Thursday Night Meltdown 16th March 2006

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Thursday Night Meltdown 16th March 2006

Schedule of Matches:
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”The Genius” vs. Jonny Spade

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Bra N' Panties Match - Elimination Style
Nina vs. Iris vs. Gelale

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Rattlesnake vs. Vortex

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Daisy vs. Ms. Aurelia

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Tornado vs. Mystery Opponent

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Special Ref - Jake Cheng
Dan White vs. Red's Only Fan

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Senator vs. Mystery Opponents

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Non-Title Match
Hunter vs. BK London

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[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Opening segment: The Return (Credit: Hunter)

The first scene of the evening begins without a moment's hesitation, as the ACW faithful are able to gaze upon the inner-most secrets of the ACW arena, where the corporate offices are located and where the most important ACW secrets are divulged. And today is no different, as the workers sputter around trying to put on yet another amazing show. The camera shifts its focus away from the workers and instead focuses on an all-too-familiar door, a door that opens momentarily and allows access to the contents inside. And the contents of this room happen to be a large desk, a large pile of paperwork, and a none-too-pleased Chairman. It's like a strange version of déjà vu. Once he hears a knock on his door, he grunts and rubs his eyelids; the last thing he needs is more work.

Ginger: Come in.

The door opens and in walks a spiffy looking gentlemen with a nervous look on his face. Why, however, is uncertain to all who observe this look of his.

Man: Excuse me...sir...

Ginger: I don't have any time for your "sirs" and your formal greetings. What do you need?

Man: ...well...Hunter's back.

This catches Ginger's attention, and he drops all that he does and shoots up to his feet. He stares sternly at the worker.

Ginger: ...where is he?

Man: ...uh...in his locker---

Ginger does not allow the man to finish his phrase and he quickly pushes past him and basically charges through the door. The man is apprehensive about the situation, but he decides to follow Ginger with the cameraman close behind. Luckily for those watching this scene, the Senatorial Locker Room is not that far from Ginger's office. Ginger finds the door and pushes the door out of his way, getting into the locker room with severe wrath and staring directly into the soul of the man sitting across from him on his couch.

Hunter: Don't you knock?

Ginger storms up to Hunter as the Capitalists back up far away, deciding it would be better to cut their conversation with their leader short.

Ginger: Where...in the HELL...have you been?

Hunter: Long...fuck...

Hunter moves his tongue up and fiddles with the empty space where his tooth used to be. For whatever reason, he seems to have a hard time speaking with the lack of the tooth.

Hunter: It's a long story.

Ginger: What in the hell happened to your tooth?

Hunter: Come on, Ginger. You of all people know...know that I'm not a fan of...damn it...relational phrases.

Ooh, irony.

Ginger: Hunter, there are people who pay good money for you and your items. Do you know how much merchandise we'll lose because you have a knack for bar fights?

Hunter: Two things: One, if Benoit can do it...so can I. Two, it wasn't a bar fight. It's a long...damn story.

Ginger: I've got time. I'll make my interns do my work for me.

Ginger grabs a nearby chair and pulls it closer to Hunter, then proceeds to lay his million dollar ass onto its leather covering.

Ginger: You there. Get some interns...or actually, someone competent would be best. Do whatever the hell I have on my desk. I need to hear this.

The man to Ginger's right nods his head and quickly runs out of the room, hoping that his paycheck will still be signed through Ginger's fury.

Ginger: Continue.

Hunter: Well lucky for you, I was just getting started. Anyways, you guys saw how Saturday night that car pulled up after Fallout and picked me up, right? Well, fifteen hours later...I woke up in this empty field of sorts, inside of that same uncomfortable limo. But the thing is...there was this town...

But we, the omniscient readers of these tales, have already heard this part of the story. We only care for the resolution of Monday's "cliffhanger", even though we already know how it turns out. But that part of the story will come later in the evening.

Until then, we wait.

Fade Out.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: The Argument (Credit: Jake Cheng, Nina Star, Mr. Red)

Jake: She shut you down the first day she was here; you still don’t stand a chance.

Great, Jake and Red are arguing about Nina again. You would think the best stable in all of ACW history wouldn’t fight amongst themselves.

Red: Well, I least she still talks to me. I doubt she wants to even look at you since your date.

Jake: At least I got her on a date.

Red: Well, I wouldn’t screw it up and bring her to Chucky Cheese.

Jake: You’d probably bring her to one of you gay bars.

Red: Why you!!!

Red lunges toward Jake, but luckily is stopped by Nina walking by.

Red: Nina!

She turns around to see Red, and starts running. Red gives chase and Jake follows just to get some exercise and maybe a peek at Nina’s ass while she runs.

A new camera angle in front of Nina is now shown, zooming in and out, providing a Baywatch like effect on the shot. Red can be heard trying to get Nina to slow down and Jake is running backwards, keeping up. They all turn a corner, but Jake is stopped by a body almost his size. The camera catches up with him.

Predator: I’M THE FALLOUT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION!

Jake sighs and rolls his eyes before kicking Predator in the balls, causing him to keel over. Jake starts to run away, but he figures, “Why should I waste an opportunity like this?” He goes back to Pred and hits a nice European Uppercut, sending Predator back to his upright stance. Jake throws one more kick to Predators midsection, before going Stone Cold on his ass. STUNNER! STUNNER! STUNNER! And with that, The Trinity has been debuted.

Predator flops on the ground, as Jake gets up and just stares at him.

Jake: Owned? I’d say so.

And with that, Jake runs off. Catching up to Red easily, with Nina still off in the distance. Now, if you were looking at this scene from above, you would notice that this chase very much resembles Nascar. All we need now are some rednecks...

After the 8th lap or so, Jake and Red stop.

Red: Alright, I think she stopped. I’m going to sneak up on her, watch this.

Jake laughs to himself as Red turns the corner to sneak up on Nina, who is now getting a water out of the vending machine. Red gets close enough to her to touch her in anyway he wants, and Nina is bent over, trying to pull the water out. Red reaches forward and Nina pulls the water out, in turn elbowing Red right in the face. He screams some profane things, as Nina runs away. Jake goes to comfort his stablemate, but Red pushes him away.

Red: I’ve got a match to win.

Red walks off. Predator gets ups, and as Red walks by, Red gives a swift punch to the face, knocking Predator back down. Just like old times.

Fade Out.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: He’s back! (Credit: ??)

The crowd anxiously awaits the next part of the show to begin when a voice rings from the back audibly from the use of a microphone

??: BOO!

The Mob Goes Wild by Clutch booms from the speakers and a familiar figure rushes from behind on stage, as the music suggests GooeyGarth adjusts his pants before making his way down the ring. The crowd goes bananas with enthusiasm, as stopping halfway in his tracks Gooey rubs his chin seemingly like he forgot something. He pivots his foot he makes a U-turn back towards the stage putting his fingers in his lips he whistles loudly.

SQUACK!

The same colorful bird walks out from the curtain and spreads his wings to gracefully glide his way down and make a landing on Gooey's locked arm, scuttling the rest of the way up Gooey's arm and perches on his shoulder. Garth makes a smirk at the revisit of the parrot from Monday and continues his way up and over the ropes to the center of the ring. The crowd explodes from being able to see an old fan favourite, smiling and sporting a five o'clock shadow and casual wear Garth puts the mic to his mouth to speak.

Gooey: I guess the first thing I have to explain to you guys is as to why I am here. It's not so complicated that even my good friend Holly my parrot can even explain it to you.

