Heading for the Hills

[haven]

Continued from here:
gahwo.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tntm&action=display&thread=14950&page=1#1364251537

Wolverina woke with a throbbing headache and impaired vision, but knew almost immediately where she was. The beeping machines. The uncomfortable bed. The smell. It was all tell-tell signs that she'd been sent to the hospital. Her mind raced for answers as to why she was there. The last thing she remembered was being ambushed by the Psychotic Circus and thrown into the ring. Everything after that was lost, and perhaps that was a good thing. She squinted her eyes and tried to zone in on the TV set attached to the wall, but it only made her head hurt more. Frustration set it. She was angry. Not at Jaggeorth though, or his looney tunes circus, but at someone else. She looked up at the ceiling and shed a tear or two.

"Is this was forsaken feels like, God? Have you forsaken me?"

TBCB They Know Who

[Vladimir T. Strife]

A loud noise startled her, the high powered suction evacuation of the water from her toilet, alerting her of the presence of another person nearby. Her eyes fixated on the bathroom door, water running behind it as unknown and unwanted visitor scrubbed their hands behind the oak panel. Wolverina quickly grasped the IV in her arm, prepared to rip it out and use it as a makeshift weapon should she need. Fear began to grip at her. The thought of who might be inside her lavatory and what plans they may have in store churning her stomach, she grinds her teeth together with anticipation as the handle turns and the door swings open.

Out walks a wiry and small man with disheveled brown hair. He gazes at her with goldish brown eyes, a devious smile plastered across his face, and she relaxes. She knew he wouldn't attack her, even if his presence alone was bad news.

"...Go. I know the master you serve."

Razetti lets out a light chuckle and makes his way to a visitor's chair, taking a seat beside the bedridden princess.

"Dear girl, don't be so naive. It would appear that the god of your belief has abandoned you, don't be so hasty to spit in the eye of the one you know is there."

"You dare call that man... that MONSTER... a god? After what he did to me!? After what he's done to so many others?!"

"Tsk.. tsk... Even your God has been proclaimed as a God of might and dominion. He waged war, he demanded blood, and he ordered his men to take women as spoils."

"Then he can do his own damn bidding. I'm not one of your crazies who is going to go around butchering and bleeding people and tearing the place apart. And I'll never be that."

"Be still.. Rest your body. Hear me out before you go wearing yourself out turning me down."

Haven is clearly unhappy about the circumstances, but nods and watches him with a scowl on her face.

"The GodKing was witness to the unfortunate happenings that lead to you laying in that bed. And, much like your own God, he is a jealous God. Jaggeroth going on this rampage doesn't just hurt this beloved company and those of you he has targeted, it angers the Titan himself. He thought long and hard about how to remedy this... problem... until he heard a little diddy on the radio the other day.. 'We Are The Champions'... What a wondrous thought.. Champions bound in unison.."

"Wait... are you telling me you're hear because Vlad has a hardon for Freddy Mercury? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Mind your tongue, young lady. Consider the idea. Yourself and several of GHW's finest champions, past and present, stepping up to drive back this wretched 'Circus'. You can not defeat Jaggeroth through exterior channels, he has already won that ground. You must face him and his crew head on and rip power from them with your own might. Only one man could do this alone and if he can not fight this battle, Haven. He is not long for this business and all the work he would do would be undone as soon as he walked out of the door. Besides, it's time for the heroes of this company to step up to bat and reclaim this land from the grips of the wicked."

"He understands your qualms of taking directives from himself or I, however. He promises that this unit is completely in your control. He will not interfere in the matter, nor does he seek a place within it's ranks. He also understands your fear for his motives, to which he has directed me to explain to you that it is just the same as yours or mine... a means to an end. He grants immunity from his wrath to you and all those you recruit with only 2 simple stipulations.."

Wolverina rolls her eyes and lays her head back, her voice ripe with sarcasm.

"And what does your highness ask of me?"

"The first is simple enough... you only recruit people who have held a GHW title before. He believes that it's the men and women who have proven themselves and held gold who must take GHW back. The second is a bit more... trying.."

Wolverina looks up at Crystov, uncertain what to make of his tone.

"He wants your little friend... Delta."

Her head begins to throb at the thought of him, although she's still uncertain as to why.

"Your hands never have to get dirty. He wouldn't ask you to forsake your morals in such a way, not when they are so crucial. Simply direct him in the right direction. Convince him that so long as Vladimir stands, he does so in spite of Delta's every attempt to the contrary. He took everything the kid had to throw at him and he's back. Make sure he knows that as long as Vladimir is fit to compete, he can't claim that he has ended him. I've seen young pride in many forms.. it won't take much to convince him to face down God again so that things might be made right. And do not pity your role in driving him to his fate, because the Titan only offers this to your as a sign of good faith. If you fail to deliver... he will come for the boy.. and perhaps you as well."

The Reaper stands sharply from the chair and turns towards the exit, pausing along his way as he hears Haven's voice break on the still air.

"...Yes, m'dear?"

TBCB Wolverina

[haven]

"You speak as if Dustin is afraid of Vlad and needs to be goaded into another clash. Delta is twice the man Vlad is, in more ways than one. In 100 clashes between the two, Dustin would win 101, that's how good he is. So I don't underst-"

She stopped herself. It hit her at once. She understood now and didn't like it. A sneer shot out from her face toward the unwelcome party.

