The Almost Champion

Richard Franklin Simmers, better known as Righty Rick, once had the world by a string. His vicious, unstoppable body blows in the ring had made more than one opponent look like a mouse fleeing an alley cat. The national championship was on its way, and Righty was understandably expected to trounce his hapless competitor and achieve wealth and fame at an early age.

Fate had other ideas, and an untimely wrist injury cost him the match. His explosive reaction cost him his career.

Never having been the bookish type, Righty took his place amongst the town’s hardworking folk at the lumberyard, working hellish hours under a hot sun by day and soaking his parched throat with beer and whiskey by night. Though he occasionally polished his knuckles on any bar patron foolish enough to doubt the veracity of his once-legendary skills, his glory days had vanished before they ever fully materialized.

A decade later, a bolt of inspiration and self-disgust catch him off guard at work one day, and he forms an iron determination to somehow do something great with what is left of his life.

Not long after, he crosses paths with a new substance that has hit Selegania’s store shelves: Smokeless Green. Infinitely more powerful than coffee, a quick sniff gives its user unspeakable energy and concentration.

Having recently hopped on the wagon, Righty is leery of trading serfdom to booze for slavery to powder. But though he doesn’t know it, he has found the means to his greatness.

And to great destruction.