Xero Gravity book 1 part 1 of 4

Year 150 since unification, sixth month, second week, second day, at the time of three PM. The researcher starts. Ace stands in front of him; the one in charge of his boys. “Ace, engineer of the Xero project.” Ace sits still as he listens to his banter.  Researchers had a way with words, even if dry and void of any emotion. Ace listened as the researcher gave the opening speech. An understandable statement, yet Ace sat in his seat respectfully. 

“Ace.” The researcher started, Ace shaking himself out of his train of thought, “You have been with X-023 and X-009 for exactly a month now. Please let me know, are they treating you well?” It's so boring, Ace thinks to himself.

“Well, Shirako and Stark, whichever number they are, have been a handful—” Ace says, cut off by the sound of pencil scratching on paper. 

The pencil stopped, the researcher looking up. “Please, continue,” He said politely waving to him.

“Right, They have been a handful, but I have seen progress with them—” Again cut off by pencil scratching at paper. A little annoyed, he spoke over the noise. “There has been progress in the amount of work that they have done. I have had them help me two days out of the week with my work. However, I have a concern.” 

“Is it their defects?” The researcher asked, wasting no time to jump to that point. Ace, appalled by the comment, opened his mouth in disgust.

“You mean their personalities they are making for themselves?” Ace said, spite dripping from his words. "No wonder they wanted to leave this Alurizan," he thought to himself. Before the researcher had time to answer, Ace spoke for him. “It’s the opposite. Every time that we do this, we end up talking about their defects. They are children!” Ace says, his paws slamming on the table, his tail raised and fur on end. “They have things they are working on! Like all children do.” The researcher, unphased by the reaction, vigorously wrote notes on his pad. 

“I understand your concern.” The researcher started, Ace rolling his eyes before wiping his face in annoyance. “But remember why we entrusted them with you. Other Xeros have shown favorable results. Some working, others living stable lives and contributing to the Alurizan population. X-009 and X-023, Stark and Shirako as they call themselves … haven't shown favorable results. One has a temper and the other has a fear of rain. These are not traits that can live under the Root logic. Your job is to remove those traits from them. Make them Alurizans.”

“Because it is as easy as teaching a pet to obey me.” Ace says mockingly, moving towards the door. “Try being with some children and working through those problems with them.”

“I have,” the researcher says, closing his book. “I found I was no good with them. However, I believe you are the perfect fit.”

“Thanks.” Ace responds sarcastically, closing the door behind him.

***

Stark strode down the halls, confidently whistling as he walked down towards the restricted area. Even though he had walked around the Xero research facility several, if not dozens, of times. He always looked around, looking at every nook and cranny, any changes made, the difference in temperature. Something that happened as he approached the main desk. He could feel his legs shaking and invisible beads of sweat continuously dampening his fur. Mrs. Tou, the feline secretary, might as well double as a security guard for the area. She looked down at her work; her slitted eyes darting from tablet to paper. The pen in her claws almost as fast as her eyes. As Stark got closer, he tiptoed, his footsteps growing quieter, like a mouse trying to hide from a predator. Mrs. Tou’s long ears flicked.

“Stark, what a pleasant surprise. How are you today?” Mrs. Kou asked, still making marks on the piece of paper. Stark gulped. The cat had found its prey. 

“Not much.” He said casually, leaning against the wall just like other cool xeros he had seen doing. “I seem to have lost my mentor. Have you seen him around here perchance?” Goofy words, just the thing that he needed to get her attention.

“He is in an interview room right now.” She put bluntly her eyes on her work. “He’ll be out shortly.”

“Why aren’t we Xeros allowed in the room for this conversation? If they wanted to talk about us, wouldn’t it be better just for us to be there?” Stark said, his voice rising. Mrs. Tou looking at her paper and erasing a mark on it.

“Trust me, all they talk about is boring stuff, like trying to help you with math and how your mentor can help you.” She says. “Now you may sit down in one of those chairs over there or leave. I am trying to work.” She says, stalling for a second to take a deep breath.

