(Milleniumon: Now it's time for the next chap. Mewlon: We don't own Yugioh, or Final Fantasy 7. M&M: Now for the journey to Sector 5!)
CHAPTER 4
The next morning Yugi woke up from a bed in the HQ. Looking out the window, one couldn't tell if it was morning or evening. Yugi had remembered what Joey had told him about the upper level of the city. Yawning, he sat up, still in his uniform and took the elevator to the main floor. When he reached the top and found himself in the bar, he found Mai and Joey waiting for him, both straightening their hair and clothes out.
Yugi smirked as he noticed that Joey had a few lipstick kiss marks all over his neck, and Mai was straightening her skirt out. 'I bet I can guess what they did last night, and what they did this morning,' he thought, trying not to laugh. From the corner of her eye, Mai had managed to see Yugi walking towards them. As she finished straightening her skirt, the blonde vixen walked over towards the Ex-Soldier.
"Good Morning Yugi. Sleep well?" Said Mai looked at Yugi, with a sweet smile.
Yugi sighed. "Joey's snoring kept me up." This earned him a death glare from the gun-armed youth.
Mai giggled but whispered to him. "Don't tease him too much. He always gets edgy before a big mission." In her normal voice, she told him, "I'm going along with you all this time."
Yugi smiled. "Awesome, now I can see your new fighting techniques in action."
If there was something Yugi had remembered about Mai, it was that she was a huge martial artist freak. Ever since she was quite young, Mai had been taking lessons with the local martial artist master back in their old home. One time, a fat kid made his way towards Mai and called her an ugly harpy. If there was something Mai couldn't stand, it was somebody calling her ugly. Without hesitation, the blonde woman let out a terrifying rain of punches. After that flashback he walked over to Joey, who gave him a briefing on their mission.
"Our next target's the Sector 5 Reactor, but head for the station first." Spoke Joey as he looked at his crew members. "I'll fill you in on the train. Yo! Yugi! Before the next mission, I got somethin' I wanna ask you!"
"What is it?" Yugi asked as he looked at the blonde gun man.
Joey's face turned a light shade of crimson. "I, uh, ...I don't really know how to use Materia! I'll give you that Materia you found. Just teach me how to use it!"
'NOW he comes to me for help…' The tricolor haired youth thought as he let out a sigh."Alright, I'll explain Materia to you. Materia, of course, are the orbs that contain magic that comes from Mako energy. Humans can use Materia if they can attach it to their weapons. Look here."
Yugi lifted his Buster Sword over to Joey. Moving the blade out of the way, Yugi was able to show him empty slots engraved close to the hilt. "See? This is the slots in which you can put in Materia. Your gun arm has slots as well and you can put in the Materia. To summon the magic from the Materia, however, requires a lot of concentration. Usually you'll have to feel the energy from the Materia and transfer it into your body."
When the explanation was through, Joey wore a face of disbelief. "Shi...! What's this? It wasn't that tough! Crap!" He exclaimed at first, but trailed off, and hung his head, his eyes on the floor. "I'm clueless..." He said, defeated. "Well, you handle the Materia then!"
Mai giggled, shaking her head. 'Oh Joey…' she thought, 'you are such a dork. But at least it makes you look cute. Oh well…' Mai turned from looking at Joey to looking at Yugi. The young swordsman had looked determined and unafraid. Not once did he ever look scared in his life. 'Yugi…not once did you ever break face. Not even when…that time happened. Even now, I shake in my terror.'
"Yugi! I got a message from the Weapons Shop man upstairs. He has something he wants to give you. Don't forget!" She turned to Rebecca, who was behind the bar, mixing drinks, and playing bartender. "Rebecca, you watch the store while we're gone!"
"All right! Good Luck." Rebecca chirps waving goodbye to her friends.
Yugi took Joey and Mai with him as he walked out of 7th Heaven. Remembering Mai's message, Yugi made a quick stop to the weapon store, and climbed up to the top floor of the weapon shop. When he stepped inside, the owner of the shop was leaning against the crates inside of the warehouse waiting, with a big chest in front of him.
