XERO GRAVITY Book 1 part 3 of 4

“Come join it! It will be fun.” The strange Xero said, pressing the paper into Stark’s hands. “I don’t think that I have ever met you both before. What’s your name?” The xero said, their mouth moving at a million miles an hour as they thrust their right hand out to Stark. 

“I’m Stark and this is my brother Shirako.” Stark said, grabbing the Xeros hand. A buzzing sensation shot through his arm to his arm. The Xero laughed, tilting their head to one side as they pointed to a buzzer on their right hand. “You fell for it!” They said.

The white and orange Xero grinning at them like a maniac with an orange and blue eye.

“Harley’s the name and fun’s the game.” They said as they started walking away. 

“Hey! you even going to explain what this piece of paper is?!” Stark yelled as Harley walked away almost as if they forgot Stark and Shirako were there. 

Stark looked back at Shirako, walking over to him. Shirako furiously pointed at the prestige symbol at the bottom of the page. Stark looked over the line right above it.

We will award the winner of this competition a mega-sized prestige coin plushie that doubles as a pillow. 

Shirako pointed fiercely at the pillow. 

“Do you think we can win it?” Shirako signed to Stark.

“Knowing our talents,” Stark started as he ruffled his hair, “I wouldn’t be surprised if we took first.” Stark said.

Stark and Shirako wondered through the park, the different toys and stands packed with people.

“Did you know there’s a new race that is in the festival games this year?” Stark overheard. Stark looked over the piece of paper, seems that the amount of people came to see this thing. Festival games, it was. He wondered how many others there would be in it.

“There they are. Is this the other team?” They heard as they moved towards the middle of the fair. Stark soon found the owner of the voice, another xero. How many of them were there? Stark waved to the Xero, who returned the gesture. 

“Hey there.” The light teal Xero said, arms crossed as he sat in the shade, giving off an eerie glow.

“Name’s Verox, glad to see more of us here.” He said. 

“So, uhh... how is this supposed to work?” Stark asked. 

Verox chuckled.

“Sorry, but I’m not the right one to answer this question.” He said as a Xero ran up, kicking up dust.

“Howdy!” Harley said, running up to them kicking up dust as they ran.“So, you all came! That was quick!” They said as Verox shot a venomous look at them. 

“Could you at least try to not make a mess everywhere you go.” Verox says as he dusts himself off. 

“Sorry!” Harley says as they turned to Stark and Shirako. “Welcome to the games! So it is simple. Team who had the most fun wins! You play through scavenger hunts, carnival games, arcades. Everyone goes on their way and enjoys the park!” Harley announced. 

“Your so confident and yet can’t seem to get the details right.” Verox says as he pulls Harley back by their collar. Harley crosses their arms. “They are part right. We play games and complete challenges. Each game we complete gives us points, the more difficult the game, the more points you score. Team with most points wins.” Verox says. “But I wouldn’t be too confident though,” he says with a smirk. “There are plenty of Xeros that have talent in this arena.” 

Harley counts on their fingers as if deep in thought as Verox drags them away. 

“Wait, I thought that this is the first time that you have been in this competition, isn’t it?” Harley asks. The smile disappearing from Verox’s face.

“Who asked?” Verox says. 

“Well, I guess my statement is a question that you answered.” Harley said, slapping off Verox’s hand and running to a nearby tent.

“Here are the other competitors! I thought it might be a good idea to meet up with everyone! Five minutes till we start though!” Harley says flying out of the tent and into the fair again.

“There they go again.” Shirako signs as they fly through the tent flap.

“Indeed,” Stark says dumbstruck. “Are all Xeros this crazy?” 

“Well, there is Venza, and we aren’t as normal as some others are.” Shirako signs.

“We might as well find who we are against.” Stark says walking towards the center of the tent, posters of the competition on the wall and Xeros going about their business. A purple Xero going through different gears and parts, trying to put something together. A spotty purple and tan Xero wearing gear as if he is on a quest, next to him a black and purple xero that is laying down on the benches. A white and gray artic xero reading a book and looking up to the ceiling. 

“What a crowd.” Stark says sarcastically as he moves over to one bench. Shirako followed, going over to the bench and grabbing the small plush in his pouch and playing with it.

“So Shirako, what do you think?”

“I think we will win.” Shirako signed automatically. 

“Yeah, but what is the plan? What games do we focus on winning?” Stark asked.

“We have been asking ourselves that same question.” The Xero covered in gear came over to say.

