"Roomies 3: Digital Frontier," written by Freedom Fighter Another day, another episode. We edge closer to the end as we hit Episode 15. 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) - Tally, working with partner Riley as they boot up the Juggernaut program - Amy M., studying for high school entrance exams with her friends - Rally, driving her Shelby GT down the highway at more than 120 mph - Takuya, diving out of the way of a truck that spins to avoid hitting him - Yugi, putting together the Millennium Puzzle - James, being swindled by the Magikarp seller - Keith, observing a duel between Yugi and Kaiba atop Pegasus's castle - Rini, chatting with her own Moon kingdom kitty, Diana - Yusuke, facing off against the three-eyed demon Hiei - Jet, piloting the Bebop as Spike looks on from the side - Amy R., freeing her idol Sonic from a cage upon the Death Egg - Trunks, practicing how to fuse with Goten - Whitney, ordering Milty to roll down and back up a hill - Nabiki, standing in front of the Anything-Goes Martial Arts dojo - Haruka, showing the dilapidated Hinata Summer House to the Hina crew - Trowa, slipping on his circus costume (Show scenes of Keith walking to Salt Lake City, Haruka in a giant Bowser suit, Takuya sitting in a square, and Amy M. carrying a tent building kit.) 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 15 - A Party That Everyone's Invited To (06.03.03) Day Twenty-Nine The congregation that had lived at the cabin for the past few days was returning from the latest challenge, as some were preparing to switch over to the campsite. Only two people are moving to the campsite... Haruka and Whitney. The main focus is on Whitney, especially after what happened at the challenge... ====== Yugi: I'm sorry... I can't hold it in any longer! (shouting) I love you! Suddenly, the whole area got quiet. Everyone focused their eyes on Yugi, who had just professed his love for Whitney. Whitney: (slowly, still in shock) Did... did you just say... Yugi: Yes! And I'm hoping you feel the same way too! ====== Whitney is quietly packing her things, not really looking at or paying attention to anybody. Especially Yugi, who's sitting at the opposite end of the cabin. Everyone else seems to notice the tension between them, but no one's brave enough to say about it. At least not in front of the group... ====== Whitney: Yugi... you're a nice guy and all. But... Keith: (whispering to Yusuke) Here it comes. Yusuke: (whispering back) As if he even had a chance. Whitney: I really don't want to spoil our friendship. Sorry. Once again, everything goes dead silent. This time, everyone was waiting for a response from Yugi. Luckily, he didn't keep them waiting for long. ====== Whitney and Haruka depart the cabin as everyone watches. Haruka: Well, until the next challenge. We'll be back. Some quiet good-byes are said, but everyone's too focused on Whitney, who's just standing there quietly, facing away from the group. Yugi looks as if he's about to say something, but he decides to hold his tongue. Haruka: (pulling Whitney along) Come on... we'd better get a move on. The two women leave, heading to the campsite. The group waits for their new bunkmates Nabiki and Rini to arrive... but obviously, their minds are on Whitney. Amy M.: (CC) I feel sorry for Whitney. I wish there was something I could do to cheer her up. Yusuke: (CC) Did you see the look on Yugi's face when Whitney said she just wanted to be friends? Man... she really knows how to put a guy down! ====== Haruka and Whitney arrive at camp a little while later. It's practically empty, as the only person around is Tally. She's hard at work boiling water to use to cook lunch. Tally: You two are here already? Nabiki and Rini only left a few minutes ago. Haruka: Yeah... we saw them. Where is everybody? Tally: Most of them are out training the Digimon. All except for Amy and James. They got stuck on meat apple picking duty. (glances at Whitney) Why are you so glum? Whitney doesn't answer the question as she heads over to the tents and randomly plants her bags in one of them. Tally: (to Haruka) This wouldn't have anything to do with Yugi, would it? Haruka: She's been like that ever since we got back from the challenge. She hasn't said a word to anyone. She hasn't even looked at Yugi since. Tally: Why is that? It's not like her heart was shot down by Yugi... she shot down his! Haruka: I believe it goes a bit deeper than that, Tally. Tally: Hmmmm... maybe we should pry. You know, see what's going on in her mind. Haruka: I doubt that's a good idea. Tally: Nonsense! It's a great idea! Tally goes over to the tent Whitney had just gone into. Haruka reluctantly follows Tally, in hopes of providing support as well. Tally: (entering the tent) Hi Whitney! Wanna chat? Whitney, in the process of unfurling her sleeping bag next to Amy Rose's, continues without even stopping. Tally: Hello? Did you even hear me? Come on Whitney... Haruka and I are here to help! Haruka: (right behind Tally) She's right. Besides, it's not healthy to keep things bottled in. You need to talk them out. Whitney: (looking at them) No. Tally: No? Well, at least you said something. Haruka: You know I'm right, Whitney. Don't worry... you can confide in us. Having unfurled her sleeping bag completely, Whitney takes a deep breath and then exhales as she takes a seat on it. Whitney: Since I'm guessing you two won't leave me alone 'til I do talk, let's go and get this over with then. Tally takes a seat to Whitney's right, while Haruka plops down on her left. Haruka: Do you remember the bit of advice I gave you when Yugi first approached you? I told you to follow your heart. Well... did you? Whitney: Of course I did. I honestly didn't even know he felt that way about me! I'm not in love with the guy... even though he is rather nice. Tally: So you said no... nothing's wrong with that. Haruka: Exactly. So why have you been so quiet? And why have you avoided looking at Yugi since? Whitney: To tell you the truth... I'm scared. Haruka: Scared? Tally: Scared of what? Whitney: Well... you've seen those shows on TV where the little guy's in love with the most beautiful girl in his class, yet he can't gather the courage to ask her out. And then when he does, she says she doesn't want to ruin their friendship? Tally: I don't know if I'd go so far as to call you the most beautiful girl here, Whitney. Whitney: Will you just work with me? Anyway, when the girl sees the guy's reaction, she does a double take and does decide to go out with the guy because she doesn't want to see his feelings hurt. Haruka: And that's how you feel right now, correct? Whitney: Yes! Tally: And I'm guessing that you're scared of actually going back to the cabin and telling Yugi that you in fact love him, just so his feelings won't be hurt! Whitney: Yes! Yes! Haruka: You know... you could do that. But when it comes to things that couples do on dates, you can't refuse any of the normal rituals. In the end, you break the relationship off in the end because you don't really love him, and now he's even more heartbroken than he was before. Whitney: (as a tear escapes her eye) Why did Yugi have to be so dumb as to say he loved me? Doesn't he know what he's set in motion? Tally: (pats Whitney on the back) You shouldn't blame Yugi for this. It's just a normal part of life... these things happen. You can't foresee them coming. You just adjust your life accordingly when they do occur. Haruka: As far as you should be concerned, it's over. You shouldn't think about it anymore. He made the move, you rejected it... case closed. You can just go back to being friends. Whitney: I don't know if I have the strength to maintain a friendly relationship. I can't even go a second without hearing Yugi say the words 'I love you' over and over again in my head! Tally: I'm surprised you're stressing out so much over this! Don't you get all kinds of guys asking you out and such back home? Whitney: Yeah... but none of them were as young as Yugi! Tally: Really, Whitney. You need to pull yourself together. I didn't think you were like this... that you whined so much! Whitney: I'm not whining! Haruka: The issue here is not how much Whitney whines... it's getting over having rejected Yugi. Tally: You're right. I'm sorry. Whitney: Me too. I guess I've been getting emotional over nothing. I did the right thing, and that's that. Tally: Rejecting guys is a part of life. A part of life that's not pleasant, but it's needed nevertheless! So why don't you stop worrying and get back to enjoying life here in the Digital World! Whitney: Thanks, you two! I... I don't know what to say! Tally: I do! Group hug! The three woman share a hug, having resolved Whitney's little problem. Tally: What do you say we go out and enjoy this nice weather? Whitney: I'm with you on that! Tally, Whitney, and Haruka step out of the tent and go to work. ====== Later that day at the cabin, one of the Roomies pulls aside a good friend of hers to talk strategy. Amy M.: I've been thinking about this for a long time... and right now, you're the person I trust the most! Rini: You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you? Amy M.: Why not? We're from the same show and we know we can trust each other. What do we have to lose? Rini: You're right! We should work together! Besides, you're the nicest person here, Amy! You deserve a shot to win the game! Amy M.: Thanks, Rini! Now all I have to do is figure out who we should work with. Any ideas? Rini: I actually have a few... Rini whispers some names into Amy's ear, but naturally, we can't hear them. ====== Night Twenty-Nine As darkness falls over the Digiworld, Keith tries to make amends for what happened earlier in the day. He grabs Yugi and takes him outside, where Trunks and Yusuke are waiting on the porch. Yugi: What's going on? Keith: I'm just apologizing to you! I just want to say I'm sorry for forcing you into professing your love for Whitney this morning. Yugi: It's okay. Keith: (a little surprised) Really? Yusuke: (laughs) That's gotta be the lamest lie ever! Yugi: Yep. I'm over it already. Seriously, I am. Yusuke: (stops laughing) Wow... that was fast. Trunks: I still don't see what you see in her. Yusuke: Remind me to explain it to