Post by Zack Fantana on Jan 29, 2017 3:59:25 GMT -5
The Resilience Champion leisurely swung open the double doors to exit AWE headquarters followed closely behind by his legal counsel, only to quickly discover that they had company by way of a throng of reporters that had been camping outside the AWE headquarters all day. Zack Fantana froze in his tracks to scout potential escape routes, while his lawyer, a portly gentleman in an ill-fitting blazer and a bright red power tie that hung slightly below his belt buckle, stepped to the forefront to take charge of the situation. He whispered something into Fantana's ear before leading the way down toward the reporters. Lights flickered in Zack's Wayfarer shades as they descended the steps and the reporters closed in, badgering him with a slew of nearly unintelligible questions. Judging by the multitude of microphones aimed directly at his face, Zack deduced that just about every television station in the city was there, although American Tommy and his owl were noticeably absent. Curious.
The lawyer pushed his way forward, almost acting as muscle to allow Zack Fantana to navigate the steps, where they'd soon hold court with the dogged reporters. The big man's steely gaze is only interrupted by the flashbulbs dancing across his transition lenses. He posted up at the foot of the steps in front of Fantana as the reporters all shouted questions about T.S. Elliot.
The lawyer spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
"I'm going to make this short. We cannot address anything involving said incident whilst there is an ongoing investigation."
The burly man attempted to force his way through the crowd by tossing an open palm into the nearest camera lens and pushing forward. Fantana followed in tow. That did nothing to stop the questions, however, as one resolute journalist gave them chase.
"Mr. Fantana, how can you continue to associate yourself with this man after his heinous acts?"
That stopped Fantana dead in his tracks. Truth be told, Fantana was not wont to abandoning a live microphone, so it didn't take much goading to draw him back in.
He craned his neck to face the reporter.
"I'm sorry?"
"Are you still willing to champion the cause of a criminal?"
The lawyer bristled.
"You don't have to answer that."
"No, no, it's fine."
The lawyer wasn't so sure and Fantana soon provided good reason for his skepticism as he addressed the journalist.
"Listen, lady, this is America. I don't know how they do it in your country--"
The reporter held up the USA Today badge which Fantana glossed over.
"But here in AMERICA, we have something called due process. Innocent until proven guilty. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat, hmm? You feel me?"
The lawyer touched Zack lightly on the lapel as if to say "Dial it back a notch", something Zack shrugged off.
"You dweebs in the lamestream media are so predictable."
Zack had finally earnt the approval of the lawyer, whose face reddened with a grin.
"You probably think you have T.S. nailed to the wall on this but I've seen enough episodes of Making a Murderer to know that sometimes the evidence isn't what it seems."
This riled up the reporters even more. They each shouted more questions to Fantana but he cut them off with a raised hand.
"Listen folks, I don't want to get caught up in litigious claims. Ultimately, this ladder match won't be decided by frivolous lawsuits or kidnapping."
The lawyer cleared his throat, garnering the attention of Zack.
"Alleged."
"Right. Alleged. All things considered, I'd much rather leave that stuff to the boys in blue. I'm not here to decide whether Mr. Elliot is innocent or guilty and I am not T.S.'s mouthpiece nor his handler. What I am is his victory incarnate."
With a smug smile, Fantana continued.
"Look, I understand that the title Executive Action invites all this discussion about the executives. I get it. But if you're going to run this narrative that it's about the executives, at least make it about their business acumen. Do you want to know why I accepted Mr. Elliot's request to represent him? It's not complicated. It's because Mr. Elliot was the only one smart enough to bank his job on me. That's really all it took to convince me that he is the only unbiased executive in that boardroom.
See, I have no ties to Mr. Elliot. None whatsoever. He selected me merely because he has an eye for talent. He didn't run to his significant other to find him a representative like Kassandrah. He didn't accept the first person to volunteer like Thirteen. And do I even have to point out the fact that Francis Ford Cuppola's first two choices have retired from the industry? It's painfully obvious that all three shareholders are out to lunch when it comes to evaluating talent in this company. Worse still, they have a collective agenda. Isn't it curious how T.S. Elliot and I are the only ones who stand to lose anything in this contest? Thirteen, Kassandrah, and Francis Ford Cuppola assume no risk in this contest, just as Bindy Trent, Dare Clemmens, and Austin Gale assume no risk. That's all well and good and keeping in the spirit of the Resilience Championship, but what of the number one contender, Dominic Lawson? Where is his justice?"
A random passerby yelled "Justice for Dom!" Zack waved his hand at the man.
