Monday Night Warfare 25th July 2005

[hunter]

Monday Night Warfare – July 25th, 2005

Schedule of Matches:
--------------------------------------------------------

NeW HollyWood vs. Gary & Froggy

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

Shawn Kiev vs. Alexis

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

Sakina Khalida vs. Double Oh-4

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

Davey vs. Brian Carnage & Gooner

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

Jake vs. Predator - ET Title

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

Wyvern vs. DNA

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

RDK vs. Jonny Spade - 2/3 Falls

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

Hunter vs. Daredevil - HPM III - FlashBack Series

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

[hunter]

The lights in the arena flash and the pyro goes off, signaling the start of another edition of Warfare. The cameras pan around the audience. Nearly every person is waving a sign like a maniac to show their support for the show and get their five seconds of fame, if not less. The Alphatron flashes on and we are taken inside of the ACW offices.

It’s a very serene day in the offices, despite many things that have happened throughout the weeks. The camera moves in closer and treads into Ginger’s office. The Chairman of ACW is hunched over his desk, writing himself a few notes. The camera zooms out to reveal Daredevil standing in front of Ginger’s desk. He taps his fingers on the desk and looks around, impatient as he always is.

DD: Ginger, I-

Ginger: Just hold on.

Ginger continues with his work despite the displeasure of DD. The door opens again and now Hunter comes through.

Hunter: You wanted to-

Hunter looks at DD.

Hunter: What’s he doing here?

Ginger puts his pen down and locks his hands together.

Ginger: Well, I’m sure both of you are aware that you two have a match against each other tonight.

DD: Yeah.

Hunter: Mm-hmm.

Ginger: Well, I would like to tell you about the stipulation. You see, it’s-

DD: We already know the stipulation.

Hunter: I created the match.

DD: HPM…and I made it famous.

Hunter: My ass.

DD: Well let’s test that later tonight.

Hunter: Fine, see you in the ring!

Ginger: Well, you see, that’s the thing. You two won’t be in the ring.

Hunter/DD: What?

Ginger: Well, here in the ACW, we want to provide our fans with the entertainment they deserve. This means more originality. Now, the last Hardcore Payphone Match was a success, and it was different from the first. But now, we need to make it even more different.

Hunter: What are you proposing?

Ginger: Well, I noticed the ratings of the Mayhem at the Mall and Terror at the Zoo matches. They’re very high and are considered to of the best matches that ACW has ever had. So, I decided…Nightmare at the Subway!

DD: Why are we going to Subway?

Ginger: No, a subway station!

Hunter: Let’s just stick with “HPM III”.

DD: I’m still confused.

Ginger: Oh for…you’re going to be battling in a train station.

DD: Won’t the spectators get in the way?

Hunter: Couldn’t we get hit by a train?

Ginger: No! It’s abandoned.

Hunter/DD: Ohhhhh.

Ginger: We’ve found an abandoned train station not too far from here. For the past week, we have been throwing random objects in there.

Hunter: What kind of objects?

Ginger: Random objects that you can use to attack each other and make unnecessary and obscure pop culture references for a cheap laugh.

Pause.

Hunter/DD: Oh, okay. Yeah. All right.

Ginger: Glad you’re happy. Now a little later in the show you’ll meet with some drivers. They will lead you to separate limos that will take each of you to the train station.

Hunter: One last thing…why a train station?

Ginger: Well, we couldn’t find another place with payphones.

Hunter: …I see.

They follow each other out the door and close it behind them. Ginger leans back and smiles. After this brief delay, he picks up his pen and goes back to his work.

Fade Out

[hunter]

Segment: A Game He'll Never Forget (Rena and Jonny Spade)

The camera opens, staring at a television screen. Two people are fighting on it, a man and woman. There are names at the top of the screen, “Ryu” on the left and “Chun-Li” on the right. Laughing and giggling is heard from behind the cameraman as the people on the screen are battling it out in a hardcore brawl.

…: Take that!

.?.: Don’t think so…

…: C’mon, Jonny! Let me win this time!

Jonny: NO! I have to win again! I can’t lose to you.

…: Because I’m a woman?

Jonny: No. Because I have to win.

Just then the woman character dies, and the screen turns black. A large P1 throws on the screen, and a booming voice screams “PLAYER ONE, WINS!”

…: Damn, you made me lose!

Jonny: No I didn’t!

The camera moves around and shows Rena pouting on a couch from her recent loss.

Rena: I don’t think it’s fair, anyways!

Jonny: Why?

Rena: Because you spend all day huddled on this damn thing…it’s an unfair advantage! How you can stand this piece of junk for more than 1 minute is beyond me.

Jonny: You’ve been playing for an hour with me…so obviously you can stand it for more than that.

Rena looked as if she were about to say something, but then went back to pouting. They were both sitting on the couch, staring at the now-blank screen. Jonny smiled, feeding off of the win he just had on Rena and from her pouting.

Jonny: Don’t worry…maybe in a couple of years if I break my hands and can’t play, you could beat me… maybe.

Rena: I don’t think that’s funny!

Jonny began laughing at her poor sportsmanship. He put his hand on the back of his head, and draped his other arm across the couch, patting Rena on the shoulders. She looked at him and growled, angry at him for beating her.

Jonny: Honestly, learn to take a loss.

Rena: I’m trying! Anyways…I know one game I’m better at than you!

She smiled, realizing something and then moved more towards Jonny. She wasn’t as sore form her last loss, and was intent on winning this time…at a new game he would have had played with her before.

Jonny: And what’s that?

Rena smiled and straddled Jonny on the couch. She began to kiss his neck, her tongue moving down his throat. He began to breath heavily from the erotic tension, and ripped off his loose T-shirt. She grabbed at his curly medium hair, thrusting her fingers through it, kissing his chest roughly. With guidance, Rena pushed his head back with her hands and explored his body. She played with his nipples using her tongue, and guided her hands down his body so elegantly and exotically, he moaned from the touch. She smiled as she looked down, happy to see the just-pitched tent inside his sweat pants. She laughed, and started playing with the elastic waistband slow enough to make him want her all the more.

Jonny: Here, I’ll do it.

With great agility, he pulled off his pants, and slouched back on the couch in his boxers. She was drawn to the plaid patterns, but then noticed the pole of skin attempting to fight it’s way out of the buttoned hole on the boxers.

