The Struggle: Act I "Hell"

[Thomas Uriel Bates]

The Struggle: Act I “Hell”

Scene I “Senator Thomas Uriel Bates”
The Vintage Cigar Lounge – Huntsville, Alabama

Thomas Uriel Bates looked very Senatorial wearing his grey three-piece tailored suit. Standing next to him, also dressed in bespoke suits were Grayson “Gemini Battle” Pierce, Mikey eXtreme, Danny Anderson, Doug Murdock, Charles Anderson, and Konstantin Noskov. Everyone held their own glasses of Scotch, and various types of cigars. They were all there; brothers sharing in the joy of one of their own.

Unknown Voice: Tommy!

Carrying a glass of Glenfiddish forty-year-old Scotch Whisky in one hand and an empty glass in the other stood a man that brought a smile in everyone’s face. Bates smiled and stretched out his arm, grabbing the shoulder of the new arrival and pulling him in towards the group.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Gonzo! Glad to have you back!

George “Gonzo” Murdock II poured himself a glass of whisky and joined the celebration between the friends. They stood there briefly for some small talk, before heading over to the lounge’s comfortable leather chairs. They all took their seat as the television behind them showed the news of the day, the Elections of 2016.

Grayson Pierce: So Tommy, now that you’re Senator, you’re not going to leave us behind, are you?

Bates took a draw from his Churchill sized cigar and after tasting, blew out the smoke. He smiled as he turned towards his friend.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Never. I might not be in the ring nearly as much, but I’m sure y’all will be okay.

George “Gonzo” Murdock: What about our Trios titles?

Thomas Uriel Bates: We’ll see if Seth will be okay with one of our other guys covering for me. Doug covered for you a bit. Maybe Mikey or Danny can fill in for me.

Mikey eXtreme: I’m already the People’s Champion, give it to Danny.

Danny Anderson: I’ve already got the Hardcore title, give it to Doug.

Doug Murdock: Really guys? Thanks!

Grayson answers his cell phone as the rest of the gang chat away, discussing more plans of what to do with Bates no longer being in the WCF. Doug goes on about being maybe replacing Bates with the Trios Titles, and Gonzo giving a few ribs at Doug’s expense. This group, the Dark Riders Gang, they were not just another wrestling stable, they were truly a brotherhood. Nothing would ever separate them.

Grayson stood up and turned to Bates.

Grayson Pierce: Hey, the wife’s here. I’ve got to step outside for a minute. She’s wanting to see me before the movie starts.

Bates and Gonzo stood up, nearly at the same time.

Thomas Uriel Bates: I haven’t seen her in ages, I’ll go with you just to say “hi”. I’ll be brief.

Pierce looks slightly frustrated.

Grayson Pierce: But what if she wanted…

George “Gonzo” Murdock: The movie starts in ten minutes, could you do it that fast?

Grayson Pierce: Well… no…

The three men, the Defilers of Logic, all exited the Members Only lounge of Huntsville, Alabama’s Vintage Cigar Lounge and walked past the bar to the exit door. There was Grayson Pierce's wife, as beautiful as she could be. As Grayson approached her, he held out his arms and dropped to his knees. He wrapped his arms around a young energetic boy and smiled as he kissed him on the forehead.

Grayson Pierce: Teddy!

Battle stood, and walked to his wife.

Grayson Pierce: Go play with the boys for a bit.

As Grayson went to speak to his wife, Teddy Pierce walked towards Thomas Uriel Bates and jumped as high as he could, barely reaching the giant’s waist. Bates bent down, and lifted the boy up in his arms with a smile.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Hey Teddy! You going to the movies?

Teddy Pierce: Yea Uncle Bates! We’re going to see Ice Age!

Thomas Uriel Bates: Good! You tell me how you like it, alright buddy? And don’t tell me the ending this time!

Little Teddy laughed as the big man poked his belly, tickling Gemini’s son.

Teddy Pierce: Hey, Uncle Bates, can I ask you a question?

Thomas Uriel Bates: Sure little buddy, you can always ask me anything.

Teddy Pierce: Why weren’t you there for me?

Bates looked at young Teddy with a confused look.

Thomas Uriel Bates: What do you mean little buddy?

