Chapter 07 : Murphy's law

For the next few days Jaden couldn't find sleep or rest due to the prospect of a new adventure and sure many that actually know him will attest that the kid always gets himself into something however this time there are a couple of key differences, one, his escapades for the last year or so has involved power hungry mad men or female whether this one is a history lesson done in the field and two, he wasn't the focus of the attention for once.

" wait a minute…"

Jaden stopped dead in his tracks as both Gordon and Lauren stopping him as they asked the necessary questions about what he packed, will he remember his manners at all times, stuff that would drive a teenage boy to both roll his eyes and pinch the bridge of his nose in irritation, instead said son clearly stated.

" guys, I went over it about 40 times already, besides if I don't leave like right now then I'll be super late."

With this Jaden said his final goodbyes before heading off with a backpack strapped to his shoulder and a medium sized suitcase in his right arm. As he closed the door behind him he was greeted with a pleasant surprise, a certain old man by the name of uncle Elliot with the same classy car which brought him home to begin with.

" hey there… you're here to drive me to the Rhodes?"

Elliot gave an innocent smile stating.

" actually I'll be doing more than that, you see I'm joining in on this adventure"

If it wasn't obvious by now Jaden's excitement level went over the roof as the older man present couldn't help but give a warm smile in return.

" this is merely the beginning chap…"

All Jaden done next was ask him why they were standing there before they began their drive towards the airport. As they were closer and close to their destination Jaden asked.

" so we're taking a flight huh?"

Elliot replied.

" not just flying, we're flying first class."

Making it just in time the duo were greeted by the Rhodes as Henry senior exclaimed ecstatically.

" now that all of us are here let's get a move on…"

With that said and done everyone got on board what can only be described as a modest private jet while the last two that boarded were Jaden and Alexis.

" I'm glad to see that you showed up."

Jaden gave an ecstatic smile of his own.

" wouldn't miss any adventure for the world."

Noticing the cute display Atticus couldn't help but tease.

" we're waiting love birds….."

Jaden groaned as he stated.

" I should've made a deal with him not to tease the both of us as well."

Alexis sighed in return.

" that's just what he is…"

As the two boarded the jet the metallic bird took off with Jaden developing slowly but surely a nervous attitude which Alexis noticed.

" afraid of flying?"

Jaden simply replied with.

" just got a funny feeling that's all…."

Alexis asked as she stifled a small giggle escaping.

" like what exactly?"

Jaden admitted.

" that's it… I'm not really sure, it's like everything that can go wrong will do so too…."

Alexis at that gave him a reassuring smile saying.

" that's Murphy's law, and no you won't be tested on it…"

At that Jaden visibly relaxed for a split second before it finally hit him as he asked frantically.

" wait…. Hold on a moment….. did you just say test?!….."

Smirking up a storm Alexis didn't hide her own amusement as Jaden was finally clued in that he was being punked saying.

" now that wasn't funny at all…"

Jaden at that comically sulked in his seat as he tried to find himself a good distraction, finding none however he decided instead to take a short little nap until he woke up calm, cool and collected. As he opened his eyes from his nap. With that said and done the trouble only began. Throughout most of the flight Jaden had felt suffocated by something but he couldn't put his finger on it that is until surprisingly the shadows around him converged on the boy swallowing him whole without anyone noticing. Coming to Jaden asked in a state of alert.

" hello…. Anyone there?…"

All around him Jaden was covered in complete darkness as a strange voice answered.

' prepare…'

Jaden at that responded accordingly.

" okay… prepare for what exactly….?!"

Jaden didn't get an answer, instead he felt like he was being yanked back into reality.

"….. are you okay…?"

Realizing that Alexis was worried for him and that he almost made a scene Jaden responded as follows.

" not really…. Had a very vivid dream… actually felt too real to be a dream….."

Alexis asked curiously and cautiously.

" oh really?, tell me about it….."

Jaden replied with the following.

" there's not much honestly, I'm alone in total darkness with a single word ringing in my head"

Alexis pressed for the answer.

