Bakugan: Precious Memories

Chapter 8: Jamie

It had been about a week since the date. Aubrey, while still sad about the loss of Monarus, still looked forward. Aya felt a little guilty for not being able to prevent a bakugan from being sent to the doom dimension. Especially such an important bakugan. However, he knew now wasn't the time for these feelings. Him and Aubrey needed a plan. If the masked man was getting henchman, the chances of them running into more could be higher than they thought. Aya would visit Aubrey a lot more. To be with his girlfriend of course, but to also discuss possible strategies and deck ideas for each other so they can be more prepared for the next brawl involving a doom card. Although, this time, for some reason, Aya was distracted.
"Oi. Aya." Aubrey said, snapping fingers. "Ah! Sorry, Aubrey. What were you saying?" Aya apologized. Aubrey looked at him. She always seemed to have a sixth sense to when something was bothering him. "What's wrong?" She asks. Aya paused for a moment. "We're coming up with pretty good strategies...but I was thinking. Can we really do this? Just the two of us?" Aya said with concern. "What are you saying?" Aubrey questioned. "I'm saying maybe we should get more people. The more people, the more attributes, the more strategies, the better.  Personally, I say we at least find a subterra brawler to help us." Aya suggested. Aubrey thought for a moment, wondering why Aya mentioned a subterra brawler. Then it clicked. "The triangle of power!" She said. "Right. Pyrus, Aquos, and Haos make one triple node, increasing their power by a significant amount. The same can be done with Darkus, Ventus, and Subterra. I have Darkus, you have Ventus. If we can get a Subterra brawler on our side, we can have a triple node to help increase our own power." Aya explained. "Good thinking, child." Cendrillion piped up. "Well that's a good plan, but the problem is executing it. We'd have to find a Subterra brawler that one, is actually a good player, and two, willing to join." Dragonoid said. "Damnit. He's got a point." Aubrey groaned. They sat in thought for a moment. "Wait, I may have an idea!" Aubrey exclaimed. Aya, Cendrillion, and Dragonoid listened. "I have a friend I used to go to school with. Her name's Monique." Aubrey said. "Is she a Subterra brawler?" Aya asked. "No. Aquos. But her brother, who may I add is a fucking genius, is. Maybe he'd be willing to help us!" Aubrey said with excitement. Aya nodded. Aubrey grabbed her cell phone, and called up Monique. "Hello?" A voice picked up on the other line. "Hey, Monique! It's Aubrey!" Aubrey piped. "Oh hey girl! Howsit going?" Monique exclaimed. "It's going aight. Listen I need a favor." Aubrey said. "Sure thing! What's up?" Monique asked. "Can I talk to your brother, Jamie?" Aubrey requested. There's a pause. "Aubrey, can you come over?" Monique asked with a less upbeat tone. "Huh? I mean, sure." Aubrey replied. "Ok. See you soon." Monique said. The line went dead. "That's concerning." Aubrey said, worried. "She asked me over. Mind coming with?" Aubrey asked, looking at Aya. He nodded in response as they grabbed their stuff, put on their shoes, and headed down stairs. "Going to see Monique!" Aubrey said, passing her Dad. "Ok! Be safe you two!" Henry called after. The two headed out the front door. "Hey, where is her house exactly?" Aya asked. "Not too far from here. Couple blocks down." Aubrey replied. Aya nodded as he followed her. As they walked, Aubrey grew more and more worried. Why did Monique ask her over when she asked about Jamie? As they approached, Aya looked in awe. The house was huge. Not mansion huge, but still really big. "It's huge!" Aya exclaimed. Aubrey went up and ringed the buzzer. "Come in!" Monique said on the other end as the gates opened. They went through the path and up to the front door. It opened. There stood a girl, about average height. She had brown hair, green eyes, and a little bow tie. "Heya Aubrey! Who's this?" She asked looking at Aya. "This is Aya. He's my boyfriend." Aya waved with a small "hey." Monique gasped. "Why didn't you tell me you had a boyfriend!?" Monique exclaimed. Aubrey simply laughed. She led Aya and Aubrey to the table in the kitchen. "So why did you need to talk to my bro?" Monique asked. Aubrey explained everything, leaving out certain personal details but keeping the main important things in it. Monique nodded. "Well I'm sure he'd love to help...if you asked a couple of months ago." Monique said. "What?" Aya asked. "Well...Jamie used to love bakugan. He'd play almost every chance he could. He was a really good brawler too." She explained. "I know. Dude whooped my ass." Aubrey said. "So why'd he quit?" Aya asked. "Well...I'm not exactly sure. He says that he's outgrown it. He's an adult now and says he has better things to do." Aubrey and Aya looked at each other. "But if you ask me...I think it's something else. I don't know what, but I think there's another reason." Monique piped up. Aya and Aubrey looked at her. Monique had a worried expression on her face. Almost tearing up. "Can we talk to him?" Aubrey asked. Monique looked up. "I mean sure but don't expect much." She replied. Monique led them upstairs to a room. It was big, almost a control room with computers. In the center, there was a person. He