In the Dino Lab, Kendall was nearing completion on her...Energem Locator? She was still having a problem with the name, not that that was the biggest problem in the world, but the device itself was elegant enough in its simplicity. As an extra-large mocha appeared next to her, she let out a scream and nearly jumped clean through the ceiling.
"Damn it Leanne, you really have to stop doing that!" Kendall yelled at her, holding her hand to her chest as her heart beat faster. "What the hell are you? Some kind of ninja?"
"That's so Blue Bay Harbour. I'm a Briarwood girl." Leanne reminded her, taking a sip of her own drink. "Sorry, I always have been light on my feet. I can try stomping or...playing a kazoo when I enter the room if you'd like."
"No thanks." Kendall replied, taking a drink of her mocha. "I live across the hall from the guys. When they come home it sounds like a wildebeest stampede out in the hall. I guess it's a nice change of pace."
"So, is this nearly done?" She asked, gesturing to the device. Kendall just nodded.
"I'll need to borrow an Energem to test it but yes, it's almost done." Kendall told her. "It's the...Find And Retrieve...Thing?"
"That's the name?" Leanne asked her, raising an eyebrow. "You are aware that would make it the FART right?"
"Whatever, who says it needs a name anyway? As long as it works who cares what it's called?" Kendall responded, by now so tired and frustrated with figuring out a name for it that she really couldn't be bothered anymore.
"It looks an awful lot like a remote controlled car with a grabber claw." Leanne commented. Kendall just glared at her.
"A remote controlled car?" Kendall asked. "I'll have you know, it's armoured to a degree that will withstand explosions in excess of fifteen Gs. It has tracking software that will find any Energem signature within a half mile radius! It has some of the most sophisticated AI created that will allow it to act completely autonomously to retrieve the Purple Energem and then return to..."
She looked at Leanne, who just continued to stare at her. Kendall just sighed.
"Fine, it's a remote control car with a grabber claw." Kendall replied, putting a cloth over it. "That's a good mocha by the way."
"I learned from the best." She replied. "Riley's almost as good with that coffee maker as he is with a sword."
"Didn't he lose in that tourney?" Kendall asked. Leanne just humphed, looking a little grumpy.
"He conceded to come in second because he didn't want to win on a technicality." Leanne responded defensively. "Besides, losing to Rohan of the Mystic Isles isn't really something to be ashamed of. He's only been Grand Champion for the last four years straight."
"Okay, sorry." Kendall said, backing up. She seemed to have touched a nerve with Leanne, and didn't want to press on it any further. "I didn't know all the details. Besides, he only has been getting proper fencing training for a couple of years. His skill is pretty remarkable. In his first tournament he won silver in all three events."
"Yeah, he told me." Leanne said, brushing her hair behind her ear as she took a seat. "I try not to talk too much about it. Believe me, in the Mystic Realm sword fencing is like baseball. If you're a fan it's great. If not...well...conversations tend to become a little dry."
"I can imagine." Kendall chuckled. "Anyway, it's really getting late and I should probably get home. I might be able to manage about two or three hours sleep before I need to be back. Do you want a lift home?"
"It's quite alright." Leanne responded. Kendall looked a little concerned.
"Are you sure?" She asked. "It's pretty late and there are a lot of weirdos out there."
"Walking in the dark has never really bothered me." Leanne told her. "Besides, the weirdos probably have more to worry about than I do. Good night."
Kendall wasn't over the moon about letting her young employee go home alone so late, but being so tired, and knowing that it wasn't like she could exactly force her to accept a lift if she didn't want to, she conceded the point, leaving the lab and shutting off the lights after her.
Back at the theatre, the show was progressing well. Jack was getting the wound in his head stitched up without a care in the world. A few aspirin and some Jack Daniels was all he wanted as the first aid guy dealt with his wound. Carl was running around making sure everything was going as planned backstage. The crowd was eating up the show, and the excitement was building as the second-last match was just about over.
"Jack, there you are. Have you seen...?"
