DISCLAIMER: I do not own G Gundam, Need For Speed Payback, or any related characters (OC is the exception to the rule).
Prime Minister Wong Yunfat had just gotten into the main government building after a brief ride from the airport. His mood was less than pleasant as he was looking at the time lost from the past few days. He looked over the data and was unpleasantly surprised to find out that someone else has taken interest in the Dark Gundam.
WONG: Those idiots in Zurich cost me way too much time in their deliberations on what we needed to do in regard to that "accident" a few days ago. With the final battle just days away, I only have enough time for Domon Kasshu to have one more match against Schwarz Bruder of Neo Germany.
MASTER ASIA: Seems only fitting that the King of Hearts to have one final test before the final battle royal. I hope that the time in Zurich didn't make you lose sight of the big picture here Mr. Wong?
WONG: Of course, I haven't Master. Once we get the final battle royal underway, we'll unleash the Dark Gundam and ensure that Neo Hong Kong will rule all of outer space. That little "accident" may have slowed things down a bit; but we will see this through to the end.
MASTER ASIA: What shall we do about this "Collector" character and his little "House"?
WONG: Leave him to me, I'll teach him not to interfere in our operations involving the Dark Gundam.
MASTER ASIA: In that case, allow me to take my leave. There's a personal matter I need to take care of first.
Master Asia then left Prime Minister Wong to his own devices as he set off to find Domon. In the Guiana Highlands; Tyler, RJ, and Allenby were making their way down one of the many riverbends in search of Rav's "old friend". As Tyler scouted ahead to look for the possible location, Allenby got the chance to talk to RJ while they were moving.
ALLENBY: How long has it been since we've seen each other?
RJ: I count fourteen years at this point. Seems almost like an eternity, yet here we are in the middle of Venezuela finding an old gundam.
ALLENBY: So, what's up with the whole Neo Canada affiliation, I thought we were both born in Sweden?
RJ: We were, but after you were taken by the military; I ended up on a shuttle that was bound for Neo Canada. I hid away in one of the storage containers and I was pretty much there until I got to Toronto. All I had on me was just a thermal blanket and an old photo of us as kids when our parents were still alive. After the shuttle landed in Toronto, a local family found me and took me in as their own. I learned later on that my adoptive dad was in fact Max Dickenson, the coach for Team Canada's National Gundam Fight Team.
ALLENBY: Were you brought up in the gundam fight like I was?
RJ: Not really, my dad had me go through hockey camps and go through school when I was little. He wanted to teach me the importance of a good education and proper means of dealing with people and various issues before I even set foot into a gundam.
ALLENBY: So, you got to live a normal life huh?
RJ: I did, that was until I turned 15 and wanted to help out my dad with some of the gundams before the G.F. World Cup. He ended up being short one fighter and asked if I was ready for the "big time". Once I got in, everything felt natural and I quickly adapted to the way gundam fights work. I ended up scoring the winning fall on Neo England's Adam Hendry to help Canada win the world cup. After I heard what they were doing to you, I asked my dad if I could be an official fighter and citizen of Neo Canada. He didn't even hesitate to answer my request, soon after the world cup was over he came through.
Allenby stopped in her tracks and RJ followed suit as he noticed that she had her head down in both joyful bliss and envy of the fact that RJ lived a life she never got to live.
RJ: Is everything OK sis?
ALLENBY: Yeah…I'm happy that you got to live a decent life and not go through what I went through back home. Despite that, I kinda wish I got the chance to live that life. I ended up being used by the military as their human lab rat for the sole reason of being a gundam fighter. Dr. Belamy was the only one that actually cared about my well-being, despite what the rest of the science team wanted him to do. I just…I just wanted to…
Allenby was starting to break down, until RJ put his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at her little brother. Tyler came back and placed his hand on her other shoulder.
TYLER: RJ told me about you before he got into the Super X Cup finals last year in Neo Spain. Never once did he ever stop thinking about you during his time growing up. To even come up with the choice to defect from Sweden to Canada was probably the hardest decision he ever had to make in his whole life, let alone his career.