Little Teddy stared right in the eyes of the Mountain of the U.S. Senate.

Teddy Pierce: When I died.

Bates’ puzzled look soon turned to absolute horror as young Teddy Pierce began to decompose right before his very eyes. The skin shrank and soon peeled away revealing rotting muscles which soon gave way to a greying skull. The child that he watched grow up, now turned to ash and flew away on the wind.

Shocked, in horror, terrified beyond his abilities to compose himself, Bates turned to his friends. He turned to George “Gonzo” Murdock, who now appeared to him in torn and bloodied clothing, with cuts and gashes all over his body, his head being nearly severed from his body. Bates stepped back, colliding with the iron bars on the patio of the establishment. He turned his head quickly to Grayson, hoping that this was all just a dream and that little Teddy would be in his arms.

Instead he saw his once best friend staring menacingly towards him with eyes red with anger. His unpainted face changing right before him, revealing the twisted look of Gemini Battle.

Gemini Battle: This is all YOUR fault!

Bates collapsed on the ground completely, trying to scoot away from the angered Gemini who continued to look accusingly at him.

Gemini Battle: Your fault!

Gemini Battle: Your fault!

Gemini Battle: Your fault!

Scene II “Guilt”
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Newark Airport – Newark, New Jersey

He shot up from the bed faster than bullet with his bed soaked with sweat. His eyes wide open staring at the wall as his body shook. He felt weak. He felt terrified. He felt guilty. It was all just a dream, but how much of it was real? How much of this right now is real?

Bates moved his feet off the bed and reached over to grab a robe. As the muscular giant stood, he threw on the robe, covering his naked body. He stumbled forward, finding his way towards the bathroom in the dark. He flipped on the lights as he stared into the mirror, expecting to see the accusing and painted face of Gemini Battle, or the decaying corpse of young Teddy. Instead he simply saw himself staring back at him.

He turned the water on and cupped his hands, collecting a sizable pool. He splashed it on his face, then another, and then another. He stopped for a moment, allowing the water to drip from his face. Without looking, he reached for a plastic cup and filled it with water. He chugged it down, then filled up another glass. As he brought the cup to his lips, he stared at himself once again. Guilt turned to anger and the giant threw the cup against the mirror, splashing water across the entire bathroom.

As the water slid down the mirror, he continued to stare at himself. Here he was, going up against Gemini Battle for the WCF World Championship, and all he could think about was how he let Gemini down. All he could think about, was no longer being able to see little Teddy Pierce.

After going to the memorial service for one of his best friends, he was expected to go to the funeral of a child? Another of his best friend’s own child? To see the casket laid into the ground, that tiny casket. To see the other children coming to the realization that little Teddy won’t ever be able to come outside and play anymore. To see his best friend beside himself with grief. To see everyone’s world, including his own, turned upside down? It was too much.

Does this make Thomas Uriel Bates a coward? Yes. He can face any challenge in the ring, face down anyone in a fight, hold strong against even the mightiest of foes, and lead his men to victory, but bury a child? He felt for Gemini, he knew it broke him. He knew that with Teddy Pierce’s death, Grayson Pierce died as well.

Bates turned from the window, and walked towards the closet of his room. He opened it, and reached inside a suitcase. He pulled out a stack of letters, each one addressed to Grayson Pierce, and each one stamped with “return to sender”. He may have missed the funeral, but he did try to send messages.

He wrote each of those letters by hand. The careful penmanship showing the careful thought put into each word. This was not a time for emails, or twitter, or Facebook. Bates could not make it to the funeral, but he would at least have the decency to write his own letter of condolences. It wasn’t enough, but then again nothing is enough.

He looked through the letters as he sat on the bed. There was no need to open them, he knew what each one said. He knew the pitiful words he used to try to make his friend feel better. As if anything can make a father feel better when they have just lost their child.

Gemini Battle lost a son. Thomas Uriel Bates lost a nephew, and a best friend, a brother. Maybe he did it to himself, or maybe Gemini Battle needs to lash out. Maybe Gemini Battle needs to pin the blame on someone and fight it out.

Bates could be that person. When they first started feuding, he felt that it would be good for Gemini. Bates can take the hits. He can take the fights. When everything is done, when everything has been let out, the two of them can go and get a drink, and move on. Brothers sometimes need to fight.