Rena: Looks like it wants to come out and play.

Jonny: It definitely does…

Rena grabbed at the button, and tore it open. The button flew across the room at the power of her ripping. She grabbed it, the large piece of man meat he was craving her to grab. He moaned at her touch, and fidgeted in pleasure at her growing pressure on it. She started stroking it very slowly, getting faster and faster. Jonny’s head shot back to the couch, and his eyes flew open, and then shut. He began moaning so loudly that he sounded as if he was going to explode, so Rena stopped suddenly. She looked up at him with a smile on her face. She then moved her face down and licked his skinned tool. She looked up at him with the most seductive smile she had ever gave someone in her entire life.

Rena: Do I win?

Jonny: Damn, Yes!

Rena: Good.

She got up and stood, staring down at him. She smiled sweetly, and then wiped her mouth. She picked up his pants and threw them at him, heading towards the door.

Rena: I had fun, Jonny.

Jonny: WAIT! Let’s play that game again! Re-match! I don’t even think you won anyways…let’s try it again!

Rena: Maybe another time, Honey.

She opened the door, and shut it quietly.

Rena: Still got my charm.

She leaned against the door and filed her nails. From behind the door she heard Jonny hurrying around for something. As she pushed herself off, Jonny ran out with a towel wrapped around him.

Jonny: Let's play that game in the shower, baby!

Rena: Next Time! Luv ya!

She blew a kiss at him, and giggled. He looked saddened, but went back into his locker room.

(Fade)

[hunter]

Segment: Confrontation (Credit: Wyvern)

Scene opens in the backstage hallway, where Wyvern is looking to get his hands on Angelo, presumably from what happened last Monday, when Wyvern was put into a Glock Lock after the match was thrown out. Wyvern storms the area, knocking garbage cans over, ripping up promotional posters of previous PPVs, slamming on doors passing by. It’s almost needless to say that Wyvern’s pissed, to say anything less would be an understatement. As he rounds a corner, however, he stops right in his tracks, as a very intimidating Nicholas Alger lies in wait.

Wyvern: What do you want?

Alger: You know darn well what I want, Wyvern. You put me and Tracy Finn in harm’s way last Monday, and very selfishly to boot.

Wyvern: Well, what can you expect, considering the fact that you and Finn are as likely of teammates for me as Gooner and Gary would’ve been. Face it, you two ARE hacks, washed-up crap from the refuse that drifts from the indies.

Alger doesn’t like hearing this, as he inches up to Wyvern even more now, and Wyvern starts to shuffle a little bit.

Alger: Don’t get me wrong Wyvern, but I distinctly recall you calling it quits from a rather minor ACL tear in your knee in late 1999. Do you realize I participated in PrideFC, as well as K-1, and had a winning record, while sharing a very similar knee injury?

Wyvern: Not really, I didn’t care much for that wretched crap you call shoot fighting. And by the wa-

Alger interrupts Wyvern, with a harsher tone.

Alger: Enough. The point is, I’ve been taking abuse a lot longer than you have. I’ve been screwed out of titles legit, not during a match, but rather due to promoters booking me in the lower-mid. I saw one person get paralyzed in the middle of the ring, after someone blindsided them, and they landed headfirst on a stool. Since then, I’ve tried to keep my head on a swivel. Monday, Finn was unable to defend himself, and now he’s most likely out with a neck injury, all thanks to you. And tonight, I know I’m going have to do all I can to prevent that.

Wyvern: Why? So you can mock out D’Lo Brown?

Alger: So I can avenge Tracy Finn the right way, with a victory over you tonight!

Wyvern laughs, and puts his hands up, waving them in a mocking gesture.

Wyvern: What says we’re going to have a match here tonight? And besides, I’ve held titles that MEAN something, whereas you simply do not.

Alger: I say we’re going to have a match tonight, otherwise we can see just how “dangerous” I can be, when I’m not playing second fiddle to a wannabe-Bret Hart, whom can’t see past his own selfish intentions to realize he’s just a carbon copy of the past. You’re going down like a junior on her prom night, you son of a-

A slight commotion can be heard, probably something from the ACW technicians down the hall. Alger makes a quick mistake, turning around to see nothing of importance. Wyvern utilizes this distraction, to rail Alger with a quick headbutt, that in it’s violent haste, takes down the Dangerous one. He bleeds from the nose as Wyvern laughs

Wyvern: Yeah, that’s right, Alger, suck it up and admit the fact that you will NEVER contend with the likes of me. That was just a quick taste of you being unable to expect the unexpected, I’ll finish you off in the ring tonight.

With that, Wyvern spits on the fallen DNA, as he continues to go “on the prowl”, looking for Angelo. DNA slowly gets up, and throws a garbage can in disgust. Will DNA get revenge tonight? Stay tuned to find out.

[hunter]

Rematch? (Credit: Jake Cheng)

The scene opens as Jake sits peacefully in his newly refurbished locker room on his new sofa looking newly acquired Entertainment Title. The peace is broken as Stan barges in the locker room.

Stan*panting*: Jake........You’ll never guess.......what the guys....... gave me?

Jake: Uh hello? I am kind of busy right now. What guys are you talking about?

Stan: One of the other camera guys. We are kind of like a cult thing, we share footage we tape and stuff. He gave me...

Jake: A cameraman cult?

Stan: THE Cameraman cult. We have secret cameras all over the building so we always know what is happening. Occasionally we get the good backstage fight or something like that.

Jake smiles.

Jake: You have cameras in all the rooms?

Stan: I know what you are thinking. But we don’t. We aren’t allowed to.

Jake: Oh. Nevermind. What did you get?

Stan holds up a video tape.

Stan: My friend on break and was watching the cameras, and found something interesting in Ginger’s office. He got it on tape for me because I am like second highest in the cult because I got hired by you.

Jake: So you aren’t the highest? Why not?

Stan: No, just one guy above me. His name is...

Jake*Interrupting* : DAN!!

Stan: What?

Jake: You know Stan the cameraman; Dan the cameraman.

Silence.

Jake: Nevermind.

Stan: Right...actually his name is Roger. He does the stuff for all the big names. He did Pain Inc, Latino and AK. He was the person who recorded the segment where BK get tampon’d by Yoko.

Jake twitches at the thought of it.

Stan: There is only one thing I need to do to be at the top.