" prepare and nothing else."

Now both teens a little spooked Alexis was the first one to speak.

" think you're up for a challenge or two?"

Jaden nodded saying.

" even if I wasn't I can't go back to sleep anyway."

With that Alexis smirked as she pulled out a few geography text books as she said.

" this is the perfect opportunity to tackle one of your weaker subjects."

Jaden rolled his eyes as he commented sarcastically.

" oh joy…."

That said and done both Alexis and jaden managed to make a fun little game out of it until Atticus approached them with a less than amused expression on his face.

" what's up?, you want to join in on the fun too?"

Atticus shook his head from side to side as he replied.

" di you had a weird dream too a moment ago?"

Now on alert Jaden gave a nod of his head as Atticus countered.

" what did the dream tell you?!, to prepare yourself?"

Jaden's only reply was.

" yep"

At this point and time Alexis asked.

" do you think it means what I think it means?"

Jaden at that was already fishing out his duel disk and deck replying. As Jaden readied himself for a duel to begin but it never came as said teen eventually sat back down, keeping his duel disc and deck at the ready as a thought came to his mind.

" say you guys, I never asked where are we flying to exactly."

Appreciating the humor in all of this Atticus replied with.

" somewhere very nice and quiet, a spot where grand dad can continue his research in peace."

Jaden asked innocently.

" and let me guess, you're not going to tell me are you?"

Atticus smirked.

" you'll know when we get there."

With that said and done Jaden continued to try and relax further but he simply couldn't, that went on for yet another four hours as Alexis noticed that as she tapped him on the shoulder.

" take a deep breath and relax for a while, I'm taking point for now if something happens."

Jaden at that looked around to see most of the Rhodes family drifting asleep as he asked.

" how long's this flight again?"

Alexis at that replied in a soothing voice.

" twelve hours and counting."

At hearing that Jaden yawned a bit as he said.

" tell… Atticus… that we… change guard duty….. every four hours…."

True to their words the trio rotated turns waiting for the private jet to be attacked, however that attack never came. Eventually an hour was left until the jet began its descent. As the hour past the group got off the plane for Jaden to be greeted with tropic weather and climate as Atticus declared.

" welcome to Jamaica Jaden."

With this Jaden couldn't deny, he was super excited. making their way to Henry Rhodes senior's little hideaway from the world Jaden quickly unpacked as he was getting himself settled in when the mother of all migraines began, that pain turned into agony before the hero duelist lost consciousness altogether. Waking up in an enviroment all too familiar to him Jaden immediately went on the defensive as a voice called out.

' if I wanted you dead I wouldn't have wasted my strength on you.'

Turning to confront the menace Jaden got the shock of his life, in front of him stood a memory of a monster he tried desperately to quiet down, said creature was for the lack of a better word colored with black and white, had draconic features, hair split into two tones, a feminine figure and a third eye stuck right smack in the middle of her forehead.

" Yubel?!….."

Before he could continue the monster identifying as Yubel spoke.

' regrettably I'm not the monster you know, I am a shadow of that same creature.'

Jaden at that begged.

" please stop… please get out of my head….."

Yubel took a deep breath saying.

' unfortunately I cannot do that…. I chose to test you myself.'

Jaden sighing in frustration simply asked.

" let me guess…. In a duel?"

Yubel nodded.

' indeed, however you may take a few moments to process all of this'

Jaden steadied himself declaring.

" no need"

Yubel countered.

' on the contrary but if you're anything like the supreme king then a more forceful lesson is required….'

With this a couple of duel discs and cards materialized out of thin air. well to be fair Jaden's did, Yubel's however grew out of her left forearm which looked and sounded as painful as it gonna get.

' duel…..'

Jaden replied to that declaration with.

" game on."

Shadow Yubel: 4000 – Jaden: 4000

" so who's starting us off?"

Yubel replied stoically.

' normally I would draw first if my aim was to destroy you.'

Jaden joked at that.

" well thank goodness it's not the case."

