|
Post by Osh Vaughan on Apr 19, 2021 0:11:47 GMT
For The Man Advantage in IIW World's Collide Russell Wayne vs The Commander vs
|
|
|
Post by Bob Mitchell on Apr 25, 2021 4:32:29 GMT
Saturday, April 25. IIW Arena.
It looks like a nice Manchester day. It's grey and overcast, but that kind of sunny grey overcast, not the dark stormy type. But this isn't a weather report, it's IIW. Here we are at the modern day mecca of professional wrestling the IIW arena. Thing look calm right now, but that's interrupted by the opening of the front entrance being pushed open by Sergio Augustine, Head of Security, dressed in black with his patent black leather jacket. From out of the entrance walks Bob Mitchell in all his grandeur, dressed in a very upstanding looking military uniform. Dress green with full livery, a chest full of medals, and surprisingly the suit seems to fit rather well. Capping off the whole look are large tinted aviators. Bob: If you want peace, prepare for war. A great man once said that. Two great men now. But if that's what you want then that's what you're going to get. War Games. The most gruesome and barbaric match in the history of professional wrestling and the most dangerous grounds for confrontation in all of combat sports.
Now you know something about dangerous confrontations now don't you, Russell Wayne? Once upon a time you were in a match so dangerous that you disappeared for years. And all of the drama surrounding this whole... situation. You were some sort of CIA super agent, some kind of James Bond cosplayer. Then you're family gets killed by some other agent and that guy turns out to be your own brother, but you don't find out until years later when you've given up and become a wrestler and he's become a wrestler, that's when it all comes out and you have a big bad lights out, in the dark, exploding arena, killer to the death end all be all match, am I right on that time line? That sound about like what you're back story is supposed to be? This great big hero with all the sympathy because your family got murdered by your brother, plus you served your country, right?
So how has that all worked out for you? How does that all sit with how quickly you sold out every last scruple you ever had when you let Osh Vaughn do your work for you? Are these questions you asked yourself, cause everyone else is asking them. And I know you're so far up your own ass at this point you'll say you don't owe anyone an explanation, but we all know what that is, it's code for 'I don't know what I was thinking'. You've gone and signed up for a war and what for? You kept someone far better than you from climbing a ladder to grab a key and when you're left to your own devices you couldn't hack it against the third best guy in the fucking match and now instead of having the key to a world title match in your hand you're left locked out of that shot and locked inside a cage with a bunch of self centred thieves who are just out to take things that they don't have a hope in hell of earning for themselves. But I guess you've proved you deserve that company.
There is no honour among thieves.
He walks across the parking lot. The heels of his polished black jack boots clacking against the pavement. He reaches a familiar sight, the tank belonging to one Jonny C, and stops beside it. Bob: Since before being goaded into joining this company your little pals have been egging on this war, and when given the chance at momentary glory you just jumped in full bore with those idiots. For one night it payed off, but not for a minute did you think there would be consequences. You thought you could just waltz into a budding war and walk out the other side with whatever you wanted and wouldn't have to pay the price, but that's not how life works, and when you're cutting deals with Osh Vaughn you better FUCKING check the fine print.
How exactly did you think this would play out? You win that little key of yours, you win a shot at the World Championship and then you show everyone what a bad ass you really are by winning it all? Don't you know how IIW works? The bigger the bad ass, the worse the embarrassment.
Now instead of heading into a World Championship match at Worlds Collide you get to get thrown into War Games against a bunch of guys who you tried stepping over on your path to nowhere. Blade Alexander owes you for stealing that key in the first place, Ryan Hawkins owes you for sullying what could have been the crowning moment of his career winning the Tag Team Titles. But then there's the real danger Russell Wayne... There's The Commander. The man that was born with a chip on his shoulder. You're used to being the bad ass of all bad asses around here, but you know you fall short compared to him. You brag about being responsible for murder right here in IIW, but how tough are you really going to look when you stand across the ring from the biggest bad ass in the history of IIW. This is someone who pulled himself up from the gutter. This is someone who went from being a perennial loser for years to a decorated champion. Now people like you will discount that and say well it doesn't count that was the old IIW. Well ask your little pal Jonny C about the old IIW.
