Chapter 13: Psychic Cyborg vs Psychic Android
Summary: Winter break is here most of the students have gone home, but trouble still finds Takashi and his friends.
The morning after campus security followed a large pillar of smoke and found the remains of the secret laboratory. While searching they couldn't find any bodies, but they saw the slowly cooling sea of lava below. They currently have two running theories. The first theory, and the one they think is more likely, is that the scientists escaped, and blew a hole into an underground cavern of magma that connected to the volcano. The second theory, the one only a few thinks are likely, is that they were trying to expand and hit the underground cavern; the biggest cause of doubt for the second theory is the unlikelihood of most- if not all of them- being down there when it happened.
Weeks passed since then. In that time, security has been able to safely walk on the cooled lava and investigate the rest of the facility. Once again, no bodies were found, most of the computers were destroyed and the ones that survived were completely wiped of all data. This cemented the idea that the lava was a part of their escape plan to destroy evidence.
Rumors had also started circulating about the facility within the student body. Ranging from ancient curses, similar to that of the abandoned dorm, to stories of a rival agency performing espionage and assassinating the workers at the facility. All the students knew for sure is that facility had been buried by the school to prevent any students from trying to sneak in and get hurt.
For the first two weeks after the incident, Takashi was more withdrawn, rarely smiling, and when he did it was tinged with pain. His friends kept trying to get him to open up, when he opened up a little, he told them his PTSD started acting up and he just needed time. He wouldn't elaborate further, and they decided leaving it at that would be the respectful thing to do. While they all agreed, Jaden was feeling frustrated at not being able to tackle the issue. During the third week, Takashi started acting like his normal mother hen self.
Not much of note happened during those three weeks, and before they knew it, winter break had arrived. Alexis and Bastion used those ten days to return home, while Chumley, Jaden, Syrus, and Takashi had stayed behind. Chumley didn't want to be put to work by his dad during the break, Jaden was enjoying the independence, Syrus and Zane's parents were on a business trip, and Takashi wanted to stay with his friends, though secretly he also didn't want to burden Mr. Pegasus any more than he already had.
One night during the break, Chumley, Jaden, Syrus, and Takashi were hanging around the Slifer Red dining hall. Chumley and Takashi are cooking Yaki Mochi on a table grill, while Jaden and Syrus are dueling.
"I summon Elemental Hero Clayman in attack mode!" On the other side of the room Syrus has Gyroid and Cycroid. "I attack with Clayman!" As Jaden declares his attack Takashi looks towards the window as he senses an intense feeling of distress. Very suddenly he runs out the door, startling the other boys. They run out to follow Takashi and see him by the window holding an exhausted Obelisk Blue Student. Jaden looks at him concerned.
"What happened to him." The Obelisk Blue student weakly lifts his head up.
"J-Jinzo." Chumley, Jaden, and Syrus look confused while Takashi narrows his eyes.
"Did a Duel Spirit do this?" Jaden speaks up.
"What about Jinzo?" The Obelisk boy panics more.
"H-He's after me! Where's Professor Banner?! He's researched Duel Spirts and will know what to do!" Takashi stands the boy up and puts a hand on his shoulder. Looking him in the eye with a serious but understanding look and talks to him in a soothing voice.
"Take a deep breath for me." After the boy does so, Takashi gives him an apologetic look, as he leads him inside and sits him at a table. "Now I'm sorry but Professor Banner is out running errands. But I'm familiar with the subject. So, tell us who you are and what's going on from the beginning." The boy takes a few breaths to calm down a little before looking back up at supportive looking Takashi and his confused friends.
"My name is Torrey. And this all started right before winter break. Me and two of my friends were trying to test the results of our research into Duel Spirits, we decided to reach out to a spirit, using a Ouija board." Syrus whimpers at that.
"A Ouija board! Don't you know only evil spirits respond to those things!? Have you never watched a movie!?" Torrey looks down at that, making Takashi give Syrus a reprimanding look. Syrus blushes. "I'm sorry. You were saying?" Torrey sighs.
"Well, we were trying to contact Jinzo and the Ouija board responded. It said, 'Provide me three tributes, and I shall be reborn.'" Takashi looks concerned.
"And you guys agreed?" Torrey looks up in a panic.
"We thought he was talking about card tributes!" Torrey looks down in shame. "But…" Takashi closes his eyes at that.
"But he wanted more." Torrey nods.
"The next day, one of my friends, Mukoda, went missing. And the next day after that, Isaka did too. They were both taken as tributes!" Jaden almost asks if they had just gone home for winter break, but seeing how serious Takashi is taking this makes him reconsider. Torrey continues.