ya when you start puberty. Yugi: That's it, then? I can go back inside? Keith: Actually Yugi, the guys and I want to make you a proposal? Yugi: What kind of proposal? Keith: We want you to become a part of our team. Yugi: You mean you want me to form an alliance with the three of you? Yusuke: Is there a problem with that? Trunks: Yeah... we don't bite, Yugi! Yugi: Gee... I'm not so sure. Keith: You're going to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime! This is the alliance that's going to get into the Final Four! You're either with us or against us, Yugi! Which one is it going to be? Yugi: Knowing you, Bandit Keith, you're up to something sneaky. I don't know how you got these two to go along with it, but I don't want any part of it! Yusuke: Hey, I'm the leader of this alliance! Keith isn't getting me to go along with his plan! Our plan's strictly on the level! Trunks: Well, at least it's on a level within the rulebook. Yugi: Sorry... but I'm not willing to risk my chances of winning with you three. Yugi heads back inside, leaving the trio outside to wonder what to do next. Keith: (CC) That dweeb's gonna be sorry not becoming part of our team! Trunks: (CC) We were giving Yugi the chance of a lifetime! It's his loss by not joining us. ====== Day Thirty James is away from camp, collecting firewood to use for the next few days. But while wandering through the forest, he hears some murmuring nearby. Ducking behind bushes, he peers into a clearing and sees Jet, Haruka, and Tally talking. Tally: We need to squash Keith's plan before it gets too big for us to control! Jet: Do you think we should send Nabiki to figure out what his plan exactly is first? Tally: Keith might figure out that we're onto him. That, and according to what you said, we don't know if he's convinced her to switch sides. Haruka: I think it's still worth a shot. I'll go tell her now. Tally: Haruka, wait! Too late, as Haruka heads back to camp. She doesn't notice James hiding in the bushes as she proceeds down the path, leaving Jet and Tally in the clearing. James: (quietly) I'd better get out of here before they find me! James makes his way out of his hiding place and resumes his task of collecting wood. But that doesn't last long as he hears another conversation. Once again he hears Haruka's voice, but this time he's with two different people. And neither of them sound like Nabiki. James: (sneaking into a good viewing spot) This oughta be good. He peers in and sees Haruka chatting with Trowa and Whitney. Whitney: Are you sure about this? It doesn't sound foolproof. Trowa: Trust in Haruka, Whitney. I've worked with her for a few weeks already, and she hasn't let me down once. Whitney: And you couldn't tell me that last week when you wanted me to help you? Haruka: It's too late to correct the mistakes of the past. We need to move forward and stop Keith from turning the tide. Nabiki's going to see if she can get enough information from him so we know who we're dealing with. Trowa: Nabiki's not the trustworthy type, you know. Whitney: How can you say that after all the time you two worked together? Trowa: We never really 'worked' together. Nothing happened between us at all. Whitney: Geese... that can be interpreted several different ways, Trowa. Haruka: We're Nabiki's only hope. She won't turn on us. We don't hear any more of the conversation, as James has already snuck away. James: I've got to find a way to track Nabiki when she talks to Keith! If she's going to do something sneaky, I want to know about it! ====== Haruka decides to bide her time, not leaving the camp for a few hours. But when she does leave to meet with Nabiki, James follows her indiscretely. After several minutes of walking, Haruka and Nabiki meet halfway between the cabin and the campsite. James looks on from a distance, but just close enough so that he can hear the conversation. Haruka: We need you to find out what Keith plans to do. Nabiki: (nods) Got it. I'm actually meeting with him in a few minutes. Haruka: That's good. Remember, don't make him get suspicious of you! Keith: (yelling off-screen) Nabiki, where did you go? Nabiki: (tensing up) Crap... he followed me here! Haruka: (starting to head back) I'd better go. Don't come to us... we'll come to you! Haruka heads back and gets out of sight just as Keith arrives on the scene. James is still watching from the bushes as Nabiki now chats with Keith. Keith: (smiles) Looks like I scared the old bat off. Nabiki: You saw the whole thing? Keith: Yep. She has no idea that the entire Adult Alliance is about to go down in flames! Nabiki: So... what's the plan? Keith: We move after the next challenge. I'll start something up at the campsite and cause those oldies to show their hand! Nabiki: What if you don't end up at the campsite? Keith: If I don't, then whomever ends up there will. (smirks) They've made pacts with so many people, and now we're gonna use that to our advantage! No one makes a fool of Bandit Keith and gets away with it! Nabiki: I'll be ready, whenever and whereever you need me! Keith: That a girl! You'll get your share of the prize money if