Collision #16 Results
Jul 4, 2022 2:34:19 GMT
The Madness Menagerie, Sidewinder, and 2 more like this
Post by Ampersand on Jul 4, 2022 2:34:19 GMT
You're gonna light us on fire
And expect nothing to happen
Like it doesn't matter
That's not the way this works
You can't just lift the ones we love
Away from us
Like it doesn't matter
And expect nothing to happen
Like it doesn't matter
That's not the way this works
You can't just lift the ones we love
Away from us
Like it doesn't matter
Backstage at Ascended, the Gladiators prepare for the evening’s battle. Kyle Beckett, still seething from learning the identity of his mystery attacker, is doing his utmost to focus on his upcoming match, but revenge is clearly on his mind as he paces through the hallways like an animal eager to be free of its cage. Montana Jack, contrastingly, seems to be focused, cracking his knuckles one by one as he gazes at the promotional poster for the show featuring his opponent. The source of Kyle’s consternation, the floral magnate, Roy Valentine, is conversing with his assistant, Anastasia Keller, who is dressed in her usual prim business attire. He seems contained, controlled, and collected as he goes about checking his ring gear, but something burning in his pale eyes suggests a violent malice just waiting for a chance to make itself known. Mia Rayne, meanwhile, is finding a different way to center herself, fingers moving across the keys of an electric keyboard. Her usual piano is preferable, but doesn’t quite fit easily into the backstage area. Eyes closed, she loses herself in her composition, her mind not ever necessarily clear, but her focus sharpening. As her fingers still, her eyes open.
'Cause then we get angry
And everyone you know
Is going to feel it
And we will find a way to take the
Stairs to up above
And we won't talk of love
We're gonna get violent
And everyone you know
Is going to feel it
And we will find a way to take the
Stairs to up above
And we won't talk of love
We're gonna get violent
Standing before a shadowy, ruinous mass of buildings is a tall, slim figure with a flame of red hair that flickers in the evening breeze. Mara Lang smiles serenely as she surveys the site of her next battle. Or is it an experiment? Whatever the case, her subject should be arriving soon. ’Legacy’ Viola Williams isn’t backstage, but crouched on the roof of one of the buildings before which Mara stands. Something in her eyes, her expression, is colder than before; every motion just a bit sharper. In her pocket, her phone rings, but she ignores it completely. Her adoptive brother, David O’Toole is backstage at the Colosseum. The phone in his hand is old enough to enlist and die for its country, and he frowns as his call goes to Viola’s voicemail. Turning the device off, he looks at Tessa Thorne who walks alongside him in the hallway. She raises her brows questioningly before David just shakes his head, putting the phone away. Thorne gives him a consoling pat on the back before lapsing into thought. Each of them has a big fight tonight, tangled up in the ongoing struggle between their opponents.
We're gonna fight gods, fight gods
We're gonna fight gods, fight gods
And we're gonna win
And we will get our vengeance in the end
We're gonna fight gods, fight gods
And we're gonna win
And we will get our vengeance in the end
Frater Perdurabo’s focus easily outstrips any of his fellow Gladiators. Even as Yung Chedda appears to be trying out some new verses, Perdurabo, standing at the edge of the roof of the Colosseum, doesn’t let his gaze waver from the lone figure crossing the parking lot to the backstage entrance. Silvio Leon looks as if he’s moving through this world, but not actually a part of it, his expression distant and his eyes gazing straight ahead. As he comes to the doorway to the back, however, his vision flicks upward and he catches sight of the monstrous man perched like a gargoyle on the edge of the roof. There’s that tug, that thread, pulled taught between them, and while his expression remains impassive, there is a glint of loathing in his eyes that Perdurabo seems to recognize, the behemoth’s mouth pulling into a rictus grin. Leon holds his glower for a moment before making his way inside. As he makes his way to the locker room, he passes by a smaller, masked figure who appears to be meditating in a nearby alcove. BoarKnight’s opponent may be a mystery to the rest of the Ascended Army and the other Gladiators, but he knows who he’ll be facing and he’ll need every ounce of intensity and focus he can muster to come out on top. Perhaps more than anyone else on the roster, Boruk is a warrior; living for the spirit of the fight. No matter where he is, the call of it resonates in his mind and runs in his blood. Opening his eyes behind his mask, he knows that tonight, he may finally meet a competitor whose blood sings the same song as his.
