A New Divide

“Open wide and breathe in the air.”

We had arrived in the GDR sector on the fifth planet from the binary suns, Gannon. I was ecstatic, and struck with complete nostalgia, for the first games of the season were about to begin. It was there in what the citizens of Eden had all considered the greatest city of humanity, Arcadia. The massive city covered over half of the planet, engulfing the surface with a glow of a dim star. From space it looked almost as if the planet had a pulse beat that constantly surged through its surface.

It was a city that never truly slept, for the fifty billion people that occupied this sprawling metropolis lived high in the towers to deep under the ground. This capital city of the GDR was symbolized by the home of their government, the Arc, the unbelievably massive half arc that extended to the center of the city. It was a half kilometer wide, and easily rose four kilometers above a city that was covered in vast rivers, and overlaid by millions of towering buildings.

I finally felt at home again. We had arrived in the free world, a democracy where the citizens of Arcadia shared a great passion for the gravball league, despite the fact that its symbolic appeal could not hold the tides of war.

We walked through the intensely occupied streets towards the stadium, as Mark and Victoria had staged the Alexandria above Arcadia’s financial district, and had arrived at the Arc. The tip of the Arc was in the shape of a giant cylinder that dropped down roughly ten stories, and was considered the presidential house of the GDR. It was elegantly sculpted in every way, especially the presidential garden that covered the top of the Arc. They call it “the Balcony,” an incredible fixture of the Arc; it had the power to reach, and overlap, all of the radio broadcasts throughout Eden, on every habitable world, and in every house there was.

[-<Commander Mark Wyman>-]

-The Arc-

“Quite the security they have around here, sir,” Victoria said in wonderment, as she took in the view from the long windows that lined the Arc’s main elevator shaft.

“Arcadia is the most heavily guarded place in the universe for a reason, Admiral.”

“They are hiding something, sir.”

Mark smiled slightly at his admiral as the Arc’s elevator shot through the massive structure. Mark took great satisfaction from taking in the view of the city, the midday sun glaring off of the millions of surrounding buildings.

“I couldn’t agree more, Victoria. They say that underneath the surface of this world, near the core of the planet, lie the darkest secrets of humanity. That being said, I am sure glad they want us on their side.”

“That’s a good sentiment, Commander, but I will always feel threatened by those who wield power far greater than us. What do they say? Keep your friends close and your enemies closer? What a crock of shit, sir.”

Mark put his hand on Victoria’s shoulder and smiled. He was amused by her remark. “They also say that the greatest enemy is not the one you see—but the one that you don’t.”

“Wise words, Commander.”

“You would do well to remember them, Admiral.”

Victoria simply nodded in agreement to Mark as the elevator door opened to a luxurious lounge room where they were greeted by a very casually dressed GDR president who held a martini in his left hand.

“Well, well, well. Mark Wyman, put ’er here, old friend,” President Harris said while he shook Mark’s hand. Harris pressed his hands against Mark’s shoulders and let out a relived sigh.

“You look good, my friend. It’s been too long.”

“Always good to see you, David.”

“Is Virgil here with you?”

“Of course. He’s down at the stadium.”

“So what? He didn’t want to see one of his oldest friends because he’s the leader of a nation now?”

“Virgil is currently watching over someone, he’s preoccupied.”

“So we got you, me, and Virgil. What about the other guy, have you seen any of him lately?” As David asked this, Mark’s smile turned to a frown and he responded.

“I was hoping you’ve seen him.”

“No. Not since that day over four hundred years ago.”

There was a silence between them and Victoria was struck with confusion.

“Is he alive you think?” David asked.

“If he is, he would have tried to contact us by now,” Mark said in response.

“Anyway, let’s hear about you. The big shot commander of the Remoran Protectorate now? That’s incredible news. I knew you and I would always succeed in our lifelong dreams.”

