I laughed it off, of course. "I'm serious, Matthew," she said, approaching the net, "You'd be tall for a girl, and strong. You'd be a big star. You'd...probably get a scholarship to college, a good one, like Stanford or something." The idea gave me shivers. Not only was she right, it was also appealing at some level deep down. "You could be one of my girlfriends on the team, too," she said smiling. I tried to be cool and let the issue drop after that, but it came up at dinner with her mom. Just to make sure that you aren’t cheating, which I know you wouldn’t do. But to ensure you stick to the righteous path, Jason, you start at chapter one and work forward. Eric, you begin at the end and work backward. Reports due on Fridays at shift start. Motion overruled. Please proceed, Mary.”“Thank you, Grandmother, at the last meeting of the command group, seven standard days ago, Purser Reykjavik reported that the proceeds from expedition number 10 had been below the expectations set at. .the battlefield vanishing as darkness and numbness overtook her. The reality of her situation had yet to settle firmly on her awareness, though she was able to put it into words.I have been captured.Against her eyelids, she saw the faces of her fellow Defenders, could see their panic and despair. She saw most clearly the faces of Thyriol and her twin sister, Axia, their mouths open and screaming.The images fell apart at the sound of stone grinding against stone. Light fell upon her eyelids.. What I hadn’t counted on was the amount of beer they were drinking and Tom’s ability to manipulate the situation. It all started with a bet between Phil and Bob on weather or not one of the teems would make a first down. Tom suggested the looser would have to have Fifi sit on his lap for ten minuets. Tom looked right at me and I knew better than to protest. They agreed and Phil lost. I sat on Phil’s knee but Bob piped up “on the LAP”! Phil is a big guy so he had no problem holding me but I was.