Post by Nick Watson on Aug 24, 2012 23:42:24 GMT -4
*Los Angeles, California*
*Present Day*
The scene opens on a beach in LA, the sun is shining, the waves are crashing, and the women dressed in what some wouldn't even call bikinis are just looking to show off their bodies. Yep, I had come full circle, the trip through most of California's minor cities, and historical centers had finally brought me to a little sliver of paradise in Los Angeles. I tried not to stare at the ladies and tried my best to just enjoy my little bit of free time for the week before I went up against Harris at Shockwave. Yet it was hard for me to ignore these beautiful women and even more hard for me to enjoy myself with the droves of people asking for autographs and for me to take pictures with them. It wasn't a bad thing to do this for fans, but I was just here to enjoy myself, and cut loose because I had been extremely tense since last Overdrive. It wasn't because I was worried about my match up, I knew what I had to do, and how I had to do it, no this was because of a little boy who had been kidnapped on the show.
Some would chalk this up to just another Michael Harris law suit, but not me, I was worried about the kid, and what exactly was going to happen to him. I had done my fair share of phone calls to the police over the course of the last week to try and get something done, but the police were slow, and more than likely would take some time for anything to be done. But that was the price you paid for going through proper procedure, but to me the price was not worth the reward. Neither Harris nor Rivera had the ability to actually be good parents so my thoughts were able to determine that even if I returned the kid to his proper parent, Harris, then the kid would be in the hands of a delusional psychopath. The mere thought of subjecting some one to the torture of being fathered and taught by Harris was enough to make my skin crawl.
Corey: We've done our best, dude...just try to relax. I'm sure the police will handle it.
Corey read me like an open book as I zoned back into my surroundings. I nodded my head glumly.
Nick: Its just hard not to think about the situation that the kid is in, you know? No matter what is done he will still be in danger. Michael Harris has the fatherly instincts of a brick wall and Rivera is the same way, I don't know what to do, Corey...
It was the first time I had truly been dumbfounded by something, the answer was somewhere within my reach, but I just couldn't grasp it. I didn't want this kid to become just another face to be added to the long list of casualties because of bad parenting. He deserved better than that and I was going to make sure he received everything that he deserved and then some.
Nick: There is nothing worse than feeling like you aren't worth something to your parents, Corey. The inaction so far by the APW on Harris' orders is astounding and wrong in so many ways. We can't just sit by and enjoy ourselves, we have to try, and do something.
Corey: What can we do, Nick? Harris thinks he will be fine and as such hasn't done anything at all.
Nick: Then we go over his head! We take this to Jeff and make something happen.
Corey: And what do you think Jeff would do, Nick? We've already called the police...I don't think there is anything else we can do even with Jeff's help.
Nick: But we have to try!
Corey: What is with you man? I haven't seen you this concerned before. Tell me whats going on?
I let out a sigh and then shook my head before replying.
Nick: I'm not really interested in talking about it, Corey. Lets just say that what is going on is not right and I don't like when things go, wrong. Especially when the thing that goes wrong involves children.
Life was rough and with the current situation facing Harris' kid I could only think about how hard it was going to be for him if things went further south. With Harris' inaction that was completely possible. Somebody had to do something and I felt like I was the only one actually trying to get this kid home safely. Safely wasn't the right term as his home would be side by side with his dead beat father and question mark of a mother. No, I would have to do something more, and take it a step farther. The problem was to do that I would first have to see him safely back home. And that is exactly what I intended to do. Sure, I loathed his father for the things that he had done, and how he had picked me as the reason for his own problems when clearly it was his psychotic tendencies and lack of actual intelligent thought that was the cause of his problems. Furthermore, a large amount of money had probably already been spent on settlements for his deranged and dangerous behavior. That is just how things worked out in the long run when you took on a man's contract who had serious self-control issues, but that didn't mean I couldn't feel sympathy for his kid.
Quite the contrary, I could feel quite a bit of sadness for the child of a man who was no different outside of the circle than he was inside it. I would bring him home and then I would get the kid removed from his dead-beat parents who had done absolutely nothing to save this child. They didn't deserve a kid, especially Harris who didn't have a father like tendency in his whole body.
Nick: I'm gonna go stretch my legs a bit and then I'm going to hit a local bar.
Corey: Alright, but don't drink too much. You have a match in 4 days and you need to be one hundred percent to take on Harris.
Nick: Don't worry, MOM. I will not drink myself into a stupor, I just need a few shots, and some time to myself. Got to think things over.
Corey nodded his head as I stood up from the pearly white sand and began to make my way north in the general direction of a bar that I had seen on my way to the beach. My mind was filled with doubts as to what I could do for this kid, but there were two things that were sure-fire in my head at that moment. One of those things was that I would do something, I wasn't sure what I would do, but I would try my damnedest to ensure the kid was alright. The second thing was that no matter what happened, I would have my hand raised on Sunday when I stepped into the ring with Harris, and this time I would leave no doubt in his mind that the Sensational One was indeed better than some braggart with psychological issues.