Jake: And what might that be?

Stan whispers something into Jake’s ear.

Jake: Hmmm, that can be arranged. I’ll get on it later. Pop in the tape.

Stan: Oh right.

Stan puts the tape into the combination VCR/DVD player and the two begin to watch the black and white scene unfolds as Stan narrates.

Stan: This was last Thursday before the show. Gingerdude does his usual “paperwork” in his office, unknowing to the chaos that is soon to be his misfortune.

A superstar bursts into the office and immediately gets to his knees, as if he were praying. Jake switches the mute off, so he can hear what the superstar is saying.

?: ...match against Jake Cheng for the Entertainment Title. I must get it back. It’ll make the highlight of my career so far.

Gingerdude: Predator, I refuse to give you this match. You lost to Jake just a week and a half ago. Last Saturday you had an Entertainment Title shot against Davey but you managed to fuck that up too.

Ginger gets up and moves in front of his desk and Predator grabs onto the lapels of Ginger’s new Black and red coat, to match ACW’s new look.

Predator: Please sir, give me the match. Make it a No DQ match. I’ll whoop Jake’s ass. I’ll whoop it real good. And it’ll make good ratings.

Ginger pushes Predator off of him and brushes his suit off.

Gingerdude: No, it will hurt the ratings. More than you can imagine. No one, not even Cheng’s mother, will want to see him kick your ass for the second time this month.

Predator: C’mon G-Man. That ET title was the one thing that I did right in the fed.

Gingerdude: What are you talking about? You defended the title once, to Gary, in your 28-day reign. If I gave you this match, Jake would have defended it once within the week he got it. And the only reason you got that title is because BK London was stripped of it. If he wasn’t, he probably would have held it for another 3 months.

Tears begin streaking down Predator’s face as he lies on his belly on the floor of Gingerdude’s office, throwing a temper tantrum. His legs and arms flail around, almost knocking vases off their pedestals.

Predator: It’s not fair!!! Jake always gets what he wants. He was ACW tag champ with BK and a 2-time LW champion. Hell, he was even the 1st World Title holder in GFWWE. Gosh darnit, he is sooo lucky.

Jake: It’s all skill my little friend.

Stan: Shh, this is a good part.

A knock is barely audible under Predator’s temper tantrum.

Ginger: One second. Predator! Get up! Act professional.

Predator continues like Ginger wasn’t even yelling at him. The ACW Chairman steps over the former Entertainment Champion. Ginger cracks the door so only the person on the other side can see his face.

Gingerdude: AH BK! What brings you to my office?

Gingerdude says this in suck away to get Predator to stop and get up so his mentor doesn’t see him.

BK: Well, I was looking for Predator. I thought he would be in here requesting...

Before BK can finish his sentence, Ginger opens the door allowing BK to see his pupil on the floor. BK looks back up to Ginger.

BK: I was never here.

Gingerdude: Deal.

BK shuts the door as Ginger goes back to his desk. Jake is now laughing on the floor uncontrollably.

Gingerdude: Predator, get off my floor, you can have your match.

Predator: What?

Gingerdude: You can have your match. 1 on 1 against Jake Cheng for the Entertainment Title.

Predator rises to his feet and sniffs back some tears.

Predator: Phew, I didn’t think I could keep that up for much longer.

Gingerdude: Whatever. NOW GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!!!

Predator leaves so quickly, it looks as if he vanished into thin air. The screen then turns to static.

Jake: That was great. Stan, come back in 10 minutes, we have a promo to do. I have some things to say to Davey and “the whiny one.” Oh and bring whatever you need so you can keep in the locker room.

Stan rushes out of the room. Jake whips his cell phone out and press #2 speed dial.

Jake: Ginger, it’s Cheng. I need a match for Thursday...

Fade Out

[hunter]

Match 1: NeW HollyWood vs. El Froggy Mask & Gary (Credit: Latino)

Phillip: This next match is a two-on-two tag team match. Introducing first they are the tag team of Gary and El Froggy Mask!!!

As a re-mixed version of the two Fallout stars starts playing across the arena the fans are on their feet. Cheering loudly, they hold up signs that say “Gary + Froggy = RATINGS” and various other “Gary” and “Froggy” signs. The two men keep walking down to the arena slapping hands with many lucky fans. Gary slides underneath the ropes and Froggy jumps over the top rope. The two fan favorites strike a pose as the cheers get increasingly louder.

Phillip: And their opponents….making their debut match in ACW accompanied by Paris Summers and Claire….NeW HollyWood!!

The lights dim as the words "NeW HollyWooD" are spoken by a deep powerful voice, mixed footage of the men teaming up from the past is shown with clips of the lovely ladies dancing,... "Come with me" by Puff Daddy hits the amps and out steps Jared storms with Claire and Lex de LaRocha with Paris summers

All four of them stand in a shower of pyros forming a curtain. Storms holds both hands up in the air and spins around then points at Claire who poses, he then proceeds to outstretch his arms with his hands pointing in towards him, and he motions up and down his physique and smiles out into the audience.

Lex De LaRocha stands posing with both of his hands up in the air, Paris slowly moves her hands around his waist and touches his abs she then signals the crotch chop as Lex points to the crowd and then down to Froggy and Gary. Lex then turns to Paris and she jumps on him getting ready for their pose, Lex still having Paris's legs wrapped around his waist slowly goes down in the Shawn Michaels flex kissing Paris.

Jared and Claire, Lex and Paris make their way to the ring both girls waving to the crowd and getting massive amounts of boos while Lex and Jared make fun of the fans while walking down to the ring.

* The Bell Rings *

Jared and Froggy start the match as their partners go on to his respective corner. Jared quickly locks up with Froggy in a grapple both men trying to gain the upperhand but Jared whips Froggy into the nearest turnbuckle. He wastes no time as he runs at Froggy with a stiff clothesline. He takes a few steps back and goes right at him again with the same stiffness. Froggy falls down to his knees but Jared stands him up once more. Jared lifts up Froggy in the 3D position and then spins around and drops. Froggy’s neck slams against the ropes hard. Jared gets back up with a smirk on his face as the fans are starting to increase the boos more and more. He tags his Lex and now NeW HollyWood are in the ring together.

