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PS238 #38: The Soccer Game
"I don't know. I do like sports, and it is hard to find worthy opponents. But soccer is so…'old Europe'." Patriot Act is saying as Julie and the rest of them read the rules for the proposed soccer match between PS238 and the Praetorian Academy. It's all supposed to be in "good will" but Julie really thinks it's a chance for this Academy to show off. It's also been several weeks since Moonshadow died and life is mostly back to normal even if there is a large hole in her where he used to be.
"I think it's great!" Emerald Gauntlet replies. "And we get to play this 'Praetorian Academy' place. So it's super kids against super kids, right?"
The words are innocent but Julie doesn't like the idea of them fighting against each other.
"Kick ball! Olé-olé-olé-SMASH!" Bernard chants enthusiastically.
Maybe a friendly game will be okay. It will give them a chance to practice with their powers.
"There are more rules than usual, to make up for us having powers, I guess," she muses.
"It's also good public relations. It'll help the metahuman and normal populations come together as Americans…by watching a sport that doesn't involve runs, baskets, or touchdowns." Patriot Act adds. Julie is pretty sure he's trying to be sarcastic since "The American Way" is the only way for Patriot Act.
"We've got 'till tomorrow to sigh up, and then two weeks of practice in gym. I think I'm gonna do it!" Emerald Gauntlet says.
"BASH LIKE BECKHAM!" Bernard exclaims.
Julie decides she needs to think about this alone and so flies off to the Moonshadow memorial to think (like she typically does). When she gets there, the glass tube holding his equipment and costume has melted down. The costume and equipment are gone and a thrill of hope burns in her chest. "Oh my GOSH! C'mere! You gotta see this!" she calls out and the others race over.
Emerald Gauntlet throws his fist in the air in triumph and yells, "I KNEW IT!!! I told them he was still alive!!"
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Two weeks later and it's the day of the game. Julie had decided to sign up so she can make sure everyone was okay. The game started well enough but quickly turned…challenging. The Praetorian Academy's team was well organized and ruthless. The worst hit was their first goal, as the masked student who made the goal turned out to be none other than Ron Peterson, aka Captain Clarinet, who was once one of her friends.
She immediately latched herself on to him as their powers were nearly matched.
"You really like it better at the other school?" Julie asks him as she guards him.
"Yes," Ron replies focused on the game.
"Why?"
"Because they're teaching me how to not make mistakes. And how to be part of a team, which is why we're winning."
"We were a team once remember?" Julie points out as they chase after the ball. Ron sounds so…emotionless that Julie is beginning to wonder if he's a robot and not the Ron she knows after all "We stopped Charles from teleporting everybody all over the place. You made him stop, didn't you?"
"I shouldn't have done that. When I…hit him…my parents got mad and split up. I don't want to talk anymore. Go away!"
Julie is shocked and confused by Ron's words. They did a good thing when they stopped Charles. She did a good thing, she was useful.
There's a blur and then Franklin, their team's speedster is there. "Why'd you stop chasing him?"
"He said to go away," Julie says, sad that someone she considers a friend wanted her to go away.
"But…this is a soccer match!" Franklin says exasperated.
"Oh! Right!" Julie says and gets back to business.
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The game is halted by a dimensional rift which neither side chooses to claim responsibility for. People and players start to panic and then, silhouetted by the sun, appearing larger than life, Moonshadow swops down on wings of darkness and drops something into the Rift. A few seconds later and there's an explosion of arcane energies that knock everyone off their feet.
"It's gone!" Julie cries out picking herself up. "Moonshadow is even more powerful than before!"
"For all we know, he caused that…whatever it was!" Ron argues.
Julie doubts it. She's also not sure about Ron and is very worried about him but Moonshadow is back and somehow that means everything is going to be okay.
"I think it's great!" Emerald Gauntlet replies. "And we get to play this 'Praetorian Academy' place. So it's super kids against super kids, right?"
The words are innocent but Julie doesn't like the idea of them fighting against each other.
"Kick ball! Olé-olé-olé-SMASH!" Bernard chants enthusiastically.
Maybe a friendly game will be okay. It will give them a chance to practice with their powers.
"There are more rules than usual, to make up for us having powers, I guess," she muses.
"It's also good public relations. It'll help the metahuman and normal populations come together as Americans…by watching a sport that doesn't involve runs, baskets, or touchdowns." Patriot Act adds. Julie is pretty sure he's trying to be sarcastic since "The American Way" is the only way for Patriot Act.
"We've got 'till tomorrow to sigh up, and then two weeks of practice in gym. I think I'm gonna do it!" Emerald Gauntlet says.
"BASH LIKE BECKHAM!" Bernard exclaims.
Julie decides she needs to think about this alone and so flies off to the Moonshadow memorial to think (like she typically does). When she gets there, the glass tube holding his equipment and costume has melted down. The costume and equipment are gone and a thrill of hope burns in her chest. "Oh my GOSH! C'mere! You gotta see this!" she calls out and the others race over.
Emerald Gauntlet throws his fist in the air in triumph and yells, "I KNEW IT!!! I told them he was still alive!!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two weeks later and it's the day of the game. Julie had decided to sign up so she can make sure everyone was okay. The game started well enough but quickly turned…challenging. The Praetorian Academy's team was well organized and ruthless. The worst hit was their first goal, as the masked student who made the goal turned out to be none other than Ron Peterson, aka Captain Clarinet, who was once one of her friends.
She immediately latched herself on to him as their powers were nearly matched.
"You really like it better at the other school?" Julie asks him as she guards him.
"Yes," Ron replies focused on the game.
"Why?"
"Because they're teaching me how to not make mistakes. And how to be part of a team, which is why we're winning."
"We were a team once remember?" Julie points out as they chase after the ball. Ron sounds so…emotionless that Julie is beginning to wonder if he's a robot and not the Ron she knows after all "We stopped Charles from teleporting everybody all over the place. You made him stop, didn't you?"
"I shouldn't have done that. When I…hit him…my parents got mad and split up. I don't want to talk anymore. Go away!"
Julie is shocked and confused by Ron's words. They did a good thing when they stopped Charles. She did a good thing, she was useful.
There's a blur and then Franklin, their team's speedster is there. "Why'd you stop chasing him?"
"He said to go away," Julie says, sad that someone she considers a friend wanted her to go away.
"But…this is a soccer match!" Franklin says exasperated.
"Oh! Right!" Julie says and gets back to business.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The game is halted by a dimensional rift which neither side chooses to claim responsibility for. People and players start to panic and then, silhouetted by the sun, appearing larger than life, Moonshadow swops down on wings of darkness and drops something into the Rift. A few seconds later and there's an explosion of arcane energies that knock everyone off their feet.
"It's gone!" Julie cries out picking herself up. "Moonshadow is even more powerful than before!"
"For all we know, he caused that…whatever it was!" Ron argues.
Julie doubts it. She's also not sure about Ron and is very worried about him but Moonshadow is back and somehow that means everything is going to be okay.