Part 7: Smooth Jazz
Later...
Troy stood and watched from the outside window of the a meeting room, one the Rusherz used themselves. The hall was silent as he, his friends and Sandra watched with RZ. He could see Freedom slump over on the chair with a tired look as Stampede talked to him, Talon by his side comforting him.
Ash: *worry* What could of happened?
Ricky: *worry* I know, it must be pretty bad if the Rusherz wanted us to wait outside.
RZ: Affirmiative-Troy, Talon told you the reason correct?
Troy: *nods* But that's not my place to say. I think it's best if they told us if they want to.
They heard a dull thud, turning to see Chief on his knees eyes widen in horror with the others. Freedom shoke his head as he covered his face, Stampede immediately hugging him.
Marty:*worry*-Something tells me this isn't going to be a pleasant conversation.
Sandra: *worry* No, it certainly won't be.
The door opened and closed fast as Liberty gave a shaky breath, Alto patting his back.
Liberty: -sighs- Shards of the core this will be a while.
Alto: Least he's not doing it alone.
They turned seeing the Guardians, Sandra and RZ. Liberty sighed as he motioned them to follow him.
.
.
Alto: *sits down; sighs* Okay..this is not gonna be a easy conversation so thank you Sandra for joining us.
All sat in a separate room, the air tense.
Sandra: Of course but-what is going on?
RZ: I agree, I have no documentation on the situation Freedom and the Patriots are currently facing.
Alto: That's because Freedom hid and/or deleted the information. You should be receiving them on a later date but right now, you all need to be in the know on the situation.
Liberty sighed, nodding.
Liberty: Yeah. Okay so I'll, do my best making it safe for you kids to hear so you are in the know. A-And Ash, please-don't think differently of your team.
Ash heart dropped as Troy and Ish grabbed her hands.
Liberty: Let's begin with the bombshell we are now facing-
.
Freedom: *fear* Oh gosh, Ash is gonna hate me.
Freedom was still with the others, eyes still red but full of tears. Talon shoke his head rubbing Freedom's back.
Talon: *comforting* Ash is not gonna hate you. She'll be horrified something like this happened, but no way she's gonna hate you.
Claw: Yeah Freedom, you had no idea something like that would happen. I'm just glad your team took initiative fast with those refunds and trades.
Freedom looked over his friends, a bit calm though still worried.
Freedom: Y-Yeah...*hears the door* oh boy.
Freefall: You can come in.
The door opened to the Guardians, RZ and Sandra...a bit pale but more so Sandra.
Ricky:-DANG. Just-that's-well, it's all around bad.
Ash: Freedom, are-are you going to be okay?
Freedom: I'm-stressed, but the team acted fast so-the situation is not peck but-still alot of damage left.
Stampede: *stern* THAT'S WHY your going a vacation right after the charity events, your not going to work until the Hall of Fame game okay?
Freedom nodded.
Freedom: Y-Yeah, your right. I think after all that happened I need to take a break.
Troy could see Freedom rub his one arm-he could see the burns still healing from the incident in April.
Troy: If you like we can keep tabs on the team for you, so that you have less worry in your mind.
Everyone nodded in agreement on the idea-Alto smiled hearing this.
Freedom: You guys don't mind keeping a eye on my team?
Peg-Leg: Of course! We Rusherz stick together, we keep an eye on eachother and our teams. So you go and rest, you need it after the recent month events.
Ash: And we'll make sure Wildcard nor Dropkick hurts your team while your gone. Just make sure you call us at night okay.
Freedom gave a small smile nodding.
Freedom: Thanks guys.
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.
Troy smiled to himself as he walked around, leaving Ash to talk to Freedom and the others checking the maps.
?:-I'm proud of you Troy.
Troy turned around seeing the NFC South Rusherz smiling at him.
Alto: You really come a long way kid.
Troy gave a small smile.
Troy: I still got a long way to go but, I can defiantly see a change.
Claw: That's good. If you need any help, we're here for you Troy.
Troy: *nods* Thanks guys, and thank you all for the trip. I needed it.
Peg-Leg: Aye, happy to have you with us Troy...though please try not to give us so many heart attacks okay.
Troy gave a small nervous chuckle, but agreed.
Troy: I'll try my best, no promises though.
Talon: Trying is better than nothing.
Troy smile grew as they walked.
Troy: SOO-I have to ask and it's to brighten the mood a bit but-what is the strangest situation you got yourselves?
All four chuckled shaking their heads with smiles.
Alto: Buddy D, man he was a trip. He was my team's commentator for years till he passed away 2005, ironically the year of the hurricane. You know what that man said he'd do if we win? He said and I quote "I'll wear a dress and walk down Bourbon Street if the Saints made it to the Super bowl"..Well, we did and since he wasn't with us in the flesh-the FANS took over, 87,000 of them.
Troy froze-before snorting and bellowing out a laugh.