“Who are you?” Stark asked as he approached, sitting down on the bench.

“Nolt, at your service.” Nolt said saluting, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. “That I don’t know. I don’t know what I am good at, so you probably won’t see me in the finals.” Nolt says, looking through the room.

“Surly you know something.” Stark said. Nolt grinned.

“Fine, I know one thing. Apparently there is an obstacle course no one our age has ever completed before.” Nolt started. “You finish that and you will have more points than all the other games combined.”

“Doesn’t that sound unfair?” Stark asked. 

“Well,” Nolt starts, “When there is something that not a single creature has managed to complete, then, well, anyone who gets across it has the respect of the entire reserve.”

“Sounds hard.” Shirako signed.

“That is why, I, the rescuer in training, will be the one to complete it.” He says confidently, pointing at himself. 

“Forget it.” A Xero said as he bit into a mint, the candy bubbling in his mouth. The black Xero walked over. “If you fail the course, then you fail the entire games.” He said.

“Suli! Don’t be such a downer! I know that we can finish it.” 

“You can.” Suli shot back, I would rather not be left in the dust in the first games that I do.” He said, walking over to the starting line. Nolt rolled his eyes.

 “this nerd doesn’t even want to try it.” 

“Hi all!” Harley said, walking into the center of the tent. The race to become first will begin for the Xeros! I hope everyone is ready!” Harley says excitedly before Verox hits them on the back of the head.

“Dude! If they don’t know that, then we them behind!” Verox says as Harley jumps right back up.

“Those that don’t want to leave now don’t have to! But they will be at a disadvantage!” Harley shouts as they Verox rolls his eyes. 

“That doesn’t matter anymore!” He says as he goes towards the starting line. 

“Well,” Nolt says as he walks towards the line, “good luck! Sorry but as a rescuer I won’t show any mercy!” Nolt says as he goes towards the starting line.

“You sure that we will be okay?” Stark says. “I mean, the rest of the Xeros are really gon-hoe about this.” He says. “Right Shirako.”

He looks over to his side, Shirako disappearing from his sight. He looks around the cabin, thinking that he was already in the corner. After exhausting his search, Shirako grabs his hand, pulling him towards the starting line after all of the other Xeros had started. Stark repeats himself.

“Are you sure about this?” Stark says as they both wildly run over the starting line. The look on Shirako’s face saying everything that he needed. It was a look of determination, a look that sent shivers down his spine.

Well, we might as well have fun during it. Stark pleads in his heart that they win, for his brother’s sake.

***

“Congratulations!” they heard as they sat in the middle of the fair. “You just won a triple large teddy bear!” The voice said. It had been close to thirty minutes since the start of the race. The competition bell at the middle of the fair ringing, signifying that the first half of the festival games had been completed. 

“Oh, what is that? You are part of the festival games? This is a voucher for five points. Good luck!” The last part making Shirako’s ears ich. He took a deep breath, he was sure that it was just a part of his imagination, anxieties that another racer was doing quite well. Stark looked over in curiosity, only to see the pink Xero with goggles on her head handed the ticket.

“Wow Twilight, your a good shot!” Zoss said. 

“Not really, I wouldn’t have been able to do it if you hadn’t pointed out the ballon with the big number in it.” Twilight shot back as they both grinned at each other. Stark gripped his paws in irritation. Why was it so easy for the other Xeros to do something that was so difficult. They had tried that stand several times, only winning one small ticket as they came to the center on break. 

Shirako sat in the center, standing on the platform below the bell. While the platform was high, Shirako could barely see above the heads of the other Alurizans. 

“You see anything.” Stark shot out. Shirako pointed to Nolt and Suli bickering about what to do. Stark smirked. At least they wouldn’t be in last. They had got one point while their team had stood there arguing the entire time. Now what to do, Stark stood in the middle of the park looking over at the other teams, it irritated him how well they all were doing, even when they had one point. Stark felt as Shirako pulled gently at his fur.

“Don’t you think you are taking this too seriously.” Shirako signed looking at him with questioning eyes. Stark bit his lip.

“I know you want that plushie so bad.” Stark started, “I want to do everything that I can to make sure that you get it.” Stark said trying to sound like the older brother.

“Can’t we just have fun?” Shirako asked. Stark smiled.

“Alright mr. fun, what do you recommend.” Stark shot out. Shirako pointed out a part of the game area with fire hoses spitting out of the banners and the sign, obstacle course coming out of it.