I go to the top... remember that! The two go their separate ways, leaving James to take in everything he had heard the past few hours and let it sink in. James: (CC) Everything's about to fall apart from the alliances, and I can't wait to see what kind of havoc Keith sets out on everyone! ****** Night Thirty That evening, everyone took notice that two of their fellow campers were rather happy. Jet and Haruka were off smoking, all the while carrying on a friendly conversation. Tally is nearby, listening to the conversation but not really taking part in it. More importantly, she doesn't look interested in it at all. And that's quickly noticed by the rest of the gang, currently sitting around the campfire. Nabiki: You can tell she's the odd one out. Just look at her! James: If Tally wants a piece of Jet, then she should step in! After all, I bet she has more to offer than Haruka does. Whitney: Don't you see how uncomfortable Tally looks? There's no way they can be together because Jet and Haruka smoke, while Tally doesn't! Amy R.: I believe that you should be able to love whomever you want, no matter if that person already has someone else! Takuya: Love's overrated! Why does everyone want to fall in love? I don't... I haven't even looked at any of the girls in that way. Whitney: What are you talking about? How about when you went swimming with Amy? Takuya: (points at Amy Rose) We've never swam together! Nabiki: She means the other Amy... and don't deny it, because I saw you too! Takuya: We were just getting to know each other. There's absolutely nothing between us! Whitney: How many times have I heard that one before? Takuya: You should talk... how long did Yugi pine for you before you shot him down? Nabiki: That's different! Takuya: How is what Yugi did different than what I did? James: (sighs) You might as well stop arguing... it's no use when it comes to girls. They always seem to win. Nabiki: Darn straight! Amy R.: I thought we were talking about Jet and Haruka and Tally, not us! James: I think that if Tally's not willing to try, she might as well stop thinking about it and come over here and join us. Whitney: Oh... and I suppose you're the one that's gonna drag her back here? James: It's just a suggestion. Amy R.: I wish there were easy solutions to romance. If there were, we wouldn't be having so many problems with it... and I'd already be with Sonic! The group breathes a collective sigh as Jet and Haruka continue to smoke and giggle in the background. All the while, Tally continues her look of loneliness. ====== Day Thirty-One Another early morning in the Digital World arises, and so do some of the Roomies. Things resume as normal... as evident by the latest 'I-want-to-talk-strategy- with-you' talk. This time, it features James and Whitney, away from the campsite. Whitney: (arms crossed over her chest) This had better be good, James. I'm supposed to be cooking breakfast! James: (covering Whitney's mouth) Shhhh! I don't want anyone to know we're together! Whitney: (after pushing James off of her) No one else is awake, so I think we're okay. James glances around one time just to make sure, then he continues on. James: I overheard that some of the alliances are trying to take each other out. Whitney: So? James: Don't you understand what that could mean with us? If this happens, we could shoot to the front of the pack! Whitney: Even if I did believe you, James, which I don't, I doubt it would push us up to the top. Especially not you! James: I'm telling the truth! Whitney: That only goes so far in this game... and you're already way too far away for me to believe you. Whitney turns to head back to camp, but... James: I'd get away from Haruka if I were you. Whitney: (stops and turns around) How did you... James: (smirks) I've been sneaking around these past few days, searching for the best alliance so that I can join them. But then I ended up sneaking into that meeting you had with Trowa and Haruka yesterday. Whitney: You little snake! Who gave you permission to eavesdrop on us? James: That's not important! What is important is that Haruka is in one of the two big alliances! If what I heard was true, there'll be a big fallout on both sides. Whitney: (realizing where James was going) Oh, I see. It'll fall down to the minor partners too, such as myself. James: Exactly! We're in the same situation here... I have an agreement with Jet, who's in the same alliance with Haruka. The only way we're going to survive is to team up against everyone else! Whitney: You make a valid point... but I'm still not going to work with you. James: What? Why not? Whitney: I'm a gym leader! You're a member of Team Rocket! Do you know what kind of negative publicity I might get out of it when I get home? James: Fine then... I, the mighty James, will triumph by myself! Whitney stood there as James walked back to camp. She would follow soon afterwards. James: (CC) I'm giving her the opportunity of a lifetime and she blows me off! She's even dumber than I am! ====== Over at the cabin, Keith is the first up as he goes outside and checks the mailbox. Keith: Ah, just as I