{The scene opens inside Roxi and Keira’s home, and it is at night. Roxi is sitting on the couch watching the local news, as Keira is prepping a massive sandwich for a late night snack.}
Keira – You sure you don’t want any of this?
Roxi – No. I wouldn’t want you to go hungry.
Keira – Har har.
Roxi – I know.
{Roxi continues to watch the news, perking at the story.}
Anchor – A grizzly scene was on display as police investigate a bizarre death on Revello Drive. Officials have not yet identified the body or the remains of the victim. Police are not even sure if there is only one victim, and apparently won’t be, for some time.
Roxi – Hmmm..
Keira – Why do you watch that, I’m trying to eat a snack here!
Roxi – It’s important to keep up with the news of where you live, Keira.
Keira – Just seems that all there is these days is bad news.
Roxi – I suppose.
Keira – Everyone is overworked and underpaid. Schools have no funding. Politics is stupid. And everything is going to kill everybody. Did I leave anything out?
Roxi – High School sports.
Keira – Fair.
Roxi – Still… we do need to pay attention.
{Keira, having sat down next to Roxi, leans forward, her eyes focused.}
Keira – You know what I’m focused on.
Roxi – Yes, I do, but you’re not the only one.
Keira – Sadly, they’re making me wait until next week before I get my qualifying match.
Roxi – I know you’ll be fine.
Keira – I just can’t lose momentum.
Roxi – I don’t think you will, and besides, look at me, that was rough to start, but it’s getting better now.
Keira – I think it’s better now that you’re just having fun.
Roxi – Sometimes, you just have to.
{Keira snuggles up to her wife on the couch, leaning her head against her.}
Keira – I just… hope that we can make other things better.
{Roxi puts her arm around her wife.}
Roxi – One day at a time.
{The tender moment is interrupted by the wrist communicator going off.}
Keira – Like clockwork.
Roxi and Keira share a knowing moment before Roxi answers.}[/b]
Roxi – Go ahead Vision.
Vision – You watching the news?
Roxi – Yes. Why, what’s up?
Vision – That crime scene… They’re requesting our presence.
Roxi – I thought they had jurisdiction?
Vision – In this case, they want to make an exception.
Roxi – That bad?
Vision – Apparently. I don’t know, maybe they just want another set of… non-police eyes, or… maybe this is something bigger than that. Not sure. But listening to the call… something has them spooked.
{Roxi looks at Keira who is none too pleased, before she begins to get up.}
Roxi – Alright, I’ll look into it.
Vision – Thanks.
{The communicator cuts off as Roxi gets to her feet and stretches.}
Keira – Don’t take too long.
Roxi – I’ll be back. Don’t worry. The crime has already been commited.
Keira – I heard the stories about how you can mess up a crime scene.
{Roxi gives a knowing look to Keira.}
Roxi – Trust me.
{Keira smirks, but it quickly changes to a look of fright as she bolts up.}
Keira – Wait… what if this…
Roxi – What?
Keira – What if it’s that monster?
Roxi – The monster? That scene doesn’t look like it left a disaster area.
Keira – I think I should go with you.
Roxi – Whoa, whoa, relax. Look, if anything happens, I’ll call you. I can handle this for now.
Keira – One thing even smells funny, I’m coming.
Roxi – Calm down. You don’t need to get worked up over this.
Keira – You know what Nathaniel said.
Roxi – And this, I don’t think has anything to do with it. I’ll be fine.
Keira – Just be careful.
Roxi – I will. I promise.
{With that, Roxi heads to the bedroom and changes into her superhero costume, before heading out to the crime scene.}
{Roxi is now on scene, landing and being greeted outside by Lieutenant Murphy, taking a drag from a cigarette as he eyes her.}
Roxi – Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Murphy – Super.
Roxi – Long time no see.
Lieutenant Murphy – Not long enough for my liking.
Roxi – Glad to see you haven’t changed.
Lieutenant Murphy – Likewise.
Roxi – So, what’s the deal.
Lieutenant Murphy – I don’t I’ve ever seen anything like this, in 23 years of police work.
Roxi – That bad, huh?
Lieutenant Murphy – I think you need to see it for yourself.
Roxi – Well, lead the way.
Lieutenant Murphy – I’m on break. Just don’t touch anything.
{Roxi simply shakes her head and slowly enters the crime scene. The pungent smell of blood hits like a truck. The victim’s body looks to have its flesh peeled off. Pieces of the body, and flesh are strewn about the blood soaked living room. There is what looks to be a satanic like arrangement of candles centered around a rug. The crime scene photographer snaps pictures, visibly shaken, and gagging on the smell as he does so. Roxi looks around, not sure what to make of the whole thing. She sees another plain clothes cop wandering around as well, looking for clues, but in a frantic, almost manic state.}
Roxi – You alright? Officer…
Cop – Detective. Tracy. And no, I’m not alright. Would you be looking at this shit?
Roxi – It’s… unsettling. What is all this?
Detective Tracy – This? Looks like Satanic worship. But… the only thing I’ve ever seen even close to this, is a guy getting attacked by a grizzly bear. But this is… clearly different.
