Despair…

Tribulations…

Sense of abandonment…

Affliction…

Destruction…

Venomous woe…

Burdensome sadness…

…

…

…comforting voice?

(Sitting in a darkened room, Intrepid is found lying on his back staring up toward the ceiling. The room is shadowed from one corner to the next except for the one dim light the highlights the center. Intrepid stares relentlessly at the lone light bulb, searing his eyes with its lonely rays. Tears stream relentlessly from his eyes and down the sides of his mask but they are curiously not from a fit of anguish. It seems that they are the product of the trauma he is causing himself by staring at the light bulb.)

Intrepid: What am I to you o’ Voice’s that you should abandon me!?

(The silence is deafening and you can actually hear the small hum from the light bulb itself.)

Intrepid: I rail against Wolf Hunter that he doesn’t belong and I feel that I am the one who does not belong! What am I to you o’ Voice’s that you should abandon me!?

(The silence returns with authority and surrounds Intrepid just on the outer boundaries of the shadows in the room. Slowly, one by one, three silhouettes present themselves to Intrepid around the room. The one standing above where Intrepid’s head is lying on the floor speaks.)

Silhouette: What are your doing Intrepid that you lay there speaking of being abandoned…when it was you who has given up.

(The weight of those words looks as if they crush Intrepid flat as his eyes widen beneath his mask.)

Silhouette: Since your return to this endeavor of speaking in Our name…you haven’t lived up to your potential.

(Intrepid doesn’t appear to be breathing as listens intently on the words of this figure standing above him.)

Silhouette: You are not fully committed and We fear that that your heart is no longer with Us…and you come to Us and claim that We have abandoned you!? Intrepid...Our son…you need to rise from this grave you have dug and return to the power you once held.

(These words looked that they had stung the masked wrestler as he closes his eyes in long deliberate blink.)

Intrepid: What shall I do in order to prove myself unto Thee once more?

(There is a long silence before the lead figure answers.)

Silhouette: There is a knee that has recently bowed to us and needs you to teach and to guide him. He will find you and you shall return to Us by bringing him along with you.

(Intrepid opens his eyes and stares once again into the glaring light bulb above and nods his head gently.)

Silhouette: Finish your dealings with the Wolf…as he is no longer your focus. We no longer are concerned with his example and We don’t feel that you have the nerve to overcome him anyway. Accept this one into your life and guide him to the Words of Life…for he shall discover the hope of The Voices through Intrepid. When you are able to convince, instruct and provide guidance to this one…then and only then will We allow you the authority to proclaim to the masses in Our name.

(Intrepid listens intently to his new orders and continues to appear as if he is still holding his breath.)

Silhouette: Now…clear away the Wolf to be dealt with on another day…and punish this comic book Cajun Devereux for keeping you from your new duties. Use the one who shall find you…practice and teach him how to survive…then We will speak to you again with favor.

(Intrepid closes his eyes once again, inhaling deeply to clear his thoughts. As he exhales he opens his eyes to look up at the lead figure only to find that they are no longer there. However, he is startled to find a smaller figure standing in the shadows down by his feet. Intrepid sits up immediately and scans the room before addressing the lone figure in the room.)

Intrepid: Who are you?

(The lone figure quickly lowers his head and bows to one knee, remaining in the shadows.)

Stranger: I have been told to tell you that I am the one who shall find you…

(Intrepid pops from the floor and moves towards the shadows sticking one hand down to accept the one sent to him.)

Intrepid: I am the Hellbilly Pro….err, Hellbilly Deluxe Intrepid. I will be your mentor until I have been told you are ready….actually until we are told we are both ready.

(The shadowy student laughs as he reaches up to accept Intrepid’s hand in return.)

Student: It appears that we are both lost in some way then?

Intrepid: Indeed…but I promise that we will be found in the end. Now, let’s blow this hellhole…we have a mangy Wolf and a comic book Cajun to prepare for this week. Plus, I am not even sure that I can trust the fact that your allegiance is pure…so we will have to look for ways that you can dissolve this fear in me.