Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jed got into the ring. He raised the microphone to his lips.

"That's cool and all. But here the thing. You, Mike Landry...I never hated you. Even during our battles, or future battles. I don't hate you. I mean you were doing what wrestlers should do. You pushed the envelope and passed it. I was listen to something you said. " I changed myself into pure evil. I changed myself in order to force everyone else to step up and find the will to stand up to people like me."

The crowd gave a mixed reaction to what Jed was saying.

"You see. I don't hate you. That is something I wanted to do, something I tried to do. Sadly only three or four people were able to do so, but you. You were able to get most of the wrestlers in the back and the wrestler that have come out here and hurt you. You've made them all step up their own game..So. When I say this, I don't care what the people think or the wrestlers, but I don't hate you. I respect you."

The crowd gave yet another mixed reaction.

"I respect you because hey you've done what said you would. A Man of honor. Even if you were to, let say, go back on your word, right now.. I'd still respect you. That's why I wanted to wrestle against you in our matches a few years ago... You said you are going to be there.You were there. You said your weren't going to back down. You didn't. You said you were going to become the best, you did. So if you want to "Own up" I want you to do something that neither of us have done in a long, long time. "

Jed extended his hand for a hand shake. The crowd kept with the mixed reaction.

((Next? I know there are a few more left before my big three))

"The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can't control it…”

The entrance had barely had time enough to get out the opening riff and two lines of lyrics of the theme for Phoenixfire before the track began to skip. It was a simple audio error on the part of the production crew from all appearances. What came next, however, planted the seed of doubt in any mind willing to allow it. All background music had been stripped to leave the vocals echoing throughout the arena. If whoever had done this intended to have an effect by doing such, they'd get their wish.

“I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster”

Phoenixfire had been watching the spectacle from a television set in the back and could not have been more in awe at what a snake Landry appeared to be. It had taken all of her strength not to vomit because such a display from Landry was a repulsive lie. Landry had milked her emotions when he suckered her into become his protege and it had led, through an amazing chain of events, to her rape then death by drowning in a frigid river. Phoenixfire had resurrected but the deed had been done and it was difficult to fathom forgiving this man.

Against her better instincts, Phoenixfire decided to depart from her place backstage where she'd sheltered herself up until that point in the evening. She'd laid low after her resurrection and none had seen her since her debut. Phoenixfire said a quick prayer before she let her hands grace the thick curtain, parting it and stepping out into the glaring light of the stage. She'd shorn her bright red locks to where they fell just below her jaw in the days since her resurrection and had come in a simple outfit as compared to her usual ring attire. Even her image was in question after being given a second chance to live because of the questions that flooded her mind. Those questions flooded her mind now as she stood facing the ring where the man who'd brought her to this uncertain precipice in her life stood with another man he had invited made amends. From where Phoenixfire stood, the same could not be promised for what was to come.

Brody watched Jed and Pyro leave, knowing it was his turn next. He had decided on what he was going to do in the back, but when Pheonixfire showed up, his idea shifted to something different. Pushing himself from the barricade with his free hand, he stepped towards the ring and slid in. Getting to his feet, he looked over the mess of a man that stood before him, and he understood what he was going to say.

"I'll be straight with you Mike. When I heard about this, I had every intention of coming out here and beating the hell out of you. Not just for what you've done to me, but for what I've seen you do to others. What you've done over the past few years has disgusted me as an entertainer, a fighter, and as a man. And after all of that, you expect me to believe that one session of 'retribution' would cleanse you of what you've done?!"

Brody stopped for a moment to calm himself down. It was a strange feeling. Landry hadn't done anything really bad to him. He caused him a few losses and a title, but that didn't matter much to him. The fact that he was getting so angry for things that he had nothing to do with annoyed Brody to no end.

"But something changed my mind. Seeing you like this, injured and near broken, shows me that you're at least somewhat sorry for what you've done. You're willing to repent by throwing yourself to the wolves you've antagonized for so long. To me, that's enough proof that you've turned your leaf. Let me be clear though: If this turns out to be some sort of ploy, I will make your life a living hell. I won't let myself beat an injured man, but when your healed, I'll be watching. I want to believe that your a better man now. Prove it to me."

Satisfied, Brody stretched his free hand to Landry, giving him the benefit of the doubt and showing he was willing to put things behind him.

Landry had no qualms looking Brody straight in the eye and shaking his hand, saying to him without a microphone.

"I promise. Champ."

Landry gave Brody a respectful nod before turning his attention to Pheonixfire.

Landry nodded when she commented on the burn. He felt it every day, and knew she did as well. Mike grabbed a microphone, he had something to say before he took his punishment.

"Phoenixfire...Athena...Of anyone here tonight, I want to apologize to you most of all. What I did to you...what I did to you was inexcusable and completely unforgivable. I did things that no man should ever have the ability to repent for. I just want you to know...when I did what I did...it wasn't the real me. I became the man I was portraying, and for some reason he was able to take over...I was incabable of stopping myself, in as a result I failed to stop myself from doing the unthinkable. When it was over, it was all the convincing I needed to finish this experiment and finally reveal my plan to the world."

Mike took a deep breath before continueing. He was clearly infuriated with his actions.

"Phoenixfire. That man is dead. Never to return to this world. I know nothing I can say will ever be enough for oyu to fully forgive me, in fact I don't blame you if you think that every word out of my mouth was a lie, i'd think the same thing if I were you. I just want you to find some measure of retribution, anything I can do to make it even the tiniest iota better. And so, I open myself for you to attack me in any method you feel appropriate."

Mike dropped his mic and stood before Pheonixfire, arms spread and completely defenseless, awaiting his punishment.

Landry stood perfectly still. He offered no response, no retort. He simply shifted his gaze to Shanahan for a few moments, staring at him intently before returning his gaze to Phoenixfire, waiting for one of them to carry out his sentence.