Garth raises the mic to Holly's beak

Holly: Gooey is bAWWWCK -whistle-

The statement causes an eruption of cheers from the crowd sharing the look of pleasure Garth has

Gooey: That'll do, Holly, that'll do. Now this brings some complications and unanswered questions into play. Weren't you on Ginger's bad side? Why would he hire you back? Wouldn't he have learned from having some fucking nutcase in his business? Were strings pulled? What the hell is going on? I have shit coming out my ears blah blahblablabla....
Well, there is a perfectly reasonable explaination that covers everything quite nicely, and tightly I might add. And that explaination is-


*WE ARE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES PLEASE STAND BY*

??: What the shit? What happened?

??: I don't know, must've lost connection or some techno-blabble.

??: Well hurry and get working again!

??: Shut up! I'm trying...I think I go-

Gooey: And so, I got re-hired and there are no more problems or any conflicts of any sort anymore.

The entire audience all seem to nod in approval for what perfect sense was made

??: Good going, Stan.

??: Shut up, Phil.

Gooey: Now on to another situation that needs some explaining, Bk London.

The mere mention of the name get's some heat from the crowd, but Garth puts up his hand

Gooey: Now I was watching. I was watching, it may of been on some shitty handheld TV around a garbage fire surrounded by herion addicts, but I was most certainly, definately watching. BK I can't say that I agree with your comments made, last Monday. If you think otherwise and want to try to smack me around by all means try it, I'll have at you anytime, but that's not why what happened on Warfare happened. It wasn't even my idea, it was my macaw Holly's. We witnessed what you did to Jonny's dog Tidus, and Bk, do you know who gave Jonny that dog? It was my gift to Jonny in my leaving, if you're gonna fuck around with a person's animal, make sure who's animal you're fucking with. Because I have a whole LOTTA worse than a tropical bird in my arsenal! Hell I can't even take a dump without having something crawling on my shit. But, aside from that, aside from the whole PETA hippy shit, when I heard him go on about G-Unit it got me thinking. Thinking about the legacy carried from it, the legacy that Jonny and I shared. And I thought to myself.....

Garth pauses for a second in deep thought

Gooey: I never really had a legacy I have to call my own. Something that people would remember me for. You can argue that, I held the Junior title and that I was also once a World Champion, but what the shit does that mean. Does a half a month reign matter, is holding the belt of a second rate fed that went under something to get giddy over. I've seen people that came here to take a leak leave more of a mark on the toilet seat than that horse shit of memories.
So, what does this mean? It means, that you can expect that I will do my damnedest that I can so that the next time that I leave this business, I leave behind more than a faded memory. When I leave next time when ever that is, I will leave something to be remembered me bye for a GOOD. LONG. TIME. And you can expect me to start that TODAY.

Garth throws the microphone down and raises his hands to the reaction of the crowd. Hopping over the ropes Garth makes his way up the ramp backwards, looking onto the fans one more time before heading backstage

Gooey: Now, how about a treat for Holly for doing such a good job last Monday.

Gooey reaches into his pockets to come out shorthanded.

Gooey: Ah! Dammit, must've left the crackers in my car….

He walks off toward the back with the crowd still cheering as the scene fades.

OOC: As you may have guessed, credit for this segment goes to Gooeygarth.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Match 1:”The Genius” Shane Stevens vs. Jonny Spade (Credit: Scott Andrews)

As ACW shifts its cameras back into the arena, the crowd can be seen ready for a great night of action. They hold their signs with pride. Some include “Where did Wyvern go?” and “TNT!”. The camera shifts focus once again and shows Philip in the ring, ready to announce the first match of the night.

Philip: This next match is scheduled for ONE FALL! Making his debut for ACW, weighing in at 223 pounds, “The Genius” Shane STEVENS!

“Falling Apart” is heard all over the Arena. The crowd lets out an instant boo as Shane walks out onto the ramp. He raises his right arm as pyrotechnics blast either side of the new superstar. He walks down to the ring ignoring the fans that reach out their hands. He slides into the ring then raises his right arm again.

Philip: And his opponent, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Weighing in at 245 pounds, Jonny SPADE!

The lights in the arena go dark and a slight chill can be felt throughout the arena as Bodies by Drowning Pool hits the P.A and spotlights flash around the arena in a random pattern after a while Jonny can be seen walking through the crowds of people slapping hands with fans. Once he gets to the barrier he jumps on top of it and balances himself on it, then leaps across the open space and lands on the apron. He hops again over the top rope then once in the ring pyro’s shoot up and in the ring and Jonny spins around as pyro’s shower down under him. The crowd are obviously behind Jonny for this match, but there’s no doubt some of the audience members are behind the underdog.

Both men are now in the ring, and the bell is rung.

Jonny and Shane lock up. The both struggle for an advantage, but the larger Jonny overpowers Shane and forces him to the mat. Jonny smiles and lets out a faint ‘You’ll have to do better than that’. Shane stands again to try another assault. This time, a test of strength. Shane extends his arm, as does Jonny. They lock hands. But after a moments struggle with each other, Shane kicks Jonny in the gut, loosening the grip, and allowing Shane to lock in a side headlock. Jonny immediately pushes Shane off, forcing him to fly across the ring and rebound off the ropes. Shane ducks a clothesline from Jonny, and rebounds once again. This time, Jonny tries for a back body drop, and lowers his body into position. Shane sees this, and with amazing speed he flies over Jonny and rolls into a Sunset Flip Pin. The ref counts, but only gets a two count before Jonny kicks out.

“Fast” Eddie Edison: TWO!

Maxwell McNally: Too close for Jonny there Eddie. He has to take control.

Jonny gets up almost the same time Shane reaches his feet. He knows that Shane is smart in the ring, so he goes for some reverse psychology. He flings his arm towards Shanes privates, but does not touch. In an almost natural reaction, Shane quickly tries to save his reproductive organs by covering them with his hands. Jonny quickly retracts his hand and uppercuts Shane. The Genius stumbles backwards in a complete daze. Jonny leans against the closer ropes and rebounds into Shane with a clothesline. He goes for the cover. Again, a two count is heard.

Maxwell McNally: This is better from Jonny. He’s showing us why he’s a part of the Asylum match at Genocide.

Jonny, obviously unhappy with a two count, knows that it wasn’t enough to keep his opponent down. He stands and lifts Shane to his feet. He whips him towards the turnbuckle. Shane crashes into it. He rests his arms on the top ropes as Jonny charges. But in a split second, everything changes. Shane drops to the mat, and Jonny propels himself straight into the steel ring post.

“Fast” Eddie Edison: That’s gonna sting in the morning.

Jonny holds his arm and walks backwards into the ring. Shane is behind him and rolls him up with a school boy. He holds the tights as the ref counts.

….1


…..2


…….thr—


NO THREE! Jonny kicks out just in time, and the fans go nuts. They begin a “Let’s go Jonny” chant to get him back on track. And that he does. Obviously enraged by Shanes dirty tactics, he kicks him square in the gut and nails a harsh Powerbomb Whip. Jonny goes for the cover once more.


………1


………..2



…………..thr---


NO! Somehow Shane kicked out.

“Fast” Eddie Edison: The kid’s got heart. I’ll give him that.

Jonny puts his hands on his head, wondering what he has to do to beat this new comer. He brings Shane to his feet once again to try and finish the debutant off. He tries for another Powerbomb. He lifts The Genius onto his shoulders, and prepares to launch him downwards, but Shane has other plans, and he delivers a smooth Hurricanrana whip. Both men are down, but Shane is soon to his feet. He sees his opportunity and climbs the top rope. Jonny gets to his feet as Shane reaches the top rope. The Genius jumps with a diving Cross Body, but Jonny catches him, and quickly ascends into his Silver Spade (Catotonic Cross Body Hold to Rock Bottom). The three count is inevitable, and that is exactly what happens.

Philip: Here is your winner… Jonny Spade!

