Part One – The News

 

 

RING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

RING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This annoying ringing sound brings us into focus in the bedroom of Mark and Sandra Sommers.  The darkness is thinned enough for us to see them in bed, sound asleep as a multitude of covers surround them.  The ringing sound breaks the silence again, and moaning with regret, Mark rolls to his side and slams his hand down onto the alarm clock.

 

RING!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Slowly opening one eye, Mark sighs, as realization hits him…. He reaches past the alarm clock, and picks up the cordless hand phone just as it begins it’s forth shrill.  He clicks the talk button, and lays back on his pillow.

 

“Hello…?”

 

Said with a sleepy voice, Mark listens to the voice on the other side.  All is still for the moment as Mark takes in what he is hearing… his eyes begin to widen a little.. and he swallows hard, once.  By now, Sandra has been roused from her sleep and with her head still on the pillow, she watches Mark’s expression change from shock to worry to downright fear… she pushes herself up, on her elbow as Mark finally speaks.

 

“Yeah, I got it… No, I’m alright…. Yeah, we’ll be there in about an hour… thank….thanks for calling, bro.”

 

Mark clicks the talk button off, and stares at the ceiling.  Sandra waits, but not for long before her patience wears thin.

 

“Was that Michael?”

 

Mark just nods, biting his lip.

 

“Mark, what’s wrong???”

 

Sandra’s voice betrays her worry, and it catches Mark’s attention, breaking him out of his trance… he turns to her, and you can see a very unfamiliar look in his eyes… fear to which he has never experienced before.

 

“My… my father… he’s dying.”

 

Part Two – The Hospital.

Swinging the car around, Mark finds a space not too far from the hospital.  He slams the breaks on, and puts the car in park even as he’s fumbling to get the door open.  Sandra grabs his shoulder.

 

“Mark, please… slow down… “

 

Mark turns to her, for a split second wanting to bite her head off for telling him what to do, but he calms down quickly, realizing it’s not her fault.  He smiles reassuringly.

 

“I’m okay.. I swear.. but I want to get up there.. Now!”

 

Sandra nods, exiting the Mustang from her side, and she waits for Mark to come around and she grasps his hand.  Together, they hurry into the building and find the nearest elevators.  Sandra pushes the up button while Mark anxiously rubs his hands together.

 

“Why do these things have to take so long?!”

 

Sandra puts her hand on his shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

 

“It’s a big hospital, hun….”

 

Mark turns his head, and notices the stairwell door.

 

“Wait if you want…. “

Mark dashes to the door and pushes through it, nearly plowing over two interns coming out.  Sandra sighs, and is about to follow when the DING of the elevator signals it’s arrival.  Stepping on, she pushes #3 and as the doors close, she listens to the interns bitching about the rude guy that just ran through. Sandra can’t help but smile just a little.

 

Moments later, the elevator doors open and Sandra steps out.  Looking for the sign for the room she’s seeking, she walks down the hallway and turns left.  A few moments later, she finds the corridor she’s seeking and goes through two large double doors.  One more turn, and she comes across room 325. Before she can enter, however, a voice behind her startles her.

 

“Mark’s not in there, little sister.”

 

Sandra turns… and with a smile, embraces Michael. 

 

“Oh I’m so sorry to hear about your father.”

 

Michael smiles sadly, but Sandra then looks at him.

”Where is Mark?? He took the stairs ahead of me!”

 

“He’s in the waiting area with Auntie Sommers and Jasmine…he wanted to go in, but I told him the Drs are performing some tests, so we have to wait.”

 

Sandra nods and with Michael’s arm around her shoulder, he leads her into the waiting room.  When they arrive, Mark is against the wall, holding his arms while Auntie Sommers talks to him soothingly.  Jasmine is over in the kids area with Daniel, who when he sees Sandra, yelps.

 

“Auntie Sandra!! Auntie Sandra!! Come play with me!”

