Chapter Forty-Four: Saria's Rescuer

"Wake up!" A cold voice commanded. Saria squinted as bright light seared her view.

"Where am I?"

"Shadow Island, not that it matters to you. You're gonna be stuck here for a long time," The same cold voice replied. It was then Saria began to move. The light turned off and for the first time, Saria realized she was totally naked and freezing cold. Saria was strapped to some rotating table with braces to keep her immobile. Standing in front of her was a guard in green with a black ski mask over his face, showing only two cold eyes. In his hands was an assault rifle. Standing next to him, but with his back to her, was a man in a black cape with dark brown hair. He was consulting with a man who had blond hair and green eyes. The man in black then turned around and Saria gasped. It was Kaiba!

"Well, so the Hero of Time's daughter is finally awake. Sleep well?" Kaiba asked.

"Not bad. Where's my stuff?" Saria replied.

"Not here, that's for sure. You're probably wondering why you're stripped of your pride," Kaiba continued, "Well, we had to make sure you had no weapons hidden. Don't even bother asking for clothes! You're not getting any."

"Why's that?"

"Your old man probably taught you how to conceal stuff so I'm not going to let you conceal anything from me. Got it?" Kaiba then turned to the guard.

"You know what to do." Then Kaiba left through a door to Saria's right. The guard then turned to the scientist.

"I got this, man. Go grab a ration and a first aid kit for when this is over."

"Just don't kill her. We need her as bait."

"Right." Then the scientist left. The guard faced Saria.

"Well kid, it looks like it's just you and me. Tell me, how strong are you against shocks?"

"Wouldn't know. I've never been electrocuted before."

"Would you like me to run a current through your body?"

"No not really."

"Then you better answer my questions."

"Why should I? You might shock me anyway."

"I know. Now, are you ready to answer my questions?" Saria merely stared at him coldly.

"You didn't have any Triforce Destiny Cards on you. Where are they? Where did you stash them?" The guard demanded. Silence. The guard put his rifle on a table nearby and then walked over to a console that was attached to Saria's table by thick cables. Saria felt herself move. Saria realized the table was actually a brace that made it so her enemies could view any side of her by separating her from the table or make her switch directions. Saria was made to face away from the soldier. She couldn't see what the guard was doing until something slapped into her back painfully.

"Kid, you're gonna feel this every time you fail to answer one of my questions, got me?" The guard asked as he whipped her in the back. Saria shook all over as a warm liquid began to leak out of her back.

Blood. She thought as the guard made her reface him. Though Saria was exhausted, she refused to show him any fear.

"Well, you ready to answer me now?" Saria shook her head no. The guard walked up to her until they were face to face.

"You sure?" Saria nodded her head. The guard then pulled out a wooden-bladed sword. He smashed it against her torso until her body was black and blue with bruises. It was then the scientist came back, a small first aid kit and a small container in his hand the size of a CD case. Following him was two heavily armed soldiers.

"Take her to her cell. Patch her up and we'll try again later," The interrogator said. Saria felt her bonds open as she fell limply into the soldiers' arms. She faded in and out of consciousness as she was dragged to a sterile cell whose walls were made of Plexiglas. The only distinguishing feature of her cell was a bed with no mattress that had two sheets and a pillow. It lay in a corner opposite her cell's door. The guards threw her onto the floor with a sickening thud, her blood leaking out of her wounds. The soldiers then picked her up and carried her into the bed where they lay her on her stomach. The two-armed soldiers strapped Saria in and then they left.

"What are you gonna do to me?" Saria stammered weakly to the scientist.

"Fix you up and help you get out of here," the scientist said as he dabbed a cotton ball with healing potion. Saria gasped.

"Who are you?" Saria demanded.

"We're being watched by a security camera. I'm going to slip a nano-receiver into your ear. Don't cry out alright?" the scientist whispered. She felt him push something small into her ears. She gritted her teeth as he dug his fingers deeply into her ear. It seemed for only a moment but the pain quickly vanished. She lay still afterwards as the mysterious scientist cleaned her wounds up, bandaged them and gave her an injection. He then unstrapped her from her bed and helped her to sit up. He tapped the side of his forehead. Saria knew what he meant. He gave her a ration and then left and locked the cell. He stepped into the other room, which was the torture Saria had been in. The scientist stood with his back to her but he reached for his ear. Saria followed suit.