Lex and Jared starts kicking away at Froggy’s legs. They then each grab a side and give him a double team suplex. Jared rolls out of the ring as Lex gets back up. He yells at a few fans in the front row and then turns his attention back to Froggy. By now the fans are chanting his name louder and louder “Froggy! Froggy! Froggy!” Lex grabs Froggy by the head, standing him up, and then knees him in the gut three times. He then whips him to the ropes and runs the opposite way. He runs at Froggy and tries for an evenflow DDT but he slides out of the move and rolls around the ring. He gets up as the fans are now on their feet cheering louder and louder and Gary is tagged in. Gary jumps over the top roper, entering the ring. He runs straight at Lex and then stops as the two stare face to face. The two stare one another in the eye and then Gary lets out a loud “ROOAAR!!!” The fans are now going ecstatic but Lex is not impressed as he kicks Gary in the gut and then gives him viciously gives him a Running Shoulderbomb. Lex goes for the pin quickly One…Two…Thr- the pin is broken as Froggy dives from the top turnbuckle landing on the back of Lex.

Jared now enters the ring and immediately gives Froggy a superkick to the face. He quickly grabs a hold of Froggy and gives him the Simply Magnificent. Now the fans are clearly not happy as they start booing more and more. Jared flips off a few fans them grabs a hold of Gary. He lifts him up in an electric chair position as Lex is already on the top turnbuckle. He jumps off with the flipping neck breaker as the tag duo pulls of the Hollywood Blockbuster Hit. Lex rolls over and hooks the leg for the pin One..Two….Three!!!

Phillip: Here are you winners….NeW HollyWood!!!

“Come with me” hits the speakers as Lex and Jared roll out of the ring as they hold their arms up high in victory. Quickly their two ladies run to their sides as the group walk back up the entranceway. The fans are relentless as they keep booing more and more. Back in the ring Gary and Froggy stagger up and the crowd pops big. They raise their arms up to the fans just as the camera fades to black.

[hunter]

Segment: The Deadpool (Credit: Ridley, Rose, Kiji)

Taking a glance at the street sign, Ridley motions to the group to turn at the corner they've reached. His eyes alertly scan the scenery; it's clear that they're getting into risky, albeit familiar, territory.

Ridley: Almost there.

Rose: So what IS this "Deadpool" thing?

Ridley: You'll find out when we get there.

Rose: Why can't I find out now?

Ridley: Because the later you find out, the less opportunity you have to refuse to go to it.

Rose worriedly ruminates over this as the three reach the crest of the hill. Ridley points down to a back alley, indicating that they'll be taking a method of travel that's become all too familiar to Kiji and Rose lately. They make their way into the maze of dripping-wet brick and granite, and Ridley shoves aside two burned-out trashcans to clear a path. A corpse swings by its ankles to their left, caught in the top of a barbed wire fence and rotted away enough to be wearing a permanent grin. Casting a brief glimpse at it, Rose shivers and hurries up by Ridley's side.

Rose: Are we almost there?

In response, Ridley abruptly stops and turns to a door in the back of one of the buildings. It's a monolith of an establishment, sprawling almost an entire city block. The heavily-tinted windows pulsate with the throbs of bass-heavy music from inside, and Rose and Kiji exchange a glance of curiosity as Ridley steps up to the door and knocks on it three times.

Rose: Two questions.

Ridley: Two answers.

Rose: Is this...a nightclub, or a bar, or something?

Ridley: Ehhh, I suppose. That's its legitimate front, and unless things've changed drastically in the decade I've been gone, they sell some damn good alcohol.

Rose: And why are we going in the back?

Ridley: Because one, that way it's not conspicuous, two, the V.I.P. password is hopefully still the same, and three, we don't want any more Crypt checking us out than I can handle.

Kiji: There are Crypt in there?

Ridley: No doubt. Even when the Angels were at our full power, the Deadpool would still be swarming. It was a kind of No Man's Land, you could say; I met my first girlfriend there, as a matter of fact. Turned out she was a Cryptite.

He knocks three times again, in the same cadence.

Kiji: So...did you...?

Ridley: Nah, no violence. We split up amicably...or so I thought--

With a SHIIIIKT, the eyeslot of the door slides open, and a pair of blood-red, whiteless eyes stare out at him.

Ridley: Oh...shit.

?: Speak.

Ridley: Um...soshite senritsu no yoru ga otozuruta...?

No response, as the slot is covered once again. Ridley sighs with relief.

Rose: Why are you so relieved? He didn't say anything.

Ridley: Trust me, if I'd said the wrong thing, he would've shot all three of us.

Kiji: You mean tried to shoot all three of us.

Ridley: I know this guy. I wouldn't be surprised if he could pull it off.

The door swings open right about then, and a barrel-chested, heavily muscled man blocks the way. His features, clearly Japanese, are marked by a long, twisted scar that stretches from the top of his bald head down to the side of his neck, barely missing his left eye and stopping an inch from the carotid artery. The man's Kevlar vest doesn't do much to conceal the numerous tattoos covering his bare arms and torso, nor does the seemingly-ubiquitous violet bandanna around one of his bulging upper arms. There's no welcoming smile or anything, but the hint of amusement behind his black sunglasses (and the fact that the Mossberg Ulti-Mag slung over one shoulder stays that way) is enough to put Rose and Kiji at relative ease.

?: So you came back.

Ridley: When have you known me to shy away from a fight? Hell, you'll be seeing a lot more of me soon around the Omni Complex. The Impaler just can't keep his hands off me these days, it seems.

A chuckle, and the man relaxes, beckoning over his shoulder.

?: All right, you're in, and so are those two, assuming they're with you.

Ridley: They are.

?: You ARE a V.I.P., after all. Just be glad the password never changed.

Ridley: Thanks for the small favors.

Ridley follows the man through the door and begins heading up a flight of steps. Rose and Kiji quickly follow, and the door slams shut behind them, enveloping the stairwell in relative darkness. The stranger and Ridley converse in low tones as they climb the steps, leaving the two in the rear to talk amongst themselves.

Rose: *whispering* So who's he?

Kiji: I'd guess from their behavior that he's a friend of Ridley's.

Rose: But...he's with the Crypt, isn't he? Wearing the colors, and the way Ridley talked to him...

With a shove to the door at the top of the stairs, the man enters the room waiting for them, and the now-deafening music fills the stairwell. Ridley motions to Rose and Kiji as he prepares to follow.

