Star Wars Limited Run OPEN Elite League Limmie 309: Dark Lady

Lena Cundertol
Cabrria
After the 309 season

Their entrees arrived, pausing the conversation. When the server asked if they’d like another drink, Lena realized she’d gone through her first and accepted the offer of a second.

“The Rangers looked like they were out for blood in that one,” Lena’s guest commented before spearing one of the Felucian shrimp.

“Literally,” Lena agreed. “A third of the team was in bacta baths after that.”

From Lena’s vantage during the game, the Rangers had been enraged. The Miners’ strategy of taking the physical game to the opposition had been met by the full force of Wookiee strength for the game on Kashyyyk. The old “ripping arms out of sockets” myth about Wookiees being sore losers seemed to have some basis in fact. The Miners had been tackled, shouldered, slammed, stiff-armed, flattened, and every other painful verb Lena could come up with.

“You’ll have to forgive me, but I can’t help but ask what was going through your mind.”

“When?”

“Then.” They slid a datapad with a still image of Lena pinching the bridge of her nose as she looked down during the Rangers game. The broadcast stamp with the score of 1-17 was helpful in establishing when it had happened in the game.

“It was something in the neighborhood of ‘I hate this team,’” Lena replied. She decided not to share that her thoughts had been colorful than that. And might have included her desire to rip their arms out of their sockets for a change.

“Was that when you began composing your protest to the League?”

Though such things rarely got any action from the ELL, the day after the game the Miners had submitted a complaint to the League over the Rangers’ play. Phrases like “disgraceful,” “unsportsmanlike play,” “intent to injure,” “conduct unbecoming,” and “shameful” were used. And the letter had gone out with Lena’s signature on it.

“I wrote it on the shuttle back,” Lena said.

“Some called it shots fired.”

“The first shots were fired by the Rangers,” Lena returned. “They got embarrassed in our first game, so they decided to play dirty. Their behavior needed to be called out even if Lokensgaard wasn’t going to do anything about it.”

“Or was this more about giving the players something to rally around after a tough game?”

“Why not both?” Lena shrugged after a mouthful of whitefish.

“You know, if the League hadn’t gone to conference play, that would have been the end of the regular season.”

“And we would have been playing an elimination game with the Silver Streaks for the last playoff spot,” Lena continued. “Given that we were dead last in defense, our point differential was in the fresher, and we’d lost all our momentum with that loss, I wouldn’t have liked our chances in that game.”

“Not even with the vaunted Cardan adjustment?”

Lena could tell she was being nettled here and decided not to take the bait. “No one wants to go into the playoffs on a bad loss. It makes things needlessly more difficult.”

“Instead you had your last conference game, on the road, against a team that was riding their first win of the season, a team you’d only beaten by a point at home.”

“It was…” Lena sighed. “…less than ideal.”

TAG: @Lady_Belligerent @noiamyourFADAH

 

Ayjae "Jay" Chu-ni
Centran

Another close loss, a single point separating the two teams. This new team the Royals took a win a win away from the Pirates just when they needed to get momentum back on their side. The win was so close all Jay needed to do was score a bar point, not even score a goal, just put it over the bar and they tie the game and get another chance to win. It was frustrating to be so close and to just not make it. She was upset by this but Logan, the player not the coach, was furious. She could feel the anger rolling off him in waves, his eyes were locked ahead, his hands clenched into fists over his legs.

He was silent on the shuttle ride home, given that Jay and Logan were on the same line they were often put together on the transport. The whole ride home she felt her stomach tie itself up in knots. She was worried she'd seen this before in him, he'd always been so intense. In the past she'd been able to just let it slide but, now after having been around him made it worse, she couldn't ignore it anymore. Once they landed Jay kept close to him, not holding his hand or anything. Though she did need to stop herself from reaching out. She wasn't sure he was ready to be an 'item' as her father would say. However she didn't want to leave him alone…she had a plan. Her and Logan went through security though it was quick given that they were known on Carratos. But Logan didn't look up, saying only a few words to the security workers. They moved past crowds most didn't notice them, but some did looking at them with mouths agape and quickly pulling out their holocams and snapping pictures.

As they were leaving the space port, and were far enough away from the rest of the team and the fans, she lightly gripped his wrist. He looked with a little scowl.

"Please…come with me?"

"I'm tired I just want to go home."

"You can sleep at my place…"

"You sure?"

"Yes." With that they made their way to her place, they were used to spending time together at her place. Logan was still angry still giving off frustration.

"Hey," she takes his hands and looks up into his eyes, he kept his head down. "Hey look at me," He did look up finally. "It's ok, there will be other games."

"But we were so close, if I could have just found the gap."

"And that's ok."

"But, if we keep losing we'll slide out of the playoffs and then our first year under this new system will be a loss and I've worked so hard to get the team here but, it's just not enough. It's never enough. We've been so close twice now and have lost. If I could just have gotten open one more time…Ahh." he turned away throwing down his hands. "All I've ever wanted was to win the Cup."

"That's every player's dream, and we have time. We're not even in our prime yet."

"But that window is closing."

"In a few years, we have plenty of time."

"But each year we miss, and then where will I be huh…"

She could see him spiraling. Looking away from her, rambling about how it was all his fault, that he'd go down as a terrible player and that his years of playing this game would be for nothing.

"It's ok," she grabbed his hands, he was still rambling. "It's not over yet." He still wasn't listening. Out of desperation she grabbed the sides of his head and pulled his face close to hers, pressing her lips against his. His words stopped and his eyes went wide, he pulled away just a little but Jay held fast. A breath later his arms wrapped around her pulling her close.

They held each other Jay still holding his head close to hers. Time slipped away and they didn't know how long it was until they broke away to take a full breath.

"Do I have your attention?"

"Uh…ummm…"

"I'll take that as a yes. We'll be ok. We're still top of our conference and we're still in the playoff chase." She met his eyes, "We've got this, we need to only focus on the game ahead of us. Its the All-Stars we need to give them our all, we can't just keep looking behind us when we need our attention ahead of us."

She leaned in and gave him another kiss.

"We've got this."

His arms wrapped around her again and pulled her close, she didn't mind.

Lucicar

It was game day the last leg of the Pirates road series. It was against a team that had given trouble in the past, had stolen a Galactic Cup from their grasp. Now they faced off again, Jay could feel that the team wanted to win, wanted to put the losses behind them. Logan was focused again eyes locked ahead. Slyly Jay slid her hand over his squeezing gently. He turned his head slightly to her and she nodded her head.

"We've got this."

