(...Cli-Flash...Cli-Flash...Cli-Flash, Cli-Flash)
"Rgh, hey!"
Turning back the clock to the same night as the events surrounding Number 7 and Charlie McCay, somewhere within a darkened but reasonably-nice neighbourhood pathway, we witness a different brand of trouble taking place, in the form of a mysterious young male who carries a camera attachment for his own Duel Disk and was currently throwing his opponent off with the exposure flash...
"Some say photos bring back memories of the past, but mine do the opposite."
The pictures are printed instantly, and he holds them up while boasting,
"They bring forth the future, and the future says that you'll be losing this duel!"
The victim of this strange activity - also male but whom we can see is a dusty brunette wearing onyx black pants with a gray black t-shirt under a purple unbuttoned short-sleeve - refused to believe in such a claim.
"Whadda ya know about the future?! That camera of yours, a-ain't even digital!"
"I can sense the fear behind your voice...and you have right to be afraid because the future, has now arrived!"
An X amount of turns pass...and the brunette's yell would ring out towards the moonlit sky as he meets defeat...
Staring down at his newly defeated opponent, the other young male says,
"I hope you remember what you learned here today...But if you wake up later and it's all a fuzz, take a trip down memory lane on me."
And we see that the photographs he tossed to the ground before walking away, held highlights of the duel itself right before they even occurred!
Time Skip, Athena's POV
It's been a little more than half hour since I exited the hospital with Astral and Tiffany after visiting Caswell, while Jamal chose to stay behind and keep our more injured friend company, and I gotta tell ya, if I wasn't feeling sick to my stomach because of all the drama going on behind the scenes of this tourney before...I am now.
We decided to stop by the city river to try and collect ourselves...but bitterness is all can taste in my mouth as I sat on the stairs, holding my head in a single hand while the elbow was propped atop my knees.
"God...I knew things were gonna escalate, but I was hoping the craziness would pace itself...I wanna believe some part of my advice stuck with Shark, but, after earlier, it's hard to say."
There was no mistaking that look in his eyes, the look of vengeance from a thousand versions of Hell...
On the other hand, after seeing what Quattro was all about, I can't really blame my friend for being so hot under the collar.
Hell, I'm still feeling the burn in my chest after that duel I had to watch.
Brushing my fingers against the very light bandaging around my other hand's knuckles Tiffany insisted upon before we left the hospital even though there wasn't much of a break in skin, I let out a puff of breath and narrow my face into a grim expression.
"I don't wanna prove Terry right by sayin' it, but...Dueling's really become an outlet of violence as of late, and I don't just mean physical. People are being hurt mentally, emotionally, spiritually...Shark...Kite...they're both scared but won't admit it, scared of getting others involved in their shit because they're already knee-deep in trouble. Jamal, Caswell...they just got hurt. God, no one's been safe."
Slapping a palm against my upper thigh which startles my two friends currently with me, I exclaim,
"I'm not safe, dammit! Putting the major excitements aside, it's been too quiet in terms of that bastard Trilos, which means either he's already qualified for the finals...or he's hiding somewhere, waiting for the right moment to jump me. Either way, the longer the time before our confrontation stretches...mph, (hangs face in hands) the more duelists he's gonna dish a serious beating to as a way to 'kill time'."
I hear Tiffany chide my name in concern...and as I slowly remove my hands, I mutter with a helplessly sad smile,
"...Where the frig has my life gone?"
Gathering Number Cards would be an easier job if we could just cut the damn, irritating and troublesome noise they blare...
"Hey, Addy, look over there."
Allowing a moment of distraction, I cast my eyes to where my more chipper friend was indicating, spotting a rather ginormous air ship that kind-a looked like a whale imitating a jet.
Huh...
"Must be giving flights to commemorate for the World Duel Carnival."
"Mm, probably..."
Turning around so her blue eyes were fixed on me, she proposes with a gentle smile and tone,
"I get this is a bit of an intense time for you right now, but, how 'bout I try to get us a pair of tickets? Maybe a ride in the skies could help reorganize your thoughts."
