Post by The Ace on Mar 20, 2009 13:48:30 GMT -6
*The scene opens with Kathleen Conway lying in her hotel bed, she had not slept well last night, maybe only a couple of hours at best. As she awoke from half slumber, she suddenly became aware of the emptiness. There was no Jake Conway by her side, he was not there to kiss good morning this morning. She was alone in this cursed single bed. Second to the isolation, she felt cold and damp as fresh tears still clung to her cheeks, like dewdrops on the petal of a daffodil in the early morning mist. It was then that Kathy Conway knew that the river of her love for her husband had not run dry just yet...*
The course of true love never did run smooth...
*She knew the line because it had made it into popular culture, she knew it had come from Shakespeare, but she could not say with any certainty from which play, neither did she care. In all honesty, it wasn't even important. Nothing seemed important any more. She just appreciated the truth of the words for what they were...*
Jessica: Come on Kathy, get up girl...you can't lie there all day because of a man...
*Kathy turned to see Jessica already up and getting dressed*
Kathy: It's alright for you, you still have yours...
Jessica: Jake hasn't left you yet, but he will if you keep moping around like this...
*Kathy felt the duvet be pulled from her with the eagerness and impatience of youth, the rush of cold air that washed over and through her body, suddenly made even the idea of sleep impossible...*
Kathy: Stacey!
*Stacey Kruger giggled as she whipped the duvet off Kathy, she was already dressed and ready to go, though Kathy had no idea where...*
Stacey: Come on Aunt Kathy, today is the day you get Uncle Jake back...
*Kathy guessed that Stacey's eagerness to see them reunited had been sparked by something that Jake had told her last evening when she went to see him against her mother's will. At least she hoped that was true because it would mean that he still cared about her...*
Kathy: You were with him yesterday, did he say anything about me?
Stacey: Maybe...
*Stacey teased with a cute smile and bright twinkly eyes*
Kathy: Come on Stace, tell me! He did, didn't he? What did he say?
Stacey: My lips are sealed until you get up and get dressed...
Kathy: Okay kiddo, you've made your point...you win, but after I'm dressed, I want to know everything he said...
*Kathy swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat on the bed wrapped in her silky translucent night-gown for a moment. She looked up at Stacey...*
Kathy: Deal?
Stacey: I'll think about it...
*Stacey giggled, obviously enjoying her position of power in this situation. She knew these situations were as rare as they were delicious, and she intended to savour every moment of Kathy's unrelenting suspense.
Kathy grabbed her pillow and threw it at Stacey, but Stacey dodged it. Instead it flew across the room and hit Matthew square in the face, who was sat up in his bed at the far end of this quadruple room, still in his pyjamas and reading another of his Superman comics.
The ladies laughed, but Matthew was not amused, as he got out of bed...*
Matthew: I'm going to see Dad and Uncle Jake...
Jessica: Okay sweetie, we will come and get you when its time for breakfast...
*Without bothering to reply, Matthew collected his comic book and left the room...*
*A couple of doors down and The Ace was already awake and dressed. He sat with his back up against the headboard, on top of the sheets wearing an old Ace t-shirt and blue jeans, and white socks. In the next bed, Kevin Kruger was also awake, but considerably less dressed under the sheets. Both men were watching Jack Hammond's promo which had arrived with the morning bagel and orange juice that The Ace had ordered from room service earlier.
A rat-a-tat-tat on the door of their hotel room to the opening chords of You Know My Name alerted The Ace that it was one or possibly both of the Kruger children...*
Kruger: Come in, its open...
*Matthew entered and shut the door behind hiim before sitting at the foot of his father's bed...*
Matthew: Morning Dad, Morning Uncle Jake...
Kruger: Morning son...
Hey Matty...
*The Ace spoke without turning his eyes away from the screen*
Matthew: Boy you guys are up early, its just gone seven...
Couldn't sleep...
Kruger: I managed okay, but then your Uncle Jake got the DVD of Jack's promo with the morning breakfast, and now he's just reviewing it before undoubtedly going into wrestler mode...
