The Tryout (Phase II)

Suzanna stood in front of a full-length mirror in the bathroom. She didn't see herself as she was, but a small, skinny girl wearing clothes that didn't fit her. She sighed,

(What am I doing here? I'm not like Uncle at all.)

She turned away from the mirror.

(Maybe I should leave.)

Her mind briefly flashed to a scene of Sarah putting her in a toe hold for quitting.

(Actually, I think I should stay.)

She folded her arms and paced about slowly.

(Still, what am I going to do? We have to fight Simon Thompson next. He's one of the best there is and I don't have any experience.)

She stopped.

(Also, he's really scary, and mean. Which I didn't expect. He used to be so charming and cool and... He was standing right in front of me... So close...)

"Hey," Red Tights said from the doorway startling her, "We''e about to sta't the next phase of the tryout,"

"Oh, okay. Thanks,"

"Su'e," She was about to leave and said, "Um, listen, Leehaja, was it? I'm sor'y about ea'lier. I saw what I thot to be an oppo'tunity and I took it. No ha'd feelings?"

"Um... Sure,"

"Great! See you out there,"

Suzanna sighed and turned around to wash her face.

"By the way..."

"Hmm?"

"You'e strong, like really strong. You should lean into that mo'e. I'd lose the hoodie,"

Suzanna watched her leave, then looked at her reflection again, before taking off the hoodie to reveal a black tank top. She flexed both her arms in front of the mirror.

Once again, all she saw was a tiny girl in baggy clothes flexing puny sticks for arms. She sighed.

(This isn't going to work. Let's just get this over with.)

Suzanna joined the gathering of rookies around the Southeast ring. Simon was in the ring. He was down on one knee, with his arms crossed over the raised one, hands taped up, shirtless and staring straight ahead.

"Okay, round 2!" Alexa said, "This is your chance to show us your skills,"

"Or lack thereof," 

She glared at Simon for his comment. Tonye continued for her,

"Each of you is going to have a chance to go one on one with him. Your job is to force him to the ground any way you can, while he attempts to eject you from the ring,"

"Attempts..."

Now Tonye glared at him. Daniel continued for him,

"Grapple 'im, trep 'im oehp, keck 'im in de balls, I dahn't care. Joehst poeht 'im ahn 'is ass and talk sahme smack while you're at it,"

"Excuse me?"

"Now if you dedn't know, dis beg bastard is one o' de best we 'ave and can wahrk ahr cooehnter mahst styles. So we'll be joehdgin you ahn 'ow clahse you get. if you're actually soehccessfoehl, we might poeht in a good wahrd wit gamal,"

"He's not lying this time," Alexa quickly added. Tonye nodded with a smile.

After the drama of the first phase, the coaches figured they should legitimately sweeten the deal.

"Once again, half of you will be going home, so don't hold back. He can take it,"

Simon's eyes narrowed.

"He's also been ordered to hold back," Tonye gave him another stern look, "And he's not allowed to strike you. If you find yourself in a submission hold, tap out immediately! Any questions?"

The Speedster raised his hand,

"How come he's not allowed to strike?"

He looked disappointed. Daniel answered,

"Because 'e 'as wreckin balls fahr fests, cender blahcks fahr feet and you, Lad are 'alf 'is size,"

The young man gingerly lowered his hand.

"Any other questions?"

"No, coach!"

"Okay then. Buena suerte. Who's first?"

"Oh!" Alexa spoke up, "Don't forget to introduce yourself! You've made it this far, so you've earned it,"

The colossal Argentinian man pushed past and entered the ring, easily stepping over the top rope as he did so. Simon stood up and had to look up at the tall rookie who weighed 160 Kilos.

(Huh. My neck's feeling better.)

"The name's Lopez," He grabbed Simon by the neck and gave him a wolfish grin, "I'm here to eat you alive!"

The act shocked everyone.

"Oh ho. Big boy's got balls," Daniel said,

Simon grabbed his wrist and performed a judo throw to the ground. Suzanna's dire hopes were dashed beyond comprehension. It all happened so fast that even Lopez didn't realise it happened. He blinked and looked up to see Simon looking down at him with contempt.

He angrily got to his feet and swung his tree limb-like arms wildly, which were all too easy for Simon to dodge,

"You are a walking a liability," Simon said, walking backwards towards the ropes.

"Shut up!" Lopez took a few steps back and ran forward to perform the same kick he hit on Nightingale. Simon caught his foot, leaving him to hop on one foot.

He pulled Lopez forward and left him sitting on the top rope. He tried to climb back in, but Simon shoved him off,

"See what I mean? Worthless," He turned around and walked away nonchalantly. Lopez got up and was about to go back in, but Daniel stopped him,

"Oi! No second chances. Back in line,"

Lopez grit his teeth and obeyed. Simon was on the other side leaning against the ropes, looking away.

Suzanna felt her eyebrows twitch.

The Speedster dashed into the ring in the blink of an eye.

"Simon Thompson, I'm calling you out!"

Simon places a hand on his face.

(So god damned basic.)

He turned around to see the young Haitian, who stood 1.75 m and weighed 75 Kilos, pointing at him.

"I am Danys Vités, fastest man alive!"

"Yes, I could see the trail of disappointed lovers behind you,"

Vités' superhero determination cracked, "How'd you know about-"

Simon's eyebrow raised.

"Uh, I mean, let's do dis!"

He dashed forward, then back, then every which way at such speeds that he was creating after-images of himself, some of which surrounded Simon, fainting different strikes.

"Woah!" Alexa beamed,

"Increíble!" Tonye exclaimed.

Simon got down to one knee, grabbed an incoming knee strike and threw Vités over his head, out of the ring. The speedster held on and attempted a springboard only to be pushed off. He managed to land on his feet but fell backwards.

"Hmm. Not bad," Simon mused,

Vités looked up, "Really?"

"Indeed," He nodded, before his expression returned to contempt, "Bad isn't the right word. I was going to say trash, but I think I'll go with lame and predictable,"

"Thompson!" Alexa yelled.

Suzanna's brow furrowed slightly.

The ripped Egyptian man was next. He jumped onto the apron and over the top rope. He was 1.88 m in height and 104 Kilos in weight.

He spread his arms and made his pecs dance, before proclaiming,

"I am Mostafa! The alpha male of our species,"

He did a forward roll as he went on,

"It is my destiny to be the of the great!"

He used the momentum of the roll to leap into the air and performed a dropkick to Simon's face. His athleticism wowed everyone.

Simon pushed Mostafa's feet away. The alpha male landed on his feet and backed away.

"You lot need to start getting creative," Daniel advised, "Or did you forget the 'he's one of our best' part,"

Mostafa shot for the legs, but was caught in a gutwrench hold and spun around for a bit before being let go with enough force to make him roll out of the ring. He bent over,

"Your destiny is to find a straw that can withstand how hard you suck,"

Suzanna frowned.

"Alright, enough already," Tonye warned, as he helped Mostafa up.

The soldier, Devin Mallory, took his turn, carefully analysing Simon. He was 1.85 m and the 110 Kilos.

"This isn't looking good," Tonye whispered to the other coaches.

It didn't get any better and Suzanna was getting angrier.