Enjoying the Carnage [March-Now]

[Deleted]

Act 1: Before the Return

A video package begins to air at the words "Originally Aired on August 13, 2017 for UCI" scroll across the screen.

Life on tape

He had made his big debut and taken out the Underdog Hero in what could only be described as a one sided beatdown. Sure NovaKaine had other obligations later in the night but it didn't make the victory at Summermania any less impressive. The image on the screen comes in focus to reveal Sah'ta Thor sitting behind a large redwood desk. He was wearing a red shirt with a the words Sin Incarnate emblazoned in gold on it. Under the words were seven stylized icons representing the Deadly Sins. On the desk in front of him are two green glass bottles, a glass with a pair of icecubes, and a television remote. With self sure movements Thor picks up one of the bottles and opens it before filling the glass three quarters of the way full with a clear liquid. He recaps and then sets the bottle back down. There is a few second delay before Thor picks up the second bottle and uncorks it before pouring the thick dark red contents within to top off the glass. Once the glass was full he re-corks the bottle and sets it on the desk.

"So it is almost time for another Overload and yet people still haven't taken the time to learn just even the barest of facts about me. I have seen Mr. Pryde's comments about how he would use me as a pawn for his ratings in New Blood Wrestling. Yet, I am curious if he even knows anything about my career. Not that it matters since he is calling himself the Blood Prince and is touting himself off as some kind of monster. I will say that was a decent little display you put on with that kid Cassidy but honestly if you expect me to just let you get the win Mr. Pryde you have no idea who you are talking to. In fact, I have decided to help you with a series of clips I found from over the years of my career."

With those words he reaches one hand for his glass and the other, for the remote. Pressing a putting the wall in front of the desk opens to reveal a sixty inch screen. Thor lifts his glass to his lips as the first clip he had chosen begins to play.

The streets were quiet, well as quiet as they got in a city like Las Vegas. He had planned things well and in the week he had been stalking his prey, like a wild animal, he had learned much about their movements. It was time to strike and end the game. So as the man and woman walk across the empty parking lot towards their car he was ready. He was standing in the shadows behind their vehicle. A place he had already planned his movements from. As they near the car his steps drunkenly from his place in an act to get them off guard. It was an act that worked all too well as the man rushes forward to help him. This causes the trench coat wearing Sah'ta Thor to start laughing in a pantomime of a drunk. As the man gets to his side Thor slides a lead pipe from the arm of his coat and in a sudden very sober move whips it around catching the approaching man in the gut.

"Should have killed me Aaron."

Each word in this chilling statement accented with a blow of the pipe. The woman rushes forward to try and distract Thor from his attack but is hit across the head with a blow from the pipe.

"Where are your goons now Lu Chen?"

For the next ten minutes the pair receive a brutal beatdown that leaves them with broken bones and many visible wounds. When it was all over Thor takes a few pictures and then makes a quick phone call. As he walks away from the carnage he could hear the first of the sirens blaring to the scene.

~*~*~*~*~

Weeks later, he stood in front of a place he had been many times in the past. Yet over the last few days he had come and went unrecognized by the changes he had undergone. The beard on his face and the extra muscle mass had left him as a man that none of the staff knew. He had been careful to disguise his voice and that kept his plans from being discovered too soon. A plan that he knew all too well would anger someone he needed angered. It was a bold move but it was all fitting with his plan to come back to the world of wrestling.

His plan was simple and as such was prone to going wrong. He walked into the club and talks with the receptionist about needing some time down in the training room. A room that many knew of from the porn videos that were filmed there. What many didn't know is that people could go down and have matches themselves. It something that only one connected to the family would know about.

"Sir, do you have an appointment?"

"I have a standing invitation."

With that Thor walks towards the door that would lead to the basement leaving the receptionist to call for security. By the time security caught up with him he was already in the center of the main wrestling ring waiting for them. The look in his eyes dark and the smile on his lips twisted with a perverse anticipation of the pain he was about to inflict. As the first of the guards rush him he starts to laugh, a sound that was hauntingly familiar to some. With ease he kicks out the knee of the first guard, hearing the joint pop out of place. As the man drops Thor kicks him in the skull to knock him out.

Over the next ten minutes several more guards fell with broken bones. By this point the club's owner and most of her management staff had arrived to regain control of the situation. With a smirk Thor waves her into the the ring while allowing the rest of her staff to roll the injured men out of the way.

"Velvet the time has come for you to pay for your crimes against your family."

"Who are you? What crimes?"

"I am the one that you had hoped had died. I am your judgement personified. I am the Dark Messiah."

Finally the voice sinks into Velvet's mind as she starts to back away in horror. Her expression saying that she finally understood who was standing in front of her. With a roar Thor charges forward spearing Velvet in the gut sending flying into the ropes. This triggers a free for all as everyone of the employees try to take him down. It is a bloody business but in the end the only one left standing was a battered looking Sah'ta Thor. He walks over to where Velvet was lying and kneels down.

"You should have made sure I was dead, Velvet. Be sure to tell Feline that I am coming for her."

With that he slams his fist in the center of her face before standing up to walk out of the building. The club above unaware of the carnage that had just taken place.

The clip ends and the camera angle returns to reveal Thor drinking from his glass.

"I am perfectly aware that the clip has no real context from which you can understand the intensity of the images you just watched. So I will fill you in with some facts and then another clip. Aaron was my protege and at the time tag team partner. Lu Chen is one of my many children and well Velvet is my half sister. All three were involved in an incident that left me sidelined for almost a year. An incident that if you knew anything about would tell you that I am not a man to be fucked with. You witnessed the payback but in a few moments you will see just why caused that need for it."

A sharp whistle shortly after Thor's explanation emanated from just beyond the camera's focus. After the harsh pitch of sweaty hands clapping in a slow typically mocking pace though only momentarily, a somewhat oddly accented voice broke what remnants of silence followed the slow clapping..

"Just one quick question for ya. What is there to understand about you Thor? You're a freakin MONSTER! Now let me explain this before you get upset over my sayin that bro, Okay, So on your good days you're a hedonistic pseudo-revolutionary. You run more schemes on the underside of things than even I can try to track, now like I said that's on your good days an I'm pretty sure your opponent Nova-whatever has gotten to see what a semi-bad day is like for you. Your record quite literally speaks for itself. Hardcore wrestling is in our blood, you're still the only multi grand slammer I've ever met, your losses are usually caused by some punk trying to lowball to settle a vendetta he can't handle himself. I mean seriously man. Stop me if I've missed something here..."

"Ah Jake remember that incident that killed Insidious and left me in that coma for almost ten months?"

"Bra, you're lucky you ain't in prison for that sh--. Can I say the S word on this channel? Anyway, you're lucky you didn't get locked up man.. Aaron probably coulda died after that... Wait, he didn't die did he man?

"No everyone in that clip is doing just fine Jake but as I was saying this is what led to that payback."

"Wait, see there you go again Bra, you didn't answer my other question man. Can I say that one word on this channel or not man?"

Another button press and another clip begins to play.

Hannah's music hits and they get handed the titles. Samantha and Hannah hug and celebrate but their celebration is cut short as they lights go off!

Steve White: Oh no! Not again!

Suddenly they flicker and we can see three of Insidious' Albino Warriors standing at the top of the stage. One of them begins walking down the ramp as Grant and Hudson get up in the ring. Samantha and Hannah look around, ready to fight but are slowly becoming surrounded!

Steve White: Oh great! Here they come! Why is only one Albino freak coming down here!? Can someone put a stop to this!?

Hannah and Samantha quickly roll out of the ring and jump the barricade, escaping the situation as the Albino gets in the ring. He looks at Insidious as Hudson stares at Grant while they come face to face.

Steve White: Hannah and Samantha did the smart thing and got out of here before they were assaulted! What are Insidious doing now!?

The tag team title match had just ended and the winner announced when the lights flicker slightly in the arena. When the lights stop their flickering the ring is surrounded by the rest of the albino warriors that had become synonymous with Insidious over the last few months.

Steve White: There's the rest.

In the ring Aaron looks over towards Nathaniel Grant with a slight smirk on his lips. The pair moves towards each other and clasp arms in homage to the old viking warriors. They exchange a few words and that are unheard by the fans before stepping away from each other. Meanwhile, there is a commotion from behind the announcer's table. This commotion draws Nathaniel's attention. Once Nathaniel was focused on the commotion Aaron suddenly lunges forward. The resulting motion carries the younger man right into Nathaniel's back with a brutal clothesline.

Chuck Thompson: What in the hell is going on here?

Steve White: Only thing I can think of is that Aaron has finally broken free of his Mentor's control.

The clothesline causes Nathaniel to stumble forward right into the ring ropes. Aaron follows the attack up with a series of brutal attacks on the older man with kicks and punches that were meant to do damage. While this was going on a kimono wearing woman gets into the ring and after a minute pulls Aaron away from his downed mentor.

Chuck Thompson: Isn't that Kyuubi?

Steve White: Who?

Chuck Thompson: Don't you pay attention to the new hire contracts?

Steve White: Well I do but I never saw her on any of them!

Aaron steps back and allows a winded Nathaniel Grant to rise to his feet. It takes a minute during which the albino warriors remain stock still. Once Nathaniel is back on his feet, having used the ring ropes to steady himself, he turns to face his attacker. The lock on his face showing a mask of pained shock. He doesn't quite make it as Kyuubi, the kimono wearing woman, rushes forward and his Nathaniel with a Russian legsweep followed by a kimora lock his right arm.

Chuck Thompson: I have heard that move is call the Oni Drop

Steve White: How do you this crap Chuck? She hasn't even signed with EHWF yet!

Chuck Thompson: I do my homework.

Kyuubi locks in the hold and bends the arm so fast that is an audible snap. Only after the last echo of the bone breaking fades away does she let go of Nathaniel Grant's now broken arm. With an almost childish laugh she kips back up to her feet and raise an arm before pointing at the fallen man at her feet. This causes the albino warriors to slide into the ring where they begin attacking Grant like a pack of rabid dogs.

Chuck Thompson: Oh my God!

Steve White: It looks like the albino warriors have turned rouge.

Chuck Thompson: Are you completely sure of that?

In the ring, Kyuubi walks over to Aaron's side. Meanwhile, the young man had gotten a microphone which he slowly lifts to his lips.

Aaron Frederick Hudson: For months Insidious has said that change is coming. For months we have been reviled by all because of one man's past actions. Tonight that ends as Insidious leave the broken remains of a man I call friend laying in this ring as a testament to our resolve. For all of you in the back who think I have been a pawn in someone else's game, I say look around you. Tonight should prove that I am my own Master.

There is a pause as Aaron laughs in diabolical amusement.

Aaron Fredrick Hudson: Hell, I hope you second-guess you attitudes because unlike some on this roster Insidious has a long term vision. Which brings me something that needs to be brought to light. Remember that contract I won back, in my debut, at Scars and Stripes? The one that earned me a Hardcore Title shot at a time of my choosing. I know you all saw me cash that in for a shot at Rose on the Revenge Pay per View. Which turned out not to happen because Rose was revealed to be pregnant at the time. In fact, she had been pregnant since right around the time she won the Hardcore Title in the first place. Of course, this fact wasn't known to me, or the management, at the time of my challenge so a deal was made. in exchange for my forfeiting the match to avoid committing murder on an unborn child. That deal has been sitting on the back burner for months waiting for the right time to be revealed. Now is that time, and as we all know Alexandria and Savannah have been going at it for weeks. Thing is that after the dust settles the winner will be facing me for the Hardcore Title. Which, for the more dim witted among you, means that at Revenge Nathaniel Grant and Michael Rissi agreed to a deal that that named me the number contender to the Hardcore Title after Sudden Death.

Aaron turns to look at the bloodied broken heap that was the unconscious Nathaniel Grant. With a quick motion Kyuubi waves the warriors off. The warriors slide back out of the ring and surround it.

Aaron Fredrick Hudson: If I would do this to a man that I love like a father, think what I will do to someone I don't even know, let alone hate. Oh, and by the way, meet the newest member of Insidious Kyuubi. Consider the invitations that were presented to you over the last few months as they will continue to stand for a limited time.

With that Aaron drops the microphone as the arena goes dark. When the lights come back on the ring is empty except for the broken body of Nathaniel Grant. Medics rush to the ring as the fans look in shock.

There is a moment of silence as the image of a broken Thor being tended to by medics fades into blackness. Thor takes another long pull of his drink and smiles devilishly as Jake makes a reply.

"Well... Shit... See The K man never told me about that little piece of horror movie inspiration. Are all the people you train that broke in the head when you're done with them bra'?"

Is all the unseen stranger can mutter after the clips end.

"Jake my man you see Aaron and Lu Chen ended up getting married shortly after that little event and in some ways the beat down I received that night was the last step in his training. Which considering I rescued him from having his brains blown out by a mob boss that happened to be a rival to his family, you can say Aaron has a few screws loose. But I am sure you are wondering why I would show a clip that clearly has me getting my ass handed to me bad enough to be sidelined for ten long eight of those months being in a coma. There is a message here that you might need me to explain. A message that should be evident from both these clips I have just shared. Jake do you understand the message?"

A chuckle would be heard rather loudly from off screen as the figure of a islander heritaged man came into view at last, he stood roughly as tall as Thor, with shoulder length well kept curly black hair and a unique family tattoo sleeving his upper left arm. The figure assumed to be ‘Jake’ waved a peace sign at the camera as he walked up beside Thor before shaking his head somewhat nervously and speaking.

"Well bra, it's probably one of them things that makes us like brothers... We're suckers for pain, if you gonna come against us, for whatever hair brained meat headed reason you can come up wit' you best make damn sure we ain't EVER gettin up again. Cause if we do, They won't! If that makes any sense man."

"That is pretty much the main point of these two clips. Though it goes deeper than that. I don't care who you are family, friend, lover, or that guy from 22B when it comes time that balance the scales I will do whatever it takes to make any attempt to leave me broken the last mistake they make against me. You all just saw what my protege and daughter did to me in what could only be called a long planned out attack. You have to ask yourself; if I will beat those closest to me until they are in a comatose state, what will I do to someone who I don't give a rats ass about? Vincent Pryde you claim to be a monster and you may very well be one but you have never faced someone like me before in the ring. I will tell you one thing though Blood Prince our meeting is at the whim of the management and come time of the ending bell. I will be content to leave things in the ring, unless you want to see just how deep the darkness inside of me goes."

"See bra, that's where we differ .... I would never be able to hurt my Shenzi, for any prize, for any price, she my world, for real...But serious I get you. This is business, and for a true champion, business comes first, always. Anyone who gets in that squared circle already knows that, or claims to. Me, I'll be real, and a bit candid maybe. But this business ain't business for me, it's really just an unhealthy fitness hobby for and to some degree my community service. For real though. Hey bra' is there a guy to get my drink from off camera or something? I'm feelin kinda lazy right now."

Thor slides over one of the bottles.

""Here, have some of that Bacardi Silver I have on hand while I reflect on the thing I know I am missing about my upcoming match."

