Notes: David Tanaka is the canonically unnamed character Duke speaks with near the beginning of episode #46, identified in the dub as his store manager.
Chapter Eight
It had been a relatively quiet night at the Black Crown. Or at least, it had been until people started running in shouting about something called the Neo-Orichalcos and announcing that it had come to Domino City. Now, terrified of being cornered by wielders of this bizarre new magic, people were swarming to the game shops to buy cards and obtain Duel Disks.
David Tanaka wasn't sure what to make of it. The business side of him was delighted. They were certainly going to turn a large profit tonight. But the other side of him was worried. All the commotion was happening at the business dinner Duke was attending. He had sent a quick text to make sure Duke was alright, and Duke had responded quickly, but had sounded clipped.
I'm alright. Some people aren't. Will talk later.
David had turned on the television in the main room to try to figure out what had happened ahead of time, instead of waiting around in suspense for Duke to come back and tell him. What he learned shook him up more than a little. Joey Wheeler had been in a Neo-Orichalcos duel and won. On the other hand, Leonhard von Schroider had been targeted and lost. And for him, the penalty had apparently been more than a stolen soul.
David slumped back. Domino City never failed to attract every weirdo and sicko under the sun. This seemed the worst yet. Or maybe the worst since Pegasus; David had never gotten over being told how Pegasus had been willing to steal the soul of a ten-year-old child to further his goals. Not to mention being perfectly willing to arrange the murder of a 16-year-old business tycoon.
Duke had been very shaken as well, and although he continued with the business deal he had made with Industrial Illusions, he no longer blindly idolized the man. At the same time, he seemed more forgiving than David felt like being. Probably because of his father. In spite of Duke's cynicism, he was one of the most forgiving people David had ever met. An odd contrast, yet for Duke it somehow seemed to make sense.
At least, according to Yugi, Pegasus had probably been corrupted by the Millennium Eye. Some of the Items had held a darker presence than others, and the Eye had been unfortunate enough to have one such darker presence. That didn't really make David feel better, since he always wondered where the corruption ended and the real person began, but it was nice to be able to think that Pegasus wasn't a complete wacko now that he no longer had the Eye. Still, he planned to keep his distance anyway.
He looked up at the sound of the side door opening. Duke was trudging in, still in his tuxedo. He tugged at the bow tie until it came loose and plodded towards the elevators.
"Hey!" David hurried after him. "Duke, are you alright?"
Duke gave him a tired look. He could have just gone home, but he really didn't want to be alone right now. He had returned to the Black Crown because he had hoped David would still be there. Not that he would admit it.
"I'm not, really," he said. "But I'm a hypocrite to admit it. I didn't feel I could give Tristan any comfort, yet here I am showing I'm upset." The elevator opened and he stepped inside, at the same time reaching behind himself to pull the elastic out of his hair. Raven locks bounced over his shoulders.
David got into the elevator with him and they rode upstairs to their offices. "I saw the news," he said. "Duke, anyone would be upset about what happened! Some nutcase broke into a social event and tried to steal someone's soul. Worse, a kid lost his life."
Duke nodded and folded his arms. "We looked high and low for something, anything that would be a clue as to why it happened or who did it. None of us found a thing. And we were all shaken up in our own ways, so we decided to call it a night." He leaned back against the elevator wall and closed his eyes.
"Sounds like a good idea to me."
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. David waited for Duke to walk out before he followed suit.
Duke crossed the hall to his office and flopped on the couch. "Ugh. I don't know what to think or do. I hate what happened. Part of me wants to talk about it, but the other part thinks there's no point. What really is there to say? We all know how rotten it was."
David came in and leaned against Duke's desk with crossed arms. "But everyone feels a little differently about it. Talking about how you personally feel has a point."
Duke covered his eyes with one hand while managing a smirk. "I don't even really know how to put it into words. I'm angry. But who wouldn't be? I'm creeped out and disturbed. Again, so would anyone else. And . . ." He hesitated. "It makes me think of when I was a kid and afraid of my father. But that doesn't make sense, since Leonhard wasn't attacked by someone close to him. Siegfried would never . . ." He sighed, shaking his head. "You see? It just sounds stupid."
