Yami drew a card. Dian Keto the Cure Master. Sadly, not a monster card. Still, it could come in useful later. Yami sighed mentally. Composing himself, he flipped over Dragon Capture Jar. Manga Ryu-Ran switched into defense position.
"You may have and incredible power to predict what I've set, but your memory circuits must have degraded," Yami sneered, "Now I supposed it's safe to play this…" Yami set Neo the Magic Swordsman, 1700, 1000 into face up attack position. The android spoke.
"Re-evaluating. Probability factors indicate Opponent not attacking."
"No kidding," said Yami dryly. Yami sent the machine a very superior glance.
"I think I'm done…"
"Re-evaluation complete. Drawing. Setting cards," said the Android. If Yami didn't know better, he would have thought there was spite in that voice.
"You're doing great, Yugi!" yelled Téa, "We know you can win this!" Tristan and Joey cheered with hip-hip-hoorays.
Suddenly, a holographic magic card and a holographic Empress Mantis, 2200, 1400, in attack position. The magic card revealed itself. Remove Trap. Dragon Capture Jar was destroyed and Manga Ryu-Ran sprang back into attack position. In the recesses of his mind, Yami heard Yugi whisper, Oh crap. Be careful, Yugi, Tristan thought, You may be up against more than it would seem. But Yami seemed to be smiling.
"Attack Opponent with Empress Mantis," proclaimed the android. The vicious looking insect slowly advanced upon Neo the Magic Swordsman. The giant mandibles protruding from her head were about to crush the Swordsman, when Yami hurriedly slapped down a card from his hand.
"Ha! Rush Recklessly. Now my Swordsman's Attack Points are increased to 2400!" yelled Yami triumphantly. As the Empress Mantis struggled to destroy Neo the Magic Swordsman, the android's life points dropped to 3800. Yugi was still at a perfect 5000.
"Proceed," spat the machine. Yami was sure of it this time; he had said that downright bitterly. There's something to be said for artificial intelligence after all, thought Yugi. Yami drew a card. Fissure.
"I'll place a magic card face down, in defense position," narrated Yami, setting Dian Keto the Cure Master, "And now, I'll attack your Manga Ryu-Ran!" The Swordsman rushed forward. With a gleam of light, it slashed its sword through the air and sliced through the cartoon Dragon. A roar was heard and then Manga Ryu-Ran shattered into a million pieces, and disappeared. Yami then placed Fissure on the field, and he watched in satisfaction and the android's side of the arena became devoid of its last monster, Empress Mantis.
"So much for your probability factors," Yami said, while being cheered on by Yugi's friends.
"Probability factors at one hundred percent accuracy," said the android simply. Téa, Joey, and Tristan didn't hear them, but those words haunted Yami. Did this mean that everything had happened exactly as the android had wanted it to? Just do your best, he heard Yugi say. Yami nodded.
"Drawing," came the monotone voice again, "Setting cards."
Toon Summoned Skull, 2500, 1200, appeared in face up attack position. Yami felt his blood run cold. He was running out of options, and now he was facing a monster as powerful as any of his own. He needed a miracle. Literally.
Graceful Charity also appeared on the field for a moment, then disappeared to the sound of the android drawing three cards and discarding two. Yugi's friends were silent. Would Yugi come through and get Bakura's Millennium Ring? Or would you be forced to forfeit his Millennium Puzzle to this… thing?
Yami was anxious enough already, but his mind went blank when he saw yet another card appear- Deal of Phantom. Suddenly, Toon Summoned Skull's Attack Points jumped to 2900, 100 points for every monster in the android's grave yard.
"Attack," ordered the android. The machine's Life Point dropped 500 more, and the Fiend-type monster viciously tore Neo the Magic Swordsman to shreds. Yami's Life Points dropped from 5000 to 3800. Not a devastating blow. Yami was still winning, but not for long if that miracle didn't come along soon. Toon Summoned Skull was stronger than any monster in his entire deck.
