Throwing Down the Gauntlet

[OrochiGeese]

*It is still January 1st, 2024. Tanks have now rolled into the parking lot of the Peter Venkman Memorial Arena. The top hatch of the lead tank opens and a few seconds later a masked man pops out. He enthusiastically waves to Ruby Moreno who eyes him suspiciously and frowns. She is still holding her microphone, while Hunter Scoops continues to dry heave on the ground after watching the footage from August 15, 2023.*

[Ruby:] "You are now witnessing the approach of the once secretive Gauntlet militia, led by a madman and felon named Jarec. Despite being incarcerated in a maximum security prison since May of 2022, he has just been granted conditional amnesty by the federal government. If he and his men take the arena and stop Geese, they will be granted their freedom. Additionally, if they do so without significantly hurting anyone, *sighs* they will be given a government contract."

*A large man with a blonde buzzcut opens up the hatch of another tank.*

[Ruby:] "That is Russ Masters, Jarec's second-in-command and an expert in napalm and explosives. It appears we now have a disturbing answer as to how Gauntlet will breach the arena.*

*With a sense of jubilation, Russ exits the tank and waves to the cameras. He lights a cigar and begins assembling various explosives at the front door of the Arena. He has the demeanor of a kid in a candy store. Jarec gathers his ground forces which consist of similarly masked soldiers. After a few minutes, Russ lights a fuse and a massive explosion rocks the arena. The front doors fly off and Jarec leads the charge inside.*

[Ruby:] "I still have control over the cameras inside but I caution all of you. What you are about to watch will be straight from a literal warzone. Jarec's soldiers are mercenaries that do not have any respect for rules of war or morality. Their leader is a violent psychopath. What's worse - his amorality and violence may be outmatched by whatever Geese has turned into. It's hard to root for either side here but my thoughts are with the brainwashed and vulnerable."


*The video switches to inside the main hallway. The soldiers are rushing in and testing the stability of all of the doors. Jarec and Russ saunter in when the hallway has been secured.*

[Russ:] "What do you think our chances are, boss?"

[Jarec:] "Like shooting geese in a barrel."

*Jarec signals the men to break down every door they can. The strategic mistake is revealed immediately. The entirety of the UBL and OG-Joshi roster rush out from behind every door, surrounding and surprising the militia in a pincer attack. The immediate convergence and rush down of the roster renders the firearms worthless, leaving Gauntlet to fight hand to hand or risk debilitating friendly fire. Although Gauntlet is made up of trained soldiers, they are facing something other than professional wrestlers today. They are facing warriors who have been twisted by Emperor Geese into berzerkers.*

[Jarec:] "Code 0, code 0."

*Russ pulls out a lighter, flicks it, and breathes gasoline onto it: creating a fireball. He and Jarec use the distraction and distance to run through the door that leads to the Battle Chamber. This leaves the rest of Gauntlet to fall decisively to the might of the combined rosters.  Perhaps the presence of Jarec and Russ could have helped equalized the fight, but it was not their mission objective. As they walk through a long hallway, Russ expresses genuine shock.*

[Russ:] "What the f*ck was that!?"

*Jarec cocks his head back and laughs.*

[Jarec:] "Relax, at least it's fun now. You really wanted this to be over in five minutes?"

[Russ:] "But how the hell did those chumps going toe to toe with us? What happened to the easily invadeable ubble?"

[Jarec:] "It's the best thing that could have happened. Now we know they aren't guarding Geese."

*Jarec punches Russ in the shoulder and Russ nods and steels himself. As they continue making their way into the exhibition hall that has long held UBL matches, the changes in decor are obvious. All of the banners honoring different wrestlers have been replaced with ones now glorifying "Emperor Geese." As they enter the Battle Chamber, they see a different apron in the ring: one of a dark gold tinted by an eerie shade of brownish green. Geese Walker stands motionless in the middle, not even looking at them but clearly aware of their presence. He is wearing a black judo gi.*

[Geese:] "Just two remain in your army. Tell me - do you take any pride in being the survivors?"

[Russ:] "We're the strongest!"

