"Roomies 2: Country Living" - written by Freedom Fighter We're winding down to the end. There's not much left to go, but I'm sure you're still all anxious to see it anyway. So, without further ado, Episode 17! Episode Rating: PG Disclaimer: This disclaimer is currently being trained to be able to handle living in space. When it is ready, it will state that all of the characters in this reality series fanfic do not belong to the author/creator. Those aforementioned characters are being used for the enjoyment of himself and the readers who witness the trials and tribulations of those said characters. Please do not sue, for doing so will take away all of the prize money and put the production company out of business. And then you'll never get to see who wins Roomies 2: Country Living. You wouldn't want that, would you? Among reasons some of you may attempt to sue me for but I won't accept anyway include inaccurate portrayal of the characters in this fic, the dislike of me as a writer, the mentioning of undescriptive nudity in a fic with numerous minors, and for the 30 seconds or so of your life that you've wasted while reading this lengthy disclaimer. Thank you. ====== Tenchi: (VO) On the last episode of Roomies... Bit: So, when are the two of you going to hook up? Tenchi: (VO) Bit and Joey put Keitaro on the spot... Keitaro: Look, if Kiyone liked me, she would have shown it by now! Bit: Keitaro, there's no way you can say that a girl is hot without having some type of romantic feelings for her. Joey: Keitaro's almost 21 and not one single girl in his life has ever given him the time of day! Keitaro: (sarcastically) Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Joey! Tenchi: (VO) Which leads to Keitaro making a move on Kiyone... Kiyone: (smiles) There we go, thinking on the same brain length again. Keitaro: Kiyone, uh... I have to tell you something. Kiyone: Yes? Keitaro: Kiyone... I'm madly in... Tenchi: (VO) Only to have the moment spoiled by Melfina... Melfina: I'll join. Keitaro: (a bit shocked) What? Tenchi: (VO) And what's going on with Jessie and Jeri upstairs... Jeri: It didn't take long for me to convince him. Jessie: You're sneakier than I thought! Jeri: Well, we're here to play the game. And that's exactly what I'm doing. Tenchi: (VO) But when it comes to the challenges, trust plays a key part... Roger: Will you hurry up already? Keitaro: (looking up) Hold up! I'm hurrying as fast as I can! Tenchi: (VO) However you look at it... Roger: Better luck next time, Faye. Faye: What makes you think you were faster than Kiyone and I? Roger: Let's just say the bad luck charm turned good. Tenchi: (VO) And it's so reassuring to see some familiar faces... Gohan and Goten: Hi mom! Chi-Chi: Gohan! Goten! Kiyone: (smiles) Thanks, Sasami. You made my day. Shinobu: Please do your best, Keitaro! Quatre: Good luck! Hope you bring home something! Tenchi: (VO) Only five days to go in Okayama... we cut two more, next! = = = = = = = = = = Tenchi: (VO) For 42 days, 12 anime converge to live in a mansion somewhere in Japan... Mimi: (VO) But one of the 12 will leave with nearly a million dollars in cash... (Begin theme song, showing each of the contestants one at a time for two seconds each) - Melfina, resting her head against Gene's shoulder - Kiyone, flying the Yagami while dressed in her Galaxy Police uniform - Duo, taking an order at the salvage yard he runs - Jeri, being held in Takato's arms after being rescued from the D-Reaper - Roger, using his wristwatch to call for the Big O - Keitaro, standing in the snow as he stares at Tokyo University - Joey, playing his favorite combo: Baby Dragon and Time Wizard - Bit, piloting the Liger Zero in battle against an Elephander - Mondo, tasting one of Rockna's dishes after a Mon World cooking competition - Chi-Chi, training Goten out in the front yard - Jessie, recalling Wobbuffet back to its Pokéball after it had gotten out - Faye, returning to the place where she believes she grew up (Show scenes of the gang preparing for the final four vote, Mimi welcoming them to Smallville, and then a montage of all of the author cameos.) Mimi: (VO) Some of them will become friends... Tenchi: (VO) Others will develop grudges against those they hate... Mimi and Tenchi: (VO) But only one will walk away with up to a million dollars in cash and prizes. (End theme song, with a picture of all 12 contestants standing in front of the mansion.) = = = = = = = = = = Episode 17 - I Left My Heart Back on Earth (09.27.02) Night Thirty Seven It's early in the evening, and most of the Roomies were spending some time to themselves. Faye is lying on her bed in her room, reading a beauty magazine. All of a sudden, she starts to hear a voice coming from the hallway. Or rather, two voices. Curious, Faye puts her magazine down and walks towards her open door. She peers out into the hallway and sees Jeri and Melfina talking in the doorway into the computer room. Faye listens in on the conversation. Jeri: ...playing the game. She doesn't see it coming. Melfina: You're so smart for someone your age. Jeri: Not smart. Just cunning enough to realize who to trust and who to play for a fool. Melfina: Alright, with Duo and myself, that should be enough. Jeri's Puppet: (appearing out of nowhere) And then it's every girl for herself! Melfina: Agreed! Jeri then heads down the back hallway, towards the kitchen. Melfina goes into the computer room. Faye: (CC) How many people is Jeri going to corral in her favor? It sounds like she is going to backstab Jessie, but I can't be sure. One thing's for sure... she definitely wants to be in the final four. In the kitchen, meanwhile, Jeri waves to Joey, currently munching on a bag of potato chips, as she goes to fridge to pour herself a glass of milk. Jeri: (CC) I probably look desperate going around and asking everyone for help, but it's all part of my master plan! ====== Day Thirty Eight Early morning at the mansion, and at least one soul is already up and about. Back in the laundry room, Jeri hums a tune as steps on to a stool and drops a pile of dirty clothes into the washing machine. She then closes the door and leans over the top to reach the timing dial. Just as she begins to turn it, Mondo enters the room. He's a bit surprised to see Jeri in there. Or maybe he's just stunned after catching Jeri in a compromising position... seeing her from behind and all. If it was the latter, Jeri