Ascension 119 - Vis Imperium (Keaton & LeBelle) versus Manicni and Wren

[Da Prophet]

It’s been a rough week for Vis Imperium. Keaton failed to win a handicap match alongside Gabi Clark over Vee ADZ and LeBelle was defeated in stunning fashion by Yemrez in the Gold Rush tournament. They have been put on notice by Justin Cooper and Mr. Banks that they must perform better or face the consequences. Mancini and Wren have drawn the short straw and are being pitted against Vis Imperium as bait. Mancini has stood up to LeBelle before and has shown he is not afraid of the group even though they are backed by the owner of the company. Wren has never been one to shy away from doing the unthinkable. She is one of the few to defeat Titus Avison during his history making Eurasian Championship reign. Can this makeshift duo stand up against the ultimate evil in WZCW or will Vis Imperium lead these lambs to the slaughter?

Deadline for RPs is Monday 3rd July 23:59pm (Central)

Extensions are available on request.

 

[Lee]

Match has been extended by 24 hours.

 

[Jeff Deliverer of Mail]

VIS IMPERIUM
​

Internal Memo

_______________________________________________________



TO: Remarkable Mark Keaton

FROM: Mr. Banks



SUBJECT: Work performance review

DATE: June 30th 2017





Remarkable Mark Keaton



Remarkable Mark Keaton, your presence is requested in my office at 2:30 PM, June 30th 2017 to discuss your recent performance in WZCW. This is non negotiable and the time of this meeting will not change. You will inform my secretary upon your arrival and I highly suggest you not be late. Failure to attend this meeting will result in your immediate dismissal from WZCW.



Mr. Marks
WZCW CEO.

Remarkable Mark Keaton rapped on the heavy oak door of the Xander Estate. The mansion was taller and wider than his own with huge, white pillars dominating the front of the place. It kind of reminded him of The White House. He patiently waited for an answer while clutching the memo in a death grip in his right hand. He shifted his weight, then quickly ran his hand through his blonde hair and let out an impatient sigh. He rapped on the door again, hurting his knuckles as the force of the knock intensified.



The door opened and a fat butler stood there with his eyebrows raised.



“I need to speak to Xander.” Mark hissed out as he jammed the memo in his leather jacket pocket.



“And who might you be?” The butler asked, slightly tilting his head as if he was hard of hearing.



“Mark Keaton. Hello? Everybody knows who I am, you fat bastard! Let me speak to Xander or I’m kicking you over with my brand new fifteen thousand dollar leather boots!”



“Please come in,” The butler faked a smile and allowed the rocker to elbow the door open, “I will inform master Lebelle of your arrival.”



"Chop Chop dude, I've got some important things to tell him." Mark growled as the butler hurried along and out of sight. His voice nearly echoed in the massive entry way, the marble floor shined and a nearby painting demanded Mark’s attention. It was an oil painting of Xander on horseback, hunting a wild boar with a rifle. Xander’s features were grossly exaggerated and he looked more like a Marvel Superhero than a WZCW wrestler. Mark smirked, it was an awesome painting.



“Ah,” Xander glided in the room with a very expensive looking robe on, it had French words emblazoned all over it, possibly word’s like - great- or -amazing- …in French….Mark didn’t speak French O.K? He had no clue what the words on the robe said! Leave him alone! Whew! Sorry, what was I saying? Oh ya, Xander was gliding… “I see you have taken interest in my latest painting by Henri Quesalleau. A fine artist, if not a bit slow. The lad made me pose for far too long. What can I help you with Mark?”



Mark looked Xander in the eyes and ripped the memo out of his jacket pocket, he waved it quickly in Xander’s face then read it to him.



Xander smiled wide then lit a cigar. “Come with me, I want to show you something.”



They walked past the giant central staircase that led to the second floor, Xander lightly pulled a wall-door to one side and they entered a gaming room. There were several animal heads that adorned the walls and a giant, red pool table with gold highlights right in the middle of the room. Expensive leather chairs and couches surrounded the pool table. Xander sat on one of the chairs and nodded towards the table.



Mark walked over and noticed a piece of paper resting on the red fabric of the pool table. It was a memo exactly like his, except with Xander’s name on it. He fought the urge to smile, he just couldn’t help it. Somebody ELSE was in as much trouble as HE was in, it really helped ease the stress.



“So, we’re both in some hot water, eh? I guess that comes with the territory. We both have to get some wins under our belts man.”