"The only real parallel is that you were hurt as a kid too," David said. "But that's a good enough parallel. It's not stupid. It makes perfect sense that seeing what happened to Leonhard would trigger those painful memories for you."
Duke gave a humorless chuckle. "You should have been a therapist."
"Ah, but it's no fun psychoanalyzing strangers," David quipped.
"Ha ha." Duke sighed, now moving his entire arm to cover his eyes.
David sighed too. "Is there anything that will cheer you up?"
A shrug. "Maybe things will look better after a good sleep. That's what they always say, at least."
David studied him. "How did you get along with Tristan and the others tonight?"
"About the same as usual."
"So, not really bad, but not really good either," David deduced.
"There was too much garbage going on for it to be good."
David paused. "You said you didn't feel you could give Tristan any comfort," he remembered. "Did he want any?"
Duke frowned. "You know, I'm not sure. I thought he was just talking hypothetically or maybe being obnoxious by deliberately taking a dig at me. I mean, he's never wanted any comfort from me before. If I'd honestly thought he was sincere, I wouldn't have brushed him off even though I didn't know what I could do."
"I thought so," David said.
"Ugh." Duke sat up, his loose black hair falling around his shoulders. "If he actually did mean it, I must have looked like a real jerk."
"Well," David said, "you two really aren't close. He probably didn't expect or hope for anything from you because of that."
"That's what I'd like to think," Duke said.
He got up and went to the water cooler. "It looks like business is booming tonight."
"It is," David said. "Everyone wants to be 'armed' in case they're accosted by a Neo-Orichalcos soldier. Or at least, that's what some of them have said."
"Great for business. Not so great for the world." Duke slowly sipped his water, staring out at the glittering lights of the city.
"You said it," said David.
Duke gave him a sideways glance. "Not even someone as greedy as you is happy about this?"
"Even I've got my limits," David responded.
"Yeah." Duke heaved a sigh. "I wish this Neo-Orichalcos did."
xxxx
Yugi was exhausted and heart-weary as he trudged through the door of the Turtle Game Shop. None of them had found any clues to what had happened to Leonhard, and the more time went by, the more the tragedy really sank into their hearts. They had all parted on depressed and grim terms, not sure at all what to do.
He was half-expecting Solomon to ask what he was doing back early, but instead his grandfather met him with urgency in his eyes. "Yugi!" he exclaimed. "Good, you're back! I just had a very important telephone call from an Alister Mackenzie."
"Alister?!" Yugi stared. "What did he want?" Alister was the last person Yugi had ever expected to hear from again. Even though he lived in town, he and the other bikers tended to keep their distance, which was perfectly alright with Joey and Seto. Yugi wouldn't have minded seeing them at times, since they were free of the Orichalcos' corruption and their desires for vengeance, but this had apparently not been a social call.
"I recorded our conversation, at his insistence," Solomon said. "He wanted to be sure you received the message exactly as he wanted it told." He led Yugi over to the counter, where he had placed a tape player. "But I'm afraid something happened to him. He was having quite a struggle speaking most of the time and eventually there was a crash and the call disconnected."
"Oh no!" Yugi gasped. "Was he attacked by the Neo-Orichalcos?!"
Solomon gave him a somber look. "You'd better just listen to his message." He pressed Play.
"Are you recording now?" came Alister's voice. Instead of his usual tones, his voice was pained and raspy.
"Yes," said Solomon.
"Alright. What I need to say is that the Neo-Orichalcos is my fault."
Yugi gasped.
"You had better explain yourself," Solomon said.
"I am. The Ishtars were investigating a cult that was trying to utilize the power of these mysterious tanzanite stones. Because it was similar to the Orichalcos, Ishizu Ishtar contacted Raphael, Valon, and myself. We provided advice and agreed to go with them to the island where this cult was operating and try to stop them. That . . . turned out badly. Our enemies were apparently killed and buried when the building we were dueling in collapsed from the force of the Neo-Orichalcos' blasts. Marik, Ishizu, Raphael, and Valon were also apparently killed. Rishid and I brought their bodies back from the island."
