Another snow day! I love it!
John: Eh? Why would she hate Knight of White Dragon? She doesn't really hate Severing Samurai, it just ticks her off a bit.
Chapter 19: Experiments
They reached the top of the staircase, and found themselves in yet another empty room. Without hesitation they started down the hall.
Soon they reached another metal door, which opened as they entered.
It was pitch-black inside, but Daine snarled almost instantly, and Malon barked fiercely.
Hearing them, Fell acted on instinct and leapt ahead, barely avoiding a slash from a wolf soldier. The others in the group were not so lucky. Larka had jumped away as well, but she ran right into another one who grabbed her arms, trapping them. Everyone else did not even have a chance to fight back before the wolf soldiers trapped them.
"Alright, good," they heard someone say. "This will work well."
Then the green lights came on, as long as some white ones that landed over the group members. Each one had a wolf soldier holding their arms behind their backs, making their Duel Disks and weapons impossible to use. Daine was being held down by one wolf soldier, while another one grasped onto Malon. It did not have any trouble holding onto him, even though he squirmed and bit.
The only one who was not in that position was Fell. He had gotten away in time from the other soldiers, but there were three others waiting behind him. He tensed, seeing them, but they did not make any move to attack, so he turned his attention to the one standing in front of him.
The wolf soldier standing before him looked much different than the others. He wore black armor on the upper portion of his body and blue pants on his lower. He also had black shoes and gloves. His face had a mask that concealed it. The mask had black hair covering it, much like wolf's fur. Out of his forehead produced a long, narrow, white horn. He did have long black hair that went to the ground though, along with yellow eyes and sharp finger-nail like claws though, like all the other wolf soldiers had. However, he was armed with a weapon as well. A curved black sword was sheathed in a silver belt, easily accessible if he needed it.
"You don't look like the other wolf soldiers," Larka said, breaking the silence. "Who are you?"
"So, you can tell I'm intelligent. That is because I am the leader of the pack my master has produced. I am called Rouki."
"What do you want from us?" Draken demanded.
"My master likes to take others alive, since they can always be used for future experiments," Rouki smirked. "So, if you do not resist, you have a last chance at living."
"Why would we accept that? Death would probably be better!" Brandi pointed out.
"Maybe so, but there is always the chance he would feel generous and let you leave one day. As long as there is life, there is hope… I believe that is what you humans say."
"Weren't you once human?" Hope inquired.
"Once. I remember nothing of it. Why would I care?" He flexed his clawed hands. "This power I have been granted far surpasses anything I could have had as a human. This glorious power… you can experience it too, if you surrender."
Silence met this statement, but Rouki did not seem concerned. He turned to Fell, who had been watching silently. "Of course, you and your sister already had a chance at this, but you did not take it. But that's to be expected… all you are is a prototype, after all. Your sister… she was obedient enough to our master's wishes. She did as asked, because she realized he was dominant over her. But you… you always resisted. You even had the nerve to try and kill my master." He smiled coldly. "A good prototype should always do as asked of it. Why else would it be created? You need to be taught a lesson in obedience before you are fit to be tested on again. We can begin that education now." He indicated to the group. "We'll start off with simple enough commands. First, take off your Duel Disk and toss it to the side, along with any support cards you have. Then clasp your hands behind you, and stand still."
Fell gazed at him, eyes expressionless.
"You are more intelligent than any wolf soldier besides your sister and, of course, myself. If my subordinates can understand and follow straightforward orders such as those, you are more than capable of doing so as well. Or perhaps you do not care about the fate of your friends?"
"Did he just say we were Fell's friends?" Draken muttered.
Fell still did not respond.
"You will follow my commands," Rouki stated. "If you refuse to obey, I will have to kill your companions over there. Lessons must be taught, and I do not mind going to such measures to make sure you learn what you need to."
"He might as well kill us now," Draken sighed. "Fell isn't about to do anything to help us…"
Rouki turned his gaze to him. "I advise not speaking out of turn. You will be the first to die, as an example for your other companions. You must learn to follow all orders before you have the honor of meeting my master. Of course, they may be killed anyway if they do not cooperate… although my master would prefer more specimens, he only needs his two prototypes…"
Another wolf soldier standing nearby was at Draken's side at an instant, holding up a clawed hand. But then it froze as a clank echoed through the room, and it turned back to look at the two in the center of the room.
Fell stood in front of Rouki, grasping his wrists behind his back. His Duel Disk lay a few feet away from him, along with several cards that had been scattered. He continued to stare at Rouki. Still his eyes betrayed nothing.
"I can't believe it…" Draken whispered. "He's going along with him?"
