Wake Up Call

He is dreaming of victory

Biggs is holding his back in pain while Shadow rolls him back into the ring. At the count of eight Shadow barely gets back inside the ring by crawling under the bottom rope. As Shadow gets to his feet he pulls Biggs up, hoisting him into the air and flipping Biggs forward driving him into the mat. The Eclipse! Shadow pins Biggs, 1… Shadow! 2….Shadow! 3!!!!!!

Larry Smith: Here is your winner, and the new APW Overdrive Champion, Shadow!

Shadow rolls off of Biggs letting out a long breath, a sigh of relief. He pulls himself back to his feet as the referee grabs Shadow’s arm and raises it into the air. In the ref’s hand is the Overdrive title which he lays in Shadow’s. He makes his way over to the turnbuckle and climbs it and with sore ribs he raises his arm high into the air, showing off his Overdrive title.

Rival Factions was a brutal battle. But Shadow proved his point, ever since Shockwave he has been telling people that Biggs’ victory was a fluke. He spent years dominating the wrestling world, taking every opponent to new levels, forging himself inside the fires of the ring. Until Shockwave, Shadow was tempered steel, and after that day he began to doubt himself. At Rival Factions he put the nail in Biggs’ coffin. The definitive moment, Shadow proving he could beat Biggs one on one. Moreover, Shadow showed Biggs that when it came down to it, in a straight fight, Biggs would not be able to win. The day seemed a little brighter today, the world was a bit warmer and life felt fuller. Shadow was finally able to rest. Until…

Slade- Wake up!

Craven was in Shadow’s hotel room in Sacramento grabbing the blanket of Shadow’s bed and ripping it out from beneath him. The big guy, who passed out in his clothing from last night and slept on top of his covers, spins over and rolls off the bed. His head hits the carpet first as the rest of his body comes crashing down.

Shadow: Christ man, I’m awake!

He starts to get up as Slade walks around the bed.

Shadow: What the hell man?

Craven speaks slowly, calmly, as if nothing just happened.

Slade- You got a match tonight.

Shadow is not as calm; he’s not pissed just still surprised from being jarred in such a manner. He looks at Slade.

Shadow: Yeah, what about it?

Slade- Just wanted to make sure you were up.

Shadow rolls his eyes and walks to his mini-fridge in the kitchenette. He pulls out a bottle of water and takes a drink, examining his face in the mirror, there is a small red mark from where Shadow’s face greeted the floor.

Shadow: Ow.

He pokes the rug burn with his finger. Then he turns back to Slade who is leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest.

Shadow: Remind me to thank you for that.

Slade- Anytime man, so congratulations is in order.

Shadow: Thanks.

Slade- And no sooner than you win the belt back you have to defend it a few days later.

Shadow: Just like when I won it the first time.

Slade- True.

Shadow finishes his bottle of water and tosses it in the trash can. He walks past Slade and takes a seat in the chair near the desk in the hotel room. Craven turns his head but doesn’t move.

Slade- So how do you feel about that?

Shadow: I am fine with it. Unlike Biggs, I am not afraid to take someone on. Biggs spent months claiming how great he was how he was a true champion, but you know what every time he had to face me he kept saying it didn’t need to happen, how I could never beat him. Yet every time I got a rematch for the belt, I won: disqualification, climbing the ladder and even finally pinning him. Each time he took the belt he was lucky: falling just right or an attack from behind. Biggs could not stand to face me head to head. Rival Factions proved everything. Biggs has and will always be a fluke.

Slade- I’m just glad you’re not sweating this rematch of his.

Shadow: It’s a rematch Slade. I won’t deny him what he tried to deny me. Biggs wants the belt back, but he will not be able to take it. Two out of three falls, all it means is I get the opportunity to beat Biggs not once but twice tonight. Everything he worked for, his entire empire came crashing down at Rival Factions and I know never to allow him to make me doubt myself ever again. Over a waste like Biggs, it’s not worth it.

Craven pushes himself off the wall with one foot and starts to head for the door.

Slade- That’s excellent news. Now, the truck is gassed up, and ready to go. Even the display for this week is on the back of the truck. So get your shower and stuff and meet me downstairs in thirty. We got a lot of driving to do today.

Shadow: But we are already in Sacramento.

Slade- Sure, but we still have to advertise. After all Jeff is paying us extra to promote the shows.

Shadow stops for a second. This was the first time Slade said Jeff was paying them. He just figured it was a way to rip their opponents a new one and drive. “The Main Man” is just about to shut the door when his tag partner speaks up.

