In his campaign office, Tracker was pouring himself a scotch. He was staring out his window at the city, into what he hoped would be his constituency. He hadn't really loved the idea of coming here. He had only moved into the city a short time ago just so he would be eligible to run. He had never had any love of the state or the city. He'd never really had much love of anything, but it was one of the few seats that was up for election, and his party sent him here. It was all part of his career progression that he hoped would one day lead to the White House, to have a few Government positions under his belt.
He already knew his views would be a tough sell here. California, especially this area, was very strongly liberal in its political outlook. He had hoped to get to run in a nice safe-seat area. Somewhere that his party's badge could be put on a brick and it would win. Unfortunately, as one of the few seats open, he had no option but to come here unless he wanted to wait. It was an uphill struggle, as his poll numbers showed, but that wasn't his only worry.
"This is a disaster, you're managing to alienate pretty much every sector of the electorate." One of his advisors said in an exasperated tone. "I didn't think it was possible, but your numbers are actually worse than the last guy…and he lost the seat by over eighty percent!"
"This stupid city just doesn't know what's good for it!" Another said bad-temperedly. "What the hell is wrong with these people?"
"Maybe we need to expand our appeal a little, try throwing out a few bones to some of the fringe groups." Someone suggested. "There are a lot of prominent businesses here, maybe if we offered some of them a few tax breaks and suggested they open new premises and hire…"
"Sir, is everything alright?" Another asked, noticing that Tracker was pretty quiet. He just continued to stare out the window. "Mr Tracker…"
"Everyone out." Tracker told them. He pointed to a couple of his security guys. "Not you two, you can stay. Everyone else, get out."
"But sir, we only have…"
"GET OUT!" Tracker yelled. The rest of the suits gathered up their paperwork and started to file out, leaving Tracker alone with two of his security staff. As soon as the door was closed, Tracker looked to them. "What's the situation with Marx?"
"I'm sorry sir?" One of them asked.
"Did you get the message across?" Tracker asked him a little more directly. They just looked to each other.
"Well, we did deliver the message." One of them answered.
"Sir, maybe you should just let this go." The other one suggested. "I mean, it didn't sound like he was thinking of saying anything and…"
"Do you think I'm willing to take that chance?" Tracker asked him.
"You know he's got as much to lose as you right?" One of his security guys asked. "From what you told us, he's facing some pretty serious charges if he talks."
"People find it a lot easier to stay quiet and just live their lives if they think they'll never see or hear from the person they hate again, but they become a lot more willing to talk when they think that person may be around and worse might actually be in a position to affect their lives!" Tracker ranted. "That man marched a whole unit to their death against some of the most skilled and efficient killers this world's ever seen for what he thinks is right. Do you really think prison is going to scare him?"
"But sir…"
"I don't know about you but I'm not willing to take that chance!" Tracker interrupted him. "I want Marx silenced…no matter what!"
"Sir, what do you mean by that?" One of them asked.
"Do you really want me to spell it out?" Tracker asked. "The next time I see Marx's name, it better be in the newspaper…am I making myself clear?"
"Sir, that seems a little…"
"We'll get it done sir." The other interrupted him. "You'll never hear from Marx again."
In Zandar, the entire stadium was on their feet as the championship match went back and forth. Both Alessandra and Koda were easily putting on the match of their careers on this night, and although the crowd was giving them both all the support they could ever want, there was only one that they were performing for.
Koda reeled from one of Alessandra's dropkicks, and was backed into the corner hard. As she ran in to take advantage though Koda ran out, hitting her with a hard lariat, taking both of them off their feet. Koda lay across her for the pin getting a two count that couldn't have been closer. Koda's face was a picture of disbelief as he looked to the referee, willing him to acknowledge it as a three, only to get a defiant shake of the head. Koda looked over to the corner, hauling himself up on the ropes.
It was unusual to see Koda go up on the ropes, that was more Alessandra's territory than his, but as he stepped outside the ring and started to climb up, people were on tenterhooks, knowing they were about to see something big. Koda stumbled a little, his fatigue showing as he tried to balance himself. It cost him a couple of seconds, which turned out to be enough for Alessandra to get her bearings. Seeing him on the ropes, she ran towards the corner, springing up and joining him on the top rope. Grabbing him in a tight grip, they both came flying off the top, Koda flipping forward while she flipped backwards in a spectacular move known as the Spanish Fly. They crashed to the mat and bounced apart, ending up prone on the mat. Alessandra took a few moments before she was able to crawl towards Koda, laying an arm gently across him for the pin.
"One, Two, Thr…OH!" The crowd called out as Koda just rolled his shoulder out before the three count. People were on their feet, stomping and clapping, willing on both wrestlers as they struggled to get back up, eager to see what it would take for one of them to finally put the other down for the count.
