Post by Skyler Striker on Mar 13, 2007 3:14:53 GMT -5
Most people, every now and then, need a few moments of tranquillity (God knows I do right now). Skyler Striker has chosen to take a break from life and have one of those moments. However, Skyler’s idea of tranquil is quite odd. At the current time, the wind is blowing softly, the sky is pitch black, the stars are twinkling quietly, there are no clouds in sight, and the only sounds are the chirping of crickets and the occasional ripple of water that spreads out across the river where Skyler is. The stars reflect in the water until a ripple makes everything wobble. Skyler’s foot has disturbed the water – he is lying on an inflatable pool armchair, simply drifting around the pool. The only light comes from the stars and the full moon, and other than that, it is very dark. We can see Skyler is still wearing his usual clothes, although his sunglasses are absent for obvious reasons. Skyler’s eyes are closed and he simply floats, occasionally kicking to propel him a little. He simply continues this, over and over as the minutes pass by. At one point, however, Skyler’s moment of tranquillity is interrupted.
Jade: Father! I have the results of the test you wanted!
Skyler is startled and sits up, falling off his armchair and going underwater. As he comes back up, he grabs hold of the chair and uses it to float. He wipes the water out of his eyes and looks to the shore, where Jade Striker is standing, a few papers in hand.
Skyler: Well? What are they? Whose voice was it?
Jade: The results were inconclusive. We played back the recording you had and got nothing. The frequencies don’t match any we’ve got on file.
Skyler: Damnit.
Skyler paddles his way to the shore and takes his chair with him. Jade hands him a towel and Skyler dries himself as they make their way to the car. When they get there, Jade jumps in the passenger seat and Skyler hops in the driver’s, starting the car and pulling away. As they head towards their house a few suburbs away, Jade takes look through the various papers she has in her lap.
Skyler: I just don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t answer my last question. I don’t understand why he thinks I have the ability to defeat everyone else. Why me? What makes me so different to any of them?
??: Because you, Skyler, are unique - just like every one of them, although in a different way.
The three-toned voice has chosen to come back into Skyler’s life, and Skyler stops the car in frustration. He pulls over to the side of the road and sighs.
??: You know, Skyler, there’s less to this personality thing than you think. I’m going to have to borrow your father for a minute, Jade. Excuse us.
Suddenly, from nowhere, Skyler is transported into a white room. The room is pure white – no walls, no roof, no windows, no texture, lines or otherwise – just white. Skyler stands on a floor that does not exist in a very weird clothing choice (if it is actually choice, which is unlikely) Skyler is bald, and has on only a set of black boxer shorts. Skyler scans himself up and down and as he turns, he sees three other Skylers. One is dressed in a blue and white Hawaiian shirt and has some ring shorts on, and has his hair spiked with what looks to be an overdose of gel. The second is in a completely maroon outfit, with no tears in his trousers, very different to the torn pants we are now so familiar with. The third has no shirt, and has one tear in his trousers down the left leg. The Skyler that we were with moments ago is the fourth, and looking at the other three, he comes to a realisation.
Skyler: Why does it always come back to personality? Does J.J. Biggs win because he has personality issues?
??: No, but do you win because you claim to be “The Greatest”? Everyone has their own advantages and vices. Your vice happens to lay with personality, and that’s why you are here. You need to once again, figure out who you truly are in order to be ready for War. I’m doing you a favour, Skyler. Trust me – if you can get past your natural barriers of trust.
Skyler: Okay. What’s the lesson here?
??: Try talking to them. Find out what their motivation for fighting was.
Skyler: Okay…
Skyler walks over to the first copy of himself, with the Hawaiian shirt. He surveys him quickly, although the copy does not move. Skyler sighs, feeling almost schizophrenic, but continues.
Skyler: So this is the Fatebringer, huh? I’ve moved on from you.
