The Rematch
The Foreword
[The Orphan Tears Bar and Grill]
[On-Camera]
I set my bags down on the desk in my office, my phone had been blowing up for the last hour over the results from “Uncivil War”. I scanned the messages and shook my head in disgust.
Mac Bane: Nope, not gonna even reply to that garbage.
I looked down on my desk, the sunlight had drawn my attention to the picture I kept there. It was a picture of me and my wife, with my kids in the background.
Mac Bane: That’s what it’s all about right there. Family.
Another picture sat beside it: of me, JC, and Amber. That made me laugh because it used to have Knox in that picture as well, but I had taken an exacto knife and cut him out of it.
Mac Bane: Funny that. When friends become enemies.
I shook my head in disgust once again and sighed heavily. On the other side of that was another picture of myself, Enigma, JMont, and Kim from the IIW days.
Mac Bane: So much potential for greatness, all sent up in a puff of smoke, simply because one man wouldn’t know loyalty if it bit him on the ass. Fuckin’ JMont.
I looked up at the camera, which had been recording the entire time.
Mac Bane: But none of this is why we are here is it? No sir, The events that are leading up to my rematch with Cholo, that’s what this is about. The second annual Denzel Porter Invitational, night two. See, Cholo brought his nappy-headed ass down during the main event of “Uncivil War”. All to try and get in my head. That’s fine, doesn’t bother me in the least.
I start tapping my fingertips on the top of the desk and I smile.
Mac Bane: You all saw how that ended. I would normally go on for an hour about how I beat the beast and the crybaby but I have bigger fish to fry. Needless to say, I will never compete in a cross-promotional event like this again. The fallout is real y’all and there’s a lot of angry people right now.
I pause there and stop drumming my fingertips on the desk.
Mac Bane: Me? Personally? I don’t care, I did what I was supposed to do. I went out there and won that triple-threat match. That’s what they pay me to do. Just like they pay me to beat the shit out of everyone that is put in my path within the structure of WGWF. That brings us to the rematch.
I level my gaze at the camera, no emotion, a blank slate.
Mac Bane: Cholo, the match you chose…not surprised, but I’m not JMont, I won’t claim to have never been beaten in this type of match. That would be a lie, I’ve lost plenty of ladder matches, the most recent one to Peter Vaughn back in XWF. The more important aspect of this entire match is this. Youthful exuberance will fall to wisdom and cunning every fucking time. Get ready for your final chapter, son, it’s gonna be a hell of a ride.
Fade.
Dancing With The Devil Part 2.
[off-camera]
A short time later…With the first round of recording finished, still seated at my desk I look over at the grouping of pictures. The last one was a side by side, sharing the same frame. On one side there was “The Suicide Saints”, myself, “Godly” Ken Davison, and “Suicidal Supes” Myke Adams. The other side was the Saviors of SCW. Myself, “Godly” Ken Davison, Goth, Kat, Chris Page, “The Troll” Gabriel Wank and Peter Vaughn.
Mac Bane: Family, all of them.
Reminiscing would have to wait for retirement or something, I still had a lot to do and very little time to accomplish it. Representatives from the local police, the sheriff, and the police chief himself would be arriving soon. Something Tristan had said recently caused me to smile and the final piece clicked into place.
Mac Bane: The Saviors will ride again.
A light tap came at the door breaking my thought process.
Mac Bane: Come in.
Aerik walked in with the police chief, Sheriff, and representatives of the police department. I stood up and shook hands with all of them. I motioned for Aerik to join us and once we had gotten everyone seated I nodded to Aerik.
Mac Bane: My son will be back in a moment, but I wanted to take this time and thank each of you for your efforts. Especially after what happened earlier today. I do hope the young lady, Mrs. Andrews is okay. I looked to the chief for answers on that.
Chief Anderson: She is fine, I’m still not entirely certain as to what exactly happened but she’s in the hospital in stable condition.
Aerik returned with a large piece of cardboard meant to resemble a cheque. I smiled as he brought it in.
