered sasquatch looking son of a bitch. It was early Friday afternoon, the weekend had just started. In a town like this, that meant drinking moonshine in the back of someone's truck out beyond what THEY called the boonies. No one here knew who Shadow was.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
The voice caused him to cringe. Shadow knew he'd heard it before. Maybe in a dream perhaps. Something about all of this was just too familiar. Turning, Shadow felt the blood drain from his face. The voice belonged to a mountain man carrying a big backpack. The disheveled gray haired grizzly approached Shadow. Even though the old man was leaning on a walking stick Shadow could see they were the about the same height.
"What brings you here?"
That voice... It all came back to him. It was dream, a nightmare really. In that nightmare Shadow stopped in Morton for gas one morning. The same Mountain Man was there too, said the exact same thing. The thought of what came later sent a chill up Shadow's spine. The car crash. One year ago a semi hauling a tanker full of liquid nitrogen drove off the highway and hit a tree. Had that dream not taken place Shadow might have been in that accident. The semi's blaring horn still echoed in his ears. His hand twitched as he felt the impact once again. There was a screech of twisting metal and the hiss of freezing molecules.
"You listening boy?" The old man's voice snapped Shadow back to reality. "I asked you a question."
"Huh?" Shadow shook his head. The gas pump dinged as it finished filing up his Firebird. Perfect timing.
"I asked you, what brought ya here?" He leaned on his walking stick as he approached Shadow.
"A job."
"What kind of job?"
In the nightmare, Shadow claimed to be an employee removal specialist. Shortly after that nightmare Shadow did just that. He started cleaning up the Meltdown Roster. For weeks Johnny Diamond kept booking Shadow against the rookies. Seeing if they measured up to APW standards. Being selected for such a position was something that filled Shadow with a sense of pride. Thinking on his match this week, his chest puffed out a little bit.
"I'm an employee removal specialist. "
"What does that mean?"
It was like they were stuck on repeat. Maybe just going through the motions.
"Companies hire me to take out their trash."
The change felt good. Despite the fact Shadow was in the exact same position he was a year ago, he didn't mind. As he stood there thinking, he spaced out again. Shadow thought about the past year. Meltdown: what a show. Several times, Shadow was thrust into the North American title spotlight. He never captured it. But that was because there was something a lot of people didn't know about Shadow. He was like Thanos, the Mad Titan - except Shadow was more cuddly. No, when it came to championships and only championships, Shadow had a subconscious desire to fail.
For years Shadow had stood against any and all challengers. He didn't care, he would decimate people. And when a title was placed on Shadow's shoulder, that drive was fueled even more. After awhile. It became boring. It was like being stuck in the Twilight Zone. Shadow didn't care about gold anymore. It's why he loved Meltdown, only one belt... lots of victims.
"You on dope boy?"
Again the Mountain Man's crackly voice brought Shadow back to the real world. Instinctively, Shadow shook his head.
"No."
"Want to buy some?"
"What?" Shadow was shocked. "No... Well... No!"
It was legal in some states now. Still, Shadow didn't smoke... anymore. The old man cackled again. As if he was bored of the conversation the Mountain Man hobbled off, then again he could have been looking for an actual customer. Shadow got in his car and a chill crept up his spine.
"Crazy old bastard." the big man said as he tried to shrug the whole situation off. "Think about Meltdown."
He was trying to distract himself. It didn't matter. Shadow knew he was going to check out the accident. It'd been over year since he'd been there. He couldn't help but wonder if the grass ever grew back. No, had to think about Meltdown. Had to think about Jace Savage.
Then again, something happened last year. Something that eventually sent Shadow's best friend off the deep end. It started in Morton, just after Mayhem. Right around the time Shadow started on Meltdown. He never would have expected how much he loved it on Meltdown. The atmosphere, the crowd. They were different than the Overdrive crowds. There was something special about them. Deep down, Shadow was going to miss that. He hoped it would follow him to Asylum. More thoughts kept injecting themselves in Shadow's head. He knew where his focus should lay.
