AS46: Gauntlet Match - Steven Kurtesy vs. The Apostles of Chaos

[Ty Burna]

Mister Alhazred/S.H.I.T/Chris K.O. vs. Steven Kurtesy​

Originally slated for Meltdown, Vance Bateman managed to steal this match and place it as the main event of Ascension to lessen the possibility of something bad happening to the World champion on Ty's show. However, the match rules remain untouched as Steven Kurtesy will have to face every member of the Apostle of Chaos in the daunting gauntlet match. He will have to survive the mad doctor Mister Alhazred, the mechanical nightmare S.H.I.T. and Ty's right-hand man Chris K.O. Will Steven Kurtesy be able to walk out of the match or will Kurtesy have to give up his title prematurely?

Deadline is Wednesday, April 4th at 11:59 PM EST.​

 

[Miko]

His surprising physical resources helped make us more than an even match for Saxton and Saboteur.

His strategy turned the tide of the match in our favour.

Perhaps he is the genius he claims to be.

Perhaps he is a worthy master after all.​

S.H.I.T is standing in a vast open space of almost pure blackness, standing is probably the wrong term, floating would better describe it, it doesn’t appear worried however, such things being beyond the capabilities of a robot. If it was possible to see an expression, it might possibly be one of sheer neutrality. As it stands in the nothing, it is surrounded by a large amount of floating orbs, made up of seemingly nothing but light, they come in three different colours, red, green and blue, there are only two blue orbs as opposed to the many others of other colours, some are lighter or darker, but always in those three colours, they are hovering around S.H.I.T as a sort of protective layer against the outside world.

S.H.I.T reaches out and grasps one of the orbs, it doesn’t put up a fight, this one is a very dark red, almost like blood. The machine opens it in half, cupping each half in the palms of its hands. Suddenly the other orbs disappear, replaced by images. A chair flying towards S.H.I.T, the machine catching the chair out of instinct, before having it kicked into it’s face with such a force that it knocks the robot over. This is replaced by an image of S.H.I.T and Alhazred assaulting the perpetrator of the initial attack, one Steven Kurtesy on the following night. This is replaced by Ty Burna making the Gauntlet Match against Kurtesy for next week. The images die away, leaving S.H.I.T surrounded by the orbs again.

It reaches out again, this time it grabs a lighter red orb, it repeats the process, this orb replays S.H.I.T’s memories of playing video games with Alhazred, discussing strategy for their upcoming match against Saxton and Saboteur. The images fade, the orbs return. This time it takes another red orb, so light that it is almost pink, it replays the memory of being escorted through S.H.I.T Industries by two security guards, being taken into an office and meeting Gustav for the first time.

The images fade out. The orbs return.

S.H.I.T reaches out, this time it grabs a green orb, a picture of Alhazred appears, along with information that S.H.I.T has stored of the man. Lines and lines of green text displayed in front of the robot. Every little detail S.H.I.T has picked up is in here somewhere. Scrolling through S.H.I.T locates the piece of writing it was looking for, it say’s “arrogant blowhard.” S.H.I.T scribbles this out with a quick movement of its finger, before replacing it with “Genius (possibly insane!)”

The images fade, the orbs return.

S.H.I.T turns in the air a full 180 degrees, it locates another green orb, this time Steven Kurtesy appears, a full profile picture and information stored, with full analysis of the mans moves set and techniques, much the same as Alhazred. With a quick movement of its finger S.H.I.T draws cross hairs on the picture of Kurtesy, the point of which meets right in the forehead of the World Heavywieght Champion, before fading out the images. The orbs return.

The match is made, the opponent is Steven Kurtesy!

S.H.I.T pulls another green orb from the blackness, this time a picture of Chris K.O appears, with full profile information, exactly the same as the previous two. S.H.I.T scrolls down, locating the part it was looking for, it is under allegiances, it reads “Ally of Chaos!”

Now it reads “Possible liability!”

The images fade again, the orbs return.

S.H.I.T reaches out and grabs a blue orb, opening it like it did the others, this time it is met by a red warning light, with a line of text, which says simply “File Corrupted!”

Something used to be here!

