Vanguard #16 (03/15/23)

---

---

---

---

The HYBRID cameras go live and there is chaos backstage. Several officials are attempting to stop the Samoan War Machine, Aleki Kekoa, from causing permanent harm to Brody Slater. Brody is bleeding profusely from his head and is seated on the ground, nearly unconscious, receiving stiff lefts and rights across his head and face from Aleki. The officials dare not get closer to the Samoan War Machine but beg him to stop.

Officials: ALEKI! STOP! He’s done!

Aleki looks around him and just sneers at the officials before dragging Brody up and through the backstage curtain. The crowd goes apeshit as Aleki walks, more like dragging a groggy Brody down the aisle to ringside. They shout their amazement.


Aleki rolls Brody into the ring before sliding into the ring himself. He drags Brody up to his feet then scoops him up over his shoulder like a piece of dead meat. Aleki glares at the live camera before dropping Brody onto his head with another MY DIVINE RIGHT inverted sitout over-the-shoulder piledriver! Brody unfolds to the mat limp. Crowd shout their disbelief.


As Aleki stands up, he wipes some of Brody’s blood off his face and smears it on his bare chest. He yells at the ringside attendant to give him a live microphone. The ring attendant obliges the Samoan War Machine who takes the mic and stares at his handiwork laying in the middle of the ring; Aleki’s breath echoes through the arena.

Aleki Kekoa: THIS… is what happens when you relegate the Samoan War Machine to a pre-show, non-televised match!

Aleki points at the unconscious remains of Brody Slater.

Aleki Kekoa: If Mr. Vance will not book the Samoan War Machine on Vanguard, then the Samoan War Machine must bring his casualties of war to Vanguard! THIS… didn’t need to happen! The blood of Brody Slater was shed by my hands but his blood is on the head of Aloysius Marcus Vance IV!

The Samoan War Machine lets his words sink in momentarily.

Aleki Kekoa: Vanguard is MY BATTLEGROUND! And I will not be disrespected again by executive oversight! So listen up, Aloysius! If you don’t want to see the rest of the HYBRID roster annihilated like Brody Slater here show after show after show, then not only do I want to be booked on the main Vanguard card, I now want something from you! I want… the VANGUARD CHAMPIONSHIP!

The crowd loses its marbles with Aleki’s demand.

Aleki Kekoa: I don’t give a damn if you’re busy, Aloysius! Make time! I want my demand met by the time of tonight’s Vanguard Championship match or either Cordelia Clark or Honey Rydel will suffer the same fate as Brody Slater!

Aleki motions to the invisible watch on his wrist.

Aleki Kekoa: Tick-tock, AMV!

Aleki glares at the live camera before dropping the mic and "No Church in the Wild" by Jay-Z & Kanye West featuring Frank Ocean & The-Dream begins to play.

Jacob Frankel: Aleki Kekoa has sent a bloody message to our owner. He wants the Vanguard Championship or he will exact what he did to Brody Slater tonight on Cordelia Clark or Honey Rydel!

Bernadette Olson: I hope Mr. Vance does the right thing because I don’t know if Brody Slater will recover from the mauling he took. I don’t want to imagine Cordelia Clark or Honey Rydel as casualties of Aleki Kekoa.

Jacob Frankel: Aloysius… you’re on the clock, boss.

---

Lluvia Salvatore: What kind of champions win titles than are, mostly, quiet, right? I know that’s what everyone must be thinking about us.

Lluvia Salvatore and Jonna Austin, along with Harper Lee, stepped into view of a camera that had been set-up backstage before the first match was set to get underway. Both competitors had their Global Tag Team Championships draped across their shoulders with Jonna in her ring gear while Lluvia and Harper were in regular street clothes. Neither of the active competitors had pleased looks on their faces, whether it was due to themselves or for another reason.

Jonna Austin: We don’t claim to be the greatest, most perfect champions in the world. Hell, I don’t know a damn person that is, in hindsight. But what we can say is that we’re calculating champions. We’ve sat back and have been watching the rest of the teams carefully.