But before we get on to all that Russell Wayne, let's talk a bit about you and about your future, or lack of. How much use do you think your boss is going to have for a loser like you? The only time you did win and it meant something it took you all of your little team against one lone guy just to get to the top of a ladder. Then when it came to a chance for you to climb win the shot that you really wanted no one came out to help you then you let everyone down including yourself. You sold out your honour and have nothing to show for it.
So what does Osh Vaughn do with someone who can deliver on his promises? Ask anyone around IIW. Ask Charlie, ask Sergio over there, ask Mike Fisher, ask Harold Bishop, ask Charlie... Ask Larry about being locked in a closet for more than a decade. Unless you have something to offer that he wants then you have no worth to Osh Vaughn, and in about three weeks after you do what you do best, twice, and lose not only to The Commander on Mayhem but to my whole team at Worlds Collide, then what worth do you have at all? When Osh is no longer in charge and your whole group of hyenas have moved on to pick the bones of some other alpha, where does that leave you?
Well I'm going to do you the honour of answering that question for you. You're going to be nowhere. You'll be laid up in a hospital again, unsure of who you are, again, and probably wondering what that key hanging around your neck does. But unlike that self-centred bastard you take orders from now, I'm a compassionate man. I'll save you the worst beating of your entire life... Well I wont, but The Commander sure will. He's the one you really have to worry about, Wayne. He's the one with the experience and the knowledge and the pure willingness to take you out before you ever make it to War Games. We're going to take you out before you ever make it so you can look forward to the warm comfort of a hospital bed to the cold unforgiving steel of the War Games cage. We're not just going to gain advantage by having the numbers for War Games, we're going to take out the snake that started this war from the beginning in the form of you Russell Wayne. We're taking back everything that Osh has tried to take from every single man on my team. We're going to take back everything he's ever taken from anyone and given to people like you, and you're going to be helpless to stop it. When we see you coming you're not going to get the drop on us anymore. When you have to step in the ring man to man with The Commander he's going to leave you a cripple. He's going to leave your team down a man and you're going to have to watch from afar as your best laid plans go awry and your team loses War Games. Then when you finally get healed up, just when you're ready to come back and get some retribution for taking the ass whipping that you deserve, you're going to get walked out of the front of that hospital in handcuffs, because IIW will no longer be an asylum for the mental deficients like to hide of from the repercussions of your actions because you have some lunatic quasi-rich mental case paying off every Bobby on the British Isles to keep you out of the one cage you belong in, a jail cell.
And when you're finally sitting alone in your 8 by 8 looking back on all the failures of your life piled up, you can sleep easy knowing that you started this whole thing. You're responsible for all this. You wanted a war, and you're getting War Games for it. Your friends stole the Tag Team titles and that was the first shot, but this...
He bangs on the side of the tank with the flat of his hand. Bob: This is where we fire back...
The hatch on the top of the tank pops open to reveal not the owner of the tank, but The Commander. Dressed in his camo BDU, with his FFL green beret on display. The Commander: We ready boss?
Bob: You may fire when ready!
The Commander pops back down into the tank and the turret turns slowly around towards the IIW arena, raises up and fires...
THOOOOM!!!!! Bob: If you want peace, prepare for War Games. Russell Wayne, don't worry about Worlds Collide, concern yourself only with THE ARMED COMMANDER!
Fade.
|
|
Russell Wayne
Full Member
Do you think you can handle it?