Jack didn't say anything; he just flicked his thumb in the direction of the door to an accessible bathroom that Koda and Alessandra had commandeered as they prepared her for her match. It was the debut of her new image, and they were as keen to keep it from the other wrestlers as they were the crowd. Carl took a lot from the reaction of other workers as to whether or not a gimmick would work out. He knocked on the door.
"It's Carl!" He called through. The door lock triggered, allowing him inside. As he stepped in, he saw Alessandra sitting on the can, while Koda had paint all over his hands and fingers, having applied it himself. He was used to doing this for members of his tribe back in the day, which was where he got the idea for this makeover. He looked to Carl.
"These paints not like mine, feel strange." Koda told him. "Not sure..."
"Just step away, believe me Koda, this is PERFECT!" Carl assured him. Alessandra flashed a bright smile as she heard this. He put down a bag. "I had my costume guy make up a couple of things for your entrance. I spent a lot of time looking on the internet for ideas and..."
"This perfect!" Alessandra screeched in delight, looking inside. Carl just smiled and nodded.
"Just get ready, Vandal and Klondyke are about to bring it home. We're going to announce you after Ricochet." He told her. "Get ready kid, this is going to be epic!"
He headed out, making his way through to the position by the curtain, just in time for the second-to-last match to end via disqualification. The crowd was livid and making their thoughts on the outcome known as the 'loser' walked away, leaving his opponent laying on the mat. Carl smiled. The crowd was hot, and more than ready for the main event. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and turned to see him standing behind him.
"How are you feeling?" Carl asked. The man standing next to him was bouncing on the balls of his feet, warming up for the match ahead.
"Pretty good, you've managed to get the crowd really hot for my last match." Ricochet answered as he looked out on the crowd. They knew what the main event was, and as the other man was making his way to the back, the crowd already seemed to be gearing up for it. There was a lot of his merchandise and signs dedicated to him on display. "Are you sure about the ending?"
"Look, you're heading for the big leagues. You've done a lot here! We just want to send you off the right way." Carl assured him, slapping his shoulder. "Now, go on out there and give them what they want."
"This is your main event of the evening. In his final performance for this company, from Paducah Kentucky, weighing in at 197 pounds, please give it up, for RICOCHET!"
The crowd were all on their feet and cheering loudly as he made his way out to the ring. It was an amazing feeling, one he'd had in a number of arenas, but he knew that this time was different. Having been signed by a major company, he was heading up in the world stage, and knew that the fans were willing him well on his way. As he got to the ring, among the cheers there was a thunderous chant of 'Please Don't Go, Please Don't Go!'. While they were happy for his success, many of the fans knew they would miss him in these smaller, local settings. He accepted their cheers gratefully, knowing that without their response, his success would have been impossible.
"Now, his opponent, hailing from Mexico, weighing in at 98 pounds, please welcome...Cuahocelot!"
The crowd knew Alessandra was his billed opponent, but they also knew about her being unmasked in her last appearance. They all looked to the entrance, waiting for her arrival. Smoke machines kicked into life, and flooded the entrance way. Alessandra burst through, and the crowd was amazed at what they saw.
She still wore her old tights and top, but now that she could no longer wear her mask, Koda had opted instead to use body paints to cover much of her upper body, neck, and shoulders with a kind of jaguar-like pattern. There was a massive, gaping mouth painted on her neck, under her chin and upper chest, so that as she raised and lowered her head, the jaws would open and close. She was wearing a long cloak and head-dress, styled after the Aztec Jaguar Warriors from whom she had taken her new name. It was a call back to her South American culture, and created a new character from her that incorporated her old image, but gave it an edge.
Alessandra kept composed as the crowd reacted to her new look, cheering for her as they voiced their approval. She noticed even her opponent seemed thrown, not knowing about the change of image as he pulled the referee aside to have a word with him. She entered the ring, and removed her cloak and head-dress as the crowd erupted, before the referee called them to the middle of the ring to begin their bout. Being a 'babyface match', namely one where both competitors were 'good guys', they touched hands out of respect at the beginning.
