The air hung with the weight of the words that had been exchanged in the secrecy of the tiny room. Six hours had passed since Joey had delivered his message. Six hours had passed since he collapsed. It felt like an eternity had passed before the invigorating new arrives; Joey would recover. Unlike Solomon, he showed no trace of the mysterious substance in his system. The man was simply battered and exhausted. It was the first piece of positive news to arrive all day. However, one thing was certain. This was only the beginning.
The message from the Shattered Mirror had divided the group. Conflict arose via the debate of both the message's meaning as well as the group's intent. Tristan firmly believe it was a group of psychotic duelists that were holding a grudge against Yugi for his voracious rise to the top. Tea, on the other hand, held onto the belief that this was somehow tied to the ancient pharaoh, Atem, who had existed with Yugi for many years. Yugi couldn't deny that that particular though had crossed his mind but he maintained that they hadn't received all the pieces necessary to solve this puzzle. Deep down, he also suspected a connection to Seto Kaiba's disappearance as well as the Quantum Cube. Rebecca had begun doing what she did best; research. She scoured the web for any references to this organization and had thus far been unsuccessful in her endeavors. Silence flooded the room as the sun began its slow descent form the middle of the sky.
"So, what are we going to do?" Tea finally broke the seal of dreadful silence by posing the question plaguing all of their thoughts. She shifted her gaze to Yugi, worry painted across her face. It wasn't fair that such troubles continued to choke Yugi, not after all he had already done for the world. She felt bad for him and the fact that despite his best efforts evil had managed to crawl back into his life. Yet underneath it all, she felt amazement. Amazement at the fact that, despite everything that had already transpired, her friend continued to show courage. His face was not one of a man wallowing in self-pity but of a man preparing to take action. An intense blush spread across her cheeks upon coming to the realization that she had been staring.
"Isn't it obvious?" Tristan responded angrily, "We track down these crazies and stop them from whatever it is that their doing!" He was simply tired of all of this discussion. Words and endless debates weren't going to get them the answers they needed and they certainly weren't going to assist Joey. They had to take action.
"But we don't have anywhere to look," Rebecca pointed out, her eyes still locked to the screen as her fingers danced across the keyboard, "I've been looking everywhere for even a reference to these guys and so far, zip!" Tristan growled as he clenched his fists, holding back the frustration. They were getting nowhere.
"Well, we can't just sit here and wait! We have to do something!" He fumed as he continued to storm around the room. The waiting was simply too much. Yugi looked up, confidence and determination plastered on his face. Too many people had gotten hurt already. Too many people he cared about had been dragged back into the shadows already. This was his trial and he was going to ensure no one else got dragged down into it with him.
"No," Yugi began as he rose from his seat, "I'm sorry but there is no 'we' this time. I'll stop this group. You've all been through this too many times in the past. This is my problem!" Rebecca finally tore her eyes from her screen, looking up at Yugi with a glow in her eyes. It was amazing how Yugi could still be so brae but there was no way she would let him go alone. If anything happened to him, she would never forgive herself.
"No way, Yugi, we're in this together!" Tristan rebutted as he reassuringly placed his hand upon Yugi's shoulder.
"Yeah, we're a team Yugi!" Tea cried as she too jumped from her seat, "Our friendship can tackle anything that's thrown at us! After all these years, trust me, we're used to it!" Rebecca snatched Yugi's hand, the sudden contact startling him as quick blush spread across his cheeks, and gave it a squeeze.
"And you know you can count on my help, Yugi!" she said warmly, sneaking a quick boastful glance at Tea. Tea simply returned a slightly irritated look as she crossed her arms. Despite the years that had passed, it appeared that some things would never change.
"You can count me in too!" a weak voice came from the hall. The group turned to face the intruder, shock flashing on their collective faces as they saw who it was. It was Joey, who admittedly look better than before but was still battered and bruised.
"Joey!" they all cried as they rushed towards their wounded friend. A doctor and a nurse hovered around him with looks of pure agitation on their faces.
"Sir, you need to rest!" the doctor's voice, filled with anger, boomed over the others. This imbecile was making a mockery of him and he better pay attention if he wanted to recover. Joey let loose a flurry of remarks as he wrestled with the rather tall and lanky physician. Tristan finally decided to jump in.
"Joey, you've got to listen to the doctor!" Tristan interjected as he leapt in to the fray. It quickly became a death match of snarky comments and shoving.
