Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, as you know it.

Rose D.: Hello, and welcome back to my, uh, channel? Station? Eh, book?

Britannica: Look, let me help. Just say "Welcome back!"

Rose D.: –stares– What would be the point of just saying that? –snaps fingers– I got it! Welcome back to 'The Menace of the Orichalcos' everyone! –looks at other self– How was that?

Britannica: Fine.

Rose D.: –looks over at Yami– And why are you so quiet?

Yami: –paralyzed–

Rose D.: –frowns at other self– Did you do something to him?

Britannica: –narrows eyes and glances at readers–

Chapter 4

Lowering the Boom

"Hurry Yami!" called Yugi Mutoh, sprinting across the campus grounds of North Domino University. "I don't want to be late for Professor Driscal's class again!" The Pharaoh quickened his pace. They were headed toward a brick building with massive white stones inlaid in the corners.

Yugi had been attending college for six months now, and he was glad of the spring weather somehow it helped his morale. As for the Pharaoh, officially he only followed Yugi to school as an observer. He would sit at the back through most of Yugi's classes, that is, if he wasn't hungry or curious about something he'd seen elsewhere on campus. This idea had been suggested by Yugi initially as a way of helping the ancient King learn about and adjust to this new era he was now living in; surprisingly, Yami had taken to the idea with quite a bit of enthusiasm.

Now unfortunately, because of the crazy events of the previous night, they had gotten a very late start. Yugi's book-bag thudded heavily against his back as he hurried towards the doors. Yami wasn't far behind, that is, until something changed.

The Pharaoh inhaled sharply, and came to a skidding halt. Yami's eyes widened, his brow knitted in confusion: the landscape around him had suddenly become awash with green light. "Huh?" Then the sounds of the world faded into a blur. The only thing Yami could hear distinctly was the din of his own pounding heart.

He turned everything was green, the people, the buildings, the cars passing along Main Street. The green wasn't a shade pleasant either, being instead a harsh, lurid hue that somehow seemed to suck the life out of everything it touched.

Trembling, Yami looked down at his own shadow stretching out from his feet against the pavement. His shadow was green too. The Pharaoh felt a twinge of cognition. He spun, head snapping up towards the sun as it fell towards the horizon; its glare was a brilliant green and he was forced to shield his eyes. "It can't be!" he squinted in disbelief, "How can Amun-Ra, the giver of light be green?"

His mind reeled, frantically trying to understand what he saw. And still the sun fell from the sky as the shadows of the world lengthened in its retreat; the world went black. "This can't be real!" Yami flinched as his arm was seized.

"Yami!" cried Yugi. Yami gasped as the light and sound of the world came rushing over him again. "What's the matter? What's wrong?" beseeched the younger of the twins.

"Th-the sun!" Yami stuttered as his eyes came to focus on his heart-brother, "It's—!" He pointed, only to stop stark still — the sun was in the sky, shining as it always had. Yami's gaze shot back to Yugi — all the world was back to normal. The Pharaoh stiffened.

Yugi moved his eyes between Yami and the sun concernedly. "I don't see it. What is it? Was it an eclipse? Or, or what?" Yami took his eyes from the grounds of the campus, and turned them back to Yugi; he said nothing. "Yami, talk to me! I don't have any more time to get to my class." This great urgency of Yugi's fell suddenly away when he saw something without a name come into the Pharaoh's eyes.

"I am sorry," said Yami, smiling with sadness, "It appears I'm seeing things. I suppose I did not get enough sleep last night."

Yugi blinked, frowning; something had changed, something was different . . . but what? "Yami," said he, "Look, maybe it wasn't a good idea for you to come today. Maybe you should go back to the Game Shop, and get some sleep or something. What do you think?"

The Pharaoh's gaze looked suddenly very far away. "Yes," he nodded, taking a step back from Yugi, "Yes, maybe that would be best."

Yugi noted Yami was absently rubbing his arm the same way he had been last night. The ancient King turned away as Yugi eyed him. "Do you need me to go with you?" Yugi asked quickly, "Or will you be all right on your own?"

