Epic "case of the Mondays"

[OrochiGeese]

*It is Monday morning at around 8:55 am and Jean Carter is standing outside what used to be General Celes' office. She is dressed in a business suit and struggles to smooth out any unsightly folds. She takes a deep breath, pats her cheek to pump herself up, and knocks on the door.*

"You may enter, General."

*Jean winces and walks into the room to find Orochi Geese sitting behind a desk - what may soon be her desk. She walks in as he stands up to greet her. They shake hands and she sits down in the chair she has for so many times when speaking with Celes. But she appears nowhere as comfortable as usual.*

[Geese:] "We have a lot to discuss but I want to make two things clear. First, I am not angry at you for what happened at Voltage. I have no evidence or inclination to believe you had anything to do with the machinations and misbehavior of two terminated employees. Am I correct in that assumption?"

[MJC:] "Yes sir."

[Geese:] "Secondly, while I have twice referred to you as General, it is merely to give you a preview of what could be. You do not have to agree to this position, Miss Carter. There will be paper work to sign if you are ready for it but if not, your existing job is not at risk. You can still go back to being a secretary for Drake and even for a new OG-Joshi General if you turn down the offer. You have done great work in my company and I will not fire you for refusing an offer to do something you aren't comfortable doing."

[MJC:] "Thank you, sir."

[Geese:] "I want you to be able to ask questions. I know you well enough that you are either frightened of my status, my mood, or simply overwhelmed right now. Please get over it. As angry as I am at certain former employees, it has nothing to do with you. Years of experience allow me to treat the innocent with the respect they deserve. I do not want you to start your new position afraid to speak frankly with me. What is on your mind regarding questions about becoming General and what occurred at Voltage?"

[MJC:] "Ok, well, first...how...how is Holly?"

*Geese smiles and nods*

[Geese:] "Luckily there is no long term damage to her. Considering she wrestled over 25 minutes and received a violent punch to the stomach, she had the wind, and a bit more, knocked out of her."

[MJC:] "Did she go to the hospital?"

[Geese:] "Against my better judgment, she didn't. The reason is because she did not want her brother to know what happened. As you can imagine, it would not improve his mood."

[MJC:] "No siree, it wouldn't! Uh, sorry."

*Jean blushes*

[Geese:] "Kyle is already unhealthily preoccupied with violence so it would only serve to distract him to have yet another enemy. We're hoping you can help us keep that decision as is and keep him out of it."

[MJC:] "Oh - I, well I don't really know Kyle that well."

[Geese:] "Let's get down to business. If you were to take the General position, your first decision would involve the status of the #1 contendership to the World Title. Given that Holly is in the running for such a position, it would be wrong for me to intervene directly. I am sure Celes brought you up to speed on that."

[MJC:] "Yeah for Holly's own good and legitimacy, you want her to earn her reward herself."

[Geese:] "Right. And I assume Celes also told you the other requirement, despite her failure to abide by it."

[MJC:] "Well, you wouldn't have to worry about that from me, sir."

[Geese:] "Please recite it, Miss Carter."

[MJC:] "That no General can intentionally put Holly in the path of any kind of physical harm. Like I said, sir, I wouldn't do that to anyone. And you want me to be honest, and I will. I don't like Holly, sir. I really don't."

*Geese's eyebrows raise as he nods his head. Jean blushes.*

[MJC:] "I can't believe i'm saying this to you after she got punched but...sir, she really hurt Dizzy. And she's always been mean to me, really really mean. You even heard it at the Holiday Banquet!"

[Geese:] "I do recall her negative attitude concerning you."

[MJC:] "You told me to stand up to her. But I'm afraid she's gonna do to me what she did to Dizzy-"

[Geese:] "No, she won't. You have my word on that."

[MJC:] "Well even though I believe you, I don't trust her. But even with that, I won't try to hurt her. I wouldn't punch her or ask anyone else to punch her. Or kick!"

[Geese:] "So I think I can properly expect you to follow the duty of a General then."

[MJC:] "You definitely can. But sir, you started off talking about the World Title contendership and well, I can't give Holly that position. She lost to Kat, fairly and squarely, she did."

[Geese:] "Well, what if I said that wasn't as clear cut as it seemed?"