"But Tristan, I feel like a million bucks!" Joey cried out as the two men overpowered him and began to drag him away. He gave Tristan a disgruntled look. Talk about kicking a guy when he's down.
"Yeah? Well, you look like a bent penny!" Tristan shot back as he continued to drag his battered friend back to his room, "You can help us after you get better!" The commotion continued as the trio of individuals crawled around the corner, attracting the curious eyes of many of the floor's patrons. Tea covered her face in shame and embarrassment as she grumbled to herself. Yugi, however, couldn't help but smile. It was great to see that Joey was recovering. As if sensing his thoughts, Rebecca opened her mouth to speak.
"I guess some things never change," Yugi muttered with a halfway grin. He was thankful for that. So much had changed already. Rebecca had grown into a beautiful young woman and was smarter than ever before, Tea was on the rise as a dancer, Joey was a professional duelist, and Tristan was a professional protector. It was reassuring to know that despite all the changes, the core of what had made them friends still existed.
"I'm glad Joey's doing better," she began as she turned away from her computer, "We'll need all the help we can— "Suddenly, what had moments before been a nuisance in the far background began to grow, becoming a chaotic nuisance that rocked the room. All eyes in the room darted to the window, seeking an explanation for the sudden disturbance.
"What on Earth is that?" Tea cried in frustration as she noticed a helicopter rising from below. Why were they so close to the building? They clearly weren't a rescue helicopter.
"Wait a second," Rebecca began mere moments before Yugi spat out the remainder of the sentence.
"That's a KaibaCorp helicopter!" he cried as Rebecca glanced over at him with a smile. Great minds do think alike.
"Why would a KaibaCorp helicopter be landing here now?" Tea inquired. The small group of friends looked to each other. After a few moments of pondering, they quickly elected to journey to the roof to investigate the matter. Yugi could not help but feel this was more than a mere coincidence; that a KaibaCorp helicopter would just happen to land on this hospital mere days after his grandfather's collapse. There was something larger at play here and Yugi was determined to figure out what. The let out a whine as its rusted hinges were again disturbed, being thrust open. The helicopter had already landed, its rotors spitting the warm air in all directions. In front of it stood three men, garbed in high class business attire. The lead man stepped forward, almost unrecognizable with his new short hair, but with a face that was impossible to misplace.
"Mokuba?" Yuig screamed over the overbearing sound of the helicopters whine. It startled him how much he now resembled his older brother. The young man gave him a weak but warm smile.
"It's good to see you again, Yugi Muto!" Mokuba responded has he coolly began to move forward. Before him stood the King of Games himself, an individual who had been kind to him in the past despite the intense rivalry he had shared with his older brother. It was it this moment that it truly struck Mokuba just how fast the years had passed by. Being the CEO of KaibaCorp had sucked all his time from him, the remainder of his childhood, but he desperately tried to fill his missing brother's shoes. In this way, he could stay attached to him. Seeing Yugi, now more than ever, revived those long forgotten feelings. His mind hung on the topic of his brother. The cryptic messages had had found in various places around the world. The strange happenings and whispers within the dueling community. Solomon Muto's attack. They all contained shadows of clues that might trace back to his brother. This was why now, of all times, he had sought Yugi out.
"We need to talk…" Mokuba finished as he extended his hand to shake Yugi's. The truth of the matter was, they both needed the others helps.
The room was dark and barren save for a single monitor that encompassed the entire front wall. Within it sat a single chair for the user. Light seemed to be banished from the room save for the dim glow from the monitor. The figure had always hated this room. It was a tie to the other side the he sought to desperately escape from. His privilege, however, had come with a price. He had a duty to complete and the boss desired an update. So, he would get one. Taking his seat, he waited. The cold, ice-like air attacked his senses. How he began to long for the sun. Then, in an unbelievable turn of events, the room appeared to get even more frigid as the screen flickered to life, revealing an image of shadow.
"Ah, Agent T. It's good to see you again, my friend," an electronic voice garbled, its words felt devoid of their actual meaning. It was amazing how a message could be so cold when worded in such a way. Yet such subtleties were a specialty of the boss. He had long given up such treasures to ensure he was strong enough to lead. His sacrifice was supposed to be an inspiration. Yet all it conjured was fear.
