Sometimes, fate proves a rascal. What seems like a day where you're at the end of your rope can often be the turning point in your career.
Take Francis, for instance. He came from a bad family living in South Deering, the part of Chicago often called the Hive. He was a dropout who sustained himself by stealing and doing errands for a chop shop, which ironically, was how his interest in D-Wheels was first kindled. The police eventually raided the shop, and he escaped arrest because he was being booked on a shoplifting charge, and as a result, wasn't there at the time.
The judge had been lenient, and had given him a week in jail and community service, which at the time, he never intended to do. After being released, he was drinking heavily in a place where nobody cared he was underage, wondering how he'd make ends meet, and then, well, picking a fight with another drunk at the bar who turned out to be an orog was what first triggered his ability to see the Shadows.
Given how significant such a thing can often be, it was, for Francis, anticlimactic. Still, the free clinic where his wounds were bandaged happened to be St. Cuthbert's House, where Karl and Nichole were volunteering that night. When they told him there was someone they wanted him to meet, he had no idea this would be a second chance.
But absolutely NO idea he'd be here at the border of the Feywild and the mortal world, looking skyward at a giant, floating, magical space station. Still, Dugan had told him, many times, that absolutely nothing in the world of Shadow would surprise him, as literally anything was possible in a universe of possibilities.
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Chapter 46
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I Second That Emotion
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In a dark room somewhere, a man sat at an old-fashioned writing desk. He was alone.
Truly alone.
He envied Sofia right now, who despite having been inflicted with nanomachines of unknown origin, had a lover who was comforting her. He envied Karen too; she was a prisoner of a hostile force, but at least had Eden to give her hope. He could even say he envied Francis, a man whose only company at the moment was a criminal who hated him and wished him bodily harm, but at least one who acknowledged his existence.
Nobody was here for this man. No lover, friend, confidant, ally, or even enemy. The silence in his safe, comfortable, and lavishly furnished personal home was one he would gladly trade for Karen's prison cell.
As he took a breath, he opened a drawer on the desk. A full deck of cards was there.
He leafed through them, looking at the Light-Attribute Psychic monsters. Then he lifted his head, noting the four cards on the desk.
As he started to shuffle, the four loose cards disappeared...
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Whenever a new fad turns into a phenomenon, there are always opportunists who try to make money by exploiting it. Such was the case with D-Wheels. The explosion of interest had been a boon for the motorcycle industry, companies like Harley-Davidson and Kawasaki doubling their profits every two years at least. Companies that profited from the repair, servicing, and marketing flourished too.
As did a certain offshoot of the marketing industry. The cheap alternative to buying a new product that was so common with automobiles.
On some level the used vehicle dealer is something to be admired, but only in the same sense a particularly lethal strain of bacteria should be admired. While both are exquisite examples of natural selection at work and absolutely worth an in depth study by future generations, there is really no benefit to being in their presence any longer than absolutely necessary, and even then, only after taking all possible precautions and safeguards.
Everywhere sentient beings lived together in groups large enough to require forms of transportation they had sprung up like weeds, people touting businesses with names like "Honest John's Dealership" whose mouths were almost as loud as their outfits (which for some inexplicable reason almost always include a cowboy hat). From horses to automobiles to now D-Wheels, there would always be a niche for people who could sell third rate goods at first rate prices without ever stopping to consider what circle of Hell awaited them when the lights went out.
Elvis McPeters (not his real name, of course) was slightly better than most, at least more so than his uncle Reed, who was in jail. Reed hadn't swindled customers more than the typical used D-Wheel huckster, but was unlucky enough to be caught. His nephew took that to heart when he inherited the place, knowing which tricks worked on which folks, and the difference between a guy you could sucker and a guy you should avoid.
Right now, it was a slow day at his place, and he was at his desk with his legs propped up, reading Sports illustrated.
Ah, America, you are great, he thought. He turned the page. But, you are also boring.
A small ding alerted him to the door opening, and he turned to see a young woman enter his store. He quickly retracted the last thought.
This odd woman's outfit seemed indecent simply for the sake of it. The upper part looked like a halter top with a turtleneck, a diamond-shaped window cut from the center with the obvious purpose of emphasizing the cleavage, as much as her short-shorts were designed to emphasize her derriere. The outfit seemed made of a shiny golden cloth, and included gloves, and boots, with blue hair down to her waist.
