Shifting Gears (Part 4 - Feat. Alicia Marcil & Johnny Storm)

[Press1269]

Alicia Marcil: What do you mean that you "don't" fly?

::She stood there, hands on her slender hips, staring a hole through both Press & Youth. The big man shrugged, continuing to pack his bag without bothering to give her the attention she was demanding. Youth smiled sheepishly at the beautiful woman, and turned to Press and placed a friendly hand on his shoulder.::

Youth: You know, if we used the private jet that Mr. Storm has provided Mrs. Marcil, then we can cover a lot more ground.

::Press glanced up with one of those looks that told Youth that he didn't appreciate the suggestion.::

Press: And what about our equipment?

Alicia Marcil: No problem, bring it on the jet with you.

::She offered the statement with a friendly smile, but it was disarmed immediately by the large man's scowl. He snorted, and then turned his attention to Youth who backed out of the conversation by returning to his bag.::

Press: We're not getting on a Jet.

::Alicia's eyes narrowed as she stared at the two, and she let out a frustrated huff loud enough for both men to hear her.::

Alicia Marcil: Exactly what in the hell is wrong with you? I haven't done anything but try and be nice to you, and it seems to me that you obviously have some sort or problem.

::His head snapped up suddenly, and he came to his full height right in front of her. He had moved so fast that she didn't even register the motion, and she was put back on her heels by the figure now looming over her. She stared up at him, trying her best not to appear intimidated, but by his expression it wasn't working. She started to say something, but his pointer finger was there, gently brushing against her lips.::

Press: Don't speak. Listen. Nothing personal Mrs. Marcil, but I don't like you. I don't like anything about your company, and I despise your employer. Matter of fact, Youth & I had no idea that we were still under any kind of contract with Johnny Storm considering that we haven't been in active competition in over two years. We had plans, and now they've fallen through thanks to that ass hole Jimmy Jackson, who has decided to bail on us. He was the reason we even showed up in SIN Wrestling, and the person who had us deliver his message to Tony Millenia. Then suddenly, he decides to back out on the deal, and now here we are...stuck in a contract with SIN Wrestling, and left looking like a couple of morons for attacking people at random. THEN, on top of all that, YOU come barging in on our personal business and inform us that we are somehow still affiliated with Johnny Storm. Now if that's not a kick in the balls, I don't know what is. So if you don't mind, we'll show up at the shows when we want, and how we want. Storm may control the contracts & the bouts with SIN, but we're the ones having to wage the wars. So you sign the fucking checks & the matches, and we'll take care of our end. Deal?

::She had built an immunity to him during his tirade, and he could tell this as she began to stand taller & straighter. Her hands went back to her hips, and she stared him right in the eyes, although it caused her to have to tilt her head all the way back just to do so. She thought about his words for a moment, and then finally shrugged her shoulders, and took a step back from his imposing frame.::

Alicia Marcil: I just thought I was helping. If I'm really such an inconvenience to your glamorous dynamic, then by all means, let us travel separately.

::Her words were dripping in sarcasm, and she waved her hand around the small hotel room as she said it.::

Alicia Marcil: But let me make this clear to YOU, and YOUR Partner. I'm here to represent the best interests for the Storm Corporation, and I don't give a shit whether you guys hate your boss or not...HE'S still the boss, and guess what....I'm the one he put in charge of this case, and thus that makes ME the BOSS! So as far as how you travel, and where you stay...I don't care. But the point I'm making is that YOU had better get there, and when you do, you had better listen to my instructions or we'll have some major problems.

::She whipped around on her heels, and stalked towards the exit with a determined walk. She reached the doorway, and pulled it open, turning slightly so that she could look over her shoulder at Press.::

Alicia Marcil: And if you continue to try and intimidate me, I'm going to be forced to call in a security detail. You wouldn't want that, now would you?

