Act - 1 - Revolution

Two Minute Warning

Paladeia

P.I.S.L. Championship Game

Super Bowl Arena

2:05 Remaining in the First Half

Pacifica Galaxy 24 – Golden City Firebirds 12

Setting up his offense, Gabril Arcange guides Galaxy players into their respective positions.  He checks the time remaining and swivels his hips from sideline to sideline.  The Pacifica captain extends a pair of fingers and yells, "TWO MINUTES!  TWO MINUTES!"

The rules of the last two minutes of every PISL half of play often lead to frantic free-for-alls.  A competitor’s suit can entirely disable without stopping the clock.  Elimination chaos frequently ensues, which can put stars on the bench and games out of reach.  The pandemonium can also equalize contests that were previously lost.  On-field coordinator for both offense and defense, Gabril shields the pressurized hydrogen-filled sphere from the Golden City defense by cradling it against his down-field hip.  Using his free right hand, Arcange incites riotous fans.  They oblige him with a deafening, cement-shaking noise.  Violently, Lugus Gwayador abandons the deep post with an elbow.  He climbs their formation to accept a handoff from Gabril, who vacates his pinnacle offensive position.

Beginning his trademark between-the-leg dribble dance, Gwayador strafes right as an orchestra of offensive motion ensues.  Launching his shoulder into the head of a passing attacker after drifting left, Gabril’s block is perfectly legal.  It sends his much lighter opponent sprawling helplessly across The Super Bowle arena’s floor.

Throngs of fans approve, "OOOOOOOOOOOH!"

Gabril jams his left foot into the cement to cut across the floor.  With his hands extended and his fingers ready-to-catch, Arcange anxiously looks for an entry pass.  The throw never even leaves his teammate’s hand.  Instead, flashing red lights illuminate the center's helmet interior, warning him of imminent danger.  A screeching proximity alert rhythmically blasts into his ear, forcing him to drop his attention immediately into his suit’s path.  Already inches from the Galaxy captain's chest, a massive Firebird defenseman’s cross-checking pole-net crashes into Gabril’s torso.  It rocks him backward several steps.  Backstroking wildly and desperate to keep his suit upright, Arcange is met by a second carbon fiber rod’s cross-check across his back.  Somehow, that impact allows him to regain his balance.  Aggressively, the two much heavier defensemen drive their opponent toward the concrete wall behind their goal.  Desperately evading elimination, Pacifica’s center avoids elbows, knees, sticks, and the occasional leg sweep.

Clumsily improvising due to the unforeseen double-defenseman trap on his captain, Lugus shuffles further right.  Looking to get rid of the metal sphere burning a metaphysical hole in his suit’s right glove, he wildly directs teammates with his left.  Gwayador faints passes that he refuses to commit to.  He never even sees Mykil "The Blonde Behemoth" Angelus, a telepathic expert, and Firebird captain, closing in on him.  

Easily one of the PISL’s better players, Mykil had been shadowing his counterpart, Gabril.  However, his team's trap on the MVP was successful, so he charged the unsuspecting ball carrier with reckless disregard instead.  Emerging from behind Acan Tayautle, one of his heavily armored bruisers, Mykil explodes through the chest of his opponent.  Golden City’s seasoned center delivers an exquisitely timed hit, which dislodges the ball from Pacifica's finesse forward.  After causing the pivotal loose possession, the Behemoth advances.  A Firebird attacker helps initiate the fastbreak by cartwheeling a pass up the field to his captain following his fumble recovery.

After seeing the loose ball and breaking on it hard, both Galaxy defensemen put themselves in a terrible position.  They can’t stop Mykil from sprinting through their containment.  They also watch helplessly as the left attacker’s pass sails ominously over their heads.

Gabril manages to spin free of the desperate trap set up by the two slower Firebird defensemen.  Miraculously no worse for the wear, Arcange hopes to again become a factor in the play.  He strides frantically down his team’s sideline.

Mykil Angelus allows the "rock" to bounce once before softly catching it over his shoulder.  He peeks at the Galaxy’s outside attackers, Smoke, and Montu.  They are both well within the range of reaching him before he can score.  Recognizing his speed disadvantage, he shifts the ball from his right to his left hand.  Cutting, Mykil catches Mayhem’s chest plate by throwing an expertly timed stiff arm.  Executing an in-stride spin move, he redirects Molakhu’s falling suit into Smoke’s diving knees.  Impeccable footwork had permitted Golden City’s captain to escape two sure tackles.

Legions of fans cheer for Gabril Arcange's opponent.  His mad dash up the sideline is fueled by irrational, seething jealousy.  He thinks, "Those should be Galaxy cheers."

Exiting his savage spin move, Mykil’s stumble allows the Galaxy captain to gain valuable ground.  Seeing an opening and going for it, Gabril’s cutting feet are wrapped in a surprising shoestring tackle.  As his legs are squeezed together, a single unsuccessful step breaks his balance.  Gabril reads the golden insignia on the back of his assailant’s brown suit as he falls to the floor.  He says to himself, "Number thirty-three, huh?" 

Ira Nergal, a three-time PISL champion, claws up Arcange's struggling legs in retaliation for Etward's disablement.  Desperately scrambling to his back, Gabril surrenders the bottom position of their wrestling match.  Ira delivers her opponent a series of vicious, denting body blows in an attempt to score a historic championship elimination.  Arcange lunges at the woman and pulls her into a last-ditch-effort headlock.  Still defending against disablement, the Galaxy captain clinches their helmets together as Ira Nergal’s strikes begin to take their toll.

Multiple red indicators flash on Gabril's display screen.  His computer cheerfully reports, "Significant chassis damage—sustained."

Struggling to maintain his grip around his opponent’s neck, he grunts, "Give it a second, would ya’!!?"  Reverberating through both of their helmets, his enemy’s proximity alert lets Gabril anticipate the Firebird violently powering through his grasp to escape.  Before Ira can pull free, the center sinks his white glove into the top of her busty brown and gold chest plate.  Clamping down, he uses every ounce of his suit’s hydraulically powered hand grip strength.    

She flails at Gabril's unyielding right arm while screaming.  Ira "The Ballistic Blonde" Nergal knew that the classic mistake of overaggressiveness had been a critical one.

Sprinting to his captain’s aid, Lugus Gwayador lowers his shoulder in hopes that he can make up for his admittedly stupid fumble.  Galaxy’s finesse forward blasts through Ira Nergal’s abdomen.  He sends them both tumbling across the arena floor to the roar of cheering fans.  Instinctively, Gabril locates the game ball.  He rises just in time to witness Mykil celebrate a 12-point score with a huge spike.  Arcange curses in frustration.  He does, however, find solace in the fact that Ira Nergal's suit won't stop convulsing due to catastrophic fluid loss.