Shadows of Atlantis: Emergence of the Engi (19 page)

“Yeah. I have to be smarter the next time.” replied Eiris chagrined.

As the second period got underway, The Black Horde dominated in every way. Reizen ran laps around the Blue Storm as he set up his teammates for multiple shots on goal. Eiris became so determined to stop Reizen, that he forgot this was a team war sport.

Late into the second period, Reizen passed a long ball to Drozen who tossed it to Reina for another score. The crowd booed even more as the Blue Storm began to despair because they knew the next score would seal the game. Unfortunately, there were no indications that they could stop the Black Horde from scoring, so Kezzy and the others called a timeout at the start of the third period and spoke to Eiris.

“Hello?? What are you doing out there Eiris?” asked Kezzy.

“Ditto that.” said Azonei.

“What do you think? I’m trying to win this game!” replied Eiris.

“There’s your mistake my friend.” said Dex.

“What’s that?” asked Eiris.

“You’re our captain, but you can’t win this game by yourself. We’re a team. Remember?” smiled Dahlia as she pat Eiris on the helmet.

“My point exactly.” smiled Kezzy.

“Precisely! We’re all in this together Eiris.” smiled Dex.

“You guys are right. I’m sorry, I should’ve trusted what we practiced.” said Eiris.

“It’s no biggie. Just make up for that with some great plays.” winked Azonei.

“Done. Now let’s go show these guys Undarian might! NATURE!.........” yelled Eiris as he put his hand out in front of him.

“..............IS OUR ALLY!” chanted the others as they touched hands and released them in unison.

The buzzer sounded, getting the third period underway and Eiris and the others got to a quick start.

“SABER! SABER!” yelled Eiris as he gave the formation.

Eiris then sped to the plasmaball as it randomly rolled around the arena and grabbed it without hesitation. Kezzy and Dex sped past in the biker lanes as Eiris passed the ball to Dex. Reizen was winged by his five runners as the two teams traded possessions in masterful chess-like moves.

Seeing an opening, Eiris sped to action but was met with a hard check by Uzor. Once he got up the Black Horde had possession and they were advancing closer to the Blue Storm goal. Anticipating this, Eiris called the next play.

“POSSUM!” he yelled as he quickly sped down into the Black Horde arena territory alone.

Overconfident, Reizen passed the plasmaball to his teammates as one of them shot it on goal but it was intercepted by a waiting Azonei in an incredible move. Azonei then advanced the ball to Dahlia who passed it to Eiris. Doing a series of acrobatic moves, Eiris evaded tackles and checks as he threw the plasmaball hard into the goal for a score. The crowds erupted in cheers as the Blue Storm ended the third period with a bang.

Eiris and the others then got reset in their starting positions knowing that they’d get the best shot at the Black Horde the next period. As the buzzer sounded, Eiris darted for the plasmaball winged by three runners. Dahlia and Azonei were also with him for a total of six.

Reizen, accompanied by five of his runners, was in pursuit of the plasmaball from their side as they skillfully used different ramps to get to it first. Once the plasmaball rolled closer to Reizen, he quickly scooped it up and sped towards the Blue Storm territory with his runners. Seeing their formation, Eiris countered with a formation of their own.

“ALPHA! ALPHA!” he yelled.

Then Dahlia, Azonei, and the three runners lined up in a V-formation with Eiris behind them in the middle. As they advanced together in unison, they came upon Reizen and his runners and broke up their formation in a clash of tackles and checks. Reizen doubled back as Reina sped by in the biker lane to help him.

He then grabbed the back of Reina’s superbike as she drove near one of the minor ramps in the Blue Storm territory. Drozen was being kept busy by Kezzy and Dex on their superbikes as they battled for position. She rode fast and he gained speed with his hoverblades while holding on.

As they got closer to the Blue Storm goal area, she sped by as he let go, helping him gain enough speed. Eiris chased behind him but he was too fast. In a last-ditch effort, the Blue Storm’s replacement goalie came out of the goal area to check Reizen but missed as Reizen evaded it.