Shadow: Slade, are we really being paid for this, or did you snag Jeff’s check book like you did with Shannon Black and JR Rose back in ECFW? Or is this like the time we signed with W.A.W. and you borrowed the money from the corporate account without asking.

Slade- Dude, how many times do I have to reassure you, those were all mistakes. I found that stuff man.

He smiles and doesn’t answer Shadow’s original question.

Shadow: Slade? Slade? Slade!?

“The Main Man” is already out the door and heading down the hallway. Shadow is left standing in his hotel room shaking his head. Then he grabs his clothing and heads for the shower. As he walks he thinks about tonight. It’s as if a burden was lifted, Shadow is no longer Atlas, weighed down by the situation. No now that has been shifted over to Biggs, and that little leprechaun will crumble under the weight of the world, especially without the Overdrive title to pad his shoulders.

Twenty seven minutes later.

As Shadow closes the door to his hotel room, he has his tattered duster on and his black bag slung over his shoulder. Every step he takes has a slight bounce in it. Needless to say, Shadow is a little giddy. His hair is pulled back into a pony tail and still damp from his shower. But the thing that shines the most about him is the gold draped over his shoulder, being held down by his arm and black bag. The Overdrive title looks beautiful once more, now that it is back in Shadow’s possession. As he reaches the elevator Shadow looks at his cell phone. He still has just over two minutes. A soft tune is heard when the elevator door opens. Shadow steps inside and rides the car all the way down. On the ground floor Shadow sees the A.K.A. truck sitting just outside the front door. He crosses the distance quickly and steps out into the Wednesday morning air. Its fifty eight degrees outside and that isn’t what freezes Shadow’s blood. Its what is in the back of the A.K.A. truck. Slade revs the engine and leans out the window saying.

Slade- Move it or lose it Cochise.

Shadow is just standing there, mouth agape at the display Slade has made.

Shadow: You have me, kicking… a… midget.

There is a life size wooden cut out of Shadow posed in the position like he is about to throw his foot up for a big boot. However, due to it being early it looks like he is punting something. That something is a wooden midget cut out, but it looks oddly familiar.

Slade- It’s not a midget, its Biggs. Well it is a midget, but a midget Biggs.

Shadow: You have me kicking a midget.

He doesn’t know what to say. Slade just smiles at him and revs the engine trying to snap Shadow out of his trance.

Slade- He had a hat but it kept falling off.

Shadow: A hat?

Slade- Yeah, like a leprechaun’s hat. You know? It was supposed to read, “Shadow Kicks Leprechaun Ass.” But instead it has to be finite, since the hat fell off. Now it’s “Shadow Kickz Biggs’ Ass.”

Shadow: Is there supposed to be a ‘Z’ in Kicks?

Slade- Sure is. Now come on man.

Shadow cannot help but stare at this off-putting tribute to his success. It’s offensive, violent, misspelled, and incredibly true. He feels a smile creep across his lips. The display looks kind of lifelike. Slade did one hell of a job on it. Obviously he contracted the work out, but it is still very life like. As a matter of fact Shadow could swear that they are moving. He turns his head slightly, following their dynamic but when the light hits him in the face he can see the truth. They are not moving, the truck is. Shadow realizes what is going on and his eyes widen. Slade is waving at him.

Slade- Come one man, we’re running late because of you already!

Shadow starts to run. Slade is not going too fast yet but he is slowly picking up speed. Shadow slings his bag down then back up hurling it into the bed of the pick up truck. It bounces off the edge of the bed and falls into the back. Then Shadow grabs a hold of the Overdrive title that way he doesn’t lose it. He runs faster, taking a deep breath and exhales as he sprints. His grip on the Overdrive title is tight as suddenly the truck stops abruptly. Shadow does not, at least not until he collides with the back of the truck.

Slade- Whoa, good brakes!

He leans out the window of the truck and looks back, wondering where Shadow is.

Slade- Shadow? Hey, you there man?

The passenger door opens and Slade turns back in time to see Shadow pulling himself into the cab of the pick up truck. He has another red mark on his face, luckily there is no blood. Shadow does not look as amused as Slade does. “The Main Man” is actually stifling his laughter. A slight giggle escapes his lip. Shadow is not laughing.

Shadow: You know, I was going to offer my condolences on what happened to you at Rival Factions, but you deserved to be eliminated by some chump names Dandelion.

Slade- Don’t be sore man.

Shadow: Bite me.

He is rubbing the small knot on his forehead now. He is not pissed still just irritated. Craven notices this as he reaches down and picks up his mug containing some delicious hot cocoa.

