Post by Nick Watson on May 22, 2010 20:31:55 GMT -4
*Mortalis Incorporated, 4 Days Ago*
Lightning crashes as the roof of the Mortalis Incorporated building is illuminated for a short period of time and two figures are seen standing face to face separated by mere yards.
The rain beats down on these two figures now covered in darkness until another flash of lightning illuminates them again, neither man moves, and both stand uneasily, neither man wanting to make the first move. The rain beats down harder as the wind howls, adding in more sound on top of the rain falling and the occasional sound of thunder.
Lightning crashes again and this time both men charge in, their heads both full of steam, and the need to kill one another strong. They collide, one man brings his fist to the other's gut, and the other then reacts by bringing his head up into the chin of his opponent. Thunder cracks as a large flash of lightning reveals one man to be Madok Mortalis and the other one is unidentifiable, hidden underneath a monkish type robe with its' hood drawn up to hide his face, and to protect him from the rain.
The robed figure kicks Madok in the gut and sends him back a good few feet, Madok lets out a grunt, and then goes to charge back in as the robed figure opens up his hand.
The figure's open hand cackles with electricity as a miniature lightning bolt hits Madok square in the chest and sends him flying back on to the cold hard roof.
The figure walks over to the downed Madok and lifts him up by the collar of his expensive white dress shirt, now stained with the colors of red and black.
"I should be thanking you...Mr. Mortalis. All that you have done in the weapon industry has paved the way for us."
Madok spits blood on the front of the figure's robe and then gives him a bloody grin.
"Fuck you, cock bite."
The figure's other hand cackles with electricity again, glowing a blue hue as he rams it into Madok's chin delivering an explosive uppercut that not only stings, but shocks Madok. As the uppercut is delivered, the figure releases Madok, allowing him to fall to his knees, and then on to his face.
"Do not worry...your weapons will be put to good use."
The figure begins to walk away, but not before spitting on the fallen CEO of he corporation. He disappears through the door that leads to the stairs going wherever he pleases since he has knocked out the only obstacle that had been placed in his path. The camera does not follow him however as it pans back to take a look at Madok who is still clearly breathing, but is injured severely. For a moment, the camera stays still, and gets a close up of the fallen warrior's face, then after that moment has passed the scene fades to black.
*Scene Fades to Black*
*20 Minutes Later*
"Sir, I just can't let you through...this is a crime scene!"
"I can see that. I need to get in there, my friend is in there."
It had been four hours since I had received the call from Madok saying that he had good news for me and Matt, I had drove for the past thirty minutes to get here with my son only to find the place that belonged to Madok in shambles. Chaos had taken roost here at Mortalis Incorporated and I was concerned for my friend. I wanted to see him, I wanted to know he was alright, and that was because of the sinking feeling in my gut. I felt something was wrong and nothing that I did seemed to get rid of that feeling of dread, the kind of dread that washes over you when a family member disappears. I wanted to rush passed the cop and get inside the building, but I knew that even if I managed to get passed him it would not be long before I was halted by more officers of the law. Without another thought I moved away from the cops and went back to my car, Matt still sitting there in a confused daze as to what was going on, and upon seeing my head hung low I could see that he feared the worst. I opened the driver side door and took a seat behind the wheel, letting out a sigh as I did so.
"What the hell is going on in there, dad? Is Madok alright?"
I looked to my son, noting his concern as I did so, and then shrugged my shoulders.
"I have no idea, Matt. They won't let me by to check up on him and right now I fear that something horrible must have happened."
"I hope he is alright. I would hate to see him hurt or even worse de..."
"Don't even finish that sentence!"
I yelled sharply interrupting Matt and then shaking my head.
"Madok is a fighter...what ever happened I know that he fought against it and if he fought then he can't possibly die."
My mind went back to all the hardships that me and Madok had fought side by side through...the whole Strange Tech scare, the Los Numeros, the times when I was down, and I just couldn't come to grasp with his mortality. Every time we had fought hard and every time we had gave our all there was always one constant I believed in and that constant was that we would make it out of there alive. With that now being thrown into question I could not accept it. I got back out of the car without a single word and made my way to the policeman watching over the line, he had done nothing wrong, and he was just doing his job, but...
"I'm sorry for this..."
The officer looked at me before I brought my right fist to the side of his face, knocking him off balance, and away from the direction I wanted to go. The officer fell on his side, the surprise, and the impact knocking him out instantly upon impact. I didn't wait to see if any of the other officer had noticed their fellow man getting his lights knocked out, instead I began to run toward the front door of the building. I made it to the door without a problem, but that is when all hell broke loose. Lightning descended from the heavens and the remaining cops jumped out of the way of the lightning as it cracked the asphalt road and even shattered the bulbs in the light posts lighting the road. That is when I noticed the figure standing in an open window on the third floor, his hands raised to the sky, and his hands cackling with electricity. Was this the man behind the current situation. Alright! It was a stupid question to ask...seeing as how he was blowing shit up and trying to hurt people. Clearly the figure had not escaped yet and that is what the line was for, to ensure that the man responsible could not escape. It just sucked that this man was some kind of hyped up fucking freak with the ability to control lightning...I didn't blame the cops, after all this was something that didn't really happen...ever.
"What in the fuck..."
I said to myself, still in awe at the current situation as the figure jumped down from the third floor, landing in a roll, and then getting up to his feet, dusting himself off as he did so. The cops had surrounded the figure now, training their guns on him like they had an advantage, and hell...even I for a moment believed that the numbers game clearly favored the cops. In this situation however, numbers meant jack diddly shit.
"Put your weapon down!"
