Chapter 5: Plans

A/N: Dr. Portman is an original character created by LuckyLadybug.

Radley woke up the next morning and laid there, wondering for a moment if everything was a dream. He looked over at Kalin. Kalin was stirring a bit and slowly opened his eyes. He looked out the window at the sky.

"Hi," Radley smiled.

Kalin turned to face him. "Oh, hey."

"How are you doing?" Radley asked.

"I'm feeling better. And you?"

"I'm great, since you and Scotch are okay," Radley said.

"That's good to hear. I wonder how the rest are feeling?"

"I hope they're well. I talked with all of the Bunch before I went to you," Radley said.

"What did they say?"

"They were all shaken up," Radley said. "I didn't leave until they were all calm."

"Yusei was really shaken up too. And I don't blame him. I already died in front of his eyes once before."

"That's horrible," Radley said. "Jack, Crow, and the others were trying to comfort Yusei."

"I wonder if he's feeling better now?"

"I hope so," Radley said.

"Should we get up now and check on the other?"

"Yeah." Radley got up and headed for the doorway. He chuckled to see Scotch sprawled all over his bed in the next room.

Biff was also lazily sleeping on his bed; his arm dangling off of it.

"Uh, guess they really patched their relationship," chuckled Kalin.

"That's good," Radley smiled. "Of course, I was sure they would since Scotch was an innocent victim."

"I wonder if Yusei, Jack, and Crow are just as relaxed as them?"

"I hope so," Radley said. "I'd better call those of the Bunch who stayed in town last night instead of coming here with us. They were horrified to learn what happened. I need to let them know we're all well today."

"That's a good idea. Meanwhile, I'll go see if I can get some breakfast. Perhaps the others have woke up by now."

Radley nodded. "I've heard the food here is supposed to be good. I suppose that makes sense from KaibaCorp."

"Let's go, Radley. I'm hungry," smiled Kalin.

Radley nodded and went with Kalin while dialing Barney on his phone. Barney and the rest of the Bunch who had stayed in Satisfaction Town were overjoyed that everyone was alright after such a horrible experience.

Kalin contacted Yusei to see how he was doing. He hoped his friend wasn't traumatized by the fact that he nearly died for the third time.

Yusei had stayed over in the rooms KaibaCorp provided for loved ones. He sounded relieved when he answered the phone. "Kalin!"

"Hey, Yusei," replied Kalin. "Are you feeling better?"

"Are you?" Yusei countered.

"Yeah I am," answered Kalin.

"Then I am too," Yusei smiled.

"How's Antinomy doing? He worked really long and hard yesterday."

"He's finally resting," Yusei said.

"That's good. Too much work is bad for anyone."

"Yeah." Yusei paused. "So, is everyone else okay too?"

"Radley is fine. He's walking and smiling like normal. We also checked on Scotch and Biff and they were sleeping in the same room."

"Good. I guess Sect and Angela are alright too then," Yusei said.

"I hope so. I wonder if they can give some info?"

"Hopefully. Maybe Scotch also remembers something," Yusei said.

"Have you contacted Akiza, Luna, and Leo about what happened yesterday?"

"Yeah. They're really upset," Yusei said.

"I'm not surprised. We sure could use their help if we want to find Dr. Portman."

"They definitely want to help," Yusei said.

"What time should we meet?"

"They're coming right now," Yusei said.

"Let's go check on everyone and see if they're awake."

Scotch was waking up now, as were some of the other Bunch. Kalin walked up to the room and knocked on the door.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Yeah!" Scotch yawned and smiled.

"That's great. Radley and I were really worried," said Kalin.

"I'm sorry," Scotch sighed. "I wish none of it had happened. I fought her real hard and it took three thugs to hold me down, but then she got the mind-control device on me..."

"You were ambushed by three people? Do you remember what they looked like?"

Radley was horrified.

"I only really got a good look at her," Scotch said. "Blonde hair, glasses... She had green eyes like Radley, but they were cold and evil."

"Blonde hair, glasses, green eyes? Hmm, I'll keep that in mind..." Kalin said as he did a quick sketch.

"It was short, kind of wavy," Scotch said. "I'll never forget how evil she looked."

"I bet, considering the way Angela and Sect also behaved."

"Yeah. She was just nuts. She said she wanted to see if our relationships would fail because of her mind-control," Scotch said bitterly.

"That's just sick," Radley growled.

"I agree. Hopefully, the devices we confiscated after your duel can help us find her location," Kalin's eyes narrowed.

"That would be great," Scotch said. "Honestly, I don't usually punch people, but I feel like punching her."

"Me too," Radley said.