Slade- So still not mad?

Shadow: Am I supposed to be?

Slade- It wouldn’t hurt. Don’t want you to go soft before your match man. You may have beat Biggs but that doesn’t mean he won’t try to pull something tonight to win the match. You keep this aloof attitude and you won’t have that belt much longer.

Shadow: Oh you really think that Mr. Carefree?

Slade- Sure do. Brake test!

He slams on the brakes again and Shadow, who has yet to put on his seat belt hits the padded dashboard and Craven hits the gas once again as Shadow is slammed back against the chair. With the padding, it’s pretty obvious Slade planned all of this, and he knew to brake while Shadow was focused on him that way the side of Shadow’s head would hit the dash and not his teeth. Shadow now looks a little pissed off.

Slade- Man these brakes are good!

Craven drives along down the road as Shadow gathers his words.  He starts to speak but stumbles over his words because he is a little in shock at what Slade is doing.  Craven eggs him on.

Slade-  What’s that boy?  Did Timmy fall down the well?  Huh?  Cat got your tongue?  Spit it out!  Come on dude just say it already you’re starting to sound like a ruh-tard!

Shadow:  God damn it!  Shut up man!

Slade-  There we go.  Atta boy,  That’s what you need.  That’s the heart the fire.  If you can get pissed at me you can be pissed at Biggs.

Shadow:  What the hell man?

Slade- You’ve got to get angry.  This is the Main Event for the last Overdrive of the year!  Think about it.  This is a shining moment in your career.  Bigger than you winning the Overdrive title for the first time, or even reclaiming it at Rival Factions.  This is your moment Shadow.  Now get pissed!

Craven grabs his cup of homemade hot cocoa and throws it in Shadow’s face.  Everything is in slow motion for just a split second as Shadow’s eyes get wide as he sees the brown wave coming at him, having his eyes open is not a good idea. The reaction is expected by celestial beings but Craven did not think it through.  Shadow begins to scream in pain.  His grabs his face and tries to wipe the hot, but luckily not searing, liquid from his face and eyes.

Shadow: DAH!

There is no way a single word can describe the sound heard escaping Shadow’s lungs.  Slade is actually wincing while darting his glances back and forth between the road and Shadow.  Craven watches as Shadow struggles to wipe his face clean.  His screaming dies down after a few seconds, what appear to be some of the longest in his life.  Shadow breathes hard as he turns to Slade who just kind of smiles apologetically.  Shadow puts one hand on the dashboard and the other on the seat as he turns, incase Slade tries something else.

Shadow:  You smashed me in the face three and burnt me with cocoa.

Slade- Hey, look on the bright side, at least you don’t look like I busted you up with a coffee pot or anything like that.

Shadow:  You smashed me in the face three times and burnt me with cocoa.

His repetition is similar to that of earlier except the tone is not even remotely pleased. Shadow takes a deep breath he is trying to remain calm but Slade doesn’t want that.

Slade-  So help me Shadow, if you calm down I will wax your eyebrows while you are in make up. 

That doesn’t seem to help so Slade does the next best thing.  He lets go of the steering wheel with one hand as they drive on the highway.  Slade takes his right hand and snaps it out hitting Shadow in the chin. Craven shakes his hand in pain as Shadow grabs his face again and Slade speeds up the engine.  Shadow can’t kill him if they are speeding.

Shadow:  What?!

Slade-  You realize who you are?  You are the Texas Tornado, the man who won his first title in A.P.W. in his second match in fifteen seconds.  You took former A.P.W. World Champ John Green to the limit at Rasslemania.  You went six months undefeated, and more importantly you, Shadow, pried that title out of the cold unconscious hands of Biggs just a few days ago and come tonight he plans on trying to take it back.  You go into this match pissed, or you don’t go into it at all.  I want you focused.  He is going to try and get inside your head, he is going to try and manipulate you again.  He wants control and will stop at nothing to get it, so you have to maintain discipline and go out there and lay out that flaming freak before he proves you wrong.

Shadow:  There ain’t no way Biggs is going to do that.

Shadow’s tone is not calm, its seething.

Shadow:  Biggs is not going to steal anything, not again.  He could barely pull himself out of that ring in Hayward he will *not* walk away from this.

Slade- You said you were going to end your war.

Shadow: I Am!

Slade- Then what is this?  Biggs’ Last Stand or something? I thought it was over.

Shadow: It Is!

Slade- I don’t believe you!

Shadow: It is over!

