As they drew nearer to the city, the Pharaoh's thoughts were racing. They didn't have much time. The presence of the strange lights was evidence of that. He could feel the stress rising when Joey cut into his thoughts.
"Hey, what happened to Kaylie?"
"Huh?" Kaiba looked up, suddenly interested in the conversation.
"We... We actually don't know," Tea admitted. "After our train derailed, she was gone."
"Where do you think she could have gone?" Tristan wondered.
"I don't know," the Pharaoh continued looking out the window. "But I have a feeling we'll run into her again soon. She's here to help us, and she'll know where to go to find us."
"Right," Joey nodded. "I forgot dat she knows everything about us..."
"Why would some random girl know everything about you nerds?" Kaiba cut in coolly.
"Not just us," Tristan folded his arms. "You too. And she knows our futures too."
The CEO smirked, "Sounds like she's conned you."
"It's true though," Tristan growled. "She isn't from our world. She knows what is going to happen to us."
"Then why not just tell us?" Kaiba taunted.
"Because she isn't allowed to," Joey came to Tristan's rescue. "She thinks dat if she tells us what is going to happen, den things might not turn out da way dey should."
"Whatever," Kaiba folded his arms. "You losers fall for everything."
"Then explain how she holds an authentic Blue Eyes White Dragon card, while you still possess all three of your own," the Pharaoh finally cut in, having heard enough.
"I'm sure she found a way to convince Pegasus to make one," Kaiba snapped. "Obviously she isn't who she's telling everyone she is."
"Open your eyes man!" Tristan yelled.
"Tristan," the Pharaoh looked at him disapprovingly. "Whether you believe it or not, Kaiba, she isn't from here, and she does know more than we do. Finding her again would benefit us greatly."
"What would she be doing here, if she is from another world?" Mokuba asked timidly, wanting to know, but not wanting to make his brother angry.
"It's complicated," the Pharaoh regarded the child with a kind look. And I'm not sure I fully understand her presence here. "Something bad was going to happen to her in her world, and someone or something protected her from it."
"So she's going to stay here now?" Mokuba had to hide a hopeful smile.
"No!" Kaiba shouted at the same time Pharaoh shook his head.
"Geez... what's got your panties in a bunch?" Tristan frowned at Kaiba. "It's not like you believe any of this... do you?"
"I don't know what's going on," Kaiba glared. "But I would appreciate you not putting ideas into my brother's head."
"Even if dey're correct ideas..." Joey muttered.
"Don't worry," Pharaoh turned away from Kaiba to stare out the window. "The danger in her world has passed, and we promised we would get her home."
I wonder what brought her here. I know she thinks it was Dartz, but something tells me that can't be it. Whatever brought her here is bigger than this. Perhaps the most powerful force we've ever come across in a manner of speaking.
"Do you think you'll be able to get her home?" Mokuba shrugged off his brother's disapproving look.
"She was in contact with a boy from her world," the Pharaoh looked uninterested in the conversation, despite his continuing it. "That seems to suggest that the bridge between our worlds still exists."
"How was she in contact with someone from her world?" Mokuba asked.
The Pharaoh noticed Kaiba perk up a little, though he still tried to appear disinterested, "She told us that after Kaiba fixed her phone on her arrival here, that it began to pick up text messages from a number that she had blocked in her world from contacting her somehow. I don't know how it works. Perhaps your brother could tell you."
"Hardly," Kaiba stared straight ahead angrily. "I didn't fix her phone."
"Huh?" Tea looked at the CEO, puzzled. "If you didn't do it... then who did?"
Kaiba nodded his head at his brother, who was grinning broadly. The entire gang gave a collective "What!?" while Mokuba continued to blush proudly.
"Seto isn't the only genius in our family. It was fairly easy to fix, but I'm not sure I could tell you how communicating with another world works either..." he looked at his brother smugly, obviously expecting some sort of praise.
