Post by tjkernan on Jan 17, 2012 17:17:12 GMT -5
Ultimate Warblade #1
"From The Breaking"
TJKernan
A Sunday in early October, three years ago…
“Welcome back fans to Unlimited Football League Sunday Wrap Up, I am your host Kendall Black, here with my partners Stewart Mars and Lisa Keil. Now for the Las Vegas Gamblers and San Diego Dragons spectacular from New Bay Stadium. The Gamblers went into the game 2-2 after a brutal overtime defeat last Monday night by the Seattle Knights. The Dragons were on fire at 3-1 and looked great in their dismantling of the Dallas Lawmen last weekend.
The game started as expected, with the Gambler’s stingy defense, ranked seventh against the rush and eleventh overall, holding Dragon’s quarterback Kimble Cartz to only 30 passing yards and running back Lamar Stratford to just 24 rushing yards in the first half. Meanwhile, the Gambler’s superstar rusher Chester Maize racked up an impressive 84 yards on the ground, including two smash-mouth assaults for 27 and 41 yards, but the rest of the offense couldn’t capitalize, and the Gamblers could only manage a 6-0 lead at the half.
Tragedy, however, struck early the second half. On only the third play of the third quarter, Dragons defensive back Rolando Jackson took down Chester Maize hard, and he didn’t get back up. The word we are receiving now is several broken ribs and a punctured lung. The superstar is out for a minimum six weeks, possibly the rest of the season.
No problem says Gambler’s coach Dana Girard, and he sends in back-up running back Reno Bryce. Reno who you ask? Nobody else knew either. Six months ago this kid was apparently a bouncer at a Vegas casino. Spurred to try-out at Gambler’s training camp by good friend and Gambler cornerback Randall Savage, Reno impressed enough to stick around through the pre-season, and earn a spot as a back-up on the roster on this running back thin season.
So what could this kid do? Second play from scrimmage he runs for 67 yards, evades three tackles, and scores one beautiful touchdown. This kid looked like an all-pro. He was evading tacklers left and right. He simple was unstoppable, and on fire.
By the end of the game, Rno racked up 107 yards and two touchdowns in what was one of the most unexpected and spectacular displays I can remember. What a jackpot!
----
A Sunday in late September, last year…
“Welcome back to Thursday Night Sports Extra, I’m Donell Moore.
Well, the ‘Sin City Cinderella’ story seems to have come to an end early Wednesday morning. Nearly two years after he came from obscurity to become a national superstar, Las Vegas Gambler’s running back Reno Bryce, who rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns last weekend against the Louisiana Gators, was caught in a four-car automobile accident just off the Vegas Strip. The accident, apparently caused by a drunken driver, left three dead and at least four injured. Bryce, who was in the passenger seat of his ’10 Prowler when the vehicle, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown through the windshield. Reno apparently has sustained serious damage to his lower spinal cord and legs. Reno was taken to St. Thomas hospital where he is still located, and listed in critical condition. Speculations are that Reno will be lucky to ever walk again, and that his football career is a thing of the past. We will keep you updated as this story continues to develop…”
-----
A Monday, about five months ago…
“He is down the hall, the last door to the right.”
Reno Bryce turned his head briefly as he heard his nurse admit the visitor, then turned his attention back to the scene unveiling outside his den’s large window. Two cats, probably his neighbors, had made their way into his now unkempt garden. He admired their youthful exuberance and graceful agility as they leaped and frolicked through the tall weeds. He had been like them once. Now he was nothing more than a broken, and useless nothing man.
Reno heard the door to the room slowly open, but decided that watching the felines was more interesting than whatever this visitor intended to say. People mattered little to Reno since the accident. He felt little other than pain and loss, and their attempts to comfort him had made things worse. He didn’t need or want their sorrow or their pity or their sympathies. His wife, Sarah, had left months ago. Even his parents stopped visiting or calling, he had heard the nurse occasionally provided them with their required doses of information.
“Hello Mr. Bryce, my name is Marc Slayton, and I am here to make you a deal.”
Reno barely suppressed a sadistic laugh as he pushed the button to turn his wheelchair around to face his presumptuous visitor. He crinkled his nose as he inspected the seemingly arrogant stranger. He was a very tall man, easy over six feet, with a thin, wiry-looking frame. His hair was a pristine snow white. He had eyes of the clearest blue. He wore an expensive Armani suit accented by a large, star-shaped medallion around his chest. He stood rigidly straight and seemed to carry himself in a very dignified, possibly military manner.
