Post by Admin on Oct 24, 2023 23:35:12 GMT
Tamika Strader’s Childhood Home
North of Tokyo, Japan
October. 15Th, 2023
Veronica Cain looked down into the crib her Auntie Tee gave to her that once belonged to the family Matriarch was in good condition. Tamika kept everything from her and John’s childhood in Japan in pristine condition. Weather controlled storage kept the decade and a half’s memories alive and well. The daughter of Meghan Strader was grateful because she not only needed time away from the States but also needed a place to go where her absence wouldn’t be fully noticed.
Veronica was suspended for punching a commentator in the face. She felt the change of scenery would help. Plus, she was returning from the Night City dimension after saving Victoria and staying in Japan until her match at MGP’s next event, Pillars of Creation. However, that nagging pissed off feeling in her head wouldn’t go away.
On one hand, she was screwed out of successfully cashing in her title shot, which she thought Peter Vaughn respected her enough not to cheat, but she was dealing with her twin sister, Victoria aka Vee, being held hostage in the other dimension she had been travelling to since early 2022.
Even though the place was violent, she had a fondness for it because it gave her a life of her own. Victoria had a life of her own. Both of them had found happiness, and as a Strader and even a Knox, happiness, at least the common definition of the word, wasn’t something that happened all that much.
Maybe that was why Veronica agreed to sign with MGP and be shown the ways of joshi puroresu wrestling.
Victoria and Brooklyn’s Condo
The Glen, Night City
December 5th, 2078
Veronica laid out the schematics of the Grand Imperial Mall, known as ‘GIM’ (gym) and marked the exits all around the unfinished shopping centre in the district known as Pacifica. Brooklyn comes up beside her sister-in-law, a worried look all over her face.
“You are going in alone? Are you sure that isn’t a gonk idea, Ronnie?”
Veronica looks over at Brooklyn and can see the worry, but she puts her arm around her, and pulls her into a hug, and then pulls with her hands on Brooklyn’s shoulder, staring directly into her eyes.
“I know you are worried, but you need to trust me on this. Militech wants Victoria for something, and I think I have a pretty good idea of what they are after, and it is best if I go in alone. If I go in there with a visible back up, they will hunker down and I will never get to her.”
“Visible… wait, you DO have backup, don’t you?”
“Yes and no, but listen, all you need to know is I’m going to bring your wife home, and we are gonna get back to our reality. It is the only place you’ll both be safe. Listen, I need you to get everything you have and be ready to delta the fuck out of here, ok?”
Brooklyn nods, and scurries off as Veronica scans the schematics, storing it in her Operating System. Veronica heads to the elevator just off the side of the living room. Downstairs in the parking garage she approaches her green Quadra Type-66 640s, and pops open the trunk. Her Carnage brand shotgun she calls the Vox is there, along with her Seraph semi-automatic handgun with Jesus wearing the crown of thorns on the handle, which she grabs and places inside her brown synth-leather Samurai Jacket. She closes the trunk and the image of her grandfather in the back window. Veronica shakes her head and walks around the car to the driver's side, getting in. Scott reappears in the rearview mirror.
“Going on this suicide mission alone?”
“Alone? Unfortunately, with you in my life, I’m never fuckin’ alone.”
“You know what I mean, Veronica.”
“I do what you mean, but I know what they want.”
The Quadra fires up, and Veronica drives out of the underground structure and heads towards the Pacifica on-ramp, while Scott is not letting it go.
“Who cares if you know what they want?”
“They care. Listen, this isn’t your world.”
“It isn’t yours either, kid.”
“Maybe not, but Vee and I got our own lives because of this place. While we were stuck in this shit hole dimension, before I learned how to travel seamlessly without that ridiculous PORTAL-POTTY, we became well known mercenaries. Both Netrunners, but Vee excelled at it better than I did.”
“So what do they want from you?”
“My gut is telling me what they are after, and mom taught me to follow my gut, Scott.”
“What is your gut telling you they want?”
