Chapter Five

Both Bakura and Yami Bakura were left staring at the empty space where Lector had been.

"My word," Bakura gasped.

Yami Bakura just growled. "Let's not waste any time. We have to find the others. At least we know we're going the right direction, even though Domino City's makeover certainly makes it easy to get turned around."

"To say the least," Bakura sighed. "I was so rattled by that man suddenly appearing that I momentarily forgot what you told me about being aware of the Big Five during that virtual reality disaster."

Yami Bakura shrugged. "Understandable, especially since I merely mentioned it in passing. But that's not important. The important thing is beating them at their own game and getting the city back to the way it's supposed to look."

"Yes, but how in the world will we do that?!" Bakura moaned.

He had to dive out of the way as arrows suddenly flew at him from across the street. They stabbed hard into a tree, while the two Bakuras toppled backwards to the sidewalk.

Yami Bakura snarled in further frustration. "I would say, by keeping alert for enemy Duel Monsters."

Bakura pushed himself up, mortified and concerned over having knocked Yami Bakura down with him. "Are you alright, Yami?"

"Fine." Yami Bakura growled and started to rise as well.

Bakura knelt next to him. "If this is anything like Seto Kaiba's game, maybe we have to make friends with Duel Monsters in order to clear the levels," he suggested. "Then they battle with the enemy Duel Monsters we encounter."

"That sounds similar to that Capsule Monsters game, which I also saw through the eyes of my shadow in the Millennium Puzzle," Yami Bakura grunted. "And unfortunately, I don't see any friendly Duel Monsters that . . ." He trailed off at the sound of a chattering doll.

Bakura's eyes widened as Dark Necrofear stepped out from behind a mossy tree. She regarded them both with a deadpan look and then walked over to Yami Bakura, staring him down almost expectantly.

He looked up at her. "Will you help us?"

She turned without a word. In a moment a dark blast burst from her eyes, catching whatever monsters had been hiding and shooting arrows.

"Good show!" Bakura exclaimed in relief. "Well, Yami, it looks like we've found our first friend!"

"One of my favorites at that," Yami Bakura mused, getting to his feet.

"And I think she knew it," Bakura smiled. "Why else would she go directly to you?"

"Don't forget, she's a computer program," Yami Bakura grunted.

"Well, perhaps the Heart of the Cards even works inside a computer," Bakura said.

"Part of me wants to say how completely ridiculous that sounds," Yami Bakura said. ". . . But the other part remembers how sentient the Duel Monsters behaved in Noa's world, especially that little Kuriboh." He started off down the street.

Dark Necrofear looked to Bakura, silently waiting for him to go before she moved. He blinked in surprise and hurried after his friend. "Hey! Wait up!"

Yami Bakura paused, letting Bakura catch up before walking again. Dark Necrofear trailed after them, alert for any trouble.

xxxx

Duke had been tense all night. It had been difficult to fall asleep, even after finding out that Serenity was just fine. He was still worried about hearing Nesbitt's laughter. In his dreams, he saw parts of that duel play out again, over and over, and always the worst parts.

"You mere mortals could never stand up to me!" Nesbitt crowed as Tristan fell into the radioactive pit with a scream. This time, Duke and Serenity both fell with him.

Duke woke up with a start, gasping, and sat up in bed. For a moment he stayed there, staring down at the comforter without really seeing it. Then he fell forward with a groan, his loose hair sweeping in front of his face.

It had certainly been the most taxing duel he had ever played. And after having told Serenity last night about hearing Nesbitt, she very likely might be experiencing nightmares as well.

Tristan had been hopping mad that Duke had told her. But Duke felt she had a right to know. If there was any chance that Nesbitt was coming back, they needed to be prepared. They couldn't be if they didn't know what was coming.

Duke threw back the covers and got up, shuffling to the balcony to look out. Then he went stiff. "What the . . . ?!" Outside, it looked like something out of a science-fiction movie. Giant computer chips and cards were standing up and down the street. A Barrel Dragon rolled down the road, while a Cyber Commander marched at its side.

"Oh brother," Duke exclaimed. "I must still be dreaming!"

