Vault Hunter [EOD X*Crown #2]
Oct 14, 2020 2:00:26 GMT -5
Mongo the Destroyer, The King, and 1 more like this
Post by Dylan on Oct 14, 2020 2:00:26 GMT -5
01-09-20
Minneapolis, Minnesota
XHF HQ
Wide shot of the XHF headquarters.
We fade in to Dylan Black, newly crowned X*Crown Champion, and his nurse. It's been about 30 hours since he left the Sky Stadium in New Zealand. A quick flight home and hospital trip and he's now in beau... in gorge... in Minnesota. He walks in through the doors elevator and walks up to the secretary desk. It's a barren wasteland in the small lobby. The nurse takes a seat in a chair as Dylan dings the bell. From somewhere offscreen comes Bonnie Jenkins, resident XHF ring announcer and secretary for Mongo. She walks up to Dylan, adjusting her mask.
Bonnie Jenkins: Can I help you?
Dylan: I'm here to see Hawke. Or Mongo. Not sure who would have the keys to the X*Crown vault.
She stares blankly at him.
Bonnie Jenkins: I'm sorry, what? I'm afraid there's no such thing as an X*Crown vault.
Dylan does the confused white guy face.
Dylan: Are... are you serious Bonnie? I was at All That Glitters last night. I won the X*Crown, beating Rob Arnold.
He pulls the collar of his shirt down, to show the nasty, stitched up scar the exploding ring left on his chest. She still doesn't quite get it, so he gestures for his nurse to come over with a bag. He pulls out the CWA Championship, hoping to job her memory. Her jaw drops, and she now understands.
Bonnie Jenkins: Oh my goodness, I expected you to be taller! My apologies, Dylan. Let me see if Mr. Hawke can see you now.
She scurries away, probably in embarrassment as Dylan slings the CWA Championship over his shoulder. He stands in silence for a moment, before Bonnie returns.
Bonnie Jenkins: Mr. Hawke is currently in a meeting with some of the top XHF brands right now, discussing End of Days and whatnot. He left this for you, though, and said he'd find you in the vault later.
She hands him a rather interesting key ring. It's just an overly large ring with one key on it. Bonnie then points down the hall.
Bonnie Jenkins: If you go down that hall there, and take the elevator to the basement, and then go down the left hall you'll find a large vault door, similar to one found at a bank. And that is the X*Crown vault.
Dylan nods, and motions for the nurse to follow him. They walk down the hall and get to two elevators.
Recovery Nurse: Which one are we supposed to take?
Dylan: Not sure it matters. Since the theme seems to be left sides and such, let's use this one.
He pushes the open door button, and it opens. They both walk in and she pushes the basement floor button. The elevator begins its descent and Dylan turns to the nurse.
Dylan: You know... you never told me your name. You've been tending to me for about a month now and I haven't even learned it.
Recovery Nurse: Yes you have, you were just way too hopped up on pain drugs to have been functioning very well.
Dylan: Well... what's your name?
Recovery Nurse: My name is Lexi.
Dylan: It's nice to finally know your name, Lexi.
Lexi: It's nice to- well I already know your name, but... sorry I'm not great at social... stuff, ha.
Dylan chuckles, and they stand in silence. The door "dings!" open and they exit, walking down the left hall. They come to a large vault door. This must be it. The X*Crown vault. He takes the key and puts it in the center slot, and turns. CLICK! He's in. He grabs the handle, turns it, and pulls the door. It swings open, and an angelic heavenly sound plays as golden lights come over Dylan and Lexi. All edited in of course. The room is laden with purple velvet everywhere. It's truly an amazing sight.
Lexi: Wow. This is-
Dylan: Atrocious...
Huh?
Lexi: What do you mean? It's gorgeous!
Dylan: Oh sure, I mean it's really great and all. But look at this!
He picks up a picture of Maverick's victory at A Very AWF Christmas 2019. He looks at all the overwhelming purple everywhere, and it clicks.
Dylan: Oh my god. Nobody has set foot in the vault for 8 months!
Lexi wears a confused look on her face.
Dylan: Sorry. Ever since I first heard about the vault I knew that I had to lay eyes on it. And to do that, I needed to win the X*Crown. I'd always heard how guys like Bobby, Jack and Rob all decorated the hell out of the vault. And it just... appalls me, how 4 champs have come and gone since Mav and not one even opened the vault door!
He shakes his head.
Dylan: Sorry, this cannot do. We're going to need to make some changes around here.
Hawke: Mr. Black! Welcome!
They turn around, and see Hawke, followed by two burly men carrying a large case, entering the vault. Dylan eyes the case as Hawke begins to speak.
Hawke: I see you've already found your way in. That's good. You like it?
Dylan looks around, slowly nodding.
Dylan: It's... alright. Could certainly use a few changes here and there, but I am excited to be in here.
He looks around again, a little more slowly, really taking everything in.
Hawke: Not quite to your liking, huh?
Dylan shakes his head.
Dylan: The purple's a bit much. Too much. Thinking I might do some renovations. Clear out the Mav stuff and add a little more... me.
Hawke nods along.
Hawke: Nice! It's nice when the champ adds their personal flair to the vault. What're you thinking?
Dylan looks wall to wall, painting a mental picture in his brain.
Dylan: A lot, to be honest. Might hire someone to come out and scope the place, build it to be my own.
