Valora: Chapter 5, The Champ is here

Closing moments of the Title match.

Valora leapt into the air and smashed the cybernetic eye. Then she felt it. The eye unleashed an electrical discharge and Valora felt every nerve in her body go on fire, then she felt herself flying through the air and landing with a hard thud on the ground. The last thought she had before she briefly lost consciousness?

Fuck...I think I just came…

Valora snapped back to consciousness as two members of antifa pulled her to her feet, obviously concerned for her. Valora nodded and muttered a thank you before she went back. Then came the 3 count. Valora stood up, the adrenaline and the rush of victory allowing her to forget her injuries for the moment. She gave Vastrix the finger and while she couldn’t be heard, anyone watching her would pick up her lips forming the final words she said to Vastrix as ‘You sold out.’

Valora then ran over to her crowd and felt herself lifted up into the air and body surfing. Born and raised in California, this celebration came naturally to Valora and she loved it… She was once again more than merely a champion. She was a champion of her people.

Only this time ‘her people’ were more than just Mexicans. She was the leader of a revolution now. A modern day freedom fighter… The People’s Champion…

And Valora would have it no other way….

Los Angeles, California:

Valora slides out of her room and spins around, dancing and singing along to the song being pumped into her ears through her earphones connected to her smartphone.

Valora Singing “Ain’t no one like me! I’m a legend!”

Valora continues making her way through the hallway, dancing and singing along to ‘A King is born’ by Aloe Blacc, as part of her dancing, she adds in some shadow boxing, throwing punches at the air. Valora ends her little routine, jumping into the air and landing as she throws a big punch.

No matter how many times I find myself standing on the mountaintop.. It always feels the same. The rush.. It never gets old. Especially now.. This championship is more than just another title. This belt it gives hope to people. The Fascists just got knocked on their asses… and this is just the start

Valora’s thoughts are interrupted by the sound of slow clapping. She spins around to find Abbigail standing there aiming her smartphone at Valora. Abbigail laughs. “OH. MY. GOD! This is sooo goin on MeTube!”

Valora narrows her eyes. “Do it.. And they won’t find your body, chica.” Abbigail laughs. “Come on! This is gold! It can’t hurt to let people see you as… you know… human…”

Valora thought about this for a second and her response was cut off by her phone ringing. She reached into her pocket and took the phone out, answering. “Where you at, Samantha? You’re missing the impromptu celebrations here at Casa de Salinas.” Valora nodded as she listened. Her face darkened as she listened to the conversation and sighed, ending the call, looking at Abbigail. “Let’s go and get training.”

A short while later, Valora and Abbigail are in the ring at Valora’s gym. Samantha is there as well looking up from her trusty laptop. Valora and Abbigail finish their training session and make their way to Samantha. Valora nods. “So? What’s the news?” Samantha shrugs. “I talked with Elitstos. He and Mudcock seem to want to try and work with you. Elitistos said he recruited you because of your track record as champion and helping carry feds. They are going to schedule a West Coast tour. I believe Los Angeles will be one of the locales.”

Valora raises an eyebrow. “I...I finally get to compete in front of my hometown? I can count on one damn hand how many times I’ve fought in L.A. And the rest of the West Coast? That’s pretty fuckin’ sweet.” Abbigail nods. “It’ll be nice to not be boo’ed when we step out there.” Valora laughs. “Kid...I’ve spent half my fuckin’ career bein’ boo’ed. Granted, most of the time, that was the reaction I was going for but… you wanna be a pro fighter? Get used to being hated by the crowd. At some point in your career, the crowd will wanna see you get beat. Hell, they might fuckin’ hate you.” She glances over at Samantha. “So what do they need me to do for the next show?” Samantha clears her throat a bit and nods. “Interview. At the show there will be a segment where you will be presented with the Franchise Championship belt. Then you have a 6 man tag. You, Takuma Sato and Dwight Couch vs. Vastrix, Kronin and Vendredi.”

Valora thinks for a few moments and nods. “Well, that’s an easy win.” Abbigail chimes in. “How do you figure?” Valora smirks. “Vastrix, Kronin and Vendredi have nothing in common. Not their fighting styles and nothing personal. They have literally no incentive to work together as a team. Takuma Sato and I have something in common. We’re both Americans. Both born and raised in this country and now hated because we’re not white. Takuma Sato and I also know what its like to have nothing. Dwight Couch… well he’s from Kentucky. Same state that produced my idol.” Abbigail raises an eyebrow and Valora smirks. “Muhammed Ali. Remember, the very first fighting style I learned was boxing. I looked at Muhammed Ali. How he ran his mouth. How he fought.. I decided that was who I wanted to be and… my career has run a course that I hope someone someday will compare to him. Beyond that, Dwight Couch and I respect each other. We’re both pro fighters. We’ve fought each other… so yeah, I think him, me and Sato can work together easier than Kronin, Vastrix and Vendredi will be able to.” Samantha nods and interrupts for a brief moment. “Interview time. Rose Johnston should be here soon.”

