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Fanfic Chapter 122: Joey's Day in Court Pt 1: The Dishonorable Judge Man
Episode Basis: Courtroom Chaos Pt 1
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Noah showed Kaiba and Mokuba the day Gozaburo brought them home from the orphanage and the hardships Seto had to endure by Gozaburo. The only thing that kept up his spirits was his Duel Monster cards and the dream that one day he would possess a real Blue-Eyes White Dragon card. Meanwhile, Yugi finally got through Noah's maze just in time to see Tea being pummeled with attack after attack from the deranged penguin Crump. Yugi hated himself for not being able to help Tea, she couldn't even hear him. With the Dark Magician Girl guiding her, Tea played the magic card the Sage's Stone. A miracle happened. Somehow the Dark Magician card was transported from Yugi's deck onto Tea's Duel Disk and together, the two magicians eradicated Crump. Yugi and Tea were reunited. I guess friendship is pretty powerful after all.
In his control room, Noah watched as Yugi and Tea were reunited. I should've known better than to hire the Big-5 for this important task, he thought. How could they be out-dueled when we're in a virtual world where I make the rules? Looks like it's time for me to step in.
"Excuse me, Master Noah."
"Not now, Johnson, I'm already ticked off as it is."
"Master Noah, on behalf of my colleagues, I'd just like to apologize for the humiliating defeats suffered by Gansley and Crump. I can assure you it won't happen again."
"You're right, Johnson, it won't happen again… because you're all fired… or should I say erased!" His hand settled on a button that would erase the Big-5 from Noah's virtual memory bank.
"Master Noah, please, wait a second, just hear me out," Johnson pleaded.
Noah's finger paused over the button.
Johnson continued, "You have every right to be upset, but I can guarantee that failures shall end now. I have been analyzing the dueling strategies of all the applicable Duelists and I've figured out a strategy that's guaranteed to succeed."
Noah sighed, "Oh very well, I'll give you another chance." He turned to the screen that showed Kaiba and Mokuba. It doesn't matter if those old fools win or not, I have who I really want right here.
"Kaiba Craft 3, do you read me? Kaiba Craft 3, come in! Roland, answer me!"
"No word, huh?" Mokuba asked Kaiba. "Noah must be trying to isolate us from outside contact."
"That won't stop me from trying," Kaiba said. Mokuba nodded.
"Hey Big-5, I'm all alone here, if you want to come get me, go ahead," Joey called out. Silence answered him. There wasn't even a creek of floorboards throughout the old mansion. Joey let out a growl of rage, "Am I the only one here?" He kicked the wall.
The wall crumbled before him revealing a large oak door.
"Oooh, a door. I wonder if I should knock… nah." Joey kicked the door open and stepped through to find himself back in the docking bay with the blimp. "Oh yeah, home free!" He ran inside but didn't see Yugi or the others. Actually, he didn't see anybody period. "Hello, is anyone here? Kevin? Ishizu? Anybody?" He stopped when he noticed an open door.
It was the door to Mai's room.
Joey ran inside and saw Mai lying comatose on the bed. For a moment, he gasped, and then recalled what happened.
"You've interfered with my plans for the last time, Pharaoh, now you and your little playmates will be punished!" Using the Millennium Rod, he held the two in the air. Yami-Yugi and Harold felt like they were choking, like they were being smothered.
"Yugi!"
"Harold!"
"I think that's enough punishment for one night," Yami-Marik said as he their bodies were thrown unceremoniously from the platform and landed on the ground near Kaiba. He turned to Joey and Mai.
"Stay away," Joey commanded standing between the evil Marik and Mai.
"I think you need some punishment too," Yami-Marik said as he used the ball end of the Rod to bat Joey off the platform.
"Joey!"
"Now for you, my dear, I'll be taking my card back. Penalty Game: Darkness Consumption!" Mai collapsed.
Hold on, Mai, Joey thought. I'll find some way to free you. You'll be dueling again in no time.
As Joey turned to leave, Mai's eyes opened and she sat up. Hearing the rustling of sheets, Joey turned around and almost fainted. "Mai, you're back! I can't believe it!"
"Well, Joseph, perhaps you shouldn't believe everything you see." The voice came from Mai but the voice wasn't Mai's voice. It was a deeper male voice.
Joey defensively took a step back, "Who are you? What the heck is going on here?"
Mai's form morphed into a man with a high forehead, glasses, and a three-piece suit. "I apologize for my rouse, my card." He handed Joey a business card. "Hubert Johnson, Attorney, former Chief Counsel for the Kaiba Corporation."
"How dare you try to impersonate my friend!" Joey shouted again.
"But I have a good reason to do it. You see, your presence is required at the trial of the century."
"What trial?"
