"Roomies 3: Digital Frontier," written by Freedom Fighter Boy, does time fly! It's time once again for a new episode! Yeah! Disclaimer: I do not own any of the anime series, characters, or locations represented in this fanfic. I also do not own any of the reality show elements presented as well. = = = = = = = = = = Tenchi: (VO) 16 contestants from 12 anime shows. 42 days living by themselves in the wild Digital World. But only one will walk away with a grand prize of one million dollars. (Begin theme song, showing each of the contestants one at a time for 1.5 seconds each) - Amy M., the brainy Sailor Mercury - Amy R., Sonic's admirer from the planet Mobius - Haruka, tea house owner - James, member of Team Rocket - Jet, bounty hunter from the future - Keith, Duel Monsters American champion - Nabiki, money-grubbing middle sister - Rally, gunsmith and bounty hunter - Rini, the princess of Crystal Tokyo - Takuya, leader of the Frontier Digidestined - Tally, government employee - Trowa, pilot of the Gundam Heavyarms - Trunks, young Super Saiyan - Whitney, Goldenrod City gym leader - Yugi, duelist and holder of the Millennium Puzzle - Yusuke, spirit detective (Show scenes of James trying to catch a wild Digimon, Rini putting on a baseball helmet, Yusuke getting pelted by a paintball, and Rally pointing straight at a flag.) Tenchi: (VO) Some of them will become the best of friends. Others will develop grudges against those they hate. But only one will walk away with up to a million dollars or more in cash and prizes. (A log cabin appears in the background.) Tenchi: (VO) These men and women are... Roomies! (End theme song, with a picture of all 16 contestants standing with Flame Terminal behind them in the background.) = = = = = = = = = = Episode 3 - Adventures in Digi-sitting (01.28.03) Day Three The members of the losing team of yesterday's physical challenge were heading back to the campsite around noon, Tokyo time. Five of the eight were about to move to the log cabin, while the other three were staying at the camp. Trowa: (CC) This game's a whole lot tougher than I thought. Three challenges, three losses... only person left that hasn't been on the winning side yet. Upon arrival on camp, the eight of them spot two Digimon waiting for them. Tally: (CC) It's Guilmon! Well, not THE Guilmon, but this one should be as good as Takato's was. Tally and Nabiki run over to check Guilmon out, as Yusuke scoffs. Yusuke: We're raising this thing? Tally: This thing is a Digimon! A real life Digimon! Guilmon: You must be my partners! Nabiki: (to Tally) Are you sure we'll be able to control him? Tally: It shouldn't be too bad. (scratching under Guilmon's chin) Isn't that right? Guilmon: (giggles) That tickles! Yusuke: I thought we were getting one of the tough Digimon. Not this baby! Tally: Calm down! After some training, Guilmon will be unstoppable! Meanwhile, Takuya, Trunks, Rini, Whitney, and Trowa check out Gatomon. Gatomon: (bows before them) Greetings! I am Gatomon, and I'm here to be your faithful Digimon partner! Rini picks up Gatomon and twirling around with her. Rini: Isn't she cute? Trunks: (sticking out his tongue) Blech! (to Takuya) I still don't see why you picked this one. Takuya: I just have a hunch. That's all. Whitney: (takes Gatomon from Rini and starts to run her hand through the cat's fur) Just remember, it's a $100,000 hunch. And it better be right. Takuya: You worry too much, Whitney. Trowa: As long as we raise this Digimon correctly, we have nothing to worry about. ====== Nabiki, Tally, Trunks, Whitney, and Yusuke have packed their bags and are preparing to head for the log cabin. Unfortunately, they have two problems. Nabiki: Do we leave the Digimon here or take them with us? Tally: That's a good question. I think we should take Guilmon to the cabin. Guilmon: Oh goody! You're going to give me a home! Nabiki: (smiles) Well, that's one way of putting it. Rini: I want Gatomon to stay with me! Takuya: I agree with Rini. I'd like to know what attacks she has so that I can figure out how to train her. Whitney: Okay. (to the departees) Alright, we're off to the cabin! The group begins to walk off... when Trowa reminds them of the other problem. Trowa: Do you actually know where the cabin is? Tally: Now that you mention it... Trunks: (snaps his fingers) Hey! Maybe I can see it from the sky! Trunks puts his stuff down and rises off of the ground, to the surprise of everyone but Rini (who has already seen him float once). Once he was above the trees, he could easily see that the cabin was not that far away. Probably a half-mile from their camp, at most. Trunks: (yelling down to the ground) I can see it! Whitney: (rubs her eyes) Am I hallucinating? Tally: Not unless we all are. Trunks floats back down and makes a simple two-foot landing. He then notes that everyone is looking at him oddly. Trunks: For crying out loud! You all look like you've never seen someone fly before. Trowa: It's not something that occurs naturally, you know. Rini: (starry-eyed) Wow! I wish I could do that! Trunks: (picking up his things) Let's get to that cabin. I'm getting hungry. ====== At the cabin, three of the Roomies are watching some videos in the living room. James: