The canyons, plains, and farmlands all mold together to form the finest sights that at the very best could only be mimicked in paintings. Untouched and left to the beasts, the wilderness stretches for as far as one could see. A single road breaks the scenery a bit, cutting across and dividing it with a long, squiggly border. One vehicle travels down this lonesome road at a very procrastinating pace.
As we free fall closer and closer, the vehicle takes shape and is revealed to be a 94 Mazda B3000 pick-up owned by none other than the Italian Cowboy, Cadryn Tiberius. He's sitting in the driver's seat in the tiny cab next to the KING he's been chauffeuring around for the past several weeks, Doctor Louis D'Ville.
Doc sits with the phone to his ear, puffing away at a cigar again. Cadryn has the window down, doing his best to keep the cab empty enough of smoke that he could still see to drive.
I suppose it's better than that stupid horse...
It doesn't go much faster, honestly.
I'm glad JESTER talked you out of it... You can't complain when you don't take advantage of the luxuries provided...
I'm not complaining. This IS a luxury, my dear Theo. I've said before that every week is a new opportunity to appreciate not only my duties with my patients but enjoy the landscapes provided from my travels.
Whatever you say.
There's a small pause.
Anyway, the tag team tournament looks about as much as a success as Jenny Myst's transition from pornstar to pro wrestler. Like AX3 needs any help looking like trash.
Agreed. She was trained to fake it on screen, hooked-up with a fake loser in Chris Chaos...
Fake tits... Fake lips... Fake hair....
Now, she's pretending... faking to be something she's not.... How is it that Steve Davids hasn't fell into that mess?
I'll admit Steve Davids is a douche bag, but Chris Chaos and his gang give it a new meaning. From what I've heard, I think David's has his own special agenda.
Apparently! Did you catch my telethon?!
You're what? No. I didn't catch it.
Doc frowns in disappointment. Cadryn sees his distress and reaches over to pat Doc on the shoulder who dodges without looking over.
Well it was an extreme success.
Did you find him a partner?
We found some candidates...
Well, even so, whatever Lane has planned for us... Whatever comes out of this tag tournament, if it ever happens.... And what ever David's finally comes up with, we're more than prepared for it.
Don't forget Trax!
I thought Trax didn't care about the Tag Titles unless his old pal, Extreme Machine, came back?
Doc shrugs to himself. Cadryn does the same, it's now obvious he's able to hear the conversation, as well, doing what he can to feel like part of the conversation.
The guy has never been that consistent anyway... More the merrier if you ask me.
Yeah, who cares. No matter who steps up, we got it.
We'll discuss more about this after I dispose of your buddy, the King Slayer.
Funny, but it should be easy enough for you. He's been in over his head since the first he got involved with us. He's not match for the KINGS.
Indeed.
Aside from that, be weary of AX3 tomorrow night. I'm sure beating Chaos has left a rotten taste in his mouth. Like the rotting taste in his whores mouth.
Oh, no doubt. I'm looking forward to another meeting with him. I very much enjoyed showing the boy his true place in this FINE federation.
As much as you did, you know he's not going to let it go. Touch base with me whenever you finally arrive in Grand Forks. I have a few things up my sleeve, as well.
Very good!
I've been hijacking Jefferson Jackson's computer the past couple of days while he's out seeking more investors... Fucking weasel. I've been going through payroll and I think he could use a hand saving some more money for us.. I mean, the XWF... I'm gonna make a few cuts.
Sounds good. I'll speak with you again, my friend.
Doc pulls the phone from his ear...
BYE THEO!!
Doc stares at Cadryn.
Hey, the man saved my life! I'm just trying to be as appreciative as I can...
Can't this thing go any faster?
Doc says looking over to his JESTER as he throws his phone his inside jacket pocket.
This thing is a gem still gleaming in it's prime, good doctor! I swear on my momma, this is as trusty a vehicle as any!
Where's your horsey?
Cadryn's tanned face turns a little pale.
Eh, I don't think Roseanna would enjoy these long trips...
Doc shrugs.
Can I ask you something, my friend?
The camera pans back over and Cadryn has transformed into the JESTER!
Of course, Doc!
Not that.
Cadryn slouches and is already back to the Italian Cowboy.
In the short time that you've not just sided yourself with the KINGS, but been apart of the XWF as a whole, would you say you know the doctor pretty well?
Cadryn looks confused and slowly shrugs.
I-I dunno...? I suppose so.
I accepted the fact that I could possibly be misunderstood at one time... MAINLY, when I first entered through the front doors back in 2014. It's bound to happen, especially when you're surrounded on all sides with some of the most ignorant people ever pulled from another human being. I NEVER would have expected such ignorance from the KING Slayer, however.
Mister Davids, you've been part of this organization long before I was. Yet, it feels like I'm meeting something that is stepping through those Xtreme ropes for the VERY first time. Do you even know who I am?
Doc closes his eyes and blows some cigar smoke out through his nostrils. He sighs.
No. You don't.
I'm not usually one to 'pick the other guy apart' as you kind-of put it in your last presentation. I'm not that guy. Although it IS my duty to take in everything my patient has to share with it, I hardly base my diagnosis on it. My success this Saturday is NOT going to be dictated on MY statements reflecting from yours. If that's how you have to do things, that's perfectly fine, but I assure you that you're not going to get ANYwhere with that.
Just to humor you though, and since I DO have a few things to get off my chest, I'll step on that path just for a moment.