"You wanted to see me?" Yugi asked.
"Take some of these with you on your journey. You might find some weapons, items and Materia not just in shops, but also lying around the slums, reactors, and towns."
The owner of the store then went to the back of his counter and began to look for something. Tons of boxes were placed before him and yet none of them were the right one that he wanted to move. His daughter, who was close to the boxes, was being bullied by two boys. After a while of being bullied, the girl then grew angry and pushed the boys off.
"Here!" Let out the owner as he pushed the trunk towards the youth. He paused, thinking for a moment. "But then again, you probably already know about treasure chests, and hidden weapons/items/Materia, seeing as how you were in Soldier."
"Well, thanks anyway." Yugi said as he opened the chest, finding an "All" Combine Materia, a magic replenishing ether, and ten combat grenades. "Thanks for the items buddy, and we'll make good use of them."
Yugi and his party made sure to stock up outfit themselves with items, weapons, and Materia, before they set out. As Yugi began to leave the Sector 7 slums with Joey and Mai, he noticed a small crowd gathered around the exit of the slums. Looking through the crowd, he recognized the person who they were facing.
It was Johnny, an old friend of his, and Mai's from their hometown. Yugi remembered that he was also from Soldier, but had quit, just like Yugi. Now, he had been busy making plans to leave Midgar and start a new life. Of course what plans he was making for a new life were as cryptic as he was at times. All three Avalanche members approached the crowd.
"Well this is it! I'm leaving the slums for a new life, but I won't forget you all!" Johnny said, getting slightly choked up as his friends all said their goodbyes. He the noticed Yugi, Mai, and Joey and called over. "Hey Yugi! Joey! You guys take good care of Mai! You hear?"
Yugi and Joey nodded in response. "Don't worry she's in good hands." Joey smirked pulling Mai towards him, pecking her on the cheek, earning a giggle from her.
Johnny smiled, nostalgically. "Well, goodbye everyone!" Taking up his suitcases, Johnny ran out of the slums, over to the Sector 7 train station.
'Good luck Johnny, I hope your new life is a good one.' Mai thought to herself, sighing inwardly. 'I wish I was able to do that….'
Yugi watched his old friend go, before reminding himself that he and the gang needed to go to the station themselves. They ran out of the slums, going past the junkyard, where the strange man was absent from, much to Yugi's relief. They ran to the Sector 7 Train Station, where Rex, Weevil, and Miho were waiting. Seeing, Mai, Joey and Yugi running towards them the other trio piled into the train themselves, before Yugi and company ran in.
Once all of the passengers were all in the train, the conductor then took out a small whistle and blew into it. The train began to move slowly once the doors had closed in to connect the cars. Inside Yugi's party met up with Rex, Weevil, and Miho. The three members were gazing around the train, making sure that there was nothing suspicious about the train itself.
The nice tranquility of the train's silence was almost relaxing to all the members as well as the other passengers upon the train. All of a sudden Joey's sudden, wild entrance scared almost all the passengers to the other car. One woman let out a sudden scream to see such crazy and wild man appear. Yugi's chain of relaxing thoughts was disrupted all at once. 'Does he have to be so loud?' The swordsman asked himself.
"YO! Looks like this ain't no private car! So split up!" He bellowed to the others.
The red suited man from the last train ride was there in the car, cursing his luck. "...Hoodlums again. God, don't I just have all the luck..." He grumbled, taking his seat, as he watched Avalanche scatter into the train.
Joey was about to go into the next car when he caught wind of what the red suited man had said. Upon hearing this grumbling, the blonde warrior thought that it was something rather insulting to him. Clenching his only fist, Joey looked around to see who was saying that.
"You say sumthin'?" Joey demanded as he waited for an answer. When no answer came by, he felt irritated. "I said, 'you say sumthin'?" He asked again, irritated. He then noticed the red suited man, being the only non-Avalanche member in the car, and stood in front of him. "Yo, look at that! It got empty alluva sudden. What's goin' on?"