It's like watching the highlights and low-lites of my career. Amy R.: (giggles) Mostly lowlights. James: (shaking his fist menacingly at Amy R.) Don't make fun of Team Rocket! Yugi: What else do you expect Amy and I to do? You're not exactly the most evil villains of all time. As proof, Yugi points to the TV, where the trio is watching James (and fellow Team Rocket members Jessie and Meowth) try to steal a pack of Pichu from an apple orchard. James: Those twerps always ruin our plans! One day we'll have our revenge! Yugi: (not believing James at all) Yeah... sure. Haruka walked up behind James, who was sitting on the sofa, and put her hands on his shoulders. Haruka: You know you're supposed to be packing, right? James: What do you mean? They're not sending me home, are they? Please don't tell me I've done something wrong already! Haruka: Only the competitors who finish in the top half of the field in each challenge get to stay in the cabin. Everyone else must live at the campsite until they earn their way back in. Keith: (from across the room) Ha! He might as well go home! He doesn't have the talent to compete with the big boys! Amy M.: (coming from the kitchen) Now, be nice! We need to work together in order to live in peace. Keith: I didn't come here to be all goody-goody. I came here to win! And I don't care who I have to step over to do so! Keith picked up his things and headed for the door, ignoring all of the angry glares he was getting from everyone in the room. Amy M: (CC) Keith seems to not care about anyone but himself. Doesn't he know that the key to getting to the end is earning everyone's trust and friendship? Yugi: (CC) Bandit Keith, I want to win this game as much as you do. But not in the way you're trying to do it. I think that the way you're acting is very selfish, and I assure you, no one is going to stand for it! As Keith opens the front door, he finds the group coming from the campsite (Nabiki, Tally, Trunks, Whitney, and Yusuke) had arrived. And they had a red dinosaur Digimon with them. Keith: (pointing at Guilmon) Ack! What is that thing? Guilmon: (pointing at himself) Me not a thing. Me Guilmon! Are you my partner? Tally: (stepping forward) Keith, meet our Digimon, Guilmon! Keith: Him? He's acting like a baby! Yusuke: Maybe so. But if we raise him real good, he'll be a lean, fighting machine! Just like me! Jet and Rally walk onto the scene, coming from the woods. Jet: You guys are here already? (yelling back inside) James! Amy! Time to go! (looking at Guilmon) Is that... Tally: Yep! Jet, Rally, this is Guilmon! Rally: What do we do exactly with... um, it? Tally: Train it, of course! Well, the members of our team that are here will train Guilmon, at least until the next challenge. Eventually, James and Amy M. come out. The five departees (James, Amy M., Keith, Jet, and Rally) begin their trek to the campsite. In the meantime, the five newcomers to the cabin begin to become acquainted with their new surroudings. Whitney: This is way better than sleeping out on the ground! Nabiki: I hear ya, Whit! As this newly-formed group of eight gets to know each other, let's move back to the campsite... ====== ...where Rini and Trowa are boiling water to be used to cook the day's lunch. Wait, isn't somebody missing? Or rather, somebody and some Digimon, as Takuya and Gatomon have wandered away, in search of a particular type of Digiworld food. Takuya: (looking up in the trees) There's gotta be some around here. Gatomon: Just what are we looking for anyway? Takuya: I'll tell you... if we ever find it. Suddenly, the two of them come across a tree full of green apples. Takuya: I think those are the ones! Gatomon climbs up the tree and finds a sturdy branch to stand on. She then picks one of the apples off of the branch above her and sniffs it. Gatomon: (turning away) Okay, this does NOT smell like a regular apple. Takuya: It's because they're meat apples! Gatomon: You mean those things actually exist? Gatomon takes a bite out of the apple... and then promptly spits it back out. Gatomon: Blech! I guess you're right. These don't taste like an ordinary apples. Takuya: Throw a couple down and we'll show them to the others. That ought to cheer everyone up... and put some decent food in our bellies! Gatomon: (starting to pick apples) As long as there's an apple that tastes like fish, I'm in! ====== The five cabin evictees return to the campsite for the first time in just over a day, obviously not glad to be back here. James: (lowering his head) Back at the bottom again, as usual. Amy M.: We'll just have to make the best of it. Trowa: We were wondering when you guys would get here. It seems like the others left here ages ago. Rini: Yeah! Now all we have to do is wait for Takuya to come back. Amy M.: Where's he? Trowa: Searching for food. We figure that we can save up the supply of food here at camp if we go out and find things that are edible in the forest. Takuya and Gatomon return, their arms filled with apples. Keith: Apples? We're supposed to survive on apples? The two of them drop the apples right next to the fire. Takuya then glances around for small sticks to use as barbeque skewers. Rini: (happily grabs an apple) About time! I'm