We open to The Sludge Pit in the early morning.
Jack Ruin is found behind the bar taking stock of the vast inventory of liquor bottles, checklist in his hand. The front door opens and in walks
Gordito, bandaged and bruised.
Jack looks over and forgets all about the task at hand.
Jack:
Well look what the cat dragged in...finally out of the hospital, eh?
Gordito strolls up to the bar and and gestures with his hand towards
Jack, who produces a coffee maker from under the bar. As
Gordito starts the machine up,
Jack reaches under the bar again and produces a mug, some cream, and some sugar.
Gordito:
I know some peeps hate the hospital, but I don't. If anything, I just hate not being able to go anywhere. I hate being constricted. And the food sucks. But hey, I'm living, I'm in control of my bodily functions, and I'll be better soon. Could've been worse.
Baez really gave you one for, didn't he?
Yes, Jack. Yes he did. I'm almost proud in a way. I came up short, but there will always be other chances if I keep at it. Meanwhile, Baez is a new man, with new momentum. I'll be watching him, hoping he does something worthwhile with it.
The coffee machine starts to make bubbling noises as the water boils inside of it.
So. How long are you out of comission?
Doc says it'll be a few weeks. Nothing major, no big breaks or anything, just a lot of strain and some cuts and such. He said it's time for a vacation.
Well then, what do you plan to do with your new found vacation time.
Now that I've got the day to day operations of the bar passed over to you, I think...
The coffee maker has produced enough of the dark liquid for
Gordito to pause and fill his mug. He continues talking as he adds some cream and sugar.
I think I want to move back to the west coast. It's been real out here, but between this place and WZCW I've got enough in the coffers to travel back and forth easily without needing to be based out here.
You asshole.
Jack chuckles.
You got me to move out here for nothing then?
Oh, don't be like that. Before this you were wasting away in nowheresville with nothing to do. Now you run a business and have a place to call your own that isn't a worn out party house. Besides, I'll be around. I can't bear to be away from my baby for too long.
Gordito looks around the building as he says this.
It's just that I think I want to use this time to find my roots again, and to change some things. I feel like it's time to update myself, to process everything from the last year, figure out where I've been and figure out where I'm going.
So, first stop?
San Francisco for a minute. Visit the family, the old crew. Then I think I'm going to spend some time in Los Angeles looking for some answers.
LA? Really? I figured you'd hate that place.
Southern California is always a bit misunderstood. I don't think I've ever given it a fair shot. I've always been big on the underground, on the scene below, and never on "the big time". But I'm in "the big time" now, and I think that if I'd like to survive and thrive in this kind of environment, I need a new perspective. Maybe those Hollywood types have something that I need to learn, you know?
Ok, so when do you leave?
Today. I'm already packed up. Figured I'd swing by here to let you know in person, and to tell you thank you.
Thank you?
Thank you, Jack. You being here this last year has been amazing for me. You're a good friend, a good bro, and I feel better knowing I've got you watching my back, and watching over this place.
Well...man...thank you too, Jefe. Thanks for giving me this new life. You know I got your back like you got mine. Nor Cal Hardcore for life, bro.
For life, baby.
---------------------------- 3 Weeks Later -------------------------------
We cut to a dark soundstage. The cameras are rolling. The lights are off. Music begins playing in the darkness.
[youtube]YfRQXIJ3fEM[/youtube]
As the music plays, we are greeted by flashes of light in different colors. Through the flashes, we can see a figure standing in the center of the stage. He is bald, large, and standing with his arms crossed at his chest. The flashes of light increase in intensity and length, allowing us a better view of the figure. He is dressed in a black long sleeve button up shirt with a glossy sienna colored vest buttoned up over it. He's wearing tight dark blue jeans with bleach stains on them as well as dark purple bug-eye glasses. He is standing still, staring at the camera and smirking on one side of his mouth. Words in a font which appears to be a scribble appear on the screen in rapid succession, repeating themselves.
"dedication"
"fashion"
"passion"
"art"
"violence"
"love"
After these have repeated themselves a few times, a few new words are added into the rotation. These words appear larger, clearer, and stay on the screen longer, allowing them to appear as their own message.
