Chapter Six: Brother's Reunited: DEATH Duel!
Nick's hope was renewed after the duel with Hunter. He had given Jason all the information needed to find out where Duo was. Nick woke up early this morning so he could get to school. He was going to meet Jason in the Lab early so that they could find the information about Duo's whereabouts, and leave to find him right afterschool.
Nick went downstairs to the kitchen and had his breakfast. He picked up the envelope with the money in it off his Aunt's desk and walked over to Duo's room.
"Duo....don't worry, I'll find you soon..."
Nick stepped out of the house and rode his bike to school.
---
Meanwhile...
Zane poked his head into Jeff's office.
"President Blackheart, there's someone here to see you. His name's Hunter Underwood."
"Send him in."
"Heehee....Mr. Blackheart, everything's set. I gave them the disk and everything."
"Good work, they'll never suspect a thing." Jeff had a wicked smile on his face.
"I'll go back to work on the Blackheart Spire's systems. I'll inform you when Nick is spotted near the location I gave them."
"Very well, you're dismissed." His smile grew larger. "This is going to be fun... MUWHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!"
---
"Hey Jason, ready to get crackin'?"
"Yeah, just gimme a minute to get the key to the Computer Lab."
Jason opened up the lab and Nick quickly turned on a computer and took a seat.
"Okay Jason, what do we do?"
"All Hunter told me is that I have to put the disk in. So here you go."
Nick inserted the disk. A screen popped up with the Blackheart Corporation's logo. Several options appeared, including Staff, Investor's Information, History, and a few others. Nick clicked the option marked History, but was met with the message:
[Access Denied.]
"Hey...I thought Hunter had hacked through all this stuff...why can't I get in here?"
"I don't think Hunter wants us to know anything that he knows that we shouldn't know."
"Huh?" Nick was puzzled.
"Forget it, just find the info you need."
Nick clicked on Staff.
[Please input employee's name.]
He took a deep breath and typed, [DUO POLJACIK]
[Please wait a moment.]
Nick stared at the screen, awaiting any results. His heart was racing faster than it had ever been in his life. The progress bar appeared below the text, and Nick waited. Waited. Waited. The progress bar didn't move.
"Agh! Why is this taking so long!" Nick was losing patience.
"Calm down, Nick, you've waited three weeks, you can wait a few more minutes."
Nick looked at the screen again.
[Progress: 17% completed]
"Nick you'd better go to class. I'll keep watch on this and show you the result later."
"Thanks. I wouldn't want to get detention on the day I rescue from brother from the clutches of evil." Nick had smiled for the first time in awhile.
---
It was a very long day for Nick. He sat impatiently through all his classes. Finally, the end of the day had come, and Nick, Tony, and Laurna rushed down to the Computer Lab. Jason was still at the computer, fixated on the screen.
"What is it Jason? What did you find?" Nick inquired.
"Well, apparently, when you search the name of an employee, you can also find their current location. And your brother is working on the construction of the top floors of the Blackheart Spire."
"That's where the finals of the tournament are going to be held right?"
"Yeah, that's right. But I also found something else. The Blackheart Spire is built on the site of an archaelogical dig. I haven't found out what exactly was there, but I know that Blackheart chose that spot for a reason."
"So where's my brother now? I need to go find him."
"He's still in the same area he was four hours ago. Blackheart Spire. It's not open to the public, so you might need some help getting in. That's why I want to go with you."
"No, I need to do this alone. Tony, Laurna, Jason, I don't want to put you in danger."
"Nick, there's no need to be all heroic now, it's ok." Laurna put her hand on his shoulder.
"No, I really need to face this alone. I need to do this for myself, and for Duo. Please. I'll be fine."
"Whatever you say Nick, I know how stubborn you are when you're set on something."
"Thanks Tony. Now I'mma get going. See you all later."
"Be careful Nick. Please." Laurna was extemely worried.
"I will. No need to worry. Make sure no one hears about this...especially my Aunt. And you guys, make sure you get as much information as possible from Hunter's disk.
Nick hopped on his bike, and rode as fast as he possibly could to the Blackheart Business District, where the construction of the Spire was taking place. His heart rate increased the closer he came to the Spire.
"Whoa, that place is huge. Only Blackheart would build such a place for his tournament finals..."
He looked up in awe of the huge tower built in the shape of a spiral. The exterior was completely black, spiraling higher and higher getting thinner as it went higher. Towards the top, he could tell it was unfinished.
