A rain of holographic confetti spilled from the air, swirling in garish colors that made her head spin. The sterile metallic scent she’d grown accustomed to was replaced by something sharp and acrid, like ozone laced with cheap theater smoke. Her breath caught as the ground beneath her shifted. Gone was the simple table and chair.
“What the—” she managed, her words swallowed by the din around her.
When she finally dared to open her eyes, Zaria froze. The dim, solitary room had transformed into a dazzling, neon-lit amphitheater. Every surface pulsated with aggressive, eye-searing hues—neon pinks, greens, and purples throbbing in time to an invisible beat. A crowd had materialized, encircling her. It was a kaleidoscope of beings: creatures with multiple limbs, glowing eyes, scales, fur, and forms she couldn’t even begin to classify. Their voices crashed over her in a raucousness of alien sounds—clicks, roars, whistles, and chittering that somehow coalesced into an overwhelming roar.
Her gaze snapped downward. The table and chair had vanished, replaced by a glowing purple podium. It pulsed with energy, vibrating faintly beneath her fingertips as she steadied herself against it.
“Oh, what fresh hell is this?” she muttered under her breath, her voice lost in the commotion. Her eyes darted around, desperate for an anchor in the madness. The creatures didn’t seem hostile, but their manic energy filled the space, closing in on her like a tidal wave. She felt exposed, trapped in the spotlight of some bizarre performance.
Her attention was drawn upward as a massive holographic sign flashed overhead. It blazed in garish, rotating letters, their message clear and mocking:
WELCOME TO THE Nexus TRIALS
Drink Me blazed in bold letters, and below it, smaller words scrolled across: Congratulations on choosing your fate!
Zaria’s breath hitched as her heart pounded against her ribs, a frantic rhythm that matched the chaos around her. “Nexus Trials?” she murmured, her voice barely audible above the buzz of the amphitheater. An icy shiver rippled down her spine, her eyes darting frantically across the glowing podium, the neon walls, and the crowd of alien creatures. The questions boiled in her mind, tumbling over each other in a frantic rush. Why was she onstage? What were the Nexus Trials?
Her thoughts fractured as a calm, disembodied voice spoke, not aloud but directly into her mind. “You are a contestant in the Nexus Trials—the greatest game to ever exist in the Maelstrom Galaxy.” The words hung there, quiet but inescapable, vibrating through her skull like a faint echo.
“Perfect,” Zaria muttered, the sweetness in her throat giving way to bitter sarcasm. “Now I’m hearing voices. Great. Can’t wait to explain this to Dr. Voss. He’ll probably insist I’m overworked and push another ‘nutritious meal plan’ on me. As if cheesy puffs don’t count as food.” Her irritation masked the growing unease clawing at her chest.
The statement from the unseen voice opened a floodgate of questions. Where was the Maelstrom Galaxy? How had she ended up here? Where was her crew? Could she ever get home? And more absurdly, could she get another glass of that blue drink?
Zaria tried to focus, her gaze locking onto the being that now stood in front and center onstage. She ignored the words hovering in glowing blue stats at the edge of her vision, filing them away for later analysis. Drill Sergeant Gerard’s voice thundered in her memory, sharp and unrelenting: “You science types always focus on the data when there’s danger right in front of you. My job is to ensure you don’t get yourselves killed before you can even analyze that precious data!”
She clenched her jaw at the memory of Gerard barking orders at her during basic training, her legs screaming in protest as she ran laps until she thought her lungs would collapse. Gerard’s harsh lessons rang true now more than ever. Zaria forced herself to push aside her hunger for answers and concentrate on the being in front of her.
“Ladies, gentlemen, and beings of the galaxy!” The voice boomed through the amphitheater, resonating in her bones and snapping her to attention. The crowd fell into an expectant hush as a towering figure stepped forward.
He was dazzling and unsettling all at once. His hair shimmered in a kaleidoscope of wild, shifting colors, each strand catching and refracting the neon light. His eyes sparkled with theatrical mischief, twin orbs of starfire that seemed to see everything. His grin was sharp, too sharp, the glint of jagged teeth catching the light and sending an involuntary chill down Zaria’s spine.
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His suit was no less extraordinary—a constantly shifting tapestry of hues and patterns that demanded attention, almost hypnotic in its transformation. Every movement he made seemed choreographed to captivate, his presence commanding the stage like a cosmic showman.
