THE ALL-PRO (33 page)

0-2 Vik Vanguard

QUENTIN WOKE UP
when his body slid forward.

His hands shot out automatically, bracing against soft leather. The disorientation only lasted a few seconds; he was in the back of a limo, alone. Had he fallen asleep?

He looked out the window at Hotel Gibberdon. The place looked classy. The hotel’s name was spelled out in carved stone instead of garish, glowing holo. Stone, burnished metal, wood; everything about the place screamed
expensive, privileged
. That’s where you stayed when you were a rock star.

Outside the limo, things looked a little ... foggy?

The limo door opened. Quentin stepped out. Yes, it was fog.

Quentin gestured to the mist, turned to the Quyth Worker driver. “What’s this all about? Ionath City is under a dome. How can we have fog?”

“Some kind of a breakdown on the atmosphere processors or something, Mister Barnes. Happens from time to time.”

“Huh. Can it rain?”

The driver shook his head. “No, no rain, but watch your step. Things can be a little slippery until they fix it.”

Quyth Workers wearing neat, red uniforms rushed out from the hotel, pranced near Quentin in case he needed any little thing. Camera spotlights hit him, blinding at this late hour. Hotel security appeared from the shadows, Quyth Warriors that pushed the photographers out of the way, blocking their shots.

The hotel’s front door opened. The spotlights flared anew, making Somalia Midori practically glow. She strode out, wearing a breathtaking dress that was more see-through than anything else. So much
skin
. Quentin felt himself blush a little. She had done her hair differently this time. It hung down the left side of her head, long and flowing like that of some movie star. The right side, of course, was still a clean-shaven blue.

She walked up to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips. It surprised him at first, but then the warmth of her mouth sank in. He closed his eyes and put his hands gently on her hips.

Most of his thoughts were lost in the kiss, but he was still cognizant enough to know that all the spotlights were on them, along with a rapid flashing of still cameras. It was like they were on display.

He pulled back. “Uh, ready to go?”

Her smile seemed brighter than all the lights combined. “Yes and I’m
star
ving.”

He moved to hold the door for her before he realized the limo driver was already doing that. Quentin stood aside and let Somalia enter, then followed her inside. The door shut, leaving them alone. Quentin waited until the limo pulled away before talking.

“How do those photographers know where you are?”

She shrugged. “It’s never a secret where I’m staying when I’m on tour.”

“And do you get that kind of attention every time you leave a hotel?”

“Not as much,” she said. “But when I leave with a star quarterback? Yeah, they come out of the shadows for that.”

So beautiful. So sexy. Quentin still had a hard time believing this was actually happening to him. “How long are you here for?”

“Four nights. Tonight is my only night off, then three shows in a row.”

“So, you’re leaving Sunday? I play that day, home game against Coranadillana.”

She laughed and slid her right arm through Quentin’s left, pulling him closer. “Yeah, Sugar, I know you have a big game. But I have to fly out that morning for Whitok. Believe me, the paparazzi would go crazy if they saw me kissing you in your armor after you’re all beat-up from a game.”

“Why would you want to kiss me then? I’d be all smelly and dirty and bloody.”

Her lips twisted into her sneer-smile, the one that made his face feel all hot. “Yeah. Why would I want you then?”

The limo eased to a stop. Quentin looked outside, saw the restaurant through the fog. “We’re here. This is the place you wanted to eat, right?”

She leaned across him to look out the window, her perfumed hair close to his face.

“Torba the Hungry’s,” she said. “So nice of you to get us a table. I hear only the upper crust eats here, Quentin.”

He shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I asked Messal to get us a table.”

The limo door opened. Quentin got out first, then reached a hand back to help Somalia. Yitzhak had told him that was the polite thing to do for a woman. Somalia slid out of the limo with a sexy athleticism. Quentin wondered if she’d ever played sports. Basketball, maybe. She stood and immediately slid her arm through Quentin’s, just before the camera-flash assault fired up again. The press had been waiting for them. How did they know he and Somalia would be there? Through the annoying lights, Quentin recognized the faces of a few of Gredok’s goons. Messal had also apparently taken care of security.