*End of Scene*
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**Few Hours Later, Local Bar**
A walk on the beach had helped me see things a little clearer than I had before and a cold beer was helping me to clear my head even more as the heat in the bar was quite high even with the AC on. It was a typical bar with very typical patrons, nothing out of the ordinary, and definitely no rabid fans looking for autographs. It was the perfect place to calmly collect your thoughts before going out to make those thoughts reality. Truth be told, things were rough for me in so many ways, and it was because of the circumstances of how this match for me was playing out. Harris didn't care about his kid and thus that gave him a distinct advantage over me because I was basically a walking, talking bleeding heart. He also had a strong reason for defeating me because of how easily his deranged mind created the answer to his dilemmas. I, on the other hand, had some advantages of my own. Those advantages were tactical thinking and of course in-ring technique. Sure, I was a rookie who was still a bit green, but I also had the versatility and skill to catch most fighters unprepared. To win this match, I would have to turn my advantages into unstoppable truths, but to do that I would need to cut the emotion out, and use my rational mind to piece together a tactical approach to this match up.
It was one thing to say I could beat Harris, but it was a complete other to do it. Sure, I had picked up at least three wins against Harris, but those wins were against a Harris who wasn't nearly as delusional as the Harris I was dealing with now. Men with mental problems were a risk not only for the company that employed them, but for the people in the ring with them, and due to the word "terminate" being used strongly in his little self-gratuitous speech I could determine the man had practically come unglued over the course of the last few weeks. The trigger for the state he was in was of course the fact that he had picked up three wins in a row. Three merit-able wins that were of course going to be very hard to come up with a counter argument for. I shrugged, taking another swig of the cold beverage in my hand, and allowing a delighted sigh to escape my lips as I allowed the alcohol to take away my doubts and inhibitions.
Voice: This seat taken?
I jumped a bit in surprise and turned to see the owner of the voice that had uttered the question. Finding a beautiful young girl standing beside me and pointing toward the seat right next to mine. I looked around at the bar real quick, realizing that the bar was no where near capacity, and that this girl wanted to sit down next to me not by force, but by her own choice. I nodded my head and uttered a polite:
Nick: Sure.
She sat down next to me without hesitation and grinned at me as she ordered her drink, a drink I had never heard of, and probably would not remember after this encounter.
Girl: So, you're Nick Watson, right?
Nick: Look, if you want an autograph...I'm just trying to cool down and have a few beers before going back to the hotel to crash out for the evening.
Girl: No, I don't want an autograph...I represent a talent agency, well more like I'm a secretary for one of the agents, but I hope to be a talent agent one day....
Nick: Is there a point to all this? I'm kind of in the middle of making a battle plan.
Girl: Yes, I'm sorry. I tend to get side-tracked a bit. The agency I work for has been looking for a young athlete to represent so that they can put new blood into their talent pools. Your name was floated around a lot because of how you have orchestrated yourself in a professional and exciting manner. My boss would be thrilled if you could meet him for drinks and maybe talk business with him.
I got offers like this all the time, they usually didn't show up on my show because of the desperation of some of the talent agents looking to acquire young and fresh talent to latch on to like a disgusting leach. But this girl approached me a bit differently than a talent agent and the way she spoke sounded genuine and that the organization she was working for was taking a real interest in me and not just looking to up their stock values. The fact that this wasn't a new agent looking for his first stake to fame stood out to me and made me think about actually accepting the offer. Sure, the end of my six month rookie contract was coming soon, and wouldn't be a bad thing to have some one who could represent me professionally so I could get the most out of my contract. It was appealing as I had no idea how to negotiate contracts yet and it sounded like the group she worked for was quite experienced.
Nick: Would it surprise you if I said I was interested in getting an agent?
She smiled broadly as I said that and I could feel she was quite happy with my response. Her drink arrived and shortly after we were sitting there discussing things and drinking like we had been friends for years. I learned her name was Megan and that she had always wanted to be an agent since the day she stepped foot into California five years ago. She believed that sooner or later she would hit it big and that she would get the recognition that she deserved within the company. I noticed instantly that we were a lot a like, me wanting to be a champion, and her wanting to be an agent. The similarity was very strong between us and we seemed to connect rather quickly and after about an hour or so of talking she said her goodbyes and gave me a card so that I could call her boss, but the icing on the cake was:
Megan: Let me write my number on the back...unless I'm being too forward.
My brain was abuzz, was this love at first meeting? No, this was something better. This was kinship and I felt very close to this person already, but of course I would not jump to conclusions. I barely knew the girl and it would take me some time to actually get to know her really.
