“So where do we go from here?”

The dressing room of the CONSOL Energy Center (the former Mellon Arena).  Troy Matthews was sitting on the bench, looking down at his feet, when he broke the silence.

“Pardon?”  That was Eddie Dante, as he doffed his tights and began to put on some dingy slacks.

“The loss,” Troy said, between his teeth, “we were supposed to start a momentum and build on it on the next TV show, but we lost.  Moreso, we got our asses handed to us.  We were supposed to start rolling that ball, but... we just can’t!”

“If anyone should be upset, Troy, it’s me,” Dante coolly replied, putting a plain black T-shirt over his head and shaking loose his blond locks, “I took the pinfall, because _I_ let my guard down.”  Saori Kazama chimed in as she walked into the locker room, “I heard everything, guys.  And Eddie’s right.  And don’t forget; he’s not used to regularly competing against women.”

“Yes,” Eddie nodded, regrettably, “I’ll need to get accustomed to this kind of environment.  Things have really changed here in the United States.”  He sighed, and put his hands on Troy’s shoulders.

“Listen,” he said, “let’s just put it behind us for tonight.  We’ll finish getting dressed, have a light refreshment, and enjoy the show.  It promises to be very good!  And then, tomorrow, we’ll get right back to work.  We’ll train, we’ll study film, and we’ll have an interview to get ready for the next show.  Alright?”

Troy stood up and began unlacing his boots.  “Alright.  I hope they have vegetarian food out there; so at least I know Saori and I won’t have to worry about being left out once Biggie Smalls over there goes to town on the catering.”

Eddie, Troy, and Saori had a good laugh, until the massive Mushigihara stalked over to them and let out a simple grunt.

“Hey, it was a joke, big fella!” Troy said, shaking his head, “c’mon, let’s get a bite.”

The quartet walked out of the room, Troy calling out “HEY!  Did it start yet?”

--------------------------------------------------

[Fade in.]

[We’re smack-dab in the middle of the classic promo environment; DEFIANCE banner hanging down the middle of a steel-pipe frame.  Simple, to the point.  And in front of that banner stand the trio known as The Philosopher Kings, alongside their manager and extra set of eyes, Saori Kazama.  Eddie Dante, as usual, is dressed to the nines, while Troy and Mushigihara look dressed for a rumble.]

DANTE:
I am not going to make any excuses, because I know in DEFIANCE, they don’t mean a thing.  The Blood Diamonds won, and the Philosopher Kings lost.  End of that chapter.

[Dante shakes his head and points to the camera.]

DANTE:
Now, the Kings are going to make sure that we don’t come up short again.  Myself, Troy Matthews, and Mushigihara; the three of us are SERIOUS about staking our claim in this company, in making it clear that we, as competitors, and especially as a cohesive unit, HAVE A PLACE in this company.  And if it means I have to stop being a gentleman and fight like a man possessed, then so be it.  If it means Troy Matthews has to slay giant after giant like King David on a meth binge, then so be it.

[Troy stifles a slight chuckle, then supports Dante’s statement with a nod.]

DANTE:
And if it means this human Panzer [slaps Mushigihara’s chest] need to literally rip the squared circle asunder, then so be it.  And to prove that these are NOT empty words, I am issuing an open challenge.

On episode thirty-six of DEFIANCE Television, the Philosopher Kings want to face ANY THREE competitors. Man or woman.  I care not if they’re a klatsch of newcomers like us.  I care not if they’re among the top competitors in this company, or even this ENTIRE industry.  And I care not if Jeff Andrews decides to drag his bruised and battered ego back into the ring and try to feed it with our blood.

[Dante takes a long, deep breath, cueing Troy Matthews’ interjection.]

TROY:
I think what Fast Eddie here’s tryin’ to say is, we may have gotten the rookie match jitters, but at least we got some film to watch where we messed up, and a lesson on how to not let it happen again.  I’ve been on a hot streak here in the D-E-F before, but with my new partners... my speed, Mushi’s power, and Eddie’s skill, and my little sugar donut over here keeping tabs on anyone who might step in our way...

[Aaaaand cue Saori rolling her eyes and pushing out a single chuckle of the “don’t make me laugh” variety.]

TROY:
We’re gonna prove that Retaliation was just us breaking in.  DEFtv, we’re gonna be all warmed up and ready to burn whoever takes our challenge.

[Dante, Troy, and Saori stare into the camera lens, while Mushigihara... well, does whatever he’s doing behind that mask.]

TROY:
Can’t wait to see ya there.

[Troy cracks a grin, as the camera fades out.]

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