Chapter Five
Nesbitt had really been expecting something archaic for their travels, if not outright walking, so he was stunned when Critias led them to a landing pad at the rear of the castle and a majestic Gradius. He immediately ran over, staring at the plane in awe. "You have these here?!"
Critias grunted. "Every Duel Monster is here," he replied.
Lector smiled in a bit of fondness at his friend's enthusiasm. From his starry eyes and the reverent way he ran his hand over the exterior of the machine, Nesbitt had never imagined he would ever see one up close, let alone to ride in it. He looked like a kid seeing Disney World for the first time.
"Alright!" Joey exclaimed. "We are travelin' in style!" He pumped the air.
Atem looked surprised too. "You can fly this?" he said to Critias.
"I'm a fast learner," Critias shrugged. "Yes, after we were all released from our curses, we were taught in all the latest technology. It still isn't as advanced as what eventually came to be in Atlantis."
Nesbitt looked up. "What was the technology there like?"
"Each person had their own personal aircraft," Dartz spoke up. "There weren't cars; the sky was our highway."
"Fascinating!" Nesbitt exclaimed.
"Truly incredible," Professor Hawkins agreed.
"I have a question," Mai spoke up. "Isn't Gradius a fighter plane?"
"Yes, but since it's peacetime, we've been using it for other purposes," Critias said.
Everyone soon boarded and Critias took the Gradius into the sky. Once it was safe to undo the safety belt, Nesbitt got up and went to the cockpit to see how to pilot the craft. Of course, he was soon asking more questions about Atlantean technology. Professor Hawkins joined him before long.
"Heh." Gansley leaned back with a fond and amused smile. "Well, Nesbitt is in seventh Heaven."
"It's nice to see him so excited," Lector mused.
"Strange, though," Johnson said, "since usually when he gets emotional he's upset or angry about something. Now, both he and Crump have been excited about things the same day." He looked to Lector. "Do you think you'll ever be so visibly excited about something again, Lector?"
Lector blinked in surprise. "I really couldn't say. I suppose the last time I was, was back in Noa's world. And I am ashamed of that now." That seemed a lifetime ago.
"Is there something you'd like more than anything else?" Crump chimed in.
"For all of us to get out of this safe and be able to just relax for a good long while," Lector said.
"A good answer," Gansley said. "I'm sure we all want that." He glanced over at Mako, who seemed tensely excited as he ran his hand over the black notebook of his father's that he had discovered in New Orleans.
"I can't imagine how you must feel right now, Mako," Téa said to him. "After all these years, your search is really about to pay off!"
"Yes! My father is alive and at last I will see him again!" But Mako wavered. "Although . . . what if he really doesn't remember me?"
"His heart will remember you even if his mind doesn't at first," Nesbitt gruffly spoke up, looking over from the cockpit.
Mako looked to him in surprise, not having expected such a sentiment from the logically-minded man. "I want to believe that," he admitted. "But it's been so long. . . . Maybe he only remembers me as the small child I was when we were separated. Maybe he won't recognize me now."
"He'll recognize you," Nesbitt insisted.
"You're awfully confident," Mako said.
"That's because . . . I had amnesia too." Nesbitt looked away, clenching a fist at his side. "In my case it was magically induced, but it had the same end result. One of our arch-enemies tried to make me forget Lector."
Mako stared at him, stunned. "What happened?"
"On the surface it seemed to work, at least at first," Nesbitt said. "I thought we were the Big Four. I didn't remember Lector was supposed to be there too. And yet . . . when I saw him, when I really looked at him . . . I . . . really knew he belonged. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't remember him, and that frustration drove me to doubt several times, but in the end, I couldn't deny what I felt. I couldn't forget my best friend."
Lector started to smile a bit. Nesbitt had never really wanted to talk about what had happened after the initial conversation they had shared about it. Hearing about Mako's father had been dragging those memories to the surface again, for both of them. It was painful, and yet they were remembering the good as well as the bad. Gozaburo had not been able to separate them, despite his best efforts.
"That is a very powerful tale," Mako said. He looked to Lector. "But it must have been so difficult for both of you while he was struggling with his lost memories."
"It was," Lector said. "But at least his personality didn't change. He still behaved like the dear friend I missed, and he treated me well instead of being standoffish towards me. That meant a great deal."
Mako looked down. "I hope the same will be true of my father."
"Hey, he's fishing, right?" Joey interjected. "That sounds to me like he's gotta be the same as he was!"
"I agree," Yugi smiled. He looked down at the notebook. "What was it that made you decide to go to Los Angeles, Mako?"
"My father wrote several times in this notebook about longing to visit California and its great coastal cities," Mako said. "I decided that should be my next stop. I had already visited San Diego without success. Then in Los Angeles I met the professor and Rebecca, and after hearing their stories, I knew I needed to accompany them to Domino City."
