The scene opened to a dark hallway of what appears to be a hotel. There are elaborate doors on each side of the hallway, which marked the hotel as slightly higher end. The hallway ended with a large stained glass window, which failed to shed any light into the hallway.

A shadow entered the scene, which crept up to the nearest door on the right. The figure crouched next to the door putting their head against it. After a moment, the person’s head cocked slightly. The figure abruptly stood up and backed away from the door.

The door suddenly burst open. A man in a white wife beater, covered in blood erupted from the room brandishing a revolver of some sort. The man aimed the pistol at the shadowy figure and fired, to which the shadowy figure dove to the side. The figure was up and upon the bloody man wrenching the weapon from his now broken arm. The bloody man dropped to a knee and was quickly silenced with a torque of his neck.

The shadowy figure retrieved the pistol and took a quick look in the room. The man spoke quietly, more to himself than anyone, “I told you, I work alone…” With that the revolver opened up with a few quick shots into the room.

The shadowy figure put the gun in the motionless hand of the man in the hall. He took a step back to survey the scene, then turned towards the camera and walked away.

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

A few moments before….

“I told you, I don’t need your help”, stated an unemotional Rikard Hanson in a steady even voice.

An unknown man, “Listen Bud…. I know this guy. He is a high ranking officer in a very large crime syndicate. I think this one would be best served if we both did the work. You know… Just to make sure the guy is done.”

Rikard Hanson turned his head looking around to make sure there was nobody dropping eaves. Once satisfied he leaned in close to the unknown man, “Listen up…. BUD. There is no way in Hades that you will be going with me on this job. I work alone and you should know this about me by now. You are someone that finds work for me, not someone that helps do the work with me. Understood?”

“Sure man… “, said the unknown man seemingly unhappy with the stiff retort from Rikard. “You do your thing. “

Rikard held the unknown man’s gaze for a few moments to try and drive his point home. After a moment longer he turned without a word a vanished into the night.

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

Now….

Richard Cranium’s eyes open with a start. He quickly looks around to ensure everything is as it was.

Richard: Sark? What’s the word?

Sark (rolling his eyes): Bird! Bird is always the word.

Richard (with a slight smirk): Yes it is Sark. Yes it is…

Sark (shaking his head): Damn RC. The shit that amuses you…. So! Everything is setup for Underground. Intrepid will be there.

Richard: This Intrepid… He must understand that I work alone and that I simply didn’t need his help last week. After this week, I think he will understand where I am coming from, no?

Sark (shrugging): Unless he is a moron, he should get it.

Richard: Speaking of morons…. MR Jevon White…? Seriously? WWA management seem to be on crack I am afraid. They keep putting these hacks and has-beens in the ring with me. Eventually someone is going to get extremely hurt, Sark.

Sark: Agreed RC. How about you make this point crystal clear this Underground against White? I mean you have already beaten this guy once.

Richard: I think that me simply sending this man to early retirement is not the answer…. (Cocking his head slightly) Didn’t you send the memo to the WWA staff about Mal Somers not being in the ring with me? I would assume that the WWA management is savvy enough to know that would extend to 95% of the current WWA roster.

Sark (with a shocked look on his face): You were serious about that?

Richard simply stares at Sark whose face turns a bright shade of red.

Sark: Of course you were serious. You are always serious.

Richard: There’s a boy, such a quick study….

Sark: Which makes me think…. Do you think White learned anything from the last time to took him to school?

Richard (with a snort): Does it REALLY matter, Sark? Jevon White is half the athlete I am and approximately 1/7 the man I am. I am not sure in what universe Jevon White can hope to beat me.

Sark (very cautiously): There is an old adage… “Any Given Sunday”.

Richard (a forced laugh): Good thing the match is Friday.

Fade