Post by Wentworth Updegraff Jr. on Aug 28, 2016 13:49:30 GMT -6
Wentworth’s teeth grind violently against each other, as he sits in the high backed leather chair that looks out his panoramic window, over the city of Danbury. A drink sits in his hand, but he has forgotten about it entirely. A flock of birds fly past his window, but he scarcely notices them. His mind is locked in a feverish hatred. The face of Jay Omega filling his mind, making it impossible to see anything else. Blood pounds in his ears, as his fingers clench around the arm of the chair.
Outside, the sun shines as if it has no idea where Wentworth’s mind has gone. The laughter of a group of children drifts in through an open window, only serving to anger Wentworth more. Eventually he does take a small sip of his drink, but it is small and half hearted. He sets the drink down hard, paying no mind to the small amount of liquid that spills onto the oak side table. He stands to his feet and walks out onto the deck, looking out onto his city for a moment or two before screaming at the top of his lungs.
Wentworth:WHERE ARE YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH?!?
He takes a few deep breaths, before speaking at a more reasonable volume.
Wentworth:You can’t hide forever… I’m coming for you, and sooner or later Wentworth Updegraff Jr. ALWAYS gets what he wants. If you won’t come back nicely, I guess we’ll just have to do this the hard way. I’m going to destroy your little group of super tools one by one. I’m going to cause them immeasurable pain, and it’s going to be all your fault. I’ll make sure they know that too. Through every second, every ounce of agony they’ll all be thinking the exact same thing. Where are you, Jay? Why won’t you save us? Why did you run away like a coward? That’s going to be your legacy, Omega. I swear to Christ… if it takes every breath in my body, every beat of my heart… I promise you that your legacy will be that of a man that started a war, and ran away to let his friends get devoured in the flames. The first victim? That adorable little Bonnie Blue. She’s going to feel every last bit of the pain you were supposed to, and I’m going to make the nation watch… yeah… yeah that sounds like a good start to me…
The rage on his face slowly becomes a cocky, sadistic smirk.
Wentworth:But why wait until Sunday?
Wentworth turns with a flourish, and walks back into his condo. A quick elevator ride, and he’s down in the back of his limo, on the way to Updegraff Industries. He rests his head back against the leather seat, noticing that the car feels more like a coffin. He opens the side panel on the door, but only stares at the liquor bottle inside. After a few minutes, he shuts the panel, and leans back once more. After what seems like an eternity, the vehicle comes to a stop, allowing Wentworth to burst out the door, and run up the stairs into the skyscraper his family had erected before he was even born. The marble and glass lobby greets him like a parent, cold and expectant. He quickly makes his way to the elevator, and down into the sub basement.
The door slides open, and a surprising wave of calm washes over Wentworth when he sees that jet black mech suit sitting across the room, several engineers mulling around it. One of them is Melanie Harper, who notices Wentworth’s entrance immediately.
Harper:Wentworth! I wasn’t expecting you today.
Wentworth:That’s how I prefer it. Nice to see you’re hard at work.
Harper:Well your last request proved rather difficult.
Wentworth:Is it done?
Harper:It’s done, but we haven’t been able to run proper tests yet.
Wentworth:Why not?
Harper:To be honest… nobody’s willing to be the one to test it.
Wentworth stares at the group of scientists in disbelief.
Wentworth:I thought you were men of science. You’re on the verge of changing warfare forever, and none of you wants to be the first to spit in the eye of God?! I must say, ladies and gentlemen, I am disappointed. Only the truly adventurous taste all that life has to offer. Let’s get this thing to the roof. I’ll be the one to test it.
The nearby scientists stare at the man, mouths agape.
Harper:Sir, I’m not sure that’s the best idea.
Wentworth:Those are the only kind of ideas I have.
Without waiting for help, Wentworth walks over to the mech suit, and ducks under, sliding himself up into the cockpit.
Wentworth:Alright Al, let’s do this.
The lights come on, and the suit comes to life.
Al:Welcome, Wentworth.
Wentworth immediately begins walking toward the elevator, a nervous Melanie Harper following along behind him. He presses the button for the roof, and as soon as the doors close, Melanie speaks.
Harper:Sir, I really have to advise against this. We can find a guinea pig with good insurance to do this. You don’t need to-
Wentworth:Yes… yes I do.
Not another word is spoken between them. After several minutes, the doors open, and a cool breeze hits them both. They step out onto the roof of the Updegraff Industries building. Wentworth takes a deep breath, and smiles wide, stepping to the edge of the roof. He looks down on the city, seeing the cars and tiny people passing beneath him, completely unaware of what they’re about to see.