Ridley: Ladies and gentlemen...the Deadpool.

End.

[hunter]

Segment: A Willing Candidate (Credit: Yoko)

As the camera fades in, we can see Mercer Stanton in his office, talking to Elias. Stanton is not his usual cheery self at the moment, he appears frustrated.

Mercer: I told you, no.

Elias: I don't understand why, though.

Stanton sighs.

Mercer: I'll go through this one more time. What's your wrestling experience?

Elias: None, but I don't need it. It's all like dancing, from what I've seen. If I don't dance, they're surprised, and I beat them for the win.

Mercer: Wrestling is certainly not like dancing. You have zero experience. You may be able to protect me from unforeseen forces, but that doesn't mean you can wrestle.

Elias: If I can keep my son in check, I can-

Mercer: Surely you haven't forgotten what happened when you met him last.

Elias frowns and rubs the scar around his neck.

Elias: There was an unexpected problem when that happened, I told you that.

Mercer: Still, you're not so great at keeping him contained then, eh?

Elias: That has nothing to do with wrestling.

Mercer: You're the one that tried to link it, not me.

Elias: If Yoko won't do it, and you still won't pick Kiji, then why NOT pick me?

Mercer: I guess you'll have to see for yourself why.

Stanton begins looking through some files in one of his desk drawers.

Elias: What?

He pulls one of the files out and smiles.

Mercer: Just as I thought, he's recovered quite nicely and is ready for action. Elias, on Meltdown, you'll wrestle...Craig Lewis.

Elias: You've got to be joking. The guy Ginger tried to train?

Mercer: Yes. When the match ends, you'll see why I'm not choosing you to represent me at Seven Deadly Sins.

Elias: I'm confident you WILL pick me after this match.

Mercer: We'll see, then, won't we?

Stanton puts the Craig Lewis file back into the drawer as the camera fades out.

End Segment.

[hunter]

Commercial: Greedy Decisions (Credit: Rena)

…: Ah, I needed this!

--: Yeah, Me too!

Music is blasting throughout the dimmed room, light splashing everywhere. Women are stripping all around and are dancing around poles, grabbing money from the men who are throwing compliments and a few greens at them. Suddenly the music stopped, and a man got on the microphone.

Man: Hello Everyone. Tonight well will have a special guest tonight…so please welcome the Mistress of Men…Miss—

The music began blaring, and her name was pushed out because of the noise. A woman emerged from the curtains wearing a leather bikini and a whip. She cracked her whip and looked around, pleased.

…: Oh my god…

--: HER!? What the hell is she doing here?

The camera looked around, and TNT and Bre Double T are staring at the woman in total disbelief.

TNT: Damn…

Bre: That’s hot!

The camera spins, and it is Rena entertaining the men. Men are screaming her name, and grabbing at her. She smiled at TNT and Bre, and made her way towards them. She began to dance around the pole in front of them. TNT grabbed a few bucks out of his pocket, and was about to put it in her thong, when he stopped and stared at the money he was going to part with.

(Freeze)

Voiceover: There comes a time in ones life where greed overwhelms them and they make a sinful choice that will alter their life forever. Greed is a mortal sin, and TNT is making a choice whether to give the slut, errr I mean, nice woman a few dollars or keep them. He can choose the right way, or a path to sinfulness! Let us watch and see what he chooses, and may he choose the right path…

(Unfreeze)

TNT is once again staring at the money. He Shrugged and placed the money back in his pocket, where he believed it belonged.

TNT: Not worth it…

Bre: Good Call.

Rena gasped and growled, slapping TNT across the face. She stomped off stage, punching a woman in the face on her way out.

Bre: Think she’s mad?

TNT: Nah…she’ll get over it.

(Fade to black)

Voiceover: Make sure you think twice before making a sinful decision. Give, don’t choose greed.

The Seven Deadly Sins banner shows up.

Rena: Choose your Sins wisely...

End

[hunter]

Match 2: Alexis vs. Kiev (Credit: BK)

Philip: This match is scheduled for one fall, coming to the ring from Charlotte, North Carolina, Alexis Noir.

"Loverboy" Mariah Carey Feat. Cameo hits and the arena gives the former diva director's assistant a well rounded cheer. She walks down waving side to side to the crowd. Alexis enters the ring and she continues to salute the crowd.

Philip: And her Shawn Kiev.

"Hepsin Senin Mi" by Tarkan blares through the speakers and Shawn Kiev steps through the curtain to a huge amount of heat from the crowd. He looks around at the crowd jeering and mocking him and continues to walk down to the ring. Kiev walks up the steps and enters the ring through the ropes, wearing just plain black tights he seems ready to take this girl down. The bell rings and the match commences.

The two superstars are in the ring and their respective wrestling superstars are not by their side. Both superstars are to go at it alone, they walks around the ring and they approach the center of the ring. Kiev stretches out his hand for a handshake and Alexis is reluctant to accept, as Alexis looks toward the crowd to see what she should do Kiev takes her down with a double leg takedown. Kiev begins to thrash Alexis with forearms to the face by both hands and Alexis rolls over and she picks up the head of Kiev and bangs it against the mat. Kiev rolls out of the ring and he begins to walk around on the outside, the referee approaches Kiev from in the ring while Kiev is holding the back of his head. "Get her back" he is seen mouthing to the referee and the referee moves Alexis back as Kiev hops on the apron and enters the ring. The two walk back to the center of the ring and they lock in a collar and elbow tie up, a very basic move that any wrestling fan can master. Alexis locks in the headlock and then follows up with a takedown. Kiev doesn't know how to get out of the move and he slams his hand on the mat in frustration. Kiev tries to find a way out of it and he grabs the hair of Alexis, the referee begins the count to 5 and Alexis strangely releases the hold in pain from the hair grab.