Nick: Not at all. Its been a while since I've gotten a number from a girl, this will be a real confidence booster for me.
Megan: I find it hard to believe that the Sensational One can not get a number from a girl.
Nick: I really don't go asking around for numbers. It has been about three years since I've been in a stable relationship and the reason for that is I have usually put my business and my training before my personal love life.
Megan: Well whatever you are doing is working. Anyway, I have to go. I have work tomorrow and I've already been out too long talking to you. Anyway...call me?
Nick: Of course.
Megan: Good night.
She walked away with a flustered look on her face and I was all smiles and sunshine myself. I made sure to watch her leave and after she had gone, my mind slowly, but surely returned to my match Sunday. There would be no easy way out for me, but I did believe that in the long run there would be no way that I would go down without a fight. All I knew was that Harris was in for a real treat Sunday night because I would not be just fighting for myself. I would be fighting for his kid too and the extra force and need to open this man's mind would drive me to new heights. Sure, I wasn't as cold and ruthless as him because I could feel compassion, but that didn't necessarily mean I was weaker. No, my compassion was my strength, and this Sunday I would use the very thing that Harris ignored as a weapon to utterly destroy him.
Nick: I'm gonna make you pay, Harris...for everyone's sake.
I muttered as I finished off my beer and then payed my debt to the bar keep.
*End of Scene*
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***That Evening, Hotel Room***
Everything was in place, the camera was rolling, and I had situated myself on my bed for that night so that I was sitting in front of the camera. I had opted not to do the live stream that night because it would be better if there was some form of documentation for everyone to see what I had to say later on for reference for the things that were going to come to pass this Sunday at Shockwave. I cleared my throat, nodded my head, and then began to speak clearly and with purpose.
Nick: Ever since I arrived here in APW, I have been on a serious roller coaster ride that has been without end. I have had more ups and downs than most people had thought possible, but in the end I have continued to make as much as I can of the opportunities that were given to me, however small those opportunities were. I never once took for granted what I was given and never once did I over-estimate my worth to this company as one of its' rising rookies, but even though I have never over-stepped my bounds as professional and as an athlete...I have been ridiculed by those looking to use me as nothing more than a stepping stone. I have been called out, slandered, and under-estimated week in and week out because I am different, because I talk differently, because I act differently, and because I never believe my opponent is weaker than me. It is because of my beliefs and because of who I am that I have been assaulted, berated, and dragged through the muck on more occasions than I can count on both my hands, but I have not once stepped out of line.
I have kept my head up and facing forward and sure I staggered once or twice off the path of the highest resistance, but I have always come back to the right path, and have worked harder than most to make a name for myself. I had hoped to be accepted because of my work ethic and because of my love for competition, but that hasn't happened, instead I have been consistently attacked by my opponent this Sunday at Shockwave, and blamed for his shortcomings. Yet, it was never my fault that he lost, and fell so far before finally starting to ascend again, but it also wasn't luck. No, it was his fault, and no amount of shifting the blame will ever change that, and that is the honest to God truth. Michael Harris is to blame for the way he acted when he confronted me over a month ago, Michael Harris is to blame for the way that match went down, and Michael Harris is to blame for the weeks that followed. No one can be held accountable for someone else folly, but yet that is what Harris wants the people, and himself to believe. That I, Nick Watson, somehow had a lucky break, and won my match up against him causing a spiraling out of control month that followed. That somehow, I stole his spotlight instead of seeking to make my own spotlight, and my own hype because no one gave a damn about me before.
I stroke my goatee before continuing on with a look of agitation on my face.
Nick: I have tried for several months to make a name for myself and to some extent I have succeeded. I never once stole anything from anyone during this period of time. I have worked for every ounce of fame and honor that I have gained through competition, but yet I will never receive the recognition that I deserve because of Michael Harris. I will never reap the harvest of my hard work as long as Harris is stalking me and waiting to attack me after each and every win I achieve. The only solution is to defeat Harris, one on one, at a Pay Per View, and establish my dominance over him so that these petty attacks might possibly end, but yet that might not even be the answer to the problem either! I fear that even if I defeat him professionally this Sunday that no matter what, he will still continue to assault me and belittle me from the shadows because of how far his mind has drifted into psychosis since the last time we entered the squared ring against each other.
The thought of vengeance and the victories he has received over the last few weeks have only caused his delusions to increase to the point to where he believes everything that his mind makes up as if it is fact. He is so sucked up into this world that he has made for himself that he has forgotten about his own flesh and blood and has decided to forsake him to continue his pursuit of ending my career, or at least attempting to. It shocked me to hear such things come from a father's mouth and it proved to me that Harris is now out of control and much like a wild animal with rabies, must be put down for the betterment of society. His violent and egotistical behavior has done nothing more than cause a huge liability for the corporation and has cost thousands of dollars just in settlements to keep the show on the air waves, but does Harris care? No! Harris only cares about himself and to him nothing else is as half as important as himself. So all of this money, all of these settlements, and all of these potential law suits which will more than likely rack up over the course of the remainder of his pointless contract are all worthless to him.