He set his jaw turning his hand over and interlacing his fingers with hers. Jay's heart started to flutter a little. His hand was warm in her hand his fingers squeezing hers strongly, but not painfully. Turning away she never let go of his hand until they started making their way down the tunnel onto the field. Following behind Logan they lined up shoulder to shoulder as the Anthems began. Jay had to fight against taking Logan's hand again. They have yet to talk about what they were. Jay could feel the want of something more but she didn't know where Logan was, or what he wanted. She looked to him as the Anthems finished. He looked back to her nodding his head and mouthing

'We've got this.' She couldn't help but smile.

They had this.

TAG: @Vehn @Taylor Neir

 

GM post

Bonus potential for Bakura, Carratos, and Nubia.

Week 8
Ord Mantell Scrappers at Centran Royals (27-24)
Bakura Miners at Bamayar IX Buffaloes (39-5)
Nubia Silver Streaks at Kashyyyk Rangers (26-1)
Carratos Pirates at Lucicar Neir All Stars (25-7)

HSN headlines

• HSN projects several ELL playoff fates.
• Carratos Pirates and Lucicar Neir All Stars have made Skywalker Conference championship game.
• Bamayar IX Buffaloes and Ord Mantell Scrappers eliminated from playoff contention based on overall record.
• Centran Royals eliminated from playoff contention based on conference record.
• Bakura Miners, Kashyyyk Rangers, and Nubia Silver Streaks all have playoff hopes remaining.
  • Nubia Silver Streaks can only make playoffs with the aid of at least one loss by either Bakura or Kashyyyk.
  • Bakura Miners and Kashyyyk Rangers can secure playoff spots by winning out.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent @noiamyourFADAH @Taylor Neir @Vehn

 

Lena Cundertol
Cabrria
After the 309 season

“And yet the team overcame it to play their best game of the season.”

“It was all Roy. The message all week was that we had all the pieces, that Bamayar had shown us their best in the first game,” Lena said. “He made them believe everything had been about getting to this point, to a pivotal game for our season, and that all they needed to do was to play their hearts out.”

“They certainly did. Goals up and down the lineup.” Several players had put up season-high numbers against the Buffaloes and the defense had been stellar. It had been like watching an old-time power offense Miners team play with defensive discipline.

“It was good to see players like McLita get back in the swing of things. I think it was indicative of being fully comfortable in Cardan’s system at that point,” Lena commented.

Her second drink arrived, which gave her guest an opening to slide in with, “Not to mention Kass’s performance. She looked back at the top of her game. Seems clear you’d been bottling her up all season long.”

“I disagree,” Lena stated. “Kass had been caught between two impulses for most of the season. She’d been an offensive-minded midfielder her entire career with the Miners, but Cardan’s system called for more commitment to defense. It wasn’t a big adjustment, but it was an adjustment. Given that she’d played defense for most of her career at UBCS, up to that point in the season she leaned back on defense when she had to make a judgment call. And it had mostly worked. She’d been a large part of cutting off the attack at midfield throughout the season. Her contributions might not have been on the scoresheet, but they were there.” Before the other being could interject, Lena pressed on. “Kass needed more defense in her game. I think if she’d had that the last two years, the Miners might have been back in the Final. Kass is good, has been good since getting to the ELL, but I saw there was more possible in her game. She could be a two-way midfielder, one who disrupted plays and pivoted to offense. But she had to learn how to play a defense that turned into offense. That’s what Cardan’s work with her all season long was on. And that’s how she played on Bamayar.”

The other being didn’t say anything for a moment. “All right. True. She was a complete player in that game. But every player has an identity they play best in.”

“I’m less concerned with a player’s identity than what they bring to the team as a whole, and what that identity is. Obviously, don’t make someone a spanner if they’re a shovel, but someone like Kass can do many things. This season was important for her to realize the possibilities open to her and how they could be part of this team, a team she’s committed to for the long-term. She’s a more valuable player as a result.”

“And if there’s ever a time for players to show their value, it’s against the Pirates.”

“Right. Because exactly what this team needed was for the playoffs to start two weeks early.”

With consecutive games against the Pirates and Neir All Stars, the two Skywalker Conference playoff teams, the Miners regular season was effectively over after week 8. It was going to be all uphill from here.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @noiamyourFADAH @Taylor Neir

 

Ayjae "Jay" Chu-ni
Carratos

"We did it, we did it, we did it," Jay couldn't contain her happiness as her and Logan made it back to her apartment. They had defeated the All-Stars, and decisively this time. It really felt like the team had everything figured out now. The offense is firing on all cylinders, and the defense was coming along. They felt like they were on top of the world. Jay wrapped her arms around Logan hold him in a tight hug she didn't feel comfortable giving him in front of their team. They just weren't ready to be public yet. It did make it difficult for her some days, she just wanted to be herself and hug him at every moment but she had to contain herself. At least when she and Logan were out in public.

She could understand it, Logan didn't want a media circus around them, they saw what happened with Tynos, and Hypertravels. She didn't even want cameras all around her asking her what it was like to date a teammate, could they keep they objectivity, and focused on the game when they were dating. Jay was sure that she could but she didn't want her ability to play to be questioned. It was hard enough to make her way when she was from the middle of nowhere and form a working class family. The last thing she needed was some reporter questioning her ability to keep to a strategy when her boyfriend was getting knocked around.

At least here they could be what they wanted to be, together. He wrapped her in his arms, his hands rubbing up and down her back. She felt the warmth of his touch through her thin shirt. She couldn't help the content sigh that left her. Despite Logan's stern demeanor on the field and in the locker room, he could be kind away from it. You know once you get past his own insecurities. They held each other for a long moment the world falling away until it was just them, two people in love.

Her hands wandered up and down his back feeling all his little twitches and movements. It was fun, like exploring a landscape blindfolded. Something about it always excited her, focusing solely on what her fingers were feeling, blocking out all other senses. He pressed his lips against her forehead. She hummed, her whole body shivered and her arms tensed around him.

"Hey, what to go to bed?" Logan asked rasing his eyebrows.

"Oh, Mr. Zar, are you propositioning me?" Jay replied a cheeky smile on her face.

"It's what you want it to be, I just think it might be nice to laydown and cuddle."

"What are you not liking this new vertical cuddle?"

"Well, it's called a hug, and well, my feet are starting to hurt a little."

"Ok." They made their way back to her bedroom, awkwardly and step by step, because neither one wanted to let go of the other. As they tumbled into bed, Jay couldn't help but giggle it was fun, this was all so fun. As they snuggled in together and, his arms wrapped around her from behind, she wiggled a little, getting comfortable. His arms wrapped around her his hands spreading warmth through her whole body. Another hum left her and another shiver. She couldn't help her wiggling and the smile on her face. Slowly almost imperceptibly her breathing began to change, it got deeper but also shorter. A subtle shaking took over her body. His hands slid down her belly and settled on her hip. Her hands found his and squeezed them reshling in the feeling of his touch.