Zaria swallowed hard, her throat dry despite the lingering taste of the strange drink. Whatever this was—whoever he was—it wasn’t random. She gripped the edges of the glowing podium, her knuckles white. Logic told her to observe, to analyze, but her instincts screamed at her to be ready.
The figure’s voice boomed again, echoing through the amphitheater. “Welcome, one and all, to the Nexus Trials! The ultimate test of skill, resolve, and survival in the Maelstrom Galaxy!” The crowd erupted into cheers and hisses, an alien cacophony of excitement that made Zaria’s head spin.
She didn’t need her datapad to know she was in trouble.
NPC Identified: Luxor Vael
Species: Solarians
Technomancy Potential (TNP): Level 56
Role: Nexus Trials Host
The words "What is a Solarian?" echoed in Zaria’s mind, unanswered by the mysterious voice. Instead, Luxor Vael's booming, theatrical tones filled the air, stealing her focus.
“Let’s give a warm round of applause to our newest batch of Technomancy Navigators!” Luxor declared, his voice rolling like thunder, effortlessly pulling the crowd's attention. His larger-than-life holographic form commanded the amphitheater. Every gesture, every word, dripped with the finesse of a performer who knew how to control his stage. “We stand in the 535th Epoch of the greatest contest in the galaxy—who will rise, and who will fall? Welcome to The Nexus Trials—brought to you by OmniSphere Network™ and our host of fabulous sponsors!”
Zaria’s pulse hammered in her ears as her gaze darted to the contestants lined up beside her. Scaled, feathered, metallic—all manner of beings stood with her under the glaring neon lights. Each bore a look of confusion, terror, or, worse, eerie calm, as if resigned to the insanity of it all. The faces of her competitors, twisted in disbelief, mirrored the chaos churning in her gut. This isn’t a simulation. This is real.
Luxor's grin stretched wider, practically splitting his face. “And I, Luxor Vael, will be your ever-charming guide through every twist, turn, and—most importantly—every bet you place on Fortune’s Favor!” He threw an exaggerated wink at the crowd.
The audience roared, their voices clashing in a clangor of cheers, clicks, and growls. Zaria barely registered their excitement. Her mind reeled as she absorbed the reality of her situation.
Luxor continued, his arms thrown wide in mock benevolence. “Now, my dear audience, let’s get started! What will our brave TechNavs face first? The acid pits? The swarm of Fangflare Basilisks? Or… species trivia?”
His grin held a slickness that churned Zaria’s stomach. It wasn’t the grin of a host but of a predator, watching his prey stumble into the trap. He reminded her of the transport dealer her sister had dragged her to—oozing charisma so fake it had clung to her skin like grease. Three sonic showers hadn’t been enough to shake the feeling; she’d spent precious credits on a water shower just to scrub it off.
The crowd erupted, shouting over each other as they voiced their sadistic suggestions:
“Acid pits!”
“Fangflare Basilisks!”
“The fire swamp!”
“Giant PetalWings!”
“Trivia!”
A holographic poll materialized above the stage, each option glowing as votes poured in, the tally climbing in real time. Zaria’s stomach twisted tighter. The surreal absurdity of the scene blurred into something terrifyingly tangible. Her hands curled into fists at her sides as the poll rapidly filled.
The votes stopped. The winner pulsed on the hologram: Species Trivia.
Luxor clapped his hands, his expression gleeful. “Species Trivia it is!”
Zaria exhaled, the breath shaky as adrenaline coursed through her veins. The games had begun. There was no turning back now.
Luxor leaned forward, his grin somehow stretching wider. “But first, a word from our generous sponsors!”
The lights dimmed. His hologram flickered and vanished, replaced by a commercial jingle that blasted through the amphitheater.
Zaria blinked, her surroundings momentarily displaced by the smooth voice of an ad announcer.
“Need to stay connected in the far reaches of the galaxy? Don’t settle for slow data streams! With VoidNet Ultra™ provided by VoidStar Productions, you’ll have the fastest connection this side of the Maelstrom! Whether you’re downloading schematics, watching your favorite series, or placing bets on the Nexus Trials—VoidNet Ultra™ is there for you. VoidNet—keep the galaxy at your fingertips.”
Zaria let out a humorless laugh under her breath, her hands tightening on the edges of the podium. A commercial? The absurdity made her head spin. Even trapped in a life-or-death competition, capitalism found a way to worm itself in. Her jaw tightened, and she forced her gaze upward, bracing for whatever madness Luxor would unleash next.