|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:02:04 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:02:04 GMT -5
Breakdown (Credit: Latino)
As the scene opens, the camera shows Victor inside his locker-room. It’s only a half hour after his battle with London, and yet despite his victory he seems tearful, even distraught. As he sits there, he hears a knock on his door.
Latino: Yea…come in.
The door opens and Latino’s eyes move up and widen in surprise as to the person whom he sees standing before him.
Latino: Dios mios, Carlos what do you want?
Carlos: I came here to get your damn head straight.
Latino: Look Carlos I don’t want to fucking talk right now. I failed, ok? I fucking failed.
Carlos: What? You did great out there, you won the match! What the hell is your problem?
Latino: Oh yea you think I did good but…in my heart…it was just a complete failure.
Carlos: Just because in your mind you think you failed…you think that you can just give up? Mí’ hijo, you have been through a lot more shit that this, so why the hell are you giving up now?
Latino: Because I can’t do it anymore! I tried to do it. I tried it your way and it didn’t work. I tried it my way and it still didn’t fucking work. It’s like whatever the hell I do nothing is ever good enough! I try my fucking best and look where it landed me. My body is fucking destroyed inside and out, I lost two World title chances, and let down everyone that ever gave me a fucking chance! I can’t take this anymore Carlos.
Carlos: Oh, so all those months I spent training you…teaching you everything that I learned…making you better than I ever could be was just a waste huh? I worked hard to make you what you are today!
Latino: And what am I pa? I never had the great match that I wanted. I’ve lost the woman I loved. I lost every damn thing I ever cared about…I’m sorry…I…I… appreciate everything you did for me but I can’t do it anymore. No matter what I do I get pushed down again. I…I….don’t have it in me anymore.
Latino grabs his stuff and opens the door. He turns back to look at Carlos remembering his old days of training and lessons he learned from his old trainer. Victor turns around and leaves closing the door behind him.
The scene fades away as the door closes.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:05:23 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:05:23 GMT -5
Segment: Revelation (Credit: Ridley)
Thoroughly sated with the night so far, Ridley stands in front of the mirror, a pair of druids hoisting his cloak onto his shoulders. Druid 2 approaches from the side, holding the book that Ridley has been poring over for most of the month.
Ridley: I thought I told you to burn that damned thing when the test results came back.
Druid 2: My lord, I thought it would be unwise for you to attempt to run from the memory of your father.
Ridley (snorts): My father....
The cloaked minion holds up a result sheet.
Druid 2: Indeed. Because of the blood tests, we can now tell that Mr. Black, the "Professor of Pain", was your biological father---
Ridley cuts the druid off with a glare, but doesn't move, as his two attendants are pushing glimmering, silver thumbtacks into the intersections of the grid on his head.
Ridley: I know that.
Druid 2: There is more, m'lord. I went to burn it, but as I was laying the book down, a compartment in the back of it slid open by accident. There was....more inside.
Ridley waves the attendants aside, the thumbtacks finished, and takes the book from Druid 2. He first picks up a bizarre piece of metal that was clipped to the inside, examining it.
Ridley: ....some kind of jewelry?
Druid 2: Meh. It looks unfinished. The lion looks very nice, though.
Ridley doesn't pay attention; he's already slid the little piece into his clothing and started reading the page that the druid has found.
Ridley: "Although the years may not look back kindly on my career, that life....as well as all the dark baggage that went with it.....has been left behind. My wife knows nothing of my past that I have not concocted, and no one in this place knows me....it would seem I am most secure in my new life."
He looks up.
Ridley: .........so he left. He pulled that shit with me AND my mother....and then he moved away. And remarried.
Druid 2: ...........well.......I'm afraid there's more to it, m'lord.
Ridley gives him a look, then skips down the page.
Ridley: "....and yet, while I now have a new existence ahead of me, one that I could truly love, the spectres of the dead woman, and my lost child" (snorts again) "continue to hang over my head....if I was that irresponsible and callous with my firstborn, how could I raise my daughter without full concern that---"
A pause. Ridley looks back up the page again.
Ridley: .........his daughter?
Druid 2: That's the second thing, my lord. You have a sister, apparently. One that Mr. Black apparently sired some time after you were supposed to be dead.
He doesn't want to continue. Continuing is the last thing he wants to do. But Ridley is determined to know the truth...and so he presses on.
Ridley: "....for though tonight my conscience has finally bested me, and I go to my grave, I fear my legacy of darkness will live on in my child. She is a wonderful creature, as gentle as she is beautiful, but somehow I fear that the heart of darkness that resides within me lurks in her, as well. I can feel it in the air around her....I hear it in her cries....may God forgive me for my atrocities, for I can never forgive myself. I go now....to end this."
Ridley's come to the end of the page. He looks at the monochrome photograph on the back; it's of Black, his wife, and their baby daughter. He looks at the child's eyes...so much like his....
And then he recognizes them.
Ridley: ...........Number Two?
The druid has dreaded the moment he would have to tell his sire, but.....the time has come.
Druid 2: It's true, m'lord. Everything matches about it. Someone THAT similar to your look, who shares the same dark nature within....
Ridley: Oh, shit. OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH MOTHERFUCKING GODDAMNED SHIT.
Druid 2: M'lord, please. You'll alert Lady Alexandra to---
Ridley: To WHAT? To the fact that I've been FUCKING MY GODDAMNED SISTER FOR THE PAST FOUR MONTHS?
He's not quite screaming....but he's pretty damn close. As Ridley stares ahead, his eyes the very picture of helpless fury and disgust, he sinks to both knees and clutches the sides of his head, pushing the thumbtacks deeper in.
Druid 2: Lord Ridley....I am sorry. I truly am....but it is too accurate to be merely coincidence, there is no person who fits the description better----
Ridley: GRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHH!!!!!!!!!