Another sigh and her muscles tightened, her legs wiggling, sliding against each other.

"Hey," Logan started getting Jay's attention. "You ready to talk to your brother?"

All at once her movement stopped and she began to curl up tighter, pulling a little away from him.

"You ok?" his hand rubbed her shoulder.

"Yeah, no…I mean yeah, I'm…ok."

"You sure about that?"

"Um Hum,"

"So how are you going to talk to him?"

"Well, he said he was coming home, that we would talk then."

"Do you know what you want to say?"

"Not really," She shifted around to look him in the face though she only did that for a moment before looking back down. "It's been a while and I'm not sure what to say, what if he still hates me, or never wants to talk to me again. What if I say something that sets him off."

"He was the one that wanted to talk to you right?"

"Yeah,"

"Then it's clear he wants to have a chat with you, he's not ready to cut you off yet."

"But what if he thinks I'm not worth seeing, or if I say something that sends him spiraling again and he never wants to talk to me again."

"But, you don't know that will happen. You told me to focus on the future, and now I'm telling you to just take it as it comes, don't worry about what could happen. Just relax and talk without worrying about how he will react. He's your brother and you still care about him. You won't intentionally hurt him right?"

"I mean no, but I don't know with him, I could say the most innocuous things and he goes off."

"Well you can't control his reactions and that is on him not you. You have tried everything in your power to patch things up and if he doesn't want it then there was nothing you could do to patch things up with him."

"But I don't want to lose him."

"I know and you will do everything you can to keep him in your life but in the end it is his choice, and his decisions that will decide that. But, I believe he'd be a fool to lose someone like you. You are the best friend anyone could ask for, knowing that you have to be the best sister in the galaxy."

She gave a weak smile.

"You're just saying that because I give you cuddles."

"They are great cuddles…"

TAG: None

 

GM post

Thanks all for the week off! I know I had no hope of writing a post last week. Bonus potential goes to Bakura and Carratos this week. Appropriate, seeing as they're playing each other.

Week 9
Bakura Miners at Carratos Pirates (17-36)
Nubia Silver Streaks at Lucicar Neir All Stars (3-14)
Bamayar IX Buffaloes at Ord Mantell Scrappers (24-7)
Centran Royals at Kashyyyk Rangers (24-9)

HSN headlines

• Carratos Pirates win Commissioner's Trophy for best regular season record
• Solo Conference playoff bracket undecided with one week to go
  • Bakura Miners and Kashyyyk Rangers can secure a playoff spot with a win or a Nubia loss
  • Nubia Silver Streaks can secure a playoff spot with win and a loss by either Bakura or Kashyyyk

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent @noiamyourFADAH @Taylor Neir @Vehn

 

Lena Cundertol
Cabrria
After the 309 season

“It didn’t help that Leigh knew the team inside and out.”

“I think that got overblown in the media.” Lena disagreed with the narrative that had come out of that game. The Miners’ former head coach was part of the Pirates organization now. The Miners had done the same when Leigh had joined them after playing for the Pirates. “Yes, she knew our roster well, so she knew what our players could do, but Roy was using a lot of them in new ways. I don’t think that they got anything extra from Leigh being there.” She signaled the server that she was done with her plate having picked off everything but the whitefish bones. “The Pirates already have so much familiarity with us from all these years of playing each other. Same goes for us knowing them.”

“So then why’d you lose?”

“Logan outcoached us. Roy’s system, as well as it could work, wasn’t perfect. Logan found the seams and hit them hard,” Lena admitted.

“Hitting hard is the Pirates’ game.”

“It was why Shay hired Leigh.” Lena still wished she could have gotten Cavanaugh to stay for another season to ease the transition, but her heart was with the Pirates.

“You got lucky that Nubia and Kashyyyk also took a hit that week. It would have made the path to the playoffs hard if you were behind one or both of them.”

“The Solo Conference race was so close. Probably one of the best the ELL has seen in years. Had the League not instituted conferences this season, we would have been staring down extra games for sure. In fact, we could have seen a four-way tie for the last two playoff spots.”

Remembrance flooded Lena’s guest. “Right! The Royals would have had a shot on overall record.”

Given how poorly the Miners had played against the Royals, the last thing Lena would have wanted was drawing them for a playoff qualifying game. She wasn’t sure if even the Cardan adjustment would have been enough to pull out a win then.

“At least we controlled our own destiny,” Lena said.

“Against Lucicar, a team that looked vastly better under the new, ELL-mandated ownership and coaching staff.”

“Yes.”

“On Truce Day.”

Of course. It was always going to come down to Truce Day.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Taylor Neir @Vehn

 

Ayjae "Jay" Chu-ni
Carratos

Jay was pacing walking from the short hallway that led to the bedroom and the fresher, across the living room and then into the kitchen, and back. Her eyes found the chrono in the living room then moving on to the hallway. A few more laps and her com buzzed. She rushed to it as it rested on the caf table. She scooped it up and it slipped from her hand. It bobbled from hand to hand before she finally got a hold of it. It was just a message from Logan. She opened the message and smiled.

'You've got this'

She held the com to her chest taking a breath. She had this.

Taking a seat on the couch she turned on the projector, finding something to watch. The light from the screen danced around her and her eyes remained glued on the light. She smiled again taking another breath.

A knock resounded in the space cutting through the sound coming from the projector. Jay lept up turning off the device and rushed to the door, checking the sensor she saw who it was, and with a final breath she opened the door.

Her shoulders twitched and her hands left her sides but she pulled back.

"Hey Mech." She started, "Come in," Stepping to the side her brother walked past her. "You want something to drink?"

"I'm good." He moved to the couch before stopping short and looking back to Jay. "Alright if I sit?"

"Yeah, yeah, go ahead." Jay got a cup for herself and sat next to him. There was silence between them. And it continued for a while. Until Jay took a breath and smiled. "You did really good this season."

"Yeah but, we didn't win the series."

"I know that feeling."

"I was so close, the pennant was in my grasp. If I could have just gotten an out."

"It's ok," Jay put her hand on his shoulder. "It's a team game."

"I know that." There was a sneer.

"I'm sorry, I know you know that…we have been playing sports since we were kids."

"Easy to forget I've played just as much as you…when you're always first."

"I didn't forget it. I'm just making a statement. Ok what is your problem with me? What did I do to make you hate me?"

"You don't know? Can you not see down from your pedestal, or past your blinding light to see me in your shadow?"

"My shadow? Pedestal? Do you think I look down on you? Do you think I'm so perfect?"

"You're not perfect but, you don't see me, no one sees me behind your glory." He got up turning away from his sister.

