「Kaijudo Generation Arc: Team Zeta. 002 - Collin Hoxham」
As CJ got into the passenger seat beside his father, Heidi jumped in the back. They all buckled up and the SUV pulled out the lot. CJ hadn't had sleepovers since Jake and that was a long time ago. Heidi's eyes were glued to the window, again marveling at everything. Were they really supposed to believe she was an alien from another dimension?
CJ cleared his throat "So Heidi, you do know our last apartment burnt down not long ago?"
"Oh?" she responded and Nate gave him a warning look before turning his attention back to the midday traffic.
"And Mom's pretty strict, especially about eating healthy-"
"Catharine is fine, and she'll be happy for her to stay with us the week," Nate said firmly.
A week wasn't so bad. CJ relaxed.
"It'll be nicer than the DCA," Heidi couldn't keep her eyes off the skyscrapers.
"She's been there for two days," Nate explained. "Underwent questioning, examinations-"
"A lie detector test…" Heidi chimed in.
"She just walked in with blurred memories, said she was sent here by a being called Yukari to stop some kind of incident from happening in our world."
"That's incredible…" CJ admitted.
"See, take a look CJ – with your eyes!" Heidi pulled her card back before he could take it.
CJ frowned and twisted around in his seat, examining the bizarre 13,000 fire card that evolved from three creatures. Humans, Dreammates or Tyranno Drakes… whatever those last two races were? Supernova Mars Disaster, a phoenix.
"Alright, I believe you." CJ said and Heidi slipped her card back with satisfaction. "So this other planet you come from…?"
"Aurellia. It has a smaller population and landmass than Earth, but everything else is the same."
"It is?"
"Yeah, buildings and cars."
"Language?"
"Well my memories were blurred, Yukari said it would best help me complete the mission."
CJ turned back. Tsume materialized on the seat-rest "I know what it's like to have your memory tampered."
"It doesn't make me anxious… I feel good about this. Like this is what needs to be done for me to do… whatever it is I came here to do…"
"Then Yukari will take you back again?" CJ asked.
"Yes, I think so. I'm glad I don't have to do anymore tests and questions… thanks for inviting me to stay with you Nate."
"You invited her?" CJ turned to his father.
"Where is your curiosity? She is literally from another world! I want to know all I can about Aurellia! If I were back in college now I would've geeked so hard."
"Let me guess, while Mom was in her goth phase you were into sci-fi?"
"I am your father…" Nate quoted as they slowed to a stop once more.
"This traffic is crazy, we barely go half a block without having to stop again." Heidi spoke at the sound of distant, blaring horns.
"That's NYC for you, CJ can show you around after school on Monday." Nate said.
"You're coming to school with me too?" he turned and Heidi nodded.
"Helps that the Fiona High faculty are happy to pull strings when the DCA needs a favour." Nate said and they drove off once more "By the way, since Heidi's taking the guest bedroom, Junky will be sleeping with you tonight."
"I was afraid you were going to say that…" CJ slinked down in his chair.
When they reached CJ's apartment his mother was very welcoming. Catherine pointed out the bathroom and guest bedroom before starting on dinner. With apron on she got to work in the kitchen, whipping up a salad while their marinated steaks cooked in the oven. The four ate at the table together and Nate continued to ask Heidi questions about Aurellia's geography, history and movies. Heidi often had to think after questions, squinting at the roof while recalling as best she could. CJ admitted it was interesting. Aurellia only had two continents, and the largest was comparable in land-size to South America. The smaller one wasn't any bigger than USA.
When it was time for bed CJ was brushing his teeth. Junky passed down the hallway on his little doll-legs, heading into CJ's bedroom for the night. Then Heidi appeared and caught sight of CJ's scowl in the mirror.
"You alright?" she asked.
CJ spat into the sink and turned on the tap "No… I'm still thinking about Collin…"
"Was he your friend?"
"Kind of…" CJ ran his toothbrush under the water then dropped it in its cup. "Collin is from my hometown, a small town in California just like me and Jake. His Dad worked with mine on an assignment for the DCA. He was always a weird and quiet kid. We never had anything in common, until the fourth grade. Collin and I both got obsessed with this video game, and Jake who was my best friend at the time moved, so for a couple months Collin and I were hanging out every day. Then…"
"Then?" Heidi prompted.