The Lord of Darkness erupts to his feet, eyes rolled back and crimson, and slams a gauntleted fist into the mirror, shattering it from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. He whirls on the druid, who immediately flees in terror, and bellows out an arena-shaking roar of both anguish and rage that's heard halfway across the building as the lights go out in the Demon Pit.
Kneeling, fists clenched, head bowed, Ridley's shaking. He almost gags several times as he bites down hard on his tongue (and almost severs it)....then speaks, the blood running down his chin as he fingers the scar over one eye.
Ridley: Redemption....there is no redemption for my kind....not after this--this travesty of nature...
He stands, and opens the door to the Demon Pit, popping the knuckles on his right hand.
Ridley: ...I suppose all I can do...is earn temporary salvation for myself....
And with that, he pushes the tacks in just a little deeper and steps into the hallway, his soul screaming for blood and his mind eager to sate it.
Fade Out.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:07:30 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:07:30 GMT -5
Match 10: Alicia “Atomic” Kitsune vs Ridley, Infamous Lord of Hardcore – Elements of Power Match
The action at Samhain has blown all other feds out of the water; the crowd is breathless and exhausted, having been on a high all night, but they find previously untapped sources of energy as the ring area fills with technicians and crew, all carrying wiring and tools. Then there’s a huge sound, of gears crunching together, and the assembled fans look upward toward the noise….and watch slack –jawed as the required pieces for Alicia’s game descend into view.
Each of the four steel columns has been concealing a secret; a chain – winch system lowers four separate platforms, each about the same size as the ring itself, with one attached to each of the four supports. They are staggered in height, and a few lengths of chain provide a means for the athletic to traverse the 8 to 10 feet in height between each, so that the whole construction forms a kind of ascending spiral. It’s clear that all four platforms are different, but for now they are only dimly illuminated and the crowd can only wonder at what each one conceals. The crew below are connecting up the necessary electronics, and in the main ring four large, crystal – like globes are fixed to the ring posts. Once everything has stopped moving, Philip hops into the ring (looking bruised but otherwise well recovered) to explain the mechanics of the contest.
Philip: Ladies and Gentlemen, we have reached our final contest of the evening….ACW’s first ever Elements of Power match!
The crowd pops in general enthusiasm, and Philip pauses before continuing.
Philip: Around me here you will see four lanterns.
The globes are briefly illuminated; one each in red, yellow, green and blue.
Philip: On the four platforms above me are four switches. These must be activated to turn on the corresponding lantern; only when all four lanterns are illuminated will the match referee count for pinfalls or accept a submission; therefore one or both of the competitors must ascend the structure and locate the switches before they can win the match.
The crowd buzzes with discussion and excitement, and Philip grins.
Philip: So, are you crazy sons – of – bitches READY?
The crowd bellows its response, the loudest distinguishable phrase being “HELL YEAH!”………and this turns into a general roar as all the lights fail.
Then a new, funky-as-heck tune kicks up at high volume, and the lyrics set the tone to perfection:
Taxi ride, goin’ downtown, Me and my girls going out, Counting down to detonation Ten to zero, mushroom cloud
Little angel, I’ve been too good, Ditch the halo for a while Dressed to kill, I’ll be causing Mass Distraction, so shield your eyes……
Multi coloured lights flash around the arena and the crowd gets noisy as a svelte figure begins to resolve out of the pulsing lights at the entrance…….
I’m all steamed up (and I’m ready to blow) The pressure’s high (meter red overload) To get release I gotta explode, explode….
There’s a brief pause in the song, just long enough for the spotlight to come on and show AK with a confident smile before a huge white and red pyro blast rocks the place as the chorus hits.
I’m a bomb, can you hear me tick? Beware if you turn me on, there is no safety switch I’m a bomb, use only steady hands, To mess with me, you must be a brave man!
Philip: Introducing first, from London, England……..Alicia “Atomic” Kitsune!
AK strides to the ring, slapping hands with the fans and even bestowing a peck on the cheek to one young man, to the envy of all his mates. She slides in and climbs the corners as the lights return to normal, giving the fans time to lift her mentally before she returns to the centre of the ring, discarding her unnecessary garments.
The crowd stays loud as they await the inevitable; there’s just enough delay for their anticipation to peak before the lights drop once more, and the place is filled with a crescendo of awesome proportions.
GONG……..
GONG……
Just enough light is shining at the entrance for the dominating figure standing there to be seen, the metal tacks in his flesh glimmering just a fraction.
Philip: And her opponent, from Southeastern Birmingham, Alabama………the infamous Lord of Hardcore, Ridley!
Ridley isn’t entirely visible due to the low lighting as he approaches the ring, but those whom he passes are secretly glad, and everyone draws back a little as Ridley passes by, his eyes blazing with an internal turmoil more intense than any of them can fully appreciate. In the concealing darkness, AK sees her opponent and her courage falters; she may not know exactly what has caused Ridley’s current state but she has enough sense to realise that he is in a very dangerous frame of mind. As Ridley reaches the apron and leaps up, AK clenches her fists and clears her mind as she has been taught to do, and so she presents a perfectly composed and calm front despite Ridley’s fearsome appearance as he restores the house lights to normal (the same can’t be said of the audience, some of whom cry out in shock at the hellishly powerful vision presented to them). She even whispers a quip to Philip as he slips out of the ring.
AK: Someone needs to tell Ridley that power shoulderpads went out with the 80’s.
If Ridley hears this, he pays no attention; he removes his cloak and other adornments which might impede him in a match of this type, and steps through the ropes. The fans instinctively quieten a little, so that as Ridley walks toward the centre of the ring his voice can still be picked up by the camera mics; it’s neither overly loud nor soft, but there’s a lifetime of fury and pain behind, driving it like a splinter into the minds of those in earshot.
Ridley: I’m here, oh mighty inquisitor….but you’re the one who’s going to stand trial, and I’ll be judge, jury….and executioner.