::She gave a slight smirk before making her way through the door, slamming it closed. Press stood there for a moment staring at the door in a curled lipped grimace. He slowly turned back to his duffle bag and began packing once again. Youth threw the last of his clothes in his bag, and then reached under the bed pulling forth the shotgun, and throwing it on the bed in front of him.::

Youth: So why do you have to be such a dick?

::Press looked up at his partner with a sidelong glance, and continued shoving his items into the bag.::

Press: What? You want to fly on that damn Jet so bad, go fly. Just don't forget that we have more important business than worrying about her and that ass hole Johnny Storm!

Youth: Don't talk to me like I haven't been doing this for the better part of three years now. It's been a long time since that night ontop of Johnny Storm's roof when we were released from Redemption's spell. We've been given a divine purpose...a mission. I realize, and understand that. But I still see no reason why we can't take some of the perks that come along with our other line of work, which is Professional Wrestling if you didn't remember. We're supposed to have a certain amount of glitz & glamour behind our business. Yet here we are sleeping in these second rate motels, and all Mrs. Marcil is offering is a change of pace. Would it be so bad?

Press: And what about Mrs. Marcil? She dated the legendary, "Johnny Storm".

::He paraded his hands around to emphasize his sarcasm, and continued with his dark commentary.::

Press: Any succubus willing to give in to that slime can't be trusted. Not to mention that we can't afford to have her blood on our hands. She's innocent of this deal we've struck with the powers that be, and as far as I'm concerned that's the way we should keep it. The more contact that we have with her, the harder it's going to be to keep her out of trouble with the wrong people. So don't get all upset with me just because you want to go live the high life for right now. I enjoy my cheap motels, and the rides through the country from one city to another.

::Youth lowered his head in defeat, and shrugged his shoulders before scooping up his bag.::

Youth: Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey..

::He looked up with a renewed enthusiasm, something Press hadn't seen in the young man in quite some time.::

Youth: We looked good out there at Illusion's didn't we?

::Press smirked, and zipped up his bag, throwing it over his own shoulder.::

Press: It wasn't too shabby. I wonder how Aphrodesia's doing?

Youth: Yeah...was all that necessary? I don't know how I feel about beating on a woman.

Press: She's the enemy, kid. There's no helping it. In this business it's kill or be killed, and if she's stepping in the ring next week to take us on, then we're going to give her everything she can handle, and then some.

Youth: Second match out, and we're already getting title shots. This is a good thing, No?

Press: Yeah, I guess so.

Youth: Then why do you seem so out of it? You've not been yourself ever since Jimmy Jackson called, and asked you to come to SIN and take care of some business for him. It's almost like you want us to fail here.

Press: It's not that...it's just........

::He pauses for a moment, and takes a few seconds to ponder his answer. Why was he feeling so out of place? This was what he had done ever since his return from Military School nearly 16 years ago. He had always been a fighter in one form or another, and it was there at Military School in his younger days that he had learned about discipline and the rules of engagement. He had also learned about how to fight, when to fight, and why to fight. That had helped him live in the real world for many years, but in the wrestling world.....in the Hunter's world, it was a different story. You struck before they got a chance to strike. You took chances, risks that you normally wouldn't take. You weren't just doing this for yourself, you were doing it for the entertainment value. Fists were like currency in this business, and the more you throw the more you earn. Yet here he was, sitting here wanting to pull his punches. He shook his head as if to clear the cobwebs, and the move didn't go unnoticed as Youth came to stand in front of him.::

Youth: Listen man..we don't have to talk about this right now if you don't want to. We'll do it when you're ready...alright?

Press: No, you deserve an explanation....I just haven't figured it all out yet myself.

Youth: I know how that is man, believe me.

Press: We had better get going if we are going to make it to Edmonton with enough time to check out the city.

Youth: Yeah, no problem.

::The two checked over the hotel room one more time, ensuring themselves that they had everything, and then finally picked up their bags, and the shot gun and made their way towards the door. Press reached for the handle, and then pulled the door open to reveal a startled Ace Rodgers. His eyes roam from the duo, to the shot gun, and then back to the duo holding his hands out to his sides.::

Ace: I'm just here for an interview!