"Enough," Kaiba didn't drop his angry stare for a second. "Until she can prove that she is from another world, I'll assume she is a liar and a con artist. I don't want to hear another word about her. And seeing how this is my helicopter, I wouldn't push my buttons."
"Thought these copters belong ta Dartz now..." Joey muttered under his breath, earning him more than a few dirty looks from those aboard.
I wonder what role she will continue to play. The Pharaoh tuned out the others as the conversation turned to other topics. I worry Dartz will come after her again. I worry she won't be able to find us again. Mostly I just worry about what could happen if her soul were taken. There's so much we don't understand about the Orichalcos without the added layer of another world. Could be it is much the same as the monsters' realm... or there could be more. We just don't have enough information! He furrowed his brow in frustration.
"Pharaoh?" He softened up as soon as Tea touched his arm. "It'll be okay. We'll get Yugi back."
"Yes," and for the first time, he realized that it wasn't Yugi he was worried about.
Kaylie watched as Duke waved the helicopter down, her heart pounding. Things were about to pick up and get crazy now, and to add to that, she was done being idle. This was her fight too. The future was just as uncertain as it had been in her life before this craziness had happened... and that scared her. She had gotten used to the predictability of her situation.
As the others disembarked the helicopter, she avoided eye contact. The wind whipped her hair around as it took off to take Alister and Rex to the hospital. Everyone watched it leave, not bothering to greet each other until they wouldn't have to yell over the engine. Finally, the Pharaoh stepped forward.
"Professor, I'm glad you're alright," she saw him look her way briefly in the corner of her eye. He was unsurprised to see her.
"Me too," Joey put in. "Hey, how was da roadtrip guys?"
"Coulda been better," Duke frowned. "We hit a pretty big snag on the way."
The eyes that turned on her in that moment made her heart pound. It was everything she could do to not snap at them to quit assuming and just listen for once.
"Flat tire?" Joey asked, suspicion evident in his voice.
"We ran into Mai and one of those freaks," Duke gently laid a hand on Kaylie's shoulder. "The one that jumped in and ended your duel."
"Dat jerk!" Joey's attention was quickly deflected.
"He's really got it in for you man," Duke's tone was one of warning. "And I'm afraid Mai's still on their side too."
Joey growled angrily, "Just wait'll I find him!"
"Hey," Rebecca stepped forward, partially curious and partially trying to defuse the situation. "Any word yet on Yugi? We have to find him. If you don't get him back, I'll never forgive you. Plus, we need him to fight these guys!"
"I miss him too," the Pharaoh looked at her kindly. "And I promise I will rescue him. You have my word. But I need to pay a little visit to Kaiba Corp first."
"Let me come with you!" Rebecca looked determined. "You'll need some tech support."
"This isn't some kind of field trip kid," Kaiba regarded the girl with a scoff. "But I guess you can't tag along if you want."
"I'm no kid," Rebecca cried.
"Whatever you say kid," Kaiba rolled his eyes.
"Me too..." Kaylie finally looked up and stepped forward.
The Pharaoh was shocked as he stared at the girl who had so mysteriously dropped into their lives, "Kaylie..." She looked so much older than she had when they met him. There was no mistaking her age now. She looked determined, and a light was in her eyes that hadn't been there before.
"Isn't that against your rules or something?" Kaiba mocked.
"Screw the rules..." Kaylie said with finality. Her mouth twitched into the hint of a smile, as if she found something amusing that she didn't bother to explain.
"Why da sudden change of heart?" Joey asked, confused. "Aren't you risking a lot here?"
"Joey's right Kaylie," The Pharaoh regarded her with the kindest look he could, but something told him he was about to lose this battle. The anger and determination in her eyes was clear.
"Dartz wants to use me to get to my world," she said through grit teeth. "I can't stand idly by and just watch him do that..."
"How'd you find that out?" Tea questioned innocently.