And she was leaning over a Dark Bullet VI, one of the best models he had.
He nearly fell over, but managed to keep calm as he stood up and straightened his tie. If he ever had a thought that this odd woman was dressed rather badly for late November in an outfit that likely couldn't hold a wallet, it was quickly drowned out by the sound of cash registers in his head…
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Francis snapped out of the awe-induced trance. Then he surveyed the field.
(Francis: 1,300) - - - - - - - - - - (Pux: 3,800)
He still had five monsters - Kozmo Farmgirl (1,500 ATK), Kozmo Strawman (500 ATK), two Kozmo Slipriders (2,300 ATK x2), and Kozmo Forerunner (2,800 ATK), with Moon Mirror Shield and Kozmo Lightsword wired to Farmgirl and Kozmourning backing them all up. Unfortunately, Pux now had one leftover Token defending (2,400 DEF) and the gigantic Kozmo Dark Planet, a monster so incredibly huge it eclipsed the moon overhead. (4,000 ATK)
"Startin' to see my point, kid?" asked Pux. "You gotta think things out better. Charge in headlong and you get into trouble quick."
"And you're the expert on that?" asked Francis.
"Maybe not 'expert', but I'd have known better than to come back here to the Feywild border alone. See, I can plan and prepare. I can think things out. You let Emotion cloud your Reason, sooner or later you crash into something."
"Says the man whose ugly face is due to the curse of the korred," sneered Francis, "caused by enough wine, women, and song to disgust even other sartrys. Fine, fine, you managed to bring the big, scary monster out. So attack with it already."
"Heh, heh, I can't kid," chuckled Pux, "that's the cost of using Infernal Smelter. So, I'll set these two cards, and it's your move."
Lord, where's Karl's Star Eater when you need it? thought Francis.
He looked over what he had, which truthfully, was a lot; Farmgirl's effect had gained him copies of Tincan, Scaredy Lion, Strawman, and Goodwitch, and he had two other cards, both Spells. Still, none were much good against that thing. He drew a seventh card from his deck…
Go on, thought Pux. Cause more of my big surprise is coming.
"I gain 1,000 Life Points from Kozmo Forerunner's effect, said Francis. "Then -"
He stopped. He noticed something.
"C'mon, kid, I ain't got all day," said Pux.
Farmgirl still has Moon Mirror shield, thought Francis, so if I attacked with her, she could, conceivably, beat that thing. And if I used Forerunner to destroy that token, and made two attacks with my Slipriders…
He looked up at the huge Machine while rubbing his chin.
Hard to believe he could be that stupid.
He was about to give the order to attack, but then..,
Actually, I don't believe it.
"Don't think so, Pux, I'll activate the Field Spell, Kozmotown!"
Field Spells that conjured up entire cities were, of course, nothing new, Judai Yuki likely popularizing it with Skyscraper. However, this one was somewhat bizarre. The giant, space age metropolis that sprung up was intimidating, but also rather gaudy. The buildings were all clashing shades of green, with other bright colors interwoven. (Like Disney World meets the Vegas Strip, he'd say later.) While the brighter and warmer skyline was a welcome change, it did little to calm him, seeing as the ominous Dark Planet was still hovering above.
"Alright, ugly, I've got four Kozmos in my hand right now, and i can use this Field to send them to my deck," he slid them there, then shuffled, "and draw four more."
The four replacements only had one monster now, but at least he had a few more options.
"Forerunner, Slipriders, divert power to frontal shields." He moved Forerunner and Sliprider's cards, and spheres of glimmering energy surrounded them. (1,400 DEF, 800 DEF, 800 DEF)
"Wrong franchise, kid," snarked Pux.
Francis set another card. "I'm done," he said.
"You sure are," said Pux with a nod. "I activate Heavy Dust Storm!"
His Trap flipped open, and dual tornadoes tore from the card, one hitting Kozmourning and the the other knocking Farmgirl down, cracking the Moon Mirror Shield.
"Tough break, kid," said Pux. "Wait, didn't that equip have some sort of effect that occurs now?"
"I pay 500 Life Points to place Moon Mirror Shield at the bottom of my deck," said Francis, through his teeth.
(F: 1,800) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
"I draw," continued Pux. Then a new Continuous Trap was activated.
"Final Attack Orders," sighed Francis. "Figures."
"Figure this!" yelled Pux. "Ultimate Emerald Super-Wave!"
