Chapter 3

"LETS GO!!!" Screamed Jix, as he ran over to Reo with the rest of the team, his arms held high in triumph. The crowd was going wild, their cheers and applause ringing in their ears. "Holy shit kid, I ain't never seen moves like that," Rizzy complimented Reo, his eyes wide with amazement.

Reo grinned, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. "Thanks for letting me play with you guys, it really was fun," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. The team hugged and high-fived each other, their camaraderie and bond stronger than ever.

As they were celebrating, Lexz started to walk over to Reo and his teammates. Regret was etched on his face, "Hey kid, sorry about the elbow, my bad for that play, anyways good game kid, you definitely can ball, say where you learn them moves?" he apologized to Reo.

Reo smiled, his exhaustion starting to creep in. "It's all good, man. You guys are incredible. To be honest, I kind of zoned out halfway through the game." He laughed, the memory of the game still fresh in his mind.

The team laughed with him, still in disbelief of the incredible plays and moves that had just occurred on the court.

Reo sat down by the bench, watching as his teammates trash-talked and shot around. As he sat there, taking in the fresh breeze that touched his skin, he received an alert. "NOTIFICATION ALERT" The notification read, "Congratulations, you have reached level 5. All base stats have increased by 1. Hidden side quest completed: 'Ball in the Park.' Bonus experience points awarded. All base stats increased by 1. Hidden skill unlocked: 'Within the Shadows' (when in a match, player will be consumed in shadows and enter a trance, letting the darkness in and devouring those on the court). New updated stats: Speed 10, Agility 10, Jumping ability 11, Strength 9, Stamina 10, Shooting ability 10, Dribbling 10, Lay-ups 10, Dunk 8, Passing 10, Blocking 8, Steal 8, Rebound 8."

Reo sat there in awe, his mind racing with the implications of this new skill. "I guess that's why my memory of it all is kind of foggy," he thought to himself. "I felt like I was there, but also felt like someone else was with me, guiding me to the hoop, every move, every decision I made. Maybe it's this alien world and its technology. I really don't understand any of this, but I do know I'm enjoying every moment."

The notification then continued, "Continue to complete more quests to unlock other hidden abilities and boost your Stat points. Active quest: 'Explore the City.' New quest: 'To Find a Home' (find a place to live in Bayside City, figure it out, bud!)"

"Well, that's helpful," Reo said, a hint of sarcasm in his voice as he read the new quest. His eyes widened as he saw another notification pop up, "Congratulations! You have earned 5000 DC (Digital currency, this is money in this world, human). You can earn DC by completing quests, side quests, and pick-up games. Additionally, there are many other ways to earn DC. This is your world now, figure it out, bud."

Reo let out a sigh of relief as he saw the notification. "Well, at least I'm not broke," he said, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face. He felt a weight lifted off of his shoulders, knowing that he had some kind of funds in this strange, new world he was currently stranded in.

As he got up from the bench, he knew that this was just the beginning of his journey in this new world, where basketball was not just a game, but a way of life, and he was eager to explore it, unlock new skills and find a home in Bayside City.

"Hey guys, I'm probably gonna take off for now..." Reo said, looking around at the strange aliens that were all on the court. "Where you gonna go, kid?" Lexz replied, his curiosity piqued.

Reo hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal to these strangers. "Well, I'm not sure yet. I'll probably go explore the city. I'm still new here..." He said, trying to keep his response vague. He didn't want to tell the aliens that he had no idea how he got to this world, and he wasn't sure if they would believe him even if he did tell them.

"Shit, kid, I'll come with you," Lexz said, sensing Reo's uncertainty. "The city can be pretty dangerous in certain areas." He grabbed his duffle bag and an odd-looking water bottle with two serpents entwined around the mouthpiece. The bottle glowed and sparkled, and Reo couldn't help but stare in amazement. "Ain't got much to do here with these chumps," Lexz said, rolling his eyes at the other players.

Reo was surprised by Lexz's offer, but grateful for the company. He knew that exploring this new world would be much safer with someone who knew their way around. And as they set out, Reo couldn't help but wonder what adventures and challenges lay ahead, and how much more there was to discover in this strange, new place.

As Reo and Lexz walked the streets of Bayside City, the vibrant lights and bustling alien activity filled Reo with a sense of awe and wonder. He had never seen such a diverse array of species and cultures before, and couldn't help but feel like a small fish in a vast ocean.

"Where you wanna go kid?" Lexz asked, his stomach growling with hunger. "Well, we can go get something to eat, I can hear your stomach begging for food." Reo chuckled, as they walked down the swirling streets filled with all types of aliens and beings.

"Hey Lexz, I just noticed something," Reo nudged his companion. "What kid?" Lexz replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "I don't see too many humans around here."

Lexz let out a deep rumble of laughter. "Well that's cause there aren't too many of ya out here. Say, where are you from Reo?"

Reo hesitated, unsure of what to say. He didn't know if Lexz would even know of Earth, or if he should reveal the truth about his sudden arrival in this strange world. "Uh...I'm from a planet called Earth," Reo said hesitantly.

"Earth eh, so you one of them Earthling humans," Lexz replied, his voice filled with intrigue. "What do you mean by that? There are other types of humans?" Reo asked, his curiosity piqued.

