Happy Halloween! BOO!
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Jalal and I don't always see eye to on issues, but one I always defend him on is the importance of the Shadowchasers and their mission. The story I abbreviate here tells why it is necessary, and why, partially, I am putting this one to paper now.
Eons ago, the world of Athas was a lush, paradise world of bountiful, plentiful forests, meadows, and plains. In this Blue Age, as it was called, the dominant species was a powerful race of wizards, and when Athas was threatened by a magical disaster called the Brown Tide that nearly destroyed the ocean, they built the Pristine Tower, which halted the disaster and reshaped Athas by ushering in the Green Age. More bountiful and beautiful than before, this predecessor race was reborn into a race your world calls halflings, and the Tower's magic caused offshoots to appear that grew into humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and the various other Shadowkind you would be familiar with. Athas was a peaceful, idyllic place.
In this Garden of Eden, however, was a Serpent. Rajaat was a halfling who, after learning the ways of magic from the archmage Setag the Dark Sage, believed the work of the Tower was a mistake. Seeking to return Athas to the Blue Age, a time where he believed ultimate power could be achieved, he dabbled in the black arts, recruited several like-minded individuals and began the Cleansing Wars.
It sounded "nicer" than the more fitting name, which would have been "multiple genocide".
Rajaat's horrible atrocities ended when Setag turned against his pupil and banished him to a prison dimension called the Hollow. Athas – what was left of it – had been saved, but at terrible cost. Today, gnomes, orcs, goblins, kobolds, ogres, lizard folk, most fey races, and trolls are extinct on Athas, with the populations of most other races reduced and still not recovered. Rajaat's own people, halflings, fared the worst, degenerating into savage cannibalistic tribes. Athas itself has become a hellish place due to the War. Most of it is a harsh, rocky deserts and badlands under a blazing sun, where even the herbivores amongst the wildlife (and the plants themselves) are capable of killing a person. Water is more precious than gold, and children learn to fight before learning to read. Slavery exists here, not out of cruelty or greed, but out of necessity; without the practice, many innocents – the few who could be considered such – would starve. Athas is now a harsh, brutal place where simply surviving is hard.
Setag the Dark Sage also still lives, and he regrets ever having taken on such a monster as a pupil… I believe I mentioned him earlier.
That's all I have to say of that now.
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Chapter Thirty-Four
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Stand By Me
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"You two are fucking kidding me!" yelled Sofia.
It was taking all the restraint Jalal had not to raise his voice right now, as he knew Sofia had been through a lot. Dr. Kohl was bemused – and puzzled – by the irony of it all; throughout most of his career, recommending a week-long sick leave with no penalties would make an employee overjoyed, and consequently, an employer would give a kidney to have an employee dedicated enough to turn it down.
Which all made this rather bizarre.
"Sofia, listen to me," said Jalal, sternly. "I've already bent the rules enough. We have to make sure those things in your bloodstream are truly deactivated and can't spread. Would you rather spend the whole week here?"
Indeed, the windowless, drab hospital room she was in didn't seem preferable. But she really didn't want to abandon the case right now, and her motives were obvious.
She crossed her arms in a sulk. "You know, Jalal, you aren't my father."
"I know," he replied. "I remember your father. He was so proud of you, although he did want me to promise that his 'little girl' wouldn't get hurt."
"What's the worst that could happen?" she protested.
"The worst that could happen?" asked Jalal. "Do you know what a grey goo scenario is?"
"Jalal…" said Kohl. Jalal lifted his hand, and he stopped.
He moved closer to Sofia and started speaking quieter. "Imagine this, Sofia. When nanomachines are finally perfected, people start to become comfortable around them and use them as liberally as they would, say, fire engines, taking this technology for granted. One day, there's an oil spill of the Gulf of Mexico, and like the previous five times it happened, a culture of nanomachines is dropped to clean it up.
"These tiny little guys are hard workers who get rid of the oil due to specific programming. They convert the petrol into material that they use to build more nanomachines, which in turn, continue the process, the size of this colony growing as it does, doing the job in a day, and once they finish, they shut down, because they no longer have any material to work with, and simply dissolve.
"But say something goes wrong. Maybe, say, a sabotage by a terrorist organization. Then they start recognizing other carbon-based minerals as petrol, and start consuming that. Then they start consuming everything carbon-based, organic and inorganic, doubling in size again and again in a matter of hours before anyone even realizes something has happened. The saboteurs clearly made a horrible mistake, but it's too late now.
"Before anyone could stop them, they'd replicate themselves endlessly, and…"
"Destroy the world…" said Sofia. There was a frightened quiver in her voice now.
"Within a day or so, yes," answered Jalal. "They'd reduce it to sludge. Grey goo, as they call it. That is the worst that could happen should nanomachines go haywire."He straightened up and started talking in his normal tone. "Fortunately, I doubt right now we're facing somebody mad enough to do it on purpose, but nobody ever expects such things. Now I want you to go home, veg out on the couch and watch television or something. Hopefully this will blow over soon."
She sighed sadly as she stood up. As she walked out of the room, Kohl turned to Jalal.
"You didn't have to scare the hell out of her," he said.
"Maybe, maybe not," he replied. "Right now we have other things to take care of." He tapped the Google Glass. "Hank, are you there?"
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"Puzzling."
Most patients, especially ones brought in by ambulance through the emergency room, wouldn't likely get a private room at Aintree University Hospital, but seeing as a few doctors were, like Jabels, members of the clergy of Pelor (and the director didn't ask questions of its largest donors) it was rather easy to arrange one on short notice.
Terra hadn't woken up yet, and was asleep, her wrists held down with reinforced straps (a precaution in case she got angry when she woke up) while a nurse was in the process of changing the original bandage on her forehead with a cleaner one. Z was talking to Jabels via hologram, while a much younger woman – with blonde hair, wearing long pants and a crop top with long sleeves, both made out of white spandex – was leaning against the wall, listening.
"I get nervous when you use that word, Jabels," said Z.
"She was sprawled out on the street?" asked Jabels.
"Out cold and beaten black and blue," replied Z. "The doctor says she's lucky; a few cracked ribs, a minor concussion, and a lot of cuts and bruises. She hasn't woken up yet, but all I know is, anyone tough enough to do this to Terra Ironhoof…"
"…would have to be a heavyweight himself, I know," replied Jabels. "What about Joka?"
"Don't worry, he's not going anywhere right now," replied Z. "I would have zapped him over, but – "
"Not a problem, we need you here specifically," interrupted Jabels. "Bring him on the way. But I'm afraid he and Terra will have to wait for now.
"What's happening next is a very delicate operation, and we can't afford any distractions." Z nodded and moved to shut the device off.
"Oh, and off the record, Z," added Jabels, "Mr. Stormbringer and I are deeply sorry you've had to postpone your sabbatical because of this mess. I may need one myself when all this is over."
"Don't mention it," replied Z. Indeed, he could hear the tired tone that Jabels' voice had taken in that last sentence.
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"Yeah, Jalal, I'm here," said Hank.
The elaborate main plaza of Erasmus University Rotterdam where its patron's bronze statue dominated the center was as busy as it ever was this time of day. (Classes lasted longer in Europe than they did in the States, but so did lunch break.) Students were there using the benches provided, some talking to each other over sandwiches and packaged food, others reading or talking on cell phones, typing on portable laptops or iPads, at least one young couple sneaking a kiss.
Hank was looking around, wearing an inconspicuous grey sweatshirt and jeans, and a knapsack slung over his arm. He guessed the reason – or maybe reasons – for the very public locale very quickly. Uomo likely doubted anyone would start a fight in such a public setting.
"You see him?" asked Jalal.
"Yeah, he tends to stick out," replied Hank.
Indeed, the figure with the trench coat, hat, and bandaged face, was standing with his back to the statue. Uomo was clearly trying to stay as close to it as possible.
Hank started walking slowly. As he got close to Uomo, the assassin turned slowly.
The Shadowchaser was surprised when he heard the click of a gun. Uomo turned to, him, and pointed it. When he saw the mark, he slowly lowered it.
"Sorry," he whispered. "Had to make sure. Mr. Richards, I assume?"
"This always how you say hi?" asked Hank. "How'd you get that past campus security?"
"With great difficulty," replied Uomo. "Believe me, this hasn't been a picnic."
"Listen here," said Hank, directly, "let's get one thing straight, I do not trust you."
"You think I'd dress like this if I was somebody who put a lot of effort into convincing people to trust me?" asked Uomo. "I can live with that."
"Good point," replied Hank. "What's the big problem?"
"This?" answered the mobster, instantly. He moved his trench coat open slightly, just enough to show that a book – the journal, actually – was tucked in an inside pocket.
He motioned with a nod towards one of the empty picnic tables, hiding the journal as he did, his voice lowering to a soft whisper. "We don't know exactly why this is so important, but it is. Two of my best friends have been killed over it."
