Aden Stories- Xiu-Xan's Teen Challenge

Perfect World story (The NOW)

Xiu-Xan Ximone awoke without the alarm-- this morning, it was inevitable. Whenever she was anticipating an event of true magnitude she could hardly get an hour's sleep the night before, and Challenge was most certainly an anticipation-worthy event. Hell, it was do or die time for her and all the others at her level; at 15, she was the youngest Adener to be allowed to join-- ever. She sprang from bed and jumped into the porta shower in the corner of her studio. "Gimme a warm tornado, Gracie," she said into the air, and the sealed shower unit burst into action with a high powered sideways spray at a comfortable 95 degrees, shooting around her in rapid circles. "Quick bathtub, spa set high, then a hurricane spritz and dry."

The circular spray pattern ceased and large ceiling spigots filled the watertight shower collarbone high in three seconds flat, then began churning as floor and wall jets pumped vigorously. Xiu-Xan's small frame was battered about by the flow, a condition she enjoyed immensely. Then the drain opened wide and the water left as quickly as it had come. The entire unit was filled with a warm, perfumed mist that stung as hurricane forces slammed the microdroplets onto her skin. And then the zephyr began; a warm, swirling wind that tickled her sweetly as it drove every bit of moisture off of her. A heat lamp roasted her until she thought she could smell steak; then she popped out of the shower, combing the floor for her clothes.

"Where are they, where are they?" She had the perfect combination in mind for today's physical contest-- the skin tight gym sweats and low cut support top which joined together to become a sturdy, sexy one-piece garment with a few special features that was guaranteed to up her performance, and catch eye traffic from the boys. She was competing against her own previous best times, but that didn't stop her from wanting to make the boys mess theirs up.

"Behind the sofa, Soupy," the computer said in that silly falsetto Xiu-Xan had programmed for her. She took pride in how much it sounded like the original Gracie Allen, George Burns' comedy partner and wife, down to the silly commentary from time to time; it always made her laugh. "Thanks, Gracie."

The Challenge was designed to be an entrance exam to adulthood, testing the teenaged wannabes in every aspect of their learning in Aden. They would face real-life problems needing solutions they had been trained for in podschool, mental exercises to determine their savvy, endurance tests of each one's physical limitations, combat and stealth, organization and flow, art and science... there wasn't an area of life not investigated by the Challenge. It could go on for weeks, or even months, and nobody could drop out, even if it meant their death.

That was the part that excited Xiu-Xan the most, was the element of danger. Everyone had heard the stories, the cautionary tales about this teen or that one who had never made it out of the Challenge arena, all because they hadn't prepared well enough for some of the more dire predicaments, but she didn't care; to her, it was just fodder. She was ready to enter and had been for some time, but had to wait until her Challenge ratio exceeded 3:5.

And here it is! She found her left sneaker and put it on, then hopped around looking for the other one. Her apartment was a mess but she refused to use the auto clean function; she believed this was the most efficient 'filing system' for her stuff. Except now, when one thing completely covered another, which was the case when she finally found her other sneaker. It was hiding under a jacket behind her most recent sculpture, a whimsical piece she called 'Venus with Penis', where arms and legs were not the only things broken off of it.

Shoes on, she was heading toward the door when Gracie piped, "Have some breakfast, dear... it's the most important meal of the day, you know."

"Not hungry, Gracie."

"Pop supplements, then. There's a dish of them in the receiver box. You have to be your best today, Soupy."

Xiu-Xan snapped open the receiver box door and swallowed the small cup of supplements. "Fess up, Gracie... what will I face in today's Challenge? You know, don't you? I mean, you set it up, right?"

"You know I can't say anything to influence the outcome of your challenge, dear. It wouldn't be fair-- not to the others and mostly, not to you."

"I know, I know. But you can't blame a girl for trying, right?"

"I'd expect nothing less. Get a move on, sister. If you don't secure a position you may miss today's events entirely."

"I'm going, I'm going. Besides, I know a shortcut."

The computer barked sharply, "Xui-Xan, do not go out that window! You are one hundred and thirty stories in the air-- I can't guarantee your safety! What if you should drift away from the drop zone-- it's windy up here!" But it was too late, for Xiu-Xan took a running start, shot out of her apartment window and into the emptiness of rarified air!

Away from the megascraper she fell, stiff currents sending her beyond the automated safety nets which popped out in the event of a fall. The wind tore at her, slapping her violently as she approached terminal velocity-- but she was ready. She was born ready. One tug at her garment and tough fabric wings opened up, connecting her wrists to her ankles with large panels that caught the wind and gave her tight control. Immediately her drop was replaced with a wide, swooping arc, and she was flying!

