Chapter 4: Reconcile
"Sect and Angela should also get treated," stated Kalin.
"I won't be surprised if other people got brainwashed by her devices," frowned Crow.
"And you," Radley said. "You didn't get hurt as badly as Scotch, but you were still hurt!" And Radley had been repeatedly shocked during the duel.
Yusei started looking her up as they all headed for the KaibaCorp Medical Center. "... She has. I'm finding out about a lot of sick experiments she ran, many of them on people we know!"
Radley grabbed Kalin's overnight bags with extra clothes in case they ended up needing to stay over. The medical center didn't force hospital gowns on people, thankfully. Kalin looked at his hands and then at Radley.
"You look hurt as well, Radley. Maybe you need to rest up too."
"I'm more shaken up emotionally," Radley said softly. "It brought back horrible memories of the mines. And seeing Scotch die ... and you want to die ..." He shuddered.
"My duel against Sect brought back bad memories too. Of my time as a Dark Signer..." sighed Kalin.
"I'm so sorry," Radley said softly. "I wish I could have done more to help you."
"You did everything you could Radley. We should be glad all the victims are alive," said Kalin.
"I most certainly am," Radley said. "Including you."
"Do you think we can track her location using the devices we hacked?" asked Crow.
"I'm trying," Antinomy said. "I think the trace is redirecting to a fake location meant to throw us off-track."
"This Portman is a dirty woman, pitting us against each other like this!" growled Jack.
Yusei nodded, his eyes aflame.
"She clearly has no soul," Antinomy said.
"You did everything you could Radley. We should be glad all the victims are alive," said Kalin.
"I have a bad feeling we haven't seen the last of her brainwashed duelists," sighed Crow.
"I'm afraid of the same thing," Antinomy said. "We'll have to be very careful none of us get taken again."
They arrived at the medical center to be examined.
"Carly, Radley, and I should take a quick examination. Us three dueled the brainwashed victims," said Kalin.
"Can you check on them please?" asked Carly.
The doctors had no idea what Kalin meant.
"We were all electrically shocked," Radley supplied.
At that, the doctors hurried everyone to be examined. "We'll check on all of you," one said to Carly.
"Thank you very much, doctor. Someone challenged me and two of my friends to a duel where we got shocked if we took damage!" exclaimed Carly.
"That's outrageous!" the doctor cried.
"That's why we need to get together and get the scoop!" Carly continued.
"Something has to be done," the doctor agreed with Carly.
"We'll get to the bottom of this!" stated Jack.
"We have to, before anyone else is hurt," Yusei vowed.
Radley nodded. "I'm so glad it's not worse. I'll stay here with you, if they don't need the other bed for someone. Biff is in with Scotch."
"And we'll be with you all the way!" stated Crow.
Everyone was examined. Radley wasn't too bad off, nor was Sect or Angela. Scotch needed rest.
Kalin laid down on the bed, dead tired.
Radley went in with him. "What did they say about you, Kalin?" He hoped Kalin was alright, especially considering how Sect was doing.
"They said I put a lot of stress on my heart. I need to rest for a day," said Kalin.
"I was concerned I wasn't going to regain consciousness. And yes, please stay," said Kalin.
"I was afraid you didn't want to," Radley said softly. He sat down in the chair next to the bed for now. He would go to the other bed to sleep. "Everything felt like some sort of horrible nightmare. We probably all played into that wretched woman's hands. But I wonder what she thinks now that we've all come through it. Are you feeling any better, Kalin?"
"I'm sorry I worried you all. I hope we can find this mad doctor soon. I really don't want our new year to be tainted like this. And I feel better."
"We'd better find her," Radley said darkly. Then he smiled. "And I'm glad." He laid a hand on Kalin's.
Kalin smiled and placed his other hand on Radley's.
"Scotch is doing well too," Radley smiled. "He was asking for food."
"I'm glad. I thought we were going to have to plan a funeral."
"So did I," Radley said. "Then I thought it would be a double funeral..."
"Ugh, that's true..." muttered Kalin.
"But Scotch is safe, and you're safe." Radley smiled. "Everything is going to be alright."
"Yeah, I wonder if Yusei and Bruno found any info regarding Dr. Portman."
"They were still trying when I came in here," Radley said.
"I see..." sighed Kalin.
"We'll find her," Radley said. He grimaced. "Yusei and Antinomy found a lot of articles about her hurting people in the past. She used to work for KaibaCorp, but was fired."
"She used to work at KaibaCorp? That does explain the technology. But why does she like hurting others so much?"
"No one knows," Radley said bitterly. "She especially focuses on relationships and what will make or break them. She's fascinated any time one holds."
"That sounds more like something a demon would do," Kalin frowned, his eyes narrowing.