Wentworth:Al… flight mode on.
Wentworth lets out a tiny noise of surprise, as the jets beneath him come on, and suddenly lift him up into the air. The suit stabilizes itself, and hovers about ten feet above the roof.
Wentworth:Holy shit, that is amazing.
Harper:Now you have to be careful. Those are incredibly powerful jets that can accelerate you to roughly two hundred miles per hour in a little over a second. In hover mode you control them by leaning, sort of like you would on a segway or hover board.
Wentworth:Alright, well I’m not a mega gigantic turbo nerd, so I’ve never used either of those.
Harper lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes.
Harper:Just lean back and forth very gently.
Wentworth does so, and finds that the suit moves forward and back with little effort at all. Left and right are the same.
Wentworth:Melanie, this is incredible. I was right to trust you.
Harper:Now, that’s hover mode. You also have jet mode, which is quite a bit more difficult. You’ll control that with the controls inside the hands of the mech suit.
Wentworth:Oh cool. Al, jet mode.
Harper:No, sir, wait!
Suddenly the suit rockets upward, sending Wentworth high into the air. The g-forces disorient the man, and when he regains his bearings, he finds himself flying through the clouds with almost no control. After a moment of panic, he grabs onto the joysticks, and wrenches the suit into a level position. He looks down to see the earth passing by him in a blur. He pulls back and to the left, turning the suit around and sending it back toward the city. He dips between a few buildings, before ascending back onto the roof of the Updegraff Industries building.
Wentworth:Al, hover mode.
The suit quickly slows, allowing Wentworth to lower it down so he can talk to Melanie, who can’t stop the smile from spreading across her lips.
Wentworth:It’s absolutely perfect.
Harper:It is, isn’t it? My lord…
Wentworth:I have an errand I have to run. I’ll have the suit back to you in a little bit.
Before Melanie can object, he speeds off, the suit propelling him away from downtown.
Wentworth:Alright Al, turn the camera on my face and start recording.
The mech suit interface obeys, showing him an image of his own face as it records.
Wentworth:Welcome UCI fans! I’ll bet you’re wondering where exactly I’m coming to you from. All questions will be answered in time. For now, I want to talk to the UCI fans about a scrumptious little muffin they know as Bonnie Blue. I want to start by setting the record straight. I don’t hate Bonnie. I have no reason to hate Bonnie personally. She’s a talented wrestler and minus her little stunt last week, she’s never done anything to upset me. She does, however, have one giant black mark against her. One I can no longer ignore. She is one of the unfortunate fools who calls Jay Omega their friend.
Wentworth doesn’t speak for a moment, instead maneuvering himself safely around a couple of jumbo jets. Once back on course, he turns his attention to the camera.
Wentworth:You see, this thing between Jay Omega and I goes back long before UCI. Before the wave. Before either of us were even born. His family screwed mine over, and ignited a blood feud. One that continued when Jay and I finally met. I knew right away that he was an enemy. I wish I had known he would become my hated nemesis. For a while, everything was fine. Then I came to UCI. I tried to be a man and leave Jay Omega to his devices, but he wouldn’t have it. He restarted the war, and then ran away. Now, I would be able to handle all of that, if the people in the crowd didn’t look at this frightened, cowardly man as some sort of hero. That’s what really sets my blood to boiling.
That’s why I have to do what I’m doing. I’m not enjoying this, Bonnie. Though, after last week, I can’t lie. I will enjoy it just a little. What I want you to understand is that I’m not the one who’s going be causing you pain on Sunday. I’m not the one who’s going to break every bone in your body. I’m not the one who’s going to make you cry out in agony. Understand that all of that will be the fault of one Jay Omega. Understand that every ounce of pain you feel is pain that should have been his. When he ran, he dumped it off on you. If you can still defend a man like that after what happens on Sunday, I will be astounded.
Wentworth spots what seems to be an abandoned warehouse district beneath him, and slows the suit to a hover, lowering it to the ground. Crumbling brick buildings surround him, but not a car or human to be seen. He smiles.
Wentworth:Don’t get me wrong, Bonnie. There’s plenty about you I can’t stand. The fact that you and your team of super douchebags wield unprecedented power, and nobody is keeping you in check. If somebody doesn’t take you down a notch, I fear you’ll be ruling over all of us with the threat of destruction. What’s to stop you? Omega has shown your little team of future dictators has no morals. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. You must be destroyed. Not just for me. For the good of the people. Allow me to demonstrate what’s coming your way if your team refuses to cease using your powers, and give up the whereabouts of Jay Omega. Al, switch camera to forward facing mode.