We're gonna fight gods, fight gods
We're gonna fight gods, fight gods
And we're gonna win
And nothing will remain the same again
And our redemption arc is coming up!
We're gonna fight gods, fight gods
And we're gonna win
And nothing will remain the same again
And our redemption arc is coming up!
Scanning over the Ascended Army, at-home viewers are treated to a few of the signs brought by the fans.
PLAY US A SONG, YOU’RE THE PIANO RAYNE!!
RIP DAVID O’TOOLE!
BECKETT = FOREVER CHAMP!
At the commentary table, Artemis Direction, blonde hair on an elaborate French braid, dressed in a wiggle dress that’s the soft orange of a creamsicle and accessorized with a turquoise jewelry, is seated between Hiro Suzuki and Del Ramos. Suzuki is dressed in a tan suit with navy bow tie, and Del is wearing jeans and a maroon tank top that shows off the impressive collection of blackwork tattoos on their arms.
Hiro Suzuki: Good evening, Ascended Army! I am Hiro Suzuki coming to you live at the Colosseum for the latest edition of Collision! Joining me are my colleagues Artemis Direction–
Artemis Direction: So lovely to see you, darlings!
Hiro Suzuki: –and Del Ramos!
Del Ramos: Good of you all the join us for the feast of gore and gruesomeness.
Hiro Suzuki: We’ve got a great show for you tonight! Kicking things off will be Montana Jack versus our Emerald City Champion, Kyle Beckett in a non-title fight!
Artemis Direction: Jack once again has an opportunity to show us that vicious streak he demonstrated back in his debut!
Del Ramos: I think Beckett’s gonna fucking curb stomp the guy. After finding out the identity of the asshat whose been interfering with his matches lately, you know that kid’s gotta be looking to take out some aggression.
Artemis Direction: I must say I was a bit surprised when it was revealed Roy Valentine has been the one meddling in Kyle’s affairs.
Del Ramos: Considering he just lost his grip on O’Toole, maybe he’s gunning for a new protege.
Hiro Suzuki: I don’t think Kyle’s going to be too amenable considering he’s already captured gold on his own. In fact, he holds the belt Roy once did.
Artemis Direction: Too true, sweetness! But the pair of them have a contract signing tonight that may give us a clue as to what Valentine’s true machinations may be.
Del Ramos: Provided he survives his scrap with Rayne. Heh! Good luck there, pansy man.
Hiro Suzuki: Say, did you hear about the flower that went on a date with another flower?
Del Ramos: You know this time of year I’m always looking for stuff to keep the deer outta my garden and I hear bone meal works great.
Hiro Suzuki: Wait, you keep a garden?
Del rumbles, narrowing their eyes at Hiro.
Del Ramos: I can’t fucking believe you’re making me say this, but I’d rather hear the punchline of your joke than go into my personal life.
Hiro Suzuki: Oh! Well, it was a budding romance!
The expression on Del’s face makes it clear they aren’t sure if they made the right call on hearing that punchline.
Artemis Direction: Rayne is brutality poured into the shape of a wrestler, but Valentine has adopted more overtly violent ways since O’Toole struck out on his own.
Del Ramos: Speaking of, O’Toole might regret ditching some of the protection Valentine could have provided. He’s going toe to toe with a monster who could give the Rat a run for his money.
Sighing, Artemis shakes her head.
Artemis Direction: Frater Perdurabo continues to target the friends and loved ones of our World Champion, Silvio Leon, and management hasn’t lifted a finger to prevent it.
Del Ramos: Prevent it? Afsah’s loving this shit. Heh. Not that I blame him. Perduabo’s a beast and I love watching him work. He’s got the physical down and he also knows how to get into his opponent’s head. He’s got O’Toole tonight, but considering that scarecrow’s one of the only people to ever beat the Rat, he might have a fighting chance.