"My brother has to be around here somewhere. Blackheart must be some kind of psycho to have people captured by his company to build a huge building like this."
Nick walked around the perimeter of the gate surrounding the tower, finding that strangely, it was unlocked.
"Hmm..that's weird. Blackheart usually has top-notch security. Why would this be left open?"
He cautiously stepped through the gates, and observed his surroundings. He saw the area to enter the Spire, where there was 6 panels with 4 indentations in each of them. The indentations for the 4 Decoder Devices required to enter the finals.
*CLICK!*
Suddenly, without warning, the gate closed behind him. A searchlight was directed at Nick.
"What the Hell's going on here?"
"Welcome Nick. I believe you're looking for your brother?" It was Jeff Blackheart. He was standing on top of the watchtower with the searchlight.
"Blackheart! How did you know I was coming?"
"Well, look for yourself." Jeff directed the light to the doors of the Spire, which slowly opened to reveal Siefer Gambianni. Behind him stood Hunter.
"HUNTER! You little--!"
"Well, we meet again, Nick! Hee hee hee..."
"So, Nick, I see you're feeling better after that little run-in you had with my sword? Next time I won't be so careless...I'll be sure to finish you off!!"
"Hunter...YOU SET ME UP!!!"
"Tsk tsk tsk Nick...You wouldn't want any harm to come to the honored guest of this little meeting..." Jeff jumped down from the watchtower, landing on his feet. Nick found this strange, since the tower was at least 30 feet tall. He snapped his fingers.
"!!!!" Nick gasped.
Out of the door stepped Duo. Something was wrong with him. He had no emotion in his eyes. His face was completely blank. Siefer took him by the neck, and unsheathed one of his sword. He put it to Duo's neck.
"NOO!!! If you hurt him..."
"What will you do Nick? You're not capable of doing anything about this... If you called the police, that wouldn't help either. As long as the Blackheart Corporation sponsors the police department, I'm untouchable! And don't be so quick to anger. You know how Siefer has a problem with twitching."
"What do I have to do Blackheart!? What will it take for you to let my brother go?"
"Actually, I had something else in mind. How about you two duel to the death? Wouldn't that be a spectacle!"
"No!! You can't make me..."
"Actually, I can. If you refuse, I'll let you go, but Siefer kills your brother right now. Accept, and the winner of the duel shall live, while the loser...well, they'll find out exactly why it's called a Death duel."
"I don't have a choice but to duel then..."
"Then let the duel begin. Duo, put on your duel disk and duel Nick."
Duo followed his instructions. Duo didn't speak. He was a silent puppet under control of Blackheart. Nick wasn't sure how he was doing it, but was sure that if he tried hard enough, he'd be able to break Duo free of Blackheart's control and they'd escape.
"Hunter, please get back to work with programming the Spire's system. I'll record this duel for you. I know you'll enjoy it. Siefer, stay on watch, Nick may try something to get his brother away."
"Yes sir."
Jeff leaned back comfortably as a chair seemed to materialize behind him. Nick wondered how he did this as well, but his attention didn't waiver from the task at hand. He was in a Death duel with his own brother.
"Ah, nice and comfortable. Now you can start." Jeff reclined in his chair, making light of the situation, as if this was all to entertain him.
Duo: 4000 Nick: 4000
---
Duo took the first turn.
[I WILL SET ONE MONSTER IN DEFENSE MODE. SET THREE MAGIC AND TRAPS.]
Duo's voice was distorted by something...certainly something dark and evil.
"Duo, you have to wake up from whatever trance you're in!! Please!!"
"Nick, your attempts are futile. Just play the duel out before I get bored."
"Ugh...I'll summon Goblin Attack Force to attack your set."
[YOU ATTACKED MY CYBER JAR. I PICKED UP BEAST OF TALWAR, SANGAN, FAIRY METEOR CRUSH, SPIRIT MESSAGE "I", AND NEWT. SUMMON NEWT IN ATTACK MODE. SANGAN FACEDOWN DEFENSE MODE.]
"I picked up Trap Master, Buster Blader, Lord of Dragons, Spellbinding Circle, and Hayabusa Knight. Summon three monsters in facedown defense and set two magic and traps. I end my turn."
[ACTIVATE DUST TORNADO. SET AND ACTIVATE MYSTICAL SPACE TYPHOON. NOW ACTIVATE DESTINY BOARD AND PLAY SPIRIT MESSAGE "I".]