didn't seem to notice as she starts the washer and then turns to see Mondo standing by the door. Jeri: (cheerfully) Morning, Mondo! Mondo: Why are you in here? You've never done the laundry before today! Jeri: (jumping down) I just thought that I would help out a little more. Mondo: Not to impress people, I hope. It's too late for that. Jeri: Don't be silly, Mondo! I already have all of the support I need! In fact, I've got this surefire plan that can't fail! Mondo: Really? Mind sharing it with me? Jeri: Why? Mondo: Because we're friends. Jeri: Sorry, no can do! Jeri pulls out her puppet again and shoves it in Mondo's face. Jeri's Puppet: It's top secret! Mondo: (pushing it away from his face) You can trust me! You've trusted me for 37 days! Since the beginning! Jeri: Only the people in my alliance know what it is. Mondo: Hold on! I'm in your alliance! Why won't you tell me? Jeri: That's because the alliance that we're both in is the one that Jessie formed. My alliance consists of different people, and you aren't among them. Mondo: Why not? We've been attached in almost every way imaginable since day one and now you're leaving me out of the loop? Jeri: Sorry, Mondo. Jeri smiles as she walks up to Mondo, giggles, and then has her puppet poke him on the nose. Jeri: But I need someone who's a little more mature. Jeri giggles again as she exits the room and heads elsewhere. Mondo scratches his head, confused. Mondo: More mature? I thought I was mature enough for her. ====== An hour later, Bit is lying face down in bed with his pillow over his head. Why? Because he's still sleepy, and two certain people, one of them being his roommate and the other being extremely annoying, are yelling at each other. Jessie: Say yes! Joey: No way! Jessie: Yes! Joey: No! Jessie: Join me! Joey: In your dreams! Jessie: Will you stop rejecting my proposal before you even hear it? Joey: I don't need to hear it! I know you've got a hidden motive behind it! Jessie: I can guarantee you at least four votes! Joey: And I can get a whole lot more by not joining. Jessie: Join! Joey: I said no! Jessie: Yes! Joey: No way! Jessie: Yes way! Bit finally leaps up from his bed, tosses his pillow aside, and starts yelling at the two of them. Bit: Can you two take it outside already? I'm trying to sleep here! Joey and Jessie look at Bit, then slowly creep out of the room. They close the door behind them. Bit breathes a sigh of relief before climbing back into bed and repositioning his pillow so that he can lie down on it. Jessie: (muffled, from outside) Yes! Joey: (same as Jessie) No! Bit: (yelling at the top of his lungs) Shut up! ====== A couple of hours later, the twelve Roomies are gathering out in the front driveway. They are surprised to see Washu standing outside with Tenchi. A large yet weird looking machine was in position right behind the duo. Kiyone: Washu, why are you here again? Tenchi: She's going to help us get to where our challenge is going to be. Washu: Allow me to introduce... my universal interdimensional transporter, version 3.0! Tenchi: For those of you who came from other times, dimensions, or universes, this is the device that got you here to Okayama, and in five days, will send you back. Today, as I said before, we're going to use it to get to the location of our challenge. Melfina: Where and when is that, Tenchi? Tenchi: You'll see! (to Washu) It's time to start up the machine! Washu nods, slides on a pair of goggles over her eyes, and then begins to push a multitude of buttons on the control panel. Suddenly, a giant pink portal opens up, forming into a circle with an eight-foot diameter. Tenchi: Please follow me to your next challenge! Jeri: Wait! Are you sure this is safe? Washu answers her questions as Tenchi walks into the portal and disappears. Washu: No need to worry! You've got a 92% chance of reaching your intended destination safely! Keitaro: And what about the other 8%? Washu: (grinning sheepishly) You might end up floating around in nothingness for awhile. Joey: That doesn't sound too reassuring, you know. Washu: Oh, it's perfectly safe! You can trust the great Washu! Chi-Chi: If Washu says it safe, then I'm going in! Chi-Chi walks straight into the portal and disappears. The others wait for a few seconds, waiting to hear some kind of sign that she was okay. Washu: Well, what are you waiting for? I can't keep this thing open all day. Trusting Washu's judgement, Melfina walks into the portal. Mondo, not afraid at all, follows her in. Kiyone goes right after him. Eventually, the rest of the group does go in, with Faye bringing up the rear. ====== [After Colony 0197 - Lake Victoria Military Academy] Coming out of the portal, the group finds themselves in another dimension. One that one of the Roomies feels familiar to. Duo: This looks like an old OZ base! Tenchi: Correct! And as such, I've got an old OZ soldier to help out with this challenge. Out of shadows steps Lucrezia Noin, the former soldier who is now a member of the Preventers. Duo gasps in surprise. Duo: Noin? Lucrezia: Well well, if it isn't Duo Maxwell. Will wonders ever cease? Duo: Never thought I'd see you again after the whole Mariemaia incident. Tenchi: Miss Noin, will you please explain today's challenge? Lucrezia: (nods) Today, the twelve you will be competing in your sixth and final physical challenge. One that will require a lot of physical and mental strength. One that only a select few have managed to complete before you. Duo: You mean we're going to train to be mobile suit pilots? Melfina: Yes. Duo already knows how to pilot one. Lucrezia: We're not going to go that far. We're just going to do some space training. Basically, it's half of the program that all of my former students went through. Well, the half that doesn't include figuring out how to fly in and use the weapons of a mobile suit. Keitaro: This isn't going to be hard, is it? Lucrezia: Of course not. But before we can do it anything, you all need to take a physical exam. All of the Roomies: Huh? Tenchi: Miss Noin wasn't kidding when she said that this challenge requires a lot of physical and mental strength. The training sessions you are about to go through will test every fiber in your bodies. Lucrezia: And for that, we need to make sure that your bodies can handle such stress. Three doctors appear out of nowhere, two men and one woman. Tenchi: Jeri, Mondo, Joey, and Melfina, you four