[Introduction] Here I sit... waiting... waiting... It seems like an eternity has passed by now... I've tried to let my mind wander onto other subjects... My wife... My son... My upcoming match against Stevie Y and the HcW Hardcore Champion, Moonlight... Nothing can distract the mental anguish that Jenova and her cronies have induced me. It's 9:15... They're ten minutes late. Typical of a woman, but not of someone like Jenova or Victor. Suspcious... Ah well, fuck it... Guess it's time for another smoke...
(R E T R I B U T I O N)
[Scene] The cameras center in on the spark of flint striking. A flame rises from the lighter, licking the tip of the cancer stick as if ravenously hungry. Josh Sutton takes a deep inhale from the cigarette and exhales a cloud of carbon into the air. You can sense an impatient aura about him. A lonely bead of sweat streams down his brow and he calmly swipes it away. He eyes focus on a hallway directly in front of him. We can hear footsteps now. Sutton's pupils begin to dilate and his lip curls with angst. Jenova and Victor enter first, surprised looks upon their face. Sutton's scowl turns to a smirk, smiting them in their place. He stands and paces across the length of the table with his arms crossed behind his back. Sutton stands directly in front of Jenova, his grin growing more by the second. She pierces his smile with her cold eyes.
Sutton: Is that fear I smell, Jenova? Or is it simply the scent of the common whore?
[Scene] Two guns quickly raise into Sutton's face. One held by a lowly henchman and the other held by a man that Sutton had keen interest in... Jenova's right hand man and body guard, Drake Nathanial Dukes... The man that was supposed to leave him dead in that ditch. Sutton's smirk doesn't lessen as he examines his prey. You can see the rage pouring out through Drake's one good eye. The other lost many years ago during the Cold War and now tucked away behind a black patch... Sutton raises his hand and snaps his fingers. Two lasers immediately round Jenova's chest in a cross pattern. Sutton laughs to himself, glaring back into Jenova's eyes now.
Sutton: Do you take me for a fool, Jenova?
Jenova: Tell your men to lower their weapons and you might just make it out of here in one piece tonight, Mr. Sutton.
Sutton: Afraid I can't do that...
Jenova: Shoot him, Drake.
[Scene] We hear the safety release on the gun as Drake's finger readies on the trigger. Victor rushes forward, pushing both barrels of the guns to the floor, his anger beginning to form.
Blood: I didn't come here to die. The weapons are lowered, Sutton. Tell your mates to do the same.
[Scene] Sutton snaps his fingers again and turns, walking back to his seat at the head of the table. He eyes his prey once again. The cameras focus on Jenova and Victor.
Jenova: Victor, remember that bear's head on the wall in my office? The one you're so fond of?
Blood: Yes, of course, m'lady.
Jenova: This meeting had better carry relevance or it will be your head joining it!
[Scene] Victor gulps as Jenova moves ahead of him, sitting directly across from her former 'prime'. Victor takes a seat to the side, as if acting a mediator to the ordeal. The two lackeys stand guard behind their "princess". There is a beckoning silence... Sutton seems to relish in this.
Sutton: Isn't this sweet? The three of us back together at last... A true match made in Hell.
Jenova: What is the meaning of this?!
Sutton: It's quite simple, really.
[Scene] Sutton eyes Jenova calmly, his smile still unbroken.
Sutton: You want me dead. I want revenge.
Jenova: Get to the point, imbecile.
Sutton: Charming... I always loved that about you.
Jenova: THIS is a waste of my time! Consider this meeting adjourned!
[Scene] Jenova stands and turns, heading for the door. Victor stops her and turns to Sutton.
Blood: Sutton, no more charades. Tell us of your initial desire in coming here!
Sutton: It's simple... Your entourage leaves the room, as does mine. You leave one man behind; Drake Nathanial Dukes. He failed the first time. Why not give him the benefit of the doubt and let him try again... on more even playing fields? Give the poor bastard a chance to raise his stock in your pathetic little company, Jenova.
Jenova: An interesting proposal, Mr. Sutton. It's doubtful, but what if you're victorious? What then will you ask of me?
Sutton: My freedom from the Currents. No more hunting... No more deceit... Only freedom.
[Scene] Jenova smiles, weighing the options.
Jenova: And if I refuse this proposal?
Sutton: As I told Victor, this ends my way on either flip of the coin. You refuse the proposal then I snap my fingers... My men start firing, your men start firing... A big fucking mess all around for the boys in blue to clean up. Wouldn't want that now would we? You have everything to gain and nothing to lose, aside from your cycloptic stooge over there.
[Scene] Sutton shoots Drake a sarcastic smile and turns back to Jenova.
Sutton: Have we struck a deal?
Jenova: Aye, it is a deal Mr. Sutton. A deal in which I hope to see you buried by. Let us depart, Victor.
[Scene] Victor shoots Sutton a wink and approving smile as he follows Jenova. She stops in front of Drake, whom looks to be seething. She leans in, whispering.
Jenova: Failure isn't an option this time Drake. Bring me his fucking head or it'll be your head in a box on your family's doorstep, seconds before I give the command for them to be executed.
[Scene] Jenova, Victor and the servant exit with a slam of the door. Sutton snaps his fingers and his men disband, exiting through windows in the rafters. Silence is upon us once again broken only by the sound of Drake's gun hitting the floor. Drake charges forward before Sutton even has a chance to get to his feet. A chopblock sends Sutton plumetting to the floor, cringing. Drake lifts Sutton up and buries three sharp knees into his stomach before clearing the table with him. Sutton rises slowly, hiding the pain. Drake rushes forward again with reckless abandon. Sutton crouches down and drives his elbow into the top of his attacker's knee cap, dropping him instantly. Sutton slides his elbow over the trachea of Drake, pinning him to the floor.
Sutton: You used to be worth something, Drake. Now you're just a worthless peon following the orders of a small woman with a big gun. Pathetic... You know, part of me wants to take pity on you.
[Scene] Sutton starts to ease up then drives his forearm into the trachea with great velocity. The camera focuses in on Drake's good eye rolling into the back of his head. Sutton stands, falling back against the table, smiling to himself through the obvious pain.
Sutton: But today just wasn't your day... And unfortunately for you, there is no tomorrow.
[Scene] Sutton stumbles forward, gripping the handle of the door and exiting... As the door shuts we fade to black and into the afterward...
[Afterward] I felt a sickness rising in the pit of my stomach as I was set to board the plane to Anaheim. Was I really going to make my descent back into the world of professional wrestling? The negative gene had been passed down through many generations of my family and it was with me now as I began doubting myself. I laughed as I caught myself lighting a cigarette, remembering the policies of the airport. Fuck it.. Since when did I ever follow protocol? I avoided the disgusted looks as I walked down the corridors, baggage in hand. As if a guiding light had sustained me, things began to look up. I envisioned the possibilities of glory that could be obtained... With them a wonderful opprotuntiy already etched in the stone before me... The HcW Hardcore Title, first held by me in the infancy of the company. Two men stand in my way of achieving the first of many prizes. Moonlight and Stevie Y... Quite the homecoming collection HcW has prepared for me... I think I'll have a piece of cake to celebrate now. It's as easy at that... But when you're the One Man Militia, it's all in a days work...