Hank was about to ask the obvious – why he was crazy enough to have it then – but he figured he'd wait to hear it.
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About three buildings over.
B.B. Hood approached an indiscreet shed with a steel door that was padlocked and held shut with chains. A sign on the front said (in Danish English, French, Spanish, and Italian), "DANGER. Flammable objects enclosed. Intruders will be prosecuted."
"Yeah, yeah," said Bonnie. "Heard it all before. Professors are such sticks in the mud." She lifted a pair of bolt cutters and with a loud snip, snapped the chain in two
"Parents always tell kids horror stories about dumb kids who get into such trouble for being curious." Another snip broke the lock, and she dropped the tool and pushed the door open, looking at the crates of fireworks that had been stored for the Oktoberfest party.
"And even when they get to college, they still drill it into them, how playing with these things can cause kids to lose limbs or eyes. kind of makes them scared of the 4th of July." She started unscrewing a small device. "I mean, what are the chances of a student here being dumb enough to come in here, break this door open, start playing with matches, and cause a disaster!"
She yanked the lid off the small canister and a sparking flame like that of a Roman candle shot out of the end.
"You'd think they'd be more prepared for someone trying to do it on purpose," she mused. She tossed it into the shed.
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"You're kidding me, L'Trel?" shouted Hank.
Uomo had just briefly summarized the part of the journal in front of them that they had translated, prompting a rather sudden reaction from Hank.
Hank looked around, just to make sure he wasn't drawing attention. There was too much background noise, so he turned back to Uomo.
"You've heard of the place?" came the reply.
"Heard about it?" exclaimed Hank. Then he calmed down. "L'Trel was a city-state that stood somewhere around where the border of Austria and Germany is, over a thousand years ago. It was an isolated place that was technically a part of the Roman Empire."
"Technically?" asked Uomo.
"The Emperor got to say it belonged to them and the ruler of L'Trel sent a monthly pittance to Rome as 'dues', and in return, they were left alone. The Roman army wasn't keen on going there to try enforcing their authority. You see, back then, L'Trel was one of many cities that served the same purpose Backwater does now.
"As for what happened to it, well, suffice to say, if you've found information that can be confirmed, that book could be more than just some old rutter, it could –"
Then he was cut off, fire alarms rang through the whole section of the campus.
"What the blazes?" asked Hank.
"Your guess is as good as mine," replied Uomo.
Hank looked around. The two students nearest to them looked pretty annoyed as they stood up.
"A drill now?" said one of them, in Danish. "I have two chapters to read in the next hour!"
"I'm gonna call dad," said the other, "he knows someone in –"
He was cut off as the fireworks shed exploded, shaking the entire wing. Everyone in pavilion ducked, a few screamed.
They looked upwards. A plume of colored, burning smoke was rising. "Some drill," said the one who spoke first.
"Well, there's your answer," said Hank. "It's trouble." He looked at Uomo. "Think these are the guys after your boss?"
The assassin nodded. "They don't give up," he answered.
"Okay, now I'm sure the book isn't some old rutter. Gimme it, quick."
"What?" asked Uomo.
"Trust me, okay?" snapped Hank.
Then a voice echoed over the loudspeaker to accompany the alarm. "Attention students," it said. "Please remain calm. Proceed to designated fire escapes."
Of course, most of them in the pavilion were already doing so, if they hadn't already. Security guards at the exits were signaling in an attempt to keep them orderly (easier than it looked).
Uomo was about to follow, but Hank grabbed his arm.
"Let go!" shouted the mobster.
"How long have you been in this business, pal?" asked Hank. He looked left and right. "Know what a Bavarian drill is?"
"Where someone makes you think a place is dangerous just to lure you into a place that really is?" asked Uomo.
Hank nodded to him nervously. Then the hitman drew twin revolvers from his coat, and turned so his back was to Hank, who was in the process of stuffing the journal into his coat pocket, a pocket that seemed way to small for it to fit. Uomo didn't need to be told it was likely a Bag of Holding or something, seeing as he used that sort of thing himself.
"You're telling me, big guy."
Uomo recognized the voice, and spun around, only for the two guns to be yanked out of his hands. It was as if some unseen force had grabbed them. They flew from his hands, and were promptly caught by two gloved hands.
"Nice catch, Horatio," said B.B. Hood's voice.
"Horatio", it seemed, was a strange man wearing a motorcycle helmet, leather jacket, trousers, and a scarf. He deposited the two pistols in a pouch as Bonnie walked from behind him, holding an automatic shotgun this time. Pointed at them.
"You were only partially right, Hank was it?" she asked. "I just wanted everyone else to clear out. I'm not in the mood for slaughtering students –"
"Well, that's awfully considerate of –" started Hank, the sarcasm already evident.
"Raise 'em!" she demanded. This time, however, they did not. She shrugged her shoulders.
"Suit yourself," she continued. "As I was saying, you were partially right. I do have folks at the exits in case you make a run for it, but I wasn't in the mood to slaughter students this time. After what happened last time, Uomo, well…"
An odd structure started to rise around the pavilion, like walls made of transparent cards. But the "cards" weren't rectangular, they were hexagon-shaped.
"What the?" exclaimed Uomo.
Bonnie smiled. She un-cocked the rifle and put it down. "Run it you like," she said. "The barrier will be complete before you get halfway there. This time only one of us is leaving here in one piece, but I'm not going to make it quick."
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Four hours earlier.
"I wouldn't go in there if I were you."
Ferdinand turned around. Emily was sitting on the couch, still wearing her skimpy vampire costume, her legs elevated, reading an issue of Vogue.
"The boss is in one of his moods," she said, not looking up.
"Ah," he replied. He sat down next to her, and was about to put his arm around her when she added quickly, "I'm not in the best of moods either. But he says he's going to need us for 'selective research' in a while."
He stopped and withdrew it. "Tell me again why I'm doing this?" he asked.
"Uhm, something about how Red Shroud didn't pay you as much, never respected you, treated you like dirt, and never even remembered your name."
"Exactly, thank you," he said. "Ho!" There was dead quiet for a minute. "Want to hear a scary story?"
Here we go, thought Emily. "Fine, fine, go ahead."
"Okay," he said. He lifted his feet and placed them on the coffee table. About five hundred years ago in Scotland, a young barmaid is walking through the countryside alone. She's a lot like you – blonde, blue-haired, busty. And as the waxing moon starts to rise, it gets colder, and she hears a howl. Then, three highwaymen approach from ahead. It's kind of obvious what they want from her.
"She's scared for a minute, but then the howl is closer. A savage looking werewolf pounces from the trees, tears into one of the bandits and kills him. As the other two flee, the lady cowers as the lycanthrope devours his victim. Eventually he turns to her. Then he howls again.
"But then, an old man appears and hits the werewolf with a club, knocking him out. The werewolf slowly turns human again, becoming a younger, handsome man. The older man apologizes to the woman, saying this is a problem his master has."
He paused, to see if Emily was listening. She was, but seemed bored. He went on.
"Anyway, this old butler carries his master back to his keep, a rather fancy place. Eventually, in the morning, he comes to, and tells the young lady she's come at a bad time, that he's had this curse for years, and his butler has always locked him in a cell in the basement during the full moon. He recommends she leave if she can."
"And on cue, it starts to rain," said Emily, nodding.
"Exactly," continued Ferd. "Anyway, the day passes, and in the evening, the butler does indeed lock his master in the cell, while the barmaid stays by the fire. As the true full moon rises, she hears his unholy transformation and him raging, beating against the restraints.
"Then she hears pounding on the front door of the keep. Seems those two bandits have come back for revenge."
He stopped. He looked at Emily.
"In the morning, the werewolf, human again, wakes up in the front hall of his keep, naked, dirty, and covered with blood and grime. His butler is alive but unconscious nearby. He gets up in panic, throws something over himself, and eventually finds the woman, frightened, injured, along with the corpses of the two bandits, or what's left of them. She tells him he came charging in, killed and devoured them.
"The butler comforts her, then she goes on her way; but as the keep owner goes to his private chamber and the butler prepares to clean up what has happened, he notices something. The remains of the bandits were roasted over the fire.
"Which meant that either his master was a werewolf who cooked his victims. Or…"
Now Emily was a little disturbed. She looked down the hallway at the office door. What's taking so long? she thought.
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Uomo pressed his hands against the odd barrier. It was solid and felt like fiberglass, but was made of pure light.
Hank had seen things like this before, in science-fiction movies mostly. The "grid barrier" was a sort of force field dome that looked like interlocking shapes, and was efficient at keeping things out and keeping them in.
He turned and looked at Bonnie, who was sitting at a table stoking her little dog – exactly where it had come from, they hadn't a clue – while her assistant was unpacking a suitcase.
"So what now?" asked Uomo. "You set this up to make it as painful as possible?"
"See for yourself," she replied.
