It was the third week of classes when Rich realised he had a security perimeter around him. Oh, they were subtle about it, but there were tells. Julie, Becca, cousin Yesenia, and even some other players on the football team were taking turns going on watch. He didn't go anywhere without being flanked by large women who were constantly on alert and scowling at any random person who got too close. All of this had apparently been organized without his knowledge.
They were treating him like a precious princess, or rather, a prince. The day he realised the truth, Rich found he liked it. It didn't happen all at once, but little by little, Rich was going native, assimilating to the gender roles of this reverse world. The way he talked was noticeably more feminine, that is, masculine, and the way he dressed followed suit. He had economic incentives, at the very least. Tips at Chilli's were higher when he wore a cute blouse and had a face full of makeup. Everything he didn't spend on gas and insurance for his truck went right into a college fund. Hopefully, Julie would be playing for a Texas college so he could get in-state tuition.
Just now, he was walking to AP Physics beside Becca and Yesenia. Julie wasn't taking math or science in her senior year to minimize her homework.
"Rebeca," Yesenia spoke, pronouncing his sister's name in the Spanish way, "you have studied ahead?" Their cousin looked naked without her cowboy hat, wearing it everywhere but school.
His twin looked a little uncomfortable. She and Yesenia didn't get along well at the best of times, but had agreed to cooperate for Rich's sake. "That's right. Mrs. Fekete is our neighbor. She's been tutoring me over the summer."
Usually unsatisfied with anything Becca did, Yesenia actually praised her. "That's excellent, prima. Are you considering a career in engineering? Our family business could use you." That was Auntie's beef processing business. Their rich aunt, Yesenia's mother, had a multi-million-dollar company. Even if she gave them a hard time, Yesenia was loyal to her family and had spent the last month trying to convince the Rices to join in.
"I don't know," Becca admitted as they walked into the physics classroom and sat in the front row, the two girls on either side of Rich. "Maybe. What does a slaughterhouse need an engineer for, though?"
"Many things, prima. The machinery we use requires knowledgeable people to make sure everything is working correctly. Madre desires to greatly increase automation, a complicated task. It's why I'm in the robotics club. You might consider joining me."
"Busy with football," Becca refused curtly, making Yesenia frown, a sure sign of trouble brewing. Before the old argument could begin again, Reka walked in, wearing one of those designer suits that made the boys swoon.
"Good morning, children!" the teacher greeted everyone, setting down an expensive-looking patent leather attache case next to her desk. Reaching inside, she took out a packet and began handing out papers. "Today, we continue our exciting study of bodies and forces!"
The class groaned. Reka's definition of excitement left much to be desired.
***
"She should teach art, not science," one boy complained on the way out.
"To visualize a problem is to understand it, to understand it is to solve it," Becca recited to the retreating student. Mrs. Fekete's teaching style did involve a lot of picture drawing. Personally, Rich thought it worked. Reka was definitely a better teacher than the guy who taught him in his first life, if strict and demanding. He vowed to learn as much as possible. With an adult's mature attitude, Rich had the potential to take away a lot more from his second shot at high school.
"My thoughts, exactly, Miss Rice," Reka complimented. She'd walked over to them silently after dismissing the class. From the look on her face, Rich guessed she had Future Force business to discuss.
"Are you two coming?" Yesenia glanced back at them. She was already on the way out.
"Give us a minute," Rich told her.
Their cousin didn't have a lot of facial expressions, but this one, Rich knew well. Yesenia was suspicious. "I'll be right outside."
"She's going to be a problem if we don't bring her in," Becca said as the Rice twins huddled up with their teacher.
"Too risky," Reka denied her proposal without even considering it. "You will have to find a way to avoid your cousin's interest. Stinger has eyes everywhere."
"You think our cousin Yesenia could be working for Stinger?" Rich asked incredulously. The idea was so absurd, he wanted to laugh.
"They can influence minds, Mr. Rice. It might not be her choice. No, we must compartmentalize to the utmost." Reka started putting her things away while they were talking. "Anyway, I have something for you, Mr. Rice. My attempts to weaponize the emotive force have at last borne fruit. You will have your new weapon."
"Is it a ray gun?" he asked excitedly.
Mrs. Fekete's face didn't look amused at all. "No. It is not a 'ray gun'," she said derisively. "Projectiles are an order of magnitude more complicated. In any case, it will be ready this evening. I'll expect you before dinner."
"What was all that about?" their cousin demanded once they rejoined her outside the classroom.
"Becca is going to help her with some experiments at home for extra credit," Rich told her. The best lies were also the truth, from a certain point of view.
"Is that so?"
"It is so," Becca nodded along with Rich, very convincingly, too.
"Fine." Yesenia didn't ask any more questions. "After school, I'm off to the robotics club. There is a project I'm very excited to show the public; it should be a big hit." She smiled happily. Rich was happy for her! Yesenia was so smart; it must be something really cool.
"We've got a scrimmage with the Dalton Destroyers today," Becca mentioned while they walked to their next class. "It's our last chance to work the kinks out before the season opener this Friday. Will you be able to watch, Rich?"
"I wouldn't miss it."
***
A scrimmage, or mini practice game, didn't count as a part of the official football season, but a lot of the school had turned out, including the cheerleaders.
"Fight 'em Pirates;
Fight 'em PLUH;
Sorry, posers,
We told yuh!"
Beni was just as cute as could be in his little cheerleader uniform. Rich sat in the stands, looking down on their little dance routine with an amused expression. Today's afternoon excursion would feature just one quarter of football and only a fraction of the pageantry of a real Friday Night Lights Texas high school football game, but he couldn't help enjoying himself as if it were the total package.
