Title: ATM and the ARK Angels of DX: Wrestling World War II
Author: Kaykyaka
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the WWE and TNA characters used within this fictional story. No copyright infringement is intended and no money is being made by this work of fiction.
Ratings: K+
Characters: Shawn, Cameron, Rebecca and Cheyenne Michaels, Amy 'Lita' Dumas Michaels, Hunter Hurst Helmsley, LC Helmsley, Aurora Rose Helmsley, Chyna Helmsley, Trish, Randy and Randy Orton Jr, Melina, Johnny and Romeo Hennigan, Jeff, Stephanie and Elizabeth Hardy, Angelo and Angela Jericho, Vince and Linda McMahon, Kevin, Tamara and Tristen Nash, Adam "Edge", Angelina and Angelica Copeland, Phil "CM Punk", Jamie "Velvet Sky" and Ravine Brooks, Marion Cena, the Undertaker, Garrett Calloway, Sting and Steven Borden, Batista, Kofi Kingston, Dolph Ziggler, Kelly Kelly, Brie and Justin Danner, Alannah Pirelli and Charlotte, Dan and Carla McCool.
Summary: Shawn Michaels has to decide between Lita and the Kliq and the wrestling world falls into disarray while awaiting his decision.
Chapter Twenty Six – Tristen on Trial
AT&T Center, San Antonio, TX
Tristen Nash was losing focus as he watched the latest episode of Best in the World, while everything was going ahead as scheduled his mind was on the fact that he had failed to get Angelo Jericho's iPad. He didn't know that Stephanie already had a copy of the footage so he was really stressing over nothing, so much in fact that he was distracted from the main event of his own television show.
"Boss!" cried one of the stage hands coming up to Tristen.
"What?" Tristen said abruptly.
"There's some kids getting in the ring, they're interrupting the main event!" the stagehand said to Tristen and he looked through the curtain to see what the stagehand was talking about.
"I can't believe it," Tristen said as he recognized the young figures in the ring, they were Aurora Rose, Beth and the A Twins. Angela Jericho appeared to have a microphone in her hand and Tristen's mind raced as to what he should do about it.
"Aren't you going to have her microphone shut off?" the stagehand asked Tristen.
"No," Tristen decided, "I wanna hear what she has to say,"
Angela turned to what she assumed was the main camera and she pointed to it with disdain, "You know Tristen Nash you're a real sorry piece of work. You were so busy trying to get one over on my mom that it never occurred to you that the four of us would be able to prove that it was your father that burned down DX Inc. So you send your Tag Team Champions to our school in Long Island to get the footage proving that it was the Kliq that started the fire and your Tag Team failed to get the job done. This is what you have to offer, these two poor excuses for a Tag Team? Well they suck Tristen, just like you. Say goodbye to your old man and his boys, the Kliq are finally going to get what they deserve,"
The Black Diamonds ran for Angela enraged that they had been embarrassed on their own show but Aurora iced the ring over with her weather power and they slipped and fell right on their behinds. Roderick Strong and Jay Lethal laughed on the outside of the turnbuckle while their opponents tried to get back to their feet. Eventually they did get up and they attempted to chase after the Hardy kids but they were already out of the arena. The fans in attendance booed them heavily and Strong and Lethal told them to get back in the ring.
"Come on guys get back here so we can finish what those Hardy kids started and totally embarrass you!" Roderick Strong said on the mic and the Black Diamonds ran back into the ring and started the main event against Roderick and Jay. The ice was now gone so they no longer slipped around but that didn't stop their opponents from making the Black Diamonds look stupid.
Backstage Cheyenne was waiting for her time to interfere in the match to come but when she saw Aurora, Beth and the A Twins she grabbed them before they could leave.
"Good job standing up for your family and the WWE like that guys, I'm just sorry I have to go in and help the Black Diamonds win," Cheyenne said.
"It's a good thing you got that mask on so you can hide your shame," Aurora said and Cheyenne laughed.
