With BattleZone finished for another week and with all the fans, stars and crew long gone home the arena is eerily silent. The ring is still set up in the middle of the arena, the crew won’t be back until the morning to dismantle it and transport it to the next show, and in the ring stands Major Richard Kendall.
Then a few familiar faces appear on the entrance ramp, walking towards the ring. Each of them talking to each other, unsure as to what exactly they’re doing here.
At the front of the group is Steve Pinex, closely followed by Nana Moto and Benedict Auslander. Then there’s Matthew Bowden and all three members of Black Hollywood, Randal Williams, Jeff Starxxxx and Marcus Briggs.
The seven MWA stars climb into the ring where Kendall greets them.
Kendall- Thank you gentlemen, and Nana, for agreeing to meet me out here.
Auslander- Actually, I had no idea who I was supposed to meet. If I’d have known it was you, I might not have bothered.
Pinex- What’s this ‘bout, Major? Why we been herded out here like damn cattle?
Kendall- Because I need your help, dear boy. I need all of your help, and so do Mick Monsoon and Earls Bickelsbottoms.
Starxxxx- What the hell are you talking about?
Kendall- Some new evidence has come to light today that August Joyce was not acting alone in the abductions of Mick and Earls… and the attacks on you, Jeff, and Kent Baxter here tonight. He’s been getting his orders from someone, doing someone else’s dirty work.
Bowden- So some coward’s been using Joyce, so what?
Kendall- So what? Let me ask you something… do you enjoy the large amounts of cash you get for working for the MWA? Do you want to climb the ladder and enjoy a taste of MWA Championship gold? Because if you do, you’ll want to join me in putting a stop to this man. This man that is intent on bringing the MWA to its knees.
Pinex- That’s a big claim, Major. Many have tried to bring down the MWA, not one has succeeded. What makes you think this guy is gonna succeed where all those other fools have failed?
Kendall- You know why those other men and women have failed to bring the MWA down? Because the MWA stayed strong, worked together and fought hard against whatever and whoever came up against it. And that’s what we have to do once more. We have to fight back before it’s too late.
Williams- So what do you propose?
Kendall- A little covert operation.
Nana- When?
Kendall- Right now.
Bowden- Now? What are we supposed to do?
Kendall- August Joyce is still in the building, nursing his wounds from his run in with Mr Starxxxx earlier tonight. I’ve got Dante’s men trailing him. When he leaves the building Dante will contact me, then we make our first move and follow Joyce. We track him to wherever his boss is holed up and, hopefully, we find Earls and Mick.
Bowden- And you think this is actually going to work?
Pinex- It’ll work.
Bowden- What makes YOU so sure?
Pinex- I know the Major, I know he’s a cunnin’ and connivin’ sonnuvabitch. Besides, you know people call him Major? That aint for fun, kid. Guy’s a vet, a damn smart one too. So if I were you I’d quit askin’ questions and do what he says. That goes for all y’all.
Just then there’s a beep and a crackle from the walkie talkie that Kendall has in his hand.
Dante- Dick, he’s on the move. Getting into a blue sedan. I’ll have someone delay him all they can, you need to move now. Over.
Kendall- That’s our cue. Everybody in?
A blue sedan hurries down the freeway, weaving in and out of traffic as it flies along. Several car lengths behind is a small white van, being driven by Richard Kendall. The Major weaves in and out of traffic too, trying to keep pace with the sedan, but also making sure to stay far enough away not to be spotted by the sedans driver, August Joyce.
Pinex- Damn, Major, you realise we ain’t belted up back here, right?
Steve Pinex sways from side to side as the van weaves around the traffic, his shoulder constantly hitting the side of the vehicle.
Auslander- Where the hell is he going? We’ve been driving for over an hour already!
Kendall- Looks like he’s heading out of the city. Hopefully not too far out, else it might start to get tricky to follow him un-noticed.
Bowden- I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
Marcus Briggs leans forward and clips Matthew Bowden around the back of the head.
Briggs- Shut the hell up, fool.
Just then the van swerves violently and everyone in the back yells out.
Starxxxx- What the hell was that!?
Williams- You sure you have your license, Major?
Kendall- Joyce just turned off. Looks like he’s headed to an old industrial estate.