Matthew: Well duh, I'm guessing that's why the cameras are here so early...
*The Ace looks into the camera*
Jack...
Kruger: Yep there he goes...
Matthew: Right on cue...
*Father and son grinned at each other, but The Ace ignored them, choosing instead to focus on his work, not only because it was an important match this Sunday, but moreso because work was the only thing that kept his mind occupied at the moment. By dedicating himself to his craft, he didn't have to think about the wife who no longer loved him and the daughter he might soon lose...*
...Hammond, it seems that all of us here in nCw have been so caught up in the magic of New York City lately that everybody has put forward their idealised views of it, I mean it is steeped in a rich wrestling history after all and its only fitting that we have one of our most important and iconic pay per views here. Sovereign will indeed eminate from The Big Apple and The City That Never Sleeps, which I suppose goes some way in explaining my recent bout of insomnia...
*The Ace shrugs it off, he knew the city wasn't the reason for his sleepless nights, the reason was much more closer to heart than he'd ever admit on camera, especially not when he still had a job to do...*
But when I think of this city and its history as the most populated city in the whole of the United States, I don't think of it in quite the terms you do Jack, I mean sure when you mention that the streets are paved with gold, I have fond memories of my qualfying for the Road To The Gold last year, the match of which you were also apart. That was our first singles encounter, and by the time I had made it up to the final at the PPV, I had become as starry eyed as you yourself admit to being from time to time. Like you Jack, I had also debuted in nCw about eighteen months ago with dreams of victory and glory, and I was sure that I'd be nCw World Heavyweight Champion inside a year. The second Road To The Gold tournament in the company was my chance to stand at the golden gates of Heaven, but instead of Saint Peter, I found myself face to face with a Judas. A judas who had had his palm crossed with gold, not silver and instead of permitting me entry into the Kingdom, he nailed me to the cross and crucified my dreams of glory...but even now, I have forgiven him, because he knew not what he did...
*The Ace sighed as he recalled being embarrassed and humiliated by his best friend and former tag team partner, Steve Awesome that night when he was forced to tap out in his second match of the night...*
Now I'm not so delusional as to engage in blasphemy, I know I'm not Jesus, I can't turn water into wine or feed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes. In fact under the Revolution's watch, I'm lucky if I can feed myself but let's not get too sidetracked by that because after the Resistance has the gold and wins the Coliseum, that regime will fall...
*The Ace smirks*
This isn't about that, it never has been, and despite what you and your trademark self depreciation Jack may think, I do respect you enough to tell you that in my view, irrespective of the losses and occassional dropping of the ball, you have been a decent Champion. When it came down to brass tacks last month, you still came off looking as something of a Superman by beating Xavier and myself in that triple threat match at Crossroads...
*The Ace raises an eyebrow*
Now I know you're going to hate me for what I'm about to say Jack but I do agree with you about defeat being more instructive than victory, infact it was one of the most important lessons Bruce Wayne had to learn from his training before he became Batman...
Matthew: Hey I remember that episode from The Animated Series of 1992...Night of the Ninja wasn't it? Man that series rocked, but still Superman is greater...
*The Ace looked and felt betrayed by Matthew Kruger as father and son grin at the horror and confusion which coloured The Ace's expression for a moment...*
Indeed it was, Matt...but let's not lose sight of what's important here, before I get called a geek again by a man who has an unhealthy obseession which the intricacies of the workings of a V8 engine himself...
Matthew: Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a geek...
Perhaps not, perhaps not...but the point is we've all learned lessons from our defeats in this business, even the ones we wished we never had, and I have no doubt that Jack Hammond has learned from each of our encounters so I dare not underestimate how much his abilities have improved since our last encounter, that was the mistake I made at Crossroads and we all know how that match turned out, and I am one to learn from my mistakes enough not to make the same mistake twice, or should I say three times given this Sunday at Sovereign will be my third shot at the top prize in nCw, but more than that it will also be our third singles encounter here in nCw Jack...and in our respective goals we currently stand at two strikes each...you are still batting in the hopes of finally beating me one on one...and I am batting in the hopes of finally becoming nCw World Heavyweight Champion...