"Oh, I see. Wow. I never pegged Vlad as a man with yellow on his spine but I guess I was wrong. Dustin has been traumatized. He's weak and vulnerable. No wonder Strife wants to make a run at him now. Instead of returning and evening the score with Delta weeks ago, when Dustin was in proper form, he sought out an old horse who is past due on his appointment with the glue factory. But, hmmm, even in Delta's weakened state, he could still probably beat the dust out of Vlad, under any of his alter egos. Josh. Dustin. Alice. He could even dress up in a pink poodle skirt and still rassle Strife out of his boots. So I don't think that little condition will be a problem."

Haven felt proud of herself. She had shut up Vlad's mouthpiece.

"Your other idea, the one about recruiting people, that's all well and good but everyone is afraid of the Circus. On top of that, nobody will follow me. I'm no leader. I can barely control myself right now so how the heck would I be able to control a faction of our finest? I'm better on my own. What Jaggeorth and his goons are doing to me is only natural anyway. They have their numbers against me; they’ve put me through an excruciating ordeal of physical pain and have the credentials to back it up. Amongst them they have the cruelest of the cruel and a ferociousness and tenacity many have a difficulty competing with. So it seemed only natural for them to oppose the one person who, by herself alone, surmounts their entire list of accomplishments."

The small man had walked back toward her during her rambling. He placed his hands behind his back and respected her enough not to interrupt. He seemed to be in thought for a moment then smiled at her, but before he could speak she interjected.

"... But..... Why work harder when I can work smarter? I'll make you a deal. I'll drive Delta toward Vlad and love every minute of him kicking Strife the rest of the way down Mount Olympus. And I'll go along with this 'faction' he wants put together, so long as you and him, the more persuasive ones, recruit them. I'll file in rank with them but I will not stand in front of them. All I ask in return is this. Leave Jaggeroth alone. No harm can come to him. Only by my hands shall he be laid waste to. No one will steal my glory, promise me that. Can we make this work?"

She gave a cold, long look to him.

TBCB Vlad

[Vladimir T. Strife]

"Dear, dear Haven. What he sees in you is beyond me. That pride, that ego.. I'd concur readily with your analysis. You're no leader. You're not fit for the fight ahead. You're so consumed with the thought of revenge that you've lost the bigger picture. This company has been swallowed by evil and villainy. I was not sent here for some mere little project. GHW needs you... you and this team we will assemble are the last hope for it. See, Vladimir is brutal, sure, but he is wise. Dark can not exist without light. And GHW is in it's darkest hour... Particularly so with Jaggeroth at the helm. He is not wise, he is hungry. He will consume what is left of that light, much as he has in your heart until he purges this company. If you can not equal the numbers and drive that darkness back... then GHW will be lost."

The plead for what is right from the Reaper himself leaves Wolverina dumbfounded. Here was a man who had been known as a bad omen, a messenger to the devil himself, practically begging for good to take a stand against the evil he'd worked towards.

"I will help you assemble them. I will even help guide you in the right direction. And Jaggeroth will be left to you. There is no gain to be had in the GodKing, who strikes fear in the hearts of men, being the one to defeat Jaggeroth. It must be someone pure of heart, in order to pull this company from the muck and grime. Make no doubts about it though... should Jaggeroth come after him, Vladimir will strike him down... but the killing blow shall be yours."

"And they are vicious and cruel... but your advantage is in the one thing they don't have - a cause. They fight to cause pain and suffering for their own want. You will fight for this company, for justice, and for your brethren. You will fight because you need to and need will always beat out want in the end."

"As for Delta, the King only wishes to settle the score. Need I remind you that he was only out so long because your pal broke his arm. Vlad has returned as soon as he was able. He wasn't frazzled over some tail. He tried to break Vladimir.. tried to destroy him and claim his legacy."

Razetti grins vilely, leaning in close to her ear for what he had to say next.

"And for all of his effort... fighting so valiantly and going so far as to even put Vladimir on the shelf... it's for absolutely... nothing. Dustin never dethroned God... he never beat him."

"LIAR!! He pinned that son of a bitch 1-2-3!! I saw it with my own fucking eyes!"

The smile widens and Haven shudders, feeling it against her ear.

"It was a submission match.."

Her eyes grow wide at the revelation, a chill running the length of her spine.

"Vladimir never tapped... never quit.. Vandiver is nothing more than a false idol. The King lives and he will have his revenge."

Razetti backs away, joy in his expression as he takes in the shock on her face.

"I believe we have a deal though, yes?"

He waits with a smirk, uncertain as to whether speech is currently beyond her or not.

[haven]

"It doesn't matter if the bell was rung or not, or if my Dustin's name was officially announced as winner. They fought and Delta left under his own power, with his arms still intact and Vlad's dignity in his back pocket. Your boy lost. Anyway, we're done here. About your deal. The answer is yes. But I'm not pure of heart as you'll soon see. Now leave before I alert security."

The man gave Haven the slightest of nods then turned and departed, leaving the People's Princess in her hospital plotting against the evil forces.

EOT.