Vanessa

VANESSA

I tossed and turned in the floating bed, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The holographic stars above me blurred as I stared, unseeing. Zarnak's face floated before my eyes, our almost-kiss playing on repeat.

"Ugh," I groaned, sitting up and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. Sleep wasn't happening.

I padded over to the Nebula Nursery where Taffy rested. The shimmering, translucent walls pulsed with soft light. Inside, Taffy's tentacles swayed gently.

"Hey there, little guy," I whispered.

Taffy stirred, one tentacle reaching out to brush against the wall. I pressed my hand to the other side, feeling a faint warmth.

"At least one of us is getting some rest."

I returned to bed, but tossed and turned. The race loomed large in my mind, intertwining with thoughts of Zarnak. His gentle demeanor, his unexpected kindness. The way his fur looked so soft...

A quiet chirp sounded behind me. I rolled over to see Taffy had emerged from the nursery. It inched closer, tentacles waving.

"Can't sleep either, huh?"

Taffy climbed onto the bed, settling on my shoulder. I stroked its tentacles, marveling at the silky texture. A wave of calm washed over me, my eyelids growing heavy.

"Thanks, buddy," I mumbled as I drifted off.

The simulated sunrise woke me, golden light spilling across the room. I swallowed hard as I remembered.

Race day.

"Okay, ," I told myself. "You've got this. Just another day exploring an alien planet. No biggie."

I ordered breakfast from the food synthesizer, still amazed by the tech. A plate of fruit materialized, its colors shifting before my eyes.

"Wild," I muttered, taking a hesitant bite. Flavors exploded on my tongue - sweet, tart, with an undercurrent of something entirely new.

Taffy clung to my shoulder as I dressed in the provided race attire. The sleek suit melded to my body, adjusting its temperature. I stared at my reflection, barely recognizing myself.

"Well," I said to Taffy. "Here goes nothing."

The Grand Atrium had transformed overnight into a high-tech command center. Holographic displays flickered with race information, bathing everything in an otherworldly glow. The star-field ceiling now showed a rotating model of Nexus Prime.

Other contestants filtered in. Snippets of conversation drifted past me.

"Did you see the course? There's an actual lava field-"

"I heard the Mist Maze can drive you insane-"

"My partner's allergic to half the planet's atmosphere-"

Great. This was going to be a cakewalk.

I searched the room, searching for one particular face. A giddy feeling bubbled up inside me when I spotted him. Zarnak. He towered over the other contestants, his white mane unmistakable.

Our eyes met across the room. The noise and chaos faded away. I made my way toward him, drawn like a magnet.

"Good morning," Zarnak said as I approached. "Did you sleep well?"

"About as well as can be expected," I replied. "You?"

"I found rest... elusive."

We stood in awkward silence. I wanted to bring up our almost-kiss, to ask if it meant anything to him. But now wasn't the time.

"So," I said instead. "Ready to conquer a planet?"

Zarnak's lips curled up in a small smile. "With you by my side? Absolutely."

My cheeks heated. Before I could reply, Lysandra's voice boomed through the atrium.

"Contestants! Your attention, please!"

A shower of light erupted on the central platform, and Lysandra and Caelan materialized, their appearance as dramatic as ever. Holographic displays sprang to life around them.

"Welcome, contestants, to the Stardust Souls Interplanetary Challenge!" Lysandra announced, her arms spread wide.

Caelan stepped forward, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hope you're all ready for the adventure of a lifetime. You'll be racing across Nexus Prime, a planet with more mood swings than a teenager."

"Five biomes, five objectives," Lysandra continued. "First up, the Crystalline Desert. You'll need to snag a shard of Chronos Crystal. Just don't get caught in a time loop!"

"Next," Caelan chimed in, "the Bioluminescent Jungle. Your task? Collect some Luminous Orchid pollen. Pro tip: don't sneeze."

I leaned in, hanging onto every word. Beside me, Zarnak stood perfectly still, absorbing the information.

Lysandra's holographic image zoomed in on a mountain range that defied gravity. "Then you'll scale the Gravity-Defying Mountains to secure a Floating Rock. Remember, what goes up... might keep going up."

"Hope you're not claustrophobic," Caelan added, "because you'll be diving into Subterranean Caverns to extract Echoing Water from an underground lake. Don't worry, your screams won't echo... much."

"And finally," Lysandra said, her tone building to a crescendo, "the Shape-Shifting Tundra. Your mission: capture an imprint of a Mimic Ice formation. Just make sure it doesn't capture you instead."

The artifacts appeared as glowing icons, rotating slowly above our heads. I stared, mesmerized by their otherworldly beauty.

"Now, here's the kicker," Caelan said, rubbing his hands together. "You'll be starting at different times based on your escape room performance. Think of it as a head start for the overachievers."

A timeline materialized, showing our staggered start times. My heart sank as I saw our position. Dead last.