Horatio clicked open the suitcase. There were four objects inside that Hank recognized. Shadowchasers tended to confiscate them frequently.
"Electrode collars," he said.
"Custom made ones," corrected Bonnie. "She held her hand out to Horatio, who handed one to her. "There were disciplinary collars worn by students at a certain training academy." She snapped it on her own neck. "The one I attended."
"Where did you learn to fight, obedience school?" asked Uomo.
Then Bonnie actually laughed. It was like the cute, girlish giggle that you'd actually expect to come from someone she looked like.
Then she lifted her weapon and her voice turned cold again. "Actually, Picchiare, I called it Hell."
Horatio took another of the four devices, and then shoved the briefcase, containing the other two, with his foot, causing it to slide towards them. "It had an instructor. He was a guy who could have given R. Lee Ermey lessons. Every day he'd drag everyone out of bed at five AM, and we'd have to do lots of push ups, then a ten-mile confidence course that consisted of a low-crawl up a steep hillside, then a run through route covered with brambles, and then a mile swim upstream against the current. All of that wearing weighted training gear. Not to mention this. Which he'd activate if we so much as looked at him wrong.
"Then we had breakfast. He'd start the hard stuff later. And that was if he was in a good mood."
"You're only eighteen years old…" gasped Uomo. The tone of his voice had changed a lot since the last time.
"I wanted to join the place when I was ten," replied Bonnie, "but Jediah adamantly refused to let somebody that young join. He consented two years later. You see, I was born to do this. Born to get rid of folks like you. I graduated as a Rank-S, one of two in existence. That drill sergeant I mentioned, well, he was so proud of me."
Then she noticed that Hank was looking at her closely. She pointed the gun at him. "What are you looking at?" she demanded.
"You just look familiar, now," he said. "Class-S? Jediah? Are you – "
She pumped the lever of the gun. "Nobody here is leaving until we have a duel with those collars, got it?" she demanded. "We'll do it two on two, me and Horatio here against you two. The barrier won't retract until we do."
"Suppose I refuse?" asked Uomo.
Horatio casually took the two revolvers he had taken from him, and slammed them together in his hands, crushing them together like two pieces of clay. Then he tossed it to their feet with a slight bounce.
"No problem, no problem!" said Hank. "Uomo, do what she says, think you can handle two-on-two?"
Uomo shook his head in the negative as he handed Hank one of the collars, and Hank nodded, with his finger on his nose. Then he snapped the collar on; it was a little more snug than the ones he had used before – indeed, this had happened occasionally – but he hoped it wouldn't make a difference.
"By the way," said Bonnie. "To answer your question, yeah, this is about revenge. I was willing to just tell you to scram." She pointed to Hank. "But you should have chosen your friends better."
There was a moment's pause where Hank and Uomo turned and regarded one another with puzzled looks at this.
"What, since when were we friends?" asked Hank.
"Don't look at me, this is news to me too."
The four D-Gazers activated, and the VR grid spread over the pavilion as the visors adjusted, forming a facsimile of four Monster and Spell Zones in front of them that spread out and moved side by side in two pairs. Four Duel Disks activated and the decks shuffled.
Then Hank and Uomo shrieked in pain as the electrode collars activated.
(Hank/Uomo: 16,000) - - - - - - - - - - (Bonnie/Horatio: 16,000)
"HEY!" yelled Hank. Then he noticed that hers had been activated too, and she barely noticed.
"Just checking to see if they worked," said Bonnie, sweetly. Her smile was – unpleasant, that was the best word for it. "I'll be going first."
She made her first draw, then used a Spell quickly, which was familiar enough: Foolish Burial.
"I'll use this card to send my Vampire Grace to the Graveyard," she said, as a Monster Card – a Level 6 one – appeared before cracking like glass and falling to pieces. "Then I'll give up 1,000 Life Points to summon Vampire Blood Scout."
She played a card, and a small Meda Bat with a bloodshot, red eyeball appeared, hovering in place by flapping its wings. (800 ATK)
"Then I'll sacrifice it." The small demon turned in a dark, shadowy smear, and there was squeaking and chirping as bats flew from the ceiling and lights dimmed. Eerie mist rose, and a tall, rigid figure stood from out of them, a long-haired man in armor with red eyes and no expression. (2,000 ATK)
"By summoning Shadow Vampire here," she continued, "I can summon another Vampire from my deck, like Vampire Lady."
This time, the monster was one Hank was familiar with, the soft, sultry female vampire with green skin and hair and a floor-length violet dress. (1,550 ATK)
"That would normally mean only she could attack this turn, but it's my first turn anyway so it's no big deal. Then – because I summoned a Vampire with a Vampire's effect, I can pay another 2,000 Life Points to summon that Vampire Grace."
Another one? thought Hank. She isn't fooling around.
It sure didn't seem so, because the ground opened, and a decorative wooden coffin rose from below. The lid opened, and another female vampire sat up, stretched, and then stood up. She was a woman who looked much older than Vampire Lady, and her dress seemed to be that of British nobility, with a vampirish style. (2,000 ATK)
"This sweet old lady has an effect I can use every turn," she said, "I name a type of card, and you send a card of that type from your deck to the Graveyard. I'll name… monster this time."
Meh, thought Hank. He tapped his Disk, and the Solid Vision System reacted, as pictures of the Monster Cards in his Main Deck showed up in front of him. Okay, fine. He tapped one of them, and it disappeared, then the others too.
Bonnie set her remaining three cards, and smirked again. "Now you."
(H/U: 16,000) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 13,000)
"That's my cue," said Uomo. He drew a card, then used it. "I summon Card Trooper."
There was a series of beeps, clicks, and whirs as the cute robot rolled out in front of him. "To which, I'll apply its effect, and discard three of my cards."
He picked three cards off of his deck, and looked at them. Three monsters, of Levels 5, 3, and 1.
All right, now we're talking, he thought. He discarded them one by one, and Card Trooper beeped three times. (1,900 ATK)
"Waste that Vampire Lady, attack!"
The Machine's cannon arms fired thrice, the missiles soaring and homing in on the lesser Vampire, before they exploded, along with her. Bonnie's collar started to react slightly, buzzing and blinking, but she said nothing.
(H/U: 16,000) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 12,550)
"Uh-huh," he said. "I'll set a face-down, then activate the Spell Card, Well of Regrets." He slipped two cards into his Spell Zone, one upright, one downside. A set card and a reversed one materialized in their equivalent places. "And I'm done."
"My move," said Horatio.
So what exactly does that guy do? thought Uomo. That is, other than everything Bonnie tells him.
"I use the Spell Card, Vampire Grail," he said. He plugged a card into his Disk, and his own Continuous Spell appeared. "Then I use the effect of Vampire Blood Scout, which lets me discard one Vampire from my deck to recover it."
He did so, sending one of his cards into the slot, receiving another in return, with a sparkle of magic light. He put that aside, and went on.
"I next sacrifice Shadow Vampire so I may summon Vampire Duke."
More mists rose as eerie music played, and Shadow Vampire dissolved, followed by a caped vampire much like the typical Hollywood type rising from below. (2,000 ATK)
Odd, thought Hank. Why would he sacrifice a monster for one with the same Level and Scores?
"This monster has differing effects, depending on whether he is Normal Summoned or Special Summoned," explained Horatio. "In this case, I may Special Summon a Vampire from my Graveyard in Defense Mode."
"Guy isn't much of a conversationalist, is he?" asked Uomo.
Hank didn't answer, only paying close attention as Vampire Lady appeared, sitting on her haunches. (1,550 ATK)
"Then, I use the Book of Life Spell Card," continued Horatio. "I'll use it to summon Shadow Vampire again."
The holy ankh appeared from the Spell, and once again, the mysterious vampire appeared. (2,000 ATK)
That's why, thought Hank.
"Then, I banish the monster my partner had you discard," continued. Horatio.
Hank couldn't help but be a little startled. He took the card from his Graveyard and looked at it, then at Horatio and Bonnie. That was pretty clever, he thought.
"Now the effect of Vampire Grail activates," he said. Vampire Lady slowly rose to her feet, standing up in Attack Mode. (1,550 ATK) "The first time a time a high-Level Vampire is Summoned, so long as I or my partner controls one on the field, all defending monsters move to Attack Mode."
"So, attack Card Trooper, Vampire Duke!"
The vampire pointed and hissed, bearing sharp fangs, and dark wisps with demonic faces flew from his fingertips. The small bot sparked and exploded into little pieces.
"I get to draw one card," said Uomo, as he drew.
"Indeed," said Horatio. Vampire Lady was looking at Uomo hungrily, but the mobster didn't make eye contact. He drew a card.
"And I'll activate this!" exclaimed Bonnie, with delight. One of her set cards activated, revealing a Continuous Trap.
"Ah yes, Appropriate," said Hank. "How, uhm, appropriate."
