I wanted to get away for just a minute. No, I NEEDED to get away from Vegas to clear my head, or else I would have wound up in jail… Again. It was really the only option for me at this point. With Rix Usher’s personal vendetta against me on hold, my family was safe, and I didn’t have to put off this trip back home to St. Louis any longer. If I wanted to be at the top of my game, this trip needed to occur.
The trip was over before I knew it, and I could only keep track of time increments by how often the stewardess came by with the beverage cart. Half passed the first water, or a quarter before the Jack and Coke, I noticed the woman behind me was staring a hole through me. I almost felt my flesh burning, and I couldn’t figure out why. She must have been one of my olden day haters. With that, I turned around and telepathically begged for the beverage cart to come by again.
At third water o’clock, I decided it was time to lay my head back, and close my eyes for a bit. That burning returned, and after several attempts to ignore it, I turned around in my seat, and looked exactly three rows back, across the aisle. I put my hand under my chin, and I saw the gorgeous… No, plain… No… I saw the short cocktail dress and the obnoxious display of fishnet stockings leading up to the hem of the dress. It had been such a long time since my eyes wandered at all, and I felt the shame. I skipped the middle and looked right at her face. Her deep red lips begged for my attention, but what really struck me as odd was the fact that I felt drawn to her eyes, even though they were covered in sunglasses. Who wears sunglasses on an airplane?
From under her head covering of black silk, came an even silkier looking strand of dark auburn hair. The corner of her lip curled into the faintest of smiles as she began to lick at her lips. That is the moment that I decided a staring contest was out of the question. I gave a firm wave of the hand to let her know I was aware of her stare, and then I went back to my original plan of a ten minute nap. My head was completely out of the game, with a million and one thoughts running through my head.
<b”You’ve got to train with Casey for his shot at the NWA Television Championship match at Blaze of Glory.”
“What if something happens while you are gone?”
“Did you remember to send flowers to Misty for Valentine’s day?”
“Is Justin Underwood the only thing Mark could think of to intimidate me for Blaze of Glory?”
“You forgot to pick up milk before you left.”
“I can’t believe that Jamie chugged an entire gallon of milk on a dare.”
“I need to get some sleep.”
“Is this chick STILL looking at me, really?”
My eyes shot open and I looked back at her once more, but my face was a little less than bashful this time. I could feel my cheeks burning with the misplaced anger I was about to lay upon this two dollar Vegas hooker as I leaned forward from my seat, and completely turned my entire body toward her as I kneeled in my seat.
”WHAT?! What the hell is so interesting about me where I can’t take a fucking nap without feeling you eye fuck my shit? Huh? Seriously lady. See this?”
I struggled not to flip her the bird, and instead showed my own silver band of an engagement ring.
”Taken!”
I saw her jaw drop in shock before she lowered her head in some sort of shame or embarrassment. She gently rubbed the top of her head as she looked out toward the window. At this point, I felt a little bad, but seriously. She didn’t have to stare like that.
”I might have been an asshole, but at least she isn’t staring anymore. This is exactly the reason why I needed to escape for a few days. The pain in the ass “Hot Stuff” Mark Ward is driving me bat shit crazy, and the idea of someone who would let his own shadow talk him into reinventing himself fifty times in three months is just too funny. I don’t know whether to beat some ass, or offer Dr. Phil style advice.
“What kind of a person seeks to trade in their individuality to follow in the footsteps of another man? Just that fact alone makes me feel sorry for the guy. I mean, his mentor sat back and watched him become a phoenix about a hundred times, and applauded him for being such a wishy washy pansy. Then, he buys into some crap that an inked up tramp can show him how to be an ‘individual’ for a percentage of his pay. This was followed up by him being forced to go on a soul searching quest, only to realize that being himself is being ‘The NEW Hot Stuff Mark Ward’?
“I almost want to feel sorry for him. Who sets out to be just like Mark Ward? I could understand wanting to be like someone who stands for something, like Ghandi, or Jesus Christ, or even one of those PETA nut job vegans. But Mark… Ward? I want to laugh, but the idea is just sad, really, and for fucks sake, she’s staring at me again!”
I slowly turned my head to the side, casually glancing back to see that she is staring once again. Her legs are crossed, and she is impatiently tapping her deep red fingernails against the arm of her seat. I can hear the rhythm as it echoes through the quiet air. Thankfully the beverage cart is on it’s way back down the aisle, because I am so ready for second Jack and Coke o’clock to arrive. I was half tempted to forget it, and ask the lady next to me for one of her many valiums she was popping through the entire trip. She could surely spare one.
