The Starter (57 page)

Quentin’s upper lip curled into a sneer.

• • •

BRIGHT LIGHTS BLAZED,
making it hard to see the assembled reporters packed into Cloud Killer Stadium’s small press room. But the lights didn’t stop Quentin from hearing them, from hearing their inane questions.

“Quentin! Quentin! Kint the Fabulous, ESPN. Ju Tweedy had another mixed game for you, going for over a hundred yards and scoring two touchdowns, but do you think his three fumbles were a factor in the loss to the Cloud Killers?”

Quentin glared in the reporter’s general direction, able to make out only a little bit of his face through the lights.

“Yes,” Quentin said. “We lost sixteen to fourteen, by two points. So, yeah, I think three fumbles, including two in the red-zone; that
might
have had an impact.”

His words rang with sarcasm, but the reporters didn’t seem to register that. He’d barely finished his last word before the voices erupted into annoying and endless shouts of his name until one of the peons shouted down the others.

“Quentin! Quentin! Sara Mabuza, Earth News Syndicate. How does it feel to know that you’re in last place?”

“How do you
think
it feels?” Quentin said. He heard his temper slipping, then controlled himself. This was part of the job, he had to lighten up. “It feels like crap, but we can come back from this.”

There were more than a few laughs heard through the endless shouts of his name. His fingers curled into fists.

“Come on,” Mabuza said, barely able to hide her own laughter. “The Krakens are two-and-six with four games left, including one against the Jupiter Jacks.”

“We win two games, we’re safe,” Quentin said quickly. “We still have to play the Hullwalkers, who are only one game ahead of us. And we’re only two games behind the Criminals and the Planets. We play them both as well. Any of those three teams loses the rest of their games, including their game against Ionath, and we win two? That would do it for us.”

There was still a little laughter, but also a few murmurs of approval. Perhaps the reporters didn’t think a football player could do math?

“Quentin!
Quentin!
Kelp Bringer from the Leekee Galaxy Times. Are you saying that you
really
think the Krakens are still in this, that you’re not already on your way back to Tier Two?”

Quentin stood up. “That is
exactly
what I am saying. We have the offense to win those games if we can hold onto the ball. The Krakens can, and
will
, stay in Tier One. I see my
mandatory
twenty minutes for answering your idiotic questions has expired, so I’m done with this.”

He stormed away from the table and back toward the visitors’ locker room. His own words already rang in his ears. Had he just guaranteed the Krakens would stay in T1? Yes, yes he had. And he was right about one thing — they
could
stay in Tier One,
if
they could hold onto the ball.

Ju Tweedy couldn’t get what he wanted, so he was fumbling on purpose. Quentin had to find a way to get Ju to play to win, or it would be Tier Two all over again.

GFL WEEK NINE ROUNDUP

(Courtesy of Galaxy Sports Network)

There is only one word to describe the Planet Division playoff race, and that word is “madness.” A tumultuous week ended with
seven
teams tied for first, and another two teams only one game out. The Alimum Armada (5-3) grabbed a share of first place with a 31-17 win over the Mars Planets (4-4). The Lu Juggernauts upset the Isis Ice Storm 24-14, leveling both teams’ records at 5-3. Wabash also moved into first by beating the Sala Intrigue 23-12, and don’t look now but here comes the Themala Dreadnaughts. After starting the season at 1-3, the Dreads (5-3) have won four straight, including this week’s 16-14 win over the To Pirates (5-3).

In the Solar Division, things are a little more clear. New Rodina (7-1) won its fifth straight to stay in first, beating up on the War Dogs by a score of 28-7. D’Kow began the season at 4-0, but four straight losses move them to fifth place in the Solar. The Astros need to keep winning to stay ahead of the Jupiter Jacks (6-2), who beat Bartel 35-17, Neptune (6-2) who topped the Vik Vanguard 24-20, and Bord (6-2), who beat the Shorah Warlords 44-38.

The Chillich Spider-Bears (1-7) earned their first win of the season with a 24-23 victory over the Jang Atom Smashers (1-7). Chillich, Jang and Vik are now all tied at the bottom of the Solar Division.

