[Callista]

*Seconds Later*

I'm walking down the hallway, chatting into my mobile. "Victor, it's Callista. The Visionary Mercenary line is a go. Set the merch to active on-site." After a pause, I close my eyes, before continuing "M-E-R, C-E-N, A-R-Y. ....very good." Gemma and I have a booze-bet on how well that'll sell in its first month. She has no appreciation for alliteration.

I tuck the phone back in my pocket, giving the door in front of me a perfunctory knock before letting myself in, taking a seat and smiling across the desk. "Hello, Commissioner..."

*fade to commercial*

[RedEnforcer]

RP:  Tonight's FTW Fury is brought to you tonight by a brand new sponsor, Olive's Baby Oil.

LvK: (muttering just before the scene dissolves) Oh that's a good one Rick, that can't be real. Olive Oil?


*scene cuts to the back as FTW rookies Randi and Billie Mulkey are walking and discussing things*

RM: You'll do fine out there Billie. Much better than me having to debut against that Enforcer guy. I'm still hurting from some of those slams.

BM:  I don't know Randi, That Eddy looks to be one mean guy too.

*suddenly a new face to FTW appears...he is 5'10 and 170lbs and looks to be in good shape.  He's wearing a fancy red velvet coat, black slacks with matching boots as well as a pair of Aviator shades, his dark black and slicked back, sporting a pretty deep tan and he speaks with an accent that's European but otherwise unintelligible*

SF: Ah, ladees. Allow moi to assist.  Eye have overheaard you sayingk you are nairvoose about your match tonight!  Have noo feear for Eye, Savoir Faire, will give you de seeecrit to havingk a good match.  Heere is Olive's Baby Oil.  Eye put some on myself and voila! Eye am de Cymbal of Parfection! Please, give it a try

*the two women look at each other and Randi takes the bottle as Billie just recoils slightly.  She looks at Randi wondering why she took the bottle*

RM: Oh, Mister Faire, *giggles* Thank you sooooo very much.  I don't have a match tonight, but I would love to try this out.  Would you, like to give me some pointers?

*Savoir Faire holds his arm out and offers to escort Randi back to a private room.  Billie just watches with her jaw dropped in shock.*

Olive's Baby Oil, helping wrestlers achieve that slick look since 1979!

RP: *on the phone* Yes, I'd like a barrel sent to the arena.  Yes, I'll pay for fast shipping.

LvK: *mumbling* The *BEEP* I have to put up with. It's like this *BEEP* was put together in a hurry.  Quick, next segment please.

[Emily Layne]

Back from commercial the scenes cuts in the backstage, the camera moves along the corridors until it stops to a door with the written "Emily Layne" upon it.

The door is slight opened and the camera moves in, the lights is on and shows the room which is strangely empty.
Only a mirror on the side wall and a chair with some black clothes over it.
No furniture, no tables, no benches,nothing.
The camera pans across the empty grey walls before the attention is caught to the far wall which it has something hanging on the wall.

Slowly the images gets more clear.
Four 20 x 30 centimeters posters are hanging there. (for the ones that don't use metric system, find a damn converter!)

The camera pans across the images.
The first is a pic of Red Enforcer in his wrestling gear, showing only his upperparts, his arms crossed under his bare chest and the red mask covering his face.
The second is a pic of Callista Quinn, hands on her hips, classic smug look,wearing a white Countdown t shirt and one of her hoodids.
The third one shows Punky, the white zombie shirt covered by her fist launched forward, middle fingers up toward the camera.
And the fourth is a pic of Gemma, a halter green top, hands on her hips, chin lifted up, round breasts pushed forward.

RP: *whispers* I always knew she is a fan of The Countdow..

LVK: *covers RP Mic with his right hand and loudly whispers* Shut up Perle!

The images look clean from distance,but when the camera gets closer there are some little maculas on them, like little bullet holes all over the faces and bodies of the Countdowners.
Suddenly the camera turns and catches a whooshing noise

WHOOOSH

Followed by a thud.
Camera moves to the posters and zooms over Callie pic, a little red dart is hanging on Callie neck and the camera slides forward like scared.

WHOOSH

WHOOSH

WHOOSH

THUD

THUD

THUD

Three more whooshing noises,  three more darts hitting the other member of The Countdown.
Punky cheek, Gemma breast and Red forehead.

"Surprise surprise"

The camera turns and points at me, wearing black tight jeans, silver sneakers and a black sleeveless  t shirt with a white huge written
"I HATE
THE COUNTDOWN" which shows the big wicked angel tattoo through my right shoulder and upper bicep.
Hair free to loose over my shoulders, red lipstick and black eyeliner complete my look as I smile at the camera before moving to the wall and I carefully tug all darts off the images.

