Post by The Ace on Mar 18, 2009 13:20:05 GMT -6
*The scene opens with Kathy Conway and Jessica Kruger walking into the hotel, Kathy is carrying little Solitaire on her hip, and the ladies seem to be in good spirits as they chat about having a great opportunity to explore New York's shopping scene...*
Jessica: It's great being in The Big Apple, isn't it? I hear they have some swanky stores here...
Kathy: If we can afford the prices...
Jessica: Hey, it's why I married a wrestler...
*The ladies laugh*
Kathy: Oh come on Jess, surely that's not true...
*Kathy frowns, she had not married Jake for his money or fame, but because her heart had desired it, she knew that now, she loved her husband, and as soon as they got up into their rooms, she would show him just how much...*
Jessica: No I suppose it's not. Hey cheer up sis, it'll be fine...as soon as Jake sees you in that sexy little black negligee, he'll forget all about the argument...he is a man after all...
Kathy: I suppose you're right, I just wish I had had an answer for him there and then that night, then none of this would have happened and I wouldn't feel so damn guilty for Jason's injury...
Jessica: Yeah, boy, he had a lucky escape if you ask me...you really weren't kidding when you said Jake doesn't take bad news well, I mean trying to run someone over with a car is a bit extreme, even for him, you're lucky he didn't press charges or Jake'd be sitting in jail now instead of competing for the World Heavyweight Title this weekend...
Kathy: I know...
Jessica: And another thing, he's damn lucky he had some sense to let my baby out of the car before he went crazy or I swear I would have slapped the seven shades of hell out of him...did you see the way he was looking at her? It gave me the creeps...
Kathy: I know, I was sitting there thinking, please God, don't make him do something he'll regret for the rest of his life to Stacey...
Jessica: You're damn right he would have regret it for as long as he lived, I would have made damn sure of that...
I promise to cherish you for as long as we both shall live...
*Jessica's words echoed the memory of a vow she took less than a year ago at her wedding as they approached the receptionist's desk, behind which stood a young red haired, green eyed woman who looked at least ten years younger than Kathy. Jake would have liked her, she knew. Jake had always had a preference for red heads, and for a moment she wondered if he resented her for being a blonde...*
Receptionist: Welcome to the Plaza...how may I help you today?
*Kathy hated that voice because she imagined Jake would have loved it, and this little whore probably wouldn't have thought anything of trying to steal her husband...*
Jessica: Mrs Jessica Kruger...I believe you have a reservation for Conway and Kruger. Our husbands and my kids have already checked in...
*The receptionist takes a moment to check her computer before smiling back at the two women, Kathy perceived it as a smirk she would love to wipe off her pretty little face...*
Receptionist: Yes...Mr Conway and Mr Kruger have checked in, Room 128, you, Mrs Kruger and Mrs Conway have been booked into Room 130 with your children...
Kathy: There must be some mistake...
Receptionist: No, no mistake...I have it right here Mrs Conway, one double room and one quadruple room under the names of Conway and Kruger...
Kathy: Listen here Missss....I don't know what your game is but I'm telling you you must have made a mistake....I should have a room with my husband...
Receptionist: Mr Conway rang ahead and changed the reservation before he checked in earlier this morning, I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do Mrs Conway...
*Kathy narrowed her eyes at the insolent bitch that stood before her, convinced she was lying and trying to keep her away from her husband. Kathy felt like a cat waiting to pounce and claw this girl's eyes out...Jessica sensed Kathy's frustration building and grabbed her by the arm to pull her away...*
Jessica: Come on Kat, let's go...
Kat...He used to call me that...
*Jessica grabbed the room key from the desk and thanked the receptionist before dragging her friend away with her. Kathy went willingly but only because that memory had left her limp and suddenly defenceless...*
*A few days had passed since that incident and now The Ace sat in his hotel room on his bed opposite Kevin Kruger who sat on his, Kruger had brought his son into their room and now Matthew Kruger sat next to his father reading a Superman comic as the two men talked...*
Thanks again for agreeing to stay with me...I just can't face Kathy right now...
Kruger: No problem, I understand...sometimes we all need a break from the old ball and chain, truth be told, I've rather enjoyed the break myself, reminds me of our school camping trips when we were in the Cub Scouts...
Yeah, you never could pitch a tent...
Kruger: Hey at least I wasn't the one trying to sneak a peek into the girls' tents every night or getting up extra early to be the first at the breakfast tent...
*The two men laughed*
Hey, at least the breakfast tent was worth it...
Kruger: Unlike the girls' tent you mean?
Hiyo!
*This even makes Matthew look up from his comic and laugh, The Ace turns to him*
Take my advice, Matt if it comes to a choice between bringing home a babe or bringing home the bacon, stick with the bacon, because at least you don't have to stay committed to the eggs you get with the bacon like you do with the eggs that come with a babe...
Kruger: Hey I love my Jessica's eggs...
I love Kathy's egg too, but apparently its not enough to just love eggs anymore...
