Alex sighed with a small affectionate smile as the door closed behind the trio. He was happy that Urie and Trinity wanted Bree in their pod. The woman deserved someone, or in this case, someones, to love her completely for who she was. There wasn’t a sweeter or more hard-working person on their team than his co-captain.

With a shake of his head, he dropped his musings, grabbed a couple of drinks, and went out to the balcony. Nick was just blinking out of his call, and he smiled in welcome.

“I brought you a Tigers Tongue,” Alex said and held out the bright red strawberry soda. The brand was a little weird, called Bubblin’ Brews, but they were everyone’s favorites when they allowed themselves to drink them. Soda wasn’t very conducive to their athletic lifestyles, so it was always a welcomed treat when they drank it. Alex had chosen one for himself that was called Fox’s Fur. It was an orange color and flavor.

Nick took the offering with a chuckle. “My favorite. Thanks, boss.” He uncapped the beverage and took a swig before settling into one of the lounge chairs that graced the balcony.

Alex tucked himself into the chair next to him and sipped his own drink. He looked out on the balmy night, content with the companionable silence. It was one of the things he liked the most about Nick. He could joke around with Trin and Urie, or he could be relaxed and easy-going with Alex. He helped blend all of their personalities together.

It was almost a shock when Nick spoke into the silence, “Boss. Nieliegh is going to have a baby.”

The sound drifted between them, and it took a moment for Alex to sort the tones into words. Then kicked his feet down and shifted to fully face his friend and teammate. “Nick! That is so wonderful! I’m so happy for your both.” He reached out and grabbed Nick’s knee, the only part of the man that was in Alex’s range.

Nick grinned over at his captain, tears accumulating in the corner of his eyes. “She just told me. She said she wanted to give me a present that would, ‘Help console me if we lost, or give me one more reason to remember our win.”

“Nieliegh is an amazing woman,” Alex matched Nick’s grin.

“That she is.” A tear sneaked its way down the side of the man’s face as he whispered, “I’m going to be a father.”

A notification bell sounded internally. It was his 3C giving him an important message. Alex quickly ignored it and blinked away the words that came with it without reading it. This moment with Nick was too important to be distracted by anything else. He held out his glass bottle, and Nick clinked his own bottle against it before they both took a swig of their sodas.

“Wooohaaaa!” Nick stood up and yelled.

“Yeah!” Alex joined in, even though he knew they’d both be fined for the noise violation. The moment called for it.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It wasn’t until morning that Alex remembered the notification he’d received. He rubbed his eyes and mentally commanded his 3C to show the letter to him. The words floated in the air, the background becoming slightly foggy, allowing the words to stand out.

ATTN: Team Eclipse

FROM: Eastern Pro Gaming – Eastern Holo Division

RE: Championship and Goodwill Ambassador

Firstly, we would like to congratulate you on winning the championship for the Eastern Holo Division of the EPG. Your hard work and perseverance will be an inspiration to all for years to come.

Secondly, we have been contacted by the United Scientific Coalition with a request for Team Eclipse to become goodwill ambassadors. We think this would be an excellent opportunity to showcase the talents of the EPG’s champions, as well as solidify esports as a vital part of our cohesive lifestyle.

Alex snorted at the last part. What a bunch of inane garbage. Cohesive lifestyle indeed. He rubbed his eyes, then focused back on the letter.

The meeting will take place tomorrow at the Sulfer-Cox-Lee Research Center at 13:00.

Thank you for your time,

Grant Nader

CEO of EPG

Knight Official

Well... That left no wiggle room. It was a thinly veiled order for the team to meet the United Scientific Coalition. If a Knight wanted them to go to see the USC, then they would go see them. Angering a head official of the government was the last thing anyone ever did. Even the bodies of the offenders were never found after.

Alex rubbed at his messy black hair, making it worse. It looked like he’d have to gather the team and go see what the scientists really wanted. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be anything too weird, like making them lab rats. He shivered. He really didn’t want his people to end up that way...

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Can we not?” Whined Trinity, her heart-shaped face looked up at Alex, her already puffy lips were pushed out in a pout.

They were standing outside the research center a little after noon. None of them had been happy to hear they’d been summoned to the science center. It made them nervous, and their 3C’s were working overtime to combat the added cortisol in everyone’s bloodstreams.

Urie pulled Trin into a back hug, watching his captain over the woman’s shoulder.

“Knight’s order. You know what that means,” Alex said quietly, his voice grim. Before anyone else could say anything, he tilted his head towards the entrance of the building. “Let’s go.”

Bree moved to Alex’s side as he started moving up the overly grandiose stone and brass steps toward the front doors. Nick filed in behind them. Trinity and Urie took up the rear, unconsciously falling into an X formation. If this were the game and they were walking, it would have been a diamond formation. Urie in front, as the tank. Bree and Nick in the center, since they were squishy cloth types, and Alex at the back since he was a long-range user. Trin would be hidden nearby, doing her best to stay out of sight.

But it wasn’t the game. They were in the real, and everyone was feeling protective of Nick. His wife was pregnant, and they were a throwback couple, not in a pod. Going into the unknown was the last thing they wanted for their friend and teammate. If anything happened to him, his wife would be in dire straights. It was one of the other reasons why people formed pods now.

The double doors dissolved as they approached them, allowing them to keep their formation as they entered the building. The soft sound of deep meditation bells was piped into the entrance hall by speakers throughout the area. The walls were covered in slowly morphing wallpaper that mimicked a zen garden. Leaves swayed, and water trickled in the holographic scene.

“Alex Zine 17132, Bree Anna 32143, Nick Sai 17421, Trinity Heart 32853, and Urie Odin 17111 please refrain from moving. Transporting to meeting location in three, two, one...” The disembodied voice made the five team members freeze. It called out their first and middle names and the “call numbers” the central government gave them instead of last names, which shocked them all.

The room’s walls converged to encapsulate them, and as the voice reached the number one, they felt the area they were standing on move downwards at a frightening speed. It looked like the “meeting” wasn’t going to be held in a place that would be easy to leave.