“Exactly my good man! That’s all we have to do, win!” Xander laughed and hauled deep on his cigar as he eyed Mark playing with his pool set, a set he has fired people from touching in the past.



“But Mr. Banks! Jeez man, I’ve never had a real man to man with him before. This is way out of my league X-Man. I’m not the businessman, agent type. He’s gonna eat me alive in there. By the end of it, I’ll be working for free." Mark made a bad attempt at hitting the white ball with a golden pool cue, he missed and gouged right into the red fabric, making a long ripping noise.



Xander jumped up, closed his eyes and mentally counted to ten before replying, “Listen Mark. Don’t worry about it. They don’t call me The World’s Greatest Mind for nothing. Let me do all the talking and we’ll be fine. Mr. Banks is no different than every agent out there, he’s just slightly more cunning and manipulative. I’ve had long conversations with wrestlers who have had dealings with him in the past. I can read his profile, he won’t be able to control us like a couple of robots. I can promise you that. You have to remember Mark, your mind is an incredible thing. It can surprise you. Here, have a bite of this incredible plate of Dutch Frange’ Pasta made by the one of the worlds finest chefs, Ian Geraldine Francis, who owed me a favour.”



Mark picked up the heavy plate off of the side table. He scooped some pasta in a fork and jammed it in his mouth. His eyes lit up, it was the best thing he’s ever eaten. Xander nearly scowled as he watched a droplet of pasta sauce fall on his million dollar rug he imported from Mexico.



“Totally amazing X-Man! I could eat this every day, thirty four, eight!” Mark scooped up another bite.



“The term is twenty four seven and you probably have eaten that quite a bit. Because it’s MR. NOODLE. You see, because I told you it was Dutch Frange’ Pasta, a name I made up by the way, and it was made by one of the worlds finest chefs, your brain told your taste buds that it MUST taste amazing. Thus your reaction when you first ate it. This is how Mr. Banks operates my friend, he can manipulate your brain and make you think what he wants you to do is the best possible scenario available.” Xander butted his cigar and jumped up.



“But we have you, dude. The World’s Mind That is Great.” Mark smiled and held his hand up for a high five.



Xander high fived the rocker and walked by him, “Exactly my boy! NOBODY can manipulate a mind like my own. Now, let’s shift our focus on our opponents. Tony Mancini and that foul woman Wren. Follow me, I think you’ll find this rather interesting.”



Mark nodded and followed the World’s Greatest Mind as he walked out of the gaming room, Mark touched a dusty looking plate on his way by a display, the plate toppled over and crashed, the vibration sent the other plates on the wall to fall down and smash on the floor as well.



Xander stood in the hallway with his eyes closed as he could hear his expensive China smash to pieces. He shuttered then continued walking.



“Sorry. I just touched one and all hell broke loose.” Mark caught up to Xander as they entered a large training facility located in the center of the first floor.



“Wow, holy fuck!” Mark yelled as he saw two wrestling rings set up and a dozen trainers and staff working with other talents. What really got to him was the realistic robots walking around.



“Amazing isn’t it? I’ve spent quite a bit of money on Robotics. The dozen robots you see here working with my staff are our latest creations. Super realistic in appearance, balance and intelligence. The world’s most advanced robots, Mark. Wait until you see our opponents.” Xander laughed and removed his robe, he was in his wrestling gear, he jumped through the ropes and waited by the turnbuckle.



“What the hell? What is going…?” But before Mark could get his sentence out, a perfect replica of Tony Mancini walked by him, but he could tell it was a robot by the jerky actions. Then a Wren-bot walked by, both robots made dial up noises and had a conversation on who was going to start the match.



“Shit! Hold on Xander! I’ve got your back man, Vis Imperium forever!” Mark ripped off his leather jacket and jumped in the ring.



“I’ll start out.” Xander said as he stretched his neck. Mark held Xander’s chest and pushed him towards the corner. He looked over at Wren and blew her a kiss as he did so.



“Don’t worry man, I’ve got this. We need to start out fast and get the fans out of it. We’ll save you for a hot tag." Mark smirked and held is fists up at the Tony Mancini bot.



“No, you need to listen to me. Remember what I told you about your brain. You need to use it. I’ll start out and if I get into trouble, I’ll tag you in. “ Xander repaid the favor by pushing Mark towards the corner.



