D. MacHale - The Quillan Games

Fourteen didn’t answer. If a robot could look worried, he looked worried.

“What?” I asked. “Don’t you think I can?”

“You certainly have the ability,” the dado said. “But Challenger Green does not win on ability alone.”

“I know, he’s a rotten cheat,” I said. “Don’t worry. I’m ready for him.”

“I do not think that is possible,” Fourteen said. “At least for you. I cannot see you lowering yourself to compete with his type of tactics.”

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ve got some tactics of my own, but thanks for your concern.”

Fourteen led me to my room and left me alone. When the door closed behind me, I looked around at the familiar space. I got the same feeling as when I’d jumped out of the car a while before. What had I gotten myself into? Why did I come back to this horror house? Up until that moment it had all felt like theory. Seeing the castle and this room made it real.

The Grand X didn’t happen right away. Nevva was right. Veego and LaBerge wanted to whip up as much excitement as they could. When I did my training, there was always a dado there with a small handheld camera. They were beaming my image all over Quillan so that everybody got to know Challenger Red. I didn’t see Challenger Green much, but the few times I caught a glimpse of him outside lifting weights, or doing exercises, I saw that there was a camera on him, too. I guess it was like showing those “up close and personal” videos of athletes during the Olympics on Second Earth.

Of course, there was no way that Veego and LaBerge could know that all this publicity was playing right into the hands of the revivers. Up until then, all anybody had actually seen of me were the Hook and Tock matches. Now they were seeing hours of me. I imagined my picture being shown on hundreds of screens lining the streets of Rune. It was kind of intimidating, to be honest. I found myself getting nervous. Not about the Grand X. I was more worried that I might not come off as the big “champion” that the revivers were building me up to be. I mean, I was still me. What if nobody was impressed? It would all be for nothing. I found myself trying extra hard during training to look worthy. I ran a little faster and did my best to impress during agility drills. I really wanted to do my part to build up the myth. I figured that was just as important as the actual training.

I had no idea if it was doing any good, until one day when I got an interesting opportunity. Fourteen brought me to the platform where the Tato competitions were held. Waiting there for me were Veego, LaBerge, and Challenger Green. I had no idea what was going on, but tried to act cool.

“Is this it?” I asked. “Are we starting?”

“No!” LaBerge said with excitement as he scampered up to me. “Veego and I thought it would be wonderful if you two could say a few words to the people of Quillan. You know, to let them know how you feel, and how it’s going to be such a fabulous Grand X and all.”

“It was my idea actually,” said Nevva Winter as she stepped up onto the platform. “What better way to let the people of Quillan know who they will be wagering on than to hear from the challengers themselves?”

As Nevva said this, she looked me square in the eye, as if she were trying to tell me something.

“We can say whatever we want?” I asked.

Veego chimed in, “So long as it doesn’t embarrass us, or Blok.”

“Oh, no,” I said sarcastically. “Wouldn’t want to do that!”

Nevva said, “Just tell them what you’re about, and why it’s important for you to win the Grand X.”

Nevva again looked right at me. I realized that she had set this up as a golden opportunity for me to tell the people why I was competing. Every person on Quillan would see this. I had to find the exact right words.

Challenger Green laughed and said, “You mean, there are other reasons for winning besides not getting killed?”

LaBerge was the only one who laughed. When he saw that nobody else did, he stopped. Idiot.

“Let Challenger Green go first,” I said. “He is the champion, he should have the honor.”

Actually, I wanted more time to think about what I was going to say.

“All right,” Green said. “Let’s do this.”

Veego and LaBerge stood together. A service dado appeared with a small camera and pointed it at them.

“Let us know when we are online,” Veego said to the dado.

Nevva stood next to me and spoke quietly, while looking at Veego and LaBerge.

“How are you?” she asked. “Ready” was my answer.

“You know this is an incredible opportunity,” she said. “The right words will put you over the top.”

“Yeah,” I said. “And the wrong words might bury me. Stop talking and let me think.”

The service dado nodded and signaled for the two to begin.

LaBerge put on his biggest smile and sang, “The time is growing near, the games are almost here; the challengers are ready, and now their words you’ll hear!”

Veego added, “This will be one of the most difficult choices you will ever face. Who best to place your wager on? We’ve done our best to educate you about the two challengers, now it’s time to hear from them, in their own words. First we will hear from the champion. Challenger Green.”

The service dado panned over to Challenger Green, who stood with his hands on his hips.

“You know me,” he said brusquely. “You know I don’t lose. I’ve been watching the games my whole life. Blok has never seen a champion as powerful as me. I’m going to be the first challenger to retire undefeated, and then tour Quillan to promote the games for Blok. When you think of Blok, you think of power and you think of me.”

He turned arid jumped down off the platform. The service dado quickly panned back to Veego and LaBerge, who seemed surprised by Challenger Green’s quick exit. I couldn’t have been happier about what he said. Nevva looked as if she were holding back a smile.

“That’s perfect,” she said. “He has totally aligned himself with Blok.”

Veego said to the camera, “And now we will hear from Challenger Red, the only challenger in history who is so confident, he actually asked to compete against Challenger Green. I give you… Challenger Red.”

The service dado whipped the camera to me as Nevva stepped aside. It’s a strange feeling to know that your image is being broadcast to millions of people. It was the biggest stage possible. I needed to make the most of it. I folded my hands in front of me and said, “You don’t know me as well as Challenger Green, but there’s something important you should understand. I didn’t come back to compete in the Grand X for myself. I could have disappeared and nobody would ever have seen me again. But I came here as a tribute to the people of Quillan.”

D. J. MacHale

The Quillan Games

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Veego and LaBerge give each other concerned looks.

“I’m here to prove that you don’t have to be big and powerful to triumph. I believe in myself, and I believe in the people of Quillan. And even though I know I will win the Grand X, I am asking each and every one of you to be brave, and as a protest against these brutal games, do not wager on the Grand X. Either on me or on Challenger Green. It’s the best way you can show Blok that you aren’t going to live by their rules any longer.”

“What?” LaBerge screamed.

Veego walked quickly to the service dado and pushed the camera off me.

“End this transmission,” she hissed at the dado. “Now!”

The dado hurried off the platform with the camera.

“How could you say that?” Nevva asked, faking surprise. “That was not authorized! The trustees will be very angry! I’m going to have to bring this up with them at once.”