Mind Over Matter ~ The Final Battle
Oct 21, 2018 22:16:00 GMT -5
Bonnie Blue and Karlie Nash like this
Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2018 22:16:00 GMT -5
L,
I hate having to write this, because it's proof that I've made a huge mistake. I decided to look for Bonnie without you, but the Owls now have me too. I don't know how near or far I am from her. I don't really have much clue where I even am, or if this will send. I turned my back on you, and I truly am sorry for that. Don't look for us. They'll take you too. It's too late now. Please, don't try to be a hero, like you always do.
Wade
I stand in the sands where Wade and I spoke, just a bit before Uprising. I'm… gobsmacked. I'm unsure whether to feel angry, disappointed, or offended. Someone that I thought was my friend has once again proved the opposite. Just as his message disappears from the waters of the Floridan sea, my only remaining Guardians companion, aside from Zima, attempts to comfort me by putting his hand on my shoulder. I do not turn to him, I just stare down at the waves Poseidon controls.
Jaice: Don't worry, L. We'll find Bonnie. I have a feeling in my gut that it's bound to happen.
L Verez: Let us hope it isn't that Dark Passenger within you playing tricks.
Jaice: I prefer calling it a Dark Spectre, if you will.
L Verez: Let's not joke here, Jaice. It's just you, me, and Zima right now. Alex jumped ship, Damian has too much on his plate, and Sam left us high and dry for his inferior acting career. This was not news I wanted days before having to face Corey Black again.
Jaice: So we recruit. Find new members to help us find Bonnie, and become a new form of the Guardians… the Spectral Guardians.
L Verez: I'm always a step ahead, love. I've already found someone to join us. It's just a matter on whether he agrees to it or not, but…
I turn to Jaice, finally looking away from the gloomy waters that remind me of betrayal.
L Verez: I have one more member in mind, and we're not going to like who that is.
Jaice: … Is it who I think it is?
L Verez: It's exactly who you think it is.
Jaice: Shit… This should be fun.
~~~~~~~
The closer Carnage nears, the further I seem to stray from Earth. The ship is piloting above planet Microse within the Andromeda Galaxy. It's a very small planet, much like Pluto, but less frozen. All of us are in a circle, as I usually round up our team to strategize before we begin our mission.
L Verez: Arvus, Polonium, and I will be the ground team. Zima will make sure the ship stays protected, along with Vincent, Maximus, and the androids. Luminous and his crew will be around in case anyone needs medical help. If health becomes critical, Polonium and Maximus will switch places, so Polonium can assist Luminous. Is that clear everyone?
Everyone seems on board, although a couple seem hesitant. Zima doesn't seem too happy about staying behind, although I feel this is where she's best suited. Maximus is moping, as always, but I expect that from him. However, Vincent seems a bit less enthusiastic than usual. Everyone nods, as per usual.
L Verez: Good. I want to make sure we have as little casualties as possible, we may be able to save everyone, depending on how dire the situation is. Much of it is still an unknown, so we need to tread lightly. It isn't too often that we enter Andromeda. However, this is nowhere near our first time dealing with the unknown, so let's make the best out of whatever situation goes our way.
Everyone: Understood!
The circle separates as we prepare, Zima walking towards me. I can already sense what this will be about.
Zima: I’m confused. You haven't had me as part of the ground team in a while, but you at least have me as a secondary member. This time, you chose Maximus instead. Why is this?
L Verez: Zima… I've almost lost you on multiple occasions, and you've been in more danger recently. Your immune system still has wavering, long term effects from what Hawkins did to you. I cannot have you collapsing in the middle of a battle. If you collapse in the ship, one of the others can step in to help you. It would take to long to switch you out with another member, if you were to collapse during an attack, an ambush, etcetera. Just, please… until we know for sure that your immune system can handle it, let's be safe, rather than sorry.
She looks at me with regret, but eventually sighs, nods, and continues to prepare the ship. It isn't long before someone else taps my shoulder as I'm gathering my equipment. This time, it's Vincent.
L Verez: Are you also upset about your position? I don't exactly have the time to switch out our strategy.
Vincent: What? No, it's my usual position. I would just be a burden if I were part of the ground team.
L Verez: I don't know about that. You seem to be doing well for yourself in New Blood. You’ve already earned yourself a championship, much faster than I did, for that matter.
Vincent: That's different. I won mine from a man nearing legal retirement age. You defeated a legend.
L Verez: A legend that doesn't understand how to leave me be…
Vincent fake laughs nervously. He has something difficult to say, I can sense it.
L Verez: I assume you're here for important reasons? We do have lives to save, Vincent.
Vincent: Right, sorry. I … I'm just not sure how to go about this is all.
L Verez: Just say what you need to say. I'm sure I've heard much worse.
Vincent: Okay, well… I've enjoyed my time here. I appreciate you giving me a place to call home, although it's a rather unorthodox one, but…
L Verez: This is your last mission here, isn't it?
He stops for a moment. Trying to hold back tears, but he's unfortunately unsuccessful.
L Verez: Vincent, you don't have to feel guilty for wanting to move on. You've been doing well for yourself, and you helped your father find greener pastures as well. I love having you around, although you were in the background for a while, but you knew what to do with your prior knowledge, along with what I've been able to teach you. I also understand you may be uncomfortable with having new members of the crew, especially after everything your brother put you through.