I heard an officer shout and I saw the figure tilt his head in confusion.
"I can not put my weapon down..."
I didn't like where this was going and looked around for a gun or something, hell anything at this point that could help take this guy would be helpful.
"And why is that?"
The figure began to laugh at the cop and then showed the cop his hand, a metallic glove with several gages on it was revealed for only a few seconds before it began to glow blue with electricity.
"Because I am a 'weapon'..."
As he said that he brought his hand above his head and then slammed it down on the ground hard, it created a miniature dome of electrical force that jolted the officers, frying them before they could even make a move. But I was not so helpless. I had noticed that inches away from me a night stick had been left behind by an officer, it wasn't a gun, but it would have to do. After the dome faded and the man chuckled to myself I rushed at him, night stick in hand, and looking for a hit on the back of his head. But he guessed I was coming or something as his hand caught the night stick and no matter how much I pressed down on it, would not budge. He turned to look at me, I was unable to see his face, but I could swear he was smiling. Laughing at my inefficient attack on him.
"You are Pence Weatherlight...interesting seeing you here. I had thought you would have kept your hands clean through these events, but it looks like that you too will be a lamb to the slaughter."
"And here I was thinking I wouldn't have one of these cliche' monologuing bad guys, but it seems I won't have that sort of luck."
The figure, with inhuman strength, ripped the night stick out of my hands and then kicked me on to my back. He made sure I was watching as he broke the night stick over his knee like it was a twig. I guess he wanted me to be intimidated?
"Everyone is so afraid of you or looking up to you, but look at you now...on your back, looking up at a God."
"Great Michael Lively impersonation, maybe you can do that cock sucker Level One, next?"
"They were right about you...you like to run your mouth."
"Hey? What can I say? I always have something to say to little shits like you."
The figure lifted me up by the collar of my shirt, stretching it to its' near limit, and then threw me with all of his force against the windshield of a cop car. Arching my back in pain, I got to my feet quickly, and felt my back t make sure nothing was broken. The figure took a few steps toward me, acting like some kind of modern day Darth Vader, and then stopped a few feet away from me. He stood there for a few moments, looking at me as I glared back at him.
"You should have stayed down."
"And you shouldn't have fucked with me."
"Oh really? What are you going to do, Pence? Get thrown around like a doll?"
"All part of the plan."
"What plan?"
I snapped my fingers and on cue, Matt, who had been hiding behind one of the cop cars, through me my gun which I usually carried around on my person at all time. I caught it and then turned off the safety, pointing the gun at the figure who held up his hands.
"The plan that gets me the fire power to teach you a lesson in respect."
"Gun...hehehehehe! They are a thing of the past, Pence. Let me introduce you to the future."
I didn't give him a chance to finish as I began to unload the clip of my gun at him, but the figure had a surprise for me. As I fired the gun a small shield of electricity appeared, stopping the bullets dead in their tracks as a matter of fact it held them still. I kept firing though, hoping at least one would go through the shield, but was sadly disappointed as the clicking noise that sounded to alarm me to the fact that I had no ammo sounded. The shield he was holding flickered and then completely disappeared as the bullets fell harmlessly to the floor.
"Guns are obsolete, Pence. Welcome to the new age..."
That was when he shot me with a lightning bolt. I don't know if any of you viewers have ever been shot with one, but let me tell you something. It fucking hurts. It is like a thousand needles being jammed into the same point on your body. Not a good experience at all. So as I was hit by this lightning bolt, dropping my gun as I did so, I was flung a clear three yards away. I landed hard on top of a car and began to breathe heavily as I winced in pain, trying to move off the hood.
"I wish I had got that memo that fucking guns don't work against this guy. Then I would have brought something a bit more physical."
"There is nothing you can do, Pence. Nothing at all...you should have never got involved."
He walked over to me slowly and deliberately, taking his time to size me up as I fell to my knees on the asphalt and let out a wincing sigh as I did so. I felt the spot on my body where the bolt had hit me and winced as I felt a great deal of pain from that spot and turned to look at the figure walking toward me. The sounds of sirens is what stopped the man from walking toward me, he turned to look up the street to see a battalion of police cars coming our way and a SWAT van. He looked down at me for one second and then back to the coming hell storm.
" Alright...I guess we are going to have to cut this lesson short, but if you know what is good for you, Pence. You will stay out of our affairs and just watch this world burn."
The man began to run away from me and as he did I lifted my head up one more time and shouted at him.
"I hope we get to have another talk like this real soon. Except with me kicking your ass next time..."
That is when I blacked out, the pain was too much to bare, and my mind drifted off to my match at Mayhem as I blacked out and to the thought of if I would be physically fit for the match that was to come.
*Scene Fades to Black*
*1 Day Later*
"Dad look at him...he looks like shit."
"Hey come on, cut Madok some slack. He fought somebody with the ability to shoot freaking lightning out of his hands."
"You did too, but you walked out with only a few scratches and bruises."
Madok rolled over in his bed and put the pillow over his head as we continued to speak on about the events of the night before. Truth be told, to me it was a blur, just one big beat down that I didn't want to relive the next time me and that guy crossed blades. Oh and there was going to be a next time...I would make sure of that and plus some of the things that he said kind of hinted that this was going to be more than just one ten minute encounter in Seattle. "watch this world burn..", his last words that he had said to me circled through my head as Madok sat up in bed. His mid-section covered in surgical cloth that covered up the nasty wounds around his stomach area.
"Could you guys please stop talking? I want to get some fucking sleep. I've been through enough shit as it is."
After he said that he lay back down and went to close his eyes, but I had too many questions to allow him to continue sleeping.