"Hm...I dunno, Tiff..."
Moving so she was sitting beside me on the small case of steps, my BFF places a palm on my leather-padded shoulder to give me another vocal nudge, her tone showcasing more of her worries.
"It won't be that long a ride, I think, and...I don't like seeing you this way. I just, want to bring you to center again, even if it's just for a little while...Please?"
Man, she makes it impossible to say no sometimes...
You know what? Screw it, what the hell? If it's just gonna keep goin' downhill from here, may as well enjoy the drop, or part of it.
Forcing up a half-smile, I mutter,
"Alright, you win; we'll go check that flying whale of an airship out, but don't expect me to pay my fare."
Giving me a quick squeeze with a happy giggle, Tiffany replies as she bounces back to her feet,
"I already said I'd be getting us tickets, anyway, but I'm glad you're willing..."
Snatching up my hand, she tugs me to my own feet and starts leading us along to the direction where the airship would've landed.
"Come on, we better hurry over there before we get stuck in a huge line at the ticket kiosk."
"Sure thing, Tiff..."
"...That was fake."
Humming in confusion, I glanced up at Astral who was hovering with us on my left side, and eyeing me with an expression of critique.
"That smile you gave to her as you agreed to her wishes held no truth to what was reflected in your eyes...You are doing this for her sake, and not your own peace of mind, correct?"
To argue the opposite would've damned me to a session of pointless back and forth...so I just let out a quiet breath and nodded discreetly at him while replying telepathically,
You've gotten real good at reading behind the surface text...and, yeah, you caught me.
I don't really feel that amped for checkin' out the airship...but, I don't wanna cause anymore worry for Tiff.
"So you're choosing to lie to her about how you really feel."
I am...yet I'm not since she already has a good idea.
Besides, who knows? Maybe this might do me some good and my depression's just making me stubborn.
...It has before...but just 'cause my parade's getting rained on, doesn't mean I should have to steal another's umbrella.
"I see...Observation Number 17: humans will sometimes convey words that they know another wants to hear, but isn't always what is truly in their hearts. They harbor their troubles within, to try and avoid dragging others down with them. This strategy may work on some levels...but it can also be very harmful, if left unattended for too long."
...I couldn't find a way to reply to that, and just chose to look straight ahead of myself to avoid Astral's eyes...while also fighting this weird feeling in the back of my skull, like, I was being watched...
Trilos's POV
Keh, little punk has no idea I'm here...Must be more muddled in 'er drama than I expected.
I was just passing by the river on my way to meet with a few flunkies of mine for our daily check-in at the club since I, the active leader, am technically off-duty for this tourney, when I came across my target of interest with that little gal pal of hers...
I stopped to listen to her from a distance as she gabbed on and off about how disheartening Dueling's become, grinning a little in satisfaction when she came to the part about her paranoia regarding our delaying meet and punch.
Hm~, scared are we, Berserker? Heh, good, 'cause you should be.
Cracking the knuckles of my fist, I mumble to myself with a smirk while watching the pair of girls walk to where that airship's suppose to be parked at,
"Just gotta bide my time for the perfect opportunity, not only to beat you...but to hit your heart where it really hurts."
For now, I can reside with makin' the hairs on your skin stand on end...
Small Time Skip, Athena's POV
Tiffany, Astral and I had just arrived at the large park square acting as that big airship's main landing spot, and that weird nagging feeling still hasn't left me. Yet, no matter how many times I peer around from our vantage points, I find nothing that warrants a threat...
"Addy?"
Snapping out of my latest critical daze, I pivot my head towards my BFF who was looking at me with a perplexed expression in her facial features.
"Is something wrong?"
"Uhm, I don't think so...I just keep getting this creepy vibe breezing my skin, like there's eyes leering at me."
Smiling at bit nervously but reassuringly, she replies,
"I see...I'd call that a definite sign that you need a break from everything."
