Previously, on Ace In The Hole...
You're in the number one contender match for the Elite X Championship again!
I'm scared... I'm scared that I'll... never be successful again.
I'm looking for that thing. That thing that sets the wheels in motion. That thing that changes everything.
Are you Ace Stevens, kid?
Um, yeah.
Good. I've got a proposition for you, son.
Ace Stevens
Tonight We Ride // Run
Ace Stevens, Stan Rogers and Lewis Middleton are all sitting in the latter's office. There's a sense of confusion in the air as Rogers lays out his proposition to the two men with him.
So you, Stan Rogers, you wanna be my coach? Why?
My kid... or, or grandkid... or even great-grandkid... whatever, he did some poem at school about you. I looked you up on the information highway thing and I was impressed, kid. You've got something. I wanna nurture that... y'know, for a small fee. What do ya' say?
Ace looks towards his agent for guidance.
Well, I say yes. Go for it. You may never have an opportunity like this again.
Upon hearing the accent of Middleton, Rogers immediately turns his attention to him.
Are you British? asks Rogers in his vastly different, old Midwestern accent.
Why yes I am. I'm from the small town of Cambridge.
Rogers responds by mumbling something about a revolution and limeys.
Okay, let's do this, says Ace enthusiastically.
Really? asks Middleton, clearly expecting a different answer.
Yeah. Somethin' needs to change, right? Who's to say that this ain't that change?
That's good. I'm glad you see it that way, son. Now, there are a few rules. Number one: what I say goes. Once you've won 23 world titles, I might allow you to have a say. I don't know yet. Number two: no French must be spoken in my gym ever. I had a student who spoke French in my gym once. Once. And finally, if you interrupt me when I'm watching Jeopardy, I'll break your kneecaps. Is that clear?
Oui, monsieur responds Ace as they shake hands.
Once.
---
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Somewhere in Missouri
The Private Gym of Stan Rogers
-
With no windows and a lot of dark mahogany wood, the gym is dimly lit. It's not dirty, per se, but to call it clean would be a vast exaggeration. There is some dust floating around the atmosphere, as well the strong smell of tobacco.
This... this is The Chamber. Breathe it in, son.
Stan Rogers is walking his new protege, Ace Stevens through his own personal gym. There are dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells scattered around the room in a somewhat orderly fashion. The pièce de résistance, however, is what Rogers calls his baby (despite him having produced somewhere in the region of 48 children) a 20 foot by 20 foot wrestling ring.
This, son, is my piece of resistance. Feel the canvas, it's been in the Rogers family for generations. And these ropes, these ropes were given to me personally by Frank Gotch. He says they were handmade by blind Bavarian monks, but I not sure. Don't know if I can trust a German. Anyway, get in the ring.
Ace slides in to the ring from the floor, while the older Rogers uses the stairs (which, in keeping with his theme, are wooden instead of the traditional steel).
Yo, what's that? asks Ace, pointing to a piece of cardboard laying on the mat.
Glad you asked, kid. Really glad you asked, says Rogers as he walks over to the cardboard. The former Tag Team Champion stands it upright to reveal that it is a half-size cut-out of Ricky Runn.
That, kid, is your motivation. Every time I had a big match coming up, I'd get a cut-out of whoever it was to watch me while I train. But ignore him for now, we've got bigger things to fry.
Fish.
What?
Bigger fish to fry, man.
Shut up, son. Right, the first thing we're gonna focus on is this Runn kid's quickness and in-your-faceness, okay?
Sure, lay it on me.
Okay, so you take this face coverer.
Mask.
Shut up. That's your second warning.
Ace takes the mask (or face coverer, if you will) from Rogers. It's simple, cardboard, and has a picture of popular recording artist, Justin Bieber's face on it.
Put it on.
Ace sighs and reluctantly agrees to put it on.
Can you see alright?
The eye holes could be a bit bigger, but-
Excellent. Emily! You can come in now!
