Chapter 2
If it's too good to be true, it is.
"Look there's the port!" Paul pointed at the Island that spanned before them. All the American duelists were at the bow of the boat watching as it came closer.
"It's about time! I was starting to get seasick," Patrick said feeling the queasiness return. The other duelists laughed at the comment as he gripped the railing then his stomach. He went back to his room to begin packing.
~*~
"Holy cow look at that castle!" Jeffery shouted as they walked up the castle steps.
"Looks like we're going to be well accommodated," Patrick replied smiling. The Venus Flytrap only brushed by them walking faster up the stairs her blonde hair trailing behind her.
"Looks like someone is getting the brush off," Paul said laughing.
"Yeah well let's just get inside there," Patrick mumbled as they approached. When they reached the door they saw a security guard in a black suit with an ear piece.
"Names?" He said boredly.
"Patrick Smith," Patrick replied.
"Paul Smith," Paul said next.
"Jeffery Pines," Jeffery said next. They were ushered in the castle where security guards directed the flow of eliminators. They eventually made it to a large courtyard filled with benches. Eliminators were talking in groups here and there with nothing major going on.
A man with long white hair and a red suit walked to the podium at the front. Immediately the benches started filling as the eliminators sat in their seats.
"Hello everyone, my name is Maximillion Pegasus. I have hired you to work in the tournament that starts tomorrow with the task of eliminating any duelists you might encounter. As simple incentive there will be a quota to meet every day," He started. Immediately a hand shot up in the air. Pegasus gave a frown, "Yes?"
"What happens if we don't?" The voice belonging to the hand said. It sounded like an American duelist. Patrick shifted trying to see who it might be.
"Ah, straight to the point, the fact of the matter is that I simply don't have enough room in this castle to give a room to everyone who I hired. The solution is to produce a quota that you must meet. If that quota is met then the keycards you will be given will open one of the many doors to actual rooms in this castle," He replied smiling.
Patrick spoke up without raising his hands, "and the unlucky saps that don't?"
"Ah, another man that cuts to the chase. They will be given a sleeping bag to sleep in this very courtyard. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this might cause. If you are unhappy you can leave on the ferry that leaves every evening to go to a port in Tokyo. From there you must come up with your own way home," Pegasus spoke calmly. The eliminators looked around at each other wondering if this was true.
"So much for full accommodations," Paul grumbled. Pegasus went on to explain some more rules.
"You are allowed to challenge duelists on the island anytime you see fit. They cannot back down from a challenge you give. They can wager you for any number of star chips they please, but if they lose they must surrender every last one of theirs to you," He continued on.
"Not much room for error on this Island," Patrick muttered.
"You must however never physically attack a duelist. Doing so will get you fired. This also applies to your fellow eliminators. If you assault an eliminator you will void the contract you signed to get onto this island," Pegasus replied sternly.
"Pat, keep your temper alright?" Paul said jabbing him in the ribs. Patrick rubbed them nodding.
"Four eliminators are my head Eliminators. As I call your names you will stand up. These people are allowed to challenge eliminators for their jobs. If you fail to defeat them or to continue my interest in you as a duelist you will be fired and leave on the ferry," Pegasus continued.
"Great we have to keep our guard up even among co-workers," Patrick mumbled.
"Panic," Pegasus called forth. The man known as Panic rose from his seat towards the front. He seemed out of place in the daylight wearing dark clothing and a ghostly appearance to him.
"Para and Dox," Pegasus continued. In unison two men stood up. They were Asian and looked like twins. Both wore a Gi one in green and the other in Orange. Their bald heads shone brightly in sunlight.
"And finally Erica Greenwich of America," Pegasus called out to the crowds. The Venus Flytrap rose confidently. "These people are your bosses so it would be best advised not to disturb them. They however only have the rights to challenge for your job. They will also be fighting to reach their own Quotas much higher than a normal eliminators quota," Pegasus finished his list.
"Seems like he's harder on the top people," Paul mumbled.
"Yeah, and who'd have thought our boss would have been watching us all this time," Patrick grumbled.
