I actually wrote this after I posted the last chapter of 'New Potential'. I left it for editing then never got back to it, and now I can't remember what it was I was going to edit! So I left it as is and am posting it now.

Disclaimer: Alphanium owns GF, not me.

"What the hell?" Clamp gaped open-mouthed at the screen, Aarch not faring much better.

Thran immediately knew what had happened and quickly pushed past the crowds and ran up to the older men. "Start the program!" Seeing Aarch try to speak, the boy continued, cutting him off. "I know he's asleep, just trust me! Start the program!"

Clamp eyed the kid as though he'd gone off his rocker, but after a nod from Aarch, started the try-out.

Ahito was dreaming. About football, of course. They (he and Thran, the other players on their team were faceless, though that red-head looked an awful lot like D'jok) were playing against the famous Lightnings, and Warren had broken past their defence. Ahito was there, in the goal, ready to leap as he kicked the ball…

The dream remained even as his senses turned outwards, the semi-awareness of something headed his way causing him to react. He was still technically asleep, and perfectly content; D'jok and Micro-Ice often threw things like footballs at him when he was asleep (nothing particularly harmful, of course) initially to wake him up but later to marvel at his subconscious reflexes. As the ball entered his physical range, he shot out his left arm, fist clenched, and punched it up and away. It was natural, the lingering memory of the goal's position affecting his reaction. Consciously, it wasn't even registered.

His arm dropped back to his side as Ahito shifted slightly, settling physically back into sleep, only to be tugged back to action by another ball, further to the left of the goal this time. Again, the sudden alteration of the external environment went practically unnoticed. It was his leg that intercepted this time, at impressive speed, and he proceeded to curl up and relax back…

Ahito started to actually wake up as his personal proximity alert quickly made him aware of several incoming targets. Over a certain number of projectiles that were over a certain speed and/or frequency would pull him back to consciousness as his subconscious registered that he needed to be fully aware in order to compensate. All vestiges of fatigue drained away as his eyelids slowly lifted, before snapping wide open as realisation struck. This wasn't nap time, this was the try-outs being held by THE Aarch to get on the first Akillian football team in fifteen years and compete in the Galactik Football Cup! Get up!

He promptly leapt to his feet so zealously he nearly fell over again. No time to think about that though, as he jumped to deflect the ball over the top of the net, catching it with his palm and ending up on his back. He quickly scrambled up again and dove to the right, punching with both hands and sending the next ball off the pitch. A well-placed foot deflected another near the floor to the left, before throwing himself to the right again. The try-out continued in this manner until he neatly caught the last football with both hands against his chest, the force of it sending him staggering back a little way. He looked up, ready for more, but when he saw the eight or nine balls coming towards him he wisely rethought his plan of action. He was a superb goalie, had been kicking and catching balls practically his whole life, but he also had only two arms and he certainly wasn't stupid. There was no way he could catch any of those without the others hitting him and at that speed they would give him a black eye and sore abdomen at best.

He turned away, bringing up his arms to protect his face and curling in on himself to protect his torso. Only it wasn't just eight or nine balls, more came after that at increasing speeds. They were just spiting him now!

"That's enough, Clamp!" Aarch repeated, obviously not happy.

"Alright, alright…" The smaller man grumbled to himself. "I'm ending the program…"

Aarch shook his head. Hopefully the kid wouldn't bruise too badly after that…

He had to admit, that was one of the most fantastic displays of goalkeeping he had ever witnessed. He had no idea why Clamp had suddenly unleashed all those balls and intended to 'ask', but the group the boy had joined caught his eye.

"Though, to be honest, the pelting afterwards was a surprise! I hope they didn't expect me to catch any of those; I've seen spaceships fly slower at warp speed!" Thran and their friends laughed as Ahito finished detailing his experience.

Aarch turned expectantly to his friend. "Well?"

Clamp mumbled incoherently as he couldn't bring himself to think up a lie, but the tone was enough that Aarch frowned disapprovingly. It wasn't Clamp thought the kid a show off or anything, though. The look of sheer determination on the boy's features had stunned him, there was no room for showing off through that fierce concentration. He just hadn't been able to resist; the look on his face!

When they saw their faces on the screens, chosen to be a part of the new Akillian team, the four pretty much burst with happiness. Thran joined D'jok and Micro-Ice in jumping up and down like rabbits on sherbet, and Ahito whooped and shouted with the rest of them. Never before had he felt such overwhelming joy. His dreams were coming true.

What do you think? Some people do have a subconscious awareness of when things get close to them; I figured Ahito would have something like that too. I'm surprised Aarch let Clamp get away with pelting Ahito like that in the series, though. Initially I had Thran, D'jok and Micro all getting angry for that, but realised that since Ahito wasn't really that hurt or upset they probably wouldn't see a reason to. Also, I know some people that once snorted sherbet for fun and they were quickly high as kites on the sugar. Hope you enjoyed :)