“Ha, well, I could not have done it without this one standing beside me. I would like you to meet my general, Fleet Admiral Victoria Andrews.” Mark then stepped aside to introduce his admiral.

David was intrigued and he proceeded to shake Victoria’s hand, promptly kissing her glove. “Ah, the lady admiral, I have heard many great things of you.” As he said this Victoria looked down and blushed. She held in the anger she had for the moment and transformed it into a respectful comment back to the president of the second most powerful nation in all of Eden.

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

“Oh please, no need for formalities here, Admiral. It is a day to enjoy the games.”

“I feel we are slightly overdressed.”

“My lady, you look fantastic, and in the end that is all that matters. Is it not? Now get in here, take a seat. You all must be exhausted, launching your great expedition and all.”

David continued to speak as he led them into the main hall of his prestigious palace. They walked across the cherry-wood floor of the very large circular room, which was heavily guarded by the president’s secret service. They walked past a medium-sized pure stone pedestal that stood directly in the center of the foyer, and to an open room off to their left.

This room was the main living room, and had been covered with couches, holoscreen projectors, and even a kitchen. While they made their way through the presidential quarters, Mark and Victoria were shocked by how casually President Harris presented himself. He surely must have felt comfortable around them. As President Harris led them into the living room, his entire family came around the couches to see him. His two daughters being the most anxious.

“Daddy! Daddy!”

“There my little princesses are!” Harris crouched down when his daughters ran up to him. He embraced them in his arms and twirled them around.

“Daddy, look, we got tigers!”

The girls showed their father the adorable stuffed tiger dolls that had little jerseys on them. Harris set them down and began to dance in front of them.

“That’s our team, girls, the Sabertooths from sector 12! They are gonna take us all the way to the finals this year. Let’s go, Sabers! Rawrr!” He crouched down to them and put his hands up to his face mimicking their teeth, as his girls did the same.

“Rawrr!”

The girls jumped on top of their father and began clawing at him playfully. Victoria rubbed her head in confusion. She was expecting a more serious audience with the president of the Galactic Democratic Republic.

“He’s quite entertaining, isn’t he, Commander?”

“He has his moments.”

David lifted his daughters off his chest, and after standing up, he held his youngest in his arms while the older sister held his hand.

“All right, kids, are you ready?” As David spoke he looked down at his son, who was sitting quietly on the couch watching cartoons on the holoscreen.

“How’s it going, sport, you excited for the game?”

He rubbed his hands through his son’s hair when the First Lady walked into the room with a small bag and kissed her husband on the cheek. “Hey, honey. I got all the kids’ things. We’re ready to go.” Victoria turned to Mark looking concerned of the situation and spoke lightly to him.

“What’s going on, sir? Why is he avoiding us?”

“Stand fast, Admiral.”

“Mr. President!” Victoria shouted as the presidential family readied themselves to leave. Victoria cleared her throat and spoke once again once she had his attention. “Surely you kept in mind the true nature of our visit here.” The First Lady passed by them, nodding, as David turned back around to the elevator and laughed at the question.

“Ha-ha, lady admiral—if you look to gain an ally in your great war you must observe the virtue of patience. Ah, here, sweetie, I have to set you down now.”

David crouched down as his daughters climbed off him and they headed towards their mother in the elevator. He cracked his neck and turned back towards Victoria and Mark.

“You see I am an extremely busy man, Admiral. I understand and respect your intentions and I will ask you do the same for me.”

“Apologies, sir.”

Mark looked to the president, who looked as if Victoria’s rude outburst did not bother him one bit. He then rested his hand on Victoria’s shoulder. “No apologies required here, my lady. In fact I appreciate your tenacity. You are indeed well worthy of serving beside your great commander. Now to the stadium. After these opening rounds we shall discuss our terms.”

David waved them into the elevator. Mark and Victoria stood beside the presidential family and the guard shut the door. The elevator shot down the enormous curve of the massive Arc, and they were on their way to witness the kickoff of the PGL season.

