Stalemate?

Team Twilight arrived at the selected battlefield half an hour early. Jacob was in Twilight while Sarah and Leslie were in the cargo truck that the team used to transport parts.

"So who do plan on battling," Sarah asked.

Jacob chuckled. "He's arrived on time. That's not like him at all."

"What do you mean," Leslie asked. "Nobody's here but us."

"That's what he means," Sarah said, pointing at the faint shape of a Hovercargo.

Before the Hovercargo could be clearly seen, all the comm. screens lit up. Bit Cloud's grinning face filled the screen.

"I see you decided to show," Bit said tauntingly.

"Course I did," Jacob said. "I wouldn't miss this for the world.

"You're facing Bit Cloud," Leslie gasped. "Wait, you said you were battling a friend. Bit Cloud is your friend?"

"Actually," Sarah said smiling. "He's our cousin. How's it going Bit?"

"Pretty good, Sarah," Bit said as he smiled. "It's been a while."

"Seven years," Sarah said. She turned to Jacob. "Why didn't you tell me it was Bit you were going to battle?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise," Jacob said, also smiling.

"I've convinced my team to let you and your friend watch the battle from the Hovercargo," Bit said. "That's if you want to, of course."

"We'd be glad to," Sarah said.

Sarah and Leslie were on the Hovercargo and Jacob and Bit were staring each other down from across the battlefield when the Judge capsule arrived. Twilight was its usual shining obsidian and the Liger Zero's white armor gleaming in the desert sun.

"I hope you enjoy the prize money," Bit said, ignoring the Judges speech.

"I haven't won yet," Jacob said, also ignoring the Judge.

"Yes you have," Bit said. "You were always better than me, even when we were kids. You won this battle as soon as I accepted it. Nothing's changed."

"Everything's changed," Jacob said. "You have the Liger Zero, an Ultimate X. Nobody can beat an Ultimate X in a normal Zoid without being an exemplary pilot, which I am most certainly not."

"Still underrating yourself," Bit said. "You'll never change."

"…Ready, Fight!"

The Liger Zero charged at Twilight. Bit knew the Liger didn't stand a chance if the König Wolf was able to use its main cannons. The only chance he had was if he could keep the black wolf in melee combat. The Liger excelled in that respect, whereas, the König Wolf wasn't meant for the rigors of a drawn out brawl. It had a tendency to overheat if it was pushed too far.

Jacob smiled. He knew Bit would do something like this and he was ready. He waited until the Liger was almost within striking distance before he said, "Now Twilight."

Bit gasped as Twilight disappeared. That wasn't normal for König Wolves. "What the hell"

"I outfitted Twilight with a stealth shield, along with several other stealth features," Jacob said. "He's virtually undetectable when he wants to be."

"Not fair," Bit complained.

"I say we finish this hear and now," Jacob said, ignoring Bit's complaining. "And I say we do it your way. With a little game of chicken."

Bit smiled. "Sounds good to me. But you have to…"

Before Bit could finish his sentence, Twilight appeared four hundred meters ahead of the Liger Zero. It was charging straight at the running Liger.

"Have it your way," Bit said. "STRIKE LASER CLAW!"

Jacob smiled. "Let's give him some of his own medicine Twilight. STRIKE LASER CLAW!"

The two Zoids collided in midair, trying to gain some advantage in the fight. When it ended, both Zoids had taken the same large amount of damage. Yet both Zoid remained on its feet.

"Twilight has the Strike Laser Claw," Bit gasped.

"Yeah," Jacob said. "And it took me awhile to get the specs for it and equip it to him."

Bit smiled. "Looks like you win," he said as the Liger Zero collapsed.

"Wrong," Jacob said. "It's a stalemate."

"A stalemate," Bit asked, confused.

"Yeah, a tie," Jacob said as Twilight collapsed.

"Battle Over, Battle Over," the Judge said. "The Result Is A Draw."