Alexis gets up and Kiev gets up once again, Alexis is pissed and she slaps the face of Kiev sending him to reel. Alexis continues to thrash at him knocking him in the corner and the ref tries to break the two up. The referee pulls Alexis off of Kiev, Kiev charges toward Alexis and attempts to clothesline her but he drops to the ground and holds his quad. "Ahh my quad" Kiev screams in a Kevin Nash fashion. Kiev wails in pain and the referee approaches him. He checks on him and Alexis approaches Kieve but the referee directs her to stay back. More refs come out from the back and they check on Kiev and his face shows him in dire need of medical assistance. The referees help him up in the ring and they head toward the ropes, Alexis in generosity sits down on the second rope to hold it down so Kiev can step through the ring. Just then Kiev rushes forward and kicks Alexis through the ropes. Alexis drops to the outside and Kiev smiles as the crowd boo him fiercely. Kiev rolls out of the ring and picks up Alexis before smashing her head first into the steel steps. Kiev then throws her into the ring and slides in the ring himself. He covers Alexis but she kicks out right after 2. Kiev can't believe it and he goes onto the apron. Kiev begins to climb to the top rope, the high risk district as some would call it, and perches himself for a possible finishing attack. Alexis staggers to her feet and she throws herself onto the ropes making Kiev lose his balance and go groin first into the top turnbuckle.

Kiev bends forward and Alexis locks him in a front facelock from that position, she then drives his head into the mat from the top rope, spiking him into the mat. The crowd responds with a resounding "Ooooooooh", Alexis hooks the leg of Kiev and gets the one, two, three. The bell rings.

Philip: And the winner of this match, Alexis Noir!!

Alexis rises up on her own and then holds her lowerback from the nasty fall on the outside. The referee raises her hand in triumph and the crowd cheers her. Alexis leaves the ring and Kiev begins to rise up holding the back of his neck. The ref checks on him but he pushes him off as we fade out to the commercials.

[hunter]

Segment: Victory Fight (Credit: Rena, Rose)

The camera opens up, following Rena and Alexis down the hallway. Alexis and Rena giggled loudly as they strutted down the poorly decorated halls. They stopped at the buffet area, and decided to get a coffee.

Rena: Congratz! I couldn’t have won a match as well as that! Did you see Kiev’s face!?

Alexis: I know. I had fun wrestling that Kiev, it gave me such a rush. Thanks for showing me a few things, too.

Rena: Oh, you’re welcome Honey.

They began to pour their coffee into Styrofoam coffee cups. Rena looked at the Styrofoam and sighed, wishing they had something nicer than that.

Rena: Some China they have around here. As if they can’t afford for porcelain!

Alexis laughed, and sipped a bit of her black coffee. She made a disgusted face, and poured some sugar into the blackness.

Alexis: Black coffee is disgusting!...ugh… I have to add more sugar.

Rena: Really? I’m used to black coffee.

They began to laugh and converse with one another while taking drinks from their warm beverages.

…: You little slut! I should have won that match!

Rena and Alexis turned around, focusing their attention on the voice directed towards them.

Rena: Why, Kiev! Don’t you have somewhere to be…like cry to Ginger that you lost your match.

Kiev: I will beat your ass so bad, Rena.

Rena laughed, along with Alexis. This made Kiev angrier, and he growled at them.

Rena: Dear, Kiev. If you can’t even beat an amateur like Alexis…how can you expect to beat me? Be realistic, sweetie.

Kiev lunged at Rena, pushing the coffee cup out of her hands. Coffee sprayed against the wall and it slipped sadly down. Rena was pushed against a table, and she lay there. Kiev grabbed her legs and pulled her to the ground, punching her in the stomach. He stopped and began to laugh at Rena’s resistance to fight. He moved away from her, smiling in a slightly sadistic manner.

Kiev: Have you had enough?

Rena: You’re kidding me…

She got up and brushed herself off. As she looked at the smile from Kiev, she clenched her teeth and slapped him across the face. As he moved his face sideways, Rena grabbed his hair and smashed his head against a table. Kiev cried out in pain and tried to fight back, but he had little success. Rena continued to dominate the fight and Alexis watched on with pride. Finally a familiar voice stopped their fun.

…: Get away from him now, Rena!

Alexis: Miss Sakina?

Rena stopped, and pushed Kiev’s rag doll like body on the ground at Alexis’ feet. She looked at Sakina and laughed.

Rena: Here to save your precious boyfriend? He started it.

Sakina looked down at Kiev and saw that he was thoroughly beaten by Rena. She felt both disgust and sadness by seeing him in this state and she decided that she would have to defend his pride for him. She clenched her teeth in anger and looked back up at Rena.

Sakina: And I’ll finish it…

Rena: Really…Well I’d like to see that!

Rena began to laugh, but was cut short by a forearm smash from Sakina. Rena gasped for a breath, and continued fighting for one as Sakina continued to hit her in the stomach. Rena jumped down, and tripped Sakina to the ground. The minute Sakina hit the floor, she swung around and jumped up to her feet. Sakina grabbed Rena’s arm and threw her against the banister of steel stairs.

Kiev: Kina! Get that whore!

Alexis was getting sick of Kiev. She poked him in the shoulder to get his attention. He turned around and gave Alexis a look as if to wonder what the fuck she wanted.

Alexis: Mr. Kiev…please shut up.

Kiev: Don’t think you can order me around, you slut!

Alexis gasped as Kiev looked at her in disgust. She growled and grabbed the waistband of his sweatpants and pours coffee inside them. He directly grabbed his parts and began creaming from the scalding pain.

Kiev: YOU BITCH!

Through that, Sakina and Rena were fighting on the stairs. Sakina was applying pressure to Rena’s arm, and threw her up the stairs. Rena fell on the top stair, and tried to get up. The recover was unsuccessful, though, and Sakina pushed her up to a small balcony. Rena turned and slapped Sakina. With Sakina now dazed a bit from the slap, Rena pushed her against the rails. The rails began to sway a bit, showing signs of it breaking under the pressure. Sakina tried to move back, but Rena pushed her against it again. Sakina reached back and pulled Rena against the rails, letting her feel the looseness. But this was a lesson not to be shown as the rails fell off it’s holes, and fell to the ground. Rena and Sakina fell off the balcony and dove through a mysteriously set-up table.

Kiev: KINA!

Alexis: Miss Rena!

They rushed to the knocked-out women, and tried to wake them up.

Alexis: HELP! MEDICS!

Kiev: That whore better not have hurt Kina!

Alexis: It was your Kina who broke it!

Kiev: Don’t you start.

Alexis forcefully grabbed Kiev by the collar of his shirt and pointed a finger at him angrily.

Alexis: Don’t you start! I still have coffee if one spill wasn’t enough for you!

Kiev had no intention of getting his ass kicked by the same woman twice in one night. He sheepishly quieted down and moved out of the way as medics ran to the scene where Sakina and Rena lay on the ground, Chards of wood all over the place.

