Post by Evan Andrews on Sept 18, 2010 17:35:17 GMT -6
It's late in the evening, and Evan Andrews is just about ready to wrap up his final workout prior to the No Limits Ladder Match he'll take part in at the upcoming Battlegrounds PPV when he hears his cell phone begin to play the first notes of "Seek and Destroy over and over again.
Andrews feels his heart sink into the pit of his stomach as he stands inside the Kane mansion and listens to his phone continue to ring. He has a feeling that he knows who's on the other end of the line, and the type of conversation that he'll have with this person if he chooses to answer it...And he knows very well that it won't be a very pleasant experience.
And that's not something that Evan really wants to think about right now, because there's something else that should be of higher priority. At the moment, he should be concentrating upon the match he'll have with Joe Ragnal, Tempestad, and JFK, upon the challenge presented by each of these men, and upon the task of overcoming it in order to become the very first NCW X division champion.
That's part of the reason why he's has consciously avoided taking any calls throughout the course of the week; and the surface, it would seem as though this strategy has paid dividends. His ability to transition from move to move has never been better, and his strikes never seemed to have connected with more force then they have throughout the course of this week's preparation.
Yet, as "Seek and Destroy" continues to play, Evan realizes that
all this training will be for naught if he can't even summon up the courage to speak to the other person on the other end of the line.
He's well aware of the fact that previous message that this individual has left have instilled a sense of fear in him that he considers unwelcome...And he knows very well that the conversation that he'll have might force him to face truths about himself that he might not be willing to confront.
But after debating the matter inside his mind for a split-second that stretches on throughout the course of eternity, he decides that he can no longer put off this interaction. If he's half the person that he claims to be...And that he wants to be...He's going to have to be strong enough to contend with the unpleasant emotions that this discussion might produce.
So, with that in mind, Evan makes his way over to where his phone lies, picks it up, and answers the call in as calm and cool a tone of voice that can be managed, given all the thoughts that are racing throughout his mind...
Evan: Yes.
A low, guttural voice that's obviously been disguised by an electronic modulator greets him with a chuckle before speaking into the phone.
Voice: You're a hard man to reach, Evan.
Evan: I've been busy.
Voice: Yes, I'm certain that you have. How are you this evening, and how is your lovely wife and newborn child?
Evan, in a slightly strained tone of voice: We're fine, thanks for asking. So, what can I do for you?
Voice: Ah...You're still not the type to stand on ceremony, I see. It's nice to see that some things never change.
Evan feels his jaw tighten in anger as he addresses the voice on the other end of the line in a cold tone of voice.
Evan: Look, I'm not certain who you are or how you know me, but I do know that you didn't answer the question that I asked of you. So allow me to ask it once more...What can I do for you?
Voice: Well, since you asked so nicely, I think that it's only fair that I provide you with an answer...Which is to state that the reason for this call is because you didn't answer a question that I asked you in the recent past.
You do remember that question, don't you, Andrews?
You do remember when I asked you how you would feel if you were to lose everything that you considered to be of value?
Evan feels a chill run down the length of his spine as he remembers that previous message.
Evan: I...I do.
Voice: I'd like to hear your response, Evan. Rest assured...This is something that I would very much like to know.
Evan: May I ask why?
Voice: I see no reason to provide you with that information.
Evan: Then, in turn, I see no reason why I should provide you with my response to that original inquiry.
Evan hears a modulated voice emit what sounds like a growl of frustration, before chuckling again.
Voice: I see. Perhaps I should ask a different question of you then, and this is one that you may be prepared to answer. I understand that you're about to take part in an important match this week.
Evan: That's correct.
Voice: And it's safe to assume that you feel that you're capable of winning this contest...?
Evan: Absolutely.
Voice: But what if you don't win this match, Evan? What will you do then?
Evan: In truth, I haven't given the matter much thought. My primary focus this week has been upon the goal of winning this match, and becoming the first NCW X division champion.
Voice: So, I take it that you would consider it completely out of the realm of possibility that one of your opponents might climb the ladder and win the match instead? Are you saying that you aren't willing to take the possibility of suffering a loss into consideration?
Evan: I didn't say that. Any and every competitor who steps inside the squared circle needs to understand that there is a chance that they might not emerge as the winner.
Voice: Well, then answer the question, Andrews? What will you do if you lose? How will you deal with being a failure?
Evan initially feels his blood begin to boil at being questioned in such a manner, but decides to give the question some thought...And then breaks out into a chuckle of his own as his response comes to him like a bold from the sky.
