Behind the Scenes

Kara’s hotel room

Post Warzone

 

Kara stood in her shower, the water washing away the dirt, the sweat and the blood from her match.  She let out a sigh.  This didn’t have to have happened.  Unlike most of her wins, Kara took no pleasure from her victory.  She had started off trying to give advice and that led to tonight.

 

“Damn kids.”  Kara muttered in German as she punched the wall.

 

“Hey now, we’re not that bad.”  Rayven’s voice spoke, causing Kara to jump and nearly fall in the shower.  Turning, she saw her niece and Abigail standing there.  Kara turns the shower off and opens it and steps out.  “Looking for overtime?”  She asks.  

 

“No, I told Rayven I would make an attempt at burying the hatchet.”  Abigail said. 

 

Kara considers this for a moment and nodded.  “I believe we both have been using the same tactic.  My brother says your mother specialized in psychological profiling.  Are you aware what a Psy-op is?”

 

Abigail nods.  “Yeah, common parlance is mind games or psychological warfare.  We attacked your honor hoping to get under your skin.  We apparently succeeded if tonight was any indication.  You?  You attacked our identity,  Accused us of being nepo-babies.  If I’m being honest, I suppose tonight indicates your better at this than we are.”’

 

“Don’t feel bad.  I have over 20 years of experience and training in this.  Part of being an undercover agent is you need to be able to read people.  You have to become other people.  I read you and Akame and the others easier than most.  Still, I wish I had known about Kelea’s issues before that fight.  I don’t regret using the move.  It’s legal and I won the match.  I do regret the trauma it caused her, though.”

 

Abigail nods.  “I’ll tell her.  I am curious though.”

 

Kara sighs and shakes her head.  “When they tried to age me out, I requested a desk job.  Trainer.  Something.  I was told they had no slots open for those jobs and the law was the law.  My commander was just as upset as I was, or she’s a better actor than me,  One of the two.”  It was about now, Kara realized she was still naked and she looked up at her niece and Abigail.

 

Abigail smiles, waving a hand.  “Don’t worry about it.  I’m fae.  I’ve spent time in their realm and wow are there different standards for modesty and acceptable states to be seen in public.  I’m surprised you’re okay with it.”

 

Kara lets out a small laugh of her own.  “Between locker rooms and barracks, you get used to it.”  

 

“So.. what’s your real problem with my mom?”  Abby asked.  If Kara wanted to bury the hatchet, there were some questions that needed to be answered.

 

Kara let out a sigh.  “Firstly.  Really not a fan of how she keeps referring to Kronin and I as Aryans.  It’s a racist term to be using.  Secondly, I don’t mind having to earn another title shot.  What I do mind is losing the Elite title, and watching people who win a couple of matches and they’re getting Valor title shots, Elite Title shots, even being mentioned as possible Conquest title contenders and then people like me who just win week in and week out being shut out of title chances.  That’s also my big problem with your group, by the by.  Rather than pushing for second gen wrestlers to get fair treatment, you should be pushing for everyone to get fair treatment.”

 

“Fair point.”  Abby said.  “So you don’t actually think we’re nepo babies?”  Abby said, holding up her phone, 

 

Kara wasn’t sure if Abby was recording this for later or if the Upstarts were on the line.  Either way, her answer was the same.  “No.  Akame is much the situation I am.  She fights and fights and gets shit on by CWF.  Difference is I’m not just fighting for my own treatment.  I’m fighting for CWF to be a meritocracy where talent and performance matter more than special categories.  Akame tried to get under my skin by calling me a gloryhound which Abby, is what your mother is, by her own admission, I tried to get under your skin by hitting what I knew was a sore spot for you two and I’m also trying to point out that to some, your argument comes off as spoiled brats demanding something without having to earn it.  I would recommend you all be aware of that and make sure you stick to the point that you’re not unwilling to work for it, but that you’re tired of rookies and younger talents being pushed down so that some past their prime veteran can have another run in the sun.”

 

Abby nodded.  “For what it’s worth, Rayven and I are trying to play peacemaker.  But it’s likely going to take some time.  On the plus side, I suppose this is a good practice for my role with the fae.  Anyways why ambush me?  That’s what pissed me off and made Rayven’s task of getting me willing to talk harder.”