Reno rolled his eyes as he completed his mental catalogue, and turned his attention instead to a bottle of painkillers that sat on the television next to a half drank bottle of Jose Cuervo.
“What is it you think you can offer me, Mr. White Hair?”
Undaunted by Reno’s dripping sarcasm, Marc responded, “Freedom Mr. Bryce. I want to give you the mobility back that were stolen from you in that shameless tragedy. I want to take away your pain and suffering and give your life new meaning and direction.”
Reno again suppressed a laugh as he popped the cap from the pill bottle, and swallowed a handful, followed quickly by a gulp of tequila. Reno's contempt was unmistakable, “Well, that certainly is one I haven’t heard in a while. Well, two things come to mind. First, how do you think you can help me when every doctor in the country couldn’t? Second, what is in it for you? My bank account is almost depleted and I am not exactly a money-making machine these days.”
Reno watched as Marc seemed to momentarily immerse himself in deep thought, then calmly lowered himself to Reno’s eye level. He than began to speak in a very quiet, yet confident manner.
“First, I have friends in the genetic manipulation business, they have knowledge light years ahead of anybody you have consulted. For a favor or two she’ll have no problem not only making you as good as you were before the accident, but she might even make a few improvements, and have you feeling better than you have in your entire life.
As for what is in it for me…well…I just require your attention. When everything is all said and done, I want you to consider coming and working with me.”
As Reno watched, and heard the words from Marc’s mouth, he was struck. That hadn’t happened for a long time now. He looked at the man for a sign of falsehood or dishonesty, but there seemed to be none whatsoever. He was apparently, as far as Reno could tell, completely genuine and honest in his proposal, and he believed every word he said.
Reno spent several minutes contemplating before deciding to speak again.
“You have yourself a deal Mr. Slayton. You make me back into a man and I’ll consider whatever offer you have.”
Marc gave a small nod of acknowledgement and rose again to his full stature. Then he gave a warm, healthy smile as he raised his hand from his side and tightly clutched the medallion hanging around his neck. He mumbled a single word too low for Reno to understand, then the room was filled with a blinding flash of white light.
When Reno’s vision finally returned he realized that there was a third person standing in the room with them. It was a woman. She was young, pretty, and blonde. She wore a brown bomber jacket, tight jeans, and brown cowboy boots. She was hot, and Reno was sure if he still had feelings below his waist, she would be inciting a fire down below.
Marc spoke, “This is my friend Savant, she is going to take you to the 'doctors' that are going to put you back together my friend.”
Reno, struck by the oddity of the moment, as well as the mass quantities of painkillers and tequila in his system, could do little more than stare and nod as Savant worked something that appeared to be electronic and roughly cell phone looking in her hand. The room charged with electricity as a portal opened.
Savant spoke in a seductive, sweet voice, “Let us be off to our destination darling, I will make sure they turn you into a brand new man.”
With that the pair disappeared in a blinding flash of white light, and, with his mission finished, pulled a syringe from his pocket and prepared to dispatch the nurse which had seen him in, the only witness to his visit to a run-down, broken football has-been. By the time she awoke in the morning, this entire day would be forgotten.
----
A Friday, about two months ago…
Reno Bryce emerged from the blinding white light of the teleportation circle, with his companion Savant by his side. He noticed his benefactor, Marc Slayton standing about six feet in front of him. He also noticed the lavish splendor of his surroundings. Savant had mentioned that she would be taking him to Slayton’s home, and to say the least, Reno was impressed. The garden they stood in was vast and filled with every type of rose color imaginable. Behind Marc stood a gigantic, sprawling mansion that seemed to stretch for miles. Savante had mentioned a few tidbits about Slayton and his history, but for the most part had been secretive, saying that it was best that Reno learn about Marc from the man himself.
Thinking of Savant, Reno turned to the woman standing next to him, smiled warmly, and kissed her passionately. He noticed from the corner of his eye the jaw of Marc drop, and he derived a high degree of satisfaction from the look on the man’s face.
“I'll see you later, lover,” commented Savant as she pulled herself away from Reno, smiled warmly, and turned to address the gaping jaw of Marc. “Don’t be so surprised Slayton,” she said with a laugh, “Even a girl like myself has needs.” With that she disappeared into a blinding flash of white light, with a wink and a sly smile.