Posts: 153
|
Post by Russell Wayne on Apr 27, 2021 1:57:59 GMT
IIW Arena Manchester, England
Russell Wayne is sitting in The Regulation’s locker room watching Bob’s promo on behalf of his client, The Commander. Russell is wearing jeans, a black t-shirt and his matte black Thursday Boot Co. boots. He is watching the promo intently, listening to every word. Listening to Bob talk about Russell like he knows him, like he knows what’s going through his head. Russell chuckles.
Russell: God, this is so boring it is laughable. Who does he think he is? Scotty?
The scene continues on to the Commander popping his head out of the tank and saying he is ready. Russell hears the thoom and the ensuing explosion…but doesn’t feel the building shake like he would if the building had sustained a direct hit. Russell hops up and puts on his jacket and heads out of the locker room. Several people are heading towards the nearest exit. Russell observes no dust or smoke like one would when a building has been hit by a round out of a tank. Russell heads out into the sunlight and sees the tank and Bob standing outside of it. Russell turns around to look at the arena, there is no damage that he can see. Russell shrugs and walks back in and starts walking towards the other side of the arena. Suddenly, he sees Charlie Schmidt walk in, more pissed off and unhinged than usual.
Charlie: THAT GOD DAMNED STUPID MOTHER FUCKING COCK SUCKING SHIT HEAD!
Russell: Whoa, whoa, whoa Charlie! Be easy man, Commander didn’t hit anything, he missed the arena. There’s nothing for you to clean up.
Charlie: NOTHING FOR ME TO CLEAN UP?! NOTHING?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOTHING?
Charlie storms back the way he came, Russell follows and Charlie opens the door and points to a crater about 150 meters away. There is a burning husk of what used to be a car.
Charlie: THAT’S MY CAR!
Russell: Was at this point…
Charlie storms off saying something about Conner and muttering under his breath.
Russell goes back to the locker room. He sees a cameraman waiting patiently outside.
Russell: Ah, you’re here, great. Lets go ahead and film this response to Bob and his bitches.
Russell opens the door to the locker room and the cameraman follows him in. Russell gets mic’d up and sits down. The cameraman is setting everything up as the scene fades to black
IIW Arena Manchester, England: April 5th, 2021
Mike Fisher: This could be the end!
Scott James: Good!
Russell Wayne delivers the LAST RESORT!!!!!...NO HE DOESN’T ITS REVERSED!!!!
Scotty James DELIVERS SHATTERED FAITH!!!!
Scotty sweeps over for the pin….
1….
2…
3….
Melanie Jackson: YOUR WINNER…. SCOTTY ADAMS!!!!!
The scene comes back to present day, Russell Wayne sitting in the Regulation’s locker room, Russell has a remote in hand and is rewinding the footage back to Scotty’s reversal and pin and defeat of Russell Wayne. Russell is sitting with his head down. As soon as Melanie announces the winner, Russell rewinds it back to the reversal. Russell throws the remote at the TV, shattering the screen. Russell moves his hair out of his face and looks down at the floor. He takes in a deep breath and sighs and leans back against his chair.
Russell: Well, I guess Scotty did know something after all. Y’know, every dog has its day. Even then, as I said with Armitage…I have bigger fish to fry. Enjoy it Scotty, I’ll be seeing you again sooner or later. Regardless, I had that match from the word go. I kicked your ass from one side of the arena to the other. You get lucky for 4 seconds…and now look at you. You get to go after Jake…Mr. I’m a loaner loser who doesn’t take sides. Whatever, have fun. While you’re fighting for the Championship I’ll be fighting for IIW and the future of this company. You see, this company is the hottest thing in wrestling right now. We have people lining up for miles to see us.