Vincent: It's more than that, L. Yes, I haven't felt comfortable here in quite a while, which is why I stayed in the background. My issue is that, here, I don't feel very useful. I feel like a burden.
L Verez: You've never been a burden, Vince.
Vincent: What about the time I almost died from a Sensory Beast because I tripped?
L Verez: Well…
Vincent: Or when I almost fell into a mini black hole?
L Verez: Okay, but--
Vincent: And the one time I got abducted, and you guys had to save me?
L Verez: Okay, yes, you've had your bad moments. That doesn't make you useless, or a burden. I've almost died on multiple occasions. I'm an alien, not a goddess. I've had to repair Polonium plenty of times, and we've had to rescue almost every member here.
Vincent: Besides you, of course.
L Verez: Yes, but the point is that you never know what can happen in these situations. Maintenance and repair is just as important as the ground team. You were my biographer for my first year as a professional wrestler, and I still appreciate that immensely. You are anything but a burden.
Vincent wipes his tears. His eyes are bloodshot at this point…
Vincent: Even so … my dad's moved out, and he needs some company. I want to be there for him. We could travel to NBPW together. He could train me more often. As irritating as he can be sometimes, we've grown a lot closer to each other.
I saw how torn he was. I had no choice but to embrace him. He just teared up even more.
L Verez: I couldn't begin to tell you how proud I am of you, Vincent. You've grown so much, and you've learned even more. I hope your father is as proud of you as I am. I understand. It's time for you to move on. I will miss you dearly, but I won't be a stranger, and I expect the same from you. You can keep the camera I made for you, as well as the Holo in it.
Vincent: Thank you for understanding. Thank you for giving me a home when I had nothing else, as difficult as it was for me to adapt. I appreciate everything you've done for me, and I won't ever forget you, Zima, or the rest of the crew.
He makes one more attempt to dry his tears. His voice still cracking, but he tries his best to keep his composure.
L Verez: Are you ready for one more go?
Vincent: I'm ready. My job isn't as exciting, but I'm always ready to help.
L Verez: Okay, let's get ready then.
It doesn't take too long for us to finish getting ready. Once we do, Arvus, Polonium, and I teleport to a dark area. We each get our lights on and started searching.
L Verez: This isn't what the Crotias described the destination to resemble.
Polonium: THE COORDINATES ARE CORRECT, ACCORDING TO THE HOLO SPHERE.
Suddenly, multicolored lights shaped like eyes appear all around us.
Arvus: Oh… this just got interesting…
To be continued…
~~~~~~~
L Verez: Let us take a trip within my mind, and see what we discover.
I connect my memory core to the Holo Sphere to broadcast memories between me and Corey Black to the masses. I've been able to control precise memories, and turn them into a sequence. Our Execution match being envisioned behind and around me.
For the fourth, and hopefully, the final time, Corey Black and I face at Action Wrestling's Carnage PPV this Sunday. I've already stated so much about our past encounters, and where that has brought us. Now, I take us to our last encounter. The one Corey wanted to use as vengeance. Vengeance for using a weapon he calls his own. The Burning Hammer. He wanted to prove that he could defeat me inside the 4 corners of the squared circle. He was wrong.
I splice the imagery to depict the moment I captured the victory.
Not only did I win… but I won with the one weapon Corey Black tried to use to destroy my future. The one that he wanted to curse me with. The exact weapon that he wanted for his own. It was I that destroyed his future. I sealed his fate, just as I said I would. Now he wants a second chance. At a desperate attempt to equal the playing field, he's challenged me to a match within the Nightmare Chamber match.
I switch to a memory of me inside the Nightmare Chamber along with Bonnie and Alex back in WCF's XIII event last year. When we faced Ethan King, Steven Singh, and Frank Patrick Venable.
This won't be my first time in the Nightmare Chamber. I broke into Corey Black's promotion, stood with my Guardian companions, and took out his own talent. The situation has changed, but the result will be the same. Just as us Guardians did against the makeshift “Everest” group, I will take down Corey Black for the third, and final time. This time, however, I won't need his weapon. I just need my own. My strength, my wherewithal, my perseverance, and my will power. The excuses end when I decimate the legend of the “King of All Wrestlers” for the third and final time. All he will be is the King of Excuses. Continuously sulking and crying about how every encounter was unfair. No… it has never been unfair. You knew exactly what you got yourself into each and every time, Corey. You were given the exact same advantages that I had. The closest you ever got to a win against me was a desperate tie to cling on to your fading legacy. After Carnage, your legacy will disperse.
The record between us is 2-0-1. I bested you at Killing Floor. I bested you at Killing Floor. I bested you at Execution. I technically bested you at Uprising. Now, I don't just best you. I end your legacy, and I cement one of my own. What else can I say about you, Corey? What else could I possibly say to finally break that egotistical armor. You just hopelessly attempt to try and fix broken glass. You're cut, you're wounded, you're tired. It's time to give it a rest. You've talked all your big talk, but you just can't make that walk that you used to walk. It's time I put your career to sleep… because the legend of Corey Black is FINITE!
I broadcast memories of a beaten, broken Corey Black, with me standing over him each time. I fade it into a bright light, leaving me at my lonesome. I slowly open my eyes, fierce intent brewing within until I shut down the broadcast.
~~~~~~~