"Well, you certainly must be feeling better,” Marc said to Phil, regaining his composure as he reached down to pick a dead petal of a white rose, "nice hair by the way..."
Reno ran a hand through his bright green hair, "Yeah. Savant says it has something to do with my Kheran heritage. Some recessive gene thing that bubbled up after the merging with the symbiote."
Marc was surprised, "So you know about your heritage? You seem to be accepting the whole thing very well."
Reno shrugged his shoulder, "It was a lot to absorb at first. Being merged with an alien liquid metal symbiote. Learning that I am half-alien myself, from some planet a zillion miles away, and that there are more of us all around this planet. But I have learned to adapt."
“You were right, though,” Reno continued, “I have never felt this good in my entire life. At first merging with the symbiote didn't work out so well, apparently having something to do with being half-human and half-Kheran, but eventually the 'doctors' got it to work. It repaired the damage to my spinal cord and nerve endings.”
“I picked up a few of those ‘modifications’ as well as a healthy set of legs. Savant said I already had the potential in my body, the merging with the symbiote just ‘brought it out’. My speed and agility is about twice that of a normal human. I also have increased strength. Oh, and I can do this…”
Silver metal oozed our from Reno's skin, covering his body like a second skin. Reno lifted his hands, and long silver blades became his hands. Marc noted the smug smile of Reno’s face, he seemed to be very proud of himself.
“Very nice,” Marc said as he turned towards the mansion and beckoned for Reno to follow, “Let us go inside, and we can talk about your family history and your future.”
Phil followed Carlyle into the lavish mansion, which impressed as much inside as it did without. Hundreds of years of history seemed to be sprawled along the hallway, which they walked down. A pair of authentic looking pistols and a Texas Ranger badge adorned a display case. A painting which looked an awful like a Picasso, featuring a man who looked an awful lot like Slayton covered a large portion of wall. Pictures of celebrities, standing with Slayton, included former presidents Carter and Reagan, , as well as Ghandi and many others from around the world Reno didn't recognize.
Reno was so engrossed in the scenery he barely noticed when the hall ended and the two entered an elevator.
Marc turned to Reno with a very serious look upon his face as the doors to the elevator closed.
"Let's talk about your father..."
----
A beginning. Read more about Backlash and Warblade in Ultimate Pilgrim.
"From The Breaking"
TJKernan
A Sunday in early October, three years ago…
“Welcome back fans to Unlimited Football League Sunday Wrap Up, I am your host Kendall Black, here with my partners Stewart Mars and Lisa Keil. Now for the Las Vegas Gamblers and San Diego Dragons spectacular from New Bay Stadium. The Gamblers went into the game 2-2 after a brutal overtime defeat last Monday night by the Seattle Knights. The Dragons were on fire at 3-1 and looked great in their dismantling of the Dallas Lawmen last weekend.
The game started as expected, with the Gambler’s stingy defense, ranked seventh against the rush and eleventh overall, holding Dragon’s quarterback Kimble Cartz to only 30 passing yards and running back Lamar Stratford to just 24 rushing yards in the first half. Meanwhile, the Gambler’s superstar rusher Chester Maize racked up an impressive 84 yards on the ground, including two smash-mouth assaults for 27 and 41 yards, but the rest of the offense couldn’t capitalize, and the Gamblers could only manage a 6-0 lead at the half.
Tragedy, however, struck early the second half. On only the third play of the third quarter, Dragons defensive back Rolando Jackson took down Chester Maize hard, and he didn’t get back up. The word we are receiving now is several broken ribs and a punctured lung. The superstar is out for a minimum six weeks, possibly the rest of the season.
No problem says Gambler’s coach Dana Girard, and he sends in back-up running back Reno Bryce. Reno who you ask? Nobody else knew either. Six months ago this kid was apparently a bouncer at a Vegas casino. Spurred to try-out at Gambler’s training camp by good friend and Gambler cornerback Randall Savage, Reno impressed enough to stick around through the pre-season, and earn a spot as a back-up on the roster on this running back thin season.
So what could this kid do? Second play from scrimmage he runs for 67 yards, evades three tackles, and scores one beautiful touchdown. This kid looked like an all-pro. He was evading tacklers left and right. He simple was unstoppable, and on fire.
By the end of the game, Rno racked up 107 yards and two touchdowns in what was one of the most unexpected and spectacular displays I can remember. What a jackpot!
----
A Sunday in late September, last year…
“Welcome back to Thursday Night Sports Extra, I’m Donell Moore.