"He's got his Destiny Board started...I'm running out of time to save him, and myself... What do I do...?"
[SACRIFICE SANGAN. SUMMON BEAST OF TALWAR. NEWT AND BEAST OF TALWAR ATTACK FACEDOWN MONSTERS.]
"My Hayabusa Knight and Lord of Dragons were destroyed. It's my turn now, so I'll flip Trap Master to destroy Destiny Board. Now, I'll play Monster Reborn on Hayabusa Knight and sacrifice both of them for Tyrant Dragon!!! Now...Tyrant Dragon, attack both his monsters!"
Duo: 2550 Nick: 4000
The great dragon attacked both of Duo's monsters, costing him a great amount of lifepoints, but Duo still has something up his sleeve.
[ACTIVATE OUIJA BOARD. NEWT'S ABILITY ACTIVATED. TYRANT DRAGON'S ATTACK LOWERED 500.]
"What? Ouija Board?! I end my turn..."
[PLAY DEATH MESSAGE "E". REMOVE THREE FIENDS FROM GRAVEYARD. SUMMON DARK NECROFEAR IN DEFENSE MODE. SET MONSTER IN DEFENSE.]
"I'll attack your set monster!"
[DESTROYED NEWT. NEWT'S EFFECT ACTIVATED. TYRANT DRAGON'S ATTACK LOWERED 500.]
"No...That means my Tyrant Dragon is lowered to 1900... I can't do anything else. End my turn."
[PLAY DEATH MESSAGE "A". PLAY GRACEFUL CHARITY. DISCARD LA JINN, SUMMONED SKULL. REMOVE THREE FIENDS FROM GRAVEYARD. SUMMON DARK NECROFEAR IN ATTACK MODE. SWITCH FIRST NECROFEAR TO ATTACK MODE. ATTACK TYRANT DRAGON, ATTACK DIRECTLY.]
Duo: 2550 Nick: 1500
Nick was off balance this whole duel. He couldn't let his brother win, but he couldn't let his brother lose. An impossible situation. Nick decided that maybe, if he gave his life, Duo would be safe, but Nick hadn't quite given up yet. There may still be something that could get him out of this tight spot.
"I don't have a choice....I'll play Change of Heart on your Dark Necrofear have it attack the remaining Necrofear! Now both are destroyed. I'll set a two magic and trap cards facedown and end my turn."
[PLAY DEATH MESSAGE "T". REMOVE THREE FIENDS FROM GRAVEYARD. SUMMON DARK NECROFEAR. PLAY CURSE OF THE MASKED BEAST. SACRIFICE DARK NECROFEAR TO SUMMON THE MASKED BEAST. ATTACK DIRECTLY.]
"I'll activate DNA Surgery and call the type Dragon, and then activate DRAGON CAPTURE JAR!! Now your Masked Beast is forced into defense mode."
"Oh, poor Nick, next turn, when Duo completes DEATH, you'll lose!! OH! This is great!!" Jeff was sitting back in his chair, enjoying a sandwich.
"He's right...but where'd that sandwich come from?"
"Actually, hold on a minute here, I want Duo to be able to see the moment he sentences his own brother to Death." Jeff stood up from his chair and took a few steps towards Duo.
"What are you doing Blackheart?"
"You'll see..."
A dark energy started emanating from Jeff. He radiated with a dark glow as he reached into Duo's chest.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!!"
Jeff's hand emerged holding a black blob which glowed in the same way Jeff did.
"This is the purest form of Darkness. I put it inside Duo myself. That is how I controlled him...I used my powers of Darkness to force my own will upon his heart..."
"You monster....You're the only one here who should die!!"
"Watch that mouth of yours, punk... I have a grasp on this city that will never break! Now if you don't mind...Continue your duel."
"Duo...Are you in there?"
"Nick...Just do it...Finish me off...I know you can."
"Yeah but at the end of this turn I lose the duel!"
"I saw the look in your eyes when you drew that card...You were never able to hide it when you got a game breaking card...so please....I'd rather die than become a slave to this Corporation again!!!"
"I...I-I....can't do it..."
"PLEASE!! FOR ME, you MUST!"
"If that's what you want Duo...Than it'll be my last favor to you.... I'll play Dark Hole to destroy your Masked Beast...Then I play Card Destruction, and play Premature Burial on my Buster Blader. Now I'll play Mystical Space Typhoon on my Dragon Capture Jar, allowing my Buster Blader to attack. This is what you wanted Duo, I'm sorry...."
