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Fanfic Chapter 126: Rage Against the Machine Pt 1: Honorable Sacrifice
Episode Basis: Mechanical Mayhem Pt 1
Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! Duke and Amara were finally able to pull their act together, coordinating their attacks with backing up the other. Kimo looked like he was going to win when he brought out the Two-Headed Jackal. But by working together, the two were able to cut down the Gemini Archfiend and win the duel. Noah was going to send all of them to the bottom of the abyss but Duke and Amara's Deck Masters saved them. Deck Masters, not just for dueling any more.
Tristan, Serenity and Harold came out into a clearing. A gentle wind was blowing.
"This feels good," Serenity commented.
"Yeah, this virtual world is actually not such a bad place," Tristan added.
"Sure, if you ignore the fact that there are five creepy old guys out there wanting to duel us for our bodies," Harold pointed out.
Tristan grabbed Harold's head and held him in a head lock. "Listen, Mister Master-of-the-Golden-Armband, if you know what's better for you, you'd keep your mouth shut to avoid upsetting Serenity."
"I'm just telling the truth," Harold argued.
"Well she doesn't need pessimistic thinking like that."
"It's okay, guys," Serenity said. "The Big-5 are only after Duelists, right?"
"Hey, that's right," Tristan immediately agreed. "That means they'll be targeting Yugi, Kaiba, Joey, Amara… and Harold." Tristan scowled at Harold like Harold was just caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"M… me?" Harold asked nervously.
"You are a Duelist, aren't you? So that means the Big-5 are going to come after you." Harold looked down. "Don't worry, big guy, fortunately I know a solution, a decoy. You be a decoy for the Big-5 while Serenity and I go get the others."
"So in other words, you two go off leaving me on my own." The way Harold said it was accusatory. Harold looked down again, "Perhaps you're right, I wouldn't want to put you two in any needless danger. Perhaps it is safer if we split up."
"No, absolutely not," Serenity said. She ran up to Harold who was about to leave and grabbed his hand. "We are not splitting up, not for any reason. Harold, remember what I said on the blimp last night? I said that you have friends who care about you And friends look out for one another. So even if the Big-5 come after you and Tristan, there's no way I'm letting anyone wander off by themselves."
Harold was heartened by Serenity's speech, but some of her wording troubled him, "Me and Tristan?"
"Well yeah, the Big-5 are probably going to come after great Duelists, right? Well Tristan is one of the greatest."
"He is?" He cast a side glance at Tristan. "Tristan, what did you tell the poor girl?"
"Come on, Harold, you know I taught Joey everything he knows." Harold was about to respond when Tristan slammed his hand over Harold's mouth. "See, even Harold agrees." Tristan moved Harold's head up and down in a nodding motion. "That's right, Serenity, with me helping you two out, defeating the Big-5 will be a walk in the park," Tristan said laughing defiantly.
When Tristan's hand left Harold's mouth, his jaw literally hung open.
Duke and Amara had been walking through the sewers for a long time and Amara pointed that out, "How long have we been down here?"
"Feels like days," Duke said.
"I'm thirsty." Amara looked down at the stream and noticed something odd. "What the…" She jumped into the knee-deep water.
"Amara, what are you doing? That's sewer water!"
"But it's clean," Amara pointed out. She scooped some into her hands and sipped from it. "It tastes like spring water."
"Huh?" Duke also scooped up some of the water and (against his better judgment) drank it. "Hey, you're right, this water is fresh. Like spring water."
Amara climbed out. "This world of Noah's seems ideal, almost like a perfect world. Come on!" She took off.
"Amara, wait up! If you ask me, Noah put it in here because he intends to keeps us here forever," Duke complained as he ran after Amara.
Noah chuckled, "Not forever, little dice boy, just until I get what is rightfully mine."
Harold, Serenity, and Tristan came upon a door much like the one Noah used to show Kaiba and Mokuba images from their past.
"I don't like it," Tristan said.
"I agree," Harold said nodding. "There's no way this was put here by accident."
"Noah must have put this here for a reason."
"Yeah, but what?"
"Come on," Serenity said running for it. "It might be a way out."
"Serenity, wait, it might be a trap," Tristan pointed out running after her.
Harold sighed, "Whose bright idea was it that I get stuck with these two." He too ran after them. "Be ready for anything, guys."
Serenity opened the door.
The three found themselves back in the hanger. But the blimp had vanished.
"We're out but where's the blimp?" Tristan asked.