With the wind no longer deafening her, she said, "Gracie, which way to the Challenge HQ?"

"Left." The computer voice, heard in her brain via bone conduction speakers, sounded pissed.

"Oh, don't be like that, Gracie. You knew I wasn't suicidal."

"That doesn't stop you from being foolish, or just plain wrong. I worry about you, Soupy. Head for that building with the spire."

"Will do." Obediently Xiu-Xan arced left, dipping to gain speed, and shot towards the majestic building a half mile away, her body gracefully tracking the course. Man, she loved this wingsuit!

The building loomed quickly. The flying suit was fantastic for gliding and a user could travel for miles from a thousand-foot cliff... but without brakes or landing gear it was a one way trip if you didn't know the safe way to slow down and land. She did.

For her final approach Xiu-Xan shot towards the ground in a seeming suicide attempt, her arc exceeding the speed of falling. She could now see other Challenge contestants milling about and heading into the building; she changed her vector to fly upwards again and they stared, looking skyward as she shot past them, some involuntarily ducking to avoid the girl hurtling towards them like a fighter jet in a strafing run.

Now she was traveling upwards and slowing quickly. If she had no other plan she would run out of velocity ten stories in the air and plummet to the concrete, a fatal fall for anyone.

But of course Xiu-Xan had a plan-- she'd had the plan from the beginning. Right about the time she stopped falling upwards, she pulled a bolo from her pack, flung it, and caught the Challenge building's tall slender spire. Pulling herself to it, she spun expertly and slid down it like a firepole to the roof. Then she straightened her long black hair, tucked the wings back into their zipped pockets and took the roof stairway down to ground level, where she was met by an applauding crowd of Challenge peers, chattering away noisily.

"Wow!"

"Cool, Xiu!"

"You are one crazy commando, girl!"

"Wooo, Xiu-Xan!"

"Right bloody good, Susan!"

The crowd hushed. Nobody called her that, not without repercussions. She whipped around to face the boy who mispronounced her name, ready to box his ears red... and then stopped, looking up, mouth open.

He... was... a... god! Tall and fit, his azure eyes sparkled against the deep tan of his golden skin, mop of bushy black hair blowing in the breeze. Xiu-Xan was put off balance; her voice caught. Taking a breath, she steeled herself against his perfect white teeth set in an adorable, dimpled smile and said, only a little shakily, "That's not my name."

His smile faded slightly, briefly, but then returned full force. He put out his hand. "Jean-John."

Was he kidding? Xiu-Xan wasn't sure. Could that really be his name, sounding so much like hers? It sounded as though he had a slight accent from somewhere outside of the United States, but still... She decided to take the high road. "Xiu-Xan." She returned his handshake.

"Joo-Jan?" He repeated, inaccurately.

"No."

He tried again."Zoo-Zann?"

This was irritating! She was starting not to care about his intense hotness. "Just call me Soupy, Chin-Chin." She decided to change the subject. "Are you in Challenge today?"

"Yes. I 'ave to start straight away." They turned to enter the building when they saw the crowd moving. "I 'ave the 'ighest score in Freefall, but I'm bettin' you're gonna give me right chase, yeah?"

"I'm guessing you're not from around here. Am I right?"

He grinned. "Right, that. I'm on extended 'oliday from out by Cornswall visit'n me Uncle Jake Reston. 'Ow'dya know?"

"Three reasons. First, you sound like you're from across the pond."

"Aye. That you know."

"Next, you're discussing scores and competition. We don't do that here."

"Yeh don't?"

"We don't. And third, if you had been from here, I would have known."

"'Ow's that?"

"Well, you stick out. You stick out like a part of my latest sculpture." She giggled. "Private joke."

"Right then. By the way, me name's not Chin-Chin. It's Jean-John."

"Ching-Chong?"

"No."

"Shan-Shun?"

"Wee daredevil. Let's get inside, Batgirl." He laughed, casually draping his arm over her shoulders. They walked inside and she peeled his arm away, seemingly annoyed.

An enormous birchwood-floored gymnasium greeted them. A series of challenging physical tests, fifty in all, had been set up and now waited to be used, the polished metal parts glinting malevolently. Each entrant would need to complete all of them in order to finish this section and move on. Leaving one undone meant redoing them all on another day. Xiu-Xan licked her lips-- these were going to be fun!