He’s shaking a little; it’s as if he’s only holding back to prolong the anticipation and heighten the sensation when he lets rip at his own personal albatross. But AK meets his molten gaze with a glacial one of her own.
AK: I have no more justification for my actions than you do for yours, Ridley. So come…release all the anger you have, “fuck me up” if that’s what you’re planning, and when that’s done, show me what you’re really capable of, because you won’t win this through violence alone.
The pair have been slowly moving closer, and now they’re nose to nose. The crowd is about to go mental, and the ref finally gets the all clear from the stage crew in the nick of time as both parties tense up, and then in a spilt second it’s on in perfect synch with the “official” start.
Bell Rings.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:10:22 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:10:22 GMT -5
Ridley and AK throw blindingly fast punches at one another; both are so focused that they shrug off their opponent’s blows for the first 30 seconds or so. At this point AK starts to get a little dazed, but she shakes it off and remembers that this is her match, and she needs to play it her way if she’s to stand any chance of survival, let alone victory. She gives Ridley a head - spinning kick and dashes to the corner to make the jump to the chain leading to the first platform, but before she can reach it Ridley’s behind her and a straightforward super german suplex off the turnbuckle brings her crashing down to earth (and almost shatters one of the lanterns in the process). Ridley doesn’t give a toss about winning or losing the match; all he desires is to make his enemy suffer in the nastiest possible way, and his eyes are aflame with vicious enjoyment as he stamps a hole into AK on the mat. This doesn’t last long before AK gets her head together, rolls clear and comes storming back, blocking Ridley’s punch as she charges in and bringing him down with a fast bulldog before scarpering to the corner again. A flying leap takes AK to the chain; she starts to climb up before being joined by Ridley, whose weight makes the chain swing back and forth, over the ring and the floor space on the outside. There’s a brief struggle on the ropes and then AK yells in pain as Ridley locks in a stretch muffler, drawing cries of surprise from the crowd; however, the considerable momentum on the swinging chain makes it difficult for Ridley to hold on and the result is that the pair fall off and separate, fortunately dropping into the ring so that the drop is only a small one. Nevertheless it winds both of them for a second or two, but the perilous nature of her situation drives AK to rise first, and as Ridley stands up again she’s already on her way up the chain, finally making it to the first platform.
The lights come on to reveal what looks like a chequerboard pattern of panels on the floor; around the edges there are somewhere around 20 switches, all identical. AK has only seconds to decide what to do, as Ridley’s already clawing his way up the chain toward his prey. Quickly AK hits a few of the switches, and there’s a light hum in the air; Ridley gets his feet to the side of the platform and flips up, landing and crouching on the platform edge with a predatorial gleam in his eyes. He stands and pops his vertebrae before taking a step forward – and then jumps back abruptly as he gets an electric shock certainly large enough to be quite painful. Ridley sneers and lightly jumps over the electrified squares….and simultaneously AK rolls along a second side of the square, hitting more switches so that Ridley still gets a jolt on landing. Ridley grunts and jumps again, but now AK’s REALLY on a roll; she keeps moving and the pulsing current distracts Ridley and screws up his timing so that although he makes a grab, he can’t quite get hold of her and instead ends up putting his hands down on the floor, increasing the effect of the electricity. AK swiftly finishes off with the switches so that the whole floor, save the very edge, is electrified; in the process she’s also tripped the 3 switches controlling the first of the orbs below, and it lights up brightly, a thunder shaped symbol now clearly visible. Several crowd members are now starting to catch on to the concept of the match, and as AK and Ridley stare one another down they are left to wonder what the other 3 platforms conceal. Meanwhile, with the floor now totally wired Ridley has a stark choice to make; with a snarl that would make a lion back off Ridley strides out on to the platform, and little sparks of electricity dance across the pins in his head. AK comes to meet him; although her hair also stands on end she’s wearing boots with a layer of insulation in them, so the effect is much less. This of course is of no use when Ridley catches her out with a right hook and follows with his Black Hole Slam, and she gets just the same effect, making her shudder a little as the current flows. Ridley bends down to collect her for another move, but those tacks are a real disadvantage here; AK claps her hands over back of Ridley’s head, completing the circuit, and Ridley gets a shock direct to the skull that dazes him just long enough for AK to roll clear. She stands and lays down a barrage of furious kicks before suplexing Ridley back toward the edge of the platform; Ridley has to grab on to the edge to stop himself rolling right off. The crowd gets louder as AK is presented with the option to try and kick Ridley off the edge, but she reminds herself that he almost certainly has a counter for this situation, and another big bump now isn’t what she needs. Instead, as Ridley hauls himself back up, she gives him a little wave and mouths “follow me”, then jumps across to the next chain, heading for the second level.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:11:23 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:11:23 GMT -5
As platform 2 is illuminated, its theme is obvious. This platform has the same area as the first, and a thin metal bar runs around its edge about seven feet above the floor level, parallel to the ground. A number of what look like clear glass balls are suspended from this rail, and at each of the four corners on the floor a flaming torch blazes into life, casting eerie shadows around this second playground. There’s no sign of a switch for the ring orb though, and AK has other things to worry about as Ridley leaps up to join her on the platform. Ridley glances around him and licks his lips with a flicker of a smile; the combination of glass and fire is one that suits him, and the pair circle a little, looking for a chance to break into combat. Ridley moves first this time, eager to do some serious damage; AK ducks his charge, Ridley swings around, and the pair lock up before AK slides her leg around to pull Ridley’s from under him, dropping them both to the floor. They roll over, each trying to drive the other’s head against the metal; the crowd cries out as they get VERY close to the edge, whereupon Ridley spots one of the torches, grabs it, and grins evilly as he swipes at AK. She moves her head aside but a few strands of hair catch fire; Ridley makes to smash the torch into AK’s head but she raises her own arm and rips the torch away, throwing it backward so that it flies and lands back on the first platform. The movement distracts Ridley briefly as his gaze follows its trajectory, and AK uses this to kick him away and put out her smouldering locks before the conflagration becomes a major one. She makes a dash to the opposite corner, grabs another torch and takes a running jump, setting fire to the chords holding up several of the orbs. In seconds Ridley’s with her again; another struggle for the torch breaks out as Ridley tries to ruin AK’s cheekbone structure with his blows, but then abruptly AK lets go and backflips away…….just as the orbs above drop down. They’re rather fragile, and shatter as they fall on to Ridley and around him….but this is only a minor setback – the real problem is that they contain some kind of flammable liquid, which means it’s not a good idea to be holding a naked flame…..