Hiro Suzuki: You know, I saw a man get into a fight with a scarecrow once.
Artemis Direction: You don’t say, darling!
Hiro Suzuki: He was really clutching at straws!
Del takes their mic in one hand, seeming to consider its weight and eyeing the back of Hiro’s head.
Artemis Direction: Then we’re going to get to see ‘Legacy’ Viola Williams bash Mara Lang’s fashy little face in!
Del seems to forget about Hiro, momentarily distracted by the promise of brutality.
Del Ramos: Underworld Rules and at a venue of Lang’s choosing. You know she’s going to try and get into Williams’ head with wherever she chooses. Williams is stronger than she looks, and the last time these two fought, she came out on top. If Lang wants to get her revenge, she needs to find a way to deprive Williams of her advantages.
Del’s grin darkens, their eyes glimmering.
Del Ramos: And if she’s going to Sedro-Woolley? I think I know exactly how she’s gonna do it.
Hiro fidgets uncomfortably in his seat.
Hiro Suzuki: C-Can we move on to the next match?
Artemis’ brow knits and she shakes her head.
Artemis Direction: I think my dear child’s words are coming back to haunt him. Frater refused to fight Silvio after he decimated LRK at our last pay-per-view. Instead, he promised to go through all of Silvio’s friends first. Silvio tried to use his sway as champion to make Afsah book them in a fight together, but evidently Marcus feels Frater’s plan makes for good television. Silvio didn’t take that well.
Del Ramos: Heh! No he did not. The kid said if Marcus wasn’t going to give him what he wanted, he was going to break every other toy in the toy box. And he’s been making good on that promise so far.
Hiro Suzuki: But how can he keep doing it now that he’s facing one of his friends on the roster?
Artemis Direction: Silvio may have his convictions, but is it worth it here? What’s the point if he’s willing to sacrifice the roster he supposedly wants to save?
Del Ramos: And that brings us to the final match of the night - BoarKnight versus the mystery opponent in an Underworld Rules match! Two UW matches in one night? Obviously I’ve done something right to please my dark lords.
Hiro Suzuki: Boruk has proven himself a resilient warrior. He carries himself with a purpose and dignity that really is knightly.
Del Ramos: Yeah, well, we’ll see how noble he is when he’s got someone giving him a broken glass facial.
Artemis Direction: I think it’s safe to say we’re all eager to get in on that action, so let’s get this party started! Take us away, Kevin!
Kevin Kim, dressed in a dapper black suit, stands in the center of the ring with a mic in hand.
Kevin Kim: Good evening Ascended Army! Your opening bout is set for one fall with a twenty minute time limit! Already in the ring with me, hailing from the Crazy Mountains, Montana, he is ‘The Murder Weapon,’ MONTANA JACK!
The Ascended Army rages at Jack, seeming unwilling to condone his particular brand of violence. It’s all the same to the Murder Weapon, though, and he walks around the ring with a wolfish swagger in his steps. His win-loss record doesn’t matter. He just wants to fuck people up.
Kevin Kim: And his opponent!
“Stick to Your Guns” hits and Kyle stands at the top of the entrance ramp, bent slightly forward and arms drawn in, one steadying the belt on his shoulder. He drops the hood of his jacket and throws his arms out wide, letting out an excited roar to the crowd. He looks around to take in the arena before striding down the ramp.
Kevin Kim: From Brisbane, Australia, weighing in at 91 kg, he is your Emerald City Champion—the Culture Clash, KYLE BECKETT!
Kyle hands off his Emerald City belt to an official, then ascends the ring apron, looking out to the arena again. He climbs the turnbuckle to the top of the nearest post, and his “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!” is answered with a resounding “Oi oi oi!” from the Ascended Army.
Artemis Direction: Kyle has been a positively electrifying champion so far. He brings so much energy to the belt!
Del Ramos: Energy or no, it won’t stop Jack from caving his damn head in if given half a chance. And even if this isn’t a title fight, if the Murder Weapon comes out on top, how can Beckett deny him a real shot at the belt?