The machine stares at the image for a long moment.

What was it?

Giving up, it fades the images, selecting the other blue orb, this one very dark indeed, bordering on a shade of purple. S.H.I.T grabs this orb far less tenderly than it had selected the others, almost cracking it open. Another picture of Mister Alhazred greets it, this time with a cheesy smile on his face and a pose which makes him point at the watcher of the image like a bit of a douche bag, a line of text below the picture.

Serve Alhazred! Destroy all!

The Machine nods simply, unlike the other files these blue ones cannot be changed internally, a weapon cannot choose its allegiance, it is governed by the hands it falls into. It appears to be in the hands of Mister Alhazred. Who himself is in the hands of Chaos. This is how it is.

The images fade, as do the returning orbs. S.H.I.T returns to the land of the living, not that S.H.I.T considers itself alive, but the squashy Humans certainly were alive. For now anyway.

It seems to take the robot a while to get it's vision to clear and for it to get a bearing on its surroundings.

It is in a room, there is furniture and everything, S.H.I.T doesnt take the time to investigate, it could be a bedroom, or even a kitchen, however its mostly single track mind is occupied by another thing. There was something about that corrupted file, something which seemed like it should've been important. That is if anything seems like anything at all to S.H.I.T.

No matter! It mumbled to itself, shaking it off. Steven Kurtesy is the matter at hand, he will be dealt with, as per the instructions of Ty Burna and Mister Alhazred.

The Machine paused for a while.

The matter of Chris K.O. He must be watched, closely.

S.H.I.T didn’t want much out of its existence, the total annihilation of all life forms on the planet would be nice, but the only thing it really needed was a purpose, without a purpose it would go to rust. It decided to seek out the only thing that gives it that purpose, the purpose which prevents rust.

He was probably in the next room, playing video games.

Probably.

Humans can be erratic and unpredictable though.

It just isnt natural.

 

[red ass skull muhfukkah]

Mister Alhazred is sitting on his couch in his living room. The walls are more stained than ever as is the couch. The floor is littered with various cans of beer and salty snack wrappers as usual. The T.V. is on but it is only static. Alhazred himself is wearing only his mask and tighty-whiteys, although calling them white would be like calling Rush young. In his hands is N64 controller and it seems to be the only clean thing in the house. Alhazred is staring intently at the T.V. screen, his eyes are bloodshot. He begins to mumble to himself.