thought! We've got a challenge today. He read over the message before heading back inside to share the news with everyone. ====== It's back to the Challenge Field for the sixteen Roomies. And for the third time, the VR machine is set up. Only this time, there are only four helmets set up, rather than a full sixteen. Tenchi: Good morning! Everyone get a good night's sleep last night? Trunks: (rubbing his eyes) I wish. Tenchi: We have a physical challenge today, and trust me, this one's going to be a fun one. To prove that point, allow me to announce the team captains for this challenge. Tally: (scratches her head) Let's see... who hasn't been captain yet? Tenchi: Amy Rose and Rini, please step forward. You two are the captains. Both of the girls are overjoyed... but some of the others aren't. Keith: We've got to take commands from the pipsqueaks? Yusuke: That's not what I'd call fun. Trowa: Please don't joke about that. You'll make them very angry. Rini: (yelling at Yusuke and Keith) We can be just as good as captains as anybody! Amy R.: Yeah! Give us a chance, for hedgehog's sake! Tenchi: Don't you remember the rules, guys? Every single competitor gets to be a team captain. Keith: Okay... but I'm not gonna like it. Tenchi: Moving on... today's challenge is another based on a video game. This time around, we're doing 'Mario Party.' Rini: Sounds like fun! Tenchi: You'll be competing in five different mini-games, with winning each worth a certain amount of points. At the end of those games, the team with the most points wins the challenge. Tenchi hands each of the captains a pamphlet explaining the chosen games and their point value. Tenchi: Each game except the last will be played twice, which means that four people are necessary for the first. Everyone will participate in the last one. You now have 15 minutes to decide who will be doing which mini-games. ====== [Physical Challenge 7: Mario Party Mini-Games] [Team Assignments: Yellow - Amy R., Trowa, Nabiki, Yusuke, Tally, Rally, Amy M., and Yugi Pink - Rini, Takuya, Jet, Trunks, Haruka, Whitney, Keith, and James] [Game 1: Hot Bom-omb (2 points) Objective - Played similar to the game 'Hot Potato,' except with a Bom-omb. If it blows up in your face, you're out. Last person standing earns 1 point.] Tenchi: Would the first pairings please come up to the VR helmets? The first pairings end up being Tally and Amy Rose for the yellow team and Takuya and Jet for the pink team. There all strapped in as a giant VR screen lowers, allowing their teammates to watch. In moments, the four players are materialized onto the screen... in chibi forms of themselves. Takuya: Okay... why did my head get so big? Tally: It looks like miniature computerized versions of ourselves have been entered into the game. Amy R.: Alright! This ought to be fun! Jet: Well... whatever works. Tenchi: (VO) A Bom-omb will drop from the sky and right into the arms of one of the players. Once it is caught, the fuse will light. Each Bom-omb is set to go off after a certain amount of time. It is possible for a player to drop it... doing so automatically cuts 5 seconds off the Bom-omb's detonation timer. It's more important to make sure they catch the Bom-omb than to get rid of it quickly. The first Bom-omb falls into the arms of Amy Rose. START! Amy begins by tossing the 'potato' over to Takuya. He throws it at Tally, who flings at Jet, who throws it back to Tally. The bom-omb grows bigger and closer to detonation as Tally throws it to Takuya, who tosses it back to Tally. Those two go back and forth several times before Tally passes to Jet, who tosses it to Amy, who flings it to Takuya, who throws it towards Tally... as it blows up. Tenchi: (VO) The rule is if the Bom-omb explodes in mid-air, the person who threw it last is the person that is out. Takuya is booted out of the game, leaving three. A new Bom-omb falls from the sky. This one also lands in Amy's hands. The game begins again with Amy tossing it to Jet, who throws it to Tally, who lobs it back over. Jet alternates throwing to each of the girls, who conversly throw back to him. On one occasion, Amy is seen dropping the Bom-omb and picking it back up, but the game continues on without incident. Finally... The Bom-omb goes up in smoke while Jet's holding it. He's eliminated, and the mini-game is over, even though there are still two players left. [Score: Yellow 1, Pink 0] The second group gets hooked up minutes later. This time, it's Amy M. and Yugi against James and Keith. The first Bom-omb lands in Keith's arms. START! Keith tosses it to Yugi, who throws it back. Keith then goes to Amy, who then lobs it back to Keith, who in turn returns the serve. Amy then throws to James, who drops the Bom-omb... Which promptly blows up in his face. James: That's not fair! James is out, as the game resumes again and Keith has been given a new Bom-omb. He throws it to Amy, who tosses it back. Keith then goes to Yugi, and he sends it back on a return trip. This continues on for some time, as Yugi and Amy toss it to Keith every time he throws at them. But then Keith plays a little strategy, as he holds the