Chapter 4: Life is a series of Road Trips

Devil’s Lake North Dakota, The Thunderbolt Armory, ten years ago…



I can’t believe you stuffed your tits in my face, Em! I could’ve suffocated!”



Oh please, don’t be so melodramatic, Sadia. You were trapped for twelve point three-seven seconds, I counted. Hardly enough to put you under.”



It certainly wasn’t for lack of trying! I’d probably still be under if it wasn’t for that wedgie.”



And thank you very much for THAT, by the way. It’s not that I don’t appreciate having my ass gawped at by a crowd of a hundred plus, but I think I’m going to need a new outfit. You almost tore this one in half!”



Which I wouldn’t have had to do if you hadn’t slapped on that stupid Tit Smother!”



Lets not be gauche, Sadia, it’s a Front Sleeper and if you want to avoid it perhaps you shouldn’t have missed that 450 Splash. What on earth possessed you to try it from the Springboard position? I’ve seen you do it off the top rope dozens of times.”



“That’s just the point, Emily. I wanted to surprise you.”



“When have you ever surprised me?”



“The Super Kick in Montpellier comes to mind.”



“Battle Royales are different creatures entirely. I was dealing with that obnoxious Texan and you stapled one to my chin as soon as she was eliminated!”



“Surprised you, didn’t it?”



“I suppose it did. You still haven’t answered my question.”



“What question? The Springboard? Like I said, I wanted to surprise you.”



“Don’t lie to me, Morales. We’ve been on this road trip for the better part of six months and we’ve tagged up OR beaten the snot out of each other more than a hundred times by this point. You know my moves and I know yours, just like I know that if you wanted to try a Springboard 450 in a match you would’ve asked me to play crash-pad for you when we were at the gym. So what gives? Does it have anything to do with why you were scanning the audience all night?



“You noticed that? Jesus girl, you really do have a super computer between your ears, don’t you? And yeah, it does, but it didn’t pan out. There was no one watching.”



“No one watching? Did you hear the cheers when you caught me with that Tornado DDT? Or when I hoisted you into that Romero Stretch?”



“Good job showing my crotch to one side of the arena, by the way. I really appreciated that, West.”



“Simple retaliation for the wedgie, nothing more. And if you’re worried about showing a little camel toe from time to time, you’re probably in the wrong line of work.”



“Camel toe? I thought I was the one being gauche. And wasn’t the Brainbuster payback for the wedgie? You sure spiked me hard enough.”



“I have the safest Brainbuster in the business, as you well know. More than enough to stun for a three count, nothing some aspirin and a good night’s sleep won’t cure. And judging from the attitude I’m getting, I’d wager your neck doesn’t hurt right now, am I right?”



“Are all geniuses as obnoxious as you, West?”



“Being right isn’t obnoxious, Sadia. Now stop stalling. Who were you looking for in the stands?”



“There were supposed to be a talent scout from FAWN at the show tonight, if you must know.”



“In Devil’s Lake, North Dakota? When we were the only women’s match on the card? Highly unlikely. And since when are you interested in FAWN? I thought you wanted to become the biggest indy star in the country!”



“I do, but I know you’d been interested in getting signed with FAWN or Rival Angels. I thought if we tore this place down it’d help get your foot in the door.”



“Sadia… I’m touched. While I respect your desire to be Queen of the Indies, you know I’d talk you up to any national promotion that expressed interest in me, don’t you?”



“I know you would, but I like the armories and the high school gyms, Em. I don’t need the sort of hassle that comes from working on television every week.”



“What about the paycheck?”



“Asks the girl who’s living off the money from, what is it, three of her own patents?”



“Five. Fair enough. Far be it from me to stop you from achieving your dreams, but this bizarre path I’ve chosen would be much more entertaining with you along for the ride.”



“Don’t get soft on me now, West. We’ve still got another eight weeks to go and I intend to whoop your ass each and every day.”



“A claim as bold as it is outrageous. We both know I’ll point your ass to the lights whenever we cross paths.”



“Tuff talk, big brain. Now if we’re done bonding, let’s go get dinner. Winner buys, remember?”



“How could I forget? I paid for your eighty dollar waffle tab in Rockford, didn’t I?”



“Victory comes with a cost, Em.”



“I suppose it does. I’ll buy, you drive. Oh, and Sadia?”



“Yeah?”



“The scout was on the side opposite the entryway. Fourth row, seven seats in.”



“Wait, you knew he was there the whole time? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”



“Didn’t think you’d care. That and you said, FAWN, this particular gentlemen represented a different promotion.”



“Really? Where was he from?”



“I believe they’re calling themselves WOLF. Now c’mon, lets get dinner.”



“You’re insufferable, Emily.”



“As are you, Sadia.”



********



Devil’s Lake North Dakota, The Thunderbolt Armory, tonight…



The dedicated fans of Roughrider State Wrestling were trickling back from intermission when the Announcer stepped between the ropes. “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to RSW’s Cruel Yule! Our next contest is a special attraction featuring one of the hottest new up & comer’s on the indy circuit taking on a bona fide international superstar who just so happened to get her start in this very building!” He paused as seemingly everyone in attendance broke into a chant of ‘SA-DEE-AH!’ After half a dozen times through, he raised the mic again. “The following contest is a women’s bout scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. Introducing first, she hails from the darkest corners of your sad little imagination, standing at five feet four inches tall, she weighs in tonight at one hundred and twenty-five pounds, she is the inscrutable, the unbreakable, CIPHER!”



HEAVY IS THE HEAD:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWBm4Tx2bRo



‘Heavy is the Head’ roared to life and was quickly greeted with boos from most of those assembled. I say most because a small contingent had seen footage of the newcomer’s matches with Rita Carrick and Daphne Dufresne and even in a relatively small territory like RSW there were always those who loved to cheer the bad girls. Even so, they were very much in the minority and what little support they mustered was totally blotted out when Cipher actually stepped into view. Face fixed in a scowl to keep her good mood hidden, Emily called forth even more derision with a dismissive wave of one hand, then started down the aisle.



For her first match in the Thunderbolt in a decade, the incognito FAWN star wore her now familiar black lucha mask that covered everything save her mouth and her hair. Below was a one-piece done in black & white like a chessboard. Cut high on the hips and low in the back, it showed off her shoulders, glutes and thighs to great effect. Her elbow and knee pads were matte black (the latter emblazoned with blood red question marks) while her boots were the same black & white as her one-piece.



Occasionally taunting the fans that dared try to burden her with their idiotic opinions, Cipher climbed the steel steps, dipped between the ropes and took the microphone from the Announcer. After her music faded, the masked woman said, “On this journey for knowledge I have tamed a slavering beast and most recently humbled a false queen. Now I find myself on the trail of another dangerous predator, a woman who fancies herself a puma. I do hope she’s a bit more cunning than my last quarries, I could do for a bit of sport for the holidays and it would be ever so satisfying to add such a beatiful pelt to my collec--”



CONFIDENT:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=udLuRz9nP6A



The blaring horns of Demi Lovato’s ‘Confident’ tore into the Thunderbolt and sent the crowd into a cheering frenzy before the Announcer said so much as a word. “And introducing her opponent, hailing from Dallas Texas, she stands at five feet three inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and thirty six pounds, she is the Persian Puma and Ms. 450 herself, SADIA MORALES!”



The woman in question tore through the curtain and threw a fist overhead to properly greet her faithful before she dropped it to chest level to point at Cipher. This got no reaction from the Queen of Queries, though she *may* have smiled the tiniest bit when Morales slashed a thumb across her throat and bounded down the aisle. Tonight the home grown exotique (her mother was Iranian, her father Spanish) sported gleaming gold trunks with a thin black belt and matching sports bra style top, the latter sheathed in a sort of half length tank-top made of fine black mesh that came to a sharp point a few inches above her midsection. Her boots kneepads and hand wraps were all black, her kickpads were gold and her long dark hair fell well beyond her shoulders.



