Chapter 9 – Bare Bone Brigade

POV: Sarah

Time: 10:30

Location: Cranial City

"*Yawn! *" I'm still half asleep, aren't I? Why did I find so many fossils…? I only added one Vivosaur to my team. Machia, I think it's called. But, for once I'm less tired than Rex. Apparently, he spent the whole night trying to help fix the Robot. Don't think I'll be seeing him today.

As I walk to meet up with Todd, I hear certain things being talked about. "Hey, did you hear? Someone just stole the Mammoth Vision video screen! I guess they have a backup unit, but still! Why would anyone want to steal something so big?"

"Hey, here comes the Mammoth Vision now!" someone else shouted. And they were right the giant Television screen that was shown on the first day of competition came flying over.

"Fools! Bow before Don Boneyard!" A person… no a Skeleton?! What the heck? Appeared on the screen! "The one true leader of… The Bare Bones Brigade! Bwa ha! This park shall be mine! And forget digging at the volcano… For I have blocked the path! Your Cup will soon be no more! Bwa ha! Bwaaaaa ha ha ha ha ha!"

With that short message it sent the Fighters nearby worrying. Todd also came running over to me. "Did you see that, Sarah?! It was Don Boneyard, the leader of the Bare Bones Brigade! Those guys are the biggest, baddest crime syndicate around! What the heck is going on here?"

"Todd! I'm still half asleep! I'm still processing if that guy was a skeleton or not!" I yell at Todd. What the heck is going on!

"Vee have… trouble, yes?" I heard another guy start talking… I think I've talked to him before… name is Vlad? But as he called out, a bunch of other fighters started to gather around him. "Mt. Krakanak, it is no good. A large rock has… blocked it. I must get to dig site, but cannot. This rock, it is too large. You are Fighter, yes? You have… how you say? Ax pick? Maybe you can break rock. Vlad Tried to break, but… no good. Your villa be doing this thing, yes? I villa tell Terry."

After the fighters leave. I finally realize what's going on. They're trying to stop the Cup! I start growling. "Damn those BB bastards! The blocked the Road! I'll never forgive them!"

"Wait, Sarah! You think you can break the Rock?" Todd asks me.

"If they think that will stop me for my revenge. Then yes! I have a perfect score in PE! Who the hell do you think I am?!" I yell.

"But what if the Bare Bones Brigade…?" Before Todd can trail off.

"Don't tell me your scared! These guys are just a pointless knock off of the BB bandits. That same group was single handedly taken out by Hunter! And at that time, he was the same age as us! I doubt that these guys are that much of a threat!" I yell out.

"Ooooooh! My stomach! It hurts again!" Todd grabs his stomach like usual when frightened. "… I shouldn't have eaten that sushi from the discount cart."

I do not feel like dealing with this. "Then you'll be fine here. Come catch up when you feel better, OK?"

"…" I could see Todd stupefied, before I start my trek to Mount Krakanak.

Once I get to the entrance, I find the giant bolder that is blocking the path. "How wonderful, it's your luck day rock. I get to vent all of my anger and frustration on to you!"

"Damn *huff huff* You sure… can take a hit." About half an hour passes, and I'm barely able to make a dent in the fricking rock. The damn thing seems unbreakable…

"Hey, Sarah!" I hear a familiar voice call out, Todd. He comes running over, guess he's over his freight… but I was pretty rude to him…

"Hey, sorry Todd." I quickly apologize, I realize my mistakes time to time.

"Oh, your calm now." Todd looked at me with a smile.

"Yeah, hitting a rock when your angry helps a lot." I point at the huge bolder. "but it looks like I couldn't even make a dent."

Todd stares deeply at the rock. "… Yeah, that's a big rock all right. I don't think we can do anything about this."

"We can't give up." I take my pick-axe and swing it right on to the same spots that I kept hitting.

"Sarah, I mean, you're good and all, but this thing's on a whole different level." Todd tries to stop me. "I mean losing a dig site is bad. But it's nothing to cancel the Competition.

