Kalmar smirked as Blazen toyed with the Ancient Sword of Fire. "The fight is between me and him," Kalmar said, "But I know that his friends will try to get in the way, if possible. I'll need someone to hold them off while I settle things with the Rising Dragon."

"I got your back if you got mine." Blazen assured as he put Valermos aways.

"No. I just..."

He sighed. "I just gotta be by myself for a while."

Matt walked away from Papllion. His room wasn't enough. No, he had to find a place that no one would really go, to make sure his thoughts weren't interrupted.

I never was good at this stuff anyway.

Edited by The Helldragon on May 1, 2008 at 18:59:06.

Papillon's eyes followed Matt as he walked away, a worried look on her face. As he disappeared from sight, Papillon sighed and shook her head. At any rate, now would be a good time to investigate the new findings on Matt's armor, and the link between him and this R.D. character. Perhaps the commander would know...

Outside, streaking across the skies at breakneck speeds, unnoticed and as silent as death, something flew towards the GGG camp, finally stopping within the main bridge of the J-Ark.

Edited by RisingDragon on May 1, 2008 at 16:51:15.

Matt eventually found himself on top of the J-Ark, based on random wanderings until he came to a anti-gravitational elevator of sorts. There, he allowed himself to pace along a small area, hand over chin, attempting deep thought.

He wasn't sure what to do now. He was stuck in this dimension, had been for a few months...could that portal he saw be a way home? He hoped so. He just wanted to get on with his life...but he could never forget what had happened to him, good and bad. Could he even go back to a normal life? Did he even deserve it?

So many questions, and not enough answers. He had more thinking to do that he had originally thought...

The figure stood a distance behind Matt, watching him. His arrival had gone unnoticed by the armor-clad young man, pacing back and forth near the auxiliary bridge of the J-Ark, next to the J-Bird itself. The figure had its arms crossed as it observed Matt's movements, waiting for the moment when he would notice the newcomer's presence.

Edited by RisingDragon on May 5, 2008 at 20:34:25.

Matt paused.

He wasn't alone.

He felt the alien precense behind him, waiting for something. Moments passed before Matt decided to go first. "Who is it?"

It was a strong, proud voice of a man that answered Matt. "You took longer to detect my presence than Guy. I'm surprised."

The figure stepped out of the night shade caused by the auxiliary bridge of the J-Ark. He was adorned in magnificent, albeit battle-damaged, light green armor worn over a black jumpsuit. Armor plates tapered off into points, except for the sides of his skirt armor, and the left shoulder, where portions of the armor had been blasted off. An almost avian-shaped helmet rested on the man's head, the front portion of it smashed off from a battle. A long green scarf was wrapped around his neck, falling down along his back. A shock of orange and green hair jutted from the front and the back of the helmet, partially obscuring his bright blue eyes and a long beak of a nose.

On his left bracer, an reddish-pink, arrowhead-shaped gemstone gleamed in the moonlight. The man's arms were still crossed, and he made no other move, threatening or otherwise.

Edited by RisingDragon on May 5, 2008 at 20:34:38.

Matt turned around, cautiously eyed the newcomer. "I'm not an Evoulder like he is. Still, I've been around long enough to know a few things." In truth, when he had caught the other's precense, he was waiting to see if the newcomer would attack. But...no need to let him know that.

"I'm gonna take a shot in the dark here," Matt continued. "You're J, right?"

For the slightest of moments, the man's face, what wasn't obscured, showed an emotion of surprise when he saw Matt's front. But just as quick as it appeared, his face became neutral. The man nodded in confirmation. Unfolding his arms, he held up his left arm, displaying the gemstone. "The J-Jewel Warrior of the Red Planet, Soldato-J."

The J-Jewel shone, the depths flickering until it glowed brightly with a stylized J symbol within. J lowered his arm, planting his hands at his hips. "It has been some time, Matt. I did not expect to meet you again, here in the Trinary Solar System."

Edited by RisingDragon on May 2, 2008 at 11:20:47.

Meet him...again?

"...what're you talking about?" Matt asked. "I've never seen you before...and, no offense, but I think I'd remember a guy who looked like you do."

Again, surprise registered on J's face, and lasted longer on it. "You do not remember?" he said, almost a murmur. "I see."

J stepped forward, walking to Matt, and past him. Folding his arms again, the J-Jewel Warrior began to speak. "Approximately two years ago, in the city of Tokyo, you, one other male, two females, and a small mechanoid suddenly appeared allied yourselves with the Gutsy Geoid Guard, and fought against the Four Machine Kings. You and I, in particular, battled."

He did not look back at Matt as he recounted the past experiences. "That time, I lived under the false name, Pizza. I was a Zonderian, one of Pasdar's Four Machine Kings." He looked over his shoulder. "You are certain you do not remember this?"

