"I Am (A Weapon)"

[Jace O'Brien]

"ALREADY FINISHED."

Jace O'Brien stood along side Georgia as she announced that the monstrous Frost would be the one facing Arianny Blake with the stipulation that if she lost she, Mondae and Shawn DeLise would all be terminated from their contracts. Upon returning backstage, Frost and his wife, Alicia, went their own way. Jace, however, stopped Georgia. She turned on her heels, eyes falling on the Bay Area Champion, who looked a little more worried than we're naturally used to seeing. 

"What's wrong, Jace?" Georgia asked, watching as he brought a hand up and ran over his mouth. "Are ya' sure about this, love?", was a quick reply from the champion. She looked a little perplexed, but without hesitation he carried on,

"This Frost bloke. Are ya' sure you wanna' use this guy as your secret weapon? He may have a history in the business, but I'm your man. You chose me, remember?" She nodded her head in response, a sly smile stretching her painted lips. "Of course I remember. Don't get offended, Jace. Yes, I chose you to protect me - and other than the one issue we had, you've done a fantastic job. But. I need Shawn, Mondae and Arianny gone - this is my chance to do that."

"I chose Frost for a few reasons. One; yes, he has quite the history in the business for being a monster. I know that. And two, and most importantly? You're defending your championship against Hanalei Brightly at Deception. I need you to focus on that, Jace, so you can keep the championship around your waist."

Jace remained silent. His thoughts jumping from the match against Arianny Blake to the match that was just recently announced; against Hanalei Brightly. Jace solidified himself as a solid threat in the ring tonight when he soundly defeated Aaros. Now he would have to face Hanalei in his first championship defense.

It would be a knee jerk reaction for Jace to say something along the lines of, "I could take her and Arianny at the same time" - but he remained silent. Georgia took a step closer, placing her hand on the faceplate of the championship that hung loosely over Jace's shoulder.

"Your job at Deception is primarily to keep this, Jace. Let Frost do what he does. Let Frost dismantle and rip apart Arianny Blake - killing this Mean Girl Mafia forever. And after? Things will be a lot better for all of us."

Georgia smiled, turning and beginning to walk away again. Jace stood motionless, watching his employer walk away - leaving him to think about the self-proclaimed "Head Hunter" Hanalei Brightly."

===================

"Hanalei, you don't quite know what you're getting yourself into."

Sitting on a steel fold out chair. Isolated. The Bay Area Champion's eyes were locked on the camera.

"Am I impressed that ya' beat a novice little girl who should have followed in her mother's professional footsteps instead of her fathers? Am I impressed that ya' beat a guy who falls asleep during the middle of a match? The answer to both of those questions is no.

You've had a cakewalk here so far, love. You contributed in the ending of a pipe dream for a little girl, and you deaded a narcoleptic - all while I was fighting real talent. Defeating men like Bryce Alright, Aaros and giving Archer a hell of a war that he'll never forget."

He leaned forward, picking his championship up from the floor. 

"In case you've missed a thing or two here, I have this company in my hands. Georgia is wrapped around my finger and she practically handed me this championship by feeding me Bryce Alright. But this is mine for a reason, Hanalei. Georgia knew what she was doing when she put me in line for the championship. She knew that I was going to rip and tear right through Bryce Alright. She took a look over the roster and realized that there was no other person that deserved this. That would go to the lengths that I will in order to destroy someone. 

She knew that the Bay Area Championship belonged with me. And that it will forever belong with me."

Pause. His eyes shifting to the floor for a second and his hand lowering his championship down onto his legs.

"You talk a lot of the changing of the guard, ay? How ya' gonna' shake things up around here, make things better and such. Love, as I've said - you've faced a rookie and a guy who spends more time a sleep in the ring, than he does competing. There is no changing of the guard, not now - not as long as I hold this championship. You will always be looked at as just another slag that talked a big game, and got her mouth permanently SHUT by someone better than her.

But I applaud you, Hanalei. You took out my mate, my friend - Jackson Kendrick - with a lead pipe. You showed a ruthless side to you and for that you get a shred of respect. But with that said, don't get cocky. You took out someone who's a fraction of the man that I am and you needed a weapon to do so. I am a weapon, Hanalei. Needless to say, I'm bigger and much stronger than you are. My striking is far superior and when it comes to abilities - I have it in spades over you, love. In order to even get close to taking my championship away you'll need your lead pipe and every prayer answered by whatever god you pray to. 

But close isn't good enough.

You're going to have to kill me in order to take the championship off of me. And if Archer or Aaros couldn't do that, I don't see you having a better chance."

He said kissing his teeth in disdain for his opponent, whom firmly believes that she has a chance in this.

Only a brief moment of silent passed before the champion pushed himself up to his feet. The jeans he wore straightened, and the sweater he wore unzipped from our previous point of view, was actually just zipped at the bottom. He slung his championship over his shoulder before his eyes returned to the camera.