DING DING!
Before the reverberation from the last ring of the bell has even ceased, the two are at each other! The Culture Clash and the Murder Weapon begin trading blows in the middle of the ring, the Ascended Army roaring its approval!
Artemis Direction: And our first match starts out with a bang!
Del cackles with glee, eyes alight.
Del Ramos: THAT’S IT! GO RIGHT FOR THE TRACHEA! IT’S THE CRUNCHIEST CARTILAGE!
The pair tie up, testing one another’s strength. Jack utilizes his superior height and weight to bear down on Kyle, hooking one foot behind his ankle and yanking it out from under him! Beckett hits the mat hard, Jack looking to follow up with a knee bar, but Kyle denies him with a swift kick to the gut that sends the bigger man staggering backward! Beckett kips up, motion continuing as he slams into Jack’s head with a calf kick, both men going to the mat! Kyle goes for a chinlock, but his opponent manages to shake off enough of his daze to twist free, climbing to his feet as Beckett does the same! Not wanting to lose an ounce of momentum, Kyle goes to follow up with a super kick that Jack catches, only to turn it into the Kick that Defines a Generation! Jack goes down and Kyle goes for the pin, referee Jill Kincaid sliding in for the count!
ONE!
TW–
Kick out from Jack!
Artemis Direction: Neither of our Gladiators is playing around tonight!
Hiro Suzuki: And they’re not done yet!
Both men get back on their feet and begin circling each other, each looking for a cinch in the other’s armor. Jack moves first, looking as if he’s going to strike at Kyle, but it’s a feint! As Beckett moves to get out of the way, the Murder Weapon seizes his arm and nails him with a Rotorblade! Kyle wobbles on his feet before Jack gives him a spiteful kick to the knee, then Irish whips him into a corner, the younger man crying out as he collides with the turnbuckle. He’s given no time to recover as the Murder Weapon continues his assault with a vicious Stinger Splash! Kyle crumples to the mat and Jack goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
TH–
Kick out from Beckett!
Artemis Direction: Good heavens! The Murder Weapon is living up to his name!
Hiro Suzuki: Reminds me of my buddy trying to get me to invest in his knife-making business.
Artemis Direction: Really, darling?
Hiro Suzuki: I gotta say, he made a lot of good points!
Rather than get to his feet, Montana Jack takes advantage of his position on the canvas, successfully locking in a knee bar that has Kyle giving out a howl of pain!
Del Ramos: PLAY HIS NERVOUS SYSTEM LIKE A SIX-YEAR-OLD WITH A XYLOPHONE!
Jack seems intent on doing just that, wrenching back with all his might on the Emerald City Champ’s knee! Teeth grit, eyes burning, Kyle shakes his head as Jill Kincaid asks if he wants to give up, the young man making the agonizing crawl to the ropes and forcing Jack to break the hold! Once he does, Beckett rolls under the ropes to the outside, stumbling a bit on the knee that his opponent has been working over.
Artemis Direction: The Murder Weapon has been targeting Kyle’s knee and it looks like our Emerald City Champ is feeling it!
Jack continues to press his attack, not wasting a second as he hurtles over the top rope to slam into his opponent with a suicide dive! The crowd lets out a collective cry of sympathetic pain as both competitors go tumbling into the guardrails! Jill Kincaid starts her ten count as both men begin to stir from their prone positions!
Del Ramos: Heh! I think Jack ate a little more of that guardrail than he expected.
Dazed, Jack rises first, wincing a bit as he gets to his feet. Grabbing a fistful of Kyle’s hair, he starts dragging the younger man back to the ring, Beckett yelping sharply at the pain. Shoving The Culture Clash back into the ring under the bottom rope, The Murder Weapon follows, seizing Kyle’s arm and dragging him toward the center of the ring. He backs himself up into a nearby turnbuckle, smirking through labored breaths as he watches Beckett slowly, painfully, begin to rise from the mat. Once he’s on his knees, Jack charges!