Mister Alhazred: Gotta beat him, gotta hurt him, gotta kill him. I have to. I have to take him out, he’s gonna die. After all he’s done I can’t let him get away with it, he must be punished, he will be punished, I will punish him. I’ve done it before, we’ve done it before, we’ll do it again, I’ll do it again. There’s too much at stake now, I can’t fail, I won’t fail. My master needs me, needs me to take him out now, needs me to hurt him, needs me to destroy him, needs me to tear him limb from limb. Chaos must continue to reign, chaos must become stronger, chaos will become stronger because I will tear him limb from limb, I will destroy him. Why does he continue to be a thorn in our side? We beat him down, we deliver an endless amount of pain to his body and his mind, yet he still fights on, fights through the pain and overpowers us. Is it luck or does his meditation mumbo jumbo actually work? It must be luck, it has to be luck, but luck runs out, it will run out on Ascension. But will it really? Can we actually stop him? Should I even try if I know that no matter how much agony we put him through he will come out stronger and more determined? No, I have to try. No, I won’t try to destroy him, I will destroy him, I will take him down. Take down for good, if I don’t S.H.I.T. will, if S.H.I.T. doesn’t Chris will, will he? He’s been acting strange lately, distant to us who follow the chaos. It would seem the rays of sunshine delivered from Celeste’s beautifully sculpted ass are beginning to seep into the darkness that dwells within him. The rainbows are clearing out the chaos. Surely his mind is strong enough to deflect such weak tricks? Surely the words of Ty echo louder his brain than that siren’s voice? It must, he is the protégé, the one Ty chose. Ty has been teaching him for months everything he knows, surely this is just an act? He’s just letting Celeste think she’s getting to him, he’s going to let her get as close as possible before going in for the kill. Is he playing her? He must be playing her. But if he’s playing her than he’s probably playing me as well. He should have told me the plan before he started doing it, they never tell me anything. I just do what I’m told when I’m told. That’s how it must be though, right? There must be some order for chaos to ensue perfectly, right? Right. But why wouldn’t Ty and Chris tell me about this plan? Unless it isn’t a plan and it’s for real. But if it’s for real and Chris is truly falling for Crimson’s ploys than we have gained another enemy, and enemy that could turn into our worst. He knows everything, he’s knows more than I do. What do I know? Nothing. I know nothing yet I still follow, I still carry on the chaos. I have to. Why do I have to? Because it’s the only thing that keeps me going, because without it I would have nothing, if I didn’t have it I would still be in that coma waiting to wake up. No one would have woken me up, they all forgot about me. King forgot about me, moved on. But I’ve gone farther than he did. He was weak, I was strong, I am strong. He held me back, he always held me back. Is Ty holding me back? No he’s not holding me back, he’s making me stronger, he’s made me a killer, a destroyer, a devourer. All will pay because he says they must. Kurtesy will pay because he says he must. I destroy his body, I will kill his spirit, I will devour his soul. I hope I’m the first he meets in the match. I can’t wait to see the look on his face, the fear that will fill his eyes as stares at me from across the ring. He will know what I’m going to do to him, what I must do to him. I don’t know what will be better; the look on his face when he knows he’s going to die, the fear in his eyes as I’m beating him into a bloody pulp, or the feeling of my fists bruising his body and tearing his skin from his flesh. That is what I truly live for. That rush that runs through my entire body when my Power Glove meets flesh, the feeling when my opponent’s eyes are begging for mercy but I carry on the pain. But that feeling will be amplified in this match because it will be Kurtesy. As soon as that bell rings I’m going to charge at him and dropkick his face so hard he’ll fly out of the ring. His back will hit the hard floor and I’ll give him time to rest and get up. When he gets up he’ll be met with another dropkick to the face. He’ll fall backwards into the steel steps and I’ll dropkick his back into them again. I’ll grab him by his neck and slam his head onto the steel continuously until his brains are oozing out of his skull. The ref will be close to counting the ten but I’ll stop it. I’ll roll Kurtesy’s lifeless body into the ring, climb to the top rope and drop my fist right on his ugly little face. Then I’ll punch him in the face over and over and over and over again until my hands are drenched in his blood. I will stomp on his arms and legs until my feet get numb. I’ll stomp so hard and long that his limbs will look like pieces of spaghetti hanging from his body. Heh, I said long and hard. Am I still resorting to childish dick and fart jokes? I guess so. Am I above such things? No, I can’t be, gotta have a laugh once in a while. Gotta smile once in a while. If I didn’t then I would probably go insane, but I’m kind of already insane aren’t I? No, I’m not insane, if anything I’m saner than I’ve ever been. For now I see clear, I see through my eyes, I see through Mister’s eyes, I see through the eye of chaos. I can see clearly now because the rain is gone. I can see clearly now because the pain is gone. My pain’s gone but that means I have to inflict more pain on others. Gotta balance out the world. If I’m feeling no pain than someone must take that bullet for me, Kurtesy will take that bullet this week. But am I really feeling no pain? My body doesn’t hurt so much and my spirits are the highest they’ve been in a while after finally beating my nemeses Saxton and Saboteur. Those fools finally got what was coming to them after all these months. Loss after loss to the those two in tag matches, in individual matches, finally I got my revenge by pinning their shoulders to the mat. But was that enough? Should I have done more to them? More to punish them for their interference in the order of chaos? Punish them for trying to stop this freight train of annihilation? No I’ve done enough; they are insignificant at the moment compared to the grand scheme of the master. At one time they were a factor, something to actually worry about. But now they are nothing and we have beaten them. If you can beat them once you can beat them again. But what if they interfere in the match? They are chums with stupid Kurtesy and they seem to be all for doing what is right and just. Who are they to decide what is right and just? Is it right and just that my father murdered my mother while I was sitting in the next room? Is it right and just that I heard her screams and saw her blood seeping onto the carpet, yet did nothing but continue to play the Legend of Zelda? I did what I had to do, I did what I cared about. That is all that is right and just in my world, doing what I must to survive, doing what I must to trudge forward through all the shit that has been thrown my way since I was a boy. Father must be proud of what I’ve become, father must be proud that I am becoming him. I am becoming an uncontrollable monster who’s only wish is to destroy everyone and everything not named S.H.I.T., Ty and K.O.. But am I really uncontrollable? Ty seems to be able to control me. But that is because I let him control me, because I know he is the master of chaos, the master of WZCW and I want to be aprt of the chaos, I want to inflict the chaos on WZCW. But is he really controlling me? He has the Ouija and does have some strange powers. Those powers can’t be real though, it’s all superstitious jibber jabber, smoke and mirrors to intimidate his enemies. It doesn’t intimidate me though because I see right through it. I see through all the fancy vernacular, I see through all the make up, I see through all the political ploys, the lighting effects, the smoke machines. I see someone who is just like me. I see someone who wants what I want, who wants to do to everyone what I want to do to everyone. All he wants to do is kill and maim and destroy and devour and hurt and consume and obliterate everything. That is why I follow him because I am him and he is me. But does he control me? No he doesn’t. I control myself, but how much longer can I even do that. I don’t even want to think about what I’ll do when it comes to that. He doesn’t control me. But he controls the chaos in WZCW and I strive for chaos so in the end he does control me? Right? I guess so. That’s fine. That’s o.k. I can live that. Can I? Yes I can, I must, I will. I will face Kurtesy on Ascension, I will hurt Kurtesy on Ascension, I will tear Kurtesy limb from limb on Ascension, I will leave Kurtesy within an inch of his life on Ascension, and I will leave his scraps for S.H.I.T. and Chris on Ascension. So the master has willed, so it must be done. I have control of the machine but I myself am the machine of a master. My objective is to cause chaos because chaos must reign.

