THE FARM
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
Days later.
Tombstone and Drewitt walk through the slums, heading back towards the place where he was held captive. Drewitt is furious with the OSW World Champion, walking ahead and not paying much attention to he who follows.
They make it back to the chain-link fence, which is ominously open. Slowly but carefully they make their way inside, Drewitt finding exactly what he expected to find.
Colt.
Dead.
The Explorer kneels before his best friend and companion, lifting him up into his arms as tears begin welling in his eyes.
Tombstone likewise looks sad – a surprising show of emotion.
“I have a plot for him,” The OSW World Champion blurts out. “If you’d like it, we can take him there.”
Drewitt solemnly nods.
“You did this,” he growls angrily. “You fuckin’ did this.”
“I’m sorry,” Tombstone concedes. “He came to me. He wanted to save you, Drewitt. I followed him here to rescue you, but I never for one second thought it would end like this.”
“You didn’t follow him here for me!” Drewitt yells at him. “You followed him here for you, you selfish fuck. This is all about you. It’s always about you. You wanna fight me? I’ll fuckin’ see you at Red Snow, mother fucker.”
The Explorer scoops Colt’s body off the floor and takes his leave, leaving Tombstone to think about what he’s done and why he did it.
Cut.
READ ALL ABOUT IT II
Agora.
As The People’s Voice flies off shelves, the faces of people appear shocked and stunned. Narcissa’s face is on every page. Harold Attano stands by, watching with a smirk on his face.
Olympus.
Members of the OSW roster are sat around reading about it.
The House of Sovereigns.
Zeus has a copy of the People’s Voice in his hands, smiling as he reads through the pages.
Ares on the other hand, enters with frustration.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He demands to know. “After everything we’ve been through.”
Meanwhile, Narcissa sits hidden behind a locked door, somewhere in Arcadia. Artemis sits with her.
“What are we going to do?” She asks. “The secret is out.”
Our final shot is of Colt Ramsey, looking out from a window in the People’s Voice, watching as men and women walk towards his offices.
Something is afoot.
Cut.
Two very dangerous competitors go head to head here tonight. Can the Illuminator knock down a champion on his way to getting his own gold or will he be an example of what awaits the Hunter inside the Hive?
The bell sounds as Jinx rushes forward, trying to take Lamplighter down with a running headscissors but Albert catches her, flipping her down to the canvas as he tries to lock in a single leg crab. Jinx manages to flip herself back around, kicking Albert in the face not once, not twice but three times, breaking the hold on her foot.
Jinx staggers to her feet, rushing to the ropes once more, stunning Lamplight with a beautiful kick to the jaw before springboarding off again
SLINGSHOT DD…NO! Lamplight catches Jinx in mid-air, throwing her off onto her knees before rushing forward
SLIDING CLOTHESLINE TO THE JAW NEARLY DECAPITATES THE FATAL ERROR!
Jinx crashes back down hard as Lamplight gets to his feet, straightening his tie for a moment before he begins to target the right knee of Jinx with a series of savage kicks and stomps. Lamplight grabs hold of the leg, looking to wrap it around the back of his head Stretch Muffler style but Jinx begins to fight out, landing a hard right before a series of left kicks to the jaw rock and stagger him back, allowing Jinx to get to her feet for a moment.
Jinx staggers to the ropes, trying to get some feeling back into her knee, not noticing Lamplight rushing up behind
SALE OF A LIFETIME..TO THE RIGHT KNEE! SHOTGUN BASEMENT DROPKICK BOTH SENDS JINX FLYING FORWARD AND NEARLY BREAKS HER KNEE IN THE PROCESS!
Jinx crashes to the mat and Lamplight is immediately on her, pounding and pulling at her bad knee before locking in an ankle lock. Jinx screams in pain as she quickly grips the ropes but that doesn’t matter in this match, the only way to win is to make your opponent tap out by any means necessary as Lamplight drops down, grapevining the leg. Jinx screams out in pain but she continues to crawl before finally pushing herself through
FORCING LAMPLIGHT TO SLAM SKULL FIRST INTO THE MIDDLE BUCKLE!
Lamplight breaks the hold as Jinx struggles to her feet, barely able to stand but she’s determined as Albert staggers up, RIGHT INTO THE DDOS! Brutal Discus elbow may well have broken some teeth as Jinx limps backwards, hurting but determined as she looks to knock out Albert’s Lamplight’s as the Illuminator slowly rises to his feet
SCRAMBLE THE…CHOPBLOCK!
Albert ducks underneath the knee, driving his entire weight down onto that broken knee, Jinx screaming out in pain. Lamplight transitions down, gripping her bad knee and locking in a stretch muffler
PERSUASIVE NEED! Jinx is trying to hang in there but her knee is in tatters as she’s forced to tap out!
The Illuminator picks up the big victory over the NXT Level Champion here, proving he’s more then ready to become champion at Red Snow.
WINNER: ALBERT LAMPLIGHT
GO FIND HIM
The Sanctuary.
In the unground style lair of The Kingdom, members of the forementioned group stand around a large, computerised table in which a search for their missing member has long been underway.
“He didn’t come back?” The Red Falcon says, entering the room somewhat late to the party.
“Does it look like it?” The Black Panther curtly replies.
The Blue Shark and The White Bear remain focused on the table. Finally, a yellow light pings up, pulsating before their very eyes.
“We have him,” Shark announces.
All members of the Kingdom that aren’t at the table, rush to it.
A voice suddenly emanates from the computer – it belongs to The Zookeeper.
“Tracking information places The Yellow Python alive and in a section of Arcadia called the ACA Headquarters,” he says decidedly.
