All is still.  All is silent.  It is dark, desolate, and solemn.  Almost every soul has come and gone.  The seats rest empty.  The ring sits, stained with the blood of the triumphant, the blood of the fallen, the blood of the conquerors, and the blood of the conquered.  Every few seconds, the sound of the arena maintenance crew, cleaning the arena, can be heard, but nothing more.  At the center of the ring, with ropes already taken down, with the cell and ladder already removed, sits a steel chair, all but vacant.  Occupying this chair is a man whose entire world changed in one moment which took only a second, but lasted an eternity.  He leans forward in the chair, with his head burried in his hands.  He breathes deeply, in and out.  His mask is tattered and torn, and his own crimson juice is dried and caked on his unseen face.  His attire is the same as it was hours ago- when he competed in this very ring.  Laying on the battle-worn mat beside the chair is his half of the HCW World Tag Team Title belts.  In his lap rests his new acquisition, constructed of gold and leather, a prize he did not defeat anyone for, a prize that he has never aspired to attain.  It is virgin to human possession, it has never been defended in combat before, it has never been strapped around a warrior's waist.  It is the Hardcore Wrestling Alliance Championship, a title comparable to the HCW Championship, the very championship this individual lives for.

A voice calls out in the distance, its words resonating throughout the barren arena.

Arena Crew Member: Hey buddy- we're closing down in a little bit.  You gotta leave, or we have to call security.

The man in the chair lifts his head from his leather gloved hands and nods slowly and deliberately, but not in the direction on the voice.

Arena Crew Member: I'm serious, pal.

The sound of the crew heading up the steps of the arena and passing through a pair of heavy double doors is heard, followed by ominous quiet.  The man in the chair lets out a sigh and sits back against the cold steel.  He runs his hand over the golden title belt on his lap, and snorts.

Creature: Oh what irony...I worked so hard, strived for so long, to reclaim what I never lost, the HCW Championship.  And look at me now.  The night of my destiny has come and gone, and I am left with a title whose existence I never bothered to recognize.  For that matter, a title no one ever bothered to recognize.  I am the HWA Champion.  The first ever.  The only ever.  I possess something Inphino Blitz strived for, but never claimed, and he holds something that I fought to regain, something I need to sustain life.  Hmph.  And it would all be different if it wasn't for one man.  One very "complicated" man...

With a great pain surging through him, Creature rises from the chair, HWA Title in hand.  He kneels down, with joints popping and muscles aching, and picks up his HCW Tag Team Title.  He looks over both pieces of gold.

Creature: A double champion, once again.  I attract gold as Complicated's corpse will attract flies!  Damn him!  What right does he has to meddle in my business?  What right does he have to challenge me?  He is the sole reason I am not the HCW Champion right now, he is the sole reason that my own partner holds a victory over me, and he is the sole reason that...that...that I am the HWA Champion.

Creature glances back down at the title.  A smirk crosses his face, and he begins to nod in approval.

Creature: The HWA Champion, Creature.  Interesting ring to it.  Hmm...maybe this is not such a bad situation, oh no.  I am indeed a World Champion.  I am indeed a DOUBLE champion.  And more importantly than that...I am the first man EVER to hold both the HCW and HWA Championships.  Indeed, this may be a blessing in disguise.  But I can never forget the fact that Complicated dared to turn his back on me.  It wasn't my fault that "fate" chose Blitz and I to both pin our opponents, to become the HCW Tag Team Champions.  It wasn't my fault that he was one of the only members of Pimp Industries to not have gold as we dominated HCW for months.  It was his fault.  It was all that God damn street thug's fault.  And if he wants to face me so dearly that he would cost me a match to Inphino Blitz, if he wants to Feel the Abyss that bad, then who am I to deny him?

Creature lets out a sigh and glances around.

Creature: I have wallowed in self pity and confusion long enough.  There is still time to contact Gill, and arrange a match with Complicated for this Thursday's Loaded.

Creature kicks the chair out of his way, and leaps down from the ropeless ring.  With both belts in his right hand, he limps up the aisle which once beared a steel ramp towards the back of the arena, where he may contact Gill if not in person, than by payphone.  As he walks, he can't help but rationalize his HWA Title "victory" tonight, and begins to build himself up with deception and embelishment.