“They want Vee to breach the Blackwall like she did to destroy our Affliction, Valerie, and save me so I could go back and defeat Supreme Machine.”
Veronica takes the exit off the ramp and heads into the Pacifica district, the giant ⅔ finished shopping centre, Grand Imperial Mall looming in the distance. The Quadra roars past a group of Voodoo Boys, the gang that runs the district (although the Animals might contest that), and Veronica ignores the stares.
“Look, up there on top of the mall.”
Veronica looks and sees three large high end AV(aerial vehicles) sitting on the roof of the mall, and notices some heavy duty Chevillon Emperor 620 Ragnar vehicles, but they don’t have the Militech decals on the doors.
“Hmmm… not wanting their presence known….”
Veronica parks to the far left side of the building beside a run amusement park.
FLASHBACK
Nighty City, California
January 28th, 2077
Victoria Strader wakes up in the Kabuki Market of Night City, hailed as the worst city between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It rests on the shore of the Pacific Ocean. She feels different, lonely almost. A hand touches her shoulder, and she sits up just along the littered shoreline running through the Megapolis. She sees herself looking at… herself? It was a weird feeling.
“Who are you?”
“It’s Ronnie, you dope.”
Vee’s eyes went wide because she wasn’t speaking out loud.
“How is that even possible?”
“Is Valerie with you?”
“I-I-I don’t know. I’ll look.”
Victoria closes her eyes and searches deep in her psyche, but is aided by a technology she’s never seen before. When she opens her eyes, she realizes she can scan people, and their info comes up in front of her eyes like a terminator; luckily not all in red and white. She scans the woman in front of her.
Veronica Strader. She was telling the truth.
She shakes her head and stands up, taking in the scenery. She squints while looking out at the city from the shoreline that cuts through this part of the city.
“Where are we, Ronnie? And why are you in your own body?”
“Honestly? I don’t know, Vee. I mean, I am not complaining. I love you and all, but it was awkward when riding Christian.”
Veronica gives her a sly wink and grin.
“Yeah, gross. Outside of that one time, I just went deep inside.”
Victoria realizes how it sounded when Ronnie laughs.
“So we have some kind of technology in us, as I am sure you noticed with the Kiroshi Optics that have been implanted behind our retinas; we also have a thing called a “Holo,” which is a cell phone where you can see the person in our sights. I had a random, unknown sender text message with an address that says we’ll be comfortable.”
“Ok, so how in the heck do we find it?”
With a motion of her left hand, Ronnie sends Vee a map of the city digitally like an AirDrop. She loads the map up, and a location pings. She sees a GPS setting and inputs the address.
“The Glen? Sounds fancy.”
“Appears to be near the city centre, so it’s not a cheap place, I am guessing. I feel like that portal not only took us into the future, but an alternate reality.”
Veronica is lost in thought. Vee puts her arm around Ronnie’s shoulder and leans her head against hers.
“We got each other, and we’ll get back home.”
“Plus, we can’t let mom get near my man.”
Their mom had severe daddy issues. Vee notices Ronnie referred to Meghan as “mom,” and that makes her smile.
“I wonder if they made it to “australia” safely?”
The addition of air quotes on the questioned continent gave them both a laugh.
“Best. Joke. Ever.”
Victoria and Veronica laugh and make their way up to street level. The fast-paced nature isn’t alien to them, but all the technology certainly was. They could feel this place was a place of debauchery as they watched a group called the Tyger-Claws shake down residents in the area and act like assholes. Vee and Ronnie look at one another and make their way across the street to what appears to be a public transit station. Before they can interact with it, there is a ringing, and in front of both of their eyes, a Facetime-like call is answered. Eventually, they would learn the ins and out of the Holo. A Japanese man, who looks to have similar cybernetics that the twins have, speaks slowly, precisely and with respect.
“Victoria Strader-San, Veronica Strader-San, My name is Goro Takemura, right hand to the Arasaka family.”
“Care to tell us where we are?”
“I know you have questions. I am sending you coordinates. Did you get them?”
