Thicker than Water

part 1

Just after Breakout: Initial Impact outside Rahway Rec Center in Rahway, NJ

Damn it feels good to be back.  My first match with Melina didn't work out as well as I had hoped but after that everything has been aces.  Soon I'll be the PWK King of Pennsylvania Champion, I've absolutely destroyed Wicked Clown, the name that hunted my dreams so many months ago, Jay and I beat Krunch and Pups, Duos Carnival is this week, and hopefully I have Mr. Diamond's attention.

Ares reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes.  He puts the cigarette into his mouth and tries to light it but the wind puts the lighter out.  He covers the cigarette and tries again.  Success.

 I don't even remember when I started smoking.  I used to hate smoking.  Fuego, Dan, smoked in the Viper back when we were road tripping in New Era Wrestling and I always yelled at him.  Then I got out of jail and suddenly had the urge to start smoking.  Maybe its my subconscious telling me that I should kill myself.  Never really been much for self pity but it seems like a valid explanation.

Ares takes a long drag of the cigarette and heads to the parking lot.

Duos Carnival, PWK Duos Championship.  I think this might be the first tag team tournament that I have ever been a part of with out En Fuego.  Mason.  Antonio Mason is my new partner.  Grant's young charge.  Grant and I have had our fair share of moments, but those don't matter now.  The wars, the feuds, the friendship.... it doesn't matter here.  Mason wants to be his own man.  Earn his own legend.  I can respect that.  I think our chances at winning this thing are pretty good.

Ares reaches his Jeep.  He takes another drag from the cigarette before tossing it aside to fish for his keys.  He finds them.

I'm amazed.  I'm really very relaxed right now.  For the first time in a very long time it seems like my life might be coming together.  God forbid I might be hap.....

Ares falls, like dead weight, face first into the Jeep's door.  A car pulls up.  Three very large men step out and pick Ares up putting him in the back of the car.  The car drives off.

The scene comes back to what appears to be a waiting room

..... This doesn't look like Jersey.  What the fuck is going on.  Where the hell am I and why the hell does my neck hurt so much.

Ares reaches back to rub his neck and pushes something farther into his neck.  He winches in pain, then pulls the object from his neck.

Ares:  What the fuck is this?

Looks like a damn needle to me.  Maybe a tranquilizer...  that's it.  Must be a traq dart.  Why the hell would some one shoot me with a tranquilizer?  Wait a minute.... I know this place.  Shit, this is exactly not what I needed right now.

Ares reaches into his pocket and pulls out his pack of cigarettes, pulls one out and lights it.  The secretary sitting at the desk across from Ares starts to yell at him.... something about 'No Smoking'.  Ares drowns her out.

KRUNCH, the King of Pennsylvania.  I talked a lot of smack last week and most of it was true.  Though, I am forced to admit that he impressed me at Breakout.  He is more then just a good fighter, he is a good wrestler.  Good enough to beat me?  No, but he has talent and with a little bit of luck he might be able to give me a run for my money.  I'll have to keep that in mind.  But first things first.... Duos Carnival.

To be honest the Tag part doesn't worry me.  I trust Mason ability to get the job done.  Grant wouldn't have it any other way.  I'm more worried about who I might run into near the end of this thing.  There are only two real options as I see it.  One being the Cunning-Linguists, Jade Diamond and PWK World Champion Dustin Iler.  Not really push overs.  Diamond and I have met before, but you never really know what to expect with him.  As for Iler we have never met in the ring.  If they are who we meet at the end it should be very interesting.

Then there is another option.  John Bay and Daniel Reed Helton.  The Trinity.  My friends.  I fully expect them to be there at the end.  Bay and DRH are two of the best I have ever seen.  I don't want to fight them, but I won't back down.  They now that, just as I know that they won't back down for me.  It matters not if I am still a member of the Trinity, what matters is the bond that we three had formed.  If we meet at the finale of Duos Carnival then we will fight, we will hold nothing back, and the best team will win.

Ares takes another drag off the cigarette.

Where was Fuego this week.  He never showed up at Breakout.  He is never late.  Something must have happened, maybe Meg finally had the baby.  I'll have to find out when I get out of this damn place.  I wonder what's taking him so long?

Secretary:  Mr. Zieniuk?

Ares looks up..

Secretary:  He'll see you now.

Ares:  I'm so excited....

Ares takes another drag off the cigarette and then snuffs it out on the black leather couch he has been sitting on.  Ares stands up and walks towards a big door next to the Secretary's desk.  He enters.

Voice:  Nice to see you again Nicholas. 

Ares:  Stuff it Marcus what the hell do you want?

Marcus:  If you want to know what I know refer to me with some respect.

Ares:  ........

Marcus:  Come on, you used to say it when you were younger.

Ares:  Yeah well its been a long time since I've been that naive, Dad.

The man standing in front of Ares behind a very large black desk is Marcus Zieniuk.  Ares father.  Head of MZ Corp and dirty business man extraordinaire.  He stands at approximately  6' 10'' and weighs roughly 300 lbs.

Ares:  So what is it that you want Dad?

Marcus:  I want you son.  I want you back in this company.  Back to the position that I groomed you for.  The position you were trained to do.  All the money I spent on colleges and training.  You are a very large investment and I want a return.

Ares:  How's Mom?

Marcus:  Are you listening to me.  I spent a small fortune to make sure that you could take over this company when I was ready to retire!

Ares:  How's Mom?

Marcus:  ..... She is fine.  She is down stairs right now.  Where she belongs.

Ares:  Actually as I recall she belongs in this office running this company.  Not you.

Marcus:  I'm always wasting my time talking to you aren't I?  You never see what is the best for you.  Only I do.  That's why I have done the things that needed to be done to get you out of that damn ring.  I cleaned up your life you belong here!

Ares:  What do you mean cleaned up my life?  What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Marcus:  Nothing son.  I've just taken care of a few of your problems and my problems to make sure that we could run this company as a family.  The way the Zieniuks were always meant too.

Ares:  Except Mom...

Marcus:  Forget that whore.

Ares quickly moves to jump at his father

Marcus:  I wouldn't do that if I were you.  I have one of the finest sharpshooters in the world point a rifle at your head right now.  You attack me and he won't hesitate to take you out.  I spent a lot of money to make you into what you are and I will easily treat you like any other failed project if you provoke me into it.

Ares:  My Grandfather made me into what I am today not you.

Marcus:  You don't even know what your grandfather was teaching you to do.  You think he was some moral yoda to your Luke but you got it all wrong.  He was training you to be a killer.  To be my number one enforcer.  He knew what you were to be.

Ares:  He wasn't going to allow that....

Marcus:  No, he wasn't but that is why he had to die...

Ares dives and grabs his father by the throat as the window of the office shatters

I felt the bullet fire past my shoulder but I made it over the desk.  I have both of my hands wrapped around this bastards throat.  I've probably signed my own death certificate with this one but I don't care.  The door just opened, Six very large men just hit the room.  I can take them, but I can't take my hands from around his throat.  I can feel his life slipping away into my hands, then ZAPPP!!!  I hate tazers...

I wake up inside my house.  My neck hurts again.. Same with my ribs.  Guess they weren't so gently this time.  Son of a bitch.... just when I was starting to relax....