"That's alright," replied the Pharaoh, "I've walked with you here almost every day, I know the way."

"That isn't exactly what I meant." stated the young Mutoh, cocking an eyebrow. The little voice in the back of Yugi's mind started hissing about him being late for Driscal's class. "But, if you're sure you'll be fine,"

"Yes." Yami smiled and gave a quick nod, "Now be off. I know how important your grades are."

Yugi took a step towards the building. "Well, okay. I guess I'll see you later then." There was a mutual pause. "You're sure you're all right? I mean, the night was really unkind to you. You will make sure to get some rest, right?"

Yami said nothing, he only nodded and walked away; Yugi watched him. With a hardening brow he determined he would found out what the Pharaoh had seen in his nightmare, whether Yami liked it or not.

Suddenly remembering Professor Driscal, Yugi turned, heading into the building at a renewed pace. Little did either Twin know: the separation had begun. Destiny had set the next stage, and this would be the last time they would see one another as they knew themselves to be.

########

"I'm taking my lunch break now Joe." said Mic O' Malley, "You just keep doing what you're doing."

Joey Wheeler nodded excitedly at his boss, and grinned determinedly. "You bet'cha, Mr. O' Malley!"

Mic gave a nod, smiling at the youth's enthusiasm, and headed away down the street. Joey watched him go before turning back to the gas pump.

O' Malley Station was the only petrol station in Domino City that offered Full Service, meaning there was an attendant on-hand at all times to see to the needs of every car that pulled in. The driver hadn't any need to get out of the car, as it was the attendant's job to fill the tank, wash the windshield-screen, and check the oil.

Today, Joey was the only guy on-hand, as the other attendant had called in sick. Out of the sickee and Joey, O'Malley employed only one other person for the day-crew, and that was Macey Carter, a girl fresh out of High School who saw to the register. Joey thought she was cute. From inside the O' Malley Mart she caught Joey's eye and he waved to her from across the way; shyly she waved back.

A car pulled in to the station. Joey rolled his shoulders back and smiled, hopping forward to ask the driver what type of gas he wanted. With the absence of the other attendant, Mic O' Malley himself had been seeing to the customers alongside Joey since the start of the day; this had greatly impressed Joey, as, being the boss, Mic could have easily sat back and allowed Joey to carry all the weight. He hadn't.

So now, with a greater respect for his employer, Joey went to work all the harder, and found he was actually enjoying his job. He handed the driver back his credit card and looked towards Macey, who twirled her finger in the air, signalling the payment had been verified.

Joey smiled at the driver. "You're good to go sir. Have a great day." With a nod from the driver, the car pulled away into the street. "Phew!" puffed Joey, sighing with relief: another smooth transaction. After all, if one worked at a regular gas station, one wouldn't be expect to have to deal with a myriad of people face-to-face while still in their cars. It was a bit awkward, but Joey was starting to get the hang of it.

The high, hard buzz of a Japanese motorcycle sounded through the air. Joey turned as a deep-blue bullet bike swerved in from the street. Joey moved toward the biker as he pulled up beside one of the pumps. He cleared his throat, and said: "Fill 'er up?"

The guy pulled his goggles away from his eyes and slung them back against his spiked-bushy brown hair. "So 'ere you are, Joey Wheeler."

Joey fell back from the biker, aghast. "V-v-Valon?"

Valon Von Tasl gave Joey the-wink-and-the-gun with a click of his tongue. "The one an' only."

"W-what're you doin' here?"

Macey glanced out though the window at the sound of Joey upraised voice. She saw a slim guy on a motorcycle, and raised an eyebrow.

Valon looked down, his brow hardened. "I've gotta talk to ya'."

A wave of disdain swelled in Joey's chest. He raised his head as a car suddenly pulled in on the opposite side of the pumps; he turned from Von Tasl. "Yeah? About what?" he snuffed, moving over to attend the vehicle.

"About Mai!"

Joey almost did an about-face. "What?"

"I'll take premium unleaded." said the man behind the wheel.

