Just relax... think happy thoughts.
Deep, heavy breaths can be heard as the image of darkness slowly transitions into a shot of an arm holding up a championship belt to a cheering crowd. Everything is in slow-motion as the crowd is jumping in excitement, their camera's reflecting off the gold. A second arm is raised and grabs the championship off the first and throws it away, followed by the second arm delivering a punch off-screen. This fades into a shot of one person applying the camel clutch to another from behind with the person inside the submission screaming in pain as the crowd still cheers. The person applying the hold begins to laugh and quickly snaps the first persons head back.
Dr. Steven Kurtesy snaps back to reality and immediately sits up from the therapy lounge chair with a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead. He shakes his head as he realises it what as his own imagination and begins rubbing his forehead. He looks up to see his friend Dr. Sandy Deserts writing down some notes before she turns back to face him.
You thought about it, didn't you Steven?
I can't get it out of my head, Sandy. It keeps replaying the scenario over and over again but in different perspectives... sometimes exaggerated.
Hmmm...
She takes down a couple of notes.
Well Steven, it seems like every time I ask you to reminisce about the happier moments of your life it somehow ends up with Mr. Holmes brutally attacking you. This leads me to conclude to two things. The first being that the split between you and Holmes is considered a happy memory to you because you have finally moved on. However, the reactions you have given as you wake up indicates the second conclusion: you are still in shock the event occurred and you are emotionally distraught by it. Can you tell me which of these two is the more accurate description?
Steven ponders for a moment, taken aback a little from Sandy's work as a pscyhiatrist thus far.
To be honest, it's from both sides. I am quite shocked that this happened but I wouldn't say that emotionally distraught is something that could describe what my overall thoughts on this... more confused. You see, once Holmes removed Doug Crashin from the picture we decided to end the Crashin Movement once and for all by parting ways on a high note, as friends. That high note was to occur against Barbosa and Kravinoff but it was not to be... so I took it upon myself to have another shot but we couldn't gain the victory again, inciting Holmes to attack me, though I'm not sure if it was out of frustration or impatience. I'd like to find out his motives as to why he'd turn his back on me when we'd already specifically told each other we would end this team mutually.
And what about referring back this as a happy thought?
I'm guessing part of me is glad that, despite the circumstances, we've finally split and I'm a free man for the first time in my career. Every since I debuted in WZCW I've been apart of a tag team. The first was with myself and William Teach which got garnered my initial success and then formed the Crashin Movement that lasted over a year... although I've had title opportunities at the World Title a couple of times, this is the first week I will be competing as a singles competitor... and I feel relieved somewhat.
Interesting...
Sandy continues scribbling down comments on her notes.
You're taking this quite well for someone who has had their best friend attack them, especially considering that a similar thing happened at the same time last year when your best friend then abandoned you.
It seems like lightning can strike twice.
Indeed.
A buzzing alarm goes off, signaling the end of the session. Sandy turns around to turn it off and jots down a couple more notes before closing up the folder. Steven gets up and stretches his body before picking up his phone and wallet from the side table.
Thanks Sandy for this.
No worries Steven, it's my pleasure.
Although I do have one complaint to mention.
Sandy looks at Steven with a worry on her face.
Sitting in this patient's lounge really sucks. I lost feeling in my legs a couple of times trying to get comfortable on this.
She sighs with relief as the comment wasn't about her work.
Oh good, I thought you were... hold on, you bought this chair. You said it was the latest fashion design for psychiatry.
Oh... maybe I should try things before I jump on the bandwagon.
Probably... one more thing Steven. Are you sure you're okay about what Holmes did to you? You guys seemed to be the best of friends. I wonder what ticked him off to do something like that?
That's what I'd like to find out Sandy... and I think politely asking him isn't the approach I should be taking.
Steven leaves his former office, leaving Sandy to go back to her work.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We are backstage at a WZCW event as Steven Kurtesy is walking through the corridor in his street clothes carrying his luggage to his assigned locker room. At that moment, Stacey Madison pops out from nowhere with a huge smile on her face with a microphone in her hand.
Hey Steven! I'm here just like we promised last week. How are you today? You must not be feeling great at all considering...
Actually Stace, on the contrary, I'm feeling pretty good. What about yourself?
The smile on Madison's face begins to disappear as Steven's expression isn't the one she was expecting.
Shouldn't you be...
Preparing for my match? Unfortunately I got caught in traffic and I arrived late here but I've still got enough time to do my patent training regime to prevent injury and extended my stamina in the ring. With all these young guys up-and-coming in the ranks and entering WZCW, I've got to be ready... especially going up against a veteran kid like Mr. Baller... did I just contradict myself?
Madison is clearly getting annoyed at Steven.
But what are you going to do about...
Mr. Baller? Well, that kid's tough. He's been through the lowest of lows and he's still here giving it his all. You've got to commend him for that. However, this isn't our first ball game together... we've mixed it up in the ring on multiple occasions before and if I distinctly remember, the last one on one contest we had I defeated him at his best. Not to take away anything from Mr. Baller but back then I wasn't as good as I am now. Those days I was considered to be on the level of the Mayhem division whereas Baller was heading to the mid-card. Today, I'm under the glass ceiling of the World Title where he's been a permanent fixture of the mid-card. He's going to have to step up to the plate if he wants to take the victory against me and he needs to be someone high caliber if he thinks he can mess with Steamboat Ricky.
Madison is visibly frustrated with Kurtesy ignoring her actual questions and assuming others.
Why are you...
Well I wouldn't say I'm overconfident about my match there Stace... just that I've got some emotions to vent in that ring against Mr. Baller. Don't worry, I won't be acting out of control and going berserk or anything. Sometimes when I've got something on my mind, going out to that ring and doing what I do best allows me to let go of that positive or negative energy in a controlled way. Anyway, considering that I haven't won anything in a while, it'd be nice to at least gain some momentum going into Redemption.
Madison is about to scream but she stops to realise something Kurtesy just said, creating an opportunity to get the answers she wants. She goes to open her mouth by Kurtesy interrupts.
I know I'm not on the card considering every championship has a challenger but there is an issue that's happened to me that I'm not going to let go unresolved... and I have a feeling that Redemption is going to be the place where I'm going to get the answers I'm looking for. As for this week... I think it's fair that I address the issue. Now Stace, I'd love to stay and chat but I've got somewhere I have to be.
He waves goodbye to Madison as she has a smirk on her face as she finally got what she needed to hear after putting up with all that. That smirk turns into query as she remembers something. She heads down the corridor to the poster where the match cards are being displayed and she discovers the name of the show at the top of the paper:
"Meltdown 57"