Three bright green lasers issued from the sphere, combining in a conical pattern into one laser. The laser thundered down, towards Farmgirl, Francis watching, practically frozen with absolute fright…
The explosion as it hit was deafening, but he struggled pushing against the powerful wave as it covered the field, vaporizing the unfortunate Psychic…
"WHAT?" gasped Pux.
The ground where Farmgirl had been was now a smoldering crater, but Francis was in much, much better shape.
(F: 3,800) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
"Yeah, my points went up. Kinda cruel to point this out, Pux, but it was your fault." He pocketed one of his cards. "See, it was an effect of that Kozmourning Trap Card that I can activate by banishing it from the Graveyard, which I was only able to do because you destroyed it last turn. So thanks a bunch."
"You know, kid," said Pux, with a nervous chuckle, "you're really starting to get annoying. I'm ending my turn now."
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The man in the dark room put the deck down, and turned to a phone on the desk, jacked to an intercom. He punched three numbers quickly.
"International directory," said a cheery female voice. "What listing?"
"Liverpool, North West England, Great Britain," he said, stoically. "Copec Industries front desk."
He folded his hands as he waited for the connection.
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Downstairs in the living room of the Raleigh townhouse, Opal was half asleep on the couch, the television on. (Even someone like her, who was already centuries old before the idea of daytime soaps were first conceived of, could barely understand the allure behind them.) A mostly-eaten slice of black forest cake (leftover from Philip and Sofia's romantic dinner) was on the coffee table. She was brought to awareness as the phone rang. She grumbled, scrambling to reach it and the remote at the same time.
"Opal?" said Jabels' voice on the end.
"Wuh?" she mumbled. "Oh, hey, sorry, was just watching," she clicked the remote, "the news."
"I take it everything is quiet," he asked.
"Well, pretty much," she replied. She turned to a device on the counter, one which resembled an old fashioned radio, but with steady, blinking green lights. "Not much happening here, at least not outside."
The "radio" was something she was usually not allowed to use, a modified police-band radio with a special abjuration cast on it to act as a filter, only transmitting anything that would require the team's attention. But even that was quiet lately. The biggest reason Jalal had let Sofia go home was the same reason she was the only one there; Raleigh was in a Shadow doldrums this month. The harpy tribe had undergone their yearly migration, the ormyrr were hibernating until January, and it would be three months before they had to inspect the Hellmouth site again, which had seemed inert since it had been destroyed a century ago. Still, there was always the chance there was some reason for a Shadow to start trouble they didn't know about, or one came to do so after just getting lost, so they kept alert.
"Nothing yet," she said with a shrug.
"Just make sure Sofia stays put for now," replied Jabels, "we don't want another hostage crisis. And by the way, thanks for agreeing watch her."
He says that as if it was babysitting, thought Opal, as she hung up.
True, Sofia wasn't the only one who felt she was on house arrest in all but name, and this "favor" Opal was doing made her feel like a jailer. Still, after Philip had showed up (and promised her tickets to the Panthers game next week for her help) she didn't object to doing a few favors. Still, she was wondering whether to renegotiate her payment.
She sighed and turned the volume up, figuring maybe she would watch the news.
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"I'll draw, and I gain 1,000 Life Points again," said Francis. "Then, I'm using Creature Swap."
The Spell flashed into being, and Kozmo Strawman got up in response. Pux simply snapped his fingers, and a dark, foreboding craft appeared overhead, shrouded by dark fog, and the Spell shattered.
"Banishing a Kozmo from my Graveyard can negate any Spell. You really didn't think that would work?"
Francis looked a little morose now. He set two more of his cards, then just said, "Move".
"My pleasure," said Pux. "Since I'm getting rid of your Forerunner this turn, I ain't just gonna wipe you out this turn kid, I'm gonna wipe the floor with ya and then wipe ya out."
He drew, then plugged an Equip Spell into his Disk, discarding another one, Telekinetic Charging Cell. "D.D.R. - Different Dimension Reincarnation. This one should do the job."
An enormous spaceship, though not quite as enormous as Dark Planet, started to float out of the ether, roughly oblong with the rear part pyramidal, it seemed to oddly be made of a cross between metal and non-reflective black glass. (3,000 ATK)
"Kozmo Dark Eclipsor," said Pux. "This card can counter Traps the same way Dark Planet can counter Spells. And it's just gonna get worse, especially since I have this."
