Laser Wars

It's almost time for the final tournament of year and the Tippecanoe High School laser team has to fight to win themselves a spot. They have a number of problems though. First they need to get into the tournament. Second, if they get in, they need more people for the team so that they match the other teams that will be participating. Lastly, one of the team's star players is having troubles dealing with his own emotions and sometimes letting it get to him and risking the teams chance of victory.

As I was getting ready I noticed a tall shaggy bearded man walked into the prep room. He was a man about in his mid-late thirties early forties. He wore dark blue jeans and a red shirt with black strips on the sides. On his shirt was the emblem of the Tippecanoe Red Devil. He was also holding a clipboard that was filled with lots of papers. When he walked in he walked around the room as if he was ten, but you could tell his age was beginning to catch up with him because in his hair you could see faint strips of grey.

"Alright today is a big day." The man said.

"Coach Bell, you look stressed. What is wrong?" Baker asked. Baker's first name was Alex, but most people called him by his last name Baker.

"It is Marvin; he might not be able to make it." Coach Bell answered.

"What are we going to do about a leader then?" I asked.

"Well I am going to make Baker leader for now. Then if Marvin makes it back in time then he will take over" Coach Bell explained.

"Great, we are down one of our best gunners. This is going to be an interesting match." Andrew said.

"Hey don't get down about this we still have a chance." Baker said trying to cheer us all up.

"Bakes right we need to give this match our all. Remember we are fighting for a place in the fourth championship of the year and our last and this championship is for the title. We can't just let the fact that Marvin isn't here decide this match and who knows maybe he will show up." I said.

"You are pretty pumped to face a team that has an Exodus." Simon said. Simon is a Machine Gunner whose job is to just storm the other team. Machine Gunners are the most basic unit for a laser team.

"Just because they have an Exodus doesn't mean we cannot win." I said.

"Just in case you have forgotten Erik, an Exodus is a very dangerous unit. They are the most valuable player on any team and are usually stacked out with the best equipment possible. They are also the most skilled player on a team." Robert explained. Robert is also another Machine Gunner.

"Yes I know-"I was cut off.

"At least Erik is being optimistic." Coach Bell said.

"Yeah, but Erik is a special unit unlike most of us who are Machine Gunners." Simon explained.

"Just because Erik is a special unit doesn't mean he is anything different and you, Simon, are a Machine Gunner compared to Erik who is a Sniper. So you have it really hard when you can fire hundreds of beams in a few seconds compared to Erik firing a single beam and then reloading his gun. Time is running out so hurry up and get ready." Coach Bell said and then he walked out of the room.

"Great Marvin is out. I hope we can do this." Andrew commented.

"Alright I want everyone to stop being so pessimistic about all this. We will do fine. Just take a look at how our season has been, we have only lost one match placing second on the overall standings and these guys aren't worth getting worked up about. Let's just finish getting ready and then we can go out there and destroy these guys." Baker said.

"YEAH!" Everyone screamed at once. You could probably hear it all the way in Texas from Ohio we were screaming so loud.

Everyone went silent until we were ready to walk out of the prep room. Once ready, we all walked out as one, with our arms linked together. I lead the pack along with Baker and Andrew. As we were walking to the game arena there were people all around us, some trying to get us to give them a high five.

"The crowd seems to keep getting bigger and bigger with every match!" I said to the guys over the screaming fans.

"It sure does, just imagine what it will be for the last match." Andrew said. We all laughed.

"Ladies and gentlemen here comes the Tippecanoe Laser Team. Their team has fought a lot of strong opponents throughout this season but they always seem to come out on top. So let's give a cheer for the Tipp City Laser team!" The announcer yelled over the microphone. Like ordered, the crowd yelled loud as we walked over to our team den for briefing.

"Alright guys now that we have all that Merlin stuff out of the way, let's get down to business! As you all are aware they do have an Exodus, but he isn't good I wouldn't look at him lightly though. He has some pretty good armor, to make up for what he lacks in skill. Their leader outside of the Exodus is the exact opposite of the Exodus. He has a lot of skill." Coach Pittenger explained.

"If this leader guy is so good then why isn't he the Exodus?" Jason asked. Jason is a launcher, one of our seven. A launcher is a guy that specializes in rockets and grenade launchers.

"Because he isn't. He doesn't like the idea of being an Exodus. He likes having his team always around him." Coach Pittenger answered. "To go into more detail, he is ruthless when it comes to his opponents. When he is on the field anyone who isn't on his team he has eyes on. Also if he gets you, you are screwed. He likes to aim for the vital points such as the head, and if you get him mad he will begin to torture you by slowly immobilizing you and he will make sure that none of his teammates touch you. Overall he is a very skilled machine gunner. I would recommend getting rid of him first, and the rest of his team will fall like stones! Now for their snipers, their main sniper is fast, skilled and very stealthy. He is good at what he does."

"So what, he won't stand a chance against me. I will pick him off before he gets a chance to fire!" I said out loud.