"Deal with Savage first." Shadow kept telling himself. "Worry about everything else later." It was easier said than done... for now.
Because while it seemed like Shadow was having trouble staying focused at the moment. He'd didn't know how quickly that was all about to change. Shadow didn't know that Jace Savage had already cut a promo trying to trash Shadow and discredit everything the big man had ever done. Once Shadow found out about that, he wouldn't be thinking about the accident, or Slade, or even Asylum. No, Savage would have Shadow's complete undivided attention. Last couple times anyone had ever received that, they were got a whole lot more along with it.
"Lets get to Biloxi."
Shadow cranked the engine as Ronny James Dio's "Holy Diver" kicks up already a minute and twenty seconds in, perfectly timed. The music sends a different kind of chill back down Shadow's spine. It's like he knows all of a sudden. A familiar smile creeps across Shadow's face.
"So, Jace Savage wants to dance with me?" He pushes the pedal to the metal as the wind whips through the rolled down window and through Shadow's hair. "Sounds fun."
He couldn't help burning rubber on the Chevron's asphalt. The car roared down the road causing residents to turn their head. This outsider alerted everyone here of his presence and that he was leaving. The sleeping sheriff snapped awake behind the wheel of his cruiser as Shadow soared pasted. He was too slow, he'd never catch Shadow now. Distance and speeding limit wise, Shadow was three hours away from Biloxi. He couldn't wait to get there. He'd be there in just under two.
Freud said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."
Carlin said, "Well sometimes, its a big brown dick."
Jace Savage, I'm talking to you. What's it like smoking a big brown dick while the YMCA construction guy rejects stand around jerking off? Don't answer that.
I know, I should have some measure of respect for you but after watching you the past few weeks all I see is a sham who says he's a self made man instead of some trust fund baby bitch. Bullshit. Look at you, smoking a cigar while Men at Work rebuild you stupid ass office? You know what I miss? I miss the AKA office. We didn't have problems like that. Granted we didn't have a building of our own, walls, plumbing or hell even a ceiling. But it was cooler than your pad.
And you know something else, Jace? You're the reason that one year ago, I left Overdrive and joined Meltdown; People like you. Greenhorns who think they are going to reform A.P.W, really piss me off. You're not the solution Jace Savage, you're part of the problem. Let me tell you why.
Rich boy bitches like yourself all want the same thing: everything. You crave it, can't live without it. Prime example, that ostentatious mansion you call a house. Who needs that? Oh yeah drunk dumbass Paris Hilton BFFs. Jace I can't respect you, and sadly, I doubt I ever will.
You haven't proven yourself. I wish I could say that you sticking it to that religious zealot Jerry Matthews was a moment of measure but compared to your last few showings, I call fluke. What else have you accomplished that was memorable? I'll bet on Overdrive when you got backstage and found that participation trophy for that embarrassing performance in the battle royal you thought you were something special. Jace, you poor pathetic bastard. Let me give you a nickel's worth of free advice, son. You're nothing.
I've watched you the past month or so Jace. Watched you get knocked around like a fucking toy. No, a piñata! You're nothing but 220 pounds of self serving greed on wheels. The next generation is right around the corner and Jace my boy... take a long look at yourself. You think that you're the poster child for the new generation? It's no mystery where these jackoffs that show up in APW come from. People like you, Jace, you sharpen your appetite to the point where you ignore the truth. Build yourself egos the size of mansions, indulge in every despicable desire, every eager impulse, grease your dull-ass dreams with Daddy's greenbacks and gold plate your fantasies so everybody becomes an aspiring emperor, becomes their own god.
