By: Jay Winger
Note: this is set immediately after "Storm Warning: The Last Man Standing," and during "Viper's Revenge - Rapid Strike" by Boulder.
To recap: after the Storm was booked against Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania for the Intercontinental title, Jericho cut a promo that lashed into the Storm and his new manager/girlfriend, Rain -- then challenged the Storm to make the match a Last Man Standing match. The Storm came out and agreed, telling Jericho he'd punish him for insulting Rain. When the Storm and Rain walked out during Jericho's rematch against Perry Saturn, Benoit and the rest of the Radicalz tried to attack the Storm, but got beat down for their efforts. (Benoit got put in the Figure-Four leglock, Guerrero got a shot from an ugly-stick, and Malenko got a testicular claw and a throw off the stage when he tried to kiss Rain.) At Wrestlemania, Rain got involved early in the show when she attacked Lita during the Hardys Tag Team title defense against Edge & Christian, preventing Lita from assisting the Hardys and breaking a pin by Christian which allowed the Canadians to pick up the win and the titles. In the Last Man Standing match, both men were bloodied and beaten, but it was the Storm who won after hitting a Downdraft through the Spanish announce table, which laid out Jericho for the ten-count. Later that night, after Stone Cold won back the WWF title, a weary Storm promised that Jericho wouldn't get the Intercontinental title back.
MONDAY: RAW is WAR, Apr. 3
A black Toyota Avalon pulled into a space in the parking garage at the arena. The driver's door opened, and Rain stepped out, wearing her leather jacket and an I am a Force of Nature t-shirt underneath it. She lowered her round sunglasses and looked around the lot, then closed the door and went around to the other side. She opened the passenger's door and assisted the Storm in stepping out of the car. A bandage was on his forehead, and his face looked more severe than usual behind his sunglasses. He stood up, his leather duster over his GeT SeT To GeT WReCKeD t-shirt, then winced a bit and rubbed his neck. He nodded his thanks to Rain and closed the door, dragging his duffel bag out of the back seat.
Kevin Kelly came up to them. "Storm, it's one night after one of the most brutal matches of your career. It's been said that Commissioner Mick Foley may book you in a title defense tonight. What are your thoughts on this?"
The Storm slowly turned his head to look at Kelly as Rain glared. "My thoughts? My thoughts are like a bad radio broadcast -- all screwed up and staticky. I've got a concussion, you idiot. If Mick Foley thinks I'm going to have a match tonight, then he's wrong."
"That's right," Rain said. She stepped closer to Kelly, her finger in his face. "Now am-scray before I make sure Rock's right next time he says you have no balls."
Kelly didn't need any more encouragement. He ran off as the Storm rubbed his temples, heading to the Lone Star dressing room. Inside, Stone Cold, the Acolytes, and Jacqueline all looked up as he seated himself at the table. "Hey, Storm," Bradshaw said. "You feelin' okay?"
"No, I'm not," the Storm grumbled, taking a bottle of aspirin out of his pocket. He swallowed two and groaned. "They said I shouldn't even be walking around, but I'll be damned if I'm not going to be around for Monday Night RAW."
The door opened to admit Mick Foley. "What's up, guys?" he asked amicably. They all just stared at him. "That's great," Foley said. He turned to the Storm. "Say, Storm, how's your head?" The Storm lowered his hand from his temples and glared. "Ah, that bad, huh? Listen, how'd you like to defend your title tonight--"
"What are you, Mick?" the Storm snapped. He pointed at Foley's right 'ear,' "Deaf and stupid? I just got through tellin' that idiot Kevin Kelly I got a concussion. The doctors have not cleared me for competition!"
Foley chuckled a bit. "Hey, I took a helluva lotta chairshots in my day, and I went right back to work the next day--"
"Hey!" the Storm shouted, standing and pointing a finger. "What I did last night gave me a fucking migraine! Top it all off, my body's aching like you wouldn't believe, and if you try to put me out in that ring tonight, then it won't just be a stuffed toy I string up!"
