AS77: Eve Taylor & Aubrey Sloan vs. Dr. Zeus & Vega
- Thread starter Harthan
- Start date
- Status
Richard Blonoff
Make America Rassle Again
Deadline has been extended 24 hours
"And let me tell you another thing," the girl was saying to a gentlemen next to her. The man sitting next to her was attempting to shift away from her, endeavoring to be as far away from her as possible without appearing to be rude.
"Squirrels," she began, before pausing and taking another sip of her drink.
"Squirrels are not all they're cracked up to be. They think they're so fast, they think they're so smart, they think they're better at climbing trees than me."
She gave an emphatic hmph and blew her hair out of her eyes. Why was her hair falling into her eyes so often tonight?
"Give me another month to practice, and I'd have a room full of squirrels. I'd empty the whole forest of them! They'd call me Squirrel Queen and I would graciously accept my title."
The man next to her muttered something and, his mind made up, got off the stool and wandered away.
The girl looked at the empty space he had left behind and shrugged, turning back to the counter and returning to her drink. Not for the first time tonight, she marveled at it. She had never seen an orange drink before. All her life she had either drank water, clear and pristine, or tea, of varying shades of brown and black. This was...unbelievable, truly. How could a liquid be such vibrant orange? It was the sort of color a bird would have, the kind of bird she'd have counted herself lucky to run across in her travels across the forest. To take color and make a liquid out of it, she thought it had to be a king's prize, but the nice man behind the counter had already given her five! She surveyed the rest of the people around the counter, many of them with other fanciful and wondrous drinks that she could hardly comprehend. Some were dark and thick, others had white foam on top of them, some were every color of the rainbow.
And all of it, to her shock, free! All she'd had to do was "open a tab", whatever that meant. The girl assumed it was some colloquialism for opening the door, or perhaps for sitting down at the counter. Either way. The nice man behind the counter had frowned when she asked for water - she had been so thirsty after her match and the half hour or so of wandering the streets she'd done - and suggested this instead. She hadn't been able to hear what he'd called it - something about gravel? Or perhaps it was stable. She couldn't see what the concoction had to do with stones or horses, but it seemed to have magical properties that she couldn't explain. Every time she finished one, she felt herself feeling better. When she had walked in, her shoulder had been sore after the match, and now she could barely feel it. Even more, she felt calmer and more relaxed than she ever had since she'd come to this country. She had barely been able to muster her courage to walk in here in search of water - the place was a sea of people and noise. Now, she felt well enough to have a perfectly spontaneous conversation with a stranger next to her!
Some part of her reflected that her head was feeling light and perhaps her stomach was a bit upset. The rest of her called for another drink.
"Hey, you're the new girl, right?" A female voice said over her shoulder. She turned and looked at the new arrival. Tall - taller than her, for certain - and blonde. She was still baffled by blondes. She'd assumed all people in the world had dark hair, or no hair - that was what all the monks looked like, and even she, while her skin was different, had the same color hair. But so many people here had brown, or blonde, or even red hair. She did not trust them - she was certain it was a mark of deviousness.
"Is anyone sitting here?" The woman said as she gestured to the vacated seat. The girl reflected that the man she was talking to hadn't come back and had completed some sort of ritual exchange with the man behind the counter - perhaps an exchange of blessings? She determined he was unlikely to return. She shook her head.
The woman sat down next to her and smiled widely. "I'm Eve. You're Aubrey, right?"
She extended a hand. The girl cringed at the sound of her name - even all this magical liquid hadn't gotten her over that - but she nodded, all the same. She did not take the hand.
Eve's smile faltered and she drew back her hand. "I"m sorry, am I bothering you? I can go..."
The girl shook her head and began to speak, but instead -
BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP
After a few moments, the girl came to the rather startling realization that such a noise had emerged from her. Several of the people around her, the nice man behind the counter, and Eve were all staring at her.
"Oh," she said simply.
A few more moments passed and soon everyone had returned to their business. Eve was still looking rather flabbergasted.
"I'm sorry," the girl said. "I...that has never...um..."
Eve began to laugh and shook her head. "Maybe you've had a few too many?"
The girl cocked her head in confusion. "I do not understand your meaning."
"Well, I'm just saying that might be a good sign it's time to call it a night."
The girl furrowed her brow. "I have been up this late before. It has never caused such..."
"I mean the drinks, Aubrey. I mean, I'm not your mother, but I'm just saying."
The girl brought her still nearly full drink to her eye and examined it.
"Is there some property of this liquid that causes...gaseous buildup?"
"Well, I'm sure it has plenty of alcohol, and that's usually a side effect."
The girl's eyes widened and she quickly placed the drink back on the counter. Zhong had told her so many stories. When he had drank too much and fell into the river and nearly drowned. When he had gotten a donkey drunk and it kicked a man's door in. When another friend of his had gotten so drunk he'd challenged another man to a duel, and then lost his pinky finger. But...he had given her some of what he drank, to try, and it had been awful. How could this be the same?
Eve clearly saw her panic. "Aubrey? Are you alright?"
"This...I did not know this was...that kind of drink."
Eve's jaw dropped ever so slightly but she quickly flagged down the bartender and got a glass of water.
"Here, drink this. It'll help, trust me."
The girl did as she said. She was not convinced it was helping anything, and her panic only increased. Every story Zhong had told her about drinking ended with someone hurt, or something broken. Was she doomed to do the same?
Eve, for her part, was trying to process how this girl could have had no idea she was drinking alcohol. She'd heard she was fresh off the boat, but this bad? She could hardly believe it.
"Listen, Aubrey, I know you had a rough time of it out there and I just wanted to let you know I'm here if you want to talk or anything. No need to turn to a place like this for comfort."
The girl took another drink of water and let her thoughts return to her match.
"He was...like nothing I'd ever seen. The way he fought, the moves he had, I could never dream of such things. Even so, I thought I had him...but there were so many people, and so much noise, I couldn't..."
She realized she was trembling slightly at the memory. She tried to hide her arm, but instead Eve placed her hand upon it.
"Hey," she said, smiling once more. "It's alright. You're new at this. Heck, so am I, but at least I'm used to having a lot of eyes on me. All the same, I had the chance of a lifetime to become a champion and I blew it." Her smile dropped, pausing for a moment. "If you're not going to finish that, actually, I could really use a drink."
The girl nodded and Eve took it.
"Thanks. I'll pay for this one."
The girl's eyes widened once more.
"What do you mean?"
Eve did not truly want to believe what she was hearing.
"Aubrey? You do know that you have to pay for these, right?"
"I...ah...I was not aware of the nature of this establishment..."
"Have you got any money?"
"I have...that is to say...no."
Eve sighed and shook her head. Why had they even let her open a tab without a card?
"Listen, Aubrey, I can cover this for you, but...well, you have so much to learn about everything. You can't just barge into situations and expect them to work out, you know?"
The girl's head was beginning to feel worse.
"I am sorry, Eve. I did not...I do not...this country of yours is very confusing."
"I'm sure it must be for you. If you want, I can try to help you out. We're going to be working together, we might as well try to get you acclimated around here."
The girl, normally suspicious of such people as Eve, was warmed by the thought. "Yes. I think you are right. And, if I may say, Eve...I am very sorry for your loss this week. But I have learned many times that just because you cannot catch a squirrel the first time, that does not mean he will always evade you."
"Is that a Chinese proverb or something?"
"It is...I like to chase squirrels."
Eve nodded, as if that were some sage wisdom, and finished the drink.
"Do you want to get out of here?"
The girl nodded, and they both stood. Immediately, the girl regretted it.
"Oh, I do not...errr...." She put a hand over her mouth.
"Aubrey? Are you going to...oh, you are, aren't you. Damn it...the bathroom is that way." She pointed through a sea of people.
The girl, her fear returning, hesitated. She looked at Eve, wide-eyed.
Eve sighed heavily, took her hand, and began to lead her.
This was going to be a long night.
The girl, her fear returning, hesitated. She looked at Eve, wide-eyed.
Eve sighed heavily, took her hand, and began to lead her.
This was going to be a long night.
"Squirrels," she began, before pausing and taking another sip of her drink.
"Squirrels are not all they're cracked up to be. They think they're so fast, they think they're so smart, they think they're better at climbing trees than me."
She gave an emphatic hmph and blew her hair out of her eyes. Why was her hair falling into her eyes so often tonight?
"Give me another month to practice, and I'd have a room full of squirrels. I'd empty the whole forest of them! They'd call me Squirrel Queen and I would graciously accept my title."