A status appears in her vision, showing the uploading of data from 0%-100%. Once it’s complete, the girls know where they need to go.
“Sending you both a vehicle. Do not keep us waiting. When you arrive, you are to ask for Anders Hellman. Security will bring you through.”
Before Vee or Ronnie can respond, they are alerted to a vehicle approaching.
HONK!!!!
The dark green muscle looking car stops, and the doors automatically go up. Vee and Ronnie look at each other with surprise.
“I guess this is our ride?”
Ronnie scans the vehicle, the info coming up revealing that it’s a Quadra Type-66 640s, and the owner is Victoria Strader. She looks at Vee.
“This Quadra Type-66 is a fairly popular vehicle, and it’s registered to you.”
“Me? Alright, let’s go, Ronnie. We need to figure out what the hell is going on.”
Arasaka Tower
Night City, Northern California
“Alright, here we go.”
Victoria Strader stares up at the black reflective glass tower of the Mega Corporation that runs the world, and she feels a chill run down her spine; it could’ve been her Kiroshi Optics responding, but she could tell the difference. Veronica walks up behind her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“You really think this is going to work?”
Victoria sneered at their near-identical reflection, except Ronnie’s hair was dirty blonde with a hint of red. She wore dark blue synth-denim jeans, a white tank-top, a leather jacket and her right hand was made of steel as she could hear her fingers clicking against each other. Her hair with a red tinge to it falls over the black leather jacket she has on. Victoria’s brown leather pants hug her hips as she makes her way to the automated door that swishes open, making her way to security.
“Welcome to Arasaka, Strader-San. Anders Hellman-San is expecting you. Please place all weapons to your left and step into the scanner for a few seconds,” the pleasant Japanese security guard instructs her. Vee places her handgun that is custom silver-plated with Jesus with a crown of thorns on the tray, which security pulls through as she steps into the scanner. Thousands of thin green lasers scan her head to toe four times. Rinse and repeat for Ronnie, but she can’t carry much with her outfit.
Ding. All Clear.
Security has removed the ammunition from her gun before handing it back to her. She places it inside her brown Samurai jacket and heads toward the elevator. Veronica pitches in again, this time beside her.
“You really think this will work?”
“I hope so. I want to know how you got out of my head, Ronnie. Out of my body.”
“Our body. I am not some rogue daemon like Valerie probably is. You still haven’t seen her?”
“No, I haven’t. You?”
Vee sees Ronnie is making a face, squinting, looking for anything to give her a clue of what she was thinking.
“The better question might be, why am I in a new body and in constant telekinesis with you?”
Maybe.
“Yeah, you might be right. This is no coincidence; we have been to Arasaka HQ.”
“Yeah, I bet these bastards split us when we got here. But where is Valerie?”
They would soon get their answer.
Vee and Ronnie’s Apartment
The Glen, Night City
January 29th, 2077
The Strader ‘Twins’ have had a night to go over the meeting they had with Anders Hellman, who explained that when Arasaka found them, it was just Victoria and she was beaten all to hell (from her match against The Lost Stranger before falling into the portal). They healed her injuries when they discovered three distinct personalities in her head: her, Veronica and Valerie (the Affliction). They also learned something that they were going to use to their advantage, which is that Victoria is a descendant of a legendary Night Runner, Alt Cunningham. Veronica wasn’t sure what to believe.
“I don’t know if I buy this, Vee.”
Veronica leans back into the black synth leather couch and puts her boots up on the table in front of her. Victoria stands by the window overlooking the city from their big bay window.
“How are we a descendant of someone from an alternate dimension? Oh, and infamous one at that?”
“Well, that’s just it. It’s an alternate dimension. It’s an alternate reality, and our bloodline exists in this one. Hell, you have her body. They will come to our dimension and light the world on fire by hijacking the world's online systems.”
“The irony being is no one will ever know what we did for them.”
During their meeting, Hellman had revealed that they had kept the body of Alt Cunningham in a cryogenic chamber after she had escaped into the NET. They then uploaded the engram of Veronica into her because while in theory, it’s possible for an engram to take over any person, it works much better with someone that shares similar genetics aka family/bloodline.