There’s a WHOOMPH as the whole lot goes up, and Ridley dives away just in time leaving that half of the platform a mess of flames and glass. His motion puts out most of the tongues of flame, but Ridley’s actually still slightly on fire as he tackles AK to the ground, now getting even more pissed off. Ridley’s strength seems truly supernatural; he grabs his foe and the crowd screams as he tazzplexes her into the flames; fortunately the pair quickly shift out of this area again as they continue to battle, but AK’s back has several cuts and blisters on it and she winces as Ridley rakes his sharp nails over her injuries. Nevertheless she gives as good as she gets, using Ridley’s manic rage against him and exploiting any lack of accuracy to land blows of her own. With both participants back on their feet, AK bounces around like a jackrabbit on steroids, plucking orbs from the rail and throwing them at Ridley. This serves 2 purposes; not only does it keep him from closing in quickly, but as the weight on the rail is reduced the switch for the second platform is revealed, dropping down on a counter balance system next to the main support post. This buys AK some time, but it’s only a temporary respite; Ridley closes in and as AK tries to knock him down he catches and swings her into the T orpedoes Away throw, sending her head first into the steel support column and inadvertently lighting up the Fire lantern in the ring. This means nothing to Ridley, of course; sneering, he picks up the severely dazed AK, lifts her over his head, and with a short run up hurls her back down to the thunder platform. The impact is so hard that it shorts out 2 or 3 of the panels where she lands, and AK moves only a tiny bit as Ridley glares down from on high. He pulls out a few shards of glass from his arms, and then looks up to see that just one of the glass orbs remains unbroken. As AK starts to stir below, he sends a glance to the camera and shows his canines……..carefully, he plucks the last orb and then breaks it, coating his boots in the liquid it contains. The fans know what this means, and a chant of “BISON! BISON!” gets going. Ridley collects a third torch, waits for his opponent to be in position, and then lights up his feet before leaping off, sending a huge wave of camera flashes all around the arena. Ridley comes down like an exocet, but the crowd’s shouting has given AK a crucial warning, and she rolls aside at the last second. Ridley lands on his feet, boots still ablaze, and lines up for a flaming yakuza kick – but he’s about to get a big surprise. As he runs toward his opponent, AK crouches down, very close to the first flaming torch…..and the crowd almost has a fit as she suddenly jumps upward, her balled fist on fire, and smashes Ridley at point blank range with a perfect chi – aligned Dragon Punch, complete with war cry.
AK: SHO–RYU-KEN!!
The hit is extraordinarily hard, and Ridley is flipped right over 360, his flaming boots making a rather beautiful arc of light as he comes down face first. AK quickly discards the glove she had concealed in case such an opportunity presented itself. This is the first time Ridley’s taken a serious hit, and he’s open to a clear attack; again, AK seems torn between taking out her frustration and getting on with the match, so she settles for rolling Ridley over and slapping him back to full consciousness before making tracks again, leading him further along the path she has set. As Ridley shakes the stars from his head and jumps up, he looks extremely angry at being messed around, but his urge to dismantle AK is all consuming and so he pursues her as she clambers upward once more.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:13:08 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:13:08 GMT -5
The third platform is disappointing at first glance as it’s revealed; it just seems to be a bare area, with the required switch blocked by a glass pane in the floor. Ridley quickly catches up to AK, and the pair resume their pummelling of one another. Ridley is still favouring a bludgeoning style, darting about and attacking with fists and feet at every opportunity; for her part, AK concentrates on dodging and preserving her energy, while slipping in an enziguri or two when Ridley lets his rage override his timing. After a minute or two of this, Ridley notices the glass panel; it’s just too tempting, and he brings AK down with a facebuster. This cracks the glass but fortunately doesn’t break it; Ridley goes to stamp the back of AK‘s head to finish the job, but she shifts just in time and so Ridley breaks the glass and hits the switch himself. Ridley snatches up a shard and grasps AK by the hair, ready to shred her forehead, but some of the crowd have noticed that the lantern on the ring post has not been illuminated. There the sound of a HUGE engine starting up, and then on each of the four arena walls the fabric Samhain banners fall away…..to reveal industrial sized fans. The first of these get up to speed frighteningly quickly; AK punches Ridley to make him let go of her and then drops flat in the nick of time. The blast of air is incredibly powerful, and Ridley is bowled over backwards; he’s almost at the edge of the platform before he grabs on to steady himself. After a few seconds the wind drops; Ridley’s lost his glass shard, but he’s just as determined to batter AK as ever. AK keeps her distance; Ridley tries to close the gap but then another blast of wind hits, this time from another direction, and as AK crouches Ridley again can’t get close without losing his grip and being blasted off into space. Gradually though the pair start to pick up on how to deal with the wind, and more normal fighting kicks off again; AK actually begins to make some progress, using the wind to get some extra distance on a standing moonsault and thus hit Ridley when he thought he was out of range. With Ridley reeling a little, AK sets up for a DDT…..only to have it reversed into an inverted atomic drop. She falls to a knee, and this triggers something in Ridley’s head…..with a massive grin, he strikes the classic “Legacy of Kain” pose, arm raised and claws out, glances at the steel pillars all around, and pays AK back for her earlier stunt with a ginormous uppercut, sending her right off the platform and into thin air.