"Erik, don't get to cocky. Their sniper might prove to be a bit of trouble. Now that is all I have for you. Go win us this match!" Coach Pittenger said. We all yelled and quickly ran into the arena over to the starting zone.

We were pumped and ready to fight. Everyone was jumping around and yelling. We waited around for the sound of the bell to signal that the battle had begun. Once we heard the bell, we all filed out from behind the starting zone and began our march towards the other team. I took a different route towards one of the arenas sniper towers. As I began my run to the sniper tower I could sense someone, a sniper, attempting to kill me secretly. I decided to pick up the pace of my run towards the tower and then dropped down to the ground out of sight. Then I slowly made my way out of the brush that I was hiding in. I searched around to see not a single sniper in view.

"Bang!" a sniper beam going over my head. That was his worst mistake. I took my sniper rifle and placed the thermal sight attachment instead of the standard scope. I then zoomed in on where the beam had come from. There he was, the sniper who had attempted to take me out. "Bang" a sniper beam coming from my rifle and hitting my target. I heard a scream come from the sniper. I somewhat felt sorry for the guy but this is just like war, there is no time for pitting your opponent. Without thinking any longer, I stood up and climbed the ladder of the tower and positioned myself inside.

I looked around the compartment that I now resided in. It was small but big enough for what I needed to do. Next to one of the windows was a bench. "Perfect," I thought and I withdrew a small roll of items from my pack and laid it on the bench. I unrolled the pack and analyzed each one carefully, trying to find the attachments that would help me the most in the arena.

"Erik, just pick a sight and give us some cover. I think I have found the lead sniper." I heard Baker say over our intercom. I looked back down at my roll of attachments and quickly chose one. I took off the thermal sight I had put on before, and attached the new sight. I then positioned myself near the window and located the position of my friends.

"Alright Baker I got you guys in my sights, give me the coordinates of the sniper." I ordered.

"If you see us, then take two clicks to the right and look in a tree." Baker answered.

"Oh, so we have a tree climber, I'll take care of him. Oliver are you still in this?" I questioned.

"I hear you and I am. I am presently looking for the Exodus." Oliver replied. Oliver is another one of our snipers. He isn't as good as I am, but he can certainly give me a run for my money at times.

"Well, stop going for that fool. Baker thinks he has found the sniper and we need to get rid of him. I guess he has our guys pinned down." I said to him.

"Really, how did he manage that?" Oliver questioned.

"I have eyes you fool, now take care of him. We can't move until he is gone and their Bladers are standing back behind their front lines ready to exert all their power on us!" Baker interrupted over the intercom.

"Working on it, Baker just calm the heck down." I said.

"That is kind of hard to do when you got a sniper who has a dead shot on top of you. Also there is machine fire coming from the other team keeping…ARGH." Baker yelled.

"Baker, are you alright." Oliver asked.

"I am fine it is TJ he just got shot by the sniper in the arm. Look, I got to go before the sniper gets me too and I need to assist and cover TJ. Please focus on eliminating that sniper, we can't win this thing without him being gone." Baker pleaded.

"We will get him Baker, just protect our team." I said. I then clicked my intercom off. I looked out back across the field trying to find Oliver. When I found him, I noticed he was in a good place, probably better than my own. That is good for him though, he isn't as quick as me, so if he can stay protected then it is for the better.

Refocusing my attention on the task at hand, I found Baker and my friends again. I then took the directions that I was given by Baker and found my target. He was hidden in a tree with camouflage to help him blend in. I noticed he was carrying a suspended sniper with an automatic firing cartridge. Suspended weapons are for more powerful weapons that you as a player have to buy, the school will not provide you with one. Suspended weapons also show how good you are. By his readiness I could tell he was prepared for the worst. There was something about him that made me skeptical about firing at him though.

I moved about in my roost and then decided I had to fire. I had the shot and my team was counting on me to take it. I had to do it. I made a few adjustments on my rifle and zoomed in on the sniper again. Once I thought I was ready, I fired. I followed the beam all the way to where the sniper stood. When it cleared, there was nothing. I stood there perplexed. Had he fallen through already? He couldn't have, but where was he?

"That was a good shot Erik, but he isn't gone yet. I have him in my sights. I will get him." Oliver informed me.

"How did I miss?" I yelled angrily. "Alright take the shot."

"Firing." Oliver replied. I then heard the rustling of the leaves and then Oliver's voice in my ear again. "I got the bastard."

"Great. Baker the sniper is out, you are cleared to go. I'm moving my position so make sure I am cleared." I relayed back.

"Thanks, but you aren't cleared yet. The Exodus is out." Baker said back to me.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"One click to the west, wait don't move. He looks like he is going to throw something. Everyone, eliminate the Exodus! Erik, get out of there!" Baker ordered.

I could hear the urgency in Baker's voice. I didn't take one second to think, I quickly packed up my equipment. As I packed up, I could hear machine gun fire. Once I was packed, I jumped out the window, but not before the explosion.