Notes: Kalin having some psychic abilities is Amber2002161's idea, but I use my own take on what he can do in my verse. Radley's returning memories is my idea, but I did a version of the scenario in a role-play with Amber2002161.

Chapter Eight

Radley stiffened in shocked horror and disbelief at Scotch's news. "What do you mean, they're missing?!" he exclaimed. The others in the room, not knowing what he was talking about but knowing it sounded bad, stared in concern.

"I mean they're missing!" Scotch said. "He can't find them anywhere!"

Radley looked to Kalin regretfully as he spoke again. "We just saw them before we came to the City," he said. "Does Jordan have any idea what could have happened?"

Now realizing that it was the kids who had vanished, Kalin paled.

"Jordan doesn't know," Scotch said. "He wondered if they decided to go out to the ranch and maybe fell through that trapdoor or something."

"Well, most of the Bunch is still there, aren't they?" Radley said. "Tell them to look for the kids while they're there."

"We already did that," Scotch said. "But they're not having any luck and no one's seen them! What do we do?!"

Kalin leaned over by the phone. "We're coming back now," he said. "Just keep looking for them! That's the most important thing."

"Me and Biff are still watching Jared," Scotch said. "We should stop that?"

Kalin clenched his teeth, struggling with himself. Watching him didn't seem to be doing any good, but it often took days or weeks of stakeouts for such leads to pay off. The professional thing to do would be to keep the stakeout running. Would two more people joining the search really make much difference?

". . . Yes, keep watching him," he said at last.

"Okay," Scotch said slowly, sounding doubtful.

Yusei looked deeply concerned as Radley hung up. "I'll come with you guys to look for the kids," he said.

"Are you sure?" Antinomy frowned. "There's a lot to do here, and maybe they're just playing and wandering off."

Kalin shook his head. "Nico is very responsible. She wouldn't do that." He got up. "Thank you, Yusei."

Yusei got his Duel Runner and followed them outside. Antinomy soon appeared as well, not wanting to let Yusei go off into an unknown adventure without him. After securing Monkey into the special compartment he had built into his Duel Runner, he was also ready to go.

Kalin took off, leading his friends out of the City and through the wilderness that bridged their towns. Radley rode near him in concern. It was likely true the kids had gotten into trouble of some sort, but Radley didn't want to see Kalin grow too impulsive and reckless in his desire to find them. Luckily, he wasn't pushing his motorcycle to do more than it could.

They made good time and soon arrived in Satisfaction Town. Kalin promptly led them to Jordan's house. There was no sign of anyone outside, but Kalin headed for the porch anyway.

"Jordan is probably out looking too," Radley said.

"But the house should be checked periodically in case the kids are fine and come back," Kalin said.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case now. The house was empty and Kalin turned away, hurrying back to his motorcycle.

For a while they roamed around town, looking for any of the Bunch they could talk to as well as the kids. It wasn't long and they came across Jimmy, his eyes filled with distress. He definitely perked up when he saw Radley, and he hurried over.

"What's going on?" Radley asked.

Jimmy sighed. "We've gone over all the town and now we're trying again. There's got to be something we're overlooking!"

"Yeah." Radley frowned, thinking.

"Has anyone tried outside the town?" Kalin asked. "Maybe they were at their hideout and started wandering from there."

"Some of the Bunch is trying out there," Jimmy said. "No one's had any luck yet."

". . . Is there any possibility they could have been kidnapped?" Antinomy spoke up.

Everyone froze in horror.

"Why would they have been kidnapped?!" Kalin snapped. "Jordan hasn't received a ransom note!"

"It might not be about ransom," Antinomy said. "Suppose they thought they'd try to help you solve this mystery and they were caught."

Kalin paled. "West really might think that," he realized. "And then Nico would go along with him. . . ."

Radley sighed. "I was starting to wonder this myself, but I hated to say anything at this point. We saw them right before we left and we talked about the mystery and how stumped we were."

"Okay, so where do you think they might go to help out?" Yusei asked. "This ranch?"

"Probably," Kalin said. "If they were caught, they might be put in the tunnels. Or worse, set up with an 'accident.'" His eyes burned. "We know whoever is behind this doesn't care who gets hurt." He revved his motorcycle. "Let's go." He sped off without waiting for the others.

"Kalin!" Radley exclaimed. "This is why I hadn't wanted to say anything without being more sure!" He took off after his friend.

Yusei looked ready to bolt as well. "I hope you're wrong, Bruno," he said. He sighed. "But I'm really afraid you're right."

"What do you think Kalin will do about it?" Antinomy wondered.

"If something's happened to the kids, or someone's trying to make something happen . . . Kalin might snap like he did in the Duel Monsters' world," Yusei said.

"Then we'd better go after them," Antinomy said in concern.