are the youngest, so I'm going to ask you to go with the pediatrician. Lucrezia: The rest of the women, please go with the female doctor, and the rest of the men, you'll go with the male one. As the group is separated into three equal parts, Joey shows his concern. Joey: This isn't going to hurt, is it? ====== About an hour or so later, everyone is waiting in the lobby to see if they were all clear to proceed with the challenge. They didn't have to wait for long, as Tenchi and Lucrezia appear before them. Lucrezia: The doctors have completed your check-ups, and they assure me that almost all of you have passed and may compete in the entire challenge. Duo: Noin... what do you mean almost all of us? Tenchi: Unfortunately, they wouldn't clear Jeri. Jeri: What? Lucrezia: The doctor that examined you thinks that your body would not be able to handle the stress that it would be put under without endangering your well-being. Jeri couldn't believe it. She was looking at this challenge as her one last chance to prove herself. But now, she was going to be denied that opportunity. Jeri: (CC) I knew that my age and my small size would be a disadvantage. I never imagined that it would actually keep me out of a challenge. *************** Everyone looked at Jeri, wondering what effect this revelation might have on the challenge itself. They could tell that Jeri was doing her best to hold back tears. Mondo, obviously concerned, decided to speak up for her. Mondo: If Jeri has to sit out the challenge, then I'll sit out with her. Tenchi: Mondo, there's no need to do that. Mondo: It'll be fair, so that the other teams will be equal. Lucrezia: Tenchi's right. Jeri can still compete in the challenge. Jeri: But you just said... Lucrezia: You didn't allow me to finish. You see, the exam is for the more intense exercises. Two of the training exercises can be done by anyone without having to pass the physical exam. They're calm enough for Jeri to take part in without hurting yourself. Jeri: So, I'm still in the challenge? Tenchi: Of course. Mondo: (breathes a sigh of relief) That's good to hear. Tenchi: Now, it's time for us to choose the two teams for this challenge. And there are only two people who have yet to be captains. Today, they'll finally get their chance. Roger and Faye. There's a collective gulp from the group as the two appointed captains step forward, glaring daggers into each other's eyes. Again. Tenchi: I heard that there's been a lot of tension between you two. This will be the perfect opportunity for you to settle your difference in a healthy environment. Lucrezia: Captains, choose your teams, and then we'll head off to the first training room, where another fellow pilot will be helping me out. [Team Assignments: - White: Roger, Bit, Keitaro, Melfina, Mondo, Jessie - Orange: Faye, Duo, Kiyone, Chi-Chi, Joey, Jeri] ====== Minutes later, Noin leads the twelve of them into a control room. Roger's team is dressed in white space uniforms, Faye's team in orange. In this control room waits the second guest character cameo, who also does some piloting of her own. She is looking into a large glass window, where six leather upholstered mobile suit pilot chairs are sitting on the ground. Lucrezia: I would like all of you to meet my instructing associate... Bit: (pointing her out) Naomi? Naomi: (turning around and looking at Bit) Bit Cloud. The pilot of the Liger Zero. I'm amazed your still in this game. It was indeed Naomi Fluegel, the Zoids pilot better known as the the 'Red Comet,' thanks to her ability to pick off Zoids accurately from a distance. Naomi: I see we've got quite the eclectic cast of rookie pilots here. Duo: Hey! I'm not a rookie pilot! Bit: Me neither! Lucrezia: Other than our respective acquaintances, that is. Naomi: I guess Bit's taken of my introduction for me. My name's Naomi, and Lucrezia and I will be guiding you through all of the training exercises for this challenge. Lucrezia: There are five in all. Every member of the team will be required to complete two of them in the actual challenge tomorrow. Naomi: Today, you will learn about all five exercises and then you'll be given the chance to learn how each of them work. Lucrezia: Actually, we have one person that won't have a choice, Naomi. Jeri didn't pass the physical, so she can only do the two low-intensity exercises. Lucrezia points Jeri out to Naomi so that she knows who she is. Naomi: Well Jeri, you'll be glad to know that one of the two exercises you may compete in is the one we're about to try now. Lucrezia: This is an exercise that all of the soldiers I've trained in the past have had to go through. The room behind us is an anti-gravity chamber. And the chairs inside that room are the same ones that mobile suit pilots sit in. Naomi: A good number of those battles took place in space. So if a pilot needed to eject from their mobile suit to escape, they needed to know how to pilot their seat back to their base. Today, you'll be learning how to do exactly that. Lucrezia: We need three people from each team for the first practice session. I'll be in the chamber with you, providing personal instruction. The rest of you can watch out here. After I finish instruction with them, we'll switch places. Roger, Melfina, Jessie, Duo, Kiyone, and Jeri go in first, with the others waiting in the control room. As Lucrezia instructs the first group from inside the chamber, Naomi is outside operating the control panel that dictates how much gravity is present in the room. Once Naomi complete shuts the gravity off, the chairs in which the first group is sitting in begin to float into the air. They all start to fiddle with a joystick positioned on the right arm of their chairs, as they try to get a feel of how to move. Jessie: (CC) I can't believe how ridiculously easy this is! You're telling me that mobile suit pilots practiced this for weeks on end? No wonder they lost that war! ====== After completing training in the anti-gravity chamber, they move on to the second training exercise. In this room, they see a small spaceship pod standing upright on the ground. It is connected to a set of electric rails that go all the way to the ceiling, about 20 feet up. Lucrezia: If you've ever been on one of those drop tower rides at a local amusement park, this second exercise is just like it. Naomi: One at a time, you'll be strapped into this pod. Then, it will rocket up to