With those words Thor reaches over and pulls a folder out of a drawer before opening it. After a moment of looking at a sheet of paper he laughs.

"Hey does this big thing get the world cup?"

Jake would  randomly ask Thor after calmly and quietly pouring himself a small snifter of the Bacardi, as he finishes his question he can be seen fiddling with something apparently on the back of the large screen. Thor just laughs tossing him the remote.

"You know I get all the channels. You just need to switch it back to the satellite input. But I almost forgot the third member of my upcoming match. Kaden Vossk, I feel for you in that you are being tossed into a match with a pair of seasoned ring veterans who will more than likely use you as a tool to send a message to the rest of the roster. All you can do lad is show up and do your dead level best. That and hope things don't get too violent out there on Overload. Either way, once the dust settles kid I will have a chance to see how you perform under pressure and depending on what I see there might be an interesting offer coming your way. You may call yourself the Omnipotent one, but even gods fear "The Raging Storm."

"Damn bra, three in one match, and it's only your second match up? Oh, wait, yeah... Nova whatever was the first one, they ain't in this one... I forgot...Sorry. A Vet, versus a Vet, versus a rookie though? Seems kinda...well... Crappy...For serious though bra', one of your opponents is still just a rookie?"

Came a rambling retort from Jake as Thor finished his match prepping dialogue to his opponent. As Jake finished speaking he took several hasted sips from his drink and made a face one might make when eating fresh lemon. Thor slides the folder over that contained all the information he knew about both Kaden Vossk and Vincent Pryde, noticing Thor's motion with the folder, and having miraculously forgotten his curiosity with the large screen, Jake quickly picked up the folder, curiously flipping through its contents as if looking for specific details before stifling a rather loud seeming laugh.

"That poor kid"

Being all that Jake muttered in response to what he had found, another moment later, and he carefully returned the folder to Thor’s desk before repeating his earlier sip of his drink and ‘sour fruit’ expression. Thor is seen grinning as the scene fades out to nothingness only to be replaced with an image of a swirling hurricane. This swirling mass is soon replaced by an Overload hype video.

There is a shift at another video package is introduced "Originally aired on December 9th, 2018 on IPW Chaos"

We come into focus to see a Suit wearing Sah'ta Thor standing in the ring with a duffle bag at his feet. Along with him stood a unknown man with him holding a thick manila folder. Ther pair stand silent for a mover before a sombre looking Sah'ta Thor lifts the microphone to his lips.

Sah'ta Thor: What I am about to say is probably one fo the hardest things I have ever had to do. You see tonight I have to officially end my in ring career. To many of you this is a day you wish would finally. Yet, I don't make this announcement lightly.

There is a pause as Sah'ta Thor looks over to the mystery man who just gives a slight nod.

Sah'ta Thor: For those of you who have followed my career you know that I put my body through hell in dozens of the brutalist matches know to the industry has known; What I kept hidden for the most part was the toll that took on my body. Some of the damage I couldn't hide. For example the six month coma I was under several years ago. When I came back to the ring after that I was told I would be lucky not to kill myself in the ring.

Another pause as the long time hardcore wrestler takes a calming breath.

Sah'ta Thor: I came back anyway and took part in several very brutal matches including the last handful I had before EHWF fell. What I never told anyone was that my doctors warned me that I could permanently damage my brain and spinal column if I didn't stop wrestling. Just before "An Icon Crowned" i started getting spells of blurred vision and muscle weakness. Some of you know of the serious of attacks I suffered between "An Icon Crowned" and "Halloween Chaos". In the aftermath of those attacks I started to develop random paralysis."

As Thor speaks he drops to a knees and lowers his head. After a moment he brings speaking in a tone that was both filled with emotion and shows that he was concentrating on his words.

Sah'ta Thor: I thought I could push through all of that but the Dark Karnival attack proved to be the final straw. A series of MRIs and cat scans showed that my previously broken neck had been refractured. Furthermore, signs of scarring were revealed on my brain. On top of that my spine was revealed to contain dozens of various fractures.

With a look of profound sadness and regret Thor slowly stands with the duffle bag in his hands.

Sah'ta Thor: My doctors refuse to medically clear me to compete inside a wrestling ever again. The Iconic Pro Wrestling Medical staff has pulled me from active competition as a result. I thank all of you who were part of the ride that was my in ring career.

With those words he opens the duffle bag and pulls out a pair of black wrestling boots which he sets down in the center of the ring before sliding out of the ring to walk up the ramp with the mystery man in tow.

Crumb: WHAT CAN THE WRESTLING WORLD BE THINKING AS SAH'TA THOR HAS OFFICIALLY RETIRED HERE TONIGHT?!?!

Rose: Probably, "Good ridd---"

Nelson: (interrupting) What an announcement by Thor here tonight! What an amazing career by an amazing Icon. Thank you for the memories, sir!

Rose: Really, Patrick? Really?

With those words the video comes to an end and we see a darkened wrestling ring with a pair of black wrestling boots standing there under a spotlight. The spotlight widens to reveal a red cloaked man with his head bowed standing behind the boots. With a slow set of movements the figure moves a chair into the light and sits down to put the boots on. Once the boots were laced together the man lifts his head causing the hood of the cloak to fall back.

"See you all on Chaos."

The spotlight suddenly goes out leaving darkness before the feed cuts off to be replaced for a Chaos preview video.

Carnage Wrestling - Chaos 88

As we cut back to the ring, ] the arena suddenly goes dark as the tron comes to life. Upon it the words "We Are Here" are emblazoned in red and black stylized dripping text. The words stay on the screen for a few seconds before the sound of a rhythmic heartbeat begins to pulse through the arena.

Johnny Vegas: Oh, what the fuck now?

Terra Skye: Obviously, whoever it is... Is here.


The sound continues as the tron begins to run through a series of wrestling match clips. Each one showing the busted open head of an as yet unknown wrestler. After a minute of these clips both the tron and heartbeat sounds come to a sudden stop. The resulting darkness lasts for a few seconds before the arena's lights come back on. In the center of the ring stands several cloaked figures surrounding a man some would recognize from other places as Sah'ta Thor. With a smile on his lips he raises a microphone to his lips.

Sah'ta Thor Ah, Chaos. Such a lovely thing. Chaos is what brings me here to Carnage Wrestling. There are several of you on this roster who know who I am and what I am capable of. Lord Raab and the Monstimals have stood across the ring from me in a few places over the years. Chaos has a way of making things interesting.

Thor lets out an amused chuckle as he looks around the arena. After a few seconds he begins to speak once more.

Sah'ta Thor For those of you who don't know me I am Sah'ta Thor. I could stand here and list my many accolades but I won't. The only accolades Carnage Wrestling should be worried about is that I have survived over 20 cage matches of various types. That I have been in Hell and survived what that cage did to me. I won my first World Title by being thrown off the top of a twenty foot cage right into the announcer's table. As you all know I posted a video to Carnage Wrestling website that should give those of you who aren't in the know a taste of who I am as a wrestler.

There is another pause as Thor looks out over the arena seats. As he does a smirk crosses his face before he continues on.

Sah'ta Thor Yet, even that video package doesn't tell the full story of what I am. Like Chaos I have many facets but over the years I have been perceived in certain ways. Sure some of the ways are accurate but many have been reflections of my opponents own insecurities. Many of the perceptions about me have been nothing short of down right insults. However, let me make one thing clear: I have defeated many who have underestimated my abilities in the ring.

With that Thor begins to pace the center of the ring as he continues to grin. Each step showing a predatory nature that begged to be released.

Sah'ta Thor Now you are all wondering what any of that has to do with the here and now. That is simple, I have come to Carnage Wrestling to compete. I have come to Carnage Wrestling to destroy any and all who stand in my way. I have come to Carnage Wrestling to guide the Chaos that exists here to greater heights. In a word, I have come to unleash the potential that remains hidden in this company. In a word, Chaos will reign supreme and it will be consecrated in blood and violence.

Thor stops pacing and stares intently towards the camera for a moment before gesturing towards the cloaked figures in the ring with him.

Sah'ta Thor Before you think I have forgotten, these cloaked figures in the ring with me share my vision. I am The Dark Messiah. I am The Raging Storm. I am The Demon King. I am The Destroyer Unleashed. I am The Guiding Light. I am The Immortal. I am the Punisher. I am Sin Incarnate. In time you will learn that each of these monikers is fitting but until then know that I didn't come to Carnage Wrestling alone. Over the coming weeks you will learn just how Insidious my goals are. Insidious are the ways of Chaos. In time you learn just how in control of Chaos I really am.

Johnny Vegas: ...Well then...

Sah'ta Thor Yet, for all of that I am sure you are left wondering what is first for me. Simple, Carnage Wrestling management is going to give me a match at Chaos 89. I am going to use that match to send a message to the locker room. If I am exceedingly lucky my match will be for the Carnage Wrestling Network Openweight Championship. If it isn't, this is my putting Champion on notice that I am coming for that belt. But, before anyone becomes deluded, I am after all the gold. I have just chosen to begin my quest with the Openweight Championship.

Thor falls silent with a grin on his face as he drops the microphone to the mat. A few seconds after the microphone hits the arena goes dark. The sounds of a beating heart and laughter echo through the speakers for about ten seconds before coming to a stop. In the resulting silence the arena lights come back on to reveal an empty ring.

Terra Skye: Well it looks like we've got a new presence here in Carnage Wrestling, and it's not a good one.

Johnny Vegas: Since when have we had a good and righteous presence around here? Other than Paragon of course.

Terra Skye: Oh my God...

Post Chaos 88

Chaos 88 had gone off the air and Sah'ta accompanied by the same figures from his introduction segment were walking through the back of the arena talking quietly among themselves. As the small group walks around stacks of various equipment boxes and see the new Carnage Network Openweight Champion The Empty and The Reason walking from out of a door. With a devious smile on his lips Thor holds his hand up for his entourage to stop as he continues forward. When He gets just a few feet from the behemoth of an entity and his manager, Thor stops then chuckles loudly to be heard.

Sah'ta Thor: Tough break in that debut match. Though seems to paid off well enough, Champ.

Thor's face splits into a grin as he looks to the The Reason with a darkly amused smirk.

Sah'ta Thor: Though if you heard you have something I want.

With that Thor falls silent to let the two men before him respond to his words. All around them the rest of those in the nearby backstage area quiet and watch on knowing that this could turn violent in a hurry.

The Reason stands between this... upstart... and The Empty. He wasn't as direct or snarky as Carnage's newest acquisition, but he stood up nonetheless.

"My child," he says, still in possession of the openweight title that The Empty captured from Kieran Overton little more than an hour ago, "what YOU want and what I want can be very similar things. This championship, as they call it, is merely a pittance to me. It is payment for a wrong that will be righted in due course. Until that time that I deem fit, this title remains with me."

The Empty leans over, as if on cue, its hollow eyes burning through Sah'ta Thor, watching the entourage as much as it watched the man confronting The Reason.

"However," The Reason continues, "as I said, we desire similar things. You are of a darkness that has a taint, a brightness, an attempt at attractiveness to gather others, such as your diminutive little posse. I preach of a greater darkness, Sah'ta Thor, unforgiving and unrelenting, the only light being that which is swallowed and never to escape. It takes the soul and never allows it to see mercy. Hence, The Empty is here: a hollow husk of a human.

"Sah'ta," he says, taking one more step forward, showing no sign of threat or aggression, "perhaps we should discuss what it is to truly be The Dark Messiah, and maybe you shall gain favour and understanding to the darkness I will bury Carnage in."

The Empty's eyes burn with a black fury, but the body remains still and in check, the bite from Mac earlier in the night gently leaking blood unchecked.

Thor smirks as he listens to what the Reason has to say and nods along as he looks at The Empty with intent in his eyes. 

Sah'ta Thor: Similar in origin and purpose we may be but you will find that my tactics are vastly different. that so called taint you sense is that of experience and understanding. As of yet, our desires have yet to even begin to be revealed. While you may consider the Carnage Network Openweight Title a mere pittance, I see it as a tool, a means to position myself to achieve my goals.

With a look back at the cloaked figures of his escort Thor starts to chuckle. 

Sah'ta Thor: As for my associates, you will learn that Insidious is much bigger than you think it is. I know full well you speak of the All Consuming Void. Yet, I have to ask do you think you are the only one who knows its ultimate goal. Do you see that the darkness has many tendrils that lead to the same inevitable end?

Thor turns back and looks The Reason in the eyes staring with his soul piercing eyes.

Sah'ta Thor: Have you ever stared into the Void and seen it smile as it stares back? Remember this that every end is a new beginning. The Void is Nothing with out the Insidious nature of Chaos and existence. Though I digress, Reverend, as this discussion on the practical methodology of understanding the darkness can be had in a setting better suited such a conversation.

As Thor speaks he watches the blood leaking from The Empty's bite wound. When he falls silent he licks his lips in anticipation.

Sah'ta Thor: Know that while you may looks down up me as being lesser in your cosmic view, I handle things in person. You may see me as tainted but atleast I am not using a mindless puppet to fight my battles. With that all being said, your monster has something I will obtain. What I do to him to get it isn't personal but rather business.

"This mindless puppet," The Reason retorts, watching Sah'ta closely, "is my means to The End. IT will follow every order, every word, every whim, until the goal is met. You may smile at your reflection in the darkness, Thor, but you are more than eminently aware that it is not the darkness that smiles, but The Reason it has given."

The Reason looks past Sah'ta and at the group he calls Insidious. "Just as they are means to your perceived end," he continues, his eyes piercing into Sah'ta's with equal intensity, "The Empty is beyond them and more. Your perceptions in and of themselves blind you to a truth that you may never witness until the end of your possession."

The lights begin to flicker. "Until that time," he growls, eyes aglow in the dimness, "I bid you fair wishes and brutality abounding, and a message: join me and rule mightily; cross me and die frightfully..."

One last flash of light and the darkness soon encroaches. As light is restored, The Empty and The Reason are gone.

[Deleted]

Act 2: The Openweight Title Hunt

Part 1 - Chaos 89

Theatre of the Past

The sound of skin hitting the mat echoes through a small theatre. As Sah'ta Thor enters the theatre the image on the screen is revealed to be one of his many matches from years past. He stands there for a moment and just watches the match flow over the screen before he turns to see who was watching. His eyes soon settle on the form of his adopted daughter Isabella. Quietly he makes his way down to sit next to her as Isabella's attention remains focused on the screen.

"See anything in these matches you haven't already seen Belle?"

In reaction, Isabelle pauses the match on the screen with Thor in mid Parasite Eve. She takes a quick breath as she turns to look at her adopted father with an exasperated frown on her face.

"Nope, but with you getting back into the ring I wanted to go through some of you greatest matches."

"You know, the number of times you watched these matches you could help put together a greatest match anthology. I was working on something like that a few years ago but never finished compiling everything needed for it. Do you want to help me finish it up?"

Without a word Isabelle turns and gives him a huge hug. After a minute of contemplative silence she smiles up at him before speaking.