Mac Bane: Gentleman, the fundraiser we had held not long ago, we raised one point three million dollars and it’s our honor to present that to you at this time.
Sewing the seeds of corruption was always a dicey game, but money spoke louder than anything in this world. Especially to underpaid servants of the public. I nodded to Aerik and he handed the cashier's cheque to the Chief and the replica went to their director of public relations.
Chief Anderson: Thank you, Mr. Bane, I’m astonished.
I smiled at him, here was a guy who was never without words and we just accomplished shutting him up without having to punch him in the mouth. The public relations director beamed at us and I had a hunch he was about to tell us something. Director Chambers was a career policeman, he had retired and taken on this role with the department. They considered his integrity beyond question but I knew better. I knew a snake oil salesman when I saw one.
Director Chambers: Mister Bane, you are a godsend. With all the budget cuts that have been asked for by the state, this will help keep retirement benefits intact. I nodded and smiled as murmurs of appreciation began to take voice.
Mac Bane: I’m only too happy to help the community, Mr. Chambers. This department has been exemplary, and the support of local law enforcement is crucial to everything we are trying to accomplish here in El Paso.
Chief Anderson: Mr. Bane, can I ask you something?
I nodded to the Chief, he was a mountain of a man, skin the color of ebony and a proud warrior to say the very least.
Chief Anderson: What exactly happened this afternoon?
I smiled and nodded, I guessed that what was put into the report by his officers hadn’t been enough detail.
Chief Anderson: I also expected media coverage for something like this, why didn’t you ask for that?
This old guy was sharp as hell, he suspected something without saying he was. I’d have to work a little bit on this guy for sure.
Mac Bane: As for why I didn’t, the answer is simple. I’m not a show off, I don’t expect praise from local media because I chose to do something for local law enforcement.
I pointed to Director Chambers.
Mac Bane: Especially when it’s something that’s needed, as your director has already told us.
He gave me a look and I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first but then he smiled. That’s a look of a man, who thinks he has me figured out. Like Cholo, he couldn’t be more wrong if he tried.
Mac Bane: As for the incident with the protestors…
The scene shifts to several hours earlier…I was driving in from the airport when my text notification came alive. “You have a message from…Aerik Bane”. I frowned, he knew I would be there in a while, something must be up. So I gave the command.
Mac Bane: Play message.
“Hey pop, we got a problem. Protestors are gathering in front of the bar, looks like a bunch of pregnant women.”
Mac Bane: Reply
“Record your message”
Mac Bane: Aerik, don’t go out there and tell the staff to stay inside. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.
Mac Bane: Send.
When there is a potential crisis, time seems to crawl. At least that is what it felt like to me, why the hell would a bunch of preggo’s be gathering in front of….
Mac Bane: because they wouldn’t have any place other than the fire station or the local precinct to drop off their unwanted offspring. That’s why.
At that thought, I was less concerned and more amused. Unless I had missed my guess these were local strippers. That made me laugh.
Mac Bane: Dumb asses. Well, I got something for ya.
A plan started to form in my mind as I drove and before long I was pulling into the driveway for the bar. As I slowed down for the speedbump, I could feel the forty-five pressed against the small of my back. As I pulled into my parking spot, two young men started walking towards my truck. The protestors upon seeing me also started to approach. The signs that they had were mostly “Bane hates children” on them. I put the transmission in neutral and set the brake. When I climbed out I had my double barrel beanbag gun out and the two young men decided they had better places to be. One the women cried out and her water broke at the same time. I propped my beanbag gun on my shoulder so everyone could see and dug my phone out.
Mac Bane: Yes this is Mac Bane, I own the Orphan Tears Bar and Grill. There is a young woman here who is pregnant and her water just broke.
I ended the call and made my way past the woman to the entrance. I swung the door open.
Mac Bane: Bring towels and blankets, please.
Several of my staff began running to comply with their orders.
return to the present.Mac Bane: I’m pretty sure that was all in the report, Chief.