Harper Lee: Lluvia and Jonna haven’t just been paying attention to the sheer grit from their next contenders, Natural Resources…no, they’ve been watching all of the teams. They’ve seen the domination from the Daughters of Darkness. They’ve seen the love the fans have for The Calinauts. Hell, they’ve even seen 2 Broke Chicks and Chi Chi’s antics, which have been amusing, I’ll admit.

Harper cracked a grin at the mention of 2BC. Well, really, all 3 members of The Frontline cracked a small grin as they thought back to the previous show. Lluvia cleared her throat after a few seconds though the grin never vanished from her face.

Lluvia Salvatore: The point of the matter is this…we may be quiet. We may not boast about being the Global Tag Team Champions, but you can all bet your asses that we’re paying attention very closely. If you have any doubts about that, just watch Jonna tonight. Although…since I was one of the ones that helped train Aiden, she does have a small advantage over him compared to the rest…sorry, kid!

Jonna Austin: If he was the only one in it, I’d be sorry too. But Gigi Nova and Lana Corvin are involved tonight too, and neither woman is someone to slouch off at. Tonight is going to be a real test…of power and skill. If there are any doubts about us as champions, they’ll be erased tonight one way or another. The Frontline is here to stay as long as we have the gold. If you don’t like it? Well…that sounds like a YOU problem, not an us problem.

Harper Lee: If you don’t like it then you don’t like it…tough shit. Now ladies…it’s time for Jonna to kick some ass! Let’s go.

With that, the trio walked off down the hall, leaving the view of the camera and ultimately ending the backstage feed.



We cut backstage to the Queens of Chaos locker room as we see the leader of the group, Jessi Ozborne with Ollie the Honorary Queen.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: I don’t know, Queen Jessi… first Chi Chi pulls out one of poor Queen Bean’s mouth and then she pulls out an official’s tooth? I’m worried who she may target next… even despite the warning from Forge two weeks ago.

Jessi Ozborne: After I get my hands on her, it’s not gonna be another one of us, that’s for damn sure. I’m sick of watching this shit, Ollie. Seriously. If Chi Chi wants to go around taking teeth out of some rando on the side of the street, then harsh as it is to say, she can go right ahead. Get that money. I understand. Moment she starts coming after my sisters though? Fuck her. She’s done. I’ll figure out what to do about this.

It’s at that moment that fellow Queen, Laura Pinkerton, comes into view.

Laura Pinkerton: Hey Jess… Ollie… what’s up?

Ollie the Honorary Queen: Hi Queen Laura. Queen Jessi and I were just talking about what Chi Chi has been doing lately with this whole teeth pulling business.

Laura Pinkerton: Oh yeah! Golly gumdrops! It’s super duper sca--

Pinkerton’s eyes go wide as she immediately cups her hands over her mouth.

Laura Pinkerton: I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me there! I don’t know why I said that, Jess! I’m really really sorry!

Jessi gives Laura a bit of a side eye, not sure what to make of what just happened.

Jessi Ozborne: It’s…fine…listen, you guys hang back and look out for each other, alright? I’m gonna go be there for Mikaela during her match. Even if Chi Chi doesn’t show her face out there, you know for a fact Davis is gonna have some shit up her sleeve.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: You got it, Queen Jessi. And if you need either of us, we’ll be there.

Ozborne nods and then takes her leave as Pinkerton turns to Ollie.

Laura Pinkerton: Do you… think Jessi is mad at me for that?

Ollie scoffs as he folds his arms over his chest.

Ollie the Honorary Queen: Of course not, Queen Laura! We are all family to Queen Jessi. She said everything was fine so you’re all good.

Laura Pinkerton: Okay…

Pinkerton now folds her arms across her stomach as she looks off worryingly while the look on Ollie’s face shows that he may not even believe himself that Ozborne isn’t mad with Pinkerton as we cut elsewhere.



