Chapter 8

The public didn't know Nova was transitioning to Powerbomb Global, and she didn't know how her fans would take it. Tonight, she was just supposed to take a bump and meet Colossus in the ring. Next week, they would officially announce her as part of them.

Nova left her locker room following the stagehand with her friend and loyal assistant, Claire.

"Nova, I know you're going through a lot, but I know you can do this." The girl squeezed her hand saying, "I'm right here with you."

"Thanks, Claire bear. I don't know how I would have gotten through this year without you." Nova smiled at the girl and reached in for a hug. "At least you don't think I'm a bad person."

"You're not. Now go out there and rock the house like I know you always do."

On the way to the stage, they passed by Becket and his crew. His eyes followed Nova as she passed by with a little decent and maybe a little curiosity. It felt like slow motion as their eyes locked as she passed when slowly maniacal grin crept across his face.

Nova felt her heart pounding in her chest from his expression. Her head dropped knowing this would be a fight. He was up to something. Nova had known Becket long before either of them became celebrities and knew how serious his job was to him. She would show him she was worthy of this, even if it killed her.

Nova stood by the stage entrance, going through the song in her head. Hearing her name being called, she went out to the stage waving at the crowd while pushing down the fear that was looming over her. Once on stage, she found her safe space.

"The bad girl of rock is here! The queen of metal is ready to rock Powerbomb Global! Who is ready for a Super Nova?"

Her band started up and Nova had a blast singing her hit song to the Powerbomb audience. The anticipation for what was about to go down gave her butterflies, and she tried to push the thought from her mind and concentrate on the music.

As soon as the song ended, she felt the bump from Raven on the back of her head. Nova took her training and rolled to the stage floor, grabbing her head as planned; but something wasn't right. Nova knew the hit was more than just a staged move. It was a shoot, not just some regular wrestling bump. Raven hit her full force, hard and on purpose, to the back of the head.

The lime-green-haired wrestling star, Raven, looked back with an evil grin. Knowing she hit her hard, the woman just laughed it off. Raven went to the ring and started her promo as if it was no big deal.

Becket sat backstage, waiting a little longer for Raven's promo to end. Drawing it out a little longer than intended, he left Nova still holding her head while looking around not knowing what was going on.

Nova shook her head, trying to get past the blurry vision.

Ace chuckled, "Shit Beck. She really took a hit. Ready to go out?"

"Give it a second. Raven's still talking." Becket narrowed his eyes, watching to see how Nova would recover. This was a test. Under his breath, he said to himself, "Get up, Nova. You can do this."

No one heard his comment under the roar of the crowd. He wouldn't admit it, but he hoped the girl he once knew was still in there. The fighter. The star.

Nova looked back at the curtains, wondering what was going on. Where were Becket and his team?

She got to her feet and headed to the ring, wobbling slightly. Raven looked back, finding the superstar pacing toward her, making her a little nervous. Nova looked angry and was heading right for her.

Becket saw what she was doing and realized Nova was ready to fight and all the scripted act was out the window. "Damn it! HIT OUR MUSIC!" he yelled.

The Colossus music started as they went out to the stage as planned, interrupting Raven. It was easy to believe Colossus would back Nova. They were heels after all. From the media, the audience thought of her as a tyrant and a bossy know it all. Her bad-girl reputation preceded her, and his team was her equal. A group of overbearing men on stage with far too much testosterone and ego. The perfect pairing.

Becket pretended to check on Nova before going to the ring. Touching her face, he smirked with a sly smile. To him, it was a proud moment that she had some fight in her. To her, it was a threat.

They entered the ring, and Becket flaunted around, showing off his heavyweight title with the group of handsome wrestlers following his lead. Nova just rolled her eyes, knowing he probably planned it all as payback for having her with his team.

Colossus member Jake saw Nova was still holding her head and stepped closer to check on her. "Are you okay?"

Nova nodded and wave him away.

The rest of the group gathered around Raven as Becket started talking.

"Raven, unless you plan on the rockstar kicking your ass, then I suggest you take a hike. I'm sure she wants to blow up like a real supernova on your ass about now." He looked over at Nova with a taunting wink.

In that simple gesture, Nova knew it was all his idea.

Raven backed up into Jakes's hard chest and saw she was surrounded. Throwing her hands up in retreat, she left the ring as Jake towered over with his firm muscles stretching the confines of his fitted shirt. He ran his hand through his wavy dirty blonde hair as Raven looked over her shoulder at him. Stepping aside he allowed her exit, watching her every move in the perfect heel persona.

Nova stepped over to block her quick retreat, talking so the crowd didn't hear. "Shoot on me like that again and you'll regret it. I'll knock your teeth in."

Ace heard the conversation and just grinned. He was a big fan of Nova and loved that she was taking no shit. He didn't agree with the plan to have her on their team but was willing to give her a chance. Colossal's second-in-command, he would see how she fared before he made any judgments.

Raven gave her a taunting wink. "Chill out superstar. It's just part of the job. What's wrong? Can't take a little hit? Maybe you should go back to where you came from if you can't hang with the big girls."

Raven jumped out of the ring and headed up the ramp, taunting Nova as she went.

While Becket gave his speech on his next big title match, Nova looked around the Powerbomb Global audience in awe. She was finally here. Her dream of being a pro-wrestler her whole life was all happening at this moment. She missed how it felt in the ring and the connection to the crowd was exhilarating. Even as a heel, she could feel their energy.

She watched Becket, mesmerized by how people were drawn to him. Even while playing the bad guy, he had an undeniable it-factor. Here was a man who was still getting cheers, although his character was a thorn in everyone's side. He was truly a superstar.

Nova remembered how she used to be one of those fans ringside cheering him on. Sitting in the crowd watching adoringly as her wrestling hero, and one-time crush, made the crowd take notice. He was always her favorite wrestler as a teen while traveling with her father.

Becket was slightly older, but he always took time for her. She used to fantasize about being with him, but now all she wanted to do was claw his eyes out. His actions crushed her childhood dreams in an instant.

Bringing Nova out of her daze, Edward "Wild West" Morton's music blared over the sound system. The temporary co-general manager of Powerbomb and the polar opposite of her father's character.

Edward hopped in the ring and stopped for a second to look over Nova, before jumping up on the ring belts boosting the crowd. The man was intimidating, but the fans loved him.

While her father was a bad guy on stage, Eddy was the comic relief. The rough-and-tough cowboy fan favorite, and Nova loved she was in the ring with him. She loved his character and had been a big fan for years. Eddy was a legend and one of the funniest men in the business. Everyone from the fans to other wrestlers loved him.

Edward and Becket argued back and forth until the man kicked the Colossus team out of the building for the night. They were being punished for an attack on the owner the week before.

Security headed to escort the faction out as Nova stood nervously, not sure if she should follow or not. Her head was still not clear from the hit to the head and was feeling a lump forming.

"Oh and take the black hole... oops. I mean... Nova, with ya." He looked over at Nova and chuckled.

Nova knew Eddy would say that. It was part of the show, so she just shook it off.

Ace helped Nova out of the ring he asked if she was okay. It was clear she was still hurting because she would randomly reach to touch her sore scalp. She shook her head no once she realized she wasn't, and Ace gave her his arm to lead her up the ramp.

He looked over to his friend Jake with a disapproving shake of the head. He had to talk to Beckett about this before she really got hurt.