The Hope Paradox Pt2: Pillars of Hardcore [OVN]

[Spike Kane]

The Violence Trio.

That’s the name they gave us. That’s the honour they bestowed upon us. The wonderful, and not so wonderful fans of this business we dedicate our lives to, after the absolute carnage the three of us caused in the main event of the GUNS Show season premier….

But I guess that’s either changed, or going to now. Right?

The Violence Foursome doesn’t really have the same ring to it. Sounds like something Mongo is into with three goats or something.

That being said…..we laid a benchmark down this year. Not just for us, not just for the level of violence we are willing, and capable of going to no….but for the entire XHF Network. We set the benchmark and ever since then everyone and their mother has been trying to top it, but let’s be frank, meaning absolutely no disrespect to the superstars around the network…

Nobody came close.

Then the rumblings began, people began to talk, some with excitement, others out of anger - for some unknown reason. I don’t know, maybe jealousy? Who gives a fuck, I’ve been dealing with jealous bitches my entire career….but alas, the talk started….the rumours began to spread….

They were going to do it again.

The Violence Trio were going to go to war for Christmas.

It might not be a trio anymore, but you can bet you can be damn sure it’s going to be a war.

~~~

“It wasn’t easy….”

We slowly pan over a black and white scene, a graveyard in Boston Massachusetts and of course it’s raining. It’s a funeral, of sorts, as a lot of people have either left or are walking away. One figure stands alone, staring at the gravesite that, according to the tombstone, belongs to Spike Kane.

“In the aftermath everyone reacted differently….”

There are quick flashes of those nearest and dearest to Spike Kane reacting to his death. The tears fall from Pandoras face, the denial on Rob Diamonds face, the anger on the face of Warren Kane. The figure still remains in front of the tombstone.

“It turned, almost as if the very notion of grief had been corrupted….it was hard to see.”

The figure bends down to take a knee in front of the tombstone, their hood pulled up to protect them from the rain.

“Some began to lose their way…..”

Now images of Rob Diamond teaming with James Gilmore quickly flash up, another of Warren retreating to his cult-like home, another of Astrid and Pandora leaving the wrestling school home that Spike had left them, and it falling into disrepair.

“I knew that if I stayed here. If I stayed with them…..”

Now the figure looks up, directly at the camera. Her bright blue eyes shining with the very thing she was named after….Hope.

“....I’d begin to hate you too.”

With a determined look, Hope rises to her feet standing next to her fathers grave, she flings her long coat behind her as she pulls a device out from the inside pocket and rolls her sleeve up to check her watch.

“So I tried to go home….”

Almost with anger Hope presses the big red button on the device, a sparkling bright blue light flickers out from it and encompasses her, before fizzling out.

“....I knew I shouldn’t have trusted that Thaddeus. He claimed to be a genius, but I think he was just a bumbling idiot.”

She stops for a moment as the energy dissipates, before pressing a bunch of different buttons in rapid succession.

“...so if I couldn’t go home? Well, then I’d find a new one, and somewhere along the way. I learned that you were alive.”

The same thing happens again, as the blue energy surrounds Hope before dissipating, however, standing behind her is a blonde man, in a long coat, with a cheesy smile on his face.

“...if it weren’t for Zap, I’d have been stuck here and lost here for years. Who knows who I-”

Suddenly we’re dragged back to the home of Tomo and Dax, as Hope’s voiceover is rudely interrupted by Tomo.

Tomo: Hold up. Zap?

Dax: …not again.

Spike: What? Who’s Zap?

Tomo: Did he say he was a Wizard?

Hope looks stunned by the recognition and the questioning.

Hope: ….yeah.

Dax: Did he have like a secret hidden second head?

Hope: Uh-huh….

Tomo: Did he tell you he had a spa-

Hope: Spaceship, yeah. Are you telling me you’ve met him?

Spike shakes his head wildly, having absolutely no clue what is going on. Dax slowly nods his head, but Tomo is burying his face into his hands.

Tomo: Does he know where we live?

Hope: Yeah, he’s the one who dropped me off here.

Tomo: Fuck….

Immediately Tomo begins scurrying across the floor, before pulling a huge book off the shelves, and flicking through the pages.

Spike: What’re you doing?

Tomo: Figuring out a way to hide us.

Spike: Why? This guy seems okay enough…

Dax: But he ain’t tho.

Tomo: This “guy” is Zaphod Beeblebrox, and he’s insane, and was once a God….a God we might have upset…so…

Dax makes a gesture with his hands we can assume is meant to be “disappear” before Spike mutters “fuck” to himself, and Hope pulls a grimace type grin at the three of them before we fade.

~~~

A lot of people think I underestimated Jesse Jamester…..those people are idiots. See, I know some of you dickheads floating around the XHF Network don’t quite get who I am. You don’t quite get how I operate. You just see a walking ego, and don’t even for a second stop to think of why I DO have such an ego. I’ve been everywhere, all around the world, and I’ve wrestled some of the absolute best talent this business has ever spat out. I’ve also wrestled some of the worst.