"What do you mean?" She got up to follow him.

"What I mean is that everyone always loved you, and no one ever noticed me. You never saw me, and at home everything was always about you, mom and dad always fawned over you, even when I achieved anything they never said anything because it was all about you and your achievements. But, once you left I thought I could finally be seen but then your first remittances came in and then suddenly it was about you again. Finally I get to be free of you yet you keep trying to talk to me, try to be in my life trying to make it all about you."

"I wasn't trying to make it about me. I was just trying to be your sister. And I didn't want all the attention I just wanted to help out mom and dad, make things better for them and for you. I'm sorry that you felt left out, I'm sorry that you felt that you were stuck in my shadow. But, look you're an amazing player, you made it to the Galactic Series that's an achievement. I just want a brother, not a rival."

"That doesn't fix the years of being trapped behind you and the fact that mom and dad loved you more."

"That's not true, they loved you too, they showed up to your games, they were at the Galactic Series game. They love you."

"Yet all I ever heard at home was all about you and how you were doing."

"But, I ever intended to make you feel unloved. And I was just trying to help out our family, to help out you. I'm sorry that all this has happened but, I never intended it to happen, nor did I purposefully intend to hurt you. I love you and I always have."

"I just wanted someone to see me, to recognize what I've been doing how hard I've been working…I just needed someone to recognize that. I've given up so much and put so much of myself into this that…that…"

"Hey…" She put her hand on his shoulder. "I see you…I see you." A tear fell down her cheek.

A sob left him and he put his arms around her.

"I see you." They held each other tears falling down their cheeks. Time no longer mattered, they had all the time in the world.

TAG: None

 

GM post

It's time to get that playoff bracket set! Bonus potential for Bakura, Carratos, and Nubia.

Week 10
Carratos Pirates at Bamayar IX Buffaloes (14-3)
Lucicar Neir All Stars at Bakura Miners (17-4)
Ord Mantell Scrappers at Kashyyyk Rangers (0-25)
Centran Royals at Nubia Silver Streaks (28-6)
Final standings
Skywalker Conference

1. Carratos Pirates (8-2, conf. 5-1)
2. Lucicar Neir All Stars (7-3, conf. 4-2)
3. Centran Royals (5-5, conf. 1-5)
4. Ord Mantell Scrappers (2-8, conf. 2-4)

Solo Conference

1. Kashyyyk Rangers (6-4, conf. 4-2)
2. Bakura Miners (5-5, conf. 4-2)
3. Nubia Silver Streaks (5-5, conf. 3-3)
4. Bamayar IX Buffaloes (2-8, conf. 1-5)

The Bakura Miners secure the last Galactic Cup Playoff spot on the basis of conference record.

Galactic Cup Playoffs
Conference Championships
(2) Lucicar Neir All Stars at (1) Carratos Pirates
(2) Bakura Miners at (1) Kashyyyk Rangers

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent @noiamyourFADAH @Taylor Neir @Vehn

 

Lena Cundertol
Cabrria
After the 309 season

“I just have one question.”

Only one? So much had happened that day. Thinking back on it all, Lena’s mind flooded with a montage of memories.

The tension mingled with excitement, playoff hopes on the line combined with patriotism. Lena could feel it even when she arrived before the fans.

The knowledge that more Triestes than usual would be at the game, including the former Supreme Chancellor, freed from her Bak10 duties, all of them watching the Miners’ performance, evaluating her work through the on-field performance. The security implications of such a gathering. And that was without accounting for the dozens of senators and the prime minister attending to be seen at the first Truce Day game in three years. And all of them wanted to bask in the glow of a Miners victory.

The frisson that passed through Lena, an off-worlder with little connection to Bakuran history, during the pregame ceremonies. That famous speech of Gaeriel Captison’s from after the defeat of the Ssi-Ruuk echoing through the stadium as the sun set.

The team taking the field, Jimsey Vigo leading them out, carrying the Bakuran flag with its circle of 32 golden stars on a dark blue field. The raised fists of every member of the team during the national anthem, the legacy of Harle Quinn’s stand for species equality lingering on the field as she watched from the stands as a senator.

And then the agony. The Miners digging in, pounding away at the All-Stars, but failing to find purchase. The steady, periodic march of Lucicar up the field, picking their moments, finding points. A drip, drip, drip of water torture as the clock ticked down.

The rally after the half, but nothing to show for it. The restlessness rolling up the stands that Lena could feel in the GM’s box.

Then the sound of a hundred thousand datapads buzzing and chiming. Lena knew instinctually what they all said. She didn’t look. She didn’t have to. She heard anyways. Kashyyyk had routed Ord Mantell. The playoff path became even narrower.

The valiant last gasps as the team tried everything they had and failed. The sinking feeling when the game expired that they would likely miss the playoffs again. The slim hope that Nubia, the defending champions, would lose the only lifeline they had left. The long walk through the corridors of the Gardens as this reality set in.

That they only had one question told Lena it had to be a good one. The question.

“And?” Lena prompted.

“Did you enjoy the fireworks?”

The field had been Lena’s destination as she headed through the bowels of the stadium. It was tradition for the team and staff to watch the postgame fireworks from there, no matter how the season had turned out. It could be a moment of celebration, commiseration, or looking forward. As much as Lena hadn’t felt like going, she knew better than to skip it.

As the bursts of color boomed above them, Lena had found some measure of calm. This season had never been about making the playoffs. It had been about building a foundation for the future, getting the team to something new. Leigh’s style had run its course. Tweaking would have only perpetuated it, made the break harder. Roy’s management made a fresh start possible. It might have fizzled rather than exploded like the fireworks above her, but it had done what Lena wanted. Needed.

And then there had been another chirping, chiming, vibrating moment through Bakura Gardens. It eclipsed even the fireworks for a moment. And that was when Lena knew. She didn’t look. She didn’t need to.

The Silver Streaks had lost. The Miners had lost their last two games, but they’d won the games they needed to earlier in the season, crucially that second game against Nubia. Lena had been right when she’d said the Miners would rally for conference play.

The Miners were going to the playoffs.

“The fireworks were wonderful,” Lena said.

She didn’t need to say more.

TAG: @HanSolo29 @Lady_Belligerent @Taylor Neir

 

Jay Chu-ni
Carratos

Jay was finally content, it was all over now, her brother had agreed to show up at her playoff game, her parents would be there too, she was in the playoffs again, maybe this time they could get over the hump and finally win the galactic cup we'd been denied twice now, in two years. they have all the pieces they've put it all together now they just need to get through the playoffs. While they did have to focus they also needed a bit of rest. Today was the the last day of rest the Pirates would get for a bit, and Jay and Logan were spending their rest together. She rested her head on his shoulder hand resting across his chest.

