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Date Posted: 17:40:30 03/24/03 Mon
Author: "The Sentinel" Gabriel Blade
Subject: A New Day, a New Battle

(Scene opens with a shot of "The Sentinel" Gabriel Blade. Blade is dressed in light gray sweatpants, sneakers, and a faded black T-shirt with the sleeves cut off. His hands are taped and he is sweating profusely as he bounces from foot to foot laying in to a heavy bag with rights and lefts indiscriminately. It looks as though Gabe is in the corner of an active gym, as various sounds of others working out can be heard, but the shot is close enough so that the details of the room and its inhabitants are not readily available. After a few more swings, Blade notices the camera, giving it a curt nod as he continues letting fists fly. The camera moves in closer and Gabe begins to speak, his body still moving and his words punctuated by the sound of fist on leather.)

Gabe- (with a nod toward the bag) I'm not a boxer by trade or a brawler in the ring, at least not exclusively, but Mike has gotten me into the art of fisticuffs, has been giving me some pointers, and I've found I rather enjoy it. Besides, I believe in having a well rounded offense and training regimen. The more you know, the more you do, the more you will be prepared for. The more you're prepared for, the more fights you win. And in a business that's all about what goes on in the ring, winning is important. And in a business as unpredictable as ours, being prepared for anything is just as important.

(Gabe pauses for a moment, throwing a combination of two quick lefts and a big right before continuing his speech.)

Gabe- That's something that's been a big concern for me as of late. I've had quite a bit on my plate recently, quite a bit to deal with, and threats coming my way from every direction. That can be a problem for a guy like me. You see, you may have noticed that I tend to be a little bit focused. Some have called me obsessive and I wouldn't entirely deny the charge. I tend to get a goal, declare an objective, find an enemy to fight and single in. It's like tunnel vision, I focus entirely, I see nothing but the target. That can be a problem when you're in a tournament where attacks are coming at you from 15 other directions, and that can be a problem when you've got more than 1 target to deal with. (pause) Needless to say, the Iron Man required a stretch of my abilities physically and mentally. The Iron Man tournament became everything to me, it was my reason for getting up in the morning, my reason for existing. I had to try and see if competitor, each event, and the tournament as a whole all as one entity. I had to take in the entire scene, focus on it with all my strength, and strive for victory, forgetting all else. I had to try and see only the tournament, to focus on it and nothing else so I could survive. But now the tournament is over, and I can allow myself to focus on some things that have been neglected.

(Blade pauses; throwing another combination the bag's way as he orders his thoughts.)

Gabe- There are some things I've ignored during the Iron Man, something's I've ignored completely. But don't confuse my focus for forgetfulness. My memory is very much intact, and now that the tournament is done, other injuries are being revisited. I remember that there is more to the UWS than the Iron Man, I remember that there are more battles to fight, and more trophies to fight for. And I remember there are other villains that stand against me. Chief among these is LWA President Ken Holbrook. Ken Holbrook has been out to get me since I set my sights on his pet monster Judas Dagon. His efforts against me only grew stronger when I beat the beast and Holbrook assumed the reigns of power. Holbrook has done everything he can to destroy me for standing against him, he has thrown every obstacle in my path imaginable, and has sought to injure me in any way he could. His latest act of punishment was to banish me from the LWA and thrust me into the OWF, forcing me to compete alongside the federation that is my home yet apart from it.

(Blade's face contorts in anger as he speaks on President Holbrook, and his blows against the heavy bag exhibit a little more intensity.)

Gabe- Another who has acted against me, though out of incompetence instead of malice, is Edmund Paine II. Paine has received a lot of scorn and hurtful words for the lifestyle he leads and the way he acts. I never had a problem with Paine's personal choices. It's his life, and it's none of our business. However, what I do have a problem with is his performance in the Iron Man Teamwork event. I drew Mr. Paine as partner in the event, and also happened to draw the stiffest competition the event had to offer in the form of Brian Thorn and Lee Todd. With 10 crucial points on the line, did Paine return a single phone call? Did he meet me to train together for the match, did he even once meet with his slated partner before the event? No. And when the time came and the bell rang, did he fill his role as partner? No. Edmund Paine did not for one second enter that ring as the legal competitor. He left me to fight two of the best competitors this federation has to offer alone, and when he finally did decide to insert himself into the match, what did he do? He struck me across the head with the OWF title, allowing me to be pinned for the 1, 2, 3, robbing me of 6 points while at the same time handing those points to my greatest competition.

(Blade continues punching away, his expression sour but not overcome with anger as he thinks back on his poor luck in the teamwork event.)

Gabe- Now, the blow may well have been accidental, and I accept that it was. But that belt had no business in the ring in the first place, and if Paine wanted to throw his weight into the match, he should have done it legally by tagging in. Paine cost me an insurmountable lead, and for that he must pay. (slight pause) And now I am scheduled to fight under the banner Ken Holbrook forced me under against the man who cost me the teamwork event for the belt with which he struck me. How serendipitous. Come Blackened, Paine will face his Judgement Day, and as much as I disdain having been maneuvered into the OWF, I do respect the division, and it deserves a Noble Champion. I intend to see to it that it has that champion. The icing on the cake will be seeing the look on Ken Holbrook's face when he sees me raise the championship of the division he forced me into in the air. (pause) Another battle awaits me, another championship is at stake, another opportunity to prove myself, another opportunity to defend my Honor. And in the process I get the opportunity to represent the UWS as a Divisional Champion and to show Ken Holbrook that his plans to suppress me will never succeed. I look forward to it. So to you, Mr. Holbrook, and you, Mr. Paine, I say this: Judgement Day is Coming, Prepare To Be Judged.

(Blade pauses from his work out, staring directly into the camera as he delivers his last line. He continues to bore wholes through the camera with the fire in eyes for a few more moments before turning back to the heavy bag and again blasting it with punches.)

(Fade To Black.)

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