"Don't fret if you're at the back of the pack," Lysandra reassured us, though her smile seemed a touch too wide. "This race isn't just about speed. You'll need to use your wits, solve puzzles, and work together as a team."

"And speaking of teamwork," Caelan interjected, "this challenge will test your compatibility like never before. Will your bond strengthen under pressure, or will we see some spectacular meltdowns? Either way, our viewers back home will be glued to their screens!"

I swallowed hard, sneaking a glance at Zarnak. His face remained impassive, but I noticed a slight tensing of his shoulders.

"You'll each receive a multi-function device," Lysandra explained as holographic representations of sleek, alien gadgets appeared. "These beauties will help you navigate, communicate, and maybe even save your lives. No pressure!"

Lysandra's eyes sparkled with mischief as she continued. "Now, for the juicy details you've all been waiting for - how we'll capture every thrilling moment of your adventure."

My gaze darted to Zarnak, wondering if he felt as exposed as I did.

"Micro-drones," Caelan announced, his voice filled with theatrical flair. A swarm of tiny, glittering objects materialized above our heads, dancing in intricate patterns. "These little beauties will be your constant companions, capturing every triumphant moment... and every embarrassing stumble."

Great. Just what I needed - an audience for my inevitable face-plants.

"But fear not," Lysandra interjected, her tone reassuring. "We've also strategically placed cameras throughout the biomes. They'll catch anything our drones might miss."

I fought the urge to wrap my arms around myself. The idea of being watched constantly made my skin crawl.

"Now, I know what you're thinking," Caelan said, his eyes twinkling. "What about our privacy?"

A murmur rippled through the crowd. I hadn't even considered that aspect yet. My cheeks flushed as I remembered my almost-kiss with Zarnak. Thank the stars that hadn't been caught on camera.

Lysandra held up a hand, silencing the whispers. "We understand the need for... personal time." She winked, and I swear I saw Zarnak's fur bristle slightly. "That's why we've implemented a daily blackout period. From midnight to dawn, all cameras will be deactivated."

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the atrium.

Caelan leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial stage whisper. "After all, not everything needs to be filmed. We'll leave some things to the imagination of our viewers back home."

Laughter erupted around us, but I couldn't join in. The idea of millions of people watching our every move, dissecting our interactions, judging our performance - it was overwhelming.

I glanced at Zarnak again. His expression remained neutral, but I noticed a slight twitch in his jaw. Was he as unsettled as I was?

As the hosts continued their explanation, demonstrating the equipment that floated above our heads, I tried to focus. But my mind raced with a potent cocktail of excitement and trepidation. This was it. The moment I'd dreamed of since I was a kid – exploring an alien world. But the reality of the danger we were about to face hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Any questions?" Lysandra asked, scanning the room.

Silence fell over the atrium. I had about a million questions, but my tongue felt glued to the roof of my mouth.

"Excellent!" Caelan clapped his hands together. "Then let's get you geared up and ready to go!"

The contestants broke into a flurry of activity. We moved to collect our equipment, the air buzzing with nervous energy.

I fumbled with the multi-function device, its alien design slipping through my fingers. Zarnak's steady hands covered mine, guiding them.

"Here," he said softly. "Like this."

Our fingers brushed, and I looked up, meeting his gaze as the chaos around us faded away.

"Thanks," I managed to squeak out.

We checked our supplies, marveling at the compact, high-tech gear. Each item seemed to hold infinite possibilities – and potential dangers.

Around us, the other couples prepared. Ethan's booming voice carried across the atrium.

"This is going to be a cakewalk," he bragged. "With my superior athleticism and Nala's... assets, we'll leave everyone in the dust."

Nala rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might fall out of her head.

Nearby, Jake and Silla shared a quiet moment, their foreheads pressed together as they giggled over some private joke. A pang of longing shot through me, and I snuck a glance at Zarnak.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine.

"As I'll ever be," I replied, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. "You?"

Before he could answer, a low hum filled the air. The massive teleportation pad in the center of the atrium crackled to life, energy dancing across its surface.

"And now," Lysandra announced, "let the Stardust Souls Interplanetary Challenge begin!"

The first team stepped onto the pad. In a dazzling display of light, they vanished. The reality of the situation finally, truly hit me.

One by one, the teams disappeared. With each flash of light, the atrium grew quieter, tenser. My palms grew sweaty.

I looked to Zarnak, seeking reassurance. His steady gaze met mine, and I found strength there.

"We can do this," I said, more to convince myself than anything.

He nodded, a small smile ghosting over his lips. "Of course we can."

Finally, it was our turn. The atrium felt cavernous and empty as we moved to the teleportation pad. Its energy made my hair stand on end.

Taffy, still clinging to my shoulder, chirped softly and tightened its grip.

"I know, buddy," I murmured. "I'm scared too."

We stepped onto the pad. Zarnak's presence beside me was solid and comforting, a world of unspoken words passing between us.

The world began to dissolve into shimmering light. My last coherent thought was a jumble of "Here we go" and "Please don't let me throw up."

And then we were gone.