Post by JackHammer on May 26, 2009 23:28:32 GMT -6
[WHAM! The walls of Maxwell and Claudia Sterling’s hotel room shake with the impact from next door. The overweight, elderly couple turn to each other in shock at just being woken up, which turns into mild fear with another deafening crash. They look at the clock by the bed. It’s two in the morning. What could be going on? Maxwell, ever the well-trained husband, already has the phone in his hand when Claudia’s mouth opens to tell him to do something.]
Maxwell: I’m on it, Claudia.
[He dials the number and waits a moment. A chipper, professional young woman’s voice is heard halfway into the second ring.]
Front Desk: Holiday Inn Front Desk, how can we help you, Mister… Sterling?
Maxwell: Yeah, Miss… I’m just callin’ to report a racket in room 307, right next to mine. Can ya send up an attendant to check up on what’s goin’ on in there?
Claudia: Tell her it sounds like there’s a war goin’ on in there!
Maxwell: Yeah, did you hear my wife? It sounds like a—
[WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! Both Maxwell and Claudia freeze in horror at the deep, guttural man’s voice bellowing with something that’s not quite a growl, and not quite maniacal laughter, but with elements of both. Maxwell puts the phone back to his ear.]
Maxwell: You hear that?
Front Desk: Yes, 307. That’s Mister…
[She freezes as the name comes up and she connects it to the man who owns it. Would she need to send the riot squad? Thinking fast, she stammers to finish the sentence.]
Front Desk: I’ll - I’ll have someone look into it right away, Mr. Sterling. Hold tight and try to enjoy your stay.
[She hangs up the phone and dials up Room 307, eyes wide with the urgency of the situation. The phone rings and rings with no answer. She hangs up with a sigh. Of course the manager wouldn’t himself be in at this hour to take care of this. Should she call the police, she wonders. JackHammer seemed nice enough when he came through. A bit thick and misogynistic, but otherwise nice enough. She sits another moment before looking around. Nobody’s coming in, and nobody will at this hour. The evening before the phone call was beyond dull. Why should someone else have the adventure?]
Front Desk: Screw it, this better be good.
[She stands up, pinning her long red hair up in her barrette before placing the ‘Back in 5 Minutes’ sign on her desk and making for the elevator.]
Aw, hell. Jus’ when I thought I proved myself, everyone’s callin’ me washed-up. Burnt out. Done. They’re just DYIN’ ‘ta claim themselves as the ones that put ol’ JackHammer away once an’ fer all. I know I messed up against Curtis Kanyon, but that ain’t no reason ‘ta write me off jus’ yet. ‘Specially not with a golden opportunity like this one. This’ll be a friggin’ riot. It’s like ol’ Fox jus’ lined up all the kids I been wantin’ a shot at for ages now. An’ all at once, too… ain’t that just precious. Why thank ya, Fox. It’s almos’ like Christmas came really early this year.
There’s only one lil’ problem I got goin’ in’ta this match, and that’s somethin’ that keeps eatin’ at me. Somethin’ that won’t leave me alone, somethin’ that keeps on doggin’ me. It won’t lemme sleep, won’t lemme live my life the way I wanna live it. An’ it’s been a lot worse since that week with Mike Honcho.
[The attendant knocks on the door of Room 307. The gruff voice of JackHammer answers from within, wide awake but wearily.]
JackHammer: It’s open.
[She opens the door and looks around in surprise. The place is in immaculate order. Not a lamp off a table, not a sheet unrumpled. Surely not the warzone she was expecting. The broad back of JackHammer himself fills the balcony window as he leans stands out on the railing. He turns his head back, the rest of him not turning away from leaning on the railing. Clearlly the magnificent full-moon view of the Windy City has drawn him in.]
JackHammer: Hey, cutie. What can I do fer ya? If y’came up ‘ta chat, I hate ‘ta disappoint ya but I’m headin’ ‘ta bed in a minute. Yer welcome ‘ta join me in that, though.
Attendant: I heard reports of a lot of noise coming from this room. Is everything all right?