[MJC:] "Kat didn't grab her tights or anything-"

[Geese:] "No, no. Kat Black did not do anything wrong nor do I wish to punish her. The issue for me is not taking Kat out of contention for the title, it's putting Holly back in to join her. "

[MJC:] "But I thought the point of the Voltage match was to determine who was the #1 Contender. You want them both like that? You want...like a Triple Threat match for the World Title?"

[Geese:] "What I want from you is an understanding of why that is fair. So please consider two things."

[MJC:] "Ok."

[Geese:] "We all know how Celes feels about Holly. And so it was wrong of Celes to be the referee for any match involving Holly. She had clear bias against her but still put herself in the position of an objective official. There is question about whether Holly's sleeper hold at the end was a choke, but that is not a question Celes should have been the one to preside over in that situation. As was plainly seen, Kat won the match immediately after Holly was distracted by Celes in being made to let go of the hold."

[MJC:] "Sir, she had her hands clearly around Kat's throat."

[Geese:] "But would you not agree that someone who hates Holly as much as Celes does, should not have been an official in that match? Why were none of the other referees chosen?"

[MJC:] "Honestly, I really don't know -"

[Geese:] "It was because Celes lost her cool. She was so angry at Kat being kidnapped and Holly's, admittedly, silly ploy with Sandy...i don't know why she hangs around with her, between you and me..."

*Jean smiles a bit*

[Geese:] "Celes was so angry she forgot that, in the interest of fairness, she usually assigns another official for Holly's matches. But no, Celes took the match cause she wanted to punish Holly. It was improper and it affected far more then the ending, it put into Holly's head from the start that she had no chance of getting a fair shake in that match. And Holly is as unhappy about that as she is about the punch."

[MJC:] "And what was the other thing?"

[Geese:] "It follows from what I just said. Now Holly wants revenge against Celes."

*Jean turns a bit pale*

[Geese:] "Yes, I know. Revenge is such an awful thing. It twists minds, Jean. Look at Kyle, after all. A man with so much potential is wasting it to try out office equipment in a wrestling match. Do you know what I want to do with a stapler, Jean? Attach your General's contract to the usual employment forms. Not use a stapler for revenge. Nor do I want to see Holly spend her time on revenge, either. Such a waste of emotions when she could be channeling them towards winning back the World Title."

[MJC:] "Oh..."

[Geese:] " And Jean, I know Celes is your friend. You do not want Holly going after her. Not with Figaro on our side. Not with Kyle knowing that Celes hurt Holly. Having Kyle and Holly going after Celes...you wouldn't want that. Neither do I, I mean that sincerely. But if Holly is allowed to challenge for the title, she'll get her head back where it belongs. And you don't want any more violence, do you?"

*Jean looks even paler and puts her hand on her head.*

[Geese:] "Miss Carter, are you quite alright?"

*At that very moment, the glass of a nearby window breaks and Celes comes through it. Geese can not believe what he sees and Jean is utterly shocked.*

[Celes:] "Jean - don't let this monster manipulate you!"

[Geese:] "You have some nerve coming back here!"

[Celes:] "Like I've ever feared you. Go ahead, Geese...do what you've wanted for the last 24 hours, or 24 months. Do you really have the guts to take me out? Or do you just lack the ability. You said you'd kill me if you saw me, let's see that chaos, Geese. Let's see that violence."

*Geese jumps out of his seat and attempts a lariat but his arm is caught and put behind his back as his head is forced down onto the desk. Jean gets up out of her chair for her own safety.*

[Celes:] "So you want to put this girl in the same position you put me? You think she'll crumble under one of your threats? I can take you out, Geese - you think your little twat of a girlfriend could even faze me?!

*Geese struggles but Celes has him in too tight a hold.*

[Celes:] "I'm untouchable, Geese...untou-"

*Suddenly Jean grabs Celes' shoulder and tries to pry her off of Geese. Celes.*

[Celes:] "Jean?! What are you doing!?"

[MJC:] "Stopping more violence!"

[Celes:] "How dare you interfere!?"

[MJC:] "How dare you do this to me, Celes!? I wasn't ready to be General but you just HAD to hurt Holly when you knew you'd get fired!? Why did you leave me in this position!? All that advice you gave me about being strong and not falling to temptation and then you had to cheat Holly and hurt her!? You were so against violence but you can't stop hurting people! You've become a hypocrite and I'm ashamed of you!"