We had finally made it to our seats within the great stadium. The Arcadian Earth Memorial Coliseum was the largest known man-made structure in the universe, capable of seating over five million people. It was the first stadium constructed in Eden and this led to Arcadia becoming the largest city in all of Eden. It was an entertainment and corporate-based economy, with the PGL and the Eden Olympics based at its core.

Mark and Helena went to go get drinks and snacks while I conversed with Silas. I finally broke the silence that occurred between us. It was quite a sight to behold. The stadium was nearly a kilometer tall, and eight kilometers in diameter, packed to the brim with fans.

“I hear that the Salaran worlds have been banned from the league this season.” As I spoke, Silas stared at the incredibly massive sphere at the heart of the circular stadium. “I never knew how much the people in Eden revered this sport. This is one of the most incredible things I have ever seen.”

“Not a sports fan, are ya?”

“That sphere is enormous. How do you play in a field that large?”

I laughed and decided to teach him a little about gravball. It was nice not discussing destiny or genocides with these Remorans for once.

“It’s actually not nearly as big as it looks. You might figure it out when the games begin. There is a much smaller sphere inside of that one; the outer sphere basically acts as a giant magnifying glass, so all of the people in this stadium can see exactly what is happening. Without the outer sphere, stadiums in Eden would be much, much smaller.”

“A way of reaching out to all who come to enjoy this game, huh? I am intrigued; how is it played?” Silas asked in curiosity and I happily responded partly because of my love for the sport, and I was also starting to gain a liking for this guy.

“Well, you have two opposing teams of ten: one goalie, three defensive players, three center players, two offensive players. Then you have the jumper, he’s kind of the ace in the hole. That was me; his job is to do whatever it takes to not only score, but make sure the opposing jumper never makes it across the line of scrimmage with the ball.”

“How does the game begin?”

“Well, there’s the traditional coin toss, then the jumper of the winning team kicks the ball into the playing field from above the sphere. What makes gravball so challenging is that there is no gravity inside the sphere. We use our boots to jump off the rounded surfaces of the sphere, and off other players to try and kick, throw, or in some cases head butt the ball into the goal.”

“This game sounds very dangerous.”

“The life expectancy of a professional gravball player is six years unless they are very good, then they can play their entire lives. I think only ninety-seven players died last year and over four hundred were injured. That’s a new safety record.” After I had explained the basis of the game to Silas he responded in a way I did not expect.

“It’s funny,” he said.

“What is?”

“As much as I hate to admit it, being a pacifist and all, I think humans need brutality to survive. This game did hold the peace for nearly five hundred years. I mean, if you think about it, it’s the only reason we have survived our creation, natural selection, and such. Think about the similarities between war and gravball.”

I laughed as he said this. “You idiot. They are nothing alike.”

“Of course they are. There are battles to be won; games, all moving towards a final resolution that one side will do anything to attain the Olympic cup. The war and the trials of gravball—they weed out the weak. Only the strong survive. Just like you said, the best players can play as long as they live. While they are normally expected to live only a few years, the same can be said for a soldier. As they survive, they adapt to new conditions of warfare, and as they adapt, they evolve. They give way to new ideas, and new ways of thinking. However, as history has proven, we certainly have not made a lot of progress in creating a lasting peace. Just like gravball. The games will never end because the fans of their teams will always want their side to win. Doesn’t matter how many times they do win, or how many years pass them by. It’s a never-ending cycle, Collin, and humanity’s craving for conflict is the only reason we even have sporting events. You know I am right.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes after Silas had voiced his philosophical input. I then had to ask him, but it just seemed very unlikely.

“Man, have you seriously never seen a gravball game before? I gotta be honest; I find it hard to believe.”

Silas slightly laughed and then he began to share his story with me. “I didn’t get out much when I was young. I was the son of a politician. I spent most of my childhood working, or at my father’s office. He worked very hard to try and teach me the importance of providing for our people.”