[The Chi-Town Terror blinks, as if remembering. He nods.]
JackHammer: Yeah, I had the TV on pretty loud an’ tripped over myself goin’ ‘ta turn it off. Y’know how that is, don’cha?
[He shoots her a slightly pointed look, adding his carnivorous grin to it for added effect. It works. She knows full well something’s up, but is it worth pursuing? It’s not like he’s damaged the place or anything, and there’s no more noise, so why spend more time pursuing something that can only end badly? She nods with a defeated sigh.]
Attendant: Right, it happens. Have a good night, Mr. Lockhart.
[JackHammer tosses her a wink as she closes the door.]
JackHammer: Will do, sweetheart. Will do.
By the way, I wasn’t on about Curtis Kanyon, or anyone else in the federation back there. My problem’s with my ex-wife. Guess I ain’t got her all figured out yet. I’m tryin’ ‘ta train for this match, tryin’ ‘ta get myself prepared-like, and she’s insistin’ on tryin’ ‘ta ruin my life. What’d I do to ya, doll? I sure as hell didn’t break yer heart, ya ain’t got one. Yer brain’s gone the same way too, if ya think anythin’ ya can do can scare me in’ta not doin’ what I wanna do.
Hopefully this’ll teach ya.
JackHammer: Hey, jus’ be thankful ya didn’t bring piano wire instead, doll. S’whatcha get when ya try an’ inflict harm on those ya love. Didja wanna try an’ make it look like a suicide or somethin’? Do ya honestly think people would buy that sh*t?
[He gestures to himself, clearly more than a little insulted. She glares back up at him, teary-eyed with hate and rage as her accomplice still limply hangs unconscious. Again.]
JackHammer: Me? JackHammer? Depressed? Doll, you jus’ don’t know me!
[He chuckles, closing his eyes and happily taking in a deep breath of the night air. The rope creaks as they swing back and forth in the silent darkness.]
God, it feels good ‘ta be alive.
JackHammer: Lemme tell ya somethin’. Nothin’ ya can do could look like an accident. Ya never could do anythin’ right. Oh sure, yer a demon in the sack an’ all. S’the only reason ya got yer boyfriend there, he’s entirely too stupid ‘ta say no ‘ta ya regardless of how brainless yer ideas are. Or how obvious yer motivations.
[She screams an obvious expletitive at him, unmistakable despite the gag. For a moment, JackHammer looks hurt, before he cackles with glee.]
JackHammer: Why do ya do that ‘ta the poor guy, anyway? He ain’t a bad fighter, sure. But’cha know full well he ain’t got a chance against the one an’ only guy ‘ta retire from the profession, that no one dared ‘ta challenge his leavin’. An’ this time I didn’t even damage the real estate in the process! You saw how I handled that fiery little redhead back there, didn’t ya? ‘At’s how it could be with ya, I could do anythin’ I want to either you or yer lil’ Dragon an’ no one would even know. Not the authorities, not the Triad, not even yer dear ol’ Daddy that cut ya outta the empire when he heard ya was comin’ after me. Loved me like a son, he did. Betcha he didn’t tell ya that ‘til he saw what you was really like inside. But count yerself lucky, doll…
[With a grunt, JackHammer reaches over the railing and with a surprising burst of power, drags them both painfully back over the railing. Langxie glares at JackHammer, but all thoughts of resisting are gone when she sees the massive butterfly knife in his hand. He catches on to her train of thought, and grins as he cuts the ropes around both her ankles and wrists.]
JackHammer: …I don’t play that game anymore.
[Langxie removes the gag, spitting out JackHammer’s gym sock. What was once a tempting asian siren in a business suit is now a rumpled mess with runny mascara and smeared lipstick. She brims with the impotent rage of a spoiled child that understands her relative good fortune given the circumstances, and yet still wishes she had her way. She spits at him.]
Langxie: Why don’t you just DIE, Jack?!
JackHammer: Because you’d win, babe. An’ someone’s gotta teach ya somethin’ about how ‘ta lose with style.
