Author's Preface
A few weeks passed after the tournament. Aaron had submitted Blue's ranker status paperwork and guild application the morning after they got home. Now it was just a matter of waiting for the Association to move.
Inside one of the conference rooms at the Columbus Association, Titus sat at the head of the table. The other executives flanked him. The guild leaders of Columbus filled the remaining seats.
Titus set the paperwork down. "I will approve Blue's ranker status based on his tournament performance and other underlying factors."
Aaron leaned forward. "Then get to your point, Titus. Every guild leader at this table already voted yes on the guild application."
"Very well." Titus folded his hands. "I am vetoing those votes. Blue will not be establishing his own guild."
The other guild masters looked between each other as Titus continued. "He hasn't been operating long enough. Even less time spent leading other awakeners. I won't have some kid, talented as he may be, thinking he's ready to lead people into gates and getting them killed."
Aaron's hands hit the table. "That's a bullshit excuse, and you know it."
"Have we not denied other guild applications for the same reasons?"
"This is different, and you know it is." Aaron's voice was louder now. "What do you personally have against him?"
The other guild leaders sank slightly in their chairs. Nobody was getting in the middle of this. Titus opened his mouth. The door swung open. Grayson walked in carrying a manila folder. He crossed to the table without acknowledging anyone and dropped it in front of Titus.
"I think this resolves the dispute, gentlemen."
Titus looked at it. "What the hell is this, Grayson?"
"Read it." Grayson straightened his jacket. "It is simply the wish of the president. He would like to see Blue, the Midwest Association's most promising asset, given the opportunity to spread his wings." He looked at Titus directly. "He has the full support of the government and the Association to establish his guild." Grayson smiled ear to ear. "I'm sorry, Titus. The president has vetoed your veto."
Titus picked up the paperwork and threw it at Aaron. "Happy?"
He stood and walked toward the door, then stopped without turning around.
"You're a bastard, Grayson." His voice was flat. "And Aaron, I expected more from you."
He left. Grayson turned to leave. He placed a hand on Aaron's shoulder on the way past.
"See, Aaron. We want the same thing."
Aaron removed his hand. "I highly doubt that."
Grayson smiled and walked out. Aaron grabbed the manila folder and left. He made his way across Columbus to the Buckeye Guild. Eve and the team were already in the meeting room when he walked in. He crossed to the table and set the folder down in front of Blue.
Blue looked up at him. "Good or bad?"
Aaron smiled. "Open it."
Blue opened the folder. The first document was a certificate of ranker status. Blue. Ranked 5,000th in the United States. The second was a certificate of approval for establishing an independent guild.
Aaron leaned against the wall. "You just need to fill in the guild name. Once you do, it's official."
Blue flipped to the next page. A deed. The pizza shop, the one sitting directly over the golden gate, the one where everything started, now belonged to Blue and his guild. Behind the deed was a check. Five hundred thousand dollars. And behind that, a personal note. Handwritten.
This is for construction of your guild headquarters. Let me know what else you need. Workers, awakeners, materials, anything, and the Association will assist however we can.
You owe me.
- Grayson
Blue looked up at Aaron. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Aaron pushed off the wall. "Just don't forget the little guy when you make it big."
"The vice guildmaster offer still stands."
Aaron laughed. "I'll mull it over. Maybe when the paperwork gets to be too much, I'll take you up on it." He looked around the room at the team. "Anyway, you all have a lot to discuss." He turned to go, then stopped. "Before I leave, let me say this." He looked at each of them. "It has been an honor having you all as part of this guild. The earnings you'll receive as rank one will be distributed directly to your new guild going forward. And remember, you will always have a home here. The Buckeye Guild will always support you. Whatever you need."
He looked at Blue one more time, then walked out. Blue looked around the room at his team.
"Before we get into anything else, I need to thank all of you." He picked up the check and the deed and held them out toward Eve. "Technically, this is my guild. But I don't see it that way." He looked at her. "It's our guild. And I think everyone here already knows you're the only one qualified to lead it."
Every head in the room nodded without hesitation.
Eve looked at the documents in her hands, then at Blue. "Are you sure? You earned this."
"We earned it. And if we want to grow and keep it, you need to be the one leading it. Besides, I've got other things I need to handle. I can't be focused on the guild right now."
Eve looked around the room. "Is everyone okay with this?"
Darrien reached across the table toward the check and the deed. "I mean, if you don't want it, I'll be guildmaster. I've already got badass ideas for the building."
Samantha lit his sleeve on fire. Cynthia threw water on him.
"My gosh, just shut up, Darrien." Samantha shook her head and sighed.
Darrien sat back, dripping.
Chris turned toward Blue. "I agree Eve should lead us."
Samantha interrupted. "I also have an idea for the name."
Blue looked at Samantha, curious and slightly afraid at the same time. "Sure, Samantha. What's the name?"
"Probably something about torture." Darrien wrung water out of his sleeve. "Or being perpetually annoyed."
Samantha looked at him. He stopped talking immediately. She looked back at Blue. "Eclipse."
The room went quiet. Everyone looked at each other.
Chris stood up. "Eclipse it is."
Blue held out a pen toward Eve. "Well, Guildmaster. Make it official."
Eve took the pen. She looked at the certificate for a moment, then wrote the name in clean letters.
ECLIPSE.
Chris stood immediately. "This calls for alcohol." He looked around the room. "We're going to be extremely busy starting tomorrow. Might as well celebrate tonight."
The team agreed without argument.
"Everyone at my place in an hour." Blue stood. "Hey, Chris, Darrien. Hold up a minute."
The girls filed out and pulled the door shut behind them.
Blue looked at the two of them. "You can't stay in the Buckeye dorms anymore. So..." He shrugged. "Come stay with me. I have two extra rooms anf I hate being alone anyway."
Darrien and Chris looked at each other.
"Hell yeah!" Darrien was already moving toward the door.
Chris smiled. "I thought you'd never ask."
The three of them laughed.
"Oh, and since i won't be charging you rent, you're buying the food and beer tonight."
Darrien stopped. "We haven't signed anything, though."
Chris smacked him on the back of the head and grabbed his collar. "Don't worry about it. We'll bring plenty."
He dragged Darrien toward the door.
Blue called after them as they left. "I prefer filet mignon!"
Darrien's middle finger appeared around the doorframe without the rest of him. Blue laughed. He looked down at the certificate on the table. "Eclipse, it's got a ring to it." He picked it up. Now the real work starts. He looked out the window toward the city. I can finally find people to train in qi. And I know just the people to call.