“A MURDER OF GODS”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
In a secretive location, underground, warded against whatever chases them, Odin and Zeus return from a late stroll. Standing before a large metal door, they pause for a moment, deep in conversation.
We arrive just as Zeus laments their situation.
“All our God’s have lost favour with those that supported them. Ahriman, Shiva, Anubis – they’re dejected. These mere mortals may have abandoned us.”
“Troy Solveig still fights in our corner,” Odin assures him. “He won’t neglect our fight.”
Zeus grabs his long white beard and growls. “It isn’t enough. When this war started, you told us to gain favour with these men so that others would believe in us. We’re not receiving the prayer we need and we’re weakening, Odin.”
The Norse God puts his hand on Zeus’ shoulder, comforting him.
“Soon we will gather the humans in support of our cause; Rain, King Arthur, Mysterion and reaffirm their loyalties. Zander Zane may be without a God, but he pledged his allegiance to Elysium Fields.”
Zeus reluctantly nods, “Very well,” he says unconvincingly. “But you must remember that God’s have died in this war. If we don’t return to our paradises soon, it will surely finish off.”
Odin nods, opening the door and stepping inside. Zeus accompanies him, both God’s walking down a darkened staircase towards their underground bunker.
They enter, still collaborating, when suddenly, Zeus’ eyes widen.
“Oh no…”
Surprised, Odin turns to look.
What he sees drops his jaw.
They’re all dead.
God’s lay broken husks on the floor, hollowed out and dead. Ahriman, Shiva and Anbuis – they’re all dead.
“How has this happened?” Odin yells angrily. “How can this be?!”
Zeus bends down, finding something on the floor. He picks it up, inspecting it.
“We must leave,” he says beckoning Odin to the door. “I know where we must go.”
Cut.
“LET’S MAKE A DEAL”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Straight Shooter Studios.
“The Show that Never Ends is shot in front of a live studio audience.”
The lights turn on and upbeat, jazzy music begins to play.
On a 70’s style gameshow stage with bright, warm colors stands Monty Straight, smiling and waving at an adoring studio audience who cheer and clap in a feverish way.
“Thank you, thank you!” Straight smiles and winks at the audience. “Oh, you’re too kind!”
The applause gradually dies down as Straight continues.
“Welcome back to The Show That Never Ends, where the fun keeps going and temptations are unknowing! I’m your host, Monty Straight, and–”
The audience joins in with him, “THAT’S EXACTLY HOW I SHOOT IT!”
Laughter. Applause.
“Our next contestant is a man whom many thought was not only a poet of renowned skill, but a man of integrity, a man who keeps his word. But as recent actions have shown, sometimes you have to twist our friend’s arm to get him to deliver on a promise. Lucky for him, when this show makes a promise, we keep it! Please welcome, our friend, Khalil Longfellow!”
From off-stage, Khalil Longfellow emerges, looking somewhat nonplussed by his introduction to the show. He arrives next to Monty, who shakes Longfellow’s hand and pats him on the back.
“Welcome to the show, pal.”
“I imagine,” replies Longfellow. “It is quite the honor to be standing here in my unenviable position.”
A small chuckle from Monty, “Indeed. Are you ready to begin?”
“I suppose I am as ready as one can possibly be, given the circumstances.”
“Good. Because Khalil… We have a brand new game here on The Show That Never Ends. A game we like to call… Life or Death.”
The lights drop. Two doors appear on the stage, manifesting from seemingly out of nowhere.
One is marked: LIFE.
The other: DEATH.
“Now Khalil,” Straight says with that trademark smile and twinkling eye. “Let me explain how this game works. In this game, just like all of our games you are presented with two doors. The first door is The Door of Life. But Life is not always as it seems, my friend. For you see, if you step through this door you will continue living, but at a cost. The price you pay for your continued existence is that while you may live, and you may live well? All of your works, both great and small, will be fleeting. For your literal life, the poet… Dies a tragic death.”
Khalil’s mouth hangs agape. “This is not what I signed up for, Monty. I would never agree to such a game, and certainly I would never–”
“Stop right there, Khalil.” Monty interrupts him. “We know all about your hesitance to follow through on your promises, and thus we have created a game by which you have no choice but to keep them.”
Khalil opens his mouth to speak, but Monty continues.
“The second door is The Door of Death. Much like the first door, Death is not all as it appears. For if you step through this door, you will die physically. But your works, great and small, will live on forever. That’s right. For your ceased mortality, the reward is your undying immortality. It is no secret that all of the great writers and poets have a sad habit of dying off. Such is the price for greatness, it seems. Therefore, my friend, if you step through this door you will not breathe for even one more second. However, your name will stand alongside the greatest to ever pen. Frost, Poe, Longfellow.”
Longfellow shakes his head as Monty finishes his delivery.
“So what will it be, Khalil? Let’s make a deal.”
Khalil takes a moment to consider his options. “I cannot leave this show, Mr. Straight, as you made clear just last week, though it is the wont of my every instinct to do so. Nor can I choose Death, for regardless of my works, however great or small, my life is a work in itself. A work I have yet to finish penning. So I’ve no choice but to choose The Door of Life, and so it is that door by which I continue my travels.”
Khalil steps to the Door of Life and swings it open. He peers into it, turns to Straight, and smiles.
“I will see you in the ring, Monty. There I will show you my works, and you will see a performance which, however fleeting, will end with me, removing the OSW Rewind Championship from around your evil, conniving waist.”
Longfellow steps through the door, and disappears.
Monty smiles at his studio audience. That smile turns into something more. More pleased. More beguiling.
More sinister.
With that twinkle in his eye he looks at the studio audience and smiles.
“Stay tuned.”
Monty follows Khalil through The Door of Life.
It closes shut behind them.
KHALIL LONGFELLOW VS. MONTY STRAIGHT
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
As Monty Straight appears in the ring, Khalil Longfellow, still alive after choosing Life over Death, is waiting for him.
DING! DING! The two men lock up in the middle of the squared circle. Monty quickly takes the upperhand and transitions The Wandering Poet to a side headlock! The Straight Shooter wrenches Khalil’s neck in the headlock a couple of times, but Longfellow backs up and bounces off the ropes, using the force to shove Monty off of him! Monty carries through the momentum by bouncing off the ropes on the other side of the ring, returning to Khalil…
…and right into an AXE KICK!
Monty scrambles to his feet!
ANOTHER AXE KICK! Monty hits the mat once again!
Monty stands to his feet, wiley ducking beneath a third axe kick from the poet, and catches Longfellow with a huge European uppercut! Longfellow staggers into the turnbuckles, and Straight catches him with a big time monkey flip that sends Longfellow skidding across the mat.
Monty moves swiftly towards the fallen Khalil, dropping to a knee and placing Khalil in an ankle lock!
Khalil screams and quickly scrambles for the ropes! He grabs hold, forcing Monty to let go of his ankle. Khalil, with an eye on The Straight Shooter, slowly rises to his feet.
Monty charges!
CLOTHESLINE!
NO! KHALIL DUCKS!
YAKUZA KICK STRAIGHT TO MONTY’S CHIN!!
Monty stumbles backwards and right into the ropes.
DROPKICK! KHALIL SENDS MONTY TOPPLING OVER THE ROPES AND COLLIDING TO THE GROUND OUTSIDE OF THE RING!!!
Khalil wastes no time! He climbs to the top turnbuckle!
FLIP THE PAGE TO THE OUTSIDE! HE STOMPS ON MONTY’S MIDSECTION WITH PERFECT PRECISION! HOLY GOD!
Longfellow scoops Monty up by his suit and hair and rolls him into the ring under the bottom rope. He follows behind and makes the cover!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
THREE!
NO! KICKOUT BY STRAIGHT, JUST IN TIME!
Longfellow refuses to relent, quickly standing and setting up the OSW Rewind Champion for teardrop suplex!
But Monty reverses!
RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP!!
TERMS AND CONDITIONS!!!
THE CROSSFACE IS LOCKED IN!!
Khalil Longfellow once again finds himself in a submission hold, but this one is far harder to escape from! He tries to fight and claw his way to the ropes, but Khalil really has no direction that he can move in. Just as he is about to tap, the pained and desperate Longfellow BITES Monty’s arm!! Monty practically squeals, the bite causing him to break the hold.
Monty and Longfellow both scramble to their feet. The Straight Shooter attempts a leg sweep, but Longfellow leaps over his leg and makes him pay by dropkicking Straight right in the jaw! Longfellow quickly takes advantage of the opportunity! He delivers a couple of stomps to Straight’s back, and then scoops Straight up onto his shoulders!
ROLLING SAMOAN DROP!
STANDING PHOENIX SPLASH!
NO!!! STRAIGHT ROLLS OUT OF THE WAY! HE JUMPS TO HIS FEET AND CATCHES LONGFELLOW FROM BEHIND ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS OWN!
DEAL BREAKER!!!
STRAIGHT SHOOTING! THE MODIFIED SHARPSHOOTER!!!
Khalil is in so much pain and with nowhere to go, he really has absolutely no choice.
Longfellow taps!! Longfellow taps and this one is over!!!
The bell rings, and Monty Straight stands to his feet, still OSW Rewind Champion.
But suddenly, the video screen above the entrance ramp cuts on.
Something…
Something is on fire.
“SLOW BURN”
RINGSIDE
On the screen, Khalil’s study is burning. Ablaze with fire, it spreads like a super virus, destroying everything it touches. Years, decades of Longfellow’s work…
Gone.
The screen cuts to Longfellow’s Library of Alexandria, still in development.
It, too, burns away.
Khalil watches as everything he has worked towards to make this world a better place burns away.
“What have you done!?!” Khalil screams. “What have you done, Monty!?!”
Monty laughs, that twinkle in his eye twinkling especially bright.
“I have done absolutely nothing, Khalil, but offer you a choice. I told you that choosing The Door of Life would make all of your works fleeting. I told you that everything you worked for in your life as a poet would die!”
Khalil grabs Monty by the throat. “The terms of the deal were never clear! This is the game you play! You speak in vaguery, your tongue utters nothing but shadows!”
Monty laughs through Khalil’s chokehold.
“Khalil, say what you will about the integrity of my game.”
Monty ends Khalil’s chokehold by wrapping his arms around him and throwing him with an overhead belly to belly suplex.
Monty stands and dust himself off. “But it was your lack of integrity that led to this game in the first place! And it was your choice that led to the end of everything that made your life valuable.”
Khalil points at Monty. “It may have been my choice, living over dying. But it will also be my choice to tax you for everything I lose because of this game of yours. It will be my choice to make you pay for every last bit of it.”
Monty smiles.
“Funny,” Monty says. “Life and death, they really are two different kinds of fire. Death burns one up in an instant, and can happen so quickly that from the ashes of the body, a legend is born. It happens all of the time.”
Just as Monty fades away, he gestures to the screen. Khalil’s study and his great library are disappearing as the fire continues turning all of it to ash.
“But life? It’s much more of a slow burn.”
Monty disappears.
Khalil watches the screen as everything he has worked for disappears just like Monty.
Longfellow clinches his fists and leaves the ring, marching up the entrance ramp with purpose.
Along with a fire burning in his enraged eyes that we haven’t yet seen from him.
Khalil moves backstage, making way for Tomasso Vitale and Vengeance’s respective entrances.
TOMASSO VITALE VS. VENGEANCE
SINGLES MATCH
Two men have battled for months with confusion and alliances being formed and broken up. Tonight, Tomasso Vitale goes one-on-one with Vengeance.