"Mai," Kaylie looked at the ground. "Mai told me a couple hours ago... She wanted me to help her find Joey."
"You saw Mai?" Joey's anger evaporated, but only for a second. "You saw Mai, and you didn't lead her to us? We could have helped her!"
"You'll find her eventually!" Kaylie countered.
"Oh, so you'll stick you nose in our business when it means saving your world and your skin, but not when it means saving our friends?" Joey spat.
"Have you ever stopped to think that maybe it isn't always about you?" The blonde snapped.
I have to stop this, before it gets out of hand. "Joey!" The Pharaoh looked at his friend. "That's enough."
"Have you ever stopped to think that there's more at stake here than just things that affect you!?" Joey shrugged the Pharaoh's warning off. "You selfish-"
"What do you know!? You're a stupid cartoon character who always gets what you want! You always win! You'll never know what it's like to feel fear and not know what to do, because someone else is calling the shots!" Kaylie burst out in a fit of rage that left everyone shocked.
We haven't given it much thought since she told us. The Pharaoh was shaking now. She told us that we were a cartoon in her world. That all our actions, our story... It's prewritten. That we aren't in control of what we are doing... But that's wrong. It can't be right. Only I control my destiny. "That was uncalled for," He looked at Kaylie disapprovingly.
After a moment of silence, Joey faced Kaylie, anger mingled with hurt, "Well, you were right about one thing... If we are cartoon characters in your world, den dat makes me a main character... Which means it is always about us."
Kaylie didn't say anything more. Instead she just turned away quickly. The Pharaoh could see tears running down her cheeks as she walked over to Kaiba and Mokuba, looking at the ground, "We have to get moving. We're running out of time."
Kaiba looked at Kaylie as if he was disgusted with every fiber of his being before turning away without bothering to give her a response, "I don't know about you geeks, but I have a company to save, so whoever's coming with me, let's move."
"Okay!" Mokuba turned from Kaylie after giving her a bewildered look.
"Good luck," Tea turned to the Pharaoh. "And be careful!"
"Right!" The Pharaoh nodded, and he took off running after Mokuba, Kaylie, and Kaiba.
Kaylie could feel the Pharaoh's stare burning into the back of her head, but she didn't turn around. Her blood was still boiling, and she was not going to let him see her cry. It was hard enough to keep up with Kaiba and Mokuba without the heart to heart she knew the Pharaoh was wanting to have.
It wasn't long before Kaiba stopped them and looked down at a sewer cover with a little disdain, "Down here."
Once they had all climbed down the ladder, Mokuba moved to run down the dark tunnel that stretched out before them, but Kaiba stopped him, "You stay here."
The younger brother nodded, not wanting to protest his older brother. Everyone's mood was very solemn.
"I'll stay up here and help as technical back up," Rebecca pulled her laptop up. "You'll just have to wait a couple moments while I boot up my computer."
Kaiba looked annoyed, but all Kaylie felt was panic bubbling up. Sure enough, the Pharaoh soon had his hand on her shoulder, "Can I talk to you a moment?"
She allowed herself to be pulled away from the others, staring at her shoes. I thought perhaps I could get these flawless good guys to like me to convince myself I wasn't a bad person... That the choices I made didn't make me a monster... But now I've made what are possibly the nicest, purest hearted people mad at me.
"Kaylie," The Pharaoh took her hand gently. When she didn't look up or respond, he bent down, so that he was in her line of sight. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine..." she mumbled. Why is he worried about me? I just attacked his best friend with something worse than any weapon.
"I'm sorry about what Joey said," he slowly stood, and Kaylie allowed her eyes to follow his. "He doesn't know what it's like to be confused and lost in a world that isn't your own."
Does he... feel bad for me? Her heart started beating faster. I suppose if there's anyone here who would understand what I feel...
"I also sat back and waited until a person I cared about was in danger to intervene in this world..." he stepped back, releasing her. "If you ever want to talk, let me know. For now, I'm happy to have whatever help you feel you can give." He walked away to join the others, leaving Kaylie sitting there, in shock.