"Fell…" Larka said softly, her face betraying her worry.
"Much better," Rouki sneered, walking up to him. "You're beginning to understand how it is. The quicker you obey orders, and the more accurate you are with them, the better off it will be for you. And your next one is to stay still while I teach you why this is so. I had to tell you what to do three times, so three times the amount of pain should be sufficient…" Then, without warning, he slammed his fist into Fell's stomach.
Fell held his ground for the first one, but two more in quick succession caused him to stagger back, coughing up blood. The group was watching in horror from the side of them. They saw Fell let go of his arms for a second, before he forced himself to grab them again. This time, he held on so tightly that his fingernails cut into his skin.
"Why is he letting Rouki do this?" Draken asked in astonishment as he watched the wolf leader strike him again. "Fell doesn't care about anyone but himself… and maybe Larka. Is that why he's putting up with it? Because he doesn't want Larka being hurt?"
"That makes no sense," Brandi replied. "Rouki said she would be living, remember? Viken wants the two of them alive at least."
"But if that isn't it, then what is his reason?" Draken questioned.
Hope brought up his aura, and was shocked to see what it now looked like. Before, it had been completely dark, except for a bit of white light for his sister and something she could not identify. But now she could tell what it was. It was a desperate need for comrades. He wanted to know people he could trust and could call his friends. He was afraid of the pain it would bring, but not physically, as Rouki was doing; he was wary of the mental pain that would occur when the friends he finally made would die, leaving him alone. Yet something was driving him to protect them…
She let it fade. "He's doing it to save us."
"That can't be…" Draken protested. "He doesn't care about us at all…"
"I have told you before that my master does care about all of you," Daine stated. "He tries to distance himself to lessen the pain of loss when it will eventually hit him, but he can no longer do that. He has realized that to do what is right in his heart, he must accept the fact that he cares for you all."
None of them could think of a response to that. They looked back over to see Rouki to land a fierce blow that caused Fell to spit out more blood. Yet he still wore the same expressionless look.
Rouki paused, looking into his eyes. "Common wolf soldiers have been taught to not be able to feel pain. It makes them better at following orders, after all. But a prototype such as yourself should be able to feel pain. I want you to show me that you know what this pain is! Show me that you can feel what I am doing to you!" Then, he lashed out once more, causing Fell to stumble back again.
But he came forward, his expression unchanged.
"I suppose I am not doing enough harm then," Rouki stated. "Then I will just have to cause enough pain to get this through your head."
He brought up his clawed hand and slashed Fell across his right shoulder with it. He continued to slash away, causing agony wherever he struck. As he attacked, he talked some more.
"All you are is a prototype. You can't hope to withstand pain such as this. Being a prototype has made you weak in both body and mind; you are being brought to a point close to death when you could have just let those worthless humans die. I don't know how you managed to kill my master, being as pathetic as you are. Still, you did, and for that you must suffer…"
Larka was unable to stand watching anymore and looked to the floor, her eyes blurring with unshed tears. But then she saw something.
Fell's support cards had been scattered all over the area nearby his Duel Disk. But there was another card lying next to her. It was a significant distance away from the others; it couldn't be a coincidence, could it?
Larka knew that even if she could get away from the wolf soldiers, she would not be able to pick a support card out of the several she had in time to defeat them. She couldn't tell what the card Fell had thrown nearby her was, but she would have to rely on it. It was their only chance at getting away.
She looked up and saw Rouki raising his clawed hand once more, before bringing it down onto Fell's chest. This deep wound, combined with others, was too much for him. He collapsed onto his knees, still keeping a firm grip on his arms.
"See? This is the difference in power between a prototype and a perfected creature. You could not even hope to be able to scratch me, while I can easily kill you any minute I want to." And he brought down his hand once more.
That was when Larka turned her gaze to her Soul Monster. "Malon, now!"
The puppy had been lying limply in the wolf soldier's grasp. But as she said that, his back paws shot out against the wolf soldier and he used the new leverage to tear himself away from his captor. He leapt straight at the one restraining Larka, and caught onto its arm with his teeth. The wolf soldier instinctively let go of Larka to deal with Malon. As soon as he did, she immediately lunged for the card lying on the floor. Without looking at it, she grabbed it and slid it into her Duel Disk.
A yellow vortex suddenly appeared, swirling around the room. The wolf soldiers were thrown aside by it, crashing into the walls with great force. Nobody in the group was effected, nor was Rouki. As the vortex faded away, the wolf soldiers fell to the ground. The group was amazed to see that their backs had snapped.
