Friday, May 31, 2019

The Next Generation: Part 8


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May 26th, 2019
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
==========

The sun is bright and shining overhead on this gorgeous day in Miami, Florida.  The beauty of the day is just one avenue The British Bombshell utilizes to try and forget about the problems plaguing her.  Another way to relax and gain some amount of comfort is to take a nap by the pool in her home in Miami, Florida.  The blonde haired beauty is wearing a hot pink string bikini while lying on a purple beach towel by the modestly sized pool.  Dark sunglasses shade her eyes from the brilliant rays of the sun.

It’s merely a temporary fix; a band-aid, if you will.  This, by no means, is a true escape from the problems that she will eventually have to deal with.  She knows that as beautiful as it is outside, as calming as the wind is and as gorgeous as the pool happens to be, she cannot just stay out here forever.  To do so would be cowardice and she is no coward.  She is a Braddock and she does not run from her problems.

She faces them head on.

Her problems are mounting; this whole ordeal seems like it began ages ago when her daughter, Melinda Braddock, confronted her about wanting to train to become a wrestler.  It was a logical question for the girl to ask of her mother, who had just recently come into ownership of Glenn Braddock’s Wrestling School after he stepped aside. And it was Glenn who trained Glory in the so-called “sport of kings”.

Glory would hear nothing of it.  She refused to allow her daughter to train to become a professional wrestler.  Things would only get worse from there; Melinda would get caught drinking so much alcohol that she passed out dead drunk.  Then Melinda attempted petty theft from a hotel candy machine and now Glory suspects her daughter being behind the theft of some money from a safe at the Braddock Wrestling School.

Police know that it was someone who already had access, someone with inside knowledge of the school, and someone with motivation.  It made perfect sense to Glory.

What doesn’t make perfect sense to Glory is why her daughter seems to be acting like this; Melinda seemingly went from a perfect angel to a rebellious monster overnight.  Those close to the family suspect that she could be acting out due to the fact that her mother refuses to let her become a wrestler.  Melinda certainly believes it.  Even Glory somewhat buys that line of thought.

Still, how can she get her daughter back?  Not this rebellious teenage monster, but her good girl, where is she and how can she get her back?  That’s the question.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Braddock is startled ever so slightly when she hears the voice.  She turns in time to see Kurt Logan, her loving husband, swimming towards her.  He grabs hold of the side closest to his wife and holds himself up.  Some water gets in her face and she flinches.

“Careful, love.  You’ll get my hair wet.”

“Oh really?” Kurt smirks as he starts swatting more and more water in her direction.  The British Bombshell starts to squeal and giggle.

“Ok!  Ok!  Stop!”

“Sorry,” Kurt says with a joking grin “but you are at a swimming pool.  You should expect to get a little wet.”

“Fair enough.  But you knew damn well that I just wanted some sun.”

“You may want some sun but I think you could use something else.”

“What’s that?” Glory asks, her curiosity peaked as to where her husband is going with this.

“You need to relax.” Kurt says with a wide ear to ear grin. “Enjoy yourself.  Have some fun.  You’ve been so down on yourself lately and I can’t stand it.  I can’t stand to see you like this, Glory.”

Braddock sighs and nods her head.  The truth is, she hates feeling like this just as much as Kurt hates seeing her like this.  But there isn’t much she can do about it; at least not until she figures out what is wrong with Melinda and find a solution.

“I’m sorry, love, but this is a problem I can’t seem to fix and it’s driving me batty.”

“Then let’s talk about the source of the problem.”

“Melinda?” Glory asks, curiously.

“Bingo.  She hasn’t been acting like herself lately.”

“That part is obvious.” Braddock retorts. “And it’s obvious why she’s acting out.”

“Really?” Kurt asks, with a hint of skepticism.

“Of course.  I won’t let her become a wrestler and she’s all pissed off.  So she’s taking it out on me.  She has been taking it out on me ever since I told her that she couldn’t train.”

“I doubt it’s that simple.” Kurt says, shaking his head. “I mean, consider how she seemingly changed so abruptly, as if it was an overnight change.  She was a completely different person within the span of twenty-four hours?  No, it doesn’t make sense.”

“So what do you think it is, love?” Glory asks, taking her sunglasses off and setting them aside.

“I think she is being influenced by something or…” his voice trails off.  Glory furrows her brow as she finishes his thought.