"Can you hear me, Princess Saria?" It was the scientist's voice in Saria's new communicator.

"Loud and clear," Saria said.

"Good."

"Who are you? Why'd you call me 'princess'?"

"My name is not important right now. As for calling you princess, that's your rightful title isn't it?"

"I'm not a princess."

"Yes you are. The crown princess of Hyrule to be exact."

"What?"

"Didn't you know? Your mom was born royally and before you were born, she was the princess of Hyrule."

"I knew that."

"Your dad probably tried to leave that out to protect you."

"How do you know my dad?"

"We go way back. I was assigned to protect you. I tried to get to Hyrule to warn you, but Kaiba beat me there."

"If you're working to protect me, then why do you help Kaiba?"

"Like I said, I was assigned to protect you. I'm here undercover."
"Who...?"

"Your grandpa and your dad, but I would have stood by you even if it wasn't an order. It's in my blood."

"I don't have a grandpa."

"Wrong."

"Who is he then?" Saria asked suspiciously

"Your mom's dad is the King of Hyrule." Saria nodded.

"Good. Just testing you."

"Your mom can give you all the details later. Right now, we have to get you out of here."

"I know that. But what about the injection you gave me?"

"Don't worry. It transmits your vital signs to your dad's ship."

"And how is my dad?"

"Very much alive. He teleported from the ship to Hyrule and just so you know that you can trust me, he and you reunited with your brother at the Chieron Brothers Circus in Castle Town. He went there to get the Master Sword after you were kidnapped." Saria then realized he was indeed an ally.

"But Ryan has the Master Sword!"

"There's two princess. Your brother has one and now your father has one."

"I know that too. How is my brother?"

"He's OK. Your friends saved him but didn't act quickly enough to save you. That's why you're in a cell right now instead of with them."

"I see. What's been going on around here?"

"Demons are running rampant through the Great Sea right now. They're wreaking havoc everywhere including here and the more high-ranking ones are here taking on human forms to aid their leader in his plot to enslave the entire world."

"A lot has happened while I was out."

"Indeed but right now we have to focus on saving you and your mother. Right now, I can do nothing but wait until the time is right except give you information."

"OK, so what's going on with my father? What's he doing to stop these demons?"

"He and your friends went into Hyrule to seek the Sages you will soon lead. The last I heard, he had managed to get them all to Hyrule Castle Town and now Hyrule is going to send in an army to vanquish the demons. They're already on their way."

"OK, that's good to know. Now what about that injection?"

"I put some strengtheners in it to make you a little stronger despite your weakened state. It should also raise the strength of your immune system and also give you more blood sugar so you're a bit more energetic."

"All right, so when are you going to get me out of here?"

"As soon as I can." It was then a door slammed somewhere nearby.

"Damn! Kaiba is coming with his guards. I have to log off, but remember, be ready for a chance to escape." Saria nodded. It was then the scientist walked out of the room. There was some conversation that Saria couldn't hear. She quickly ate her ration and sat patiently, waiting for Kaiba to return. It wasn't long before the guards came and led her out of the room. She was again strapped to the rotating torture table with Kaiba and two thugs watching her.

"I'm going to ask you again," said the guard, "Where's the Triforce Destiny Cards you have?"

"Like I'm going to tell you," Saria said sarcastically. The guard promptly punched her in the left eye. There must have been something sharp in the glove because the skin below Saria's eye was now cut and bleeding.

"Where are the cards? Answer me?" It was then Saria felt her bonds loosen. A voice entered her communicator.

"I'm going to unlock your bonds. Be prepared to run," Came the scientist's voice. The scientist came into the room, holding a silenced pistol. No one looked at him as he fired two rounds into the guards' radios. He then slid the pistol into a hidden holster. Kaiba then noticed the scientist.

"What are you doing here?" Kaiba demanded. It was then the room filled with smoke.