That is all thanks to Osh’s vision. Yeah, it may seem like it came out of a coked out hooker in the middle of an 8 car pileup in a destruction derby that is taking place on a roundabout in the middle of London with American drivers only, but dammit it works. IIW has never been this hot! The last thing we need is interference from idiots like Conner and their boot lickers like Bob and his bitches. Speaking of…
Commander…if that is truly your rank…what…the…fuck, man. How in the hell do you miss the broad side of a sports arena?! I mean, kudos on accidentally hitting Schmidt’s car, but seriously…that was not your intended target. I’m still confused about why a Brit would join the FFL to begin with but whatever floats your boat. I guess you were too pathetic to do anything with a good fighting regiment like the SAS so you chose the FFL…aka the supposed badasses of the country that does nothing but surrender. You know, the fact that you missed the broad side of an arena with a tank actually makes sense. I’m a Marine, my favorite snack is Crayola crayons…but even I’m not that stupid.
Regardless, I’ve seen what you can do…relying on men better than you to carry you. Bob keeps saying that you have a chip on your shoulder...looking at you though, I think you moved all those chips to your stomach. You are, what that British game show host with the sass mouth always said, the weakest link in a chain of weak links. You couldn’t help your partner get a key, you couldn’t even take a beat down and got beat by Chris Nitro…Nitro pinned you…Nitro beat you. Circumstances don’t matter, you lost. You failed to overcome, you failed to secure your objective, you failed your mission.
Ever since IIW opened back up its doors Bob has been bitching about how his bitches never lost their titles, they were undefeated, they were yada-yada-yada. Can’t say that anymore can he? You lost what right and claim you had to the tag team titles, which is the only gold you could have ever seen because Lord knows you’re too pathetic to be able to accomplish anything without your mouth piece and your tag team partner to carry your weight…which is saying a lot.
You know the difference between you and I, Commander? I only have my boys with me when I need them…meanwhile you can’t even take a piss without Bob having to help you with your pants. I know, buttons are confusing.
Period though, I’ve never seen you alone. You always have Bob with you or Blade and usually both. Look at me. Here I am…all alone except for the camera man. Yet there you are, with Bob…in a tank…and the safest place I can be is right where you’re aiming for.
At Mayhem we fight, we have a war. This will be the shot heard round the world. The shot that kicked off the War. This isn’t just some grudge match, this is a battle of epic proportions for the advantage that could very well decide the fate of IIW at World’s Collide. I can tell you this right now, you will not be walking out of that ring. I don’t just want to beat you…I want to end you and that is exactly what I intend to do at Mayhem. That will be my advantage.
Now, onto Bob. Bob…shut the fuck up.
Russell sits back and goes to grab the remote but then looks up at the TV, shattered screen and all.
Russell: Well, great…now what am I gonna watch?
Russell is shaking his head as the scene fades to black.
|
|
|
Post by Bob Mitchell on Apr 29, 2021 20:17:38 GMT
IIW Arena. Thursday afternoon.
Somewhere in the halls of the IIW arena we find Bob Mitchell and the newly Armed Commander have gotten themselves cornered by Charlie Schmidt. Charlie can be heard shouting at the top of his lungs as IIW Interviewer Michael Morrison rushes up to the scene. Morrison: Hey! Hey! What's going on here? Charlie Schmidt what's the meaning of all this?
Charlie doesn't immediately acknowledge Morrison and keeps yelling about insurance premiums and chromed rims and youth soccer. Having had enough of this, The Armed Commander grabs Charlie by the scruff of his blue jumpsuit and headbutts the poor janitor who drops like a sack. Morrison: WHAT THE FUCK!
Commander: Stay down janitor.
The Commander fixes his green beret. Bob: Now, what that was all about, Michael, was someone misinformed Charlie that we blew up his car over the weekend when we liberated Jonny C's tank.
Morrison: Yeah, everyone heard that. Russell Wayne has been telling everyone that you missed the building entirely and hit Charlie's car. What's that about?
Bob: Everybody... Oh we're just going to take Russell Wayne at his word all of a sudden, like he's some virtuous beacon of truth suddenly? Just explain to me Michael why would we ever be aiming at the building? Why would we try to blow a hole in the side of a building that I currently own ten percent of and that in just a few short weeks will be mine entirely? What part of that little narrative makes any sense to you.