Jaden at that drew his opening hand which consisted of Elemental Hero Bubbleman, Bubble Blaster, Elemental Hero Clayman, Shield and Sword and Ring of Destruction.

'honestly not my best draw but I'll make it work…..'

Jaden began his opening move.

" first of I'm summoning Elemental Hero Bubbleman in defense to the field."

Elemental Hero Bubbleman ( 800/1600 )

Jaden continued his play as follows.

" and thanks to his effect I can draw two cards if he's alone on the field."

As Jaden drew his two cards Yubel offered some friendly advice, well as friendly as demonic beings could give.

' I'm intimately familiar with Elemental monsters so please let us not prolong this duel.'

Jaden cleared his throat.

" thanks…."

Mulling over the two cards he had drawn he eventually set the rest of the cards he drew from the beginning plus one of the newer ones, leaving him with one card in his hand. While playing Bubble blaster as well

Elemental Hero Bubbleman ( 800-1600/1600 )

" with that I end my turn."

Yubel wordlessly and with a stoic expression on her face mulled over her own cards as she decided to do the following.

' I place one monster face down, set two cards and end my turn.'

As the cards appeared on the field Jaden couldn't help but being anxious as he said.

" it's not going to be this easy does it?"

Yubel being a good sport humored him.

' that's the point of a test.'

Jaden just laughed at that before Yubel gestured him to stop.

' perhaps you were wondering about the venue?'

Jaden's only reply was.

" I might've….."

Yubel at that gave him a solitary clue about the trial.

' this realm gives form to your thoughts and needs'

Jaden at that continued his turn as he decided to just ask at this point.

" does this place can point me towards the emergency exit?"

Yubel for the first time scoffed.

'hardly.'

Jaden couldn't help but give the monster a goofy grin.

" made you laugh."

Yubel just gave him a deadpan stare that said 'riveting' as Jaden took his turn drawing, doing just that he drew Polymerization and Pot of Greed.

" I play Pot of Greed and next…"

Jaden drew two new cards, those cards were Elemental Hero Burstinatrix and Fake Hero.

" well I think I've kept you long enough… from my hand I activate Fake Hero and with it I summon Elemental Hero Burstinatrix, but she won't be staying for long because I fuse her with Clayman to create Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster in defense mode."

With that said and done both Elemental Heroes briefly appeared before vanishing into a vortex making way for the fusion monster in question sporting characteristics of the heroes in question with the big selling point was an enormous shield and a blaster.

Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster ( 2000/2500 )

" now let's show Yubel your super move."

With that Elemental Rampart aimed the blaster at Yubel as it took a chunk out of her life points.

Shadow Yubel: 4000 -→3000.

" and don't think I'm done yet, I activate Ring of Destruction and I equip it to Bubbleman and you probably know what that means."

Yubel nodded as both her and Jaden lost 800 more life points.

Shadow Yubel: 3000 -→2200, Jaden: 4000 -→3200.

' you could have left me defenseless.'

Jaden smirked.

" and walk right into some sort of trap? No thanks."

Yubel disapproved as she stated.

' actually you sprang an even bigger trap, I activate Swords of revealing light, I further discard Kahkki, Guerilla of Dark World to summon Yubel to the field. In attack mode.'

Yubel ( 0/0 )

With that said and done Yubel ended her turn.

" if I remember correctly that monster has one nasty effect."

Yubel replied as follows.

' correct'

Jaden at that laughed in frustration before asking.

" and you're not going to tell me what it is right?"

Yubel gave a monotone answer.

' not just yet.'

With that said and done Yubel started to stall for three as she turns as Jaden in the meantime tried to think of a way he could win this duel.

' think… there must be something that I'm missing….'

As the three turns came to an end it was Jaden's turn to draw as it finally hit him, concentrating on his next draw he eventually gained a small smirk.

" I set one card face down and from my hand I play Fusion gate."

With the scenery finally changing Jaden began to perk up by the change as Yubel asked him.

' are you sure you want to throw away your advantage?'

Jaden responded in kind.

