At the medical bay of the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas…Gabriel Tuck is sitting on the exam table while having his shirt off. The backstage doctor, Antonio Griffin, is taking a look at him while working to check bruises formed on his ribcage where Steve Murdock struck the heart punch. After a few moments of prodding and poking while Gabriel winces with each touch, the good doctor finally stops.
Antonio Griffin - Looks like nothing is seriously broken, though your ribs here and here might be either bruised or likely slight fractures. There’s no real movement when I pressed there to if the rib was broken and moving about in there. They are not.
Gabriel moves to put his shirt back on, but the Doctor holds out a restraining hand.
Antonio Griffin - Hold up. I’m going to wrap up those ribs to give them the extra support that they will need. I heard what your next match is going to be. Steve Murdock doesn’t have the best heart punch, but he managed to hurt you in the ring. Your next opponent is a master of the move and can kill you if he doesn’t do it just right. Since you are injured, this chance is going to go up in the risk that you take in breaking those ribs and sending the shards of bone straight into your heart and lungs. So you might want to consider getting some help to fight Father Nathan.
Now, Gabriel wipes his forehead as if there was sweat on his brow (there’s not) and grins at the Doctor.
Gabriel Tuck - You do know that these matches are one-on-one, right? If I get help then it proves that I can’t hack it in the ring. I gotta do this myself.
Antonio Griffin - Now, the Bastards always seem to get that little bit of help from their brother Bastards. Are you saying that they can’t hack it in the ring?
Gabriel Tuck - When they help each other win matches? Yes, unless it’s a tag team match. Rob Riot has proven that he can hang by himself in the ring, but I don’t think that Eddie Williams or Frank Windsor have proven a damn thing.
Antonio Griffin - Well, let’s get you bandaged up and ready to go.
Gabriel sits still while the Doctor bandages his ribcage up and Gabriel gets his shirt back on before he stands up.
Gabriel Tuck - Thanks, Doc. I’m sure that I’ll be able to get Father Nathan down before he can hit me with the heart punch. I mean, if not, we will see each other again.
Antonio Griffin - You know you may not see me if he hits that heart punch at full strength.
Gabriel Tuck - Then, I’ll see you someday on the other side!
The Doctor shakes his head as Gabriel Tuck walks out of the office and is quickly joined by Jeremiah Vastrix.
Jeremiah Vastrix - That was a hard-fought match. Pity that it’s not going to be one of the top four times.
Gabriel sighs while walking toward the exit to get to his motorcycle in the parking lot.
Gabriel Tuck - Why aren’t you hanging about Rob Riot now?
Jeremiah just shrugs and follows Gabriel out to the parking lot, where he has his own motorcycle parked next to Gabriel’s. They mount them.
Jeremiah Vastrix - Everyone thinks that I’m just some pervert who is the heir to a company that is guilty of various war crimes.
Gabriel starts his motorcycle with a laugh.
Gabrie Tuck - Aren’t you? Wait. Cyborg pervert who is heir to the most evil global corporation in the land. Does the Warhammer Corporation even produce anything?
Jeremiah Vastrix - Well, no. The Warhammer Corporation is essentially a holding company that controls major corporations and such around the world. And I am trying to change my ways. I want to change the Warhammer Corporation for the better. The public see it as a saint. I want the truth to reflect public opinion.
Gabriel Tuck - You want to start for the next location?
Jeremiah Vastrix - Let’s bunk down at an actual hotel tonight and leave in the morning. My treat of course.
Gabriel Tuck - Sounds like a plan. Let’s ride!
It isn’t very long before they get to the hotel of Jeremiah’s choice. A luxury place with a two bedroom suite that’s more luxury apartment than hotel room. Gabriel sits in the living room in front of the television with a beer in hand. He swills some of it before looking over at Jeremiah, who is looking out through the window.
Gabriel Tuck - You know, if you really are worried about assassins around every corner, I’m not sure that standing by the window is the best of ideas. I’m sure that no one knows we are here, but better safe than sorry.
Jeremiah nods with a nervous smile and sits down in an easy chair that’s over by the couch. He sips at a mixed drink made with the Wet Bar.
Jeremiah Vastrix - I know. I just don’t know that this was the best of ideas either. I mean they do have security on site and a kill squad isn’t going to come after me in the middle of civilization, but it’s hard to tell what’s on father’s mind sometimes. There are days where he is fine and he realizes that I am his heir and nothing more, but then there are days where he thinks I am capable and desirous of patricide to take over the company all the sooner.