"Why, the trial for the right to possess your body, of course. You see, as an experienced and cultured man, I could find many more purposeful uses for your body than you do right now. You currently are uneducated and unrefined. Don't you see, young Joseph? I'm taking you to court so I can win your body! A body is the key to escaping to the real world and since my old body was destroyed by Seto Kaiba, I need a new one. Your body would be a perfect fit for me to emerge anew and continue on my mission to…"
"Gyah!" Joey cried. "All this mumbo-jumbo is making me dizzy!"
"Then I'm doing my job."
"Talk is cheap, Johnson!"
"Care to repeat that under oath?"
"Say what?"
"Don't you get it, Joseph? You're being subpoenaed and a subpoena must be answered."
"I thought we were going to duel?"
"We are, to me dueling is like a trial. The arguments are made with Duel monster cards, and how convincing you are is made with the life points. I have won numerous cases by making convincing arguments, no matter what the truth is. So get ready, Joseph, because court is now in session!" The area around Joey transformed showing Joey that he was still in Noah's virtual world. It became a courtroom. Joey was standing at a center podium. Johnson appeared on the judge's bench. As the room formed, Johnson transformed into a burly troll. He pounded with his gavel, "The honorable Judge Man (1) presiding!"
"Man, just when I think he couldn't get any uglier," Joey complained.
"Silence!" Johnson commanded banging the table with his gavel. "We will conduct ourselves in a professional and respectful manner."
"Yeah, whatever."
"First, the court decrees choose your deck from Noah's virtual card database!" Cards began scrolling in front of Joey. I've researched your past duels so I know all the cards you're going to pick."
"So what, I'm still gonna pick them." Joey picked his deck. The deck assembled in his hand and Joey inserted it into his Duel Disk.
"Next, call your Deck Master to the stand beside you. Your Deck Master shall be like your attorney. Being an attorney myself, I will play both roles."
"That's easy too," Joey said. A man in blue and orange carrying a large orange-blade sword appeared. "Flame Swordsman's (2) been a pal to me from the get-go, and he'll be by my side this time."
"I shall serve you well," Flame Swordsman promised.
"And you can talk to boot, sweet. Okay, let's duel!"
(J: 4000)
(3: 4000)
A/N: One of Johnson's aliases is Big-3, and since he and Joey have the same first initial, I thought a '3' would clarify whose life points are whose.
"First I'll call my Hysteric Fairy (3) to the stand." A woman with short dark hair and designer glasses in a blue business suit and white wings appeared.
Joey shivered, "She reminds me of my third-grade teacher." He drew his sixth card and looked at his hand. The strongest monster I have in my hand is Gearfried the Iron Knight (4) and he has the same attack points as Johnson's fairy.
"Joey, I can help," Flame Swordsman said. "As your Deck Master, I can take my attack points and add them to another monster's."
"Perfect-o," Joey said. "I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight in attack mode! Next I'll activate my Deck Master's special ability taking 500 life points from him and adding it to my other knight."
(FS: 1800-1300)
(GIK: 1800-2300)
"Hit it, Gearfried!" The Iron Knight charged forward and used its arm blade to slice the fairy.
(J: 4000)
(3: 3500)
"Very impressive, you managed to master your Deck Master's special ability with your limited intelligence level. But this trial has just begun."
This guy needs a reality overhaul, Joey thought rolling his eyes.
"I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn."
"Yeah, you should be afraid," Joey said starting his turn. "I summon Little-Winguard (5) in attack mode. Next I'll use my Deck Master's ability again raising Little-Winguard's attack points by 300!"
(FS: 1300-1000)
(LW: 1400-1700)
"Little-Winguard, slice up that card!" A pair of wings briefly appeared before being cut to ribbons.
"Gearfried, attack him directly!" Gearfried leapt up and cut Johnson across the chest.
(J: 4000)
(3: 1200)
"Looks like this trial's going my way," Joey said smugly.
Keep telling your self that fool, Johnson thought. I've been deliberately letting you win. The only part of the trial that matters is the verdict, which will be in my favor. "You just destroyed my Skelengel which mandates that I draw one card. Now the prosecution calls Mystical Elf (6) to the stand in defense mode followed by exhibiting one face-down card."
Joey whistled in mock boredom.
"Enjoy your lead while you can, for soon you'll be charged with a lifetime of imprisonment in this virtual world while I'll be acquitted to the real world in your body."
"Yeah, yeah, sure, sure."
"I never want to see another ice block for as long as I live," Tea complained. "I'm freezing my… well… everything off."
"Me too," Yugi agreed. "Or at least wait for at least six months."
"Maybe we could ask Noah to drum up some virtual hot chocolate."
"And risks having him poison us?"