Creature: I should hold nothing against Blitz...together, we are now the single greatest Tag Team in the history of this sport!  And it took President Gill, of all people, to help us attain this status.  Hmph.  Gill.  A true man of greatness.  Far superior than that wretched Jon Savage.  What has he ever done for me, aside from cause heartache and injury?  He held me back at all costs, to the point that at one time, whether he remembers it or not now that I have become the ratings-drawing, money-making, match-winning, champion-of-champions that I am,, that he almost RELEASED me once.  ME!  A now Hall of Famer, a then up-and-comer.  He never saw any talent in me, and now he must pay the price.  I warned him upon my return to HCW that I was not the type of man to make an enemy out of, but as usual, he does not heed my warnings.  He shall see what kind of shit he has gotten himself into in due time.  For now, however, I will concentrate on one and only one man, Complicated.  I am the stuff of legends, he is the stuff of gay amateur porn.  I am in the HCW Hall of Fame for accomplishing more than anyone.  He is in the KFC Hall of Fame for eating more chicken than anyone.  For God's sake, the man lost to EJ Rey!  Not even the esteemed and recently-returned leader of the Lost Soulz Maniac could beat me!  I team with Inphino Blitz, HCW Champion, he teams with Jamal Butler...FORMER NUMBER ONE CONTENDER TO THE DEFUNCT HCW TV TITLE!  I strike fear in the hearts of every man, he strikes fear in the heart of Jeo.  He is a loathsome, filthy, sexual depraved, miscreant, and when I get the chance, I will tear his doo-rag adorn head from his wifebeater bearing body, and shove it up his saggin' pants-wearing ass.

Creature bolts around a corner in the locker room area, and finds the maintenance crew cleaning the hallway.  The same man from before confronts him.

Arena Crew Member: Hey, uh, Creach, right?  I thought we told you to get outta here!

Creature says nothing and approaches the man.  He grabs him by the collar before the man can react and thrusts him with one arm against the wall to his right.  He glares at the other crew member, who does noting but stares on in shock.  Creature turns his head and looks at the man he has pinned down.

Creature: Don't call me Creach.

The man shakes his head up and down vigorously.

Arena Crew Member: Ri-Right.  Okay.

Creature: Now...I will stay at this arena for the rest of the night, week, or month if I so choose.  But lucky for you, all I want is to speak with Gill about Loaded.

Arena Crew Member: I...I saw Gill leave earlier.

Creature: I missed him, hmm?  Well then...I suppose I will call him from a payphone here at the arena, and then be on my way.

Creature releases the man, who quickly moves away from him and adjusts his clothing.  The other crew member speaks out, and Creature turns to face him.

Arena Crew Member #2: Um...you want to talk to Gill about Loaded, right?

Creature: Correct.

Arena Crew Member #2: Well, I saw something about it attached to your bag in your room.  I didn't touch anything.

The man nods towards Creature's dressing room, which is just a few doors down.  Creature snorts and brushes past him, heading towards his room.  Creature enters what was used as his dressing for the night, and finds it empty and cleaned aside from a table at the center with his black bag resting on top.  Creature saunters over and sets his belts down.  He looks over his bag, and finds a white card tied onto the handle of his bag by a string.  He grabs the card and tears it from the bag, and then opens it up.  It lists the matches set for Loaded.  Creature briskly skims down to the main event, confident that if he is booked, that is where his match will commence.  There he finds the rules and regulations for the match he will be in Thursday night- a Slobber Knocker Invitational.  His eyes light up with fury as he proceeds to read that he will face any number of opponents who sign up for the gauntlet-style match, and that the HWA Championship will be on the line!  Creature crumples the card up and casts it down to the floor.  He slams a closed fist down on the table and bellows in frustration.

Creature: Damn it!  I just know this is Savage's idea!  Argh...Slobber Knocker Invitational.  How many will enter?  Huh!?  5?  10?  20?  I have had the HWA Title not twenty-four hours, and already they are attempting to screw me out of it!  Well, I will not have it!  I will emerge victorious, no matter who I must face!

Creature gathers his bag and title belts from the table and storms out of his former dressing room.  As he journeys towards his black Corvette parked outside, his mind races, consumed by rage.

Creature: This is an outrage!  I refuse to lose my new HWA Championship, not this soon.  Not ever.  I can survive a situation of that sort, I know I can.  I was the HCW Hardcore Champion, the greatest ever!  Every night, I had to watch my own back, every day brought a new challenger, every show, more title defenses.  Never a chance to prepare.  I must find the mind state I was in to dominate as Hardcore Champion so long ago, because I can afford no mistakes this Thursday night.  Savage may view this as a chance to reap the HWA Title from me before I have a chance to make something of it, I see it as a chance to prove to the world that it is indeed a glorious championship, and that I am indeed a deserving champion.