He isn't mad at me... How could he not be mad at me after saying something like that?
"It'll take me a few minutes to hack into the system," Rebecca furrowed her brow. "But you have to get a move on before they figure out what's going on."
"Let's go," Kaiba nodded at Pharaoh.
"Are you coming?" The Pharaoh looked at Kaylie in turn, and she nodded, giving Joey one last look before she took off after them. She wasn't ready to apologize. Not yet.
It wasn't a sewer at all. In fact, it was a rather nicely cleaned hallway. Kaiba didn't even look back as he called to them, "C'mon! Try to keep up!"
"Where are we going Kaiba?" The Pharaoh's voice echoed against the walls.
"We're taking a shortcut," the CEO didn't slow one bit. "It's an underground passage to my central computer designed for emergencies!"
The first set of doors opened without a problem, causing Kaylie to wonder how cyber security could be so bad in a world that was so technologically advanced. It made her think of her father, who was a cyber security guru. He worked for a university, hacking into the various departments on campus so he could find the vulnerabilities and fix them before someone with malicious intent had the chance to do so. He would be appalled if he were here. But, then again, it wasn't like Dartz really wanted to keep Kaiba out of his company as much as he wanted to anger him into doing something rash.
"Now if Dartz's brute squad is guarding the area, they'll never see us go inside," Kaiba marched into the elevator.
The ride up was going fine, until something hit the top of the elevator causing the whole thing to shake, and the lights to flash out.
"Who's up there!?" Kaiba demanded.
Kaylie quietly drew a duel monsters card from her deck, taking a deep breath, "We're about to find out."
The monster dropped through the top of the elevator, and took off through the side, giving her a heart attack even though she'd been expecting it. Kaiba and the Pharaoh looked equally shocked.
"I don't know what that was, and I'm not staying to find out!" Kaiba slammed his arm into the buttons on the elevator, causing the doors to open slightly. "Let's go!"
That was incredibly dramatic, Kaylie thought as they pushed the doors open to reveal a hall full of monsters. Oh look, just what I thought. At least some things are still predictable.
"Kaiba, you realize these monsters aren't holograms, don't you?" The Pharaoh turned, and nodded at Kaylie as she showed him her own card, ready to go.
"If you're suggesting that we're surrounded by real monsters, you're as insane as the lunatics who took over Kaiba Corp," Kaiba quipped back. "These things can't be real!"
"They are, believe me. Somehow a door way has opened up, and monsters from a parallel universe have entered into our world." The Pharaoh turned and smirked at Kaiba. "Unless you've got a better explanation."
Kaiba looked at Kaylie, "Is that where you're from?"
"No," she shook her head. "Different world... Probably not even parallel."
Kaiba turned back to the Pharaoh, the hint of a smirk on his face, "I think you're both nuts, but this isn't the best time to argue."
"Let's go," the Pharaoh turned to look at the monsters. "We've nothing to lose!"
As they ran towards the monsters the Orichalcos had conjured up, each duelist activated their duel disks, calling forth their respective monsters.
"I call forth my Obnoxious Celtic Guardian!"
"Go, Vorce Raider!"
"Warrior Lady of the Wasteland," Kaylie paused and snickered to herself. "I choose you!"
"Quick! This way!" Kaiba roughly grabbed Kaylie's hand and pulled her down the hall as their monsters attacked the others. "Through here!" He practically shoved her aside as he frantically tried to swipe his card through the console to the side of the door.
"What the heck!?" Kaylie rubbed her wrist. "I'm capable of running myself you know!"
"You move too slow!" he growled as the computer denied him entry once more. "Oh no... Someone must have reprogrammed the code!"
A loud noise behind them caused all three to turn and realize they were unprotected. "Look who's moving too slow now..." Kaylie quipped with a grin.