SADIA MORALES:





Making a point to slap hands with every fan that Cipher had snubbed or otherwise demeaned, Sadia made a quick circuit of the ring, then hopped onto the apron and just as quickly vaulted onto the top rope. Launching herself into the lights with an ease Lily Burlingame had admired ever since she decided to be a wrestler, Morales pulled off a flawless pair of midair somersaults before she came down in the middle of the ring with a crisp little thump!



“So you wanna take a trophy, do ya baby?” Sadia spread her arms wide and took a few steps toward Cipher’s corner. “Then how about you step up and show me what you’ve got?”



Settled comfortably against the buckles, Cipher rolled her eyes and shooed the international star away. “On my time, kitten. Now do be a good little beastie and get back to your corner, I’m sure the official needs some time to check you for weapons… or mites.”



Sadia grinned and pounded a fist into her palm. “These are all the weapons I need, Cipher. That and the ropes to make sure you stay down when I crush you into the mat!” Promise made, she quickly backpedaled into the far corner so the referee could make his final inspection.



At a max capacity of just two hundred seats, the Thunderbolt Armory was a fraction of a fraction of the FAWN Arena, but on this Friday night the place was sold out, meaning it was the biggest audience Emily had wrestled for since her trek began. But that wasn’t the reason for the grin she suppressed with the greatest of efforts. No, it wasn’t the venue or the crowd that had the Black Queen practically giddy, it was the opportunity to wrestle the Persian Puma for the first time in decade. She’d been waiting for the chance ever since Deschain first suggested the idea of a scouting trip and now that the night had arrived she was savoring it to its fullest.



That’s why she didn’t storm off the buckles when the bell CLANGED a few seconds later. Moving with a languidness she did not feel, Cipher laid a hand on the top rope and strolled about halfway out before circling toward the other brunette. “I’ve waited a looooooooong time for this, Sadia Morales.” West spoke loudly enough for the floor seats to hear her. “So tell me, before we get started… are you worth the wait?”



The gold-clad battler answered with a knowing, somehow insolent shrug. “I guess that all depends on you.”



Em tilted her head ever so slightly. “How so?” Morales grinned. “How long have you been waiting for this ass kicking?”



Heeling 101 demanded West stamp her foot and challenge the other woman forward, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “Longer than you can imagine, dear kitty. And I fear my wait is not yet over. Now, to me. Perhaps we can show these people some real thunder.”



Sadia rolled her shoulders and hunched forward in a tense grappler’s crouch. “Ready or not, here comes the boom.”



The indy veteran came on fast then, Morales showing no signs of hesitation despite her adversary’s growing reputation for all manner of tricks and traps. None appeared in that first clinch however, the lock-up was clean as a sheet in the center of the ring with both ladies rising up on their toes to get a bit of extra-- Cipher slipped from Sadia’s grasp, twisted around behind and wrapped her up in a snug Waistlock. Hands knotted below the swell of Morales’s breasts, West yanked her foe off the mat, pivoted her hips and dropped the both of them to all fours with the simple grip still intact. Squeezing a bit harder when they reached the canvas, Emily corkscrewed over onto her back, which did the same to Morales along with the added bonus of stacking the Panther up on her shoulders. Bridged onto her toes in an instant, Cipher held fast while the ref dove in to count…



ONE!



Morales spun from her back to her butt to escape the pin, if not the Waistlock. Kneeling behind the other brunette now, West drew her knotted fists up and in while simultaneously grinding her biceps against Sadia’s ribs. It wasn’t quite a Bear Hug, yet it was a helluva lot more forceful than a basic Waistlock, as Sadia was fast learning. “Pretty good strategy you’ve got there, Riddler.” Morales noted as she grabbed at Cipher’s wrists. Keeping a cheek pressed between my shoulders makes hitting a Back Elbow all but impossible while increasing the pressure. “How long did you say you’ve been wrestling, again?”



“I didn’t, as you very well know.” West chirped after a rough squeeze. “Perhaps that’s one of the many things we’ll learn about each other ton--” Emily shut up fast when Morales put her right hand flat against her upper torso and slid it down to get one arm beneath the masked woman’s coil. That was all the opening she needed to escape the almost Bear Hug and more importantly, claim possession of Cipher’s right wrist, which she pinioned behind her rival’s back in the blink of an eye. Pushing up and forward on the Hammerlock, Morales rode Cipher to her stomach and promptly abandoned the hold in favor of slapping a rough, grinding Headlock around the grounded grappler’s temples.



“I can answer all the questions you want after the match.” Sadia smirked as she poured on the pressure. “Just as long as you answer one for me first.”



Pushing and prodding at the other brunette’s defenses, Em thought about going for the pressure point in the elbow, then decided against it. Stiff Headlock or not, she was enjoying herself immensely. Of course it wouldn’t do to the fans or her opponent in on that particular fact, so West smacked a foot against the mat in apparent frustration and growled, “I think we both know the answer is going to be no, kitty.”



Sadia nodded, a rather sympathetic gesture. “Yeah, I figured. But I still wanna hear you say it!” She bore down on the Headlock, rocked back on her butt and flicked a glance at the ref. “Ask her if she gives!”



Dutiful in a way only zebras can manage, the ref stepped around the action and would’ve dropped to one knee if Cipher hadn’t slipped free of the Headlock half a heartbeat earlier. Catching hold of the exotic stunner’s left wrist as she made her escape, Cipher scrambled to her feet and twisted the exposed limb in a sharp circle before laying out on her tummy to THWHUMP Morales’s arm against the thinly-sheathed plywood.



Sadia yelped and pulled the arm in under her torso, a good strategy to protect it against further punishment, but it left the rest of her quite vulnerable, as Morales discovered when Cipher climbed onto the small of her back. No dainty technical exchange this time around, the Maiden of Mysteries palmed one hand against the back of Sadia’s head and thwhap-thwhap-THWHAPPED a trio of heavy Forearm Smashes across her shoulders. Instinctively moving to protect her noggin from more punishment, Sadia curled both arms around the back of her neck, then cursed in irritation when Cipher caught her around the biceps and craaaaaaaaaaaaaanked back. And as if the Double Chickenwing wasn’t unpleasant enough already, Cipher shifted her perch to plant a knee between the other brunette’s shoulders.



“Normally I wouldn’t waste either of our times with a question I’ve already answered,” Em noted as she put an unpleasant kink in her opponent’s spine, “but as you so eloquently noted, I just want to hear you say it!” With that she jabbed her knee down and pulled all the harder, thus transforming the simple Chickenwing into something very close to a Camel Clutch.



Teeth clenched to keep from groaning, Morales shook her head ‘no’ when the ref asked for her surrender. That was enough to satisfy him. Cipher on the other hand was less easily placated. “Not sporting, kitten.” she chided the trapped battler, “I didn’t shy away from your question.”



“Nuuuuhhh…. no, you just slipped out of the Headlock without saying a word.” Morales groaned as she squirmed and shifted in the painfully simple hold.



“Hmmhhh, I suppose you’re right. That wasn’t fair at all. Allow me to rectify. No, I don’t give up. And I don’t plan on giving up WHOOOOAAAH!”



Ms. 450 leeeeeeaaaaned back into the Chickenwing which did nothing for the pressure on her vertebrae, it did however allow the tawny brunette to power to one knee. “I know you don’t PLAN on giving up, cutie.” Sadia taunted. “No one ever does. That’s why it’ll be so much more fun when you GUUUUHHHHHHH!”



