Phasers

Chapter 2

6 Years Later...

"Killer whales win! Winning shot from Angela Dawn Hawkins, a senior at Westwood Highschool, Striker and Team Captain for the Killer Whales in double overtime." The tournament announcer shouted.

I smiled and jogged over to the goalie.

"Good game. You kept us on our toes." I said.

"Same to you." The goalie nodded.

I jogged back over to the bench.

"Congrats Dawn." Zeva said as she met me at the bench.

We hit our sticks together before sitting. I downed some Powerade as Coach walked over.

"We have 30 minutes in between games. Eat and drink something." Coach said reading from her clipboard.

Coach Brent was only the assistant coach and recruiter from Killer whales. Coach Diana was the head coach and was the real one to watch out for. Over my six years with the killers, she has molded me from a tiny kid to a tall young woman carved from steel.

"Dawn, you're starting as mid and finishing as striker." Coach said.

I nodded. Zeva pulled out an energy bar for each of us. We ate quietly before I began helping Zeva suit up. I coughed a couple times.

"You still have that cold?" She asked as she tightened down her goalie padding over her shin.

"Its nothing, honestly." I said, passing her goalie gloves to her.

She looked at me apprehensively before standing and putting on the last few pieces of equipment. I grabbed our sticks and placed her stick in her glove. I slapped the ball towards her. We passed it back and forth for a few minutes. Zeva stepped on the ball to stop it. My stick felt heavy in my hands. Coach's whistle split the air.

"Warmups!" She ordered.

I stood off to the side waiting for my position. Coach glanced over at me.

"Dawn, sit down you look like crap." She dismissed.

My heart sank. I trudged over to the bench knowing that arguing with Coach got you nowhere but benched for several games. I sat heavily, my fatigue catching up with me. I laid down with my stick beside me. Coach blew her whistle. With Zeva in the net, shots were barely getting in the goal.

"Hustle ladies! One of you should be able to make a goal." Coach shouted as I closed my eyes.

"Good job Zeva. Keep it up." Coach Brent encouraged.

"Dawn, can we talk for a moment?" Coach Diana asked softly.

My eyes snapped open.

"Of course." I said, trying to sit up.

"No. Stay laying down if that makes you feel better." She ordered.

I nodded and relaxed.

"How long have you been feeling like this." She questioned.

"A while." I drawled.

"Dawn." She chided.

"Almost 2 and a half months." I admitted, "It's just a stupid cold. I'm good to play."

"I know. I know. I want you to take it easy during the first half. So, you'll be a mid-field third-string sub in the first half and striker for the second half." She said.

Anxiety flashed through me.

"Coach, you know I'm okay with where you put me, but-" I started.

"When your mother gets here, I will deal with her."

I nodded. Coach put a hand on my shoulder.

"You'll feel better soon." She assured with a smile, before walking back to the team.

I closed my eyes and relaxed. My body ached all over. I rolled my shoulders trying to relieve the tension. My throat burned. I coughed a few times to try and fix it. A shadow landed on my face.

"Why are you laying down?"

My eyes snapped open. My mother glared down at me.

"Umm." I stuttered.

"Kyra!" Coach Diana called.

My mother stood to her full height as Coach walked over.

"Why is Daughter benched?"

"I'm giving her a break. She's third-string midfield sub for the first half and striker for the second. She needs to get rest."

I could see her teeth grinding.

"Second string."

"Third string. Striker second."

"Second string. Striker second." My mother pushed.

"Third string. Striker. Final offer or she's benched."

Kyra bit her lip.

"Fine." She spat.

I sighed and closed my eyes again.

"Thank you." I muttered.

"Don't mention it, kid."

I laid there with my thoughts and my power bar sitting heavy in my stomach. I coughed a couple times before trying to drift off to sleep. More thoughts kept buzzing through my head. As soon as I would get close to sleep a new one would take it place. In what felt like no time at all, Coach's whistle brought me crashing back to the real world. I sat up as the team walked over. Zeva stood behind me, her powerful presence daring someone to talk about me being sick.

"I need you to focus ladies." Coach said.

The few girls not paying attention swiveled to face her and took a knee with the rest of the team.

"We've got a lineup change. Dawn is going to feel what it's like to be a coach. That means that Lucy, you will be going in as a first-string midfielder for the first half. This is our chance to qualify for finals. Go out and win it."

The girls cheered. I pulled myself up to my feet.

"You gotta take it easy." Zeva urged.

I chuckled.

"When have you ever known me to take it easy?"