"A Millennium Surprise" (Parts 11 - 15)
Part 11: A Happy Reunion?
9:35pm � Outside WCW Headquarters
Athena bolted out of the entrance to WCW had made a mad dash to the parking lot. �Please God, let Prince Albert and D-Lo be out here! Please!� Seeing no sign of them in the parking lot, she ran to the back of the building, trying to ignore the shooting pain in her thigh. Feeling sick, and needing to catch her breath, she stopped near the dumpster behind WCW Headquarters. �FUCK! Where are they!� she said breathlessly. �It�s my fault if they were caught�if I just hadn�t sneezed.� Tears almost started to form when she felt someone�s hand on her shoulder. �SHIT!� Athena turned around and came face to face with�Albert. �OH MY GOD! I thought you didn�t make it!� She hugged Albert intensely, looking up at the sky and mouthing a silent �Thank you.�
After reveling in the embrace for a few seconds, Prince Albert pulled away. �I didn�t know what to do after you pushed me out of the room. I just started running. I hid in the dark behind the building until I saw you run over here. Thank God you�re ok�all I could think of was you getting killed by the Harris boys�or worse. I don�t know what I would have done if you were hurt.� Albert pulled her into another embrace, but then felt a warm liquid seep through his clothes. Looking down, he realized that the blood wasn�t his�it was Athena�s. �Shit! Athena, you�re hurt!�
�What?� Athena looked down and saw the red substance oozing out from her clothes. Taking a closer look, she realized she was shot.
�Athena, you�ve been shot in the thigh! How the hell did you run?�
As if a light went on in her head, she replied �No wonder I felt a shooting pain in my thigh when I tried to run. I never even felt the shot hit�in fact, I was just concentrating on getting away from Nash and the Harris boys. I don�t know how I got shot.�
�NASH? What do you mean Nash?�
�Don Harris connected Nash and sent him to attack me. I fought him off long enough to escape. I kicked him right into Ron and Don. Ow! Dammit!� Finally feeling the pain, she almost fainted. Albert caught her and stood her back up. �Thanks.� Realizing they were still missing one member of the team, she asked �Albert, where�s D-Lo?�
�I don�t know. I just ran as fast as I could. I didn�t want to take the chance of being caught trying to find D-Lo. I just hope that he came out here.�
�Well�I�m gonna try to get a hold of him using the communicator watches. Just pray that it works.� Athena pressed the call button, crossing her fingers.
Meanwhile�
�Fuck! Where are they! It�s after 9:30!� I had better call the police. Just then, a beep went off on his wrist. The communicator watch signaled that someone was attempting to contact him. Pressing the receive button, D-Lo listened.
�D-Lo! Come in D-Lo!� Athena yelled.
�Athena! Thank God. Where are you?� D-Lo responded into the communicator watch.
�Behind the headquarters. Get out here as fast as you can, but be careful! The Harris boys are after Albert and I. They don�t know its us though.�
�What do you want me to do?� Before Athena could respond, D-Lo saw the Harris brothers running down the hall, looking in every room and closet. �Fuck! They�re here!�
�Just act naturally�like you�re there for therapy.� D-Lo abruptly turned off the watch as the Harris boys entered the therapy room.
�Brown! What are you doing here? Aren�t you supposed to be at Nitro?� Don Harris asked, holding the loaded gun behind his back.
�I got injured taping my segments earlier today. Russo told me to spend time in the whirlpool tonight. I was just packing up to leave and go back to my hotel room.�
Remembering the incident at the taping, Ron nodded. �Oh yeah. But, didn�t Athena and Prince Albert get injured too?�
�Yeah, they did. They came with me, but left an hour or so ago. Athena was having �female problems� and Albert wanted to eat, so he took off. I decided to stick around for a while.� With their small brains easily satisfied, Ron and Don nodded, said goodnight and continued on their path through WCW, looking for the two intruders dressed in black.
