The waves batter the beach as a storm off in the night lights up the distance. The waves here are very chaotic as they crash against the shore. Each wave seems larger than the last, yet in truth they are simply large for this area of the gulf coast. Storms here tend to kick up waves rather easily. Some are much larger with hurricanes or tropical storms. A sound is heard that is not the waves. It is footfalls of a man running on the beach. Shaman runs on this sand at the moment as he trains and prepares to do what he has to do. His mind is as chaotic, as is his thought patterns.

Why did I sit back and not further my hunt for The Cog. The little troll runs from me every time he gets the opportunity. I should tear off his head and feed it to seagulls at the nearest pier, when I get the chance. After all he has decided that he is the most righteous and owner of my title belt. Times come for him to suffer mightily.

Sprinting faster he seems to be fed by his anger. His rage seems to pour from every nerve ending fueling the muscles to burn and work harder. He reaches his goal and turns looking back down the beach. He speaks openly now as he looks around.

“Why is it every damn time some stupid little upstart wants to try and take something from me. Haven't they learned that no matter what I will always remain? I don't run, I don't hide, I don't go away they will have to learn to just live with it.” stretching his arms high he turns and begins jogging down the beach back towards the direction he came.

I am the only one out here, why in the hell do I always speak to somebody who isn't there? Kind of stupid, but it gets the point across and allows me to relieve some stress at the same time. Young guys like Korver and Mancuso don't understand the intricate planning of making a point. Look at what I did to Korver's old coach. Korvers look was priceless.

Picking up the pace he turns the jog into a full out sprint once again. This time he seems to be pushing himself even further than before. Taking deep breaths to make sure he is not winded, he slows and stops as someone walks up to him.

“Hey you are Shaman aren't you?” Nodding he catches his breath as he looks up at the newcomer.

“Can I help you with something?” The guy nods and waves back to his surfboard.

“Just checking out the waves. This beach is pretty bright at night and truthfully, they aren't too bad at the moment.” He smiles looking at Shaman.

He rubs his chin as he ponders a question. Gazing up at the much larger Shaman he speaks. “Look man what happened to you over the last couple years? You left the WWA traveled around the circuits and did well.”

Closing his eyes a second as he stretches. He turns and looks at the surfer intently. “Well I am not one to usually carry a conversation with strangers, but to me you are harmless so I will explain the happenings after my original departure.” Thinking for a few moments he looks around.

“This will be a good lesson for Korver, The Cog, and Mancuso to follow as well.” Rubbing his hands together he walks down the beach a ways.

His mind drifts back a few years as he begins to talk. “2006 the WWA world I knew was upended and in truth became a place I no longer wanted to be. So setting out on my own I grabbed the bull by the horns. Literally I went right after a guy named Bryan Mayhem. I tell you that man is one sick bastard and it was surprising he and I met right away.” Smiling as he remembers the meeting.

Man that guy and I had some wars. Even at one point we were tag champions. The drive of that man was interesting, much like the drive I get from Korver and Mancuso never wanting to give up. I know I need to beat the three of them in that ring. It is a place that I find as a home. They need to be toppled and taught a damn lesson.

Reaching down he lifts a piece of drift wood off the beach no bigger than a long stick. Poking at the ground with it, he eyes the trail. “Anyways his and my first trip to the dance was in the ring for a television title that wasn't the WWA. He was the champion and I wasn't, but I'd be damned if I did not go after it. He had it and I wanted it. I was going to get my hands on that title and show the rest of the damned world I can still be a champion elsewhere.”

Raising his hand and looking at it. “I won that title and two others somewhere else. I had proven to myself I could go further and do it elsewhere among the other elites I did not get to work with.”

Snapping the sea soaked wood, he casually tosses it to the side. “There were guys in the business who stated I got titles in the WWA as a charity because I had been there so long. Truth is I was just being screwed after I won them in the later years.”

Placing his fingers together tip to tip, he presses on them to apply just enough pressure to turn the surfaces white. “You know Mancuso just a few shows back stated I had large gaps between title reigns. The problem is he didn't look beyond his own nose. Yes the WWA is a great place to achieve greatness, as well as hold titles, but there is a world out there that I went out and conquered. I am still out there in that world.”

Turning he begins to walk as the surfer lifts his board up and walks with him listening intently.

Why am I explaining all of this to some stranger on the beach? I should be bashing skulls in to get the point across. Hell I don't even have too, these idiots think that I am old and washed up. Truth is I am just getting started with their pains.

“Look I know what your thinking. How does this all relate to the here and now. Truth is that, because I did capture the US Title that no man is an island and new challengers will come for it everyday.” Clearing his throat a bit. “The truth of the matter is that this time three people came for it and I staved them off by any means necessary, That is a written rule for me.”

Thinking for a moment the surfer speaks up “So you don't feel intimidated and outmatched by three opponents? They seem to be pretty well driven.”

Shaking his head slightly. “No I have never been intimidated by anyone in that ring nor outside of it. Fact is fact I may have been too stupid or stubborn headed to know when to quit, but all in all I back down from no man.”

Holding up three fingers grinning. “There were only three times in my life that I was not myself and a bit off on a tangent.” Dropping one finger he looks forward. “The day my mother died, she was the last person I had ever had to worry about because she was so self reliant.”

Looking at the two fingers left as he then drops another. “The day I came into the WWA, I never knew what to expect when I came in. There was a lot of tension during that time period for me. I literally jumped at every chance and every match I could get.”

Sighing a bit as he drops the third finger. “This is kind of a combination bit, It was the day I left the WWA and when she shut her doors. They both go hand in hand, you see I felt like I failed at that time. On both counts I was the only guy pretty much from the beginning and at the end I felt like I was the guy who shut the lights off.”

Yeah that was a hard day, Walking away from the arena and locker rooms for what I thought was the last time. Finally doing something I should have done years before and that was leave the past behind me. A lot of good guys and good memories left back there.

Catching himself drifting off in day dream land he turns facing the surfer. “Let us walk awhile shall we. Let us talk about the US Title match, a bit about Mancuso and Korver. Both guys fought each other hard and well, to tell the truth I think out of all of us those guys have a valid chance of taking the US Title. There is a grudging respect for skills and abilities there.”

Kicking his feet into the sand, feeling each hard step, he begins to wander with his mind once again.

Mancuso you and I have just had matches and pounded one another, Korver I had gone out of my way to teach you a lesson or lessons. You came close to beating me once and I overtook you and knocked you down. It isn't like I could not beat either of you again. Trust in what I say this time. You can guarantee that you are going to hurt.

“The Cog, yes the little spike headed thief, What can I say about the idiot. He has so many screws loose Stanley tools doesn't have enough screwdrivers to tighten them all up. My opinion I am going to beat him so senseless that he will understand to never ever steal from me. If there is anything I hate more than a liar in this world it is a thief.” Clenching the muscles in his jaw he tenses up wanting to strike out at something.

“Cog I will make you one promise, You are not leaving Meltdown with any type of title ever. That is a guarantee.” Turnign he strolls on down the beach as the surfer watches.

“Man that guy is intense, I got so many more questions I have to ask now.” He hurries and runs on down the beach behind Shaman wanting to ask and learn more. Peering over his shoulder he speaks. “Lets go get a beer kid, for the first time in a longtime I want to talk about whats going on.”

To be Continued...