The scene opens on the back of a woman sitting at a table backstage. It approaches and moves around her to reveal The Rascal Witch, Alexis Lemon. She has her head propped up on her hand, looking bored. Her eyes lazily focus on the camera on her, which causes her to let out a sigh and picks her head up.

Alexis Lemon: I’ll be honest, two shows in a row without being booked is pretty frustrating.

She drops her hand onto the table, making a fairly loud thud.

Alexis Lemon: I’m a wrestler! I’m here to wrestle! If I wanted to simply sit back here and just collect a paycheck, I’d have joined up with Vilaro Fitness for Cthulhu’s sake! I fully understand I’m new here and I have to earn my opportunities and all that stuff, I’m cool with it. But it’s hard to do that from catering, y’know? Maybe some established vets are perfectly happy with free money but a Lemon works for their dinner. An exchange of goods and or services, right?

The teenager lets out a loud, heavy sigh.

Alexis Lemon: I’ve seen other people here jumping dudes in the parking lot when they don’t get their way. I’ve seen those same people become champions seemingly as a result. Is that what I gotta do? Should I take a bat to some poor fucker’s kneecaps? I can do it, trust me. But I don’t want to. I want to do things the right way. I’m going to earn my spot.

She stands up and crosses her arms across her chest.

Alexis Lemon: One chance. That’s all I need. I’m ready to show that everything I’ve accomplished outside of Hybrid isn’t a fluke. I’m ready to bring that kind of energy to Vanguard. Just let me fight for a shot. I’ll fight like an animal that’s been backed into a corner.

As she speaks, she steps closer and closer towards the camera until she’s right in front of it.

Alexis Lemon: Just sit back and watch when I’m in that mentality. It’ll be a sight to behold. Bet.

Without another word, Lexi walks past the camera, leaving the empty catering area behind her.

…Empty aside from the fiery redhead seated backwards in the seat Lemon had been sitting in just moments before. Katie Simmons watches on, her chin resting on the back of the seat as she watches Lexi walk away with a devious smile on her face. Seated behind her at the other side of the table is Simmons’ giant of a husband, Damian, who looks much less pleased about the whole situation.

---

The show cuts to the Vanguard Champion Cordelia Clark who is carrying a much brighter positive vibe to the dance this time considering that she is coming off of a successful championship defense. She’s fine tuned and focused on the task at hand as she begins to express her thoughts.

Cordelia Clark: That was more like it…

Cordelia can smile for a second as she looks at the championship she has over her shoulder.

Cordelia Clark: Robert Marino was a tough fight, I will give him credit for that but at the end of the day, I was able to pull through. It’s like I said going into that title defense against him, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Well, I can definitely say that my first championship defense definitely washed away the controversy of how I won this title in the first place but ultimately, that’s just the beginning. One defense is nice, but you know what sounds even better? TWO defenses! Here’s my second one tonight and it’s against Honey Rydel and I have to be honest, I’m approaching this one with a bit of skepticism. It has nothing to do with ability. It has nothing to do with confidence. I just find it very odd that on a show that is supposedly being presided over by my opponent, she’s getting a title shot tonight. Now, I’m not going to waste any time speculating as to whether she gave this shot or not and to be FAIR, Honey Rydel isn’t someone that has blatantly shown any suspicious behavior so ultimately, I decided that I just shouldn’t worry TOO much about it and focus on what’s in front of me.

The last thing that I want to do is screw myself over just because I was focused on the wrong thing…

Cordelia takes a bit of a brief pause as she begins to think more about what Honey Rydel is all about.

Cordelia Clark: Now, you have been around the block a few times. You’ve made your name elsewhere. You’ve been a tag team champion and you’re trying to truly prove yourself as a singles competitor and that is something I TOTALLY get! In fact, in my other current company, I started out as a tag team wrestler with my sister and we even WON the tag team titles together. Then we lost the titles and she turned on me which, that’s a completely different story but the point is, I had to go through what you are going through right now with finding my way as a singles competitor after my tag team title run was over and I can confidently say that I managed to do so. I wouldn’t be the Vanguard Champion at the moment if I didn’t. So, here’s the deal ‘princess’... I can call you that, right?