But this is different now. Gemini Battle stepped on their friendship, literally. By stomping on the picture of Gemini and Bates with their deceased friend, Bates felt that Gemini Battle cast away their entire friendship. Was Gemini Battle justified? Maybe, but at this point, it doesn’t matter.

The two of them were hurt. Over different things, over the same things, the two brothers were hurt. The only thing that can happen now, is for the emotional pain to transform into very real physical pain. This Sunday at Revenge, the two men can make that transition.

Scene III “Losing the Shine”
Global Strongman Gym – Brooklyn, New York

So what do you do when you can’t shake something out of your mind? You get busy. You find something to do, and you keep doing it to get your mind off things. Thomas Uriel Bates was a man with a lot on his mind. WCF Revenge, a World Title Shot, a fight against his old friend Gemini Battle, and what appeared to him as a pesky annoyance; “The Shine” Brent Alpine.

So what does a man like Thomas Uriel Bates do to get his mind off things? His mind was always racing, always coming up with something to say, something to do. If he wasn’t thinking about an upcoming match, or a feud with someone, he was thinking law, politics, religion, military tactics, new fighting styles, what to have for breakfast, who to have it with, all good conversations to have with himself as he went about the day. So sadly, nothing seemed to work at getting Thomas Uriel Bates to get his mind off things.

Except sometimes a good workout. He pushed himself to the limit each and every time he worked out, both to build up his body, and to build up his mind. It gave him peace. Now more than ever before, even more than Mexico, Thomas Uriel Bates needed to find peace.

Today however, was not his day. The thoughts of Gemini still rang in his head. The last few months kept playing over and over in his head. The only thing distracting at the moment, was “The Shine” Brent Alpine. He wasn’t the focus point for Bates’ thoughts, but rather he was the distraction.

It’s no surprise that Thomas Uriel Bates was going to face Gemini Battle soon enough for the World Championship. Bates and Battle were the last two at Ultimate Showdown, and the two had history. The moment they exchanged harsh words, the match was destined. The wrench in the gears was Brent Alpine. He had no business being in this match, except that Seth Lerch wanted to vacate the United States Championship and give it to someone else for some grand scheme.

Bates stopped working out. He had just benched pressed over 500 pounds for three sets of five. The sweat emitting from every pore of his body was a testament to his extreme workout style. He wiped the sweat on his face away with a small white towel as he sat up. He faced the camera with the same annoyance we’ve come to expect from him.

WCF Cameramen, and at times WCF Drones, followed Bates around like a lost puppy. He was after all the WCF Television Champion, and Seth Lerch, or Sarah Twilight, or whoever was running the show wanted to make sure that the Television Champion was in fact on Television. This of course, also meant that Bates was expected to address his opponents on camera. So with yet another roll of his eyes, and a deep annoyed sigh, the Mountain of WCF spoke.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Here I am just days away from a WCF World Title shot against my good friend turned enemy Gemini Battle, and someone else thinks he can just come right on in and shine away. Brent Alpine thinks he can just stroll on in and be crowed “Number One Contender” and think he’s going to walk out of Revenge with the World Title. He can think it all he wants, but it’s not going to happen.

You see, “The Shine” Brent Alpine thinks there’s some kind of conspiracy going on. That there’s this big web tangling him up, preventing him from achieving greatness. He’s right, there is a big web tangling him up. It’s the web of lies he keeps telling himself in order to cope with losing at Ultimate Showdown. He couldn’t cope with the loss, and now he’s coming unhinged yet again. It’s another Brent Alpine Breakdown, and I’ve got a front row ticket don’t I?

You see, Brent Alpine has only ever held this title that I have, the WCF Television title. It’s the only thing he ever knew. At Ultimate Showdown he finally got something else, he got the United States Championship and what does Seth Lerch do? He takes it away from him. Brent needs something to replace that, and what better than the WCF World Championship?