"Yeah. She really doesn't seem human." Radley's eyes were uncharacteristically dark.
"What is our plan for tomorrow?"
"Resting," Radley said firmly. "Hopefully we can go home and continue to rest there. Yusei and Antinomy will keep trying to find Portman."
"Good plan. I wish them luck, cause they'll definitely need it."
"They certainly will," Radley sighed. He leaned back. "Do you want to rest now?"
"Yes, I do," Kalin said as he laid down and pulled the blanket over himself.
Radley smiled. "Alright. Goodnight." He got up and went to the other bed.
"Goodnight," smiled Kalin. He soon drifted off to sleep.
Radley changed for bed and settled down, happy that everything is well. In the next room, Scotch was finishing dinner. Jack was also finishing dinner. He was also much quieter than normal.
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Crow looked to Jack. "It's been some day."
Scotch pushed the empty tray away and looked to Biff. "I'm really sorry about today," he said softly. "I hurt you guys so much..."
"Yeah, and it's probably going get weirder," said Jack.
"It wasn't your fault, Scotch," retorted Biff. "It was that crazy Portman lady's doing!"
Crow scowled. "Well, it'd better not have any more loved ones getting hurt! We've had enough of that!"
"And she better not pick on the helpless!" yelled Jack.
"I know, but ... I should've been able to break the control sooner. And not kill myself to save Radley." Scotch frowned. "I didn't even think of a draw."
"Could you have ended the duel in a Draw though?" asked Biff.
"But she will if we don't stop her," Crow growled.
"... I don't know," Scotch sighed.
"... Are you really not mad at me?" Scotch said. "I said so many awful things..."
"It wasn't your fault, Scotch..." sighed Biff. "I said some pretty nasty stuff to you too..."
"Yeah, but ... you thought I was really giving it to you on my own," Scotch said. "I'd be mad too. Or really hurt..." But he wavered. Part of him couldn't help wondering why the automatic thought had been that he was behaving like that of his own free will. Mind-control was outlandish, though; why would anyone think of that first? It was normal to think of other ideas first.
"But you're ok now, Scotch! That's what matters now!" exclaimed Biff.
Scotch smiled sadly. "And you really trust me? You don't think I'd ever act like that on my own?"
"Yeah, cause Radley still trusts you," answered Biff.
Scotch froze. "You mean ... that's the only reason? Otherwise, you'd think I might betray you for real?"
"Why would you betray us? Where would you go?" asked Biff.
"Nowhere," Scotch said. "If I didn't have you guys, I'd have nothing left!"
"Same here! We're like brothers!" cried Biff as he went up to Scotch to hug him.
Scotch hugged Biff close. "You always looked after me. I'm so grateful to you, and to Radley. You've always brought me out of my darkest times."
"Same to you!" smiled Biff.
Jack kept quiet the entirety of the two Bunch member's speech. He remarkably wasn't in the mood to say anything to them, as he wasn't a part of their team. Doing so would have probably ruined the atmosphere. However, as soon as Scotch and Biff finished reconciling with each other, Jack rubbed his head with both of his hands and sighed. "The problem is we don't even know what she looks like..."
Just then, Antinomy entered the room holding a laptop. He set it down on the table so that everyone could see the monitor.
"I found pictures of her, but they were from thirty years ago," Antinomy said.
"Thirty years ago?!" exclaimed Jack. "Where was she all this time?"
"She was in an asylum for the criminally insane, but she disappeared after Zero Reverse," Antinomy said. "This is the first time she's surfaced since, apparently."
"What did she do before Zero Reverse? And is the reason she is brainwashing people some sort of revenge plot?" asked Jack. He rubbed his head, as he tried to process everything that happened. If it weren't for his help, Carly would have been gravely injured by the shock devices, or worse.
"That was when she was torturing people," Antinomy said. "She just seems to be fascinated by the human psyche."
"She's a sicko! How can we stop her?" asked Jack.
"That's what we're going to find out," Antinomy said. "I promise she'll be stopped."
"I think I'll go to bed now, Bruno. My brain is fried from today," said Jack as he left the room.
Antinomy sighed. He certainly didn't blame Jack.
After the conversation, everyone went left the dining room and headed towards separate bedrooms.
"Let's go back and check on Radley," said Biff.
"He's probably asleep, but we should check on him and Kalin," Scotch said. He got up and slowly moved next-door. He stood and smiled, seeing his friends peacefully asleep.
Biff also stood in the doorway and saw the two friends sleeping.
"Let's go to bed too," Biff said.
"Yeah, that's a good idea." Scotch headed back to the other room with Biff.
"Good night Scotch," said Biff.
The rest of the evening passed without incident.