Dr Nero
versus Bruce Thorn Jr. 2
“Clear!”
Nero pushes the defibrillator paddles onto the chest of the dying man. A large metal pole is sticking out of the man’s side as nurses frantically rush around the stoic surgeon. Nero as always stays calm while he attempts to save a life.
“Clear!”, Nero continues to work, not noticing his white coat is now covered in blood. He pushes down probing for a heartbeat. A blip is heard. A nurse relays the message to Nero, who immediately throws the paddles down and demands a scalpel.
“There’s no time to transfer him to a theatre. Bring the light closer and….”
4 years ago
… “Move!”
Nero swings a barbell into the tattooed giant’s chest! Other inmates circle around the two men. Eager to watch or perhaps get involved themselves to help the man which whom their allegiance falls with. Nero stands over the prison’s current big fish holding the barbell. He scans the circle for any movement from the blood thirsty crowd. “Big Fish” is holding his chest in pain, almost helpless to get up. Nero squats down so he can whisper in his attacker’s ear.
“Next time I guess you’ll move.”
Nero stands up and again quickly scans the crowd. “Big Fish’s” little guppies look eager to pounce. But Nero gives them a glance, discouraging any such course of action. His message is seemingly relayed and he throws the barbell away.
“Someone better help your friend to the infirmary, he’s going to need medical …
2 Years ago
… “Attention!”
“You know it and I know it Clement. There is no one on this planet that is better than me. Be it in the ring or outside of it promoting PWC to a worldwide juggernaut. Who do you think is going to do it? Xander Black? The guy refuses to talk to the media, and by the looks of him haven’t had a shower in years. It certainly isn’t fragile Kyle Elric. He can’t handle the pressure. He’ll leave the moment it gets too tough. I want that title shot Clement.”
Clement loosens his white and green striped tie. He nervously clears his throat before looking up at the wild eyed Legacy Champion.
“Jason, you only have to retain your Legacy Championship one more time before you have earned your title shot. You are making the legacy Championship very prestigious every moment it sits around your waist. PWC is a bigger and better place already because we have two main events. The World title and the Legacy title matches are bringing huge amounts of revenue that no doubt your accountant has seen a large portion of it transferred to you.”
Clement takes a breath. He slinks over to his desk and sits on it trying to act casual, almost friendly. He wipes the sweat from his top lip before continuing.
“PWC is in a building phase, you’re a big part of it. Establishing a Championship that is not the World title is very difficult, yet your high profile and meteoric rise has elevated the Championship to levels not even thought to be achieved. Especially at this stage of the game.”
Nero still isn’t happy. “Clement, you can spin this as much as you want. But whoever holds the
“World’s Championship, symbolises they are the very best. I’m the best, but I’m not recognised as such due to your incompetence.”
Clement has had enough of this conversation and wants Nero to know his place. “Look, it’s very simple. Defend the Legacy belt one more time and you’ll get your World title match. No one will be able to dispute your number one contender status, because you had earned it. Earned it in front of the world. Please Jason, it’s one more match. If you’re as confident as you are that you can become World Champion, then defeating a Legacy Championship contender should be no problem…. Should it?
“I’ll jump through your hoops”, says Nero. “But you’ve just left a lot of money on the table. One of these days you’re going to…”
3 months ago
“Wake up!”
Ellie backs away, she can see how frustrated Nero is. He has just lost the World Championship on the grandest stage of the sport. And due to a stipulation, is unable to compete for it as long as the man who beat him remains Champion.
“It doesn’t matter anymore if I’m the best. Clement has blocked my right to be seen as such. What’s the point!?!?”
Ellie tries to calm her companion with a kiss, but he refuses her advances.
“The embargo on your rematch will lift as soon as Hammerpunch is no longer Champion… All we have to do is make sure he loses the belt. You’ll get your rematch as soon as we take it away from him. Clement will want to follow up on the success of his new Champion as soon as possible. Whoever it is Clement gets to take the belt from Hammerpunch, we have just got to make sure it happens.”
Nero is still unhappy he is no longer the Champion. He is less enthused that his nose has been broken in the war with the man who has taken his belt. Nero calms himself. He thinks to himself that the time it will take for his nose to heal should be about the same time it will take to ensure Hammerpunch loses the title to the next challenger. Nero will be ready then to get his title rematch and once again become…
7 weeks ago
“Champion”
Nero stands in front of the interim PWC General Manager Ms Brittany Page. The old saying “It takes one to know one”, rings true in every sense Nero says to himself. He is standing in front of a master manipulator, who hides herself behind her pink blouses and reading glasses.
“It’s been weeks since Hammerpunch lost the World Championship. MY World Championship. You will give me what is owed, MY rematch."
