I repeat: writing rolls are fun!
Demon Fan: …Um… ok, that totally confused me. –Hits head against desk multiple times- I think I lost less brain cells from doing that then trying to decipher everything you just said. –Collapses with dizzy eyes-
Captain Obvious: It looks like you got it… wait…Kuribo just used Sub-Space Matter Transfer Device to remove itself from play… is this thing unstoppable or something?
Chapter 10: Trial of Humanity: Zack
The room that Zack had appeared in was one of the plainest ones he had ever set his sight on. It was completely bare, leaving every steel side visible. The only thing that broke the monotony of the room was something that caused Zack to instantly bring out his switchblade.
Before the hallway that led out of the room there stood one of Vlad's mechanical soldiers. It made no threatening movements, but Zack was not reassured. He glanced around the room again and walked up to the soldier.
As he got near, the soldier suddenly raised his arms. "You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back."
Zack halted, intrigued by what the soldier had done. "I didn't know that they could talk…"
"You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back," the soldier repeated.
"Is that the only thing you can say?" Zack inquired.
"You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back."
"It seems that way…" Zack muttered.
"You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back."
"…This was once a human," Zack said. "Yet now… you would never be able to tell. He or she is like a robot now…"
"You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back."
"…I almost became like this," Zack realized. "I wanted nothing more than to lose my memories, and my emotions… so that I could be in the closest state to death that I could reach…"
"You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back."
"…I nearly… turned into… a machine," Zack said softly. "That was what I had wanted at the time. But now… I can see what folly that was."
"You are not allowed beyond this point. Please turn back."
Zack faced the soldier again, his switchblade still out. "If I had become like that, I would have wanted to die more than ever. Perhaps, if you do, your soul will finally be free…" He suddenly lunged. The soldier reacted, trying to get out of the way, but Zack had been swift and accurate. His switchblade went into the back of the soldier's neck, destroying its vital circuits. The soldier collapsed, lifelessly hitting the ground.
"I am sorry… but it was the only way. Rest in peace," Zack murmured. Then he went into the hall.
It was rather short, and he soon arrived in the next room. As he stepped in, he was suddenly blinded by a multitude of colored lights all activating in the room.
"What is this supposed to be?" Zack said, wincing at the dizzying patterns. "It's so much more confusing in here than the other room…" That caused him to halt. "The other room must have represented what I wanted to be. This is what I am like… currently…" He strained to see beyond the lights. "With so many emotions and thoughts, I often find myself… confused… and lost… still… that is preferable to what I was striving to be." Zack shook his head. "It is regretful that it took me so long to realize that. But I know now… never again will I want to be without my soul…"
As he said that, the lights began to dim, and he could see the center of the room. There was a glass case, with a heart inside it. It had been still, but now it began to pulse. The case vanished, becoming a portal of darkness.
"I suppose I passed this first part," Zack said. "But now…" He hesitated, and then said, "I must go on, no matter what lays in front of me." Then he entered.
He found himself in an all-too-familiar location. It was the same room in the base that they had seen when searching for Vlad. He had recognized it then, and his suspicions were confirmed when he saw who was in the room. One person was a man in a lab coat, while the other was lying on the examining table, clasps pinning him down.
"…That's me…" Zack whispered as his other self opened his eyes, looking around in confusion.
"…W-what? Where… where am I?" that Zack managed to say.
The man in the lab coat glanced over at him, seeming startled. Then he ran out of the room, yelling something that Zack could not hear.
A few moments later, another scientist came in. He seemed older than the previous one, with black hair going gray, a beard, and brown eyes.
"So, you have finally awakened!" the scientist said, obviously pleased.
"What happened? I thought I had died…" Zack said.
"You did," the scientist replied. "But we brought you back to life. You are the first successful cyborg we have made."
"A… cyborg?" Zack said in bewilderment.
"Yes. Look at your hand… it used to be cut to the point of being unable to work, but we replaced it," the scientist said.
The Zack on the table glanced down at his hand, seeing the metal that encased it. "But how is this possible?"