The bell sounds as these two men meet in the center of the ring. Tomasso Vitale looks Vengeance in the eyes as his face is filled with sorrow. Vengeance’s face is contorted in fury.
PUNCH RIGHT TO THE NOSE!
Tomasso Vitale hits the mat with a thud as his hand moves up to his nose. His hand moves away as blood covers his hand. Vengeance leaps onto Vitale and begins just pounding away on him with vicious rights and lefts! Vengeance’s fists are flying with fury as Vitale is just trying to cover his face!
Vitale gets a hand up as V just pushes off of him onto his feet with rage in his eyes. He kicks the ropes as his anger is just seething over. Vitale slowly pulls himself up to his feet using the ropes, but his face is busted open. His eye is already beginning to swell. Vengeance sees him there and rushes towards him!
BIG BOOT!
But Vitale falls as Vengeance misses and tumbles right over the top rope to the floor below! Vitale takes a moment to catch his breath as blood begins pooling on the mat below him. Tommy rolls outside of the ring as Vengeance gets back to his feet. He rams V right into the barricade with a big shoulder ram. Vitale grabs Vengeance and nails a German suplex onto the hard floor. Tomasso Vitale grabs Vengeance up before rolling him into the ring. Vitale climbs up onto the top rope and beckons for Vengeance to get up.
V leaps to the top rope and nails him with an elbow smash before lifting up Vitale…
BRAINBUSTER ON THE TOP ROPE!
Vitale’s body crumples to the mat after being accordianed on the top rope. Vengeance covers him!
ONE…
TWO…
TH-NO! Vengeance just lifted the head of Tomasso Vitale.
His fury isn’t over yet!
Vengeance grabs Vitale’s limp body before pulling him up to his feet. He grabs the arm of Vitale before turning him inside out with a ripchord knee strike!
DOWN AND OUT!
Vengeance covers him!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
NO! Vitale got his foot on the bottom rope!
Vengeance grabs the leg of Vitale, yanking it away from the ropes before wrapping up the head into a rear naked choke!
DODGE CITY STRANGLE!
Vitale begins fighting out, but Vengeance cinches the hold in! Vitale kicks the mat with enough force to pull himself over into a pin with Vengeance’s shoulders pinned!
ONE…
TWO…
TH-KICKOUT!
Vengeance releases the hold in order to escape the pin. Both men move to their feet before Vengeance throws a heavy forearm that Vitale ducks out of the way of! Vengeance throws a second one that misses as well! Vitale is dancing backwards with his hands up. But the third one nails him as Vitale hits the mat.
THE KICK UP!
The kip up superkick dots Vengeance right underneath the chin as he’s staggered on his feet! Tomasso Vitale kicks Vengeance in the midsection before lifting him up into a powerbomb lungblower!
HEAVY CLIP!
Vengeance is out, but Vitale rolls him up with Vengeance folded over!
ONE…
TWO…
THREEEE!
Tomasso Vitale slowly rises to his feet as his face is leaking blood. The referee tries to touch it up, but Vitale pushes him away as he raises his hand in victory.
“VENGEANCE OF THE DEAD”
BACKSTAGE
Backstage, we find the hustle and bustle of crewmen working around as the show pushes itself forward. Among them, as if an island of peace, Rain sits quietly alongside one of the pillars, in a meditative seat.
“Mind if I join you?”
Rain opens his eyes, to find Berengar standing in front of him. Simply nodding, he scoots over as Berengar simply sits down. The two watch the chaos of the people rushing back and forth, sitting at ease. It is Berengar that speaks first.
“I wanted to apologize for my actions earlier. It was more out of turn than I would have liked.When you said his name, I became overwhelmed. Fear, terror, despair, and more overwhelmed me, condensing into a rage that spilled out. ”
Rain blinks a bit, surprised at the forwardness of the hero. He responds a bit sheepishly, trying to make things lighter.
“It’s no worries, I think I touched a nerve more than I meant.”
Berengar nodded, looking out into the crowds of people and wrestlers. Pain tinges his voice, a more vulnerable moment than we’ve seen from him.
“You were interacting with an evil spirit Rain. Erstenar was once my uncle, that much is true. But he also was the one that destroyed my home. Those voices you heard when you touched Vigilkeeper? They were because of him.”
The two sit in silence for a minute, letting the humdrum go on. It is Rain who speaks first, breaking the quiet.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“Do not fret. You asked of me earlier to fight you to prove that the sword did not control me. I wish to ask of you something similar.”
Rain turns toward him, a curious expression growing on his face.
“And what’s that?”
“Prove to me that the spirits that have been haunting you do not control your actions. That you are able to choose your own path.”
Berengar stands up, and begins to move into the rush of people. He pauses, turning back to the more mystical rival still sitting down on the floor.
“We may not look like it Rain, but you and I? We are more similar than looks would appear.”
And then he moves on, leaving Rain left to wonder what to do.
Cut.
RAIN VS. BERENGAR
SINGLES MATCH
The souls of the lost within Vigilkeeper call out to Rain. He stands opposite the Void Knight as the two are set for battle.
Both men begin the match slowly, wearily circling the other before the pair lock horns. Berengar easily overpowers Rain, his gargantuan size allowing him to hurl Rain into the air and drop him with a GUTBUSTER! RAIN BOUNCES OFF AND ROLLS INTO THE TURNBUCKLE, WINDED! Berengar approaches slowly as Rain kneels on all fours, sucking in precious and painful breaths.
WAIT! RAIN WAS PLAYING POSSUM! HE NAILS BERENGAR WITH A MULE KICK THAT SENDS THE BIG MAN STAGGERING! Though pain is etched on his face, Rain pulls himself to his feet.
HE FOLLOWS UP THE KICK WITH A LEG LARIAT!
BERENGAR IS DOWN!
Rain charges at the ropes, rebounding off them and launching himself back at the Void Knight with a LEAPING CLOTHESLINE!
NO! BERENGAR CAUGHT RAIN IN MID-AIR!
SPINEBUSTER JUST ABOUT DRIVES RAIN THROUGH THE MAT!
Berengar scoops up a groggy and wincing Rain and sweeps him into his clutches to seal the deal. Locking both hands around Rain’s back, he squeezes into a BEAR HUG that expels any remaining wind in the Ghostwalker’s sails. Only when Rain is a lifeless carcass, does he relinquish the hold. Rain flops down but Berengar is not done quite yet.
DESTINY’S MAW! THE SLEEPER!
HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK AT THE BEST OF TIMES, BUT THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY FIGHT LEFT IN RAIN!
Berengar adjusts the grip on the Sleeper and tightens the hold, as the referee checks on the status of Rain. He raises Rain’s arm and expects the arm to flop back at his side, but it remains poised in the air. Rain is fighting back. With all of the strength he can muster, Rain pushes himself to his feet and knocks Berengar off balance. This allows him to reel backwards into the ropes to break the hold. From there, he is off, charging across the ring. By the time the big man knows what’s hit him, Rain has launched himself into the air and it hurtling in Berengar’s direction.
SHINING WIZARD connects right to the temple!
BERENGAR IS SEEING STARS! But … HE’S STILL STANDING!
ENZUGUIRI to Berengar finally takes him down again!
RAIN COLLAPSES INTO THE COVER!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
NO-! NOT EVEN CLOSE!
BERENGAR POWERS OUT OF THE PINFALL AND SENDS RAIN FLYING!
Berengar staggers to a vertical base at about the same time as Rain himself and the pair lock eyes once more. Rain waits for the big man to make the first move, looking for an opening. However, when Berengar does make the first move, it is to turn Rain inside out with a BRUTAL CLOTHESLINE that sends him over the top rope and TUMBLING TO THE TAP ROOM FLOOR!
Berengar steps over the top rope and follows his opponent out of the ring. Once outside, he scoops Rain up, only to drill him back into the floor with a DDT! Rain is out of it!
BERANGAR SCOOPS HIM UP ONE FINAL TIME!
VANQUISHER TO THE TAP ROOM FLOOR!
GOOD GOD, WHAT AN IMPACT! Rain bounced off that floor!
Berengar rolls the lifeless Rain into the ring. Even his breathing is laboured. Berengar seems to take his time to roll into the ring after Rain and slide him away from the ropes. With still no sign of life from Rain at all after that brutal Vanquisher, he hooks the leg.
THE PINFALL!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!
Berengar has done it! He has put away Rain tonight and in doing so, has hopefully kept his past where it belongs and the souls inside Vigilkeeper to silence their cries.
“ANYTHING II”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Somewhere Else
Darkness. Lit dimly by a dozen candles, hovering as held by a dozen figures. They give off enough light to illuminate the central figure, Isaac Danvers. The dozen figures have matching masks but it is Danvers who speaks, identifying himself.
“Bretheren. We gather this night for the ritual. Mister Quinn… We are pleased that you were able to join us on this fine evening.”
Redmond Quinn approaches, through the shadowy figures. His face gives no expression, his voice even less so.
“Cut the games, Danvers. I’ve done everything you wanted.”
Danvers leans forward, the light between him and Quinn showing the close space between their faces.
“Not everything… You said that you would do anything to have him back.”
Danvers lowers the light, placing it on a stone table that till now had been shrouded in the darkness. On it, the four vials of blood and an ornate knife. One final vial sits alongside the other four, larger than any of the others. This one, to this point, remains empty.
“This is why you sought me out, is it not? Suddenly, you seem unsure.”
Quinn hesitates, unsure exactly what to make of the scene. It surely is not what he was expecting.
“I’ll do anything?”
The doctor chuckles at the hesitation and question in Redmond’s voice.
“Are you asking me or telling me?”
“Anything.”
Danvers picks up the knife and straight away holds it at Quinn’s throat. Quinn breathes deeply in surprise and staggers back. Yet the knife moves with him, the point aimed at his jugular.
“Then let the ritual commence.”
The voices of a dozen candle holders sound out as one.
“Commence.”
The knife cuts into Quinn’s neck, just a little but enough to cause Redmond to flinch.
“What the hell?! Hang on a second.”
There is a little delight in Danvers’s voice as he retorts.
“This is what you asked for. A way to get Creed back. This is the ritual we call splicing. We are going to remove a part of your soul, your own life-force. That very life-force will be what brings your friend back to life.”
The knife digs in a little deeper. Redmond backs off, tripping over and falling backwards.
“I… I can’t! That’s not… I can’t do that! What will happen to me?”
Danvers chuckles, pointing the knife.
“Well… Half a life-force, half a man. But this is the only way.”
Quinn staggers to his feet, knocking over a couple of the figures holding the candles in his haste to escape the scene.
“I can’t go through with this!”
With that, Quinn is gone. Isaac Danvers and the shadowy figures, as one begin to chuckle. Slow, menacing laughter.
Cut.
INTREPID VS. GAMEBOY
Player One has sought to find the man who hacked his abilities and the stranger who wishes to take his best friend away is high on the list. Will Gameboy prove Intrepid is a man not to be trusted or is the Green Lantern just a Red Herring?
The bell sounds as Gameboy rushes forward, surprising Intrepid with a hard running elbow to the jaw before leaping up and sending him flying with a Hurricanrana. Intrepid staggers to his feet into a springboard roundhouse that sends him tumbling out of the ropes to the floor below. The Reporter is groggy as he pulls himself up by the guardrail right as Gameboy rushes forward
WITH A SUICIDE DIVE THAT SENDS INTREPID FLYING BACK INTO THE GUARDRAIL!