"I got so scared, I tried to take today's ferry home. But when I got there, I saw Jinzo's spirit on the ship waiting for me!" As the others are taking in this revelation the power goes out putting them all on edge. Takashi narrows his eyes.
"I can feel his emotions, but they're distorted. He really did get Torrey's friends. One more sacrifice and he'll have a physical body." As Takashi is thinking that a flash of purple lightning fills the room. When they finally open their eyes again, the boys see Jinzo run with an unconscious Torrey under his arms. Jaden runs after Jinzo and calls out.
"Hey wait!" Syrus is hot on his heels while Chumley turns to see Takashi run up to his room.
"Where are you going, Takashi?!"
Takashi shouts back at him from his room. "There's only one way to get Torrey out of this! Just keep going, I'll catch up!" Chumley nods trusting Takashi and starts running after the others. Takashi is accessing his safe to get a specific deck.
"They made a deal with Jinzo. There's only one way to get out of this." He pulls the deck he wanted out and cranks up the motors in his legs to give chase. "And this deck is the key."
/RFSXPL/
"Give Torrey and his friends back! If you want to be reborn that much, ta-" As Jaden is saying that Takashi lands and slides in front of Jaden.
"Take me as tribute!" Jaden takes a step back in shock.
"Ta-Takashi! I can do this; you don't need to!" Takashi raises a hand up quieting Jaden. Taking stock of his surroundings he sees they are at the power station for the island. Torrey is unconscious by the spirit of Jinzo, who is currently transparent with a flickering digital effect. Chumley, Jaden, and Syrus are behind him.
"I know you could Jaden, but I can throw in a fail safe." The three other boys look confused with Chumley asking.
"Fail safe?" Takashi nods firmly.
"Listen up Jinzo, give Torrey and his friends back now, and I'll offer my own body up to you in a duel!" Jinzo laughs at Takashi.
"And why would I do that? I just need one more sacrifice to make my own body real, why would I trade it for a chance at your body?" Takashi gives him a serious look and the green flecks in his eyes expand a little as he lets out a little power causing a small spiral of wind to form below him making Jinzo pause in his laughter.
"Can't you feel it? With my body you'll have access to my own psychic powers, and more importantly, a way to blend in. Honestly, I might even be an improvement compared to your actual form, and that's not me trying to goad you, that's just a fact." Jinzo hums curiously.
"You do seem to hold great power, and it would be more convenient for me to use a human body, and if I wanted, I could use you to gather sacrifices. It's a deal!" With a snap of his fingers the electricity from the station starts charging his form as he releases Mukoda and Isaka next to the unconscious Torrey. Takashi gestures to them and the other three boys grab them and carry them away from Jinzo. As Jaden passes Takashi, he stops.
"Are you sure this is a good idea Takashi?" Takashi nods.
"I don't plan on losing, but even if I do, they're safe now." Jaden gives a determined nod and runs off to join the others.
"Beat his butt, Takashi!" Takashi gives Jaden a comforting smile before turning to Jinzo with a serious look and activates his duel disk.
"So, let's see who's better, the so-called Psychic Android or the Psychic Cyborg!"
"Duel!"
Jinzo's Hand- Heavy Storm, Mask of Darkness, Mystic Tomato, Amplifier, Allure of Darkness
Takashi's Hand- Psi-Station, Doctor Cranium, Psychic Jumper, Krebons, Psychic Sword
Jinzo summons his hand as projections in front of him. "I'll take the first move… Draw!" Mirror Force is added to his hand. "I play Allure of Darkness! With this I draw two cards." Jinzo adds himself and Spirit Barrier to his hand. "Then I have to banish one Dark attribute monster from my hand or send my whole hand to the graveyard." Mask of Darkness disappears from his hand. "I'll set one monster and end my turn." Mystic Tomato sets on the field.
Mystic Tomato Atk / Def: 1400 / 1100
Takashi silently draws Psychic Snail. "I play Psi-Station, and then summon Krebons."
Krebons Atk / Def: 1200 / 400
"Psi-Station now activates, I can pay 500 life points when I Normal Summon a Psychic-Type monster to increase its level by one and its attack by 300." Green psychic energy leaves Takashi's body and powers the station that then charges Krebons.
Takashi's LP: 8000-500=7500
Krebons Level: 21=3
Krebons Atk: 1200300=1500
Jinzo steps back in shock.
"Psychic-Type monster?!" Chumley and Syrus look curious at that while Jaden looks giddy.
"A whole new monster type! Sweet!" Takashi ignoring Jinzo's shock, but getting a small smile at Jaden's reaction, continues his move.
"Now I'll attack your facedown monster with Krebons." Krebons sends out three cubes of yellow psychic energy that smash into the revealed Mystic Tomato shattering him.
