Hospital, Miami City, 3rd P.O.V.
Lowell remained unconscious into the hospital room. Her face seemingly calm despite what had happened earlier that day. It appeared to be an expensive single room where the machines continued to record and monitor her condition. No strain appeared physically, but there was no telling what may be happening with her mental condition in the slightest as the light was shining through the glass of a nearby window.
She wasn't in the room alone; in one of the open seats was Niles, currently sitting with a bandage on his right cheek. Bags under his eyes, he was by her side as the heart monitor continued as normal. Both hands clasped together, all his attention appeared to hone into the constant rhythm.
"...Lowell…" He whispered her name as he thought back to what had only happened a few hours earlier.
"Listen Yuya, we can't just tell everyone what really happened yesterday," Niles spoke to the younger Duelist outside Lowell's room, where she remained unconscious.
"But why can't we?" He asked. "After what happened, we should tell everyone what just happened."
"Right. And become the laughing stock of Miami City. Great plan Sakaki."
"But Niles-!"
"But what Yuya!? How are we going to explain to people about what happened without sounding like we are crazy? Sure when you first unlocked Pendulum Summoning it was on live television and in front of a crowd but with what happened earlier: we don't get much evidence. Besides I think it would be best get answers from Lowell once she wakes up. Just… trust me on this Yuya."
"Lowell, I hope you wake up soon. Everyone is going to be worried and I need answers for what happened." He looked down at her face, expecting a chance to find none. "Just recover as much as you can."
The door to the room suddenly opened, shocking Niles. Forcing a jolt, the XYZ Duelist didn't expect to see the ebony-haired duelist casually walk in.
"Hello, Niles. I see you're keeping Lowell company," Kazama waved.
"What are you doing here Kazama?" Niles leered as he approached them. "I thought that you weren't permitted to be close to her?"
"You know exactly why I'm here. Just as I'm quite aware of why you're not back where you belong," Kazama smirked at the XYZ Duelist, pulling something out of his pocket. "Unlike you, I actually have a reason for being here."
"...I thought we agreed to not speak about that." The ocean eyes glared at the worn and tattered cloth. "And how did you get hands on that thing?! Did you actually-?"
"Hey! Remember our deal, Niles. In exchange for me not raising up the suspension from Akaba or mentioning your past to anyone, you've agreed to keep your head down and not draw attention… yet now she's starting to catch on." The fist clenched tighter on the red cloth. "I thought you didn't alert others."
"Do you really believe I messed out our deal!?" A hand reached out and grabbed the Dinomist user by the collar. Niles' eyes were slowly turning from the ocean blue to crimson red. "I'm not the one who just caused a break in continuity! And it wasn't Lowell's fault; it was your fault!"
"My fault?!" Kazama pushed back against the strength of Niles. "Says the AWOL!"
"Doesn't make you any better than me!" Niles hissed.
A growl escaped his lips as Niles was about to punch Kazama. It would have gone through if new footsteps were approaching their location. Begrudgingly, the XYZ grabbed his fist and pulled it to his chest, eyes becoming overshadowed. Pocketing the cloth, he pulled up a mental mask seeing some of the LDS security personal heading over there way.
"Hey, guys! I thought today was my day off," He joked, focusing attention away from the You Show Duelist.
"Mr. Akaba requires your presence in his office now." One of the security ordered. "This is an order."
"Okay, okay! Geez, and I thought I got Akaba everything wanted. Welp, guess we can continue our discussion another time. See you soon, brother." Kazama smile lengthened as he left the room, leaving the unconscious duelist with only a single guest inside the room.
"...Damn it!" Niles slammed his fist on his leg, eyes slowly reverting back to other hand reached to rub his forehead.
LDS, Miami City, 3rd P.O.V.
Sabrine was deep in thought, throwing the small ball to the opposing wall, only to catch it upon rebound. A simple cycle of repetition while she was in a hallway. One bounce on the floor, one to the wall, then catching it in her hand. Not even acknowledging the world around her, instead of delving deep into her mind for what had happened prior with her meeting with Kazama.
"You know why I've brought you in here, right?" Kazama asked the moment both parties had sat down at the table. Room ever so lacking any presence of any LDS students or staff.
"Let me guess; you want an interview with me about what happened earlier today because of Reiji Akaba." She responded. "Guess he would with all this extra stuff leaking out from Dimension Zero that is a result of you going AWOL."
