Chapter 11: The Machiavellian Cradle
Location: Medford High Stadium — The Sidelines
Date: October 24th, 1980
Status: Executive Blackmail
The stadium lights hummed with high-voltage tension, casting long, dramatic shadows over the turf. The air was thick with the scent of popcorn, wet grass, and the desperate hope of a town that lived for Friday nights. I sat in my carrier on the sidelines, muffled in a Cooper-blue blanket, the "Lucky Charm" of the Medford Yellowjackets.
George Sr. paced the yard line, his aura a Vigilant Steel. Beside him, Coach Wilkins looked like a man who had swallowed a live wire. His aura was flickering Toxic Green and Panic Purple. He kept glancing at the Nacogdoches sidelines, no doubt wondering how to explain why the "guaranteed" wheel route hadn't been called yet.
The Sign-In: The Sideline Vantage
[DAILY SIGN-IN PROTOCOL: AVAILABLE]
[LOCATION: THE 50-YARD LINE — MEDFORD STADIUM]
[ACTION: SIGN IN?]
Execute.
[SIGN-IN SUCCESSFUL!]
[REWARD: +10 TO PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE]
[REWARD: NEW TRAIT: 'THE INVISIBLE HAND' (Actions taken through others gain 50% success rate)]
[REWARD: SKILL: 'REMOTE AUDIO INJECTION' (Ability to play audio through local Bluetooth/RF signals)]
[REWARD: MONEY: $10,000.00 (CRYPTO-PRECURSOR ALGORITHM EARNINGS)]
The [Remote Audio Injection] was exactly what I needed. I didn't want the "Nuclear Option." Exposing Wilkins publicly would cause a scandal that might get George Sr. fired along with him for "lack of control" over his staff. No, I wanted a Puppet.
The Halftime Confrontation
As the halftime whistle blew with the score tied at 7-7, the coaches retreated to the narrow, cinderblock tunnel. George Sr. handed my carrier to a student manager. I waited until Wilkins trailed behind, ducking into the equipment room to make a "private" call on his cellular bag phone.
I activated the [Stealth Bug]'s playback feature through his own headset.
Wilkins's voice filled his ears: "...The brat drew an X over it! If he runs the slant, our setup with Nacogdoches is ruined!"
Wilkins froze. He dropped the bag phone, his face turning a shade of white that rivaled the yard lines. He looked around the empty room, sweating profusely.
I utilized [Vocal Mimicry], pitched at a frequency only he could hear—a low, distorted whisper that sounded like the voice of a digital ghost.
"Call the blitz on the third play, Wilkins. If Dad loses this game, your bank records for the 'scout' payments go to the Sheriff. I am watching."
Wilkins collapsed against a stack of tackling dummies. He didn't know who was talking, or how, but he knew he was trapped. The [Psychological Warfare] boost made the threat feel like a crushing physical weight.
The Second Half: The Masterclass
In the third quarter, the Nacogdoches QB dropped back. Wilkins, looking like a man possessed, called a "Double Safety Blitz" that he had previously "forgotten" to include in the game plan.
It was a sack. A fumble. Medford recovered.
George Sr. looked at Wilkins in shock. "Great call, Dave! Where has that been all season?"
Wilkins just nodded weakly, his eyes darting toward my carrier on the sidelines. I gave him a slow, deliberate blink. The [Judas Vibe] was gone, replaced by Total Subservience.
[QUEST COMPLETED: THE SHADOW COORDINATOR]
[REWARD: +200 REP WITH GEORGE SR. (TEAM RANK: LEGENDARY)]
[REWARD: UNLOCKED SPECIAL BUILDING: 'THE ATTIC COMMAND CENTER']
The Victory Walk
Medford won 21-7. The town went wild. George Sr. was hoisted onto shoulders, but he reached down and grabbed my carrier first, holding it up like a trophy.
"My boy!" George roared. "He's the lucky one! I'm telling you, Mary, this kid is a football genius!"
Mary laughed, her aura a Vibrant Gold. "He's just a baby, George! Put him down before he gets cold!"
Back in the nursery that night, Sheldon was sitting up, his arms crossed. He had seen the way Wilkins looked at me. He had seen the "accidental" tech interface I'd been hiding under my blanket.
"B-B-Blackmail," Sheldon whispered, the word coming out with surprising clarity for a nine-month-old.
I pulled out the [Architect's Pacifier] and popped it in. "It's called 'Leverage,' Sheldon. Learn the difference. By the way, I've just moved $5,000 into a trust for Missy. She's going to need it to survive your high school years."
Sheldon's brow furrowed. "M-M-Me?"
"Yes, you. Now go to sleep. Tomorrow, we start your 'Introduction to Calculus.' I need you at a certain level so I can use your academic reputation as a cover for my tech patents."
[ETHAN COOPER - STATUS REPORT]
Intelligence: 21
Psychological Warfare: 12
Reputation (George Sr.): Legendary
Wealth: $35,000.00 (Total Liquid Assets)