[She takes a moment to wipe her eyes and recollect herself before glaring at him coldly, her own sadistic grin glinting in the moonlight as JackHammer folds up his knife and pockets it, taking a seat on the limp form of the still unconscious and possibly concussed Shadow Dragon, folding his arms atop his knees and giving her a pointed look.]
God da*n, it’s that smile. Keep it cool, ol’ buddy, or it’s gonna start ‘ta feel like old times again. And ya don’t want that.
Langxie: About losing… I bet you felt awfully good about last week. How did it feel, my dear? Coming face to face with the destiny you deserve? Your dreams, crushed? Your fans turning against you? It’s nice to know I have such a hand in your undoing, you know…
[She tilts her head coyly, the cruel mafia princess and siren all rolled into one. JackHammer sneers, his eyes blazing a moment before laughing out loud.]
JackHammer: Y’only wish ya had a hand in that, babe. Naw, **** happens. Curtis Kanyon won that one with help from his tag partner. Ain’t gonna go that way next time, but he won. ‘Sides, this time I got motivation.
Langxie: Like the motivation you had when you threw away all of what you had, just to participate in this farce?
JackHammer: Exactly, babe. I had a bad thing, I turned around an’ made it a better thing. Y’see, babe… this is what I was born for, what I was bred for! What I’ve fought for, what I’ve bled for! It’s gonna be war an’ I’m right where I belong! It’s gonna hurt, I’m gonna bleed, it’s gonna take years off my life, an’ I ain’t gonna have it any other way.
[JackHammer stands up, obviously lost in the glory of the spectacle, looming over his glowering ex-wife like a typhoon ready to touch down. He cackles and removes a pillbox from his jeans pocket, continuing as he works the pill around in his mouth.]
JackHammer: It’s real nice ‘ta know yer followin’ my progress, babe. Yer followin’ a bit too close, but I ‘preciate it all the same.
Langxie: It’s a pleasure to watch the man that had it all, and pissed it away to chase a dream go down in flames, Jack. You’ve become a ranting lunatic! You were always crazy, and you were always a brute… but before you could at least inflict harm on others. Now… now you’re just a threat to yourself.
[She twists the last word of the sentence into a smouldering, pitying glare. JackHammer shoots her another look, before pulling up his pillbox again and swallowing a second. He looks her up and down wryly, not dignifying this with a response other than sitting his 360 pounds of muscle and mayhem back down hard on her unconscious lover again.]
JackHammer: ‘At’s what you’d want me ‘ta think, babe. No, I ain’t fallin’ for it. Naw, this match is everythin’ I coulda asked for. I got the guy that took my chance at the Xtreme title, What – what kinda guy acts like that anyway? What, he went ‘ta prison an’ grew out his hair an’ carries on like it was a life-alterin’ experience!
[He splays his hands in a sign of mock confusion.]
JackHammer: Then he comes back an’ acts like the mincy lil’ turd disguising his stink with cologne and his shape with an overpriced suit, same as he was before his big trip ‘ta San Quentin! I mean, you saw his friggin’ parody! I was friggin’ insulted! If yer gonna parody the Chi-Town Terror at least have ‘im try an’ light somethin’ on fire! If I had that kinda time, which I don’t thanks ‘ta you… I’da at least tried an’ do the whole thing right, y’know? Aw, hell. He wishes he could be everythin’ I am, an’ can’t do anythin’ as well. He even followed me back in when I decided ‘ta get back ‘ta America. Y’see, babe? If I’m such a failure, how’s this guy shadowin’ my every move?
[Langxie’s face belies her delight in setting him up for this trap. First his will to fight will break, then she will savor his descent into nothingness.]
Langxie: But the other two, my love. One is right, you’ve been nothing since you’ve come back. He’s broken you, you haven’t been the same, you know it…
Aw hell, babe. Don’t lob ‘em nice and fat over the plate like this. Ya think yer hurtin’ me but ya got no concept as ‘ta how I work. Can’t believe I once thought we was soulmates…
[The crack of JackHammer’s knuckles as he balls his hands into fists echoes off the wall of the building. He grins as he relaxes himself, leaning forward and looking up into her eyes, not unlike some predator ready to strike. He speaks quietly.]