This Vanguard Championship isn’t just a shiny trinket that you can parade yourself around with. I take what I do seriously. Look, I’m not trying to be mean to you or anything like that and I understand that the way I conduct myself can rub some the wrong way particularly where I had my little ‘phase’ after Best Served Cold. But, I’ve managed to turn things around from that. I’m continuing to defend this title with honor tonight and after I retain for the second time and defeat you, that’s what I am going to continue to do. After my last defense, I really feel like I am hitting my stride here in HYBRID and that I’ve got nothing but the brightest futures ahead of me. With a win tonight, I will continue to show why I’m not just one of the best young wrestlers in the company, but also why it’s going to be hell as hard to take this championship from me no matter who you are. In my book, this is THE workhorse title of this company and I know that I’ve got everything it takes to grind and to push myself to be my absolute best while this title is mine.

My apologies, ‘princess’. But I doubt that tonight is going to be your night!

Cordelia maintains her bright, positive confident demeanor as she makes her exit from the scene.



The cameras move back to ringside as the commentary team starts to get fans and viewers hyped up for the next match on the card.

Bernadette Olson: Hell of a show we’ve had so far, fans! It’s only gonna get better!

Jacob Frankel: Indeed, Bernie! It’s time for uhh…well…it would seem our special guest General Manager of the evening has herself a title opportunity.

Bernadette Olson: Talk about an abuse of power, Jeff—

Just as she’s finishing her statement, the speakers swell with the rising, opening notes of In This Moment and Maria Brink’s voice echoes through the PA.


As the main guitar riff kicks in, the entryway fills with white light as smoke pours out. The music builds as the white light starts slowly strobing on and off.


The crowd pops as the Queens of Chaos logo flashes across the screen, preluding the appropriate tron reel and Mikaela Calaway steps out onto the stage. She’s wearing the HYBRID Iron Heart Championship around her waist but…she’s not in her usual ring gear. While she’s wearing black boots and kickpads, she’s dressed more simply in a pair of cutoff denim shorts, and a Queens of Chaos “Queen Brat” t-shirt with the end knotted up over her midriff and the sleeves cut off. Her hands, also, are wrapped up in fighter’s tape.

Bernadette Olson: Well well! The champ’s coming out first?

Jacob Frankel: Where’s her ring gear?


Mikaela comes down the ramp, foregoing her usual theatrics as she walks up onto the apron and gets into the ring. She beelines over to Spirit Montego and snatches the microphone out of her hand before turning towards the stage and raising the mic up.

Mikaela Callaway: Cut the damn music off!

“Adrenalize Me” switches off as Mikaela paces back and forth, glaring up towards the stage. She stops, opens her mouth and turns sharply towards the crowd, pacing the mat again.

Mikaela Callaway: Lemme talk to ya, Atlanta!

The crowd pops and she keeps her attention on them now, beginning to speak.

Mikaela Callaway: When I came into this company, I came in as - I guess you could say - a first round draft pick. I was sitting at home, going over tapes for a match I had coming up on the independent and I get a call from the owner. He says “Mikaela, you need to call this number I’m gonna give you. I think a company’s got eyes on you.” I said “but I already work for you. I’m not about to leave you guys high and dry.” He says “no, you don’t understand. This is the moment every wrestler in the indies hopes for.” I stopped and realized, this might be my moment. So I take down the number. I call first thing in the morning. Now, I’m an early bird. I like to get up early and get my training in. Sometimes I forget, not everyone’s up at 6:15 in the morning. I call this number and I get this tired, groggy voice on the other end. “I don’t know who this is, but do you have any idea what time it is?”

Mikaela stops and feigns shock, as if mimicking her reaction back when this actually happened.