Intrepid nearly plows through the hard barrier as he cries out in pain, Gameboy quickly pulling him to his feet before rolling him back inside the ring as Player One leaps up onto the apron
BEFORE SPRINGBOARDING INTO THE RING WITH A FROG SPLASH! Gameboy quickly hooks the leg for the cover,
ONE
….
TWO
….
KICKOUT!
Gameboy pulls Intrepid to his feet, peppering him with right jabs, Button Mashing over and over again as the Lantern slowly and slowly gets more frustrated. Intrepid swings wild as Gameboy ducks under, nailing a hard enziguri to the back of the head before rushing to the ropes and leaping off with a Crossbody that Intrepid just manages to duck under. Gameboy hits the mat hard holding his gut as he staggers right into
A SHOOTING STAR! A huge Springboard Knee to the face doesn’t take Player One down but he’s out on his feet as Intrepid spins him around before dropping him on the back of his head with a huge German Suplex! Intrepid bridges back for the pin
ONE
….
TWO
…..
KICKOUT!
Intrepid pulls Gameboy up to his feet, dodging a desperation enziguri before grabbing him by the head, leaping up off the mat and spiking him down with a tornado DDT. Intrepid doesn’t cover, instead heading up to the top rope as he dives off
THE FINAL…LEVEL ONE! Gameboy kipped up out of nowhere, superkicking Intrepid out of the damn air as the Lantern looks out cold. Gameboy dropping down as he hooks both legs for the cover.
ONE
….
TWO
….
THR…INTREPID GETS A FOOT ON THE ROPES!
Gameboy can’t believe it as his eyes begin to flash and his whole body begins to vibrate. Intrepid slowly rises to his feet as Gameboy delivers a lightning fast punch. A massive uppercut and before Intrepid can never register his chin being driven up, he’s punched from the left, then the right and finally an axe kick to the temple drives him to the mat. Gameboy backs up, rushing forward with blinding speed
LEVEL ON….INTREPID CATCHES IT! Gameboy looks shocked as a chuckle is heard through the mask, the Lantern glowing with courage as he tosses Gameboy away before nailing him with a stiff kick to the chest that sends him flying. Gameboy crashes into the turnbuckle, staggering out
RIGHT INTO A HUGE SPEAR!
Player One crumples to the mat as Intrepid begins to glow once, sinking down as he waits for Gameboy to slowly rise to his feet. Green energy envelops Intrepid as he rushes forward.
THE GREEN SPEAR….STOPS MID-RUN! Intrepid freezes in place as Gameboy just looks puzzled. The green glow fades from the Reporter as he drills himself with a massive left hook before slamming down hard on the canvas knee first. Player One scratches his head, before shrugging his shoulders
AND RUSHING FORWARD AS HE TAKES INTREPID’S HEAD OFF WITH ANOTHER LEVEL ONE!
Gameboy backs up, rushing forward for the Reset but stops himself, getting a better idea as he rushes to the corner, double jumping up to the top rope, before walking along the ropes
AND DELIVERING A MASSIVE PHOENIX SPLASH ACROSS THE RING! NEW GAME PLUS!
Gameboy slams down hard onto the unconscious Intrepid but that took it all out of Player One who just has the strength to drape an arm over Intrepid
ONE
….
TWO
….
THREE!!!
Gameboy picks up a huge victory over the Green Lantern here tonight. He had to pull a new trick out of his arsenal but he emerged victorious…and most importantly, has proven that Intrepid can’t have been the man who hacked him. But before he can celebrate, he collapses, sprawling out over the canvas/
“THE GREEN GUARDIAN II”
RINGSIDE
With Gameboy sprawled out on the canvas, Intrepid isn’t quite sure what to do. He walks over and helps him to his feet, only Gameboy snaps.
Grabbing Intrepid by the throat, he runs him backwards into the corner, slamming him against the turnbuckle.
Fierce right hands pound on his face as the left holds him in position, forcing him to receive every devastating blow.
He was hacked here tonight and Intrepid was in the ring with him; he can’t be responsible. Player One simply has to know this. There has to be more to it.
“It’s not me,” Gameboy mutters through gritted teeth. “I’m not in control. Stop me.”
Intrepid understands. He closes his eyes and green begins flowing from his ring. It surrounds Gameboy’s Headset, dragging it away from his face.
He falls to the floor immediately, clutching at his eyes.
Intrepid pulls the headset towards him, plucking it from the green glow. He observes it for a moment, placing it at the kneeling Gameboy, who covers his face on the canvas below. He doesn’t want to be seen without the helmet; he feels naked if people see his face.
“Please, get me out of here,” he mutters.
Agreeing, The Fearless Reporter grabs him and the headset, vanishing into a green mist.
Cut.
“CLICHE AS FUCK”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Elsewhere
“Alright mate, what the fuck is this?”
We find Zander Zane in a slightly renovated warehouse, strapped down to a table. Above him, a laser slowly carves its way upwards. At a nearby computer, Mysterion types away. Not looking away from the monitor, he gives a small hand wave.
“Industrial grade mining laser. Got it for a steal. As in I stole it.”
“What the fuck mate? Who do you think I am, god damn James Bond?”
Mysterion spins around in the cheap office chair, and locks eyes with the prostrate man.
“Honestly? In a way you are. ”
The Cloaked Conundrum stands up, striding over to a Zander struggling to free himself.
“You’re an echo of the past. Something that should have stayed dead,and yet keeps creeping up. Your reputation seems to be untouchable, as most of the hype seems to be from your own shitty mouth.”
“Rule 1 of stardom baby, you gotta be the hype.”
Mysterion chuckles giving a slight nod. The reaction seems to confuse Zander, letting Mysterion continue on.
“Exactly. You ‘stole the show’ as it was didn’t ya? But with that? You showed that you needed that light of the crowd. So taking that from you, that was my goal.”
He walks away, reaching the door. He turns back, looking one last time at Zander Zane.
“And what better way for you to die than a cliche as fuck way? Enjoy your death Zane. I got a title to go keep.”
And with that, Mysterion leaves, shutting the door behind him. Zane thrashes about as the laser reaches closer and closer to his crotch, to no avail. As he begins to accept the end of the Experience, a banging noise suddenly clashes out from out of view, and the laser cuts off
Zane peers up from the table, seeing an all too familiar but welcome sight approaching his restrained body. Visibly relaxing, he nearly sighs in relief at his rescuers.
“Ladies, am I glad to see you!”
Cut.
JUDAH FOREVER VS. ELI FOREVER
SINGLES MATCH
Two brothers trying to save their beloved mother as they find themselves drowning in a river of blood as a vicious tyrant seeks for one of them to drown. Will the Heir Eternal cast aside his own brother to dispel this Nightmare or will he make the ultimate sacrifice?
The bell sounds as both brothers stare, each hesitant to make the first move. Judah raises an eyebrow as Eli looks out into ringside, the whole area surrounded by Nightmare Family members, most with their heads down in worry for their brothers but four or five stand out. Cold, dark eyes staring holes through the pair, sickening smiles etched upon their faces as the largest one points at Judah before slicing his thumb across his throat. Eli turns back to Judah, who shakes his head.
BEFORE RUSHING FORWARD WITH A HUGE LARIAT THAT TAKES ELI OFF GUARD!
Eli stumbles to his feet right into a flurry of lefts and rights that stagger Eli back into the ropes, as he finds himself thrown hard across the ring before he’s lifted up high and slammed down hard with a Back Body Drop. Forever slowly gets to his feet as Judah drills him with a massive European Uppercut to the jaw before a kick to the gut sends Eli stumbling into the ropes as Judah backs up.
BEFORE SPEARING ELI THROUGH THE ROPES TO THE FLOOR BELOW!
The force of the move sends Judah tumbling to the outside too as the Exalted Brother pulls Eli up, looking him square in the eyes before slyly winking at his brother. Eli looks confused for a moment as Judah backs up, rushing forward
ELI DUCKS UNDER AS JUDAH NAILS A NIGHTMARE FOLLOWER WITH A MASSIVE SUPERKICK!
Judah looks “shocked” as he turns around right into Eli’s clutches who tosses him over his head with a Belly to Belly right into another Nightmare Follower! She slams right into the guardrail as the other three look furious, pulling Judah up to his feet as Eli quickly scrambles up to the top rope, Judah slipping out of their grasp
RIGHT AS ELI LEAPS OFF WITH A TWISTING MOONSAULT, CRASHING DOWN ONTO THE REMAINING NIGHTMARE FOLLOWERS!
Judah pulls Eli to his feet, the pair exchanging a quick hug before rolling back into the ring. The other Family members surround the ring, cheering the brothers on as Eli motions his brother to bring it. Judah smirks before rushing forward, the pair exploding with lefts and rights as Eli drills Judah with a stiff knee to the gut, leaping up with a stiff uppercut to the jaw that sends him to one knee before rushing to the ropes and slingshotting off
WITH THE ATONEMENT!
Judah stumbles to his feet dazed as Eli lights him up with a double pair of kicks to the midsections but as Eli rears back to deliver a chop, Judah catches it, whirling Eli around before nailing him with a huge knee to the jaw before lifting him up onto his shoulders in a Torture Rack. Judah cranks back on the hold for a few moments, before spinning Eli around
INTO THE HALLEJUAHBOMB!
Judah doesn’t cover, heading up to the top rope as he steadies himself for a moment, pressing his hands together in prayer before leaning forward with his eyes closed.
THE SOUND OF…BICYCLE KICK! Eli just damn near kicked his brother’s head off in mid-air! Forever waits no time, pulling his groggy brother off the mat, throwing him in between his legs, screaming out OH MY BROTHER! before lifting him up onto his shoulders
AND DRIVING JUDAH INTO THE MAT WITH THE ETERNAL RIVER PLUNGE! That has to be it as Eli hooks the leg for the first…and only pinfall of the contest
ONE
….
TWO
….
THREE!
The Heir Eternal is victorious tonight but both brothers put the screws into their “masters” plan tonight as Eli pulls his brother up to his feet, placing a kiss on his forehead before they both celebrate inside the ring.
“THE LAST STAND”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
A Few Days Later…
A familiar shot of Vengeance’s van is shown rumbling down an old dirt road, but the man behind the wheel is not the vigilante we’ve come to know.
Tomasso Vitale thumbs the wheel as his eyes are focused forward. His eyes are bloodshot and his nose is red. A head peeks out from through a black curtain separating the front to the back of the van as Vengeance sneers at him.
“Now you know the plan, right?”
“Fuck off V. I know the plan.”
The harsh tone of Vitale surprises Vengeance a bit as he chuckles before disappearing back into the back.
The shot follows where Tomasso Vitale is looking as the dirt road leads to a metal, chain link fence. Trees line the edge of the road as a small building is shown past the fences. But the vehicle doesn’t stop! It rams right through the chain link gate as the metal crumples underneath the front of the van. The sound of voices scurrying to get out of the way as the van moves right up in front of the building and swings to the right.
At the same time, the van’s sliding door swings open as Vengeance comes into picture wearing all black, including a black mask covering his face. In his hands?
Two AR15s.
Bullets begin flying in all directions as the sound slowly fades away as the camera pans away to Tomasso Vitale who is holding a rosary in his hand in the driver’s seat as he mutters something underneath his breath.
Returning fire is heard for a moment, but Vengeance’s fire aims in that direction for a moment before the sounds stop.
The door creaks open as Tomasso Vitale steps out of the vehicle.
Vengeance steps down as he follows behind Vitale closely. Vitale has a small pistol in his hand as he opens the front door to this small establishment hidden away in the woods.
Blood.