Horatio nodded to his monster, and she sprung towards him, but Uomo quickly used his set card.
"I use Eye of the Void," he declared. "This Trap enables me to Special Summon an Infernoid monster from my hand, disregarding its Level and summoning conditions. I choose to summon Infernoid Antra."
The monster that appeared was ugly, bizarre, and weird. Picture a demonic scorpion standing on two muscular, clawed legs, with huge, wasp-like wings and a carapace. Then give it four nasty heads with needle sharp teeth in each mouth, like lampreys. Then, imagine that as a robot, and you might get a clear picture. The whatever-it-was landed with a loud THUD and shielded itself with its pincers. (2,000 DEF)
Vampire Lady set her feet back down with a disappointed look, but her master continued, setting his three cards in his Spell Zone.
"End turn," he said.
"Guess that means I'm up," said Hank. He stepped forward, making his draw. Then he quickly set four of his six cards in his Spell Zone. He looked at Bonnie gravely. "Go."
"Well, aren't we in a rush?" she said with that same girlish giggle.
"Now that you mention it, yes," he said.
"Oh, don't worry," she said. "This has been dragging on too long for me too."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Again, four hours ago.
"I suggest you try to hold onto these from now on, Dunstan."
Addams was in human form again, but the sorry condition of his clothes made it hard to hide what had happened. Still, Dunstan wasn't one to question.
"Yeah, we made it with about half an hour to spare," said Dunstan. He brought the now-recovered gears to the device, which was next to the desk, where the one recovered from Philip was resting.
"When did –" Addams started to ask. Before he could finish, Dunstan pointed to the corner of the room.
A large, hulking man wearing a business suit, his face mostly obscured by a turned up collar and a large slouch hat, was leaning against the wall, crossing his arms and watching.
Dunstan nodded and reached for the wrench.
"I'm getting tired of these sudden visits, Baroq," grumbled Addams.
"This ain't a bowl of cherries for me either," said a gruff voice coming from the hulking figure. "The boss has been in a bad mood lately from all the delays and setbacks."
Not that he's ever in a good mood, thought Dunstan, although he wasn't about to say it out loud in front of a guy like Baroq. Of course, he knew that the boss – who he and Addams liked seeing even less – was happy occasionally, and it was something everyone dreaded. It usually meant someone else was going to be unhappy.
"Well the 'minor inconveniences' keep becoming more and more frequent," said Addams, and they're starting to shift from 'inconveniences' to 'problems'. Case in point, the Shadowchasers, and now Terra Ironhoof."
"Oh, the boss knows about the Shadowchasers," replied Baroq, "and he's got a few ideas on how to deal with them. Maybe even use them in some way."
Dunstan stopped what he was doing, partially to switch to a larger wrench, and partially because he found that hard to believe. "What, you guys want to bribe them? I kinda doubt Jalal can be bought."
"That is not your concern," answered Baroq. "In fact, it isn't mine either. He has someone else working on it."
He straightened his tie and then fished something out of his jacket pocket, a manila envelope. "Keep working on the Pan Dimensional Homing Device, and when it's finished, he wants you to test it." He tossed the envelope on the desk.
"Where are you going?" asked Addams. He turned as Baroq walked to the hallway.
"To deal with the other problem you mentioned."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Well, I guess it's my turn," said Bonnie. "I draw once…" She made a draw, and smirked again.
"By banishing the Vampire Sorcerer he discarded, I can Normal Summon this guy with no sacrifice!"
Once again, a tall, dark figure appeared, and while this one was more familiar, it was no less frightening.
"Hell-o," said Uomo. He looked Vampire Lord in the eye, and it was not pleasant. (2,000 ATK)
"Oh, he's trouble, all right," said Bonnie. "Because now Vampire Grail activates, remember?"
Indeed, it did, causing Infernoid Antra to stand up, and showing that attacking was clearly not it's strong suit. (0 ATK)
"Okay, I'll build the Overlay Network," continued Bonnie, and use the Level 5 Shadow Vampire and Vampire Duke – "
There was a wicked cackle as a blood red moon appeared in the hazy darkness, which shifted and turned into a haunting face. Then, as it gave way to the Network opening, the vampires became a large swarm of bats that flew like a spiraling pattern into the center.
Then, a dark, bat-like demon made of darkness leapt from the portal and landed, its wings folding before the darkness sloughed away, changing into a devilishly handsome vampire in blackened plate armor with, oddly enough, a blood-red cross on the breastplate and shield. He had a sword made of black metal and a bat-shaped hilt. (2,500 ATK)
"Whoa," said Uomo.
"Now it's gonna get even worse!" laughed Bonnie. Both of her other set cards flipped up in unison. "Escape from the Dark Dimension, and Inferno Reckless Summon! I'll summon the Vampire Sorcerer I just banished and two of his pals!"
A swirling well of darkness opened, and a vampire with dark, dusky skin, long hair, and a handsome, boyish face rose from it. He wore a wizard's hat and a longcoat, and held a scepter topped with the same design as the hilt of Bram's sword. Then, two identical Vampires appeared with him. (1,500 ATK x3)
"Seven monsters?" gasped Uomo.
"And all you've got is one powerless one," sighed Bonnie. "Tsk, tsk. Fortunately, for you, I can only battle with mine and with all the spaces in my Zone used, I can't summon any more, but this is gonna me fun anyway."
The sword in Crimson Knight's hand turned far more crimson as its eyes met the monster's. Then both Hank and Uomo felt like they were cut in two as the electrodes went off and it the blade struck. The shear brutal force of the attack was agonizing.
(H/U: 13,500) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 12,550)
"You like that?" asked Bonnie. "I've got more where that comes from."
"Yeah, I'm sure you do," panted Hank. Then one of his Traps lifted. "I'll use Miraculous Descent." A sunbeam pierced through the fog, and light started to pour into the room; then it changed hue, turning orange, turning into the rough outline of a muscular youth, or rather, the silhouette of one. Then bronze and silver flashes combined and the figure produced a metal staff just as big as "he" was, with wings on the end and two metal snakes entwining the shaft. (1,600 ATK)
"It's called Artifact Caduceus," he said. Sorcerer lowered his staff. "Weren't you wondering at all just what that monster is your partner banished?"
"No, I didn't care," replied Bonnie.
"Uhm, Bonnie?" started Horatio.
"Vampire Lord, smash it!" ordered Hood.
"Bonnie, wait!" warned her partner.
"Heh, can't take it back, fellah," said Hank. "I activate Vault Blaster!"
Another of his Traps activated, and lightning crashed over the whole field. Hank and Uomo yelled in pain again as the electrode collar activated, but Vampire Lord wasn't so happy either.
"Think you can warn me before you do that again?" asked Uomo. He winced and tugged a little at the device.
"Sorry, replied Hank, explained Hank, as best he could with sweat starting to form on his forehead. "It costs me – sorry, I meant us – 1,000 Life Points, but Vampire Lord loses 500 Attack Points for each set card I have, which means he's had it!"
As Vampire Lord lunged, his Score dropped to 1,000, and a bolt of shining metallic light shot from the tip of Caduceus. There was more intense shocking bolts, and Vampire Lord crumbled into dust.
(H/U: 12,500) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 11,950)
Bonnie's collar buzzed, and she frowned, but not much else otherwise. "I end my turn," she said, quietly.
"In that case," said Hank, "the second effect of Vault Blaster activates, and both my set cards are destroyed. However, because both are Artifacts, that means both are summoned."
The two cards shattered into blazing pools of golden and violet light, which shaped themselves into humanoid figures. The violet light formed a male shape, and produced a fancy, round shield as big as himself, while the golden light formed a feminine shape with a crest-shaped shield that was just as big. (2,200 DEF, 2,500 DEF)
"Because I summoned Artifact Aegis and Artifact Achilleshield while Caduceus was on the field, I get to draw once."
"And I draw twice, remember that?" said Bonnie, pointing to Appropriate.
"Yeah," sighed Hank. He gave a glance at his new card, then turned to Uomo. The mobster drew.
"I summon, uh," he said. "Uh – "
There was a long pause. "Something wrong, big guy?" asked Bonnie, sarcastically.
"Most of my monsters are Infernoids, bitch," he snapped, "I can only Special Summon them with their own effect. Which I am unable to do if there is more than eight total Levels of monsters on my field."
"Oh, great," sighed Hank. He clearly meant his three Artifacts.
"The guys in my deck really aren't big on cooperation," said Uomo, shaking his head.
Bonnie broke out in a mocking guffaw. "You two are the duelist equivalents of oil and vinegar!" she laughed. "Horatio, you can use that one now."
Horatio nodded, and another of his Traps opened. "I use Side Effect," he said. "You now may draw up to three times, but for each draw you make, we gain 1,000 Life Points."
Uomo looked at that Trap, then at Appropriate. Then at Bonnie. "Well that was a cunning stunt," he muttered.
"What was that?" she demanded.