"Oh no," Yugi whispered.
"I . . . honestly can't say what happened to me. Something snapped when I found Raphael and Valon dead. I'd like to say the tanzanite stones influenced my mind, but it could be that I'm simply trying to deny the darkness in my heart again. In any case, I . . . decided that I couldn't accept their deaths and maybe the tanzanite stones could actually help instead of hurt. I thought maybe they could bring back the dead. I convinced Rishid to start a new organization and dubbed the stones the Neo-Orichalcos." Alister groaned and it sounded like he thudded into something.
"What happened?" Solomon demanded in concern.
"I just got a little dizzy," Alister told him. "Anyway, I tried to run this organization differently than Dartz. I taught my soldiers to pick their victims carefully so only those deserving of the Neo-Orichalcos' judgment would be targeted. It got out of hand. No one was supposed to actually die and children were supposed to be completely off-limits. Leonhard von Schroider never should have been attacked."
Yugi shook his head. "I can hardly believe what I'm hearing."
"I couldn't either," Solomon said. "But wait."
"We have soldiers everywhere. Tonight one of them called me from the hospital. Siegfried von Schroider took his brother there. And he's alive, Mr. Muto! This is very important. He's alive but in suspended animation."
"Why, that's . . . that's wonderful," Solomon gasped. "It's incredible."
"Rishid's and my loved ones are still alive too. We just discovered it. They're also in suspended animation. I've been blind! Whether that's because of the Neo-Orichalcos stones or just my own grief, I don't know."
In the background, Rishid suddenly spoke up with, "Do not blame Mr. Mackenzie entirely. I went along with him, though I didn't like the idea. We were both blind. But I have seen madness before and I can tell you for a surety that he was not in his right mind when he presented the idea of the Neo-Orichalcos to me."
"Nevermind," Alister said with impatience. "That's not important. And you have never been with me all the way on this. I was the ringleader. I convinced you it might work. No, that it would work. I made myself believe it with all my heart." Another thump and a sharp hiss of pain.
"What's going on there?!" Solomon demanded.
"I think the . . . stone is punishing me for what I'm saying," Alister choked out. "It feels like the weight of every soul and mind stolen by the Neo-Orichalcos is crushing down on me. And it still has enough influence over my actions that I can't throw it away. I've tried." He sounded completely agonized now. "God forgive us for what we've done! I wasn't different from Dartz. I became Dartz! I had no right to choose who deserved to be attacked. No right at all. . . ."
"Where are you calling from?" Solomon asked.
"A small company. . . . Stellar Solutions. . . . They make video games.
"I don't know how to save the people in suspended animation, or any of the other people the Neo-Orichalcos has claimed in one way or another. Maybe the answer is back on the island where the cult was operating. Maybe I'll be able to help find it. But if I can't, at least you'll have . . . the truth . . . as I know it. . . . And maybe you'll be able to do something with it. . . ." Another crash, more fierce and final that time.
"Mr. Mackenzie?!" Rishid cried.
The conversation cut off.
Yugi rocked back. He was still reeling, yet he knew there was no time to stand around being shocked. He dove for the phone. "I'll have to get everyone together again! We've got to go out there and see what happened!"
"It sounded very bad, Yugi," Solomon frowned. "I'm going with you."
Yugi paused in dialing Téa's number. "But Grampa . . ."
"No buts!" Solomon interrupted. "I may not be as young as I used to be, but I can still help! And you'll need a car to get there quickly. You had better get Duke as well as the others."
Yugi nodded. "Téa?" he greeted when she answered. "Something big has just happened. We have to go out to a place called Stellar Solutions. I'll get Duke and maybe you can call Joey and Tristan. We'll swing by to pick all of you up."
"Yugi?!" Téa was stunned. "What's going on?!"