He does so, giving the fans a view of a long, dusty street, with a crumbling former factory sitting at the end of it.
Wentworth:Al, switch to rocket propelled grenades.
Al:RPG firearms activated.
Wentworth takes aim, and launches a rocket that flies down the road, leaving a cloud of exhaust smoke behind it. It strikes the building, and a large explosion follows, sending bricks, dirt, and a number of other things flying in all directions. The building, weakened by the blow, collapses in on itself. A cloud of dust and debris is quickly blown elsewhere by a stiff breeze, leaving nothing but a pile of rubble where the factory once stood.
Wentworth:Camera back to me.
It shifts from the wreckage, to Wentworth’s smiling face.
Wentworth:That’s not even a fraction of what I’m capable of. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll surrender. If not… well, let me show you something else I’ve been cooking up, to give you the little extra nudge you might need. Al, switch to surveillance camera, Banks household.
The image changes again, this time showing the audience a young child playing in the middle of a large red carpet.
Wentworth:Isn’t he adorable? Bonnie, you’ll recognize this little nugget of joy as Polar and Nightmare’s child. Do you notice anything wrong? Where exactly are the parents? Off saving the world? Busy being professional wrestlers? I don’t think it will matter to child protective services. Of course… I don’t HAVE to call them. It all depends on what you do this Sunday. I just wanted you to understand that it’s not just you on the line here. If you don’t surrender, you’ll be doing exactly what Jay Omega did. You’ll be passing the pain off to the people that thought you were their friend. Camera, back to me.
The interface obeys. When Wentworth’s face comes on camera this time, the smile is gone.
Wentworth:I don’t want to do what I’m about to do, but it seems you have left me no choice. Your foolish pride will likely not allow you to surrender, and thus we will do battle on Sunday. After that of course, the true battle begins. This has gone far beyond the ring, my beautiful Bonnie. This is about the fate of the world, and the destruction of the coward Jay Omega. Al, camera off.
The image goes away, allowing Wentworth to stew in the silence, and stare at the destruction he has caused. After a moment or two, he switches to jet mode, and sends himself back toward the city. Landing on top of the building, he notices that Melanie is still standing there, waiting for him. He expects anger, but there is a twinkle in her eyes.
Harper:So… how was it?
Wentworth:Everything I dreamed of. Congratulations Ms. Harper… you just changed the world forever.
Outside, the sun shines as if it has no idea where Wentworth’s mind has gone. The laughter of a group of children drifts in through an open window, only serving to anger Wentworth more. Eventually he does take a small sip of his drink, but it is small and half hearted. He sets the drink down hard, paying no mind to the small amount of liquid that spills onto the oak side table. He stands to his feet and walks out onto the deck, looking out onto his city for a moment or two before screaming at the top of his lungs.
Wentworth:WHERE ARE YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH?!?
He takes a few deep breaths, before speaking at a more reasonable volume.
Wentworth:You can’t hide forever… I’m coming for you, and sooner or later Wentworth Updegraff Jr. ALWAYS gets what he wants. If you won’t come back nicely, I guess we’ll just have to do this the hard way. I’m going to destroy your little group of super tools one by one. I’m going to cause them immeasurable pain, and it’s going to be all your fault. I’ll make sure they know that too. Through every second, every ounce of agony they’ll all be thinking the exact same thing. Where are you, Jay? Why won’t you save us? Why did you run away like a coward? That’s going to be your legacy, Omega. I swear to Christ… if it takes every breath in my body, every beat of my heart… I promise you that your legacy will be that of a man that started a war, and ran away to let his friends get devoured in the flames. The first victim? That adorable little Bonnie Blue. She’s going to feel every last bit of the pain you were supposed to, and I’m going to make the nation watch… yeah… yeah that sounds like a good start to me…
The rage on his face slowly becomes a cocky, sadistic smirk.
Wentworth:But why wait until Sunday?
Wentworth turns with a flourish, and walks back into his condo. A quick elevator ride, and he’s down in the back of his limo, on the way to Updegraff Industries. He rests his head back against the leather seat, noticing that the car feels more like a coffin. He opens the side panel on the door, but only stares at the liquor bottle inside. After a few minutes, he shuts the panel, and leans back once more. After what seems like an eternity, the vehicle comes to a stop, allowing Wentworth to burst out the door, and run up the stairs into the skyscraper his family had erected before he was even born. The marble and glass lobby greets him like a parent, cold and expectant. He quickly makes his way to the elevator, and down into the sub basement.