Humming in agreement, I think to myself,
She's probably right; my mind's just being a little overactive...Still...why won't it stop?
"Okay everybody, say cheese~!"
"Chee~se!"
"Huh?"
Turning around to those new snaps in the mundane quiet, I could see some dude who looked between mine and Astral's age (I dunno how old he is where he comes from [nor does he, for that matter...], so we've guess-timated that he's at least a year or two older than I am in human years) who was taking a picture of a sextet group of friends.
"That's a keeper."
As the young boys smile and ask for copies of the photo to be sent to them, I hear Tiffany hum,
"Hey...I know him! That's Cameron!"
Cameron?
She starts calling the guy over to where we are:
"Hey, Cameron, long time, no see! It's me, Tiffany!"
He looks over our way, giving me a better visual of his appearance: short, teal blue hair in the curtain bang style, light violet eyes, complexion just a shade or two lighter than my own, and wore an outfit that includes a baker-style cap of maroon brown and indigo black, a black, dull gold-striped, button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up past the elbows, an orange vest, red tie, white pants, and creamy tan sneakers.
Took a couple seconds...but he seemed to recognize my friend too based on the smile that formed on his face.
"Tiffany?!"
He hurries over to us, careful with his camera, his irises alight with happiness in meeting with an old friend.
"Wow, Tiffany Quen, it is you! Gosh, who would've guessed I'd run into you here?"
"I know! I'm just as surprised!"
The animation between the two was a bit much, so I coughed slightly to put myself back into the loop.
"Uh, one of ya mind filling me in on the story?"
Tiffany jumps a bit in realization to my lack of intel before forming an apologetic smile.
"Ooh, right, sorry, girl. (Gestures a hand) This is Cameron Clix: he was a temporary transfer student in our class last year before he went into an arts school. It was...during, those months when you weren't in school as often 'cause of...?"
Forming a bitter smile from the old situation unmentioned verbally, I nod and think,
Aah, yes, that explains it...
She then introduces me to Cameron here:
"Cameron, this is Addy, or Athena Fujina, my BFF."
We reach out to shake eachother's hand as he remarks,
"Oh, so you're Addy. Tiffany's mentioned you in conversation a few times, as the-um, friend who was going through some personal issues...?"
"Teh, yeah, that'll be me. Nice to meet you and all, and sorry we didn't sooner."
"It's all good. Better late than never."
...Suddenly, just as our fingertips were parting, I felt this weird shock pass from his skin to mine, like the static electricity version of a heartbeat.
(Pulse...)
"Uh...!"
The hell...?
"How 'bout we head over by the fountain for a minute and catch up?"
"Sure! Coming, Addy?"
Jolting back to reality, I stopped staring at my fingers with a dumbfounded look to shoot a quick,
"Yep," with just as fast a smile...even though inside, I was feeling a new wave of unease...
No POV
"It's been so long, Tiffany. I think the last time I saw you was, oh! I know: when you let me take those portrait shots!"
Said girl with the black bobbed hair felt a smile of embarrassment form as she and Cameron started talking about old times by the square fountain, her cheeks dusting pink, much to Athena's amusement.
"O~h, you never told me about your secret career as a muse, Tiff."
"Oh shut up, it's not like that. He was assisting with the class photos and got to wield the camera center stage after the first dozen students."
Turning her irritated smile into one of appreciation, she says to Cameron,
"I gotta say, though, you were way more professional than the guy the teachers hired...Still can't believe you put those on display at that youth art festival. That was a bit embarrassing."
The young man with light purple eyes lightly argues in kind,
"I don't see why. You're a natural in front of the camera...In fact..."
Turning his gaze towards the Heartland airship, Cameron proposes,
"How about we take some shots over there, by the airship? (Glances at Athena) Maybe make it a best friend photo for you and Addy. Whadda ya say?"
Tiffany nods with a,
"Good idea," and Athena shrugs with a lazy smirk,
"Sure, why not," before all three teens and one other world being make their way closer to where the transport vehicle was...