Foley blinked, then gestured soothingly. "Okay, okay, whoa, time out, here. I was just kidding around, you don't have to defend your title tonight -- in fact, you don't even have to wrestle tonight. You can just hang out back here and take it easy. You're one of the title-holders, and I take care of them."
"Right," the Storm grated skeptically as he sat back down. "Get outta here, Foley. I ain't in the mood to deal with you right now."
* * *
The Storm drank water that night, and not his usual beer, so as not to give himself a headache worse than the one he already had. As he was watching the Dudley Boyz take on Edge & Christian, he sat upright in his chair as the two masked figures ran out and attacked the Dudleys, then the Canadian brothers. His eyes narrowed. Rain tilted her head. "Now who do you suppose they are?" she inquired.
"I've got a feeling," the Storm grated. He checked his watch. "I believe you have something to go do, my dear."
Rain nodded and smiled as she left the room.
* * *
Lita was heading toward the Hardy Boyz' dressing room when Rain attacked her from behind, throwing her into a cluster of trashcans. Rain laughed, then caught Lita's charge and hiptossed her to the floor, where she started stomping a bit before ducking down a stairwell as the Hardys sprinted out of their dressing room. Rain's laughter came up at them as they checked on their fallen friend.
THURSDAY: Smackdown!, Apr. 6
The Storm was still suffering the aftereffects of the concussion on Thursday, so Mick Foley took it easy on him and said he could take the night off again. The Storm again opted to stay at the arena to watch the matches. He drank a soda as he watched the monitor, his eyes narrowing behind their sunglasses as he saw the two disguised figures. The one with silver sunglasses drew his eye. "You," the Storm growled. "What're you doing here?"
He wasn't too surprised when the two figures attacked Test and Raven later that night, though he smirked a bit. "Doing the violent streak, eh, snake boy? It's been done." He laughed once as he drank his soda.
MONDAY: RAW is WAR, Apr. 10
The Storm was cleared for ring action by Monday, and he had a tag-match with Stone Cold against Chris Jericho and Triple H. Commissioner Foley had booked the match mostly to annoy Triple H, who had to be paired up with his nemesis Jericho. The two Lone Star members emerged victorious after the Storm gave Triple H the Downdraft. Jericho had long since been knocked out with a Stunner.
Backstage, the members of Lone Star were gathered around a monitor shortly before the Acolytes' match. The Storm saw the two mysterious figures looking at the lineup sheet and frowned. He turned to Bradshaw and Faarooq. "Careful, you two, I think those two bastards'll try something, and it might be during your match."
"No problem, man," Faarooq rumbled as they left.
The Storm turned back to Rain, hefting his Intercontinental title on his shoulder. "I think you'll give the Hollys a little help tonight by screwing with little Lita's mind a bit." She smiled as he touched her shoulder. "This shoulder of yours has been empty for too long, Rain. You'll get something to, ah, keep it warm soon."
But as they watched the match from the gorilla position, the two figures jumped into the ring and attacked the Hollys. Rain blinked and the Storm's eyes narrowed, then he smirked. "Well, that isn't entirely unexpected," the Force of Nature said. "He is pals with them, after all..."
"Who?" Rain asked.
The Storm pointed at the blue- and black-clad figures. "Him. The black-clad one. I should've bashed in that pain in the asp's head long ago." He and Rain started back to the Lone Star dressing room, but stopped as he saw the figures approaching. He ushered Rain into a janitor's closet and watched from the crack in the door as Lita came up to them. The Storm motioned for Rain to stay silent as he watched.
"Ian, is that you?" Lita asked the black-clad one. The figures just stared at her. "If it is, just give me a sign." The black-clad one tilted his head to the side. Lita nodded. "Okay." She started to leave, but he stopped her, and removed his sunglasses. Lita blinked. "It is you." When the figure nodded, she asked, "Can we talk?" The figure nodded, turned to his compatriot, signaled, and then the two ducked into a nearby empty room.