He starts to reach for Slade without thinking. 

Slade- Whoa crap!

Craven sees that and hit’s the brakes one more time slamming Shadow into the dash yet again and accelerating quickly.  While the spirit was right the actions could have been horrible.  Slade quickly exit’s the highway and pulls over before Slade can regain his senses.  He seems a little disoriented.  Craven jumps out of the truck in a McDonald’s parking lot and walks around the truck, opening the passenger door and pulling Shadow out of the truck.  People start to stare like there is going to be a fight.  Shadow stumbles a little dazed to his feet. 

Slade- There you go.  Look at you.

Shadow sounds like he is growling as he shakes his head.

Slade- Ladies and gentlemen behold the A.P.W. Overdrive Champion!

Craven motions to Shadow as people realize who they are looking at.  There is a small crowd maybe twenty or so, and they all begin to cheer as Shadow suddenly looks stunned.  Craven walks over to him.  He whispers to his long time tag team partner.

Slade-  You see that bro?  They love it, the anger the fire, the destruction.  You do that tonight and there is no way that crowd is going to let you fall.  You will hear their voice and snap up at every moment.  You will not lose, IF you have that fire.  Biggs want to take what you earned.  He swore you never deserved to be champion.  And then he robbed you of it.  You proved him wrong.  You beat him fair and square, you earned that belt and now you have to give him one last chance to silence you.  He gets a rematch, but this time there is no instant rematch clause, this is you and him two out of three falls.  Three possible matches, two warriors one victor.  You have the opportunity to really end this war.  I beat Cyrus, I did what he could never do to me, I pinned him in the middle of the ring. Sure the title was not on the line but I ended my fight with him.  Now, you do the same.  You finish what you started.  You finish Biggs and show him how a true champion defends that belt.

He pats Shadow on the shoulder and walks past him heading back for the truck.  Shadow stands there for a moment as Slade turns back and says in a loud enough voice Shadow can hear but the people cannot over their shouting.

Slade-  You do this Shadow, and you don’t do it for me, you don’t do it for Dita, you do it for yourself.

Craven turns and walks around the truck, pulling himself back inside as Shadow stands there, his eyes falling on the faces of the crowd.  Slade’s words echo in his mind.  Both of them have huge matches on the horizon.  Slade is facing Level One, but he is not even concerned about that yet.  Slade is telling Shadow what he should be doing.  Even after Shadow wins this match he has to face Hades for the belt and then against either Pence or Biggs yet again.  Three different matches all for the Overdrive title all before the end of the year.  Slade only had one match.  He knew his tag partner was trying to keep the gasoline burning in his veins so his motor would not quit.  Shadow had so much to do.  But first he had to get to Overdrive.  Slade cranked up the engine on the truck as the people are walking closer to Shadow. He has to get to Overdrive though, for one of the first times in his career Shadow had to put himself first. He smiles and waves to the people before turning and jumping back into the truck.  He shut the door and looked at Slade.

Shadow:  Let’s finish this.

The truck roars off back towards the highway, heading for the arena. 

At Overdrive.

Harvey:  Ladies and gentlemen!  Welcome to The last A.P.W. Overdrive of the year!

Chase: That’s right we are just one hour to kick off for what has promised to be one of the most memorable Overdrives in A.P.W. 

Harvey:  And a huge main event will pit Shadow versus Biggs for the A.P.W. Overdrive title once again.

Chase:  Even though I dislike Shadow I have to say that their fight set the pace for the Experts event and really proved how amazing both competitors really are.  Granted the wrong person won, but Biggs will make that right tonight.

Harvey:  There were no losers in that match.  After a fight like that everyone leaves a winner.

Chase: Except the man who doesn’t have the title.

Harvey:  Does anything ever make you happy?

Chase: No, especially when.

Suddenly the lights in the arena go out as the words “You Think You Know Me… You Know Me…” are heard.  The fans who are filling the arena for the dark matches suddenly leap to their feet.  Blue fog floods the entryway as the lights begin to flicker then an explosion rips across the stage as Shadow bursts through the curtain wearing his older gear still with the Overdrive championship strapped around his waist. 

Harvey: And here he is!

Chase: Yes the return of the paper champion.

Harvey: He is not.  You are blind if you don’t believe Shadow is a true champion.