Matthew: Guys, come on this is starting to sound like an old Bates' promo with all this talk of eggs...
And...what's wrong with that? It's PERFECTLY NORMAL...
Matthew: There's nothing wrong with it Uncle Jake, its just that well you have a chance to become World Champion this Sunday, and Dad has a chance to prove that what happened last week was a fluke by beating Shaddix...and I don't think either of you should be taking it lightly...after all Sovereign is being held at the Mecca of the Wrestling World...Madison Square Garden, just imagine it...The Ace finally becomes nCw World Heavyweight Champion at the most famous sports arena in the free world...and it would be about damn time if you ask me...
Alright Matt, you made your point, I will address Jack Hammond in a moment, but first I have to talk a little bit about the match that got me to this point...
*The Ace turns to face the camera directly...*
Last week, I earned the right to challenge Hammond at Sovereign by pinning Mark Evil in that fatal four way, I think its fairly obvious why I chose to embarass Mark last week...going into the match he made some pretty bold claims against me, saying that he and I would never meet again in that ring because I wouldn't want to come back after all he promised to say and do to me...that I would just be dressed as Ace, but in reality be nothing more than Jake Conway deep down...what happened Mark? I ended up making you a victim of your own words last week, you who claimed I was all walk and no talk, its a different story now isn't it? God, I hope Bates' kills you at Sovereign for implying my daughter would grow up to be a prostitute...Spike implied something similar once and look what became of him....the best you can hope for now Mark is that I do become Champion this Sunday and go on to concern myself with the Coliseum winner instead of concerning myself with ending your pathetic little career for that little remark against my daughter...see Kathy may well be a whore, but she is my whore and as such you have no right to call her that...
*The Ace sighs, Kathy probably didn't even love him anymore and here he was still defending her honour...*
Speaking of pathetic, that brings me rather neatly to Jason, I saw your promo, and rather unsurprisingly you're still making excuses for your short comings last week, yes I ran you down, and yes I regret not getting the job done properly but that isn't why you lost last Sunday...no, you lost because you had been pissing off Damien Sparks all week, and so he picked the moment that he knew would hurt you the most and sent his stooges out to make certain you didn't get the shot...did you think getting on the wrong side of a man on a power trip would end any other way for you? I mean really, it was obvious what was going to happen when you piss the wrong people off, people like Damien who have power and people like me who have pride. I will not apologise to anyone for taking advantage when the situation presented itself to me, but please don't make me out to be the bad guy in all this, especially as we both know that had the situation been reversed, you would have done the same damn thing. Don't bother denying it Jason, I know you too well...
Kruger: And that fifteen year old girl you saw getting into The Ace's car was my daughter, and I don't take kindly to any of the insinuations you made about her, infact if Dirty Deal even leave a piece of your ass for me after Sovereign, I'll make sure you regret all the things you said...
I'm sorry, Kev...I suppose that was partly my fault...she shouldn't have been there...
*The Ace sighs, reflecting on what he had almost done to Stacey, before turning his thoughts to the one other man he had beaten last week to earn his spot in one of Sovereign's two main events this Sunday...*
Kruger: No, its ok Jake...you know she adores you...
I know...
*The Ace paused before he went on to address Rob Diamond*
Diamond, tough break kid, for you it really was three strikes and you're out...that's just the way it goes in this business sometimes, but deep down I think even you can admit that out of the four of us, I was the only one who truly deserved one more shot at the brass ring, I was the only one who had experience of headlining a Pay Per View before and I saved the three of you that pressure...you should thank me, but I know you won't and that's just fine because quite honestly I don't care about anything any of the boys in the back have to say about me anymore, this Sunday will be my time to shine and at Sovereign I will shut the mouths of my harhest critics, guys like Falcon and Angel, guys who think that I can't get it done, that The Ace is good...but not great enough to win the big one, guys who are themselves oblivious to the fact that they themselves are guilty of the very thing they are so quick to chastise me for, and that is not getting the job done...
*The Ace smirks feeling better for having seen the idiocy of their criticisms...*
And then, just like my opportunity, their silence will be...golden...
*The Ace grins, savouring the thought of proving all his peers wrong in just a matter of days...*
But I'm not getting ahead of myself just yet, you see ever since my last opportunity at Crossroads last month, my fortunes have been something of a mixed bag...I lost to a much smaller, less skilled man in my own specialty match - a match nobody thought I could possibly lose, but I did...and I've seen the nCw fan polls for this match...most people believe I cannot possibly lose yet again, maybe because they factor in that this will be my third singles encounter with the Champion Jack Hammond and that Jack has never beaten me one on one...
*The Ace sighs*
But it does not matter what my fans choose to believe, because I myself do not believe that anything is as certain as it might first appear anymore. I was certain Kathy loved me once upon a time, just like I was certain that I could beat Nelly at my six month anniversary just because he was the smaller man who I had never wrestled before. I was embarrassed by the strength of my certainty in both these situations before. I will not make the same mistake again. I will not be embarrassed again. I will not underestimate you either Jack, not like I did the other small man, Nelly Angel before he beat me. He sold his soul to make a name for himself that night, but he did beat me. He proved that bigger wasn't always better in this business, just like you yourself Jack are doing at this very moment by holding the most prestigious prize in our business, the only question really is can you do what Nelly did?
