You can do this!

Thought Arkin Octavian Blackwater as he sat in a cold almost frigid stance. A statuesque blonde woman with wild emerald eyes, helped primp and prune Arkin in preparation for his interview. An interview pertaining to Arkin's upcoming match this week on Wednesday Night Warfare. The match that would pit Arkin against Shane inside the octagon in a fight akin to those held in the UFC. Neither of these men were quite fond of each other but their battle on Warfare was definitely perceived vastly different by one another. To Arkin Blackwater this was a fight til someone was the winner but to Shane , this was his chance for revenge. Shane had the taste for blood or more specifically the drive to remove one of Arkin's eyes. An eye for an eye, just like the saying went. Shane had eluded to this after accepting Arkin's offer to settle things in the octagon on Wednesday. Words that hung in the air and didn't really sink in at first. However as the days passed and the time drew nearer to the bout on Wednesday, Arkin finally began to feel the gravity of those words. Shane wasn't a man who idly tossed around threats, if he wanted something and wanted it badly enough....he would get it. Even if Arkin was named the victor of their match chances are it wouldn't end there. Shane did carry insurance in his pocket for these types of situations and regardless of what actually happened in the ring, if Shane wanted revenge by ripping out Arkin's eyeball....Shane would pull out all the steps needed to make that happen. Which meant Arkin would have to have some insurance of his own. A bit of a back up plan. Sure Arkin Blackwater was a firm believer of fairness but how can one remain fair in the land of cheaters and liars. A realm Shane was literally the king of. No, Arkin wasn't a stupid man and he knew Shane's playbook pretty well, so to combat Shane's ways he would have to adapt and place a bit of leveling onto his side.

The first step was showing no fear. Arkin Octavian Blackwater would have to wear his game face at all times. The trick was to keep believing. A mantra going over and over in his mind. That he could indeed pull off a victory over Shane and that he could walk out of Warfare with both eyes firmly still residing in his skull. Breathe. Keep focused. Maintain a sureness that no one can shake no matter how hard they try. Stay at that level and don't hesitate or second guess because those moments are the exact moments they're waiting for. The second of doubt is worth a millennium of repercussion. So don't let it happen! Smile. Be confident! Above all else show no terror or reprehension! The one eyed man seeking revenge can tell what you're thinking and he is out for destruction. The Black Circle sitting ever ready at his beckon call, to wage war and ravage whom ever he points them off to.

In fact it could almost be like a fairy tale. The dark ruler and his minions laying to waste all that was good in the kingdom of the XWF. Until one day a champion who questioned the ways of chaos and anarchy stepped up. Following immediately there would be an inevitable battle. A war that would rage on long after the single battle was complete. So in the ideology of fairy tales there would have to be an opposing lighter side to Shane 's pitch black side. Luckily in the land of the XWF there was indeed an opposing lighter side. A side Arkin Octavian Blackwater has taken the opportunity to familiarize himself with. A group he would call upon if the moment presented itself and the time was right. Yes, these individual battled and lost to Shane's Circle before but just because there were grim moments of losses doesn't mean the war was over. It surely didn't mean The Black Circle had bested their rivals at all. So Arkin Blackwater had faith. Faith in his own back up plan. Faith in the helpful hand of Donathan De Sade and his Elite.

The more Arkin thought about it, he started to believe there was nothing to worry about. He could do this. He relaxed a bit in the chair he was siting in and the daunting task of answering questions about the upcoming match didn't seem so bad. He wouldn't have to put on a game face completely. He had set up precautions for the "what ifs" and he was certain they would work. Arkin breathed more calmly the more his mind lingered upon the matter. Now all he had to do was walk out and be interviewed. That wasn't so bad. He didn't mind talking to people, he was good at it. In fact he was so good at relaying words, most people found themselves believing him no matter what he said. As long as Arkin maintained that rational and assertive tone, even in the brief intervals of self doubt, no one could say he was unsure of himself because everyone would believe he was sure.

The lady finished preparing Arkin for his interview and a man signaled that in five minutes Arkin should trek out onstage and this interview would commence. Keep breathing and keep confident. Arkin reminded himself internally You can do this. He told himself. Glancing in the mirror he saw he didn't appear to be anything less than the confident, sure and strong man he always appeared to be. This was going to be a walk in the park. He could push this image and sell his assertive demeanor. Certainly no one would detect anything less than what Arkin presented. Nothing could break his air of self confidence. Nothing! Arkin continually kept this thought in play in his mind. This is what would help him maintain his presence of composure and self sureness in the eyes of all who perceived him. Arkin took one final deep breath as he readied himself and then he took the plunge. He walked briskly out onstage and beamed a full smile at his interviewer and audience. The applause and gracious interviewer did nothing but increase Arkin's boost of unflappable certainty.

Arkin took his seat as the cameras began to roll. His interviewer for today was none other than this man.



That's right, no one was better suited than, Shecky Habernackle! (Who were you expecting?) He was recently employed and given a job by the XWF Administrator Network and Arkin Octavian was going to be Mr. Habernackle's first guest. Shecky Habernackle was an odd man, quirky and funny with an astonishing amount of pizzazz that instantly won him the job of hosting a show dedicated to interviews as well as featuring clips of memorable XWF events. Shecky Habernackle was the new voice of the XWF!