" believe me I already have everything I need."

With this Jaden continued his move by saying.

"to continue where I left off I activate my second fake Hero to summon back Burstinatrix, now from my hand I'm fusing her with Elemental Hero Avion to summon the one and only Elemental Hero Flame Wingman in attack mode.

Elemental Hero Flame Wingman ( 2100/1200 )

As the half demonic and half angelic male humanoid monster appeared on the field it struck a pose signaling it's ready for action when it brought up on of its most predominant features, a dragon head for a right forearm.

" Wingman…. Attack Yubel …."

Yubel only asked the following.

' what is going on in that mind of yours?'

Jaden replied while revealing his face down card.

" this…. Dobble Passé, which turns any monster's attacks into a direct attack."

Yubel showed a small smirk as she noted.

' very cunning of you'

With that both direct attacks connected.

Shadow Yubel: 2200 -→100, Jaden: 3200 -→3200.

Before Jaden could continue the play Yubel interrupted

' I activate Hand Destruction, with that we must remove two cards from our hands to the grave and draw two new ones.'

with that both did exactly as instructed with Yubel continuing.

One of the cards I discarded was Grapha, Dragon lord of Dark World and with him gone due to a card effect from my side I can in return destroy a monster, now I destroy Rampart'

Rampart at that was destroyed as Yubel placed a couple of cards faced down in the spell and trap zone.

' your move, better make it a good one.'

Jaden smirked.

" I always do."

With that said and done Jaden for the next few turns went on the defensive as Yubel managed to chip away at his life some more while also managing to get rid of his fusion gate field spell as once again it was his turn once again.

Shadow Yubel: 100, Jaden: 1300.

" okay it's now or never…"

Drawing his next card Jaden got excited as Yubel took notice.

' one point of advice if I may?'

With that Jaden gestured her to continue.

' never show your reactions to your enemies.'

Jaden thanked her by saying.

" appreciate it but this duel is over."

Yubel gave him a curious look as Jaden said, taunted really.

" why not attack me and find out?"

weary of what he planned Yubel sent one of her strongest Dark world monsters to attack him and Wingman as Jaden smirked.

" if you sent yourself you might've won."

Jaden played the card Mirror gate which switched monsters between the two as the attack connected with Yubel stating.

' point taken.'

Shadow Yubel: 100 -→0, Jaden: 1300.

As the duel was over Jaden approached Yubel asking.

" so what's the final verdict?"

Yubel replied as she began slowly fading away.

' you may return to your friends for now but I will return to test you further.'

Jaden at this point in time began acting a bit weird as though he was searching for a lost set of keys before stating.

" at the risk of sounding stupid but how do I go back?, I don't remember figuring out how I even got here…"

Yubel at that smiled softly, or at least attempted to as said monster grabbed Jaden's attention with a gaze.

' take a few breaths and concentrate on my mind's eye.'

Jaden did what he was told as a feeling of sleepiness washed over him rendering the teen limp as the next time he woke up he found himself laying on the floor of the guest room at the Jamaican retreat.

" note to self…. Next time you pass out… do it on a comfy bed….."

Within this very moment Alexis passed by the guest room as she asked.

" what's that about a comfy bed?"

By this point Jaden began recapping the duel he had with the shadow Yubel as Alexis listened intently while closely inspecting her friend to make sure he didn't hit his head too hard as said hero duelist naturally changed the conversation.

" so do you come here often?"

Alexis smirked as she quirked her right eyebrow.

" and here I thought you were above cheesy pickup lines."

Jaden smirked back.

" you know that's not what I meant."

With that both teens began bursting into a fit of laughter before Alexis actually replied.

" grandpa on occasion invites us over, but not too often."

Jaden nodded as he casually asked.

"so, would you mind exploring this house with me someday?"

With that the two strangely began to feel warmth in their cheeks while Alexis replied.

" if I didn't know any better I'd say you just asked me out on a date…."

Jaden at that clarified by saying.

" if I did just do that I'd go to the trouble to get you a nice present, flowers and the whole works while asking, you can call this two chill friends hanging out."

