PROJECT: CAYRO

Star Zaraki:

September 11, 2025

21:00 CST

SkyTeam Stadium

Cedar Rapids IA.

We had arrived at the stadium about ten minutes before the penultimate challenge bout ended. My match with Cameron, the captain of Team Balfour, was set to be the final challenge of the night. Cayro and I had decided to make a dramatic entrance, flying under the cover of darkness from the mansion to the stadium. Cayro had suggested that we hide on top of the announcer’s box, where Director Staroko was stationed, observing and narrating each challenge. Scuzball had connected me with Dr. Volkova, who was feeding us intel on Cameron’s plans. As expected, he was planning an entrance, though from what Dr. Volkova could gather, it wouldn’t be as grand as ours. He would be entering alone, without his team—a detail that worked in our favor. We’d requested that Cameron go out first, and Dr. Volkova played along, pretending that we hadn’t planned anything special for our own entrance. She also made it clear to Cayro that he was absolutely forbidden from interfering in the fight. If he stepped in, it would disqualify me and make me lose face with everyone at the company. Cayro had initially argued, but I stood firm. This was my fight. I wasn’t going to lose—not when I had a point to make.

Peering over the edge of the roof, I watched as Director Staroko stepped onto the arena field. A spotlight near us snapped on, illuminating him as the stadium lights dimmed. He made his way to the center of the field, raising a microphone to his lips.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" his voice echoed through the stadium. "Tonight, we have one final challenge! This last bout will be between Cameron Balfour, captain of Team Balfour, and Lady Zaraki, shareholder and daughter of Dr. Zaraki!"

The crowd buzzed with anticipation as Director Staroko continued, "The first to enter the arena: Cameron Balfour!"

Fast-paced piano music erupted from the sound system, followed by the toll of a bell and the deep rumble of drums. As the music built in intensity, fog poured out of the entrance at the far end of the stadium. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the air, punctuated by six sharp explosions of fireworks at the entrance. I recognized the song instantly—"Beast Of Gévaudan" by Powerwolf, Cameron’s signature entrance theme for his solo competitions. So, he had the same idea I did. I watched as he slowly emerged from the fog, arms outstretched, a smug grin plastered across his face. He was shirtless, wearing only a pair of grey sweatpants, his muscles gleaming under the stadium lights. I raised an eyebrow, slightly impressed by his build—well-defined and muscular, perhaps more so than Cayro or me. Still, I had half-expected him to enter in his werewolf form. Apparently, he didn’t see me as enough of a threat. His mistake.

The music faded as the crowd roared its approval. Director Staroko turned to face Cameron, who stood before him, exuding confidence.

"Now that was a challenge entrance, Cameron!" the Director’s voice boomed over the speakers.

"Thank you, Sir," Cameron replied, his arrogance palpable.

"You’ve chosen to challenge Lady Zaraki. She has accepted. Are you ready?" Director Staroko asked.

"Yes!" Cameron shouted.

"Scuzball, now," I said through our link just as Cameron responded.

A loud squelch echoed through the stadium’s sound system, followed by the sound of Scuzball clearing his throat.

"Fellow members of SkyTeam Aerospace Foundation! I, Scuzball 1337-J2, AI of the SAF Autumn, proudly present Star Tabitha Zaraki, the tip of the spear for Team SAF!" Scuzball’s voice echoed through the stadium as the instrumental version of "Star Sky" by Two Steps From Hell began to play. This was the crew’s anthem, the song that had carried us through countless competitions.

"Tonight," Scuzball continued, "Star Zaraki will make her first unmasked appearance for all to see!"

As the AI’s voice reverberated through the stadium, Cayro and I stepped onto our boards. I hoisted my flag high just as a spotlight found us, casting its beam upward. The crowd fell into a stunned silence, every eye turning toward us. We had equipped LED lights on our hands and belts, casting a soft glow around us as we began to hover. The moment was charged with anticipation.

"And joining her tonight is the newest member of Team SAF, Cayro Jacob Bracton! Heir to the Bracton Lineage! This will also be his first appearance and performance!" Scuzball’s voice rang out, just as the music swelled to its grand opening.

At the peak of the music, I shot up into the night sky, my banner unfurling behind me. The stadium seemed to shake with the power of the bass thundering through the sound system. Cayro followed close behind, corkscrewing around my path in a display of aerial acrobatics. We ascended higher and higher until the music softened, leaving only the delicate notes of the piano and violins. At the zenith of our climb, we let our boards stall, free-falling together, spinning slowly towards the earth, upside down.

For the first time in days, I felt truly alive—happy, free, and powerful. The sensation was exhilarating, filling me with a sense of purpose and unity with Cayro.

As we neared the ground, the music began to build once more. We righted ourselves just in time, our boards’ antigravity fields kicking in to prevent a crash. Leaning forward, I grasped the nose of my board, raising my other arm skyward. Cayro mirrored my movements, his board aligned perfectly with mine, bottom to bottom. In unison, we both activated our thrusters to full power, shooting upward.