“Do you think that we can do that?” Shirako signed. Stark looks at him as if a fish had slapped him.

“Aren’t you afraid that you’ll be hurt?” Stark asked. Shirako, as if not paying any heed to him, walked over to it. Watching as several Alurizans climbed through the twisting course, falling into water as they reached haphazardly from one grip to the next. Plummeting into the pool of water below.

“Welcome! A larger Alurizan greeted them. “Are you ready to complete the gauntlet of heroes!” He greeted them with great gusto in his voice. No, no, no, Stark thought to himself. The announcer Said the trigger words to Shirako. Shirako signed excitedly to the announcer, who looked at him confused. Stark rolled his eyes as he walked over to the announcer. 

“We would like to try the obstacle course.” Stark said. Shirako stopping his signs and shaking his head up and down repeatedly. 

“Of course!” The announcer said. “I see you are looking to fire painted motorcycle!” The Alurizan said, pointing over to the bike. Shirako frowned, signing again.

“Well,” Stark started, looking over at the board of info on it. “How many points to we get if we complete it?” Stark asked, a look of determination on his face. 

“Uhh” the announcer said, a smirk coming up on his face, almost like he was trying to conceal his laughter. “If you finish the course.” He said as he looked over to his book. “You will receive one hundred and fifty points.” He said. “But that is only if you complete it and you only have one try.” He said as he held out a single claw. Stark looked over at Shirako and nodded. He looked to the other side and Nolt saluted. 

“Hey! When did you get here?” Stark asked. 

“Well, we thought that this looked like an adventure, so we decided we would go for it.” Nolt said shrugging. Shirako went to him.

“We wish you good luck then.” Shirako signed a smile on his face. 

“Wait what?” Nolt said, Shirako looking at Stark. 

“He says we are going to kick your tails.” Stark says, a smile on his face.

“Two xeros that still live with their mentor versus two xeros that have been to space and back. Yeah totally.” A black and purple xero says sitting in the shade beneath a nearby tent. “We’d love to see you try.” 

“Then it is on then.” Stark said, putting out his hand. 

“You four all know that only adults who have trained all of their lives have been able to make it.” The commentator said. 

“Yeah, yeah” Suli said rolling his eyes. “We will be the first then.” He says looking the commentator in the eyes.

“Then let’s get moving to the area then.” The commentator said.

***

The two teams stood outside the first obstacle.

“Come one, come all! The climbing wall, the part that children become adults, where boys become men.”

The gun pops, the Shirako goes from hand hold to hand hold. Practically jumping up the wall easily making it up to the top in no time flat.

“And one is already up.” The commentator says disappointed. Stark smiles as he carefully grabs hand holds, strategically getting up the difficult holds.

“Two more xeros up!” Stark hears as he sees Nolt ane Suli sitting on the top. Suli grabbing something out of his bag before nibbling on it before putting it back. Stark sees a pink hand reach down to him. Stark grabs the hand before being pulled up to the top. The xeros hear claws against steel as Stark reaches the top. 

“That makes all four xeros being able to reach the top.” The commentator says as the other contestants struggle to get up the wall, the xeros climbed. 

Stark smiled, they might actually make it.

“Hey! commentator!” Stark yells out from the top of the wall. “What happens if there are two sets of people that manage to make it through the entire course.” Stark watched as the Alurizan bit his lip.

“Then the teams will participate in the spider queen’s domain!” He says, holding back that malice. “Not like that is going to happen though. The second course is super difficult and no one in the teenage section could finish it.” 

***

Ace wondered around the park. He had searched every part of the park. The roller coaster that Shirako had been looking at, the food area, maybe Stark was hungry. He still came up with nothing.

He entered to the game area. knowing Stark and Shirako, they wouldn’t be entirely interested in games, but it is worth a check.

“Unbelievable, the Xeros completed the gauntlet of the undying!” A commentator said, Ace’s ear lifting to the noise. In all fairness, he still wondered how they got into the ninth floor of a skyscraper that was locked. He grinned, so they managed to climb to it. That would explain why their hideout was outside as well. It makes him wonder how long they have been climbing. 

“Those Xeros are really something.” Ace overheard. 

“Oh yeah, I heard they were bio-engineered to be super nimble.” His friend added.

“No way! That explains the pink one, he’s killing it on the spider’s den.”

Ace bit his lip, the words of Taro echoing in his mind, trust them, help them, love them. He ran over to the obstacle course, pushing his way through the crowd that had gathered. 