Rouki eyed them calmly. "Clever. However, it is a pity that it did not work on me, isn't it? You see, now that you have done that, I can't let you leave alive." Then he lunged at them.
But Fell attacked from the behind, knocking him away from the group. Rouki landed and turned, looking over at him with amusement. "You can still fight, I see. But for how long?"
Fell was covered with cuts, all bleeding. His chest wound was the worst, but the others did not help either. He could barely stay standing from the blood he had lost combined with the pain.
He had his back to the group, and did not turn. "Go on. Find Viken and Vlad, and kill them. I will stay here."
"You can't!" Larka protested. "You're wounded too badly to consider fighting him!"
"I will do this," Fell growled. "This is the one I must fight. I have already defeated Viken before. Sister, it is your turn to do the same."
Her eyes widened. "Me, beat Viken? But…"
"You must. It is the only chance you will have to do so," Fell stated. "He is a demon of your past, so overcome him."
Larka slowly nodded, and then realized that Fell was still not looking at them. "Alright then. Everyone, let's get out of here."
"You are sure about this?" Zack inquired.
"Yes," was Fell's response.
Larka ran over to the opposite door, pulling it open. "Come on everyone!"
They all ran into the new hallway except for Daine. "Master, I cannot abandon you!"
"This is something I must do on my own."
"But master…!"
"Come on Daine," Brandi said impatiently. "We still need you and Malon for finding where the wolf and mechanical soldiers are. So get over here now, or we'll have to leash you!"
Daine reluctantly turned and walked over to them, glancing over at Fell as he left. As he came into the hall as well, Larka went to shut the door.
"Wait!" Draken said. He went back into the room, inserting a card.
A blood red glow appeared around Fell. He glanced at Draken questioningly.
"Compensation of Blood," he explained. "It'll restore the blood you lost and prevent you from losing any for an amount of time. I don't know how long it will last though, so the quicker you kill Rouki, the better. Now go get him!"
Fell nodded once, and then lunged at Rouki without warning. But the wolf leader had decided to get serious. He drew his black sword and slashed at Fell, who barely managed to dodge it.
"This is my Crescent Blade," Rouki stated. "You will not be able to win, especially when I carry this sword."
Fell did not seem impressed. He tried to attack, but was forced to leap back as the sword came at him again.
"Draken, come on!" Hope urged. "We have to go on!"
With a final glance at the fight, Draken ran over to them. Larka pulled the door closed, and they went down the hallway.
"I can only hope that he will be ok…" Daine said sadly.
"We have to have faith in him," Kisara said.
"Yeah," Hope agreed. "We can worry about Fell later. Right now, we have to deal with Viken and Vlad."
"I get the feeling we'll run into Viken next," Brandi stated. "Larka, I assume you'll want to duel him?"
"Yes. Fell was right… I have to face him now."
"Oh, by the way, what card did you use?" Gaston asked.
"I don't know. It was Fell's. It was the only card nearby us, so I thought he might have wanted me to use it…" She took it out and read it. "Messiah of Ant Hell. In the game, it destroys all level three monsters or lower that were summoned that turn at the end phase of that turn."
"So… those wolf soldiers were just too weak to stand up against it, but Rouki did since he was stronger?" Brandi inferred.
"That sounds right," Larka replied, taking the card out of her Duel Disk and storing it with her spare cards.
By this time, they had come to another room with another staircase.
"Well, let's go on," Hope said as they went up.
-----
Vlad sighed. "That stupid Rouki… did Viken forget to give him common sense? Well, if Viken can stop them, then I see no problems. But if he fails… then I suppose I will have to deal with them personally."
-----
After ascending the staircase, they were once more in an empty room. Since they were used to this pattern, they instantly went over to the hall.
Soon they reached the metal door, which slid open for them. Larka nervously went in first with Malon beside her, his teeth bared. The others came in behind her.
This room had dark purple lights to accompany the green ones. One of the purple lights outlined Larka and Malon. Another was on the rest of the group. The third was on the one they had been expecting to be waiting for them.
"So, you made it here," Viken stated. He looked around at the group. "But without one of the specimen. I assume he stayed to fight Rouki?" He smirked. "How the roles have reversed! Your brother is becoming the soft hearted one, trying to defend his companions, while you are the one who kills! Such interesting results that I would never have anticipated…"
"You're wrong," Larka snarled. "It's true that Fell cares about us, but I still do too. And I don't needlessly kill! The only person I have killed when I was not influenced by the full moon is Abram, and if he hadn't been killed, we would have died. And when I kill you, it will be so that you will not come back to torture us!"