Creature throws open a set of double doors and steps out into the night's cool air.  He halts abruptly and rapidly scans the horizon, searching for his Corvette.  Once the orbs of sight, known as eyes, locate the car, he locks onto it like a missle and resumes his stride.  Upon reaching the vehicle, he throws the door open and heaves his bag and belts into the passenger's side seat, and quickly climbs in.  He slams the door shut, reaches over and rummages for his keys in his bag for a moment, and then starts the car.

Creature: Tonight, I made history.  Thursday night will be no different, as I plow through as many hopeless individuals as I must en route to a successful defense of my HWA Championship!

Creature hurridly speeds off and away from the arena, into the night.

        The sun sheds its warmth over the patio of the expensive three star restuarant.  Creature sits at a circular, glass table, under a large umbrella of sorts, with several dishes in front of him.  He is dressed well enough, wearing a black shirt with a green vest, along with some dark green pants, a black leather belt, some shiny dress shoes, and a light, casual mask.  Beside his dishes rest the HCW Tag Team Title and the HWA Title belts, half gleamming in the sunlight, half shaded by the umbrella.  Creature glances at a watch, strapped around his right wrist, and taps his foot impatiently.  Finally, from behind, he hears the voice of the man he has been waiting for- Matt Madison.

Matt: Creature!  Look at you!  I don't believe I 've ever seen you dressed this way.

Creature glances over his own attire, and shrugs.

Creature: When you dine in luxury, you must dress in luxury.

Matt: Yeah...alright!  So let's get started.

Creature: Take a seat...moron.

Matt sighs and sits down across from Creature.  He wears a large grey overcoat, and reaches inside and withdraws a tape recorder.  He sets it down on the table.

Creature: I hope you brought another tape.

Matt tilts his head, and peers at Creature.

Matt: Why's that?

Creature: Because I have a lot of things to say.

Matt: Well...okay.

Matt reaches back inside his coat and removes a spare tape.  He lays it down beside Creature's dishes, which he gives a once over.

Matt: What did you eat?  It looks strange.

Creature: Hmph.  Your palet would never be able to savor the pleasures of true Japanese cuisine.  I had the head chef here at Nobu, Mitsuharu Morimoto, prepare me a fine meal of Uni Bisc, Lobster Sashimi, and an entree' of Conger Eel- fresh from the pressure cooker.

Matt curls his lip disgusted.

Matt: Sounds pretty bad to me.  And just what the hell is Uni?

Creature: Sea Urchin.  You only eat the eggs, or roue.  Here.

Creature reaches under a napkin and grabs something.  He then tosses it at Matt, who grabs it, and then quickly drops it before him on the table.  It is a hollowed out Sea Urchin.

Matt: Ah!  My God!

Creature: You are so stupid Matt.  It won't hurt you.  It can only help you.  In fact, it helped me dine on some fine Uni Bisc.

Matt: It's dead, right?

Creature: Let me ask you- if someone cut you open and dumped all of your innards into a steamming pot, then proceeded to fill you back up with a bisc made from your innards, then served you to a customer who devoured every bit of the soup, would you be dead or alive?

Matt: I dunno.

Creature shakes his head as Matt tentatively pokes at the dead Urchin before him.  Creature finally has had enough and is ready to begin, and slams a fist down on the table, shaking the plates and causing Matt to jump back.

Creature: BEGIN.

Matt: Right...

Matt reaches forwad and presses record on the tape recorder, then brushes the dead Sea Urchin out of the way so he can lean forward on the table and speak directly with Creature.

Matt: Let's get started.  I'm here with Creature-

Creature: (interrupting) Fuck the introductions.  Hell, you don't have to ask me any questions.  I just need you here as my medium through which to speak to the HCW.  So sit back and play with your dead Uni friend, because I intend to finally speak my mind on the entire HCW roster!

Matt nods and sits back in his seat.  Occasionally, he pokes the Sea Urchin, while Creature speaks directly into the tape recorder.

Creature: I've sat quietly long enough, speaking out only on those who really enrage me.  But seeing that I must now face almost every in HCW in a Slobber Knocker Invitational, I figure I should just spill my beans on the entire HCW.  I've got a lot of problems with you people, you are going to hear them!