starving! Rini takes a bite of the apple, chews on it, and then runs off, holding her hands over her mouth. Seconds later, everyone hears Rini throwing up in some nearby bushes. Jet: What the hell? Takuya: Don't bite into them yet. You have to cook them first. Amy M.: But you don't cook fruit. Takuya: (as he spots Rini coming back) You do for this type of fruit. Takuya takes Rini's apple and shows to the others that beneath the normal apple skin is a meaty core... a red-colored meaty core, to be exact. Takuya: They're called meat apples. Instead of apples, they're apple-shaped portions of different types of meat... disguised as an apple. Keith: (picking an apple up) Unreal! Amy M.: But... how do you tell what's in each apple? Takuya: (shrugs his shoulders) Beats me. You never know until you bite into it. (grins) I guess they should call it a mystery apple! Rini: (sticks her tongue out) Like mystery meat? Gross! Takuya: It tastes better after you barbeque it. Taking an apple in his right hand, Takuya skewers it and then places the stick standing up, leaning into but above the fire, and just out of the way of the water-filled pot. Amy M.: I've never seen anything like this! Gatomon: Oh, you ain't see nothing yet! Just wait 'til we get some wild Digimon around here. James: (sarcastically) Oh goody. ====== Thirty minutes later, nine sticks, each with an apple on one end, are hovering above the fire. Takuya reaches in and grabs the stick with his apple. Everyone watches with curiosity as Takuya bites into the apple. Takuya: (with his mouth full) Mmmmmmm... roast beef! James took a hold of his stick and bit into his apple. James: (overjoyed) Mine tastes like lobster! I haven't had it before, but boy, does this taste good! Not wanting to wait anymore, everyone else bites into their apples. The variety of foods range from rotisserie-style chicken to honey-baked ham, buffalo meat to fried codfish, and more. Jet: We're glad to have you with us, Takuya! Takuya: Thanks. I'm just glad to help. Trowa: (CC) Impressive. Takuya's using the knowledge of the Digital World to his advantage. Needless to say, everyone's gonna trust him now. The group continues to chow down on their late lunch, happy as can be. ********** Over at the cabin, Amy R., Nabiki, and Whitney are outside, playing and running around with Guilmon. Trunks and Tally are watching one of the Dragonball Z DVDs indoors, and Yugi and Yusuke are in the middle of a conversation about Haruka. Yugi: Is it me or does Haruka seem a bit too laid back? Yusuke: What are you talking about? The old bat's probably like in her 40s. (grins) She probably can't keep up with us young guns! A pan comes flying out of the kitchen and bops Yusuke upside the head. Yusuke turned around to see who it had come from as he massaged the massive bump that had formed on his head. Yusuke: (angrily) Who did that? Haruka, who had been kneeling down to search for something in the kitchen cabinets, stood up to face Yusuke. She had a can of tomato sauce in her left hand and a box of linguine in her right. Haruka: You shouldn't make assumptions about people you don't even know. Yusuke: Why? Because it's true? Haruka responded to that by throwing the can at Yusuke... who surprises her by actually catching it. Yusuke: You really should take your own advice, Haruka. Haruka: (smiles as she takes the can back from Yusuke) 29. Yusuke: (blinks, not exactly hearing her) What? Haruka: (turning around to place the items in her hands on the counter) I'm 29 years old. Yugi: (surprised) Really? You don't even look a day over 21. Yusuke: (yelling at Yugi) Don't think you're going to get the upper hand by complimenting her! Haruka: (turning back around) He can compliment me all he wants. Just don't expect me to be impressed by it. Yugi: (waving his hands around in defense) It wasn't anything like that! Honest! Haruka walks away, as she searches for a can opener in the cabinets. Yusuke: (grinning through his teeth) Real smooth. Yugi: But I really didn't... oh, never mind! ====== Night Three James and Keith are away from the campsite, making themselves useful by gathering firewood for the night. While they are doing so, Amy M., Rini, Takuya, and Trowa are in one of the tents, discussing some strategy. Amy M.: Keith is not making a conscious effort to get to know any of us, and he risks alienating himself from the group! Takuya: Who cares about that big blowhard? If that's the way he wants to live with us, then fine! I mean, you are the only one complaining about it. Amy M.: Only because I care! Rini: (quickly jumping to Amy's side) Yeah! Takuya: Rini, didn't you say you could care less about Keith too? Rini: I did, didn't I? (moves over to Takuya's side, then looks at Amy) Yeah! Trowa: I think we should care about him. After all, we will all have to work with him eventually to earn money for our pots. It would be advantageous to be on good terms with him. Amy M.: How well we all know Keith plays a big factor in how far we go in this game. A vote is a vote. Trowa: I'll talk to him tomorrow. See if I can convince him to lighten up. Takuya: Don't worry about it, Trowa! I'll take care of it! Trowa: You sure? I thought you said you don't care about him? Takuya: Well, after hearing what you and Amy said, I kinda changed my mind. After all, we're all on the same team. Amy M.: Then it's settled. Takuya, you'll talk to Keith in the morning. Takuya: Yep! I'll nip this problem in the bud! ====== Day Four The next morning, it was time for Takuya to follow through on his promise. As he came out of his tent, he saw that everyone else was already up, either eating breakfast or doing other things. He then spotted his intended target sitting off to the side, under a nearby tree. Takuya: Keith, we need to talk! Takuya couldn't see Keith's eyes, for they were hidden under his sunglasses. But he could see the rest of Keith's face, which beckoned him to sit down. Keith: About what, squirt? Takuya: (trying to ignore the 'squirt' comment) Look, some of us think that you're trying to be a loner. Keith: So? Takuya: We're all on the same team here! All we ask is that you make an effort to get to know us better. Keith: Is that so? Well, if you tell me everything you know, then I'll tell you everything I know. Takuya: Really? Just like that? Keith: My word is my bond, kid. Now, start talking! Takuya smiled as he began an in-depth conversation with Keith. Takuya: (CC) I actually got through to him? Heh... that's why I'm the leader around here! Everyone listens to me! Even Keith! Keith: (CC) As much as I despise the kid, he does have a point. If I'm to win this game, I've got to start convincing people to work for me. It worked in the Duelist Kingdom, so who's to say it won't work here? ====== At the cabin, everyone could only watch stunned as they once again witnessed another one of Trunks' strange quirks... the ability to eat the equivalent of everyone else there, and then some. Nabiki: Where does he put it all? Whitney: Beats me, but I definitely need to talk to his trainer! Nabiki: Who wouldn't? How can he be so small and yet eat so much? Amy R.: (to Trunks) Are you okay? You shouldn't stuff yourself like that. Trunks: (between bites) I'm fine! Yugi: (pushing his plate away) I can't eat anymore. Yugi got up and headed over to the TV to look for something to watch. Yusuke: Me too. I need something to get my mind off of this. I'm going out. Trunks: (stops and looks up) Hold on! I wanna come too! Finishing what was left in his plate, Trunks jumped out of his seat and ran out the door with Yusuke. Whitney: (shouting after them) Hey! Bring Guilmon with you! Yusuke: Fine! At least it gives us time to teach him to be tough. Especially after the time you girls spent cuddling him yesterday! Yusuke and Trunks leave with Guilmon, off for some morning training. Nabiki then tapped Whitney on the shoulder. Nabiki: You do know that you and Trunks are supposed to be taking care of Gatomon, not our Guilmon. Right? Whitney: For crying out... how could I forget that? Amy R.: How could you not? After Takuya went behind our backs and picked Gatomon, I'm surprised you don't remember that Guilmon isn't ours! Whitney: (crossing her arms over her chest) You know, I'm still mad at him for that. Haruka: (walking in from the kitchen) Then you can work off your anger cooking lunch. Whitney: Lunch? But it's only nine forty-five! Haruka: After everything I had to fix for just Trunks, I think I'm done for the day. Tally: (screams) What? The four women turn around to see Tally, who had a towel wrapped around her hair, freaking out when she saw that there was barely anything left for her to eat. Tally: W-w-w-what happened to breakfast? Haruka, Nabiki, Whitney, and Amy R. all pointed outside. Tally looked out and saw that they were pointing at Trunks, who was running off with Yusuke and Guilmon. ====== A little later on, Guilmon is seen wandering around an open field while Trunks and Yusuke come to an agreement on something. Yusuke: This should be a piece of cake! Trunks: We can take everyone else out, no sweat! Yusuke: Then it's just you and me. Agreed? Trunks: You got it! The two fighters shake hands to solidify their alliance. Yusuke: Now, let's get Guilmon back before everyone starts to worry about us. ====== Upon arrival back at the cabin, Yusuke, Trunks, and Guilmon found the rest of the group outside, rummaging through a pile of care packages. Yusuke: What's this? Yugi: Remember when we filled out that 'wish list' the other day? Well, Tenchi dropped by while you guys were out, and he had everything with him. Yusuke: (looking around) Funny... I don't see Kuwabara around anywhere. Tally: Tenchi said he wouldn't bring anybody to the Digiworld for any reason. Including beating them up, as he said you had put on the list. Yusuke: (scowls) Rats! Everyone else had managed to have their request filled, though. Haruka had her 'Hinata Apartments' logbook and a pack of cigarettes, Amy R. got a Sonic plush doll, Yugi got extra cards for his dueling deck, Whitney had her Miltank and a portable milk extractor (courtesy of her uncle), Tally was reading a letter from Riley and Yamaki, Nabiki received a couple of extra outfits to wear, and Trunks had received a package full of lifting weights. ====== At exactly the same time, those staying at the campsite also got their care packages. Amy M. got a few novels to read, Keith received two extra pairs of