Double duty

[The Immortal Arkken]

Monica and Hans are standing outside the lounge, visibly arguing with each other. The Immortal Arkken exits the lounge at that time.

Hans: This is Friday, so it means that I get the interviews!

Monica: But it's Obsessive Behavior, a Pay-per-View, and I get the big shows. I'm on eXcess!

The Champion walks over to them.

Arkken: Hang on; I think I know what's going on here, but don't worry, there's enough Tudor here for everyone.

Both interviewers look doubtful.

Arkken: You can both ask me your questions. Ladies first.

He looks at Monica expectantly.

Monica: Right. Black Spirit feels that you are unworthy of wearing the World Heavyweight Championship because you did not beat him. How do you feel about that?

Hans: Stupid question...

Arkken: Of course he feels that way; he never lost the title. He should have cut his losses and run, but he wants to prove that he is the best. That will cost him, but it will hopefully legitimize my reign in the eyes of the disbelieving peons, who are not satisfied with my victories, no matter how skillful they were.

Hans: My turn. You look confident about your title defense tonight. Is that accurate?

Monica mocks him by repeating the last three words as though she does not think much of them.

Arkken: Quite accurate. For how long have I been fighting Black Spirit and Semag D"Nim? Who knows them better than I?

Monica: But, by the same reasoning, don't they know you just as well?

Arkken: Fair point, but I believe I have an advantage. Currently, Black Spirit is mad and confused about those months that were stolen from him. He will not perform at the top of his game, much like 2Face was not focusing on winning the title in the Elimination Chamber because he wanted to cause me pain. BS doesn't know who to punish, so he is going to take it out on Semag and I, and he is going to make mistakes. Capitalizing on mistakes is my specialty.

Hans: What about Semag? He won't have that kind of distraction and Black Spirit might even go easy on him since they used to be a team.

Arkken: Oh, I expect they'll team up on me a bit, but only because they are frustrated at my success. Sooner rather than later, they will fight each other and Semag will try to prove he is the better of the two, especially since Black Spirit constantly outshone him in the past.

Monica starts to speak, but he cuts her off.

Arkken: Not finished. You might not have noticed, but Semag keeps sneaking up behind me and attacking me for no reason. He also defends himself from my accusations by turning them against me. Why is that, though? If he is so confident in his abilities, so sure that he can beat me, why does he constantly attack me from behind? Because he knows that, given the chance, I will crush him and leave him laying in the ring just like I did on Monday night.

He shakes his head at Monica, who seemed about to speak.

Arkken: Also, I fully believe that he is playing all of the fans for fools as far as Black Spirit's blackout is concerned. His actions are not those of a blameless man. They speak of one who would rather than the public eye away from that business and towards the ring instead. I think that his conscience might trip him up tonight, but even if it doesn't, I have nothing to fear from a man who lost the number one contender spot to 2Face. Now you can speak.

She opens her mouth, but appears to have forgotten her question.

Arkken: Right. Well, I'll go and get ready for my match, shall I?

Monica: Wait! One more question: Immacolata has announced that she has no intention of helping you. Does that change your plan heading into the Triple Threat match?

Arkken: No, it doesn't, because I knew I couldn't count on her. She was always very independent, never appreciating what I do for her. I've been on my own for a while, and I know that, in the end, I can only rely on the Holy Trinity of Me, Myself and I to win this! I will show the world once and for all that Black Spirit and Semag need to be relegated to the past, and that I am not only the present, but also the future of this company, and of this whole business!

He walks out of sight, leaving the two interviewers alone in the frame.