Chapter 8: Technology Advancement

Dark wasn't much of a pain as Pain.

Three Dark Gods left…

Technology advancement! I knew that once we got it, the remaining Dark Gods would copy us, but there is a catch. All they have are stupid evil creatures. We have humans who have lived a lifetime. We have humans with experience.

It took a month to set things up. Everyone, who didn't know technology from today, were eager to learn so now everyone from the past are part of today.

Sometimes, I wonder how Joey, Tea, and Tristen are doing. Yugi joins me in wondering. I want to ask the Egyptian Gods for a way to communicate with them, but we just received the new technology, I have decided to wait a bit longer.

When will the war end? Everyone asks me that at least once, despite the fact that I answer that I don't know. I try myself to answer that question, but it's impossibly with three Dark Gods in your face constantly.

Shalina…my dear Shalina…once again, the Dark Gods target someone I love. As Atemu, I cannot hide my fear for someone, but as Daryl, I am able to do the impossible…that is if the Egyptian Gods allow me to.

When will the war end?

I do not know.

-Atemu


Shalina sat up and stretched. She felt something brush her foot, and she looked over to the side. Atemu was gone…or at least she thought he was until she saw a lump under the covers.

"Atemu?" Shalina said, shaking the lump. The lump moaned softly and shifted its position. A tip of Atemu's hair poked out from underneath the covers.

"Atemu," Shalina said again.

"What?" Atemu mumbled, his head poking out from underneath the covers. He looked at her like a sleepy child looking at its mother.

"Look like a teenager please," Shalina said as Atemu rubbed his eyes.

"Sorry," Atemu said, sliding out a bit.

There was a knock on the bedroom door.

"Come in," Atemu said.

Yugi opened the door. "Em, Atemu, the generals need you to supervise the Arwing tests," he said, trying not to look at Shalina.

"I have a sweatshirt on, Yugi," Shalina said, so he didn't feel awkward.

"When does it start?" Atemu asked, pulling off his covers and rubbing his eyes again.

"In fifteen minutes," Yugi answered. "Isis has a quick breakfast ready for you."

"One of the advantages of having a priestess," Atemu said, pulling on his army boots. "I'll be out in about five minutes." Yugi nodded and closed the door behind him.

Once both of them were dressed, Atemu and Shalina went into the kitchen to eat breakfast, and Atemu left to supervise the Arwing tests.

"Do you think the Arwing pilots are going to pass?" Yugi asked.

Akhenamkhenan, who was in front of a laptop, answered, "They all aced their classes. I think they'll be fine."

"I don't think they'll be fine if Atemu's supervising them," Seto said. "Atemu's going to tell them everything: how well they did, what they did wrong, what they could try to practice on…and so on and so forth."

"He'll still pass them; everyone's on their best behavior with him," Mahado said.

"Cause he's the Pharaoh," Seto argued.

"No, being the Pharaoh has nothing to do with it," Akhenamkhenan said. "Yes, he does have respect, but everyone knows what he'll do if they misbehave."

"Kick them?" Seto asked.

"No," Shalina, Mahado, and Yugi said in unison.

"I don't know what he does, but whatever he does, it's effective," Akhenamkhenan said.

Seto stared at him. "Now, I'm scared," he said.


Atemu kicked the dirt. Every pilot had passed, but one had insulted him with the most effective insult. Atemu's right hand twitched in his pocket. He hated it when he lost his temper with a pilot. He didn't care if it was the generals, but a pilot…that was a different story.

Atemu stopped. He was about a mile away from the camp now; exactly where he wanted to be. For a month, he had been inventing a new machine that he wanted to try out. It was a flying snowboard. He knew that the generals were going to laugh at him, but before he gave them a chance, he wanted to perfect his new invention.

He placed a small blue cube on the ground. Stepping back four steps, he said, "Cube, activate." He started his stopwatch.

The cube lit up with different kinds of blue. Silently, the cube opened, becoming flat on the ground. The cube spread out and became solid.

Atemu stopped his stopwatch. "Twenty-three seconds," he said. "Have to work on timing." He placed a foot on the board and pushed on it. It was definitely solid. Slowly, Atemu placed his other foot on the board, and his feet were held by silent metal bands. Atemu jumped, bringing the board with him, and when he hit the ground, a small flame came out of the end of the board, and he was flying!

"Atemu isn't here, General Frost," Shalina said. She opened the door wide. "But you can come in and wait for him. You're here for the general things?"

"Yes, I am," Frosty said stepping inside. "Everyone needs the advancement. The Evil Army just found out and are working on their advancement."

"That's bad," Akhenamkhenan said.

Suddenly, there was a shout from outside, and when Shalina shut the door, there was a loud THUD! from outside.

"Shalina, I told you not to shut the door!" someone yelled from outside. There was a loud moan, and then a, "Cube, de-activate."

Atemu entered the cabin, rubbing his red forehead and holding a small blue cube in his other hand. He noticed Frosty first. "Hello, Frosty," Atemu said, as Shalina handed him an ice pack, which he pressed against his forehead.

