GETTIN’ IN THE KNOW FT. NYLES STEPHENS

This is…”Gettin’ In the Know” with Chlo!  Your occasional slice of Union Grand Prix Info-tainment.

Each episode, I, Chlo, help you all get to know your favourite fighters outside of the cage! I get to sit down with them for some good eats and try to get some good stuff from them. I’m all about keeping it fun, and I’m up for just about anything, anywhere. So I’m also gonna be spending time and trying some of your favorite fighters’ favorite things. 

The opening shot we see is a large complex. It’s fairly unremarkable barring a large parking lot fit for something more of a stadiam event than the fairly monotone multi-story building that sits at the end. The drone shot follows around the outside of the building, but otherwise keeps things fairly simple. A royalty free rock song plays before the drone shot flies down to greet Chloe Kendall, who steps out of her car. The car itself is parked in the closest possible parking spot. She has her shades, which help block the sun out from her vision.

“That certainly is building! Not particularly sure why he wanted to meet here, but, I’m not one to judge.”

The camera cuts to inside the building, where Chlo is greeted by a large, bald man in a three-piece suit. She offers him a handshake.

“Hello there! My name is Chloe Kendall, you can call me Chlo. I’m looking for Nyles Stephens? He had agreed to an interview with Union GP!”

Chlo is excitable, even as the large, imposing man shakes the much more diminutive woman’s. Before the man can even speak, the duo are interrupted by the man of the hour: Nyles Stephens. He is wearing a much more relaxed suit and is accompanied by a woman in a respectable skirt/button-up blouse combo. Her hair is tied back as she offers a handshake to Chlo.

“Miss Kendall! I’m glad you could make it. I take it the drive was fairly unremarkable?” the woman asks.

“Quite so! I was worried I had gotten the address wrong when there wasn’t anything for miles…”

“Worry not, that is a natural fear. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the former owner preferring isolation. I figure I’d meet you face-to-face before leaving you with Nyles.”

“Oh please, call me Chlo! And anything to make this interview work works for me!“ Chlo exclaims excitedly.

“Excellent! Just a quick word of warning, you’re allowed to do B-roll of all the approved rooms by Nyles and any hallways you might pass through, but any other room is strictly forbidden. It’s merely to keep everyone’s privacy, and I hope it’s not any imposition.”

“Not at all! We’re merely here to get to know UGP’s newest fighter, and if we can do anything to make everybody’s jobs easier, by all means.”

“Excellent! Then Nyles…we’ll leave you to it.”

The imposing man and woman both walk away, leaving Nyles and Chlo alone.

“Hello there Nyles! It’s nice to meet you face-to-face like this,” she greets.

The man in question lets a small smirk show before shaking the hand of Chlo. He removes the shades from his face and stuffing them in his suit jacket.

“Not at all, Chlo! I’m happy to oblige.”

They both turn towards the camera.

“Well, my name Chloe Kendall, this is “Supernatural” Nyles Stephens, and this…is Gettin in the Know.”

***

The scene changes to that of a well-built and well-designed state-of-the-art cafeteria. There’s a full course buffet set-up at the end of the room and a set of four decent sized tables. Chlo and Nyles have set-up shop there, with Chlo preferring the safety of a Ceasar salad and Nyles opting more for an 8 oz. sirloin with a side of mashed potatoes, corn, and peas.

Chlo chuckles a little bit as Nyles cuts off a piece of his steak.

“You know, when I was told we’d be eating here, I must admit, I was expecting something more…”

“…common? Mundane? Casual?”

“Yes, yes, and…yes?”

Nyles chuckles at her honesty.

“I’ve spent most of my adult life…and teenage life, really, in this building. I don’t go out much anymore except for fights, but, as you can tell by the cafeteria alone, this building has a lot of options available. The cafeteria alone keeps all the staff happy. A private kitchen staff, a huge buffet that’s always full, any drink, alcoholic or otherwise, you might want.”

“Has that always been the case? This seems like something that might be costly.”

Nyles smile dips a little bit at the question.

“For the longest time, The Organization hasn’t had to worry about costs. And employee satisfaction has always been an important part of the company’s morals.”

“Well, Nyles, I can’t lie, the idea of The Organization…it all seems…kinda out of the blue. I mean, I haven’t heard much about it, but it’s clearly something that’s very important to you.”

Nyles scratches the side of his nose before taking a bit of his cut sirloin. He looks at the camera briefly before looking around the room. When he finds what he’s looking for, or perhaps DOESN’T find what he’s looking, he turns back to Chlo.

“Chlo, I’m mostly just here for my mom’s sake.”

“Momma’s boy, huh?”

“Something like that, yeah. She helped me get free of some bad stuff, and I owe her a lot. She’s always wanted what’s best for me, and I’d be nothing but an asshole if I didn’t at least give that to her.”

“Awww…” Chlo remarks.

Nyles chuckles a bit humorlessly before resuming his meal.

“So you call yourself Supernatural. Just a fan of CW drama shows or is there a story there?”

Nyles nods his head.