*The Ace raises an eyebrow*
Can you sacrifice your soul, can you manipulate your morals and can you garner your greed long enough to do what needs to be done at Sovereign? You need to beat me Jack, but will you do it at the expense of everybody's expectations of the loveable underdog Champion, can you ignore your ideals and say f**k the fans just to keep that gold around your waist? Glory isn't cheap, but the tactic one uses to attain it in this business so often is...can you be that guy Hammond? Is it all worth it? I mean you are so damn close to tying Lance Ryan's first reign with that belt, one more win at Sovereign and you'll go down as one of the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champions in this company...can you do it Jack? Can you resist the temptation to take the cheap road to victory on Sunday, all so that honour can be yours? Is it all worth it, Jack?
*The Ace looks dead into the camera and pauses for a moment to let the question hang in the air...*
I know you'd love to beat me, not only because you haven't, that really isn't important here, but because you know as well as I do what a win over me would do for your career here in nCw...one more three count and you become as great as Lance Ryan once was, and then nobody will be able to mock your size or stature within the company. One more win and you will have escaped the curse of the Hall of FameAcer as it hangs over your career now, and virtually guaranteed yourself a spot in the nCw Hall of Fame one day. One more win, and you will have once again embarrassed me and condemned me to the shame which threatens to choke the life out of my career at the moment. Just one more win Jack and you can go on to A Night To Remember and have a chance to repeat history. A chance to do what Lance Ryan did in 2008 to Dave Holland and that is to beat and embarrass the 2009 Coliseum winner...isn't it inviting? Can't you taste it Jack? Can't you hear infamy call to you? I hear her in my dreams...I feel her in my nightmares as she seduces my mind with empty promises and rapes my body with the cold hands of an undeniable truth...the truth that I'm simply not good enough for her and never will be...
*The Ace shudders and sighs, almost pleasurably*
And I am powerless to stop her. She laughs at me every time I fall. She wants you Jack, she whispers to you, she wants you to break me and if you do she promises you your rightful place alongside Lance. She will give you the immortality of a great champion Jack, all she asks in return is that you give her your heart, and pay for it with your soul. Nelly knew her price, and he paid it in full with the only currency she will ever accept. Morality. The coins now lie spent at the bottom of the Age of the Revolution's wishing well, and she needs more, she needs a new pair of shoes to stomp the mudhole of my dreams dry, Jack. Will you pay her price? Will you pay the ultimate price, just like you did at Metamorphosis to win that title? Will you become a Revolutionary for one night once again, as you did against Xavier Williams, and will you once again realise your dreams at the expense of my own, just like you did at Crossroads? I will admit you inspired the best in me that night, as you always do, but once again my best wasn't good enough...that night Jack trumped The Ace, and time indeed told the story of a Champion who triumphed against all the odds...the cards fell as The Ace was indeed trumped by a Jack of Hearts in that ring...
*The Ace frowns as he reflects on being kept out of the ring for the majority of that match whilst Xavier and Jack settled their own scores, he was just the third wheel then and had no real place in that match. This time was different. This time Jack couldn't just push him aside, he had to face him...*
But fate or fortune would bring us face to face one more time after Cross Roads. The last time we faced off Jack was at Trauma, and before the match you told me that despite it all, you still respected me, and would bet on me to give you sleepless nights were I named one of the gladiators in this year's Coliseum like I was in the first last year. I wonder if you still bet on me now that you know I'm not, now that you know I only had to beat three men to get my spot at Sovereign, despite not being named one of the six who would just as readily kill each other as they would kill you for the position I am in now, and have a chance to become nCw World Heavyweight Champion...
*The Ace looks over at Matthew's comic book for a moment before continuing...*
But I suppose when you are Superman, you do have a huge bullseye on your chest, everybody either wants to destroy you or to steal your powers because let's face it, everybody wants to fly as high as you are right now Jack...you know that, so at times you hide behind the glasses of self depreciation and for a moment become as timid as Clark Kent, you become a force of unbelievable positivity and goodness and then nobody has a bad word to say against that loveable, shy, mild mannered wrestler Jack Hammond. You are respected by your peers because in their eyes you've earned that title Jack, they don't respect me in quite the same way because to them I have earned nothing without a sidekick. To them I do not work alone, because I am not Superman, not like you are Clar - I mean Jack Hammond...
*The Ace sighs*
I sometimes wish I could be as cool as you are Jack, I really wish I could be Superman and fly the red and blue banner of our home country as proudly as you do Jack, but I could never pull it off, as you have no doubt noticed, I'm far too smug to ever be Superman. Jack you told me last time that win or lose you would show me why it is that you wear that belt, well this Sunday you have another chance to not only show me, but also to prove to me why you should be the one to face the Coliseum winner this year and not me. You see A Night To Remember is as important to the Champion as it is to the Challenger, but in all the glory of the Coliseum win, everybody always focuses on the challenger, that is why even though he lost to Lance Ryan, Dave Holland became the overnight sensation whilst Lance just became that guy who defended his belt yet again. Lance became the man who proved Dave's dream of becoming the top man was just that...a dream...what gives you the right to be Lance's successor and not me? What gives Jack Hammond the right to crush that dream and not The Ace?