Koda charged, swinging a wild lariat for Alessandra which she ducked, connecting with a back kick to his midsection and doubling him over. Seeing an opening, she ran for the ropes and coming back, flipped over him, catching his waist, hoping for the sunset flip for the pin.
Koda teetered on his feet as Alessandra tried to pull him back to the floor for the pin, but with the last of his strength, he leaned in and knelt down, sitting down on top of her. He grabbed her legs as the referee came in to begin the count.
"ONE…TWO…THREE!" The crowd called out. The referee called for the bell as Koda and Alessandra separated from each other, and the music started to play.
"Your winner, and STILL Heavyweight Champion…KODA!" The announcer called out as the referee presented Koda with the belt. In truth, the crowd wasn't overly concerned with who won, as evidenced by the alternating chants of 'This was awesome' and 'Thank You Jack'. Koda gestured to Alessandra to come over to him, and they both embraced in the ring, much to the crowd's delight, before they both gestured to the sky, marking their tribute to Jack.
By the time they got into the back, the rest the Rangers had already made their way backstage and joined the wrestlers who greeted them both warmly.
"Dude, that was something else!" Preston admitted. "I mean, I'm not super into wrestling but…man, I couldn't figure out how you did most of that! It was like…"
"Magic?" Koda asked with a smile. "Jack always say, wrestling a lot like magic. Just because people know it not 'real' no spoil fun. Half of fun trying to figure out."
"That was so great Koda…what little of it I could see." Kendall told him. Even now, she still found it difficult to watch some of his matches and ended up watching a lot of them through her fingers. "Jack would have been really proud."
"Speaking of Jack, tonight's a real testament to him." Carl said proudly. "Thank you all for participating and for your donations, and as of now, the total raised for the Head Injuries Trust is…"
Everyone started drumming to make a suitable drum roll for the announcement.
"$237,946.34!" He called out. Everyone started cheering to mark the incredible contribution. Phillipe stepped up onto a chair.
"Yes, that is a fine contribution, and I thank you all for making tonight so special. However, I do feel that we can do a little better." He said as Margaret handed him a calculator. "Which is why I would like to announce that the crown of Zandar would like to donate…"
He waited while they performed a drum roll for him.
"$262,053.66!" He declared. "Which brings the total for this evening to a nice round $500,000 which will be donated in Jack's honour."
"Best of all you put on a great show." Margaret added. "Which will give Jack the send-off he deserves."
"Ladies and gentlemen, please charge your glasses." Phillipe told them as some champagne was passed around. "To Jack."
"To Jack." They all chorused, drinking in his honour. Shelby just looked to Alessandra.
"Man, you really worked your asses off tonight." She complimented her. "I swear, no offence to Koda but I was a little disappointed you didn't win."
"I get title back some day." Alessandra replied with a shrug.
"Besides, I make it up to her later." Koda said, hugging her tightly. Shelby just turned away.
"OK, that is a mental image I didn't need!" She muttered as the group started to make their move. While the night was young and there was still much celebrating to be done, the wedding was the following day, and everyone wanted to be ready for that.
The next morning at the Marx house, Trevor was getting ready for work when he saw Laura coming in, beginning to pace frantically. She was on the phone to her boss, and by the looks of things she looked pretty highly strung.
"Look, I didn't say I wouldn't be there I just said I'd be a little late." Laura stated. "Nigel…Nigel listen to me…"
Trevor just snorted and continued eating his cereal. He'd heard the name enough times to know that Nigel was her immediate superior. He was an office supervisor but the way he liked to throw his weight around and bark orders and demands at his team it would be easy to assume he was the CEO of the entire company! Even the actual CEO by comparison was a friendly and easy-going guy that got on well with his employees, it was the main reason she hadn't told Nigel where to stick his job long ago. Still, he seemed to take everything and anything as a person slight. If someone refused to do an extra shift, it was disloyalty to him. If they were late or asked to go home early, they were abandoning him.
"Nigel, I have the accounts here, I'm bringing them over I just…" Laura rushed out. Trevor felt his temper building as Nigel started yelling so loud that even he could hear him through the phone. "My car wouldn't start Nigel, there's nothing I could do about that! Now if you'd stop yelling in my ear for two seconds maybe I could make a call and arrange a lift and I'll be there in twenty minutes or I can stand and debate this with you for an hour and I'll be even later!"
She hung up on him and let out a sigh.
"Asshole!" She exclaimed.
"I take it Nigel's having a good day?" Trevor asked her sarcastically.
"He'd be having a better day if he did the accounts himself like he was supposed to instead of dumping them on me." Laura grumbled. Trevor knew that she was aiming to advance her career and trying to get noticed, so it wasn't unknown for her to do extra work, but it did also mean that some liberties were being taken. "Then maybe he'd have them to hand instead of mouthing off at me because the bloody car won't start."
