Chapter 10: The War Room and the Judas Vibe
Location: Medford High School – Coaches' Office
Date: October 20th, 1980
Status: Political Espionage
The coaches' office smelled of old leather, stale coffee, and the lingering scent of desperation. Five men sat around a film projector, the flickering light casting long shadows of "X's and O's" against the wood-paneled walls. I sat on the corner of the oak desk, tucked into my car seat like a silent, sapphire-eyed gargoyle.
George Sr. cleared his throat. "Alright, fellas. I've been looking at the tape. If we run a wheel route out of the Power-I, we can pull their linebackers out of the box."
I watched the room through [Vibe Detection].
The Sign-In: The Inner Circle
[DAILY SIGN-IN PROTOCOL: AVAILABLE]
[LOCATION: MEDFORD HIGH ATHLETIC DEPT.]
[ACTION: SIGN IN?]
Sign in.
[SIGN-IN SUCCESSFUL!]
[REWARD: +5 TO MICRO-EXPRESSION READING]
[REWARD: NEW TRAIT: 'COLD CALCULATOR' (Suppress emotional bias in logic)]
[REWARD: SKILL: 'LIP READING (LVL 1)']
[REWARD: ITEM: 'THE STEALTH BUG' (A listening device disguised as a button)]
The [Lip Reading] skill activated instantly. I didn't need to hear them; I just needed to see the movement of their jaw muscles. I turned my gaze toward Coach Wilkins, the defensive coordinator. His aura was a Slimy, Ambition-Laced Green.
[SKILL ACTIVATED: VIBE DETECTION]
[TARGET: COACH WILKINS]
[STATUS: BETRAYAL IMMINENT]
[THOUGHT: "George is losing his grip. If we lose next Friday, I've already got the Principal's ear. I'll be Head Coach by November."]
Wilkins nodded slowly, but his lips tightened. He leaned over to the assistant coach and whispered something so low the projector hum drowned it out. But I saw it.
"Don't worry. The Nacogdoches scout is already expecting the wheel. I made sure of it."
My infant blood ran cold. This wasn't just a losing season; it was a sabotage.
The Stealth Sabotage of the Saboteur
I needed to act, but I couldn't speak. I looked at the "Stealth Bug" in my inventory. It was a 2026-grade micro-transmitter. Using my [Mechanical Aptitude], I "accidentally" kicked my foot, knocking my rattle off the desk.
As George Sr. leaned down to pick it up, I leaned forward and pressed the "Stealth Bug" onto the underside of Coach Wilkins's clipboard.
[ACTION: HARDWARE HACKING — UPLINK ESTABLISHED]
[RESULT: AUDIO FEED ROUTED TO ATTIC LAB]
Now, I had his voice. I just needed to change the game. I looked at George Sr., who was proudly explaining "my" wheel route. I knew if he ran it, he'd be intercepted, and his career at Medford would be over.
The Silent Correction
I waited until George Sr. went to the film projector to change the reel. I reached out and grabbed the chalk. I didn't draw a new play. I simply drew a Giant 'X' over the wheel route I had drawn the night before, then drew a simple Slant Route to the opposite side.
"Ethan! No! Bad boy!" George Sr. laughed, rushing over to wipe the board. "That's Daddy's big play!"
But I locked eyes with him. I utilized [Emotional Synchronization] to project a feeling of Urgent Danger. I pointed at the slant, then pointed directly at Coach Wilkins.
George Sr. paused. He was a simple man, but his "Coach's Instinct" was tinged with the Cooper intuition. He looked at the 'X' I drew. He looked at Wilkins, who was looking a little too smug.
"Actually," George said, his voice dropping an octave. "Maybe the wheel is too obvious. Let's look at a quick slant-and-go instead."
Wilkins's aura shifted to a Panic-Stricken Purple. ---
The Midnight Recording
That night, back in the attic via my remote link, I listened to the recording.
Wilkins: "He changed the play, Dave! The brat drew an X over it! If he runs the slant, our setup with Nacogdoches is ruined!"
[QUEST COMPLETED: THE PROTECTOR OF THE PATRIARCH]
[REWARD: +100 REP WITH GEORGE SR. (HIDDEN); +20 STRATEGIC FORESIGHT]
[NEW TRAIT: 'THE SILENT PUPPETEER']
[ETHAN COOPER - STATUS REPORT]
Intelligence: 20 (High-School Graduate level)
Social Intuition: 15
Wealth: $22,000.00 (Tech Stocks climbing)
Status: The Shadow Coach of Medford.