Why was this woman’s staring at me disturbing me so badly? I have gone out and felt the weight of hundreds of thousands of stares on me, and it never bothered me nearly as bad as this one person’s stare. As soon as we landed, at the Lambert Airport, I groggily stood up from my seat after unfastening my restraints. I was ready to get off of that plane as fast as possible, so I reached up to the overhead compartment, and I ripped my bag from it and went on my way. My bag swinging over my shoulder, I politely nod to the stewardess who welcomes me to St. Louis, as if it were my first time.
The corridor seemed to stretch on for… forever. As I walked, my thoughts got the best of me once more.
”Who the hell is this woman?”
“We arrived here early, so I have a few to kill in the bar. A drink? Nice…”
“Did I remember to cancel my reservation?”
“Staying with uncle Erik… Great…”
“How long is this corridor?”
“When will Blaze of Glory just get here so I can shut these ass clowns up on Twitter?”
Apparently I was not going fast enough for the impatient granny with the walker, because I swear she flipped me off after she passed me. I leaned against the wall a bit to allow the senior citizens a chance to put me to shame as I checked the latest non-sense on Twitter. I smiled as I tweeted to Misty, asking if she got anything special before I realized it had only been a few hours since I had left. This trip was long overdue, and it seemed like I was in the air for days.
“This is exactly what I need to clear my head, come home fresh, and get myself ready for this match. Physically, I am at the top of my game. I have never looked better, or felt better. Every muscle in my body is toned, except for my brain. It is tired, frazzled. Maybe I let Mark get too deep into my head with the antics of Rix Usher, and the pathetic announcement of JT… JUSTIN Underwood. I mean, with the surprise of Rix Usher, I figured he had something to top that, but this idiot? If my jaw dropped in the ring at Climax Control, it was out of reflex, because I was expecting someone who might actually pose a challenge to me, other than a running challenge. The way he high-tailed it out of here when he was set to defend his championship against Blade Alexander was quite impressive. The company really tried to cover, but you could see his sad little eyes twitching at the thought of getting his ass handed to him again.”
I felt my arm jerk back involuntarily, and my phone fell to the ground, breaking apart, sliding in every which direction. I knew the phone would be okay, but what I had not planned on was getting shoved up against the side of the tunnel, followed by a hard smack across the face. This bitch had some strength that I was not expecting as she checked me a second time before she shoved me down to the ground. From the corner of her eye, she must have seen someone coming, because she quickly stormed off, leaving me down to look up at her.
”What the hell, lady? What is your problem?”
I slowly picked myself up from the ground, only to see her swiftly turn the corner, and disappeared.
<img src=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v674/GXWSpikeStaggs/SpikeSceneBreak-1.png>
{Oh hey Oh hey Oh hey Hey Hey}
The scene fades in, pixilated just a bit as a computer generated image of Spike Staggs is seen standing in the dirty streets of Steelport. His eyes are wide in his usual maniacal manner, however, there is no variation in his expression. Pedestrians pass behind and in front of him as he raises a lit cigarette to his lips. He inhales it deeply, taking in its own brand of sweet, sweet relief. He takes just a few steps forward toward a beautiful black Attriazone with tinted windows. The red underglow rivaled only by the signs of the strip club behind him.
”Isn’t it funny how much Steelport is like Sin City? There are the ignorant people going around aimlessly, just trying to find their next big thrill. Then, there are the big egos who want to do anything and everything to keep me down. They don’t realize that I roll with the most dangerous crew. Just like the Third Street Saints rule Stillwater and Steelport, The New X-Tremes rule Sin City Wrestling. You can’t keep us down, no matter what you put in our way. Pissing us off is like asking to be completely cut out of the picture…”
Spike watches as the beautiful automobile in front of him begins driving off. He chuckles to himself as he begins running down the street after it. He runs surprisingly fast after the vehicle in the distance.
{I'm living in the 21st century doin' something mean to it
Do it better then anybody you ever seen do it
Screams from the haters, got a nice ring to it
I guess every superhero need his theme music}
Spike’s laugh grows with each propulsion sending him forward, moving closer to the fastest vehicle imaginable in this video game realm. He stops laughing and grunts as he leaps into the air, performing a Bo Dukem into the drivers seat. While the vehicle is in motion, he excels further, flying through the grimy streets, swerving in amazing precision as he passes other inferior vehicles.
”It doesn’t matter whether I am trying to be a better person. I still have that killer instinct. When I want something, I take it. I am just more upfront about it now. Do you see where I am going with this?”