Blood is spattered all over the place as the two step into the room as fallen members of La Cosa Nostra are scattered throughout the room. Vitale looks amongst them tearfully before leading Vengeance to the back of the room where a large desk sits riddled with bullets. Laying on the ground behind the desk is none other than The Boss.
Bleeding.
His eyes are wide as he points a shaky finger at Vitale.
“You… you fuckin’ snitch!”
Vitale looks down at him with nothing but disdain.
“You tried to blow me up after you evacuated the diner. You told ‘Zo to kill me after I was marked. You killed Franky and so many other members of this family.”
Vitale crouches down to come face-to-face with The Boss who is barely breathing.
“I may be a snitch, but at least I’m not a fucking coward. I kill on my own.”
Vitale presses a gun to the head of The Boss as tears begin to fall down his face as his lip quivers in anger.
“You turned Zo into a robot. I didn’t even recognize the man who… He pointed a fuckin’ gun at me… and it’s all because of your brainwashing.”
A moment passes before Vitale turns and shoots into the wall. He stands up and dusts himself off as he turns his back to The Boss.
“But I made a promise.”
Vengeance steps up and aims the gun at The Boss before putting him out of his misery.
Tommy turns towards V as Vengeance takes the mask off of his face.
“We good? You got what you were after.”
“Yeah, we’re good. Good thing Lorenzo’s phone had the location in it.”
“Yeah, good thing…” Vitale says although a bit distracted.
Vengeance takes his guns up and rests them on his shoulders before stepping towards the front door. He turns to Vitale before nodding.
“Be safe, kid.”
He steps out into the night as Vitale takes a deep breath.
Slowly, he walks over to The Boss and begins rustling through his desk before finding a small, silver key and a larger golden key. He unlocks a door on the side of the room before revealing a huge, iron safe. He slowly unlocks the safe with the other key. The door slowly opens.
But the amount of gold reflecting back on the face of Vitale is nearly blinding. His eyes grow wide as his frown slowly turns upward into a devilish grin.
“Nothing personal, Boss, just business.”
Cut.
DAVID MANSON VS. SPERO
SINGLES MATCH
For months now, the Nightmare has been seeking the end of all hope by killing Spero. While the river hasn’t run red with the Guardian’s blood, he plans on changing that all tonight. Will Spero pull another fast one on Manson? Or will the Horrorshow extinguish the blue light for good?
The bell sounds as Manson starts his attack with a massive Yakuza kick to Spero! The Nightmare wasting no time here tonight, continuing his attack on the Beacon of Hope with stomps to his abdomen and face! The Astonian can barely protect himself as the onslaught of feet continues to rain down on him! Manson ends the torment by quickly hoisting Spero to his feet, where he begins to wail on him with wild punches, backing him into a corner! Everyone in the crowd, despite Manson’s brutality, remains hopeful that Spero could mount some sort of comeback.
David notices their desperation and puts on a sadistic grin. He drags Spero out to the middle of the ring and knocks the hopeful one down with a hard headbutt! The Nightmare takes a couple steps back before leaping on to the Astonian with a senton! He doesn’t go for the cover, instead opting to choke Spero out right in front of the referee! The official quickly begins to separate the two from each other, giving the defender of hope some much needed breathing room!
Spero gets to his feet as Manson attempts to get back to the offensive-
SURPRISE SCHOOLBOY FROM SPERO!
ONE!
TWO!
MANSON KICKS OUT!
Both competitors stand up as David attempts a clothesline, which Spero ducks. The Astonian responds with a quick dropkick that stumbles the Nightmare into the ropes! Spero charges at Manson, who tosses him over to the outside! Spero landed on the apron and kicks the masochist away with a hanging soccer kick!
Manson stumbles out as Spero springboards up with a hurricanrana!
HE HOOKS THE LEGS!
ONE!
TWO!
MANSON KICKS OUT AGAIN!
Spero remains undeterred as he waits for Manson to get up to one knee.
AND HE KICKS HIM IN THE CHEST!
Manson takes that kick like a champ as the Astonian readies himself for another kick.
WHICH HE THROWS AT HIS CHEST AGAIN!
David’s a tad shaken up by that one, and Spero knows it!
A THIRD KICK TO THE HEAD!
NO! MANSON CAUGHT THE LEG!
The Nightmare throws the Hope Guardian’s leg to the floor as he punches Spero’s helmet so hard, the front visor cracks a bit! Spero backs up-
AND MANSON WELCOMES HIM TO MANSON STREET! THAT NECKBREAKER FLOORS HIM!
David still doesn’t go for the cover. Instead, he crawls over to the opposite corner of the ring and pulls something out of the turnbuckle pad.
HE PULLED OUT A KNIFE!
The ref sees it and tries to stop David-
THE OFFICIAL IS PUSHED AWAY!
MANSON DIVES AT SPERO AND GRABS THE HAND THAT HAS THE RING! THAT SICK BASTARD IS GOING TO CUT OFF HIS FINGER!
Before any incision can be made, a blue flash of light engulfs the Tap Room completely! Everyone is blind!
When we regain our sight, we find a limp Spero laying on top of David! I guess that’s a pin attempt!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
Somehow, some way, Spero managed to pin a very aggro David Manson. When they come to, one can only hope this Nightmare is over for the Guardian of Hope.
“LOOSE ENDS”
RECORDED EARLIER
Since the death of John and, thereby, the death of his case against Edward Newton, Nightstick had been running himself mad with questions.
How did John know it was Newton’s hair when Newton isn’t in the criminal database?
Was it just because Newton was the one who crashed his car into him, setting it on fire?
Or was there something deeper? Something Nightstick hadn’t seen? Something he couldn’t see?
Nightstick’s lovely wife hated seeing him torture himself. Staying up all night, barely sleeping at all, connecting invisible lines to non-existent points, chasing the spectre of Edward Newton.
When she left to go be with her mother for a few days, Nightstick didn’t even know it.
He couldn’t stop trying to tie up loose ends.
Loose ends for which he knew of no knots.
Now, finally asleep on the couch, in a white tank top and underwear, with the sun pouring into the livingroom from the window, the doorbell rings.
Nightstick shoots up from his sleeping position.
“Telegram for Mr. Nightstick,” cries an old, familiar voice.
Edward Newton.
Nightstick reaches under the couch and withdraws a small, 9mm pistol. He slowly approaches the door, gun pointed straight at it. His hand reaches out and grabs ahold of the door knob.
Inhale.
Exhale.
He swings the door open.
No one.
Just a figment of his imagination.
He starts to close the door when he notices a small box sitting on the welcome mat. Nightstick taps it with his foot.
There’s something inside of it.
He scoops the box up off the ground and brings it inside.
Closing the door behind him, Nightstick walks back to his couch and has a seat.
He tears the box open with his hands, ripping the tape that seals it right off of it.
When he looks inside, he snarls.
Sucking his teeth, a look of resolve suddenly spreads across his formerly pained expression.
“You thought this would break me,” Nightstick says. “This was your attempt at checkmate.”
Nightstick laughs. “But this? This has renewed me, you fucking prick.”
He stands up, tossing the box on the table. “I’m coming for you.”
Nightstick walks towards his bedroom area to get dressed and prepare himself for Shattered Dreams.
As he leaves the room, our attention is pulled to that box he left behind.
We take a look inside of it.
A bit of dirt, recently turned up.
A lock of blonde hair.
And a golden, heart shaped locket, unfolded. Bruce and Paige are smiling on one side of it. The kids smile on the other.
All of them unaware of the riddle that would occur in their future. A riddle no one would ever answer, not even Nightstick.
But sometimes, you don’t have to answer a riddle.
Sometimes you just have to beat the living shit out of it.
And that’s exactly what Nightstick planned to do.
REDWING VS. JIGSAW
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
This match may be for Redwing’s newly won VHS Championship, but with all the animosity between him and Jigsaw, this is far more personal than just a championship match.
From the moment the bell rings both Jigsaw and Redwing charge each other, hatred in their eyes. Redwing quickly takes the upperhand by double legging Jigsaw to the ground, side mounting him and laying in punch after punch after punch. Each with a little more sting than the previous. Jigsaw manages to squirm out of the way and rolls to the floor trying to get some distance. Before he can even think about what just happened he looks up to see Redwing diving through the ropes with a SUICIDE DIVE.
Redwing hits with such force that the barricade moves several inches. The enraged Redwing stands up, putting boots to the chest of Jigsaw who keeps trying to get away from the onslaught of a vengeful superhero. Redwing grabs the villain and slams him face first into the post, as Redwing quickly grabs him again and tosses him into the ring. Redwing slides in and lifting Jigsaw up and whips in into the corner, charging right after him and connects with a YAKUZA KICK!
This drops Jigsaw into the corner. Redwing quickly charges to the other side of the ring, hits the corner and returns across with a HESITATION DROPKICK.
Redwing pulls Jigsaw out of the corner laying across him.
ONE…
KICKOUT
Clearly Redwing knew his villain wasn’t done so easily, so he posts up on his knee and lays in more punches. Every drop of anger and hate that has filled Redwing over these last few months, and especially after the death of Darkwish pours out. Redwing quickly leaps into the air, connecting with a knee to the side of Jigsaw’s head. Crimson Justice lifts Jigsaw up and throws him into the ropes. On the rebound the Caped Crusader hits a stiff back elbow that nearly takes Jigsaw’s head off.
Redwing quickly follows up with a leg drop. Redwing gets up and eyes his downed prey once more before deciding his next move. Redwing runs towards the ropes with some intention in mind, but Jigsaw gets up quickly and goes for a clothesline, only for Redwing to duck under and hit the other ropes. As the Red Knight rebounds he leaps into the air, wrapping his legs around Jigsaw’s neck for a HURRICANRANA!
Redwing clasps onto a downed Jigsaw’s legs, holding the move for a pin.
ONE..
TWO..
Jigsaw quickly pulls his legs back, pulling Redwing’s shoulders down trying to sneak a win out for himself.
ONE..
TWO.. KICKOUT!
Redwing snarls a little bit frustrated getting to his feet again, this time kicking at the head of his opponent, before lifting him up. Jigsaw pushes Redwing away, trying to gain a bit of distance to gather himself, but takes a Spartan Kick to the gut that sends him rolling. Jigsaw gets to a knee, gasping for air when he takes an Axe kick to the head before being met with an elbow to the side of the head. Redwing’s frustration at Jigsaw is growing as he lifts up his opponent once again.
Redwing quickly slaps Jigsaw with rights and lefts, spinning for a backhand that connects before finishing off the sequence with an enziguiri that sends Jigsaw to the mat
Redwing is utterly relentless in his assault. Jigsaw manages to, again, roll outside and ducks under the ring. Redwing pursues his rival, but is quickly stunned. Jigsaw emerges with a small tazer and Redwing’s utility belt left behind in the tunnel from the previous VHS.
Jigsaw throws Redwing into the ring and slides in himself, shaking his head and gathering himself from the onslaught. Jigsaw climbs into the ring and kicks a stunned Redwing in the stomach before lifting him up. Jigsaw glares into the cowl of the would-be Superhero before wrapping his arm around his neck, throwing Redwing’s arm around his own, and hooking his leg. Under his mask, Jigsaw smiles ear to ear as he lifts Redwing up before dropping him down with DARK WISH!
Jigsaw mocks his adversary by hitting Darkwish’s finisher on Redwing. But before Jigsaw could even make the pin, Redwing gets up completely no-selling it as the look on his face is of pure rage at the insult to his young protege. A flurry of punches and kicks fly at Jigsaw before Redwing wraps his arm around the Puzzle Man’s neck, running to the corner for a KILLING JOKE!
