Chapter IV: Let Loose the Machines of Bandit Keith

Ranma made a short note to thank Exodia for the gold in his pack. He was in Sea Side Town doing one of his favourite things. Eating. As one would expect Sea Side Town was next to the sea and had a wide variety of seafood, from fish to crabs, muscles, clams, scallops and seaweed, it was a seafood feast for the up-and-coming King of Games.

Everyone else wondered how the young man didn't have a large waistline from the amount of foods he ate. And was still eating.

Right now good food was all Ranma was worried about. Elsewhere other people had other worries.

---

"Mai not only lost to this worm but was FREED of my CONTROL!"

Someone created a phrase that went as follows: 'Don't shoot the messenger.'

Panik didn't care right then and there.

"WHY IS THIS UPSTART ANNOYING ME SO!?"

The messenger decided that offering other news may, if not save at least prolong, his life. "Sir, our contacts state he is at Sea Side Town. He can be here within two days, or even tonight at this rate. What are your orders?"

Panik tried to calm himself enough to think. When he regained control he spoke. "Where is Keith Howard?"

"Right here Panik my man."

Panik looked towards The 'Bandit' Keith Howard, mercenary duellist. At 6'2 with well-defined arms he was a large man. He wore dirty, well-worn slacks, a red shirt, leather jacket and heavy boots. His blonde hair was held by a bandana wrapped around his head. Add in sunglasses and facial stubble, the man from the technological country of Altech was a site to see.

What Panik was really looking at was the girl in his grasp. She was petite, had dark purple hair, indigo eyes, a long black sleeved shirt, black tights, a mid thigh length skirt, also black, and shoes he honestly never saw before. She looked fourteen, maybe fifteen, years old.

"I was wondering where you were Keith. Now who the hell is that, and why did you bring her here?"

Keith just gave out a wide grin before shoving the girl forward roughly. Said girl fell to the floor face down.

"I found her lost in the woods. And I so HAD to help her out. So I figured since you needed a new slave-girl, we could give her a 'happy' home."

Panik only stood up and walked forwards, grinning widely as the girl backed away. "Yes. She'll do just fine. Guards! Re-dress her in the slave outfit, then tell her what her new duties are."

The Guards saluted and dragged the helpless girl away, grinning at the new piece of 'meat'. Panik then turned to Keith.

"Excellent find. I will arrange a proper bonus. However I have a job for you."

Keith smiled as he dusted his jacket off. "Isn't that why Bandit Keith is paid the big bucks? What ya need?"

"There is a duellist on his why here named Ranma Yu-Gi-Oh. He has already beaten Weevilus and Mai."

Keith nodded at this. "So, you want this punk knocked out of the picture? Not a problem."

"See to it, but don't fool around with him. Beating Weevilus and Mai makes him a sizable threat. Take him out quickly."

"Relax Panik my man. You pay The Bandit good money to do stuff like this. And when Bandit Keith is paid good money, good things happen. Ciao then, gotta duel to get to."

With that Keith turned and left as Panik let himself laugh. "Well Ranma, seems you'll die before you get to me."

---

Another day of travel brought Panik's Tower into view.

As he was told it was a large Keep, but the 'bridge of land' and the 'island' were both extensions of the mainland. He figured he could reach the Keep by nightfall. He just hoped it remained smooth sailing till then.

However by the laws of Murphy that would not happen, as he heard something that had to be a motorcycle.

'Yami,' he called to the Puzzle's sprit, looking at the puzzle hung by a string around his neck. 'I thought this world didn't have any technologies more advanced than a catapult.'

'Not quite Ranma.' The sprit answered back. 'A country called Altech has technology too, but they keep it to themselves for the most part. And no other countries trust them. That guy must be from there.'

And thus Ranma looked on as Bandit Keith made his approach. His 'cycle' had three wheels, two in the back, one in the front. It looked bulkier that what he saw back on his world, painted black and red and was louder than a mallet-happy Akane in a china shop.

Said motorcycle came to a stop as the rough-looking man dismounted his vehicle, and walked towards him until they were a number of yards apart. It was a long moment before he spoke.

"I'm lookin' for a Ranma Yu-Gi-Oh. Are you him?"

Ranma looked at him, the glow of the puzzle bringing Yami's essence into him. "I am. Who wants to know?"

The man gave a wide smile before answering. "Call me Bandit Keith. And Panik is paying top dollar for your death."

He pulled out a deck and started to shuffle. Ranma quickly did the same.

"Let's see what you're made of."

And as one a called filled the sky. "TIME TO DUEL!"

