Knicks vs. Bulls: Second Half III
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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: October 22nd, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~
~~~(Time: 5:25 PM)~~~
[Focused Hatred][A+]
[Description: You're able to focus the hate and anger of your teammates into efficient basketball for your team. Defensive efficiency goes up by 25%, and offensive turnovers go down by 15%. Fouls called on the defensive end of the ball are reduced by 20%.]
This is the first badge I've gotten in a long time that isn't directly connected to the Special Badge area. A member of the medical staff is checking out the area where I hit my head as we're still on the bench.
Tom is busy yelling at the refs for the blatant, flagrant fouls I had against me. It's buying some more time on the timeout. I can only imagine what the announcers are saying right now.
My eyes slowly drift toward the area where I know Ellie is sitting. As I look, all I see is a mother in fury at what happened to her son. She's staring at the Bull's bench with a hatred I've never seen before. I'm a little worried about her.
But my attention focuses on the system interface as I bring it up.
[Ulysses Kennedy]
[Class - The Singularity] [Legendary]
[Age 18, birthday January 24th, 2008]
[Shooting- S+] [Dribbling- S] [Passing- S-] [Speed- S-] [Defense- A+] [Lateral Quickness- A] [Dunking- S] [Rebounding- A+] [Endurance- S+] [Current Height- 6'11 without shoes] [Wingspan- 7'6] [Weight- 245 Lbs.]
[Badges]
[Quick learner][A] [Shooters Touch][A+] [One of a Kind][S+] [Incredible Work Eithic][B+] [Dribbling Talent][A+] [Deadeye][A] [Limitless Range][A+] [Lockdown Defender][A+] [Heartbreaker][A] [Deep Impact][S] [Highlight Reel][A+] [Ankle Breaker][A] [Post-move Master][A] [Moving Fadeaway][A+] [Deep Range Deadeye][S] [Tight Handles][S] [Endless Energy][S] [Uninjurable][S+] [Impossible Shot Maker][S+] [Focused Hatred][A+]
[Special Badges]
[The Singularity's space][X+] [Event Horizon][X+] [Devourer Of Stars][X+] [Ultimate Shooter][X+]
The amount of badges I've gotten in the last couple of years has been insane. Focused Hatred is one that I didn't realize I would want. But since it's so great at getting my team's head in the game, it has more value than most of my individual badges.
It goes to show that you can't win games on your own.
"You doing alright, brother? You took a pretty nasty fall."
The medical staff asks me a question that takes my mind off the system. He's probably wanting to make sure that I'm not having any neurological problems.
"I'm fine. This timeout will be ending any moment now. So, can you wrap this up?"
We're at the bench right now. But that doesn't mean he won't take me into the back to give my head a complete examination. I can see he waves for some of his colleagues to come over.
A few arrive, and they all take some time to look at my head.
"Sorry, Ulysses. But it's protocol that you come back and have your head inspected after a fall like that. I know that you want to win, but your health is the team's first priority."
This is so annoying.
~~~(POV: Ellie)~~~
~~~(Date: October 22nd, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~
~~~(Time: 5:26 PM)~~~
The white-hot fury that's boiling inside me is something I've never felt before in my entire life. My eyes are burning holes into the Bull's players. But that attention is taken away as Ulysses is taken from the bench by the medical staff.
I stand up and make my way to the stairs leading to the entryway of the locker rooms. I'm stopped by security at the bottom of the stairs.
"No civilians allowed."
Before I can say anything, a man comes up behind him and whispers into his ear. The guard looks at me and nods his head apologetically. Stepping aside. I look at the man who got the guard to let me pass.
"You're not the first mother to want to see her son after he's taken back to the locker rooms for a medical check-up."
I just need to make sure he's okay.
~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~
~~~(Date: October 22nd, 2026)~~~
~~~(Location: Madison Square Garden, New York)~~~
~~~(Time: 5:27 PM)~~~
The timeout has ended, and my team is back to playing. Now that I'm not out there, it'll probably be a slaughter. But Focused Hatred is working even if I'm not on the court. So it won't be that much of a deficit when I come back.
As I'm sitting on the examination table, the door opens, and in walks Ellie. I can see there is a look of relief on her face. She makes her way over and hugs me.
"I'm so happy that you're okay!!!"
Mothers. I can't think of what the world would look like without good mothers.