Business

[Ameronth]

***The scene opens backstage at the PWA Arena. Rebel Wyld and Nikki Wyld are watching a promo for the upcoming PWA Black on a backstage monitor. The screen flashes with an image of La Nieve challenging Brawler Beckett for the Light Heavyweight Title and Nikki slams a fist into her open palm. Her uncle Rebel chuckles under his breath. She shoots him a dirty look.***

REBEL: “That emotion you’re feeling there? That’s a little thing we call ‘professional jealousy’. It’s a great way to drive yourself forward… but let me tell you, the Wyld family doesn’t exactly have a great history with dealing with it responsibly.”

***Nikki rolls her eyes.***
NIKKI: “Yeah… yeah I know. But I was SO close. I was a fraction of a second from getting a shot at that assbag Beckett. Beating him and taking that stupid title off his shoulder would have sure pissed Damion Black off. That would have felt really good.”

***Rebel folds his arms and smiles.***

REBEL: “Damn right. But you know… if I’m being honest… you were a little more than a fraction of a second from winning that qualifying match.”

***Nikki puts her hands on her hips and pouts.***

NIKKI: “Well fine, yeah. But I sure did kick that jerkoff Rhett Holiday’s ass! You and me, we really showed that wad who was boss! Serves him right for trying to kidnap me and use me as a stupid pawn in his pissing contest with Derrick.”

REBEL: “Welcome to the world of professional wrestling kid. Fighting Holiday in a vengeance match in a weapon filled cage isn’t even the weirdest thing I’ve done this month. But I don’t think you will have to worry about him anymore. He’d been put in his place. And with that matter put to bed… I’m thinking you and I have an open slot in our schedule at PWA Black. I think it’s time we started rattling some cages. Alpha Omega has had those tag-team titles for too long.”

NIKKI: “You think that jerk Black will even book us for a match at the supercard?”

REBEL: “He’s not the only guy on the PWA championship committee. We’re both coming off of solid wins. I think our chances are good.”

***Just then, The Masked Shooter walks through the open door of the wrestlers’ locker room. A towel hangs draped around his shoulders. Rebel smiles as he enters.”

SHOOTER: “Rebel, Nikki… I was hoping I’d catch you two before you left. I thought we might have some… business to discuss.”

***Rebel nods and glances tentatively over at Nikki.***

REBEL: “I was just thinking the same thing.”

***Shooter looks down the hallway and checks to see if anyone is within earshot. Seeing nobody, he turns back to the Wylds.***

SHOOTER: “Listen… you two have seen what Damion Black has been doing to Lassiter. The kid … I mean, he's a natural, and I wanted him to get into the singles competition from the start, but … not like this.”

REBEL: “Yeah … it’s a shame. Lasstier IS a hell of a talent. Laid me flat on my ass a few weeks back. He’s a future champion no doubt about it. It’s a crime that a kid with such a bright future is being groomed by a snake like Black.”

SHOOTER: “Yeah… yeah. I’ve done everything I can to bring him back from the brink. But you know how it is. In this business… sometimes you have to fall in order to learn how hard the ground is. It happened with your brother Akira, it happened with Black… it’ll happen to Ronnoe, sooner or later. Until then, the best I can do is try and see that he learns his lesson the right way. But the fact is, Lassiter isn’t the only one who’s going to get hurt here. Damion is planning something big. Pieces on a chess board. It started when he took out Akira, but Damion’s been taking out wrestlers that are a threat to him. Unless something is done, Brian Fury is going to be next.”

REBEL: “Sounds like you’re saying that… its time that something was done. Well… I’ll tell you Shooter, the Wyld Family has always been at its strongest as a unit. We could use some help. Sound like something you might be up for?”

SHOOTER: *looks off to one side for a moment, trying to make a hard decision; finally, he looks back at the Wylds* “We have some things to discuss.”

***Shooter closes the door to the locker room, as the camera fades to black.***