“Someone?”

“Maybe.” Kurt nods his head.

“Normally I’d say you’re nuts.” Glory sighs and shrugs her shoulders. “But unfortunately, it isn’t outside the realm of possibility, especially considering Sophie has been hanging around her lately.”

“I thought Sophie was innocent in all of this?”

“Sophie is innocent in the theft.” Glory corrects him. “That’s not her style.  But trying to manipulate someone to do her dirty work for her, that would definitely be her style.”

“Well I wouldn’t rush to judgment, if you ask me.  I’m only offering my opinions.”

“Ok, in that case what do you suggest that I do?” Braddock asks in an exasperated tone. “I need answers, mate.”

“I already told you what I think you need to do.” Kurt says with a serious, stoic gaze.

“What’s that?” Glory asks.  She stares at Kurt and watches as his serious, stoic gaze turns into a sly smirk.  Kurt suddenly reaches over and snatches hold of her, and pulls her into the swimming pool.  Kurt pops up out of the water first followed by Glory who is now soaking wet and laughing hysterically.

“You need to have fun!”

“Have fun?!” Glory exclaims as she splashes water at Kurt. “Think this is fun?!”

“Of course!”

Kurt and Glory splash water back and forth at one another, trying to enjoy themselves and, if for a moment, forget about their problems.  Those problems can wait until later.  They can be dealt with another day.  For now, if even for a short moment, they can have fun.

==========
Several Hours Later
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
==========

As it turns out a little fun in the sun and splashing around in the swimming pool was just what the doctor ordered, so to speak.  Glory Braddock was able to damn near forget all about her personal problems for the rest of the day.  She was able to relax and simply enjoy herself; but more importantly, she was able to avoid any and all distractions.  God knows she cannot avoid anything to distract her from her next major career goal…

...winning Taking Hold of the Flame.

She’s already made it known publicly that she intends on entering and winning Taking Hold of the Flame, going to the main event of Rise To Greatness, and ending the tyrannical reign of either Sienna Swann or Syren to become a fifteen time World Champion, her first ever SCW World Championship.

Braddock knows that she cannot get ahead of herself.  Winning Taking Hold of the Flame will be the first major roadblock, the first major obstacle she has to overcome.  She will have to overcome a gauntlet of staunch competition, the fiercest SCW has to offer.  She will have to be in her best condition.  Thus she has already arranged to begin training in earnest tomorrow.

But that’s tomorrow and The British Bombshell knows that her training regimen will have to be particularly brutal and merciless if she hopes to be ready, because Taking Hold of the Flame itself will be brutal and merciless.  She can hold nothing back.  Thus she and her husband Kurt have turned in to bed early tonight.  Things are peaceful outside in the Miami skyline.  Things are peaceful inside their bedroom.

Or at least, they were peaceful until a loud banging sound causes Braddock shoot right up in the king size bed she shares with Kurt Logan.

“What the bloody hell was that?” She whispers silently to herself.  She waits and listens intensely to see if it sounds out again.  Sure enough, another bang rings out in the distance.  She isn’t sure what it is but she is definitely sure that this is coming from their home.

The British Bombshell swings her legs out from underneath the comforter and over the side of the bed.  She stands up and quietly approaches the door.  She opens it and sticks her head out into the hallway.  She listens and hears more moving around.  Braddock frowns as she ponders her next move.

“Kurt!” Glory turns and calls out to her husband, still in bed.  He starts tossing and turning but doesn’t get up.  Glory calls out again. “Kurt!  Get up!”

“Huh?”  He sits up and notices Glory out of bed.  “What are you doing up?”

“I heard a noise.  Didn’t you hear it?”

He shrugs his shoulders. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“Bloody hell,” she rolls her eyes “just stay there.  I figure I know what this is all about.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” Braddock nods her head. “I’ll be fine.”

Glory exits the bedroom and enters the hallway.  She walks quietly as she can down the hall to her right of her bedroom door.  A few doors down and she reaches a closed door.  The banging sounds out again.  Glory jumps a little as is startled by this but quickly regains her composure.  She reaches out and pushes the door open.  The British Bombshell steps inside and switches on the light.  Immediately she spots her daughter Melinda, hanging halfway out the window.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, Mel?” Glory asks, her hands placed firmly on her hips as she stares at her daughter who looks rather clumsy at this point in time.