The Tony Mancini bot waited for no man, it attacked with piston chops and punches to both Vis Imperium members. Mark and Xander fought back and soon all four were in the ring throwing rights and lefts at each other.



“This is great practice!” Mark yelled as blood poured out of his nose.



“This is highly unusual! They’re not supposed to be this aggressive Mark! You didn’t blow a kiss at Wren-bot did you?! It’s possible it messed with her Matrix core and we could have a real problem on our hands here!”



“Ya, I did! So what?! It’s a robot!” Mark punched Mancini-bot in the face.



The remaining robots surrounded the ring, Xander’s staff were all laid out on the floor. They crawled in the ring, making loud dial up noises as they did. Mark and Xander barely dove through the ropes as a robot war erupted in the ring. They started tearing off the turnbuckles and snapping the ropes. Xander and Mark ran out of the room as the S.W.A.T team arrived to destroy the robots.



Xander plopped his frame on the couch inside the gaming room, he took some heavy breaths.



“That was pretty rad, dude.” Mark said through a towel as he wiped the blood away from his nose. He threw the towel on Xander’s extremely expensive rug that he imported from Mexico.



“You my friend, are chaos wrapped in a remarkable package of destruction. We should do quite fine against Mancini and Wren. They will be beaten….”



“.….and lay at the feet of Remarkable Mark Keaton.”





The memo’s rested next to each other on the pool table as Mark and Xander both lit cigars and laughed.

 

[Hyorinmaru]

The camera slowly comes into focus and shows Tony Mancini and Xaitlyn Serpiente sitting at his kitchen table. Tony is relaxed and sipping on a glass of red wine while Xaitlyn is sitting across from him, rigid with a cup of water forgotten in front of her.

Tony: I just wanted to say thank you for everything you did for me against Constantine, I'm just sorry it wasn't enough.

Xaitlyn: You have nothing to be sorry for Anthony, there is no shame in losing a match. It is Constantine who should be sorry. I do not know what he did but I know he cheated to win that match, he always does.

Tony: He didn't cheat Xaitlyn, I just wasn't good enough. I may have lost this match but there will be others that I will win.

Tony takes another sip of his wine while Xaitlyn stares at him. Tony starts to get a little uncomfortable so he gets up from his chair and begins to walk out of the room

Tony: I'm gonna go find out what my next match is so I can prepare for it.

Xaitlyn: You are teaming with Wren to take on Vis Imperium members Mark Keaton and Xander LeBelle on Ascension.

His reason for leaving the room gone, Tony sits back down and looks over at the woman sitting across from him.

Tony: And how did you figure that out before me? I thought they only gave match info to the wrestlers themselves or their manager if they have one.

Xaitlyn: An intern came up to me and gave me the information. After I came out with you for your match with Constantine he probably thought I was your manager.

Tony: And are you?

Xaitlyn: Am I what?

Tony: My manager?

Xaitlyn stares at Tony, thinking about it as she finally takes a sip of her now room temperature water.

Xaitlyn: I think I would like that. At least until Vis Imperium is destroyed, they are a blight on WZCW and we need to take them out permanently starting with Mark Keaton and Xander LeBelle.

Tony downs the rest of his wine and smiles at Xaitlyn.

Tony: The Salvific Knights ride again I guess.

Xaitlyn: It looks that way but we are not alone against the enemy this time.

Tony: You're right, this time we have Wren on our side.

Xaitlyn: What do you know about her?

Tony leans back in his chair and gets a thoughtful look on his face as he thinks back on everything he knows about his mysterious tag team partner.

Tony: Just what everybody knows really. No one knows where she's from but she was a huge star over in Japan before being signed by WZCW. She hasn't done to bad since signing as well. She beat Titus Avison in a non-title match and now she's a match with Titus Avison at Gold Rush for the Eurasian Championship.

Xaitlyn: That is not much Anthony, she's your tag team partner, you should know everything about her.

Tony: Why, It's not like this is a permanent team or anything. I know enough about her to be able to work together in order to beat Vis Imperium and then we both go our separate ways.

Xaitlyn: Anthony, if I am going to be your manager then you will need to listen to me. In order to beat your opponent you need to know them. You have faced both LeBelle and Keaton before. What about them can we use to our advantage?

Instead of answering Tony looks at the clock on his stove and quickly gets up and gets ready to leave.

Tony: I'll think about that and get back to you tomorrow. Right now I've got to go into the city and meet a friend and if I don't leave now I won't get into the city until midnight. The spare bedroom is yours if you want it.