In that moment, the pent-up energy within me broke free. It surged from my chest, traveling down my arm and exploding from my hand in a brilliant ball of light. The sphere of energy streaked ahead of us, blazing a path through the night sky. We reached the apex of our climb, and as we fell away from each other, the ball of light shattered into countless pieces, cascading down like a shower of stars. Cayro and I descended in perfect harmony with the falling lights, our boards adjusting their thrusters to keep us synchronized.

As we neared the stadium once more, we pulled out of our descent, gliding just above the heads of the audience. I spread my arms wide, my banner trailing behind me as I circled the stadium clockwise. Across the arena, Cayro did the same, our movements mirroring each other. The crowd below gazed up at us, their faces lit with astonishment as we flew past.

The music swelled again, and we began our ascent again, spiraling upward in wide arcs that gradually brought us closer together. As we climbed, I let more energy flow from my free hand, leaving a trail of amethyst light in my wake. At the peak of our spiral, Cayro reached out, grasping the flagpole just above my hand. Our eyes locked—his glowing bright emerald green, his face alight with excitement. His hand slid down the pole to touch mine, and in that instant, I felt my power flow into him. An emerald light burst from his other hand, illuminating the night sky.

"Don’t let go," I mouthed, a grin spreading across my face.

"I won’t," Cayro mouthed back, his eyes locked on mine as we began to slowly pinwheel down together.

Our movements synced with the music, our boards accelerating in perfect harmony with the tempo. As we reached the center of the stadium, the music crested a fourth time, and we separated, flying outward toward the crowd. A new burst of amethyst and emerald light shot upward when Cayro released the flagpole. We arced through the air in a massive, twisting loop, light of our power trailing from our hands following us like celestial ribbons. At the peak of our ascent, where the ball of light hovered, I reached out my hand, and Cayro did the same. As our fingers touched within the glowing sphere, we clasped hands, causing the ball of light to shatter into countless fragments that rained down like stars.

With the final crescendo of the song building, we spiraled down together, holding hands. In that moment, everything felt right. I acted on impulse, pulling Cayro toward me. Our boards hovered mere inches apart as I pressed my lips to his, kissing him in front of the entire stadium just as the music reached its climax. We held the kiss, spinning slowly in place, until our boards touched the ground and the song came to its powerful conclusion.

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, cheers echoing through the stadium. As I released Cayro’s hand and stepped back, I locked eyes with Team Balfour’s captain, who stood frozen, slack-jawed in disbelief. The crowd’s excitement slowly subsided, and an anticipatory hush fell over the stadium, everyone holding their breath to see what would happen next. I sent a quick thought to Scuzball, requesting a link to the sound system.

"Connected," Scuzball confirmed through my implant.

I pointed directly at the team captain, my voice ringing out loud and clear over the stadium’s speakers. "You have challenged me and my fated mate. I accept your challenge, Cameron Balfour."

He blinked, clearly taken aback, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to find words. "You think you can beat me? You’re just a girl. I am a werewolf," he finally managed, his tone flustered.

I flashed him a wicked grin, then reached down to unbuckle my boots from my board. Planting my banner firmly into the ground, I stepped off and strode toward him, stopping about ten feet away. Director Staroko quickly moved to the side, guiding Cayro back and collecting my board.

"Yes, I am positive that I can," I replied, my voice still amplified throughout the stadium.

Cameron grinned, then took a running leap at me. Predictable. I sidestepped his attack effortlessly, spinning on my heel and delivering a high roundhouse kick to the back of his head. He hit the ground face-first with a loud thud, eliciting an audible gasp from the crowd. I stood over him, one eyebrow raised in disbelief. He groaned in pain.

"That was pathetic, Cameron. Very sloppy on your part. This is why Team SAF always wins—we have more class than you," I taunted, a smirk tugging at my lips. Some of the crowd began to laugh.

"If that’s the best you’ve got, this will be a quick match," I added, my tone dripping with confidence.

He let out a huff before starting to laugh, a dark chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine. "You think that’s the best I’ve got? You’ve got another thing coming, Sweetheart," he sneered, pushing himself up to his full height, his eyes blazing with renewed determination.

"That was nothing," Cameron snarled as his body began to deform and reshape, growing taller, bulkier, and covered in fur. His face elongated into a wolf-like snout, with fangs extending from his mouth. His hands twisted into claws, and his eyes shifted from chocolate brown to a bright, menacing amber. By the time he finished his transformation, he towered at nearly seven and a half feet tall, an imposing figure of pure muscle and rage.

"Damn, Dude, you are the ugliest motherfucker I have ever met!" I exclaimed, my voice dripping with taunting bravado. The crowd let out a collective "ooooh" at my bold statement. Cameron responded with a vicious roar—a terrifying cross between a howl and a growl—before launching himself at me with blinding speed. He hit me like a freight train, knocking me to the ground. The impact drove the breath from my lungs as I slammed into the dirt, coughing and gasping for air. His massive form pinned me down, one of his claws holding my hands above my head.

"What was that you said? That this would be a quick challenge?" he rumbled, his voice deep and gravelly as he laughed with sinister amusement.