“His heart rate is high,” Falcon says with worried. “He’s under stress.”
The Black Panther growls deeply.
“I’ll go,” he says powerfully.
“No,” The Zookeeper interrupts. “We have four invitations and four of you. Regrettably, there’s no time like the present. All of you must head into Old School Wrestling and find our boy.”
The Kingdom members look at one another.
“Go to the ACA Headquarters, find The Yellow Python and do whatever it takes to make sure he’s safe,” The Zookeeper reiterates. “The Red Falcon is in charge – those are my orders.”
No-one argues it.
They all turn and head towards the exit – their mission clear.
Find their comrade.
Cut.
CANNOT
Anthesteria.
In the quiet sanctuary of their newly built home, El Mariachi Muerte and La Mariachi Vida sit together.
Muerte stoically stares into the flickering candlelight, his thoughts a tempestuous sea of doubt and resolve.
Vida watches him with a mixture of concern and determination. She knows what needs to be said, even though the words weigh heavy on her heart.
“Mi amor,” she begins, her voice soft but resolute, “you have to accept Dr. Death’s challenge. It’s the only way to stop him and end all this.”
Muerte’s gaze remains fixed on the candle’s dancing flames as he speaks in a somber tone.
“Vida, I have loved you since the day we met. you were my love before all of this. Before the Mariachi, before Dr. Death, before I even held a guitar. Amor para siempre. I cannot bear the thought of doing as he asks.”
Vida’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, but her conviction remains unshaken.
“Our love, as beautiful as it once was, cannot stand in the way of the greater good. We both took vows. Vows to protect the Mariachi. Dr. Death threatens to destroy everything we hold dear. We have a duty to the Mariachi, to Arcadia, to stop him at any cost.”
Muerte’s shoulders tense, and he finally tears his gaze away from the candle. His eyes meet Vida’s, and the anguish within them is palpable.
“I cannot. I will not.”
Vida reaches out, her hand gently caressing his.
“And that’s why this is happening, amante.”
Their gaze locks in a profound moment of understanding, the room filled with the weight of their decision.
The choice between love and duty, between their past and their future, hangs in the balance.
Burning Justice have a shot at the OSW Tag Team Championship, but can they ascend above the ACA duo of Boswick and Goode?
The rest of ACA are at ringside as all four men start trading blows in the middle of the ring…before Goode sends Destructo to the outside with a clothesline!
This leaves TBM alone with Goode and Boswick, as the rest of ACA start to stalk the Kid on the floor…but he’s already back to his feet, fighting off the advances of Kleen as the Sole Survivor gets sent to the corner by Tucker!
Goode looks to follow up on this by charging toward the corner…but TBM narrowly avoids a corner splash, causing Goode to collide with the turnbuckle instead!
Faith, meanwhile, sends Kleen into the barricade with a dropkick…only to be laid out with a steel chair to the back by Studebaker!
She raises the chair up high, but the Strong, Powerful Woman gets it pulled away from her hands instead!
She turns around, realizing it’s the Arcadian Mummy who’s done it…but before TBM can even think of retaliating, Boswick blindsides him with a right hand!
In the midst of the chaos, a recovering Mr. Goode rolls outside, eventually bringing a table into the ring as Boswick keeps on the offense.
Studebaker and Perrywinkle cheer on Tucker as he props the table against the corner…but Faith’s finally back to his feet, sliding into the ring to confront Goode!
Outside we see the Sole Survivor send Boswick into the ring post as Tucker goes for a lariat on the Kid…who ducks it just in time!
DB hits the ropes for speed before launching himself at Goode for a cross body…but Tucker catches him in mid-air!
But TBM’s back in the ring with a ladder now…and he throws it against the back of Goode!
Goode drops Faith as he stumbles…and the Kid gets to his feet, hitting the ropes for a dropkick!
AND GOODE’S SENT THROUGH THE TABLE IN THE CORNER!
But all the while, Boswick’s made it back in the ring for some revenge on the Sole Survivor, sending him over the top rope to the outside!
Faith stands up in the corner…BUT TAKES A BIG RUNNING BOOT BY BOSWICK!
STAMP OF AUTHORITY!
With the Kid down, Boswick turns his attention toward setting up the ladder as Goode slowly gets to his feet.
Sebastian starts his ascension as TBM tries to get back in…but he’s held back by the rest of the ACA!
AND THEIR CHAIRMAN PULLS DOWN THE TAG TITLES!
After a close contest, the ACA prevail as Sebastian Boswick and Tucker Goode retrieve their belts to retain!
WINNERS AND STILL TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: THE ACA
WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN’T BE!
Tombstone sits beside the freshly dug grave of Colt, a sadness in his eyes. He’d bonded with the dog when they decided to go and rescue Drewitt.
The OSW World Championship sits on top of the dirt.
“It’s easy to lose track of what should and shouldn’t be.”
He muses.
“This started because Drewitt evaded death; it was my duty to correct that imbalance in the universe. That isn’t why I came to OSW, but it’s what became of me.”
Tombstone touches the title with a palm of his gloved hand.
“I would’ve followed him to the end of Arcadia to correct that imbalance. He is what shouldn’t be. He still is what shouldn’t be. Igor Mortis is wrong. Drewitt doesn’t have a destiny; he shouldn’t be here.”
Frustrated, Tombstone stands up, grabbing his world title from the dirt.
“But you should be, Colt,” he says with great sadness. “I’m sorry that the need to be the one that ends this, cost you your life. I’m sorry that he shouldn’t be and you should.”