As soon as they were gone, D-Lo called Athena back. �Hey�get out of the black clothes NOW! I told Ron and Don that you guys left an hour ago. You have female problems and Albert went to eat. There is a gas station down the road. Get over there as fast as you can, and I�ll pick you up. Bye.� D-Lo grabbed the bags and headed out to the parking lot.
Meanwhile�
�Albert. We have to get to the gas station down the road ASAP! D-Lo is going to pick us up. He was able to provide an alibi for all of us to the Harris boys. It should stick for now.�
�Athena! You can�t run�you�re shot!�
�Look�we don�t have time for me to be injured. I can take care of myself for the time being. Let�s just go.� With that, Athena braced herself and set in on a full-speed run to the gas station. Right behind her, Albert followed, still amazed at Athena�s toughness.
Two minutes later, Athena and Albert got to the gas station and to D-Lo�s waiting car. Jumping in, Albert and Athena shouted �Go, go go!� As D-Lo sped off, he noticed Athena�s leg.
�Fuck! You�re shot! We gotta get you to a hospital!�
�No! We gotta get to the hotel and to Vince! I can take care of the wound when we get there!�
�How? You need medical attention!�
�D-Lo�don�t argue with me. I said I can take care of it.� Seeing the two men�s expressions, she sighed and replied, �Just add this to the list of things I�ll explain later.� With that, D-Lo floored it, speeding off to the hotel.
Part 12: If You Want It Done Right, You Gotta Do It Yourself
2:00am - Hotel Room in Tallahassee, Florida
After driving four hours, D-Lo Brown, Prince Albert, and Athena finally made it to Tallahassee. The Florida city hosted RAW is War earlier in the evening. En route to the city, Athena called Vince�s cell phone and informed him that they were driving down. Needless to say, Vince was not happy about this turn of events. He didn�t want suspicion cast on the three wrestlers because of their absence. But, Athena, persistent as ever told Vince they were coming and that there was nothing he could do to stop them. After several minutes of arguing, Vince relented and hung up.
All three wrestlers exited D-Lo�s car and headed into the Sheraton Executive � Tallahassee. Finding the elevator, the three entered and pressed the button for the penthouse suite. Athena laughed nervously and said, �Leave it to Vince to get the Penthouse for one night.� Once they arrived at the floor, they buzzed the suite, letting Vince know they were there. Vince looked out the door through the eyehole and, once he saw them, let them in.
Not even a handshake passed before Vince began his tirade. �All right! What the hell is so important that you three had to drive four hours to see me? Why couldn�t you just tell me over the phone? If Russo sees that all three of you are gone, and you don�t happen to make it to the Thunder tapings, he�s going to get suspicious. Well? Answer me, dammit!�
�Vince, shit�calm down. We couldn�t tell you over the phone because what we have to tell you, you wouldn�t believe without looking at our proof.� Athena began pulling her laptop out of her bag. Luckily, she remembered it and had D-Lo quickly stop at the hotel in Atlanta and picked it up. Starting it up, she continued. �Now Vince, I know you sent us in to WCW to destroy it from the inside out. Well, as we were doing it, we discovered something�something horrible.�
�What! Don�t beat around the bush, just tell me!� Everyone could tell Vince was both curious and afraid by the vein popping out of his forehead. �What the hell is wrong at WCW?!�
�Well�here goes. We began to notice something when we saw Turner and Russo together. We followed them and�� Athena, D-Lo, and Albert proceeded to relay the whole story about what they had discovered. At appropriate times, Athena pulled up the stored Spyglasses pictures from her computer. Vince�s expression constantly changed from pissed to horrified and then � when Albert spoke about the list of WWF wrestlers on Turner�s �acquire� list � went back to �pissed.�
�That fucking bastard! First of all, how dare he try to take my wrestlers! Second of all, how the hell does he expect his little plan to work?! A bunch of fake wrestlers take over America? There has to be more. That egotistical, smarmy little blowhole! He�s not going to get away with it. That asshole�s going down.�
D-Lo looked at Vince and said, �Want me to call the police, Vince?�
Vince turned to D-Lo, smiled wickedly, and responded, �Not yet, D-Lo. We�ll call them soon enough. It�s too early. As my father always said, �If you want something done right, you�ve got to do it yourself.� Since Turner doesn�t know that we know�I want to have some fun with him. In fact, I have a plan.� Vince gathered the three wrestlers around and explained what was swirling around in that big head of his.