Ridley: VAE VICTUS!!
The crowd pops massively for this, simultaneously yelling as AK plunges downward. It looks like she’s going to fall all the way back to the ring…..but there’s a massive sigh of relief from all when instead she just about manages to catch one of the chains dangling from the fire platform. Obviously very groggy, she swings about a bit before slowly hauling herself back on to solid ground; Ridley stares down at her and smirks, and something comes alive in the very back of the gaze AK sends back to him. The crowd roars as she flips back to a standing position; Ridley at first looks like he’s just going to wait for her, but his intelligent mind suggests that instead it might be worth his while investigating the last platform, thus eliminating any advantage AK has of prior knowledge. Ridley jumps to the connecting chain and climbs up, and now it’s AK’s turn to chase as they head for the top of the structure.
The lights come on to show the final challenge, but as Ridley gets his feet down he already knows what he’s up against; the platform is formed from solid ice, and the friction is minimal. Just staying on the platform is a challenge in itself, but at least the switch here is in plain view….the main problem is, it’s set into a block of solid ice sitting in the centre of the platform. Ridley slides over to it and he grins as he thinks about the best way to open it; unfortunately for him, AK’s right behind and she has exactly the same idea. AK comes up behind Ridley (her custom boots have ridges that give her a marginally better hold on the ice) and with obvious enjoyment she grabs his head and starts beating it against the block, getting a little KOTDM retribution as she does so.
AK: Sweet – (WHAM) – home – (WHAM) – Ala – (WHAM) – bama, where the (WHAM) skies (WHAM) are so (WHAM) blue…….
The result is a few cracks in the ice block, but nothing more…..Ridley, on the other hand, is now royally pissed off. AK gets a Tiltawhirl backbreaker on to the ice floor, and a few spidery cracks spread out….this passes Ridley by though, as he’s spotted the nasty – looking row of icicles that fringe the edge of the platform. Ridley rips off a few chunks of these and lays them on the ice, and the audience yells as he executes a T Bone suplex, dropping AK on to a bed of icicles. AK howls and rolls off in severe pain, the icicles shattered; Ridley just grins demonically, but while he’s been having his fun the heat from the arena lights has been doing some serious damage to the platform itself. As Ridley moves in on his opponent, he notices that he’s creating quite a splash; in fact he’s more than ankle deep in water, as is AK as she picks herself up. Ridley doesn’t pay quite as much attention to this as he should; he’s intent on grinding AK’s face with a particularly lethal – looking icicle. As he steps forward, his foot goes through into a pocket of unfrozen water which has been hidden in the platform (obviously it wasn’t frozen for quite long enough at the factory) and ends up knee deep. Ridley goes to pull his leg out……and that’s when the point of no return is reached. With an enormous CRACK the platform splits in two and falls; the audience screams as several tonnes of ice comes crashing down, thus showing the sense in having an extended safety zone between fans and ring where the ice lands and shatters into a myriad of pieces. As the collapse occurs, AK jumps away and Ridley kicks off, both aiming for the same chain hanging from platform 3; they catch it, but their combined weight is too much and they each have to jump again to grab chains to either side. The ice block containing the fourth switch drops on to the 1st platform and is broken open, and the current on the still active panels trips the remote control switch, lighting the blue water lantern.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:14:58 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:14:58 GMT -5
High above the ring, Ridley and AK swing back and forth, drive by the ever changing air currents and taking shots at one another each time they pass by. Eventually Ridley grabs AK’s chain to slow the motion, and the pair are face to face as the crowd crane upward to see what’s going on.
Ridley: Enough of your childish games…..you’re stalling because you know I’m going to slaughter you before this match is over. You don’t have what it takes to face me in that ring down there, child.
AK stares back at Ridley and his all consuming hatred of her, and something inside her snaps.
AK: You have no idea what I’m truly capable of, Ridley, but I’m going to show you. Let’s finish this, right now.
AK kicks hard against Ridley and swings backward once more; at the top of the swing she jumps up and grabs the underside of the air platform, climbing across until she reaches the centre. Ridley watches and sees the real switch; AK shoots him a defiant glance and punches the switch, illuminating the final green lantern. Right on cue a ref slides into the ring, and AK climbs back across the platform. Hanging upside down, she glares at Ridley below her on the chain……and then with a yell she kicks off and jumps down from the platform. Her weight and motion snap the chain, and the pair fall; their speed is arrested as they strike the edge of the thunder platform and hit the ring, and the crowd is amazed to see them both kip up with almost no delay and face off for the deciding confrontation.
If either of them had been holding back until this point, that’s certainly not the case now; Ridley unleashes his full power looking like “man possessed” more than he ever has before, and AK has to use every scrap of speed and skill she has to block his wild attacks. Ridley looks like he’s actually trying to decapitate AK with an onslaught of Yakuza Kicks and when one finally connects he pins for just short of a 2 count. AK though is also in a different zone of consciousness; she battles back with roundhouse kicks of her own before running in from behind, springing into a handstand on Ridley’s shoulders and then flipping down to wrap her legs around his waist and try to bring him down. Ridley counters by pulling her back up and locking his arms around her neck for a submission hold while she’s still holding him at the waist; AK screws up her eyes but focuses, elbows Ridley in the head and then kicks off of his chest to return the way she came, grabbing him neck on the way down to drop him. AK pins but is thrown off before 2; Ridley gets up, fuming, and returns to trying to batter AK into a bloody mess. The fight continues, and AK breaks out her strongest moves in an effort to get that elusive 3 count – with the crowd roaring she takes hold of Ridley and runs toward the turnbuckle, but as she goes for the Fox flip Ridley counters it spectacularly into a springboard second – turnbuckle ejaculator. The whole ring shudders; the crowd by now is making a huge racket, and as Ridley listens he hears a chant of “ONE MORE TIME!!” from somewhere in the mass. This strikes a sore nerve, and Ridley stalks to the ropes and spits at the crowd in response before dashing back for a pin, determined not to lose like that again. But the delay, however minor, has been critical, and as Ridley pins he looks just a little surprised when AK kicks at 2.