::He uttered the sentence in a squeaky voice, and began a light tremor that seemed to pass from his feet to the rest of his body. Press smirked, and side stepped, allowing his partner to come through with the gun, and pack the car.::

Press: You couldn't have waited till we arrived in Edmonton?

Ace: Well, if that's best for you..then I can wait. I just wanted to jump the gun and interview you before anyone else got a chance to catch the scoop. You guys are good news!

Press: Really now?

Ace: Yeah, let me get the camera crew over here...

Press: Alright Ace, but you had better play this cool.

Ace: No problem.

::And with that Ace took off, almost tripping over his own feet as he disembarked to the van sitting at the far end of the parking lot. After a few moments the door to the van popped open, and out came a cameraman & Ace in a ridiculously nerdy outfit with bowtie and everything. The two made their way over to Press & Youth who continue their packing. Press turns around, and Youth closes the trunk, leaning against it with a grin. Ace turns to the camera man after reviewing the two men, and nods his head to begin rolling.::

Ace: Alright, I'm here with SIN Wrestling's newest Tag Team sensation The BombTrax, and I think there are a few questions that every SIN fan is probably wondering.....WHO is this mystery employer of yours?

Press: Wouldn't that discredit the Mystery?

Ace: Uh....I suppose so.

::Ace stupidly begins to ponder the counter question, and Press simply smirks as he leans against the trunk beside Youth, arms crossed over his chest.::

Youth: We might as well get this over with, considering.

Press: Yeah, yeah..I know. I just like to play with these guys sometimes. Truth is Ace, there is no mystery employer. Not anymore at least. You see, Youth and I have had a bit of unfortunate business problems as of late. Couriers haven't showed up on time, the guys in charge like yanking our chain. When we got the call about SIN we were thinking that we had hit pay dirt, but unfortunately things yet again didn't go our way. The guy who called us is none other than "Rock Hard" Jimmy Jackson, and as much as that might cream some of these fan's twinkies, he won't be joining us anytime soon. He backed out on our original deal, thus negating the contract that we had agreed to. You'd think that would be simple enough, leaving us free and clear. But we aren't in any normal business...we're in the wrestling business. So here we are, blowing up people's cars for no apparent reason. All because some fuck head named Jimmy Jackson is to chicken shit to get back in here and go after his Television Title. Not only that, he leaves us looking like a couple of dicks who go around randomly attacking people. Now that works for some people, but it simply isn't our style.

Ace: You mean to tell me that Jimmy Jackson was going to come back to SIN Wrestling over the Television Title?

Press: Yeah, that would be the sum of it. But 'was' is the operative word here Ace, cause it's not going to happen now. Asshole bailed on us.

Ace: How unfortunate....but about something you just said...you guys don't just go around randomly attacking people? How in the hell do you explain your attack on Aphrodesia!

Youth: Now I don't think you can exactly call that Random. We had no doubt walking INto Illusions that we would be the #1 contendors, so it was obvious after the fact was made to everyone else.....that we would have a message for the Tag Team Champions.

Ace: That message being the emergency room, cause that's exactly where she was sent!

::Both Youth & Press allowed a smirk, and shrugged their shoulders at the same time.::

Press: That's very unfortunate about our future opponent. Something inside of me told me that she was made of sterner stuff, so I figured that we needed to make this message loud and clear. That attack wasn't about getting the upper hand before our Title Bout, because frankly we need no advantage. This attack was what it was, a message to every piece of Spam Sucking, Jerry Springer Watching, Trailer Park Trash in that locker room that we weren't here to play around. From the very beginning this has been about one thing, and one thing only...the money. The more gold you aquire, the more money you make. The more affiliations you make, the more money you aquire. Get the picture?

Ace: And who else are the BombTrax Affiliated with? We've heard several rumors of an outside contributor, but nothing concrete has surfaced thus far.

