J-Xros

[D'ßláck-です]

*ladies and gentlemen the time has finally come for the western preliminaries to begin. The rules are simple you will have 24 hours to complete a mountain course. The main purpose is to prove that your mechs can survive in an unstable environment. There will be obstacles Along the way. Your goal is to get to the end of the course with you mech in tact. You will be able to bring your staff along with you. But all must be present upon completing the challenge. Now for the main attraction this will be a survivor teca, that means you will be eliminating one another. Out of the 20 that will be involved in this match, only 8 will advance to the second round!!! And please note that mechs can only attack mechs. Staff only are present to repair or give directions... Finally if a mech is deem beyond repair then he is eliminated!!! Alright challagers do your best...to survive...*
"So that's how thus is gonna go huh...well I'll inform Tagimachi later...for now get the xross fighter ready for transport..."
Using chaosgallentmon as the base we suited up and prepared to depart toward the mountains.
"Alright people it'll be me Julia and two auto club staff along with us. We'll also have Gabumon as were garurumon with us for repair support, and Gio for coordination. Here Hanahime..."
I gave Hanahime a camera.
" you'll be sky support. And remember under no circumstance do you attack anyone. Tagimachi and strabimon will be on there own...."
"Understood!!"
The plan was simple. Since this was a survival to the finish. We planned to avoid conflict unless given no choice and then freeze the area otherwise... I was confident that the others didn't have cold resistance. The mountains we were in were the rocky path nearby Canada... However its great we have Hanahime ready.
"And so we were off to our starting point to begin the first round...

[D'ßláck-です]

*far away...two men converse...*
"Alright were ready to begin...drimogemon has digivolved into ---- and is awaiting commands..."
"Good let's make this go as smoothly as possible... And with a little luck---"
"Sir team xross fighter is on the move to the starting point...with a chaosgallentmon...!"
"I see so they have digimon as well...haha...this should be fun..."
"H-Hey look!!! Over there...!"
........
"Jeez I can't believe we got dragged into this competition... I didn't even want to come..."
"Bzzt but this is the only way we can get back...bzzt"
"I suppose... Sigh...I miss em..."
"Is that a...!"
"Yeah it is...but who's the kid..."
"Bzzt...I can't believe what luck it is to see you again...and the chance to see the others...I can't miss that...bzzt
"Alright I'm getting fired up!!! Let's win this gardromon!"
"Bzzt that's my shiota!!!bzzt"
"Ha....more prey..."

[xtheshadowrealmer]

I looked all over but didn't find a thing. Then I heard we were starting soon and rushed back to the group as fast as I could. When I arrived Tsuji explained the course and rules.
" The rules seem obvious although the game well I thought this would just be beating the crap out of each others mechs. Too bad. Come on Strabimon."
I started to climb into my seat of the mech. As soon as Strabimon was in his chair I ran through a few exercises to warm up the robot and my ability to control it. First was punching. Then walking. I did a few other odds and ins then put it back into the starting position.

[D'ßláck-です]

*Bang!!!!!*
The competition was underway. We had a fixed location on Tagimachi's whereabouts and was able to assist him as needed. But we didn't know who or what we would encounter...we never saw any of them during the opening and during the course of the day we hardly saw anyone at all... its still quiet now...
"Its...a little quiet...even for the mountains..."
"Yeah...anything to report Hanahime?"
"Nothing up here as well...its tot---wait Tagimachi's got incoming!!!"
It was a small robot that seemed to rush them, but something was off...
"If...if we run..then we survive!!!!"
"Kid he doesn't seem to want to fight us...it looks like he's running away from something...!
" Outta my way...we want to live!!!"
"What was that about--"
*pssssssst*
" huh!?"
There was a kid in the bushes riding on top of a strange machine...
"Your tamers too...cause we have a problem..."
"Tamers? Then that is no mech your riding---"
"We can talk about that later we have a problem!!!"
The kid pulled out a crank radio and began winding it just as Tagimachi returned from scouting.
"You guys haven't been able to communicate with anything outside the mountains right...well listen to this...!"
*Breaking news!!!only fiv....of....20 competitors are left after....a...mass...bush...bzzzzt...scor...bzzzztttt...thre....inju.... Danger....bzzzzt...*
"Stupid thing. But I saw the aftermath. This large scorpion thing came out from a pile of mechs...it covered up the smoke so the rest of us wouldn't notice...we are in danger...!"
*AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*
"What...was that..."
"Come on we gotta go...NOW"
"Bzzt come on Shiota bzzt!!!