Mikaela Callaway: ”Oh shoot! I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize!” “Who the hell is this?” “Uhh..uhh..this is Mikaela Calaway. Larry Dobbs said you wanted to speak with me? I can call back later, I didn’t mean to wake you.” That voice pauses, I’m shaking in my running shoes. At this point, this voice sounds calmer and says “oh, good morning Ms. Callaway. You rang me pretty early but no, while I’ve got you here: this is Aloysius Marcus Vance. I’d like to set up a sit down with you and discuss a deal with HYBRID Wrestling.” Now, imagine my shock hearing that. A two year rookie wrestling out of the local Virginia circuit, being invited to discuss a deal with the CEO himself. Of course, I jumped at that opportunity. Now, imagine my further shock when I found out I was the first one to sign on the dotted line for the return of one of the hottest companies in the industry. All of the talent that could have been contacted first and who did they call? Me. All of the veterans to ever set foot inside a wrestling ring, all of the former champions, wrestlers that competed for Hybrid before their hiatus that they could have called and who did they call first? Me!

She thumbs to herself as she looks out at the crowd, getting a little fired up now.

Mikaela Callaway: So it goes without saying, I hold this company in a special place in my heart. I love this company. I’d bleed for this company. Hell’s bells, I would DIE for this company! They recognized the hard work I put in and they gave me a chance. I’ll be a HYBRID mainstay through and through. I’ll defend this place from all threats outside…and inside.

The crowd stirs a bit, realizing where Mikaela’s going as she comes to stand in the center of the ring and points at the mat beneath her boots.

Mikaela Callaway: I walked through those doors, I stepped in this ring and I busted my ass every single show I’ve been booked to compete on. I didn’t have it easy. I didn’t come in and make a bunch of friends right in the gate. Hell, I got my ass beat by one of my childhood favorites. Wasn’t anything for me to feel down about. I was more disappointed when I realized what a piece of shit he was, but that’s a story for another time. The point is, I feel like I’ve made more enemies than friends here. I’ve been blindsided. I’ve been cheated. Yet I’ve come right back and I’ve kicked the crap out of anyone who thinks this young’n from Virginia Beach is gonna just lie down and take it. The last one to catch smoke was Darcy Graves, which brings me to where I am now. Barely six months off the indies, wrestling for a big name company and through all of the blood and sweat – no, no tears ‘cause I was raised knowing cowgirls don’t cry - I got this…

She reaches back, unclasps the Iron Heart Championship from around her waist and holds it up beside her.

Mikaela Callaway: I fought for this. I EARNED this! I’ve defended this! I am the Iron Heart Champion! I am the Iron Heart Queen of Chaos! I made a vow when I won this title. I would protect the integrity of it and the Global Heavyweight Championship because if there’s one thing I can’t stand in this business is freeloaders, whiners and soft asses who bitch and moan to get their way. People who see something like this title and what it stands for and wanna use it as a golden ticket to an easy way to the top of the roster. Yes, I do hold the Iron Heart Title. I do hold the right to issue a challenge to the Global Heavyweight Champion at anytime I choose, whether it be Eddy or anyone else. Baby, I love you but at some point, I am gonna wanna cash in my shot, BUT I’m gonna do it right. I’m gonna do it the way something like this should be exchanged. Whenever I do cash this title in for the big one, mark my word, the champ’s gonna know when it’s coming. I’m not like the damn snakes in this business who would take this belt and knock the champion across the back of the head and cash in for an easy pin. Nah, honey. That ain’t me. That ain’t how I roll. I ain’t no bitch. I ain’t no coward. I ain’t no fake ass pretender Queen. I! AIN’T! BIANCA! DAVIS!

The crowd roars with anticipation as Mikaela turns her sharp gaze towards the stage and holds her hand with the title out towards it.

Mikaela Callaway: Bianca, you strut your ass around here with your nose up at everyone. You act like you’re the best thing since sliced bread. You think your shit don’t stink. Well let me let everyone in on a little secret. I’ve passed by her on my way into the ladies room in the back and WHOOOOOOO!!!