Scotch hesitated. "And ... I don't like to admit this, but ... the mind-control thing, it twisted some of how I really feel sometimes... I mean, not much, but ... I don't like being called names. And now I just feel awful because my feelings fueled it."

"I also feel the same. But, Scotch, I think you should take it easy from now on. Dr. Portman might try to take advantage of you again," said Kalin.

"Yeah," Scotch frowned.

Radley hugged him close. "Scotch, it's okay. I don't think anybody likes being called names. I'm sure the device always digs up people's real feelings to start with and then blows them out of control."

"You never did that to me, though, and I hurt you so much ... !" Scotch clutched Radley close.

Radley held him. "Yeah ... that has been bugging me. Why target us, specifically? Is it because of our Ice Dragons?"

"Perhaps words about our dragons have spread like wildfire and Dr. Portman already came up with a way to counter them. She could be anywhere."

"She sure countered them, alright. But why?" Radley frowned. "And where did these cards come from? I've never heard of them."

"Maybe she made them?" Scotch said. "Or she made a deal with an evil supernatural force to get them?"

"Another evil force?" sighed Kalin. "I hope not. We have to get together with everyone and discuss this further."

"We sure do," Radley said.

Scotch took out his deck. "Well, my cards are still here, so they didn't go poof when I lost..."

"That's a relief. I guess the paramedics we're really skilled at not touching personal belongings. Now, I'm going to check if the others are ready."

"Well, I meant that if there was something supernatural involved, it didn't take the weird Fire cards," Scotch said. "So maybe Portman made them."

"I could have sworn that during my duel against Sect, that I could literarily feel the heat when he summoned his Fire Synchro, so you might be right Scotch," said Kalin.

"That's spooky," Biff exclaimed.

Akiza and the twins were arriving. They turned onto the street where the medical center was on. They entered the front doors and waved to everyone.

"Hey guys!" exclaimed Leo. "We heard the news about people getting brainwashed and electrocuted!"

"Yeah! It was awful," Scotch said to the new arrivals.

"Is everyone alright?!" cried Akiza. "

"Who was behind the incident?" asked Luna in deep concern.

"We are now," Radley said.

"A crumb called Dr. Portman," Scotch said.

"Dr. Portman? I don't recall learning about anyone by that name," said Akiza.

"She's a mad scientist!" Scotch said.

"Apparently she's resurfaced after causing lots of trouble thirty years ago," Radley said.

Antinomy nodded and told the rest of what they'd learned.

"Thirty years ago?! She's old!" cried Leo.

"She used to work for KaibaCorp up until Zero Reverse happened? But what has she been doing all this time?" asked Akiza.

"No, she was in an institution for the criminally insane when Zero Reverse happened," Antinomy said. "Then she disappeared. She was fired from KaibaCorp when Seto Kaiba first took over."

"I remember reading an article about KaibaCorp once," said Luna. "It originally produced military weapons before Seto Kaiba took over."

"Yes, Portman worked in the human factors division then," Antinomy said.

"Human factors? What did they do there?" asked Leo.

"Mostly they tried to figure out things like how using their weapons affected people's minds over time," Antinomy said. "You can imagine Portman would have a heyday with that."

"How long did her projects last before Kaiba fired her?" asked Kalin in a bitter tone.

"Seto Kaiba fired her as soon as he got in," Antinomy said.

"And she's back now with a revenge plot?" suggested Jack.

"Perhaps we should contact him and warn him," said Akiza.

"I doubt it. What she's doing here has nothing to do with Kaiba," Antinomy said. "She probably just wants to do more of her experiments."

"How can we find and stop her?" asked Leo.

"Maybe Scotch, Sect, and Angela and give use some answers," said Kalin.

"I tried tracing her with the mind-control devices, but those led to a fake signal that exploded when I got to it," Antinomy said.

"Damn it! She's way too smart!" cursed Jack, hitting the table with his fist.

"Should I get the others?" asked Kalin.

"She's been perfecting her craft for over thirty years," Antinomy said in disgust. "And she's been laying low since Zero Reverse. She knows how to not get caught. Yes, let's have a conference with everyone."

Kalin and Carly went to the hospital rooms where Sect and Angela were staying in.

"Hey, Sect? Are you feeling better today?" asked Kalin.

"Yeah, I guess," Sect said. He frowned. "I've been so mad at you for years, and Portman took and twisted it into something even worse."

Kalin sighed. "You know, years after my arrest, I was very ashamed of what I did that I went to a small town and tried to punish myself."

"Yeah?" Sect said in surprise.

"It was thanks to Yusei and in some way Radley that I finally came to my senses. Maybe I can help you," smiled Kalin. He held out his hand.