"I would love to help you with that Daddy. I could use the project for some school credit which would help me graduate faster."

"This is true. I will show you what was completed so far but with the fact that you know your way around the match archives what is missing won't be too hard to gather. Plus, you have access to the Phoenix Nest studio to produce things."

Nathaniel smiles as he gives his adopted daughter a firm hug.

"I will work on this over the next few weeks since I have nothing better to do since the pandemic has closed the school."

"Have you been keeping up on your training?"

Isabella giggles in amusement while she gives his chest a playful smack.

"You know I have been Daddy. I can't wait to get old enough to join a company.

"You know the deal Belle. You need to graduate high school first. Plus, what do you plan to do with your fashion design experience. Your mother would love to have you help out there. I am honestly not sure she wants you to get into the wrestling world."

Isabella shakes her head before laying her head on his shoulder.

"Too late for that Daddy. I have been training for the last 9 years with the intention to go professional for a while. Mom. knows that I will help her out. Besides, I still have at least a year before we have to figure out how to make this work."

Thor starts to laugh at that as he nods in agreement.

'That is true, we will come to that conversation when we need to. Until then, it is best to just keep up your training and work on your studies."

The words end while a comfortable silence settles around the pair. After a few moments Isabella looks up at his face while taking a breath.

"Daddy, when I get old enough could I join you in Insidious."

"We will see what happens before then but I won't say either yes or no. After all, I can't promise what will be happening next year. Though, I am sure your siblings, aunts and uncles won't oppose your joining. Though like I said we will see what will happen closer to your being able to sign a contract.

With that Nathaniel Grant reaches over and grabs the remote to restart the match replays as the image fades to darkness.

A meeting of the minds

"You sure that was a good idea?"

The question is asked in a curiously cautious tone as a finely appointed lounge fades onto the screen. A group of eight people sit around the various seats in various relaxed poses. Easily recognizable are the pair of Aaron Frederick Hudson and Kyuubi. The others 

"Aaron, you should know me well enough to know that I am fully aware of what I am doing. Though if you are asking if I made the right call in confronting The Empty the other night, I am sure that will lead to some interesting things down the road. As for declaring my intentions to take the Carnage Network Openweight Title as my first move, well you know how this business runs. Once we are all revealed on screen we will all have our targets. You know this as well as any of us that it takes time for management to fully embrace new talents."

There are several nods while Thor stops speaking to the group that would soon storm Carnage Wrestling.

"Did your call to target the Openweight Title have anything to do with your history over the years with the Monstimals?"

"You know as well as I do Lu Chen that history can be a powerful motivator. While it was a minor part of why I targeted the belt it is the very rules of the belt that attracted me. We all can easily hold it in time and make our presence even more solid."

With those words Thor leans back in his seat and smiles while he looks around the room. He had asked each person present to be here for this meeting as in the following weeks each one would take a role within a Carnage Wrestling ring.

"I for one can't wait to break in some toys in a new place… all my old ones… well they're old, and sooo boring."

Came a bubbly if not slightly sharp feminine voice from one of the many assembled, pausing for a moment to adjust one of her twin high set pigtails she sighed before continuing her speech with a minivan smile to Thor. 

"Besides, things look like they could use a little excitement here… Dontcha think, siiiir?" 

The cherubic faced blonde asked of Those as she enthusiastically tilted her head to one side akin to a confused dog, causing her to adjust her pigtails once more with visible frustration. Thor chuckles at the words spoken as he grins in amusement.

"Of course Mel, though one would think you should be nicer to your toys. Not that I am of that mind set. From what I have seen of Carnage Wrestling the place has only a little bit of excitement to its credit. Though I have noticed that there are more than a few Twitter warriors in the company. Any ideas on how you want to come on screen officially?"

"Yes sir, I was thinkin' I could crash someone's party… any girls in this place, or do I get to pop that Cherry?" 

The blonde retorted obvious anxiousness building in her as she shifted constantly in her seat, as though she was restraining some overwhelming outburst. Her eyes locked on Thor all the while.

"There are at least a few women on the roster already. Interestingly enough this place is just like GEW in that there are no gender restrictions on who faces who. In fact, if you look at the Chaos 89 card there are two women in action. One in a singles match and the other in a tag team match. Plus, it looks like sometime in the next few shows we will see a match between the World Champion Jack Michaels and the "Distorted Angel" Amber Ryan. I honestly don't know much about either other than Jack is only a couple years younger than I am."

"Yeah I saw that segment about him feeling too old to continue being the UltraViolent Champion. Wonder what is going to happen with that."

Thor nods in agreement as he looks over the group with a devilish smirk.

"That is right, Aaron. I saw that segment with great amusement. After all, everyone one of us in this room has history with the extreme, hardcore, violent match types. Any one of us could hold the UltraViolent Championship and raise it to a new height. Though that depends on what happens with the belt and if it is actually going to be vacated or what."

"Uh, Thor… isn't it one of those claim anytime belts?" 

Asked a stern and gravelly voice with a great deal of novice confusion. The voices source was likely the largest in the room despite being comparably of modest height. A long haired older man similar to Thor himself with more qualities found in a typical nineties action star than his employer.

"That would be the Carnage Network Openweight Championship. Don't worry Kane, you will have plenty of time to hold the belt. That is unless you would rather just be one of the group enforcers." 

Kane just nodded while running his neck and looking shamefully into his robed lap, making his embarrassment from his lack of knowledge on his current line of work obvious.

"We set you up as an enforcer, your matches will be less often. Mostly tag team and group matches. I know you have the talent for looking menacing."

Mel smiled with a bit too much enthusiasm as she patted the larger man, Kane's shoulder and nodded before giving the assembled group a playful giggle.

"Ooooh…. I can't wait!" 

She exclaimed in a squeaking excited tone. Thor smiles at that and then shakes his head as he stands up and walks over to a cabinet. Pulling out a box he returns to his seat. With a chuckle he sits back down and opens the box before taking out a glass pipe and a bag. He then sets the box on the table. 

"We have plenty of time to solidify things. For now you know how we relax around here."

At that a toned, tanned and tattooed Samoan native American quickly did and with steps made his way to a seat near Thor. 

"Yeee-eeah, damn straight Hammerhead… I've got the gg right here just as promised man. An again man, thank you so much for clearing up that parole, err or probation bs, whatever it was…seriously, Shenzii was gonna kill me."

Thor chuckles as he loads his pipe and nods while the image fades to black.

First Victim

Thor walks through the entryway to the Phoenix Nest moving past the multiple cases full of belts and trophies that rested within. Each case held titles and accomplishments from the many members of the extended Empire of Blood family. Nowadays, a smaller group known as Insidious carried the torch but in time they would add to the legacy that was represented here. 

"Chaos 89 will be the first time Carnage Wrestling will see me in action. Yet, I would be remiss if I failed to say that I have been in a professional wrestling ring in over a year. As you saw in my introduction video package I was forced to medically retire in December of 2018. However, that doesn't mean I haven't been keeping up on my training. The issues presented that lead to my medical retirement proved to be less severe than originally thought and I have taken the steps needed to be able to step back into a ring."

Thor turns and looks away from a case filled with championships. A closer look reveals that each one of the belts were his own. On a shelf in the case are four bulky gem encrusted rings.

"Hearing this I can assume that people expect me to have ring rust. I can almost hear it now, with the information revealed in my introduction, the protests against me being too old to keep doing this. News flash, I know what I am capable of. As I said on Chaos 88, I am here and I mean business. Which brings me to my upcoming debut match. Unfortunately that is bad news for my opponent Mike Schultz."

With a menacing grin Thor leans against the display case as he licks his lips in anticipation.

"I am sure by now you are wondering why my debut is bad news for Mikey. The answer to that is rather simple, I will destroy him inside that ring. As I destroy him in our match, I will be sending a message to the rest of the Carnage Wrestling roster. I showed you the brutal way I deal with people who have wronged me. Yet, I am aware that there is now context to how that translates to my in-ring work. In time, you will learn that any hype I give myself is well earned. However, since I know you will end up needing proof of my legacy, I have an anthology of my best career matches being produced. Soon enough I will be adding Carnage wrestling matches to my career highlights."

There is a pause as Thor looks off screen as a smirk crosses his lips. 

"Now I would like to stand here and comment on the huge body of work that Schultz has here in Carnage Wrestling but the only thing I could find of his was his tag team match from Chaos 88. A match that his only claim to fame was preventing his partner's pin from being broken up. Sure there were a few decent moves but seriously what makes The Working Class Hero tick? The only answer to that is the limited information that is contained in his Carnage Wrestling profile page."

With a shrug Thor pushes himself off of the display case and just shakes his as he begins to walk again. 

"In short, my debut will be against a man who is a mystery. Though, the same could be said about me as I have yet to step foot into the ring. However, I have given everyone plenty of material to work with since I signed my contract here. In fact, I have made it very clear that I intend to capture the Carnage Network Openweight Championship at the earliest opportunity. I have stated my intentions, now all we have to see is if anyone understands them. Which means we will have to wait and see what Chaos 89 brings us all. Until then, remember that Insidious has arrived in Carnage Wrestling and we mean business."

At that Thor walks through a door heading deeper into the Phoenix Nest as the video cuts into a Charmin commercial.

Chaos 89 Post Match

While Thor's victory is announced he stands up and signals for a microphone. Once it is in his hand he lifts it to his lips with a devious smirk. A disappointed Mike roles out the ring and heads to the back.

Sah'ta Thor: Is this the best Carnage has to offer? I honestly don't think it is after some of the matches I have seen on past episodes of Chaos. Regardless, tonight was just the beginning for myself and Insidious. As I said last show, we are here and we mean to make an impact.

There is a smile on his lips as he chuckles in amusement.

Sah'ta Thor: Last show i came out here with several cloaked figures. Tonight, I will name the first two members of Insidious. The first is my son-in-law Arron Frederick Hudson and the second is his wife Kyuubi. Those of you who have actually watched my introduction package saw the brutal beat down these two gave me back in January of 2015. As well as the payback they received from my own hands. Yet, they are the embodiment of what Insidious is all about. In time you all will see just what that actually means.

Thor chuckles as he looks up the ramp for a moment as if in thought.

Sah'ta Thor: However, before all of that there is another matter that I feel needs my attention. In just a few minutes the Carnage Network Openweight Championship will be up for grabs. Now, I personally don't care who wins this matchup since I will take on either of the two men involved in the match. I have already told The Empty face to face this fact. As for Overton, I know what he is capable of in the ring and I am not afraid to step between the ropes with him. With that being said I plan on watching this match up close. I will be either ringside or at the top of the entrance ramp for the entirety of the match.

With that Thor slides out of the ring and goes to grab a folding chair so he can get settled for the upcoming match.

Part 2 - Chaos 90

How to Spend Quarantine Family Time

An overhead arena light shows a wrestling ring with four figures inside of it. Three of the figures reveal themselves to be Carnage Wrestling talents Sah'ta Thor, Aaron Frederick Hudson, and Kyuubi. Three of the new stable Insidious. As the three move about the ring watching eachother it is clear that they are engaged in a training match. The fourth figure in the ring is none other than Isabella Thorn in a referee's shirt.

"Remember this isn't a hardcore, extreme rules, brutalization, leave the oppenents in a hospital match up. This is a sparring session to pass the time and make sure the Old Man is ready for his next Carnage Match."

Thor looks over at Isabella and shakes his head before he starts to laugh. He could protest the fact that he was an old man in a business that was dominated by youths. But he wouldn't be fooling anyone with such a protest. After all, he knew he was at the point that if anyone in the locker room learned a thing or two from he would be happy.

"That's The Old Man to you Isabella."

This is said with a mock glare before Thor turns to look at his two sparring partners for the day. Each had an amused look on their faces as Isabella nodded off to the side. A few seconds later the sound of a bell ringing signals the start of the sparring session. Each of the three ring veterans moving slowly around the ring looking for an opening against the others.

"Don't forget I sent you those move lists to look over for this session. See what you can do with them."

"Why are we even doing this Nate? Seriously, I have seen you prepare less for a title match with a stipulation than this simple triple threat you have coming up on Carnage."

Aaron comments as he rushes forward with a running lariat attempt. Kyuubi who had been silent until now moves up behind Aaron and begins to pummel his back with a series of punches. Thor falls back to the mat but uses Kyuubi's distraction to roll out of the way.

"You know what Aaron. As much as I hate to admit this is my last professional run. You saw how jumpy the medical staff in Iconic got when I was having those Migraines. Sure being beat down in and out of the ring didn't help matters but we all know that I am taking my life in my hands every time I step into a wrestling ring."

Sah'ta Thor uses the brawl that had developed between Aaron and Kyuubi to get to his feet. Once on his feet he rushes forward with a running high knee. As he lifts his knee it connects with Aaron's downwardly thrust face. As Aaron rolls off to the side Thor and Kyuubi stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds before Kyuubi steps back with a devious grin on her lips. Before Thor can react she connects with a spinning heel kick to the side of his face. Thor drops to a knee and catches his breath.

"What is wrong Pops? Getting winded already?"

Isabella moves forward to check on all three of them.

"Sis from the sounds of it you made the Old Man see some constellations."

Thor gives a growl of mock anger as he shakes his head to clear it as everyone moves back once more on their feet.

"I may be an old man but I can still fight."

Aaron uses the exchange to climb up to the top ropes. After a few seconds he launches into the air for a 450 splash that catches both Thor and Kyuubi. The resulting pile up as Aaron goes for the pin attempt on Thor. Kyuubi breaks up the pin which Thor uses to roll out of the ring to stand back up. Aaron and Kyuubi lock up as they seek to out maneuver the other. Thor climbs to the top rope and launches off into a dragonrana with his body draping over both his opponents. Isabella moves forward and surveys the positioning as she starts to count.

One!

Two!

Three!

"Alrighty you three Dad won that round. Good bit of sparring and from what I know about you all you kept it clean. I have a surprise for you all in the studio."

With that Aaron and Kyuubi roll out of the ring and head to the back to share a romantic post spar moment while Thor looks over at his adopted daughter.

"What surprise Isabella?"

"I finished that project we talked about a few weeks ago. The archive of your greatest matches. I wanted to show it off in its raw form before it gets sorted through for dvd packages."

Thor reaches over and gives Isabella a hug as he looks out over the ring ropes. He wasn't sure how many more of his matches would end up in Isabella's greatest match archive but he hoped it would be a few yet.

"I can't wait to see it Belle. I will be there shortly. Let me get cleaned up rehydrated."

"Don't take too long Dad."

Thor slips out of the ring and heads to the Phoenix Nest locker rooms as the scene fades to nothing.

Clowns and Candy Squares

A small round table sits on a redwood porch. Atop the table is a bowl filled with colored wax paper covered squares. The sound of a rocking chair is heard as the frame expands to see Sah'ta Thor sitting in a black oak rocking chair. He reaches over to the bowl and grabs a square. Slowly unwrapping it he slips the contents into his mouth as he flips the wrapping away. The camera follows it down and the word "Starburst" is clearly seen.