*The Ace sighs as he once again looks at Matthew's comic book*
It's because I am not Superman isn't it? I'm just...Batman, I don't have the cool superpowers that you do, I don't have the cool Fortress of Solitude where I can just sit and chill out when I'm feeling a bit self depreciating and emo. I don't even have a Lois Lane. No...I'm just Batman, I just sit in my Batcave brooding, forged from tragedy and the sum of my own fears, I only know that it is the belt around my waist that makes me great. I rely on that belt to save me, without that belt I am nothing but a simple man in a mask who stalks the night. Even my Robin has left me, Dick Grayson went on to become Nightwing just as surely as Steve Awesome went on to become a Champion in his own right. He didn't need me anymore, so I did what Bruce Wayne would have done in that situation, I went out and trained another Robin...
*The Ace nods at his old school friend, Kevin Kruger*
Kevin Kruger is my second Robin here in nCw so I suppose you could call him Jason Todd, meanwhile I, Bruce Wayne, shall continue to put a brave face on it all and do what Batman does best and that is to kick ass and live the high life with my wealth - all the while pining for the loss of my Rachel Dawes and knowing that I can never be with my Catwoman either because she loves Batman, not Bruce Wayne...
*The Ace sighs as he dwells on the fact that Kathy was drifting further and further away from him, and they hadn't even been married a year yet...*
Somehow, some way I have to beat you this Sunday, Calel, you who are the last Son of Krypton, somehow I have to blot out the yellow sun that is the source of all your superpowers here on Earth...
*Kruger suddenly did his best Burt Ward impression as he stated the obvious question The Ace had apparently forgotten about...*
Kruger: Why not just use Kryptonite, Batman?
*The Ace smiles at Kevin, before launching into his best impression of the legend that is Adam West...*
Good thinking Robin my old chum, it is Superman's one undeniable weakness, but where on Earth do we find some of the green stuff? It has to be as green as the envy and the jealousy I feel, some would say I already am Jack's kryptonite, but one can never be too careful, Robin...
Matthew: Erm, it doesn't necessarily have to be Green kryptonite you guys, other common colours used to defeat Superman include Red Kryptonite which can transmutate Superman and have other bizzare effects...
Kruger: Holy mutation device, Batman! We could turn Superman into a real hamster and then he wouldn't be able to do anything...
*Kruger punches his own palm*
Shrewd thinking Robin, but Red Kryptonite is unpredictable, we could end up transforming him into Falcon and he could blindside me with a roll up...no we need something a little more reliable...
Matthew: Well there's my personal favourite, Gold Kryptonite which would permanently rob Superman of his powers...
Kruger: Holy power failure Batman! We've got him!
Indeed we have Robin, and I happen to know where Superman keeps a chunk of gold Kryptonite, this Sunday I shall have to take it from him when he brings it down to the ring and hands it to the referee...then he will be rendered completely powerless here in nCw...
Matthew: There's other colours too...
That's quite enough out of you Alfred, go fetch Robin and I some sandwiches...
Matthew: Screw you guys, I aint no old butler...
*Kruger turns to his son and puts a hand on his shoulder*
Kruger: Would you rather be Batgirl?
*Matthew launches into his best Michael Caine impression*
Matthew: My name is Alfred Pennyworth - and not a lot of people know that...
*The three men suddenly start howling with laughter*
*The scene switches to the much less joyous atmosphere in the ladies' hotel room where Kathy Conway is sat with Solitaire in her lap sitting opposite Jessica Kruger and her daughter, Stacey...*
Stacey: I don't like when you and Uncle Jake fight...why don't you just tell him you love him and don't care sbout Jason...
Kathy: I was going to Stace, I really was...
*Jessica Kruger turns to her daughter*
Jessica: Its not that simple, you know how Uncle Jake is when he's mad...I think you shouldn't see him for a while...
*Stacey looks at her mother in shock*
Stacey: But why? He's only mad at Aunt Kathy because he loves her and cares about her...
Jessica: I'm doing this to protect you, you'll understand when you're older...
Stacey: This is stupid! He's only a couple of doors away and you can't stop me from seeing him, mother...
*With that Stacey jumps off the bed and runs out of the room, slamming shut the door behind her and for a moment, as Kathy watcher her leave, she wished she had Stacey's courage to run into her husband's arms and believe with utter conviction that everything was going to be alright...but she didn't, all she had was yet more tears to shed, and upon seeing her cry, Jessica immediately took to her friend's side and wrapped an arm around her, telling her that it was going to be okay in the end.