the ceiling and back to the ground, and then keep doing it. Lucrezia: Every fifteen seconds, we increase the pod's maximum speed, which in turn increases the amount of G-Force you'll feel while inside. Naomi: The object here is to last as long as you can, ending only when you think you can't take anymore, or when you lose consciousness. Whichever comes first. Bit steps forward, wanting to try this out. After being fitted with a helmet, the two women strap him into the pod standing up. They then hook up the intercom device so they can keep in touch with him, a heart monitor to make sure he doesn't force himself past his natural limits, and an emergency shut-off button, just in case. They close the door and step back to the control panel, where Naomi turns the power on, sets the starting speed, and then presses the launch button. As soon as she does that, the pod goes skyrocketing towards the ceiling, stopping just short. It then falls back down, gaining speed as it reaches the bottom. It slows as it gets there, then heads back up for another trip. The other eleven watch as Bit goes up and down and up and down, faster and faster. Keitaro: Man... just watching Bit makes me sick. ====== Fast forward to the fourth exercise training session, which takes place in a room filled with four similarly designed motion simulators, one per corner. Strapped in and equipped with the proper safety devices, as per normal, Bit, Mondo, Jessie, Faye, Chi-Chi, and Joey take the first practice round. Everyone else is with Naomi and Lucrezia, who watch from yet another adjacent control room. Naomi: (over the intercom) There are five difficulty levels, each lasting a certain amount time and each making the simulator move in a variety of ways. Shaking and sudden turns will be plentiful, but remember that you are trying to hold on as long as possible. Lucrezia: (via intercom) For practical purposes, we will only take you through the two easiest levels today. We'll leave the last three for those who try this exercise tomorrow in competition to experience. The simulator begins, as all four motion capsules begin to move around. Inside of Chi-Chi's cockpit, we can see that it is as if she were flying a small spaceship through a meteor shower. Chi-Chi can feel every turn and shake of the vehicle as it automatically guides it way through the shower. Chi-Chi: (CC) It feels so weird, being strapped into that simulator and not being able to control where the ship goes. And you can't do anything about it either. Which makes it all the more frightening and exhilarating at the same time. ====== After making it through the day and all five training sessions, the entire group is now back in the lobby with Lucrezia and Naomi. They are also dressed in their normal clothes, but they each hold a bag containing their training uniforms. Tenchi stands behind them, with the portal open and ready to return the group to Okayama. Naomi: Tenchi will bring you back here at one o'clock tomorrow for the challenge. Lucrezia: If you're going to eat before coming here, eat early and eat light. Trust me on that... unless you're willing to spend the day puking. Naomi: I would also recommend a good night's sleep tonight. Do not consume any alcoholic beverages or any other drugs, for that matter. Lucrezia: You will need to be in top form, both physically and mentally, if you are to survive tomorrow's challenge. The two pilots then wave goodbye as Tenchi leads the group into the portal and back to Okayama. ====== Night Thirty Eight It's just after dinner, and everyone in the mansion is settling into their evening routines as best as they can. Most of them are really tired after all of the space training, and they were pretty much dragging themselves all over the house. So naturally, no one goes to the front door immediately when the doorbell rings. After the doorbell continues to consistently ring and ring and ring, Kiyone finally waltzes out of her room and goes to answer the door. Keitaro also appears to answer the door, but Kiyone gets there first and opens it. It would end up being a mistake, as behind the door stood her partner Mihoshi. Kiyone: Mihoshi? Mihoshi: (happily) As I promised, we're gonna spend the night out! Kiyone: First of all, you said we were going to spend the day out, and second, I'm not going. Mihoshi: Why not? Kiyone: Because I'm tired after all of the training we had to do for tomorrow's challenge and I want to rest! Mihoshi: Oh, come on! It'll be fun! Kiyone: I'm not allowed to go out and drink, and I need to get enough sleep tonight. We can't be going out to a karaoke bar now. Mihoshi: I wasn't even thinking about that. But if you want to... Kiyone: (throwing her arms about in a panic) No, of course not! Whatever you had planned originally is fine. Mihoshi: (blinks her eyes) Oh, okay. Mihoshi then stands in the door as she begins to examine Keitaro, who had been standing there oblivious to the two Galaxy Police officers for the past minute. Mihoshi: Tenchi, is that you? When did you start wearing glasses? Kiyone: That's not Tenchi! His name is Keitaro! Mihoshi: (shrugs her shoulders) Whatever. Mihoshi then drags a weeping Kiyone and a confused Keitaro out the front door. Keitaro: How do I always get dragged into these things? ====== Jeri and Melfina were goofing around in the bedroom, telling stories about their love lifes. All of a sudden, Mondo knocks on the half-open door. Mondo: Jeri, can I speak to you in private? Jeri: As long as it doesn't involve cornering me in the confessional room and yelling your head off at me again, then okay. Melfina: (to Mondo) So you did do that! I'm surprised at you! Mondo pulls Jeri out into the hall and closes the door behind her. Mondo: What's going on with you? Why did you blow me off this morning? Jeri: If it's about the alliance, I have nothing to say to you about it. Mondo: But why? It's not like I'm going to tell Jessie. I already know that we can't trust her. Jeri: I trust you and all, but you probably wouldn't have the heart to do it. Mondo: First you say I'm not mature enough, and now I don't have enough heart? Jeri: Well, yes. Mondo: And all of this just because you're trying to gather support for your cause! Jeri: It's a lot more complicated than that! Mondo: Complicated? How much more complicated can it be than a simple 'you vote for me, I vote for you' deal? Jeri: Sorry... I've said too much already. As