Rise of a Saint- Pt 6 A

“When The Betrayer and the unknowing tool work together, they shall form a duo the likes of which have not been seen since the days of Salvation. The Betrayer and the unknowing tool shall, at first, have moderate success…but only because The Saint wills it to be so. The Saint shall allow The Betrayer and the unknowing tool to sabotage a minor plan of his, knowing full well what the duo is working to do. The Saint will watch and he will wait as the unknowing tool slowly evolves and grows…unknowingly marching towards the day that will herald The Saints return…”

~The Book of The Saint

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I lift the newspaper higher up so that it masks my face from the crowd of departing passengers in the airport terminal. Not like it would matter anyways…the world had long since forgotten that I even existed. While that thought annoyed me on some level, it also comforted me because I knew that I could pretty much infiltrate wherever I needed to without a problem.

I adjust the brim of my hat as I notice them getting off the plane. First my primary target and then the one that they called simply “merc.” It was funny how they gave everyone codenames that they thought as fitting or ironic. The one whose full codename was mercenary was named as such because he was fond of saying that he was “the one you need for a dirty deed.” If you asked me, it was a stupid saying for an equally stupid man…but that was the point wasn’t it?

I never take my eyes off the two marks, who are acting as though they have no idea that the other was so close but I knew better. I had well-placed source that had already touched base with me and informed me that the two men had sat next to each other on the flight and that they had been deep in conversation, the contents of which my source was unable to ascertain. Then again, he didn’t need to…because I already knew what they were planning.

The two men walk out into the crowded terminal and try to act naturally…or as naturally as two men who were obviously planning to take down a multi-national terrorist organization could act. Again, I only knew their plans because I had been in their shoes. I knew what it took to go against an organization that followed their leader with an almost religious zeal…I knew what it was like to stand toe to toe against an organization that had taken someone you loved from you and turned them into a monster…I knew what it was like and the feelings that were burning through these men’s hearts.

I knew what it was like to stand against the coming tide…I had fallen…I had failed to save the one that I loved…and it had cost me dearly. They had used the one that I loved against me…turned the one that I loved into a tool that they used to subvert me and my power…then they stole my corporation and my title from me…

I shake my head as I fold the paper up neatly and tuck it under my arm. It was time to go to work…the primary target and the secondary target had both, no doubt, already planned something on the long flight from Tokyo, Japan to Italy. I had seen the two lap dogs talking to the primary mark in Japan…so there was no doubt in my mind that the primary mark already had his marching orders…

All I had to do was kick back and watch the show

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Fast Jet Aerotaxi e Jet Privati
Verona, Italy
Monday, April 16th
2012

I adjust the weight of my travel bag on my shoulder as I walk through the airport. I sigh as I think to myself

“Thank god this job isn’t in an airport”

I fucking hated being in airports. After years of traveling around the nation and around the world with both NLWF and IWF, I was so sick of the hustle and bustle of a busy airport terminal…especially when it came to foreign countries. For some reason, when it came to foreign airports, the entire building seemed to be more…crowded.

I make my way through the airport and eventually come to the front doors. The glass sliding doors slide open automatically as my weight triggers the censors and the warm, Italian air greets my nose. A small smile spreads across my features as I close my eyes and take a deep breath, enjoying the freshness of the air. That was another thing I hated about airports and flying…the horrible recycled air.

After a few moments I open my eyes and see a man dressed in a suit and tie standing in front of a black town car holding a sign that read “Casey.” I didn’t usually order drivers when I went abroad…my paranoia always led me to believe that the drivers were former criminals who were going to mug me and sell my internal organs on the black market…but the Rollins Sisters had assured me that the driver they hired to escort me to the site of the next job was a member of The Insurgency and would, therefore, not allow any harm to come to me. I think back on the meeting I had with Trinity and Kate Rollins in Australia, remembering the job they had tasked me with next…

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IWF Spring Fling Tour 2012- Stop II
ANZ Stadium
Sydney, Australia
Saturday, April 14th
2012

I pause at the top of the ramp, soaking in the loud cheering from the jam packed ANZ Stadium crowd. The Australian fans had always been die hard wrestling fans. I feel a twinge of guilt shoot through me as I look out over the crowd and see someone with a “BRING BACK THE CARNIVAL OF VIOLENCE” sign. Shadow Demon and The Notorious K.I.D. were definitely two performers that IWF could use right now. Shadow Demon and I had a particularly…dysfunctional…relationship outside of the ring. SD and I had a long history…most of it being absolutely horrible. But there was always a mutual respect between SD and I that was rare for me to have for another competitor.

