Post by The Polar Phantasm on Jul 2, 2016 9:37:54 GMT -6
[Scene: Project: Antarctica, Colorado; more specifically, the bedroom of the Unstable Elements. It's about 2:30 AM here in the Mountain Time Zone; Crystal Bankston (aka Nightmare) is finally hauling herself off to bed after a night of binging on Netflix, unwilling to stop watching until she'd finally caught up on Person of Interest... upon entering the bedroom, though, she notices something is quite awry. There before her is her sleeping husband Cameron (aka the Polar Phantasm); before him stands a man in a long black trenchcoat, caught in the act of painting something onto slumbering Polar's forehead. Without a word, Crystal snatches her flame-spreadgun Katrina (2.0) from beside the bedroom door. The man doesn't turn to look at his potential assailant, instead addressing her blindly.]
Comedian: Wouldn't work on me, and would probably kill Cam.
[Frustrated to no end, she puts the gun down and demands explanation.]
Nightmare: What in the hells are you doing?!
[He softly clears his throat, almost as if he would wake the Phantasm from what we can now assume (thanks to Crystal's usual half-shouted tone) is some sort of assisted deep slumber.]
Comedian: Someone I care for very much has asked me to take Polar off the leash... so it's time to move up the timetable. To now.
Nightmare: ...off the leash? Timetable? You crazy fuck, you're painting my husband's forehead!
Comedian: I know that you understand all of this on some level-
Nightmare: What?! No- absolutely not. Blue paint on his head? What the-
[He reaffirms himself, quite insistent in tone.]
Comedian: -on some level, you remember. You remember that you two have been you for a long time... and many times before. Cameron just doesn't remember... and he must. He has to be the man he is. I'm just kinda sad that he's got to change... I liked him without the terminally guilty conscience and intense competitive spirit. He's been damn near charming.
[Nightmare seems completely lost; she quivers slightly with frustration. And quite possibly fear of the unknown.]
Nightmare: ...what are you talking about?
[The Comedian just stares at her gently, softly prompting her memory.]
Comedian: Crystal... Nashville. Remember Nashville.
Nightmare: I've... been to Nashville?
[She clutches her temples, mulekicked by her own memories... memories of a building on fire. Memories of an atrocity.]
Nightmare: ...killed... we killed all those people. We destroyed the whole company... we were...
[He casually finishes her sentence.]
Comedian: ...monsters. Absolute monsters. Remember Eden Island? Canberra?
[She mumbles, quietly and unintelligibly.]
Comedian: Remember Boulder. Cleveland. Greenville. That was you...
[The Comedian glances at his sleeping creation, a man he considers perhaps his finest work.]
Comedian: ...and that was him.
Nightmare: What happened to us?
Comedian: I grew up. I got tired of scorching earth and I started trying to build on it instead. We settled down in Reading. And you grew up, too- you're a family now. Husband and wife with a son and a team.
[She looks to Cam with concern. In resignation, she sighs a question at the perplexing figure before her.]
Nightmare: Am I about to lose my husband?
[He gently smirks.]
Comedian: Of course not. Him you'll probably always have... he'll just be 'awake' now. He's going to remember a lot of things... he's going to remember why he exists.
[With that, the Comedian gives his paint job one last inspection.]
Comedian: Cameron... Cameron. It's time.
-------------------------------------------
[Scene: Project: Antarctica, Colorado; more specifically, the bedroom of the Unstable Elements. Polar awakens in his bedroom, alone... he feels something sticky on his head, perhaps drawn there. He looks in the mirror, confused by the blue 'X' painted on his forehead... as he begins to mumble a 'What the fuck?' he freezes, mid-mumble. He stammers as if remembering something... then has a dizzy spell, catching himself against a doorframe as he remembers everything. He shudders... tears begin to form in his eyes, lingering there for a second before being wiped away.]
Phantasm: Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.
[Cameron takes a moment to collect himself, head feeling slightly heavier... he gasps and stretches, finding the strength of spirit to press on somewhere inside him. He exits the bedroom, entering the common area; he sees his team are assembled there, playing with an Uno deck as if waiting to see the results of Polar's 'awakening'. They all turn to him, expectantly.]
Phantasm: Hi, guys... I think I'm about four years late to cut a promo. I'm gonna go do that.
[Jay smiles at Polar goofily.]
Omega: Cam, you have a-
Phantasm: Yeah, I saw. I'm just gonna go with it. Be back in a little bit.
[He leaves the room; about two seconds later, his wife chimes in with an idea.]
