Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Virtual Nightmare
Episode 8: Volcanic Activity
Story by: jodalita
Written by: jodalita
Duel Academy can be seen in the distance. Within the walls of this institution, all computers systems are inoperable and students have been asked to remain in their dorms and to refrain from any dueling. Four students have been unconscious in the infirmary until one of them, Tyranno Hassleberry, suddenly wakes up. He rises from his bed and takes out his Duel Disk. Miss Fontaine and Mokuba quickly run towards Tyranno, surprised to see him up and awake.
INFIRMARY, DUEL ACADEMY
Fontaine (concerned): Thank goodness you woke up! Are you feeling okay?
Tyranno: What do you mean?
Fontaine: You've been unconscious for hours. We were really worried.
Tyranno: Well, I've never felt better in my life.
Tyranno turns to her side, noticing Mokuba standing next to her. He suddenly realizes something.
Tyranno: Wait a minute… if it isn't Mokuba, all grown up. I could recognize you from a mile away.
Mokuba: I don't remember ever seeing you before in my life, though you do seem familiar.
Tyranno: Never mind what I said. It's nothing.
Mokuba: Anyway, what can you tell us about your condition?
Tyrano: Nothing. My mind is completely blank. Now, if you'll excuse me…
Before finishing his sentence, Tyranno has already begun to walk away, throwing his Duel Disk to the ground and breaking it to pieces.
Fontaine (surprised): Wait… where are you going?
Tyranno: My apologies, but I have business to attend to.
Mokuba (confused): Business?
While still confused, Mokuba sees the shattered Duel disk on the floor, kneels down, and picks it up.
Mokuba: You're lying. What aren't you telling us?
After hearing this, Tyrano suddenly stops right before entering the hallway.
Tyranno: I'm sorry. What was that?
Mokuba: While you were unconscious, I was working on the Duel Disk you were wearing. Even though it looked like you were asleep, the electroencephalogram (EEG) showed Beta waves present in your brain as if you were fully awake.
Tyranno: Am I supposed to understand what you're saying?
Fontaine: But how? Beta waves are only present in the brain when a person is fully awake and aware of its surroundings.
Mokuba: Exactly, so let me put it in simpler terms. Your body was unconscious, but for some reason your mind wasn't. Which means you must be able to remember something.
Tyranno: Either way, I don't remember anything. I swear.
Mokuba: I don't care. You're not going anywhere until we run some tests on you. Whatever the reason is for your waking up might help us to get the others back.
Tyranno (upset): Fine. How long is that going to take?
Mokuba: Why? Are you in a hurry?
Tyranno (thinking): "As a matter of fact I am. According to my calculations, it has been 13.4 minutes already since I escaped from the Virtual World. If I don't stop Noah soon then all of this will be in vain. "
Fontaine: He does seems perfectly healthy. That's what matters most, right?
Mokuba (to Fontaine): I guess you're right. We better take care of the others. I'll work on the other Duel Disks while you run some tests on Mr. Hassleberry.
Suddenly, the door to the infirmary is slammed wide open. A male student wearing an Obelisk Blue uniform is carrying another female student in his arms. He seems very worried.
Atticus: Please, I need some help! My sister…
Mokuba and Miss Fontaine examine the immobile body of Alexis in his arms, noticing an operational Duel Disk in her left arm.
Atticus: She just won't wake up. All she did what put on her Duel Disk, and then… Please, Miss Fontaine!
Mokuba: Calm down, kid. Put her in one of the beds.
Everyone steps aside and Atticus quickly moves Alexis to the bed where Tyranno used to be. He gently puts her on the bed, while Miss Fontaine grabs a blood pressure cuff and begins wrapping it around her upper arm.
CAVE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Far in another world, Alexis continues to walk through a field of rocks under a red sky. She has been waking for a while, but it doesn't seem to be taking her anywhere. She is still able to hear the voice of her brother in the far distance.
Atticus (in an echo): Don't worry, Alexis. I'm here for you.
Alexis (loud): Would you stop that and tell me where you are already? You're freaking me out.
Atticus: (in and echo): Miss Fontaine will take care of you. You're going to be okay.