"Then I got over the game. Collin wasn't all that interesting to talk to. As quick as our friendship started it ended, but I was always wishing him well, you know? And when I saw him at Fiona High we'd say hello, but Collin spends his lunches in the library, he's just sort of…"
"Weird." Heidi finished for him.
"Yeah. But something's not right about this," CJ looked in the mirror. "He fits a certain profile for a killer. Not many friends, quiet, poor social skills. But when I knew him Collin didn't have any anger, he was just meek. Something about this doesn't feel right."
"Maybe something happened to him?" Heidi offered with a shrug.
"Yeah, maybe…"
"Goodnight, CJ." She walked off to bed.
"Night Heidi…" As much as CJ tried to shake off the concern he couldn't.
He pictured quiet, ten-year-old Collin Hoxham. Walking between classes alone, head down like always and shoulders tensed. Then he tried to imagine him crouched atop a young woman and strangling her to death, face set and wide-eyed. Did Collin snap? Did he try something as stupid as robbing a convenience store with the new powers his boosted K-waves gave him? Summoned a creature and caused an explosion, all for a couple hundred dollars cash? Between Junky's antics and thoughts on an old friend, CJ tossed and turned in bed that night. He didn't feel like rehashing that same conversation with Tsume. After one o'clock he finally managed to sleep.
It was Sunday and nearly afternoon when CJ got up, neither of his parents were home. He wiped crusty eyes and found a used bowl and cereal box sitting there at the kitchen bench.
Heidi turned around from the living room "You're up. Wanna play some games?"
CJ acquiesced with a nod, then went to grab himself a bowl so he could eat too.
An hour later they were getting through a shooter game. Heidi was very competitive and sulked like a brat after losing, but it was still fun to have someone to play against. CJ's bowl and spoon had been sitting on the coffee table the whole time. It was weird for his parents to both be gone but they were probably sorting out the latest incident at DCA headquarters. CJ's mobile started ringing beside their mess and he paused the game to answer his father.
"How's things?" Nate asked.
"Good," CJ answered. "How's things with you?"
"Looking a little sketchy here. I'm coming around now to pick up you and Heidi. We're meeting at headquarters. Jason is out gathering the rest of Team KG. We need to talk about the recent developments."
"Why us?"
"This involves all you kids. And seeing as Collin is a classmate of yours, you five may be able to shed some light on the situation."
"Alright, we'll be ready." After their call ended CJ stood and picked up his mess. He turned to Heidi "put your bowl in the sink, we got to tidy up before Dad gets here."
They rushed about to make the apartment look less like a teenage bedroom. CJ wiped a cloth across the surfaces before running the quickest of showers and darting between rooms to get dressed.
"Come on, CJ!" Heidi called and he joined her by the front door. He locked up after them and they took the elevator down, jogging out to the street where the Nisan Rogue was parked and waiting. The engine was running when they hopped in and CJ apologized.
"I wasn't waiting long." Nate put his phone away. "Let's go, DCA headquarters…" he pulled out and they were off.
。
Jamie stood in a sleek hallway with arms crossed while the three boys around her prattled. It was mostly Dylan with some of Jake jumping in. Karon, ever the aloof and quiet one, was saying the least. Over his shoulder her brother Jason was talking with Miss Frediano and CJ's Mom. The hall was white and well-lit, coupled with everything going on and having had another nightmare about that night, Jamie was close to headache-city.
"-if that's what CJ thinks I have to agree. A few years ago we were running track and this kid sprains his ankle, coach makes me and Jeremy help him to the nurse's office. The poor dude is in tears and Jeremy keeps sighing and complaining that he's going to be late for lunch-break." Dylan was saying.
"Oh," Jake blinked "what an ass."
"And then there was the time in sixth grade a bunch of us were writing curse-words on the white-board cause the substitute was late. Well genius Jeremy grabs a permanent marker instead and by the time the teacher gets in there's just these blurred swear-words on the board and he actually tries to put the blame on us."