Preparing to throw the plasmaball in for an easy score, Reizen brought his arm back for a powerful shot. All of a sudden, Hunter came up from beside him and checked him hard in the blindside, jarring the plasmaball from his hands. Eiris sped over and picked it up as he looked around for someone to advance it to. No one was nearby so Eiris knew there was only one formation left to call to tie this game up.

“STORM! STORM! STORM!” yelled Eiris.

Hearing the formation, he called, all of the Blue Storm players left their assignments and lined up near the goal area. Reizen and his runners waited eagerly at midfield to see what formation this was. As all sixteen players of the Blue Storm lined up to charge, Eiris gave the nod.

“Let’s run.” Eiris smirked.

Then all sixteen players for the Blue Storm advanced down the field, passing the plasmaball to whoever was open. They systematically positioned each player for the best goal opportunity. The Black Horde tried to match them but was unprepared for this last-ditch move.

As both teams competed for the win, Eiris got the plasmaball and passed it to Kezzy. Kezzy then passed it to Dex, who passed it to Azonei. Azonei then floated it mid-air to an airborne Dahlia, who threw it in for a score, tying the game up.

Everyone began celebrating as the buzzer sounded and the crowds cheered. But Eiris kept focused because he knew this game was far from over. The announcer then separated the two teams and stood in midfield to announce the sudden-death rules.

“MY STARS, WAS THAT AN EPIC GAME OR WHAT?!!! yelled the announcer as the crowd cheered and clapped loudly. “YES!!! WHOO!!! Man, these two guilds have truly lived up to the billing. Now, the sudden-death rules are very simple. One player from both teams is put on the field and the two will battle for possession of the plasmaball. There is no goalie, so whoever gets the first score wins it all. Absolutely no bonding is permitted, just shock chargers and your freerunning training. So with that out of the way, each team representative step forward please.” said the announcer.

Reizen came forward for the Black Horde as the Blue Storm discussed who should go forward.

“Just because I’m a captain doesn’t mean I’m the most qualified. Let’s put it to a vote guys.” said Eiris.

“That’s not necessary because we already have. And our choice is you Eiris.” smiled Kezzy.

“Ditto that.” agreed Azonei.

“Go get em.” smiled Dahlia.

“Take us home.” nodded Dex as everyone else agreed.

“Thanks guys. I’ll do my best.” smiled Eiris as he glided off into midfield with Reizen and the announcer.

As he reached midfield, the announcer was waiting with Reizen on one side of him.

“Good choices. I’m sure you two will provide us with a very entertaining match. As I’ve said before, no bonding. Also, be sure to monitor your checks, let’s keep it a clean game. Agreed?” asked the announcer.

Eiris nodded, followed by an intense nod by Reizen.

“Good. So without further ado... LET’S PLAY ELECTROBALL!!!” shouted the announcer as he exited the arena.

The crowd cheered in excitement as fireworks went off around the arena. Eiris and Reizen then got into their opposite starting points as they awaited the countdown. Reizen stared fiercely at Eiris as the countdown began.

Once the buzzer sounded, the plasmaball was released and they both took off in pursuit of it. Although not far apart in speed, Eiris grabbed it first and headed for the Black Horde territory. Reizen was right beside him trying to jar the plasmaball out of his hands as they glided.

Eiris pushed him off when they came close to one of the ramps and sped up the ramp. Once he got airborne, Reizen came out of nowhere and took his legs out from under him in a vicious hit, resulting in groans and grimaces from the crowd. Reizen then scooped up the plasmaball and darted to the Blue Storm territory as Eiris slowly got up.

“C’mon, get up Eiris!” yelled Kezzy as they all looked on in dismay.

Eiris then pulled himself together as he shot to trail a determined Reizen, who was now passing midfield. As he chased a couple of meters behind, Eiris knew that if he didn’t close in on him soon, this game would be over so he decided to do something risky. He then, changed course to one of the minor ramps.

