On-Camera Via XWF Camera Crew
Some Boxing Gym in Whatever Town Betsy happens to be in At the Moment

A large screen shows Geri Vayden running her mouth about Betsy in her promo. The scene changes to Saturday Night Saves, in which she is seen announcing her allegiance to the Left Hand. Betsy sits atop a steel cage, looking worse for wear after the tag match, watching all of this intently. Finally, the nonsense ends. Betsy shakes her head as she fishes a remote out of her hoodie and stops the projector.

“I don’t even know where to start unpacking this farce.”

Betsy looks down at the camera and laughs heartily from the top of the cage as she stuffs the remote safely back into her pocket.

“Could you be any more of a broken record? Not just to yourself, but echoing everything that’s already been said. I know I’m guilty of campaigning until I’m blue in the face, but I know when to drop it and move forward. But you...”

Betsy shrugs and she sways to music only she can hear.

“Let’s address your twisted thoughts one step at a time, shall we?

Actually, no. First, let us discuss this “Dark Queen of All” act you’ve got going on right now. What even is that supposed to do? Intimidate? Frighten all who look upon the Dark Queen of XWF? Do you think joining the Left Hand is going to make you special now? Does it make you feel better, knowing you’ve got the goths from South Park in your corner? You know, I had a feeling this was coming. No, seriously, it all makes perfect sense. You fit their scene: Brooding, anti-social, think they’re better than they are. Oh, shit, I’m sorry, I’m supposed to be acting like some scared kid right now, right? Hold on, let me try this again.”

Betsy throws her hands up in feigned terror.

“Oh no, I’m trembling on the spot! Scary Geri joined in with the rejected extras from Underworld. Aaahhhh, don’t go in the shadows! Is it Nashta Verata or Scary Geri and friends? Everyone, quick, count your shadows!” Betsy bursts into a fit of giggles. “I’m so sorry, I just couldn’t do it anymore.” She continues to giggle for a few more minutes, allowing them to run their course. “I think I’m okay again. Getting somewhat serious again, why be a joiner now? I hope you answer this one, I love your distorted rhetoric.”

She begins to swing her legs back and forth. The owner of the gym who is watching her twitches nervously.

“It just strikes me as humorous that someone as alienated as you are allowed herself to get sucked into such an interesting cast of characters. You don’t exactly have a reputation for playing nice with others and not two weeks ago, you and Ash Quinn were at each other’s throats. You, and everyone else it seems, wants to come after me over my friendship with Atty; What do you guys know that I don’t? It seems strange that you of all people would come after me, accusing her of gaslighting and manipulation… And yet, now you gladly kiss the feet of a false prophet. Hey Kettle, it’s me, the Pot. Just checking in to make sure you’re still with me.”

Without warning, she rises to her feet. She begins walking around the top of the cage like a tightrope, holding her arms out to her sides. Now the owner is visibly nervous and rises from his seated position. Betsy continues.

“Don’t worry about the games you think are being played with my head, Scary Geri. My 210 IQ and multiple college degrees can handle a little manipulation. I’m not as naive or as dumb as you and many others want to believe. I’m 24 and I’ve not only traveled this world but a myriad of others. My mind has evolved beyond any knowledge Earth could give me. You see, I’m a mortal human just like you. I’m called the Impossible Traveler because of my extended traveling. This isn’t something any human can do, I was chosen… But that’s another story for another day. To be honest, though, readjusting to the simplicities of humankind has been a bigger readjustment than attempting to learn of all the strange, dangerous, and breathtakingly stunning fruits of the universe. The point I’m making here is when I say I’m the smartest person in the room, I’m not just saying that to push a gimmick. It’s as factual as it currently being seventy-five degrees in this gym and that you’re about to be spitting metal from your gums for a month after Wednesday night.”

She looks down at the camera and blows a raspberry.

“If you had a fraction of the intelligence of a field mouse, you’d know I’m much more than you bargained for. You would also know that you’ve pretty much given up your free will and any individuality you had by joining the Left Hand. I honestly feel sorry for you and anyone else Baphomet manages to brainwash into joining his cult. I know the weak-minded need someone, a leader, to tell them how to live, but you didn’t have to give up and drink the kool-aid that quickly, did you? I mean, this was a battle for your soul and you didn’t even put up a fight.”