"Sabrine, I know you were sent back to drag my ass back there, but can we focus on the real problem here?" A hand slammed on the table. "Lowell - not only for her sudden appearance into this dimension but the fact she managed to summon a Dark Synchro Monster."
"Dark Synchro monster...? You mean the only time Yugioh ever used negative numbers for a monster's level?"
"You know what I mean! Monsters that should have been exclusive to the extinct Dark Signers. Have you never seen 5Ds!?"
"Oh right, because everyone who saw 5Ds should know what a fucking Dark Synchro Monster even though they were only a gimmick and never used again," Sabrine folded her arms, leaning to one side. "How the fuck should I have known. Besides, not all the Dark Singers used them."
"Dark Signers. They were called Dark Signers." He corrected. "And while it was true that not all of them used Dark Synchro Monsters… you saw what happened when that monster was summoned. It did not only damage outside the capacity of Solid Vision, but it even made her appear somewhat like a Dark Signer."
"But… weren't the Dark Signers defeated a long time ago? We don't have to worry about any of those Earthbound Immortals… will we?" Sabrine then noticed the tablet Kazama got out, where the tab was opened to photos of the Earthbound Immortals.
"I doubt it. After being seal away none of them should return or even grant a person Dark Signer powers. Though Lowell's going to a pain in the ass for me… especially since Reiji Akaba has the intel now." Kazama shut it off before getting up from his desk. "Now I got to go explain to him about Pre-Typings and all the other shit I thought was buried."
"You haven't told him yet?" Sabrine questioned. "Possibly the most intelligent sixteen year old of Arc-V doesn't comprehend Pre-Typing. Wow! Looks like this will be an easy sweep-!"
She would have continued if the LDS student council member didn't activate his Duel Disk and nearly slice into her free hand on the table. His blue eyes slighter darker than normal. "Continue to gloat like that, and maybe I'll shut your mouth myself."
"Ouch, struck a nerve didn't I?" She pulled her hand away and got up from her spot. "You really don't believe this won't be an easy victory for us?"
"...If you think a victory is going to be served on a silver platter, then you really are a newbie. Ugh, this is why I've chosen to disassociate with you people…"
"Disassociate my ass. He still relies on those monsters despite choosing to go back to Dinomists." She threw the ball harder against the wall, then rinsed and repeated the motion as she went on. "Besides, how could somebody Lowell even have a card that adds Pre-Typings?"
Catching the ball, her hand clenched the ball as she thought to herself. Pre-Typings were only a more recent evolution for monsters in Dimension Zero. An adaption needed to survive for without it the constant continuous effect would hinder ever summoning method and monster entering the field. Some would either evolve their monsters to have both at the same time or have Continuous Spells born from existing spirits. This way, they would be one step ahead of the competition.
"She couldn't possibly originate from this world; her skills and mannerism don't match other character spirits - monster or otherwise. So, what could Lowell's secret be hiding?" Both eyes raised as she threw the ball and repeated her previous cycle. "Unless… I have to pay a special little somebody a little visit myself."
Unknown Location, Miami City, 3rd P.O.V.
In an alleyway, there was a hooded figure dodging a group of random people off doing their regular business. Everywhere they looked seemed pact. Boxed inside a small area, they sighed and hid by a large trash bin.
"Ugh, I hate wearing this stupid thing! Why do I even have to wear this thing?" The hooded figure removed her hood, revealing her long white hair.
"Stupid him… why do I have to be one looking around? Shouldn't he have more guts to do these things?"
"Oh, hey Ruby," She fainted smiled at the Duel Spirit, who jump onto her shoulder. A hand petting the spirit leaning into it. "Sorry. I shouldn't have run off like that… but I couldn't just ignore what happened earlier today. That energy… it could have only come from the one I'm looking for. But first, if I can't get around here that easily… I think it's time to ditch this stupid cloak."
Discarding the cloth, her full appearance was finally revealed. She had long white hair reaching her knees with short bangs were a light blue, popping out from her long hair. The outfit she wore was a school uniform, made up of a short white jacket, a broad grey shirt, a blue skirt with a brown belt buckled. Two deck hostlers were attached at each hip, though the one to her right seemed more worn down. An article of clothing worth noting were the bandages wrapped on both her arms. Each one covering from her fingertips to just below her shoulders. Large blue and white boots finish her outfit, added it was a bronze necklace with a blue crystal apple hanging from it.