Xaitlyn silently stares at Tony with an intense frown on her face as he walks out the front door. As he gets into his car and starts it the camera slowly fades to black.

2 hours later at a dive bar in Brooklyn​

The camera comes back in to focus and we see Tony sitting in the same dive bar that Father Meloni found him in only this time he has a smile on his face and instead of Whiskey he's got a club soda in front of him. He glances at his watch and takes a sip when out of nowhere Gino Rizzoli comes storming in and envelopes Tony in a massive bear hug as soon as he stands up.

Gino: What's up Ton'? I thought you didn't want anything to do with me now that you've got a little brat at home.

Tony: Amelia is teething so I pawned her off on my neighbor Melanie and with Xaitlyn going on and on about knowing my partner and knowing my opponents I needed to get out of the house anyway and I figured I should get back in touch with the man who was watching me from the shadows the last time I was in this bar.

Tony takes another sip of club soda as he takes a page out of Xaitlyn's book and stares intently at Gino until he gets an uncomfortable look on his face.

Gino: When we first started in WZCW I promised your father I would look after you and not let you damage the Mancini name. Those promises didn't go away because you didn't want to see me anymore.

Tony: You don't have to do it from the shadows anymore. I never should have told you to leave and I've regretted it every day.

Gino: What will your manager say about that when you tell her we're on speaking terms again? She never did like me very much.

Tony: Xaitlyn doesn't have to know. She may be my manager but my personal life is just that, mine.

Gino laughs at that as he orders a glass of Whiskey and leans back in his chair.

Gino: That can't be the only reason you drove through New York City rush hour to come talk to me in a disgusting dive bar in Brooklyn.

Tony: It's not, I need some advice on Vis Imperium. Xaitlyn says I need to know them in order to beat them but a part of me is saying that's nothing but a load of bullshit.

Gino[/B That would be the part of you that still has common sense. People like your manager can talk about beating Vis Imperium by following the rules and doing things the 'right' way but the truth is that in order to beat them you're going to need to get down in the mud and fight dirty just like they will.

Gino pauses and takes a sip of his whiskey before continuing.

Gino: Truth is Ton' ever since you tried to do things the 'right' way you've come up empty handed against guys like Vis Imperium. You need to go back to being that sadistic son of a bitch willing to do anything in the name of the Family.

Tony sips his club soda and listens intently to what Gino is saying as the camera slowly loses focus and goes to black.

 

[TBK]

"LeBelle, Keaton, the two of you must have the guts of a deer running in front of a semi to request something from me after your recent blunders."

Kenneth A. Banks closed the door to his study before sitting down at his desk and resting his feet on the table. From his perspective, all he saw sitting before him were two losers who fell in the Gold Rush tournament, and in one case, someone who lost a match he had the advantage in, with a handicap bout. These two losers were supposed to be Vis Imperium. These were supposed to be The World's Greatest Mind, Xander LeBelle, someone whose mental talent was almost otherworldly, whose colorful personality and in-ring skill had proven himself to be a major threat. Then there was Remarkable Mark Keaton, a man who only lived up to his name more and more, whose bad reputation meant he was not the kind of guy anyone would want to see walking down the street. So what happened?

"Blunders?" Keaton repeated, offended. "I think us sticking out our neck for you and Cooper at that Hall of Fame at least makes us wort--"

Xander tapped Mark's hand and passed a small piece of paper he had prepared over to the rock star. As can be expected from the World's Greatest Mind, he knew Keaton wouldn't know when to keep his mouth shut and let Xander do the talking. As such, the paper bore a single sentence:

Sit back and watch me work.

He cleared his throat.

"All that I have, Banks," Xander said, "is confidence that you will see eye-to-eye with Keaton and I by the end of this conversation."

"Is that so?" Banks' face was stern and unimpressed, but he was listening nonetheless. "Depending on how you speak to me, not just your status as members of Vis Imperium are up in the air, but your WZCW contracts will be up in the air as well. You understand this, right?"

Keaton felt the hair on the back of his neck start to stand up, and instinctively he backed his chair up towards the door behind him. The feeling of fear wasn't a natural feeling for him, but in the face of his boss, he could make an exception. Yet if his team member was scared out of his wits, he was doing an excellent job of not showing it. LeBelle had a poker face that had gotten lesser men shot for winning a hand against the wrong person. It was unflappable, yet ominous.