Ropes bond together like a web, eggs throughout its labyrinth, with a center point with a golden egg in the center. Ace watched as different creatures scrambled through the ropes, avoiding falling through the foam pit below them. 

As he watched the occasional contestant fell into the foam blocks below. At the same time, He saw Stark and Shirako gracefully jumping through the ropes. Shirako finding eggs in the different places tucked away in the laberynth while Stark tiptoed his way through the difficult traps that awaited him as he went for the golden egg. 

“What is happening?” Ace asks.

“Apparently the new race of Alurizans called the Xeros have entered into the obstacle course. And dang, they must be genetically modified to do this, and on their first try to.”

“Thanks.” Ace said. He had seen the obstacle course at the festival a few times and only adults finished it. Didn’t help that it was the pet project of one of the game managers. even though it had only been completed by a few adults ever; It had been a course that had been up ever since he was a child. 

***

“Nice job Suli.” Nolt said as he held out his hand. Suli looked over at Nolt. A smirk on his face. The four Xeros standing on the stage while the games manager grabbed the trophy.

“Really?” Suli said, his purple tongue caught in his mouth. “We could have dominated if you haven’t—” Nolt raised his eyes. “If you hadn’t…” Suli trailed off.

“If I hadn’t what?” Nolt asked in return. Suli looked at the ground before growling at Nolt.“Thank you,” He said with a look of irritation on his face. “Your the first person that I know that I don’t have any complaints for.” He said, as if a frog stuck in his throat spoke for him.

Nolt smiled, holding his tongue out with his hands behind his back.

“Come on, there was no way that we lost. Our teamwork is the best, we are the best. I think that we won!” Stark shouts, up in Shirako’s face. He looked at him, puzzled, before pushing his face away.

“Your over thinking it brother.” Shirako signed. “Are you that nervous?” 

Stark held his fists together as he looked towards the commentator’s booth.

“I know that we won. The more I say we won and the more excited I am about winning. The more that we won.” Stark said. Shirako tilting his head to one side. 

“I don’t think that it works—” Shirako signed before both teams heard footsteps around the corner.

The games manager came out, two robots followed him, carts of eggs being pulled out. 

“So who won?” Stark blurted out as the game master came forward scratching his head. 

“We totally win.” Suli whispered, looking at the carts and the noticeable difference of eggs in the carts. The games master scratched his head. Both teams leaning in to hear the news, the crowds excited talking dying down till it was a whisper.

Shirako looked around, shivers moving up and down his spine.

“Why is everyone looking at us?” Shirako signed. Stark looked over at him, shrugging in response.

“Now we will announce the winners of the obstacle course of abyss.” The games master said as he looked over at the eggs. Stark bit his lip while Nolt clenched both of his fists in excitement.

“I wanted to say how amazing of a game this is, this is the first time that a child competitor has won the obstacle course of the abyss. The count is coming in now.” A robot came over, hovering over with a scrap of paper in its hands. 

“And now the winner is…” The games master said as he looked over at the piece of paper. He scanned it quickly before moving to the microphone again.

“The winner of the obstacle course is—” The Games Master frowned before scanning the piece of paper again. Shirako bit his lip. 

“The winner of the obstacle course of the abyss is… no one!”

The crowd erupted in angry shouts and boos, the two teams looked over to the games master in frustrated confusion.

“People!” The game master shouted, “it’s a tie.”

***

“That’s interesting.” A person said, Ace looking over at the ground where the xeros were standing. Interesting indeed, Ace murmured to himself. Never had there been a tie at the obstacle course. Probably because each one is a landslide.

Support them

Ace looked through the crowd, biting his lip. What could he possibly do to help them? Over at the podium, the games master whispered with his assistants, all nodding their heads in agreement as they turned around to face the crowd.

“We have come to a consensus.” The stage shifting away to make a giant line with a thick rope in the center. “The contestants of the maze and the people closest to them will decide the winner. It starts in two minutes. Make sure you come here fast.” Ace felt his heart drop as he heard the words. To get to the stage, he would have to travel through a quarter mile of crowds. Just hold on boys, I got you. Just don’t lose.

***

“Howdy,” Stark heard as two needles pricked him in the shoulder. Jumping a foot in the air, he looked behind him.

“Harley, you weren’t here at the abyss, what are you doing?” Stark asked.

“You don’t think that I asked that question several times before.” Verox says behind them. 

“We competed.” Harley said, putting away their electric pricks before lining up behind them.

