Friday, December 9, 2005

The Rage Cage part 8 a couple weeks later... Ravage: RAAAAAR!!! Back in The Cage, Ravage rushes his opponent, punching him in the gut and then elbowing him in the back, knocking him down. “Ding Ding Ding!” Announcer: And the winner! The undisputed King of the Cage! The Menace of Metrolex! RAVAGE!!! Ravage: HAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The crowd cheers and screams Ravage’s name. But someone near the back is not cheering. ???: It’s him alright. “Shall we intercept?” ???: .... No. Not yet. “What?! What’re you talking about?! That thing is a public menace!” ???: That hair sample we got from the crime scene was human, right? If he is human... then we might have a chance. Ravage: THIS IS MY WORLD!!! THESE ARE MY PEOPLE!!! AND I AM THEIR KING!!!! later... Derrick: (walking down a corridor with Ravage) It’s in the bag, baby! You’re practically untouchable out there! The final match is tomorrow. And the way you’ve been fightin’, it’ll be a cinch to win this thing! (goes to pat him on the shoulder) Ravage: DON’T.... touch me. Derrick: (backs off) Sorry man. Ravage: I’m gettin’ outta here. (turns down a separate hallway) Derrick: Where you goin’ tonight, big guy? Ravage: Same place as always. None of your f*ckin’ business! --the athlete’s room-- Ravage: (steps in, closes the door and looks around) ...... (morphs into Justin) Justin: *sigh* (he now has a full beard and multiple scars and bruises on his body, starts putting clothes on and getting ready to go to the surface, he just starts to button up his coat when...) “clack!” Justin: 0.0 .... Who’s there? (glances behind him and sees someone standing in the doorway) Who are you?! An Asian woman wearing a red sleeveless dress steps forward. She has brown eyes and long black hair tied back in a bun with chop-sticks. She’s also wearing narrow shades with red lenses. Woman: Mr. “Ravage”, I presume? Justin: ...... (takes off his glasses and pulls a ski mask out of his pocket) Yeah that’s me. (puts it on and turns around) Who are you? Woman: Just a fan. You fought very well out there tonight. Justin: What do you want? Woman: ... Well, I can see you’re one who doesn’t like to beat around the bush. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment. Justin: Sorry babe. But I’m not much of a talker. “grrrrmmm” Justin: Uh! (looks down) Woman: (smiles slyly) How about dinner then? Justin: (walks past her) I dine alone. Woman: My treat. Justin: (stops) ........ later... --a nearby café-- Justin: (eating a large piece of apple pie) Woman: How is it? Justin: Not bad. So what did you want to talk about Miss....? Woman: Xiang. Justin: ....Well Miss Xiang, what’s on your mind? (resumes eating intently) Miss Xiang: You like to come right to the point. Good. So do I. (leans in close) I know what you are, Mr. Ravage. Justin: (glances up at her) ...... Do you now? Miss Xiang: I know you’re the one who terrorized downtown Metrolex almost a month ago. Yet there were no casualties or major injuries. Justin: So you are a cop. Miss Xiang: If I were just some cop, I would’ve had you arrested an hour ago. Justin: So what are you? Miss Xiang: I’m not at liberty to name the organization I work for. Justin: Oh! So now I’m government business. Miss Xiang: You’ve done some very bad things, Mr. Ravage. Cost about a million dollars in damage. Put an entire city in a state of paranoia. And I have over 50 unhappy national guardsmen waiting for my signal and ready to capture you. So what do you say? Justin: ..... (smiles) I say you’re lying. Miss Xiang: Try me. Justin: You cut off communication with them when we left the ring. Why? Miss Xiang: .... I by no means approve of your actions Mr. Ravage. And you are nonetheless a criminal. But I don’t think you should go to jail. Justin: And why’s that? Miss Xiang: *deep breath* Mr. Ravage, allow me to make a proposition. If you’re willing to turn yourself in, I can have you work off your dept to the city by enrolling you in a special branch of my organization. Justin: What ‘special branch’? Miss Xiang: I’m not at liberty to say that either. All I can say is that it’s a branch that recruits special individuals to become operatives in international defense. Justin: o.0 ....Wha... You mean you want me to be a special op? Miss Xiang: You have phenomenal powers and skill Mr. Ravage. Pointed in the right direction, you could do a lot for this country. For this world. Justin: .... (scowls) You’re a little late, Miss Xiang. I gave up the hero dream a long time ago. Miss Xiang: (a glint of intrigue flashes in her eyes) Justin: This is the life my actions have brought me to. You don’t go making a saint out of a sinner. Especially not someone like Ravage. Miss Xiang: ........ Justin: ........ Miss Xiang: .... Do you believe in destiny, Mr. Ravage? Justin: To an extent. Miss Xiang: How do you mean? Justin: I believe that we have multiple destinies. Our lives and all the possibilities are laid out like a flow chart that forks at certain points in our lives. We just need to pick the right path in order to get to the destiny we want. Miss Xiang: (now even more intrigued) Justin: (looks up at her) Does that surprise you? Miss Xiang: Actually it does. You believe you’re in charge of your own destiny. Then I guess you also believe in the second chance. You said you wanted to be a hero long ago. I’m offering you that chance. Justin: Like I said, you’re too late. That part of me went away along with my childish dream. Miss Xiang: Well, in case that child ever comes back, be sure and let me know. (takes a card out of her dress and slides it towards him) Justin: (looks at the card) ...... (looks at Miss Xiang) You’re wasting your time. (stands up, starts to walk out) Miss Xiang: How do you know I won’t call them after you leave? Justin: Easy. Cuz you’re holding out for a hero. (gets to the door then stops) .... um (looks back) Thanks for the pie. (leaves) Miss Xiang: .... (smiles) We’ll meet again, Mr. Ravage.

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