"Boss," Agent T responded as he bowed his head respectfully, doffing his cloth mask. His face, however, was still conceal in the shadows. He was somewhat thankful for this despite the fact that his boss had long since conquered the shadows. He knew he didn't have to hide. In fact, he had known the boss for years and his boss was well aware of his injuries. It had to be a matter of pride.
"I assume things are going well…" the voice continued, "It has been awhile since your last report and this written report leaves a few…vague details."
"My apologies, sir. The allies of Yugi Muto mobilized more quickly to our push against Solomon Muto than originally anticipated. We've had to modify several timelines. It should be in the written report, sir," Agent T explained, keeping is voice cool and calm despite his rising nerves. Accelerate timelines weren't necessarily bad but they had a tendency to increase the frequency and number of errors. The boss hated errors.
"I know, I have it right in front of me," the voice continued, a shred of irritation in his voice, as the shadow shifted, "Your decision to engage Wheeler was quite reckless and dangerous. It could have been a major setback!"
"Sir, there were no issues. With the Fallen God in my possession— "
"The Fallen God is precisely why it was reckless. We can't afford to lose one of them this early in the game!" the voice boomed angrily. In this game, there was no room for mistakes. He had chosen to play a game with the best players in existence. He couldn't afford to slip up due to the mistake of an old compatriot.
"A thousand apologies, sir!" Agent T bowed his head fearfully. Keep this up and he would be recalled but he couldn't go. Not back there.
"Still, you've done well modifying the timelines. Also, you defeated Wheeler, a difficult adversary, despite your arrogance," the voice added with a sigh as a wave of calm and relief flooded Agent T. Agent T felt the air of relief escape his lungs. He would be safe for now. Recall was something every agent on this side feared. It was not a prospect any looked forward to.
"Thank you, sir. How are we on Project Rebirth?" Agent T asked as his mind returned to its previous militant level. Professionalism and pride would win back the bosses respect. That was the only way to ensure his own safety.
"Delay," the voice boomed with frustration, "The Prisoners escape has slowed our progress on the Gateway immeasurably. Intercepting him and confiscating his gear is what put us on this path in the first place and I'd hate to make another rash decision before the technology is ready." For once, Agent T was grateful for the veil of shadow protecting his face as he raised his arm, gingerly touching the side of his face. The first Gateway had been flawed and prone to turbulence. Never before had he ever encounter such trauma.
"Since his escape, he' done nothing but try to return to his side but we have possession of all of his belonging, including his beloved deck," the voice continued, "How are we on Yugi Muto?"
"My sources tell me he is with Mokuba Kaiba on their way to KaibaCorp and that both are actively looking for us, "Agent T responded, "In fact, my spies tell me that Mokuba Kaiba plans to use another Duel Monster's Tournament to 'lure his brother's kidnappers' out of hiding."
"Hmmm….and what is the name of this tournament?" the voice inquired, the image distorting as the boss began to scratch his chin deep in thought.
"The KaibaCorp Rebirth Tournament," Agent T replied flatly.
"How fitting…" the boss muttered, "Then by all means, ensure his plan succeeds. Send a representative to this little tournament!"
"Should I handle this personally?" Agent T inquired.
"No. Your arrogance has already risked one of the Fallen Gods already and while its exposure has strengthened our message we must be cautious," the voice continued as a new imaged flashed on the screen, "Send him in your stead. They'll never anticipate it."
"Yes, sir," Agent T finished as he bowed his head, "And sir? Why Yugi Muto? He's no threat to our plans." The boss let out a wicked howl of laughter, one that even sent a chill down Agent T's spine.
"Let's just say, its personal," the voice finished coldly as the screen cut off and the room was left shrouded in darkness yet again.
The city looked rather small from above as Yugi stared blankly out the window. Though his face didn't show it, he was lost in thought. He and his friends and decided that he would go with Mokuba while the rest of the group would remain behind and watch over their fallen friends and family. It had been a difficult decision but a necessary one. Yugi had to figure out why Mokuba had come and was determined to ask Mokuba for assistance. Mokuba was quick to divulge the information he felt Yugi needed to know. He had spared no details during the trip from the hospital to KaibaCorp headquarters. He had elected to tell Yugi everything, even the things he didn't want to share.
