The Tryout (Phase I)

Coach Daniel stepped forward. He spoke with a deep, growling yet rhythmic tone,
"Alright! 'ere's 'ow dis wahrks. 'alf o' you are abooeht to go 'ahme early,"

 

There are several gasps. Daniel scoffs,

"What were you expectin? All o' you, splet into two grooehps and get into de rengs ahn either side o' you! we're gahnna 'ave oehs a lettle imprahmptu battle rahyale. De first ten o' you to be thrown over de tahp rahpe to de floor are ooeht o' 'ere!"

The rookie dressed as a nurse spoke up, 

"Wait! I wasn't told about this!"

"First lesson!" Alexa said, with her finger raised and her other hand pressing her glasses against her face, "Expect the unexpected!"

Moby Rick spoke up this time,

"But we didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves, or-"

"Secahnd lessahn," Daniel said, narrowing his eyes, "No one cares who you are,"

"But-"

"In dis business, you either scratch and claw yooehr way to de tahp o' de mooehntain,"

He raises his tightly-clenched fist while emanating a fiery aura," Ahr you build a new mooehntain wit de brahken, battered cahrpses o' yooehr enemies!"

The rookies looked at him with horror and awe. 

Coach Tonye laughed, "Ahahahahaha! Please don't do that. Hahaha!"

He then calmly addressed the rookies, "Listen, as much as we value talent, skill and hard work, luck and awareness are just as important. Battle royals provide opportunities for all of those. Comprendido?"

He got a few nods and some grumbles. Only two of the rookies respond verbally with,

"Yes, Coach/Sir!"

"'e asked if 'e was oehnderstood!" Daniel snaps.

"Yes, Coach!" The rookies all say in unison.

"Now get in there!"

The group split, with Suzanna being the only one left. She looked between the rings frantically,

"Oi! You lahst?"

"Ah! Uh, no Sir! I-I mean-"

"Quit boehrnin daylight and get in dere!"

"R-Right, sorry!" She headed to the ring on her left.

"Naht dat one de ahther one! What, you fahrget 'ow to cooehnt?"

Some of the other rookies started to laugh. Simon started to become even more annoyed and he just so happened to be looking in her direction.

"N-No, s-sorry!" She ran into the ring in fear, almost tripping upon entry, spurring more laughter. She stood up and shrank against the ropes and rubbed her arms. Her embarrassment was fully apparent on her face.

"Girl's not going to last," said Tonye. Alexa frowned and was about to speak, but Simon cut her off and stepped forward,

"What exactly is so funny?"

The room went silent, both due to his voice and his sheer size. He extended a hand toward Suzanna, 

"Do you honestly think you're any better than she is? Do you?"

She perked up in surprise,

"Because you aren't,"

She felt a heat rise in her cheeks and her heart rate increase.

"From where I'm standing, you're all equally worthless,"

She felt the cold lonely abyss as her heart crystallised and shattered into a million pieces. 

"The only person who should be laughing is God. He was playing a bit of a practical joke when he allowed you insects to reach adulthood, thinking you had a chance,"

He was speaking to all of them, but she seemed to be taking it the most personal. Her eyes started to shake and moisten. He suddenly felt like stopping and turned away, before walking back to his corner.

"Third lesson," Tonye said, looking at him and shaking his head, "Sometimes you're going to have to deal with that,"

"Simon 'The Dream' Thompson, everybody," Alexa said, unenthusiastically, before smiling at the rookies, "Survive this and you'll get a shot at him!"

"Alright, fight!" Daniel ordered.