Kathy placed her head wearily on Jessica's shoulder and wept openly as Jessica cursed Jake Conway for being too busy being The Ace and not the man his wife needed right now. The scene fades slowly away to black...*
Jessica: It's great being in The Big Apple, isn't it? I hear they have some swanky stores here...
Kathy: If we can afford the prices...
Jessica: Hey, it's why I married a wrestler...
*The ladies laugh*
Kathy: Oh come on Jess, surely that's not true...
*Kathy frowns, she had not married Jake for his money or fame, but because her heart had desired it, she knew that now, she loved her husband, and as soon as they got up into their rooms, she would show him just how much...*
Jessica: No I suppose it's not. Hey cheer up sis, it'll be fine...as soon as Jake sees you in that sexy little black negligee, he'll forget all about the argument...he is a man after all...
Kathy: I suppose you're right, I just wish I had had an answer for him there and then that night, then none of this would have happened and I wouldn't feel so damn guilty for Jason's injury...
Jessica: Yeah, boy, he had a lucky escape if you ask me...you really weren't kidding when you said Jake doesn't take bad news well, I mean trying to run someone over with a car is a bit extreme, even for him, you're lucky he didn't press charges or Jake'd be sitting in jail now instead of competing for the World Heavyweight Title this weekend...
Kathy: I know...
Jessica: And another thing, he's damn lucky he had some sense to let my baby out of the car before he went crazy or I swear I would have slapped the seven shades of hell out of him...did you see the way he was looking at her? It gave me the creeps...
Kathy: I know, I was sitting there thinking, please God, don't make him do something he'll regret for the rest of his life to Stacey...
Jessica: You're damn right he would have regret it for as long as he lived, I would have made damn sure of that...
I promise to cherish you for as long as we both shall live...
*Jessica's words echoed the memory of a vow she took less than a year ago at her wedding as they approached the receptionist's desk, behind which stood a young red haired, green eyed woman who looked at least ten years younger than Kathy. Jake would have liked her, she knew. Jake had always had a preference for red heads, and for a moment she wondered if he resented her for being a blonde...*
Receptionist: Welcome to the Plaza...how may I help you today?
*Kathy hated that voice because she imagined Jake would have loved it, and this little whore probably wouldn't have thought anything of trying to steal her husband...*
Jessica: Mrs Jessica Kruger...I believe you have a reservation for Conway and Kruger. Our husbands and my kids have already checked in...
*The receptionist takes a moment to check her computer before smiling back at the two women, Kathy perceived it as a smirk she would love to wipe off her pretty little face...*
Receptionist: Yes...Mr Conway and Mr Kruger have checked in, Room 128, you, Mrs Kruger and Mrs Conway have been booked into Room 130 with your children...
Kathy: There must be some mistake...
Receptionist: No, no mistake...I have it right here Mrs Conway, one double room and one quadruple room under the names of Conway and Kruger...
Kathy: Listen here Missss....I don't know what your game is but I'm telling you you must have made a mistake....I should have a room with my husband...
Receptionist: Mr Conway rang ahead and changed the reservation before he checked in earlier this morning, I'm sorry but there's nothing I can do Mrs Conway...
*Kathy narrowed her eyes at the insolent bitch that stood before her, convinced she was lying and trying to keep her away from her husband. Kathy felt like a cat waiting to pounce and claw this girl's eyes out...Jessica sensed Kathy's frustration building and grabbed her by the arm to pull her away...*
Jessica: Come on Kat, let's go...
Kat...He used to call me that...
*Jessica grabbed the room key from the desk and thanked the receptionist before dragging her friend away with her. Kathy went willingly but only because that memory had left her limp and suddenly defenceless...*
*A few days had passed since that incident and now The Ace sat in his hotel room on his bed opposite Kevin Kruger who sat on his, Kruger had brought his son into their room and now Matthew Kruger sat next to his father reading a Superman comic as the two men talked...*
Thanks again for agreeing to stay with me...I just can't face Kathy right now...
Kruger: No problem, I understand...sometimes we all need a break from the old ball and chain, truth be told, I've rather enjoyed the break myself, reminds me of our school camping trips when we were in the Cub Scouts...
Yeah, you never could pitch a tent...
Kruger: Hey at least I wasn't the one trying to sneak a peek into the girls' tents every night or getting up extra early to be the first at the breakfast tent...
*The two men laughed*
Hey, at least the breakfast tent was worth it...
Kruger: Unlike the girls' tent you mean?
Hiyo!
*This even makes Matthew look up from his comic and laugh, The Ace turns to him*
Take my advice, Matt if it comes to a choice between bringing home a babe or bringing home the bacon, stick with the bacon, because at least you don't have to stay committed to the eggs you get with the bacon like you do with the eggs that come with a babe...
Kruger: Hey I love my Jessica's eggs...
I love Kathy's egg too, but apparently its not enough to just love eggs anymore...
Matthew: Guys, come on this is starting to sound like an old Bates' promo with all this talk of eggs...
And...what's wrong with that? It's PERFECTLY NORMAL...