Mister Alhazred snaps out of his stare and looks around the room for a moment. He grabs one of the beers on the table in front of him and takes a swig. He looks into the room S.H.I.T. is standing in.

Mister Alhazred: S.H.I.T.! S.H.I.T.! Wake up! S.H.I.T.!

S.H.I.T. turns on and walks over to Alhazred.

S.H.I.T.: What is your command?

Mister Alhazred: Call Ty and Chris and tell them to come over right away.

S.H.I.T.: What is the reason for their haste?

Mister Alhazred: We gotta play drunken Mario Party and it’s no fun with you because you can’t get drunk.

S.H.I.T.: I am on it.

Mister Alhazred: Oh and get me some pants!

S.H.I.T. walks into the other room as the scene fades to black.

 

[Viola Moonlight]

Steven re-adjusts his World championship along his shoulder as the weight of the gold feels a little heavier than usual. He doesn't know whether its because he knows that tough times are ahead or if its the ability to able to trust another woman in Celeste, who he just finished discussing business with in the arena's loading dock. Whatever it is, its making Steven feel an emotion of paranoia, something which is not used: trying to watch your back at every turn for any signs of trouble. At least he can take solace in the fact that Ty is his next opponent and no-one else right now is daring enough to take his spot or his match at Kingdom Come. He knows Ty wants to make sure that Kurtesy is the man he takes the title off: it'll send shock-waves through WZCW as the one man who has vowed to take down the Chaos by any means couldn't get job done.

Kurtesy shakes his as to not ponder about such things: he can't be planning his moves 10 paces ahead when he's got a huge obstacle in his way at step 1. Steven checks both ways down on the corridor before proceeding, making sure every doorway and potential hiding places are unoccupied. He'd rather look presentable for his interview with Stacey Madison: she can be one tough woman if you don't dress and act accordingly. It's a good thing Kurtesy wore his fancy suit as it will provide a way for the conversation to begin more pleasantly. Kurtesy continues down the hallway and eventually locates Madison who is unsurprisingly sitting down in a make-up booth, getting herself pretty. Steven suspects that the interview isn't until later but he cannot pass up the opportunity to sneak up on Stacey and force her to conduct a questionnaire. Slowly he walks up as Stacey has her face buried in the latest edition of WZCW Magazine, reading her own column with a smile. He sits down besides her undetected.