*Geese cocks his head back and a sickening sound passes for laughter.*

[Geese:] "No, just the ones squeezed through the blood-soaked bodies of your kin."

*Jarec giggles and claps from excitement.*

[Jarec:] “What a glorious day! Geese Walker went and wholly lost his mind. But I tease cause I love. See, this is my favorite version of you. Now we're finally ready to have the most fun together!”

[Geese:] "Then why delay?"

*Geese turns and beckons the two to join him in the ring. Russ is motionless upon looking at Geese's expression but Jarec is not intimidated. He turns to Russ.*

[Jarec:] "Whatever that is, it's nothing compared to what Gustav is cooking up."

*Jarec and Russ enter the ring. They attempt to rush Geese who effortlessly parries the strikes of both men at once, then moves to the other side of the ring like a matador. He turns around and smirks.*

[Geese:] "Are you just the first wave? I understand if your king didn't send the best right away."

[Jarec:] "We don't have a king."

[Geese:] "Your sacrifice here will usher in an Emperor."

*Jarec rushes again while Russ stands back. Geese immediately counters a straight right by Jarec, then lifts him up and slams him onto the mat with a sweeping hip throw. Jarec is slow to get up but wills himself to his feet. *

[Geese:] "You fight like someone who wants to die."

[Jarec:] "I'm not afraid to."

[Geese:] "Fear has nothing to do with it. You either want to live and conquer or die and submit. It appears you made your choice years ago."

[Russ:] "Show a little respect.  That man is the most dangerous in the world."

[Geese:] "To himself and those foolish enough to follow him."

*This infuriates Russ who runs toward Geese with a shoulder charge. Geese spins to the side and lands a uraken to the back of the head, sending Russ careening into the turnbuckle.*

[Geese:] "Follow a man who paves his own way to the grave, go down with him."

[Jarec:] "I have taken more lives than you have ever met."

*Geese laughs uproariously*

[Geese:] "You lived your own with utter contempt! What victories can you claim over anyone but yourself?"

*As Geese jaws with Jarec, Russ has been assembling his lighter and gasoline. Just as he is about to blow a fireball at Geese, a man drops out of the sky on top of his head, causing Russ' to incinerate himself!*

[Jarec:] "You!!"

*Geese smiles when he sees Mr. Clyde. Meanwhile, Russ rolls out of the ring and falls onto the floor, head first. He is still on fire until Mr. Clyde tosses some powder onto him, extinguishing the flame. The damage appears to be done as a badly burned Russ slowly picks himself up off the floor, only to be kicked in the face by Clyde, rendering him unconscious.*

[Clyde:] "Eye for an eye, right Jarec?"

*Jarec takes a sarcastic tone.*

[Jarec:] "I'm sure your scars will fade now."

*Geese looks disappointed at Clyde and points to the fallen Russ.*

[Geese:] "That husk burned you?"

[Clyde:] "Things are different here."

[Geese:] "Except your allegiance to me."

[Clyde:] "Oh but I detect some doubt in your voice, Emperor."

[Geese:] "It will be vanquished but not without effort. My Mr. Clyde was the last one to adapt to the amorality of our ruined world."

[Clyde:] "Is that so? What changed his mind?"

[Geese:] "Celes was killed and you almost died a broken man. I rebuilt you."

*Clyde pauses for a moment, looking unsteady.*

[Jarec:] "Um, hello?? I'm still here and *laughs* what do you know? Armed to the f'n teeth!"

*Jarec is holding a pistol with a steampunk aesthetic and aims it at Geese.*

[Jarec:] "Now Clyde, you may remember this particular model. It left quite the impression in you"

[Geese:] "Being set on fire wasn't enough? You were shot by this man too?"

[Clyde:] "I was protecting someone else."

[Jarec:] "It was adorable, really."

[Geese:] "Silence, take your shot so we can end this."

*Jarec is taken back by the boldness but shrugs his shoulders. He aims the gun at Geese while Geese grabs the gem from his pocket. As Jarec pulls the trigger, Geese holds the gem out, deflecting the bullet back into Jarec's foot. Clyde takes the opportunity to throw a shuriken at Jarec's hand, disarming him and doing some serious nerve damage.*

[Geese:] "You're already falling in line."