Redwing pulls Jigsaw away from the corner before laying across him, hooking the leg.
ONE…
TWO…
THREE…
Redwing grabs his VHS title before holding it above his head and pointing to the sky, to Darkwish.
Redwing does it, he has finally brought down Jigsaw after months of attempts at getting his hands on him.
“SPLIT”
RINGSIDE
Redwing stands with his title held to the air. His eyes are locked to the heavens.
To all those he’s lost.
But as he tries to find peace in bringing justice, something seems to still not be right.
With a deep breath, Redwing looks down, a look of disgust in his eyes. But all he finds in response is Jigsaw, practically heaving with laughter in defeat.
“You did it.” Jigsaw growls, his voice barely human. “But it’s hollow, ain’t it? They’re all still dead.”
In a split second, disgust turns to rage in the eyes of Redwing as he drops his Championship, his whole body backing a single forearm shot to Jigsaw, battering his head backwards to the mat.
“What…”
Forearm.
“…did…”
FOREARM!
“…you…”
FOREARM!
“…say?”
HUGE FUCKING FOREARM! JIGSAW’S MASK HAS SPLIT DOWN THE MIDDLE!
No games here as Jigsaw’s whole body is rocked with the forearms. His mask stays in place for a single moment as Redwing raises his arm to finish it, right here and right now, but as that moment ends, the mask falls to either side of Jigsaw’s face.
What the…?
Redwing releases his foe, shock paralyzing his body as Jigsaw stands up, gasps echoing through the Tap Room as the face before them is not the face of the man they knew as Happy.
It’s Darkwish???
WHAT THE FUCK!? DARKWISH WAS KILLED BY JIGSAW A MONTH AGO!
BUT HE’S RIGHT THERE!
Redwing falls to his knees as Darkwish steps forward to cradle his ex-mentor’s face.
“You told me,” He spits, blood running down his face. “That if I killed Jigsaw, I had to become him.”
The Terror of the Night raises the Caped Crusader up, rage in his bloodshot eyes.
“So I did.”
Darkwish releases Redwing, but the Red Knight stays on his knees, unable to move as Darkwish walks away.
No explanations.
No taunts.
Nothing.
What the fuck?
REDMOND QUINN VS. ISAAC DANVERS
SINGLES MATCH
With the questions surrounding Luther Creed’s death, it’s a battle between Isaac Danvers and a man willing to do anything for his former tag team partner.
The bell sounds as these two men circle around the ring. They lock up before Danvers just shoves Quinn back a few feet. A brutal clothesline from Danvers knocks Quinn to the mat only for a second as he rebounds back up. Danvers rebounds off the ropes and nails a second clothesline. The same effect happens as Danvers continues his charge. Only this time he’s caught by Quinn with a HUGE dropkick!
The boot collides with the helmet of Danvers as he slams into the mat. Quinn grabs him by his beak before pulling him back to standing position. Quinn leaps over him, hooks his legs around his midsection before propelling himself forward into a sunset flip powerbomb!
DETENTION!
Quinn keeps his legs hooked around the midsection of Danvers as the referee slides into position!
ONE…
TWO…
KICKOUT!
The Plague Doctor isn’t finished with his examination yet! Quinn goes to grab Danvers, the Isaac lifts up Quinn before driving him spine-first into the corner turnbuckle. Danvers begins just DIGGING his fingertips into the ribs and midsection of Quinn as he lets out a groan of pain. Quinn drives an elbow into the back of Danvers’ head, but he’s focus is on the incision his fingers are trying to reopen. Quinn nails an uppercut to get some space!
Danvers staggers back from the blow as Quinn charges him with a roundhouse kick! Only Danvers catches the kick! He falls with the foot driving the knee of Quinn into the mat! The Tutor is forced into the splits position as The Plague Doctor’s tendril-like fingers wrap themselves around the throat of Quinn from behind!
THE BLACK DEATH!
The referee is getting in there as he begins his count, but Danvers’ eyes are focused in on Quinn as the life is seemingly being drained from his body by this illegal choke! The referee gets to a four count before Danvers releases his patient. Quinn is lifeless. Danvers covers!
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
NOOOO! Quinn kicked out at the VERY last second.
The Plague Doctor slowly rises as he nods at Quinn with a little respect noted. He grabs the arm of Quinn who hooks that arm and flips Danvers onto the ground! Quinn wraps himself around Danvers into a cobra clutch! Danvers slams into the mat as he tries to lift himself and Quinn. Isaac’s eyes flit between the sets of ropes before slowly trying to inch his way towards them!
COBRA CLUTCH!
Right as he’s about to get to the ropes, Quinn breaks the hold, wraps up the arms of Danvers and leaps over into a cattle mutilation!
FINAL ASSIGNMENT!
Isaac Danvers is in a bad way here as he has not much room to work with! He begins inching his way towards the ropes!
Danvers is almost to the ropes, but his pace has slowed. He’s about to reach the ropes, but he stops! Danvers is slumped over and not moving. The referee slides in to check on him and Danvers headbutts him! The hold is broken up as they both stagger to their feet. The referee is knocked for a loop.
Quinn kicks Danvers right in the uprights as the referee can’t see! Quinn quickly covers with a pumphandle flatliner!
CLASS DISMISSED!
He covers as the referee finally regains his senses.
ONE…
TWO…
….
….
THREE!!!!
Redmond Quinn has done it! He has defeated The Plague Doctor here at Shattered Dreams!
DEAL
RINGSIDE
The battle between the Doctor and the Professor is over. And somehow, among all of this, Redmond Quinn is no closer to finding the answers he sought than when he started. The pair gather themselves respectively, recuperating from the war. Danvers looks set to take his leave when Quinn calls out after him. His voice, stern and yelling.
“We had a deal!”
Danvers turns to see Quinn livid, near foaming at the mouth.
“You tease me with some damned ritual, string me along. I did what you wanted. I still want my end of the bargain!”
Isaac Danvers chuckles at the anger in Redmond Quinn’s voice. He speaks with surprising and suspicious calm in his voice.
“You don’t get it, do you?”
This stops Redmond in his tracks. Danvers closes the gap between them, coming right up to Quinn.
“I can’t save Creed. I can’t bring him back. I never could.”
Quinn shakes his head, in disbelief.
“No. The blood. The vials…”
Danvers chuckles again, harder this time.
“Truth be told, I was not entirely sure you would go through with that. Desperate means, one guesses.”
Quinn stammers, spitting his words through clenched teeth.
“What the hell do you want with my blood if not for bringing Luther back? You stole my blood!”
“Well seeing as you won’t be needing it any more, it doesn’t matter what I want with it. It’s not like I took a liver.”
Isaac Danvers chuckles again as he turns, walking away and leaving Quinn frozen with rage and fuming inside the ring. What Redmond does from here, who knows. One thing is for damned sure.
Quinn knows he’s been played.
Cut.
MYSTERION VS. ZANDER ZANE
DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
The proverbial dick measuring competition comes to a head as the Supervillain seeks to defend his title from the Rock God. At least it would if Zander Zane was in the ring! Mysterion is seen standing smugly in the ring, believing there’s no way the Zander Zane Experience can escape from the trap he set up earlier tonight.
With a sigh, the referee calls for the bell to start the match. Mysterion takes up a Superman pose as tonight’s official begins to count Zander out before he can show up.
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
Mysterion begins to cackle maniacally, already seeing victory within his grasp. The crowd voices their immense displeasure, showering the Tap Room with boos directed at the Supervillain.
THREE!
…
…
FOUR!
Garbage is being thrown ringside at this point, some of which bounces off the Cloaked Conundrum with negligible effects.
FIVE!
…
…
SIX!
Just before the fans could storm the ring, a flock of barely clothed women gather on the entrance ramp. Mysterion drops the pose and looks at the group in confusion. The ref, despite being as lost as the villain, continues his count.
SEVEN!
With smiles that could illuminate a room, they open the double doors and make room for a very special guest.
Zander. Fucking. Zane.
Mysterion is incensed at the sight of the Rock God. ZZ meanwhile, has a smile a mile wide as he points right at the champion as his army of groupies follow their gaze on his finger.
“Sic ‘im, bitches!”
On his command, the women storm the ring and begin assaulting Mysterion with a flurry of slaps and clubbing blows! The Cloaked Conundrum is doing all he can to defend himself, but Zane’s harem is too numerous for him to properly defend himself! The referee is doing all he can to separate the conflict, even getting security involved to eject them from the arena!
Mysterion manages to slip out of the ring as the girls are led backstage by the officials. The villain regains his bearings and starts looking for where the Rock God wandered off to. Following his instincts, he hops the barricade and heads towards the bar, hoping to find something there.
Sure enough, Zander is behind the counter, pouring himself some Sambuca into a shot glass as a drunk fan lights a match.
With rage in his eyes, Mysterion rushes over to Zane as fast as he can…
…LEAPING FOR A PUNCH OF DOOM!
BUT ZANE SPITS HIS DRINK ON THE FAN’S MATCH, BLOWING FIRE INTO THE KID’S FACE BEFORE THE BLOW CAN CONNECT! BURNING HANGOVER SUNDAY!
Mysterion lands just in front of the counter, screaming in agony as he tries to extinguish his face before the flame spreads. Zane laughs at the Cloaked Conundrum as he climbs to the counter top. The villain just manages to put out the last bit of fire as he turns back to face ZZ-
WHO LEAPS OFF FOR THE STAGE DIVE!
Both competitors hit the wooden floor, but Zander gets up quickly and forces Mysterion up to his feet. The Rock God drags the villain back to the ring by the hood, where security open the barricade for the both of them to get through. Zane forcefully whips Mysterion into the ring-
-but Mysterion reversed the whip! The villain uses the force of Zander’s whip to slam his head against the apron! Zane clutches his face and turns around as the Cloaked Conundrum leaps from the barricade-
PUNCH OF DOOM! THE FORCE OF THAT PUNCH SENDS ZANDER INTO THE RING!
The villain quickly slides into the ring and nails a standing shooting star press!
HE HOOKS THE OUTSIDE LEG!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE! NO! ZANE GOT THE SHOULDER UP AT TWO POINT NINE!
Mysterion growls as he lifts Zander up to his feet. The villain nails a dropkick, sending Zane into the corner. The teen backs up to the opposite end before charging after the Rock God with a handspring elbow. The Conundrum leads ZZ out of the corner and plants his face to the mat with a bulldog!
LATERAL PRESS!
ONE!
TWO! KICKOUT!
Mysterion grabs Zander by the hair as he begins to signal for the end. The Rock God is hoisted to his feet-
HE BREAKS MYSTERION’S GRIP! SPINNING BACK KICK! KNIFE EDGE CHOP! ROUNDHOUSE KICK!
The combo sends the villain to the corner, sitting down. With renewed energy, Zander rushes over to an adjacent corner, climbing up to the top. He doesn’t even hesitate as he leaps off!
WORLD TOUR! COAST TO COAST DROPKICK!
NO! MYSTERION ROLLED AWAY!
Zander cradles his head as the villain aims to capitalize on the Rock God’s error! Mysterion hops up to the top rope!
MASTER PLAN! THE IMPLODING 450 HIT FLUSH!
COVER!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE! NO! ANOTHER TWO POINT NINE!
Both competitors have thrown everything at each other! Zander and Mysterion lay beside each other, exhausted, for what seems like hours.
They slowly climb up to their feet, sheer anger in their eyes as they want to be the one to walk out victorious.
