Scott Sigler - The Rookie

His first three plays were three completions, for seven, sixteen, and nine yards. He scrambled on the fourth play, a very un -Pine thing to do, picking up a first down before sliding to the ground to avoid a hit. The home crowd ate it up. After a half of interceptions and incompletions, they screamed their heads off for anything positive.

Quentin watched as Hawick drove deep downfield against Toyonaka, the two speedsters a combined flash of orange and black, white and black and teal. The ball was in the air before Hawick even stopped, and when she turned it hit her dead in the chest. Toyonaka was faster, but at such speeds her reaction time wasn’t enough to match deadly pin-point passing on a timed route.

Fifteen yards.

Pine ran the same play again for twelve yards.

He was merciless — he ran the same play a third time, but pump-faked when Toyonaka anticipated the throw. Hawick shot downfield as Pine launched a soft fade pass. Toyonaka tried to catch up, but Hawick brought the ball in as delicately as a mother holding her new baby.

The crowd roared so loud Quentin wondered if the anti-radiation dome might collapse on their heads. Morningstar knocked in the extra point.

Krakens 21, Warpigs 21.

Quentin shook his head in amazement. Toyonaka was an all-pro, and Pine had gone right after her, victimizing her in just three plays.

Jealousy burned in his chest as Pine put the Krakens on the board two of the next three possessions, one a 21-yard field goal by Morningstar, and the other a lucky break when Keluang fell while trying to tackle Denver. The stumble turned a short out pattern into a 67-yard TD: you only got one chance to tackle Denver.

The Warpigs came back, but the Krakens’ defense showed new energy in the second half. Two fumbles killed critical Warpig drives. The momentum steadily dripped over to the Krakens’ side of the field. Fayed broke a long 52-yard run, his longest of the season, to put the final nail in the coffin.

The clock ticked down to 0:00.

Krakens 38, Warpigs 28.

The team ran off the field and into the locker room, the feeling of elation running rampant through their hearts and minds — they were now in sole possession of first place, one game away from the Tier Two Tournament and a possible Tier One berth.

The impossible comeback now looks probable, but which quarterback will lead the Ionath Krakens(6–2) into their final game against the Quyth Survivors(3–5)? The Krakens’ musical-chairs quarterbacking continued this week in a 38–28 win over the Glory Warpigs(6–2). Rookie QB Quentin Barnes started the game, but couldn’t handle the pressure of the Warpigs’ top-rated defensive secondary. Veteran Donald Pine led the Krakens to the win. After a 1–2 start, the Krakens have won five straight, and now need to beat the Survivors to win the Quyth Irradiated Conference title.

Orbiting Death(5–3) pounded the Bigg Diggers(3–5) 31–17, the Grontak Hydras(4–4) topped the Sky Demolition(1–7) 21–12, the Sheb Stalkers (5–2) defeated the Quyth Survivors(3–5) by a score of 17–10, and the Whitok Pioneers(5–3) trounced the Woo Wallcrawlers(2–6) 52-3.

DEATHS:

No deaths to report this week.

WEEK #8 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK:

Offense: Mayville,receiver, Glory Warpigs. 12 catches for 191 yards, 3 TDs.

Defense: Sven Draupnir,outside linebacker, Quyth Survivors. 12 tackles, 2 sacks.

GAME NINE: Ionath Krakens (6–2) at Quyth Survivors (3–5)

QUYTH IRRADIATED CONFERENCE STANDINGS

THEY MIGHT AS WELL have been preparing for a gladiatorial fight to the death, or perhaps a pitched battle to save their own families. That’s how intense it felt as the Krakens practiced for the final regular-season game against the Quyth Survivors. There had been smiles and jokes and hard work and intensity as the Krakens crawled from 1–2 and fought their way to first place. The smiles and jokes were gone.

The Krakens had fought too long and too hard to grab sole possession of first place. They weren’t about to take a team lightly simply because of a 3–5 record.

Hokor gave the starting job to Pine. Quentin was mad as could be, jealous, enraged and dejected, but after his performance against the Warpigs he couldn’t blame Hokor. The difference this time, however, was that Quentin and Pine evenly split all practice reps.

After the second practice, with two more to go before game time, Quentin was glad he was not a Quyth Survivor. Later that night they’d take the shuttle up to the Touchback and depart for the planet Quyth, seat of the Quyth Concordia and home of the Survivors.

As he peeled off his armor after practice, Messal waddled over to him. The Quyth Worker stood there, waiting to be addressed.

“What is it?” Quentin asked. He hated how the Workers were so subservient they wouldn’t speak unless spoken to.

“Gredok wishes to see you,” Messal said.

Quentin’s blood ran ice-cold. Gredok hadn’t talked to him since that first shuttle trip from the Combine to the Touchback. “What does he want?”

“As I said, Gredok wishes to see you.”

Quentin nodded. “Tell him I’ll be right up as soon as I finish dressing.”

“He is not here,” Messal said. “He is in town. I am to take you to him immediately.”

Quentin took a deep breath. In town. Had he found out about the team-wide smuggling effort? Or, far worse, found out about Pine?

“Come on, Messal, give me a hint. What’s this about?”

“It is not my place to say,” Messal said with a little bow.

“Okay, let me shower up first.”

“If I may be so bold, I suggest you skip the shower and come with me immediately. Gredok seemed… agitated. ”

“Agitated,” Quentin echoed. That couldn’t be good. He’d never seen Gredok upset, let alone agitated. He quickly finished removing his armor, then threw on pants and a Krakens sweatshirt.

THE HOVERCAB STOPPED in front of the Bootleg Arms.

“Uh-oh,” Quentin said.

Virak the Mean was waiting by the front door. He walked forward as soon as the cab stopped. Virak’s eye showed a thin coloring of translucent pink.

“Gredok is inside,” Virak said. “Come with me.”

Quentin thought of running for it, but where would he go? He was in an alien city. He knew only his teammates and a handful of diehard Purist Nation citizens. He could easily outrun Virak. But where after that? This was Gredok’s city. Virak was also apparently in trouble — pink was the color of fear.