Gabriel shakes his head.
Gabriel Tuck - I went from being a valued son to loving parents to a curiosity as my adoptive parents watched to see if I would transform into some kind of monster.
Jeremiah Vastrix - And your bones are unbreakable. We have resolved that.
Gabriel Tuck - How is it if these bones are so “unbreakable” that Steve Murdock was able to damage my ribs with the heart punch?
Jeremiah frowns and sips at his drink for a moment in silence.
Jeremiah Vastrix - Maybe they are only unbreakable during certain situations? Like you subconsciously activated it when fighting that kill squad, but not when fighting Steve Murdock. Want me to test it out? I can do a scan.
Gabriel Tuck - Ok so. It’s like an activated power, but I have no idea how to activate it. Brilliant. Yeah, I guess scan away.
Jeremiah Vastrix - Ok, set the beer down and stand up in front of me with your arms out to the side so I can use my cybereye to scan you.
Gabriel grunts, but does as instructed and stands in front of Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s eye glows a bright blue, a line of laser blue light crawling across Gabriel’s body from his head to his toes.
Jeremiah Vastrix - Looks perfectly normal to me. Which, yeah a good heart punch like what I’ve seen either Father Nathan or Armand von Krauss pull off has the chance to kill you.
Gabriel Tuck - Yeah, my plan is to beat him before he can get to do that.
Jeremiah Vastrix - I would consider just pulling out of the match to be perfectly honest.
Gabriel Tuck sits back down and grabs his beer, drinking nearly half of it in a single go.
Gabriel Tuck - I’m no coward. I’ll face my fate head on instead of hiding from the danger.
Now, Jeremiah narrows his eyes.
Jeremiah Vastrix - Are you insinuating that I’m a coward for not facing my father head on?
Gabriel Tuck - No. Yes. Maybe? You know that in the end you may have to kill your father just to secure your future.
Jeremiah looks down at his drink for a long time before polishing it off. He walks over to where the wet bar is and refills his drink.
Jeremiah Vastrix - And become the monster that he is? There has to be a better way. A way that doesn’t involve so much death. One where I don’t murder my own father like he fears that I’m going to do.
Gabriel Tuck - I don’t see it. I’m not smart enough to know every possible solution, but I really think that this is going to have to be a you versus him in the end. And I don’t mean in a wrestling match.
Jeremiah nods and grabs Gabriel a fresh beer, popping it open and handing it to him.
Jeremiah Vastrix - I need to be ready for that. I’m just not ready now. Besides, he keeps himself surrounded by security at all times. It won’t be an easy thing. Let’s cut your promo for your match.
Gabriel Tuck - Might as well.
Gabriel hands his phone over to Jeremiah and stands in front of him again so that Jeremiah can set up FaceTwatter Live.
The Promo
Gabriel Tuck - Father Nathan O’Connell. You and I get to go toe to toe coming up. I understand that you are quite the skilled boxer. I began my career as a skilled brawler. I guess they are pretty similar except that my talents include one hundred percent more of the environment in my arsenal. Whatever gives me the edge in a fight, no matter what the rules are. Now, I’ve done some luchador training from when I was the Iron Wolf and that will also likely come into play too.
You have some wrestling training too in addition to your boxing talent. I’m sure that will come in handy for you, but this is also about drive. I am driven to prove that I’m going to be one of those that Kara Reinhardt picks to contend for her Elite title. I am driven to show you that I am a force to be reckoned with. That I have come out from the shadow of Armand von Krauss and that I am not just Rob Riot’s whipping boy. I am a former World champion as well. Sure, it was a two bit company where the owner of the company did little for his company beyond recruit, but it is a World championship. Yes, I may have sent the real title off with a friend in a Viking funeral and made the company have to buy a new belt, but them’s the risks you take when jerking me around.
I’m going to come into this match with something to prove. You are great. There’s no denying that and not coming off as foolish. Still, I’m going to be the one who comes out on top. I’m going to be the one to get my hand raised in victory. In the end at Lunar Warfare, I’m going to be the one holding up the Elite Championship belt.
I think in this match, I’m going to break your wrist and take away that heart punch of yours. It’l be my best bet to win. You’ll lose your finisher and about half your punches. Yes, I’m aware that I am telling you my battle plan now, but I am confident that it’s not going to make much of a difference. I’m confident that I’m going to be the one to cut you down…
Gabriel makes the cutting motion and we fade to black.