The result in the end was as most people expected, and Jonny celebrates his victory with obvious pleasure. But no doubt, Shane Stevens showed ACW management that he gives his all. The ref raises Jonny’s hand as the camera cuts to the next part of the show.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: Back and Busy as Ever (Credit: Senatorial Stable)

Coming back from the break, Anthony Kalb is standing in the Senatorial Office, with gold on his shoulder, with the Senator himself sitting in his familiar desk, speaking on the phone.

The Senator: Yes, I do realize that I have a meeting to make early in the...yes, I will be there as fast as possible...I really am overloaded at the moment, and I have to go...

Phillips hangs up, and shakes his head.

Senator: You call the rest of the guys in here, Anthony?

Kalb: Yessir...I gotta say, though, that it's good to have you back.

Senator: While I might not completely share those sentiments at this time, I appreciate...ah, there you are!

The Cold Blooded Killers stride into the office, Tag Team Titles over their shoulders, with Aleister also following into the room.

Senator: Where is Ms. McKey? Kalb, I thought I told you that EVERYONE who could make it was supposed to hightail it in here immediately!

Kalb: I told him...

Aleister: No, Bre's been a bad girl, and I was forced to place her in confinement for now to teach her a lesson...besides, I doubt that you'd want to hear anything that she'd have to utter...

Senator: Might as well get this done with here and now...Aleister.

Aleister: That's Sir Aleister...

Senator: I could not give two cents about any perfunctory titles or honoraries, Aleister, I want to make this clear: I did not sign the contract for Bre to join the Stable, it was not of my doing. Do not get me wrong, from what I have seen on tape, she appears to be an extremely talented individual...however, you, on the other hand...I honor my agreements, and those of the Stable, but if I had my way, our contract would not have included you. I may have dealt with many unsavory or obnoxious individuals in my life, but I refuse to give the time of day to men who abuse women. There is a fine line between harsh training and flat out cruelty, and you not only stepped over the line, but left it in the dust.

The Senator's expression turns ice cold, Aleister's visage mirroring the expression. The CBK and Kalb simply stare at the scene with comically half shocked looks on their own faces.

Senator: I will deal with you as a professional associate, however, as not doing so would go back on a written agreement. Even so, if I ever catch you in person doing so much as raising a harsh voice to Ms. McKey, I will see to it that you will be in a hospital, breathing through a tube, that is, if you are lucky...and on that note, Kalb, get Fitsharris on the big screen, pronto!

Anthony Kalb pushes a few buttons on a remote, and the plasma screen turns on, with a very grainy, pixelated video feed of what seems to be coming from a phone, and Kevin Fitsharris on the other end.

Senator: Fitsharris, you discombobulated nincompoop! You are supposed to connect the feed to the other camera!

Fitsharris(Sounding as if he's underwater): Al--righ---I--thin---hat--oes--it!

The screen suddenly explodes into clarity, with Fitsharris seen placing his hands on the rim of the lens, adjusting it, and when he steps away, the scene appears to be in a hospital room, with a heavily bandaged Santiago Rivera in the hospital bed. Fitsharris appears to be talking, but now the volume is too low to discern what is said.

Kalb: For heaven's sake, Kev, turn the volume up!

Lex: Sheesh, what a dumbass!

Andrews: You said it!

Aleister(Still clearly steamed from the earlier conversation): Hmph!

Fitsharris pushes a few buttons on a remote, and suddenly the bed jerks around, nearly compacting Santiago. Fitsharris drops the remote in shock, and while not much can be heard over the feed, one can barely make out a very angry yell as Fitsharris finds the right remote, and turns the sound up, while the rest of the present Stable shake their collective head.

Santiago(Amplified too much to begin with): DUMBASS, YOU NEARLY CRUSHED ME! AND IF THAT'S NOT BAD ENOUGH...WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT?!? You call this pudding, for God's sake, hospital food tastes like feces!

Senator: Nice to see you, Mr. Rivera.

Santiago: Senator? Oh hehe uhh hey. Thought you were gone...

Senator: No sir, had to come back here...but I just wanted to give you a heads up, and to let you know that we all are hoping for you to make a fast recovery, friend. ACW can not be missing any of its champions here, after all...right, guys?

Andrews: You said it, chief. The Tag Team Titles are back where they belong. In the hands of the Cold Blooded Killers, and the Senatorial Stable. And they aren't going anywhere...Man these look good on us. Right, Lex?

Lex: Scott, please...I know we are amongst our peers, but we don't have to play it down. In my opinion, they look better than good...They look impressive, phenomenal.Now, obviously we all have alot of work to do, tonight...Soooo, I'm gonna make this speech, like a shot of tequila; Short and sweet. I don't care if their a 7'ft monster, a 6'ft untouchable, or anything inbetween...The Cold Blooded Killers, are the best! We took two guys who claim to be "UNTOUCHABLE" and proved to them and the rest of the world, that "Untouchable" wasn't the case. They could not escape, the lion-like grip of the, Cold Blooded Killers.

Senator: 'Tis a shame Hunter could not make it to the meeting, but oh well, I know all too well how things with Ginger can go. It is rather annoying, however, that they had to do whatever they are doing in the Senatorial Locker Room...making us...well, at least you guys have to actually use the common locker room. Why could they not use Ginger's office? That is just beyond me...and with that, I do have some things to do, so if you could all scram, I would greatly appreciate it...and that, my friends, is nothing but...the truth!

Fade Out.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: "Test of Greatness" (Credit: Rattlesnake)

The Alphatron shows Rattlesnake wiping off the hood of his 1980 Trans Am in the parking lot. He stops to check a small speck and then wipes it off.

Rattlesnake: When you live in greatness, you have to drive something that signifies greatness. Sure there are other cars that are faster and more spiffy than this, but this car is quality. It can haul ass at any given time.

Rattlesnake walks over to the trunk and opens it up. He tosses the rag in and pulls out his Snakequalizer. He looks at it and smirks. He knows that this reliable friend has gotten him out of many jams before and he knows that it'll be around to get him out of many more.

Rattlesnake: Greatness needs to have a symbol that everyone can recognize. That symbol needs to show everyone that person means business. It may be a clichéd item, but it gets the job done. It's taken the flesh of every single asshole that feels like he's better than me. It's drank the blood of every single asshole that thinks I'm just a talentless waste of space. It's done all that for me and yet there's one thing it hasn't been able to provide...respect.

Respect. The one thing everybody wants. Respect. The one thing few ever really attain. Respect. It's something Rattlesnake wanted, but he preferred to earn it by beating the hell out of everyone he faced. They wouldn't like him, but they would respect him.

Rattlesnake: I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me. The only thing they can do is deal with me being here because they won't be able to do this.

Rattlesnake laughs.

Rattlesnake (like a little kid): I want this guy to win. This one is my favorite, he should win all the time. When I gwow up, I'm going to be just like him. Oh, look...thewe's Wattlesnake. He's a jewk. I don't want him to win at all.

Disgusted with the little display he had to give, he shudders. The only thing that could save him from the images of all the fans cheering was a pitchfork to the brain. To him, their cheers for his opponent was like someone dragging their fingernails across a chalkboard. It irritated him severely. Then again, he feeds off the emotion from the crowd. Yeah, like their cheers for the opponent would demoralize him.

Rattlesnake (back to his normal voice): Tonight is night when I can truly make an impact. First Jearus fell to the Snake, then Brian Carnage. Both guys showed promise, but when it came time for them to receive their claim to fame, they ended up shitting their pants. I can't help that. It seems that whenever someone has a chance to go for greatness, they fail miserably. But I don't fault them for that. Why? They stepped up to a challenge. For that, I have a different opinion of them than before. I still think they suck, just not as much.

