With meticulous care, the HCW Champion of the World wraps a fresh bandage around his injured right hand.  After finishing with his crude treatment, he rises from the closed toilet on which he sat, and examines himself in the mirror of the hotel room bathroom.  The mirror reflects back the image of a man bearing a dark green and silver mask, in his late twenties, topless and in great physical shape, with black sweat pants adorning his lower torso, an injured right hand, with a pair of eyes staring out from behind the mask, eyes giving the world a view of the soul deep inside...and this soul is a black as coal.

After quickly tilting his head from side to side, creating a popping noise at his neck, the man known as Creature, the man known as the HCW Champion, the man known as the Master of the Abyss, turns away from the ivory pedestal sink in the immaculate restroom, and exits.  He moves through a tall, open portal into a luxurious suite with pale white walls, plush scarlet carpeting, crown molding lining the ceiling, and some of the most comfortable furniture in the world.  The entire room bears an air of elegance, and the expense of such lodging unimanigable.  Yet for the HCW Champion, for the number one man in the wrestling industry today, such a cost is nothing.  It is true however that Creature does not splurge on boarding of such granduer often, but in such a special time, it was necessary.  Creature is celebrating the finale of Tecno's astonishing streak of victories, the curtain call of Tecno's rise to the top of HCW.  As far as the HCW Champion is concerned, for Tecno...the End is Here.

The self-proclaimed God of HCW, Creature, is not alone in the suite.  As he strides across the soft floor of the chamber, his HCW Tag Team Champion partner and one half of the Force, Jack Duncan, sits on a large leather sofa located at the center of the room playing Blackjack with the masked midget Lil' Creach.  Along with their hands, elbows, and cards, the glass coffee table atop which they play also hosts four prestigous, covetted championship belts- the HCW Championship, the HWA Championship, and two HCW Tag Team Championships.  Of course the Force hope to acquire one more piece of gold to go with their hefty collection in the form of the HCW Continental Championship, if and when "The Hoss" Jack Duncan buries the newest ally of the Lost Soulz and the bane of Creature's existence, the Black Dragon Master, Inphino Blitz.

HCW's one and only lord of the Death Valley Driver, Jack Duncan, leans forward from the sofa and continues his game with Lil' Creach.  He wears a pair of old, faded blue jeans, some white and blue socks over his feet, and a grey tanktop stained with mustard above the left breast.  His opponent for this evening's bout of 21 is outfitted in a mask mimicing the HCW Champion's, a large, black and red Force T-shirt which extends all the way down to his knees, and some short grey pants.  The two do not cease their play when their companion and no doubt the greatest HCW competitor of all time, Creature, enters the room, though as he takes a seat in a huge leather love seat, he chooses to speak.
 

Creature: Hear what happened to Blitz?

Inphino's scheduled opponent, Jack Duncan, responds with a grunt before words.

Jack: Yeah.  Yeah I heard all about it.  And you know what?  I don't give a damn.  I want that Continental strap, and I'm going to get whether he's alive, dead, has a bounty on his head, has a bounty on his mother's head, has his head on my di-

Creature interrupts Jack before he can say anymore by raises his hand and shaking it back and forth with palm open turned outward.

Creature: We get the point.  And HCW will get the point that the Force are the most dominant, most destructive, most powerful, and most successful team in HCW history when we walk out of Meltdown with the three most prestigous championships in Hardcore Championship Wrestling- when we are the proud owners of the HCW World, Continental, and World Tag Team Titles.

Jack nods in agreement before asking the dealer, Lil' Creach, to hit him with another card and busting.  Jack throws his hands up into the air with anger, but soon finds himself laughing at the loss and playing another round.  Creature meanwhile remains seated in the love seat, gazing out the window, past the balcony, past the city scape, past the sky...Creature sits looking towards the future.

Creature: Ah...the second ever Meltdown Brawl.  Monday's dawn will bring ME a new challenger.  Immediately after I finish up with Tecno, immediately after the referee finishes administering the ten count, putting a stop to Tecno's undeserved and perposterous win streak, immediately after I retain my HCW Championship, next month's challenger will step up.  Who will it be?  One man or woman in forty has the chance to answer that question with their moniker.  But just as Tecno will fall, so will they at Hardcore Holocaust.  It may be hard for the others in HCW to accept, but the Creature Era is far from slowing down.  The Creature Era in HCW, which began August 5th, 2001 with my first World Title victory, will only get stronger, as the Force continue to roll through each city, decimating opponents one by one, until finally, there is no one left who is man enough, who is brave enough, to step up the plate and die like the rest.  Blitz couldn't stop it.  The Mercers couldn't stop it.  Tecno and the Soulz won't stop it.  The Creature Era is in full effect, and years from now when I finally retire after exhausting all competition, years from now when I am gone and the Creature Era finally ends, all anyone will be able to say is that it was indeed the single greatest period in wrestling history bar none, the only time in the business when one man ruled over all, and was never vanquished.  My name will overshadow all others in the record books, and in the Hall of Fame.  I am the Undi-Fucking-Sputed World Heavyweight Champion, and I am only just beginning.

