time: tuesday evening

day: july first

place: bailey's bay, bermuda; sand & pebble tavern.

(Once again, we're at the bar that I own. We've only been open for a few hours, and my happy-hour bartender has only served a few customers. We don't get busy until about ten. We've got the corner booth which can sit about nine people. However, with Cain and Dead's size, we can barely fit five. We're trying to take care of business for this week. Well, at least Price is. Dead is too busy goofing around, Cain is downing shots of Jameson, and Impulse is staring off into space. I've got a camera set-up in the distance, zoomed in on the group. It's recording.)

Matthew Engel: "Wake up, Impulse."

(He snaps out of his day-dream and looks to me. He almost looks confused, like he doesn't know where he is. It must be tough having amnesia.)

Impulse: "What's up?"

Matthew Engel: "Are you going to be ready for this week?"

Impulse: "Of course. I'm always ready, Matt. I've been ready to fight for you since the day we met."

(He turns away, still can't remember who he is or where he comes from. He has an apartment in Nevada, shared with his managed Joey Cans. He isn't here, he's taking care of the apartment while Impulse is away. They have a weird partnership; Cans saved Impulse after his near-fatal accident and got him to the hospital. Since then, they've been a dynamic duo, so to speak. Cain takes another shot of Jameson.)

Cain: "Wooo-ee... this stuff is great. I don't get out that much anymore."

Price: "That's probably a good thing. Graham, stop with the drinking already. We all need to be ready for Friday. It's kind of a big match."

Dead End: "Because we're kind of a big deal!"

Cain: "People know us!"

Dead End: "Merlin Olson comes over... on occasion."

Matthew Engel:"Clever. Cain, there's a reason I have you down here in Bailey's Bay with me. Same with you, Impulse. I want you guys to train here. Graham, I can't even remember the last time you stepped into the ring for a fight... and Impulse, I know you're ready, but more training can't hurt."

Cain: "You got it. When do we start?"

Matthew Engel: "Tomorrow morning. So, try to sober up."

(Cain blushes for a moment, and then tries to pour himself another shot out of the bottle. However, it's empty.)

Cain: "Damn."

Price: "That's a sign if I ever saw one."

Dead End: "Yeah Graham... lay off that crap. Or I'll punch you right in the babymaker."

Cain: "Why don't you go back to your home on Whore Island?"

(The two share a laugh. I burn a stare through both of them.)

Matthew Engel: "Impulse, why don't you tell the audience just who you are and why you're here."

(Impulse nods, and turns toward the camera. The rest of the group listens closely as he begins to speak. Except Price, he's got some paperwork.)

Impulse:"I don't have a name. I am simply Impulse. I was in a horrible car accident thirteen years ago, and I can't remember my life before that incident. Since then, my manager, Joey Cans, and I have been in the underground boxing scene where I made a living. I went undefeated. I couldn't get help from anybody to treat me for my amnesia, and so I moved on to something bigger.

I had hoped by getting into professional wrestling, I could get the proper treatment for my condition. I could get some answers. Matthew has promised me that treatment, and he is working with me to help me find the answers of my past. So, while you all condemn him for being a Master of Armageddon, he is a saint in disguise for me.

And those who try to hurt him and his family will pay the price. There is no doubt about that. These men, Nightmare, Corey Lazarus, Jamie Flynn, have no idea what they're up against. They're challenging a force that will simply destroy them."

Cain: "We've been fighting with these yokels for a couple of weeks now and they're harmless. They can only get the advantage on surprise attacks, something they condemn us for. We've never been like that, since we came to the PWA. If you wanted a fight, you got one. We confronted our issues and we took them down. Took them DOWN! We're the fucking Masters, and you three don't have a chance!"

(I nod and let out a small smirk. I look into the camera.)

Matthew Engel:"See, I know these two men are in my corner. I know these two men would put their careers and lives on the line for me, for what I have given them. I've given them air to breathe. I've given them hope. I've given them something worth fighting for. They will get everything promised. Impulse will know who he is... and Cain will be a household name once again.

