A Very Full Plate

Scene I:  Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Sheraton Cavalier Hotel - Monday, November 17, 2003

A few days prior to Wildfire, and here I sit, returning to the Frozen North, enjoying a hot coffee.

Of all the inventions.

Of all the centuries and milleniums that have passed here on earth.

Of all of man's genius.

That nameless Homo sapien sapien who invented the wheel.

The Gutenberg Press.

The steam engine.

Henry Ford.

None of them.

None of them combined.  Whatsoever.

Can surpass the beauty and sheer brilliance and joy encompassed within a cup of coffee.

An ode to coffee, if you will.

It was however, one of the only comforts that I could claim any enjoyment from.

This Wildfire that was coming up, was to be decided by Marshall's whim - and on the basis of who he feels has earned their shots - on whom would face whom for the most prized titles in the entire CAL, aside from the CAL Titles themselves, those of the CSWA.

I felt I had paid my dues thus far to the CSWA.  But then again, every wrestler probably feels that way, and thus I must be humble.

To challenge for any title, quite frankly, would be an honour, and privilege.  I already bare one half of the CSWA Central States Tag Team Championship, something I never forget.  I can only hope to defend them sooner than later, because Seamus and I want to prove ourselves to be fighting champions.  But for now, we both seem to have bigger fish to fry.

I turn my attention first to the TV Champion, Apollo Carrington, a.k.a. "Cool AC."  I didn't know much about the man, but he outlasted the finest the CAL had to offer just last week to claim the CSWA Television Championship, defeating the likes of Danny Vicious, and that bastard Triple D.  I know I'd have my hands full...indeed against any of the current champions, but to be on Wildfire, week in, week out, defending the TV Championship...would be a challenge.

Python, the Gravity Champion.  A man who loves to perform, to put on a show, to entertain, to show the fans the love he has for them.  And they, in turn, show their love for him.  A bit of a goof at times, but this is the man who has taken out the current CSWA Heavyweight Champion on more than one occassion, if memory serves, something I myself cannot lay claim to.  This very feat alone garners him my respect, and well, grudging admiration.  He knows his shit, that much I will give him.  To fight him...would be enjoyable.  I'd be outclassed by far in the aerial maneuvers, but to fight dirty.

I lifted my head up from the copy of the Economist I had purchased, and grinned.

THAT is my forte.  The bastard wouldn't know what hit him.

The Great Plains Championship.

A smile crosses my face when I think of it.  And why the bloody hell not.  Whenever, anybody, looks back into the annals of wrestling history, it will be "Robert Lancaster II" whose name will appear first on the list of wrestlers who captured the second most prestigious of championships in the CSWA.  And hell, look who has held it already since it's inception: Wright, Constantine, Blackwell - three other names that will call out in history without a doubt.  However...I always give myself a hard time for having lost it so quickly to Jonny Five.  But the bastard is a monster.  And I hear Eric Chavez, or rumblings of his return, no doubt with that beast, from time to time.  And if I ever get through Jeff, he'd definitely be welcomed back with a severe kick to the ass and teeth loosening.  That is the least  that I owe him.  

Tate though, he is the man to focus on.  He bares the gold.  One that by all instances of justice should be Seamus', not Tates, and there is sure as hell no unworthier man to hold it than Napalm.  I'd rather have no shot at any title, even against Jeff, if it meant Seamus got his chance to dismember that bitch Tate.  And I'd applaud the loudest.  But who knows.  If it should befall that it is I who may square off against him...I will take every iota of pain that Seamus has gone through with the loss of his father, and from all the shit Tate has been pulling, focus it, and magnify it ad nauseum and beat Tate into a blood pulp, until his blood is added to that stained on the Jacobin banner.

But of course it is Kushner I want above all else.  I've tasted his pain again.  And I enjoyed it.  Immensely.

I witnessed first hand what these hands, I see before me, what they can do to his physical body.  And what pain.  What punishment.  What torture - oh if only it were at the hands of the guillotine instead - these hands can inflict on him.

I lose all penchance for concentration on my magazine now.  I am engrossed at the thought, which enters my mind seemingly at every other passing moment, of the chance to have at the most abominable and treasonous bastard the earth has ever spouted from its sin tainted womb.

What horrors I have imagined.  And they make me smile.  He would not listen to reason.  He only listens to force.  I remind myself constantly of this.

As does the Dark Force which still bares an iron grip around my throat.  Lancaster's Inferno burns on...

And it is this Inferno which wants to show the force of its flames and Hellish and evil desires.

If I could plead to Robert Marshall to book me in this match, even without the title on the line.  I would gladly do it.

But I must be patient.  For I do not know what awaits me at Wildfire.  Others may get the berths against the champions, and I may be granted a number one contender's spot.  Or then again, I may get nothing.

I will accept anything the President throws my way...but one way or another, I will make my presence felt that night, as will the Jacobins.

I had not spoken to either TSM or Wright in quite sometime, not since Wildfire.  I should make a some calls to find out how they're doing, and to plot strategy.  Seamus of course, I called more than once over these past few trying weeks.

