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Thaddeus Duke · (07-17-2017)

[duke]Tuesday, July 11, 2017 | 2:11 AM | Asmodeus Air Force Base | Berlin, Germany [/duke]

The engines of Illuminatus One wind down as the jet comes to rest at its hangar. Tritter and Jim Edwards flew out ahead of time to get a grip on things while Thaddeus wrapped things up on Savage with James Raven. It was revealed in one of Thad's promos that a defector has outed himself and turned himself in. With Thad's mind traveling a hundred miles an hour in ten different directions, the kid seems to be near a breaking point. Wrestling, the war, Dolly Waters, the defectors, now the lions, asking for and being denied guidance from his own uncle. All of it is starting to wear him out. Realizing this, Jim took it upon himself to relieve some of the pressure from Thaddeus and take on some responsibility himself, directing Lincoln Tritter to Germany to learn what he can from the defector prior to the leaders arrival.

The door of the cargo bay comes to a rest on the tarmac and Thaddeus steps from the plane, looking tired and worn. The pressures of leading an army, the pressures of being a wrestling superstar, the pressures of leading a nation with no borders all wears him down to the point where his exhaustion is at a maximum while his sleep is at an all time minimum. Its a recipe for disaster. A young man that prides himself on instinct, effectively has none right now. The question is: does he know it?

Jim meets Thaddeus at the foot of the cargo door and gives his friend a bear hug that is not really reciprocated. Jim hears a light growl from the dark recesses of the jumbo jet and looks past Thaddeus with a puzzled expression.

"The hell?"

Thaddeus can't help but smile. Seconds later the two lions Thad saved from the circus appear at the top of the ramp. Jim jumps back several feet.

"Holy shit those are lions!" he says with a look of great fear.

[duke]"Dammit! Who told!?"[/duke] Thaddeus jokes.

"Are they...?" Jim starts to ask a really dumb question. Realizing it, he stops himself.

[duke]"Well they're definitely not animatronic,"[/duke] he jokes some more. [duke]"To me, boys,"[/duke] he says over his shoulder, and the two lions saunter down the ramp toward Thaddeus. Jim backpedals a few more steps. [duke]"Mufasa, and Simba,"[/duke] Thaddeus says, introducing the two lions, now seated, flanking their new 'dad' on either side.

"How... how was the trip?" Jim asks, trying to ignore the presence of the lions.

[duke]"Boring,"[/duke] Thaddeus replies disinterested.

"Did you get some sleep at least?"

[duke]"Not particularly,"[/duke] he answers, walking passed Jim and heading for the awaiting Humvee's. Once in the vehicle, Thaddeus leans back and closes his eyes. The lions rest their heads on the back of the seat on either side of Thaddeus.

"You'll be happy to know, we've learned nothing from Lawrence," Jim says from the front seat as he presses himself as close to the dash and as far from the lions as he possibly can.

[duke]"Who the hell is Lawrence?"[/duke] Thaddeus asks, lifting his head and opening his eyes.

"The defector," Jim answers. "He says he'll answer to no one but you."

[duke]"Oh right,"[/duke] he says, leaning back again and closing his eyes. [duke]"What have you guys actually been up to besides failing miserably?"[/duke]

"That's pretty much it," Jim answers lightheartedly.

The Humvee pulls to a stop outside the leadership barracks. Jim and Thaddeus exit the vehicle and are promptly greeted by Commander Brunson. "Good evening, sir." he says after a salute, and now extends his hand.

Thaddeus returns the salute and accepts the handshake. [duke]"Commander,"[/duke] he says with a nod. Thaddeus opens the tailgate allowing Mufasa and Simba to hop out.

"We've been incident free from the moment you left. I don't think he sent very many," Brunson says, referring to the defectors while trying to ignore the obvious.

Thaddeus stops and looks back at Jim, his arm still in a sling, then turns toward Brunson. [duke]"If he sent one, he sent two. If he sent two, there's no telling how many are really here. Let's not pretend that the danger no longer exists, Commander. Complacency will get somebody killed."[/duke]

"Forgive me, sir, I did not mean to..." Brunson begins to apologize but is quickly interrupted.

[duke]"No, I know you didn't, Commander. Just take me to the defector."[/duke]

In under a minute, they arrive at the interrogation room where Lincoln Tritter is question Lawrence. "No, Mr. Tritter, I will only speak to the King. Not to you. Not to Captain Edwards. Not to Commander Brunson," Lawrence insists. "I will only speak to my King," he reiterates just as Thaddeus enters the room. Lawrence bows his head. "My King," he states, acknowledging Thad's presence.

[duke]"Name and rank."[/duke] Thaddeus insists as he shakes hands with Tritter and Lincoln exits the room.

"Lawrence Mason, Illuminatus Intelligence," Lawrence states as the two lions make their way through the door.

[duke]"Are all of you from Intelligence?"[/duke]

"Are those lions?" Lawrence asks.

Thad shakes his head. [duke]"Deformed giraffes,"[/duke] he answers sarcastically. [duke]"Answer the question."[/duke]

"I don't know that answer sir. None of us were told who else was among us."

[duke]"Do you know how many?"[/duke]

"I do not sir. If the way I was approached is any indication, none of us know who is who."

"Kid walks in, he starts chirpin'," Tritter says to Jim on the reverse side of the two way mirror.

"I guess embracing the archaic royalty thing kinda worked," he replies.