“If you mean fell after the first hurdle—”

“Details, needless details. We competed!”

“Well we are happy you are with us.” Shirako signed. Stark interpreting for them. 

“Awesome! four xeros! There is no way that we will lose…” Harley said giddily as they watched the other Alurizans join their different sides. Stark bit his lip. Anything for his brother, even one last battle, and the prize would be theirs. That was all that he wanted. As the competitors, he felt the rope grow tighter and tighter, he looked over to the competition, a larger lizard female and a grouchy-looking dog rippling with muscles. Twilight waving over to Harley while grey looked at the rope. Nolt and Suli in the front with smirks on their faces. 

“What the--” Stark says.

 

“It’s their mentors.” Harley replies waving back to Twilight on the other side of the rope. “I hope you both have some good ones, most of the xeros came here alone.” Harley replies giddily as Stark ground his teeth. They had a mentor, but Stark doubted he would show up. Besides, they were alone most of the festival. He wasn’t any more than the researcher. Sure, he didn’t do horrible things like the researcher, but when? When would he care about them?

“Don’t worry about it, we came alone too.” Stark said as they grabbed their side of the rope. Shirako stood for a second, looking at Stark, tilting his head to one side. Stark kept his eyes on the ground. It was a ly, their mentor was so desperate to get their love that he has to buy it. Stark just wished that Shirako would realize it.

 

“On your marks!” The game master said, painting a red line between two meters from each contestants feet. Well, they were enough by themselves, Stark thought as he looked behind himself to see the xeros and a few other contestants with them. They could do this alone. 

 

“Get set!” Stark gripped the rope, alone with everyone else, a rope that seemed heavy now seemed light. 

 

“Go!” The game master said while blowing a whistle. Stark pulled on the rope with all of his strength, the rope pulled back. Stark felt his muscles strain with the tugging. Looking behind himself once more for strength, he saw Shirako and as if he spoke with his eyes, Stark knew, they needed Ace, if only he was the kind of person to come.

 

 

 

***

Ace pushed his way through the crowd, marching his way through the crowd. 

 

“There we have it folks, Team Stark and Shirako have loss two feet. The just four more and they will be going in the drink.” Ace bit his lip as he ran through the crowd. Making his way to the door.

 

The announcer sharing a constant update for the tug-of-war. He heard as Stark and Shirako lost more and more ground. 

 

“Just two feet left! Will they pull out of this?” The announcer said as Ace made it to the door to enter the competition. 

 

“Sir, the competition is already going on and you weren’t part of the competition, please stand back.” The robot guard said. Ace clenched his fist. Robots weren’t the best. 

 

“1 and a half feet left!” The announcer said, Ace digging through his pockets to his his ID card. He had it somewhere, come on. 

 

“Ace is the name correct.” The robot said, the interface on its face flashing with different lights as Ace saw the bot scan his face. 

 

“Yes!” Ace said as the robot’s interface changed back into a friendlier look. 

 

“You are the mentor of Stark and Shirako, the contestants.” The robot said again.

 

“Yes!” Ace replied again, his heart swelling with excitement. “I’m their mentor.” The robot moved aside and allowed Ace to enter the arena.

“Well folks, I think this marks the end of the competition, just inches left for team Stark and Shirako. Hold up, what is this? A family member for Team Stark and Shirako, will he be enough?” The commentator said as Ace rushed onto the stage. Right as they were about to cross the red line, Ace rolled up his sleeves and yanked on the rope. 

The tug-of-war competition lasted for ten minutes. But even before the competition was finished, Ace could see the patches of wet fur underneath Shirako’s eyes. He felt his own eyes water and his heart swell. As the competition went forward, team Stark and Shirako broke team Nolt and Suli’s advantage from them. It came to a single point where team Stark and Shirako pulled completely united, pulling Nolt over the red line. 

“The winner of the abyss is Stark and Shirako!” the announcer shouts over the microphone to the crowd. The crowd roaring in applause to the winning team. Stark couldn’t help but smile. They were enough. They could do it. He looked behind him at the team that helped him win. What should have been excitement turned into resent as he saw Ace behind him.

“Good job buddy!” Ace said. Stark faking a smile. Stark felt something beneath the resentment, but he shook it off. In just a few days, him and Shirako could enact their plan to run away. He didn’t need any pity.

Shirako wrapped his arms around Ace’s leg. Ace hugged back. At least Shirako was good at appearances too, Stark thought.