All of a sudden, as Skyler speaks to it, the copy comes to life, animated and everything. The copy looks like it is on caffeine pills, as it waves its arms everywhere while it talks back.
Fatebringer: Really? Tell me then, Fallen Angel, what makes you so different from me apart from the fact that you no longer rely on fate and destiny?
Skyler: Well, there’s…
Skyler hesitates, trying to find something that is really so different.
Skyler: I’ve matured. I know more as a wrestler. I’ve developed as a person.
Fatebringer: Obviously not enough. You need to accept that during the period of time when you were me, you had some of your happier moments of life. You enjoyed wrestling because it was your passion, not because you had to defend your title week in, week out. Look inside, Fallen One. You know what you need to take from me. Take whatever you thought were your highlights from the first era of Skyler Striker and move on.
Skyler pauses a moment to think and nods, extending his hand to the copy. The copy grins and gives Skyler his hand, but as soon as they touch, the copy disappears. Also, Skyler’s bleach blonde hair returns to his head, although his clothes do not. Skyler is startled briefly and turns his head to the vast expanse of white above him, searching for the voice.
Skyler: I have to do this for the others as well?
??: If you want to be sure of yourself, then yes.
Skyler moves onto the second copy – the completely maroon one – and sighs as he talks to it, this time expecting the movement, which is much more reserved this time. The copy’s voice is also a lot more hardened and formal than the last copy.
Skyler: The Fury Crusader, I’ll take it.
Fury Crusader: It would seem that way. So, do you know what you want from me? Think hard, Fallen One, because the elements of right and wrong in your time as me are very faintly outlined.
Skyler: Motives of revenge that I have to avoid, things like that?
Fury Crusader: Indeed. Although you may want to take my fashion sense. It looks like you could learn a lot.
Skyler: Yeah, thanks.
Skyler shakes hands with the copy which once again disappears. This time, Skyler’s trademark maroon pants appear on him, although there are no rips. Skyler shudders briefly before moving to the third copy, this time confident with what to do.
Skyler: And you, I’ll take it, are purely Skyler the human being.
Skyler Striker: Skyler Striker. Like you claim so much, although I think you may want to rethink saying that until you’ve got yourself together. There’s still more pieces you need to take before you leave here, Skyler. Think about that. Take what you need from me and go find the other pieces.
Skyler says nothing more and shakes hands, the copy disappearing again. Skyler’s black, unbuttoned shirt appears on his shoulders and Skyler looks himself up and down. His eyes are their regular blue, although the red contacts are missing, and his wrist tapes are also gone. The white space is once again devoid except for Skyler himself, although the voice is still present.
??: Missing something?
Skyler: Two things.
Out of nowhere, two more forms of Skyler appear – one is very young, only twelve at the most. He is dressed in his pyjamas and looks very angry. The other is about eighteen, dressed in maroon pants and a grey shirt that reads Index 5 across it. The back reads “#1: Striker”. Also around this copy’s waist is a golden belt reading "HVW World Championship". Skyler walks to the child first and kneels down.
Skyler: The first desire to become a wrestler. Can I take it from you?
Child Skyler: If ya want.
Skyler touches his younger self on the shoulder and the child disappears. Skyler’s trademark red contacts cause his eyes to glow red as Skyler moves to his teenage copy and simply nods at it, and it nods back, needing no words, the first moments of wrestling in Skyler’s life and the first ever championship. As the copy disappears, Skyler’s wrist tapes return, and the WCF Hardcore Championship appears over his shoulder.
Skyler: I don’t think I’m missing anything.
??: Let’s hope not. I have to take you back, there’s someone waiting for you.
The white fades away and Skyler returns to normal in the car on the side of the road. The night stars and the moon are still out, so obviously no time has passed, and Skyler’s appearance is as it was when he was driving. Jade stares up at him, with a confused look on her face.
Jade: Where did it take you?
Skyler: I’m not sure. But I don’t think it’s done with me. Were you waiting for me?
