6. Chapter Six

Chapter Six

B ecca

The studio is abuzz with nervous energy as we gather for the immunity challenge. Glancing around at the other teams, I size up our competition. There’s the sleek, insectoid duo from Zorgax Prime, their antennae twitching with anticipation. The zombie couple looks decidedly low energy. The burly, reptilian siblings from Gorn look like they could crush a car with their bare claws. And the ethereal, shimmering beings from Iridia seem to float above the fray, their delicate features betraying no emotion.

I feel a nudge at my side and turn to see Pyne, his tail flicking behind him. “Looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us, eh, sugarplum?”

I can’t help but smile at the nickname, even as I roll my eyes. “How do you know what a sugarplum is?”

“I’ve lived onboard the Devil’s Playground for a standard year with a group of human women. I know a bit about your culture, some of your holidays, and I even know a well-used human word—fuck.”

Honestly, I can’t tell if he meant that as a joke or not, but I quip, “Well, let’s not let the competition fuck us over. Right?”

He chuckles, the sound igniting something deep in my gut, maybe lower. “That’s the spirit, Becca. We’ll show ‘em what Team… what are we called again?”

“Arisha called us the Galactic Love Muffins.” I wonder how much the highly paid consultants got for that stupid moniker.

“Ah, right. Well, we’ll show ‘em what we Love Muffins are made of!”

As if on cue, Arisha sashays onto the stage, her sequined dress casting pinpricks of light across the room. “Welcome back, bakers!” She pauses, spears Pyne with an apologetic look and says, “Welcome back, bakers and gladiator . I hope you’re ready for a challenge that’s out of this world!”

She pauses for dramatic effect, her gaze sweeping over the remaining assembled teams. “Today, you’ll compete in a cosmic obstacle course that will test your speed, agility, and teamwork. But there’s a twist!”

A holographic display flickers to life behind her, showing a dizzying array of floating platforms, tunnels, and barriers, all revolving around a central, glowing orb.

“You’ll be navigating this course in zero gravity!” Arisha announces gleefully. “Each team must work together to collect as many stardust tokens as possible from the orb and make it back to their starting platform within the time limit. The team with the most tokens wins immunity for the baking challenge.”

Murmurs of excitement and anxiety ripple through the group. My stomach flutters with nerves, as I bunch my lips in worry. Then I remind myself this is exactly the kind of challenge where Pyne’s gladiator skills could shine—if I don’t drag us both down.

As if reading my mind, he leans in close, his breath warm against my ear. “Don’t worry, sugarplum. I’ve got this. Stick close and follow my lead.”

I nod, trying to ignore the way his proximity makes my pulse race. “Lead the way.”

As we prepare for the zero-gravity challenge, we’re each fitted with a sleek, form-fitting spacesuit and a transparent helmet which will allow us to breathe and communicate in the airless void. The suits have propulsion systems to help us navigate the obstacles, but the real challenge will be maintaining our focus and coordination in the disorienting weightlessness of space.

We line up at our starting platform, the other teams jostling for positions around us. I catch snippets of their chatter, some boasting of their zero-gravity prowess, others strategizing in hushed tones.

The insectoid duo, I overheard, hail from a planet with notoriously low gravity, giving them a natural advantage. The reptilian siblings, meanwhile, are arguing over who gets to take the lead.

“Just try to keep up, little sister,” the larger one growls. “And don’t go crying to Mama if you can’t handle it.”

“Oh, shove it up your cloaca,” the other retorts. “I’ll run circles around your scaly hide.”

I suppress a snort of laughter, feeling a flicker of camaraderie with our fellow competitors, despite the stakes. We’re all in this crazy game together, after all.

Arisha’s voice cuts through the chatter, counting down to the start. “Three, two, one… bake off!”

Suddenly, the gravity on the platforms vanishes and we’re all floating, flailing, and fumbling for purchase. Pyne, however, moves with a fluid grace that takes my breath away. His powerful legs propel him forward, his tail acting as a rudder to steer him through the chaos.

“Come on, Becca!” He calls over his shoulder, then circles back to retrieve me when he sees me struggling. “Grab my hand!”

I stretch out, straining to reach him, and our gloved fingers brush, then lock together. With a tug, he pulls me alongside him, and we’re off, weaving through the maze of obstacles like a pair of cosmic dancers.

The stardust tokens glitter tantalizingly ahead, and Pyne surges forward, snatching them up with deft twists and turns. I do my best to keep up and stay out of his way, marveling at his agility and strength.

Around us, the other teams struggle, bumping into each other and careening off course. The insectoid duo, despite their natural advantage, seem disoriented by the shifting gravity fields. The reptilian siblings are grappling with each other, their competitive rivalry getting the better of them.

But Pyne navigates it all with a grin on his face, his enjoyment of the challenge evident in every move. I find myself caught up in his enthusiasm, laughing breathlessly as we spin and soar.

“Having fun, sugarplum?” he calls out, snagging another token as he sails forward.

“You know it, gladiator!” I reply, surprised at how comfortable it is to joke and laugh with him. “Let’s finish this!”

With a final burst of speed, we propel ourselves back to our platform, landing in a tangle of limbs just as the buzzer sounds. We lie here for a moment, catching our breath, our faces inches apart.

When our gazes connect, the lighthearted moment vanishes as something more dramatic flashes between us—affection. My hand is still caught in his, as it has been since shortly after the starting buzzer sounded. But now, with no tokens to collect, I’m fully aware of how nice the connection feels, even through our suits. And his blue eyes. How did I not notice they’re the color of the Caribbean Ocean on a perfect day?

When he takes his face shield off, my lips clamp together as I fight the urge to lick the thin scar that slashes across both lips. Crap! I’m falling for my teammate. I wonder if he feels it, too. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he’s quit breathing as his gaze melds with mine.

Pyne is the first to return to the moment. He tears his gaze from mine as his eyes sparkle with exhilaration and good humor. “Not bad for a couple of kitchen disasters, eh?”

I laugh, giddy with adrenaline and the thrill of victory. “Not bad at all, space gladiator. I think we make a pretty good team.”

He grins, his tail curling around my waist in a moment of unguarded affection. “The best, Becca.”

We stand and are still holding hands when Arisha announces our team as the winner. As Pyne clutches the immunity prize—a gold-painted cupcake—triumphantly in his hand, I let out a whoop of joy. Although we started this competition as underdogs, we’re proving to be a force to be reckoned with.

As Pyne wraps me in a celebratory hug, his arms holding me close, I start to think maybe the real prize isn’t the trophy in our hands, but the connection we’re building, one scary challenge at a time.