"Well, it's sure good that you did," Téa smiled. "Now your wish is just about to come true!"
Critias started to bring the Gradius into a descent in the next several minutes. "His usual spot is just down the dock from the shack he built to live in," he said. "But he also goes out delivering his catches to nearby villages."
"Then he is much the same," Mako said. "I am sure of it!"
Soon the Gradius had landed on the grass and Mako was hurrying out in anticipation and hope. "Hello?" he called. "Father?"
After a moment a man stepped out of the shack. It had been over ten years, and his worn face showed the passage of time, but he was still recognizable to Mako. And as he stood looking at the boy, something glimmered in his eyes. "Son?"
Mako's heart swelled. "Father!" He ran forward, the years falling away as he dived into the familiar, strong arms. "Oh Father, I knew I would see you again one day! . . ." He clutched the man close.
Akio Tsunami's grip tightened. "Mako," he whispered. "Son. . . . I've missed you so much. . . ."
"But now we're together again, Father!" Mako exclaimed. "We can go home!"
"Yes," Akio agreed. "Home. . . . But now that we're together again, anywhere is home."
Téa brushed aside a happy tear. "He really did it," she whispered. "Mako is back with his dad again, just as it should be."
"I hope he won't want to live here, after being here for so long," Tristan frowned.
"If he does, Mako will certainly stay too," Atem said. "And we'd need to make sure it's a safe place for them."
"The other knights and I wanted to bring down the renegade Duel Monsters as soon as they surfaced," Critias said, "but Dark Magician Girl wanted so desperately to avoid war and more bloodshed that she refused to allow us to proceed. She's tried to have diplomatic talks with the renegades, but although some of them supposedly are willing to abandon their ideas, others are not. The Vorse Raiders in particular are insistent about pursuing this madness."
"Like I said, I never liked that card," Joey scowled. "It looks creepy as heck and the blurb sure doesn't make it sound very hospitable!"
"It's a pretty powerful Level 4 card, though," Yugi said. "There aren't a lot of Level 4 cards with 1900 attack points, so it's really useful."
"Eh. Good point," Joey conceded. "There's even some cards with 1800 points that are Level 5!"
"Or 1600," Atem remarked, thinking of Deepsea Warrior.
"I doubt the Vorse Raiders are philosophical enough to want to end things for the same reasons I did while under the Orichalcos's spell," Dartz frowned. "I would think it more likely that they're in this for the sheer bloodlust they crave so much."
"Except for that little thing about how they sure all bowed to you when you showed up," Crump said.
"True," Dartz relented.
"Honestly, I don't know what they're after, because you're right that they're not really philosophical," Critias said. "And yet they certainly seem to idolize you. I wonder if it could be an act, that they know others will sincerely follow you and so they have to as well to keep up appearances."
"Perhaps," Dartz mused.
Johnson shifted nervously. "I know I wish we could just all go home and not have to worry about this," he said. "We've found Mako's father. If he'll leave, that should be it. Our rings might not work in this dimension anyway, and how could we stop renegade Duel Monsters without them?"
Critias's eyes flashed. "You're a coward, just like your ancestor!"
Now Lector was angry. "He most certainly is not a coward!" he spat. "He gave his life for me, just as the others did!"
Critias growled. "What affects one dimension will affect others," he said. "You can't just be concerned with your own!"
"You don't know what we've all been through over the last years!" Lector retorted. "It is perfectly reasonable and not cowardly at all for Johnson to worry about our safety! Not to mention, he's making a good point about our rings."
"Alright, both of you, calm down," Gansley ordered. "This won't help anything."
Critias and Lector stood glaring at each other, but neither spoke again.
"Pretty weird to see this Kaiba guy so anxious to start a war when our Kaiba hates it so much," Crump remarked.
"Although our Kaiba will also fight if he has to," Gansley said. "This is the same type of thing on a larger scale."
The hatch opened and Mako and his father entered the jet. "We are reunited at last!" Mako exclaimed in joy. "Father wants to come back to our world, but he would like to show me some of the places that have become very special to him while he's been here. Is that alright with everyone?"
Téa bit her lip. "It would be great if it wasn't for the renegade Duel Monsters. . . ."
"Oh, we don't have to worry about them," Akio insisted. "They're a small faction."
"Look at all the damage Dartz did all by himself," Tristan frowned.
"But you have Dartz here with you, on your side," Akio said. "Mako told me. Surely that will grant us safe passage. It won't take long; only several days."
"Well . . ." Yugi gave a weak smile. "I don't like to say No. . . . But maybe anyone who wants to go back through the portal can do that while you're touring."
"Sounds fair to me," Crump said.
Critias scowled but didn't comment. "Back to the palace then?" he brusquely said.
"Yes," Akio nodded. "That is one of the locations I want to share with my son."
"Then everyone strap in," Critias said.