"Mr. Banks, I would never carry around a six shooter without four more pistols hidden within my coat. I always have, and always shall be prepared for the worst."

Each man stood in stony silence at LeBelle's words. Banks was lost in thought while Xander sat motionless in his chair awaiting a response. Mark was the same, but rather than awaiting a response, he was fearing one. He would never forgive this time-displaced lunatic if he got the two of them fired.

"Very well. Only because you are members of Vis Imperium." Banks slumped slightly in his chair. "For the next twenty minutes, you have my undivided attention."

Mark breathed a sigh of relief. He could worry about where his career would go after this conversation. Worst comes to worst, so long as Xander never called on him, he could get away with simply assuring Kenneth that he wasn't on The Class Act's side.

"Keaton?" Xander said, turning his void-like sunglasses to the Rockstar.

"Hm?"

Keaton wondered if he heard him right. Xander swung the cane he gripped, pointing directly to his partner.

"That banshee who you were stuck babysitting...do you think that you would have won without her help, if that is what she wishes to call it?"

Keaton's heart pounded. His eyes shifted between the two people in front of him. Their eyes were open and expectant. Xander had really put him in a prisoner's dilemma. To his left, a hand offering freedom but carrying with it an incredible risk. To his right, a low risk to his future but a guaranteed punishment were he to answer incorrectly.

"Yesss..?" The Remarkable One was unsure, but went on impulse, which wasn't uncommon for him.

"So, in spite of having another person in your corner as you fought Vee A.D.Z., you lost and yet I'm the one at fault?"

"...No?"

Banks stared at his personal lackey, a death stare on his countenance. Luckily, LeBelle continued to direct the conversation.

"I stand by that he could have done it. I've beaten A.D.Z. on my own, and you, Mr. Banks, have only had an eye for the elite. Unfortunately, some things in life will simply go as well together as bleach and ammonia. That is just how the two of them are, truly."

Xander sighed. The Class Act's eyes wandered over to the playing cards laying on Mr. Banks' desk. He grabbed them and shuffled them without looking and pulled the first card that was on top. The Ace of Clubs, naturally, just as he had predicted.

"Allow me to give an example. An ace is one of the highest cards there is in Holdem, and when it comes down to the highest card on the field, an ace will always be the victor. but what good does it do when the other card is a two, instead of another ace? The answer is even highest of highs can lose to even two sevens."

Xander pulled out a seven of spades and diamonds each to make his point, before putting the cards back down.

"Miss Clark has a strong career that is ahead of her, and yet, if the blame falls squarely on Keaton, you must ask yourself how she lost as well. She has an impressiveness about her as well, one would think she alone could at least provide Vee A.D.Z. with a remarkable..."

Xander paused, looking at his partner.

"Apologies."

Clearing his throat, LeBelle started again.

"One would think that she could at least provide Vee with a worthwhile challenge. You put Keaton and Clark together and you would assume they would work as an unstoppable tandem, but no matter how sweet it tastes, honey simply does not go with everything."

Banks looked over to Mark, who managed to hold his composure as his name was repeated again, and again.

"Alright, so he is accounted for...but what about you, Xander?" Banks asked, crossing his fingers and leaning back in his chair. "I had high hopes that you would make me proud, as the only member of Vis Imperium to have pulled out a victory the show before, and yet here I am, and you lost to Yemrez, just like you lost to Batti. I will stick my neck out for you as long as you remain under my brand, but I see a man going one step forward and two steps back. You make an effort to rebound, I will give you credit there, but I want my wine to taste like wine one hundred percent of the time, not fifty, or even eighty. And yet, even now you come in here and request something from me at a time you have my ire."

Xander pointed his cane at the grandfather clock, drawing the attention of the other two in the room.

"If you will have a look, I have eight more minutes of your time. With what I have left on the clock, I ask only that you let me speak. I promise to you at the end, all that you will hear will be as beneficial for you as it is for us when we strike a deal. I shall, as the saying goes, 'cut to the chase'."

Kenneth took a deep breath, clearing his head.

"Eight minutes," he growled.

