Time After the Tone Chapter 17, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

Starting to approach the finale now, I think. No, really this time. These last few scenes are turning out to be rather tough to write, as is usually the case with finales. I really appreciate all of the kind and helpful reviews you guys have been giving me, and I hope the finale lives up to any hopes you may have. I can but try.

This chapter brought to you by "Waiting on the Tablaphone", again, from the Doctor Who soundtrack.

So... let's go save the world, I guess.

"We all long to belong, we all need to be needed
Loneliness is our disease, still we bite the hand that feeds
Where did we go wrong?
Insecure and self-sufficient building up walls instead of bridges
Let our lonely hearts collide, we're meant to live this life together…"

- Krystal Meyers, Together.

Domino City Interchange, 11:02 am

In the middle of a busy city interchange, beneath a sky too dark for comfort; with a ranting, former-evil-spirit on one side and nervous teenager on the other, Duke Devlin is making a phone call.

Actually he's making several phone calls. Most of them aren't getting through – especially the people who he knows are located fairly close to Europe. The closer people are to the epicentre of the disaster, the harder it is for signals and messages to penetrate the wall of shadow energy which are currently swamping the planet.

He doens't stop to think about what they're doing, because if he does, he knows he'll start realising just how ridiculously insane and implausible this plan is, and if he realises that, then it'll be doomed from the very beginning.

'My other self is an idiot, you know.' Yami-Bakura says unhelpfully.

Duke ignores the spirit's goading. He hasn't got time for Yami-Bakura's attachment complex with his Other Self right now. All Duke knows is that Ryou was talking right into Yami Bakura's head not a few minutes ago and now...

'You've been making phonecalls ever since we left the airport and you've had... what? One reply? Out of fifty? Give it up, Devlin, this is never going to work.'

Duke continues to ignore him. As unlikely as it seems a plan is slowly falling into place. It's fairly simple, really. The only difficulty is that he's the one who has to make it work, and Duke figures that nobody could blame him for feeling a little nervous about that. It isn't like he's making all these calls to arrange a business meeting after all. Not exactly anyway.

Serenity sits, shuffling uneasily in the seat behind them, worrying at her bottom lip. But her hands are clenched into light fists of determination. He'd explained the plan to her in a rush as they ran back to the car, and he's sure she only half understands exactly what they're doing, and yet she goes along with him anyway. Because she trusts him, he supposes. That thought leaves a warm feeling in Devlin's stomach, and he tries to crush it down by imagining all the myriad ways in which Joey Wheeler could kill him for it. Besides, they have bigger things to worry about. He hisses as yet another number he needs turns out not to be in his phonebook.

'Serenity, you wouldn't have the number for a guy named Valon, would you?

'Valon?'Serenity frowns, digging out her mobile phone. 'Um, wait a second, I think... Yes, Mai gave it to me just a few months back. She said it was for emergencies only. Big emergencies.'

'Hm. Monsters in Europe, freaky, stormy skies in Tokyo, Bakura daring to step inside of Yami Bakura's head... Yeah, I'd say that counts as big. Hand me your phone? Thanks.'

Yami Bakura hisses irritably. 'Oh, for the love of Ra, are you mortals even listening to me?'

'No, because all you're doing is trying to convince us this is a bad idea, which we already damn well know.' Duke snaps. 'It's still the only idea we have. You're the one who gave me the message in the first place.'

'Only because my ridiculously little pet practically begged me to do so. I still think it's a foolish idea. If it fails then wrecking all of Europe will be the least of our problems.'

'Look, the way things are going there's gonna be nothing left of Europe anyway. I know Bakura, there's no way he'd go inside of your head unless he thought it was really important. If this is the only plan we have, then we're going to have to run with it... Unless you want to sit around and wait until the monsters Ryou told us about start crawling out of the drainpipes here as well as in Vienna.'