"No changing of the guard is gonna' happen at Deception, love. I'm the first ever Bay Area Champion - the first champion of the new RSW, and it's not going to change especially at your hands.

I'm the champion because I'm a fuckin' butcher in that ring, Hanalei. And at any moment I can flip that switch and tear you to fuckin' pieces. 

I can. And I will.

No one will remember you when I'm finished at Deception, but the reign of Jace O'Brien is gonna' be legendary. I hope ya' had fun in the spotlight while you had it, love. Because you're not just gettin' started - you're already finished.."

And that was that. Jace smirked, threw the camera a little wink, and began to walk away.

[Jace O'Brien]

"WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE"

Rolling in from black, we’re greeted with the passing views of what is the Bay Area coast line from the view of a traveling car. The sun sits high within the sky and the trees are a rich, green color. Music plays in the background, not very loud but loud enough to just make out that it’s the band Prong and the song is “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck”. The driver of the vehicle is none other than the Bay Area Champion, Jace O’Brien, who nods his head with the beat of the song playing. How fitting it is to see the king of the Bay Area division with his kingdom in the background as he cruises down the highway.

Jace has his eyes focused straight ahead of him on the road, but his focus is split. The road in front of him, the music playing, and of course the match coming up in just under a week. He knew that Hanalei Brightly would be a formidable opponent for him. She’s coming into this match with an undefeated record and a chip on her shoulder because of it. You could make a very solid argument that she deserves this opportunity, and Jace would support it. He’s not upset about his opponent choice. But Jace is going to do what it takes for him to remain the Bay Area Champion at Deception.

You see, Jace has earned the position he currently finds himself in within the RSW. He’s come into the company and dominated everyone that he had to: Dallas Blake, Bryce Albright, Aaros and he took Archer to hell and back. Georgia DeLise saw the fire in his eyes and the sheer brutality that he brings to every match, that’s why she hired him to be her bodyguard. And sweetening the deal, she gave him the chance for the Bay Area Championship - and Jace hasn’t looked back at all. Taking the title from the clutches of Bryce Albright and continuing on.

Hanalei Brightly would be a different beast though.

And you can’t help but notice that Jace feels slightly jaded at the fact that Georgia went out to find someone else to do her bidding, instead of relying on Jace. She put her faith in him before, and now - what? Was he not good enough?

In Jace’s mind, he was going to correct that horrible mistake that Georgia made in her mind. Frost may have experience, size and everything going his way - but there’s a reason that Jace has been billed as the Bay Area Butcher. Dallas Blake fell victim to the strikes that were fired off like assault rifle ammunition. Aaros was out wrestled from the very beginning of the match. Bryce Alright was made to look like a fool by the in-ring intelligence of O’Brien.

And just think, all of those people make Hanalei look like a rookie straight out of wrestling academy.

Jace was coming into this title defense with every intention of hurting Hanalei. Georgia wants to hire a monster to do her work? She had to look no further than Jace O-fucking-Brien.

The statement he made against Aaros wasn’t enough, and so now he had every intention of leaving the self-proclaimed “Head Hunter” laying in a pool of her own life source in front of every San Francisco resident that shows up to the Arena.

Finally, Jace’s eyes would catch the camera in his peripheral. His left arm that rested casually on the armrest located on the door was brought up and placed on the wheel to replace his right hand that moved up to run his hand over his bearded face.

“Hanalei, I want to make something perfectly clear for you because I don’t want you to come into Deception with any misconceptions.

There’s no way you’re walking out of The Arena with my championship.

I don’t care what you have to say about the matter. I don’t care for your thoughts or opinions, love. Nothing you say in front of these cameras or nothing you do in the ring will serve useful for you and the fight you’re stepping into.

I have a new fire igniting me to physically punish anyone that I step into the ring against. I have this drive, this determination to take you and rip you limb from limb and there’s nothing that is going to stop me from doing just that. You’re going to have to rely on that speed of yours, on that agility that you have against me - but that’s not going to be enough, love. It’s going to be hard to run around when I kick your legs to the point where you can’t put weight on them. It’s going to be hard to jump and flip off of the ropes when I drive you, and keep you planted on the mat.

I have a lot more to offer than you do, love. I’m bigger and stronger than you are, and your technical abilities and striking are inferior compared to mine. What chance do you have against me at Deception? Think logically. I will eliminate your speed and agility rather quickly and what will that leave you? Your heart and resiliency?” He scoffed at the idea. Those two things would not be a factor in this, he thought.

Shaking his head from side to side, he took a moment before he began speaking again. “Those will break quickly after you realize you’ve made a grave mistake taking on this match. You’ve willingly thrown yourself at the foot of the machine that is Jace O’Brien. That is easily the worst mistake you could have ever made. This isn’t going to be painless and believe me when I say that it won’t end quickly.

Because the message I thought I sent with Aaros clearly didn’t get through to some people. So you? You’re as good as dead. Everyone who turned a blind eye to what happened at Vendetta will be forced to watch as I decimate and destroy you completely. I’m going to methodically rip you apart and scatter your remains all over San Francisco as a reminder that THIS is what happens when you try to step up to dethrone the Bay Area Champion.