"I got to admit," Jake agreed with a nod "you're painting a clear picture for me here."
"Then there was the thing with you, right Karon?" Dylan pointed and the three turned to their quiet friend.
Karon stared back "…he came into the shop wanting a deck-box but our last one was reserved for another customer. I heard him shouting at the register girl so came out. He recognized me and left."
"And last year we had to share a conjoined desk. We got super-competitive - usually I wouldn't bother but he's such an ass – one time the teacher had us mark our desk-mate's work. I had one point more so he changed his answer right there with an eraser. He lied to the teacher's face when I told her. What about you, Jamie? Got a Jeremy story?"
She was rubbing her temple when they faced her "oh… he caught me in TCG towers last week and started talking. It was really weird, he was just bragging about stuff and kept looking at my chest. I had to tell him 'my eyes are up here' and next thing the guy asks me out. I almost decked him."
"That bastard…" Jake mouthed. Dylan and Karon stared too.
Dylan shook his head "that lack of self-awareness… it's a scary thing for someone to have…"
"So long story short," Jake tried to wrap up the ranting "Collin's a murderer and Jeremy's a scumbag, I sure am glad we never added him to Team KG… what about the girl, Tafiya?" He watched as more disgruntled looks came over their faces.
"We all got stories. Karon, go." Dylan prompted.
"She's a senior like me. She's gossipy and over-dramatic. I avoid her." Karon kept it succinct.
Dylan went "Her family's middle-eastern but I don't think they're Muslim since she doesn't wear those hijabs. When we were little she pretended to be animals, like a horse or whatever-the-hell, but she kept doing it all up until high school. She had a crush on me and chased me around the playground for a week straight."
"I thought you'd be bragging about a girl going crazy for you?" Jake smirked.
"No, dude. Not just me. She did it to heaps of boys, but she only ever liked boys younger than her. It was gross. She's got a little brother too so I was kinda scared for him. Jamie?"
"Tafiya…" she took a breath while memories filled her head.
Truthfully, Jamie had had at least three conversations with Tafiya that were nice. Tafiya had called her 'sweetheart', as if she saw herself as a mother hen when talking to younger students. Jamie didn't have girl friends and would've jumped at the opportunity to get to know Tafiya better, but certain things held her back. Tafiya's wrists were clunky with bracelets but it was the plastic junk-jewelry that little girls liked. She wore too much make-up to school and the pigment didn't always match her skin-type. She'd been in cat-fights with other girls, the feral kind with hairpulling and scratching. She was also a popular girl and tended to gossip.
"I once heard Tafiya tell a girl she should get an eating disorder because she was fat. Ironic that I heard her vomiting in the girl's bathrooms on Thursday, and when she left the stall her pants weren't fitting her right..." Jamie recalled.
"Did you say anything to her?" Jake asked.
"And risk getting my eyes scratched out? No, I found another bathroom."
A few minutes later CJ and his Dad arrived with a short girl their age who Jamie had never seen before. The adults went to Nate. CJ joined his teammates with a nod. The short girl surprised her by walking right up to them.
"Hi! I'm Heidi Hirazumi." Social type, extravert. With a weird name.
Jake introduced himself then the others followed suit. Jamie had heard about the supposed alien girl, but as they spoke she seemed human enough. Outgoing and happy.
Jonah walked out a nearby door "good, they're all here. Now Nate, as Catharine has pointed out there's some discrepancies with Collin's case. If he's guilty Director Roman wants to keep him locked up."
"He's sixteen!" CJ yelled passionately.
"And too dangerous to be free, all he needs is to get his hands on more cards and boom, same thing happens again." Jonah replied.
"What are the discrepancies?" Nate asked.
Jonah slipped his hands in his pockets "The kid's hiding something. We suspect there's more to his story but Collin's tight-lipped. Even telling him he's going to be locked up here for life isn't making him budge."
Nate looked to his wife. Catharine took a breath "the young woman who was strangled…"
"No surprise there," Jonah started as the younger ones grew quiet "of all the people in the shop he attacks the attractive woman. Climbs on top and strangles her. He's a boy. It was sexual."
