"Well folks, those were an exciting two brackets but now we move on to the last bracket of Round 1. This time we have Team Imperial Steam against Team Rising Risks and Team Steam Machine against Team Darkness Emperors." the announcer said.
"Hoo-wee, were goin up against Jexi? That's gonna be tough." Gemini said.
"Don't forget, because Abby isn't here, it's 3-on-2. If we can take one of them out, we can at least tie it." Sakura said.
"But that plan will go out the window if they crash out one of us." Ichiro said. "Knowing Jexi, he isn't one to turn down a fight. And Jack...well, I don't want to know what he's thinking."
"Do we really got a chance against Jexi and Jack?" Gemini asked.
"Don't doubt yourself, Gemini. You're Imperial Assault force. You can handle anything." Hope said.
"Y'say that Hope, but...this is your friend were talking here, the one that slayed gods and other powerful stuff." Gemini said.
"I know Jexi can seem like the type of guy to do the impossible, believe me, i saw that when i first met him. And from how far i've come with him till now… it's everything that i can get used too. If i can do it, you three can too." Hope said.
"Hope…" Sakura said.
"Oh, and uh… if you beat my brother in the race, make sure i can rub it in his face later. I wanna have some win against him." Hope said.
"Don't worry Hope, we won't go down without a fight. Because we of the Imperial Assault force, never give up until the end." Ichiro said.
"Thats right." Sakura said.
"Then let's get out there and do this!" Gemini said as they went to their mechs.
"Good luck, you three." Hope smiled as three lights lit up on his pendant, them colored fire orange, cherry blossom pink, and lighting white/blue.
"How cute...Hope thinks those three are gonna get the better of us." Jack said.
"Jack...don't act smug. Although...he is in for a shock." Jexi said as they both entered their mechs.
"I wonder how Jexi and Jack are going to overcome the disadvantage they have." Tapu Fini said.
"Guess we'll have to see." David said.
"You can do it master!" Zexi shouted.
The lights buzzed as two mechs exited. "And doing the survey are Jexi and Gemini." the announcer said.
"I've seen you fight, so i think i can be prepared for the next lap, Jexi. I hope you like my CUT above the sword. Get it?"
"Don't go assuming you have everything figured out." Jexi said noticing a few high rises. "Seems the track splits to a high area...perfect." he thought.
"It's almost time." Jack said. "Let's get the show started." he said as the survey lap completed and the battle lap quickly went underway.
"Jack, get ahead!" Jexi shouted as Jack rocketed ahead.
"Whoa, they're fast!" Ichiro siad.
"Well were fast too!" Sakura said.
"Wait, hold on there, partners!" Gemini said. "I spotted a few high-areas on the track. Don't you think Jexi might have something set up? He is a master strategist."
"And one of the strategies is...getting your mind off me!" Jexi said as he slugged Gemini.
"Ow!" Gemini said. "Oh wait, im in a mech. But still… you're gonna get it, Jexi!"
Gemini unsheathed her mechs customized Red Sun and landed some hits on Jexi.
"Should I do it now...no, its too soon. Just wait a little more." Jexi thought as he continued to block before he saw Jack on the opposite side. "There. We're in place now."
Jack then drew a large cannon from his mech and aimed it while flashing back to the night before.
"So Jack...I realize we've never teamed up and I don't want to work with a known thief but...how well can you fire?" Jexi asked.
"Me? As one of the Ginova Family sons, I'm well trained with a knife and gun. I can probably fire as straight as an archer." Jack said.
"In that case...I have this idea in case we get a track with high rises. I lure in the enemy and…" Jexi said as the scene returned to the present.
"I point and shoot!" Jack said firing as the shot traveled across the track and nailed Gemini's mech in both its legs as it collapsed and crashed.
"We've just started and already we've got a crash out from Gemini Sunrise!" the announcer said.
"Reload...and refire!" Jack said firing again as the next shot took out Sakura's mech.
