I couldn't believe what I'd just heard.

"Wait, all by himself?" I wanted to know. "What about the others?"

Chesh explained, "They were mostly staying out of it. But man you know Kilburn, that fool is always looking for trouble. It was pretty much a go after Kel got knocked down."

"What about Agent Dennis?"

"I think he had somebody in a headlock, but I'm not too sure. I was busy helping Kel."

Damn, I remember thinking. We can't take those two anywhere. This was the third consecutive time out of three that Kel and Kilburn made an ass out of themselves and our team as a whole at a promotional stare down event. Those two had more pride put together than all the worms in the rest of the league, especially if one saw the other get hit.

I hadn't been there this time, and neither had Jeg (thankfully), but I'd been to the last two promo events and know exactly how the the brothers operated. Their naturally defensive egos often bordered on belligerence. Not only that, it was somewhat embarrassing. Other teams in the league were looking at us like nothing more than classless thugs. When the fights broke out, emotions and pride would run high and drain all of the mutual respect of professionalism out of the equation. No more could we share smiles with our foes in this game of wits. It was all serious now.

"Those Earthworms are going to try extra hard after this nonsense," I commented.

"Ah, we ain't afraid of them," Chesh declared in the utmost confidence. "They can try all they want, but it won't do 'em any good."

I smiled. Proud or humble, classy or classless, we're the Nightcrawlers. We know we're the best. Those Earthworms had better bring the heat tomorrow, because all six of us will be in attendance and none of us are going easy on them. Hell, Kel and Kilburn beefed up our rep, we have no choice but to back it up.