The familiar throne room of Alexander Lyons opens the scene, now on a pike behind the throne is a mannequin head of Alexis Makarios. Alex lounges back in the throne, resting his hand on one chin, with his elbow resting on a raised knee. He wears the same look of smugness on his face that we’ve come to know in his short time in PWS. As before, three soldiers in full armor stand tall beside his throne.
Quickly three words flash on the screen.
FAMINE
WAR
DEATH
Then much larger, the fourth word takes over the screen.
CONQUEST
Glaring into the camera, with a disapproving gaze, Alex raps his fingers on his chin a few times before speaking.
Alex: Seriously? A squid? In my debut match I dismantle a former world champion, a hall of famer and I’m told one of the best PWS has to offer. Now you put me against an idiot in a squid mask?
His eyebrows furrow, as his expression turns from disapproving to anger.
Alex: Fine. If that’s what you want. But whatever happens to this “Squid-Man” is on your hands. I’m not going to go easy on him. I don’t know what it is with this company and these joke talents, I think they even had a T-Rex around here about a year ago.
A roll of the eyes, and shake of the head tells us Alex is annoyed at the thoughts of such “talent”.
Alex: Miss Makarios was at least honest competition, she just couldn’t get out of her own head. Squid-Man however is a stupid attempt to entertain the children, and nothing would make me happier than watching your snot-nosed little brats cry as I dismantle their favorite masked superstar.
A sinister smile creeps across the face of The Exiled Prince.
Alex: I won’t be taking it easy. Squid-Man better come truly prepared, then he should go and prepare AGAIN. Then MAYBE, he’ll have a fighting chance, but I doubt it. I’m a different breed of talent, all my ANTITHESIS brothers are different breeds. We seek, and we destroy. We are the most powerful unit in PWS:Apex and I dare ANYONE to try and prove us wrong. The four of us together, are UNSTOPPABLE.
The clanging of sword and shield from the warrior knights beside him fill the crumbled halls of this throne room.
Alex: Let what happens to Squid-Man be a lesson to not insult me with such a pathetic excuse for a professional wrestler I’ve ever seen. This little joke known as Squid Man is coming to an end. There will be no laughter, there will only be sorrow, Squid-Man will be made an example of, and I’m afraid it’s all on your hands PWS. You’re the ones who put him in there with a real man. Whatever happens now, won’t be my fault.
A twisted smile creeps across his face.
Alex: Now let’s set sail with a good friend of mine, as he seeks to defeat a mighty kraken, shall we?
---
Suddenly there’s a jarring jumpcut and Alexander is standing behind a ship helm, wearing a giant yellow raincoat, the greenscreen behind him is playing a scene of a stormy sea. As he controls the he whistles the Drunken Whaler tune, singing some of the lyrics to himself as he “sails.”
Alex: What do you do with a drunken sailor...what do you do with a…
His eyes meet the cameras, and he stops singing with a smile as he greets the viewer.
Alex: Oh hello there mateys. It’s me, your friend and captain, Captain Lyons. Today we have a DANGEROUS adventure ahead of us. You see, we’re on the hunt for the mighty KRAKEN I’m told this thing is beastly. It was even able to withstand the dust of the moon. However, there is no beast that Captain Lyons can’t slay. The S.S. ANTITHESIS will take me to the krakens waters, and it will cry it’s final cry at my hands.
The screen behind him continues to play stormy footage, as Alex mans the helm.
Alex: Such a beast doesn’t frighten me. I look forward to our battle, and coming out the other end as the victor and a hero of humanity. Yes, I Captain Alexander Lyons will be hailed for making the Apex waters safer, and we’ll celebrate over some delicious calamari.
Suddenly the scene behind Alex gets stormier, as Alex gets splash with some water which clearly came from someone off camera holding a bucket.
Alex: It’s getting rougher mateys, I think we’re getting close to the kraken's lair. We should prepare.
From off camera, someone hands Alex a fishing spear. As he wields it another bucket splashes water on him, with a look of discovery, he points off camera.
Alex: I think I see the beast now, lets take caution.
Alex takes a defensive stance, holding the spear in a ready position. As the scene grows even stormier behind him, he steps back and throws the spear off camera, a loud screeching sound is heard.
Alex: Bullseye, I have weakened the foul beast. It’s final days are upon it, yet it dares draw closer.
Alex is given another spear, this time he continues stabbing off camera, before finally pulling in an inflatable squid pool toy, now pierced and flattened by the spears. Alex laughed arrogantly.
Alex: Ha! It appears the mighty Kraken wasn’t such a mighty cephalopod after all, but a mere baby. I really was expecting something more fierce, but what’s done is done. The beast has been slain, and the waters of Apex are dangerous no more
Alex mans the helm again, the cameras pull back to reveal he was standing in a kiddie pool the whole time, with the helm on a podium of sorts.
Alex: That’s all the time we have today mateys, but I’m sure you’ll all be invited aboard the S.S. ANTITHESIS again in the future, so until then...BON VOYAGE!
---
Alex waves and smiles at the camera, rather unsettlingly as we get a jarring jumpcut back to the throne room.
Alex: Always good to hear from the good captain. I do hope we can sail with him again in the future. For now, We’ll have to make do when I pick Squid-Man apart. I am going to make an example out of the resident cephalopod. A squid you may be but…
Alex grins at the camera.
Alex: I am a lion.
The camera zoom in to a closeup of Alex's face.
Alex: Hear Me Roar.
As soon as he finishes, the video ends with a jarring cut to static.