Roxi – I’ll say.
Detective Tracy – This guy was torn apart. Look skinned. I mean, maybe a mob hit.
Roxi – Maybe. Who is… was this person?
Detective Tracy – The house belongs to a Frank Fairchild. We assume this is him, but, without a head, it’ll be difficult to tell.
Roxi – Anything stolen?
Detective Tracy – Doesn’t look like it. Nothing even looks out of place, save for the pieces everywhere.
Roxi – Then I wouldn’t think it was a mob hit.
{Indignant, Tracy places his hands on his hips.}
Detective Tracy – Oh, didn’t know you were a detective.
Roxi – Amateur. But wouldn’t the mob want people to know who this guy was? They wouldn’t take his head. The mob sends a message. If he owed them money or something, they wouldn’t have killed him outright.
Detective Tracy – You watch too many movies. I’ve dealt with them.
Roxi – Oh really?
Detective Tracy – Used to date an Asian broad. Had ties to the Yakuza. Touchy little shits. Worked undercover at one of their bars.
Roxi – Because you’re clearly a master of disguise, I bet.
Detective Tracy – Real funny. I just did my normal thing, they gave me lip, starting talking all that Oriental “oh me so angry, me rub you rong time” told me to leave the bar, I kept coming back. I know all about all that Kung Fu shit.
Roxi – Kung Fu is Chinese.
Detective Tracy – It’s all the same.
Roxi – So you stood up to the Yakuza, in their own bar, mocked how they spoke, and they let you live?
Detective Tracy – They respected it.
Roxi – Right. Moving on, anyone look for prints?
Detective Tracy – Burned off as well. We found the fingers… well, nine of them.
Roxi – A souvenir?
Detective Tracy – A trophy, yes.
Roxi – Anything out of the ordinary…
Detective Tracy – ….
Roxi – Outside of the cult, and the mutilated body.
Detective Tracy – This whole thing is out of the ordinary. That’s why you’re here.
Roxi – What do need me to do?
Detective Tracy – Apparently, my job.
Roxi – I guess I’ll take a look around then.
Detective Tracy – You do that. We’ve been through it twice.
Roxi – Another look won’t hurt.
Detective Tracy – Be my guest.
{Roxi does indeed begin to look around, searching for anything that stands out. Into bedrooms, the kitchen, dining room & up on the 2nd floor into the bathroom and closets. Nothing looked like it was touched, much less tampered with. She checks the bookshelves and cabinets, still not finding anything that stands out to her, until she finds a small cube, with the letter “E” written on it. The black cube clearly stands out, with the specific font used on it. She shines a flashlight on it, picking it up and examining it. Tracy notices.}
Detective Tracy – What ‘cha got?
Roxi – Not sure. But it looks like it belongs as part of the ritual, or whatever the victim was doing.
Detective Tracy – Could just be a toy.
Roxi – There’s no kids in this house. I don’t think there have been for a while.
Detective Tracy – Well, it’s evidence and we should take a look at it.
Roxi – Well, you have the tech. I’d bag it and run it for prints.
Detective Tracy – I know how to do my job, super.
Roxi – Just trying to help. But, I don’t think this belongs to the victim.
Detective Tracy – What makes you say that?
Roxi – Nothing in this house was touched. There’s not one thing out of place in the whole home. Whoever, or whatever killed that person, is either a smoothest criminal in history, or…
Detective Tracy – They wanted us to find this.
Roxi – Exactly. This wasn’t a random toy put here… It was placed.
Detective Tracy – You’re not so dumb for dressing like it.
{Roxi rolls her eyes and takes a picture of the cube, before she hands the cube over.}
Roxi – I’ll have my people look at the cube. I wouldn’t rule out suicide, but.. there’s way too much to indicate someone else was here. I’d start with family, when you get a positive ID.
Detective Tracy – Yeah.
Roxi – And… keep me in the loop, I’ll do what I can to help. Got some friends who may be able to assist as well.
Detective Tracy – You did what you were asked Super. We’ll take it from here.
{Roxi looks at Detective Tracy, and then back at the mutilated corpse, missing body parts.}
Roxi – Suit yourself.
{Roxi turns to leave.}
Roxi – Good luck against anything that can do that…
{There’s a moment before Tracy himself looks at the corpse and the realization sinks in
Detective Tracy – … Okay… okay… I’ll give you my card.
{Tracy reaches into his wallet and produces a card.}
Roxi – Thanks.
Detective Tracy – Call me if there’s anything. I… I got a really bad feeling about this.
Roxi – You and me both.
{Roxi takes the card and departs, Murphy entering again.}
Lieutenant Murphy – Well?
Roxi – There’s a lot to unpack here, but I think you may have murder on your hands.
Lieutenant Murphy – Teriffic.
Roxi – I’ll take what I gathered and have some people look into it. But I’m going to need to know anything you guys know.
Lieutenant Murphy – It’s need to know super. We don’t need to cause a panic.
Roxi – There is a literal blob monster on the loose, and you don’t want a panic?
Lieutenant Murphy – You handle your business, I’ll handle mine. Does it look like anything super-powered did this?
