[The Lone Gunslinger, Chapter 18, Sparrow Ball] "I think my nose is broken." "Yea, it's broken," says Jaco. "I told you not to play." Sweat trickles down into my eyes as I gulp the water Jaco brought out to me. Razor, Scream, and Claw are the Falcons on my cast, and Lance, Bank, Flip, and Zoom are the Falcons on the other cast. A cast is what they call a team in Sparrow Ball; Razor gave me a run down of the game before we started. I toss my Strike aside. "It's broken too, I need another one." "I heard the cracking sound," says Jaco handing me a knew Strike, "but I don't know if it was your Strike breaking, or Flip's nose breaking when you hit him back." I grin slightly at that, the Strike is a two-and-a-half foot stick, or six feathers long to be exact, with a flat round section at the end that makes it look like a big flat spoon. The Strike is what you hit the Sparrow with, and the Sparrow is a small round hard rubber ball. There are two Sparrows; the Blue Sparrow, and the Red Sparrow, but we're not playing with the Red Sparrow. The idea of Sparrow Ball is to use the Strike to hit the Sparrow down the field and get it inside your Kill; the Kill is a basket at the end of the field. You can use any part of the Strike, or the even the ground, to move the Sparrow but if the Blue Sparrow hits any part of your body it's illegal blocking and the second Sparrow, the Red Sparrow, comes into play for two minutes. But, we only have four cast members on each side instead of the usual twelve, so we aren't using the Red Sparrow. "Let's go, Gunslinger," shouts Razor and I run back to my position. A normal Sparrow Ball Field is 15 wings by 9 wings, but Razor only walked off half that distance and set up the Kills. I think a wing is about twenty feet based on how far the Kills are set apart. The game should have twelve cast members, one Center, Six Mids, Four Deeps, and one Nester, but we aren't using a Nester to guard the Kills; too few players for that. "Okay, we stick with the Diamond Formation," says Razor. "The score is twelve to fourteen, their favor. Gunslinger, you're still guarding Bank, I'm going to make a run up the middle." Lance is at the far end of the field and tosses the Sparrow up in the air and smacks the Sparrow hard. The Sparrow sails in an arc towards us and Razor takes off running to intercept it. Razor's eyes are amazing; he tracks on the small blue ball and grabs it with his Strike, slowing it down. Of course the Sparrow is moving too fast to completely stop. Razor twists around to face Scream while the Sparrows spins on the round section of the Strike. The Sparrows rolls off and passes back to Scream. Scream brings the Sparrow to a complete stop and using his forward momentum to hold the Sparrow on his Strike for several yards, runs and then passes Sparrow off to Claw on my right. Lance ignores where the Sparrow is currently at and runs straight at Razor. Lance is anticipating the next pass should go to Flip and dashes past Razor for Scream to keep Claw from passing the Sparrow back to Scream. Claw accepts the pass but and he has no choice, Zoom is on him and passes the Sparrow to me. Flip is charging right at me, but I don't have anyone to pass the Sparrow to and swing at the Sparrow and smack it back down the field and…. Umph! Flip ploughs into me and jabs the butt of his Strike into my ribs. I can see Razor do a quick fake-out spin and roll away from Lance and run for the Sparrow that is now heading unguarded towards our Kill. I roll out from under Bank and use the opportunity to drive my elbow hard into his thigh. Bank tries swinging his Strike at me but an easy standing summersault and forward horizontal spin takes me out of his reach. I'm a little surprised the Falcons aren't faster… not saying they aren't fast, and definitely faster than Jaco or any of the Ravens I know, but they aren't as fast as I am. The only hits Bank has gotten on me have been sucker punches. Flip broke my nose while I was going down from a blind tackle from behind by Bank. Razor is almost to the Sparrow and I sprint towards him, Scream has broken free of Flip and sprints up beside me. Razor uses his Strike to snap the Sparrow up and smacks it into the Kill; the score is tied. "Good play," shouts Razor. Scream retrieves the Sparrow and throws it to Razor. We run back to our side of the field and line back up. Razor tosses the Sparrow up and smacks it across the field and then we are off at a run. I try to keep my eye on the Sparrow; Lance passes to Flip while Bank runs wide to catch the next pass and then passes back to Lance, then we are them. Lance spins to get around Razor but Claw he gets a good jab in and breaks his move. Lance loses control of the Sparrow to Razor and the direction of both casts change abruptly. Bank slips past Scream and uses his Strike and gets a good swing in on Razor. Bank has the Sparrow and starts to turn but I'm on his left side now. I've noticed something is wrong with Falcon eyesight, they don't see well to their sides. I blind-side Bank and plough over him trying to get the Sparrow, but Flip is already on there and comes under the Sparrow and taps it up into the