"Oh no you don't! I need you to answer some important questions."
Madok let out a groan of displeasure, but did not try to avoid the questions as he rolled back on his other side, wincing as he did so, and stared me right in the eye.
"Alright...go ahead and ask because clearly I'm not going to be able to sleep while you are here."
"Who the fuck was the guy that attacked the building?"
"Like I have any clue? The guy just came in and started attacking people. Not the nicest guy in the world either. I mean look at me! I look like a train ran over me. Fuckin prick."
"There has to be a reason behind it all."
"Or maybe...I mean just maybe he is a loon just like every fuck face that we have ever dealt with."
I let out a little laugh, he did have a point. If it wasn't terrorists it was fucking psychopaths for us two. This actually didn't seem too out of the ordinary for the both of us, but usually at least one of us would have been successful in hurting our foe. This time we had both got our asses kick and had in no way shape or form even got close to hurting the guy.
"I just don't know...seems like a lot of stuff happened for no reason at all."
"Nothing we can do about it now...all we can do is regroup and try again next time. I have a feeling that this isn't the last time we will meet him that is for sure and next time...I will be prepared."
I nodded my head in agreement, clearly I was not the only one who believed that this would be a recurring fight.
"You said you had news for me and dad?"
I turned my head to look at Matt, Matt had stood a good distance away from Madok's bed, and had been the only one of us two who had tried to remain a bit more quiet. Madok nodded his head and then began to speak.
"Yeah, I got a call from an Indy wrestling organization in New York...apparently they want you to come in for a six month contract and see where it goes."
I could see Matt sort of burst with joy at the news, but then quickly the burst of joy faded away as he looked at Madok in the bed.
"Sorry...I just had to know the news."
"Speaking on the subject of wrestling..why the hell aren't you in the gym, Pence?"
"Don't worry about it. I can fight John Green with my eyes closed. Right now your health takes priority."
"Listen man, I need no God damn baby sitter. Go to the fucking gym and get your last minute training in because if you don't so help me God I will slam my foot upside your head."
I let out a chuckle and then shook my head.
"No can do, Madok. You're my manager and I am going to make sure that you get the best treatment possible. "
Madok let out a sigh and then shook his head before rolling over again, wincing just like he did before.
"Fucking great...fine. Stay here if you must, but don't come crawling to me when you lose the title because you were too busy sitting around here asking me questions."
Madok began to go to sleep as I leaned back in my chair and let out a yawn too. It was true that I should be out training, but in all honesty...I didn't want to leave Madok alone in this place by himself. He was too much of a good friend of mine to abandon him like that and besides... I had a feeling I was prepared for just about anything that John Green could throw my way. And now that I thought about it, what the hell was John Green up to? Was he training or just moping around? In truth I didn't understand the man's logic. He wanted to be champion, yet, in that same boat, he had a defeatist attitude. How can he want a championship if he is not willing to give his one hundred percent every fucking time? His reasoning eluded me...if he was all for the fans like he said that he was then he should not be saying he is going to lose and actually give his one hundred percent for every match. But I guess that was the difference between us two.
I never said quit and no matter how high the mountain that was put in front of me I would climb it or fall trying. I treated every match like it was a title defense and when it came down to game time, when those spotlights were put on me, and the fans chanted my name...I delivered. Regardless of my personal health, regardless of what was going on in my real life...I always delivered and because of that Jeff gave me title shots. I may have dropped a few of those chances, but the best thing about a loss is learning from them, and to prepare for the next match by fixing the problems. I had taken on this philosophy and so far it had payed off...at Mayhem I would see if I had the right mind frame or not or if I was just playing champion in the APW and not really being one. I hoped I was the real champion because at this point I did not know how many years I had left before I finally felt I could no longer wrestle in my prime anymore. One day, I know that I will be too weak to wrestle, and when that day comes I will not back down from retirement, but embrace it. But now was not that time and John was not my final opponent.
Mind you he was an obstacle and if he came to play on Sunday then it would be a good match that the fans would enjoy, but with his recent attitude...I doubted him as a legitimate issue. As a matter of fact I had began to believe that John just didn't care. His past two losses had been horrible and no matter how many times I grabbed the remote and viewed the tapes I knew this was not him at his best and that I would only be able to see it at Mayhem. But what is a man who only puts his best efforts forward when he is going to be rewarded? An opportunist, not a champion. John could continue to dream whatever he wanted to dream...tell himself what ever he wanted to tell himself, but in the end the thing that separated the two of us the most was what we did this for. And to me it did not seem like John was doing this for the fans, but more likely doing it for himself without any regard to what the fans wanted to see.
The fans did not pay for their seats to see John Green blotch two matches in a row, they came to see great fights, and not these boring and rather lopsided matches. I knew in the back of my head that John would bring his all, but would it be enough? Personally I would say no, but that could be me just being biased. John had two opportunities to prove his worth, two great opportunities to show the world that he was responsible enough for this belt, and he blew both opportunities, he let them both slip through his fingers and then after these losses practically said the only thing he cares about is the championship and nothing else. Sure..everything is not ones and zeros, but in all honesty the fans don't respect that sort of attitude from an athlete. Sure they want to see the title around that athletes waist, but they also want to see him put in effort and to go the extra mile to improve. John had done neither of those things and I had a feeling he was not going to do them at all. It was a pity, but the truth was some people are not qualified to be World Heavyweight Champions, and John just happened to be one of them. Hell, I respected John for becoming a bigger man, and even more so I had forgiven him for the failed attack, but I could not respect his attitude. And attitude in this business is key.
"Hey dad...I think Madok has gone to sleep. You think we should get out of here?"