Hiro Suzuki: Looks like the Murder Weapon is going to end this with the Kneerosurgery!
Just as Jack leaps, knee bent, to deliver his finisher, Kyle Beckett snaps backward before he connects! The Murder Weapon’s face registers shock for a split second before it turns into pure agony as Kyle’s good leg comes rocketing up to hit him in the small of the back! Jack staggers into the nearby turnbuckle with a cry as Kyle struggles to his feet with fire in his eyes and a war cry on his lips. Before Jack can move, Beckett is on him, working through the pain to deliver a Reality Check with his good knee that leave the Murder Weapon seeing stars! Using every ounce of strength and tenacity he has left, Kyle seizes Jack’s arms, whipping him into the ropes! Jack collides with them before flying back at his opponent who uses a spinning variant of his Break the Cycle inverted headlock backbreaker! The crowd is on its feet as Kyle goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner via pinfall, ‘The Culture Clash,’ KYLE BECKETT!
That targeted knee still smarting, Kyle gets to his feet with a bit of effort, raising a fist in victory.
Artemis Direction: Kyle Beckett out there showing us exactly what makes him a standard bearer in this company!
Hiro Suzuki: Definitely making his name as a champion!
Del Ramos: As long as he keeps cracking skulls, that’s all I give a shit about. Thankfully it looks like he’s gonna keep delivering. Could be showing Valentine what he’s got in store.
Artemis Direction: Well Roy has the opportunity to return the favor in our next fight!
Del Ramos: Is it just me or has Valentine been acting fucking weird since O’Toole got away from him?
Artemis Direction: Roy has shown us a vindictive streak that seems pronounced even for him.
Hiro Suzuki: Even so, he’s facing off against Mia Rayne. Considering the multitudes she contains, you can’t really say Roy has the advantage on sheer force of personality alone. He might be vicious, but we’ve all seen what Loki Synn is capable of.
Artemis Direction: It’s true that Mia Rayne does have different personalities that can come out to play in the ring, each bringing their own brand of violence, but so far we’ve not seen her change from one to the other mid-combat.
Del Ramos: Not that she’d need to. But I get the feeling we see shades of all her personalities no matter who’s wearing the meat suit.
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army the following bout is set for one fall with a twenty minute time limit! Introducing first!
Heavy symphonic guitar blares through the stadium. The screen follows a trail of twisting, thorny vines as they wind over a pitch-black floor towards the foot of a marble throne. As the thorns begin to engulf the stone, the camera rises to reveal Roy Valentine lying sideways across his marble seat, legs pitched over its arm. The plants trace a deferential space around Valentine, but utterly consume every inch of bare throne. When the vines finally stop twisting, Valentine snaps his fingers, and the all-encompassing wall of green bursts into bloom, red and gold roses spelling out the name, “ROY VALENTINE”.
Kevin Kim: Hailing from Cape Elizabeth, Maine, weighing 219 pounds, he is ROY VALENTINE!
Valentine then makes his entrance in the flesh, accompanied by his ever-steely assistant Anastasia Keller. Tonight, no shower of petals greets them. There is neither fanfare nor grandstanding. Standing stone-faced in a sable suit of cashmere with accompanying crimson tie, Valentine soaks in the spiteful crowd. Behind Valentine, Keller unclasps a hidden seam in the suit. Both jacket and shirt split and shed off smooth. Valentine dismisses Keller with a snap of his fingers, then struts to the ring, sneering at jeering fans, brushing their hatred away with a wave of his hand. His body language speaks of leashed ferocity, all slow breaths and quick motions between pauses, as he takes his corner of the mat.
Del Ramos: You just know Valentine’s looking to balance his ledger after the last Collision.
Artemis Direction: Oh, undoubtedly, darling!
Kevin Kim: And his opponent!