I gave the fans one last wave before turning and walking through the curtain. I quickly walk down the stairs leading down from the stage and through the long dark corridor that led from the backstage area to the gorilla position. I smile and nod at a few of the stage hands that I happen to run into on my way to the Upper Limit locker room. I knew that Robbie Hart had probably already packed up and left. He had been kind of distant recently…but I attributed that to the fact that Loca was pregnant and Robbie had to spend weeks at a time away from the woman that he loved.

I arrive at the Upper Limit locker room and push the door open. I take a few steps into the locker room and suddenly freeze as a familiar voice calls out from behind me

Trinity Rollins
You know what you did to Sharky wasn’t very nice

I shrug my shoulders as I finish walking over to my locker and open it. I grab a towel and wipe the sweat away from my face before turning and locking gazes with Trinity Rollins

Corey Casey
Is the girl who is blackmailing me into working for a terrorist organization really going to sit around and lecture me about good and bad morality?

A laugh rings out from the couch as Kate Rollins, who had been lying down on the couch and had therefore been out of my range of vision, suddenly sits up

Kate Rollins
Hey we’re not the ones who go out there and tell everyone that we’ve changed for the better and then, as soon as the spotlight is off of us, start sabotaging experimental aircraft

I roll my eyes as I walk over to a steel chair near my locker and sit down

Corey Casey
Is this going to take all night? Because if so you’re going to need to make alternative travel arrangements for me considering I need to be in Italy tomorrow afternoon for a press conference

Kate Rollins stands up and walks around the back of the couch. She looks me up and down as a seductive smile appears on her face

Kate Rollins
You know Corey…I would be willing to make sure that you had a nice and warm bed to crawl into once you got to Italy…

I chuckle softly as I shake my head

Corey Casey
Sorry…slutty terrorists aren’t my style. Besides, Jess is meeting me in Italy anyways

Trinity Rollins takes a few steps forward and elbows her sister lightly

Trinity Rollins
Look, we don’t have time for this alright?

Kate Rollins rolls her eyes

Kate Rollins
Spoil sport

Trinity Rollins turns her attention back to me

Trinity Rollins
We have another job for you

Corey Casey
Wonderful…so am I continuing my sabotaging career or am I going to assassinate the pope? Better yet, why don’t I steal Leonardo Da Vinci’s bones for you then you can raise him from the dead and force him to build you some sort of ancient doomsday device!

Trinity Rollins
Shut the fuck up and pay attention. Tomorrow, during your press conference in Rome, we need you to simply say this

Trinity Rollins takes a few steps toward me and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a standard sized notecard which she then hands to me. I eye the notecard suspiciously before reaching out and taking it from her. I look down at the phrase and shake my head

Corey Casey
“So it is written…So it shall come to pass”

I look up from the notecard and meet Trinity Rollins’ bemused gaze

Corey Casey
This is a joke right? You want me to use The Lord’s catchphrase? Why the hell would you want that?

Kate Rollins draws herself up to her full height and dusts herself off

Kate Rollins
Don’t worry about why we picked the phrase that we did…and don’t worry about the chain of events that phrase is going to set off. Just get on Italian TV, say the phrase, and then your part in everything will be complete

I look down at the notecard and chuckle again. This had to be a joke. What the hell could uttering The Lord’s old catchphrase do for The Insurgency. What events were Kate Rollins talking about when she told me not to worry about what was going to happen? I slowly lift my gaze up from the notecard

Corey Casey
Listen I…

I find myself talking to an empty room. Both Rollins Sisters had vanished, leaving me alone in the locker room with nothing but my gear, the furniture, the notecard, and my own thoughts…

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Outside of Fast Jet Aerotaxi e Jet Privati
Verona, Italy
Present Moment

I walk over to the driver of the car and take out my passport.

Corey Casey
I am Corey Casey

The driver looks at the photo on the passport and my information before, without a sound, turning and opening the back door of the town car

Corey Casey
Listen I’m waiting for my…

Jessica Matthews
Corey!

