What are we doing back here, Curtis?

We find ourselves backstage.  Alexander Vaka trails behind a determined looking Curtis Rose as they pace up and down the hallways of the backstage area.

Vaka: Again, I ask, what are we doing back here, Curtis?

Rose stops in his tracks and holds a hand up in a shushing manner.

Rose: He’s around here somewhere.  I gotta find him!

Vaka has seemingly finally had enough.  At this point in the evening he has now followed his partner from the Administrative offices, to the locker rooms, to catering, and everything in between.  At no point did Curtis ever say what he was doing, or who they were looking for, just that he needed Curtis to follow him.  The anger on Vaka’s face had started to show by the time the camera arrived, and it has now boiled over at the lifting of Curtis’ arm.

Vaka: Curtis, we have a match tonight.  It’s our first match under the Empire Banner, and I’m a little concerned at your lack of focus here.  I thought that joining up with the HBE would give you just the slightest bit of purpose, but here we are again, doing some kind of nonsense instead of preparing for out match against Martial Law.  What in the Heck are we even doing here?

After Vaka’s explosion, Curtis Rose stops in his tracks.  He doesn’t seem angry like Vaka, just flustered, almost like he’s been caught red handed.  Without turning to face Vaka, he hangs his shoulders down and turns his gaze towards the floor.

Rose: You don’t understand, this is about our future.  It’s about our future as Tag Team Champions.  And our future spot as the Greatest Tag Team in the Empire.  As of right now, no one even talks about us.  Like we’re some kind of joke.  Spinebuster Island practically named the entire Tag division, even those new Lion guys.  But nothing about us.  

Vaka: Well, to be fair to everyone, you have kind of made us a bit of a joke.  You run our mouth on Spitter all day, never train, and then we lose.  So…That kind of tracks, Curt.

Rose: WELL NOT ANYMORE AXE!

Curtis resumes his searching posture and begins furiously knocking on doors in the hallway.    After the first two doors Vaka finally has had enough.  He takes a hand and places it on the shoulder of Curtis, almost pulling him off his feet in the process. 

Vaka: Curtis, stop.  We don’t have time for whatever this is here.  So either tell me what we’re doing and explain how its going to help up beat Martial Law, or lets get back to the gym and get ready for out match tonight.  

Rose: Fine, but you’re not going to like it.

Vaka: Do I ever?

Curtis Rose spins in place to face Vaka.  He turns his head to the floor like a scolded child.  

Rose: Ok.  So…before you get mad, hear me out.  So Real Deal has promised Chad Kyle that he can challenge for any title of his choice if he beats Broodwarden right?

Vaka: A quite literal tall task, yes, I am familiar.

Rose: OK!  So We all know that Chad Kyle is incredibly stupid.  Like way stupid.  Like, Chad probably has to have Ria lace his boots for him before he goes down the the ring for his match.  As in, he probably isn’t talking shit about BroodWarden on Spitter, he probably really just can’t spell it.  Like, He’s so stupid that…

Vaka raises his hand and places it over Curtis’ mouth, catching Rose by surprise.  

Vaka: Enough!  Just get on with your point here.

Rose: Alright alright.  So all we have to do is talk to Chad, and convince him that they best possible use of his free title shot is to give it to us.  So that we can Challenge Troy and Ayumi for the belts.  This is the best time to go after them, before Ria and Danni get another shot.  I really amd getting tired of getting kicked in the face by the two of them.  So we tell Chad that if he let’s us have the shot, then it can’t save his girlfriend from having to embarrass herself getting beaten again.  Honestly I haven’t quite figured out the details yet, just that he may have something we want, and we’re gonna have to get it.

Vaka stops, thinking about this for a second.  A smile comes across his usually dour face.

Vaka: This isn’t the most noble of plans I’ve ever heard, Curtis.  I have to admit though, it actually might work.  Ok, I’ll give you a little more time.  Let’s go find him.

Who you looking for!?  Maybe I can help?

Both Curtis and Vaka turn to look at the voice.  At first Curtis starts to answer, but is immediately taken aback by Chad Kyle standing in front of them.  Rose looks panicked, and Vaka just has a bemused look on his face.

Chad: You guys have been looking around here like crazy for someone, I thought about asking earlier, but I’ve just had an awful lot going on.  But things seemed to have calmed down a bit before my match, so I thought I’d give you a hand.