The door slides open, and a surprising wave of calm washes over Wentworth when he sees that jet black mech suit sitting across the room, several engineers mulling around it. One of them is Melanie Harper, who notices Wentworth’s entrance immediately.
Harper:Wentworth! I wasn’t expecting you today.
Wentworth:That’s how I prefer it. Nice to see you’re hard at work.
Harper:Well your last request proved rather difficult.
Wentworth:Is it done?
Harper:It’s done, but we haven’t been able to run proper tests yet.
Wentworth:Why not?
Harper:To be honest… nobody’s willing to be the one to test it.
Wentworth stares at the group of scientists in disbelief.
Wentworth:I thought you were men of science. You’re on the verge of changing warfare forever, and none of you wants to be the first to spit in the eye of God?! I must say, ladies and gentlemen, I am disappointed. Only the truly adventurous taste all that life has to offer. Let’s get this thing to the roof. I’ll be the one to test it.
The nearby scientists stare at the man, mouths agape.
Harper:Sir, I’m not sure that’s the best idea.
Wentworth:Those are the only kind of ideas I have.
Without waiting for help, Wentworth walks over to the mech suit, and ducks under, sliding himself up into the cockpit.
Wentworth:Alright Al, let’s do this.
The lights come on, and the suit comes to life.
Al:Welcome, Wentworth.
Wentworth immediately begins walking toward the elevator, a nervous Melanie Harper following along behind him. He presses the button for the roof, and as soon as the doors close, Melanie speaks.
Harper:Sir, I really have to advise against this. We can find a guinea pig with good insurance to do this. You don’t need to-
Wentworth:Yes… yes I do.
Not another word is spoken between them. After several minutes, the doors open, and a cool breeze hits them both. They step out onto the roof of the Updegraff Industries building. Wentworth takes a deep breath, and smiles wide, stepping to the edge of the roof. He looks down on the city, seeing the cars and tiny people passing beneath him, completely unaware of what they’re about to see.
Wentworth:Al… flight mode on.
Wentworth lets out a tiny noise of surprise, as the jets beneath him come on, and suddenly lift him up into the air. The suit stabilizes itself, and hovers about ten feet above the roof.
Wentworth:Holy shit, that is amazing.
Harper:Now you have to be careful. Those are incredibly powerful jets that can accelerate you to roughly two hundred miles per hour in a little over a second. In hover mode you control them by leaning, sort of like you would on a segway or hover board.
Wentworth:Alright, well I’m not a mega gigantic turbo nerd, so I’ve never used either of those.
Harper lets out a sigh and rolls her eyes.
Harper:Just lean back and forth very gently.
Wentworth does so, and finds that the suit moves forward and back with little effort at all. Left and right are the same.
Wentworth:Melanie, this is incredible. I was right to trust you.
Harper:Now, that’s hover mode. You also have jet mode, which is quite a bit more difficult. You’ll control that with the controls inside the hands of the mech suit.
Wentworth:Oh cool. Al, jet mode.
Harper:No, sir, wait!
Suddenly the suit rockets upward, sending Wentworth high into the air. The g-forces disorient the man, and when he regains his bearings, he finds himself flying through the clouds with almost no control. After a moment of panic, he grabs onto the joysticks, and wrenches the suit into a level position. He looks down to see the earth passing by him in a blur. He pulls back and to the left, turning the suit around and sending it back toward the city. He dips between a few buildings, before ascending back onto the roof of the Updegraff Industries building.
Wentworth:Al, hover mode.
The suit quickly slows, allowing Wentworth to lower it down so he can talk to Melanie, who can’t stop the smile from spreading across her lips.
Wentworth:It’s absolutely perfect.
Harper:It is, isn’t it? My lord…
Wentworth:I have an errand I have to run. I’ll have the suit back to you in a little bit.
Before Melanie can object, he speeds off, the suit propelling him away from downtown.
Wentworth:Alright Al, turn the camera on my face and start recording.
The mech suit interface obeys, showing him an image of his own face as it records.
Wentworth:Welcome UCI fans! I’ll bet you’re wondering where exactly I’m coming to you from. All questions will be answered in time. For now, I want to talk to the UCI fans about a scrumptious little muffin they know as Bonnie Blue. I want to start by setting the record straight. I don’t hate Bonnie. I have no reason to hate Bonnie personally. She’s a talented wrestler and minus her little stunt last week, she’s never done anything to upset me. She does, however, have one giant black mark against her. One I can no longer ignore. She is one of the unfortunate fools who calls Jay Omega their friend.
