The strings on the harp twanged. S.H.I.T really wasn't getting the hang of this making music lark, the ability to create something new is totally lost on the unimaginative Machine but even replicating all the great classics was proving elusive, it had no way of making out the inane chatter of music written on the page. Even copying what it heard from its sound sensors was proving difficult.
In short, S.H.I.T was challenged. It wasn't used to this, this wasn't the same as facing a particularly difficult foe in the ring, because S.H.I.T knew what it was doing in that situation. Never before had it been so totally clueless from the start.
Its worth noting, that had any of the WZCW employees found the courage, they'd have stopped to gape curiously. To describe the quality of sound S.H.I.T was producing would be the perfect time to use its acronym.
But it would learn...
Stacey Madison sat down, shuffled her papers, casually switched her phone off and tried her best to put herself at ease while throwing her interviewee off completely. Unfortunately for her, she was interviewing S.H.I.T, who wouldn't know how to be ill at ease.
She looked up and gave the robot a disarming smile. S.H.I.T looked like the embodiment of terror, it was about even in the disarming stakes, Stacey is made of sterner stuff than most. S.H.I.T twangs a harp string, and thereby buys itself a small advantage.
"Uh, hello, S.H.I.T." she said, purposefully spelling out the acronym, before regaining her composure. "First of all I'd like to congratulate you on your big time win over John Constantine."
The Machine gives a stoic nod of appreciation.
"It must have come as some relief to be booked in a match at unscripted when it looked like you were going to get left off the card."
S.H.I.T gave something imitating a shrug, this one had unfinished business with John Constantine. It merely replied, completely unintentionally missing the trap Stacey was trying to set.
"I mean, after your successive losses to Matt Tastic, te first one costing you the Elite X Title, and the second costing you another opportunity at that said title it must've felt like all that hard earned momentum you build up had come crashing down."
S.H.I.T twanged another harp string, setbacks are a part of the process. It said, sometimes the price of victory is too high, Matt Tastic had his moment to shine, was the cost worth it? Has anything changed in the long run? It asked, for Matt Tastic it has, but perhaps not for the better.
Stacey furrowed her brow, "he beat you twice in very close proximity, there is a very short list of people who can boast that, in fact, its possible that he might be the only person on it."
S.H.I.T stared at Stacey with that ice cold expression, is it not written; 'He who fights monsters should see to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.'
"Somewhere, I expect..."
Have you noticed anything strange about his behaviour recently? For a Human, that is.
Stacey pauses, "the maniacal laughter and obsession with ridding WZCW of its carnival characters."
S.H.I.T nodded, in an effort to rid WZCW of its 'carnival characters' Matt Tastic has become that which he so despises. his victories were impressive, and before this one was only able to appreciate them on a superficial level, but the cost of those victories was Matt Tastic's very self. Imposters masquerading as him, him masquerading as another entity for another title shot, a gradual decline into a state of mental brokenness. That was the cost.
"Are you attempting to undermine your defeats?"
S.H.I.T relaxes away from the harp completely. Negative, it said finally, this one is attempting to understand. It has wrestled with a similar problem, fleeing from and actively fighting its own true nature while gradually sliding into it regardless.
"'Wrestled' with the problem," noted Stacey, "very droll."
Was it? If you say so. It said in that dry monotone, Stacey wasn't sure if S.H.I.T was totally oblivious or mocking her in some strange way.
She changes the subject, there is a lot of ground to cover.
"How do you feel about Barbosa's sudden and unexpected departure from WZCW?"
S.H.I.T stood up, this ones relationship with Barbosa was strained, before the end. It said, looking around like it was lost, or looking for something in particular, he achieved his personal goals, he decided to leave. it almost shrugged, this one has learned not to try to predict anything that one does.
"Do you think we'll ever see him again?"
This one does not know.
Stacey waits a while to see if anymore information is forthcoming, a silence can often achieve what a question cannot, but S.H.I.T is, as a rule that can be broken it must be said, far too literal for such a ploy to have any effect. That was proved in this case.
"Finally," Stacey said, breaking the silence, "with Barbosa gone, your quest for the Elite X Title and with that any chance of the Main Event seemingly in tatters, and a match against Mikey Stormrage coming up on Meltdown 101. Do you have any plans?"
Wrestle Mikey Stormrage at Meltdown 101. S.H.I.T said flatly.
"Anything else?"
S.H.I.T indicated the instrument in front of it, this experiment with the Harp is proving highly difficult. It said.
"So, no plans to revenge yourself on Matt Tastic, or to go after Ricky Runn for causing Barbosa to leave after that frightful stage fall?"
S.H.I.T looked as confused as its singular expression would allow. This one should do that?
"A normal person might."
S.H.I.T indicated itself as in answer. This one will wrestle Mikey Stormrage on Meltdown 101.
"Okay," she said testily, "any thoughts on Mikey Stormrage?"
He has become one of the most impressive members of the roster, said S.H.I.T.
His recent rise seems to have coincided with the severe fractions caused between he and his former tag team partner, alas this one is left lamenting how often a person must destroy themselves and those around them in order to achieve the success they believe they desire. In that Mikey Stormrage shares similarities with Matt Tastic.
"I thought you existed only to destroy."
S.H.I.T nodded, rarely was it made anything quite so personal however. Such a bleak existence. The reconciliation between Howard and Stormrage proves their is hope, after all. Hope that a quest for success, or power, or a personal rivalry, isn't an all consuming affair. James Howard relenting allowed Mikey Stormrage to achieve the power and success. What would Mikey have done?
What would you sacrifice for success, or power? Wealth, possessions, your very self? What would Mikey Stormrage sacrifice?
"I don't know about me, or him. What about you?"
This one does not feel, it merely observes. It looked away from her, an excersize in hope would be pointless, for this one.
S.H.I.T was created with nothing to lose, no wealth, no possessions, no 'self' to lose. Just a single minded desire for destruction.
Then before Unscripted, this one asked; Why?
S.H.I.T looked back at Stacey, fixing her with that unrelenting stare. They chose this existence for themselves, Matt Tastic, Mikey Stormrage, James Howard, even Barbosa. They lost their very selves, or they found their limits and it was too much. That was the choice they made.
S.H.I.T knows no better, however. It said, before sitting down to the harp again, and twanging the strings. It was created with no choice. S.H.I.T will do what it always does, it will destroy Mikey Stormrage. This is the life it was programmed with.
"And you feel that this gives you an advantage, or puts you at a disadvantage?"
Neither. It replied quickly, this one merely observes, and states the facts as it sees them. A Human will find their limits or lose themselves. It said, S.H.I.T exists only to destroy!