Nana- Wherever the hell he’s going he better get there soon!
The unlikely group begin to get more uncomfortable as the van begins to bounce all over the place, a sign that they’re heading onto a badly looked after piece of road. Suddenly it gets dark too as Kendall turns off the headlights.
Pinex- We goin’ dark?
Kendall- There’s no other cars out here, if I leave the lights on he’ll spot us far too easily.
Pinex leans over the drivers seat to look out the windscreen. He sees nothing but darkness.
Pinex- So why you so keen to be the hero? The MWA’s knight in shining armour?
Kendall- Remember when Barrett was in charge of the MWA? Remember all the crap people threw at him? All the events that the MWA got itself caught up in. Bombings, train crashes, the Dark Circle, heists and god knows what else. And Barrett stood strong at the head of the company. He sent a message out that resonated with all his employees. But since Alarra took over; it’s been different. The MWA has been weak; it’s gone soft. All I want to do is to make sure that the MWA doesn’t forget what made it great. To make sure the MWA continues its long history of standing by one another in times of crisis.
Pinex nods, understanding where the Major is coming from.
Kendall- Alright, looks like we’re here.
The van slows to a stop and Kendall pulls off the dilapidated road and parks behind an old building, just a couple of hundred yards away from where August has pulled over.
Kendall- Randal, you’re up.
The warehouse looks like it’s been abandoned for some time. There’s light coming from inside but there’s no sign of anyone as Randal Williams closes in on August’s car. He uses a row of trees as cover, making sure August doesn’t see him coming.
August appears to be hesitant about going into the building, as if he’s anxious about what’s inside. This gives Williams all the time he needs as he quietly steps up behind August and grabs him.
August struggles but Williams grabs him tight, putting a hand over his mouth to muffle any cries for help. August breaks free momentarily, enough time to turn round and see his attacker. Randal uses the opportunity to punch August hard in the face, grabbing him and tossing him into the side of the car.
Randal- You rat bastard! You’re gonna pay for what you’ve done.
August- Please…I didn’t want to hurt your friend.
Randal- Yea, well it’s too late for words. You’re coming with me. And we’re gonna make sure you’re in Miami for your match with Jeff!
Randal punches August again, harder this time, and August slumps to the floor holding his nose. Randal pulls him to his feet, puts him in a headlock and begins to walk away with him, back towards the van.
As Randal is walking away he hears a noise behind him. He looks over his shoulder to see the face of Mick Monsoon at a window on the corner of the warehouse. Mick is motioning for Randal to come closer.
Randal turns away and keeps dragging August back to the van. As he gets closer he calls out.
Randal- Jeff!
Jeff appears from the darkness.
Randal- I just saw Mick, on the corner of the building. Go see if you can help him.
Jeff- On it
Jeff speeds away towards the building.
Kendal- Plan’s going well so far.
Kendall speaks to himself as he looks at August Joyce, tied up in the back of the van.
???- I’d say it is.
Kendall turns to see Mick Monsoon with a massive smile on his face, being flanked by Jeff Starxxxx.
Kendall- Mick! Thank god, are you ok?
Mick- Yea, I’m alright, thanks to Jeff here.
Kendall- Good. Good.
Mick- Listen…I hear that Jeff here is due to face August at Revelations?
Kendall nods back at Mick.
Mick- Well, there’s no way that match is happening without me.
Kendall- I’ll call Alarra and get it set up, I’m sure she’ll be glad to have you back in the black and white stripes.
Jeff and Mick walk away as Pinex comes up to the Major.
Pinex- What’s next, Major?
Kendall- Stage two. You, Bowden and Briggs are coming with me to check out the front of the building. Have Nana and Benedict go round the back to cover any exits, I don’t want these guys getting away.
Pinex- Got ya. I’ll rally the troops.
Steve Pinex, Matthew Bowden and Marcus Briggs are all stood by the front entrance to the warehouse, with Richard Kendall right behind them.
Bowden- I say we just rush them. Open the door, charge in and nail ‘em.
Pinex- You do that. See how far you get befo’ they shoot yo ass.
Bowden- You always think you’re right, don’t you? Always got the answer. And if someone doesn’t agree with you, you think you have the right to beat some sense into them?
