Raging Storm Chapter 14 Raging Storm
Chapter 14: In Your Head
By: Jay Winger

Note: this is set the Thursday after "Chapter 13: It All Has a System."

To recap: The Storm told Zed and Zeta to stick to the plan over the phone before the show. Brick had his first match against Kane, and dominated the match, finishing by actually lifting Kane over his head for the Breaker Chokeslam. In an eight-man tag, Billy Rose, Rhino, and RTC went up against Zed and Zeta, who made their official debut as well -- much to Rose's fury. The "Z-Men's" partners turned out to be the Dudley Boyz. In the end, Zed gave Rose a Z-Slam (a swinging snap suplex into a powerslam) while Rhino was given a 3D through a table for the pin. After the match, Zeta gave Rose a Zetasault (a running twisting body attack), which sent Rose through a table on the outside. Furious, Rose, Rhino, and Brick tracked down Zed, Zeta, and the Dudleys, and attacked them. Rose and his gang, however, were then attacked by Viper, Rattler, and Triple H, as payback for first stealing Viper's Intercontinental title, as well as just on general principle. Rain also showed up to waylay Shane before he could attack Viper from behind, and then she suggested Viper team up with someone from the Alliance and Zed & Zeta against Rose, Rhino, and Edge & Christian. Viper agreed, though a bit suspicious of Rain's motives. Later that night, Rose followed Rain and the Z-Men to the hospital where the Storm was and disguised himself as a florist deliveryman, and went up to the Storm's room. He found the Storm already gone, having left some taunting notes for the Californian to find.

Teaser: Zed & Zeta and Viper's Alliance go up against Billy Rose and the Faction while Rose gets paranoid, with the Storm's mind games getting in his head.

Rating: R - for violence and profanity

Disclaimer: All things WWF are property of Titan Sports. The characters of Matthew "the Storm" Skinner, Claire "Rain" Whittaker, Billy Rose, Brad "Brick" Dickerson, Roger "Zed" Ziger, and Mike "Zeta" Zahn are completely fictional. I do incorporate a few traits from existing WWF wrestlers, but for the most part, they're my creations. The lyrics to Brick's entrance theme were written by myself as well. (For those who are curious, I title his theme "Breaker.") Viper, Rattler, and Soul are all the creations of Boulder and are used with permission.

THURSDAY: Smackdown!, 13 July

A stretch limo pulled into the parking lot of the arena, and soon Shane McMahon stepped out with Kurt Angle. He stopped, looked around, then leaned back into the limo. "It's clear, Billy, no sign of him."

There was a pause, and then the limo creaked a bit as the big man, Brick, stepped out, looked down at Shane and Angle, then around the garage. He made a low rumbling sound in his throat as he moved out of the way of the door, allowing Billy Rose to step out of the limo with Edge, Christian, and Rhino. "I don't know why you're so scared, Billy," Angle said. "You didn't just defeat the Storm -- you broke him. And you've got Brick backing you up. Why are you so worried?"

"You guys were never in CIW, when I first tangled with Skinner," Rose replied. "He may be severely outnumbered and outclassed by us, but he's quite clever when it comes to playing mind games."

"Don't worry about him, man," Shane said. "Listen -- Kurt and me'll stay here and keep an eye on things. If we see hide or hair of Storm, we'll let you know."

"Thanks, Shane-O," Rose said. He turned and started to head for the corridor when Triple H and Stephanie sauntered out. Rose smirked. "Well, well, it's Game Boy."

Triple H frowned, then smirked a bit. "Yeah, what is it they call you, Billy?" Hunter asked. "Oh yeah -- if it isn't the Prick Bastard."

Now Triple H smirked as Rose glowered. Then Rose smirked again. "Yeah, well, tell Snake Boy to pick whoever he wants to be his partner in the match tonight. Me and the E&C and the Rhino are going to take you all apart -- Zed and his little crack-head buddy, Viper, and whoever he picks to back him up."

