Billy looked around the empty barn. "There’s no sign of life."

"It’s a trap." Replied Jesse dejectedly. "It’s an RTC trap. They bribed Crash to find us and say that Heyman has him and any minute Buchanon and Bossman will arrive, guns blazing."

"You have quite an imagination." The slimy voice of Paul Heyman replied. DX spun around in surprise. Not only was Heyman and Brock Lesner present, but also Jazz, Rhyno and Hardcore Holly. Lesner had an arm around X-Pac’s neck and a gun to his temple.

"Speak." Hunter said in a commanding voice as DX drew the guns that had been provided by Mother Lil.

"I’m a mercenary. I do what is needed and get paid for it. There happens to be a bounty on all your heads. Now, this little weasel would fetch a nice price." Heyman smirked as Brock Lesner tightened his arm around X-Pac’s neck. "But the only thing that brings his worth up is the company he keeps."

"Get to the point pindick." Growled Billy, holding his gun on Jazz. Lesner smirked. "A trade."

"No fuckin way!" X-Pac shook his head. "No, don’t do it!"

"Who do you want?" Hunter asked, following Hardcore Holly’s movements with his gun. Chyna sighed and pushed her way to the front of the group. "They want me. The same person they’ve wanted since this whole thing began. The reason you boys have chosen not to live happy and healthy lives."

"The original green goddess." Finished Lesner with a smirk. "The Amazon for the punk."

"Chyna…" Shawn turned to her, looking shattered. "Don’t…"

She lowered her gun and looked at him. "I have to baby. You guys will be fine without me. Jesse, promise me something?"

"Name it." He replied hoarsely. She grinned at him. "If we ever face off on opposing sides of this damned war, kill me. Especially if I look, sound and act like that frigid bitch Ivory."

"I can’t do that!" Jesse cried. Billy stepped forwards. "I wouldn’t let him, even if he did promise."

"Promise me!" She demanded. "Say you’ll do it or I’ll kill myself now."

Slowly, Jesse lowered his eyes and nodded. "I promise."

"Thank you." She hugged him tightly, then said her farewells to Billy and Hunter, saving Shawn for last. He wrapped her in a giant bear hug. "Don’t do this baby."

"I have to. You know that." She caressed his face. "I love you."

"I love you too." Shawn kissed her urgently, realising that there was a very real chance this would be the last time that he would spend any time with the Chyna he knew and loved – the Green Goddess. Rough hands pulled them apart, and when Shawn opened his eyes, Rhyno was holding Chyna so she couldn’t escape.

"Let go of him." Ordered Hunter, sounding on the verge of tears. "You’ve got what you want. Let him rejoin his chosen side."

"Go ahead X-Pac." Smirked Jazz as Lesner let go of him. "Join your chosen side."

X-Pac took two steps towards DX, then spun around and punched Chyna as hard in the stomach as he could. "You stupid whore."

"You fucking little-" Shawn lunged forwards blindly, only to be greeted by a spinning heel kick. Hunter rushed to the aid of his fallen friend as Chyna struggled to get free. "Shawn!"

"Chyna!" The four friends watched in disbelief as Paul Heyman and Brock Lesner, the mercenary and his thug, Jazz, Hardcore Holly and Rhyno, thugs for hire left, taking with them one of their number… and someone they’d all loved, fought for, protected, someone they would have died for who had now turned his back on them.

Shawn struggled into a sitting position and rested his head on his knees as the Outlaws came over. Billy brushed some of Jesse’s braids off his face and gently wiped at the tears streaming down his lover’s face. Hunter put a comforting hand on Shawn’s back. "He knew. He knew she’d do it. The fucking weasel… I can’t believe he… we’ll get her out. We’ll contact Mick – not Trish, I don’t trust her as much as the others do, and we’ll bust her out when we help retrieve the others. And when we do that? I’ll kill the fucker."