"I could drop you off…"
"Trevor, I'm meeting them at Tien Plaza, it's completely the opposite direction to the precinct." She told him. "There's no need for both of us to be late."
Just then, they heard a sound outside. Trevor looked out the window and smiled.
"And over-eager rookies save the day once again." Trevor answered. "It looks like Spike's picked up the patrol car already."
"He has?" She asked, checking her watch. "How early does that kid get to the station?"
"Well he just presented us with an opportunity." Trevor answered, fishing his keys out of his pocket and tossing them to his wife. "Here, take my car."
"Trevor, are you sure?" She asked him.
"It'll be fine, I'll just get a cab home later." He assured her, slurping down the last of his cereal, before kissing her on the cheek. "I might even have time to go run Nigel's plates through the DMV for any outstanding tickets."
"Don't tempt me!" She chuckled as he left. Trevor went out the door, getting into the cruiser next to Spike.
"So, what's on the agenda for the day?" He asked.
"We got the lower east-side route." Spike said cheerfully. "You know what that means!"
"Basketball with Tyrone!" Trevor answered with a smile as they pulled off. They got around the corner, clearing the street before a black SUV turned into the street. It pulled up on the opposite side a little way from Trevor's house.
"God-Damned suburbs, everything looks the same around here!" One of the security guys complained.
"I'm telling you, this is the place." The other stated.
"Really? Because you were sure about the last THREE streets!" His colleague complained.
"Look, the sign's right there, Dilmore Road!" He said, pointing to the street sign. "This is the right place!"
"OK, so we've got the right street but all the damn houses look the same!" The first continued to rant. "How the hell are we meant to find…?"
"Jackpot!" The other said, pointing down the street to where a garage was opening and a car was backing out of the driveway. "See, I told you this was the place!"
"Are you sure?" The other asked, pulling out a file.
"Look, it's a red ford, the plates match…that's it! That's his car!" The first announced, starting up the engine.
"Alright, finally a bit of luck!" The other said. "Come on, we'll follow him till we get somewhere quiet and send him a message he'll not forget!"
Over in Zandar, it was the morning of the wedding. The streets were already awash with people ready for the event. Inside the castle, people were rushing around making last minute preparations.
In her chambers, Margaret was sitting with stylists, putting the final touches to her hair and make-up.
"You look absolutely amazing." Sarah complimented her. "It's like…wow, it is like a real-life fairy-tale."
"I just can't believe it's finally here." Margaret said as she tried to calm herself. "I'm shaking so much I'm worried I won't be able to walk upright."
"Well you've got a good Maid of Honour to lean on." Kendall reassured her.
"Not to mention a lot of supportive bridesmaids." Allison added.
"All of this it's just so amazing." Hayley gushed. "I am so jealous right now."
"So, are you nearly ready?" Sarah asked her. "I mean, if you wanted to back out this is pretty much the last chance."
"Are you kidding? Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for this?" She asked her. "There is no way I'm missing out on this, no matter what happens!"
Back in Summer Cove, the security detail followed Trevor's car, keeping a safe distance to try and allay suspicion. One of them was starting to become impatient as they turned off onto a coastal road.
"What the hell is he doing, taking scenic route?" One of them complained. "We're nowhere near the precinct!"
"Maybe Marx has a girl on the side?" The other suggested. "Wouldn't that be perfect? We could get him to keep his mouth shut without having to…"
"I'll tell you what is perfect, take a look around." The first said, gesturing around. "No one's around."
"I guess if he does have a bit on the side, that'll have to stay his secret." The other answered as he sped up. He pulled alongside the car, before turning in sharply, slamming into it. Trevor's car started to swerve.
"Hit it again!" His colleague told him. He turned the wheel again, slamming into the car, sending it careening off the road, where it slammed into a barrier. They slammed on the brakes, stopping dead and got out, running towards the car, drawing their weapons. When they got next to the car, one of them smashed the drivers' side window.
"Alright Marx, I hope you got the…" He tailed off as he saw a mass of long hair. Pulling back the driver from the steering wheel he confirmed it wasn't Trevor, but a woman that was driving. Laura had a horrendous gash down the side of her face where her head collided with the steering wheel. The guy couldn't tell if she was dead or just unconscious, but he knew one thing, they'd made a big mistake. They'd hoped to shake Trevor up a bit, get him to realise they were willing to play rough if he didn't keep his mouth shut, but when they saw his car, they just assumed it was him driving. It never occurred to them that someone else might have been driving. "SHIT!"
"What?" The other asked. "What is it?"
"Shit, it's not him!" The first rushed out as he started to scramble towards the SUV.
"Then who the hell is it?" The other one asked.
"I don't know, probably his wife, but I sure as hell don't want to hang around until the cops get here to find out!" He answered, running back to the SUV. His partner joined him, strapping himself in as they sped away, leaving the wrecked car behind.