Genesis II

Scene I: Jack Lynch Theater, after Slam Jam - Thursday, February 6, 2003

Another chapter of history written;  that night of the final chapter, composed in blood and sweat, every man, an author.  The tale of the Mid-South Wrestling Association ended in triumph for some,  failure for others.  The end of one story, the beginning of the other.

The hallowed halls of the Jack Lynch Theater were to sit silent now, Jack Lynch himself running afoul of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The old cliché held true for that fine building - what stories could be told if the walls could speak.  The cries of agony, the roar of generations of crowds, amazed by what man's ability wrought in the ring.  Dreams smashed, fantasies begun.

The true contrast of life.  Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  The tale of man's existence, in life, love, career.

The end of the career of the Duke of Wessex in the MSWA, the beginning anew in new territory, west and into the heartland of America.  New epics, new opportunities.  Within a span of one year, Genesis two.

It was nearing midnight, and everyone save for a few security guards and the janitor had departed to their hotels or homes.  The Duke and Duchess of Wessex sat quietly in their locker room.  Robert laid back on the couch, with Stephanie comfortably leaning against him, nearing the sleep state.  Lancaster was wide awake, his eyes not really focusing on anything.  The whole night - his whole tenure in fact, in the MSWA - was a vast blur.  Coming in, losing his first match against Scott Easton, nearing the verge of murder against Chris Wright, but claiming his friendship instead, and the championship.  And then - vanish.

Fame is so fleeting, and the Duke knew this fact very well.  Yet he was no longer a prisoner of his vanity as he was in his youth, and this no longer bothered him.  Nevertheless there was something unsettling about it.

Robert adjusted himself on the couch, stirring his wife, who yawned and stretched out her arms, before turning around on her husband's lap, and resting her head on his chest.

"Want to go now? I'm exhausted."  Stephanie's sleepy state was quite apparent.  Lancaster himself was thoroughly beaten from participating in the brutal lumberjack match, as well as the snap challenge against Tanke, which was a pleasure, a painful one at that, but still, enjoyable.

"Alright, let's go...Edward will be missing his Mommy."

The couple rose up from the couch, and ensuring they had everything, they closed the door and headed towards the exit.  Robert stopped in his tracks.  Stephanie looked at him, wondering.

"Did you forget something?"

Robert turned around and looked back from whence he came. He remained silent.

"Robert? Are..."

"Yes," interrupted her husband.  "I did forget something. Come on."

Lancaster took his wife's hand and turned around, but on passing their locker room, the Duchess' level of puzzlement increased.  The Duke finally stopped in front of the curtains leading to the arena.

"Robert? What are you going to do?"

The Duke smiled at her lovingly, yet with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"This."  Even though nobody was around to hear, his whispered in Stephanie's ear.  She then began to giggle.

"Oh come on," urged the Duke. "Do it, alright?"

Stephanie's laughter subsided, as she smiled happily. "Of course hun."  Stephanie walked out through the curtain, as the Duke dropped his gym bag and fished out the Smokey Mountain Heritage Championship, which he strapped around his waist.

"Ready?" asked Steph.

"Of course my love."

Stephanie began to hum the first few bars of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the Duke's entrance music.

"And the opponent...from Wessex, England...weighing in at 245 pounds...the UNDISPUTED, CURRENT, and FINAL REIGNING Mid-South Wrestling Association SMOKEY MOUNTAIN HERITAGE CHAMPION...His Grace, Robert Lancaster the Second, Duke of Wessssssssssex!!!!!"

Stephanie continued to hum, as Lancaster walked through the curtain and onto the top of the ramp, his arms outstretched, looking upon the hundreds of seats that were now bare.  The Duke walked from end to end at the top, pointing to various spots in the empty arena.  The Duchess clapped loudly, and was unable to stop herself from giggling once again.  Robert looked over at her and grinned, and stopped the charade and embraced her tightly, his eyes still scanning the arena fondly.  He sighed a most audible sigh.

"Oh my sweet...we came so far in such a short time."

"I know hun...I know," she wrapped her arms around her husband warmly.  "You did such an amazing job.  You rose faster and higher than you ever expected, and you met a truly great friend - and most of all...you have your respect.  Goodlife is gone."

Thank God.

"I couldn't have done it without you...you are my inspiration and my all my dear Duchess."  Lancaster released Steph, and took her hands and kissed them softly.  Her eyes remained fixed upon her husband.

"For you my Duke, anything...but it's your turn to shine once again under the guise of a new federation.  A new challenge, a new life in Lincoln."

Robert kissed his wife softly, and thought to himself, "A new Genesis..."

They remained at the top of the ramp for a few more moments before turning, and departing the Jack Lynch Theater for the last time.  New chapters await to be written.

Omega.

Alpha. Genesis.