Rose started to leave, but stopped as Brick paused by Triple H and Stephanie. The big man was glaring down at them, making a grumbling growl-like sound in his throat. Rose whistled a bit. Brick turned his eyes to look at him. "No smashy-smashy unless I say so. And I don't say so." Brick grunted and looked back at Hunter and Steph. She was looking with a bit of fear at the big man, who soon plodded after the others. Rose stopped again just outside the corridor.

"Hey, Hunter!" The Game turned to look at the Californian. "After this match, I'm probably gonna be lookin' for another kinda action! What's the going rate for an hour with your wife?" Rose laughed and swaggered down the corridor while Triple H snarled and looked ready to go pop him one -- but not while Brick was around.

* * *

Rose, the Canadian brothers, Rhino, and Brick arrived in their VIP room to find a knife stuck in the center of their coffee table, a paper pinned underneath it. Edge pulled it out and looked at it, then looked at Rose. "I think it's for you, dude." He handed it over.

The Californian snatched it away and looked at it. It was cut out from the newspaper -- the weather report. Drawn on it in blue permanent marker was the Storm's lightning bolt/exclamation point symbol, with the words Bad weather advisory... scrawled underneath it. Rose scoffed. "And the son-of-a-bitch tells me to be original. He did this to Benoit already, didn't he?" He held the paper up to show the others. Brick made a low rumbling sound in his throat again, though what he was trying to say with this was unclear.

"Probably his girlfriend left it for you," Christian said.

"Yeah!" Edge agreed, grinning. "Though if she wanted to make a better impression she'd go stand out in the rain." He laughed with his brother, then looked at Rhino, who was forcing his own smile.

"I'm not worried," Rose said. "Skinner knows better than to show his fucking face around here. I'll stick it to him hard after tonight. And I know just how to drive him out of hiding."

Suddenly Brick made a loud grunt sound. They all turned to look at him and saw him pointing at the back of their door. There, in blue spray-paint, was the Storm's symbol again. Rose scowled a bit. "Har, har."

* * *

In the Alliance's VIP room, things were a bit less stressed. Viper was putting the finishing touches on his ring attire, then turned to the rest of the assembled group. "Who wants to go out there and do this thing with me?" he asked.

Test, Triple H, and Rattler looked at each other. Rattler shook his head, and Triple H looked at Test again. "Flip ya for it," the Game said.

"You got it." The former bouncer dug a coin out of his bag and showed it to Triple H, then poised it on his thumb. "Call it in the air." Test flicked the coin up, ("Heads," Triple H said,) caught it, and slapped it on his wrist. He showed it. "Tails. Sorry, man."

"No problem," Triple H said. "I'll get his ass later. Give him one for me."

"You got it, man," Test said, getting up and looking at Viper. "Where are those two guys?"

"They said they'd meet us at ringside," Viper said. "Let's go."

* * *

Sure enough, when the two Alliance members approached the gorilla position, Zed and Zeta were waiting for them. Zed was again clad in a jungle green tank top and black-and-green pants, his hands taped bare-knuckle boxing-style. Zeta was again clad a la Jay from Dogma, wearing a t-shirt underneath his jacket that looked like he'd borrowed it from Raven. The smaller man brushed his blue-streaked long hair out of his face, then replaced the black knit cap on his head. Zed grinned a bit as Viper and Test approached. "Hey, ya made it," the ex-boxer said. "Ready to do this?"

"Yeah, let's get it done," Viper replied.

* * *

"The following eight-man tag-team contest is scheduled for one fall." "How long? How long? -- I said how long? I said how long? I said how long? Until you crack..." The four members of the Faction stepped out, standing on the ramp and hitting their respective poses. Rose raised his arms and smirked smugly to the sides while Rhino squeezed his right wrist and clenched his fist. Edge and Christian both pointed out at the fans and (mostly) at themselves. "Introducing first, making their way to the ring at a combined weight of 975 pounds... the team of RHINO, EDGE, CHRISTIAN, and BILLY ROSE!" Rose vaulted into the ring and shrugged off his red over-shirt and adjusted the tape on his wrists while his partners did their own thing. He leaned against the ropes with a sour expression on his face while he faced the ramp.