“It doesn’t sound like you had much of a childhood, Silas.”

“No, I definitely didn’t, Collin. It actually wasn’t until about ten years ago, when my sister and I were rescued by the Remoran Expeditionary Unit, that we got to witness much of this rather awesome solar system and all the things that it can offer.”

I tucked my hat up as I stared ahead at the globe that was being prepared for the first round of games. “So is that why you turned out to be such a square? No offense, it’s just hard to believe that you’re that ice queen’s brother.”

Silas simply shook off the comment and responded, “Ha, none taken friend. I greatly revered my father. He was my inspiration for joining the service. He spent a lot of time with me, and hardly any with my sister. She spent almost all of her time defying his wishes and getting into all sorts of trouble.”

“A wild child, huh? I can see that I was like that after my father left.”

“Well that was a big part of it; our mother was killed in an accident when we were young, and Victoria took it very hard when she passed.”

“So you became the ambassador like your father, and she became the fearless general? Now I understand why she hates authority.”

“Precisely.” There was, again, a silence between us and I felt the need to express something to the man I had gained a newfound respect for. “You want to know what inspired me to become a professional gravball player?”

Silas looked to me with curiosity. “I have a theory: you are a barbaric moron who likes to solve problems with your fists?”

I looked around the massive stadium and stretched my arms out before turning to Silas. “Well of course, Silas. You see our family, it was just me, my dad, and Virg. Virgil was appointed my guardian by my mother when she died in childbirth. We never had a lot of money, but my dad, he always promised he would take me here to this stadium one day. He and Virgil worked extra shifts at the factory for five years, and finally they had saved enough to travel off planet and bring me here to the opening games. I was ten years old. It was everything about this place; the millions of cheering fans, the gravity sphere, the festivities that surrounded the games, and it captivated me. It was so magical and just awe inspiring. All I wanted in the entire world was to feel like I did in that moment every day I was alive. I guess you can say I was born here, or at least ‘Collin the Iceman’ was.”

“What happened to your father? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I sighed and let out a laugh as I shook my head in reply. “He left, Silas. He’s gone, man.”

“He just left without saying goodbye? Did he leave a memo or anything?”

“Not a damned thing. Not a damned thing. He stole a whole bunch of equipment from us too. What a prick, right?” Silas wiped the sweat from his face, shading his eyes from the passing rays of the suns’ light and looked out at the sphere.

“He never came back?”

“No. He never did. I began to resent him, and even hate him for what he did.”

“So that’s why you are such a smartass?”

“Yup, that’s exactly right. Through my teens I put Virgil through hell with all of the trouble I got in, and all the nights I acted out against him. But he always remained calm and collected, despite how horrible I treated him. When I graduated from school I think I pushed him away. I got accepted to Rayden’s PGL training camp. I love gravball, but my talents turned me into a monster. All I ever wanted was to be great and be revered. But now, everything is different.”

Silas nodded to me in agreement, as he was about to say something, Virgil and Helena had arrived back from the concession stands with their arms full of snacks and drinks. Virgil sat next to me as Helena dropped her items in my lap and sat between Silas and me. “It felt like we spent hours in that line. I was beginning to think we were going to miss the kickoff,” Helena said as she began passing the snacks to Silas and me.

“Well, you got back just in time. They are about to start the first round at any minute.”

Just then Victoria sat next to Virgil. We all looked to her as Virgil and I began handing out the refreshments. “Where the hell have you been, darlin’? You look frustrated,” Virgil said as he began shoveling food into his mouth. He attempted to hand her a drink but she refused as she crossed her legs and stared out at the sphere. “Dancing around with the president getting not a damned thing accomplished.”

“Sister, what are you doing here? I’m surprised you are not with Mark atop the sphere.”

“Heh, well it pains me to admit it but I would rather be stuck down here with all of you than with those rich snooty bastards. They are circling around Mark and President Harris like vultures. Pathetic parasites if you ask me, leeching off everything their leader does.”