The man next to her muttered something and, his mind made up, got off the stool and wandered away.
The girl looked at the empty space he had left behind and shrugged, turning back to the counter and returning to her drink. Not for the first time tonight, she marveled at it. She had never seen an orange drink before. All her life she had either drank water, clear and pristine, or tea, of varying shades of brown and black. This was...unbelievable, truly. How could a liquid be such vibrant orange? It was the sort of color a bird would have, the kind of bird she'd have counted herself lucky to run across in her travels across the forest. To take color and make a liquid out of it, she thought it had to be a king's prize, but the nice man behind the counter had already given her five! She surveyed the rest of the people around the counter, many of them with other fanciful and wondrous drinks that she could hardly comprehend. Some were dark and thick, others had white foam on top of them, some were every color of the rainbow.
And all of it, to her shock, free! All she'd had to do was "open a tab", whatever that meant. The girl assumed it was some colloquialism for opening the door, or perhaps for sitting down at the counter. Either way. The nice man behind the counter had frowned when she asked for water - she had been so thirsty after her match and the half hour or so of wandering the streets she'd done - and suggested this instead. She hadn't been able to hear what he'd called it - something about gravel? Or perhaps it was stable. She couldn't see what the concoction had to do with stones or horses, but it seemed to have magical properties that she couldn't explain. Every time she finished one, she felt herself feeling better. When she had walked in, her shoulder had been sore after the match, and now she could barely feel it. Even more, she felt calmer and more relaxed than she ever had since she'd come to this country. She had barely been able to muster her courage to walk in here in search of water - the place was a sea of people and noise. Now, she felt well enough to have a perfectly spontaneous conversation with a stranger next to her!
Some part of her reflected that her head was feeling light and perhaps her stomach was a bit upset. The rest of her called for another drink.
"Hey, you're the new girl, right?" A female voice said over her shoulder. She turned and looked at the new arrival. Tall - taller than her, for certain - and blonde. She was still baffled by blondes. She'd assumed all people in the world had dark hair, or no hair - that was what all the monks looked like, and even she, while her skin was different, had the same color hair. But so many people here had brown, or blonde, or even red hair. She did not trust them - she was certain it was a mark of deviousness.
"Is anyone sitting here?" The woman said as she gestured to the vacated seat. The girl reflected that the man she was talking to hadn't come back and had completed some sort of ritual exchange with the man behind the counter - perhaps an exchange of blessings? She determined he was unlikely to return. She shook her head.
The woman sat down next to her and smiled widely. "I'm Eve. You're Aubrey, right?"
She extended a hand. The girl cringed at the sound of her name - even all this magical liquid hadn't gotten her over that - but she nodded, all the same. She did not take the hand.
Eve's smile faltered and she drew back her hand. "I"m sorry, am I bothering you? I can go..."
The girl shook her head and began to speak, but instead -
BURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRP
After a few moments, the girl came to the rather startling realization that such a noise had emerged from her. Several of the people around her, the nice man behind the counter, and Eve were all staring at her.
"Oh," she said simply.
A few more moments passed and soon everyone had returned to their business. Eve was still looking rather flabbergasted.
"I'm sorry," the girl said. "I...that has never...um..."
Eve began to laugh and shook her head. "Maybe you've had a few too many?"
The girl cocked her head in confusion. "I do not understand your meaning."
"Well, I'm just saying that might be a good sign it's time to call it a night."
The girl furrowed her brow. "I have been up this late before. It has never caused such..."
"I mean the drinks, Aubrey. I mean, I'm not your mother, but I'm just saying."
The girl brought her still nearly full drink to her eye and examined it.
"Is there some property of this liquid that causes...gaseous buildup?"
"Well, I'm sure it has plenty of alcohol, and that's usually a side effect."
The girl's eyes widened and she quickly placed the drink back on the counter. Zhong had told her so many stories. When he had drank too much and fell into the river and nearly drowned. When he had gotten a donkey drunk and it kicked a man's door in. When another friend of his had gotten so drunk he'd challenged another man to a duel, and then lost his pinky finger. But...he had given her some of what he drank, to try, and it had been awful. How could this be the same?
Eve clearly saw her panic. "Aubrey? Are you alright?"
"This...I did not know this was...that kind of drink."
Eve's jaw dropped ever so slightly but she quickly flagged down the bartender and got a glass of water.
"Here, drink this. It'll help, trust me."
The girl did as she said. She was not convinced it was helping anything, and her panic only increased. Every story Zhong had told her about drinking ended with someone hurt, or something broken. Was she doomed to do the same?
Eve, for her part, was trying to process how this girl could have had no idea she was drinking alcohol. She'd heard she was fresh off the boat, but this bad? She could hardly believe it.
"Listen, Aubrey, I know you had a rough time of it out there and I just wanted to let you know I'm here if you want to talk or anything. No need to turn to a place like this for comfort."
The girl took another drink of water and let her thoughts return to her match.
"He was...like nothing I'd ever seen. The way he fought, the moves he had, I could never dream of such things. Even so, I thought I had him...but there were so many people, and so much noise, I couldn't..."
She realized she was trembling slightly at the memory. She tried to hide her arm, but instead Eve placed her hand upon it.
"Hey," she said, smiling once more. "It's alright. You're new at this. Heck, so am I, but at least I'm used to having a lot of eyes on me. All the same, I had the chance of a lifetime to become a champion and I blew it." Her smile dropped, pausing for a moment. "If you're not going to finish that, actually, I could really use a drink."
The girl nodded and Eve took it.
"Thanks. I'll pay for this one."
The girl's eyes widened once more.
"What do you mean?"
Eve did not truly want to believe what she was hearing.
"Aubrey? You do know that you have to pay for these, right?"
"I...ah...I was not aware of the nature of this establishment..."
"Have you got any money?"
"I have...that is to say...no."
Eve sighed and shook her head. Why had they even let her open a tab without a card?
"Listen, Aubrey, I can cover this for you, but...well, you have so much to learn about everything. You can't just barge into situations and expect them to work out, you know?"
The girl's head was beginning to feel worse.
"I am sorry, Eve. I did not...I do not...this country of yours is very confusing."
"I'm sure it must be for you. If you want, I can try to help you out. We're going to be working together, we might as well try to get you acclimated around here."
The girl, normally suspicious of such people as Eve, was warmed by the thought. "Yes. I think you are right. And, if I may say, Eve...I am very sorry for your loss this week. But I have learned many times that just because you cannot catch a squirrel the first time, that does not mean he will always evade you."
"Is that a Chinese proverb or something?"
"It is...I like to chase squirrels."
Eve nodded, as if that were some sage wisdom, and finished the drink.
"Do you want to get out of here?"
The girl nodded, and they both stood. Immediately, the girl regretted it.
"Oh, I do not...errr...." She put a hand over her mouth.
"Aubrey? Are you going to...oh, you are, aren't you. Damn it...the bathroom is that way." She pointed through a sea of people.
The girl, her fear returning, hesitated. She looked at Eve, wide-eyed.
Eve sighed heavily, took her hand, and began to lead her.
This was going to be a long night.
The girl, her fear returning, hesitated. She looked at Eve, wide-eyed.
Eve sighed heavily, took her hand, and began to lead her.
This was going to be a long night.
We find Vega walking out of the Gorilla position backstage and into the hallway corridors. He looks conflicted, having just left Theron to the wolves. The sound of the audience reacting to Dr. Zeus & Beard's beat down of Daggershield is audible through the backstage area. Vega tries to ignore it as he continues on his way, until suddenly someone calls out to him.
Hey!
Vega stops in his tracks and turns around. There stands Saboteur, defiantly staring Vega down.
What?
Saboteur walks over towards Vega.
Why aren't you out there helping Theron!?
You wanna go save the day?
Vega motions with his hand down the hallway towards the Gorilla position.
Go right ahead. But me?
He shakes his head.
I'm no hero.
Vega turns around to walk away, but Saboteur speaks up.
Ahhh bull poop!
Vega's turns back towards him with an inquisitive look on his face.
I've seen you lately. You're not the same Vega from 6 months ago. You're different. You're changing. The old Vega would have never even stepped out onto the entrance stage to humor the thought of saving Theron. And look at you... you see that look on your face? That's guilt. You're feeling guilty right now Vega.
Look, what do you want from me?
Nothing. I could really care less about what you do. But lately, it looks like you don't even know what you want for yourself.
Vega has grown angry, and steps towards Saboteur aggressively. In response, Saboteur quickly reaches for his kitana and holds it up in a defensive position.