The familiar music of "Song 2" started up while the spotlights swept the arena, and then "Whoo-hoo!" sounded and the OvalTron lit up with the legend ZED & ZETA as the two appeared on the ramp, Zed knocking his fists together and raising them in the air while Zeta flashed the Snuka hand-sign and yelled "Snoogans!" to the fans. "And their opponents, first, making their way to the ring from Baltimore, Maryland, weighing in at a combined weight of 460 pounds... ZED & ZETA!" The two started down the ramp and stopped half-way down to smirk at Rose, who was scowling from across the ring.

"Cut my life into pieces -- this is my last resort! Suffocation, no breathing -- don't give a f--- if I cut my arm bleeding!" The music of Papa Roach roared up as Viper and Test appeared. "And their tag-team partners, representing the Alliance, TEST and VIPER!" The two joined the Z-Men, who looked at them, then at the gang in the ring, and then shouted, "Everybody pick a target!"

Zed, Zeta, Test, and Viper charged the ring and started locking up. Viper made a beeline for Rhino, hitting him with a forearm smash before the man-beast could gear up for a gore, while Test caught a charging Rose and hurled him into the corner. The Z-Men went after the Canadian brothers, trading right hands. Viper got Rhino against the ropes, then backed up and charged, clotheslining the black-clad wrestler over the top rope. Rose, meanwhile, was being soundly pummeled by Test, who pistoned his right hand like a jackhammer.

Zed uppercutted Edge, sending him sprawling through the ropes, then turned to Zeta and Christian. Zeta whipped him into the ropes, and then caught his legs, carrying him up slightly, right into a lariat from Zed. Christian rolled out of the ring, and the Z-Men left to stand in the corner, and were soon joined by Viper after whipping Rhino into the security barrier. Test whipped Rose into the opposite corner, then followed for a clothesline, but Rose blocked it with a boot to the face. Test staggered back, then got carried face-first into the mat from a bulldog from Rose. The Californian stood up and put the boots to the tall Canadian, then grabbed his foot, lifted his leg in the air, and snapped his knee down onto the mat. Test shouted in pain and grabbed his knee, prompting Rose to kick him in the face.

Rose pulled him to his feet and sent him into the ropes, catching him for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He went for a cover, but Test kicked out. Frowning, Rose pulled him to his feet and dragged him over to the corner, then tagged in Edge. The smaller Canadian started punching Test in the chest, then went for an Irish whip. The ex-bodyguard, however, reversed it and smacked Edge in the face with a big boot. He pulled Edge up by the hair, slugged him in the face, then looked over to his corner. He considered his partners, then tagged in Zeta.

Zeta stepped into the ring and started hitting Edge with right hands as well, then shot him into the ropes for a spinning heel kick. Edge hit the mat hard, and Zeta followed it up with a whoop and a fistdrop to the head. Edge convulsed a bit and crawled toward the ropes, but Zeta just booted him in the stomach and flipped him back over. He pulled him up in the corner, then whipped him across the ring. He followed with a clothesline, which sent Edge sprawling on the mat. Zeta climbed to the top of the post, then flashed the Snuka hand-sign again. "Snoogans!" he shouted. He sprang off the post in a flipping senton and landed hard on Edge's chest. He hooked a leg, but Christian dashed in to boot Zeta in the gut. Christian skedaddled back to his corner, and Edge stepped closer to the Alliance/Z-Men corner to give them an Italian arm chop. Viper and Zed tried to step into the ring, but the ref cut them off.

This distraction allowed Edge to drag Zeta over to the Faction corner, where Rose held him against the corner while Rhino jumped in the ring and nailed Zeta with a huge gore. Rhino slapped his hands together as the ref turned back to face him. He checked Rhino, who indicated that yeah, he'd made the tag, then started hammering on Zeta relentlessly. He pulled Zeta out to the middle of the ring, threw him into the neutral corner, and backed up for another gore. He charged, and Zeta lunged toward the Alliance/Z-Men corner and slapped Zed's hand as Rhino collided with the post. The ex-boxer went over and started clubbing Rhino on the back with forearms and fists, then stood him up and dished out some straight punches before stepping back, kissing the knuckles on his left hand, and walloping Rhino with a big left hook. The man-beast shuddered from the blow, and Zed set him atop the turnbuckle for a superplex.

