Supbspace Highway : The Interviews

[Masao Akiyama]

A Gym Somewhere, Tennessee.

A quick look at a phone and a little sigh as he wiped at his chin, Kate and Alex were spending some time with the McMicheals, a weird thought to Devlin was that he could now count a guy like Night Hawk in his circle of friends, also the knowledge that Dean –would- come knocking at some point hung over their head like rain, an oncoming storm that they had already taken steps against.

Strike first, strike fast, strike hard, right?

He spied the other form pacing up and down, worry lighting her face, concern, she was still wearing a shirt that had “Mad as Hell” written on the front, he took a few moments as he took in the form of Vivienne , don’t help…Don’t be the hero…

You know what she’s going through, where’s the Irish one?

Anger built up inside him briefly as he quickly saw the flashes imagination already pulling up images he really wouldn’t describe he was even a few steps past her, he could walk by and she’d never notice, never see.

She needs help.

Fuck you, nobody gave me help when I needed it, nobody stopped by and said have a hand it’s we me against the world.

Then be as good as you say you are.

Dammit, it was like he hadn’t moved an inch even as he dropped his bag and Vivienne jumped out of her zone of worry.

“There’s my girl! What’d I tell you?! Do something spectacular and you did not disappoint now you have a shot at the big time!”

She wore the pain like make up on her face even as the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes glancing back outside even as he

responded with a vaguely distracted tone the usual happiness not quite lilting from her voice.

“Hey, yeah Devlin…Hi...”

She was still Pacing and a hand reached out to lie on her forearm and that single touch gets her attention as she about jumped out of her skin again and Devlin said softly, firmly.

“You already know where she is, and that worries you?”

There was a long silence as they looked at each other and the Vivi couldn’t really contain emotions as she looked at him and nodded tears rolling down her cheek as Devlin sighed and moved Vivi to one side kicking his bag with her and saying softly urgently.

“Hey, Hey…Look at me...Vivienne”

She was still tearing up when Delvin clapped his hands loud which snapped her attention to him and was met by Devlin’s face as he said.

“Look. At. Me and listen; this….”

He gestures over her and frowns.

“This is what they want; this is how they get you. They crawl inside your head trample on those sacred things you said you’d keep safe, that you’d protect? They turn that against you they plague your nightmares, they twist your dreams and they leave you feeling hollow, useless right?”

Vivi was now just nodding as Devlin took both her hand and held them up to just under his chin his won eyes seeming to just burrow in as he dropped wisdom.

“You know what you do with that? You know what you do with that feeling?"

He stood up and helped her up slowly even as he wiped her tears away and he spoke with a smirk.

“Look in a mirror the answer is right there”

Vivi looked confused as Devlin spun her around to look at a mirror she’d been leant on and gestured to three words laid in plain sight.

MAD
AS
HELL

He watched her expression even as she went form teary, he watched the realisation hit her like a freight train and determination settle into her eyes like a fire had been ignited behind her like this simple gesture had ticked a box that hand her fists clenching as Devlin smiled brightly.

“There she is…Now, are we going to train, or are we going to go look for her?”

Viv hadn’t expected that question by the look on her face as Devlin picked up his bag.

“Look for her it is.”

Vivi started to follow Devlin for his car as she blinks brain trying to catch up with Devlin’s logic even as he dumped his bag in the trunk.

“How are we going to?”

Devlin turned with a chuckle and smiles.

“Think like them of course, phone please.”

Vivienne looked confused even as she pulled her phone from the bag and passed it to him and he looked at the picture that had been sent, because, he knew there’d be a picture.

How better to twist the knife?

Ciara was on a roof top, chained to a deck chair and the ever so wonderful #Hideandseek on the text. Again a Spoofed number probably a burner phone.

This wasn’t Dean’s handiwork, all the clues had been left in the open, and Devlin smirked and spoke to Viv as he started to open the door.

“Do me a favour and do a Search for Tennessee rooftop shots on Google images see if you can find anything that matches what’s on the phone…Can’t be that many out here within good driving time."

Vivienne blinked.

“What then?”

Devlin chuckles

“We check all of them.”

Into the car they went, and off they go!

To be continued?

Devlin rises from underneath dressed in that black suit with a red tie smiling like the Devil himself as he looks into the camera.

“Just when you think it wasn’t possible. It happens”

Footage of Bob tapping to the VK Clutch as we then cut back to Devlin.

“I did it, I mean I actually did it, and now we travel into one of the most interesting matches to live under the IWF Banner the Extinction Event."

A saccharine smile forms

"Its simple really two teams’ five members if you pin or tap? You win then your ass is out of there win or lose and this continues until nobody is left, the kicker as you well know is if you’re a champion and you lose? Your belt goes with you this is a literal landscape changer and here I am.”

Devlin sighed just a bit and rubbed his nose before he gestures with arms either side of himself as his team mates become visible like some sort of Hologram shine, Spike Kane, Ryan Shane, Shae and Vivienne respectively as Devlin smiles.