Crowd: OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Mikaela hangs the belt over her shoulder and waves her hand in front of her nose, making a face as the crowd laughs. She turns serious again and takes the title off of her shoulder once more.

Mikaela Callaway: Bianca, you’ve come up with every excuse in the world as to why I beat you in the Global Heavyweight Tournament. You wanna ignore the obvious and put it all on the Queens of Chaos, failing to realize that none of them would have had to have gotten involved if it weren’t for Honey Rydell slipping your royal butt plug inside to try and hit me. Then having to stop you from putting your feet on the ropes. You wanna talk about all of your accomplishments as a wrestler while completely denying the shortcuts you’ve had to go through to get there. That brings us to here and now. Go figure the first order of business you take when getting control of this week’s show, you book yourself for a shot at MY Iron Heart Title. The Pretender Queen looking for an easy path to the Global Heavyweight Title. So here we are now. I’m sure you’re waiting to fire off excuses on me needing help to beat you again so I’ve already made sure you won’t have one. I talked to every Queen of Chaos in the back. I don’t want any of them out here for this, no matter what. What I do want is you. Just you! We’ve already had disqualifications and countouts removed. You want this title, you fake ass bitch?

She holds it out in front of her again before laying it out on the mat in front of her like a line in the sand.

Mikaela Callaway: Come on down and show me you can beat this rookie’s ass for it!!

With that, Mikaela tosses the microphone over her shoulder, out of the ring and hunches forward, watching the stage as music kicks in. Bebe Rexha’s “Bad Bitch” follows the intro of Royal Trumpets, prompting Mikaela to roll her eyes as she waits. Simple Simon makes his appearance, waving to the crowd a moment before Bianca Davis walks out onto the stage in her royal robes to a chorus of boos from the audience. Simon yells at the crowd to give Bianca her due respect as the Queen AND tonight’s General Manager. Bianca struts down towards the ring, stopping halfway before removing her crown and robes, revealing…she’s not even wearing her ring gear. Instead, she’s dressed to the nine in one of her expensive dresses. Bianca smirks maliciously and just winks at Mikaela. It takes Mikaela a fraction of a second too late before she realizes the jig and spins around just in time to be LEVELED!!!!! BIG CLOTHESLINE BY CARNIFEX!!! BIANCA’S HIRED TOWER OF MUSCLE!!!!

Bernadette Olson: Hey!!!! What the hel?!?!

Jacob Frankel: She pulled a fast one on the champ, Bernie!!!

Bianca walks towards the ring, shouting instructions as Carnifex picks Mikaela up with her head in his hands like a vice grip. He whips her off of the ropes and shoots for another clothesline but Mikaela ducks and hits the ropes again. As she hits the ropes, Simple Simon, having been sent down to ringside, grabs her by the foot to stop her. Mikaela spins around and grabs for him over the ropes but he jumps back. She turns her attention back to Carnifiex who BLASTS her with a Big Boot!! The crowd is booing madly as Bianca storms around to the staff side of the ring and shouts at the timekeeper.

Bianca Davis: Ring the bell!! By order of the Queen! By order of your General Manager! I command you! Ring that bell!!

With no choice but to do as he’s ordered, the timekeeper rings the bell and this match is on!



The scene opens up backstage inside the office of AMV, the owner of HYBRID, when all of a sudden jolt can be heard as barging right in is an angry Queen Bianca Davis, flanked by her brand new bodyguard. Her face is red with fury and AMV looks amused but irritated at the same time, Forge standing behind him as usual.

Queen Bianca Davis: Once again, you let your little pets screw me?! They screw their Queen out of my rightful title! First, Eddy Todd gets help by adding that insignificant little runt into our match because of your stupid stipulation! Now you protect his sleazy, disgusting, bottom-feeding bitch by allowing that to happen?! You allowed Super Tiger to screw me in the tournament before that; I should be the Iron Heart Champion right God damn now!

