New Games: Kaylid Novellas, #1

By Mel Todd

This is the First Novella in the Kaylid Chronicles. These are stories that support and weave through the main novels.

Shifters have to stick together if they want to survive.

Perc Alexander is one of the rare humans who can shift into an animal, in his case the form of an extinct cat. As a professional athlete who trained his body for years before the shifter revelation, he doesn't think much about this new ability. Not until the NFL suspends him for being a shifter. Never one to give up easily, he works within the system to fight shifter discrimination in professional sports.

Perc knew arguing the suspension would make him a target. What he didn't expect was being knocked out and abducted by an outfit running an illegal operation involving shifters. He finds out just how far his animal instincts will go to save himself and others from their brutal abductors. In the aftermath he questions if he could have done more, saved more if he fully embraced his cat sooner. Still reeling from survivor's guilt and guided by a newfound sense of purpose, Percival is determined to fight for his career and shifter rights, more so now that he understands how high the costs may be. He knows for certain he is more than a football player and cat shifter. It's time the rest of the world learned that as well, no matter what it costs him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bad Ash Publishing
• Release date: Jan 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386908876

Mel Todd

Chasing her dream of being a full-time writer, Mel Todd has 17 stories out, her Kaylid Chronicles, the Blood War series, and more to come.  Owner of Bad Ash Publishing she is creating a book empire full of good stories and good authors.   With over a million words published, she is aiming for another million in the next two years.  All stories that will grab you and make you hunger for more.  With one co-author and more books in the work, her stories can be found on Amazon and other retailers.  You can follow her on Facebook at - https://www.facebook.com/badashbooks/

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

New Games occurs during the events of No Choice. Characters overlap and some events will be mentioned in both books, but this story focuses on Percival Alexander who enters the main story line in Commander.

I hope you enjoy getting to meet Perc.

Mel

1

SUSPENDED

Suspended

With a month to the start of the football season, everyone is watching to see who is going to take the preseason lead in the chase for the Superbowl. Most people have their money on the Lions with the emergence of some star power from their draft picks. Either way, there is some young talent to watch, but don't forget the old guys. Perc Alexander at twenty-nine is getting up there but his game and form have only been getting better on the practice field. ~ TNN Sports Doug B

Percival Alexander looked at the manager of the NFL Hawks, Sacramento's first NFL team, with his mouth open and blinked again as he tried to process what the man said.

I'm suspended? Indefinitely?

You heard me, Perc. Yes, you're suspended. As are Orlan, Rubiad, and Mannet. Per the NFL new ruling policy.

Perc's mouth opened and closed, as he tried to figure out how to respond. His mind just kept rebooting as he processed the information.

I'm one of the top three running backs in the NFL. I'm on track to be the NFL's top rusher this year. I don't do drugs, I have no criminal record. I actually manage my money. I don't act like an idiot. Why in the hell would the other guys and I be suspended? Even as he said it, his mind put together the pieces and cold claws sank into his gut.

Because you are all shifters and the NFL has suspended all shifters until tests have proved there are no health risks to shifter players and non-shifters. It falls under the potential for injury clause. Now get out of my office. I've already talked to Orlan and Mannet, I still have Rubiad left and I need to report that I've followed orders, George Rimero growled.

In a state of shock, Perc walked out, not seeing anything as he walked to his car, his mind spinning even as anger and frustration grew in his mind.

Suspended? Why? They were some of the top players, but we had been even before all this stupid shifter stuff had come about.

He drove home on automatic in his practical Lexus, trying to not think about the suspension. If he did, he'd get mad and he had a small issue with driving too fast when mad. Needing to distract himself he flipped on the radio.

Breaking news, the police officer McKenna Largo, famous for being the first shifter caught on film, has landed in the news again, the full story after this message from our sponsors.

That caught his attention. And he focused on the radio story.

I saw that video. She was damn impressive, keeping calm, and reacting to save the kid even as her body shifted. Hell, I freaked out and backed into a corner when it happened to me. I think the only reason the guys in the locker room didn't go completely ape shit was they saw it happen and were shocked into immobility.

The commercial ended, and he listened to the news story, suddenly curious.

Earlier today, in a PR stunt to make sure shifter kids stay integrated, McKenna Largo and six kids were kidnapped at gun point. One officer, also a shifter, was killed by the assailants. At this time there are no suspects and the entire area is on alert. Footage is being obtained from the bus and pictures will be dispersed to identify the suspects as soon as possible. The name of the female officer that was killed is being withheld until her family can be notified.

Fuck. Nothing like hearing about a shifter being killed to put this in perspective. I hope she's okay. She looked and acted like someone I might like.

The odd wistful thought faded even as it formed, his attention pulled back into his suspension and the general oddness of it. He resided in Rancho Cordova, with a nice house that didn't approach multi-million-dollar mansions some players owned. If he just lost his income that might be his saving grace.

Perc had grown up, while not poor, solidly lower middle class. Dad had been an accountant, good at his job but not rich. Football had been his chance at college and Perc had followed that with dedication. His dedication had been enough that he'd been picked for the draft and kept playing. Now at thirty, he knew he only had another good year or two but he felt stronger and faster than he had in the last five.

Walking into the house Perc stripped and jumped into the pool. The repetitive laps let him burn off his frustration and give him clarity and time to think. As he swam with mindless intensity, he thought about the situation.

I don't think it gives us much of an advantage. How many shifters are there? I didn't pay much attention to statistics about shifters. Damn that video getting out.

He'd shifted without warning in the locker room after practice. Some idiot playing with his cellphone camera had caught it all and uploaded the whole damn thing. His form of a huge extinct cat visible on the video. They also caught his face proving it was him.

I would have never told anyone, not their business, if not for that damn video. I swear I'm so going to kick the ass of whoever it was, if I ever find out.

The repetitive laps helped drown out that anger.

I need more info; how many players are involved? Maybe this is just me feeling paranoid, but I can't know until I get some information.

He started making plans regarding the information he needed. And by the time he couldn't swim any longer the plan in his head had grown intricate.

Climbing out of the pool he dried off and headed inside the house to dress.

In his office, he took a few minutes to verify he would be fine even if he never received another paycheck from the league. He handled his own finances and invested to make sure he would be taken care of even after football. When he'd reassured himself, Perc hit dial on his phone.

His agent Alicia Young answered on the first ring.

All-Star Agents, this is Alicia. What's up, Perc?

Did you know? His voice came across blunt and hard, but he tried to tamp it down. A short fuse might work on the field, not so much in other places.

Silence on the other end, then her voice. Know what?

That I just got suspended?

You what! The outrage in her voice pushed back some of his own anger and frustration and he leaned back in his chair.

Yes! Me, Orlan, Rubiad, and Mannet also, apparently. I've only talked to Orlan.

I, Perc, I swear, I knew nothing about this. Why? You weren't caught using performance enhancers, were you? The worry in her voice would have been comforting if he wasn't clenching his teeth trying not to scream.

Did you seriously just ask me that? Dammit, Alicia, you know my feeling on it. No, I haven't dosed. I won't. Per Rimero, we're being suspended because we are shifters.

Wait, what? They can't do that, she spluttered on the other end of the line. "Perc,