Disclaimer: I don't own XGRA. It belongs to Acclaim. And I don't own Starfox, either, even though you haven't seen them yet.

The Rising Star

By FraGmenTd

Prologue

The Extreme G Racing Association. Founded in the year 2280, it was a sport to end all other forms of racing. Starting on Earth with the construction of 10 tracks scattered throughout the Terran system, the racing league expanded over the next 700 some years to every major system in the galaxy. The race was unique, standing on it's own as the most challenging race type for pilots. Other races had surpassed it in popularity in the past. F-Zero was on the top of the list for a long time. But viewers wanted more excitement, and when the F-Zero committee repeatedly refused to allow weapons into the races, its popularity wavered, it's fans dwindled, and the racing league became a minor one.

Then, in 2150, the F-2600, and later the F-5000 Anti-gravity Racing League came into play. This racing league still featured hovering racing machines, but this time weapons were allowed. But the tracks were uninspired, and lacked excitement, which was only made up for by the increasing grudges the pilots held against each other. This was one race, however, where sponsored teams were allowed to form. This allowed corporations to get in on the action. But sadly, not many chose to participate, and the league silently faded from existence as a major attraction.

The XGRA, as it was later called, was unique in its own right because the racing machines were not hovercraft. Rather, they were motorcycles, powered by compact plasma-ion engines. The fact that the vehicles touched the ground made them more difficult to pilot. The tracks were twisted and contorted in extreme angles. The machines, in the upper speed classes, were able to reach speeds in excess of 900 miles an hour, which was slower overall compared to the racing leagues of the past. But since the only thing separating the rider from the track was an energy barrier, the riders had the illusion of moving much faster. On top of all this, the hyperbikes, as they came to be called, were equipped with the latest in weapons and shield technologies. Following in the footsteps of the F-2600 and F-5000 Anti-gravity Racing League, teams were able to form with corporate sponsors across the Terran system, and soon the galaxy. The XGRA drew in fans in vast numbers, and the numbers of teams, sponsors, and riders grew exponentially. The Galactic Championship was the highest honor in the XGRA, and there were those who even died trying to get there.

Today, in the year 3004, the XGRA remains the most prominent racing organization in the galaxy, and the skill needed to even qualify in a regular season and be hired by a team was more than many had. The invitational, a race with no weapons, and slow, average handling hyperbikes, are given to each participant, effectively leveling the playing field. The idea is to just race, and pilot your vehicle to the best of your ability.

On top of all the publicity winning an XGRA race would earn a rider, the money one earned was also something to be happy about. Not only for a rider as an individual, but for their team, and their sponsoring companies. That led companies to add their own twist to the race. Developing new, more devastating weapons, faster machines, and more sophisticated systems. This private R&D allowed corporations to compete on another level, and it fueled the fans' need for change, and upgraded technology in many fields. This was the nature of XGRA.

It was not long before the racing association caught the attention of a certain star system near the center of the galaxy...

A/N: For those of you who have actually played XGRA, I made quite a few modifications. You will notice the year almost immediately. I changed it, because I don't believe the stuff in Starfox happens in 2080. I don't know when, specifically, Starfox takes place, but I chose 3004, because I have written stories in the past with Starfox universe included, and that was the year/era I chose then. So I'm sticking with that. And don't worry, you'll see Starfox soon! In fact, the next chapter will be ALL Starfox. So no one read this and go "hey! I thought this was a Starfox story! Where's Starfox? You suck!" Personally, I love Starfox. I just thought XGRA was a pretty damn good game, and it didn't get enough recognition. Hence the crossover.