The man looked up to see Joey towering over him. "DAMN!" He exclaimed. "I...it's empty because of... g, guys like you..." He said nervously.
'Guys like me? What is that supposed to mean?' Joey thought as he felt that each word had hurt him deeply. Taking his arms, he pounded the seat near the red suited man in an angry rage. Upon hitting the seat, the red suited man now cowered even more from the sight of the blonde gun man.
"Y, Y, YIPES!" The man was quite scared now. "You... you've seen the news, right? AVALANCHE says there'll be more bombings. Only devoted employees like me would go to Midgar on a day like today."
Joey's eyes flashed as he realized who this man was working for. "You workin' for Kaiba Corp!" He asked threateningly.
The Kaiba Corp. Manager cowered fearfully. "I'm won't give in to violence... and I'm not giving you my seat either!"
"You know, it's scum bags like you that keep treating the common people like me and the rest of us like trash. I otta blast ya for being such an asshole working for Kaiba Corp!" Joey raised his arm gun at the employee and cocked the barrel of it. Aiming for his head, Joey's eyes flared with still that anger rage that grew in him.
"Oh dear God! Please help me!" The employee shouted as he ducked his head to protect him from the gun.
Mai had been a bit curious about why Joey had been lagging behind once he told them to scatter. Upon hearing a loud whimper, the blonde martial artist rushed over to where it came from. Looking over, she could scout Joey holding his gun hand in front of a man in a red suit. Mai quickly ran over to stop Joey from doing something drastic.
"Joey!" She scolded her beau.
"#($! You lucky #$(!" Joey swore at the man, but didn't hurt him, for Mai's sake.
Yugi, wanting to end the awkward moment, tried to change the subject. "So, what are we gonna do now?"
"Shit! The hell you so calm about?" Joey chewed Yugi out. "You're bustin' up my rhythm..."
Yugi just looked at Joey with an odd look on his face. 'Rhythm? What rhythm?' The swordsman thought as he just looked down at the blonde gun man. Knowing that pushing the subject will be further anger Joey, Yugi remained silent and hoped for someone to disrupt the silence. Soon, a loud sound had emerged from the train and began to move.
"It seems like they just finished connecting the cars." Mai mused to break the frustrating atmosphere. "We're finally leaving."
"So what's our next target?" Yugi asked.
"Hah! Listen to Mr. Serious-about-his-work!" Joey jeered at Yugi. Yugi was still not amused. "Awright... I'll tell ya! Miho's probably already told you, but there's a security checkpoint at the top plate. It's an ID scan system checkin' all the trains."
"Which Kaiba Corp. is very proud of." Mai added in.
"We can't use our fake ID's anymore..." Joey finished, sighing.
The conductor suddenly made his announcement on the train through the com speakers. "Good Morning, and welcome to Midgar lines. Arrival time at Sector Four Station will be 11:45."
"That means we've got only three more minutes to the ID checkpoint." Mai informed after the announcement was finished.
"Alright, in three minutes, we're jumpin' off this train. Got it?" Joey demanded, before sitting down.
Joey had crossed his leg over his other one and looked out the window of the train. Yugi nodded and sat down parallel from Joey. After a while of nothing, Mai had managed to look around and found the map. Gleefully, the blonde clicked on a few buttons.
"Yugi, come over here! Let's look at the Railway Map Monitor." Mai called over from the front of the car, near the same Railway Map Monitor Yugi looked at with Miho.
Yugi remembered that he had all ready seen the map before with Miho. Though Mai was his best friend, he knew he shouldn't turn her down and just said nothing. Judging by the look on Yugi's face, Mai could take a hint that Yugi had probably seen it before.
"Hmm, it looks like you've seen this already..." Mai spoke softly. Then a smile grew on her face. "It's all right. Come a little closer." She gave a teasing look, making Yugi blush.
Yugi couldn't help it, but Mai was certainly a looker. Of course anybody who's close to Mai would start to drool around her. Mai had managed to look through the map to check exactly where they were. Suddenly the emergency light flashed. The alarm was sounded off in the train causing the Avalanche members very nervous.
