A/N: The cards for the duel in this fic are a mish-mash from all areas of the anime, manga & TCG as it was difficult to stick to just one. I'm also aware of a couple of slip-ups made (the way the last monster in this chapter is summoned for example) and bent/tweaked a couple slightly for the purpose of a double duel, but hopefully it won't ruin the enjoyment of it as a whole.

Chapter Three

"Still nothing." Ianto grumbled as he snapped his cell phone shut and resisted the urge to hurl it to the ground in frustration. His voice now began to waver as he spoke, "I-I'm not even getting through to his voicemail anymore, just some pre-recorded message stating that his handset is out of the coverage area."

Contacting Seto to warn him of the approaching danger had been unsuccessful and it had now been several minutes since they witnessed the wave 'hit' according to the monitoring system. Sooner or later they were going to have to accept the fact that the CEO had been claimed by the negative rift spike.

"Do I need to say 'I told you so'?" Jack asked still trying to sound unnerved and in command though he actually wanted to breakdown at the thought of his lost friend. He pulled the Welshman close for the comfort they both needed.

"If we truly have lost Seto then I don't think that pouring more salt into the wound with your gloating is going to help things Captain." Diana sounded threatening with her tone as she scold him for the remark only to receive a harsh look from Ianto who silently came to his lover's defence.

"Don't give up hope yet." Rebecca spoke to them all as her fingers clattered across the keyboard in front of her whilst she tried not to think about the horrendous task of possibly having to break such devastating news to both Mokuba and Kisara. "We will get him back."

"Do you really think that's possible?" Ryou asked her knowing that their chances of actual success were extremely slim.

Right now, no. Rebecca told herself in response to his question as she tried to mask her doubts with trembling lips that didn't quite have the strength to curve upwards. Her fingers sped up even more as she raced to complete the unfinished retraction programme in record time. She wasn't going to give up without a fight. "They don't call me a Kaiba for nothing you know."

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All players had been assigned 4000 life points each. The duo had been granted the first move and the two of them would then take it in alternate turns to play. In return the challenger had also agreed to abide by the same rule of alternative play as he faced off against them, though it was left up to him who he chose to target first.

"You fools will soon rue the day that you learnt to play Duel Monsters." Paradox taunted both of his opponents as their duel was about to commence.

"Somehow I don't think so." Joey shot back what both he and Seto were thinking as the three duellists each drew starter hands from their decks. He looked down at his five cards; 'Scapegoat', 'Red Eyes Black Dragon', 'Skull Dice', 'Release Restraint', and 'Nutrient Z'. Oh boy, that's not the best hand in the world to start with, but I've had worse!

Casually he looked to his left to see his duel partner also consulting the hand that had been drawn from his own deck and waited patiently for the decision on which of them should go first. Sapphire eyes raised to meet his and the gestured nod indicated that he should be the one to make the first move.

"Okay!" Joey breathed deeply as he psyched himself up. "It's my move!" He drew his card and automatically played it straight away. "I play 'Pot of Greed' to enable me to draw two more cards."

Aw man! The two cards, - 'Gearfried the Swordsman' and 'Extra Boost', - where added to his hand as he struggled to keep his features straight and unnerved by the poor additional draw he'd received. He took hold of a trusty spell card. "I set a card and end my turn."

"You must have a pretty pathetic hand if that's all you're going to do." Paradox sneered as he started his turn and drew his card. "First I activate the 'Malefic World' field card."

"The what world?!" Joey asked but was completely ignored.

The field card was placed into the challenger's duel disk up on the floating machinery platform and the whole area surrounding them turned into a purplish-pink atmosphere full of stars. Seto couldn't help but be reminded of the Shadow Realm that had been spoken of and linked to the millennium artefacts from his youth. Although he'd chosen to disregard the claims as nothing but nonsense back then he wasn't going to be taking any chances if that was indeed the case he'd find themselves faced with right now.

"From where I come from in the distant future, Duel Monsters has evolved several times over that I need to summon this playing field to be able to have my monsters battle against your prehistoric pipsqueaks. Fortunately for the pair of you I'm only permitted to have one of my Malefic monsters in play at any time as a result of our combined time periods."

"You're from the future?" The blond asked sceptically before he laughed aloud. "Yeah right, pull the other one, it has bells on it. Right Kaiba?" There was no instantaneous answer to his mockery that he had been so certain of receiving.

Instead the brunette seemed to hesitate before finding his tongue. "Actually Joey, I wouldn't be so fast to dismiss his claims." He'd had a moment to think it over and now understood how they'd ended up where they were. "Who'd you think brought us here? It was him." But for what purpose?

"Okay, since when did you start believing in such things?"

"Since I went back in time and accidentally erased my brother from existence."

"You say that so calmly, yet un-sarcastically, that I'm scared I may almost believe you."

"Are you two just planning on talking amongst yourselves?" Paradox snapped impatiently as he set a card to end his turn. "It's your move Kaiba."