Aware that her opponent would regain her footing in short order if she didn’t make an adjustment, Cipher planted a foot on either side of Morales’s hips and treated her midsection to a long squeeeeeeeeeeze. “Aaaaaahhh, the humble Bodyscissors,” West said with a satisfied sigh. “While it will never grab the attention of the flips and somersaults you hold so dear, it certainly does an excellent job when it comes to grinding down even the most stubborn of wills. Don’t you agree?”



Sadia shook her head ‘no’, more for the ref’s benefit than Cipher’s. “I agree that you love the sound of your own voice, that’s about it. And you’re gonna have to spend a lot more time with the Thigh Master before this even has a chance of grinding me OOOFFFFFHH!”



West loosened the Scissors, pushed onto tiptoes and dropped into a deep squat which in turn drove her rump into the small of Morales’s back. The tawny grappler shuddered but didn’t leave her knees, so Emily stood up and reapplied the Scissors. “I’ve got all the time in the world to deal with you, my fierce, feline friend. Without your vaunted agility you’re little more than a pretty tackling dummy, albeit one that actually has the capacity to tell the official when she’s had enough.” Em punctuated this rather unkind observation with another punishing constriction of her opponent’s ribs and was rewarded with a low groan from Morales for the trouble.



The ref saw the distress etched on her face, hurried over and dropped to one knee. “You doing ok, Sadia? Do you need me to call for the bell?”



Sadia actually laughed aloud before she bothered to shake her head ‘no’. “Doin’ fine, new guy. Cipher here’s got a good squeeze, but if she thinks I’m helpless on the ground, well…” She trailed off, leaned back and abruptly twisted her left arm free of the other brunette’s grasp. The Amazing Academic had barely registered the partial jailbreak when Morales crooked her arm into a ‘V’ and pounded the point of that elbow into her attacker’s ribs like she was a convict doing in the prison snitch with a shiv right before the big riot.



Steadfast despite the pounding, West answered with some brutality of her own, just cuffing Morales across the back of her head and shoulders no less than half a dozen times. Grinning through the heavy-handed abuse, Sadia drove one more elbow home, then reached down and hooked that arm around the back of Cipher’s thigh. “Gotcha now, baby.” With the Scissors nothing but a fading memory, the Persian Puma let out a growl and surged to her feet with the masked woman glued to her back in a sort of half-assed piggyback ride.



Cursing the loss of her vertical base, Emily straightened her legs and bore down on the Scissors once more while also sliding her right hand through the gap created by her rival’s forearm and bicep. In the next instant she wrapped her left arm around Morales’s neck and locked her hands to secure an extremely painful Crossface Chickenwing. Sturdy as she was, Sadia stumbled awkwardly enough to get a gasp, then a relieved cheer when she righted the ship. Unable to decide if she was pleased or irritated by the other woman’s resistance, Cipher snuggled her chin into the hollow of Morales’s right shoulder and murmured, “I’m not going to get tired of this, Sadia. If you want your freedom you’ll have to wrestle your way out or take it from the ropes.”



No smiling now, Sadia’s pretty face was damp with perspiration as the combination of submission holds ate into her reserves. “I got a better idea.” she rasped. “Why not both?” The question was still on Morales’s lips when she ‘hupped’ Emily up a little higher and took off for the corner as fast as her feet could carry her. The Black Queen snarled and reefed back on the Chickenwing, trying to slow Sadia’s headlong charge before she reached the--BWUUUUNG!



Somehow picking up speed even with the masked woman trying to dislocate her shoulder, Sadia twisted around on one foot and threw herself against the buckles with every bit of force her hundred and thirty plus pounds could muster. Turned out to be more than enough to break Cipher’s traps, both of them falling away like they’d never been there. Emily followed suit, the suddenly breathless battler throwing her arms over the top rope to keep from dropping to her butt or even flopping onto her face Ric Flair style. As for Morales, she took a few tottering steps forward before glancing over her left shoulder. That quick look was all the information Sadia needed. She whipped around, hopped up and flicked out her right leg to THWHACK Cipher across the forehead with an emphatic Enzugiri.



CCS ENZUGIRI:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtxYm6QkC-o



Emily took the blow flush and her knees went watery, but damned if the incognito star didn’t stay vertical, even if she had to use the ropes to shamble her way clear of the corner. Sadia, who usually followed up that particular maneuver with a Hesitation Dropkick or Cannonball Senton, was miffed, but not really surprised to find the Maiden of Mysteries still on her feet. “So, you’re not fragile. That’s good to know.” Scrambling to boot leather immediately thereafter, the gold-clad lovely raced straight for the woozy warrior and THWAPPED her across the chest with a huge Clothesline that sent her up, over and DOWN to the floor in an ungainly tumble. The fans cheered like Morales had just triumphed in a Battle Royale, but Sadia herself only replied with a single pumped fist. Then she staked out a spot in the middle of the ring and kept an eye on the outside while rolling the worst of the strain from her right shoulder.



Out on the floor, Emily rolled onto her side and pressed one hand to the back of her neck. At the FAWN Arena she would’ve kept her eye on the video screen with the intent of heading off any follow-up attack before it got too far, unfortunately the armory had no screen and the noise of the crowd was far too much to hear an approaching threat. Grimacing in pain and irritation, Cipher sat up and turned over to get a better glimpse of the squared circle. “Keep an eye on her!” West demanded of the official as soon as she’d spotted Sadia.



Positioned between the wrestlers, the ref looked to Sadia, who favored him with a ‘here I am’ sort of shrug. Turning back to the masked woman, he grabbed hold of the top rope and leaned down to better address his charge. “She’s fine, Cipher. Now c’mon and get back in the ring.”



“I’ll return to the ring when I’m damned well good and ready. In the meantime, start your count! Your hands should be sufficient to reach ten and I’m sure you could remove your shoes if you need to go high--oh for f*ck’s saNNNNGGGHHHHHHHH!”



Not content to let her opponent savor a reprieve even when she could’ve used one herself, Sadia did an about-face and charged to the opposite side of the ring. Distracted by the meddling official, Emily didn’t notice Morales’s return until she’d taken to the skies and somersaulted over the ref. A shade too slow to get out of the way, Em got her arms up and thus deflected the very worst of the impact, but it still wasn’t enough to keep Ms. 450 from crashing down on her like a tawny brunette cannonball.



TOPE CON GIRO:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oYZzbysLsI



Rolling clear of the wreckage as soon as she’d returned to terra firma, Morales clambered to her feet and buried both hands in Cipher’s hair. “No hiding out here, cutie. You’ve been waiting to wrestle me, well you’re going to do it in the middle of this ring!” No comment was offered in return, so Sadia moved one hand to her foe’s waistband and trundled her toward the--”OOOOFFFFHHH!”



West spun free of Morales, got around behind her and shoved her into a brutal tummy on apron collision. “You’re going to regret coming out here, Sadia.” Cipher huffed as she turned the high flyer in her direction. “In the ring there are ropes and pads and other safeguards. Out here the environment is much more… unforgiving.”



Case in point, she took hold of the winded brunette’s wrist, stepped back and dropped a hip to better sling her opponent across the narrow aisle. Now Sadia Morales was quick, no one in their right mind would contest that. But even she wasn’t fast enough to hit the brakes or even turn around before she BWAAANGED gut-first into the steel barricade. Sadia ‘ooooffffhed’ and folded over the guardrail, she might’ve even gone into the first row if Cipher hadn’t grabbed her by the waistband. “No escape that way, my friend. The only way out of this maze is through.”



Wheeling the Persian Puma around to face her, Em doubled down on the Wristlock and hurled the indy standout back across the aisle for another-- ‘ooohhhh’s’ from the fans as Morales lived up to her feline nickname by springing from the floor to the apron in a single graceful leap. Impressed but hardly stymied by the impressive display, Emily sprang across the aisle and extended her right arm in an attempt to cut Morales off at the knees. But Sadia had seen that particular approach before and she made Cipher pay for the predictability by vaulting into a gorgeous cartwheel a heartbeat before the sweep hit home! Landing on her feet a short distance removed from the surprised brunette, Morales whipped around in a half circle, planted on her left foot and hopped forward to THWHACK Cipher across the jaw with a textbook Super Kick!