JackHammer: I don’t believe this… ya honestly think ol’ Dirty Deal’s got ‘ta me? Just cause have lost a match here or so. They thinks ‘cause I ain’t retaliated that I won’t… gimme a lil’ more credit, babe. I’m gettin’ to it. Hell, theyv'e even written me off, which jus’ makes it perfect. I jus’ hope they got nice an’ comfortable an’ unafraid. That way it’ll hurt all the more when I do it, ‘cause I’m gonna take it nice and slow. They’ll scream an’ he’ll cry ‘ta whatever God they believes in, an’ I’ll laugh all the harder because. An’ even the humiliation after I’m done will seem like heaven, after the hell I put ‘im through. It’ll be jus’ beautiful. Jus’ you watch, babe. Jus’ you watch. Hah!
Langxie: And Sexy Jason, the man who showed the world you were in fact mortal? Who after losing to him you left for awhile? He has nothing to prove against you, I know it, the world knows it… you are a broken husk of what you were when we were together, love.
Strike three, babe. Ya jus’ gave me another reason ‘ta win this.
JackHammer: Betcha like him, doncha?
[She tilts her head coquettishly, catching the bit of envy in JackHammer’s tone.]
Langxie: He’s handsome. I could stand to get to know him better…
JackHammer: Y’always did have a thing fer weridos. S’why ya liked me back then, s’why yer ballin’ Sleeping Beauty here… only type ya can keep around, I guess. Hey, he got me once, I’ll hand ‘im that. He ain’t the guy he was then, though. I might like ‘im now. He’s a bit darker, a bit meaner. Bit more like me, an’ that’s always a good thing. Could stand ‘ta have the guy as a friend in all fairness. Still, I got somethin’ ‘ta prove an’ it’s only after I’ve had my fill of blood an’ chaos an’ glory that I’ll start lookin’ fer buddies.
[He stands up, suddenly seizing Langxie by the arms and hauling her into the room. She naturally freezes and tries to fight him off.]
Langxie: What – what are you doing?! Let go!
JackHammer: Not to worry, babe… I told you, we’re over. I got no intention o’ hurtin’ ya.
[He pulls open the front door and forces her into the hallway. She matches his blazing eyes with her own, looking past him. JackHammer looks back as well, before catching her intentions. Her poor beloved, still bound and gagged on the balcony. His voice is low, almost sepulcheral.]
JackHammer: Oh, riiiight. Well, I said I didn’t have any intention of hurtin’ you. I didn’t say nothin’ about him. Don’cha worry yer pretty lil’ head about it, though. You’ve left ‘im ‘ta rot before, you can do it again. G’night, babe!
[His eyebrows shoot up with that last statement. JackHammer cackles with the evil intent of an entire jail block of serial killers, and closes the door in her face. As the lock clicks into place, she stares at the door aware there’s nothing she can do. Finally, she makes her way to the elevator on her bruised ankles. She pressed the button. The door opens, and her heels click on the floor as she steps inside.]
I’ll always love ya, doll. Too bad ya never felt the same.
Well, that about did it. Here I thought I wanted ‘ta win this before. Not only ‘ta come back from this slump, an’ not only ‘ta tear up three guys I been meanin’ ‘ta have a few words with for a while now. Now I wanna do it ‘ta shatter her little ambitions down once and for all. But it ain’t just about that. It ain’t just about Ron Gibson an’ his trying to live his dual lifestyle as tough guy an’ prettyboy at the same time. It ain’t just about Sexy Jason an’ the score I gotta settle with him ‘ta bring us back to square one. It ain’t even just about about Curtis Kanyon an’ his foolin’ himself that he broke me. It ain’t even about the fun I’ll have bringin’ Hell an’ havoc ‘ta that ring.