Rattlesnake laughs again. It's like it's too easy. He liked it this way. He couldn't explain it, but it's like someone wants to see if Rattlesnake can prove himself. But not in any specific way...more like "here's a challenge...overcome it." Once that's done, he sits and waits. As soon as another one comes around, he makes the risk and does what he needs to do. For all he knows, there could very well be something coming up for him soon.

Rattlesnake: That brings me to the next guy that will step into the ring with me. He's shown promise. He's shown skill. But here's the thing. Promise and skill falter in the presence of greatness. I don't have to really point this out to Vortex, but I think actions will speak louder than words. Then again, words work just as good, but only if those words are "here is your winner...Rattlesnake!"

Rattlesnake holds up the Snakequalizer as he closes the trunk of his car and then starts walking to the arena.

Rattlesnake: I'm not going to really say what I've been saying for a little while. Everyone's heard it and despite what they believe, Vortex will have his "Claim to Fame." Now, whether or not it's the 1-2-3 after the Snakebite or if he finds himself tapping out to the Constrictor, it makes no difference to me.

Rattlesnake reaches the door. He turns to the camera that's next to him.

Rattlesnake: Just a few words of advice for you Vortex. Come to the ring expecting to lose. This way you won't have to worry so much about what happens when you do. You'll have the proper mindset. You'll be disappointed, upset, sad, tired, melancholy and pissed off. But don't worry, it'll be ok. You want to know why? I'm the Vision of Greatness. I'm the future of the ACW. You're looking at a future ACW World Heavyweight Champion. That's why. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a match to prepare for.

Rattlesnake opens the door and walks inside. The door closes as the scene fades out.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment - State of the Mind (Credit: VorteX)

The camera pans into what seems to be a pitch black room, devoid of all but the faintest light. A minute amount of light filters down onto a figure, sitting in the center of the room. That figure is VorteX, holding what seems to be a remote. VorteX presses a button on the remote, and a previously unseen TV comes to life in front of him. Footage of his first match against Nina Star plays, specifically the missed Blackout Dropkick. VorteX watches this little detail very closely, and then presses another button on the remote causing the tape to fast forward to the fatal fourway. VorteX can be seen on the tape pulling off the Bane Grenade, and the referee missing the pin attempt made after the successful move. VorteX turns off the TV and leans back in his chair.

Minute flaws are what lead to two defeats in a row. One can not hope to be perfect in actions, but a stronger sense of awareness can be attained from previous experiences. VorteX realizes he must harvest this awareness if he ever hopes to win a match. Certain people think that VorteX is nothing more than a wannabe, coming from some unknown local fed to a bigger stage, only to fall and disappear back into the unknown.

This is far from the case.

Discouragement is a weakness, a fatal weakness at that. Discouragement leads to an attitude that only breads fear. Fear is something relatively unknown to VorteX, many times has VorteX been in matches that would have been banned from most federations, sometimes at the risk of his own life. An equally fatal flaw in character is pride. Many times VorteX has faced opponents that have been full of pride, only to watch them fall. If one is to win, that person cannot let the victory take first place in their mind, otherwise defeat is soon to follow.

Vortex rises up off of the chair, and walks into the darkness. A moment later another light snaps on across the room revealing a ladder. Vortex walks out of the darkness a few feet away from the ladder, looking at it. Many wonder why VorteX carries this ladder with him, or where it even came from. It is this very reason that VorteX carries it with him, to instill a thought in the mind, whether it is good or bad. The ladder serves as a symbol, and when it is seen is usually associated with risk. Risk defines the exceptional from the normal. By taking risks one learns to define there own character, and earns respect from those around them.

Vortex stoops down next to the ladder and runs his hand over the surface. The metal seems to gleam, and the various scratches and dents on the surface seem to be more poignant. VorteX begins to wonder when this tool should be used, for such an opportunity must be planned carefully as to bring the greatest benefit.

The camera begins to pan out, as VorteX stands. VorteX again walks into the darkness, and only the ladder is seen. Light begins to fade gradually from the room, until only darkness and silence remain.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: A lack of reverence (Credit: Torak/WeDrag)

Coward: One who, in a perilous emergency, thinks with his legs – Ambrose Bierce

Cowardice can be considered either a positive attribute or a negative one. For a proud man, the shame of averting certain risk or difficulty through fear of failure is a feeling that he can not redeem himself.
However, cowardice can be our greatest asset to our safety and survival. Opting to high-tail it when faced with danger may not spare us our honor or dignity, but it at least ensures our physical well-being.


Cocky, smiling, full of life, Dan walks into the entrance of the building through the front door. He’s wearing a black shit with an open collar, strutting through, with his kit bag over his shoulder. He has a match tonight against Mr. Red, a stablemate but the two’s relationship has been murky at best recently. Dan has put his number one contender’s spot for Jake Cheng’s Light Heavyweight Championship on the line. But he secretly only hopes to get both a victory and keep his friendship with the guy, as he walks into the private area, the highways and intersections of the never ending Locker Room Area. Dan knows the place like a book, firstly walking by what used to be Mercer Stanton and Yoko Satoshi’s locker room with a skip in his step. Life is clearly going well for Dan, but that comes as no surprise, especially with previous notified earlier on in the show, that his mental issues are all but over. He gets to a part on the locker room area with a coffee machine, and Dan places his kit bag on the floor. He notices Charlotte chatting away to a backstage worker, and Dan checks her out, looking up and down, and then at the crucial parts of her body. As his coffee - black, no sugar - pours, he makes an abrupt cough, intent of getting Charlotte’s attention. She turns around, and smiles at Dan, who’s smiling back.

Charlotte: Hi Dan, or is it Mr. White? I’m not too sure what name basis we’re up to at the moment.

Dan lets out a cheesy smile as he grabs the coffee and takes a slow sip. Only the pain of heat sips through Dan’s mouth. He’s almost to the point of spitting the coffee everywhere, but swollows it, and with a sour look answers Charlotte’s question.

Dan: Um...Oooh that was terrible...Erm, yeah, first-name basis, I think.

Charlotte: Oh ok.

She smiles at Dan, who smiles back, silently back-handing the coffee into the rubbish bin. The liquid falls into the bin perfectly, and the cup rolls across the edge of the bin, and then rolls into the bin. Score.

Dan: So I was wondering if we could take a walking interview. I mean since my return I’ve only had one or two...

Charlotte: Yeah, sure. That shouldn’t be a problem.

The two begin to walk at a steady pace down the corridor, with the camera following the two.

Dan: Well basically, I just wanted to say that I have pretty much been screwed out of everything I’ve had my chance to win. I mean firstly there was the International Championship, where that referee made a quick count. Believe me, I saw it. It was a quick count. And then there was the Entertainment Championship. Not once, but twice. Believe me, that pisses a man off to no possible boundary. And then when I have the World Heavyweight Championship finally in my sights, I lose because of my fucked up brain. And then I get my chance at winning the Light-Heavyweight Title, but the man that is supposed to be my friend, Mr. Red, complains about some bitchy thing that his ‘foot was on the ropes’. Bullshit. Now I treat Red as a friend, but I’m going to seriously kick some ass tonight, regardless of any friendship.

Charlotte: But I mean what about Torak? He’s something so destructive that you yourself had severe troubles beating him. Are you going to be able to go the distance and defeat him on your own?

Dan: Oh Charlotte, I would have thought that with our history, you would have known by now that I’m not a quitter. Torak, yes he’s an absolute beast, but I’m sure that I’m more than capable of defeating him. Whether it’s tonight, whether it’s on Warfare or even if it was on the PPV next week at Genocide, I am absolutely certain that I can beat him, because I am the Welsh Dragon Dan White.

Charlotte: So...where are we going now?

Dan smirks

Dan: We are going on a mission, to find Torak and to tell him personally that I am not scared of him. To tell him that he no longer controls my brain, and to tell him that I am prepared for a fight, any day, any time, any place.