I turned to look at my son, snapping out of my train of thought as I did so, and nodded my head.
"Yeah, lets go ahead, and let him rest. He has been through a lot and definitely deserves it. Come on son...lets go back to the hotel and get something to eat."
"Why not eat here?"
"Because hospital food is the worst food on the planet."
I grinned and let out a laugh as we exited Madok's room as he began to snore. As we walked down the hall toward the exit, I had a thought cross through my mind. I could lose. I had not tried to think about the second option of Sunday's beat down, but it was possible...anything is possible in the world of sports and to say that I was unbeatable would be stupid. If I lost Sunday...I knew that I would not say anything, I would not make any excuses, I would not try to condone my loss, but I would try to improve, and come back for it at Test for the Best.
"Dad...are you alright?"
I looked to my son and gave him a broad grin.
"Yeah. Everything is alright, Matt."
I nodded my head as we both exited through the door and out into the parking lot. I would remain confident, I told myself, and in that confidence I would find the strength to persevere, the strength to win this fight, and retain this belt. Not for myself, but for the fans all around the world. I smiled, this would be a good match. Regardless of what type of attitude that John Green had...I would make sure of it!
*Scene Fades to Black*
*Unknown Location, Unknown Time*
The scene opens up on Pence sitting in a room by himself, the camera is rolling as it goes in for a close up.
"It is time for Mayhem...and man am I excited to be part of this show again, headlining much like I did last year, but this time I'm sitting in a different seat. This year I am the APW World Heavyweight Champion. My opponent for Mayhem however was also here in very much the same way...he was fighting for his shot to become the APW World Heavyweight Champion as well, but one year ago it was my time, and now...coming into Sunday... I have reached the pinnacle of my career. People say that I have reached the top, that I am on top of my game, and that I have reached a whole other level, and you know what...I agree, but that does not mean I am going to slack off and not train anymore. Oh no, it just mean that I have reached a high platform in my career and in my opinion I still have a lot of growing to do as a wrestler and a Main Eventer before I hit legendary status. I know what it takes folks, but I have a feeling that my opponent does not. As I hope everyone knows...my opponent is John Green, the recently reformed Retribution Killer who has returned after a very long time to find the banners around the APW universe have changed from the face of corruption to the face of the future.
And with these changes I have tried my best to bring more recognition to this place...I have fought all over the world all for these fans and the APW staff and you know what? It has payed off. People have poured in seeking contracts and we have seen the largest influx of talent to date since the start of this great company almost over two years ago. I am proud to be a part of this show and I know that these fans are just as happy with these changes as I am. Yet, while some things change...other things do not, namely John Green's want/need to become the APW World Heavyweight Champion."
Pence pauses and shakes his head, he takes a few moments to think before continuing on.
"It has always been mankind's place to want what they do not need and in this sense John is doing very much that...I would say that it has even grown to a sickening level of obsession that has led him to a sort of depression that not many men can dare get out of. You see folks, John wants this championship so bad that he doesn't care if he does not entertain you fans for the price of admission before a PPV. Oh no. John is only interested in the thing that is around my waist and nothing more, he is not an entertainer, and he is not a real champion. You see, John when a man is championship material he usually puts in the effort to get better and to fight like every match is a title defense and in this case you have done neither of those things. Your past two losses were easily winnable, but the thing that you want."
Pence holds up his title which has been lying on the bed next to him the hold time.
"Has blinded you. A man must fight to his fullest, John, regardless of if a championship is on the line, or if there is a prize for winning. You must try. I know that you are focusing on this belt, but let me tell you John, that sort of focus can lead you awry, and cause a deep depression. Think about what happened to me John, a long time ago I made the mistake of throwing all my focus on to a championship and not on to improving and you want to know what happened to me? I lost everything. My girl friend died, my career in the federation ended, and my drive to become a champion completely faded away. For six months I sat and wallowed in my own self-pity, with no where to turn, and no one to look to. Finally something happened that put me back on the right path and I came here...within a month I claimed my first championship, but you know what John...I made the same mistake again, but this time I won.
I grew cocky, John. Once again I lost my path and began to think I was unbeatable and for a month I lost match...after match...after match until finally I came to Test for the Best and when the time came to defend my title. I lost it. John these things shaped me to become a better fighter, but even then it took time, and they could have been avoided. I don't want this to happen to you John. I respect you too much to see you go down this path and I will be damned if I allow you to destroy your career like I did so long ago. John you are my number one contender, but yet in the back of my mind I don't view you as one...I mean at least Level One put in effort to fight every match, but you...you don't even try to entertain the fans in a normal match. If you are all for the fans like me then why do that? Why treat them like shit by giving them a piss poor attitude and a piss poor effort. So in the end John, all I have to say is that your attitude is the wrong on if you want to be a champion.
And that folks is all I have to say...I know that you expected more of me, but my friend is in the hospital, and there is just larger than life shit going down right now. So I bid you all fare well...and John...get ready for Mayhem because you better be fucking fantastic or all of this talk about being champion and all of the half-ass fights you have given us in the past will be for nothing. I will see you all later at Mayhem guys, good night ladies and gentlemen!"
The scene bursts to static with Pence looking on with a smile on his face.
*Scene Bursts to Static*[/b]
(OOC: I really am tired guys, I've tried to put in a lot of effort, but with the new shifts and time constraints I've been unable to do anything. I let you guys down and I hope you all can forgive me.)
We have waited in the shadows for far too long...
Lightning crashes as the roof of the Mortalis Incorporated building is illuminated for a short period of time and two figures are seen standing face to face separated by mere yards.