Spike swerves off of a highway exit, and down into the suburbs as he pulls out his phone. Going through the available missions, there is only one. It is titled “A Bad Taste”. Spike chuckles again as he thumbs through the phone. The ringtone is the ever present song, “Power” by Kanye West. An almost angelic voice picks up on the other end.
Misty: Meet me at the house. We’ve got some serious shit going on.
Spike: Okay, I’ll be right there.
The car swerves, doing a powerslide as it rounds the corner. A blue target appears in front of a red house with black trim, appearing to be much like their real house in Las Vegas. Spike bails from the car as it rolls into a tree. He gets up, dusting himself off as he jogs to the front door. It slowly fades to a black as we go to a cut scene, with the option to skip available.
Misty: Spike, honey. We’ve got problems. Things have gone too far now. Our family isn’t safe. Mark has sent Rix after our children. It’s fucking personal now!
Spike: You don’t think I didn’t realize that? What am I, as retarded as my brother Jamie?
Misty: No, I’m not saying that. We need to do something about this. Winning, and being the best thing to hit *voice altered insert “Steelport”* isn’t enough to get him off our back. We need to really get at this asshole.
Spike pulls out a gun from nowhere, cocking the barrel back with his wicked grin from ear to ear.
Spike: Are you suggesting we pay him a little visit with my lil friend?
Misty: No, I’m saying that the *voice altered insert “Third Street Saints”* need to get him where it hurts the most. What else can we do but cut off his sex supply. Take me to Angelica.
Spike pauses dramatically, looking away from Misty, and then back to her just a few seconds later. He sighs through his nose before finally speaking.
Spike: Okay. Let’s go get this skank. I hear she hangs out downtown near the strip clubs, digging up skanks that make her feel just a little less skanky by comparison. Let’s get her there.
The cut scene fades out, and the music resumes.
{No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the power
(21st century Schizoid Man)}
Spike and Misty get into the Attriazone, Spike taking the drivers seat. He begins speeding off before Misty even closes her door. He weaves around, rolling on the curb, sending a few of the generic pedestrians flying over his hood. He comes back on the street, turning a corner roughly.
Misty: You sure are in a hurry to get this job done.
Spike: This is the move that will bring Ward out into the open, from behind all of his mystery pawns. He will be powerless when we hit him where it hurts.
Misty: You seem so sure. I always thought she was just his mattress backed penis holster.
Spike runs around another corner, getting onto the highway. He passes several cars within a second. Misty whistles along with the song on the radio.
<b{>The system broken, the school's closed, the prison's open
We ain't got nothing to lose motherfucker we rollin',
Huh? motherfucker we rollin'
With some light skinned girls and some Kelly Rowland's
In this rich man's world we the ones chosen
So goodnight cruel world I'll see you in the mornin',
Huh? I see you in the mornin'
This is way too much, I need a moment}
Spike swerves off to the side of the road, and banks the median, flying through the air in slow motion. Everyone seems calm within the car as it nears the ground. It crunches, and slides for a few yards before the strip club is seen. Spike gets out of the car calmly, and he pulls out a handgun from his jacket for good measure. Misty follows, running up behind him as he heads into the club.
Spike: Let’s go in and find us a ho for you to rough up, shall we?
Misty: Wow, that’s a statement I never thought I’d hear you say.
Spike chuckles as they enter the club. In a split second, they are inside, looking around at all of the scantily clad women dancing on poles, and on old pervert’s laps.
No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the power
Till then, fuck that the world's ours
(21st Century Schizoid Man)
Spike looks around, noticing thugs in each corner of the club. He rubs his hands together happily as he shoots Misty a glare. She nods her head and begins walking around, looking for Angelica. It isn’t long before she is seen sitting at a table, looking up at a stripper. Misty swoops in, grabbing Angelica up, and using her as a human shield.
Misty: I got her!
Spike: Let’s move it out to the streets.
Bouncers begin chasing after Spike, he runs around in a circle, leaping into the air, and nailing one of them with a Tornado DDT before he dives toward the door. Misty follows quickly as Angelica protests.
Angelica: Ugh, let me go! What the hell?
Spike clicks Y, and appears out on the street with Misty right behind him. His gang rating is at a 3 now, and several cars pull out with guys in black suits. They begin shooting at Spike as he just stands there, laughing at them.
Spike: Upgrades, bitches. I’m a freakin’ juggernaut.
Misty: I’m an NPC right now! I’m not invincible!
Spike shakes his head from side to side before pulling out an RPG from his suit jacket pocket, blasting the car, causing the gang rating to go to a 4.