Part 13: An Offer He Can't Refuse...
2 days later - WCW Headquarters
Vince Russo�s secretary was busy typing a letter when she was startled by the office door flying open. A confident, almost arrogant man stormed in, heading directly toward Russo�s office door. �Tell Russo I want to see him, NOW!�
Jumping out of her seat, rushing toward the door, the secretary pleaded, �Mr. McMahon, you can�t go in there without an appointment. Mr. McMahon, he�s in a meeting. Sir! Sir!�
Ignoring the secretary, McMahon opened the office door and strode right in. �Russo�I wanna talk to you!� He looked at Russo, who�s mouth was hanging open, and turned his head. There he saw Ted Turner. �Turner�,� he said icily. �I wouldn�t mind talking to you either. This concerns both of you.�
Turner just half-smiled at McMahon, while Russo was sweating bullets. �What the hell is McMahon doing here,� he said to himself. Russo looked at McMahon and replied, �I don�t see why you need to talk to me Vince. We have nothing to say to each other.�
Laughing, McMahon continued, �Oh yes we do. I want to propose a deal. This deal I am proposing could turn the wrestling business on its ear!�
Intrigued, Turner, against his better judgement, decided he wanted Vince to continue. �I�m listening McMahon. You�ve got 5 minutes.� Turner proceeded to fold his arms across his chest, taking a pointedly defensive stance.
�Five minutes? Huh�ok. Well, I am proposing an inter-federation Pay-Per-View. WCW versus WWF. The best of my guys against the best of your guys.� As their minds registered McMahon�s words, Turner and Russo�s eyes widened.
�You what?! For years, Vince, I begged for you to agree to an inter-federation program. But you were dead set against it. Why the sudden change?,� Turner inquired.
�I got to thinking, Turner, so much has been done for wrestling in the last five years. The injection of �Crash TV� attitude, the mainstream acceptance and exposure, just so much. I kept thinking what would bring it to the next level? What would start 2000 off with a bang? The only thing I could think of was an inter-federation Pay-Per-View on New Year�s Eve. The last match�your champion against my champion, would end right at midnight, letting the world know which federation would begin the new millennium on top. What do you say, Turner?�
Looking at Russo, Turner answered, �Would you mind stepping outside for a minute while I discuss this with Russo?� McMahon nodded, stepped out of the office, and closed the door. Shaking his head and smiling, Turner continued, �Can you believe this? Can you? This is perfect, absolutely perfect. I was trying to figure out a way to get the rest of the names on my list. This is it!� Seeing the worried look on Russo�s face, Turner commented, �Well? What the hell�s wrong with you? You don�t like this?�
Shaking his head, Vince replied, �No, I love the idea. But, it just seems too perfect. In all the years I�ve known him, he�s never ever considered an inter-federation show. I just don�t understand why now?�
�Hell, who knows with McMahon. Maybe he took one too many chairshots from his daughter and son-in-law at Armageddon. Ha Ha. Anyway, for this to work, we have to incorporate the WWF wrestlers into what we already have. I still want this PPV in LA, DC, NYC, and Chicago. And, I want Vince to agree to shoot matches. That way our guys can beat the living shit out of everyone associated with the WWF. It�ll make it easier to convert them if their unconscious already. Besides, shoot matches will prove to the world who has the better federation.�
Still worried, Russo interrupted, �I just don�t know, Ted. But, if you want it�I�ll agree with it.�
�Yes, this will happen.� Turning toward the door, Turner shouted, �All right McMahon, we�re done.� Vince entered the office again, smiling.