Creature pauses and lowers his head, gathering his thoughts.

Creature: Let's start with Cobra Hawke and Maniac.  You filthy sons of bitches, I knew you couldn't stay gone forever.  You must be gluttons for Creature Beatings, because if you weren't, you wouldn't dare show your faces here after the last time you were around.  I, along with Pimp Industries, completely humiliated you and your Lost Soulz at every turn.  I could do no wrong, and you could win no match.  Now I don't believe either of you can challenge me in the Invitational on Loaded, but I also don't really give a damn- I just want you to know that the time will come when I will face off with one or both of you, and no, times have not changed- you will still be my bitches.

Matt raises an eyebrow towards Creature, but quickly returns to playing with the Urchin after a quick Creature glare.

Creature: Next up...Complicated.  Oh boy, the crap you have gotten yourself into, you will never be able to comprehend.  Let me tell you something son- you can enter the Invitational, and I expect to see you in that ring Thursday night.  You want to make a name for yourself, you want a little respect, you want the HWA Title, just come on down, as much as you want all that, there is something I want a even more- and that is to beat you from pillar to post and back again, and send you back to the dumpster where your whore of a mother gave birth to you.  And after I have sufficiently humbled you, I will expect you to return to your old hobby of losing to everyone in HCW and jerking the curtain night in and night out.  Now then....how about Jamal Butler, Complicated little brother?  What do I think of him?  I think that I would like to lock him in a pressure cooker, alive, as Morimoto did my eel earlier.  I would like to stand outside that pressure cooker, and listen to his screams of agony as his body begins to boil and and his skin begins to burst open.  Because God knows that Jamal Butler can be good for only one thing, and that is suffering.  Whether it is him suffering or the fans who must watch him suffering, the fact remains that nothing good can ever come from Jamal Butler.  He is useless.  He is pathetic.  I mean, for the love of God...HE FAILED IN THE HWA!  He failed in the HWA, he failed in a time when I wasn't the HWA Champion.  That's pitiful.  But I tell you what- the HWA will have a new meaning with me as its proverbail flagship. It will be the best, because its champion is the best.

Creature reaches over and pats the HWA Championship, then continues.

Creature: While I'm on the subject of the HWA...allow me to cover one of their so called "talents," Zev Sanesca.  Zev, I really do not know what the hell is wrong with you, but something must be, because you lost...to MICHAEL MERCER.  The husband of a she-man.  The guy who got hitched to his uncle's sloppy seconds.  You know, maybe you aren't so bad Zev- maybe it's Michael and Jaden Mercer whom I should be speaking about.  What the hell is wrong with you two?  The only good thing your stupid uncle ever did Michael was kick your ass.  And Jaden...I could say something about you being "hardcore," and it would probably be quite funny.  But I won't, because I don't want to give myself nightmares at the thought of you doing anything like....ack.  Just know deep down in your tiny, sick little hearts that the day will come when I face you two, be it at once or not, and I will humiliate you so bad that you will have no other choice than to join your uncle on the Creature Forced Me Into Retirement List.  And speaking of the Continental Champion can only lead me to one man- the four or five or however many times he's held it Continental Champion, Jeo.  I must admit- Complicated's little sketch on Jeonese was entertaining, but only because it was true.  But Jeo, unlike Complicated, I'm not going to rip on your poor motor skills, but rather speak about your lacking in ring ability.  Jeo, quite frankly, you suck.  Wasn't it just the last show that you lost to RED ALERT?  WAsn't it just the last show that you had your ass handed to you by WOLVERINE?  Jeo, Jeo, Jeo...God knows how you ever managed to beat me.  But just let me tell you that your promise to become the HCW Champion some day did not fall on deaf ears- so I would like to INVITE you to take part in the Slobber Knocker Invitational this Thursday night, I'm ASKING you to take the shot at the HWA Title you've been given.  Chances are, I'll need a break from the stiff competition the rest of the roster will give me, and you will provide me with the few moments of rest that I will need to recharge.  So come on down, and lose to Creature once again.

Creature picks up the tape recorder and checks the tape.  There is still some left, and so he sets it back down and continues.