What are you gonna do, Vega? Pull your gun on out on me?
Vega stops, and looks down.
I tossed my gun into the ocean.
I'm sure you have more.
Vega looks up towards Saboteur.
No more guns.
Saboteur lowers his kitana and stands up straight, no longer in a fighting stance.
Maybe there's hope for you yet...
Vega remains silent for a few moments, right on cue for the audience to react loudly, booing the actions taking place in the ring. Vega lowers his head as his hair hangs passed his face with the slightest hint of shame.
You and I... we've faced off in two Pay Per Views straight. Funny thing is, I never considered you an enemy. Bateman just promised me a title shot if I defeated you. Either way, we still met again in the Hell in a Cell. I look at you now, and I still don't see an enemy. But as I said before, I'm not hero. If you want to be, then go take on Zeus and Beard yourself.
Saboteur stops to think about it for a moment.
My conscience is clean. Zeus and Beard are on a rampage because of you. I have nothing to do with this, and I intend to keep it that way. God knows what they would do to me. No thanks. But I'd like to think that... if it was my fault that, I would then do the right thing and try to make the save.
How is this my fault?
Zeus wants you to join him and Beard. Until you give him an answer, more people are gonna fall by the wayside. Sooner or later, you're going to have to look deep down inside of you and make a choice, and the sooner the better. Who knows who their next victim is going to be... and will you be able to deal with knowing the blood is on your hands?
Vega doesn't reply, remaining silent to absorb what Saboteur has just said. The conflicting look creeps back up onto Vega's face as he shakes his head and begins to walk away.
Where ya going!?
Vega doesn't answer. He just walks down the corridor, and through the doors, exiting the arena completely. Saboteur stands their, alone, shaking his head as he puts his kitana away.
----------------------------
A homeless man wearing ragged clothing and sporting a massively unkempt beard with long tangled hair sits on the steps of the famous St. Patrick's Cathedral in the heart of New York City. He watches as all the fellow New Yorkers hurriedly move, and tourists leisurely walk up and down 5th Avenue, holding his hand out begging for anything these more fortunate people could offer. Vega watches from across the busy street, on the other sidewalk. He's wearing a long black pea coat with the collar popped, and black sun glasses to match. He begins crossing the street and walks towards the church.
He sees a middle aged man dressed in a three piece suit walking quickly down 5th Ave, holding his briefcase in one hand and holding a nearly finished hot dog in the other. He takes on last bite to finish it, crumples the paper it came in, and haphazardly tosses it to the side towards the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The garbage falls on top of the beggar. He picks the crumpled paper up off of him, and opens it up, hoping to find remnants of a hotdog. When he finds nothing, dejectedly, he gets up and walks to the nearest trash can to properly dispose of the garbage.
Vega and the business man are walking towards each other. With the latter now looking down and dialing something on his cellphone, he is unaware of what's in front of him and bumps into Vega slightly.
Watch it!
Vega calmly replies as the two keep moving in opposite direction.
Sorry.
The two continue walking away from each other. Vega stops at the center of the stairs, and looks up towards the church before taking a look at the homeless man. Vega lifts his hand to reveal he's holding a black leather wallet, and opens it up to see what's inside. He pulls out a decent amount of cash, containing a couple of hundred dollar bills, some fifties, and plenty of twenties. He then walks up over to homeless man and hands him the wad of cash.
Here you go.
The beggar's eyes widen and his mouth opens.
Are you sure?
I'm sure.
As he reaches for the money, he says...
Blessed are the poor in spirit-
-for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thank you, my man. Thank you.
The beggar smiles happily as Vega nods his head and walks up the stairs towards the cathedral. Once inside, he removes his sunglasses and smiles as he says to himself, under his breath...
Don't thank me...
Vega tosses the wallet in the first trash bin he sees, getting rid of the evidence as he walks into St. Patrick's Cathedral. After walking passed the gift shop and the booth where they sell headsets for a self guided audio tour, he comes to a stop to take in the sight.
He turns to the right and walks to the far side towards a statue of the Virgin Mary. In front of it are rows of electronic candles, some lit, some not. A sign next to the candles asks for a two dollar donation to light a candle, which is done by simply pressing the button in front of it. Next to the sign is a wooden cabinet with a lock on it. Vega walks up to the box, and looks around to see if anybody is around him.
When he see's that the coast is clear, he quickly pulls out a small tool to pick the lock, and opens up the cabinet. He reaches inside the breast pocket of his pea coat and pulls out a white envelope which looks decently packed. He places it into the cabinet, closes it up, and puts the lock back on before anybody is the wiser. He turns to walk away, but stops to look towards the Virgin Mary. He turns back and walks towards the idol and presses one of the buttons, lighting up a candle. Vega turns to walk away when a familiar voice from the shadows stops him.
Why so quick to walk away?
Why not come back, kneel down, and pray?
Vega closes his eyes and clenches his jaw, knowing who is behind him. Before turning around, he speaks.
I kneel to nobody.
Yet.
Vega turns around to face Dr. Zeus.
What?
Don't fret.
Vega walks towards Zeus, into the shadows.
What is this, have you been following me?
I am doing my duty. God's will I shall keep.
For the Good Shepard will always heard a lost sheep.
I'm no sheep. I was just here... repaying a debt.
Then come and be a Shepard with Beard and I together.
We can heard the sheep of the world forever.
I promise you Vega, a beautiful sight
if you follow me, walk with me into the light.
The light?
God is Light. God is Might.
I am God's Soldier from morning to night.
We can be men who walk among mice.
Picking and choosing the next sacrifice.
Sacrifice? Like Theron? Like Saboteur?
They did not believe in what was right.
They chose to deny that I bring the light.
They have nothing to do with you and me, Zeus. You didn't have to attack Theron, and you certainly didn't have to take out Saboteur the way you did.
Ironic hearing your demands,
when their blood is in your-
-hands. I know. I get it.
Zeus simply smiles.
Look, this week, we're on the same team... just like you wanted. You, me, and Beard... yes, the thought is enticing. I know what we could be capable of. I don't need a line of sacrificial bodies laid at my feet to entice me to join. What I need is for you to show me what you and I are capable of together this week against Eve Taylor and Aubrey Sloan. That's the only thing I want right now, is a damn victory. And it better happen this week against those two.
Eve Taylor and Aubrey Sloan will surely feel the misery
while you and I bask in the light and celebrate our victory.
And if two women must be offered up as sacrifice and sent up above
then sleep well at night knowing it was all done out of love.
Love? You do this all out of love?
Love is the most passionate force of all.
With the love of the light, never shall we fall.
Follow me, and together we will rise,
and all of our enemies will surely meet demise.
Vega thinks about this for a moment, and with slight reservation he responds.
Alright. For this week, you, me, and Beard will stand together as one.
Vega laughs to himself.
I suppose you can call us the Holy Trinity of WZCW.
Zeus smiles as he extends his hand towards Vega. Vega, however, reaches into his pocket and pulls his sunglasses out. He puts them on and smiles at Zeus.
See you this weekend, Zeus.
Vega turns around, steps out of the shadows, and away form Zeus. Zeus stands there, deep in thought, as he watches Vega walk away.
Hey!
Vega stops in his tracks and turns around. There stands Saboteur, defiantly staring Vega down.
What?
Saboteur walks over towards Vega.
Why aren't you out there helping Theron!?
You wanna go save the day?
Vega motions with his hand down the hallway towards the Gorilla position.
Go right ahead. But me?
He shakes his head.
I'm no hero.
Vega turns around to walk away, but Saboteur speaks up.
Ahhh bull poop!
Vega's turns back towards him with an inquisitive look on his face.
I've seen you lately. You're not the same Vega from 6 months ago. You're different. You're changing. The old Vega would have never even stepped out onto the entrance stage to humor the thought of saving Theron. And look at you... you see that look on your face? That's guilt. You're feeling guilty right now Vega.
Look, what do you want from me?
Nothing. I could really care less about what you do. But lately, it looks like you don't even know what you want for yourself.
Vega has grown angry, and steps towards Saboteur aggressively. In response, Saboteur quickly reaches for his kitana and holds it up in a defensive position.
What are you gonna do, Vega? Pull your gun on out on me?
Vega stops, and looks down.
I tossed my gun into the ocean.
I'm sure you have more.
Vega looks up towards Saboteur.
No more guns.
Saboteur lowers his kitana and stands up straight, no longer in a fighting stance.
Maybe there's hope for you yet...