---

Hotaru enjoyed her short 'break' until Panik barked a new thing to do. The guards forced her to change into the 'outfit' in front of them, leering at her the entire time. What's worse was when she was alone in a room for a few moments her Henshin Stick failed to work. She didn't realize she was in another universe, and without the planet Saturn she could not access her powers.

Which was bad. As skimpy as the Sailor Suit was this... THING was worse.

The only thing covering her small breasts was strip of cloth looked a little less than half a foot wide. The rest of the 'outfit' was two feet long and somewhat over half a foot wide strips of cloth tied together by a rope, hanging at her waist to keep the 'naughty' bits from being seen. Which didn't help much since the outfit lacked a thing called 'undergarments'. She didn't even have shoes or socks, walking bare foot on VERY cold stone floors.

And not for the first time did she wish a white knight, or ANY knight, would come for her.

---

The now familiar arena and podiums lit up. Two decks were set in place and each player drew five cards.

------------ Ranma: 2000 Keith: 2000 ------------

Ranma took a card from his hand. "I will begin this duel with Moon Envoy (1100/1000) in defence mode."

Once his card was down a solider with a spear and decorative armour appeared, kneeling with the spear held defensively.

"OK then. If that's what you what to do... Cyber Falcon, Attack Mode! (1400/1200)"

Keith's monster rose from the ground, taking the form of a metallic falcon.

"Attack Cyber Falcon! Dive Claw Attack!"

The metal bird flew up high, then fired up a pair of jets on it's back. It dove into the solider shattering it. Ranma nodded at this.

"I'll now play Ancient Elf, in attack mode! (1450/1200) Use Elf's Magic Burst!"

The elf shot it's magic attack into the metal bird, but surprisingly the magic only bounced off.

"What in the?"

"Too bad pal. My machine monsters have a very special magic resistant armour. Any magic attack will only bounce off. Like the steel skin of my next monster, Spikebot, in attack mode!" (1800/1700)

Keith's second monster was a large, bulky man-shaped with spiked armour. It had no arms; instead each shoulder had a large spiked ball-and- chain.

"Attack Ancient Elf with Massive Spiked Smash!"

Charging forward the machine-beast swung one of it's weapons, crushing Ancient Elf beneath it.

------------ Ranma: 1650 Keith: 2000 ------------

"Well Keith, if it's hardball you want to play, let's play hardball!" Drawing a card, Ranma announced his next move. "I'll set this card face down, and play the Battle Steer in attack mode!"

The Minotaur beast rose up pitchfork in hand.

"Battle Steer, destroy Cyber Falcon!"

The bull-beast charged forward, leaping into the air so it could impale the bird of metal with it's weapon. As the weapon struck the Falcon shattered.

------------ Ranma: 1650 Keith: 1600 ------------

"Not bad kid, but now The Bandit draws a card." Taking the top card from his deck, he smiled.

'A Seven Completed huh? I can make use of this later. But I'll hang onto it for now.' "I'll now place Launcher Spider, in attack mode! (2200/2500)"

A mechanical spider with twin rocket packs rose up as Ranma reached for his down card. As the spider finished it's assent the ground crumbled beneath it, sending it tumbling down.

"What the hell happened to my monster!?"

"It fell down a hole. Trap Hole that is!"

"A trap card?"

Ranma gave off a confidant grin. "That's right. I can activate it as you summon a monster. Anything with over one thousand attack points can be destroyed by falling in to The Trap Hole."

"All right, that was clever, I admit it. But my Spikebot and your Battle Steer have the same attack power. (1800) It's a deadlock, you can't attack!"

Ranma drew his next card and smiled. "Wrong Keith. I summon Curse of Dragon!" (2000/1700)

The dragon monster was long, had two wings and looked like a dragon with bony plate armour.

"Destroy Spikebot with Dragon Flame Assault!"

The dragon opened it's mouth and shot a stream of flames into the metal monstrosity, melting it into a molten puddle.

------------ Ranma: 1650 Keith: 1400 ------------

Keith grit his teeth at that one. 'I need to get some defences up, to buy some time until I draw a good monster.' "I play Pendulum Machine in defence mode."

The card that rose up was a red machine with a man-like top half, but a wicked blade instead of legs. (1750/2000) It's arms were crossed to block an attack.

Ranma drew a new card and nodded before adding it to his hand. "I end my turn now, without performing any moves."

Keith nodded in acknowledgement as he too drew a card. Then he smiled.

"I play Cyber-Tech Alligator, in attack mode! (2500/1600)"

The monster that arose looked like an alligator assimilated by the Borg of Star Trek fame. Standing on two legs with red armour giant wings and huge claws, the Cyber-Tech Alligator roared in a show of power.