CARTWHEEL & SUPER KICK:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XstgHjWe7c



West didn’t actually go down, but her head snapped to the side, her hands dropped to her thighs and her knees looked like they might give way in a strong breeze. Not content to let the AC take that glory from her, Sadia stepped in close and slung an arm over the masked woman’s shoulder while the other threaded between her thighs. “You’re not the only one who can play rough, baby.” Case in point, Morales muscled Cipher into position across her chest, lined up with the nearest corner and BWUUUNKED the small of her opponent’s back into the steel at a brisk jog! Emily shouted in pain and almost twisted loose of her attacker’s grip but Sadia wasn’t ready to let her go just yet. “Sorry babe, rest time is over. We’re gonna finish this in the ring.”



The crowd was fine with that, they cheered quite lustily when Morales bundled her opposition under the bottom rope. Things got that much more cacophonous when Ms. 450 hopped onto the apron and grabbed hold of the top rope. Already certain that Cipher was no one to sleep on, (beating Carrick was a wake-up call, ending Dufresne’s streak was damned near an announcement) Sadia paused just long enough to swing her hips for those lucky enough to sit on that side of the armory. Then she leapt onto the rubber-coated steel, launched herself out into the void and pulled off a perfect mid-air toe touch before gravity THAWHAMMED her down atop Cipher’s chest in a gorgeous Frog Splash! West’s legs bounced up on impact and Morales cradled both of them, all the better to keep her foe down for the…



SPRINGBOARD FROG SPLASH:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvwHWV9_1rM



ONE…

TWO…



Em kicked out almost simultaneous with ‘TWO!’ a fact that earned her a small nod from the Persian Panther. “I’ve put away a LOT of rookies with that move.” Sadia noted as she cupped the other woman’s ears and started to peel her off the mat. “But you almost shrugged it off, not unimpressive considering I just slammed you into the ringpost. Makes me wonder just who it is hiding under that NNGGGHH!”



Cipher grabbed Morales by the head, forced her own noggin under the other brunette’s chin and dropped to her knees. The Jawbreaker rocked Sadia back on her heels, one hand against her mouth, the other held out in front to ward off her attack--Cipher grabbed that wrist, reeled her in and THWHACKED a stiff Forearm Smash across her cheek. Morales stumbled, caught herself, groaned in breathless hurt when the Queen of Queries doubled her over for a left-right-left series of Kneelifts to the tummy and tits.



“The secret of my mask is the least of your concerns, little girl.” West chided after she’d cupped Morales’s ears. “If you don’t focus on the task at hand, I’ll leave you as dumbfounded and beaten as the rest of those unworthy cretins.” She hopped and pumped her knees, driving both bony joints into her rival’s forehead. Morales staggered again, leaving herself vulnerable to the Wristlock Emily slapped on before she could get out of range. Tether secured, Em stepped in and mashed the veteran’s tits with a short Shoulderblock then stepped back and slung her into the ropes courtesy of an Irish Whip.



The familiar sting of strands digging into her back cleared some of the fog from Sadia’s head, just not enough to hook her arms and thus halt the return trip, which she made at a very high rate of speed. Stepping in even as Morales closed the distance, West doubled over and slammed her shoulder into the Panther’s belly, all the better to hurl her into the lights with a Back Body Drop. Up on her tiptoes after the toss, Emily turned around to observe Sadia’s landing and did so just in time to watch the gold-clad battler land on her feet!



Countering the counter with a short-range Clothesline, Emily struck out again when Morales dropped back onto her shoulders and popped right back to verticality with a Kip Up! Poised and ready to strike long before Cipher recovered from the whiffed Clothesline, Sadia greeted her rival with a quick Side Kick to the belly. Em ‘ooofffhed’ and doubled over, so Morales pivoted in beside her and THWHACKED a Kneelift into her forehead to straighten her right back up. The heightened profile did Cipher no good of course, Sadia simply cuffed her across the chest with a high kick, then dropped low and whipped around to slice the other brunette’s legs out from underneath with a flawless Sweep.



KICK FLURRY:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY2FwXJlcnk



West hit the deck on her back with both legs kicked high in the air, a target too inviting for her opponent to ignore. “Don’t flatter yourself, honey.” Morales taunted after she’d tucked Cipher’s shins beneath her armpits. “You may have surprised me a little bit earlier on, but dumbfounded? Not a chance. As for beating me, how are you gonna do that when I’m bending you in half?”



With that she rolled West onto her belly, stepped over and sank into a deep crouch to cinch in the Boston Crab. Groaning as the fire in her lower back began to spread to her thighs and torso, Emily braced her forearms against the mat and puuuuuuusshed her body off the canvas. “Gutsy move.” Morales teased. “Sure your back’s tough enough to take the strain all the way to the ropes?”



“Of course I am. We both know you’ll break the hold and try for some foolish, flipping thing as soon as you realize you can’t stop my progress.” West answered through a hard smile.



“Those are fightin’ words, baby. Bring it on!”



Emily did, the straining superstar forcing even more pressure on her spine when she rose from her forearms to her palms. Teeth gnashing against the pain, she clambered and clawed her way to safety over the course of perhaps fifteen seconds and twice as many ‘TAP!’ chants. Her questing fingers were within inches of the bottom rope when Morales stood up and marched them both right back to the middle of the squared circle. Refusing to let the frustration creep into her voice, West chided, “Prophecy fulfilled. Maybe one of these days I’ll get tired of being WHOAAHNNGH!”



Sadia rolled the Insidious Intellectual onto her back, raised one foot and STOMPED on opposing belly. “You were wrong just then, cutie.” Morales taunted as she tossed her rival’s legs away. “You predicted something flippy and I just stomped on your buttery little gut instead. Hope you like being wrong, it’s a good look on you!”



Emily couldn’t answer because she was trying to get her breath back. Mildly disappointed at the lack of response, Sadia skipped over the retching wrestler on her way to the nearest corner. Back to the buckles, she boosted herself into a perch on the second rope and raised her hands to spur some crowd noise. “Get loud people, it’s time we asked this weirdo some really tough questions!”



The fans responded in kind and soon the Thunderbolt Armory echoed with a tumult worthy of its namesake. Far more aware of the noise than the looming threat, West tended to her aches for a good solid five seconds before mustering the strength to regain her footing. Initially turned back to the Persian Puma, Emily whirled a heartbeat after Morales leapt from the buckles with her left leg angled straight for opposing throat. Those fans anticipating another powerful collision got exactly what they wanted, albeit in a much different form. Because West stood her ground and ‘smecked’ her arms around Sadia’s waist to catch her in the stall position for a Powerbomb. Eyes wide and shocked, Morales could only grab onto Cipher’s hair as the masked woman charged at her opponent’s most recent perch and hurled her into a BWUUUNGING spine-on-turnbuckle collision!



TURNBUCKLE POWERBOMB:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-FHsWEAXng



Credit the wherewithal of Sadia Morales -- she stayed on her feet in the wake of the Buckle Bomb and damned if she didn’t shamble at Cipher with her hands raised as if to ask ‘is that all you got?’ Alas, Cipher had that and much, much more, as the wounded brunette discovered in the span of heartbeats. Swatting aside Morales’s defenses like they were made of tissue paper, the Maiden of Mysteries dipped to the right and wrapped her arms around Sadia’s waist in a simple Gutwrench. Hands locked, she spun her prey up n’ over through a two-hundred and seventy degree arc that screamed ‘Backbreaker’, but Emily laid out on her stomach to THAWHAM Morales’s sturdy frame into the thinly-sheathed canvas.