Our lives have been filled with darkness, but soon we will bathe in light...
The rain beats down on these two figures now covered in darkness until another flash of lightning illuminates them again, neither man moves, and both stand uneasily, neither man wanting to make the first move. The rain beats down harder as the wind howls, adding in more sound on top of the rain falling and the occasional sound of thunder.
But no more, we are unbound, and we will be Gods...
Lightning crashes again and this time both men charge in, their heads both full of steam, and the need to kill one another strong. They collide, one man brings his fist to the other's gut, and the other then reacts by bringing his head up into the chin of his opponent. Thunder cracks as a large flash of lightning reveals one man to be Madok Mortalis and the other one is unidentifiable, hidden underneath a monkish type robe with its' hood drawn up to hide his face, and to protect him from the rain.
There will be a few who will oppose us, but we will annihilate the opposition...
[/i]The robed figure kicks Madok in the gut and sends him back a good few feet, Madok lets out a grunt, and then goes to charge back in as the robed figure opens up his hand.
And how will we annihilate them you ask?
[/i]The figure's open hand cackles with electricity as a miniature lightning bolt hits Madok square in the chest and sends him flying back on to the cold hard roof.
With the power of God...that is how.
[/i]The figure walks over to the downed Madok and lifts him up by the collar of his expensive white dress shirt, now stained with the colors of red and black.
"I should be thanking you...Mr. Mortalis. All that you have done in the weapon industry has paved the way for us."
Madok spits blood on the front of the figure's robe and then gives him a bloody grin.
"Fuck you, cock bite."
The figure's other hand cackles with electricity again, glowing a blue hue as he rams it into Madok's chin delivering an explosive uppercut that not only stings, but shocks Madok. As the uppercut is delivered, the figure releases Madok, allowing him to fall to his knees, and then on to his face.
"Do not worry...your weapons will be put to good use."
The figure begins to walk away, but not before spitting on the fallen CEO of he corporation. He disappears through the door that leads to the stairs going wherever he pleases since he has knocked out the only obstacle that had been placed in his path. The camera does not follow him however as it pans back to take a look at Madok who is still clearly breathing, but is injured severely. For a moment, the camera stays still, and gets a close up of the fallen warrior's face, then after that moment has passed the scene fades to black.
In the end...you will obey...
*Scene Fades to Black*
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The Beginning
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The Beginning
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*20 Minutes Later*
"Sir, I just can't let you through...this is a crime scene!"
"I can see that. I need to get in there, my friend is in there."
It had been four hours since I had received the call from Madok saying that he had good news for me and Matt, I had drove for the past thirty minutes to get here with my son only to find the place that belonged to Madok in shambles. Chaos had taken roost here at Mortalis Incorporated and I was concerned for my friend. I wanted to see him, I wanted to know he was alright, and that was because of the sinking feeling in my gut. I felt something was wrong and nothing that I did seemed to get rid of that feeling of dread, the kind of dread that washes over you when a family member disappears. I wanted to rush passed the cop and get inside the building, but I knew that even if I managed to get passed him it would not be long before I was halted by more officers of the law. Without another thought I moved away from the cops and went back to my car, Matt still sitting there in a confused daze as to what was going on, and upon seeing my head hung low I could see that he feared the worst. I opened the driver side door and took a seat behind the wheel, letting out a sigh as I did so.
"What the hell is going on in there, dad? Is Madok alright?"
I looked to my son, noting his concern as I did so, and then shrugged my shoulders.
"I have no idea, Matt. They won't let me by to check up on him and right now I fear that something horrible must have happened."
"I hope he is alright. I would hate to see him hurt or even worse de..."
"Don't even finish that sentence!"
I yelled sharply interrupting Matt and then shaking my head.
"Madok is a fighter...what ever happened I know that he fought against it and if he fought then he can't possibly die."
My mind went back to all the hardships that me and Madok had fought side by side through...the whole Strange Tech scare, the Los Numeros, the times when I was down, and I just couldn't come to grasp with his mortality. Every time we had fought hard and every time we had gave our all there was always one constant I believed in and that constant was that we would make it out of there alive. With that now being thrown into question I could not accept it. I got back out of the car without a single word and made my way to the policeman watching over the line, he had done nothing wrong, and he was just doing his job, but...
"I'm sorry for this..."
The officer looked at me before I brought my right fist to the side of his face, knocking him off balance, and away from the direction I wanted to go. The officer fell on his side, the surprise, and the impact knocking him out instantly upon impact. I didn't wait to see if any of the other officer had noticed their fellow man getting his lights knocked out, instead I began to run toward the front door of the building. I made it to the door without a problem, but that is when all hell broke loose. Lightning descended from the heavens and the remaining cops jumped out of the way of the lightning as it cracked the asphalt road and even shattered the bulbs in the light posts lighting the road. That is when I noticed the figure standing in an open window on the third floor, his hands raised to the sky, and his hands cackling with electricity. Was this the man behind the current situation. Alright! It was a stupid question to ask...seeing as how he was blowing shit up and trying to hurt people. Clearly the figure had not escaped yet and that is what the line was for, to ensure that the man responsible could not escape. It just sucked that this man was some kind of hyped up fucking freak with the ability to control lightning...I didn't blame the cops, after all this was something that didn't really happen...ever.
"What in the fuck..."
I said to myself, still in awe at the current situation as the figure jumped down from the third floor, landing in a roll, and then getting up to his feet, dusting himself off as he did so. The cops had surrounded the figure now, training their guns on him like they had an advantage, and hell...even I for a moment believed that the numbers game clearly favored the cops. In this situation however, numbers meant jack diddly shit.