The Storm opened the door and smirked. "You little prick," he whispered, "it is you." He tried to listen through the door, but couldn't hear much. Suddenly, he heard Lita say "See you in a week." The Storm ducked back into the closet and closed the door, watching quietly as Lita and the figure left and went in opposite directions. The Storm smirked unpleasantly as he watched them go.
THURSDAY: Smackdown!, Apr. 13
The Storm spoke to Stone Cold in the Lone Star dressing room. He himself had defended his title earlier that night against Val Venis, who had been assisted by Ivory -- though Rain had neutralized the female censor's involvement. He'd seen the blue-clad figure attack Tazz and Albert that night, and was expecting the black-clad one to jump out during his match. When it hadn't, he had a sneaking suspicion who the figure was planning to attack.
"I mean it, Steve, I think this prick's gonna go after you during your match tonight," the Storm said.
"I don't need your help," Austin told him, "and I don't want it. You keep your ass backstage during my match, no matter what happens, or I'll stomp a mudhole in it."
But the Storm's prediction was correct later that night as the black-clad figure attacked Austin in the midst of his match against Triple H, allowing the Game to pick up the win and the title. The Storm ground his teeth. "That's right, snake boy, keep it up. Whacking Day is coming soon."
MONDAY: RAW is WAR, Apr. 17
The Storm was not surprised as the Radicalz were attacked by Viper and Rattler during their little "interview" with Lillian Garcia in the ring, and continued to watch as Viper confronted Mick Foley in the Hardys' dressing room. Viper aired his beliefs on how Foley ran business, and then said, "You just keep playing favorites, don't you?"
"Damn right he does," the Storm grumbled.
Viper went on, "But there is one special person I've kept till last -- and it's not Eddie Guerrero, it's not Venom -- it is my good friend Storm." The Storm raised an eyebrow and leaned forward as he watched. "If I recall the Storm told me he wanted to end my career himself. Well, I welcome him anytime he wants and, Storm…that is your weather forecast for today."
The Storm snarled. "Steal my catchphrase, will you?" But he smiled unpleasantly as Foley booked Viper against the Dudleys and Rattler against the Undertaker. He walked out of the Lone Star dressing room to find Michael Cole ready to interview him. "Can I help you?" he growled at Cole.
"Storm, earlier tonight Viper and his cousin Rattler returned to the World Wrestling Federation after several months -- and Viper has said he's ready to take you on any time you want. Your response?"
The Storm folded his arms. "My response? The little prick has no business being in the World Wrestling Federation. If Snake Boy can't take a little beating and keep fighting, then he shouldn't be here at all. If he can't take a few shots to the ribs and get up and walk it off, then he should go home crying to mama. Hell, I took shots to my ribs from the Radicalz and Venom, and I kept coming back for more. But, Viper -- oh, no, he has to go to the hospital. Little wimp." He looked into the camera. "And, Viper -- you're right, vipers do bite. If you wanna get in the ring with me, then you just tell me when. I'm set to go, and I'll warn you to get set to get wrecked, because the Force of Nature is moving in."
The Storm walked off, leaving Cole to shrug to the camera. He found Stone Cold as he arrived at the arena. "Say, Steve, we know who the prick was that screwed you last Thursday."
"Yeah?" Austin said. "Who?"
"Who else but the royal pain in the asp? Viper's back. I got an idea."
* * *
Later that night, while Viper was in his handicap match against the Dudleys, the Storm and Stone Cold went into the Hardy Boyz' dressing room with Rain. They attacked the two brothers and beat them senseless while Rain trashed Lita's things. Rain spotted Viper as he returned, then warned the two Texan men. They hid as Viper walked in. "Guys, are you all right? Who did this?"
Austin stepped forward. "I did." He clobbered Viper with a steel chair, then picked him up and Stunner'd him before he spotted the Storm. "See you around, jackass!" Austin shouted back as the three left.
"That was nice and cathartic," the Storm remarked. "I haven't had the opportunity to beat someone senseless in a while."