TILT-A-WHIRL SLAM:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMUi5e33vJw



Sadia bounced and rolled halfway to her stomach before West caught hold of her waistband and dragged her back to start. Then she slid across the Panther’s gulping tummy, hooked the far leg and jammed a forearm against opposing cheek for…



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



Sadia kicked free, sat up and paid for the privilege in the form of a whistling overhand slap that CRAAACKED between her shoulders! “Bytch!” she hissed as the resultant jolt twisted her to one knee. Highly unsympathetic in the wake of the punishment she’d absorbed, Emily tagged her opponent with a second slap, then dug deep into the playbook by THWHAPPING her palms against Morales’s ears in an old school Bell Ringer.



The Persian lovely groaned and doubled over, both hands instinctually flying to her ears as she tried to ease the painful whine. Cipher didn’t bother putting a stop to it, her last attack was simply a diversion to keep Morales occupied while she peeled her off the mat. “Come now, no need for vulgarities.” she cooed to Sadia after securing control over the other brunette’s left wrist. “You had a lengthy opportunity to bend my back, I’m simply maintaining balance in the world. But if you’re looking for something to cry about…” She trailed off and slung Morales at the far corner hard enough to send her down to one knee. Moving at a lower gear thanks to the repeated attacks on her back, Sadia avoided a sternum-first meeting with the top turnbuckle at the price of subjecting her throbbing spine to even more punishment.



“NNNGGGGGGGGGHHHH!” Morales stumbled hard, the majority of her attention focused on maintaining verticality for as long as possible. Perhaps that’s why she didn’t see Cipher step in, lean over and loop an arm across her waist. “Oh shyt, put me down!” Sadia barked even as Cipher scooped her up like it was no big deal. Surprise, Emily didn’t listen, not even when the gold-clad battler reached up and snatched a huge handful of dark hair. Cipher cried out and the ref began to badger Morales at once, but the infraction died a swift death when West pushed onto tiptoe and dropped to one knee. Sadia’s lower back hit Emily’s thigh with a low ‘THUMP!’ that was all but lost in the groans of those assembled in the Thunderbolt Armory.



PENDULUM BACKBREAKER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Abd17ZE3jw



Bounced from knee to canvas by the jarring impact, Morales tumbled to her hip and shoulder and Em once again jerked her onto her back. From there she pounced across the other brunette’s chest, effectively squashing Morales’s girls with a miniature Splash that got the crowd cheering again. No effort was made to hook the legs, Em merely pressed her palms to the canvas and pushed onto her toes while the ref counted…



ONE…

TWO…



Sadia didn’t just escape, she shoved the Black Queen onto her haunches and fetched a CRAAACKING slap across her cheek. Proud even in the midst of severe beating, a glowering Morales snarled, “Try that lazy shyt on me again and you’ll get more of the same, got that, honeEERRRGGGHHHH!”



West did and acknowledged her understanding by snatching a double handful of hair, which she then used to bounce the back of her foe’s skull against the mat. “C’mon Cipher, stay off her hair. You know better than that!” the ref chided as Emily made a careful show of plucking some invisible strands of hair from between her fingers.



“An astute observation my striped friend. I do indeed know better than that. However it’s apparent that my adversary doesn’t quite grasp the consequences that come with striking her betters, therefore I had no choice but to teach her a lesson.”



“You sure are a mouthy bytch, aren’t you?” Morales’s voice was as defiant as ever, quite the trick considering she asked the question through gritted teeth.



More than willing to play the part as long as the other woman kept spurring her on, Emily filled one hand with Sadia’s dark, battle-damp hair and wrenched her head back at an awkward angle. “Got a problem with my mouth, kitten? Try to shut it!” Sadia might’ve done just that if West had given her time, but the challenge wasn’t even out of her mouth when she pounded the other brunette’s noggin yet again. Barely resisting the urge to scrape her foe’s forehead against the rough canvas, Cipher ultimately stood up, grabbed hold of the Persian’s ankles and draaaaaaaaaaagged her into the middle of the squared circle. “All taunting aside, you’re a wonderful adversary and I’ve enjoyed making you scream.” Emily noted as she pointed the soles of Sadia’s boots at the rafters. “However it’s high time we, how did you put it, started asking the really hard questions. So tell me, little girl…” West stepped onto the back of Morales’s thighs and folded her shins so that they were wedged snug against the masked woman’s boots. Standing tall in this rather domineering position, Cipher put her hands on her hips and taunted, “How long can you last?”



Far from a passive participant in her impending torture, Morales slammed her palms into the mat and started inching her way to freedom the instant she understood what the bytch had planned. “A lot longer than you, sweetheart.” she spat. “As you’ll discover when I’m using you like a scratching post-OOOWWW DAMMIT! NO, NO, NO, OOOHHHHH FAAAAAAAAHHHK!” West crouched, SMACKED her palms into the vulnerable brunette’s hips once, twice, thrice. That got Sadia to give up her wrists, which meant they were Cipher’s for the asking. Hooks sunk deep, Em rocked up n’ down a couple of times, then dropped into a deep, deep crouch and rolled onto her back to hoist Morales into the lights with a perfect Romero Stretch.



ROMERO STRETCHl

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v09PZ3lmxPw



On most nights the official ticked off an internal five count to see if the victim engineered an escape or submitted just as quickly. Tonight the near instantaneous shriek from Morales and the fans prodded him to action about four seconds faster. “What do you say, Sadia? Need me to call for the bell? If it’s too much just nod and I’ll--”



“Back. Off!” Sadia growled after she’d choked down the very worst of her anguish. “This bytch has another thing coming if she thinks she’s gonna tap me ounnnnngggaaaaahhhhhh!”



Emily pushed up on the Panther’s thighs and jerked down on her wrists, putting that much more pressure on Morales’s spine and shoulders. “I speak eight languages, but if you call me a bytch one more time I just might forget I understand blubbering quitter.” Cipher threatened the second round of grunts and groans had died down.



Sadia shook her head, be it to deny Cipher, the referee or her own doubts, no one knew for sure. “Keep running your mouth, asshole. I’m going to stretch you across every inch of this canvas when I get out of EEERRRRRGHHHH OOOOHHHH YOU EVIL BYTCH!”



Willing to sacrifice a bit of technique for the opportunity to embarrass a proud, dangerous challenger, Emily let go of Morales’s wrists and shifted her hands so that the right was pressed between Sadia’s shoulders. The other she curled into a claw and applied to the defenseless curve of the other woman’s left breast. “Evil’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?” West taunted in the midst of squeezing her foe’s bounty. “This is simply the triumph of superior technique, it’s hardly my fault you can’t defend the contents of your top.” She punctuated this taunting indictment with an insolent slap to the vulnerable boob.



Morales gnashed her teeth and shook her head ‘no’ to keep the ref from asking any more dumb questions. “Then go ahead and play as vicious as you want, honey. Just know I’m gonna treat your tits to the mauling of a lifeWHOOANNNGGGHHH!”



Delighted though she was to entertain Sadia’s threats, Emily couldn’t maintain the Romero Stretch forever, so she resumed her control over her opponent’s wrists and jerked backward even as she pushed up with her legs. The abrupt shift in leverage rolled West back onto her shoulders but she wasn’t worried about pinning herself because the move also THWHUNKED Morales down on the back of her head and shoulders in something almost like a truncated Powerbomb. With her arms and legs all tied up by the submission, Sadia took the landing flush and ended up tumbled over on her stomach with one arm cradling her neck while both feet beat an agonized tattoo on the canvas.



On one knee long before Morales thought of trying to rise, Cipher worked a hand into the indy star’s damp hair and lifted her head. “Are we done here, Sadia?” she asked.