Zed stood back up, raised his arms in the air like a prizefighter, and turned back to put the boots to Rhino. The long-haired man got up shakily as he was pulled to his feet, and Zed nailed him hard in the stomach. Quickly, he hooked him up in the suplex position, then swung him around into the Z-Slam. Cover. 1... 2-- and Billy Rose got in the ring and booted Zed in the ear. Rose backed away as the ref confronted him, not seeing Rhino rack Zed with a lowblow and swing him onto his shoulders for an airplane-spin neckbreaker. Rhino shouted and made the cover, but only got two before Viper stepped in and dropped a double-axe handle on his head. Rhino stood up in a flash, but (as Viper always liked to say) all it took was a Split Second to put him back down. Zed quickly tagged Viper, who booted Rhino in the head and went for a cover. 1... 2-- and Rose again stopped the count.

This started a Pier-Eight brawl as Test and the Z-Men charged the ring. Test went after Rose again, but the Californian side-stepped his punch and took him down to the mat, where he quickly applied the Deadly Blossom, re-injuring Test's shoulder. Zeta hit a double dropkick to Edge & Christian's faces, while Viper stomped Rhino before turning to help his comrade. He booted Rose in the head, then stood him up for another Split Second. Rose, however, had the move scouted. He brought his knee up into Viper's gut, then hooked his head as though for a DDT. Instead of executing it, however, Rose swung himself around and dropped Viper down with his elbow to the back of his head, in a sort of reverse Final Cut.

Rose turned back to help the Canadian brothers, but Zed charged him from the side and punched him hard, sending him flying through the ropes to the outside. Zed and Zeta quickly threw Edge over the rope, then hit Christian with Total Elimination (Zed hitting the sweep kick while Zeta hit the calf kick). Test had rolled out of the ring to cradle his injured shoulder, and Rhino was scouting a groggy Viper for a gore. Zeta rushed him and the man-beast turned around just in time to catch a Zetasault. Edge was showing signs of getting back up on the outside. Zed positioned himself, then catapulted Zeta over his head and to the floor -- "Alley-oop!" -- in a plancha. Zed followed while Viper fell atop Rhino to hook a leg. 1... 2... 3!

"Here are your winners, ZED, ZETA, TEST, and VIPER!" Viper's music began playing as he stood up, raising a hand in the air, then holding his head where Rose had dropped that elbow. He turned to the outside to see Test leaning against the barricade, then saw Rose just now starting to recover from that big punch Zed had given him.

The Californian raised his head and looked over at the timekeeper blearily, then blinked his eyes more clearly. Sitting next to the ring bell was a gold crown. It wasn't like Jerry Lawler's crown however -- this was the King of the Ring crown. Rose stared at it, dumbfounded, then snarled and threw the timekeeper out of his way as he grabbed at the crown in fury, dashing it to pieces on the ground.

Test joined Viper in the ring again to continue the beatdown on Rhino, but both looked up as music clashed on the OvalTron. "Break it! (Break it!) Break it! (Break it!)" Brick came running down the ramp and into the ring, where he flattened Viper and Test with a double clothesline, then turned to deliver a back elbow to Zed, who had climbed up on the apron. Zeta was up on the side apron, and Brick turned to him and hit a big reverse thrust kick that sent the long-haired Z-Man flying. Test got back up, but Brick nailed him with a big right hand, knocking him down and sending him back out of the ring.

