The Greatest Mecha-Chapter 73: The Voyage to Zen Utopia

Alto yawned as he did his hand through his thick brown hair that had grown to its fullest within the span of seven months, he had barely tended to it aside from the occasional washing with normal hair care cosmetics which he rarely had time for between his personal work hours, and endless reading.

"You’re awake at last." Said his roommate, In the small compartment room that had no windows and only a single door that was both the entrance and exit to the room. There was no sense of lavishness or comfort except the two two beds that stood at opposite ends of the room.

On the other bed was seated a tall slender human figure, this was Eleven the one who was ushering Alto across the vast regions of interstellar travel to reach the planet called Zen Utopia.

"Did I fall asleep while reading again?" Alto groaned. It was not the first time he had commited himself to a bit of light reading and fallen asleep partway through. But then again Alto’s light reading usually spanned between eight to twelve hours in the least.

Eleven looked at him with his usual cold glare and said. "Indeed, you should rest up before we reach Zen Utopia, I would hate to hear you fell asleep during the tournament, though it would be amusing." Eleven offered him a light smile.

Alto smiled back and threw himself back on the bed while cutting off the projection of the text book from his wrist comm device, he had come to appreciate the presence of the cold young man, Eleven had grown on him showing layers of warmth at rate occasions. "How long before we reach there, I’m dying of boredom." Alto said openly, his fingers weren’t hing to work on a mech.

"Soon enough." Eleven said briefly.

Alto looked at him and frowned. "If I were to get a deposit each time you said that word I’d be opening a small bank now."

It had been three weeks since they set themselves on the journey from planet Soto to the planet called Zen Utopia where the tournament between the best young minds of mech designers in their various star sectors. While it was no new news that whoever was part of the top ten would become a disciple to one of the silver seats as well as a lot of benefits. The journey itself was nothing as such for young Alto.

The professor had left the mech division three months before he embarked on his own journey, on reasons known only to her. Alto’s safety was then entrusted to Eleven, the coldest person he had met. Even if his companion was a bit uncomfortable it was much better than having Charles Vans who had a vandetta with him escort him off planet. Now that would be disastrous.

On leaving the mech division they had boarded a loading spacecraft that carried goods from their planet to the central planet in their star sector. From there they boarded a large spacecraft that carried passengers across the vast star systems with its final destination being Zen Utopia, it was not a world class vessel or a first class one but more of a communal transport with very little care about the comfort of its passengers. The experience Alto had with the transport vehicle was hell but the only solace he had was that they were able to acquire a room for them both and not the occasional four or five per room thatanay were subjected to. The food there was anything but appealing, it was tasteless, or at times looked like something only a corpse would eat, there were occasional news of theft here and there.

The space craft charged a lot for both him and Eleven, a big reason for that was because of the distance they would be transversing and another reason was simply because of the dangers they could encounter. A major problem they could face was pirates, or more precisely space pirates. Space pirates were always a problem with communal vessels, they could attack and board their spacecrafts, plunder them and strip them for scraps or valuables, and of course with whatever number of mechs they carried.

Space pirates were like mercenaries, unpredictable and fearful. Some might have mercy on passengers while others might choose to destroy a ship without second thoughtm all these made long distance travel a huge threat. Alto did not know much about space travel since it was his first time but apparently Eleven knew a bit, the ship they inhabited would not stray to far from protected space and regularly dock on planets to either drop passengers or take on new passengers. Alto had time to have a read on their security capabilities and it was not impressive to write home about.

The spacecraft was not armed with any weapon, even it’s personels did not have private mechs since clearly they did not have the permit for it. Alto guessed that either the captain of the spacecraft was a cheapskate or he had very good luck to have survived this long.

Eleven had more like a bodyguard than a guide to to, he rarely slept, and his mind always seems far off somewhere. "Eleven, do you think I can get to the top ten in the competition?" Alto asked his cold companion.

Eleven who was busy running a simulation on his wrist comm glanced at him for a few seconds before turning his attention back to the simulation before saying. "Do you want to get to the top ten?"

Alto gulped down, Eleven was questioning his question, was thate even a real thing? The only person he knew who acted like that was mister E, his acquainted business partner. "It’s what I’ve been preparing for , so I guess I’ll do it. It’s my first time and I have you so you can give me some tips."

Eleven sighed which he rarely did, he shut down the simulation before him and looked back at him and said. "There might not be a next chance if you want to be with the professor."

Alto raised an eyebrow and stated at Eleven. "How do you mean, is something wrong?"

Eleven shook his head and replied in a light tone. "How long do you think she can stay on Soto and abandon her duty to humanity. You might not know this but after this competitin she might not be able to return back to Soto."

Alto looked up to the titanium roof of the room, his face plain and empty. He opened his mouth and the words escaped his lips, "Is that so? Then I’d better win first place then."

Eleven smiled lightly, "She fancies you more than anyone else, don’t prove her wrong."

Alto closed his eyes to rest them for a bit and they felt warm on his lids. "Eleven, how did you get your name?"

There was a long silence in the room, Eleven said nothing for minutes that Alto almost forgot he was waiting for a reply but eventually he replied. "Isn’t it obvious, it was given to me by my father."

Alto’s interest was piqued, he paused debating on whether to pursue his questions further or not. He did not take long before asking. "What was he like?"

Eleven’s face darkened as memories came rolling into his mind, "Horrible, he was horrible."

Alto felt a sting for asking, "If it makes you feel any better I grew up in the orphanage so my parents could have been worse."

Eleven smiled. "That does not make me feel any better."

Alto smiled back.

Shortly after the spacecraft reached a designated space that was known as a jump point, jumpoinys were pocket holes in space where spaceships could travel at lightsoeed to covered great distances across the vastness of space.

"Approaching jump point, all passengers remain in your seats, for safety." A female voice sounded over the speakers.

Eleven urged Alto to grip on to something which he did by finding purchase in his bed railing. The moment the spacecraft reached the space of the jump point its momentum exploded into light speed sensing it flying through a funnel of polychromatic colours that flashed around, the everything blurred and went by in seconds, the spacecraft rode the current and trembled greatly, throwing many of its passengers around. It became evident that staying in your seats would not guarantee ones safety.

Alto groaned as his insides felt compressed for a few seconds. Though no one inside the space craft could see what happened outside except for those piloting the spacecraft, they passengers were greatly disoriented. When the movement ended Alto dropped to his bed and tried to catch his breath.

"Passengers, we have reached Zen Utopia, we trust you have had a wonderful flight." The annoying female voice sounded again.

Alto groaned. "Wonderful my ass, I can’t wait to get off this damn ship."