Chaper 2
D'Jock began to train in secret. He was given a second chance, and he would not waste it. There were only 2 months left until Aarch's arrival on Akilliana. He found an abandoned grotto where he could calmly practice his shots and passes. Another shot and right on target.
- Wow, what a shot. - said a voice that was already familiar to D'Jock. He turned towards the voice and saw Rocket.
- Thank you, - the young man answered and smiled at him, - do you want to play?
Rocket immediately retreated: "No, I still have things to do. Another time." - D'Jock remembered that Rocket had a tense relationship with his father about football at the time and decided not to insist.
- My name is D'Jock, come play if you want. - the striker extended his hand. Rocket was surprised, but smiled and shook his hand in return.
- Agreed. - after which he jumped on his snowmobile and sped away behind a snowy hill.
D'Jock spent some more time in the grotto, and then returned home, meeting Micro-Ice on the way. He shared that he had found a good income and would be able to help his mother.
- Yes, Micro-Ice. Let me remind you that Bellow is not the most honest person on Akillian. Maybe you can return his tickets to him before it's too late? - D'Jock clarified, worried about his friend.
- Everything will be fine! I'm 100% sure of this venture. - Micro-Ice answered carelessly, confident in his work.
- Well, well. - the striker chuckled.
One day, when D'Jock was training in the grotto again, Rocket came to him. It was a short game.
- Wow, you have excellent passes. You would make a great midfielder. – D'Jock decided to cheer up Rocket and point him in the right direction.
- Do you think so? – Rocket was surprised. – My father will never let me play football… – there was pain in his voice. – It's time for me to go. – Rocket hurried to jump on his snowmobile and leave.
- I hope he won't chicken out. – thought D'Jock, taking the ball in his hands, and hurried back home.
1.5 months passed. D'Jock, like last time, put on a cloak with a long hood to attend a clairvoyance session with Maya.
He came to her and sat under a tree opposite Maya and her crystal ball.
- What exactly do you want to know? – the woman asked.
- What awaits me? I already know everything steel. – this time D'Jock knew what awaited him, but decided not to change his question.
- Good. – Maya answered and began the session. Her crystal ball flew up in the air, and D'Jock raised his hands and folded them so that his bracelet peeked out from under the sleeves of his cloak. Maya couldn't help but notice.
- Well... You want to know what will happen to you? It's simple. - there was displeasure in her voice, - You will get up, take off your hood and apologize. And if you continue to fool around, you will have to sit locked up at home for 2 whole weeks!
- What are you talking about...? - before he could feign surprise, Maya interrupted him.
- D'Jock. - the woman was categorical.
- How did you recognize me? - asked D'Jock, looking at Maya.
- I am a clairvoyant, or have you forgotten? - she answered.
D'Jock stood up, crossing his arms over his chest: - Of course, I haven't forgotten. I am the only person for whom you don't want to predict the future.
- Don't start all over again. - Maya never revealed the reason for her categorical refusal to tell D'Jock his future. Now she understands why.
- It's not fair. - the young man went towards the window. - You don't want to tell me about my past, at least tell me about the future! - Having reached the window, he turned to face Maya. - I'm sure a great future awaits me! Something special.
D'Jock already knew that at that moment Micro-Ice should fall through the window. And so it happened. Micro-Ice jumped through the window, knocking both himself and D'Jock to the ground, right in front of Maya.
- Hello, ma'am. - he addressed Maya first, - D'Jock, and then his friend. Micro-Ice said this as if he had entered through the door, and not flown into the room from the window. Naturally, Maya showed that she did not particularly like such a visit.
When both of them got up from the floor, D'Jock turned to his friend: - Is it hard for you to go through the door, like everyone else does? - the attacker stood in front of Micro-Ice and noticed two figures running past the window. Bellow's people.
- Oh yeah, you have a door. - Micro-Ice answered, rubbing the back of his head, and then went to the window and looked back. Bellow's people decided not to chase Micro-Ice and hurried away.
After a while, D'Jock was already at Micro-Ice's house, morally helping him look for the lost tickets.
- Where should I put them? - the attacker asked himself, rummaging through his things, - I left them here!