Jade: You haven’t left. You just disappeared and reappeared within a few seconds. Scared me, though.
Jade’s laptop buzzes and she checks it, opening a new email that reads:
To: Jade Striker
From: Dean/Jackson Detective Agency
Re: Shaneyah
Greetings Jade. Mr. Jackson and I have some good news for you. We have located Ms. Phoenix.
Jade shows her father the email and he lies back in the chair, grinning to the sky. The scene fades out soon after.
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
-Sun Tzu
Jade: Father! I have the results of the test you wanted!
Skyler is startled and sits up, falling off his armchair and going underwater. As he comes back up, he grabs hold of the chair and uses it to float. He wipes the water out of his eyes and looks to the shore, where Jade Striker is standing, a few papers in hand.
Skyler: Well? What are they? Whose voice was it?
Jade: The results were inconclusive. We played back the recording you had and got nothing. The frequencies don’t match any we’ve got on file.
Skyler: Damnit.
Skyler paddles his way to the shore and takes his chair with him. Jade hands him a towel and Skyler dries himself as they make their way to the car. When they get there, Jade jumps in the passenger seat and Skyler hops in the driver’s, starting the car and pulling away. As they head towards their house a few suburbs away, Jade takes look through the various papers she has in her lap.
Skyler: I just don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense. He wouldn’t answer my last question. I don’t understand why he thinks I have the ability to defeat everyone else. Why me? What makes me so different to any of them?
??: Because you, Skyler, are unique - just like every one of them, although in a different way.
The three-toned voice has chosen to come back into Skyler’s life, and Skyler stops the car in frustration. He pulls over to the side of the road and sighs.
??: You know, Skyler, there’s less to this personality thing than you think. I’m going to have to borrow your father for a minute, Jade. Excuse us.
Suddenly, from nowhere, Skyler is transported into a white room. The room is pure white – no walls, no roof, no windows, no texture, lines or otherwise – just white. Skyler stands on a floor that does not exist in a very weird clothing choice (if it is actually choice, which is unlikely) Skyler is bald, and has on only a set of black boxer shorts. Skyler scans himself up and down and as he turns, he sees three other Skylers. One is dressed in a blue and white Hawaiian shirt and has some ring shorts on, and has his hair spiked with what looks to be an overdose of gel. The second is in a completely maroon outfit, with no tears in his trousers, very different to the torn pants we are now so familiar with. The third has no shirt, and has one tear in his trousers down the left leg. The Skyler that we were with moments ago is the fourth, and looking at the other three, he comes to a realisation.
Skyler: Why does it always come back to personality? Does J.J. Biggs win because he has personality issues?
??: No, but do you win because you claim to be “The Greatest”? Everyone has their own advantages and vices. Your vice happens to lay with personality, and that’s why you are here. You need to once again, figure out who you truly are in order to be ready for War. I’m doing you a favour, Skyler. Trust me – if you can get past your natural barriers of trust.
Skyler: Okay. What’s the lesson here?
??: Try talking to them. Find out what their motivation for fighting was.
Skyler: Okay…
Skyler walks over to the first copy of himself, with the Hawaiian shirt. He surveys him quickly, although the copy does not move. Skyler sighs, feeling almost schizophrenic, but continues.
Skyler: So this is the Fatebringer, huh? I’ve moved on from you.
All of a sudden, as Skyler speaks to it, the copy comes to life, animated and everything. The copy looks like it is on caffeine pills, as it waves its arms everywhere while it talks back.
Fatebringer: Really? Tell me then, Fallen Angel, what makes you so different from me apart from the fact that you no longer rely on fate and destiny?
Skyler: Well, there’s…
Skyler hesitates, trying to find something that is really so different.
Skyler: I’ve matured. I know more as a wrestler. I’ve developed as a person.