The World Champion looms large, our camera looking up at him.
“At Red Snow, I’ll end this,” he says defiantly. “You’ll be reunited with your master soon enough. This must end.”
Cut.
BEFORE THE END
The soft, steady dripping of water. Walls of concrete. Slabs on which the dead are presented, prepared for their journey. We find Igor Morris at work, checking over the souls laid before him deep within Arcadia.
With the slight sound of shuffling feet, he stops, looking up ever so slightly from his work.
“I thought I might cross paths with you sooner or later… Jinx.”
Jinx steps forward, NXT Level Championship across her shoulder, out of the shadowy entranceway and into the cold light that Mortis works under. She doesn’t seem put off by his greeting.
“I need answers. You’re the only one left who may be able to give them to me…”
Mortis smiles at this, a slow smile that seems to curl it’s way onto his face.
“Well, there are people that know the answers you seek. But they’re not about to divulge such things.”
Jinx ponders for a while, sizing Mortis up.
“I need to know what happened to my brother, Thomas, before he was sent on his way. What led him to this place and how it happened… You know, before the end.”
Igor Mortis shows no emotion, just stares unblinkingly at Jinx.
“I have no answers for you.”
Jinx does very little to hide the frustration building on her face.
“You don’t know, or won’t say?”
Igor’s face contorts a little, into an unreadable expression.
“I have no information for you Jinx.”
Jinx’s face reddens, and she balls her hands into fists.
“That’s bull-“
BAM!
SHE’S BLINDSIDED BY LUTHER GRIM!
TROPHY HUNT!
THE FALLING POWERBOMB PLANTS HER ONTO ONE OF THE COLD SLABS! SHE HITS HER HEAD HARD!
JINX IS OUT COLD, ON THE COLD CONCRETE!
Luther picks up Jinx’s championship belt, holding it up to the light with a smirk. Then he drapes it across her unconscious body, atop the morgue slab, her arms crossed over her chest.
Grim takes in the sight, smirking as he backs away with a single line to punctuate his message.
“One week, and it’s mine.”
Cut.
Two of the most powerful in Arcadia go head to head here tonight as both look to gain some momentum on the last stop before a bloody Red Snow.
The bell sounds as Drewitt explodes out from the corner, taking Foley by surprise with a brutal clothesline that nearly turns him inside out. Foley staggers back to his feet into a flurry of lefts and rights before he’s gripped around the throat
ARDUOUS…
NO!
Foley claps both hands across Drewitt’s skull, ringing the Explorer’s bell as Foley slips out of the goozle, nailing Drewitt with a heavy right and a brutal headbutt that stuns him before he’s lifted up onto Felix’s shoulders as the Puppetmaster rushes forward
BUMPED HIS HEAD…INTO THE TURNBUCKLES! RUNNING DEATH VALLEY DRIVER INTO THE CORNER!
Drewitt collapses in the corner, eyes glazed from his skull bouncing off the steel as Foley looks fired up, calling out to his loyal fans who cry out ‘Foley’ ‘Foley through the Olympus air. Felix grips the ropes with both hands and begins to stomp the mudhole into Drewitt.
SHOWING THE EXPLORER WHICH THE RING IS FELIX FOLEY’S CORNER!
Foley finishes up with a giant boot to the side of the head before he lifts Drewitt, spinning him upside down and locking him into the tree of woe. Drewitt could try and get out of it but he’s dazed and confused as Foley backs up, clapping his hands in a rhythmic fashion before rushing forward as it’s time
FOR FOLEY’S….BALLS!
Drewitt pulls himself up just in time as Foley slides past, nailing himself groin first on the turnbuckle post. The Explorer manages to free himself from the tree of woe, landing hard knee first on the exposed head of Foley as he falls.
Drewitt looks pissed as he begins to stomp down the prone Foley, lifting him up roughly before nailing him with a rough knee to the gut, doubling the Puppetmaster over before he gets gripped in a front-face lock
SIGHTSEER IMPLANT DDT!
Drewitt doesn’t cover, instead uncharacteristically deciding to go up high. He slowly climbs up, sizing up the fallen Foley for a minute before diving off
FABLED EXPLORATION! DIVING KING KONG KNEEDROP!
260+ pounds driven into the sternum of the Puppetmaster may well be it there but the Pilgrim isn’t letting anything go to chance here, lifting one gloved hand high as he wraps it around the throat of the barely concious Foley. He’s goozled him up tight here, looking for the end as he lifts him up high
ARDUOUS JOURNEY! Drewitt nearly chokeslams Foley straight to hell, the Puppetmaster out cold as the Explorer drops down to his knees, hooking the leg as the referee slides in for the cover
ONE
……………
………………..
TWO
…………………..
………………………..
THREE!!!
Drewitt does it here tonight, putting down a very formidable opponent one week before his world championship match.
WINNER: DREWITT
SOMETHING UNTHINKABLE
The match is over and Felix Foley stands inside the ring. He takes a moment to dust himself off and goes to leave the ring.
CRACK!
KINGDOMBLADE TO THE BACK OF THE SKULL!
DESTRUCTO BOY AND THE BURNED MAN ARE HERE!
“I’m sorry,” says Burned Man, looking towards Destructo Boy.
“But you’re just as implicit as Doom.” The young hero nails Foley with the butt of his weapon!
Burning Justice lays into Foley with devastating blows from the Kingdomblade! Destructo Boy catches him across the mouth and blood sprays from a busted lip across the canvas! Felix tries to escape but Burned Man catches him with a horrific haymaker!