Trying to find ways to improve your journalism skills, Stace?

The moment Steven started talking, Madison jumped and the magazine flew away: not to mention head-butting the make-up artist in the stomach. A smile is on the face of Kurtesy as Madison does not look too happy to see the World champion.

My journalism is quite fine, thank you. I appreciate you walking up unannounced and making me jump like that... I think you deserve to award me with an apology.

Actually Stace, I think you may need to apologise.

Steven points behind Stacey as the make-up artist is holding her stomach with an unimpressed expression on her face. Madison turns around to see this and the artist walks off. Stacey is shocked by her actions and her mouth drops as Steven's smile grows bigger. She turns to Steven.

This day keeps getting better and better. How am I supposed to get my face on now?

How about you do it yourself?

And get these newly done manicured hands dirty? Surely you are kidding.

Unless you would rather me fix everything up?

Stacey looks with a blank stare at Kurtesy as he highly doubts he can do it.

I've helped Sandy dozens of times, it's easy. I know how to sift through a make-up kit and put everything on. What lipstick would you like: lilac or cherry blossom red?

Steven holds up both options to Stacey who is still blank staring him. She shakes her head as he untwists the tops and rolls the lipstick up.

I think I'll go natural today... alright then, since you didn't come here to chat: what is it that you want?

Steven laughs at Madison for her getting straight to the point, as usual.

On the contrary my dear, I did come here to chat. Did you not forget that scheduled interview you were supposed to give me tonight?

How could I ever forget a date with you Kurtesy?

Steven and Madison share a chuckle, although Stacey does so out of sarcasm and spite where Steven is chuckling just to annoy.

Now considering that the interview is later on tonight, what is the reason you are here right now bothering me?

I thought we could use my fancy new suit as a conversation starter, get the mood flowing and finally have a talk outside of work-related topics.

Stacey stares blankly again at Steven, knowing full well he isn't serious.

I'll see you later, champ.

Madison gets up out of the chair, whips her sunglasses on and walks off without looking back at Kurtesy, leaving him there with a smile on his face. Steven gets up as well but before he leaves, he takes one of the unopened lipstick rolls and walks off.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sandy Deserts is pacing back and forth inside the locker room of Kurtesy, waiting anxiously for the arrival of her associate: one of the very few times that you'll ever catch Sandy not wearing formal uniform ever since she became a doctor. Suddenly, the door opens and Steven walks into the room safely. A look of relief falls on the face of Sandy as she walks up to him and gives him a hug.

Thank God you're alright.

Uh... thanks Sandy but all I did was go visit Celeste like you told me to. It's not like I just competed in an Empty Arena match without cameras. Here: I got you a present!

He hands over the cherry blossom red lipstick over to Sandy who smiles as its one of her favourites. She goes to her bag and puts it in her bag.

Thanks.

From regards of Stacey Madison.

A confused look pops on Sandy's face.

Seriously?

Yes and no.

Kurtesy smiles as Sandy zips up her bag. She watches him go over and sit down on a chair in the room, laying the belt across his lap: staring at it. She pulls up another chair and sits in front of him, with the chair reversed. She looks at him as he continues to stare at the belt.

Are you okay?

I'm fine Sandy. I've just got a lot to think about is all.

Sandy rolls her eyes.

Steven, just because you're my mentor in the art of psychology doesn't mean you have to mask yourself from me. You can trust me you know, I am a doctor after all.

Steven doesn't say a word, still staring at his belt.

Okay look: I know that you've been involved in this way with Ty and his Apostles of Chaos for a long time and it can be draining on someone's psyche to be putting themselves through this... especially now since Ty can call the shots from here all the way to Kingdom Come, putting you through hell like competing in a gauntlet match against all his minions. I get it: I understand. It's hard to...

No Sandy.

He looks up at her.

I don't think you completely understand.

Well enlighten me, Steve. Don't leave me in the dark here. There are people out there that have your back but throughout time, who has always been there for you? The least you can do is let me know what is ticking up there for once.