[xtheshadowrealmer]

We picked up the pace a little to finish.
"Tsuji when we finish we need to head right back down. I don't like the sound of a giant scorpion I think its a digimon." This race was no longer the hardest part of our day that was for sure. It took everything I had not to turn and help. The other contestants. Weired part was I couldn't help but hope Alice was ok god damn it I'm punching Gabumon later.

[D'ßláck-です]

Day had turned to night and there was no sign of anyone else except our team and this Shiota kid...
"So mind explaining who you are?"
Oh yeah...my name is Shiota hirokazu. We moved here from Tokyo a few years back. And as for this loveable bot, we had met during an "incident" a long time ago..."
"So why did you enter the tournament"
"Simple to go back and see my buds!! So I joined the robotics club at the school but...there was little progress.but the strangest thing happened a few months back. Gardromon had returned!"
"What came back...hadn't you always had him?"
"No. Like I said we recently met back then so we barely had time to connect...bit its good to see him now..."
"Wow...so there really are different types of encounters out there..."
"But boy color me blue. Now that I have the time to think about it, you guys have a ton of digimon with you, and even more so that you have a gallant---"
"Chaosgallentmon you brat...."
"S-Sorry..."
"So what do we do now..."
"Well if that radio is correct nothing. There's plenty of us to advance already, however...we can't really just let this guy go...he's using an overpowered digimon...on people who tried so hard to work on there goals..."
"Oh..."
"No that's not what I meant...your different..."
"Either way we got to see what this thing wants and why it's doing this"

[xtheshadowrealmer]

I reached out and punched Chaos' head.
" Don't scare the kid or be too rough on him his digivice is probably behind the date. Sorry kid he's a cranky person when he's cold I think he hates Garurumon because of it. Hahaha."
I kept the mech moving as I talked like it was something I didn't need hands for I looked up at Strabimon.
" And this sour puss is my second partner Strabimon don't worry he make look mean but he's actually really nice."
Garurumon ruffled the kids hair.
" I'm not so nice though."
" Not you too Garurumon he's already scared enough."
"Sorry couldn't help it."
We laughed and talked as we continued up the mountain.

[D'ßláck-です]

We had walked all morning toward the sight Shiota was talking about. We had feared an ambush but it seem that it had enough victims in its crutches.
"T-There it is...!"
Tagimachi had it right...it wasn't a robot at all, but in fact it was indeed a digimon... Scorpiomon....
"What is a thing like that doing out here...and in this tournament of all places...!"
"What do we do about this..."
"Even if we go after it its still a mech Tagimachi and strabimon would still be on there own..."
"Good point...but we still have one trick up our sleeve... Shiota and Gardromon"
"What!? A team up!?"
"Exactly... That thing is a threat to every competitor in this competition... We have to put an end to that thing here...!"
"THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE THINKING!!!"
*Rumble*
"Gaaaaaaahhh"
Scorpiomon's tail swug through the woods tripping all of us.
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
"J-Julia!!!"
She was caught by its feet and swung in the air..."
Chaos was enraged.
"You dare touch Julia...peasant!? That will cost you your life---"
"Stop one more move and its digidust for the girl!!!"
"that's enough!!!" Why are you doing this!?"
"Ah so the western robotics club speaks"
"Let her go!! She has nothing to do with this!!!"
"...Oh...she has everything to do with this...Tsuji haruto..."
"That voice...!"
From behind scorpiomon was a familiar face to the robotics club...Kogure-kun...
"K-Kogure...kun...what happened to you...you so--"
"Old...Haruto...yes...my years in the digital world have been long compared to my time here...oh the years..."
"Why...Why are you---"
"Shut up!!! You do repeat yourself quite to much...but you do deserve an explanation...over the years that the B/D system has been in operation I firmly believed that there was to be coexistence between us and the digimon...but there was also another reason for this development... One that wasn't to be spoken of...isn't that right...Julia..."
"Ngh...no...kogure..."
"Ah yes...it was something that was discovered during an incident that...let me see...ah you there boy...you know what it was...hybrids..."
"That...that's different..takato---ah"
"Regardless if the method... There was indeed a way to enhance this matter further...to enhance our experience with digimon... To claim that power for ourselfs!!! But then she got in the way..."
"You mean...night crow..."
"Tsk...they started competing alongside them instead of using them and as a result...hybrids were lost...or so I had thought..."
As he said that scorpiomon lowered Julia into his back...and a Dark aura surrounded her...
"Julia!!!"
Now witness the true B/D system at work...witness a true hybrid!!!!"
Scorpiomon had been transfered into data and swirled around her...finally "
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
*rumble*
A Dark mass surrounded her and she had begun to change.
"Witness the results of our work...her body was so used to tranfering from flesh to data that no comparison can be made. Making it easier yo fuse the two!!!"
*Bsssssssssssssssss........*
A mist soon enveloped. And from within it a slinder woman emerged...she wore a kimono along with a wolfs mask...it was...
"Kuzuhamon....welcome..."
"What...have you done...to me..."
"To pay you back for all the hard work I put in making us a truly supreme being...I have done the results to you..."
"Gaahhhhh!!!"
Her form was changing... Her kimono had disappeared and a suit of armor emerged...
"Good...scorpiomon must have taken control by now..."
"Hssssssss.....awaiting your orders...."
"That's a good girl...and just in the nick of time..."
*Bzzzzzzzzzzzt*
The alarm for the tournament sounded
"Too bad haruto..I was just hoping to test my newest creation on the very thing it loved...hehehehahahaha!!!!"
"You....monster!!!---"
"Wait Tsuji...if you touch it you'll be desqualified!!!"
"Yes...though the form is different... This is still my mech...now then let's see what will happen in the finals will you be able to hurt your beloved Julia... I can't wait to find out..."
Kogure's crew began to walk away as we were left utterly helpless...
"Oh and haruto...I should thank you as well if you had destroyed that drimogemon none of this would have been possible so thank you..hehehehahahahaha!!!!!"
"Julia....Jullliiiaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!"