ANOTHER BLOW TO THE SKULL! FOLEY IS OUT ON HIS FEET!
But he isn’t allowed to drop to the ground. He falls backwards into The Burned Man’s hands who stands somewhat hesitantly as the crowd shouts for the assault to stop!
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
Every last citizen of Arcadia witnessing this massacre is begging, pleading for the beating to stop but Destructo Boy calls for his dad to ignore them! He brings the Kingdomblade across Foley’s chest with a sickening crack before calling for his father to put him down!
DUST TO DUST! HALF NELSON WHEELBARROW DRIVER!
FOLEY WAS JUST KILLED!
WITH!
FIRE!
The puppeteer is barely moving, blood leaking from his mouth, tears spilling from his eyes as the crowd continues to shout frantically for this to end!
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
‘NO!’
But the pleas fall on deaf ears as Burned Man hoists Felix up to his knees, holding him by his hair as Destructo Boy transforms the Kingdomblade, the lights glinting off of a very visible edge to the weapon. They can’t do this, they shouldn’t do this! The Boy Wonder rears back and swings.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
VIVALDI STORM BY 2CELLOS BLARES THROUGH THE RING!
ROCKETS PELT BURNING JUSTICE FROM A FLEET OF DRONES THAT DESCENDS FROM THE RAFTERS!
DOOM! IS HERE! THE MAD SCIENSTIST DROPS FROM A DRONE INTO THE RING AND HE LAYS WASTE TO BURNING JUSTICE!
He nails Destructo Boy with an electrified gauntlet to the jaw! Burned Man catches a massive headbutt across the bridge of his nose!
‘DOOM!’
‘DOOM!’
‘DOOM!’
The fans chant Doom’s name as he and his drones drive Burning Justice out of the ring! The so called heroes flee up the ramp and out of the arena! Meanwhile, Doom looks down at Felix Foley and helps him to his feet! Both men stand in the ring for a moment, the whirring of the drones still in the air.
AND FOLEY EMBRACES DOOM WITH A HUG!
The crowd goes wild, chanting Dooms name over and over as Felix embraces his best friend!
Cut.
UNDER SEIGE
When we return to The People’s Voice, not all is well. Men and women stand outside, banging on the windows and doors to near breaking point, demanding to be let in.
They’re furious.
There’s rage.
Colt stands inside looking terrified. What’s going on? He doesn’t understand. Suddenly the glass breaks and the doors fly open and people are pouring in, destroying the presses and the computers.
Before he can react, the APD appear, attempting to disperse the crowd and stop the violence. Cade battles his way through the people, getting to Ramsey, who is hunkered down in an office at the back.
“What the hell is going on?” He asks Cade, petrified.
“Your article has caused quite the storm,” Officer Cade says, grabbing him by the arms and preparing to lead him away. “People are fucking angry. They think you’ve known this all along, Colt. They think that you’re in part responsible for what happened to all those innocent people on Acropolis.”
Colt gulps, shaking his head profusely.
“What was I supposed to do?” He begs off. “I told Zeus what I knew and he made me keep quiet. He sent Attano to make me do this.”
That stops the cop in his tracks.
“That’s why Attano has gone radio silent?” He asks. “He’s working with Zeus? Fuck. I knew something was going on but I had no idea it was this.”
The Reporter looks at the crowd who’re being subdued and dispatched.
“My career is over, isn’t it?” Colt says with clear fury. “They’ve fucking killed it.”
Jackson shrugs.
“Your career? If I don’t get you out of here, your life will be over,” he reminds him.
Ramsey doesn’t give a shit. He pushes Cade away, finally having had enough.
“Don’t do me any favours, Cade. I’m had enough of this shit. If you get me out of here then at Red Snow, you’ll see a different fucking side of me,” he warns.
Jackson smirks.
“Let’s go.”
He’ll lead him out of there despite it.
Cut.
The cage lowers on both men. Can either man escape, or will they have to put their opponent down?
Both men circle the ring looking for an opening and Grimskull strikes first with a massive haymaker! He brings the Luchadoc in and lays into him with knee after knee to the midsection before dropping him with a DDT! He peels the doctor up and whips him to the ropes!
FLAPJACK!
NO!
THE DOCTOR GRABS THE CAGE!
Dr. Death landed on the ropes and he leaps off with a springboard roundhouse to the jaw of Grimskull! The Martyr gets caught with a leaping bulldog to follow up! He’s quick to scale the cage wall! But Grimskull is already back to his feet and he leaps onto the cage!
HEADBUTT TO THE SIDE! THOSE SPIKES ON HIS SKULL DRAW BLOOD!
Grimskull grabs him and leaps off the cage with a massive back suplex that shakes the ring! He leaps on top of Death and lays into him with lefts and rights before forcing him up and immediately nailing him with a vicious headbutt!
THE LESSON! SUPERKICK!
NO! THE DOC HANDSPRINGS INTO THE ROPES! LETHAL INJECTION! THE CUTTER CONNECTS!
The momentum shifts and Dr. Death drags Grimskull neck first over the bottom rope!
AND LEAPS ONTO HIS BACK WITH A SICKENING STOMP! HE STARTS CHOKING THE LIFE OUT OF GRIMSKULL!
The Martyr looks to be fading and the doctor finishes with one more brutal stomp before he begins his climb! He ascends the cage and just as he gets to the top Grimskull’s hand wraps around his ankle! He’s on the ropes trying to pull Death down!
BUT DEATH JUMPS! PAINKILLER! THE POISON LITACANRANNA!
GRIMSKULL HOLDS ONTO THE CAGE! DEATH HITS THE MAT IN A HEAP!