Vega remains silent for a few moments, right on cue for the audience to react loudly, booing the actions taking place in the ring. Vega lowers his head as his hair hangs passed his face with the slightest hint of shame.
You and I... we've faced off in two Pay Per Views straight. Funny thing is, I never considered you an enemy. Bateman just promised me a title shot if I defeated you. Either way, we still met again in the Hell in a Cell. I look at you now, and I still don't see an enemy. But as I said before, I'm not hero. If you want to be, then go take on Zeus and Beard yourself.
Saboteur stops to think about it for a moment.
My conscience is clean. Zeus and Beard are on a rampage because of you. I have nothing to do with this, and I intend to keep it that way. God knows what they would do to me. No thanks. But I'd like to think that... if it was my fault that, I would then do the right thing and try to make the save.
How is this my fault?
Zeus wants you to join him and Beard. Until you give him an answer, more people are gonna fall by the wayside. Sooner or later, you're going to have to look deep down inside of you and make a choice, and the sooner the better. Who knows who their next victim is going to be... and will you be able to deal with knowing the blood is on your hands?
Vega doesn't reply, remaining silent to absorb what Saboteur has just said. The conflicting look creeps back up onto Vega's face as he shakes his head and begins to walk away.
Where ya going!?
Vega doesn't answer. He just walks down the corridor, and through the doors, exiting the arena completely. Saboteur stands their, alone, shaking his head as he puts his kitana away.
----------------------------
A homeless man wearing ragged clothing and sporting a massively unkempt beard with long tangled hair sits on the steps of the famous St. Patrick's Cathedral in the heart of New York City. He watches as all the fellow New Yorkers hurriedly move, and tourists leisurely walk up and down 5th Avenue, holding his hand out begging for anything these more fortunate people could offer. Vega watches from across the busy street, on the other sidewalk. He's wearing a long black pea coat with the collar popped, and black sun glasses to match. He begins crossing the street and walks towards the church.
He sees a middle aged man dressed in a three piece suit walking quickly down 5th Ave, holding his briefcase in one hand and holding a nearly finished hot dog in the other. He takes on last bite to finish it, crumples the paper it came in, and haphazardly tosses it to the side towards the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The garbage falls on top of the beggar. He picks the crumpled paper up off of him, and opens it up, hoping to find remnants of a hotdog. When he finds nothing, dejectedly, he gets up and walks to the nearest trash can to properly dispose of the garbage.
Vega and the business man are walking towards each other. With the latter now looking down and dialing something on his cellphone, he is unaware of what's in front of him and bumps into Vega slightly.
Watch it!
Vega calmly replies as the two keep moving in opposite direction.
Sorry.
The two continue walking away from each other. Vega stops at the center of the stairs, and looks up towards the church before taking a look at the homeless man. Vega lifts his hand to reveal he's holding a black leather wallet, and opens it up to see what's inside. He pulls out a decent amount of cash, containing a couple of hundred dollar bills, some fifties, and plenty of twenties. He then walks up over to homeless man and hands him the wad of cash.
Here you go.
The beggar's eyes widen and his mouth opens.
Are you sure?
I'm sure.
As he reaches for the money, he says...
Blessed are the poor in spirit-
-for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Thank you, my man. Thank you.
The beggar smiles happily as Vega nods his head and walks up the stairs towards the cathedral. Once inside, he removes his sunglasses and smiles as he says to himself, under his breath...
Don't thank me...
Vega tosses the wallet in the first trash bin he sees, getting rid of the evidence as he walks into St. Patrick's Cathedral. After walking passed the gift shop and the booth where they sell headsets for a self guided audio tour, he comes to a stop to take in the sight.
He turns to the right and walks to the far side towards a statue of the Virgin Mary. In front of it are rows of electronic candles, some lit, some not. A sign next to the candles asks for a two dollar donation to light a candle, which is done by simply pressing the button in front of it. Next to the sign is a wooden cabinet with a lock on it. Vega walks up to the box, and looks around to see if anybody is around him.
When he see's that the coast is clear, he quickly pulls out a small tool to pick the lock, and opens up the cabinet. He reaches inside the breast pocket of his pea coat and pulls out a white envelope which looks decently packed. He places it into the cabinet, closes it up, and puts the lock back on before anybody is the wiser. He turns to walk away, but stops to look towards the Virgin Mary. He turns back and walks towards the idol and presses one of the buttons, lighting up a candle. Vega turns to walk away when a familiar voice from the shadows stops him.
Why so quick to walk away?
Why not come back, kneel down, and pray?
Vega closes his eyes and clenches his jaw, knowing who is behind him. Before turning around, he speaks.
I kneel to nobody.
Yet.
Vega turns around to face Dr. Zeus.
What?
Don't fret.
Vega walks towards Zeus, into the shadows.
What is this, have you been following me?
I am doing my duty. God's will I shall keep.
For the Good Shepard will always heard a lost sheep.
I'm no sheep. I was just here... repaying a debt.
Then come and be a Shepard with Beard and I together.
We can heard the sheep of the world forever.
I promise you Vega, a beautiful sight
if you follow me, walk with me into the light.
The light?
God is Light. God is Might.
I am God's Soldier from morning to night.
We can be men who walk among mice.
Picking and choosing the next sacrifice.
Sacrifice? Like Theron? Like Saboteur?
They did not believe in what was right.
They chose to deny that I bring the light.
They have nothing to do with you and me, Zeus. You didn't have to attack Theron, and you certainly didn't have to take out Saboteur the way you did.
Ironic hearing your demands,
when their blood is in your-
-hands. I know. I get it.
Zeus simply smiles.
Look, this week, we're on the same team... just like you wanted. You, me, and Beard... yes, the thought is enticing. I know what we could be capable of. I don't need a line of sacrificial bodies laid at my feet to entice me to join. What I need is for you to show me what you and I are capable of together this week against Eve Taylor and Aubrey Sloan. That's the only thing I want right now, is a damn victory. And it better happen this week against those two.
Eve Taylor and Aubrey Sloan will surely feel the misery
while you and I bask in the light and celebrate our victory.
And if two women must be offered up as sacrifice and sent up above
then sleep well at night knowing it was all done out of love.
Love? You do this all out of love?
Love is the most passionate force of all.
With the love of the light, never shall we fall.
Follow me, and together we will rise,
and all of our enemies will surely meet demise.
Vega thinks about this for a moment, and with slight reservation he responds.
Alright. For this week, you, me, and Beard will stand together as one.
Vega laughs to himself.
I suppose you can call us the Holy Trinity of WZCW.
Zeus smiles as he extends his hand towards Vega. Vega, however, reaches into his pocket and pulls his sunglasses out. He puts them on and smiles at Zeus.
See you this weekend, Zeus.
Vega turns around, steps out of the shadows, and away form Zeus. Zeus stands there, deep in thought, as he watches Vega walk away.
As Dr. Zeus, Chastity, and The Beard rounded the corner to The Arena, passing the brisk streets of Philadelphia, none were aware of the cryptic message waiting for them, as they entered. Dr. Zeus had been receiving messages for his entire life; at times, all he ever felt like was an empty vessel. Carry out the wishes of everyone around him; his parents, his colleagues. The only person that actually filled him was Ellie, and when she was taken away, he received his messages from the lord. Now, the messages were getting more threatening in nature; blood dripping on the walls. Brushes with death. Struggles with hellbound demons. Now, as he acted as he and Beard were acting as the very weapons of God, nothing could startle them anymore. No message threatened them, and the fury of God's voice filled Zeus more with an eager lust for blood. This lust for blood led to his and Beard's actions on last week's Ascension; they made their offering, to corral the black sheep back into the fold. They had made their loyalties to Vega known; in the church, Zeus could feel the very hand of God touch Vega's shoulder. For a minute, Zeus could look into the eyes of Vega, and see God's love in them. The very same look Beard had in his eyes, when he first came to hid office. It was the look of a man willing to give himself to the Lord's will. For the dutiful soldier of the lord is always ready for the good lord's message, no matter the medium it comes from.
But today, a message, not from God. The message came from Man.
"Beard and Zeus!" A voice bellowed from the opening hallway of the The Arena, the very entrance for all wrestlers. The mood in the locker room was tense... Almost as though an air of foreboding followed the wrestlers, and the fateful soul charged to flag down this crew. It was Backstage Bob, as he held his arm faintly up, almost unsure of himself. Backstage workers passed, and stopped in their tracks... They all stared at the this trio, as they walked into the building. A few wrestlers looked on with a knowing look; Blade in particular was wrapping up his wrists, preparing for his match with Diabolos. A look of scorn filled Blade's eyes... He, too, had felt the wrath of Zeus before. But he had never felt what Zeus had imposed on Saboteur; a kind of bloodshed that could end a man's career. Blade noted the three interlopers into his arena, but kept quiet. The entire backstage area had been quieted to a hush, almost as if waiting. This did not feel like the usual backstage scene... What usually was an atmosphere of chaos had quickly transformed into harsh and awkward silence.