sunglasses, Rini had a circular-shaped tin filled with cookies, Jet had been given an exotic plant and some tools to prune it, Takuya got his D-Tector, Trowa got some hair gel, and James got a Pikachu... plush doll. As for Rally... Rally: (pulling out an orange toy gun) What is this? In Rally's package was a toy gun and a bag filled with gunpowder. A note was also attached. Rally: (reading the note) Since we can't allow weapons, we've provided the next best thing. Oh, and the gunpowder is real, so don't leave it out in the sun. Jet: I told you that they weren't going to give you a real gun. Rally: (happily) That's okay! This'll do just fine! Rally starts to walk off to her tent, to Jet... and everyone else's surprise. Jet: Hey Rally! Where are you going? Rally: To catch up on some Z's! Trowa: We do have work to do, you know. Rally: (yawns) I'll catch up later! Rally then goes into her tent. Jet, Trowa, and Amy M. follow her in. But by the time they get in, Rally's already putting the gun under her pillow. They then watch as Rally plops her head down onto the pillow. Rally: (looking dazed) Ah! That's much better! Amy M.: Rally? Rally, what's going on? When Rally responds by snoring, the threesome falls to the ground. Jet: (getting up) She's asleep already? Trowa walks over and tries to shake Rally awake. But that doesn't work. So, he then reaches under the pillow. Which turns out to be nearly fatal, as Rally springs to life, reaches under her pillow, pulls the gun out, cocks it, and aims it at Trowa's head, ready to fire. Jet: (as Amy gasps) What the? Rally: (noticing that she's pointing the gun at Trowa) Oh... it's just you. Trowa: Just me? I'd be dead right now if that were a real gun. Rally: Don't worry, I have good control. Even if this was a real gun, I would've stopped myself before I pulled the trigger. Jet: Are you trying to give me a heart attack or what? Rally: (as she tucks the gun back under her pillow) Sorry about that. In my line of work, you can never be too careful. Jet: (scratches his head) And I thought you were nuts before. Rally: (lying back down) G'night. And just like that, Rally was asleep once again, snoring loudly. Amy M.: She's out again? Just like that? Trowa: I think we'd better let her sleep for now. Maybe it'll help her, especially after she's just been slinking around these first few days. Jet: What about the work you said that has to be done? Trowa: You wanna try to wake her? Jet: (gulps) Never mind. ====== Night Four Night has fallen over the campsite, as most of the group is hanging around the campfire. The exceptions are Amy M., Rini, and Takuya, who are all out gathering firewood, and Trowa, who is off training Gatomon. The aforemention wood-searchers have gotten separated from each other, as they all wander through the woods alone. As they look and listen for one of the others, an ear-piercing scream fills the air. And at the campsite, they hear it too... Jet: That sounded like Rini! ********** Takuya runs through the woods, towards where he heard Rini's scream. Reaching a clearing, he saw Rini being chased by at least a dozen Pagumon, maybe more. Rini: (running away) Stay away from me! Pagumon: (all together) We want more cookies! As the Pagumon drew ever closer to Rini, Takuya decided that it was time to take action. He took his D-Tector out of his pocket and raised it to the sky. Takuya: Here goes nothing! As he prepared to transform into a Digimon, he was unaware that someone was about to do the same on the other side of the clearing. Only SHE planned to do it with a PEN in hand. And that happened to be Amy M. Amy M.: (raising her pen in the air) Mercury Star Power! Takuya: (going through the Digivolution motions) Execute... Spirit Evolution! In two separate flashes of light, Amy M. and Takuya transformed into their alter-egos. Amy M.: Sailor Mercury! Takuya: Agunimon! Back with Rini, who was still on the run from the always-hungry Pagumon, who were looking to take a bite out of her. And wouldn't you know it... she had to trip over a small stump that she would have normally seen had it been daytime. As Rini got up, the Pagumon took the opportunity to strike. Mercury: Mercury Bubble Blast! Agunimon: Pyro Darts! The two separate attacks were enough to scare the Pagumon away. Pagumon: (hopping away) Forget it! We're not hungry anymore! Rini rejoiced with glee as she saw that Sailor Mercury had come to her rescue. But who was this other guy? And was he some type of Digimon? Mercury: Are you okay, Rini? Rini: Yep! Thanks, Sailor Mercury! It was then that Sailor Mercury (Amy M.) and Agunimon (Takuya) noticed that the other was there. Mercury/Agunimon: (at the same time) Who are you? And what are you doing here? Mercury: I'm Sailor Mercury! And I was saving Rini from those... those... (thinking of what to call the Pagumon) creatures. Agunimon: I'm Agunimon, and those aren't just creatures! Those were Digimon! Oh, and I was trying to save Rini too. The two stared at each other for a second, as Rini was wondering what was going on. Rini: (breaking the silence) Um... I'm going to find Amy and Takuya now and get back to camp. Thanks for the help! As Rini ran off, both Sailor Mercury and Agunimon breathed a sigh of