::The big man's teeth grind together a bit, and Ace can tell that he just struck a nerve of some sort. Youth patted his partner on the shoulder in an attempt to try and alleviate some of that aggression. He stepped forward then, a little less casual as before.::

Youth: As far as we're concerned, no one from the outside owns the BombTrax. NO ONE!

Ace: Well the way I hear it, You have an open contract with none other than Johnny Storm, multiple time Gladiator Champion, and a former roster member of the Gladiator Wrestling Association, Fans Wrestling Federation, and Imperial Wrestling. Is there any chance that we might see a superstar of his caliber stepping into the ring anytime soon with the BombTrax beside him?

::Now he had gone and done it. He had pressed the issue like he always did. Like all of them always do. Hovering over our lives like fucking vultures, and picking away the pieces of us that we don't want anyone to see....and displaying those pieces in the spotlight for all. The media was a joke, and made a mockery of everything that it was supposed to be. Press stepped forward then, and Youth could do nothing but turn and make his way towards the drivers side door. He hopped in the car, closed the door, and fired up the engine. Press grabbed Ace by the collar of his shirt, and an expression of terror was displayed for all to see. He was lifted suddenly to a position that brought him an inch away from the big man's face, his hot breath breathing out onto the smaller man's neck. ::

Press: Get this through that pea sized brain of yours...Johnny Storm is coming no where near us, let alone BESIDE US! I'm sure before this is all over you'll have a huge expose about how Johnny Storm is backing us, and how we have that kind of clout...but let me make it heard here that we don't want that kind of coverage, and we don't need that kind of backing. He's a bastard. A piece of shit that will get dealt with if he ever makes it this far North. Now get the fuck out of my way, and don't worry about stopping by again. We have our own method of making promo's, and don't need anyone like you asking annoying fucking questions.

::He released the man, and he fell back onto his heel's...not stopping there as he back peddled to what he felt was a safe distance. Ace began adjusting his clothes as he stared on in contempt at the large man, who stepped over to the camera and jerked the viewfinder right into his face.::

Press: This Sunday at Impulse, there are going to be a few things taken care of. ONE, Aphrodesia & Cyber Trooper are going to drop the ball into our court, and we're going to run with it. TWO, after it's all said and done, there's not one fucking person in that back room that's going to go home that night feeling safe cause they know that there is a slim chance that they may have to face us sometime in the near future.....and SLIM in this business is enough to cause nightmares! Just remember these three short phrases, and you'll possibly come to understand where me & my partner are coming from.

FIGHT US IF YOU WANT TO
PIN US IF YOU CAN
BEAT US YOU WILL NEVER!

::He released the camera, causing the cameraman to stutter step backwards a bit before regaining his balance. Press stalked over to the passengers side, and hopped in. Youth wasted no time in backing the vehicle out into the road, and pulling away, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. Press was seething as he sat there thinking about what had just happened. He knew he had made a mistake from the get go even allowing the guy to push his buttons, but somehow he knew that THAT particular question would be made. He hated this. All of it. From the part where they were going into this whole situation without any direction, from the part where Johnny Storm still had some sort of control over their lives. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, and looked over to Youth who remained silent. He nodded his agreement, and both men dwelled on the upcoming week for the entire drive..........In Silence.::

**********

::Alicia Marcil made her way towards the Private Jet sitting in front of her, admiring the logo on the side which read "Storm Corporation". She had a determined walk, and the driver of the limo she had just gotten out of was right behind her struggling to keep up with her bags. The Captain of the jet stood beside the entry ramp, and nodded to her as she passed him. He quickly directed the driver to the storage hatch, and then followed her up the rampway. She slipped inside the opening, and made her way past the first few seats to the back where a leather couch spread out, along with a bar on the other end. She sat down and stretched out on the couch, and rubbed her temples. The Captain stood there for a moment before clearing his throat as to get her attention.::

Alicia Marcil: Wha? Oh yes, we're going to Edmonton, Alberta.