Sect debated that. "How?" he asked, still not taking Kalin's hand.

"We put a stop to a gang called the Malcolm Crew."

"So how will that help you help me?" Sect frowned.

"We can repair our relationship. My friends and I want to ask you and Angela if you have any info regarding Dr. Portman's location."

"No, she dragged us into a van," Sect frowned.

"She dragged you into a van? Where did she take you?"

"I don't know. Just all through the City. We didn't stop until she'd programmed her stupid devices and turned us loose to find you guys," Sect said.

"This is more complicated than I thought. Perhaps we should tell this to Antinomy. He's the 'brains' of our team."

Meanwhile, Carly went to see how Angela was doing.

"Um, Angela. Can I talk to you?"

"Yeah, she knows every trick," Sect said in disgust.

Angela frowned but looked over. "What is it?"

"Are you feeling better? I was told you and the other two were brainwashed," said Carly.

"More like mind-controlled, and yeah, I'm okay now," Angela said.

"You want to chat about this with the others?" asked Carly.

Angela shrugged. "I don't know that I can tell anything those guys haven't told."

"But maybe we can still learn something."

"All I know is that Portman and her three thugs jumped me and dragged me into a van. Then she forced that device on me and kept telling me you were the source of all my troubles as she turned it higher and higher," said Angela.

"Three thugs? What did they look like? And that's bonkers! I've always been doing my best to find the truth! Let's tell this to the others right away!" exclaimed Carly.

"I didn't see them well because they were all grabbing me. One of them had a big scar on his wrist." Angela got up.

"Hmm, ok, I'll keep that in mind," nodded Carly as she left to tell the rest of the team.

Angela followed her. Scotch didn't remember much more either, but he thought one of the guys had a dragon tattoo on his hand.

"Hey everyone!" shouted Carly. "They're up!"

"Oh, good!" Radley smiled. Scotch was already eating breakfast.

"Looks like he's fully recovered!" smiled Carly, referring to Scotch.

"Yes!" Scotch grinned.

"And we're so happy," Radley smiled.

Kalin also approached the table.

"Hey Radley and Scotch. How are you feeling?"

"Great!" Scotch chirped.

"Yes, I'm very happy," Radley said. "How is Sect?"

"Sect still seems a bit down. He didn't really tell me how he was feeling," sighed Kalin.

Radley sighed. "Well, I guess it will take him a while to sort through his feelings. Why don't you sit down and have breakfast?"

"Sure thing. We all need a nice meal for the upcoming battle." Kalin went to get a muffin and some juice.

Radley hoped they would be able to find Portman and bring her down without anyone getting hurt.

"Sect told me that some people who were following Portman's orders grabbed him in the City and dragged him into a van," said Kalin.

"Yeah! That's exactly what happened!" Scotch said.

"Angela said the same thing!" added Carly. "She said there were three of them. The one that grabbed her had a big scar on his wrist."

"I remember a dragon tattoo on one!" Scotch said.

"A dragon tattoo?" asked Kalin. "Sect, did the man who grabbed you have any markings on his hand or arm?"

"Maybe?" Sect said.

"I wonder if they are in the City now causing more trouble?" asked Kalin with deep concern.

"They're probably with Portman," Radley said.

"I thought so," frowned Kalin.

"Should we call the others and tell them we are going to the City?" asked Carly.

"We're already in the City," Virgil grunted.

"Well, we're going to look all over the City," Radley said.

"I meant the Downtown area or the bridge," said Carly.

"Yes, let's start there," Radley said. "Although I wonder if they would stay in that highly populated area."

"There's only one way to find out," said Kalin.

"Yeah! Let's go!" Scotch said.

Kalin texted Yusei.

"We're heading to the City now to look for some people of interest. Are you coming too?"

Yusei texted that he was just getting his things together.

"You know, everyone should really eat first," Radley said. "Including Yusei."

"Don't worry, I already did," nodded Kalin.

"Me too!" said Carly as she scarfed down a muffin.

"Yes, but Yusei might just pack and go," Radley chuckled.

"Yep, that's Yusei for you," smiled Kalin.

"I'll get some food together for him," Radley decided, and got up.

"Alright. I wonder if Scotch, Sect, and Angela should just remain here?" asked Kalin.

"I'm sure they should, but I don't know if they will agree to that," Radley said.

"But maybe we'd recognize the van if we saw it!" Scotch said.

"You've got a point. But just be really careful, Scotch."

"Yes, just stay in the van," Radley said.

"I will!" Scotch promised.

"Same goes for Sect and Angela."

"Okay," Sect frowned.

Angela looked irritated but didn't verbally object.

"Let's get going! I sense a scoop!" exclaimed Carly.