"Must you?"

He jumped a mile. That voice was all too familiar. "Nesbitt!" he cried as he spun around.

"Affirmative," the Big Five member intoned. He was standing in the bedroom doorway.

"Hey, how did you get in my apartment?!" Duke snapped. "And what happened to the outside world?!"

"The Big Five now controls everything in Domino City," Nesbitt gloated. "This is my sector of the city. I can go wherever I want."

"Oh, naturally you'd make sure I ended up in your sector," Duke said with dripping sarcasm. "So what do I have to do to get out?"

"I'm sure you have enough intellect to solve that riddle," Nesbitt said.

"Yeah." Duke was disgusted now. "I probably have to beat your crazy game world."

"Technically it's Seto Kaiba's game world," Nesbitt replied. "We just made a few necessary modifications."

"I'm sure," Duke snorted. "And what about Serenity?!"

"The entire city is trapped," Nesbitt said. "That female's fate is no different. I'm looking forward to making the both of you suffer. And if you lose this time, you won't ever be able to be restored." Then he was gone.

"Hey, wait!" Duke yelled. He ran forward, but it was too late; Nesbitt had already vanished. Snarling in frustration and worry, Duke now made a dash for the phone.

Despite the still-early hour, after several rings the phone was answered. "Hello?" Serenity sounded half-asleep, but alright.

Duke tried to relax. "Hey, Serenity," he greeted. "How are you?"

"A lot better now that you've called." He could hear the smile in her voice. And although he hated to bring bad news, he knew he couldn't not warn her of what was happening. This was an occasion where sheltering her could be downright dangerous.

"I wish I was calling for an enjoyable reason," he sighed. "The truth is, I have to warn you, and anyone else who's there with you."

"Oh no!" Serenity gasped. "Duke, Joey left a note! It's here by the phone. He says the Big Five have taken over the city and he's gone off to stop them!"

Duke exhaled in exasperation. "Well, that figures. That's just like Joey, to go running off into something like that." And he must have decided that leaving Serenity behind would be safer for her. Duke doubted that was true.

"Oh Duke, is it true?!" Serenity cried.

"I'm sure it is," Duke said. "About Joey, I mean. I know it's true about the Big Five. I just had a visit from Nesbitt."

"Well, I can't stay behind!" Serenity insisted. "I'm going to help fight them and that's that!"

"You're not going to stay behind," Duke promised. "I'll get David and we'll both come out there."

"Oh good," Serenity smiled. "But Duke, please be careful!"

"I will," Duke assured her. That was something they were all going to have to be, he knew as he hung up. They couldn't risk any screw-ups like last time. Especially since this time there would be no hope if they failed.

xxxx

Seto looked like a storm cloud when he went downstairs. By this point, Velma and Mokuba had both relocated to the living room and were standing around feeling helpless. Outside the picture window, a Legendary Fisherman rode past on his shark.

"Seto . . ." Mokuba swallowed hard. "I know this is bad, but we're gonna fix it!"

"I'm going to fix it," Seto corrected. "The Big Five are behind this, Mokuba. I don't want them getting at you again!"

Mokuba rocked back, too horrified by the news to be upset that Seto was trying to shield him. "What?! But . . . how can it be the Big Five?" he gasped.

"I don't know," Seto growled, "but it is. I just spoke to Gansley upstairs. They're really playing for keeps this time. If any of us lose this time, that's it. We're dead."

"No!" Velma exclaimed.

"Seto . . ." Mokuba looked at his brother, his eyes shining with worry. "That means if you lose, you'll be dead! I don't want to lose you. . . ."

"You won't, Mokuba," Seto insisted. "I won't give those freaks any kind of satisfaction! I'll go out there and beat them at their own game!"

"But . . . if I don't come along, maybe one of them will break in here to kidnap me," Mokuba pointed out.

Seto clenched his teeth. He couldn't deny that was possible.

"Maybe you'd be safer sticking together," Velma ventured.

"Yeah!" Mokuba gave an emphatic nod.

"Either way could be just what they want," Seto said in frustration. "But alright, Mokuba. You'll stay with me."