"Hello, Pharaoh," Frosty said, slightly ticked off about being called 'Frosty'. "What's that?" he asked, pointing to the cube.

"The Snowboard Cube," Atemu said, tossing it at Frosty, who caught it. He went to sit down on the couch, holding his ice pack to his forehead. "It's not even close to finishing. It needs work on timing, steering, and the brake." Atemu glared at Shalina, and she and Shelby stuck their tongues out at him.

Frosty examined it. "You did this yourself?" he asked. Atemu nodded. "This is…cool." Everyone stared at him. "It's small," Frosty said. He tossed it up in the air and caught it. "And it's light." He tossed it to Atemu. "Mind if I help you create it?"

"What?" Atemu asked, shocked.

"I was an inventor in my time," Frosty explained.

"Oh," Atemu said. "I did not' know that." He looked at Frosty. "Sure, I might need the help."


"I got off easy," Atemu said at dinner that night. "Ol' Frosty has a soft side." His face changed to an evil expression, completed with an evil smile, and he rubbed his hands together. "And I know what that soft side is."

Akhenamkhenan shook his head. "Atemu has the advantage."

"All thanks to the cube," Atemu said, placing the cube on the table.

"No toys at the table," Shalina said, tossing the cube over her shoulder.

There was a clacker and a THUD! Atemu's chair was on the floor, and he was sitting against the wall, holding the cube in his hand.

"Whoa," Yugi and Mana said.

"Shalina," Atemu breathed. "I am so getting you tonight."

"I'll make sure Shelby and Bakura are in the room," Shalina countered. Shelby patted her back.

"And you claim that you're a woman who can take care of herself," Atemu backfired.

"Ouch," Mahado and Seto said.

Shalina put her face in her hands. "I don't think I'll ever win," she sighed. Then, she looked at him. "You're the one who lost to Yugi."

"That was two years old," Atemu said.

"So, you lost to him."

"To return to you."

Shalina opened his mouth to retort, but she closed it.

"Besides, on the world, Yugi is stronger than me," Atemu said, "But in the Afterlife…" He shook his head.

"Not a chance," Yugi said.

"Thank you, Yugi," Atemu said.


"All right," Shorty shouted to the large group of new pilots, Yugi included. "You all aced your tests. That's what's required, as you all well know. From now on, you'll have a different commander, and he's not easy to get by. For all of you misbehaviors, you'll be in lots of trouble." The new pilots laughed at this remark, knowing that the one misbehavior could pull off anything.

"Stand to attention," Shorty commanded, "And meet your new commander." Only the misbehavior, Cory didn't stand to attention.

The new commander entered the room. He was tal with muscular figures. His azure eyes were dangerously piercing, and his raven black hair was neat. He wore black high boots with black pants tucked into them and a black vest over a black jacket.

"This is Lt. Hunter," Shorty said. Lt. Hunter glared at Cory.

Suddenly to everyone's surprise, Cory was down on the floor, performing push-ups.

"Attention!" Lt. Hunter shouted when Cory got up from hundred push-ups. This time, every pilot, including Cory, got into position. Yugi did not dare to see if Atemu was watching from above.


"I wonder who Mana is going to get for a commander," Atemu said to Frosty. The two of them were in the control room, tilted back in their chairs with their feet on the empty panel boards.

"Are you sure you wanted Yugi under Lt. Hunter?" Frosty asked.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Atemu said. "It's only Cory that I want in place. Sometimes, I wish I was his commander so I can teach him a lesson, but Hunter will do."

"What did Hunter do?"

"He has the power of the mind," Atemu said. "Lt. Hunter will be able to put Cory in his place…or he can make a new character out of him."

"What's Daryl going to do?" Frosty asked, staring at him.

Atemu looked at him. "I'll see what I can do," he said.


"Yugi Mutou," Hunter said, loudly. Obediently, Yugi stepped forward. "Cory Stevens!" Cory stepped forward. "You two are going to show the other pilots how to fly. Go do what you have to do."

"Yes, sir," Yugi said. He ran over to the Arwing and climbed into the pit. As he had done in his trained, he prepared for flight. Nearby, Cory did the same.

"Boys, you'll be on a cruise with Commander…" Hunter was cut off.

Yugi and Cory flew out of the bay in their Arwings. They saw no on in the air, except themselves.

"Where is the commander?" Cory asked Yugi, through his helmat microphone."

"Who is the commander?" Yugi asked him. "I don't know where he is."

"Look out behind you," Cory said, suddenly. Yugi twisted his control stick, and his Arwing twirled out of the way of a laser. Yugi turned on the commander.

"Nice," the commander said. Yugi gasped. "It's Lt. Daryl," Atemu said (we'll call him Daryl for his new character).

"Great," Cory said, sarcastically. A laser hit his right wing. "Hey," Cory shouted at Daryl. "This isn't mine!"

"You break it, it's yours," Daryl backfired. Yugi laughed. "All right, I want you two to perform a few drills for me…"