The moderator spoke, but not through a megaphone-- his voice was heard in each person's head via their bone conduction speakers. "Each of you has been rated on each of these tests before. What is different today is that you will be now performing them consecutively. This will be exhausting; it will be painful. For some of you it will be damaging as well. As always, your score will be based on a formula using your best previous result, your challenge ratio and how many tests you have already completed today. You have five minutes to warm up and stretch out; make good use of the time."

Xiu-Xan was already stretching; she doubled over, twisted herself into a figure eight and then folded herself into a knot until even she didn't know which part belonged where. Jean-John walked over as she did a split, then touched her toes-- together, over her head.

His mouth dropped open. "You're bendier than a plate of spaghetti!" He began stretching nearby. She stole a glance and responded sarcastically, "But you seem to be only as flexible as the plate... what gives? Did you just get out of a year in a body cast?"

"Six months, actually. That's why uncle suggested I join Challenge-- to get back my former flexibility. I still can barely bend at the waist, but you should see my score in the luge!"

Xiu-Xan was mortified that her stinging insult was actually true, and attempted an apology. Red faced she mumbled, "You mean you...? I'm... uh, I didn't... um... er... well." She let out a breath. "I didn't know."

Jean-John burst out laughing. "Sucka! Yeh should see yer face!"

Xiu-Xan balled up a compact fist and drove it into his stomach. "Not funny, Ching-Chang. I'm gonna put you in a body cast!"

"Oh, the cast part is quite true," he chirped, grunting at the mini-blow. "My wingsuit tore on a high-G turn and I fell a hundred meters. I'm only alive because I landed in boggy muck, but I still cracked six vertebra and was immobilized to prevent paralysis. It was the luge part I was joking about."

"Great. Now I feel bad for punching a cripple."

"Don't. This cripple liked it quite well actually." He grinned, then resumed his stiff warmup. "It's why I'm in Aden, y'know. I owe uncle a great debt, since he shipped me here following the accident and set me up in your fantastic 'ospital. Did you know it's the most cutting edge medical center in the world? Believe it! My treatment used wee nanomachines to reattach severed nerves in my spine-- I wouldn't be walking without the little buggers."

"Nanomachines?"

"Smaller than a grain of sand! Under a microscope they resemble metal spiders, and each retractable 'leg' is actually a different tool. Of course, a few of them were actually legs so they could move about, too. Quite fascinating."

"That is! So how long have you been here?"

"Almost six months. Thanks to the nanomachines and RBG I've been up and about for the last four, though it was spent almost entirely in physical rehabilitation."

"RBG? Red Blue Green?"

"Oh! Sorry, Rapid Bone Growth. Another unique medical method that utilizes stem cells in an utterly confusing way. But it enabled me to work my way up from right crawling to competing in Challenge in these scant few weeks. But even so, I was 'oping today would be the Freefall test-- it's all I'm good at, anyway. My scores will rot today on these other trials... what are they called?"

She pointed out a few. "The usual-- uphill swimming, human wheel, handwalk, blind archery, antigrav ballet... oh, there are so many. Oh, and sit-ups... upside down sit-ups. And my favorite-- the backward reverse inside wheel run. I always feel like a supergerbil."

"Right, right. No, I'll definitely be useless today."

"Don't worry how you do in Challenge. For you, just think of it as a fun endurance test. For inhabitants of Aden it's a coming-of-age test, to help us with personal growth to live in in a non-competitive society."

He laughed. "Non competitive! That's a snort-- you're one of the most competitive people I think I've ever met!"

Xiu-Xan blushed. "Yeah. I'm still kinda new around here... I was actually urged to join, to help with that. I used to be much worse."

Jean-John's next comment was silenced by the announcer, who spoke in everyone's head. "Group One, take your positions-- Challenge begins in one minute." The computer then spoke each entrant's position number to them, and the first group filtered onto the court.

"Good luck. Don't hurt yourself. Meet me by the doors after last whistle," Xiu-Xan shouted as she ran to her first test-- the floor/ceiling spin climb-- producing anti-slip powder from her pack and applying it to her hands as she entered the large clear box. Universal handholds protruded from every side, and her job was to complete three 360-degree climbs as the box was pitched about by attached machinery. Jean-John ran over to his own test, called the water tube climb. A long clear tube, five feet in diameter and 30 feet long, was pitched at a 30 degree angle. He had to shimmy up the tube while water poured down on him from above. To add to the difficulty the tube rotated, changed pitch and occasionally jiggled; if he slipped, he would slide back down to the mouth and have to start over.