Briggs- Steve’s right. We don’t know how many of ‘em there is.
Pinex grins at Bowden.
Bowden- Fuck you, Pinex.
Pinex- Watch yo’ mouth, kid. Don’t go givin’ us away.
Bowden- You think I want to be here?
Pinex- Hell, I know you don’t. An’ that’s half the fuckin’ problem. You don’t wanna do a thing for the MWA. You don’t want no part of savin’ the company that pays your damn wages. You’re damn right about bein’ taught a lesson. At Revelations you need someone to beat some frickin’ sense into you!
Pinex looks up at Marcus Briggs.
Pinex- An’ I think I know jus’ the man for the job.
Briggs spots Pinex’s look.
Briggs- Hell to the no, don’t get me involved in this shit.
Kendall- Shut the hell up, all of you. Looks like there’s about 3 or 4 men in there.
The others turn round to see Kendall, stood on an old stack of tires looking through a crack in the wall.
Kendall- And I can see Earls. He’s in a room in the far corner, first floor. One guy guarding the room. Steve, get round the back. You and Auslander go in, neutralise the guard and grab Earls, get him back to the van. Get Nana to be your lookout.
Pinex- Got it.
Kendall- Marcus, Matthew, you two stay here and guard the front. I can see an open window round the side of the building, I’m going to sneak in and take a look around.
The men nod as Pinex and Kendall go off in opposite directions.
Major Richard Kendall has climbed up an old fire ladder at one side of the building, managing to sneak through a broken window onto a ledge overlooking the warehouse. He looks around, seeing Pinex in the distance as he grabs a guard and locks on a sleeper hold. A few moments later the guard is down and Auslander is opening the door to help free Earls Bickelsbottoms.
Kendall also spots a group of people sat around a table playing cards. There’s beer cans and guns laying on the table.
And then there’s another man, walking around the room whilst talking on his cell phone. He moves closer to the edge of the ledge, trying to hear what’s being said. He listens hard, the man is facing away from Kendall and he can’t see who it is.
????- Yea, we’re in the old warehouse. … Yes, Mick and Earls are locked up. … August should be here any moment, then we can roll out and head on to Miami.
The man stops talking, listening intently to whoever is on the other end of the line.
????- So what do you want us to do next? Do we make our move at Revelations? … Why not? … Sorry, sir, it’s just we’re so close now.
The man ends the call, turning around.
Kendall’s jaw drops when he sees the face of the man. He almost rubs his eyes and does a double take, not quite believing it at first. After letting it sink in for a moment Kendall looks up and sees that Pinex and Auslander are leaving the building with Earls. Kendall heads back out of the window as he goes to re-join his crew.
Back at the van Mick Monsoon is talking with Randal Williams and Jeff Starxxxx while August is still tied up in the back of the van.
Steve Pinex, Benedict Auslander and Nana Moto then appear, closely followed by Earls Bickelsbottoms.
Jeff- Hey, good work.
Randal- Earls, good to see you’re safe, man.
Earls- Thanks boys. Good to be free. I hear I have Kendall to thank for this, where is he?
Pinex- He went to take a look around inside.
Nana- Yea, apparently he didn’t think I should get involved. I came all the way out here, gave up my night, for what? To play lookout?
Benedict- Hey, someone had to do it.
Nana- Screw you.
The group look at Nana and Benedict.
Pinex- They were like this when I got to ‘em, been arguin’ like a couple a kids all goddam night.
Just then Richard Kendall appears, flanked by Marcus Briggs and Matthew Bowden.
Earls- Richard, there you are. Thank you!
Kendall- No problem, Earls. But it’s these guys you should be thanking, they did the hard part.
Pinex- So what now? We goin’ back to take out these chumps?
Kendall- No.
Nana- No!? Then what was the point of all of this!?
Earls- You saw who it was, didn’t you?
Kendall nods.
Kendall- And I know he’s not the top of the chain.
Earls- Meaning?
Kendall- I heard him on the phone. He’s carrying out orders for someone.
Pinex- So now what?
Kendall- Now August Joyce has some explaining to do. We’ve got to find out what he knows. We need something, anything, that can help us draw this guy out into the open.