"What the?" Kaiba wondered when he hurt grunts of pain as the two guards fell to the ground. Saria's bonds opened up and she hit the floor on hands and knees. Kaiba saw her and Saria knocked him down with a shoulder tackle to the legs.

"This way!" The scientist called. Saria scrambled to her feet and ran for the open door. She leapt through as the scientist tossed another smoke grenade into the room. The scientist slammed the door shut as Saria watched as he fired several rounds into the door mechanism. The room she was now standing in was a small storage room with some lockers and a bench.

"We have to get out of here now. That knockout gas won't keep Kaiba out long. Follow me and stay down," the scientist stated. The scientist burst through another door and looked around the corner. He motioned for Saria to follow. The two jogged silently down the hall until they reached an elevator.

MEANWHILE, SOMEWHERE ON THE GREAT SEA'S NORTHWESTERN BORDER...

"Sir, you were right. Soukan and Saria are indeed at the abandoned military base on Shadow Island," A crewman reported.

"Just as I thought. Soukan has been doing exactly what I told him to do since this whole mess began," Mr. Floyd thought to himself.

"Uh, Mr. Floyd? Who is Soukan?" Joey asked.

"A Sheikah ninja, an old friend and the Sage of Earth who I assigned to protect Saria when the whole tournament began," Mr. Floyd replied, "Right now, he has infiltrated the enemy base and taken on the identity of a scientist on the base. Because of his disguise, we now have Saria's exact location and now we can decide the best course of action."

"Smart thinkin'. So what's the plan? Why did Ryan get aboard the Hylian sub instead of back on with us?" Tristan replied, wondering why Ryan had opted to take a submarine ride instead of the safety of the Courage X.

"Ryan is going to sneak into the rear of the base while we keep the enemy distracted. He'll break in; find Soukan, Saria and Becky then they'll escape. After that, it will be up to Yugi to finish the job," Mr. Floyd said.

"OK, but how's Ryan gonna get into the base, let alone undetected? There's bound to be guards," Teá asked. Mr. Floyd smirked.

"That's to be kept a secret until this is over."

"Sir! We're approaching Shadow Island's borders. Shall we start the attack?" A crewman butted in.

"Yes and do so quickly. Hit them with everything we've got."

BACK IN THE SHADOW ISLAND BASE...

"This way princess. We're almost there!" Soukan called. The two had managed to get to the roof of the building where Kaiba's airships were stashed. Saria had spent the elevator ride slipping into a pair of her jean shorts, lavender tank top, shoes and socks and light black gloves.

"Not so fast!" A female voice called out. It was then the ground beneath Saria and Soukan began to shake. Without warning, a column of stone shot out from underneath Saria and forced her onto a platform that floated high into the air. Saria groaned as she stood up and saw Cassidy waiting for her, dressed out in a black sports bra, black shorts, leather boots, gloves and a bandana around her neck.

"Cassidy! What's going on? What do you want this time?" Saria demanded, feeling more like herself now that she had clothes on again.

"It's payback time for the humiliation you put me through on Outset Island!" Cassidy replied coldly.

"What? Is that all? Aren't you supposed to be working for Kaiba?"

"Yeah, but screw him right now! I have a bone to pick with you."

"I don't have my duel disk on me so you can't duel me."

"Not so! I plan to duel you in the old fashioned way. We're going to duke it out using only our bodies as the weapons."

"What good will that does you? Do you realize I've been heavily trained in the martial arts? I could easily knock you off this platform."

"Yeah, well I've been trained too and believe me if you're smart, you'll do it. If you win, you still might be able to escape. If you lose, well lets just say that you'll regret having ever crossed my path."

I don't have time for this! Kaiba will be awake any second and when he wakes; there'll be no chance for me to escape. But then again... Saria thought glancing at the cement platform down below, it doesn't look like I've got much choice in the matter.

"OK, I'll accept your ridiculous challenge but know this: I will win!"

"That's the exact kind of courage I expected from you. Now prepare yourself! Have at you, Saria!" And the two girls charged one another beginning the fight on their ten foot by ten-foot platform that hung at least a hundred feet off the ground where falling meant death.