Matthew: There's nothing wrong with it Uncle Jake, its just that well you have a chance to become World Champion this Sunday, and Dad has a chance to prove that what happened last week was a fluke by beating Shaddix...and I don't think either of you should be taking it lightly...after all Sovereign is being held at the Mecca of the Wrestling World...Madison Square Garden, just imagine it...The Ace finally becomes nCw World Heavyweight Champion at the most famous sports arena in the free world...and it would be about damn time if you ask me...
Alright Matt, you made your point, I will address Jack Hammond in a moment, but first I have to talk a little bit about the match that got me to this point...
*The Ace turns to face the camera directly...*
Last week, I earned the right to challenge Hammond at Sovereign by pinning Mark Evil in that fatal four way, I think its fairly obvious why I chose to embarass Mark last week...going into the match he made some pretty bold claims against me, saying that he and I would never meet again in that ring because I wouldn't want to come back after all he promised to say and do to me...that I would just be dressed as Ace, but in reality be nothing more than Jake Conway deep down...what happened Mark? I ended up making you a victim of your own words last week, you who claimed I was all walk and no talk, its a different story now isn't it? God, I hope Bates' kills you at Sovereign for implying my daughter would grow up to be a prostitute...Spike implied something similar once and look what became of him....the best you can hope for now Mark is that I do become Champion this Sunday and go on to concern myself with the Coliseum winner instead of concerning myself with ending your pathetic little career for that little remark against my daughter...see Kathy may well be a whore, but she is my whore and as such you have no right to call her that...
*The Ace sighs, Kathy probably didn't even love him anymore and here he was still defending her honour...*
Speaking of pathetic, that brings me rather neatly to Jason, I saw your promo, and rather unsurprisingly you're still making excuses for your short comings last week, yes I ran you down, and yes I regret not getting the job done properly but that isn't why you lost last Sunday...no, you lost because you had been pissing off Damien Sparks all week, and so he picked the moment that he knew would hurt you the most and sent his stooges out to make certain you didn't get the shot...did you think getting on the wrong side of a man on a power trip would end any other way for you? I mean really, it was obvious what was going to happen when you piss the wrong people off, people like Damien who have power and people like me who have pride. I will not apologise to anyone for taking advantage when the situation presented itself to me, but please don't make me out to be the bad guy in all this, especially as we both know that had the situation been reversed, you would have done the same damn thing. Don't bother denying it Jason, I know you too well...
Kruger: And that fifteen year old girl you saw getting into The Ace's car was my daughter, and I don't take kindly to any of the insinuations you made about her, infact if Dirty Deal even leave a piece of your ass for me after Sovereign, I'll make sure you regret all the things you said...
I'm sorry, Kev...I suppose that was partly my fault...she shouldn't have been there...
*The Ace sighs, reflecting on what he had almost done to Stacey, before turning his thoughts to the one other man he had beaten last week to earn his spot in one of Sovereign's two main events this Sunday...*
Kruger: No, its ok Jake...you know she adores you...
I know...
*The Ace paused before he went on to address Rob Diamond*
Diamond, tough break kid, for you it really was three strikes and you're out...that's just the way it goes in this business sometimes, but deep down I think even you can admit that out of the four of us, I was the only one who truly deserved one more shot at the brass ring, I was the only one who had experience of headlining a Pay Per View before and I saved the three of you that pressure...you should thank me, but I know you won't and that's just fine because quite honestly I don't care about anything any of the boys in the back have to say about me anymore, this Sunday will be my time to shine and at Sovereign I will shut the mouths of my harhest critics, guys like Falcon and Angel, guys who think that I can't get it done, that The Ace is good...but not great enough to win the big one, guys who are themselves oblivious to the fact that they themselves are guilty of the very thing they are so quick to chastise me for, and that is not getting the job done...
*The Ace smirks feeling better for having seen the idiocy of their criticisms...*
And then, just like my opportunity, their silence will be...golden...
*The Ace grins, savouring the thought of proving all his peers wrong in just a matter of days...*
But I'm not getting ahead of myself just yet, you see ever since my last opportunity at Crossroads last month, my fortunes have been something of a mixed bag...I lost to a much smaller, less skilled man in my own specialty match - a match nobody thought I could possibly lose, but I did...and I've seen the nCw fan polls for this match...most people believe I cannot possibly lose yet again, maybe because they factor in that this will be my third singles encounter with the Champion Jack Hammond and that Jack has never beaten me one on one...
*The Ace sighs*
But it does not matter what my fans choose to believe, because I myself do not believe that anything is as certain as it might first appear anymore. I was certain Kathy loved me once upon a time, just like I was certain that I could beat Nelly at my six month anniversary just because he was the smaller man who I had never wrestled before. I was embarrassed by the strength of my certainty in both these situations before. I will not make the same mistake again. I will not be embarrassed again. I will not underestimate you either Jack, not like I did the other small man, Nelly Angel before he beat me. He sold his soul to make a name for himself that night, but he did beat me. He proved that bigger wasn't always better in this business, just like you yourself Jack are doing at this very moment by holding the most prestigious prize in our business, the only question really is can you do what Nelly did?
