---
The dimly lit dormitory was quiet, almost eerily so. It wasn't the vast, crowded barracks Caden had imagined — just a modest, house-sized structure with three rooms, each shared by two players. In total, only six competitors occupied the entire male dormitory.
Caden and Zoren shared one of the rooms. The space was sparse but functional: two beds, personal lockers, and the faint hum of the station's life-support systems. Here, in these close quarters, alliances would form — and tensions simmer.
The door to their room slid open, and a silver tray slid in, carrying a small black orb that pulsed softly with blue light.
"Neural signature confirmed," Omega's voice echoed through the dorm. "Initiating Companion AI protocol."
The orb hovered above the tray before splitting open. Metallic pieces folded and twisted until a robotic fox dropped gracefully onto the desk. Its glowing blue eyes scanned Caden.
"Designation: Pix," it said in a smooth, fox-like tone. "Your AI Companion. Configured to your preferences and neural patterns. I am here to assist. I also accept head pats, but only on even-numbered days. Please customize me."
With that, a floating screen appeared in front of Caden. It containeda selection of different settings for him like the color of his fur, color of name tag, abilities, clothes, etc.
Caden blinked. "You're… an animal?"
"I'm an interface with style. Each contestant's AI has been given a form of their choosing — or based on subconscious cues. Lucky for you, you think foxes are cool. Now please customize me".
Caden nodded as he began customizing Pix. After a minute or two, he was done. A glowing circle appeared around Pix as a metallic cylinder enveloped its body. Steam could be seen from it before the cylinder disappeared and a cute little orange fox with big brown eyes rolled to Caden.
It looked so real that one wouldn't know it was a robot. Pix had a cute little red nametag, a red scarf, as well as black gloves on. It made him look so adorable. He looked at Caden and grinned, " Update and customization complete. Hello Caden, I am Pic, your personal assistant and pet!"
Caden chuckled as Pix made it's way to his lap and snuggled him. He stroked Pix and looked over at Zoren.
From across the room, Zoren grinned as his own cylinder opened, transforming into a twitchy yellow monkey that bounced onto his arm.
"Tiko here! Ready for nonsense!" it chirped.
The other rooms in the dorm echoed with similar sounds as players received their Companions — sleek panthers, soaring hawks, nimble lizards.
Suddenly, Pix's voice broke the quiet.
> "Challenge briefing loading. You may want to sit down."
A holographic interface appeared, casting a map of the station's arena into the air.
> "Commencing Challenge One: The GravZone Gauntlet."
> "Objective: Reach the central platform within 12 minutes."
> "Obstacles: Dynamic gravity shifts, kinetic hazards, destabilizing panels."
> "Disqualification: Failure to reach the platform within the time limit."
Caden frowned. "What does 'disqualification' mean here?"
> "Officially? Removal from the tournament. Unofficially?" Pix tilted its head. "Let's not find out."
....
The players stood shoulder to shoulder on a raised platform in a vast chamber. Above them, Omega's voice boomed, calm but commanding.
> "Welcome to the GravZone Gauntlet."
> "This arena tests agility, strategy, and adaptability under extreme and shifting gravitational forces."
The chamber itself was cavernous. Panels lining the walls flickered with holographic schematics, illuminating floating platforms suspended over a seemingly bottomless pit.
> "You will face a maze of platforms, each shifting in orientation and gravity every ninety seconds."
A deep rumble shook the floor, and with it, a low metallic clang echoed throughout the chamber.
> "Gravity will invert, twist, and pulse unpredictably. You must keep your footing and your wits."
> "Failure to reach the central platform within 12 minutes will result in immediate disqualification."
The words hung heavy in the air.
> "The Gauntlet is unforgiving. Stay sharp."
Lights dimmed suddenly, replaced by an eerie blue glow.
The timer appeared — ticking down from 12 minutes.
---
Caden's heart pounded as he stepped off the platform into the arena.
Below him, platforms floated, rotating slowly like puzzle pieces drifting in a void.
A gust of recycled air whipped past, carrying faint echoes — the distant clang of metal, the whoosh of gravity shifting, and the barely audible shouts of other players.
He darted forward. The ground beneath him trembled as gravity shifted sideways.
He tumbled, catching himself just in time on a tilting panel.
Pix's voice whispered beside him. "Warning: next gravity shift in 15 seconds."
Caden lunged upward as gravity inverted, feeling the world flip and spin.
The metallic clangs grew louder, accompanied by the creaking of massive unseen machinery adjusting the gravity fields.
Around him, players scrambled, some leaping with grace, others stumbling and falling into the abyss below — swallowed by a flash of red light and the silence that followed.
Zoren swung expertly from overhead bars, his AI monkey chattering encouragement.
Lucy's panther AI prowled ahead, analyzing paths as Lucy followed with precise, calculated movements.
Caden's eyes locked on Ian Lone, who moved with brute force and determination, shadowed closely by Rovek.
Ian miscalculated a jump.
"Shit!"
But suddenly, a hand reached out and pushed Ian into the platform. Ian was stunned.
Rovek reacted instantly, pushing Ian forward — sacrificing himself as his feet slipped off a platform.
A red flash marked Rovek's fall.
Caden swallowed hard.
Zoren's face drained of color.
Lucy's gaze hardened as Ian barely made it.
" He was right there, just there" Lucy muttered. But Caden can beside her, breaking all hopes of it being a dream by saying, " But now, he isn't".
The timer ticked mercilessly.
The platform beneath them rose, carrying the survivors away.
No cheers.
No consolation.
Only silence.
---