Bom-omb for awhile. Just as it's about to blow, he throws it at Amy. Amy catches it and tries to throw it back, but it blows up in front of her. Yugi: How could you? Keith: It's just a game, squirt! Besides... that easily could've been you. Yugi calls upon the power of the Millennium Puzzle, even though he was inside the game. In seconds, Yugi was replaced by his Yami form. Yugi: Okay, Bandit Keith! Time for you to go down! A Bom-omb materializes in mid-air and lands in Yugi's arms. The round begins, with both Yugi and Keith carefully playing strategy. Each of them holds the Bom-omb for a few seconds before tossing it to the other, waiting for it to grow and grow. Finally, it gets to a point when it looks like it's going to blow up, and Keith makes one final toss to Yugi. Yugi, though, catches it and immediately throws it back. Keith waits for it to blow, but when it doesn't, he forgets to stick out his hands and catch it. You can guess what happens next... [Score: Yellow 2, Pink 0] ====== [Game 2: Bumper Balloon Cars (2 points) Objective - Four playes are in a small circular ring, driving a small go-kart that has a balloon taped to the rear. Each go-kart has a spiky front bumper. If your balloon is popped, you are out. Last one standing earns 1 point. There is a 60-second time limit... if the limit is exceeded, each team earns .5 points.] The first match is Trowa and Rally versus Takuya and Trunks. The four get into their virtual go-karts and prepare to battle. START! Even in a go-kart, Rally is a driving maniac. She bursts right for Trunks, who's having trouble getting his kart to go. Rally gets in behind Trunks and pops his balloon, sending him flying out of the ring. Meanwhile, Takuya and Trowa are playing a game of cat and mouse as they both try to go after each other without leaving an opening to be popped. But when Rally cuts in, Takuya ends up trapped with nowhere to go. Seconds later, he is popped out. [Score: Yellow 3, Pink 0] In the second match, Nabiki and Yusuke take on Rini and James. START! James and Yusuke quickly prove they men are more agressive drivers than women, especially when James pins Nabiki in the corner while Yusuke quickly disposed of Rini. James tries to get around and get Nabiki's backside, but she sneaks away. James gives chase and finally pops Nabiki's balloon. Yusuke is right on his back bumper, and only by a split second does James turn and avoid getting popped. Yusuke, not watching where he was going, gets stuck in the wall at a bad angle. James takes advantage of this by popping Yusuke before he could recover. [Score: Yellow 3, Pink 1] Yusuke: Lucky shot... James: (celebrating) I got a point! Yeah! ====== [Game 3: Quicksand Cache (4 points) Three members of one team stand in the outside ring of a quicksand pit. One member of the opposing team, dressed in a Bowser suit, is in the center of the pit. For 30 seconds, coins and money bags, worth 5 coins, will be tossed in. The object is to collect as many coins as possible. After 30 seconds, roles will be switched with four different players. After 2 rounds, the team with the most coins total will receive 4 points.] In the first round, Trowa, Nabiki, and Tally are the collectors and Haruka is 'Bowser.' Haruka: (wearing a Bowser suit) Can't say this is the most droll thing I've ever worn. Tally: I'm glad I don't have to move around in that thing. START! Coins and the occasional money bag are thrown into the quicksand pit. Trowa seems to have the easiest time moving through the sand. Tally is fighting against the current, barely able to stay where she is, much less grab coins. Nabiki, on the other hand, is no match against the strong, rapidly changing current as she is sucked into the center and 'devoured' by Bowser. With their teammate gone, Trowa and Tally have to work even harder to make up the difference, as more of the money is getting to Haruka in the center. When the 30 seconds are up, Trowa has 15 coins, Tally has 9, Nabiki had 3 (yes, hers still count), and Haruka had collected 18. The second half of the game features Yusuke as 'Bowser,' with him going up against Whitney, Keith, and Trunks. START! Yusuke really messes with the other team as he constantly switches the sand's current. Whitney is struggling the most, but she hops up inch by inch to avoid being drawn to the center. Keith scrambles to go after the money bags, practically ignoring the coins for the most part. Trunks moves around, but even he struggles with the changing current. Things get worse when Keith goes after a money bag heading for the center. Not only does he not get it, but Yusuke gets him. Meanwhile, Yusuke is doing his best to keep Whitney from getting any coins in the final few seconds, while Trunks fights for a money bag and reaches it just as time expires. This round's scores: Whitney with 8 coins, Keith with 15, Trunks with 14, and Yusuke with a whopping 30. Overall, the final coin totals are: Yellow 57, Pink 55. [Score: Yellow 7, Pink 1] ====== Taking a short break from the action, the pink team regroups as they try to find a way to stay in this challenge. Rini: I think we need to win