Yusei nodded. "Yeah."

The two friends took off, following the others.

xxxx

Bennett Ranch seemed to be bustling when the small group arrived. Most ranch hands were going about their regular work, while some others were going up and down the ladder into the tunnel in broad daylight. But there was no sign of the kids.

Kalin jumped the fence and ran over to one of the hands as he was starting down the ladder. "Nico and West are missing," he harshly greeted the man. "Are they here?!"

"No!" the hand snapped. "No kids allowed."

"That doesn't mean they wouldn't try to come help and sneak around," Kalin said.

"Then I probably wouldn't see them," the hand said.

"Keep a look-out for them," Kalin said. "They might be in the tunnels."

"They'd better not be," the hand said. "We're trying to start getting ready for all the safety measures you told Ms. Bennett she'd have to have!"

"Well, good!" Kalin said. He turned and walked back to the others, who were also coming over the fence. "Nothing," he growled.

"Hopefully they're not here," Antinomy said.

"The Bunch has been looking for ages without finding them," Radley said, "but this is a big place. Who knows how long it might take to cover everything!"

Suddenly Kalin's phone dinged with an incoming text. He frowned as he looked down at it. The number was unfamiliar. But the words chilled him to his soul.

I have the kids. Let's see how judgmental you are now.

Radley leaned over to see the message too, when he saw Kalin's expression. "Kalin?!" he exclaimed.

"They were taken because of me," Kalin said in horror. Then his eyes flashed. "I thought Scotch and Biff were still watching Jared?!"

"They've been watching him all along," Radley said in surprise. "He couldn't have done this, not unless someone else is working with him!"

Kalin snarled. "We saw them at the hospital. Jared's nephew must have seen them too. He has to be the one who took them!" He started furiously typing.

Where are they?!

Yusei and Antinomy gathered around as they all waited for a reply. "Kalin, what's going on?" Yusei demanded.

"This suspect in the case," Kalin explained. "He felt like I was being too judgmental of him for wanting to go after everyone in Malcolm's Crew, even ones who hadn't hurt anyone. He lost his son because of what Malcolm did. I never thought he'd endanger children!"

"I didn't either," Radley said grimly.

"But apparently he will, just to get back at me!" Kalin said. "He wants to drive me to hate as he hates!" He gripped his phone. "And it's working. He's targeting innocents!"

Yusei worriedly laid a hand on his shoulder. "Kalin . . ."

Finally Kalin's phone dinged with the next text.

Come to the dyne mines if you want to save them.

"At least it doesn't say you have to go alone," Yusei said.

Kalin stormed back to his motorcycle and climbed on. "He's going to regret this," he said darkly.

Radley looked at him in alarm. "Kalin, don't give him what he wants!" he exclaimed. "You said it yourself—he wants you to snap!"

"I won't snap," Kalin said. "But he'll still regret this." He rode off in a fury. Around him, the wind started to pick up unnaturally and blow leaves and twigs in all directions.

"He's tapping into his powers again," Antinomy noted.

Radley jerked and looked to him. "What?!"

Yusei nodded. "Like what happened in the Duel Monsters' world." He leaped over the fence and ran for his motorcycle. "We have to catch up to him. I'm not even sure he's fully controlling his powers right now."

Radley held a hand to his forehead, trembling as he watched Yusei and Antinomy hurry off. Kalin's powers . . . the Duel Monsters' world. . . . Radley's second death, which still haunted them both. . . .

He hadn't left his body that time, so why was it that he was suddenly sure he remembered seeing Kalin standing on the shore by the ocean, unleashing his hatred and rage on Barbara in a duel? Why did he seem to remember desperately screaming for Kalin to hear him without success?

"Oh . . ." he rasped. "Oh no. . . ."

He shook his head. He had to catch up with Kalin too. He couldn't worry about the past, or new revelations about the past. Shaking, he jumped over the fence and went for his motorcycle.

"Kalin! Please, I'm right here! Please listen to me! Don't give in to your darkness! She's not worth it! I'm not worth it either! Nothing is worth you backsliding after you've come so far! . . . You'll never be able to hear me, will you? I'm so sorry I pushed you to this. I'm so sorry. . . ."

Radley froze, his light skin paling even more. It had really happened. He had indeed left his body in the Duel Monsters' world and had forgotten it for some reason. Now, triggered by seeing Kalin's anger again, he was remembering. The first out-of-body experience had been one of the most traumatizing things he had gone through, and now to know there had been another . . . ! This one was arguably worse. He had watched Kalin fall into the darkness and he had sank to his knees, agonized over being so helpless to get through to him.

Thank God Yusei had. . . .

"Radley?!"

He started when Yusei spoke in concern.

"Radley, are you alright?"

