Chapter 6
Face Off
Another uneventful day at work for Anna. She had never seen so much paperwork in her life, and she never wanted to see another spreadsheet again. That's why she was looking forward to this afternoon. This mysterious stranger occupied her thoughts all day. He was arrogant and smug, and she couldn't wait to duel him again. He was a challenge, in more ways than one way, and she loved a challenge.
Anna left work a little early and went home to change. She didn't dress up for the occasion, she dressed down. Slacks, ankle boots, v-neck top, and a light waist-length dress jacket. She didn't want to show up wearing the skirt and business coat she wore to work. She pulled her hair back into a bun and let a few strings fall down around her face.
The address on the card was across town, so Anna hailed a taxi. The driver dropped her off at the plaza in front of a massive building. Anna took a second to stare up at the angular and foreboding structure. Suddenly a hand reached out and grabbed her arm.
"The end of the world is near!" The smelly man in rags screamed. "Beware the cold man in the ivory tower, he is one cause!"
"Cause of what?" Anna said calmly.
"Destruction, chaos, death..." The man released Anna's arm when he realized she was willing to listen, and not run away. "There are three causes and he is one."
"How do you know? If you don't mind me asking." One day Anna's obscure sense of humor would get her in trouble, she just hoped it wouldn't be today.
"It came to me in a vision. Dark versus light. And the battle will lay waste to the entire planet."
"Do you have an exact date? I'd like to write it in my palm pilot, that way I can have everything in order before the Apocalypse."
Meanwhile inside Kaiba Corporation Headquarters, Kaiba was clicking away at his laptop. He kept an almost obsessive watch on the time. It was getting nearer to five o'clock and his guest would be arriving soon. 'She better not be late, I hate it when people are late.' He thought to himself. But then again, he didn't give her any more information than an address. He wanted to see how smart she really was. The building was huge, and she could wander forever, not knowing which floor to go to, or who to ask for. She had gotten lucky yesterday, and he was going to prove it. He replayed all her moves in his head and he was sure he figured out her card set. Now, he was going to show her who the superior duelist was.
A buzzer from the desk intercom interrupted his typing. "Mr. Kaiba, all the preparations you ordered for tonight are done," the ladies voice reported.
"Good" was his only response.
"And that crazy man is preaching in front of the building again"
"Call security and have him removed, permanently this time."
"Yes, sir. Oh, and sir, there is a Ms. Sung here to see you."
He looked at the clock. Ten til five, she was early. "Send her in."
Anna entered into the room to find a huge office with very little furnishings. Mainly there was a desk situated in front of set of large windows. The evening sun was streaming through the windows. It was blinding, but Anna didn't have to see him to know he was sitting in the chair.
"I see you didn't have too much trouble finding me." Kaiba said from behind his veil of sunshine.
"No problem at all. I just looked for the floor with the best carpeting." Anna retorted.
Kaiba didn't answer; instead he got out of the chair and walked past her. "This way."
Out of the office and down the hall, with only a perplexed look from the secretary. Then into the elevator and up a few floors. He didn't look at her during the walk through the hallway, but once in the elevator he found the silent thirty-second ride a bit unnerving. He caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. 'She seems taller, she wasn't that tall yesterday, was she?' He searched through his memories. The floor bell rang and the doors opened.
When the doors opened, Anna expected to see the duel arena, but she didn't expect to see what else he had planned. There next to the arena was a small table with plates of fresh cut fruits. She thought she had him figured out, but he managed to surprise her. Not many people can surprise her.
Kaiba walked over to the table and gestured for her sit in one of the two chairs. "Since you were coming here from work, I thought you might like some refreshments."
"You know where I work?" Anna questioned as she sat down opposite him at the table.
"I know everything about you." Kaiba glanced over the table at her. "Anna Sung. Age fifteen. Born to Rumiko Sung of Japan and Seyda Ramin of Egypt. Your parents were killed a plan crash when you were eight. You have been in boarding schools in four different countries. You speak six languages. You have a master degree in computer science and advanced mathematics. You are the only heir to the Sun Oil Company fortune and you currently work at your Uncle's company, Sung Computers."
"Okay, but what's my favorite color?"
"Turquoise."
"Wow, you have done your homework."
"You're not eating."
Anna selected a grape from one of the plates. She held it in front of her and inspected it. "Is it poisoned? Should I have it tasted?" She teased.
