49: Semifinals: Jupiter Jackalopes v. Trumpet Falls Nephilim

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Playoffs week was supposed to be fun. Exciting. Exhilarating.

But for Genesis O'Toole, all it's been is one dirty look thrown her way after another. From her own teammates, no less!

And now she's standing here, face to face with her ex-boyfriend.

When will the humiliation end?

She can't believe the Jackalopes have to beat the Nephilim to get into the Atlas State Final.

It would be almost poetic - if it wasn't so irritating.

If Nate wasn't so irritating.

As if Gee doesn't have enough on her mind.

Nate leans against one of Phoenix Beacon's sturdy legs, his gray uniform washed out by Ithaca Court's floodlights above them. Genesis would've preferred he stay far away from her tub, but apparently that's just not in the cards.

"I've missed you." Nate offers, his eyes blue pools of longing. She really doesn't have time for this. She's so over this. Phoenix Beacon stands just before the entrance way to the main court, awaiting the umpire's signal to enter the arena.

Nate just happened to saunter over here and now Genesis sees no way out.

"Maybe you should take up a new hobby." She says. Even though she and Sage are not on the best of terms right now, Gee really wishes the other girl was here to shoo away this pest. Strength in numbers and such. But Storm Zen stands empty beside Phoenix Beacon, with no jockey in sight. For now.

"What if I liked my old hobbies?" Nate spits back suggestively. He's looking at something along Phoenix Beacon's pulsesteel and electrically-wired hamstring with unnerving intensity. Gee can't see his hand.

She advances on him. He backs away.

"Alright, that's it. Reunion's over, Jessup. You missed me, you saw me, now get back to your team so we can kick your ass quicker. And quit touching my frikken tub!" Gee is so surprised the words 'ass' and 'frikken' actually escaped her lips she doesn't really even notice Nate skulking away.

Apparently, though, he did what he wanted to do here.

Genesis spins around so she can take a good look at the back of Phoenix Beacon's finally unmolested leg. She doesn't know the inner workings of tubs the way Artie does, not by any means, but she can already tell it's not good. The wires are frayed, sparking.

The umpire blows her whistle.

Time to take the court.

Only - apparently Phoenix Beacon isn't going anywhere.

"Crap. Crap crap crap crap! That rat-bastard snake!" Gee shouts, throwing her helmet on the ground. It rolls all the way across the floor until it comes to rest at the feet of the other jockeys, making their way out of the locker room.

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