Raging Storm Raging Storm
Chapter 4: Closer to the Brink
By: Jay Winger

Note: this is set the Thursday after "Chapter 3: Until You Crack."

To recap: Billy Rose received pep talk from Edge, Christian, and Kurt Angle prior to informing them he was going to keep pushing the Storm until he cracked. In the Lone Star dressing room, the Storm paced impatiently before the match, and Steve Austin told Rain to stay in the back -- because he had a bad feeling. In the match itself, Rose avoided staying in the ring with the Storm, but showed very decent skills when he did fight in the ring. Near the end of the match, Rose attacked the Storm with a steel chair while Austin Stunner'd Angle to make the pin. After the fact, however, Rose attacked Austin with the chair, then gave Bradshaw a triple con-chair-to with Edge & Christian while Christian gave Faarooq an Unprettier. When the Storm tried to come to their aid, Angle put him in an anklelock, forcing him to watch as Rose put Austin in a painful submission hold called the Deadly Blossom. Wrenching himself free, the Storm launched himself at Rose, only to have his nemesis escape unscathed. Backstage, the Storm refused to admit that he was injured (though he was noticeably limping) and told Rain, "I don't want to hurt Rose -- I want to break him. I want to beat him so bad that he never gets back up. I want to cripple the bastard. And if I can't do that, then I'll tear through anyone in my way until Rose faces me like a man in the ring."

Teaser: Billy Rose continues to expertly evade the Storm's hunt, driving the Force of Nature closer to the edge of madness.

Rating: R - for violence and profanity

Disclaimer: All things WWF are property of Titan Sports. The characters of Matthew "the Storm" Skinner, Rain, and Billy Rose are completely fictional. I do incorporate a few traits from existing WWF wrestlers, but for the most part, they're my creations.

THURSDAY: Smackdown!, 8 June

Triple H and Stephanie arrived at the VIP room to find Shane chatting it up with Billy Rose again. The aftereffects of the two backstage attacks the Storm had perpetrated on him were mostly gone, and the newcomer seemed quite cheerful. Shane looked up and grinned. "Hey, Hunter, Steph. You saw Billy's match last Monday?"

"`Course I did," Hunter said with a smile. He slapped hands with Rose, then said, "I always enjoy seeing Austin in pain. What do you call that hold you used on him?"

"The Deadly Blossom," Rose replied. "Won a few matches using it -- including a few against Skinner."

"You mean the Storm?" Stephanie inquired.

"S'right," Rose said. "Oh, he didn't used to hate me as much he does now. Those matches I had with him were before he joined up with CIW."

Triple H nodded. "Say," he asked Shane, "there any matches booked tonight for me or Billy?"

The young man shook his head. "Why do you ask?"

Hunter smirked as he looked at Rose. "I thought I'd give Rose a shot at me, s'all. See if he has what it takes to step in the ring with the Game."

Rose grinned. "Hell, I'd be glad to, but don't expect me to pull any punches."

"I'd be insulted if you did."

* * *

The lights dimmed a bit as the OvalTron lit up with the sounds of Motörhead as Triple H's glaring face appeared. Heavy metal guitars played. "Time to play the Game!" Out walked Triple H and Stephanie, and the 'Cerebral Assassin' bowed his head as he poured water over his head. He sucked in a mouthful and spewed it out, walking down the ramp as his music played. "It's all about the Game, and I can play it! All about control, and if you can take it! All about your debt, and if you can pay it, it's all about pain, and who's gonna make it." Stephanie split from her husband and climbed the stairs to step into the ring, watching as Triple H walked to the side of the ring. "I am the Game, you don't wanna play me. I am Control, no way you can shake me. I am Heavy Debt, no way you can pay me. I am the Pain, and I know you can't take me." He sucked in another mouthful and tossed the water bottle to the timekeeper as he jumped up on the apron and paused, looking out over the audience. "Look over your shoulder, ready to run, like a coy little bitch from a smokin' gun! I am the Game, and I make the rules. So move on out, you can die like a fool." Steph stood by the ropes, a superior look on her face as she watched her husband, who glowered at the booing fans. "Try to figure out what my move's gonna be. You're more of a sucker -- why don't you ask me? Don't you forget there's a price you can pay, `Cuz I am the Game, and I want to play." An instrumental measure played as he lowered his hands to the sides, bowing his head before shooting his head up and spewing out a cloud of water as he raised his arms, a spotlight illuminating him. "It's time to play the Game." He stepped into the ring, blowing out another cloud of water, then stepped over to the corner and posed again.

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall," Tony Chimel announced. "Introducing first, from Greenwich, Connecticut, being accompanied by Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley, weighing in at 246 pounds -- TRIPLE H!"