*Geese smirks at Clyde then rushes forward to Jarec with an open hand. He grabs him by the face and smashes the back of his head against the turnbuckle so hard that Jarec's blood pours out from between Geese's fingers. Geese paints Jarec's face with his own blood while laughing at him. Finally, Geese closes his fingers around Jarec's neck and squeezes.*

[Clyde:] "Don't do anything you'll regret."

*Geese easily hoists Jarec off the mat then chokeslams him onto the top of the ring post behind the turnbuckle. Jarec screams in agony and falls onto the arena floor vomiting blood.*

[Geese:] "I have zero regrets breaking a man who already did most of the work for me."

[Clyde:] "You paralyzed him."

[Geese:] "His choices did. I was the inescapable conclusion."


(The next part is coming soon!)

[OrochiGeese]

Title: "You and What Army?"


*We pick up right where the previous RP ended with Geese's debilitating attack on Jarec.*

[Geese:] "I have zero regrets breaking a man who already did most of the work for me."

[Clyde:] "You paralyzed him."

[Geese:] "His choices did. I was the inescapable conclusion."

[Clyde:] "Is that what happened to Celes? She couldn't escape your corruption? Could you escape the guilt?"

[Geese:] "You speak her name as if it still has meaning to me. A futile appeal to sentiment?"

*Suddenly, we hear a female voice*

"And yet you were the one who initially broached the subject of my...of her untimely death."

*For the first time, Geese's composure is shaken as he turns around to see Celes outside of the ring. She is joined by Mr. Figaro.*

[Geese:] "Impossible! Your presences were not detected here."

*Geese takes the gem back out of his pocket and looks at it with frustration.*

[Celes:] "We have a way of coming in and out of the picture."

[Figaro:] "And after spending some time in your world, we have an urgent message for you."

*An angry and impatient Geese waits for him to finish. Figaro soaks up the moment and smiles.*

[Figaro:] "Your dry cleaning is ready for pick up."

*Geese's face turns red as Figaro laughs. He and Celes make their way into the ring and stand next to Mr. Clyde.*

[Celes:] "The Emperor has no clothes in this world, it would seem. Certainly no Gaudeamus armor."

*Celes points at Geese's chest, causing him to sneer.*

[Geese:] "You know of it's power and yet you continue to mock me?"

[Celes:] "Rest assured - you'll have it soon after we send you back. You are not fit for this world."

[Geese:] "It is not fit for me!"

*We then hear another female voice from behind Geese.*

"I can't even imagine that armor is a good fit. Celes told me about the nukes in your world, so you prolly got the radiation shrinkage."

*Geese is shocked and frozen in place when he sees Robin Walker standing there.*

[Geese:] "You're....alive here?"

*Geese's expression softens for just a moment. This is just enough time for Celes to notice and gesture to Clyde, who very slowly begins reaching into his pocket.*

[Robin:] "Yeah, and never better!"

*Robin smiles nonchalantly which seems to rouse Geese's anger. He points at her accusingly.*

[Geese:] "You evaded my search. I demand to know how!"

[Robin:] "The insomnia from playing that dumb "succubus" character every night made me so tired. One day I found one of Clyde's secret hidey holes in the arena and fell asleep before you went fallout on everyone.  The gas or whatever wore off and I could tell shit hit the fan so I stayed put. He found me, explained what happened, and kept me hidden. You know, Mr. Emperor sir, it turns out he's pretty damn good at misdirection. It reminds me of the time..."

*With Geese distracted by Robin's presence, Clyde uses his ninja grappling hook to quickly grab Geese’s gem."

[Geese:] "You'll pay for your insolence!"

[Celes:] "Maybe in another world, but we won't be there to see it, and you aren't coming back without one of these."

*Celes and Figaro both pull out gems of their own.*

[Geese:] "Meaningless gesture. My Celes made a stockpile of them for me. Now that I know of your existence, I'll return-"

[Figaro:] "Nah bro, you been home invasioned. We gotz all your gems and I took an upper decker in your toilet fit for a king."

[Geese:] "I'm an Emperor!"

