A New Divide (Science Fiction) (15 page)

              "It's funny," he said.

              "What is?"

              "As much as I hate to admit it, being a pacifist and all, I think humans need brutality to survive. This game did hold the peace for nearly five hundred years. I mean, if you think about it, it's the only reason we have survived our creation, natural selection, and such. Think about the similarities between war and gravball."

              I laughed as he said this. "You idiot. They are nothing alike."

              "Of course they are. There are battles to be won; games, all moving towards a final resolution that one side will do anything to attain the Olympic cup. The war and the trials of gravball—they weed out the weak. Only the strong survive. Just like you said, the best players can play as long as they live. While they are normally expected to live only a few years, the same can be said for a soldier. As they survive, they adapt to new conditions of warfare, and as they adapt, they evolve. They give way to new ideas, and new ways of thinking. However, as history has proven, we certainly have not made a lot of progress in creating a lasting peace. Just like gravball. The games will never end because the fans of their teams will always want their side to win. Doesn't matter how many times they do win, or how many years pass them by. It's a never-ending cycle, Collin, and humanity's craving for conflict is the only reason we even have sporting events. You know I am right."

              We sat in silence for a few minutes after Silas had voiced his philosophical input. I then had to ask him, but it just seemed very unlikely.

              "Man, have you seriously never seen a gravball game before? I gotta be honest; I find it hard to believe."

              Silas slightly laughed and then he began to share his story with me. "I didn't get out much when I was young. I was the son of a politician. I spent most of my childhood working, or at my father's office. He worked very hard to try and teach me the importance of providing for our people."

              "It doesn't sound like you had much of a childhood, Silas."

              "No, I definitely didn't, Collin. It actually wasn't until about ten years ago, when my sister and I were rescued by the Remoran Expeditionary Unit, that we got to witness much of this rather awesome solar system and all the things that it can offer."

              I tucked my hat up as I stared ahead at the globe that was being prepared for the first round of games. "So is that why you turned out to be such a square? No offense, it's just hard to believe that you're that ice queen's brother."

              Silas simply shook off the comment and responded, "Ha, none taken friend. I greatly revered my father. He was my inspiration for joining the service. He spent a lot of time with me, and hardly any with my sister. She spent almost all of her time defying his wishes and getting into all sorts of trouble."

              "A wild child, huh? I can see that I was like that after my father left."

              "Well that was a big part of it; our mother was killed in an accident when we were young, and Victoria took it very hard when she passed."

              "So you became the ambassador like your father, and she became the fearless general? Now I understand why she hates authority."

              "Precisely." There was, again, a silence between us and I felt the need to express something to the man I had gained a newfound respect for. "You want to know what inspired me to become a professional gravball player?"

              Silas looked to me with curiosity. "I have a theory: you are a barbaric moron who likes to solve problems with your fists?"

              I looked around the massive stadium and stretched my arms out before turning to Silas. "Well of course, Silas. You see our family, it was just me, my dad, and Virg. Virgil was appointed my guardian by my mother when she died in childbirth. We never had a lot of money, but my dad, he always promised he would take me here to this stadium one day. He and Virgil worked extra shifts at the factory for five years, and finally they had saved enough to travel off planet and bring me here to the opening games. I was ten years old. It was everything about this place; the millions of cheering fans, the gravity sphere, the festivities that surrounded the games, and it captivated me. It was so magical and just awe inspiring. All I wanted in the entire world was to feel like I did in that moment every day I was alive. I guess you can say I was born here, or at least 'Collin the Iceman' was."

              "What happened to your father? If you don't mind me asking."

              I sighed and let out a laugh as I shook my head in reply. "He left, Silas. He's gone, man."

              "He just left without saying goodbye? Did he leave a memo or anything?"

              "Not a damned thing. Not a damned thing. He stole a whole bunch of equipment from us too. What a prick, right?" Silas wiped the sweat from his face, shading his eyes from the passing rays of the suns' light and looked out at the sphere.

              "He never came back?"

              "No. He never did. I began to resent him, and even hate him for what he did."

              "So that's why you are such a smartass?"

              "Yup, that's exactly right. Through my teens I put Virgil through hell with all of the trouble I got in, and all the nights I acted out against him. But he always remained calm and collected, despite how horrible I treated him. When I graduated from school I think I pushed him away. I got accepted to Rayden's PGL training camp. I love gravball, but my talents turned me into a monster. All I ever wanted was to be great and be revered. But now, everything is different."

              Silas nodded to me in agreement, as he was about to say something, Virgil and Helena had arrived back from the concession stands with their arms full of snacks and drinks. Virgil sat next to me as Helena dropped her items in my lap and sat between Silas and me. "It felt like we spent hours in that line. I was beginning to think we were going to miss the kickoff," Helena said as she began passing the snacks to Silas and me.

              "Well, you got back just in time. They are about to start the first round at any minute."

              Just then Victoria sat next to Virgil. We all looked to her as Virgil and I began handing out the refreshments. "Where the hell have you been, darlin'? You look frustrated," Virgil said as he began shoveling food into his mouth. He attempted to hand her a drink but she refused as she crossed her legs and stared out at the sphere. "Dancing around with the president getting not a damned thing accomplished."