"Come on guys we gotta Transcend outta here," Beth said and Cheyenne hugged them all before they left.
"Steal the show CM Melody," Aurora said to Cheyenne before she left with her brother and sisters.
"Don't worry I will," Cheyenne said turning back to the curtain when LC and Cameron snuck up on her, "Guys what are you doing here you know we shouldn't be seen together backstage,"
"Couldn't help it, we had to see what those Hardy kids were going to do up close and personal. They're pretty amazing aren't they?" Cameron said.
"Yeah but imagine how desperate Tristen had to be to get his own talent to go down to Long Island and steal Angelo's iPad," LC said.
"It wasn't desperation it was him baiting the Hardy kids into coming to Best in the World to get the ratings up. I have no doubt that Tristen genuinely wanted to get that footage to help out his father but what he really wanted was publicity for BTW while the Kliq arrest is still in the news. He's a promoter it's his instinct to think in the best interests of the company," Cheyenne said.
"Well I wouldn't want to be Tristen now. Tomorrow the whole world is going to know the depths Kevin Nash and the Kliq would sink to and its going to affect the way people look at him too from now on," Cameron said and LC and Cheyenne nodded in agreement.
"Something tells me Tristen isn't going to mind that one bit," Cheyenne said and it was her time to head out towards the ring, "Gotta go, see you later!"
Cheyenne ran towards the ring, grabbed Roderick Strong's leg causing him to drop from the ring apron onto the floor. Jay Lethal then missed the tag and Big Money was able to roll him up for the win. While the Black Diamonds celebrated another victory over Jay and Roderick CM Melody ran away from the ring. Jay asked Roderick what happened and he said that somebody yanked him off the ring apron and the both ran outside to see if they could find who it was. By the time they got there CM Melody was gone but in her place lay a single red rose telling Jay and Roderick that she was the one causing them to lose to the Black Diamonds. The show ended on that note and as Cheyenne had predicted it was a hit making Best in the World one of the top must see wrestling shows in the world.
Stamford County Court, 12pm
The next day Stephanie found herself sitting across the court room from the Kliq with her lawyer. The Kliq had legal representation of their own but Stephanie's lawyer had assured Stephanie that this was an open and shut case and the evidence that they had against the Kliq was indisputable. What Stephanie and her lawyer didn't know was that the defense had no intention of disputing the footage but was going to use it to build their case. So when the footage played for the judge to see Stephanie rested confidently on the fact that it spoke for itself.
"Your honor there is no doubt that the footage we have just seen shows my clients Sean Waltman and Scott Hall removing mandatory fire safety equipment from the building known as DX Inc," the Kliq's lawyer said. "I have no intention of discrediting what we have just seen. What I will say in my client's defense is that they were acting out of loyalty to a man who had been in a traumatic accident that warped his frame of mind. My clients have known each other for a very long time; they have been there for each other through various and sometimes trying situations. One such incident occurred when Kevin Nash was ruthlessly targeted and run over in broad daylight causing him to be hospitalized for a considerable amount of time. This was so distressing for him that he went against his doctor's wishes and kept in contact with his friends Sean Waltman and Scott Hall on the outside. Then he went as far as to check himself out of the hospital to see his other dear friends in Jamaica. He then failed to return to the hospital when he said he would and his wife had to go and find him. Your honor he was in Italy, he and his friends had been kidnapped and forced to leave the country. Again these men were targeted and they believe that the people targeting them were in some way connected to the WWE. It is clear that by setting fire to DX Inc they were trying to send a message to their attackers,"
"Their attackers? Your honor I object to this argument as it has been these men who have been attacking the WWE roster and Stephanie Hardy's husband!" Stephanie's lawyer argued.
"Objection overruled, please continue your argument counselor," the judge said and Stephanie's lawyer sat down shaking his head.
"Your honor I have explained to you how close these men are and how grossly they have been treated by an assailant they believe to be linked to Stephanie Hardy and her friends. What they did was diabolical yes but it was not rational, it was a crazed reaction to the threat that has been made against them," the Kliq's lawyer said.