I turn to him and say. "No, this isn't about the competition right now. This is about what is right and wrong. If Hunter were here, he wouldn't have stood back and let these idiots do what they want. Hunter would be doing the same thing as me. You look up to Hunter too, don't you?"

"…" As Todd thinks I turn to the rock and continue to Hit it with my Pick. Todd decides to help out, and starts swinging his pick at the rock as well.

"… At this rate, we'll be old and wrinkled before the boulder is gone." We hear someone walk up from behind us.

"Rupert!" We both shout as we see him with the robot from yesterday.

"told you they'd be here." I then notice that Rex is carrying a toolbox behind Rupert. "Sarah, Todd, please move aside."

As Rex asks us politely, we step away from the boulder. Then Rupert commands something from the robot. "Di66-R, please remove this boulder."

In response the Robot span and moved towards the boulder. "Of course, sir or madam. It would be my pleasure to assist you. Digging program initiated."

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The robot starts pounding into the rock, Where I can see that it's doing better than me. I can see that the rock is starting to crack. But as it goes on… "Rex, is this really safe? I mean it broke down last time."

"It'll be fine, I made sure to calibrate it so that it won't over heat." Rex says smiling. "Although there is one problem…"

"Right… let's hope it has enough to break the rock." Rupert also says.

"Holy smokes! Look at that thing go!" Todd shouts as at least half of the boulder had been broken.

"Digging… Digging… Digging…" The robot repeats continuously. "Digging… Diiiigging… Diiiiiiiiiigging… Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiggiiiiiiiiiiiing… ERROR, FILE NOT FOUND."
"What?" As the robot exclaimed that, it's hits lost power and moved a lot slower.

"Sweet caviar!" Rupert shouts. "It's running out of power! And we're so close to completion too…"

"Damn, Like I thought…. Calibrating to this heat, means that the cooling system would use too much power…" Rex Groaned.

So, it's just low on power. Is it? I walk over to its side and start hitting the Boulder with my pickaxe again. "Hayat!"

"Woah! Sarah, be careful!" I hear Rex call to me.

"…Does sir or madam wish to assist Di66-R?" I hear a question from the robot.

"Yeah, I mean, I'd lose energy too if I was the only one breaking this rock." I smile, kindness should go a long way.

"No one has ever assisted Di66-R with digging before. Now I know why it is that you humans smile." Aw… now I feel bad for the robot. The robot then did a spin again. "Energy fully restored! Digging program Initiated! Digging… Digging… Digging… Digging… Digging… Digging… Digging…"

Within a few more hits me and the robot successfully have destroyed the Boulder.

"You did its Sarah!" Todd exclaims.

"Nice going, sis." Rex smiles, "And nice going as well, Di66-R."

"Excellent job, Di66-R." Rupert places his hand on the robot. "You have made me very proud."

"Knows not the time for congratulating each other." I say, "Whoever put the boulder here must still be in the area."

"She's right." Rupert surprisingly agrees with me. "I'm going to look for them. Let's go, Di66-R."

"I will obey. Sir or madam." The robot chases after Rupert.

I look over to Rex and Todd. "Come on! We got butt to kick!"

"Well…" Todd doesn't look like he wants to come.

"*Sigh* Me and Todd will go explain the situation to Terry what's happening." Rex sighs. "We'll come back. Besides, I'm a hero for back at Jungle labyrinth. So, why don't you be the hero to day?"

"Fine!" I shout. Bit annoyed that Rex noticed my jealousy of that even but I still go running after Rupert. "Be quick or you're not getting anything!"

I leave Todd and Rex behind following after Rupert. Man, he can move fast… faster than me. I continue up the mountain passing the Robot. Apparently, Rupert left it in surveillance mode.

As I continue my way up the mountain. I spot Rupert crouched behind a rock with some weird people dressed in black up a head. "Rupert."