Joey turned to him distractedly. "Uh, oh y-yeah," He hurried over, and began fumbling with the gas cap. He looked over at Valon. "Wha'da you mean? What's wrong with Mai?" He jabbed the gas nozzle into the mouth of the tank.

"I only want what $20 will give me." said the driver, watching the numbers ticking steadily upward on the display.

"Uh, yeah!" Joey turned again, and gritted his teeth — what came next? With his thoughts everywhere, he set an auto-gauge on the pump and hurried over to the hood of the car. "Gotta check the oil."

"I don't need you to check the oil," said the man, leaning out of his window, "I don't have the time."

"Oh, yes sir." Joey stopped fiddling with the hood latch and glanced over at Valon who was frowning tiredly. He quickly moved over to the man's window. "Did you want me to wash your windshield?"

"No." answered the man, then shaking his head as he looked over at the woman in the seat beside him. "I would like to pay now if I could."

"Uh yes, what're you gonna be usin'?"

"CASH." The man extended the bills to Joey. Joey accepted the money and shoved it into a chute that sent it immediately to Macey inside the Mart. Joey then jumped over and took care of the pump; he screwed the gas cap back on, managing to get out, "Thanks for coming." ,before the couple sped away.

Miffed, Joey's hands tightened into fists as he moved over to address the biker with the black and orange jacket. "What're you talkin' about man? What about Mai?"

The hue of Valon's eyes seemed to dampen. "She's been captured."

Joey blinked, and gave his head a sarcastic shake. "Come again?"

Valon snuffed. "Listen to me Wheeler. It pains me to say it but the Orichalcos is back! Dartz 'as gone looney again, and 'e's tryin' to resurrect everythin'! Includin' 'is old DOOM Squad, except bigger this time. 'e's recruitin a whole lot of slime-balls from anywhere 'e can find 'em. And now, 'e's got Mai."

Joey didn't say anything, at first; he took a breath. "What on Earth're you talkin' 'bout man? Wha'da you mean the Orichalcos is back? We kicked that thing clear to Kingdom come!"

"No!" snapped Valon, "You kicked the Leviathan t'Kingdom come, mate. The Orichalcos is somethin' entirely different. You and your little band o' do-gooders didn't even put one dent in the Seal. All you did was defeat its medium and that was Dartz! Well now it's back in a whole new form and it's reclaimed 'im." Valon clenched his fists. "The whole wretched thing is startin' all over again!"

Joey heard the despair in Tasl's voice, and he swallowed. "And whose fault was it he got Mai?" he asked calmly, critically, "Hm? Was it you? Did you sell 'er out to save your own neck?"

"I would never do that to Mai!" raged Valon, "I love—!" Valon silenced himself instantly.

Joey's eyes narrowed. After a moment, he asked: "What happened?"

Valon's bravado melted away; he was suddenly the semblance of a little boy. "I didn't want to leave 'er Wheeler. I didn't want to leave 'er, but, she made me."

Joey's eyes widened; he stomped forward. "You did what?" His hands closed with Valon's jacket collar, and Valon's hands closed against Joey's. "I didn't do it on purpose! She made me leave 'er behind so I could warn you and your friends! Mai sacrificed 'erself so you would know about the Orichalcos! You Joey Wheeler! You and your friends are the Chosen Duelists. You're the only ones who can stop the Orichalcos before it consumes everyone on the planet!"

The pair glared into one another's eyes; they broke suddenly from each other. Had they looked to the side they would've seen Macey's face practically plastered to the mart window as she observed their heated confrontation.

"How do I know you ain't lyin' about the whole stupid thing?" barked Joey, "I have no reason to trust you!"

"And I don't 'ave any reason to trust you! But why come to ya' after this much time as passed and make up stories about som'it I was never more glad to see GO? I don't 'ave time to muck about Wheeler, not when Mai's life is at stake."

There was a strange silence as the pair considered one another. Joey cleared his throat after a long while. "Let's say I believe you," said he, "Now what? We charge into freak boy's lair and rescue Mai?"