Alexis: Miss Fontaine? The school nurse? What does she have to do with…?
Just as Alexis is about to give in, she notices a bright red light coming from the ground a few feet away. She runs towards it, only to be forced to suddenly stop before reaching it. She sees currents of lava many feet wide separating her from the other side making unable to cross through. Far on the other side she sees an opening in one of the walls, leading her to the sunlight and out of the place where she is in.
Alexis: So I'm in a cave, which means that's got to be the exit. How am I going to get there?
Voice: I'm glad you asked.
Alexis follows the origin of the voice which seems to be coming from above. Suddenly, a man wearing a black suit and sporting brown hair and a beard appears descending slowly from the ceiling of the cave. He lands on the other side of the lava current, right in front of Alexis.
Man: I was wondering when my opponent would show up. Too bad it ended up being you.
Alexis (upset): What is your problem? Who are you supposed to be?
Man: You can call me Lector, also known as former General Assistant Manager and right hand man of the former President of Kaiba Corp. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Miss Alexis Rhodes.
Alexis: Wait… how do you know my name?
Lector: I know everything about you, from your excellent grades to your close relationship with your brother Atticus. Too bad he couldn't join us.
Alexis: Well, are you going to help me out or should I just move you out of the way?
Lector: I have a better idea in mind. How about you help me out by surrendering your body to me? Once I defeat you in a duel I get to escape to the Real World in your body, but if you win you're free to go. How about that?
SHORE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Back in the Virtual World, Jaden and Syrus have been laying on the sand for what seems like hours. While contemplating the ocean, they discuss about the fate of their friend, Tyranno Hassleberry. There seems to be no trace of him or Crump of the Big Five anywhere on the beach.
Syrus (sighing): What do you think happened to him?
Jaden: I don't know. Maybe we should try looking for him.
Syrus: How? For all we know, Crump already escaped to the Real World. We barely know where we are or how to get out of here.
Voice: Perhaps I can help.
They both turn around as soon as they hear the voice coming from behind them. Noah is standing a few feet away with both hands in his pockets. Jaden and Syrus get up and decide to confront Noah once again.
Syrus: What do you want this time?
Noah: I was hoping your friend would win his duel with Crump. It seems I was wrong about you.
Jaden (upset): What is that supposed to mean? Our friend is gone for good and all you have to say is that you're disappointed?
Noah: I am truly sorry for everything that has happened but I had no choice.
Syrus: Time's up, pal. Tell us what this is all about.
Noah: Very well. I think it's fair that you know everything.
CAVE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Alexis: I have no idea what you're talking about. Would you mind explaining things to me?
Lector: Fair enough. Listen closely to what I'm about to tell you.
Alexis: Hey, I'm all ears. Start talking.
Lector: Fine. About ten years ago, my associates and I were part of an organization known as the Big Five, working for Kaiba Corp and under the command of its former president, Gozaburo Kaiba. As the Board of Directors of one of the most prestigious companies in the world, we were in charge of every important decision to be made. That was until his adoptive son, Seto Kaiba, took over.
SHORE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Jaden: What happened then?
Noah: Seto had a little brother called Mokuba who was always by his side. By giving Seto the 2 of the company he owned, he was able to take over and Gozaburo was forced to disappear, never to be heard from again…
CAVE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Lector: Seto's leadership was not one that we were comfortable with, so we decided to take over Kaiba Corp for ourselves. For this purpose, we created the Virtual World you see all around you.
Alexis: You mean none of this is real?
Lector: Only your mind has been uploaded to the system. Your body is in an unconscious state somewhere in the Real World, waiting for me to take over it.
Alexis: What happened to your real bodies?
Lector: Last time we met with Seto Kaiba, we created the Virtual World to keep him out of our way, but his brother Mokuba and his friends intervened and we were forced to upload our minds as well to take care of them. Unfortunately, everything went wrong. Seto escaped and we ended up imprisoned in this Virtual World for eternity, or so we thought.
SHORE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Noah: Years later, the Big Five returned and tried to take over Kaiba Corp by trapping Seto and his friends in this Virtual World once again, but they failed. Now, the only chance they have of ever returning to the Real World is to take possession of the bodies of others.