“Thank you, I’ll be quick.” Stark says, walking beyond the desk.

“I didn’t say you can do that, you kitten!” She said, grabbing him by the scruff of his clothing, pulling him in front of his desk. Her full attention on him, her fur raised in irritation. He raised his hands apologetically. 

“Sorry, I just wanted to—” 

“No Xeros in the Interview room!” She cut him off angrily. “Now get in a seat or leave Stark, those are your only options.” She said, her eyes slitting even further as she unsheathed and sheathed her claws repeatedly. 

“Sorry, I just want to know.” He said. apologizing over and over as he walked back. Her eyes pinned on him. As he rounded the corner, he saw a flash of pink fur slip behind her desk. He smiled, interesting how one person can make a scene while another can slip by unnoticed. When the cat catches its prey, it forgets other mice may be around.

***

Stark and Shirako stared at the ceiling, kicking their legs in seats that were much too big for them. Shirako having his tail in his lap while stroking it, a calm look on his face while Stark wagged his large tail behind him. 

“So what did you find out?” The words escaping Stark’s mouth. His claws nervously tapping on the bench as he awaited the information. Shirako fidgeted with his fingers, making signs.

“Not good” His signs made. Stark felt a fire well in him. It was just like he thought. His claws digging into the wooden bench. 

“So what did he say?” Stark said, his face getting closer to Shirako’s. Shirako looked at the ground, his hands playing with his pink tail. “What is it?” Stark insisted again. Shirako looked up to his brother; Stark could see the tears well up in his brother’s eyes. 

“Defects” Shirako signed. Stark growled at the news. 

“How dare they?” He says. “We’re prodded and poked, experimented on and examined and all they say is that we are defects.” He says, anger in his voice and tears in his eyes. He stood still for a second. 

“Well, that is why we got this new mentor, he is tough, but he is better than him.” Stark said through tears, trying to find a bright side. There was no way that they could get two bad mentors in a row right? Shirako’s head sank, the tears growing larger. 

“He was the one that said it” Stark looked at Shirako in shock. He smiled, putting his arms around his brother. 

“We will find a way out. We don’t have to deal with that nightmare again.”

***

“Stark, could you hand me that wrench?” Ace said, holding his hand out while he looked at the underbelly of the test tubes. Different fluids from tubes marked by different colors flowing in while waste flowed out. It had been several years since he first entered the Xero program. He watched as the first several batches were born and brought into the world. All the Xeros growing up to become Alurizan citizens. The future of Alurizia, the knowledge of the ages gathering into the roots of the tree; blah, blah, blah. 

“Shirako has it!” Stark yells, Ace holding out his hand to grab the wrench. For some unknown reason; the vow of youth, giving children a place in the world, didn’t extend to those artificially born. It was one expectation after another… He thought as he unscrewed empty cans  , replacing them with full ones of a biological substance. 

“Boy's! Grab the cans, this tube is almost done!” Ace yelled out as he looked at the different pipes, checking for damage. "Imagine", Ace thought, "imagine one day where they didn’t have to be adults immediately, where they could have fun". Ace smiled as he pulled out of the engineer’s hole. He handed the different instruments to Shirako, who hurriedly placed the tools in their proper places in Ace’s box. 

“Your getting good at this.” He says ruffling the Xero’s hair. Shirako paying no attention to it as he walked through the door back to the shed. “Hey, Stark, you feel your muscles getting larger?” Ace said as Stark placed the empty cans in their crate. Ace flexing and grinning at Stark, who gave a disdainful look to his mentor. 

“Sure.” He answered sarcastically as he walked through the door. Ace dusted himself off as he grabbed his jacket. Whatever the researcher did, Ace could tell it ran deep.

They walked home in silence, an angry silence, a silence that pierced through any good feelings and ate at everyone. 