Valon sighed bitterly. "If only we could." he swallowed and quickly shook his head, "But first we 'ave to get to your friends. Dartz 'as already sent out 'is Destroyer Squad to find and eliminate you three." Joey stiffened. "So we 'ave to let that Kaiba and your friend Yugi know what's 'appenin' and get some kind of plan together." Valon made to start his bike.

"Well, wait!" called Joey, turning abruptly toward the Mart; he sprang to the door, sliding off his work jacket. "I'm takin' the rest of the day off Macey." he announced, throwing the garment on the counter. "Let Mr. O' Malley know I'm sorry."

Macey paled. "You can't leave! I don't know how to—! What about the customers?"

"Sorry!" sounded Joey, as he exited, "Gotta save the world!"

Macey frowned with stark confusion. "Huh?"

Valon was checking his gauges. "So where're we goin'? Who's nearest, eh? Kaiba or the Pharaoh?"

Joey paused in thought. "Well, the Pharaoh's closer, but only if he's at NDU wit' Yugi."

Valon frowned slightly as he looked over at Joey. "Wha—? Isn't the Pharaoh always with Yugi?"

Joey frowned. "Didn't you know? Ha! They're not the same person anymore! The Pharaoh got his old body revived back in Egypt, and now he 'n Yug' walk around like twins." Wheeler grinned with amusement.

Valon blinked. ". . .Oh." he turned back, slipping his goggles over his eyes, "So where is this N-D-U? Z'it some kind of university or som'it?"

"Yeah, North Domino University. It's just down Main Street a ways." He pointed away down the street.

"Fine." Valon kicked back the kick-stand, "Then we'll head there first. Get on."

Joey wrinkled up his nose; the idea of climbing on behind Valon and holding on was in no way appealing. "Man, you serious?"

"Wheeler, I don't like it any more than you do. But one thing's for sure, we don't 'ave time to do anythin' else."

Joey's face tightened. There came a sudden rumble. A motorcycle sped into view, lunging into O' Malley Station. Valon and Joey tensed as it skidded to an angled stop; they recognized the rider's face.

"Well!" sounded the red-haired figure, as he pulled back his sunglasses, "Fancy meeting you both here. I was only expecting to find you, Joey Wheeler."

"Alister!" snapped Valon, seeing the newcomer's red-hued irises, "They got you too eh?"

Alister McCrimon snorted a laugh. His hair was much more shaggy than when Joey remembered seeing it last. "Yeah, they got me good and proper. Initiation hurt like hellfire. But you know what, here I am, ready to do what needs to be done."

"Wha—?" quizzed Von Tasl, "You've come to kill Joey Wheeler then?"

"As a matter of fact," Alister reached back behind him, and withdrew a hand-gun. Joey jerked back a step; although, for some reason, Alister didn't point the weapon at him.

"A gun?" shouted Valon, "Come on Alister, where's your class? It takes nothin' to kill someone with a gun!"

McCrimon laughed again, a deep-throated chuckle. "You make it sound like I didn't already know that." He shifted his arm, and leveled the weapon at the gas pump. A breathless gasp ran through the air. Then everything happened at once.

Valon's bike roared to life. "Get on Wheeler!"

Joey didn't have time to get on. Bullets exploded from the barrel of Alister's gun as Valon's bike reared up. Joey sprang forward, his arms falling around Valon's waist as the blue bullet bike launched forward.

Alister emptied his clip into the pump as flame-and-fire erupted all around him. There was a sudden inrush as the air of the atmosphere was sucked into the leaping explosion. A flaming black fireball roared into the sky, but that was nothing to what waited below. The underground tanks ignited, and the earth heaved. The mother of all fireballs broke from the earth, incinerating everything in its path.

Joey and Valon didn't know what hit them. Struck by the shockwave, they were suddenly flung through the air; they could hear nothing and feel everything. They crashed down against the cracking street, Valon's bike spiralling off down the road. Flames licked at the sky, pouring billows of thick black smoke into the air.