[Figaro:] "Yeah, it's been a while since we've dealt with one of those. But turns out, it's like riding a chocob...uh, a bike."

[Celes:] "Farewell, your highness."

*Clyde, Figaro, and Celes hold their gems high as Geese begins to run toward them. They quickly recite an incantation together causing a burst of golden white light to flash through the arena. Geese immediately falls to his knees.*

[Robin:] "Geese!?"

*Robin is about to enter the ring but Celes holds her hand out in caution.*

[Celes:] "Patience."

*Clyde prepares another shuriken as Celes cautiously walks over and places her gem on the back of Geese's head. He starts to look around and appears to be a mixture of ecstatic and relieved when he sees Celes standing in front of him. Celes looks deep into his eyes and sees actual tears beginning to form. "

[Geese:] "It...it worked? I'm back? You're back?"

[Celes:] "A mitigated success but we did it. The 'Emperor' has taken his leave and we are home once more."

*Celes gestures to the others that everything is okay. Robin rolls into the ring, runs over, and hugs Geese as Clyde, Figaro, and Celes sigh in relief. Another female voice rings out loud from the arena floor.*

"IS IT OVER!?"

[Celes:] "Yes, Jean."

[Jean:] "Can you say it?"

[Celes:] "Do I really have to-"

[Figaro:] "Red rover, red rover, send Jean Carter right over!"

*Jean Carter makes a beeline catline to the ring and tearfully hugs Celes and Figaro. Luke Kisiera follows her.*

[Clyde:] "A true reunification is in order but there is still some business to attend to."

*He points to Jarec and Russ writhing on the floor of the arena. Celes turns to Geese.*

[Celes:] "Do you think they know where Gustav and Matthias are?"

[Geese:] "Certain of it. There is a third who may know as well, but we need to let that run its course for a little longer."

[Celes:] "I'll transport them to a place where they can be healed....for the price of what they know."

[Jean:] "It's really good that you are going to save them but what will they do afterward?"

[Celes:] "Nothing without my permission."

[Clyde:] "Don't worry Jean, they won't be a threat anymore."

[Figaro:] "In the meantime, we need to stop all of the fighting in the main hall."

[Clyde:] "Before I felled Masters, I turned off the gas. Everyone should be back to normal by now."

*Jean has a confused look on her face and places her fist under her chin.*

[Jean:] "Waitaminute...I still don't get it. Guys, what actually caused all of this? The hallucinogenic gas or the gem?"

*There is silence for a few moments. Clyde looks directly at one of Ruby Moreno's cameras then back at Jean.*

[Clyde:] "Let's take this conversation somewhere else."

*Clyde fires off the shuriken he was holding to break the camera. The broadcast switches to the one in the main hall. As Clyde suspected, the fighting had stopped but not entirely due to the gas being shut off. With Gauntlet quickly and decisively beaten, the wrestlers had already decided to stand down. They slowly began to remember who they were then left the arena on their own accord.

This allowed emergency medical personnel to treat all of the wounded and take them to the hospital. The FBI began questioning everyone that was healthy enough to answer but did not take anyone into custody. Federal environmental safety agents then rush into the arena with instruments to detect and remove the gas responsible for this. The camera switches back to Ruby Moreno who looks unnerved.*

[Ruby:] "Tearful reunification of Orochi Army aside, this was not a happy ending to the darkest period in OG-FPD history. Bodies were broken, mangled, and paralyzed. Wrestlers were drugged, held captive, and made to compete with each other using bizarre personas. Lives were irreparably changed and damaged. UBL and OG-Joshi management are going to have to do some soul searching as a result. How do they move forward, heal, and ensure that something like this never happens again? And who is held responsible for all of this? Cosmic K*I*D has already paid the price in a way. But what of Geese Walker, and anyone else, who appeared to be a victim but still did significant damage to others? A lot of big questions that-"

*Suddenly, Hunter Scoops pops up off the ground and pops a big smile to the camera.*

[Hunter:] "That are all part of this Hunter Scoops exclusive from WWES News! If you're watching this on social medes, smash that like button!"

[Ruby:] "And who is held responsible for that?"

*Ruby shrugs and the broadcast turns off.*