Well, the ‘Sin City Cinderella’ story seems to have come to an end early Wednesday morning. Nearly two years after he came from obscurity to become a national superstar, Las Vegas Gambler’s running back Reno Bryce, who rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns last weekend against the Louisiana Gators, was caught in a four-car automobile accident just off the Vegas Strip. The accident, apparently caused by a drunken driver, left three dead and at least four injured. Bryce, who was in the passenger seat of his ’10 Prowler when the vehicle, was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown through the windshield. Reno apparently has sustained serious damage to his lower spinal cord and legs. Reno was taken to St. Thomas hospital where he is still located, and listed in critical condition. Speculations are that Reno will be lucky to ever walk again, and that his football career is a thing of the past. We will keep you updated as this story continues to develop…”
-----
A Monday, about five months ago…
“He is down the hall, the last door to the right.”
Reno Bryce turned his head briefly as he heard his nurse admit the visitor, then turned his attention back to the scene unveiling outside his den’s large window. Two cats, probably his neighbors, had made their way into his now unkempt garden. He admired their youthful exuberance and graceful agility as they leaped and frolicked through the tall weeds. He had been like them once. Now he was nothing more than a broken, and useless nothing man.
Reno heard the door to the room slowly open, but decided that watching the felines was more interesting than whatever this visitor intended to say. People mattered little to Reno since the accident. He felt little other than pain and loss, and their attempts to comfort him had made things worse. He didn’t need or want their sorrow or their pity or their sympathies. His wife, Sarah, had left months ago. Even his parents stopped visiting or calling, he had heard the nurse occasionally provided them with their required doses of information.
“Hello Mr. Bryce, my name is Marc Slayton, and I am here to make you a deal.”
Reno barely suppressed a sadistic laugh as he pushed the button to turn his wheelchair around to face his presumptuous visitor. He crinkled his nose as he inspected the seemingly arrogant stranger. He was a very tall man, easy over six feet, with a thin, wiry-looking frame. His hair was a pristine snow white. He had eyes of the clearest blue. He wore an expensive Armani suit accented by a large, star-shaped medallion around his chest. He stood rigidly straight and seemed to carry himself in a very dignified, possibly military manner.
Reno rolled his eyes as he completed his mental catalogue, and turned his attention instead to a bottle of painkillers that sat on the television next to a half drank bottle of Jose Cuervo.
“What is it you think you can offer me, Mr. White Hair?”
Undaunted by Reno’s dripping sarcasm, Marc responded, “Freedom Mr. Bryce. I want to give you the mobility back that were stolen from you in that shameless tragedy. I want to take away your pain and suffering and give your life new meaning and direction.”
Reno again suppressed a laugh as he popped the cap from the pill bottle, and swallowed a handful, followed quickly by a gulp of tequila. Reno's contempt was unmistakable, “Well, that certainly is one I haven’t heard in a while. Well, two things come to mind. First, how do you think you can help me when every doctor in the country couldn’t? Second, what is in it for you? My bank account is almost depleted and I am not exactly a money-making machine these days.”
Reno watched as Marc seemed to momentarily immerse himself in deep thought, then calmly lowered himself to Reno’s eye level. He than began to speak in a very quiet, yet confident manner.
“First, I have friends in the genetic manipulation business, they have knowledge light years ahead of anybody you have consulted. For a favor or two she’ll have no problem not only making you as good as you were before the accident, but she might even make a few improvements, and have you feeling better than you have in your entire life.
As for what is in it for me…well…I just require your attention. When everything is all said and done, I want you to consider coming and working with me.”
As Reno watched, and heard the words from Marc’s mouth, he was struck. That hadn’t happened for a long time now. He looked at the man for a sign of falsehood or dishonesty, but there seemed to be none whatsoever. He was apparently, as far as Reno could tell, completely genuine and honest in his proposal, and he believed every word he said.
Reno spent several minutes contemplating before deciding to speak again.
“You have yourself a deal Mr. Slayton. You make me back into a man and I’ll consider whatever offer you have.”
Marc gave a small nod of acknowledgement and rose again to his full stature. Then he gave a warm, healthy smile as he raised his hand from his side and tightly clutched the medallion hanging around his neck. He mumbled a single word too low for Reno to understand, then the room was filled with a blinding flash of white light.