Like broken toys Valon and Joey lay unconscious amongst the burnt wreckage and debris. And then, there came a sound, an insane mindless laughter echoing from the center of the inferno. There was Alister upon his bike, surrounded by an orb of red energy. He was unscathed, for on his wrist was a band of pewter with a glowing red gem at its center. It was the source of the energy field shielding him from harm, and with servile admiration Alister kissed it.

Clearing his throat, McCrimon tossed his empty gun aside, and licked his lips. "Now," he said, his face pinched with a vile grin. He grabbed hold of the motorcycle's handle bars and revved his bike's engine to a roar.

Valon and Joey were trying to gather themselves; though, of the two Valon had fared slightly better. He had just barely lumbered over to his fallen bike which had landed on the street corner against the curb when he heard the roar of Alister's engine.

The DOOM agent flew up out of the smoldering crater, appearing from the smoke and ash like a messenger of Hell. Valon stared in unbelief. Alister's tires squealed to a halt a few yards from both him and Wheeler.

Joey was still sitting on the ground rubbing his sore head; he gave a wild jerk when he saw Alister. The DOOM agent smiled.

Growling, Valon seized his bike's handlebars and hefted it upright; from what he could tell, only the paint job had been damaged. Alister's head jerked to the side, regarding him sharply. "Don't think I'm not coming for you next! he lauded, jabbing a rigid pointer-finger towards his former comrade. Alister turned back to Joey, who was scrambling to his feet as best he could. "Now!" called Alister McCrimon.

Joey stumbled back, eyes darting towards Valon as his bullet bike roared to life. From the gleaming red light of Alister's gem materialized a metal tank, but it was not only a tank, it was a Monster. "Fusilier Dragon! Attack Joey Wheeler!" The metal dragon reared back, the cannon mounts at either side of its head locking in place. Joey turned to run, and Valon zoomed up in front of him.

"Get on!" This time there was no hesitation. The bullet bike lunged forward as the dragon's attack rocketed passed. Joey glanced over his shoulder as the missiles detonated in the street beyond.

Turning from the explosion, Alister laughed and ordered his Monster to pursue. Fusilier Dragon's triangular tread dug into the tarmac, and propelled forward; Alister was at its side, the rumble of his bike engine drowned out by the roar of his dragon.

"Where're your cards?" called Valon.

Wheeler turned his face towards Von Tasl. "Mh'what?"

"Your cards! Your Deck! Where's your Deck?"

"At my place!" Joey yelled, "I don't bring my cards to work!"

"GREAT." groaned Valon.

Wheeler frowned. "Yeah? And what about you tough guy! Where's your Deck?"

Briefly Valon freed a hand from gripping his drag bars and tapped a square pouch at his hip. Joey recognized it as a deck holster. At once Wheeler's ears were pierced by the wail of sirens. A platoon of fire trucks and ambulances flew passed them, heading for the destroyed petrol station. Joey's eyes widened when he realized he had forgotten all about Macey; he looked back, and could see only smoke.

Unfortunately, the explosion had created chaos through half the city in the form of jammed traffic. The cars passing closest to O' Malley Station at the time of the explosion had been thrown afar much the same way Valon and Joey had been. The motorists who had escaped this trauma, came to a screeching halt, inadvertently stalling the streets in every direction for miles.

It was this labyrinth of vehicles through which Joey and Valon were fleeing. Swerving sharply to avoid irate people shouting at one another, Valon tensed when he heard the shouts turn to cries of fear; Joey looked back.

In its dogmatic pursuit, Fusilier Dragon was bashing aside anything that lay in its path. Red hair waving wildly in the wind, Alister pointed at the escapees. "Musket Canon!" The dragon-tank brought the long narrow canons at either side of its body forward, levelling them on Valon's bike.

Joey eyes shot wide. "Turn!" he screamed, pounding Valon's back with each word he shouted, "Turn! Turn!"

Valon hissed through his teeth, and turned. Joey felt the world swing out as Valon almost laid the bike on its side, shaving the street as they zipped into an alley. The attack rocketed passed the alley mouth and detonated amid a crowd of cars.