"Chaos 90 is coming up next week. As far as I can tell, the last show before Isolation 2020. Which given the current state of the world is something of a laugh. Yet, that is a topic for another time. You see, Chaos 90 marks my second match in Carnage Wrestling and according to the card I am in a triple threat. A match that has me going against two young guns who have not even begun to see what this business is really like behind the scenes. A young woman who calls herself Starburst and a young kind who didn't get the memo that clowns were last millennia."

Thor reaches over and grins as he opens another Starburst and begins to eat it with a raised eyebrow of amusement.

"Matt Buckle, or at least that is what the match card says. From the few stats I could find on that Carnage Wrestling roster page, It says you are 19. Which I guess explains why the evil clown thing you are going for was lost in clarification translation. Are you a Jokeresquse fun-loving psychotic type of clown? Maybe you are a Killer Klowns from Space murder alien masked villian. Hmmm, I got it you have this whole I-am-a-space-monster-who-lives-in-a-sewer-and-eats-little-kids-every-27-years type of clown. Yeah I got the whole murder clown concept you were going for. Yet, in what I can only assume is the result of youthful ignorance all you have given me to work with here. Oh, there it is I just saw that you use balloons and scary face paint in your entrance. I guess I need to see how it is put together but I am curious how you made it out of training with such a unidentifiable mess of a persona."

Another pause occurs as Thor eats another Starburst.

"Though to be fair you could surprise me Matt. Really you could surprise me in the ring. Though with the moniker of The Butcher, I am not really expecting much. Though kid, I will make you an offer. How about you look me up when this whole public travel restrictions thing ends and I will give you some pointers on presentation and self-promotion. See you on Chaos Matty boy and remember that I have taken shits that are both funnier and more disturbing that you currently present yourself to be."

The rocking of the chair suddenly stops as Thor leans forward. He grins into the camera as he savors the flavor of another fruit flavored candy square.

"Now on to someone who actually had something to say. Miss del Gato, the Starburst. I have to say that introduction message you posted to the Carnage Wrestling page made me smile. Yet, before you get all warm and fuzzy inside I should explain. My Smile was one of amusement. You remind me of an over-caffeinated grande-chai-latte-skim-milk type of person who has no idea how the world really works. It could be just that over abundance of youthful energy and a complete lack of disappointment. Though your ego is sure alive and well. To think that everyone will come calling to get into your paints speaks volumes. A word of advice Starburst, don't tell the fans you aren't just eye candy as you are portraying that is exactly what you expect to be. Now, that could be a youthful mistake so I will give you the benefit of the doubt this time."

Thor leans back and the chair starts to rock again as he lets his words sink in.

"However, you want to be known as a star who can hang with the greats in the ring. Well Starburst, how far are you willing to go to do that? What lines are you willing to cross to get victory. Do you actually know the extremes to people will go to come out on top? If you haven't seen my introduction video from before Chaos 88 you should. That will give you some clues as to the sort of man you are stepping into the ring with. Underestimate me if you want Miss del Gato but in the end you will come to understand the darkside of the Supernova you want to be."

The rocking stops again as Thor stands up with a handful of Starburst candies in his hand.

"Two unknowns will step into that Carnage ring with me on Chaos 90. By the end of our match many things will become clear. Namely, what flavor of competitors the likes of Matt Buck and The Starburst turn out to be. Will either be exciting and full of life, like a sizzling strawberry mango? Or will they fall flat and be as dull and lackluster as a stale grape soda? Only time will tell folks, only time will tell."

With those words Thor walks off leaving the camera focused on the bowl of Starbursts. As the scene fades away the words "What flavor are you?" impose themselves on above the bowl before it cuts to a Skittles commercial.

Journal In Case: Entry 1

SEG and KBG,

Time is the enemy of us all. This is a face that I am well aware of as I have spent most of the last few years outside of a wrestling ring rather than inside of one. I know that many people would look at me and condemn me as being foolishly crazy. Thing is that most will likely be correct. Yet, this is something that I have to do. If you are reading this something has happened to me and I am not around to guide you directly. I hope you haven't thought too harshly of me over the time I have been gone. I know you have seen all the match tapes and seen all the trophies and title belts. Though honestly, I know that those things don't explain what pushed me to keep going in the wrestling ring.

Some will have told you that my choice to get back into the ring for Carnage Wrestling was driven by my pride. They would be right but also so very wrong. You see children, you know I was a fighter. A warrior who needed a fight to truly feel alive. At the time I made the decision to go back to wrestling even though it was against medical advice you were only 9. I don't know how old you two are now but maybe you are old enough to understand why I did it. Nobody really knows why I made the choice to return the ring as a grizzled veteran with a list of medical issues from my career.

You have likely already found the medical papers that I had kept hidden. Understand that I didn't tell anyone about my condition. I didn't want their pity. I sit here fully aware of the risks that my choice brings. However, I don't want either of you to think what came of this was in any way your fault. If anything, you are a major reason I fought as long as I did to show you the meaning of what it means to be a warrior.

It is in your blood Soreno and Kayla. I know mom doesn't really speak of her wrestling days but know that you come by the urge to fight honestly. If you ever have any doubt about that remember that the blood of Vikings and Highlanders flows through your veins. Your older siblings and extended family can attest to that fact as well. I know for a fact you have seen your share of warrior movies so know that the best kind of fighter dies in combat.

I know that my return to the wrestling world will be considered a selfish use of the time I have left. Yet, for all of the condemnation that I know will be coming for me after what I know is inevitable, this is the way I want my legacy to end. Remember this as a lesson on how to face the end of things. If you have a choice to end things on your terms you had better embrace that with everything you have. As you have already learned by now, life doesn't always go the way you want it to. Life doesn't always give you the chance to pick the outcome to the problems it throws in your ways.

I write these words to you, knowing that they could very well be the last you have from me. I am proud of you both. I know you will be protected growing up and that you will want for nothing. In just a few moments, Chaos 90 begins and I will go out there and do what I do best. I will fight until I can't fight anymore. Know that if the worst happens out there that I want you both to find a path that makes you happy in life.

I love you both very much,

Your Father Nathaniel Grant.

With those written words, Sah'ta Thor closes the freshly purchased journal and returns it to his duffel bag. Once he is sure it was carefully hidden he closes his locker and turns away with a devious smile on his lips. It was time for Chaos 90 and Insidious had work to do. Only time would tell if his number was up but the way he was feeling he didn't expect the end to occur that night.

Part 3 - Isolation 

After the show

Chaos had unfolded amazingly and had added another win to his Carnage Wrestling Record. Yet, following his match the victorious Nathaniel Grant had an issue that he didn't want people to know about. As he finished showering and preparing to leave the world had started to spin on him. Luckily, the only person to see this was his son-in-law.

"You okay Pops?"

In response Nathaniel gives a slight head shake as he leans against the wall. After what seemed like an eternity but was only a moment, he stands back up straight and moves to get dressed.

"Just had a dizzy spell but you can't tell anyone about it Aaron. I will get it checked out but I don't want the others in the family to know about this."

Aaron looks a bit confused at this but just nods.

"I will keep quiet for now but if this happens again I will have to let them know."

Nathaniel nods as he puts on his shirt.

"Fair enough. Though this can't get to Carnage medical staff in even the tiniest of whispers. You understand what they will do to me if they hear about this."

"I know man. I will keep this hushed until there is now other option. Just be careful is all I ask. I will keep this between us for now but like I said if it happens again i will tell Sal and have her make sure you get checked up on."

Nathaniel just nods as he finishes getting dressed and then grabs his duffel bag.

"Let's get going Aaron. We have plenty to do before the next show."

With that the pair of Insidious members walk out of the locker room and head through the building to the parking lot.

Tests Required

It was the Thursday after Chaos 90 and Nathaniel Grant was sitting in the doctor's office exam room. He had managed to convince the doctor to see him even with the current socializations restrictions in place. The donation that Nathaniel had made probably hadn't hurt either.

"Mr. Grant, I am going to have to order some tests to determine what is going on. Given your history of neck, back, and head injuries your dizzy spell could be the sign of something more serious. First step will be to do an MRI to see what is going on."

Nathanial nods slightly. He just needed to get through this on his own terms since he had an idea on what was going on but didn't want to say anything until it was proven.

"If we can handle this sooner rather than later I would be appreciative. I will go get the MRI done as soon as it can be ordered and there is an opening."

The doctor nods and makes a few notes in the chart.

"Good I will get the paperwork settled and be back in a few minutes with the MRI order."

With that the doctor leaves the exam room leaving Nathaniel to wait with his thoughts.

Isolation

He had dealt with his medical issues and was now focused on the upcoming Carnage supershow, Isolation. He had seen the card and been preparing for what could be a huge night for Insidious. The group was currently sitting around what appeared to be a lounge talking with each other.

"Alright folks, I am sure you have all seen the card for Isolation. I am curious how we want to play this. I have the Battle Royal to be named the number one contender for the Baltimore City Championship next Chaos. But we have the open challenge for the Carnage Tag Tag Championships as well to consider. Who wants to step into the ring for us to give a shot to bring the gold to Insidious?"

There is a moment of pause before Aaron speaks up.

"I think now would be a good time to debut. I will take anyone here as a partner.'

THe others in the group nod but for a few moments there is a silence before Lu Chen speaks up.

"If no one else will do this I will join Aaron in the ring for a shot at becoming debut tag champion. It will be good to get back into a ring."

There were now objections to the comment as the others nodded their approval.

"I know this whole covid thing has delayed some of our plans for Carnage but Isolation will be a big night for us if we can play this correctly. I still have the matter of the Carnage Network Openweight Title to bring to a conclusion which if all goes well will mean by the end of Isolation we could be holding multiple titles as a group. Aaron and Lu Chen will make a great tag team and I know that before the end of the night will do us all proud."

Aaron grins hearing the words while he reaches over and grabs Lu Chen's hand.

"You know we will do our best Dad. We have been looking forward to something like this for years."

"I know and we can get you some tag team sparring in before Isolation to get you both ready for the show. I am sure Jake and Poppy won't mind helping with that. In fact, let's plan a training day at the Nest for all of us to prepare for Isolation."

"Remember Nate, not all of us need constant training to keep sharp… even in retirement age.

These words echo from the doorway as an older thin and tall black haired man poked his head through, his face obscured by a Porcelain white mask.

"Hope I'm not interrupting. Poppy said there was a meeting, and I should be here?"

"We were just talking about the upcoming Isolation card and the fact that there is an open challenge for the Carnage Tag Team Titles."

A chuckle reverberates from beneath the mask. Before the figure steps through the door and bows slightly.

"So what's the timeline look like for a total team domination on this little endeavor?"

Nathaniel grins handing over a sheet of paper that contains the Isolation card.

"As you can see I am in the battle royale for the number one contendership to Baltimore City Championship and there is that Open Challenge for the Carnage Tag Titles. Plus I still have a meeting with The Empty regarding the Carnage Network Openweight Championship."

"Maybe we can make 'em wonder by competing against each other for that tag belt… Assuming we get it. Uuuuh Yeah, sorry I'm late, got a total chew out from Shenzii, something about…. Oh, hey Aaron, oh and uh, it's Kelvin here right?"

Came the voice of insidious's resident 'Gardener' from the same door the previous masked stranger had entered. Nathaniel laughs slightly as Jake comes in to join the conversation.

"Kevin, actually, it's Kevin… Jakobi."

"You know we operate to make each other stronger Jake. So, I don't see why we can't do some matches against each other. But on the matter at hand, have you seen the Isolation Card, Jake?"

Jake reached behind himself at the question and held up a haphazardly rolled contract up before replying.

"Yeah, that uh, open challenge thing… Yeah, I'd heard about it, I don't remember most of it of course... I still think it would have been cooler as a no dq lumberjack survival match…"

Nathaniel nods knowingly as he points to the paper in Kevin's hand.

"Unless you have any objections Aaron and Lu Chen are going to represent us for the tag belts. I know things have been hectic for you with the whole covid "don't go outside or be around people" rules."

Both Jake and Kevin shook their respective heads, Kevin turning to look at Lu Chen, though he remained silent.

"At Chaos 91, I hope we can get you boys into the ring. Though it might be Chaos 92 before we can get you guys into action. Though we can work out having you two and Poppy get on screen before then later."

Kevin placed a hand on Jake's shoulder and squeezed as he spoke.

" Otto von brain cell here stays out of my way, we should be good bro….I look forward to seeing what I can do with this old body of mine…"

Nathaniel laughs as he reaches down to a nearby coffee table as the conversation shifts to other topics.

Battle Royale Time

Training for Isolation had been going well and now Thor was ready to address his upcoming match. He was standing in front of a tombstone. As he shifts slightly the name Edgar Allan Poe is seen clearly under the image of a raven.

"It is inevitable that we all one day end up in places like this. Yet, with Isolation just around the corner I feel it is fitting I am standing here. We all know who the great Edgar Allan Poe was. In fact, I know we all had to read some of his works over the years. In this current period of forced isolation and quarantine it is fitting that I stand at this grave. Poe was a man who knew well the troubles associated with the isolation of the mind. The isolation of emotion and how it affected a person were all part of what he wrote about. However, I digress from the matter of Isolation.

Thor pauses as he contemplates his next words. Words that would address his upcoming battle and show that he had been paying attention.

"At Isolation I am scheduled to face off against at least seven other competitors to be named the new number one contender for the Baltimore City Championship. I say at least seven others because management has left this battle royal open for others not already booked in it to take part. I am interested to see who makes it into the ring. With that being said, this match has a debuting newcomer, two recently returned veterans, the two wrestlers I beat last Chaos, a guy who I think hangs out with the current Baltimore City Champion and someone who I think was part of the roster actively years ago."

With a quick pause for breath Thor looks over the area surrounding the gravestone before continuing on.

"To begin with my thoughts on this let's talk about my opponents from last Chaos. Regina you sure have skills in the ring. I won't deny that but you lost because you were overzealous to prove yourself in the ring. You have talent and passion, but you lack the experience to know when to curb your enthusiastic nature. You may be a Supernova but remember that eventually every star burns out and has the potential of becoming black holes. I am not even going to say much about Matt Buckle, the clown who's performance on Chaos should be all that needs to be said about his Carnage career. I am still left wondering if this guy is an Insane Clown Posse reject or a Joker wannabe. Maybe he will deign to speak to clear up that bit of confusion."

There is another pause as Thor starts to pace in front of the gravestone.

"Moving on to Angel Panic! Does this kid really have an exclamation point as part of his last name? Regardless, this kid has tough luck when it comes to his debut. He has to get into the ring with multiple opponents, several of who are highly decorated ring veterans. Angel you are going to need a lot of talent out there to make an impression at Isolation. I wonder if you are up to the task or if you panic from the pressure."

As Thor continues to pace you could see that he was becoming more animated as was speaking. His words filled with more and more passion.

