PRISONERS & SLAVES

RAW IS WAR, FEBRUARY 26TH, 2001

"Look, there must be some mistake," Lita blurted, slamming her fists down on the reception desk. "I booked a room with two beds. This room only has one."

"I’ll just check for you," the receptionist said amiably, tapping the keys at the computer. "I’m sorry, but you’re definitely booked for a single."

"I’m not," Lita insisted. "Fine, I’ll change it for a double."

The receptionist looked sympathetic. "I’m sorry, but we’re completely booked tonight. There are no rooms available at all."

"You’re kidding me," Lita scowled. "My cousin is supposed to share with me – that’s why we need two beds. Why can every other hotel in the country get it right when you can’t?"

The receptionist looked a little worried. "Perhaps I can run your cousin’s name if there’s been a mix-up."

"No. We always book under my name."

"It won’t hurt to check."

"Fine," Lita sighed. "Ange, come here a minute."

Angel stepped up to the desk.

"Can I ask your name?" the receptionist questioned.

"Angel Torres. T-O-double R-E-S."

"Torres," the receptionist repeated, typing it out. "Yes, we do have a room booked for you. Two seventeen." She went to collect the key and handed it to Angel. "I hope you enjoy your stay."

"Wait a minute. I didn’t book this room."

"Sure you did. Booked and paid for in your name."

"Paid for?" Angel questioned. "When?"

"Last night. By credit card."

"Last night? I thought you were full."

"We are. As of last night."

Angel frowned. It was pointless trying to work it out. "Okay. Thank you."

"I’ll go with you," Lita told her as they walked away from the lobby.

"You don’t think it’s Benoit, do you?" Angel asked her.

"Benoit’s not smart or powerful enough to change my booking," Lita told her.

"Mr. McMahon, then?" Angel wondered. "Coming through with his promise of treating me like everyone else?"

Lita shook her head. "Mr. McMahon doesn’t pay for our rooms. We do."

"Well then," Angel shrugged. "I guess I have another admirer."

"It’s going to be interesting to see who your neighbors are," Lita told her. "Maybe then we’ll be able to crack it."

"Maybe," Angel agreed. "But if it’s William Regal I’m going to be very, very upset."

* * * *

Keeping one hand on her sticks and with Lita standing guard behind her, Angel knocked at the room next door to hers. The door slowly opened.

"Howdy, Angel! What are you doin’ here?"

Lita looked down at Molly and immediately backed away. "Hey, Ange, I’ll leave you here with Molly to get it figured out. Come find me in Matt and Jeff’s room when you’re done."

Angel turned to her and nodded, then looked back at Molly with a puzzled expression.

"Guess she didn’t want to stick around," Molly shrugged. "Can’t say I blame her, what with tonight, and all."

"What’s tonight?" Angel asked.

"Me and your cousin have a number one contender’s match."

"You do? Lita didn’t tell me."

Molly shrugged. "It won’t be a grudge match, so you don’t have to worry. So, why did you say you were here?"

"I just got a room next door and I wanted to find out who my neighbors are."

"Oh, you did?" Molly cried. "Great!"

Angel smiled at her enthusiasm. "Well, now I’ve found out that you’re here I can’t complain. Who else is around here?"

"Hardcore and Crash are across the hall. I usually stay between Essa Rios and K-Kwik, but I guess you’ve got one of them now."

Angel nodded. "I tried the other door but no one answered. There was some sort of rap or something blaring out of there, though."

Molly nodded. "That’d be K-Kwik. He’s fun. Essa I don’t know so well because I can’t speak Mexican. I know some other people around here, too. Watch out for Albert, he’s a real big grouch. Also across the hall usually are Too Cool. They’re also fun. They have the craziest dance parties, you wouldn’t believe it."

Angel smiled. "So you like staying around here?"

Molly grinned. "It’s great! I am so glad you’re here, too. Hey, I know you probably won’t be rooting for me tonight, but after I win we should hang out."

Angel nodded. "If you win, Moll. Lita’s a former champ."

"And I’m a future champ!" Molly cried. "This is so great, Angel. I can’t believe you’re next door!"

* * * *

"So, what’s the verdict?" Lita asked.

"Molly, Crash, Hardcore, K-Kwik, Albert, Too Cool and Essa Rios."