“Mom!”  Melinda complains.  “I was just…”

“You had snuck out and you were just trying to sneak back in.” Glory sighs, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’d have to be Brittany Lohan kind of good in order to pull this kind of stunt on me, mate.”

“Just help me!” Melinda exclaims.

“I should let you hang.  But I’ll help you.”

Glory approaches her daughter and gets a grip on the window in question.  With Melinda and Glory both working together they manage to get the window high enough to allow Melinda room to get back inside.  Melinda quickly scrambles to her feet and glares angrily at the window.

“Stupid thing got stuck.”

“Serves you right for trying to sneak out.” Glory retorts. “What the hell were you thinking?”

“None of your business.” Melinda snaps back.

“You are my daughter so it very much is my business.”

“Whatever.” Melinda rolls her eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me.” Glory grabs her by her arm and turns her around to face her. “Tell me, what were you doing sneaking out this late at night?”

“Like I said, it is none of your business!” Melinda shouts.

“Geez, Mel.” Glory sighs, shaking her head. “What has gotten into you?  You didn’t used to act like this.”

“What happened to me?” Melinda asks with shock in her voice. “Look in the mirror, mom!  You’re what happened to me!  You’re to blame for this!”

“So you’re still hanging your hat on the excuse that this is my fault because I won’t let you be a wrestler?  Is that it?”

“It’s not just that.” Melinda shakes her head. “You won’t let me live my own life the way I want to.  I’m eighteen now, mom.  In case you haven’t figured it out, I am grown up.  You should treat me like one.”

==========
May 28th, 2019
London, England
Off Camera
==========

It may not look like much, but this small, run down looking gym on the outskirts of Southampton is quite a well known venue.  This is the gym that hosts the Glenn Braddock Wrestling School.  Only Glenn Braddock no longer runs this school.  It has been passed down officially to his daughter, “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock.  Only Glory isn’t too keen on trying to run it herself.  She hasn’t been keen on trying to be an official trainer of “the next generation” for quite some time, as she doubts her own ability to adequately prepare them.  Thus instead she convinced her good friend Sophie O’Brian and Sophie’s brother Mark to run it for her.

Still, this school is nostalgic for Braddock.  This was the place where she spent her formative years learning her craft.  This is where she honed her skills and became the professional athlete she is today, all under the tutelage of her father Glenn Braddock.  To this day when she needs to prepare, when she needs to train, this is where she goes.  No other gym suits her.  No other gym serves the purpose she needs.  Only this particular place provides the adequate tools and resources necessary to prepare for any and all challenge that she may face.

And there is no bigger challenge than Taking Hold of the Flame.

Glory will have to be ready for anything; she could enter in at number one and have to go through thirty nine other superstars to win it all.  Or she may get real lucky and be the last entrant and only have to face a bunch of already winded and fatigued superstars.  Luck and endurance play a huge role in Taking Hold of the Flame.  She can control how much durability she has but she cannot control luck, so she’ll have to hone her skills and make certain that she is good enough that bad luck won’t cost her.

This is something she not only wants but something she feel that she has to do, for herself and for SCW.  She has to win.

So it’s no surprise that we find her here at her wrestling school, by a heavy bag with head trainer Sophie O’Brian.  Glory is throwing rights and lefts at the heavy bag while Sophie watches on stoically.

“Harder.  Come on, Glory.  Hit that bag harder.” Sophie states in a calm yet commanding tone. “You won’t win Taking Hold of the Flame that way.  Trust me, I should know.  Unlike you, I’ve been in one.”

“I know, you love to remind me of that fact.” Glory snaps back as she throws three more punches and then a kick for good measure.

“You need to take them by surprise, mate.”

“Oh like how you threw fire at them?” Glory asks with a smirk.

“Yes but I know you would never do that; little miss goodie two shoes you are.” Sophie sighs. “Besides, I already did that trick.”

Glory chuckles; sometimes she forgets that Sophie was in SCW before she ever made it.  Sophie never won Taking Hold of the Flame though she did manage to have some small success in the company as a former Television Champion.  Glory hopes to do better than that.  She hopes to become World Champion at Rise To Greatness after first winning Taking Hold of the Flame.  Still, as much as she enjoys her time with Sophie, this doesn’t feel right.  It doesn’t feel the same.  And Sophie can tell.