Eh, whatever. Nothing I say is going to snap you back to reality. I thought you were just crazy, but this is much worse. To hate yourself so adequately, you’d compromise who you are to fit in with your new friends. You’ll reap what you sow when Bapphy and the Emos fall apart. And it will; you want to mention history repeating itself. Do yourself a favor and see what’s happened to every misguided stable that’s attempted a coup. Or a purge, as you like to continuously screech about. They never last, because how could they? That many oversized egos, it seems like a good idea on paper; some even manage a decent run. But in the end, all of them collapse, someway, somehow. Just wait until Bassinet doesn’t have a use for you anymore.

All of you are welcome to try and fun me out of the doors. Go on, puuuuuuurge me. I’ve only just got here, and my feet are planted firmly in place. Hit me with your best shots, and then give me some more.”

Betsy begins scaling the cage by the sides, using her rock-climbing experience as a guide. Showing off her acrobatic skills, she begins swinging effortlessly between the chain links of the fence.

“On a much lighter note, why did you think calling out my relationship with James was going to rattle me at all? You threw at me all the things I’d already heard and likely won’t stop hearing for quite a while. At the end of the day, it’s still the lazy guy or gals way of coming after your opponent. Of course, I suck James’ dick, and I do so with gusto. It’s an activity we both enjoy and it makes for great bonding time. Don’t you do these things with your husband? And when you do, what does it gain you in your career? Yeah, that’s what I thought. Stop trying to act like what we do behind closed doors influences anything that happens outside our home. I’m no further ahead now than when I started a month ago. He hasn’t influenced any higher-ups to finesse my matches, he hasn’t used his pull to get me any more title opportunities. He didn’t even use his pull to get me the one I got, or the rematch I’ve been calling for, now that I think about it. That fucker…”

Betsy hangs backward from the cage and grins cheekily at the camera before aiming a kiss towards it. Then she uses her momentum to swing her body back around and continues her spider wall-crawling around the cage.

“Did you think I wouldn’t be prepared for accusations such as these? Girl, please. Do you think I would even attempt this stuff if A) I needed James to carry me through everything I did, B) I needed to curry any favors from the connections I already have and C) if I didn’t think I could make something of myself doing this? The answer to all of the above is a firm no. It takes a lot more than good connections to make it in this business. My tenacity alone will keep me around longer than you or anyone else wants. And I’m a big enough pain in the ass to keep popping back up just when you think the fights over. I don’t quit, Scary Geri. I could do this all day. My record thus far may show that I’m still a bit green around the edges, but I’m undeniably on my path to being the breakout star of 2021. This finale of 2020 is but a taste of what I’m capable of currently and what I plan to achieve. Everyone wants to run across the rickety bridge of success and too many lose their footing. Too few people appreciate the journey of the slow path.

That’s not to say that all the losses I’ve accumulated haven’t hurt. Of course, I wanted to win the Shooting Star Championship and a shot at the tag team titles. Circumstances for these bigger matches haven’t been in my favor. I feel like that’s putting it too mildly, but I don’t need to elaborate. The evidence has been very public. I see now that I need to slow my roll a bit and map out a plan… Pick my battles, if you will. And as I suspected, you fell right into my hands.”

Betsy grins and climbs off the cage. She now sits in the middle of the cage, the cameraman moves around for a better view.

“I knew you’d accept a challenge if I threw one down. Your pride would never allow you to say no, not to mention you’re delusional enough to think you can intimidate me into backing down from the stipulation you threw in. You barely scraped by me during the four corners match, why the hell would I be scared to face you head-on in a cage? Although this will be my first ever cage match and I must admit, I’m quite excited by the prospect. You and me, all alone with virtually nowhere to go. You could try to climb out I suppose, but I can’t promise you won’t get pantsed when you make your attempt. Better wear your best g-string for the occasion. You know, it would almost be worth losing to watch you try to scale the cage without your skivvies… But I wouldn’t want to put the fans through that. Those folks didn’t spend good money on front row seats to be flashed by the Cringey Minge.

Don’t worry about interference. I’ve already asked Atty and James to stay out of it, no matter what happens. See, a big girl putting on her big girl pants. Can you say the same? Or should I worry about the other members of the Twilight Fanclub trying to come in and buck the odds in your favor? Maybe I need to convince Jenny to let me use one of her little mist containers for holy water. Look, just tell the rest of the Hot Topic staff to stay out of the way, this is between you and me.”

Getting to her feet, Betsy walks to the door of the cage and leans across the ropes to look directly into the camera.

“Your worst day is yet to come, Geri. Are you truly prepared for dystopia?”

The camera fades as the echo of Betsy’s ominous question lingers in the air.