"Nothing. I'll take three."
"Don't let her get to you, Picchiare," said Hank. He peered over at his partner's hand as he drew three times. "Card on the far left, it should work."
Uomo looked over at Bonnie, who made two draws of her own, then grumbled and shoved the card Hank had alluded to on his Disk, setting the monster. "I'll set these too, and then it's your move, you, uh – " He set two cards behind the set monster and looked at Horatio. "Just what are you anyway, her porter?"
(H/U: 12,500) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 14,950)
Horatio didn't answer, but simply drew a card. "I first use Vampire Grace's effect again," he said, "and this time I will name Trap Card."
Hmm, thought Uomo. The Disk hummed, and five Trap Cards – the ones remaining in his deck – appeared in hologram form in front of his face. He touched one, and it vanished.
Hope this works, he thought.
"I will then use the Spell Card Riryoku," said Horatio. "I'll cut one Vampire Sorcerer's Attack Score in half, and add it to Artifact Achilleshield."
"Say WHAT?" shouted Hank. "You're weakening your monster and strengthening mine?"
(Vampire Sorcerer: 1,500 ATK –) 750 ATK; Artifact Achilleshield: 1,500 ATK –) 2,750 ATK)
"Indeed he is," said Bonnie, "why don't you show them why, Horatio?"
"I sacrifice a Vampire Sorcerer and Vampire Grace," he said, as those two monsters disappeared.
A two-monster Tribute Summon? thought Hank. You don't see that much anymore.
Still, he watched Horatio closely. The Sorcerer he sacrificed was not only the one he had used the Spell on, it was also the one that had been summoned with Escape from the Different Dimension. Clearly, he was getting rid of the most vulnerable monster, a smart move.
Two red, female eyes appeared in the darkness, and the fog parted. A vampiric beauty walked – no, sauntered forward. Hank's eye twitched.
This one was still clearly a temptress, but wasn't like Vampire Lady at all; Vampire Lady suggested an evil sorceress, but this one looked like the type who was trying to convince you to come close, making you want to even though you knew you were offering yourself to a predator.
Her top was incredibly daring, specifically designed to expose her cleavage and midriff, only a brooch shaped like a cross – similar to the one on Bram's armor and shield – keeping the two halves of the vest together. The ensemble had long sleeves, a skirt, and knee-high boots, all of it dark leather. And she herself had dusky skin, pale hair with bangs, pointed ears, and small, fiendish wings on her back. (2,000 ATK)
"Don't forget the effect of Vampire Grail," said Bonnie.
Uomo looked at his set card with his teeth clenched as it flipped face-up and into Attack Positon, disgorging a large bus – indeed, a bus – with black sides and a burning red interior appeared on the card, its engine sputtering and clanging, a lot of exhaust spewing from the muffler. (600 ATK)
"Seems your Tour Bus from the Underworld needs to call Triple A," laughed Bonnie.
"Very funny," remarked Uomo. "That isn't Tour Bus from the Underworld, by the way, it's Tour Bus to Forbidden Realm, and its flip effect lets me take any Fiend that isn't Light or Dark from my deck."
"Just how many Fiends in this game aren't Dark?" asked Horatio, speaking up for a change.
"Admittedly, not many," answered Uomo, "but this one will do." He stopped. "Hopefully," he added.
"Ahem, as I was saying," said Horatio, sounding a little annoyed now.
"Right, right," added Bonnie. "Vampire Vamp here really likes strong men. Or strong monsters, really. Specifically stronger than she is."
"This card's effect is one I can only use on an opposing monster with an Attack Score higher than hers," added Horatio.
Then Vamp hissed, and her eyes bore an evil light. Artifact Achilleshield floated towards her, and then beside her.
"Se can brainwash monsters?" asked Hank.
"No, looks like she can Equip them to herself," answered Uomo.
"Indeed," said Horatio, nodding in the affirmative, "and now Vamp's Attack Score increases by your monster's Attack Score."
(3,500 ATK)
"And I can do that again, should the opportunity arise, by Normal Summoning a Vampire. For now… Cut his Tour Bus off!"
Vampire Vamp actually looked puzzled for a second or two, as if not knowing how she was going to do this. She walked up to the vehicle, which, despite her vastly higher Score, was much bigger than she was, then angrily kicked the fender; causing the whole vehicle collapsed into junk with a loud series of clatters.
(H/U: 9,900) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 14,950)
Again, Hank's electrode collar went off, and so did his partner's. Hank was prepared for it this time, and Uomo seemed a little tougher, but Bonnie's cruel laugh didn't help.
"You two are sick," he groaned.
"I beg to differ, I've never felt better," replied Horatio. "It's your move, Mr. Richards."
Uomo turned to Hank. "Don't worry," he assured. "I've lived through worse. You can't make salad dressing without oil and vinegar, you know."
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Pain.
Eden felt horrible, terrible pain. The monsters her opponent was using weren't the strongest, but they were all able to ignore hers completely, and she had been taking a terrible beating, which hurt given the odd presence in the arena.
His Rainbow Flower darted at her, its stem extending and chomping on her wrist. Then Cyber Tutu's foot kicked her hard in the stomach.
The worst came last, from the thing he had, a weird creature that combined a slug and squid standing upright in the general shape of a martial artist or swami. The mental bolt from Servant of Catabolism hit her in the forehead and her knees hit pavement, her Life Points falling to 300.
Tortured Baphomet, the one monster she had right now, turned and noticed she was in pain. It's usual ferocious expression turned a little sorter, and it offered its hand.
"Back off!" she shouted. She slapped the hand away, then stood up. "I'll do this myself."
She drew a card, then looked at everything. She had Skull, he had those three monsters, and Gravity Bind. He had 3,000 Life Points, while she had 300, and –
This will work.
"I activate the Equip Spell, Tortured Device!" she exclaimed. She used the card, and spurred shackles and manacles appeared on Servant of Catabolism.
"Eh?" said the youth controlling it. Then the Aqua was forcibly dragged over to Eden's side. "THAT'S MINE!" he shouted.
"Mine now," she said. "I could attack you with it, but I'm not that petty. Instead, I'll use the Spell Card, Agony of the Tortured. By reducing the Defense Score of all my Tortured monsters by half, you take as much damage, and due to that Equip Spell, Servant of Catabolism is as Tortured as Baphomet is."
Baphomet's Defense Score dropped to 900 and the Servant's to 250 as the metal devices dug into their flesh and her opponent shouted in pain, his Life Points falling to 2,050.
"Now I'll sacrifice Tortured Baphomet and Servant of Catabolism," she continued.
The two monsters melted into a pool of sticky, crimson sludge. Then a huge behemoth started to rise from it.
It looked unreal. It was a horrid version of Kaiba's Dragon, gaunt, scarred, its fresh pockmarked, and its limbs having been broken and reset. Its wings still kept it aloft, despite being partially frayed and injured, and each slow flap caused pain, given its expression. (3,000 ATK)
"That's Level 8," he said.
"I know, I know, it can't attack you," she said. "But it doesn't need to. I'll use his effect, or rather the first of his three effects, which lets me reduce his Defense Score by half to deal 1,000 points of damage to, well, guess who."
Her opponent groaned again, his Points falling to 2,000. "I've still got a few left," he said through his teeth.
Eden discarded the last card in her hand. "Not for long. That was my third copy of Tortured Infection, and with three in my Graveyard, I can reduce Tortured White Dragon's Defense Score to zero, and, well, let me put it this way, you're through."
The Dragon howled something that sounded like horrible, terrible agony, rage, and hate, knocking the young man over on his back as the counter on his Disk ran out.
Eden held her chest and closed her eyes, feeling her heartbeat as she breathed.
Then she slowly looked at him sadly. "Forgive me," she whispered. She bent over and took the badge from his belt.
He'd be punished when he got back. Probably severely. But what she would face if she had lost was likely worse.
Ten more to go, she thought. Then I can tell her where she can stick it.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Since you like Xyz Summons so much," said Hank, "I'll Overlay my monsters –"
The darkness above them formed the wormhole grid, sucking Artifact Aegis and Artifact Caduceus inside. Gradually, a being of cracking blue light with violet waves rippling over him emerged, a sword as big as he was floating in front surrounded by the same halo. (2,400 ATK)
"Destroy the last Vampire Sorcerer, Artifact Durendal, attack one of the two Vampire Sorcerer with Slash Beam!"
The living weapon pointed at the vampire, blasting a beam of sharp light that bisected him at the waist, the two halves quickly dissolving into black fog.
(H/U: 9,900) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 14,050)
Bonnie's collar went off, but aside from a little discomfort, she didn't react.
"Uh, that doesn't hurt?" asked Hank.
"Oh, it's excruciating," she replied. "Not that I care." Seeing his expression, the girlish smile came back, briefly. "What, you think this bothers me?" Again, the innocent-sounding giggle. "I've been though worse."