The three of them nodded.

"New meat and lowcarders," Matt commented. "Just like Angel."

"Maybe Vince did do it," Jeff added. "If it was Benoit, you’d think she’d be right next to him."

"She will be right next to me," called a voice from the doorway.

All four looked at him warily.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Jeff demanded.

Benoit ignored him and looked calmly over at Angel. "You. Now."

"When are you going to leave her alone?" Matt cried. "You don’t own her."

Benoit broke into a grin, raised his hand and beckoned her. "I don’t have all day, little girl."

"You’re just about out of time, actually," Jeff told him.

Next to him, Angel got to her feet and walked towards the door.

"I’ll handle it," she told the others.

"Kick his ass, Ange," Lita called after her.

Angel walked right up to Benoit and looked into his cold eyes. "Out."

Benoit raised his eyebrows and took a step backwards. A moment later, Angel surprised everyone by stepping after him and closing the door behind her. It was several minutes before they realized she wasn’t coming back.

* * * *

As soon as Angel shut the door, Benoit looked at her skeptically. "You haven’t told them." It was a statement, not a question.

"It wasn’t in our deal to tell them," Angel replied testily.

"Not that I care, but they’ll think you’ve turned against them," Benoit advised.

"No, they’ll think you’ve kidnapped me," Angel replied. "And that’s how I prefer it."

Benoit just shrugged and grabbed her arm. Angel tried to yank it away.

"Must you grab at me all the time?"

Benoit didn’t relax his grip. "Yes, I must."

Angel just sighed and let him lead her. "Where the hell are we going, anyway?"

Benoit just started laughing.

"Tell me, asshole."

The laugh continued and so did the walk. Suddenly Angel jumped ahead on one leg and used the other to hook Benoit’s, sending him stumbling forward. He had to release her to regain his balance and when he did he spun furiously to find her standing with her hands on her hips.

"Tell me where we’re going or I’m not taking another step."

Benoit stared at her, nodded slowly, then broke into his smirk. Reaching forward, he picked her up and put her easily over his shoulder.

"Screw you, Benoit," Angel scowled as he carried her through the hotel.

"I wouldn’t try me, little girl," Benoit replied. "You don’t know how mean I can get."

* * * *

"The ring?’ Angel asked as they stepped through the area that would contain the crowd.

Benoit didn’t answer. He released her and went on ahead, where he climbed into the ring. He had that look on his face – the one he always got when he was competing. Angel watched him with a frown as he paced out the ring, sometimes closing his eyes for a few seconds. He stepped over to the ropes and tugged at them, then climbed to the top turnbuckle.

"I don’t care," he said softly, before climbing down.

He leaned back into the ropes as far as he could, then sprang forward into the opposite ropes. Back and forward, between the ropes. Finally, he stopped in the middle and closed his eyes.

"I don’t care at all."

Eyes still closed, he twitched his muscles a little bit, then nodded rapidly, as if his head was on a spring. Finally, he opened his eyes and stared out at Angel.

"You," he said roughly. "Here."

Angel swallowed. His display had been disturbing and somewhat scary – the pacing, the talking to himself, the nodding. Taking a deep breath, she approached the ring.

"Why?"

"Training."

"I’ve trained already. Before we left Vegas."

"Have you ever trained in the arena itself?"

Angel shook her head. "But I don’t want to."

"No?"

"No."

"Then why are you in the ring?"

Angel glared at him, then suddenly lunged forward and pushed him. He was ready for it, caught her quickly and slammed her to the canvas. Then he hooked her right arm, sat on her back and locked on the crossface.

"Argh!" Angel screamed, clenching her left fist.

"Tap out!" Benoit hissed.

Angel kept screaming.

"Tap out and I’ll let go."

"Argh!"

"You want me to break your back? Tap out!"

Summoning all her strength, Angel swung her left arm and punched him, forcing his hands into her mouth. She bit down, hard. Benoit yelped and released her.

"Stupid girl!" he shouted. "I could have killed you!"

Angel slowly got to her feet and glared at him. "And I could have bitten your damn hand off."

Benoit scowled. "I let go because if I hadn’t you wouldn’t be standing right now. Next time, tap out."

