Tokyo, Japan is the place. We find Randy Angel walking from his apartment to the local liquor store to get more Super Sake. He staggers a little as he walks, drinking from a hip flask every few steps.
It’s no surprise that he runs into someone while trying to walk straight on the sidewalk. He pats the black dressed man on the shoulder with an easy going smile.
Randy Angel: I’m sorry, man. The world’s a bit topsy turvy today. Isn’t it?
The man turns around to be revealed as a ninja in front of him, with mask and everything.
Randy Angel: Oh, I didn’t know you were a ninja. Kinda bright out for ninjas. Isn’t it?
Ninja: Watashi wa Nomi genzō no ninjadeari, anata o korosu tame ni koko ni imasu.
Randy’s been in Jrok since it went by a different name. You would think that he would know a little Japanese by now, buuuut no. Well, maybe he knows how to order his liquor, but that’s not what was said here.
Randy Angel: Listen. I don’t know the way to the Opera House. I don’t know anyone who would go to the Opera House? But if you want Super Sake. Sūpā sake o chūmon dekimasu.
The ninja lifts up his mask to uncover his mouth and nose so he can bring a flute to bear. He begins playing a strange tune.
Randy Angel: I know that song! I think Taylor Swift wrote and played it when some scumbag ninja left her? Or was it on Japan's Got Talent?
More ninjas come and Randy notices the symbol on the side of the chest over the heart as one that denotes that they are the ninja of Nomi Genjo the Gilded Giant that had tormented him and Zolothach until she banished him into another realm. The ninja don’t look very happy. Randy holds out his hip flask that’s full of only God knows what.
Randy Angel: I’m sorry that your boss was sent to a green land through Zolo’s window. He was kind of a dick anyway. He sucked. HA! You know, that is what vampires do. Suck. You want some vodka?
Yeah, the Gilded Giant had become a vampire when he was put up in a nursing home after having all of his strength drained from him. Randy and Zolo gave as good as they got.
The ninja does a roundhouse kick to send the flask flying from Randy’s hand.
Randy Angel: That was not nice. Also, I gotta ask. Why does a pimp like Genjo have ninjas? Are you hooker ninjas?
The ninja hits Randy across the face with a backfist. He and the other ninja form a tight circle around Randy and take turns punching him and sending him into the arms of other ninjas who push him back into the middle so he can be punched again.
“Vincula Agoniae!”
Red glowing chains interweave around the ninjas and where they touch, smoke blooms and the ninjas scream in pain. The ninjas are driven to their knees, smoke billowing up to block the vision of anything beyond the circle of screaming ninjas. When the chains fade, the ninjas fall to the ground. Unconscious.
Once the smoke clears, a bloodied Randy can see “Zolothach” Tabitha Osborne standing there. Randy looks at her with wide open eyes.
Randy Angel: You’re here!
Tabitha Osborne: I’m here!
Tabitha begins to run as Randy leaps over the line of ninjas to be caught by Tabitha in an embrace.
Randy Angel: I missed you!
Tabitha Osborne: I missed you too!
Tabitha sets Randy back down on his feet.
Randy Angel: Why are you here?
Tabitha Osborne: I’m in a wrestling tournament for Jrok. A tournament for the XHF Hardcore title. Why were you being hounded by ninjas?
Randy looks over at the ninjas that are still laying on the ground and unconscious. He just shrugs.
Randy Angel: I think they just like me for my money.
Tabitha frowns, but then just shakes her head with a smile.
Tabitha Osborne: If you say so. I see you were heading to the liquor store. Shall we?
Randy holds out his elbow with a laugh.
Randy Angel: Lets.
Randy Angel and Tabitha Osborne are walking back toward Randy’s apartment. Tabitha looks at the camera, confident.
Tabitha Osborne: Jack Gaines. I face you in the ring at the tournament. You say that you don’t listen to the voices inside your head and that I do. You know what I went through in my youth, I’m sure everyone knows by now what I went through. It’s the whole reason that I cut apart my family. It gave me such a feeling of power and freedom that I went on killing. I don’t kill people now just for breathing. I fight for what is right. I fight to become one of the greatest women wrestlers of all time.
I know that as a woman wrestler that I am a role model for other young women. I know I’m not pretty, but the scars I bear remind me of what I went through to get here. I may have had to create my own wrestling moves to try to avoid being hurt while being used as a crash test dummy essentially by my father and brother to try to beat the wrestling bug out of me.
This tournament is important to me. More important than you can even imagine, Jack. I need to prove that a woman can reach to the top of the Hardcore world. I need to stand amongst Valora Salinas, Darlene Price, and I suppose Dragonatrix. I need to show the world that I am Hardcore.
As they walk back toward the apartment building, they notice that the ninjas that Tabitha had knocked out were gone. Instead, they see an old man with a walker trying to cross a busy street. The walk sign is on, but it only has seconds left before it will turn off. Tabitha and Randy rush to his aid. Randy taking the walker and Tabitha helping the old man across the street, getting to the sidewalk just as the walk sign turns off.
Tabitha Osborne: Are you alright, grandfather?
The old man looks at Tabitha with kind eyes.
Old man: I am perfectly fine, Tabitha.
Tabitha nods, not really hearing the old man beyond “fine”. She looks back at the camera.
Tabitha Osborne: Jack, I have seen more hardcore action than you will have ever dreamed of. I’ve been fighting for my life since I was ten years old. You will…fall…hey, grandfather? How did you know my old name?
We focus back on the old man, who smiles wickedly as his eyes begin to gleam a sickly green color.
Old man: Ah shit, you probably know now. Welp, this old man’s shell isn’t going to be needed anymore.
Clothing and skin tear apart to reveal raw, dripping musculature as the old man breaks apart. The form grows to nearly eight feet tall and with broad shoulders. Muscles rippling as skin forms over them until a very familiar man in spandex shorts stands in front of the duo.
Nomi Genjo the Gilded Giant, back from the Ether to have his vengeance.
Randy Angel: You look good, man. Working out?
Nomi Genjo: I’m going to kill the witch and make you watch before I kill you next.
Randy Angel: That…sucks. You sure you don’t want to just have a drink with us?
Tabitha Osborne: Randy. There’s too many people out here. We have to take him somewhere else to fight.
Randy Angel: Where?
Tabitha Osborne: RUN!
Randy Angel and Tabitha Osborne take off running down the street, trying to avoid the people walking on the sidewalks or driving in the street. They get to a home goods store and run inside with the Gilded Giant hot on their heels.
Tabitha Osborne: The mirror, Randy! Follow me through!
Tabitha begins screaming a string of words that should not be possible with the human mouth and a nearby full sized mirror begins gleaming with a sickly green light.
Randy Angel: Zolo! Cthulhu told me to never come back!
Tabitha Osborne: I think he’ll forgive us this once!
Tabitha leaps through the mirror, vanishing from sight. Randy runs to the mirror and swallows hard before jumping through. Nomi Genjo gets to the mirror and as he tries to jump through, the light vanishes and Genjo goes through the mirror, shattering it. He slams his fists onto the floor, smashing it before he roars.
Nomi Genjo: You won’t be able to hide from me forever! I will get you both!