Radley drew a shaking breath. "Yeah. Come on." He revved his motorcycle. "We've gotta help Kalin save the kids . . . and himself." He took off over the dirt. There would be time to talk about his problems later. They paled in comparison with this. But it was because of what he was remembering that he was all the more determined that there would be a different outcome this time.

He wouldn't be helpless to save Kalin this time.

xxxx

Kalin was barely aware of the chaos he was stirring up in nature as he rode towards the mine. When he saw three figures standing above the cemetery, with the taller one tightly holding on to the smaller two, his rage spilled over. "West! Nico!" he yelled.

"Come get me, Kessler!" Jared roared. "You can't tell me you don't hate now!"

"Kalin, no!" West choked out, even as Jared's arm tightened around his neck.

"You're creating a dust storm!" Nico exclaimed.

Kalin looked back, his eyes widening at the sight of the quickly increasing winds and flying dust. The others . . . if they were caught in a storm he created . . . !

Jared's visage twisted in sick delight rather than alarm and fear. "You see, Kessler? You're willing to hurt innocents too, to get what you want."

Kalin's eyes darkened. "No," he said coldly. "I'm not." He stopped and got off his motorcycle. At the same time, he willed the winds to cease. Everything settled down, but the storm in Kalin's heart burned all the more. "I just want to see you pay for this, not the whole town and not my friends."

The others rode up just in time to hear his words. Both Radley and Yusei smiled in relief, but concern still flickered in their eyes. Just how would Kalin make Jared pay? And where was the accomplice he had to have?

"What happened to Scotch and Biff?" Radley cried. "They were following you!"

Jared glowered at him. "I outsmarted them long ago."

"Oh no you didn't!" Scotch suddenly spoke up. He emerged from around a rock, dragging a struggling Roger—Eric's partner. Biff held onto the paramedic's other arm. "We got this guy when he tried to get away after meeting you here with the kids!"

Kalin stared. "Roger?! He's your partner, not Eric?!"

Roger glared. "That's right. My brother was the ranch hand killed at Bennett Ranch. The place is dangerous and I wanted it shut down."

"So you were willing to let other people get hurt to shut it down?!" Yusei was outraged.

"Jared did that on his own," Roger said. "I just tried to use the ghost story to get everyone out without them getting hurt."

"Breaking the ambulance endangered everyone," Kalin snapped.

Roger looked away. "I knew exactly how to fix it. I set it right again as soon as I could secretly do it."

"Which was after it was needed." Kalin's voice was ice. "It wasn't available when Radley was hurt."

"I'm sorry about that," Roger mumbled.

"Why didn't you get out once it was clear Jared was going to keep hurting people?!" Radley cried.

"He ordered me to take the kids since he was being watched," Roger said. "I thought if I got them, maybe I could keep them away from him. But . . . I couldn't."

"Bogus," Scotch snorted. "You came here on your own!"

"I was hoping I could talk sense into him!" Roger said. "I didn't want the kids to have to go on the run with me!"

"And you ran away like a coward after he took the kids from you," Kalin snarled in disgust.

"I ran away to get help, which is what I should have done in the first place," Roger said.

"No arguments there," Radley said.

"And now, Kessler, you're going to watch and see what happens when you lose something precious to you," Jared said. The arm around West's throat started to squeeze.

"No!" Nico screamed.

West grabbed desperately at the arm. "K-Kalin . . ." he gasped.

Rage burst from Kalin in a wave, knocking Jared off his feet and enabling the kids to scramble out of his grasp. "After you lost your son, you would really stoop so low as to do this?!" he roared. He ran up the mountainside to the plateau and hauled Jared to his feet and then off the ground. "They're kids, even younger than your son! Forget about me; think about them! Or are you so far gone you can't even do that anymore?!"

Jared stared at Kalin. "Go on and kill me!" he snapped. "I have nothing to live for. I'd welcome going on to meet my son."

Kalin thrust Jared to the ground in a heap. "You dishonor your son by thinking you would possibly go where he is," he snarled.

Radley took a concerned step forward. "Kalin . . . ?" He was angry too. Part of him really couldn't say he would blame Kalin if he attacked Jared more than was necessary, or even fatally. This was horrible. But the other part knew Kalin would be punished if he did that, or that Kalin would have taken a step back to the darkness, and those were the last things he wanted to see happen. His haunting returned memories filled his mind again and he trembled.

But Kalin bent down and snapped handcuffs around Jared's wrists before hauling him up. "Radley, take this . . . take him before I do something I can't take back," he said through clenched teeth. "I won't have the kids see me snap. And that's something Yusei should never have to see again."

Relieved, Radley hurried up the mountain, grabbed Jared, and took him down the plateau. "I'm sorry it has to be this way," he told the man. "But you brought this on yourself. And I remember when you were different. I think someday you'll be grateful Kalin stopped you."

