A/N: No, I'm not dead, which could be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.I've been out of the writing loop for a while, what with last quarter schoolwork and such, as well as a plague of writer's block. But finally, here's the next chapter in Dark Tournament. Took me long enough. Also, there'll be a new Gundam in this chapter, and I want to give credit to MAHQ and whoever actually came up with this design before I use it. It's not mine, but you can see it here.

Reine Spades: Glad someone like Rika- she'll become more mysterious in the next few chapters, so stay tuned.

Saffron: **grins sheepishly** Yeah, took me long enough to get the two of them moving. And eventually you'll get to like Rika- at least, I hope. If not, then eh.

Redlion: Thanks for pointing out that typo. They're easy to look over.

Memalificent: Well, that certainly states what you think about this fic. Thank you.

            Alex eased the transport over a landing pad inside Denmark's capitol, Copenhagen, and touched down. The fight with Rika Solider earlier had drained him, and he needed to find a good resting place for him and Allenby to stay for the next few days. Sighing, he got up, stretched, and walked down the corridor to the ramp. He walked out, and was surprised to find that is was pleasantly warm, a far cry from the cold weather he had previously experienced. He looked up, and noticed that a dome had surrounded the landing area, sealing it and protecting the ship from the biting winds. Stretching again, he looked around for Allenby, to find her waiting for him at the hanger exit.

            "Alex, c'mon! There's two people here I'd like you to meet!"

            Alex walked towards the door, and noticed a short, young man standing with a young woman that had sea-green hair. The man Alex recognized from the fighter profiles, and he grinned.

            The fighter walked over to Allenby and said, "Hey, sis. How you been?" Now Alex was sure of it. The kid was Neo China's Sai Sici.

            Alex walked over, his hands in his pockets. "Hey there, you must be Alex, the guy we heard about. How you doing? I'm Sai Sici, and this is my girlfriend, Cecil." Cecil nodded her head politely, and smiled. Alex grinned back.

            Sai came over and shook his hand. Alex was surprised at how strong the guy was, for being so small.  Grinning widely, he walked back over to Cecil. "We've been together for over four years. Although, there was one fiasco with a waitress in a restaurant once…"

            Cecil blushed and smacked Sai across the back of his head.  "I thought I told you not to mention that to anyone! I was ready to kill you, if I didn't love you." She glared at him. "Matter of fact, I'm still tempted."

            Sai backed away, holding his hands up on defeat. "Ok, ok! I won't mention it again." Cecil nodded. Alex grinned. It was obvious that these two really had been together a while.

            Alex walked over to Sai and put his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Maybe you can tell me that whole waitress story later, okay?" Cecil glared at Sai, and made a curt gesture with her hand. Sai grinned nervously. Turning back to Alex, his face went a little more serious. "How'd you get that scar, Bro?"

            Alex touched his cheek, right under his eye. Three long gashes stood out against his skin. Allenby glanced at him. Nobody else had ever asked him that- they didn't know what he would say, or how he would take the question. "This is how I got my dream of being a Gundam Fighter, kid. One day, outside Quebec City, I was going around with…" Alex got a pained expression on his face, and Allenby knew who it was he'd been with. "With a friend, and somehow, we got in the middle of a gang war. One guy came up to me as I was trying to hold my own and gave me these with a pocketknife. I got knocked to the ground pretty hard, and didn't think I would make it out. My friend protected me, though. Nearly killed himself trying to save me. Got shot twice, but still kept going. Almost got all of the gang members down with his bare hands. The rest fled. He carried me to a hospital, and postponed treatment until I was alright. I vowed to myself that I would become as strong as him…. And as willing." Allenby looked at him in surprise. She hadn't heard this at all.

            Suddenly, an explosion rocked the place. Allenby and Cecil fell to the ground, as Sai tired in vain to keep his balance by flailing his arms around like a bird. Alex stumbled, then looked up. In the air, he noticed two Gundams- The spirit Gundam, and one that he hadn't seen before. The Spirit Gundam then suddenly shot towards the ground- directly at them.

            "WAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

            Sai grabbed Cecil and started franticly running towards the door. "Runrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrunrun!"

            Alex made a leap for the transport. If the dome didn't stop it, then he'd have to get to someplace safe…. "Alleenby! C'mon! Into the transport!"

            Just then, the Spirit Gundam shot back up, smashing into the other Gundam with devastating force. Both Gundams crashed to the ground with devastating force. Allenby, Alex, Sai, and Cecil gathered around a large window to watch. The new Gundam was a fierce red, with tan arms and legs. It had special coverings over its arms, giving it the look of a taped up boxer.  Alex tried to remember the name, but all he could recall about it was that it was from Neo Thailand.

            Jumping up, the Thailand Gundam launched a volley of punches at the Spirit Gundam. Dodging them all, the snow-white Gundam flashed out its sword. As it did, Alex saw where it came from- the sheath was made of a special metal that made it almost transparent, and was slung across the back. The other Gundam threw its fist out again, but the sword cleaved through it as cleanly as if through butter. The dislocated limb fell to the ground, and the Gundam collapsed, grasping the stump of its arm.

            Alex walked away. Rika was very different- her techniques were amazing. But he had other things to think about. Like where to find the Mermaid Gundam, for one thing.

            Turning around, he saw everyone following him and chatting. Smiling, he walked towards the door, feeling, for the first time since he really saw the Satan Gundam, secure.