"Hey," she started running her fingers over his skin.

"Yeah." he replied taking her hand.

"I think we should tell the others about us."

He paused for a moment furrowing his brow and looking down at her.

"Um…I don't know."

"Why's that?"

"I don't want to cause a distraction. We need to be focused on the games ahead. And I think suddenly having a 'team Couple' would be a distraction."

"Would we really be that much of a distraction? I'm pretty sure everyone knows we're a thing already."

"But, I don't want to risk it."

"Risk what, creating a distraction?"

"Yeah," He looked away frowning a little.

"Is there something else? Are you ashamed…"

"No, no I'm not, ashamed to be with you. It's just…I…don't, don't want to."

"Don't want to what?" She sat up looking him in the eyes.

"Don't want to…"

"Dan't what?! Don't what!"

"I don't want to make us a thing."

"Us?"

"I don't what us to go public…because I don't want to…I don't want everyone to be asking us about our relationship, or be surprised when we break up."

"Wait, break up?"

"I…I don't plan on it but…things happen and if we do break up, it'll be all around the locker room and then…"

"So you're worried about a possible future where we might break up, and that it might affect the team, if they know about us." There was silence for a few moments. Jay's gaze never wavered, but, Logan couldn't meet her eyes. "Or is there something else, something you don't want to tell me."

He still couldn't look at her.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

The moment stretched on and on, silence between them but, neither of them moved.

"I'm going to go." Logan said hopping out of bed and finding his clothes.

"What's happening? What are you afraid of?" She followed after him pulling the sheet around her. What don't you want to talk about?"

He kept walking opening the door and exiting without a word. She collapsed the sheet pooling around her. Her shoulders shivered, and her chin quivered.

What was going on? What was he so afraid of…

TAG: No one

 

GM post

Bonus potential for Bakura and Carratos today to see who makes the Final.

Galactic Cup Playoffs
Conference Championships

Spoiler

(2) Lucicar Neir All Stars at (1) Carratos Pirates (1-19)
(2) Bakura Miners at (1) Kashyyyk Rangers (34-29)

153rd Galactic Cup Final
Arcadia Colosseum, O'pahz, Carratos
(2) Bakura Miners at (1) Carratos Pirates

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422 @Taylor Neir

 

Lena Cundertol
Cabrria
After the 309 season

“So. Playoffs.”

“Playoffs,” Lena confirmed. The server delivered caf to their table as they digested their meals.

“Was Roy nervous for his first playoff game as a head coach?”

It had been one of the big stories of the playoffs. Cardan had been head coach of the Nar Shaddaa Smugglers decades ago, but never made the playoffs in his short tenure with them. Given the talent in the Vertical City back then, lots of beings blamed the lack of performance on his coaching. The public reaction had been part of why he’d chosen to go into scouting than continue coaching.

“He’d been to the Final when he was on Stonlon’s staff in ’83,” Lena pointed out. “He had enough experience not to be worried.” That year a general strike had swept Bakura. The players and their former-player head coach had sat out the season in support of the unions. The Miners had scrambled to find players and coaches who would cross the picket line. Roy had agreed to be assistant coach of the team, knowing he’d have a job on the other side in the Miners’ scouting corps.

It had been an incredible season: an inexperienced group of former players who were literal miners had somehow made it all the way to the Galactic Cup Final. Though they’d come up short, that team was one often cited as one of the proudest moments for Miner fans.

“There’s a difference between being an assistant coach and a head coach.”

“I think all Roy needed to do was get over the hump. Sure, we hadn’t made the playoffs the way we wanted, but we were in,” Lena said, stirring some cream into her caf. “Maybe Roy had more concerns than that, but he didn’t share his thoughts with me that week.”

“Really? You two weren’t going deep?”

Lena knew this was a question about her management style. “My view is that, by this point in the season, the biggest thing I can do is get out of the head coach’s way. Unless there’s a personnel decision to be made about calling in one of our loaned non-roster reserves, it’s for the players and the head coach to do their thing.”

“And they absolutely did it. It was the game of the weekend.”

The Miners had come out flying on the road against the Rangers. They’d looked like an entirely different team than the one that had been crushed by 25 points the last time they’d been on Kashyyyk. The Rangers had more than put up a fight. The teams traded points for most of the game. It was agony for Miner and Ranger fans to watch, but the rest of the galaxy had loved watching playoff limmie at its finest.

“How did Roy do it?” Before Lena could reply, the other being said, “Don’t tell me it was the Cardan adjustment.”

Lena couldn’t repress a short laugh at that.

“No. Not that. He told them before the game that there was no Cardan system,” Lena admitted.

She had only heard about it secondhand, but in the minutes before the game, before the team left the locker room, Roy had stood before the team and pulled back the veil, like Lena had already done for her guest. He hadn’t been trying to turn them into a defensive wall. He’d been making them better players by giving them new tools.

“You didn’t stop being scorers. You just became scorers who are better at defense,” Roy had told them.

And in the game, the Miners didn’t try to go out and hit their way to a win against the Rangers like they had in the regular season games. Instead, they played a fast game, hitting when they weren’t scoring, but not abandoning offense and playing defense all the way.

“Gutsy move to blow things up right before a playoff game.”

“Roy’s point was that there was nothing to blow up,” Lena replied with a hint of a smile.

“Still.”

Lena knew what she should say next. “Kass was the difference. You could see the team rally to her. She got the team through the game. She scored when they needed it, hit when it mattered most. That shoulder on Grrbawkk…”

The other being shook their head. “She shouldn’t have been able to do that. He was at least twice her weight. Maybe more. It should not have been possible for her to put him into the grass like she did.” Lena shared their amazement. But that was the playoffs for you. Teams that won found another level of play.

“You definitely took the win stoically,” Lena’s guest commented.

After the Miners secured the victory, the HoloNet had cut to the GM’s box to catch what they assumed would be celebration. Instead it caught Lena picking up her datapad, shaking the hand of one of the Miners’ scouts, and walking off, all without cracking a smile.

“We still had work to do,” Lena stated, leaving it at that.

“Speaking of unfinished work, you brought up ’83 earlier.”

Lena knew where this was going. The 283 Galactic Cup Final that Roy had coached in had been against none other than the Carratos Pirates in their first Galactic Cup Final in franchise history, culminating in their first championship. The game came down to a late save by Mikia Sandin, one that was part of Carratosian sporting history and part of a big what-if for Miner fans when they thought about whether the regular roster, who had decided not to return after the end of the general strike so the replacement squad could play in the Final, would have pulled out the win.

“Ancient history as far as we were concerned.” Lena waved her hand to dismiss all the hype that had surrounded the rematch of the game. “Besides, everybody forgot that there had already been a rematch in ’96. A game where we’d outplayed them on defense.”