Off-Camera
Ayabeya, ruling planet of the Verdurian System

Betsy and Prince Makatavia are having a stroll through his private gardens. The garden itself is one of frenzied serenity: Trees that reach to the heavens with colors beyond description budding from the tips of the orange leaves. The trunks are deep brown, covered in moss and vines. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors are littered everywhere from top to bottom. Many dirt trails lead off to unique clearings for specifically themed aesthetics. The sun had long set since they’d begun and the leaves of the trees, as well as all the flowers, began to glow. Everything about the garden brought peace to a troubled mind… Usually.

“The situation between Verdurian and Filavion systems have been tumultuous at best.” Makatavia was explaining. “Filavion recently had a windfall after a season of excellent crops. Their ruling senate decided that they should become bigger players in the market, but needed someone who could act as a way to get their product out into the world, which is where this situation comes into play. At the time, it was thought that an alliance through marriage between the two systems could make us unstoppable. They provide all the necessary supplies through our trading station and we all profit. However…’

His hand tightened slightly over her arm.

“When that worthless king of the Aebolian system found out about the possible marriage, he interjected with a marriage proposal of his own. Along with the ultimatum attached that if Princess Tiaskia doesn’t choose to marry him, he will call in all of his troops and launch us into an all-out war.” His impossibly golden eyes lose a bit of their glow. He stops suddenly, and turns to Betsy, taking both her hands. “I don’t wish to marry her. It’s a smart political move, but she and Rank belong together. Corrupt, evil, a plague on all and any it lands on.”

Betsy nods understandingly. “Talclius was telling me a little bit about her. She sounds terrible, perhaps you should just allow them to be together.”

“It’s not that simple, I’m afraid. If I call off the offer, it lets both systems know that we plan to stand on our own. Our military is barely trained and equipped enough to handle a single battalion, let alone two fully armed and trained military based systems.”

Betsy gapes at Makatavia. “Why is your militia so ill-prepared? I know you choose to be pacifists, but there is always going to come a time when your hand is forced to carry the sword. They should have been prepared for conflict ages ago.”

“That’s where we were hoping you would come in. The last time you were here, you and Mr. Smithee single-handedly managed to save us from utter catastrophe. Your mind for strategy and tactics is superior to anything my most decorated veterans could come up with.”

Betsy shakes her head. “That was Mr. Smithee, I was there to organize and call the rallying cry.”

“No, you do yourself a grave disservice by lessening your brilliance. We all agreed that while Mr. Smithee certainly knew how to speak his way out of a situation, it’s you who had the military mind we needed. Watching you move around the battle map, planning our course of action… You’re exactly who we need to talk down Tiaskia and Rank from potential war.”

They grow quiet again and resume their walk. Betsy mulls over what Makatavia was telling her. The repercussions of following his heart would undoubtedly lead to the end of this peaceful system. Makatavia himself would be a royal prisoner of war and no doubt executed for his unwillingness to comply with the terms of marriage or surrender… Or, as it seemed to be in this situation, both. With a heavy sigh that matches her thoughts, she nodded her head.

“Of course I’ll help you. As long as I have your word that once we’ve secured the trading colonies and stabilized the peace between the colonies, that you allow me to come up with a military training regime so that you don’t have to call me back every time conflict arises. Your men should already have been prepared for such possibilities. All they are now is an over-glorified Pretorian Guard.” Prince Makatavia gives her a confused look. Betsy shakes her head and waved a hand dismissing it. “Earth history, don’t worry about it. The point is, you need soldiers who can protect you and yours, not civilians with electrospears.”

“So what do we do first?” Asks the Prince,

As they approach the glass doors to his palace, Betsy licks her lips. “We call a peace conference between you, Tiaskia, and Rank.”

Makatavia’s eyes grow wide and he shakes his head. “Not a chance, especially with you here. Tiaskia knows of you and my… Affections towards you. If she were to see you, she would suspect the worst and call off everything. We’d be under siege within a day.”

“Warn them both of my presence. Tell them my ship was out of fuel and you were my closest stop. I’m merely passing through, as far as Tiaskia knows. And besides…” Betsy gives the Prince a cheeky grin. “Perhaps my being here will persuade HER to make the correct political alliances.”

“Or she’ll have her guard kill you on sight.”

“I dare him to try.” Betsy’s grin turns sly as they cross the threshold into the throne room. Everyone bows to them as they pass through towards the war room. Betsy beckons for his military to follow.

(To Be Continued)

FORMER