"I'll explain when we're all together," Yugi replied. "Just tell Joey and Tristan that Leon is alive but in suspended animation!"
"Huh?!"
"Bye!" Yugi hung up and ran for the door.
Solomon hurried after him. "I wonder if Bakura and that thief would also be of help," he said as they burst into the night air.
Yugi nearly stopped running from the shock. "Oh! Because of the Infinity Ring Shadi gave him!" He looked over at Solomon. "That's a great idea, Grampa! We don't know much of what the Infinity Ring can do yet. It couldn't hurt to see if it could bring our friends out of the suspended animation!"
"Exactly," Solomon smiled. "After all, Bakura said that the thief was given a chance to earn a second chance at life because he was needed in some dangerous, upcoming conflict. For all we know, this is it."
"I guess it could be," Yugi agreed. He raced across the street and through the doors of the Black Crown. "Duke!" he called. "Are you here?!"
David appeared at the upstairs balcony. "He's here," he said in surprise, "but we were just about to go home."
Duke shuffled out of his office and over to join David. "Yugi?" He blinked, clearly surprised as well.
"Duke, Leon is alive but in suspended animation!" Yugi blurted. "So are Marik, Ishizu, and two of the bikers. We know who's behind the Neo-Orichalcos and why. We need to go out there right now. Can you come?!"
"Well, sure, but . . ." Duke stared as the words really began to sink in. "Leon's alive?! And those other people?! Are you sure?!"
"I trust my source," Yugi said. "Come on! We've got to hurry!"
"I'll be right down." Duke ran for the stairs this time, pulling his hair back in a ponytail as he went.
David chased after him. "I really don't get any of what's going on here, but are you going to have enough room for everybody in your car?"
Yugi mentally calculated the number of people. "I don't think there will be enough room," he realized.
Duke frowned. "Just how many are we talking about?"
They ran outside and over to Duke's classic car.
"About . . . eight altogether," Yugi said slowly. "And we might have to take someone away from Stellar Solutions. I'm not sure."
"I'll help," David volunteered.
"Really?" Yugi looked to him in surprise and smiled. "That'd be great. Thank you."
"I just hope the thief will be willing to help out," Solomon remarked.
Duke nearly dropped his car keys. "We're getting Yami Bakura?!"
"The Infinity Ring might break the Neo-Orichalcos' spell over our friends in suspended animation," Yugi explained. "If he doesn't want to try, I'm sure Bakura can convince him."
"Suspended animation, magical rings, ancient thieves . . ." David shook his head. "Is this just an average adventure for you?"
"Um, yeah, kind of," Yugi said.
xxxx
Téa was tense by the time Duke pulled up at the Gardner home. Tristan had walked over there, not wanting to just sit and wait, and they were both standing on the front porch. When the convertible arrived, they rushed down and Tristan flung open the back door.
"We can't get in touch with Joey," he frowned. "He's not at home."
Téa nodded. "I was hoping things would be better with his mom and Serenity moving back to town and Joey moving in with them after his dad disappeared. But he still doesn't get along with his mom so well."
Tristan continued, "Mrs. Kawai doesn't know where he is and I didn't want to say too much and worry Serenity, but apparently he went out for a walk right after he got home. I'm afraid he's doing something stupid, like trying to track down those Neo-Orichalcos freaks all on his own!"
"Oh no!" Yugi exclaimed.
"That's Joey for you," Duke said in exasperation.
"And we don't have time to look for him right now," Yugi said. "We have to get to Stellar Solutions. Someone may be badly hurt. And if it's from the Neo-Orichalcos, calling for an ambulance probably wouldn't help."
Tristan and Téa piled into the car and Duke sped off.
"So what really is going on, Yugi?!" Téa demanded.
Yugi held up Solomon's tape recorder. "This should explain it." He pressed Play and everyone listened in stunned shock to Alister's message.
"So we were right that it was one of Dartz's old crew," Tristan breathed.
"But we never guessed why," Téa added. "How horrible!"