"four in a row, not bad, don't you think?" my face points to the camera, my hands toying with the four darts, standing there close to the wall.

"You all saw what happened two weeks ago during First Strike, funny thing is that we have still people talkin about the Tag team match..was it a tag team match? Seriously?"

My left hand holds three darts, the other dart in my right hand pointing at the camera.

"Two on one, is that you call a tag team match?"

The right hand suddenly spins and roughly shoves the tip of the dart against Callie face.

"they know that one on one they wouldn't stand a chance!"

I yank the dart off Callie pic and take one step back along the wall

"One on one, they will fall one by one...starting with.."

My body suddenly and slightly spins around, the three darts in my left hand end all over Punky nose and mouth, shoved them by a quick movement of my left hand.

"because The Countdown's time is over and I will personally take care about that!
You pretend to be here for the salvation of wrestling, you better care for your own salvation, cause things are gonna change, from tonight! I don't need a mask! I don't need to run! FTW is MY place and the championship belt will be where it belongs, around MY waist!"

I pause for a moment.

"Punky, you didn't get lucky, you will be the first in my path, get ready to go down! Unless decide to get back to Portland, selling donuts at weddings"

The camera zooms to Punky image hanging on the wall with three darts through her face.

WHOOSH

THUD

The fourth dart suddenly flies and hits on Punky forehead.

Then smash cuts to the already seen graphic with the Fury's dark violet backdrop.
On one side we have the imagine of Emily Layne, on the other side Punky with her zombie shirt and a white large written on the bottom "LATER TONIGHT"

RP: I think that your girls have some psychological issues.

LVK: Are you talking about Dow? She isn't my girl

RP: We saw Chance in a porn/horror movie setting, now Layne playing darts like in the cheapest Irish pub of New Orleans between pints of lager, what's next?

LVK: I won't say anything this time

Shots cuts to the dark violet graphic of before, this time showing on the left Callista Queen in her hoodie and Sadie Davis on the other side.

LVK: Production is reminding us about the two big matches of tonight, both valid for the Heavyweight Champion tournament but now its time for the second match of tonight!

[RedEnforcer]

CG: Our next match is one fall with a 10 minute time limit.  First, weighing in at 5'8" and 125lbs hailing from Anderson, South Carolina making her FTW debut, BILLIE MULKEY!!!

A pretty platinum blonde goes to the middle of the ring and waves to the crowd.  She's wearing a dark blue one piece suit with the left side cut out almost to her mid-abs with MULKEY spelled out on the right side of her suit perpendicular to her ribs.  She looks a bit nervous and somewhat lost.

RP: Looks like Savoir Faire is still spreading out the baby oil.

LvK: Will you stop?  *pauses and presses a hand to his headset*  Looks like we've had an issue with our next competitor.  We have some footage it seems.

*Camera cuts to backstage where the Red Enforcer is standing near one of those backstage prop boxes, slamming a fist down on it again and again.  On his way to the Gorilla Position, Eddie Valiant pauses and looks over at the angry wrestler*

EV: Bitches man.  Am I right?

*Red pauses and turns to look at Eddie. Considering his recent run in with Callista it looks like he's about to agree*

EV: I can't believe I let myself get conned by some Alabama hick, Daisy Duke wannabe who's got the sex appeal of a duck. I mean she is just a royal *BEEP*

RP: What? Can you say that word on the air, Larry?

LvK: In England, where Eddie's from, yes you can, but that word is more of a hot button around here.

EV: You know wha---urrrrkkkkkkkkk

*Red has looked up at Eddie and his deep brown eyes have gone cold, almost black. His arm shoots out and his hand grips Eddie's throat and he lifts Eddie up and slams him down hard onto the backstage box.  From there, the Enforcer jerks on Eddie's trenchcoat and lifts him off the box and tosses him into the opposite wall.  He moves in slowly and calculatingly while Eddie grimaces in pain and tries to get his hands up.*

EV: Look mate, /huff huff/, I didn't, /huff huff/, know she /huff huff/

*Red isn't having it and fires a straight left into Eddie's ribs, followed by a right hook into the other side of the ribs, a left hook across his chin and a right uppercut deep into his belly.  Backstage officials come to try and break things up but Red slips behind Eddie and locks him in his swinging full nelson, tossing Eddie around and using his legs to keep the officials at bay.  They back off and Red continues to beat Eddie towards Gorilla*

RP: Didn't realize The Enforcer was so sensitive.

LvK: *rolls his eyes*  That was just moments ago and, look, there they are!

