I don’t blame you James, not in the least. If it were any other man in this federation, like the ones you faced last week in the Battle Royal, there would be no excuse for your silence, but to face a man, a machine, a Legend here in this business, I wouldn’t show my face either. So here, at the first pay per view of UWF, you get to step into the ring with such a man. Only your second match here in the federation, and as it looks, quite possibly your very last. Not because you may get fired, but because you may never be able to walk again. You see James; I’ve never been one to pass up a good ass kicking opportunity, and here in UWF, they have handed me that very opportunity on a silver platter. I take it by your silence James that you don’t have a problem sticking your tail between your legs and cowering like a beaten dog. It’s a shame that for my debut here in UWF I don’t get an opponent worth while. No, instead I get you. I would have been nice though, actually receiving a little fight at least. I mean seriously, what are the fed heads thinking? They just signed a VERY lucrative deal with yours truly to recruit me, and YOU are what they give me? I guess Ill have to wait for another day, another place, another time to receive something worthy of my talent. Until then, I’ll pass by you with breaking a sweat and then wait my turn to show the crowd what they’ve been missing for the last several years. Am I conceited? Nah just convinced James. Convinced that you fear me and fear what may very well be your day to fade away like a dying candle in the wind. Here’s some advice James. Don’t show your face come Fuck Death. I’ll only offer this once. You tuck your tail away and vanish from UWF forever and you will be doing yourself a HUGE favor in the long run. If you decide to show your face and THINK you got what it takes to walk into the lions den, well my friend, I guarantee that you won’t be walking out of our match under your own accord. Take heed to my warning, or ignore it completely James. Do as you wish, but take it heavily into consideration that after you step into the ring with me, you may never again see the light of day. ~ *The scene fades in at Central Park in New York City. Birds are singing and the sounds of children laughing and playing can be heard. Down the pathway, a rather large man can be seen sitting holding and strumming a guitar. Cord for cord he plucks away. A few women stop to listen to him play his melodic beat. His hair covers his face as hit blows in the wind. He begins to sing along with the guitar.* Man: On One crisp Autumn Eve A lone man decides to walk Through the shallow leaves As the soft wind talks. Where do you go stranger? All alone and free? I go to find a piece of heaven, so that I may see. *A few more people hear his voice and stop to listen to him sing. He seems oblivious to everyone forming around him. He continues to pluck away at the guitar and begins to sing once again.* Man: The man continues on, Through the sands at shore. The rocks beneath the ground, Question him some more. Where do you go stranger? All alone and free? I go to find a piece of heaven, so that I may see. *He begins to play his guitar harder into a solo. His fingers work the strings hard and fast. The wind begins to blow more, sending shivers down everyone’s spine. The guitar solo begins to die and he begins to sing once again.* Man: The grasslands sway aside, To let the lone man pass. The stars across the night, Shall let him lie at last. Oh where do you go stranger? All alone and free? I go to find a piece of heaven, so that I may see, Home Again... *He picks at the strings gently ending his song. He wipes the hair away from his face. There sits Darion Steel. Everyone begins to applaud him. He looks around to notice that quite a crowd has gathered around him. He stands and puts the guitar in its case and begins to walk away. A couple girls run up to him and begin talking to him? Girl 1: Hey there. Who are you? I haven’t seen you around here before. Darion: Just a lonely man wandering around. Girl 2: No you’re not. I’ve seen you somewhere before. I just can’t quite put my finger on where. Darion: I’m not sure where you would know me from. Girl 2: Wherever it was, it must have been something important. For a man your size, you have to be something big. Darion: I’m sorry. I’m not sure I follow. Girl 1: Well, You are quite the "big" man, I can tell. Darion: I’m sure you can. Is there a point to this? Girl 2: Well, we were wondering where that song came from? We know our music and we have never heard that song before. Darion: I wrote it. Girl 1: I told you he was a musician Gina. Girl 2: Shut up Cindy. Darion: Ladies, please. I’m not a musician. If you must know, I’m a wrestler. I just joined a new federation. I’m here for my first match. Gina: Wait, a wrestler. Is your name Darion...Darion Steel? Darion: You’ve heard of me? Gina: Hell yeah. iWi right? Whatever happened to Cryst? Darion: I’d rather not go there thanks. iWi is in my past. I work for UWF now. Cindy: You looking for any help? Y’know… valets and such? Gina is great and giving massages and I work wonders with my hands. Darion: I bet you do. I’d love to find out as well. Gina: Really now? Darion: Ya. But I’m in a hurry. Give me your numbers and if I decide I need any “valet” type stuff, I will let you know. *The women pull out a slip of paper each. They write their names and phone numbers down and hand them to Darion. He puts them in his pocket. He bends down and gives each of them a kiss on the cheek and walks away, leaving the women star struck. Darion walks out of the park and sits on a bench to wait for the next bus.* Darion: Women. They never change. *The bus finally shows up after about a twenty minute wait. Darion gets on, pays his fair, and sits down.* *Scene fades to black* ~ *Scene fades back in front of Equinox Fitness. Inside the sounds of bars clanging together and the grunts of many men lifting weights echoes throughout. The smell of blood and sweat emanates inside. Off in the corner, Darion can be seen lying down at the bench press station, pressing the stack.* Darion: Forty seven...forty eight....forty nine...fif...fifty.*Darion sits up, sweat pouring off his face. One of the female trainer staff walks over to him and tosses him a towel. He begins to wipe the sweat from his face.* Trainer: I thought you would need this sugar. How ya been? Darion: I’ve been ok Jamie. How’s Jordan? Jamie: Him and I are through. I found out he was cheating on me with some bimbo. I think her name was Gina or something. *Darion begins to chuckle as he takes a drink from his water bottle.