Bob searched himself, looking for the next words to say. Finally, he said with a twinge of regret, "Banks wants to see you in his office... Immediately..." Backstage Bob turned away, making sure to keep eye contact with these dangerous men. Beard, Zeus, and Chastity all looked to one another. Beard and Zeus followed Backstage Bob, as the eyes of everyone backstage followed War and Death, on their march.
Bob and company reached the office of Kenneth Banks, and Bob faintly rapped on the door, almost as if not to make a sound. They waited for what was actually seconds, but what must have felt like hours to Bob. During the entire walk to Banks' office, Bob made sure to keep mute. He attempted at all costs to make direct eye contact with either Beard or Zeus... At one point, Bob accidentally made eye contact with Zeus. Zeus looked on with a crazed gleam in his eye; it looked almost like a certain amount of pride was in Zeus' eye. Though he had lost his battle with Theron Daggershield, Zeus knew that he had offer a valid offering, and it was indeed good. Bob had known enough at this time that while Zeus' bugged eyed, maniacal anger was frightening, perhaps the scariest Dr. Zeus look had was this look of pride. Because Bob knew, deep down, that even while proud, Zeus was never fully satisfied. Nor would he be satisfied, until he had completed his work.
How far that work entailed is what scared Bob the most.
"Come in," a stern voice called in from the other side of the door. Bob tepidly opened the door, and showed Zeus and Beard into a meeting, already taking place. On one side of a very long table sat Kenneth Banks, at the head of the table. His hands were folded before his chin, in a look of consternation. But that look of consternation changed to anger, when he saw Beard and Zeus walk into his office. He wanted to get up, wanted to yell to the heavens, wanted to fire both men, right on the spot. But he sat, quietly, staring at both men as they stood before him. On Kenneth's left sat Vance Bateman; to his right, Big Dave. Vance sat in the meeting, eased back into his chair, arms folded, and looking around. Big Dave too looked angered by the sight of Beard and Zeus... Though Zeus was sure to pass a calm smile. His eyes slid across the room, looking around him. To his left, he finally saw a sight that wiped the smile off of his face; Vega, looking right at his new partner. Vega wore a perfectly tailored suit and his shades; he had no reason to be here for Meltdown, as Zeus and Vega's match was to be held on Ascension. Vega coolly grinned at the duo.
"How's it going, partner?" Vega let slide from the side of his mouth.
"Vega, please, if you'll allow me. Gentlemen, sit." Kenneth kept his cool, as Zeus and Beard sat right next to Vega. There was an uncomfortable silence in the room, for some time. Finally, Banks decided to break this quiet. "So... Let's just come out and say it. One of my top superstars is out of action, and it's all because of you three!" Beard and Zeus looked to one another, neither man phased. Zeus still kept his sly grin, while The Beard returned the sly smile.
Vega spoke up, with a little more bass in his voice. "I told all of you, I had nothing to do with what happened to Saboteur last week."
Dr. Zeus sat for some time in silence; Vega's answer soured Zeus' mood just a little. His grin turned to a grimace, as he sat in the office. His voice took a harsh tone, as the mere thought of Saboteur ran through his mind.
"Consider Saboteur a casualty,
His sacrifice a mere necessity.
None of you get, humanity's at stake.
We destroyed one more demon, for your sake."
The Beard listens intently, as Zeus' voice rises. He preaches, for all to hear, as Banks and company look on with a skeptical gaze. But perhaps most telling was Vega, staring at the father of this Trinity. He listens, sure to keep his eyes hidden behind his shades. But behind those shades, Vega listens on... Somewhat intently, somewhat questioningly.
Big Dave, who has been listening, speaks up, to interrupt Zeus. "I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with you.." Dave sets his gaze onto Beard, and then to Vega. "But this all has to stop. This has gone far enough."
"Says the man who booked Zeus and Kurtesy in an inferno match..." Interrupts Vance Bateman, with a scornful look shot towards Big Dave. Dave gulps silently and closes his eyes. He keeps his eyes closed for a few seconds.
"I did it out of a request from Steven... I thought Kurtesy could stop him..."
"Don't you get it, Dave? What you did is the cause for all of this. I don't even blame Zeus, Beard, or Vega at all. I mean, Ascension is utter chaos. And there's no stopping all three of them... That much has become abundantly clear. I mean, we're going to put a rookie, and model to against the longest reigning Mayhem champion... And someone who manages to somehow be deadlier?"
"I guess this is the part where I have to say for, what, the twentieth time... I had nothing to do with what happened to Saboteur. Hell, I don't even mind Saboteur all that much... I never had anything against the guy!"
The room sat quietly in the wake of Vega's outburst. Banks sits, still contemplating the situation. "Nothing against him... So I suppose that stopping all your momentum wouldn't mean you'd hold any grudges, huh?" Big Dave peers over at Vega from the other side of the table, with a contempt in his eyes. "You were the hottest thing in the WZCW... Until Saboteur showed up, and knocked you down a peg."
"It was never personal with Saboteur... All I wanted was what he promised me." Vega pointed across the room at Vance Bateman. Vega pleads his innocence, but his tone grows more indignant and defensive the more he speaks. "I... I never... This wasn't how it was supposed to be."
Big Dave countered back sharply, "How you wanted it doesn't matter. Because whether you like it or not, Saboteur's blood-"
"I know, I know, my hands! But you have to believe me, I didn't do it!"
Big Dave rolled his eyes, and leaned on the table. "So, Vega... Give me one good reason why we should believe you."
Vega silently fumed, and sat back in his chair. "Piss off..." He silently let go, almost in defeat.
"What none of you get is Vega's orders come from above.
Vega's acts upon the whims of God's love.
Now that Vega's purpose in life is found,
We can drive your heroes right into the ground.
The Trinity unites, in the name of the lord.
To destroy two lovely ladies, universally adored."
The rage in Zeus' voice picks up, as he thinks of the opponents to come.
"Eve Taylor's vapid looks will be undone,
and from a crowd that once loved her, she'll find herself shunned.
Poor Aubrey, so naive, finds herself in hot water
The poor lamb sent away, sent to the slaughter!"
"I'm afraid none of that is going to be the case. Because as of now, I've decided that your actions are grounds for immediate suspension for all-"
"That will not be happening, I'm afraid." Beard, who has been sitting stoned face for the entire meeting, has finally spoken up. A smug smile crawls across his face. "As I'm sure you all are aware, I've earned the right to this King for a Day contract, good for a WZCW Heavyweight Title match, at my discretion. I didn't want to share this right away, but if this conversation is going where I sense it's going-" Banks and crew listen intently to Beard, as his smile continues to grow. He looks at his cohorts. "You try to punish any three of us... And I go and cash this championship contract I'm entitled to, right after Ricky Runn's triple threat match. Once I inevitably dispose of Ricky Runn, I take your title, and never step foot in this hellhole ever again."
Stunned silence in the room. Even Vega is taken aback by this brazen display by The Beard. Kenneth Banks takes a second to consider this very real... Very real... Possibility. After a minute of silence, Bateman heavily sighs. "Well... I mean, I feel much better off losing Saboteur, when compared to losing the title. I don't see any issue here, any more."
"Vance, you can't be serious..."
"What do you want to do, Dave? We'd be foolish to risk losing our World Title."
"Saboteur was one of our best wrestlers... Kenneth, you have to see right through this. Vance has been out for Saboteur since he took my job. This is wrong, we have to punish them!"
Kenneth takes a second to breathe. His face has no movement, no sign of expression whatsoever. He looks down, and sighs heavily. "Dave... We can't lose our world title. I.... I'm sorry. You three.... You may go..."
Dave sits, mouth agape that Kenneth will let these three walk out. Beard and Zeus grin like cheshire cats... While Vega sits in silence. Vega snaps out of his trance, getting up and filing near the door. Kenneth sits with his head down, almost in shame, as Vance sits with a near smirk across his face. Dave's expression is a mixture of confusion... As the door shuts on an exiting Trinity, Dave could be heard shouting indiscernible expletives. Vega looks down, and sighs a heavy sigh.