Evan: Am I to understand that you're one to equate loss with failure?
Voice, after a brief pause: Isn't that the case...?
Evan: Not always. Just because someone doesn't win a match doesn't automatically mean that they've failed.
Voice: Perhaps you could elaborate.
Evan: Certainly.
Let's use this week's match as an example....
At Battlegrounds, I will do everything and anything that is needed to scale the ladder, unstrap the newly created X division and claim it as my own. It would please me to do so...In part because it would be nice to establish my place in history as the very first person to hold that title, and in part because it would provide some measure of validation for the path that I've chosen to follow ever since returned to this federation.
Yet, deep in my heart, I must take into account the fact that all of my opponents wish to do the same thing, and the possibility that one of those three men might accomplish the same goal before I get the chance to do so.
Voice: And that means that you'll have failed.
Evan: Not necessarily.
For, even if, by chance, I'm not the one to pull down the belt, I'm certain that I'll have produced the type of effort that causes the victory to look deep inside himself, and find the strength of character needed to exceed his physical, mental, and emotional limitations in order to overcome my challenge.
And, if, through my own efforts, I provide one of my three opponents to raise the level of their performance beyond a previous known point...To experience their own personal Revolution, if you will...Then that can't automatically be considered a failure on my part.
Because how can a result like that be considered a failure when your efforts have helped someone to find the desire to succeed?
The voice on the other end of the line remains silent, and Evan takes that opportunity to press his newly gained advantage.
Evan: You seem focused upon the idea of what will happen to me if I were to suffer some grievous loss, but I would submit that it might be better to focus upon what you might gain if you wanted to make certain that happened.
Because in the same way that one of the three opponents that I'll face this week would need to undergo a sort of transformation if they were to secure the victory, you, my friend will have to experience a Revolution of your own in order to profit from my loss.
Are you prepared to do that...?
Once again, Evan hears the voice growl in response, before it answers this question with two simple words.
Voice: We'll see.
With that, the call disconnects, leaving Evan to ponder the significance of what just occurred, and of what might happen as a result of this conversation.
He can't say for certain what shall take place going forward...In much the same way that he honestly can't predict the result of the match he'll take part in at Battlegrounds.
But he knows one thing for sure...
There's a chance that he might not win this match this week...
But he'll be damned he allows himself, or anyone else, take some sort of action that causes him to fail.
Andrews feels his heart sink into the pit of his stomach as he stands inside the Kane mansion and listens to his phone continue to ring. He has a feeling that he knows who's on the other end of the line, and the type of conversation that he'll have with this person if he chooses to answer it...And he knows very well that it won't be a very pleasant experience.
And that's not something that Evan really wants to think about right now, because there's something else that should be of higher priority. At the moment, he should be concentrating upon the match he'll have with Joe Ragnal, Tempestad, and JFK, upon the challenge presented by each of these men, and upon the task of overcoming it in order to become the very first NCW X division champion.
That's part of the reason why he's has consciously avoided taking any calls throughout the course of the week; and the surface, it would seem as though this strategy has paid dividends. His ability to transition from move to move has never been better, and his strikes never seemed to have connected with more force then they have throughout the course of this week's preparation.
Yet, as "Seek and Destroy" continues to play, Evan realizes that
all this training will be for naught if he can't even summon up the courage to speak to the other person on the other end of the line.
He's well aware of the fact that previous message that this individual has left have instilled a sense of fear in him that he considers unwelcome...And he knows very well that the conversation that he'll have might force him to face truths about himself that he might not be willing to confront.
But after debating the matter inside his mind for a split-second that stretches on throughout the course of eternity, he decides that he can no longer put off this interaction. If he's half the person that he claims to be...And that he wants to be...He's going to have to be strong enough to contend with the unpleasant emotions that this discussion might produce.
So, with that in mind, Evan makes his way over to where his phone lies, picks it up, and answers the call in as calm and cool a tone of voice that can be managed, given all the thoughts that are racing throughout his mind...
Evan: Yes.
A low, guttural voice that's obviously been disguised by an electronic modulator greets him with a chuckle before speaking into the phone.
Voice: You're a hard man to reach, Evan.
Evan: I've been busy.
Voice: Yes, I'm certain that you have. How are you this evening, and how is your lovely wife and newborn child?
Evan, in a slightly strained tone of voice: We're fine, thanks for asking. So, what can I do for you?