air. Flip's eyes narrow, I know exactly what he plans to do and can't move fast enough to avoid all the damage, but I can reduce the damage. I twist my shoulders as Flip intentionally smacks the Sparrow at my face. I've practiced a defensive move just made for this situation a thousand times in training before. The defensive move is intended to avoid a Talon Dagger being thrown at you, and avoid being stabbed. I let my body move with the Sparrow and instead of being hit directly, it glazes across my cheek and opens a gash; I'll have a scar from this. As the Sparrow cuts across my face, everything slows down and I feel my anger rising. I take my time and analyze the Falcons that seem to be frozen in place. Flip is closest and presents the most danger, Bank is twisting my direction and will be in my kill zone second, Lance will turn next followed by Zoom; this is no longer a game to me, they have attacked and now they are nothing more than tango's to be disposed of. I lean to my side and allow the frozen Falcon's to move in my perception, Flip swing with the Strike has pushed his center of balance too high and he begins to angle forward. I lash out with a side kick into his stomach and his legs come out from under him. As his body 'flips' over, I freeze the scene again and allow myself a small grin at my private joke, and then I grab him by his wing blades and toss him aside. Bank is next and I strike him in the lower throat and without bothering to watch him fall choking, I hit Lance with both my fist in his chest. Lance's eyes roll up into his head and falls while I turn to Zoom. He is putting his hands up to fight but I sense movement to my side, Razor is coming in at me and he is fast, almost too fast. I twist away just in time to miss a punch to the side of my head. Falcons do have speed, but I realize something… they are not fighters, have they forgotten how to fight? I grab Razor's arm and pull it with me as I allow myself to drop to the ground, I feel the distinct popping sound of Razor's shoulder dislocating from the socket. Zoom is over-top me and I shove my legs between his feet and spin horizontally and his ankle snaps. I let go of Razor's arm and jump back up. Scream and Claw are coming at me now and it only takes me a moment to drop them on the ground to roll around moaning. Then I hear the crack of gunfire and turn to see a Senior Gunslinger almost on top of me, and he's moving as fast as I am. The Gunslinger pulls his fist back and hits me in the face and a blinding light explodes behind my eyes and I fall back. I've been hit in the nose twice in one day. "Quickly, send for a medical team," shouts someone. The Gunslinger grabs my arms and pulls me into an arm lock. I struggle for a moment but he's too strong for me. "Hold!" shouts another voice. I've heard that voice before. "My Lord Falcon, he will be severely punished for this," says the Senior Gunslinger. "No, he will not be punished, release him," commands Lord Falcon. The Senior Gunslinger hesitates for a moment and then releases my arms. Blood is flowing down my face but I ignore it, I'm still angry. I can also understand the Senior Gunslinger hesitancy; Lord Falcon has no authority over the Gunslingers. But then... why did the Senior Gunslinger obey? I guess I don't understand the Command structure as well as I thought. "I watched the entire game from the beginning," says Lord Falcon. "These foolish Falcons taunted the young Gunslinger into playing and have been using every illegal move they could come up with to provoke him. That last move, the Sparrow to the face, would be enough to get a professional player banned from the game for life." "My Lord, there is no excuse for using his abilities like that, he lost control." "I disagree," says Lord Falcon. "He did not lose control, he accomplished exactly what he intended. He is a true young Raptor just discovering his talons, well done young Raptor. I have long said my Falcons have been spending too much time on their lazy backsides inside a Fighter Dart." Lord Falcon grins and walks up to me and puts his hands up to my face. "Hold still." Lord Falcon grabs my nose and twists suddenly, the pain is blinding but I don't flinch or cry out. Lord Falcon watches my face carefully, probably waiting for me to show some sign how much setting my nose hurt. Lord Falcon glances at the Senior Gunslinger and grins. "You don't punish a young Raptor for such a display of excellence," insists Lord Falcon. "With all due respect, My Lord, this is a Gunslinger matter, and our Gunslingers are not permitted to play sports outside of the Marshall Games." Lord Falcon smiles at me. "Keal, isn't it?" he asks. I nod. "You hold Daraian dual citizenship through House Raven?" "Yes sir." Lord Falcon looks back at the Senior Gunslinger. "This Gunslinger Compound is sitting on House Falcon property, and that would make this a Daraian matter and me the Judge. These young Falcon's were spoiling for a fight and got more than they bargained for, I'd hardly call what they were doing sports,” says Lord Falcon. "Keal is innocent of any wrong doing, I'll notify your Marshall General of my decision." "As