Morrison: Well... That part didn't make much sense really. But what about the part about Charlie's car? I mean that part was right in his promo?
Bob: Well yeah of course it was. We did blow the hell out of a car, and if I'm honest that was pretty fun. But we all know about Charlie's legal troubles, it's a matter of court mandate that Charlie hasn't been allowed to drive a motor vehicle since 1993. Isn't that right Charlie?
He gives the janitor a poke with the toe of his brown dress shoe which earns a groan, and Charlie attempts to swat away Bob Mitchell's foot but is far too late. Morrison: So who's car was it?
Bob: From what I hear it was Zack Steele's rental car. He had insurance, I think.
Morrison: Insurance against act of tank?
Bob: When you compete for IIW you have to cover all your bases.
Morrison: So why would Russell Wayne want to spread the rumours of you blowing up Charlie's car?
Bob: As we've seen time and time again Michael, reality is a concept that Russell Wayne only grasps when it suits him. Take that little promo for example, he has an awful hard time wrapping his head around not intentionally blowing a hole in the side of a building you are part owner of and are currently running a very successful business out of. A business that's being pushed forward by my assurances and Netflix backing. Sure his “little buddy” Osh provided the letters IIW, but almost everything he's done since then has been to the detriment of the brand.
Morrison: In what way has Osh damaged IIW?
Bob: Oh, sorry Michael, you work for IIW so I just assumed you were familiar with a little program called Mayhem.
Morrison: Yeah, thanks... I'm aware of the show.
Bob: Then you're more than aware what happened on the last episode, you know when this man right here teamed up with Blade Alexander in the most highly anticipated match since KKND for the Tag Team Championships. When the hottest new team on the scene Purge faced off against the rightful IIW Tag Team Champions The Establishment. A match that had everybody and their grandmothers on the edge of their seat until a group of fucking idiots who had no business being there jumped the guys in the match from behind, using anything not nailed down and ruined what would have been the highlight of the night.
Morrison: Yeah, I did see that.
Bob: Then you also saw when those men, unprovoked, attacked an IIW official and instead of being fined or suspended as would have happened to anyone else, the match got restarted by a power mad idiot and four of the best competitors on the roster today all got screwed and now we've got titles that mean a whole lot less just so one man can have a laugh and abuse his power.
The Commander cuts in brushes Bob aside. Commander: I might have been the man pinned in that match Wayne, but it took you, Jonny C, Zack Steele, Jay Vaughn, Ryan Hawkins, Chris Nitro and a whole lot of hardware just to keep me down for a very fast count. Six armed men put me down for two seconds. What's you're fucking excuse? Minutes later Scotty Adams all by himself put you down for easily twice that. You talk a lot about boot licking bitches, but that's the roll you know isn't it?
You talk about being all alone? You can cut a promo all by yourself, barely. You can't apply logic to that promo but words can come out of your mouth. You talk about being all alone but the only time you are you show what kind of man you really are Wayne, a failure. By yourself you let Scotty Adams out wrestle you and get the shot you should be taking at the World Championship. You were fucking hand delivered a title shot on a silver platter when ONCE AGAIN you needed multiple people just to help you climb up a fucking ladder and the one time your boys leave you to your own devices you fail like the failure you are. I don't have “boys”, I have family, that's the difference. I have friends I can trust and count on who have my back in good times and bad, but what do you have? You have a group of people around you who have done EVERYTHING you've ever done in IIW for you. On your own you're a failure, I was just like you once, but unlike you I got support. You get help. That's the biggest difference between us, and an advantage I'll always have over you. It's just a matter of time until they see through the dead weight that you are, that they see for themselves that they're the ones doing everything for you and leave you for the loser you are... But you see right here, right now, family sticks together, through good times and bad. We get knocked down and family helps you back up.