Now Brent Alpine just had his chance for the title. He had the chance at Ultimate Showdown, and he lost. To be fair, so did I, but I finished second, Brent Alpine finished what, fourth? Gemini Battle won the Ultimate Showdown, but you want me to let you in on a little secret? It wasn’t Gemini Battle that took out Brent Alpine, it was me. I put him in The Badge, and I eliminated him. He wasn’t satisfied with that, so in a handicap match against me, I did the same thing. Hit him with The Badge and the referee counts to three.

Brent Alpine has come up against me twice now, and came up short. For crying out loud he gets a partner to team up with him and he still loses. Brent Alpine is heading for Breakdown Number Two, and the whole world can see it but him. It’s not a conspiracy Brent, did you ever think it might just be you?

He does get to be present when I take on Gemini, and even though it’s a slim chance, he does have a shot at the World Title as well. He’s going to be waiting for me to focus too much on Gemini and then he’s going to try to just sweep in at the last moment and steal away the victory. He’s going to be in there treating this like just some regular old wrestling match.

He couldn’t be further from the truth. This isn’t just a wrestling match; this is a fight to the finish. This is Thomas Uriel Bates facing off against Gemini Battle. The Mountain of WCF versus the Clown Prince thinking he’s an Alien of WCF. Brent Alpine enters this fight and really all the fans can say is, “who cares?” Brent is stepping into this match expecting it to be just a regular old match, and he’s not prepared for what will happen at Revenge.

Brent Alpine is going to walk down to that ring thinking he’s going to get a real shot at the World Title. He’s going to get lost in that match. He’s going to be brushed aside like the annoyance he really is. I wouldn’t be surprised even, if he left the match in frustration. This match is between Gemini Battle and myself. Brent Alpine is just interfering.

Bates stands up, tired already of the conversation. He went back to his workout, setting the weights for a Deadlift. Yes, he was going to train to fight against even Brent Alpine, and he’s going to make sure he’s ready for whatever Brent has to offer, but Alpine isn’t the main target. He isn’t the main focus. He’s just some shiny thing being drowned out by all the clouds.

Scene IV “Hell”
Great Kills Park – Staten Island, New York

During the day, Great Kills Park can be the place of fun. Everyone smiling, everyone enjoying themselves, everyone going about their day as if the World was not some dark and scary place. Beneath the waves, swimming around all of the daily visitors in the darkness of the water, can be any manner of creature able to ruin the day. Sharks inhabited these waters, and while there hasn’t been a shark attack in New York City for about sixty years, it was due.

During the night, Great Skills Park can be a beautiful scene, although often abandoned. All those smiling faces seeking enjoyment, now go to seek enjoyment with the night life of the cities. They face other creatures there, even more menacing than those beneath these waves. Sharks of a different kind exist on the ground, and their hunger cannot be satisfied. Still, the fear of being pulled into these dark waters and being torn apart by razor sharp teeth, the small chance that somewhere on these shores one may find only a piece of you, kept the visitors way. If you want to swim in the dark, the pool at the hotel is a great place to go, not the waters of any Bay.

Yet here we are. Alone, uninterrupted by the crowding fans, viewed only by the cleverly disguised camera of the WCF, knee deep in the water we find Thomas Uriel Bates. His dark blue trousers soaked by the Bay, his unbuttoned maroon shirt occasionally splashed by the waves. He stared at the moon, either unaware, or unaffected by the dark terrors of the waters.

Another dark terror occupied his mind. Not the twisted appearance of his upcoming opponent, no. Not the sick sense of humor of a man who as a child most likely pulled the wings off butterflies just to pass the time. No, this was the dark terror of a friendship that has ended. The thought of never being able to call up this friend just to say “hi.” The thought of never being able to swing by for a visit, or never being able to socialize with the families ever again. To never being able to enjoy the open roads in their bikes. To no longer having a brother.

He had kept his composure, for the most part. He was upset, but most saw it as him being angry. They viewed it as he was going to crush Gemini and Alpine at Revenge and be done with it. If only they knew the turmoil in his heart. If only they knew the thoughts racing in his head. If only they could hear the screams he dared not let past his lips.

Tonight he was alone. Just him and the moon. Even the stars seemed to stay at a distance. Tonight he could be angry. Tonight he could have those thoughts. Tonight the turmoil in his heart could be set free. Tonight, the screams he dared not speak, could finally pass his lips.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Our friendship used to mean something!