After losing a hand to Jack Duncan, Lil' Creach glances up from the game and grins at Creature.  He then exclaims an achievement of Creature's that has seemingly gone unnoticed by all but him.

Lil' Creach: You only three time World champ in HCW!  How come no one ever say that?  Heeeheee!

Jack Duncan looks over at Lil' Creach and raises his eyebrows.

Jack: We still playin', right?

Lil' Creach nods with great vigor and the odd couple return to their heated card exhibition, while Creature contemplates the tiny man's words.  Indeed he is right, and while it had dawned on Creature before, the fact that until now it has gone unrecognized only causes pain and strain on Creature's fragile psyche.

Creature: Damn...the half pint is right.  I am the only man in history to win a World Championship on three different occasions under the HCW banner.  Two HCW Titles and one HWA Title, but does anyone care?  Of course not.  They've got the Lost Soulz and their one thousandth reunion to fawn over, and Tecno with his nine match winning streak and weak Internet Championship to celebrate, and Inphino Blitz with all of his silliness to cheer.  Hmph.  Another reason why starting at Meltdown, Jack and I take backseats to no one!  And as long as I am on the subject of unsung achievements...my undoubted squash of Tecno on Sunday night will give me the Unofficial Grand Slam, and until the HCW braintrust, if you can call them that, realizes that I deserve the opportunity to become the first Grand Slam Champion of HCW, then the unrecognized title is what I will have to accept.

That comment moves Jack Duncan to peer at Creature out of the corners of his eyes and speak out about Creature's griping.

Jack: Oh yeah, you have it hard.  You'll be the Unoffical Grand Slam Champion.  You'll be the only three time World Champion, and get no respect for it.  Yeah, it's rough being you.

Lil' Creach cocks his head to the side and watches intently with curiosity as Jack Duncan rises from the sofa and glares down at Creature.  As Jack continues to talk, he occasionally thrusts an extended finger in Creature's direction, or throws a fist into the air.  Creature watches on from his love seat with a smirk on his face.

Jack: You know since I've been here I've held one title.  One fucking title.  That is outrageous.  I have been mistreated, misused, and neglected since day one.  And even now as one half of the HCW World Tag Champs, I am still considered the underdog going up against the Grey Goat Fucker, Impotent Bitch.  I can't take this crap anymore-

Having heard enough, Creature hops from his location and stands toe to toe with Jack Duncan.  He stares up at him, breathing in deeply and exhaling slowly.  Jack Duncan allows his tantrum to fade and returns Creature's icy cold stare.  Lil' Creach watches on in disbelief, and soon the silence is broken.

Creature: Jack...I understand what you are saying.  You have been fucked around in HCW.  But everything is changing.  We are in charge now.

Jack glances down at his feet and shakes his head with disagreement.

Jack: No...no I don't see it that way.  We aren't in control.  If anything, Gill and Gill alone is in control.  The Soulz are in control.  But we're not.  We are just Kevin Gill's lackeys man, and if you can't see that, maybe you need to consider cutting bigger eye holes in that goofy ass mask of yours.  He didn't have shit to say after last Thursday.  He doesn't care about us.  And look at your hand.

Jack reaches down and takes Creature's hand, without any concern for it's injury.  He roughly raises it up into the air for all to see.  Creature does not flinch despite the pain, but instead keeps his eyes locked with Jack's.  Deep inside the recesses of the HCW Champion's mind, he is understanding and agreeing with Jack's point.

Jack: This hand...it's fucking broken.

Creature shakes his head quickly and responds.

Creature: No.  No it's not broken.  It's hurt, there's no fucking doubt about it, but it's not broken.

Jack throws Creature's hand down with rage and takes a step back.  His face becomes flush with madness as he desperately tries to open his longtime friend's eyes.  Little does he know that they are already open to what he is saying.