“Do you think they are on the up and up about why they have done what they have done?”
“I’m not sure, Ronnie. I don’t think they realize what they have with Valerie. Being used as an AI to prevent the army of rogue AIs from breaching the Black Wall with the aid of Millitech, whatever that is. We have a lot of studying to do, Ronnie.”
“I don’t trust Val, Vee. I don’t. She’s playing along because of the power she’s been given.”
If her worry was a fire, they would be evacuating.
“I don’t care what safeguards they have in place to keep her in line. She will get out. She will get out and cause havoc on the people of this city, of this world.”
“Do you believe them when they say they need her and eventually us in the NET to stop Millitech?”
“Well, the US government’s President is the head of Militech and from what I was reading, they have been trying to rebuild the US and assimilate Arasaka and other corporations in it, while Night City just wants its own independence and if Militech were to win this “cyber-war” it could lose that.”
Vee looks back out onto the streets and sees a situation unfolding on the streets. The NCPD has surrounded a man in large tech armour shooting up the streets. Ronnie tilts her head curiously to what Vee is looking at. She gets up, makes her way over, puts her left arm around her shoulder and watches the massacre unfold down below. Vee sighs.
“That must be Cyberpsychosis. They say Militech is behind….”
“And you believe them when they say it’s Militech causing these issues?”
“Well, it makes sense. Use crime fuelled by that poor soul down there who was probably just walking down the street when someone scrambled their circuitry and now they slaughtered a dozen people.”
The second after those words left her lips, she looked at Ronnie on her right. She looks back at her with a quick squint, followed by a nod.
“Let’s do this, then.”
Vee pulls out her gun, cocking it. Ronnie one hand pumps her Carnage Shotgun, and they head on down to the Cyberpsycho. It would be one of the first tasks when they arrived from an alternate reality. Then they would prepare and train for the Mega Corporation's task they had been given. That task? Breaching the Blackwall.
PRESENT
Grand Imperial Mall
December 5th, 2078
There is a wake of bodies left behind in the mall, as Veronica slowly approaches the movie theatre. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Scott Nash Strader in the glass case that houses an old movie poster. He’s smoking a cigarette and shaking his head.
“What? You got something to say, so say it.”
“Have you considered talking to them? Seeing what they really want?”
“I know what they want. They want recompense for the damage we did last January in 2077.”
“Are you sure that’s it? If that was it, wouldn’t they have just eliminated both of you by now?”
“Well… maybe. I don’t know.”
“Can’t believe I’m about to say this, but holster your fuckin’ gun and talk to them.”
Veronica sighs loudly, and holsters her weapon. She slowly makes her way through a set of double doors in front of her.
“If you are wrong about this…”
Her eyes adjust to the darker surroundings, but the unmistakable sight of her twin, Victoria, fills her vision, and she runs towards her.
“Stop right there!”
Veronica stops dead in her tracks, as NUSA President Rosalind Myers appears from behind Victoria. She holds out her hands to stop the two secret service officers from firing, and motions for them to lower their weapons.
“Miss Strader, glad you could join us.”
“President Myers. What did we deserve to be graced by your presence?”
“Feisty. Last year, you two nearly dismantled everything the NUSA has been trying to rebuild when you breached the Blackwall. You set everything on fire.”
“Keep your mouth shut, kid. Let her talk.”
“Fine.”
Veronica looks at Vee, who is sitting in a chair beside Myers, intently looking at Veronica. Being twins, she can sense that Victoria has been looked after while being held.
“Let me guess… you set up that whole heist for Liz Vitale to move in on, hoping to capture me or Vee. Maybe both.”***
“Smart girl. I see why Arasaka chose you three. Oh, yes, that’s right, I know all about Valerie.”
Both Vee and Ronnie sneer at the mention of their Affliction.
“Alright, Madame President, just tell us what you want.”