Roxi – Yes. And no. It looks like your victim was torn apart by something strong. But anything that strong would make a mess, and that house was almost spotless outside of the crime scene. There’s blood, sure, but nothing is knocked over, nothing out of place. It’s too clean.
Lieutenant Murphy – So you were a great help then.
Roxi – We found this cube. Looks tied to the possible killers. May have been left as a calling card, or some kind of game. A game you may not want to play. I’d be careful with it.
Lieutenant Murphy – Don’t tell me how to do my job, Super. You did your job for the night, I’ll take it from here.
Roxi – Whatever you say Lieutenant. Good luck.
Lieutenant Murphy – Yeah.
{With that, Roxi turns and flies away, pulling out her phone and dialing a number.}
Roxi – Hey… I’m going to need your help with something…
{The scene then fades out.}
Hello again SCW.
Well, thinks are obviously a little different now. For a little bit, I was on edge, and reliving some bad memories that were brought back. I wasn’t a fan of Keira again portraying something so close to some real life issues that played out, but it accomplished what Keira wanted, and what I want for her. Just to succeed.
It’s no secret that everyone just assumes that Keira has been riding my coattails this entire time, that she’s only been successful because of me. And while I’m flattered that apparently I have that much influence, the truth is Keira has kept up with me, and everyone else for a long as she’s been in SCW. And that, more than anything makes me proud. She’s been more than capable, and that says more about her, than it does about me.
And now, we reach the impasse of shooting for the same goal.
I said before, that I would speak more about Alicia Lukas, if and when I earned a rematch. I’m still disgusted with myself at the outcome of the previous match, but that’s the results and there’s no changing them. The only thing to do now, is to gain another opportunity, and then make up for lost time. And Keira has made it obvious, she wants into the mix. But it starts with me.
Sure, I beat Sierra Williams, and I beat Crystal and Keira, Griffin and I won. That’s all well and good, but that loss means way more than any of those wins. And that’s not a knock on the others, but it stung to no end. But now, I get a chance to make it all at least for the time being, feel better. And that means I have to defeat Alice Knight and Jessie Salco.
I’ve been a fan of Alice for a while now, but it was always this, sort of… friend of a friend type deal. I like Alice well enough, she’s really taking to the rebel style. It’s really what I always wanted to do when I was younger. Travel, see the world, go on a pretty epic road trip. Things like that are so cool when you’re able to do them, and then later you get to look back and enjoy that kind of thing. It really does sound like a fun ride. And on top of that, she gets to take her home everywhere she goes. Maybe Alice is smarter than the rest of us? She gets to go home after every show, by simply stepping out of the arena. How cool is that? You want a home cooked meal, you’re already there! I happen to think it’s pretty cool. And while Alice hasn’t been the most successful, none of us are, really… she’s always been able to laugh and smile and have a great humbleness to her. A lot of people could learn from her.
But all that aside, Alice is a threat to stop me from doing what I want to do. I don’t need anything in the way, this the chance for me for get a shot, and I’m going to take it. Friend or not, Alice is an opponent on Sunday. An obstacle that I must overcome. In the ring Alice took down a fair few, and that is impressive, and before and after this match, I will absolutely be a fan. But during the match, she’s gunning for the same thing I am, and that is not going to fly. Even when it’s the Owl.
And that brings me to Jessie. I was blissfully unaware that I had never lost to Jessie Salco until Mercedes Vargas decided to point it out. And to be honest, It’s a moot point. Each battle is different. People grow and change over time, and some people are stubborn like Jessie, but Jessie is not someone I take lightly despite the record. It means very little to me how many times I’ve beaten her this is the match where I have to beat her. I could go over all 5 matches I could go over our history time and time again, but it doesn’t change what lies in front of the both of us. It’s a chance to dance again for the Bombshell’s championship.
But I won’t sit here and doubt Jessie Salco’s ability because she is talented. She is persistent. She has stuck to her guns, more often than not, no matter the circumstances and situations. Now, I will never, ever forgive her for badmouthing my son a couple of years ago, but I already took one piece of retribution for that. So I guess you can call this the 2nd piece I’m going to take. I don’t care if you insult me, I really don’t even care too much if you insult my wife. She’s a grown up, she can handle things herself. But to take a swipe at a child who doesn’t even know how to tie his shoes at this point, it was low. So while I can, at least somewhat admire Jessie for never giving up and continuing to fight no matter the odds and who stands in her way, the truth of the matter is, she’s in mine, in this match. And sticking to her guns isn’t going to be enough. I’m competing on Sunday, because I have bigger fish to fry in the grand scheme of things, and that all has to start Sunday. Sunday, is the ticket. I cannot afford to miss this chance. There is only one option. And that is to win.
Much like my wife, After this Sunday, when I take down Alice Knight and Jessie Salco, I too, will be one step closer to the ultimate goal. And I know that, quite possibly, my wife will be there as well. And then we’ll figure some things out. But for now… This Sunday, you are getting my absolute best, because it will take my best, to become Bombshell’s champion one more time.
And then, I can finally put one last issue, to rest, for good.
I’ll see you Sunday.