"Maybe it's in a different hanger," Harold suggested.
"But how would they have moved it so fast?" Tristan asked.
"I don't know."
Serenity stepped forward, "Are we in the real world?" She wondered.
Harold looked up and gasped, "I don't think so, look!"
"Greetings, humans." A giant colorful robot descended in front of them. "I am Nesbitt, former Vice President of New Technology at Kaiba Corp. but in this world I've taken the form of a Duel Monster known as Robotic Knight (1)!"
"It's one of the Big-5," Tristan gasped.
"I was afraid of this," Harold complained.
"As the tech expert of the Big-5, I designed some of Kaiba Corp.'s most advanced weaponry and once I take one of your bodies, I'll be free to continue my work in the real world."
"You're not going to steal any bodies," Harold said. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
"You don't have a say in the matter. Now, ladies first."
Serenity realized he was talking to her, "Huh, who, me?"
"Yes, I will duel the female unit first."
"But I've never dueled before," Serenity protested.
"If you want to duel someone, duel me," Tristan said stepping forward.
"No, I'm the only actual Duelist here, duel me," Harold argued. To Tristan, he said in a stage whisper, "Tristan, you don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"I can take him."
"If you had a bazooka and a couple thousand rockets, maybe, but in a duel, not a chance." He stepped forward. "I will be your opponent!"
"No, I choose the female unit."
"And I say I'm the one you'll be dueling," Tristan said, his voice rising.
Neither of them would last in a duel especially against a Duel Monster. But trying to convince Tristan of that is like trying to convince Kaiba to believe in the heart of the cards, so I'm going to have to aid him. "Tristan, let's join forces and take this creep down together."
"Sounds like a good plan to me."
"Even you two units together wouldn't stand a chance against me. But I have a better idea, I'll duel all three of you and when I win three bodies for the price of one I shall prove once and for all that machines are the most powerful force to ever exist!"
Machines are the most powerful force, Harold copied in his mind. Wait a second, could he be using a machine deck like Bandit Keith? This might make things a lot harder.
"No dice, bucket head, you'll duel the two of us."
"It's okay, Tristan," Serenity said stepping up beside him. "We're all in this together so we should all duel together. I'll just follow your lead."
"Uh… well… I mean it's been a while since I dueled so I might be a little rusty."
"It's too late," Nesbitt said. Everyone wearing a Duel Disk is assigned to duel.
Serenity looked down and saw a Duel Disk appeared on her arm. Tristan also had one. "How'd I get this?"
"One of the benefits of being a machine, now choose your designate decks " Cards began scrolling in front of them.
"How do I know what cards to choose?" Serenity asked.
"Just go with your instinct," Tristan advised. "But make sure to pick a balance of magic, trap, and monster cards."
He's just repeating what Yugi taught Joey, Harold thought. The three kids picked their cards and the decks formed in their hands. They inserted them into their Duel Disks.
"Next, you must each choose a designate monster to serve as Deck Master."
"Then I pick Goddess with the Third Eye (2)," Serenity decided.
Tristan went next, "And I'll use Super Roboyarou (3)."
"And I choose Airknight Parshath (4)," Harold said. The three monsters appeared. The Goddess with the Third Eye had yellow skin and light hair with a closed eye on her forehead. Super Roboyarou was a cyborg holding a double-ended spear. Airknight Parshath was a centaur with angel wings.
The ground underneath them started to shake. The floor panels in between the Duelists slid back revealing a fiery abyss.
"What's that?" Tristan wondered.
"If you play by the rules, you won't find out," Nesbitt retorted. "And I have one rule that I'm a stickler for: under no circumstances are you to discuss your strategies with each other."
Serenity looked at Tristan pleadingly, "How can I duel without your guidance, Tristan?"
"His guidance?" Harold muttered.
"Just believe in yourself and you'll be fine," Tristan assured her.
If it was that easy, then even Mokuba would be as good as Yugi, Harold thought. But I've been in quite a few duels and I've learned that you need more than just belief to win a duel, you need understanding, understanding of your cards and your self. Plus a little bit of luck, that's how Joey's been able to get through most of his duels, I know that for certain.
Master Noah was right, Nesbitt thought. Kimo lost his duel because his opponents were coordinating their efforts. But with three separate strategies and no compatibility, I will terminate them. "It's time!" He announced as he activated his Duel Disk. The kids did likewise.
"Time to duel!"