"Never," Angel spat, turning and walking away with one hand on her back and the other wiping away tears.

"Where are you going?" Benoit demanded. "I said, where are you going?"

Angel spun back around, furiously. "You hurt me. Our deal is over."

"I didn’t hurt you," Benoit argued, walking after her.

"The hell you didn’t."

"I didn’t hurt you! You were supposed to tap out. I was teaching you."

Angel faced him again. "I have two perfectly good teachers."

Benoit shook his head. "They haven’t taught you to tap from submission. Some teachers."

"They have something you’ll never have. Heart."

Benoit blinked. "Heart? Heart?" He shook his head and uttered the same words as before. "I don’t care."

"I know you don’t. I’m out of here."

"If you’d tapped out, you wouldn’t be hurt."

Angel turned again. "If you hadn’t jumped on me I wouldn’t be hurt either."

"If you hadn’t shoved me I wouldn’t have had to retaliate."

"We were training!" Angel blurted and immediately regretted it.

Benoit smirked. "Training. It doesn’t count. It’s not real."

"My dead back is pretty damn real."

Benoit shrugged. "Aggravated injury from too many suplexes taken the wrong way with Al Snow. That wouldn’t happen with proper training."

Angel had to admit her back was no more sore than after a typical training session.

"I didn’t hurt you," Benoit repeated.

Angel sighed as he grabbed her arm and led her away.

"Now where are we going?"

"You don’t train properly. I’m going to make sure you at least eat properly."

Angel sighed again. If only he’d really hurt her. She’d have to try harder next time.

* * * *

"Sit here. I’ll get the food," Benoit commanded as they walked through the catering area to a long table where Malenko, Saturn and Terri were seated.

"How do I know you won’t poison my food?" Angel asked.

"You don’t," Benoit replied flatly, before looking over at his fellow Radicalz. "Keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn’t leave."

"You got it, Chris," Saturn stated.

Benoit nodded to himself, then turned and left.

Angel looked around the table. If she sat where she was, Malenko would be next to her and ‘the Saturns’ opposite them. For a moment she considered taking out her sticks and giving Malenko a memory check, but her back spasmed slightly and she lost the urge. Not even attacking Malenko was fun anymore. She sat down quietly and was ignored by the other three as they discussed Malenko’s Light-Heavyweight Title match with a guy called Taka Michinoku.

Angel honestly didn’t care who took Malenko’s title away and soon her attention and eyes began to wander. They traveled around the room, eventually stopping on a particular table. There sat her old friends, Right To Censor. They appeared to be praying, but it was like no prayer Angel had ever seen. They seemed truly cult-ish as they lay their hands on a member’s head and Richards spoke, leaving them somewhat hypnotized. They were all there. One, two, three, four, five, six? Hadn’t there only been five before? Who was the one they were touching? Finally they stepped away and Angel got a good look. She – it was female – was dressed identically to Ivory. She was small and blonde and looked very scared, very young and very familiar. Suddenly it clicked.

"Oh, please God, no!" Angel cried, jumping to her feet. She stepped away from the table and started towards RTC.

"Aren’t we meant to stop her?" Saturn asked casually.

Malenko shrugged. "It’s Chris’s broad. She’s his damn problem."

"Right," Saturn nodded and they resumed their discussion.

"Kat!" Angel cried. "What’s going on? You joined RTC?"

Kat started to speak but Ivory put a hand over her mouth and Richards answered instead.

"Miss Stacy has finally seen the light. She has renounced her immoral ways and will now fight the good fight alongside her brothers and sister in Right To Censor. Miss Angel, you are encouraged to follow suit. Give up your old, tarnished life and join us. That would truly be for your own good."

"Message authorized and fully financed by the American Council of Far Right Jackasses," Angel retorted.

Richards was about to reply when they heard a cry of disgust. Ivory was wiping her hand on her skirt and, for the moment, the Kat was free.

"Angel!" she shrieked. "I had to do it! They won me. They own me. Please help, Angel, pl…ommph." The hand was back.

"Miss Stacy," Ivory said patiently. "In the Right To Censor we do not lick each other."

"Maybe you should," Angel replied. "I hear it’s a known cure for anal retentives."

Richards rushed Angel and she reached for her sticks but someone stepped between them before anything started.