*The Ace raises an eyebrow*
Can you sacrifice your soul, can you manipulate your morals and can you garner your greed long enough to do what needs to be done at Sovereign? You need to beat me Jack, but will you do it at the expense of everybody's expectations of the loveable underdog Champion, can you ignore your ideals and say f**k the fans just to keep that gold around your waist? Glory isn't cheap, but the tactic one uses to attain it in this business so often is...can you be that guy Hammond? Is it all worth it? I mean you are so damn close to tying Lance Ryan's first reign with that belt, one more win at Sovereign and you'll go down as one of the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champions in this company...can you do it Jack? Can you resist the temptation to take the cheap road to victory on Sunday, all so that honour can be yours? Is it all worth it, Jack?
*The Ace looks dead into the camera and pauses for a moment to let the question hang in the air...*
I know you'd love to beat me, not only because you haven't, that really isn't important here, but because you know as well as I do what a win over me would do for your career here in nCw...one more three count and you become as great as Lance Ryan once was, and then nobody will be able to mock your size or stature within the company. One more win and you will have escaped the curse of the Hall of FameAcer as it hangs over your career now, and virtually guaranteed yourself a spot in the nCw Hall of Fame one day. One more win, and you will have once again embarrassed me and condemned me to the shame which threatens to choke the life out of my career at the moment. Just one more win Jack and you can go on to A Night To Remember and have a chance to repeat history. A chance to do what Lance Ryan did in 2008 to Dave Holland and that is to beat and embarrass the 2009 Coliseum winner...isn't it inviting? Can't you taste it Jack? Can't you hear infamy call to you? I hear her in my dreams...I feel her in my nightmares as she seduces my mind with empty promises and rapes my body with the cold hands of an undeniable truth...the truth that I'm simply not good enough for her and never will be...
*The Ace shudders and sighs, almost pleasurably*
And I am powerless to stop her. She laughs at me every time I fall. She wants you Jack, she whispers to you, she wants you to break me and if you do she promises you your rightful place alongside Lance. She will give you the immortality of a great champion Jack, all she asks in return is that you give her your heart, and pay for it with your soul. Nelly knew her price, and he paid it in full with the only currency she will ever accept. Morality. The coins now lie spent at the bottom of the Age of the Revolution's wishing well, and she needs more, she needs a new pair of shoes to stomp the mudhole of my dreams dry, Jack. Will you pay her price? Will you pay the ultimate price, just like you did at Metamorphosis to win that title? Will you become a Revolutionary for one night once again, as you did against Xavier Williams, and will you once again realise your dreams at the expense of my own, just like you did at Crossroads? I will admit you inspired the best in me that night, as you always do, but once again my best wasn't good enough...that night Jack trumped The Ace, and time indeed told the story of a Champion who triumphed against all the odds...the cards fell as The Ace was indeed trumped by a Jack of Hearts in that ring...
*The Ace frowns as he reflects on being kept out of the ring for the majority of that match whilst Xavier and Jack settled their own scores, he was just the third wheel then and had no real place in that match. This time was different. This time Jack couldn't just push him aside, he had to face him...*
But fate or fortune would bring us face to face one more time after Cross Roads. The last time we faced off Jack was at Trauma, and before the match you told me that despite it all, you still respected me, and would bet on me to give you sleepless nights were I named one of the gladiators in this year's Coliseum like I was in the first last year. I wonder if you still bet on me now that you know I'm not, now that you know I only had to beat three men to get my spot at Sovereign, despite not being named one of the six who would just as readily kill each other as they would kill you for the position I am in now, and have a chance to become nCw World Heavyweight Champion...
*The Ace looks over at Matthew's comic book for a moment before continuing...*
But I suppose when you are Superman, you do have a huge bullseye on your chest, everybody either wants to destroy you or to steal your powers because let's face it, everybody wants to fly as high as you are right now Jack...you know that, so at times you hide behind the glasses of self depreciation and for a moment become as timid as Clark Kent, you become a force of unbelievable positivity and goodness and then nobody has a bad word to say against that loveable, shy, mild mannered wrestler Jack Hammond. You are respected by your peers because in their eyes you've earned that title Jack, they don't respect me in quite the same way because to them I have earned nothing without a sidekick. To them I do not work alone, because I am not Superman, not like you are Clar - I mean Jack Hammond...
*The Ace sighs*
I sometimes wish I could be as cool as you are Jack, I really wish I could be Superman and fly the red and blue banner of our home country as proudly as you do Jack, but I could never pull it off, as you have no doubt noticed, I'm far too smug to ever be Superman. Jack you told me last time that win or lose you would show me why it is that you wear that belt, well this Sunday you have another chance to not only show me, but also to prove to me why you should be the one to face the Coliseum winner this year and not me. You see A Night To Remember is as important to the Champion as it is to the Challenger, but in all the glory of the Coliseum win, everybody always focuses on the challenger, that is why even though he lost to Lance Ryan, Dave Holland became the overnight sensation whilst Lance just became that guy who defended his belt yet again. Lance became the man who proved Dave's dream of becoming the top man was just that...a dream...what gives you the right to be Lance's successor and not me? What gives Jack Hammond the right to crush that dream and not The Ace?