Yami still had one card in his hand- Castle Walls, no good- and two magic cards face down. Sword of Dark Destruction couldn't do him any good either. Dian Keto the Cure Master was also still face down. Even though using it would add 1000 Life Points to Yami's 3800, it didn't matter. His opponent could still annihilate him in two turns. Yami looked over at Yugi's friends. They all looked at him with concerned faces. Yami looked back at his deck. He took a deep breath, and drew.
Deus ex Machina. The miracle he needed.
Yami smiled. He searched through Yugi's memories and came across a recent one. One where Yugi had dropped two decks of cards…
"I play Dian Keto the Cure Master," Yami said confidently, while his Life Points zoomed up to 4800, "and now I'll play… Change of Heart."
"What?" yelled Joey, "How? Wha…, um, I don't get it. Change of Heart is Bakura's card!" The android was even more confused as it watched its prized possession, the Toon Summoned Skull, appear on Yami's side.
"Probability subroutines conclude event as impossibility," the machine said quickly, "Event not possible. Battle City Tournament files. Yugi Muoto. Card 'Change of Heart' not listed. Probability impossibility…" The android drone on in confusion. Confusion was also on the faces on Yugi's chums. Slowly, but surely, a look of understanding came to the face of Tristan.
"Yugi dropped the cards," muttered Tristan.
"What?" asked Téa, "I don't… oh…" A smile replaced her confused demeanor. Joey, however still didn't understand.
"C'mon guys, what happened?" Joey asked, "Why does Yugi… or… Yami… or whoever he is now, have Bakura's card? I don't get it!"
"Joey," Tristan said slowly, "Remember earlier today when we were trying to talk to Bakura? And how Yugi dropped his cards?"
"Oh…" said Joey, realization spreading across his face, "the cards got mixed."
"That's right Joey," confirmed Yami, "After my attack, our metallic friend here will be left with a meager 400 Life Points. Which I can easily finish off with any monster I can draw in the next two turns."
"Well, ya' big metal whiner," Joey addressed the machine, "before my good friend here fries your shiny hide, I gotta question for ya'. What does a machine need with Millennium items anyway?" The machine stopped its confused ramblings for a moment to answer.
"Probability factors indicate advanced methods can transform stored magic power into usable energy," recited the android, "Amount estimated: enough to power android society for rest of foreseeable future."
"Ya' mean there are more of you guys? Sheesh. Just finish the game, Yugi. I want to see what his probability factors have to say when it suffers horrible defeat." Yami nodded.
"Now," Yami ordered, "Toon Summoned Skull, atta…"
"Notwithstanding," interrupted the android, "Probability subroutines have planned for unforeseen event. Reveal set card."
The gang watched in astonishment as one of the android's holographic magic cards turned around. Mystical Space Typhoon. Its effect sent Change of Heart to the graveyard and Toon Summoned Skull back into possession of Yami's opponent.
Elation turned to horror as the four waited for the android's crippling blow. Thunder sounded outside as if to intensify the moment.
But, in this case, Thunder meant lightning.
Deus ex Machina.
10 000 000 kilojoules shot down from the ceiling. The lightning, attracted by the enourmous energy out put of the android, fried the mechanical fiend's circuits and exploded its dueling console. Téa, Joey, Tristan, and Yami had to avert their eyes to avoid permanent damage. Yami grabbed his card deck and hopped off the arena platform, just before his console exploded as well. Yugi's three friends raced out of the building, pausing only to push open the now-disfunctioning electromagnet lock on the door. Yami skirted around the arena to his opponent's side, pried the Millennium Ring from the android's slightly melted grip, and followed the trio. As he ran through the doorway, the factory burst into flames.
Yami and company made tracks, hoping the rain would keep the fire under control until the fire crew arrived. As they ran, Yugi talked to Yami from the back of his mind.
You did great old friend. I knew I could count on you.