"That guy gets it."
Fantana pulled his sunglasses up to look the reporters in the eye.
"This is some shady shit, folks.
I want you all to ask yourselves, are these really the people you want in charge of this company as it moves forward? Do you want a man with a proven business acumen or do you want one of the three would-be usurpers who began to collude against our COO as he laid in a hospital bed? I know my choice. I'll take the guy who molded the AWE into what it is today - Thomas Shane Elliot."
The lawyer pushed his way forward, almost acting as muscle to allow Zack Fantana to navigate the steps, where they'd soon hold court with the dogged reporters. The big man's steely gaze is only interrupted by the flashbulbs dancing across his transition lenses. He posted up at the foot of the steps in front of Fantana as the reporters all shouted questions about T.S. Elliot.
The lawyer spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
"I'm going to make this short. We cannot address anything involving said incident whilst there is an ongoing investigation."
The burly man attempted to force his way through the crowd by tossing an open palm into the nearest camera lens and pushing forward. Fantana followed in tow. That did nothing to stop the questions, however, as one resolute journalist gave them chase.
"Mr. Fantana, how can you continue to associate yourself with this man after his heinous acts?"
That stopped Fantana dead in his tracks. Truth be told, Fantana was not wont to abandoning a live microphone, so it didn't take much goading to draw him back in.
He craned his neck to face the reporter.
"I'm sorry?"
"Are you still willing to champion the cause of a criminal?"
The lawyer bristled.
"You don't have to answer that."
"No, no, it's fine."
The lawyer wasn't so sure and Fantana soon provided good reason for his skepticism as he addressed the journalist.
"Listen, lady, this is America. I don't know how they do it in your country--"
The reporter held up the USA Today badge which Fantana glossed over.
"But here in AMERICA, we have something called due process. Innocent until proven guilty. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat, hmm? You feel me?"
The lawyer touched Zack lightly on the lapel as if to say "Dial it back a notch", something Zack shrugged off.
"You dweebs in the lamestream media are so predictable."
Zack had finally earnt the approval of the lawyer, whose face reddened with a grin.
"You probably think you have T.S. nailed to the wall on this but I've seen enough episodes of Making a Murderer to know that sometimes the evidence isn't what it seems."
This riled up the reporters even more. They each shouted more questions to Fantana but he cut them off with a raised hand.
"Listen folks, I don't want to get caught up in litigious claims. Ultimately, this ladder match won't be decided by frivolous lawsuits or kidnapping."
The lawyer cleared his throat, garnering the attention of Zack.
"Alleged."
"Right. Alleged. All things considered, I'd much rather leave that stuff to the boys in blue. I'm not here to decide whether Mr. Elliot is innocent or guilty and I am not T.S.'s mouthpiece nor his handler. What I am is his victory incarnate."
With a smug smile, Fantana continued.
"Look, I understand that the title Executive Action invites all this discussion about the executives. I get it. But if you're going to run this narrative that it's about the executives, at least make it about their business acumen. Do you want to know why I accepted Mr. Elliot's request to represent him? It's not complicated. It's because Mr. Elliot was the only one smart enough to bank his job on me. That's really all it took to convince me that he is the only unbiased executive in that boardroom.
See, I have no ties to Mr. Elliot. None whatsoever. He selected me merely because he has an eye for talent. He didn't run to his significant other to find him a representative like Kassandrah. He didn't accept the first person to volunteer like Thirteen. And do I even have to point out the fact that Francis Ford Cuppola's first two choices have retired from the industry? It's painfully obvious that all three shareholders are out to lunch when it comes to evaluating talent in this company. Worse still, they have a collective agenda. Isn't it curious how T.S. Elliot and I are the only ones who stand to lose anything in this contest? Thirteen, Kassandrah, and Francis Ford Cuppola assume no risk in this contest, just as Bindy Trent, Dare Clemmens, and Austin Gale assume no risk. That's all well and good and keeping in the spirit of the Resilience Championship, but what of the number one contender, Dominic Lawson? Where is his justice?"
A random passerby yelled "Justice for Dom!" Zack waved his hand at the man.
"That guy gets it."
Fantana pulled his sunglasses up to look the reporters in the eye.
"This is some shady shit, folks.
I want you all to ask yourselves, are these really the people you want in charge of this company as it moves forward? Do you want a man with a proven business acumen or do you want one of the three would-be usurpers who began to collude against our COO as he laid in a hospital bed? I know my choice. I'll take the guy who molded the AWE into what it is today - Thomas Shane Elliot."