"G… good point, Yugi." Tea rubbed her arms trying to warm them. Yugi realized that Tea must've been really freezing, in a sleeveless blouse and shorts. Unlike him who had a jacket and jeans on. Tea finally crouched into a ball shivering. Yugi placed his jacket around Tea. "Thanks, you're a life saver."
"I'm glad you're all right, Tea, I only hope the others are faring just as well, especially Tristan and Serenity."
"I know Tristan can be a real hothead when it comes to dueling."
Tristan sneezed.
"Bless you," Serenity said.
"Gee, Tristan, I hope you're not coming down with a cold," Harold said sincerely.
"I'm fine," Tristan said though Harold and Serenity failed to notice his eyebrow twitching.
"As long as they stick with one of the others, they'll be all right," Yugi assured Tea.
Harold sneezed, but this sneeze was so intense that Harold actually staggered back.
"Bless you," Serenity said again. "Maybe it's you who's coming down with something."
"I hope not," Harold said though he did feel a little disoriented.
"I'm more worried about Serenity," Tea said.
"Like I said, if she sticks with one of the others, she'll be fine."
"It's not just that, have you seen the way Tristan and Duke act around her?"
"Uh… no, I haven't noticed at all," Yugi said in a tone that said otherwise.
This time, Serenity was the one sneezing. Three times to be exact.
"Maybe Noah's trying to infect us with a virus," Harold said trying to be humorous.
Tristan got him into a half-nelson, "Maybe you just passed your germs off to Serenity," he said throwing them both to the ground.
"Ow, ow, ow, uncle, UNCLE!" Harold shouted tapping on the ground.
"Would you two stop acting childish?" Serenity asked.
"Sorry," both of them said.
"You don't see Yugi or Joey acting that way."
Both boys decided to keep their mouths shut on that.
"Yeah, I'm sure they'll be all right," Yugi said. "Come on let's find them before one of the Big-5 forces them into a duel."
"Right."
"After today, I don't want to see another virtual tree for as long as I live," Mokuba said trying to lighten the air.
"That punk Noah is making us run around in circles because he's too scared to come out and face me."
"An interesting theory, Seto," Noah said with an amused look. "But as usual, you're wrong. And for being wrong, you deserve a punishment. After all, it's how you would've punished your opponents who got something wrong."
"Seto, look!" Mokuba pointed to a single wooden door stood in the middle of the path. "It's another of Noah's virtual doorways."
"Let's see where Noah's leading us now," Kaiba said as he opened the door.
He and Mokuba found themselves in a spacious office. Kaiba gasped, "This… this is my office!"
"This is my office, and nobody disturbs me here!" The chair turned around revealing Gozaburo Kaiba.
"I know, but I have something important to say." The present Kaiba Brothers realized that Gozaburo was talking to a younger version of Seto.
"I remember this," Kaiba realized. "It was the day I finally decided to confront our step-father."
For months, I have been developing virtual reality technology, a revolutionary field at the time. I showed the designs and theories to Gozaburo but he wouldn't listen to reason, at least not my reason.
"I know why you're here; you're here to talk about your invention. But it's no good."
"I worked a long time on that software; you just can't accept the fact that I invented something you never could."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" He literally threw the papers in my face. "Actually, your designs are quite unique and your theories are sound, what I disapprove is the purpose you intend to use the software for."
"What?"
"Games, you want to turn this innovative technology into a child's play thing! We're an arms dealer, not a game company! We make war machines! If anything, it should be used in accordance with war. War is what people need, not worthless toys and games!"
"No!"
"I originally adopted you and your brother so that you could inherit the family business after I'm gone. But in order to do that, you're going to have to discard all thoughts of fun and games
"You're not human!"
"On the contrary, I'm more human then you'll ever be. Take him away!" I was literally dragged away from his office.
"I would never forget that day," present-day Kaiba mumbled. "Not only did my step-father shoot down my virtual video game idea, but he later stole my software and used it in his weapons of war. He called me 'not human' that day, saying that humans care only for war. But he was an arms dealer! All he dealt with was war! But at that time, I was beginning to believe him."
"I had no idea," Mokuba muttered. A flash of light returned them to outside the door. "Hey, we're back in Noah's virtual forest!"
"I wouldn't call it 'Noah's forest'," Kaiba corrected. "Whoever's helping Noah is using the same virtual technology Gozaburo stole from me. Granted, it's been enhanced to an almost extreme level, but the basic program is still the same. I have a feeling it's no coincidence. I just have to remember that everything we see here is an illusion because all these illusions are beginning to mess with my head." He looked up and called out, "Noah, I don't know who you are, but I'll find out! So come out and face me, you coward!"
"All in good time, Seto, all in good time," Noah said chuckling.