*The Ace pauses for a moment and reflects on finally fulfilling the greatest dream since the birth of his baby girl, this Sunday...*
One of us will have that inevitable third strike and be forced out of the game at Sovereign, whilst the other gets all the gold and the glory of that one home run his loyal fans have been waiting for. Jack, I have no idea why you would go from hamster to grasshopper whilst questioning your worth as Champion, the fact is that despite it all, that belt around your waist is a symbol of everything I myself aspire to be. Eighteen months have already passed since the conception of that dream in my head, the dream to be the absolute best in nCw, and I cannot allow any more time to pass me by. I have to win this Sunday, or my career will dwindle and be as empty and hollow and meaningless as my marriage. I need this to save and validate myself and my place in this business. I cannot be Davey Ortega and swallow my pride long enough to take it all in my stride. That is just not me, that is just not who I am...underneath...
*The Ace smiles as he is suddenly reminded of something his Rachel Dawes said to him in the early morning hours after his nightmare, just like Bruce was the mask of Batman, Jake Conway was the mask of The Ace...*
I am Batman, and just like Washington Irving first observed a little over two centuries ago, New York is Gotham. This is my city Jack, and as Batman, I need to take my rightful place at the helm of The Justice League that is The Resistance and lead them as a proud and noble Champion against the Revolution. Gotham must not be allowed to survive under the rule of The Joker and Harley Quinn - Adam Knite and Kelly Fox must be stopped, and the hamster has had his turn at the wheel. Where Superman failed, Batman must succeed. And to succeed, I must take the Gold Kryptonite from around Superman's waist, and save him the burden of leadership. A burden only I can carry once Superman is diminished of his powers this Sunday, the bubble must burst and the ego allowed to deflate. Eighteen months of dreams must finally be realized, I can nurture them no longer for my bosom has run as dry as my patience for glory. I must save nCw or allow it to burn in the fires of its own hypocrisy, I either become the beacon of light it needs or accept my place in its darkness. I must become the future or be part of its history....
*The Ace sighs, knowing that either possibility would be hard to accept after this Sunday, regardless he knew he had to accept one over the other...*
I have never said your defeat at Sovereign was inevitable Jack, I've made that mistake before, nor did I mention the statistics, because for this match they are decidely simple...a fifty percent chance of victory and a fifty percent chance of defeat...
*The scene fades out as The Ace smiles at the camera, leaving us all wondering if he was done or whether it had been a deliberate cut to make a point and give Hammond something to dwell on...*
*The scene reopens some time later at a swimming pool, it is uncertain whether the pool was part of the hotel facilities or whether The Conways and The Krugers had made the trip especially, sometime after breakfast at the hotel this morning presumably.
Kathy still hadn't found the courage to talk to her husband, for fear of what he might have said, and even though both families had had breakfast this morning at the hotel, The Ace had not eaten with them. He had just sat at the table reading a copy of The New York Times.
The Ace and Kevin Kruger sat poolside in dark glasses and swimming trunks, watching Kruger's children play with a beachball in the water. We join Kruger and The Ace in mid conversation...*
To think, The Ace has as much chance of becoming nCw World Heavyweight Champion this weekend as Kathy and I have of our marriage ending in divorce statistically...
Kruger: Urgh, again with the statistics, dude...
I'm just saying. It's a sobering thought isn't it? I wonder which she values most...
Kruger: The real question is which do you value the most?
*The Ace didn't bother to answer the question and instead watched Kathy in her yellow bikini playing with Solitaire at the pool's edge. Solitaire seemed like she was enjoying herself, but every now and then she would look his way and reach out for him, almost willing him to swallow his damn pride and save his marriage. Solitaire needed her father back, and from what Stacey had told him yesterday, Kathy needed her husband back.
He suddenly had a flashback to their wedding day and recalled the vow she had made to him that day...*
Kathy: I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals...
*There was no denying that up until that Jason incident, she had honored her vow, she had loved him unconditionally...*
Kathy: In sickness and in health...