The Luchadoc is dazed and Grimskull capitalizes!
MARTYR! CANNONBALL OFF THE TOP ROPE ONTO THE LUCHADOC!
Neither man is moving as that massive move left both in shambles on the mat! Slowly but surely they begin to stir as they try to get to their feet! Grimskull is up first but Dr. Death crawled towards the door! Grimskull rushes him!
AND DEATH WHIPS HIM INTO THE DOOR! THE IMPACT BREAKS THE CAGE DOOR OPEN!
Death lays into Grimskull with blow after blow and the Preacher returns in kind with a powerful haymaker! Grimskull pushes Death back and steps onto the apron!
LESSON! A MASSIVE SUPERKICK FROM GRIMSKULL! DEATH DROPS INSIDE THE RING AND GRIMSKULL FLOPS BACKWARDS TO THE OUTSIDE!
Grimskull lands both feet on the floor! He escaped the cage!
The Martyr slams the door shut behind himself, walking away victorious here tonight.
WINNER: GRIMSKULL
WAITING
Dr. Death, his body bruised and battered from his match with Grimskull, stands alone in the center of the ring. He has procured a microphone that he clutches with a malevolent glint in his eyes.
The crowd’s anticipation is palpable.
“El Mariachi Muerte!”
His voice booms through the arena, his tone dripping with malice.
“Come out here and tell me your decision!”
The spectators lean in, ready for the familiar strains of Muerte’s theme music.
But only silence.
Dr. Death shakes his head.
“I thought as much. Taking the coward’s way out.” He says, angry. “But you will give me a decision at Red Snow, our esteemed Authority, Scott Sterling Esquire, has said so.”
The Luchadoc softens a touch.
“I get it, amigo.” He says with a taunt. “You stand at a crossroads, a decision that will shape the destiny of the Mariachi.”
Dr. Death’s eyes flicker with sadistic delight as he reiterates his challenge.
“If you want our match at Red Snow,” he sneers, “you must sing the song of death to your beloved Frightengale.”
Dr. Death continues, his voice a venomous whisper.
“At Red Snow, you will give me what I want. The Mariachi will meet their end. And you, Muerte, will be the instrument of that destruction.”
The crowd’s uncertainty hangs in the air like a heavy shroud, and Dr. Death basks in the spotlight, reveling in the torment he has unleashed upon Muerte’s conscience.
“Give in, my friend,” Dr. Death taunts, his words echoing through the arena like a sinister refrain.
He pauses.
“I’ll be waiting.”
As the microphone drops from Dr. Death’s hand, the arena is shrouded in an eerie silence.
VINDICTA
FLASHFORWARD.
THE NIGHT OF RED SNOW.
We pick up exactly where we left off. Vision and Grimskull, face to face, in the Warehouse.
“You massacred my men,” starts Vision.
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t have done the same,” retorts Grimskull. “The men were a means to and end. Their lives – or rather their deaths – have served a much grander purpose than they would ever have achieved otherwise.”
“And what is that?” Vision asks.
“They got you here,” Grimskull responds, matter-of-factly.
It is only then that Vision becomes aware of just how warm the room has become. He turns to the Third Eye trainee who has been with him on scouting missions recently, and asks for an update.
“Sir, I don’t know how to explain it. It’s a big bowl. A big bowl full of glowing soup.”
The penny drops with Vision, as he realises what is happening.
“I see you realise now, what this has all been for?” asks Grimskull. “Why you had to be here?”
“Walther,” Vision says. “You have to know that this was never about you. The choice I made all those years ago wasn’t about you. It would have happened exactly the same no matter who had been next to me.”
“The problem is, Vincent, I just don’t believe you. And now you are here, and Protocol V has been REALISED.”
“Protocol V?”
“Vindicta,” Grimskull explains. “Revenge. This big old cast iron vat has been filled with every piece of scrap I could find. The people of the slums have given their very homes for this. And finally, just today, we finally had enough resource to turn on the machine. The machine fired up and heated that scrap metal to a heat far greater than you can even comprehend. The metal is now molten.”
Grimskull laughs, a maniacal look in his violet eyes.
“I want you to know what true pain feels like,” he says. “But your head just won’t do. I need you to feel it through your whole body. Let’s see what that does to a man, shall we?”
“And what of our match?” Vision asks, voice unwavering.
“I spoke to The Authority himself, who sanctioned a match to be held right here. Knockout or incineration are your only choices. Why do you think I left your men for you to find?”
As Grimskull completes his sentence, he lunges at Vision, who is only a couple of metres from one of the edges over the vat of molten liquid. But as Grimskull reaches him, the trainee who has been the eyes of the Third Eye in recent weeks jumps in the way, and Grimskull knocks him in instead. He screams as his body is instantly charred to a crisp.
Vision. Grimskull. Vat match.
It’s on.
To be continued…
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Backstage, we see Albert Lamplight looking to take his leave from Olympus…but where can he go? The Illuminator knows his shop is not home to him, not until he can get things resolved at Red Snow.
Either way, there’s a reason Lamplight’s been here this long after his bout with Jinx…and that reason becomes apparent as he reaches into his pocket, pulling out the pen that’s caused him such grief recently. He holds the pen up, studying it with a sigh before speaking to the object.
“You really have been a bit of trouble to me, haven’t you?”
Albert shakes his head before pulling out a sheet of paper…but this paper is not blank, as we see glimpses of the agreement made between him and Gemini already inked upon it. Lamplight simply looks over the details etched out, another sight escaping his mouth before continuing.
