The horns sound.  “American Venom” permeates the arena and brings the fans there to their feet.  The camera switches over his shoulder and we see what he sees: the sea of Faithful.  The SHOOT World Heavyweight Champion is here.  Buck Dresden is here in Charlotte.  He steps onto the stage, World Championship on his shoulder and a smile on his face.  He can’t help it.  He is wearing his entrance vest with a Charlotte United shirt on underneath, a pair of black jeans and boots to adorn the lower half.  

He walks down the ramp, staring at the ring with intent.  He tosses the World Heavyweight Championship over the top rope into the ring and then rolls in below the bottom rope.  He pops up, title in hand, and slings it back over his shoulder with the faceplate on his back like the cross he carries for this company.  “American Venom” dies down and he stands there, microphone in hand.

Buck Dresden:  You had to know I wasn’t gonna let Charlotte go by and NOT show the hell up.

The fans pop throughout the arena and a small chant of “Thank you, Buck” threatens to break out.

Buck Dresden:  Lemme tell y’all a story.  Non-fiction.  Mostly.  See, when I joined SHOOT Project I told them to call me from the Great American South.  Fact is, no matter how shitty things get or how shitty people get to be, I’m a goddamn Southern man and I’m more’n proud of that fact.

The pop’s a lot bigger because, let’s face it.  I know my people.

Buck Dresden:  See, two weeks ago I got sick.  Had to sit on the bench right when Real Deal made the bookings for the show.  Told me to sit this one out.  Told me to stay home.  Charlotte, I did.  Thing was, I took my medicine.  I ate my vitamins.  I took care of myself because I knew by hook or by damn crook the World Champion Buck Dresden was gonna be in Charlotte with SHOOT Project!

The fans pop once more.

Buck Dresden:  I love my heritage.  I’m not a dipshit that pretends hate and the symbols related to it are relevant to my heritage.  My heritage is where I come from, who I come from, and who I am.  I was born in the South, Charlotte.  I was raised in the South.  My family’s here, my wife’s from around here.  And the thing about bein’ a Southern man like me is you don’t let disrespect walk away from you with its head up high.

He pauses, turning to the entrance stage from whence he came.

Buck Dresden:  So, to paraphrase the words of the theme song of a better man than I…you will know that I have come to collect.  I came to Charlotte, I came back home, and goddamn it I came to fight.  Void, you sorry piece of shit, you’ve been in hiding for months now.  You’ve let your standing in this place falter.  I get that Dan Stein destroyed you so thoroughly that the injuries you sustained have kept you away for a long damn time but here’s the deal boy.  I still know you report to work and I still know you don’t like to show your fucked up face anymore but if nobody else wants a piece of you then I do.  Let’s finish this shit.

The fans pop for the idea of a fight breaking out.  Buck glares at the entrance and waits.  The lights in the arena flicker and then suddenly…they go out.  Buck looks around quickly and cautiously until a constant, persistent hum of electricity echoes throughout.  Up on the SHOOT Tron, we see a hooded figure.  The bottom half of his face is clear, though the upper half is masked still.

Void.

Void:  Buck Dresden.

Pause.

Void:  You’ve got to stop trying to call on me for a fight.  People are going to start thinking it’s nepotism or something.

He pauses again.

Void:  Dan Stein shattered the bones in my face, not that you care.  My collarbone was broken, not that any of you care.  Both of my pectoral muscles were almost torn completely away from the bone.  My spine was dangerously close to breakage, as if that matters to you lot.

Buck Dresden:  Oh my GOD, you big bitch, get to the point!

The fans pop as Void blinks behind his mask.

Void:  I came back early as a favor to sidetrack you, distract you, keep you off your game.  I tried, I failed.  I even beat you in a match, but nothing.  You just kept coming and took the World title away and now no one wants to fight you.  You’re a champion without a proper challenger.  I could jump to the front of the line but where’s the fun in that?  So I can be hurt again?  So I can be broken up by you and you can pretend killing a limping lion means you’ve taken down big game?  Please, Buck, don’t be so naive.

Buck Dresden:  All that to say you ain’t comin’ down here for a fight.

Void:  In Charlotte?  God no.

The fans boo mercilessly.

Void:  But I’ll do you a favor, Buck.  I’ll give you what you want.  On the next shows.  I’m not giving Charlotte the satisfaction and I’m not giving you the satisfaction, either.  You can face me in a steel cage.

The fans pop once more.

Void:  I want your only way to victory to be escaping me.  Running away.  Win or lose, I will be done with you and you me.  My debt will be repaid in full and I can either walk away knowing the champion is less than me or I can go back to my hole and wait for the next prey to come by.  I’ll let you decide if you want the title on the line or not.

The hum cuts out and so does the video.  Void is gone.  The lights come back up and Buck stands alone in the ring.  However, he turns and sees something behind him lying on the mat.  He bends down to pick it up and realizes what it is: Void’s mask.  He throws it to the mat and looks back to the entrance.

Buck Dresden:  When I signed on the dotted line to be a Soldier, I swore an oath to myself and to all of you fans.  It’s a marriage, me and this ring.  Sickness and in health.  ‘Til death do we part.  It’s what we all go through with this profession.  ‘Til death.  And Charlotte, I ain’t ready to die just yet.

He turns to the camera.

Buck Dresden:  But I am ready to kill.

He tosses the microphone down with a THUMP as “American Venom” kicks back in.  The fans rise to their feet as Buck Dresden leaves the ring, title still on his shoulder and a solid glare on his face.  He stops at the entrance, turns his head to look over his shoulder, and smirks before he disappears to the back.