Deadly Beauty

The world inside one gymnasium came under a wicked hush of fuss and fluster as the gathered press hovered around the ring, inside which was a pedestal bearing the logo of a company that had two years ago been indicted by the FBI under suspicion of Mob links. The press conference had been arranged almost two months in advance, to every major news publication in New York City. Since then there had been a tremendous amount of investigative journalism done into the subject. The NY Times uncovered some evidence that pointed to the possibility of the company continuing underground, away from televisions, away from rules and regulations in warehouses and abandoned buildings. The Courier had 'eye-witness' reports from supposed fans that claimed the company hadn't been underground at all, that everything that DE was, is and ever will be had continued under the guise of a sister organization. The speculation was null and void now though, the reporters that had invested days of their lives into this story over the last eight weeks were now gathered in the Bell Memorial Gymnasium awaiting the appearance of the man who had called the conference, Roman Illievic.

Roman exited the small office at the behind the ring and made his way up the steps and in to the ring where his pedestal waited for him. He took a step up to the microphone and tapped it to check it was on. There was a ringing feedback sound for just a second before Roman leaned closer and started to speak in his fading Eastern European accent.

"Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for attending in such numbers..." started Roman, "I have called you here today to tell you that the investigation in to the suspected Mafioso links within Deadly Entertainment has finally come to a halt, and will no longer be active. The investigation has produced some spectacular and interesting results for the Bureau and they feel that the leads they have cottoned on to will lead them to success and that there is no reason now that DE cannot once again be a part of the rich heritage of wrestling in New York."

"Mr. Illievic!" called out Chris Grantham of the Post excitedly, "Can you confirm or deny rumors that Deadly Entertainment has been continuing to function in an underground situation as has been reported?"

"Mr. Grantham, there will be a time for questions later. Right now what I wish to discuss is the direction of DE's future in the city of New York. As many of you are aware, once the FBI started their investigations in to our affairs, we lost all of our talent to other organizations, retirement or even just general obscurity," Roman removed a slip of paper from the top pocket of his expensive gray suit and held it up for everyone to see, "on this slip of paper I have the names of the men that my father, Vladimir, has instructed me to contract to DE by Halloween this year, when he has purchased a one and a half hour television slot that will stand as the showcase for Deadly Entertainments re-launch back in to the hearts and minds of New York."

There is a flurry of movement and noise as reporters check facts with one another, camera's flash as they try to capture an image of the slip of paper in Roman's hands.

Raising his hands to indicate that he wants them to quiet down, Roman begins to speak again; "In the run up to this event, DE shall be holding house shows within this Gymnasium. The dates of these shows shall depend heavily on the negotiations between myself and the people on this list and will be largely run with a view to ironing out the creases in the system we will be using. After this special event, Deadly Entertainment will continue to run a weekly house show and a Monthly Event that shall be held on the final day of every month, these too will be televised at the expense of the Illievic family for you, the inhabitants of this city. Make no mistake, Deadly Entertainment is returning to the screens and streets of New York."

Roman nodded at Grantham before saying "Now, if anyone has any questions they want answered, please feel free to ask."

"Officially, Deadly Entertainment didn't exist. Unofficially, I don't know." Replied Roman with a smile.

"The names on the list will be revealed as and when the workers are resigned." came the calm retort of Roman.

With that Roman raised his hand again for silence, "Now I'm afraid that is all the time I have at the moment, if you'd like more details then please feel free to call the office and arrange a one on one interview. Until then I have work to be getting back to, so I'll bid you goodbye and thank you all for attending."

Roman left the ring, and returned to his office as the press filtered around the ring to follow him with more questions about what happened whilst DE was off air. He closed his office door and locked it before any of the press got close enough to make it in. Security started to filter them back out of the gymnasium.

Deadly Entertainment Inc. Public Announcement.