Zarnak

ZARNAK

T he gleaming metal walls of the Celestial Station closed in around me as we stepped off the teleportation pad. After days on Nexus Prime, the artificial environment felt alien and constraining. I longed for the open skies and raw beauty of the planet we'd left behind.

Vanessa's hand slipped into mine as we walked down the corridor. Her touch grounded me, a reminder of everything we'd experienced together. The bond we'd forged felt unbreakable.

"Welcome back, contestants!" Lysandra's voice rang out as we entered the grand atrium. "You've all performed admirably. Now, it's time to get cleaned up before the big finale."

My chest tightened as staff members began ushering us toward separate corridors.

"This way, Dr. Kolvari," a perky assistant said, gesturing to the left.

I turned to Vanessa, reluctant to let go of her hand. "I guess this is where we part ways for now."

She squeezed my fingers. "I'll see you soon, right?"

"Of course," I assured her, though uncertainty gnawed at me.

As Vanessa disappeared down the opposite hallway, an emptiness settled in my core. We hadn't been apart for days. The sudden separation left me unbalanced.

I followed the assistant to my assigned quarters, barely registering the sleek furnishings as the door slid shut behind me. The room adjusted to my physiological needs - temperature dropping, lighting dimming to a comfortable level.

It should have felt welcoming. Instead, I ached for the challenges we'd faced on Nexus Prime. At least there, I'd had Vanessa by my side.

The shower beckoned, multiple jets promising relief for my aching muscles. I stepped under the spray, letting the hot water pound against my skin. As steam filled the room, my mind drifted.

I wondered how Vanessa was faring. Was she also struggling with our separation? Or had the return to familiar surroundings broken the spell of our time together?

Doubts crept in as I toweled off and dressed in the provided clothing. What if she regretted everything that had happened between us? What if, away from the intensity of the challenges, she realized we had nothing in common?

I caught my reflection in the mirror, hardly recognizing myself. My usually composed features were pinched with worry. This wasn't like me at all.

I missed her. Her laughter, her terrible jokes, the way her eyes lit up when she solved a puzzle. Even the exasperated sighs she made when I went off on scientific tangents.

A chime sounded, signaling it was time to rejoin the group. I squared my shoulders, determined to face whatever came next.

But as I stepped into the hallway, one thought consumed me:

I needed to see Vanessa again.

I exited my quarters, the door sliding shut behind me with a soft hiss. The curved corridors of the residential area stretched before me, their sleek surfaces gleaming under the soft ambient lighting. My footsteps echoed in the quiet hallway as I began to wander, no real destination in mind.

As I rounded a corner, I came across Jake and Silla. Jake leaned against the wall, his face pale and drawn. Silla hovered nearby, her alien features etched with concern.

"How are you holding up?" I asked, pausing beside them.

Jake managed a weak smile. "Been better, doc. That ice really did a number on my leg."

Silla placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "The medical staff say he'll make a full recovery, but it will take time."

I nodded, a pang of guilt twisting in my gut. If we'd reached them sooner...

"Thank you again," Jake said. "If you and Vanessa hadn't shown up when you did..."

He trailed off, and I forced a reassuring smile. "No need for thanks. I'm just glad you're both safe."

As I continued down the corridor, I passed more contestants, each in various states of post-race recovery. Rachel nursed a steaming cup of something that smelled vaguely medicinal, while Ethan sprawled on a bench, ice packs strapped to both knees.

My gaze darted from face to face, searching for auburn hair and a mischievous smile. But Vanessa was nowhere to be seen.

The corridor opened up into a wider area. Stars stretched out before me, infinite and beautiful through the vast windows of the observation deck. Yet as I gazed at the cosmic tapestry, I could only compare it to the wonders Vanessa and I had faced together on Nexus Prime.

Somehow, this view felt... less.

"I'm telling you, something wasn't right about that ice shelf collapse."

The hushed words caught my attention, and I turned slightly, careful not to appear as though I was eavesdropping.

Two crew members stood nearby, their heads bent close together in conspiratorial whispers.

"What are you saying?" the second one asked, doubt clear in his tone.

"I'm saying it wasn't natural. The timing was too perfect, right as the leaders were crossing. And did you see how quickly that storm came up in the crystal desert?"

"You think someone sabotaged the race?"

"I don't know, but?—"

They noticed my presence then and quickly changed the subject, moving away with forced casualness.

I frowned, their words echoing in my mind. Sabotage? It seemed far-fetched, and yet...

Flashes of memory assaulted me. The convenient equipment malfunctions. The suspiciously aggressive plant life in the bioluminescent jungle. The sudden, violent shifts in the shape-changing tundra.

At the time, I'd written them off as part of the challenge. But now, a darker possibility emerged.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides. If someone had deliberately put Vanessa in danger...

A familiar figure caught my eye, snapping me out of my brooding thoughts. Klix, the small, wiry alien with his distinctive glowing blue patterns, hurried through a nearby corridor. His usual cheerful demeanor was gone, replaced by a nervous energy that set my teeth on edge.

Without conscious thought, I followed him. My footsteps were silent on the station's deck as I trailed behind, keeping a discreet distance.

Klix led me to a secluded maintenance area, well away from the more populated sections of the station. As I drew closer, I heard raised voices.

"—can't keep this up, Caelan!" Klix's agitated tone carried clearly. "The plans nearly fell apart. There were too many close calls."

"Lower your voice," Caelan hissed. "Everything worked out in the end, didn't it?"

"But at what cost? We could have seriously hurt someone!"

"You knew the risks when you agreed to help me. It's too late to back out now."

A wave of anger washed over me as the pieces began to fall into place. Caelan and Klix... they were behind the sabotage?

I stepped back, my mind racing. I needed to find Vanessa, to make sure she was safe. And then we needed to expose this conspiracy before anyone else got hurt.

I stood frozen in place, my mind racing with the implications of what I'd just overheard. Caelan and Klix, sabotaging the show? The urge to confront them immediately surged through me, but I forced myself to stop. Acting rashly could put everyone in danger.

My first instinct was to gather more evidence. With my scientific background, I knew the importance of having concrete proof before making accusations. But time was of the essence. If the saboteurs realized they'd been discovered, they might take drastic action.

Vanessa's face flashed in my mind, and a cold dread settled in my gut. Was she safe? Were any of the contestants truly safe with these two running unchecked?

I needed to find her. Now.

My feet carried me swiftly through the station's corridors, my eyes scanning every face I passed. The common areas were a blur of activity, contestants and crew members mingling in excited clusters. But no sign of Vanessa.

I pushed through the doors to the grand atrium. The cavernous space stretched out before me, filled with glittering decorations and the buzz of conversation. But still, no flash of auburn hair, no sound of her laughter.

Frustration and worry gnawed at me as I circled the room. How had I become so dependent on her presence in such a short time?

The truth was as clear as any natural law.

Without Vanessa by my side, I felt off-balance, incomplete.

I'd always prided myself on my self-sufficiency, my ability to face any challenge alone. But now, faced with this conspiracy, I longed for her quick mind and unwavering support.

Just as despair began to set in, the atrium doors slid open. And there she was.

Vanessa stepped into the room, her eyes wide at the spectacle around her. Relief crashed over me in a dizzying wave. I crossed the room in long strides, barely registering the curious glances from the other contestants.

As I reached her, Vanessa's face lit up with a smile. But her expression quickly shifted to concern as she read the urgency in my eyes.

"? What's wrong?"

I took her hand, leaning close to whisper, "We need to talk. Privately."