Those ones tend to disappear once they lose to the God of Xtreme.

However, as I’ve tried to mention a few times - often perhaps giving my opponents more respect than they deserve, and damn more than they show me….I’m a good judge of talent. I’ve got a knack for spotting who can do this job properly. Who has the balls to go the extra mile in the ring, who has the skill to back it up, and who has the drive to go further than anyone else….to do what is necessary to claim that victory.

I knew Jesse had before we even locked up.

So when the Murder Lizard was victorious, and his arm was raised during round one? I wasn’t shocked, I wasn’t bitter, and I wasn’t angry. I knew going into the match that both Jesse and Dylan had everything a wrestler needs to become a superstar…..and now here we are. Jesse….I don’t know if you bother watching FIRESIDE TV, but I gave you your props. I gave you your respect. You beat the two time X*Crown Champion, and a two time XHF Champion. Kudos….legit.

It only took me dropping your son on his head to motivate you.

Not that I’m planning on doing that again, no no no….although…..no! …I needed you invested Jesse, I needed to draw out the Murder in Murder Lizard, and you bet your ass I got what I wanted. Now, everyone knows what you’re capable of. Everyone knows the lengths you’re willing to go….and me? Well man, I tell people week in and week out, I do my research, I study my opponents.

Where better to study an opponent, than in the ring with them?

There’s a reason the likes of JFK and PRICE go out of their way to trick me, there’s a reason attacks and the like are always surprise, but at Oh Violent Night, there’s no sneaking, no twists and turns, just a flat out fight. Now, after last time? I know exactly what you’re bringing Jesse, and the heat is on you to live up to the standard you set. You came out on top last time, can you do it again? Can you prove you’re not a one hit wonder and prove you’re the most violent man in all of XHF..

Or did Spike Kane just push the right buttons the first time?

Speaking of buttons….how’s our resident cyborg doing? How’ve you been coping without your arm? I know it’s not the right thing to make fun of someone with a disability, and let’s be clear it’s not really a disability when it gives you an advantage is it? Still….it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy really could it?

Fuck Dylan Black.

You know, Steve let’s me use it as a back scratcher sometimes. It’s not that bad you know, you could probably market them and sell them on the XHF Shopzone, or fucking stand outside the arena and sell them yourself for a buck a piece. I digress though, because if I’m really honest with you Dylan? I wouldn’t want it back if I had even the slightest idea what Steve has been doing with it since he stole it.

…..it’s gross.

I actually like you Dylan, as fucked up as that sounds because I also want to cave your skull in, but….I see a lot of myself in you. I bet my therapist could have a field day with that. You’ve got the kind of arrogance people say I have, and the think is, we can both back it up. You’re arguably the top star of the Network Era, and that has to be commended. I don’t give a fuck what anyone else might say behind your back, or in hushed tones where nobody can hear….you set a standard, and that is something very few people even have the ability to do, let alone the balls. That, is why I went for you, that is why I cost you the Battle of the Best. Lay down the marker…

If you’re the best?

Well then I’m here to beat you and take your place.

Came pretty close, but hey, can’t fault the effort, can’t fault the design, just didn’t account for the wrath of the Murder Lizard first time around. This time it’s all in the brain, and considering it was so close last time Dylan, without your cybernetic arm to help you….how do you think you’re going to do? You came up short with two limbs…

What’re you gonna do with only one?

I mean, you can go fuck yourself, that’s one thing you can do. Which is probably the best and worst transition to numero quatro. The unknown variable. The wildcard. The grade A psychopath.

Price.

No, you don’t get caps. Not from me you prick.

You got me though, can’t deny that. You got me. Twice. Prick. It’s funny to me though, because honestly? All three of you have Spike Kane living rent free in your head, but Price? You got it the worst man, you got it bad baby. The hatred you have has been burning you up over the years, just stewing and stewing, brewing and twisting you up. I mean you were a dickbag before then, a violent one too - fucking clocked that a might away. S’why I ever bothered trying to recruit you. Much like Dylan, I see a lot of myself in you, but you Price? You’re so wrapped up in being that tough guy, being the asshole twenty four seven….you’ve let the hatred and anger warp everything about you.

I don’t even remember why you’re angry.

That’s how little whatever it was, meant to me. I forgot about it, because you mean that little to me. If I hadn't taken an interest in your career, and tried to guide you through the landmines I’d had the unfortunate experience of stepping on? Shit…

I wouldn’t even know who you were.

See, back in the old days Price, I was still scrapping to earn my rightful place at the top of the mountain. Back then, Spike Kane was just a big ball of violent potential. Since then? Oh boy the difference between us is a fucking chasm. You went to all that effort to get your hands on me, but every time you had to catch me unaware, no more though Price….I guess it’s pretty straight forward really, because what I have to say to you? I have to say to all three of you.

This isn’t going to be a wrestling match, it’s going to be a bloodbath.

….and I am the Blood God.

All Bloody Hail.