"Destroy Battle Steer! Attack!"

The giant robotic reptile charged forward and with a giant swipe of it's claw destroyed the bull-monster.

------------ Ranma: 950 Keith: 1400 ------------

"Got anything to stand up to THAT?"

Ranma drew a new card and smiled. "I do. First I play Gaia, the Fierce Knight in attack mode!"

The mounted warrior rose from the ground as Keith snickered. "OK, Gaia IS strong, (2300/2100) but not enough to beat my monster."

"Alone, no. But my magic card changes all that." So saying Ranma held up a card for Keith to see, and his eyes nearly bugged out.

"A Polymerization card!"

"Correct! And with it, I can unite Curse of Dragon with Gaia, The Fierce Knight!"

The two monsters became light particles before swirling around each other. In a flash of light a new monster flew forth. The knight, Gaia, was no longer mounted upon a powerful horse, but the Curse of Dragon itself.

"Combined they are a more powerful monster, Gaia, The Dragon Champion! (2600/2100) Gaia attack! Dragon Hero's Assault!"

Flying upon his steed the warrior charged forth, slicing the Frankenstein reptile in half.

------------ Ranma: 950 Keith: 1300 ------------

"Damn it!" Keith was now unhappy. Very much so. With The Dragon Champion on the field he'd have a difficult defeating Ranma it.

Difficult, but for The Bandit, far from impossible. He drew a new card. "I'll play a Mechanialchaser (1850/800) in defence mode. That's it for now."

After drawing his card Ranma announced his moves. "One card face down, and I'll have Gaia attack your Chaser."

Again the warrior flew forth and severed a machine.

Once more Keith drew a card. Once he did he let out a wide grin. "I play Cannon Solider in Attack Mode!" (1400/1300)

The new monster was purple, man-like, and was hunched forward slightly. On it's back was a large cannon.

"You see for each monster I sacrifice Cannon Solider will do five hundred damage to your life points directly. It can even fire ITSELF at your life points! Which means. YOU LOSE! Cannon Solider! Absorb Pendulum Machine, and use it to power your attack!"

The red bladed monster disintegrated then entered the weapon of Cannon Solider. The weapon glowed with new power as the monster charged it's weapon from with in.

"FIRE!"

The cannon let loose a powerful yellow beam. Ranma quickly activated and announced his trap card.

"I counter with Negate Attack!"

As the card was activated the soldier's blast passed into a portal, transporting elsewhere.

"The HELL!? My Attack! It didn't hit!"

Ranma grinned as his opponent flushed in anger. "That's right. And Negate Attack has a second effect, it ensures you cannot attack again this turn, which mean it's MY turn. Gaia, Attack! Dragon Hero's Assault!"

The Dragon Champion flew at the robot slicing it in half with one swift and brutal blow.

"No! My Life Points!

------------ Ranma: 950 Keith: 100 ------------

"Oh man... that almost did me in."

Keith was not easy to scare. After the closest shave since he stopped shaving he decided he had good right to be scared.

"You ain't gonna beat me punk! Bandit Keith Howard loses to no one!"

---

Hotaru wondered if Panik liked tripping her to make fun of her, or to get the 'skirt' of her 'outfit' to fly up and give him a view. As it was there was nothing she could do but ferry drinks around. If the soldier's leered at her, she had to take it. If they groped her she couldn't do a damn thing. She couldn't stop them from teasing her, pushing her, flipping up the 'skirt', or whatever they wanted. As she was locked in a room on a bed of hay she curled up and sobbed hoping that someone would save her from this... torture.

---

"Make your move Keith, my Champion is ready for you."

'Maybe not.' Keith thought to himself. During the duel he gained a second Seven Competed, and now it was time to bring them into play. He drew a card and smiled as he saw it. 'Perfect.'

"Slot Machine, Attack Mode! (2000/2300)"

The newest monster was a large, yellow, casino gambling machine with arms and legs. One arm ended in a gun, the other rested on a handle protruding from it's shoulder.

"Of course to get it strong enough to face Gaia I need to play these two cards, my Seven Completed Magic Cards. I'll use them to boost Slot Machine seven hundred attack points each, for a total of fourteen hundred!" (3400/2300)

Two of the slots shifted until a '7' appeared, signifying the two cards.

"Attack and destroy Gaia!" A laser burst from the gun arm and struck the dragon-mounted warrior, destroying steed and knight alike.