Mondo begins to plead for Jeri to let him in on her plan, Faye is about to round the corner from the hallway coming from the laundry room. Hearing the two young ones discussing Jeri's strategy, she ducks back behind the corner and does some more eavesdropping. Mondo: Who are you working with? Jeri: How many times am I going to say it? I'm not saying anything! Mondo: Who's on your side? Mel? Joey? Kiyone? Jeri: I'm not going to tell you! Stop asking questions! Mondo: (sighs) Fine. I'll stop. If you don't want to tell me, then I'll leave it that. Jeri: I'm glad you finally understand. Mondo: I do want to say one thing, though. I'll be honest... I've never met a girl quite like you. You're pretty, sweet, and friendly. And you've grown in maturity so much since we met more than a month ago. I guess you've realized that you don't need me to carry you to the end. But no matter what happens in the end, no matter what either of us gain in the end... Mondo then clasps his hands over Jeri's, leans over, and gives her a soft peck on her left cheek. Mondo: I'll treasure my memories of you more than any prize I win. And that is a promise. He then turns and walks away, heading towards the hall where Faye currently is. Faye: If I don't do this now, I lose my only shot! Once Mondo rounds the corner, two things happen at once. Mondo runs into Faye, who leads him into the kitchen to discuss some strategy. And as for Jeri, she can do nothing but shed a lonely tear as she opens the door to her bedroom and walks in, slowly closing it behind her. ====== A little later on in the evening, Melfina is standing out on the balcony, gazing into the forest surrounding the area. A light drizzle is falling, as it had been for the past few hours. Duo, spotting her out there on his way to his room for the night, goes out to get her. Duo: Mel, you'll catch a cold standing out here! Melfina: But I'm an android. I can't catch a cold. Duo: Oh yeah, I forgot. Still, why are you out here all alone? Melfina: I'm so torn right now. Duo: Huh? Melfina leans on the railing and rests her head on her hands. Duo walks over and takes a similar position right next to her. Duo: Do you want to talk about it? Melfina: It's just you... and Gene... Duo: (solemnly) Oh. Talking to him on the phone yesterday must have reminded you of your feelings for him. Melfina: (turning her head to face Duo) Is it okay for us to like each other even though we have someone waiting for us back home? Duo: Morally, no. But to play the game, yes. Melfina: But I haven't been fooling you. I really do love you. Duo: I love you too. But I guess I can sympathize with you. Seeing Hilde's face again jolted my heart as well. Melfina: Maybe we were wrong to think that we loved each other. Duo: Don't say that! Our feelings for each other were genuine! Romantically involved or not before coming here, we fell in love with each other! Is it too late to take it back? Yes. Will Hilde and Gene forgive us? Yes. Should we forget about our relationship? No. Melfina: But Duo... Duo: When I applied to be on this show, I knew that there was the possibility of falling in love with someone. I knew the risks and so did you. And even though we had significant others, we fell in love anyway. We'll never forget that. Yes, we do have our own lovers to go back to, but there's no use changing what we've done. We need to accept that we did have a relationship and we shouldn't feel the need to hide it. Melfina: Like we'd be able to. Duo: (chuckles nervously) I guess you have a point. Melfina: (smiles) I think I'm ready to go inside. Coming? Duo: Of course. No way I'm catching a cold and ruining my chances tomorrow! The two walk, hand-in-hand, back inside the mansion. ************ Day Thirty Nine The next morning, Keitaro and Roger are already up and about. Keitaro is busy drawing in his sketchbook as Roger looks out the window. Keitaro: (CC) Will this be the day I tell her? I wonder. Keitaro is so distracted by his thoughts of Kiyone that he doesn't notice Bit enter the room and start shaking his shoulders violently. Bit: Someone's daydreaming! Keitaro: (breaking free) Knock it off, Bit! Roger: (coughing) We have business to attend to. Bit, close the door. Bit does as he is told. He then takes a seat in Roger's desk chair. Bit and Keitaro turn their chairs towards Roger's bed, where he takes a seat. Roger: It's two days and counting to F-4. Bit: Counting down the days 'til the end. I can't wait. Roger: Who are we thinking of voting for? Bit: Other than us, I'm going with Jeri and Melfina. Roger: Keitaro? Keitaro: (scratching his head) Gee, I haven't thought about it. Roger: You need to start focusing and stop daydreaming! We need to figure out who our wild card votes are so that we all vote the same way. Bit: (suggestively) I'm sure Keitaro can get Kiyone to help. Keitaro: Don't drag her into this! Roger: This isn't the time to be mixing business with pleasure. If you're voting for Kiyone just because you're in love with her, then you're wasting a vote. Keitaro: (bowing his head) I didn't have any intention to. Roger: Hmmmm... that didn't sound reassuring. Are you sure you're with us? Keitaro: You two can trust me one-hundred percent! Bit: Just remember that we need to vote for each other, at least. Roger nods, and Keitaro does shortly after that. ====== Downstairs in the kitchen, Faye and Kiyone are talking as the latter prepares breakfast for the house this morning. Faye: So, she's pulling some massive plan to get everyone to vote for her. She really thinks that it's going to work? Kiyone: If you're so confident it won't, then why are you worried about it? Faye: Because if it does work, then I'll have egg on my face for missing out on a shot at getting into the final four myself! That's why I have Mondo's support. He wants to know what Jeri's up to as much as I do. Kiyone: That doesn't mean he'll try to spy on her. He trusts her way too much to turn his back on her. Faye: That's why I need you to help me convince him. Kiyone: Absolutely not! Faye: Forget your stinkin' stance on alliances and wise up for once! Kiyone: If it's a crime not to join an alliance, then I'll turn my badge in right now. Faye: (crosses her arms over her chest) Fine. I can probably coy him into spying myself. Kiyone: (rolls her eyes) Whatever you say. Faye then smiles, remembering what had happened last night. Faye: Say, what happened last