“This deal is signed, sealed, and delivered, and I am a man of my word…but I must protect the shop. I must protect what it contains…which means I need to consult someone with authority.”
And with that, Lamplight approaches a closed door…with the sign “Scott Sterling, Esquire” hanging next to it. Lamplight gives the door a knock, but with no answer he’s forced to simply slip the folded paper in underneath, pushing it to ensure it stays in the office before walking off.
As the Illuminator takes his leave down the hallway, we see a figure watching from the shadows…a smirk forming as the face peeks into view.
Gemini.
Cut.
Pandora’s box has been opened and things have gotten cold enough to cause Frost Bite as the chill settles and Red Snow is coming. Tonight, Vision locks horns with former OSW World Champion before they face their potential fates at the event of events.
The bell sounds and Cade leaps out of the gates…
BREACH
AND
DUCKED
BY VISION WHO PIVOTS STRIKING THE COP WITH A BRUTAL IRON STIKE BACK ELBOW TO THE SKULL!
Jackson staggers into the ropes and The Awoken One looks to take advantage with a snap German Suplex but Specialist Cade flips out landing on his feet.
The Third Eye moves to stand…
INCENDIARY ROUND!
Discus Bull Hammer Elbow to the jaw of Vision puts him on roller skates and Cade Drop Kicks Vincent through the ropes to the stage floor.
The Officer looks to follow up as The Awoken gets back to his feet…
THE EAGLE FLIES THROUGH THE MIDDLE ROPE WITH A SUICIDE DIVE AND VISION SENSES THE IMPENDING DANGER AND DEFTLY SIDESTEPS JASCKSON’S FLYING FORM BUT CADE LANDS ON HIS FEET BUT HIS MOMENTUM LEAVES HIM…
T-T-T-TEETERING FACING THE CROWD ON THE EDGE OF THE STAGE. UNTIL THE AWOKEN ONE PULLS HIM BACK GERMAN SUPLEXING HIM NECK AND SHOULDERS FIRST INTO THE RING APRON WITH A SICKENING *THUD*!
Vision then positions Cade on the apron and follows up by hopping onto the apron and Spring Boarding off the middle turnbuckle…
EYES IN THE BACK OF…
*CRACK*! COFFIN DROP TO AN EMPTY RING APRON AS JACKSON ROLLS ONTO HIS FEET ON THE STAGE!
Cade rolls The Awoken One into the ring from the apron and slowly pulls himself up to the Top Rope.
SCREAMING EAGLE!
The Macho Elbow is driven into the heart of Vision. The Office struggles to his feet and shouts at Vicent to do the same.
The Awoken One does just that struggling to his feet
Jackson smirks as he goes for the kill…
HOSTILE!
DOWN!
DUCKED!
Vision ducks the Leaping Superkick and bounces off the ropes as Cade stumbles around to face The Third Eye.
THIRD EYE CAUGHT! JACKSON CADE CATCHES THE DOUBLE KNEE FACEBUSTER SHOVES VISION BACK INTO THE ROPES AND AS THE THIRD EYE REBOUNDS…
AND DIVES AT CADE’S HEAD SURPRISING HIM BY DIGGING HIS THUMBS INTO JACKSON’S EYES!
CATCHING THE OFFICER FROM A BLIND SPOT!
Cade, however, manages to hook the ropes before they both hit the canvas causing the break.
The referee pulls Vision off The Specialist distracting the Third Eye momentarily as he gets in the referee’s face allowing Jackson to regain his footing shaking off the effects of just having thumbs dug into his eye sockets.
When Vision turns from the referee…
HOSTILE THUMB TO THE EYE FOLLOWED BY THIRD EYE BLIND!
The Codebreaker hits flush!
And Vision rolls into the cover!
ONE….
…
…
…
TWO…
…
…
…
THREE!
With Grimskull in sight, Vision manages to defeat The Former OSW World Champion as we are days away from the culmination of Protocol V.
WINNER: VISION
ONE OF OURS
The Arcadian Censorship Authority Headquarters is about as monotonous and tedious as you can imagine. It’s full of drones, sat at their desks typing away at keyboards with little glimmer of life in their eyes.
As The Kingdom rock up in force to the reception area, they’re greeted by a receptionist who has as much charm and elegance as a brick wall.
“I don’t think you belong here,” he grumbles.
The Black Panther violently grabs him and drags him across the table. No-one attempts to intervene or stop him.
“Where’s our friend?” He demands to know. The Arcadian Support Officers demeanour turns from disgust to fear. “Tell us now.”
The man stutters and stammers.
“HELP! HELP!” He squeals like a coward.
Four other men rush into the scene, coming face to face with The Kingdom. Panther chops the coward across the chest and turns to face the rest of his team.
“Go,” he growls. “I’ll take care of this.”
Red Falcon, White Bear and The Blue Shark rush off into the building, leaving The Black Panther alone with four staff members of the ACA.
We follow them as they rush through the halls. As members of the ACA step out of their offices, they’re dispatched, one by one.
The Blue Shark runs one into a wall.
The White Bear scoops up another and thrusts him back through his office door.
And The Red Falcon leaps atop another, clawing away at his face violently.
All three men get back to their feet, Falcon looking at a tablet that holds the tracker on a map system.
“He’s in the main office,” he announces, pointing in the direction.
The Kingdom rush inside, immediately walking into Sebastian Boswick, Tucker Goode, PMS and Mr. Kleen. The Yellow Python sits slumped in a chair; his head lowered in an unconscious state.
“What’s the meaning of this!?” Boswick demands to know.
“We’ve come for our friend,” The Blue Shark roars at him. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing to him?”
