PART 139

How the good doctor could have missed this bit of news is a testimony of how busy he had been those few weeks. Of-course he once heard, a vague report of a member of the Drones team being in intensive care. But the exact details of what had happened, he failed to note, at that time.

But his companion filled him in on, an overview of what had happened after the sporting event....that evening.

At some point he turned towards the room's entry point. On the right side to the door was a couch, to which he walked to and slumped down on.

''Zain Goodfallen and Norbert Townsend, what exactly is the connection ?'' he asked as he stretched out on the couch.

''At this point all I have is the instruction from the millionaire; Barnaby Townsend to investigate the social connection between the two,'' M.G. Wesley answered.

''But you are also interested in the gunshot incidence.....I take it ?,'' Uli Yang enquired further.

''Quite so my good man,'' was the tacit response.

PART 138

At this point Geenie and a number of the other players were already on the floor of the bus lying down to avoid whatever gunshots that maybe going their way. But it was too late for three of them who were in the front of the bus. Two had sustained injuries and the third: near fatal wounds.

Drago Vitelli had been gravely injured by a single shot to the thorax.

PART 137

Less a hundred minutes after the Drones team had showered to wash off the smell of physical exertion they had taken their various positions in the official bus set to head off to various destinations. Or at least most of them had, when a man in a dark blue hoodie abruptly broke away from the exiting crowd and fired a number of shots at the general direction of the bus.

Of-course there was a stampede, and it was a stampede in confusion. No one person could safely say what direction was the safest to run towards.

PART 136

The fatigue one feels after an intensive game of XC8 is second only to the exhilarating feeling one gets from winning the same. The day was a good one inspite of the facts. Drones came up a close second to Boomers' lead, but Geenie tied the first spot for highest goal scorer with the first offensive of the Boomers' team.

After the playing event, it is more or less routine for the rest of the day, or it would have been, had not the turn of events taken a more desperate trend.

PART 135

It would be anyone's guess, I reckon: the motives and objectives of the gun man who had chosen an open and crowdy place, as open and crowdy an area as the Arena is. To consider the audacity of such brashness is to overlook the genius behind such an attack.

It is quite easy to ingloriously shoot at someone as people come out of the Arena and then in the confusion that ensues make an unhindered getaway.

This thought got the good doctor pondering with interest; what it is that had happened on the said day; that he had managed to miss, all along.

PART 134

Knowing M.G. Wesley, the good doctor refrained from saying a lot. He expected his friend would articulate further the bare elements of the investigations he was undertaking. Instead he asked, yet again, if he had been priviledged to have watched the pre-final XC8 matchup that was held in the Lightening Arena some months ago.

''The Boomers won that one,'' Dr Uli Yang said.

''Yes, yes,'' M.G. Wesley responded,''but were you in the Arena or elsewhere close to it on the said day ?''

''If I recall correctly, I actually was in the vicinity of the Arena but not quite close to it or inside of it.''

''So you must have heard the gun-shot ?'' M.G. Wesley asked again.

''Actually I heard much later there was a shot, but on the said day I never heard any such shot.''

''I heard a fellow who fired a flare gun was arrested,'' the doctor added.

''No, no this gunshot was a real gun fired within the surroundings of the Arena's entry points,'' M.G. Wesley explained.

PART 133

Elsewhere and elsewhile a certain Dr Uli Yang had just returned from his usual consultations and was getting ready to settle in for a quiet evening at home, when his cell phone rang. It was his friend and frequent companion: Private Investigator M.G. Wesley.


M.G. Wesley had recently just received a consultation from someone; one whom he took a while to reveal. But he eventually revealed who this person was...that had offered him his patronage...and by the time he did Uli Yang was all but disinterested in what latest investigations his good friend was undertaking.

Taking a quick bite, the doctor, decided to meet the Private Investigator, as he had recommended: at his official quarters. He met him in the ante room next to the receiving room tinkering with some grotesque-looking contraption.

''What, my dear friend, do you know about Norbert Townsend ?'', he asked when he looked up from his work table.

Before the good doctor could muster what little he could recall about the millionaire's son, he asked yet another question.''What do you know about Zain Goodfallen - the model ?''

''There lies our connection in this case,'' he added.

PART 132

From where I sat in the Arena, not too far from the ladies, one of whom I knew was Zain Goodfallen, I could see them moving to take the private exit.

My guess was that they had had enough and were leaving or perhaps they were heading for the team's locker rooms to speak, I presume, with someone amidst the players. This was no more than a guess at a long shot, though.