"Lunch will be served everyday from one till three in the afternoon. That is the only time frame that you will be allowed reentry into the Castle. After three you will be forced out on your own. All duelists are to report in at Midnight to turn in their star chips and apply for rooms. At noon they must go out of the castle. That is all. If I need to talk to you again you will be notified by security. I have prepared a feast in your honor, and the cooks will bring it out here for you. You are free for the rest of today, and everyone will start without a room, so as to not start calls of favoritism," Pegasus finished his speech before leaving. The Eliminators began muttering and mumbling about the rules. Some complained about no rooms others were figuring out how to best get their insurance of a room.
"Looks like we got our work cut out for us," Jeffery said standing up.
"Yup, and if I'm not mistaken it looks like we have a problem on our hands," Patrick said.
"What's that?" Paul asked dumbly.
"Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are coming this way," Patrick said as Para and Dox made their way to them.
Para walked up facing Patrick squarely before speaking, "It seems to me Pegasus is rash."
Dox finished in a rhyme, "For here is proof he hired trash."
Paul started to step forward but Patrick held him back instead looking down a second as if thinking before smiling and replying, "Yes it does seem he hired trash, so why don't the two of you go find a dumpster to sit the rest of the Tournament out in?"
"Who are you that speaks like a dog?" Para began.
"That has his mind clouded in a fog?" Dox finished.
"He mistakes true talent for common trash," Para continued.
"His brazen tongue shows this man Brash," Dox again completed the Rhyme.
"His job now ticks upon a clock," Para and Dox said in unison.
"For we are the brothers Para Dox," they finished.
Patrick clapped, "Nice bit of poetry there boys. Now if you're going to duel me I have a request."
Paul grinned as he couldn't help but jump at the opportunity, "And this stipulation you might like best." Patrick only chuckled.
"You don't know who you're dealing with," Patrick started.
"For we are the brothers Smith," Paul concluded.
"To duel one you must duel us both," Patrick continued happy they were doing the rhyming well enough.
"A tag team match you must approach," Paul continued.
"Our might is worthy but are you?"
"To face our test we dare you," Paul finished.
Para and Dox both seemed angry. Para replied tersely, "Your terms we do but of course accept."
"Both your jobs are placed on this bet," Dox finished glaring at them.
Patrick dropped the silly rhyming games as he narrowed his eyes dangerously, "Your on punks, and when we're through with you, there wont be enough left to fill a matchbox."
"Look there's the port!" Paul pointed at the Island that spanned before them. All the American duelists were at the bow of the boat watching as it came closer.
"It's about time! I was starting to get seasick," Patrick said feeling the queasiness return. The other duelists laughed at the comment as he gripped the railing then his stomach. He went back to his room to begin packing.
~*~
"Holy cow look at that castle!" Jeffery shouted as they walked up the castle steps.
"Looks like we're going to be well accommodated," Patrick replied smiling. The Venus Flytrap only brushed by them walking faster up the stairs her blonde hair trailing behind her.
"Looks like someone is getting the brush off," Paul said laughing.
"Yeah well let's just get inside there," Patrick mumbled as they approached. When they reached the door they saw a security guard in a black suit with an ear piece.
"Names?" He said boredly.
"Patrick Smith," Patrick replied.
"Paul Smith," Paul said next.
"Jeffery Pines," Jeffery said next. They were ushered in the castle where security guards directed the flow of eliminators. They eventually made it to a large courtyard filled with benches. Eliminators were talking in groups here and there with nothing major going on.
A man with long white hair and a red suit walked to the podium at the front. Immediately the benches started filling as the eliminators sat in their seats.
"Hello everyone, my name is Maximillion Pegasus. I have hired you to work in the tournament that starts tomorrow with the task of eliminating any duelists you might encounter. As simple incentive there will be a quota to meet every day," He started. Immediately a hand shot up in the air. Pegasus gave a frown, "Yes?"
"What happens if we don't?" The voice belonging to the hand said. It sounded like an American duelist. Patrick shifted trying to see who it might be.
"Ah, straight to the point, the fact of the matter is that I simply don't have enough room in this castle to give a room to everyone who I hired. The solution is to produce a quota that you must meet. If that quota is met then the keycards you will be given will open one of the many doors to actual rooms in this castle," He replied smiling.
Patrick spoke up without raising his hands, "and the unlucky saps that don't?"
"Ah, another man that cuts to the chase. They will be given a sleeping bag to sleep in this very courtyard. I'm sorry for any inconvenience this might cause. If you are unhappy you can leave on the ferry that leaves every evening to go to a port in Tokyo. From there you must come up with your own way home," Pegasus spoke calmly. The eliminators looked around at each other wondering if this was true.