"That...is pretty awesome!" Ricochet complimented her. Alessandra had to remind herself not to smile at the compliment from the more famous star as they started circling each other. They quickly flew into a collar-and-elbow tie up, beginning the match.
In a sleazy, down-market motel, a little way from the city, a car pulled up into the parking lot. A man got out, and looked around to make sure he wasn't being watched. He didn't need to worry, he was so far out in the boonies that anyone here was unlikely to know or care who he was, or more likely was up to something that meant they were more concerned about people watching THEM. He grabbed a bag from the back seat, and headed for the room he had been told to go to, room 101. He knocked on the door.
"Who's there?" The voice came from the other side.
"Who else would it be?" He asked in an exasperated tone. "Just open the bloody door James!"
The door opened, and a man in an aquamarine and black checked shirt gestured him inside. He quickly checked to ensure the man wasn't followed, before closing the door.
"Rusty, I asked you to use a password..."
"For the love of GOD James, it's not like the FBI is looking for you or anything!" Rusty grumbled, handing him the bag. James just took it from him. His real name wasn't James, this was Dr Neil Navarro. The man that was spoken of within the field of Palaeontology in equal measures as a legend and a lunatic, the renowned scientist who had disappeared without a trace a decade before. He was no stranger to using false names, even before his disappearance. His adventurous spirit had led to a somewhat cavalier approach to borders and regulations that had gotten him in trouble a few times. James was, in fact, his middle name, one of his more common aliases. Since there weren't many people actually looking for him, it was a simple enough case just to call himself James Navarro and few would care enough to make a connection. He'd known Rusty for years; he was the only one that knew Neil was still alive and knew where he was. He'd called him James so long that the name just stuck out of habit. "And you can do your own bloody shopping!"
"What took you so long?" James asked, pulling some things out of the bag, supplies he'd asked for. Jerky, dried fruits, walnuts and some bottled water.
"Well, some of us have actually aged in the last ten years James. I don't move as quickly as I used to." Rusty answered.
"Rusty, I went into town today." James told him. "It was such a nice day; I didn't want to spend it cooped up all day."
"Well halle-freaking-lujah!" Rusty grumbled. "So are you finally ready to give up the Dr Kimble lifestyle?"
"Rusty, someone recognised me. He called out to me." James told him. "He...he called me dad."
Rusty fell quiet. He knew that James had a son. It was one of the main reasons he had gone into hiding. He had been pursued by the mysterious monster for years, ever since the accident that had changed his life forever. He had gone into hiding, refused to go home because he was terrified of the thought of it going after his family. Rusty just looked to him.
"Are...was it...do you really think it could have been Tyler?" Rusty asked. He had never actually met the kid, but James had often talked fondly of him when they worked together. He had become a father quite young in his life, and was enthusiastic about his family until he had made the heart-breaking decision not to go home. James had to shrug and hold his hands up.
"I...I don't know...maybe." He replied honestly. It had been ten years since he had seen Tyler. He had disappeared shortly before his eighth birthday. "I mean...he looked about the right age, and...how many people run up to other people just randomly shouting 'dad'?"
"How many people look EXACTLY the same as they did ten years ago?" Rusty asked in response. He could see the look on James' face and knew where this was heading. "You want me to check don't you?"
"If...if Tyler is here, we need to know what he knows. We need to make sure he doesn't get too close." James told him. "I'd never forgive myself if something happened to him now."
"James...it's been a while since that cat thing showed up." Rusty reminded him. "Maybe it's time to...you know...take a chance?"
"Could you just ask around for me?" James asked him. Rusty just sighed and nodded his head.
"I guess that wouldn't hurt." He replied. He pulled a nutcracker out of the bag, offering it to James, who just picked up a walnut, cracking the shell in his hands. It was something that Rusty hadn't been able to do in a good few years. He just put down the nutcrackers.
"Do you have any idea how much I hate you right now?" He asked. James just smirked.
"There has to be SOME advantages to this doesn't there?" He asked, pulling out his necklace, which carried the Aqua Energem. "Even if it is just making you jealous."
