"What are you doing here, Foxx?"

She was standing with her back to the open door, dressed casually in blue jeans, a denim jacket over her red t-shirt. Her hair is in a ponytail, and she leans herself off of the wall, walking over to stand next to him.

"Exactly what I just said. I came to wish ya luck. Not like I'm gonna just disappear off the planet cuz ya don't talk to me. Figured I'd show up for a bit a support. Maybe you'll do some in the future for me, eh?" Winking, she sits next to Karl. She had always seemed familiar and casual around him, ever since he had first met her all those months ago in Japan.

"Thanks, but I don't need luck. And I very much doubt you're here for something that simple."

"You believe whatcha want," she smirked. She'd been keeping an eye on the difference in him since June, and took some measure of solace in the fact he hadn't yet told her to leave.

"I always do. You should try it sometime," Karl stood, walked across the room, and stretched against the wall. He didn't need to let her distract him from his pre-match ritual. He knew that Davis would be a tough opponent. But a the same time he felt oddly calm with Foxx there. They had been friends, but over the months had grown distant, one of the few things he had at times regretted. But he knew that what he had done needed to be done for his own betterment.

"Having your own beliefs is all well and good if ya choose the correct path."

"I knew it," Karl spun rapidly on his heel, his voice steely. "Shinji sent you in another attempt to get me to reconsider."

"Wrong. Ya know me better than that, Karl," Foxx said standing, walking over with her voice now firm. How her former friend had changed. What not everyone saw, she did; Karl had become deeply paranoid. He had always been philosophical, but now it was clear to her that he spoke with self-doubt, self conciousness, and fear. She could see he was looking for any way he could to blame someone other than himself for what had happened. "Shinji trained me, but he doesn't control me."

"Given up on trying that with his pupils, has he?"

"He never tried to control you. He just wanted what was best for ya."

That was all he could stand. Angrily, Karl spun to face the wall again. Before he could speak, Foxx was talking again.

"He wanted you to fulfill your potential, same as he wants me to. He was trying to help ya and you turned your back on him. It's in the past now."

The room was silent. Foxx was now standing just behind him, and he could sense she had more she wanted to say. He also knew that what she wanted to say she didn't need to. He knew she knew that.

"Welcome to the company, Foxx," he said, turning and walking out of the door. Silently, Foxx moved over, her eyes transfixed on the door as she sat on the bench.

"Good luck, Karl," she said, under her breath. "I'll see ya again, I'm sure."

(Fade to a black screen, an ominous violin note playing faintly in the background. The picture slowly fades in to a tabletop, a black revolver lying upon it.)

OMINOUS VOICE: Go ahead. Play the game.

(GUNSHOT. Flash to a dark silhouette holding the revolver.)

OMINOUS VOICE: Walk that fine line. Try and survive.

(GUNSHOT. One end of the gun spins in from the bottom left, then vanishes, then the other end appears, as though it were being spun off screen.)

OMINOUS VOICE: Or will you lose it all?

(GUNSHOT. Cut to a silhouette slumping to the floor. Cut off all music. Fade to black.)

OMINOUS VOICE: ...Do you have the stones?

(Cue up: Scorpions - "Is There Anybody Out There?" Images of the revolver spinning slowly on the tabletop are intercut with other clips.

CUT TO: Beast delivering the Absolution off the turnbuckles to Adam Benjamin.

CUT TO: Lindsay Troy and Christian Sands holding the Tag-Team Titles.

CUT TO: JA delivering the Karelin Driver to Christian Sands.

CUT TO: John Doe delivering the Amnesia Attack to Troy Douglas.

CUT TO: A close-up shot of the upper left side of a revolver's barrel viewed from the front, rotating slowly.

CUT TO: Eric Davis coming out of the crowd to ambush Karl Brown.

CUT TO: Dis striding down the ramp.

CUT TO: Dis attacking Cross and leaving him for dead.

CUT TO: Beast holding the World Title over his head.

CUT TO: Sebastian Dodd, standing tall with the Intercontinental Title.

CUT TO: Flickering silhouettes of Beast and Dis, the revolver spinning between them.

Finally, cut to the event logo...)