 

Letting go, Michael steps over to Aunt Sommers and Mark as Sandra goes over to play with Daniel.  Jasmine and Sandra clasp hands and they turn to keep the child busy.  Back with the others, Michael approaches as Aunt Sommers explains what happened.

 

“…he had the stroke last night, Mark… said he’d been feeling tired and got a severe headache just before it happened.”

 

Mark nods, barely taking in the news as he seems to stare off into space…Aunt Sommers continues.

 

“They got him in very quickly… but they want to run some extra tests on him as well… just to make sure… “

 

“Make sure of what?” Mark asks.

 

Michael Interjects.

 

“Brother.. they’re not quite certain… but the doctor thinks a blood vessel burst.. his prognosis isn’t very good.”

 

Mark stares at his brother, still unable to grasp the entire situation.  Aunt Sommers pulls Mark into a hug and he accepts it, arms loose to his side and Michael sighs.

 

“But he’s talking pretty good today, which surprises the doctors… they say they’ve not seen anyone so strong willed as he in a long time.”

 

Mark smiles sadly.

 

“That’s just like him, he won’t let anyone see him in a bad way.. not even the doctors…damn him.”

 

Just then, at the door they hear;

 

“Mr. Sommers?”

 

They all turn, as the Doctor attending to their father steps into the waiting area.

 

“Your father is awake, and can have two visitors at a time…”

 

Aunt Sommers nods, urging Mark and Michael forward…

 

“Go, we’ll wait right here.”

 

Michael nods and heads toward the door, but Mark doesn’t move.  Michael turns back to him.

 

“Brother?”

 

Mark gulps.

 

“Last time I saw him, we fought… he told me to get out… he .. he never wanted to see me again….”

 

A soft smile plays across Michael’s features.

 

“Funny, I remember him telling me the exact same thing…. Let it go, bro.. he needs us now.”

 

Mark nods, but it takes a push from Aunt Sommers to get his feet moving… as the brothers leave the room… Mark can’t help but think back on the last time he saw their father.

 

Part Three – I never want to see you again.

 

The morning sun shone brightly as it peaked it’s first look over the horizon, bringing in a new day.  Panning down, we are treated to the sight of a fancy brick house, nestled in among lush fern trees and settled a way back from a dirt road.  There is just a hint of snow on the ground, as spring seems to be itching to take control… it is April of 1999…and a younger Mark Sommers, dressed in an Armani three-piece suit, drives up in a pristine grey Pontiac Grand-Am.  He steps out, straightening his tie, and we seem him as much skinnier and frail then the man we know today.  He hurries up the front porch, and using his key, enters.  He listens for a moment, and smiles as he hears the radio in the kitchen.  Following the sound, he enters through the swinging doorway to find his father at the kitchen table, fresh eggs and toast in front of him and Aunt Sommers at the stove.

 

“Morning Father, Auntie.”

 

Auntie Sommers smiles and returns the greetings while she mixes up more eggs in the pan.  Mr. Sommers holds up a finger as he finishes listening to the weather report on the radio.  It soon finishes and he pour himself a second cup of coffee.

 

“What brings you here so early in the morning son?”

 

Mark, excited, plops down at the other end of the table as Aunt Sommers sits a nice hot plate of breakfast in front of him.

 

“I got some great news to tell ya, pops!”

 

Mark grabs the tub of butter and proceeds to spread some across his toast.  Mr. Sommers waits as he does, curious eyes upon him. Mark smirks, knowing he’s teasing his father, and he takes a big bite of toast…chewing slowly.  Mr. Sommers growls and Mark snickers after he swallows.

 

“Sorry pops.. anyway, I got my first managerial job!”

 

Mr. Sommers smiles… nodding

 

“Very good, son. Where at?   Microsoft?  GM?  Some other executive company?”

 

Mark smirks.

 

“Nope… the same place Michael’s at.. Ageian Dreams Corporation!”