[duke]"Explain that."[/duke]

"I was pulled aside directly, by the... by your father. I can only assume the others were approached the same way. For all his faults, sir. He's not stupid. If we all knew each other, then, if one of us broke, it would spell disaster for the entire mission."

[duke]"And what is that mission, Lawrence?"[/duke]

"It's complicated. I assume all of us were aware of Zach's role."

[duke]"Who is Zach?"[/duke]

"The shooter that nearly killed Captain Edwards," he answers.

[duke]"Go on."[/duke]

"Anyway, the goal was for Zach to sacrifice himself. Basically to get you distracted and have you constantly looking over your shoulder. My goal was to hack into your servers, discover your battle plans."

[duke]"I'd never load my battle plans into a computer."[/duke]

"He thought you might, being busy with things outside of the Illuminatus and all. Others are here for sabotage. No one but Zach, as far as I know, were ordered to engage in direct conflict with you or your forces."

[duke]"I thank you for being as honest as you can be, Lawrence."[/duke]

"Sir are we done? You don't want to ask why I came forward?"

Thaddeus nears the door and pauses.

[duke]"Does it matter?"[/duke]

"Forgive me sir, but it could."

[duke]"Go on then, tell me why you decided to turn yourself in."[/duke]

"Sir, we were largely brought up with the Illuminatus," he begins. "We lived by a rigorous set of rules. But those rules were designed for a reason. To instill discipline. To fight for a cause. And... I don't know. Your father... He just... I didn't think it at first because we're trained to just follow orders of the man at the top. He was at the top. But, with him in charge, nothing good could come of it."

[duke]"And?"[/duke]

"You are what's right for the Illuminatus. With you in charge, sir, we stand a chance of being respected for who we are and what we fight for rather than just feared and distrusted. I made the wrong choice... and I'm sorry."

Just then, the building begins to shake and the lights begin to flicker as a number of explosions are heard in the distance. The lions grow restless and paw at the door.

[duke]"You still think killing the defectors was a bad idea!?"[/duke] Thad yells to the mirror before hastily making his exit. He reaches the outside and stands, watching the smoke billow from a number of burning aircraft. Parts of the planes are still falling to the ground as the Lions, Tritter and James all join him outside.

"That was unexpected," Jim muses aloud.

[duke]"Was it?"[/duke] Thaddeus asks rhetorically.

"Boss," Tritter interrupts. "Now might be a good time to reconsider the surgical strike on Redwood's HQ."

[duke]"Contain the fires,"[/duke] Thaddeus orders. [duke]"Then assemble the men."[/duke]

Fade.

[duke]Jack Cain read what I said about him, folks. Let that sink in for a minute while I take a drink of this YooHoo.[/duke]

He shakes the can and pops the top then takes gulp after gulp.

[duke]Delicious.

Anyway Jack, I'm not sure if there's a guy that transcribes promos for the XWF, and I doubt there is, but nothing I've said to you is in print. It's probably time to pull your head from your ass and focus a little here. I mean, who gets their information from a transcript? If indeed it was some transcript you read. Written words would surely be easy to take out of context, amirite? Everything I say, ever, is in a video promo. So I ask you, what is it I said in my commentary that suggested I was not taking you seriously? You are a no doubt serious competitor, and I have never, not even once said anything to the contrary. See Jack, you're a whole lot bigger than me and I sure as shit have my work cut out for me. But here's the thing, and it's something you'll have to get used to, as big and strong as you are, I'm equally quick and equally tough. You can doubt it, scoff at it, laugh at it, it doesn't much matter to me. You are a man. Skin tears, blood leaks, bones break and I'll have no problem answering the challenge you pose.

I don't think I've faced anyone your size but I promise, Jack, you'll never face anyone with more heart and less quit than me.

All Jack hears is that I should still be Xtreme Champion.

...

......

...........

Okay, seriously, who's promos are you watching? Do we even work for the same company Jack? I mean, I AM the Xtreme champion, so yeah, I guess then I should be Xtreme champ. I am the champion of Xtreme. I am the King of Xtreme. I WILL be the King of the Ring, and speaking of rings... how many circles are we talkin' here Jack? This is a guy that doesn't care for the King of the Ring or care for the material objects yet here he is, chasing the crown, just like the rest of us. If you care so little for it Jack? Why did you enter the tournament? That's like a horse owner entering his prized horse into the Kentucky Derby and saying "well I really don't want it though, so you can have it."

Cover it up all you like. But here's the fact, Jack. The only reason you would VOLUNTARILY enter a tournament such as this while telling your opponent that you don't actually want it and that he may indeed become the winner, is nothing more than a cover for what anyone with a brain already knows, including you, and that is that I am going to beat you. Does it matter to me if your stronger? Does it matter to me if you're bigger? Does it matter to me that 'badder' than I am?

No.

No.

Emphatic no.

All that matters to me is whose hand is raised at the closing bell. All that matters to me is that I advance and you go back to Savage where you belong. All that matters to me is that you stick to the opponents that you stand a chance against like Gilmour, Nixon, Lesnar, Sinclair and leave the heavy lifting to those of us that can actually handle the bright lights of Warfare and the super stardom that comes with competing regularly in main events. All that matters to me, is that yours truly advances to the next round.

Bigger than me, badder than me, stronger than me. None of that matters when I'm just better than you.[/duke]

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