"Technology has much improved," the scientist stated. "That, and a few other things… but the point is, you are alive once more."
"…But I died for a reason," Zack said softly. "I killed myself… I don't want to be in this world anymore…"
"By all means, you may try to slay yourself again," the scientist said, pressing a button on the table. The metal clasps clicked open. "In your left arm, there is a switchblade. Bring it out and cut into the back of your neck. Since you don't have a heart anymore, and because your body is very well protected, the back of your neck is your vital point."
Zack hesitated, and then sat up and tried to lift his left arm. Suddenly, blue electricity coursed through his entire body. Zack was forced back onto the table, wincing in pain as the electricity lingered.
"It worked!" the scientist exclaimed, smiling in delight. "I was concerned for a moment that it would not."
"What… was that?" Zack managed to say as the electricity faded away.
"I put a device in you that prevents suicide," the scientist explained. "That is one reason I wished to experiment on you. I knew it would allow me to test it. The other reasons were because you were naturally strong, and I was allowed to take your body."
"So I… can't die?" Zack said.
"Oh, you can die. That is very possible. But you cannot kill yourself, and you cannot do anything such as just stand there while someone tries to slay you. You'd fight back instantly," the scientist told him. "You will also have to have your parts updated and such. Otherwise, you have the potential to live forever."
"…What right do you have to do this?" Zack asked.
"I may not have any. But face the facts," the scientist said. "You murdered several people. You would have been a wanted criminal. This way, you never have to worry about such a thing. If you report what has been done to you, I am afraid they will only be concerned about what you have done before."
Zack stared at him for a moment, and then closed his eyes. "…I have nothing more to say."
"That is fine. We will discuss what is to happen to you later." The scientist pressed the button again, causing the clasps to close again. "Until then, consider what you are to do." Then he left.
The real Zack watched as his counterpart vanished. "I am surprised that this was my worst memory. I thought… it would be killing Andrew… But it seems I was wrong." He paused, and then said, "Although I didn't show it… I was filled with despair upon this news. The possibility of living forever, and being unable to prevent it… I was already tired of living. I was ungrateful for this second opportunity. But now… I cannot help but be grateful. If I had died… I would never have learned what I did… nor met these friends I now have… and Larka." Zack smiled slightly. "There is no point on fretting over a disappointing past when I have a fulfilling future."
"You are sure on this?"
"Very," Zack said, unsurprised by his reflection's sudden arrival. "So shall we cut to the chase?"
"That is fine with me." A Duel Disk appeared on his right arm.
Zack: 8000
Dark Zack: 8000
"I start then? I'll place a monster in defense mode and a card face down," Zack stated.
"My starting move will be to summon KA-2 Death Scissors. (1000/1000) Then I equip it with 7 Card. (1700/1000) It attacks," Dark Zack said.
The demented mechanical crab cut up Zack's face down Cyber Raider (1400/1000) to shreds. When it was done, it suddenly flew at Zack, stabbing him four times.
Zack: 6000
Dark Zack: 8000
"Its effect…" Zack said, wincing from the wounds.
"That is right. Your level four monster caused you to lose 2000 Life Points. I lay one card down; take your turn," Dark Zack commanded.
Although the Scissors had been damaging, Zack was not concerned with them. "I'll summon Magic Reflector Reflect Bounder. (1700/1000) Then I activate Raremetal Conversion, Magic Reflex Armor, and choose to use it on Reflect Bounder! (2200/1000) It attacks your KA-2 Death Scissors!"
Zack: 6000
Dark Zack: 7500
"I lay one more card down before ending," Zack said.
"I believe this would be the easiest way to dispose of your Reflect Bounder," Dark Zack stated. "I summon Roulette Bomber (1000/2000) and use its effect." Two dice landed on the field, rolling for a few seconds until halting. "A one and a four. I'll use the four to destroy Reflect Bounder. Then I attack directly with Roulette Bomber."
The turret instantly shot Zack, causing him to stagger back from the force of the blow.
Zack: 5000
Dark Zack: 7500
"I am done."