What can you three possibly expect to promise each other, outside of 'Hey, I won't attack you this week'? You can't possibly sit there and expect to trust each other, especially with Jamie thrown into the mix. I know Wehali is a class act and he won't do anything. I can't say that about Corey, because lately you've become a virus to those close to you. You can't seem to get a handle on anything, and you hurt the people closest to you. Hell, you drove Gregory away. He's a great manager and friend."

Price: "Thank you, Matt."

(I nod at Price.)

Matthew Engel:"And of course there's Jamie... a man who was betrayed by me, so how can he trust anybody? I fed him to the lions, and he disappeared. No, he doesn't trust you two. So, you might be a talented team, you might be a team for the ages... but you don't have trust, and thus, you won't have teamwork. In these matches, without teamwork, you're not going to last very long."

Impulse: "How can those men expect to win if they can't trust each other?"

Cain: "They're not going to win, buddy. They're not. They'll be too busy tasting canvas and their own blood."

Impulse: "I can't wait."

(I admire their enthusiasm, but it won't be that easy.)

Matthew Engel:"However... let's speak about Nightmare specifically. He said a few things recently today that I'd like to address here. He made comments about how much more success and titles Corey has than me here in the PWA. He made comments about how I've failed to use the Intercontinental Title as a stepping stone to the World Title. He also made a comment about how Corey has more victories over me than I do him.

All lies.

Corey's success here the PWA has been my success. Do you honestly think he would have been in the World Title picture if it wasn't for me? Please, Jonathan. Now, you're just being ridiculous. The fact that he has held one more title than me, a retired title no less, isn't really that mind-blowing, now is it? I guess you've forgotten that I was given an immediate title shot when I was signed here. The PWA Tag Title. Sure, I didn't make an impressive reign of it, but I helped Enika win those tag titles.

Then I beat you, for my current title. You always seem to forget that, in all of your ramblings and petty insults. I beat you.

And who says I've failed to get my World Title shot? The last time I checked, I haven't been offered one yet. I know it will take time, and I am willing to be patient, but it is inevitable, Jon. I never promised it would be against Mark McNasty or Corey Lazarus. I promised that I would use the Intercontinental Title to lay claim to my chance at the World Title, and that time hasn't come yet.

But it will, and when it does, I'm going to win. Oh yes, I'm going to win.

Phoenix and Mark can have their fun while Mark retires him. But, both of them know that the World Title will end up in my hands, and I'll definitely put up more of a fight than both of them to keep it. You know it, too. It's only a matter of time, and I certainly haven't failed. I'm still on the path of greatness. The path you faltered from at Retribution. But hey... good luck with those tag titles."

(Cain chuckles a bit.)

Cain: "He'll definitely need it, Matt."

Matthew Engel:"I agree, Graham. But what I don't agree with is Corey having more victories over me than I do him. I understand you're trying to kiss his ass as much as possible so you can hope, even for just a second, that you'll work together as a team to stand up against us. I can understand. But, at least state some true facts. Tell me that he's held the World Title, and I haven't. Tell me that Corey was the one who won the Who's The Man? tournament, and not me. Even though, I was the single cause why Corey got as far as he did because I chose vengeance over gold.

And funny enough, that's what catapaulted him into the World Title scene. Everything comes full circle.

But don't tell me Corey has beaten me more than I have him. In singles matches, we're tied. In tag matches, we're tied. Don't believe me? Check out the first time we squared off against each other in the PHW. My team beat his team.

Here's another fact: I'm the one who managed to actually pin Corey. He has never pinned me. How's that sit with you, Jon? So, like I said, if you're going to kiss Corey's ass, at least be truthful about it. Don't go off spewing lies for your own personal amusement. Don't build up Corey any more than he already is, because it's going to hurt that much more when he falls.

And fall he will."