RJ: Despite me going "Benedict Arnold" on Dr. Halvorson and his merry band of stupid idiots, I always kept you in my mind with the pink bear guy key chain in my mobile suit that Tyler got for me. No matter what happens in that final battle royal, you finally got what you came for in Neo Hong Kong; and that is the chance to fight the way you wanted to fight and to find you little brother.
ALLENBY: Yeah…yeah, you're right. I did get what I asked for in this tournament after all. Winning the whole thing is now just a huge bonus.
RJ: (chuckled)I did ask my dad if there was ever the chance that if I found you, he'd gladly take you in. I guess I gotta give the old man a call after we get done with this job, right Tyler?
TYLER: Yeah, I hear you loud and clear. So far, there hasn't been a sighting from anyone from The House as of yet. We should keep going till we get to Rav's coordinates.
ALLENBY: Alright then, let's get going to where the "old friend" is hiding out in. (internally) Thank you RJ, you've given me more fire than I would have ever had since I became a gundam fighter. Mom, Dad, I hope that we made you proud of us.
As the three fighters continued down the river, Rav was watching and listening to them back at his shop in Neo Hong Kong. Rav couldn't help but simle as he heard what RJ and Tyler had to say to Allenby after the story of RJ's past was told. Dr. Belamy was overhearing the entire conversation and he couldn't even believe that he was hearing RJ's voice for the first time in fourteen years.
RAV: Max raised a good kid didn't he doctor?
DR. BELAMY: Was that…that was Richard's voice I was hearing just now?
RAV: It is, come on up and grab a seat. I'm not going to stop you.
DR. BELAMY: Th-thank you sir.
Dr. Belamy grabbed a seat next to Rav as they were both looking in on Tyler, Allenby, and RJ. Rav handed the doctor an ice-cold water for him to drink as they began discussing about RJ and how he was still around after Dr. Belamy assumed that he was dead.
DR. BELAMY: I'm more or less surprised that Richard was still alive, let alone a gundam fighter.
RAV: RJ's been going at this for two years now, and he's got more heart than any fighter I've seen. Tyler, Jess, and Mac have seen it first-hand of what this kid is capable of and he did it his way.
DR. BELAMY: I wish I could say the same things about Allenby, despite what we put her through in her youth and as a fighter.
RAV: RJ told me about you and he always knew you had a kind heart doctor. He knew that you tried everything in your power to make sure that Allenby had someone she could easily care for; but Dr. Halvorson wouldn't allow that to come to pass.
DR. BELAMY: If I could only have convinced them back then before they selected Allenby for their experiments…
RAV: Thinking about the past won't do anything for the here and now. Max always taught this to his fighters and it was this: "Don't think of what you could or should have done in the fight, focus on the then and now of the moment; and you can achieve anything you set your heart out to." Maybe perhaps it might be time for you to learn that as well.
Dr. Belamy simply nodded at Rav as he turned to look back at the monitor. Rav then took a moment to look at the map of the area that Tyler, Allenby, and RJ were in. Back in the highlands, the threesome got to a point in which they needed to cool down their thrusters and they set their gundams down. With the gundams in a cool down state, the three fighters took a moment to talk about each other.
ALLENBY: I can't complain about the view we have right now, it's so gorgeous out here in the highlands.
RJ: No kiddin' makes you appreciate the world we live in right now. Oh Tyler, do you remember that time in Montreal when we pulled that reverse screwjob off?
TYLER: That may have been one of the finest sells we ever pulled off and it's still being talked about today.
ALLENBY: I might need a little context for what you guys are talking about.
TYLER: Sorry about that Allenby, this all happened this past November at GFL's Victory Road event in Montreal. It was a trio's match with myself, Jess, and Mac on one team against "Supernova" Natalia Nova, Holtzman, and Mitko Vasilev. There was a "fix" that was in play that was going to secure their place as the heads of the 1% Club, Hazard Company, and Diamond Block. RJ got together with us just a week prior to that event and we concocted a plan to put the "fix" that was meant for us on our opponents.