Mystic Tomato Atk / Def: 1400 / 1100
Jinzo raises his hand. "When Mystic Tomato is destroyed by battle and sent to the grave, I can Special Summon one Dark monster with 1500 or less attack points in attack position. And I'll summon another Mystic Tomato!"
Mystic Tomato Atk / Def: 1400 / 1100
"I end my turn." Cyber Energy Shock appears in Jinzo's hand.
"First let's get rid of your charging station. I play Heavy Storm!" A massive tornado forms and sucks up the Psi-Station destroying it. "Now it's time to give you a glimpse of the future! I tribute Mystic Tomato to summon MYSELF!" In a burst of purple lighting Jinzo's incorporeal form disappears and he reappears in solid form, this time in the monster zone. Jinzo starts manically laughing.
Jinzo Atk / Def: 2400 / 1500
"Witness my glory! Now, I equip myself with Amplifier! With this, instead of negating and preventing all Trap Cards, I only negate yours, leaving me free to use mine!" The Amplifier helmet covers Jinzo's head. "Now I set two cards and attack your Krebons! Cyber Energy Shock!" Jinzo gathers a purple ball of psychic energy that he launches at Krebons. Without missing a beat Takashi declares.
"I activate Krebons' effect, by paying 800 life points I can negate an attack targeting him." The energy leaves Takashi's body again and empowers Krebons who encases himself in a yellow cube of psychic energy blocking Jinzo's attack.
Takashi's LP: 7500-800=6700
Syrus looks on in horror ass and points at Takashi's legs.
"Takashi your legs! They're disappearing!" Chumley and Jaden look down and see that Takashi's feet and part of his legs are now transparent with the same flickering digital effect that Jinzo's spirit was. Jinzo laughs maliciously at this.
"So, you see the true cost of this duel now! For every life point you lose, you lose a bit of your body, and moves to my side of the field!" Looking behind Jinzo the other three boys see the missing parts of Takashi's body standing on his side of the field and let out gasps of horror, making Jinzo smirk.
"That's right, and once you lose this duel, you'll lose the rest of your body to me!" Takashi just raises an eyebrow at Jinzo's boasting.
"Do you have anything else, or are you going to end your turn already?" Chumley and Syrus stare at Takashi like he's crazy for his flippant response and Jaden laughs. With a growl, Jinzo plays a card from his hand.
"I'm not done because your Krebons isn't safe yet! From my hand, I activate my Quick-Play Spell, Cyber Energy Shock! When I'm on the field, I target one card you control and destroy it. Say goodbye to Krebons!" Jinzo forms and launches the energy ball again successfully destroying Krebons this time. "Now I end my turn. Make your move boy!"
Takashi draws Teleport and immediately plays it. "I play my Continuous-Spell card, Teleport, and immediately activate its effect! Because you control a monster, and I don't, Teleport lets me pay 800 life points to Special Summon one Psychic-Type monster from my hand." More energy leaves Takashi making more of his body transparent. The energy forms Psychic Jumper from his hand. "With it, I'll summon Psychic Jumper in attack mode."
Takashi's LP: 6700-800=5900
Psychic Jumper Atk / Def: 100 / 1500
"Now I'll summon Doctor Cranium."
Doctor Cranium Atk / Def: 100 / 100
"Now I'll activate Psychic Jumper's effect, I pay 1000 life points to swap control of one Psychic-Type monster on my field, besides Psychic Jumper, with one monster on your side of the field. And I think I'll swap Doctor Cranium with Jinzo!" The energy leaves Takashi's body, making almost half his body transparent, it then powers up Psychic Jumper who zaps Doctor Cranium and Jinzo swapping what fields they are on. As he does this, Jinzo lets out a scream as his spirit is ejected from his body and put where Takashi's body is. The top half of his spirit is now sticking out of Takashi's body.
Takashi's LP: 5900-1000=4900
"No! What have you done!?" Takashi glares at him.
"I'm giving you a glimpse of your future! Where you remain a spirit forever!" Jinzo grits his teeth behind his mask.
"You impudent brat!" Takashi keeps going.
"Now, Jinzo, attack Doctor Cranium." The ball forms and Jinzo's body launches it destroying Doctor Cranium.
Jinzo's LP: 8000-2300=5700
"When Doctor Cranium is destroyed by battle, I can activate his effect from the graveyard, spending 800 life points to add a Psychic-Type monster from my deck to my hand." Doctor Cranium appears on the field as the energy from Takashi powers up his helmet that he uses to add Overdrive Teleporter to Takashi's hand.