“Sorry that I had to leave you both this afternoon. There were important things we had to discuss.” Ace said, his words dissipating in the wind. “I could make it up to you. How does some ice cream sound?” Ace says, a smile on his face. 

Shirako looked up from the ground, an eager look on his face. Ace could see his hands move in the shadow of his eye, yet he couldn’t see what he was signing. Ace looked over to Stark, a glint of excitement in his eyes, as he heard the word. 

“I know what you are trying to do.” Stark says, forcing a frown. Ace smiled. 

“Your right, I am trying to buy your love.” He said, Stark looking up at him in surprise. “I’m not asking for me. Go on, spend some time with your brother,  It seems like you both need one after a hard day.” Ace says, handing them both a token. Stark grabbed it, Shirako pointing at a good place. 

“Bye, I guess.” Stark said as he followed his brother. 

Ace continued back to their place, kicking rocks along the way. A single day for them to enjoy. How would he do it? He thought about everything, from a hike in nature to even testing ice cream in every store in the Oasis. Before he realized it, he found himself in his apartment. Every idea sounded good, but nothing really resonated. The thinking made his head hurt; he opened the window, the wind and fresh air breathing into his apartment, even though he lived in the middle of the city. It made him smile, at least a bit.

“Mom, this will be the only time of the year. Can we go, please!” Ace’s ears turned upwards towards the noise. 

“No, you’ll be staying here, I don’t want you to go to an event alone.” Ace heard his neighbor say. Ace couldn’t help but listen to the conversation.

“But mom, the festival will have everything there. Singers from planet S-6 will be there. Enough prizes for everyone to win one. All of my friends will be there.” The child protested. A smile forming on Ace’s face.

“Pike, I can’t. There is another event I must go to. Fried potatoes and carrots don’t just appear out of nowhere.” 

“But that is the main dish of the place mom, can’t you make it at this festival. I even have a ticket to get in.”

"Aw", Ace thought to himself, "the festival of union. Such a fun event, one that the young citizens throughout the world were invited to. Now, if only he had the tickets for his boys to get in. If only they were in school where they would get one."

“Wait, the festival of union? I already have a ticket for you.” The neighbor said above. 

“Really mom?” The child said.

“I wanted this to be a surprise for you tomorrow, but today will work.” The mother said. 

“Wow, then I don’t need this.” The child said, throwing the gold ticket out of the apartment window. Realizing his chance, Ace reached out to grab it, catching it between the tips of his claws. 

On the ticket it read, "Admittance to the festival of union. Admits one family into the games."

“Sweetie!” Ace heard the mom yell. “We could have given that ticket the lovely German Shepherd below us, he has two boys. you know.” The mom scolded.

“Thank you!” Ace shouted up!

Ace stared at the ticket, a  mark of prestige on the corner of the ticket. "Looks like this will be the first time Xeros will enter a planetary festival."Ace said in excitement.

***

Shirako and Stark walked down the street. The stars staring down at them. Shirako tapped Stark on the shoulder. 

Don’t you feel bad about lying to him? Shirako signed as they wandered towards their hiding spot.

“Why would I?” Stark answers, his hands in fists and a growl on his face. Shirako moved his hands up as if in reply. “He’s just like the researcher, he makes us do hard tasks that we don’t want to do, then tries to smile afterwards and give us a treat. I won’t fall for the same trick again.” Shirako looked at the ground.

He works with us; he helps. Shirako signed. While Stark saw it, he didn’t reply. Shirako slumped down. Stark moved forward. It irritated him. How could his brother be so kind, so willing to trust; even when every adult had done his brother and himself harm. He admired his brother’s kindness, but he was not about to allow them to be dragged into another situation. Never again. 

Shirako tapped him on the shoulder again. Stark shook himself out of his thoughts. Shirako pointed at a sleek building, neon lights blinking underneath. A cafe beneath, but both of them weren’t interested in the ice cream. Right above the cafe was a split between two buildings, too big to leave with just an alleyway, in between them, a skeleton of iron bars holding them together. In the middle of it was a nest of their own making, above where garbage cleaners could see or reach. They were finally home.