Oh, sure, it’s about all those things, no doubt about that.
But most of all, it’s for teachin’ everyone once n’ for all, ‘ta never give the Chi-Town Terro good reason ‘ta stand up and prove a point.
Maxwell: I’m on it, Claudia.
[He dials the number and waits a moment. A chipper, professional young woman’s voice is heard halfway into the second ring.]
Front Desk: Holiday Inn Front Desk, how can we help you, Mister… Sterling?
Maxwell: Yeah, Miss… I’m just callin’ to report a racket in room 307, right next to mine. Can ya send up an attendant to check up on what’s goin’ on in there?
Claudia: Tell her it sounds like there’s a war goin’ on in there!
Maxwell: Yeah, did you hear my wife? It sounds like a—
[WHAM! WHAM! WHAM! Both Maxwell and Claudia freeze in horror at the deep, guttural man’s voice bellowing with something that’s not quite a growl, and not quite maniacal laughter, but with elements of both. Maxwell puts the phone back to his ear.]
Maxwell: You hear that?
Front Desk: Yes, 307. That’s Mister…
[She freezes as the name comes up and she connects it to the man who owns it. Would she need to send the riot squad? Thinking fast, she stammers to finish the sentence.]
Front Desk: I’ll - I’ll have someone look into it right away, Mr. Sterling. Hold tight and try to enjoy your stay.
[She hangs up the phone and dials up Room 307, eyes wide with the urgency of the situation. The phone rings and rings with no answer. She hangs up with a sigh. Of course the manager wouldn’t himself be in at this hour to take care of this. Should she call the police, she wonders. JackHammer seemed nice enough when he came through. A bit thick and misogynistic, but otherwise nice enough. She sits another moment before looking around. Nobody’s coming in, and nobody will at this hour. The evening before the phone call was beyond dull. Why should someone else have the adventure?]
Front Desk: Screw it, this better be good.
[She stands up, pinning her long red hair up in her barrette before placing the ‘Back in 5 Minutes’ sign on her desk and making for the elevator.]
Aw, hell. Jus’ when I thought I proved myself, everyone’s callin’ me washed-up. Burnt out. Done. They’re just DYIN’ ‘ta claim themselves as the ones that put ol’ JackHammer away once an’ fer all. I know I messed up against Curtis Kanyon, but that ain’t no reason ‘ta write me off jus’ yet. ‘Specially not with a golden opportunity like this one. This’ll be a friggin’ riot. It’s like ol’ Fox jus’ lined up all the kids I been wantin’ a shot at for ages now. An’ all at once, too… ain’t that just precious. Why thank ya, Fox. It’s almos’ like Christmas came really early this year.
There’s only one lil’ problem I got goin’ in’ta this match, and that’s somethin’ that keeps eatin’ at me. Somethin’ that won’t leave me alone, somethin’ that keeps on doggin’ me. It won’t lemme sleep, won’t lemme live my life the way I wanna live it. An’ it’s been a lot worse since that week with Mike Honcho.
[The attendant knocks on the door of Room 307. The gruff voice of JackHammer answers from within, wide awake but wearily.]
JackHammer: It’s open.
[She opens the door and looks around in surprise. The place is in immaculate order. Not a lamp off a table, not a sheet unrumpled. Surely not the warzone she was expecting. The broad back of JackHammer himself fills the balcony window as he leans stands out on the railing. He turns his head back, the rest of him not turning away from leaning on the railing. Clearlly the magnificent full-moon view of the Windy City has drawn him in.]
JackHammer: Hey, cutie. What can I do fer ya? If y’came up ‘ta chat, I hate ‘ta disappoint ya but I’m headin’ ‘ta bed in a minute. Yer welcome ‘ta join me in that, though.
Attendant: I heard reports of a lot of noise coming from this room. Is everything all right?
[The Chi-Town Terror blinks, as if remembering. He nods.]
JackHammer: Yeah, I had the TV on pretty loud an’ tripped over myself goin’ ‘ta turn it off. Y’know how that is, don’cha?