              "Sister, what are you doing here? I'm surprised you are not with Mark atop the sphere."

              "Heh, well it pains me to admit it but I would rather be stuck down here with all of you than with those rich snooty bastards. They are circling around Mark and President Harris like vultures. Pathetic parasites if you ask me, leeching off everything their leader does."

              Just then a man's voice came over the stadium intercoms. And the lights began to dim as the suns were just starting to set over the city. The reflections of the sunsets bounced off the extremely tall Arcadian structures, and poured a reddish-gold glow onto the gravity sphere. Its magnificence reflected across the stadium.

             
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the opening rounds of the 491st gravball season!"

              As the announcer spoke, the stadium became filled with uproar. Everyone in our group except Victoria began to cheer.

              "The first match will be our own Arcadian Sabertooths from sector A, versus the Daltron Hellhounds from sector J!"

             
"We have two very competitive Arcadian-based teams here, with some of the most established, and well-seasoned players in the game."

              The audience began to roar, and the lights displaced themselves and focused upon the enormous gravity sphere in the center of the stadium.

             
"But first we would like to take a vow of silence for the recent events that have taken place in the Outlander sector. We have lost one of our proudest races—along with some of the greatest teams in history."

              While the announcer spoke the audience became quiet. We all bowed our heads, and the people began to murmur for a few moments as the announcer began to speak again.

             
"Although, we have received some very exciting news. It seems that one of the members from the Rayden Comets is here with us tonight."

              I looked up through my hands in disarray, as I was sure they couldn't have noticed me. The audience began to rabble and look around.

             
"That's right, folks, you thought they were gone, but the pride of the Rayden Comets is among us tonight. He's a legend of the game with a record of 427 goals in just six years. You know him and I know him, 'the Juggernaut,' 'the Beast,' Collin 'the Iceman' King!"

              "Oh shit."

              The lights immediately focused on our group, and I looked ahead at the projections surrounding the gravity sphere. The camera was focused on me in every one of them. The crowd gasped and cheered as they all looked towards me.

              "What did I tell you, dicks? Oh well, I should have expected it."

              "Well, kid, live in the moment. I guess you're more popular than ya ever been since you survived the purge," Virgil said as he shook my shoulder.

              Just then a man driving a hovering platform approached us. His platform floated just above the heads of the glaring people in front of us. The platform operator wore a smile as he extended his hand to me. "Mr. King, if you are willing, the commissioner would like to see you."

              Helena whispered in my ear as I took the hand of the hovercraft operator. "Remember, you can't keep running away. Go get 'em."

              I became ecstatic as we passed over the crowd; it was nostalgia I guess. They all lifted their hands up to me, and as I passed over them, I could once again feel the energy of the crowd. I stretched my arms out wide—I had finally felt the fulfillment again and yet, despite hearing millions of fans cheering my name, I felt an emptiness.

              I frowned slightly as we made our way to the top of the sphere, where Mark, President David Alexander Harris, and the commissioner, along with the two main teams, were awaiting my arrival. The commissioner took my hand and helped me down from the platform.

              The top of the purple sphere sported a platform that lowered into the playing field. It was completely covered in spotlights that shot directly into the sky. The entire audience of the stadium could see us through the cameras that floated all around the stadium.

              "Ah, Mr. King, sorry to surprise you like this. We were overwhelmed with joy to hear you survived that terrible tragedy," the commissioner said as he led me to the center of the sphere where the rest of them stood.

              Mark smiled at me as I made my way over to him. I should've been annoyed but I was in a very good mood as I looked to Mark. "I suppose I have you to thank for this, Mark?"

              "Actually no, Collin, a fan spotted you and word spread quickly to the top."

              President Harris approached me with his hand extended as the commissioner, with the two coaches, followed closely behind him. "Collin King, on behalf of all of the citizens of the GDR core worlds, I would like to say it is an honor to have you here. You have my sincere condolences for all that you have lost."

              "Thank you, David."

              "If you wouldn't mind, Mr. President, we would like to discuss something with Mr. King here," the commissioner said as he pulled me aside to converse with the two coaches.

              "It is good to see you again, Collin. I think I speak for the entirety of Eden when I say that, our hearts go out to all that were lost." I was very annoyed by this. Maybe I was quick to emotion, but all this talk about condolences from the nation that refused to help us was really starting to piss me off. "Really? You didn't seem too concerned when your race denied us assistance when we needed it most."

              The commissioner dodged my defensive remark and gulped. "Collin, these gentlemen would like to extend an offer to you. They would like to know if you would be interested in joining the league again."

              "We will even give you a captain's position again," the coach of the Arcadian Sabertooths said as the other coach looked to him with great opposition.

              "Think about the marketing opportunities. I mean, the sole survivor of the Comets, we could make trillions of credits together, Collin. You could revive your life again."

              "Wait, I want him on my team."

              The coaches then began to argue amongst themselves. I finally saw the world I used to be a part of from an outsider's view. It was one thing to be brought gradually into this world, but it was something far different to be plunged into it. It made me see the PGL in a new light as I had come to see many things. So I grabbed the microphone from the commissioner and addressed the audience.