Kaiba didn't answer, instead he reached across the table and plucked the grape from her hand and ate it. Anna was stunned, but she liked it. Unconsciously a slight smile formed across her face.
"You know so much about me, and I know so little about you."
"Now I know you're lying. You couldn't have found me if you didn't know who I am."
"Sure, I know who you are. You're the all great and powerful Oz." Anna stated it in the most deadpan voice she could muster.
"Psst," Kaiba seemed annoyed at her answer and he looked away from her.
"Seto Kaiba." Anna's words sparked his attention. "You have a younger brother named Mokuba. Orphaned at age seven. Adopted when you were ten by Gosaboro Kaiba, of Kaiba Corporation. At fifteen you managed to buy out the controlling shares of Kaiba Corp. and ousted your adopted father from his place as Chairman. As a result, he killed himself. Since then you have dismantled Kaiba Corp.'s weapons programs, for which it was widely known, and instead put money into developing holographic technology and gaming systems. Did I leave anything out?"
"I see you've done some research too."
"Actually, there was a guy in front of the building giving out flyers. He seems to think you are the Antichrist and you're going to cause the end of the world."
"That man is a lunatic."
"Perhaps, but he makes a very convincing argument for Armageddon. I made sure to right down the date, just in case. I'll be sure to drop all my tech stocks before doomsday. I think that might effect their value."
"Do you make it a habit to take advice from crazy people?"
"No, I make it a habit to listen to anyone who has something to say."
"All the crazy people are really sane, and the sane, crazy?"
"And sometimes, the crazy people are just plain crazy."
They both sat there for a minute and just looked across the table at each other. They were sizing each other up. What was the other one trying to accomplish?
"So, did you set all this up for me because I'm a woman, or I own an oil company?" Anna had gestured to the table and fruit.
"I'm not the kind of person that lets a business opportunity pass me by." He said plainly.
"It's interesting that you would still want to do business with me, considering I beat you yesterday. From what I've heard, you don't like to lose at Duel Monsters."
"I don't like to lose at anything, but I hate dealing with idiots even more." Kaiba stared her down. "Besides, I won't lose again. I've figured out your card set."
"Really?" Anna reached into her bag and pulled out her cards. "Then it won't hurt for you to take a look." Anna placed the cards face up on the table. Tempting him to take them.
He didn't even glance at them. "It's against the rules for you to see your opponents deck before a duel."
"That's okay, I won't be using this deck." Anna proceeded to spread the cards out on the table in a stacked tier formation that would have made a Vegas poker dealer proud.
Kaiba took the bait and inspected the cards laid out before him. "Just as I suspected, you had no monsters in your deck. It had nothing but magic and trap cards in it." As he examined the contents of the deck he started to see patterns. She was able to find cards that were able to block every move her opponent made. With a set like that, you could predict and eliminate any card played against you. It was perfect. Then the realization hit him; 'She changed her card set. What could she have come up with that was better than this?'
"It's so simple." He tried to downplay his discovery.
"The way I see it, the game is nothing but probability and statistics. You just have to figure out the right ratios. What is the probability of someone having certain types of cards, then what levels and effects. Then you can round it all off with the unknown factor, which is what cards they prefer to play. Most of the time you can tell that by their personalities. I've written a mathematical equation explaining it all if you'd like to see it sometime."
Kaiba was becoming more impressed by the minute, but he didn't want her to know that. "Your only flaw is your lack of monster cards. Without even one defense monster you leave yourself open for attack."
"I realized that, but there was a reason I didn't add any monsters." Kaiba just looked at her, waiting for her explanation. "I didn't find any I liked."
"I didn't realize 'liking' monsters was a prerequisite for this game." Kaiba retorted.
"I think 'liking' monsters has a lot to do with it. Otherwise, you're not as passionate about playing. Everyone has a favorite card."
"And which card is your favorite?" Kaiba was trying to pick her brain; he wanted to know what made her tick.
"I really liked that Blue Eyes White Dragon, but I found out that there are only three and that one guy owns them all." Anna said in the most satirical voice she could muster.
"Is that why you challenged me? To get one of my Blue Eyes?" Kaiba was becoming suspicious of her motives.
"You were the one staring at me. I didn't know you; you were just some guy."
"And now that you know?"
"I'm still going to beat you." Anna smiled at him.