Sadia didn’t shake her head, but she did smile. “Lean in a little closer and ask me that, bytch. I’d love to spit in your facNNGGGHHH!”



West slammed her foe’s forehead down and this time she did grind Morales’s features against the canvas, a stern reminder of what happened to any wrestler that dared defy the Queen of Queries. The abuse didn’t last long, in fact the ref was only at ‘TWO’ on his count when Em used the hair-hold to force Sadia to her feet. Relieving herself of the other brunette’s locks before the official could complain about it, West grabbed Morales’s left wrist in her left hand and vice versa. Then she pulled the crisscrossed limbs over her foe’s throat and reeled Sadia into an ominously modified Front Facelock. “This is a little homage to a friend of mine.” Cipher offered up as her only explanation. “I’m sure she’ll appreciate it, perhaps you will too.” ‘Too’ was barely out of her mouth when she kicked one foot forward and dropped to her back to THWHONK the crown of Morales’s skull into the deck with a thunderous Straightjacket DDT.



Left scrunched up on her shins and forehead by the emphatic maneuver, Sadia didn’t so much as twitch until Emily shoved her onto back and climbed aboard for a snug Crossbody. The Thunderbolt Armory was thick with tension as the ref dove in to count…



ONE…

TWO…

THRENOOOOOOOO!



The Persian Puma twitched her leg free of Emily’s control and thus proved she hadn’t used all of her nine lives just yet. Set back on her haunches following Morales’s escape, Emily drew in a deep breath and let it out slow. “Congratulations, kitten. You’re the first stop on my magical mystery tour that not only met the hype, you exceeded it. That is indeed worthy of celebration and I will do so by honoring you with something I save for only the most troublesome of foes.”



Sadia groaned and pressed a palm to her forehead, but could muster no other reaction (let alone defense) when West grabbed her under the arms and dragged her to boot leather. No theatrics or ceremony with regard to what happened next, Cipher merely curled her right arm around the base of Morales’s neck and cupped her left palm against the back of her head. Then she pulled her close and snug, forcing the gold-clad lovely’s sweat-slicked features into the deepest recesses of her décolletage. The crowd went wild along with Morales, some of them cheering the unexpectedly FAWN-like offense while others bellowed for the veteran to free herself from the juggy trap. Of course Sadia herself was part of the latter camp and for someone who’d been thoroughly worn down over the last several minutes she fought with a great deal of resolve, just hammering punches and slaps into the masked woman’s ribs.



There was quite a bit of sting on those shots, but West just shook her head ’no’ and rested a cheek against the top of her prey’s skull. She’d subdued honest to god Destroyers with the Front Sleeper before, she wasn’t about to let Sadia Morales loose until she was out on her fe--



“UNNNGGGGGHHHH!” Emily moaned in surprise and pain when Morales wrapped both arms around her waist and hauled her off the mat in a Bear Hug! “A losing bid and you know it, Sadia!” West muttered after she’d returned her feet to terra firma. “A valiant show for your fans, though I’d wager they’d be even more impressed if you were able to walk from the ring under your own powWHOAUNGGH!”



Morales hoisted her attacker skyward again, only now she stepped forward and sank to one knee, so when West came down she did so atop the tenacious brunette’s thigh! Emily’s coil loosened and Sadia wrenched her head clear long enough to draw a single rasping breath before the Amazing Academic reasserted control and stuffed her back into that crushing cleavage. “Fight it all you want, bytch!” West really poured it on now, the curvy brunette using all her strength and knowledge of leverage to break Morales’s nose against her sternum. “You’re just the next in a long line of champions to breathe her last against my WHOOOAAAAAAAOOOOFFFFFFFFHHH!”



Left with nothing but the most desperate of options, Sadia muscled Cipher off her feet and charged forward in search of the ropes, a corner, anything that’d free her from this goddamned Breast Smother. In one of those rare examples of a desperate gamble actually paying off, the Persian Puma BWUUUUNGED her masked tormentor against the buckles hard enough to undo the arms locked across her neck. Exhausted by the effort, Sadia pulled her head free, twisted it to one side and slumped forward, only vaguely aware that her cheek was resting on the breasts that’d almost sent her off to Nod.



“Yuuuuhhhh…. you tawdry bytch.” she huffed to Cipher. “You put those things in my face again and I’ll make you payMMRRRPPHH!”



Emily twisted her head and did just that, the vindictive vixen using a double hair pull to make sure Morales stayed down for good. “You’ll mewl and you’ll whimper, little kitten. Those are the only options you have AAAAAWWWWWW FAAAAHHHK!”



Granted a little leeway by their location, Morales grabbed the top rope not for a break, but to keep the both of them relatively steady when she THWHUMPED a Kneelift into Cipher’s crotch! Two more broke the Sleeper for good, the fourth and final shot was simply because Sadia enjoyed the feel of her kneepad grinding against the other woman’s undercarriage. Sinking a claw into the nape of her opponent’s neck after the last low blow, Sadia leaned in and snarled, “Guess I’ve got another option after all, huh slut?” She stepped back and twisted to one side, all the better to sling Cipher into a boozy forward roll that put her on one knee several feet from the corner.



Too worn down to press the attack just yet, Morales grabbed hold of the top rope and boosted herself onto the second rope. “C’MON!” she bellowed to the fans and her opponent for different reasons. “YOU WANT THE BEST? WELL, BABY, TURN AROUND AND FACE THE BEST!”



Normally sturdy legs shorted out by the quartet of hateful kneelifts, West did as bade, albeit quite a bit slower than usual. Wheeling around once she’d reached verticality, the Maiden of Mysteries started toward the corner without taking note of the Puma’s elevated position. This proved most costly when Morales leapt from the ropes, extended her right leg and caught Em across the throat with a Hooking Leg Lariat that drove her into the canvas with a resounding THAWHAM! Sadia pushed up on one knee, spun around and dropped all her weight across Cipher’s chest, the resurgent veteran going so far as to hook both legs while the official counted…



MIDDLE ROPE HOOKING LEG LARIAT:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HW-gApSKtY



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



West kicked loose and flopped over on her belly, probably to prevent an immediate follow-up. It worked as intended, however the Law of Unintended Consequences ensured the woozy brunette couldn’t stop Morales from clamping down on wrist and ankle. Nor could she prevent the indy star from draaaaaaaaaaagging her out to a spot on the canvas well removed from any possible assistance from the ropes.



“Gotta admit, I really wasn’t expecting this kind of fight from you.” Morales huffed after she’d flopped Cipher onto her back like nothing more than a large, unwilling pancake. “Even after beating Carrick and Dufresne, I was ready to call you a fluke. But what you’ve given me tonight? Cipher, I’ve won titles in matches than weren’t this close. So believe me when I say…” she leapt into the air, pulled her knees to chest level and THWUMPED both feet into the pit of her opponent’s stomach. Emily ‘oooffffhhhed’, folded up in a ‘V’ and probably would’ve slopped onto her side if the other brunette hadn’t maintained her perch for an extra second. “I am going to LOVE hanging the first L around your neck.”



Cipher was too busy sucking wind to respond, so Sadia hurried to the ropes and hopped out onto the apron like she hadn’t been wrestling hard for almost twenty minutes. Already lined up with her target when her feet returned to the apron, Morales grabbed hold of the top rope, sank into a deep crouch and vaulted herself into an effortless perch atop the rubber-coated steel. This was no time to tarry and indeed the Persian Puma wasted no time leaping out into the void. Even more impressive, she curled into a ball and whirled through one and quarter rotations, then stretched out and THWHAMMED those washboard abs down on Cipher’s heaving chest courtesy of a Springboard 450 Splash!



SPRINGBOARD 450 SPLASH:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncu0hUDluRI



Already short on breath, West got even wheezier when Morales pushed up and threw a leg over, the gold-clad lovely striking a jaunty pose by planting her tush on Cipher’s chest and hooking the left leg for…



ONE…

TWO…

THRNOOOO!