Shecky Habernackle shuffled through some papers on his desk before grinning nervously and adjusting his tie. He seemed a bit uncertain of himself but Arkin attributed this to being first show jitters. Arkin took a sip of water from a cup provided for him as Shecky began the interview.

Arkin Octavian Blackwater, you're the new Co-GM of Shove It Saturdays....how'd you get that job, you lose a bet?

Shecky laughed at his own joke and continued.

Obviously I'm kidding of course! Still working alongside that unpredictable nutbag Shane , can't be the top job on some folks lists. I mean his last Co-GM was a North Korean War Criminal that Shane not only fired but killed! Clearly you need to be nuts to be employed in the line of work of being Co-GM of Shove It Saturdays! However you seem to be a normal guy, how'd you wind up landing the position of Co-GM?

Arkin chuckled a bit and shifted in his seat.

Right place at the right time I guess. The Administrator Network was actually searching for some time to find a compatible Co-GM for Shane . I knew what I was getting into when I applied for the job and I still believe I am very capable of instilling the firm hand of reason on Shove It Saturdays. Also to be fair Shane didn't kill NKWC either, it was a crowd of angry Korean fans and Lexi Sheckler who pulled that task off.

Right....well I'm starting to see the slight trace of crazy cause you believe you can instill law in that anarchy ridden nightmare. I mean you saw what being a part of that show already caused you to do, it made you stab Shane in the eye! You took Shane 's eye! Can you tell me a bit about that? What would possess you to do something that savage and brutal?

Well...to be fair I was put in a position of utter chaos. There really wasn't anyway around it. I mean when the nut house overflowth, you're bound to go a little nuts yourself. So I think that's what happened. I had to seize the reigns and divert the chaos back to order. Despite the unfortunate moment of me losing control and taking Shane's eye, I think I handled things quite well.

Yeah, the way you handled things incurred Shane's wrath! I heard he came after you to kill you on the last edition of Shove It Saturdays! Then you issued a way for him to get his payback by participating in a match on Wednesday Night Warfare, a match in the octagon to be exact. A match pitting you two against each other in a UFC style fight. You have to be freaking out! I mean I would be if I had to fight that lunatic! What's your outlook on your upcoming match?

Arkin slightly smirked and took another drink of water.

I think it should be fun.

Shecky Habernackle looked like he was going to shoot out of his seat in disbelief.

Fun? are you serious? You're facing Shane D. in the octagon and you say you think the match should be fun? See, this is the crazy I'm talking about, you don't appear to be nuts but after that response it proves to work on Shove It you gotta be crazy and you my friend, are a definite loon! How can you possibly think your upcoming match with Shane is going to be "fun"?

What should I be saying? That I'm scared? I'm freaked out cause even if Shane loses I may still walk out of Warfare short one eye?

Arkin shook his head as he laughed.

Haha! I just don't see it that way. I think he and I will do a bit of damage on one another but that's to be expected. Other than that, I'm confident things will play out as they should. I don't anticipate the worst and I know I have what it takes to win. After that, if anything unforeseen happens I'm fully prepared for that as well.

What does that mean? Are you saying if Shane loses and he calls upon his Black Circle to aid in whatever he plans to do to you despite losing....you're prepared for this? How? Short of enlisting a small army, I don't see how that's possible.

You're fear of the Black Circle is impressive! Shane would be thrilled! Let's just say if he chooses to call upon The Black Circle to help him cause harm upon me after our match, I have a bit of insurance in wait just for that occasion. It all is laying within Shane's hands though. If he can conduct himself civilly, there will be no reason for the recourse I am prepared to take and no need to call upon those I must call upon to ensure my safety after the match. I fully plan to leave with both my eyes after I face Shane . Win, lose....he's not removing my eye.

In a way it's only fair since you took his eye. I mean you say you're a firm believer in fairness, wouldn't taking your eye be the right revenge recourse for Shane? How can you say he can't take your eye when you took his by stabbing him in his eye?

It was his actions that brought what I did upon him. It's unfortunate that it took removing his eye to make him see clearly. Now he knows I won't just roll over and let him run Shove It like he's some sort of ruthless dictator that should be feared. Perhaps he'll see things even more clearly after our match. Shane will know I'm not afraid of him or his Black Circle and that I can back up the choices I make. In the end that's all it comes down to. Maybe after he lets out some steam and I knock him on his ass he'll see I am not to be taken lightly. That I am here to bring order to chaos and that I won't settle for anything less. I'll fight to preserve the things I believe in. That will either gain his respect or put a larger gap between us.

I hope things work out for you Mr. Blackwater. I'm sure everyone will be sitting on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the outcome of this match. I know I will be. Unfortunately that's all the time we have. You will return sometime after the match though, won't you? I mean assuming you're still breathing.

Big laugh from the audience. Don't let them see fear now. Death could very well be an option but don't let them know it's even considered.

Absolutely! Regardless if I win or lose I'll come back. Naturally I'll win but on the slim chance I lose...I'll still return for another interview.

That was it. The end of the interview. Cue the music and cut to a commercial. Arkin Blackwater left the studio of Shecky Habernackle's show and made his way through the parking garage. He walked straight for his car, when out of nowhere....Arkin felt the swift blow of a tire iron upon his cranium! Oh crap! What now?