It was a grueling day, but one Xiu-Xan had been training for and was ready. She spent the five minutes between each test in deep meditation; she had found it was effective at suppressing her fatigue and muscular discomfort, allowing her to start fresh with each test. Jean-John was not so lucky but made each attempt with vigorous determination; spying him from the corner of her eye from time to time she was impressed with his determination, despite his malady. And watching him climb in his skin-tight, soaked-with-water white unitard made it so delicious! He noticed her attention once, smiled and waved; she actually found herself distracted and almost missed a handhold, which would have sent her straight into a pool of chocolaty mud, had she not snagged it with her pinky finger, painfully holding her body weight on the digit until the next handhold. She resolved to ignore him and to get her head back in the competition, but as he was always on the machine in front of hers and in her line of sight that proved to be difficult. But not impossible. One by one the tests fell away with her as victor, besting all her previous times by expected margins; this was her forté after all. In the end she forgot about Jean-John's luscious form and concentrated instead on besting the testing machines.

At last the day was over. The scores were entered into her file and she was given the green light for the next volley of tests-- facing her fears-- which would come up in a few weeks. It would be a tough day, forcing people to confront things they'd rather forget, but was an important part of learning their limitations-- and how to surpass them despite overwhelming odds. And she couldn't wait for that one, either.

Just the way she couldn't wait to see Jean-John. Beaming, Xiu-Xan ran to the front entrance, scouting for her new friend. He was on the grass, laying face down, unmoving. "Hey Jean-John, are you dead?" She straddled him and sat gingerly on his lower back, pushing air out of him most ungraciously. He groaned.

"Wee devil, ya gonna re-break meh spine." The words came out strained as he struggled for air. He twisted his body and dumped her, sacklike, on the grass next to him. "But at least yeh got meh name right this time. So," he continued, forcing himself to sit up, "how'd ya do? I was rot-- cubed."

"Fifty for fifty!" She practically screamed, giggling and clapping her hands. "Do you know what that means?" He opened his mouth but she continued, "That means I'm a definite for jet training! Wheee! I'm gonna fly a jet, I'm gonna fly a jet," she sang, dragging him to his feet and spinning in circles with him. Then she hugged him. He hugged her, looked in her eyes and said softly, "And you'll be the best damn pilot ever, I'm quite sure." Then he kissed her softly, for an infinite moment, caressing her head in his hands. They broke for air, and he whispered, "Wow... you're jolly good at everything, aren't you, Xiu Xan Ximone?" and nuzzled her hair.

Her heart was pounding and she felt short of breath. All she wanted to do was have another kiss with him, him and his gorgeous self. Oh, the way he made her feel! Normally she was fiercely independent but felt safe in his arms, as though she could surrender herself completely and he would be their combined stanchion of strength. She was even considering losing her innocence to him, surprising to her since she hadn't given that particular subject a moment's thought before he happened along. Her life had been all thrills and danger up until now, with no room for romance.

But she noticed something. "You know my name!"

"You've told me your name, love."

"Not my last name." She straightened up and studied his face. He looked guilty.

"Yeh... umm, well... I asked the computer about yeh."

Her face hardened into a tight rock. "The computer won't release information to you without talking to me first... and I think you know that, JayJay." She spat the nickname.

He looked more than uncomfortable... he was downright squeamish. He hedged, " Okay, okay. Umm, it's quite possible that maybe I had my uncle do a little digging for me, him being the founder of Aden and all."

"Your uncle is not the Founder," she said crossly. "He was the money man, the rich guy who the Founder convinced to build Aden." She stepped back and glared at him. "My grandfather is the Founder of the whole concept... of Perfect World Theory. Don't you forget that, and don't go laying credit where it's not due."

Jean-John blushed, sheepish. He looked at the grass and mumbled, "Sorry, Xiu-Xan. I didn't know the specific bits. I only asked about you because, well, I've never felt this way about a girl before." He was contrite, apologetic.

She said seriously, "You think I'm a girl? I thought you asked your uncle about me and knew my secret!"

Jean-John staggered back as though struck by a shovel, lost his footing and fell back on the grass. He rolled over and stared at her, disbelieving. "Blimey-- you're a chap? But you're so beautiful, and sexy and feminine-- I still want yeh, even knowing!" He covered his face. "Does that mean I'm gay? Oh my god, I think I'm gay!"

It was her turn to laugh. "Gotcha!"

His mouth dropped open like a drawbridge, then changed to a weak smile. "I guess yeh did at that, love. Nothing against my own gender, but I've always preferred the lips I kiss belong to a female, yeh?" He stood up, pulled her close and kissed her again.