*Eddie's body comes flying out onto the stage and crash lands hard on the steel.  Red comes through and lifts him up by his head, snakes an arm between his legs and slams Eddie hard down onto the stage.  The crowd groans and gasps from the attack.*

LvK: Eddie is trying to fight up, but those punches to the Enforcer's stomach either lack strength or the Enforcer is so mad, he's not feeling them.

RP: I don't think I've ever seen the Enforcer this cold and this violent.  Look he's beating Eddie towards the ring.

*Red gets Eddie to ringside and launches him into the barricade.  Then peels him off and tosses him into the ringpost.  Billie and the ref are just watching in the ring from the opposite corner in horror. *

LvK: Definitely not the way Eddie wanted to make his first entrance into FTW.

RP: Looks like it may be his last, Larry!  Look Red's got him in the center of the ring.

*The Enforcer has Eddy bent over with Eddie's arms crossed in front of him.  The Enforcer hauls him up into the air and slams him down with his patented straitjacket powerbomb.*

RP: Oh Lord Larry, he's not done!  

LvK: The Red Enforcer with a second devastating Hurricane Hugo Bomb!  I think we're going to need some help out here!  Oh no, he's going for a third!

*After slamming Eddie's body down with a third Hurricane Hugo Bomb, the Enforcer turns to the ref and to Billie.  Billie is paralyzed with fear and shock, her body remembering how it felt to be slammed and ragdolled by the Enforcer just one week ago.*

LvK: Look at that folks, Billie has stepped between the Enforcer and the ref! She knows the danger she's in, but she is still trying to do the right thing!

RP:  *is on his cellphone* Yeah, cancel that barrel, looks like the babe is going to the hospital.

*In a loud, angry voice, spittle flying from his lips, the Enforcer shouts at the ref*

RE: Ring the *BEEP BEEP* Bell!  START THE DAMN MATCH!

*Confused, the ref motions to the timekeeper and the bell rings.  Red turns to Billie who is anxious, but hasn't taken a step back*

RE: *growling* What are you waiting for? Pin him!

*Billie looks confused. The Enforcer motions his head towards Eddie's beaten body and nods.  Billie slowly moves over to Eddie and covers him, hooking his far leg.  The Enforcer glowers at the ref who dashes and goes to count the pinfall 1....2......3!!!!!  The bell rings and the Enforcer slips out of the ring*

RP: Waitaminute Keel, how can that count as win?

LvK: Do you really want to tell the Enforcer that didn't count?

RP: Yay!  Way to go Billie! *gets back on his cell* Yeah, cancel that cancel.

LvK:  While the medical staff goes to check on Eddie Valiant, here is a word from our sponsors.

[Callista]

If you're going to spend hours in traffic, pay thirty dollars for parking, and spend the annual food budget of an entire family in Nigeria for a couple hot dogs, all to witness a sporting event live, shouldn't you go to the one sport that doesn't have commercials every two minutes?

It's time America joined the rest of the world.

*footage of a keeper taking a goal kick with the crowd chanting* "YOU SUCK ASSHOLE HAHAHAHAHA!"

Forget 'friendly rivalries'. Come see the sport where home and away fans are routinely separated to prevent riots.

*A portly manager paces the technical area* "WHO ATE ALL THE PIES? WHO ATE ALL THE PIES? YOU FAT BASTARD, YOU FAT BASTARD, YOU ATE ALL THE PIES!"

Nothing shows your worldly nature better than supporting the Beautiful Game. Chant obscenities, light off flares in crowded stadiums, and commit race crimes, just like the sophisticated Europeans do!

"YOU'RE SHIT AND YOU KNOW YOU ARE!"

Come see the game that American can't get it's head around....because it's NOT based around commercials and snack breaks. Maybe you'll even get to see a goal!

[RedEnforcer]

RP: Wow, it's a good thing the censors can't blame us for that one.

LvK: *puts his hand on his face and starts rubbing his temples*  I really am glad my kids are in bed now.

*backstage camera shows a scene of the tall masked man of Countdown talking to someone.  As the picture focuses, the person Red is talking to is revealed to be Sadie Davis. *
 
RED: Look, you know I want to be out there in your corner for this fight, but...I can't. I have to honor my deal....with Gemma.  Callista promised there wouldn’t be any interference, but we're all going to be out there, so keep your head on a swivel.
 
SADIE: No interference? Hmmm…hope Countdown’s not going soft. I was kind of really liking her style.
 
RED:  Well, that’s what she said.  Still, don't let your guard down.  *lifts my hand as if to take your arm...pauses and makes a fist and sets it down*  Just be careful out there.
 