"Put your weapon down!"
I heard an officer shout and I saw the figure tilt his head in confusion.
"I can not put my weapon down..."
I didn't like where this was going and looked around for a gun or something, hell anything at this point that could help take this guy would be helpful.
"And why is that?"
The figure began to laugh at the cop and then showed the cop his hand, a metallic glove with several gages on it was revealed for only a few seconds before it began to glow blue with electricity.
"Because I am a 'weapon'..."
As he said that he brought his hand above his head and then slammed it down on the ground hard, it created a miniature dome of electrical force that jolted the officers, frying them before they could even make a move. But I was not so helpless. I had noticed that inches away from me a night stick had been left behind by an officer, it wasn't a gun, but it would have to do. After the dome faded and the man chuckled to myself I rushed at him, night stick in hand, and looking for a hit on the back of his head. But he guessed I was coming or something as his hand caught the night stick and no matter how much I pressed down on it, would not budge. He turned to look at me, I was unable to see his face, but I could swear he was smiling. Laughing at my inefficient attack on him.
"You are Pence Weatherlight...interesting seeing you here. I had thought you would have kept your hands clean through these events, but it looks like that you too will be a lamb to the slaughter."
"And here I was thinking I wouldn't have one of these cliche' monologuing bad guys, but it seems I won't have that sort of luck."
The figure, with inhuman strength, ripped the night stick out of my hands and then kicked me on to my back. He made sure I was watching as he broke the night stick over his knee like it was a twig. I guess he wanted me to be intimidated?
"Everyone is so afraid of you or looking up to you, but look at you now...on your back, looking up at a God."
"Great Michael Lively impersonation, maybe you can do that cock sucker Level One, next?"
"They were right about you...you like to run your mouth."
"Hey? What can I say? I always have something to say to little shits like you."
The figure lifted me up by the collar of my shirt, stretching it to its' near limit, and then threw me with all of his force against the windshield of a cop car. Arching my back in pain, I got to my feet quickly, and felt my back t make sure nothing was broken. The figure took a few steps toward me, acting like some kind of modern day Darth Vader, and then stopped a few feet away from me. He stood there for a few moments, looking at me as I glared back at him.
"You should have stayed down."
"And you shouldn't have fucked with me."
"Oh really? What are you going to do, Pence? Get thrown around like a doll?"
"All part of the plan."
"What plan?"
I snapped my fingers and on cue, Matt, who had been hiding behind one of the cop cars, through me my gun which I usually carried around on my person at all time. I caught it and then turned off the safety, pointing the gun at the figure who held up his hands.
"The plan that gets me the fire power to teach you a lesson in respect."
"Gun...hehehehehe! They are a thing of the past, Pence. Let me introduce you to the future."
I didn't give him a chance to finish as I began to unload the clip of my gun at him, but the figure had a surprise for me. As I fired the gun a small shield of electricity appeared, stopping the bullets dead in their tracks as a matter of fact it held them still. I kept firing though, hoping at least one would go through the shield, but was sadly disappointed as the clicking noise that sounded to alarm me to the fact that I had no ammo sounded. The shield he was holding flickered and then completely disappeared as the bullets fell harmlessly to the floor.
"Guns are obsolete, Pence. Welcome to the new age..."
That was when he shot me with a lightning bolt. I don't know if any of you viewers have ever been shot with one, but let me tell you something. It fucking hurts. It is like a thousand needles being jammed into the same point on your body. Not a good experience at all. So as I was hit by this lightning bolt, dropping my gun as I did so, I was flung a clear three yards away. I landed hard on top of a car and began to breathe heavily as I winced in pain, trying to move off the hood.
"I wish I had got that memo that fucking guns don't work against this guy. Then I would have brought something a bit more physical."
"There is nothing you can do, Pence. Nothing at all...you should have never got involved."
He walked over to me slowly and deliberately, taking his time to size me up as I fell to my knees on the asphalt and let out a wincing sigh as I did so. I felt the spot on my body where the bolt had hit me and winced as I felt a great deal of pain from that spot and turned to look at the figure walking toward me. The sounds of sirens is what stopped the man from walking toward me, he turned to look up the street to see a battalion of police cars coming our way and a SWAT van. He looked down at me for one second and then back to the coming hell storm.
" Alright...I guess we are going to have to cut this lesson short, but if you know what is good for you, Pence. You will stay out of our affairs and just watch this world burn."
The man began to run away from me and as he did I lifted my head up one more time and shouted at him.
"I hope we get to have another talk like this real soon. Except with me kicking your ass next time..."
That is when I blacked out, the pain was too much to bare, and my mind drifted off to my match at Mayhem as I blacked out and to the thought of if I would be physically fit for the match that was to come.
*Scene Fades to Black*
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Am I Ready?
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Am I Ready?
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*1 Day Later*
"Dad look at him...he looks like shit."
"Hey come on, cut Madok some slack. He fought somebody with the ability to shoot freaking lightning out of his hands."
"You did too, but you walked out with only a few scratches and bruises."
Madok rolled over in his bed and put the pillow over his head as we continued to speak on about the events of the night before. Truth be told, to me it was a blur, just one big beat down that I didn't want to relive the next time me and that guy crossed blades. Oh and there was going to be a next time...I would make sure of that and plus some of the things that he said kind of hinted that this was going to be more than just one ten minute encounter in Seattle. "watch this world burn..", his last words that he had said to me circled through my head as Madok sat up in bed. His mid-section covered in surgical cloth that covered up the nasty wounds around his stomach area.
"Could you guys please stop talking? I want to get some fucking sleep. I've been through enough shit as it is."