Yami smiled, returned control to Yugi, and resumed his comfortable cranny at the back of Yugi's mind.
"You may have and incredible power to predict what I've set, but your memory circuits must have degraded," Yami sneered, "Now I supposed it's safe to play this…" Yami set Neo the Magic Swordsman, 1700, 1000 into face up attack position. The android spoke.
"Re-evaluating. Probability factors indicate Opponent not attacking."
"No kidding," said Yami dryly. Yami sent the machine a very superior glance.
"I think I'm done…"
"Re-evaluation complete. Drawing. Setting cards," said the Android. If Yami didn't know better, he would have thought there was spite in that voice.
"You're doing great, Yugi!" yelled Téa, "We know you can win this!" Tristan and Joey cheered with hip-hip-hoorays.
Suddenly, a holographic magic card and a holographic Empress Mantis, 2200, 1400, in attack position. The magic card revealed itself. Remove Trap. Dragon Capture Jar was destroyed and Manga Ryu-Ran sprang back into attack position. In the recesses of his mind, Yami heard Yugi whisper, Oh crap. Be careful, Yugi, Tristan thought, You may be up against more than it would seem. But Yami seemed to be smiling.
"Attack Opponent with Empress Mantis," proclaimed the android. The vicious looking insect slowly advanced upon Neo the Magic Swordsman. The giant mandibles protruding from her head were about to crush the Swordsman, when Yami hurriedly slapped down a card from his hand.
"Ha! Rush Recklessly. Now my Swordsman's Attack Points are increased to 2400!" yelled Yami triumphantly. As the Empress Mantis struggled to destroy Neo the Magic Swordsman, the android's life points dropped to 3800. Yugi was still at a perfect 5000.
"Proceed," spat the machine. Yami was sure of it this time; he had said that downright bitterly. There's something to be said for artificial intelligence after all, thought Yugi. Yami drew a card. Fissure.
"I'll place a magic card face down, in defense position," narrated Yami, setting Dian Keto the Cure Master, "And now, I'll attack your Manga Ryu-Ran!" The Swordsman rushed forward. With a gleam of light, it slashed its sword through the air and sliced through the cartoon Dragon. A roar was heard and then Manga Ryu-Ran shattered into a million pieces, and disappeared. Yami then placed Fissure on the field, and he watched in satisfaction and the android's side of the arena became devoid of its last monster, Empress Mantis.
"So much for your probability factors," Yami said, while being cheered on by Yugi's friends.
"Probability factors at one hundred percent accuracy," said the android simply. Téa, Joey, and Tristan didn't hear them, but those words haunted Yami. Did this mean that everything had happened exactly as the android had wanted it to? Just do your best, he heard Yugi say. Yami nodded.
"Drawing," came the monotone voice again, "Setting cards."
Toon Summoned Skull, 2500, 1200, appeared in face up attack position. Yami felt his blood run cold. He was running out of options, and now he was facing a monster as powerful as any of his own. He needed a miracle. Literally.
Graceful Charity also appeared on the field for a moment, then disappeared to the sound of the android drawing three cards and discarding two. Yugi's friends were silent. Would Yugi come through and get Bakura's Millennium Ring? Or would you be forced to forfeit his Millennium Puzzle to this… thing?
Yami was anxious enough already, but his mind went blank when he saw yet another card appear- Deal of Phantom. Suddenly, Toon Summoned Skull's Attack Points jumped to 2900, 100 points for every monster in the android's grave yard.
"Attack," ordered the android. The machine's Life Point dropped 500 more, and the Fiend-type monster viciously tore Neo the Magic Swordsman to shreds. Yami's Life Points dropped from 5000 to 3800. Not a devastating blow. Yami was still winning, but not for long if that miracle didn't come along soon. Toon Summoned Skull was stronger than any monster in his entire deck.
