Mara exhaled softly.
Both styles had cracks.
She made a list of strengths and weaknesses.
The powerhouses had strength and endurance on their side. They are known for their extreme aggression. These included Bestials, Cyclops, and Primans. Their strength fails them when they overtire.
The specialists have speed and agility. These are the Sorians, Arians and Felons. They are capable of moving quickly around their opponents.However, their bones can sometimes be brittle.
The best at stealth and survival would be the Chameleons, Reptans, and Slurchans. These are the ultimate survivalists because they cantransform their bodies to adapt to the many extreme environments. The weaknesses would depend on theparticular species. Chameleons don't do well in dry spaces, the Reptans hate the cold, and the Slurchans require moisture.
The aliens she called the wildcards, would include Cyborgs, Lythos, Aquatics, and humans. Each utilized strategy over brute strength, though the Cyborgs had strength that matched Bestials. Lythos were shape shifters, so they could adapt to their environment similar to the Chameleons and Reptans. Humans were considered the weakest physically of all species to take part in the games. These particular species were often overlooked, which were an advantage. They were also over confident in their own abilities.
There was a new species entering the games for the first time. Crytharians are a predominantly humanoid species from the volatile ice world of Crytharia, where extreme temperature swings shaped both their bodies and culture. They live mostly underground near the planet’s warm core, navigating cave systems and frozen waterways. Very little was known of their species since they have never before left their home world.
Her father would have loved this part—learning about a new species, breaking down their biology and behavior. It was exactly his kind of puzzle. He’d been a professor of astrobiology once. Before the medical leave. Before everything changed.
She hated that she couldn’t tell him she was entering the Games. She had to carry this alone.
Her jaw tightened as she added another note. At least, thirteen different alien species were confirmed for this round, each with their own strengths, their own ways of surviving. There could be multiple of the same species competing so there was no telling how many players were actually participating. There were countless more across the galaxy who never set foot in the Games at all—who stayed far away for good reason.
Survival wasn’t about strength alone. It was about noticing what others missed. About patience. Timing. Knowing when to stay still.
Every small detail mattered.
Any one of them could be the difference between winning and losing.
Or living and dying.
Chapter 4
Vaelor
Vaelor growled low as the GSG staff pulled his gear on. The biosuit was tight, and it was hard for him not to rip the thing off. When one of the technicians started patting his arms, he shoved them away.
“How much longer must I wait?” he demanded.
The technician, a small, thin green alien, called an Alutho, fussed over him.
“Not much longer sir. Just remember that the control panel on your arm should be protected. It will keep your body adjusted to the environment and elements that you encounter.”
“My body does that naturally. I don’t need all this tech.”
“I will get your pack ready. Please wait here.” The little green guy ran off.
Wait! That was all he had been doing since he boarded the ship that took him from his home world. Wait while he was processed to enter the games. Wait as he was given one after another medical examination. He waited for the large spaceship to take him across the galaxy to an unknown destination. Wait for the little green guys to do this and that. He was tired of waiting.
The boredom was not the only issue. This was the first time he had been away from his home world. Everything was new and strange. He wouldn’t understand any of the languages the staff spoke if they hadn’t given him a translator implant.
He rubbed at the spot on the back of his neck where the implant was placed. When he won the games and finally went home, he would have them remove the implant. There was no need for him to have it. He planned to never leave home again.
Home. He thought about his people, wondering how they were adjusting to his being gone. Were the other clan leaders holding up their agreement? He wondered if his hunters were going to risk themselves needlessly.
Suddenly the lights in the room began to flash yellow and green. The little green guy came rushing back carrying a silver pack.
“It’s time! Stand in the red circle and place the visor over your face.”
He moved to stand in the circle. When the alien handed him the visor, he frowned. “I don’t want to wear this.”