As Eiris sped up the ramp, he jumped off and landed near the wall of the globular arena. Unable to figure out Eiris’ unorthodox strategy, Reizen realized he should throw the plasmaball soon. Eiris then did something amazing.

He used his momentum from the ramp to speed up the curved wall of the arena. Seeing what he was trying to do, Reizen immediately threw the plasmaball hard across the field from about forty yards out. As it rotated through the air, Eiris knew it was now or never.

Using the wall to triple his momentum, he blazed perpendicularly to the speeding airborne plasmaball. Right before it went into the goal, Eiris was able to dive and reach just enough to intercept the plasmaball as he rolled to his feet. Reizen looked on in disbelief as the crowd got on their feet and cheered thunderously.

Eiris then sped towards the Black Horde territory as Reizen raced beside him, trying to jar the ball away again. Eiris traded blows with him fiercely as they both sped past midfield and then made his move. Using Reizen’s momentum against him, Eiris pushed off and stopped abruptly on a dime.

As Reizen flew forward stopping his momentum late, Eiris threw a hard and well-aimed shot into the goal, ending the game for a final score of Blue Storm-3, Black Horde-2. The crowd erupted in cheers as Eiris sped over to Reizen to commend him on playing a great game. He then raced out of the arena to his overjoyed teammates where they all jumped on him in excitement.

Once everyone settled down, Authore Masterson and the announcer took midfield of the Electroball arena and began the Luridium Trophy presentation. All of the academy’s guilds gathered together with their guild members and awaited the announcement to be made. Eiris and the others sat in the stands nervously, but eager to see who won the most coveted trophy of the year.

“Well, this has been quite the year for us all. And what better a way to end it than with a thrilling final war sport event between two of the finest guilds this academy has ever seen.” said Authore Masterson. “Now, to start us off. The overall leader in individual wins is………………. the Black Horde Guild!!!” yelled Authore Masterson as the crowd predominantly booed.

“What a surprise.” remarked Kezzy as she rolled her eyes.

“They did compete pretty well.” Eiris reminded her.

As Authore Masterson began to announce the other overall winners, he was suddenly interrupted by a school official who frantically ran to midfield and whispered something quickly into his ear.

“What’s going on?” asked Azonei as dozens of other students began to whisper in speculation.

“I’m not sure. But whatever it is, it doesn’t look good.” said Glover with a look of concern.

Looking distraught and visibly shaken with this new revelation, Authore Masterson made another announcement.

“It is with great sadness that I must now inform you all that our dear friend and former instructor Professor Jannis has been confirmed to be killed in action earlier this day. I know for many of you this is grave news, so for now we will postpone the awards ceremony. Please, return to your guild zones with your fellow students until further notice.” said Authore Masterson gloomily.

As everyone walked sadly to their guild zones, Eiris was especially despondent. No one said a word as they all walked through the parking lot in disbelief. Kezzy and the others tried to muster up the strength to comfort Eiris who had become instantly pale, but found themselves fighting back tears as well.

Once they entered the conclave room, several members burst out in tears and sobs. Kezzy cried on Dex’s shoulder as Azonei stared despondently at a nearby wall. Glover quietly comforted a group of other Blue Storm members while Eiris walked outside, tailed closely by a whimpering Obsidian. Dahlia and Nava followed them into the parking lot.

“Hey, are you okay?” asked Dahlia as she ran to catch up to him.

“Jannis and Marz were the closest Turans I had to family.” Eiris replied numbly as he stared into the distance outside. His world seemed to spin around him out of control as he tried unsuccessfully to absorb this most unwelcome news. He breathed in deeply to steady himself.

“I’m so sorry Eiris.” said Dahlia as she hugged him tightly.

“Thanks.” Eiris exhaled. “We should check on the others.” he said as they walked back to the conclave room.

Walking inside, they overheard several guild members talking about killing all mechs they come across. Then a group of slyphs took exception to that and asked what they meant by it, starting an argument. Right before things got out of hand, Eiris and Glover stepped in and calmed everyone down.

“Hey, this is a time when we should be coming together, not falling apart.” said Eiris.