"!" I guess he wasn't expecting me. He turned surprised to see me. "…Oh. It's Sarah. Be still my heart."

"Awe, does seeing me make your heart beat fast?" I ask with a sly smile.

"…" Rupert rolled his eyes at me. can't he take a joke… I am a sweet girl… most of the time. Now changing subjects, Rupert points to the people in black "Well, from the looks of things, our hooligan friends rolled the boulder down from up there. I've spotted a few unpleasant types skulking about, and I've little doubt they're with the Barebones Brigade."

"Ah, so they're the one who started trouble." I smile, and ready Aeros, Raja, and my new one Machai. "Let's go say hi."

"Right. Let's go, then." Rupert says in response. With some medals also in hand.

As we walk closer, I see that the two are starting a conversation of sorts. "We're gonna show those Fighters what the Barebones Brigade is all about!"

"Haw, haw!" what the hell is with that evil laugh? "Yeah! There's no way they're getting past our awesome boulder!"

"Oh, really? Then how are we here right now?" I say with a smile.

"We've reduced their little boulder to pebbles. You helped." Rupert answers…

"That wasn't supposed to be answered. Or whatever that r-word is!" I shout, does he not get sarcasm?

"Wh-what?! No way! How'd you break our beautiful boulder?!" the one on the left shouts.

"It doesn't matter!" The one on the right responds. "Our Boneysaurs are gonna make you two pay!"

"Boneysaurs?" I heard them correctly, didn't I? I look to Rupert the only one who I think would understand.

But Rupert looks just as confused as me. "…Boneysaurs? Oh, come now, that's just absurd."

"So… their fake." I guess.

"Shut up! They are not!" The one on the right shouts. "Barebones Brigade members get special skeletal Vivosaurs called Boneysaurs! They're horrifying nightmares straight from out boss, Don Boneyard!"

"And now we're gonna grind your bones to make our bread! Haw! Haw! Haw!" The one on the left laughs.

"What? Are you Vikings or something?" I ask. I reach for my medals. "Rupert, go ahead and take on the one on the right. I'll show this guy, something to truly fear."

"Alright!" Rupert responds and all four of us toss out our medals!

I look over at my opponents' side, he threw out three air types… what the? B-Lambeo… and they aren't kidding it looks like a Dinosaur skeleton from a museum or something, but it's actually moving around… ugh… that's actually unsettling.

"Ha! I get first move!" The Brigade goon laughs as his counter goes up to eighty… wow, he's low level. This shouldn't be too bad then. "Boney Chomp! On Raja!"

I hear the sound of a critical and Raja took a great deal of damage! Although it was only around a quarter of health… that was a brutal attack. The Goons turn ends switching over to me, my FP charges up to ninety as per usual… "What the heck! Okay Raja! Attack back with Raja Fang! The one in front!"

A critical as well. I smile as I see that Skeleton fall back into a medal. The goon shouts in confusion at how fast one of his creatures fell. "What?!"

"Guess a skeleton isn't as strong as flesh and bone." I give a confident smile as I flick my ponytail back.

"GR!" The Goon growls, as his counter goes up to max points. He has two Vivosaurs left. "B-Lambeo, Boney chomp again. Then order change, and second B-Lambeo boney chomp as well!"

As his orders go through, Raja takes a massive amount of damage… doesn't seem like he'll last the next round… but like I'll give up now! As the turn comes back to me my counter goes up to one-ten. "Raja, Fang attack again!"

With one hit the Skeleton nearly falls, left with some health. But that when Machai's ability activates free of points I get a free hit in! "What without any use or order! That's cheating!"

"Like hell it is, now why don't you give up? I'd feel bad if I had to humiliate you too much." I say as I end my turn.

The Goon's FP hit's max once again, but he's down to one of his skeleton monsters. "I'll never surrender! For Don Boneyard! B-Lambeo Boney Chomp!"

As He commands that, raja falls to the attack. As the goon ends his turn my FP reaches max… "Now, why did you have to do that?"