 

Mr. Sommers smile disappears, and he looks at Mark with disgust.

 

“A wrestling company???!!!”

 

Mark frowns.

 

“Well, yeah.. but I’m not going to be wrestling like Michael….this is a good position… Vice President in charge of the financial aspects of the PWA… right along my ally, actually.!”

 

Standing, Mr. Sommers knocks his coffee over, and Aunt Sommers gasps, scramming for paper towels.. Mark stands too, not understanding.

 

“you know how much I despise what your brother does… and now you’re going to be right there along with him???  What kind of job is that? Managing wrestlers?  It’s a brutal sport and has no redeeming value at all!!!  Michael screwed up, why must you?”

 

Angrily, Mark retorts.

 

“It’s a good job!! It pays well, and it’s a growing past time!!   Why are you so against what Michael does anyway?”

 

“Because he had so much more going for him!!!  He could have been something better.. instead he chose to throw it all away just so he could beat up people for money!! It’s tasteless and I don’t want to see my sons involved in such things!”

 

“Is that why you’re so angry with him?  Has Michael become that big of a disappointment to you!?”

 

“It’s bad enough he did!!  I never expected that… you on the other hand, are much more predictable.. I should have seen this coming… you always wasted your abilities… a PHD in economics.. top of your class.. and your going to waste it all away for a company that promotes violence!! I saw enough of it in my Vietnam days, I don’t want to ..”

 

“Save me your speeches about the war, pops!  The PWA isn’t about that!!  You always expected better out of my brother then you did from me… it was always him .. everything was about him!”

 

“That’s not true, son, and you know it!!  But I refuse to have any relations with children who want to be involved in such violent crap!!!”

 

Aunt Sommers frowns, and tries to intervene, but Mr. Sommers glares at her.

 

“Not now, Nance… stay out of it… (turns back to Mark)  Michael choose this path and I cant’ stop him.. but I’m begging you son… don’t get involved in it… it will only lead to pain and loss!”

 

“You don’t’ know what your talking about, pops… this is a great platform for me… and I’m not going to waste it.. not for you or anyone!”

 

Mark grabs his coat and stomps out of the kitchen. Mr. Sommers follows.

 

“You either quit this ADC nonsense, or you can forget about ever coming through those doors again!!”

 

Mark spins…

 

“Fine! You already lost one son… since your on such a roll, let me help you make it a perfect score…. “

 

Mark turns back around and rips open the front door. He stomps down the stairs as Mr. Sommers stands in the doorframe.

 

“Don’t do it, Mark… you’ll regret it!! I swear to you, you’ll regret it!”

 

Without listening, Mark gets into his car and turns the ignition! Mr. Sommers yells some more but by now, Mark has the windows up, the radio on full blast and he skids out of the drive way… kicking up dust and filling the screen with brown…….

 

Part Four –Room 325

 

“Mark?”

 

Startled out of his memories, Mark finds himself in front of room 325.  He looks at Michael who nods once, slowly.. and the two brothers open the door together.  The room is dark, save for one single light over the monitors and they step quietly into the room.  A raspy breathing sound greets them and they look to each other.  They step around the large blue curtain to see their father, Mr. Sommers, laying prone on the hospital bed.. two sheets cover him and his head is propped up on a firm white pillow.  Aged, wrinkled and small, Mr. Sommers is nearly bald and is looking weak and frail.  A breathing tube is on his nose an IVs run out of his left arm.  The brothers approach and Mr. Sommers opens his eyes.

 

“Hey….”

 

Mark and Michael smile, taking up position on either side of the bed.  Michael squeezes his hand.

 

“Hello Father…”

 

Mark does the same on the opposite side.

”Hey pops.”

 

Mr. Sommers smiles…

 

“I .. didn’t expect to see either of you here.”

 

Mark smiles sadly.

 

“Of course we’re here… you need us.”

