Enemy and Mine (Galactic Survivor Games)

Chapter 1

Mara

“I can’t get anything on the television.”

Mara looked over at her father who lay in the hospital bed, tubes connected to him, and monitors beeping.

This was the second time he had to be hospitalized in the last six months for Stellar Degenerative Carcinoma.

There were four stages and he was currently in the second stage.

There was only one known cure for the disease—Quantum Cellular Reset Therapy. The problem was it was expensive.

They had to sell their house and share a one bedroom apartment to pay for the already extensive hospital bills. Mara quit college and took on two jobs. They were just starting to save a little when he had the second relapse. Things weren’t looking good for them.

“Let me see the remote,” she offered, reaching out a hand.

He gave it to her reluctantly, then settled back in the thin cushions.

“I hear you’ve been giving the nurses a hard time.”

He snorted. “They keep me in this damn gown, my ass hangs out every time I have to go to the bathroom.”

She had to bite back at the smile. “I didn’t think you were that modest.”

“Just too cold to be going around in next to nothing. There! No, go back to the other channel.”

Mara did what he asked. Then she placed the remote on the side table.

“This is a re-run.”

“I know, but I love this show.”

“Me too.”

They sat and watched together.

“Greetings, sentient beings across the galaxy.”

The host’s voice carries across a thousand star system, smooth and perfectly measured.

“Welcome to the One Hundred and Thirty-Fourth Galactic Survivor Games.”

The holo-feed ignites—winds tearing across desert plains, competitors stumbling, rising, fighting. A planet spins slowly in the void.

“This is where the strongest, the boldest, and the desperate come to test their mettle.”

A brief pause. Anticipation tightens.

“Here, victory is rewarded, and lives can be changed forever for those found worthy.”

The camera cuts to shadowed figures standing at their drop points, breath fogging the air.

“But remember the creed of the Games…”

The host’s voice lowers.

“Survival is earned… not guaranteed.”

The words linger, heavy and final.

“Only one competitor will claim the prize. Endurance, adaptability, and the will to survive will decide who stays.”

Music swells. The sandy world fills the screen.

“Competitors, the galaxy is watching.”

“If you think you have what it takes, apply now.”

“Let us meet the players.”

“What do you think about the players?” she asked her father.

“The Vulture guy is going to try to use his flying abilities. He might make it. Did you know that that particular alien species has stomach acid with a pH near zero—essentially battery acid—which allows them to spit or use their own highly corrosive digestive fluids to melt through locks, restraints, or even enemy armor.”

“I did not know that, but I’m not surprised that you did.”

Martin Sinclair was in his late fifties, salt and pepper hair, a college professor. At least he was before he got sick. He raised her on his own after her mother abandoned them. She barely remembered her mother. But her father, he was everything to her.

She ran track and field when she was in high school.

He was at every single one of her track meets.

Though he didn’t make a lot of money as a professor, he used his time off in the summers to spend with her.

They would go on month long camping trips all over the world.

It was some of her favorite times as a child.

Mara hadn’t told her father that she applied a couple of months ago to enter the Galactic Survivor Games. She was desperate to save her father. She used to be an athlete, it shouldn’t take her long to get back to her athletic form.

Her cell dinged with a message. She glanced down at the message.

Galactic Survivor Games:

Congratulations, Competitor.

You’ve been accepted into the Galactic Survivor Games.

Tryouts begin in 14 days.

The galaxy is watching.

Her heart thudded too fast, her breath coming shallow, uneven. Mara stared at the message until the words blurred.

Accepted.

Her fingers began to shake. She rubbed her palms against her pants as if she could steady herself.

Two weeks.

Long enough for doubt to creep in. Long enough for people to ask questions she couldn’t afford to answer.

Relief flickered, fragile and brief, before it was buried under something colder. She didn’t trust it. Good news never stays good. Promises always came with a cost.

Mara swallowed, forcing her shoulders to loosen. She’d learned a long time ago not to lean on anyone when it mattered most. Hope made you careless. Trust makes you weak.

She would go into the Games the same way she’d survived everything else—alone, guarded, and ready to fight.

Because her father was running out of time.

And failure wasn’t a choice she could afford.

She would have to ask her only friend to keep an eye on her dad while she was gone. The biggest problem was what she would tell her dad. He would never allow her to do something so dangerous for him.

“Dad, I have to travel for work. There’s a convention in New Dallas my boss needs me to attend.”

“That’s great news honey. Your bosses are finally noticing how valuable you are.”

“Maybe. I should be gone for about three to four weeks.”

He frowned. “That long?”

“Unfortunately. I know you’ll be here for another two weeks for treatment. Valorie will check on you while I’m gone.”

“I can do that myself.”

“I know, but it will make me feel better knowing that Val is here for you. I may not be in range of cell service for a bit.”

“That sounds… odd.”

“I’ll bring you back a souvenir.”

“Oh! I have always wanted one of those little bobble heads in the airport stores.”

She laughed. “I will get you one.”

“When do you leave?”

“Two weeks.”

“I’m glad you’re getting to travel. I wish I could go with you.”

“I wish you could come too. I’ll miss you.”

“Take lots of pictures. When you get back, you can show me all the places that you’ve been to.”

“I’m looking forward to that.”

“Can you turn the volume up a little?”

“Sure. I love you dad.”

“Love you too, sweetheart.