(Fade)

[hunter]

Segment: Crying On The Inside (Credit: Jake Cheng, Stan)

Jake is still on his cell phone when we next see him in his locker room.

Stan: Jake, we’re on.

Jake: Okay. *Back to his phone* So you’ll help me Dwight? Ok thanks. Yes, I’ll rip up the picture of you at the Christmas Party. Ok Later *Click*

Jake throws his cell phone into his bag shuffling through the drawers next to his X-box. He pulls out a Polaroid of a man behind a plastic reindeer with his pants around his ankles and a bottle of scotch in his hand. Jake shows.

Jake: He didn’t say anything about showing the picture to anybody before ripping it up.

Stan: You know what, let me take that off your hands for you.

Jake: Stan, go swallow hemlock.

Stan: What’s hemlock?

Jake: You know what forget the hemlock. Jake tears the photo in 4 pieces

Stan: I am crying on the inside.

Jake stares at his cameraman for a second before punishing him for what he said, by kicking him in the balls. Stan falls like a giant redwood and breaks the camera.

Static.

Fade Out.

[hunter]

Segment: Understand (Credit: Yoko)

The scene opens on the light glow of a computer screen. Familiar screen names tell us whose.

I Am Meta Knight: So now I have Jonny on Thursday.

Charichu006: I don't like him much since the name change. Too much attitude. You should make him regret it.

I Am Meta Knight: I think I will. He got kind of close to Jade, too...That deserves an accidental kick, I'd say.

Charichu006: You still feel things for her?

I Am Meta Knight: I really loved her...I regret messing things up with her.

Charichu006: They say there's other fish in the sea. That new Scarlet girl seems your type.

I Am Meta Knight: She IS very pretty. But feelings come first.

Charichu006: It's funny, I don't understand it.

I Am Meta Knight: You will when you're older. :-p

Charichu006: Not that, I understand love. I just don't understand how you can look at a girl and think she's hot. When I look at girls, I see...Well, girls. It's not like looking at a cute boy.

I Am Meta Knight: It's hard to explain. The hair, the smile, the eyes, the curves...Girls make me feel funny.

Charichu006: You used to like BK London, though.

I Am Meta Knight: Maybe his awfulness turned me away from guys completely, I dunno. I do remember thinking some girls were cute BEFORE him, though. I guess I ignored it until Jade came along. She's just so beautiful...And when I got to know her, I just wanted to be around her all the time. I had this nervous feeling in my stomach. And now, she hates me.

Charichu006: I'm sure you can find someone else, if you try. You're pretty enough to get anyone you want.

I Am Meta Knight: Thanks, Yuki. :-D

The camera turns around to face Yoko, who is smiling.

End Segment.

[hunter]

Match 3: Sakina Khalida vs. 004 (Credit: Yoko)

We see Philip entering the ring, preparing to begin the next match.

Philip: The next match is a singles match scheduled for one fall! Introducing first, from San Diego, California, 004!

Doll-Daga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety Zag plays and 004 shows up. He's been on a downward spiral for over a year now, but the applause of the fans warms his heart. He notices such signs as "004 > 007" and continues to the ring.

Philip: And his opponent, from Antalya, Turkey, Sakina Khalida!

Hepsin Senin Mi begins to play. Kiev emerges first, followed by Sakina. They make their way to the ring. Sakina enters, and the referee signals the bell keeper to start the match.

Bell Rings

004 is intent on turning his luck around with this match and make his way back to the list of top contenders for the world title, where he once was. With this ambition in the back of his mind, he knows to be careful with Sakina, but not to give her any openings. As they grapple, he quickly Irish Whips her before she can apply some devilish submission, and arm drags her on the way back. As she gets up and approaches him again, 004 uses the same move a second time. Sakina gets back up and heads toward him again, annoyed. He does a third arm drag. This was a mistake, though, as Sakina doesn't let him let go, and masterfully turns it into a Crossface Chicken Wing. Before she can lock on a body scissors, 004 backs into one of the corners, crushing Sakina.

He turns around and kicks Sakina in the stomach a couple of times, keeping her in the turnbuckles. 004 then begins one of his punching combos. Before he can get far into it, Sakina reaches out at his face rather swiftly and stops him in his tracks with a mandible claw. Being in the corner, 004 quickly grabs the ropes to break the hold. The move served its purpose though, Sakina just needed to get out of the corner. She grabs his arm and twists it behind him, trying to reapply the chicken wing. He fights it off though and lifts her into a Fireman's Carry. He slams her down in a very similar motion to John Cena's FU. Since he's not a hardkore street rapper though, it doesn't do nearly as much damage as the FU. He didn't expect it to though, and follows it up by running against the ropes and coming back with an elbow drop. He then covers her. 1, 2, kickout.

Not really expecting it to be that easy, he lifts her and whips her into the turnbuckles once again. He raises his arm to the crowd and then runs at Sakina with a clothesline. Surprisingly, she slides away at the last second, causing 004 to crash into the turnbuckles. As he turns back to face her, she manages to springboard off of the ropes with a dropkick to his face, flooring him immediately. They both lay there.

Rather than catch her breath and rest, Sakina forces herself up. She then climbs the turnbuckles as fast as she can, knowing that 004 won't be down long. The second she reaches the top, she leaps off with a flying elbow without a taunt of any sort. It hits 004 perfectly. Sakina gathers the rest of her energy in an attempt to finish the match, and rolls 004 onto his stomach, and applies the Calm on him. In a matter of seconds, he taps out.

Bell Rings

Philip: Your winner, by submission, Sakina Khalida!

Sakina releases the hold and rolls out of the ring to Kiev, her energy drained at the moment. They exit together as her theme plays.

004 regrets tapping out, but he accepts it. He's sure his losing streak will end next time. The show cuts to commercial as he exits.

[hunter]

Segment: The Secret of Piper Alpha (Credit: AK)

The next scene commences within the familiar surrounds of Latino and AK’s locker room. Alicia is sitting on the couch, making some amendments to her A4 notebook. Richard Parker is demolishing one armrest, using it as an impromptu scratching post.