"What?" The goon doesn't understand what he's brought on himself.

"if you didn't knock out Raja, then this could have been so much easier for you…" I say with anger in my voice. "Aeros Alert! Machai Rend this Skeleton to bones."

With those two attacking that skeleton is back down into the earth. The goon cries in surprise of his loss. "Noooo!"

"Nooo! We lost!" I see that Rupert beat his side as well.

"They're completely unfazed by the horror of our Boneysaurs!" The one on the left shouts.

"I've seen scarier things then those piles of bones." I scoff at them, because I really have.

"Don't think your hot stuff for beating up on a couple of lackies." The Goon that Rupert beat, admits that their goons. "Our boss, Don Boneyard, is the meanest dud around. He'll turn your bone to jelly!"

"Yeah, and Done Boneyard has three commanders that are almost as strong as he is!" The goon that I beat yells.

"So, if we can beat one of them. Then your boss has like no chance against us." I say smiling. Thanks for that information.

"They'll beat you so bad, your own mom won't recognize you! Haw, haw, haw!" The one I beat laughs at my idea.

"You're crusin' for a brusin' now, chumps. Just remember that you asked for it!" The one on the right takes something out of his pocket and throws it on to the floor

Bom.

A cloud of smoke come up, making me and Rupert have cough. Meanwhile the two goons managed to escape "*Cough, cough* Damn they got away!"

"Those two are full of tough talk." Rupert says, he looks angry. "Considering that we just pummeled them into submission."

"Yeah, I'll never lose to such a punk like those." I exclaim, running away after losing. I mean come on, how lame is that?

"But I must admit, the Barebones Brigade does manage to inspire a certain kind of awe." Rupert says…

"What does that mean?" I don't understand.

"Heeeey!" We hear someone calling over to us. I see that it's Rex and Todd.

"Are you guys OK?" Rex asks looking for injuries on me. I swear when either of us is in trouble we get supper over protective.

"Did the Barebones Brigade show up?" Todd then asks as well

"We're fine. Stop being a worry wart." I tell my brother

"What? You can worry about me, but I can't worry about you?" Rex asks me.

"We did encounter two goons, but it was nothing we weren't able to handle. They've run home to mummy now." Rupert says with confidence. Ahh, it feels nice to get recognition.

"…" I feel like I'm blushing…

"*Tomato*" I hear Rex whisper into my ear before I elbow him. He slightly groans at getting hit but still smiles.

"Man, we missed all the fun stuff!" Todd shouted disappointed.

"Err, Sarah?" I hear Rupert talk to me.

"Y-yes!" Omg, why did I stutter? I'm not Rex!

"Though this pains me some to admit, that fight was not altogether easy." Rupert sighs, looking disappointed with himself.

"I understand that, those things could surprisingly take a hit." That was a pretty difficult fight, but we still won.

Rupert places his hand on my shoulder. So close… "I'm not sure I could have handled them without your assistance. I owe you my thanks yet again… so, then thank you."

"N-no! thank you!" I shout out. "it was good to fight alongside you!"

"*Tomato*" Rex whispers again, and another elbow for him.

"Rupert! You just acted humble!" Todd exclaims breaking this moment… "… Are you feeling alright?"

"And why would you find it amusing that I offer thanks for a job well done?!" Rupert starts to shout at Todd.

"Ha, ha, ha! It's just a joke, Rupert!" Todd laughs.

"Hmm…" Rex has an interesting look on his face.

RING! RING! RING!

"Oh, it's mine." Rupert takes a cellphone from his pocket. "Hello, Father. What do you need?"

"Oh, wow!" Todd starts talking to me in a hushed voice. "Rupert's dad is the CEO of Fossil Dig, Inc.! They don't come much bigger than that!"

"Yeah, their only competitor is the Richmond foundation." Rex hushed talks back to Todd. "I wouldn't mind getting an engineering job in either place.."

