"Larsen Brand of Justice." 01

[ZƎRO]

“Miles!! What are you doing?!”

A concerned shout from Lauren Parker grabs the attention of Miles Larsen who stands in side of the ring in the middle of the Larsen International Co. facility in Pasadena. It was odd for a number of reasons. The first being that Miles was inside of the ring. Now generally that wouldn’t garner the type of reaction it got from Lauren, but the next reason explains it. Miles wasn’t wearing a suit or anything of the like, like he normally would. Instead he wears sweat pants and a black t-shirt with an old-fashioned style logo that reads “Larsen International Co.”. He also wore protective headgear, the same kind that a training boxer or MMA fighter would wear.

“What does it look like, Lauren?” looking out of the ring at Lauren as she approached, he replied. She placed her hands on the mat, never taking her eyes off of him. “It looks like you’re making a big mistake.” She expressed legitimate concern for her boss. He held up his hand to his sparring partner/tutor if you will, physically informing him to hold on before he turned around to face Lauren. Leaning on the top rope, he looked down to her.

“Lauren, I’m going to do what I have to do. Contract states that ZERO is to compete, but since he’s M.I.A., someone from Larsen International has to fight.” - “But what about…” - “No. He’s not ready. So I will be the one stepping up to the plate for Larsen International.” Not sure what they were talking about. Lauren did though, and she tore her eyes from Miles, shaking her head. “No. This is reckless, Miles. You cannot compete at Vendetta. You have no ring training, are you even athletic?”

He gave her a stern, almost fatherly look of disapproval. “Lauren, do you really think I would step into the ring if I wasn’t athletic? I’ll have you know I was a tri-county star in track and field when I was in high school.” He sounded so proud of that, even though it must have been thirty years ago. “You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Lauren. I know I don’t have any wrestling experience - but when it comes to knowledge? Sweetheart, I’ve studied wrestling since I was just a little boy. It has always been my passion. So decades upon decades of knowledge I have in here..” He tapped his head.

“As true as that may be, Miles, you’re against a trained wrestler. A highly trained wrestler who made a statement against your hand picked client…” - “An attack from behind, I might add.” - “..a statement that was made, either way. What do you think he’s going to do to you?! It will be a massacre.”

“Massacre, murder, mayhem. Whatever, Lauren. The fact is, this is going to be the classic tale of a bully getting what they deserve. Bryce Alright and his doughboy father attacked ZERO and myself from behind. That is how they established dominance. Not face to face like a man would. And taking his mask! That was the ultimate sign of disrespect! Another classic trait of a bully, Lauren. Well do you know what?! Miles Larsen does not - and will not ever run from a bully. If ZERO doesn’t show up? Then I have absolutely no problem stepping into the ring to serve the Larsen brand of justice.”

Miles went on a little bit of a tirade there. Once he was finished, though, he exhaled deeply while Lauren kind of giggled. “Larsen brand of justice, huh? I can’t wait to see what that looks like.” - “It’s going to look stunning, my dear!” Miles replied, all hints of anger vanishing and being replaced by confidence.

He brought his hands up to the protective headgear and he began to remove it. “Now, I need you to answer me this question.”, he said as he dropped the headgear and began to exit the ring. After he climbed out, he stood next to Lauren. “What color spandex should I wear?”

Lauren couldn’t contain herself. She burst into laughter. Miles stared at her blankly, still waiting for her reply. Through laughing and breathing deeply, she finally managed to answer “You’re not serious, are you?”

The look on his face said it all. He was dead serious.