Time stopped. Sound fell away. Xiu-Xan was immersed in the soft warm delicacy and budding passion stirring in that one sweet touch. Her fingers rode up and inside of his shirt, caressed his firm skin, skin ever so lightly brushed with the softest down. He in turn enveloped her as with a cape, rendering them like invisible amidst the mildly interested crowd.

At last they broke and turned to walk as one, taking a well worn path into a nearby pine grove. The hale wind whispered soft sounds in the branches and sunlight danced a playful moiré on the needle-cushioned ground; the ground where they lay, ignoring the all of everything but each other, and in that they were immersed, brimming. Skin glistened, hair tossed and stray strands of spit spanned lightly between one kiss and the next; their shining muscles tensed and relaxed, ecstasy straddling an agony so divine their backs arched jointly, as a deep and frenzied quaking passed between them, through them, completing them. Collapsed and spent, they could only lay there as the breeze stole their moisture away.

Later (it could have been days) Xiu-Xan opened her eyes; her godlike man remained, chest rising and falling with the breath of sleep. He was tan throughout, a divine creature of love and light and she adored his every line. The sun was low now and it was time to leave; she nudged him gently but he remained asleep, so she tried another approach, using her mouth. He groaned with pleasure and mumbled. "yeh, another go, eh?" but she slapped him smartly on his bare rump and he grunted but remained stiff, much to her amusement.

"I have to go, JJ." Her clothes fell on quickly.

"No! You can't!" he protested, eyes still closed. "I've only just begun with you, love. Whimpers are fine but darling, you deserve an evening of screams."

"A nice sentiment, but unlikely. You know the first time hurts for a girl, right?"

He was wide awake. "First time at what?"

"At what we just did."

"Really? You were a...?"

"What do you expect? I was just fifteen last month."

"NO."

"Yes. Why?"

"Oh meh goodness, girl... I thought you were eighteen at least!" He looked pale.

"You know the challenge is for teens under eighteen-- nobody there was older!"

"Except me, apparently! Oh gosh, I've raped you-- I'm so sorry! Are your prisons as nice as your 'ospitals?"

This was too delicious! Xiu-Xan hid her smile and laid it on thick. "Oh, my! You've taken advantage of me, you big, bad eighteen year old!"

He looked miserable. "I'm not eighteen."

"How old then-- nineteen?"

"No."

"Twenty? Twenty one?""

"I'm so sorry, Xiu-Xan-- I'm twenty- three."

It was her turn to be shocked. "I had sex with someone that old? Gross! Although... you are a bit Adonis-ish. I suppose I don't mind. Okay, let's do it again!" She began to peel down.

"Stop! I simply cannot! It's taking advantage!" He looked about, as if for statutory rape police descending, and backed away from her. Then he stopped, confused. "What? Why are you laughing?"

"Because this is Aden, silly. Things are different here."

"What's different?"

"Well, for one thing, there's no set minimum legal age for anyone's first time. If they feel ready and want to, then it's time. You can't believe the pressure it takes off a person."

He nodded. "Trust me, I can believe.

She continued, "and I'm laughing because I know you're not twenty-three."

"And how do you know that?"

"When you get access to a private file in Aden like you did with mine, the owner of that file gets to look at your private file as well. It's only fair. So I know your real age, mister game player. You may not have done well in today's Challenge, but I think you'll be much better at the Guile test-- it really works the cunning, and you've got it in spades. So don't con me, JJ... I know I'm older than you." She stood back up, bent over and kissed his head. "But only by a month, so I'm not bothered. Especially because I'm gonna kick your butt in simu-skydiving tomorrow."

"Simu-skydiving?"

"Lots of falling... no landing. It's perfect for you. No scary ground to end your trip abruptly." She laughed again. "Can you tell? This is gonna be so much fun!" and dashed off, calling over her shoulder, "Meet me for breakfast-- the computer will tell you where. Bye, JJ!"

He waved weakly. "Buh-bye, triple-X."

It had been a strenuous and incredible day, but she still had untapped energy and released it by bounding up the 130 flights of stairs to her apartment-- well, bounding the first 89 and trudging the rest-- and leaned into her front door until it sprang open, sending her sprawling to the floor, face planting into a pile of her favorite sweaters. She lay there for a moment catching her breath until Gracie said, "Ahem..."

"Wha... what is it... Gracie?" she panted.

"You have company."

Startled, she looked up and saw the legs of a tall cowboy standing right in front of her. A weathered hand extended, grasped hers, helped her up. A deep voice rumbled, "Now what trouble you been getting my brokedown nephew mixed up in, young lady?"

Her breath caught. It was Jake Reston!

Copyright 2009 Bruce Ian Friedman