...Just Hours Prior to Warfare on May 3rd...

A Lincoln Continental slows to a stop outside the arena in Atlantic City. Connecticut plate reading: DUKE. Fans have gathered early in hopes of catching a glimpse of their favorite XWF stars. Or maybe an autograph or two. Perhaps even a quick conversation.

Thaddeus steps from his car and is immediately swarmed by dozens of kids and teenagers hounding him for autographs and shouting out questions and requests for pictures. Being the man that he is, he attempts to oblige every request that he can.

"Alright now smile real big and gimme some fists!" he says to a young fan, no older than seven years of age. The boys father snaps a pic, before Thaddeus hands him his own phone and repeats the pic.

"You gonna win tonight?" asks a little girl, who is drowned out by the noise and voices of the older kids.

"Guys wait," Thaddeus requests of his swarming fans. "This little one is trying to ask me something." Thaddeus works his way through the crowd of fans to a sweet little girl and lifts her up. "What did you want to ask?"

"I just wanna know if yer gunna win the match tonight?"

Thaddeus smiles and its always hard for him to ignore his fans, especially the youngest of the crowds that always gather. "Do you want me to win?"

"No."

Thaddeus can't contain his laughter. "No!? Why not!?"

"I want Dolly to win the match."

"Ha! We'll see what we can do okay?"

"Okay."

Thaddeus snaps more pictures and takes more photos. His phone, now in his pocket, starts to vibrate. As he mingles with fans, he pulls out the phone and reads the notification: Call From Uncle Theo

Thaddeus hits ignore and replaces the phone in his pocket and continues his pre-show tradition. To a lot of stars, maybe even most, they're quick to get in and out of the venues. They actively try and avoid too much fan interaction. The young rising star though, is exactly the opposite. He arrives early. Stays late. And just tries to spend as much time as he can outside the venue.

His phone vibrates again. Thaddeus pulls it out and reads the text:

Uncle Theo Said:Call me back. It's about your father.

I Said:

Fuck my father

Uncle Theo Said:Ok its not really about ur dad, but its important

Thaddeus reads the last message and tells his fans he's got to go. Many are disappointed but appreciate the time he spent with them. As Thaddeus proceeds toward the building, he dials up his uncle.

"What it do nephew?" he asks, greeting Thaddeus.

"Let's not pretend we're friends here, Uncle."

"Not friends, no. Certainly not. But blood runs thick."

"Yeah what is it you want?"

"Are there cameras around?"

"Yeah, its the XWF. Cameras are always around."

"Am I on speaker?"

"Yeah."

"Take me off speaker."

Thaddeus obliges, then puts the phone to his ear as he enters the Boardwalk Hall.

"You're off speaker."

Thaddeus listens.

And listens.

And listens some more.

Theo Pryce is a windbag.

"That's definitely interesting."

Back to listening.

And more listening.

"I dunno man. That's not really my kind of thing."

More listening.

More windy.

More baggy.

"Hmmm.

"And when...."

Thaddeus is interrupted with Theo already answering the question Thaddeus was just about to ask.

"I'll think about it. I don't think it's for me, but I'll consider it."

Thaddeus rounds a corner and runs into Dolly Waters. "Unc I gotta go. I'll let you know about Memorial Day." With that he ends the call.

"Where the heck have you been Thad?" Waters asks her partner.

"I was outside with the fans. Look at all these great pics I got." Thaddeus starts swiping through his image gallery showing Dolly all the pics he took with the fans outside.

"Awww she's such a lil cutieeee!"

"She wants you to win tonight."

Dolly laughs, and Revolution Prime rounds a corner out of camera view as the scene fades to an xterme shade of black.