Deaths

No deaths reported this week.

Offensive Player of the Week

Jupiter wide receiver
Denver
, who caught five passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-17 win over the Bartel Water Bugs.

Defensive Player of the Week

Atom Smashers linebacker
Mike Dowell
, who caused two fumbles and had six solo tackles in a 24-23 loss to the Chillich Spider-Bears.

PLANET DIVISION

5-3 Alimum Armada

5-3 Coranadillana Cloud Killers

5-3 Themala Dreadnaughts

5-3 Lu Juggernauts

5-3 To Pirates

5-3 Isis Ice Storm

5-3 Wabash Wolfpack

4-4 Yall Criminals

4-4 Mars Planets

3-5 Hittoni Hullwalkers

2-6 Ionath Krakens

SOLAR DIVISION

7-1 New Rodina Astronauts

6-2 Bord Brigands

6-2 Neptune Scarlet Fliers

6-2 Jupiter Jacks

4-4 D’Kow War Dogs

3-5 Sala Intrigue

3-5 Shorah Warlords

2-6 Bartel Water Bugs

1-7 Jang Atom Smashers

1-7 Vik Vanguard

1-7 Chillich Spider-Bears

From the
OS1 Tribune

by
SHAKA THE IMPERSONATOR

ORBITAL STATION I (Galaxy News Service) — New owner Anna Villani has wasted no time in putting her stamp on the Orbiting Death football team.

Villani became the Death’s new owner after the tragic passing of Sikka the Death just a few short weeks ago. While Villani publicly mourned Sikka’s passing, she also had a job to do — how could she get the Death ready for the upcoming Tier Two season,
without
all-star running back Ju Tweedy? Tweedy, who recently signed with the Ionath Krakens, is the prime suspect in the murder of OS1 citizen Grace McDermot.

Offensively, Villani immediately changed the Death from a running team to a passing one with the signing of quarterback Condor Adrienne, formerly of the Whitok Pioneers. The Pioneers finished 6-3 last year, with all three losses occurring when Adrienne was out with a leg injury.

“I was surprised to get the news,” Adrienne said. “I mean, well, we really have a good thing going in Whitok. I love it here in Whitok, and I wanted to take the Pioneers to a Tier One championship. I don’t know why [Pioneers owner] Shag-En-Bah sold my contract but well, I’ll make the most of it with the Orbiting Death.”

Villani also signed Quyth Survivors running back Chooch Motumbo to replace Tweedy, but it was on the defensive side of the ball that she shocked the Quyth Irradiated Conference with the addition of Sky Demolition All- Pro linebacker Yalla the Biter. Yalla is the all-time GFL leader for fatalities, with eight during his seven-year career.

“We are going to Tier One,” Villani said of the roster additions. “These players are what were missing from last year’s lineup. Whatever it takes, we
will
win the T2 Tournament in 2683. I have some scores to settle in Tier One, and you can bet that I will settle them.”

“Whatever it takes, we will win the T2 Tournament in 2683.”

— A
NNA
V
ILLANI,
O
RBITING
D
EATH
O
WNER

A FLYER FOUND IN PISSAGATA,
second-largest city on the planet Yall of the Sklorno Dynasty.

The CoQB is booking group passage on a ship to Ionath, located in the Quyth Concordia, to see His Holiness Quentin Barnes give his blessings live!

This affordable trip includes transit fare, travel to the planet’s surface and official church robes in “the orange and the black,” the official colors of His Holiness Quentin Barnes. A limited number of tickets are available for the football game of the Ionath Krakens against the Yall Criminals. Those that cannot attend the game will join us on the streets of Ionath City, jumping, singing songs, and shouting praises in honor of His Holiness Quentin Barnes.

Basic food is included, but pilgrims should feel free to bring a friend if fresh meat is desired.

Yes, you can see His Holiness at his home Temple of Ionath Stadium. The truly devoted will assuredly make this pilgrimage. Full members, acolytes, and those interested in converting are all welcome.

Join us in holy worship!

JU TWEEDY HADN’T FUMBLED
the entire game. Quentin had to wonder if the only reason for that was because the Krakens were down 42-21.