“Look at us, united in the cause of taking the belt an some of us even have an eye on which one, some of us are likely a little more mercenary but there comes the big question of can we work as a team? Can we pill together to make it work in the moments that count and that make the difference between shipping up and wearing gold? Or Shipping out shaking your head?”

Delvin smiles again before nodding his head.

“Two of my team members don’t even like me; I mean Devlin Raine, Spike Kane and Ryan Shane on the same team? Big ask, But I can work with Spike, believe it or not I can look him in the eye and I can and will help him if his hand reaches for mine, not because I’m better but because it’s what needs doing."

Devli rubs his handstogtehr even as he paces abckwards and forwards whilst talking.

"There’s no-glory hogging in these situations, no pointing and laughing. Every man or woman down is a man or woman less and seeing a guy or gilr lift a belt in victory on your team before they walk away will make a difference to your own personal effort."

He smiles sincerly tone chnageing to a softer one.

"So I’m going to ask all of my team mates, once just the once to Put some effort in, I’m never going to assume you won’t But We all want this for our own reasons don’t we? So …Let’s go, right? Individually? Let’s talk.”

Everyone else shimmers out of sight as Devlin moves to sit down opposite the shimmering hologram version of Spike Kane, smiling like he was a latter day David Frost and sitting in the traditional interview positions.

“Spike Kane, We’ve had a very small but storied history, some people would never forgive you for what you’ve done, and for me You represent very much an era I’m just not a part of, a place I’ve never Been, but I think in some ways we understand each other, we understand what it mean to be told 'you can’t' because our reaction to that seems to be very similar.”

Devlin chuckles.

“When I won the Joker in the Pack, I had it there (i)in my hand(i) I could have literally chosen –anyone- But I Chose you I chose the Man of Steel belt , and the match right before that? That pretty much defined us much like me and Dean has defined each other in a way… But I will work with you Spike because despite everything? I’ve come to respect you.”

Devlin smirks a bit.

“But we gotta talk to Shane next right Spike?”

The Hologram shifts easily to Ryan Shane and a small smirk crosses Devlin’s features.

“Ryan Shane, I mean I won’t lie and say this is hard, You beat me, go to the Main event of Heir to the Throne and then squeak out a loss against Andrew Jacobsen, and after some fanfare here you are and I’m pretty sure the feeling angst me is mutual after all I went after the Belt you had to drop, the belt you never lost, but also. Never came for again. Why?”

Devlin leaned forwards.

“I think you’re a proud man and I think you’ll do whatever it takes to win, I think your driven , focused and ready to rock but I also think Laura Howlett is Poison and needs to be avoided. But you walk your path man, walk your path. I hope it works out.”

Another wave and there Is Vivienne and Devlin’s smile grows.

“There she is! Vivienne Rodgers! Man are you a surprise! Nobody would have put their money on you going into that for way, but you showed them didn’t you?"

A small chuckle the tone changign to one of slight pride.

“You showed them...”

He shook his head.

“Anyway, Good luck hon,Hell for leather and no matter what happens? Give every inch of yourself to this, and you’ll feel like you’ve won. Ok? Go do something spectacular”

Devlin nods and waves again Shae appears and Devlin smiles again.

“Shae, honey welcome to the family ,  I know who you have your sights set on , heck to not knwo would to be blind and deaf.”

Another chuckle.

“Go get ‘m tiger, I got faith… let’s show the Pack what’s what eh Ladies?”

Devlin nods and waves his hand again even as Cable Arcane suddenly appears and Devlin looks around a bit surprised.

“Cable? Oh right you had to get involved, didn’t you? I mean this thing you have with Laura isn’t going to compromise you? At all? I mean it’s not that I don’t trust you Cable but well...”

Devlin shrugs a bit

“Just call it down the middle, ok? That’s all I ask. “

Devlin turns somewhat to face the camera with a broad grin before Jayson Matthews appears as a hologram opposite Devlin and he looks at the seat opposite and then into the camera with a rub of his face.

“I guess we’re doing this.”

The Hologram simply brings up a flickering animated Banana into shot which makes Devlin Smile.

“Ok Jayson I can’t lie, I like you, I like your run with this Invictus title and of all the people I want to face the least in this match it’s you, because you’re just one of those genuinely nice people and kicking your ass feels a bit like kicking a puppy you know? You just feel bad..”

Devlin pauses and looks at the camera and says sternly.

“For the record, no puppy kicking has actually taken place, it’s a metaphor kids, and don’t be that guy.”

Devlin looks back to Jayson.

“But this business Jayson, this business has a habit of eating up good people, and at some point we are going to stand opposite each other in that ring. It feels like an inevitability so we’ll do what we always do Jayson we will lay it all out on the line, right there in front of the crowd and that will be that…right? We cool with that? Because I am. No matter how bad it feels Jayson this is what we do.”

Maxine replaces Jayson and Devlin jumps playfully as he stands and so does the hologram with a softly muttered.