{Fuck SNL and the whole cast
Tell them Yeezy said they can kiss my whole ass
More specifically they can kiss my ass hole
I'm an asshole}
Spike: Throw her in the back seat.
Misty: But you just blew up the car!
Spike shrugs his shoulders once more, before leaping into a nearby car, knocking the passenger to the street. Misty grumbles as she follows direction, shoving Angelica into the back seat. She hops into the passenger’s seat.
Misty: So, what do we do next?
Spike: We bring Mark his gift, and watch him step from behind his goons.
Misty: But, what if he doesn’t?
Spike: Then we call for back up.
*!*!*!CHECKPOINT!*!*!*
Cars chase Spike as he speeds through the downtown area, radio blaring. He swerves to avoid behind rammed into a telephone pole. Misty cocks a pistol out the window, shooting back at the cars. Helicopters soon follow in pursuit, red dot sights crazily aiming for Spike. His constant weaving in and out makes it difficult.
Angelica: Can you be careful, please? I know you guys don’t care about how you look, but I do.
Spike: Shut her up, please!
The sound of metal cracking against skull immediately ceases Angelica’s whining. Misty chuckles before her gun goes back out of the window, firing a final bullet that causes one of the cars to explode in their wake.
{My furs is Mongolian, my ice brought the goalies in
I embody every characteristic of the egotistic
He knows, he's so fuckin' gifted
I just needed time alone, with my own thoughts
Got treasures in my mind but couldn't open up my own vault
My child-like creativity, purity and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts
Reality is catching up with me, taking my inner child I'm fighting for custody
With these responsibilities that they entrust in me
As I look down at my diamond encrusted piece thinking...}
Spike watches the bridge as it raises up, and he increases his speed to the max, hitting nitrous as he flies over it. The following cars either stop, or fall into the river below. With a hard crunch, the car meets the ground once more, and it begins flying through the city streets once more.
Spike: We are almost there. Wait, who is that?
Just then, their car is set ablaze while in motion. Everyone bails, including Angelica. The car slides as cars swerve in, circling around them, everyone drawing their guns. Their car explodes off in the background. Spike prepares himself for a fight until he remembers Misty is there. He bites his tongue and slowly raises his hands in the air.
Gang Member: Surrender now or the girl gets it!
Spike: Alright, alright.
He begrudgingly falls down to his knees, tucking his hands behind his head. He looks back at Misty who slowly lets go of Angelica who wipes at her bloody lip. She gives Misty a swift kick to the back of her knee, lowering her down to the ground as well. Misty glares at her, ready to pounce, but then the sight of all the guns glaring in the sun causes her to just clinch her jaw, following suit with Spike.
Gang Member: Drop all your weapons!
Misty slides her gun down across the pavement. Spike does the same, but then one of the gang members comes over and shakes Spike’s suit jacket. He knocks him against the back of his head with his gun.
Gang Member: All of them, punk.
Spike sighs, and then he pulls out a shotgun, dropping it to the ground in front of him. He looks up at the cocky gang member who shakes his head in disapproval. Spike pulls out a long purple, lead tipped bat contraption, an RPG, machine gun, sniper rifle, and target locater.
Misty: Damn, you came prepared.
Spike: Nah, I always carry those around with me.
He smiles back at Misty until the gang member’s gun comes crashing down against the back of his head. He falls down, his vision going black as he watches his own blood flow onto the concrete.
{No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the power
Till then, fuck that the world's ours
(21st Century Schizoid Man)}
The sound of fingers snapping is the first thing he hears, soon followed by the music blaring from somewhere inside of the building. Spike’s eyes open, but his vision is blurred. He blinks, trying to make out the figure in front of him.
“HS” Mark Ward: Wake up sunshine.
The thick British accent was enough to affirm Spike’s thought of who stood in front of him. Just then, a cold rush of liquid comes over his face. He gasps as it melts down his face, and his vision slowly comes back into focus, seeing his nemesis standing right in front of him with the biggest smile across his face. He pats Spike’s shoulder lightly as he chuckles. He stops, shaking his head in a sort of disbelief, looking down at the ground. It isn’t long before he lands a hard right against Spike’s face.
“HS” Mark Ward: Did you really think you was going to get away with abducting my girlfriend? That alone makes me savor this moment, if you don’t mention all the other shit ya done. I… I just can’t believe that you thought you could pull one over on me. ME!