It appeared as though this incident had actually started four years ago when Seto decided to use the Quantum Cube, as well as his new technologies, in an attempt to transcend the mortal realm. His goals were simple, yet seemingly impossible, and he was committed to finding Atem. It didn't shock Yugi to hear that Seto had gone so far, he was always a man of determination. What had surprised him, however, was when he learned that Seto had decided to move forward despite his brother's protests. Mokuba meant the world to him and surely he would never do anything that would put his brother in harm's way. That had to mean emotional harm, too. Yet, he still had gone through with. Would he have done so if he had known what the result would be? Would knowing that after the first month his body and the cube would mysteriously vanish, leaving Mokuba in a world filled with sorrow, sway his decision. It appeared as though a dark shadow had drifted over Mokuba's life the moment he decided to go through with it.
Afterwards, Mokuba utilized all of KaibaCorp's pull and influence to scour the globe in what appeared to be a vain attempt to find his brother. Nothing would come of it. It appeared as though his brother had simply vanished. All that had been left behind was a computer file filled with Seto's old projects and ideas. Mokuba had even scoured them for some clue or perhaps even a method of finding his brother. All he found were the schematics to some sort of Academy for dueling and schematics for new gaming consoles. There was nothing for him to follow and yet he refused to believe Seto had simply abandoned him. He was certain his big brother would return to him. So, he pushed Seto's project forward. It was the only way for him to feel connected to his brother. Still, he always kept the eyes of KaibaCorp open for any clues.
Over time, ripples or rumors began to spread across the dueling community like wildfire. Rumors of strange individuals sporting extremely rare cards with vague backgrounds. Even those with identities felt fake, as if they didn't belong. Evidence appeared to dictate that even those with electronic backgrounds had had those backgrounds doctored in some ways. In fact, some seemed entirely fake. These individuals seemed to multiply and infiltrate every facet of the dueling world, from tournaments to gaming companies. Their voracity was only matched by their tenacity and it appeared as if they were searching desperately for something. Just what, however, was still a mystery. At the time, Mokuba had simply shrugged them off, believing them to be the remnants of Marik's Rare Hunters. Still, he kept tabs on them. You can never be too suspicious…his brother had taught him that much. Years began to fly by with nothing more than whispers in the wind. That would all changed a few weeks prior to the present.
It all began with a business deal with Mirrorside Incorporated, a small console vendor in the Americas. It was simply another business deal and one of thousands Mokuba had facilitated over the years. Mokuba had burned through thousands of pages of documents blindly before one day he noticed something. It was subtle but for some reason Mokuba couldn't shake the urge to look for it. The first letter of every page in a mammoth document formed a single name. One that had an inextricable tie to his dear brother.
Blue-Eyes White Dragon.
By all accounts, he shouldn't have notice it but he had. Call it fate or call it luck, Mokuba didn't care. It was just the light of hope he needed to burn away the darkness that had consumed his heart since his brother left. It was all he needed to find the strength to continue his search. That one statement was enough to affirm, in Mokuba's eyes, that Seto was still out there waiting to be found. So, he began to scour numerous documents and found similar messages, all them appeared to be pleading for assistance. Unfortunately, when he pushed Mirrorside Incorporated for answers they cancelled the contract and vanished. At the same time, they went underground, so too did various members of the dueling community, all individuals who had made miraculous climbs to the top in the recent years. Such a sudden occurrence couldn't be a coincidence and it couldn't be a coincidence that Solomon Muto and Joey Wheeler, both important individuals in the life of the King of Games himself, found themselves in dire situations shortly thereafter. It was all connected. Besides, in the past, whenever anything freaky happened it seemed like Yugi was always in the center of it all.
Whoever these people were, they were clearly targeting Yugi. For a personal vendetta or to take down the King of Games, Mokuba didn't know or really care. It was a way for him to find his brother. That was all that mattered. So, he devised a brilliant plan. This organization had infiltrated every facet of the professional dueling world. This was world, coincidentally, belonged to Mokuba and Yugi. The names KaibaCorp and Yugi Muto could move mountains in that world. Their influence within it was remarkable. So, Mokuba would use that influence. If he threw a Duel Monster tournament with the King of Games himself, odds were that at least one member of this group would attend. Those that didn't would fall under the spotlight and ridicule of duel fans and media around the world. If there were one thing creeps like them hate, its exposure. Even if they attempted to go deeper underground, they would be notice by the ever vigilant eyes of the Kaiba Corporation. Eventually, a string would be found, a loose end that would lead back to the heart of this organization. It was foolproof and it would work. It had to work but the only way it could work was it Yugi agreed to participate. Yugi had promised to give his final answer upon landing and Mokuba had decided not to push the subject, yet. Mokuba sat patiently as he watched Yugi silently making up his mind. He would say yes, Mokuba was sure of it.