Creature: And after talking about Jeo, that can only bring me to one thing- all of the new faces in HCW, or as he called them, "guys new."  Let's see...we have Dion Ecko, Krazy King Mike, Krokodile, Markus Maximus, Mickey Vegas, Prometheus, Red Alert, Talon Omega, Tecno, and Vega.  Let's see- I've already kicked Vegas' ass, and so I won't comment on him.  Red Alert has a big mouth, and if he doesn't shut it soon, I will be forced to stuff my foot in it.  Krokodile...heh, I never knew Mike Blaze had any fans!  But it appears that he does, and it appears that his one fan has decided to join HCW and emmulate him, and so, all I can say to Krokodile is this- I never stopped having fun beating the crap out of Blaze, so whenever you want, step into the squared circle with me, and I'll pick up where I left off with Blaze.  It looks like Markus, King Mike, and Talon Omega, much like Krokodile and Dion Ecko, will have their hands full with those two man-lovers Maniac and Cobra Hawke.  It's a shame those guys won't be able to participate in the Invitational, because there is no better way to make a name for yourself in HCW than to be smashed by Creature.  As for Tecno...the Internet Champion...yikes.  He's some true garbage, and I will look forward to seeing him match up against HCW's resident loser, Corporal Pain, no wait...it's just Pain.  Hehe, yes, he does bring pain to the eyes of those watching him work.  Did that moron really side with Wolverine, thinking that it would springboard him to gold and glory?  WRONG.  Wolverine can help no one but himself, and he doesn't even do that well.  His big return to HCW...and he loses.  But I can't say that I'm not glad to see him back, because quite frankly, I look forward to BURYING HIM AGAIN.  If he really wanted to help himself, he would have just rolled over in the grave I left him in and DIED.

A waiter walks over to the table and collects Creature's plates.  He glances at Madison, who is busying himself still with the Sea Urchin.  Creature look up at the waiter.

Creature: Check...please.

The waiter nods and Creature continues.

Creature: Who else is left?  Secret Weapon lost the he-bitch Jaden, and ran with his tail between his legs.  I suppose it is about time something was down there.  Rage lost to Complicated, aw, too bad.  I never did get my revenge on him for costing me my second HCW Hardcore Title.  Hmph.  I suppose he is one of the people I will looking for in the Invitational.  There's Fallyn Angyl...has he ever beaten me?  HELL NO.  And he never will.  He was humiliated by Chris Anarchy, and hopefully, that was the last time we will see of them both!  Then of course, there is our new Vice President, Jory Johnson.  He put up a good fight against Mercer not too long ago, so that gives him some points.  I mean, honestly, there is only one man in this place that can dominate any Mercer day in and day out and that's me, so I can't make fun of too many people for losing to Mikey Boy.  Oh yes...there is my tag team partner, Inphino Blitz...

The waiter returns with the check, and Creature waves him away from the table.  He then stops the recorder and switches the tapes out.  Creature presses record once more, and resumes his self-interview.

Creature: Inphino Blitz...at Born Again, you gave me a hell of a fight.  Apparently, we both were so impressive that we both deserved to be World Champ.

Creature smirks and taps his HWA Championship.

Creature: Blitz, we've had our troubles in the past.  But I propose we start a new.  Look at us- the most dominant tag team in the history of the sport.  Two singles World Titles and one World Tag Title between us.  Who can stop us?  So Blitz, I wish you well as HCW Champion, and I look forward to defending our HCW Tag Team Titles with you in the future.  I think I can now finally say that one man has earned my RESPECT...that man is Inphino Blitz.

Creature raises his head and looks up into the sky, then lowers it and sighs.

Creature: Yes Blitz...I RESPECT you.  And tell Mei-Lin that I have a special gift for her Thursday, an apology of sorts for my conduct at Born Again.  And I suppose that, aside from the women of HCW, none of which whom threaten me in the least, I am finished.  To all that wish to enter the Invitational, know one thing- Your Futures are Dim, but the Abyss is Dimmer.

Creature presses stop, and lays two hundred dollar bills down on the table.  He stands up, gathers his belts, and looks down at Madison.

Creature: Hey- Urchin boy.

Madison looks up, but continues to fiddle with the Urchin.

Creature: I'm done.  I left enough for the bill on the table.  Take care of things here, and leave the tip.

Matt: What?  But wait-

Creature ignores Matt and turns away from the table.  Creature heads inside the restuarant, and out of Madison's sight.  Matt sighs and sets the Sea Urchin corpse down.

Matt: Did I hear Creature say he "respects" Blitz?