He took one of his other cards, and wiggled it tauntingly before turning it around, revealing it to be Dark Lady. "This is the third card I got from the Smelter, I couldn't summon it then, but I will now."
The final DOG Fighter Token disappeared, and Dark Lady strode forward again, a violet Lightsword igniting this time. (2,200 ATK) Francis slammed his fist on his disk, and a Trap opened. "Torrential Tribute!" he yelled.
"That the best you can do?" laughed Pux. He pocketed the Dark Raider card, and Dark Eclipsor fired its guns, blowing the Trap to little pieces.
"Don't you get it yet, kid?" asked Pux. "You're through! Finished! Kaput! Adios amigos! Just accept it!"
"I'd rather die," replied Francis.
"Eh, I don't always take requests," said Pux, "but why not?" He drew, then pointed, and Dark Eclipsor honed in on Forerunner; Francis covered his head with his arms to brace for the impact as Forerunner was blasted into vapor, shaking the foundations of Kozmotown.
(F: 3,600) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
"How bout a little fire, Scarecrow?" he laughed. To back that up Dark Lady created a ball of crackling flame…
"Just accept it, right," growled Francis, "Like I'd ever surrender to egotistical scum like you. I activate Memory of an Adversary!"
The Trap Card opened, and Strawman caressed its temples in concentration as Dark Lady's fiery whammy burned towards it.
"Thought we went through this already kid, I activate…" Then he stopped. He looked at his disk. "Oh, brother…"
"Well, gee, nothing left to banish?" asked Francis. "What a shame."
Soft light started to flow over the field, and Dark Lady gasped, then clutched her chest...
"Dark Lady?" exclaimed Pux. "What are you - WAIT!"
The Dark Psychic fell to her knees, dropping her weapon with a clatter. Pux could hear soft sobbing coming from her still concealed face. Then she disappeared.
"Come back!" he demanded.
"Sorry, Pux, she'll be back in two turns, but for now, she's having her quiet time. However, I take damage equal to her -"
He was about to say "Attack Score", but unfortunately, the cost interrupted him, the blow comparable to a kick to the gut.
(F: 1,400) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
"Doesn't matter," added Pux, "cause you, and him, are still about to take a trip to the scrap pile!"
Dark Planet's super-laser honed in on Strawman, honing in on the small Psychic.
"Hey, leave Dugan's cards out of this," said Francis. He flipped his other Trap while discarding a card, and as the explosion reduced Strawman to ashes, a protective dome of muliticolored light formed around Francis.
"Rainbow Life?" cussed Pux.
"What did you expect in a place like this?" asked Francis. He waved his hand, indicating the large city around him.
"Touche," said Pux. "I'll set this card, and end my turn."
(F: 4,900) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
"Draw," said Francis, doing so. "And I use the Trap Card, Brain Hazard." His third Trap opened, and Kozmo Tincan rolled from it with beeps and whirs. (0 ATK) "He can't stay, however, because I'm sacrificing him to summon this guy!"
He shifted cards on his Disk, and Tincan dissolved, replaced by a taller Psychic who looked far more human, one who didn't seem to belong among the other Kozmos. He wore a silver overcoat covered with odd circuitry, sunglasses, and part of his face covered by the bangs of his shaggy hair. (2,100 ATK)
"Overdrive Teleporter?" yelled Pux. "Wait a sec, that's," he stopped cold as Francis looked at him.
"Yes?" asked the Shadowchaser.
"Nothing," he whimpered.
"Figured as much," said Francis. "Now then, his effect requires a payment of 2,000 Life Points, but it summons a Farmgirl and a Mental Seeker."
Overdrive Teleporter lowered his shades, and his eyes underneath sparkled; twin bolts flashed from them and Farmgirl materialized on one side of him, and on the other, a much younger Psychic. It was a child with a silvery suit and cape, a visor over his eyes, and red wires tethered from his ankles to a metal belt. (1,500 ATK, 800 ATK)
A Tuner? Thought Pux. How could - Then he stopped, cleared his throat, and watched quietly as Francis set another card.
"Your move," said the Shadowchaser.
Pux drew, looking at the draw carefully. Damn, he thought. Have to save that one.
He gestured, and Dark Planet's super-laser fired again. It hit Overdrive Teleporter, and this time, Francis felt it.
(F: 3,000) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
"There's your target, Dark Eclipsor, FIRE!"