I hear Jess call my name from inside of the town car and laugh. I lean down and see Jess’ affectionately smiling face looking up at me from the backseat of the town car

Corey Casey
Well then…it would seem that the driver found my old lady!

Jess gives me a sarcastic laugh, rolling her eyes and flipping me off at the same time

Jessica Matthews
Oh ha fuckin’ ha

I lean down and toss my duffle bag into the backseat before climbing into the town car. As soon as I’m in the car, I lean over and place my hand gently on the side of Jess’ face

Corey Casey
Oh hai

Jess smiles warmly but I can still hear a trace of sarcasm in her voice

Jessica Matthews
You sure you want to touch my old face?

I laugh and pull Jess in and plant a kiss on her lips. I close my eyes, feeling her moist lips pressing against mine. I feel Jess’ hand reach up and touch the back of my head, her fingers gently gripping my hair. After a moment we break the kiss and I open my eyes to see her smiling at me warmly. That was the thing about Jess and I…no matter how long it had been since we’d seen each other, when the two of us were together, it was like we had never missed a beat

Corey Casey
How have you been? How are the kids?

I feel the car start up and the driver turns and cuts Jess off before I can answer

Driver
Where to?

I pause and think for a moment, trying to remember the location where the press conference was being held

Corey Casey
Uh…Arena de…Arena di…Arena day…

I shake my head after stumbling over the name of the area

Corey Casey
Aw fuck it, take us to the place where the gladiators fought

Both Jess and the driver chuckle at me. Jess suddenly interjects herself into the conversation

Jessica Matthews
Mi scusi sir, potrebbe prendere noi all'Arena di Verona?

I stare at Jess in shocked silence as the driver nods his head

Driver
Si

The driver pulls the town car out into the busy streets of Verona as I continue at stare at Jess. Jess’ smile widens as she shrugs her shoulders

Jessica Matthews
What?

I shake my head as smirk as I put my arm around her, feeling her warm body against mine

Corey Casey
You speak Italian?

Jess nods her head

Jessica Matthews
Yeah, Charlie taught me…

Silence fills the inside of the car, hanging in the air like a thick blanket. After a few moments Jess breaks the silence

Jessica Matthews
Corey…have you heard anything about his death?

I feel a sense of exasperation fill me up as I look down into Jess’ pain filled eyes. I knew I had to tell her. I wouldn’t…no…I COULDN’T lie to her again. Jess and the kids were the only thing that mattered to me and, if there was one person on this planet I knew I could trust, it was Jess. I reach out and slowly press the “up” arrow on the button that controlled the barrier in between the driver and the backseat. As soon as the barrier is up, I turn and look at Jess

Corey Casey
Jess…there’s something I need to tell you

Jess doesn’t say anything…she doesn’t move, doesn’t pull away from me, doesn’t even react. She simply allows me the time to gather my thoughts and to start from the beginning. I reach over and open both windows, allowing the warm Italian air to come whistling through the car. I then lean over and begin to whisper in her ear.

Corey Casey
There is this group called The Insurgency…

The car zooms through the streets of Verona, weaving in and out of traffic as I tell Jess all about The Insurgency, the Rollins Sisters, the job I did last week [though I failed to mention the specifics, if only because I didn’t want her to be dragged all the way into this mess]. I also told her about my chance encounter with Chad Mason on the flight over to Japan and the plan that the two of us had hatched. I make sure to keep my voice down and to only whisper into Jess’ ear, that way the sound of my voice couldn’t be detected over the sound of the wind whipping through the open window.

Jess remains silent throughout the whole thing, only stopping me long enough for her to ask a simple clarifying question. She doesn’t ask for extreme detail nor does she press me for any more information than what I was giving her. After I am done explaining everything, Jess nods her head

Jessica Matthews
So if you’re telling me everything…then what’s the point in continuing to work for them?

Corey Casey
Because I know that if I tell them “no” they’ll hunt you and the kids down and hurt you to get to me and make me do what they want me to do. Also…Chad and I figured out that The Insurgency has something to with Chuck’s death…and I have to go where the clues are pointing me.