It could be anything. It could even be that they wanted to use the ladies restroom. On a third attempt to reckon why the three women left, one could say it was most likely they were simply leaving the Arena...heading home.

PART 131

Geenie Stuart, Drago Vitteli and Jason Lander were to me, men one could not get any much better than, in a team selection. They were the coach's first choice as start-ups and so were continually used in the start of any matchup the Drones were scheduled to participate in.

PART 130

By the time, the offender with the flare gun was removed, the matchup went on for a few more minutes before a timeout, from the first half of the game was taken. By then I was mostly satisfied about the outcome of the game so far. When one thinks of it, I suppose I had been able to once more accurately predict the outcome of the matchup, without as much as a consultation with anyone.


I had predicted before the matchup that the Boomers were bound to steal the game and as it turned out they were very much ahead of the other teams by half time.

Next to them were the Drones; a team I believed, still had a chance of taking the lead and winning the matchup. The three men fielding the game of the Drones were one of the best good money could purchase considering the circumstances of poor availabilty of good players that season.

PART 129

He laughed in a cynical manner. Julio was no longer bemused...he least expected to be recognised in a place such as this. So having the additional burden of entertaining small talk with someone, one could say he vaguely knew was more than he had bargained for.

PART 128

''So lets say I extend yet another invite to race cars with me and some friends, would that be right up your street?''

''I just might say I don't care much for racing cars.''

''But what thrills differ in racing cars and racing on XC8 boots.''

''I can assure you that they are not the same; the insurance premium for one thing entertains a great difference between the two.''

PART 127

''You create precious substances...metals....stones?''

''I make organic...environmentally friendly toiletries for the family....and I sell them in booth sales.''

''So you are a veggie then?''

''Not really...I just prefer organic.''

''Like I know what you mean.''

''Naturally obtainable components....I mean...no artificials,'' Julio answered.

''Look I know what you mean,'' he said, ''but do you know what I mean?''

He seemed a little annoyed about something.

''If I give you an invitation to a shooting practice would you honour it?,'' he said,''I would show you what you would discover is a more manly kind of recreation.''

''Well I just might take you up on that offer,''Julio answered, slightly bemused at the irksome expression on his face.

PART 126

The intensity of the game somewhat progressed with time and the mood in the bar was in direct correlation to this intensity. Julio was by this time opting between giving the game his full attention or a part of the same to the young son of the millionaire whom he sensed had more than a passing interest in him.

''Tell me some thing, Julio Amstern'', he said, ''what do you do for recreation?''

''Recreation?''

''Yes what do you do when you are not XC8ing?''

''Well I am what you may loosely call an organic alchemist''

PART 125

How he hoped to have him enlist in his father's team remained to be seen. That's not to say Julio was very interested. It is excusable talk to think out aloud such propositions as the one Norbert had just made to him. But at the same time it is not acceptable to be caught up too deeply in what presumably was a hearthy statement made in the merry nature of the occasion.

Julio offered to buy him a drink.

PART 124

But Julio knew and knew better than bringing it up in their conversations.

PART 123

Though Norbert needed no introduction, he promptly introduced himself by the time he got to Julio. He mentioned what everyone knew already about his father: that he presently owned an XC8 team. He also mentioned that he would like Julio to be a member of that team.

What he failed to mention was the strained relationship he has with his father.

PART 122

Let me state here, before I go further, that Julio was no real acquaintance or friend of Norbert Townsend. But at the same time it was little or no surprise that he knew Julio and that Julio recognised him as well.

Let us just say it is a case of notoriety for one and popularity for the other. Or at least Julio liked to think so.

PART 121

But what Julio did not fail to notice was that the young man had only been unshavened for about week or two. It wasn't like he was really trying for a beard or a moustache.

PART 120

Norbert Townsend is a man who looks like a younger version of his father. His frizzy brown hair on a crown of an oval shaped tanned face was a near exact replica of his father's facial looks. Unlike his father he wasn't clean-shavened. He had a rough shock of hair on his chin and a poorly kept moustache above his lips.

PART 119

Barnaby Townsend loved his son, and he was no different. He invested heavily in the tutelage of Norbert in business administration, in the vain hope that he would eventually hand over his companies to him when he retires.

But he failed to recognise the hatred his son felt for him, supposedly due to his maltreatment of his mother, whom he divorced and left almost penniless.