relief. The two then stared at each other once again, this time as if they were studying the other instead of being angry at him/her. Agunimon: She looks... so familiar. Mercury: He sounds... so familiar. Watching the other's moves as they slowly backed away from each other, the two then turned tail and ran back into the woods, transforming back to their original selves upon disappearing from the sight of the other. Takuya: Whew! That was a close call! Amy M.: Who could that have been? ====== To everyone's relief, Rini returned to camp safe and sound. And although they were happy to see her okay, Amy M. and Takuya hadn't returned yet. Amy M.: (cradling a pile of firewood) I'm back! Takuya: (doing the same, but coming from the opposite direction) Here's the firewood! The two noticed that they had returned at the exact same time. Unfortunately, so did everyone else. Jet: (smiling) Looks like we've got a pair of lovebirds on our hands. Before Takuya could say anything to rebuke Jet's... and everyone else's assumptions, Amy M. dropped her pile of wood and grabbed Takuya's arm. Which in turn caused him to drop his pile and be dragged back into the bushes. Rally: Hey! No funny business! Jet: I'm sure they're smart enough to know the right thing to do. Hidden in the bushes, Amy M. and Takuya are having a small talk. Takuya: What's this about, Amy? Couldn't you have tugged a bit harder? Amy M.: I'm sorry, but I didn't want any of them to hear. Takuya: Hear what? Amy M.: Look, I won't tell if you won't tell. Takuya: (getting nervous) Wait a minute... you know what happened with Rini? Amy M.: (nods) Yep. I'm sure of it now. Takuya: You mean... you're that girl in the fuku? Amy M.: And you're the Digimon. Amy M./Takuya: Let me guess... transformation device, right? Amy pulled out her Mercury pen, while Takuya pulled out his D-Tector. Amy M.: Now I know why you decided to have that sent from home. Takuya: I thought it would come in handy. Amy M.: Let's just forget the whole thing and get back to camp before they think we're up to something. Takuya: Good idea. The two went back to camp, hoping to never speak of their secret identities ever again. ====== Day Five The following morning, Keith is engaging in a conversation with somebody, but we don't know who he's talking with or who they're talking about... yet. Keith: Just look at him! The way he walks around! And those clothes! ?????: What's wrong with them? I think they look nice! Keith: You know, I heard that makes him sound gay. That's what I heard about people like him. ?????: (gulps) What makes you say that? Keith: I'm just passing along what I've heard from other people. If you want to keep your dignity, stay away from him! Keith and his talking companion watch as Trowa and Jet came from their morning search for food. Trowa: We've got word that there's a challenge today. Jet: We'd better get ready, 'cause we're not quite sure what we're doing. ====== The sixteen Roomies gather at the challenge field, with naturally, some looking a lot better than others. But they were not greeted by Tenchi. Instead, they were met by two other guys... author cameo Ian McKinnon and his muse, Ky Kiske, of 'Guilty Gear' fame. Ian: Good morning! Tenchi wasn't available today to come out, so you're stuck with us. I'm Ian McKinnon, and this guy to my left is Ky Kiske. Ky: We will be your challenge mayors, so to speak. Ian: Anyway, here's what you'll be doing today. Ky brings out a octagonal-shaped box and places it standing up on a nearby pedastal. Taking the lid off, the Roomies look in the interior, which is divided into nine spaces. And in all but one, the center square, is a caricature of a Digimon. Ian: As you can see, in this box we have eight caricature, each representing a Digimon from the original eight Digidestined. Ky: We have these caricatures scattered all over the area, and your job is to find them all and place them in their correct places in your respective containers, which look just like this one. Ky puts the lid back on the box... for now. Ian: Split up into eight pairs, each team will try to be the first to get all eight caricatures and to arrange them in your boxes in the correct positions as you saw in this box. Ky: One of you will go out and search for these caricatures. Your partner will stay by your team's box and put the Digimon in their proper place. Ian: You are competing for two things. One, the right to stay in the cabin until the next challenge, whenever that may be. And two, this is a prize challenge, so the winning team will receive a Dell Dimension 4550 computer. Ky: Pentium 4 processor, 60 gigabyte hard drive, a 17" monitor, and more! What else could you ask for? Ian: Both members of the winning team get a computer each. Ky: So now, the time has come! Players, pick your partners! [Team Assignments: Team 1 - Amy R. and Rally Team 2 - Keith and Yugi Team 3 - James and Takuya Team 4 - Tally and Yusuke Team 5 - Trowa and Whitney Team 6 - Nabiki and Rini Team 7 - Amy M. and Trunks Team 8 - Haruka and Jet] ====== [Prize Challenge 2: Digimon Memory Challenge] As the challenge is about to begin, Amy R. overhears James and Takuya degrade her. James: She's a real powderpuff. I bet we'll all be done