"We're trapped, and our monsters are gone!" Pharaoh noted anxiously.
"Need some help boys?" Rebecca's voice sounded from the console and through the halls.
"Bingo," Kaylie smiled, earning her a stone cold glare from Kaiba. If he didn't believe she knew future events now, he was at least starting to budge. The door opened, and they shot through it. Even Kaylie was a little nervous until the doors slammed shut firmly behind them.
It seemed like they were just running through the same hallways over and over again. Kaylie's lungs were starting to burn, and she wondered how much longer it would be until they reached the main computer.
"Bad news guys," Rebecca's voice sounded around them again. "I can't access the central computer! Kaiba Corp's mainframe is on a separate system!"
"Well, at least you did something right," Kaylie gasped, giving Kaiba a wink. "Too bad when this mess is over, I plan on returning to my own world. My dad has taught me a thing or two about cyber security."
"No problem," he ignored Kaylie, obviously perturbed. "I've got it from here." A huge computer appeared in front of them, and Kaiba bee lined it there. "This should be able to enhance those photos."
While Kaiba messed with the computer, the Pharaoh turned to Kaylie, "You alright?"
She nodded, giving him a small smile, "I'm fine. I'm totally fine..." She looked over to where Kaiba was talking to his computer. "Is that a floppy disk!?"
"Yeah, so?" he frowned. "Never seen one before?"
"Uh..." It was everything to not burst into a fit of laughter. "I mean... You could say that... Mostly because where I'm from, they're ancient history."
"Begin analyzing images," Kaiba didn't take his curious eyes off of her as his computer went to work. "Reference every inscription and cross reference ever archaeological database."
It wasn't long before the images were processed, and the professor was reading the inscriptions. Kaiba stopped him and pointed out a symbol, "The symbol of a secret financial organization known as Paradius! No one's ever seen them, but rumor has it they control a small piece of every company in the world! Oh no!" He backed away from the computer incredibly dramatically. Kaylie would have laughed, but she knew she was already on thin ice. "It is them! Yugi! The president of Paradius is Dartz! You don't know what we're up against!"
"That's him!" The Pharaoh confirmed. Both turned to Kaylie, who nodded affirmative.
And that's when the entire room started to explode. Kaylie covered her face, reminded suddenly of her unexpected departure to this new world. Electricity running everywhere, she found herself starting to panic as the feelings from the night she tried to end her life came rushing back. She was scared. Scared and very vulnerable. Dartz's voice surrounded them, along with a pulsing dark energy. Her heart pounded, and she was barely aware of the other two duelists in the room with her.
"You're so close, yet so very far..." And suddenly he was there, with the Great Leviathan, staring them down. "Gentlemen... and my single lady... Thank you for coming to me! You've made my job so much easier." His laughter made her skin crawl. "Mr. Kaiba... The infamous Pharaoh... And a girl who doesn't belong, sticking her nose in other people's business!"
"You made it my business!" she snarled, finally snapping out of her funk.
"What do you want?" The Pharaoh cut in.
"I had assumed you two would have figured it out by now," he disregarded Kaylie. "After all, you are the 'chosen duelists', aren't you? Well then prove it..."
"I don't have to prove anything to you!" Kaiba shouted in typical Kaiba fashion. "Now give me back my company before I get angry!"
"And return the souls you took!" The Pharaoh jumped in.
And leave my world out of this mess... Kaylie thought silently, giving him the best glare she could muster. He would know what she wanted.
"Or else what, Pharaoh?" the Atlantian laughed. "Cause it looks to me like you're in no position to make demands."
"Alright, then I'll make you a deal," The Pharaoh looked at the man intensely as he activated his duel disk. "Duel us, and if we win, you'll release your prisoners at once!"
Kaiba activated his duel disk as well, and both threw their dragon cards down, "We've summoned Timaeus and Critius!"
