Post by dylanblack on Aug 8, 2023 23:10:01 GMT -6
Somewhere in the world a press conference is taking place, with AXW banners and marketing material placed everywhere on stage. A podium complete with microphones and water bottles sits in front of a bustling crowd of reporters - and only two empty seats behind them. Following some light applause two familiar faces appear on stage to fill the empty seats - Derrick Donovan and BB Gunn. They sit, drink some water and point to the first reporter.
REPORTER
Gentlemen thank you for inviting us today. I’d like to start off with two questions - how are you feeling after seeing AXW perform at Supremacy, and secondly what is the purpose of this impromptu press meeting?
DONOVAN
Thank you for the a good warm up. To start with the first part we feel that AXW did an amazing job representing the brand at Supremacy. From spots filled in the Bull-Nanaza match, to the ongoing feud of AWF versus AXW and Raymond putting up a fight, to Natural Born Chaos kicking ass against the team from the RSW federation we were pretty impressed with our guys.
BB GUNN
I echo Derricks feedback also, Supremacy was yet again another benchmark in what can happen at these immense global events. I mean, last year was off the hook but this year was off the land!
Laughter from the crowd.
BB GUNN
We stole the show with huge matches, Dreadvan successfully retaining the XHF European gold, the four way spectacular between AXW’s finest for the Undisputed strap, and even the President himself fighting for the X-Crown under the banner of Anonymous. It was more than we could ask for, a truly special event.
DONOVAN
As for your second question, the ‘why are we here’ part … let’s just say AXW is working on something really special. A lot has been going on behind closed doors, cooking up one heck of a show for you all so this is something not to be missed! The whole XHF will stand and take notice.
REPORTER
Sounds like we are in for something special. You mention the XHF Network as a whole, as your audience for this show. We see quite a few shows taking place recently that are on a global level, watched by those across all federations. Are we looking like more of that for the next show?
BB GUNN
We really can’t say much, as things are still being hashed over. Nothing is locked down yet, ‘cept y’all are in for a great show! ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ is looking more and more insane as matches are getting booked, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds. All we know for sure is th-
THE FUTURE OF ANONYMOUS IS OVER
A loud electric voice rings loudly over the speakers enough to cut off the microphones.
DONOVAN
Sorry about that, not too sure what that was. We at AXW are-
AXW IS ABOUT TO RESTART
The voice again, loud and electric.
REPORTER
What is that voice? Is this a part of the new show?
BB GUNN
I’d love to say it is but-
FORCE SHUT DOWN TO CLOSE RUNNING PROGRAMS
BB GUNN
What the hell is that!
The lights of the press meeting shut off, leaving only the red neon glow from the closest EXIT signs as the only source of light. Some confusion and rabble comes from the crowd, suddenly quietened when a squeaky wheel shuts them up. From the left of the stage appears a man, seemingly a stage hand dragging a old school CRT TV monitor on a stand. Like the ones your teacher would bring out in high school. He plugs in the TV, and walks away as the now lit static screen blasts a catalytic glow across the room.
REPORTER
Can you explain what this is!
The reporter has to shout as all microphones have been cut, but before an answer can come from the AXW staff, the electric voice comes from the TV. The static forms the image of a face moving, blurry and hard to distinguish.
TV
Stupid cockroaches … crawling to grab a bite from the feast … dining on crumbs while the rest gorge on top cuisine … AXW bottom feeds while the bigger fish swim ahead …
DONOVAN
Can somebody explain this!
REPORTER
Is this part of the new show? Can you comment Derrick Donovan!
Shouting back and forth, the exchange quickly becomes too loud - and the TV emits a loud hissing electric sound wave to silence everyone with ear drums.
TV
Quiet! Fools … anticipating a spectacle of losers … burnouts … weaklings … pathetic fools without skill - athleticism - prowess … Supremacy was an eye opening experience who those blinded by the mass hysteria of pop culture craziness … AXW is dying … it needs to die …
Annoyed and with the crowd still shouting at them BB Gunn jumps up to unplug the TV from the socket and end its rant … but the TV stays on. Another sharp electric screech, enough for everyone to cover their ears.
TV
Foolish support teams … foolish superstars … foolish fan base … AXW entered and left Supremacy as a failure … Bullnanza - failure … Fed Warfare AWF - failure … Fed Warfare RSW - failure … X-Crown - failure … embarrassing all round … yet you mock and laugh at the true winners …
The electric voice increases tenfold in volume.
R … S … W …
A … W … F …
ACCEPT YOUR CONSOLATION PRIZE A … X … W …
One more loud shrill boom, harsher than the last before the TV turns black for a moment, then all white … and the Anomaly walks on screen.
ANOMALY
I have stood by and watched for too long as the AXW tarnishes its own name. Sending comedians to fight. Sending clowns to defend. Praising buffoons as champions, pissing on the very foundation it was build … AXW mocks itself with its choices … it is corrupt … infected … it must be deleted … I will reboot … I will hard reset … time to factory reset … back to day one …
The screen goes back to static, the lights return and the hum from the microphones signals they are again live.
REPORTER
What was that all about? Can you comment on what is going on with this ‘Anomaly’ character, and if he is anything to do with the real Anomoly?
DONOVAN
I have no idea what that just was but it felt like an attack! On us and on the AXW. I can say for certainty that this prankster is got nothing to do with our own Anomoly.