Alexis in return gave him a smile saying.

" I accept the invite, oh and you have an hour to get ready for lunch, don't be late."

As Alexis was leaving Jaden made sure that all of his belongings were unpacked as he wondered if he should leave the room to look around for the kitchen, that thinking didn't last long as his stomach was growling.

" well I guess that's decided for me."

Within just a few minutes Jaden wondered into the kitchen as Mariam asked while attending the cooking.

" anything I can help you with?"

Jaden replied politely.

" just making sure I don't forget where are we having lunch…."

Lunch came and went by quickly, too quickly for Jaden as said teen was spending the rest of the day in his room studying or at least trying to study.

" this is getting me nowhere….."

With that said and done Jaden turned in for the day. The next morning Jaden felt refreshed as he went down to the kitchen for breakfast before continuing with his homework.

' I wonder if the old man needs my help or not….'

By the time noon came Henry Rhodes senior approached Jaden's room with the hero duelist eventually noticing as he asked.

" how may I help?"

Jaden straightened himself out.

" do you have anything on a duel monster called Yubel?"

Henry Rhodes senior replied as follows.

" not off the top of my head but meet me here at 0600 hours tomorrow for the concrete answer."

Jaden at that asked to clarify.

" you mean 06:00 in the morning right?"

At that Henry Rhodes senior hummed in a positive tone before continuing on with the day as Jaden eventually said.

" oh my god that's early…."

With that said and done Jaden's day consisted mostly of studying and homework that is until Alexis's dad caught up with him around the afternoon.

" got a minute champ?"

Jaden replied.

" sure what's up?"

Henry Rhodes the second got straight to the point.

" I need an extra set of hands? Feeling up to that?"

Jaden smirked.

" lead the way."

Alexis's old man at that led Jaden to what appeared as a big shed on the property only for the teen to realize it was actually a small hangar for a light weight aircraft as he asked.

" you're a pilot too?"

Henry Rhodes the second humbled himself by saying.

" only light weight aircrafts kid."

Jaden still pointed out.

" that's still cool, so what can I help you with?"

Henry Rhodes the second smirked.

" nothing too dangerous, just helping me clean up the space while I do all the necessary check ups."

Jaden asked at this point.

" like oil pressure and such?"

Henry Rhodes the second gave him a wry smile gesturing that Jaden hit the nail on the head. True to his word Jaden got cleaning and organizing duty away from the plain and any other hazardous materials as he asked the following.

" how come a teacher is a fly boy on the side if you don't mind me asking?"

Henry Rhodes the second answered bluntly.

" necessity kid it's as simple as that."

As Jaden eventually finished cleaning the hangar he reported back to Alexis's old man as he asked.

" done, so you got any other chores for me to do?"

Henry Rhodes the second simply answered.

" two, get yourself cleaned up and off to bed."

Jaden smirked.

" so you've heard about tomorrow."

Henry Rhodes the second chuckled to himself.

" I know it first hand too…"

With that Jaden returned back to his room while thinking to himself the following.

' better prepare myself for tomorrow as well…..'

That very night Jaden slept very well as long as you don't count a midnight snack or two as an interruption with the hero duelist himself waking up in the end at 05:00 am in the morning. Getting ready and tidying up the room a bit Jaden was walking towards Rhodes senior's office as a slight chill washed him over.

" that's funny"

With that said and done Jaden eventually somehow escaped what happened to him as 06:00 am rolled around Henry Rhodes senior worked the hero duelist to the bone and in return he got a bit more information on Yubel. A few more nights went by and Jaden eventually got transported where he had dueled Yubel for the first time.

" I'm guessing it's about time we dueled again?"

Yubel's answer was as follows.

' if I were to duel you again I would have given you more time to prepare, I'm here to provide answers if you have any questions.'

Jaden at that asked as follows.

" three days ago or so I felt a weird chill run through me… what was that about?"

Yubel replied .

' for now it's a signal that someone touched with darkness is lurking near by.'