Jack: Don't you see?  Don't you get it?  Where were the doctors?  Where was the medical attention you needed last week?  Where was Jon Savage or even Kevin Gill to see if you could go this Sunday?  Creature, we cannot take this shit any long-

Creature silences Jack Duncan by grabbing him by the collor of his tanktop and pulling him in close.

Creature: JACK!  I....KNOW.

Creature slowly releases Jack, who adjusts his shirt and nods.

Jack: Good...

Creature snorts with disgust.

Creature: I cannot stand it either.  We have gold and power.  We rule the ring.  But we do not command enough fear to garner respect, we are not taken seriously because our numbers are too small.  But never fear Jack, for I have pondered your very point many times these past few days...and starting with Meltdown, we will kick it into high gear.  We cannot and will not take this shit any longer Jack.  I am the Prince of Wrestlers.  You are the Hoss.  And together, we shall prove to the world and to all HCW that we are indeed the top dogs.  The Soulz may have beaten us last week, and maybe even in weeks past, Gill may have neglected our needs, and we may not receive the respect due to us...but we will.  We will soon.  At the Pay-Per-View it will begin.  First with you ripping Inphino Blitz limb from limb.  This is a match you cannot lose Jack.  This is a match you must not lose.  We need the Continental Title, you need the Continental Title.  And once Inphino has been buried alive, whether he is a Soul or not, whether he embraces the Void or not, whether the bounty on his head is collected or not, you will finally get the admiration you deserve.

Jack Duncan lowers his head again and purses his lips.  After a moment or two, he lifts his head and grins.

Jack: Damn straight.  I will take the Continental Title.  We will start at Meltdown.

Creature glances over at Lil' Creach, who sits perfectly still, watching the entire confrontation, clutching several cards.

Creature: When we are done...even Lil' Creach will be feared.

Lil' Creach responds to this by throwing his cards into the air and raising his arms high above his head.

Lil' Creach: YAAAAAY!

Jack cracks an even bigger grin and chuckles at the midget's actions.  Creature simply nods, methodically.

Creature: After Blitz has fallen, then will come my turn Jack.  That is when I will set out to make an example of Tecno.  That is when I will unleash all of my deepest, darkest feelings, that is when my true rage will be felt, a rage the likes of which I have kept concealed deep down inside me since the day I regained what never should have been taken from me, the HCW Championship.  The Crossface Chickenwing will tear puny little Tecno's shoulder from its socket, the Superkick will rattle his incessantly blabbering jaw, the Prince's Crown will break his lengthy snout, and the Abyss will send him into a darkness he never thought possibly, a darkness so cold, so disparaging, so lonely, that he will have no choice but to lay on the mat, wallowing in agony, as the referee counts from one to ten, and awards me the match.  He will have no choice but to look up at the lights, maybe even the roof of the church when I am done with him.  He will Feel the Abyss, and he will realize that for me to even allow him in the ring with me was a blessing.  I am not going to joke around with Tecno, Jack.  I am not going to give him any credit, because none is due.  He has beaten only losers and bafoons up until now, he has proven nothing.  And if visiting with that God awful wench Brittany Spears, imagining how great it will sound to hear Tecno- HCW Champion, and overall treating me like the same low life pieces of trash he is used to facing is anyway to go into this match, then he will most definitely lose his pride, his win streak, and his career.

With that said, Creature brushes past Jack Duncan and moves to the coffee table.  He collects his three championship belts, and then begins to head towards the door, where on a nearby coat rack hangs a loose, black tanktop and Creature's now trademark tattered grey coat.  Creature pulls the tanktop over his head and throws the coat 'round his shoulders, then turns back to his partner and number one fan, who remain in the same positions they were in moments ago.

Creature: I'm going for a walk.  I'll be back later.

Lil' Creach waves to Creature before setting about the task of picking up the cards he heaved into the air, while Jack places his hands on his hips and nods.

Jack: ...Alright man.  I'm going to head on out and prepare for Blitz.  I won't be here when you get back.

Creature nods, takes his trio of belts in his right hand, and before opening the door leading out into the hallway, glacnes at Lil' Creach and Jack once again.

Creature: Yeah...you sure Lil' Creach'll be okay by himself?

Jack smirks and looks over at Lil' Creach who nods.

Lil' Creach: I be fine!  I be fine!

Jack nods towards Creature and waves him away.

Jack: He'll be fine.

Creature returns the nod.

Creature: The Force will reign supreme.

Creature exits the suite, and slams the door behind him.  Jack sighs and turns to Lil' Creach.

Jack: We are the Kings of HCW.  Now it's time we start ruling with an iron fist...