"As for Joseph War and JD Mohr, welcome back to Carnage Wrestling. I know you two have been around before and are big names. Admittedly, I haven't been completely on track with watching your older stuff but I will say you were both impressive last Chaos. I look forward to meeting you both in the ring. Sure I would like to see what each of you can do one on one but for now a battle royal will have to serve as our initial meeting between the ropes. With that being said, you know that I won't be an easy opponent to beat. As ring veterans you should be able to understand that I won't just line down out there. Bring your best out there my fellow warriors and see who comes out on top of this melee."

A look over expectation and eagerness appears on Thor's face as he momentarily stops his pacing.

"Jimmy my boy, I will admit I don't know much about you other than you beat the guy I beat in my debut. Not much to go on I know, but seriously kid you have seen me in the ring. That should tell you that I am far above the caliber of that jobber we have both beaten. I look forward to seeing you in the ring to see if you can stand with a real talent. See you at Isolation lad. Now last, but not least, Garbage Fence. I feel that your name says it all as I don't even know when the last time you were in a Carnage ring was. Regardless, I am not going to cast you out of hand like you might not be a threat. So know that I am ready to learn more about you."

Thor returns to the stand in front of Edgar Allan Poe's grave.

"Now, for the rest of you who might be joining this lovely party at Isolation, bring your best to the ring. I will personally injure you if you bring anything less. That actually goes for all of you in this match. I will see you sidelined if you perform in any half assed sort of way in that ring. Additionally, to quote Mr. Poe, 'Nevermore, nevermore.' At Isolation only one of us will walk away the winner while the rest will have their dreams of a Baltimore City Championship match at Chaos 91 buried just as effectively as Edgar here is. So see you at Isolation."

As he finishes speaking Thor turns to stare at the gravestone in silence as the image fades away.

Journal In Case: Entry 2

Kids,

By now you have learned that I wasn't in the best health when I joined Carnage Wrestling. I am sorry, you have had to deal with the fallout of my death. Yet, you know how I was as a man, a father, and a warrior. I couldn't let you see me waste away with a slow death. A slow death that would rob me of the dignity of my life. I have seen the toll that long term slow deaths can have on a family. I know it might sound selfish of me but I wanted to spare you that burden. I didn't want you all to begin to resent my not being able to care for myself or remember who you are.

As I write this, I have to admit I am having dizzy spells and the headaches have been constant companions. If you are reading this then you know that I had some tests done between Chaos 90 and Isolation. Those results are still pending as I prepare for my match tonight. However, if you are in fact, reading this then the autopsy will have revealed what happened to me.

Again, I am sorry for the pain my passing will have caused in the end, there will be less long term pain this way. I have to go and finish getting ready for my match now. If I never said it enough, know that I am proud of every one of you. Know that I love you all and will miss seeing you grow up to be the strong people I know you will be.

With my Love,

Your Father.

After writing these words Thor sets the journal back into his duffel back and goes to do his final preparations for his upcoming Isolation match.

After the Battle Royale

As Joey is being announced as the winner the other two men slam Insidious into the barrier before joining Joey in the ring. Joey looks at them both then raises their hands with his own in victory. Around the ring Thor is being lifted by Aaron and Kyubbi. As the trio moves towards the ramp Thor stumbles forward and lands draped over the body of The Empty. The Reason sees this and starts to yell at the referee who had turned to see this. After a few seconds he starts to count.

ONE!

TWO!

THREE!

Kelly Carmichael: ...and your new Carnage Network Open Weight Champion Sah'ta Thor!

Terra Skye: Wait... what just happened?

Johnny Vegas: Santa just won the Open Weight Championship! Merry Christmas everybody!

[Deleted]

Act 3: Moving On

Part 1: Losing the Belt 

Chaos 91 Segment

We cut backstage to see JC's office, which is very basic except for a poster of last year's Season of the Witch on the wall, and very empty. The door opens and Sah'ta Thor walks in, with the Network Openweight title on his shoulder. He looks around for a moment and seems confused, but not as confused as the boss man, who walks into the office just behind Thor, his eyebrows raised in surprise as Thor turns around to face him.

JC: What are you doing in my office?

Sah'ta opens his mouth to respond but suddenly Garbage Fence slides out from under JC's desk and referee Ed Hawkersby step out from behind the door. Thor sees the referee, but not Garbage Fence who bounces up and grabs Thor with a roll-up! Hawkersby drops down and counts while JC just stares at the current events bewildered.

One!!

Two!!

Three!!

Ed Hawkersby: New champion! Garbage Fence!

Garbage Fence: COLLECTIONS!

Garbage Fence snatches up the belt and runs past JC, who throws up his arms in confusion. Thor gets back to his feet and looks at JC, who shrugs at the now former champion.

JC: 24/7 rules, man. You want the belt back, go after it.

Sah'ta Thor does just that, getting to his feet and chasing after the new champion, who already has a head start.

Part 2: Reality for Chaos 92

Motivation

For Nathaniel Grant, it was another long day in what had become a series of them. Isolation had been an eye opener for the Current Carnage Network Champion. Sure he had left the stadium with the belt, but he hadn't left under his own power. Yet, he had no regrets about the path he was now walking down. As he sits behind his desk in the Phoenix Nest in Las Vegas his eyes move between several folders and the door. After what seemed like hours but was only minutes he gets up and walks towards the door. Yet, for anyone paying attention there was a tremor in the ring veteran's step. He leaves the office and heads down the hallway heading towards the locker room area with the intention to prepare for a swim. Maybe that would help clear his head some.

~*~*~*~

Jake paced in the nearby weight room, lifting and dabbing a green against green towel across his forehead and breathing hastily as his arm fell to his side and he began to debate with himself, A roughly rolled stack of medically marked papers hung absently but tightly grasped in his quaking, shaking hand.

”It’s just a shell Jake..., its not the whole of him… It’s ephemeral, as physical as a soul for this world… Not unlike those bot’s in Thad’s experiments… Right?”

Rambled the obviously strained recreation enthusiast, the poor lighting in his corner of the room leaving his shirtless tattooed body cloaked mostly in shadow. Jake took several short breaths and placed the rolled up papers in the back pocket of his jeans. As he stood from his seat an older leg lift machine, he swore in an indecipherable language, though clearly a language.

“Oh King in Thorns!…Oh... I mean Thor!"

Jake called out through the slightly ajar door assuming the tomb-like emptiness would allow his call to echo appropriately. A familiar black and blond haired spritely figure appearing in the gyms doorway shortly after Jake’s shouting call had faded out.

”Which one, Jerry, Nate, my hubby? or Kevin?”

Poppy inquired giving Jake an impatient quizzical expression akin to a secretary or intern awaiting an overdue order or report.

”Nate I guess… Is that what he’s going by now? Oh woe to the scribes of muse and song, the names of legends gotten wrong.”

The two continue to talk for a moment before each heads their own way. A full minute or two later, an uninformed Nathaniel Grant comes back up the hall towards his office. He looked more relaxed and his step seemed to be tremor free. His wet hair pulled back into a ponytail. He turns into his office and goes to sit back down. As he sits down and looks at his desk he notices something had changed while he was in the pool.

”Jake said you’re gonna die soon Thor?”

Came a coldly curious inquiry from the door, the Shock of black and platinum blond marking its source. Poppy didn’t look up from the ground, opting to stare vacantly downward as she waited for an answer from the office door.

"Go get Jake and I will talk to the both of you at the same time. No point having to say this twice."

These words are followed by a sigh of regret as Thor looks down at the desk looking at the stacks of medical reports there. The office door is pushed further open to reveal a confused but somehow at attention Jake, who after feeling the back of Poppy's hand, finally spoke.

”Already here boss man… Came to get that help with this legalese soup on paper… You all call a contract.” 

Jake explained first pointing to some paper’s sans a staple, stacked neatly on an offset filing cabinet before holding up the roll of paperwork he’d placed in his pocket earlier.

”That's how I found a report… I guess, this stuff has never really been my zen point ya know.”

There is a nod as Nathaniel listens to Jake's speech. Once the bigger man was done talking Thor nods and takes a breath. 

"Sit down since this is going to take some time."

Nathaniel waits for the two to sit while figuring out how to explain what was going on. After a moment he exhales deeply and looks at each of them for a moment. 

"You both know what happened at the end of the first Insidious' run. If you haven't, well i posted a recap package as my introduction to the Carnage Wrestling fanbase. Regardless of that you know how intense my career has been. I could sit here and list all the injuries I have gotten over the years but that isn't the point. What you found Jake is combined side effects of my in ring antics and random beatdowns catching up with me. Toss in some genetic issues that are starting to reveal themselves and I have a body that is shutting down."

Reaching down Nathaniel opens a drawer in his desk and pulls out a cold bottle of water. Taking a long drink he looks between Poppy and Jake.

”Uncle Thor, Honestly. I know you’re a lot like my dad… Your ancestral blood brother… Even if you two like to play on that whole Opposing Poles bit with your friendship… Loathe as I am to accept it. My first guess is you carry those traditions my eccentric husband upholds and want to die in your field of battle, right?” 

Came the lilted English accented voice from the shock haired Poppy's lips. Jake simply stared bewildered in a semi stoned stupor as Thor spoke, his mind rattling with problems past and present, and as he saw it even future threats were rattling amongst his many thoughts. As he heard the unquestionable Drakkonian change to Poppy’s voice his face went pale as he listened. Once she finished speaking he cleared his throat and added.

”I got no ground to speak of myself highly from, I’ve got some serious personal regret problems of my own to consider, so apologies if I don’t let this just stay in the family. So to speak Boss..”

With a slow movement of his hand Thor sets the bottle of water down on the desk.

"Jake to make sure you fully understand this. I haven't told anyone about my medical issues. Aaron and Lu Chen have no clue. I was told when I was forced to retire from Iconic at the end of 2018 that if I ever got back into the ring it could kill me. So besides some training I play to be the family man. It was great, really it was. However, about six months ago they discovered that I have a thumbnail sized tumor in the center of my brain. There is nothing they can do to remove it. It is fatal with about a five year life expectancy. Now, I could have been happy staying home if that was all. Have you noticed the slight tremors that I have been getting these last few months?"

Jake quickly stood and steadied his chair deftly with his foot as he stood. He turned to face Thor and visibly sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose he chuckled and spoke.

”I actually know this one, the tumor is putting an uneven spread of pressure on hemisphere’s of your complex and feral mind, causing these feral outbursts of rage, your reminiscent detachment episodes, and if memory serves…. It triggered an otherwise dormant genetic predisposed case of Osteo-Arthritis? I want to guess?” 

Jake quickly rambled, looking quite proud of himself as he finished speaking. 

"Close one Jake, but it wasn't Osteo-Arthriitis. No, I was told the tumor would cause the Parkinson's of my mom's side of the family to begin it's slow destruction of my life. You have both seen what happens to people who are robbed of their mind and body to Parkinsons. Not to mention all the tagalongs to the party that good ole Parki drags in his wake. Bottom line is in the best case scenario I had five years to live but would lose my mind in two."

Thor grabs the water bottle and takes another drink from it. 

”Holy crap, Uncle. You know you’re gonna cause another Ashlander incident for keeping this from Dad, right? He’s a pretentious quasi-elitist, and so much in his father’s likeness self righteous but, Kevin does care and you know how he feels about secrets and lies… and how he’ll, or moreso his mind will twist this. I for one, understand, Aunt Marta went senile with, pardon my leisure here, a side of Parkinson’s… It was certainly not merciful or favorable.”

Poppy explained, staring at her hands, clasped tightly together in her lap, the long acrylic nails on her thumbs fiddling with the fishnet on her legs as she spoke. 

"Like I said you are the only two besides my doctor's who know this. For the love of The High Council don't breathe a word of this to Isabella. I know i have chosen to walk a path that could kill me but I would rather die in the ring or around it than sitting in a chair drooling all over myself. In my situation what would either of you do?"

”I’ll probably forget after I hand you these papers back honestly…” Jake explains without guilt as he reaches out holding the rolld of medical papers loosely in hand. Before promptly dropping them in shock as Poppy’s typical sarcastic shrill toned SW American accented voice broke his patient silence.

”Well if it helps you with accepting your end Uncle. You gotta do you… I’m gonna miss, uh, well this you. But I’m sure I’ll…. See you soon, any way.”

Poppy chirped in her partially scratchy voice before socking Jake in his hip and laughing at the sting doing so left in her knuckles.

"Poppy. Jake. Listen, I don't plan on dying anytime soon but this is how I want to go out. I want it to be with a bang instead dying bit by bit before everyone's eyes. I have seen what a slow death does to those left behind. I can't do that to everyone. We all have our own mental hangups, so you both know a clean break will be best for this."

”Guess this is a bad time to see if I could borrow a car and jet then, uncle Thor?”

Came the rhetorical question from the figure of Kevin’s adoptive son, Ax. Poppy shot Ax a coldly disapproving look and waved him in and gestured to close the door behind him. Once he was in she quickly chided him not to speak a word outside the present group or amongst mixed company either.

” I’ll handle Axi…. Sorry Uncle.So…. Does the quarantine have your security minimised for now?”

Poppy explained in a hasty apologetic tone, before tilting her head and tapping fake nail to chin in contemplation. 

"Might take a few hours Ax but I am sure one of the few company jets can be borrowed. Poppy can handle that while I get Jake's Carnage Wrestling paperwork sorted."

With that Thor reaches over to grab the contract forms that Jake needed help with. 

”Oh that reminds…” 

Ax tried to explain, before an overly excited Jake spoke over him.

”Oh, Bra. Thor. Man… Shit… Uh… There was something important… it had something to do with Carnage…. It involved me, you and Mel… and that cute asian gal… Dammit… Oh… I know I know this one….. Come on…. Oh uh, Mel wanted to make a rivalry and tag build up with Chen. err.. Shen… Chan… Your cute Asian friend.”

Thor just raises an eyebrow.

"Insidious? Ahh I am sure they can work that out between themselves. And for the last time Lu Chen is my daughter who is married to Aaron. Yes, Ax what were you reminded of?"

Ax straightened his suit and elaborately folded pocket square. Before smiling and answering his uncle, in as clear english as he could manage.

”Well, I was wondering if you expected any particular one of your descendants to oversee the now family business collective we’ve assembled at this point, since Kevin bailed and sold you mine and M...I mean Poppy’s family business…. And just to clarify, I’m not feeling cheated out of anything, or anything. As per the contract, the stipends and trust fund payments are more than regular and sizable for all of us. No more, that I had a hopeful investment to extend your way for my own personal reasons. But we can get to that when you’ve got more time.’

"With this current world situation I can personally handle this. Otherwise you know Ash is the CEO of the Imperial Enterprises. As for Vortech I left it mostly as is except for the minor streamlining that had to happen after it got signed over. You know how that is, but contact me over the next few days about that and we will see what comes of it."

”Was also thinking, Vanity and Sloth could be an amusing little pairing… And what is Chen’s representation anyway?”