"I understand the opponents were picked on a random chance, and you had no idea I would be put up against the one thing I have stated time and time again I wished not to face. 'No matter, I will have Andrew take my place once again' I said to myself...and yet, as I start to make the appointment to swap with him, he was put in a contest with Tyrone Blades, for a championship, no less, in a match he could not get out of and I could not get in. I am no saint, but I know everything, and not even the man who holds the world in the palm of hands would walk in and defeat both Tyrone and Yemrez, back to back. Although Andrew could not make it to this meeting, he feels mutually. He certainly hates Tyrone, but the only loyalty he has is towards the man he came in with in WZCW. As such, I would like to be the one who chooses just who he will fight."

Kenneth leaned forward and stared at the two with the eyes of a hawk.

"So, let me make sure I have this straight. You want to be the middle man between Adonis and I, in case you need him to be your replacement, and I should let Mark Keaton decide who he gets partnered with, if anyone?"

Keaton nodded. Xander's still confident grin said everything.

"You are a smart man, Banks. Remember what I could accomplish when I had all the rights to myself. I became Elite Openweight Champion. But you aren't getting that package when we are in Vis Imperium. But you can be, if you simply allow the freedoms a man with diplomatic immunity, and a rockstar celebrity tend to take for granted. I may not win the Gold Rush, but let the two of us roam free, and greater opportunities will fall into our laps."

Kenneth looked at the clock. The time was up, but he had no desire to kick the two of them out.

"Well, I am impressed you didn't ask for more money, but as I said, I want my wine tasting like wine one hundred percent of the time. You want more benefits? I'll think on it. I'll be more inclined if I can see a taste of what you are able to do with free reign. Still, I would like you to do it working alongside one another."

Kenneth Banks grabbed the playing cards that were on his desk, and fished out the ace of hearts. He held it out and showed it off to the two members of Vis Imperium in front of him.

"Xander, do you fancy yourself to be an ace as well? You should know that two aces is a very strong hand...Perhaps one that could beat two tough names who also didn't make it to round 3? A Tony Mancini reaching his renaissance, and a Wren who has consistently proven herself to be as talented of a wrestler as much as she is a pain in my sides...How about it?"

Xander laughed, and clapped his gloves.

"I would certainly consider myself as such. I accept your proposition. I remember the two of them well - one of my very first opponents, and one of the many names who couldn't live up to the opportunity I capitalized on to win big in a moment you saw and said to yourself 'that man is exactly the one I need in Vis Imperium'."

Xander's glasses glinted.

"I will make you say that to yourself again, guaranteed."

With it seeming like the two had come to a full agreement, Mark finally spoke up.

"I'm in as well. There's a big difference between them and us; And I'm not talking about my good looks, or the fact the two of 'em had one to many run ins with the ugly stick, either. They're impressive, but they're not ready to play with the big boys just yet. At least not like we can do it, with guys like Tastic and Tyrone. If he wants to exclusively take on Tony, I'd be more than glad to give that mute a taste my Voltron suplex. I don't know who she thinks she is, trying to act all mysterious, drawing attention to herself. I hate folks like that. They're all just drags. I'll do more than make her talk, I'll make her scream."

"My friend," Xander said, taking off his sunglasses and sticking them in his suit pocket, "I believe I shall take you up on that offer. You do not need to ask me twice to be my personal Wren fighter. Not to mention, it has been far too long since I've last seen Anthony. He has forgotten his place."

Xander shook his head.

"He might think that the times have changed, but I can see him for what he truly is, just a pig wearing make up. No more capable than the last time I saw the ugly baboon. What was that phrase you used to describe me, Banks? 'One step forward and two steps back?' I would say this whole venture for him has been one step forward, and then he's fallen down the steps and re-evaluated how to walk back up there again."

LeBelle polished his glasses with his handkerchief, idly.

"I can't see him managing to figure it out. Not that the steps are anywhere his meatheaded body should try to balance on, anyways."

All three men let out a chuckle at that statement.

"The two of them need us more than ever. Making it past Round 1 in the Gold Rush raised the two's hopes. They forgot the chain that binds them. Wren, who basks in the world of strength and self defense because her own physical body is weak and fragile, and will meet her end swiftly by whoever plays the role of the immovable object. I've seen how she fights. Overwhelming her opponent is her strategy. You find a way to trick her up, maybe just give her what she expects a second sooner, she will fall. I guarantee it. That is, if she is not done in by Anthony. He is the real piece of work. I almost feel bad for her, having to hold the hand of an indecisive twit who is always too busy fighting himself to ever step up in the world. They lack tact and confidence."

"Too bad for them that that's exactly what we got!" Keaton exclaimed.