(Cut to the ramp, where several pyros above the rampway begin to spin rapidly, creating pinwheels of flying red sparks. Bomblike red, black, and white detonations explode in front of the EmpireTron, culminating in a series of five small explosions in rapid succession ending with one massive one that reverberates through the arena. The camera zooms in on the screen as the pyro finally peters out, then blurs to roving shots of the roaring crowd as a small banner in the corner briefly appears to proclaim that EPW is broadcast en Espanol. Various signs are visible in the crowd: "Isaac Byrne blew up my house!", "Lindsay’s craving for a Daving!" with an arrow pointing down to a heavy set guy with a t-shirt that reads “DAVE”, "JASON BRINGS THE PAYNE!!!", "Eric is the real dragon!!", "EPW: DISfunction At It's Finest!", "MARX BROKE MY PROMO-BOT!", "FREE SMOOCHIE", "HEY TOM -- IM IN UR HTML, FIXIN UR CODE -- FROM UR PAL BOLICH", "Benji + Beast = Benji jerks the curtain", “Savoy lacks jiggy freshness!!”, "I got your golden, delicious Eggo Waffles right here", “CRUISE TOSSES SALAD AND FLIPS EGGOS!” and finally, "Something's Rotten in the State of Texas!".)

(Cut to a shot of the broadcast where we see the trio of Dave Thomas, sans hat, a smiling Mike Neely and Dean Matthews.)

DT: Welcome one and all to Houston, Texas and Empire Pro Wrestling’s Russian Roulette!!! Months of buildup has led to this night, where Beast will face off with the mysterious Dis for the EPW World Heavyweight Championship!!

DM: Dis has impressed on his way through the ranks, winning the tournament in impressive fashion but don’t discount the champ, who has routinely turned back everyone who has faced him.

DT: Of course we’ve also got a first for Empire Pro as Troy Douglas looks to shut up the murderer John Doe once and for all.

MN: That’s alleged murderer cornflake…..and it’s Isaac Byrne.

DT: We’ve also got the big tag team turmoil match to determine our Tag Team Champions and Sebastian Dodd faces his biggest challenge yet as he defends the Intercontinental Title against the returning Jonathan Marx.

DM: Marx is simply one of the finest technical wrestlers in the world today. Dodd will be lucky to get out of this one with his championship intact.

DT: We’ve also got the number one contender’s spot to decide as the erstwhile Shawn Hart, one Steve Savoy takes on Cross in an unforgiving steel cage with the winner to go on to face JA for the right to face our champion at the next pay-per-view.

MN: Savoy can’t be stopped, fellas. He’s just way way way to jiggy for Cross.

DT: Right now let’s get things underway and go up to the ring for our very first match!!!

TONY FATORA: Ladies and gentlemen, this match is for one fall……

(Cue up “Lose Yourself”)

TF: Introducing first, from the UNITED KINGDOM!!!!……ADAAAAMMMMM BEEEENNNNJAMIIIIIINNNNNNNN!!!!!!

DT: Adam Benjamin’s seemed to have found a new focus since picking up this Biggs fellow.

MN: Big Daddy English is a humanitarian.

DM: Or maybe he’s just comfortable around his own kind.

MN: You take that back about Big Daddy English!

DM: Please.

DT: Benji and Biggs seem to have made it alright to ringside.

(Cue up “Dogs of War”)

TF: AND HIS OPPONENT……FROM PAYNEVILLE, KENTUCKY!!...JASSSSOOOOONNNN PAAAAAAYYYNNNNEEE!!!!!!

DT: And here comes Jason Payne.

MN: Who cares! Big Daddy English is in the ring!

DT: Payne’s making his way to the ring. He slides in and… Benjamin with the attack right as Payne enters. Stomps right to Payne’s back as he’s sliding in.

(SFX: Ding ding ding)

DM: It’s important for Benji to get the advantage early, so there’s less of a chance of him choking at the end.

MN: Hey, you show some respect for Big Daddy English!

DM: When pigs fly, or when you start showing respect for our World Champion, I will.