PART 118

But I would do no more than a brief recount on what it is that brought this young man that much notoriety.

As is natural for most fathers who love their son, there is a desire to have their wards take after them either in profession or in business.

PART 117

Norbert Townsend; the first and only living son of Barnaby Townsend, is notoriously known for the great fallout he had with his father.

I suppose I should elaborate a little more on this disagreeable character whom many have come to know as the man who almost brought down the empire of Barnaby Townsend.

PART 116

What he could be doing in a neighbourhood such as this, Julio could not but ponder awhile.

PART 115

This was so much so, that when his name was called out he did not recognise the fact or who's voice it was that called in salute.

After a repeat of the call he recognised the caller as the estranged son of the millionaire-investor Barnaby Townsend, who goes by the name: Norbert.

PART 114

If it were to be in any familiar company I dare say one would not be as uninhibited as he was that evening in Black Swan bar. He thoroughly enjoyed the boisterous camaraderie that gradually developed amongst those in close proximity in the bar.

And he was able to voice his support for his team without any fears or tears.

PART 113

There was a buzz in the air, as one would expect from such a gathering. And as it was not in his place to be any different from the others in the room.

He promptly joined in the noise and offered suggestions and advice on how each team mate should proceed, in the matchup.

PART 112

Next to the spot he chose at the bar, was a couple who seemed in their early 40's....one drunk and talkative, the other trying to smoother the one from acting up.

PART 111

Julio had been there before, a long time ago when a farewell party was held for some friends in the local distillery. Being a friend of a friend and no close friend of the hosts, he felt a bit out of his depths during the event. And was only too relieved and eager when the evening ended and he was able to return home to sleep off the effects of the drinks in time to participate in the weekend's XC8 training session.

PART 110

Julio Amstern eventually made it to a eatery and bar that had a screen of the matchup and a large screen for that matter. What made the location even more acceptable was that it wasn't as heavily populated as one would anticipate. There were a few spaces available and with good views as well.

PART 109

The 3 designers were without warning taken in by Magna. It was like they had just seen her perform a cameo and they just loved her.

PART 108

As the circumstance would have it this was the opportuned moment she chose. She introduced Magna as a new model on the scene with tastes as varied as the arts and XC8 games.

This caused her to wince. And then she surprised herself or rather they did.

PART 107

They both discussed the recent tricks in Digital Arts that costed a media house almost a million in payouts for copyright infringements.

This was an interesting fulcrum for their conversations. So much so that one of the three designers felt it worthwhile, not demeaning, to join in and contribute a heavily opinionated critique of the copyright laws on digital materials.

PART 106

If Zain had any doubts about Magna's credibility as a model, those doubts were strongly assuaged when they both fell into a conversation about the prevailing trends in the Arts communuity.

She discovered that though Magna was an XC8 lover, something she once considered very manish, Magna had a good sense, taste and knowledge of the Arts and it's community both in the Greenspolis and Luminus City.

PART 105

Although she had her initial reservations to contend with, Zain eventually overcame the urge to steer away from Magna's general direction and plucked up the courage to make further acquaintance with her, before exchanging information about her,with the three designers, whom she sensed were getting a little bored with the gathering.

PART 104

The first time she met Magna, Zain got the vague impression she was meeting with a person who had no business being in the fashion community.

Perhaps it was Magna's demeanour or perhaps it was simply the slight manish sense of fashion she had.

Just as well, the designers, Zain was about to introduce her to were experts in both the masculine and feminine line of clothing.

PART 103

Often enough Zain would mingle and exchange entertaining but small talk with some of whom you would consider to be one of the most affluent in the city.

There were Barnaby Townsend; the inventor turned millionaire-investor, Anslem Kopkis; the publisher, Comrade Belgante of the NGO and charity group, 3 designers of international repute, someone from Cynosure studios, some journalists and a lot more important persons than those I have just mentioned.

PART 102

A quick visual of those parties would give you a rough idea of the setting and character of the occasions' atmosphere.

A little hubbub is like a welcomed companion, especially in the hall which is designed to take fifty guests without as much distress as one would expect of such space distribution. The fresh, processed air going in the rooms smelled odourless but cool and pleasureable.


The rest of the room was a mixed hue of green and teal subdued only by the long curtains and thrown shadows across the brightly lit floor.

PART 101

Well before Magna Moonstone became a reasonably known model, Zain was already in a league of her own. It was in one of the numerous parties she held in her house , she was introduced to Magna.