“I’ve got magic in my blood. My mother is a bonafide witch, and my grandfather was known for being a dimension crosser. I wanted to honor them both in some way, so I figured that’d be a good way to do so.”

The humor has suddenly drained from Chlo’s face. She looks nervously towards the camera.

“Um…”

Nyles snaps his fingers.

“Right, let me show you something that might make you understand.”

He reaches into his pocket and out his phone. He shows Chlo a picture of–

***

The camera suddenly cuts its feed to another scene. A large training room filled with weights and training equipment for various martial arts, weapons, and other weight lifting materials.

A few case of B-roll fill the gaps for a bit before we see a glimpse of Nyles arguing with an older woman black-haired woman in a black dress. The two of them seem to get heated a little bit.

“Hey! Don’t film that!” Chlo mutters loudly to the cameraman.

***

We see Nyles in more workout ready attire as he does a few punching lessons with a short-haired man in a similar attire of gym shorts, sneakers, and a loose tank-top. Nyles taped-up fists punch the man’s pads with precision and force. A few slow-mo shots show the sweat on Nyles’ forehead fly into the air at the verocity of his strikes.

Once the work-out is done, Nyles steps back. The man shakes his hands at the pain, but otherwise nods towards Nyles.

“Good work. Let me know when you’re done here and we’ll talk.”

“Yeah, you got it.”

Nyles drinks from his water bottle as Chlo approaches.

“So you’re a natural striker, I take it?”

“It’s what I was bred to do. My grandfather was always known as more of a wrestler who uses his strength, but I found myself more drawn to the bareknuckle, brawlers of the world than straight wrestling. I was initially meant to be a boxer, but…well…let’s just say I’m a bit too rough for them.”

“Ah, I see. You’re far from the first boxer to realize they needed something more.“

“Oh I’ve hurt people, usually by accident.”

There’s a brief pause, as if Chlo was unsure how to respond.

“Well…who was that man? Your coach?”

“Back-up coach, really. The tall guy you met at the door, we all just call him Hellfire, he’s actually my main coach. That stoic guy you just saw helps me out when Hellfire’s busy, but I still can gleam a lot from him.”

“So what’s your story here, Nyles? Are you a rich kid or would you consider this a passion?”

“Oh…oh I’m passionate about this. I’ve given up so much of my life to fighting, whether it be on the streets, in a ring, or in a cage. I’ve always been a fighter. There’s something about the feel of my fists against an opponent’s skin and the impact it makes that just…it keeps me alive. The energy, the passion, the intensity…it all kind of builds for me until…until I win, really.”

Nyles can’t help but laugh at the honesty.

“And you’re looking to be a winner, then? Anything you want to say to convince the UGP fans that you can dominate going forward?”

“Chlo…if you put anybody against me in that Octagon, bigger, smaller, faster, slower…they will not stand a chance against me. I don’t care if that rubs people the wrong way or if I come across as arrogant, but…my mom came from literally nothing and became a successful business woman. My grandfather became obsessed with fame, to the point where it led him down a dangerous path. I’m not obsessed with fame…I thrive in it. The fame fuels me just as much as the rush of a punch does. I’m looking forward to whoever UGP thinks can take it to me, but…it better be fast, I’m not willing to wait long.”

“What, you’re going to jump in the octagon early? Steal a fight?”

“I mean hey, my sponsor did it once or twice, and look where he’s at now.”

“Speaking of your sponsor…obviously you’re backed by this…Organization, but…Max Daemon has been listed as your backers, to the point of publicly touting you on X. Is there a story there of his involvement?”

“Um…I don’t…”

Nyles is suddenly very nervous to answer that question. Before he can get the chance, they are approached by the stoic coach from before.

“Alright, that’s enough on that.”

“What?” Chlo asks.

The camera looks down at the rubber mats of the floor, but the conversation continues.

“That’s not something we’re at liberty to answer, and Nyles certainly knows to avoid the topic.”

“I was just…asking a question.”

“Well, you can ask other questions. I’m sorry, Miss Kendall, but that one’s completely off lim–“

The feed suddenly cuts again.

***

We join Chlo and Nyles as they stand outside of her car in front of The Organization building.

“Nyles this has definitely been an…interesting and new experience.”

“I’m sorry. Look, I want to make it up to you. This isn’t how I wanted this to go.”

Nyles gets a phone call, but one look at the caller ID and he ignores it.

“How about one more question?”

He’s almost pleading, even as the phone rings once more.

Chlo seems conflicted, but opts to comply.

“You could’ve gotten a spot in any of the schools UGP is affiliated with. Why stick with this…independent camp, let’s say?”

Nyles doesn’t answer immediately. He glances at the phone, and takes a few more seconds before ignoring it.

Eventually, he does provide an answer.

“Because I know that if I don’t…they can ruin me.”

Chlo looks confused by the answer, even as he answers the inevitably call that comes in. He steps away from Chlo and the cameraman, who turns towards Chlo and gives a signal to cut it. There’s no outro. There’s no goodbye. There’s no “see you next time”s. Just a cold cut.