"The boot camp?" asked Uomo.
"Yeah, that's what most folks compare it to," she said. "I didn't tell you about their harshest policy. Every Saturday, at about four in the afternoon, every recruit was given a performance review of the previous week. We took Sunday off, and the two with the worst scores wouldn't be there on Monday. Know what happened to them?"
She made a slashing motion across her throat with a very frightening smile.
"They killed them?" asked Uomo, who was trying to take this in.
"There was a gallows outside the barracks," said Bonnie, with a nod. "One use for it was to get rid of such, ah-heh, 'dropouts'."
"One use?" shouted Hank.
"It was probably there in case anyone wanted to kill himself," muttered Uomo.
"Well, yeah," replied Bonnie. "That happened from time to time. We also used it for a little game we used to have on those Sundays called Slash Poker."
Hank wanted to stop listening to this morbid – and downright ghastly – description, but he couldn't. It was oddly interesting.
"Suffice to say, it's a poker tournament where you can bet everything, your money, belongings, clothes, and if you have nothing left, your life." Then she noticed the way they were looking at her again. "Oh right, and I suppose that's totally different than the Shadow Duels that all the famous duelists from the King of Games on down put themselves through on their way to the top?"
Uomo changed the subject. "So why risk your life intentionally to train yourself to get rid of guys like me? Is it all over the wolf that ate your grandmother?"
You're not helping your case, Picchiare, thought Hank. But Bonnie giggled again and went on.
"I admit I had nothing against them personally at first," she remarked. "See, where I come from, hunting Shadows can be rather profitable, materials in their bodies like blood, bone and ichor usable for various reasons, like research into bio-engineering and –"
"You are sick!" shouted Hank, interrupting her.
"Pardon?" asked Bonnie. "You said that already."
"I'm saying it again!" he shouted. "I've seen some heartless bounty hunters in my time, Hood, but that, that isn't even hunting, it's more like –" He stopped, as if trying to find the right word. "Harvesting sounds more appropriate. It's ghoulish! You like doing this?"
He coughed, went "ahem" and started talking in a lower tone.
"You know, Bonnie, you may have been wrong when you called the two of us 'friends', but anyone who hates you must be doing something right."
"Damn straight!" added Uomo.
"What do you want me to tell you guys?" she asked. "That I was abused by my father? Beaten? Abandoned? Bullied by cruel peers and strict disciplinarians, unpopular and unloved?
"Well, maybe that's the case. Maybe. Or maybe I'm just some indescribable aberration. Someone born with a soul so dark, so twisted, so full of unrelenting anger and utter hatred that it defies analysis."
Again, she smiled with a darkly evil half smile, and Hank's blood turned to ice.
"You can argue the 'how' all you want, you can weigh the theories of Machiavelli against those of Rousseau and counter with Freud, then argue 'extenuating circumstances' all you want. Knowing the past isn't going to change me."
"Maybe not," said Hank. "But if I learn from the past I can prevent you from hurting anyone else." He fit one of his cards into his Disk and a new set card appeared behind Durendal. "It's your move."
Bonnie quickly dropped the look, and drew a card. "I use the Spell, Recurring Nightmare," she said. The Spell Card appeared, and the Graveyard on her Disk started to hum.
"That's far enough!" interrupted Hank. "I'm using Artifact Durendal's effect! See, by using an Overlay Unit, the effect of your Recurring Nightmare is changed, so that now it destroys an opponent's Spell or Trap Card. And because I only have one card that qualifies –"
The Spell Card turned into a facsimile of Dust Tornado, and a powerful wind mixed with burning thunder blasted his set card. Then, an orb of blue, sparking light turned into a new man-shaped silhouette, along with a man-sized claymore emitting the same light. (2,100 ATK)
"And because I summoned Artifact Moralltach to the field, I can destroy one of your cards!" Bright, flashing blades shot at Crimson Vampire Knight Bram, slicing and cutting into his armor before he was blasted into dust.
"He's toast."
"Clever," said Bonnie. "You went for him because you thought I couldn't use Vamp this turn, huh? Well, nice attempt, but too bad." She turned another Spell Card in her hand around. "I'm going to sacrifice Vamp using Mystik Wok. Before anyone makes any really bad jokes here, let's just say I sacrifice Vamp, then gain 3,600 Life Points."
Nonetheless, Vamp did look a little surprised right before she disappeared, and Bonnie closed her eyes with a pleasant sigh.
"But," she continued, "because she was equipped with a monster, she comes back right away! And it only gets worse from that point, because I'm sure you remember Vampire Grace's effect right?"
Hank was trying hard to forget, but he did. Indeed, as both the young and elderly female Vampires appeared again, he started to understand how this strategy worked.
Bonnie can't use the monsters Horatio summons and vice-versa, he thought, so they're using a whole set that can be summoned from the Graveyard again and again easily. When Horatio summons one, it's no small feet to make sure it's in the Graveyard later so Bonnie can transfer it to her side during her turn!
(2,000 ATK x2)
"Now for Vamp's effect," said Bonnie. "Uh, if you will?"
Vamp turned to Artifact Durendal and whistled slyly. It obeyed, flying over to her and next to Bonnie as Vamp's eyes turned blood red. (4,400 ATK)
"Oh, we are so screwed," said Uomo.
Vamp hissed again and stared menacingly at Artifact Moralltach. It shook as the wicked attack hit it, then blew into small iron filings. Hank and Uomo groaned again, their collars reacting.
"Had enough?" said Bonnie. "Don't think so!"
Sorcerer pointed his staff at Hank and Grace conjured up orbs of green eldritch energy, and flaming bolt from both sizzled through the air, hitting the two allies.
(H/U: 4,100) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 15,650)
"We okay?" groaned Hank.
"If I said yes, would you buy it?" asked Uomo.
Then Bonnie interrupted, and one of Horatio's set cards lifted up. "I activate Necro Overlay!" she shouted. "By paying 2,000 more Life Points, the Xyz monster that was just destroyed is summoned to the field. All I have to do, is use two monsters that are the same Type and Attribute to use as its Overlay Units!"
The Network opened again, and Vampire Lady and Vampire Sorcerer both turned into digitized light as Bram bounded down from above, holding his sword threateningly as he did so. (2,500 ATK)
Strange, thought Hank. I heard that old story so many times. I've never thought this before, but, could whoever first told it have possibly been a little biased against the Big Bad Wolf?
That was what he was thinking of as the undead knight charged him.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
It was an hour after Baroq had left Capek, and both Ferdinand and Emily knew that Dunstan was making progress on the device. The angry cussing and demands for coffee had decreased by about half in the past thirty minutes alone.
The two of them, being a little more well-rested, were engaged in an odd sort of research in the break room, having taken some boxes with some rather unorthodox materials out of storage.
Strewn on the table were comic books, manga collections, video games, and DVD collections of films, live television, and cartoons (both anime and western). Forms of popular media dating from the 80s to the present were piled around haphazardly.
They were skimming through them along with handwritten notebooks and Ferd's iPad. This had been the favorite part of their job at first, but it did get to be tiresome at times.
"This?" asked Ferd. He picked up one issue and showed it to her briefly.
"Mmm, might be okay but a little too obscure," she said. "Give that a seven."
"This?" he asked. He showed her another. Bonnie looked at it and gave it a long thought.
"Mmm, might have worked five years ago, but under this new writer, those two have been kind of campy. Give that one a seven too."
Addams came out of the washroom, straightening his tie after changing into a new suit. "How's it coming?" he asked.
"Slow," replied Ferd. "What are we aiming for again?"
"Let's try sanity this time," replied the efreet. "Bad enough they won't let us send that psycho back where she came from. I don't want a repeat with this."
As he opened the door to the office, Ferd took the two sevens he had just looked at and crossed out those numbers, replacing them with threes. Emily nodded, and picked op another one.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Hank was in the middle of a nightmare. Like a waking nightmare.
Vampire Vamp was caressing and kissing him, all while holding him down firmly with one hand. Hank tried hard to scream, but his mouth didn't obey his head.
"Hush, hush," she said, her husky voice oddly relaxing. Then she kissed him longer and deeper. Even stranger, her kiss was pleasant and, well, invigorating.
"HANK! Hank!" shouted Uomo. Hank sat up, as his ally was slapping his face. "Slap out of it!"
"GUH!" gasped the Shadowchaser. He looked at his opponents, Bonnie and her monsters looking well, annoyed.
"Oh good, for a minute I thought I'd have to find some smelling salts," said Bonnie with obvious sarcasm.
Hank looked at Vamp again, very closely. Healed me? he thought. She healed me? He voicelessly spoke one word with his lips, "Why?"
Vamp didn't respond, but did give a slight sideways glance to Bonnie, and it did not seem like she looked happy.
(H/U: 1,600) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 13,650)
"Can we finish this sometime before the school has to close for Christmas break?" asked Horatio. "It was still Bonnie's turn, I believe."