 

Mr. Sommers coughs once, startling the brothers but he pats their hands in reassurance.

 

“I’m okay… *coughs again*… the docs say I’ll be just fine.”

 

The brothers know differently, but they keep their silence.  Mr. Sommers glances at Mark.

 

“You’ve gotten big, son… much bigger then you look on TV.”

 

Mark’s eyes widen.

 

“You… you’ve watched me on TV?”

 

Mr. Sommers nods, making an admittance.

 

“I’ve watched both of you *squeezes their hands*… for the last five years.. everything you’ve done.. everything you’ve been through.”

 

This surprises both brothers… and in some ways, embarrasses them.

 

“uhhh, well.. ummm.”

 

Mark and Michael both don’t know what to say.  What do you say to your father that’s watched you electrocute someone?  Smash legs in locker room doors ?  Interfere in one of the greatest hyped matches of all time?  Lied, cheated and stolen just to make claim to being the best?  Mr. Sommers smiles wanly at the discomfort of his sons.

 

“Serves you right!  Some of the things you two have done…..”

 

Mark bites his lip, feeling more chastised now then ever in his life.  Michael coughs to clear his throat… the redness in his cheeks noticeable.  And for the first time in along time, Mr. Sommers laughs…catching the brothers off guard. 

 

“But you’ve made me proud, the both of you!”

 

They don’t’ understand, and the look on their faces betrays their thoughts.

 

“Listen, sons… I still stand by my belief there is too much violence in this world.. and I don’t agree with some of the stunts you two have pulled.. but I see how the world loves you.. how the fans adore you.. when you’re not doing stupid things, that is…  I don’t know how much time I have… but I didn’t want to leave this world angry with my two sons.”

 

Mark rubs his eyes, Michael stands solemnly as Mr. Sommers continues.

 

“But I don’t want you regretting anything either… not the time we lost, or anything… you two made a stand to be the men you are… and that’s a compliment to me.. I just couldn’t realize it in time… but when I had the seizure last night.. all I could think about was my two boys… and the pain they’d go through life if I couldn’t have the chance to tell them I was sorry.”

 

“NO!”

 

Mark speaks up, loudly…

 

“I’m sorry, dad… I didn’t listen to you or take your feelings into consideration…!”

 

Michael interferes.

 

“The same here… you raised us.. ever since mother died it was you and Auntie Sommers that were always there for us… and the way we repaid you….”

 

“The way you repaid me…. Was you went out and became the best you could be… and you entertained the world while you did it… now I’m tired of you two arguing with me.. I’m the one that’s apologizing here!”

 

“But…”

 

Mark stumbles over his words…

 

“Father… I… I’m sorry… but you’re right.  We’ve done our best.. each and every day… I love what I do… no matter how ‘professional’ its being deemed as… I won’t change the way I am… the way I do things… not for anyone…”

 

“Good son.  But you, Michael… tell your father the reason behind your recent activities.”

 

Michael lowers his head.

 

“Because that is who I am, father.. I am the Soul-Taker… and in accordance with the man I am in the ring, it is my destiny to seek out souls and devour them.”

 

Mr. Sommers looks at Michael with a strange eye.

 

“Is this the same corny speech you give to all your opponents?”

 

Michael blanches and Mark cracks up… the stress of the morning and day breaking down as he looks at his brother and just cant help but laugh hard.  Michael eyes look everywhere but his father….

 

“It’s.. it’s worked for me before.”

 

“Where’d you come up with such a cockamamie bullshit story like that?  Why don’t you just be yourself?”

 

Michael looks at his father in awe… realizing that he may be right.

 

“It’s all I know, father.. it’s all I’ve been.”

 

“Bullshit!  I’ve watched the programs and followed what’s been going on… this Johnny boy didn’t do anything to you….and you sought him out over his name?”