SADIE: Just a head’s up, Red…if you’re going to be in Callista’s corner *stands on my tiptoes to whisper in your ear* it’s not me that needs to be careful.

[BustyTiffany35]

STATIC, which gradually transitions into a highlight video. The scene opens with a wide angle shot of an arena, with a crawler stamped at the bottom corner of the screen

[ The following footage courtesy of  Chaos Wrestling Alliance ]

[ Fatal Discharge PPV - September 2013 ]

The crowds are buzzing. They're just moments away from witnessing the event's final match. Everyone's focusing on the ring that's already filled with the combatants of the main event. One is a young, feisty redhead dressed in a sexy schoolgirl outfit eagerly pacing in her corner. The other is a tall, buxom platinum blonde in alluring leopard print attire, leaning calmly against the turnbuckles of her own corner. The referee cradling the promotions' championship title and the ring announcer are separating both women as they stand in the middle of the ring. The ring bell sounds loudly and the announcer lifts the mic to his lips.

"Ladies and gentlemen…This match is set for one fall, and it is for the Chaos Wrestling Alliance CHAMPIONSHIP!

Introducing first, the challenger! From Toronto Canada. She weighs in at 119 lbs. The Scarlet Rage, Candace Cane!!"

The fiery little redhead stops pacing and hops onto the second rope, thrusting a fist high into the air. She mouths off to the crowd as they don't exactly give her a warm reaction, flipping off a few members of the front row as she hops off the ropes.

"And her opponent! From Jackson, Mississippi! Weighing in at 130lbs. She is the reigning and defending CWA Champion, the Platinum Queen, this, is, Tiffany!!"

The tall busty platinum blonde smiles widely for the fans, who burst into cheers. She steps out of her corner, moves to the middle of the ring, thrusts her fists out to either side of her and tilts her head back to show off her signature pose to her adoring, applauding fans.

It's at this point in the video Nine Inch Nails' "The Hand That Feeds" begins to play.


[ The video cuts to Tiffany charging into the corner with Candace draped over her shoulder, practically throwing her hard into the turnbuckles! She pulls back and rushes in with a closeline, but Candace ducks outta the way at the last second. Tiff misses Candy completely but quickly turns in the corner and charges after the redhead. Candace sees the big blonde bombshell coming at her and hops up, her feet landing on Tiff's thighs while her hands clutch the champ's hair! She pulls back and tosses Tiffany over with a monkey flip! Tiff however manages to flip in mid-air and lands smoothly on her feet! Candy rolls to her own feet, is startled that Tiff landed on her boots instead of her backside, and charges after her as the platinum blonde turns around. Tiffany, at the last second, catches Candy with an armdrag! Candy crashes into the canvas but rolls onto her feet a moment later and the two have a stand-off! ]

[ Cut to Candy at Tiffany, but the Queen catches her with a lunging closeline that nearly knocks the schoolgirls' pigtailed head clean off! ]

[ Cut to Candace flying off the ring apron, at Tiffany who's standing on the floor, catching her with a Tornado DDT that plants Tiff's face right into the padded arena floor! ]

[ Tiffany catches Candace running at her with a snap scoop powerslam! ]

[ Candy snapmares Tiffany, and as the blonde is seated on the canvas, Candy kicks her in the back, then in the face, causing Tiff to snap back onto the mat! Candy quickly runs the ropes, bounces off of em, and comes back at Tiff with a running shooting star press! ]

[ Tiffany lifts Candace right off the mat by her waist, flips her over onto her shoulder, and runs to the turnbuckle, and launches her into the corner with a Gutwrench Powerbomb! ]

[ Candace is running to the corner with Tiffany in hot pursuit. Candy smoothly hops onto the second rope, climbs up to the top, and jumps off of it, backflipping over the charging Tiffany! She lands right behind her, grabs her around the waist, and throws Tiffany backward with a German Suplex! ]

[ Tiffany with a Head and Arms Belly-to-Belly Overhead Suplex! ]

[ Candy with a spinning heel kick to Tiffany who's perched on the top rope! She falls to the floor. A dazed Tiffany is getting to her feet on the floor while Candace is running toward her inside the ring. She dives UNDER the MIDDLE rope and damn near beheads Tiffany! ]

[ Candace tries to reach over the top rope to pull Tiffany into the ring, but Tiff drops off the apron and grabs Candy's ankles. She yanks on her legs, causing Candace to drop onto the mat. Tiff pulls Candace's legs toward her so they drape over her shoulders. She yanks Candace out of the ring from under the bottom rope, still holding on her her legs. She spins around--and SMASHES Candy right into the guardrail! ]