this next one to stay alive, guys. Whitney: Yeah... any ideas on how to go about that? Jet: Of course! Just blow up our balloon first! Takuya: It all comes down to this. I just hope we can pull through. The team heads back to participate in the next mini-game. Can they eek out a win and stay alive? ****** [Game 4 - Balloon Burst (4 points) Objective - By pairs, each team gets a pair of matching air pumps. Together, they must inflate a Bowser balloon full of air, until it pops. The team that gets their balloon to pop that way first wins 2 points.] In the first round, Rally and Amy M. face off against Rini and Whitney. The four girls are at the ready, prepared to pump things up. START! The pumping begins, and immediately it's slow going. The key to getting the balloon filled the air the fastest is to work in opposite synchronization. That is, one person has to be pumping in air while the other is not. Rally and Amy M. are putting a little more muscle into it, and that's why theirs is inflating slightly faster. But the lead changes hands when Whitney figures out the aforementioned trick. Rini and Whitney begin pumping in opposite sync, quickly passing Rally and Amy M. and inflating their balloon to the point where it pops. The two high five with excitement. [Score: Yellow 7, Pink 3] Round two features Amy R. and Yugi taking on Jet and Haruka. The latter pair has the definite size advantage... but will it be enough? START! The mini-game begins, and having paid attention to what Rini and Whitney did last time, both teams begin pummping in an alternating pattern. Size would matter, though, as Jet and Haruka easily beat Amy R. and Yugi without breaking a sweat. [Score: Yellow 7, Pink 5] ====== It's time for the final game, and now the teams will have to make a very important decision. Tenchi: This last mini-game is worth 4 points, and there's only one round. And with the score as it is now, the last person standing will win the mini-game and today's challenge. Captains, you will need to choose the two luckiest people on your team. After a bit of debate and some objections, it is decided that Amy Rose will represent her team with Yugi, while Rini picks Trunks and James. Tenchi: Okay... the name of this last mini-game is Bowser's Big Blast. James: Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this? Tenchi: The game's like musical chairs... except there are no chairs or music. There are detonator plungers... five of them. There's also one giant bomb shaped like Bowser. Push the wrong plunger... you get blown up and out of the mini-game. James: (praying) I don't wanna blast off! Tenchi: Every time a person is eliminated, one of the plungers goes with him or her. The game continues until there is one person left... and that person wins the mini-game and the challenge for his or her team. (smiles) Are you four ready? The four nod nervously, even though they're not getting blown up for real. ====== [Game 5: Bowser's Big Blast (4 points) Objective - The players choose between a set of plungers, which are connected to a Bowser bomb. Only one of the plungers is set up to detonate the bomb. The player whom picks it is eliminated. Last player standing wins and gets 4 points.] The mini-game begins, and five detonating plungers are set before the players. They are colored red, blue, yellow, green, and pink. Only one of the plungers will detonate the bomb... that's the one that they want to avoid. The order the players go in is randomly selected prior to the start of the mini-game. James is the first to try his luck. He heads for the blue plunger and hopes he's got good luck. James: (with eyes closed) Please don't let it be me! James presses down on the detonator... and nothing happens. James steps down and allows his teammate Trunks to go. Trunks picks the green one... and survives. Amy Rose comes up next up. Trunks: (whispering to James) Just watch... she'll pick the pink one. But Amy doesn't... she instead goes after the red one, to match the color of her dress from the Sonic Adventure games. She presses it, and watches in horror as the eyes of the Bowser bomb start counting down from three... And just like that, the captain of the yellow team is eliminated. The first set of five plungers disappears and is replaced with a new set, minus the pink one. It is Yugi's turn, as he goes up to test his heart. Yugi: Let's see now... which one should it be? Yugi carefully presses down on the yellow detonator, and breathes a sigh of relief when nothing happens. James goes up, as he picks the blue one again. He's safe, as it now falls upon Trunks, who must choose between the red and green ones. He glances at both, one at a time, before making a motion towards the red one. Then, at the last moment, he changes his mind and pushes down the green one. He shouldn't have changed his mind. The timer counts down to zero, taking Trunks out and leaving just Yugi and James. Now, only a set of three detonators remain... red, yellow, and green. Yugi gets first dibs in the final round. Yugi picks green... and nothing happens. James goes up to take his turn, as he picks the red one. Nothing