Hey there, Yu-Gi-Oh fans. Thanks for staying with this saga. Get ready for the final chapter of story 1. David and the others face off against the real perpetrators of the string of robberies in Portland. And could this only be the beginning of a new adventure for David? You'll just have to wait and see. 'A new hand' starts now!

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh and all its characters are strictly the property of Kazuki Takahashi. David Cardigan and all original characters are my property.

Once they arrived at the downtown Precinct, the still unconscious Bryshevski was taken into custody. David made his quick trip home and found the card he had been looking for. Putting it in a pocket, he went back through the portal he'd created to the police station and joined Sam Bradley and Lieutenant Graham who was in full riot squad gear as they headed for the Portland convention center. "So what's the plan, boss?" Graham asked Captain Moyers.
"Up and above all else, we have to grab those duel disks and keep the Antonellis from using them."

David said, "Leave that part to me."

Sergeant Anderson, also dressed in riot gear, asked, "What if one of them manages to slip through us?"
David smirked dangerously and answered, "Oh I hope they do. It'll just mean I'll have to improvise something."

Moyers chuckled and explained, "Trust me, all of you. David Cardigan is not the sort of person you want improvising against you."

Sam Bradley commented, "Considering all the stories I heard from PSU, I believe it."

Moyers said, "I know you're worried, Mr. Bradley, but I promise you by the end of the night all of KaibaCorp's stolen gear will be returned to it."

Sam sighed. "I hope so. As it stands, I sent an e-mail to Mr. Kaiba detailing everything that's happened here thus far. I've promised him that tonight we'll be getting our equipment back. I don't want to look like a liar after everything I've gone through."

Captain Moyers answered, "You won't."

A short time later the police force arrived at the Portland convention center and set up everything they needed. Then they all settled down to wait. They didn't need to wait very long. The first sign of trouble came when Convention Center security reported their equipment was malfunctioning. The large dark room exploded with light as the doors were smashed off their frames. Summoned Skull and a Luster Dragon 2 trampled into the room followed by two individuals. The Hawkinses had to stifle a gasp when they saw themselves walking into the room. David tensed but felt a hand on one shoulder. Captain Moyers gave him the familiar wait-for-it look.

Behind the two, another man was operating a device projecting a light beam. The Rebecca and Arthur imposters pointed their monsters to the large glass cases of gems and jewelry. The creatures were about to take a swipe at them when Captain Moyers called, "NOW!"

Spotlights switched on and shined on the two. "Giuseppe and Irene Antonelli I presume?" Moyers said waiving everyone to stand up.

On cue, David called forth his magic and teleported behind the Antonellis. The Arthur Hawkins look-alike called in a deep set Brooklyn tone, "Summoned Skull, I order you to…"
Thwack! David grabbed a hold of the heads of Giuseppe Antonelli and his wife and cracked them together in one swift motion. Then, extending his hands, he magically unhooked the duel disks from their arms and floated them and the two decks of cards to his waiting arms. The holograms faded to reveal the two's true forms. Meanwhile, two officers grabbed the third man and started to drag him away. Sam Bradley came down from his hiding place and took one of the duel disks while David handed over the decks to a police officer. Sam sighed in relief. "Thank God. Mr. Kaiba will be pleased to get the disks back," he said, sounding like the weight of the world was coming off his shoulders.

Sergeant Anderson and several officers were rolling a medium-sized projector device into the room. Bradley went from relieved to elated. "Yes!" he cheered. "The stolen holographic projector! Mr. Kaiba will be ecstatic about us retrieving this in one piece. This projector in particular is bound for our Kaibaland in Orlando, Florida."

"Hey, you! Come back here!" an officer from outside yelled.

"Excuse me, Mr. Bradley, I need to borrow this a minute," David said hastily before he ran to join Captain Moyers and Sergeant Anderson outside. A couple of officers were on the ground groaning and rubbing their heads. Another officer explained, "It's Winters, sir. He surprised us."
Captain Moyers snapped, "Get after him. Winters is getting away!"

David put a restraining hand to Captain Moyers. "The hell he is!" David snapped.

Calling forth his magic, David leaped over the officers and high into the air as his magically enhanced jump carried him towards the escalator and stairs to the next level of the convention center. David heard what sounded like Rebecca and Arthur Hawkins behind him yelping in surprise. David, keeping himself focused on his target so his fear of heights didn't overcome him, landed on the escalator stairs and leaped to the top of them. Winters was running for the exit. "Hold it right there, Winters! It's over!" David called.