“Alright, here we go...”

He stands as tall as he can perfectly highlighting the fact Max is almost as tall as she is and he spoke firmly.

“I don’t know what your problem is, I really don’t Maxine. You came into this company with a chip only your shoulder and with the stated objective to hurt people. You Maxine are bad for our business, you are despite being dominant one of the most disrespectful , ignorant bull headed women I’ve ever had the misfortune to listen to and I hope, I pray that when a three lands the mat or there's a tap that you have had your ass well and truly handed to you.”

Maxine’s hologram smirks a bit much like the woman would before Dean appears, man of steel belt on his shoulder doing his celebration dance, Dev’s face stiffens and then Devlin chuckles as he sits back down.

“And there he is, this is you, that is Dean. You and your Mistress? Fire? Muse? Goddess? You’ve made it clear you two aren’t doing what everyone says you are so I have to wonder what exactly it is Rowan brings to your world that you didn’t have before?”

Devlin taps his lips as he looks at Dean.

“What drives you to single me out as hard as you do, did I get too close to the bone, did I in spite of everything be the first one other than her to truly understand, because if so? I know what you’re thinking right now, I know you saw my name on that four way and you wanted me to win it."

Devlin points at dean with a slightly mocking tone.

"You got on your knees and prayed to the abyss or whatever it is that I would win so that you could have the pleasure of picking at me again. Because you like fighting me Dean, no! Better than that! You love fighting me because we’re so damn similar.”

Devlin nods with a sly grin.

“So we’ll fight, won’t we Dean? I mean I know you, I know you every well You’ll want to beat me you have to beat me, beating anyone else won’t satisfy you won’t fill that little hole that I’ve managed to gnaw in you that only I can fill, and right about now you’re realising that I’ve addressed you square in the middle of this and you are making that ‘no’ face"

Devlin smiles broadly.

“Because if you can fight around, then so can I! If you happen to be the one I beat? So. Be. It.”

Devlin smiles more and waves to Dean.

“Ta Ta”

Rowan Appears and Devlin nods.

“Here she is ladies and gentlemen! The Wolf of the Abyss, the queen! The boss-lady. The architect of our pain! Man I have been subtly side swiping at you for a while now haven’t I? And this opportunity to see you up close and personal man I almost wish I could give you a dose of the No Fate and see how a Demon goes down because adding demon slayer to my ever expanding list would be oh so sweet!”

Devlin takes a breath and sighs.

“But it’s not going to happen is it Rowan? Not unless I magically change gender or Give Shae and Viv Permission to Use the No Fate, proven slayer of gods.”

Devlin turns to the camera and gives thumbs up as a quick subtitle appears.

Please note the usage of the No Fate is only allowed in circumstances of Demon slaying, Destiny dealing or ect. Please see Devlin Raine for more information.

Devlin turns back to Rowan.

“Truth is Rowan I don’t know what tragedy befell you, or who you were before you became who you are, I don’t know why you feel the need , the desire to take the broken, forgotten and abandoned in and raise them as monsters, I don’t know why it is you feel the dark must rise as it does."

The fire rises in Devlin's voice as he stares at her.

"But I’m not going to just stand idly by and give up my lights…My hopes and my dreams so that you can shackle my destiny under your heel."

He leans into the camera.

"So even if costs me everything I will fight everything you people throw at me, because how else could I look anyone in the eye and ask them to do the same?"

Devlin nods and waves Rowan away.

“One last Guest.”

He chuckles and up ops Andrew Jacobsen.

“The North Star, Unbreakable, the leading light.”

Devlin shook his head.

“The source of his own demise.”

Devlin smiles and shakes his head and smiles looking to the camera.

“Let’s not kid ourselves here, I know what I want, we all do, everybody here wants the chance to be called the best, and you earned it man. You earned every step, every stripe and you are fighting every battle. But I can see it it’s wearing on you the same way it wears on everyone, you get more confidant, cockier you jump into challenges just to prove you are what you say you are, take Dean, for example."

A snap of his fingers an a point with a slight smirk.

"You had every right to say no but your ego just had to take it and sooner or later you’ll shoot for that hoop…And you’ll miss.”

Devlin smiles and look back to the man sat opposite him.

“Reminds me of somebody I know."

Return of the smirk leaning back with a mildly innocent look

"Thing is Jacobsen, you and I differ in very different ways You Beat Spike, sure but I didn’t have to resort to calling out his wife to be to do it. You think I’m gonna let that one slide? You must not know me very well Andrew.”

Devlin shakes his head.

“In all honesty man I know you’re going to bring it, just like everyone on your team. I know this because I would do the exact same thing in your position. But let’s face man your shine is starting to come off. So you need a reminder, an ego check. You got so use to fighting monsters and gods and demons you forgot what it is a hero looks like.”

Devlin grins just a bit more.

“Allow me to remind you. And may the fittest of us survive.”

Devlin makes a throat cut gesture and everything goes black.