The man does not learn, ladies and gentlemen! He has not once improved since his arrival here in APW or has stood out from the pack as a true force in APW, as much as Harris denies it this is the truth. This man forced the inactivity of the last xtreme champion, sidelined me for two weeks, and has butted heads with Jeff on multiple occasions, yet we keep him on pay roll. May I ask, why?
I look into the camera and tilt my head in confusion before continuing on.
Nick: The answer is simple. Why pay him money by firing him when you can simply allow the contract to run out and not re-sign him? It really is simple deduction that this is the main plan for the future to save the company thousands of dollars by letting this neanderthal go. Harris, of course, could stop this from happening by shaping up, and actually being a professional, but Harris has decided that is not what he wants to do. Instead, Harris wants to lower the company that is paying for his contract even further by causing as many laughable law suits as he possibly can. He has already shamed the company enough by making a mockery of our development and scouting departments and is now looking to add a third item to the list of shame. He hopes to 'terminate' me. Not just compete against me and have a good fight, but to take me out of APW permanently. And for what? Beating him and making him look like a fool on live television because of how decisively I defeated him? News flash, Harris! The world doesn't facilitate sore losers, it throws them away like yesterday's garbage, and I assure you that the simile is dead on with how you have been acting.
You have not once accepted a loss with a smile on your face and not once have you grown from a loss. You have always growled and thrown a temper tantrum for the world to see whenever it wants to. Its sickening to see a man with so many accolades be nothing more than an angry old man with delusions of grandeur and egotistical tendencies. To think at one time, the people were happy to have you on roster, but now...all the people can do now is frown in disappointment at the man you have chosen to become. Its' even sadder when you think about the example and messages that you have set out for your son. It is hard to imagine how anyone can look at you as a father or even as a friend, but I guess you don't need those because you have always seemed to put your career ahead of everything else.
I mean, who gives a crap about a little boy being kidnapped by a crazy woman, or about a woman screaming and crying for the father of the boy to do something. Never fear, though, at least somebody gives a crap, and is taking the initiative in bringing the kidnapper to justice. I've called around and have been hoping that the police will rescue this kid and take him so far away from you that you will never see him again, but once again I don't think you would care. You have no heart and what was left of your conscience has been consumed by revenge and lust for glory that has long since passed you by. Yet, the solution to your delusion lies at my hands, and a week ago when I said I was going to take my revenge on you, I was wrong. Taking revenge on you would make me no better than you and we all know by now that I am too good of a person to be put in the same group as you. Instead, I will release you from your burdens, by defeating you with everything that I am. Then and only then will I achieve peace of mind and be able to move on with my career which has been encumbered by your delusional thoughts and crazed assaults on me while my back is turned.
I pause again and think for a second before I begin to finish up what I started.
Nick: I don't hate you, though, as much as it shocks me, and maybe shocks you. I know that this is all you are, no better than an animal, and to you professional wrestling is a jungle, and you are the king of it. Yet, that is just not the case. Professional wrestling is a business and a competition, those that approach it as such succeed, and those that decide to try to change what it is for their personal gain are usually pushed to the wayside. Such is your fate, Harris. Your 'focus' and predictable ignorance have been your undoing for some time now and the only reason you have been winning as of late has been because of the strategies of your opponents. I will not over-value you or under-value you, after all an animal is most dangerous when backed into a corner, but I will not follow the same blue print of your opponent's of the past three weeks. Their plans failed because they did not understand your approach, but I know you, Harris, and no amount of variation or innovation are going to change that.
One more pause before I decide to wrap things up.
Nick: All in all, I've never been intimidated or daunted by who you are, and that is because I have seen your type on many occasions because for as long as there is wrestling there will be a Harris' type athlete looking to change everything for his own personal gain. However, on the flip side, there will always be a man like me to stop you, and bring you back in line with reality. So this Sunday night, when we step into the ring there will be no terminating or revenge, there will only be an entertaining match, a match that I will win not because I can, but because I have to. Because at this rate, if someone doesn't knock some sense into you soon then you will only continue to rampage like a bull who sees red, and we just can't have that can we? Anyway, for now Harris I wish you luck, even though I think you need to see a psychiatrist more than you need any sort of good wishes from me, but I assure you, you're going to need all of the luck you can get this Sunday. Because no matter what...even if it kills me, I will have my hand raised in victory, and it won't just be my victory, but it will be a victory for everyone you have victimized, pushed aside, or ridiculed, and it will be glorious. Anyway, good night ladies and gentlemen, and I hope to see you all at Shockwave!