"I'm sure the stones really were influencing them as soon as that blast happened," Yugi said. "I don't think either Alister or Rishid would have done this if their minds were clear."
"Maybe," Tristan frowned. "But those bikers were pretty much nutjobs from the first time we met them."
"As far as I know, they were all under the influence of the Orichalcos," Yugi said. "That does make a difference."
"Hey, why is that other car behind us?!" Téa blurted. "Are we being followed?!"
"It's David," Duke said. "We have to go pick up Bakura and Yami Bakura . . . hopefully. Yugi thinks maybe the Infinity Ring can break the suspended animation."
"That would be awesome," Téa exclaimed. "Hey . . ." She frowned. "I wonder if we should let Kaiba know what's going on."
"We need to," Yugi agreed, "but I kind of wanted to get to Stellar Solutions first. If Marik could be brought out of the suspended animation now, then we wouldn't have to call Kaiba with the news of him being in it."
"And that would be better for Mokuba," Tristan knew.
"Good point," Téa conceded.
Lights were still on at Bakura's house, despite the late hour. Yugi got out with the tape recorder in hand and hastened up the walkway and front steps.
Yami Bakura opened the door before he made it all the way up. "What do you want?" he grunted. One of the known powers of the Infinity Ring was that he could switch between his mortal form and his Yami Bakura form, and tonight he had chosen to appear in his Thief King form. He leaned on the doorframe with one arm as he tore into a chicken drumstick.
"I need your help," Yugi said. "Some of our friends have been put into a magical suspended animation and we're hoping your Infinity Ring might be able to reverse it."
Yami Bakura growled, displeased. "Does this have to do with the Neo-Orichalcos nonsense?"
"Yes," Yugi nodded. "I know it's awkward, but please, will you come? If there's any chance of saving them without first having to defeat the Neo-Orichalcos, we need to try."
Yami Bakura rolled his eyes. "If I say No, Bakura will only pester me until I say Yes. It would be faster to just come now."
"Yami?" Bakura came down the stairs, their tuxedo cat Oreo in his arms. "What's going on?"
"Problems, apparently," Yami Bakura retorted. "Put the cat to bed and come on."
Oreo meowed in displeasure.
Bakura petted her head. "It will be alright, Oreo," he soothed. "Hopefully we won't be gone long." He went back upstairs and returned moments later without her. Yami Bakura barely waited for him to step outside before pulling the door shut.
"I hope we won't be too late," Yugi worried.
"What on Earth is wrong, Yugi?" Bakura asked.
"Grampa will explain on the way," Yugi said, ushering them to David's car.
xxxx
Seto and Mokuba were also feeling grim after the disasters at the business dinner. So was everyone else; things had broken up shortly after Leonhard had been found. Now the Kaibas were heading home, not sure what to say. The silence was deafening.
Mokuba was finally the one to break it. "Seto . . . what if what happened to Leonhard . . . happened to Marik too?"
"We don't know that it has," Seto said. "Let's not worry about it until we know it's happened."
"Easy for you to say," Mokuba mumbled.
Seto paused. He had been caught up in his thoughts, outraged at what had happened to Leonhard and fearful of the same thing happening to Mokuba. He would do everything he could to make sure it didn't, but the past had shown him that there were some things he wasn't able to fight against.
"I'm sorry, Mokuba," he said. "I know Marik is your friend. And I know you can't help but worry after what happened tonight. But he could be perfectly alright."
"I don't think so," Mokuba said softly. "Not when nobody answers at his house and we haven't heard anything for so long."
Suddenly the limo swerved. Seto slammed into the inside of the door. "What the . . . ! What are you doing?!" he snapped at the chauffeur.
"I'm sorry, Sir!" the chauffeur exclaimed. "The road is blocked!"
"Huh?" Seto turned to look out the window. The blue light of the Neo-Orichalcos was right in the middle of the road. Not only that, it was shrinking. The duel had just ended.
"Seto!" Mokuba screamed. "That's Joey in the duel! And this time he just lost!"