The Red Falcon holds him back.
“How dare you enter the offices of the Arcadian Censorship Authority with such disgusting language,” Tucker Goode interrupts aggressively. “We’ll have none of your kind in here.”
The White Bear steps forward, his height comparable to Goode.
“Give us our man, or we’ll give you your heads,” he booms.
“I think you’re a little misinformed about the situation,” Kleen chimes in. “There’s four of us and only three of you.”
Falcon laughs.
“Is that right?” He chuckles.
Snap.
Suddenly, The Yellow Python snaps his restraints and stands up, angry.
Gulp.
The unofficial fight is on.
To be continued…
SNOW DAY
Ringside.
We open cold in the middle of the Olympus ring with The Authority, Scott Sterling.
In his hand is a device with a large red button on it.
“Ladies and Gentlemen of Arcadia, it’s finally that time I know you’ve all been waiting for…”
He pauses for cheers.
“It’s Snow Day!”
The crowd erupts.
“Today is the day when the switch is flicked, and Snow falls throughout Arcadia. But before we get there, there’s a few matters I need to attend to.”
Sterling straightens his neck brace.
“A very special friend of Zeus requested two rather important presents this year; presents that I’m honoured to provide,” he says with a sinister smile. “The first is a referee.”
What?
He nods knowingly, as if we’d understand what he meant. The crowd murmur amongst themselves, trying to understand.
Suddenly, the tron behind him flickers, showing Deathrow Wrestling. The crowd pop, knowing exactly what this means. In the ring, nine competitors stand.
“This behind me, as you full well know, is the disgrace known as Deathrow. It’s where the worst of the worst go to rot until death befalls them,” Sterling says to boos. “And tonight, you’re going to get to see these vile creatures fight right here on Frostbite.”
The crowd cheers.
“But with a twist.”
A referee cautiously makes his way into the Deathrow ring behind them, stopping short of the chaos he’s about to introduce into his life. He’s in hell and doesn’t have a choice about it.
“And finally, the second request.”
The lights drop down, the sound of church bells sombrely chiming, a low faint wail of an air raid siren is heard as men’s choir chimes in with a low, “Ooooh Oh-oh Oooohooh” before we hear Royal Deluxe start in.
The lights come back and we see Harold standing in the middle of the DEATHROW ring.
The crowd goes ballistic.
“Happy Snow Day, everyone.”
Sterling presses the button and a whirring sound begins before soft flakes of snow begin falling from the sky.
Meanwhile, in the Deathrow ring, the competitors look up.
The snow falling in Deathrow about to turn Red.
The referee doesn’t want to be here and who can blame him? He stands between ten of the most dangerous people in Arcadia. As the competitors head to their corners, he awaits to see who’ll be starting the match.
Roderick Pym and Dahlia Black line up.
DING DING!
The bell sounds and they both begin circling one another.
“Do you think you’ve got the stamina to dance with me again, olden?” She hisses at him with a smile.
He grimaces.
They lock up. Pym takes her into a Side Headlock and wrenches down on it.
“You pesky kids never learn, do you?” He says, being thrown into the ropes. The former Tycoon barrels back with a Shoulder Block, dropping her to the canvas.
He straightens his suit and hits the ropes again, jumping over Black who rolls to his feet. She pops back up as he returns, nailing him with Hip Toss.
Pym hits hard and rolls to his corner, tagging in Harold Attano. Black backs away wisely, making a tag herself.
Jasper Redgrave.
The man who killed Harold Attano’s daughter.
Yet Harold has no idea this is him.
Redgrave swings with a Clothesline, only Attano drops to a knee and ducks it, elbowing his standing leg to drop him down as well.
He pops back to his feet and rushes to the ropes.
KNEE CAP!
SHOTGUN DROPKICK TO THE KNEES!
Nobody gets up in a very clinical fashion, telling Redgrave to meet him. Jasper does, lunging forward with a Headbutt that surprises him. He stumbles back, being sent across the ring…
COLLAGE OF VIOLENCE!
SUPERKICK INTO THE ROPES!
HIGH VELOCITY SPINNING BACK ELBOW!
DOWN GOES HAROLD ATTANO!
Jasper drops into the cover, but what he didn’t see was the tag that Haywire made! The Butcher of the Uprising is already on the top rope and Redgrave doesn’t see him!
A TOUCH OF MADNESS!
SHOOTING STAR PRESS TO THE BACK OF REDGRAVE WHILST IN THE COVER!
HE COVERS THE SERIAL KILLER….
ONE….
….
TWO….
…..
THREE!
NO! KICK OUT! HE KICKS OUT!
Haywire pulls him back to his feet.
KICK TO THE GUT!
PEDIGREE!
SYMPHONY OF SYMMETRY!
OUT OF NO-WHERE!
REDGRAVE COVERS HAYWIRE…
ONE….
….
TWO….
…..
THREE!
Haywire has been eliminated! That came out of absolutely no-where. Jasper turns to make the tag, tagging in Harvey Escher.
Escher struts into the ring and walks over to the other corner.
What the fuck is that?
He smiles.
“Silly me,” he says, adjusting his glasses. “It looks like I was on the wrong side.”
Gray, most of all, looks perplexed. He steps into the ring and stands opposite the man he aligned with.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” Aster asks him with a knowing grimace.
Harvey smiles.
“I told them everything,” he snarls back. “They captured Amataga Tuga, Prophet and CJ Thorpe based on the information I provided. Did you really think I was going to work with Tuga? I killed his entire family, Gray.”