"And following is Sakura Shinguji!" The announcer said. "The only one left is Ichiro Ogami! Will he fall for the same trap as his teammates?! Wait! What is this! He's accelerating to the high rise!?"
"Commander Ogami!" Erica said.
"Is he crazy?! He'll get shot!" Starlight said.
"Don't worry!" Sakura said on the communicator. "Commander Ogami has this, i trust him."
"Sorry...but that won't work." Jack said firing again.
"Now I'll deflect the shot and…" Ichiro said seeing it was getting larger. "Huh? What? He didn't fire a laser shot? No way." he said seeing it was a small blade. "He fired...his mech's knife?"
"This is unbelievable, folks! If Ogami doesn't do something, team Rising Risks will have a clean sweep in a 2 on 3 handicap!" the announcer said before Ogami accelerated to the high rise and blasted straight into the air, the blade missing. "No way! Thats impossible!"
"What the….he jumped?!" Jack said. "Well...doesn't matter anyway. Jexi...my job's done! It's your turn!"
"What?" Ichiro said before he saw Jexi rocketing up the high rise and taking to the air as his mech grabbed Ichiro's.
"Sorry Ichiro...but did you honestly expect it to go that easy?" Jexi asked as his mech grabbed Ichiro's mechs arms and tore them off.
"Damn it….he had this all planned from the start." Ichiro thought. "Though...I'm not surprised. I've seen him fight several times and everything about his moves are...incredible."
"And Ichiro Ogami falls!" the announcer said. "Winning 3 to zip...is Team Rising Risks! And with only two members."
"He...he did it. He actually did it." Hope said. "Everytime I think someone has a chance at him...he pulls out a surprise."
"Jexi's prowess with teamwork is incredible. And the teammate is a thief." Ty said.
"Maybe that's what i need to work on, at least one of many, i guess. I need to work with my friends, as a team more often." Hope said.
"I think you NEED to work on that, big bro. In fact, make it priority number one." Christy said.
"Or maybe you're making too big a deal out of this." Leanne said.
"You make these wide strides a lot and….Oh my…." Connor said before looking at the screen.
"What?" Hope asked before looking as he looked in shock as lying in ruins on the track was Team Steam Machine as Team Darkness Emperors stood triumphant with a mysterious figure in black leading them.
"How deplorable! Team Darkness Emperor's have completely destroyed Team Steam Machine. Both mechs and racers are in critical condition." the announcer said. "And all of it done by the Forward known only as Miasma."
"All of it...by just a single racer? I don't get it. Weren't they on the same side?" Ty said in shock.
"Seems like it doesn't matter all that much to them." Ross said.
"Can someone please tell me what he did?" Hope asked.
"They can't. The footage cut out just as the battle leg began." Daisy said.
"We should be thankful he didn't kill those three. Though I take it he wouldn't have had a problem doing so." Teba said.
"And they're in critical condition, too… If you wish, I shall heal them." Kirumi said.
"See to it." David said. "Geez… Bones, Demon's Blight, and now this Miasma guy. What the heck is going on here?"
"Not sure. But it seems this isn't just a racing competition anymore." Mayumi said.
"More like a violent cage match." Jexi said returning.
"I have no idea where Diablo found those guys, but they are squandering everything this competition is supposed to stand for." Driver said.
"Agreed. Maybe with luck, we can get things back on track." Leonora said. "Make it as fun as it was supposed to be."
"Not sure how we can manage that with those guys, but…" David said.
"David...I think you would have learned by now...nothing is impossible." Jexi said. "After all, next race someone new is joining in."
"Someone new? So, Abby's new body is ready?" David asked.
"She's just finished her recovery period and has been cleared to race." Jexi said. "She'll be joining next round."
"Alrighty. Let's see what she can add to the table." David said.
"Trust me...she's more than ready." Zexi said as elsewhere in a clear grassy field stood a girl in a school uniform with long seafoam green hair.
"Okay...the time has come. Rising Risks has just gained a new ally." she said with Abby's voice.