Charlotte: But Dan...

Dan: No buts Charlotte...

Dan walks at a quicker speed. Charlotte decides to follow, knowing that if the worst came to worst it would still make for some great TV. Dan takes an abrupt right and ends at a dead end.

His path is not blocked, however, by a solid birck wall. Nor is it blocked by a sturdy wooden door. In fact, the buffer that halted Dan in his tracks is not even an inanimate object. It is none other than the one that Dan seeks…namely, Torak.
His fists are clentched. Charlotte places an arm to Dan’s back but Dan walks forward, taking something resembling a Christian Cross and points it in the direction of Torak.

Dan: The power of Christ compels you! Exalt, Demon!

Charlotte looks quite scared as Torak remains standing.

Dan: Um...Exalt!

Torak is still stood, and Charlotte looks really nervous at this point.

Charlotte: Oh screw this Dan, you’re on your own.

Charlotte exhibits her cowardice and makes a sharp exit, though you could hardly blame her at this moment. Torak peers down at Dan then glances up at the retreating Miss King. After a few moments his focus reverts to the anxious poise of Dan. Torak’s eyebrows furrow as he is overcome with a mixture of confusion, curiosity and anger.
He looks at Dan like a butcher looking at a customer who has just walked in and started making love to some of the meat. He is slightly aggravated by this confrontation, but he has no idea of what to do to make him stop. Dan continues, desperately trying to muster up more exorcism quotes.

Dan : Um…uh….evil spirits begone!

Torak’s arm lashes out, hurtling toward the cross that Dan holds tightly in his hand and clutching it firmly. Torak glares down into the eyes of the Welsh Dragon and, without words, urges him to release his grip on the religious symbol. Torak snatches the cross from Dan’s grip and pulls it in close to inspect it. Dan starts to pray that it begins to burn through the hand of the masked beast. No such luck.
Instead, Torak positions his fingers so that they wrap around the cross section and in one squeeze he snaps the cross in half…one handed!

He hurls the two broken pieces of the cross to the floor and the ACW complaints department suddenly becomes inundated with mail.

Dear ACW,

I am writing to you regarding the segment aired on the Meltdown occuring on the 16th March 2006. The particular segment I am referring to involved Torak and Dan White which severely offended my family and I as we watched as one of the ACW roster performed an act of sacrilege, disgracing a symbol of our religious beliefs.
We are apalled that such an incident should be allowed to take place blah blah blah [insert bible quote and hypocritical comment here].

We hope you take action on all those involved in the incident and issue a public apology on the next show.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. A. Sadbastad

Maybe ACW should consider putting Torak in charge of these sort of letters.

Dear Mrs. Sadbastad and family,

I regret to inform you that, in regards to the letter sent to the complaints department of ACW your husband was promptly captured and tortured brutally for 36 hours before being passed through to the Angelus Kincaid sorting department. If you wish to retrieve your husband then you may collect him from the dumpster located outside the ACW arena.
And the trunk of the dark blue 1971 Chevrolet Nova S.S.
And from the food disposal unit outside the catering area.

Yours mercilessly,

Torak

Dan frantically fumbles in his pockets, searching for a lifeline. A knife. A gun. A massive ordinance air blast bomb. Anything you feel will do. What he does produce is slightly less lethal. It’s a small jar filled with water. He frenetically twists off the lid and discards it to the floor. With a flick of the wrist he throws some of the liquid onto Torak.

Dan : In the name of the father!

Torak looks down onto his chest where most of the water landed before returning his stare to Dan, looking less than amused. Another flick of the wrist and Torak gets even wetter. </innuendo>

Dan : and the son!

Torak is fed up of this charade now and again thrusts his arm forward in an attempt to procure the tiny jar. However, Dan releases the jar before Torak can reach it, sending it plummeting to the floor with a smash. Torak looks down at the broken jar and the water that escaped upon impact, some of which landed on Torak’s thick black leather boots. He looks up again only to see Dan backing off nervously. Torak slowly follows him with malevolent intentions. Dan urges his legs to work at a quicker pace but at the moment they don’t seem to be in full working order. Unfortunately for Dan, he eventually meets a wall, backed in by the oncoming monster. He feels the wall desperately, contemplating whether or not he could burrow through it in an attempt to escape.

Instead, he opts for the sensible escape route and uses the wall to propel himself away and then back down the corridor he came from. Torak stops in his tracks and chuckles to himself as the scene fades out.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Match 2: Bra N' Panties Match - Elimination Style
Nina vs. Iris vs. Gelale (Credit: Rena)

Back in the arena, it falls to ACW’s resident announcers to introduce the next match.

McNally: Well right now it's going to be an elimination fantasy bra and panties brawl.

Edison: It seems ACW has read my match requests.

McNally: All 200,000 of them.

Edison: My voice will be heard!

Philip moves into the ring in a comfortable spot. He clears his throat, raising the microphone close to his lips.
Philip: The next match-up is an elimination-style fantasy bra and panties match. Introducing first, from Berlin, Germany and accompanied by Rawt ‘The Crippler’ Ross…GELALE!

Another one bites the dust by Queen hits the speakers and plays for a few seconds before Gelale appears on the stage. She is wearing an off shoulder peasant top, black halter dress, eye patch, black teardrop petticoat and fishnet stockings with black knee-high stiletto boots. Rawt walks out in the cliché pirate’s costume. Crushed velvet shirt with attached satin sleeves, black bandana with a skull printed on it, black buccaneer boots, belt and wrist cuffs with black pants and a plastic knife. He is holding a rolled up piece of paper, which seems to be a map. Gelale is already in the ring as Rawt slowly begins to follow the directions intently. Gelale is dancing in the ring, showing off her costume to all the men, whom are now cat-calling her. Rawt enters the ring, finding the treasure. As he stops behind Gelale, he grabs her ass.

Edison: Looks like he found his ‘Booty’.

McNally: It would seem so. Interesting entrance from the two.

Phillip: And now, umm…

He clears his throat and loosens his dress shirt.

Phillip: The next competitor, reigning from San Francisco, California…Iris Yoon!

Starstruck by Yellowcard sirens into the arena as Iris pans onto the stage. She is holding a stack of folders and is wearing an army green skirt with suspenders of the same material and color hanging down ¾ of the length of her skirt. She is wearing a pink silk top with an army green blazer over top. Her black-rimmed glasses complete the picture as a naughty secretary. Various businessmen flock towards her as she hands each one a folder, making her way to the ring. After all the men have received a folder, Iris still has one left. She smiles and throws it into the air, suggestive photos of her scattering into the crowd as they greedily pick it up. She enters the ring, takes her glasses off and takes her hair out of the tight bun, flipping her hair all around.
Edison: I’m becoming a businessman.

McNally: Easy buddy.

Phillip: Wow, we really need a female announcer for these matches… And finally, from New York, New York… “Naughty” Nina Star!

Candy by Koda Kumi and featuring Mr. Blistah hits the speakers as 4 women dressed in black harem girl costumes with golden jingle belts appear on the stage, doing a modern harem dance. Nina appears, with deep red sheer harem pants, one leg ripped all the way up, the ring connected to the pants keep it on her leg. She is wearing a red bra-top with thick straps and sheer material wrapped around the top. Included, the veil and a cape which begins at the back of her top and connects by buckles on her wrists. She also has golden coin trim with lightly jingles as she walks to the ring, with red-strap high heels. She swings around and walks up the steps, putting one leg over the second rope, bending backward as she enters.

Edison: She sure is flexible.

Phillip: Good luck ladies.