Viken laughed. "Even if I do die, the memories you have of me will never fade. You will plagued forever by what I have done."
Larka closed her eyes, unable to respond to that.
"Maybe so, but old wounds heal," Zack stated.
Everyone turned and looked at the cyborg in surprise.
"They scar over, and never go away completely, but the pain is lessened until you only feel it occasionally. And when it does pain you, it is nowhere near as agonizing as it was before. Events will occur that will make them the wounds to the heart do this. I know that better than anyone."
Larka looked over at him, and smiled gently. "Thanks. I understand now." Then she brought her attention back to Viken. "I will turn to healing, but not until the bringer of that pain is out of my life forever!"
"Bold words. You have gotten braver as well," Viken stated, before turning on his Duel Disk. It was the same as Malady's and Thanatos'.
Larka turned on hers as well. "I can only hope I have. I'll need all the courage I can get to complete our quest. Because this location, these enemies we are fighting, are only one part of a long journey we still need to reach the end of."
Larka: 8000
Viken: 8000
"After losing to your brother, it's only fair that I should go first," Viken stated.
"But your deck lets you win first turn!" Hope protested.
Viken looked at his hand. "I wouldn't worry about that this turn. I lay one monster in defense mode and one other card as well. That's it."
With an inward sigh of relief that he had not had his combo, Larka drew. "I summon Dunamis Valkyria. (1800/1050) She attacks your defense monster!"
"It's my Quick Squirrel. (1000/100) When destroyed in battle, I gain 1000 Life Points. I can also special summon up to two more in defense mode."
Larka: 8000
Viken: 9000
"Fine. I lay a card of my own and end my turn."
Viken smirked when he saw what he had drawn. "I activate Theft, equipping it to Dunamis Valkyria. Now she is on my side of the field. Then I sacrifice her for Catapult Turtle. (1000/2000) Then I lay another card down and end my turn."
"I have to destroy that Catapult Turtle," Larka murmured. "I summon Volt Girl! (1900/800) She attacks your Catapult Turtle!"
"I will activate Book of the Moon in response," Viken declared. "This instant magic card forces your Volt Girl to go into face down defense mode."
"Dang it… I end my turn," Larka said.
"I flip summon Quick Squirrel and shift Catapult Turtle to defense mode. I lay one card down and have Quick Squirrel attack Volt Girl. That is all."
"My turn… and I summon Wandering Hero, Freed. (1700/1200) He attacks your Quick Squirrel!"
"I activate my trap card, Gravity Bind," Viken responded. "Now no monster that is level four or above can attack."
"Argh… I lay one card down and that's it."
"Ah… at last," Viken sneered. "I will first sacrifice both of my Quick Squirrels for Catapult Turtle's effect. You lose 500 Life Points from each one, so 1000 in all."
Larka: 7000
Viken: 9000
"Then I summon Magical Scientist. (300/300) Do you remember what his effect does?"
"Yes…" Larka said. "You pay 1000 Life Points to special summon a level six or lower monster from your fusion deck."
"Correct."
"So that's what his theme is," Brandi realized. "It makes sense though."
"If Larka cannot stop him, then she has lost," Kisara stated.
"She probably has some idea of what to do," Hope assured. She still looked nervous though.
"So now I pay 3000 Life Points to special summon three Crimson Birds! (2300/1800)"
Larka: 7000
Viken: 6000
Larka grinned. "I was waiting for you to do that. Now I can activate Destruction Ring! This will destroy your Catapult Turtle and do 1000 damage to each of us!"
Larka: 6000
Viken: 5000
"Alright! She got him!" Gaston exclaimed.
"I'm afraid not," Viken smirked. "I activate my trap card, Cry of the Living Dead. Catapult Turtle is brought back from the Cemetery in face up attack mode."
"No…" Larka groaned. "I can't do anything this time…"
"I sacrifice all three Crimson Birds for Catapult Turtle's effect!"
One of the large birds flew onto the Catapult Turtle's launcher. Then it was launched, and flew right into Larka. She barely had time to get her balance back before the other two hit her, causing her to fly back.
Larka: 2550
Viken: 5000
"Larka!" Brandi shouted. "Can't you do something?!"
"No… he has me…" Larka said softly, eyes closed.
"Very good," Viken smiled coldly. "Now, I pay 3000 more Life Points to special summon Thunderous Giant Water Snake, Empress Who Delivers Judgment, and Eagle of Judgment! (2100/1800) (2100/1700) (2100/1800)
Larka: 2550
Viken: 2000
"Now I launch them!" he said triumphantly.
Larka suddenly smirked. "Got you."
"What?"