"Uh, should I freshen my look up a bit beforehand?"
Rolling her eyes, the girl with red irises lightly nudges Tiffany for asking such a question.
"There you go worrying about vanity again..." Cameron just laughs and says,
"No way. You look great. Trust me on this."
Sighing gently, the girl with the cornflower blue irises took their words for it, and readies herself into a pose in front of the distant airship with Athena, both girls holding hands while using their free ones to display matching peace signs. Watching them a few feet to the side from the camera range, Astral found himself smiling a little at the warm feeling between the pair of friends...which would shift into an expression of confusion, when he felt something off.
"Hm?"
Pivoting his head towards the source of the strange energy, the being felt his mismatched orbs of gold and silver white widen to the tune of his gasp, seeing a new but very familiar dark aura around Cameron as the boy got ready to take the photo!
What on earth...?
(Click)
The photo is captured, and the dark ring of purple/magenta leaves the outline of Cameron's body, giving Astral a reason to relax a little...but not so much that he wasn't feeling a rise of suspicion.
Hmm...
Not sensing what he had, Athena and Tiffany decide to let Cameron hang onto the photo until they come back from their ride on the airship, noticing a new crowd of citizens and visitors readying to walk aboard.
"Oh, looks like they're gonna take off soon."
"We better hurry over there, then. It was nice seeing you again, Cameron!"
With that, the girls spin on their heels and start rushing over to the airship, forcing Astral to follow after them, but not without shooting a final narrowed expression in the shutterbug's direction...
Unbeknownst to either three, as the picture printed off of Cameron's camera, his eyes and smile curved into an otherwise morbid manner...
Small Time Skip
"My, god, this view is incredible! (Gulp) B-But we're so high up from the ground..."
The Heartland City commemorative airship had soon taken flight from the square with a new crowd of passengers, including Athena, Astral and Tiffany, and as the mode of transport steadily made its way through the air, the latter would soon find herself facing a mix of excitement and bundling nerves thanks to her mild fear of heights, to which the second former wasted no time commenting on.
"Yeah, which is why I'm surprised a fraidy-cat like you would even suggest this...Oh for god's sake-"
Biting back a snort of exasperation while rolling her red irises, Athena then steps over to her friend who had her hands and the tip of her nose pressed to the ceiling-high glass windows looking outward, and grips the back of the baby blue vest to drag the other girl toward the center of the main viewing room.
"Will ya quit doin' that?!"
"I can't help it; I both love and hate the sight!"
"Well you're making me nervous by leaning against the glass like an idiot about to fall out to their doom."
Tiffany whines with a flash of fear,
"Don't say stuff like that," to which the girl wearing the black pleated skirt and white bandeau top just tches back in annoyance...
"Athena? Tiffany? That you girls?"
Pausing their semi-childish debate, the pair of best female friends hm in confused unison to the familiar voice calling them, and turn around to see,
"Uh, Yoko!" "Yoko?!"
Said young woman with the bubblegum pink hair, pale pink skin that made the freckles around her nose stand out, and bright green eyes smiles smartly at them in a friendly manner from a couple feet away, today wearing a dark brown sleeveless dress that ran to just above her knees, a lavender pink belt that matched her low-heel pumps, and was carrying her own grey duel disk - it decorated with a few silver-white and pink hearts on the back - in her left hand like a handbook with the stylus pen out at ready...
The three female humans would soon be chatting away, checking in on eachother's activities since last they saw one another.
"So what brings you two onto the airship? Taking a break from the Duel Carnival?"
"Pretty much. Let's just say that I got sick of all the baggage certain people have been bringing into this tourney, (glance) so Tiff here convinced me to leave it in the Lost and Found Box for a while."
"Aah, I gotcha, say no more. I totally get the feeling of wanting to ditch drama. That's part of the reason I'm up here too, so my ears can be free of my boss's yelling to try harder."
Raising a brow, Tiffany asks,
"Why? I thought you were considered one of the best journalists the station's got."