[ Tiffany with an atomic drop inside the ring which causes Candace to bounce off of Tiff's knee and stand upright while holding her tailbone! Tiffany gets up quickly, runs past Candy, bounces off the ropes, and comes runs FULL-FORCE at the Scarlet Rage with a running boot to the face! ]

[ Candace comes flying off the top rope with a springboard closeline that catches Tiffany and sends her crashing into the canvas! ]

[ Candace and Tiffany are on the top rope and Candy hits a beautiful top rope sunset flip powerbomb that folds Tiff up! ]

[ Candy has Tiffany locked in her own submission finisher, the Peacekeeper! Candace has the Chickenwing Crossface is locked in tight and Tiff is fighting to keep Candace from wrapping her legs around her waist. Tiff is on her knees with Candy cinching the hold in tightly, finally able to lock her legs around the bigger woman's waist! Tiff is shown fading as Candy cranks the hold, tightening it as much as she can on Tiffany! Tiff finally makes it to the ropes and the ref has to pry Candy off of the Platinum Queen! ]

[ Tiffany is next seen tied up in the ropes, both her arms stretched out and tangled tightly in the middle and top ropes! Candy is standing over her, clutching her hair and screaming obscenities into Tiff's face. She then SMACKS the taste right out of her former mentor's mouth, doing it again for good measure! Candy then releases Tiff's hair and the champ's head hangs low, hovering over her chest. Candace backs away and mocks Tiff some more by doing her trademark pose, then with a wicked smirk she moves back to the helpless Tiffany--only to get KICKED right in the mid-section as Tiff abruptly comes back to life! She staggers back, clutching her tummy and Tiffany untangles herself from the ropes and CHARGES at Candy, SPEARING her right outta her boots! ]

[ The Platinum Queen comes charging through the ropes at Candace who's standing dazedly on the floor, diving at her with a wicked suicide dive that sends the schoolgirl crashing back into the barricade! ]

[ Tiffany PLANTS Candace with a double-underhook powerbomb! ]

[ Tiff attempts to hit a belly-to-back suplex but Candy flips out of it, lands on her feet, and as Tiffany turns around, the Scarlet Rage smashes her face in with a rolling koppo kick! ]

[ Tiffany WHIPS Candace into the corner, face first, and as she bounces off the turnbuckles and staggers back, Tiff grabs her and launches her across the ring with a Tiger Suplex! ]

[ Tiffany hits Candy with a tilt-ta-whirl backbreaker, but holds Candy's body over her knee for a moment. Tiff turns her body, leans over, wraps her right arm over Candy's neck to hook the Scarlet Rage's head. Tiffany then SNAPS back, her back landing on the mat while Candy's face just whips forward and smacks right into the canvas! ]

[ Candace leaps at Tiffany from the top rope, but gets caught! Tiff repositions her on her shoulders--and PLANTS her with the Platinum Justice! ]

[ Candace with the School Driver! (Inverted Spike Franeksteiner) Cover! 1….2….KICKOUT!! ]

[ Tiffany attempts to plant Candace with another Platinum Justice, but Candy reverses it by wiggling around and seating herself ONTOP of Tiffany's shoulders! It looks like she's trying to hit her School Driver finisher again! But Tiff holds her ground, manages to block the move--and LIFTS Candy up to drape her back over her shoulders! A moment later, Tiffany throws Candy's legs up into the air, hooks her head, and DRILLS the schoolgirl right into the mat with a devastating DDT! FLATLINER! She covers! ]


1…2….3!!

[ An exhausted, battered but still smiling Tiffany is shown kneeling in the middle of the ring, one arm cradling her CWA Championship, the other arm raised high above her head in victory. The NIN track concludes and the scene slows down on the Platinum Queen as she celebrates a successful title defines. The highlight video fades to black.. ]

[RedEnforcer]

*Scene opens up to an outdoor concert full of crazy fans swaying along to a typical college band*

(voiceover) "Once we were a mediocre college band, but everyone has to grow up."

*Scene cuts to an office scene with the band members now in cubicles typing away on computers*

(voiceover) "Now, we help keep your identity safe on the Internet, using our extensive knowledge of anti-malware techniques"

*Scene of the band in suits jamming in the office*

(voiceover) "But we can still rock with the best of them."

(announcer voice) When you need internet security, use Phish Phishing Security. The name you can trust!

[Callista]

*stirring, patriotic music plays*

We at Major League Baseball would like to remind you that we're still here, and we're still America's pastime...whatever the *BEEP* that means.

*visual of a team of players walking out onto the pitfield*

Do you want all the excitement of a living sporting event without all that tedious action? Look no further. We're probably playing a game today.