and she'll still be looking for one of those Digimon! Takuya: Ha! I bet even Tommy can beat her up. And he's a year younger! Amy R. growls angrily, but doesn't let the two boys detect it at all. Amy R.: (CC) I'll show you all that I'm not a pushover! I'm going to win that computer for Sonic! Just you wait! ====== On the field, eight pedastals are placed in a circle, with an empty octagonal box on each. The arrangers (Rally, Yugi, Takuya, Tally, Trowa, Rini, Amy M., and Haruka) are standing by those. The original box, which Ian is guarding, stands in the middle of the circle. The gatherers (Amy R., Keith, James, Yusuke, Whitney, Nabiki, Trunks, and Jet) are over by Ky, waiting for the signal to go. Ian: Arrangers, when I lift this lid, you need to all run over here. You will have just 30 seconds to memorize the positions of all of the Digimon caricatures. Ky: The moment Ian closes the lid, arrangers are to return to their places and the gatherers will take off to begin their search. Ian: (lifting the lid) Arrangers, you have 30 seconds. The eight arrangers make their way over and study the positions of all of the Digimon figurines. [For those of you scoring at home, the positions are (left to right): - Top row: Agumon, Gatomon, Palmon - Middle row: Patamon, Empty, Biyomon - Bottom row: Tentomon, Gabumon, Gomamon] Ian: Five, four, three, two, one... challenge start! Ian closes the lid, the arrangers run back to their respective boxes, and the gatherers begin combing the area for their targets. Immediately, Trunks immense speed advantage puts the other competitors down in the dumps. That is, until Nabiki thinks of an ingenious way to score some points. Nabiki: (calling to Trunks) Yoo-hoo, Trunks! Can I speak to you for a minute? As Trunks stops to hear Nabiki out (seeing as how he's got all the time in the world anyway), the rest of the teams scramble to find their first Digimon. Focus immediately turns to Yusuke and Whitney, who have both spotted a Gabumon caricature in the trunk of a tree. Yusuke: (making a run for it) Oh, no you don't! Whitney: (going for it as well) I saw it first! The two reach the tree at the same time and both stick their hands in simultaneously as well. The determining factor happens to be grip strength, as they both grab the caricature at the same time, yet Yusuke manages to pull it out of Whitney's hand just as it came out of the tree. Whitney: Hey! Haven't you heard of ladies first? Yusuke: I don't believe in that kind of stuff! Yusuke runs back to hand off the Gabumon to Tally, while Whitney stomps her foot furiously. Whitney: (CC) That's one reason guys never understand girls. They just don't get it! We need things a whole lot more than they do! So why doesn't Yusuke see that? And back with Nabiki and Trunks... Nabiki: Take it or leave it! Otherwise, no deal! Trunks: Fine! (shaking hands with her) But you owe me, big time! A deal seemingly completed, the two go their separate ways. Trunks resumes his search, though at a speed that's fairer to his competition, and Nabiki begins hers in earnest. ====== [Challenge Fast Forward] Ian: (VO) In this challenge, the caricatures are hidden in several different places. Agumon and Biyomon can be found in the grass. Gabumon is hiding in tree trunks. Palmon and Patamon are hanging on tree branches. Gatomon and Tentomon are hidden behind some rocks. And Gomamon are found in a giant bucket of water... located just a few feet behind where the gatherers began. [Team 1] One at a time, Amy R. tracks down the figurines. She finds the Agumon, Gabumon, and Tentomon ones easily and hands them to Rally. [Team 2] Keith is going a bit faster, as he pockets figurines instead of running back after getting one. When he finally does get back to Yugi, he's carrying five, including one in his hands. [Team 3] James is spending his time trying to climb trees to get Palmon and Patamon, but he has so far been unsuccessful. But upon climbing one tree, he spots both the Biyomon and Gatomon caricatures, and obtains them easily. [Team 4] After getting Gabumon, Yusuke adds all of the on-the-ground ones over the next few minutes, and is doing so while trying to keep other teams from following his trail. [Team 5] Whitney gets off to a slow start, letting anger cloud her mind for a few minutes before finally finding the two Digimon hiding in the grass. She gets back on the ball, gathering her own Gabumon and two others soon after. [Team 6] Nabiki seems to be pulling out all the stops as she tries to carry four in her arms at once. The gesture looks to be working, as half her work is complete in just a short time. [Team 7] Trunks is taking his sweet time, gathering the Digimon one by one and then hustling back to Amy M., who doesn't seem pleased at all. [Team 8] Jet starts off fast, but after finding five of the eight, the other three are nowhere to be found. Well, at least in the places he's looking. [End Challenge Fast Forward] ====== As we resume in real time, we check in on the arrangers, who are checking their own progress. Trowa: (looking at four empty spaces and the Palmon in his hand) Let's see, she's green, and the green one was upper right. Trowa places Palmon in the correct place, but as we can