MYSTERION LEAPS FOR THE PUNCH OF DOOM AGAIN!
ZANE DUCKS AND HOOKS THE VILLAIN FOR THE MIC CHECK!
IT HITS FLUSH, BUT ZANDER’S NOT LETTING GO!
THE ROCK GOD STANDS UP AND NAILS A SECOND MIC CHECK TO THE VILLAIN! HE FALLS BACK FOR A COVER!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
The Zander Zane Experience lives on! Both competitors gave each other hell, but in the end, The Rock God proved that his star still shined bright by defeating the Cloaked Conundrum and foiling his plans for an easy victory!
“RINGS”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
In an unknown location, Intrepid sits in a darkened room alone, until Spero walks in to join him. He takes a seat next to him, taking a moment to think about what he knows and what he may have to do. Intrepid, meanwhile, looks up.
“I don’t want to take you from this planet,” Intrepid says. “But I have to find all the rings to stand a chance of saving mine.”
Spero shakes his head. “I can’t leave. There’s a war of God’s on this world and I have taken a side.”
“Then I beg of you, Spero, please give me your ring.”
That surprises him. He stops for a minute and takes that in, shaking his head with shock.
“You know I can’t do that. These rings choose us. He chose us,” Spero reminds him. “How long do we have?”
“I don’t know. I’ve yet to locate the other rings. If Red and Yellow are to be stopped, we’ll need them all.”
Before Spero can say another word, Gameboy walks in, wearing his headset.
“You should trust him,” he says, his tune changed. “He proved to me that he wasn’t the hacker and he got me out of that ring before anymore damage could be done. He’s Shadowforce, Spero. He needs your help and I think you should leave.”
Again, Spero is reeling from the suggestion – this time from a friend.
“I-I’ll think about it,” he stammers.
“Please hurry,” Intrepid replies, standing up. “Because I don’t know how long my planet has before they come and you’ve seen the destruction they cause first hand.”
Spero nods.
Cut.
NOCTURNE VS. TROY SOLVEIG
STREET FIGHT
The Hunter has become the Hunted. The Trickster finds himself on the run from beasts of hell itself but will The Abyssal Savior have his revenge or will Solveig find a way to get off the dinner menu?
We fade in as the hounds rush at Solveig, the Viking dodging one but the other leaps at his face, Solveig barely keeping it back with all his strength as it’s jaw snap furiously, trying to clamp down onto his flesh. Troy manages to strike it with a huge right sending it flying as the other comes rushing at him. Troy manages to catch it’s mouth in his hands, forcing it closed before landing a stiff kick to it’s ribs that draw out a low howl. The two hell hounds circle Solveig once more who steadies himself for their attacks.
BEFORE A GIANT ROCK SLAMS INTO HIS HEAD
Troy is dazed, looking furiously through hazy eyes at Nocturne who’s devilish smile grows wider
WHEN THE HOUNDS LEAP FORWARD, CLAMPING THEIR JAWS ONTO TROY!
Solveig screams out in pain, blood pouring down his limbs, one hound tearing away at his right arm, the other his left leg as they tear flesh from bone. Nocturne chuckles to himself, whistling as the hounds let go of Solveig, who collapses to one knee from the pain. Nocturne rubs his hands over both hell hounds before signalling them to stay as he slowly walks forward.
C..Coward. Using your beasts to injure me instead of your own strength.
It’s nothing you don’t deserve Loki.
Nocturne spits in the face of the prone Troy before drilling him with a stiff kick to the jaw that cracks bone. Troy spits out a thick glob of blood before trying to stand. The pain in his face is evident but he slowly raises himself to his feet. Slowly walking forward, he tries a wild left that Nocturne easily dodges before kicking Troy’s left leg out from under him, causing the Trickster to face plant into the dirt. Troy tries to stand up but Nocturne is on him as he mounts him, driving him lefts and rights trying to break Troy’s jaw. A sickening knee dazes Troy as Nocturne leaps up
STOMP OF THE BEHEMOTH!
Troy’s face is a bloody disgusting mess but he’s still fighting as he tries to crawl up Nocturne, fury in his eyes as Nocturne simply grabs him by the back of the head and tosses him as hard as he can, Solveig landing hard on the wooden pier, nearly collapsing through it from the pure power of the throw. Solveig slowly sits up as Nocturne beckons his hell hounds close, stroking their fur for a moment before motioning them to attack once more.
The hounds slowly stalk forward, Troy backing up as his rage slowly slips away, the trickster showing pure fear in his eyes as Troy slips into the water, the hounds leaping after him. The water is still for a moment before it begins bubbling up, and blood fills the surface. A terrifying scream echoes out into the night as the water goes still once more, the hell hounds leaping out onto dry land as Nocturne begins to walk away, a satisfied smile on his face.
The Abyssal Savior only gets a few feet before the air begins to chill. The Hell Hounds begin to shiver as the very ground begins to slowly frost over and we hear the sound of water rushing to the surface suddenly as Nocturne turns to see Solveig standing on the now frozen water, Volsungr in his hand with a blue hue covering the Trickster. Solveig leaps into the air, landing a few paces away from Nocturne who’s smile quickly turns to fury
GET HIM!
The Hell Hounds rush forward, one leaping right into Troy’s open hand as he tosses it far away into the lake as it crashes through the ice. The other hound circles around Troy, snapping at the back of his head, only to rush right into Volsungr, as Troy drives the hammer into the back of the hounds head. It flies into the air, slamming hard into the ground in a whimper. Troy turns back to Nocturne who’s shaking in rage.
KERBEROS! How dare you Solveig. I’ll have your life for that.
You may try, but you will fail angel.
Nocturne screams out in rage as he rushes an unsuspecting Solveig with tremendous speed, taking him down as he grips the side of his head, trying to drive both thumbs into his eyes and give Troy an Abyssal Mask! Solveig tries to fight back but Nocturne’s strength is inhuman as his nails are milimetres away from Troy’s pupils.
VOLSUNGR TO THE HEAD! Troy slams the hammer into Nocturne’s temple, sending him crashing to the dirt as he just escapes his blinding fate.
Troy rolls to his feet, lifting Volsungr up high, just missing Nocturne as it slams down hard into the earth, delivering a hard crack through where it has iced. Nocturne delivers a stiff kick that knocks the hammer away but leaves himself open for a massive headbutt before
VALKYRIE! The Superman Punch sends him flying as he crashes onto the pier. Nocturne slowly pulls himself up as Troy rushes forward
WITH A MASSIVE SPEAR, SENDING BOTH MEN FLYING OFF THE PIER THROUGH THE ICE TO THE WATER BELOW!
The ice on the water shatters as the water below bubbles and slowly becomes still once more. A hand rises out of the water and grips onto the pier…
IT’S NOCTURNE! He pulls an unconscious Solveig out from the water, tossing him onto the pier
You’re not done suffering yet Solveig.
Nocturne collapses upon the wood, spent but the last man standing here tonight.
Nocturne does it, with a little help from his hell hounds, he’s survived the might of Volsungr and the powers of the Jotunn to put down Troy Solveig here tonight. But what other punishments will the Abyssal Savior inflict on the monster who took his life?
“MIRAGE”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
After that vile and brutal fight, Nocturne gets back to his feet, looking at Troy Solveig who gets back to his. These two men just fought a brutal fight, hellhounds included, and it doesn’t appear that they’re finished.
The hounds lay bloodied nearby, having been brutalized earlier. They whimper in pain, receiving a glance from Nocturne.
“Your beasts won’t stop me,” Solveig says breathlessly. “Neither will you. I have a purpose, a purpose you can join, if only you’d sate your thirst for vengeance.”
The Demon shakes his head, looking at his pets, almost ignoring Troy.
“You know the thing about hellhounds?” He says, his sadness turning to a chuckle. “They’re dead.”
He turns to face The Viking.
“They feel pain, eternally, it’s kind of their thing. But you know as well as I do that you can’t kill what’s already dead, Solveig.”
The hounds suddenly rise to their feet, their wounds healed.
“Let’s see if you’re right.”
They lunge at him, attacking him once more in mid-air. They drag him down to the floor, ripping and clawing at him as Nocturne approaches. Solveig screams in agony, bleeding profusely from his wounds as the Demon watches with glee.
One of the hounds rips out Solveig’s throat, brutally tearing it from his neck, larynx, blood, viscera and all.
Choking and bleeding out, The Viking perishes, gargling on his own blood.
Nocturne, delighted, takes a deep breath.
But before he can move, speak or do anything, Troy’s body vanishes.
A mirage.
The speciality of the Trickster.
Nocturne’s smile fades into fury as he looks down at the empty space below.
Cut.
“SWORD IN THE STONE”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
England.
In the middle of a field, in the pouring rain, King Arthur trudges towards a rocky cliff face. Looking up at the top, for a moment, he thinks he see’s something but dismisses it as mere fiction.
He continues inwards until he meets the rocky cliff and slithers between a crack in it. Once inside, he stops dead.
Because before him is Excalibur, buried in a rock.
And with a hand upon it? The Scarecrow.
“What are thou doing?” Arthur yells angrily. “Hath thou lost their mind?”
“I warned you Arthur. I told you that I can’t let you have it.”
The Scarecrow uses all his impressive might and begins pulling on the sword. The King watches in awe as he stumbles backwards, his grip slipping and the sword having not budged an inch.
“Doth thou not understand? Excalibur belongs to the rightful King.”
Angered, The Scarecrow refuses to be defeated, trying once more. He pulls on the weapon as hard as he can, even pushing a boot into the rock for leverage – but he only succeeds in tumbling over.
Arthur approaches, shaking his head.
“Thou art a foolish beast,” he mocks as he runs his hand across the sword. “Enow of this idiocy.”
He grabs the handle of the sword, sliding it effortlessly from the rock. The Scarecrow watches on from the floor with widened eyes as Arthur takes in the power of Excalibur.
Only something happens.
Something astonishing.
The Scarecrow rises, watching in awe as The Lich King transforms before his very eyes.
His colourless white hair turns a beautiful flowing blond.
His eyes become brown.
His skin forms, human and pink.
King Arthur – the once Lich, whilst in possession of his sword has become…
Human.
The Scarecrow smiles, charging forward
KING ARTHUR VS. THE SCARECROW
SINGLES MATCH
With the odds now somewhat evened, The Scarecrow lunges at Arthur as the surprisingly agile human slips away underneath, using his sword to slice straight through the thigh of The Hayman; it hurt, but he’s undeterred.
He swings again like a hammer, only this time ‘Crow commando rolls beneath the blow, popping up in time to pull him close and plant him with a Headbutt!
Arthur is then pushed back into the rocks, shaken with right and left hands that power down on his now handsome fast.
SMACK!
SMACK!
SMACK!
Blood begins pouring from The King’s nose – a feat that even surprises him. He pulls the sword up…
RUNNING IT INTO THE SCARECROW!
BUT NO!
THE SCARECROW RUNS BACKWARDS WITH IT, SWIVELLING TO AVOID BEING PIERCED!
He quickly reaches out, grabbing Arthur by the neck and flipping him over his hip, only The King lands on his feet! He lifts the sword, using it like a Clothesline to take The Scarecrow down to the floor.
Lifting Excalibur up, King Arthur drives it down towards the chest of The Hayman!
NO!
HE ROLLS AWAY!
ARTHUR FOLLOWS HIM, SLAMMING EXCALIBUR INTO THE GROUND IN CHASE!