Cameras blazing, Quentin and his date walked into Torba the Hungry’s.

• • •

“QUENTIN?”

He heard his name, called by some faraway voice. A pretty voice, but distant.

Something touched his hand and his eyes snapped open. That brief disorientation again, but it evaporated immediately. He looked around, saw the opulent interior of Torba the Hungry’s — then his eyes settled on the quizzical smile of Somalia Midori.

“Am I boring you, Sugar?”

Realization hit home. “Oh, High One ... did I fall asleep?”

She nodded.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! No, you’re not boring, it’s just that I’m so exhausted from practice, the trip back from Yall and studying for the Cloud Killers game. And the media hounds me everywhere I go.”

She stroked his hand. “It’s okay, I know all about exhaustion. Try four shows in two days on for size and you’ll understand I know where you’re coming from.”

Her smile wasn’t condescending. She
did
know where he was coming from. She got him in so many ways. She pulled his hand closer, held it with both of hers. Her blue skin felt so warm. “You don’t do stims, do you? To fight off the tired?”

He shook his head. “I never take drugs. You?”

She shrugged. “There’s a lot of drugs in my business. Pyuli, mesh, heroin, that kind of thing. Wipes people out. Turns them into shells.”

“Do
you
do any drugs?”

“Hell no,” she said. “I’ve got a career, I’ve got goals. I want to get into holos.”

“You? A movie star? Aren’t you a little ... I don’t know ...
rough
for that?”

She rolled her eyes. “Quentin, join the modern galaxy, will ya? A sentient’s image can be changed at will. We’re a hot band now, but that won’t last forever. I have to think about the next step, about what I’ll do when people stop playing our songs.”

Quentin let out a huff. As if anyone could
ever
stop listening to Trench Warfare songs.

She stroked his hand slowly. He felt hot in his face, his chest.

“Listen, Quentin, how about when you take me back to the hotel, you come on up to my room.”

Not a question. More like a statement. Possibly even a command. Her lip curled into that mesmerizing sneer again — not one of arrogance, but one of mischief, of fun.

One of sex.

“Oh,” Quentin said. “Ummm ... oh.”

“I like you,” she said. “I know you’re tired, but I’m pretty sure I can keep you awake. Unless you already have company planned for tonight?”

“
No
. Uh, no, no company. But, that’s not ... I mean, we’re not married.”

Her eyebrows shot up. She laughed. “No, Sugar-Sugar, we’re not
married
, but we don’t have to be.”

Quentin gently pulled his hand back. “I do.”

Somalia leaned forward, her eyes alive, hungry. “Quentin Barnes, are you a virgin?”

He felt his face get hot again, but not from excitement. Why was he embarrassed by this?

Somalia looked around the room as if they were sharing some dirty secret, then she leaned in even closer. “Wow. I just never thought that.”

“Well, I am.”

“But why?”

Hadn’t he just told her? “What do you mean,
why
?”

“
Look
at you,” she said. “You’re young, gorgeous, strong, kind — every girl’s dream. Didn’t women throw themselves at you back home?”

He shrugged. “That’s not really what girls do back on Micovi. But sometimes, yeah, women made their intentions known.”

Somalia laughed. “Sorry, I’m not making fun of you, it’s just so ... quaint.
Made their intentions known
. I didn’t think people talked like that anymore.”

“Well, I do.”

“But you do this for your religion? I didn’t think you followed Purism anymore.”

“I don’t,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean there aren’t good messages wrapped up in all the lies and corruption.”

“And saving yourself for marriage is
good
?”

“Maybe,” he said. “How about you tell me why it’s bad?”

She stared at him. Her smile faded a little. “I’m not saying it’s
bad
, Quentin. It’s just ... well, trust me on this, not many guys in your position, in
any
position, would have those kind of morals.”