"Finally! Now isn't this less suspicious?" She asked the Duel Spirit, that just gave her a look before she groaned. "Okay, but what do you expect me to do? Nor am I a Vestige, Johan or Jaden; still, I've got no idea why he decided to give me the Crystal Beast Deck…"
Ruby hissed before vanishing, causing the girl to roll her eyes and leave into the crowd. Slipping in without any problems her eyes wandered to observe her surroundings. To this young lady, everything here seemed to be at a sort of peace, where the dangers around the world or even in another dimension never once crossed. It made her nerves uneasy, prepared to act the moment somebody went out of line.
That never came and by that time she had found herself standing on a street corner gazing at the LDS building. People continued to walk by as she took in observations of the structure and security of the premises.
"This is where Reiji Akaba holds himself in… not entirely the worst building I've ever seen." She commented under her breath. "Security must be a tad above average; nothing I couldn't handle during their lunch breaks. That detail I'll have to share around… but it does seem weird that these upgrades are more recent. Could something have happened prior?"
Her thoughts would have gone farther if her phone didn't begin to ring. Reaching for it, she decided to head into an alleyway nearby when nobody was looking to check out who was on the other end.
"Please don't tell me you ran out of food. I just stocked last night," Her first words were spoken immediately once the line was hooked.
"No no! I'm not talking about food! Tanith! We may have a problem; I kind of… ran into some trouble. And trouble as in…" His voice trailed off as something crashed on his end. "XYZ Duelist."
"What do you mean you got yourself into a Duel?!" She asked, making sure nobody else was overhearing their phone call.
"It's a bit hard to explain-! Hey!" The male on the end was cut off by was seemed to be two monsters clashing, "I activate the Counter Trap Starboard Cannons! Ugh-! Just get your ass over here Tanith!"
The line went dead as Tanith grumbled. Shoving her phone back into her pocket, she tapped her Duel Disk to see his location. Getting a quick look at the surroundings, the duelist sprinted off.
Revision: 11/22/18
The only major change was for the beginning bit. Just to go well with the previous chapter update.
So instead of slaving myself for writing another Duel - because last time I had most of that chapter focused on such a thing - this chapter was mostly exposition. After last time, I had a bit of trouble writing the beginning of this chapter that smoothly transitioned. But now, everything should be fine and I believe this is the first chapter that doesn't directly focus on Lowell. Hooray! This allows me to pull the focus and have others take the spotlight. Such as out newly revealed character which should be familiar to some.
And this chapter introduces us to the basic concepts of what Pre-Typings are and hints towards what of Duelists are who use these types of monsters. Of course, Dimension Zero is connected to them yet now I've given them a name. One easier than calling them 'Dimension Zero Duelists' or 'D.Z.D.' So for now on, they'll be known as 'Vestige.' Vestige is easier than repeating the previous two in my opinion.
I'm expecting to write a Duel next chapter - one easier to handle and catch mistakes than the last chapter. Maybe for a while, I won't be writing those kinds of Battle Royal Duels. Or at least dedicate a chapter to those kinds of duels for a while. Got a couple of ideas to plan with how I want to start the next chapter. Then soon enough - maybe in like three to five chapters - we can start on the Miami Championships! I just need to get a few things done before then, so I hope you're excited.
Onto our only review for the Chapter folks!
Diabolic Tracer - Besides the quick fix you pointed out (I swear I meant to type Thunder but Aqua came out inside) and how you misspelled Dark Signer as Dark Singer (which I had to include in this chapter because it honestly made me laugh), I will say this: that may not be the only time we'll be seeing… whatever that was. Not exactly comfortable with calling this or future ones 'flashback's quite yet but we'll soon see. Lowell's got a lot to uncover so, for the most part, were not directly to address much of your speculation except for certain bits. Hope that's alright. ;)
Firstly, I'll confirm that the voice was referring to Niles since they were a Tag-Team. (Originally, I would have called him something else but I changed it since that would have dropped a massive spoiler.)
Secondly, the Dark Signer bit was a quick addition to the reboot I wanted to add in since Lowell is using Dark Synchro Monsters. Found it kind of fitting for the overall story if she'd be considered a Dark Signer…
I'll leave everyone with that to think about. ;)
That should be everything! Though this is a quick surprise since I may not be able to upload the rest of the week. Hope this is a good surprise! Thank you and I'll see everyone next time when the Pendulum Swings!