Joey looked from his hand to Johnson's side of the field. Okay, Jerk-Man has one monster in defense mode and one face-down card. The first thing I need to do is get rid of that monster. If I do that, then I can take away what's left of his life points in one attack! "I summon Rocket Warrior (7) in attack mode! Now, Gearfried, attack his Mystical Elf!"
"I activate my Deck Master's special ability!" Johnson announced.
"You WHAT!" Joey cried.
"Are you surprised, Mister Wheeler, did you think your Deck Master was the only one with special abilities? A foolish mistake. My Deck Master's ability is called Clear the Courtroom."
"Clear the what?"
"Here's how Clear the Courtroom works, by giving up 1000 of my life points…"
(J: 4000)
(3: 200)
"I can destroy all monsters on my opponent's side of the field." Gearfried, Little-Winguard and Rocket Warrior all exploded. "But there's more, for each monster destroyed, my opponent loses 500 life points."
"Let's see, I've had three monsters, 500 points a piece…" Joey needed to do some finger counting to figure it out. "Oh no, I lose 1500 life points!"
(J: 2500)
(3: 200)
"Now you see the power of attorney," Johnson said.
Calm down, Joey, Joey thought. You still have control of this. He picked out a trap card called Bottomless Trap Hole from his hand. This trap card should help me in case he decides to summon any powerful monsters. Bottomless Trap Hole destroys all monsters with over 1500 attack points when they're summoned. Joey placed it face-down.
"Yugi, look, a door," Tea said pointing to a set of large oak-wood doors in an ice wall.
"About time, I'm freezing," Yugi said. The two ran inside and slammed the doors blocking the cold air. "Ah, nice and warm," Yugi said. "Hey, where are we?"
"I don't know," Tea replied. "It looks like a court room. Look, its Joey!"
"Hey Joey!"
Joey turned and saw them. "Yugi, Tea, boy are you a sight for sore eyes."
Johnson banged his gavel, "Order in the court!" He commanded.
"What's going on, Joey?" Yugi asked.
"I was suckered into dueling one of these Big-5 creeps."
"You too, huh?" Tea said conversely. "Seems like nobody's safe."
"Tell me about it."
Johnson banged his gavel again, "Sit down before I have you ejected from the Court Room!"
"This doesn't look good," Yugi whispered to Tea as they took a seat in the front row of the spectator benches. "Joey has no monsters on the field and it looks like its Judge Man's turn."
"I summon Curtain of the Dark Ones (8) in attack mode and next I'll activate Fusion Frenzy combining it with my Mystical Elf." The two monsters were sucked into a whirling vortex.
Joey's finger hovered over the button that would activate his trap card. Any monster that Johnson summons will fall right into my bottomless trap.
"Now meet Camion Wizard (9)!"
Camion Wizard had only 1300 attack points making Joey's face-down card useless.
"Next I'll activate a magic card called Sinister Justice which allows my fusion monster to attack the moment it's summoned." Camion Wizard charged forward and caught Joey in the hip.
(J: 1200)
(3: 200)
"Joey's in major trouble," Yugi said. "As long as Sinister Justice is on the field, Johnson gains 800 life points!"
"What are you talking about, Yug?"
"The spiky-headed pip-squeak is right," Johnson confirmed.
(J: 1200)
(3: 1000)
"Finally, I place one card face-down. The prosecution rests."
If it wasn't for that stupid card, I would've won this duel, Joey thought despairingly. Now every time he attacks, he just gets stronger and stronger!
"My magic card should be the least of your worries. I have much worse in store for you, Joseph," Johnson threatened.
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Judge Man
Level: 6
Type: Warrior
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 2200
DEF: 1500
Deck Master Ability: Clear the Courtroom: Once per game, activate this Deck Master Ability and pay 1000 Life Points to remove all of your opponent's monsters on the field from the game and inflict 500 points of Direct Damage to your opponent's Life Points for each monster this Deck Master Ability removed from the game.
(2)
Name: Flame Swordsman (Version 2)
Level: 5
Type: Warrior
Attribute: Fire
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1600
Deck Master Ability: Risky Transfer: Activate this Deck Master Ability to transfer the ATK and DEF of 1 Warrior-Type monster on your side of the field to the ATK and DEF of another.
(3)
Name: Hysteric Fairy
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1800
DEF: 500
(4)
Name: Gearfried the Iron Knight
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1600
(5)
Name: Little-Winguard
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Wind
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1800
(6)
Name: Mystical Elf
Level: 4
Type: Spellcaster
Attribute: Light
ATK: 800
DEF: 2000
(7)
Name: Rocket Warrior
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1200
(8)
Name: Curtain of the Dark Ones
Level: 2
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 600
DEF: 900
(9)
Name: Camion Wizard
Level: 3
Type: Warrior/Fusion
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1300
DEF: 800