After he said that he lay back down and went to close his eyes, but I had too many questions to allow him to continue sleeping.
"Oh no you don't! I need you to answer some important questions."
Madok let out a groan of displeasure, but did not try to avoid the questions as he rolled back on his other side, wincing as he did so, and stared me right in the eye.
"Alright...go ahead and ask because clearly I'm not going to be able to sleep while you are here."
"Who the fuck was the guy that attacked the building?"
"Like I have any clue? The guy just came in and started attacking people. Not the nicest guy in the world either. I mean look at me! I look like a train ran over me. Fuckin prick."
"There has to be a reason behind it all."
"Or maybe...I mean just maybe he is a loon just like every fuck face that we have ever dealt with."
I let out a little laugh, he did have a point. If it wasn't terrorists it was fucking psychopaths for us two. This actually didn't seem too out of the ordinary for the both of us, but usually at least one of us would have been successful in hurting our foe. This time we had both got our asses kick and had in no way shape or form even got close to hurting the guy.
"I just don't know...seems like a lot of stuff happened for no reason at all."
"Nothing we can do about it now...all we can do is regroup and try again next time. I have a feeling that this isn't the last time we will meet him that is for sure and next time...I will be prepared."
I nodded my head in agreement, clearly I was not the only one who believed that this would be a recurring fight.
"You said you had news for me and dad?"
I turned my head to look at Matt, Matt had stood a good distance away from Madok's bed, and had been the only one of us two who had tried to remain a bit more quiet. Madok nodded his head and then began to speak.
"Yeah, I got a call from an Indy wrestling organization in New York...apparently they want you to come in for a six month contract and see where it goes."
I could see Matt sort of burst with joy at the news, but then quickly the burst of joy faded away as he looked at Madok in the bed.
"Sorry...I just had to know the news."
"Speaking on the subject of wrestling..why the hell aren't you in the gym, Pence?"
"Don't worry about it. I can fight John Green with my eyes closed. Right now your health takes priority."
"Listen man, I need no God damn baby sitter. Go to the fucking gym and get your last minute training in because if you don't so help me God I will slam my foot upside your head."
I let out a chuckle and then shook my head.
"No can do, Madok. You're my manager and I am going to make sure that you get the best treatment possible. "
Madok let out a sigh and then shook his head before rolling over again, wincing just like he did before.
"Fucking great...fine. Stay here if you must, but don't come crawling to me when you lose the title because you were too busy sitting around here asking me questions."
Madok began to go to sleep as I leaned back in my chair and let out a yawn too. It was true that I should be out training, but in all honesty...I didn't want to leave Madok alone in this place by himself. He was too much of a good friend of mine to abandon him like that and besides... I had a feeling I was prepared for just about anything that John Green could throw my way. And now that I thought about it, what the hell was John Green up to? Was he training or just moping around? In truth I didn't understand the man's logic. He wanted to be champion, yet, in that same boat, he had a defeatist attitude. How can he want a championship if he is not willing to give his one hundred percent every fucking time? His reasoning eluded me...if he was all for the fans like he said that he was then he should not be saying he is going to lose and actually give his one hundred percent for every match. But I guess that was the difference between us two.
I never said quit and no matter how high the mountain that was put in front of me I would climb it or fall trying. I treated every match like it was a title defense and when it came down to game time, when those spotlights were put on me, and the fans chanted my name...I delivered. Regardless of my personal health, regardless of what was going on in my real life...I always delivered and because of that Jeff gave me title shots. I may have dropped a few of those chances, but the best thing about a loss is learning from them, and to prepare for the next match by fixing the problems. I had taken on this philosophy and so far it had payed off...at Mayhem I would see if I had the right mind frame or not or if I was just playing champion in the APW and not really being one. I hoped I was the real champion because at this point I did not know how many years I had left before I finally felt I could no longer wrestle in my prime anymore. One day, I know that I will be too weak to wrestle, and when that day comes I will not back down from retirement, but embrace it. But now was not that time and John was not my final opponent.
Mind you he was an obstacle and if he came to play on Sunday then it would be a good match that the fans would enjoy, but with his recent attitude...I doubted him as a legitimate issue. As a matter of fact I had began to believe that John just didn't care. His past two losses had been horrible and no matter how many times I grabbed the remote and viewed the tapes I knew this was not him at his best and that I would only be able to see it at Mayhem. But what is a man who only puts his best efforts forward when he is going to be rewarded? An opportunist, not a champion. John could continue to dream whatever he wanted to dream...tell himself what ever he wanted to tell himself, but in the end the thing that separated the two of us the most was what we did this for. And to me it did not seem like John was doing this for the fans, but more likely doing it for himself without any regard to what the fans wanted to see.
The fans did not pay for their seats to see John Green blotch two matches in a row, they came to see great fights, and not these boring and rather lopsided matches. I knew in the back of my head that John would bring his all, but would it be enough? Personally I would say no, but that could be me just being biased. John had two opportunities to prove his worth, two great opportunities to show the world that he was responsible enough for this belt, and he blew both opportunities, he let them both slip through his fingers and then after these losses practically said the only thing he cares about is the championship and nothing else. Sure..everything is not ones and zeros, but in all honesty the fans don't respect that sort of attitude from an athlete. Sure they want to see the title around that athletes waist, but they also want to see him put in effort and to go the extra mile to improve. John had done neither of those things and I had a feeling he was not going to do them at all. It was a pity, but the truth was some people are not qualified to be World Heavyweight Champions, and John just happened to be one of them. Hell, I respected John for becoming a bigger man, and even more so I had forgiven him for the failed attack, but I could not respect his attitude. And attitude in this business is key.