night between you, Mihoshi, and Keitaro? Kiyone: Nothing. One round of indoor miniature golf and then a quick meal. Faye: You sure? Kiyone: Yes! Faye: I'm trying to make sure! You're on my team for the challenge today! Kiyone: I didn't drink, smoke, or do anything to jeopardize the team, okay? And I also got a good amount of sleep too, so there! ====== [After Colony 0197 - Lake Victoria Military Academy] [Physical Challenge 6: Space Camp Medley] That afternoon, the group returns to the 'Gundam Wing' universe for the challenge. They all get dressed up and await instructions in the lobby. Lucrezia is already there with Tenchi and the competitors. They were just waiting for Naomi to finish preparations and then come to help with the debriefing. Lucrezia and Duo were spending the few minutes of free time catching up. Duo: So, been busy lately? Lucrezia: Same old stuff, as usual. Keeping the peace in the universe, spending some time with Milliardo, and so on. Naomi appears in the lobby, holding a large piece of cardboard. It will serve as the scoreboard for the challenge. Naomi: Alright, we're ready to begin! Tenchi: I hope you'll all rested and ready to go, because the final physical challenge is about to begin. Lucrezia: You will be competing for points today, which you will receive for winning an exercise. Each exercise is worth a different amount of points. To win the challenge today, your goal is to get five points. The team that does so wins and claims the last $100,000 bonus for each team member. Naomi: But first things first! She walks over and hands the team captain a piece of paper and a pen. Naomi: The opposite team will be responsible for delegating which team member will do which exercise. Lucrezia: Remember that everyone will complete two exercises. Tenchi: And for the team that doesn't have Jeri, she must be automatically pencilled in for the first and fifth exercises. Those are the two she is allowed to participate in. The two teams go to work, figuring out who to put in what exercise. Chi-Chi: I know she can't handle that one. Put her there. Faye: Okay, if you say so. Mondo: He's the next weakest one after Jeri. Give him the worst spots. Roger: I fully intend to, Mondo. The teams complete their grids and hand them to Naomi. After checking them over, she, Lucrezia, and Tenchi lead the group to the first training room. ====== [Exercise 1: Chair Piloting - 1 point] Naomi: For this exercise, Roger, Bit, and Melfina will go for the white team. Lucrezia: And for orange, we have Faye, Kiyone, and Jeri. Naomi: The rules are simple. At the start of the game, there will be no gravity in the chamber. Every minute or so, I will vary the gravity between one-half, one-third, one-sixth, and none. Lucrezia: The object is to avoid running into any of the other pilots. If you do so, no matter if you hit someone on your team or the other team, you are out. Naomi: If you are pushed by someone into another person, then you are out, provided that person who pushed did not use the chair itself to hit you. If he or she did, then that person would be out. Lucrezia: The team that eliminates the other wins the exercise and one point. Naomi: The game will play until a winner is decided. The six competitors are strapped in by the two pilots. Lucrezia then remains in the room to act as referee while Naomi operates the gravity control outside. [Challenge Fast Forward] Right off the bat, Bit gets ambitious and accidentally steers his chair into Roger's. Roger shrugs off the hit and focuses on Faye, who are eyeing each other cautiously. Jeri is floating around slowly, with Melfina just as gracefully avoiding contact. And Kiyone just stays in her position, waiting for something to happen. Faye: (CC) This just isn't about him. This is about me doing what I've been unsuccessful at this whole game. And that's be on the winning side of a physical challenge. I'm not letting Roger stop me. Faye and Roger both try to snap each other's concentration long enough that they'll make a mistake. Suddenly, Naomi changes the gravity, causing Melfina to steer into Faye's chair, while Jeri loses control of hers and accidentally gives Kiyone a rough bump. This leaves Kiyone and Faye against Roger. Before Roger could move, Kiyone gets behind Roger (which had happened thanks to Jeri's unexpected push) and kicks the back of his chair with her foot. Roger tries to turn away from Faye, who lifts her feet to avoid getting them squashed. But doing so was a mistake, as Faye starts turning too late, causing Roger to nip one corner of her chair. [End Challenge Fast Forward - White 0, Orange 1 (5 needed to win)] ====== [Exercise 2: G-Force Tower - 1 point] [Challenge Fast Forward] After losing the first exercise, the white team must go first. It's Mondo and Melfina versus Chi-Chi and Joey. Mondo goes first. But it doesn't take long for nausea to set in once the pod starts moving up and down for him to call it quits. [Mondo's Time: 19 seconds] Joey is next to go. He is strapped and also sent flying. But he too succumbs rather quickly, though he lasts a bit longer than Mondo. [Joey's Time: 24 seconds] Melfina, being an android, doesn't feel motion sickness. So picking her was quite a mistake for the orange team, as the pod gets faster and faster, yet she shows no signs of quitting. That is, until the whole going up and down confuses her brain so much that she does eventually call it quits, citing the inability to process where she was. [Melfina's Time: 1 minute, 52 seconds] Chi-Chi herself was quite strong, but no android. She lasted much longer than Mondo or Joey, but being human, the bobbing up and down did get to her. She bows out way short of Melfina's time. [Chi-Chi's Time: 1 minute, 1 second] [End Challenge Fast Forward - White 1, Orange 1 (5 needed to win)] ====== [Exercise 3: Spinning Pods - 2 points] Lucrezia: For this round, it's one person apiece. Person who calls it quits first loses and concedes two points. Naomi: We have Jessie for the white team and Joey for the orange team. Jessie and Joey, both nervous about being spun around at high speeds, weren't happy about being picked. Joey especially, seeing as he just did the tower and still hadn't recovered from it. They are strapped into the pods, positioned opposite each other in the circle. Once that's done, the pods are closed and Lucrezia and Naomi head to the control panel. Naomi: We will start at 20 