As the spaceship's powerful artillery aimed at Mental Seeker, Francis smirked again. "Now who's rushing into things and letting emotion cloud his judgment? I use Kozmo Sentry's effect."
"Who the devil is that?" demanded Pux.
"The guy I discarded to use Rainbow Life," replied Francis. "By sending the monster you targeted back to my hand, like so," Mental Seeker disappeared, his card appearing with the ones Francis was palming, "I can summon him from the Graveyard and draw that attack turn to him."
The monster that appeared this time was a tall soldier in a spotlessly clean, white military uniform and a dun-colored cape and trousers, with black hair and a bushy moustache, his hair tied back. He had a blunderbuss slung over his shoulder, which he quickly pointed upwards. (0 ATK)
"My pleasure," chuckled Pux.
"Forgot to mention," added Francis, "to get points, you take the difference between the Levels of both monsters, then multiply by 500. Your monster is Level 9, while this guy is Level 2. You can do math, right?"
(3,500 ATK)
"Son of a bitch," growled Pux. "I activate Interdimensional Matter Transporter!" he shouted. His Trap lifted and spun, and the huge ship faded into the ether again.
Damn it, how long can this kid luck out? he thought. Hmm. He looked at the Spell Card he had drawn this turn, then made a quick glance at his watch. Shit, I'm already ten minutes late, Vinnie is gonna have a fit. Well, more than he usually does.
His hand consisted of one card, the one he had drawn this turn. It was a good one, Dragged Down into the Grave, but the problem was, he couldn't use it with no other hand.
Although… he thought.
He lifted his disk, and glanced hard at the deck. Fine, next turn, I'm ending this one way or another.
As he concentrated, a common card he could easily picture in his head appeared on the top of the deck, Limiter Removal. Then, a Kozmoll Wickedwitch appeared, covering that one.
On his next turn, he could discard the Wickedwitch and gain Limiter Removal in one stroke, giving his Dark Planet another use of its effect and double the points.
Lets see him dodge it then, he thought. "I'm ending my turn kid, so guess who's back."
The Transporter hummed, and again, Dark Eclipsor ominously appeared against the backdrop of the sky.
"Mmm-hmm," muttered Francis, "that old witch, she wasn't the worst, another one was nasty first…"
"What are you blathering about?" shouted Pux, "just move!"
"A line from an old play, Pux, not that I'd expect some uncultured cretin to get it. Anyway, before I take my turn, two other things happen. One, Kozmo Sentry is banished, as is another of my monsters, the cost of using that effect."
Sentry and Farmgirl disappeared, leaving Francis with the two Slipriders.
"Stupidest card I've ever seen," grunted Pux.
"Yeah, probably why its in the deck you gave me," added Francis. "But second, due to Memory of an Adversary, I get one back!"
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Elvis approached the young woman, straightening his tie as he cleared his throat, and quickly went over the rules in his head, the ones he had used his whole life:
Never blatantly lie, but don't tell the complete truth, hethought, be enthusiastic, but not to the point of frightening, and never, ever show weakness.
"Hey there! See you have your eye on the Dark Bullet!"
"Mmm, well, not sure," she replied. Her voice and deep eyes gave him a slight chill, like the invigorating shock one gets when leaping into cold water.
"You new to D-Wheels, Miss, uh…" he started.
"Call me Yuri," she said. "Yeah, not my thing, really."
"Well, I'm telling you, and 50K, this one's practically a steal. You see -"
"Actually, I can spend more than that," she replied. "You got something with more kick to it?"
Dear God, this babe is gonna pay my entire student loans! he thought, as he struggled to avoid violating the third rule.
"Ahem, well," he said. "Well, if speed is your thing, we have the Silver Phantom 4000-X over here."
He put his arm around her shoulder and turned her towards another model.
"Move the arm," she said, bluntly.
He removed it quickly.
"Not what I meant," she said, sweetly.
She took hold of his arm, then put it where he'd had it, only lower. "So, you were saying?"
"Uhm, uh, right, this one can do zero to 80 in four seconds, and the new KPC-900 unit. You could practically drive this to China without recharging!" She looked at him oddly. "Uh, that is, if there wasn't an ocean in the way, of course."
"Awesome, we'll take it," she beamed.
This is unreal, he thought, even as she moved his arm again and jaunted forward, keeping eye contact the whole time. "So will that be cash or credit?"
