Time for the New Breed

January 15, 2012
Shea Medical Center (Scottsdale, AZ)

Scene opens up in the testing facility down the hall from where Lance Invictus stayed after suffering bad head trauma in his last appearance on the 9 January edition of Ravage. We see the Doctor that has been taking care of Lance finishing up the paperwork on Lance’s last test.

Doctor (looking at nurse): I don’t know if I can clear Lance, it looks close, but not close enough. There still is a lot of risk in having him released at this point.

The nurse nods, but is quickly surprised when the sliding door of the room SWOOSH’s open and a masked figure stands just inside the doorway.

Doctor: You’re not supposed to be in here. Nurse, please hit the emergenc—

??: No need to attract attention, I don’t want to rob, |BLEEP| or pillage your bodies; you two are too pathetic for such actions. I am here to, *ahem* help you make a decision regarding Lance’s status.

The figure reaches into his jacket to pull out an unmarked envelope that appears to be stuffed full. The person drops the envelope with a thud on the desk that the Doctor is sitting at. The Doctor tries to object, but the figure hush’s the Doctor. The figure leaves the room without saying another word. The Doctor and nurse both look at the envelope and back at each other as the scene fades.

January 23, 2012
Lafayette, LA

Scene opens on a slightly warm, sunny day in Louisiana, which is an advantage of living in the south vice in the northern United States. The camera and audio open up on Lance Invictus and Ian Elms who are walking the area around the Cajun Dome a few days before the biggest match of Lance’s WWX career to date is to take place. The pair isn’t decked out in anything special but a pair of jeans, t-shirts and a light jacket. Audio fades in on the pair who are walking down Glynn Able Drive.

Ian: ...impressive how you captured victory against two living legends of this business.

Lance shrugs apathetically.

Lance: It is business as usual for me. You of all people should realize I rise to the occasion when I need to.

Ian: That’s almost your problem.

Lance: How so?

The pair stops walking as Ian places a consoling hand on Lance’s shoulder

Ian:  I hate to break it to you, but your true talent really only shows when either your back is against the wall or there is something, like a title for example, on the line. Otherwise, you half ass every other appearance or competition you undertake. 

Lance just shrugs the hand and the judgment off.

Lance: Don’t be silly, I just think you’re jealous of my success.

Ian: I’ve seen it from UWO to HGW to NIWF and now here. You can’t say it isn’t true. You’ve only captured victory in WWX one other time and it was a match in which you would have been eliminated from the James Ranger Invitational if you had lost.

Lance rubs his head and forehead while sighing deeply. 

Lance: Maybe you’re right, but see, I don’t view it as me being lazy. I view it as rising to the occasion which makes for more exciting matches. 

Ian realizes that Lance is still oblivious to what other people notice when they watch Lance over a long period of time. However, Ian is wise enough to realize that it’s fool’s gold to continue down this path with Lance. The pair begins to leave Glynn Able Drive and come to its cross street when Lance notices something.  Lance turns and looks down Glynn Able Drive and then towards southeast off into the distance.

Lance: Interesting, we were just walking around Fraternity Row and *points into the distance* it’s Sorority Row. Let’s take a walk, shall we? 

The pair eventually ends up walking down Coliseum Road, home of University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Sorority Row where the women are loose and the rear entries are looser. Lance and Ian approach the first Sorority they come upon. A few blondes are sitting on the steps giggling.

Lance: Have either of you fine ladies heard of Darkness?

Sorority Girl #1: Darkness? That’s, like, what my boyfriend likes when we do the nasty, right?

Lance shakes his head. The pair head to the next sorority and ask the same question. 

Sorority Girl #2: Dark-what? *She becomes distracted* Shiny object!

Lance pauses and waits for the bimbo to come back to reality.

Sorority Girl #2: Darkness? Nope.

The pair head to the next and likely last sorority to ask the same question. 

Sorority Girl #3: Huh? Who?

The pair thanks the girl and decides to leave Sorority Row to head back towards their hotel. Ian is still perplexed at why they walked down Sorority Row, but refrains from following the rabbit down the hole.

Lance: So, from that little questioning it appears as if Darkness has no pull with the average woman. However, it’s not surprising considering him and Lipton.

Lance makes a hole with one hand and uses his free hand to demonstrate what Lipton and Darkness participate in when they’re not laid up in the hospital together. Scene fades out as Ian shakes his head at Lance’s juvenile poke at Darkness and Lipton. 

January 24, 2012
Hilton Garden Inn (Lafayette, LA)

Scene opens up in a hotel room just a few blocks from the Cajun Dome as the days draw closer to the Finals of the James Ranger Invitational and the crowning of a new #1 Contender to Krimzon Blaze’s title. Lance and Ian have rented out the nicest suite at the Hilton and are enjoying the extra space, well, at least one of them is. Ian is sprawled out on his King sized bed while Lance is huddled over his computer with a papers spread over the desk next to him. 