The crowd gaped and several clapped in spite of themselves when West shoved Morales from her perch with half a heartbeat to spare. Irritated, but somehow neither frustrated or surprised, Sadia flicked three fingers at the ref just in case, then grunted when he answered with two. Struggling against a sudden urge to peel off her opponent’s mask, Morales settled for a double handful of hair than segued into a Chinlock once she’d pulled Cipher halfway up. A smooth little twist around put the brunettes back to back with West’s neck angled unpleasantly over her attacker’s right shoulder. No Neckbreaker this, however. Sadia released her foe’s chin, twisted around in a half circle and THWHACKED the point of her right elbow into the base of Emily’s skull.



HANGMAN'S ELBOW:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gf0gg46yTU



West went down like a ton of bricks, or she would have if Morales hadn’t grabbed her shoulders and spun the knock-kneed battler around to get what was comin’ to her. Normally she’d need a Toe Kick to set for the Standing Headscissors, but with Cipher’s knees in such questionable shape Sadia simply guided her opponent’s noggin between her thighs. With no resistance forthcoming she leaned down, wrapped her arms around the other brunette’s waist and spun her up onto her shoulders. Taking a few steps forward simply because she could, Morales went up on her toes and tossed Cipher down while simultaneously dropping to her butt with a ‘thwhump’ that was totally overwhelmed by the THAWHAM of West’s spine hitting the plywood. Em bounced, her arms splayed overhead and her legs went limp, all the more reason for Sadia to lean in against those vulnerable haunches for the…



SIT-OUT POWERBOMB:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xroW_nu3itU



ONE…

TWO…

THRENOOOOOOOO!



Cipher rolled a shoulder off the mat at the last possible second, an escape that left Sadia as wide-eyed as the rest of the Thunderbolt Armory patrons. “That was THREE.” she said to the ref without getting to her feet.



He shook his head ‘no’, albeit rather sheepishly. “Sorry Sadia, only two. Girl’s tough.”



“Yes she is.” Morales agreed as she hauled the both of them to boot leather. “But she’s not so tough that I can’t knock her ass right the hell out.” Plan set in an instant, Ms. 450 dipped a shoulder, slipped an arm through her foe’s thighs and muscled her up into a weary Fireman’s Car--



“NGH! NGH! NGH!” Cipher came to life in a frenzy of elbows, the masked woman pounding shot after shot into the side of her opponent’s he-- Sadia tossed her down with a frustrated snarl, then rocked back on her heel and peeled off a Roundhouse that would’ve dimmed West’s lights for good… IF she hadn’t dropped to one knee. The miss in and of itself wasn’t necessarily the end of the world, it was only when Morales’s foot THWHACKED the ref upside the head that the fans groaned in displeasure.



Cursing as the zebra went down in a heap, Morales took her eyes off Cipher for a moment and paid a heavy price when the penitent woman THWHUMPED a Headbutt deep into the pit of her stomach. As of yet unaware of the official’s accident, Emily rose, caught Sadia as she fell and reeled her into a Front Facelock. Tossing the near arm over her shoulder, West grabbed a handful of golden togs and powered the Persian Puma all the way to high noon. The stall didn’t last long, one second, maybe two, and yet it was still enough to ensure the audience cringed when Cipher laid out and SPIKED her rival directly on the back of her head and shoulders.



BRAINBUSTER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=snkQqMhlx90



Sadia collapsed on top of herself in a frightening Matchbook, then tumbled over onto her back, where Emily promptly floated over into a Crossbody and hooked the far leg for…



ONE…

TWO…

THREE!



The counting from the crowd was so loud that Emily didn’t understand the ref was down until she stood up and the bell didn’t sound. Finally catching up to the problem, Cipher ran a hand through her sweat-soaked hair and sighed. “Of course. Check a world class opponent off my bucket list and this idiot can’t even manage a three cou--”



A surprised warning from those assembled spun Emily around just in time for her to dodge a Clothesline from the woman who’d slid under the bottom rope during all the confusion. Mind racing to process this new threat, West kept spinning and charged after the interloper even as she hopped onto the middle rope. Launching herself out and back, the newcomer twisted in mid-air, caught Cipher in a Front Facelock and spiraled them both to the canvas with a THWHONKING Tornado DDT! To make matters worse, she rolled through the landing to end up seated on the defenseless brunette’s tummy! Jerking Cipher to a seat, this unannounced visitor stuffed the masked woman’s head under her left arm, then slipped her arms under Em’s biceps, locked her hands and REEEEEEEEEEEEEEFED back on a hellacious Butterfly Lock!



TORNADO DDT & BUTTERFLY LOCK @ 7:00

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNSA83lXCiw&t=179s



DAPHNE DUFRESNE:





“THAT’S RIGHT, SCREAM! SCREAM YOU BITCH!” Daphne Dufresne roared as Cipher came to in the depths of the vicious stretch. “DID YOU THINK YOU COULD HIDE FROM ME? DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULD LET IT GO?”



Emily didn’t answer, she was too overwhelmed by the brutal combination to do anything other than wail and writhe. Sadia Morales however, she’d started to move and something in her movements told Daphne the other woman knew something wasn’t above board. Even so, her hatred for the bytch in the mask made it impossible for Dufresne to break the hold until Sadia was almost vertical again. Then she scrambled to her feet and blasted a SAVAGE kick between the veteran’s thighs before Morales had a chance to turn around. Any fans that’d been cheering Daphne’s assault on Cipher reversed course the instant her boot connected with Sadia’s undercarriage.



Clearly not caring one way of the other, Dufresne grabbed a double handful of Morales’s hair and jerked up to make sure she didn’t crumple to the mat in a mewling ball. Spinning the spaghetti-legged battler to face her, Daphne slipped a shoulder between Morales’s thighs and neatly boosted her up n’ across in a Fireman’s Carry. “DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT BOOING ME!” Daphne roared to the crowd as she turned in a slow circle. “THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT AS IT IS! CHOOSING THAT PIECE OF SHYT OVER ME!? NOW THEY’RE BOTH GOING TO SUFFER!”



The boos got louder than ever, alas it served as no protection when the vicious bendy-back tugged Sadia’s head a little lower and started driving the point of her right knee up into the crown of Morales’s skull. Half a dozen blows killed any semblance of resistance from the Puma, but Dufresne was still quick to shift her burden from the Fireman’s Carry to a gut-down position over her left shoulder. With one arm curled around the brunette’s lower back and her other hand cupping the back of her neck, Daphne pushed onto her toes and dropped to her butt, a near straight up n’ down descent that THWHONKED Sadia’s skull into the mat with sickening force! Dufresne shoved her victim away like nothing more than a sack of garbage, indeed her eyes were already locked on Cipher even as the Fire Thunder Driver hit home.



FIREMAN'S CARRY KNEESTRIKES AND DDDRIVER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSAjypn3ypQ



On her feet immediately thereafter, Daphne stormed over to Emily, snatched a handful of hair and hauled her to her knees. “So you like riddles, do you, bytch? Here’s one to ponder. What happens to punks who screw with me?” She reared back and SLAPPED the masked woman without waiting for an answer. “Oh, is it taxing your little brain? Why don’t I give you a hint?!”



Stuffing Emily’s head between her thighs, Daphne reached under the woozy woman’s torso, grabbed a wrist in either hand and quickly pulled Em’s arms snug across her chest. Straightjacket secure, she hauled Emily upside down, then jumped up and came down on her butt to deliver another THWHONKING Piledriver! West jolted like she’d been juiced with a live wire, she was in fact still twitching when Dufresne shoved her away.