[He shoots her a slightly pointed look, adding his carnivorous grin to it for added effect. It works. She knows full well something’s up, but is it worth pursuing? It’s not like he’s damaged the place or anything, and there’s no more noise, so why spend more time pursuing something that can only end badly? She nods with a defeated sigh.]
Attendant: Right, it happens. Have a good night, Mr. Lockhart.
[JackHammer tosses her a wink as she closes the door.]
JackHammer: Will do, sweetheart. Will do.
By the way, I wasn’t on about Curtis Kanyon, or anyone else in the federation back there. My problem’s with my ex-wife. Guess I ain’t got her all figured out yet. I’m tryin’ ‘ta train for this match, tryin’ ‘ta get myself prepared-like, and she’s insistin’ on tryin’ ‘ta ruin my life. What’d I do to ya, doll? I sure as hell didn’t break yer heart, ya ain’t got one. Yer brain’s gone the same way too, if ya think anythin’ ya can do can scare me in’ta not doin’ what I wanna do.
Hopefully this’ll teach ya.
JackHammer: Hey, jus’ be thankful ya didn’t bring piano wire instead, doll. S’whatcha get when ya try an’ inflict harm on those ya love. Didja wanna try an’ make it look like a suicide or somethin’? Do ya honestly think people would buy that sh*t?
[He gestures to himself, clearly more than a little insulted. She glares back up at him, teary-eyed with hate and rage as her accomplice still limply hangs unconscious. Again.]
JackHammer: Me? JackHammer? Depressed? Doll, you jus’ don’t know me!
[He chuckles, closing his eyes and happily taking in a deep breath of the night air. The rope creaks as they swing back and forth in the silent darkness.]
God, it feels good ‘ta be alive.
JackHammer: Lemme tell ya somethin’. Nothin’ ya can do could look like an accident. Ya never could do anythin’ right. Oh sure, yer a demon in the sack an’ all. S’the only reason ya got yer boyfriend there, he’s entirely too stupid ‘ta say no ‘ta ya regardless of how brainless yer ideas are. Or how obvious yer motivations.
[She screams an obvious expletitive at him, unmistakable despite the gag. For a moment, JackHammer looks hurt, before he cackles with glee.]
JackHammer: Why do ya do that ‘ta the poor guy, anyway? He ain’t a bad fighter, sure. But’cha know full well he ain’t got a chance against the one an’ only guy ‘ta retire from the profession, that no one dared ‘ta challenge his leavin’. An’ this time I didn’t even damage the real estate in the process! You saw how I handled that fiery little redhead back there, didn’t ya? ‘At’s how it could be with ya, I could do anythin’ I want to either you or yer lil’ Dragon an’ no one would even know. Not the authorities, not the Triad, not even yer dear ol’ Daddy that cut ya outta the empire when he heard ya was comin’ after me. Loved me like a son, he did. Betcha he didn’t tell ya that ‘til he saw what you was really like inside. But count yerself lucky, doll…
[With a grunt, JackHammer reaches over the railing and with a surprising burst of power, drags them both painfully back over the railing. Langxie glares at JackHammer, but all thoughts of resisting are gone when she sees the massive butterfly knife in his hand. He catches on to her train of thought, and grins as he cuts the ropes around both her ankles and wrists.]
JackHammer: …I don’t play that game anymore.
[Langxie removes the gag, spitting out JackHammer’s gym sock. What was once a tempting asian siren in a business suit is now a rumpled mess with runny mascara and smeared lipstick. She brims with the impotent rage of a spoiled child that understands her relative good fortune given the circumstances, and yet still wishes she had her way. She spits at him.]
Langxie: Why don’t you just DIE, Jack?!
JackHammer: Because you’d win, babe. An’ someone’s gotta teach ya somethin’ about how ‘ta lose with style.
[She takes a moment to wipe her eyes and recollect herself before glaring at him coldly, her own sadistic grin glinting in the moonlight as JackHammer folds up his knife and pockets it, taking a seat on the limp form of the still unconscious and possibly concussed Shadow Dragon, folding his arms atop his knees and giving her a pointed look.]