The head of Militech and President of the New United States of America smiles, and looks at Victoria, then at Veronica.
“You and your sister here are going to breach the Blackwall, then find Valerie and bring her back to this side.”
“She doesn’t have a body. How are we supposed to bring her back?”
“You misunderstand. Arasaka isn’t the only one with the high end tech like the Soulkiller that gave you your own body. We don’t plan to give your Affliction its own flesh. No, she’s gonna become the weapon that turns Arasaka into a wannabe BioTechnica.”
“And if we say no?”
“Then you and Victoria will be just another body that they scrape off the pavement in Kabuki.”
“Right. Let her go, and we’ll talk.”
Myers snaps her fingers and one of her secret service men unties Victoria from the chair.
FLASHBACK
Pre Mission…
Rocky Ridge, California
April 19th, 2077
The plan was simple: from a secure location, Victoria and Veronica would assist Valerie in the destruction of Millitech. The only reason they even agreed to help was that Anders Hellman had promised them they could return home and Arasaka wouldn’t infiltrate their home dimensions, internet and world's governments.
“We shouldn’t have gone back until we did this job.”
“Well, unfortunately, we did; nothing we can do about it now. Are you ready to do this? Just think afterwards, we can go home, in our very own bodies, and live our own lives.”
Veronica nods.
“I know we have like a million sisters already, but the thought of you, outside of my head as you have been, it would be amazing. I love you, Ronnie.”
Victoria places a hand on her shoulder and pulls Veronica in for a hug.
“I love you too. I am sorry for all the rotten things Valerie manipulated me into doing… for sabotaging your relationship with Atara, throwing Cara off the OCW arena, and killing Scott.”
Victoria would be lying if hearing the things Veronica didn’t sting, but she heard the sincerity in her voice. Besides, she knew all too well what Valerie was capable of.
“I know. Let’s get this over with, get back home, and I can show our big, evil cousin that I have what it takes to slay Goliath.”
“I know you can. If Birdman can do it, so can you!”
“I’m not a fan of his right now either, but we should try to move past it… he is the only father we have, ya know?”
Veronica rolls her eyes and shrugs.
“Yeah, Vee, maybe. Maybe….”
“Alright, I’ll let Anders and Goro know we are just about ready.”
Veronica nods and sits herself down in the netrunning chairs in the small garage in Rocky Ridge, a place both are familiar with. They look at each other one last time before submerging their psyches into the NET, but Veronica didn’t know what Victoria was planning.
Post mission…
“Tell mom I love her, and I’m sorry. Auntie Tee and Cara too.”
“Wait, what are you talking about? Why would I—”
Before she could finish her words, she briefly saw Victoria envelop Valerie, followed by an explosion of data and information. Veronica comes out of the NET and quickly sits up, looking at Victoria. She jacks herself out of the chair and bolts to Victoria’s side. She grabs her by the shoulders, shaking her.
“VEE PLEASE, PLEASE! ANSWER ME, DAMNIT!”
Veronica looks down at Victoria’s lifeless body as she holds her wrist, checking for a pulse, but there isn’t one. Her hand trembles as she moves some hair out of her face. She gently kisses her on the forehead, gently sobbing.
“Why did you do that? Why?!”
She slams the netrunning chair with the side of her foot. She gently lays Victoria down and then wipes tears from her eyes with her forearm.
“Ok, um, Ronnie, breathe, just breathe… phew. Ok, yes, I got to get you out of here. You can’t stay in this place. Going to get you home. Mom would never forgive me.”
Veronica had Victoria’s lifeless body in the front seat a few minutes later. Once in the driver's seat, she turns to Victoria’s body.
“I need a cigarette.”
She placed one between her lips. She can’t find her lighter and looks beside her.
“Sorry, sis, I need a lighter.”
Veronica reaches inside Victoria’s Samurai synth leather jacket, retrieving a lighter. When she pulls it out, she notices a Data-Shard is attached. Peeling it off the lighter, she looks at it by holding it out in front of her, the light of the moon through the windshield.