Phillip left the ring as the women held themselves against the turnbuckles. The bell quickly sounded as the three women moves into each other in the middle of the ring. Right away, Gelale ripped off Nina’s mouth veil and pushed her to the ground, beginning a verbal war to the now-down Nina. Iris tapped on Gelale’s shoulder to get her attention, pulling back the patch on Gelale’s eye and letting it go, sending Gelale on a pain-filled rampage. Nine moved up and leap-frogged over Iris, sending Gelale a dropkick to the mouth. As Gelale lay on the mat, Iris and Nina go to work. They grab at her Bar-wench top and begin to pull, ripping and ripping until her pink lace bra is revealed to the crowd. Both Nina and Iris throw the shreds of the top to the crowds, as a nervous Rawt jumps to the apron. He begins arguing with the ref, trying to allow Gelale some time to recover. Nina pushed away the ref, grabbing Rawt by the neck and flipping him over the ropes, his back hitting hard against the mat. Iris grabbed at his pants and began to pull, Nina ripping off his top. Very soon, the clothing are gone, and Rawt’s pink thong is exposed to the cheering (and now laughing) fans of ACW.

McNally: That is not something I expected.

Edison: I think I’m going to be sick.

Rawt rolled out of the ring in a flash, running down the ramp quickly in pure embarrassment. As the two women laugh, holding the ropes, Gelale appears from nowhere with a forearm to Nina’s back. Iris grabbed Nina’s hair and smashed her face to the ground. Gelale began to make plans with Iris, planning to rip the garments from Nina. Iris nods, and looks down at the mat beauty, moving closer and closer to her. Gelale bent down to begin to take off the top when out of nowhere, Iris snapmared Gelale to the ground, propping Gelale on her knee and continually spanks her. She then rolls over to remove the last remains of Gelale’s attire.

Phillip: And the first to be eliminated, having her bra and panties exposed to the crowd…Rawt—I mean Gelale.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Iris smiled to the crowd, blowing a kiss. She turned and faced Nina, who is now up and resting at the turnbuckle. Iris began to charge towards her but Nina grabbed her hair and flipped her out of the ring, Iris’ body slamming onto the thinly matted concrete floor.

McNally: When did this become a hardcore Bra and Panties match!?

Nina pulled herself through the ropes and dropped to the floor, grabbing Iris by the hair to get her up. She tries to Irish-whip Iris to the guard rails, but Iris counters it with a hard push to the rails, Nina ribs crushing against the hard metal. She screamed in pain, and was immediately pulled back and turned around so that Iris could complete a facebuster, following by Iris ripping off Nina’s top. Nina was not wearing a proper bra, only tassels covering her nipples. Iris is confused, but the crowd only grows more excited.

McNally: What is that!? Is that even legal?

Edison: That’s daaannngggeeerrrooouuusss!!!

McNally: Indeed.

Iris bends down towards Nina, only to be monkey flipped away from her. Iris grabbed her back as she slowly brought herself up, meeting eyes with Nina as she grows her perfect posture back. Iris ran at her and jumped up, locking her legs around Nina and whipped her down the ground with a hurricanrana. She got up qickly, jumped on the apron and attempted a lionsault on Nina, only to find her rolling away. As Iris lay on the ground, Nina quickly pulled away her top to reveal duct-taped X’s over her nipples. Nina screamed ‘slut’ into the hair and began hammering fists onto Iris’ face. The ref interferes and pulls Nina off. She begins to argue with the ref, pushing at him and finally slapping him in the face. He growls at her, but nothing could be done as Nina bit from behind by Iris with a chair, knocking the ref over and unconscious. Iris begins to scream at Nina, as a dark figure approaches behind her. The figure is tall, and is wearing a cloak with a mesh black mask, covering their face. With dark, black gloves, the figure grabs Iris by the hair and drives her hard into the steel steps. Iris’ body flops to the floor, but the figure is not finished. He picks her up over his head, and throws her into the ring as if she were a feather. Nina gets up slowly and rolls into the ring as the figure slaps the ref to wake up. Nina smiled, and adjusted Iris to the middle of the ring. She climbed the turnbuckles and gave the crowd a big kiss.

McNally: What’s she doing!?

Edison: CAREFUL!

Nina leaped off and performed a graceful corkscrew body splash onto the downed diva. She rolled over quickly to yank off the bottoms of poor Iris. The bell rang, as Phillip stood up.

Phillip: Ladies and Gentlemen, since Iris has been fully stripped, the winner of this match is “Naughty” NINA STAR!!

McNally: She is definitely naughty.

Edison: And not the naughty I like.

Nina kicked Iris out of the ring, put on her high heels and took off her skirt, revealing a black thong. The crowd’s reaction is overflowing, as she wiggles the tassels around to the crowd, allowing everyone to admire her. As she turns around, the figure is nowhere to be found.

Edison: This has to be the most interesting Bra and Panties match I've ever seen!

McNally: And Who is this unknown person?

Edison: Only time will tell.

Fade out to a break.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: Scenes From A Memory (Credit: Hunter / AK)

Click.

The next one will not produce a simple sound. The next bullet means more.

Sarah: PLEASE! DON'T!

Mr. Smith: Sarah, I am sorry. One day...you will know.

Mr. Smith turns his attention back towards Hunter. He looks directly into the eyes of the object of his daughter's desires, and he cannot do anything but smile. The next bullet means pain.

Hunter: ...don't...do it...

Mr. Smith continues smirking. He touches the end of the gun to Hunter's forehead and loads it with a flick of his finger. The next bullet means death.

Hunter closes his eyes now. He may not have wanted to die in darkness, but there is no other alternative. He waits and waits for his inevitable end...but it never comes. He slowly opens his eyes and sees that the gun is no longer pointed at him, and that instead there is a white object in front of him. When he moves his head up, he realizes that this is the back of Sarah Smith, standing with her arms spread between Hunter and her father. The latter looks are her in a greatly displeased manner, but is able to see what is the right thing to do. He slowly drops his arm to a neutral form and lets the revolver hang safely from his hand.

Sarah: Father...daddy...I'm sorry. But...I can't let you do this. This is wrong.

The man looks at his daughter with an utmost sense of disappointment. In his momentary lapse of reason, he feels it would be best to put down the gun and to not allow harm to come to anyone. But only for a moment.

Mr. Smith: Sarah...it MUST be done.

Sarah: But not here, father. Not now.

Mr. Smith: There are too many things in this world that cannot be solved by delay. This man must die.

Hunter cringes at this thought rather noticeably. The magnificent doctor chuckles to himself at Hunter's discomfort.

Sarah: But why, father? Why?

Mr. Smith: That is a tale for another day. But I suppose this was too harsh, indeed. I cannot kill the man you love so...so...so simply before you. Please, go get Peter.

Sarah: But I---

Mr. Smith: Just go, my daughter. Be back quickly.

She opens her mouth to speak, but no words come out. So instead she shuts her mouth quickly and nods her understanding. She then follows this action by running past her mother and down the stairs, as apparent by the descending sound of echoing footsteps. Once the steps are far from the radar of his ears, Mr. Smith turns his attention back towards Hunter.

Mr. Smith: My daughter saved your life. Are you thankful?

Hunter moves his eyes harshly towards his tormentor and stares a hole into his head.

Mr. Smith: Do not make me, under ANY circumstances, continue adding to your pain. Are you thankful or not?

Hunter: ...yes...

Mr. Smith: You should be. For that is the last helpful thing anyone will ever do for you.

He takes the gun on the counter and chuckles as Hunter flinches. But instead of firing it, Mr. Smith opens the chamber and points it at Hunter. Their eyes meet through the five empty holes in the chamber, with the sixth being filled by a lone bullet.

Mr. Smith: This bullet is meant for you. And you will not escape its wrath.