What the hell was this man yapping about? Machine Kings? Pasdar? He recognized the term "Zonder", but not in the format J mentioned...

"Sorry, man," Matt said, shrugging. "I've got no clue what you're talking about." A bit of his goofy smile returned. "Maybe you've mistaken me with another charismatic stallion of justice?"

"A warrior does not forget the battles he has fought," J said, looking back at the boy. "The armor you wear is unfamiliar, but your own manner just now shows you to be the one I remember facing, while GaoGaiGar fought against the Zonder we had created."

Soldato-J turned his gaze back forward, over the GGG campsite. "How many of the others recognize you?" he asked.

Edited by RisingDragon on May 2, 2008 at 20:16:48.

"Nobody recognizes me, we've never even MET before." Matt didn't know what kind of game this J character was playing, but it was starting to get ridiculous. "Seriously, man, I've never seen y'all before."

"I see," J said, looking off over the camp. He was silent for several more moments. His mind was contemplating all possible scenarios for the reasoning behind Matt's lack of memory of their battle. And no one else has recognized him? J thought that of all people, Guy would have recognized him immediately. After all, Guy had recognized himself, Soldato-J, as the former Pizza by voice alone. So why hadn't he recognized Matt?

He would have to talk to him, he decided. "If you wish to learn more about what I have discussed with you," J said, turning back to Matt, "Go to the main bridge and request the information from Tomoro-0117. He too was one of the Four Machine Kings, and battled your friends during that time as well. I will consult the others about what I remember."

Edited by RisingDragon on May 3, 2008 at 23:31:14.

Matt didn't have anything else better to do. And he was kinda curious... "Well, all right, man. If you're really that convinced, I'll hit this Tomoro up for some info and see if I'm missin' anything."

J nodded. "The pathway to the main bridge will be lit up for you. Farewell."

And with that, the green scarf that hung around J's neck suddenly spread out and hardened into long, triangular green wings. With a leap, J was airborne, and he flew at high speeds down to the Kushinada. Within the J-Ark, the hallways leading up to the bridge were lit, showing Matt the pathway to the J-Bird.

Soldato-J landed on the loading ramp to the Kushinada, ignoring the startled looks of the GGG crewmembers nearby. As he proceeded up into the ship itself, he looked about for his rival, Guy. It would be best to start with him, first. It did not take him long to reach the infirmary, figuring that the man was most likely with Mikoto. Without any fanfare, J opened the door to the infirmary and entered.

Guy wasn't in the infirmary, and neither was Mikoto. Fortunately, the man J was looking for called out from behind him. "J!" Guy walked up toward him. "Where have you been? We've been wondering where you've gone."

J turned to look at his rival directly. "It was not easy finding other locations supplies could be gathered at," J said, answering the Evoulder's question. "However, I believe we have more important issues to discuss. Such as why your one-time ally no longer remembers ever working with you."

Edited by RisingDragon on May 3, 2008 at 23:32:37.

Guy arched an eyebrow along with his frown. "One-time ally? What are you talking about?"

To this, J raised his own eyebrow. "You do not remember, either?" he asked. "The boy out there, Matt. He fought against me during my time as Pizza, while you and your allies battled a Zonder. He fought me in an effort to stall me long enough for Latio and that one girl to Purify the Zonder Core. Do you remember?"

"Matt..."

...of COURSE! THAT's why he seemed so familiar!

"That Matt's the one who helped us defeat EI-OMEGA?!" Guy exclaimed. "But...why didn't I recognize him?" Something came to him. "...maybe it's because...well, ever since he came here, he's seemed really depressed. The Matt we knew before was always acting silly."

"Perhaps. However, Matt seems to remember nothing of that period, and expressed disbelief when I recounted it to him," J said, folding his arms together. "How long has he been here?"

"A month...but he really doesn't remember?" Guy scratched the back of his head. "I don't know why he wouldn't..." His eyes widened. "Maybe it's because of that armor! He told me that he woke up with that armor on, and he doesn't remember anything else before that."

"The armor?" J mused, thinking. "Perhaps. What is known about it?"

"Not much," Guy replied. "All we can figure out is that it gives off a bunch of different energy readings, especially some that nobody can even recognize. We also found a shard of glass that acts the same way. Uncle thinks the two are connected."

"Perhaps Tomoro will be able to find out more," J said. "Matt should have arrived in the bridge by now."

Meanwhile, after some guessing, Matt had walked into the expansive bridge of the J-Ark itself.

...damn, it was huge.

"Um...hello?" Matt called out, his voice echoing. "Tomoro? If that's who you are?"

A crisp, high-pitch monotone voice answered Matt shortly after he spoke. "Roger," Tomoro greeted, recognizing Matt instantly, "Your query, Matt?"