Another fist against Spike’s face temporarily blurs his vision. Spike jumps as far forward as he can, barking at Mark. This only elicits laughter from him. Spike feels the handcuffs digging into his wrists, which doesn’t deter him from trying again. He looks around in frustration, seeing that he and Mark are not the only ones in the room. Misty is just a few feet to the right of him, with Angelica stalking her and laughing about it. Then, to his left, he sees Jordan Williams, and his hopes sink down.
“HS” Mark Ward: Ya whole crew is here. It’s like a *voice altered “Generation X-Treme”* reunion in here. The best ones standing tall, while the shit settles down.
Spike: Fuck you. If that is how it really is, you wouldn’t give a shit what we do. The fact is that you are threatened by us.
“HS” Mark Ward: You abducted my girlfriend, shit face. Besides that, you been a thorn in my arse for far too long now. I’m going to savor this, taking each one of you out, one by one…
{I ain't got a power trip who you going home with?
How 'Ye doin'? I'm Surviving
I was drinkin' earlier now I'm driving
Where the bad bitches huh? Where ya hidin'?
I got the power make your life so excitin'...}
Just then, a loud roaring sound can be heard from the hallway. Screams from guards alert Mark that something is not right. As he walks over to the door, it bursts open, and a large Berserker guys stands in the wake of destruction behind him. He breathes heavily before turning to see one last guard sneaking up on him. His eyes widen and he picks up the guard, throwing him hard against a wall as if it were a rag doll. He turns his glare to Mark who slowly backs up.
(Oh hey Oh hey Oh hey
Hey Hey)
Casey Williams: I think you missed one, punk!
Angelica runs behind Mark for shielding purposes, and pushes him closer. He narrows his eyes at Casey who serves as a great distraction if nothing else.
Casey Williams: I think this is the first time I’ve ever heard you speechless. I guess it shows your true character. Talk shit behind our backs, but when the problem is right in front of you, your balls fall off, and you tuck your manhood between your legs. There is a word for that. What is it?
“HS” Mark Ward: Bollocks! I’m just trying to think of a way to put it so ya pea sized brain can comprehend it.
Casey goes into a rage and begins barreling toward Mark who dodges him at the last second, dragging Angelica with him as the “Freight Train of Pain” comes at them like the steam engine he is.
“HS: Mark Ward: As slow physically as you are mentally, I see?
Casey growls as he picks up Mark’s desk and throws it at him. Angelica screams as she dodges the blow. The desk shatters into a thousand pieces, burying Mark in the rubble. Casey lunges at Angelica, who runs from the office screaming, looking as if she were playing hopscotch over the downed guards. He flashes a pleased smile as he looks over to his comrades. First to Jordan, he pulls apart the cuffs as if they were nothing.
Jordan: Thanks Casey. Man, I thought you were never gonna get here.
Casey: No problem. I got your backs, and you know that.
He turns over to Misty, and rips her cuffs apart just as easily. She stands up, as they dangle from her wrists. She dusts herself off as if nothing had happened. She gives Casey a hug.
Misty: Thank you. I’m gonna go hunt down that bitch now!
Casey chuckles as Misty darts from the room in pursuit of Angelica. Casey then looks over to Spike, seeing he is bound by ankle and hand cuffs. He leans down, pulling apart the ankle cuffs, and then he goes around to the back and pulls apart the hand cuffs. Spike gets up, shaking Casey’s hand as he eyeballs the rubble across the room. Casey gives him a hard pat on his back as Spike approaches the rubble.
Spike: After everything, I kinda looked forward to us getting our chance to battle. There was a lot of unfinished business between us, and now this…
Spike leans down, pulling a few pieces off, to reveal Mark’s face, eyes closed, and a trickle of blood coming from his mouth. Spike shakes his head before turning away. He stands back up and looks back to Casey and Jordan.
Spike: It feels cheap, but I guess I won this battle.
Jordan: What he did was cheap, so it was going to be cheap either whu….
Spike looks confused as he slowly turns around, just in time to get tackled by Mark. They stumble back hard through a window, taking a long, long fall. Despite the seemingly endless fall, they don’t stop trading blows.
{Now this'll be a beautiful death
I'm jumping out the window
I'm Letting everything go
I'm Letting everything go
You got the power to let power go flow}
As they fall down, a wrestling ring is seen below them, in the middle of millions of fans watching and cheering. It first appears as small as stop sign, but gets bigger by the millisecond before they collide, going through the canvas like two bullets. The audience gasps in pure shock as they stare on at the carnage that has become the ring. Slowly, Mark’s head emerges from the hole, and he climbs out from it. Soon after, screams and cheers are heard as Spike leaps up from the hole he made upon impact. They take a fighting stance, and then lunge at each other as the frame freezes and posterizes.