"There was no sign of molestation," Catharine pointed out.
"He's quiet with poor social skills. So inwardly frustrated. Girls are unimpressed by him, so he begins to resent women. He gets in close to kill her because in his mind she's another beautiful woman who rejects him. There was another woman among the victims, but he decides to let out his rage up-close and personal on the young and pretty one." Jonah deduced.
"There was no sign of groping either," Catharine pushed. "Even if he felt too inadequate to-" she cast an awkward look at her son "-to be excited properly, and the power he felt at killing her didn't do it for him, if a teenage boy got close to kill a woman he was attracted to he would've assaulted her in other ways too."
"Not if he was disgusted by his own attraction," Jonah argued.
"Look, Dr. Collins." Catharine took another breath and pointed through the doorway "darkness is my civilization. So let me tell you that something isn't right here. That boy is hiding something, but he is scared and he doesn't feel like a killer to me."
At his mother's words CJ felt a rush of hope.
"Then what could scare him enough to not talk when his whole future is on the line?" Jonah was close to yelling.
"Let me talk to him," CJ said and everyone looked at him. "It's why you brought us here, right?"
Kaitylin Frediano, his history teacher stepped up to put a hand on his shoulder. Jason followed her "he's not talking, CJ."
"Then let me duel him. Of everyone here I have the best chance of getting through to him, if it looks unsafe you can step in." CJ watched the adults deliberate "it could be our only shot at finding out if there's more going on than we realise."
"Alright…" Jonah sighed "We'll take you both to a training room. But if Collin tries activating a duel field or summoning a creature physically, we're stepping in to subdue him."
CJ nodded and they proceeded to get things ready.
。
CJ stood in the wide training room, determined and waiting. The doors opened and Collin was led by a pair of agents, futuristic cuffs bound his wrists. CJ's resolve wavered for just a moment before he held firm. Collin Hoxham was dark-haired, short and lanky for his age. He looked unimpressive and like he couldn't hold his own in a fight. Maybe he would've been capable of overpowering a grown woman and strangling her. So is that it? CJ wondered. Taken enough crap all his life and now he gets these powers and decides to dish it back? The prisoner was led to his mark.
"Hello, Collin."
"Hello, CJ."
The guards undid the cuffs which opened with a hiss. Collin massaged his wrists, one of the guards handed him his deck and K-VYZER then they walked out. Everyone else was observing on the monitors. In here it was just the two of them.
"So what is this about? Do they think dueling you is going to make me change my story?"
"I wanted this." CJ responded with anger.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you, CJ."
"What's wrong with you? Finding out this game is real should've been something amazing. Instead you used it to rob a convenience store."
"CJ… you guys caught me… let it go…"
"Did you strangle that woman?" CJ yelled and Collin's jaw tightened. "If someone else killed her then doesn't her family have a right to know!" When Collin didn't speak CJ slipped his K-VYZR on, shuffled his deck and slammed it down "you're complicit then."
For a moment Collin looked inexplicably sad but then he fitted his own K-VYZR, shuffled and set his deck down as well. Their surroundings morphed into forestry wilderness and starry brightness.
"Duel Start!" They said and ten teal shields flickered to life between them.
Tomb Raider Legend Peru- Bike theme
"I set nature mana and end!" CJ declared.
"I set light mana and end." Collin countered.
"I set nature mana then play Torcon!" At CJ's call the blue beast folk landed, swinging its boulder-beads and ready for an attack.
Torcon
Civilization: Nature
Power: 1000
"I summon Sarius, Vizier of Suppression." Collin retaliated in that passive way CJ remembered.
Sarius, Vizier of Suppression
Civilization: Light
Power: 3000
The golden blocker arose, the gears of its body turning.
"I evolve Torcon into Barkwhip, the Smasher!" CJ yelled "Break a shield!"
Barkwhip, the Smasher
Civilization: Nature
Power: 5000
"No block," Collin decided. A whip was masterfully weaved by the four-armed fighter, shattering a panel into pieces.
Collin
Shields: 5-4
Collin added the shield to his hand and came back with "Sarius evolves into Sieg Balicula, the Intense. Attack Barkwhip!"