I turn off the camera as the scene bursts to static.
*Present Day*
The scene opens on a beach in LA, the sun is shining, the waves are crashing, and the women dressed in what some wouldn't even call bikinis are just looking to show off their bodies. Yep, I had come full circle, the trip through most of California's minor cities, and historical centers had finally brought me to a little sliver of paradise in Los Angeles. I tried not to stare at the ladies and tried my best to just enjoy my little bit of free time for the week before I went up against Harris at Shockwave. Yet it was hard for me to ignore these beautiful women and even more hard for me to enjoy myself with the droves of people asking for autographs and for me to take pictures with them. It wasn't a bad thing to do this for fans, but I was just here to enjoy myself, and cut loose because I had been extremely tense since last Overdrive. It wasn't because I was worried about my match up, I knew what I had to do, and how I had to do it, no this was because of a little boy who had been kidnapped on the show.
Some would chalk this up to just another Michael Harris law suit, but not me, I was worried about the kid, and what exactly was going to happen to him. I had done my fair share of phone calls to the police over the course of the last week to try and get something done, but the police were slow, and more than likely would take some time for anything to be done. But that was the price you paid for going through proper procedure, but to me the price was not worth the reward. Neither Harris nor Rivera had the ability to actually be good parents so my thoughts were able to determine that even if I returned the kid to his proper parent, Harris, then the kid would be in the hands of a delusional psychopath. The mere thought of subjecting some one to the torture of being fathered and taught by Harris was enough to make my skin crawl.
Corey: We've done our best, dude...just try to relax. I'm sure the police will handle it.
Corey read me like an open book as I zoned back into my surroundings. I nodded my head glumly.
Nick: Its just hard not to think about the situation that the kid is in, you know? No matter what is done he will still be in danger. Michael Harris has the fatherly instincts of a brick wall and Rivera is the same way, I don't know what to do, Corey...
It was the first time I had truly been dumbfounded by something, the answer was somewhere within my reach, but I just couldn't grasp it. I didn't want this kid to become just another face to be added to the long list of casualties because of bad parenting. He deserved better than that and I was going to make sure he received everything that he deserved and then some.
Nick: There is nothing worse than feeling like you aren't worth something to your parents, Corey. The inaction so far by the APW on Harris' orders is astounding and wrong in so many ways. We can't just sit by and enjoy ourselves, we have to try, and do something.
Corey: What can we do, Nick? Harris thinks he will be fine and as such hasn't done anything at all.
Nick: Then we go over his head! We take this to Jeff and make something happen.
Corey: And what do you think Jeff would do, Nick? We've already called the police...I don't think there is anything else we can do even with Jeff's help.
Nick: But we have to try!
Corey: What is with you man? I haven't seen you this concerned before. Tell me whats going on?
I let out a sigh and then shook my head before replying.
Nick: I'm not really interested in talking about it, Corey. Lets just say that what is going on is not right and I don't like when things go, wrong. Especially when the thing that goes wrong involves children.
Life was rough and with the current situation facing Harris' kid I could only think about how hard it was going to be for him if things went further south. With Harris' inaction that was completely possible. Somebody had to do something and I felt like I was the only one actually trying to get this kid home safely. Safely wasn't the right term as his home would be side by side with his dead beat father and question mark of a mother. No, I would have to do something more, and take it a step farther. The problem was to do that I would first have to see him safely back home. And that is exactly what I intended to do. Sure, I loathed his father for the things that he had done, and how he had picked me as the reason for his own problems when clearly it was his psychotic tendencies and lack of actual intelligent thought that was the cause of his problems. Furthermore, a large amount of money had probably already been spent on settlements for his deranged and dangerous behavior. That is just how things worked out in the long run when you took on a man's contract who had serious self-control issues, but that didn't mean I couldn't feel sympathy for his kid.
Quite the contrary, I could feel quite a bit of sadness for the child of a man who was no different outside of the circle than he was inside it. I would bring him home and then I would get the kid removed from his dead-beat parents who had done absolutely nothing to save this child. They didn't deserve a kid, especially Harris who didn't have a father like tendency in his whole body.
Nick: I'm gonna go stretch my legs a bit and then I'm going to hit a local bar.
Corey: Alright, but don't drink too much. You have a match in 4 days and you need to be one hundred percent to take on Harris.
Nick: Don't worry, MOM. I will not drink myself into a stupor, I just need a few shots, and some time to myself. Got to think things over.
Corey nodded his head as I stood up from the pearly white sand and began to make my way north in the general direction of a bar that I had seen on my way to the beach. My mind was filled with doubts as to what I could do for this kid, but there were two things that were sure-fire in my head at that moment. One of those things was that I would do something, I wasn't sure what I would do, but I would try my damnedest to ensure the kid was alright. The second thing was that no matter what happened, I would have my hand raised on Sunday when I stepped into the ring with Harris, and this time I would leave no doubt in his mind that the Sensational One was indeed better than some braggart with psychological issues.