DT: Benjamin drags Payne to his feet, whips him to the ropes. Payne charges back and big clothesline from the former Intercontinental Champion. Payne to the canvas hard.

MN: Biggs should be up for manager of the year.

DM: Dude, the match is barely a minute old, and Biggs is a homeless guy.

MN: So?

DT: Benjamin with the boots to Payne’s chest, one, two, three, he’s relentless.

DM: I guess Benjamin’s got something to prove.

DT: Payne’s lying motionless on the canvas, Benjamin grabs him and picks him up… vertical suplex… he’s still got it locked in, back up, another suplex. Still rolling, he’s got him up, and front suplex! What impact. He covers…

…one…

…two…

…but Payne kicks out.

DM: Benji’s on fire early. I think he wants to get back to where JA, Cross and Savoy are going to be later on tonight.

DT: That he is. Benjamin gets up, and he’s putting the boots to Payne again.

MN: Kick him! Kick him good!

DT: Benji’s got Payne up again, whips him off the ropes and… a big Ron Simmons style spinebuster.

DM: Payne’s getting taken to the woodshed so far.

MN: Yeah, isn’t it great?

DT: Benjamin’s up, he drops back, bounces off the ropes… jumping knee drop! Cover…

…one…

…two…

…Payne kicks out.

DM: Payne’s not on his game here, and if he don’t get on it quick, he gonna be like a bug on a windy windshield.

DT: Benji’s got Payne up again, this time goes behind. German suplex! Bridge…

…one…

…two…

…Payne kicks out.

DM: Oh man, this could be a quick, embarrassing night for Payne.

MN: Yeah, and Adam Benjamin will be back on the way to the World Title.

DT: Benji picks up Payne again. He’s behind him, going for another German… no! Payne blocks it, goes behind Benji himself… BIG RELEASE GERMAN SUPLEX!

DM: The Dog of War is back in the match.

MN: It’s a fluke! Big Daddy English will retake control!

DT: I don’t know, he looks like his bell’s a bit rung there. Payne back up and follows in with a standing lariat! Benjamin down to the canvas.

DM: LARIATO~!

DT: Benjamin’s back up, but Payne’s waiting for him. Boot to the gut, double arm DDT. Cover…

…one…

…but Benjamin kicks out.

MN: Big Daddy English isn’t beaten that easily.

DT: Yes, but Payne also is just getting started methinks. He’s got Benji turned over and… camel clutch!

DM: Classic wear down hold. Good strategy by Payne. Slow the match down, wear out Benji and get some time to recover from the early beating he took.

DT: Benjamin’s grabbing for the ropes and… he’s got them. Payne’s broken the hold, but grabs Benjamin and… piledriver! Cover…

…one…

…two…

…th… no! Benjamin kicks out. Payne’s got Benji up, and he’s signaling to the crowd…

DM: Could be time for the Payne Killer…

DT: Kick to the gut, Payne going… no! Benji turned around quick and he just gave him a back body drop!

MN: Big Daddy English strikes again!

DT: Payne’s up, Benjamin greets him with a belly-to-belly suplex! He’s got Payne up again, he hit him with another belly-to-belly suplex!

MN: It’s a suplex clinic!

DT: Benjamin covers…

…one…

…two…

…thr… no! Payne kicks out!

MN: Slow count!

DT: Benji picks Payne up, kicks him in the gut…

MN: Shining Wizard time! Shining Wizard time!

DT: Benjamin’s going for the Sh… no! Payne catches his leg and follows up with a clothesline! Benjamin to the canvas!

MN: No!

DM: What, do you have money on Benji?

MN: No, I just don’t want to see Biggs go back to the homeless shelter.

DT: Payne picks Benji… he’s got him in a full nelson…

DM: One finisher, coming up…

DT: Payne’s got him up, and… PAYNE KILLER! PAYNE KILLER! Payne covers…

…one…

…two…

…three!!

(SFX: Ding ding ding)

Tony Fatora: Here’s your winner, the Dog of War… Jason Payne!

DT: Big win for Jason Payne here tonight in Houston!!

DM: Yeah, Benji's definitely no slouch so it's quite the feather in his cap.

DT: We'll be back right after this!!!!