“Hmm, what’s on this shard? She never told me anything about a shard.”
She flips her hair back and slides the Data-Shard into the neural slot behind her ear. A file pops up through her optics, so she selects it and opens the file after a quick viral scan. It’s Victoria’s voice.
“I figured you might need a lighter. Glad to know I was right and know you as well as I do.”
Veronica takes a drag, closes her eyes and leans back as her right hand reaches over and takes Victoria’s lifeless hand.
“If you are sitting beside my lifeless body in my car smoking a cigarette, then our mission from Arasaka was successful, and that mine to neutralize Valerie was indeed successful as well. I know there must be several emotions swirling through you right now, but it was my only chance to make sure that Valerie would no longer torture us and that Arasaka couldn’t use her to wreak havoc on the people of this dimension. She was the last thing they needed between the dying planet and multiple famines.”
Veronica scoffs.
“At the cost of you?”
“Yes, at the cost of me.”
Veronica then laughs and shakes her head. She knew her well.
“Arasaka will believe it was Valerie that caused our destruction. I left data signatures identical to hers, so this won’t blow back on you. Get back to our dimension, tell everyone we love (and you tolerate) that I love them, then go into that jungle and put down the Supreme Machine. Who knows, maybe defeat at our— your hands will give Tom a fighting chance against his Affliction. Remember, I’ll always be there, there in your heart. I love you, Ronnie.”
She takes a deep drag as she opens her eyes and lowers her head.
“I love you, too.”
“I know.”
Veronica laughs as the tears roll down her cheeks.
“Now stop laughing and crying, and get us home.”
The recording ends, so she starts the Quadra and heads towards the glow that is Night City.
PRESENT
Tamika and John’s Childhood Home
North of Tokyo, Japan
October 23rd, 2023
Veronica sits straight up in bed, panting heavily. She is wet with sweat, and looks to her right to see her husband, Christian “Outcast” Cain, sleeping soundly. She swivels out of bed, feet on the floor, and grabs her robe as she quietly walks out of the bedroom and heads to the kitchen area to grab something cold to drink.
“You couldn’t sleep either?”
“Jesus, Vee. You scared the hell out of me.”
“And here I thought you didn’t scare easily.”
The light of the fridge lights up her face, and Victoria can see the worry scrawled across her face. She grabs a small chocolate milk box and sits with her sister at the kitchen table. A single candle is lit in the centre.
“Thank you again for coming to save me. Where is Liz?”
Veronica was surprised to hear Victoria call the clone of their mother by her chosen name, but maybe she was finally realizing it really wasn’t their mother.
“She is back in Houston, setting up her new life. She knows she can’t be Meghan Strader, and is slowly, but surely, adjusting to that. She will fly out next week before the MGP event, since she is my manager.”
“I’m surprised you would want her as a manager.”
“Well, Vee, she has mom’s memories and attributes and I can use that to my advantage. Better her here than being back in Night City ‘causing more issues.”
“Night City… Are we really going through with what Myers wants us to do?”
“Not us, just me, Vee.”
“I want to help too! You have more to lose than I do. You have an amazing husband and a beautiful baby girl. I don’t wanna see you be taken away from them.”
Veronica smiles at her twin, placing her left hand on Vee’s from across the table. She takes a sip of her chocolate milk after shaking it up.
“Unfortunately, I understand Valerie a lot more than you do, and I will have a better grasp of knowing what she is going to do. After I wrestle Shikishi at Pillars of Creation.”
“Huh, Pillars of Creation. Almost kind of fitting for you. Are you enjoying Miracle Galaxy Pro and the Black Dahlia Legacy faction?”
Veronica tilts her head to the side with a slight nod.
“I like the company. They treat every one of us with respect. But it’s Sayako Endo, the faction leader I truly admire. She has three plus decades of experience in joshi puroresu. She is a brutal teacher, and I can feel our training sessions for days, but she is doing a world of wonder with me.”
“Show me a few moves sometime?”