"Neither, because we didn't intend to pay for it either way."
Naturally, he hadn't seen the other young woman dressed in a near identical outfit, only gold and with red hair, who was behind him, and as a result, was completely unprepared for it when she clobbered him over the head with the wrench she had gotten from a toolbox in his office.
"All right! Awesome!" squealed the accomplice. She leapt on the Silver Phantom and placed her palm on the console, initiating a hack program much like Joka's. "Looks like shore leave started early, Yuri."
Yuri mounted it behind her and looked over her shoulder, holding her enthusiastic partner's waist. "Yeah, well, we could have picked a better place for it," she answered. "Just so you know, Kei, if comes down to 'he-said-she-said' this time, I'm backing up what 'he-said'."
Barely acknowledging the not-so-subtle threat, Kei hit the ignition and with a loud "WHEE!" drove the D-Wheel of the lot, skidding down the street with all the finesse of an intoxicated drag racer.
"Watch out, everyone, the Lovely Angels are back in town!"
"So is the town, it seems," added Yuri. "Let's try to keep it in one piece this time."
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"WHAT?" screamed Pux. "No fair!"
Kozmoll Dark Lady had, as promised, returned, but not where she had been. Looking at Pux from his enemy's side of the field, she slowly removed the mask. Underneath it, her face was still youthful and beautiful, unlike either of the characters she embodied, but the same painful expression was there. She wasn't crying now. She was angry. (2,200 ATK)
"Guess you forgot how this story ended," said Francis. He flipped a Spell Card from his hand. "I'll pay 1,000 Life Points to use Instant Fusion."
(F: 2,000) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 3,800)
Using the card caused a canister like the type that held instant coffee crystals to appear from it, shake, and tip over, causing a tank-like Machine to roll out from behind him, with metal wings and a dragon-like head, a cannon barrel in its jaws. (1,000 ATK)
"No way, that was not in the deck!" screamed Pux, unable to contain it any longer.
"It was from my Extra Deck," answered Francis. "You said we could use 'anything we had', and the one you gave me only included a main deck. I never switched the Extra Deck. Now that we've established that, I'm only using Panzer Dragon to use the Spell Card, Dimension Explosion!"
The Machine shattered apart, as two portals were torn open in mid-air, one causing a third Sliprider and Farmgirl to alight on Francis side of the field, and another causing Delta Shuttle and DOG Fighter to fly from Dark Planet. (2,300 ATK, 1,500 ATK, 2,000 ATK, 2,000 ATK)
"You're crazy," said the korred.
"Yup, crazy enough to use this," added Francis.
"Brave Attack?" screamed the crook. "You can't possibly -"
He was. The Shadowchaser gestured to one of the Slipriders, where Farmgirl, now with a helmet and aviator gear, gave him a thumb's up. The cockpit closed, and it blasted into the atmosphere, the two other Slipriders following to either side.
"Your whole problem is, Pux," said Francis, even though he doubted the korred was listening, "is that you assumed I had to choose. Reason and Emotion? The Empire had neither. Nor did it have a whole lot of smarts."
Artillery fire from DOG Fighter blasted through the Sliprider to Farmgirl's right, and she spun to keep her own craft upright.
"Sure, they thought they had superior Reason, and had believed building the ultimate weapon would defeat any foe and scare any planet into submission."
Delta Shuttle's lasers pierced the hull of the Sliprider to Farmgirl's right, but she persisted, even as the Dark crafts pursued.
"A super-weapon that was sabotaged and infiltrated pretty easily, and then taken down by a small one-man craft, a disaster that crippled them and made their enemies stronger. And they never learned. In a way, what was supposed to be the greatest symbol of their power became a symbol of their biggest weakness."
Farmgirl soared past the outer perimeter ring of the station, diving through a gap in the celestial sphere, and made a beeline for the core.
"That science and technology can trump human spirit and willpower. Reason and Emotion aren't foes, Pux, they're two concepts that have to coincide and cooperate to keep the psyche stable."
Farmgirl grabbed hold of her cockpit's joystick, crosshairs centering on her approaching target. (1,500 + 2,300 + 2,300 + 2,300 + 2,200 = 10,600 ATK)
"So to answer your original question as to why I do this, well, I don't know. We could argue about morals and purpose, need and want, fate and free will, and all that shit until we're blue in the face, but the only reason that's important is, I choose to do it."