"I was...but as of late, I keep finding myself being shown up by this young photographer and his (jazz hands) 'impossibly rare pictures'."
That seemed to catch Astral's attention, recalling the dark aura he sensed around Cameron as the latter took that photo of the girls.
Impossibly rare?
Yoko goes on to explain her annoyance to the listening ears, a frown of frustration forming as she did so.
"Weird thing is when the kid started out, his pictures didn't really catch alot of buzz from the local papers. It wasn't so much that they weren't good, but more like they're better for the art magazines and exhibitions, not big headline news...But then a few months ago, his style suddenly went on a major one-eighty, and now it's like, he's always there at the right place and right time to snap an action-packed or feeling-jerkin' shot."
The pinkette woman clenches her free hand into a tight fist and she groans,
"It's really pissing me off that some young upstart's stealing my thunder! I've worked hard to get where I am now in the news business, and now some shutterbug's getting the glory with a few lucky photographs? It's not fair, I tell ya!"
As Tiffany pats the other's arm with a sympathetic expression, Athena found herself going into thought.
Hm, a kid photographer with infamous pictures catching the eyes of big-time news...
I wonder...could it be Cameron Yoko's talking about?
"So I am not the only one suspecting possible trouble from the boy."
"Hm?"
She glances to her upper left at Astral, asking mentally through their special connection,
What do you mean by that?
"Earlier, when Cameron was taking yours and Tiffany's picture, his aura had, darkened considerably."
Darkened?
"Yes...in the same if similar manner to when a human becomes possessed by a Number Card."
Now that caught Athena's attention:
Uh!...A Number, huh?
Nodding, Astral notes with a cross of his arms,
"It did quell to a normal energy level when he was done...but there was no mistaking the darkening desires I could sense."
I see...Maybe that's why I felt that weird spark.
It was the blue-skinned being's turn to form an expression of confusion.
"Pardon?"
Well, when mine and Cameron's hands were parting from that handshake...I felt this strange pulse of power pass from his fingertips to mine, like a hyped version of static electricity.
It didn't so much hurt, but...it gave me this uneasy feeling in my stomach, like something was wrong.
"Hm, I see...If we are to assume Cameron may perhaps be in possession of a Number Card, you may have sensed the Number's power when you made physical contact with the boy."
Athena's eyes widen with surprise from such a deduction.
Whoa, really? But how-...Wait...Is it possible because I have a decent amount of Numbers now, that I'm gaining the ability to sense other ones?
"Theoretically, yes, but it may also be due to the deepening connection you and I share...What is concerning me at this present, is Cameron, and the distinct possibility that his so-called lucky photographs, may in fact be the doing of a Number."
Hm...I'm not saying you're wrong, because a part of me's wonderin' that too, but...maybe we should see some of these 'in the moment' pictures first so we know just how much danger we might be in.
"And how do we do that?"
Flashing a knowing smile, Athena shifts her focus from her silent conversation to interrupt Yoko's ranting for a question.
"Hey, Yoko."
"Hm?"
"Two questions. First, do you have any copies of these crazy pictures you're talking about? And second...is, the name of this photographer, Cameron, by any chance?"
The pinkette was slightly taken aback by the asking, but nevertheless answers accordingly, if becoming wary.
"Uh, yes, that is his name, and I do have a file of copies my boss sent me...Why? Is there something I should know?"
Meanwhile, Tiffany stiffens on alert at the mention of the old friend she and her BFF had just spoken with not too long ago.
"...Addy...what exactly are you implying?"
"I'll let you know after I see something to confirm my suspicions. Yoko, the pics?"
Clicking open the file folder section of her Duel Disk, Yoko prepares to hand the device over to Athena for her to look at...
But, then.
(BOOM, rumble)
"Whoa!" "Aah!" "Huah!"
The entire airship suddenly jerks to the tune of an explosion emanating from the left side, courtesy of a malfunctioning wing engine, as pointed out by several frightened passengers.
"Whoa, look at the wing!" "Ah!" "Oh no!"