He nodded, evidently satisfied with what I told him.
Chief Anderson: It was, and it seems that should clean it all up as far as I’m concerned.
I nodded in gratitude.
Mac Bane: I’m always available should any questions come up. I have nothing to hide from you or anyone else, Chief.
He nodded again and I remained silent. The murmuring continued for about half a minute. I stood up and addressed them.
Mac Bane: Thank you all for coming today, lunch is available in our main dining room and unfortunately I have a plane to catch, I do hope you’ll forgive the abruptness of my departure.
They all stood in unison and I shook their hands once again before they all shuffled out to the dining room where lunch was on me today. I smiled as they left, I would have to look into this police chief more thoroughly, there had to be a way to crack that piece of granite. I still had the old nameplate for this building.
you and me are gonna take a little trip, I think I’ll give you back to your owner, I thought to myself as I lifted it off of the shelf where it had been lying.
Fade.
Dancing With The Devil Part 3.
I hadn’t lied to the Chief, but in some cases, omission is still lying. I shrugged the thought away as I waited on two people. A certain El Paso police officer and the leader of the secessionist movement in Texas. He wasn’t the only one, but probably the most important one. John Bean had founded the movement two decades ago. Of course that wasn’t his real name, but a play on words. “Big John” as he liked to be called was a descendant of Judge Roy Bean. The hanging judge is what he’s called by most. He was also a notorious back shooter. I had invited Eric McInnis, you might remember him as the officer who found the young boy Enrique on my property. I had called in some favors in Austin to get his adoption of the boy pushed through. I was going to see how he reacted to meeting his cousin for the first time.
Mac Bane: The McInnis and the Beans have been around Texas since before the Alamo.
I quipped to myself, no one else was around at the moment. I saw the headlights coming from a ways off and I heard another vehicle coming from behind me. They would arrive about the same time. Eric’s jeep pulled up next to my truck, and the coming headlights went out and the can-am spider coasted into view less than twenty yards away. He bumped his headlights a couple of times and I nodded in response.
Mac Bane: Well Eric, I’m glad you could make it.
Eric McInnis: I still don’t know why I’m here.
I nodded, breathing the night air in.
Mac Bane: History, Eric, you’re here to witness or take part in History. That depends on you and your convictions.
He seemed to absorb what I said and nodded without saying anything else on the matter. “Big John” made his way to us in a short period of time. His men would have let him know that we were the only ones here and it was safe to approach.
Big John: Mac, how the hell are ya?
We shook hands and I introduced him to Eric.
Mac Bane: Doing well, this is my friend, Eric, I invited him to come so he could meet you.
John studied Eric for a long moment, as Eric was doing the same.
Big John: That jawline, and the set of those eyes. They’re familiar to me.
Mac Bane: That’s because you two are cousins.
Big John: McInnis?
Eric and I nodded in unison and John smiled, it was a rare sight to be sure. Then he and Eric shook hands and everyone seemed to be at ease.
Big John: Mac, you shouldn’t have brought law enforcement to this meeting.
I held up my hands and shook my head.
Mac Bane: He’s a guest and here on my word. Show a little respect, John. I’ve always dealt with you on the up and up, haven’t I?
He nodded but his jaw was set, he didn’t like it but he didn’t have to. He knew I was straight with him.
Mac Bane: You want the movement to grow don’t you?
He shook his head and spit off to the left.
Big John: I do but at what price, Mac? You’re not worried that he’ll turn me and you both in?
I looked over at Eric who simply smiled.
Mac Bane: If I thought that, he wouldn’t be here.
Eric McInnis: Well now cousin, there is a substantial reward for your capture but being family and all, I think I can overlook that.
Big John laughed, he shook his head and looked up to the heavens.
Big John: well, he’s got his mother's level of sarcasm that’s for damn sure.
Mac Bane: I’ll have to meet her one of these days. Down to business?
John and Eric nodded in unison and we began discussing plans. Eric agreed to play the part of the mule for this operation. The plan was that he would be using his police car in order to move items to San Antonio. John had a base of operations there, his men would get the items out to others throughout their network.