*slow-motion shot of a batter swinging*

For people who like their sports at a slower, more refined pace, there's baseball. Only don't fall asleep...

*shot of a sleeping fan getting brained by a foul ball*

We're Major League Baseball. For the love of God, buy a ticket!

[ThePurpleVixen]

A ticking clock.

"This message has been brought to you by the Countdown."

There is a hissing sound, like serpents telling secrets.  Then the faint tin clatter of a shaken can of spray paint, as sound as familiar as Christmas to vandals and miscreants everywhere.  The shot fades in on the back of the Countdown's own resident miscreant (one of them, anyway) "Punky" Meg Dow.  Punky has her back to the camera, facing the broad side of one of the beautiful restored boxcars of Scranton's historic Steamtown railway exhibit. She is spraying thick lines of black over a base of glittering gold.

"When Eris wanted to *BEEP* over the gods, she gave them a little gold trinket to fight over."

Punky's toxic-sweet voice is curiously hollow.  She turns and looks over her shoulder, purple hair tumbling down the back of her glossy leather jacket.  She is wearing a gas mask, stylized to look like a horned silver skull.

With a last hiss of aerosol paint, she adds another swoop of black to the unseen graffito she is working on and then turns and drops to sit on the footrail of the meticulously restored and now thoroughly tagged boxcar.  The devilish skull mask comes off with a tug, dangling from her fist as she tosses paint cans into her bag with hollow clanks. The Purple Vixen grins in the shadows of Steamtown.

"Calli the Fearless *BEEP*ing Leader wants to save wrestling.  Dear Emily wants justice, the kind that's served *BEEP*ing cold. Little Sadie wants the whole *BEEP*ing world to see her as more than a hot ass.  And in the pretty mirror world of the GOLD, they see all their dreams coming true."

She chuckles, throaty and soft, and splays her arms wide with a soft smug creak of the oiled leather of her chromed jacket.

"Let the *BEEP*ing fairest take the *BEEP*ing apple.  KALLISTI! I'm in the *BEEP*ing tournament to do the same *BEEP*ing thing I joined the *BEEP*ing Countdown to do."

She leans close, filling the screen, her dark eyes manic and glossy black lips curved into a grin.

"To burn down the *BEEP*ing stars and destroy everything in my path like *BEEP*ing Shiva."

The Priestess of Chaos closes her hands into fists with a soft creak of the leather of her fingerless gloves, and the soft thuggish bone crackle of her brawler's knuckles.

"Emily, darling. Dove. Tesoro.." She purrs the Italian endearment, rolling the R with her pierced tongue.  "You have no *BEEP*ing idea what you're *BEEP*ing in for.  You think it was bad when Rowan left you high and *BEEP*ing dry with Gemma and I?  That was us being NICE.  That was us being SWEET.  That was Gemma going *BEEP*ING EASY on you, soft-*BEEP*ing-hearted kitten that she is." Punky's dark eyes gleam with the light of the camera, avid and hungry. "I am gonna rip you to *BEEP*ing shreds.  I'm gonna to burn you down like *BEEP*ing Pompeii.  I'm gonna salt the *BEEP*ing earth where you stood so nothing ever *BEEP*ing grows there again.  And the funniest part?"

That toxic giggle, sweet as poison honey.

"I'm not doing it for the *BEEP*ing GOLD.  I'm doing it because you're in my *BEEP*ing way."

The mask is pulled on again, the horned silver skull covering that deceptively sweet fey face, the big dark eyes hidden behind round lenses the bright blank white of the moon.  She speaks again, hollow as a dark voice heard from your closet just as you go to sleep.

"Sadie, sweetness.  I'll *BEEP*ing RSVP. I'll show you what happens when little girls write cute *BEEP*ing invitations to the monsters that live in the shadows."

Suddenly Punky lunges, snatching the camera, which shudders in her grip, giving the perspective the illusion of sweet terrified writhing.

"And if Rowan wants to stop her little J-pop horror show and come get broken again, I *BEEP*ING WELCOME it. FTW doesn't KNOW what the *BEEP* a *BEEP*ing monster is, but I'll *BEEP*ing show them."

She snarls into the camera with her voice echoing in the horned skull respirator like a crypt.

"I'm a grim *BEEP*ing fairy tale with a bloody *BEEP*ing ending."

She drops out of the shot and into the night, and the camera straightens - and lingers on the tag she left behind, sprayed in bright gold and deep black on the meticulously painted Scranton Steamtown railcar: a great big stylized gleaming golden apple, with Greek-style letters slashing black across the plump gilded face, reading PUNKY.

Fade to black.