While Jeff is a man I respect, despite our differences...for now...Seamus is one I shall forever hold high in the pantheon of wrestling gods.  A devoted father, he is able to endure week in, week out, and still come back with blazing Irish determination. I knew he'd be fine.  I just hoped his family would be.

Now I turn my mind to family.  My beloved Eddy.  I miss him so very much...yet I have had little opportunity to go see him. What is stopping me is not so much Marissah, but her.  I still have had no answer as to what she was doing with Jeff those few weeks ago.  Going to Britain I fear I would explode at her and risk making a scene in front of Eddy, despite my best efforts to keep my temper in check.  I shall hold off until things simmer down.

My mind hurts...too much to think of and deal with on one plate.  A hot side of Marissah would be wonderful at this moment.

I rub my eyes and stretch, wondering where the hell Marissah had gotten herself to.  She said she wanted to go look around downtown Saskatoon, and she's been gone a few hours already.  Surely to Christ there's no Holt-Renfrew or Chanel here.  If there is my credit card statement will be the first to find out.

But no matter.  Having her out of the hotel allowed me to spend a few moments with myself, and prepare for the call I was expecting from a few chaps who do a wrestling show called "Live Audio Wrestling," based in Toronto.  I was to record an interview with them that would be played next Sunday.

I rarely gave these sort of interviews, but given the gravity of the card that was only two days away...I wanted to build as much excitement and hype for it, to show the fans of Canada and indeed, the entire CAL, that CSWA Wildfire is not just a metaphor, but literal fact - hotter than hell and twice as dangerous.

I finished the last of my coffee and threw my magazine aside, happily noting that Sovereign Funds - the renamed face of Robert Lancaster Investment Enterprises - just hit a new fifty-two week high on thhe FTSE100.  

Everything else aside, I could use another coffee.  The phone rang.  Checking my Rolex I'm caught off guard at how late it had gotten, and that it was indeed time for my interview with Jeff Marek.

Shit.

Coffee would have to wait.

I answered the phone which continued to ring, and the front desk informing me that it was indeed Mr. Marek.  I accepted the call and his voice sprang to life on the other end.

I cleared my throat.

"Lancaster."

"Mr. Lancaster, it's Jeff Marek calling from the LAW.  How are you doing today?"

"Fine thank you and please, it's Robert."

"Alright Robert, thanks for being with us.  Now we're going to start just in a few seconds.  Do you have any questions before we get under way?"

I had to think fast.

"No...but try not to make the questions too personal...nothing about past scandal."

"I understand, that won't be a problem.  Alright, if we're ready, let's start."

Here goes nothing.

"Certainly."

"Alright wrestling fans you're tuned into MOJO 640 here in Toronto and across Canada, and THIS is the LAW, Live Audio Wrestling, I'm Jeff Marek, and today we've got on the line one of the premier athletes of the entire Coaltion of Affiliated Leagues.  He's held numerous titles and is currently one half of the CSWA Central States Tag Team Champions, the Whiskey Devils, and of course a member of the Jacobins.  He's here in Canada out in the Prairies with the CSWA right now doing the Tour of Champions, I am talking about of course, Robert Lancaster, thanks for joining us Robert."

Windbag.

"Thank you Mr. Marek, it's a pleasure to be here."

"So, the entire Tour of Champions seems to have been a wild success.  The Sask Place is already sold out, and has been for days, and I know all of us are looking forward to what looks like one helluva card."

He's doing a good job plugging the show.  I'll try and do the same.

"Yes, I know I can speak for all of us in the CSWA and indeed the CAL when I say that we are more than pleased at the response we've received here in Canada.  I guarantee we'll be putting on one bloody awesome event in a few days time.  The fans have been behind us 100% and they know their stuff, undoubtedly. Although they do boo me, so they do obviously lack some class."

Marek laughed.  Thank God.

"Well you yourself have been very active lately in the CSWA, having won the Tag Team Championship from the Authority at Last Man Standing, and of course in the Jacobins, which you are one of the four pillars of, who have been incredibly successful, having shown yourself as one of the pre-eminent powers in the CSWA, and the CAL."

"Absolutely.  Myself and Seamus and Wright and Scythe have been trying to spread our message of 'Libertas an Mortis' at every available opportunity, against anyone and everyone who wants to try and tangle with us.  But I know that after we're done with them, whether the Darkness, or this new incarnation of SeX, and the group formerly known as the Authority, who we seem to be dealing with, at least I am, they'll regret ever having crossed our paths."

I don't even know if that made sense.  I just roll my eyes in silence and listen closely to what Marek has to say.

"Most fans, especially, male fans, will undoubtledly have not missed the appearance of a new woman in your life, Marissah Whitely.  I know we've gotten calls and requests to have her either on the show or pose in Playboy, and she certainly seems to be a good match with you.  Has your former manager, and former wife, had anything to say about this new set up?"