It would be the KaibaCorp Rebirth Tournament. While the media would maintain that it was the Kaiba Corporation attempting to return to its former glory as the renowned tournament hosts, it would secretly server Mokuba's agenda. He would invite the top ranked duelist around the world and have them battle for a shot at the title. This would bring the spirits of all those he had invited and in doing so would reveal which individuals to target. This wouldn't be an innocent game of Duel Monsters but a vicious cage match to discover who the true enemies of the Kaiba family are. Once they could be identified, they could be taken out and used to track down the head of this wicked snake. For too long had it grown in the grass, devouring the world his brother had held so dear. For too long had it held Seto hostage. He would use this tournament to not only Rebirth his brother but his brother's legacy. It would propel Seto back to the glory he deserved and everything would return to the way it was supposed to be.
Where Mokuba's mind was calm, Yugi's was full of turmoil. This threat had apparently been growing over the year's and yet Yugi had failed to notice. This dark fact unleashed many feelings of discomfort and regret. Sure, he had faded out of the dueling world over the years but he had always kept up with current events. He knew all the faces, names and famous cards of the newest elite duelists. In fact, he had even grown fond of some the newcomers and had considered himself a fan. To think these duelists could be associated with a group that would target his friends and family. This news brought forth new feelings of disgust and anger. He would avenge his grandfather and stop them at any cost. Still, there were many questions and it appeared the only question that had been answered was an irrelevant one; why had no one challenged Yugi over the years. Perhaps they had been ordered not to.
But why? What was the end game? Similarly, Yugi had shared all he knew of the group as well as the events that had transpired with Mokuba, yet Mokuba had no answers. Just what was it they wanted with him and the world?
"We're beginning our descent to headquarters, sir!" the pilot announced, his voice booming over the speakers in the cabin. Yugi would have to make a decision soon. Mokuba began to tap his feet impatiently. Yugi had better not flake on him. Not now. This was too important. This was Seto.
"Are you in?" Mokuba finally broke down, desperation in the soul of his words, "Or out?" Yugi shifted slightly. There was only one aspect of Mokuba's plan that Yugi disliked. It involved his friends. The downside of being friends with some of the best duelists in the world was that those very duelists could get dragged into trouble with you. Rebecca and Joey were ranked high enough to warrant invitation to this tournament, to do otherwise would raise suspicion. Beside, Mokuba maintained that it would be advantageous to have friendly eyes across the tournament and allies in the crowd. Unfortunately, this mean his friend would inevitably find themselves in the line of fire. This was a concept Yugi wanted to avoid at all cost. Over the years, he had led his friends into countless troubles and risked the lives of not only himself but of those he held dearest.
Thinking of his friends conjured up an image of the Pharaoh and feelings of great conflict. Hadn't they already rid their world of evil and darkness? Yugi had passed the test. He had defeated the Pharaoh and proved that he was ready to be on his own. What he hadn't anticipated was taking on Atem's mantle of responsibility. That mantle was supposed to be rendered after the defeat of Zorc and yet here he stood. The helicopter's descent seemed to drag on, the seconds slipping like mud through a steel gate. Mokuba looked on with desperation.
This man held his last hope. All he cared about was finding his brother and bringing him home. The thought of Seto being caught in such a situation that he had actually asked for help made Mokuba sick to his stomach. His brother was a very self-reliant man and despised the thought of relying on others. To send such a message, even to family, wreaked of desperation and Mokuba wasn't going to allow this to go on. He needed to help his brother. He would do so with or without the help of Yugi Muto. The helicopter finally touched down. This was it. This moment would define the coming days, weeks, months, or possibly years but there was no going back. There was no going back when this group decided to target his friends and kidnap Seto Kaiba. There was no going back when this group viciously targeted an innocent and defenseless old man to get to his grandson. There was no going back once this group cowardly struck down his best friend in the shadows. They had crossed the lines and that warranted the harshest of judgement. The Pharaoh may be gone but his strength and courage still remained. As did his belief in justice.
"I'm in," Yugi spoke confidently as he stared intently into Mokuba's eyes. Both had had their families trifled with and both were going to ensure that it would never happen again.
