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Triple H was burning mad as he stormed down the hallway toward his locker room. In fact, that was an understatement - he was downright furious.

He'd never really liked that Edge, and, to add to his dislike, the man had actually possessed the nerve to defend Lita against his advances. Who the fuck did Edge think he was, anyway?

The Game's hands clenched into tight fists as he recalled the confidence and ease with which the other man had approached him and the redhead. The Canadian was a lot smaller than him, and Triple H knew he could easily take him in a fight. How had Edge actually had the nerve to stand up to him like that?

The burly man shook his head, a frown coming to his face. He guessed the answer would remain just another one of those mysteries. Whatever the case, he was furious and vowed one thing to himself - he was going to take revenge on Edge. He'd teach that meddlesome loser not to butt into his personal business.

As he rounded another corridor, Triple H looked up to see a familiar form heading directly his way - Chris Jericho. Although he and the other man had never really seen eye-to-eye, and certainly had never been what anyone would call 'friends,' he humbly had to admit that now, he did respect the man.

"Hey," Y2J said, one hand extended in a friendly gesture.

Triple H arched an eyebrow, wondering what the blond man could possibly want - and it was obvious he wanted something.

"Hey, Jericho... What do you want?"

"Look," Chris began, "I know you and I have never been friends or anything, but I need to talk to you."

The Game again arched a brow, his guard going up. The smaller man did want something from him.

"Why?" he asked suspiciously.

Jericho ran a hand through his long hair in an unconsciously nervous gesture.

"Would you come talk with me in my locker room? It's private."

Helmsley stood his ground, still not trusting of the other man. What if Jericho had some sort of ambush planned on him? Who knew what the blond man was capable of?

"Why?" The Game repeated.

"Look... I have a little proposal to bring up to you - actually, a plan. I think you might benefit from it."

"A proposal, huh? A plan? And what might this be concerning?"

Jericho's face broke into a conniving, and somewhat evil, grin.

"Not 'what' - 'who.' We're gonna get to Edge," he replied in sotto voce. "We're going to hit him where it'll hurt the most..."

*

Several minutes later, Triple H was esconced in Chris Jericho's locker room, along with Y2J himself, Christian and Test. The Winnipeg resident explained how he'd come up with a master plan to make Edge's life miserable - and how his brother and the larger Canadian also had a problem with the man. The three of them had loosely discussed a strategy beforehand, deciding it was time to approach him.

"So, let me understand this," Hunter said, gesturing with both hands. "You want me to be the leader of this mission..."

"Right," Jericho said. "After all, you are The Game."

Again, Triple H felt suspicion coursing through him, but this time, it wasn't long-lived. Pride made way, and he couldn't help smiling. Yes, he was that damn good... And these three underlings knew it - or else, they would never want him as their leader.

"What does this plan of your entail, Jericho?" he asked. He knew Chris had been the one to get this brainstorm to begin with, and he was damned curious as to what was going on in that devious blond head of his.

"One word - Lita..."

Lita... The name resounded in The Game's head. Yes, it was perfect. Edge was obviously sweet on the redhead, and to hurt him the most, she would be the idea target.

"We hurt Lita to get to Edge?" Triple H asked rhetorically. The not-so-distant memory of the tall blond man moving in on him when he'd been kicking it to the diva ran through his head. Hell yeah, this was a brilliant idea. As much as he hated to say the next words that were in his mind, he spoke them nonetheless.

"Jericho, you're a genius..."

Chris smiled, realizing that this was the second time in a single night he'd been told that.

"I thought you'd appreciate it."