But Winters wasn't listening. David strapped on the disk and using his magical sense found the button to activate it. "Let's see. How did that go?" He said out loud thinking back to the duel disk demonstration. He brightened as he remembered. "Oh yeah…" He pulled the Celtic Guardian he'd found from his pocket and slapped it on to one of the red card slots. "I summon forth Celtic Guardian in attack mode!" he called.

Like a pro-duelist who had just made his move, Celtic Guardian appeared before David. Smiling wickedly, David with his now free hand pointed at Michael Winters and called out, "Celtic Guardian…" and then in a calm tone finished with, "Fetch!"

Celtic Guardian with amazing speed easily overcame the escaping man and grabbed him by the collar of the black sweater he was wearing. The Celtic Guardian then hauled the man back who was screaming things such as "Unhand me this instant!" and "Let me go, you overgrown pile of pixels!"

David casually approached Celtic Guardian and the felon. "Somebody's been a very naughty boy," he chirped in mock cheerfulness. "Really, Mr. Winters? Rather than admit you had a gambling problem, you let yourself get into debt with some bad people. Then you took to robbery and framing innocent people including your immediate subordinate for your crimes. Just tell me one thing, Winters. Why?"

The steely, grey-eyed 50 something snapped, "I've been at my position in KaibaCorp since Gozaburo Kaiba was in charge! He always overlooked my debt problems. But then I got word that Seto Kaiba was nosing around in my personal finances. So knowing my days were numbered and that I needed to get rid of this debt, I figured I'd teach a lesson to that upstart Bradley. I know he's been drooling over my position. I've seen him having conversations with others, cleverly turning them against me!"

David shook his head. "Um, actually, Sam Bradley didn't want your position. He just wanted you and he to get along. Not only has he said it, but KaibaCorp's employees have said it. So you mean to tell me you believe that the whole of KaibaCorp was conspiring against you?"
"Of course they were. What else could it be?" Winters snapped.

David sighed and shook his head. "Wow," he said in mock astonishment. "You really are paranoid. Well, Mr. Winters, thanks to this attempt to frame three innocent people, you've just lost your retirement and everything else. Don't worry, Mikey boy. You'll have plenty of time to think about what you've done where you're going." David then pressed the fore and index fingers of his free hand to Michael Winters's forehead. "SLEEP!" he shouted as he channeled the magic.

Michael Winters with a gasp was soon fast asleep. David looked at Celtic Guardian and said, "Come on, my friend. Let's get this fellow and the duel disk back to their proper owner."

A couple of days, later David dressed in street clothing waited in the lobby of Shenanigans restaurant in downtown Portland. He was reading the newspaper when Sam Bradley, Captain Moyers, and Sergeant Anderson entered. David got up and greeted everyone. "So, what's with bringing us all here, Mr. Bradley?" David asked.

Sam Bradley said, "It's a way of saying thank you and it's a celebration."

A hostess came and soon seated the group at a table. Sam Bradley then pulled out several pieces of paper with printed words on them. "The Kaiba brothers sent this to me yesterday. And I figured I owed the people who helped make this possible a measure of thanks."
He handed the sheets to the policemen and David. It was an e-mail which read:

To: Mr. Sam Bradley, junior executive of KaibaCorp Portland.

We were extremely pleased when we learned all stolen KaibaCorp equipment has been recovered unharmed. Although it saddens us, after recent events, to learn of Mr. Winters's betrayal my brother and I are somehow not surprised either. Throughout this situation we appreciate your integrity and your continued loyalty to us and the company. Therefore after examining your credentials we find that there is no one more capable of being the senior executive of our Portland offices than you. Your pay shall be adjusted accordingly effective immediately. We hope you will continue to provide us with loyalty and outspoken ability as an executive of our company.

Mokuba Kaiba, VP of KaibaCorp.

David also read:

"P.S. Don't screw up like your predecessor."
That was signed by Seto Kaiba. The policemen lowered the letters. "Wow, that message from Seto Kaiba was real inspiring," Moyers quipped, his voice dripping sarcasm.

Sergeant Anderson added, "Yeah, boss, it makes you feel all warm and squishy inside…not!"

David nodded in agreement then added, "Boy, Seto Kaiba must be loads of fun at parties."

Sam Bradley sweat-dropped and said, "Like I said, Mr. Kaiba isn't exactly the most sociable of people. But he knows how to promote talent in his company."