A ticking clock is heard.

"This message has been brought to you by the Countdown."

(Buy the Punky Skull Mask at ftwshop.com, countdownwrestling.com/gear, and punkymerch.com!)

[Callista]

RP: These women scare me.

LvK: Me too, Rick.

*ticktickticktickticktickticktickticktickALARM!*

The dings and dongs and clinks and clanks and rings of the alarm bells sound, and the lights go low. The keytar refrain sounds, and the video wall lights up. The Red Enforcer slams one Mulkey cousin onto another. Gemma and Megan hit the Stroke of Midnight on Rowan Chance. I put Lisa Starr's head into the mat with a Kudo Driver. Mag-lite blows and chairshots and gorilla press slams out of the ring, showing the carnage we've wreaked here in FTW.

I push through the curtain, my Countdown compatriots close behind me as the boos rain down from the rafters. The same teal boots and pads I wore at First Strike adorn my legs, as does the bottom of that matching one-piece sticking out from underneath the black hoodie I've got on.
Why the one-piece? Because it's more comfortable. The same garment over my shoulders is between my legs, so I don't have to worry about one half or the other wandering in some direction and giving more of a show then I mean to! Seen enough girls start to take a German and end up showing their Brazilian instead!

When I approach the ring, I point Gemma to one spot, and Megan to another, stationing them on opposite sides of the aisle to act as welcoming committee. I may have promised Red no beatdowns, but I guarantee he warned Sadie to keep her guard up. Let's take advantage of that, shall we?

LvK: Oh what is this?

RP: I think it's friendly! It's like an Honor Guard!

LvK: ...

RP: Would you believe Walmart greeters?

I point Red to the far side of the ring from the entryway. I can see his jaw set, but I say, "Deal's still on," before climbing up the stairs and stepping through the ropes, facing up the aisle as my music dies down.

[Callista]

My jaw sets. It's not the low-budget animated mockery that annoys me quite so much as the implication that because I'm older than this little twit....steady, Calli. Keep calm. You're better than her. Don't forget it.

I try for calm, try to ignore the entrance, but that little bit with the pen through my name just sets my blood boiling again. When Sadie sends a taunt my way, I keep the stoneface in place, which is the best I can manage just at the moment.

Clenching my teeth and wondering why I'm letting her get to me, I slide the hoodie up and over my head, when I see my opponent give Red the finger. A wave of tension rushes out of me as I realise what's been skirting the edges of my consciousness.

If I were fighting against me, and it was the other me that had Countdown behind her, what would I do? Step 1, neutralise the outside help. Presuming I chose to stick to the agreement I'd made with Red: Check. Step 2, throw me off my game. Not a check, but she came damned close.

That display of anger towards Red was a mistake. It was a real emotion slipped in amidst the mind games. That was one thing about me when I was younger: I was ruled by my emotions, rather than vice versa. And now I had sussed out what was bothering me about Sadie's ploy: How much it resembled one of my own.

Time to take control, back. I pull the Maglite out of the hoodie's pocket. The ref blinks in surprise, as if he can't believe what he was seeing, but he quickly recovers, stepping in between me and Sadie. I turn away, however, dropping the hoodie in my corner (and trusting no one would check for the pair of brass knuckles in there now that I'd pulled out my trademark weapon,) and handing the Maglite down to Red.

Behind his mask, Red's eyes blaze. I couldn't care less. He'll hold to the deal, and if I choose to enact a bit of punishment for daring to think he could give me an ultimatum? He can consider it a small price to pay.

Glancing across the ring at my opponent, at the shock and hurt on Sadie's beautiful visage, I smile a bit inside. 'Need to work on that poker face, honey,' I think. Speaking of prices to pay, though, I'll have to pay one myself, now. Sadie's on the edge. Need to push her off of it.

When the bell sounds, she starts to circle, but I step out into the middle of the ring, turning away from her, and holding my arms wide out to the side. Even Megan looks surprised at this, although Gemma's jaw sets as she recognises a tactic I've used before.

[Callista]

'Oh thank fuck' I think, as I see Sadie leap off the top rope. When she's committed, I twist my body a bit, bringing my arms up and crossing them in front of my neck to block the incoming elbow, while getting my legs up and letting the side of Sadie's body smash into my upraised knees.

The opening salvo was as furious as I was expecting, but what I was not expecting was how intelligent and brutal it would prove. She chained holds and strikes quickly, not leaving a good opening for a counter, and not many bad ones, either!

I could have pulled my leg back, when she dropped her arse down onto it, but I'd still have been on the ground, and her likely on her feet, what with her hands on the ropes. Eventually, though, she gave into the desire to put an exclamation point on things in a big way, and went to the top.