"We must prepare for my match with The Warblade..." Beard announced, breaking a tense silence. As Beard and Zeus nod in agreement, they walk towards the locker room.
"Zeus... Wait!" Vega commands for Zeus to wait, with a certain authority in his voice. Zeus turned around... And walked towards his new partner. Through gritted teeth, Vega asks, "This... This love you spoke of... What did you mean, this is done out of love?" Vega takes off his sunglasses, to look at his partner. Zeus smiles, and begins to speak.
"We were all created in the image of God.
And God could only love humans, no matter how flawed.
So when humans disobeyed, as He guessed that they would,
God released us to wipe away the evil, and restore the good."
Vega was taken aback by this. He stood for some time, stunned. So... God loves humans enough, to destroy those that disobeyed?"
Zeus nodded his head knowingly, and put a hand on Vega's shoulder.
" He knows that it may sound an odd thing to do,
But God will wipe away the evil, for me and you.
Our opponents this week are a sign of our fall from grace.
With Eve covered in makeup, to hide her true face.
Eve, the first woman to give into sin,
she is where the fall of man does begin.
We'll end her lustful temptation of man,
so God can carry out his ultimate plan.
Aubrie seems sweet, but even Eve can't trust.
For Aubrie yearns for knowledge, which itself is a lust.
Her lesson's tonight, and will be rather fast.
It will be her first lesson, and also her last."
Vega considered this, and seemed accepting of this knowledge. Zeus went to reach for Vega's hand.... But Vega already is in the process of putting on his sunglasses.
"I'll see you tomorrow Doc... And I know the drill.
Whatever happens tomorrow will be of God's will..."
Vega walks away, as Dr. Zeus watches on, with a sly grin covering his face.
But today, a message, not from God. The message came from Man.
"Beard and Zeus!" A voice bellowed from the opening hallway of the The Arena, the very entrance for all wrestlers. The mood in the locker room was tense... Almost as though an air of foreboding followed the wrestlers, and the fateful soul charged to flag down this crew. It was Backstage Bob, as he held his arm faintly up, almost unsure of himself. Backstage workers passed, and stopped in their tracks... They all stared at the this trio, as they walked into the building. A few wrestlers looked on with a knowing look; Blade in particular was wrapping up his wrists, preparing for his match with Diabolos. A look of scorn filled Blade's eyes... He, too, had felt the wrath of Zeus before. But he had never felt what Zeus had imposed on Saboteur; a kind of bloodshed that could end a man's career. Blade noted the three interlopers into his arena, but kept quiet. The entire backstage area had been quieted to a hush, almost as if waiting. This did not feel like the usual backstage scene... What usually was an atmosphere of chaos had quickly transformed into harsh and awkward silence.
Bob searched himself, looking for the next words to say. Finally, he said with a twinge of regret, "Banks wants to see you in his office... Immediately..." Backstage Bob turned away, making sure to keep eye contact with these dangerous men. Beard, Zeus, and Chastity all looked to one another. Beard and Zeus followed Backstage Bob, as the eyes of everyone backstage followed War and Death, on their march.
Bob and company reached the office of Kenneth Banks, and Bob faintly rapped on the door, almost as if not to make a sound. They waited for what was actually seconds, but what must have felt like hours to Bob. During the entire walk to Banks' office, Bob made sure to keep mute. He attempted at all costs to make direct eye contact with either Beard or Zeus... At one point, Bob accidentally made eye contact with Zeus. Zeus looked on with a crazed gleam in his eye; it looked almost like a certain amount of pride was in Zeus' eye. Though he had lost his battle with Theron Daggershield, Zeus knew that he had offer a valid offering, and it was indeed good. Bob had known enough at this time that while Zeus' bugged eyed, maniacal anger was frightening, perhaps the scariest Dr. Zeus look had was this look of pride. Because Bob knew, deep down, that even while proud, Zeus was never fully satisfied. Nor would he be satisfied, until he had completed his work.
How far that work entailed is what scared Bob the most.
"Come in," a stern voice called in from the other side of the door. Bob tepidly opened the door, and showed Zeus and Beard into a meeting, already taking place. On one side of a very long table sat Kenneth Banks, at the head of the table. His hands were folded before his chin, in a look of consternation. But that look of consternation changed to anger, when he saw Beard and Zeus walk into his office. He wanted to get up, wanted to yell to the heavens, wanted to fire both men, right on the spot. But he sat, quietly, staring at both men as they stood before him. On Kenneth's left sat Vance Bateman; to his right, Big Dave. Vance sat in the meeting, eased back into his chair, arms folded, and looking around. Big Dave too looked angered by the sight of Beard and Zeus... Though Zeus was sure to pass a calm smile. His eyes slid across the room, looking around him. To his left, he finally saw a sight that wiped the smile off of his face; Vega, looking right at his new partner. Vega wore a perfectly tailored suit and his shades; he had no reason to be here for Meltdown, as Zeus and Vega's match was to be held on Ascension. Vega coolly grinned at the duo.
"How's it going, partner?" Vega let slide from the side of his mouth.
"Vega, please, if you'll allow me. Gentlemen, sit." Kenneth kept his cool, as Zeus and Beard sat right next to Vega. There was an uncomfortable silence in the room, for some time. Finally, Banks decided to break this quiet. "So... Let's just come out and say it. One of my top superstars is out of action, and it's all because of you three!" Beard and Zeus looked to one another, neither man phased. Zeus still kept his sly grin, while The Beard returned the sly smile.
Vega spoke up, with a little more bass in his voice. "I told all of you, I had nothing to do with what happened to Saboteur last week."
Dr. Zeus sat for some time in silence; Vega's answer soured Zeus' mood just a little. His grin turned to a grimace, as he sat in the office. His voice took a harsh tone, as the mere thought of Saboteur ran through his mind.
"Consider Saboteur a casualty,
His sacrifice a mere necessity.
None of you get, humanity's at stake.
We destroyed one more demon, for your sake."
The Beard listens intently, as Zeus' voice rises. He preaches, for all to hear, as Banks and company look on with a skeptical gaze. But perhaps most telling was Vega, staring at the father of this Trinity. He listens, sure to keep his eyes hidden behind his shades. But behind those shades, Vega listens on... Somewhat intently, somewhat questioningly.
Big Dave, who has been listening, speaks up, to interrupt Zeus. "I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with you.." Dave sets his gaze onto Beard, and then to Vega. "But this all has to stop. This has gone far enough."
"Says the man who booked Zeus and Kurtesy in an inferno match..." Interrupts Vance Bateman, with a scornful look shot towards Big Dave. Dave gulps silently and closes his eyes. He keeps his eyes closed for a few seconds.
"I did it out of a request from Steven... I thought Kurtesy could stop him..."
"Don't you get it, Dave? What you did is the cause for all of this. I don't even blame Zeus, Beard, or Vega at all. I mean, Ascension is utter chaos. And there's no stopping all three of them... That much has become abundantly clear. I mean, we're going to put a rookie, and model to against the longest reigning Mayhem champion... And someone who manages to somehow be deadlier?"
"I guess this is the part where I have to say for, what, the twentieth time... I had nothing to do with what happened to Saboteur. Hell, I don't even mind Saboteur all that much... I never had anything against the guy!"
The room sat quietly in the wake of Vega's outburst. Banks sits, still contemplating the situation. "Nothing against him... So I suppose that stopping all your momentum wouldn't mean you'd hold any grudges, huh?" Big Dave peers over at Vega from the other side of the table, with a contempt in his eyes. "You were the hottest thing in the WZCW... Until Saboteur showed up, and knocked you down a peg."
"It was never personal with Saboteur... All I wanted was what he promised me." Vega pointed across the room at Vance Bateman. Vega pleads his innocence, but his tone grows more indignant and defensive the more he speaks. "I... I never... This wasn't how it was supposed to be."
Big Dave countered back sharply, "How you wanted it doesn't matter. Because whether you like it or not, Saboteur's blood-"
"I know, I know, my hands! But you have to believe me, I didn't do it!"
Big Dave rolled his eyes, and leaned on the table. "So, Vega... Give me one good reason why we should believe you."
Vega silently fumed, and sat back in his chair. "Piss off..." He silently let go, almost in defeat.
"What none of you get is Vega's orders come from above.
Vega's acts upon the whims of God's love.
Now that Vega's purpose in life is found,
We can drive your heroes right into the ground.
The Trinity unites, in the name of the lord.
To destroy two lovely ladies, universally adored."
The rage in Zeus' voice picks up, as he thinks of the opponents to come.