The smaller manager manages to step over a sitting Charlie and pulls the microphone back towards himself. Bob: It's really simple Russell Wayne, you say that The Armed Commander has to live with being the one that lost the Tag Team Championships, but you're trying to justify your own failures, see this man doesn't let us down. The Establishment are still the uncrowned Tag Team Champions and the only way we're going to get back what was outright stolen from us is to get rid of the real problems that have been in the way since IIW reopened. You wanna talk about IIW being hotter than it's every been, then you go ahead and talk about it. You talk about how teams like Purge are inspired to come together and challenge us for the titles because they know full well their up against the best team in professional wrestling. You wanna talk about how hot it is then you talk about how the best from all around the world are drawn in to challenge the man that holds the IIW World Title because he's one of the all time greats, but don't for a second try to put that success on a two-bit shyster who has to hire a team of thugs just to get you a win. In fact if you had any common sense, which it's plain to see you don't, but you'd close that stupid mouth altogether and stop exposing yourself for the fraud that you are.
See we all know what the outcome at Mayhem is going to be. There's no way on God's Green Earth that you could ever beat The Commander all by yourself, because unlike you he's everything he's ever said he is... But you, Russell Wayne... We'll you want to know why a man would join the French Foreign Legion...
Commander: They asked.
Bob: You sell yourself as having the reputation of a killer, but the only thing you're killing is your own career. This man here is the real deal, and when you're good at something you don't do it for free. Don't take my word for it though, he'll show you up close and personal on Mayhem, and if you've got any sense left that hasn't been rotted by the grease from your hair then you'll get down on you hands and knees underneath Osh Vaughns desk and do you best to beg him for every man, woman, and child on his payroll to come out and help you against The Commander at Mayhem and even then, you better hope he can get enough to do it.
Then Russell Wayne I want you to ask yourself a question. Ask yourself what value you're going to have left. Once you fail yet again to do anything for yourself, when you fail Osh Vaughn but not getting advantage for his team in War Games, when he needs to need to enlist the help of a football team to help you try to put another man's shoulders on the mat for 3 seconds and you still fail, then what use is he going to have for you? Then after that utter failure what about War Games? If it takes you the help of six other men to handle one, then why's he going to want that much dead weight dragging his team down when ownership of IIW is on the line? And once Russell Wayne proves to be the albatross around the neck of team Osh and he loses to me, then what use am I ever going to have for you?
That's the real advantage. Osh Vaughn pits his worst against my best. Osh Vaughn isn't looking for advantage in War Games, he's looking for an excuse to dump your sorry ass and get rid of his biggest failure before it costs him everything he's got. He's at a disadvantage with you on his team. Think about the future now Wayne, think about it before The Commander beats you from pillar to post on Mayhem and it's not too late to consider life after wrestling. Think about it now Wayne, so you're not so shocked when no help comes on Monday night to help you and and bail you out of yet another loss you're about to suffer.
Commander: You were right about one thing Russell Wayne, this Monday will be the shot heard round the world. Not the one you were hoping for, but the one that you can't avoid when I break you and end your wrestling career for a second time.
The Commander takes a moment to look down at Charlie who puts his arm up in defence, but this time the former SAS and FFL Commander just shakes his head and walks off with his manager.
Fade.
|
|
Russell Wayne
Full Member
Do you think you can handle it?
Posts: 153
|
Post by Russell Wayne on May 2, 2021 19:38:14 GMT
Summit Lawn Cemetery Westfield, Indiana. September 30th, 1999
The scene opens up to a smaller cemetery in a suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana called Westfield, Indiana. Russell Wayne is sitting in a black suit as a minister is giving a eulogy. Russell is staring blankly at the caskets that contains the remains of his wife and son. To his left are Gwen's parents, silently sobbing. To his right are his own grandparents, also quietly sobbing and his Grandmother holding his hand. Russell's brother is seated behind him. The crowd is filled with friends of Russell and Gwen's that they went to school with, various family and acquaintances from work. The CIA has setup a perimeter around the whole area as the cemetery is surrounded by woods to the east and south and a tree line and field to the north. To the west is Union street and an apartment complex named Hamilton Square. The CIA has setup snipers and agents to watch over the funeral and has setup a perimeter of protection in the wooded areas of the cemetery.