First, allow me to speak on how you've utterly failed to define the doctor. Heart surgery? I've been saying it for YEARS... I'm NOT that kind of doctor. It disappoints me that after all the times that I've 'startled' you and you've just ignored my passes, that you don't even recognize the reason I'm here. You have NO idea. I even mentioned it during my telethon, which was soley made for YOU, which you claimed was a waste, that I'm here to cure any and all that ails you, and telling by your state of confusion, you're long over due for a session.
I suppose it happens, like I said. Just strange that you're that clueless to this day. I suppose I've been just as so, though... Like about the whole KING Slayer get-up...
What makes Steve Davids the KING Slayer?!
Well, it's not the fact that he is a slayer of Kings... No, not at all. He's beaten one, once, which was through cash-in means, of course. I mean, a win is a win, for sure, but we all know what goes on during a cash-in. That's not where the name derives from though, no, no, but it's that you WANT to slay KINGS. That's adorable. It truly is. Maddy wants to be an astronaut. Chris Chaos wants to feel important. Cadryn wants to be a Prince.
Cadryn smiles and goes for a fist bump, failed.
More than anything, though, you want back what is YOURS. And what would that be? The UNIVERSAL Title? Your pride? The oxygen the KINGS kept from you when you were buried alive? Thanks for pointing all of that out, by the way, I knew how fake you were prior to all of this, you've made it so much clearer and pointed out SO much more for me. You're beating yourself with your own ignorance, Mister Davids. I've built a career on doing everything that I've said I was going to do. From defeating the very best, to winning gold, to maintaining one of the highest and most renowned reputations EVER in the XWF. If you don't know me, if you don't know what I'm capable of, it's your own damned fault because you've been hiding under a rock.
Which YOU most definitely have been, Mister King Slayer. Since Theo, Maddy, and the Senator buried you that fateful night, you've been NOTHING but an after thought. The doctor even forgot about you for a short period of time, even after my MANY attempts to get your attention. Even my advances in recent weeks were ignored until FINALLY, some simple booking by the AWESOME Savage team has brought us together. It wasn't a challenge accepted, it wasn't my threats finally being answered, it wasn't you stepping up to the plate to begin your journey of redemption. Not at all. It was simply a decision made from above to bring asses to seats. Which it most certainly will. There isn't a single patient in the world that would pass up seeing the good doctor do what he does best.
If you were watching, which you obviously haven't, you would know that the doctor's success has came with little help from the outside. Granted, when I cashed in I had some friends on the INSIDE pulling a few strings for me, but that elaborate plan was unprecedented and the most genius display of betrayal. We hit two birds with one stone that night, for sure, in Morbid Angel and Gator. The end result, I walked away UNIVERSAL Champion and the black cloud formed over the XWF. You missed all that didn't you, Mister Davids?
No matter.
Leading up to that and well past that night the good doctor did better than perfect on his own. Several title defenses, along with maintaining my status as KING OF THE XWF. Everyone that crossed me wished they didn't, or in some cases much like your own, were forced to do so, in a way. Reinvented or not... The only difference I see is a hair cut. I can still see the fear in your eyes, King Slayer, whether you claim that fear or not. Just like all of the other little rabbits that I slaughtered in the past, I can smell it reaking from you. This isn't what you had in mind when you came back, was it?
I can assure you though, like I just stated, 99% of my success has come without the KINGS... and without my army. Lucky for this place, the KINGS and I never had the chance to do what we had planned in the past. You're not the first one in recent weeks to point out the possibility of the KINGS USING the good doctor. Using me for what, exactly? The Tag Team Titles? Again, open your eyes, fool. I, along with a few others, pulled a few strings and made a few calls to get them back here to take over the Tag Team Title reign WITH me due to my current position as a solo champ. Why doesn't this make sense to anyone around here? Using ME? If anything, I'm using THEM! Idiots. And if you've failed to notice, my fellow KINGS and I are professionals with mutual, nearly identical interests. We're not conflicted like this other faction running around like a bunch crazed rioters. Unorganized, untalented, unsuccessful. Three things that make them one of the most pathetic displays of a threat THIS guy has ever witnessed. On the opposite side, we have an agenda. We have plans. And none of those involves burying a dagger in the other's back. If I chose to return to the UNIVERSAL Title scene, I seriously doubt I'll be stepping on any toes to do so. As for the Tag Team Titles, call it a freebie all you want. It didn't matter when I had a thousand knocks on my door and a million phone calls on top of that from superstars begging for the opportunity to take over instead. I bring in my own force right under their noses and what is it? Jealousy?
Doc shakes his head shamefully.
Would not surprise me. The fact of the matter is that things didn't go the way everyone expected them to and the doctor is STILL the reigning champion and these titles are NOT going anywhere. The KINGS have a bond of trust that can't be broken because we're smart enough to know that together we cannot be touched. If a day comes where we no longer choose to continue? We'll simply nod and walk away. There's no need to burn bridges or unchain. As we've displayed from the start, we are good at what we do. Whether it's an ass beating or a business deal, we know how to benefit from it all. Mistakes? They don't happen. Unlike you that has made one after another, all starting the first time you messed with the KINGS. Theo got his when the KINGS buried you alive. I will bury you again. I'll take the pride and passion that you're going to be carrying with you to the ring on Saturday and smash it into oblivion. It may not be the end, I can agree with you there, but for being just the beginning you took quite a leap into the fire.
Not taking away anything from my fellow KINGS or anything, but you're not much of an architect are you? Usually when you're trying to take down an empire, you start from the bottom... Not the top.
Doc looks over to Cadryn. Cadryn looks at doctor then back to the road and gives him a quick, worrisome double-take. Doc chuckles and stares off into the horizon ahead of them, anticipating the following night.