Takashi's LP: 4900-800=4100
Doctor Cranium fades away. "Now I'll attack with Psychic Jumper and end my turn." Psychic Jumper zaps Jinzo.
Jinzo's LP: 5700-100=5600
"You'll pay for this, whelp!" Jinzo–Returner appears in his hand, and he growls. "I set one monster facedown and end my turn."
Jinzo-Returner Atk / Def: 600 / 1400
Takashi draws Emergency Teleport. "I thought I was going to "pay" Jinzo? I tribute Psychic Jumper to summon Overdrive Teleporter."
Overdrive Teleporter Atk / Def: 2100 / 1200
"Now I activate his effect and sacrifice another 2000 life points to Special Summon two level three psychic monsters from my deck. And I'll use it to summon Mental Tuner and Mind Protector." Takashi's energy powers up Overdrive Teleporter who zaps Takashi's deck and brings out the two monsters as almost three fourths of Takashi's body turn transparent.
His friends gasp seeing Takashi lose everything below his neck. Jinzo laughs as his transparent head and neck sticks out of Takashi's chest.
Takashi's LP: 4100-2000=2100
Mental Tuner Atk / Def: 200 / 2100
Mind Protector Atk / Def: 0 / 2200
"What a deck you have chosen, brat! Look at me now, I am moments away from owning your body, and you're doing all the work for me!" Takashi feels his friend's distress and turns to give them a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry guys! Everything is ready now!" Chumley, Jaden, and Syrus relax feeling his confidence and shout to him.
"Go Takashi, show him how we do it in Slifer Red!"
"Take this guy down!"
"We're behind you all the way, Takashi!" Takashi smiles gratefully at his friends and then turns to glare at Jinzo.
"This is the end, Jinzo! Now I'll activate Mental Tuner's effect and banish Krebons from my graveyard to raise his level by one."
Mental Tuner Level: 21=3
"Now I tune my level three Mind Protector and level six Overdrive Teleporter with my level three Mental Tuner! Flames of rage that I suppress in my heart, surge forward and bring righteous punishment to the wicked! Synchro Summon! Rise, Psychic End Punisher!" Mental Tuner bursts into three green rings with three white stars lined up in it, that Mind Protector and Overdrive Teleporter fly into before they burst into their own nine stars. In a bright flash of light Psychic End Punisher flies out of with a roar.
Psychic End Punisher Atk / Def: 3500 / 3500
Jinzo gets nervous seeing the new monster while Takashi's friends look on in awe.
"Now I start the Battle Phase and my Psychic End Punisher's effect activates, he gains attack points equal to the difference in our life points! Since you have 5600 and I have 2100, he gains 3500!"
Psychic End Punisher Atk: 35003500=7000
Jinzo steps back in fear. "Impossible!" Takashi ignores Jinzo, focusing on his friend's feelings of joy and relief to keep himself centered.
"Jinzo, destroy his facedown monster!" Jinzo-Returner flips up and is destroyed.
Jinzo-Returner Atk / Def: 600 / 1400
"Now finish him Psychic End Punisher! Psychic Execution!" Jinzo backs up even further as the monster's overwhelming green psychic energy flows into his cannon hand.
"No! No! No! I was so close!" The fires a concentrated beam at Jinzo, who lets out one last scream as his dissipating spirit is ejected from Takashi's body that reforms on Takashi. "NOOOOOO!"
Jinzo's LP: 5600-7000=0
Winner– Takashi Mirai
As the cards fade away, Chumley, Jaden, and Syrus start to cheer, but quickly stop to rush over to Takashi as he falls to his hands and knees gasping. They get to him and sit him up and Syrus gasps at the blood coming out of Takashi's nose.
"Takashi you're bleeding! What's wrong?!" Takashi is panting as he responds.
"So-Sorry. Giv-Giv-Give me a minute to catch my bre-breath." After a minute Takashi's breathing steadies and he pulls a tissue from his pocket to wipe his nose. "I'm fine, the more intense my emotions, the harder on me it is to hold back my powers, and since we were at the academies power station, I couldn't afford to let loose with real attacks." The others nod but still look concerned. Jaden looks back to the still sleeping Obelisk boys.
"Well once you're ready to walk, we'll carry these guys and head back. But you know, ignoring the scares, that was a totally sweet duel, Takashi!" Chumley, Syrus, and Takashi look at Jaden like he lost his mind for a second before all four boys burst into laughter. Unbeknownst to the laughing boys, hiding his presence in the tree line, watching, is Professor Banner.
I was originally keeping Jaden as Jinzo's opponent and skipping the episode, but then I realized, Jinzo is supposed to be a "Psychic Android" or whatever and I have a Psychic "Cyborg". I just couldn't help myself.