He snaps the chamber shut and puts the gun down. He notices the uncharacteristically concerned look on his wife's face, but he pays it no mind. Mrs. Smith takes it upon herself to move closer, hoping that this will change the course of events in any way possible.

Mrs. Smith: This...are you sure it is---

Mr. Smith: Everything is done for a reason. You know this.

Mrs. Smith: I do, it is just...first the runaway child, then this man...it's as if things are coming apart.

Mr. Smith is silent, thinking to himself.

Mr. Smith: You perhaps have a point. The returned boy's parents...

Mrs. Smith: They are still refusing to allow him to undergo the procedure. I cannot send anyone to retrieve the young man directly, it would be too much of a risk. There have been conversations overheard, people are becoming...less than content.

Mr. Smith: Very well. Increase the general population dosage to the maximum safe level...then, they will allow us to do what is best for them.

Mrs. Smith looks at him questioningly.

Mrs. Smith: But we've never needed to resort to that...you said there was a possibility of instability---

Mr. Smith: We no longer have a choice. My word is final.

Mrs. Smith lowers her head.

Mrs. Smith: But may I ask why you are doing this to Mr. Hunter?

Mr. Smith cringes at the name, doing all he can to not attract attention to this action.

Mr. Smith: When it is the right time to know, you will know.

Mrs. Smith: Of course. It will require 10 days of full exposure in the water supply before full effectiveness is achieved.

Mr. Smith: That is acceptable. Then we can move ahead with the procedure on all the young ones who have not yet undergone it.

Mrs. Smith: ...all?

She gets no reply; she does not expect to, for her husband never says anything he does not mean. For a moment, Mrs. Smith looks pale...but then she returns to her normal, placid state. Hunter coughs up some built up blood, his ears and eyes still focused on his demented captors. He then hears a loud slam from below him followed by a pair of ascending footsteps.

Mr. Smith: Hmm. They are here.

Sarah appears back in the room alongside a young looking man with startling blond hair, cerulean eyes and some mildly uncomfortable features. Hunter looks at the man's face and feels as if he's seen it before, but shakes off this feeling once Mr. Smith takes the opportunity to speak.

Mr. Smith: Peter. This man must be disposed of. Are you aware of this?

Peter: Uh...yes sir.

Mr. Smith nods and takes the gun that lies silently next to him, picks it up, and hands it to Peter. This new man takes the gun with relative ease, an action that startles Sarah and discomforts Hunter.

Peter: I understand completely.

Mr. Smith: Take him to the Barn. It shall make things easier and quieter for those around.

Peter: Yes sir.

Mr. Smith nods once more and reaches into his case. He pulls out a syringe with a liquid that looks far different from formidilosus (something that greatly pleases Hunter) and stares directly at the man who has filled his hatred to the brink for more time than he would have preferred.

Mr. Smith: For the next few minutes, you will be in complete silence. Complete darkness. Complete...equilibrium. When you awake, you will see the end of a gun. And a few seconds later, you will be back in that complete silence and complete darkness. And throughout this whole process, I want you to remember one thing...

Mr. Smith leans over close to Hunter and leaves his mouth mere centimeters away from Hunter's ear. Hunter awaits words, but instead he feels a painful prick in the side of his neck, a prick that is followed by an almost eternal slumber. Before he is enclosed in silence, and before he is enclosed in darkness, he hears only one thing.

Mr. Smith: ...don't scream.

End.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: The Hard Good-Bye (Credit: Daisy/??)

Daisy is shown backstage, stretching for her match against Aurelia. The young Diva opted to wear black hotpants and a black sports bra, hugging every delicious curve. She bites her lip, anxiety etched across her face.

Daisy: My first match at ACW...

She murmurs contemplatively, stretching out her hamstrings. Before she can continue her warm-up, there's a knock at the door.

Daisy: Come in!

Crocjaw enters, looking a bit out of place in a locker room as feminine as Daisy's. Daisy raises an eyebrow, puzzled.

Daisy: What are you doing here?

Crocjaw: I was sent to tell you that your match is up next...

Daisy: Oh, well, uh, thanks...

A very pregnant pause follows Daisy's curt expression of gratitude. She turns her head away, trying to find the words to express what she's feeling.

Daisy: Crocjaw...why did you join Triple A?

Crocjaw: Needed the money. Thought I'd do some decent work for a change. Maybe I'd get over with the crowd and make it big as a wrestling star, ya know?

Daisy: I watch you when you hang out with those scumbags: Dan, Capone, and Packrat. You're not like them, and I bet you sure as hell aren't like Aurelia. Why put up with this?

Crocjaw: ...

Daisy: I'm sorry, that was rude--

Crocjaw: No. Maybe you're right...

Daisy: I am? SCORE! That's twice in one week!

She happily jumps up and down, grinning from ear to ear. Crocjaw stares at her, a bit incredulously, before placing a calming hand on her shoulder and settling her down.

Crocjaw: Listen, Daisy. I'm no pro-wrestler but I can keep up with the best of 'em when it comes to a good scrap. You need any advice, just let me know.

Daisy smiles and wraps her arms around Crocjaw's neck, hugging him.

Daisy: Awww, you're so sweet! Please teach me, Mr. Crocjaw!

Crocjaw: You...you hugged me.

Daisy: A-DUH!

Crocjaw: I don't think a girl has ever hugged me before...because of my looks...

Daisy: Aww, you're not all that bad looking, Mr. Crocjaw, sir! Now c'mon, let's go get ready to whoop some ass!

Daisy drags a still stunned Crocjaw off the screen, leaving a trail of bemusement in her wake.

End Segment.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Segment: Girl Talk

The next segment begins on the alphatron, and the inside of a cozy apartment is shown. It’s slightly familiar to those with good memories, and their thoughts are confirmed as from the left of shot comes Alicia.

It’s still bright daylight through the windows, showing that this must have been recorded before the show; Alicia is in her street clothes, wearing training pants and a slightly baggy matching top. As she moves back and forth around the apartment, she places various items into her kit bag, preparing to travel to the arena.

She is trailed as she walks by Pacino the pitbull, who is rapidly approaching an adult size and weight. When she drops a clean t-shirt, Pacino picks it up and wags his tail at 100mph, and a tug of war ensues as Alicia tries to get it back.

AK: Come on, I need this top, I haven’t done the washing yet…

In truth, she knows it’s a fruitless task; once Pacino gets a hold of something it’s almost impossible to persuade him to give it up. At that moment, there is the sound of a phone ringing, and Alicia decides to give up on the shirt for now and answer it.

She lets go, and walks to the phone. Seeing that the game is over, Pacino instantly loses interest in the shirt and wanders off to see if there’s any food in his bowl. Alicia looks at the caller display on the telephone, smiles, and picks the phone up.

AK: Hello, Madame Kitty’s boudoir and pleasure palace…

Feminine laughter is heard on the other end of the line.

??: That’s a new one, sis.

AK: Yeah… anyhow, hey there Nick. How’s things?

Nicky: All right. The kids are still driving me nuts, how the headteacher expects me to get them to pass their SATS exams when they’re incapable of sitting still for 30 seconds at a stretch is beyond me… so everything’s normal, basically.

AK laughs, and heads to her couch, which is being occupied by a deeply relaxed and stretched out Richard Parker. She gives him a gentle push with a hand, and Parker moves by the smallest possible amount that gives AK room to sit down.

AK: Isn’t it getting a bit late over there? I’m surprised you called today…

Nicky: Well, I know things must be lonely at the moment, so I thought I’d make the time to catch up. How are things over there with you?

AK: Busy, very busy. What with training for the PPV, traveling to see Victor each day and just looking after the apartment, I’ve not got a lot of spare time right now. But perhaps that’s for the best.

Nicky: Yeah, maybe. So, tell me about this match, then. Are you going to win it, or do your usual and fluff up at the critical moment?