*End of Scene*
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**Few Hours Later, Local Bar**
A walk on the beach had helped me see things a little clearer than I had before and a cold beer was helping me to clear my head even more as the heat in the bar was quite high even with the AC on. It was a typical bar with very typical patrons, nothing out of the ordinary, and definitely no rabid fans looking for autographs. It was the perfect place to calmly collect your thoughts before going out to make those thoughts reality. Truth be told, things were rough for me in so many ways, and it was because of the circumstances of how this match for me was playing out. Harris didn't care about his kid and thus that gave him a distinct advantage over me because I was basically a walking, talking bleeding heart. He also had a strong reason for defeating me because of how easily his deranged mind created the answer to his dilemmas. I, on the other hand, had some advantages of my own. Those advantages were tactical thinking and of course in-ring technique. Sure, I was a rookie who was still a bit green, but I also had the versatility and skill to catch most fighters unprepared. To win this match, I would have to turn my advantages into unstoppable truths, but to do that I would need to cut the emotion out, and use my rational mind to piece together a tactical approach to this match up.
It was one thing to say I could beat Harris, but it was a complete other to do it. Sure, I had picked up at least three wins against Harris, but those wins were against a Harris who wasn't nearly as delusional as the Harris I was dealing with now. Men with mental problems were a risk not only for the company that employed them, but for the people in the ring with them, and due to the word "terminate" being used strongly in his little self-gratuitous speech I could determine the man had practically come unglued over the course of the last few weeks. The trigger for the state he was in was of course the fact that he had picked up three wins in a row. Three merit-able wins that were of course going to be very hard to come up with a counter argument for. I shrugged, taking another swig of the cold beverage in my hand, and allowing a delighted sigh to escape my lips as I allowed the alcohol to take away my doubts and inhibitions.
Voice: This seat taken?
I jumped a bit in surprise and turned to see the owner of the voice that had uttered the question. Finding a beautiful young girl standing beside me and pointing toward the seat right next to mine. I looked around at the bar real quick, realizing that the bar was no where near capacity, and that this girl wanted to sit down next to me not by force, but by her own choice. I nodded my head and uttered a polite:
Nick: Sure.
She sat down next to me without hesitation and grinned at me as she ordered her drink, a drink I had never heard of, and probably would not remember after this encounter.
Girl: So, you're Nick Watson, right?
Nick: Look, if you want an autograph...I'm just trying to cool down and have a few beers before going back to the hotel to crash out for the evening.
Girl: No, I don't want an autograph...I represent a talent agency, well more like I'm a secretary for one of the agents, but I hope to be a talent agent one day....
Nick: Is there a point to all this? I'm kind of in the middle of making a battle plan.
Girl: Yes, I'm sorry. I tend to get side-tracked a bit. The agency I work for has been looking for a young athlete to represent so that they can put new blood into their talent pools. Your name was floated around a lot because of how you have orchestrated yourself in a professional and exciting manner. My boss would be thrilled if you could meet him for drinks and maybe talk business with him.
I got offers like this all the time, they usually didn't show up on my show because of the desperation of some of the talent agents looking to acquire young and fresh talent to latch on to like a disgusting leach. But this girl approached me a bit differently than a talent agent and the way she spoke sounded genuine and that the organization she was working for was taking a real interest in me and not just looking to up their stock values. The fact that this wasn't a new agent looking for his first stake to fame stood out to me and made me think about actually accepting the offer. Sure, the end of my six month rookie contract was coming soon, and wouldn't be a bad thing to have some one who could represent me professionally so I could get the most out of my contract. It was appealing as I had no idea how to negotiate contracts yet and it sounded like the group she worked for was quite experienced.
Nick: Would it surprise you if I said I was interested in getting an agent?
She smiled broadly as I said that and I could feel she was quite happy with my response. Her drink arrived and shortly after we were sitting there discussing things and drinking like we had been friends for years. I learned her name was Megan and that she had always wanted to be an agent since the day she stepped foot into California five years ago. She believed that sooner or later she would hit it big and that she would get the recognition that she deserved within the company. I noticed instantly that we were a lot a like, me wanting to be a champion, and her wanting to be an agent. The similarity was very strong between us and we seemed to connect rather quickly and after about an hour or so of talking she said her goodbyes and gave me a card so that I could call her boss, but the icing on the cake was:
Megan: Let me write my number on the back...unless I'm being too forward.
My brain was abuzz, was this love at first meeting? No, this was something better. This was kinship and I felt very close to this person already, but of course I would not jump to conclusions. I barely knew the girl and it would take me some time to actually get to know her really.
Nick: Not at all. Its been a while since I've gotten a number from a girl, this will be a real confidence booster for me.