- I don't understand how you can lose something in thisperfect room. - There was a slight mockery in D'Jock's voice. He was sitting behind Micro-Ice.
- D'Jock, I'm not joking. If I don't find these tickets, I'm finished! - Micro-Ice was really worried about the missing tickets. Of course, he could just get killed because of these tickets.
- I warned you. You should have thought before you got involved with this gang. - D'Jock took the soda and opened it, taking a sip.
- If you came to lecture, then I can handle it without you - Micro-Ice answered him, continuing the search.
D'Jock went to the window and noticed familiar tracks.
- Look, - he turned to Micro-Ice, it seems you're not the only one who likes to enter through the window. These are the same marks as my technosize 128, but you don't think I stole your tickets, do you? - D'Jock lifted his foot, showing the sole of his shoe.
- Cool... - Micro-Ice summed up sarcastically, - I should return the tickets or...
After a while, D'Jock and Micro-Ice went to meet Thran. They had agreed earlier to watch the Shadow Match against the Lightning. Thran began to show her new invention and gave the ball to D'Jock.
- I made it even better! Now the ball shows both the speed of the shot and the goals scored in the games. - Thran said about his creation. D'Jock kicked the ball a few times until he picked it up.
- A little heavy. - D'Jock summed up.
- It's because of the device inside. "I need to think of a way to make it lighter," Thran said, watching D'Jock kick the ball.
Micro-Ice sat across from them, a disgruntled expression on his face.
"What's wrong with him?" Thran asked.
"Bad mood. As usual," D'Jock replied.
"Can we help?" the defender asked.
"I don't think so," the forward replied.
"Hmm, as usual," Thran concluded.
Micro-Ice walked towards the café, and Thran and D'Jock followed him. As the three of us walked up the stairs, we noticed Sinned playing cards with some other people. Suddenly, Micro-Ice said, "Do you see what I see?" D'Jock and Thran looked at Micro-Ice, then at Sinned. D'Jock immediately recognized the sole tread. He and Sinned were wearing the same model of boots, only the color was different. "Nice boots, Sinned." And they leave great tracks. - He said with a grin in his voice.
Sinned was surprised, but immediately regained his impassive expression.
- What are you talking about? - He asked Micro-Ice, pretending not to know anything.
- Listen, Sinned. I know that you stole my tickets.
- Tell me when I should cry, so as not to upset you. - Sinned answered sarcastically, winking at Micro-Ice.
While the two were chatting pleasantly, D'Jock slipped behind the rocks and found Sinned's magnetic board. He took it, climbed up the rock and lifted the snowboard up.
- Not only does he have great boots, but he also has a great magnetic board. - D'Jock was high enough that no one could get him.
Sinned jumped up from his seat and all the arrogance on his face disappeared. There was irritation and fear for his property.
- Give me back the snowboard, right now! - the guy shouted.
- I won't give it back until you give Micro-Ice his tickets. - D'Jock said, holding the snowboard.
- You can't do anything without your friend, Micro-Ice. - Sinned said sarcastically, to tease him.
- That's what friends are for. - Micro-Ice replied, climbing the stairs towards Sinned. Thran stood next to him, for insurance. Sinned couldn't resist the three of them and quickly retreated.
- Okay, okay. The tickets will be here tomorrow morning. I promise. - Sinned promised, and then turned to D'Jock. - If there's even one scratch on the board, you'll regret it, D'Jock.
- Are you asleep? - Ahito's sleepy voice interrupted their argument. - The match is about to start. - After which, Ahito sat down on the ground and fell asleep again.
D'Jock, Thran and Micro-Ace approached him.
- I've never seen anyone fall asleep so quickly. - D'Jock feigned surprise. They all knew how Ahito loved to sleep.
"Now I know the reason for your sleep, Ahito. I have time to prevent your illness from progressing." - thought D'Jock, helping Thran lift his brother and carry him out of the warm room.
All four sat down on the couch, waiting for the long-awaited match to begin. At that moment, Micro-Ice's mother approached them.
- Pizza and soda for the gentlemen. - said the woman, placing the tray on the table in front of the teenagers.
- Thank you, ma'am. - Thran thanked her.
- Say thank you not to me, but to my boss. I don't know how he managed to like you. - answered the woman.
