The Sirens Call

[[APB]]

I'm not going to lie. I don't know if I'm up to this.

I'm old, I'm broken down, and I'm an infamous choke attest. Yeah, I've had a good enough career, but Jesus Christ, when it's this long, you have to do something right a time or two.

I just don't know if I'm up for this.

But, like they always say, pull your boots on and go to work.

[Allen “Portal” Bartsch paces back and forth. He dressed in nondescript street clothes. Jeans, white t-shirt, shoes and a leather jacket. Nothing fancy. He rubs a hand over his stubbled forehead. Before turning to a few random production guys.]

“Are we ready for this yet? I know I am.”

[One of the techs looks over notes before addressing APB.]

“Almost there. Just working out some of the bugs.”

[APB sighs, and turns his back. He looks around the backstage of the Key Arena. Various work is going on in the days leading up to the debut of Pure TV. It's an exciting time, but he's been here before. More times than he can care to remember, but this time is different. This time there is a pressure that he hasn't felt in a while. This time he's got more of the weight on his shoulder.

This is going to be fun.

APB looks over his notes some more. He's been out of the business for a while. Since the day TFWF closed. Hell, he thought he was done, he thought he couldn't ever get drug back.

Ain't that a joke?

No.

There is never an escape. Never.

APB smiles as he reads the notes on his opponent. Besides the differences, there are enough similarities for the old guy to understand her. She's out to prove herself. Show the world they are wrong. It's a strong motivation, and APB understands it all too well.

It's so close to what keeps bringing him back. It's so close to what makes him stand back up no matter how many times he's been knocked down. It's an attitude that tells the world to just go fuck itself.]

"I think we're ready now."


[APB is pulled out of his reverie.  He turns back to the tech crew.  One of them no has a camera.  APB looks behind him.  Ah, an old fashioned banner.  And look there printed on it, yes, a 'PURE Wrestling' Logo.  It makes APB's heart flutter.  The old ways, they are still the best.  APB calmly waits until he gets the signal, then goes straight into things.]

"All things have a beginning.  All journeys have a first step.  Look at us all.  Here we are, come Monday we are all witness to a new dawn."

[APB motions to the camera, as if he's telling the viewers to come closer.  The camera zooms in a bit.  APB leans forward and continues in a whisper.]

"I didn't think I'd ever be able to be there at the beginning of a new age. "

[APB leans even closer to the camera.]

"You see, I'm old and there are those out there who think I'm past my prime.  They think I'm broken and can't hang with the new generation."

[The camera pans back out.  APB points around him.  Specifically at the banner.]

"They see these promos.  They see me standing in front of a banner.  A simple banner with a logo on it and these kids roll their eyes.  They don't get it.  It goes right over their heads.  They don't understand that the old ways are still good.  The old ways still have value. Being old doesn't make them worthless.

Trust me. I know.”

[APB pauses for just a second, then takes a deep breath before continuing.]

“All this is besides the real point here. All of this is extraneous. Let's cut the crap and get back on track.”

[APB straightens his clothes, takes a breath then goes right to business.]

“I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to raise a flag of false modesty. Monday is going to be a war. It's going to be a battle of two people with huge chips on their shoulders. The goal on both sides is so close to the same that it's eerie. Ash Scion is a warrior out to prove that she's the best. I'm a warrior out to prove that I can still hang with the best. Respect and Honor, we all know I hold those two ideals highly, but I've always also always said that those two ideals are things to be earned, not just given away. I've done enough to earn respect from those who give it to me, but not near enough to demand it from anybody who doesn't. That's why I have to go out there and fight.

Win, lose or draw, I will fight tooth and nail. I expect Ash will do the same. I look forward to it. Because, this. THIS IS THE SIRENS CALL that brought me back. The war, the fight, the battle. Competition, the crowd cheering and booing, all of it. All of it is the sirens call. It gets into the blood. Your heart begins to pump with the crowd. The rush carries you away and it infects you.

Trust me. I know.”

[APB pauses for a second.]

“Sometimes, it gets you carried away and you get off topic. So, listen, here it is as simple as possible. I'm looking forward to this match. I'm looking forward to the competition. Win, lose or draw the journey is the goal to me. I just want to get in the ring and tear things apart. To Ash Scion, let's just set the arena on fire.”

[The camera fades out. And that's the end of the promo. After all is said and done, APB walks away, he let's the camera techs do their thing. APB's cell phone conveniently begins to ring, almost as if some deity planed for it to happen right at that moment.]

“Yeah?”

[APB listens to the voice of his Wife on the other end of the line.]

“Everything going good?”

[APB considers for a few moments.]

“Well, honestly, I can still feel the rust. I don't think I've got quite a full grasp of things at the moment, but I still feel good about things. I'm looking forward to the future.”

[Amanda is silent on the other end of the line.]

“Hey, look. It'll be a good match this week. It'll work out the kinks in the system and get rid of the rust. It's all good.”

[More silence.]

“I'm not going to snap under the pressure. That's in the past.”

[Silence continues.]

“Ok, you'll at least tell me if I start to go off the deep end?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that's all we can ask.”

[APB hangs up. He looks off into the distance.]

“That's all we can ask.”

Win, Lose or Draw, the journey is the goal. But god damned, winning sure would be great. The Sirens Call pulls me back. Pulls me again and again. To the future.