As Rogers says this, a young blonde girl, who could be no older that seven years of age enters the gym. As she sees Ace in the mask, she lets out a scream that could only be described as 'piercing'. She slides into the ring and giddily attaches herself to Ace Stevens and proceeds to do something that can only be described as half-hug, half-assault.
Kids love this guy, for some reason. I don't get it.
As the screaming continues so does the mugging. Hair is being pulled, arms are being scratched and t-shirts are being torn.
Get her off me! GET HER OFF ME!
The elderly mentor allows his mentee to be attacked for a few seconds longer, before calmly walking over to Ace and pulling off his mask. Emily stops, understanding that the man she thought to be her hero is actually just a guy from New York with greasy hair and clothes that are too tight. She immediately releases her grip. Disappointed, she walks away slowly, leaving the gym.
WHAT WAS THE HELL WAS THAT?
That, son, was my granddaughter, Emily. She could be a huge star one day. If only they allowed women to wrestle, huh?
No, I meant 'what was the point in that'? Why'd she attack me?
Listen, that Runn kid you're facing is quick, hungry and all about attack. You wanna beat him, Star? Then you have to experience him.
That... actually, kinda makes sense.
It does? asks Rogers, clearly not expecting that reaction.
Hell yeah. If I wanna beat Runn, I have to know him. I have to know his style, his moves, his motives! This is dope! What next?
What next? Um, let's see here... ponders the trainer, clearly unprepared for the session at hand. Well if I remember correctly, Runn is a risk-taker, right? He does all the flippy-flip-flips. So what you need to do is expect the unexpected.
Yeah.. expect the unexpected. Expect the unexpected...
As the former Mayhem champion thinks about the key phrase over and over, Rogers takes the opportunity to land a strong punch to the nose of his trainee. The feeling of pain is instant and Ace clutches his nose before letting out a torrent of obscene, unpublishable words.
[DIALOGUE REDACTED]
Whoa, you kiss your mother with that mouth?
WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?
Expect the unexpected.
Well thanks, 'cause now I'm bleeding.
Yeah, you might wanna pinch that, son.
Ace tilts his head back and pinches the bridge of his nose, whilst continuing the conversation.
Okay, so while that heals, I've got one more thing to show ya'.
Fine. But if you're gonna kick me in the nuts, I'm outta here.
No, no, no, that's next week...
What?
Nothing. Anyway, look at this.
Rogers picks up the previously mentioned cut-out of Ricky Runn and shows it to Ace.
What do you feel?
Yo, what is this? Dr. Phil?
What do you feel? repeats Rogers.
Um, I don't know. He's been getting kind of annoying recently.
Good, good. Does that make you angry? asks Rogers, as he desperately tries to get some anger from his student.
Kind of, I guess.
What if I told you that this pipsqueak has been bad-mouthing you personally? Then what, Star? Then what?
Rogers, places the cut-out on the mat and proceeds to mimic a high-pitched, 'Ricky Runn' voice.
I'm Ricky Runn, and I hate Ace Stevens. I'm Ricky Runn, and I'm gonna beat-up Ace Stevens.
Okay, that's a bit annoying. So if you can just stop...
I'm Ricky Runn and I'm better than Ace Stevens. Ace Stevens got beaten by a girl at Redemption. I'd never get beaten by a girl, because I'm Ricky Runn and I'm better than Ace Stevens.
Yo, it's starting to piss me off now. So if you..
I'm Ricky Runn and I had coitus with Ace Stevens' mom.
OH HELL NO! AIN'T NOBODY TALKIN' 'BOUT MY MOMMA LIKE THAT!
I heard him say all this. So what are you gonna do about it? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?!
I'M GONNA KILL HIM!
No, no, you don't kill him. That'll get you a DQ.
I'M GONNA INJURE HIM SEVERELY!
At a boy, kid. At a boy.
Ace lets out a primal scream as he runs towards the cut-out and tears it apart manically. Rogers, meanwhile, looks on, happy with another successful training session.