(Price looks at me for a moment. It's almost a moment of sympathy, but he looks away and gets back to his paperwork.)

Matthew Engel:"Jon, I really won't indulge you anymore. You know exactly why I aligned myself and took over leading the MoA. You know exactly why. The most important reason was for my family, for protection. And secondly, it was to get away from petty vendettas and stupid grudges and to try focusing on my career, rather than those who were trying to destroy it. I'm done with you. I'm done with Corey. Jamie is in my radar right now, because that's true unfinished business. You and Corey are pathetic, and you're no longer important.

But, if you want a war, look no further. Until then, shut the fuck up and wrestle."

Cain: "What I want to know is where he gets off trying to describe Graham Cain? You can't put me in a simple mold of lies. You can't try to put a round peg in a square hole. I'm Graham Cain, and I don't fit where you think I belong. I break the mold, and I bring pain to a level you only dream about. You'll try to kick my ass, and you'll try it with style, but you'll only end up on your back. You'll only end up with the sweet smell of canvas and blood, while I soak in the smell of victory and hot women.

That's what separates me from you, Jon. We might be similar in size and strength, but ultimately, you won't stand a chance against me. Just when you think you can outrun me, or use your speed to counter me, I'll knock you out of your fucking boots."

(Dead reaches across the table and gives Cain a high five. We had to keep them separate.)

Impulse:"I like this man, though. Despite his incessant lying to put shades over the reality that he is the inferior wrestler, he's entertaining. You can't ask for much more than that."

Cain: "How can you like him? He's boring as hell, man!"

Dead End: "Yeah! I about passed out when we were watching his interview!"

Impulse:"Boring or not, he tells it how it is. He's got confidence, and his ability in the ring backs it up. We should ask him to join us."

(Dead and Cain look away, while Matt looks at Impulse. Impulse has a look of confusion.)

Matthew Engel: "He was apart of the MoA, under a different name. Orochi. He was supposed to be my right-hand man, but then we found out it was Nightmare."

Cain: "Talk about your all-time split personality disorders."

Dead End: "No kidding!"

Impulse:"Well, then that relieves me. This gentleman and I have more in common than we originally thought. I have a mental condition as well. But, it seems this Nightmare already knows all about it. He made a sarcastic remark about how I can't remember my life. I remember the last thirteen years, Nightmare, after it happened. I don't remember before that. That could be ten years, or fifteen years. I don't know how old I am, people peg me at about thirty years old. I don't know when I was born, or where for that matter. I don't know much.

But I do know this: I'm a hell of a fighter. Despite what was going on before my accident, I know this is what I was destined to do. Maybe it was fate that I had that accident, because I wasn't doing what I was supposed to be doing. Fighting is the only thing that has kept me alive, and it has kept me away from certain vices and thoughts of suicide.

Fighting has helped me survive... and I'm damn good at it. Do not underestimate me, or I will drop you to your knees and make you beg for mercy."

(The room grows quiet. Cain gives Impulse a pat on the back.)

Matthew Engel:"Very well. Corey, Jamie... you two have yet to say anything, and for that I commend you. Keep quiet, please, and let the actions do the talking. That's what your partner, Nightmare, wants. He'd rather you two shut your mouths and show up to fight, rather than try to win a verbal battle. He doesn't have faith in you two when it comes to verbal battles. He really doesn't. He has faith in your wrestling abilities, thankfully.

But then, how quickly could that faith dissipate? What would it take for Nightmare to simply not care about you two anymore? A missed hip-toss? A shitty suplex? A half-assed lariat? I would suggest coming to the ring on Friday ready to give everything you have, or your own fucking teammate might turn on you. Remember, he's already got it in his mind that he's going to win the Tag Titles. He expects nothing but the best, and he might attack you if you give him less.

Just keep that in mind. I know I haven't said much in your two's general direction, but we've got plenty of time.

We do not forgive.

We do not forget.

MoA. Supreme."

(fade.)