you wish, My Lord," says the Senior Gunslinger. "However, he should be sent back over to the Gunslinger Base, he lost control and will need corrective counseling and training." "Nonsense, Conrad got in a scuffle with some Hawks when he was this same age and turned out fine," says Lord Falcon. "I'll take care of this personally." "Are you going to give us another Raptor?" asks the Senior Gunslinger. "We will see," says Lord Falcon. "Keal, come with me." "Mwe haff Cwass wo rewresher wourse im wa worffing," I mumble through my swollen nose. "Your Jackdaw is taking the course, not you," Lord Falcon waves his hand, "you would just be sitting in the jump-seat throwing up and distracting him." Lord Falcon turns and walks calmly away--There is such a command presence about him I almost followed without question but caught myself and looked to the Senior Gunslinger. "Go on, boy," says the Senior Gunslinger. "You are being given an opportunity very few get." The Medical Team is just arriving and starting work on the Falcons. I shrug and grab my Field Pack from Jaco. "AwI swee ewe im a fwew dways," I tell Jaco. "Be careful, Hero, they aren't anything like Ravens," warns Jaco, and hands me a rag to stop the flow of blood down my face. I swing my Field Pack up on my back and run after Lord Falcon and come up beside him, dabbing at my pounding nose, the blood is starting to slow down. Lord Falcon leads me past the guest cabins and towards the steep cliffs I saw earlier from the shuttle. We walk through an opening in an old rustic wood fence that l assume separates the Gunslinger Compound from the Falcon Base; the fence has seen better days and it's a bit of a stretch to even call it a fence. I think it could be better described as a collection of logs that haven't fallen over yet. "From here on you will call me Sear." Lord Falcon stops and looks at me. "Do you understand?" "Sir?" "Say Sir, Lord, Commander, or anything besides Sear, and you will force me to re-break your nose." "Ummm.... wes swii..." I start to say and quickly correct myself. "....Sweer?" "Sear is my name, Lord Falcon is my title," explains Lord Falcon. "We live and train as we fight, and if you were to call me Lord, or Commander, or Sir, on the battlefield, you would be painting a bulls-eye on my back, now do you understand?" "Wes Sweer," I mumble. "Good. Lady Falcon's name is Scorch, but she's off-world, so you won't have to worry about that, as are my cast partners, Char and Singe." "Ewe pway Warrow Wall?" "Stop trying to talk," orders Lord Falcon. "I can barely understand you through that broken nose, we'll get that fixed first thing, come along." Sear starts walking again and I follow along, the pounding in my nose has caused a severe headache and I can barely think, but I try to pay attention as he talks. "Cast means team, or better said, it means a team of Falcon's," explains Sear. "The word carried over to Sparrow Ball and stuck. Anyway, you are aware of how Ravens are organized?" "Nwine Waven wartner teams wake an awwiance," I mumble. Sear gives me a scathing glare... oh yea; I'm not supposed to talk. "Swowwy," I slur. I feel tired and it's getting harder to talk. "Yes, nine Raven partners make a Raven Alliance, but that is not how Falcons are organized," Lord Raven explains. "Falcons have a partner as well, but our Casts are two partner teams which form the Diamond Cast, but not always. The Raptors tend to be loners... are you okay, you don't look so good?" I nod, and I think that was a mistake. My eyes blur and I stumble, I feel nauseous and light headed, maybe I lost too much blood. Can you lose too much blood from a nose bleed? Other Falcons are around us and Lord Falcon... Sear... Lord Sear? I don't know... I can't understand everything he's saying. "...got hit pretty hard... possible... looks like... minor concussion... hospital... move it... okay... young Raptor... we got you..." Lord Falcon's words are all jumbled and he's lifting me up, someone else is helping him, more Falcons around me... and then I think I blacked out. My next memory is lying on a bed looking up at a dim light with a green alien staring down at me. "I'm Doctor Unar'Te." The green alien flicks a light in my eyes. "You took quite a pounding. Damn Sparrow Ball should be outlawed." "Where am I?" My speech is almost normal and the intense pain in my nose has subsided, in fact, I don't feel anything and I'm not even sure I'm on the bed. I think maybe I'm floating away somewhere, I feel pretty good. "You're in the hospital," says the green alien. "I'm going to put you to sleep for a bit while I crack your skull open and get the swelling down and fix that bleeder, you'll be good as new by morning." I probably should be alarmed at the green alien saying it's going to crack my skull open, but I really don't care... I don't think I care about anything right now. I feel so good. "I'm a bird," I say. "Is he okay, Doctor?" says someone and I turn my head, there's a big bird looking at me. "Hello Lord Sear...Lord Sippy Sear... Sippy Sippy the Falcon Sear... Sear Lord Sippy Sear..." The big bird cocks its head to the side. "Doctor?" "It's the pain medication," says