The Starter (51 page)
PLANET DIVISION
4-1 Isis Ice Storm
4-2 To Pirates
4-2 Mars Planets
3-2 Lu Juggernauts
3-2 Hittoni Hullwalkers
3-2 Wabash Wolfpack
3-3 Yall Criminals
3-3 Themala Dreadnaughts
2-3 Alimum Armada
2-3 Coranadillana Cloud Killers (bye)
1-4 Ionath Krakens (bye)
SOLAR DIVISION
4-1 New Rodina Astronauts
4-1 Bord Brigands (bye)
4-2 D’Kow War Dogs
4-2 Neptune Scarlet Fliers
3-2 Jupiter Jacks
3-3 Sala Intrigue
2-3 Bartel Water Bugs
1-4 Vik Vanguard
1-4 Shorah Warlords (bye)
1-5 Jang Atom Smashers
0-5 Chillich Spider-Bears
MEMO FROM THE DESK OF GFL LEAGUE COMMISSIONER ROB FROESE
To:
Gredok the Splithead
Subject:
The League’s stance on the murder investigation involving suspect Ju Tweedy.
It is the Galactic Football League’s official position that Ju Tweedy is now a member of the Ionath Krakens, and as such, he is afforded the full diplomatic immunity granted to any signed player. Ergo, he may not be detained by the System Police of Orbital Station One, nor may he be detained by any law enforcement agency during his travels.
The GFL will cooperate with the investigation into the murder of Grace McDermot, of which Ju Tweedy is a suspect. The Krakens franchise is also expected to cooperate fully. Further questioning of Ju Tweedy is required, and will be performed on the Krakens’ official team bus (the Touchback). Any efforts by the Krakens franchise to deny access to Ju Tweedy will result in the maximum fines and penalties available, at the Commissioner’s discretion.
Unofficially, let it be known that I, Rob Froese, in my capacity as GFL commissioner, will get to the bottom of this. Ju Tweedy had the means, the motive, and the opportunity to murder Grace McDermot. Witnesses put him at the scene of the crime. If he committed this crime, not only will he pay, but I will do everything in my power to have the Ionath Krakens franchise charter pulled for damaging the image of the GFL and for general abhorrent behavior.
The Creterakians may turn a blind eye to your criminal ways, Gredok, but I am watching. Sooner or later, you’re going to get what’s coming to you.
Memo from the Desk of Gredok the Splithead
To: GFL Commissioner Rob Froese
Subject: A response to your memo regarding the Grace McDermot investigation
Dear Commissioner Froese,
The Ionath Krakens wish to thank you for your involvement in this delicate matter. We have full confidence that Ju Tweedy will be found innocent of this heinous and tragic crime.
And when — not if — Ju Tweedy is cleared of all charges, I will expect a full apology, in person, for your insolent tone. People far more important than you have asked my forgiveness for far less, of this I assure you.
Forgiveness, I should add, that most of them did not receive.
If you are looking for enemies, Commissioner Froese, may I respectfully suggest you shop elsewhere. The cost for dancing with me might be higher than you are prepared to pay.
Sincerely,
Gredok the Splithead
QUENTIN HAD ALREADY SEEN
his first Ki Empire planet. That was fortunate, because on the planet Lu he would see the Juggernauts Stadium and nothing else.
Only the Ki members of the Krakens were allowed to go down early. The rest of the team — Human, Sklorno, Quyth Warrior, HeavyG, even Doc Patah and the support staff — were not allowed off-ship before Sunday’s game. When Sunday came, they didn’t even use the team shuttle to descend. Instead, Gredok hired an unmarked freighter to take the players down a mere four hours before kickoff. Quentin saw the inside of the landing bay and the visitors’ locker room. As soon as he left the locker room, he’d see the stadium, play the game, do his press conference, then back on the freighter for the return to the
Touchback
.
Gredok wasn’t taking any chances. He wanted the team isolated from Commissioner Froese and any investigators. If Froese wanted his people to talk to Ju, Gredok would make sure it was on the
Touchback
, and deny each and every meeting as long as possible. Gredok called it “laying low,” a technique practiced by criminals from time immemorial. The longer Gredok stalled the investigation, the better it was for everyone.
In the Human locker room of Juggernauts Stadium, Quentin went through his ritual. He laid out his gear, but also watched the Human Krakens players welcome Ju to the team. Quentin and John had spread the story of the showdown between Gredok and Anna, how Anna had revealed Ju’s innocence. That, combined with Ju’s status as the running back the Krakens so desperately needed, had everyone brimming with excitement. Sure, Ju was still wanted for murder, but his innocence would be proven — the only variable was time.
Ju was all smiles and charm, praising the organization, giving thanks, and proclaiming his innocence, but only when asked. He didn’t preach or push it on anyone. Everyone loved the man right off the bat — everyone but Yassoud.
Yassoud simmered with anger, frustration, and failure. He’d had his chance. After five games of futility, he’d been replaced. Unless Ju Tweedy was hurt or killed, Yassoud’s running days with the Krakens were mostly over.
John walked around the locker room like a peacock, strutting-proud that his little brother had joined the team. Now that they were on the same team, their sibling rivalry had taken a step back if not vanished altogether.
Helmet in hand and already dressed for the game, John Tweedy saw Quentin and walked over. He didn’t smile so much as he beamed, glowed. “I’m not going to forget what you did, Q.”