Sieg Balicula, the Intense
Civilization: Light
Power: 5000
Another evo crystal descended and Sarius grew into a silver mecha connected by lightning currents. The air groaned as it sailed forth and pummeled Barkwhip whose mallet collided with its side.
Sieg Balicula, the Intense: 5000
Barkwhip, the Smasher: 5000
Both creatures exploded and CJ drew, adding his fourth mana "I cast Faerie Life for one mana, then end my turn."
"Wrong move," Collin replied "I cast Glory Snow for two mana, then end." He dropped his spell afterward.
CJ drew angrily from his deck. It was like he expected. Dueling with Collin now, his classmate didn't feel like a killer. He was the same bashful kid CJ had always known but never been too close to. But CJ couldn't understand why Collin wouldn't tell the truth in this situation and it was making him pissed off.
"I summon Bliss Totem, Avatar of Luck!" the colourful totem struck a pose with the sound of clashing cymbals.
Bliss Totem, Avatar of Luck
Civilization: Nature
Power: 5000
"I summon Nariel the Oracle, now lockdown!" A gold orb appeared and popped open with flashes of blue energy. "Creatures with power 3000 or higher can't attack!"
Nariel, the Oracle
Civilization: Light
Power: 1000
CJ grit his teeth. He had no more cards in his hand. He drew Muscle Charger and put it straight in his mana zone.
"Why won't you let us help you?" he yelled across the room. "What is it? Did you black out, did someone make you do it? Is your family held hostage? Are you covering for your teammates? What?"
"Let it go." Collin said sternly.
"Are you taking the hit for Jeremy? He's dumb enough to come up with something like this, and he's a nature player. So is that it? He drags you along with him, then escapes with a Dimension Gate so you have to take the fall alone?"
"Let. It. Go!" Collin shouted and though it was unusual to see him raise his voice, it still didn't look like the fury of a killer.
"I tap Bliss Totem then add Torcon, Barkwhip and Faerie Life from my graveyard to my mana zone. I end my turn." CJ declared.
"I summon Mihail, Celestial Elemental!" Collin declared. "Double lockdown! Other destroyed creatures don't leave the battle-zone!" A larger silver mecha lit up and hummed.
Mihail, Celestial Elemental
Civilization: Light
Power: 4000
Collin pointed "Nariel, attack!" the gold orb flew and spun a disc of light through CJ's shield.
CJ
Shields: 5-4
CJ drew his Fighter Dual Fang "His play-style makes everything passive too. This is way more annoying than dueling Jake." CJ looked up "Mighty Bandit, Ace of Thieves!" A cat swordsman landed with a circular case full of swords. "I end my turn."
Mighty Bandit, Ace of Thieves
Civilization: Nature
Power: 2000
Collin had also run out of cards in his hand. He drew a spell and used it "Diamond Cutter! This turn both Nariel and Mihail can attack you! Go, break shields!" He tapped them one after the other.
CJ
Shields: 4-3-2
CJ waited to reveal his trigger once the action settled down "Dimension Gate. I add Torcon to my hand." He drew and started his turn "I summon Torcon then immediately evolve him. Roar the savage hero, Fighter Dual Fang!" The huge cat-beast stood tall, raising its weapon overhead. Tsume roared at their opponent.
Fighter Dual Fang
Civilization: Nature
Power: 8000
"You're getting ready for an all-out assault for if you get out of my lockdowns…" Collin observed while staring down CJ's three creatures.
"It's no wonder nobody in Team Zeta synced with a creature willing to work with them!" CJ yelled, his eyes beginning to flicker green. "I tap Bliss Totem to send that Dimension Gate I used to the mana zone. Mighty Bandit, break a shield!" The smaller cat-beast reached back for another sword then darted out, slashing apart a shield.
Collin
Shields: 4-3
"I summon Petrova, Channeler of Suns!" Collin announced "Triple lockdown! I choose a race to gain 4000 power and I choose beast folk! Now half the creatures in your deck can't attack, CJ!"