�Did you decide? Yes or no.�
Turner, smiling, replied, �Yes�if you agree to our conditions.�
�What conditions?,� McMahon inquired, despite being fully aware of what they would be.
�Since we�re ten days away from our originally scheduled New Year�s Eve PPV, I want you to agree to place your wrestlers in each of the four cities we�re performing in. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, DC.�
McMahon replied, �Ok. What else.�
�Shoot matches. We don�t want the moves scripted or the outcomes scripted.�
Taken aback, McMahon shouted, �Are you nuts?! What if our guys get seriously injured?�
Laughing, Turner continued, �It�s like you said, McMahon. It�s the start of a new millennium, let�s find out who really does have the best federation. The only way it can be done unbiased is through shoot matches.
To himself, McMahon retorted, �Unbiased my ass, you bastard. You just want to beat the shit out of my guys.� Looking at both Russo and Turner, Vince nodded his head. �Fine, you got it. The program will be all shoot matches. But no tricks, Turner. If I find out you did anything�you are DEAD.�
Pleased with himself, Turner got up from his chair, smiling. �Great. This Pay-Per-View is going to be absolutely great. Come by tomorrow and we�ll work out the logistics.�
�Fine. I�ll come by at 10:00 am. And remember, no funny stuff.�
�Of course not Vince, it�ll be pure skill and talent.� With that, Vince McMahon walked out of Russo�s office and closed the door. Inside the office, Turner muttered, �Idiot.�
As he was about to walk out of WCW Headquarters, McMahon saw pictures of both Turner and Russo at the entrance. Smiling, Vince flipped them the bird and laughed. �What idiots.�
Part 14: Is it the End of the World as We Know it?
December 31, 1999
When the details of the Pay-Per-View were finally hammered out, no one realized the size of the monster created. Word leaked out on the Internet about two weeks before the official press release was sent. A week after that, tickets for the four-venue show went on sale. Longtime fans, new fans, and the curious camped out days ahead of time, trying to be part of this history-making event. As expected, all four venues sold out in record time, four minutes each.
The morning of the Pay-Per-View, formally called The Final Standoff, the wrestlers were notified of their opponents. The delay of notification was to ensure authentic emotion come match time. In each location, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC, several undercard matches were booked, as well as two main event matches (three for Washington, DC).
The main event card for �The Final Standoff� looked like a who�s who of the �sports-entertainment� industry:
Los Angeles � Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Goldberg; Hulk Hogan vs. The Big Show.
Chicago � The Undertaker vs. Sting; Chris Jericho vs. Chris Benoit
Washington DC � Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels; The Rock vs. Jeff Jarrett; Kane vs. Sid Vicious
New York � Triple H vs. Kevin Nash; X-Pac vs. Scott Hall
Yes, believe it or not, Vince McMahon was able to convince Shawn Michaels to wrestle for the WWF one last time. Of course, leave it to Vince to book Michaels into a rematch of the Survivor Series �screw job,� and book The Kliq against each other in the same arena where the �Madison Square Garden Incident� took place. As fans entered the arenas, and word spread of the matches, intensity rose to a fevered pitch. Each arena filled up two hours before the matches were to start�no one wanted to miss any part of this once in a lifetime event.
Washington DC � 7:45 p.m.