Page looks frightened, intimidated by the former Champion. She looks away hunching her shoulders together so her cleavage becomes more prominent in Nero’s direction.
“I’m really sorry Dr Nero, I mean Hammerpunch also deserves a rematch. I don’t know what to tell you. There’s…”
“Cut the scared little girl act Page,” Nero snipes. “Don’t play innocent with me. You might be able to fool idiots like Clement and the Board and anyone else you want to get this position of power. I don’t really care what you’re doing or what you’re up to. As long as it doesn’t interfere with my title shot. Do you understand me?”
Page cuts the act. She sits back in her chair and removes her glasses. She takes her hair out. As her golden locks fall over his shoulders like a waterfall, her green eyes stare up at the God Complex with true intent.
“While Mr Clement is away Doctor, I’m in charge. Hammerpunch getting his revenge on Crowley and trying to get back the title is box office gold. I’m striking while the iron’s hot. This match is going to make it rain money around here. So you’ll wait your turn like a good little boy. When it’s your turn, I’ll letchya know.”
Nero straightens his back, checks his perfect tie and smirks.
“Very well Ms Page. I’m just going to have to destroy everyone one on this roster until I get what I want. By the time it’s done, you’ll have no one left to headline your precious main events. Remember, this is all on…”
Yesterday
“You!”
Nero sits in the backseat of a stretched limousine. Ellie sits beside him in a tight pants suit. Her hair is up and she is taking notes. Nero is on the speaker phone with Ms Page.
“I don’t speak to underlings Page. You’re not in control any more. Put Clement on the phone immediately.”
The sharp, cold tone of the PWC Chairman’s assistant spits back over the speaker.
“Nero, the match will not be changed. You WILL go one-on-one with Bruce Thorn Jr on the last Vortex before your match with Jacob Bianchi at the pay per view event. It’s funny how you think you can throw your weight around demanding whatever you want. Reality check Doc, you have no power here. Like I told you months ago, you just be a good little boy and do what you’re told. Oh and if you anything but go to WAR with your new BFF Thorn Junior, that World title rematch of yours you keep barking about… It’ll be ripped up, and you can start from the very bottom again like when you first came in!”
As always Nero’s facial expression doesn’t change. He keeps cool and calm. He’s been in higher stressful situations than dealing with this petulant child.
"So what is it Ms Page that Bianchi holds over you? He has something big he’s blackmailing Clement with, that was obvious from last week. Too bad he just wasn’t good enough to beat Thorn. But you.. what does he have over you… or are you just some lovesick puppy that just does what he says. I thought more of you than that Ms Page. I guess you’re nothing but the bimbo we all thought you to be. Hang up Ellie, I no longer wish to converse with this… disappointment.”
Ellie happily hangs up her. Nero’s valet has said time and again that she would love to get her hands on Page’s neck. That might soon become a reality. In the meantime, Nero’s focus is split.
Bianchi has proven himself an excellent fighter. He took Bruce Thorn Jr to the limit last week. Only a handful of men on this planet can boast to doing so. Nero smirks that he is not only one of them, but at last meeting he bested Thorn. Nero’s new found respect for Thorn was born out of the war these two men had. This time Nero imagines Thorn’s ego will not allow this contest to be an easy one. In fact quite the opposite. Thorn will be wanting to even the score in the win/loss column between them. They have each other’s respect, but they are far from “BFFs” as Page termed their relationship.
“This is obvious Bianchi’s doing Jason.” Ellie only just now realises. “He has got Clement over a barrel and wants Thorn to soften you up for the pay per view.”
“Yes,” Nero agrees. “My preparation for Bianchi is not only interrupted, but I will have to put my body through a match with one of the best fighters in the world only days before I face Bianchi.”
Nero pauses, he is lost in his thoughts for a few moments. Something Ellie is very much accustomed to. She knows not to disturb him while he calculates the various options open to him.
“Looks like Clement wins this round. He always wanted me to “earn” my opportunities. This time round I am going to. Thorn Jr and I will go to war on Vortex. Ellie, you and I will go through our Thorn Jr. game plan from last month. We will re-write counters to the counters. We know each other too well now. Muscle memory will become critical to ensuring I not only win this match, but come out of it uninjured for the match with Bianchi.
As for Bianchi...”
7 weeks ago – Nero standing over Interim PWC Chairperson, Brittany Page –
“… I will be the man who…
3 months ago – Nero standing over Ellie in his dressing room at Last Rites –
“…. humbles him, for there’s nothing he can do…
2 years ago – Nero standing over PWC Chairman Ernesto Clement –
“… for I am unbeatable…
4 years ago – Nero standing over his attacker in the prison exercise yard-
“… this is my world now, so…
6 years ago - Nero standing over a dying man in the emergency room -
“… he can’t be saved. I’m calling his time of death.”