Syrus: But why us? We have nothing to do with any of this.
Noah: The fact that you are students at the same institution created by their greatest rival is more than enough reason for them to go after you. Not only that, but the five of you are considered to be the top ranked duelists at Duel Academy.
Jaden: Hold on… What do you mean the five of us?
CAVE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Alexis: Is there anyone else here?
Lector: We needed five bodies, one for each of us, which means that we needed five students for our plan to work. Some of your friends are being ambushed by the other members of the Big Five as we speak.
Alexis (worried): That means Jaden is also here…
Lector: … as well as the GX Tournament Champion, Chazz Princeton, and two of the duelists who won the highest amount of GX medals, Syrus Truesdale and Tyranno Hassleberry.
SHORE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Jaden: You're kidding! Alexis and Chazz are here too?
Syrus: Where are they? Are they dueling?
Noah: Not yet, but it's just a matter of time. You have to find them before that happens.
Syrus: But Alexis… she's pretty good, right? She can win against any of the members of the Big Five.
Jaden: Sure. She's an Obelisk Blue after all. She can defeat pretty much anyone.
Noah (disappointed): Hmm, I doubt it. You're not the good duelists I thought you were. For the looks of things, I'd say she doesn't stand a chance.
CAVE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Alexis: Why are you telling me all this?
Lector: I figured since you have no way of escaping I might as well just let you in on what your friends are up to… should you happen o see them again, but I wouldn't count on it.
Alexis: Still, for someone who was supposedly the President of Kaiba Corp's right hand man that was a pretty dumb move.
Lector: Don't play smart with me thinking you have it all figured out. There are many other things you do not know as of yet. But enough talk. I think it's time we begin our little game.
Alexis: But wait, I still have questions… how do I get out of here?
Lector: I'm afraid it's too late now. After all, I have business to take care of and I have no time to waste. Well, are you ready to duel?
Alexis: I still don't know what you're really after, but I am not going to let you get away with it. Let's get this over with.
SHORE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Syrus: Well, you're wrong. Alexis is one of the strongest duelists I've met. I know she can win.
Noah: Would you be willing to bet her life on it? Or better yet, her freedom?
Jaden: He's right. We can't take any chances.
Syrus: Well, then. Let's go find her.
Noah: Then it's decided.
Noah makes a hand gesture and a wooden door appears behind Jaden and Syrus. They both turn around and look at it in shock.
Noah: Enter that door. The passageway you will see will take you to where your friend is. It is a long way to get there regardless, so I suggest you hurry up.
Syrus: Wait… what about Hassleberry?
Noah: What about him? He lost his duel, didn't he?
Syrus: Technically, sort of… but that's beside the point. Where is he now? Is he okay?
Noah: He's still alive, if that's what you mean. His mind that was linked to the Virtual World was converted into data. On the other hand, Crump's data was transferred to his body. I'm afraid there is nothing I can do to bring him back for the time being.
Jaden: Well, how do we get him back?
Noah: The only way to accomplish this is find Crump and somehow return him to the Virtual World. Since the body originally belongs to your friend, Crump will be separated from it and you will have a chance to upload your friend's mind back into his physical body.
Syrus: Great. How are we supposed to get him back to the Virtual World? Since we're trapped here and all…
Jaden: There is only one thing left to do: find the others and get out of here.
Syrus: How do we do that? Noah?
Syrus turns to Noah and looks at him with a threatening gesture. Trying to intimidate him into doing what he asks, Syrus looks very confident in himself for once. However, Noah does not look intimidated in the least, which causes Syrus to worry a little.
Noah: Not yet, I'm afraid. And don't you look at me like that.
Jaden: Come on! You said it yourself. Why can't you get us out of here?
Noah: I never said I couldn't. Of course I can, but I won't.
Syrus: Well, why not?
Noah: Because regardless of how useless you have proven yourselves to be for my objective, I still need you to take care of the Big Five for me.
INFIRMARY, DUEL ACADEMY
Atticus paces around impatiently just as Miss Fontaine finishes with the physical examination on his sister Alexis. She turns around and delivers the news to Atticus and Mokuba.