mph, increase by ten every minute until we get to 60 mph, then increase by fifteen every other minute from there on out. Lucrezia: The exercise begins now. She pushes the start button, as the pods being moving around the circle, slowly accelerating to 20 mph. Jessie: This ain't half bad! Joey: I have a feeling it's about to get a lot worse. Minutes pass as Naomi slowly increases the speed dial. Already going 50 and getting ready to go to 60, both Joey and Jessie were in trouble. Jessie: (screaming for her life) Aaaaahhhh! I want off this out-of-control merry-go-round! Joey: (repeating to himself) You're doing it for Serenity, you're doing it for Serenity, you're doing it... Naomi pushes the speed to 60 seconds later, making things a whole lot more unpleasant. Jessie: Get me out! Get me out! Naomi: (over the intercom) You concede, Jessie? Before Jessie could say yes, the machine starts to slow down. Naomi turns her attention to Joey. Naomi: (over the intercom) Joey has given up by pressing the automatic shut down button. The two points go to Jessie and her team. The machines eventually slow to a stop after about a minute. Naomi and Lucrezia pull Jessie and Joey out of their pods, both looking worse for the wear. Jessie felt all dizzy and was stumbling around, while Joey was just trying to find a place to throw up... White 3, Orange 1 (5 needed to win) ====== [Exercise 4: Motion Simulator - 2 points] Naomi: Last person standing gets 2 points for his or her team. Lucrezia: The white team clinches it with a win here. Naomi: Roger and Keitaro for the white team, and Duo and Kiyone for the orange team. The foursome are strapped into their individual pods, then the simulators are started and they are set loose. [Challenge Fast Forward] (Level 1 - 2:15) - Things go without incident. (Level 2 - 1:35) - Keitaro begins to feel sick, but holds on. Kiyone starts to get woozy, while Roger and Duo show no reaction. (Level 3 - 1:30) - Keitaro pushes his stop button almost immediately, unable to take the shaking. Kiyone does her best to hang on, but she too calls it quits about halfway through. Roger and Duo finally start to feel nauseated, but neither one of them is willing to concede. (Level 4 - 1:50) - The shaking gets really intense, especially in the first 30 seconds. Roger is barely holding on, but Duo's not sitting pretty either. Finally, when a second round of intense shaking begins 70 seconds in, Roger reaches for his stop button, terminating the simulation for both of them. [End Challenge Fast Forward - White 3, Orange 3 (5 needed to win)] ====== [Exercise 5: Mission Simulator - 3 points] Tenchi: Somehow, I knew it would come down to this. One last exercise to determine the winner. Naomi: For the white team, we have Bit, Keitaro, Mondo, and Jessie. Lucrezia: For the orange team, it's Faye, Duo, Chi-Chi, and Jeri. The two groups are led into different, yet similarly-looking rooms which resemble the bridge of an intergalactic spaceship. Naomi: (via intercom) Each team needs to designate their roles. Each team will have a captain, a repairer, a communicator, and a navigator. Lucrezia: (via intercom) Both teams will be participating in the same simulation simultaneously. The team that reaches the predetermined destination wins the challenge. Of course, if somehow your virtual ship wrecks during the course of the mission, your team automatically loses. [Team Assignments: - White: Keitaro (captain), Jessie (repairer), Mondo (communicator), Bit (navigator) - Orange: Chi-Chi (captain), Duo (repairer), Faye (communicator), Jeri (navigator)] [Challenge Fast Forward] The mission begins, as the four non-participating competitors watch from a videoscreen inside the control room, which Lucrezia and Naomi man together. They start by sending both teams the following message: 'Your destination is the planet Mars.' After the communicators receive and tell their team of the message, the navigators go to work to find out how to get there. Jeri finds it first, pointing which direction Chi-Chi should fly in. Bit locates Mars soon afterwards and guides Keitaro in the correct direction. A second message is sent, reading 'Check power of thrusters.' Bit and Jeri go searching for their information manuals. This time, Bit locates the solution first and tells Jessie how to carry out the order. Jeri finds it just as one of the thrusters shows signs of failing. Following her instructions, Duo finds the failing one and fixes it. Flight-wise, Jeri's delay has put them slightly behind. Minutes pass before the third message is sent. It reads 'Check to make sure each engine is distributing energy properly.' Bit and Jeri get to work looking up the right information, and then direct the repairers on how to make the check. [End Challenge Fast Forward] In the white team's 'ship,' Mondo gets another message from control. Mondo: (reading aloud) Engine blowout. Keitaro: Engine blowout? Where? Suddenly, red lights begin to flash all of the place, including on Jessie's control panel. Jessie: Engine two's gone, captain! Keitaro: Bit, what do we do? Bit: I'd better look it up! Keitaro: Hurry, or we're all dead! ====== Over on the orange team's 'ship,' they too have gotten the same warning. Faye: Are they crazy? Jeri: (flipping through the manual) Blowouts, blowouts... Chi-Chi: Somebody do something! Duo: Maybe I can figure this out. Duo starts tinkering with his control panel, hoping to balance the engine. ====== Bit: Left! LEFT! Push the left button to decrease the power! Jessie: I know that, you idiot! Keitaro: Hurry up! ====== Jeri: (pleading) Please hurry! Duo: I only learned how to work this thing yesterday! Hold on! Faye: We'll be dead if we hold on! ====== In the control room, Naomi and Lucrezia look at the control panel as both ships slowly begin to pull themselves out of the danger zone. Roger, Melfina, Kiyone, and Joey, the non-competing team members, watch on the vidscreen with Tenchi. Unknown to those four, the two instructors watched the engine power meters. Although both teams had succeeded in diverting enough power to the one remaining engine, they had both forgotten to compensate for it. As it was, both of the engines were about to explode. None of the seven in the control room can hear the screams of panic coming from the two simulation rooms. But it seems that someone was trying to get things back to normal. One of the power meters stopped moving. It