“Yeah, sure. Maybe in the morning. I’ll be heading back to Night City after the event, and hopefully I can take care of the issues plaguing Myers, and we can say goodbye to that dimension forever.”
“I hope so.”
“We’ll go grab breakfast in the morning with Brook and Christian.”
The sisters say goodnight but both would have restless sleeps.
Black Dahlia Legacy Dojo
Japan
October 24th, 2023
~ START TRANSMISSION ~
“The Intrepid Odyssey did not go the way I had hoped, but not all was lost as a faction ally in Jack Sullivan Junior, winning and bringing that prestige to our faction. If it wasn’t me, I am glad it was her.”
Veronica sits on a bench, in a quiet part of the dojo, while her faction leader, Sayaka Endo, leads a class in the background. The sounds of hard strikes and groans of pain are the soundtrack of The Scorpion’s promotional video.
“Miracle Galaxy Pro is giving me a chance to show what I am capable of when the match is one on one, and I promise you all, it will be something to behold. I said it before, but I was recruited by MGP and the Black Dahlia Legacy, for a few reasons.”
“The first? My name. I know as well as anyone else in this industry, whether they admit it or live in denial, is drawing power. I’m a third generation Knox and fourth generation Strader. With my name on a card, it draws that much more interest.”
“Second, I am young and I have many, many years ahead of me. That bodes well for the company when investing in my future.”
Veronica stands up and reaches into the pocket of her purple Adidas track pants, pulling out a soft pack of Marlboro Reds. She grabs her black Brothers of Mayhem MC support hoodie, sliding it on to shield herself from the cool autumn winds. She lights her cancer stick once she is outside, making her way to a cherry blossom tree, and leans against it with her right leg up and foot pressed against the tree.
“Third, they know I have the skill to be a superstar in this business. Unfortunately, and I say that because people expect it, especially opponents, know this and will do whatever it takes not to fall against me. Look at Peter Vaughn in Thunder Pro Wrestling. He knew his number was up and I was about to become the TPW International Champion but thanks to a green mist, he kept his title and I squandered the power that the Claim The Fame briefcase I had won just the month before.”
“I let that anger get the better of me as I destroyed equipment at ringside and punched Mark Markson right in the nose. I didn’t win the title, but I earned my suspension. So with that, I flew to Japan to focus on my singles debut for MGP.”
“And I am glad I did, because my fearless faction leader, along with the Intrepid Odyssey winner Jack Sullivan, have been showing me the ways of joshi puroresu, and I would be lying if I said it wasn’t kicking my ass, because well, it is. But I need to go through this because my opponent, Shikishi of Shuko Murder-Gun, is no fuckin’ joke.”
“That’s right, I’m not your typical wrestler who pretends not to know when a challenge is in front of them. Shikishi, I know you are a dangerous woman, but you should know that I am as well.”
Veronica takes a drag and inhales the blue cancerous smoke through her nostrils.
“I too know what it is like to have a famous father (and mother in my case) with a bunch of half-blooded siblings. We do our best to live up to their expectations. Hell, one of my 73 siblings is employed by MGP and represents the Colours of Victory. Not one of us Knoxs is the same, and the same can be said about the Straders. My crazy sister, the PWV Spirit of the Fight Champion Cara Strader, is a prime example of that.”
“Shikishi, you are the first step for my future success in MGP and not even for a moment will I underestimate what you are capable of. I have seen it in my study of the MGP video library and I know Sayaka is going extra hard on me because the mantras of my faction are to win at all costs.”
“I’m not a cheater, Shikishi, but I am vicious. There is a reason I defeated 7 foot monsters, and some of the most successful wrestlers in the industry today. While I may have been screwed out of becoming a world champion, I’m not letting that deter me from becoming one of the most dangerous women in Miracle Galaxy Pro.”
Cain takes one last drag of her death stick, butting it out on the heel of her black Adidas running shoe. The family sneer sprawls across her face like it has a million times before.
“There are four simple words that you would be wise to remember.”
“God forgives.”
“I don’t.”
~ END TRANSMISSION ~