"Ah, the legendary dragons... It's been quite awhile," Dartz didn't look ruffled in the least bit. "Hello Timaeus, how is that eye of yours?" As Timaues shouted angrily, he turned to Kaylie with a smile, and then he was shattered by a blast from the dragon.
"He's gone!" The Pharaoh looked distraught.
"The ancient battle continues my friends," Dartz's voice still filled the air. "And soon your souls will be mine!"
"Over my dead body," Kaylie muttered.
"Farewell... For now!"
"Wait! Come back!" Pharaoh cried, staring where the Atlantian had once stood. But it was too late. The dark energy disappeared, leaving the computer room visible once more... And the monsters that were breaking in.
"Come on!" Kaiba took off for another door. "Get in!"
Kaylie and the Pharaoh joined him quickly, squeezing into the much smaller elevator. Kaylie couldn't stop herself from shaking, and she could tell that both Kaiba and the Pharaoh were aware of her distress. She avoided their eyes and did her best to put on a tough face.
They all tumbled out once they reached the roof, and took off running. With adrenaline pumping, the teenager tried to recall what was supposed to happen next, but she couldn't. She was in full fledged panic mode, and they were surrounded by monsters.
"Alright, get ready to jump," Kaiba backed up.
"What!?" The Pharaoh looked at him.
"I trusted you, now you trust me!" Kaiba turned to look behind him.
I really hope you know what you're doing... Kaylie took a deep breath. But I know you can't die, so I'm sure there's something there.
"Alright," the Pharaoh consented.
Suddenly Kaiba and the Pharaoh threw themselves from the followed suit, falling through the air. Her descent was stopped suddenly as she fell into Kaiba's Blue Eyes jet. She wobbled unsteadily for a moment when someone grabbed her around the waist and pulled her down. Kaiba was flying the aircraft, and she quickly realized that because there were only two seats, she was sitting in the Pharaoh's lap. Her face grew hot very quickly, and her heart was pounding again.
How on earth did I end up in a situation like this! I should be at home, getting ready to go to college! Her thoughts quickly paused that train of thought. Or dead. I guess if this hadn't happened, I would be dead.
They weren't in the air for long at all before they were shot back down. As soon as the jet made contact with the ground, all three found themselves ejected into the air. The Pharaoh cushioned Kaylie as she fell on top of him, the impact separating them. Pain radiated through his body as Kaylie rolled across the ground a few feet away. A few seconds later, Kaiba was pulling her unsteadily on her feet, and the Pharaoh was brushing himself off, shaking.
"I won't let him take my company apart..." Kaiba's attention was redirected to his head quarters. There was a new intensity in his voice that hadn't been there before.
"Kaiba!" The Pharaoh looked at the sky in awe. "It looks like we have bigger things to worry about now!"
Sure enough, a shadow of Leviathan was taking to the sky. Kaylie cradled her right arm, pushing a hand against a scraped up and bleeding elbow. The Pharaoh walked over to check on her, but she backed away, her face turning red.
"I'm fine..." She assured him.
"If you're sure..." But you're shaking... he thought. I know that this isn't easy for you. Every turn seems to bring some sort of new trauma to your life. I want to help you... Because if we can't get you home... I want you to feel comfortable coming to and trusting us. Because if that's what it comes down to... We might be the only friends and family you have to get back to once this mess is all over.
"If you two are done flirting," Kaiba interrupted the exchange. "We should get back to the others."
Despite his confusion at Kaiba's comment, the Pharaoh didn't miss the sly grin the CEO shot Kaylie's way, causing her complexion to deepen to a shade of bright crimson once more.
With a speed that caught both the duelists off guard, her fist swung and caught Kaiba right on the arm. It almost seemed... playful? She stuck out her lip in what could only be described as a flustered pout, and she squared her shoulders before turning away. Instead of freaking out, like the Pharaoh expected, Kaiba just chuckled.
After the bizarre exchange that was way over the Pharaoh's head, she walked away without turning around to face them.
"Let's go..."