Akira, Rebel and Nikki all prepare for PWA Battery

[Quillz]

***The scene opens backstage at the PWA Arena shortly before Battery. Rebel Wyld is sitting on a bench lacing up his boots. Just then, the locker room door opens and his brother Akira enters the room. Rebel looks up at him and smirks.***

AKIRA: “Ah there you are. Are you ready for your match tonight?”

REBEL: “As ready as a person can be when they’re preparing to face off against Rhett Holiday. No doubt Sanctum will be waiting in the wings.”

AKIRA: “Nothing you can’t handle I’m sure. Tonight is a big night for the Wyld Family. We’re all coming off of wins in the PWA Six-Man Tournament. For once, everyone in the family is all on the same page and firing on all cylinders.”

REBEL: “Is that your subtle way of saying, ‘Don’t screw up our momentum tonight.’?”

AKIRA: “Hey, you said it, not me. Damion Black has expressly set up this tournament as a way to show his dominance over PWA. He’s in control of the NWC title and has Brawler Beckett and all of AMX in his corner. If he gets that Six Man title as well, he’s going to be that much harder to yank from his high horse.”

REBEL: “You never get tired of beating that drum do you? Do you think maybe you’d have an easier time here in PWA if you didn’t make everything you do a vendetta against the owner of the company?”

AKIRA: “I’m ready to write the final chapter in that story. I may have brought a lot of my problems on myself with Black... but that bastard tried to end my career. He’s built an empire on the backs of locker room full of wrestlers that all deserve better than he’s given them.”

REBEL: “Yeah, I’ve heard all this before. When does it end Akira? You cost Damion Black his undefeated streak on his own Supercard by helping Watts beat him at PWA Black. You redeemed yourself by winning back the NWC title at iNoobmania 3. You main-evented PWA King of Deathmatch in the biggest title match in PWA history...”

AKIRA: “...and lost to Johnny Ecks. Every time I think I’ve finally settled the score, Black gets his win back.”

REBEL: “And he ALWAYS will. Don’t you see? That’s the nature of our business. You never win every fight. If you keep going, you will ALWAYS eventually lose to Black. Especially with all of his resources. So when will it be enough? When will you be willing to put him behind you and focus on the future?”

***Akira is quiet for a long while... He sighs and rubs the back of his neck with one hand.***

AKIRA: “I’ll tell you when it will be enough. In six seasons of PWA I’ve never pinned Damion Black’s shoulders to the mat for the three count. I’ve never made him submit. I’ve never stood opposite him in a PWA ring and had my hand raised high.”

***Akira paces and rubs his hands together.

AKIRA: “For all of our conflicts... we’ve only fought each other one-on-one once. One opportunity, one fall... and I lost. That loss eats at me every day. But you know what? If I’m being honest with myself, I wasn’t in my right mind when I fought him. Sure, I was the NWC Champion and I had the Union backing me... but I was fighting for all the wrong reasons. I’m not making excuses for myself... but I *am* saying that I owe it to myself to fight him one more time on my own terms. I’m healthy, I’m motivated, I’m right with my own soul and the world. I need to know that when I’m at my best... I can beat him.”

REBEL: “And... what if you can’t?”

***Akira looks down at his hand and makes a fist.***

AKIRA: “...I can. And once I do that, its over. I may never take his company from him, but I’ll end this thing between us with him knowing I’m the better man.”

REBEL: “Well... basing your sense of inner peace on being able to beat someone in a match... you know what that makes me think of?”

***Akira grimaces... then suddenly brightens and smiles slyly.***

AKIRA: “Hah... it reminds you of Dad.”

***Rebel smiles and laughs under his breath.***

REBEL: “Yeah, it does. Nobody ever said we Wylds were the most mentally healthy bunch. Risking heart and soul on one last chance to prove yourself in the ring? That’s Dad in a nutshell. The apple doesn’t fall far.”

AKIRA: “Anyway... that’s a fight for another time. Tonight, I have something much bigger to contend with.”

REBEL: “Literally. You and Sokolov... I have to say, I’m looking forward to seeing that one. You two tore the house down last time you fought. He won, but you took him to the limit. This is your rubber match isn’t it?”

AKIRA: “Yes. He never forgave me for preventing him from winning the NWC Championship. We’ve taken more than a pound of flesh from each other. Tonight, I get the chance to be the first man in PWA to truly break the Siberian Psychopath.”

REBEL: “You’re ridiculous.”

AKIRA: “Hah, maybe... but I feel alive Rebel. Sokolov is a monster and he’s in my way. I can’t wait to get in that ring and show the world that I’m the best there is in this business.”

REBEL: “Present company excepted of course.”

AKIRA: “You want to have a go brother?”

REBEL: “You may be a champion... but I’ve always had your number. So any time.”

***Just then the door swings wide and Nikki Wyld barges in.***

NIKKI: “Everybody decent in here? The show’s about to start!”

REBEL: “We’re ready. Let’s go represent the Wyld Family the only way we know how.”

NIKKI: “Damn right! Three up, and three down. Nobody stops the Wyld Family in season six! The only question at the end of the day is gonna be which one of us is taking that gold?”

AKIRA: “Don’t tell me Nikki, *show* me. The world is yours for the taking if you’ve got the skills. You and Derrick are a hell of a team.”

NIKKI: “Damn right we are. Now lets go kick some ass.”

***The Wyld Family exit the locker room and head down the hall as the theme for PWA Battery fires up and echoes throughout the arena.***