“Ok, stop…” Sophie’s voice trails off as Glory slows her punching and kicking to a halt.

“What’s wrong?”

“You.” Sophie remarks. “Your heart just isn’t into this.  What’s wrong, Glory?”

“I don’t know.” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “But you’re right, I’m just not into this.  I don’t feel right.”

“Well you need to get into this and get into it soon.” Sophie answers. “You need to be in top condition if you hope to have a chance of overcoming these odds.  Tell me, what is your problem?”

“I don’t know.” The British Bombshell repeats herself. “I think it’s daddy not being here.  You know?  He’s always been the one to train me but now that he’s finished training it’s different.  It’s just different without him.”

“I can make it very similar.”

“How?”

Sophie points to the heavy bag. “Get back to work you lazy ass fucking bitch!”

Braddock smirks for a moment before unleashing a hearty laugh. “He wasn’t that bad, mate!”

“He was pretty close.” Sophie answers. “The only difference between how I’m training you and how he trained you is he yelled a lot.”

The two women share a laugh.  Glenn Braddock and this very school that Glory owns and Sophie operates is where they first met and bonded as good friends. Sure, they have had their differences.  What friends don’t have disagreements from time to time?  But one thing that has remained steadfast is Sophie’s consistent respect for Glenn Braddock.  He was Sophie’s trainer.  But he is more than just a trainer to Glory; he is her father.

Glory wanted him to be a father to her but she always felt he was better suited as a trainer, or even a drill instructor, and thus he always acted that way as opposed to acting as a father.  This is what she hopes to avoid between her and Melinda.  She doesn’t want to become so obsessed with wrestling that she loses the mother-daughter relationship they have.  And yet, that seems to be exactly what’s happening.

“Seriously, Glory.” Sophie places a hand upon her friend’s shoulders. “You’ll be fine.”

“You think so?” Glory asks.

“Of course.  You’re the Best in the World and you’re going to prove it by winning Taking Hold of the Flame.” Sophie points to the heavy bag.  “Now get back…”

“Clyde!  Stop!”

That’s the sound of Mark O’Brian shouting at the top of his lungs. Immediately this gets the attention of Glory and Sophie as they turn to look at the wrestling ring where a student is on the floor, blood covering his face and he appears unconscious.  Clyde Sutter is standing over the student and Mark O’Brian is shouting at him.

“I said stop!”

Mark places a hand on Clyde’s wrist.  Wrong move by Mark.  Immediately Clyde knees him in the gut, flips him over into a body slam.  Mark scrambles up but gets drilled with a lariat.  Mark scrambles to his feet and gets drilled with a big boot to the face.

“Bloody hell!” Sophie exclaims. “Mark!”

Glory and Sophie rush over to the ring hoping to stop Clyde but things are going too fast.  Clyde scoops Mark up and drops him square on his head with a pile driver.  Clyde stands over Mark with a sick and sadistic grin on his face, satisfied at what he has done.  Sophie and Glory slide into the ring.  Sophie gets down to tend to her brother.  Sophie then turns and glares up at The British Bombshell.

“I told you that man was too dangerous!”

Guilt immediately sweeps through the heart and soul of The British Bombshell.  Sophie’s words hit home in a very real way.  Mark O’Brian is Sophie’s brother and Glory’s good friend.  Sophie had warned Glory that Clyde Sutter was dangerous and that he could snap at any moment.  Unfortunately Braddock wouldn’t listen; she was too enthralled with Clyde’s sob story to pay attention to the warning signs.  But they had been there all along.  Now Mark is lying on the mat, seriously hurt, and it all could have been avoided had Glory just listened.

She could stand here and continue to feel bad for herself but that won’t help matters.  Mark is her friend and Clyde hurt him, yet Clyde doesn’t even seem to care.  Braddock storms up to Sutter, getting face to face with him; or as close to face to face as she can possibly get.  Clyde Sutter is much larger than she is.  Braddock has to look up to him and when she does she sees a strange, emptiness written across his face.  It’s as if he feels nothing.

Nothing at all.

“What in the hell was that?!” Glory exclaims angrily.  The size differential doesn’t seem to bother her.  She just wants answers from this monster.

“Huh?” Clyde blinks, looking almost as if he is confused, as if he just now regained his bearings and returned to reality.