Mac Bane: After this, Eric, your debt to me is paid in full.
He nodded his head, smiling slightly.
Eric McInnis: I never considered it a debt of any kind.
I smiled in return.
Mac Bane: I know, you’ve got a good heart but don’t let it….never mind, you’ll figure it out.
He frowned a bit but one day he would learn not the let that heart of gold put him in situations like this. I hoped that he wouldn’t get caught, that Big John’s men would train him on the right and wrong way to do things. My corruption was spreading to all levels of El Paso’s finest and that made me smile. I would destroy everything that Cholo had built here, the building by itself was nothing compared to what I intended to do. John looked at Eric and smiled.
Big John: Meet us back here in twenty-four hours and we’ll get your training started.
He then addressed me.
Big John: Mac, I’ll be in touch. I’m gonna need your help again, we need to push recruiting up on the roadmap.
I nodded.
Mac Bane: Not a problem, this state is full of veterans who also happen to be patriots.
Fade.
The Final Chapter?
[On-Camera]
The sound of cowboy boots on ceramic tile echo through the area as I approach the microphone. Dressed in black wranglers, black boots made of ostrich quills, and a light blue button-down shirt, with my normal black stetson cowboy hat on. I have the WGWF world title over my shoulder and a smile on my face.
Well, Amigo, you get your rematch. Not that you deserve one, but they insisted, didn’t they? They didn’t like the way that I won the title from you. Because you had worked so hard in defending the title when you had it right? Because Austin Ramsey and Edward Grado are top-flight competition and oh so worthy of a title shot. I shook my head in disgust.
Motherfucker, please. Do, give me a damn break. You did defend the title against those two losers though, so that’s something. It’d be a damn shame if someone gave you a title and you lost it on the first defense. I tap my temple with the index finger of my right hand.
I know you think that you’re going to take this back, on my very first defense, but you can put that thought right out of your head.My smile broadens as I continue.
I’ve been living rent-free in your head for months, and now all of a sudden you believe that you have an advantage? You came to the ring at my last match to try and play games with me? I’ve outsmarted you at every turn, Cholo. Not a damn thing will be different when we square off at Night 2 of the Denzel Porter Invitational either. We are the main event that night, thanks to yours truly. I take the title belt off my shoulder and look down at it.
I earned this, over a year I worked on climbing the ranks in this company. I wasn’t handed anything, I didn’t ask for anything. It wasn’t until I started taking things from people that I began to get the recognition that I deserved. I tap my temple again with the index finger of my right hand.
I used to believe that respect was the ultimate reward, up until recently. For the longest time, I believed that the respect of your peers was of the utmost importance. For everything I’ve accomplished in this business, you would think that would come from everyone. I shook my head “no”, indicating that it had not.
Other than Tristan, no one gave me that respect. It was at that moment that I decided that your fear would have to do. I get that from you, each time you look at me. If someone even mentions my name, I can see it in your eyes. You’re soft, kid, not only do you not deserve this. I put the WGWF World Title a little closer to the screen.
You don’t deserve to have a shot at it, let alone be in the same ring with me. Like Knox, you’re not on my level and never have been. I run my thumb across my throat.
As I told him, people are tired of seeing us fight, and me kicking his ass. The same can be said for you. People are tired of seeing their self-appointed hero get beat into the dirt. They are weary of me rubbing your nose in the carpet like a mutt they found on the side of the road.I put the title belt back on my shoulder and then picked up the nameplate from the building I bought. I show it to the camera.
“Ena’s & Armando’s Home For Children” They must be so very proud of their baby boy. Such a good man. A real champion for the people. Too bad really.I looked down at the nameplate and then unceremoniously dropped it in the trashcan beside the table.
Don’t worry, I’m going to reunite you with your parents. This is the last chapter, Cholo, get ready, it’s gonna hurt a lot. Even more so than last time. I’m not the hero the people want, but I’m the one they deserve.Fade