The football field glittered under the lights, the white stripes gleaming
in the light. The crowd was restless, uneasy almost, waiting for the teams
to emerge and the game to begin. A single face turned to the sky, his dark
eyes glinting and a smile plastered across his face. There was the
reviewing stand, where the OZ bigwigs were supposed to be. He turned and
vanished, not before tossing his ticket to a surprised fan.
"Keep it. Fifty-yard line. I don't need it any more."
*****
Vick glanced around, comfortable in his element. This was the place to be, crowds of revelers partying at the thought of their team walking away with the most prestigious of the sport's awards: the Super Bowl ring.
His head snapped around as he saw a person duck away into the shadows, a shadow dressed in black. He turned and followed, his height helping him follow his suspect. He wound between the crowds, almost losing him several times but always spotting his elusive form every time.
Eventually they emerged outside and wove through the waiting lines into an alley. He was gone. Shaking his head in bewilderment, Vick returned to his post.
*****
"Please, sir, you must not attend this event."
Tobias's eyes glinted in the shadows.
"I will do as I wish. This is a goodwill visit to our American friends. We need their military to fight the Gundams."
Colonel David Nyroska stood imperiously above his counterpart. His brown hair was combed into a severe wave, covering his bald spot. His face showed his thirty years of service, the wrinkles intermingled with scars. His eyes were young, however, and had a spark of intelligence not normally seen in a man of his longevity of service.
"Sir, we have reason to believe a Gundam may be here, waiting for a chance like this. We cannot risk someone as important as you."
"You really feel that way? I almost feel touched."
"Sir, you don't understand."
"I understand better than you think. If I must die to get this to work, than so be it."
Tobias's mind whirled for a second before he knew what was going on. "You knew."
"Yes. I put so much publicity on this hoping to attract something like this. If I die, the United States will have an obligation to assist. My life will have had some meaning."
"But your life has had meaning. Just look at your military career. One of the best."
"Life is not about fighting. Learn that."
"Some people have no choice but to fight. If they did, the world would be less violent."
"So then you feel you have no choice. You can still get out."
"And risk the outcry of the High Command? It takes too long and too much money to become a Colonel that I would be so easily forgotten."
"Watch. In my years I have learned that a Colonel is as easily missed as any other soldier."
Before he could react, Tobias was bound and gagged. His eyes burned with anger at the betrayal.
Nyroska bent down and stared right into the burning pits of his eyes. "You know too much. You'll stay here as I get killed and help end this ridiculous insurgence."
*****
The locker rooms were empty, as both teams filed out to give their best effort. This was the place to be for them as well, the electricity of the air crackling and charging them, urging them to play their best. They grinned like boys, except for quarterback Jamal Henrix. He was disturbed by the visit of a man in black to his locker room, telling him his game would influence the life of the crowd.
Was he being told to throw the game? He couldn't worry now, the starting lineups were being announced. He jogged onto the field with the rest of his team, slowing down to stare.
The atmosphere was frenzied, the fans going crazy since the game had begun. Their roar filled the air and thundered around the stadium, resonating upon itself until it was a constant roar. He gaped, never before having seen such frenzy. Not in his first start, not as his team clinched the wildcard spot, not as his team upset the top-ranked Philadelphia Eagles.
Faintly he heard his name being called over the loudspeaker. "And starting at quarterback, making his first Super Bowl appearance, Jamal Henrix!" The voice continued with his statistics. "Breaking most rookie records at quarterback this season, Jamal has amassed almost 3000 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. Most impressive, however, are his playoff games, upset after upset against the top teams of the NFC. Can he now beat the powerhouse Oakland Raiders and their feared blitz-happy defense? Only this game will tell."
He could only stand and weep. Never had he dreamed of this, starting in the Super Bowl in his rookie year. But he would have to throw the game to save the 70000 people in the stands.
*****
Nyroska mounted the visitors' platform, his uniform glittering under the harsh spotlights, the medallions and ribbons glowing from the glare. His gaze swept across the rowdy crowds, smiling grimly to himself. This would be their end, he thought.
His gaze fell upon the field and the slumped Atlanta quarterback. Why was he so upset? It would be the game of his life. Too bad it would be the last one, as well.
*****
Jamal lined up behind his offensive line, his hands ready to grab the ball at his command.
"Hike!"
The ball flew into his grip, settling itself comfortably as he readied himself like he had so many times. He did not see the three hundred-pound Darien Preston come around and spring; instead he felt the presence and rolled around to the left, barely dodging the strike.
Panicking, he lobbed the ball ahead of him and took a hit, spilling him to the ground. He looked up to see the defense dancing and groaned. Interception. What a way to start the game.
Up in the stands, a man in black smiled.