Fontaine: She seems to be in the same condition as the others.
Atticus: Please, tell me what is going on. Is my sister gonna be okay?
Fontaine: I wish I could tell. None of them have been able to wake up aside from Mr. Hassleberry.
Mokuba: Speaking of which…
Just as he begins to turn around, Mokuba finds himself grasping for air as he is grabbed by the neck by a powerful grip and pushed backwards, throwing him to the floor. As he tries to recover from the fall, Mokuba manages to see Tyranno as he quickly runs out of the infirmary.
Atticus (loud): Wait… stop!
Just as Atticus begins chasing after him, he feels a hand grabbing him by the wrist and preventing him from going further. He turns around only to see Mokuba holding on to him.
Mokuba: Wait… I'll go after him. You stay here and help Miss Fontaine with your sister.
Fontaine (scared): What? But what about the students?
Mokuba: I'm sorry but I have no idea what he is up to. I need to find him and stop him before something terrible happen. I can't risk the safety of a student by letting you go after him, Atticus.
Still out of air and trying to remain conscious, Mokuba gets up on his feet with the help of Atticus and begins pursuing his attacker. Already out of the infirmary, he sees Tyranno a few yards away turning around a corner.
Mokuba (thinking): "Who are you? What do you want? And most importantly, where have I seen you before?"
SHORE, VIRTUAL WORLD
Jaden (defeated): Fine, you win. What do you wants us to do?
Noah: As might already know, there is two members of the Big Five which you haven't encountered, and then there's Crump. So, let's make a deal: you find your friends and make sure the Big Five are all taken care of, and in exchange I will give you your bodies back. What do you say?
Syrus: That doesn't sound too fair.
Noah: Well, no one is asking you. How about it? Deal?
Jaden nods in approval and extends his hand towards Noah. Noah extends his own and both shake hands.
Jaden: Deal, though you're giving much of a choice.
Syrus: I still don't think we can trust him, Jaden.
Jaden: Hey, what other choice do we have?
Noah: Excellent, now about your friend…
Jaden: You mean Hassleberry. Is there really nothing you can do?
Noah: Hmm… I can upload part of his mind data into the deck that he left behind. That way he will always be present with you, at least in spirit.
He sees the Duel Disk Tyranno left behind after his duel and walks towards it. Noah then grabs the deck within it with one hand and presses his other hand on top of it. The deck glows with a bright yellow light for a few seconds after which it returns back to normal. Noah walks over to where Jaden and Syrus are and hand over the deck to Syrus.
Noah: There. At least you know where he is. How you manage to move his mind from his deck to his real body? That I leave up to you.
Jaden: Okay, let's do this. Come on, Syrus.
Jaden nods in approval and walks towards the wooden door that materialized earlier. He opens the door and sees a long passageway with black tiles on floor, ceiling, and walls that seems endless. Syrus still holds Tyranno's deck in his hand, contemplating the first card on top, Soul Raptor, the one monster that nearly won the duel for him. Syrus then puts the deck in his pocket and runs towards the door, only to see Jaden disappear as he enters the passageway. Before going in, he stops in his tracks and turns around to look at Noah face to face.
Noah (impatient): What is it?
Syrus: Listen… I know you're only doing this for your own personal reasons, but thanks anyway for all your help.
Noah: Just go.
Syrus stops for a few seconds. After gathering enough courage, he turns around and fearlessly jumps into the passageway, disappearing as well. The wooden door closes behind him and with a flick of his fingers, Noah disintegrates it. He then turns around and reminisces of his first encounter with Syrus.
Noah (to himself): You shouldn't thank me. Not after you see what I have in store for you.
After saying this, he dematerializes the same way he did before, his purpose unknown.
CARD OF THE DAY:
Soul Raptor
Dark, Level 4
[Dinosaur/Effect
You can remove from play up to 3 Monster Cards in your Graveyard to increase the ATK of a Dinosaur-Type monster on your side of the field by 300 points for each card removed from play, until the end of your turn. This effect can only be used once during your turn.
ATK/1200 DEF/700