Ted Turner walked into the production room, demanding to know where Russo was. �Where the hell is he? I want to see him NOW!�
A soundboard operator responded, �I think he�s backstage, sir. He�s checking to make sure everything�s ready.�
�Dammit! He�s supposed to make sure Hart, Jarrett, and Sid are working�er, ready to wrestle.� Turner stalked out of the room and toward the backstage area. �Russo! Are they ready? I want to make sure that at exactly midnight, Jarrett and Sid Vicious are back at ringside with Hart, ready to grab President Clinton. I don�t want any screw-ups Russo. If something goes wrong, YOU�RE DEAD!�
�Everything is set, sir. Your people are positioned all around the arena, dressed as patrons in seats surrounding President Clinton and his Secret Service, surrounding McMahon and the other WWF wrestlers. Each city has men surrounding it�keeping watch on the Governor and ready for attack.�
�Wonderful. As people are ringing in the New Year, I will have everything I have ever wanted�America in my control, and of course, McMahon dead.�
Washington DC � 9:45 p.m.
�Oh man, did you feel the crowd out there? I have never heard anything so loud in my life. Damn those were some awesome matches we just had,� D-Lo exclaimed. Twenty minutes ago, Athena and Prince Albert defeated the Harris Brothers by submission when Don Harris tapped out from Albert�s Boston Crab. Two minutes ago, D-Lo defeated Lash LeRoux using the Sky High.
�Yeah, it was great. But, I wish we could�ve wrestled some of McMahon�s people. I really miss them,� Albert said.
Athena responded, �Me too. I really wanted to wrestle Chyna. It�s been so long since I�ve talked to her.�
�You know Chyna?�
�Yeah, I�ve known her for a while. She also helped Ivory get me introduced to McMahon in the first place. But, we don�t have time to get into this right now. We have to talk to Vince. He said he�d meet us here at 10 p.m. Right now, I think he�s sitting near the President.�
�Hey, did you think it was odd that we fought the Harris Brothers?�
�I thought it was strange at first, but I think it was just creative booking.� Athena looked around and saw Don and Ron approaching them. �Oh shit, shut up. They�re coming.� The Harris� stopped and extended their hands to Albert and Athena.
�Good match you two. You�ve got some great moves. I�m gonna be sore for two weeks. Athena, where�d you learn your aim? You never missed a top rope move, a dropkick, nothing.�
Jokingly, she answered, �I�m an expert, boys�I don�t miss.� Her eyes widened as she saw the expression on the Harris� turn from happy to confused. �What the hell did I say?,� she thought to herself.
�Well, good match anyway. We�ll see you later�we gotta go.� The Harris� made their hasty exits and ducked into the first empty locker room.
�Don, what the hell was that? �I�m an expert, boys�I don�t miss? That was exactly what that intruder said last night. I remember exactly. �I�m an expert marksman, boys�I don�t miss.�
Ron replied, �Holy fucking shit. You don�t think that Athena was the one who broke into the room, do you?�
�I dunno. She fits the stature. Really tall, solid, but not man solid. It has to be her. What are the chances of two different people using that exact same sentence?�
�I can�t believe that she did it. She�s always been so nice.�
�I know�but we can�t take any chances. Turner already said that if anything goes wrong�we�re dead.� Don shook his head and continued, �We have to tell Turner. We don�t have another option.� The two brothers exited the locker room, walked down the hallway and out toward the entrance area, finding Turner watching the matches intently.
�Come on Jarrett. Beat the shit out of The Rock. Go, go!� As expected, the �new� Jeff Jarrett was demolishing The Rock. Numerous gashes had opened up on Rocky, blood pouring everywhere. But still he fought back, actually hitting a Rock Bottom on Jarrett. Unfortunately, that was the end of the Rock�s offense. Jarrett grabbed a guitar from ringside and plastered Rock�s head. He was out cold, considering this was a real guitar, not the fake ones usually used. After an easy three count, Jarrett headed up the ramp to the locker room, as Rock was being carried out in a �real� stretcher. �Ha ha! This is great! I love it.�
Don and Ron Harris appeared in front of Turner, blocking his view. �Sir, we hate to interrupt you, but we have to tell you something.� Annoyed, but interested, Turner listened to the whole story of night of the break in. Throughout the conversation, Turner�s anger rose. At the end of the story, Turner�s anger turned into a devious smile.