"There were people back there!" sounded Joey, in shock.

The Dual-Mode Beast tried to swing into the narrow alley after its prey, but shattered the walls as it became suddenly lodged in the tight space between the buildings. Alister was forced to stop behind it; he growled.

"That's why we gotta stop runnin'." snorted Valon, loosening his grip on the throttle. He stopped his bike at the end of the long alley, and Joey leaned back from him as far as he could without falling off. "You gonna fight back?" he quizzed.

In one motion, Valon slipped a card from his holster. "I'm gonna fight back." Von Tasl brought his bike 'round, and faced the distant struggling Fusilier Dragon.

"Back out!" screamed Alister to his Monster.

Valon raised his card into the air. "Come out! Blue Thunder!"

Joey suddenly became aware of a high drone, the sound of rocket engines coursing through the air. A large shadow swept passed overhead, dragging a great gust of wind through the tiny alley. Joey's eyes widened 'as he realized it was some kind of space jet.

"Attack Fusilier Dragon!" commanded Valon . Alister's eyes widened as Valon's rocket ship swung down from nowhere and rammed full force into the mechanized dragon; he had barely enough time to get out of the way. Debris flew out in every direction as Blue Thunder T-45 angled itself upward, jetting into the air with the flailing Dragon plastered to its windshield. Valon gave a gibbing laugh, attracting Alister's enraged death glare.

"By the way," said Joey, having spotted a metal pipe sticking out from inside a large dumpster-bin, "Where're your armor cards? How come you ain't fightin' wit' d'em?" Joey couldn't see it, but Valon's face had tightened.

The ex-DOOM member leaned forward, gripping his handlebars. "Lost 'em in a bet." he replied.

Joey's eyes widened as he took the metal pipe in his fist. "You gamble?" His free hand quickly took hold of Valon's belt loops as the bike started forward again.

"Ha ha!" Valon twisted back on the throttle, "Only with my life!"

Wheeler and Tasl surged down the length of the alley, and, like one leading a charge, Joey raised the pipe straight into the air. They barreled toward Alister McCrimon. Joey swung back his crude weapon, and the DOOM agent blinked when he shouldn't have.

"GAH!" howled Alister, as his head snapped to the side; his shattered sunglasses flew off into the street. Joey and Valon zoomed past, only to pause several yards away in the open road. Alister was momentarily stunned, trembling with pain and rage.

He held his hand against the welt forming on his face. He raised his eyes to Joey and Valon, growling through his teeth. "You are so DEAD Wheeler!" he bellowed, the roar from his bike's engine matching the fury in his heart. He launched after them, the motorcycles tearing down the street through the surrounding chaos.

"We gotta get out'a the city!" sounded Joey, "There're too many people who could get hurt!"

"Easier said than done mate!" countered Valon, swerving 'round a confused pedestrian. The man had to jump out of the way as Alister thundered passed.

Alister McCrimon glanced up into the sky, only to see Fusilier Dragon soaring overhead. There was a great screech of metal as the Dual-Mode Beast crashed down against the pavement, skidding wildly until it came up against an office building. In pain it roared, and began thrashing about in an attempt to right itself. Alister swerved towards his Dragon as the T-45 abandoned its adversary to follow its master.

Expertly the ship came up alongside Valon and his passenger; Valon slowed as the ship began to lower a ramp. Landing halfway on the nearby sidewalk, the space jet then extended its ramp towards its wielder. Joey looked surprised and skeptical all at once. "Does it expect us to get on board?"

"Indeed it does Wheeler!" said Valon , pointing his bike towards the ramp. Alister whipped 'round to face them, his rage as hot as the blazing gem on his wrist. "Spellbinding Circle!" he bellowed.

Joey jumped from the bullet bike as Valon was forced to reverse. Their startled eyes jerked upward as sparks flew from the glowing circle that was now penetrating the T-45's hull. "Blue Thunder!" called Valon — his ship was immobilized! Von Tasl turned a wrathful glare on Alister, who gloated, laughing.