"What was that you were saying about a pathetic hand?" Seto asked mockingly at the turn his opponent had just taken that had been no better than his partner's. "Let me show you how a pro duels." He drew his card.

"First I play 'Graceful Charity' which lets me draw three cards providing that I discard two." The cards drawn were 'Vorse Raider', 'Kaiser Sea Horse' and 'Melody of Awakening Dragon'. Perfect! He discarded the two monsters. "Next I summon 'Lord of Dragons' to the field, and then activate the spell card 'Melody of Awakening Dragon'."

The dragon lord appeared on the field first before a flute then materialised in his left hand that was placed to his lips and blown to sound a melodious tune.

"By discarding one monster from my hand, my dragon lord now has the ability to call two dragons from my deck to my hand." He discarded 'Spear Dragon' to the graveyard and selected a pair of his most faithful monsters. "And if you think I'm done there then you are mistaken, for I also hold the spell card 'Flute of Summoning Dragon' which I play to call forth the two 'Blue Eyes White Dragons' that just joined my hand."

Another flute appeared this time in the right hand of the dragon lord, and the sound of a bugle could be heard calling the two graceful beasts into battle. Simultaneously the two Blue Eyes made their grand appearance onto the field in a blaze of light and hoovered directly in front of their master.

"Awesome combo!" Joey cheered. "I'm sure glad that it's not me currently facing you right now."

A self-satisfied grin was present on Seto's face as he stared intimidatingly at Paradox; he wasn't done yet. "Oh, and since this is a paired battle, my flute also has the added bonus of allowing my partner to summon a dragon from his hand too." He glanced sideways to his right. "Do you have one?"

"Does this answer your question?" Joey wasted no time in placing down the monster card onto his playing field. "Go Red Eyes!"

The 'Red Eyes Black Dragon' came forth from its card in a blast of darkness and resided on the blond's side of the field.

We have this duel in the bag! The grin on Seto's face grew even wider at the sight of Wheeler's signature monster. There was no way that their challenger was claiming victory over them with their unstoppable team. "Now Paradox, prepare to be defeated as my dragons annihilate your life points!"

Both of the Blue Eyes drew back their heads as they each gathered a ball of energy in their jaws to send out across the field as a powerful white lightning blast.

"Not so fast! I activate my 'Negate Attack'." Paradox flipped the trap card he had laid to stop the two dragons in their tracks as it cancelled out all attacks he would have otherwise received that turn. "Looks like you'll have to wait a little longer before trying to even make a dent in my life points."

"Trust me, I'm a patient man." Seto sneered in response as he set a trap card down on his side before ending his turn. "I can wait."

Laughter erupted from onboard the floating platform as the next turn was started. "You two are so predictable that you fell straight into my trap." After the draw phase Paradox took and held two cards from his hand so that their backs were still displayed to his victims. "Witness the true purpose of this duel and say goodbye to your precious monsters."

The cards were flipped and shown to be blank before they each then drained and captured a dragon from the original owners' cards.

"My Red Eyes, where'd it go?!" Joey demanded as he looked at his now empty field and card.

"It's right here in my hand." Paradox taunted as he waved his two latest prizes. "Along with the Blue Eyes, and here they'll remain as part of my deck from this day forward."

"You'll regret stealing those cards." Seto growled through clenched teeth, furious at having one of his dragons taken from him. Nobody, touches my Blue Eyes!

"I highly doubt so." Paradox smirked at the death glare he received. "In fact, why don't we see how well they obey their new master?" He dramatically held the Blue Eyes card before him. "By discarding the original monster into the graveyard it allows me to summon the Malefic version from my hand; so come forth 'Malefic Blue Eyes White Dragon'!"

No sooner had the first card found itself in the graveyard, the second thunderously appeared on the challenger's side of the field with a monstrous roar. It could have quite easily been mistaken for its 'pure' version as it matched both attack and defence though its appearance was altered by the addition of a black mask to its face and reenforced armoured wings.

"What have you done to my dragon?" Seto gasped in horror and even took a half step back as he stared upwards at the abomination before him.

"Did you not hear me before? This is my dragon now, and its hungry. Your 'Lord of Dragons' should fulfil its appetite quite nicely as well as devour a chunk of your life points."

The 'Malefic Blue Eyes White Dragon' began its attack and the CEO made the heart wrenching decision to flip over his trap card. "You've activated my 'Attack Guidance Armour' which I equip to my remaining Blue Eyes."

Both of the dragons clashed as the Malefic version focused on the chest plate that bound itself around the original; their attacks evenly balanced to cancel out and destroy one another.

Another angered and hateful look was sent Paradox's way. "I would rather see my dragons destroyed than be used to carry out your evil bidding."

"My evil bidding?!" He scoffed in reply whilst setting a trap on his field. "These words coming from the man who helped aid the rise of Duel Monsters into its glory days and provide the catalyst for my world's destruction?" A heinous glare of golden eyes met the brunette's stare. "Losing your precious dragon will be the least of your worries."

"My move!" Joey stated forcefully as he aimed to divert attention from his duel partner. He was well aware of how much the man beside him treasured the three dragons and wouldn't allow anyone,- except himself,- to ridicule him for it.