�Don and Ron, I�m glad you told me. Despite the fact that I could kill you right now for not telling me earlier, I see your point. Thank you for telling me about Athena. Whether she did it or not, I may have a little surprise up my sleeve for her.� Turner walked out without a second glance to the Harris boys.
Washington DC � 11:55pm
The matches were going just as Turner expected them to. The undercard matches kept the crowd fired up for the main events. The main events did what they were supposed to�devastate the WWF talent. Although several of the WCW men lost to the WWF, the job was done. Rock was in the hospital due to trauma to the head, Triple H�s bad knee was dislocated and the leg broke in two different places, Undertaker�s hip was broken, among other serious injuries. It looked as if the WWF�s healthy roster was now emaciated. The last match in Washington DC, Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart was no different. Each man mounted spectacular offensive and defensive moves. But, eventually, Bret got the upper hand, locking in the Sharpshooter and not letting go. The audience could hear Shawn�s back and hips crack under the pressure. Finally, Hart let go, allowing EMT�s to stabilize Michaels and get him to the hospital.
To end the evening, Turner emerged from backstage, and walked to the middle of the entrance ramp, Russo and the Harris brothers right behind. Looking over, he saw Athena standing near the crowd directly to the side of him. �Ladies and Gentlemen, Mister President, thank you for being part of this monumental event. I hope you had as much fun watching it as Mr. McMahon and I had planning it. Mr. President, I have a gift for you.� Turner nodded his head and shouted, �NOW!� Just as all of Turner�s undercover people were about to rise up and brandish their weapons, more people stood up aiming M-16s at Turner, Russo, and all of Turner�s men. Three men jumped over the barricades, electric prodders in hand, and stood behind Jarrett, Sid and Bret Hart.
Vince McMahon climbed over the barricades and into the center of the ring. �Not so fast you stupid son-of-a-bitch!� Turner looked to the ring and glared at Vince. �Did you really think you would get away with it? Did you?� Turner continued to glare, not saying a word, trying to think of a way out of this. �You must think I�m stupid, Turner. Do you really think I would ever work with you unless I had another motive?�
�What the hell are you talking about McMahon. You came up with the idea of this Pay-Per-View.�
�No, Turner. You did. You had everything set up. All I had to do is bring my wrestlers. Now I can see why you were so hell bent on shoot matches. You wanted to destroy my federation from the inside.�
�And I did, McMahon. Your wrestlers will never be the same again.�
�Oh, I don�t doubt that. They won�t be the same�they�ll be better. As for you, I think your days are numbered.� He pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket. �Let�s see, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to assassinate the President, conspiracy to assassinate other government officials, not to mention ten counts of murder � of your own wrestlers.�
Stammering, Turner spat, �I-I-don�t know what you�re talking about.� All the while, Turner eyed Athena.
�Just shut up, Turner. I have proof. I have pictures, I have video, the police and secret service have enough here to put you away for life, or even fry you in the electric chair you heartless bastard.�
�I hate you McMahon. How the hell did you find out?,� Turner asked, already knowing part of the answer.
�Well, since you are no threat to me, my wrestlers, or America in general, I can tell you that my knowing came about by accident.�
�What?!�
�Well, for the last three months, you�ve had three double agents, so to speak, in your ranks. You know, there�s nothing like �The Real Deal� baby!�
At the mention of �The Real Deal,� Russo freaked. �What the fuck! Son-of-a-bitch!!�
�Yes, you idiot. If you had half a brain, you would�ve realized that the story line ideas D-Lo and Prince Albert gave you were completely ridiculous. In fact, I was genuinely surprised you signed them. And, didn�t seem suspicious to you that I turned down such a fantastic wrestler like Athena? I always knew you were stupid, Russo, but now I�m wondering if your age is higher than your IQ.�
Russo and Turner glared at Athena while the Harris brothers quietly tried to slip away to the backstage. �Where the hell are you going? Get back here!,� Turner shouted.