When Reno’s vision finally returned he realized that there was a third person standing in the room with them. It was a woman. She was young, pretty, and blonde. She wore a brown bomber jacket, tight jeans, and brown cowboy boots. She was hot, and Reno was sure if he still had feelings below his waist, she would be inciting a fire down below.
Marc spoke, “This is my friend Savant, she is going to take you to the 'doctors' that are going to put you back together my friend.”
Reno, struck by the oddity of the moment, as well as the mass quantities of painkillers and tequila in his system, could do little more than stare and nod as Savant worked something that appeared to be electronic and roughly cell phone looking in her hand. The room charged with electricity as a portal opened.
Savant spoke in a seductive, sweet voice, “Let us be off to our destination darling, I will make sure they turn you into a brand new man.”
With that the pair disappeared in a blinding flash of white light, and, with his mission finished, pulled a syringe from his pocket and prepared to dispatch the nurse which had seen him in, the only witness to his visit to a run-down, broken football has-been. By the time she awoke in the morning, this entire day would be forgotten.
----
A Friday, about two months ago…
Reno Bryce emerged from the blinding white light of the teleportation circle, with his companion Savant by his side. He noticed his benefactor, Marc Slayton standing about six feet in front of him. He also noticed the lavish splendor of his surroundings. Savant had mentioned that she would be taking him to Slayton’s home, and to say the least, Reno was impressed. The garden they stood in was vast and filled with every type of rose color imaginable. Behind Marc stood a gigantic, sprawling mansion that seemed to stretch for miles. Savante had mentioned a few tidbits about Slayton and his history, but for the most part had been secretive, saying that it was best that Reno learn about Marc from the man himself.
Thinking of Savant, Reno turned to the woman standing next to him, smiled warmly, and kissed her passionately. He noticed from the corner of his eye the jaw of Marc drop, and he derived a high degree of satisfaction from the look on the man’s face.
“I'll see you later, lover,” commented Savant as she pulled herself away from Reno, smiled warmly, and turned to address the gaping jaw of Marc. “Don’t be so surprised Slayton,” she said with a laugh, “Even a girl like myself has needs.” With that she disappeared into a blinding flash of white light, with a wink and a sly smile.
"Well, you certainly must be feeling better,” Marc said to Phil, regaining his composure as he reached down to pick a dead petal of a white rose, "nice hair by the way..."
Reno ran a hand through his bright green hair, "Yeah. Savant says it has something to do with my Kheran heritage. Some recessive gene thing that bubbled up after the merging with the symbiote."
Marc was surprised, "So you know about your heritage? You seem to be accepting the whole thing very well."
Reno shrugged his shoulder, "It was a lot to absorb at first. Being merged with an alien liquid metal symbiote. Learning that I am half-alien myself, from some planet a zillion miles away, and that there are more of us all around this planet. But I have learned to adapt."
“You were right, though,” Reno continued, “I have never felt this good in my entire life. At first merging with the symbiote didn't work out so well, apparently having something to do with being half-human and half-Kheran, but eventually the 'doctors' got it to work. It repaired the damage to my spinal cord and nerve endings.”
“I picked up a few of those ‘modifications’ as well as a healthy set of legs. Savant said I already had the potential in my body, the merging with the symbiote just ‘brought it out’. My speed and agility is about twice that of a normal human. I also have increased strength. Oh, and I can do this…”
Silver metal oozed our from Reno's skin, covering his body like a second skin. Reno lifted his hands, and long silver blades became his hands. Marc noted the smug smile of Reno’s face, he seemed to be very proud of himself.
“Very nice,” Marc said as he turned towards the mansion and beckoned for Reno to follow, “Let us go inside, and we can talk about your family history and your future.”
Phil followed Carlyle into the lavish mansion, which impressed as much inside as it did without. Hundreds of years of history seemed to be sprawled along the hallway, which they walked down. A pair of authentic looking pistols and a Texas Ranger badge adorned a display case. A painting which looked an awful like a Picasso, featuring a man who looked an awful lot like Slayton covered a large portion of wall. Pictures of celebrities, standing with Slayton, included former presidents Carter and Reagan, , as well as Ghandi and many others from around the world Reno didn't recognize.
Reno was so engrossed in the scenery he barely noticed when the hall ended and the two entered an elevator.
Marc turned to Reno with a very serious look upon his face as the doors to the elevator closed.
"Let's talk about your father..."
----
A beginning. Read more about Backlash and Warblade in Ultimate Pilgrim.