Pre-chapter Notes: Another update. I'm really trying to speed things up a bit. This is the last chapter to 'The Stranger I Once Knew' and after this is an Epilogue and that'll be the conclusion to this fan story. Err; I think that's all I have to say. Yeah.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh…so yeah. Err, I ran out of ideas for disclaimers.
Chapter 11: Soulless Fleet
Without the normal functions of the human body, there was nothing to slow Rebecca from her research and brainstorms. She did not require food, sleep or anything. Tapping the pencil against the metal table, she frowned as she made another sketch and then crumbled it up. Leaning back from the recliner, she closed her eyes briefly. Failed. Nothing's working so far. Nothing. Why was she unable to find the answer to something that she created herself?
Because she never wanted to turn back….
That's what she thought when she made this body. Now, she came to believe that this process was possibly even irreversible. Too much mistakes…too much guesses made over this unanswered riddle that she herself made. The wastepaper basket beside her was overflowed with crumbled piece of papers that reflected on her failures.
But….
This can't fail…. She needed this chance…. She needed to become the real Rebecca again. If only she haven't done something as stupid as this ten years ago…then….
If. Rebecca thought scornfully. If this, if that, if, if, if. I'm tired of just guessing, not knowing what's really going on in my life. This will have to work. Even if it takes years…ten years…hundred years…she'll have to solve this riddle…this problem.
It's been two days since she came here to the Domino Laboratory. Yet, not much progress was really made…. Professor Yoshida had visited her twice, first time asking if she needed food. Privately, Rebecca thought that Professor Yoshida knew very well that she didn't need food at that he was merely mocking her. The second time, he had came here and asked how she was progressing. She had answered coldly that not much, but she will do her best. He, in return, smirked and told her good luck for yet a second time and left her to her problems.
How she would like to wipe that daunting smirk off the crooked face of his. However, Rebecca told herself not to waste her time doing something so childish. Even though the seizure to do so is strong, she restrained herself and resumed to work.
Tea and Yugi had visited her, asking if they could help or anything. Rebecca told them not to bother to help her, because she wanted to do this alone. After pausing, seeing their crestfallen faces, she told them that their support was enough for her. They insisted on helping, though, so in the end, Rebecca gave in and directed them to several books and had them look through them. It was tedious reading, and Yugi and Tea were both rather tired by the time it was Midnight. Rebecca, however was unaffected by the long hours of not resting and asked of them to return home for the night. They left without protest, but not before giving their promise to return tomorrow and help.
It's the third day, Rebecca thought dully. She stared at the now overflowing floor of crumpled paper. I really need to clean this up sometime, she mused as she stared at her latest plan. The plan looked like the one she had made ten years ago…but this one is for the reverse process…not the ongoing one. She thought hard…and then realized that if she kept pushing for hard answers that won't show, it'll never come. Instead, she decided to give it a rest. She called Yugi and the others up for a trip somewhere…anywhere. She had not been in Domino for years, and this was a perfect opportunity to do some catching up.
Yugi and the others did not object, and very much agreed to the ideas. So on the fourth day back, they took Joey's car and went for what Joey called it a mini-tour of Domino. Everyone took turns pointing out the old and new features of the city. Rebecca herself had a very fine time, spending the day out. Afterwards, they stopped by at a café and ordered something to eat. Rebecca only stared longingly at the food while the others enjoyed their cup of drink or the appetizer they ordered.
The day went by a little too quickly. Soon, it was growing dark. Rebecca returned to the Domino Laboratory after she bid Yugi and the others good-bye. Letting herself into the Domino Laboratory, she didn't head for the library. Instead, she went to the incinerator. During the second day she was here, she asked for the codes to the library and the incinerator. Professor Yoshida gave it to her without questions and she was able to access both. Yet, during the time she was here, she had not visit the incinerator.
Now, alone in the night by herself in this place, she wanted to see her body…she didn't know why…but she did. She punched in the series of complicated codes at a steady pace and the door slid open, greeting her with a blast of cold air. She stepped in and the door slid closed behind her. Had she not known this, she would have thought someone deliberately trapped her inside. It felt strange. Very.
It's not everyday that you're able to observe yourself with your own mind…. Rebecca headed towards the machine her body was hooked onto without hesitation. Just like the last time she was here, the glass was fogged up. She cleared the fog and stared hard. The future her looked just as it did in the dream she had when she was in a coma.
All we need to do is to tie her hair into a ponytail, switch her close with dark colored ones…and she'll be just like the me in the dreams…visions. Rebecca cogitated. But I don't have to have that attitude. I can decide what happens in my future now.
Rebecca stared at herself again. I promise you…myself…that I'll go back into that body and live a life that belonged to me ten years ago. Maybe if I had never thrown it away…. With the promise etched deep inside of her, Rebecca looked away from the body that lay in the machine. She left the incinerator and closed the door behind her, feeling oddly drained.