�Hell no. You two are on your own. We don�t want any part of this anymore.� They took off running backstage, slamming directly into four DC policemen with handcuffs.
�You know Turner, you should be a little quieter when you talk. The only reason my three saboteurs heard of your little scheme was because you were busy yelling at Russo. They decided to follow you and saw your secret room. Later that week, they got the proof, came to me, and the rest is history. Face it Turner, your going down, you�re screwed.�
�Well, if I�m going down�the little bitch is going down with me!� Turner bent down, grabbed Athena by the hair and pulled her up on the ramp. With one arm around her neck, Turner, with his other hand, reached in his pocket and pulled out a syringe. Pulling the cap off, he then aimed it at Athena�s neck. �Anyone moves, and I inject little princess here with the same chemical I used to permanently paralyze all those wrestlers� vital organs. One little squirt in the head, and she�ll be a complete vegetable. One little squirt in the body�she�ll die within the hour. How�d you like to have her death on your hands, Vince.�
�Don�t do it Turner. Its not worth it.�
�Not worth it? Ha! It�ll be worth it just seeing the bitch who destroyed my plans writhing in excruciating pain. She deserves to suffer.� Looking at Athena fearing for her life, he decided to taunt her. �Come on, Athena. Move, just a little bit. Do you want to die?� As Turner was taunting her, D-Lo and Albert slowly moved down the ramp, ever so slowly trying to make their way to where Russo, Turner, and Athena were. D-Lo stopped right behind Russo, grabbed him, and covered him with a chloroform soaked cloth. Knocked out immediately, D-Lo dragged him away without a sound, leaving only Turner holding Athena and Albert waiting for the right moment to pounce. Nothing of these actions was being given away by the audience for they were shell-shocked, unable to make a sound.
�Come on Athena. Give daddy what he wants. I wanna see you die. You wanna try to escape? Go ahead, here, I�ll relax a little. Just try.� As he ever-so-slightly relaxed his grip, Albert grabbed Turner�s arm, forcing it away from Athena. Seizing her chance, Athena thrust her leg back, ramming her boot heel into Ted Turner�s crotch. Athena broke free from his grip, but as he began to double over in pain, Turner thrust his arm out, catching and piercing her shoulder with the needle and pressing the plunger part way. �Die, bitch! Die!�
Athena screamed and fainted at the realization that she was injected with the paralysis chemical. Albert, knocking out Turner with one punch, ran to Athena. �Fuck! Athena! Can you hear me?� Athena didn�t respond. �I need an ambulance! Get a fucking ambulance! She�s gonna die! NOW NOW NOW!� Within a couple of minutes, EMTs had placed Athena on a stretcher and wheeled her to the parking lot where a Medivac helicopter was waiting. Albert, D-Lo, and Vince accompanied her on the helicopter.
Albert broke the silence. �Vince, what are we gonna do? She can�t die. They have to help her!�
�They�re gonna do the best they can, Albert.� All of the sudden, the sound on the heart monitor got lower and lower.
An EMT yelled, �She�s crashing! Come on, dammit!� The monitor flatlined. �FUCK! I need the paddles. Her heart�s stopped! NOW!�
Part 15: Don�t Know What You Got �Til It�s Gone
Washington DC Memorial Hospital � 12:30 a.m.
The Medivac helicopter arrived on the landing pad within minutes after loading Athena. Quickly unloading the stretcher, the EMTs rolled Athena into the hospital elevator and down to the Emergency wing. D-Lo, Albert, and Vince quickly followed. Once they reached the Emergency wing, the three men were forced to stay in the waiting room. Albert, his emotions running from anger to guilt, began pacing the waiting room floor. �Dammit! If only I had pulled his arm back further, or dragged him away from her just a little bit more. Maybe if I had just done something more, she wouldn�t be in the emergency room fighting for her life! God, why her?�
D-Lo rose from his chair and faced Albert. �Albert you did as much as anyone in your position could do. You knew if you moved wrong, Turner would empty that whole syringe in her throat. Don�t blame yourself. You had no idea what Turner or Athena would do.� Albert turned away, but D-Lo grabbed his head and faced him back. �Look at me�you did not cause this! You hear me! YOU-DID-NOT-CAUSE-THIS!� Albert half-nodded and walked out onto the balcony.