 

Kara sighed and shook her head. “I’m sorry.  I needed to convince Valora to fight.  I tried and failed to get close to her.  You?  It was shockingly easy to get access to you.  I can say it was nothing personal but I’m sure when you’re the one being ambushed, it seems personal.”

 

Abby nods.  “Kinda does yeah, but I appreciate the apology.Though I’ll say be careful about removing my mom from her position.  You guys in Bad Company helped Vastrix get in and now he’s the boy toy of the Eternal Grove because..”

 

“Vespertine is leading him around by his penis.”  Rayven finishes. Abby nodding and pointing at Rayven.

 

“Heh.  Good point.  Still, I view him as a step up from von Krauss.  I don’t really want to replace Valora.  I want her to do better at her job.  Until recently, Bad Company has been locked out of title shots.  Kronin, makes sense because he hasn’t wrestled much, but he also been booked much.  Greg?  He’s ending up in the same spot I was.  He lost the belt to Nathan.  At Civil Warfare, Nathan defends against Eoin.  After Civil Warfare?  Valora has made it clear she wants you to go for that belt, which means she might screw you out of your shot at the Skirmish title.  So when and how is Greg or I supposed to get back into the picture?  I’m frustrated, Abigail.  And I’m a woman of action.  When I get frustrated, I do something about it.  You and your group do the same.”

 

“This is true.”  Abby begins and nods.  “Okay.  Like I said.  This will take some time, but you’re either a damn good actress or you’re sincere because I believe you and, more to the point, I’m not getting the sense you’re lying.”

 

“She isn’t.”  Rayven says, tapping the side of her head.

 

“You really shouldn’t invade people’s privacy like that, Rayven.”  Kara says but she turns to Abby.  “But I’m glad I have some proof I’m not lying”

 

“As I said.  Might take some time.  In the meantime, Akame and I have enough enemies at the moment so if you don’t antagonize the situation, you likely can expect us to leave you alone.”

 

Kara nodded.  “Makes sense and I can deal with that.  Now, you have to tell me how did you two come out of nowhere?”  

 

Abigail grins and touches the wall where a small door shaped portal opens up.  “It’s magic.”  She says with a grin.  “We’ll leave you alone now, Kara and Kara.  All you have to do is give us a name.  If you’re afraid to risk your family against the vampires, I’m sure Akame, Fi and myself can do some damage.”

 

Kara smiles.  “Appealing as that thought is, I have to take into consideration the addiction.  When I was undercover, I saw people go through withdrawal.  It gets ugly and not everyone survives it.  I’ll tell you the same thing I told Rayven, Greg, Kronin and Lilly.  Stop making it clear you know about vampires or you might find yourself getting uninvited guests.”

 

Abigail nods.  “Well, Akame and I being Fae is something they wouldn’t know.  That miscalculation would give us the edge against them in a fight.  But I appreciate the warning.”  With that, Abby and Rayven stepped through the portal and left Kara to be alone for the moment.

 

Now once more on her own, Kara dried herself off and put on some clothes and watched TV.

 

Behind the Scenes

Arrival

Greenville, South Carolina

 

To say that Kara had not been impressed by Greenville was an understatement.  Her studying on American history had told her that South Carolina held the distinction of ‘Officially’ starting the Civil War.  South Carolina had been the first state to secede from the Union and begin insurrection and the ‘first’ battle of the Civil War had happened here, at Fort Sumter, though Kronin had been quick to point out that a multitude of smaller scale battles happened before that all over the South.

 

Now, it seemed not much had changed as the proud ‘rebels’ were all aboard the fascism train and in support of unlimited central government power… as long as the people they agreed with were the ones wielding it.  She decided to take some advice from Rayven and tried to talk directly to the fans.  She took out her phone and found the app Rayven had pointed out to her to use…

 

On Camera Promo 1

Kara’s Reactions:;

Greenville, South Carolina

 

The promo starts and the viewers can see Kara’s face, obviously having finished her morning’s workout routine.  A couple seconds of awkward silence passes as Kara looks into the camera and nods.  “Right.  I suppose i should point out that Valora’s attempt to stack the deck against me failed.  Akame and Abigail, as good as they are, weren’t good enough to beat me.  If I was interested in continuing this mini-feud, I could go more in depth.  But we’re past the psy-op phase.  Abigail and Akame fought well.  But I won that night.  I’ll assume Akame and Abigail will learn from this setback and be the better for it.  As for me, I need to focus on Valora.  And to begin with, Valora.. Why the hell did you and the other owners pick this state, let alone this city for our mid season pay per view?  Is it because the people here are as racist and backward as you are?  Is it that the uneducated morons here have traded in their proud identity as rebels to be cheerleaders for fascism?”

