(Fight Grid intro plays.)
[SCREENBAR: POST-VOLTAGE; AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND]
(The camera opens up as it shows the backstage area of the Spark Arena, after Sunday Night Voltage has concluded its show for the weekend, and everyone is packing up and getting ready to leave. A door is seen swinging open to a nearby locker room, and out struts Ashlynn Quinn, who has a perturbed expression on her face as she takes a look around, New Breed Title over her shoulder, and luggage in hand. As she sees that the coast is clear, she briskly begins to walk down the hall, looking to leave the arena before anyone, or more like a specific someone, can notice. That doesn’t last very long though…)
???: Hey, Ashlynn!
(Ashlynn stops in her tracks, immediately recognizing the voice, and she immediately turns in the direction with wide eyes. It goes on to show Kai Rabeaux as he makes his way over to her. He has a calm expression on his face, as he briefly washes over with confusion seeing Ashlynn in such a hurry, but regardless, he continues to speak.)
Kai Rabeaux: I’ve been looking all over for you. Everything alright?
Ashlynn Quinn: Well, other than the fact I’m being forced to defend my title against two Uggos and SOMEONE is lying to me… Just fine. 😁
(Ashlynn then turns and quickly tries to leave, but Kai, raising an eyebrow once more, quickly steps in front of her.)
Kai Rabeaux: You’re acting like I’ve just stabbed you in the back. Ashlynn, what’s going on? Why are you running away from me like this?
(Ashlynn looks at him, and even the mere sight causes her to clutch the New Breed Title tighter, which is something that Kai notices, but regardless, lets her speak as she rolls her eyes.)
Ashlynn Quinn: Oh, puh-lease, like you don’t already know! Don’t play dumb, Kai. You know what I did tonight? I had a VERY enlightening chat with your Team Captain, Drake Armstrong, earlier. And I thought that he was helping you out, being a wingman and trying to sweet-talk me into taking our relationship to the next level, but instead, he told me the TRUTH! He told me everything that I needed to hear, more importantly, about how you’re just using me. That’s the ONLY reason you’ve been hanging around, hyping me up, acting like you care… because you want to get close to MY Championship, MY spotlight, MY moment.
(As soon as Kai hears this, he can’t help but snort as he thinks about what the ever-so manipulative Drake Armstrong could’ve told her. He shakes his head in befuddlement before responding to her.)
Kai Rabeaux: You can’t be serious… You actually believed him?
Ashlynn Quinn: Uh, YEAH, Kai, I did! Hello?! Do you think I’m stupid?! Drake literally spelled it out for me. He told me you’ve been hanging around me JUST to get close to my title. And the more I think about it, you weren’t even slick about it, babe! Always hyping me up, calling me the future, but in reality, all you cared about was whether or not I would let you use my moment to prop up your cute little contract you have.
(Ashlynn continues to clutch her title, as if Kai could magically cash it in right now, and is doing everything that she can to protect it from him. Meanwhile, the only thing that the 24/7 Contract Holder can really do is blink at her.)
Kai Rabeaux: So because Drake Armstrong whispered poison in your ear, suddenly, everything that I’ve said, everything that I’ve done, is all just some calculated ploy? Ashlynn, you’re smarter than that, think. That man doesn’t care about you; in fact, he doesn’t even care about me. His sole interest is control. Control of me, control of our Wargames team, control of everything. What he did when he talked to you was see an opening, and you ended up walking right into it.
Ashlynn Quinn: “aShlYnN, ThInK!” I am thinking, Kai! And what I see is something that I should’ve seen a long time ago, and that’s a guy who’s been acting all Prince Charming because he thinks it gets him a shortcut to my spotlight. Which, um, I don’t know if you knew, I don’t SHARE my spotlight! Like, sorry, honey, but I don’t think I want anything to do with you right now. Not when I’ve got Cosmo Goldworthy and Candice Blair breathing down my neck and plotting to rob me at Territorial Invasion. Why would I let you be the third snake in the garden?
(Ashlynn shakes her head in frustration before trying to leave again, but Kai, looking for one last chance, quickly steps in front of her a second time.)
Kai Rabeaux: You can’t be serious. Out of everyone on this brand, do you think I need to leech off you? Ashlynn, I don’t chase the New Breed Championship. I don’t chase scraps when I already hold the keys to the kingdom in my hands. I walk into Wargames not as some hanger-on, but as the man who will decide the fate of Voltage. Do you really believe I’d lower myself to use you when the entire world is already in front of me?
(Ashlynn hesitates for a moment, biting her lip, clearly conflicted, but her stubbornness flares back up as she completely snaps at him.)
Ashlynn Quinn: You can try and convince me all you want, but Drake was making perfect sense to me! And the fact that you’re even TRYING to flip this on me is giving major red flags. So like… maybe you don’t need me, fine, but maybe I don’t need YOU either. Bye, Kai.
(Ashlynn ultimately shoves past Kai, dragging her luggage and her New Breed Championship as she makes her way out of the scene. The camera completely focuses on Kai, who has his hands on his hips, while he doesn’t put up much of a fight, watching her leave. His jaw tightens slightly before exhaling, as he turns and makes his way out of the scene. It’s the very last shot seen before the camera begins to fade out.)
(Fight Grid logo buzzes.)