The Overdrive champion walks down the ramp, a smile on his face as he shakes the hands of the fans at ringside.  Shadow is very proud of what has happened.  He walks all the way around the ring before he slides under the bottom rope, his tattered coat dragging behind him.  Shadow gets to his feet and climbs the nearest turnbuckle, entrapping the belt and raising it high for all to see.  As he does this flames shoot out from the other three corners and as they die down so does the music.  Shadow climbs down off the turnbuckle and paces around the ring.  Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a microphone.  Shadow wastes no time and raises it.

Shadow: Biggs! 

He lowers the microphone as the fans switch from cheering to booing. As the spotlight shines on Shadow you can see he spent some time in makeup.

Chase: What’s that on his face?

Harvey: Looks like bruises from his match at Rival Factions.

Chase: No, I don’t recall him looking that bruised yesterday. Look at that goose egg

Shadow is still wearing his sunglasses, and they cover part of what looks to be a small lump just above his eyebrow. There is obviously more makeup on Shadow today than there usually is. It is hiding the bruises from his ride with Slade. Shadow continues to look out over the crowd as he raises the microphone once again.

Shadow: He said it was impossible, he said it couldn’t be done. You know what? He lost!

Shadow lowers the microphone as the fans cheer. He takes a second to smile and bring the microphone back up again.

Shadow: Tonight A tyrant gets his rematch for the Overdrive title and everyone, everywhere has been asking me “Shadow how does that make you feel?” “Shadow aren’t you upset?” And you know what? I’m not. No, I am not bothered by the fact I have to give Biggs a rematch for the belt. I am pissed at the fact Biggs just won’t let this go. Biggs you spent months trying to tell me that I was worthless. That I could never defeat you and that you were the one who deserved to be Overdrive champion. Biggs, you should have just let this go. You got lucky, face it. You beat me; yeah I’ll admit that but then when you were told to test your mettle, you cowered, hid and attacked me from behind. Afraid to fight your own battles and dictated how things would go. You were never anything more than a bully who manipulated others for your own gain. You couldn’t handle facing me head on, Biggs that’s why I chose Rival Factions as the place to end our war. It was a straight one on one match where I did what you deemed to be impossible. It was supposed to end there and here you are clamoring for your chance to make things right in your life. Fine! You wanted your rematch for the last Overdrive of the year and I may just make it your last Overdrive ever. Biggs all you had to do was walk away. But that’s fine. You and me one last time, in the last match, on the last Overdrive of the year!

The fans erupt at this acknowledgement.

Shadow: Slade wanted me to be pissed off. He wants me to have the same attitude I when I fought Hades after One Night in Hell. And you know what? He’s right. Biggs you screwed me over and after everything you’ve done in the past I owe you more than one ass kicking. Hell, I think I owe you a couple of them. So it seems rather fitting that tonight’s match is two out of three falls because it grants me the opportunity to do just that. You get one beat down for insulting the fans, and you get another for pissing me off. I kept saying before Rival Factions that it would be the end of our war. Well in a way it was. The Axis and the A.K.A. are done. Slade pinned Cyrus, I pinned you. Tonight *our* war ends.

He lowers the microphone and pulls off his sunglasses, the bruises Slade gave him really show. It looks like Shadow already had his ass kicked once today, in a way he did. He brings it up holding the shades in his other hand.

Shadow: We’ve dragged this thing on long enough. You said it yourself this would end at Rival Factions but you hadn’t had enough, that or you can’t live with the embarrassment. Which ever it is, it doesn’t matter to me. Biggs, tonight you may think it’s about the Overdrive title, but to me, that’s just an afterthought. They say that great men are made by others. Caesar had Pompey, Grant had Lee and I get stuck with a punk like you. Ever since Mayhem all you have done is run your mouth. Keep doing it Biggs, keep talking, keep digging. Because tonight in front of all these people I will end this war. And believe me this will not be quick, but it will defiantly be painful. The Era of Awesomeness has ended people!

A roar escapes from the crowd. But and after a few second the crowd falls to a hush once again.

Shadow: Let Anarchy Reign!

He raises the Overdrive title up high. The fans leap to their feet and begin to scream loudly, Shadow’s belief in Anarchy inspiring them. Biggs was a tyrant, he had to be dealt with. Shadow, like the rest of the A.K.A. rebelled against authority. And with what Shadow had planned he was not going to let Biggs succeed. Biggs only got a taste of what Shadow would be willing to do to keep the belt. No he was not sadistic, he was not Victor Hades, he would not kill Biggs. Shadow just planned on doing what he was notorious for: all out massacre. Biggs was going to remember Shadow, he was going to remember this Overdrive, and he was going to pay. On the other hand, Shadow would be remember for this by the fans, he would make things right but most importantly, Shadow was going to win.