Ridley grits his teeth and throws AK to the corner; he beats her viciously for several moments before hoisting her on his shoulders, but as he turns around AK grasps the rope and pulls herself free, kicking Ridley in the head in the process. Her feet touch the apron for just a split second before she leaps up and get amazing height from her spring off the top rope, bringing down both feet in an incredibly high – angle dropkick to the top of Ridley’s head. Ridley is brought down hard and AK rolls though for an almost instantaneous pin which nets her a past – 2 count before Ridley bursts out. Keen to retain her momentum, AK swiftly sets up the shockwave…..but Ridley again has a counter in place; he hold out both arms during the spin, adding his own momentum so that AK takes the damage instead (and is damn lucky not to break her nose in the process). Ridley pins and gets a solid 2, but the look in AK’s eyes shows she’s far from done. As the pair clash again, AK whips Ridley to the ropes; she feigns a clothesline, but as Ridley moves to counter this she instead hits a rapid hurracanrana, and as she rights herself she snatches a hold of Ridley’s arm and locks in a cross armbreaker, wrenching with all her strength. The crowd is going overboard by this point; a few yell “TAP! TAP!” at Ridley, but AK knows this isn’t going to happen. Rather, she opts to buy a little recovery time and hopefully leave Ridley with a handicap for the rest of the match. It doesn’t take Ridley all that long to free himself, but his arm does look to be a little stiff as he rises. Ridley’s movements are now starting to get a bit erratic, possibly a symptom of his mental state, and AK decides that she has to finish this NOW. She dashes to the ropes with Ridley close behind, jumps over them and wallops Ridley so he turns away from her, just for a second……..and then with the crowd going bananas she jumps to the top rope, leaps up about 6 feet in the air, and somersaults above Ridley.....and delivers a huge stunner on the way down before he can counter, driving his neck against her shoulder as hard as she possibly can – the hit would probably have broken the neck of a less hard-as-nails opponent on the spot. AK pins and hooks the leg, and the ref counts 1-2-thr – NO! Ridley sits bolt upright, and AK instinctively rolls clear. Their eyes meet, and it’s obvious from Ridley’s expression that that was a genuine close call.
Too close.
Ridley stands up, and the safety catch in his brain fails in spectacular fashion.
Ridley (screams): TIME TO DIE!!
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:17:00 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:17:00 GMT -5
Ridley’s movements are almost too fast for the camera to track; he gets behind AK and slaps on a Tenzan style cobra choke. AK kicks and flails, but it takes her several moments before she can escape Ridley’s iron grip. This is just the start of what Ridley has planned; as soon as AK’s free he lays down a punch or two before immobilising AK’s arms and turning her upside down, balanced on his knee, in a Devil hold. All the blood starts rushing to AK’s head, just making the pain worse, but she calls upon the mental techniques learned during her mysterious disappearance and calms herself, keeping her eyes open and even humming lightly to distract herself from the incredible pain of the hold. Ridley keeps this one on for about a minute before he can’t take any more verses of “Please release me, let me go”. AK staggers about as Ridley decides on his next move, and it’s a classic; AK has heard about the Tsubasa, and even seen it used on London, but this is no kind of preparation for actually experiencing it. Her one free hand wavers in the air, but still she won’t give in, and Ridley is getting angrier with every passing second. Still AK’s will is proving to be stronger than Ridley’s, and another change is called for; Ridley releases the hold and instantly whips AK to the ropes before she can retreat. AK jumps over Ridley’s first attempt to grab her, but the strain of the match is taking its toll and on the second pass he catches her and locks in the Judah. This time AK actually screams with agony, making Ridley grin broadly, but as he watches the ref he can see that despite it all, she isn’t tapping. The crowd is absolutely shaking the place to bits with their reaction, and this fires AK up; summoning all that’s left of her strength she thrashes and claws at whatever parts of Ridley she can reach until he unbalances, and the fall makes him relax just a fraction so that AK can escape. As the pair slowly rise, Ridley’s mind is in turmoil; a part of him has resisted using his ultimate submission, wanting to destroy his opponent without it, but the tiny part of his mind which is still rational tells him that it’s the only way to guarantee victory – every aching muscle in his body is saying that it can’t take much more. As he considers this, AK surprises him with a huge tornado kick; she rockets to the corner and the crowd goes ballistic as she leaps off for her ground zero attack. It connects, and AK pins – 1,2,- but milliseconds before 3 Ridley punches upward into AK’s chin, dizzying her, and sets up and locks on an inverted figure four. Those in the know drop everything and line up their cameras, as Ridley rolls the pair over and adds in an abdominal stretch.....AK tries to fight back but it’s too late, and the place is filled with an extraordinary sound as Ridley completes the puzzle with a gantii choke.
The effect of the Necroplasm is immediate and shocking; AK screams again, but this sound is one that most humans hope they will never hear even in their darkest nightmares. It’s enormously satisfying to Ridley, and he grins from ear to ear. Nevertheless, AK tries to hold out, but after 20 seconds or so she realises the futility of this. But as AK finally gives in and taps, she still feels a sense of achievement, and she listens to the crowd as the bell rings to bring the epic struggle to its conclusion, and Ridley releases the hold, one of his two objectives achieved.
Philip is almost hoarse; he’s been yelling along with everyone else in the arena, and he just about manages to find the voice to complete his duties for the night.
Philip: Here……..is…..your winner……..RIDLEY!