Captain: Very well Mrs. Marcil. Would you like anything before we take off?

Alicia Marcil: Nothing, thank you.

::The captain turned and made his way to the cockpit where his navigator was already setting up for their departure. She lay there for a moment thinking about the events of the day, and how mundane her new clients were. She was angry...angry at them for being so typical of wrestlers, and angry at Johnny Storm for assigning her to this case. Of all the people he could have gotten to do this, he chose her because of her experience with working in and around the wrestling environment...mostly because she had dated the man for several years. He was married now, and she had long since taken her leave from that relationship, but it didn't change their friendship, nor the fact that she was a member of the Board. So why was he taking such a personal interest in the success of two mid level talents who didn't even want his help? She reached over, and took up the satellite phone sitting close to the bar, and dialed the first number on the list labeled to it. The phone rang for just a moment before a voice answered on the other end.::

Voice: Alicia, how nice to hear from you. How are you doing up there in Canada?

Alicia Marcil: Actually I'm not having that great a time. Who are these neanderthals to you?

Johnny Storm: Their clients. Plain & simple.

Alicia Marcil: I smell bullshit. You aren't the type to keep those kinds of clients, and certainly don't go out on a limb to make sure that their covered the way you have with these guys.

Johnny Storm: I'm shocked and appalled that you would think such a thing. I treat all of our clients and business partners equally, and cover them all the same. What's wrong Alisha? Is this project a little to big for you to handle?

Alicia Marcil: You know that it damn well isn't! I'm just saying that these guys aren't giving me much of a chance. Matter of fact, the one called Press reacted exactly as you said he would.

Johnny Storm: A little hostile eh?

Alicia Marcil: You could say that. Not to mention he tried to intimidate me by bulking up on me.

Johnny Storm: Wait...he didn't do anything stupid did he?

Alicia Marcil: No, nothing like that. Although I'm pretty sure that most everything he does is stupid. It's just in his character. I guess what I'm asking you for is a little security.

Johnny Storm: I'm sure that I can arrange that. I'll send my own personal body guard down to take care of things. How's that sound?

Alicia Marcil: You're sending him? He's crazier than these guys!

Johnny Storm: Precisely why he'll be able to handle them. Don't worry, he's on his leash now. We've come to a rather strong familial understanding.

Alicia Marcil: Righttttt!

Johnny Storm: He won't be coming alone though. I've got another wrestler that I want you to take care of. I think you'll find that he's much more receptive to suggestions than the other two.

Alicia Marcil: Great, just great! You send me up here with these two yochals, and now you're adding a third. What the hell did I do to deserve this?

Johnny Storm: Hey! I think You'll really like Kevin, and if you don't....deal with it. I need you on this one personally Alisha, cause you are one of the few that I can trust with something this delicate.

Alicia Marcil: I'd rather be in my office back in Rome handling accounting problems, and working out overhead issues. What the hell makes you think I know anything about managing a wrestler....er...a..tag..team....errr....a .....a...FUCKING STABLE! Christ...is this going to be anything like that NWO bullshit I saw on TV a few years ago?

Johnny Storm: (chuckling) No, nothing like that. Just a few friends who need to be looked after as all. Whether they want the help or not, they're going to get it...and you're going to help me.

Alicia Marcil: Alright, alright. Is there anything else I should know?

Johnny Storm: Yeah, Krono's is a big guy too.

Alicia Marcil: God damn it, Johnny! Johnny......

::A dial tone answered her call, and she slammed the phone down on the receiver. She shook her head, and moved to one of the upright seats to strap in for take-off. She hadn't really gotten any more answers from that phone call than she had when he had come to her in person and asked her to go to Canada. Matter of fact, after this phone call, she now had another client to worry about. She shook the dark locks until they were out of her eyes, and she rested her head against the pillow behind her. She was going to figure out a way to make all of this work out, and everyone was going to get along just fine once she found her niche. She nodded as she closed her eyes, yes...this would all work out perfectly. And then she was asleep.::