[xtheshadowrealmer]

"Damn it!"
I slammed my fist on the console.
" I couldn't do anything again. How many times am I going to lose friends like this!"
Then an idea struck me.
" We need help. Tsuji I think we need Alice." Maybe I'm stupid but I was willing to bet Alice could help us the only problem was getting her help.
" X your crazy but you may be right."
Garurumon looked at Tsuji sadly. What we did was all up to him it was his love and his choice.

[D'ßláck-です]

There was a silence within the group...although we advanced to the finals there was no telling where Julia was...
"......"
"I can't believe kogure-kun would do such a thing..."
"...well sitting here isn't gonna get us anywhere...we gotta come up with a plan--"
*attention contestants*
"...ugh...what now...."
*due to the unbalanced number of participants, we are pleased to announce that all remaining contestants are advancing to the western finals to be able to participate in the world mech competition...*
"Whew...that takes a load off my mind..."
"Bzzt to think we could go to the western finals bzzt"
"...Tagimachi...strabimon I need you to keep training when we get to the finals...we never got a match in the preliminaries...chaos...your coming with me..."
"So you do have a plan..."
"Yeah...while we can't interfere there is a way to reverse the B/D system...Hanahime I'll need your assistance as well.
" whoa,what about us??"
"Shiota... Although we appreciate the help...your not a part of our team..."
"I-I know that bit I just can't stand here and not help you guys out..."
"...thank you... But the only thing I can say is...if you do have to face her at any time...we'll be working together..."
"OK...but you guys better not lose...come on gardromon"
There was only one thing we can do...and it required the energy Hanahime gathered and Chaos's data transferring skills.but all that had to be done on the road...the Western finals were ahead of us...

[xtheshadowrealmer]

Strabimon and I practiced most of the day but stopped at dusk.
"I really hope whatever Tsuji has planned works."
"It's Tsuji of course it will work."
"They don't always work."
"They pretty much do."
"Shut up."
"Nah plus don't you think its weired that there's so many digimon lately?"
"Ya but it probably involves nightcrow and lightfang somehow."
"Maybe but I would think they would be slower about introducing good digimon to the world."
"True a teaspoon of sugar helps the medicine go down. But a cup of sugar makes the medicine useless."
" Now your watching marrypopins to much."
"Shut up."
"Nah."
We looked at each other and laughed but then everything got gloomy again and we made our way to the hotel.