Even then, she nearly sussed out that something was wrong. I don't know if my bit of play-acting helped seal the deal, there, but if she'd dropped back down to her feet and tried a more measured attack, I could have been in a spot of trouble!

Alright, enough resting, move. With Sadie still clutching at her side, I reached for her right arm and right leg, digging first my left boot into her side, just underneath the ribs, and then my right, pulling back and letting my long limbs bend her body into a painful crescent.

RP: That's just smart wrestling, Larry! Sadie landed on Callista's knees, and Callista went right after the weak point with a bow-and-arrow!

That was the one other thing Sadie had failed to do. She kept pressure on me, but her attack was a bit unfocused, leaving me generally worse for wear but not overly weakened at any one spot. It was a mistake I wouldn't make.

I could feel my grip on her wrist starting to slip, so I relaxed the hold, pulling my feet out and pressing the soles of my boots against the mat, getting up to a standing position before dropping a quick knee into her ribs, pushing back up to my feet before dropping another in the same spot.

Deciding I'd bought myself enough time, I grabbed a fistful of Sadie's hair, pulling her up off of the mat, and standing her up in front of me, my back to her front. I stepped forward with my left leg, getting it in front of hers. I leaned forward, barring her right arm and tucking her bicep under my left arm before straightening up, locking in the abdominal stretch.

My right arm was free, so I balled up my fingers and drove a few short, straight punches into her rib cage, eliciting pained yelps every time I did. I could feel her hand pawing at my head, and I taunted, "Trying to pull my hair, Sadie? And here I was almost starting to like you..."

[Callista]

Fingers thrust into my throat, stealing the breath out of me, but suddenly my hair is yanked backwards, forcing me to look into the eyes of my opponent. She taunts me, and I do see the red mist descending, but it also focuses me. I take a bounce off the ropes, come running back....and there it is.

That high-cross body. I'd been waiting for that. I put the brakes on as best I can, pushing back as I reach up with my hands. She still takes me off my feet, of course, but my feet are pushing backwards, so rather than going straight down onto my back, I roll back, kicking my legs upwards and taking me up and over.

I get the soles of my boots down to the mat, and I push upwards, straining the muscles in both my legs and my arms as I push myself up off of the mat, bringing my opponent with me, one arm under her head, the other between her legs.

Letting out a primal scream as the rage and adrenaline overtake me, I stick my left knee out in front of me, the one Sadie'd been working on, and I drop down, bringing her right side crashing down across it. Let's see what's in worse shape, shall we?

RP: Don't make Callista Quinn angry. You won't like her when she's angry.

LvK: Do you think she's going to be angry when I tell her you just compared her to The Hulk?

RP: YOU WON'T LIKE ME WHEN I'M ANGRY EITHER, VAN KEEL!

LvK: I don't much like you normally.

RP: ...that hurts.

I stand again, Sadie's body still in my arms, then I again drop her down across that knee. Doing so sends a wave of pain through me, and the pain focuses my thoughts, lets me know that rush of adrenaline is fading.

My face reddening, my limbs going rubbery, I lurch forward. Not able to lift Sadie any higher, I keep going, pushing Sadie between the top and middle ropes and letting go of her as I do.

She drops down onto the apron, and from there, down to the thin padding covering the arena floor. I slump against the tope rope, breathing heavily as I stagger to the corner, using the pads there for support.

My instinct is to pull the ref over, but through the fog of pain and fatigue, I remember the agreement with Red, so I back off, and the ref turns to count as Gemma and Megan stride up towards Sadie.

[Callista]

I take advantage of the time Sadie's out of the ring to take a bit of a breather. I'm not idle, though, and as soon as she moves, so do I. When Sadie comes back into the ring, I step forward, swinging my foot and landing a football-style kick right to Sadie's ribs. She curls up, clutching at her side. I stomp on her twice more, pushing her face-down with my boot before lifting an arm and dropping my elbow onto her side.

She coughs and moans as she lies there, and I reach down for her, grabbing hold of her hair and the back of her bottoms, labouriously picking her up off of the mat. When I get her to her feet, I turn her to the side a bit, leaning forward and wrapping my arms around her waist.

Taking a deep breath, I push upwards, squeezing all the pressure I could in the gutwrench lift before she's completely upside down, then lifting her up the rest of the way and dropping her on her back in a power bomb that left both of us laying on the ground.

I push forward, laying my body high across hers, and pressing her shoulders to the mat. She can probably kick out, but she'll have to tax those weakened core muscles to do it. I hear the ref's hand slap the mat, and he counts "ONE!"