AWOL (Slip and Fall)

06.20.25 Target Center Minneapolis, Minnesota Inside a hallway we see Kenny Freeman, already dressed up with a gym bag slung over his shoulder while looking worse for wear just moments after his match against Hayes Hanlon. The man we see before us looks beaten and bruised in a number of spots…and above all else, right in his pride. Kenny is limping at points, favoring his jaw after the Flash Point that took away his chance to advance in the Almasy. Suddenly, we hear the voice of Randall Schwartz calling to his friend from down the hall, the footsteps getting louder as he approaches from behind. “Kenny, where are you going?” “I’m getting outta here,” replies Freeman, pointing to the nearest exit door. “Tonight was rough, man. Like, the dirt worst. So, I’m goin’ home for a bit to reassess things.” “Okay,” says Randall with a nod. “So you’re taking a breather till Ivan’s done, then? Cause we’re not quite ready to head back to…” “I mean home, Randall,” Kenny snaps back. “I haven’t seen my family since Ivan sent them back from Moscow, and after the past few weeks I think I’m finally missing them. So, if Ivan or Alexei or any of them ask, you can tell them I went home for a bit. I’m sure they’ll be okay.” Randall opens his mouth to respond further, but is left to watch Kenny slowly walk his way down toward the exit. Kenny opens the door, giving one last knowing nod to his comrade before taking his leave…with The Entertainer just staring on, his mouth agape. For once, the mouthy Randall Schwartz cannot quite find the words to say as the scene fades.

The Next Morning Kenny, I understand you’re frustrated about losing to Hanlon, but that’s no reason to walk out without talking to us. - Alexei I spoke with Starshy Praporshchik on this. He said you can take the break, but to expect a talking to upon your return over this Самоволка. - Alexei Hey bud, hope you’re doing well. The gang misses you. Lord knows I do. Dawkins and Rose won’t even put up with my stories. Ruslan gave a speech saying no one should just go AWOL. I told him you weren’t a wall, you were a man. I got a bit of side-eye for that one. - Randall

Such are the messages greeting Kenny at the terminal inside the Greyhound bus station. So frustrated is he with the situation that he has opted to take the long way home, rather than attempt to take his scheduled flight to Red Bear Retreat. Kenny takes one look at the screen, shakes his head, and begins to type away as fast as possible while seated on the bench.

It’s gonna be a hot minute before I figure things out. Call me when you need me. - Kenny

He sends a copy of the message off to both Randall and Ruslan as the P.A. system overhead alerts him that the bus he is waiting on has arrived. He grabs his bag and rushes toward the spot he needs to be, more than a little eager to make his way home. Knowing he has quite the journey ahead, Kenny shuts his phone off as he boards the bus…and moments later, we watch the bus itself pull away from the station as we fade once more.

06.23.25 Freeman Residence Los Angeles, California After way too many hours stuck on a number of buses between Minneapolis and L.A., Kenny finally arrives at the front gate of his family home courtesy of a very kind Lyft driver. He pushes past the gate after fiddling with the lock for a bit, making his way to the front door…just as it opens to reveal his mother, wearing a look of shock on her face at the sight of Kenny popping up for the first time in seemingly forever.

“Kenny!” she exclaims, spreading her arms wide open to receive the incoming hug. We notice a bit of tears coming down her face as she pulls back with a smile on her face. “It’s so good to see you again, son.”

“I’m happy to be home,” Kenny says half-heartedly, trying to mask the feeling with a smile of his own while trying to understand his mother’s somber expression. “I got a lotta stuff to process and deal with, and I just can’t seem to hang with Ivan and the gang while I figure that out. Anyway, thanks for understanding and I’m gonna go…”

“To your room?” a voice bellows from within the house. It takes just a moment for its source to be revealed as Mr. Freeman approaches the doorway. “Kenny, I’m glad you’re home too, but we really need to have a talk.” Kenny does everything he can not to roll his eyes, a move that even someone his age is just as guilty of as a teenager when presented with the threat of “a talk” from someone in authority. The moment of even pondering it is enough that Mr. Freeman can see right through it, furrowing his brow as he presses on. “Don’t give me that. You put us through a lot of trouble the past few months. On top of that, no one has seen or heard from Jack since your pal Max got his hands on him.” That last statement immediately raises the red flag for Kenny, whose face quickly twists into a look of dread. After all that…tinkering…Kael had done, no one was quite sure what Jack’s status was when the family was sent home from Moscow. Could he be…? “Oh god,” Kenny muttered to himself, fearing the absolute worst. “So,” Mr. Freeman continued. “Until we can find the means to actually look into what happened to him, you are at the bare minimum gonna tackle a LOT of help around the house to pick up the slack. Your mother and I have been run ragged trying to juggle looking for him and handling the usual routine here. Do you understand?” The question garners a slow nod from Kenny, an answer sufficient enough for the father to let his son pass through into the house.

07.25.25 The greatest mystery of all is how time passes once one is set in a routine. Such is the case of one Kenny Freeman, who has spent the majority of his time handling chores as assigned by his parents. The details of this are best kept vague, due to the nature of such tasks as clearing the yard and making sure the garbage bins are cleared on a regular basis. Just thinking about such things is enough to drive anyone to a breaking point, and it seems Kenny has just about reached his while leaving the house with a bag of trash when his phone rings. He drops the bag to the ground, pulling his phone out to see that it’s Randall calling him. “What’s up?” Kenny asks, trying to hold back the sigh of relief from finally getting a call from someone for the first time in weeks. “THE BOYS ARE BACK…IN…TOWN…” shouts Randall, much to the chagrin of his compatriot due to the sheer volume of the response. “Alexei’s arranging for your transport to get to Lexington, Kentucky, so the Masters can take down the Egg Bandits and try and climb them tag team rankings.” “That sounds great,” Kenny states with a smile. “Which pair are we facing?” “Ah shit,” replies the Entertainer. “Let me ask.” After a moment of silence, we hear Randall’s voice once more. “Gamble and Hessian! You gotta kidding me, what happened to Do--oh, never mind.”