We're just a couple of days away from Way Over the line being available for purchase! I have two more sample chapters to publish (this one and ch. 15 tomorrow), and then you can buy the entire novel for $1.99 at Smashwords or Amazon. If you haven't read all the sample chapters yet, please click the below link! And please remember to spread the word (and link!) to others if you are enjoying these sample chapters. Teachers, parents, and, of course, kids, are excellent targets for the links. Thanks! And now, on with Chapter 14.
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Chapter 14
Jessie had no time to check out the interior of the space station as they raced for the registration table. They dashed through a number of plain metal tunnels that reminded him of the inside of the Fastball 1. Were all space vehicles and ports so boring? That mindset changed not long after. Coach led them through one particular door and Jessie swore he stepped out into a park on Earth. Their path became a gravel road that led through a grassy field. To their left was a sandpit with concrete structures he assumed were playground equipment. Small aliens that looked vaguely human-shaped crawled on the structures. Were they kids playing on the toys?
He and Ryder slowed almost to a stop to look around, but before they could, Coach's voice snapped them to attention.
"Ryder, Jessie, move it!"
They sprinted to catch up. Jessie made sure to stay with the group to avoid any further reprimands. He soon found himself breathing hard as the alien's bouncy run moved them faster than he could match. Ryder seemed to be having the same trouble, but Mickey looked as if he could outdistance them all.
"You'll have plenty of time to explore later," Stretch said, his voice as normal as if they were sitting at the table talking. Jessie could only nod, afraid that if he spoke, he'd lose valuable oxygen and fall behind, drawing Coach's ire again.
The stadium appeared ahead. Other than the strange lettering and artwork, it could host any major league franchise. If he didn't already know, he never would have guessed the field inside was so different.
Coach led them to a pair of aliens sitting at a table with markings on it. If his eyes had undergone a Universal Language thingy, too, he guessed it'd read, "Registration."
The aliens at the desk looked nothing like those on his team. The one on the left looked as if he might be eight feet tall standing up. His skin had a reddish glow and shifted slightly with every movement, as if he had rubies between his muscles and skin. His head pulsed every few seconds. Was that his heart beating or his brain working?
The one on the right appeared almost human. If Jessie had passed him on the street, he wouldn't have glanced twice. He was a bit taller than Jessie or Ryder, and wore his brown hair short. The only real differences were the slits in his neck that looked like gills. Jessie had no idea gills worked out of water, but this guy seemed to be breathing fine.
Both aliens wore a look of impatience as the Aces approached. "You're late," the big one on the left said. His voice didn't boom as Jessie expected, but sounded soft, like a cooing dove.
"My apologies," Coach said. "I assume you'll let us sign in or you'd no longer be here."
Both aliens behind the desk stared at Coach as if they wanted nothing more than to order the team away, but finally the human-looking alien nodded. "Sign here, here, and here." He thrust three pages at Coach, who pressed his thumb on each and handed them back. Jessie frowned. Was that how signatures were done in space?
The large alien handed Coach a packet. "Have each member sign the top sheet. Give it back to me and keep the rest. The rules, your opening round schedule, and other incidentals are listed. Learn everything. Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse."
Coach tore off the top sheet and passed it around. "Just push your thumb in this box here," Rake told Ryder and Jessie as he handed it to them. Ryder flinched a bit when he complied, then handed it to Jessie. As soon as Jessie's thumb touched the paper, a slight electric shock shot through his hand. It didn't hurt, but his hand tingled for a few seconds. He placed the page on the desk between the aliens.
"I see you've already broken a rule," the human-looking alien said.
"I didn't . . ." Jessie started to say, but he saw both aliens staring at Coach, who shrugged.
"We'll have to disagree. That rule was passed after the Over-The-Line summit. It's not valid."
The large alien rose to his full height. "You are in not position to argue. You've come late with an extra player."
"Only four are starters. One is nothing but an observer. He's only here to play if someone gets hurt. Well within the guidelines passed at the summit."
"Rules change. And you've broken this one."
"If this rule is passed by majority vote at the coming summit, we'll abide by it next year. But we'll not be disqualified on a technicality that should not exist."
The human-looking alien put his hands out in a defensive pose. "Coach, please, we're not here to disqualify you. If that were the case, why would we have waited? All that we ask is that your fifth go to the free-agent pool. If one of your members is injured, he can rejoin your team."
"As long as he hasn't been selected by another," the large alien said.
No. Jessie hadn't come all the way out here, been rescued from pirates, to be taken off the team now. He looked around, frantic with fear that they would accept the deal.
Coach shook his head, as did each of the other Aces. He felt a jolt of pride for how they stuck up for him, even if he was the weak link.
"This is not a debate!" Now the large alien's voice more matched his size.
The human-looking alien put a hand on the large alien and whispered something. The large alien started to say something, but then nodded and sat back down. "Face it, Coach. There's nothing you can say that will change our minds."
Mickey stepped forward. "No, but maybe you'll listen to me."
Both aliens' eyes went wide as if they were seeing him for the first time. "Mickey Martell," they said in unison.
"If the kid doesn't stay on our team, I don't play. How would that look for the marketing of the tournament?"
The human-looking alien stared in disbelief. "You . . . you wouldn't."
"Try me. In fact, I won't just quit, I'll stand out in front of the stadium and tell everyone why I'm not playing."
Both aliens sat there speechless. Jessie and Ryder exchanged a look, but the others stared back as if daring the two to make the next move. When they didn't, Mickey turned around. "Looks like we got protests to organize." Jessie felt his eyes well up with tears. He couldn't believe that one of the best players of all time would stand up for him.
Before they'd even gone a step, the large alien stood back up. "No, wait. You can't. You're our marquee player. Many are coming to see you play."
Mickey turned. "Tell me what I want to hear."
The aliens looked at each other, and then slumped their shoulders, beaten. "You have your alternate. The rule is bunk."
"Thank you," Coach said. "We'll see you opening day."
The team turned and walked off. "Don't look back," Rake whispered. "We'll look more in control this way."
"And way cooler," Ryder said.
"That too."
When they were far enough away, Coach spoke up. "We'll head back to the ship to check out our practice and game schedule. We'll read through the rules so you two know what's expected of you on and off the field. Then you can go exploring. Deal?"
"Deal," the boys said. They smiled at each other and scanned their surroundings, anticipating the fun.
"Make sure you're both paying attention how to get back to the ship, too," Stretch said. "You'll get locators, but it's still better to know where you are."
"No worries," Jessie said. "Ryder always knows the way."
Click here to read Chapter 15
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