AK: Your faith in me is wonderful, Nick.

Nicky laughs, and AK does as well.

Nicky: You know it.

Her tone becomes slightly more serious.

Nicky: I saw a trailer running on TWC earlier in the week… this looks like one tough event you’re wound up in. You know I believe in you, but even so-

AK: I know, trust me, I’m not fooling around in taking this on. Quite apart from the match type itself, the competition doesn’t get much stronger.

Nicky: Tell me about them, then.

AK: Ok… well, let’s start with the most straightforward threat… you remember BK London, right?

Nicky: Big muscular coloured man with a serious egocentricity?

AK: That’s the one. There’s nothing complex about BK, he’s in this to win back the title he considers should be his. He’s strong and boy does he know it.

Nicky: So he’s a typical alpha male, right?

AK: What do you mean?

Nicky: I mean he’s the sort of man who walks as if he’s got balls of brass, and thinks every woman within 20 feet is desperate to drag him off to a quiet corner for a bunk up.

AK snorts with laughter at the image.

AK: I wouldn’t necessarily go that far… let’s just say he thinks a great deal of himself. Which is a good job, because apart from his wife no one else does…

More giggling.

Nicky: I see. Who else is there?

AK: Hmm…. Well, there’s TNT. Think 100% less black than BK, and 100% more ego, and there you go.

Nicky:……he sounds like barrels of fun.

AK: Yeah. Seriously, I’d be making a big mistake just to ignore TNT; he does have flashes of brilliance in amongst the hours and hours of telling everyone how fantastic he is.

Nicky: Ehh, I think you can handle him. Next?

AK: Next… I’d have to put Senator. He’s coming into this in a bizarre fashion, he doesn’t even want to be in the match.

Nicky: Well if he doesn’t want to win, he shouldn’t be that hard to beat, right?

AK: Ah, that’s the rub. Once he’s in a match, the Senator never gives it less than 100%. He’s a technical specialist, but if he gets riled enough, he has a savage power that can take apart anyone in his way.

Nicky: Savage, eh? That reminds me of the time Al Gore hired that woman to improve his image. She told him he had to “discover his inner sex panther”.

AK: Heh…I wonder if the Senator is in touch with his inner sex panther?

There is silence for a moment, as Alicia and the audience consider this.

AK: Ok, I’m going to stop there before the visions in my head get any more disturbing… Anyway, speaking of disturbed, the Senator’s preoccupied at the moment with his re-election campaign. That distraction may be something I can capitalize upon.

Nicky: How are you going to do that? Hijack his battle bus?

Another pause; AK’s eyebrows raise, and then she smiles widely.

Nicky: Whoa, don’t even THINK what I think you’re thinking!

AK laughs.

AK: Yeah, yeah, I know. As if I’d be that crazy…

The smile hasn’t disappeared from her face. Of course, her sister is oblivious to this.

[Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune]

Nicky: Who else is left in this match, then?

AK: Well, there’s Hunter, the defending champion. Do you remember him?

Nicky: Oh yes, certainly.

AK: He’s… he’s the most difficult one to figure out, actually. All I know is that he’s been involved with some woman-

There is a slightly muffled sound that might or might not have been the word “damn”, but AK ignores it and carries on.

AK:… and then he didn’t show up for Monday’s show. I hope he’s there tonight, it’s just not like Hunter to act like that.

Nicky: But wouldn’t it be easier, technically, if he didn’t reappear? That’s one less person you have to beat.

AK: Yes… I know… but it just wouldn’t be the same, you know? If I win this, I want to to be because I was able to beat the best that ACW has to offer, not by some fluke of fate that takes a key threat out of the match. And…

She tails off.

Nicky: What is it?

AK: It’s… it’s kind of hard for me to admit, you see, but before Bloody Valentine I thought I had Hunter all worked out. He’s talented, sure, but he just seemed to be in it for the glamour, to be able to say “I’m the champ, aren’t I brilliant?”. But then we had that match, and I realized that… he cares. Not just about being champion, but being a great champion, the best he can be. I didn’t see that, I read it all wrong… and I find it difficult to be wrong.

She can’t say anything else for a few seconds.

Nicky: Hey, it’s ok… I understand. You made a mistake, and that bothers you- it’s all right to feel like that. The important thing is, you can put that mistake right.

AK: Yes, and that’s the thing… if Hunter doesn’t come back, I won’t be able to do that. And it’s not just about my selfish needs… Hunter deserves to have every chance to defend that title, and the right not only to retain it with honour, but to lose it with dignity. Does that make sense?

Nicky: Yeah, it does. I think he’ll be back… so when he does return, how are you going to deal with him?

AK: The same way I did when we fought last. Counter his counters, wear him down with speed… but this time, I have a secret weapon.

Nicky: What is it?

AK smiles.

AK: I found it on ebay… it’s a DVD called “Paris Hilton’s Cardio Combat”.

Nicky: That sounds… bizarre.

AK: Yeah… the listing was something like “The millionaire starlet takes on the seemingly invincible Russian monster Drago, in order to avenge the death of her friend Apollo Creed.”

Nicky:…………………….that’s the plot of Rocky IV.

AK: Is it? Oh, I probably got them mixed up, it’s an easy mistake to make.

The tone of he voice gives her away, and Nicky laughs loudly. AK just continues smiling; what she doesn’t reveal is that she really does have a secret weapon, one that could potentially take out all of her opponents. Some things are better kept quiet, even from your nearest and dearest…

Out of the blue the doorbell rings. AK gets up and walks over to answer it, revealing Reg and Ron waiting outside.

Ron: Here we are, on time as requested.

AK checks her watch.

AK: Hang on a second Nick… (she puts the phone down on a table for a moment) Yeah lads, I’m almost ready to go. Can you get the wildlife ready to go while I finish this call?

The boys look at one another with slight trepidation, but enter the flat. Ron whistles, and Pacino runs over to him, tongue hanging out. As Ron loads the dog, Reg cautiously approaches Richard Parker on the couch.

AK lets them get on with it and picks up the phone again.

AK: The guys are here, Nick, I have to go in a couple of minutes.

Nicky: Fair enough… we covered everyone in the match, right?

AK: Not quite. There’s still the issue of Jonny Spade… and between you and me, I think he could be the dark horse in all of this. He’s had enough title shots now to know what he’s got to do… I think I need to keep a special eye on him.

Nicky: You do that, then. Anyway, I’d better let you go… oh! I almost forgot to tell you, I’ve been offered a job at a different school. It’s a faith-based college.

AK: Oh? What kind? Catholic? Muslim? Hindu?

In the background, sounds of struggle are heard, and an angry-sounding cat’s yowl.

Reg (off screen): Get in there, you bloody – OW!

Ron (off screen): You need any help, bruv?

Another crash.

Reg (off screen): I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED BY A BLEEDIN’ CAT!

AK rolls her eyes as the noises continue.

Nicky: Actually, it’s Norse.

AK: Norse? What on earth do they teach at a Norse school?

Nicky: I’m not sure. I’m hoping it’ll be stuff like hammer maintenance and double thunderbolt-hurling…

They both laugh, and AK notices that the noises have stopped. Reg emerges into shot, victoriously clutching a cat-carrying basket from which Richard Parker is glaring out.

AK: Heh… well, I have to go. Great to talk to you, Nick.

Nicky: Same here. Speak to you soon…. Bye.

AK: Bye…

She puts down the phone on its base, grabs her bag and the dropped t shirt from the floor, and opens the door to let Reg out as Ron follows with Pacino on his lead. AK takes a quick glance around the apartment to check everything’s ok, and then with a warm feeling inside from her heart-to-heart with her sister, closes the door behind her.

Fade out.