"Get the hell off her!" Benoit shouted, shoving Richards. "Get the hell off her. You don’t touch her, okay? You don’t touch her."

Richards started to reply but Benoit cut him off. "I don’t care. You don’t touch that girl."

He shoved Richards again, but this time he retaliated and they fell back onto RTC’s table, punching each other. Richards’s cronies took the opportunity to join their leader in attacking Benoit. It was only a few seconds before Malenko, Saturn and Terri arrived to bail out their friend. The brawl escalated with even Ivory and Terri involved in some hair pulling and scratching. Somehow, in the midst of the chaos, Angel and the Kat found each other.

Kat stared at Angel miserably and a little warily. "You’re a Radical?"

Angel sighed. "Not by choice."

"A stipulation match like mine?"

Angel shook her head.

"Then you can leave!" Kat cried urgently. "The only things that are certain are matches."

"I can’t," Angel replied quietly. "Benoit owns me. Maybe he doesn’t tell me what to wear, but he owns me."

Kat looked at her sadly. "Then you’re just like me."

The two of them hugged sadly.

"There has to be a way," Angel murmured. "It can’t just be like this forever."

"It is," Kat replied. "It’s like the name of the show last night. There really is no way out."

Angel reached behind Kat and undid her bun. "Shake your hair, Kat."

For the first time, Kat looked hopeful. She shook out her blonde hair and it fell in waves to her shoulders.

Angel nodded, watching her friend return to normal. "Take your shirt off, Kat."

"But…"

"No buts, Kat. You wouldn’t have paused before."

Kat broke into a grin. "Right on!" Her fingers manipulated the buttons but just as she was finishing, Ivory showed up.

"Stacy!" she screamed. "Put your blouse on!"

"Go to hell, Ivory," Kat replied, cheekily.

Ivory slapped her across the face. "You are a disgrace, absolutely disgusting. Put your blouse back on."

Kat’s face started to crumple and she raised a hand to it. "No," she replied tentatively.

"Put it on!" Ivory boomed as Val Venis and Bull Buchanan arrived to help.

They held Kat relatively still and buttoned up her shirt as she screamed, "Angel! Help! Angel!"

There wasn’t anything Angel could do. They were three and she was only one. If only Lita, Matt and Jeff had been there.

"Now, sit still while I fix your hair," Ivory demanded.

By now, the Kat was weeping. "No," she murmured as Ivory sat her down. "No."

Angel bit her lip and watched. As if sensing her, Ivory spun to face her. "You’re to blame, Miss Angel. We are trying to save this woman and you’re encouraging her in her immorality?"

"Individuality," Angel replied evenly.

Suddenly, Benoit stepped in front of her. He was fuming like a crazed bull and his eyes were wild. "I told you to sit down and stay there. Didn’t I? Well? Didn’t I?"

Angel took a deep breath and fixed her gaze. He wouldn’t get to her. She wouldn’t let him. "I was trying to help my friend."

"She’s not your friend," Benoit snapped. "She’s no one! She doesn’t matter! Now, sit down. Do you hear me? I said, sit down!"

"I hear you," Angel scowled. "You don’t have to shout."

"SIT DOWN!!" Benoit screamed, causing everyone to stop what they were doing and stare.

Angel glared at him for a few seconds longer, then returned to her place and sat, murmuring, "asshole" under her breath.

* * * *

It was getting close to match time and Benoit was all but prepared. There was only one thing missing.

"Has anyone heard from Eddie?" he asked casually.

His friends shook their heads.

"How about you?" Saturn asked. "Have you talked to him?"

"No," Benoit replied, loosening his arms.

Malenko looks up from the TV. "He knows about the match, doesn’t he?"

Benoit shrugged. "I don’t know. I don’t care. If he doesn’t show it’ll be you and me, Perry."

"You got it man," Saturn replied.

At that moment, Eddie entered the locker room and strolled over to his space.

"Hey," Benoit stopped him. "Where you been, Eddie?"

Eddie looked up incredulously. "What’s it to you, essa?" He leaned into his locker, mumbling something under his breath.

"You got something to say?" Benoit demanded.

Eddie stood up again and turned to Benoit. "You know what? Just get out of my face, essa, or I might have to finish what we started last night."

