Posted by Alternative 2.0 on July 9, 2004, 12:34 am

Brad Andrews shakes his head as he looks at Miah DeVan. Miah DeVan stands, arms folded across his chest, obstinate and glowering. Jonny Bravo stands off to the side, looking more than a bit uncomfortable. Brad has what they call “crazy eyes”. It’s a kind of gleam that he gets sometimes, one that states ‘I’m thiiiisss close to flying off the edge, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me’. That’s the look he has right now. His hair, died crimson with dead white highlights, hangs down in front of his face. “You’re telling me, Miah, that after everything we’ve talked about all the things I’ve told you about why we have to keep wrestling the way we are you went to someone else for advice?” Miah, still looking obstinate, nods. Brad shakes his head again, like he can’t quite believe what he’s hearing. “Wait, wait, Miah. So let me make sure I understand exactly what’s going on here I’m trying to figure out what exactly you’re thinking, ok?” Brad waits for a sign of acknowledgement from Miah. When he doesn’t receive one, he continues. “We’ve got Red Axis. If we beat them, we are average. If we do not beat them, we are below average. Our system has worked against teams that are better than The Red Axis.” “No, it hasn’t.” Brad holds up one hand, palm outwards, to silence Miah. And Miah’s still B-man enough that he doesn’t keep talking. “As I was saying, our system has worked against better teams than The Red Axis.” He glares at Miah, warning his younger cousin not to interrupt. “Red Axis isn’t a particularly important team, but this is a particularly important match. Take a look at these stats.” Brad hands Miah a piece of paper cut out of a magazine. Miah looks it up and down. “History of the CAL Tag Titles. What’s the point? Nobody’s ever going to beat the Untouchables records.” Brad shrugs. “Forget The Untouchables. Look at the others. Lots of teams made zero defenses, lots of teams made one defense. Only a few made 2. Mazawa/Togo, Rock Brothers, Axis Cross-Loki era, and I think Mind Skew also made it through 2 defenses, I might be mistaken. Look at this, though a good dozen teams made it through one defense. And here’s the thing.” “That we’re just a sacrificial pawn to Old School Underground when we end up in TIW?” “Miah, you’re really starting to get on my nerves. One defense, average. Two defenses, above average. Do you want the name of Alternative 2.0 to be remembered as something above average? No, just ####ing answer the question ” Brad continues, interrupting a Miah interjection. “OK, yeah, I’d like Alt 2.0 to be remembered as a good team.” “Right.” Brad nods. “And what have I told you? We work on a SYSTEM, Miah. And that system involves no one taking you seriously.” “Man, #### that system.” Brad freezes. He slowly turns around to look not at Miah DeVan, but at Jonny Bravo. “Dude, did your kid bro just drop the F-bomb on me?” Jonny puts his hands up and takes a step backwards. “Hey, Brad type dude Jonny Bravo is staying OUT, of this one.” Brad looks around the room, his insides boiling. Jonny standing in the corner, looking sillier than ever now that he’s trying to appear inconspicuous for once. And Miah, not unlike a Scottish terrier, standing in the middle of the floor, refusing to budge. This isn’t the way Brad planned it. A three man, dysfunctional gathering. That’s what the Untouchables were, in their most base form. And that’s what, god willing, Alternative 2.0 will be. He wins the CAL World Tag Titles, he gets things working well, he’s set to move Alt 2.0 into the upper echelon of CAL Tag Teams of all time and now, he’s got Miah threatening to wreck everything, and Jonny refusing to help. And he feels his mind coming unhinged. Being evil and crazy has its drawing points, but this isn’t the proper time for it. Taking a few deep breaths, Brad tries to relax. “OK, ok, everyone, calm down. Look, let’s just start at the beginning. Miah. We’re down in Florida. And you decided to go visit who?” “Cito Conarri.” “Right ” Brad massaged his forehead. “Cito being half of the Quinn Tate/Cito Conarri team, which will probably end up challenging for the CAL World Tag Titles sooner or later. Is it just me, or is there some kind of flaw in that?” “And Brad, you assume everyone is as dishonest as you are. Cito has something called integrity, and I trust him more than you.” “Integrity bullshit. Miah, there’s no such thing as integrity. No one who has ever worked in the wrestling business has the slightest shred of integrity. The only people who claim to have it, use their so-called ‘integrity’ as a tool for personal advancement. Either that or because they have nothing else to fall back on. Ronnie Long’s famous for integrity, and look how far it got him.” “See? You’re assuming people are just like you.” “I KNOW they’re just like me, Miah. All people are the same, and all people are scum, and not in the amusing Jack Slade way. It’s just that instead of trying to deny it or call it something it isn’t, I make the most of it.” “Um, guys? You seem to have hit, a tangent.” Jonny Bravo’s still standing in the corner. “Brad type dude, instead of arguing, I am suggesting that you let Miah explain what he said to Cito Conarri before you start judging him for it.” “Fine.” Brad throws himself into a nearby chair, sending it tilting onto its back legs, then rocking to the floor with a thump. “Start talking, Miah.”