The lights go out, leaving the Ascended Army in darkness as "Committed," by One-Eyed Doll, echoes creepily around the arena. The lights flicker back on, the smoke machines around the entrance wreathing a figure backlit with a profusion of colors from the tunnel behind her. Mia Rayne steps out of the fog like a lunatic sylph emerging from a stained glass miasma. Her contrastingly calm demeanor just makes the crazy quilt of colored lights and images stand out all the more. The big screen behind her takes the viewer on a tour through a cathedral whose insides have been converted into a series of padded cells, each one appearing to hold some version of Mia within them.
Kevin Kim: Hailing from Parts Unknown, she is the Forsaken Psychotic, MIA RAYNE!
Mia climbs into the ring, her posture and focused gaze showing pure confidence.
Hiro Suzuki: Rayne had better make like her piano in this match!
Artemis Direction: How so, darling?
Hiro Suzuki: If she doesn’t C Sharp she’s gonna B Flat!
Del Ramos: If you wanna see something sharp, meet me in the parking lot after the show, Suzuki.
Hiro Suzuki: Uh oh! Sounds like I might be in treble!
Del Ramos: I swear I’m gonna fucking cut you.
DING DING!
Mia doesn’t wait, letting out a malevolent laugh, eyes sparkling with murderous mirth. Roy stares her down coldly, even as she skips at him with the force of a playful Buick, making to hit him with a drive-by knee! Valentine steps aside, but rather than stop, Rayne just keeps going, hitting the ropes and hurtling back at Roy to nail him with a short-arm lariat and a laugh on her way back! Roy slams into the mat with Rayne following close behind to deliver a diving headbutt before going for the pin!
ONE!
Kick out from Valentine!
Artemis Direction: Rayne getting us off to a bombastic start!
Del Ramos: I fucking love that bitch. She gets it.
Roy gets to his feet with a contemptuous sneer, eyes alight with indignation. He goes for a backhand chop that Rayne deflects, but swiftly follows through with an elbow strike to his opponent’s chest! Mia staggers back, Roy pressing his advantage, continuing with a few more elbow strikes to leave his opponent dazed before he comes at her with a Whipvine that sends her to the mat! Roy covers and referee Godric Smith slides in for the count!
ONE!
TW–
Kick out from Rayne!
Artemis Direction: A little tit for tat from our competitors here!
Both fighters rise from the mat, eying one another; Mia grinning, Roy’s features chiseled from ice. He moves suddenly, going for a short-arm clothesline that Mia ducks! Somersaulting away from him, Mia uses the second turnbuckle to get some air, descending upon Valentine with a Superman punch! Both competitors go to the canvas, but Mia pops up again to grab Roy by the throat and lift him in preparation for a chokeslam! Valentine thrashes mightily, teeth bared as he nails Rayne with a knee to the gut! Mia releases her opponent, hugging her midsection as Roy finds his feet again, still knocking loose cobwebs from that Superman punch. Before Rayne can recover, Roy gathers enough of his wits to seize Rayne and hit her with an Empty Chalice! The audience lets out a groan of pain as Roy goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR–
Kick out from Rayne!
Hiro Suzuki: Such tenacity! Usually a garden likes a little Rayne, but I think this isn’t quite what our former Emerald City Champ expected!
Valentine glares at his opponent, grabbing her by the hair and hauling her upright! Rayne lets out a snarling giggle as she’s brought to her feet, Valentine locking in a standing sleeper hold!
Artemis Direction: If he can’t get the job done with a strike, it looks like Roy’s going to try a submission, instead.
Del Ramos: Good fuckin’ luck there, pansy.
Knowing the danger she’s in, Mia starts hammering away with elbow strikes until Valentine relents! Shaking her head, she lets out a shriek of laughter, grabbing Roy and whipping him into the ropes! On his way back, showing tremendous strength, Rayne catches her opponent and shows his head the canvas the hard way with a signature cradle DDT! The audience is electric as Rayne goes for the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THR–
Kick out from Valentine!
Artemis Direction: My goodness, I thought that was going to be it, darlings!
Hiro Suzuki: Neither of these competitors is willing to give in!