 

“No, I told him before… I wanted a battle.. and just as if Id pulled his name out of a hat… I just selected a simple reason to choose… and the name Nightmare seemed appropriate to battle with…”

 

Mr. Sommers coughs again, but rolls his eyes… can you see where the brothers get their attitude?  He laughs softly.

 

“You got yourself into this, son… but I think if you go into that match as yourself.. maybe you’ll learn something… and maybe you can make amends to that Johnny boy before it gets way out of hand.”

 

“It’s too late for that, Father.. this business doesn’t know forgiveness.  I’ve made my bed, I’ll lay in it if I have too.”

 

Mr. Sommers nods, respecting his son’s decision.

 

“You always stood up for what you thought was right, son… it’s one reason we fought so hard, but just another reason I respect you so much.”

 

Michael bows his head, and sits in the chair.. his thoughts over whelming him. Mr. Sommers, meanwhile, turns to Mark.

 

“But you… battling a woman?”

 

“Now hold on pops, you don’t’ understand. I…

 

Mr. Sommers holds his hand up.

 

“Let me finish… Son, that girl made her choice too.. to get into that ring and fight.  I don’t understand why, and I don’t care too… but I watched when she beat you… and I know why… no matter how hard you try to deny it…. You have respect for her.”

 

Mark smiles.

 

“She is rather cool… isn’t she?”

 

Mr. Sommers smiles.

 

“And that body…”

”POPS!!!”

 

“Oh, let an old man imagine.. but son… is this really the way you want to go.. to fight her again?”

 

“Yes, it is… I have my reasons, pop. But if I can’t get past Protean and Deacon Frost tomorrow… I’ll only get one more shot by winning the Rumble match itself on Sunday, and that’s just a bit harder…”

 

“I have every confidence in you doing your best tomorrow….”

 

“Thanks, Pops.. I appreciate that…”

 

At that moment, the Dr comes in… and the brothers turn as one to him.

 

“I’m sorry to interrupt… but Mr. Sommers.. we got your tests back…”

 

“Go on, I can handle it.”

 

The Doctor pauses… he looks to the two sons…

 

“Very well… Mr. Sommers, you have a blood clot that is all but stopping flow to the brain… it at first appeared to cause a Transient ischemic attack … but progressed much faster then expected.  We’re going to need to do an operation to try and clear the blood clot… “

 

The Doctor doesn’t need to finish… they get the idea. Mark speaks up.

 

“When?”

 

“Tomorrow, 6pm… that is the first table that is open.”

 

Mark turns to his brother, unspoken understanding between them.  Mark sighs.

 

“I’ll be here.”

 

Mr. Sommers looks at him.

 

“You have a match tomorrow, son.. you can’t be here.”

 

“I don’t care… this is far more important.. what If something goes wrong???”

 

“If Something goes wrong, son… you wouldn’t be able to do a thing!  Go, fight your match.. and win it… you want to make me proud.. then you get back on your feet and you do exactly what you were born to do!”

 

Mark shakes his head, but Michael interrupts.

 

“He’s right, bro… you’re one match away from getting a shot at Lorenzo at the PPV.. Don’t blow it now…”

 

“But…….”

 

“If you’re ever going to listen to me, son… would you please start now?”

 

Mark gulps… wanting to say no… but the stern look in his father’s eyes… Mark smiles softly…

 

“Promise you’ll pull out of this, so you can find out I won!?”

 

Mr. Sommers nods, grasping his hand.

 

“You go out there, and you be the best damned wrestler in that ring…. You show those boys you’re a Sommers and you take crap from no one!!”

 

Mark nods, a determined look in his eyes.

 

“Damned right. I’m going down to the HiC Studios right now.. and I’m going to stomp a verbal mud hole into those two!!

 

“Now that’s my son…. “

 

Mark smiles, a light feeling in his heart finally, and after assuring that Michael would stay the rest of the day, Mark exits the room and goes to find Sandra… a very determined look on his face…. And a mission to accomplish.

 

To Be Continued on the Twister RP Board