"Hell, yeah," Austin said. "Now let's go get drunk with the Acolytes."
"Sounds good."
THURSDAY: Smackdown!, Apr. 20
The Storm watched, unimpressed, as Viper attacked Dean Malenko backstage. "I said it before, Viper, the remorseless violent streak thing's been done. Get something original, you prick." He started to turn off the monitor, but stopped as Foley appeared in the ring. He watched as Foley called out Viper, ready to chew him out, but then the lights went out. When they came up again, Foley had been beaten down and Viper looked rather surprised. He taunted Foley before leaving. The Storm shook his head. "Now that was dumb."
Shortly thereafter, Foley spoke to Lillian Garcia, "As a matter of fact, Lillian, there is now. Viper, I don't know who you think you are, but attacking me again is unacceptable. So I hope you enjoy your match tonight against Rikishi -- and it is a lumberjack match. Have a nice day!"
The Storm smiled now and looked at Rain. "I think this shows promise."
He stayed in the dressing room for a little while to watch the Hardys' match against Edge & Christian. He was naturally very surprised as someone dressed like Viper in his black-clad figure attire ran out to attack Christian. "Now why would he do that, I wonder?"
* * *
"Hey, Mick, what's new?" the Storm asked as he and Rain came up to the commissioner's office (for want of a better term).
"Viper's little interfering streak," Foley replied. "What's up, Storm?"
"Gas prices," the Storm said. "Speaking of Viper, I understand you made a little lumberjack match for later tonight."
"That's right."
"Well, I was just wondering if you need a couple of lumberjacks -- `cuz I'd like to sign up."
Foley looked at him for a moment, then shook his head. "Sorry, Storm, can't do that."
The Storm blinked, then snarled. "And why not?" he growled.
"Because I know you and Viper hate each other, and putting you two in an uncontrolled situation like that is just asking for trouble," Foley replied. "And besides, you've got a match against William Regal."
"So?" The Storm pointed at a sheet of paper on the desk. "You've booked Val Venis as a lumberjack, and he's having himself a match right now. Why not book me?"
"Because I'm the commissioner," Foley said, raising his gavel, "and my decision is final!" He banged the gavel, causing the Storm to lash out and grab one of the stuffed puppies on the desk. The Storm squeezed the puppy until bulges appeared at the seams and split -- causing stuffing to puff out.
The Storm tossed the squashed puppy back to Foley, then growled, "You screw me over like this again, and that'll be your neck." He stomped off.
* * *
Later that night, the Storm had his non-title match against William Regal, forcing the good-will ambassador to tap out to the Necksnapper, then glowered as the lumberjack match began between Viper and Rikishi. His fury mounted with each set of lumberjacks mentioned -- especially when Stone Cold and the APA went out (though naming three of Lone Star's members did calm him a bit) -- but he did start to smile again as Viper was victimized in the ring after the match.
The Storm was even more pleased when the black-clad figure and Triple H beat Viper down even further. When Stone Cold and the Acolytes returned from the ring, the Storm grinned. "Why didn't you guys tell me it was Whacking Day? I could've given you guys a new whacking stick."
Laughter. Austin sat down in his seat. "So what're you gonna do about Viper?"
"Well, sooner or later I gotta get in the ring with him, but that's fine, since I'm eager to grind Snake Boy under my boots. Then maybe I'll find out who this black-clad yahoo is so I can give him a Storm Warning." The Storm smiled at Rain. "That, and then make sure my Rain here gets her hands on Lita's title belt."
"I'll consider it an early Christmas present," Rain laughed.
-more to come-
Disclaimer: All things WWF are property of Titan Sports. The Storm is a completely fictional character. I do incorporate a few traits from existing WWF wrestlers, but for the most part, he's my idea. Boulder and I are planning another collaboration, so the next fic you see from me may be that one. If you have any ideas for who you think the Storm would team up with or go up against, let me know. Drop me a line at jay_winger_2k@hotmail.com
-=Jay 2K Winger=-