“Don’t try and sell me that garbage, mate.” Braddock points over at Sophie and Mark. “Those are my friends, Clyde.  And you hurt one of them.  Now you shouldn’t be doing this with the intent of harming anyone, but you damn sure better not do it to someone I care about or else there will be serious consequences.”

“I don’t get it.” He snickers and shrugs his shoulders. “Not like I did anything different.  You and Ms. O’Brian both told me that a wrestler is a weapon.  I took that seriously.  I hurt a student before and it didn’t seem to bother you.  What’s different this time other than the fact that I hurt your friend?”

The British Bombshell is taken aback by the words of Clyde Sutter.  To be perfectly frank, he is right.  She could have stopped this when she saw him hurt the first student but she didn’t.  She passed it off as an accident.  Sophie had warned her then about how dangerous he was but Glory wouldn’t listen. Braddock then catches sight of Mark, still on the mat.  Her eyes narrow as anger once again returns.

“You don’t get it.  I’m not sure you ever did get it.  What Sophie and Mark gave you at this school was power, a great power.  And with any kind of power comes responsibility.”

Clyde chuckles. “You just quoted Spider-Man.”

“Bloody hell,” Glory rolls her eyes “you clearly don’t care.  You never did and I was ignorant for believing that you did.”

“What are you saying, Ms. Braddock?” The large man snarls.

“What I’m saying is that you’re through.  You’re done.  Clyde Sutter, you are no longer welcome at The Braddock Wrestling School.”

The first reaction from the much larger Clyde Sutter is an angry glare, almost hatred, written across his face.  Then as a few tense moments pass, the look of hate changes to a smirk.  Another laugh escapes his lips.

“You haven’t seen the last of me.” With that, Clyde turns and walks away.  Glory watches as he steps through the ropes and hops off the apron onto the floor.  Braddock continues to stare a hole through him until she sees him walk out of the front door. Braddock immediately turns to Sophie and Mark, kneeling down to check on them.

“Is he ok?” Glory asks.

“He’s responsive.” Sophie sighs. “He wants to get up but I’d rather him stay down.  He should get checked for a concussion first.”

“Wise.”

“I couldn’t help but overhear what Sutter said to you.” Sophie remarks. “You’d better be careful.”

“Yeah…” Glory’s voice trails off.  She realizes that she should trust Sophie’s judgment more often.  She was right about this, about Clyde, and yet Glory didn’t believe her.  At least she got rid of him now.  The question is, has she seen the last of him?

==========
Later That Night
London, England
Off Camera
==========

Rain pours down heavily from the skies above, making it difficult to navigate the roads towards the Braddock Wrestling School.  Still, Glory Braddock has made this trip before many times during her life both as a student and now as its owner, thus she has no issues finding her way. This drive is like second nature to her.  In the passenger’s seat is her good friend and head trainer, Sophie O’Brian.  Normally Glory wouldn’t be making this trip back to the school.  She always thought returning late at night was unnecessary.  It was Sophie’s idea to return and check the school each night and as it turned out, it was a good idea.  Sophie’s routine checks helped discover that someone had stolen money from the school.  And ever since that theft was discovered Glory made up her mind to accompany Sophie, at least whenever Glory was in London to oversee the school.

The stakes are higher now, though, as is the stress, and perhaps that is why the ride has been quiet.  Clyde Sutter, for a second time, snapped and attacked someone at the school.  This time it wasn’t a student, but Sophie’s brother Mark, himself a trainer.  Glory Braddock feels guilty over this, because it was her poor judgment that allowed a dangerous man like Clyde to harm her friend Mark.

“It’s not your fault, you know?”

“What’s that?” Glory asks curiously.

“Don’t play dumb, Glory.” Sophie retorts. “I know that you’re not dumb.  You’ve been quiet, too quiet, the whole ride to the school.”

“So?”

“You’re never this silent unless something’s bothering you and it isn’t hard to figure out what it is.”

The British Bombshell sighs. “It’s easy for you to say.”

“First of all, Mark is fine.” Sophie begins. “He doesn’t even have a concussion.”

“Thank God.” Glory answers back quickly. “But no thanks to me.  I put Mark in that dangerous situation.”

“Mark put himself in that situation.  It was a risk he was willing to take because he believes in your mission of helping people, giving people the same skills that your father gave you at that school, the same skills your father gave both Mark and me.  Mark knew the dangers going in.”

“Still, I could have prevented it had I just listened to you.” Glory sighs. “You were right.”