Jess nods her head and sits up just enough to plant a kiss on my forehead. She takes my face in her hands and looks at me with a deadly serious look on her face

Jessica Matthews
Just promise me that you’ll be careful and that you won’t let anything happen to yourself

I feel my mouth moving but no words coming out. I was speechless. I had been expecting Jess to tell me to go to the cops, the FBI, the CIA…someone. I had been anticipating that she would tell me that Chuck’s death, while sad, wasn’t worth me possibly getting myself killed over and that I was being stupid. I had expected her to say a thousand different things and I had tried to plan my numerous responses accordingly…but I had, in no way shape or form, planned for her to give this her consent. After a moment I simply nod my head and utter

Corey Casey
I promise

No sooner had the words left my lips than the driver’s voice suddenly comes over the intercom

Driver
We’ve arrived

Jess sits up and straightens her clothes. She turns and looks at me for a moment with a critical eye

Jessica Matthews
Straighten out your sport coat and leave your bag here

I straighten out my sport coat and run my fingers through my air before nodding my head

Corey Casey
Let’s go


TO BE CONTINUED…





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…::: CC and Shark vs. The World :::…
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Is Steel Angel trying to punish James Shark and I? Or is he trying to punish the rest of the roster? Honestly…this is a legit question. Because I am sitting here, trying to figure out just why it is that Steel Angel would inflict such horrible punishment on the rest of the roster like this. I mean, Steel Angel is not only endangering the lives and careers of everyone that he sends into the ring against us…he is endangering the livelihood of IWF in general.

Why you ask? Well let’s see….you have two guys who used to be friends and who used to be on the same team together against a rag tag group of opponents who have no idea what they’re doing. All they’re [I’m sure] being told is to go out and hurt Corey Casey and James Shark enough so that way Steel Angel can cash in his briefcase.

In fact, let’s look at the hypothetical situation here for a second shall we? Steel Angel has two options as of right now:

1.) Cash in his briefcase this week after the main event and become the new IWF Champion. While this sounds all fine and dandy on paper, the implications for the buy rate for Bloody Sunday is less than good. You know why? Because people KNOW that I have, can, and will whoop Steel Angel’s ass from here to the moon and back again. I have beaten Steel Angel not once, but TWICE on PPV…in fact, I don’t think Steel Angel has a single pinfall victory over me EVER. People know that I would destroy Steel Angel at Bloody Sunday and so they wouldn’t even buy the PPV. But hey, maybe Steel Angel doesn’t give a shit about IWF right?

2.) Steel Angel cashes in on me after I beat James Shark at Bloody Sunday. Now, I’m sure that Sharky is going to say that he has a little bit of an issue with this particular viewpoint but that’s not what’s being argued here. Getting back to my point here, with the WEW War looming, let’s say Steel Angel once again decides he’s going to do the ETA thing and cash in on me right after the main event of Bloody Sunday. Well…this would be great and all for Steelio but the problem is…Steel Angel would be IWF World Heavyweight Champion and would go on to represent IWF in the Champion vs. Champion match…

I’m going to say this again…STEEL ANGEL would represent IWF in the champion vs. champion match. Does that concern anyone else or is it just me? Because I don’t know about everyone else…but the mere thought of a glorified mid-carder like Steel Angel representing IWF in a battle that is pitting us against the shit talking ingrates over at WEW scares the living shit out of me! In my mind there are only two people who are fit to represent IWF when it comes to the champion vs. champion battle against WEW…

Corey Casey

James Shark

NOT Steel Angel

But go ahead Steel, try to work your little magic here. Use the power of the briefcase to your advantage…I mean, that’s what you’ve been doing this entire time right? You’ve been working the angles to try and get yourself into a pretty good position haven’t you? Just working the strings to make things just right. And yet…you still aren’t the champ. You know why Steelio? Because every single time there has been someone standing in your way, preventing you from stealing the title…

Me

I’m not doing it because I’m scared of you Steel…I’m not helping James Shark cause I like the guy. Frankly, I think James Shark is a pompous ass with an ego so big that he makes Jason Hawk look like the single most humble guy in human history. I keep title blocking you, Steel, because quite frankly, you aren’t worthy to represent IWF at this critical juncture. You aren’t worthy to step on up to the plate and be the man here in IWF. You don’t have the testicular fortitude to be a leader...you have shown that in the past. Rick Christian hired you out to lead a band of competitors against Upper Limit and what happened?