The Scarecrow sweeps the sword away, knocking Arthur to the floor who simply wont release his grip. As the King tumbles to the ground, The Hayman gets back to his feet, looming over him.
“That sword makes you mortal,” The Monster growls. “Release it and regain your power.”
“Never!” Arthur breathlessly responds.
The Scarecrow reaches down and grabs him, picking him up and Scoop Slamming him on the floor. Arthur arches his back in agony, but still retains the sword.
Once again, Crow picks him up.
“The mighty King Arthur; a legendary hunter of the monstrous and ghastly,” he taunts with a smirk, placing a hand on the blade and another around the throat of Arthur. “That was a long time ago, was it not?”
Arthur smiles himself, drawing the sword through the hand of The Scarecrow!
The Hayman recoils in pain.
“Yet not long enough.”
Arthur swings the sword at him, time and time again, each shot being blocked by a forearm. Each shot drives into the arms of The Scarecrow, needing to be powerfully pulled from within him.
The force drives him to a knee, where the King now looms over him.
“Tis thy end, beast.”
He slams the sword down towards The Scarecrows head, only he puts both hands up to catch it in the air.
Standing with it between his hands, he growls.
“Never.”
Right hands.
Left hands.
Both men trade off.
Another swipe of the sword ducked by The Scarecrow who runs him into the wall.
They both crash away, The Scarecrow grabbing him by the throat.
BYE BYE BIRDIE!
BYE…
BYE…
BIRDIE!
CHOKESLAM!
Arthur slams into the ground with such force it feels like the entire cavern shakes, yet somehow, he doesn’t relinquish the sword.
The Scarecrow stands over him, ready to finish this.
“A King no longer!”
Arthur though isn’t so easily defeated. He kicks out at the legs of Scarecrow, dropping him to his knees before swinging a big hook of a foot around his head, knocking him off to the side.
He stands up, angrily dusting himself off before charging at The Monster.
The Hayman blocks another kick.
THE HAYMAKER!
MASSIVE RIGHT HAND TO THE HEART!
ARTHUR CRUMBLES, FALLING TO THE FLOOR!
ONLY HIS SWORD HAD PIERCED THE LEG OF THE SCARECROW!
HE DROPS TO HIS KNEES AS THE SWORD FALLS WITH THE KING, BARELY ABLE TO STAND, BUT VICTORIOUS.
“EXCALIBUR”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
After that gruelling fight, both King Arthur and The Scarecrow barely rise to their feet. Arthur is hurting after such a battle, his human form barely able to withstand the power of the Scarecrow, despite the power he himself wields.
With one last thrust, he drives forward, Excalibur piercing through the stomach of The Scarecrow.
He howls with pain.
The Hayman falls to his knees in shock, watching as King Arthur withdraws the sword and places it at his neck.
“I told thee that thy end would cometh and now it is time for thou yede.”
Arthur swings back on the sword and with all his might, slams it down as hard as he can.
Clink.
His eyes open, the sound not what he expected.
Because The Scarecrow remains kneeling but a sword has met his in flight.
A sword belonging to Berengar.
The Vigilkeeper.
Flutter.
The Scarecrow vanishes into the ether to lick his wounds, leaving Berengar to push King Arthur backwards. Both men stand before one another, their swords drawn.
Arthur lunges forward with a swipe, watching as Berengar blocks it, swinging one of his own that the King barely dodges.
The King realizes that he’s in trouble just as The Knight lunges forward.
In a moment of madness, King Arthur drops his sword just as Berengar drives Vigilkeeper into his heart.
He runs him back towards the rocky cliff, slamming him into it.
“I’m sorry that it had to be this way,” Berengar says sympathetically. “But I couldn’t let you kill The Scarecrow.”
Arthur laughs, his hair turning white.
His skin sinking back in towards his bone.
Without his sword in his possession, he becomes a Lich once again.
He pulls on the armour of Berengar, dragging himself violently up the blade with a smile.
“Thou will cometh to regret thy interference.”
Face to face, Berengar’s eyes widen with shock. He snatches Vigilkeeper away, pulling it from The Lich King’s dead body. With a step or two backwards, he clicks his fingers, immediately being beamed up by Slepnir.
Arthur chuckles, bending down to inspect his sword.
“We hath work to do.”
Cut.
“MAGDALENE”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
A heavy wooden door swings open and a smiling young lady walks into a small room. She carries a tray with bread and milk upon it, one hand steadying it while it’s supported underneath by a stump, crudely bandaged.
Sitting before her in a rocking chair, with nary a scratch, is Mother Magdalene, the focus of so much death and destruction over recent months. She may not be literally shackled, but her imprisonment is etched on her face.
“Another day in paradise, eh?” She sardonically notes, taking the cup of milk and having a small sip.
The young lady merely nods.
“My son,” Magdalene comments, her tone becoming serious, “still searches for me.”
The lady sighs, meeting Magdalene’s gaze without a peep.
“He plots, I’m sure.” The older lady smiles. “Plans upon plans. Turning that damn River of his red.”
She stops to look down as she breaks her bread.
“He’s ruthless, but Manson is ruthless in a way he’ll never be.”
Magdalene nods at the younger lady’s stump.
“But you already knew that, I suppose.”
Silence takes over as Magdalene takes a small nibble of her broken up bread. She frowns and places it back in her hand. She looks up to meet the eyes of other woman.
“I’m not hungry, love.”
She places the food and drink back on the tray, the younger lady turning to lock her back in her isolation. We follow the other lady as she steps out into a large warehouse. The room that Magdalene is trapped in seems to be metal, likely to escape detection.
As the lady reaches the exit, she dumps the bread and milk in the trash.
But as she walks away, the trash can beckons. Inside the milk-soaked crumbled bread, a metal glint can be seen.
A tooth.
A small red light flashes from within it.
Cut.
EDWARD NEWTON © VS. NIGHTSTICK
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Nightstick.
Edward Newton.
The tension in the ring is palpable as each man stands in their respective corner, staring at the other.
The former officer spits. “Child killer,” he says, the spite pouring from his mouth. “Woman killer.”
Newton lifts an eyebrow. “The only thing I’ve killed Mr. Nightstick,” the Riddler says. “Is your only hope of beating me.”
DING! DING! Nightstick immediately races across the ring and sends a BIG BOOT straight towards Newton’s head, like a fucking missile! Newton narrowly escapes, dropping to the mat and rolling out of the ring to safety. Nightstick immediately pursues his weeks long suspect, sliding out of the ring and giving chase. Newton runs a lap around the ring, Nightstick breathing down his neck! Newton dives under the bottom rope and back into the ring, standing up just in time to deliver a PUNT KICK RIGHT ACROSS NIGHTSTICK’S JAW!!
Newton undoubtedly delivering an early killshot, now begins leveling Nightstick with stomps to his cranium, neck, and back! Stomp, stomp, stomp, stomp!! The Riddler drops to his knees and begins strangling Nightstick, squeezing his hands around his tormentor’s neck, shaking his head! Nightstick’s face flushes with red, before slowly turning purple. Edward Newton is SNAPPING in front of all of our eyes!
Nightstick laughs through the blatant chokehold.
Newton’s eyes widen.
“Is this…” Nightstick can barely spit the words out. “What you did… To kill… the Van Chan’s…?”
HEADBUTT FROM NIGHTSTICK!! Newton is forced to let go from the sheer force of Nightstick’s forehead colliding into his face!! Nightstick slowly reaches all fours, finally able to breathe, his normal color returning to his face.
But Newton CURBSTOMPS the unsuspecting officer’s head into the mat! Nightstick’s face smashes into the squared circle, and Newton rolls him over for the cover!
ONE!
TWO!
KICKOUT!!
Too early even for a false finish, Nightstick is able to keep his chances at dethroning the Riddler alive! Newton drags Five-O to his feet, and irish whips the Law straight into the turnbuckles! Nightstick’s back collides into the turnbuckles just in time to catch a RUNNING KNEE TO HIS CHIN!! Newton runs back towards the opposite end of the ring and charges! ANOTHER RUNNING KNEE!! Nightstick looks utterly dazed as Newton prepares for one more running knee!
Newton charges! NIGHTSTICK CATCHES NEWTON WITH HIS LIFTED BOOT! Newton stumbles backwards!
HARD JUSTICE!!
THE CLOTHESLINE FROM HELL CAUSES NEWTON TO PERFORM A CORKSCREW SHOOTING STAR PRESS FROM THE IMPACT, LANDING ON THE MAT AWKWARDLY!!!
Both men lay on their backs now, breathing heavily. Hard Justice from the Law wasn’t enough to turn the tables of the match, but it sure as shit evened them! Nightstick is the first to begin moving towards his feet, however Newton is close behind. Just as Nightstick stands to his feet and regains his balance, so does Edward Newton!
BIG RIGHT HAND FROM NIGHTSTICK!
A HARD LEFT FROM NEWTON!
NIGHTSTICK WITH ANOTHER RIGHT!
NEWTON WITH A LEFT!
RIGHT!
LEFT!
RIGHT!
LEFT!
RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT! RIGHT!
Nightstick showing his pugilistic prowess as right hand after right hand connects with Newton’s jaw, and Newton finds himself beaten right up against the ropes!
HARD JUSTICE! AGAIN!
THE CLOTHESLINE SENDS NEWTON TOPPLING OVER THE ROPES AND SLAMMING HARD TO THE GROUND OUTSIDE!!
Nightstick wastes no time.
He slides out of the ring, grabbing his namesake weapon, and looks at the crowd.
They’re begging for it!
EXCESSIVE FORCE!!!
Nightstick slams his weapon down on Newton’s lower back! The Riddler arches his back in pain!
EXCESSIVE FORCE!!!
AGAIN TO NEWTON’S BACK!!!
Nightstick reaches in his pocket. He withdraws the locket that Newton handed him earlier. The Van Chan family stare at him, smiling, unaware of their fate in the moment captured in the picture.
And Nightstick…
STARTS BEATING THE EVER LIVING FUCK OUT OF NEWTON WITH HIS NIGHTSTICK!!
HE MOUNTS THE CHAMPION ON HIS LOWER BACK, AND ASSAULTS HIM WITH HIS WEAPON!!
THE RIDDLER’S SKULL! HIS FACE! HIS NECK! HIS SHOULDERS!!
EACH MET WITH THE EXCESSIVE FORCE THAT ONLY NIGHTSTICK CAN DELIVER!!
Nightstick stands to his feet, casting his weapon aside. He rolls the champion into the ring and follows behind him, hooking his leg for a pin attempt!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
NO!!!
It’s going to take more than assault and battery to keep the champion down for a three count! Nightstick seems just fine with that, a little bit of a sadistic grin emerging on his face as he lifts the Riddler to his feet.
Newton, perhaps in sheer survival mode, rakes the challenger’s eyes! Nightstick staggers. Newton kicks his shin!
NEVERMIND!!! NEVERMIND!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
NEWTON MAKES THE COVER!!!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
THREE!
…
NO! NO! SOMEHOW, NIGHTSTICK KICKS OUT OF THE MOVE THAT HAS SENT SO MANY CONTENDER’S HOME EMPTY HANDED!!!
Newton stands to his feet, towering over the Law in a moment so poetically fitting given their recent history. Suddenly, Newton seizes the situation.
THE RIDDLE BOX!
Newton locks in the Boston Crab! Nightstick SCREAMS OUT in agony as Newton wrenches Nightstick’s lower back with his own legs! Angrily, Newton pulls the Law’s legs back even further!