remained stationary, although it was still sitting well within the danger zone. The other meter did not stop though, as it went through the roof and exploded. At the same time, the ship on the left side of the vidscreen also exploded. And Kiyone and Joey were celebrating because of it. White 3, Orange 6 (5 needed to win) ====== Minutes later, the group is back out in the lobby. The orange team is excited for their victory, especially Faye, who finally can celebrate after a physical challenge. And naturally, she rubs it in. Faye: I win this round. Roger: The war's far from over, Faye. Far from over. Naomi and Lucrezia congratulate the winning team, while the losing team blames their loss on bad teamwork under pressure. Jessie: You kept telling me to press left and we blew up! Bit: It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't pushed it about 50 times! But the challenge was over, and it was time to head back to Okayama. Tenchi: Thanks for everything, ladies! Lucrezia: Good luck, Duo! Naomi: Make sure to battle me again after you become a celebrity, Bit! Duo and Bit lead the wave of goodbyes as the group enters the portal and returns back to the mansion in Okayama. There, they will prepare for the end of their journey. End Episode Seventeen Tenchi: (VO) It's been a long journey... Chi-Chi: (praying) I hope you're watching over all of us, Goku. Tenchi: (VO) The two minute warning has come and gone... Jeri: I promise to stay strong, no matter what. Tenchi: (VO) And on the season finale of Roomies... Keitaro: I have no regrets about this. Tenchi: (VO) It will all come to a screeching halt... Mondo: It's the moment we've been waiting for. Melfina: (toasting with Duo) To us. Bit: Get the lead out! Kiyone: (with her eyes closed) I'm not afraid. Tenchi: (VO) Starting with the final challenge of the game... Instructor: You will all be doing a tandem skydive. Faye: Don't people die from doing this? Instructor: They can. Roger: What's the matter? Too scared to jump? Joey and his partner are coming down, as Joey tries to guide them to the target. Joey: Let's go! Duo: (moving his arms to his right) Right! Turn right! Jessie is thrilled as her partner unlatches them from the parachute. Jessie: For once, it was fun to blast off! Tenchi: (VO) And then, the final four vote... Joey: (CC) This is for all of the marbles. Mondo: Let's see if her plan actually works. Tenchi: (VO) There are prizes galore to give away... Roger: (CC) I can't believe what I'm seeing. Chi-Chi: The boys would really love that. Tenchi: (VO) And a grand prize that needs a home... Faye: (CC) If someone has to win, it better be you. Jessie: (CC) That twerp will get what's coming to him! Tenchi: (VO) Don't miss the double-length season finale of Roomies... Show a montage of the 12 Roomies, in alphabetical order... starting with Bit and ending with Roger. Tenchi: (VO) Tuesday, only on Fanfiction.net. Additional Author's Notes: First off, I finally made up an explanation for how the Roomies who live in other universes/times/dimensions got to Okayama. Using Washu's invention! Ingenious, no? After Colony 0197 is the correct year used, since it takes place months after the end of "Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz," which took place around Christmas, After Colony 0196. Lake Victoria was the name of the base that Lucrezia Noin did instruct for OZ recruits back in the war in the year of After Colony 195. Naomi Fluegel is a Zoids pilot, an excellent sniper, and one hot woman! Ever see the way she's dressed while in the Zoid? Leaves little to the imagination, I know. But at least she thought civilly and had the leg-long dress on today. Did I mention how good she is? Not many people can beat her unless they outnumber her, but one-on-one, only Bit himself has bested her. Thrice. If Bit didn't have the Liger Zero, she would have blown him away big time. For reference on the exercises... The first is also seen in "Gundam Wing," Episode 4. It was a training exercise that was used to teach pilots how to operate their chairs in case of an ejection in space. The second draws similarities to the "Dexter's Laboratory" episode where Dee Dee goes to space camp (and Dexter goes out to a farm). It is based off of the test where Dee Dee is in the mini-spaceship and it goes up and down and up and down fast while she screams with delight. The spinning pods in the third are the same as those used in many spaceman training facilities. The closest animation example that I can think of is the one that the "Swatkats" use in their hideout. It's probably as close to the real thing as one can get. The fourth, motion simulators, can be found at any ol' big amusement park. Such as the "Back to the Future" ride at Universal Studios, Florida. It all depends on the simulator, but people are turned hard and shook like there's no tomorrow. The fifth exercise features a mission simulator. I remember as a child going to the NASA center in Greenbelt, Maryland. I think the building we went to was actually outside the main fenced-in facility itself, but one of the things we did as a class was participate in a mission simulator. Divided into two groups, half would be in the 'bridge,' taking care of the ship. The other half would be in the 'control tower,' guiding the ship. Then halfway through the mission, the groups switch rooms. Definitely one of my most memorable childhood moments. And don't expect me to become a spaceman anytime soon. I read anything inside a moving vehicle and I immediately feel motion sickness. And the strangest thing is... I'm writing this and just thinking about the challenge makes me feel queasy. Eeewwww... To round things out, another bit of anime trivia! People tend to point out when characters share the same voice actor. So, allow me to do the same. Lucrezia Noin and Naomi Fluegel are both voiced by the same person, Saffron Henderson. I did some research to see if she had any other major anime roles, and I could find only one. She's the voice of young Gohan in the first three "Dragonball Z" movies: "Tree of Might," "Dead Zone," and "The World's Strongest." Interpret that as you want. Folks, this is it! A lot of questions will be answered (though not all, as we'll leave that to the reunion special). One that will be answered... Who is the winner of Roomies 2: Country Living? Come back on Tuesday to find out! Hope you can hold your breath that long!