Post by petervaughn on Oct 21, 2023 12:55:47 GMT -5
~We find ourselves at a black screen. The only sound is the echoes of heavy breathing, the sort of thing you'd hear at intense portions of war movies. The picture finally comes up at a crazy angle, as we're looking underneath Vaughn as he takes in large gulps of air, wiping some blood off his forehead. He looks downwards, a savage grin slowly coming onto his face.~
Peter Vaughn: It was... a strong attempt... King Louie...
~The picture finally zooms out and straightens up, allowing us to see that Vaughn is standing over the body of the king of the orangutans, King Louie. He appears to still be breathing, but is only able to grunt softly in pain, unable to get up. Vaughn stands over him, holding both his metallic mop and the king's own stone club, snatched away during the fierce battle. Vaughn leans on the mop, still grinning.~
Peter Vaughn: This was... a nice diversion. But I've learned a lot... since we last fought, Lou. You might say... I'm a completely different animal. I'm the Mechanic now. I'm a destructive force that has annihilated wrestlers all over the world. I've gone to the top of half a dozen feds, proving to all of them that I was no longer that pitiful Janitor back in the day. I'm a Denzel Porter Invitational winner, a Tara Fenix Charity Cruise winner, and a Level Up Game Genie winner. I was the damn World Series of Wrestling victor, beating 65 other superstars from around the world. So you may have tried to become better, Lou... but just like Lord Allton... you're just no longer on my level... or even in the same atmosphere as me.
~All King Louie can do is groan, holding his side. He pulls himself backwards, dragging himself, as Vaughn reaches down and picks up the fallen crown. He considers it, seeing if it would actually fit on his head, before tossing it towards where his luggage is still laying.~
Peter Vaughn: To the victor goes the spoils, Louie. You put it all on the line to arrange to face me, to prove that you could finally take me down. You thought without Zybala by my side, without being prepared, you could take me down. And you gave a nice fight, I'll give you that. I bet you certainly hit harder than that blockhead Lord Alltimate Warrior could ever dream of. But it wasn't enough, boyo. It'll never be enough. This time next week, I'll be headed back to my Dallas home with two trophies in hand: your crown and the Outsiders World Championship. Two creatures from my past, both wiped out and deprived of their unworthy gains.
~With that, Vaughn starts to make his way over to his stuff, shaking off a limp.~
Peter Vaughn: So you think Uber will be able to find me here?
~Vaughn puts down the club and reaches down to get his phone, but stops... as he hears the orangutan behind him begin to laugh, as only an orangutan can. He turns and looks back over at King Louie, who is barely able to sit up, but he still is able to grunt out a few more 'words'. Behind him, the observers of his kingdom step forward, considering Vaughn, who sighs.~
Peter Vaughn: I suppose that IS true, isn't it? Zybala and I didn't just have to beat you originally. You were just the final boss.
~More eyes appear in the darkness, as the troops begin to step forward. Vaughn reaches back down, as if to pick the stone club back up, but instead he unzips the side of his bag instead.~
Peter Vaughn: I should have known, Louie, that you'd never let it be honorable. Hell, I even respect it. My MO has always been find a way to win, no matter what you have to do. That used to be the case for Lord ATV, too, didn't it? Until he started to care what the fans thought of him. Unfortunately for both of you... whether the fans love me or loathe me... they're still bound to respect what I'm willing to do.
~As the forces step forward, ready to pounce all at once, overwhelming the former Outsiders World Champion, Vaughn pulls out what he had in the bag: his trusty tranquilizer gun, a weapon that has showed up at multiple organizations, taking down his opposition. He grins at the suddenly hesitating army in front of him.~
Peter Vaughn: Say hello to my little friend.
~Vaughn opens fire, spraying tranquilizer darts in front of him. It takes down the first wave of orangutans, who collapse to the sides, the darts quickly shutting down their nervous systems. Others rush forward, leaping over their downed comrades, but Vaughn knocks them aside with the metallic mop, swinging away. The camera moves upwards, giving us an overhead view, allowing us to see Vaughn spinning a circle, firing away as he smashes a few orangutans who get too close. He's laughing, his first real expression of joy, as he takes down every attacker that doesn't flee into the forest, disappearing from view. He then turns back to King Louie, who is angrily trying to get up, despite his previous injuries. Vaughn lifts the tranq gun towards him.~
Peter Vaughn: Again, nice attempt... for a low-card foe. Game over.
~He fires right at Louie, as the camera cuts out.~
~The Uber pulls up in front of the Strader Estate, the sight of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre show. Vaughn gets out, tossing a quick tip to the driver, before getting his luggage out. Behind him, Mike Zybala comes hurrying up, looking relieved.~
Mike Zybala: Peter! Thank goodness! When they told me you didn't get picked up at the airport, I was worried! You... okay, buddy?
~Zybala takes in how disheveled Vaughn looks, along with a few new cuts and bruises, but Vaughn just waves him off.~
Peter Vaughn: Everything's fine. Just catching up with old... friends. But don't worry. I promised you I would be here at the show, didn't I? I promised I would beat the snot out of Lord All-Together Awful, didn't I? And I always fulfill my promises. I'm going to need one thing from you, though.
Mike Zybala: Name it.
~Vaughn pulls his tranquilizer gun out of the back trunk and hands it over, startling the man.~
Peter Vaughn: I'm running a little low on tranquilizer darts. See if you can find some reloads, okay?
~Zybala looks doubtfully at the gun, truly wondering now what happened between the airport and here. He walks away, as Vaughn hoists up his luggage... but turns instead to the camera for another fourth-wall break.~
Peter Vaughn: So I made it here, Alt. I'm sure you were probably hoping I would just no-show like your last opponent, Bob Grenier. The fact that you were actually DEFENDING against such an unreliable turd just shows how easy you've had it as champion here. Well, you're not getting an easy night when it comes to me. I'm bringing all my hostility, all my firepower, and all of my acquired talents to face you inside that squared circle... or wherever we end up.
~Vaughn lays his luggage to the side, before taking a moment to study his bruised knuckles.~
Peter Vaughn: You couldn't have it much worse, Lourde. Agreeing to a "Just Don't Murder Each Other" match, leaving the rules wide open like that? I'm more than content to just leave you barely breathing to honor the stipulation, but before we get to that point, so many other possibilities are available. I'm afraid you've really sealed your fate, boyo. The horrors that await you are... well, they're fairly predictable. But they're also unavoidable. Because I'm not just here to put you to sleep, oh "King" of Outsiders. I'm here... to end you. So that comparisons between the two of us never again get brought up, in any way, shape, or form.
~Vaughn smiles, even as he hefts up one of his bags. It makes a clanking noise, making you wonder what else could be inside there... besides possibly the crown of a former king.~
Peter Vaughn: End all, be all, Altone, your reckoning is at hand. Your pitiful win streak, your stagnation of talent, and your reputation as some sort of Equality god. Prepare for the end of everything. Prepare yourself for taking the ultimate Plunge.
~Vaughn gives one final nod to the camera, before turning and gathering up the rest of his luggage. He heads inside the Strader Estate, set to meet his Outsiders destiny after years of being away. We slowly fade out.~
~Just as it seems like everything's over, though, the feed comes back up one more time, bringing us back into the forest. The camera focuses on a tree... and then on the orangutan hand that raises up... and then crushes into a large, furious fist.~
~The shot then ends, as a raging animal scream shrieks out.~