[D'ßláck-です]

(Flashback....)
"Ah Haruto...do you have a moment..."
"Oh kogure-senpai..."
"Still on about the senpai thing well whatever...I have a proposal..."
"I want you...to consider joining the robotics club..."
"Eh!?"
"Well please hear me out...we have been having issues with a certain member of our group...but it seems that you were able to talk to her the other day..."
"Oh that...it was a one sided conversation..."
"Even so we need her to cooperate with us to solve a mystery..."
"OK....I'll maybe...consider...."
(Hey.....hey...heeeeeeey)
"Tsuji-nii!!!"
"Ah...."
"You were sleep talking again...."
"Sorry...anyway are we almost there...?"
"Yeah we should arrive in new York soon..."
"Good..."
"Tsuji-nii... Aren't you worried about her..."
"No...I know she's alright...and she will be...alongside Tagimachi we should be able to save her..."
*ladies and gentlemen we have arrived in new York city*
"Good we arrived... Everyone were moving out...!"
The group was on edge...but we were prepared... Whatever came our way we would be prepared... "
"Hey guys!!!"
"Ah Shiota-kun...uh what's the matter!"
"There's this girl you see...um how do I explain it...she...maybe able to help us...but she---"
"Kid you got alot of nerve----well look what we have here..."
"A-Alice!?"
"Hmmm looks like this competition has gotten a little more interesting---"
"Hold on Alice that's not what I wanted you to look into...I...we need your help..."
"Are you serious...?"
"...please ms Alice...you helped Takato out in the past...won't you please at least hear me out?"
"...Shiota...bringing that past into this situation... Very well...I'll at least hear you guys out..."
(Hours later....)
"So...that's what this is about..."
I had explained most of the situation to Alice.. Leaving out my theory of solving it...
"So do you have any ideas of what might be going on..."
"Well it seems pretty self explanatory... But a major part has been left out..."
"What do you mean?"
"You idiots...and especially you...you never realized what's been going on..."
"What you mean these rashes of digimon appearing, Tagimachi already pointed that out..."
"Exactly...the digital gods... Are breaking down..."
"What...?"
"You fools...you never should have interfered with my plans...I could have stopped them..."
Alice began to walk out"
"Hold on!? Aren't you going to help us---"
"I never said that I would...however this is something I can't overlook so when the time comes I'll see what I can do...I'll leave you with one thing though...don't abuse the B/D system..."
She walked out...
"What do you think she meant by all that...The gods are breaking down...
" I suppose we'll find out tomorrow---hey Gio are you alright? "
"Y-yeah...it was just something about her gave me the chills..."
(Outside)
It seems that the barrier is slowly breaking.... Darn...I'm running out of time...

[xtheshadowrealmer]

"Its nice to be back in america."
I had lived in america from ages 1 to 10. This was one reason I never used Japanese honorifics. Then I saw Alice I was relieved but she wasn't much help.
" How to you know Alice?" I asked Shiota with a questioning look.
"And did anyone else noticed she ignored me."
"X is feeling lonely."
"Shut up Gabumon and what does she mean by gods wait didn't I say please no Greek gods awhile back? Don't tell me I guessed it."
"X your being paranoid now."
"Well the pattern says our myth is their fact."
" Good point."

[D'ßláck-です]

...I couldn't sleep. That whole discussion was too much. Gods and digimon... Mythology going out of sack. This was getting big...
"Tsuji-nii... Can't sleep?"
"...What's going on lately...things seem so unreal...what happen to just enjoying anime..."
"...I know right..it seems like yesterday we were watching marathons of ABZ...and now we're in a life saving situation..."
"Ha...those were the days..."
"You know...sometimes I wish we could go back to those days...when it was just the two of us...it was so much simpler then...jeez tsuji-nii why'd you have to grow up..."
"Well thanks for that..."
"But I'm glad that you did...ever since you joined the robotics club you grew out of your shell into...someone I can truly count on..."
"Hey!!"
"Well of course I counted on you before this its just now...you...wiser..."
"Keep going... Your doing real well at encouraging..."
"Well excuse me its really hard to express my feelings!!!"
"...sigh...well thank you for trying...I appreciate it..."
"Oh...well...Anyway...sharpen that brain...we gotta save Julia!!"
"Of course...when we see the lineup for the tournament...we'll see how this will plays out... Thanks Hanahime, but I got test to run..."
"....Julia...thank you...now he has a purpose... But I'm still watching you...

[xtheshadowrealmer]

The next morning Gabumon ,Strabimon, and I waited outside the room for the others. We ended up playing rock paper scissors and of course Gabumon learned to cheat.
" That's not a thing in this game Gabumon."
" Sure it is bombs are so in rock paper scissors."
"You little cheat."
In truth we were just distracting ourselves. None of us had slept well we were all too worried about Julia. We were also worried about Tsuji for this had to effect him the most.