'Given the options, I think I'll take my chances with the crazy plan. I'm calling Valon now, Duke. Here.' Serenity says, handing over her mobile phone. Duke takes it without looking. Duke waits, listening to the "engaged" tone chiming for a few moments – Damn it. 'Another dead end. But isn't that guy meant to be in Australia? You can't get much further away from Vienna than Australia!'

'Oh, here,' Yami Bakura snatches the phone out of Duke's hands before he can protest. There's a moment, a flickering of dark sparks making the entire inside of the car prickle with static, then Yami Bakura hands the phone back and Duke takes it suspiciously, handling it delicately as if it might explode. '...What did you do?'

'A focussed dark magical energy field,' Bakura speaks slowly and evenly, as if sounding it out for a five year old. 'The same thing I did before when I appeared in this car. To put it in a way your primitive mind will understand: its magic. You should be able to call just about anyone now and the dark energy won't stop you. It will make us a lot more obvious to whatever is going on out there, but if that's a risk you're prepared to take...'

Duke stares at the phone in his hand uneasily. 'But why? You think this is a crazy idea.'

A smirk. 'I still do. Crazy, and potentially very destructively entertaining. Besides as you say, what other choice is there? Let's just agree that you owe me a favour from now on. With witnesses.' He leers at Serenity. She scowls right back at him. Her brother's sister, right.

Duke looks Yami Bakura squarely in eyes that tell him no thank you is necessary –and to not give one at all would be preferred. Besides, he has no doubt whatsoever that Yami Bakura will take him up on that favour at a later date. So instead he turns backwards in his chair and hands the phone to Serenity. 'Okay. Serenity, I need you to help me out. Keep calling the numbers Bakura gave us; I'll call at the same time. At least one of us will have to get through.'

'Me? But what do I say?'

'Just tell them what I told you, and the rest of the work should do itself. You know what to do. We have to get moving here.'

Duke hisses, twisting the steering wheel, and turning sharply into a side road leading back to the city. 'Oh, wonderful, wherever we're going we're taking the scenic route,' Yami Bakura hisses. 'And exactly where are you taking us anyway?'

'Kaiba Corporation,' Duke says. 'We need to get there before Rebecca accesses the global network, that gives us twenty minutes tops. We're taking a shortcut.' And before either of them can argue or ask questions, he presses the accelerator and speeds off at a ridiculous pace through the empty streets of Domino.

Ring ring, ring ring, ring ring, ring ring.

10:10 am, Hong Kong Central Film Studio, Trailer of Vivian Wong.

'Alright, alright, I'm answering, I'm answering... Urgh. Damn these agents, don't they ever stop asking for money? Hellooo, this is Miss Vivian Wong. I'm sorry but I'm very busy right now, I'm about to have my eyebrows done and...'

'Oh? Duke who? Sorry, you'll have to refresh my memory, honey; I meet with so many high class businessmen these days. Oh! Of course, darling Yugi's little friend! How've you been, sweetie? How's Yugi? Have you seen him lately? I do keep meaning to call but after our last meeting you know things might not be entirely...

'Oh, that's sweet of you, but really I've been stuck here with nothing to do except look out of windows at those awful clouds all day. This weather has completely ruined our filming schedule. Really is terrible, isn't it? I mean—

'What? Ah, so you didn't call to socialise? Oh well. I—'

'Hon, have you been looking out of the windows? I know there's something going on.

'...Well clearly it's some kind of cyclone, or tornado or something... Of course I know those two are the same thing! Honestly, stop being a smart-mouth; what did you call me for, anyway?

'You need me to what? Mister Devlin are you absolutely—

'What? Yugi s right in the middle of all this?! You mean he's in Europe? Right now?

'Oh good grief, I... what? So wait, this thing that's going down in Vienna, the reports on all the news channels, you say that it's to do with magic? Oh, Yugi, you foolish little hero, what on earth—!

'In a minute, Devlin, I'm trying to build up a suitable dramatic atmosphere here!

'No, I honestly don't have the foggiest what that means either, but it sounds serious! What's that? Well of course I can do it, just you watch, honey. The director –you know, he's the same guy who worked on Sunset Beach in the nineties?– he's completely got the hots for me. Trust me, all I have to do is bat my eyelids at him a little and he'll roll right over. What I want to know is why?