Soon everyone was secure and Critias lifted the jet into the sky. Téa looked to Yugi with joy in her eyes. "Imagine! After all these years, Mako finally found his dad!" she exclaimed. "And we were all here to see it!"
Yugi beamed. "Yeah! It's amazing!"
"But you're worried, Yugi," Atem commented. "I can see it in your eyes."
"And I can hear it in your voice," Joey added. "What's up, Pal?"
"I don't know," Yugi sighed. "I just have a terrible feeling that something's going to go really, really wrong if any of us stay here."
"Probably because of these lousy Vorse Raiders and whoever else they've got on their side," Joey scowled.
"I wish I knew what to do," Yugi fretted. "I can't swear it's not just me being worried, and I don't like to tell Mako and his dad that they can't enjoy this place for a while. I mean, Mr. Tsunami must have gotten really fond of this whole world in over ten years!"
"But there is legitimate reason to worry, even if he doesn't think there is," Atem said. "If you were to insist on us all just going home now and then trying to think of a plan to save this dimension, I doubt anyone would blame you, Yugi."
"I just want this reunion to be really special for them," Yugi said. "Maybe there really isn't a reason to worry. I mean, we have Dartz, and he said we weren't supposed to be attacked, so maybe everything's okay."
"Let's hope," Atem said, laying a hand on Yugi's shoulder. "I will support you in whatever you do."
"Thanks," Yugi said with a weak smile.
xxxx
It was a surprise to everyone when they returned to the castle and found many more of their friends had arrived.
"Joey!" Serenity exclaimed. She ran to her brother with worry shining in her eyes. "Are you okay?!"
"Of course, Serenity," Joey said in surprise. "What the heck are you doing here?! You were supposed to stay back!"
"Shadi came and told Kaiba that he was needed and that terrible things were happening over here," Serenity said. "So I knew I had to come over too!"
"Mokuba isn't here, is he?!" Seto demanded.
"He's still back home," Duke said. "Unless he showed up after we went through. . . ."
The bikers stood awkwardly. Raphael's and Dartz's eyes met and then they each looked away, not sure what to do or say. They hadn't seen each other since Raphael had determined to try to forgive Dartz, and from Raphael's expression, he wasn't sure if he had succeeded or not.
Seto looked the first group over with tense eyes. "And all of you are alright?"
"For now," Atem said.
"Mako has even found his dad," Téa beamed.
"And we were going to explore," Mako said. "But this news does not bode well. Perhaps we should leave, as so many of you felt was prudent."
"The renegades haven't posed a problem so far," Mr. Tsunami frowned. "This will be our only chance to see some of the sights together, Mako."
Mako sighed. "Maybe so, but after all that my friends have seen and been through, I feel like if they're worried I should listen. It really might not be safe, even if it seems so."
"Well . . . hey, how about this?" Yugi spoke up. "We have a magical object that can open portals. That's how we got here in the first place. How about you guys look around the castle grounds for a little bit and then you'll come home? Later, after this problem gets resolved, you can come back and enjoy things all you want without the threat of war hanging over your heads."
Mako perked up. "That is an excellent idea! What do you think, Father?"
"Hmm." Mr. Tsunami still looked disappointed and unconvinced. "After this nonsense is wrapped up, and supposing it is a big problem after all, who knows what might be destroyed by then. But . . ." He sighed. "Your friends made it possible for us to meet again, Mako. If they feel so strongly about this, we had better listen to them."
Mako relaxed. "Thank you, Father."
"But I do want you to see the castle grounds," Mr. Tsunami continued. "Let's do that, at least."
"Alright," Mako smiled. "Lead on, Father."
Téa smiled too. "This was a good compromise, Yugi."
Yugi just sighed. "Then why do I still have that awful feeling?"
"Hey, the grounds should be protected," Joey protested. "I'm sure they have a ton of security!"
"Yeah, I know, but . . ." Yugi shook his head. "I'm probably just worrying unnecessarily."
Atem frowned. He really wasn't sure. "Perhaps someone should go with them while they explore," he suggested. "Just to be safe."
"I'll do it," Nesbitt grunted.
"And I'll go with him," Lector added.
Gansley nodded. "And as soon as they're done, we'll leave," he said. "When we're back on our side, we'll try to work out a plan for dealing with these renegades."
Dark Magician Girl sighed. "I wanted so badly to keep things from escalating into a war, but some of these Duel Monsters can't be reasoned with. I don't know what to do."
"The problem needs to be eradicated before it spreads," Critias insisted.
That was what Seto had been afraid of. He did not want to have to become involved in a war at all. But if the alternative was the possibility of his loved ones being hurt or killed, that was unacceptable. He would do whatever he had to in order to protect them.
Dark Magician Girl gripped her staff. "I wish there was another way. . . ."
"There isn't," Critias insisted.