*Celes growls and judo flips Jean onto the floor. Geese uses the opportunity of Celes' changed motion to escape the hold and run to the doorway. He has an enraged look on his face but his right arm is dangling from his side in a numb manner and it appears to be useless to him for further attack.*

[Geese:] "Jean, I'm getting security. Be careful."

[MJC:] "I never want to see her again! She lied to me and hurt you and now I have to clean up her mess!"

*Geese runs out and after a few footsteps are heard, Clyde jumps into the room and gives a thumbs up. Jean runs to Celes and hugs her. Celes hugs back and smiles.*

[MJC:] "Thanks for not holding back."

[Celes:] "We agreed it had to look real. Still, it sickens me that I had to hurt you in any way."

[MJC:] "I'm ok, really! You and Clyde taught me how to fall real well."

[Celes:] "Security will be here any second. Clyde set up cameras so he knows when we have to leave. Thank you for signaling me with your hand gesture - the triple threat match was brought up?"

[MJC:] "Right, yeah."

[Celes:] "You need to agree to make the match for the PPV main event. Remember how Jane Dod lost at Voltage like I knew she would? Holly will too. She can not defeat Visper and Kat together...

[Clyde:] "Nor could she defeat them individually at this point."

[Celes:] "Exactly. Just remember to add the special stipulation we talked about. Jean. Make the match and show that you aren't being influenced by me anymore. And that you aren't biased against Holly. Then you'll be in a better place with Geese and better for OG-Joshi right now. You'll have your legitimacy and your neutrality which will make you far more effective then I have become. But Jean-"

[MJC:] "I can't try to contact either of you again, can I?"

[Celes:] "I'm afraid not. In fact, we better go now. But you aren't alone, you have friends. And for as long as I can, I'll watch to make sure you are safe. Good luck, Jean. And remember, make it look real."

*Celes nods and jumps out the window. Clyde bows to Jean and then jumps out as well. Jean then slaps her own cheek, leaving a red mark, falling down, and starts crying. A few seconds later, Geese and security come onto the scene. Geese helps Jean up and dusts her off.*

[Geese:] "Jean, are you ok?"

[MJC:] "I told her I hated her and that she was a sell-out and then she hit me! But Geese...I'm not afraid anymore. I want to be General...I want to make things right here. And be fair to everyone. Celes wasn't and I don't want to be like that!! So that means Holly can have her Title match but Geese..."

[Geese:] "Yes?"

[MJC:] "You have to promise me one thing cause if I'm fair, you have to be too. Or else I can't do this."

[Geese:] "..."

[MJC:] "Every time an OG-Joshi Champion lost in a one on one match, they didn't get a rematch but instead went to the bottom of the ladder. Holly lost to Visper already. So if Holly doesn't win the Title back after this match with Visper and Kat, she has to do the same, ok? She has to stand aside and other people challenge for it without her always getting title shots. She has to work her way back up in the next year."

[Geese:] "I..."

[MJC:] "Remember what you told me - if Holly is going to be taken seriously, she can't get any special treatment. No one else gets guaranteed title matches, why should she? She didn't when she started, she had to earn them. It's only fair. I can't have it any other way, Geese. I can't be General if it's just going to be rubber stamping her name on every title match. You don't need me for that and it goes against the whole reason you want me here anyway! It wouldn't make sense otherwise!"

*Geese thinks for a few seconds and puts his hand on Jean's shoulder.*

[Geese:] "I think you have more courage then Drake sometimes. Ok Jean, if this is what it will take for you to be General and for Holly to get one more Title shot, for now...then I accept."

[MJC:] "One more thing-"

*Geese smiles*

[Geese:] "Don't push it now..."

[MJC:] "It's...I don't want to be called General. It's not who I am and it only reminds me of..."

[Geese:] "That is understandable. You can call yourself any title you wish, besides Owner or Emperor."

[MJC:] "Ok, thanks. Could I also name the PPV?"

[Geese:] "I believe it will be one of your first duties. Now, if you are feeling up to signing some paper work."

[MJC:] "Yeah, let's do this. I'm ready. Is your arm ok though?"

[Geese:] "I can sign with my other hand. Let's not wait a second more to make it official."


*Security leaves and the two sit back down near the desk where Jean signs some paper work. Fun stuff.*