The day after Battery ...

[Stu]

*** ALDO WYLDE walks into DAMION BLACK's office. Unlike their last meeting, Damion is not preoccupied with reports and figures. He sits in his high-backed luxury chair and regards Aldo with a look of stern disapproval. ***

DAMION BLACK: "Sit down. I'm not asking this time."

ALDO WYLDE: *** sits *** "No, 'How're ya feeling,' this time?"

DB: "Yes, well the last time we met you were a respected veteran. Right now, you're an insubordinate employee who openly defied our agreement. First you take it upon yourself to assault one of your peers who is also on my employ after Assault on Monday, then you book yourself in a match on the following Battery AFTER PWA announced your retirement, which I'll remind you, you agreed to. Just what in the Hell do you think you're doing?"

AW: "Yeah, I apologize for that. `Course, you can’t deny that Watts went too far - and in a way nobody expected, too. I still don’t know what crawled up his ass. But … well, family, y’know? Yeah, I’ll admit, I shouldn’a.”

DB: "No, no, I don't want to hear about 'family'. Nikki Wyld is a grown, legal adult. If she has a problem with anyone, she must come to me. I deal with it, no one else. Certainly not some past-his-prime gunslinger. When you are here, you are on MY time, not 'family time'. And for you in particular, Aldo, 'my time' has run out."

*** Damion buzzes the intercom on his desk.***

DB: "Send Kyle in."

*** A tall, athletic man in a suit and tie walks into Damion's office carrying a not-too-large cardboard box. There are a few odds and ends peering from the top of the open box: the head of a toothbrush, the handles of a jumping rope, the frayed ends of a favorite towel. Also stands to meet him, a head shorter than the lack, and Kyle thrusts the box into the old man's chest. ***

DB: "I took the liberty of cleaning out your locker for you so that there is no mistake this time. You are done. All of your possessions are in that box, including that tasteless old photograph of the broad we found taped to the locker door."

*** Wylde, his arms full, looks into the box, the weight of the situation - and the words - settling into his countenance. ***

AW: "That 'broad' had more class than all your college flings put together, you cull."

*** Wylde moves to face Black, but Kyle steps in his way. ***

DB: "Well, she could have done better than you. Kyle will see you to your car. Get out."

*** Wylde looks at Kyle, then at Black, then turns on his heel and stalks toward the door. His hands full, he pauses for a moment, then turns to glance back at Black. ***

AW: "No, no, don't get up. You've done enough."

*** With that, Wylde rears back and kicks the door through, sendung both double-doors swinging out like the front of a saloon. One stays stuck open, the other swings back with a misaligned tremble. Wylde walks out, a calm purpose in his eyes. Kyle follows him. ***