Farmgirl fired, the blast spiraling towards the core, double shots hitting directly center. She spun through the other side of the sphere, her engines igniting full thrust. The two larger ships continued to pursue, only to be engulfed by the flaming wave of plasma as the smaller craft soared ahead of it. Back down on terra-firma, the giant station exploded, vertical halos of light radiating from it as Kozmotown shook.
(F: 2,000) - - - - - - - - - - (P: 0)
Francis watched for a while as flaming debris fell from the sky, until they and Kozmotown itself faded away.
Then his eyes fell on Pux, who was cowering and shivering in front of him.
"Big surprise," he said. "Get up, pal."
"Look, look kid, we can work this out," pleaded the korred. "You said you liked theatre? I got these opera tickets I've been dying to give, URK!"
The "urk" came as the Shadowchaser grabbed and lifted him. "I really don't like crooks who try to bribe me, fellah, so start talking."
"Hey, I don't know nothin' about the Taft girl," he pleaded.
"How'd you know I was looking for her?" asked Francis.
"Bummer," sighed Pux, suddenly realizing the Shadowchaser hadn't actually told him why he had come here.
"TALK," demanded Francis. "Who told you to come here?"
"Behind you," squeaked Pux, weakly.
Francis almost laughed. "Gonna have to try harder than that, pal. And telling me my fly is down or my shoelace is untied ain't gonna work either."
"No, no, seriously…" squeaked Pux, trying to point.
Had Pux truly been lying, Francis may well have accepted the bribe later in exchange for him keeping quiet. After all, turning around to actually confirm such a claim - and falling for one of the oldest tricks in the book, if not the oldest - would have been mortifyingly embarrassing.
Still, he did just that, and hours later, would consider himself lucky he had…
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Opal was understandably startled when the special radio turned on with a "ding". She turned it up, noticing that the green light was now blue, and started to listen.
"Suspects identified as female, caucasian, about thirty, one with red hair in a pompadour, and the other with blue hair worn long."
"Say what?" muttered Opal.
"Wearing metallic-colored leather bicycle shorts and crop tops, boots and gloves, with a stolen D-Wheel."
Opal could hear a subtle change of tone from the speaker in that part. She listened and picked up the phone, hitting redial.
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"Ugh, Sheeva," groaned Francis.
Indeed, his assailant this time was the powerful - and clearly pissed -Shokkan, Pux's warning given him the split second he had needed to avoid being crushed by that lethal stomp that had nearly done him in last time. Even so, he couldn't avoid being pinned as her foot slammed down on his chest.
"We're finishing this now, human," she threatened. "I owe you."
"Can't you just write a check?" he moaned.
"Get up!" she demanded, lifting her foot to kick him. He rolled away as she stamped down, shaking the ground again.
Pux on the other hand scrambled away, scaling one of the stones behind him, barely able to believe his incredible luck. He started fishing for his iPhone from his pocket (not as easy as it looked; while his pockets were enchanted to hold far more than most could, they were so cluttered he could hardly find anything he put in them).
"On your feet," demanded Sheeva. "Grinding cowards into the dirt only annoys me more."
"Heh," said Francis. He finally got up and took a few steps back. "Not one to mince words, are ya?"
"What's to discuss?" she replied.
Clearly, Francis agreed with that, as she got a sock to the jaw as a reply, although she quickly responded in kind.
"I gotta ask, though," he muttered. "How'd you find me?"
"If you must know, someone called to tell us you were here."
"Us?" asked Francis. "Then -"
"QUIET!" ordered. Her fist slammed him in the mouth, clearly the spot she was aiming for.
Francis remembered the rather painful, brutal, and bloody fight he had gotten into, the aforementioned encounter with someone he realized was a Shadow. It was in a bar on the bad side of Chicago, and he had, at the time, figured it was only because he was drunk that he saw that rude patron as an orog. He needed stitches and dental work after that fight.
Still, the orog was simply an off-duty loading dock operator who'd had too much to drink after work, and Francis had probably instigated the fight, but at that time and place, Francis saw him as a demon from hell, likely bent on tearing him to pieces and devouring him. And it wasn't the only Shadow he saw that night. Like most young folks who had this sort of thing thrust upon them, he was terrified, frightened by monsters he had never known were real, and sobbed and shivered like a child when he was brought into that clinic. He had been lucky, however, as that was when he had met Karl and Nichole.