RJ: The kicker was that Nova, Holtz, and Mitko could lose their positions by disqualification or a count-out loss. The match went about normally as possible, until the "fix" was about to come into play. I got word that Lina was out to try and screw over Tyler again, so I ended up coming down to ringside and we ended up going to a full-on bickering debate about various things. Holtzman got a little too "punch happy" and he socked the ref as we all stepped back and raised our hands up like we got busted by the cops.
TYLER: You should have seen the look on his face as he was trying to keep the ref from ringing the bell in disqualification. RJ gave a nice wink over to Mac and he tagged in and got a surprise roll-up pin on Holtzman and it won us the match.
ALLENBY: (laughs) That's such an amazing story right there! I really need to tell Domon and the guys that story when this is all said and done.
RJ: That might not be a bad idea, hell I'd say we get them out to the Valley for the Outlaw's Rush coming up after the tournament is all said and done.
The three fighters all had a bit of a chuckle when the sensors in RJ's gundam picked up the signal to Rav's "old friend".
RJ: Guys, I'm getting a strong reading on the "old friend" Rav mentioned.
TYLER: I'm getting it too, it's about 50 clicks from where we are now.
ALLENBY: Let's get after it then. (internally) If Domon said that this "old friend" is indeed his former gundam, then we may be in better shape for the Dark Gundam than what we first thought.
The three fighters headed off to the source of the signal without hesitation. As the fighters made their way down the river, the signal was growing ever stronger as they got closer to it. Allenby took a quick glance to her left and noticed that there was another mobile suit out there with them and knew that they had little time to go and get the "old friend".
ALLENBY: Guys, I think we may have some company with us out here.
TYLER: Not surprised that The House wanted to send out the goon squad. What's the plan RJ?
RJ: Hold your course, we're almost there.
ALLENBY: I got a visual on the source and it is what Domon thought it was.
TYLER: So, this is what Rav referred to as an "old friend" we needed to get.
RJ: Indeed it is Tyler, that would be the GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam.
The three fighters found Domon's old gundam in the same spot he left it after he took off for Neo Hong Kong. The fist from Master Gundam was still lodged in its chest after the time Domon and Master Asia fought each other as the Dark Gundam did make an appearance in the Highlands. The three fighters formed a circle around the Shining Gundam and were ready for whatever was following them.
TYLER: Get ready guys, I'm picking up multiple mobile suit readings.
ALLENBY: How are we supposed to bring Shining Gundam back to Neo Hong Kong?
RJ: Let's focus on making sure that not one of the mobile suits gets their dirty hands on this gundam first. I've got something special planned as to how we'll get it to Neo Hong Kong.
The mobile suits then leapt into the air and were ready to strike at the three fighters. Tyler landed the first blow with a burning wheel attack that knocked a set of mobile suits down to the river beneath them. Allenby used her beam ribbon to hook a few of the mobile suits together and slam them into another group of mobile suits. RJ landed some beam shots from his forearms and analyzed the data from the mobile suits for their make, model, and point of origin.
RJ: Well, I can safely say that you were right to assume that The House would be onto us Tyler.
TYLER: No kidding, there must have been a discount at the "mook-for-hire" store.
ALLENBY: Wait a…let me try something out here.
TYLER: What's your plan Allenby?
Allenby pulled out the fist from Master Gundam and used her beam ribbon to swing it around like a flail and sent it flying to another one of the mobile suits. The unit caught the hand and was about to send it back but was slow on the draw.
ALLENBY: Tyler, go for it now!
TYLER: With pleasure…MAX FLARE!
Tyler performed a roundhouse kick that sent a flaming wheel-like object at the mobile suit and it destroyed the suit on contact. RJ finished his analysis and knew that it was more than enough time to get out of the highlands.
RJ: Got everything we need, Rav can you send over the Plavsky Booster for me?
RAV: Coming right up.
TYLER: I'm guessing that might be our cue to leave?
ALLENBY: It sure looks that way, RJ do you need any extra help with this Plavsky Booster?
RJ: Yeah, once the booster arrives we'll need to attach the booster onto Shining Gundam. Tyler, get on ahead of us back to Neo Hong Kong and wait for us there.
TYLER: You got it, Rav how long can you hold the ground bridge open?
RAV: Long enough for Shining Gundam to get over to my shop. Better get a move on Tyler.