“About that…”

Right, about that.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422

 

Jay Chu-ni
Carratos

One hurdle was overcome, the All-Stars were vanquished in convincing fashion. The league leading offense lighting up the scoreboard and the defense holding strong. It was a decisive game, the kind of game a team needed going into a Galactic Cup Final. In the locker room everyone was smiling, exchanging high fives, and talking exuberantly to each other. But there were two beings that were silent, not talking to the others, and not talking to each other, despite sitting nearly shoulder to shoulder. Jay looked over to Logan but, quickly turned away.

Jay collected her things and left, saying nothing to her teammates. But she stopped at the door looking over her shoulder to Logan his head hung and arms resting on his knees. Her eyes became glassy before turning away. Back home she threw her bag down and flopped onto the bed face down. Her shoulders shook and soon her whole body tumbled with sobs muffled by the pillow she'd buried her face in. With no energy to do anything else she fell asleep still in her street clothes and eyes burning from the tears shed.

The next morning her eyes were still red and she scratched at them, as she moved to the fresher. In the harsh light she could see the red around her eyes. Her shoulders were slumped and her red eyes were barely open. She returned to the bed face down again, at least she was in her comfortable pajamas this time as she fell asleep again.

Her eyes opened slowly again her datapad flashing with a message. Turning it on she found an advertisement for the events being put on at the Colosseum, a celebration of the Pirates and the Finals coming to their fair planet. Jay put the datapad back down burying her face again.

The sun was high in the sky when she woke up again, her stomach growled and gurgled. The sounds spurred her into some kind of action. With a few taps on her datapad she nodded her head. Curling up again her eyes closed again.

The doorbell rang and her eyes snapped open again. Leaping out of bed she ran to the door, clearing the distance in mere moments. She opened the door, finding the delivery driver on the other side.

"Um…I have…"

"Thank you." She grabbed the bag from their hands.

"Hey aren't you…" The driver's words were cut off by the door slamming in their face.

Moving quickly to the table she removed the simple compostable container opening to find fried tubers covered in gravy. Her hands dived into the warm food taking up chip after chip never slowing down. In moments, they were all gone, and her hands were covered in remnants of her meal…if it could be called that. She wondered over to the couch and fell face down onto it.

Another nap and the shadows were long through her window.

"Stupid." she said to herself. "Stupid, stupid, stupid." She punctuated each word with a punch into the cushions. "Stupid." She grabbed a pillow and threw it against the far wall. A growl that turned into a scream left her chest. "Idiot, stupid, dumb,..." another scream left her as she punched the cushions again.

"He's an idiot…I'm an idiot."

It was all quiet as the sun had set. Only the street lamps illuminated Jay's apartment. She sat unmoving staring into the darkness her face was blank no muscles twitched and eyes were vacant.

She crawled into bed and closed her eyes.

She was up before the sun but, she didn't leave her bed until she saw the very first rays of sun.

Arriving at the Colosseum she went around the party goers already getting the week long festivities started. A holo flyer said the Galactic Cup Bash started tomorrow. In the locker room everyone else was just getting started as well, cups of caff, and breakfast were passed around. Jay declined the caff but did take breakfast. Logan was there but, her eyes never fell upon him. Every time she got close to seeing him the eyes would quickly dart away.

He sat next to her at his spot looking only once in her direction.

Practice was grueling and Coach wanted to make sure their set plays were on point.

"We won't beat the Miners with chip shots and rebounds." the coach called out as the Forwards were running through their Lineout formation.

Seabreeze tossed the ball in on Jay's side. She snagged it rushing towards the net. Har'row one of the backup defenders stepped in her way. Jay's head turned to where Logan should be, the moment she saw his long hair she threw the ball, closing her eyes immediately afterwards.. It sailed high and fast, catching him in the side of the head.

The coach's whistle rang out.

"Zar," He called to the forward rubbing the side of his head. "You alright?" The other Logan gave a thumbs up. "What was that? You guys have never missed."

"I…I…" Jay just looked away, "the ball slipped."

"Alright reset." Logan called out.

They reset, Seabreeze threw to Jay, Har'row stepped in the way and Jay turned her head towards Logan. Then quickly looked away throwing the ball in his general direction. It landed well behind him.

Another whistle.

"Come on guys we've done this a thousand times." Coach shook his head. "Reset,"

Seabreeze, Jay, Har'row and…Not Logan, the ball landing too far ahead.

"Alright, take a break. Clear your heads."

Jay got come sports drink when she turned her head to find Logan standing nearby.

"Can we talk?" He asked.

"The time for that was days ago." She shot back walking away.

"Look I know, I know I messed up."

"You think?"

"I know, but…we can't keep…" He tried to get in front of her, she gracefully slipped around him. "Look at me." She didn't turn. "Jay please." His voice cracked and she stopped walking. Slowly she turned to see him, his eyes red and chest heaving. "I know, I'm sorry. Can we talk…"

"Fine," They moved to an isolated corner. "So what do you want to talk about I thought we were done. You broke up with me."

"I…didn't I mean…"

"What, you were either talking about breaking up with me that night or you where going to break up with me soon. So I should just save myself the aggravation and end this here and now."

"Look…I'm sorry. I…I got scared. I…worried what would happen if I…If I got traded."

"That…" Her jaw was set and her eyes narrowed at him. "That's what you're worried about." She shook her head. "Do you not see Tynos! His girl plays for the Miners has for years. They're still together."

"But we're not…"

"But it can be done. So it's no reason to just give up."

"I wasn't giving up i was just…I was just worried. My contract is up and maybe I get traded or become a free agent."

"But, we can work through that…But only if we both work at it."

"I guess…but..do you want to."

She looked down, her mouth turning into a frown. She looked up meeting his eyes.

"We'll see…"

"We'll see what?"

"We'll see if I want to. You really hurt me.And I'm not sure I want to stay with you if you're going to be like this."

"I…I understand."

"Alright!" Coach called out. "Get set."

The offense lined up one more time. Seabreeze threw it in, Jay snatched it up, turned to Logan and fired a pass right into his hands in the stride. Cyrstas never stood a chance as the forward buried the pass into the back of the net.

"Good job…" Coach Logan called out. "Now we can move on to the next…"

Jay and Zar looked at each other a slight smile on there face.

TAG: @Trieste

 

GM post

Bonus potential for both Bakura and Carratos for today's Final. Two player teams, two bonus teams in the Final? All is as it should be.

153rd Galactic Cup Final
Arcadia Colosseum, O'pahz, Carratos

Spoiler

(2) Bakura Miners at (1) Carratos Pirates (22-37)

Congratulations to the Carratos Pirates, the 309 Galactic Cup of Limmie champions!

