time: sunday morning

day: february third.

place: bailey's bay, bermuda; engel residence.

(Words can't define what I feel inside)

(Who needs them?)

(Caught with this virus of my mind)

(I give in to my disease, of my needs)

(Post-Rampage. I can feel every ache simultaneously, an assault on my body and my mind. Some people give up because of the pain. Some people thrive on it. When I was younger, it was always the latter. Now, as I get older and a little wiser, I find myself thinking about giving up. You build a tolerance for it when you're in your prime and then all of a sudden, you lose it. And every week, you find most of your body in an icebath because you don't want to look like a balloon. Every week, you go through physical therapy just so you can get back up on that horse and do it all over again. Every week, you take painkillers just to make it through. You do all of this and then it's rinse, repeat. Some people love it, some people hate it. I don't know where I stand, but I never felt more alive when I was twenty feet in the air and seconds from crashing down on Icetank through a table. Oh, it hurt, like you wouldn't believe, but man was it fucking worth it.)

(I open my eyes. I take my arm out of my icebucket. Twenty minutes is up.)

(I make my way up the stairs, out of the basement, and into the kitchen. I grab some water, pop a vicodin, and relax at the kitchen table. I see Mia outside on the beach, tanning with Alexia. I can't believe she's in high school now. I was her uncle, now I'm her father. She's doing so well, something I honestly thought would never happen. I didn't think she'd be a normal child, not after what she went through. She has her dad's perserverance, thatt's for sure.)

(I see the video camera already on the table for me. I put in a new tape and hit record, my back to the beach again. It's such a beautiful day; if only the SuperBowl was here. I bet it's nicer here than Phoenix.)


VIRUS: I gotta tell you, I'm in a lot of pain. A lot of pain. I commend Kirlia and Icetank for a tough match up, but due to the fact that I'm better and more capable, and Enika is clearly the definition of innovation, we were the better team. The better team, do you understand that? So, when you talk about how you were robbed of your title, Kirlia, I sit here and laugh. I laugh because you weren't robbed of anything, you were beat. You lost. You fucked up. Don't put the blame on anyone else but yourself. You didn't save your partner from getting Euthanized and pinned.

Me. Euthanasia. You. Lose. Is that simple enough for you, bitch?

(I hope so. I slip out of the camera's view for a moment. I come back with a bottled water. I take a swig and continue.)

VIRUS: I don't want to hear your crying. I don't want to hear the crap about your sister. Tough luck, every family like every village has their idiot. Don't use your sister's mistakes as an excuse for you not holding onto your tag title. You made that mistake yourself. Better luck next time, if you ever get it. It'd be a shame if you were to get that pinkslip.

(He rolls his eyes.)

VIRUS: A three-way match for the Intercontinental Title. Not bad if I do say so myself. Yeah, sure, I wasn't thinking that at the time, but it works out. The crowd will love it, and I'm sure Murphy does because I think we all know he was about to be finished off. But don't take that as a compliment, Corey, because you weren't wrestling real talent.

Now, I hope you got the message and you understand now. You don't go near my sister, you don't talk to her, you don't think about her. If you want to take that chance, then so be it, but just know it won't end well for you. Label me over-protective, but don't think I won't kick the fucking shit out of you. Engel and Lazarus don't mix; they're like oil and water. Best keep it that way.

(I stare right through you.)

VIRUS: I remember a long time ago a menacing dark monster of a man was threatening me. Funny enough, my brother battled him back in the old PWA and in the JWA. I tracked him down for threatening me and my family and I ended him. I did what was necessary and, as you said Raizzor, put my demons to rest. Now, I have you threatening me if I don't do what you want. It's like a broken record. Yeah, I get it; you've been around, longer than me and just as long as my older brother. You're a veteran.

And from what you say, you can still swing. You'll always have that puncher's chance, I suppose.

But, even with all that, you actually expect me to sit there and do nothing while you strangle my partner?

You gotta be kidding me.

You should know better than that. You should definitely know that I won't stand by idly and let you destroy my partner. Yes, I am here to win and when you're in a tag team match, even with people you don't know, you learn to cooperate and work as a team to win. So, I wouldn't be doing my duty if I let you get away with what you plan to do. I've had that happen to me and it's not fun. I wouldn't wish that on someone, someone I have no affiliation or grudge with.

You don't scare me. I could care less about your history with The Phoenix. I could care less about your thirst for blood.

You want to get away with murder? Do it on your own fucking time. But when that bell rings and you step in the ring with me, rest assured I won't back down and I will do everything within my power to make sure my team comes out victorious.

This is what I offer. This is what I give. Week in and week out. I give one hundred percent and if you've got a problem with that, take it up with me at Rampage. I dare you.

I will be waiting.

(Intensity. Just the thought of going toe-to-toe with someone, calling them out, is like a shot of adrenaline. Many people thrive on pain, I thrive on challenge.)

VIRUS: The last time we met in the ring, Sirus, was a long time ago. Six years? It's a long time. I remember it like it was yesterday, though. Quite a moment for myself, I must say. But, you already know what happened.

That was six years ago. It really holds no bearing for Friday night. But, we meet in the ring with different partners and it should be interesting. Like I told your partner, I plan to do everything I can to win this match. I have no grudge against you or him, but I have a problem with someone telling me what I can and can't do. Don't expect me to be a spectator in this match because I'll be in your face and his face all fucking night.

I understand this is a prelude to our match at Genesis, where you and I are at opposite ends battling for tag titles at a major pay-per-view yet again. Different partners this time, though, and you'll be the contender. Just six years ago, it was the opposite.

Maybe you'll get your payback. I know you'll die trying and that's what I respect about you.

It's a different time and I'm not getting any younger. I know you aren't. So, you and I will do battle again, twice in one month, and we'll put on a great show.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

Team Supreme, I like the name, but it will be the only farce next week.

(fade.)