"She uses the name Kyuubi which should be a clue to her ring mindset, though I don't recall off the top of my head. Sounds fun with that pair idea. Though speaking of all there is work that needs to be down more of our contracts can be in place. So we will talk soon enough. Use a car and a jet but we for sure will work things out for Chaos 92 if you want to make an appearance Ax.

”Okay, So…. Just how close does this place get to the Attitude Era big leagues?”

Jake asked, ruffling about in his hipside leather bag before removing several objects and setting about to obscure the room with endless clouds of pot smoke. A collapsible three foot kaleidoscopic bong, travel ready six person hookah and beginners guide to ledgermayne being amongst the items removed. 

”Oh Bags got tea and fruit drinks since Bonzye’s on some big health cleanse kick… I dunno…”

Thor grins and chuckles as he finishes the water before sliding the paperwork to the side to be done after a few orbits of techno-color smoke machine. 

Bring it On

The sound of boots on wood start to clomp through the speakers as the outside of a log cabin comes into view. Around the corner there comes Sah'ta Thor in full ring attire with the Carnage Wrestling Network Openweight Championship belt over his right shoulder. Yet, the most interesting thing was that Thor's face is painted to look like a red and black skull, akin to Dias Des Muertos with Red in place of typical White. He stands there for a moment before licking his lips.

"What a match that was at Isolation. Bodies went flying, run-ins and double teams galore. Violence and mayhem were had by all. A winner stood tall and brawls ensued. Such is the way of a battle royale in a company where weapons are welcomed. Not that it matters in the end since the name of the company is Carnage Wrestling."

Thor reaches up and places his hand on the belt draped over his shoulder with an intense glare in eyes. 

"As you all know I was carried out of Isolation with this lovely belt in hand. I know, I know, I should be smiling right now due to that fact. If you can't read facial expressions, I am not smiling. In fact, I am less than content on how I got this belt. First, I intended to fight for this belt. Sure I said from day one that I would win this title. Now that I have it I am going to make a one time limited offer to The Empty. It was a ref call that awarded me this belt as I fell over your body after the hit I took from The Reason. At Chaos 93, I offer you the chance to have a one on one fight for this belt. It is an offer, if you don't want to take no one can say, I didn't offer. On that note, I have an idea. Be it The Empty or someone else, at Chaos 93 I am willing to put the Carnage Network Openweight Championship on the line.

With that said and down Thor pulls the belt of his shoulder and sets it on a table that is off to one side.

"Yet, I shouldn't get ahead of myself. Chaos 93 is just around the corner and I have a match against none other than ZQ. I will be honest, I only vaguely know who she is. However, from what I have seen of her matches and what her contract mentions, Zephyr isn't to be taken lightly. I have seen shen from some of her matches that she has something of a violent streak about her. All I can say to that is bring it on? I honestly have no idea what she will have to say about me. I don't honestly don't care because in the end it doesn't even matter."

With a pause for both a breath and effect Thor shifts to lean against the wall of the cabin. As he does you can't help but see Thor's body tremble slightly. 

"At Chaos 92, we are going to be facing off in a match that may or may not even matter in the long run. Who knows this could have just been tossed together to get something on the show. I don't care either way, because ZQ I hope you bring you goddamn best to the ring. Like I said I heard you are a tornado in the ring. Honestly, I hope you are because I am not scared one bit about what you can do. Just look at my career and the matches I have been in over the years. In fact, that reminds me I need to reveal that archive to the Carnage Wrestling Fans. My greatest match collection has finally been compiled and uploaded to a site I will share in an official announcement. Though let's be honest, there is nothing in this business that scares me anymore. There is no match or opponent that can make me afraid anymore."

There is a pause as the camera zooms in on Thor's painted face. The red and black skull fully framing the depthless eyes of Sah'ta Thor.

"In time you will understand what I mean by this but for now just know that I face a much bigger adversary watch time than I have a match. The end of it all stares me in the face each and every show and I know I can't lose. Remember this day because soon enough you will look back on these words with the eyes of perfect prophetic hindsight. The end comes for us all now matter the fight it finds its Insidious way to complete and utter victory. See you at Chaos 92 ZQ."

Those words slowly fade away as the cabin is replaced with a recap highlight package of the Isolation Baltimore City Championship Number One Contendership Battle Royale. As this plays an image of the words "BadWolf in red graffiti tag takes over for about ten seconds. As this is on the screen you hear a distorted carnival sounding clip of "Who is afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" eerily plays. This lasts for about ten seconds before the recap video finishes up.

Journal in Case: Entry 3

Chaos 92 was here and Thor had only a few minutes to finish his pre-match run down. Taking out his journal Sah'ta Thor begins to write.

Kids, 

It is about that time again as Chaos 92 is about to kick off. I am the Carnage Network Openweight Champion and tonight promises to be a big night for me. A big night for the family as several more of the Insidious contracts come into play. Yet, I have to be honest, I am not sure what to write here. You all know what I chose to do and the why of it by now. So there is no point in rehashing my prior entries. So instead I am going to offer you some advice. Do it your way. There will be times in your lives that there are no fun options. You know what I had and why I went out fighting. That was my way of facing the end on my terms. Everyone faces it eventually and I died with dignity. I died as myself not a broken mindless shell. Fear can be a powerful enemy but kids, fight it your own way. It doesn't matter how you do it but don't give into it and destroy you. Fight to the end and who knows what will happen. That is what I did and I know that right now you don't see it but I did what was best for you. Well opening music just started so I have to go. Remember that I love you all and that NONE of you are to blame for my decision. 

Love,

Dad.

With that Thor closes the journal and kisses it once before returning it to his duffel back. He grabs the Carnage Network Openweight Title and heads to his position in the gorilla position to wait for his match.

On Air Chaos 92

Terra Skye: Well it looks like we've just found out who Kyra will be facing at Underground for the UV championship!

Johnny Vegas: What a load of SHIT!

Terra Skye: Anyway, welcome back to ringside everyone! We're looking to get the action underway again as one of the most anticipated on this card gets underway!

Johnny Vegas: "Highly anticipated?" Some chick named Zephyr versus a guy who thinks he's still Openweight Champion with a cheap knockoff version of the belt. Sounds like a snore fest to me!

Terra Skye: You do realize that "some chick" is actually ZQ, right? OH that's right, you don't really pay that much attention to anything but stroking your own ego.

Johnny Vegas: Stroking my what now?

He doesn't get a chance to finish as "Ruina Imperii" by Sabaton begins and the lights dim; signaling the arrival of Sah'ta Thor. The hardcore veteran makes his way out on stage, imposing as ever as he takes off his shirt and reveals his scarred and toned upper body. With a purposeful stride he makes his way down the ramp and into the ring, pacing like a caged, ravenous, and rabid dog waiting for a meal. His eyes are locked on the ramp as his theme comes to an end.

Terra Skye: You DO have a point though Johnny, as much as I hate to admit it. Sah'ta lost the Openweight title and has yet to reclaim it from the current champion Garbage Fence.

Johnny Vegas: At least it isn't that fuckin' garbage can. Having that rusty thing as a Carnage Champion is a shame. Jack Michaels' career is rolling around in its grave, may it rest its soul. Jack would NEVER stand for a garbage can being a champion, it's a disgrace!

Again, Vegas is interrupted as a voice comes on over the loudspeakers.

“So what's the craziest thing you've done lately?”

The song begins and as it starts a hooded figure makes her way out on stage. With a wince, she takes off her hood to reveal Zephyr Quinn, formerly ZQ! She yells out with a fist in the air as pyros go off behind her. As she makes her way down to the ring, she winces again as she takes off her hoodie, the bandages around her ribs showing underneath her trademark tank top. Her right hand is in a cast as she rolls under the bottom rope, standing up and getting right into Thor's face! Neither back down from the other, the ref trying to separate the two from each other.

Terra Skye: Despite whatever happened to Zephyr after being abducted by her sisters Su and Mitaxia, being as banged up as she is, she refuses to back down from the veteran Thor!

Boy: String cheese is best when pulled apart!

Terra Skye: You're right! One would have to suspect Thor has already picked up on ZQ's...

Boy: Peas!

Terra Skye: Sorry, Zephyr Quinn's injuries already! They HAVE to be a massive target in Thor's eyes!

Johnny looks from one to the other, shaking his head.

Johnny Vegas: How...

He doesn't have a chance to finish his thought though as Johnny gets interrupted by "Badass" by Saliva. Zephyr jumps slightly in the ring, her attentions pulled to the ramp as the Baltimore Champion, Mac Bane makes his way out onto the stage! He smiles and waves, motioning for Zephyr to turn her attentions back to Thor, who looks as if he's about to pounce. Mac gets to the ring and yells up to the ref that there isn't anything to worry about, he's just going to be a special guest commentator. Johnny Vegas' protests can be heard echoing above the music throughout the empty arena. To make matters worse from Johnny's perspective, Mac pulls his seat up close to Vegas as he gets his headset on.

Terra Skye: Mac Bane! What a surprise, what brings you here?

Johnny Vegas: Yeah! Aren't you supposed to be anywhere but right next to me? Don't you have a woman to pummel or something?

Mac Bane: Thank you for the warm welcome Terra, Boy, good to see you. Johnny, I can always leave if you'd like, but that would leave Mia enough room to come and give you another cheap shot. If I'm here, who do you think she would have to get through first before getting to you?

Johnny Vegas: Bitch doesn't scare!

He curses as he's interrupted a third time, this time by "Bleed the Freak"by Alice in Chains. Number one contender to Amber Ryan's World Title, Trent Steel makes his way out onto the stage. He smiles and makes his way down, again yelling out to the ref that he's only here to join the now A-List announce team. The ref only rolls his eyes and urges Steel to hurry up so he can begin the match. Zephyr's eyes track Trent but her focus remains on Thor as the ring veteran has begun pacing in front of her again. Terra moves over as Trent inserts himself on the other side of Johnny Vegas, wedging the now disgruntled Vegas between Mac Bane and Trent Steel.

Trent Steel: Since Mac and I are going into the protection business for ourselves, figured I'd come out and lend a hand. Are we protective enough for you yet Johnny? Are we doing this right?

Johnny doesn't respond, rather crossing his arms and sinking down into his chair. Mac and Trent share a grin as the ref calls for the bell.

DING DING!!

Zephyr looks poised and ready, but so is Thor as he crouches and springs at Zephyr with a sudden spear! Zephyr's eyes go wide with pain as she goes down, Thor making an early cover! The ref slides in to make the count…

ONE!

TWO!

THRE! NO!

Zephyr is able to get a shoulder up with no time to spare!

Terra Skye: Wow! Thor off the bat with a spear to the already injured Zephyr, almost picking up the victory! One has to wonder the mindset of Zephyr if she's trying to compete with as injured as I'm told she is. A broken hand and a couple cracked ribs?

Mac smiles and responds.

Mac Bane: The injury report is true. However, you try telling a twenty two year old looking for redemption and her place on this roster, who was just disowned by her twin, that she isn't allowed to compete. Injured or not, Zephyr is looking to prove herself starting now.

Trent Steel: It takes a certain kind of something to take a good hard look at yourself in the mirror and realize just what you've become. It takes even more to try and change, and yet more to overcome everything that was just handed to her. The physical stuff is second past anything she's contending with from her batshit crazy sisters. Or ex sisters. Ax sisters? I don't know how that works but…

Johnny Vegas: But nothing! Zephyr can rot just like her bitch ass sister!

He falls silent though as both Trent and Mac stare holes into the sides of his heads. With no choice, Vegas slips down even further into his chair and turns his attentions back to the match. Zephyr is rolls around to her knees, clutching her midsection but manages to get to her feet. Thor has been waiting for her though and advances, grabbing her by the arms, exposing her midsection and delivers a knee to the ribs of Zephyr! Quinn collapses again and Thor delivers a boot to her side!

Terra Skye: That could not have felt good. As resilient as Zephyr has proven herself to be, there has to be a line drawn doesn't there?

Johnny Vegas: Bitch just needs to stay down.

Together Mac and Trent both deliver a slap to the back of Johnny's head in tandem. Terra stiffles a giggle using her hand as Mac takes over.

Mac Bane: Watch your mouth Johnny, there are women present. To Trent's point, Zephyr isn't just tough. She isn't just resilient. She's looking to prove herself amongst the entire roster. She isn't expecting anything to just be handed to her, another shot at the Baltimore title, for instance. She isn't looking for sympathy because she doesn't feel like she deserves it, just because she's suffered physical injury at the hands of Mia and Jynx. She's starting from scratch and where all you see is someone getting pummeled left and right, I see something a bit more than that.

Trent Steel: If you know the journey of redemption, you just know. Something has to be said about Zephyr being brave enough to take the path. That's why I'm here, to make sure she knows that she's supported in her journey.

With that, Trent takes his headset off and heads over to where Zephyr is still suffering boots and stomps to her injured body parts by Thor. Shooting the half, Thor makes another pin attempt as Mac follows Trent.

ONE!

NO!

Zephyr kicks out with authority, but rolls to her side, grabbing at the ropes. She opens her eyes and sees that she's looking directly in the face of Trent Steel and Mac Bane. Confused, she doesn't have a chance to register anything as both Mac and Trent both yell for her to get back on her feet and fight! She uses the ropes to climb to her feet but is quickly pounced on by Thor! He delivers several sharp blows to her face, Zephyr covering up as best she can but leaving her ribs exposed. Thor drives his knee into her midsection and follows up with a back breaker! Zephyr bridges and rolls away in some amount of pain, rolling to a corner and sitting up.

Thor is on her again though as Mac and Trent follow the action on the outside of the ring, not getting involved but yelling encouragement to Zephyr. Thor yells at them back as he gets a running start and delivers a knee to the face of “The Crazy Angel.” Smiling with sinister intentions, Thor picks up Zephyr and whips her to the opposite corner! Zephyr winces as she hits the turnbuckle with her back and again, Thor is right on her, kneeing her repeatedly in the midsection before tying her up in a tree of woe!

Terra Skye: Looks like Sah'ta Thor is setting up for Crom's Embrace!

Johnny Vegas: Good. The sooner this match is over, the sooner I don't have to deal with woman beater and company.

Terra shakes her head as Thor runs at Zephyr, still hanging upside down in the corner! At the last moment, Zephyr yells and pulls her self up to a sitting position, causing Thor to crash into the turnbuckle! Sah'ta's also manages to crash into the small of Zephyr's back, but Zephyr only grimmaces as she untangles her legs and rolls backwards off the back of Thor, falling to her knees behind him! Without hesitation, she springs forward, and hits a chop block on Thor, causing him to fall over behind her. The ref begins the ten count since both roster members are still down, Mac and Trent yelling for Zephyr to get up before Thor, to push herself harder! Pounding the mat, Zephyr gets to her feet, just as Thor makes it to his. Thor throws a punch at Zephyr, but she catches it and twirls him in before pushing him away with a ripcord and then slamming him down with a reverse STO! Thor rolls to his belly, getting to his knees quickly, but Zephyr is ready and runs at him, jumping up and driving the point of her knee into the back of Thor's neck!