------------ Ranma: 150 Keith: 100 ------------

Ranma sucked in his breath as the shot hit home. He quickly checked his hand.

'I have the Dark Magician, but even if Keith's machine didn't have magic resistance Slot Machine too strong too handle. Maybe if I got Armoured Glass I could do something, it helped beat Weevilus and Mai, it could work again.'

He drew a new card and let out a grin. 'This maybe better.'

"I will place a card face down, and Celtic Guardian in defence mode."

The Elven knight rose to the field, side turned to the Slot Machine, hand on still sheathed sword.

"Slot Machine, take care of it."

Another laser burst and the Guardian was eliminated. 'But he bought me all the time I needed.

"Make your move punk. My Slot Machine is ready to steamroll your life points."

"Wrong Keith. My Dark Magician will be your end. I place him in attack mode!" (2500/2100)

The wizard of Ranma's deck rose upwards floating high above Slot Machine.

"Oh, come ON! Even IF he had a higher attack power, which he doesn't have, magic don't work on my machines! What's the point?"

"The point is my down card, a trap called DNA Surgery!" With the Ranma flipped it over, activating the trap.

"DNA Surgery allows me to change the type of every monster on the field to any type I declare. And I choose the Spell-Caster class!"

The appearance of Slot Machine changed instantly. The handle began to look like a magician's staff, the hands looked more organic-like, and the machine's armour began to change from metal to cotton robes.

"DNA Surgery does not effect my Magician since he was a Spell-Caster to start with. However your Slot Machine has drastically altered, and not just in looks."

Keith was staring at his changed monster as Ranma's words reached him.

"Altered?"

"Since Slot Machine's armour has been exchanged for magician's robes the magic-blocking effect it has is negated. And since your Seven Completed only works on machine type monsters Slot Machine has no choice but to rid itself of them, returning to it's original attack power. (2000/2300) Say goodbye! Dark Magic Attack!"

Dark Magician shot his arm forward sending the colour-inverting wave right at the altered machine. It was blown apart instantly.

------------ Ranma: 150 Keith: 0 ------------

As in his past two duels his deck returned to his hand. Keith only stood around in shock.

"Impossible! I've been beaten? Can't... be..."

Keith turned and ran, but as he did the Eye of Ra glowed on Ranma's forehead. "There is no escape for you 'Bandit' Keith. Your fate is mine to decide, and my choice is... OBLIVION!"

Much like the Dark Magician before him his hand shot out. As that happened Keith turned into shades of grey as his body shattered like glass.

He looked at his deck and pulled out a card. His Dark Magician.

Whenever it came into his hand it was like seeing an old friend he was always happy to see. He smiled at the card before returning it to his deck, then returning to the path that lead to Panik's Keep.

Idly he wondered an odd question. Where DID Cannon Soldier's attack go when he used Negate Attack?

---

Not too long ago, in an alternate dimension, far, far away...

Gendo Ikari smirked as he finished his device, one that would let him control Third Impact. Using Adam's DNA he built a machine that took a dozen years for him to build in solitude. Once inside of it he could use his mind to shape the world, as Third Impact became reality...

Then some sort of portal appeared above the device. Before he could do anything a bright yellow beam slammed into his device, eradicating it.

It was half an hour before Gendo moved.

When he did, he collapsed to his knees, tears bursting from his eyes like a waterfall.

And that is how Gendo Ikari was nominated for the 2015 Soun Whine-Alike Contest.

---

Duellist Profiles

Name: Keith Howard (Often Called 'Bandit' Keith Howard)

Deck Style: War Machine Deck

Favourite/Best Monster: Cyber-Tech Alligator

Other Monsters: Slot Machine, Spikebot, Launcher Spider

Info: Born in Altech, the technology country, Keith entered and won any Shadow Game tournaments that had prize money, earning him the moniker 'Bandit' Keith. He was later found and hired by Lord Benjamin Panik as a hired hit man. Riding on his 'Bandit-Mover' he helped Panik in his campaign of terror.

Author's Notes: Another Chapter done. I KNOW people are gonna hate what's being done to Hotaru-Chan, but you can rest at ease soon enough. As for the short NGE bit, well I DID wonder what happened to attacks after Negate Attack was used. I figured they must be transported somewhere else, so may as well put it to some use. And it gives us a chance to laugh at Gendy, a worthy cause. Question, Suggestion and Comments are welcome.

Next Chapter: It's like a med-evil showdown. Ranma as the handsome white knight, Hotaru as the damsel in distress and Panik as the butt-ugly bad guy. Will Panik overwhelm Ranma, or will Panik just panic? Stay tuned!