AMV looks at Bianca, a single brow elevated as his smile has gone away, as she continues:

Queen Bianca Davis: You're now going to listen to me! I am done playing your games, I am done dealing with your pets getting away with murder, and I am done with the disrespect of royalty around here! So I demand restitution for what has occurred; otherwise, I will make your life running this show very difficult.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: ...that sounds dangerously close to a threat, MISS Davis. Are you sure that’s where you want to take this matter?

As if on cue, the massive, bearded beast stomps forward, no longer flanking Bianca but instead coming right up to the desk with the threat of violence in his body language. Forge steps forward in response, albeit more smoothly, locking eyes with the beast. The two are nearly the same height, able to glare into one another’s eyes. Bianca’s attention shifts to her monster and Forge, but AMV’s eyes stay on the self-proclaimed queen.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: I’ll give you a chance to rephrase that, young lady. Also, you might want to tug on your large friend’s leash; if this turns into a fight, you WILL be billed for any damage done to my office.

Clearly, the boss-man has reached a limit of sorts with the Queen.

Queen Bianca Davis: Rephrase, I am telling you the truth! I am so sick of you and your games, always playing favorites with those pets of yours?! It should have been one on one for the Global Heavyweight Title, but no, you had to insert Jessie in it to protect your slimeball of a champion. I was never pinned in that match. I tried playing nice and I get screwed every single time!

The Queen maintains her icy cold stare through the company's owner.

Queen Bianca Davis: Also, I will if you tug on yours because, trust me, he tries anything he will be the one through the wall here. A shame I have to employ my own protection since your security force has this bad habit of unfairly targeting me. So once again, I deserve restitution for what has occurred for this crime against the crown.

There’s an odd sound from behind AMV’s desk, which sounds like a snort, which turns into a bark of laughter from Forge. Literally a throw-your-head-back belly laugh before he resumes glaring into the face of Bianca’s heavy.

Forge: Go ahead. Give me a fucking reason.

The big man snarls at Forge, who glowers right back. AMV, again, keeps his eyes on Bianca, though he does address his second-in-command-

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: Not here, old friend. Not now.

-and then gets right back to dealing with the erstwhile monarch.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: Point-by-point, Bianca, because if I don’t spell this out for you as simply as possible, you’re just going to end up back in here screeching again.

Aloysius sits back in his seat, folding his hands before him.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: First of all, you agreed to the match being a no-disqualification street fight, so anything went. Your thug here couldn’t stand up to what Mikaela brought to the table, nor could you stand up to the woman herself, so if you want to blame someone for you not being a two-time Iron Heart Champion, look in the mirror. Secondly? You tried to screw Jessie Robinson out of a shot at the title when you realized that they were a threat. I simply compensated and she made the most of the opportunity. As to the Global Heavyweight Title match with Eddy Todd? You got too big for your embroidered pink britches against the Beggar King. There’s a reason he’s only lost ONE match since coming to HYBRID. Or did you think just because you call yourself royalty that you’d have some advantage over him mentally?

Somehow, the boss keeps calm during this despite a furious, seething Bianca and two flesh-covered brick shithouses threatening to rip one another apart like Godzilla and King Kong!

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: And finally? I don’t play favorites. I give opportunities based on merit. Personal vendettas have no place in this business. There’s a graveyard of wrestling companies out there who thought they were immune to that truism, something I refuse to let HYBRID join. And since we’re speaking from the heart here, assuming that you do indeed have one, let me say this: you’ve got a lot of talent in you, Bianca. A lot of fire and drive. But you can’t get out of your own damn way half the time with this Queen bullshit. The moment you get control of yourself, the wrestling world will actually have to watch out for you. Thing is, you’re married to your self-imposed misery and wrongful image of yourself and those around you. And until you get around that… you’ll always be an almost-was, a could-have-been, instead of an all-time great to be remembered.