"Your honor I object. If they were acting so irrationally how was Kevin Nash able to orchestrate the attacks on the WWE roster and the fire at DX Inc?" Stephanie's lawyer argued.
"My client is the Head of Talent Relations at the company he works for, he is used to giving out instructions and that's all this was your honor, it was a reflex, he wasn't thinking this is what he had to do to maintain control and protect himself and his dear friends," the Kliq's lawyer said. "He was not thinking clearly he was thinking like an animal backed into a corner. You think a man of sound mind could set fire to a building belonging to his closest friends?"
"I have heard both of your arguments and I will consider them closely before I rule. Please come back here within the hour," the judge said.
"All rise," the bailiff said and Stephanie, the Kliq and their lawyers rose as the judge left the court room. After he was out of sight Stephanie turned to her lawyer confused.
"Their lawyer almost made them sound like victims," she said.
"Don't worry about that we've got the footage proving that they caused that fire, they will not get away with what they did to you and your company Mrs. Hardy," Stephanie's lawyer said and they walked out of the court room while the Kliq's lawyer assured his clients that the case was going very well.
An hour later court was back in session and the judge returned to give his ruling.
"The footage I have seen proves without a shadow of a doubt that Sean Waltman and Scott Hall were responsible for the burning down of DX Inc and given the closeness of these three men I am certain that Kevin Nash told them to do what they did. However given the state of mind Mr. Nash has been in since his accident I have determined that he was not acting in his normal state of mind and that these incidents are all the results of post traumatic stress disorder. What Waltman and Hall did is in no way different to what soldiers do after being in service under one general for so long they are unable to exercise their own judgment and were in effect just following orders. I thereby rule that no prison time will be served for the crime of arson but that all three men undergo extensive therapy for the next two weeks at a psychiatric facility," the judge said and Stephanie's mouth dropped to the floor.
"Therapy? You think that's all these men deserve for what they did is therapy?!" Stephanie said and her lawyer shushed her.
"That is my ruling and it is final," the judge said.
"But what about my roster how can I guarantee their safety if these three mental cases are allowed to go free?" Stephanie argued furiously.
"If anything similar to what has already taken place happens to your roster again Mrs. Hardy I will revisit this case but for now this is my ruling and it stands. Court is adjourned," the judge said.
"All rise," the bailiff said and the judge left while the Kliq shook hands with their lawyer and Stephanie's lawyer shook his head in disappointment.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Hardy I thought this was sure to go our way," he said to Stephanie apologetically.
"So did I," Stephanie said and she looked over at the men she thought for sure would be locked up and away from her and her roster for awhile, instead she was still faced with the issue of having to protect the roster from another attack. "You did the best you could; I have to go now,"
Stephanie left the court house in a hurry and called the one person she believed could help her out of this situation.
"Hi Stephanie," Edge said answering his cell-phone, "How many years did they get?"
"None, the judge gave them two weeks of therapy," Stephanie said and Edge couldn't believe it.
"They beat the system, just like always," he said regretfully.
"Well the Kliq aren't the only ones who can beat the system, your god daughter has beaten it too and I need her help otherwise I'm going to lose my roster," Stephanie said.
"You want Alannah to ask the mafia to protect you?" Edge asked.
"Yes, I can't take any more chances I have got to protect the roster at all costs," Stephanie said. "Could you ask her to put a word in for me please?"
"Of course I can Steph, it's just that once upon a time we would have asked ATM and the ARK Angels of DX to help us out in a situation like this," Edge said.
"Well they're not here Edge and it looks like this is the only option I have," Stephanie said, "I gotta call Jeff before I tell the roster what happened, please call me as soon as you have Alannah's guarantee that the mafia will protect the roster,"
Stephanie hung up before Edge could reply. In his gut he didn't want the mafia and the WWE in any way associated with each other and even though ATM were away, the ARK Angels of DX were still around and he believed that they were a better choice and would do a much better job of protecting the WWE.