 

Kara sighs and shakes her head.  “I can hear you now objecting to me  calling you a racist.  Well, you refer to my niece and sister in law constantly as a culturally insensitive ethnic slur.  You refer to my brother and I with a separate ethnic slur by labeling us ‘Aryan.’  Which is just a coward’s way of calling us nazis.  My brother and missed world war 2 by almost 4 decades.  But your victim complex can’t not see everyone who isn’t you as the bad guy, right?  Well, you failed in your attempt to stack the deck against me and now?  Now I have my new goal.  I’m going to end that perfect record of yours in CWF.  I’m going to remind you how it feels to lose.  Auf Wiedersehen, Valora.”

 

Behind the scenes

Decisions

Greenville, South Carolina

 

Night had fallen and Kara was in the hotel room of her girlfriend and mistress.  The tension hung in the air as she nods.  “So.. what I’m hearing is that there are mortals who know about what’s going on.  Who know about you and me?”

Kara gulped and nodded. “They knew about Vampires already so I figured it was safe to tell them and it turns out my niece was a better student than I thought as she basically investigated and put everything together.”

 

Rebecca sighed as she stood up.  “I’m supposed to be preparing you for the embrace.  Now I have to deal with some child playing scooby doo.”

 

“Closer to Buffy the vampire slayer.”  Kara began.  Then she shrugged.  “How do you plan to deal with her?  Same way with me?”

 

Rebecca growled.  “She’s Roma.”

 

Kara raises an eyebrow.  “Is that a problem?”

 

“Yes.  The Gangrels get…territorial.  They have declared themselves the protectors of those with Roma blood.  Things are touchy with them as it is so I can’t move against her without risking wider conflict.  So I have contracted the task out.  A member of the Gangrel clan and the Lasombra clan are keeping an eye on her.  Right now, it’s surveillance.  Assess the threat level and go from there.  By the way, did you know she has Fae friends?”

 

Kara nods.  “I did.  You might also want to know she knows magic.”

 

“A mage?  More complications.  Going to have half the damned Camarilla interested in her at this rate.  Well.. sticking with assessing the threat.”

 

Kara sighed and stepped forward.  “She’s 18.  What if she views your watching her as a prelude to an attack and moves first?”

 

Rebecca shrugged.  “Not my problem.  If the child is foolish enough to attack the agents keeping an eye on her, we’ll find out how skilled she is.”

 

Kara nodded and turned to leave.  “Then I’m going to have to go and keep an eye on her too and if a fight breaks out.  I’ll be there to help her.”

 

“I don’t remember giving you permission to leave.”  Rebecca said.

 

Kara shrugged.  “I don’t remember asking.  Your leash is a bit long at the moment.  You fed me to ensure I’d be able to handle the two fae opponents I had.  Thanks for that, I did enjoy teaching them a lesson in humility.  But I won’t stand by and let my niece be endangered.”

 

Rebecca nods.  “Be careful.  Push me too far and you won’t get your next dose until you’re on your knees begging.”  Rebecca says, taking a few steps forward.  “And you will, beg.  When you get desperate enough.  When you can’t shrug off and recover from the pain anymore.  So think very, very carefully before you dare presume to threaten or dictate terms to me..”  She says, her eyes seeming to glow as she says.  “Matter of fact, that sounds good.  Kneel.”

 

Despite herself, Kara found herself sinking to her knees as Rebecca towered over her imperiously.  “There.  I’ve apparently been too lenient.  You have a choice to make.  Two roads.  You can stand beside me as a lover,  or you can kneel and obey as my servant.  Either way, I possess you so it makes no matter to me.”  She says, waving her hand.  “Go.  I find myself bored of you at the moment.”