Just then a man’s voice came over the stadium intercoms. And the lights began to dim as the suns were just starting to set over the city. The reflections of the sunsets bounced off the extremely tall Arcadian structures, and poured a reddish-gold glow onto the gravity sphere. Its magnificence reflected across the stadium.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the opening rounds of the 491st gravball season!”

As the announcer spoke, the stadium became filled with uproar. Everyone in our group except Victoria began to cheer.

“The first match will be our own Arcadian Sabertooths from sector A, versus the Daltron Hellhounds from sector J!”

“We have two very competitive Arcadian-based teams here, with some of the most established, and well-seasoned players in the game.”

The audience began to roar, and the lights displaced themselves and focused upon the enormous gravity sphere in the center of the stadium.

“But first we would like to take a vow of silence for the recent events that have taken place in the Outlander sector. We have lost one of our proudest races—along with some of the greatest teams in history.”

While the announcer spoke the audience became quiet. We all bowed our heads, and the people began to murmur for a few moments as the announcer began to speak again.

“Although, we have received some very exciting news. It seems that one of the members from the Rayden Comets is here with us tonight.”

I looked up through my hands in disarray, as I was sure they couldn’t have noticed me. The audience began to rabble and look around.

“That’s right, folks, you thought they were gone, but the pride of the Rayden Comets is among us tonight. He’s a legend of the game with a record of 427 goals in just six years. You know him and I know him, ‘the Juggernaut,’ ‘the Beast,’ Collin ‘the Iceman’ King!”

“Oh shit.”

The lights immediately focused on our group, and I looked ahead at the projections surrounding the gravity sphere. The camera was focused on me in every one of them. The crowd gasped and cheered as they all looked towards me.

“What did I tell you, dicks? Oh well, I should have expected it.”

“Well, kid, live in the moment. I guess you’re more popular than ya ever been since you survived the purge,” Virgil said as he shook my shoulder.

Just then a man driving a hovering platform approached us. His platform floated just above the heads of the glaring people in front of us. The platform operator wore a smile as he extended his hand to me. “Mr. King, if you are willing, the commissioner would like to see you.”

Helena whispered in my ear as I took the hand of the hovercraft operator. “Remember, you can’t keep running away. Go get ’em.”

I became ecstatic as we passed over the crowd; it was nostalgia I guess. They all lifted their hands up to me, and as I passed over them, I could once again feel the energy of the crowd. I stretched my arms out wide—I had finally felt the fulfillment again and yet, despite hearing millions of fans cheering my name, I felt an emptiness.

I frowned slightly as we made our way to the top of the sphere, where Mark, President David Alexander Harris, and the commissioner, along with the two main teams, were awaiting my arrival. The commissioner took my hand and helped me down from the platform.

The top of the purple sphere sported a platform that lowered into the playing field. It was completely covered in spotlights that shot directly into the sky. The entire audience of the stadium could see us through the cameras that floated all around the stadium.

“Ah, Mr. King, sorry to surprise you like this. We were overwhelmed with joy to hear you survived that terrible tragedy,” the commissioner said as he led me to the center of the sphere where the rest of them stood.

Mark smiled at me as I made my way over to him. I should’ve been annoyed but I was in a very good mood as I looked to Mark. “I suppose I have you to thank for this, Mark?”

“Actually no, Collin, a fan spotted you and word spread quickly to the top.”

President Harris approached me with his hand extended as the commissioner, with the two coaches, followed closely behind him. “Collin King, on behalf of all of the citizens of the GDR core worlds, I would like to say it is an honor to have you here. You have my sincere condolences for all that you have lost.”

“Thank you, David.”

“If you wouldn’t mind, Mr. President, we would like to discuss something with Mr. King here,” the commissioner said as he pulled me aside to converse with the two coaches.