God da*n, it’s that smile. Keep it cool, ol’ buddy, or it’s gonna start ‘ta feel like old times again. And ya don’t want that.
Langxie: About losing… I bet you felt awfully good about last week. How did it feel, my dear? Coming face to face with the destiny you deserve? Your dreams, crushed? Your fans turning against you? It’s nice to know I have such a hand in your undoing, you know…
[She tilts her head coyly, the cruel mafia princess and siren all rolled into one. JackHammer sneers, his eyes blazing a moment before laughing out loud.]
JackHammer: Y’only wish ya had a hand in that, babe. Naw, **** happens. Curtis Kanyon won that one with help from his tag partner. Ain’t gonna go that way next time, but he won. ‘Sides, this time I got motivation.
Langxie: Like the motivation you had when you threw away all of what you had, just to participate in this farce?
JackHammer: Exactly, babe. I had a bad thing, I turned around an’ made it a better thing. Y’see, babe… this is what I was born for, what I was bred for! What I’ve fought for, what I’ve bled for! It’s gonna be war an’ I’m right where I belong! It’s gonna hurt, I’m gonna bleed, it’s gonna take years off my life, an’ I ain’t gonna have it any other way.
[JackHammer stands up, obviously lost in the glory of the spectacle, looming over his glowering ex-wife like a typhoon ready to touch down. He cackles and removes a pillbox from his jeans pocket, continuing as he works the pill around in his mouth.]
JackHammer: It’s real nice ‘ta know yer followin’ my progress, babe. Yer followin’ a bit too close, but I ‘preciate it all the same.
Langxie: It’s a pleasure to watch the man that had it all, and pissed it away to chase a dream go down in flames, Jack. You’ve become a ranting lunatic! You were always crazy, and you were always a brute… but before you could at least inflict harm on others. Now… now you’re just a threat to yourself.
[She twists the last word of the sentence into a smouldering, pitying glare. JackHammer shoots her another look, before pulling up his pillbox again and swallowing a second. He looks her up and down wryly, not dignifying this with a response other than sitting his 360 pounds of muscle and mayhem back down hard on her unconscious lover again.]
JackHammer: ‘At’s what you’d want me ‘ta think, babe. No, I ain’t fallin’ for it. Naw, this match is everythin’ I coulda asked for. I got the guy that took my chance at the Xtreme title, What – what kinda guy acts like that anyway? What, he went ‘ta prison an’ grew out his hair an’ carries on like it was a life-alterin’ experience!
[He splays his hands in a sign of mock confusion.]
JackHammer: Then he comes back an’ acts like the mincy lil’ turd disguising his stink with cologne and his shape with an overpriced suit, same as he was before his big trip ‘ta San Quentin! I mean, you saw his friggin’ parody! I was friggin’ insulted! If yer gonna parody the Chi-Town Terror at least have ‘im try an’ light somethin’ on fire! If I had that kinda time, which I don’t thanks ‘ta you… I’da at least tried an’ do the whole thing right, y’know? Aw, hell. He wishes he could be everythin’ I am, an’ can’t do anythin’ as well. He even followed me back in when I decided ‘ta get back ‘ta America. Y’see, babe? If I’m such a failure, how’s this guy shadowin’ my every move?
[Langxie’s face belies her delight in setting him up for this trap. First his will to fight will break, then she will savor his descent into nothingness.]
Langxie: But the other two, my love. One is right, you’ve been nothing since you’ve come back. He’s broken you, you haven’t been the same, you know it…
Aw hell, babe. Don’t lob ‘em nice and fat over the plate like this. Ya think yer hurtin’ me but ya got no concept as ‘ta how I work. Can’t believe I once thought we was soulmates…
[The crack of JackHammer’s knuckles as he balls his hands into fists echoes off the wall of the building. He grins as he relaxes himself, leaning forward and looking up into her eyes, not unlike some predator ready to strike. He speaks quietly.]