The sound in the arena is exceeding every health and safety limit in the book, but nobody cares; the whole place is on its feet, in fact the only people not standing are those in the ring. It takes Ridley the best part of 30 seconds to persuade his legs to do their job, and the noise shows no sign of abating as he hauls himself to a standing position, using the ropes for support. Even though he’s not severely wounded (by his standards, anyway) every muscle and sinew in Ridley’s body is burning from the extraordinary things he’s forced it to do; he looks a little out of it at first, but as his head clears his expression becomes one of triumph, and he licks away a small rivulet of blood from his upper lip before turning to take in the sight of his utterly spent and crushed opponent.
Except that his opponent looks anything other than spent and crushed; although she’s bruised and battered and her hairstyle is now leaning strongly toward “hurricane – blown”, AK is leaning up on one arm, still listening to the crowd’s thunderous reaction to the match and….smiling. She too uses the ropes to retake a standing position, sliding her fingers through her hair and generally tidying herself up. At this point she notices Ridley and gives him a look that no – one expects; one of gratitude. She glances around at the fans, who are still applauding, and walks a few unsteady steps to the centre of the ring before abruptly turning on her heel and shouting to everyone present –
AK (pointing at Ridley): WHO’S THE MAN!?
The crowd answer their starter for ten with a single overwhelming voice. AK just shakes her head a little, still a little concussed and grinning as if she’s high on something illegal, her agony having been pushed all the way around the dial and back into the ecstasy zone.
AK: Aw, bugger it, you got me there Ridley. What can I say? I guess that makes us even, huh?
Ridley’s face seems to have drained of colour (which is a considerable achievement considering his usual pallor). Without saying a word he turns and slides out of the ring; AK is a touch confused, but decides there are some things about Ridley she’ll never be able to explain. A clutch of her fans are making a particular row over near one corner, and AK is just heading over in that direction……..when suddenly, the cheering is halted and a new, yet familiar sound encroaches into the arena, and then the crowd is responding once more – but this time in shock and trepidation.
AK doesn’t need to turn around to know what she’ll see; the ferocious roar of Masamune’s engine is scorched into her mind. Even so she too loses the colour in her face as she turns; Ridley doesn’t bother to climb the ropes, instead he just cuts straight through them and takes a single stride forward. When he speaks, it’s with that same precarious tone; only now, it’s clear his toes are hanging over the edge of the abyss, and his balance is desperately close to failing altogether.
Ridley: I made a promise, Alicia, to you and to all these idiots, and it’s one I intend to keep.
He takes another pace forward and a swipe with the weedwhacker, scything the air; he’s only about 6 feet away now.
Everything in AK’s head screams at her to run; she puts a foot backward, but her heart tells her that if she flees now, it’s over….Ridley wins more than the match, he wins mental control of the whole fed, and of her….and so she stands. Ridley is getting more and more unstable with every second; he takes another step forward, halving the distance between them at a stroke, and AK can feel the current of air from the rotating blade. Ridley grins, canines bared, and runs his hand up and down the shaft of the machine.
Ridley: So you really do want to be a martyr? Fine. Just don’t kid yourself that anyone here gives a damn, it’s all in your pathetic imagination.
He gives an eerie, soulless laugh; AK continues to meet his gaze, and she keeps her nerves under control as she replies.
AK: What I believe is my choice, Ridley, I don’t expect you to understand or agree with it. But if this is your final attempt to intimidate me, then it’s not going to have the effect you want. You’re going to have to actually do this, not just spew out threats.
Ridley almost takes AK’s head off right there, but his swing is just a fraction short; a tiny cut is visible at her neck, but AK does not pull back or flinch. Ridley’s holding the weedwhacker so that the blade is no more than 6 inches away, and the arena is totally frozen as the standoff comes to an agonising head. In the background security staff are swarming around the entrance and ramp, but the situation has developed too fast and they can’t risk getting involved now. But from their ranks, a single man silently emerges….with a sniper rifle in his hand. He bends to one knee, and quietly takes aim at Ridley, who has his back to him.
Just behind in the off stage area, Ginger stands and watches the situation unfold. A few of the other fed members have also been drawn to see what’s happening, and it’s BK who sees the silent sniper first.
BK: SHIT! Is that what I think it is?
Ginger: Yes. This is the absolute emergency plan I made when I booked this match.
BK: You don’t mean to say that……
Ginger (cutting BK off): I do. It’s all above board, the man is a member of a SWAT team with license to act as required to protect lives.
BK: Even if that means taking one?
Ginger says nothing, and the temperature drops several degrees………
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:19:26 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:19:26 GMT -5
Ridley and AK continue to stare, and AK makes a final appeal to reason.
AK: Ridley, you know what will happen if you follow through with this. You’ll be on your way to the electric chair…..and I guess from the look you’re giving me that you don’t care. But however much you despise me, what about Rose?
Ridley flinches a little at Rose’s name.
AK: The pair of you are obviously deeply in love with one another……it’s about the only aspect of you that I can fully relate to. You promised her…..at Heatwave, when she went through hell to restore you to your true self, that you would never leave her again…..are you really going to break that promise now?
All the emotions that Ridley has tried to suppress are boiling to the surface; he fixes AK with a dead gaze, one from which all hope has been extinguished.
Ridley: I have already hurt Rose in unforgivable ways, done things for which I can never be redeemed. I assure you, she is better off without me.
Ridley grins, his fragile mind about to crack, and AK realises she’s made a fatal miscalculation……
Ridley: So you can forget about getting wings and a harp…I’ll see you shortly, IN HELL.
In a split second, several things happen; Ridley pulls back his arm for the deadly baseball – swing of a thrust, but as he does so his super – sharp hearing picks up the faintest of clicks from behind him. Acting entirely on instinct, Ridley swings to one side; the blade flashes past AK once more, leaving another shallow cut in its wake. The sniper’s bullet zips through the space previously occupied by Ridley’s head, passes over AK (who fortunately is several inches shorter) and carries on until it gets stuck in the wall at the back. Ridley glances behind him and sees the sniper desperately fighting to reload, and Ginger’s ashen face just behind him. Ridley swings back, and gives a high pitched, terrible laugh of glee.