A short while later, the cameras go on and Rose Johnston and Valora are sitting there. Valora is checking her onefootball soccer app on her smartphone and rolls her eyes. “How fuckin’ hard is it to score a god damned goal! Put the fuckin’ ball in the net!” Rose Johnston clears her throat and Valora looks up and mouths ‘shit’ realizing the cameras are rolling and tucks her phone away. “Sorry…”

Rose smiles and nods. “Valora Salinas. You’re here as the first ever Franchise Champion of UOW. Yet another title to your collection. How does it feel to be here and do you have any words for Vastrix?”

Valora smirks and shakes her head. “I wish I could say I was surprised he sold out but that’d be bullshit.” Valora narrows her eyes and looks into the cameras. “Takuma Sato, Vendredi, Kronin and myself were all physically attacked by racist fans who are too fuckin’ stupid to realize that Sato and I were both fuckin’ born in this country. UOW has a choice. They either guarantee the safety and security of all wrestlers… or I’ll be working with antifa to ensure that wrestlers are protected. Vastrix… you decided to stand with those fools, idiots and racists.. So if you think the ass kicking I handed out to you at the wall was bad.. Wait til you see the beating Sato and I are going to dish out now that you don’t have that fuckin’ cyber eye to cheat with. But that’s your whole fuckin’ life in a nutshell isn’t it, Vas? Such a fucking disappointment to daddy you must be. Failed business leader. Can’t get a woman to pay attention to you unless you use your money to compensate for the fact that you have no talents, no personality and one can only assume from your nickname that your compensating for lack of ability to perform in bed as well. Well, I hope you’re fucking happy of who you sold out to because me, Dwight Couch and Takuma Sato… we still have our integrity. And I’d like to remind you that your ‘partners’ were also on the wrong side of your new friends so… I wonder just how much you can trust them. Food for thought, pendejo.”

Rose Johnston raises an eyebrow and nods. “So… not a fan of Vastrix.. Obviously a rivalry in the making there. What about the other two opponents?” Valora laughs a bit. “Kronin and I have fought each other in every continent on Earth it seems like… Except Australia and Antarctica. I imagine he won’t be happy with his assignment this week but he’ll work with it because he’s a pro. If it were he and Vendredi, I’d be worried. Those two could probably form an effective partnership, both are quality fighters… unfortunately for them, they have to carry Vastrix.”

Rose Johnston nods. “And the big question… a champ has a lot of influence… if you were given the choice, who would you pick for your first title defense?” Valora leans back in her seat and thinks for a few seconds. “Well Dwight Couch would be on the list. He and I had a great match. Kronin, he missed the tournament so he and Vendredi would definitely be contenders. But right now, I’d lean slightly towards Takuma Sato. Vastrix beat him by cheating. But my thoughts are irrelevant. Ultimately, it’s up to the guys upstairs to figure out who my first challenger will be and there are new additions to the roster who I’m sure will want a say in trying to get the title off my waist.”

Rose Johnston makes some notes and looks at Valora. “Knowing the mentality pushed on Mox news, who do you anticipate that faction pushing as your next challenger?” Valora shrugs. :Not going to speculate. But the bench does seem to be getting a bit thin… really… doesn’t matter to me who they bring in next.”

Rose nodded as she listened intently to what Valora said, She glanced at her notes and then decided to go for it. “You’ve already mentioned the racism on display at the last event. If it doesn’t change, how can you justify coming out and performing every week? Wouldn’t the safe thing be to retire? Call it a career, ride off into the sunset?”

Valora smirks. “I dunno if you’ve noticed, Rose but I don’t exactly have a history of doing the safe thing. So sorry… I’m gonna be sticking around and I’m going to make myself a pain in the ass to these racists, fascists and would dictators trying to turn the U.S. into the 4th reich. I hope you all enjoyed your little orgasm on the wall because the revolution starts now. Actually it began when I took the title from poster boy number 2 or 3 or whatevs from ‘The Cowardly Sell Out’ Jeremiah Vastrix. Kronin.. Vendredi… I got nothing against you two.. Remember that scheduling aside.. You two do have choices.”

Rose blinks. “Are you telling them not to fight?” Valora shrugged. “I’m reminding them that they have choices. That sometimes you find yourself in a moment where your actions decide what you’ll stand for. Vendredi and Kronin are both smart people. I’m sure they’ll get it.” Valora stands up. “Speaking of getting it. I should try to get some training in with my partners for the show.” The interview ends a few moments later and Rose heads back to wrap up her notes and prepare her interview footage.

Valora, walks with Samantha and Abbigail. Samantha sighs. “Too bad we don’t know anyone with insight into this kind of thing. Your words will get your fans behind you.. But you just painted yourself as public enemy number one to the regime.” Valora nods. “I already was public enemy number one to them… and it just so happens I know a few people who might be able to help us out on the insight factor.” Valora looks at Abbigail as she runs off to grab her gear. Samantha looks at Valora. “I’m missing something…” Valora leans in and whispers in Samantha’s ear, and Samantha’s eyes widen.