Wary Jaden asked.

" any idea on who exactly? Or if it's a friend or an enemy?"

Sighing Yubel clarified.

' as you recall I am not the actual Yubel, more so I know as much as you know.'

With that Jaden concluded the conversation by saying.

" so it seems I better get to learning and fast."

With that Jaden returned back to his room as he sat down to study as hard as he could. With that kept in mind Jaden continued helping around the house as that same dark presence became more formidable with each passing day. as the next day continued as though it was any other eventually a strange voice crept into Jaden's mind mid day.

' so you are the one who posses the ability to contact duel spirits, the one who defeated me back on academy island…'

Jaden cracked a joke, trying to learn more on who tried to invade his mind.

" remind me again who are you?, I've defeated plenty of people back on the island."

The voice calmly answered.

' in due time, for now I'll enjoy feasting upon the darkness lurking in humanity's souls'

With that the voice disappeared as though he didn't exist as Jaden closed his eyes as he whispered.

" if you're anything like the actual Yubel then I need your help…"

After a few moments of silence Yubel answered.

' I am at your service.'

Jaden nodded as he requested.

" an evil spirit going by the name of NightShroud is trying to feed off of my friend's darkness, I need a way to fight it."

At this Yubel clued Jaden in.

' find the king's helmet and find the key to combat this evil'

Jaden nodded as he noted sarcastically.

" Oh sure… that sounds easy enough…."

Yubel at that left Jaden alone as he continued his studies on his own with a renewed sense of drive in him, unaware that someone was watching him intently.

" grow stronger for me, supreme king of gentle darkness…"

Henry Rhodes senior's office, day number 10.

As Jaden kept himself busy by organizing the office and keeping everything in order and accessible he began trying to keep track with the clues to the helmet's whereabouts as best as he understood it when Henry Rhodes senior walked in with a worried expression on his face.

" say, what's wrong?"

Henry Rhodes senior took a few moments to respond as it was clear he was preoccupied with his own thoughts.

" it's my dear colleague and friend Elliot, he's been behaving strangely for the last year or so….."

Not liking it Jaden asked.

" strange how exactly?"

Henry Rhode senior told Jaden that Elliot would disappear for days on end and when he was actually around he would keep to himself more than usual. Listening to that jaden in turn disclosed info on his duel between him and Yubel to which old man Rhodes would listen just as intently to which in the end he concluded with.

" so the quest for the helmet of shadows has turned into a race for the fate of humanity."

Jaden nodded in understanding as he was about to say something before Henry Rhodes senior stopped him.

" whatever happened is already in the past, we have to focus on the present dear boy."

Jaden sighed in relief before asking.

" any strong leads on where's the helmet?"

Henry Rhodes nodded while also sighing in frustration.

" strong, yes , but also conflicting ones."

At this point and time Jaden suggested.

" you can tell me and I can contact Yubel for help."

The old man told him every piece of evidence he found while Jaden closed his eyes and concentrated until he managed to contact Yubel.

" I assume you're hearing what I am right?"

Yubel acknowledged by saying.

' correct.'

Jaden replied as follows.

" so what's the most promising lead?"

Yubel listened intently to what Jaden was being told as she said the following.

' head to the point of no return, once there look deep into yourself to find that which you seek.'

Jaden at that wore a friendly smile as he said.

" thanks."

Before he left however he turned around as he asked.

" do you mind if I'll come and visit you every now and then?"

Yubel silently asked him for the reason as Jaden pointed out.

" it must be really lonely being in a place like this."

Yubel returned his smile with one of her own saying.

' it would be very nice, thank you.'

With that said and done Jaden opened his eyes as Henry Rhodes senior asked the following.

" were you able to find a lead?"

Jaden nodded as he replied.

" Yubel told me to go to the point of no return, once there I must search deep inside to find the answer."

Henry Rhodes senior acknowledged as deep inside he knew exactly what it meant since one of his findings pointed out to an area near by, the Bermuda triangle.

Next time: In the name of the father.