Hawke: Well as long as it's to your liking, that's what matters.
He gestures to the large case brought in earlier. The two burly men have vanished but the lid is now ajar.
Hawke: Here's something to help you get started.
He opens the case to reveal the championships within the case. All the championships of the XCrown.*
Hawke: This here is your pride and joy. The belts of the X*Crown. Currently, it's missing a few of it's championships, courtesy of Rob Arnold.
Dylan: So I heard. The WWO, SEX, ECF, ICW, and BDDWF Championships were all handed away, correct?
Hawke: And the EPW Championship too.
Dylan: Oh jeez. So six championships have to be found. Do we have any idea where they are?
Hawke: The ECF World Heavyweight Championship was given to Magnus, current head of GUNS. The SEX Championship to Dr. Strangelove, also of GUNS. The BDDWF Ultimate Championship was laid to rest with Chris Kanyon, out at his grave. The WWO Championship was left with Scorpion, who's since gone missing. No one knows where he is. And the ICW Championship resides with Jack Diamond.
Dylan: What about the EPW Championship?
Hawke: See, that's the thing. Rob handed that out just days ago, shortly before All That Glitters. We have no clue of its whereabouts. Some say it's been returned to AJ Phoenix, others think he just threw it in a random Chicago dumpster.
Dylan puffs his chest out.
Dylan: Sounds like I'm up for quite the task. Let Mongo know that all of these championships will be returned as soon as possible.
Hawke smiles.
Hawke: That's the spirit! Now, I have other official business to attend to. I'd shake your hand, but given the current global situation...
Dylan waves a hand.
Dylan: I'm not one for formalities anyways. Enjoy the rest of your day!
Hawke: You as well.
And with that, Hawke is gone. Lexi walks back up to Dylan.
Lexi: So what's the plan, captain?
Dylan: We redecorate in celebration of a new champion. And then, I have a date with Destiny.
We jump to a week later. We once again follow Dylan and Lexi down the elevator into the XCrown vault. She turns to him.*
Lexi: Are you excited to see how this turned out? You spent a week and a ton of money to have this set up. You think it was a good investment?
Dylan: Of course! I had an awesome idea, and the people who I hired were certain they could pull this off. I can't wait to see what they accomplished.
The elevator dings and they step out. A familiar sight as they head down the hall on the left and the large vault door comes into view. Dylan pulls the vault key out of his pocket and sticks it into the slot. He jiggles it for a moment, before it turns. He takes the handle and turns it, and the door swings open!
Anything that could have identified any of the past X*Crown Champions has been put into boxes and put into a corner. Rob Arnold's custom X*Crown straps from 2018, a stack of Diamond Lounge cards, a pack of cigarettes from Bobby, and some purple velvet from Mav all sit in one box.
The back wall has been adorned with many shelves, each hosting a championship within the X*Crown. A few are missing, the ones Rob recently handed away. There is a shelf below them, empty. Lexi points to them.
Lexi: What is that bottom shelf for?
Dylan: That belt is motivation. Ambition. Each shelf, you see how it hosts 5 championships apiece?
Lexi: Yeah?
Dylan: There's 20 championships in the X*Crown. Those take up the four shelves. The fifth is for championships that could be. The AXW Undisputed Championship, the GWA Championship. I aspire to fill that shelf with new championships in my reign.
Lexi: That'll sure be something.
Dylan: Of course.
Lexi: So, which of these do you want to take with you?
Dylan: Well I'll start with this...
He lifts his shirt to reveal his custom X*Crown belt around his waist.
Dylan: ...but I feel while it's a representation of the X*Crown as a whole, it won't be enough. I want to pick up... well I certainly want the ICW Championship. But after that, who knows what else I could carry? Such a selection.
Lexi: Dear, you don't have the ICW Championship.
Dylan: Yet! I assure that when I walk into my next defense I will have it in my possession!
So that was a fricken lie. He didn't gain any belts before he fought Brewer. Did he even try? Probably not.
Dylan: Alright, let's head out. I have this list here of possible locations we can find the missing X*Crown belts.
They walk out of the vault as we fade to black.
But wait, there's more. A montage from Dylan's match against Brewer at Master of Destiny (a Match of the Year candidate - check it out!) plays as Dylan's voice narrates.
Dylan: So maybe my attempts to secure some of the missing championships of the X*Crown haven't been as successful as I'd like. The ECF belt was in my possession until that masked asshole, whoever they are, attacked me and stole it. Magnus will certainly pay. GUNS will pay for letting some assailant attack their top star.
Dylan: But success will come in other forms. I promised Mongo I would undo what Rob did. Well, I promised Hawke but that's the same thing. I also promise that regardless what happens in the X*Crown match, I will walk out Champion. I have overcome insurmountable odds my whole life, and this is just another day in the shop for me. Nobody, and I mean nobody, can step up to me on my best day.
Dylan: Take a swing, I'm sure that you'll miss. In fact, I'll make sure of it. For the greater good of the Network.
Pause, as the shot displays Dylan's Ragnarok off the top rope.
Dylan: Lord Dominicus... Hyperion... Evil-Borg... Eddie D... Dev... you will all fall at the hand of the real messiah.
The shot fades to Dylan raising his custom X*Crown and the GWA World Championship, before fading to black.
Dylan: And that's not a theory, it's proven!