This woman was a demonic warrior from a hellish place, was clearly sober, was indeed trying to kill him, and hit much harder than that orog ever could have hoped to. Ironic then, how he could think on his feet now. Even when that savage left hook was followed by her even stronger right one.
"I'll tell you right now, I don't like fast dames!" he snarled.
"You think I care?" she asked. "I've bested men twice your skill."
Francis spat blood, and nodded. "Uhm, I believe you."
"You haven't an inkling of," she started. Then she stopped mid-sentence. "Wait, what?"
Francis didn't relax his stance, but went on. "Well, you have that whole Klingon mentality where life's a battle, right?" He spat again, then shifted his footing. "I figure if you guys feel you always have to fight to the brutal and bitter end over everything I would assume you're pretty good at it, General."
The emphasis on her title clearly did not have the tone one would use while addressing someone you admired or respected, even thought the words were. "So, before we finish this, tell me something, how many have you killed? Hundreds? Thousands? You folks live for centuries, I assume it's been a lot."
"Why do you even care?" she demanded.
"Look, lady, humor me here. This is the last hour of my life, you know? You're the last person I'll ever talk to."
It seemed like a grim joke, but it was clear to him that the look on her face was the same as the one he had seen back at the prison. Confusion and uncertainty, much like that he had seen so many times on the faces of recent arrivals from Shadow, those who had been yanked into a new reality unprepared, facing a new and terrifying reality for the first time. All he had to do if he did want to last more than an hour was keep the pressure on.
"You never stopped to consider it, did you?" he went on. "Never thought that any of them had a home to go to? Maybe with a wife or young daughter waiting for him?"
"Stop it," she hissed.
"How many grieving families are out there?" he asked. "How many lives torn apart? How many look at a certain Shokkan and see the monster who took daddy from them? Come to think of it, how many actually went after that monster for revenge only to be treated the same?"
"I'll rip you to…" she screamed, leaping at him.
...only to get, to her utmost shock, punched much harder than the last blow from him.
The countdown was over. The Sun Elf on his right arm now eclipsed her dark sister on his left one.
"Now we can finish this," growled the now-berserk Shadowchaser.
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Opal was a little worried, especially when she saw the green light change to yellow. She had left a message, and waiting made her tense. She was a little relieved to hear the phone ring, but frightened again when the voice was clearly not Jabels'.
"Opal?" said Jalal's voice. "Let me talk to Sofia. Now."
"S-sure chief," she squeaked, noticing that the light on that device had moved past orange and was now on red, the setting she had seen on it once since they started to use it. Way back in 1964.
When someone had tried - and nearly succeeded - in a ritual to reopen the Hellmouth underneath Raleigh.
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Brave Attack (Normal Spell)
Image: A Battleguard with blue skin and a sword, underneath the following cards: "Gazelle the King of Mythical Beasts", "Obnoxious Celtic Guard", and "Buster Blader".
Effect: Select 1 face-up monster you control. This turn, the selected monster is the only monster that can attack, and cannot attack directly. During the damage step only, the selected monster gains Attack Points equal to the ATK of all other face-up monsters you control. At the end of the Battle Phase, destroy all face-up monsters you control.
First appeared in Yu-Gi-Oh episode 146
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Kozmo Sentry (Effect Monster)
Psychic/Light/Lvl2/0ATK/1,000DEF
Effect: If this card is in your Graveyard, you may activate its effect when a Psychic monster you control is targeted by an attack; send the attack target to your hand, then summon this card from your Graveyard in Attack Position, the attacking monster must then attack this card. If summoned in this matter, increase the ATK of this card by 500x the level of the monster it battles, if the level of this card is lower. At the end phase of a turn this card's effect is used, banish it and 1 other monster you control; if you cannot, you take 3,000 points of damage. The effect of "Kozmo Sentry" can only be used once per duel.
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Jemorille: Forgive me for changing the subject again, but it seems as good a time as ever to remind everyone of something that Jalal and his men had, it seemed, forgotten at this point, with so many emergencies occurring at one time.
There were, of course, four Memory Crystals, and nobody had any idea where the Delta Crystal was, or even where to start looking.
Dunstan knew exactly where it was, which brings up another loose end I had not detailed for several chapters.
Next chapter, as Karen struggles to escape, Ferdinand's trek continues, as he confronts the final piece of the puzzle.
"Heart of Glass" is coming soon.