Nightstick, gritting his teeth and screaming through them, tries his best to crawl towards the ropes. Absolute torture as Newton forces him to fight and claw for every inch as he drags himself towards the ropes! He is almost there! The crowd are cheering him on! They want to see him beat Newton!
NIGHTSTICK GRABS THE ROPES!!
NO HE DOESN’T!!
Newton drags him back to the center of the ring just before his hand can make contact with the bottom rope!
The air leaves the Tap Room like a deflated balloon. Nightstick, flailing and screaming and clawing, has to tap out. He just has to.
The referee asks Nightstick, “Do you quit!?!”
“No!” He screams. But his strength his fading.
As is his will.
Nightstick lifts his hand up! He’s going to tap! He’s going to tap!
AND STILLLLL!! NEWTON RETAINS HIS CHAMPIONSHIP–
NO! NIGHTSTICK KEEPS HIS HAND UP AND GRABS THE REFEREE BY HIS PANT LEG!! HE THROWS HIM BACKWARDS AND STRAIGHT INTO NEWTON, TAKING NEWTON AND THE REFEREE DOWN, FREEING HIM FROM THE HOLD!!
Newton and the Referee both scramble up to their feet. Newton tries to lock the Riddle Box back in, but Nightstick kicks him away. Nightstick climbs up to one knee!
NEVERMIND FROM NEWTON!
IT’S FUCKING OVER!!!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
THREE!
Edward Newton has retained his title!
NO!! NIGHTSTICK’S FOOT WAS ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!!
Newton stands up, placing his hands on his hips. He shakes his head. The Law simply won’t stay down.
Newton grabs Nightstick and pulls the cop to his feet. But Nightstick falls to his knee!
LOW BLOW!! LOW BLOW!!
NEWTON IS HAUNCHED OVER!! HE PLACES THE RIDDLER’S HEAD BETWEEN HIS LEGS!!
911!!! FUCKING POWERBOMB!!!
EDWARD’S BACK BOUNCES OFF THE MAT! NIGHTSTICK MAKES THE COVER!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!!
NEW CHAMPION! NEW CHAMPION!! NIGHTSTICK HAS ACCOMPLISHED WHAT NO ONE HAS ONCE BEEN ABLE TO DO!
HE HAS BEATEN EDWARD NEWTON!
NO!!!
GOD DAMNIT! NEWTON’S FOOT FOUND THE BOTTOM ROPE!
Edward Newton is still alive.
Nightstick laughs almost as though he can’t believe it. He grabs Newton and pulls him violently to his feet.
He sets Newton up for another 911!
But he starts running halfway through it!
RUNNING 911 BUCKLEBOMB!!! JESUS CHRIST HE FOLDED THE RIDDLER IN HALF!!
HE YANKS NEWTON TO HIS FEET AGAIN!!
ANOTHER GOD DAMN RUNNING 911!!! OVER THE TOP FUCKING ROPES!!
NEWTON’S BACK COLLIDES ONTO THE FLOOR! FUCK, HIS BACK MUST BE BROKEN!!!
Nightstick ROARS! Primally, something in him has awoken as he steps outside the ring. He grabs the absolutely unconscious OSW World Champion and practically tosses him into the ring.
Nightstick RIPS the steel steps away from the ringpost, and TOSSES them into the ring as well. The Law slides into the ring and grabs Newton by his hair, dragging him all the way up to his feet.
“This is for the Van Chan family you mother fucker!”
NEWTON KICKS NIGHTSTICK IN THE GUT!
NEVERMIND ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!! NIGHTSTICK WAS JUST FLATTENED!!
THE OPPORTUNISTIC WORLD CHAMPION MAKES THE COVER!!
ONE!
…
TWO!
…
…
…
THREE!
It wasn’t pretty, but Edward Newton picked up a huge victory that, somehow, felt like a long shot, extending his unbeaten streak.
NO!!!
NIGHTSTICK KICKED OUT!!! HE KICKED THE FUCK OUT!!!
Newton’s eyes narrow. You can almost see the mental calculations unfolding behind those eyes as he grabs the steel stairs, lifting them up over his head!
CLANG!! RIGHT ONTO NIGHTSTICK’S KNEE!
CLANG!! AGAIN!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
CLANG!!
Nightstick’s knee must be fucking shattered. The Riddler starts stomping away at Five-O’s knee, who is prone and helpless in the center of the ring.
Nightstick has a last resort, he reaches to his sidearm!
TASER!!! TASER!!! HE SHOOTS A TASER STRAIGHT INTO NEWTON’S NECK AND DROPS HIM TO THE GROUND!!!
Newton convulses on the ground as Nightstick limps to his feet, continuing to pull the trigger, sending volt after volt of electric shock straight through Newton’s body!! Jesus fucking Christ!!!
The electric shock is unending! Nightstick won’t let go of the gun! Finally, he pauses his attack long enough to make a pinfall attempt!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!
…
…
NIGHTSTICK HAS DONE IT!
NO! NEWTON’S SHOULDER FLIES UP JUST IN TIME!
Newton grabs the prongs of the taser in his neck and rips them out.
THEN HE STABS THEM INTO NIGHTSTICK’S NECK!! HE GRABS THE TASER AND THE TABLES HAVE TURNED!!!
Newton now sends volts of electricity through the body of the Law!! Mad with rage, Newton squeezes every last bit of electricity out of the taser, and Nightdtick convulses helplessly on the ground!!
Newton drops the taser and lifts up the steel steps.
THEN HE SLAMS THEM DOWN ON NIGHTSTICK’S HEAD!!
NIGHTSTICK MIGHT VERY WELL BE FUCKING DEAD!!!
NEWTON MAKES THE COVER!!!
ONE!!
…
…
…
TWO!!
…
…
…
THREE!!!
He’s done it.
He’s retained.
Paramedics rush out of the back to check on Nightstick’s status.
WAIT!! NIGHTSTICK’S BOOT WAS ON THE BOTTOM ROPE!!
HE LIVES!!
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HE’S STILL IN THIS FUCKING TITLE MATCH!!
Edward Newton has had enough. He drags the Law over to the corner and helps the officer to his feet. He shoves Nightstick into the turnbuckles. Nightstick can barely keep his feet, Newton has to stop Five-O from slumping to the mat.
Instead, Newton lifts Nightstick into a prone, sitting position on the top turnbuckle.
Newton climbs up to meet him.
NEVERMIND DDT FROM THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!!!
NO!!!
NIGHTSTICK SHOVES THE RIDDLER DOWN TO THE MAT!!
HARD JUSTICE FROM THE TOP ROPE!!!
NIGHTSTICK MAKES THE COVER!!!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!!!!
NO!!! EDWARD NEWTON KICKS OUT!!!
What is it going to take?
What the fuck is it going to take?
Nightstick, those in attendance, and everyone watching at home have to be wondering. They have to be.
Suddenly, Nightstick takes a look at his surroundings. He drags Newton to his feet.
ODE TO BOSSMAN ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
Nightstick stands to his feet and lifts the crumpled Champ to his own.
The Law places the Riddler’s head between his legs…
911 ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
911 ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
911 ONTO THE STEEL STEPS!!
911 ONTO THE STEEL FUCKING STEPS!!!
IT’S OVER!! IT FUCKING HAS TO BE!!!
ONE!
…
…
TWO!
…
…
THREE!!!
…
…
NO!!!
…
…
…wait…
…
Yes?
The bell rings. A quiet hush falls over the Tap Room. Nightstick stands to his feet. The referee steps to Nightstick and places the OSW World Championship in his arms.
Nightstick looks down at Newton.
He’s still out.
It’s over.
The streak.
The reign.
It’s over. It’s fucking over.
Nightstick’s arm is lifted by the referee! For the first time since Newton has arrived in OSW, he has taken a loss. And for the first time in an unbelievably, unprecedented amount of time?
The OSW has a new World Champion.
And his name is Nightstick.
“WEAPON OF THE LORD”
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Somewhere in the world, Odin and Zeus stand on a rocky mountain edge overlooking a thrashing ocean. The wind has picked up and the skies are grey, looking as if it’s about to rain.
Flutter.
They both turn around to see The Chief and The Scarecrow, stood together. The latter holds his midsection, still suffering from the pain of his match with King Arthur.
“Why did you summon us?” The Chief demands to know.
“You don’t think we know what you’ve been conspiring, Yahweh?” Zeus says accusingly, stepping forward. The Scarecrow too steps forward, standing toe to toe with The God. “Get out of my way, creature. I’ll get to you in a moment.”
The Scarecrow doesn’t budge.
Zeus whips his hand through the sky, propelling The Scarecrow away and over the cliffs edge. The Hayman rapidly rolls over the rocky edge, bouncing off the jagged cliffs as he plummets to the bed of rocks below.
The Chief looks stunned but doesn’t move.
Zeus angrily walks towards him, pulled back by Odin.
“You had them killed,” Odin barks angrily. “You had your monster kill them all, whilst they were at their weakest!”
“It doesn’t appear that he’s weak,” The Chief says, looking past him to where The Scarecrow was just tossed. “And I think you’ll find that we had nothing to do with it.”
“Then explain this,” Zeus yells, holding out his hand. Within his palm is a handful of hay. “I found this on the floor, where our fellow God’s were murdered.”
Flutter.
The Scarecrow reappears, angrily grabbing Zeus by the throat. He runs him back to the cliff edge, the God having no ability to stop him. He used all his power to throw him over in the first place. The Hayman dangles him and his muscular frame over the edge, until Yahweh yells.
“ENOUGH!”
The Hayman wisely stops, pulling Zeus back over the edge and releasing him.
Odin shakes his head. “Look at him,” he pleads. “He’s impossible. Did you know about this, Yahweh? Did you send him to murder us? We’re the only two left.”
“I did not.”
Flutter
Wind.
And they’re gone. Odin walks over to Zeus, helping his friend from the floor. With The Scarecrow and Yahweh gone, these two Gods are furious.
“I don’t believe him,” Zeus says angrily. “I don’t believe either of them.”
“We promised them a war, did we not?” Odin reminds Zeus. “Then it’s time we gave them one.”
Cut.
“LOST”
BACKSTAGE
Men in white jackets storm through the backstage doors, accompanied by a panic-stricken member of staff who leads them down the halls. They’re wheeling a bed between them, navigating it around the tight corners.
“It was just so sudden,” the poor staff member says with fear. She can’t contain her emotions. “He snapped. He brutally attacked my colleagues and I barely escaped.”
“Don’t worry, Miss. We’re trained to deal with such instances.”
She finally arrives at the room, stopping short of the door. Refusing to go in, she simply points in that direction.
The men nod, entering the room at the same time.
There’s a loud bang, accompanied by screaming and yelling. The commotion suddenly and abruptly spills out into the hallway.
It’s Edward Newton and he’s lost it.
He’s screaming, spitting and howling with rage. His eyes are wide and full of insanity as he kicks and struggles against the four men it takes to somehow restrain him.
“Stop struggling Mr. Newton,” the lead male says. “This is for your own good.”
They somehow get him down onto the bed, strapping his arms and legs to it so that he can’t escape. Newton violently struggles with them, trying to snap his arms and legs away, but finding himself unable.
“You think you’ve seen the last of me!?” He bellows. “I’ll be back! Just you wait and see, I’ll be back!”
Laughing maniacally, Newton is wheeled down the hall and back towards the exit.
His sheer terrifying laugh all we can hear as the camera peers into the locker room, looking at the unconscious and bloodied bodies of his victims.
“Do you want a riddle!?”
He laughs.
“C’mon, riddle me this.”
Laughter.
Cut.