(H: 4000)
(S: 4000)
(T: 4000)
(N: 4000)
"The female unit shall go first," Nesbitt declared.
It took Serenity a second to realize he was talking about her. "Oh, okay," she said and drew six cards. "I summon Shadow Tamer (5)!" A woman with blue hair in a white dress and maroon leggings carrying a bull whip appeared.
"Serenity, that monster's much too weak to play in attack mode," Harold argued.
Serenity covered her mouth with her hand, "So I messed up?"
"No, you did fine for your first move," Tristan assured her.
No she didn't, Harold thought. If this was a normal duel, then her opponent would probably take it easy on her since she's a beginner. But this isn't a normal duel, this is a duel against a computerized businessman disguised as a robot who's trying to win our bodies. Harold sighed and rolled his eyes, then again what do I know?
Serenity means well but she doesn't realize that a move like that opened her up to Nesbitt's attack. I have to give him a more tempting target so he won't attack Serenity. "My move," he announced and he drew his sixth card. "I summon Cyber Commander (6) in attack mode."
Has Tristan flipped his lid? Harold asked. You don't play weak cards with no abilities in attack mode! And if his deck is what I think it is, we're going to need all our life points if we're going to stay in our bodies. "Now it's my turn." Harold looked at his hand. If my theory is right, then nothing I currently have in my hand can stop him. I'm going to have to bide my time until I can summon a strong monster. "I summon Fiend Reflection #2 (7) in defense mode!" A small bird carrying a mirror appeared.
Idiot, Tristan thought of Harold. He should've played a weak card in attack mode otherwise Nesbitt will attack Serenity.
"Now it's my turn," Nesbitt said. "I summon Giga-Tech Wolf (8) in attack mode. Attack the female unit's Shadow Tamer." The mechanical wolf leaped up and bit Shadow Tamer on the shoulder destroying her. The force threw Serenity back.
(H: 4000)
(S: 3600)
(T: 4000)
(N: 4000)
"A machine deck, I knew it," Harold grumbled.
Yugi, Joey, and Tea were running through the caverns when they heard a female scream. Joey skidded to a halt. "That's Serenity's voice," he realized.
"Are you sure?" Yugi asked. "Noah might be trying to trick us."
"Or he could be trying to break our spirits like what he did with the ice wall back during Tea's duel," Yami pointed out.
"Either way, we're going to have to be careful," Yugi pointed out. Yami nodded. The three took off again.
"Hold on, Serenity, I'm coming," Joey called out.
Tristan and Harold watched in horror as Serenity was flung back twenty feet behind her Deck Master.
"Serenity!" Tristan cried and started to run to help her.
"Stay where you are," Nesbitt ordered. "If you leave your assigned dueling space, you automatically forfeit."
"I'm okay, Tristan," Serenity assured him as she struggled to stand.
"You won't be for long," Nesbitt said. "Not after I activate my Deck Master's special ability, Final Artillery! I discard three machine monsters to deal 500 points of direct damage." Nesbitt discarded three machine monsters. Three cannons appeared and blasted all three of the kids.
(H: 3500)
(S: 3100)
(T: 3500)
(N: 4000)
"Everyone still alive?" Harold checked as he stood up.
"I'm okay," Tristan said. "Serenity?"
"Yeah… I'm fine," Serenity said though she was panting heavily.
"I place one card face-down and end my turn."
Okay, if I want to protect my life points, I'm going to have to do what Harold suggested and lay my monster in defense mode. Serenity drew a card. "I summon The Forgiving Maiden (9) in defense mode."
"Gyah," Harold gasped. Serenity laid her monster in attack mode.
"Oh no, what did I do now?" Serenity asked horrified.
"Serenity, if you want to put your monster in defense mode, you need to lay it sideways on the Duel Disk," Harold explained.
"I'm sorry," Serenity said ashamed.
"Let her take that turn over," Tristan requested.
"Negative," Nesbitt replied. "There are no do overs. Now go!"
Tristan let out a frustrated sigh and drew a card. It was a magic card called Block Attack. Excellent, now I can switch Serenity's monster to defense mode so her life points will be protected. "I play Block Attack and I'll use it to switch Serenity's monster…"
"You'll do no such thing," Nesbitt said. "Reveal trap card: Riryoku Field. This short-circuits your magic card." The Block Attack card was destroyed and Serenity's monster remained as it is.
Kaiba and Mokuba were now in a desert. They had no idea where they were going. All of a sudden, they came upon ruins.