the green alien. "He has a concussion and a blood vessel is hemorrhaging, but this is a simple procedure. Your little bird won't even have a scar when I'm done." "How long will it take him to recover?" asks the big bird. "He'll be fit for duty by noon tomorrow," says the green alien. "You're sure?" asks the big bird. "A Brain hemorrhage is rather serious." "Do I look like a Cormon Witch Doctor?" asks the green alien. "Of course not, Doctor," says the big bird. "Carinian medical science amazes me once again." The green alien bends over me and then another green alien does something to a tube on my arm. "Time to go to sleep," says the green alien. "Can you count backwards from one-hundred for me?" "Nighty-night Lord Sippy," I try to wave at the big bird. "Tweet... Tweet... Twee..." I open my eyes. I think I'm floating in water. I'm too tired and go back to sleep. I open my eyes again and I'm in a dark room, and it takes me a moment to remember everything. I think I had surgery. Simon, Jaco, and Josh are in the room. Simon is reading a book and Jaco is staring out through the window blinds with Josh. "What happened?" I ask. Simon looks up and Jaco almost flies across the room to get to my bedside. "I told you not to play that stupid game!" shouts Jaco throwing himself on top of me. "Good morning, sleepy head," says Simon standing. "Why am I in a hospital?" "Because you played Sparrow Ball when I told you not to," says Jaco. I think Jaco's been crying, his eyes are red and swollen. I squeeze his arm and smile. "It wasn't the game that did it," says Simon. "Lord Falcon knew what happened, that's why he accepted you for the Raptor program, he just didn't know right away the physical damage that had already happened inside your brain. It was fortunate you were so close to a Hospital with a Carinian Surgical Team." "Was it a concussion?" I ask. "I heard Lord Falcon say that's what he thought it was." "At first it looked like a concussion," says Simon sitting down on the edge of my bed. "The Surgeon found it when he opened you up. Don't worry, he repaired the damage and added a few modifications to strengthen the blood vessels if it happens again, which it likely will." "What happened?" Simon lays his hand on my arm. "You are a direct descendent of Sionnach's Eighty, the original Lone Gunslingers that settled here; they were full blooded Kitsune, you are not." "What's that got to do with anything?" "The Kitsune can move with inhuman speed, because they are not human," explains Simon. "There is a gland in their brain that excretes a type of adrenalin called taralin that gives them that ability. However, your physiology is too many generations removed from your ancestors to be able to handle that ability. The gene is getting rare in most of us and often skips several generations, it skipped me, but it looks like you inherited the gene, most likely from your mother's side of the family." "Why did it happen? I didn't mean for it to happen." "You have your mothers temper, and when you lost your temper at those Falcon boys, the dormant gene, or gland, I don't know exactly how it works, you'll have to ask the doctor. But, when you became angry a massive dose of taraline was released into your brain and popped a blood vessel." "I told you it was the game, it wouldn't have happened if you would just listen," says Jaco. I know Jaco is just angry and scared. He's lashing out. "It would have happened eventually, Jaco," says Simon. "Best it happened when it did and we found out." "What if it happens again?" I ask. "The doctor will explain it in detail later, but, basically he injected some kind of a chemical that has coated all your blood vessels on the inside and strengthened them," explains Simon. "And, I agree with Lord Falcon, you need to be in the Raptor program and learn control." "So we aren't going on the Advance Party to Pyra?" "Oh, you're going," says Simon. "The launch was delayed two weeks--bad weather on Pyra right now, there's a hurricane pounding the islands. You'll start the Raptor program while Jaco takes the refresher course and trains with the Falcon pilots. Then you'll go on the Advance Party, and, when you get back, you'll spend the summer in the Raptor program." "What about Jaco?" I ask. "Jaco will spend the summer taking the Class 1 Fighter Pilot course," says Simon. I notice Josh is still over next to the window with his head down. "Josh, what's wrong?" I ask. Josh lifts his head; tears are streaming down his face. I hold my hand out to him and he runs and jumps up on the bed and throws himself in my arms. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I put all your stuff back, please don't die!" cries Josh. Oh no, Josh moved all his stuff to my bed back home and now thinks it was his fault I got hurt. I hug Josh tight. "No, Josh, I'm not going to die, I want you to keep your stuff on my bed. If you're there to guard my stuff I know nothing bad can ever happen to me." Josh raises his face and stares into mine. "Don't ever play Sparrow Ball again, promise." I hug Josh tight, but I don’t say anything. I can’t make that promise; I got a score to settle with some Falcons.