Curtis looks to Chad, almost puzzled.

Vaka: Actuall, Chadwick, Curtis was looking for you.  Well…Go on, Curtis.  You had some business with Mr Kyle?

Chad: Aw man!  I love business talk.  No one ever really wants to talk business with me, but I think I’ve got a pretty sharp mind for it.  Really, its not easy running an entire Democratic People’s Republic all on your own.  People think it just happens, but it’s a lot of work!

Rose: Right…So.  Listen, we here are Fear and Loathing are really loving what you’re doing out there.  Like seriously.  Great stuff.  We know that there is no chance that Broodwarden can outclass you in the ring.  We’ve noticed all of your hard work.

Chad beams from ear to ear at the recognition of all of his “hard work” that he’s been doing as of late.  

Chad: Aw man!  Thanks Curt!  You know, I was pretty sure that you hated me, but hearing all of this from you, right now before I have one of the biggest matches of my career, it really makes me think.  Maybe we can be best friends afterall!  

Curtis grits his teeth and does his best not to recoil as Chad reaches out and gives him a few friendly stikes on the shoulder. 

Rose: So hear me out.  I know that you’ve been talking a lot about getting into the tag division with the feww title shot that you are bound to earn tonight.  But I ask you this: Do you really want to get in the way of your girlfriend getting her title back?  What if you win, and the stress of you being the championship is just too much for your relationship?  What then?  

Chad: I mean, I did think about that.  I don’t want Ria to be mad at me.  I just dont think that theres much I can do about that.  Besides, Ria always told me to just do my best and that she’d be proud of me.  So I think that we should be ok, ya know?

Curtis starts to move with a bit of panic.  His plan seems to be falling apart in front of him.

Rose: Yeah but still.  You don’t want to risk it do you?  I mean, women can get pretty jealous.  Trust me man, I know this kind of stuff.  I’ve been around.

Vaka openly chuckles at Curtis saying he’s “been around.”

Rose: Axe!  Shut it!  Listen, Chad.  I don’t want you to have to go through the same stuff that I have.  I want to help you…like a mentor!  A tag team mentor!  That’s it!  

Chad: Oh Man!  That would be awesome!  You guys are a pretty great tag team!  When I challenge for the titles, I’m gonna need guys like you to show me the ropes.  This day is turning out awesome!

Rose: No…see I was thinking that the only way that we could truly teach you how to be a champion is if…we were champions?  So ou win the shot, you tell Real Deal that you want us to take it for you.  Then when we are champions, we can teach you how to be the best champion you can be.  So when me and Axe think that you’re ready, we give you a shot at the title.  A real student versus master kind of deal.

Chad looks at Curtis with a puzzled look on his face for a minute.  The gears are most definitely turning inside of his head, but they have appeared to grind to a halt.  Curtis is anxiously awaiting Chad to say anything at all, while Vaka just seems terribly disinterested in the inane banter between the two.

Chad: Wait…you want me to give you my title shot?  So that you can give me a title shot later on?  If you can beat LT and Ayumi?

The camera can almost hear the clang of metal grinding against itself in Chad’s ehad as he attempt to work through this scenario in his head.  

Chad: But if I keep my title shot, then I can just go ahead and challenge myself, and we can still be friends and train together and all that!  So it’s really a win win for me.  Aw man, Curtis you’re super smart!  I’m glad we’re friends.  I can’t wait to train with you guys its gonna be a blast!

Curtis Rose stands in the type of bewildered look that can only come from a cartoon.  His mouth, open, his stance hunched over.  Chad leans in and gives his new best friend a hug and begins to walk off.  Vaka pats Curtis on the shoulder as he shoults at Chad as he is walking down the hallway.

Vaka: Always a pleasure, Chad.  I’m sure Curtis can’t wait to get into the gym with you.  Just give me a call, I’ll set it all up.

As Chad fades out of the camera’s view, Vaka slaps Rose on the back, taking him out of his daze.

Vaka: You didn’t really think that would work did you?  I’ve indulged you long enough, it’s time to get back to work before the match starts.  We’re gonna earn a title shot the old fashioned way, and you’re going to do your part.

Vaka turns to walk the other direction.  Rose moves to follow but is still shaking his head in disbelief.  The camera fades as the two men walk off camera back towards the locker rooms.  H