Prior to the show Smitty T. Duluth, FUSE Commish, and Derek Silver, personal assistant to owner Candy Marshall, are sitting in the very "classy" office of the commish. Derek has a look of annoyance on his face as he looks over at Smitty who is hard at work setting up his DVD player.
Silver: Smitty we should really be preparing for the show. It's an important night for FUSE with Sin City just a couple of weeks away. Could you tell me what is so damned important that you're not preparing for tonight's event?
STD: I am preparing Derek old boy. I'm preparing to win the heart of my lovely lady Tigera. THAT my good man is the most important thing that could possibly go on here tonight.
Derek slaps his forehead and sighs at the thought of Smitty staging yet another futile attempt to win the ice cold heart of the current FUSE Universal Champion.
Derek: Smitty you do realize that she absolutely hates you, right?
STD: What you see as hate I call undying love and devotion. She just wants to play hard to get. I respect that. In fact it honestly is quite the turn on.
Derek: You're an idiot. I hope you realize that.
STD: Possibly. I've been called that, and much worse to be honest, but when it comes to the love of a good woman I know what I'm talking about. Now be a pal and turn those lights out. I've got Say Anything on tap for tonight.
Derek: Say Anything? The John Cusack chick flick?
STD *As he grabs the DVD remote, pops the DVD into the player, and then turns and plops down on his couch*: Of course. What better way to make a chick realize how much I care for her then to do something romantic. I'm told that this movie has one of the most romantic scenes of all time and I've got to study it in order to win the heart of my fair lady.
STD then grins as he turns to look at Derek who is backing toward the door and shaking his head slowly.
STD: Would you like to stick around? Afterwards you could play the part of Tigera while I practice my attempt to win her heart?
Silver: Actually tempting as that sounds, and by tempting I mean disgusting, I've got some real work to do. You know the stuff that actually HELPS promote our company.
STD: Suit yourself brother. If you need me I'll be hear absorbing this information like a sponge.
Derek Silver then backs out of the office and slams the door behind him before rubbing his temples with both of his hands.
Silver: Damned fool.
SA: Ladies and Gentlemen, last week we closed the show with… quite a disturbing piece of footage.
HJ: we closed the Show with it. The fans in the audience however got to see the whole thing.
SA: Indeed. Unfortunately due to time constraints we had to cut short the video. But right here and right now we’re going to see what happened.
HJ: Strider and Evan Jackson Baby!
The home video style footage emblazons the video wall as the lights dim again. The fans in the arena fall silent as we pick up where the video left last week. On the screen we see Evan Jackson sitting down with Strider watching him from above. Strider gently feels around the edge of the window/ he finds an opening and lifts the glass gently. The hinges squeak and Evan Jackson looks up to see two eyes staring right back at him.
Jackson springs to his feet as Strider throws the window open and drops down into the room.
Evan Jackson: What the hell do you want?!
Strider says nothing. Rather he looks at Jackson, his eyes full of hate.
Evan Jackson: How did you find me?
He gets a reaction from Strider this time. A sick laugh emanates from under the pitch black mask as Strider gestures towards the black duffel bag he brought with him. Hanging out from one of the side pockets is a piece of paper. Strider allows Jackson to walk over to the bag and pull the paper out.
Evan studies the paper and lets out a defeated laugh.
Evan Jackson: I really need to fire that agent.
Strider advances on Jackson but Evan is prepared. He jumps back and grabs a pipe on the wall. He rips it off with one swift jerk and brandishes it towards Strider.
Evan Jackson: Do you really want to?
Strider nods as he advances further. Evan slowly steps back, mirroring Striders every move. Strider manages to work Jackson back so far that he can get to his bag. He reaches into it and roots around. After a few seconds he looks up at Jackson, his eyes wide with fury.
Evan Jackson: Looking for this?
In his hand Evan holds a large knife.
Evan Jackson: Shouldn’t have let me near the bag.
Jackson laughs slightly as he tosses the pipe hard at the head of Strider. The masked man ducks it and starts to chase after Jackson who has since broken into a sprint.
The two dissapear out of the door as the lights rise again and the video wall blacks out.
SA: Looks like Strider isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer.
HJ: Very funny Ambrose, keep talking like that maybe you’ll have to hide out in a warehouse next.
