"But I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."
- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland


25 miles from Las Vegas
Thursday

Onward to Denver! The Doctor has already had a few long road trips since his arrival in the XWF. From Phoenix, to Columbus, to Los Angeles... Although he enjoys his traveling, the Doctor finds any means necessary to reach his next appointment, punctually. After a being on the road a bit, a strange feeling begins to haunt him. What is missing? Has he forgotten something? He searches his pockets for nothing. Of course, not. Don't be ridiculous. But, what is it?

The Doctor is once again walking alone down a lonesome highway. The desert around him is the same as he remembered. In the far horizon, the lights of Las Vegas can be seen even before dusk. They shimmer and shine into the air like Aurora Borealis. The Doctor admires the sights as he treads along the highway.

Doctor D'Ville- Hello, my friends. As you can see, I'm just out for another walk... Another session on it's way and hopefully another happy ending for everyone. I feel I've reached plenty of people in the XWF thus far. Look at my debut into the XWF, the Battle Royale at the Relentless pay-per-view. Have you seen any of them aside from Kristen Silver and Luke Gunnar since? Surely, most of us were new to the XWF but some patients are just easier to cure than others. Different techniques and different treatments work on different patients.

The Doctor lights a cigar and continues to follow the road. The traffic seems a bit slow into the city tonight. No cars seemed to have passed the Doctor since he can last remember. Perhaps the road has been closed off somewhere?

Doctor D'Ville- My dear, Jacob. I see you have a young lady friend hanging about you now. How nice. You deserve as much comfort in your life as you can get right now, my friend. From what I see, your new petite fleure is looking for some dirt on the Doctor, here. Send her my way, Jacob. I'll tell her anything she wants to know. My dear, if you can hear me, Jacob is sick. There is not a whole lot you can personally do to help him. You must leave it up to me. If my ways and treatments seem unprofessional to you, then so be it. I am a doctor that treats a sick mind, and sometimes, my treatments can look a little sick themselves.

The Doctor shoves the cigar in his mouth and steps off the road. He walks across the desert floor until he reaches a doorway. It sits with the front and back of it plainly visible, leading to nowhere. The Doctor stands in front of the door.

Doctor D'Ville- Even you, Jacob, mock my ways. You live every moment of your life as if it is one long joke. You breathe it, you wear it, you speak it. Everyday, a comedian. It could be your way of diluting what haunts and hurts you, along with the smoking and pills. I've approached you with the same love as your father. I've reached out, you've called me a fraud. I've taken the time, Jacob. Isn't that enough? Isn't that more than he has ever done for you? I'm not here to judge you, either, my friend...

The Doctor reaches to the doors handle and gives it a turn. The door opens into a karaoke bar in Denver.

Quote:*Gator stands up and walks to Scarlett and lifts his mask up a little to give Scarlett a quick kiss. He adjusts his mask back to normal and walks to the stage and pushes Todd away from the mic with cheers from the crowd*

“You’re welcome! ... I don’t know what to sing.”

T: “Sing about wrestling!”

*The crowd chants ‘wrestling song!’*

“.... I’m not singing Piledriver by Koko B. Ware.”

T: “The Devil Went Down To Georgia! But with D’Ville instead!”

“... I can do that. Okay, hit it Jose!”

The Doctor slams the door shut and laughs.

Doctor Louis D'Ville- I don't think we're ready for that quite yet...

The Doctor opens the door once more.

Quote:"You don't deserve those belts!"

*Gator stands with his back to the camera. His father, Eddie Woods sat on a corner couch with two beautiful Asian women around his arms. Eddie is a huge man, a white and red mask, and a expensive black suit. His grey shirt open halfway underneath his blazer, exposing his large chest and the gold draped around his neck. The J-Pro Undisputed championship around his waist, barely visible under blazer*

Doctor Louis D'Ville- Ah, here we are.

The Doctor steps through the door and into the scene. He walks over and sits next to Eddie Woods as he continues to degrade his son. As the two argue the Doctor watches and observes.

Quote:"CHAMPION!?"

*Eddie pushes the women aside and stands tall. Showing just how massive he actually is compared to the rest of the room*

"You have not earned the right to call yourself a champion. A champion works hard!"

"I do!"

"A champion earns the respect of his peers!"

"I have!"

"A champion does anything he has to do to win!"

"... I will."

The Doctor slides out from under the women that was shoved onto him and walks across the room.

Doctor D'Ville- I can already see how much of a touchy subject your father and past is, Jacob. Your history, I admit, I may have been a little inaccurate. But perhaps that was my intention? I have seen the rise out of you, my boy . The fire in your eyes is quite visible even through that mask you parade around in. Pointing out any kind of failure or underachievement during that era just fires you right up. As I said, my treatments may be a little unorthodox, but effective. I approach you as your father does and you are ready for a fight. If I would've approached you in a different manner, I may not have had the same result.

The Doctor still watches as Gator and his father continue to squabble. He reaches over with his cigar and ashes in Eddie Woods's drink.

Doctor D'Ville- How about we give these two a minute. Let's wait outside.

The Doctor stands up and walks away from the two as they continue to argue. As he passes by Gator he stops and is face to face with him for a moment. Face to mask, perhaps. The Doctor smiles and continues towards the door.

As the door slams shut behind him the desert remains the same as he left it. Dry and a bit cold now. He continues to walk towards the bright city lights to the east.

Doctor D'Ville- It's a shame, Jacob. You were a star in J-Pro, but it seems working with your father wasn't something you really wanted to do. Perhaps you weren't under carded. Perhaps you were a top competitor in your own right. You quit and left it behind. You left factions and friends and your father behind to achieve greatness in the XWF. Well, here you are, the XWF Television Champion. How unfortunate for you, I have other plans for this title.

In the far distance a charter bus travels at a high rate of speed down the highway. A trail of fire follows behind the bus as it gets closer and closer to the Doctor. He stops and smiles and begins to walk down the center of the highway. The driver slams on the brakes and the bus comes to an abrupt stop a few short feet in front of the Doctor.

Doctor D'Ville- Well, what do we have here.

Out from the bus stumbles Todd Mischotti, only his face seems blurred out. The Doctor laughs and throws his cigar at the bus. It pops and a ring of flame surrounds the vehicle, the Doctor, and Todd. The Doctor remembers when Benjamin traveled for days to find the Doctor in the desert. Perhaps it was this that was missing from the Doctor? A companion? A driver? A friend? He shutters and shields his eyes and the flames rise up eating up the bus and Todd and disappearing into the ground. The Doctor shakes his head and looks ahead to the city.

Doctor D'Ville- My goodness. It seems my own mind could perhaps be playing tricks on me. Todd, my friend. Why are you so blind? Surely, you can see the things that I see. Why carry about this way? You call him your friend yet you're treated as a second class citizen. You are nothing but a pawn for this game that Jacob plays. The butt of nearly every joke he speaks. I will release you from this prison you're captive in. You may not have any idea what is wrong right now. You may believe nothing is wrong. You may believe Jacob is your friend. But what is to happen now that he has a new companion? Do you honestly believe that you're purpose is more than just holding a camera? I can give you a purpose. I can give you more reasons behind you walking around this planet. Be more than just a pawn, my friend. Do not let Jacob hold you back no longer.

The Doctor pulls a flask from his overcoat and takes a sip from it. He continues his walk to Sin City. A few short days lie between the inevetible. Madness, the Doctor chuckles. How appropriate.