Nightmare: We should follow and listen in... even I can't begin to tell you what's gonna come out of Cam's mouth, and imagining it's giving me a lady boner.
Bonnie: You know team policy; no messing with each other for monologuing. If he wanted us in there, he'd have invited us.
Omega: Yeah, so the rule says no messing with monologuing... doesn't say anything about not listening in.
[There is a moment of consideration, but only the briefest... they pitch their hands, getting up to follow Polar.]
-----------------------------------------------
[Scene: Project: Antarctica, Colorado; more specifically, the conference room. In the background, we see a massive viewscreen and a familiar mainframe server-bank... before us is the 'body' of everyone's favorite artificial intelligence, Iceberg-Seven. Polar sits on top of the room's large circular conference table, looking directly into what we can assume is 'the camera'. In a measured and pronounced voice, the Phantasm addresses the UCI universe.]
Phantasm: My name is Cameron Bankston, and I was Kid Phantasm. I was the man behind champions. I was the man who started the Pantheon. I was the man who was wrestler of the year and rookie of the year at the same time. But that was a couple of minutes ago... hell, as pro wrestling time goes, it was practically a lifetime ago. As Polar, I found myself distracted by life... I became complacent, forgetting what got me here. Sure, I've become so much more than I once was...
[He holds up a hand, projecting a small flurry of snowflakes onto the floor.]
Phantasm: ...but it doesn't change who I am. What I am. Why I am... why, I'm a professional wrestler. And I'm very, very good at it. In fact, I'm surrounded by a team of professional wrestlers who are also very good at their jobs; some might even call us a stable. We Guardians have taught you, UCI, to accept us... perhaps even to love us. Now comes the important lesson... teaching you to fear us.
[He takes a sharp breath, shoving himself into his speech as if throwing himself out of an airplane.]
Phantasm: Bonnie says we're gonna be UCI's first Tag Team champions, and I tend to believe my homegirl from the future when she tells me stuff like that. Even if she's just saying that to motivate me, it's worked... personally, I like giving the lady what she wants. Especially when she wants us to prove we're every bit as good as you've heard we are. Jay, Alex, Bonnie and I... we're legends for a reason. We've changed the world of pro wrestling before, many times... and we could just as easily do it again any time we feel like it. This... is your notice, UCI. We feel like it.
[The Phantasm cracks his knuckles gruffly.]
Phantasm: So who's up first? Jayden Thunder and David Sanchez. Thunder is a joke; unfortunately, the setup is "Who's got the shittiest excuse for a tag team partner in the UCI?" and the punchline is David Sanchez. Sanchez, you're the UCI Rising Stars Champion and Mayor of the third-largest metropolis in the United States of America... you mean to tell me you can't find a better partner than Jayden Thunder? Wow. Way to make yourself, this company and the city of Chicago look like shit all at the same time. That's the triple crown of suck. You're a real winner, Sanchez; hold your head up high.
[Polar smiles sarcastically.]
Phantasm: See, I already don't like you, Sanchez, and I've barely even started in on your ass. You're a politician; that means everything you say is suspect and your decisions are based on whatever you're paid to do. You're a whore with civic authority... but at least you wear your 'gimmick' well. You may have won some matches, and you may hold a title... but you believe your own hype. You actually believe you stand for something, don't you? You and your Syndicate operate in the shadows... me and my Guardians operate in the light. We exist to defend this reality. You exist to... what, usurp it? Control it? Manipulate it? The universe is much, much bigger than you, David Sanchez... we've seen the faces of true evil, and you ain't it, brutha.
[Polar slowly shakes his head as if ashamed by something... or someone.]
Phantasm: What's going to happen is this; we Guardians will defeat you, soundly, and put you down for the 3 count. You, a Champion. Then we will take the next team put before us apart... and the next, and so forth. The fact of the matter is, there isn't a team in this company that's got a shot of standing against us and coming up with the win. How can you possibly hope to resist a force you couldn't even begin to measure? Sanchez, Thunder; you'll be the first, but not the last. We're not going to stop until we're holding the tag straps at Beachmania, and even then we'll only be stopping briefly to remind you all that we told you so. And Sanchez... you and me, we're far from done. You may run the city, but between bells you're just another opponent in our crosshairs... an opponent who kinda pisses me off. Have fun with that. You've earned it.
[Polar stands, blowing out a cloud of frosty breath...]
Phantasm: My name is Cameron Bankston, and I'm the Polar fucking Phantasm. You have my attention. And with that... you are truly fucked. See you Sunday.
[With that, the white-haired man with the icy stare fades into blackness.]