Jared gave him a sullen look. "I'll be grateful when I'm dead," he growled.

West and Nico ran to Kalin now and he pulled them both close in a tight hug. "Are you two alright?" he demanded.

Nico nodded. "We're fine, Kalin."

"Especially now!" West said. "I knew you'd come save us!"

"Does Dad know what happened?" Nico asked in concern.

"We just came right out as soon as I got the text from Jared," Kalin said. "Your father is out looking for you with the rest of the Bunch. I'll call and let him know you're safe." He took out his phone.

Yusei finally, fully relaxed. "Now I know Kalin is safe too," he said to Antinomy, who gave a thoughtful nod.

xxxx

The next hours were a whirlwind of activity. There were reports to make out regarding both Jared and Roger and what they had done. Jordan came for the kids and profusely thanked Kalin for protecting them again. Then the hospital had to be visited to check on Rick and Seluga.

Amanda was waiting for them when they arrived there. Unlike her usual states of being lately, now she looked sobered and penitent.

"Jake told me that he and Rick are thinking of joining your Bunch," she greeted, speaking more to the floor than to Radley and Kalin.

"Yeah," Radley said slowly. "They're thinking of it."

"He told me in no uncertain terms that it's because of how I handled things with them." Amanda sighed. "I never meant for it to be like this. . . ."

"We know," Radley said soothingly. "But hey, it's not too late. If you really want them to stay, and you're willing to meet them on their terms, talk to them and let them know."

Kalin nodded. ". . . Everyone deserves a second chance, if they're willing to work for it," he said.

". . . You're kind after I wasn't kind to either of you," Amanda said.

"You look like you finally got it," Radley said. "So go talk to them. We'll fill you in on everything later."

Amanda nodded. "Thank you both." She hurried back into Rick's room.

"I wonder what will happen," Kalin remarked.

"Honestly? I think they might give her another try," Radley said. "But we'll see."

Kalin nodded. "We will. And about more than this." He frowned. "I still think we're missing something. How did Jared and Roger set up everything at the ranch? Especially when people were working in the tunnels at night? The only way everything fits together completely is if someone working at the ranch was also involved in this mess and let them onto the property."

Radley sighed. "Probably those guards we've never found."

"Unless they found the real culprit and were hurt, just like Seluga," Kalin said.

"Well, now that everything's fallen apart, what do you think they'll do now?" Radley frowned. "They'd never come forward and confess."

"No, but Jared or Roger might," Kalin said. "I'm sure they'll want to take their co-conspirator down with them."

"Do you think the other guy might try to knock them off before they can do that?" Radley wondered.

"It crossed my mind," Kalin said. "I asked some of the Bunch to stay at the jailhouse and wait in the dark in case it happens."

Radley smirked. "Smart."

"And how are you doing, Radley?" Kalin asked. "You've seemed shaken up since we were at the plateau." He frowned a bit. "You're not . . . scared of me, are you? I guess this is the first time you've seen me use my psychic abilities on anything other than old soda bottles."

"No," Radley said softly. "It's not."

Now Kalin stared at him. "What?! But the only other time I used them was . . ." He trailed off.

"When I was dead," Radley rasped. "I thought I hadn't left my body that time, but I did. My memories started coming back when I saw you flipping out today. I saw you back then too, Kalin. I saw how broken-hearted and devastated you were. I wasn't afraid of you; I was afraid for you. And I . . ." He swallowed the lump in his throat, but it only came back. "I tried so hard to get you to hear me and stop, but I couldn't do anything. I had to just helplessly watch. Thank God Yusei saved you, because I couldn't. I'm so sorry. . . ."

"Radley . . ." Kalin stared at him in shock. "It wasn't your fault. . . ."

"I felt like it was, because it was seeing me dead that made you lose it," Radley said. "Maybe that's why I blocked out the memories. If I could have only thought of another way to save you and everyone from Lawton's Blast Spheres other than giving up my own life to do it! . . ." He shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Kalin. . . . I caused you so much pain. . . ."

Kalin pulled him close. "You can't love someone without their death causing a lot of pain," he said. "You've also brought me so much happiness. And we're together now; that's all I care about."

Radley managed a smile and hugged back. "I'm glad."

His phone dinged and he looked down at it. "Our third crook isn't biting," he noted. "But Scotch says Roger told the rest, including who it is. You were right about it being someone at the ranch!"

Kalin looked thoughtful. "Then let's find out who and go to the ranch to find them," he said. "They're not getting away with this."

"No," Radley said. "They're not." He paused. "And just to make it clear, I'm not afraid of you now, either. How could I be afraid of my best friend?"

Kalin hugged him close. "Thank you."