Both Roy and Mia are struggling to get off the canvas! Valentine drags himself to the outside, spilling onto the mats as Anastasia Keller makes her way to his side with clipped steps. Godric Smith is there immediately, calling Keller away from Roy as he goes into a ten count! Anastasia lets out an exasperated scoff, stalking over to the ringside to berate Smith, stamping hard on the mats with one foot as if she’s a child throwing a tantrum! Nevertheless, she obeys, huffing as she clears out, Roy starting to get to his feet again.
Artemis Direction: …Hold on a moment is it just me or is that horrible little fashion tragedy limping?
Hiro Suzuki: I think you’re right. Keller might be a nuisance to the ring, but I hope she didn’t hurt herself.
As Keller exits, Godric splitting his attention between her leaving and Roy coming back to the ring, the reason for Anastasia’s limp becomes clear. A broken heel from one of her pumps can be glimpsed clutched in Roy’s hand! Before Smith can see him do it, he uses it to strike Mia, just getting to her feet, hard in the sternum, sending her staggering back, gasping for air! Valentine hurls the weapon away to a chorus of jeers!
Artemis Direction: Oh come on now!
Del Ramos: Looks like Valentine’s going vampire slayer.
Hiro Suzuki: Definitely one way to get her coffin!
Still trying to get a lungful of air, Mia is unable to stop Roy from hitting her with his Red Crown finisher! As she crumples, coughing, Roy makes the pin!
ONE!
TWO!
THREE!
DING DING DING!
Kevin Kim: Ascended Army, your winner via pinfall, ROY VALENTINE!
Roy is met with a symphony of jeers as Godric raises his arm in victory. Valentine snatches it away, giving Mia, still recovering on the mat, one last look of contempt before making his way out of the ring and back up the ramp.
Artemis Direction: Unfortunately, dear Godric can’t call what he can’t see. It looks like Keller purposefully snapped the heel of her pump off so that Valentine could use it as a weapon.
Del Ramos: Can’t fault the weasley fuck for resourcefulness. The way I see it, though, it’s just an appetizer for the feast to come.
Hiro fidgets, tugging on his bowtie nervously.
Hiro Suzuki: On the one hand, I’m glad Lang’s not in the building right now. On the other, I’m really apprehensive about what kind of fight we’re about to see.
Del Ramos: That’s because you’re a fucking coward.
Artemis Direction: Dr. Lang and Viola Williams haven’t been shy about their mutual animosity toward one another.
Del Ramos: Kinda comes with the whole ‘experimenter’ and ‘experimented’ dynamic they seem to have going.
Artemis Direction: Mara has been looking at the roster like her own personal catalog of experimental subjects. Whenever she takes an interest, well…
Hiro Suzuki: …you get results like the Insensate.
Artemis Direction: Just so, darling. But Ms. Williams isn’t what I’d call vulnerable. She has a robust support system.
Del Ramos: Does she? Haven’t seen her around these parts lately. Even this match isn’t taking place under the Colosseum roof.
Hiro Suzuki: She did seem to play a significant hand in helping O’Toole get free of Valentine. Now that he is, do you think she’s going to stick around?
Artemis Direction: It’s difficult to say, sweetling, but I know at least one person who would be heartbroken if she didn’t.
Del Ramos: Leon might be smitten, but that doesn’t mean she has to stay with him. She’s not obligated to be at his side while all this shit with Frater’s happening. Hell, maybe all of their strife made her decide to leave. But if this is gonna be her last hurrah, I’m glad she’s making it brutal.
Artemis Direction: Speaking of, it sounds like our media team is ready!
Del Ramos: Heh! Just like I thought - she’s taking this to Northern State Mental Hospital in Sedro-Woolley. The place opened up in 1911 and closed down in 1973. All kinds of fucked up business happened there and they say it’s haunted as shit. Perfect for a little showdown between doctor and patient.
The house lights dim as the big screen comes to life in the Colosseum.
Mara Lang stands alone at one end of a long hallway, the doors that line either side in various states of deteriorating. Dusty lights dot the length of the hall all the way to a starkly lit linoleum room at the end. Aside from a single flickering bulb and Mara’s own steady breathing, the asylum is still and silent.