"…Di66-R's field-test results?" I hear Rupert ask. "… I'm sorry to say that it suffers some Fundamental design flaws from a consumer standpoint. Some problems could be overcome with extensive redesigns, but I fear most fighters will still have little interest. However, I believe it shows great promise as an emergency-assistance robot…. Yes, Father…. I understand, Father…. Yes, of course I will win the Cup. Good-bye, Father."

"Hold on, Rupert! You just said you could launch the robot so long as you made a redesign. Was that a lie?" Todd asks

"I never lie. I do believe that Di660R's technical Problems can be overcome given enough time." Rupert calmly states. "However, there is a larger issue at play, which is that I do not think anyone will purchase the device."

"Why's that?" I unconsciously ask him.

"You have shown me that Fighters like to dig as much as battle. They seem to find it…" Rupert seemed to struggle with the word. "fun."

I feel a smile come on to my face as Rupert says those words. "…"

"That's right! You get it now!" Todd exclaims.

"So, my Idea for it to become for emergency use was worth mentioning?" Rex then asked Rupert.

"*Sigh*, yes your idea to have Di66-R try to destroy the boulder was proof of your idea." Rupert said. "Your genus is really unbound."

"It's nothing." Rex smiles, ugh so it was his idea…

"Well…" Todd looks down at his watch. "Come on, let's get back to Cranial City. It won't be long until they announce your next opponents. We gotta make sure of any last-minute preparations!"

We all then started our way the mountain. Rupert included in the mix. As we make our way, I hear Rupert mumble something. "… those three are quite the amusing trio."

I almost gasped, as I thought I saw a smile on his face.

I would normally jump on something like this… but I don't feel like it. So, we continue our way back to town with a happy silence. Once back in town, Todd starts to shout. "Hey, Look! The Mammoth Vision is coming around again! Man, I hope it's not Don Boneyard yelling at everyone again."

True too Todd's words are was flying back up, but instead of Don Boneyard appearing it was Joe Wildwest! "Howdy, fellow Caliosteo Cup Fighters. Now, y'all may already know this, but… It seems we're being hassled by a band'a thieves called the Barebones Brigade. They're tellin' us we gotta cancel the Caliosteo Cup and Vamoose Outta this park once and for all. Well, Horse feathers to that! This here Cup is my dream, and I know it's shared by y'all. So, if they want me to cancel it, they're just gonna have to saddle up and make me! The Caliosteo Cup will never Surrender!"

As that was exclaimed a bunch of cheering came from the crowd around us.

"We'll beat them varmints, or my name ain't Joe Wildwest!" Joe ends his message causing many others to get excited. It ended with every one cheering and calling out the Barebones, saying it was a huge mistake for this to happen.

Time: 20:00

Location: Cranial City

A few hours have passed since earlier today's incidents with the Barebone Brigade. Me and Rex both had our Cup matches to go through. We both won of course. I mean, why wouldn't we. Rex is a hero for destroy the monster, while I'm part hero for challenging the Barebones Brigade. The only thing strange about my opponent is that she had an evil laugh… that kind of unsettled me. but I still beat her, she wasn't that strong especially since it was all fire types. As gifts for passing this round all the fighters were given Giant fossil rocks, apparently these rocks are to be cleaned with friends. Ooh! Also, we leveled up to level four, Our FP Recharge is now one hundred per turn! Amazing right!

After that, me and Rex had to call mom. Of course, she'd get worried for us. We did kind of fight an evil organization, although I was the only one to do so… "Alright, Good night honies!"

"By mom!" Both me and Rex wave into his computer. After we finish our conversation.

After she hangs up, I give my brother a hug. "Good night Rex!"

"Night Sarah." He responds back.

"Hey… is your hair dye running away." I look closely at my brother's head. "I see spots of yellow poking through."

"Yeah, it is… I bought some more hair dye yesterday. I'm planning on dyeing it later." Rex shrugs.

"Okay then. Good night." I say my final good bye for the evening. Though the events for tomorrow were gratefully funny.