PART 100

She was often consulted by well known figures both in the modelling and fashion community in the city, whenever ground -breaking events in the modelling, fashion, photography and the cinematic industries were scheduled in the city.

PART 99

She recalled a certain period in her career when one could say her life was more rosey without thorns than thorny with such problems as problems of lowly status. She was, the others would agree, an instant eyecatcher and an influence to reckon with in the fashion industry.

PART 98

She mused. Perhaps it was worthwhile afterall - her honouring Geenie's invite with two nice friends...having fun.

Chances are that she needed the day out. Her ailing career was not the best of situations to be caught up in. And it was her hope: Magna would throw her a life line.

PART 97

The claustrophobic overwhelming feeling Zain had, could be said to be quite short-lived because not more than a few minutes after the crazy fellow with the flare gun was taken away, she began to enjoy herself once more.

PART 96

But that feeling was soon overtaken by one of urgency and need. He almost yelled down the communications radio. Such that, the response from the other ends was equally as urgent as the instinct of his reaction.

In less the time it took to scrutinize, with a metal scanner, half a dozen fans going in, the offender with the remains of the weapon was arrested just before another irate fan proceeded to punch him from behind.

PART 95

So when he was caught off guard barking some references to a drunk mistaking his wife for his mistress, on the communications radio, just at the moment the flare flashed in the evening skies, he experienced a sudden and complacent feeling of inadequacy

PART 94

That is the nature, he was inclined to lead his men with. They knew him well enough to relate to the humorous way he loved to manage the team.


Often enough, the jokes were with references to the funny anecdotes that often happen to them when they are out and about for drinks. And I don't mean fruit juice for drinks.

PART 93

For this reason, they; the ground keepers exert themselves to keep from complacency. Jon, being the head security detail was in hand to manage the rest of the security team. And being the fellow he is, did not hesitate to bark down the communications radio giving out instructions backed up by jocular remarks and threats.

PART 92

It is not as if Jon Richmond expected the weekend's matchup to be any less strenuous or demanding than any other such weekends. It is just that excessive familiarity with crowd control tends to make one complacent.

And you are only as good as the crowd you keep.

PART 91

The flare took a hapharzardly chosen path and landed a few feet from the the Boomers' goal square. And then it happened; the whole Arena erupted in what had a passing resemblance to a riot.

People were shouting at the opposites ends: something to the effect that someone had detonated an explosive.

PART 90

I was beginning to lose whatever enjoyment I still had of the game and whatever security I felt within the confines of the sixth row. The racket in the Arena it seemed was brought down to a sudden hush, just at the point the gunman fired the flare gun.

PART 89

Back at the Arena the circumstances surrounding our well being at the sections where the flare gun was brandished was, in a sudden compromise. Certain persons not too far from the fellow with the flare gun had began to confront the said gunman.


One of them even tried to wrestle the object off the hands of the fellow, while throwing weak punches at him. But he succeeded only in whipping up the fears of the few panic-strickened persons around them.

PART 88

Now Jamie is not one to give up that easily. He could make a call to the fellow from whom he got the papers, to get a confirmation on a few points. Or he could call me to get an opinion.

Which ever the case, he wasn't about to base a week's worth of wages on some unevenly put together statistics sheets, without some amounts of assurances.

PART 87

Jamie pondered on the bits of the sheets he believed would do his choices more harm than good.

There was a player largely unknown but ranked, he believed, above a player who had more to offer the Redhook team. He did not know whether to accept the under-ranked player as an honest mistake or simply as a dark horse hidden to mislead would be pundits about his importance to the Redhook team.

PART 86

Such that the RB index is an attempt at measuring a player's prowess and to a certain extent; intuition in an XC8 game.

PART 85

Other aspects of the cheat sheets included players' retention of balance index. This estimate is with reference to players' average times between falls in recent matchups.And it was marked out as the RB index.

The RB index is an indication of the fluidity of a teams' progress from the defensive lines to an opponent's goal square. This indicates how easily a member can hamper the efforts of his team mates if he loses balance often enough.

PART 84

With the players ranked and listed under such named columns, the meanings of the aforementioned acronyms goes thus:

FG-Field Goals
PG-Penalty Goals (sometimes wrongly referred to as Punch Goals)
LB1-last but 1 passes to score
DI-Defensive Interception or Preventions
IOP-Interception of Passes

PART 83

In introspect a summary of the cheat sheets would go thus:

Rank Player
FG
PG
LB1
DI
IOP