Petrova, Channeler of Suns
Civilization: Light
Power: 3500
CJ felt a bead of sweat running down his face. It would be even harder to attack and Collin was free to keep chipping away, he needed to draw an answer to these lockdowns.
Fighter Dual Fang: 8000-12000
Mighty Bandit, Ace of Thieves: 2000-6000
"This is an interesting bind," Tsume commented from the field "dragging things out won't be to our advantage."
"I know…" CJ muttered.
"Nariel, attack!" Collin ordered and once more the light bringer spun that blue energy disc through a shield.
CJ
Shields: 2-1
No trigger. CJ drew and let out a sigh of relief. Natural Snare. He had thirteen mana and a full hand again, but with only the one spell he needed to figure out which lockdown to disrupt. Petrova can't be chosen. If I choose Mihail I still can't attack. There's only "I cast Natural Snare and send Nariel to your mana zone." Vines burst up and bound the orb, dragging it underground. "I summon a second Bliss Totem, Avatar of Luck! Fighter Dual Fang double-breaks! Then first Bliss Totem and Mighty Bandit break shields as well!"
Collin
Shields: 4-2-1-0
Collin's last shield was Holy Awe. Pointless considering all CJ's creatures were already tapped. Collin had never considered himself fortunate, but he still figured he was going to pull out a win here.
"I summon Sarius, Vizier of Suppression! I cast Diamond Cutter and now I have three creatures that can attack you! You only have one shield!"
Sarius, Vizier of Suppression
Civilization: Light
Power: 3000
The golden blocker joined Petrova, both creatures flanking his elemental. CJ felt a hit of despair as he registered the odds.
Collin sighed "for what it's worth, I appreciate you wanting to help CJ. No one can help me… Mihail Attack!" The angel command fired a pulse-wave of energy that splintered glass into dust.
CJ
Shields: 1-0
"Shield trigger!"
"Petrova can't be chosen for anything other than attacks or blocks!" Collin called back.
"You gonna let me finish? Shield trigger, Mana Nexus!"
CJ
Shields: 0-1
A panel rebuilt itself and Collin blinked in shock. He pointed again "Sarius, attack!" The mecha swerved before firing a lightning bolt.
"Shield trigger, Mana Nexus!"
"Petrova attack!" he yelled with outrage and CJ calmly added the card to his hand once his shield was broken a third time.
CJ
Shields: 1-0-1-0
Collin was speechless as his classmate started his turn.
"I'm not giving up until everyone responsible for what happened is punished! First Bliss Totem attacks Mihail! Second Bliss Totem attacks Sarius! Mighty Bandit attacks Petrova! Fighter Dual Fang, direct attack!"
Bliss Totem, Avatar of Luck: 5000
Mihail, Celestial Elemental: 4000
Bliss Totem, Avatar of Luck: 5000
Sarius, Vizier of Suppression: 3000
Mighty Bandit, Ace of Thieves: 6000
Petrova, Channeler of Suns: 3500
With his anger CJ's K-waves spiked, his eyes flashed green and although the sword-swinging Tsume was just a hologram a psychic shove knocked Collin off his feet and sent him rolling.
"GAME OVER: WINNER: Christopher Henderson!"
He pulled off the K-VYZER just as the side-door opened. Collin climbed pitifully to his hands and knees, slipping off the K-VYZER and letting it drop to the floor. Even when granted access to his cards Collin had remained non-violent. He hadn't summoned a duel field nor tried attacking CJ with a real creature. Is it guilt over the crime? Or is he really taking the fall for somebody?
"Time to fess up, Collin. Or you'll be spending your life locked up here, just like Robert Wilson."
"I can't!" Collin yelled at the floor.
"You can't say or you won't say?" CJ pressed and watched his old friend turn to look him in the eyes.
"I won't."
"Alright then," with that settled CJ turned to leave the training room, the guards moved to cuff the juvenile convict once more.
⟨author's note⟩
So I took the idea to use soundtracks with duels from ShiningAzureEmperor. Yes that's what those weird bolded music titles are, you can find videos that match them on YouTube. What else to say... I'm a bit too sleepy now to think of anything. I'll just put this up then get me some shut-eye.
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