Lance: You know, doing taxes is a |BLEEP|.

Ian: Use H&R Block, WWX has a special deal through them. I hear 10% of all your returns go to Ranger.

The pair gets a chuckle out of the joke.

Lance: I am using H&R Block; however, I had like 3 or 4 jobs last year before coming to WWX, so I have to make sure all of this gets in. Hopefully, next year I will only have one W-2 so this can be done quickly.

A few moments of silence go by until Lance breaks the silence with his latest epiphany.

Lance: You know what doing taxes, paying extra money during tax season and getting tax returns reminds me of?

Ian shakes his head back and forth.

Lance: It reminds me of all the times that people like Gunnar and Darkness have taken from the WWX and its fans. Now, I’m not talking about stealing, though one can look at it like that. See every title reign by those two forces other quality wrestlers back down the pipe to either sit and fester or look for business elsewhere. Every time a quality wrestler leaves because of the inability to win higher titles because of Darkness and his lovers is a loss for all of us. Look how many title reigns Darkness has during his time at WWX; just think how many wrestlers have come and gone!

Lance spins his chair around to face Ian.

Lance: He has been a WWX World Champion, a Unified World Heavyweight Champion, a two time Tag Champion, a four time International Champion, three-time Triple A Champion, two time television and one time North American Champion. 

Ian: Then you have Gunnar Granderson, he’s—

Lance: That punk too! He’s a former International, North American and Tag Team Champion! Do you know what few things they all have in common my dear Watson?

Ian shakes his head at the poor Sherlock Holmes reference.

Ian: What, pre tell do they have in common?

Lance: One, they’ve all been here barely a year or less than that. Secondly, they’ve been getting all these title shots and victories in said title shots. To me, that’s like making a lot of money and getting away without having to payback unpaid taxes during this time of year! Yes, they lost their titles for a reason or another, but come on, it doesn't seem to phase them, much like not paying taxes

Ian: Well, when you look at it in that way, I guess it is like not paying taxes, WWX taxes.

Lance: Exactly right, Darkness is a huge offender in my opinion, he has more titles in the past year than some people have had sexual partners! I’m sure Darkness will just claim that he’s that good, but if that’s the case, why in the hell has he not been able to hold on to a title for a longer period of time? Ostensibly upward movement would be the reason, but still, take some time and put some prestige into the belt. Don't make yourself look like a title |BLEEP| as opposed to someone who actually put some meaning behind a belt.

Lance takes a sip of water.

Lance: While Gunnar hasn’t been here for a long period of time, he has benefited from the culture that Darkness has set forth.  Gunnar is not going to stop taking if the WWX is offering. Despite their less than lengthy periods of stay here in WWX, they both have accumulated a long list of accomplishments. While I’d like to think they’re good competitors, there is a part of me that tells me that isn’t so, especially with one that has the backing of Tommy Lipton.

Ian: They’re talented wrestlers; wrestling is what they do well.

Lance: Well, logically yes, but see, they also clog up the upward mobility of other promising superstars, mainly me. Listen, when it comes down to it, I can’t let them think they run the show around here when that isn’t the truth. Just because one of them kisses Lipton’s ass while the other is another overachiever much like Rey Mysterio doesn’t mean they are worthy of all these accolades. It’s time that someone started regulating these greedy bastards and bring them back to reality so they can realize what it is to be a real person, not a deity. 

Ian nods in approval.

Ian: What about Max Siegel? You skipped over him.

Lance: Who?

Ian: Siegel!

Lance: Oh, you mean the guy who has had one or two matches in December, but yet has stuck around in the Invitational? He probably has some special arrangement with Ranger, but I’m only guessing at this point. However, I can’t argue him getting special treatment; I got a second life in this Invitational due to that man. Regardless, I don’t view Siegel as a threat even though he’s made it as far as me. To me, he’s the Butler of the tournament; talented, but ultimately not going to win.

Lance, apparently all spent out, turns back to his computer as the clicking combination of the keyboard and mouse comeback for a brief moment. Lance spins back around.

Lance: Also, don’t forget, we’ve got Blaine Evans as a guest referee in this match. He’s a MAJOR wild card on Fury. He essentially has the ability to decide who he wants to advance via fast or slow counts or the ability to ignore someone tapping. Short of James Ranger coming to the ring, it’ll be tough to get a fairly refereed match. 

Ian: You may have to distribute your own brand of justice if things go south.

Lance: It’s a possibility...but that would only take the enjoyment out of pinning Blaine Evans or possibly Lipton.. 

The pair sit there for a few more moments before the scene fades to black.