Ruins that they recognized.
"Seto, is that…?"
"Yeah, it's Nesbitt's old weapons laboratory. I never liked that place."
After I took over the company from my step-father, I began to redirect it away from the weapons-making business. Part of that strategy was by tearing down all the weapon-making labs.
Naturally, Nesbitt wasn't very enthusiastic about it.
"Sir, you can't tear down my weapons lab."
"I have to, there's no room for weapons in the new Kaiba Corp. And unless you can give me good enough reason as to why you should remain on board, you're soon to follow."
"I wish Noah didn't have to show us this," Mokuba said. "It's almost as painful to recall as the day Gozaburo brought us home."
Kaiba looked up and called up, "Noah, you can't lead me around like a puppet forever!"
"Oh I can do whatever I want," Noah said to Kaiba's image. "And besides, I'm having too much fun to stop now."
I have to play smart and think of a strategy to get at this guy's life points, hopefully Tristan and Serenity can follow suit. "I'll sacrifice my Fiend Reflection so I can summon Gyakutenno Megami (10) in defense mode. I also set one card face-down and end my turn."
"A useless move," Nesbitt commented. "I sacrifice Giga-Tech Wolf so I can summon Machine King (11) in attack mode. Machine King receives an extra 100 attack points for every machine monster on the field so thanks for the boost, Unit Tristan."
(MK: 2200-2400)
"Can't you talk normal for once?" Harold asked.
"Machine King, attack her Forgiving Maiden now." The Machine King fired its fist at the nun.
This might be a good time to activate my trap card, Harold thought as he prepared to press the activation button.
"Cyber Commander, intercept," Tristan commanded. The Cyber Commander leapt into the path of the Machine King's attack.
(H: 3500)
(S: 3100)
(T: 1850)
(N: 4000)
(MK: 2400-2300)
"Tristan, are you suicidal or something?" Harold asked. "My trap card Forgiving Light would've been able to protect Serenity without sacrificing anything."
"Then why didn't you trigger them?"
"I was, but then you had to go ahead and play martyr."
"Well I didn't see you doing anything helpful… or are you trying to eliminate us like you tried to eliminate Yugi?"
"Hey, that was uncalled for!"
"Well is it true?"
"That is not only false, but it was a low blow!"
"Well maybe you should think about others more often."
"This is why machines are superior to human beings," Nesbitt said. "Machines get the job done and don't rely on pitiful emotions to drive us. Now, for my turn I play the magic card Card of Sanctity requiring all of us to draw from our decks until we're holding six cards. Think of it as recharging your batteries. Next I'll activate Final Artillery by discarding three machine monsters." Once again, all three of them were blasted.
(H: 3000)
(S: 2600)
(T: 1350)
(N: 4000)
Serenity and Tristan are in major trouble, Harold thought. I need to activate my trap card on my next turn.
"I place one card face-down and activate Raimei which allows me to destroy a monster." Harold's Gyakutenno Megami monster was destroyed.
"I activate my trap card: Forgiving Light," Harold announced. "Now by discarding monster cards whose power level equals the destroyed monster, my monster can remain on the field in defense mode." Too bad it can't attack. He turned to Serenity and Tristan, "You see, guys, if we play carefully, we can kick this overgrown tin can to the curb."
"You're right, Harold," Tristan agreed.
"Let's do it," Serenity said. "My move! I summon Lady Panther (12) in defense mode!" This time, Serenity set it sideways on the Duel Disk. "I also switch The Forgiving Maiden from attack to defense mode."
"Now you're getting the hang of it, Serenity," Tristan said. "I play Command Angel (13) in defense mode!"
"We're cooking now," Harold said. "I summon Spirit of the Harp (14) in defense mode. I also set one card face-down." With so many light monsters on the field, my trap card Solar Ray will take care of a good chunk of his life points. "You won't be able to get pass our wall of defense monsters, and you don't have enough monsters left to sacrifice to use your Deck Master ability."
"That's where you're wrong. I reveal my trap card Backup Soldier which returns three monsters to my hand. Now I'll sacrifice them to activate Final Artillery." The three were pummeled with cannon fire.
(H: 2500)
(S: 2600)
(T: 850)
(N: 4000)
"Next I play the magic card Pot of Greed which lets me upgrade my hand by two extra cards." Nesbitt drew the cards. "Next I activate Clockwork Knight which transforms all monsters on the field to machine monsters." The kids' monsters took on a sleek metallic form. "As machines, they can not attack or change battle position. Only monsters that were already machine monsters are invulnerable to its effect. All transformed monsters lose 500 attack points.