Megan: I find it hard to believe that the Sensational One can not get a number from a girl.
Nick: I really don't go asking around for numbers. It has been about three years since I've been in a stable relationship and the reason for that is I have usually put my business and my training before my personal love life.
Megan: Well whatever you are doing is working. Anyway, I have to go. I have work tomorrow and I've already been out too long talking to you. Anyway...call me?
Nick: Of course.
Megan: Good night.
She walked away with a flustered look on her face and I was all smiles and sunshine myself. I made sure to watch her leave and after she had gone, my mind slowly, but surely returned to my match Sunday. There would be no easy way out for me, but I did believe that in the long run there would be no way that I would go down without a fight. All I knew was that Harris was in for a real treat Sunday night because I would not be just fighting for myself. I would be fighting for his kid too and the extra force and need to open this man's mind would drive me to new heights. Sure, I wasn't as cold and ruthless as him because I could feel compassion, but that didn't necessarily mean I was weaker. No, my compassion was my strength, and this Sunday I would use the very thing that Harris ignored as a weapon to utterly destroy him.
Nick: I'm gonna make you pay, Harris...for everyone's sake.
I muttered as I finished off my beer and then payed my debt to the bar keep.
*End of Scene*
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***That Evening, Hotel Room***
Everything was in place, the camera was rolling, and I had situated myself on my bed for that night so that I was sitting in front of the camera. I had opted not to do the live stream that night because it would be better if there was some form of documentation for everyone to see what I had to say later on for reference for the things that were going to come to pass this Sunday at Shockwave. I cleared my throat, nodded my head, and then began to speak clearly and with purpose.
Nick: Ever since I arrived here in APW, I have been on a serious roller coaster ride that has been without end. I have had more ups and downs than most people had thought possible, but in the end I have continued to make as much as I can of the opportunities that were given to me, however small those opportunities were. I never once took for granted what I was given and never once did I over-estimate my worth to this company as one of its' rising rookies, but even though I have never over-stepped my bounds as professional and as an athlete...I have been ridiculed by those looking to use me as nothing more than a stepping stone. I have been called out, slandered, and under-estimated week in and week out because I am different, because I talk differently, because I act differently, and because I never believe my opponent is weaker than me. It is because of my beliefs and because of who I am that I have been assaulted, berated, and dragged through the muck on more occasions than I can count on both my hands, but I have not once stepped out of line.
I have kept my head up and facing forward and sure I staggered once or twice off the path of the highest resistance, but I have always come back to the right path, and have worked harder than most to make a name for myself. I had hoped to be accepted because of my work ethic and because of my love for competition, but that hasn't happened, instead I have been consistently attacked by my opponent this Sunday at Shockwave, and blamed for his shortcomings. Yet, it was never my fault that he lost, and fell so far before finally starting to ascend again, but it also wasn't luck. No, it was his fault, and no amount of shifting the blame will ever change that, and that is the honest to God truth. Michael Harris is to blame for the way he acted when he confronted me over a month ago, Michael Harris is to blame for the way that match went down, and Michael Harris is to blame for the weeks that followed. No one can be held accountable for someone else folly, but yet that is what Harris wants the people, and himself to believe. That I, Nick Watson, somehow had a lucky break, and won my match up against him causing a spiraling out of control month that followed. That somehow, I stole his spotlight instead of seeking to make my own spotlight, and my own hype because no one gave a damn about me before.
I stroke my goatee before continuing on with a look of agitation on my face.
Nick: I have tried for several months to make a name for myself and to some extent I have succeeded. I never once stole anything from anyone during this period of time. I have worked for every ounce of fame and honor that I have gained through competition, but yet I will never receive the recognition that I deserve because of Michael Harris. I will never reap the harvest of my hard work as long as Harris is stalking me and waiting to attack me after each and every win I achieve. The only solution is to defeat Harris, one on one, at a Pay Per View, and establish my dominance over him so that these petty attacks might possibly end, but yet that might not even be the answer to the problem either! I fear that even if I defeat him professionally this Sunday that no matter what, he will still continue to assault me and belittle me from the shadows because of how far his mind has drifted into psychosis since the last time we entered the squared ring against each other.
The thought of vengeance and the victories he has received over the last few weeks have only caused his delusions to increase to the point to where he believes everything that his mind makes up as if it is fact. He is so sucked up into this world that he has made for himself that he has forgotten about his own flesh and blood and has decided to forsake him to continue his pursuit of ending my career, or at least attempting to. It shocked me to hear such things come from a father's mouth and it proved to me that Harris is now out of control and much like a wild animal with rabies, must be put down for the betterment of society. His violent and egotistical behavior has done nothing more than cause a huge liability for the corporation and has cost thousands of dollars just in settlements to keep the show on the air waves, but does Harris care? No! Harris only cares about himself and to him nothing else is as half as important as himself. So all of this money, all of these settlements, and all of these potential law suits which will more than likely rack up over the course of the remainder of his pointless contract are all worthless to him.
