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Aoi looked up at the towering structure that was the Omega Federation's headquarters. "Any idea if she'll succeed in keeping the place from going up?" She asked.
"I've got no idea." Kasanagi said. As she spoke, blasts echoed, and the headquarters began to crumble. Blasts could be seen near the top, and it just ocurred to everyone that they may not be far enough away.... "DAMN!" Melhana shouted. "Anyone who can put up a sheild, do so!" She threw out her own arms and ignited her aura. Beside her, Yugi and Bakura did the same. She felt anyone else with the skill activate, including the Signers. |
Ashleigh qucikly went into the basement and reappeared with Max.
"I don't know if she will make it" she said sadly with tears in her eyes. |
Melhana checked Max's pulse with one hand, and her breathing. "Somebody get a medic!" She shouted, still keeping her sheild up. Before long, dust at the least--rubble at the worst--would come flying at them. She had no idea if the pooled power of all the mages, psychics, and magic-users would be enough to protect everyone.
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Then Ashleigh's healer mark appeared on her arm as she lay Max down on the ground. She placed her hand on her chest and did what any First Aider will do. CPR. But this one was different. Every time Ashleigh breathed into Max, the Crimson Dragon's breath went though the woman.
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"You think what Ashleigh's doing will work?" Jack asked. He was sweating with the effort of keeping his own Crimson Shield up, made worse by the fact that he'd completely lost control of his power earlier.
"I've got no idea." Melhana replied. "That's a question to ask Yugi." "I'm not sure myself," Yugi replied. "Just have faith, I guess." I just hope that we can all withstand the blast! Melhana thought as the first of the shockwaves hit, followed by dust and small debris. |
Yana screamed (lucky everyone grabbed a few things, including Yana's deck) and clutched onto Judai. After a while though, Ashleigh stopped and cried.
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"Ow!" Judai complained. "You're cutting off circulation!"
"What's wrong, Ashleigh?" Yugi asked. |
Ashleigh didn't say anything. She claspeded Max's now lifeless body. Everyone then knew that Max has sacficed her life for the whole organisation, and was now dead.
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"Looks like you're the leader now, Yugi." Bakura said, dropping his shield now that the explosion had petered out.
"I know," Yugi replied, his fringe shading his eyes. Everyone dropped their shields, including Yugi. He took his PDA from his belt and tapped into a map program. "Ok, it looks like the underground section of HQ right beneath us is still intact. We should be able to get to the branch in Neo Domino from there." |
Just then, Amanda appeared with Timeous, Critus and Hermos.
"I heard the news. I'm so sorry" Timeous said. "But we would like to help out anyway we can" Critus added. "Like what?" Yana asked. "I offer that we can take Max'a body till further notice. I might be able to revive her, I may not but it's worth a try" Amanda replied. Hermos picked the body up. "We let you know if it works or not" he said and the 3 left. Ashleigh opened the envelope, and read it out loud. If you are reading this, you know that I have passed on. What you about to read, will happen. 1. Yugi Motou will take my place and Selena Kudo as first in command. 2. Where you stand is the entance way to the Neo's Branch. This is our underground branch. Stay there while the new building is being built. 3. Untill further notice, Ashleigh Motou will be the head of the Magic Department with Melhana being first in command in that department. Make me proud, Maximilla Trent. Then Ashleigh turned around and saw both Max and Aka standing there. 'Because of the dragon's breath, you kept my spirit here. I will be with you untill I'm ready to pass on. I only appear to you my girl. Stay strong and believe in youself like everyone believes in you' Max said and smiled. Ashleigh nodded |
"No pressure at all, right girl?" Melhana said, patting Ashleigh on the shoulder.
"Looks like you're in charge now, