From the Helpless, to the Helpless

Devastation. A word thrown around all too casually. Houses stand along a quiet, docile looking creek that runs happily along on its merry way. While the creek is small and harmless, the look of the houses on either side tell a different story. Such a different story. Some of the houses have begun to fall over, most toward the creek. Others are caked as much as eight feet high with muck and debris. Following the creek upstream, the same scene is replayed with every house, every building passed. At one point, two stone stages to either side identify where a pedestrian bridge once stood. Off to the right, what was probably the town square at one point has been scraped free of the red-brown muck, limbs, rocks and who knows what other kind of debris. A trio of large box trucks make their way into the square. Form the buildings nearby, a dozen or so haggered looking people shamble forth. Frankly it looks like Deliverance meets a Zombie flick here. Several men in shorts and Red Cross arm-banded plain white t-shirts depart the trucks. As they begin to raise the gates on the backs of the trucks, another stream begins to form. Ragged, tired looking people, some solo, some families, begin their slow trek up the side of the stream. As the dozen or so people arrive at the back of the trucks and start taking packages from the backs of the trucks, it becomes quickly apparent the items are cases of bottled water, food, clothing and other necessities of life. While this process goes on, a van approaches. it is one of those that has a sixteen person capacity. The van pulls around the trucks and stops near the stream. The doors open and fourteen people, not including the driver, hop out. Many of them wear VoW gear, mostly T-Shirts and Caps. Among this crew, wearing grey sweat shorts, is Jessica Mathis. She steps up to the edge of the creek and turns on heel, looking down stream, awestruck by the sheer devastation. This...this is the kind of sight this word begins to apply to. Whole lives, whole communities covered in the rage of Mother Nature. An those are the lucky ones. Jessica starts walking toward one of the trucks as she pulls a pair of yellow leather gloves from the pockets of her shorts and slides them on. Thankfully for her, she is wearing her cowgirl boots, so at least she is able to move about. A couple of her cohorts are still walking gingerly in their sneakers.

Jessica Mathis: "Okay, where do I need to be?"

One of the men on the truck looks at her, and the other members of the VoW staff, volunteers for this relief run. He shakes his head and motions toward the Town Government building.

Foreman: "Inside there. They'll show you what to do."

The VoW crew moves as one toward the building, leaving the Foreman again shaking his head. Like something from a really bad, but really funny, cartoon, the mass of humanity arrives at the porch of the Town Hall. They gather up and wait as the doors are open to allow their passage. There is a man standing there, talking to three Red Cross people. One of the Red Cross folks turns to face the approaching people.

Red Cross Woman: "My name is Leslie. I'm the Red Cross supervisor for this operation. This is the Town Mayor, The Honorable Kenneth Mashbrook. We're going to be handing out supplies to the residents of his town today. This is Bradley. This is Henry. Each of us will be responsible for a part of the hand out. You all were given numbers in the van, I've been told. I am the leader for the Ones. Bradley the Twos and Henry the Threes. Let's split up and go through the instructions."

Jessica meanders over, with a pair of sound techs, toward the man named Bradley.

Bradley: "Okay. This is going to be pretty straight forward. While our team is interviewing the people of this town to make sure we can meet needs, you're going to get a crash course in how to assemble food packages."

Everyone nods. Bradley leads them into an office nearby. Stacks upon stacks upon stacks of dry, non-perishable goods are stacked on tables, chairs and just about anything else they can stack them on. Near the door, a huge stack of Red Cross Aid Sacks sit.

Bradley: "Here we go. You grab one of these sacks. One at a time. Walk around the room on the path we have set. Take one of each item and put it into the sack. If it starts to get heavy, set it down to load it. Once you get back here, set it outside the door right there near that masking tape 'x' on the floor. Others will gather the bags and get them out to the pick up stations. Any questions?"

One of the sound techs chirps up.

VoW Sound Tech: "Smoke breaks?"

Bradley: "Depends on how well you are doing bagging up the food. Our number one priority is keeping up with the pace of handing out the stuff these people need."

VoW Sound Tech: "Cool."

Bradley: "If there are no other questions, go for it."

There is a moment of hesitation. Jessica sighs and grabs a bag and starts through. Can of soup, box of crackers.....

===The next day===

The sad, heart wrenching scene is a memory now. Jessica Mathis walks along what looks like an outdoor track. The sky is clear, the sun is beating down. Jessica's white tank top and grey shorts are covered with sweat stains. She wears a light pink headband and matching wrist bands. She rounds a turn and glances down at the watch on her wrist. She grimaces at it and slows up, easing to a stop. Nearby is a folding metal chair, how classic, on which rest a huge water bottle and a pair of towels. Hands on hips, breathing hard, Jessica walks to the chair and picks up a towel, drying her face, arms and legs off.

Jessica Mathis: "Hard work."

She pauses, lifting the water bottle to her lips, she takes a slow, long drink.

Jessica Mathis: "Not something to be afraid of. At least if your health is up to it."

She tosses the first down down, grabs the second and begins to pat at the back of her neck with it.

Jessica Mathis: "I don't think that's a problem for you, is it, Katie?"

The towel comes from her neck, to her armpits, then is dropped back on the chair.

Jessica Mathis: "No. I think not. You've worked hard to get where you are. Engaged. Congrats for that. You have a group that watches your back, and whose back your watch. That kind of trust isn't something that is just given. It's very admirable."

She kneels down, bending her head down, her neck giving a slight pop. She groans and raises her head again, resting her arm on the corner of the chair.

Jessica Mathis: "To you, I have to look like some wet behind the ears..."

She pauses to pat the towel she just cleaned the back of her neck with.

Jessica Mathis: "...young punk who fancies herself being something she's not. Thinking of herself how easy it is to make your way in our chosen profession."

She stands up again, a slight groan.

Jessica Mathis: "And you'd be exactly wrong. Oh, I'm a rookie, alright. You could tell that last week. You, on the other hand, are a tested professional. A former Champion as well. Not an easy thing to accomplish. Not in a competitive profession like ours. That makes you someone to be respected. Not feared, but respected. A lot of the things you have done are, for me, still dreams. Yet that you have done these things gives me hope."

She starts up to a slow walk again, hands to, and then off, her hips.

Jessica Mathis: "Nothing bad meant by that. It is just that, seeing others who come before me fight and claw their way to the top is great motivation. The fact that you seem at peace, for now, with being a former Champion speaks volumes for you. You are focusing on your life. Outside of the ring. That, sometimes, takes more guts than facing challenges in the ring. I want to get where you have been. To get there, it seems I have to go through you. Maybe you'll be distracted with your pending wedding. Maybe not. Either way, I have only two words to say."

She puts on a sweet, sweaty smile.

Jessica Mathis: "Showtime, Synergy."

She picks up her pace, running again, her pace getting faster as she pulls away from the chair.

(quick OOC note. Had planned this to be a little longer, but Severe Thunderstorm Warnings are popping like movie Popcorn at the moment and I don't want my PC fried. Also, if anyone wants to offer feedback, please do!)