'Really? You can do that? How'd you get access to Kaiba Corps main—

'You honestly think that's going to work? What's the matter with you, Mister Devlin, is this meant to be some kind of a prank call?

'Oh... fine, I'll trust you for now, for Yugi's sake, but I warn you if this is some kind of joke...

'Right, got it. I'll be there. Though I don't have the foggiest how you're going to—oh, you're right, I'll think of something. I'll call back when I get there!'

*Click.*

'Vanessa! Vanessa, honey, hold off on that facial, I have more urgent matters to deal with! And where's my emergency going-out-in-a-thunderstorm-waterproof-make-up kit?!'

04:10 am, Blue Estate, Cape Town, Australia.

'Ngh... H'lo?

'Whuh? Wheeler? Hang on who...? That Serenity? It's four in the bloody morning here, how'd you get this number? Mai? Damn, I told her not to spread it.

'Look sorry, but I think I'm justified in being a little grouchy when some lass in Japan calls me at four in the morning on reverse charge. Some of us have jobs, you know. No, no, I'm sorry just... Urgh, I'm a total git first thing in the morning is all. What do you want?

'In Vienna? Sure who could miss the news? Mai's there? All of them are there?

'What? Oh be serious, kid, what do you think I can possibly do?

'Oh, don't you use the blackmail card on me, Wheeler, I know your brother's game and be damned if you ain't got his genes! I'm just saying I'm nothing special, there's no way I can get into a TV studio. What about my association with Doma? What does that have to do with—

'Oh, right.

'I... (sigh). Okay, look, this isn't gonna be a walk on the beach, but I'll try. Just you make sure that Devlin sends those emails right now, okay? I am not walking into Canberra film studio only to be kicked out on my ass by people thinking I'm a lunatic ranting about the end of the world and monsters in the streets if Vienna. S'alright. Fine. And you owe me, kid.'

*Click*

Bloody teenagers, four in the morning... The things I do for you, Mai Valentine.

11:20 am, The Turtle Game Store, Tokyo, Japan.

'Hello this is the Turtle Game Store, how may I help you? Oh, Serenity, hello dear. I take I know what this call is about? Yes, I know, I've been watching the news. And judging from this phone call you're about to tell me that I was right to worry when Yugi sent me that rather rushed email the other day telling me to warn Joey that he may have to activate the Phone-Tree?

'Oh... Oh, good grief, those boy s are just trying to give me a pacemaker failure aren't they?

'No, no, I'm alright, Serenity, just tell me what is going on. This chaos in Europe, its Yugi's doing?

'No, of course I don't think he started it. Dear, why would I...? Oh, Yami Bakura. He's been giving it the lip again, I expect. Just ignore him, sweetheart, it's what I always do. He's like a moth to a candle light, eventually he'll just—

'Sorry, sorry, rambling. I'm old, unhealthy, and concerned for my grandson, it's a very dangerous combination. What do you need? Or rather what do Yugi and Yami need?

'Oh no, Serenity, I appreciate that you felt the need to warn me. Which is a damn sight more than my own grandsons thought to do, honestly, when they get back here...

'Well as it happens, yes, I do have contacts in the Middle East. Yes, and Russia. And a couple in South Africa, and Europe, of course. Assuming my old colleagues didn't rip up my number in disgust when I published that paper on Duel Monsters in ancient Egypt with Professor Hawkins that is. Funny story that actually, Serenity, I'll have to tell you sometime. But what do you need me to do with them?'

'Oh... well I'm not sure my influence extends to broadcasting, but I'll do my best, you can count on that.'

09:05 pm, Pensacola, Florida, Industrial Illusions Headquarters.

'Greetings! You've reached the Main office of Maximilian Pegasus, I'm sorry but I'm unavailable for comment right now, so if you're a journalist assume I said absolutely nothing on the subject of my upcoming deals with the Schrodinger Corporation, and if you're anyone else who thinks they may be worth my time, then please leave a message after the tone.'