As more outcries of fear begin to bounce off the glass walls, Tiffany grabs hold of Yoko's arm for support as she exclaims wide-eyed,
"W-What's going on; this shouldn't be happening, right?! I thought this airship was suppose to be built with the best safety checks!"
"I'm just as shocked as you are, hun, believe me!...What could've brought about this?"
The timing of this situation only intensified Athena and Astral's growing suspicions, sensing a setup.
"...This was way too well-timed..."
"Indeed...which can only mean one possibility..."
A single pulse of energy was all it took for both sets of eyes to narrow down and lock onto the source of this new dilemma, he chuckling as he emerged from a part of the panicking crowd, light purple irises glinting with danger alongside the camera in his hand...
Athena would be the one to address him, stepping forward so she and he were only a couple feet away from one another, her tone carrying a new discontent and edge.
"Cameron..."
"Hehnhnhn, hello again, Athena."
Tiffany and Yoko just focus into the newly bubbling confrontation as the girl with red irises goes straight to the point.
"Alright. I'm just gonna ask this once, and you better give me an honest answer if you still know what's good for ya...What did you just do to the wing, and why?"
Smirking with a bit of pride and secrecy, the young photographer replies,
"Just to clarify, I didn't do anything physically by my own two hands to the engine...rather, I accurately predicted what would happen."
"What?"
"Heh, based on that expression, I suppose the journalist over there didn't give a good enough answer to how I've been able to take such special photos, did she? (Yoko growls in the background...) Hmph, I'd be happy to explain: you see, my pictures don't capture the present. (Grin) They capture the future."
Athena takes in a sharp breath of surprise, as Astral mutters with narrowing irises,
"The future...?"
"As for the second half of your question, I do what I do in order to collect Number Cards...which I know you have, Athena."
"Gh! You mean-"
"That's right: you're not the only one who felt that 'static' as our hands parted from the handshake...I was a bit surprised since the cards are quite rare, and none of my 'previous opponents' have them, but hey? Why look a gift horse in the mouth?"
"So then that's why you're putting all these innocent people at risk? Just to get to me and my Numbers? You're outta your mind, Cameron!"
The bluenette just sneers at the blackette and retorts strongly,
"I'll do whatever I must to accomplish my goal: to collect all the world's Number Cards, and then the power of my future photos will be even greater, and then nothing will stop me, hehahaha!"
"Cameron!"
"Hrm?"
He pauses in his boastful laughter to focus his vision on Tiffany, who wiped away her fears of the malfunctioning airship to make room for a new feeling of anger and betrayal at her old friend's abnormal behaviour.
"Tiffany..."
"I know that the Number Card you have's probably messing with your judgement...but still, I'm severely disappointed in your actions. You used to be humble and content with your art form, even when it didn't always catch big attention...and now this? (Shakes head furiously) This is just sick; I don't even know who you are anymore! Where did the Cameron Clix I knew go?! What have you done with him?!"
Athena and Astral look at their friend with sad sympathy for her turmoil, while Yoko remarks in a dark tone while placing protective hands on Tiffany's shoulders,
"You see what your new style's done, kid? You're hurting alot of good people with your photos, Cameron. It ends, now."
"...Heh, afraid not, because it's never going to end."
Four sets of eyes widen just as they fight to steady themselves from another jerk from the troubled airship, while Cameron continues.
"I know this, because I make the future, and once it becomes the present, there's nothing even I can do."
He fwips up one of his said screenshots of 'what will be' to help add to his point, just as Athena catches a glimpse of a neon blue numeral glyph appearing on his right cheek.
Uh! A Number Mark...Twenty-five...
"And soon, this particular image will prove my words...See for yourself."
The Duel Monster-possessed boy swipes the matte paper rectangle towards the girl, who catches it just as swiftly in her hand...
"You recall me taking that picture of you and Tiffany earlier, correct?"
"Yes..."
"Heh, well, unfortunately, the future developed for the two of you, and virtually everyone on this airship, will not have a very pleasant outcome."