-----------------------------------------------------------
POLAR PHANTASM #9: I Am Not Left Handed
-----------------------------------------------------------
Inigo: I admit it: you are better than I am!
Man in Black: Then why are you smiling?
Inigo: Because I know something you don't know.
Man in Black: And what is that?
Inigo: I am not left handed!
-William Goldman's The Princess Bride
[(c) United Championship Infinite 2016. All rights reserved.]
Comedian: Wouldn't work on me, and would probably kill Cam.
[Frustrated to no end, she puts the gun down and demands explanation.]
Nightmare: What in the hells are you doing?!
[He softly clears his throat, almost as if he would wake the Phantasm from what we can now assume (thanks to Crystal's usual half-shouted tone) is some sort of assisted deep slumber.]
Comedian: Someone I care for very much has asked me to take Polar off the leash... so it's time to move up the timetable. To now.
Nightmare: ...off the leash? Timetable? You crazy fuck, you're painting my husband's forehead!
Comedian: I know that you understand all of this on some level-
Nightmare: What?! No- absolutely not. Blue paint on his head? What the-
[He reaffirms himself, quite insistent in tone.]
Comedian: -on some level, you remember. You remember that you two have been you for a long time... and many times before. Cameron just doesn't remember... and he must. He has to be the man he is. I'm just kinda sad that he's got to change... I liked him without the terminally guilty conscience and intense competitive spirit. He's been damn near charming.
[Nightmare seems completely lost; she quivers slightly with frustration. And quite possibly fear of the unknown.]
Nightmare: ...what are you talking about?
[The Comedian just stares at her gently, softly prompting her memory.]
Comedian: Crystal... Nashville. Remember Nashville.
Nightmare: I've... been to Nashville?
[She clutches her temples, mulekicked by her own memories... memories of a building on fire. Memories of an atrocity.]
Nightmare: ...killed... we killed all those people. We destroyed the whole company... we were...
[He casually finishes her sentence.]
Comedian: ...monsters. Absolute monsters. Remember Eden Island? Canberra?
[She mumbles, quietly and unintelligibly.]
Comedian: Remember Boulder. Cleveland. Greenville. That was you...
[The Comedian glances at his sleeping creation, a man he considers perhaps his finest work.]
Comedian: ...and that was him.
Nightmare: What happened to us?
Comedian: I grew up. I got tired of scorching earth and I started trying to build on it instead. We settled down in Reading. And you grew up, too- you're a family now. Husband and wife with a son and a team.
[She looks to Cam with concern. In resignation, she sighs a question at the perplexing figure before her.]
Nightmare: Am I about to lose my husband?
[He gently smirks.]
Comedian: Of course not. Him you'll probably always have... he'll just be 'awake' now. He's going to remember a lot of things... he's going to remember why he exists.
[With that, the Comedian gives his paint job one last inspection.]
Comedian: Cameron... Cameron. It's time.
-------------------------------------------
[Scene: Project: Antarctica, Colorado; more specifically, the bedroom of the Unstable Elements. Polar awakens in his bedroom, alone... he feels something sticky on his head, perhaps drawn there. He looks in the mirror, confused by the blue 'X' painted on his forehead... as he begins to mumble a 'What the fuck?' he freezes, mid-mumble. He stammers as if remembering something... then has a dizzy spell, catching himself against a doorframe as he remembers everything. He shudders... tears begin to form in his eyes, lingering there for a second before being wiped away.]
Phantasm: Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.
[Cameron takes a moment to collect himself, head feeling slightly heavier... he gasps and stretches, finding the strength of spirit to press on somewhere inside him. He exits the bedroom, entering the common area; he sees his team are assembled there, playing with an Uno deck as if waiting to see the results of Polar's 'awakening'. They all turn to him, expectantly.]
Phantasm: Hi, guys... I think I'm about four years late to cut a promo. I'm gonna go do that.
[Jay smiles at Polar goofily.]
Omega: Cam, you have a-
Phantasm: Yeah, I saw. I'm just gonna go with it. Be back in a little bit.
[He leaves the room; about two seconds later, his wife chimes in with an idea.]
Nightmare: We should follow and listen in... even I can't begin to tell you what's gonna come out of Cam's mouth, and imagining it's giving me a lady boner.
Bonnie: You know team policy; no messing with each other for monologuing. If he wanted us in there, he'd have invited us.
Omega: Yeah, so the rule says no messing with monologuing... doesn't say anything about not listening in.
[There is a moment of consideration, but only the briefest... they pitch their hands, getting up to follow Polar.]