has Grey hair and wore a blue sweater. He also had a brown scarf. "Big bro?" Monique said, nervously. The man turned around in his swivel chair. He had green eyes and wore glasses. "Yes, Monique? What is it- oh. Hello Aubrey. Long time no see. And who's this?" He said. His voice was smooth and deep. "This is Aya. He's Aubrey's boyfriend." Monique responded. "Well, good for you, Aubrey." He said. "Now what do you need?" Jamie asked. "Jamie. You're a Subterra brawler right?" Aya asked. "Was. But yes." Jamie replied, typing on the computer in front of him. "...me and Aubrey need your help. We're making a team of brawlers and we need a good Subterra brawler to complete the triple node since she uses Ventus and I use Darkus." Aya explained. "Well. Had you been a bit earlier, I may have helped. But I'm not interested in tournaments or battles anymore." Jamie said. "We're not trying to compete in tournaments. We don't care about rankings. All we care about is taking out the masked man." Aya said, his tone becoming more serious. Jamie turned his head, seemingly somewhat interested. "The masked man? Who might you be talking about?" Jamie inquired. "He's a brawler who challenges others to a game of bakugan. However, he has a strange card. It's called the doom card. Any bakugan he defeats gets sent to a place called the "Doom Dimension". There, the bakugan die and never come back." Aya said. Jamie jolted at this. "My sister was one of his victims. She lost all her bakugan and well...to put it lightly, she left this world on her own accord." Aya said, looking down remembering what happened. Monique covered her mouth in shock. "...I'm very sorry to hear that, Aya." Jamie said, feeling sympathetic. "But I'm afraid I can't help you. I'm an adult now. I have better things to do." Jamie said, typing. "Jamie! Why-" Monique piped up before Aya cut her off, smirking. "Nah. Don't worry about it. You heard the man. He has better things to do." Aya said, in a mocking tone. Jamie grunted a bit, not appreciating Aya's mocking. "After all, whatever he's doing must be sooo important if he's not willing to help stop a criminal who's basically killing other people's bakugan. Like, typing on that computer. Completely understandable!" Aya said, smirking wider. He could see Jamie was getting more irritated at his talk. His plan was working. "I ask that you stop this mocking at once please." Jamie said, trying to hide his clear frustration and failing miserably. "Right right. I'll leave you to keep tippy tapping on that keyboard. But know this, Jamie. The more time you don't act, the more this is gonna keep happening. More bakugan die. More people suffer. More times the masked man gets away with this. But I forgot, you're an adult. You have better things to do than help others so they don't lose their bakugan. I'll leave ya to it." Aya said starting to walk away. Aubrey and Monique looked at Aya. Suddenly, Jamie stood up, knocking his chair over. "B-Bro!?" Monique turned, looking over at Jamie with a twinge of fear. Jamie pauses for a sec. He reaches into his drawer, pulling out his clip of bakugan and cards. He whipped out a field card, turning to Aya. "Theeere we go." Aya said looking at Jamie, pulling out his own field card. "Alright then Aya. Tell you what, if you can beat me, I'll join your team and help you defeat this masked man. If I win, you must never step foot on this property again. Otherwise, I'll have you arrested for trespassing. Do we have a deal?" Jamie asked with a stern face. "You got it!" Aya said. Aubrey pulled out her own field card. "Don't worry, I won't butt in, I just wanna watch Aya wipe the floor with you, Jamie!" Aubrey exclaimed with a wicked grin. Monique remained silent. The field cards turned reveling the symbols on them.
"FIELD OPEN!" Aya, Aubrey, and Jamie yelled in unison. For a split second, Aya swore he could see Jamie...smiling. The field surrounded them as Aya and Jamie faced each other on opposite ends of the field. Aubrey stood on the side, waiting to see how this goes. "Fuck em up Aya." She thought. "GATE CARD SET!" Aya and Jamie yelled as they threw down their respective gate cards. "Your move, boy!" Jamie shouted. Aya chuckled, reaching for his 1sr bakugan. Ready to try out his new strategy. "BAKUGAN BRAWL!" Aya threw it with all his might. "BAKUGAN STAND! GO DARKUS ROBOTALION!" He shouted as the robotic bakugan stood on Jamie's card. "Fool! You stood on my own card!" Jamie yelled. "I know! Now you gonna play or you just gonna talk!?" Aya mocked. Jamie grabbed a bakugan. "Don't test me! BAKUGAN BRAWL! BAKUGAN STAND! DESTROY HIM SUBTERRA SAURUS!" The bakupods chimed in. "Darkus Robotalion at 370g. Subterra Saurus at 340g. No other data available." Jamie extended his arm. "GATE CARD, OPEN!" The gate card opened to reveal the subterra attribute card. The terrain changed as the ground became sand and pyramids appeared in the background. "Saurus power level increased to 470g." Aya smirked, pulling out 2 ability cards. "Pretty good! But not good enough! DOUBLE ABILITY ACTIVATE! DIMENSION 4 PLUS ROBOTALION ENFORCEMENT!" Aya shouted. The gate card was negated and Saurus's g power reduced back to 340g. Meanwhile Robotalion increased to 470g. "Now take em out Robotalion!" Aya commanded. "Not so fast! ABILITY CARD ACTIVATE! EARTHQUAKE!"