“Welcome back,” a familiar voice said. 

Venza! Shirako signed. 

“How are you doing?” Stark said, a genuine smile spreading on his face. 

“You were just about to go to your hideout, right?” The friendly Xero said. Stark scratched his head. 

“We wanted one last chance to look at it.” 

“Sure, sure,” Venza said exaggeratedly. “Then you all were going to go straight back home right?” Venza’s eyebrows raising. “Come on! I have a new recipe to show you!”

“Thanks for the offer, I think I am going to enjoy the fort one last time.” Stark said as he headed towards the bars. Shirako waved him down.

You enjoy the fort; I am going in; he signed. 

“Come on Stark!” Venza said, waving him in. “I just came from R-012, the jungle planet; it’s bound to be good!” Stark gripped his fists in irritation. Breathing out as he rationalized the decision in his mind. 

“You sure it isn’t better than the sand and twig soup you made two weeks ago.” Stark prodded, Venza shot a smile back. Stark saw the stubby antenna on his head straighten out as he folded his arms. 

“That was—”

“I’ll come in.” Stark cut Venza off, taking him by surprise. Stark walked past his friend and with his brother into the cafe. Venza stood out in the dark, thinking about the response.

“It wasn’t like—” He finds himself alone. “Hey! I’m the one cooking!” He says, running into the building.

***

Venza brought two bowls of broth of broth out; placing them before Stark and Shirako, adding a ball of green noodles. As the ball hit the broth, the contents sizzled and steamed.

“Eat it while it is hot!” He said, pouring himself a bowl as well. Shirako dug in, slurping the noodles up. Stark was more weary. He prodded and poked at the noodles, making sure no crickets popped out of them.

“You seem to have gotten… adventurous lately.” Stark commented as he tasted the broth. 

“So you like it?” Venza asked, a smile on his face.

It is amazing. Shirako answered for him. Stark smiled.

“Beats our mentor’s cooking that is for sure.” Stark says, hazarding a taste of the noodles. 

“I heard you both got a new one a month ago.” Venza asked, putting away his cooking instruments. “Has he been treating you well?” Stark and Shirako both looked at the soups and started eating more. Both of them slurping up noodles to avoid the awkward silence.

“It seems you are more interested in eating my questionable soup rather than talking about your mentor. Why? The mentors are hand selected to help their Xeros progress.” Venza pointed out. 

Well, he called us children with defects. Shirako answered. 

“He wants to do nothing more than to train us like pets until we obey and to remove our struggles.” Stark said, a shard of anger in his voice. “He even—” Venza raised his hand. 

“I can tell you’re struggling. But have you thought about the possibility that this is one big misunderstanding, and that you are blowing this out of proportion?” 

“We know what we heard.” Stark said bluntly. “I can’t stand to think that we will return to the nightmare that was with the researcher. Me and Shirako never will. We never will again.” 

Venza slurped up the rest of his noodles and sat against the wall. Awkward silence filling the room, everyone wanted to say more, but the solemn attitude sucked the words out of their mouths.

How did you make it? Shirako asked. 

Venza sighed, “I was fortunate, my mentor works with me and is nice. Then, when I needed time alone, he got me into this place. Now I do as I please.” Stark’s ears perked. 

“That’s it!” He said. “all we need to do is to get our own place!” Shirako perked at the response too. 

“That can’t—” 

“It’s great!” Stark interrupted him. “We could be in our own place in no time!” 

“Again, that’s not a great—”

“Come on Shirako, let’s make the plan at the base!”

“You need…” Venza says as Stark drags Shirako out the door. “Your mentor to approve it.” Venza finished. He bites his lip, "please don’t do anything stupid you two", he thinks. "At least they enjoyed his jungle worm soup. He pulls out the remaining green worms and they writhed around and put them back in their box."