*****
Robyn looked out her viewscreens as she waited. So boring, she thought.
She flipped a switch and scanned the frequencies. Everything was a buzz of static. Must be the game, she thought. She almost flipped the switch off again before her ears caught something. Slowly she isolated the channel and turned it up. It was a single line of code, repeating itself again and again. She recorded it and began to work on its source and encryption.
*****
The first quarter was almost over. Jamal's eyes blurred a second before he blinked them away. His head buzzed from some of the hits he had taken, his vision occasionally doubling. Again he shook his head. "Hike!"
The ball again flew into his hands again and he ran back and turned. He had some time; the line was doing its job. He scanned the back of the field for a receiver and spotted an open man. His arm hurled the ball to him.
For one brief second Darien Preston jumped and got his hand in front of it. It grazed his fingers and began to flutter; Jamal's heart stopped before watching it flutter into the waiting receiver's arms. He turned and sprinted. Ten yards, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five.
The clock expired as he leapt over the man in his way and collapsed into the end zone, before the kick was made, tying the score at seven apiece.
In the stands, the man in black disappeared again as he felt things started to slip out of control. It was time for action.
*****
In another part of the city, a building disappeared as a hologram field disappeared, revealing a Mobile Suit of great power. It's wings unfurled, revealing the form of the Gundam Deathscythe Hell, the Gundam 02.
*****
Robyn stared at the readout in front of her. She had not found one signal, but instead a mix of several. One was posted on a civilian channel while the other transmitted across the military. She narrowed her eyes and opened the one from the military.
Confusion crossed her as the message repeated a series of long and short beeps. It took a moment to realize it was Morse code, something she had not heard for many years. She pulled a pencil out of a small hole in the cockpit and began to right it down as it appeared.
-.- -. -.-
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to remember what was what.
-.- -. -.-
S. O. S.
Someone was in trouble. She scanned the airwaves again to track the source, finally pinpointing it inside the stadium, a small room near the receiving booth. She quickly launched off a message, ignoring the second signal all together.
*****
Tobias's fingers rubbed the receiver again.
-.- -. -.- S. O. S.
He hoped someone would get the message. The ropes around his wrist were bound too tightly to allow him to get out. He shook his head and rubbed the receiver again.
-.- -. -.-
S. O. S.
*****
Okay, I showed a little bias in this while I was choosing the teams, but hey, I'm the author, right? As for this portion of the story, one of my close friends got me thinking by writing back and forth, throwing ideas around. It helped me decide that the game'll cross four chapters.
Thanks a lot. Colonel
"Keep it. Fifty-yard line. I don't need it any more."
*****
Vick glanced around, comfortable in his element. This was the place to be, crowds of revelers partying at the thought of their team walking away with the most prestigious of the sport's awards: the Super Bowl ring.
His head snapped around as he saw a person duck away into the shadows, a shadow dressed in black. He turned and followed, his height helping him follow his suspect. He wound between the crowds, almost losing him several times but always spotting his elusive form every time.
Eventually they emerged outside and wove through the waiting lines into an alley. He was gone. Shaking his head in bewilderment, Vick returned to his post.
*****
"Please, sir, you must not attend this event."
Tobias's eyes glinted in the shadows.
"I will do as I wish. This is a goodwill visit to our American friends. We need their military to fight the Gundams."
Colonel David Nyroska stood imperiously above his counterpart. His brown hair was combed into a severe wave, covering his bald spot. His face showed his thirty years of service, the wrinkles intermingled with scars. His eyes were young, however, and had a spark of intelligence not normally seen in a man of his longevity of service.
"Sir, we have reason to believe a Gundam may be here, waiting for a chance like this. We cannot risk someone as important as you."
"You really feel that way? I almost feel touched."
"Sir, you don't understand."
"I understand better than you think. If I must die to get this to work, than so be it."
Tobias's mind whirled for a second before he knew what was going on. "You knew."
"Yes. I put so much publicity on this hoping to attract something like this. If I die, the United States will have an obligation to assist. My life will have had some meaning."
"But your life has had meaning. Just look at your military career. One of the best."
"Life is not about fighting. Learn that."
"Some people have no choice but to fight. If they did, the world would be less violent."
"So then you feel you have no choice. You can still get out."
"And risk the outcry of the High Command? It takes too long and too much money to become a Colonel that I would be so easily forgotten."
"Watch. In my years I have learned that a Colonel is as easily missed as any other soldier."
Before he could react, Tobias was bound and gagged. His eyes burned with anger at the betrayal.
Nyroska bent down and stared right into the burning pits of his eyes. "You know too much. You'll stay here as I get killed and help end this ridiculous insurgence."