Alicia: Ok, I think this sounds a lot better now. Listen……

The human race is a mass of contradictions. Take the way we create things like airports, stations, hotels….. whichever way you look at it, these are places where a lot of stuff happens. People laugh. People cry. They meet, fall in love, break up. Occasionally people even give birth, or die. And yet whenever we enter these places, we expect to find that everything is clean, pristine….. and as if we are the first people ever to set foot there. If we happen to find some sign of a previous visitor, we get annoyed, maybe even angry. We all want to lead messy, complicated lives, all the while pretending that no – one else has done the same before us.

In some ways, that’s a metaphor for the job which I was trained to do; if everything went to plan, I’d be the one erasing some particularly visceral goings – on from the public consciousness. Was it the right thing to do? I can’t tell you, even now. But it was certainly what most people seemed to want – I was amazed at the capability of homo sapiens to ignore or forget about events that they would otherwise struggle to accept and deal with.

When I first decided to navigate this path, of course, I was unaware of most of this. What I was aware of was how well everything had been arranged; within 3 weeks of my first meeting with Bioletti, my mother and sister were waving me off from Harwich, supposedly on a 1 month conservation project involving arctic seals. It was an inspired cover story; I’d always loved the life aquatic, and with Uni holidays due to last another 6 weeks there were no grounds for anyone to object to me taking up such a rare opportunity. I’d almost forgotten the true purpose of my trip, watching the coast recede and the seagulls turning back toward land, when I was handed a note by a member of the research ship’s crew.

Following its instructions, I went inside and found three other people waiting; two men and another woman. All were around my age, and all looked a little apprehensive.

I don’t remember much about our conversation; it seemed that no one wanted to broach the subject at hand that I could tell they all desperately wanted to talk about. The hours and the miles passed with nothing truly being said; the ice didn’t break, so to speak, until I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Bioletti, and from the looks on their faces the others recognised him too.

“We’re almost at our destination. Grab your things.”

We did as we were bid, just as if we were children again. When we got outside there was nothing to be seen in any direction… until we looked directly over the side.

There was what looked like a diving bell, and a rickety ladder leading down to it. I’ve never been fond of heights at the best of times, but I sucked up my nerves and clambered down. The bell was quite spacious, and the four of us plus Bioletti just about fitted in snugly. Only when the horse had bolted, so to speak, did any of us pluck up the courage to speak. It was the other woman, I think her name was Melissa, but I can’t be absolutely sure……

“Excuse me, but where are we going?”

Bioletti gave her a look that would make weeds wilt.

“Downward.”

The bell started to descend; it only took about a minute and a half before we thudded gently down on to something solid. There was a second hatch in the floor, and we were able to climb down and out, dropping into a light tube lit room painted in a sort of gunship grey. There was no furniture, but on one wall there was a small engraved plate. I read it, and suddenly started to understand where we’d ended up.

IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE OIL WORKERS OF PLATFORM PIPER ALPHA
WE SALUTE YOUR UNSUNG TOIL, AS WE GO ABOUT OUR OWN.

I’d been less than 10 years old when Piper Alpha exploded; I remember seeing news reports, and being saddened by the enormous loss of life. Like the rest of the world, I’d assumed that the wrecked platform had been entirely dismantled…. but clearly someone else had found a use for its seabed supports. The advantages were obvious… who would look for anyone out in the middle of the North Sea?

Bioletti was the last to disembark from the transport. He stood in front of us, fixing us each in turn with a steely gaze.

“All right, you made it this far. From here there is no going back. You will become what we wish you to become, or this place will turn into a living hell. So listen closely.

What you all experienced back in whatever dives you called home was merely a simulation. From here on in, the danger is real – and one mistake when dealing with a ghoul will cost you your miserable lives.”

We shifted uncomfortably. Bioletti’s gaze just got harder.

“If you think I’m sounding like the worst teacher you ever had….. good. I don’t care if you like me, but if you have even one brain cell between you, you’ll give me enough respect to listen to what I and the other instructors tell you. We’re not like anyone you ever met before. We owe no allegiance to any particular country. We’re not military, we’re not CIA, MI5, the Mafia, the Skulls, Heaven’s Gate or even the fucking Moonies…… we’re unique. We’re the Syndicate. And if you work your sorry tails off and don’t get yourselves killed, you might just get to call yourselves the same by the time you leave here. Now follow me.”

Bioletti turned and walked out of the room; I think we were all wondering just how we’d been stupid enough to buy any of this and end up in what was sounding more like some kind of death camp every second. But we followed, and the door led out on to a gantry over an enormous space. People were everywhere; some in fatigues, some in chemical suits, others in labwear. We took an elevator platform down to the floor and did our best to keep up with Bioletti as he marched across the space; the people in his way just seemed to part magically.

Finally we got to a corridor leading off in another direction; there was a man and a woman waiting there, both in khaki uniforms.

“This is Kramer and Wilson. They’ll take you to the men’s and women’s quarters respectively.”

Bioletti turned around; we all straightened up and did our best to look primed and attentive. Though we doubtless failed miserably, the attempt seemed to soften Biolett’s granite attitude just a little.

“Oh, and before you go…..”

He stepped to one side and opened up a nondescript door. We all looked inside, and our jaws dropped.

It was full of people in Japanese – style fighting gear; they were leaping about and shouting, and generally kicking all sorts of arse. It was just like every secret agent film ever made, and we couldn’t stop ourselves grinning from ear to ear; we all remembered why we’d decided to take this crazy risk in the first place.

I just had to ask.

“Sir-“

“It’s Bioletti, OK? This isn’t the bloody SAS.”

“Are those real ninjas?”

Bioletti smiled, the first time we’d seen him do so.

“They seem to think they are. We only keep them around so we can pretend to be cool. Perhaps it’s part of the licensing conditions for a secret base, I don’t know.”

This time we all laughed; it was an enormous relief.

“All right. Report to briefing room C, 1800 hours.”

Bioletti closed the door and walked away, and feeling excitement now mixed with the fear and uncertainty we all headed off to get settled into our new home sweet home.

There’s a sudden noise in the corridor outside that makes Alicia snap out of her reading; Richard Parker falls off of the top of the couch, but of course lands safely on all four feet.

Alicia: I think I’d best stop there, You can have too much of a good thing, after all……

In answer to this Richard Parker jumps up on to the couch again and meows. Alicia smiles.

Alicia: Present company excepted, of course.

She gives Richard Parker a stroke, and he can be heard purring as the scene fades out.