"I guess there's no chance they're corrupted by something and the spell could be broken," Yugi said.
"Not everything happens because of magic," Critias retorted.
Seto gave a dry smirk. He certainly agreed.
Even if it seemed like it sometimes.
xxxx
Nesbitt was tense. He and Lector were walking through the gardens on the castle grounds, shadowing Mako and Mr. Tsunami yet trying to stay far enough back that they wouldn't be interfering in the father-son reunion tour.
"Do you think he really remembers everything?" Nesbitt wondered, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"He remembers his son," Lector said. "For now, that's enough."
"But if he doesn't remember all the memories they made together through the years. . . ." Nesbitt looked to him. "I know if I had never remembered everything, we both would have felt like something was missing in our lives."
"That's true," Lector had to admit. "But even if that had been the case, I still would have been so thankful that you remembered me."
Nesbitt grunted. ". . . I also wonder how long we're going to be here," he said. "I'd rather be home."
"So would I," Lector said. "We can go through the portal any time, according to the Pharaoh."
"I know. I guess I . . . just want to make sure Mako and his father are alright." Nesbitt looked away, turning red in his awkwardness. "They're just finally together again. I don't want anything to ruin that."
Lector smiled. "I rather feel the same way," he said. "You and I, we're just soft-hearted deep down. I never would have believed it about you when we first met. But when I started to see what you're truly like, I wondered why I hadn't realized it before."
Nesbitt shrugged. "I didn't make it easy. I didn't recognize it in myself until this year."
"Once I started to see it, it was so obvious that I was sure you had always been that way and I just hadn't noticed at first," Lector said.
"Heh. Well, that goes for you too. I thought you were just a stuck-up, judgmental hypocrite until I started seeing beyond that." Nesbitt finally looked back at him. "And when I did, your true nature seemed obvious to me and I wondered why I hadn't realized either."
"All that wasted time," Lector sighed. "We could have been close long ago if we hadn't let our foolhardy judgements on each other get in the way. Crump, and later, Gansley and Johnson, all tried to tell us, but we weren't ready to listen."
"We did try," Nesbitt remarked. "But something always went wrong and we'd go back to hating each other again."
"That's a word that's always thrown around so lightly these days," Lector said. "I never really hated you. I hope you never felt that strongly about me."
"No, not really," Nesbitt admitted. "I thought I did at the time, but I didn't."
The sound of something swooping out of the trees up ahead brought them sharply to attention. A Magician's Valkyria had dropped down in front of the Tsunamis, her eyes cold and hard. She raised her staff, pointing it directly at them.
"What is this?!" Mako cried.
Akio shoved him back. "Get behind me, Son," he ordered. "I'll handle this."
Nesbitt was immediately on guard. He ran forward in confusion and anger. "Leave both of them alone," he snarled. "If you don't, you'll have to contend with me." He started to raise the hand bearing the citrine ring.
"Nesbitt!" Lector exclaimed. He moved to hurry to his friend.
He never made it. The Magician's Valkyria fired. At the same moment, Nesbitt's ring lit up and the orange glow met the Spellcaster's blast head-on. The explosion from the colliding blasts rang through Lector's ears as he crashed back to the grass.
xxxx
The cold drops splashing on Lector's exposed cheek and closed eye finally startled him into consciousness. He opened his eyes, blearily looking at the grass he was laying in and the rain falling on him from above. At first nothing made sense. Why was he laying there?
He started to rise up. The navy blue suitcoat in front of him made his blood run chill. Suddenly it all came back. "Nesbitt!" he choked out. He reached out, his hands shaking, as he took Nesbitt's upper body and gently turned the man to face him. Nesbitt fell limply into place, his skin chalk-white, his eyes closed. Lector could feel that he wasn't breathing.
"Nesbitt!"
In horror Lector bent over his friend, desperate to force air into his lungs. But no matter how he tried, Nesbitt did not start breathing on his own. He couldn't.
"Help!" Lector screamed. "Help me!"
He really didn't know why he was screaming. There wasn't anything anyone could do now. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mako and Akio sprawled in the grass but starting to stir. The Magician's Valkyria was laying nearby, not stirring. It was obvious what had happened. Nesbitt and the Duel Monster had killed each other from the force of their blasts. The explosion had knocked the rest of them unconscious, but they would be alright . . . because of Nesbitt's sacrifice.
Finally Lector stopped trying to revive Nesbitt. He knew it wasn't going to work. Again he reached down, this time lifting Nesbitt's body into his arms. "My friend," he whispered. "My poor, brave friend, who wasn't going to let the Tsunamis' reunion be torn apart no matter what. . . ." A rare sob choked in his throat.
By the time Mako and Akio were fully conscious, they were greeted by a horrible sight. Lector was cradling Nesbitt's body close to him, his eyes broken and far away. To lose Nesbitt meant that Lector was lost too.
