DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN BEYBLADE OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS. THIS IS JUST A FAN-MADE STORY!
Gingka paced continuously around his bedroom, anxiety tearing him apart from the inside. Why hadn't his father come back yet? Why hadn't he contacted him at least to let him know he was fine? What was even worse, Gingka had tried phoning him several times and even asked at the WBBA office to check whether he was there, but there was simply no sign of Ryo. What if Dr. Ziggurat had done something to him? What if he was hurt or trapped?
"Gingka? Are you alright?" asked Madoka, who was programming Galaxy Pegasus's data on her laptop: "Are you worried about your dad?"
"Yeah," Gingka sighed: "I'm worried Ziggurat might've done something to him..."
"Nah, I'm sure he's fine," said Masamune, who was lounging on Gingka's bed: "Your dad's a pretty strong person y'know, he wouldn't let Ziggurat mess around with him so easily."
"Yeah but, maybe if he was threatened with Tsubasa, or-or maybe even attacked, oh crap I just don't know!" Gingka flopped down miserably onto his armchair, his face a picture of pure despair.
"Oh come on, he'll be back soon, you'll see!" said Masamune.
"Where are Kendra and Yu?" asked Gingka.
"They left earlier, they were pretty tired after all that happened. Uh, don't you remember?" said Madoka.
"Really? I kinda forgot, sorry," said Gingka: "Ugh, I'm just so messed up right now."
"You said it dude! I mean, chill out a little!" Masamune exclaimed.
"I can't! You have no idea what it's like!" said Gingka: "I already lost my dad once, and was lucky enough to be reunited with him by pure chance! He's the only family I have left, if anything happens to him...ugh! I just don't know what I'd do now!"
"I, I understand," Masamune said quietly: "But what can we do?"
"Look guys, how about we try contacting the WBBA headquarters, ha?" Madoka suggested: "I think that's the best option we've got right now."
"Yeah, you're right," said Gingka: "Let's give 'em a call."
Ryo waited around in his cell, the only sound being that of his footsteps pacing along the cold floor. The only light that reached him came in the form of dim, golden rays from outside his cell, filtering through the iron bars that imprisoned him. Ziggurat had led him inside at gunpoint and Ryo had had no choice but to obey, lest he wanted to visit the other world. After all, it wasn't just his life that was hanging in the balance, Tsubasa was far more at stake than he was, and who knew what the poor boy was being put through right now...
After a while, he heard scuffling outside his cell and some of the light was obscured by an approaching shadow across the outer hallway. When the figures turned the corner, he saw that it was Dr. Ziggurat, and he wasn't alone. Beside him was the familiar tall figure of Tsubasa, his arms tied behind his back. He was an utter mess, his body covered in numerous bleeding cuts and fat bruises. His clothes were all ripped and bloodstained, and his usually graceful hair was dishevelled and tinged with red.
"Ryo..." he moaned.
"Tsubasa!" Ryo grasped the bars tightly: "What've you done to him?"
"I gave him a taste of his own medicine is all," Ziggurat said in mock calmness: "He needs to be taught a lesson."
"Let him go! He never did anything to deserve any of this!" Ryo shouted angrily.
"I think I'll decide that," Ziggurat responded: "I will not stop until I have his power in my hands, and when I do get it, I can dispose of him...the hard way!"
"You'll never have the chance! The WBBA will notice I'm gone and they'll come searching for me. Once they find you, you're history, you AND your organisation!" Ryo said hotly.
"Hahahaha! Is that so? Is that what you really think, my dear Ryo?" Ziggurat laughed mockingly: "I have the tightest security around here. Besides, my experiments are almost complete, and soon this worthless brat you care about so much will be history!"
"Let Ryo go...he has nothing...to do with this..." Tsubasa said weakly.
"Shut your mouth!" Ziggurat snapped: "Don't tell me what to do! Now then, I think I'll hand you over to Ryuga for a little playtime, then it's back to being my little lab rat."
"No, please...not Ryuga!" Tsubasa begged.
"Stop it! This is just plain cruelty, Ziggurat!" Ryo yelled: "If you want his power so badly, why don't you take Ryuga's? It's where it came from after all!"
"Be that as it may, Ryuga is on our side and prepared to do my every bidding. What is the point of trying to take what is already mine? Tsubasa here on the other hand is the enemy, therefore he must suffer by my hand!" said Ziggurat.
"You won't get away with this!" said Ryo.
"Just watch me, Hagane," Ziggurat said as he turned away, dragging Tsubasa along with him: "Just watch me."