happens. A new set replaces the old one, and the two go at it again. Yugi takes red, while James goes yellow. Once again, nothing happens. Both teams watch nervously as this continues on for several rounds, with neither player picking the 'wrong' detonator. Finally, after more than half a dozen rounds, someone slips up and detonates the bomb when he pushes on the green plunger. That, by a stroke of bad luck, happens to be James. That leaves Yugi as the winner of the mini-game and the challenge. Yugi: (in Yami form) If it's in the game, it's in the game. ====== Yugi boots out of the game, and is smothered by hugs and high-fives by his teammates. The opposing team, by contrast, are shrouded by disappointment. Tenchi: It came down to the final mini-game, but in the end, only one team was in control, and that's why they won. Amy... congratulations to your team on winning today's challenge. There's applause on both sides, as everyone just realizes that it was complete luck that decided the outcome. Tenchi: You guys can all head back, and I'll see you all whenever the next challenge is. The Roomies start to head back, getting ready for another day of change between the living quarters. ====== On the way back, though, things started to get a little hairy. Before you know it, an argument has started up between Jet, Tally, Keith, and Rally. Keith: We've had enough of you old guys thinking you control the game! It's time for the real players to step up to bat! Tally: Just because weve got a better plan than you doesn't make us old! You're just jealous of how smart we are! Keith: That's just talk! You may have the brains, but only we have the muscle to pull it off! Jet: You think you're better than us? Rally: We don't think, Jet... we know! Jet: All you know, Rally, is that playing dirty is the only way to win! Rally: We're not playing dirty! Keith: We're just being creative! Tally: The only thing you've created here is a whole lot of chaos! Suddenly, members from both sides of the big two alliances come rushing in... but not to stop the word fighting. Instead, they're quickly becoming a part of it. Haruka: There's no reason for all of this! Yusuke: Why don't you go lay an egg? Nabiki: Yeah! We're the ones in control here! Trunks: You'd better believe it too! Amy R.: I'll believe it only if you can beat Sonic in a race... and he's way too fast for you! Trowa and Takuya come to the aid of their fellow alliance members, but with the numbers growing on the side of the Adult Alliance, there's a lot of confusion. Trowa: How come there are so many people? Takuya: What kind of alliance is this supposed to be anyway? Amy M.: I never realized the Adult Alliance was so big! James: See! I told you this was going to happen! Whitney: Will you pipe down so I can think? Rini: There goes my shot of joining them. Keith is seen laughing as the attention is quickly drawing to the Adult Alliance core members. Somebody's gonna have a lot of explaining to do after this mess. ========================= End Episode Fifteen ========================= Tenchi: (VO) Next time, on Roomies... Takuya: There's so many people, I can't even count them all! Tenchi: (VO) The Adult Alliance plan seems to have backfired... Jet: I should've seen this coming. Tally: Everything I've worked for... gone! Jet: What do you mean everything you've worked for? Tenchi: (VO) And the fallout's brought a smile to Keith's face... Keith: With Phase Two complete, all that's left is to start Phase Three! Nabiki: And I'll be right behind you all the way! Tenchi: (VO) Too bad for Keith that not everyone in the alliance is happy... Yusuke: How dare he take control of the alliance away from us? We're the top guns here! Trunks: Keith needs to be taught a lesson... and we're just the guys to do it. Tenchi: (VO) Trust seems to be a premium these days... Rally: You think you know someone. Then something happens that changes your mind. Rini: (CC) I'm really learning a lot about not making friends with strangers! Tenchi: (VO) And somewhere in there, there's a challenge... Yugi swings at the pitch and misses, making it out number ten. Amy M.: (CC) People tend to forget that baseball is a dangerous sport. Tenchi, Takuya, Amy M., and a few others are gathered around Trowa, who is lying down on the ground with his helmet off. Yugi: Who would've known pitching machines could cause so many injuries? Tenchi: (VO) All on the next episode of Roomies... ==================== Additional Author's Notes ==================== All of the mini-games are from 'Mario Party 2.' I decided to use that version because it's the one I'm most familiar with and the one most readily available to me at the time of the writing of this episode. Also... submissions are now being accepted for questions for this season's Reunion Special. Either leave them in your review or send them to me via e-mail. A cut-off date will be announced shortly, but it will be really soon. Promise! ========================= Next Episode ========================= Stay tuned... Episode 16 will be coming soon, and the remaining two episodes of the season won't be too far behind!