Gritting her teeth in annoyance at Cameron's smug attitude, Athena nonetheless looks down at the image to see what he was talking about...She would then gasp with a very disturbed expression, when she sees the following: a close-up of one section of the airship in shambles after crashing into the city's downtown area...where you could see two limp, battered arms of a certain pair of friends poking out from the rubble, hands clasped together...
Oh...my...god...!?
Fighting the urge to hurl as her body began to tremble, Athena darts her head up almost impossibly fast with a new expression of fury and terror, her tone on the borderline of hysterical.
"...You're...you're lying. You're lying!"
"None of my glimpses into the future have been wrong. What you see, will come to pass; the first part's already in motion."
"No! I refuse to believe you're right, 'cause if so, won't you be going down with us?! How will you get your glory then?!"
"Heh, oh I already took care of that shortly after you and Tiffany left to board the airship."
Cameron takes out another picture to hold up, his smile becoming more twisted.
"I snapped a picture of myself in front of the thing to be sure, and it shows me as the sole survivor of the pending crash...And even if I hadn't, it's fair to say the one who predicts the future, shouldn't have to die because of the disasters he foretells."
"Grh, why you-!"
Having heard all that she could take, the girl with long, shaggy hair as black as ink with ends as red as a copper burn swipes out her Duel Disk to click into place, exclaiming,
"That tears it! I challenge you to a Duel, Cameron, and you will pay for your dark designs!"
The large crowd of anxious passengers aboard the malfunctioning airship starts to buzz with hushed confusion and surprise that someone was actually up a duel at a time like this...
"Addy!"
Athena whips her head over her shoulder to meet Yoko's eyes, who gives her a stern expression while saying,
"I dunno what exactly he showed you, but hope's not lost yet! I'm gonna barge my way into the cockpit and see if I can help the pilots contact the air marshals."
"Uh!...Yoko..."
"Meanwhile...just be careful, (sincere smirk) and give the shutterbug hell for weaving these twisted nightmares he calls the future."
"...Count on it."
At that, the young woman with bubblegum pink hair spins on her heels to rush out of the viewing deck for the cockpit, leaving Athena to focus back on Cameron just as he prepares to accept the challenge made to him.
"We'll see who will be paying the future's price! Hah!"
He tosses his camera into the air, and the sides extend outward to reconfigure and attach to his own Duel Disk, acting as the card holder unit...
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established.
(...Cli-Flash, Cli-Flash, Cli-Flash, Cli-Flash)
"Agh, oi, cut that out! What're you doin'?!"
"The same thing I do with all of my opponents: I'm taking your photo!"
The pictures print out from the camera shortly after being captured, and Cameron grabs the four images with a snide smile.
"Here. This is what you have to look forward to, Athena. I will warn you, though, it's a bit of a spoiler."
He sends her a zoom view via the Duel Gazers, and her mouth gapes slightly, seeing herself on the ground with a gritted expression while Tiffany knelt down by her with the facial features hallmarking agonized sorrow, and her new opponent standing just in front of them with a victorious smirk while holding a card between his fingertips...!
"As you can see, victory is mine, and so is your Number Card! In fact, you may as well hand it over to me right now."
Tiffany was able to see the pictures as well, and felt her stomach form a knot at what she saw, muttering Athena's name with worry dancing in her cornflower blue irises...Meanwhile, the latter shook her own nerves away before retorting back with a glaring frown,
"Tch, do you really think I'm gonna fall for that load of predetermined bull? I've dueled against someone with a similar power to yours before, and he failed in making his visions come true. I can already guarantee this won't end any differently."
Astral's mismatched irises widen the slightest as he realizes,
She's talking about our battle with that fortuneteller, Fortuno, and his claims of being a psychic...
It wasn't fully determined whether that power was his own, or if the Numbers he carried provided such...
His face forms a more firm expression as he concludes,
Either case, Athena does make a substantial point, for until it becomes the Present...the Future, is nothing set in stone.
"(Both Duelists) Let's Duel!"