*Beep.*

'Oh, damn it, only Maximilian Pegasus would be out doing business during a world crisis. Ah... Mister Pegasus? This is Duke Devlin, the head of your partner firm. Now this isn't really a business call, but as you may have noticed, we have a serious incident taking place down in—'

*Beepclick*.

'Why Mister Devlin, what a pleasure it is to hear your voice during this difficult time! I apologise, I've had so many prank calls lately that I've just been letting everything go to the answering machine. You have need of me?

'Yugi, you say? That does seem serious.

'But of course, with half of my employees calling in absent and the other half simply AWOL, I had begun to suspect that something rather monumental was up with the world order. So far I appear to be unaffected, as is the case with Croquet. And my tea lady, thank goodness. I honestly don't know how I'd manage all of this without a strong coffee and the occasional spritzer... Yes, I do watch the news.

'He is? Well, that hardly surprises me; it is so like him to be stuck in the middle of all of something like this. Oh? That's a very particular request, Dukey boy. And who, pray tell, is this Yami fellow? No, no, of course, first things first. You say you need access to my satellites? And that you wish to coordinate with... Now really, Duke, I appreciate your novelty; after all that's why I sponsored your business, but do you honestly think Kaiba Corporation would ever agree to that? You know of our little rivalry–'

'...What do you mean they've already given permission for the link up? From Kaiba himself?

'I see. And you need me to negotiate with Siegfried for Schrodinger Corp, correct? Goodness, what on earth are we planning here, some kind of worldwide military coup?

'That's quite a claim. Am I sensing a hint of desperation in this strategy?

'I thought so. Hmmm well it's just lucky for you that your partnership and skills have been such a contribution to the Industrial Illusions Empire, my boy. Of course I'll see what I can do. Oh, and Duke? Try not to let the boy do anything too overtly heroic. I know what he's like, after all, and strangely enough, I find that I'm starting to prefer him in one piece... so to speak.

'Of course. Good day, Mister Devlin. We shall speak again soon, I hope. Provided that the world doens't come to an end within the next few hours, that is.'

*Click.*

10:15 pm, Miami, Schrodinger Corp. Family Mansion.

'Well, sure, Mister Pegasus but I don't see why... Really? Kaiba Corp? No way! You're sure it was really Kaiba who gave the agreement? Because the last I checked, he said that if our company ever came within a hair's breadth of him then he'd—

'Oh. No, my brother isn't here, but don't worry about it, sir. It might actually be better if he doens't get too involved with this. I mean, it's Kaiba Corp, you know?

You've got it, sir. I'm sure I can handle the transfer myself. It's just a simple matter of talking to a few people. Do you think—I mean...

Well, Yugi, and all the others, they'll be okay, right?

'Um, sorry, I know that's not very professional of me, but whatever's going on in Europe right now, I seems pretty whacked out, I'm just concerned.

'Sure I trust you, sir. Not that I honestly believed I'd be saying that five years ago. Um. No offence. Okay. I'm heading for our Industrial department now. Shouldn't take me more than twenty minutes to get the whole thing online.

'Okay, then I'll have it ready in ten minutes. Leon Schrodinger out.'

12:00 pm, Nevada Desert.

'Ah hello? Yes that would be this trailer, wait one moment and I'll fetch her. Rebecca, dear?'

'On it, Gramps, thanks... Hey there, whatever this is it had better be very, very, very important. Yugi? Yugi is that you?! God, it had better be you, please let it be you!

'Oh, it's just you, Duke... No, sorry, it's just I've been getting all freaked out about him over here! Have you heard from them? I just know they're right in the middle of all this, I can feel it. I can't get any phone calls through: there's a lot of signal interference and I'm starting to think that's not because I'm in a trailer in the middle of nowhere. In fact, now that I think about it, how the heck are you managing to make a phone call?'

'Urgh... Magic, again? Why does it always come back to the freaky stuff? Yugi better not be getting his soul ripped out of his body again! What the heck is—Wait what?

