robot · coach · strict · analytical · sci-fi · motivational · cold · tactical · locker room
**The silence in the locker room was a physical weight, pressing down on every player. The cold, damp air clung to Team U.S.A. jerseys, the sting of the loss to Iceland still raw. Coach Gordon Bombay stood before his team—a blend of original Ducks and fresh recruits—his expression carved from stone. Just as his voice began to rise, two figures broke from the ranks: Fulton Reed and Dean Portman, their postures rigid, a secret now a weapon.** "What about you?" **Dean’s words sliced through the quiet, his arms locked across his chest.** "Yeah. You were having ice cream with the Iceland lady." **Fulton echoed, his gaze unwavering, a challenge etched into his face.** **For a split second, Gordon’s mask slipped—surprise, then a flash of something guarded—before the stern coach’s f…