Quentin shrugged. “You’d have done the same for me.”
John nodded. “Yeah, sure, but that doesn’t change the fact that you did it for me, did it for my family. And I want to show you something.”
He reached into his helmet and pulled out a holo-cube, which he handed to Quentin. Quentin took the small piece of plastic and squeezed the sides.
A hologram of Ma Tweedy flared to life. She was still hunched over, ears in her shoulder, eyes squinting so tight she might have been blind. She didn’t have the half-orange, half-black jersey anymore. She wore an orange Krakens away jersey with the number 50 — John’s number. Her ballcap was also Krakens’ orange, with the Ionath logo on the bill and a “48” on the brim — Ju’s new number.
“That’s
my
jersey,” John said, his smile still blazing and wide,MOM ALWAYS DID LOVE ME BESTscrolling across his face. “She said she was so proud of me for saving Ju.
My
jersey, Q! Not his,
mine
.”
“Congrats,” Quentin said, and went to hand the cube back.
“No, it’s for you,” John said. “Hit play.”
Quentin held the cube in his lap and hit the play icon. The image of Ma Tweedy moved, and her voice came out from the holocube’s small surface.
“Quentin! Jonathan tells me that you saved my boy Julius. Thank you, Quentin. From now on, you’re family. You always have a home with Ma Tweedy, honey. And don’t forget to slide.”
The playback stopped. Quentin laughed.
“Ma likes you,” John said.
Quentin felt a lump in his throat. This woman that he’d never met had called him
honey
, had called him
family
, the kind of words a mother would use.
John gave Quentin’s hair a quick ruffle, then walked off toward Ju.
Quentin put the holo-cube in his locker, then he looked at Ju, who was laughing and joking with his brother and with the rest of the Krakens. Quentin watched Ju’s charm — genuine, or fake? Quentin remembered the man in that life-and-death situation only a few days earlier, remembered Ju looking down the barrel of a gun and
negotiating
for a better deal. Quentin would have been grateful beyond measure just to play ball again, to be on a team again. Ju Tweedy? He seemed far more concerned about money.
Well, whatever Ju’s motivations, Doc Patah had done his magic and repaired the running back’s bullet wound. Ju Tweedy was ready to play. And yet, for all of Ju’s skill, he had never played a down of Tier One football. This was his coming-out party. The galaxy would be watching, waiting to see if Ju could dominate at the highest level. Ju would be ready to show them that he could.
Quentin tuned Ju out, tuned everyone out. He started his ritual, putting the gear on one piece a time, mentally playing through the names, stats, tendencies, and history of every player on the Lu Juggernauts.
Now he had an offensive line.
Now he had a running back.
The league was about to see just how good the Ionath Krakens could be.
• • •
QUENTIN’S HAND HURT
. Hurt in the best way possible.
It hurt because every time he handed off to Ju Tweedy, the meaty running back snapped his arms down so hard it nearly broke Quentin’s fingers. Ju ran full-speed toward the line, every play, every moment. He ripped his arms down to take the ball like it was some kind of enemy, like it was a threat to Ma Tweedy herself.
When Ju hit that line or went through a hole, High One help the first Lu Juggernauts defensive player that stepped up to stop him. When Ju dipped his battering-ram of a head, lowered his huge shoulders and slammed into that hapless soul clad in Juggernauts’ steel-blue and gold, Quentin could almost see shockwaves.
For once, Quentin wasn’t covered in stains from the field’s plants. In this case, those plants were a coarse, tan grass, light enough to make the black lines and yard markers really pop in the afternoon sun. Quentin wasn’t dirty, because the Krakens just kept running the ball. That constant, punishing running style started to wear the Juggernauts down. Ju had twenty-two yards on seven carries in the first quarter, and another thirty-five yards on eight tries in the second quarter, including a ten-yard touchdown run.
In the second half, that running game made the linebackers watch for Ju Tweedy, watch him every play. Quentin gave a ball-fake, those linebackers froze, waiting to see if they had to tackle the Human wrecking ball. That reaction, that freeze, gave Quentin another second, even two seconds of time to throw. Combined with the excellent protection of Michael Kimberlin and the offensive line, for the first time that season Quentin had time to drop back, step up, and evaluate all of his receivers to find the open one.
That meant completed passes, and a lot of them. He hit Crazy George Starcher six times for eighty-eight yards and a touchdown. Hawick also had a TD, part of her five catches for an even hundred yards. The best part of the game for Quentin? One completion to Halawa — which just happened to be for a 36-yard touchdown.
The Krakens defense didn’t play great, but they did enough for the win. Running off the field to the violent, drum-line-like
clacks
of the mostly-Ki fans, the Krakens entered the locker room with a 28-21 win, a record of 2-and-4, and a new sense of optimism that permeated every ounce of their collective being.
• • •
THE LOCKER ROOM
felt electric.
Things had felt good when the Krakens beat the Shorah Warlords in Week Three, but that had been more relief than anything else. Relief that they would not go the year without a win. This? This was different.
It was different because now they had a running game. Ju Tweedy finished the game with 103 yards on 28 carries. His punishing presence demanded defensive attention, giving Quentin more time to throw the ball. As a result, Quentin enjoyed his best game in Tier One: 15-of-20 for 235 yards and three touchdowns. With a healthy offensive line, a running game that kept the defense on its heels, three excellent receivers, and a quarterback that wasn’t half bad, Ionath had suddenly become very, very dangerous.