You become a fuckin’ corpse.”

Jace would stop speaking when a smirk began to form over his lips. It was around this time that he noticed the screen of his cell phone, that rest in the center console, come to life. A text from an unknown number appeared.

"What do you plan to do about this situation?"

Jace would masterfully use one hand to reply to the message, all while not taking his eyes from the road.

"What needs to be done."

[Jace O'Brien]

"LAID TO REST."

“Seems as if some slag wants attention.” Exhale. “What else is new?”

Flicking the cigarette he previously enjoyed away, Jace shoved his hands into the pockets of his ratty, ripped and torn jeans. His white “wifebeater” style top worn fitted to his body frame. The Bay Area Champion stood outside of an unfamiliar location. He dressed in what we previously saw him in during his last video, giving us the indication that this video took place immediately after - when we finally got to his destination. After stopping, he retrieved his iPad and watched the last promotional video of Miss Hanalei Brightly, his opponent for the upcoming Deception pay per view. Daft bitches. Lifting his head, his eyes focused on the sky above for a second as he collected his thoughts.

“Little miss sunshine is upset that I didn’t heed her warnings. That I shrugged off everything she said; things like how the championship changed me into an arrogant arsehole. Something like that, yeah? Am I in the ballpark?

Do you want to know why I’ve done what I’ve done, Miss Brightly? Because I have nothing to worry about. Your warnings are the mindless drivel of an incompetent hack who may have looked impressive in her last two matches, but anyone would look impressive standing next to two piles of shite.

Maybe I jumped a little ahead of myself before when I thought you would be a formidable opponent. I was solely going off of your track record without actually researching the opponent. But now under a different light, I find you to be a waste of time and air. You barely made it through two nobodies like Raven and Arthur and somehow think you're going to get through me?”

She wants some respect it seems, but Jace’s chuckle at his last remark would be the ultimate form of disrespect he could give without saying a word. The Welshman didn't hesitate for a second, continuing immediately. “Don’t fool yourself, love. With a bit of luck, you’ll be able to leave the ring on your own free will - but I wouldn’t even bet on that.

As tough and as resilient as you claim to be, Hanalei, it’s not going to help you any. You haven’t stepped into the ring with a striker like myself. You haven’t stepped into the ring with someone who possesses the abilities that I do technically. I don’t care how much gas you claim to have in your tank that takes you the extra mile - as soon as I kick your fuckin’ head off of your shoulders, it’s all over. As soon as you receive that Death Wish from Wales, your night - and maybe even your short, pathetic career - will be over.”

He took a short pause, allowing that to sink into Hanalei’s mind. It wasn’t arrogance that filled the Bay Area Champion, it was confidence. It was truth. “Your past trials against the previously mentioned sods haven’t molded you for success, Hanalei. In fact, they’ve done quite the opposite. You haven’t been tested. You’re still unbruised, unscathed and unscarred.” He smirked “But that won’t last long. And when things don’t go your way, love, you’re going to break down. You’re going to lose your focus, and lose your mind, opening yourself up to make more and more mistakes for me to pick apart - ultimately sealing the victory for me. I told you before, I’m the champion for a bloody reason. I’m where I am because I’m smarter than worthless slags like yourself. A lot smarter.”

He pushed himself off of the car he was leaned against, his eyes narrowing hard onto the camera. “I’ve done what I’ve had to do. I’ve aligned myself with who I needed to and I’ve beaten who I had to in order to be in this position. In fact, the people that I’ve beaten? They don’t even show their fuckin’ faces anymore - THAT’S how badly I beat them, Hanalei. And that is exactly what you’re in for at Deception. Keep spewin’ your shit about being a Head Hunter - you’re no better than the other prats around this place that think they’re tough, bad asses. I’m going to make you quickly realize that the only one in this company that’s as dangerous as they claim to be … is me.”

I don’t make false threats and empty promises, Hanalei. All you have to do is watch tapes in order to find that out. And after things transpired the way they did at Vendetta? I have to send a brand new message out to a few certain people. And I’m going to send that message through you. Like I previously said, I’m going to send that message with pieces of you attached. Limbs that have been ripped from your fuckin’ body. That message will read, Here lies Hanalei Brightly, laid to rest..

Don’t fuck with me. It never ends well.”

That was when the door to the residence opened and out walked Georgia DeLise. She walked out to Jace's car and climbed into the passenger seat after flashing him a smile. Jace entered the car as well and started the engine.

“Thanks for the pick up, Jace.”, she said as he closed his door. “Part of my job to see that your safe, innit?” he replied. She didn't reply right away, instead allowed him to pull out of the parking lot and begin to drive down the road. “Let's go to The Arena. I have some paper work to finish up before Deception in a few days.”. Jace remained silent and did as she requested.

Doing what needs to be done.