Post by Deleted on May 8, 2009 17:42:58 GMT -5
An airport terminal with surprisingly little activity. This would seem to be explained by the small size of the airport, as well as the night sky seen through the windows. Mikami is seated just outside of the security checkpoint in his business attire, reading from a worn copy of Atlas Shrugged, translated into Japanese. As the camera moves closer, he places a bookmark inside and closes the book before inserting it into a knapsack lying next to his bench.
Mikami: I am grateful that you could join me at this late hour.
He rolls up a sleeve to look at his watch.
Mikami: ...or early hour. I would have brought my own camera, but I worry about what security would think. This way, it looks like something official, or at least legitimate. I am sure that the only reason my request for this camera was allowed is because Mr. Lerch wants to keep an eye on me. He wants to know what I am up to, and he thinks maybe I brought you here to tell you. Now, obviously, I did not come to an airport solely to speak to the WCF fans and wrestlers.
He cocks his head to the side as a thought comes to him.
Mikami: I wish there was a way I could collectively refer to those fans and wrestlers with one word, something like “the WCF Universe”, but that just sounds stupid. Anyway, to explain why I am here, we have to go back to last week. Gravedigger was knocked off of his perch, and I successfully punished Chris Avery for his laziness. There were so many directions I could take from there. To be honest, I was paralysed by the number of choices available to me. So I decided to wait, and let someone else make the next move, while Mr. Lerch pit me against a Ryan Daniels who thought I would be his stepping stone to the World Title. To my surprise – in retrospect, given the way I have been treated so far, it should not have been surprising – no one moved against me. Chris Avery apparently decided that enough was enough. Torture and Creeping Death must be focused on Rick Mad now. And Gravedigger just...
He raises his eyebrows and shakes his head, as if disappointed.
Mikami: ...disappeared. But the vacuum that he left was too large for Seth Lerch to fill on his own. So now we have the return of the Team of Treachery. I understand that I am supposed to be beating myself up for not seeing it coming, but, why? They are of no concern to me. I do not predict the appearance of potential targets. I just deliver the punishment. Jack of Blades, for all his so-called evil deeds, has never really done anything to be considered a threat to the WCF, or my mission. And Logan...Logan, Logan, Logan. I am very pleasantly surprised. He finally did his part to save the WCF. To say that he redeemed himself would be an understatement. I guess it was the right thing for me to not break his leg. Of course, I could say that his transformation was due to my actions, but I am not that vain.
He stands up to stretch out his legs.
Mikami: No, the biggest threat to the WCF is neither of them. Nor is it anyone who was previously a target. In fact, the addition of him to my list is somewhat problematic, given that it conflicts with one of my secondary goals. And that is why I am here.
He sits back down and retrieves the book from the knapsack.
Mikami: This is a story about a man who was weary of being disrespected, and finally called the world's bluff. I can identify with that. So can Gravedigger. That is how this whole mess got started. Gravedigger did not get the respect that he so deserved as a WCF veteran. Obviously, his reaction to that was wrong. But even then, Gravedigger could have been stopped, had the newest member of my list done something. Like Logan and Chris Avery, he is guilty of failing to act. And I will expose him on Slam. But for now, I need guidance.
He replaces the book.
Mikami: Guidance from he who gave me my mission. Because I am not so sure now what my directives are supposed to be. I thought I was enacting his will, and then the security force...
He shakes his head.
Mikami: I will finally get to talk to him, and then all will be clear. I have had no contact with him since I left Japan. He is as cautious as I am. Of course, it is he who erased my past. He who used his power to place me here, with the contract, the audio/visual support, the security force...or so I thought...
A buzzing sound is heard. Mikami pulls a vibrating mobile phone from the knapsack and places it to his ear.
Mikami: Osu. Why? ...I see. Osu.
He hangs up.
Mikami: The flight is cancelled. First, I am put in a tag team match against two men who I grudgingly respect more than my tag partner, and now this.
A sigh.
Mikami: Of course. I am on my own now.
...or am I?
Mikami: I am grateful that you could join me at this late hour.
He rolls up a sleeve to look at his watch.
Mikami: ...or early hour. I would have brought my own camera, but I worry about what security would think. This way, it looks like something official, or at least legitimate. I am sure that the only reason my request for this camera was allowed is because Mr. Lerch wants to keep an eye on me. He wants to know what I am up to, and he thinks maybe I brought you here to tell you. Now, obviously, I did not come to an airport solely to speak to the WCF fans and wrestlers.
He cocks his head to the side as a thought comes to him.
Mikami: I wish there was a way I could collectively refer to those fans and wrestlers with one word, something like “the WCF Universe”, but that just sounds stupid. Anyway, to explain why I am here, we have to go back to last week. Gravedigger was knocked off of his perch, and I successfully punished Chris Avery for his laziness. There were so many directions I could take from there. To be honest, I was paralysed by the number of choices available to me. So I decided to wait, and let someone else make the next move, while Mr. Lerch pit me against a Ryan Daniels who thought I would be his stepping stone to the World Title. To my surprise – in retrospect, given the way I have been treated so far, it should not have been surprising – no one moved against me. Chris Avery apparently decided that enough was enough. Torture and Creeping Death must be focused on Rick Mad now. And Gravedigger just...
He raises his eyebrows and shakes his head, as if disappointed.
Mikami: ...disappeared. But the vacuum that he left was too large for Seth Lerch to fill on his own. So now we have the return of the Team of Treachery. I understand that I am supposed to be beating myself up for not seeing it coming, but, why? They are of no concern to me. I do not predict the appearance of potential targets. I just deliver the punishment. Jack of Blades, for all his so-called evil deeds, has never really done anything to be considered a threat to the WCF, or my mission. And Logan...Logan, Logan, Logan. I am very pleasantly surprised. He finally did his part to save the WCF. To say that he redeemed himself would be an understatement. I guess it was the right thing for me to not break his leg. Of course, I could say that his transformation was due to my actions, but I am not that vain.
He stands up to stretch out his legs.
Mikami: No, the biggest threat to the WCF is neither of them. Nor is it anyone who was previously a target. In fact, the addition of him to my list is somewhat problematic, given that it conflicts with one of my secondary goals. And that is why I am here.
He sits back down and retrieves the book from the knapsack.
Mikami: This is a story about a man who was weary of being disrespected, and finally called the world's bluff. I can identify with that. So can Gravedigger. That is how this whole mess got started. Gravedigger did not get the respect that he so deserved as a WCF veteran. Obviously, his reaction to that was wrong. But even then, Gravedigger could have been stopped, had the newest member of my list done something. Like Logan and Chris Avery, he is guilty of failing to act. And I will expose him on Slam. But for now, I need guidance.
He replaces the book.
Mikami: Guidance from he who gave me my mission. Because I am not so sure now what my directives are supposed to be. I thought I was enacting his will, and then the security force...
He shakes his head.
Mikami: I will finally get to talk to him, and then all will be clear. I have had no contact with him since I left Japan. He is as cautious as I am. Of course, it is he who erased my past. He who used his power to place me here, with the contract, the audio/visual support, the security force...or so I thought...
A buzzing sound is heard. Mikami pulls a vibrating mobile phone from the knapsack and places it to his ear.
Mikami: Osu. Why? ...I see. Osu.
He hangs up.
Mikami: The flight is cancelled. First, I am put in a tag team match against two men who I grudgingly respect more than my tag partner, and now this.
A sigh.
Mikami: Of course. I am on my own now.
...or am I?