Terra Skye: Wow! That move came out of nowhere! Big impact stuff from Zephyr as she makes the cover!

ONE!

Mac runs over and yells into the mic as the ref continues the count.

TWO!

Mac Bane: Ladies and gents, let me introduce to you, Zephyr's newest move in her arsenal, hereby deemed "The Craziest Thing!"

THREE!

DING DING DING!!

Kelly Carmichael: Your winner... ZEPHYR QUINN!!!

The ref calls for the bell as Zephyr rolls off Thor, catching her breath before getting up to a knee. She stands as Trent and Mac roll into the ring, applauding her as the ref tries to raise her arm in victory! Zephyr winces, yelping in pain and turns to the ref. Everyone tenses up, but Zephyr instead just raises her arm weakly and thanks the referee for a job well done. Mac and Trent exchange amused looks as "Crazy Angel" rings out over the loud speakers.

Thor gets up to his feet, shaking his head - giving Zephyr a cursory glance as he moves towards the ropes and climbs out of the ring, heading to the back.

Terra Skye: An unfortunate result here tonight for Sah'ta Thor, but I don't think it takes away from how strong this man is as a competitor.

Johnny Vegas: I'll admit, he's not bad.

Terra Skye: Of course he's not.  He's a veteran in this business - and his luck tonight just wasn't there but that doesn't mean he won't come out on top in the next one!  Anyway, Congratulations to Zephyr and let's head into a quick break!

Post Chaos 92 - Was it Real [Part 1]

Sah'ta Thor had lost his match earlier in the night. Something that would address as a later time but as the show went on he found himself in hallway of his the arena. He was standing leaning against the wall looking into his phone watching a video. As the camera angle shifts we see it is a clip from Chaos 91 on a loop. As the loop plays again and again a look of growing horror becomes plastered on his face. As he stare on in complete and utter shock a voice familiar to many in Carnage is heard.

Greg Ace: I am Greg Ace and there looks like a man who looks like he something on his mind. Thor would you mind sharing what is wrong?

Thor shakes his head for a moment before stopping the video on the phones. As he does one can clearly see the moment Garbage Fence took the Openweight Title.

Sah'ta Thor: I don't remember this one bit.

Greg Ace: Is that you don't remember due to a few too many drinks or...

Sah'ta Thor: I don't remember even being in Baltimore that night. Let alone being in this building. So you tell me Greg.

Before Greg can answer a clearly agitated Thor pushes by and walks off with a look of horrified confusion on his face.

[Deleted]

Part 3 - Internet Interview Session - Was it Real? [Part 2] 

It had been several days since Chaos 92 and Nathaniel Grant had come no closer to remembering what had happened on Chaos 91. He had looked through everyone of his records and while the prove was glaring his memory had a huge hole in it. The more he thought about it the more he realized that his medical issues where affecting him faster then he had hoped. So he had come up with a solution that would at the very least allow his story to be put into the world before he forgot the facts himself. The sooner he did this the better he would feeling knowing that even when his memory was completely shattered he would have a record to refer back to. So it was with a troubled heart that he had set up what he hoped would be a enlightening night for all. He was currently seated in black lazy boy recliner in what appeared to be well appointed living room.

"Thank you for taking the time to join me for this suddenly scheduled round robin video conference interview session. As you all know I am Nathaniel Grant, or better known to the world as the wrestler Sah'ta Thor. My intention to night it for you to ask an question you may have about me that you want. Everything from my past to present is on the table. However, there may be some questions that I will avoid answering for the sake of privacy. With that being said, let the questions begin."

With that waits for the first of what he knew would be many questions.

Some guy named Ron was first. He wrote for one of the subscription dirt sheet sites that don't really do anything worth the fee.

"Hey, Nate, you're not going to start a cult in Carnage Wrestling, right? I could totally see that." 

There is a moment of silence as Nathaniel raises an eyebrow.

"Thanks for the question Ron. I have to ask why do you think I have plans to create a cult in Carnage Wrestling? I would guess the name Insidious gives that impression. However, let me put that idea to rest. Insidious is not a cult, it has never been nor will it ever be while I am still part of the of the group. If you will recall I posted a video on Carnage Wrestling's website back in March about the history I have had with Insidious. If you have not seen that package, i recommend it. Yet, I now feel a little bit of explanation is needed. You see, Ron, I know personally that behind every smile and cheerful presentation is a story of pain and darkness. In my experience, the people who portray themselves as saints to the world are the ones with most inner turmoil. When I came up with Insidious years ago, I did it as a means to depose the lies that people told about themselves. In the end, the people I faced during that time ended up embracing their rage, the anger, the need to unleash their brutality. You could say, that in the end Insidious help them to come to terms with themselves. Additionally, Insidious is the acceptance that somethings are inevitable and the harder you fight them the more they way will take you over. So no Insidious isn't a cult nor do I plan it to ever be. Besides between The Reason and "The Godly" Carnage has the cult thing covered."

With that Nathaniel reaches over and grabs a bottle of water and takes a drink from it.

A young woman raises her hand politely and waits to be called on. She pushes up her thick framed glasses onto her nose before speaking.

Mr. Grant, Phyllis Sophicle, Baltimore Public News. I have a couple questions that I believe most of the fans of Carnage Wrestling would like to hear your answers to. First, after a surprise loss to the freshly renamed Zephyr Quinn, how do you look to bounce back to get your career back on track? 

Second question: Everyone saw you lose the Openweight Championship at Chaos 91 but lately there has been speculation that that was not you at the show, or that you fail to remember losing the championship, even wearing a replica so no one is the wiser. Care to elaborate on these developments?

There is a good ten second pause as Nathaniel takes the questions then takes a deep breath.

"Thanks for the questions Phyllis. To answer the first, losses happen and to call losing to Zephyr a career breaking moment is rather insulting. Your very question under cuts her abilities in the more than it paints me as in a bad light. I lost to a damn good wrestler who took advantage of an opportunity i gave her by using the Crom's Embrace, a finisher I don't use as often as I should. It didn't put her away and she was able to get the chance to debut her new move. You take a running knee to the back of the neck sometime then get back to me."

His hand moves to rub the back of his neck as he drinks more water.

"Now on the matter of the events on Chaos 91.  I honestly don't remember a thing about being in Baltimore that night. Yet, I have found flight records and we have the segment from the show that indicate that I was. I frankly don't recall being at Chaos 91 so my pre-Chaos 92 comments were made from a man how honestly didn't know he had lost the belt. It was me in that segment even if I don't recall it. I made my promo for Chaos 92 before I went back to watch Chaos 91. At this time I will not get into the probable reasons behind my memory loss but due to it I will not be looking to regain the Carnage Wrestling Network Openweight Championship."

Having answered both these questions Nathaniel downs the rest of the water with a look of sadness in his eyes. 

Some dumpy white guy in a fedora stands up.

Matt Sludge, of the Sludge Report here (no relation to that other report). So, tell us which CW performer do you most respect and which one do you hate the most?

Second question, because inquiring minds definitely want to know....who's packing the most meat?

Sludge looks around as he sees that everyone looks confused.

You know....biggest trouser snake? Baby arm? Flesh hozwitzer? Schlong? WMD? Sticky wicket? Dong? Kielbasa? Who's got the biggest dick?!

Hearing the questions Nathaniel just blinks as he stares at the camera.

"Mr. Sludge, remember when I opened this up with the statement that I wouldn't answer some questions. Congratulations, you are the first one not to get an answer. I don't hate anyone on the roster but at the same time I don't have anyone I respect more than anyone else. With that being said have a good day Mr. Sludge."

With those words Mr. Sludge is removed from the video conference while Nathaniel waist for the next question.

A well educated looking smark was next in the camera feed. He wore a crusty XPW shirt, and thick glasses. His hair was greasy, his voice nasally. His search history? Probably terrifying



"Hey There, Thor. Biff Budstein, big fan. I gotta ask, you're old as hell, you've won every belt under the sun, what do you got left to prove? And, follow up question, you got an opinion on the rumors of Matt Knox signing to Carnage?"

Hearing the questions causes Thor to lean forward as he takes a deep breath.

"You are right Biff, I have won tons of belts over my career. I am not in Carnage Wrestling to prove anything. What happens in the ring each week serves as testament that I am still in control. Without going into details the reasons I am in Carnage Wrestling are linked to why my having no memory of Chaos 91 is troubling to me. I aspirations and hopes but I know that realistically just being able to wrestle is an accomplishment."

There is a momentary pause as Nathaniel narrows his eyes.

"That is a name I haven't heard tied wrestling in a dozen years. If he has in fact, signed with Carnage Wrestling I am glad to hear it. We have some unfinished business to attend to. You see, last time I saw him was after I had decked him jaw in a match. After that he disappeared leaving his new wife to deal with raising his adopted daughter and their unborn child. So if my son-in-law has signed with Carnage Wrestling, I owe him a good talking to. Though with that being said, it is good to hear that he has finally crawled out of the rock he has been living under since he walked out on his life."

With those words he leans back into his recliner and waits for the next question.

Another female, far too pretty to be doing the heavy lifting of the article writing and research but smart enough to know an easy paying gig when she gets one, waves down attention for the next question.

"Cassidy Raynor, Observance of Wrestling- where do you see your path leading to next in Carnage and what is your overall long term goal here, is it gold or do you have something more in mind?"

There is a moment of contemplative silence as he listens to Cassidy's question. He closes his yes for a few seconds then leans forward before answering.

"That is an interestingly complex question Ms. Raynor. I would love to end up with a Carnage Wrestling title run. I wound't mind being the Ultraviolent Champion. A run as Carnage World Champion would be amazing. However, I am a realist and suspect given the current roster I wont have the chance to work my way into those divisions. While I won't turn down championship gold should it come my way that isn't why I am in Carnage Wrestling. No the long term goal is the end ..."

Nathaniel pauses leaving things hanging for a few seconds letting those listening being to wonder what would come next.

"... of my career on my terms. It is now secret that the last placed I wrestled for refused to medically clear me. They forced me to retire from the ring to avoid backlash after I suffered a series of beat downs both in and out of the ring. Over the course of a month I was savagely attacked and left for dead multiple times outside of the ring. While in the ring I was the target of several blindside group assaults. So to answer your question Cassidy, my long term goal is to end things on my own terms while I still can."

Nathaniel reaches to the side for another bottle of water and takes a drink while his eyes seem to convey that there was a deeper meaning to his words than just his desire to end his career his way.

"Mr. Grant, Helen Hywater, Times, the new Roman one. Anyways, you mentioned the current Carnage roster, is there anyone in particular that you're hoping to work with?

In addition, when you say 'end things on your terms while you can,' do you mind elaborating on the specifics for your plans?"

The question left him silent for a moment before he managed to begin his reply.

"Honestly, I am not opposed to working with anyone on the roster. Though if I had a chance I would love to work with any of the Ultraviolence minded members of the roster. You see, I have no actually plan predetermined as of yet. As for elaborating on my prior statement I will do my best to do so in a way you will understand. Without, going into the details of my medical situation my career at best around a year and half tops. My only plan is to have developed my value to Carnage Wrestling enough to have the match I want to go out on. There are reasons I will not go into any more detail that that right now. However, I will tell you right now that the answer to your question will be answered with the way my wrestling career ends"

"Mr. Grant, Miss Tickle, Baltimore Harold.

What about your past?

Let me elaborate, you keep mentioning events in your past are going to be shaping your future, but you haven't yet elaborated. You have led us all to ask about these events and then dance around the topic, like some witch doctor looking for rain. So...

What exactly happened in your past that you want to tell us, but are too afraid to?"

"Interesting observation. I am dancing around revealing my future. But that dancing has nothing to do with fear. No it is simply the fact that I have yet to tell the people closest to me how the story will end. Until I do that I won't share the details publicly. As for my past, that is a tale I have told in bits and pieces of the years. Yet, since the last time I have told it new details have been revealed to me."

Nathaniel drinks from a water bottle and then smiles almost with a devious look in his eye.

"As many of you happen to know I have only been a professional wrestler since February 2007. Before that I had two years of minor league training and skill developing which has to this day been the basis of my current in ring skill set. I was 42 when I made my professional wrestling debut. Yet, that leaves a lot of my life open to the curious. The thing was that I grew up as an orphan, now I won't bore you with the details of where I grew up. However when I was sixteen I had an interesting weekend with an woman who was on her way to get married. Long story short, I ended with a pair of twins I only met in early 2013 after she revealed their parentage to them on her deathbed. In fact Kyuubi is one of those two children."

There is another moment of silence.

"To fast forward a bit I ended up in Europe after I turned eighteen. One of those stops had me in Poland where in teenage fashion I slept around a bit. The result of that was a pair of twin I only learned about in 2014. Yet, that is another story for another time. As I was saying, I got stuck behind the Berlin Wall in the Soviet Union. The end result is that I ended up spending two years in a Soviet mining camp. I was finally released after the camp was shut down. Now let my tell you the experience is not one that I would wish on anyone between the 18 hour work days and one meal a day one had to deal with guards who were not shy with punishing those they thought were slacking. I would call the entire experience hellish and by the end of it my back had be shredded from hundred of whip lashes. When I was released I was malnourished and was near death. I ended up in a German hospital for the next six months spending the second half of 1985 regaining my health."

There is a far away look in his eyes as Nathaniel sits there for a moment.

"While I was in the hospital I end up falling in Love with one of the nurses. She was a great Hispanic beauty who was in Germany as part of a foreign exchange college program. By the time I go out of the hospital at the start of 1986 we had been dating and she was three months pregnant. Now she had a year left of med school and we ended up getting married soon after I got out of school. Well I found out that she was also working in a dance club to make ends meet for her which was not a problem with since I knew she loved me deeply. At the age of twenty-one I had thought I had grabbed the dream life. What I didn't know was that she had a history of depression. Shortly after the birth of our twin son and daughter she sank into a debilitating depression that was made worse by the fact that I was working 14 hour days in a German auto plant to support my family. The only thing that seemed to help her was the rose garden that she kept in the back of our small house. I am not even sure how it happened but shortly after the birth of my kids I was contacted by a woman claiming to be my mother. It had turned out that she had been told I had been born still born and had only ran into me by accident as she was passing through Stuttgart. Now to say the least this through off me slightly off my game but I introduced her to my wife and kids and worked to mend the lost years. Sadly, my wife never liked my mother and after a few days my mother was off on her travels again. The damage of her coming into my life made my wife a bit hostile for a few days. This hostility was even more pronounced after I made the mistake of commenting on the attractiveness of another woman. You know how woman can be when they take an unintentional casual comment and turn it into a life shattering crime."

Another drink of water allows Nathaniel Grant to remain calm as he speaks.