"Then lets put it to the test." With that Kaiba stood up. Anna copied him. She was glad she wore her two-inch heels, that way she was the same height as him. A little intimidation never hurt. They walked to opposite ends of the flat dueling arena. Kaiba approached a panel on the wall, punched in a code, and the panel opened to reveal a Duel Disc and his deck. Anna was less ceremonious; she pulled her Duel Disc and second deck out of the bag she always carried. Attached to their arms the Duel Discs swung open, activating the holographic systems. With the addition of their decks, the game was on.
Anna: LP 4000
Kaiba: LP 4000
"Ladies first." Kaiba announced over the field.
"That would be a compliment if I were a lady." Anna smirked at him and drew her cards. "I play one card in face down defense position, and I set three cards. I end this round."
"So, you decided to use monster cards after all." Kaiba commented. He drew a card. "I summon La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp in attack position." A: 1800 D: 1000. "La Jinn attack her face down monster!" La Jinn's attack reveals and destroys Shining Angel A: 1400 D: 800. "I place one card and end my turn."
"Due to the effect of Shining Angel I can pull one card with an attack of 1500 or less from my deck and special summon it to the field. I choose Y-Dragon Head." The Duel Disc spits out the card and Anna placed it in the monster field. Y-Dragon Head A: 1500 D: 1600. "I will remove one light card from my graveyard to special summon Soul of Purity and Light." Shining Angel is removed from play and Soul of Purity and Light A: 2000 D: 1800 appears on the field. "I'm not done just yet. I place one monster face down on the field. I activate my battle phase. Soul of Purity and Light destroy La Jinn the Mystical Genie of the Lamp." Soul of Purity and Light attacks and destroys La Jinn inflicting 200 points of damage to Kaiba. "Now, Y-Dragon Head attack his life points directly." Y-Dragon Head's aim is true and Kaiba loses another 1500 life points.
Kaiba: LP 2300
Anna: LP 4000
"Not bad," Kaiba snorted. "But I know where you are going. Activate spell card Dark Hole; destroy all the monsters on the field!" The holographic card turned into a black hole and began vacuuming up air and debris, only to be cut short by a red light and purple smoke.
"Activate Magic Jammer." Anna stared him down. She wasn't going to be taken that easily.
Kaiba was angry that his card was thwarted, but he had other ideas. I place one monster in defense position, and set two cards. End my turn."
Anna studied him for a minute, wondering if he had figured out her plan. She selected a card from her hand and placed it in the Duel Disc. "I activate the trap card Two Pronged Attack. I sacrifice Soul of Purity and Light and my face down card Witch of the Black Forest to destroy your only monster." Kaiba's monster broke into a thousand pieces and disappeared off of the field. "Due to the effect of Witch of the Black Forest I can pull one card with a defense of 1500 or less to my hand. I select Z-Metal Tank, and I will summon it in attack position." The Duel Disc slid the chosen card out of the dispenser. "I'll take it easy on you; I won't attack this round."
That's not what Kaiba wanted to hear. His two face down cards were defense traps, she had to attack in order for him to activate them.
"But before I end this round, I will play this." Anna slid a magic card into the slot in the Duel Disc. "D.D. Borderline, as long as there are no spell cards in my graveyard; neither player can conduct their battle phase. I end my turn."
'What is she playing at?' Kaiba pondered to himself. 'She could have attacked and won in that round. Unless she somehow knew what my face down cards were. But how could she? More likely, she is afraid of what she can't see. And with D.D. Borderline on the field she has the luxury of time to pull the third piece she needs to complete her XYZ Dragon Cannon. There is only one monster in my deck capable of defeating an XYZ Dragon Cannon, and she wants one.'
Kaiba drew his next card. "I place one monster in defense position. End my turn."
Anna drew her card; she barely glanced at it. "I end this round."
She was biding her time and he knew it. He drew a card. " I summon another monster in defense position. End my turn."
Anna drew again. "I end my turn."
Kaiba drew a card; he was wondering what she had planned. As if she could read his thoughts, she answered his question.
"How much longer are you going to keep me waiting?" Anna flashed him a smile. "You've had the card in your hand since the first round. Why don't you summon it?"
"How do you know what is my hand?" Kaiba was beginning to suspect her of cheating.
"Statistics. What is the ratio of pulling one of three identical cards out of a forty-card set?" Anna explained. "Plus, any good poker player can recognize their opponent's 'tell'. Yours is pretty obvious."
"You want to see it?"
Anna nodded; "do I have to say pretty please with sugar on top?"