A long pause before Steven nods, agreeing to Sandy's terms.

You know that I've been trying for quite a while now to lift any bad omens that may haunt me for the things I've done in the past. You know I want to reconcile and remove anything that reminds me of what I've done. As of right now: there is only one goal, one obstacle standing in my way until I reach complete inner peace and harmony... and that is to take down the Chaos and finally remove Ty Burna. I may not be able to assist Celeste by joining her side at Kingdom Come to down the Apostles but tonight I've got the chance to act as a example no matter how the situation turns out. If I go out there and lose the gauntlet match, there is no doubt that Ty is going to be looking for a lot of damage to be inflicted on me so he can slow me down before the big event comes. If I'm being fed to the wolves, then no doubt there will be someone in the back to come to my aid and announce their involvement in taking down the Chaos. It's the time for people to step forth and join our cause so if I have to be a martyr to get that to happen, so be it.

A look of concern on Sandy gets her worried.

So you're going out there to lose and get beaten up?

Is is only in the event that I do lose. If I win then I will be showing the entire roster and the world that I am a man to take seriously and not a fluke. I know right now I'm considered the underdog going into the fight against Ty not only because of how powerful and dangerous he is but also due to the fact that I've never beaten him... but if I go out there tonight and stand up to all the Apostles, defeating them in a gauntlet match where the odds are like my title defense at KC: stacked against me, I'll be able to convince a few of the guys backstage with my performance that I am the horse the back in this race. People are hesitant due to Ty's status but if I am able to prove tonight that one lone man can stand up to his group of outlaws then we will see some progress in people putting their hands up to join Celeste in the fight against Chaos.

Wow... this is really personal for you.

Of course it is Sandy: to Ty, this is all about getting his fix of power by taking the World title. For me, I want to make sure I'm on the frontlines when the Chaos crumbles to its knees. I want to be the one to deliver the final blow when the dust settles... but before I can reach the end, I've got to do my part. Celeste tried to rally the troops against Ty last week but all that ended up being was a way for Ty to show his dominance, even to his own men. No-one else is up for this position, hence why I risked my butt out there when I came to the rescue of Celeste. I must go out there Sandy and do my part for the greater good: regardless of how things go... so if I do get my arse handed to me on a silver plater by the Chaos, at least I have the time right now to prepare myself for a beating. That's why I've got a lot to think about.

Steven and Sandy look into each others eyes with Sandy knowing how serious Kurtesy is about this. Steven sees that she doesn't want him to go but at least she understands what his mindset is. Steven looks back down at his belt, gliding his hand along the nameplate that shows his name. Stevens smiles.

Well... at least for now I can say that I have my health with my leg fully healed, the title around my waist and you by my side Sandy.

Sandy smiles at her being mentioned.

That's the Steven I know.

The two stare at each other again before the door opens again. A WZCW staff member walks in with a clipboard and a headset, startling both Sandy and Steven.

You're on in five, Steven.

He closes the door, leaving the two along once more.

Well... that's my cue.

He grabs his title belt and stands up. Sandy gets up first though and gives him another hug.

Just be careful out there.

Steven smiles.

I will: I promise. The only thing I'll have to worry about is the mad professor, his robot friend and possibly a fleshlight. Who knows that Alhazred has taught S.H.I.T. to do...

What about Chris K.O.?

... we'll have to see whether or not Ty slapped some sense into him.

Sandy is a little confused by that statement but she leaves the locker room anyway, leaving Kurtesy to get dressed in his attire: ready to compete in the gauntlet match.

 

[Kermit]

Every wall has a crack. Some are just more concealed than others.

-Anonymous​

The sound of a toilet flushing brings the camera back to life as it hazily looks around the skybox patiently. Chris K.O. reenters the room and is now jacketless with a loose black tie. His sleeves are rolled up on his white dress shirt and his black slacks still look stylish. Chris smiles at the camera as he sets his suit-jacket on top of a chair and removes his tie altogether.

Chris: Sorry, I thought I would get a little more casual. We may be here awhile.

Chris returns to his seat from before and grabs the remote.

Chris: Alright, let us continue.

