Theo gritted her teeth. She'd counted. She'd passed the ball to Anj nine times, Kartor seven times, Roni five times, Estan four times, and Lesset three. Far more... oh, never mind. Roni's real complaint was that she hadn't scored when she had the ball, and that wasn't Theo's fault.
Viverain leaned over the wall. "Waitley, you've got a good touch on those passes. You might go to the inside a bit more, but otherwise... you're keeping Third Ring strong. And you, Grinmordi – you've got to keep an eye on where your tenders are. Instead of trying to intercept you ought to be letting some of those go through for the best shot."
Theo saw the look Roni gave her as Viverain clicked the remote for the round-buzzer. The balls tumbled into the rig and before anyone else could bid – without even looking up! – Roni called, "Twenty-five, Team, twenty-five!"
Theo caught the shock on Viverain's face, then she was running, because the first ball through was a blue one – the smallest and hence the fastest to the floor.
If the second set had been a disaster the third was always just one lucky move away from it. Lesset scored early on an improbable push shot using the column for a bounce-in, then Kartor went down against the wall hard digging another one out of the joint, his throw finding an off-balance Theo who managed anyway to fling it to First Ring, where Roni was in just the right spot to score.
They played hard, and finally it seemed there was some rhythm to what they were doing. Anj woke up, and they all started feeding the ball to her – everybody, that is, except Roni, who started calling for every shot to be sent to the captain. Three in a row went to her and were flubbed in a flap of mis-worn shoes, and suddenly there was a scavage, which was Estan's problem as he mishandled a cross circle pass from Theo, badly cutting their chance of making the bid.
The next-to-last ball was blue, bounding wildly off the wall before Kartor could get to it. Theo backed him up, snagged it and threw in the direction of Second Ring. It should've been Anj's play, but Lesset intercepted, and flung it purposefully but far too hard toward Roni. Roni bobbled the ball; the spinning goal rejected her throw and her rebound. By then a green ball was in the tubes. Roni called for the blue ball again, but Anj had it and made the goal with a casual one-handed toss.
Theo thought the green ball's momentum would likely bring it to her. She started moving, trying to position herself, but as the ten-tick gong sounded the ball found a slot and launched itself toward Kartor. He bobbled it, managed to push it to Theo, who was rushing toward Second Ring while the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.
"It's mine, give to to me!" Roni's voice was loudest; but the others were calling out "Time!" and "Shoot!" and over it all Viverain bellowed, "Now, Theo!"
Theo's back was toward the goal; she held the ball lightly on her fingertips, and spun, ignoring the sounds of steps and the shouting; brought the ball up and threw it at the spinning top goal as hard as she –
Kathunk! Something hard slammed into Theo; she flung her hand out, grabbing for balance – there was a squeal of shoes, and a splat! The game buzzer went off at the same time as a high keening sound began and Roni's voice went from screech to howl.
"You killed me! Blood! Blood! I'm bleeding!"
Knocked breathless by the fall, Theo stared up at her, seeing blood all over the other girl's face. She tried to get up, then rolled away, arms folded over her head to protect it from Roni's kicks.
"Killer! Sociopath! Killer!"
"That's enough!" Viverain shouted. The yelling and the kicking stopped, but Theo still huddled on the floor, wondering dully how many downs she'd earned the Team this time.
Chapter Ten
Grandmother's Library
Quadrant Three Services Zone
Faculty Residence Wall
University of Delgado
A Safety arrived with the Aid Team.
Viverain pointed one A-Teamer at Roni, hunched over on the bench with a wad of disposable towels held to her face, and the second at Theo, sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, and her forehead against her knees. Then she frowned at the Safety.
"What do you want?"
The red-headed woman raised her hands, showing Viverain empty hands. "You called for an Aid Team, which means injuries. Injuries usually mean an unsafe condition exists. And, since one of those involved is Theo Waitley..."
"Theo didn't do anything!" That was Kartor, sounding... angry.
He better watch it, Theo thought dismally; or they'll put a note in his file.
"I'm sorry, Kartor, but that's not correct," Viverain said sternly. "Theo did do something. She played the game, and she pushed herself to excel for the good of the Team. That's not 'nothing.' "
"She tried to kill me," Roni moaned.
Viverain tsk'd. "Nobody ever died of a bloody nose."
The A-Teamer knelt next to Theo, medscan in hand. "What hurts?" she asked, her eyes on the readout.
Everything, Theo thought. She lifted her head with an effort, and took a deep breath that ended with a wince and a catch.
"Ribs ache?" the A-Teamer asked.
"A little," Theo admitted, and held still while the other scanned.
"Nothing broken," the A-Teamer said slowly. "There's going to be some bruising, and some discomfort for the next few days. I'm going to give you an analgesic and a muscle relaxant right now to take the edge off the discomfort and keep you from stiffening up..." She unrolled her dart pack. Theo held out her hand, barely noticing the minor sting.
"How'd you happen to get those bruises?" the A-Teamer asked as she re-rolled the pack.
Theo shook her head. "I don't really – "
"Her teammate," Viverain said, suddenly appearing over them. "The Team Captain, in fact – kicked her while she was down on her back on the floor with the wind knocked out of her. She was on the floor because the Team Captain knocked her down, trying to grab the ball out of her hands. I was astounded; and I hope never," Viverain said, in her scavage-court voice, "I hope never again to see such a blatant and damaging display of ego over Team!"
The court was silent. Viverain hunkered down next to Theo.
"How're you doing, Waitley?"
Theo looked down, biting her lip. "I'm all right, ma'am."
Viverain sighed.
"Listen to me, Waitley," she said, as the A-Teamer rose and moved away. "This wasn't your fault. You were doing the job that needed to be done. Mason put herself in the way; she got hurt, and then she did her best to hurt you. It's not you who's anti-social – and it's not you who's getting a note in her file." She paused. "Theo, look at me."
Slowly, Theo raised her head and met Viverain's eyes. The L & R professor grinned.
"That's the spirit!" she said and rose, holding down a broad hand.
Theo took the hand and Viverain pulled her lightly to her feet.
"Take a couple deep breaths," she said. "See how those ribs're feeling."
Theo nodded, carefully filling her lungs. It hurt, but not so sharp. Must be the analgesic, she thought, and looked up as someone else approached.
It was the red-headed Safety, and she was frowning.
"You need to have a serious talk with your mentor, Ms. Waitley. You can't help having physical limitations. However, you do have an obligation to society to insure that your limitations don't harm other people."