Wentworth doesn’t speak for a moment, instead maneuvering himself safely around a couple of jumbo jets. Once back on course, he turns his attention to the camera.
Wentworth:You see, this thing between Jay Omega and I goes back long before UCI. Before the wave. Before either of us were even born. His family screwed mine over, and ignited a blood feud. One that continued when Jay and I finally met. I knew right away that he was an enemy. I wish I had known he would become my hated nemesis. For a while, everything was fine. Then I came to UCI. I tried to be a man and leave Jay Omega to his devices, but he wouldn’t have it. He restarted the war, and then ran away. Now, I would be able to handle all of that, if the people in the crowd didn’t look at this frightened, cowardly man as some sort of hero. That’s what really sets my blood to boiling.
That’s why I have to do what I’m doing. I’m not enjoying this, Bonnie. Though, after last week, I can’t lie. I will enjoy it just a little. What I want you to understand is that I’m not the one who’s going be causing you pain on Sunday. I’m not the one who’s going to break every bone in your body. I’m not the one who’s going to make you cry out in agony. Understand that all of that will be the fault of one Jay Omega. Understand that every ounce of pain you feel is pain that should have been his. When he ran, he dumped it off on you. If you can still defend a man like that after what happens on Sunday, I will be astounded.
Wentworth spots what seems to be an abandoned warehouse district beneath him, and slows the suit to a hover, lowering it to the ground. Crumbling brick buildings surround him, but not a car or human to be seen. He smiles.
Wentworth:Don’t get me wrong, Bonnie. There’s plenty about you I can’t stand. The fact that you and your team of super douchebags wield unprecedented power, and nobody is keeping you in check. If somebody doesn’t take you down a notch, I fear you’ll be ruling over all of us with the threat of destruction. What’s to stop you? Omega has shown your little team of future dictators has no morals. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. You must be destroyed. Not just for me. For the good of the people. Allow me to demonstrate what’s coming your way if your team refuses to cease using your powers, and give up the whereabouts of Jay Omega. Al, switch camera to forward facing mode.
He does so, giving the fans a view of a long, dusty street, with a crumbling former factory sitting at the end of it.
Wentworth:Al, switch to rocket propelled grenades.
Al:RPG firearms activated.
Wentworth takes aim, and launches a rocket that flies down the road, leaving a cloud of exhaust smoke behind it. It strikes the building, and a large explosion follows, sending bricks, dirt, and a number of other things flying in all directions. The building, weakened by the blow, collapses in on itself. A cloud of dust and debris is quickly blown elsewhere by a stiff breeze, leaving nothing but a pile of rubble where the factory once stood.
Wentworth:Camera back to me.
It shifts from the wreckage, to Wentworth’s smiling face.
Wentworth:That’s not even a fraction of what I’m capable of. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll surrender. If not… well, let me show you something else I’ve been cooking up, to give you the little extra nudge you might need. Al, switch to surveillance camera, Banks household.
The image changes again, this time showing the audience a young child playing in the middle of a large red carpet.
Wentworth:Isn’t he adorable? Bonnie, you’ll recognize this little nugget of joy as Polar and Nightmare’s child. Do you notice anything wrong? Where exactly are the parents? Off saving the world? Busy being professional wrestlers? I don’t think it will matter to child protective services. Of course… I don’t HAVE to call them. It all depends on what you do this Sunday. I just wanted you to understand that it’s not just you on the line here. If you don’t surrender, you’ll be doing exactly what Jay Omega did. You’ll be passing the pain off to the people that thought you were their friend. Camera, back to me.
The interface obeys. When Wentworth’s face comes on camera this time, the smile is gone.
Wentworth:I don’t want to do what I’m about to do, but it seems you have left me no choice. Your foolish pride will likely not allow you to surrender, and thus we will do battle on Sunday. After that of course, the true battle begins. This has gone far beyond the ring, my beautiful Bonnie. This is about the fate of the world, and the destruction of the coward Jay Omega. Al, camera off.
The image goes away, allowing Wentworth to stew in the silence, and stare at the destruction he has caused. After a moment or two, he switches to jet mode, and sends himself back toward the city. Landing on top of the building, he notices that Melanie is still standing there, waiting for him. He expects anger, but there is a twinkle in her eyes.
Harper:So… how was it?
Wentworth:Everything I dreamed of. Congratulations Ms. Harper… you just changed the world forever.
