Thicker Than Blood
They must be questioning that guy from the next cubical. What's his name? Eric! He's not supposed to be back stage. There are no runoff matches tonight. He should be on deck. Oh my God, they're here for us. Don't panic. Just stay calm. Oh shit they're looking over here. Act casual. Just keep doing what I am doing. Lucy spotted Joe's jacket on the floor. Mumbling to herself, she reached over to Joe's jacket and grabbed the clarks. Getting up and turning the same time, Lucy made sure not to make eye contact. Lucy came bursting though the gray egg-crate covered doors, waving the clarks in the air. Joe had already strapped his PC to his arm. The three of them were alone in the tiny room. "Guys I've got the clarks! Listen," Lucy took a breath, "I was just in the mod room and..." Lucy took another breath. "Here we go." Mark was pointing at the monitor. He sounded excited. A musical horn piece came on that sounded conspicuously like the A-team theme. Movie clips of the three of them shooting M16s and hitting nothing scrolled by. Lucy's Black van rolled by. Next they showed a few clips of them welding parts onto the cyborg, and finally of the cyborg in battle. The announcer began to talk about their team's recent winning streak towards the end of the campy intro. "Guys? Guys? Something to tell you? Joe, I have your clarks..." Nothing. Joe and Mark watched intently barely holding on to their RC controllers. Lucy would have been frustrated if she wasn't scared. She stared intently at Joe. I know how to get his attention, she thought. She walked up behind him and intentionally pushed her breasts against his arm and back from behind. She whispered in his ear, "There are cops in the mod questioning Eric, right now." Joe looked down at her completely confused, with a glassy eyed look taking over his face. The announcer raised his voice a little. "By now, you have to know them, and when they come to your town you'd best look out." Joe looked to Lucy for a clue, but it was too late. They were out of time. She handed Joe the clarks, and they followed Mark out the door. The announcer yelled, "The A team!!!" as they walked out on to the floor. Lucy was worried sick, and Joe looked it too. The crowd went wild. Mark walked right up to the announcer. "Uh, that's Team A," He said into the microphone. "Right okay," the announcer said into his microphone, grinning. "I always mix that up." "So we're all curious what this new compartment is on the front of Marksman. It looks like a complete cyborg, by the new rules, so what could it be?" The announcer held the microphone to Mark's mouth. "You'll see." Mark's smile turned to a grin.
    The announcer turned to Lucy. "Your opponent tonight is Black Knight, with three straight wins. How do you think the boys will fare?" Lucy felt a bit like a robot herself, but forced herself to perk up and act. "The winner is already chosen, Rick." Her voice sounded squeaky and distant. Lucy mixed rage with fear. She was furious with herself. That sounded really dumb. Joe looked petrified, lost in his own thoughts. Rick turned to him next. "So Joe you look a little worried. Second thoughts? Cold feet? Finally met your match? Ready to throw the towel in?" The announcer looked Joe right in the eye. The studio was quiet. Joe still looked lost. Joe turned to Rick and his eyes went wide. He began to smile. He grabbed the microphone and simply said. "Never. I. Live. For. This." He donned his Clarks as he finished. The crowd went bonkers. Lucy began to feel a little better. She didn't even know why. The announcer introduced the other team. Joe and Mark walked down to their circle beside the Plexiglas enclosure. There it was, their complete robot. It stood upright on giant tracks. It had complex multi-hydraulic arms. It was painted a metallic mars-red with black accents. It's facsimile of a head had a strip of cameras for eyes that looked like a visor. Nearly seven feet of pure intimidation. Joe and Mark turned on the power for

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