“As much as I enjoy being told I was right,” Sophie begins with a smirk “I have to say that it doesn’t matter anymore.  And no, it wasn’t your fault.  Clyde is a loose cannon.  He could have hurt anyone at anytime.”

“Maybe, but I still feel horrible about it.  I’m sorry, Sophie.”

“Bloody hell you’re depressed tonight!” Sophie exclaims. “If it helps you feel better, then I forgive you.”

“Thanks, and yes, it does help.” Glory says with a smile.

Being forgiven does help a little, but the guilt is still there.  Thus the remaining car ride is just as silent as before.  It’s more than just the guilt, though.  Glory is calling her own judgment into question.  She has made mistakes with both Clyde Sutter and her own daughter, Melinda Braddock.  It’s almost enough to make her question why she continues to do any of this…

...but she casts those thoughts to the side as soon as they enter her head.  One thing that her father drilled into her head growing up was a never say die attitude.  When she’s down, she doesn’t quit.  Giving up would be too easy.  She’ll find her answers, she will fix this.  She will fix all of this.

Eventually the car does finally come to a stop in the parking lot.  Glory gets the closest parking spot, near the front door, for it is raining and neither she nor Sophie want to get too drenched, though they know it will be nearly unavoidable.

“Ready to run?” Glory asks, shooting a wry grin at Sophie.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Glory and Sophie open their doors in stereo and bolt towards the front door.  Glory has her key ready and sticks it in and unlocks it.  She shoves the door open and she and Sophie immediately step inside.

“You picked a bloody good night to finally join me on my nightly checkup of the school.” Sophie remarks with sarcasm dripping from her voice.

“I can’t control mother nature.” Glory answers with a wink. “Now let’s go and check on the safe first.  Let’s make sure the money is all there.”

“Good idea.”

Braddock leads the way, Sophie following closely behind, heading towards the office.  They walk past workout equipment, the ring, heavy bags, and other tools and resources used by the school.  As they get closer and closer to the office they begin to hear noises.  Immediately they stop.

“Did you hear that?” Glory asks.

“Absolutely.” Sophie motions to the office. “Sounds to me like it’s coming from your office.”

Braddock shudders to think what may await her in her office.  She thinks back to the first reported incident of theft and remembers how the police blamed Sophie.  This seemingly proves her innocence.  But then she thinks about how she blamed Melinda.  Glory hopes that this will prove Melinda’s innocence.  Glory wants to be wrong, she really does, but she realizes that when she left the house she forgot to check and make sure Melinda was still there.

Braddock and O’Brian steel themselves as they resume their walk, though quieter this time, towards the office.  As they get closer the noises grow louder, seeming to indicate that Sophie’s guess was right, that the noises were coming from the office.  In a few moments they reach the door and Glory grabs hold of the knob, turns it, and pushes it open.  They step inside and Braddock’s eyes grow wide as she spots her daughter, Melinda, barefoot, a black miniskirt, and then nothing but a lacey bra covering her top.

She is sitting on top of Clyde Sutter, who is wearing nothing but boxer shorts.

“Melinda!” Glory exclaims.  “What the hell is this?!”

“Mom!  I can explain!” Melinda scrambles to her feet.

“Go out into the main gym area.  We’ll talk later.” Glory glares at Melinda but Melinda nods and exits the office.  Sophie follows her to make sure Melinda is ok.  Braddock then turns to face Clyde who has also stood up. “Get your things and get the hell out of my school.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“The hell you didn’t!” She exclaims. “You took advantage of my daughter!”

“Everything we did was consensual.” Clyde smirks nastily.  This gets under Glory’s skin.  She wants to choke him out but she realizes it’s best to restrain herself for now.

“Last warning, Clyde.  Leave or I call the police.”

The look upon his face is ice cold; borderline sadistic.  Glory doesn’t flinch, though.  She’s faced down worse than this.  After a few tense moments Clyde chuckles nastily and then turns and exits the office.

Braddock exhales in a sigh of relief that this dangerous man has left.  Still, the problem isn’t over.  It’s only just begun as she realizes she now has to deal with her daughter.  Glory exits the office and finds Sophie standing with Melinda.  Braddock’s daughter now has a sweater on.  Glory approaches the two.

“I’ll be outside, Glory.” Sophie says as she turns and walks off.  Braddock watches Sophie until her friend is out of sight.  Then she turns her attention back to Melinda.