Russell is doing everything he can to keep it together, to bottle up his emotion, to save it for the death and destruction that is to come. The minister has stopped talking and is standing there looking expectantly at Russell Wayne. His father nudges him.
"Russ, it's time, son."
Russell starts and just nods. He heaves a sigh as he gets up and walks toward the podium. Russell looks out over the few hundred in attendance. He closes his eyes for a second to gather his thoughts and try to put into words something that might make sense. Something that might help. Russell had already explained to her parents what he did, gave them the whole story for why he was gone most of the time. They were led to believe he was still a Marine, fighting for his country in the Middle East and various parts of Africa. Russell gave the whole truth and debriefed them on what he really did and why this happened. Her mother, Phyllis, was beside herself and could not bear to stay in the room after he said he was not an active-duty Marine but a CIA agent. Her father, Jimmy, was different.
"Tell me everything, Russell, do not leave out a single detail."
"Mr. Adkins, I can only tell you what I have been permitted, which is most of the story but not all of it...which is more than the government usually allows. Thankfully, your prior military service gave them enough reason to allow me to tell you as much as I can per your prior security clearance."
"I understand. What happened?"
Russell went on to tell him everything that had happened, every detail as it pertained to the type of people he was going after in Belarus and how an, as of now, unidentified informant, let them know that he was a spy. This led to the firefight that led to the killing of their leader...but not before the hit could be ordered and the gears set in motion on his family. The hit was executed the night before he was set to return home after being debriefed at Langley and at the regional headquarters in Nashville.
"Son, I just wish you could have been honest with me. That we could have been on your list of need to know, or that Gwen had listened when we asked her to stay with us since you were deployed all the time. Ever since you were that teenager sneaking into her room, you've been as much a child to me as her. Especially with not having your parents, I always felt you were a son in many ways. Now I've lost my only child and grandchild...and it feels like we were never that close as father and son either."
"Mr. Adkins, wai-."
Mr. Adkins had turned around and opened the door and closed it behind him.
Russell could do nothing but just sit in the chair and fight as a wave of emotion rolled over him. His brother, Jared, opened the door. Russell looked up as Jared made his way in.
"Mr. and Mrs. Adkins have left. He looked pretty angry."
Russell simply nodded and looked down at the table as he picked at a spot on the table.
"Also, the funeral director is waiting outside."
"Send him in."
Jared walks out of the room.
Back at the funeral, the minister clears his throat which brings Russell back to reality.
"Yeah, sorry."
The minister nods and gives a look of understanding.
Russell is looking everywhere, at everyone, trying desperately to not look at Mrs. Adkins. However, he can avoid it no longer. Their eyes lock. She is looking at him with a look of pleading. Pleading to say anything that might make this better, that might bring back Gwen. Anything that might make this go away and wake her from her nightmare. Russell looks back, takes a shuddering deep breath. He can think of nothing else to say and so he says.
"I failed you. I am sorry."
Mrs. Adkins lets out a wail of despair into her husband's shoulder. Russell walks down from the podium and walks away from the funeral, down the gravel road that runs through the cemetery. There is shocked silence as they all watch him walk away. Russell makes it halfway down the road for a few minutes before Jared runs after him and catches up with him.
"Russ! Wait! You can't just leave!"
"What more is there to say?! I failed them. They are dead!"
At that, Russell hears music start playing as a special is sung by one of their former classmates.
"Russell, they needed to hear something. Anything."
"And they got it."
"That's not what I meant."
"Then say what you mean or get the fuck out of my way!"