Bonnie tipped her head, then used a Spell Card, which caused a firebird to appear behind her briefly. "A Feather of the Phoenix lets me toss one card to take one from my Graveyard, then set it on top of my deck." She got the one she wanted, then Horatio's other Trap Card lifted. "Then I'll use turned to Uomo. "Your move, flyboy."
As Uomo drew a card, he saw something rather odd. Vampire Vamp wasn't the only one who looked pissed. Grace looked annoyed too, and was looked at Bonnie the same way Vamp was, though the corner of her eye with an expression that, well, pretty upset.
Interesting, he thought.
"I banish an Infernoid from my Graveyard to summon Infernoid Patrulea!" he announced.
Like the other one, this creature looked like a mechanized demon, a gaunt, skeletal one with a goat's head and legs, fan-like wings, and claws on its hands. (1,800 ATK)
"And because it's only Level 4, I can follow up by banishing two others to summon Infernoid Attondel."
The new one was twice as big as the other, with an armored torso, huge, wings that might have been leather if the whole thing wasn't mechanical, a dragon-like head, and a long, lashing tail. A blazing core burned in its chest. (2,800 ATK)
"Boy, are they UG-ly!" laughed Bonnie.
"Looks are only skin-deep," said Uomo. "As life reminds us, repeatedly." His concealed eyes looked directly at Bonnie as he said that. "Let's start with Infernoid Patrulea. By forfeiting its attack this turn, it can destroy one Spell or Trap Card, so you can say arrivederci to your precious Vampire Grail!"
Three burning nail marks raked across the Continuous Spell and it burned up like a flaming scrap of paper.
"Now I attack with Infernoid Attondel! Destroy Vampire Grace with Entropic Surge!"
Its attack was like a howl, but made no real noise, creating what was like a void in wave form. Grace was clearly in a lot of pain as the odd projectiles bombarded her.
She shattered, but Uomo wasn't done. One of his set cards opened and revealed. "I use Chains from the Underworld!"
Vampire Grace reappeared, her wrists bound by shackles a chain encircling her chest, securing her to the ground. To Hank's shock, she didn't seem as upset as most monsters would in such a situation. (1,200 ATK)
"In exchange for this, you draw once," he said.
Bonnie was a little confused, as was Hank, but she did so, only to give out a little shriek as Attondel attacked a second time, the wave killing Grace a second time in a row.
"I'll set one monster," he continued, placing another card on his Zone, "and then, I'll use another effect of my Infernoids, sacrificing it to banish Grace from your Graveyard."
The set monster turned to a shower of burning embers, and Grace – or rather her spirit – appeared for a brief instant, then disappeared. Hank was almost sure he heard a small sigh of relief.
(H/U: 1,600) - - - - - - - - - - (B/H: 11,050)
"Okay, you two just stopped being funny," said Bonnie.
"Oh, I can be a barrel of laughs if I want to be," replied Uomo. "It's your move, Horatio, so make it. I'm eager to show you too just how funny I can be."
"Easy, big guy," said Hank. "We're not playing 'good cop, bad cop here'."
"Who's playing?" snapped Uomo.
"I don't doubt he is serious," added Horatio, "but in the meantime, because he destroyed Vampire Grail, I am now able to play Vampire Mirror, which I'll equip to Crimson Knight Vampire Bram."
Well, this is one fine mess I've gotten myself into, thought Hank. The Equip Spell appeared, but before Hank could react to it, Horatio continued, playing a new monster.
This one was – strange. It was female, but didn't look like Vampire Lady or Vampire Vamp. Indeed, she hardly looked like a vampire at all. The young, shapely, attractive woman was modestly dressed in an old-fashioned dress and skirt, maybe a little low-cut with a girdle that accented her bust slightly, her pointed ears indicating she was an elf, and long, flaxen hair. The only feature that seemed out of the ordinary was a veil covering her entire face. (1,600 ATK)
"Just like Vamp can equip one of your monsters to her," said Horatio, "Vampire Druid can equip one of my monsters to one of yours."
The strange vampire produced a wooded cudgel, and pointed to Vampire Lady while making a motioning gesture with it. Vampire Lady looked at her, then at Uomo's monsters, then made a fast flying tackle towards Infernal Attondel…
"What the," said Uomo. Then Attondel shrieked as Lady dove into its chest, literally. (1,800 ATK)
"As you can see, that reduces your monster's Score by 1,000 and also nullifies its effect. With that, I conclude my turn."
And I'd better score a winner here, thought Hank. Here goes. He drew a card, and compared it to his others. Hmm, this might… Yeah…
"I'll summon Condemned Maiden," he said.
He used the card, which shone to call down an angel that had – clearly seen better days. She wore a dirty, torn peasant's outfit with a hood, which didn't quite hide her talon-like hands and fiendish horns. A patch covered her right eye and her wings were broken and molting. (100 ATK)
This monster has a useful effect, he thought. Just hope I'll last long enough to use it.
"It's your move…"
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This looks like the right room.
The large man – presumably – that Addams had addressed as Baroq looked at the door to the private hospital room, that was locked with a digital combination; clearly there was someone inside they didn't want getting out.
The door would be good at keeping people out too. Forcing it open would likely trigger an alarm. Not that it would be easy to do it without the entire wing noticing.
He looked very closely at the lock, and as he did, his eye changed color, from brown to metallic blue. Numbers flashed in front of him in a digital font, eventually revealing the numeral 04578.
Huh, never would have guessed that, he thought. Then he blinked, and his eye turned turquoise. The numbers started to flash again, and change, turning purple as they turned to 68937X.
Of course, there was no X on the numerical keypad used to input the combination, but he personally didn't need one. It clicked open.
Time to pay Ms. Ironhoof a visit, he thought.
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CHAIN OF THE UNDERWORLD (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: A muscular figure made entirely of darkness pulling and throttling Tyranno Infinity with a barbed chain.
Effect: Activate when an opponent's monster is destroyed and sent to the Graveyard. Special Summon that monster to your opponent's side of the field in Attack Position. It loses 700 ATK. Then, your opponent can draw 1 card.
"Chain of the Underworld" first appeared in the original anime episode "On the Wrong Track (Part 2)".
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TORTURED WHITE DRAGON (Monster Card)
Dragon/Light/Effect/Lvl8/3,000/2,500
Effect: There can only be 1 face-up "Tortured White Dragon" on the field. Once per turn,you may reduce the DEF of another face-up "Tortured" monster to zero to activate 1 of the following effects:
When this card destroys an opposing monster, its controller takes 1,000 points of Effect Damage.
Your opponent takes 200 points of damage for each "Tortured" monster in your Graveyard.
Destroy 1 face-up monster on the field. If you use this effect, this card cannot attack in the same turn.
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TORTURED DEVICE (Spell Card)
Equip Spell
Image: Lady Assailant of Flames casually walking through a medieval-style village with Tortured Ox on a leash, bound with an elaborate iron frame that restrains his limbs.
Effect: Take control of the monster equipped with this card. The equipped monster is treated as a "Tortured" monster and its effects are negated. Destroy this card if you control no face-up "Tortured" monsters besides the equipped monster. During the End Phase, reduce the equipped monster's DEF by half of its total DEF. If the equipped monster's DEF is 0, destroy the equipped monster.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
AGONY OF THE TORTURED (Spell Card)
Normal Spell
Image: Berfomet, wounded with his face bruised, chained to a dungeon wall. Kozaky is prodding him while Injection Fairy Lily, grinning evilly, is behind Kozaky holding a tray of devices.
Effect: Reduce the DEF of all face-up "Tortured" monsters you control by half; your opponent takes the sum of the amount reduced in Effect Damage. You may only activate this card during your first Main Phase, and if you do, you may not use the effects of "Tortured" monsters in the same turn.
The proceeding three cards were designed by 7th Librarian. Credit goes to him.
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VAMPIRE BLOOD SCOUT (Monster Card)
Zombie/Dark/Effect/Lvl2/800/400
Effect: This card cannot be used for a Tribute Summon, Synchro, or Xyz Summon for any monster except a "Vampire" DARK Zombie-Type monster. If you control no monsters, you may pay 1,000 Life Points to Special summon this card. If this card is in your Graveyard, and was not summoned previously in the same turn, you may discard a "Vampire" DARK Zombie-Type monster from your hand or deck to add this card to your hand; this effect of "Vampire Blood Scout" can be used once per duel per player.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
VAULT BLASTER (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: A woman in a crop top, short-shorts, and a very long ponytail in a desert canyon by a temple door, dodging an explosion that tears it off.