-----------------------------------------------
[Scene: Project: Antarctica, Colorado; more specifically, the conference room. In the background, we see a massive viewscreen and a familiar mainframe server-bank... before us is the 'body' of everyone's favorite artificial intelligence, Iceberg-Seven. Polar sits on top of the room's large circular conference table, looking directly into what we can assume is 'the camera'. In a measured and pronounced voice, the Phantasm addresses the UCI universe.]
Phantasm: My name is Cameron Bankston, and I was Kid Phantasm. I was the man behind champions. I was the man who started the Pantheon. I was the man who was wrestler of the year and rookie of the year at the same time. But that was a couple of minutes ago... hell, as pro wrestling time goes, it was practically a lifetime ago. As Polar, I found myself distracted by life... I became complacent, forgetting what got me here. Sure, I've become so much more than I once was...
[He holds up a hand, projecting a small flurry of snowflakes onto the floor.]
Phantasm: ...but it doesn't change who I am. What I am. Why I am... why, I'm a professional wrestler. And I'm very, very good at it. In fact, I'm surrounded by a team of professional wrestlers who are also very good at their jobs; some might even call us a stable. We Guardians have taught you, UCI, to accept us... perhaps even to love us. Now comes the important lesson... teaching you to fear us.
[He takes a sharp breath, shoving himself into his speech as if throwing himself out of an airplane.]
Phantasm: Bonnie says we're gonna be UCI's first Tag Team champions, and I tend to believe my homegirl from the future when she tells me stuff like that. Even if she's just saying that to motivate me, it's worked... personally, I like giving the lady what she wants. Especially when she wants us to prove we're every bit as good as you've heard we are. Jay, Alex, Bonnie and I... we're legends for a reason. We've changed the world of pro wrestling before, many times... and we could just as easily do it again any time we feel like it. This... is your notice, UCI. We feel like it.
[The Phantasm cracks his knuckles gruffly.]
Phantasm: So who's up first? Jayden Thunder and David Sanchez. Thunder is a joke; unfortunately, the setup is "Who's got the shittiest excuse for a tag team partner in the UCI?" and the punchline is David Sanchez. Sanchez, you're the UCI Rising Stars Champion and Mayor of the third-largest metropolis in the United States of America... you mean to tell me you can't find a better partner than Jayden Thunder? Wow. Way to make yourself, this company and the city of Chicago look like shit all at the same time. That's the triple crown of suck. You're a real winner, Sanchez; hold your head up high.
[Polar smiles sarcastically.]
Phantasm: See, I already don't like you, Sanchez, and I've barely even started in on your ass. You're a politician; that means everything you say is suspect and your decisions are based on whatever you're paid to do. You're a whore with civic authority... but at least you wear your 'gimmick' well. You may have won some matches, and you may hold a title... but you believe your own hype. You actually believe you stand for something, don't you? You and your Syndicate operate in the shadows... me and my Guardians operate in the light. We exist to defend this reality. You exist to... what, usurp it? Control it? Manipulate it? The universe is much, much bigger than you, David Sanchez... we've seen the faces of true evil, and you ain't it, brutha.
[Polar slowly shakes his head as if ashamed by something... or someone.]
Phantasm: What's going to happen is this; we Guardians will defeat you, soundly, and put you down for the 3 count. You, a Champion. Then we will take the next team put before us apart... and the next, and so forth. The fact of the matter is, there isn't a team in this company that's got a shot of standing against us and coming up with the win. How can you possibly hope to resist a force you couldn't even begin to measure? Sanchez, Thunder; you'll be the first, but not the last. We're not going to stop until we're holding the tag straps at Beachmania, and even then we'll only be stopping briefly to remind you all that we told you so. And Sanchez... you and me, we're far from done. You may run the city, but between bells you're just another opponent in our crosshairs... an opponent who kinda pisses me off. Have fun with that. You've earned it.
[Polar stands, blowing out a cloud of frosty breath...]
Phantasm: My name is Cameron Bankston, and I'm the Polar fucking Phantasm. You have my attention. And with that... you are truly fucked. See you Sunday.
[With that, the white-haired man with the icy stare fades into blackness.]
-----------------------------------------------------------
POLAR PHANTASM #9: I Am Not Left Handed
-----------------------------------------------------------
Inigo: I admit it: you are better than I am!
Man in Black: Then why are you smiling?
Inigo: Because I know something you don't know.
Man in Black: And what is that?
Inigo: I am not left handed!
-William Goldman's The Princess Bride
[(c) United Championship Infinite 2016. All rights reserved.]