“It is good to see you again, Collin. I think I speak for the entirety of Eden when I say that, our hearts go out to all that were lost.” I was very annoyed by this. Maybe I was quick to emotion, but all this talk about condolences from the nation that refused to help us was really starting to piss me off. “Really? You didn’t seem too concerned when your race denied us assistance when we needed it most.”

The commissioner dodged my defensive remark and gulped. “Collin, these gentlemen would like to extend an offer to you. They would like to know if you would be interested in joining the league again.”

“We will even give you a captain’s position again,” the coach of the Arcadian Sabertooths said as the other coach looked to him with great opposition.

“Think about the marketing opportunities. I mean, the sole survivor of the Comets, we could make trillions of credits together, Collin. You could revive your life again.”

“Wait, I want him on my team.”

The coaches then began to argue amongst themselves. I finally saw the world I used to be a part of from an outsider’s view. It was one thing to be brought gradually into this world, but it was something far different to be plunged into it. It made me see the PGL in a new light as I had come to see many things. So I grabbed the microphone from the commissioner and addressed the audience.

“Hey, Arcadia, how are we feeling tonight!” The audience responded in uproar and began cheering my name. I waited for the screams of excitement to calm before I spoke again.

“You know I want to level with Eden right now. Much has happened these past few months.” When I heard my own voice echo across the vast stadium with incredible effect, I sighed into the microphone and turned to the officials. They all looked to me with anxious looks upon their faces. I know they could not wait for me to announce my decision to return.

“You know after I was rescued by the Remorans I had one goal in mind. This was a part of my life that was taken from me, and for a long time all I wanted was to get it back.”

Truthfully I really wanted to play gravball again—it was the one thing in this life I knew I could do better than anyone else, but I knew it would not fulfill the emptiness I felt in my newfound outlook on life. Something about the emptiness was comforting though. It let me know that there was something out there to fill it, and something about searching for it made me feel like I finally had a purpose. It was a purpose that would never die, unlike my future in gravball. So I lifted the microphone back up and announced my decision to Eden.

“But, now that I’m here in this magical place where it all began, I don’t want this anymore. They were some of the best times of my life but they are behind me now. So it is here where my dream of being a gravball star began that I announce my official retirement.”

The audience gasped and was overcome by silence. I began to walk to the stairs that led off the sphere when the stadium filled with cheer and everyone began to chant my name. “COLLIN! COLLIN! COLLIN!” I turned around and closed my eyes. I let my final bask of glory in the gravball community fill my soul when the president interrupted.

“Very humble of you, Collin, but might I ask you a favor?”

“Of course, David.”

“Would you be willing to serve the first ball of the season? One final glorious kick to put an end to an era?”

I looked to him as I handed the microphone to the commissioner and nodded, smiling widely. “Nothing would make me happier.” The top of the sphere slid open and the teams began to enter the playing field, an antigravity beam shot out of the opening, and stopped at the scoreboard that hovered above the sphere. I stepped up to the beam with confidence as the announcer addressed the audience. On my march to the beam I felt a strange feeling come over me.

A major chapter of my life had just ended but it was that beginning of a new one that filled me with emotion. The signal of that new beginning occurred when the commissioner handed me the game ball.

“Good luck, Collin.”

I stepped into the beam and threw the ball lightly above my head. It had traveled roughly four meters above me when I stepped through. I jumped up slightly, and began to leap towards the ball. I closed my eyes, rotating my body 180 degrees, and stretched my right leg back. When I was fully above the ball, I took my leg and gave an extremely powerful kick. My body rotated back upright, and the ball shot into the sphere and the intense game below began.

I then floated towards the edge of the beam as Mark outstretched his hand to me. I accepted this gesture and I left the light purple beam. “So what will you do now, Collin?”

I looked to him and smiled. I responded with the only thing in my life that could bring me purpose. “Commander Wyman, let’s get on with this expedition.”

Mark smiled brightly as we followed the president off the sphere and onto the platform that led to the VIP suites. “Collin, it would be an honor.”