"THE"
"DIRTY"
"ONE"
"RETURNS"
"ASCENSION"
"36"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Becky Serra is waiting backstage in front of a giant WZCW Ascension sign with a mic in her hand. She smiles at the camera as she begins to speak.
Becky: Welcome WZCW Universe, I've got a big surprise for you all tonight. Apocalypse had a lot of twists and turns for WZCW, but not many were as big as the surprise return of two superstars who were thought to be out for the long run. I'm talking of course about Chris Beckford and Gordito. Joining me right now is The Dirty One himself, fresh off of his summer vacation.
As
Becky speaks,
Gordito steps into frame from the right. He is dressed again in a button up shirt and vest with tight jeans and bug eye glasses. His head is freshly shaved, and he is smiling.
Gordito, everyone feared you would be out far longer after your defeat at the hands of Baez at Redemption. There have been rumors that you did a little soul searching with your time off in recovery, and the question on everyone's mind is what you were doing with that time?
What did I do with my summer vacation, eh Becky? Ha. I took off for the number one summer destination, Southern California. I was there to take in the sun and the beaches and the fresh LA smog infested air. California is my home, from the foggy coast of Eureka to the burning hot sand dunes of San Diego, and I needed to get back home to find who I am, who I've been, and who I'm becoming.
And what did you find out there, back home?
Well, to tell it all would take way more time than we have right now, baby, so we'll just call it a story for another day. But the important part is that I went home to recharge my batteries and now I'm back, batteries overcharged, and ready for whatever comes my way.
And right off the bat, coming your way is a three way match with your pal Chris Beckford, also fresh off of some time away, and Big Dave, to whom you are no stranger. What a way to make a big return, right?
You said it, baby. The three of us, we're no strangers. Why, not long ago we three came together to make beautiful music in the ring. I've battled against and with these two before, and I've got nothing but respect for both of them. That being said, I feel bad that they are the first in line to taste the new Gordito and to feel the new energy I'm bringing with me.
I've been in this kinda dance with Beckford before, and I came out on top. No disrespect to him about it, I doubt it's going to be easy here. But nothing easy was ever worth doing. I believe in myself, I believe that The Dirty Train can make it a repeat win, to show all The Dirty Ones out there that I'm back, baby
As for Big Dave, I hope he's bringing his best. I know he's probably in a bit of a rut having lost his King for a Day rights to both my boy Wasabi and that whack job nut case Barbosa. Here's hoping he's got some gas left in the tank for Ascension because I know Beckford and I will be bringing it to the max.
After that, what's next for The Dirty One?
Hmm...that's a good question, Becky. I mean, there are so many options for me right now. I could go after Baez for vengeance, I guess. But the thing is, I'm not really mad at him. I gave my all, and he gave his, and in the end he won. Nothing to cry about. Maybe he'll be spooked that I'm back. Maybe he'll want to try and make an example out of me again. Let him. He knows where to find me now.
Then there's Ty. I hear the big guy's been taking a dip in the dark side pool. Maybe he needs someone to pull him back into the light, kicking and screaming. Maybe it's time for The Dirty Train to focus on being the number one around here, and finally getting that title for myself.
Or maybe it's time to get back to basics. Maybe it's time to take it back to where it all started. Maybe it's time for someone to show Alex Bowen what Mayhem really means. I think I'd quite enjoy jumping into the Mayhem Division and showing those kids what's what.
And it doesn't stop there, Becky. The Elite X title, The EurAsian title, hell even the Tag Team titles. There are so many options for The Dirty One right now that I might not know where to start.
Gordito slaps his palm to his face.
D'oh, scratch that, I know exactly where I'm starting at. I'm starting at Ascension, baby. I'm starting at me, Beckford, and Big Dave in a three way. That's all that matters to me at the moment. I've got a heart like an atom bomb, baby, and I'm just waiting for WZCW to point me in the right direction so I can explode. The crosshairs are on those two for now, and that's all I need. It's time for The Dirty Train to get going again, it's time for me to show these people what it means to have fun and go crazy. The Dirty One is back, baby. It's time to get this party crazy-go-nuts.