*The Ace sighs as he once again looks at Matthew's comic book*
It's because I am not Superman isn't it? I'm just...Batman, I don't have the cool superpowers that you do, I don't have the cool Fortress of Solitude where I can just sit and chill out when I'm feeling a bit self depreciating and emo. I don't even have a Lois Lane. No...I'm just Batman, I just sit in my Batcave brooding, forged from tragedy and the sum of my own fears, I only know that it is the belt around my waist that makes me great. I rely on that belt to save me, without that belt I am nothing but a simple man in a mask who stalks the night. Even my Robin has left me, Dick Grayson went on to become Nightwing just as surely as Steve Awesome went on to become a Champion in his own right. He didn't need me anymore, so I did what Bruce Wayne would have done in that situation, I went out and trained another Robin...
*The Ace nods at his old school friend, Kevin Kruger*
Kevin Kruger is my second Robin here in nCw so I suppose you could call him Jason Todd, meanwhile I, Bruce Wayne, shall continue to put a brave face on it all and do what Batman does best and that is to kick ass and live the high life with my wealth - all the while pining for the loss of my Rachel Dawes and knowing that I can never be with my Catwoman either because she loves Batman, not Bruce Wayne...
*The Ace sighs as he dwells on the fact that Kathy was drifting further and further away from him, and they hadn't even been married a year yet...*
Somehow, some way I have to beat you this Sunday, Calel, you who are the last Son of Krypton, somehow I have to blot out the yellow sun that is the source of all your superpowers here on Earth...
*Kruger suddenly did his best Burt Ward impression as he stated the obvious question The Ace had apparently forgotten about...*
Kruger: Why not just use Kryptonite, Batman?
*The Ace smiles at Kevin, before launching into his best impression of the legend that is Adam West...*
Good thinking Robin my old chum, it is Superman's one undeniable weakness, but where on Earth do we find some of the green stuff? It has to be as green as the envy and the jealousy I feel, some would say I already am Jack's kryptonite, but one can never be too careful, Robin...
Matthew: Erm, it doesn't necessarily have to be Green kryptonite you guys, other common colours used to defeat Superman include Red Kryptonite which can transmutate Superman and have other bizzare effects...
Kruger: Holy mutation device, Batman! We could turn Superman into a real hamster and then he wouldn't be able to do anything...
*Kruger punches his own palm*
Shrewd thinking Robin, but Red Kryptonite is unpredictable, we could end up transforming him into Falcon and he could blindside me with a roll up...no we need something a little more reliable...
Matthew: Well there's my personal favourite, Gold Kryptonite which would permanently rob Superman of his powers...
Kruger: Holy power failure Batman! We've got him!
Indeed we have Robin, and I happen to know where Superman keeps a chunk of gold Kryptonite, this Sunday I shall have to take it from him when he brings it down to the ring and hands it to the referee...then he will be rendered completely powerless here in nCw...
Matthew: There's other colours too...
That's quite enough out of you Alfred, go fetch Robin and I some sandwiches...
Matthew: Screw you guys, I aint no old butler...
*Kruger turns to his son and puts a hand on his shoulder*
Kruger: Would you rather be Batgirl?
*Matthew launches into his best Michael Caine impression*
Matthew: My name is Alfred Pennyworth - and not a lot of people know that...
*The three men suddenly start howling with laughter*
*The scene switches to the much less joyous atmosphere in the ladies' hotel room where Kathy Conway is sat with Solitaire in her lap sitting opposite Jessica Kruger and her daughter, Stacey...*
Stacey: I don't like when you and Uncle Jake fight...why don't you just tell him you love him and don't care sbout Jason...
Kathy: I was going to Stace, I really was...
*Jessica Kruger turns to her daughter*
Jessica: Its not that simple, you know how Uncle Jake is when he's mad...I think you shouldn't see him for a while...
*Stacey looks at her mother in shock*
Stacey: But why? He's only mad at Aunt Kathy because he loves her and cares about her...
Jessica: I'm doing this to protect you, you'll understand when you're older...
Stacey: This is stupid! He's only a couple of doors away and you can't stop me from seeing him, mother...
*With that Stacey jumps off the bed and runs out of the room, slamming shut the door behind her and for a moment, as Kathy watcher her leave, she wished she had Stacey's courage to run into her husband's arms and believe with utter conviction that everything was going to be alright...but she didn't, all she had was yet more tears to shed, and upon seeing her cry, Jessica immediately took to her friend's side and wrapped an arm around her, telling her that it was going to be okay in the end.
Kathy placed her head wearily on Jessica's shoulder and wept openly as Jessica cursed Jake Conway for being too busy being The Ace and not the man his wife needed right now. The scene fades slowly away to black...*