JackHammer: I don’t believe this… ya honestly think ol’ Dirty Deal’s got ‘ta me? Just cause have lost a match here or so. They thinks ‘cause I ain’t retaliated that I won’t… gimme a lil’ more credit, babe. I’m gettin’ to it. Hell, theyv'e even written me off, which jus’ makes it perfect. I jus’ hope they got nice an’ comfortable an’ unafraid. That way it’ll hurt all the more when I do it, ‘cause I’m gonna take it nice and slow. They’ll scream an’ he’ll cry ‘ta whatever God they believes in, an’ I’ll laugh all the harder because. An’ even the humiliation after I’m done will seem like heaven, after the hell I put ‘im through. It’ll be jus’ beautiful. Jus’ you watch, babe. Jus’ you watch. Hah!
Langxie: And Sexy Jason, the man who showed the world you were in fact mortal? Who after losing to him you left for awhile? He has nothing to prove against you, I know it, the world knows it… you are a broken husk of what you were when we were together, love.
Strike three, babe. Ya jus’ gave me another reason ‘ta win this.
JackHammer: Betcha like him, doncha?
[She tilts her head coquettishly, catching the bit of envy in JackHammer’s tone.]
Langxie: He’s handsome. I could stand to get to know him better…
JackHammer: Y’always did have a thing fer weridos. S’why ya liked me back then, s’why yer ballin’ Sleeping Beauty here… only type ya can keep around, I guess. Hey, he got me once, I’ll hand ‘im that. He ain’t the guy he was then, though. I might like ‘im now. He’s a bit darker, a bit meaner. Bit more like me, an’ that’s always a good thing. Could stand ‘ta have the guy as a friend in all fairness. Still, I got somethin’ ‘ta prove an’ it’s only after I’ve had my fill of blood an’ chaos an’ glory that I’ll start lookin’ fer buddies.
[He stands up, suddenly seizing Langxie by the arms and hauling her into the room. She naturally freezes and tries to fight him off.]
Langxie: What – what are you doing?! Let go!
JackHammer: Not to worry, babe… I told you, we’re over. I got no intention o’ hurtin’ ya.
[He pulls open the front door and forces her into the hallway. She matches his blazing eyes with her own, looking past him. JackHammer looks back as well, before catching her intentions. Her poor beloved, still bound and gagged on the balcony. His voice is low, almost sepulcheral.]
JackHammer: Oh, riiiight. Well, I said I didn’t have any intention of hurtin’ you. I didn’t say nothin’ about him. Don’cha worry yer pretty lil’ head about it, though. You’ve left ‘im ‘ta rot before, you can do it again. G’night, babe!
[His eyebrows shoot up with that last statement. JackHammer cackles with the evil intent of an entire jail block of serial killers, and closes the door in her face. As the lock clicks into place, she stares at the door aware there’s nothing she can do. Finally, she makes her way to the elevator on her bruised ankles. She pressed the button. The door opens, and her heels click on the floor as she steps inside.]
I’ll always love ya, doll. Too bad ya never felt the same.
Well, that about did it. Here I thought I wanted ‘ta win this before. Not only ‘ta come back from this slump, an’ not only ‘ta tear up three guys I been meanin’ ‘ta have a few words with for a while now. Now I wanna do it ‘ta shatter her little ambitions down once and for all. But it ain’t just about that. It ain’t just about Ron Gibson an’ his trying to live his dual lifestyle as tough guy an’ prettyboy at the same time. It ain’t just about Sexy Jason an’ the score I gotta settle with him ‘ta bring us back to square one. It ain’t even just about about Curtis Kanyon an’ his foolin’ himself that he broke me. It ain’t even about the fun I’ll have bringin’ Hell an’ havoc ‘ta that ring.
Oh, sure, it’s about all those things, no doubt about that.
But most of all, it’s for teachin’ everyone once n’ for all, ‘ta never give the Chi-Town Terro good reason ‘ta stand up and prove a point.