Fatebringer: Obviously not enough. You need to accept that during the period of time when you were me, you had some of your happier moments of life. You enjoyed wrestling because it was your passion, not because you had to defend your title week in, week out. Look inside, Fallen One. You know what you need to take from me. Take whatever you thought were your highlights from the first era of Skyler Striker and move on.
Skyler pauses a moment to think and nods, extending his hand to the copy. The copy grins and gives Skyler his hand, but as soon as they touch, the copy disappears. Also, Skyler’s bleach blonde hair returns to his head, although his clothes do not. Skyler is startled briefly and turns his head to the vast expanse of white above him, searching for the voice.
Skyler: I have to do this for the others as well?
??: If you want to be sure of yourself, then yes.
Skyler moves onto the second copy – the completely maroon one – and sighs as he talks to it, this time expecting the movement, which is much more reserved this time. The copy’s voice is also a lot more hardened and formal than the last copy.
Skyler: The Fury Crusader, I’ll take it.
Fury Crusader: It would seem that way. So, do you know what you want from me? Think hard, Fallen One, because the elements of right and wrong in your time as me are very faintly outlined.
Skyler: Motives of revenge that I have to avoid, things like that?
Fury Crusader: Indeed. Although you may want to take my fashion sense. It looks like you could learn a lot.
Skyler: Yeah, thanks.
Skyler shakes hands with the copy which once again disappears. This time, Skyler’s trademark maroon pants appear on him, although there are no rips. Skyler shudders briefly before moving to the third copy, this time confident with what to do.
Skyler: And you, I’ll take it, are purely Skyler the human being.
Skyler Striker: Skyler Striker. Like you claim so much, although I think you may want to rethink saying that until you’ve got yourself together. There’s still more pieces you need to take before you leave here, Skyler. Think about that. Take what you need from me and go find the other pieces.
Skyler says nothing more and shakes hands, the copy disappearing again. Skyler’s black, unbuttoned shirt appears on his shoulders and Skyler looks himself up and down. His eyes are their regular blue, although the red contacts are missing, and his wrist tapes are also gone. The white space is once again devoid except for Skyler himself, although the voice is still present.
??: Missing something?
Skyler: Two things.
Out of nowhere, two more forms of Skyler appear – one is very young, only twelve at the most. He is dressed in his pyjamas and looks very angry. The other is about eighteen, dressed in maroon pants and a grey shirt that reads Index 5 across it. The back reads “#1: Striker”. Also around this copy’s waist is a golden belt reading "HVW World Championship". Skyler walks to the child first and kneels down.
Skyler: The first desire to become a wrestler. Can I take it from you?
Child Skyler: If ya want.
Skyler touches his younger self on the shoulder and the child disappears. Skyler’s trademark red contacts cause his eyes to glow red as Skyler moves to his teenage copy and simply nods at it, and it nods back, needing no words, the first moments of wrestling in Skyler’s life and the first ever championship. As the copy disappears, Skyler’s wrist tapes return, and the WCF Hardcore Championship appears over his shoulder.
Skyler: I don’t think I’m missing anything.
??: Let’s hope not. I have to take you back, there’s someone waiting for you.
The white fades away and Skyler returns to normal in the car on the side of the road. The night stars and the moon are still out, so obviously no time has passed, and Skyler’s appearance is as it was when he was driving. Jade stares up at him, with a confused look on her face.
Jade: Where did it take you?
Skyler: I’m not sure. But I don’t think it’s done with me. Were you waiting for me?
Jade: You haven’t left. You just disappeared and reappeared within a few seconds. Scared me, though.
Jade’s laptop buzzes and she checks it, opening a new email that reads:
To: Jade Striker
From: Dean/Jackson Detective Agency
Re: Shaneyah
Greetings Jade. Mr. Jackson and I have some good news for you. We have located Ms. Phoenix.
Jade shows her father the email and he lies back in the chair, grinning to the sky. The scene fades out soon after.
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
-Sun Tzu