Effect: Activate when your opponent declares an attack. For each face-down Spell and Trap Card you control, inflict 500 points of damage to your Life Points, and then reduce that monster's ATK by 500 per face-down card until the End Phase of the turn. After the resolution of this effect, destroy every face-down Spell and Trap Card you control; cards destroyed in this manner may not be activated.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
NECRO OVERLAY (Trap Card)
Normal Trap
Image: Vampire Lady and Vampire Sorcerer in a cemetery, both dizzy and confused, looking ready to collapse. A dark shape resembling Crimson Knight Vampire Bram is in the background.
Effect: Activate only when an Xyz monster you control is destroyed by your opponent's card effect. Pay 2,000 Life Points and select 2 monsters you control that are the same Type and Attribute as the destroyed Xyz monster. Then, Special Summon that Xyz monster from your Graveyard, and attach the 2 selected monsters as Xyz materials.
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VAMPIRE GRAIL (Spell Card)
Continuous Spell
Image: A close-up of Crimson Knight Vampire Bram's face with a surly look, holding a wine goblet made of grey, tarnished metal and odd, skull-like designs.
Effect: If you control this card, once per turn, if a "Vampire" DARK Zombie monster is Special Summoned or Normal Summoned, all monsters in Defense Position are moved to face-up Attack Position. If this card is destroyed by your opponent's card, effect, you may select 1 "Vampire Mirror" from your hand or deck during your next Standby Phase and Equip it to a monster you control.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
VAMPIRE DRUID (Monster Card)
Zombie/Dark/Effect/Lvl4/1,400/1,600
Effect: If this card is Normal Summoned, you may select a Level 4 or lower DARK Zombie-Type monster you control and 1 face-up opposing monster; equip your selected monster to the opposing selected monster. A monster that is equipped with a monster via the effect of "Vampire Druid" cannot use its effect and its ATK is reduced by 1,000. If you use this effect, "Vampire Druid" cannot attack the same turn.
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Jemorille: B.B. Hood was a killer who liked to kill. She was an unrepentant sadist and was proud of it. Hank had rarely seen anyone, human or otherwise, possessed of so much hate.
And the worst part was, her claims about their decks being "oil and vinegar" could not have been truer. Hank's deck and that of Uomo could hardly have been less in synch with each other. On the other hand, Bonnie and Horatio had a carefully planned strategy with nearly identical decks.
The result? The two reluctant partners were getting their asses handed to them. Badly.
He hated it when someone like Bonnie was right.
To be continued next chapter, where more will begin, much to the Shadowchaser's" regret. "The First Cut is the Deepest" is coming soon.
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Shadowchaser Files: Personalities
Athena of Monaco
The Louvre in France has long been known as an exhibition of and beautiful art, but not much ever changes. Tourists go there to see the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and then Nike of Samothrace, but rarely spend much time giving much thought to anything else. It has been rare that the Louvre has gotten a newsmaker, as the art it displays isn't found too often.
Athena of Monaco was a godsend and a curse.
Most statues dating back to the 2nd Century BC are in good condition, and the team in Monaco who uncovered the intact statue of three women could not believe their good fortune.
The statue is not only intact, but very, very detailed, and shows a woman with a youthful face with short in a simple toga and sandals in standing pose, a sword carried but held in her relaxed hand, pointed down. Her head is turned slightly to her right, with a stern and suspicious expression.
It didn't take long before red tape was cut through and Athena of Monaco, as the statue was dubbed, was featured at the Louvre as part of a larger showing, and after proving the most popular attraction, made into a permanent exhibit.
And then strange things started happening.
It started small. A couple of teenagers would watch the statue for a while, smirk at it, and laugh, and as they turned around, hear giggling. Only for a second. After a return trip to the exhibit, they might claim to have seen her smiling and waving out of the corners of their eyes, only to freeze back into a statue when looked at with a full glance.
Then a man would bring a candy bar into the exhibition room, disobeying the rules of the place, and hide it behind his back when someone saw him open it. When he thought he was alone again, he'd see it had a large bite taken out of it, and a sly smile on the statue. (Which went away when he looked again.)
Then it got stranger. A small child got separated from her parents and started crying. A security guard told her to sit down and not go anywhere for five minutes while he got his supervisor. A delay turned five minutes into fifteen, but when the guard and the supervisor got back, the girl was smiling. She claimed the statue had given her a hug to comfort her.
Eventually, incidents with the statue – which were clearly magical in some way – started to become more and more commonplace. Security guards on the graveyard shift barely batted an eye anymore if a donut were taken from the break room when they were on duty, or if someone had switched the radio there to a channel nobody had listened to when they had been gone. Especially after the odd presence often left coffee for them that was better than the guy in charge of making it.
But then the phenomenon got more serious. Two muggers accosted a woman about a block away from the museum, only for someone – whom the victim described later as someone resembling the statue – to charge in and savagely beat the two criminals within an inch of their lives. A similar incident occurred days later involving Shadowkind, a thoul to be precise, and this time, she had her sword; the perp was lucky to escape with his life.
It was this incident, of course, that attracted Shadowchaser attention. While most everyone influential director was reluctant to have anyone "molest" the statue (it was only becoming more popular and a bigger draw) some Aware directors eventually consented to letting it be studied.
Partial Secrets Unraveled
After casual attempts to discern the statue's enchantment were attempted and efforts to communicate it failed, it was discovered that it was a living creature – not a golem, the first assumption – under a powerful enchantment. "Athena" is actually a ghael, a very powerful type of eladrin, one with powers putting her on the borderline between mortal eladrin and those with divine power.
The stone form is a very rare state called Magical Quiescence, or "quiet inactivity". It would seem she's fully conscious and aware of her surroundings, but it is not known what condition there is for her to enter or leave the stone state, if there is one. Whether this eladrin is in this form voluntarily, or had it forced upon her, is not yet known. Nor is the reason.
Both possibilities raise concern, and a lot of unpleasant possibilities. It's possible that this eladrin is the victim of some vile villain who cursed her with this state. However, it is also possible that she is the vile villain, and that this is a punishment.
What has senior Shadowchasers – Jalal included – concerned is that they have encountered rogue ghaels before, and while they have never seen this, they aren't surprised.
Ghaels are known to be tricksters who love to have fun with humans. By their definition of "fun", that is. The all-too-common stories of genies who purposely twist the meaning of wishes, like say, hook a man up with a female efreet when he asks for a "hot girlfriend". (Men who make it through such a girl's idea of a romantic date often change their phone number fast.) Or when a homely girl asks to be attractive, and the next thing she knows, attracts metal like some powerful electro-magnet. (Or in the case of truly evil genies, lightning.) Ghaels do that a lot, and it's just one example. Thing is, the rarely-seen rulers of eladrin are wiser, and are often not amused by their subjects tormenting humans too much, and ghaels who go too far can be punished for it. Severely.
Some have suggested the stone form is such a punishment, and that the Louvre may well have a potentially dangerous criminal in their midst. On the other hand, it's very possible the dangerous criminal in question is whoever did it to this ghael. Whether she is ultimately victim or villain, it is impossible to tell for now. She either can't or won't communicate, or even let herself be seen out of quiescence for more than a few minutes.
There's also the question of what she would do if ever released, if she's even thought that far ahead. Jalal hasn't disregarded the idea that it might be safer to prevent it, but without more information, he can't be sure.
For now, the museum steadfastly refuses to remove the statue, and Jalal is at a loss at the moment at a way to force them. (Sadly, he's encountered a lot of situations like this over his long career.) For now, the museum has agreed to station live guards in the room where she is displayed in hopes that she eventually decides to share her secret. Assuming she can.
Story Ideas
Again, Athena's goals and motivations, as well as her background, has been left purposely ambiguous for authors to play with. Good or Evil, or a mixture of both, it's hard to tell. Indeed, her real name isn't even known right now, the name "Athena" being used simply for identification purposes.
Assuming her condition is a punishment, then exactly how to use her in a story would depend on just how repentant and how willing to change she would be. (Fans of Sabrina the Teenage Witch know how effective a punishment like this was on Salem. On the other hand, at least one source says Sabrina's aunts are under a similar curse for the crime of "gross magical misconduct", having their ages reduced to around that of their niece, which is considered bad for witches, as it means they aren't legal adults; they seem to be behaving better.) It's even possible that Athena's condition is self-inflicted; the backstory of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword gives an example with Zelda's sacrifice.
Possible storylines to this end could include first finding the cause of Athena's condition and how to remedy it, leading to either a redemption quest or mission to cure. Should it not be a punishment, whatever curse she is under likely has an orchestrator that would serve as a villain.
Whether Athena herself is Good or Evil, there is a second party involved here, and that second party is likely a big factor.
Deck Suggestions
Eladrin are a Shadow race so in tune with magic that it's rare for toddlers among them not to be able to understand wizardry. As a result, they not only take to games like Duel Monsters easily, but also the game's eldritch backgrounds, and duels involving them can cause terror unlike anything mortals have ever seen. (Even if you're an ally.)
As far as actual strategies go, Prophecies would be the most logical possibility, followed by Performages and maybe Fortune Ladies.