As he roared through the night, the creatures hiding away in the shadows took notice.

Thomas Uriel Bates: We were friends! We were brothers! And you cast all of that away?!

The more skittish creatures, fearing a menacing predator, fled. The sounds of their flight drowned out by the echoes of the screams. Even now the creatures of the dark waters had cause to fear, for the Mountain of a man released his frustration in the waves, punching the water as if it were the cause of his turmoil. He screamed once more.

Thomas Uriel Bates: I made a mistake, Gemini!

His fist dropped, the water moved on, and his anger, his screams, silenced. Here, knee deep in the waters, he dropped to his knees. As the water filled up to his chest, he spoke not through his vocal cords, but through his heart.

Thomas Uriel Bates: I thought you would have been proud of me. Happy that I was running for the Senate. You even said so, Gemini. You said I was going to change the world for the better.

His eyes closed as he turned away from the moon. His breaths became deeper, and when he opened his eyes he looked down into the water, into his own despair.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Was it all just a lie? Something to tell me as I parted ways just so I wouldn’t feel guilty? You knew I would be gone for some time. You knew I wouldn’t be around, and yet here you are now angry with my absence.

He shot back at the moon as he rose back to his feet.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Time on the campaign is long and stressful. You miss things, even those that you really shouldn’t. You miss time with family and friends. You miss workouts, you miss dinners and lunch. When you’re going from one city to another, trying to go house to house, you find little time for yourself.

I made the time to come and support you. It cost me. Being attacked with that pipe by the lowlife Wade Moor was my consolation prize for showing you support. With stitches in my head, and the world’s media demanding I answer to the brutality of wrestling, I still came to pay my respects to our good friend and fellow brother George Murdock.

He turned his gaze away from the moon, and stared at the water once more.

Thomas Uriel Bates: It was when I got back that I heard about Teddy’s passing.

Silence now. The thoughts rolling around in his head needed time to settle before he could find the words to speak. His eyes focused on the dark waters, and what lies beneath. No longer angry at his foe, no longer angry at his friend, but anger towards himself. A self-pity that envelopes the soul, and brings a grown man to tears. He elevated his eyes towards the moon, and once more his screams echoed in the night.

Thomas Uriel Bates: It was a mistake!

He diverted his eyes yet again, and spoke as only a man pouring his heart out can.

Thomas Uriel Bates: I didn’t make it to his funeral. I allowed the campaign to dictate my every move. More media interviews, more talks about the values of wrestling and why it shouldn’t be banned even as the camera focused on the staples in my head. I allowed myself to be distracted. I allowed myself to abandon my friends, my brothers.

I tried to call. I left messages. I wrote letters. I sent emails, twitter, Facebook, every way I could reach out, I reached out, but nothing in return. I chalked it up as you were still grieving, and who wouldn’t be? Who wouldn’t need time away from the world when they lose a son?

He stared once more to the moon.

Thomas Uriel Bates: Not more than a sentence do I get from you, Gemini. Not more than one sentence. From Teddy’s death, to the day I returned, nothing. Sure I made a mistake, but who doesn’t? I asked for forgiveness, Gemini. I begged it of you then, and I even beg of it from you now.

What do I return to, Gemini? I may have abandoned you, but you too have abandoned me. You too have abandoned yourself. You retreat to this alien fantasy to escape from the harshness of reality, yet you condemn me for escaping in my way?

His sadness turned now to anger as he barked at the moon once more.

Thomas Uriel Bates: I came back! I came back for you, and I came back for all my friends and brothers! I came back for you, Gemini! Instead of forgiveness you offer me torment? You offer me resentment? We’re all trying to cope with Teddy’s death, but you have pushed us all away!

He swung his fist at the waves once more as he crashed to his knees. The waves growing stronger, pushing him back even further, now crashing against his face. His anger turns to sobbing as if he was but a child.

Thomas Uriel Bates: I’m in hell, Gemini.

He stared at the moon once more.

Thomas Uriel Bates: And so are you.

The waves envelop the Mountain, carrying him into the deep dark waters, surrounded by the creatures of the deep. The sharks, the squids, the unknown monsters lurking beneath the waves, all surround the man known as Thomas Uriel Bates as he drifted off into the deep.