"Going somewhere?" quizzed McCrimon, "We ain't done dancin' yet son!" said he, using a mock-southern drawl.

Joey's eyes were wide in disbelief. "H-he activated a Magic effect without a Spell card!"

"I know." snuffed Valon, "It seems Dartz 'as outfitted 'is lit'l group with everything they need to dominate the world." His face became very astute and scrutinizing all at once. "And all nicely compacted in a tiny lit'l shard o' the Orichalcos stone. 'ow s that Alister?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out. Dartz still wants you working for him, you know!" Alister pointed deftly at Valon Von Tasl .

Joey tromped forward, cutting off any response Valon might have given. "Freak boy ain't getting' no one else, Al. Got that? NO one else!" Joey could feel his heart thumping as he thought of Mai . "'cause we're gonna blow him and his delusions of grandeur clear to Kingdom come! You hear me?"

A horrid growl swelled in Alister's throat; the welt on his face was painfully apparent. "Why don't you shut up and die!" he yelled. Fusilier Dragon ejected a pair of missiles from its head-mounts. Joey gasped; he wouldn't have been able to get out of range in time. Lucky for him, his accidental bodyguard was quick on the draw.

Valon whipped a Magic card from his Deck. "Block attack!" he called. The missiles collided with the invisible barrier, and exploded. The shockwave shattered all the windows along the block. Everyone present did what they could to shield their faces and cover their ears. Valon backed his bike up. "While I'm at it," he said, still cringing from the deafening blast; he pulled another card from his holster, and raised it toward his ship. "Remove Trap!"

The circle of light holding T-45 splintered, and the ship's engines hummed a tone higher as it felt its freedom. "Forget the ramp!" said Valon, "We're finishin' this fight 'ere and now!"

Blue Thunder retracted its ramp and reestablished its hover mode. Fusilier Dragon righted itself with a defiant thud. And the opponents faced off. Suddenly, the wail of a team of sirens permeated the air. A squad of police cars came 'round the corner and swerved to surround the group.

Joey tensed, heart pounding; this wasn't good. Bracing themselves behind the doors of their vehicles, the policemen drew their firearms and trained them on the trio. "Put your weapons down and put your hands on your heads!" bellowed a tall constable.

"Wha—?" called Valon , sweat sliding down his face, "Get out of 'ere you stupid coppers! You're all gonna get killed!"

"Get down on the ground! NOW!" boomed the constable. Joey and Valon glanced at one another before looking to Alister; the redhead merely smiled. Before anyone could react, he raised his Orich-shard into the air. "Malice Dispersion!"

The officers fired at the DOOM agent, but nothing happened. The T-45 activated a force-field around Joey and Valon as the Magic effect summoned by Alister appeared as a bubble of green energy.

It instantly expanded outward, ramming into the police and their vehicles with the force of a train. Uniformed bodies flew through the air. The wailing police vehicles flipped end over end like toy cars. Thirty yards around the trio, the street was absolutely clear. But the massacre beyond . . . a graveyard of metal, and men.

Joey was stiff with shock; the metal pipe slipped from his hand. He heard a groan, and his wide eyes turned to the sight of an officer who had been bashed up against the nearby wall; the man lay crumpled on the sidewalk. Joey moved quickly to him, and knelt at his side. The man's eyes seemed lost.

"Lidia," he slurred, "I—love. Tell Lidia I. . ." The officer's lips went slack; his expression of pain and confusion faded into nothing. Joey felt a wave of ice wash down the back of his neck and into his heart — the man was dead.

Fusilier Dragon levelled its weapons. Joey gritted his teeth and shot a dreadful glare of wroth towards Alister. "These men had families, man! What the puke did you do that for?"

Valon was facing Alister; he had his hand over his deck holster, his fingertips poised against the next card in line. Cautiously however, he looked away from their antagonist and toward Joey Wheeler. Of a sudden, he saw Joey frown in confusion.