*The Ace recalled the vomit burn in his throat from that night as she supported him as he lay helplessly on the floor of the hotel shower room...*
Kathy: In good times...
*The Ace recalled winning the Xtreme Championship after driving Jack Hammond down with a powerbomb through barb wire at Picture Perfect and how she had leapt into his embrace that night, and how he missed her sweet kiss...*
Kathy: And in the bad times...
*The night after the Dragon's Den against Steve Awesome, she had been instrumental in nursing his injuries...*
Kathy: In times of joy...
*He recalled their delight at Solitaire's first steps and her first words*
Kathy: And in times of sorrow...
*The Ace recalled the death of his friend Ben, and how Kathy had helped him refocus...*
Kathy: I promise to support you in your goals...
*Truth be told, Kathy had always inspired him to better his wrestling skills because she had wanted to see him reach the goal of becoming one of the best in the business. She had pushed him to realise his potential, and here he was now. The Ace was main eventing his second consecutive Pay Per View this Sunday. He was facing Jack Hammond for the nCw World Heavyweight Championship because of her...*
I love my wife...
*The Ace smiled inwardly as he turned to Kevin Kruger*
You're right Kev, this isn't about statistics, I never made this match about statistics no matter how much Jack Hammond might want to believe that I have. I still llike to think of him as Superman though, and were he known as The Bull rather than The Hamster, I might be a tad concerned about him seeing red this Sunday, but as it is, with or without the numbers behind me, I have no reason to fear a loss to Jack this Sunday. Superman will still have to face the monster inside Batman, a monster forged from my own fears and I don't care if you fly around the ring in your tights or not, Batman will indeed prove his superiority to the glory hog that is Superman this Sunday...
*The Ace smirks*
Jack, we both have the same desire to walk out of Sovereign as the champ, but more than that we have the same love of Porsches, and maybe in a post match drink after Sovereign we can discuss that love in much more detail, but for right now I don't care where your engine is or which direction you choose to come from, all I know is that your engine better be fired up and your foot better be pressed down on the accelerator real hard if indeed you want to keep that belt around your waist this Sunday. You see Jack, I may not embarrass and humilate you by pulling down your trunks, but I will strip you, right in the middle of that ring. I will strip you at Madison Square Garden. I will strip you of that title belt, and your only hope of being spared any further embarrassment is that your pants do indeed stay up without that belt around your waist...
*The Ace grins*
Hammond, I do respect you as I've already said, but not enough to allow you to pin my shoulders to the mat at Sovereign, we will indded wrestle a potential show stealer this Sunday, but one of us will break the promises of the other, and though you promise to save my dignity after you beat me Jack, you better hope that your empty promises and your title reign are the only things I plan on breaking this Sunday. Please, don't force my hand in making this more personal than it has to be, please think before you address me next, please accept my analogies for what they are and please don't embarrass yourself any further by boasting about pinning me this Sunday, I don't need you to do me any favours Jack, well apart from maybe just shut the hell up. Please?
*The Ace pauses*
Jack, you need to realise and realise quick that from my perspective you're not worthy of destroying my dreams, sure I respect you, but not that much, you may indeed prove to be the better man this Sunday, that remains to be seen quite honestly, but you will never take my dreams of holding that belt you have away from me. You may be more than a statistic Jack, you may be another wild card, just like Nelly Angel turned out to be against me a month ago, you may even be an outside runner as you so claim and all bets may indeed be off...
*The Ace gets up and walks over to the pool...*
But even with all your so called talents, I doubt you'll be able to pull off the miracle you need this Sunday...I may not be Jesus, but even I can pull off the illusion of the seemingly impossible...
*The Ace steps a bare foot on the surface of the water, then his other foot. He is now standing on the surace of the water as all those in the pool look on. The Ace walks slowly confidently to the middle of the pool, as the camera shows Stacey Kruger swim underneath his feet from above. The Ace turns and looks directly into the camera...*
No Jack, I am not the Son of God, but I am the Face Of Satan...and this Jack is just one of the tricks I have in my repetoire to show you that even Batman can steal the spotlight from Superman, just as Satan can steal the spotlight from Jesus...