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422

 

Lena Cundertol
Cabrria
After the 309 season

“Defense was not exactly what either team was interested in playing,” the other being continued.

“The Pirates were the best team on offense. It wasn’t even close. The Miners had played them decently on defense in Week 9, but at the expense of getting any offense. Roy decided early in the week that we couldn’t win playing that way. We had to open it up.” Lena sighed. “It turned out to be too open. More than Shiv could handle. But she’s a rookie. I think she’s going to grow into her net.”

“You know what would have helped in the Final?”

Lena knew what was coming, but decided she’d play along. “What?”

“A strong midfield system.”

“Very likely. But the Pirates were unquestionably the best team this year. +137 on point differential. Almost 14 points a game better than their opponents. Last season, the Lightkings were +7.7 points per game better and they led the League.” Lena shook her head.

“You know, I have to hand it to Roy. Not a lot of head coaches spend that much time on the field after they’ve just lost the biggest game of their career.”

It felt like Cardan and Logan Manx-Sandin had a conversation after the game. Roy had shook the winning coach’s hand for a long time, even as reporters crowded around them. Lena had asked Roy about what he’d said since the stadium was so loud that not even the reporters could hear it. “I told him that he made all of us proud, that it couldn’t have been easy to stay the course after two straight losses in the Final, but that he’d played the game the way he wanted and that was the most anyone could ask for in this job,” Roy had told Lena on the shuttle back. There was something in Cardan’s eye that told Lena that maybe he’d given up on the dream of coaching too early, too easily.

Of less note had been the extended congratulations and hug Roy had given Leigh Cavanaugh. The pair had worked closely together for Leigh’s entire time with the Miners. His scouting had fed into her coaching schemes. Roy had been responsible for evaluating most of the talent that had made it to her championship rosters with the Miners. Lena hadn’t needed to ask what they’d talked about. She was sure it was some version of, “Still finding ways to make you a winner, aren’t I?”

“Roy is class. Always has been, always will be,” Lena said. She didn’t even want to get into that media conference after the game. He spent more time about talking about what the Pirates had done right than talking about the Miners. “He was everything I wanted for this season.”

“Even losing in the Final?”

“We were never going to win this season. The fact we came so close was…” Lena paused to find the right word. “It was Roy. You know, I asked if he wanted to retire, go out on a high note. He said, ‘See you in the office on Centaxday. Book it, Leen-o.’”

The other being laughed. “That’s Roy.”

The pair were quiet for a few seconds. That was it, the 309 season in its entirety. Lena had finally finished her answer to the question posed to her at the start of the lunch.

Which meant Lena could now ask her questions.

“Where should the Miners go from here?”

“You’ve got, what, five players on expiring contracts?”

“Six.”

“I know no one had a standout year, but Riviera and McLita are important pieces. I’d keep them.”

Lena had expected that. “Anyone else?”

“Sixtrees. She’s a role player, but an important one.”

“And she’s Kurtzen.”

“That brings side benefits, but her on-field positives are more important.”

Good. That’s how Lena made decisions. This team might be owned by politicians, the kinds of beings who thought it looked good to have a member of Bakura’s indigenous species on the team, but the only politics she cared about in her job were the ones on the field.

“Dontiade could go either way,” Lena’s guest continued. “It depends on how he does in camp. The spot needs to be competed. Let everyone else go to free agency.”

“And?” Lena prompted. She knew that wasn’t everything.

“The half forward line needs more punch. It’s been missing that since Quinn left.”

Lena let out a brief laugh even though she’d been expecting that. “Of course you’d say that.”

“It would cost something to make the trade, but I could persuade the powers that be.”

“What’s the something?” Lena didn’t lean forward, affecting a casual pose, but she was focused. Trades were where general managers lived and died.

“I think Jimsey Vigo would make it happen.”

Lena rolled her eyes with a sharp sigh. “And you want to make the half forward line better.” Vigo was one of the Miners’ best forwards…but he was also the oldest player on the roster and only had a year left on his contract. Despite Lena’s protestations, the trade made sense. And she knew that she’d need to make the trade to get what she really wanted. “If that happened, the open spot on the line would need to be plugged with someone good, otherwise it’s a wash.”

“Isn’t that your job?” This was delivered with a smirk.

It was, but Lena decided not to concede the point out loud. “Atalanta’s been trying to break my door down to get tryouts for their players. This year’s PCNS team had a decent had a decent offense too. There are options.”

“You already have ideas?”

“Some, but it depends on who the next head coach is and what kind of system they want to play.”

“Of course.”

Another silence.

“The Triestes like handing out three-year contracts to management,” Lena continued.

“It’s a good contract length for a head coach. Security to get a style in place, but not locking someone in forever if it doesn’t work out.”

“And as they showed with Leigh, they’re loyal when they get results. I am too.”

“The Triestes are some of the most stable team owners in the League,” they agreed. “After all, you’re only the fourth GM in the last 50 years.”

Lena tried to wait out the next pause in the conversation, but conceded after several seconds. “Am I going to have to ask?”

“Yeah. You are.”

Time for honesty. “You know how I think. Your record speaks for itself. When I told Declan I wanted to hire Roy for a year, it was to buy time so you and I could have this conversation now, so you could see how I want to run this team,” Lena stated, locking eyes with the being across the table from her. “Though we got all the way to the Final, the Miners need a lot of work. We barely made the playoffs. But there is talent on this team. Roy gave them more tools. This is a team ready to go into hyperspeed with the right coaching. I believe that coach is you.

“You are my first choice. If you want it, Declan has told me we will make the money work. All you have to do is say yes.”

Lena waited.

---

Miner offices, Salis D’aar, Bakura
One week later

Lena stood in the media briefing room, facing what felt like every sports reporter in the Outer Rim. Everyone knew that the Miners were announcing their next head coach and everyone wanted to be the one to file a story on it. Lena couldn’t blame them.

“Gentlebeings, good morning,” Lena said with a smile, one the reporters weren’t accustomed to seeing from the usually-serious general manager. “As you all know, after the Galactic Cup Final, I undertook a galaxy-wide search for the next head coach of the Bakura Miners. One name rose to the top. I am pleased to announce they accepted. Since you’re all here to see them and not me, I’ll waste no further time.

“It is my pleasure to introduce the next head coach of the Bakura Miners…

Spoiler

“…Alana Kirt.”

---

The media conference done, Lena returned to her office, happy to be alone after that circus. She poured herself a drink. Bakuran whiskey could be rough, but after that first sip it went down smoother. Much like this team. Much like the ELL.

Step 2 of her plan was complete. That deserved a moment of quiet celebration.