Aster runs at him, only Harve sidesteps and lets him crash chest first into the corner turnbuckle, rolling him up with a handful of tights.
ONE….
….
TWO….
…..
THREE!
NO! He barely kicks out.
The fans inside Olympus boo as the snow falls around them. Escher gets Gray back to his feet and begins chopping him back into the ropes. CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!
He whips him across the ring….
Gray ducks under a Clothesline.
ALL GRAY!
CHOKESLAM! CHOKESLAM STRAIGHT TO FUCKING HELL!
The Gray Man bends down, choking the life out of Escher. He’s going to kill him right here for what he did.
The referee calls for the bell, eliminating Escher by submission as he loses consciousness to Aster Gray.
But what Gray doesn’t realize is that this match is now four on four, and The Don Killer has entered the fray.
THE SMOKING GUN!
QUESTION MARK KICK TO A KNEELING ASTER GRAY!
That broke that up! Harvey slithers away as Landucci pulls Aster back to his feet and sends him into the corner, charging with a Big Splash that misses! The Gray Man stumbles out, leaps to his corner and tags in Victor Doom!
Lucky fronts up, looking Doom up and down. He’s ready to go…. Only to tag in Pym.
Cowardly, he laughs and exits the ring to the apron.
Roderick reluctantly enters the ring and is immediately kicked low.
KNEEL BEFORE DOOM!
POWERBOMB INTO DOUBLE WRIST CLUTCH KNEE STRIKE!
DOWN GOES PYM!
THE COVER…
ONE….
….
TWO….
…..
THREE!
Victor gets back to his feet, looking for Landucci. Only Landucci isn’t on the apron, he’s attacking Dahlia Black on the outside! As he slams her into the cells, Victor groans painfully at watching his friend be attacked!
He heads to the apron, only there’s Nox! Nox rolls him up….
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
VICTOR DOOM HAS BEEN ELIMINATED!
The crowd boo as Doom rolls away in shock, looking to see Dahlia laid out at ringside.
He immediately rolls to the outside and scoops her up, walking away from the ring with his friend in hand.
That’s not good for the Uprising of Deathrow.
Only two remain!
Nox demands Gray enter the ring and he does. He immediately opens a noxious gas cannister and tosses it his way.
“Breathe it in!” He roars.
BUT ASTER GRAY FLIES THROUGH THE GAS WITH A DIVING SPEAR! DOWN GOES NOX! DOWN GOES NOX!
He gets him back to his feet, ripping his face mask off.
“You breathe it in!” Gray roars back as they both choke on the gas.
With that action, both men begin fading in the middle of the ring. The gas has knocked them both out!
The referee calls it, eliminating both men!
That leaves Jasper Redgrave vs. Harold Attano and Lucky Landucci!
Jasper Redgrave enters the ring.
Lucky Landucci and Harold Attano enter the ring.
Harold takes a moment to think about it.
He’s hesitant. He doesn’t realize that the man standing opposite him is the Jasper Redgrave; the man who murdered his daughter. He knows Redgrave did it but thinks he’s dead.
The crowd back in Olympus are pleading with him to turn his back and walk away.
He can’t hear them.
And here comes Max Meadows!
“FIGHT GOD DAMNIT!” He yells at Attano. “Zeus sent you here to fight. BE A GOOD DOG AND FIGHT!”
Meadows rolls into the ring and gets into his face.
SLAP!
HE SLAPS ATTANO! MEADOWS FUCKING SLAPS ATTANO!
Nobody quickly grabs him!
BULLDOG CHOKE!
CODE OF SILENCE TO MAX MEADOWS!
Attano chokes Meadows out in the middle of the ring! He drags him away, but no-one see’s CJ Thorpe in the ring behind Lucky Landucci.
DEATHROW CHAMPIONSHIP TO THE SKULL!
LANDUCCI FALLS INTO REDGRAVE, WHO SPINS HIM AROUND AND TURNS HIM BACK TO THORPE!
THE RIGHT THING!
PEDIGREE ON THE DEATHROW TITLE!
PEDIGREE!
ONLY HE DOESN’T RELEASE!
HE PULLS HIM BACK UP, SPINS HIM AROUND AND TOSSES HIM TO REDGRAVE!
PEDIGREE!
SYMPHONY OF SYMMETRY QUITE LITERALLY!
With Harold Attano walking away, Jasper Redgrave covers…
ONE…
….
TWO….
….
THREE!
DING DING DING!
IT’S OVER! Lucky Landucci has been eliminated!
Redgrave gets back to his feet and embraces Thorpe, both men hugging in the middle of the ring.
This is the man who tried to kill Thorpe’s brother.
This is the man who killed Harold Attano’s daughter.
Yet here is Jasper Redgrave, sadistic smile on his face, victor here tonight.
WINNERS: TEAM REDGRAVE
NOTHING BUT A HOUND DOG
Drewitt lays in bed.
His heart is broken. His eyes are red and sore. He’s poured his emotion into the void having lost his best friend. His mask rests on the side, but we don’t see his face – not all of it, anyway. All we see is his head buried in a pillow.
Voices echo in his head.
“You’re a special man, Drewitt.”
“Your destiny is that and so much more.”
“Our war needs to be settled.”
“We have to go, now…”
Yelp.
Yelp.
Yelp.
Gasp.
Grrrrrrrrr.
The sound of growling suddenly stops the voices. Drewitt sits bolt upright, his nose coming face to face with blood red eyes and the snarling familiar face.
It’s Colt.
Only not as you know him.
He’s as black as night, his eyes as red as blood and his snarling teeth roaring in the face of his former master.
A hell hound.
Cut.