Helmsley stepped off the ropes and shook out his hair again and looked to the OvalTron as it lit up with the smirking face of Billy Rose, . Guitars played a remix of the Union Underground. "How long? How long? How long? How long? -- I said how long? I said how long? I said how long? Until you crack. I said how long? I said how long? I said how long? Until you crack, man." Out stepped Rose in his crimson red tights and boots, an unbutton loose red shirt over his finely-chiseled physique. He walked down the ramp as he was announced, "And his opponent, from Los Angeles, California, weighing in at 245 pounds -- BILLY ROSE!" As Rose stepped up on the ring apron, his entrance continued: "Kiss your mother now -- I think you should. Kick you while you're down -- you knew I would." Rose posed on the apron, then stepped into the ring, shrugging off his shirt. He walked across the ring, past Triple H, who was watching him, then up on the post, where he posed again. "So I'm wearing thin, same old trip again. Face-numb heroin, same old trip again!" The chorus picked up again briefly before it faded out.

Rose stepped off the ropes and faced Triple H, who stood with a smirk on his face. Rose shrugged to him. "So how d'you wanna do this?"

"Well, I'll let you have the first shot," Hunter said, spreading his arms and beckoning slightly.

"All right," Rose said with a shrug and whipped out a right hand that snapped Triple H's face to the side. He replied with his own right hand, and soon the two were trading punches. Rose got the upper hand and drove Helmsley back in the corner, where he started in with kicks to the midsection. Triple H slumped down, leading Rose to pull him up and whip him across into the opposite corner. He went for a follow-up clothesline, but Triple H blocked it with a boot, then hit a double axe-handle punch to Rose's back.

He stomped for a bit on Rose's back on the mat, then casually sprung off the ropes to go for a double knee-drop. Billy Rose gave a brief spasm as the blow landed, and Triple H went for a pin. Rose, however, kicked out easily. Hunter stood him on his feet, held him by the hair and cocked back a fist, but Rose smacked his hand away and booted him in the stomach. While Hunter was doubled over, Rose slipped his hands around his waist for a gut-wrench. Lifting him into the air, the newcomer looked poised for a powerbomb, but Triple H showed incredible awareness and began punching him in the temple. Unable to complete the powerbomb, Rose instead toppled backwards and tangled Triple H in the ropes.

Seeing this, Rose looked to capitalize by choking Hunter against the ropes. He held him down with a straddle for four seconds before referee Tim White pulled him away. He kicked Triple H in the back a few times, then backed up to the opposite ropes and ran at him, intending to smash his leg across his back. Helmsley, however, moved out of the way, leaving Rose to crotch himself on the bottom rope. Groaning, the newcomer toppled out of the ring to the floor.

Triple H followed with a double axe-handle off the apron to Rose's head. He grabbed his arm and went to whip him into the steel stairs, but Rose reversed it and the Game smashed shoulder first into the steps. Rose pulled him to his feet, then rolled him into the ring. He grabbed Triple H's arm and started to twist it around for the Deadly Blossom triangle hold, but Helmsley managed to grab hold of Rose's leg and lifted him up for a scoop slam. He followed up with an elbow drop, then another cover. 1... 2-- and Rose got a shoulder up.

Triple H snarled a bit and stood him up again, whipping him into the ropes. He came back and started to get picked up for a side walk slam, but Rose continued his momentum, using Helmsley's body for leverage as he literally spun around Triple H's body to hook his head for a DDT. The fans saw this spot and started chanting, "Ho-ly Shit!"

Rose stood up, his chest heaving with exertion, then went to the corner and climbed to the top. He pointed at Triple H, then leapt out in a Savage elbow. At the last moment, Hunter moved out of the way, and Rose hit the mat hard. He pulled him up, then thrust his head between his knees and hooked up his arms for the Pedigree. Triple H, however, spent a second too long looking out at the crowd, and Rose jerked his arms free, grabbed Hunter's legs and back-dropped him over his shoulder. He quickly went over to him and twisted in an armbar, then dropped down to lock him in the Deadly Blossom.

But before Triple H could tap out, Stephanie was up on the ring apron, distracting Tim White. While this was happening, yellow "lightning" pyros went off under the entranceway, and "Damage, Inc." began playing. Rose, who was absorbed in maintaining the hold, didn't see the man charging down the ramp with ugly-stick in hand. The Storm slid into the ring, raising the baseball bat, and that's when Rose saw him. Moving incredibly fast, he released Triple H and rolled away, just in time for the Storm's swing to hit Triple H's head. White had turned around just in time to witness this and called for the bell. Rose quickly backpedaled out of the ring as the Storm advanced on him. "The winner of this match as the result of a disqualification... TRIPLE H!" Rose ran around the ring as the Storm hopped out of it, still carrying his ugly-stick, moving slowly and with eerie patience toward the ramp to follow.

That was when Stephanie came up to him and slapped him hard across the face. The Storm stopped and reeled a bit, feeling his jaw. He raised his head, wigging his jaw, then popped it back into place. He glared at Steph from behind his sunglasses. She blinked and started to shrink back as he loomed over her. He grabbed her by the hair and pushed her back against the security barrier. "That was not a good idea," he growled.

"Neither is putting your hands on my wife!" Triple H grabbed him from behind and threw him into the side of the ring. He moved in to attack, but the Storm charged out with a clothesline. He hit him with the ugly-stick again, then stalked up the ramp, bellowing, "ROSE!"