Much to their surprise, a drastic change had come over the face of the thin DOOM agent. "You think I want to do this?" asked Alister, in a surprisingly quiet tone. "You don't think I wish I could stop? Just stop." Valon and Joey looked on in utter bewilderment. "I can't!" cried Alister out of the blue, "The blood of the Orichalcos is inside me! Pounding in my heart! I can't do anything but obey!" He cringed, almost breathless. With a painful wail he pointed forward with a rigid finger. "Musket Cannon!" His Dual-Mode Beast fired.

With an enraged growl, Joey Wheeler charged forward headlong into the line of fire. Valon called forth the title of the Trap card in his hand. "Mirror Force!"

Alister's eyes widened. The missiles were ensnared in a veil of glittering light, and bounced right back. Fusilier Dragon screamed as its own attack detonated throughout its metallic body; in flame it melted, and died. Alister McCrimon gagged, clutching at his heart as he felt his Monster's death. He collapsed forward against the tank of his motorcycle only to be yanked up by Joey Wheeler.

Joey rammed his hardened knuckles straight into Alister's face; the blow was tremendous — the kind only Joey Wheeler could deliver. Still numb from his Duel Monster's demise, Alister couldn't react; all he could do was fall with his bike. The DOOM agent screamed as the weight of the steel-laden motorcycle came down on his leg.

Joey bore down on him, landing another rock-hard fist across his face. Alister couldn't believe the force behind it, gagging as he sprawled back against the pavement. He raised his arms to try and fend off the enraged Wheeler, but Joey's goal wasn't to use Alister as a punching bag.

Instead, Joey seized the DOOM Agent's wrist —the one that bore the Orich-stone— and, with a roar, slammed the red shard down hard into pavement. Again he did this, and again, as McCrimon tried to resist. But, the stone split, and when it did, a venomous light exploded forth. Joey fell back.

Valon gasped, eyes widening. "Get out o' there Wheeler!"

Joey scuttled back as the Seal of Orichalcos stretched out on the ground beneath Alister and his bike. The Seal wasn't green, as Joey remembered it being before, but a horribly lurid red.

"Vehemence Red." whispered Valon.

Alister McCrimon couldn't move; tears were squeezed from his eyes as he began to fade in the light. He looked toward Joey Wheeler and Valon Von Tasl . . . and was gone.

All who had eyes to see were that amazed when Alister, his bike, and the wreckage of Fusilier Dragon vanished in the glare of the Seal, which lingered a moment before fading into nothing itself. All that "remained "was the devastation.

Joey stood, eyes steely, hardened by the sight of the bodies lying 'round in the street. Valon recalled Blue Thunder and slipped its card back into his holster. Lightly he twisted the throttle of his drag bars and glided over to Joey. Wheeler was silent, and Valon eyed him.

"You wanna stop this from 'appenin' again?" he asked seriously.

Joey slowly drew his eyes to meet Valon's; it took a moment for him to answer. "Wha'da we gotta do?" he asked in a static tone.

Valon adjusted his goggles onto his face. "Get to your friends. Come on."

Joey shifted, straddling the back of the bullet bike; the duo started away. Joey couldn't help glancing back, however, toward the body on the diminishing sidewalk. How was he ever going to find the officer's Lidia?

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Rose D.: Well, that was a bit drab, a touch of dolor, and what not. To be honest, that's the first serious death scene I've ever written. –sighs– I don't know, maybe I shouldn't be getting so dead serious with this story.

Britannica: Actually I don't have an opinion right now. You'll just have to wait and see what the reviewers say.

Rose D.: –glances over at Yami– Oh, right. –turns and picks up phone–

Phone: –ringing–

Rose D.: Pick up, pick up– Ah! Yeah, is this Yugi? Well, I just called to tell you, your other self needs you. Uh huh, yeah, you better come quick. Okay? Right. Bye. –looks at readers– Thanks to my other self, we now need Yugi here. ahem Anyway! Thanks for reading!

Yami: –whimpers–

Britannica: Yeah, we look forward to seeing you here for Chapter 5.

Rose D.: Cheers everyone!