Tyler nodded as he set off for the ground bridge coordinates. The mobile suits that were in the way were run over as Tyler set his gundam to vehicle mode and drove right past the mobile suits. The ground bridge opened up and sent the Plavsky Booster over to where Allenby and RJ were. Tyler made it back to Neo Hong Kong and turned his fighter back into gundam form.
RAV: Glad to see you made it back Tyler.
TYLER: Did you make a new friend while we were away Rav?
DR. BELAMY: Tyler Morgan, this is Dr. Anton Belamy from Neo Sweden. Your friend was more than gracious to allow me to assist you on this job.
TYLER: Glad to hear that doc.
RAV: RJ, Allenby, do you have the booster attached onto Shining Gundam?
RJ and Allenby have the Shining Gundam hooked up to the Plavsky Booster and were ready to head back over the ground bridge.
RJ: That's a solid copy Rav, we're coming through now.
ALLENBY: Better make sure you shut the hole before the stink comes through.
RAV: Roger that, now get moving you two.
RJ: Plavsky Booster, FULL BURST!
The roar of the turbines for the Plavsky Booster started to lift all three gundams off of the ground and was causing the surrounding mobile suits to be pushed back from the pressure around the turbines.
ALLENBY: Time to fly through the sky and straight on home!
RJ: Just try and stop us now you pack of jerks!
The booster took off at a speed that Allenby never experienced before. They flew right past the surrounding mobile suits and the booster's defenses took care of any stragglers that were in their path. The booster made it through the ground bridge and closed in behind the mobile suits. The booster, along with Noble and Burning Strike Gundams, came back with Shining Gundam and RJ turned the booster off as soon as they landed. Both fighters were feeling winded after the rush from the use of the Plavsky Booster.
ALLENBY: You-you could have warned me about the launch RJ…that was intense.
RJ: There-there are somethings you just can't prepare for…and that was one of them.
Allenby stepped out of her mobile suit as Tyler and Rav worked to get the booster off of Shining Gundam. Dr. Belamy rushed straight over to Allenby, who was a little surprised to see him after the events of the rift opening. Before Allenby could even utter his name out, Dr. Belamy gave Allenby a big hug and it was returned with one by Allenby.
DR. BELAMY: I was so worried about you Allenby. I'm glad that you're alright after what transpired the past few days.
ALLENBY: It's OK doc, I've finally found my inner peace thanks to what happened those few days.
DR. BELAMY: I'm so glad to hear it Allenby. So, where's…
RJ: Hey doc, I heard from Tyler that you might be here.
RJ stepped out of his gundam and made his way towards Allenby and Dr. Belamy. RJ then extended his hand out to Dr. Belamy as a sign of respect and appreciation for what he did for Allenby when she was younger. Dr. Belamy was more than willing to accept the hand shake from RJ and was smiling at the kind of man that RJ became.
DR. BELAMY: It so good to see you again Rich-I mean RJ…
RJ: Don't worry about it Doc, you'll get used to it soon.
DR. HALVORSON: Allenby, there you are!
ALLENBY: Well, here comes the buzzkill…
DR. HALVORSON: Do you have any idea how much we…
Before Dr. Halvorson could finish his sentence, he saw RJ right in front of his face and he couldn't believe that he was still alive after all of this time. RJ then nodded to his sister and to Dr. Belamy and he went over to Dr. Halvorson.
DR. HALVORSON: You-you're supposed to be…
RJ: What, you actually believed that load of crap?
RJ then picked up Dr. Halvorson up onto his shoulders, stomach first, then got into a stable position. RJ then picked Dr. Halvorson off of his shoulders and made sure that his face hit his knee; and Dr. Halvorson was left on the floor of the hangar bay.
RJ: That was for making my sister a human lab rat for 14 years.
ALLENBY: Thanks brother, that was well worth it.
TYLER: Serves you right Dr. Jerkface!
DR. BELAMY: (chuckles) I've been waiting to see him get what was coming to him.
The group had a laugh as Dr. Halvorson was lying on the ground in humiliation for all the things he did to Allenby. Rav called the group in so they can get to work on fixing up the Shining Gundam.