The girl with red irises makes the first call for the battle underway.
"History begins now, and I have the pen! My Draw! I'm slappin' down the first brick of my defense with a monster face-down in Defense Mode!...Then I'll back that with another card face-down, ending my turn here."
"Very well, my turn! And I'm summoning out, Camera-clops!"
This Level Four monster brought to the field by Cameron held 1400 Attack Points and harbored the appearance of a mercenary humanoid with a camera for a head. As he observed the current stance of the battlefield, Astral notes,
Athena placed Gogogo Golem face-down in Defense Mode. It has 1500 Defense Points.
The monster Cameron just played, Camera-clops, has only 1400 Attack Points.
...That is good news. It means Athena is safe, at least for this one round.
"I now activate the Spell Telescopic Lens from my hand! And what better place to attach a lens, then a camera?"
The photographic equipment digitizes into the AR and clicks into place with the lens of Camera-clops...
"But this doesn't mean just a better picture: it means Camera-clops gains 400 Attack Points for every card in my hand! I have four, so that's an additional 1600 Attack Points!"
At that, the monster's strength increases to 3000, but Athena maintained her neutral ground.
They may have a formidable power, but Golem can still dodge destruction thanks to his special ability...
"Next from my hand, I activate the Spell Card, Negative Image Inversion! And it's especially negative for you 'cause now, I can switch one of your face-down defense monsters, into a face-up attack monster!"
Gogogo Golem's vulnerability had only just increased when Cameron adds,
"And there's another development: your Attack Points now swap out with your Defense Points!"
"Auh, no way!"
"Of course, since I used Image Inversion, I now have one less card in my hand, so Camera-clops loses 400 Attack Points...But in the big picture, I think we all know that's you who will be losing. Now, go, Camera-clops! Attack Gogogo Golem!"
Three image shots of the golem are taken, before the humanoid camera shoots an electrical blast out the extended lens for the latter's torso, destroying the monster and costing Athena 1100 of her 4000 Life Points, leaving her to go flying backwards as the total settles at 2900!
Gasps sound from the audience of this duel, mixed with Tiffany's outcry of her friend's name...before the airship rattles again with another jerked explosion from the left wing's engine, and a light haze of smoke begins to seep into the room from the ventilation systems. Coughing from a new discomfort in her lungs thanks to the newly unhealthy air, Athena rises to her feet again and calls to her friend,
"Tiff! If ya need something constructive to do, try and see if you can hack into the vent systems so we can clear the air! (Cough) Contact Cas if you need to or ask some of our fellow passengers to help!"
"How will that, (cough, cough) help anything?!"
"This haze is only gonna cause everyone to hyperventilate and pass out before the real trouble begins...The only way we're all going to make it out of this alive, is by staying calm, and working together. (Cough, cough) You get me?"
"Addy..."
Swallowing down a lump in her dry throat, Tiffany forms a brave frown and nods, before turning to the part of the crowd she was standing in front of.
"Everyone, listen up: I need your help! Is there anyone on board that's good with mechanical issues or hacking?"
...Three people, two men in their early thirties - a brunette and a blond - and one in his mid-twenties (he also a brunette), step forward.
"I am!" "So am I!"
"I know some stuff about aviary mechanics!"
"Great! You three come with me. Everyone else, get ready with whatever material you have to wave the smoke away once the vents are working again!"
Watching the girl with shiny black hair cut in a bob try and work crowd control, Cameron then turns back to Athena to jeer,
"You're both wasting your time. There's no changing what's already happening, and you better believe that there's no changing your fate, Athena! It's already been decided: you'll summon Number 39, Utopia, on turn five, then on the following turn, you'll be defeated by my Number Card! And well, heh, I don't think I need to tell you the rest, other than you and your best friend will both meet, your, doom."
"Oh yeah, says what, your photos? Bullshit! It may be said that a picture's worth a thousand words...but they'll never speak the truth about what could be. That alone, is for the muse to decide, which I'll prove today by beating you in this duel!"