In fact, the boys had been recruiting people to this cafe for a long time, thanks to which they had gained the favor of Micro-Ice's mom's boss.
- A little charm, that's all. - D'Jock winked at her.
- Just don't shout too loudly. It's not the best job, but it's all I have. - The woman turned around to leave and serve other customers.
- Don't worry, Mom. Everything will be fine. - Micro-Ice assured her.
- You know us, ma'am. - D'Jock chuckled.
- Yes. That's right, I know. - the woman answered.
Meanwhile, Aarch and Clamp arrived at the cafe. They were discussing something animatedly.
D'Jock already knew what would happen next. He approached the railing, near which Micro-Ice was standing and looking at Aarch. Bellow and his gang approached Aarch and asked: - "Are you Aarch?"
- I think so. Yes. - the man answered in confusion.
- Oh-oh. - Micro-Ice turned away, closing his eyes, he spread his fingers to see what would happen next.
Bellow's men attacked Aarch, and D'Jock did not hesitate. He went down to them with the ball, saying:
- Gentlemen, please, you would appreciate it if you fought more quietly. You are disturbing us from watching the match. - He came almost right up to Bellow. The man took the electric staff and swung it in front of D'Jock to scare him away.
In the background, Micro-Ice screamed and asked D'Jock to stop.
- Is that clear? - asked Bellow. But D'Jock did not hesitate, threw the ball to the ground and kicked it so hard that it hit one of the gang members right in the head, and from something he fell to the floor.
- Don't interfere, boy, it will be better for you. - Bellow began to threaten him.
- Okay, sir. - D'Jock said sarcastically and kicked the ball again, this time hitting another thug in the stomach. - Oh, sorry, sir. "The ball just bounced up on its own," the striker said sarcastically. Thran picked up the ball and looked at the results.
- See, it works: 120 km/h. - said Thran.
- This is not my strongest kick. - for a moment it dawned on D'Jock. In a past life, the ball showed 100 km/h, and now 120 km/h. The future began to change. - Micro-Ice, are you replacing him? Micro-Ice? - D'Jock called out, looking at his friend who was hiding behind the railing.
- Alright, Micro-Ice. Here we meet. - Bellow looked at his men and ordered: Get rid of these brats!
D'Jock, Micro-Ice, Thran and Ahito looked at each other and asked: "Ready?" They all nodded.
Thran throws the ball and kicks it towards D'Jock, who kicks it into the wall, allowing it to bounce and head towards Micro-Ice. Micro-Ice kicks it and it flies a little higher, however Ahito catches it and smiles at D'Jock before throwing the ball to him. D'Jock kicks the ball into the face of Bellow's henchman. Due to the force of the kick, the ball bounces off his head and flies straight into the bar.
Nooooo! - Micro-Ice shouts, seeing the ball fly towards all the glasses, knowing that if one of them breaks it, his mom will be in serious trouble. But before the ball gets too close, Ahito catches it, causing applause. He throws it to D'Jock, and hits the ball back, doing a half-somersault. The ball bounces off the wall and hits all three men in the head.
We'll meet again. - Bellow said, hurriedly leaving with his men.
With pleasure. - D'Jock tells him, without taking his hands out of his pants pockets.
When they finally leave, Aarch, whom they attacked, thanks them: "I owe you, guys."
We just don't like being disturbed during a match. - D'Jock replies, not hiding a victorious smile.
You play well, would you like to be part of the club? - Aarch asks, looking at all the teenagers.
You're funny, football is dead on Akillian, and without Flux, the big teams would have crushed us - says Micro-Ice, as if there was no fight.
Although, if we had a coach, I'd love to play galactic football. - D'Jock winked at Aarch. - Well, excuse me, but we need to watch the end of the match. - says D'Jock, before heading upstairs.
Sure, sure, I understand. - Aarch replied, smiling openly.
The four of them return upstairs and take their seats.
Nice catch, bro. - Thran says to his brother Ahito.
Thanks, do you think Aarch noticed? - Ahito asks in a relaxed voice.
ARCH?!- They shout in unison, before running after the famous Akillian football player. I can't believe none of us recognized him!
D'Jock ran with Thran and Micro-Ice, trying to catch up with Aarch, but he had already disappeared.