(LP: 1400-900)
(FM: 850-350)
(CA: 1400-900)
(GM: 1800-1300)
(SH: 800-300)
"And don't forget, Machine King gains 100 attack points for each machine monster played.
(MK: 2300-2800)
"Finally, Clockwork Knight gives Machine King an additional 500 attack points."
(MK: 2800-3200)
"It's unstoppable!" Tristan cried.
"Calm down, Tristan," Harold said neutrally. "He can't get at us while our monsters are in defense mode."
"Right, Harold."
"Wrong, Unit Harold," Nesbitt countered. "I play the magic card Short Circuit which switches all your monsters into attack mode." The battle position of all of the transformed monsters was changed. "Machine King, attack the female unit's Forgiving Maiden."
If Serenity's monster is destroyed, she loses the duel, Tristan said. He had to think fast. He looked up at his Deck Master. That's it, my Deck Master can intercept the blast. "Super Roboyarou, go, block Serenity's monster from that blast!" The android leapt in front of Serenity. "Since Super Roboyarou is on the field, I can place one card face-down and raise its attack points by 1000!"
(SR: 1200-2200)
But it wasn't enough as Tristan's Deck Master was destroyed. With it destroyed, Tristan lost.
(H: 2500)
(S: 2600)
(T: X)
(N: 4000)
With a small smile on his face, Tristan said, "Serenity, I'm sorry, the truth is I didn't teach Joey how to duel, I can barely duel myself. Heck, Tea could probably duel circles around me. I just said that I was an expert Duelist just to impress you." Tristan turned to Harold. "Harold, sorry for everything I said. Take care of Serenity. I know you care about her just as much as I do."
"Tristan," Harold could only say.
A hatch opened up underneath Tristan fell into the chasm below.
"TRISTAN, COME BACK!" Serenity cried.
"Tristan, no!" Harold also cried out.
But the hatch closed.
Through tear-soaked eyes, Serenity scowled at Nesbitt. "How could you… you said he would only fall in if he broke the rules!"
"He isn't dead," Nesbitt informed them. "His mind has been digitized and his body placed in a holding area where yours will soon join it!"
To Be Continued
Duel Monster Database
(1)
Name: Robotic Knight
Level: 4
Type: Machine
Attribute: Fire
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1800
Deck Master Ability: Final Artillery: Activate this Deck Master Ability and discard 1 Machine-Type monster from your hand to inflict 500 points of Direct Damage to your opponent's Life Points.
(2)
Name: Goddess with the Third Eye
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1000
Deck Master Ability: Fusion Vision: Once per turn, activate this Deck Master Ability and discard 1 Spell card from your hand to fuse 2 or more Fusion-Material Monsters to form a new Fusion Monster as if by the effect of Polymerization.
(3)
Name: Super Roboyarou
Level: 6
Type: Machine/Fusion/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1200
DEF: 500
Deck Master Ability: Last Minute Defense: Once per turn, activate this Deck Master Ability to set or activate 1 Spell or Trap card from your hand.
(4)
Name: Airknight Parshath
Level: 5
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1900
DEF: 1400
Deck Master Ability: Circle of Light: Increase the ATK of all LIGHT monsters on your side of the field by 750 points.
(5)
Name: Shadow Tamer
Level: 3
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 800
DEF: 700
(6)
Name: Cyber Commander
Level: 3
Type: Machine
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 750
DEF: 750
(7)
Name: Fiend Reflection #2
Level: 4
Type: Winged-Beast
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1100
DEF: 1400
(8)
Name: Giga-Tech Wolf
Level: 4
Type: Machine
Attribute: Fire
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1400
(9)
Name: The Forgiving Maiden
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 850
DEF: 2000
(10)
Name: Gyakutenno Megami
Level: 6
Type: Fairy
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1800
DEF: 2000
(11)
Name: Machine King
Level: 6
Type: Machine/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 2200
DEF: 2000
(12)
Name: Lady Panther
Level: 4
Type: Beast-Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1300
(13)
Name: Command Angel
Level: 4
Type: Fairy/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1400
DEF: 1500
(14)
Name: Spirit of the Harp
Level: 4
Type: Fairy
Attribute: Light
ATK: 800
DEF: 2000