*All the people in and around the pool applaud as The Ace turns and resumes walking to the other side slowly. Once at the other side, he takes a bow and the camera fades to black...*
The course of true love never did run smooth...
*She knew the line because it had made it into popular culture, she knew it had come from Shakespeare, but she could not say with any certainty from which play, neither did she care. In all honesty, it wasn't even important. Nothing seemed important any more. She just appreciated the truth of the words for what they were...*
Jessica: Come on Kathy, get up girl...you can't lie there all day because of a man...
*Kathy turned to see Jessica already up and getting dressed*
Kathy: It's alright for you, you still have yours...
Jessica: Jake hasn't left you yet, but he will if you keep moping around like this...
*Kathy felt the duvet be pulled from her with the eagerness and impatience of youth, the rush of cold air that washed over and through her body, suddenly made even the idea of sleep impossible...*
Kathy: Stacey!
*Stacey Kruger giggled as she whipped the duvet off Kathy, she was already dressed and ready to go, though Kathy had no idea where...*
Stacey: Come on Aunt Kathy, today is the day you get Uncle Jake back...
*Kathy guessed that Stacey's eagerness to see them reunited had been sparked by something that Jake had told her last evening when she went to see him against her mother's will. At least she hoped that was true because it would mean that he still cared about her...*
Kathy: You were with him yesterday, did he say anything about me?
Stacey: Maybe...
*Stacey teased with a cute smile and bright twinkly eyes*
Kathy: Come on Stace, tell me! He did, didn't he? What did he say?
Stacey: My lips are sealed until you get up and get dressed...
Kathy: Okay kiddo, you've made your point...you win, but after I'm dressed, I want to know everything he said...
*Kathy swung her legs over the side of the bed and sat on the bed wrapped in her silky translucent night-gown for a moment. She looked up at Stacey...*
Kathy: Deal?
Stacey: I'll think about it...
*Stacey giggled, obviously enjoying her position of power in this situation. She knew these situations were as rare as they were delicious, and she intended to savour every moment of Kathy's unrelenting suspense.
Kathy grabbed her pillow and threw it at Stacey, but Stacey dodged it. Instead it flew across the room and hit Matthew square in the face, who was sat up in his bed at the far end of this quadruple room, still in his pyjamas and reading another of his Superman comics.
The ladies laughed, but Matthew was not amused, as he got out of bed...*
Matthew: I'm going to see Dad and Uncle Jake...
Jessica: Okay sweetie, we will come and get you when its time for breakfast...
*Without bothering to reply, Matthew collected his comic book and left the room...*
*A couple of doors down and The Ace was already awake and dressed. He sat with his back up against the headboard, on top of the sheets wearing an old Ace t-shirt and blue jeans, and white socks. In the next bed, Kevin Kruger was also awake, but considerably less dressed under the sheets. Both men were watching Jack Hammond's promo which had arrived with the morning bagel and orange juice that The Ace had ordered from room service earlier.
A rat-a-tat-tat on the door of their hotel room to the opening chords of You Know My Name alerted The Ace that it was one or possibly both of the Kruger children...*
Kruger: Come in, its open...
*Matthew entered and shut the door behind hiim before sitting at the foot of his father's bed...*
Matthew: Morning Dad, Morning Uncle Jake...
Kruger: Morning son...
Hey Matty...
*The Ace spoke without turning his eyes away from the screen*
Matthew: Boy you guys are up early, its just gone seven...
Couldn't sleep...
Kruger: I managed okay, but then your Uncle Jake got the DVD of Jack's promo with the morning breakfast, and now he's just reviewing it before undoubtedly going into wrestler mode...
Matthew: Well duh, I'm guessing that's why the cameras are here so early...
*The Ace looks into the camera*
Jack...
Kruger: Yep there he goes...
Matthew: Right on cue...