The camera nods at Chris and then turns its’ direction towards the projector screen. The video footage resumes.

Chris and Ian Crawford connect with a handshake over a bloodied bandage that spells out the name “Ty Burna”. We get a full shot of them inside of the catacomb.

Chris: So, it is settled.

Ian pulls away from the handshake and turns his back to Chris.

Ian: You realize that taking down Ty will be more difficult than you probably perceive it to be. There are things that I see that no other human being does. Besides Ty, I am the only one that truly knows how deep his empire runs.

Chris smirks as he walks over to Ian and clamps a firm grip on his shoulder.

Chris: That is why you are so vital to me Ian. I need your inside connection.

Ian looks back over his shoulder at Chris and then pushes his glasses up on his nose.

Ian: Very well then. We need not waste time.

Chris’ hand slowly loses grip as Ian begins to ascend up the stairs and out of the catacomb. Chris watches him disappear and then turns around to look at the underground cemetery once more.

*flick*

The lights go off and Chris makes his way up the stairs by way of natural light. The screen pauses.

We return to the skybox as the camera jerks to look at Chris.

Chris: After this point, everyone pretty much knows what happened. I went on to fight Black Dragon in an Empty Arena Match for the WZCW EurAsian Championship. I had no personal issue with Dragon at the moment, but I could not let up my facade as an Apostle, so he deemed it necessary to try to dispose of me, and who could blame him? Especially from anyone who was looking from the outside in.

Chris smiles as he points to a spot on his cheek. The camera zooms in.

Chris: See that? That is a burn mark from Dragon’s cigarette during the match. Obviously, I returned to action on the next Ascension, but I had quite a time leading up to the shows.

Chris picks up the remote and presses play. The footage resumes.

The scene has now transitioned and Chris is strapped down to a stretcher as he is wheeled through a bright hallway. Several bruises and welts are evident on Chris’ limbs as he dozes in and out of consciousness. Chris turns his head and peeks into a small room as the stretcher passes by it. He sees a large man sitting on a hospital bed as a stubby man is yelling in the face of a doctor.

Stubby Man: What do you mean he is not covered? Do you not know who he is? He is the former WZCW superstar, Ale!

This is all that Chris can see, as the stretcher moves on. Chris slowly begins to lose consciousness. The scene goes black.

We illuminate once again with Chris lying on a hospital bed with his torso slightly elevated. Ian is intensely reading a newspaper in a nearby chair. A knocking is heard as a man in scrubs walks into the room.

Chris: Doctor?

Doctor: Chris, good to see that you are awake.

The doctor begins flipping through a chart and pulls out an x-ray that is tucked between several papers. He places it on a board to where Chris and Ian can see it.

Doctor: This is your left arm Chris.

The doctor begins pointing at the x-ray of the arm.

Doctor: You have what seems to be a rare case of nerve damage in your left forearm. Now, I don’t know if that is because you landed on it while falling into the electrical pit or for some other reason. Whatever the case is, the damage is there.

Chris: But I can move my left arm just fine.

Doctor: And you always will be for long periods of time. Unfortunately, cases like this have shown that the patient will endure random feelings of numbness in their limb for periods of time. We’ve recorded anywhere from one to fifteen minutes. It won’t be a common occurrence, but it will happen. Fortunately, we have seen the condition ware off in some cases, but nothing is for certian. For now, such a diagnose is grounds for disability. Your condition makes the list of possible jobs for you very slim. It would be a danger to yourself and co-workers for you to do anything that required both of your hands.

The doctor flips through his chart again.

Doctor: Let me go grab some paperwork and I will start drawing up a letter for your disability.

The doctor exits the room as Ian watches him like a hawk. He is caught off guard when he looks over at Chris and sees that he has begun to get dressed.

Ian: What are you doing?

Chris: Did you not hear him? He wants to write me off as disabled. I don’t have time to deal with that crap.

Ian stands up as he discards his newspaper into the now vacant seat.

Ian: So, you are just going to leave a hospital and expect no one to follow up on this?

Chris: Oh, they will follow up on this, but I’ll just let Ty or Vance deal with it. The beauty about having an alias is that while one name may be disabled, the other is not.