"Alright!" Mokuba exclaimed in relief.

"But you should eat breakfast before you go out conquering," Velma said.

"I don't need food to give me strength right now," Seto said. "But if I don't eat, Mokuba probably won't either." He headed for the kitchen.

"That's the spirit!" Velma declared. Triumphant, she hurried past Seto and into the kitchen.

xxxx

Yugi and his group were confused as they wandered the streets of Domino. With this part of the city looking like a computer hard drive, it was difficult to know what to do or where to go. Duke's phone was busy, but Tristan's was free, and he was not pleased to hear of what was happening.

"I'll check on Duke," he promised. "I've got a score to settle with these Big Five creeps!"

"So Joey, where's Serenity?" Téa asked. "I'm sure she won't stand for staying behind."

"You're right, Téa," Joey sighed. "But she and Ma were still asleep, so I kind of just scratched out a note and went looking for you guys. Serenity's been in enough danger from those freaks!"

"She'll just come looking for you when she wakes up," Atem frowned. "Or Duke might go and get her."

"Yeah . . ." Joey scowled.

"With the whole city under the Big Five's control, Serenity is probably safer with us," Atem continued.

Joey was not pleased. "I was afraid you were gonna say that. . . ."

"Also, I'm thinking we're going to need to find some Duel Monsters to help us out," Yugi said. "Kaiba's game idea was for humans and Duel Monsters to be able to go adventuring together, right? If the Big Five haven't changed the basic gameplay, we'll need Duel Monsters to win."

"Kinda like in Capsule Monsters, huh, Yug?" Joey's eyes gleamed. "Well, I'm all for that! . . . Just as long as a corrupted Red Eyes Black Dragon doesn't possess me again. . . ."

"It could be a corrupted Blue Eyes White Dragon," Téa smiled.

Joey rolled his eyes. "Oh, you're a real riot. You must've been taking lessons in being obnoxious from Tristan."

"Look out!" Yugi yelped before Téa had a chance to retort.

Everyone looked up, scattering just in time as a Launcher Spider fired its missiles.

". . . Yeah," Joey moaned from the ground, "we need some Duel Monsters of our own."

"But how do we find them in Kaiba's game world?!" Téa exclaimed. "And where will we find one strong enough to beat that thing?!"

"Yugi! Everyone!"

The group looked up with a start. Marik was riding over to them on his motorcycle. A Revival Jam was hopping alongside him.

"Hey, a little help here would be great!" Joey exclaimed. The Launcher Spider was poised to fire again.

The Revival Jam leaped in the way to take the attack. As it reformed, the Launcher Spider beeped and growled in aggravation.

"There should be some other Duel Monsters around here," Marik frowned, getting down from his motorcycle. "And there's magic and trap cards as well, usually hidden on the ground where you can accidentally trip over them. But some are . . . floating in the air, too. . . ." He blinked at a Lucky Iron Axe, which Joey finally spotted and grabbed.

"Alright! Come to Papa!" he crowed.

"Now we just need a monster to equip it to," Atem mused. "Even with the power boost, Revival Jam would still be too weak to attack Launcher Spider."

"But Dark Necrofear wouldn't," came Yami Bakura's voice.

Everyone jumped. The Bakuras were just coming from around the corner, accompanied by said Dark Necrofear. She gave the new group a deadpan look.

Joey stared. "That thing still creeps me out," he quavered.

"Seriously, Joey? This is not the time to insult her," Téa said, rolling her eyes. "We need her help!"

Joey sighed but handed over the Lucky Iron Axe, which Dark Necrofear took with one hand while still balancing her broken doll. "Well, when you're right, you're right. But uh . . . is she already mad?"

"Oh, she will still help you, if I tell her to," Yami Bakura said.

Joey tensed. "You will, won't you?!"

Yami Bakura pretended to think. "Hmm."

"Yami!" Bakura scolded.

Yami Bakura laughed. "Of course I will. I'd never hear the end of it if I didn't." He nodded to Dark Necrofear.

Everyone watched as the eerie Duel Monster lunged at the giant machine, swinging the axe. Soon the Launcher Spider was vanquished and Dark Necrofear walked back to Yami Bakura, awaiting the next command.