* * *

"Bil-ly..." came the taunting, singsong whisper. "Come out, come out wherever you are..." A door was bashed open to an empty room. The Storm scowled around inside it for a bit, then moved on down to the next one. This was kicked open as well, and a lamp was smashed by the ugly-stick as the Storm swung it. Another scowl and he moved on.

"Storm?" came a hesitant voice from behind him. The Force of Nature turned to see hapless interviewer Kevin Kelly there with cameraman and microphone.

"What?" the Storm grunted.

"Everyone has been wondering why you're targeting Billy Rose like this? What did he ever do to you?" Kelly asked.

"What did he ever do to me?" the Storm repeated. "I'll tell you what that som'bitch did to me. That man is the reason I'm the Force of Nature -- the reason I have so much aggression, such a capacity for hate. He has a sick and twisted mind, and I learned all that first-hand. You might say I have a grudge." He glowered at Kelly, who cowered. "And we all know what happens when I hold a grudge. As far as Billy Rose is concerned, this is his Storm Warning. Now, enough with the talking, it's time for me to get stalking."

He shoved Kelly away and stomped down the corridor, calling, "Rose! Get your stupid carcass out here!"

* * *

The Storm was gradually heading for the VIP room again when Harvey Whippleman ran up to him. "Mr. Storm, Mr. Storm!" he called, getting his attention.

The Storm rounded on him. "What?" he grunted.

"I thought I should tell you -- that guy you're looking for? He's in the garage, and I think I saw him doing something to your car."

The Storm scowled, then shoved Harvey out of his way as he stalked toward the parking area. He arrived there in short order, just in time to here glass break and a car alarm go off. He ran up to find his black Toyota Avalon being smashed with a 2x4 being swung by none other than the rumormonger Just Joe. The Storm scowled. "Joe, you got some hits coming..."

"He-eads up!" came a shout from behind the Storm. He turned around, then caught a glimpse of two blond-haired Canadians in his peripheral vision -- then his vision flashed as two steel chairs smashed into the sides of his head. He grunted and staggered, dropping his baseball bat. At that moment, a red-clad blur rushed forward, tackled him beneath the ribs, and carried him back until his back struck a concrete wall. The Storm groaned and slumped down as Billy Rose, Edge, and Christian stomped away on him.

"You goddamn, fucking son of a bitch!" Rose swore at him as he stomped. "I come here looking for a clean slate, and then you gotta show up!"

"Guys!" Just Joe shouted. He pointed, indicating five people who were coming in their direction. It was the rest of Lone Star.

"Time to beat tracks," Rose said. He stepped away from the Storm, spit on him, then climbed into a waiting car with Edge and Christian. "Drive, drive!" he told the driver, who nodded and stepped on the gas. The car sped off just as Austin, Rain, Jacqueline, and the Acolytes ran up.

"Son of a bitch," Austin growled as he watched the car speed away. He turned to the Storm and helped him up, and soon the Acolytes were supporting him on their shoulders. "You okay, Storm?"

"He took a conchairto," Rain said, indicating the discarded steel chairs.

"C'mon, man," Austin said, "let's get you back to the locker room, and get a couple beers in ya. You'll feel better."

"I don't wanna feel better," the Storm mumbled. "I wanna make it so Rose never feels better again."

"Don't worry, Storm," Rain assured him, "you will. You'll get your chance."

"Son of a bitch is slicker'n an eel," he muttered. "But I got his number. He can't avoid me forever."

* * *

Jonathon Coachman stood with Vince later that night, and asked, "Mr. McMahon, you saw what happened earlier tonight during Billy Rose's match with Triple H. The Storm interfered and went after Rose. Now you've said you have an idea of how to deal with this?"

"Yes, Coach, I do," the Chairman replied. "Now, I can't have the Storm disrupting matches all the time, but I can't very well let him keep this aggression all pent-up so he becomes more violent, so, in the interest of fairness, I think that, this Monday on RAW, we'll let Storm work out his frustrations in a hardcore match." He held up a finger. "But it won't be just any hardcore match. It will be against the reigning Hardcore Champion -- Raven, and it will be for Raven's Hardcore title."

"Great idea, Vince!" Coachman and Mr. McMahon both turned to see Mick Foley ambling up, a smile on his face. "But, I have another idea. We'll keep the Hardcore title-shot thing, but -- in the interest of fairness, as you'd say -- we'll forbid Lone Star, Rose, and all of Rose's friends from ringside, okay?"

The look on Vince's face told everyone that he didn't think it was okay, but he grumbled his assent. Foley grinned. "Okay, then, that decision is final!" He raised his gavel, and not finding any other place to bang it on, he tapped it against the side of Vince's head. The Chairman growled as Foley ambled off again.

-more to come-

Next: The Storm goes hardcore, and when Rose tries to get involved, it's time to "Kick It Up a Notch."

If you have any ideas for who you think the Storm, Rain, or Billy Rose should team up with or go up against, drop me a line at jay_winger_2k@hotmail.com.