David nodded and stated, "Congratulations, Mr. Bradley. So this is why you invited us to this place."

The new senior executive of KaibaCorp nodded cheerfully.

After the celebratory lunch, David ran some errands and then went home. As evening began to fall over the City of Roses, David was sitting in the living room of his apartment when he heard the apartment phone buzz. He picked it up and answered, "Cardigan."

"Hello, David. Rebecca and I are here."

David nodded. "Hold on. I'll buzz you in."

A short time later, the two were in his apartment and took a seat on his couch. David smiled and commented, "I admit that it's not the greatest of accommodations, but I'm working on changing that. Now you said on the phone you wanted to talk to me?"

"We did," Arthur answered. "After seeing the kind of abilities you had I did some quick research, and, among the little known followers of the ancient Egyptian God Ptah, there are stories of a man who was to be the nameless Pharaoh's chancellor. But before that could happen, the Chancellor sacrificed himself to protect the then crown prince and the High Priest of the Egyptian kingdom from a powerful evil. The legends were very specific, speaking of a man who could send mental suggestions that caused people to act for the greater good. It also made mention of a man who could leap high into the air like a thrown spear and do many other things no mere human could. That man's name…was Ahmad Rahim."

David smiled. "And after what you saw, you and your granddaughter are convinced that I'm Ahmad Rahim?"

Dr. Hawkins nodded. "In my time as an archeaologist, I have seen many strange things which helped eliminate any cynicism or disbelief I might've had long ago."

David sat in the chair next to them and sighed. Arthur Hawkins was an observant and a formidable man. And David had the feeling he and his granddaughter were two people he would need to fulfill his own mission. David took a slow, deep breath and began, "Dr. Hawkins, I'll tell you what you want to know, but you should know there are two things I ask in return. First off, what you hear tonight must be held in absolute secrecy!"

The Hawkinses nodded and cohesively answered, "Of course."

David said, "I'll tell you my second condition after I'm done. First off, let me start by saying…that you're quite correct. I am the reincarnation of Ahmad Rahim."

And so David found himself telling the Hawkinses everything from his time in Egypt 5,000 years ago to his life up until recently. And when he was done, he felt like a great weight had been eased from his shoulders. "Good Heavens…" Dr. Hawkins gasped. "This is even more amazing than I thought. You've come quite a ways from your other self and this in spite of your handicap. And I had no idea you also knew Solomon."

Rebecca nodded. "Yeah I gotta' say I'm impressed too. You remind me a lot of Yugi. He's got a lot of heart, and he's the one who helped convince me that trying to get revenge on him wasn't worth the price tag."

David nodded, liking Yugi Muto even more. He's just like his grandfather. Muto–sensei always taught me revenge only leads to self-destruction.

Rebecca asked, "Um, David, what's this other condition to telling us who you are?"

David took a deep breath and thought, This is it. Okay, Cardigan, don't blow this!

He steeled his nerves. "This game Duel Monsters I believe holds the key to my finally finding and destroying the Necronomicon. The short of it is…can you teach me how to play Duel Monsters?"

The two looked surprised at first. Then Rebecca leaped to her feet as she let out a girlish squeal. She then ran around the room chirping, "I get to be a teacher! I get to be a teacher! I get to be a teacher!"

Arthur chuckled and raised his hands as he said, "Now, now, Rebecca. Calm down. Remember, there are people close by here." Then he said to David conspiratorially. "I think you just made my granddaughter's day."

Rebecca meanwhile calmed down and said, "Oh, yes of course, Grandpa."

The little girl zipped back to the couch and sat by her grandfather as she pulled out her deck. She looked at David as she closed her eyes and said in her best commanding little girl tone, "Sit right down, young padawan. Your lessons are about to begin."

David chuckled, genuinely amused by Rebecca's actions. This was going to be an interesting mentorship David realized. "I'm all ears…sensei."

David quickly stared at the darkening sky outside and felt a familiar chill race through him. Remembering the dream, he thought, I choose my duty!

"Done!" a mysterious voice said in his head.

That night marked the beginning of David's journey into the world of Duel Monsters and to a destination he suspected would be more incredible than anything he had seen before.

The second journey of a lifetime has just begun!

And so 'A new hand' comes to its conclusion, and David is beginning his journey into dueling. HEY THERE! Where do you think you're going? David's story has only just begun. Next time, get ready for a tale of supernatural musical mayhem. David faces off against a mysterious spell caster and has his first duel. Get ready for Stealing Thunder part 1. See you next time. Read and review.