Troy: NO WAY! Please tell me you have pictures.
Alto: I do! Took plenty of them with the team THEY WERE SPEECHLESS.
Troy snickered just excited for seeing the pics. Peg-Leg chuckled nodding.
Peg-Leg: The Snow Bowl is our strange venture, we were literally out of our element with ALL THAT SNOW. 4-5 inches, roads packed, it was a whiteout and we had the worst idea in the world wearing our away outfit.
Troy had to hold in a scream of laughter knowing one of their away outfit was 'WHITE'. So playing in a snow storm with white jerseys was a recipe for trouble.
Troy: Oh my gosh..
Peg-Leg: YEAH, not the best idea at the time. We all were bruised up by the end of the game. Lesson learned that day.
Claw nodded in agreement with the others before shaking his head with blush forming.
Claw: 2003 season Super Bowl..enough said.
ALL THREE RUSHERZ blushed shaking their heads but giving low chuckles, Troy being confused.
Troy: I take it this is a event I'm gonna learn about when I'm older?
Alto: OH YEAH. No way your hearing about that halftime until you graduate high school.
Talon: 'GREATEST SUPER BOWL OF ALL TIME' they say-well their not wrong about that but-WHY...
Peg-Leg: Aye I feel bad for Toro, happen at his stadium poor Texan was in the red for weeks after that.
Troy: *to Alto* From what I saw with you guys preparing for the NFL Experience, prepping for the Super Bowl is hard.
Alto: And a stresser, so THAT happening Toro was horrified. And they still talk about to to this day.
Talon rubbed his arm blushing with a small chuckle.
Talon: Well..back in 1989, I was going to met the new players during training camp when the team got back. I was looking at the profiles on the clipboard and-was not looking where I was going. I was crushed by PRIME TIME himself by accident when i walked into the tackle dummies.
Troy winced but inside, he couldn't help but chuckled a bit. Talon chuckled for him.
Talon: Poor guy was in PANIC mode when I didn't get up fast, knock me unconscious for a minute. I knew at that moment, yeah this guy was going places. NEVER expected him to go MLB with the NFL.
Claw: Didn't he come to a game on a helicopter once?
Troy: *double take* Wait wha-?
Peg-Leg: Did that multiple times if i recall, given he was a double leaguer.
Alto: Think he did that at one of our games Tals, but i gonna have to check.
Talon: They also hand to plan on where to land the helicopter so maybe check those-
Troy: *Stunned; stops them* HOLD ON A MINUTE? DEION SANDERS, CAME TO GAMES, ON A HELICOPTER?!
All four turned and laughed seeing Troy face; which was fulled with shock, confusion, excitement, and questions.
Alto: Oh man forgot you kids were not born during his player years! Thank goodness we were on the high with recording footage.
Troy was speechless, blinking.
Troy:-Okay you have to show me those clips later I gotta see that.-*thought occur* Almost forgot to ask. Hey, Alto I have to ask-where did you get that bracelet?
All Rusherz looked at the beaded bracelet with alligator teeth, Alto smiling softy.
Alto: This-is alot older than it looks. I got this the year before my team joined the league. Talon forgot something back here in Canton, so I took a plane. I-got in a car accident in a little place called Mobile Alabama. It was February so lot of water. I fell in the Marsh area and-well, i can't remember what happened but i woke up in the town the next day. You could understand my shock and confusion waking up to a doctor dressed up and wearing a mask.
Troy eyes widen hearing this and put things together fast...MARDI GRAS.
Alto: Of course they all felt bad of me being involved in a crash so they offered me to join the party...I walked out to see a WHOLE NEW WORLD. Music played as songs and merriment was around. I saw shimmering circles fly in the air, heard the sounds of saxs blaring the silence, smelled the sweets wafting. I-I ran into someone there. He was there finding some inspiration for a team in Louisiana. Once he saw me among the glits and sparks, he practically sprinted toward me and in a loud thunderous voice that piece the veil he stated "THIS IS IT! YOUR EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED!"...*his eyes closed* That man, became the founder of the New Orleans Saints, David Dixon.
Troy had to grab the wall stunned. His mind rung saying "What a chain of events".
Alto: He swept me to New Orleans were I was greeted the same, he also looked at the helmet that was off my head. Turns out a Alligator tried to take a bit BUT was met with my helmet, so some teeth got stuck. He and a few others grabbed some beads and took the gator teeth *lifts the bracelet hand* and made this, to commemorate our founding.
All four Rusherz smiles warmed.
Peg-Leg: We all had amazing men boys. So many memories.
Claw: Yeah, we did have alot more good than bad memories.
Talon: Heh, yeah...*realizes Troy was there* Oh geez sorry! We kinda got nostalgic there.
Troy-looked at them in awe.
Troy: Can you tell me more about them another day?
All four smiled hearing this. Troy had indeed come a long way, and he was ready to go even further with his team and his division.
To Be continued...