Aww, not again! The card drawn had been the spell card 'Graceful Dice'. With no playable monsters I can't do anything this turn! But I gotta do something … maybe I could bluff my way out by making him think I've a trap up my sleeve? … "I set a card and end my turn."

"Looks like the history books lie." Paradox sneered in disgust at the second pitiful move made by one of the 'supposed' greatest duellists to have ever lived. "I was expecting a much better fight from the both of you, but you are pathetic." He drew his card and played it right away. "I summon 'Malefic Parallel Gear' in attack mode and end my turn."

"You call us pathetic?" Seto jeered as he viewed the monster that appeared on the field. "Your little pile of gears has zero attack or defence points."

"Then go ahead and attack me, it is your move after all."

"Oh don't worry, I will." He assured as he added a card to his hand. "I'll take you down and our dragons will be reclaimed."

"One thing history didn't lie about is your arrogance; do you ever stop being so full of yourself?"

Seto clenched his teeth in anger as he failed to stop himself from being provoked. I'll show this punk who he's dealing with! The spell card he'd drawn was slammed into his playing field. "I play 'Card of Demise', this allows me to draw five cards on the condition that my whole hand is discarded in five turns time." He looked at the five cards which included his third 'Blue Eyes White Dragon'. Great, that'll work nicely.

"Now I offer up my 'Lord of Dragons' as a tribute in order to summon 'Kaiser Glider' to the field." The dragon lord vanished and a bronze coloured dragon appeared in a burst of flames. "Its summoning also allows me to special summon 'Clone Dragon'. Watch as it copies 'Kaiser Glider' in every way to give me two powerful monsters at my beck and call."

The small foetus-like dragon uncurled itself. With its eyes glowing brightly at the sight of the other dragon and it transformed to mimic the other perfectly. Their ability of not being vulnerable to monsters with the same attack strength means I'm perfectly safe if he should chose to summon some monstrous version of Red Eyes. Question is, should I attack?

"Attack me if you dare." Paradox taunted as he saw the inquisitive look from the CEO.

No, that's exactly what he wants! Seto argued and reasoned with himself as he tried to think ahead to what trap it was that had been set by placing the monster with zero points in attack position and leaving a clear opening to the other's life points. He's baiting me to follow through with a reckless move after having gotten me so wound up. Well I'm not going to bite. It's bound to only put me at a disadvantage and that's a risk I just can't afford to take. He glanced sideways to his right. Sorry Wheeler, but I'm going to have to leave it to you to trigger his trap ... "I end my turn."

WHAT! Joey gapped in disbelief. Why didn't he attack? A strike from each monster to combine a total of 4800 damage would have wiped that jerk clean out. Surely he doesn't believe that there's any real threat in that face down card over there? It's nothing more that a bluff, I can feel it!

"What's wrong Kaiba, lost your nerve?" Paradox taunted him once again knowing that the mind game he'd engaged the other man in had been successful as the duel would have now been over had he ordered the two bronze dragons to attack.

"Like I said earlier; I'm a patient man. Having to wait a little while longer for victory isn't going to faze me."

Paradox drew his card and a malevolent smirk appeared on his face. "I'm afraid victory shall not favour you this time." He flashed his newly drawn card,- 'Malefic Red Eyes Black Dragon',- and gave a little chortle at the thought of what was next to come. "I'm well aware of the defence you have in play to protect yourself from this card, which is why I shall use it in my next effort towards your partner."

"And here I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me."

"You're not so lucky I'm afraid." He shot back at the smart-aleck remark the blond had made.

"But I am." Joey grinned widely. "You stated earlier that you're only permitted to play one of your monsters on your side of the field, which means that you can't summon that inferior Red Eyes you're holding."

"I don't plan on summoning this monster. Instead I shall tribute summon it,- straight from my hand,- along with my 'Malefic Parallel Gear' on the field to be able to synchro-summon 'Malefic Paradox Dragon' in its place."

Both cards were sent to the graveyard and a black whirlwind appeared. The storm caused the dirt from the ground to create dust clouds and the two grounded duellists found themselves buffeted by the gusty blasts.

"W-what the hell is a s-synchro-summon?" Joey spoke for both of them as he shielded his vision from the dirt whilst witnessing the dragon materialised from the dying gale.

Steel-like armour with spikes protruding from its back, wings and knees covered the majority of the black scaly beast. Around its dark face of red glowing eyes was a mane of golden spikes that were as sharp as the claws it bared, and its tail looked like a triangular mace.

I've seen some dragons in my time, but that one IS terrifying! Seto swallowed the lump forming at the back of his throat. If the stranger was capable of summoning something so monstrously powerful with such ease then what chance did the two of them stand?

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A/N: So there you have it, the first part of the duel. I'm not a duellist (I stopped collecting and playing the cards around the time GX was released) and worked really hard on trying to make this as believable as possible, including making and playing it out in real time to make sure the card count, play and turns all came together correctly. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

KG