"Eve Taylor's vapid looks will be undone,
and from a crowd that once loved her, she'll find herself shunned.
Poor Aubrey, so naive, finds herself in hot water
The poor lamb sent away, sent to the slaughter!"
"I'm afraid none of that is going to be the case. Because as of now, I've decided that your actions are grounds for immediate suspension for all-"
"That will not be happening, I'm afraid." Beard, who has been sitting stoned face for the entire meeting, has finally spoken up. A smug smile crawls across his face. "As I'm sure you all are aware, I've earned the right to this King for a Day contract, good for a WZCW Heavyweight Title match, at my discretion. I didn't want to share this right away, but if this conversation is going where I sense it's going-" Banks and crew listen intently to Beard, as his smile continues to grow. He looks at his cohorts. "You try to punish any three of us... And I go and cash this championship contract I'm entitled to, right after Ricky Runn's triple threat match. Once I inevitably dispose of Ricky Runn, I take your title, and never step foot in this hellhole ever again."
Stunned silence in the room. Even Vega is taken aback by this brazen display by The Beard. Kenneth Banks takes a second to consider this very real... Very real... Possibility. After a minute of silence, Bateman heavily sighs. "Well... I mean, I feel much better off losing Saboteur, when compared to losing the title. I don't see any issue here, any more."
"Vance, you can't be serious..."
"What do you want to do, Dave? We'd be foolish to risk losing our World Title."
"Saboteur was one of our best wrestlers... Kenneth, you have to see right through this. Vance has been out for Saboteur since he took my job. This is wrong, we have to punish them!"
Kenneth takes a second to breathe. His face has no movement, no sign of expression whatsoever. He looks down, and sighs heavily. "Dave... We can't lose our world title. I.... I'm sorry. You three.... You may go..."
Dave sits, mouth agape that Kenneth will let these three walk out. Beard and Zeus grin like cheshire cats... While Vega sits in silence. Vega snaps out of his trance, getting up and filing near the door. Kenneth sits with his head down, almost in shame, as Vance sits with a near smirk across his face. Dave's expression is a mixture of confusion... As the door shuts on an exiting Trinity, Dave could be heard shouting indiscernible expletives. Vega looks down, and sighs a heavy sigh.
"We must prepare for my match with The Warblade..." Beard announced, breaking a tense silence. As Beard and Zeus nod in agreement, they walk towards the locker room.
"Zeus... Wait!" Vega commands for Zeus to wait, with a certain authority in his voice. Zeus turned around... And walked towards his new partner. Through gritted teeth, Vega asks, "This... This love you spoke of... What did you mean, this is done out of love?" Vega takes off his sunglasses, to look at his partner. Zeus smiles, and begins to speak.
"We were all created in the image of God.
And God could only love humans, no matter how flawed.
So when humans disobeyed, as He guessed that they would,
God released us to wipe away the evil, and restore the good."
Vega was taken aback by this. He stood for some time, stunned. So... God loves humans enough, to destroy those that disobeyed?"
Zeus nodded his head knowingly, and put a hand on Vega's shoulder.
" He knows that it may sound an odd thing to do,
But God will wipe away the evil, for me and you.
Our opponents this week are a sign of our fall from grace.
With Eve covered in makeup, to hide her true face.
Eve, the first woman to give into sin,
she is where the fall of man does begin.
We'll end her lustful temptation of man,
so God can carry out his ultimate plan.
Aubrie seems sweet, but even Eve can't trust.
For Aubrie yearns for knowledge, which itself is a lust.
Her lesson's tonight, and will be rather fast.
It will be her first lesson, and also her last."
Vega considered this, and seemed accepting of this knowledge. Zeus went to reach for Vega's hand.... But Vega already is in the process of putting on his sunglasses.
"I'll see you tomorrow Doc... And I know the drill.
Whatever happens tomorrow will be of God's will..."
Vega walks away, as Dr. Zeus watches on, with a sly grin covering his face.
Viola Moonlight
I'm Literally Just Here for WZCW
"Thank you." Eve replied as she smiled at the barista for retrieving her beverages.
The happy expression on Eve's face didn't last when she turned around to see Aubrey Sloan standing underneath the nearby fountain, letting the spouting water drench herself as she lifted her head and arms in the air. Despite the hour of the night, or early morning to be precise, Aubrey was the main attraction as dozens of passerby's watched on with some whipping out their mobile phones and pointing them towards her. Eve hurried over as quick as she could in heels, hoping Aubrey wouldn't notice everyone gawking. She placed both cups on the edge of the fountain lip and began calling out to Aubrey with little success.
Shit, Eve thought to herself, she can't hear me from the water splashing everywhere.
Eve had to act fast as she saw that Aubrey had noticed the attention she was attracting, something that Eve thought she hadn't experienced previously. Eve kicked off her heels and lifted up her dress to her knees as she entered the water, walking as close as she could towards Aubrey and called out her name once more. Aubrey turned to Eve for a split second, recognising her presence before looking out to everybody else with slight confusion.
"Why is everybody's gaze on me, Eve?" Aubrey asked innocently. "Am I... doing something wrong?"
The answer to her questions were long and winded but Eve needed to get her out of the spotlight, pronto.
"Not wrong, just unusual." Eve yelled at Aubrey, as the splashes turned into loud thuds.
Eve left off a sigh as she looked down at her dress for a split second, letting it drop into the water as she headed straight into the heavy downpour. She signalled for Aubrey to follow her.
"Here, come with me." She said as Eve persisted with Aubrey who eventually obliged, looking weary of everyone around the fountain.
As they got closer to the edge of the fountain, Aubrey noticed that the crowd slowly began to disperse and their phones were put away. She looked on with intrigue as the last person wandered off, leaving the two girls to themselves. She turned to Eve who had her hand outstretched, holding one of the two beverages.
"This will make you feel better." Eve explained as Aubrey took the cup. "Don't worry, it's nothing like what you had at the bar. In fact, some people have this to counteract those types of drinks. A word of caution: it is hot."
Aubrey sipped carefully, heeding Eve's advice. After a moment, Aubrey looked up at Eve with familiarity in her eyes.
"Is this... tea?" Aubrey questioned.
"Very similar, actually: it's coffee. Both products are readily available at all times of the day if you're interested." There was a small pause as Aubrey continued drinking whilst Eve took a sip of her own. "Are you okay? You're not cold or anything from being in the water?"
Aubrey let out a loud laugh that echoed the dark streets, shocking Eve slightly.
"Cold?" Aubrey chuckled. "I have trained in conditions far harsher than... this public shower provides! What I'd like to know is why was everybody gazing at me? Was that not the way your culture bathes?"
"Well..." Eve trailed, trying to think of an answer. "Firstly, that isn't a public shower: it's a waterfall feature intended to be art so people usually don't go inside them to bathe unless they are homeless or insane, especially at this time. So naturally, people stared at you because they were trying to figure out which one of the two options you fall under."
It takes a moment for Aubrey to attempt to process Eve's answer. Her eyes flicker around, turning her head back to the fountain and staring at it before turning back to Eve.
"... Your society is very complicated."
Eve lets out a small laugh.
"Indeed... but this isn't my society, neither." Eve admits. "I'm not from here."
This answer catches Aubrey's attention, turning to her so she can intently listen to her explanation.
"The society that I came from did something similar to what you just did but the people who stood around weren't confused by what was happening; they were inspired. I was one of the people who used to stand under fountains or in other odd places for the sake of promoting a particular item. It could be a dress or a pair of shoes... even a specific scent. I know, it sounds very confusing but to some, this made all the sense in the world."
"Did it make sense for you?" Aubrey questioned.
Eve took a moment to think truthfully about that question.
"It did at the time because it was my job. Just like it does for everybody like Dr. Zeus, Vega, that barista over the-"
"Dr. Zeus & Vega?" Aubrey interrupted.
"Yes, they're our next opponents."
Aubrey was taken about at the sentence, most specifically the "our" part. Before she could query further, Eve continued.
"To Zeus, his society revolved around analysing other people and how they thought about anything. He would sit down with someone whom he called 'patients' and would talk to them for a small portion of the day, letting them tell him things about their lives that most wouldn't dare to discuss. No matter how horrifying or silly the issues, Zeus would sit there and just listen until he heard enough information that he could tell that patient what was wrong, helping them recover... until somehow at some point in time, Zeus discovered that these abilities could aid him in controlling peoples' thoughts and minds, making him a very dangerous man.