 

On Camera Promo 2

Casus Belli

 

The camera comes on and Kara sits at a desk.  She wears battle fatigues sporting Bad Company logos and clears her throat.  “Good evening, CWF.  I’ve heard a lot of people wondering if I have a reason. If it’s a good idea to wage war on Valora.  What about this?  How bout that?  And all the other noise and bullshit.  So.  Because it was requested and because I’m a fair person.  I present to you the Casus Belli.  For those of you not familiar with Latin, it literally translates as ‘Case for war.’

 

Kara opens the folder on the table behind her and takes out a sheet of paper.  “Item 1.  Valora Salinas is a violent psychopath and an addict, both to violence and to alcohol.  Such a person is barely tolerable as a member of the roster but should not have any serious leadership position.  This is not simple conjecture.  We’ve all seen how the woman always has tequila within arm’s reach.  By her own admission, she is a violent psychopath and an alcoholic.  It was for these reasons, she abandoned her daughter, Abigail.  Was that a good choice?  Yes.  Instead of being raised by a mentally unbalanced addict, Abigail grew up in Europe.  With a loving family and is a well adjusted person as a result.  But still.  Valora once more admitted she wasn’t fit to be entrusted with a child.  So why then should we entrust and empower her to be one of the owners of a major company?”

 

Kara sets the paper aside and takes out the next.  “Item 2.  Let’s talk about her job performance.  When she came to power she promised to look out for and protect the wrestlers.  Never mind she was fucking one of the major villians in this company, Robert Riot.  A man who not only allowed his cohorts to nearly ruin CWF by demanding special treatment and acting like they ran the company, he agreed with them.  So did Valora.  Until her daughter decided to enter the company.  Her and Akame McClancy felt the need to form the Upstarts.  Why?  Because, they felt that second gen athletes and indeed, younger talent in general was being kept down so that veterans could get another 5 runs in the sun.  Think about that.  Valora’s own daughter felt her mother was doing such a bad job at promoting a environment where merit and nothing else, determined who excelled, that she and her friends form a group to fight for equal rights.”

 

Kara shakes her head and clears her throat.  “Item 3.  Under her tenure, her daughter became Conquest champion.  She did that fair and square.  I lost my Elite title.  Also, fair and square.  My twin brother Kronin earned a Conquest title shot, the traditional way, he earned it by performance.  He failed to win the belt and eventually it would be Drago that unseated Abigail.  As for me?  I did what my brother did, I fought and won quality matches against quality approaches.  But I found myself frozen out of all title divisions.  By contrast, Abigail finds herself reasonably eligible for literally every title in the fed.  So, I ask Fiona, Akame and Kat Hale.  Are you three reasonably sure Valora won’t screw you three over if it means a chance to put her daughter ahead?  We all know Valora is willing to take shortcuts.”

 

Kara nods and chances to a new sheet of paper.  “Before I get to item 4.  An addendum.  Abigail.  Are you sure your mother won’t screw you out of the Skirmish title, because she feels you should be going for higher titles?  Food for thought.  Now.  Item 4.  I call Valora Salinas a coward.  She was supposed to be an ally against Armand and Esmeralda von Krauss and yet she did nothing to help us get rid of them.  Ultimately, it was Bad Company and Jeremiah Vastrix who did the deed and the Upstarts who took part in keeping the nKo in check.  This would be almost acceptable if Valora was not also trying to claim credit for ousting the von Krauss regime.”

 

Kara shuffles the papers and lines them up before replacing them in the folder.  “So there it is.  Just a few of the many reasons to justify my desire to beat Valora within an inch of her life.  She is not the woman she claims to be.  She is not your ally and after Civil Warfare, she won’t be able to keep me and others down anymore.  Prepare yourself, Valora.  I’m coming for you and not only will I give you your first loss in CWF, I will beat you in your signature match.  Enjoy the time you have left.  Auf Wiedersehen.”

 

Behind the Scenes

Trouble Starts

Greenville, South Carolina

 

Kara finished her promo and nodded.  She was about to head out for her evening workout when she got a text from Rayven.  It was a text that proved her right.  Rayven had detected the vampire surveillance and was preparing to make the first move.  She left her room to have a chat with her niece about the situation.