Mara Lang: A little mouse indeed. Here I thought you’d show a bit more verve in this fight, but I find you hiding, instead. If you simply wish to leave, you’re free to do so at any time. I’m sure no one at Ascended would want to keep you against your will, and there are so many predators stalking the halls for a little rodent to fear.
Lang’s words are cut by the shrill pop of an ancient intercom screeching to life, followed by a familiar voice behind the crackling.
Viola Williams: Attention, Dr. Lang. Your patient has arrived.
From out of the dark room to Mara’s right rushes the shadow of Viola Williams, who grabs Lang’s arm on her way to springboard off the wall! With that momentum she tosses Lang further down the hall in an impressive arm drag. Lang recovers quickly, turning to look for Viola, but she’s disappeared into the shadows again. Her voice comes back over the speakers.
Viola Williams: I took the liberty of getting here early and scouting the site. It’s said there are thousands of bodies buried on this property, patients killed in experimental treatments, all in pursuit of the advancement and betterment of mankind. Sound familiar?
Lang only manages a single step forward before Legacy’s super kick catches her square in the jaw.
Viola Williams: I hope you're ready to join them.
The doctor grabs Viola’s ankle before she can slip away, but Williams quickly transitions into an enzuigiri and kicks free! She darts into the next darkened room but this time Lang follows, grabbing hold of Legacy and locks her in her signature Inflame Out! Viola bends but doesn’t break, clawing viciously at Mara’s arms, who doesn’t let Viola drop until her hands begin falling away.
Before she has time to catch her breath, Lang grabs Williams by the hair, dragging her back into the hall and shoving her through the next rotted door, which all but disintegrates as the smaller wrestler is tossed through. Williams rolls to her feet and charges forward, but Lang is ready and meets her with a discus back elbow! Legacy hits the ground hard, but hoists herself up by the bars of a long-forgotten bedframe to deliver a Pele kick that sends Mara stumbling back into the hall.
Viola Williams: What were you trying to accomplish in picking this place? Did you think it would scare me? Give you an edge? Please. You may be used to being in charge of your experiments but this is my home, doctor. You knew that. You’re the one out of your depth.
Williams rushes Lang with a spear, tackling them both into the room at the end of the hall. As the pair roll to their feet they lock eyes, then slowly turn to the single restraint chair that sits in the spotlight of the overhead light and seem to have the same idea.
Viola Williams: Do you regret your challenge yet, doctor? You don’t have the safety of the crowd as witnesses, the officials keeping us honest, the rules to keep me from fully breaking you. You’re weak, inferior—it isn’t your fault, of course, it’s just your place.
Mara goes for an elbow strike, but Legacy springs back and delivers a super kick that knocks Lang into the chair! Williams drags herself up after Mara, straddling the struggling doctor, head tilted at an odd angle and her wicked grin shadowed by the light behind. Williams rears back, ready to deliver a vicious chop to Mara’s chest, and Lang uses the bit of space to reach up for surgical lamp, bringing it down hard on Williams’ head and casting the room into darkness as it shatters over them both.
For a moment, there is nothing: silence and a dark screen. Then comes a furious howl as Mara Lang emerges from the operating room, bloodied but triumphant. The flickering light of the hallway offers just enough visibility to catch a glimpse of Legacy thrashing violently against the restraints of the chair.
As the screen goes dark and the house lights come back on, the commentary team is seen once more. Both Artemis and Hiro’s jaws are hanging open while Del is all but frothing at the mouth in sadistic joy.
Del Ramos: THIS IS WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT! VIOLENCE! SADISM! MIND GAMES! FUCKING SHIT UP IN AN ABANDONED ASYLUM!
Hiro Suzuki: Is it just me or did Williams seem a little… off?
Artemis Direction: There was certainly a special kind of… ferocity being demonstrated tonight we haven’t seen previously. Ms. Williams can hold her own with the most relentless among the roster, but this is a horse of a different color.
Del Ramos: Well I hope she fucking rides it right back here because I wanna see more.
Artemis Direction: Before we get to that, my violent vixen, we have a contract signing to get to!