*Father and son grinned at each other, but The Ace ignored them, choosing instead to focus on his work, not only because it was an important match this Sunday, but moreso because work was the only thing that kept his mind occupied at the moment. By dedicating himself to his craft, he didn't have to think about the wife who no longer loved him and the daughter he might soon lose...*
...Hammond, it seems that all of us here in nCw have been so caught up in the magic of New York City lately that everybody has put forward their idealised views of it, I mean it is steeped in a rich wrestling history after all and its only fitting that we have one of our most important and iconic pay per views here. Sovereign will indeed eminate from The Big Apple and The City That Never Sleeps, which I suppose goes some way in explaining my recent bout of insomnia...
*The Ace shrugs it off, he knew the city wasn't the reason for his sleepless nights, the reason was much more closer to heart than he'd ever admit on camera, especially not when he still had a job to do...*
But when I think of this city and its history as the most populated city in the whole of the United States, I don't think of it in quite the terms you do Jack, I mean sure when you mention that the streets are paved with gold, I have fond memories of my qualfying for the Road To The Gold last year, the match of which you were also apart. That was our first singles encounter, and by the time I had made it up to the final at the PPV, I had become as starry eyed as you yourself admit to being from time to time. Like you Jack, I had also debuted in nCw about eighteen months ago with dreams of victory and glory, and I was sure that I'd be nCw World Heavyweight Champion inside a year. The second Road To The Gold tournament in the company was my chance to stand at the golden gates of Heaven, but instead of Saint Peter, I found myself face to face with a Judas. A judas who had had his palm crossed with gold, not silver and instead of permitting me entry into the Kingdom, he nailed me to the cross and crucified my dreams of glory...but even now, I have forgiven him, because he knew not what he did...
*The Ace sighed as he recalled being embarrassed and humiliated by his best friend and former tag team partner, Steve Awesome that night when he was forced to tap out in his second match of the night...*
Now I'm not so delusional as to engage in blasphemy, I know I'm not Jesus, I can't turn water into wine or feed five thousand men with five loaves of bread and two fishes. In fact under the Revolution's watch, I'm lucky if I can feed myself but let's not get too sidetracked by that because after the Resistance has the gold and wins the Coliseum, that regime will fall...
*The Ace smirks*
This isn't about that, it never has been, and despite what you and your trademark self depreciation Jack may think, I do respect you enough to tell you that in my view, irrespective of the losses and occassional dropping of the ball, you have been a decent Champion. When it came down to brass tacks last month, you still came off looking as something of a Superman by beating Xavier and myself in that triple threat match at Crossroads...
*The Ace raises an eyebrow*
Now I know you're going to hate me for what I'm about to say Jack but I do agree with you about defeat being more instructive than victory, infact it was one of the most important lessons Bruce Wayne had to learn from his training before he became Batman...
Matthew: Hey I remember that episode from The Animated Series of 1992...Night of the Ninja wasn't it? Man that series rocked, but still Superman is greater...
*The Ace looked and felt betrayed by Matthew Kruger as father and son grin at the horror and confusion which coloured The Ace's expression for a moment...*
Indeed it was, Matt...but let's not lose sight of what's important here, before I get called a geek again by a man who has an unhealthy obseession which the intricacies of the workings of a V8 engine himself...
Matthew: Hey, there's nothing wrong with being a geek...
Perhaps not, perhaps not...but the point is we've all learned lessons from our defeats in this business, even the ones we wished we never had, and I have no doubt that Jack Hammond has learned from each of our encounters so I dare not underestimate how much his abilities have improved since our last encounter, that was the mistake I made at Crossroads and we all know how that match turned out, and I am one to learn from my mistakes enough not to make the same mistake twice, or should I say three times given this Sunday at Sovereign will be my third shot at the top prize in nCw, but more than that it will also be our third singles encounter here in nCw Jack...and in our respective goals we currently stand at two strikes each...you are still batting in the hopes of finally beating me one on one...and I am batting in the hopes of finally becoming nCw World Heavyweight Champion...