"My wife Jessica, slowly started to pull away from me by the time the kids had turned one was barely speaking to me. At this time we moved to Spain where she from and that helped the situation for a while and it even seemed she was on the mental mend. I had the money to saved up to ensure that her rose garden was moved with us and that was a blessed decision on my part. Though I guess happiness was not mine to have at that time because a few months after we had settled in to life in Madrid one of Jessica's old boy friends moved back into town. I was working long hours and it only took six months for the beginning of the end to happen. I found out that Jezara was spending most of the time in her day with old boyfriend and came home one day to find them having sex in my bed while my children slept down the hall. Talk about a pleasant surprise but in that one moment my heart shattered into a million pieces. I wonder if Alexander has ever felt the hell of having the Love of his life rip his heart out of his chest to crush it before his very eyes. Yet, I would have counted myself lucky if that was the end of it, no she ended up kicking me out and with the help of her friend divorced me and took all of my parental rights away from me. I was left with nothing but my job with I threw myself into without a thought of the world around me. For the next three years I didn't see my kids but I knew that my ex-wife had dated at least a dozen guys. I ended up moving back to the United States in 1991 and set myself up in a small time apartment."

Unable to keep the emotion from his responses he stands up an starts to walk around in front of his chair while clenching his first. When he again opens his mouth to speak there was heavy tinge of pain in his words.

"By the time I settled in to the my new job in the Midwest, my heart had started to mend. Feeling the need to connect with someone I started dating and I foolish remarried. Now by then I was able to convince a judge to let me see my son and daughter and I found out that Jessica had been committed to a mental hospital. This gave me the care the twins and a short time into the marriage my second wive became pregnant. I won't bore you with the details but nine months later I was the father to another set of twins. I was loving life and all the wonders that I seemed to finally have. Another pregnancy and another kid followed a year later. Life was going better than it had in a long time. It was then that I meant an older man in a bar one night while I was out drinking with a couple of guys from work. After talking to the man I discovered that he had lost a son in the same hospital I had been born in. We talked things over and I quickly found out that not only had he known my mother but that he was my father. I introduced him to my wife and kids and things to seemed to be looking up. Yet, as always seems to be the case my dream like existence came to an abrupt end. I came home from work one night in early 1995 to discover that my wife had taken off taking our three children leaving behind divorce papers. My now eight-in-a-half year old son and daughter were visiting with an uncle at the time. For the second time in my life I had been vulnerable and left with a broken heart. A return to the hell that is the pain of shattered love. This sent me in a self destructive spiral and resulted in me giving up everything for the chance to wander Europe for a while. I left the twins with their Uncle for their own good as I knew I wasn't capable of being what they needed."

Nathaniel sits back down with a pain filled sigh and a look of determination in his eyes.

"I ended up wandering Europe for the next three years. One would think that after two failed marriages that I would have gotten the hint to avoid the institution. Well as you might have guessed it found another woman who took my fragmented heart into a working organ again. We got married and in less than a year I have sired another set of twins. Now I have to admit that by this time I hadn't seen any my children from my first two marriages in over three years. Well at this time my now eleven and half year old twins' uncle found me and told me that my son and daughter were back with their mother. I would like to think that by this time in my life I had become something of a rational sort. You couldn't be farther from the truth because I got back in touch with my first wife in order to see about being involved with my kids' lives. Now I would be remiss if I didn't mention that fact that less than a year later my third marriage had come to an end. It also has to be mention that this time I was the one who walked away after being given a choice. I could either stay with my current wife and lose all chance of ever of being involved with the lives of my first set of children. Or I could walk away from my new life and possibly get back with my first wife. Of course I have to admit to a lapse of rationality in the moment since I was still deeply in Love with my first wife even after all the years since we had parted. So like a fool I ended my third marriage and for a while my Jessica and I seemed to be mending the old fences. It even seemed like we were on the path to remarrying but after a year of games it soon became clear that I didn't stand a chance. Jessica was a mental mess and was often seen in compromising situations with other men. So I did the only thing I could to salvage my own sanity and I left at the beginning of 2000. It was the hardest thing I ever did when I left my now preteen children behind with my mentally disturbed ex-wife. It was a hellish feeling that only someone who has had to walk away from someone they love can understand."

Nathaniel was almost finished with the outline of his life before his debut and for some reason it pleased him to know that he was sharing this again. It helped him to know that his mind was still his own.

"I am not even sure how survived the next five years of my life but somehow got enrolled in a university. I somehow even managed to graduate with a dual Master's in Psychology and Sociology. I even went back to get a Bachelor's in Business Administration. I don't know how I made it through those five years but one day I woke up and found myself living in a barely legal apartment complex with three degrees. Furthermore, looking around the place I discovered the signs that I was a man who didn't give a shit about my life. In that moment of realization I discovered that I had managed to get involved with a really bad crowd that had their hands in underground fights. This discovery was made when I took stock of my appearance and saw the psychical signs of my combat. Well I tried to get out but ended up being forced into fight. Well I guess I should tell you that I enjoyed the feeling of power that came from beating another human being to the point they couldn't move. That night I learned that I had the capacity for savagery unlike anything I had suspected. I also learned that in the year I had been part of underground fight circuit that I had earned the reputation for being a monster and that reputation made be treat me with a respectful deference. In its own way this was my next hell because I was trapped by both the alluring magnetism of the the thrill gained from battle and the pressure of constantly being the center of attention. Both were addicting in a way that I had no way of understanding how to handle. I was an addict in the midst of my addiction and like everything else it all came crashing down when I was beaten by a new guy. The ending result was that spent time in the hospital and by the time I was fit to fight again the underground had closed as the aftermath of a police raid. Once more I was lost and with out purpose in my life. Another form of Hell that anyone who has ever been there can understand. I know Remington wants to say that he is going to put me through hell on Mayhem but does he even understand what that means? Let me continue with my understanding of Hell and what it means to live in it. Now in early 2005 I discovered a wrestling academy that I was able to use my prize money form the underground fight ring. It took some convincing for the school to take a forty year old man as a student. You see I wasn't not one of those young new comers to the business and frankly I was fighting an uphill battle. However, at the end of the day my fighting spirit and competitive passion allowed me to get into the wrestling business. After two years of grueling training I was finally signed to my first professional wrestling company."

With a nod to himself Nathaniel grabs another bottle of water and downs as a faraway look crosses his eyes. A look that spoke of a deep inner struggle that had taken a heavy toll on the soul.

"I won't sit here and tell you the many struggles I have had with various managements over the direction my career has taken. No that is a interview all its own. I will say that every title I have earned over the years has been the result of my taking it by force. Be it force of will or by force of loyalty every championship I have ever got has been the result of my going to war inside a wrestling ring. Yet, for all the titles I have won there are many I have been told I was either too good for or that I didn't sell enough merch to warrant the win. In Carnage Wrestling we will see how things shape up for me on that front. Now Miss Tickle, is that what you wanted to hear?"

Part 4 - Chaos 93

Chaos 93

Terra Skye: So about you thinking it was Mac who attacked Zeph--

Johnny Vegas: So she said it wasn't him but come on... He looks like the type.

Terra Skye: Literally HE and TRENT STEEL just saved her from Mitaxia's group of... I don't even know...

Johnny Vegas: A cover up.  A complete cover up.  But more importantly... What's this rehire Mitaxia BULLSHIT?!

Terra Skye: Seems like she's unhappy about JC's firing of her and now she's gotten her 'friends' to help her in forcing JC's hand... I don't think he'll like that.

Johnny Vegas: Well he's off competing at UGWC's Melee thing or whatever... So Pfft.  What a great leader he is.

Terra Skye: Whatever.  And either way, I have a bad feeling about this.  But we're onto the next match now, yeah?  Eli Goode and Sah'ta Thor, who's out here now... Now that his estranged son in law isn't trying to talk to him.

DING DING!!

As soon as the bell rings, Thor charges in with a clothesline and knocks Eli Good to the mat. He bounces off the ropes, and nails Goode with a leg drop before springing up, bouncing off the ropes, and nailing another leg drop onto Goode. He bounces up one last time, turns and nails a backflipping double knee drop, and goes for a quick pin

Terra Skye: Thor wasting no time here.

Johnny Vegas: Look how old he is, he's got none to waste!!

Terra Skye: Aren't you like 80?

One!!

Two!!

Goode kicks out, Thor stays on him and starts hammering his head with some clubbing blows. The ref starts the 5 count, Thor breaks it off eventually and stands, backing the ref up. As he turns, Eli Goode springs to his feet and nails him with a 540 kick, knocking the vet back into the ropes. As Thor bounces off, Goode nails him with a spear, but gets to his feet grabbing at his injured shoulder.

Terra Skye: Goode unable to capitalize, how was he even cleared to compete?

Johnny Vegas: How the fuck is old man Thor cleared to compete at all? The dude is clearly on his last legs.

Terra Skye: Because Sah'ta Thor is a legend in this industry, Johnny! Don't be so jealous that he's still in there competing when many superstars younger than Thor called it quits well before then.

Johnny Vegas: It's called knowing when to call it a day. Eli's gonna mop the floor with this chump!

Thor gets to his hands and knees, only to have Goode charge in and kick him in the midsection as hard as the younger man can. He then drops a knee into the back of Thor's head. He then pulls the older man vertical, and nails him with a hurricanrana, hooking the legs and going for the pin.

Johnny Vegas: Time to be put out to pasture old timer!

One!!

Thor kicks out emphatically, getting to his feet as quickly as Eli does. Eli goes for another 540 kick, but Thor ducks and catches him, backing up and dropping the younger man over the top rope. Goode gets to his feet slowly, only to have Thor vault over the top rope and nail him with a suicide dive, taking both men down to the floor on the outside

Johnny Vegas: Did he just break a hip? Even if he did, both men are down now but I'm sure Eli is the only one capable of getting back up!

Terra Skye: Oh stop it Johnny. However this one goes, this might be the match of the night!

The two slowly start getting vertical, Good reaching his feet first. He grabs Thor by the hair, and leads him to the steel steps, where he bashes his face into them, and starts nailing him with elbows to the back of the head under Thor is down on one knee. He backs away then, raising his arms up before charging in to nail Thor with the 'Goode Deal' but the veteran moves and Goode crashes over the steps, and onto the floor.

Terra Skye: Nobody home! That looks like it hurt!!

Johnny Vegas: Steel don't give nothin but hurt, but I still have the faith in my boy.

Boy: Shoe?

Johnny Vegas: No, not you, idiot!

Thor climbs the steps, and hops off, nailing a stomp onto Eli's knee. He pulls the younger man up, and slides him into the ring. He follows, and pulls Goode vertical. He lifts him into a Tombstone position, but Goode squirms and gets free. He shoves Thor away. Thor turns and runs in for a clothesline, only to get caught in a fireman's carry into the Goode Bye!! Eli goes for the pin:

One!!

Two!!

Three!!

DING DING DING!!

Johnny Vegas: Woohoo, my boy did it!

Kelly Carmichael: The winner of the match, by pinfall: ELI GOODE!

Terra Skye: What an incredible match with back-and-forth action! In the end, Eli toughed it out and was able to pull out the victory over Sah'ta. But I think both men should receive a round of applause if you ask me.

Johnny Vegas: It's too bad Eli can't get it, too, because of this stupid Virus crap. But yeah, blah blah, give Thor his credit too. It was a good match and even better, it's another one checked off and one match closer to me going to the bar tonight... wooo!

Terra Skye: Uhh, the bars are still closed too, dumbass.

Johnny Vegas: The fuck they are!

Post Chaos 03 - Revealing the Secret

After Chaos 93

Imperial Enterprise Property 

Baltimore, USA

Chaos 93 had come and gone and in the aftermath issues come to light that should have been handled. Nathaniel Grant had managed to make it to the Imperial Enterprise colonial era manor that he had been staying in for his trips to Baltimore. The three story manor contained more than enough room for every associated with Insidious or the larger Empire of Blood to rest comfortably. In fact, we find Nathaniel Grant sitting in a richly appointed den holding a bag of ice to the bag of his head as he watches his matches from Chaos 92 and 93 over and over again. As he listens to words spoken by the commentary team he sinks back into the chair wondering if he had chosen wrong with his plans. Clicking to the Chaos 93 playback he sees the scene between Knox and Astryd play out like the trainwreck it mimicked.

"You okay Dad?"

These thoughts were interrupted by the voice of his daughter Astryd. He takes a minute to clear his head before taking a deep calming breath.

"That was some fine shit you pulled Astryd. Though I can't blame you for ambushing him like that. A heads up would have been nice."

Astryd shakes her head as she looks at the still looping matches for a moment before she reaches over and turns off the television.

"I did what I had to to prove a point. Though it was actually Hope's idea. Though I doubt he will believe that you had nothing to do with that segment. But seriously Dad I know the family 'things aren't going all that great' look. So tell me what is wrong."

There is an awkward silence as Nathanial's arms start to tremor as he sits there. The shaking lasts for about a minute during which Nathaniel sits there unable to speak or move. Astryd stands there watching this with a worried look on her face. He reaches over for a bottle of water and then drops the bag of ice beside the chair.

"Of course I am not alright Astyrd. I am quietly dying. The tremors have been getting more frequent lately. Go get Aaron and Kyuubi. I might as well tell them this as well."

Astryd leaves the room as Nathaniel sits there staring at the black television as he tries to get his thoughts in order. A few moments later Asytrd comes back with Aaron and Kyuubi in two. Nathaniel signals for them to sit. Once they Nathanies looks at them each with a silent stare before finally speaking.

"What I am about to tell you is something that can't become public until after the end of my career. The less people who know what I am about to tell you the better. Isabella is not to get a word of this before the end. Swear that what I tell you will not reach her ears. You will understand in a moment."

As the other three nod their agreement tears start to fall down Nathaniel's cheeks.

"We swear Dad. What is it?"

"Well Jake and Poppy have known this for a few weeks now after i left some papers out in my office. I was told about six months ago that I  have a brain tumor the size of my thumb  that they can't operate on. They gave me five years to live. That is what has been causing the ever worsening headaches over the last couple of years. "

He stops to wipe his face.

"I didn't plan on coming back to the ring. I would have happily stayed home being the old man to the horde of kids our clan now has. Yet, I also was told that the dormant Parkinson's from my mother's side of the family had been triggered by the tumor. Which will take the use of my mind from me within the next year and half at best. The day they told me that I submitted my contract to Carnage Wrestling."

There is silence as Nathaniel lets his words sink in for a moment.

"Why if you know that wrestling could kill you before then?"

"That is exactly why Aaron. I don't want to die a piece of my mind at a time. Already I am losing bits of my life which only makes my choice not to drag you down with a slow death. You are all old enough to know how Parkinson's destroys people. I refuse to do that to this family. I would rather die in a wrestling match than lose what makes me who I am. I don't want the kids to seem like that and worst of all I don't want you to resent me after I die."

These words trail off into silence as Nathaniel waits for their reactions.

"How long until you end it?"

"I don't know Lu Chen but it will be just before I lose control of my mind or the shaking becomes too much to handle. I don't know when but I have chosen to face Death head on to make my passing a clean break instead of a lingering deterioration."

With that Nathaniel stands up and walks out of the room to head to his room to go try and sleep leaving his children to discuss what they had just learned.