"Of course, Yami was just trying to scare you," Bakura said. "He intended all along to help."

Yami Bakura didn't confirm or deny that. He just looked to Yugi and Atem. "So, what's your plan?"

"We're going to see Kaiba," Atem said.

Yugi nodded. "Who better to know how to beat the game?"

"I was with them all through the testing of the game last night," Marik said. "I could guide you. But we should check on Kaiba and Mokuba anyway. I tried several times to call, but I couldn't get through, even on Mokuba's phone." Worry flickered in his eyes.

"Yeah, I guess we should check," Joey said in resignation. "But they're probably fine for now. Even with the Big Five's messed-up rules, they wouldn't wanna off Kaiba right away. They'd wanna make him suffer first."

"Likely true," Yami Bakura conceded.

"Where are Ishizu and Rishid, Marik?" Yugi asked. "I thought you'd probably all be together."

"I convinced Ishizu that she should make sure the Big Five hadn't disturbed anything at the museum, and I asked Rishid to go with her," Marik said. "But I thought one of us should try to find all of you."

"Well, we're sure glad you came along," Yugi smiled. "But why would the Big Five be interested in anything at the museum?"

"We didn't want to take a chance with the information we have there about the Infinity Items," Marik said. "I know the Big Five are going to be trying to find ways to defeat them because of the Pharaoh and Yami Bakura."

"But isn't your information merely a couple of useless stone tablets?" Yami Bakura frowned.

"Who knows. Wouldn't it be ironic if one of the Big Five could deduce something new about them?" Marik sighed.

"It sure would," Téa groaned. "And just our luck."

"Well, let's hope they won't," Yugi said resolutely. "Let's go to Kaiba's!"

Everyone agreed.

xxxx

It was a long and strange walk through Domino City. Along the way, the group ended up in several more battles with enemy Duel Monsters and Joey found a Red Eyes Black Dragon. As with Dark Necrofear gravitating to Yami Bakura, the dragon seemed quite partial to Joey.

"Hey, now we can really cruise in style!" he exclaimed. "Let's take the Red Eyes Express to Kaiba's mansion!"

Téa eyed the dragon in a bit of apprehension as Joey petted its muzzle. "Will we really all fit on his back?" she had to wonder.

"Yeah, I think so," Joey said, and Red Eyes roared in agreement. He took the lead, and everyone else slowly got on after him. "Hey, he's probably the same one I rode when Yami Marik took over Kaiba's game! Maybe he remembers me."

"Well," Atem said, "I'm not about to argue."

"There had better be room for Dark Necrofear as well," Yami Bakura grunted.

There was, and she climbed on behind him, still silent.

"Does she ever talk?" Joey gulped.

"Not likely," Yami Bakura smirked at him. "It's part of her charm that she doesn't."

"It sure makes her creepier," Joey countered. Sighing, he added, "But I guess since she's saved us several times today already, I can't complain."

"No, you can't," said Yami Bakura.

Marik watched them all in curious amusement. "I don't want to leave my motorcycle, so I'll stay on the ground and follow you to Kaiba's," he said. "Revival Jam and I'll be right behind you."

"Suit yourself," Joey said. "Maybe you can leave your bike at Kaiba's and ride around with us then. You'll never have another ride like it!"

"I'm sure," Marik said.

xxxx

Breakfast at the Kaiba mansion that morning was unlike any other. Mokuba stared out the windows in disbelief as fish and other underwater Duel Monster types swam past. "I feel like we're in an aquarium," he gulped.

In spite of his anger at the Big Five, Seto had to admit he was still pleased. "I designed everything to look very realistic. It looks like the Big Five didn't change that aspect of my programming."

"They sure didn't," Mokuba said. "But I'll bet something will be different once we get outside in it!" He frowned. "Hey, I should really call Marik. I got so busy trying to talk to all those reporters and other angry people that I didn't think about it."

"Are you gonna call Yugi Muto and everyone else, Mr. Kaiba?" Velma wondered.