*The Ace pauses for a moment and reflects on finally fulfilling the greatest dream since the birth of his baby girl, this Sunday...*
One of us will have that inevitable third strike and be forced out of the game at Sovereign, whilst the other gets all the gold and the glory of that one home run his loyal fans have been waiting for. Jack, I have no idea why you would go from hamster to grasshopper whilst questioning your worth as Champion, the fact is that despite it all, that belt around your waist is a symbol of everything I myself aspire to be. Eighteen months have already passed since the conception of that dream in my head, the dream to be the absolute best in nCw, and I cannot allow any more time to pass me by. I have to win this Sunday, or my career will dwindle and be as empty and hollow and meaningless as my marriage. I need this to save and validate myself and my place in this business. I cannot be Davey Ortega and swallow my pride long enough to take it all in my stride. That is just not me, that is just not who I am...underneath...
*The Ace smiles as he is suddenly reminded of something his Rachel Dawes said to him in the early morning hours after his nightmare, just like Bruce was the mask of Batman, Jake Conway was the mask of The Ace...*
I am Batman, and just like Washington Irving first observed a little over two centuries ago, New York is Gotham. This is my city Jack, and as Batman, I need to take my rightful place at the helm of The Justice League that is The Resistance and lead them as a proud and noble Champion against the Revolution. Gotham must not be allowed to survive under the rule of The Joker and Harley Quinn - Adam Knite and Kelly Fox must be stopped, and the hamster has had his turn at the wheel. Where Superman failed, Batman must succeed. And to succeed, I must take the Gold Kryptonite from around Superman's waist, and save him the burden of leadership. A burden only I can carry once Superman is diminished of his powers this Sunday, the bubble must burst and the ego allowed to deflate. Eighteen months of dreams must finally be realized, I can nurture them no longer for my bosom has run as dry as my patience for glory. I must save nCw or allow it to burn in the fires of its own hypocrisy, I either become the beacon of light it needs or accept my place in its darkness. I must become the future or be part of its history....
*The Ace sighs, knowing that either possibility would be hard to accept after this Sunday, regardless he knew he had to accept one over the other...*
I have never said your defeat at Sovereign was inevitable Jack, I've made that mistake before, nor did I mention the statistics, because for this match they are decidely simple...a fifty percent chance of victory and a fifty percent chance of defeat...
*The scene fades out as The Ace smiles at the camera, leaving us all wondering if he was done or whether it had been a deliberate cut to make a point and give Hammond something to dwell on...*
*The scene reopens some time later at a swimming pool, it is uncertain whether the pool was part of the hotel facilities or whether The Conways and The Krugers had made the trip especially, sometime after breakfast at the hotel this morning presumably.
Kathy still hadn't found the courage to talk to her husband, for fear of what he might have said, and even though both families had had breakfast this morning at the hotel, The Ace had not eaten with them. He had just sat at the table reading a copy of The New York Times.
The Ace and Kevin Kruger sat poolside in dark glasses and swimming trunks, watching Kruger's children play with a beachball in the water. We join Kruger and The Ace in mid conversation...*
To think, The Ace has as much chance of becoming nCw World Heavyweight Champion this weekend as Kathy and I have of our marriage ending in divorce statistically...
Kruger: Urgh, again with the statistics, dude...
I'm just saying. It's a sobering thought isn't it? I wonder which she values most...
Kruger: The real question is which do you value the most?
*The Ace didn't bother to answer the question and instead watched Kathy in her yellow bikini playing with Solitaire at the pool's edge. Solitaire seemed like she was enjoying herself, but every now and then she would look his way and reach out for him, almost willing him to swallow his damn pride and save his marriage. Solitaire needed her father back, and from what Stacey had told him yesterday, Kathy needed her husband back.
He suddenly had a flashback to their wedding day and recalled the vow she had made to him that day...*
Kathy: I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and in joy as well as in sorrow. I promise to love you unconditionally, to support you in your goals...
*There was no denying that up until that Jason incident, she had honored her vow, she had loved him unconditionally...*
Kathy: In sickness and in health...
*The Ace recalled the vomit burn in his throat from that night as she supported him as he lay helplessly on the floor of the hotel shower room...*
Kathy: In good times...