Yami still had one card in his hand- Castle Walls, no good- and two magic cards face down. Sword of Dark Destruction couldn't do him any good either. Dian Keto the Cure Master was also still face down. Even though using it would add 1000 Life Points to Yami's 3800, it didn't matter. His opponent could still annihilate him in two turns. Yami looked over at Yugi's friends. They all looked at him with concerned faces. Yami looked back at his deck. He took a deep breath, and drew.
Deus ex Machina. The miracle he needed.
Yami smiled. He searched through Yugi's memories and came across a recent one. One where Yugi had dropped two decks of cards…
"I play Dian Keto the Cure Master," Yami said confidently, while his Life Points zoomed up to 4800, "and now I'll play… Change of Heart."
"What?" yelled Joey, "How? Wha…, um, I don't get it. Change of Heart is Bakura's card!" The android was even more confused as it watched its prized possession, the Toon Summoned Skull, appear on Yami's side.
"Probability subroutines conclude event as impossibility," the machine said quickly, "Event not possible. Battle City Tournament files. Yugi Muoto. Card 'Change of Heart' not listed. Probability impossibility…" The android drone on in confusion. Confusion was also on the faces on Yugi's chums. Slowly, but surely, a look of understanding came to the face of Tristan.
"Yugi dropped the cards," muttered Tristan.
"What?" asked Téa, "I don't… oh…" A smile replaced her confused demeanor. Joey, however still didn't understand.
"C'mon guys, what happened?" Joey asked, "Why does Yugi… or… Yami… or whoever he is now, have Bakura's card? I don't get it!"
"Joey," Tristan said slowly, "Remember earlier today when we were trying to talk to Bakura? And how Yugi dropped his cards?"
"Oh…" said Joey, realization spreading across his face, "the cards got mixed."
"That's right Joey," confirmed Yami, "After my attack, our metallic friend here will be left with a meager 400 Life Points. Which I can easily finish off with any monster I can draw in the next two turns."
"Well, ya' big metal whiner," Joey addressed the machine, "before my good friend here fries your shiny hide, I gotta question for ya'. What does a machine need with Millennium items anyway?" The machine stopped its confused ramblings for a moment to answer.
"Probability factors indicate advanced methods can transform stored magic power into usable energy," recited the android, "Amount estimated: enough to power android society for rest of foreseeable future."
"Ya' mean there are more of you guys? Sheesh. Just finish the game, Yugi. I want to see what his probability factors have to say when it suffers horrible defeat." Yami nodded.
"Now," Yami ordered, "Toon Summoned Skull, atta…"
"Notwithstanding," interrupted the android, "Probability subroutines have planned for unforeseen event. Reveal set card."
The gang watched in astonishment as one of the android's holographic magic cards turned around. Mystical Space Typhoon. Its effect sent Change of Heart to the graveyard and Toon Summoned Skull back into possession of Yami's opponent.
Elation turned to horror as the four waited for the android's crippling blow. Thunder sounded outside as if to intensify the moment.
But, in this case, Thunder meant lightning.
Deus ex Machina.
10 000 000 kilojoules shot down from the ceiling. The lightning, attracted by the enourmous energy out put of the android, fried the mechanical fiend's circuits and exploded its dueling console. Téa, Joey, Tristan, and Yami had to avert their eyes to avoid permanent damage. Yami grabbed his card deck and hopped off the arena platform, just before his console exploded as well. Yugi's three friends raced out of the building, pausing only to push open the now-disfunctioning electromagnet lock on the door. Yami skirted around the arena to his opponent's side, pried the Millennium Ring from the android's slightly melted grip, and followed the trio. As he ran through the doorway, the factory burst into flames.
Yami and company made tracks, hoping the rain would keep the fire under control until the fire crew arrived. As they ran, Yugi talked to Yami from the back of his mind.
You did great old friend. I knew I could count on you.
Yami smiled, returned control to Yugi, and resumed his comfortable cranny at the back of Yugi's mind.