There was something Lena hadn’t told her new head coach about during their wide-ranging interview. She’d gone down to the field after the game to watch the Pirates’ celebrations. With everyone focused on the champions, no one had looked at Lena. She’d stood there because she wanted, she needed to remember how this felt. To be so close and lose. She would hold this feeling deep inside her until the day she died.

Sitting on the empty Miners bench was Rose-Lynn Hypertravels. Lena understood why she was there. Her boyfriend was holding the Galactic Cup over his head and Rose-Lynn had to be there for that, no matter how much it hurt because she wasn’t.

Lena said nothing, but put a hand on Rose-Lynn’s shoulder as she did her best not to cry, not to make this something she’d have to explain to Tynos later.

In that moment, Lena made a vow that they would never feel this way again.

And now, as Lena gazed at Salis D’aar’s skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she drank her whiskey and reminded herself that under the great Quinn Cundertol the Miners had finished last in his first season as general manager of the Miners.

She’d always known she was going to do better than him. And she almost couldn’t have done any better.

“I’m coming for you, Dad,” Lena promised.

TAG: @galactic-vagabond422

 

Jay Chu-ni
Carratos, the Big Game

It was the big game, a place they'd been twice before, and now they were here again. One would think you'd get used to being here after standing in the same place two years in a row. But Jay didn't feel that way. Her heart was racing and her hands were shaking. She needed to get her head in the game, they couldn't fail again, not for three times in a row. They couldn't fall down again when all of Carratos had a stake in the team. They had control now, and they couldn't let the people down, not after the madness that was last year.

Looking out into the packed stands she put her hands on her stomach. She took a deep breath looking over to Logan that was standing next to her as the sound of the crowd and the anthem rang in her ears. It was time to focus, time to get ready to play the game of her life. As the anthem ended Logan squeezed her shoulder. His hand trailed down her back and stayed at the small of her back. For just a moment their eyes met, Logan gave her a sly half smile. She responded with a slight eyebrow raise.

Taking her starting position, she planted her cleats into the pitch. Looking across the field she locked eyes with her opponents.

The half ended and Jay dropped onto the bench in front of her stall. She was sucking in breaths of air. Leaning her head back she put her hands behind her head. A few more deep breaths and she turned to her gaze to her forward line mate.

"How are we going?" Logan asked a weak smile on his face.

"We're going alright." She returned the smile. "Though we wouldn't be doing half as well if we didn't have Iris."

"Yeah…" Logan let out a long breath. "She's keeping us going."

They looked over to the living legend of the Pirates. The veteran was smiling chatting with Zara and the coach making adjustments to their game plan, she wasn't even breathing hard yet though the sheen of sweat was apparent on her skin. Jay and Logan looked to each other shaking their heads.

"She's something else."

"Yeah…" Logan let out another breath, "A whole nother level."

The second half started and the Pirates went on the attack Jay and Logan striking like lightning from the side and fighting for the line outs. Just like in practice Jay took the first pass, ran until she got into trouble and dumped off to Logan who took it the rest of the way. It wasn't always successful, but the pressure they both kept up put a strain on the Miners. Jay never stopped running, never let up, neither did Logan. In their eyes one could see their passion. They were going to play until their hearts gave out, until their legs stopped working. Every play they were there mixing up with the defense. Some timely passes from Iris extended the lead, and when the forward pair couldn't get it done, the Face of Carratos would do it herself.

Once time was called Jay couldn't believe it, she couldn't. They'd done it, after years of fighting and coming so, so close so many times, the cup was finally theirs again. Though Jay's legs were tired just moments before, the exhilaration filled her body and she lept up punching the air. Without a second breath she embraced Logan not worrying about what the others would say or the future, all that mattered was now, and they were champions. They, the Pirates were champions. Jay, a girl from a small town, was a champion. Pulling away from the hug she pressed her lips to his. The moments slipped away and all that existed was them in this moment.

"We did it." She said leaned in close to his ear. "We did it."

As her gaze fell upon the crowd she saw her parents…and her brother he was wearing a Pirates shirt, though he was still wearing his Tanaab Staga cap. A smile came to her lips and a tear rolled down her cheek. They broke apart just as the other on field couple stepped apart. Tynos and Rose-lynn looked lovingly into each other's eyes, the blue and gold and black and white of their jerseys somehow not clashing like they did on the field.

They took notice of the coaches as they shook hands, words shared between them Coach Manx-Sandin smiled and nodded his head. Leigh Cavanaugh walked across the field to embrace the Miner's coach, a sign of the relationship between the Pirates' Legend and their opponent this day.

When the Cup was presented everyone took their turns. All of them having contributed to this win.

Zara Bell'ator, the stalwart Captain keeping the team together.

Iris Copin, the hero in cleats, driving the team forward.

Isttu Russo, the lockdown back swatting down passes with the greatest of ease.

Tynos Taal, the link between the defense and the offense.

Cyrstas Farsi, the successor to the Iron Goalkeeper never missing a day.

Kal Olin, the disruptor harassing the forwards never letting them get going.

Rita Helm, the core of the back line punishing any that dared enter her domain.

Toral Nema, the shadow always appearing just when she was needed.

Lyn Corsa, the mobile center that never let the opposition have it easy.

Bellan Pim, solid in the midfield covering where Tynos couldn't be.

Eliss Seabreeze, the hard to stop sniper in the back field.

Vine Reidan, the other side of a pincer attack with Iris, and no slouch.

Alecs Chonu, the clean up man when Logan's shots bounce out.

Logan Zar, the full forward dynamo that never gave up.

And Jay Chu-ni, the young girl from the middle of nowhere that was now a champion.

Jay took the cup and raised it up shouting to the crowd before bringing it down and kissing it like so many others.

After all of that, they all gathered around the cup smiling.

"We've got a Galactic Cup, we've got a Galactic Cup…" they called out together, a call back to the Jar of Dirt game, an old gimmick between the Miners and Pirates, "GUESS WHAT'S INSIDE IT!"

After the game Jay was met outside by her family. She wrapped her arms around her mom and dad giving them a squeeze.

"You did it Jay…you really did it." her father said.

"Thanks daddy."

As they pulled away her mother looked to Logan, who was starting to walk away.

"Well aren't you going to introduce us." her mother said looking between Jay and Logan.

"Oh…up…Mom, dad," she looked to Logan then back to her parents. "This is Logan…he's…"

"A friend from work…" Mech called out, Jay narrowed her eyes.

She walked over to him and he narrowed his eyes right back.

"You know it's my turn next year." he said a determined look on his face.

"I can't wait to see it…"

TAG: @Trieste

 

And that concludes the 309 ELL season! Look for the 310 thread coming soon.

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