His current protectors were members of the junior varsity team, and one of them had run off to bring him a Coke and some nachos. The concession stands were still open. Lording it over the peasants like this was a novel experience. Goodness, the poor girls hardly dared to look directly at him, let alone maintain eye contact.
Rich, of course, wore a purple football jersey, number 67, with the name Cohen written on the back. It could very well be his real last name someday, so he might as well get used to it.
When their beloved PLUH Pirates took to the field, Rich rose to his feet and cheered with all the rest.
Their opponents, the Dalton Destroyers, got a bit of polite applause, but nothing else. Dalton Prep was a private school and badly outmatched by a 4A football powerhouse like PLUH. Realistically, all they could hope to do was not get their ass kicked too badly. It was why they were brought in. Nothing made you feel more confident before a big game than stomping somebody weaker than you. Poor Dalton.
After they returned the initial kickoff, PLUH was on offense. For their first drive, they didn't let Julie pass the ball much, preferring to have her hand the ball off to the running back and go straight up the middle. The first two plays obtained only a modest gain. It was third and five, and Rich expected them to pass, but no!
He could clearly see his twin sister, Becca, number 69, pull to the right and punch a hole in the Dalton defense, steamrolling two linebackers and opening a path for their running back to break through to daylight. BOOM! She ran over a safety, sending the much smaller girl flying like a bowling pin. Fast! She was fast! The running back caught up while Becca screened her, taking it all the way to the end zone!
Touchdown! The two girls hugged, and before long, the whole team was slapping them on the back for a job well done.
"YES!" Rich realized he was screaming. His sister looked like a million bucks out there, twice the size of their running back but nearly as fast. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted some older women talking softly and taking notes. College recruiters? Becca playing in college would be so awesome.
Everyone was happy, except the Destroyers, whose mascot was a cheetah, for some reason.
Why bring a mascot to a scrimmage? Rich wondered. The guy in the cheetah suit was pointing and gesturing. It would be comical if robotic parts didn't suddenly rip out of his oversized football uniform.
Shit, Stinger!
Remembering to show restraint in case the person inside was there against their will, Rich raised his ring:
"From a future dark
To a post not set,
Stinger hasn't won just yet,
With Pureheart Power, a noble mission,
Come forth! Future Hero! Henshin!"
At once, Future Hero leaped over the guard rail and started closing with the latest monster. As he ran, he noticed the cheetah robot had a laser cannon on its shoulder. There was a flash and-
"Ow! Ow! Ow! No fair! Another ranged attacker?" Rich rolled to his feet and dodged another blast of the cannon. At least it had a slow rate of fire. One more blast and he would be-
CRACK! Mr. Cheetah nailed him with a flaming baseball bat. His vision swam. Blinking away tears, Rich tried to reorient himself, but his unsteady feet kept him from dodging the next blow.
WHUMP!
"It burns!" That bat wasn't just hard, it was hot! Future Hero realized he might be outmatched. The shoulder cannon was a danger at long range, and the flaming bat was even more dangerous at short range. What to do?
Oh yeah! Reka's new weapon!
"Come on, Future Roller! Let's get out of here!" Rich fled in the direction of the parking lot, and thankfully, the cheetah robot followed him.
Gotta lead him away from the school, Future Hero thought. The cheetah robot blasted small holes in the ground while he sped away in his purple truck. Once or twice, Rich nearly had to run off the road when he was forced to dodge another laser beam.
Once he was on the open road, Rich thought he'd lost his pursuer for a minute, but then he remembered cheetahs are fast! Even on two legs, the robot, or monster, or whatever it was, kept pace with Future Roller's top speed.
When he turned onto his home street, Rich was a little concerned about leading the Stinger creation to Reka's lab, but he needn't have worried. Reka had heard their running battle blocks away and was standing outside holding something that looked like a flashlight.
"CATCH!" Reka called out in her Hungarian accent. Rich reached his hand out the window and snatched the black cylinder out of the air.
"Is this a lightsa-no that would violate copyright law," he said sagely. Holding the handle out the window, he pressed the button, and a purple energy sword hummed to life. Future Hero gave it a little experimental twirl. "I shall call you FUTURE EDGE!" It looked like the sword from DOOM, but mere resemblance didn't violate copyright law.
Now much more confident, Rich led the cheetah robot to a nearby quarry and exited his vehicle.
"Aha! The hunter has become the hunted!" he taunted, brandishing Future Edge threateningly.
The creature snarled and sent an energy blast his way.
WHAZHA! Like a game of tennis, Future Hero batted the beam right back. With a high-pitched shriek, the energy collided with the wall of the quarry, triggering a small avalanche of rubble.
Seeing how ineffective the cannon had become, the cheetah mutant raised its own weapon, the flaming bat, and charged Rich.
CLINK! Their blades collided, causing a small shockwave that sent dust flying in a perfect circle around them. For a time, they pressed one another, each trying to get the advantage. With a grunt of exertion, Rich wrenched his blade away, throwing the cheetah off balance. Alice-sensei's karate training hadn't taught him how to wield a sword, but he could at least maintain a strong stance.
Seeing his opening, Rich didn't hesitate. "Future Slash!" He cut the creature's arms off in a single stroke, careful in case there was a person within.
It didn't look like it. At this distance, the cheetah's head looked animatronic. Maybe Stinger was just using robots now? That would be a relief.
With a final "RAWR" the cheetah robot collapsed and exploded, leaving nothing but a tattered Dalton Destroyers uniform behind.
Rich raised Future Edge to the sky. "I STUDIED THE BLADE!"