STRAIGHTJACKET DDDRIVER:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcc3So4risM



Getting to her feet amidst the wreckage, Daphne brushed hair off her forehead and casually flipped off the fans when the boos kept coming. For a moment it looked like she’d simply leave the ring as it was, but movement from the official gave her a better idea. “C’mon you stubby bytch, might as well be good for something.” the younger woman muttered as she dragged Sadia over to Cipher and dropped her atop her tummy in a rough Crossbody. After that she went to the ref, grabbed him by collar and belt and led him over to the cover. “Count, idiot!” Daphne slapped him in the back of head to spur things along. Just cogent enough to see the predicament in front of him, the official raised one weary arm and counted…



ONE…

TWO…

THREE!



The bell sounded and the Announcer started to say ‘Ladies and gentlemen’, but that was as far as he got before Dufresne stormed over and snatched the mic from his hand. “Don’t even bother!” she barked into the stick. “Even these lowbrow idiots can see there are no winners in that ring! The only winner in this building, hell, in this entire backward ass STATE, is standing right here! And her name is DAPHNE DUFRESNE!”



She tossed the mic down, slapped the Announcer’s face for good measure, then threw her hands up and flipped off the jeering crowd one more time before vaulting over the barricade and disappearing from view.



*********

A couple hours later…



The snow had been falling for about ten minutes when Emily made her way out of a rear service door that led to the small employees parking lot used by the wrestlers and other performers that occasionally worked the armory. Gym bag slung over one shoulder, West pulled up the hood of her jacket, both to ward off the chill and to hide the Cipher mask she still wore from any other late leaving eyes. Though she was often very much aware of her surroundings, the veteran grappler found herself lost in thought as she replayed the end of the match over and over in her mind. It wasn’t the loss that bothered her, it wasn’t even the interference (although the vengeful Ms. Dufresne would certainly pay for the offense, and quite dearly) it was being robbed of a clean finish against her old friend. These thoughts and many more were first and foremost in her mind, which is probably why she didn’t notice the other woman until she said, “You think you’re just gonna stroll out of Devil’s Lake without getting what you’ve got coming to you, Cipher?”



West stopped, looked over her shoulder and wasn’t entirely surprised to see Sadia Morales strolling her way. “And what exactly is that, kitty?” Emily chided. “Have you followed me out into this desolate parking lot on a blisteringly cold evening to offer recompense for that pin-fall stolen from me by the meddling Daphne Dufresne?”



Sadia paused a few yards out and stuffed her hands in her pockets. “Something like that. I got an old tradition with this place. Winner buys dinner.”



“A charming invitation, but I’m certain the true believers in this hamlet would scoff at the idea of the noble Persian Puma breaking bread with the loathsome Maiden of Mysteries, don’t you?” Em shifted her bag to the other shoulder, nodded to Sadia and resumed her walk to the rental car.



She’d only made it a few steps when the other brunette called out, “Easy way to fix that, honey. Just take off the mask.”



“And why would I do that for the likes of you?”

“You‘re insufferable, Emily.”



Surprise froze the FAWN star in her tracks. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”



“Bullshyt. I knew it was you five minutes after the opening bell, I just played along to see how long you’d keep kayfabe. And to see how your game’s held up. Brainbuster’s as nasty as ever, I see.”



West only smiled because her back was turned. “Show your work, Morales.”



“We met in 2006. You were just out of Miskatonic and training at Ellie Wilmarth’s school. I’d been on the road for two years already, but my crappy old Valiant finally broke down so I was waiting tables at Red Eye Coffee and working MVWW cards on the weekend to make a down payment on a new ride. I waited on you one night and we got to talking because you were reading Gladiatrix, the one with--”



“Bethany Christian on the cover.” Cipher said as she turned around. “What happened next?”



“I told you I was a wrestler, you told me you were training. We went over to the Miskatonic gym after hours and sparred until the sun came up. Three weeks later ‘someone’ bought me a brand new CR-V and two months later we went on a road trip that ended when you got signed to FAWN and I went on my first tour of Japan. We rode, trained, fought and lived with no one but each other for the better part of a year, Em. I may not be a genius, but did you REALLY think I wouldn’t recognize that damned Tit Smother?”



“It’s a Front--”



“Sleeper, yeah, yeah, I know. So are you gonna take off the damned mask or do I have to do it myself?”



West looked around to confirm there was no one else, then drew back her hood with one hand and pulled off the mask with the other. “It’s good to see you again, Sadia.”



Morales clapped her hands once and grinned. “Holy shyt, it is you!” Sadia rushed across the asphalt and swept her friend into a hug which Emily returned full force. After several seconds she pulled away and clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Good to see you too, girl. But what the hell are you doing out in the hinterlands as a masked luchadora? I know you haven’t been on TV in Orlando a lot as of late, but none of the dirt sheets have said anything about you leaving FAWN.”



“I’m still with the company, just doing a bit of creative recharging while also serving as a talent scout for some names that have caught the eye of the Front Office.”



Sadia looked thoughtful. “Your girls can handle things while you’re gone? I saw they ran into some trouble at the last pay-per-view.”



West dipped her head in acknowledgement and briefly flashed back to the Monday after Cold November Pain, when she’d flown in to check on the Three. “They’ll all be fine in less than a month’s time, whether or not they return to an active role in the Court is… less certain at this time. While all three retain all rights and privileges, there’s very little for them to accomplish among the Tag Team division and they’ve expressed interest in pursuing goals as singles wrestlers.”



“So does this mean the Black Queen will head back to Florida to rally her troops?”



“I flew in to Bismarck from Orlando. Right now Lenore and Susan are representing the Court’s interests. They’ve shown a great deal of initiative in making sure Harker and Murray are taken to task for what they’ve done. And with some new recruits having taken the knee just recently, rest assured the board will be balanced sooner than later.”



“Still the chess player, huh, Em?” Morales said with a smile.



“Second best game in the world, Sadia. Speaking of which, my apologies for the intrusion at the finale, I knew Dufresne was a narcissist, I had no idea she’d throw away her whole ‘good girl’ persona to get back at me. I’m sorry you got caught up in that.”



“Don’t be. That chick’s been ducking my requests for a match for months, now there’s no way she can tell me no. That finish did suck, though. Especially because I was about to crush you into the mat.”



Emily’s eyebrows shot up in mock indignation. “Oh really? Because as I recall, your skull made a most entertaining noise when I drove it into the mat. Almost like a melon being dropped from a respectable height.”



“Still would’ve been a two count. I had you right where I wanted you, big brain.”



“Your talent for creative forgetting is as strong as it is irritating, Sadia. All joking aside, I loved wrestling you again. Please forgive the Cipher ruse, it was a necessary evil. Of course if you were to take FAWN up on their offer we could--”



Sadia snorted. “Not a chance, Em. I love the road too much to settle in to wrestling’s equivalent of a day job. That and I’d probably get in a fight with management before the end of the first week.”



West dipped her head, conceding the point. “Even so, the invitation stands, my friend. Any time you decide you’ve had enough of the nomad life, give me a call and you’ll have a contract before the week is out.”



Sadia arched an eyebrow. “And what if I just want to wrestle?”



“I’ll have you mewling on the canvas within twenty-four hours.”



“MEWLING?! All right, I rescind my offer, YOU’RE buying dinner! You do have that sweet, sweet FAWN money after all. C’mon, it’s too goddamned cold to keep standing here. You down for that all night dinner offa Main Street?”



“Of course. Let me throw my bag in the car and I’ll follow.”



“The hell you will. I’ll drive us both and then drop you off back here.”



Em smiled, almost absurdly touched by the sentiment. “Whatever you say, Morales.”



Sadia smacked her on the shoulder. “Well I say stow your stuff and then hop in. The drive will give us more time to figure out just how we’re going to punish little Ms. Daphne for f*cking up that finish. Because I totally had you, remember.”



“Keep telling yourself that, Sadia.”