Duo: 0000 Nick: 700
"No...Thank you Nick..." Tears came to both the brothers' eyes...
---
Everything was silent for a moment. To Nick, this moment seemed like years. His brother standing in front of him, tears forming in both their eyes. Siefer with a sadistic look in his eyes, seeming like an angry dog about to be thrown a victim to maul. Jeff Blackheart, standing, radiating a light formed from Darkness, looking pleased at what had just happened. Jeff broke the silence.
"Ah, so Nick, you've decided the winner of this little Death Duel. You, Nick, as winner, get to live. And Duo, I'm sorry, but you're going to die."
"How should I do it, sir?" Siefer took unsheathed one of his swords.
"No. I'll take care of this one myself. Just hold Nick down so that he can see everything."
Siefer slowly approached Nick, who was still in shock of what he had just done. He held him steady so that he faced his brother. Nick didn't bother to struggle. Duo just fell to his knees out of weakness.
"I'll assume that you want to keep this, as a "memento" of Duo." Jeff walked up to Duo and took his Duel Disk and tossed it in front of Nick. Nick just looked on in disbelief.
"Now, Duo...Any last words for your brother?"
"Nick.. I'll always be there at your side. No matter what, I'll always be there to be your strength and support you. Take care of Auntie for me, and--"
Jeff backhanded Duo across the face.
"That's enough now, we all have things to do." Jeff's hand glowed in the same way it did before. It was covered with a strange black material which formed itself exactly to his hand. It then grew larger into a claw-like shape, which he used to pick up Duo.
"Nick, don't forget what I said...AGH!!!" Jeff tightened his grip around Duo.
"What kind of monster are you...?" Nick finally spoke.
Jeff didn't respond, he just continued to squeeze the life out of Duo. The claw then dropped off of Jeff's arm, and as Duo fell to the ground, it wrapped around his body, binding him from movement. Jeff was missing a hand, but a new one regenerated from the same black material as before.
"Now Nick, you ask me what kind of monster I am? I'm as human as you are. I just happen to have a few special talents. Be quiet and watch as I use the powers of Darkness to end your brother's life!!"
Jeff extended his arms out to his sides as if he was drawing in strength from his surroundings.
"Forces of Darkness, hear my call,
Day will end eternally and night shall fall,
The end shall come for my enemy,
In light I am blind, in Darkness I see.
Lend me your power, your eternal might,
Lord Mephisto, allow me to extinguish his soul's light!"
"!!!" Nick was startled hearing the word Mephisto as Jeff chanted his spell.
"Mephisto...where did the name of this city come from?!?"
Beneath Duo a circle a blue flames formed. The strange black membrane wrapped around him loosened. It released him, but he had nowhere to go. The membrane made its way back to Jeff and became a part of him again.
"Now that I've cast my spell, it's just a matter of time until your brother is dead. Any last words for him Nick?"
"Duo, I lo-"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess not!! Siefer take him away."
"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Nick was being carried away, struggling to say those words to his brother.
As Siefer threw Nick outside along with Duo's Duel Disk, locking the gates behind him.
"BLACKHEART!! YOU HEARTLESS MONSTER!!! I'LL COME AFTER YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!!!"
"AAGHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Nick could hear his brother's screams. He fell to the ground as everything went black.
The flames grew stronger as they tormented Duo. He couldn't hold on any longer, he felt as if he should just give in to his own demise.
"Duo, I hope we never meet in the next life. You're not a very good employee. Although, I'll never get to the next life!! AHAHAHAA!!!"
"You laugh at pain and agony....Black..heart.... but you'll never know love and compassion."
"Ha! I laugh at you because you're going to die!!!! Now I've got three words for you. GO TO HELL!!!!!! HaHAHhahhAHAHhHahahHAHAAAA!!!!!"
The flames engulfed Duo and he screamed out in pain.
"I thought about finishing you off quickly, but where's the fun in that? Although, I'm a busy man, so good-bye. Siefer, clean up this mess once it burns itself out."
"Yes, sir." Blackheart walked back into the Spire.
The flames further consumed Duo. The fire burned, and nothing was left except a strange dark blob, made of the same material Jeff seemed to be composed of. Siefer picked it up and brought it into the Spire with him. Nick lay outside the gates, unconscious.