The answer occurred to her just when she went with Yugi and the others to a concert named 'Dark Rose'. The loud music wasn't exactly the best idea for thinking, but nevertheless, the answer came to her. Okay, now, no more enjoying the fun. Back to work for me, Rebecca thought.
"I'm leaving now." Rebecca requested as the band took a break. "I know the concert's far from over, but I think I just found out the answer to the process to change myself back. I want to head back to Domino Laboratory right away. You guys can come if you like."
"Okay, Rebecca. If that's what you want, we'll go to the laboratory with you. It's all right we miss this concert. It's not that good." Serenity agreed.
They left the crowded concert and the manager seemed somewhat relieved to have more room. He gave them a curt nod of gratitude and they left.
Joey drove them back to the Domino Lab where he hardly stopped the car, when Rebecca opened the door and jumped out. She rushed upstairs and immediately began working. Exchanging glances, Yugi and the others went inside as well, but at a much steadier pace. When they finally reached the fifth floor, they found Rebecca at the end of the hallway with an armful of equipments. She seemed to have trouble with punching in the codes to the incinerator, but nevertheless, managed and the door opened to her access. She went in quickly and the door shut behind her.
The gang waited till she appeared again.
"Need help Rebecca?" Tea suggested. "We'll try our best to help in any way we can."
"Hmm. Why don't you guys dress warmly? We'll be at the incinerator for a while. So come back after you pulled on some warm clothes. I'll do some setting up."
So it was. Joey took trips to everyone's house so they could get a warm coat. After they did, Rebecca led them into the incinerator where she had a whole bunch of equipments set up. Several wires were hooked onto the body that lay in the machine coffin. At the same time, Rebecca herself had managed to get a chair in here. Professor Yoshida was at the far end of the room, watching everything silently, hardly glancing at them. He seemed much more distracted and seemed to be waiting for something to happen.
"All right, Rebecca. We did as you ask. What can we do for you now?" Tea asked as she shivered slightly. Even this warm winter coat wasn't enough to shield her from the freezing incinerator.
Rebecca paused in the middle of connecting several wires and turned to them. "I want to ask you to do something for me if this is going to fail."
"It's not going to." Yugi told her determinedly.
Rebecca smiled, but continued. "If, I'm talking about, if this happens to fail and if I manage to die in the process, I want you guys to take my body back to America. I want my body buried next to Grandpa's. That is-, if you don't mind."
"But Rebecca, you told us that you knew the answer. What makes you say that it wouldn't work?" Serenity asked her in a worried tone.
Rebecca shrugged. "Just in case." She replied.
Joey gave her a lopsided grin. "We'll do as you ask, squirt. But only if it doesn't work, all right?"
"Right Wheeler." Rebecca smirked.
"It wouldn't be a day if those two didn't traded insults would it?" Tea mused.
"Nah, Tea." Joey snickered.
"I didn't think so." Tea said dryly.
"Anything else you want us to do for you, squirt?" Joey asked good-naturedly.
Rebecca grinned in return. "And if this is to fail, I want you to keep this card, Yugi."
"Huh?"
Rebecca reached into her pocket and pulled out the card that Yugi had given her years ago. "You have it a long time ago to represent the ties of our friendship. I am giving it back to you now. If this fails, and I'm to be gone from this world, I want you to keep this card. This card, I hope, will help you remember our friendship and me."
"I'll take the card." Yugi agreed quietly as he took the card into his hand. The card had several creases over it, Yugi thought as he stared at the one of a kind card. But she didn't get rid of it….
"It's not to get sappy or anything," Rebecca said after some thought. "But thank you all for being my friends."
"Ugh, don't get soft over us." Joey said disgustedly. But, he was touched.
"Don't worry, you'll be alright." Tea reassured her.
Rebecca smiled and turned to the chair she had taken in the room. Professor Yoshida, even now, did not say anything. He was still in the dark corner, watching and waiting. She sat down and started attaching the wires to herself. It was a complicated process and nobody said that it was easy. She felt electric pulses that came from the wires. She allowed them to travel and spread throughout this body and then, after they settled, she plugged in the last one.
She took a deep sigh before continuing. "Tea."
"Yes? Anything I can do?"
"Would you like to take the honor of doing this?" Rebecca asked, staring hard at the brunette.
She could see Tea swallowed hard. "I would." The bottom of her lip quivered.
"Don't fret, Tea." Rebecca assured her. "In my original body, it's missing one plug. I want you to attach it on. After you do, remove all the plugs from this body."
Tea did as she was told. Approaching the sleeping Rebecca, she took the last plug with trembling hands and attached it to the living body. Then, they all waited.
To Rebecca, this process was like having your mind tore from your body. It was harsh and rough. As her mind was being torn from this body, it fought to stay attached to it. After the resistance died, she felt as if she was floating…floating in space…she didn't know where she was…just floating…. She was drifting…drifting in this endless void….
And towards something warm. And welcoming.
At the same time, she didn't feel quite human. She felt supreme, far passed than what human is. She felt godly…. The warm aura did not die as she rifted close to it. She didn't know how long it was, but it seemed to be have lasted for hours before she finally found herself in the embrace of the warmth.
