Interview

“God’s Gift” Jeremiah Vastrix sits where he normally sits to prepare for matches, at a bar with a fufu drink in his hand. Olivia Cooke sits on one side of him and Rose Johnston on the other.

ROSE JOHNSTON: So, we’re glad that you’ve recovered from the vile attack Lulu did with the EMP device, but are you sure that you want to get into a steel cage with him? I would hate to see you get hurt.

OLIVIA COOKE: That is to say we would hate to see you get hurt.

Jeremiah slams back his drink, ordering another round for the three of them. He lights up a cigarette, blowing smoke into the air.

JEREMIAH VASTRIX: Lulu played a cowardly card with me and laid hands on my fiancé. I can’t let this go. I’m going to have to show him that this behavior will not go unpunished. I’m going to throw him through the steel cage wall.

ROSE JOHNSTON: You’re going to pick him up? Remember that he’s like six hundred pounds?

Jeremiah smiles as he takes a drag from his cigarette and blows smoke into the air.

JEREMIAH VASTRIX: No, you’re right. I’m going to climb him and ride him down like Kratos would a Cyclops in that God of War video game! I’ll still be sending his head through the steel cage in punishment. My systems are up and better than ever. And if he touches either of you ever again…

Jeremiah’s eyes flash blue for a split second, lighting the end of another cigarette on fire that he hands to Olivia.

OLIVIA COOKE: While I don’t think you should laser Lulu, I appreciate the sentiment.

ROSE JOHNSTON: We appreciate it, but yeah. No murdering Biggs in the middle of the ring. It could go not well for you.

Jeremiah shrugs with a laugh.

JEREMIAH VASTRIX: It shouldn’t have ended well for Biggs in our last match when he used that device. If I were any one of the fans that had their cell phones destroyed, I’d be suing right about now. And Murdock shouldn’t be taking this lying down either since Biggs knocked out the transmission of the show. You know, shit to be thinking about. Biggs should be out some cash for this stunt that I’m sure Anderson put him up to. Biggs ain’t got the brains to be pulling out this kind of tech. I should have had him shot when I fired him, but nooooo be a better leader than your father. See where that got me. A man that I’m sure is plotting with the rest of the Hammer Industries board to get rid of me. There’s a couple of board members on my side, but most of them are against me. I’m just glad they can’t cobble together the votes to cast me out. It’s not like I’m going to sell off my controlling interest in the company.

OLIVIA COOKE: No. I’m sure not.

ROSE JOHNSTON: So are your cybernetics shielded against another EMP attack?

JEREMIAH VASTRIX: No. Let me explain myself before you both come down on me. Shielding would require not looking human. I’m vain in the way that I won’t look like some Terminator mother fucker just so people like Lulu can’t get the upper hand using underhanded tactics like an emp device. I will just have to make sure that he cannot detonate another device like that.

Olivia looks like she wants to protest, but then she runs her hand down the side of Jeremiah’s face with a smile.

OLIVIA COOKE: For the record, I would still love you if you looked like a robot. I know that you aren’t one.

Jeremiah smiles, crushing his cigarette out in an ashtray, and taking another sip from his drink.

JEREMIAH VASTRIX: I love you too.