“Care to explain what the hell this was all about?”

“We were just fooling around.”

“That’s obvious.”  Braddock rolls her eyes. “How long have you been just fooling around behind my back?”

“You know I am eighteen; it’s none of your business who I date.”

“Quit giving me that eighteen year old crap!” Glory exclaims angrily. “I’m sick of that cop out!  How long have you been seeing Clyde?”

Melinda sighs. “A few months.”

“Bloody hell,” Glory rubs her forehead and temple out of frustration “it makes sense, then.  You really didn’t steal from my office.  It was Clyde.”

“What?!” Melinda exclaims.

“Yes, that’s how the wanker got access.”

“No!  He didn’t steal a thing!” Melinda pats herself on the chest. “It was me!”

“Don’t lie for him, Melinda.”

“I’m not lying for him!” She insists. “Clyde and I like to go out partying at night, but we need money.  You won’t give it to me, obviously.”

“So Clyde put you up to it, then?  Is that it?”

“Damn it, no!  It was all me!” Melinda is growing angrier but Glory doesn’t seem to care.

“I told you to quit lying for him!” Braddock reaches out and takes Melinda by her arm to drag her off but Melinda in a maneuver that would make the expert of experts proud, takes The British Bombshell down with a beautifully executed arm drag.  Luckily, Braddock landed not on the concrete floor but on a wrestling mat.  Still, the shock of what she did to her own mother stuns Melinda back to reality and she backs away with her hands over her mouth.

“Mom, I…” her voice trails off but she shakes her head as she finds her words “...I’m sorry!”

“It’s ok, I’ve taken worse.” Glory remarks as she pulls herself up. “At least you care whether or not you hurt people, unlike Clyde.”

“Clyde does care.” Melinda insists. “You just don’t understand him like I do.”

“You clearly don’t know the man.” Braddock says with a disappointed sigh. “But that’s a conversation for later.  What I want to know now is who the hell taught you that move?”

“Huh?” Melinda asks with a confused tone.

“That arm drag was performed brilliantly.  Hell, half of the students at this school can’t perform an arm drag nearly as clean as this one was.  So how’d you do it?”

“Um, I pay close attention to you, mom.” Melinda says uneasily. “I study you, I guess.” She shrugs her shoulders.  Glory doesn’t buy it.  The British Bombshell shakes her head.

“No, you don’t get that good by studying tape.  Someone trained you.  Who was it?”

Melinda stands there for a few tense moments, staring at her mother.  Finally she sighs and bows her head in shame.

“Matthew.”

Braddock narrows her brow.  She knows who Melinda means when she says Matthew.  It’s none other than professional wrestler Matthew Bowden, whose real name is Matthew Taylor, yet another good friend of Glory Braddock and yet another trainer here at the Braddock Wrestling School.  Unlike Sophie, Mark, and Glory, Matthew never graduated from Braddock Wrestling School.  Glenn kicked him out because Glenn didn’t believe Matthew took the business seriously, whereas Matthew believed Glenn took it too seriously.  Glenn was all about winning whereas Matthew was all about having fun and experiencing a thrill.  Matthew finished his training with someone who espoused a daredevil style.  Matthew Taylor continued to be a daredevil, both inside the ring and outside, pushing the envelope and taking huge risks just for the thrill of it.

Never did she think he would take the risk of betraying her.  Matthew Taylor had been the one individual who never betrayed Glory Braddock; until now.




==========
On Camera
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Sic Semper Tyrannis…

That’s my rallying cry; it has been for quite a long time now.  I’ve been saying that for so bloody long that hardly anyone remembers what the hell it means.  I can tell you this, it’s on the seal of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  It’s battle cry that both heroes and villains have used throughout history.  Still, what does it mean?  Literally it means four simple words…

...thus always to tyrants.

I’m not going to take credit for inventing that rallying cry.  But that phrase does illustrate just who I am, what I do, and what I am all about.

Who am I?  My name is Glory Braddock.  I am The British Bombshell.  Some say I am The Best in the World.  And I cannot stand to see tin pot tyrants throwing their weight around and being a bully just because they think that they can get away with it.