see, it's not as easy to remember for some of the others. Rini: Was it the Gabumon in the upper left or the lower left? Takuya: Gatomon was center left, I think, but I already put Biyomon there... Keith and Yugi are the first to seven, as Keith begins his search for the lone missing caricature... Gomamon. Not soon after that, Nabiki hands three off to Rini, leaving her with just Gomamon to find as well. Amy M.: Just one more! Trunks hands Amy M. a Tentomon, pushing them to seven and Gomamon still missing. Meanwhile, frustration starts to tear apart the teams that are behind. Jet: Will you listen to reason for once? Yusuke: (trying to climb a tree) Let me think... no! Jet: You can't just sit up there and guard the other statues? Yusuke: No one said it was against the rules! I'll stay up here until I can find that damn seal-thingy! Takuya is getting really impatient with James, who has only given him three so far. Takuya: Hurry up! We're falling behind! James: Hey! I'm doing my job! Do yours! Takuya: I don't need you telling me what I can and can't do! And Trowa is crawling in the grass behind him, as he has misplaced the Gabumon that Whitney had handed him a minute ago. Trowa: Why can't I find it? Ky: Disqualification! Trowa: (standing up) Wha? All of the arrangers, as well as any searchers in the area. Including, Whitney, who was returning to give a Tentomon to Trowa. Ky: Arrangers are not allowed to search in the grass for caricatures. Trowa: But I was looking for one that I dropped! Whitney: (running up) What's going on? Ky: Arrangers are not allowed to do any searching. Therefore, by the rules of the challenge, you are both disqualified. Whitney: What? You can't do that! Trowa: Forget it! There's no use trying to talk sense into this guy! Ky then walked away to make sure the other teams were following the rules. Meanwhile, Whitney falls to her knees as the Tentomon she had been carrying falls out of her hand and smashes into the ground. Trowa kneels down to try and comfort her, but she pushes him away just as the tears begin to flow. Trowa: (CC) I was not breaking the rules by searching for a piece that I had lost on accident! It was one that Whitney had already given me! As the other arrangers noticed Trowa and Whitney's reactions, they began to turn their attention towards the judges. Tally: (CC) I hardly thought the guy wasn't being fair at all! Yugi: (CC) That's not right! It can't be right! The game continues on, but Trowa and Whitney are out of the running... ========================= End Episode Three ========================== Tenchi: (VO) On the next episode of Roomies... Haruka: It's definitely not Academy Award material, that's for sure. Tenchi: (VO) Trowa and Whitney's disqualification is only the beginning... Tally: (CC) These guys are definitely not letting anything slide. Ian: (running towards someone) Disqualification! Yugi: They weren't even doing anything wrong! Tenchi: (VO) Afterwards, the finger pointing starts up... Trunks: You didn't just trick me! As far as I'm concerned, you tricked everyone! Trowa: Will you stop beating yourself over it? Whitney: (pounding her fists on the ground) It's so unfair, so unfair, SO UNFAIR! Yusuke: (CC) I knew this game was going to get ugly. I just didn't think it would get this ugly. Tenchi: (VO) Maybe my return will calm things down... Haruka: Sometimes it's better to forget about your troubles for awhile. Jet: Is that you or the nicotine talking? Tenchi: (VO) Or at least hype them up for some virtual globetrotting... James: Geography was always my worst subject. As was math, grammar, and recess! Amy R.: I don't think it's fair because I'm not from this world! Tenchi: (VO) Life's never fair, and next episode, you'll see why... Guilmon: Why are you using THAT coin? Trowa: Because it seems it's the only way I'm going to win anything. Additional Author's Notes: The whole switching from the cabin to the campsite after every challenge thing will be continuous, but to allow time for other material, I'll usually cut out the transfer scenes from this point forward. The 'Sailor Mercury and Agunimon save Rini' scene came together at the last minute, though it does provide an interesting set-up for later on... but I've said too much on that already, so moving on! I rarely carry over challenges from one episode to the next, but for the second time in three episodes, I've done just that. To make matters worse, this happened to be one with a cameo appearance... which is the first time I've done that when it was totally not intended. Ian McKinnon, this season's first guest cameo, did not provide any info for the cameo appearance, so I had to create the atmosphere for the challenge from scratch. Yes, the whole 'disqualification' thing was my idea, but trust me, I didn't do it to take out my frustrations on Ian not submitting what I told him to do. It's more of me taking out my own frustrations of life on my own writing... the lack of normal ideas forcing me to write stuff I wouldn't normally write. So, maybe I'll get back on track on Tuesday for Episode 4. And get those mouse clickers ready, because next week you'll get a chance to decide who will make this season's Final Four. Details forthcoming!