Voice: Ah...You're still not the type to stand on ceremony, I see. It's nice to see that some things never change.
Evan feels his jaw tighten in anger as he addresses the voice on the other end of the line in a cold tone of voice.
Evan: Look, I'm not certain who you are or how you know me, but I do know that you didn't answer the question that I asked of you. So allow me to ask it once more...What can I do for you?
Voice: Well, since you asked so nicely, I think that it's only fair that I provide you with an answer...Which is to state that the reason for this call is because you didn't answer a question that I asked you in the recent past.
You do remember that question, don't you, Andrews?
You do remember when I asked you how you would feel if you were to lose everything that you considered to be of value?
Evan feels a chill run down the length of his spine as he remembers that previous message.
Evan: I...I do.
Voice: I'd like to hear your response, Evan. Rest assured...This is something that I would very much like to know.
Evan: May I ask why?
Voice: I see no reason to provide you with that information.
Evan: Then, in turn, I see no reason why I should provide you with my response to that original inquiry.
Evan hears a modulated voice emit what sounds like a growl of frustration, before chuckling again.
Voice: I see. Perhaps I should ask a different question of you then, and this is one that you may be prepared to answer. I understand that you're about to take part in an important match this week.
Evan: That's correct.
Voice: And it's safe to assume that you feel that you're capable of winning this contest...?
Evan: Absolutely.
Voice: But what if you don't win this match, Evan? What will you do then?
Evan: In truth, I haven't given the matter much thought. My primary focus this week has been upon the goal of winning this match, and becoming the first NCW X division champion.
Voice: So, I take it that you would consider it completely out of the realm of possibility that one of your opponents might climb the ladder and win the match instead? Are you saying that you aren't willing to take the possibility of suffering a loss into consideration?
Evan: I didn't say that. Any and every competitor who steps inside the squared circle needs to understand that there is a chance that they might not emerge as the winner.
Voice: Well, then answer the question, Andrews? What will you do if you lose? How will you deal with being a failure?
Evan initially feels his blood begin to boil at being questioned in such a manner, but decides to give the question some thought...And then breaks out into a chuckle of his own as his response comes to him like a bold from the sky.
Evan: Am I to understand that you're one to equate loss with failure?
Voice, after a brief pause: Isn't that the case...?
Evan: Not always. Just because someone doesn't win a match doesn't automatically mean that they've failed.
Voice: Perhaps you could elaborate.
Evan: Certainly.
Let's use this week's match as an example....
At Battlegrounds, I will do everything and anything that is needed to scale the ladder, unstrap the newly created X division and claim it as my own. It would please me to do so...In part because it would be nice to establish my place in history as the very first person to hold that title, and in part because it would provide some measure of validation for the path that I've chosen to follow ever since returned to this federation.
Yet, deep in my heart, I must take into account the fact that all of my opponents wish to do the same thing, and the possibility that one of those three men might accomplish the same goal before I get the chance to do so.
Voice: And that means that you'll have failed.
Evan: Not necessarily.
For, even if, by chance, I'm not the one to pull down the belt, I'm certain that I'll have produced the type of effort that causes the victory to look deep inside himself, and find the strength of character needed to exceed his physical, mental, and emotional limitations in order to overcome my challenge.
And, if, through my own efforts, I provide one of my three opponents to raise the level of their performance beyond a previous known point...To experience their own personal Revolution, if you will...Then that can't automatically be considered a failure on my part.
Because how can a result like that be considered a failure when your efforts have helped someone to find the desire to succeed?
The voice on the other end of the line remains silent, and Evan takes that opportunity to press his newly gained advantage.
Evan: You seem focused upon the idea of what will happen to me if I were to suffer some grievous loss, but I would submit that it might be better to focus upon what you might gain if you wanted to make certain that happened.
Because in the same way that one of the three opponents that I'll face this week would need to undergo a sort of transformation if they were to secure the victory, you, my friend will have to experience a Revolution of your own in order to profit from my loss.
Are you prepared to do that...?
Once again, Evan hears the voice growl in response, before it answers this question with two simple words.
Voice: We'll see.
With that, the call disconnects, leaving Evan to ponder the significance of what just occurred, and of what might happen as a result of this conversation.
He can't say for certain what shall take place going forward...In much the same way that he honestly can't predict the result of the match he'll take part in at Battlegrounds.
But he knows one thing for sure...
There's a chance that he might not win this match this week...
But he'll be damned he allows himself, or anyone else, take some sort of action that causes him to fail.