She opened her eyes. Slowly and wearily. Her body felt quite tired, as if she had not move it for years. Then again, she didn't. For ten long years.
"Rebecca!" A pretty blued eye brunette peered down at her
with great anxiety. Wasn't she Tea?
It took her a few seconds to comprehend. And when she did she let out a cry of triumph. "It worked!" She said happily as she sat up. She suddenly shivered as a blast of chilly cold air blew at her, stinging her bare arms. She quickly crossed her arms and rubbed them vigorously to stay warm.
"Yes, it worked." A cold voice said.
They all turned to see that Professor Yoshida had emerged from the shadows. His right arm was dipped in his pocket and he was leering at them with cold, beady blue eyes.
"But too bad that it'll be wasted."
"What are you talking about?" Rebecca demanded, swallowing hard. Her voice, was no longer childish, but had a tang of deepness, but quite rich.
"It'll be bad if I let you come out alive. You're going to ruin the plans in the future." Professor Yoshida told her coldly.
"What is going on?" Yugi demanded angrily.
"You wouldn't happen not to know would you, Rebecca Hawkins. Had the future not taught you anything? Had you visions of your future not showed you anything?"
The cold blue eyes narrowed. Rebecca felt the tang of déjà vu again. Cold blue eyes that narrowed. A crooked face that reminded her of that someone in her visions.
"But that's just a vision!" She yelled definitely.
"No, Rebecca Hawkins." Professor Yoshida sneered. "They weren't just some bullshit you dream up. It's real. That was suppose to be your future… When I saw that you were alive, I knew I'd have to stop you. The future is inevitable…."
"For whom do you work for?" A cold voice cut in. The icy tone belonged to a tall man of maybe in his early twenties. The cold blue eyes were narrowed in pure suspicion."So what are you going to do about it?" Rebecca asked grimly.
"Ah, so you work for my old friend. Too bad he was so naïve and he fell for my trap." The blue-eyes man chuckled. "A pity too, considering he seemed intelligent enough."
"You should know." Professor Yoshida chuckled as he reached out and tore the wig from his head. A mass of dirty blonde hair was revealed.
The man with the cold blue eyes and dirty blonde hair held a gun. The disguised, and adult Rebecca looked relatively calm as the two weapons were pointed to one another's head.
"You're going to kill me." Rebecca said angrily. "I can't let you do that!"
"Too bad, it was nice meeting you."
"I can shoot faster than you can."
"Sorry, but I don't plan on dying yet."
Yet.
"Sorry, but I don't plan on dying yet." Rebecca retorted as she jumped up from the machine. Yugi and the others looked shock at the whole situation and didn't seem to know how to react. "Call the police!" Rebecca snarled angrily.
"Uh-uh. You won't be going anywhere." Professor Yoshida told them grimly as he pulled out what was in his pocket all along. A gun. The shiny metallic weapon. One direct blow to the head and its bye, bye world.
"Go!" Rebecca screamed at Tea and she quickly rush out the door. Rebecca could see that Professor Yoshida had cocked the hammer of the gun already. Out of desperation, she grub a hole of a chair and flung it.
Professor Yoshida, acting on an impulse of instinct, immediately forgot about the gun and focused his attention on the chair that was hurled at him. Rebecca seized this advantage and shoved Yugi and the others out.
"This is between you and me." Rebecca told Professor Yoshida as she quickly dodged behind a machine. She cursed herself at how quickly she tired. But then again, who could blame her. She didn't move this bodies for years.
"Very well." The hard cold voice of Professor Yoshida agreed somewhere in the room. It was fogging up and not one of them could see where the other was. It was a cat and mouse game, one that Rebecca didn't intend to lose. Not at all.
"Can't find me?" She taunted. A gunshot. It whizzed past her and struck her right arm, tearing the flesh and causing him to bleed. She swore explosively to herself as she quickly changed her location.
"You can run, Rebecca Hawkins. But you can't deny the inevitable." Professor Yoshida warned her.
And he was right. Before she knew it, Rebecca found her arm twisted behind her and cold metal pressing against the temple of her head. She wasn't about to give up without a fight. Not ever. Snapping her head back, the back of her skull smashed onto the face of Professor Yoshida. He released her slightly, swearing dangerously. Rebecca took this to her advantage and elbowed him hard, in his guts. But she hardly got out of his grip when a second gunshot rang out. And this gunshot made her saw red. Red all over. She remembered vaguely that she fell and she's seeing black now. Black with the loud blaring of sirens in the distance.
And then, it was silence.
The darkness took over again.
End Notes: Last chapter finished. The Epilogue is the only thing left. I hope you enjoyed this. To those who are confused, this chapter ties with chapter 4, 'The Future To Be Seen', where Rebecca learns of her future. She thought that it was just a dream…and vision, and never took it as true. But now, it came back to haunt her. Anyways, happy reading.