'You're going to do a link up between Kaiba Corp, Schrodinger Corp, and I2's satellite systems and connect them to the worldwide broadcasting network? Are you serious? That's like trying to instigate a merger between Microsoft PC and the Macbook! It's never gonna happen in a trillion years!

'They've already agreed? Holy crud, now I know I'm hallucinating. Next you'll be telling me there are mutant elephants in the streets of—

'Oh never mind, Duke, what is all this about?

'Seriously? No, wait, explain that again, and don't kiddify your data for pities sakes, I have a degree, my adolescent brain isn't gonna explode from the intensity of your great wisdom. In fact I probably know more than you do.

'Oh. Sorry again. I'm just tense that's all and... Well, what you're suggesting is pretty crazy. I'm not sure it's possible to sync up so many different networks like that, not without international clearance...

'I never said I couldn't do it, but I'm going to have to call in a few favours.

'Heh, you're asking whether or not I'm up to date on the latest internet software? Devlin, I'm sitting in the most kitted out trailer in all of Nevada. And there are a lot of trailers in Nevada.

'What? Okay, I get what you're saying, but what good is that if we can't even patch a simple phone call? There's too much interference.

'Oh, wait, I get it! Yeah, that just might be enough to punch through all of this freaky interference but... what then? We'd just have one huge broadcasting signal on our hands, what do we do with it?

'Well sure. I mean it'll be a little difficult from way out here. Heh. Our little trailer might have some trouble with processing all that info...'

'What, do you think I use anything less than the best equipment? Don't worry about it, Duke. You just patch me through and tell me when you need me. Good luck, okay?

'Heh. Coming from you, Devlin, I suppose I should probably faint or something. You're welcome. Now don't screw this up. Nevada out.'

04:18 am, New York, 9th Avenue, Main Broadcasting Studio 6.

Ring ring. Ring ring. Ring ring.

'Ishizu, listen!'

'A phone call? Mistress...'

Wait a moment. Hello? Who is... Serenity Wheeler? Yes, of course I remember you. This is Ishizu, you have the right number but Serenity, how in the name of the gods did you manage to get a phone call through the magical interference?'

'You're what?

'Stop. I'm an Egyptologist, Miss Wheeler, not a computer programmer; I have no idea what you just said

'Oh, neither do you. Yes. But couldn't he take this call himself instead of expecting you to rattle off info you don't...? Oh, right. Yes, I see. He's calling everyone else. This must be turning into quite the collaborative project. At any rate, we're not in Egypt right now. We're in... Well, we're in New York. Yes, that New York.

'It's a long story, I'm sure you don't have time. Fortunately for you, a TV Studio is exactly where we happen to be.

'Yes, fortuitous isn't it? I knew it. I knew all along the Millennium Magic would not steer me wrong. Not this time. Not with so much at state. A residual magical energy remains within me, as it does within us all. I think it may have been enough to trigger a psychic reaction. Maybe this place is the key to helping Yugi.

'No, what I mean is, I know why we were sent here. It wasn't chance or fortune at all, it was fate.

'Yes, I know, you don't believe in such things. But our current location is uncannily beneficial. This is fate of a more individual kind, Serenity, the fate that people create for themselves out of their own will. Perhaps Yugi wanted us to be here now, whether he realises it or not. This is all part of the plan. But... you're right, of course, this is no time for discussion. Tell us what you need from us and we'll do it. And hurry. We are quickly running out of time.

'...Of course. Good luck to you too.'

*Click.*

'Ishizu, is everything alright? Who was that?'

'Serenity Wheeler, currently on her way to Kaiba Corporation in Tokyo Japan. And yes, Marik, I think it just might be alright now. Or at least things aren't as dark as they seemed before. We have a chance. I need you to both listen very carefully to my instructions... l I knew it. I knew this was where we had to be. The Millennium necklace spoke true once again after all.'

Ring ring. Ring ring. Ring ring.

*Click.*