But where can you go from there? And as you and your party posse are hopping from one foot to the next, who's got his eye on A.P.W? As the air thickens, the water sours, and even your own sweat takes on the coppery taste of bitter blood; pieces of crap like you just keep coming. You give yourselves no chance to think or prepare. You scream "I'm the future," when there is no future! It's a runaway train! A.P.W.'s got a billion Jace Savages all jogging into the future. And every one of them is ready to fist-fuck this company into a new era. Gangbang this place until it's a shell of what it used to be because they think NOBODY is watching the bottom line. And then it hits home! I'M HERE, Jace. It's a little late in the game to try to prep now! Just know that when this match is over your lungs will be heaving, your body will be broken, your eyes will be bloodshot, and you'll be screaming for someone to save you! But guess what? There' won't be anyone there. You're all alone, Jace. You think you're God's special little creature? No Jace; you're my NEXT VICTIM.
So take yourself a moment and really re-think this grave you dug yourself. You want to run your mouth this week, last week and every other week before this about the same damn thing? Talk about how you're going to end my career like every other rookie on Meltdown said they would? Jace I didn't come back to Meltdown because I enjoy taking out the trash. No I came to Meltdown because I want to see what this new rising generation has to offer. Because when the day comes that I finally hang up my spurs, I want to know that APW is in good hands. That's why I love Meltdown so much, it was a driving purpose for me. Help groom the next age of APW. It's why I wasn't mad when I joined their roster a year back or when Alexander Duvall fired me from Overdrive. No, I wasn't mad. Then I heard this would be the final Meltdown for some time.
So yeah now I'm pissed, Jace. And guess what I'm going to take it out on you.
Not because you tried to disrespect me. Not because you're a rookie, but because this is the final Meltdown. I sacrificed EVERYTHING to come back to Meltdown and now it's gone. And now I'm left wondering, what do I have left to fight for?
Me. Plain and simple.
I have a whole new show to go raise hell on. Asylum. And while I'm there, maybe I can find out what happened to my best friend. maybe I can find out why Slade lost it and I had to bury him at Rasslemania, and maybe - just maybe I can find out just where he went.
But before I do that, I get to give the Meltdown crowd one more show, one last explosive ejection from APW: you.
Unlike you Jace, the crowd actually likes me. I don't have to pay the crew members to loop a cheering crowd over the air-feed because the people there can't stand the sight of me. Hell no. Every time I show up on Meltdown that crowd has ONE!
The fans don't love you. They love seeing you get your ass kicked. Jace Savage, the NewGen Rising? You boys are sinking and fast.
You'll never be like me Jace, you'll never be a Hall of Famer or an Overdrive Champion: you lack the conviction. Deep down you know that you're a failure. Ever since you found out Daddy paid your way through life, everything you ever "worked" for, everything that ever drove you; it was all a lie.
It's time to step up boy, clean yourself up, have some fucking respect for yourself. I'm not like anyone you've every faced before. There aren't many Old Ones like myself these days. This is your chance, tonight on Meltdown you prove President Jeff didn't make a mistake when he drafted you to Overdrive. You can knock me all you want, run your mouth about my past all you like, but that doesn't mean a damn thing to me.
Because your wrong. First and foremost you have no idea who I am. Open a book before you open your mouth. Look at the history, my history. I've stood toe to toe with some of the greatest megastars APW has to offer. I've made history in this place. What have you and your boyfriends done?
Jace, I think it's time that you and I engage in a knowledge transfer about your impending vocational paradigm shift. Here let me dumb it down for you, you savage. I'm about to bounce your ass out of APW like I did to every other disrespectful dickhead who decided he could dick with the big dog.
You're on MY show Savage. Meltdown was my home and you better BELIEVE, that I'm going to put her to bed right. When people look back on this day they won't be talking about how The Guv'nor took on Robina Hood. They might recall that sadistic satanic bastard ritualistically sacrificing Jerry Matthews. They will remember the return of the legendary Sally Talford as the trounces your buddy Rufio. No, the words one everyone's lips will be how savagely you were beaten... by me.
Because I don't need to call up my boys to come out to the ring to rescue me. Hell no. I'm going to go to town on your ass with what might as well be a pair of pliers and a blowtorch. You hearing me bitch? Jace Savage, I'm not done with you by a damn sight. That's right folks! I'm going MediEVIL on his ass!