Looking up at the sky, Albert prayed. �God, you know I�m not a spiritual man. I know I�ve never turned to you before, but, I need your help. You see, Athena is in the emergency room, fighting for her life. She doesn�t deserve to die. She didn�t ask for this to happen. Please, you�you gotta do something? Ok? I know you only take people if it�s their time to go. I know its not her time to go. She�s got too much to live for. Please, please! Give me some sort of sign that she�s gonna make it.� All of the sudden, the balcony door slid open and Vince appeared.
�Albert, we need you in here. The doctor�s waiting to tell us about Athena.� The two men quickly made their way back into the waiting room. The doctor stood there, emotionless, gathering his thoughts.
Vince broke the silence and asked, �How is she?�
The doctor replied, �Well, it�s touch-and-go right now. We set up a transfusion system, draining the contaminated blood while at the same time introducing clean blood to her system. It�s too early to tell the extent of any brain or organ damage. We know she�s going to have to fight�she�s not out of the woods yet.�
D-Lo and Albert asked, �Can we see her?�
�Well, she is conscious,� the doctor replied. �But, she is very groggy and can�t speak much. You can see her, but only one person at a time. I�ll keep you posted on any changes in her condition.�
All three men thanked the doctor as he walked out of the waiting room. �Well, who should go first?,� Vince asked.
�Albert, you want to go in first?,� D-Lo replied.
�Thanks, man. I would like that.� Albert walked out of the waiting room and into where Athena was being monitored. Seeing her hooked up to all those machines, Albert silently started crying. �Oh god. I can�t believe this happened. Please, she has to make it.� Albert didn�t realize Athena could hear what he�s saying.
�Hey, you. What�re you crying for, huh? There�s no crying in wrestling!� Athena faintly smiled as she tried to turn her head to Albert. Albert sighed in relief and sat down next to Athena�s hospital bed. He gently grabbed her hand and placed it in his.
�You gave us quite a scare, girl. Especially me. I thought you were going to die.�
�You know me�I never go down without a fight. I ain�t leaving yet.�
�Good, I�m glad. I couldn�t take it if you left. I�d be stuck with D-Lo.� Athena laughed and squeezed Albert�s hand.
�I ain�t going anywhere�as far as I know. Of course, if you don�t ask me to go to dinner when I get out of here, maybe I will leave.� Albert�s eyes widened.
�You mean, a date?�
�Boy, are you sure you didn�t pierce your brain? Yes, a date.� Athena smiled and laughed.
�Oh.� Albert thought for a second and smiled. �Will you have dinner with me when you get out of here?�
�Gee, I thought you�d never ask.� All of the sudden, the alarm on Athena�s heart monitor and brainwave monitor shrieked. �Oh god�what�s happening. AARRRGHH! Oh god, it hurts so bad�aaaarrggghhh!�
�Fuck! Athena! What�what�s happening?! DOCTOR!!! HELP!!!� Athena�s doctor and three nurses barged into the room.
�Sir�you have to leave!� A nurse pushed Albert out of the room. �We need an Operating room STAT! Get the OR tray ready and prep her for surgery. Get the neurosurgeon NOW! She�s having an aneurysm.�
Athena could hear the commotion around her. �An aneurysm?,� she thought to herself. �Oh god, I don�t want to die. I-I-don�t want�� Her eyes grew hazy and closed as she slipped into unconsciousness.
�Doctor�she�s slipped into a coma.�
The End.
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