*****
The locker rooms were empty, as both teams filed out to give their best effort. This was the place to be for them as well, the electricity of the air crackling and charging them, urging them to play their best. They grinned like boys, except for quarterback Jamal Henrix. He was disturbed by the visit of a man in black to his locker room, telling him his game would influence the life of the crowd.
Was he being told to throw the game? He couldn't worry now, the starting lineups were being announced. He jogged onto the field with the rest of his team, slowing down to stare.
The atmosphere was frenzied, the fans going crazy since the game had begun. Their roar filled the air and thundered around the stadium, resonating upon itself until it was a constant roar. He gaped, never before having seen such frenzy. Not in his first start, not as his team clinched the wildcard spot, not as his team upset the top-ranked Philadelphia Eagles.
Faintly he heard his name being called over the loudspeaker. "And starting at quarterback, making his first Super Bowl appearance, Jamal Henrix!" The voice continued with his statistics. "Breaking most rookie records at quarterback this season, Jamal has amassed almost 3000 yards passing and 20 touchdowns. Most impressive, however, are his playoff games, upset after upset against the top teams of the NFC. Can he now beat the powerhouse Oakland Raiders and their feared blitz-happy defense? Only this game will tell."
He could only stand and weep. Never had he dreamed of this, starting in the Super Bowl in his rookie year. But he would have to throw the game to save the 70000 people in the stands.
*****
Nyroska mounted the visitors' platform, his uniform glittering under the harsh spotlights, the medallions and ribbons glowing from the glare. His gaze swept across the rowdy crowds, smiling grimly to himself. This would be their end, he thought.
His gaze fell upon the field and the slumped Atlanta quarterback. Why was he so upset? It would be the game of his life. Too bad it would be the last one, as well.
*****
Jamal lined up behind his offensive line, his hands ready to grab the ball at his command.
"Hike!"
The ball flew into his grip, settling itself comfortably as he readied himself like he had so many times. He did not see the three hundred-pound Darien Preston come around and spring; instead he felt the presence and rolled around to the left, barely dodging the strike.
Panicking, he lobbed the ball ahead of him and took a hit, spilling him to the ground. He looked up to see the defense dancing and groaned. Interception. What a way to start the game.
Up in the stands, a man in black smiled.
*****
Robyn looked out her viewscreens as she waited. So boring, she thought.
She flipped a switch and scanned the frequencies. Everything was a buzz of static. Must be the game, she thought. She almost flipped the switch off again before her ears caught something. Slowly she isolated the channel and turned it up. It was a single line of code, repeating itself again and again. She recorded it and began to work on its source and encryption.
*****
The first quarter was almost over. Jamal's eyes blurred a second before he blinked them away. His head buzzed from some of the hits he had taken, his vision occasionally doubling. Again he shook his head. "Hike!"
The ball again flew into his hands again and he ran back and turned. He had some time; the line was doing its job. He scanned the back of the field for a receiver and spotted an open man. His arm hurled the ball to him.
For one brief second Darien Preston jumped and got his hand in front of it. It grazed his fingers and began to flutter; Jamal's heart stopped before watching it flutter into the waiting receiver's arms. He turned and sprinted. Ten yards, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five.
The clock expired as he leapt over the man in his way and collapsed into the end zone, before the kick was made, tying the score at seven apiece.
In the stands, the man in black disappeared again as he felt things started to slip out of control. It was time for action.
*****
In another part of the city, a building disappeared as a hologram field disappeared, revealing a Mobile Suit of great power. It's wings unfurled, revealing the form of the Gundam Deathscythe Hell, the Gundam 02.
*****
Robyn stared at the readout in front of her. She had not found one signal, but instead a mix of several. One was posted on a civilian channel while the other transmitted across the military. She narrowed her eyes and opened the one from the military.
Confusion crossed her as the message repeated a series of long and short beeps. It took a moment to realize it was Morse code, something she had not heard for many years. She pulled a pencil out of a small hole in the cockpit and began to right it down as it appeared.
-.- -. -.-
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to remember what was what.
-.- -. -.-
S. O. S.
Someone was in trouble. She scanned the airwaves again to track the source, finally pinpointing it inside the stadium, a small room near the receiving booth. She quickly launched off a message, ignoring the second signal all together.
*****
Tobias's fingers rubbed the receiver again.
-.- -. -.- S. O. S.
He hoped someone would get the message. The ropes around his wrist were bound too tightly to allow him to get out. He shook his head and rubbed the receiver again.
-.- -. -.-
S. O. S.
*****
Okay, I showed a little bias in this while I was choosing the teams, but hey, I'm the author, right? As for this portion of the story, one of my close friends got me thinking by writing back and forth, throwing ideas around. It helped me decide that the game'll cross four chapters.
Thanks a lot. Colonel