* Jamie: it’s not funny Darion. How would you like it if someone chea... *Darion just shoots Jamie a dirty look.* Jamie: Never mind. Darion: Thank you. Anybody been looking for me hun? Jamie: Oddly yeah. Some gangly fruit was looking for you. Long hair, seemed to like he enjoyed fire. Darion: That lil bugger. Where is he? Jamie: Not sure. Never gave me an address. Just said he would find you. Darion: Can’t wait. I’m gonna jump in the shower. Jamie: Want some company? Darion: Not this time darling. Maybe next time. You have to work. Jamie: You’re no fun. Hehehe *Darion just gives her a wink and walks off towards the shower room. He strips down, steps into the shower, turns it on and rests against the wall, letting the water run down his body. He relaxes as the song “The River” by Sentenced plays over the gym speakers. As he rests he can here many voices out in the main gym area. He steps out of the shower and wraps a towel around himself. He stands in front of the mirror and shakes his head as he looks back at his own reflection. Darion: What are you doing man? What has you joining another fed after all this time. You told yourself you were down with this shit. *Darion stares at himself again, only to end up shaking his head once again before toweling himself off. He tosses his both towels to his gym bag as he puts his boxers and black denim jeans on. Before he is able to put on his shirt, he can hear ruckus from out in the lobby area. He walks out into the lobby area to see Jamie being swarmed by men and women* Darion: What the fuck is going on here? Jamie: They are all looking for you. *They group rushes over to the half naked Darion. They all begin talking at once.* Darion: Woah. Relax. One at a time. What the hell are you all doing here? Man 1: Just here to ask you a few questions about your match this week. Darion: Can I not have some fucking privacy? Man 1: Just a few Darion, please? Darion: Fine, get it over with. Man 2: How do you feel being back in the ring? Darion: It’s the same as always really. I will be nervous, I admit it, but so should they. I’m not the pushover everyone thinks I am just because I’m new in this fed. If James Gard wants to take me out, he better bring his “A” game because I will bring nothing less. Woman 1: Do you think you will have made an impact after this weeks pay per view? Darion: Without a doubt. I see myself kicking ass and taking names really. You have watched my career of the past several years. You know what I’m all about and what exactly I can do in the ring. Being up against this jackass will be nothing short of a quick jaunt in the park. Man 2: Who do you want to face next? Darion: Honestly, I don’t give a rat’s ass. If I had the choice, I would choose Chino because he and I have some unfinished business from a prior fed, but to be honest, I can’t see it happening yet. He has made a name for himself over the years as well as I have, if not more so. As for the rest of the “talent” here, I guess we will just see who the next flavor in line is. Woman 2: Flavor? Care to elaborate? Darion: That’s all the so-called stars here in UWF are; basically a flash in the pan, here today gone tomorrow kinda deal. Honestly, can you really see someone like Kurt Cornell or Shaun Hill really making it anywhere in this federation? Man 1: Do you have a love interest Darion? No one has seen you around with anyone in a long while. Darion: I really don’t think that is any of your business. How dare you come barging into my friend’s gym and try and pry into my personal life. Move on. Woman 1: Do you have anything you want to say to anyone in the fed? Darion: Only that they should tread very little around me. Sure I may be slightly seasoned around the ring, but trust me, ring rust, I have none. Fear, I have none. And qualms about putting my body on the line to test there very being, I definitely have none. Now if you’ll kindly take your asses out of my friends gym here, I greatly appreciate it. Man 1: But Darion, I have... Darion: LEAVE!!! *With that, Darion turns and walks into the shower room and begins to get dressed as Jamie escorts the reporters out the door. Darion walks out all dressed as Jamie walks back to him.* Jamie: What was that all about? Darion: Damn people don’t know when to leave me alone. I hate being a fucking puppet to them, but I guess in this business, it comes with the territory. Jamie: I assume so. Darion: Anyways love, I gotta run. I have to make a few phone calls before I turn in for the night. I got a long training session tomorrow. Jamie: Alright Darion. I guess I will see you tomorrow then. Sweet dreams sugar. *Jamie steps up and kisses Darion on the cheek. Darion gives her a brisk tight hug then turns and walks out the door. He rustles around in his duster pocket and pulls out a cell phone. He once again rustles around in his pockets and pulls out one of the pieces of paper given to him earlier in the day. He dials the number and waits for an answer.* Darion: Hey Gina, its Darion. Yeah. I know. I didn’t expect to call either. What I’m calling for is…. Yeah. You pretty psychic. Sure, call Cindy and meet me at... No, the Sheridan. OK, be there around eight. I’ll meet you out front. You too, ciao for now. *Darion puts the cell phone away and begins to chuckle again as he walks away.* Darion: Women….they NEVER change. *Fade to black* ~ James, you have already chosen your fate once and entered the Battle Royal unprepared, and had your ass handed to you. Are you really willing to go 0 – 2 here in UWF? Are you prepared for the humiliation that comes with a loss record like that? Sure, you are probably sitting there saying to yourself that wins and losses don’t matter to you, but the thrill of the hunt and fight is what matters most. You know what sir, I call your bullshit. You know as well as anyone else in this god forsaken industry that other then holding gold, that trying to survive with a semi clean win/loss record is second to only the titles. Come with you’re “A” game James. Come with chair and tables. Come with artillery. Hell man, come with the fucking militia. In the end, it won’t change the outcome. By the end of our match, only two things will be certain. First, you will be staring at the rafters wondering just why oh why you decided to show up knowing what kind of beating you would endure, and secondly, and definitely the most important, yours truly, the beast Darion Steel, will be standing over you with both arms raised in the air for everyone to witness the dawning of a new age. The age of strength; the age of knowledge; the age of Legends… It’s time for a new dynasty to reign. See you soon James.