"Then it will be your doom." He knew he could be walking into her trap, but he didn't care. He was going to destroy her with the card she wanted. "I tribute the two monsters on the field to summon my Blue Eyes White Dragon." The shining dragon materialized on the field in front of him, only to be instantly destroyed. The shock tore the breath out of him. His eyes caught side of the card she played, Trap Hole. "Why?! You didn't even get a chance to see it. I thought that was what you wanted." Kaiba was enraged.
"You can't look into the eyes of God without going blind."
"That makes absolutely no sense." Kaiba retorted. Anna just smiled at him. Kaiba placed one more card and ended his turn.
Anna drew a card and then played one from her hand. "Harpy Feather Duster" and instantly all of Kaiba's defense traps were gone. He was completely vulnerable. "Once Harpy Feather Duster goes into the graveyard the effect of D.D. Borderline ends." With that D.D. Borderline was destroyed. Anna gestured with her hand, "activate spell card on the field Monster Reborn. And I chose to revive the Blue Eyes White Dragon."
Kaiba's eyes almost popped out of his head. She was going to defeat him with his own Blue Eyes.
"Blue Eyes White Dragon, direct attack!" The Blue Eyes only took a moment to build up enough power before bombarding its master with a beam of blinding light. Kaiba tried to shield himself, but the force of the blast still pushed him back and knocked the wind out of him. No one had ever used a Blue Eyes against him before, and he shuddered for a second when he realized what she had done.
Kaiba: LP 0
Anna: LP 4000
As the smoke cleared he tried to compose himself, but he didn't expect what he saw on the other end of the field. The duel was over, but the Blue Eyes was still there. And more curious was what it did next. Anna moved onto the playing field and around the side of the Blue Eyes, she wanted to get a better look. The Blue Eyes caught a glimpse of her and turned to face her. It lowered its head so that it was eye level with her. Kaiba could see the subtle strings of Anna's hair sway with the Blue Eyes' breath. Then she reached out her hand and touched it. It reacted to her touch; first closing it's eyes, then giving her a gentle nudge that sent her back a step. And just a quickly has it appeared, it dissolved into thin air. Anna just stood there and grinned.
"That is one cool card!" Was all Anna could think to say.
"How did you do that?" Kaiba demanded as he marched across the field.
"Do what?" Anna was surprised by the question.
"Touch it? It's a hologram, you can't touch it."
"Why not? The force from monster attacks can be felt by the player, why can't you touch the images?"
"Because I programmed the attack force to be experienced, but I did not program the characters to be tactile." Kaiba was steaming now.
"Have you ever tried to touch them?"
The question caught Kaiba off guard, and he didn't want to answer her, so he changed the subject. "You planned all of this didn't you? Planned every move just so you could take my Blue Eyes?"
"Sorry, I had to see one."
"And what would you have done if I didn't summon it?"
"I would have beaten you in the next round with my XYZ Dragon Cannon. There was no need to drag things out."
Kaiba glared at her. He was trying to figure out what to do with her. Was she a worthy opponent, or merely an annoyance? Friend or foe? Mostly he was angry.
Anna could read him like a book. "Well, I think I have sufficiently pissed you off. And that is my clue to take my leave." She walked to the edge of the field and picked up her discarded bag. Placing her Duel Disc and deck inside it she headed for the door. She stopped next to him, "Thank you for an interesting evening. I'm sorry if I made you mad." Then she continued her journey. But before she could reach the door a voice came trailing after her.
"Do you play chess?"
Anna turned around. He was in the same spot with his arms crossed; he wasn't even looking at her. "I love chess, but I can never find anyone to play with." Was Anna's response.
"Then we will play chess on Thursday."
"You automatically expect me to have free time on Thursday?"
"Make time." Kaiba demanded.
Anna chuckled at him. "I may have time. But then, I may not. We'll see." And she turned and left.
Kaiba hadn't been this frustrated in a long time. Yes, he was upset when he lost at Battle City, but this woman down right infuriated him. Was she really that smart, or was it a trick. And what were her real intentions. He was going to find out, no matter what it took.
He walked over to the panel in the wall and returned his Duel Disc to its holder. He pressed the call button beside the panel.
"Yes sir." Said the voice on the other end.
"I want a full diagnostic done on this system, and I want it done tonight. Report any abnormalities to me at once."
"Yes sir."
'This is one big game to her, and I refuse to lose.'