Banks looked upon the enthusiastic stable mates and wordlessly poured himself a glass of whiskey. Truly, this is exactly what the money-grubbing eccentric had in mind with this alliance, but he was also cautious. Too many times in his life had he seen something been too good to be true and too often was it the case. But, if nothing else, this raised his expectations.

"Boys, I would like to remind you all what you're getting into if you can't live up to your hype now, but..."

Banks poured a couple more glasses of whiskey for his team. He held his glass high.

"I'll worry about it later. Here's to a New Vis Imperium."

The other two took their glasses and clanked them together in a toast. Banks could not be more proud as he downed the hatch. It took a while, but if things were truly as he hoped they would be...

Vis Imperium, as it always should have been, was finally born.
​

 

[CyberPunk]

“FOR GOD’S SAKE, ELLIE! FOR ONCE, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!”

I was furious with Ellie. I had told her not to go into the match against Flex and all that fell on deaf ears. Now, the stakes are even higher as she has to go up against Titus in a few weeks’ time for the EurAsian championship, probably the biggest match of her career ever, and yet she has been put in an unfair match and she won’t pull out.

“Why don’t you ever listen to me? Vis Imperium is dangerous. You know that! They don’t play by our rules. They don’t play by anybody’s rules. You may think it’s a 2 v 2 tag match, but it can change even before you know it. Plus, your knee hasn’t healed completely. You can’t go against them, not with your knee still banged up. You were lucky nothing serious happened to your knee against Flex, but luck eventually runs out.” She was still not having any of this. I didn’t want to be too harsh on her. She had a shitty previous week with her photo leak and what not, but she nevertheless frustrated me. What kind of moral code is this? Why doesn’t she look at the bigger picture like I do? What kind of self-righteousness is this?

I was frustrated. I sat in the corner, face in my hands. Frustrated that Ellie would go in a match like this against her own best interest. “You know, you used to disagree with me on a lot of things, but in the end you still did the right thing. I don’t know what happened to that Ellie.” I was exhausted, but I wasn’t going to give up. I had one goal, protect Ellie, and Wren at all cost.

***

The bar wasn’t much to speak of, but the drinks weren’t bad. More importantly though, I was where I needed to be. Ellie wasn’t listening to me, so had to make sure someone else does. I was closely listening in to the conversation going on at the other table, and I had reached the point where I had to intervene.

“Why don’t you listen to your old man?” Tony looked a little startled.

“Who are you?”

“I am Gale, Wren’s manager.”

“Gale? Never heard of you. Why are you here?”

“Shouldn’t it be obvious? You and Wren are going against one of the most dangerous factions in the history of WZCW. We have to have a plan.”

“See, lady. I’ve already heard enough from Xaitlyn and now Gino. I don’t want another person to lecture me on what I should do.”

“Then listen up carefully. You know Vis Imperium and their dirty tactics. I know how vicious you can be. Show it. Wren won’t listen to me. She’s too ‘righteous’ for her own good. You, on the other hand, know a thing or two about doing what’s necessary.”

“I see. This is not about Tony or the match. You want to protect Wren at Tony’s expense.”

“It doesn’t matter to me what you think, old man. I know for a fact these people don’t play nice. There’s no ‘right’ thing to do here. You do what needs to be done.”

Tony wasn’t listening to me anymore. He just got up to leave.

“Tony, you may not like what I’m saying, but in your heart, you know what I’m saying is right.”

He left without even looking back. Gino looked at me.

“Well, so much for that. Want to have a drink?”

***

I didn’t know how to convince Allison. In fact, I didn’t know how to convince myself if I was doing the right thing. My knee had almost healed, but I still ran a risk of aggravating it. But a commitment is a commitment. I wasn’t going to give up on that. I needed this match more than she could even imagine. I understood what she wanted to tell me. She still thinks I need her protection, that I’m the same 11-year old girl sleeping under the bridge who couldn’t defend herself. I needed to prove to her I didn’t need her protection. But more than anything, I needed this for myself. I needed to prove to myself that I’m still the same Wren who went unbeaten for 8 years in the JSS. I needed to prove that being with the big boys didn’t diminish my abilities, or my penchant for wins. I needed to prove to myself that I could be the next EurAsian champion. I was a little doubtful about Tony though. He had lost his big Gold Rush match, and I didn’t know how committed he was to this match. Can I trust him?

My phone broke the silence of my room.

Spoiler

I was relieved.

***

Spoiler