Zack saw a quite nice combo in his hand that he planned on utilizing. "I summon Drillago! (1600/1100) Then I activate Limiter Removal!"
"In response, I activate Magic Jammer," Dark Zack stated. Underneath the Drillago that was being powered up, a pentagram appeared. "I discard Air Guard Gear Golem for the cost."
"I counter with Bandit's Swiss Army Knife!" Zack said. The knife appeared in Zack's hand. Knowing instinctively what to do with it, he slashed his right arm, and then stabbed the bloody knife into the pentagram. The pentagram broke apart and faded away, along with the knife. "My Drillago is still powered up!" (3200/1100)
Zack: 4000
Dark Zack: 7500
"Drillago now attacks Roulette Bomber!"
Zack: 4000
Dark Zack: 5300
"I lay a card down and end my turn," Zack said. Now he had one card in his hand. Drillago exploded due to the effects of Limiter Removal, leaving him with no monsters either. It seemed like a bad situation, but Zack was confident that he would draw something useful next turn.
"Not bad. But now you have left yourself wide open," Dark Zack told him. "I play Early Burial to bring back Roulette Bomber."
Zack: 4000
Dark Zack: 4500
"Then I sacrifice Roulette Bomber for Machine King! (2300/2000) He attacks you directly!"
The Machine King's arms flew out, rocketing into Zack. They sent him crashing into the wall close behind him, where he barely managed to remain standing.
Zack: 1700
Dark Zack: 4500
"That is all for me," Dark Zack said.
Zack had not expected his counterpart to bring out a monster that required a sacrifice. Luckily for him, his next card was indeed useful. "I play my own Early Burial, for Drillago!"
Zack: 900
Dark Zack: 4500
"Then I sacrifice Drillago for Immense Battleship Big Core! (2300/1100) I am done."
"Not going to attack?" Dark Zack inquired.
"Of course not. Your Machine King was powered up by me summoning another Machine Sub-Type." (2400/2000)
"Indeed it was. I attack Big Core with Machine King and end my turn."
This time, the Big Core took the blunt of the blow. But some of the energy from the resulting explosion of the arms hitting Big Core's shield connected with Zack, burning him slightly.
Zack: 800
Dark Zack: 4500
"…I pass," Zack said, looking at his new card.
"I attack your Big Core again! That's all."
Zack: 700
Dark Zack: 4500
Zack knew this was a risky move; if he didn't get the card he wanted to next turn, he would be dead. But there wasn't much other choice at this point. "I lay one monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"Machine King attacks it!" Dark Zack said.
"It's my Cannon Soldier," Zack stated. "In response to you destroying it in battle, I activate Time Machine to bring it back."
"Fine," Dark Zack shrugged. "Your turn."
Zack sighed in relief when he saw what he had drawn. "I summon Drillago, and play my own 7 Card on Big Core! (3000/1100) Your Machine King, even if it is powered up, cannot stand against this. (2600/2000) Big Core attacks! Then Drillago and Cannon Soldier do as well!"
Zack: 700
Dark Zack: 1100
"Then I use Cannon Soldier to sacrifice Drillago, Big Core, and himself!" Zack declared. The two monsters turned into energy, entering Cannon Soldier. The Cannon Soldier blasted Dark Zack twice with the energy. Then he became energy too and launched himself at Dark Zack, tearing him apart.
Zack: 700
Dark Zack: 0
"I've failed…" Dark Zack muttered as he vanished.
Zack could tell that he was in a very bad condition from the duel. But there was not much he could do about it now. He waited as the darkness consumed him, hoping to get through the next area as quickly as he could.
The next area that Zack found himself in seemed to be a factory. He could see several conveyer belts with mechanical objects on them. He was on a high platform above all of them though, so making out the details below were hard. It was nearly impossible to see much else.
"Whoa! Where did you come from?"
Zack looked behind him to see a boy staring at him. Zack could not see what he looked like; he was out of focus. But he got the feeling the boy was not hostile.
"A far away place," Zack stated. "That should not be your concern though. What are you doing in this location?"