Back at the theatre, the fans were in fever pitch as Alessandra and Ricochet put on a match for the ages! He was one of the best on the scene, and Alessandra was pushing herself to keep up and put on the best possible performance on his final night with the company. She didn't even care that she was booked to lose the match. All that mattered was that by the end of it, he would get his proper send-off, and even in defeat her reputation would be bolstered by the close contest.
Ricochet came off the ropes, looking like he was aiming a clothesline for her, which she ducked, but he managed to stop right behind her. Grabbing her head and neck, he fell backwards, driving both of them into the mat, facing upwards. This was the set-up to the planned finish, he was going to hit her with his signature double-rotation moonsault, a move synonymous with him all over the world. As he rolled over to get up though, he pulled close to her.
"Knees up." He whispered to her. Alessandra seemed confused by this. It was the finish to the match, but he was calling for her to block it? He was quickly up on the turnbuckle and leapt off backwards. She saw him tuck for the somersault, before straightening out, aiming to land chest-first on her. Just as she'd been told, she lifted her knees so that he landed ribs-first on her knees instead. He got up onto his feet and staggered away, clutching his ribs and selling the impact. The ref looked to Alessandra.
"Small package!" The referee told her as he was 'checking she could continue'. She quickly got up, and ran over, grabbing Ricochet and rolling to the mat, tying him up into a tight ball, pinning his shoulders to the mat. The referee was quickly down beside them and started the count. 1. 2. 3! Alessandra released the hold, looking completely shocked as the bell rang. She had been booked to lose! Ricochet had changed the ending at the last moment, right there in the ring! The referee grabbed Alessandra's hand, lifting it high in the air as the crowd applauded her, and allowing her to parade around the ring.
Ricochet got to his feet slowly, and started to make his way towards her. He extended a hand, at which Alessandra shook it, accepting his show of respect, before they embraced in the ring and continued to accept the crowd's cheers, mixed in with loud chants of 'Please Don't Go!' obviously directed at Ricochet. They made their way to the back together, something which was generally unusual for opponents, and they received a standing ovation from their fellow workers when they got there. Alessandra ran for Koda, throwing herself into his arms and embracing him enthusiastically. Carl was grinning brightly, and stopped clapping long enough to approach Ricochet and Alessandra.
"Well, that was interesting." Carl stated. "I don't think it was the ending I booked though."
"Carl, you know as well as I do, you always go out on your back." Ricochet told him with a smile, before looking to Alessandra. "I've made my name here. It didn't matter if I won, and when I saw your girl in this...pretty awesome new get-up...I saw a star. I figured she could do with the rub more than I could."
"You amazing!" Alessandra said gratefully. "Thank you!"
"Hey, thank you! That's one of the best matches I've had here!" Ricochet told her gratefully. "Anyway, if you don't mind...I have a plane to catch. Florida's a long way from here."
"You hear that crowd?" Carl asked Alessandra. "That...that's your crowd! You killed it out there tonight!"
"I no manage without Koda." Alessandra replied.
"This only paint. What underneath make you great." Koda reminded her.
"I don't care what did it, mark my words, tonight a star was born!" Carl complimented her, looking out some business cards. "You get your ass to this studio first thing tomorrow morning! I want 8X10's, t-shirts, posters...the whole freaking deal! I swear to God kid, if I don't see a table full of your new merchandise at the next show, I am going to be super pissed!"
The rest of the locker room continued their celebration, most of them following Ricochet to wish him well on his way. Alessandra and Koda were grateful for that much. Alessandra didn't need a big celebration. Being in Koda's arms was more than enough for her.
A/N: It took a while, but Alessandra's new gimmick has been revealed! What do you think? I'm open to suggestions or comments.
As for Ricochet...yes, he is a real performer! I chose him for his reputation, and the line about him going to Florida...that's a reference to the fact he recently signed a contract with WWE's developmental territory NXT. You can probably expect him to show up there soon (if he hasn't already by time of writing!). He certainly deserves it!