Viper stood up, shaking his head to clear it, only to get a big hand around his throat. Snarling, Brick hoisted him overhead for a Breaker Chokeslam. Zed and Zeta jumped on the apron in front of him to stop him, and Brick blinked at them. Snarling, the big man, instead of slamming Viper down, threw him directly into the Z-Men, knocking all three to the floor. Rose went over to Zed, who got up first, then booted him in the gut. He hooked his head under his arm as though for a DDT, and Rose paused to tap his head, then fake-jab his fist at it. Rose spun around in the same reverse Final Cut move he used on Viper and dropped Zed face-first on the floor.

Rose stood up and spat down at Zed. "There ya go, Zed Head! Some more Brain Damage for ya!" He raised his arms in the air, prompting a chorus of boos from the audience, then collected Edge, Christian, and Rhino, and retreated up the ramp with Brick while "Until You Crack" played around them.

* * *

"Oww, my head..." Zed muttered as Zeta helped him backstage with Viper and Test. Viper was rubbing his throat where Brick had grabbed him, and Test was still clutching his shoulder.

"I hate that guy," Viper said. "Him and that big-ass goon of his. What the hell was that move?"

"I dunno," Zeta said, looking over at them. "Must've been something he cooked up after we left CIW."

"Listen, guys, nice job out there," Zed spoke, still holding his head. "We should do this again sometime."

Zeta added, "We gotta go, we got stuff to take care of."

The Z-Men moved off and ducked into a side hall, then a room as they heard Rose and Brick approaching from the other end of the hall. Rose stomped down the hall, Brick following, apparently heading for the parking garage. Zed and Zeta peeked out of the room they'd ducked into, grinned at each other, then followed.

Rose and Brick emerged in the parking garage to find Shane and Kurt Angle unconscious on the floor, a black ugly-stick on the ground next to them. Rose tilted his head up to see Rain lying down on top of the WWF truck, examining her fingernails and whistling. "You fucking bitch," Rose shouted up at her.

"Me? What makes you think I did this?" Rain asked innocently.

"You're here," Rose growled.

"I've just been relaxing up here. Quite nice up here," she said. She glanced down as a rumbling Brick stepped forward, reaching up toward her. "Uh, uh, big guy. No smashy-smashy!"

"And why not?" Rose asked.

Rain responded by dropping a piece of paper down to him. Brick snatched it and passed it to Rose, who read it. "That is called a lawsuit. I have one all set up and will take you to court if you or your big galoon right there try to touch me in any way." She smirked down at him. "And just so you know, Billy, I didn't just go to any mall-run law firm. I got Linda McMahon's own lawyers for the job. So think very carefully before you try anything stupid."

Rose scowled up at her, and Rain just smiled and stood up on the truck, then walked along the top out of sight. Rose snarled and swept back down the corridor to the VIP room, Brick on his heels. Neither of them saw Zed nor Zeta, who were hiding behind the doors. As soon as the two were out of sight, the Z-Men stepped out and grinned over at Rain, who had climbed down from the truck. There was a ringing, and Rain pulled a cell phone out of her pocket. She answered. "Rain."

"It's me."

She smirked. "You're right. Rose is going insane with scarcely any pushing. Seeing Zed and Zeta started it, but the few little things we planted are doing it even more."

"Like I said, it all has a system. We've got another ally that'll help out in that regard," Matthew Skinner said on the phone.

"Another ally?" Rain said, puzzled. She looked at Zed and Zeta, who looked equally confused. "Who?"

"Sorry, but for my plan to work, it's gotta stay hush-hush. Just trust me."

"Okay. Where are you?"

"Somewhere where I can keep an eye on things without being within the reach of Prick Bastard."

"Okay, then. When will I see you next?"

"Probably next week," Skinner replied. "Now, I have to go. I have another few calls to make."

Rain nodded, said goodbye, and hung up. She looked at the Z-Men. "Well, looks like we're done with tonight's part of the plan."

"All right, then," Zed replied. "Let's get going to the hotel."

"Man, I can't wait for this to all work out!" Zeta said with a grin. "Rose is gonna be soooo pissed!"

-more to come-

Next: Billy Rose starts trying to take it to Zed & Zeta while the Storm continues to do things from afar -- prompting Rose to take another shot at giving Rain "Brain Damage."

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