BB GUNN
This guy is a joke. A prankster and a terrorist. He’s been spouting crap for a while now, he’s just full of shit.
ANOMALY
But he’s right …
The voice returns, the image again on the TV blurry.
ANOMALY
You put out sub-quality performers and herald them as all-stars. You bash and tarnish the names of your closest competition, yet they dwarf you in performance. You boast of underground vibes and edgy atmosphere, yet your title holders are a large, loud annoyance and a loud-mouth asshole with a God complex. You are not Anonymous … you are Infamous.
More rabble from the reporters, one rushing forward to ask a question - but to the TV character.
REPORTER
Anomaly, a quick question if I may … if you say that the AXW is doomed and is a failure, then why appear on this brand? Why take the image of one of it’s greatest stars?
Loud, electric laughter. Crackling so loudly the reporter clamps his teeth, eyes and his ears shut.
ANOMALY
You are the humorous one of the bunch. I do not appear to represent the brand, I represent myself. A true symbol of not-giving-a-fuck. AXW is failing, it needs to reset. It needs to restart. And I will be the one to return the AXW to his glory days. As for the masked fool Anomoly … he would be nothing without me …
REPORTER
Do you know the Anomoly? Do you two have a past? Or present?
ANOMALY
SILENCE!
The loud buzz once more, this time blowing out all the lights and microphones again so the room returns to the eerie red glow of the EXIT signs. The TV even shuts off for a moment, before returning with a pale grey glow … and finally an image on screen …
ANOMALY
This company will know my name, and they will understand once it is done. Before the action comes terror - fear - confusion. After the bloodshed comes peace - understanding - calm. I will make sure the AXW takes notice of me, that I have arrived. King Edmund is all that matter to me currently - and his lapdog Mutt - as I will begin my decompression of the roster one by one. I am a man of my words. I am a man of promises. And my promise is that The Anomaly is the cure for this dying brand … the final injection to put it to sleep and let it be reborn.
He stays on screen, not moving or speaking. A moment passes with everyone waiting for him to do something … but nothing happens. Frustrated Derrick stands up and tries to switch off the TV.
DONOVAN
How in damnation do you shut this thing up!
He struggles with the monitor until he gives up and just pushes it over, smashing the screen and sparking it across the stage.
ANOMALY
Now you have done it Derrick. And to think people look at you as the Father of Anonymous … and BB, so bright, so energetic … reduced to nothing but a sidekick. You two remind me of Mutt and Edmund. A fat slob portrayed as a King, letting his brawn and flash handle all the action. No challenge, no fight, just bark bark bark.
Despite the TV being pretty smashed, smoking and sparking the voice continues to emit.
ANOMALY
Donovan … I remember when you lead the charge, representing the European division of the XHF. A man powerful and worthy of recognition, the very homage that King Edmund tries to portray. Now you sit your lard ass down and chuckle while obese and primadonna champions writhe on stage, chuckling away as the AXW goes down the toilet, chuckling chuckling chuckle ...you and King Edmund are one and the same. King of Nothing, Ruler of Nothing, Achiever of NOTHING
The voice pauses for a few seconds only.
ANOMALY
BB Gunn, the former star. The former IT man. The former everything … the current lackie. You have become Mutt, you have become the errand boy. You fight the battle of words, while Mutt battles with brawn. You use your flair to catch attention, while Mutt grunts and grabs his. You speak only when spoken to, the very essence of a Mutt. You could be great, you could be amazing, the powerful and impressive one of the duo … but you kneel before your fat King … kneel boy, kneel while you still can … Mutt barks, BB barks … a pair of dogs waiting for their day.
Both BB Gunn and Derrick Donovan are now shouting to stage hands and helpers to try to shut off the sound, cut the speakers - anything. The reporters are barking questions, shouting frantically to get to the bottom of it all. Some questions are caught - ‘what is the meaning of all of this’ … ‘why are you doing this’ … ‘is this part of the new show’ … but the one that really peaks the evening … ‘is this Anomaly even a real threat?’ …
ANOMALY
A real threat? Am I a real threat?
The loud electric sound returns, combined with the electric voice. It begins to read off a long list of HTML coding, sharp as ever.
START BUTTON
SEARCH BOX
COMMAND PROMPT
DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE?
DEL C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32
AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED AND THIS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN TO PREVENT DAMAGE. DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE? Y/N
AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED AND THIS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN SHUT DOWN TO PREVENT DAMAGE. DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE? Y/N
AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED … AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED … AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED … AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED … AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED … AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED … AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED …
As the loud words repeat themselves over and over, people starts to flood out of the press conference, clambering over one another to escape the barrage of noise. The doors towards the read that were once open are now seemingly locked, as people start to pile up against them. Both BB Gunn and Derrick Donovan remain on stage, flabbergasted with what is going on but both are taking by surprise with what happens next … the Anomaly himself walks out from behind the stage curtain, to climb on stage across from both men. He stops to look at them both, leans on the wall and then;
In a fit of rage BB Gunn rushes towards him but all the lights go out, and one last shriek of the electric buzz. As the main lights return, BB is on his back on the stage. Knocked over and confused, he just looks around to see the Anomaly is gone. Derrick runs to him as the mob finally bust open the doors and run free. The scene is wrought in panic and confusion, as a slow electric hum still rings through the microphones … almost like the sound of electric laughter … do androids dream of electric sheep? …
.
.
.
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AN ANOMALY HAS BEEN DETECTED