"I don't know. Just thinking, I guess," the boy said, going and putting his arms on railing that encircled the platform.
"About what?" Zack inquired.
"…Well…" The boy sighed. "I just recently turned thirteen, so I'm finally able to come to Teknisk Wereld. I was looking so forward to this… my three friends, who are all older than me, even waited for me to turn thirteen before they signed up. I was excited… but…"
"Did something go wrong?" Zack asked when the boy said nothing else.
"…In a way," the boy replied. "I was traveling with my three friends and someone else I know for some time, just hoping to have some fun. But now we've been thrown together with three people we barely know, and are fighting for our lives. It's changed them all in certain ways… I'm not sure I even know who they are anymore."
"They are maturing," Zack assumed.
"You could put it that way," the boy agreed. "But I feel the same as always… except that I'm confused. Very confused. What's right and what's wrong? Who can I trust? Am I strong enough to support my friends?" The boy looked down at the conveyer belts. "I don't know what to think…"
"Your life has gone through a very dramatic change," Zack stated. "You have every right to have doubts."
"But what should I do about them?" the boy asked.
"…Your mind may not know what to do, but your heart will," Zack said.
"What? Am I really supposed to be listening to a cheesy anime cliché like that?" the boy said doubtfully.
"It may seem like a meaningless statement to you, but that is the truth," Zack told him. "Your rational side will tell you to go one way while your emotional side wants to take another path. Although it is important to listen to that rational side, you cannot neglect your emotional one. For decisions such as what is right or wrong, believe what your heart says."
"But what if I can't tell what it is saying?" the boy said.
"That is something time will develop," Zack stated. "I cannot help you with it. You are the only one who can do that."
"…All right," the boy said. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Good." Zack glanced at the boy again. "You remind me of a friend of mine."
"Really?" the boy asked.
"Yes. He had problems sorting out his emotions as well. But he has finally learned what he needs to. You will too," Zack assured.
"I hope so…" the boy said. "Thanks, Zack."
As the factory became engulfed with darkness, Zack caught a glimpse of what the boy looked like. He smiled to himself.
Heh… how interesting…
…
"Zack!" Larka exclaimed, running over to him as he came out of the mirror. "What happened?"
Wondering why Larka seemed so concerned, Zack glanced at himself. The many wounds covering his body reminded him of what happened. "My Life Points went dangerously close to hitting zero in the duel I had."
"You look like you're about to collapse!" Larka said worriedly.
"It's all right… we only have one more trial to go through. Hopefully, we will all be able to heal after that," Zack said, trying to reassure her.
"Hopefully," Larka agreed.
"Oh geez, it's the Wizard of Oz all over again," Miles groaned.
They turned back to the mirror to see the image of a heart appear on it.
"What? You're saying Zack is the Scarecrow?" Rue said in confusion.
Draken smacked him lightly over the head. "The Tin Man, you dolt."
"I knew that," Rue muttered, taking off his hat and rubbing his head. Zack just shook his head at it all.
"Three guesses on who goes next," Miles said as they looked at the final mirror. They could already see Hope's reflection looking back at them.
"Why does Hope always go last?" Neo wondered.
"The world may never know," Gen said.
"…Hope… be cautious," Max said. "You've been having problems lately, and since you're the last one to go… well…"
"Don't worry," Hope said, smiling at him. "I'll be out as soon as I can. Everyone else got through fine; why not me?"
"Everyone but Brandi," Miles muttered underneath his breath. Luckily for him, Max did not hear that.
"Be careful in there," Gaston said.
"I will." Hope gave them all one last glance before going in.
…
"Ouch. Looks like Zack went through the mill," Amy commented as he came out.
"But he still seems to have passed," Claire stated. "That only leaves one more person…"
"Hope," Amy said as her half-sister entered the mirror. "I'm worried, to be honest…"
"Good. It shows you care about her," Aya told her.
"That's true," Amy agreed, looking somewhat happier at that.
"…It is what happens after this that will truly matter," Sarius stated. "Whether Hope passes or not… that might play a big role in it."
To be continued…