I said nothing personal, asshole.  Saying nothing was to be my defense.

"Marissah is a wonderful woman, and Stephanie, that's past, and I'm looking to the future."

"Fair enough!  Now of course one of the top stories that is in the world of wrestling today, is uh, of course, your current heated feud with your former friend, Jeff Kushner, who is the current CSWA Heavyweight Champion and a member of the group as you pointed out, formerly known as the Authority.  How did this all come about to tell our listeners who may not know."

I could go on at lengths for hours about this subject, but I'll try to keep my comments brief.

"I could go back years tracing back how the events of a few weeks ago transpired, but basically here's the short story of it. He'd deny and dismiss what I have to say as bullshyte, but that's his perogative, just the same as I'd say the same about his propaganda.  But anyway.  He joined the Authority despite myself and Seamus, his two best friends having formed the Jacobins. And our goal is to bring about change at the top and bring about a new renaissance in the ranks of the CSWA and the CAL, and so when Seamus had a shot against Kushner for the title a few weeks ago, I took it upon myself to hit the son of a, in the side of the head with some brass knucks.  I tried over and over," I gesticulate with my hands, although this is a radio interview, "to tell him that what I did was not against him as a friend, because I did and still do, somewhat, consider him my friend outside the ring, but rather against Kushner the Authority member.  The damnable Authority and Darkness have been in control of the top for too damn long, and instead of fighting against it, he took the easy road and joined them.  He couldn't get over me hitting him and so blah blah blah he got offended and here we are, in what hopefully will lead to another match between the two of us in two days time."

Alright, so it wasn't brief.

"Well," noted Marek, "obviously he'd deny and contradict what you have to say, but that's his view of course.  Now you two did fight just last Wildfire in a very heated match, which ended in a double count out.  It was your first time fighting him in quite some time."

"Yes it was.  We may not agree about much, but his skills are not and will never be in question."

"Last Wildfire you also had the former promoter of the CWF appear and later, he presented Jeff with a chopped off head. What would drive you to do that?"

I laughed quietly.  "He ran his bloody mouth with suggestions that I was obsessed with gold, that I was out to steal his thunder just not long ago and then he comes out last program and acts as Mr. Modest.  Frankly he's full of crap, and it's rather nauseating. But again it's my perogative.  That little 'gift' Thane presented him was just a sign of things to come if he doesn't cooperate."

"Could you hardly blame him though if he escalates the situation further?"

Well, no.

"Well, no.  I expect anything from Kushner, Mr. Marek.  And in fact, I hope he does, escalate the situation that is.  This battle is beyond any we've had in the past, and I want to see what he's capable of.  I'd not mind him thrashing me to be honest, or trying to go beyond that 'gift' in psychological ploys.  He knows what I'm capable of.  At least somewhat.  His head though, definitely knows, as does the rest of his body, after I smashed his bloody worthless carcass right through that table.  But if he thinks he can anticipate and prevent the actions the Duke of Wessex has in store, he's more naive than he thinks."

"Strong words for Kushner, Robert, but let's look at two scenarios.  He either wins against you say in a few upcoming matches, or you are able to defeat him.  What goes on from then?"

I'm no bloody psychic but I had to surmise whatever I could...surmise.

"If Jeff defeats me, and I know he is able to, I will, along with the Jacobins, continue to claw and chip away at his pedestal until that pedestal, and that of the likes of Mace and Blackwell crumble to dust.  And contrarily, if I am able to defeat Kushner, and I know I am able...then he is welcome to step up against me time and time again if it be Robert Marshall's will, because I do not fear him, and I shall never fear him.  That's not to say I am ignorant to what he is capable of doing to a man.  But no matter what he does to me, I shall not fear him.  And I can picture him now saying, 'Oh I'll make you fear me, I'll teach you the true meaning of fear...' and he'll adivse me to breakfast well because soon we shall dine together in hell.  Frankly...the only thing I shall be dining on is his spilt blood."

Marek was silent for a few moments.

"You have a way with words, indeed, Mr. Lancaster.  I'd like to thank you now for joining us here on the LAW.  Our guest today ladies and gentlemen has been Robert Lancaster II, one half of the CSWA's Central States Tag Team Champions, a member of the Jacobins, and he and the rest of the CSWA roster will be fighting LIVE at the sold out Sask Place, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  Robert may or may not be in action, as per the direction of CSWA President Robert Marshall, so be sure to tune in to see what develops and who he may face.  Thank you again Robert."

"Thank you too, Mr. Marek."

"We'll be right back after this."

Silence resumed for a few seconds.

"Okay, that's it.  Thank you Robert, again...this is going to make for some great radio...to say the least.  Best of luck on the card."

I smile.  "Thank you.  Good day."

I hung up the receiver.

Did I say too much.

Did I say too little.

Did I go overboard.

Was I too reserved.

No matter, really.

The waiting game is upon me now.  What will come in two days time at Wildfire.  The anticipation was enough to drive any man mad.

But how do you drive one possessed, mad.


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