"Hey dad...I think Madok has gone to sleep. You think we should get out of here?"
I turned to look at my son, snapping out of my train of thought as I did so, and nodded my head.
"Yeah, lets go ahead, and let him rest. He has been through a lot and definitely deserves it. Come on son...lets go back to the hotel and get something to eat."
"Why not eat here?"
"Because hospital food is the worst food on the planet."
I grinned and let out a laugh as we exited Madok's room as he began to snore. As we walked down the hall toward the exit, I had a thought cross through my mind. I could lose. I had not tried to think about the second option of Sunday's beat down, but it was possible...anything is possible in the world of sports and to say that I was unbeatable would be stupid. If I lost Sunday...I knew that I would not say anything, I would not make any excuses, I would not try to condone my loss, but I would try to improve, and come back for it at Test for the Best.
"Dad...are you alright?"
I looked to my son and gave him a broad grin.
"Yeah. Everything is alright, Matt."
I nodded my head as we both exited through the door and out into the parking lot. I would remain confident, I told myself, and in that confidence I would find the strength to persevere, the strength to win this fight, and retain this belt. Not for myself, but for the fans all around the world. I smiled, this would be a good match. Regardless of what type of attitude that John Green had...I would make sure of it!
*Scene Fades to Black*
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The Retribution Killer is No More...
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The Retribution Killer is No More...
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*Unknown Location, Unknown Time*
The scene opens up on Pence sitting in a room by himself, the camera is rolling as it goes in for a close up.
"It is time for Mayhem...and man am I excited to be part of this show again, headlining much like I did last year, but this time I'm sitting in a different seat. This year I am the APW World Heavyweight Champion. My opponent for Mayhem however was also here in very much the same way...he was fighting for his shot to become the APW World Heavyweight Champion as well, but one year ago it was my time, and now...coming into Sunday... I have reached the pinnacle of my career. People say that I have reached the top, that I am on top of my game, and that I have reached a whole other level, and you know what...I agree, but that does not mean I am going to slack off and not train anymore. Oh no, it just mean that I have reached a high platform in my career and in my opinion I still have a lot of growing to do as a wrestler and a Main Eventer before I hit legendary status. I know what it takes folks, but I have a feeling that my opponent does not. As I hope everyone knows...my opponent is John Green, the recently reformed Retribution Killer who has returned after a very long time to find the banners around the APW universe have changed from the face of corruption to the face of the future.
And with these changes I have tried my best to bring more recognition to this place...I have fought all over the world all for these fans and the APW staff and you know what? It has payed off. People have poured in seeking contracts and we have seen the largest influx of talent to date since the start of this great company almost over two years ago. I am proud to be a part of this show and I know that these fans are just as happy with these changes as I am. Yet, while some things change...other things do not, namely John Green's want/need to become the APW World Heavyweight Champion."
Pence pauses and shakes his head, he takes a few moments to think before continuing on.
"It has always been mankind's place to want what they do not need and in this sense John is doing very much that...I would say that it has even grown to a sickening level of obsession that has led him to a sort of depression that not many men can dare get out of. You see folks, John wants this championship so bad that he doesn't care if he does not entertain you fans for the price of admission before a PPV. Oh no. John is only interested in the thing that is around my waist and nothing more, he is not an entertainer, and he is not a real champion. You see, John when a man is championship material he usually puts in the effort to get better and to fight like every match is a title defense and in this case you have done neither of those things. Your past two losses were easily winnable, but the thing that you want."
Pence holds up his title which has been lying on the bed next to him the hold time.
"Has blinded you. A man must fight to his fullest, John, regardless of if a championship is on the line, or if there is a prize for winning. You must try. I know that you are focusing on this belt, but let me tell you John, that sort of focus can lead you awry, and cause a deep depression. Think about what happened to me John, a long time ago I made the mistake of throwing all my focus on to a championship and not on to improving and you want to know what happened to me? I lost everything. My girl friend died, my career in the federation ended, and my drive to become a champion completely faded away. For six months I sat and wallowed in my own self-pity, with no where to turn, and no one to look to. Finally something happened that put me back on the right path and I came here...within a month I claimed my first championship, but you know what John...I made the same mistake again, but this time I won.
I grew cocky, John. Once again I lost my path and began to think I was unbeatable and for a month I lost match...after match...after match until finally I came to Test for the Best and when the time came to defend my title. I lost it. John these things shaped me to become a better fighter, but even then it took time, and they could have been avoided. I don't want this to happen to you John. I respect you too much to see you go down this path and I will be damned if I allow you to destroy your career like I did so long ago. John you are my number one contender, but yet in the back of my mind I don't view you as one...I mean at least Level One put in effort to fight every match, but you...you don't even try to entertain the fans in a normal match. If you are all for the fans like me then why do that? Why treat them like shit by giving them a piss poor attitude and a piss poor effort. So in the end John, all I have to say is that your attitude is the wrong on if you want to be a champion.
And that folks is all I have to say...I know that you expected more of me, but my friend is in the hospital, and there is just larger than life shit going down right now. So I bid you all fare well...and John...get ready for Mayhem because you better be fucking fantastic or all of this talk about being champion and all of the half-ass fights you have given us in the past will be for nothing. I will see you all later at Mayhem guys, good night ladies and gentlemen!"
The scene bursts to static with Pence looking on with a smile on his face.
*Scene Bursts to Static*[/b]
(OOC: I really am tired guys, I've tried to put in a lot of effort, but with the new shifts and time constraints I've been unable to do anything. I let you guys down and I hope you all can forgive me.)