"Well, yeah I guess," Lexz said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "I mean there are the Earthlings, then there are the Martians. But I don't know much about y'all, just hear stories. Although Martians are known to be dominate basketball players in the galaxies and dimensions. I've never played one, but I heard they are a force of brutal skill and power. It makes my blood tingle with the thought of testing my skills against one." Lexz's eyes glinted with passion as he spoke of the legendary Martians.

Reo couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as Lexz spoke. He didn't know anything about this world or the beings that inhabited it, and the thought of being thrown into a game against a team of skilled Martians made his heart race.

"Martians," Reo breathed, his mind reeling with the possibilities. "Back on Earth, we barely even made it to the moon. To think that all of those alien conspiracy theories may have been true... Unbelievable." He shook his head in wonder as he gazed up at the floating diner in the sky.

"What the hell is that?" Reo asked, his eyes wide with amazement.

"The place where we're gonna eat, kid," Lexz replied with a hint of sarcasm. "You're new here, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I am. So, how do we get up there?" Reo asked, looking around for any sign of a ladder or staircase.

"You see that circular base on the floor? Stand on that thing and it beams you up," Lexz explained, gesturing to a large, glowing platform nearby.

"Beam me up, Scotty," Reo joked, but Lexz just looked at him in confusion.

The two of them sat at a table right by the window, and Reo's eyes were glued to the magnificent city that stretched out before him. "You good, kid?" Lexz asked, noticing Reo's awestruck expression.

"Yeah, I just can't believe I'm really here," Reo replied, his voice filled with wonder and excitement. "You're a weird kid, but you're alright. Stop staring out the window and decide what you're gonna order."

Reo looked at the menu, a hologram that floated above the table. He wasn't sure what he was looking at, but his stomach was growling with hunger. After a moment of contemplation, he finally settled on "Rocktar eggs with Green Doxin sausages." It seemed like the most normal thing on the menu, and he was eager to taste the flavors of this new world.

As Reo stared down at his plate, he was greeted with a strange-looking green sausage and green eggs. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he remembered a children's book from back on Earth about a man who hated green eggs and ham. With a bit of trepidation, Reo took a bite of the alien sausage, and his senses were immediately knocked back by the explosion of flavor and tenderness. He felt a rush of euphoria that he had never experienced before.

"Whoa there, kid, you okay?" Lexz asked with a look of concern on his face, as Reo let out a rapturous moan with each bite.

"THIS IS AMAZING!" Reo exclaimed, food falling out of his mouth as he stuffed more into it. "I've never tasted anything like this before!"

"Take it easy and chew with your mouth closed, don't they teach you anything back on Earth?" Lexz chided, watching with a mix of amazement and disbelief as the small human ate with voracious abandon.

"Sorry, Lexz, I've just never tasted anything like this before," Reo said sheepishly, as he took a moment to compose himself and savor each bite.

"So, where do you see yourself headed next, kid?" Lexz asked, his curiosity piqued. "To be honest, I'm not quite sure," Reo replied, running a hand through his hair. "I was thinking about maybe finding a hotel to stay in for a while, until I can figure out something more permanent. I've got the funds for it."

Lexz leaned back in his seat and stroked his chin. "You know, if you're interested, I've got a spare room in my flat. I've been in need of a roommate for a while now. I can rent it out to you for 500 DC, if you're up for it." He paused, and then gestured out the window of the diner. "And hey, while you're here, why not train for the tryouts? It's a great opportunity."

Reo's eyes lit up with excitement. "Tryouts? What tryouts?"

"You don't know about the tryouts?" Lexz asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Every year, the national city teams hold tryouts in search of new talent. That's how you get recruited."

"Really? How does it work?" Reo asked, now leaning forward eagerly.

"From what I've seen on the holoscreen, you form a team of three and enter a tournament. The scouts will be keeping an eye out for individual players, so even if your team wins, not everyone is guaranteed a spot on the team." Lexz explained, taking a sip from his mug filled with a muddy blue liquid.

"Wow, that sounds incredible," Reo said, a fire burning in his eyes. "I'm definitely going to enter the tournament. So, it's going to be you, me, and who else, Lexz?"

"Well, well, well, why should I believe that you're worth my time, Reo?" Lexz chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he took another sip from his mug. "I mean, let's be real here, you're just a mere mortal from Earth, what could you possibly bring to the table in our tryouts?"

Reo raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Excuse me? Mortal? I may have come from Earth, but don't let that fool you. I've got skills that'll leave you eating those words, Lexz. And I'm not just talking about that out-of-this-world meal we just had."

Lexz erupted into a fit of laughter, his blue drink spilling over the rim of the mug. "Oh, I like your spirit, kid. I'm gonna enjoy having you around." he said, clapping Reo on the back. "Come on, let's head back to my place and see if you've got what it takes to join our team."

The two of them stepped out of the diner and into the bustling night of Bayside City, the towering skyscrapers illuminating their path as they made their way towards Lexz's flat. Reo couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement at the thought of what was to come, as he and Lexz embarked on a journey to form the ultimate team and take on the tryouts.