You got your fucking ass beat from pillar to post by Brandon Macdonald…you got your ass kicked by Robbie Hart…and then I put you to shame not once BUT TWICE! Seriously, do we need any more proof than this folks? Steel, let me be up front with you for a second here dude…I think it’s time you came to terms with the stark truth of the matter at hand…

You just
Don’t
Have
It
In
you

That’s all there is to it. I keep title blocking you because I am fighting for the good of the company that I helped to create from the bottom up. I keep stopping you from cashing in on James Shark because I want IWF to be as strong and powerful as it can be heading into this war with WEW. I want IWF to be led by someone who has led before…someone who has experience being on a team and leading a team…most importantly though, I think IWF should be represented by a person who knows what the fuck they’re doing and who has held the title before…

And that sure as fuck ain’t you kiddo

Anyways, back to the impending match at hand. Corey Casey and James Shark fighting in a gauntlet match vs. the entire rest of the IWF roster and, to top it all off, its under Mason’s Law rules. First of all…Mason’s Law has to be the single most retarded fucking rule set in the history of the world. I mean honestly, what the fuck was Chad Mason trying to prove by even creating something as moronic as Mason’s Law?

Sorry…that’s not the real meat and potatoes here is it? No, the real question I’m wondering is…

Who the fuck is going to stop Sharky and I besides Sharky and I? Seriously…ask yourself that question for a second. Is Cody Taylor going to come out and give us a run for our money? No…because that would mean fucking his homie James Shark over. Is Robbie Hart going to enter into this match and fuck up James Shark for me? No…because that would involve handing me a loss in the process. So who the hell does that leave in the back that could possibly hope to step up and stop James Shark and Corey Casey?

Sean Libby has been around for awhile and has been on a winning streak…but let’s be real here for a minute…when you’re in a battle against a guy who sucks as bad as SM Raye for your girlfriend who clearly is a championship chasing slut like Serai Leone…well….I’d say you have bigger things to worry about wouldn’t you agree? I mean Libby clearly has his head all fucked up and can only focus in on SM Raye right now…he doesn’t want to come down that ramp and step into the ring with Sharky and I…that’s for damn sure

Who else we got? Stormingraven and Red Dragon might be fun entries…but they’re too green. Do they look like rejected members of the Insane Clown Posse? Absolutely! Do they scare the pants off of all the ten year olds in the suburbs on Halloween? I have no doubt that they do. But just because you look like someone shot you in the face with a make-up bazooka doesn’t mean you can hang with two of the top three talents in IWF today. What it does mean is that you can go back to being the freaks that you two are and that you can go back to whatever Iparty Halloween section you crawled out from. Because news flash:

October isn’t for another few months boys

I’ll go all fucking day with this shit…just ripping wanna be fucking no bodies new holes to breathe out of. Ryan Apollos might be a threat….if this were 2008 and he were still “The Legend Slayer.” The only legend Apollos has been seen slaying is “Legends of the Hidden Temple” on the original Nintendo. Ryan Apollos is a dried up fuck whose best year [yes I said YEAR singular because, that’s be real, the best stretch of Ryan Apollos’ career was during the few months that I carried his sorry ass as a member of The Militia].

Is anyone else seeing the pattern here folks? There just isn’t anyone that can even hope to step on up to the plate and take down Sharky and I…besides Sharky and I. Seriously, the only way that I am going to walk out of Italy a loser is if Sharky doesn’t put aside his motherfucking pride and he decides to turn on me. Because again, just being honest here, Sharky has a history of jumping dudes from behind and hitting them with his fist…oh and by the way, if you have any questions about Sharky fucking dudes with fists just ask Sho’No Mercy I’m sure he’d be the first one to tell you…

Shark I’m going to be 110% honest with you right now…I am going into Spring Fling’s third tour stop with one thing on my mind…and that’s winning. I plan on walking into the Arena Di Verona and putting on a display that would make the gladiators who fought and died there proud. I plan on fucking up one competitor after another until there is no one left to destroy. I am going into Spring Fling’s third tour stop with the sole intention of standing against the odds and fucking winning.

Either you’re with me…or you’re against me…and I’ll give you a hint Sharky m’boy. If you get in my way…if you even think of trying to jump me…

Then Shark Season is going to come one week early and I am going to rip your fucking head off of your shoulders and mount it on my fucking wall

Ya dig?