Jared backs away and raises his hands and nods. He turns around and starts walking back towards the crowd as Russell's grandparents are walking towards them. Jared meets them as Russell gets into a black sedan and drives off.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IIW Arena. Manchester, England
The scene opens up to Russell Wayne sitting in The Regulation's locker room. He is watching last weeks episode of Mayhem again, enjoying watching The Regulation cost The Establishment the tag team championships.
Russell: Heh heh...that never gets old.
Russell's phone dings out a notification.
Russell: Oh...Bob has released another promo....joy...
Russell proceeds to watch the promo. After Commander says his final warning against Russell, the camera goes back to Russell's face...which just has a confused look on it. Russell pulls up Bob's first promo on his phone, and fast forwards to the end where it shows Commander dipping down into the tank, taking aim at the IIW arena, and firing.
Russell: Ok Bob, first off...you filmed yourself having Commander aim at the arena. Since you only own 10% of the building, I don't know why you would have Commander fire at the arena. A terrible attempt at insurance fraud perhaps? I mean, can't really make a claim against your own building when you have video that you attempted to destroy it yourself, but whatever. Considering you aren't smart enough to get anything done without whining until you get your own way, I'm not shocked that you have no idea on how to successfully perpetuate insurance fraud. Now, onto somebody that actually matters...Commander, again, if that is your real rank...
Who the hell knew you had any idea on how to string together a whole sentence? Honestly, I just thought you sat back in Bob's office sucking him and Blade off the whole time. Learn something new every day I guess. Anyways, of course, the first thing you'd do is make an excuse. Not like I'd expect anything less from a fool who left the SAS to join the FFL. Even if they did ask you, so what? I would have laughed in their face if it was me. FFL...the special forces of "I surrender!". No wonder you are making excuses about why you lost. You failed in overcoming the obstacles sent your way and, therefore, failed in your mission in procuring the tag team titles. That is all that is needed to be known. Besides, Hawkins had you beat anyways. If it wasn't for Blade putting his hands on the official and pulling him out of the ring, that match would have been over long before Jay, Zack and I made our own presence felt.
Also, you didn't see me making up any excuses about why I lost to Adams. Hell, I gave the kid credit where credit was due. He reversed the Last Resort and was able to keep me down long enough for the 1-2-3. It happens from time to time...as you learned as well at Mayhem...and just like you'll learn again this week. I will put you down, you will not get back up. That is not a threat. It is a promise. You can't hit the broad side of a damn arena with a tank and you will not be getting a victory in that ring.
As far as Bob bitching about our interference and claiming that I am the weak link, or albatross...whatever...Bob. 3 Members of The Regulation took out 3 members of Team Bob with relative ease. There ain't nothing weak about The Regulation. There seems to be a lot weak about Team Bob. Looks like you've got some work to do before World's Collide.
Also, Commander, family is a lie. Don't let anyone fool you. They will only be your family as long as it suits them, then they're gone. This is why Jay, Zack, Osh and I aren't family...well...Jay and Osh are obviously...I'm just here while it suits me to be here. Because I want to be here. I spent too much time being the goody 2 shoes, trying to make up for past failures in life. It got me nowhere. I'm done. We have a business arrangement if you must know. I help Osh with you...and I get to have fun doing it. Hell, the key, which was mine to begin with, is just icing on the cake. When he approached me about taking out the Establishment, I said I'd do it for free. I'm just here to have fun, cause pain, and break The Establishment.
Bob, you had better hope Commander somehow pulls off the upset and wins on Monday. Because if Mayhem was any indication, you're going to need all the "advantages" you can get come World's Collide.
See you Monday, Commander...oh yeah, and before I forget....Do you think you can handle it?
Russell sits back down and restarts the tag team championship match at the point that Russell and Zack take out Blade with a HI-LOW attack and starts laughing at the flopping body of Blade as the scene fades to black.
|
|