Syren feels that she can and should be at the top of the mountain in SCW just because she’s Syren.  Well I hate to break it to you but it doesn’t matter if your name is Jesus Bloody Christ, you have to EARN your way in this industry.  So don’t give me any crap about who you are and what you’ve done in this business.  Once I win Taking Hold of the Flame I’m coming for the champion and if that person happens to be you then I’ll choke your happy ass out just as quickly as I’d choke out a curtain jerker.

Sienna Swann thinks that just because of her looks that she can and should be the best.  Looks only get you so far, mate.  And it sure as hell doesn’t make you a champion of the people.  What you’ve made yourself into is little more than Michael Corleone leading a mafia gang in the next Godfather film.  That’s what you and The Beauty Factory are; you’ve been reduced to a silly little television trope.  And if I have to topple you after I win Taking Hold of the Flame, I will, because your gang does not intimidate me.

That’s what I’m here to do with Taking Hold of the Flame.  I’m here to bring an end to the tyranny that has been running rampant in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  Ending tyranny is never easy.  Just look at history.

How long did Hitler have to destroy the lives of anyone and everyone he came in contact with before his cruel tyranny came to an end?

How long was Eastern Europe locked under the subjugation of the Soviet Union?

Ending tyranny requires a great struggle and a great risk.  I’m willing to put myself at risk and I am willing to take part in that great struggle if it means ending the tyranny and subjugation that SCW is currently under.  And that struggle that I have to endure goes by one name…

...Taking Hold of the Flame.

It won’t be easy and I understand that.  Those tyrants will send their operatives out to stop me.  I’ll no doubt encounter them in the rumble itself.  There are also those who want to win the match for their own selfish purposes.

Who can blame them?  The winner advances to the main event of Rise To Greatness to compete for the SCW World Championship.  Who wouldn’t want that?  Unfortunately for me to end the tyranny, I have to end their dreams.  I have to win Taking Hold of the Flame.  I cannot be stopped.

Plus there are still others who are deluded into thinking they are the true heroes of the story.  This is not unusual.  Once again, look back at history.  John  Wilkes Booth shouted “Sic Semper Tyrannis” when he shot and killed President Abraham Lincoln.  Booth was deluded into thinking he was doing right when in reality he was doing the work of the devil.

Giovanni Aries and his Wonderland ingrates believe that they are fighting a holy war against some nonexistent Lizard Kingdom.  They have been spreading their brand of chaos throughout SCW, making them just as big a threat, just as much a tyranny, as the other two brassers I mentioned.

Wonderland has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are not about freedom as they claim but instead they are about control.  They want to control lives or ruin lives through their own unique brand of chaos.  Now it appears as though they’ve managed rope in poor Konrad.

Konrad, I hope you haven’t started to drink their kool-aid, because that blue kool-aid will kill you, mate.  But know that I will not suffer the Wonderland to continue spreading chaos throughout SCW.  It isn’t freedom, it damn sure isn’t right, it’s just another form of tyranny.  And I also understand that you are in the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal.  I sure do hope and pray that we can treat this as just two professional athletes who want the same prize, and that is victory and to main event Rise To Greatness.

But if you truly have thrown your lot in with the likes of Aries and Angel, if you have joined up with the Wonderland, then take my word for it Konrad, and you can take this one to the bloody bank: I will end you well before their damn blue kool-aid can end you.  Because I have tried and tried to get through to you, I have done my damndest to show you how tyrannical they are and how they are trying to control you and if you still cannot see it…

...well I just give up.  I give up because as I said, I cannot suffer tyrants like The Wonderland to continue their reign of terror.  I will not suffer them or The Beauty Factory or Syren and her lot to continue to run roughshod over this great company.

Why do I care so much?  Because I have to.  My father trained me and raised me with the belief that the fighting skills he taught me, the skills he gifted me with, were not to be used selfishly.  A wrestler is, him or herself, his or her own greatest weapon; use what you know wisely.  I have always interpreted that as meaning I have an obligation to the wrestling world at large, to give back.

I intend to give back to SCW by bringing down the tyrants who stand at the door, threatening its very destruction.

To the Wonderland and anyone who dares follow its leadership, to The Beauty Factory and its self-absorbed leader, to that egomaniac Syren, and to anyone else who dares try to stop me, know that you cannot stop me.  Know that I will win Taking Hold of the Flame.  Know that I am going to the main event of Rise To Greatness.  Know these three words, because these words will be the end of you…

...Sic Semper Tyrannis.


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