*The Ace recalled winning the Xtreme Championship after driving Jack Hammond down with a powerbomb through barb wire at Picture Perfect and how she had leapt into his embrace that night, and how he missed her sweet kiss...*
Kathy: And in the bad times...
*The night after the Dragon's Den against Steve Awesome, she had been instrumental in nursing his injuries...*
Kathy: In times of joy...
*He recalled their delight at Solitaire's first steps and her first words*
Kathy: And in times of sorrow...
*The Ace recalled the death of his friend Ben, and how Kathy had helped him refocus...*
Kathy: I promise to support you in your goals...
*Truth be told, Kathy had always inspired him to better his wrestling skills because she had wanted to see him reach the goal of becoming one of the best in the business. She had pushed him to realise his potential, and here he was now. The Ace was main eventing his second consecutive Pay Per View this Sunday. He was facing Jack Hammond for the nCw World Heavyweight Championship because of her...*
I love my wife...
*The Ace smiled inwardly as he turned to Kevin Kruger*
You're right Kev, this isn't about statistics, I never made this match about statistics no matter how much Jack Hammond might want to believe that I have. I still llike to think of him as Superman though, and were he known as The Bull rather than The Hamster, I might be a tad concerned about him seeing red this Sunday, but as it is, with or without the numbers behind me, I have no reason to fear a loss to Jack this Sunday. Superman will still have to face the monster inside Batman, a monster forged from my own fears and I don't care if you fly around the ring in your tights or not, Batman will indeed prove his superiority to the glory hog that is Superman this Sunday...
*The Ace smirks*
Jack, we both have the same desire to walk out of Sovereign as the champ, but more than that we have the same love of Porsches, and maybe in a post match drink after Sovereign we can discuss that love in much more detail, but for right now I don't care where your engine is or which direction you choose to come from, all I know is that your engine better be fired up and your foot better be pressed down on the accelerator real hard if indeed you want to keep that belt around your waist this Sunday. You see Jack, I may not embarrass and humilate you by pulling down your trunks, but I will strip you, right in the middle of that ring. I will strip you at Madison Square Garden. I will strip you of that title belt, and your only hope of being spared any further embarrassment is that your pants do indeed stay up without that belt around your waist...
*The Ace grins*
Hammond, I do respect you as I've already said, but not enough to allow you to pin my shoulders to the mat at Sovereign, we will indded wrestle a potential show stealer this Sunday, but one of us will break the promises of the other, and though you promise to save my dignity after you beat me Jack, you better hope that your empty promises and your title reign are the only things I plan on breaking this Sunday. Please, don't force my hand in making this more personal than it has to be, please think before you address me next, please accept my analogies for what they are and please don't embarrass yourself any further by boasting about pinning me this Sunday, I don't need you to do me any favours Jack, well apart from maybe just shut the hell up. Please?
*The Ace pauses*
Jack, you need to realise and realise quick that from my perspective you're not worthy of destroying my dreams, sure I respect you, but not that much, you may indeed prove to be the better man this Sunday, that remains to be seen quite honestly, but you will never take my dreams of holding that belt you have away from me. You may be more than a statistic Jack, you may be another wild card, just like Nelly Angel turned out to be against me a month ago, you may even be an outside runner as you so claim and all bets may indeed be off...
*The Ace gets up and walks over to the pool...*
But even with all your so called talents, I doubt you'll be able to pull off the miracle you need this Sunday...I may not be Jesus, but even I can pull off the illusion of the seemingly impossible...
*The Ace steps a bare foot on the surface of the water, then his other foot. He is now standing on the surace of the water as all those in the pool look on. The Ace walks slowly confidently to the middle of the pool, as the camera shows Stacey Kruger swim underneath his feet from above. The Ace turns and looks directly into the camera...*
No Jack, I am not the Son of God, but I am the Face Of Satan...and this Jack is just one of the tricks I have in my repetoire to show you that even Batman can steal the spotlight from Superman, just as Satan can steal the spotlight from Jesus...
*All the people in and around the pool applaud as The Ace turns and resumes walking to the other side slowly. Once at the other side, he takes a bow and the camera fades to black...*