The man does not learn, ladies and gentlemen! He has not once improved since his arrival here in APW or has stood out from the pack as a true force in APW, as much as Harris denies it this is the truth. This man forced the inactivity of the last xtreme champion, sidelined me for two weeks, and has butted heads with Jeff on multiple occasions, yet we keep him on pay roll. May I ask, why?
I look into the camera and tilt my head in confusion before continuing on.
Nick: The answer is simple. Why pay him money by firing him when you can simply allow the contract to run out and not re-sign him? It really is simple deduction that this is the main plan for the future to save the company thousands of dollars by letting this neanderthal go. Harris, of course, could stop this from happening by shaping up, and actually being a professional, but Harris has decided that is not what he wants to do. Instead, Harris wants to lower the company that is paying for his contract even further by causing as many laughable law suits as he possibly can. He has already shamed the company enough by making a mockery of our development and scouting departments and is now looking to add a third item to the list of shame. He hopes to 'terminate' me. Not just compete against me and have a good fight, but to take me out of APW permanently. And for what? Beating him and making him look like a fool on live television because of how decisively I defeated him? News flash, Harris! The world doesn't facilitate sore losers, it throws them away like yesterday's garbage, and I assure you that the simile is dead on with how you have been acting.
You have not once accepted a loss with a smile on your face and not once have you grown from a loss. You have always growled and thrown a temper tantrum for the world to see whenever it wants to. Its sickening to see a man with so many accolades be nothing more than an angry old man with delusions of grandeur and egotistical tendencies. To think at one time, the people were happy to have you on roster, but now...all the people can do now is frown in disappointment at the man you have chosen to become. Its' even sadder when you think about the example and messages that you have set out for your son. It is hard to imagine how anyone can look at you as a father or even as a friend, but I guess you don't need those because you have always seemed to put your career ahead of everything else.
I mean, who gives a crap about a little boy being kidnapped by a crazy woman, or about a woman screaming and crying for the father of the boy to do something. Never fear, though, at least somebody gives a crap, and is taking the initiative in bringing the kidnapper to justice. I've called around and have been hoping that the police will rescue this kid and take him so far away from you that you will never see him again, but once again I don't think you would care. You have no heart and what was left of your conscience has been consumed by revenge and lust for glory that has long since passed you by. Yet, the solution to your delusion lies at my hands, and a week ago when I said I was going to take my revenge on you, I was wrong. Taking revenge on you would make me no better than you and we all know by now that I am too good of a person to be put in the same group as you. Instead, I will release you from your burdens, by defeating you with everything that I am. Then and only then will I achieve peace of mind and be able to move on with my career which has been encumbered by your delusional thoughts and crazed assaults on me while my back is turned.
I pause again and think for a second before I begin to finish up what I started.
Nick: I don't hate you, though, as much as it shocks me, and maybe shocks you. I know that this is all you are, no better than an animal, and to you professional wrestling is a jungle, and you are the king of it. Yet, that is just not the case. Professional wrestling is a business and a competition, those that approach it as such succeed, and those that decide to try to change what it is for their personal gain are usually pushed to the wayside. Such is your fate, Harris. Your 'focus' and predictable ignorance have been your undoing for some time now and the only reason you have been winning as of late has been because of the strategies of your opponents. I will not over-value you or under-value you, after all an animal is most dangerous when backed into a corner, but I will not follow the same blue print of your opponent's of the past three weeks. Their plans failed because they did not understand your approach, but I know you, Harris, and no amount of variation or innovation are going to change that.
One more pause before I decide to wrap things up.
Nick: All in all, I've never been intimidated or daunted by who you are, and that is because I have seen your type on many occasions because for as long as there is wrestling there will be a Harris' type athlete looking to change everything for his own personal gain. However, on the flip side, there will always be a man like me to stop you, and bring you back in line with reality. So this Sunday night, when we step into the ring there will be no terminating or revenge, there will only be an entertaining match, a match that I will win not because I can, but because I have to. Because at this rate, if someone doesn't knock some sense into you soon then you will only continue to rampage like a bull who sees red, and we just can't have that can we? Anyway, for now Harris I wish you luck, even though I think you need to see a psychiatrist more than you need any sort of good wishes from me, but I assure you, you're going to need all of the luck you can get this Sunday. Because no matter what...even if it kills me, I will have my hand raised in victory, and it won't just be my victory, but it will be a victory for everyone you have victimized, pushed aside, or ridiculed, and it will be glorious. Anyway, good night ladies and gentlemen, and I hope to see you all at Shockwave!
I turn off the camera as the scene bursts to static.