So having morals, beliefs, that made him unusual? “Does that mean I’m some kind of ... what ... a freak? If you don’t want to see me anymore, fine.”

She leaned back. “Now you’re just being a baby. Of course I want to see you. It’s just a shock, that’s all. And a little hard to swallow.”

Maybe it was, but that didn’t make it any less true. “Do you believe me?”

She paused, then nodded. “Yes. As improbable as it is that a specimen like you isn’t getting a planet’s worth of tail, I believe you.”

For some reason, that made him feel infinitely better. The stress drained out of him. He yawned.

She shook her head. “People are usually more excited to be with a rock star.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I—”

“Will you stop apologizing? I think we should get you back. You’re about to fall asleep on me again.”

He didn’t want the night to end, but he
was
tired. “When can I see you again?”

“I already checked the schedule. I have time off when you’re in Wabash. How about I come watch your game against the Wolfpack?”

“That’s Week Nine,” he said. “I won’t see you for six weeks?”

“That’s our lives, Quentin. We’re both in demand, you might say.”

“You don’t mind waiting six weeks to see me again?”

She laughed, put her napkin on her plate. “Well, at least I won’t be worried that you’re fooling around with some other woman. Now, are you going to pull my chair out for me or what?”

Quentin stood up so fast he almost tripped. He pulled out Somalia’s chair, then walked with her arm in arm out of Torba the Hungry’s.

Transcript from the “Galaxy’s Greatest Sports Show with Dan, Akbar, and Tarat the Smasher”

DAN:
And we’re back from the break. Tarat, Akbar, time to talk GFL standings. Can you guys believe the Orbiting Death is in first place?

AKBAR:
It’s early in the season. Just an anomaly.

TARAT:
It is no anomaly, Akbar. There has never been a newly promoted team that has won its first two games.

DAN:
Yeah, lil’ buddy, it’s a big deal.

AKBAR:
Again with that stupid nickname?

DAN:
Don’t you worry about it, lil’ buddy. And the Orbiting Death’s amazing start
almost
overshadows the start of another team, the drama-filled Ionath Krakens.

TARAT:
Dan, I will tell you that it is difficult to deal with the kind of distractions facing the Krakens. The stories about Quentin Barnes and Ju Tweedy would be enough to hinder any team, yet the Krakens are tied for first with two wins. With all the Krakens have dealt with, they still beat the Criminals. I think the Krakens might be for real.

AKBAR:
They only won because Rick Renaud got hurt. The Krakens secondary is not good — any solid quarterback will tear them up.

TARAT:
Renaud was knocked out of the game by Mum-O-Killowe. The Krakens took Renaud out and that is why Ionath won the game. They found a way.

DAN:
Well, let’s not go crowning the Krakens and the Orbiting Death as Planet Division champs just yet. We’re only two games into the season and we also have the Pirates and defending champion Wolfpack undefeated with two wins.

AKBAR:
My point exactly. The Krakens won’t beat either team unless they trade for some defensive backs.

DAN:
That’s a good point, lil’ buddy — the trade deadline is closing in. Come kickoff of Week Five, if the Krakens haven’t made a move, they are stuck with what they got unless they can find free agents.

TARAT:
Any free agents left at this point are probably not worth having.

AKBAR:
So who do the Krakens trade?

DAN:
Don Pine, of course. That team belongs to Quentin Barnes.

AKBAR:
Trade
Don Pine? What if Barnes gets hurt?

TARAT:
I think the Krakens have to gamble, Akbar. Their next three games are against teams that are already having bad seasons — Coranadillana, Hittoni and Alimum. All three are winless so far. If the Krakens make a move and strengthen their backfield, they have a real chance to go five-and-oh. After that the competition gets much tougher. They have to be victorious in these winnable games if they want to make the playoffs.

AKBAR:
Yeah, sure, but do that by trading a top QB like Don Pine? Don’t they want to have a backup that’s almost as good as their starter?