Taking a breath, AMV sits forward again, awaiting her response. Bianca eyes him still with the same seething cold look on her face, clearly not happy with most of what was said.

Queen Bianca Davis: The wrestling world is too dense to take notice of what has been in front of their eyes long enough. No matter what cesspool I step in I win gold but, again, I couldn’t stand up to her? No, she needed help to beat me two times! Two fucking times, and as far as that runt goes? They never deserved a shot at my Iron Heart title, not even one! But you kept trying to appease a bunch of peasants. Again never deserved either opportunity but they were given it anyway.

Bianca said with anger still lingering in her voice.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: You’re pushing your luck here, Davis. Your partner might be in charge of the show tonight, but this company is still mine and you’re competing here by my good graces. I suggest you take the rest of the night off and cool your head before you come stomping into my office again making threats and demanding special treatment. And you can take your shaven gorilla with you.

It seems that AMV is done with the Queen for the evening, though the big man and Forge are still staring, daring one another to make the first move.

Queen Bianca Davis: Whatever. Remember what I said: either I get restitution or people are going to start getting hurt, because Canrifex here will make sure of that. Demanding special treatment? No, I want fair treatment. The only ones getting special treatment around are the slumlord, and his stupid friends. I will not tolerate this anymore.

Bianca points her scepter at the both of them with an evil-looking sneer on her face before saying in a foreign language toward her muscle bound guard.

Queen Bianca Davis: Idemo, završio sam s nesposobnošću.

Soon, Carnfiex backs down and turns to leave at his queen’s side. As they slam the office door shut behind them, AMV takes a breath and rubs his face in his hands. Forge, still staring at the door after their departure, cracks his neck and snorts irritably.

Forge: That sucked.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: You’re just mad that you didn’t get to fight her hired help.

Forge: Exactly.

AMV can’t help but chuckle, even though he seems far more bothered than usual now as the cameras cut away.



”It would have taken literally two seconds. You know you can’t let shit like that slide.”

Cameras have cut to one of the backstage monitors, where Aloysius Marcus Vance IV is standing and watching the actions of Aleki Kekoa from minutes ago. He sips calmly from a cup of coffee as Forge, arms folded across his broad chest, looks on from the boss man’s side. AMV nods slowly, though whether in acknowledgement or agreement is unclear. Forge likewise has a cup of coffee, but the difference is that AMV’s is laden with cream and sugar, while Forge’s could probably melt a bullet.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: And what good would it do to let you go Dalton on him? This ain’t the Double Deuce and you ain’t Patrick Swayze. Besides…

AMV grins and nods off towards the hallway.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: I’m not in charge tonight. If Kekoa has a problem, he should take it up with Honey Rydel.

Rolling his eyes, the big man takes a sip of his dark roast, staring at the screen dispassionately.

Forge: Didn't stop you from laying down the law on the Brat Queen. You still gotta deal with the fallout. This Kekoa kid is like an untrained dog. If you let him keep shitting on the floor without rubbing his nose in it, he’s gonna think he can do it all the fuckin’ time.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: I’ll deal with it at #17. And if he acts a fool again, you have my permission to take him down a peg. Deal?

Forge: ...you’re already getting ideas.

AMV shrugs and takes another sip of his coffee, unable to hide his grin.

Forge: I swear, it’s like you enjoy these morons going off at the mouth and the fist.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: Controversy creates cash. Pretty sure I read that somewhere.

Forge: You ain’t the one cleanin’ up after ‘em.

The boss finally turns to look at his right-hand man, getting serious.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: Does this seriously bother you, or are you just feeling the urge to break someone again?

Forge: I plead the fifth.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: Tell you what: if this blows back on us in any way, shape or form, you have my full permission to deal with it. Your way. No limits.

Peering at AMV over the rim of his cup, Forge lowers it and nods slowly.

Aloysius Marcus Vance IV: Good. Make sure Kekoa is present at #17. Things might get interesting.

And the cameras cut away.