"That’s enough!" Saturn cried, trying to split them apart.

Benoit ignored him. "Oh, is that right?" he asked Eddie calmly.

"Yeah, that’s right!" Eddie screamed. "You know what gets me, man? You know what really gets me? It’s that you let a title come between us. My brother!"

Benoit glared at him. "I know you, Eddie. It’s not even about that. Titles are titles and it’s every man for himself. You know that."

"You know what? You’re right. I do know that, and you’re always right. Benoit always knows what’s up, right, essa? He’s always got himself the 411."

"You got something to say, say it!" Benoit demanded.

"Well, maybe I will, essa," Eddie replied evenly. "Maybe I will." He put a hand to his chin and paused long enough for Benoit to become impatient.

"Talk already!" he demanded, just as Eddie launched into a speech.

"You know, essa. If it was just the titles, that’s okay. I can get over that. But you, Chris Benoit. Not only did you let a title come between us, but you, my brother, you let a dumb broad come between us too! What’s that about, man?"

Benoit looked a little surprised. "I bought her for all of us. She’s our slave, we can use her how we want."

"The hell you can," Angel muttered, causing them both to look at her.

"Nobody is asking you," Eddie told her pointedly before turning back to his friends. "You know, who here even wants her, eh? You, Dean? You, Perry? How about Terri? See, that’s what I was thinking. No one wants her. Get rid of her, essa."

"That’s not going to happen."

"Why not, huh? We already got one broad, we don’t need no more."

"So, Perry’s girl’s okay, but mine’s not?"

"Yeah, that’s right," Malenko cut in as Angel said, "I’m not your girl."

"See, she don’t belong here," Eddie announced. "Lose her, Chris. Do it for us. Do it for the Radicalz."

"No."

Now Eddie was mad. "Why in the hell not? It should always be about the team, essa. Why are you so obsessed with her anyway, huh? It’s sick, man. She’s young enough to be your daughter or something."

"Not everything’s about sex."

"Oh no? Then tell us, Mr. Rabid Wolverine. What is it about, eh? You been chasing the putacita for weeks, and now you got her, we don’t hardly see you no more and when we do, she’s always there, too. So tell us, Chris Benoit, what’s it about?"

Benoit smirked and his eyes got a far away look. "Power, Eddie. That’s what it is. Power. She doesn’t like me, but now I own her and she has to do what I say. If she doesn’t, she’s in trouble, more than any of you could possibly imagine. You say I’m not acting like part of this team? Well, she is my gift to the team. Go ahead, tell her to do something."

The others stared at him skeptically.

"Who wants coffee? Does anyone want coffee?" Benoit suggested.

"I want coffee," Terri piped up.

"Great," Benoit grinned, turning to Angel. "Go get her some coffee, then come straight back. Hey Perry, how’s your bitch like her coffee?"

"Hey!" Terri shrieked as Perry replied coolly, "Milk and cream. One Sweet n’ Low."

"Go!" Benoit ordered.

Shaking her head, Angel got to her feet and left the room.

"She wouldn’t put anything bad in my coffee, would she?" Terri asked nervously.

Benoit smirked. "She wouldn’t dare. So, you see? She’s a slave!"

The others stared around the group as acceptance slowly crossed their faces.

"Alright," Malenko smiled. "A slave."

Benoit turned back to Eddie. "We have a match soon. We have to go out there and do what we do best. Are we Radicalz?"

Eddie took a deep breath, then held out his fists. Benoit hit them, then let Eddie hit his. They were a team.

* * * *

Angel walked stiffly between Benoit and Guerrero as their entrance theme played and Lillian Garcia announced their presence.

"Hey, putacita," Eddie called. "About two minutes into the match, you go and get me a chair, okay?"

"No," Angel scowled.

Benoit raised his eyebrows. "If he wants a chair, you get him a chair."

"No. You might tell me what to do, but I won’t cheat. Not for you, not for anyone."

"Cheat?" Eddie repeated, insulted. "’Cita, I don’t want you to cheat. I’ll just be getting tired in the ring, you know, and I’ll be wanting to sit down. I’m gonna need a chair."

"Get your own damn chair. I’m not helping you cheat."