Finally catching my breath, I grinned up at him, my confidence unwavering. "Yep," I replied, sending the mental cue to Scuzball to initiate the next stage of the plan. I hadn’t told Cayro about this part—he wouldn’t have agreed to it—but I knew it was the key to turning the tide.

"Did I forget to mention Star Tabitha Zaraki, Heiress to the Zaraki Lineage, Tip of the Spear for Team SAF, Ace combat pilot, Level three combatives expert, Master firearms expert, and all-around badass mechanic?" Scuzball’s voice boomed over the sound system just as "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold began to play, the heavy beats and powerful lyrics filling the stadium.

Cameron’s eyes widened in surprise, and I seized the moment, laughing maniacally as I shifted into my other form just as the lead singer screamed "Nightmare!" With a sudden surge of strength, I slammed my head into his snout, sending him reeling backward. Seizing the opening, I pulled my legs in and kicked him hard in the chest, launching him off me. He crashed to the ground with a resounding thud. Wasting no time, I sprang to my feet and closed the distance, grabbing his head and slamming it into the ground repeatedly. Each impact drew grunts of pain from him before he managed to toss me off. I tucked and rolled, springing back to my feet in one fluid motion.

Cameron struggled to his feet, blood streaming down the side of his face, his expression twisted with pure rage. He charged at me again, his movements fueled by anger. But just as he leapt, I felt a strange pull in my chest—a desire to be directly behind him. Trusting the instinct, I allowed the sensation to guide me, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself behind him.

Taking advantage of his disoriented state, I spun on my heel, dropping low and delivering a powerful roundhouse kick to the back of his knees. Cameron’s legs buckled, and he crashed to his knees, his arms flailing as he tried to regain his balance.

Before Cameron could react, I grabbed the arm closest to me, twisting my body around him with swift precision. I planted one leg across his chest and the other over his neck, the force of my movement catching him by surprise and sending him crashing to the ground. Using my strength, I straightened my body into an armbar. He tried to flex his arm, nearly breaking my hold, but I held fast. Damn, he was strong. Arching my body back, I felt and heard the sickening pop as his shoulder joint dislocated. A howling scream of pain erupted from his throat. I released him and darted back, watching him struggle.

"Had enough yet?" I huffed, grinning as I watched him writhe.

He groaned, rolling over before pushing himself back up to his feet.

"What are you?" he whimpered, fear flickering in his amber eyes.

"Your fucking nightmare," I echoed, perfectly timed with the lyrics of the song still pounding through the stadium.

He growled, stalking toward me slowly. I cracked my neck, grinning as I sidestepped his approach. This felt so damn good. He closed the distance quickly, swiping at me with his good arm while cradling his injured one close to his body. I ducked under his swing, using that same strange power to blink behind him, right on his injured side.

With a swift, open-palm strike, I slammed his dislocated shoulder back into place, the joint popping with a gruesome snap. Using my other hand, I drove a punch into his side just below the ribs. Another pained howl escaped him, followed by a grunt. Punching him felt like hitting a brick wall—solid and unyielding. Before I could dodge away, he lashed out with the arm I’d just reset, smacking me hard enough to send me airborne.

For the second time that night, I hit the ground with bone-jarring force, the breath knocked out of me. Coughing, I looked to my right and spotted my banner fluttering next to me. As Cameron leaped toward me, I grabbed the flagpole, using it to pull myself up. Spinning quickly, I brought the pole down across his head, hard and fast, shattering it in half. The crack echoed through the stadium as he went down, flipping onto his back from the force.

I moved swiftly, planting my boot on his chest and pointing the jagged end of the broken flagpole at his throat. Cameron groaned as he began to regain his senses.

"Submit!" I growled, my voice deep and gravelly, laced with undeniable power.

He looked away, then smacked the ground with the palm of his good arm. "I submit, Alpha," he said, his voice gravelly and filled with reluctant respect.

I stepped off him, slamming the broken pole into the ground before walking over to retrieve my banner. I draped it over my shoulders, tying it around my neck like a cape. Behind me, I heard him sit up, groaning in pain as he shifted back to his human form, his face bruised and his right shoulder swollen.

"Seriously, Alpha, what are you?" he asked, his tone submissive yet tinged with pride.

I swallowed before answering, "A monster that haunts other monsters’ nightmares." With that, I turned away, facing the crowd. Director Staroko and Cayro approached from behind, lifting both my arms in victory. The stadium erupted into cheers, the sound deafening. I sagged in relief, feeling the rush of adrenaline drain away, leaving me exhausted but triumphant.

"Damn, Babe, remind me not to piss you off," Cayro whispered in my ear. I leaned in, kissing him on the cheek, feeling the rough stubble of his five o’clock shadow against my lips.

"You should grow this out, and you of all people should know better than to piss me off," I teased, giving him a sweet smile.

He returned the smile and nodded, but before we could bask in the victory, the sharp cracks of gunfire rang out through the stadium. The cheers turned to screams as an emergency siren blared to life, echoing through the entire compound.