Page 38 of Captured By The Alien (Starbound #2)

The second challenge began late the next day. This time there was no long transfer to another part of the planet. This test was closer to home, set in an outdoor stadium in the center of Taa’riz.

The Potentials stood in a ring in a large circular arena. Each of them was wearing a small disc on their back which they’d been informed was for their safety, and each faced a thick wooden pole with their contestant number on it. The poles were sturdy in diameter and stood some seventy feet high.

The challenge was being watched by a large audience which surrounded them on all sides. As far as Kara could tell, it wasn’t just made up of the great and the good – though the first few rows were inevitably occupied by the nobs – but by ordinary Vraxians as well. Clearly shaa’baara was the best entertainment going.

All of them, onlookers and contestants, would have instantly baked in the fierce heat if it wasn’t for the sky-shield which formed a transparent dome over the entire area.

She heard something buzz next to her ear and turned to see a bot-cam zipping by. She still hadn’t got used to the intense scrutiny they were all subjected to. The automated cameras bobbed overhead and sent images to giant screens around the arena.

Kara saw her face pop up on one and blanched. Just what she needed. Her pores grotesquely magnified for all to see.

She looked for Vahn. He was at one end of the stadium flanked by Rhyn and Baelon. She hadn’t spoken to him since last night. She tried to catch his eye but got the distinct impression he was deliberately avoiding her gaze.

Remorse scratched at her. Maybe she’d really hurt his feelings. But honestly, she hadn’t been prepared for a conversation about children. She swallowed her guilt – there was nothing she could do about it now. She focused on the crowd instead.

It was a rambunctious one. Everyone seemed to be supporting one of the Potentials. A sea of placards and posters were waving in the crowd, bearing pictures of the contestants. Kara grimaced when she saw quite a few bore images of Layahn’s face. As if the real one wasn’t bad enough.

Hespia and Lyrith were also popular. And she was pleased to see quite a few banners for Vysh. In fact, the Vraxian even had her own groupies. Kara saw a gaggle of females near the back all sporting bright pink manes.

She tried not to mind when she saw signs saying ‘human go home’ or ‘death to Earth’. There were always jerks wanting to stir trouble, it was the same everywhere. But then she saw one banner written in Earth English and her jaw dropped.

“Kara for Kween.”

Oh my God. Someone wants me to win!

It was badly spelled, sure, and it stood out as an anomaly in the overwhelming support for the Vraxian competitiors. But her heart lifted. At least one person out there was rooting for her. She stood a little taller as General Solarun strode into the arena.

“Potentials, welcome to the second round of shaa’baara . The first challenge tested your intelligence and ingenuity. Now you will be judged on your agility and tenacity.”

She gestured at the poles.

“Each pole has a bell secured at the top. The trial is a simple one. You must ring the bell. The first six to do so will enter the final round.”

Climbing , thought Kara. It had to be Vahn again, looking out for her.

Climbing trees had become routine for the pair of them on Minerva-6. Both to collect fruit – the juiciest, most succulent berries had always been in the highest branches – and to hunt the spider-creatures whose sticky excretions made such good binding material. They had become masters of scaling impossible heights.

Admittedly, Vahn had had the edge because he possessed those sharp claws on his feet which made gripping easier. But with the boots Daa’sten had designed for her, she now had the same advantage.

She looked across to Vahn, wanting to show her gratitude, but he still wasn’t looking at her. No matter. She’d show him later. And if he really wanted to discuss babies, she’d do that too. She brought her attention back to Ela.

“Once the challenge begins, you are on your own. There will be no aid and no interference from anyone.” It may have been Kara’s imagination but it seemed as if the general was looking at Layahn when she said that. “Get ready, and may good fortune walk with you.”

Kara waited for the starting signal, her heart buoyant. This was it. In a few minutes, she’d be through to the final.

She studied the pole, looking for possible handholds. Its surface was largely smooth, though there were a few useful-looking pits and dents. Silently, she thanked Daa’sten for her boot claws.

The siren blared and the Potentials ran for their poles with the roar of the crowd in their ears. Kara kicked out her artificial claws as she launched herself at the smooth wood.

Gripping with her hands, knees and feet, she began to haul herself up the pole. Around her she could see the others doing the same.

Gendril was struggling, perhaps because of the ankle she twisted in the first challenge. But everyone else was ascending steadily.

Kara shut her mind to everything except moving upwards. The muscles in her thighs and arms began to ache but it was a familiar ache, something she’d experienced many times on Minerva-6, and she greeted it like an old friend.

After two minutes, she was in the lead. Hespia wasn’t far behind but with every passing moment, Kara’s advantage grew.

The crowd gasped and she turned to see Gendril fall. The Vraxian plummeted several meters to the ground – a fall that might have injured her, if it hadn’t been for the cushioning energy shield that was automatically deployed by the disc on her back. Kara was impressed.

So that’s what it’s for. A high-tech airbag. Handy.

She resumed climbing, steadily inching higher. She couldn’t help grinning to herself.

Fuck. I might actually win this thing.

And no sooner had she thought that, then she lost her grip.

One minute she was climbing. The next, scorching heat tore through her hands in a violent, blistering wave. She shrieked and let go of the pole, crashing to the ground.

The shield diluted the impact of her landing. Shocked, she lay on the arena floor and wondered what the hell had just happened.

Her hands had been burning. The pain had been so intense she was sure her skin had been melted to the bone. Yet when she studied them now, there was nothing to see. Not a single mark.

What the fuck?

No-one ran over to help her and she remembered the rules. No aid and no interference. She got to her feet and launched herself at the pole again, knowing she didn’t have time to figure out what had happened.

It wasn’t so bad; several Potentials were still near the bottom, including Gendril who’d also had to start again. She could still catch them.

But when she got to the same place, the same thing happened. White hot bolts skewered her palms and wherever she touched the pole, it felt like a branding iron.

This time, however, she didn’t let go.

She kept moving upwards, forcing herself to climb despite the excruciating pain. But any hopes that the burning sensation would wear off were quickly dispelled. It got worse the higher she climbed.

She might have been able to bear it, if it hadn’t started to penetrate the material of her uniform. Her forearms began to sting, then her thighs and stomach until every part of her body was affected. Her vision clouded with tears as the searing heat intensified. It was torture.

She focused on the prize at the top. But with each passing second the torment increased until her whole body was shaking in gut-wrenching agony. It was too much.

She crashed to the ground a second time.

When she looked across to Vahn she saw he’d half-risen from his seat in shock. But it was Baelon that caught her eye. Baelon, with his gloating face and his triumphant smile.

He’s sabotaged my challenge, she thought furiously. I don’t know how, but he’s rigged it.

And the first bell was rung.