"Why bother?" Seto grunted. "I'm sure the Big Five has spread out to let them know." He got up. "And I've had more than enough of knowing they're commandeering my game for their own sick purposes. I'm leaving now to stop them!"

Mokuba hopped up from the table as well, phone in hand to dial Marik. "Alright! We're gonna bring them down and get Duel Monster Days back to normal! And hey, if we're lucky, maybe this'll actually make people more excited to try the game!"

Seto smiled a bit. That would be nice, and a good piece of irony to throw at the Big Five. But he wouldn't count on it.

As the brothers stepped outside on the porch, they stepped into the sea. But of course, since the water wasn't real, they felt only the sensation of moving water without getting wet or having their breathing supply cut off.

"I never get tired of this," Mokuba grinned.

Seto was quickly distracted. Up ahead, on the other side of the water, a black dragon was flying towards the property. Several passengers were onboard, some enjoying the experience while others clearly were not.

"Hey!" Mokuba cried. "Isn't that a whole bunch of the gang?!"

It certainly looked like it, Seto thought. And as the beast crossed through the barrier and began to swim instead of fly, Joey's yelp of surprise was easily recognizable.

"What the heck?! How high up does this water go?!" Joey craned his neck upward, staring above them at the water and the sea creatures.

"At least we're not getting wet," Téa said. "Even though it feels like real water." She reached out to touch it in surprise.

Atem was tense. "Something isn't right. So far, everything is too easy."

"Easy?!" Joey retorted. "All those fights with Duel Monsters were easy?!"

"No, but I would expect more danger from the Big Five," Atem explained. "They must be trying to lure us into a false sense of security, thinking that things won't get any more deadly than they currently are."

"How right you are, Pharaoh Atem!" boomed Gansley's voice from somewhere unknown. "And now you will deal with the first of many traps meant to liquidate you!"

"Oh no!" Mokuba gasped.

Seto looked around, his eyes flashing. "Coward!" he snarled at Gansley. "Come out and face us!"

Instead, several whirlpools began to swirl through the water. Duel Monsters who were too close quickly became caught in the funnels, their cries of surprise soon fading into the churning water. The whirlpools then swirled closer and joined together, becoming one large menace.

"Are you serious?!" Téa yelped. "Underwater funnel spouts?! I'm sure that wasn't part of Kaiba's original programming!"

"It could be," Joey retorted.

"Don't get too close!" Yugi exclaimed. "Let's turn away!"

"Don't worry," Joey bragged. "Red Eyes is strong enough not to get sucked in, aren't you, big guy?"

Red Eyes roared, fighting to turn away from the furious water. But it was too strong; within moments, he and all of his passengers were being tugged toward the vicious underwater tornado.

"It would be really great if Mako Tsunami was here right now," Téa whimpered, clutching at Atem for dear life. Atem in turn was gripping Yugi, who had grabbed Joey.

"Yami!" Bakura cried in horror.

"I have you," Yami Bakura growled through gritted teeth. No matter what happened, he vowed, he was not going to let go of this boy!

"Pharaoh! Yugi!" Seto yelled from somewhere on the ground.

"Guys!" Mokuba was panicked.

The tornado grew stronger still. As Red Eyes and all his passengers were swept up, the Kaiba brothers were also pulled into it, with cries of alarm and shock.

The only one who wasn't was Marik, who had fallen behind the powerful dragon and was only now catching up. He ground to a halt just outside the onset of the underwater section, his eyes wide in his horror as he saw the scene. "No!" he screamed. He was helpless to do a thing. All that he and Revival Jam could do was watch as the whirlpool pulled everyone into it.

"There's nothing we can even do," he said, half to himself and half to Revival Jam. "And this is most certainly real enough. It's not part of Kaiba's original program! They're all going to be hurt!"

Revival Jam wobbled in agreement.

The underwater tornado moved deeper into the sea, still carrying everyone within it. In determination, Marik revved the motorcycle's engine and sped on into the fake water, while Revival Jam swam next to him. They would follow the whirlpool until it let everyone go. And then . . . well . . . he had to hope the Big Five hadn't planned on killing everyone this soon.