"That's odd." Spoke Mai as she looked at the alarms. "The ID Check Point was supposed to be further down."
Soon the conductor made an emergency announcement. "Type A Security Alert! Unidentified passengers confirmed... A search of all cars will be conducted! Repeat! Type A Security Alert! Unidentified passengers confirmed... A search of all cars will be conducted!"
"What's happening!" Mai asked with surprise.
"What's goin' on!" Joey barked at anyone to answer his question.
Miho suddenly burst into the car with a frantic look. "We're in trouble, I'll explain later. Hurry! Get to the next car!"
"$&! Someone blew it..." Joey grumbled as he slammed his gun hand upon the door.
"Unidentified passengers located in Car#1 preparing for Lock Down." The conductor warned.
"Let's go! Keep it up!" Joey told Yugi and Mai as they darted out of Car#1, and into Car#2.
The conductor made another warning. "Car#1: Locked Down Upgrading to Level 2 Warning."
"Hurry!" Rex yelled at Yugi and company.
"They're gonna lock the door, sir!" Weevil warned.
"Just run! Changing to Plan 2!" Miho told them as she, Weevil, and Rex ran from the car.
"Unidentified passengers located in Car#2 preparing for Lock Down." The conductor warned again, as Yugi's party ran from Car#2, and into Car#3.
"Car#2 Locked Down Upgrading to Warning Level 3." The conductor announced as the alarm and emergency lights shut off.
"Awright! We're clear!" Joey exclaimed.
Miho, however, shook her head. "Not yet. They're starting another check. If we're caught, we're done for! But, don't worry. If we move up the train, car by car, we should get past it!"
"Unidentified Passengers: Moving to front of Train Currently tracking location." The alarm and lights started up once more as Yugi, Joey and Mai hurried to Car#4.
"Car#4 Locked Down Upgrading to Level 4 Warning."
Yugi, Joey, and Mai then hurried to the front car before Car#4 locked down.
"Car#4 Locked Down Upgrading to maximum security alert!"
Yugi and company made it to the front of the train and collapse. All three members stood while trying to catch their breath. Of course, they couldn't stay long as the next alarm will start at any moment.
"All right! We made it!" Joey exclaimed heading to the front. He fumbled with the door, before cracking it open wide. "Yo! This way! Let's go! We're gonna dive outta here!"
Yugi noticed 3 people, including what looked like a Kaiba Corp soldier looking around suspiciously. Getting a closer look, he saw that the Kaiba Corp Soldier was Rex in disguise. The next two characters near the disguised Rex were none other then Miho and Weevil. Both giggled a bit as Yugi finally noticed them.
Mai turned to Yugi with a concerned look. "...Scary...huh?" She asked with surprise in her voice.
Yugi shook his head. "Too late to be saying that now. Why'd you come along anyway?"
"Because..." Mai began.
"Hey you two! There ain't no time for that!" Joey yelled.
Mai walked up to the open door way, and looked ready to jump. "Yeah! I've made up my mind! Watch closely. I'll jump!" Mai winked at Yugi, and blew a kiss to Joey before she jumped out of the train.
Yugi turned to Joey. "You don't care if I go first?" He asked.
Joey shook his head. "A leader always stays till the end. Don't worry 'bout me, just go!"
Yugi walked to the doorway and got ready, when Joey called out one last time.
"Yo! Don't go gettin' your spikey-ass hurt! It's only the beginnin' of the mission!"
Yugi glared at Joey as if to say, "don't talk to me as if I'm an idiot," before he jumped out of the train. Once he was clear, it was Joey's turn to jump out. Joey turned to Rex, Miho and Weevil as he was getting ready to leave.
"Later! You take care of the rest!" Spoke Joey as he took up his courage and jumped out.
Rex, Weevil, and Miho all sighed, putting their hands to their heads, as the train rolled on.
TO BE CONTINUED…
(Did Yugi and the gang make it out ok? Will they get to the Sector 5 reactor without fail? Find out, next time!)