Speaking of dangerous, Vega is similar to you in some ways as he is gifted in combat. So much so that he was officially employed to use those skills to spy on, hunt down and, if needed, kill people. His society contained deception and lies, having to transform himself into somebody else so he could perfectly fit into other peoples' cultures and blend in to accomplish his missions."
"How do you know all this?"
"They've been around for a while now and I've watched a lot of movies so you could say I'm an expert." Eve begins to laugh to herself but stops when she notices that Aubrey doesn't get the joke. "My point is that everyone has their own society or culture that they are belong to and as long as we understand and enjoy our own, then that's all that matters regardless of what anyone tells you.
After some time processing, Aubrey nods at Eve and the two stay in silence, watching the water flow from the fountain. Eve is the first to finish her beverage, chugging down the last gulp before placing the cup on the ground.
"So... when you've finished, I'll take you back to... wherever it is you're staying so you can get some rest. You'll need it if we're going to be training tomorrow."
Again, Aubrey lets out a big laugh that takes Eve by surprise.
"I like your jokes. You must teach me to execute them properly."
"I'm telling you Aubrey, Zeus & Vega won't be easy. They are a step up in competition for the both of us and we're going to need all the preparation we can get. It's going to be as difficult as..." Eve stops, realising that Aubrey may not understand similes, trying to figure out an appropriate reference. "... err, catching squirrels."
Eve looks over at Aubrey, proud of herself. She soon regrets her words as it has a fire lit in Aubrey's eyes as she jumps up, smashing the coffee cup on the ground with force as coffee splutters everywhere (including Eve's soaked dress), pumping herself up whilst looking directly into a Eve's shocked eyes.
"Confound those squirrels! I cannot believe those conniving pests have gotten to your head too! I'll teach them to speak ill of my name..."
"Wait what?"
Aubrey begins marching off away from Eve, who is standing around slightly confused as to what has happened. However, the sound of a car beeping and braking cuts off her thought-process, turning around to see Aubrey crossing the street with no fear as a car continues to beep its horn at Aubrey.
Eve lets out a sigh and runs off after Aubrey.
The happy expression on Eve's face didn't last when she turned around to see Aubrey Sloan standing underneath the nearby fountain, letting the spouting water drench herself as she lifted her head and arms in the air. Despite the hour of the night, or early morning to be precise, Aubrey was the main attraction as dozens of passerby's watched on with some whipping out their mobile phones and pointing them towards her. Eve hurried over as quick as she could in heels, hoping Aubrey wouldn't notice everyone gawking. She placed both cups on the edge of the fountain lip and began calling out to Aubrey with little success.
Shit, Eve thought to herself, she can't hear me from the water splashing everywhere.
Eve had to act fast as she saw that Aubrey had noticed the attention she was attracting, something that Eve thought she hadn't experienced previously. Eve kicked off her heels and lifted up her dress to her knees as she entered the water, walking as close as she could towards Aubrey and called out her name once more. Aubrey turned to Eve for a split second, recognising her presence before looking out to everybody else with slight confusion.
"Why is everybody's gaze on me, Eve?" Aubrey asked innocently. "Am I... doing something wrong?"
The answer to her questions were long and winded but Eve needed to get her out of the spotlight, pronto.
"Not wrong, just unusual." Eve yelled at Aubrey, as the splashes turned into loud thuds.
Eve left off a sigh as she looked down at her dress for a split second, letting it drop into the water as she headed straight into the heavy downpour. She signalled for Aubrey to follow her.
"Here, come with me." She said as Eve persisted with Aubrey who eventually obliged, looking weary of everyone around the fountain.
As they got closer to the edge of the fountain, Aubrey noticed that the crowd slowly began to disperse and their phones were put away. She looked on with intrigue as the last person wandered off, leaving the two girls to themselves. She turned to Eve who had her hand outstretched, holding one of the two beverages.
"This will make you feel better." Eve explained as Aubrey took the cup. "Don't worry, it's nothing like what you had at the bar. In fact, some people have this to counteract those types of drinks. A word of caution: it is hot."
Aubrey sipped carefully, heeding Eve's advice. After a moment, Aubrey looked up at Eve with familiarity in her eyes.
"Is this... tea?" Aubrey questioned.
"Very similar, actually: it's coffee. Both products are readily available at all times of the day if you're interested." There was a small pause as Aubrey continued drinking whilst Eve took a sip of her own. "Are you okay? You're not cold or anything from being in the water?"
Aubrey let out a loud laugh that echoed the dark streets, shocking Eve slightly.
"Cold?" Aubrey chuckled. "I have trained in conditions far harsher than... this public shower provides! What I'd like to know is why was everybody gazing at me? Was that not the way your culture bathes?"
"Well..." Eve trailed, trying to think of an answer. "Firstly, that isn't a public shower: it's a waterfall feature intended to be art so people usually don't go inside them to bathe unless they are homeless or insane, especially at this time. So naturally, people stared at you because they were trying to figure out which one of the two options you fall under."
It takes a moment for Aubrey to attempt to process Eve's answer. Her eyes flicker around, turning her head back to the fountain and staring at it before turning back to Eve.
"... Your society is very complicated."
Eve lets out a small laugh.
"Indeed... but this isn't my society, neither." Eve admits. "I'm not from here."
This answer catches Aubrey's attention, turning to her so she can intently listen to her explanation.
"The society that I came from did something similar to what you just did but the people who stood around weren't confused by what was happening; they were inspired. I was one of the people who used to stand under fountains or in other odd places for the sake of promoting a particular item. It could be a dress or a pair of shoes... even a specific scent. I know, it sounds very confusing but to some, this made all the sense in the world."
"Did it make sense for you?" Aubrey questioned.
Eve took a moment to think truthfully about that question.
"It did at the time because it was my job. Just like it does for everybody like Dr. Zeus, Vega, that barista over the-"
"Dr. Zeus & Vega?" Aubrey interrupted.
"Yes, they're our next opponents."
Aubrey was taken about at the sentence, most specifically the "our" part. Before she could query further, Eve continued.
"To Zeus, his society revolved around analysing other people and how they thought about anything. He would sit down with someone whom he called 'patients' and would talk to them for a small portion of the day, letting them tell him things about their lives that most wouldn't dare to discuss. No matter how horrifying or silly the issues, Zeus would sit there and just listen until he heard enough information that he could tell that patient what was wrong, helping them recover... until somehow at some point in time, Zeus discovered that these abilities could aid him in controlling peoples' thoughts and minds, making him a very dangerous man.
Speaking of dangerous, Vega is similar to you in some ways as he is gifted in combat. So much so that he was officially employed to use those skills to spy on, hunt down and, if needed, kill people. His society contained deception and lies, having to transform himself into somebody else so he could perfectly fit into other peoples' cultures and blend in to accomplish his missions."
"How do you know all this?"
"They've been around for a while now and I've watched a lot of movies so you could say I'm an expert." Eve begins to laugh to herself but stops when she notices that Aubrey doesn't get the joke. "My point is that everyone has their own society or culture that they are belong to and as long as we understand and enjoy our own, then that's all that matters regardless of what anyone tells you.
After some time processing, Aubrey nods at Eve and the two stay in silence, watching the water flow from the fountain. Eve is the first to finish her beverage, chugging down the last gulp before placing the cup on the ground.
"So... when you've finished, I'll take you back to... wherever it is you're staying so you can get some rest. You'll need it if we're going to be training tomorrow."
Again, Aubrey lets out a big laugh that takes Eve by surprise.
"I like your jokes. You must teach me to execute them properly."
"I'm telling you Aubrey, Zeus & Vega won't be easy. They are a step up in competition for the both of us and we're going to need all the preparation we can get. It's going to be as difficult as..." Eve stops, realising that Aubrey may not understand similes, trying to figure out an appropriate reference. "... err, catching squirrels."
Eve looks over at Aubrey, proud of herself. She soon regrets her words as it has a fire lit in Aubrey's eyes as she jumps up, smashing the coffee cup on the ground with force as coffee splutters everywhere (including Eve's soaked dress), pumping herself up whilst looking directly into a Eve's shocked eyes.
"Confound those squirrels! I cannot believe those conniving pests have gotten to your head too! I'll teach them to speak ill of my name..."
"Wait what?"
Aubrey begins marching off away from Eve, who is standing around slightly confused as to what has happened. However, the sound of a car beeping and braking cuts off her thought-process, turning around to see Aubrey crossing the street with no fear as a car continues to beep its horn at Aubrey.
Eve lets out a sigh and runs off after Aubrey.
- Status
Similar threads