"Okay, fine," Benoit scowled. "Go stand in our corner and don’t even think about moving."

"Fine with me," Angel murmured, walking away as Guerrero continued to complain about her.

Angel leaned on the apron and watched the action expressionlessly. As a team, Benoit and Guerrero were almost unstoppable and Angel wondered why they hadn’t challenged for the tag titles. She was glad, for the Hardyz sake, that they hadn’t.

She listened as the crowd started to chant, "X-Pac sucks! X-Pac sucks!"

"X-Pac sucks?" she murmured. "He’s gotta be better than my current nightmare."

As if fueled by the chant, X-Pac dropped Guerrero, then ran at the corner, knocking Benoit to the floor. If he had been her friend, Angel would have helped him up, but he was Benoit, so she just stepped out of the way and stared at him as he got to his feet.

"Come on, Eddie!" Benoit shouted as Eddie fought back, until he was brought down with a double superkick. Benoit broke the count, dragged Eddie to the corner, tagged himself in and started wreaking havoc. Finally, he signaled the headbutt, but X-Pac moved his partner from the firing line and Benoit headbutted canvas instead. Before he could recover, X-Pac rolled him up and got an unlikely three count.

X-Pac’s music played and Benoit looked around, puzzled. In the corner, Eddie was just getting up and when he turned, he met with the Benoit glare.

"What?" he asked.

Benoit tore his eyes away and refocused them on Angel. He didn’t say anything, just pointed strongly to the canvas.

Sighing, Angel rolled into the ring and stood next to him. On the edge of the ring, Eddie watched, his confused frown transforming into a pure scowl. He shook his head and started to leave, watched by Benoit. When Eddie was out of the ring, Benoit held the ropes so Angel could exit, then jumped down next to her and gripped her arm roughly.

They started up the ramp, with Benoit’s eyes firmly fixed on Eddie.

"Can you not grip me so hard?" Angel asked.

"Shut up!" Benoit snapped. "I am not happy."

He returned his gaze to Eddie, who didn’t know whether to cower or scowl. He did know well enough to let Benoit go on ahead, however, and by the time he and Angel reached the locker room, Eddie was far behind them. Benoit wrenched the door open and dragged Angel inside, then threw her into a vacant area of the room. He strode purposefully to Eddie’s locker as Malenko and Saturn fell in place behind him.

"Hey Chris, we saw what happened," Malenko stated.

"Yeah man, it wasn’t Eddie’s fault," Saturn added.

"Shut up!" Benoit shouted, grabbing furiously at Eddie’s gear. When he had it all, he walked back to the door and threw the clothes and bag out into the hallway.

Eddie was just arriving and Angel heard his shouts. "Hey! What are you doing, essa? That’s all mine!"

"Go home, Eddie," Benoit replied. "You’re not welcome here tonight."

"What do you mean, huh? What’s your problem?"

"Just get out of here. I’ll talk to you when I no longer want to kill you."

"You mean what happened in the ring? Essa, that wasn’t my fault. It was X-Pac!"

"Goodbye, Eddie." Benoit shut the door and stepped inside, but they could still hear the voice.

"Oh, thanks, guys. That’s real funny. Dean? Perry? Fine, guys! That’s just great." He launched into some unprintable Spanish and the voice finally faded away.

"Is he gone?" Benoit asked.

Malenko got up to check. "Yeah, he’s gone."

"Good."

Everyone else watched him as he took a drink and collected his gear, ready to hit the showers.

"Can I go now?" Angel asked evenly. "Lita has a number one contender’s match."

"You can watch it on TV. You can’t leave. You owe me two more matches tonight."

"You’re kidding me."

"Actually, I’m not. I know you have a match, Dean. You want a valet?"

"If it’s all the same, Chris, I’d rather not. The sooner she gets out of my sight, the better."

"Great," Angel sneered. "Can I go, then?"

"Sit down and shut up. You leave when we leave. I’m going to take a shower and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll be here when I get back."

Angel sighed and sank down onto the bench. She hated him, she truly hated him. Getting Eddie kicked out wasn’t enough – she had to totally break up the Radicalz. That way Benoit would lose much of his power. The only way to do it was to keep pitting herself against Benoit’s friends She already knew it was a dangerous game, but it was one she had to play.