"I activate Holy Life Barrier! By discarding Magic Reflector Reflect Bounder, all damage you do to me becomes zero!"
The first monster launched, the Water Snake, crashed into the barrier that appeared around Larka and exploded. The other two monsters met the same fate.
"Damn it! I played right into that!" Viken snarled.
"Yes, you did. So, is that all?" Larka asked.
"It is," he growled.
"I'll start by summoning Mimic Illusionist! (0/0) He copies one of your monsters' base stats when summoned, so I choose Catapult Turtle's. (1000/2000) Then I equip him with Shine Castle! This raises a Light Main-Type's attack by 700. (1700/2000) He attacks your Magical Scientist!"
"I activate Life Absorber in response!" Viken announced.
"What does that do?"
"It's a permanent trap card that is activated during my standby phase. It restores half of the Life Points I paid during my previous turn."
"That's not good…" Larka murmured.
"But your attack does go through."
Larka: 2550
Viken: 600
"I lay one card down and end my turn," Larka said.
"I draw, and then gain 3000 Life Points due to Life Absorber."
Larka: 2550
Viken: 3600
"Then I play Early Burial. This equip card costs 800 Life Points, but it allows me to special summon one monster from my Cemetery in face up attack mode. So I choose Magical Scientist!"
Larka: 2550
Viken: 2800
Larka sighed. "I can't let you do that. I chain your special summoning with Tidal Wave! This destroys all of our monsters!"
Looking furious, Viken snarled, "That's it."
"If I can just draw what I need…" Larka said softly. Then she drew, and looked at her card with a smile. "Alright! I play Tempest! This destroys both your Gravity Bind and your Life Absorber!"
"That doesn't mean you have won," Viken stated.
"Actually, it does. I summon Blade Knight! (1600/1000) His effect activates as well. If I have one or no cards in my hand, then he gains 400 more attack points. (2000/1000)"
"But you have no more cards in your hand," Viken smirked. "So you can't kill me this turn."
"You're wrong. Malon!"
Malon's mournful howl echoed throughout the room as a Volt Girl appeared. (1900/800)
"What? How?!"
"Malon's Deck Master ability lets me special summon a level four or lower Light Main-Type monster from my deck. So I chose Volt Girl! Now, Blade Knight attacks and Volt Girl finishes you off!"
Larka: 2550
Viken: 0
"No! That can't be!" Viken protested. "I lost again? Damn it all… I swore I would have revenge on you and your brother, and I will!" Viken took out a syringe and put it to his arm.
Larka leapt forward before she could think about what she was doing, bringing her clawed hand forward. It tore through his body, emerging from his back.
Everyone stared in a horrified amazement at the scene. Viken, standing because Larka's arm that also was killing him was supporting him, coughed up a large amount of blood. Larka winced as the blood hit her, staining her clothes and skin.
"If only… I had time... to look into this," Viken managed to gasp out. "You two… prototypes were… always… so intriguing… I never… thought you… would be my killer… your brother seemed… much more… fit… for… that…" Then he collapsed.
Larka sank down to her knees, not noticing the bloody floor, shaking violently as the others went over to her.
"Are you hurt?" Brandi asked. Malon whined, concerned.
"No… just appalled… I'm glad he's gone, but I wish I didn't have to be the one to do it!" It was at this time that the others noticed she was crying. "I knew I would have to kill eventually, but I still wasn't prepared! I don't want to have to kill anybody else! I know I couldn't have let Viken live, but I still feel so guilty…"
Brandi pulled Larka away from the bloody area on the floor, and then went down next to her. "Remember what you told me that day I killed Madura? The same thing can be said now. You'll feel guilty, but you'll get over it soon enough. Also, realize that you saved more innocents from torture and death by killing him."
"Yeah… it's just so sudden… and…" Larka still shook slightly, but she was calming down.
"You had to," Zack stated. "This time, he is dead. You had to make sure of that. A quick death such as that is much better than leaving him alone to torture countless others. And you know he will never be back to haunt you."
"Yes… you're both right," Larka said, rising. "Thanks."
"Do you want to go on?" Kisara asked.
"Yes. In fact, I've already wasted too much time for you guys. We don't know how long Will has to live and Fell is still battling… let's hurry!"
"Sounds good to me!" Hope replied as they went on through the other metal door.
-----
Neo had felt helpless before, but watching Will as he cried out and snarled in pain from the virus was tearing at him. He knew of no way that he could comfort him or lessen the agony, although he wished with all his heart he could.
But then, instead of another agonized scream, he heard Will say something.
"This is the final battle. Zack, be careful!"
To be continued…