Ridley: Heh…..no miraculous escapes this time. Goodnight, my dear……
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:21:00 GMT -5
Post by Alicia "Atomic" Kitsune on Oct 16, 2004 15:21:00 GMT -5
Ridley rears back, and the whole arena is filled with screaming, so Ridley doesn’t hear the weedwhacker engine making strange noises; instead it’s the vibration on the handle that makes him realise something’s amiss. He glances at the blade and sees that it’s stuck; something is twisted around the joint between the shaft and the rotating head.
Ridley: Oh, for FUCK’S SAKE!
Furiously he grabs the trailing end and rips the obstruction away, and the blade snarls back into life. Ridley smiles again and goes to throw the object aside…….and then he actually sees it properly for the first time, and stops dead in his tracks.
The sniper has a second bullet loaded by now, and is about to take aim, but Ginger stops him, on instinct rather than logic. No one knows what’s going on; Ridley is standing as still as a statue, staring blankly at the item in his hand. AK has been too shocked to react until now, but as she touches the light wounds on her throat she realises something is missing, and looks at what Ridley is holding. Instantly her expression shifts to anger, despite everything that’s just occurred, and she makes a grab for the object.
AK: HEY! That’s mine! Give it back, right now!
Ridley drops the weedwhacker, which shuts off automatically from the deadswitch, and blocks AK with his now free hand.
Ridley: This……..this is…….
AK is still pretty angry, but Ridley’s voice is so strange that she stops and takes a step back. As if in a dream, Ridley puts his hand into a concealed pocket, and takes something out; a small piece of paper flutters to the ground. Without thinking, AK bends down and picks it up….and now it’s her turn to be rooted to the spot. She stares at the paper just as Ridley is staring at her mangled pendant chain, and slowly shakes her head, a look of total bewilderment on her face.
AK: I….I don’t understand…..
As AK looks at the paper, Ridley delicately manipulates the two small objects, and after a few moments there is a tiny click. Ridley smiles, and then starts to shake with silent laughter, which gradually becomes audible….but it’s like no laughter ever heard before, it is a sound of pure horror. Still laughing, Ridley holds up the result of his handiwork like a kid in show and tell, and AK stares at it, alternately looking at the picture in her hand and the complete pendant suspended before her.
Tails interwoven and locked claw to paw, the pendant is clearly the work of a master craftsman….the dragon and lion are perfectly matched, perpetually in combat yet each balancing the other…..just as they do suspended from the chunky silver bracelet around William Black’s wrist in the photograph.
Separated for 25 years, now finally reunited.
Ridley and AK meet each other’s gaze, and see what was there all along; their own eyes looking back at them. Ridley’s laughter gets louder, and he lets the pendant fall to the mat……
Ridley: Ha….haha….hahahaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGH! NO! PLEASE, NO…….
The laughter becomes a scream, the scream of a mind which has finally buckled under the weight of this last revelation. He backs away, stumbling, and scrabbles into the furthest corner, clawing his cheeks and face until the blood runs and howling until his throat bleeds.
AK picks up the pendant; she is as pale as a wraith, and she cannot take her gaze from the picture and the details she knows so well; the tree in the garden which she would frequently be told off in her childhood for climbing, the worn old fence supported by expectation rather than anything more solid…..and her mother, still young and glowing with the radiance of a new parent. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembers being told about when she was born….how because she was five weeks premature, the pigment in her hair had yet to appear, leaving her with just a few strands of white to protrude from her blanket.
And all her dreams and nightmares instantly make sense, the mystery figure in the mirror resolving into her own image. Alicia may not be aware of all the events that have led to this moment, but unlike Ridley she knows what it’s like to gaze into the eyes of a sibling and recognise yourself there; it’s utterly unmistakable, regardless of whether those eyes are blood red, or their true brown colour. AK looks at the floor and is rendered immobile as she tries to come to terms with the truth.
The arena is silent, except for Ridley’s cries of anguish; as he thrashes, AK simply stands, all ability to think and act drained from her. She is only aware of Ginger when he carefully puts a hand on her shoulder, making her jump a little. Ginger has no words he can offer, since he doesn’t yet understand what’s going on, so he just does the best he can.
Ginger: AK, it’s time to go. Won’t you come with me?
AK looks at Ginger as if she barely knows him, but she smiles weakly and allows him to lead her from the ring. It takes 10 burly security men to get Ridley out; he too seems to have little idea where he is, but he continues to scream and fight like a cornered cougar as he is carried away. The show ends with a shot from the ring of both AK and Ridley, each altered forever by the night’s events……..
For them, and those close to them, nothing will ever be quite the same again…..and a new chapter in the twisted tale of William Black is just beginning.
Fade to Black.
End of Show.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:22:57 GMT -5
Post by BK London on Oct 16, 2004 15:22:57 GMT -5
BEST. PPV. EVAR.
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:23:11 GMT -5
Post by Santiago Rivera on Oct 16, 2004 15:23:11 GMT -5
woooooooooooo awesome ppv
Awesome jobs to Ak and all the writiers
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:23:28 GMT -5
Post by Fallen Souls on Oct 16, 2004 15:23:28 GMT -5
that..was...wow...just...yeah...wow..kick ass!
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:24:39 GMT -5
Post by The Feature Presentation on Oct 16, 2004 15:24:39 GMT -5
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH YEAH!
SAMHAIN>ALL
|
|
|
Samhain
Oct 16, 2004 15:24:45 GMT -5
Post by Latino on Oct 16, 2004 15:24:45 GMT -5
Wow that is all i have to say.
|
|