"So much for full accommodations," Paul grumbled. Pegasus went on to explain some more rules.
"You are allowed to challenge duelists on the island anytime you see fit. They cannot back down from a challenge you give. They can wager you for any number of star chips they please, but if they lose they must surrender every last one of theirs to you," He continued on.
"Not much room for error on this Island," Patrick muttered.
"You must however never physically attack a duelist. Doing so will get you fired. This also applies to your fellow eliminators. If you assault an eliminator you will void the contract you signed to get onto this island," Pegasus replied sternly.
"Pat, keep your temper alright?" Paul said jabbing him in the ribs. Patrick rubbed them nodding.
"Four eliminators are my head Eliminators. As I call your names you will stand up. These people are allowed to challenge eliminators for their jobs. If you fail to defeat them or to continue my interest in you as a duelist you will be fired and leave on the ferry," Pegasus continued.
"Great we have to keep our guard up even among co-workers," Patrick mumbled.
"Panic," Pegasus called forth. The man known as Panic rose from his seat towards the front. He seemed out of place in the daylight wearing dark clothing and a ghostly appearance to him.
"Para and Dox," Pegasus continued. In unison two men stood up. They were Asian and looked like twins. Both wore a Gi one in green and the other in Orange. Their bald heads shone brightly in sunlight.
"And finally Erica Greenwich of America," Pegasus called out to the crowds. The Venus Flytrap rose confidently. "These people are your bosses so it would be best advised not to disturb them. They however only have the rights to challenge for your job. They will also be fighting to reach their own Quotas much higher than a normal eliminators quota," Pegasus finished his list.
"Seems like he's harder on the top people," Paul mumbled.
"Yeah, and who'd have thought our boss would have been watching us all this time," Patrick grumbled.
"Lunch will be served everyday from one till three in the afternoon. That is the only time frame that you will be allowed reentry into the Castle. After three you will be forced out on your own. All duelists are to report in at Midnight to turn in their star chips and apply for rooms. At noon they must go out of the castle. That is all. If I need to talk to you again you will be notified by security. I have prepared a feast in your honor, and the cooks will bring it out here for you. You are free for the rest of today, and everyone will start without a room, so as to not start calls of favoritism," Pegasus finished his speech before leaving. The Eliminators began muttering and mumbling about the rules. Some complained about no rooms others were figuring out how to best get their insurance of a room.
"Looks like we got our work cut out for us," Jeffery said standing up.
"Yup, and if I'm not mistaken it looks like we have a problem on our hands," Patrick said.
"What's that?" Paul asked dumbly.
"Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dumb are coming this way," Patrick said as Para and Dox made their way to them.
Para walked up facing Patrick squarely before speaking, "It seems to me Pegasus is rash."
Dox finished in a rhyme, "For here is proof he hired trash."
Paul started to step forward but Patrick held him back instead looking down a second as if thinking before smiling and replying, "Yes it does seem he hired trash, so why don't the two of you go find a dumpster to sit the rest of the Tournament out in?"
"Who are you that speaks like a dog?" Para began.
"That has his mind clouded in a fog?" Dox finished.
"He mistakes true talent for common trash," Para continued.
"His brazen tongue shows this man Brash," Dox again completed the Rhyme.
"His job now ticks upon a clock," Para and Dox said in unison.
"For we are the brothers Para Dox," they finished.
Patrick clapped, "Nice bit of poetry there boys. Now if you're going to duel me I have a request."
Paul grinned as he couldn't help but jump at the opportunity, "And this stipulation you might like best." Patrick only chuckled.
"You don't know who you're dealing with," Patrick started.
"For we are the brothers Smith," Paul concluded.
"To duel one you must duel us both," Patrick continued happy they were doing the rhyming well enough.
"A tag team match you must approach," Paul continued.
"Our might is worthy but are you?"
"To face our test we dare you," Paul finished.
Para and Dox both seemed angry. Para replied tersely, "Your terms we do but of course accept."
"Both your jobs are placed on this bet," Dox finished glaring at them.
Patrick dropped the silly rhyming games as he narrowed his eyes dangerously, "Your on punks, and when we're through with you, there wont be enough left to fill a matchbox."