Chris smiles as he finishes putting on his shoes. He gestures at Ian, and the two of them walk out of the room. Once again, we get a transition and we now see Ian and Chris on a small private plane.

Ian has a drink in his hand while he is fiddles on an Ipad. He stops for a moment and looks up at Chris, who is sitting a few feet away from him. Ian begins to study Chris, as Chris seems to be studying a copy of The Scarlet Letter.

Ian: Interesting choice of read, Mr. Masters.

Chris escapes from his book and looks over at Ian with a blank look.

Ian: Or is it still Chris? I recall that you chose that alias whenever you decided to devote yourself to chaos. Are you planning to change it back now?

The sound of ice clinking is heard as Ian takes a drink. Chris brushes his hair back as he places the book down.

Chris: No, it’ll remain Chris. For now at least.

Ian: Why? Because of Ty?

Chris: I guess he is a part of the bigger picture.

Ian: Which is?

Chris begins to rub his eyes as he prepares to explain himself.

Chris: I left the name "Sam Masters" clean. As clean as normal human being can get that is, but clean none the less. With the passing of my father, I dare not carry over Chris’ sin to the Master name. No, Chris must be accounted for and his debt must be paid back. I helped Ty a lot under the alias, "Chris K.O.", and I am sure that a large chunk of the WZCW roster paid for my selfish actions.

Ian: So, once you take down Ty, you’ll switch back to Sam?

Chris: Maybe, maybe not. I’ll see when and if I get there. Tomorrow is never guaranteed Ian.

Ian takes another drink as Chris gives a small shrug and then picks up his book. Ian stops him before he continues.

Ian: I hope that nearly being electrocuted to death did not make you forget about the gauntlet match that you have against Steven Kurtesy this upcoming Ascension?

Chris sets down his book again. He begins to recollect the time that he visited Kurtesy before the Lethal Lottery. Kurtesy gave him the advice that he truly needed to open his eyes and escape from Ty's control.

Chris: Kurtesy is a valuable piece in all of this Ian. We can go in and tear down Ty’s empire from the bottom, but the World Title Match at Kingdom Come is the wild card in the equation.

Chris closes his eyes and then stands up from his seat.

Chris: I have come to respect him. Not a respect out of fear, but simply out of admiration. Now, I meet him in the squared arena once again. I remember when we first met in a single’s match at Meltdown 66 and I beat him. Then he joined the fight against the Apostles at All or Nothing and deflated our attempt. One that started a laundry list of failures for us.

Now, he stands alone and abandoned against three men. He must go through each one of them and claim victory over a bulk of the Apostles. As much as I want to see him triumph over evil and give the crowd even more hope and himself momentum; I know that the consequences will be severe from Ty if we are to let him walk out of that match as victor.

Chris walks over to the drink bar and begins pouring himself a glass.

Chris: S.H.I.T., Alhazred, and myself. What a strange jocund of company. I am sure each one of us has their own motif. Well, maybe not S.H.I.T., but I don’t think robots really have personal motifs. We will all stand like a wall this coming Ascension, but the question is: Will Kurtesy find the cracks?

Chris pulls the drink up to his mouth as he looks out the plane's window.

Chris: I cannot allow you to win Kurtesy. Your time will come at Kingdom Come when you must outshine the bad, but for now I must keep Ty happy. Because the more happy that Ty is, the more ignorant he is as to what is going on around him. He is like a child, and the World Heavyweight Title is a toy. It is dangling before him and he laughs playfully at it. It is up close and in his face. All of his attention is drawn. BUT!

Chris looks away from the window and towards Ian.

Chris: When you start pulling away that toy, the child becomes upset and becomes much more aware to the world around him.

Chris and Ian both take a drink at the same time as they digest Chris’ metaphor. Chris walks over to Ian and looks down at him.

Chris: So, where exactly are we going Ian?

Ian: Into the heart…..

Into the heart of Ty’s empire.

The footage cuts out as we return to the skybox. The camera looks over at Chris.

Chris: Sorry, part two is on another DVD.

Chris jumps up to grab the other disc as the camera man sighs. The screen goes black.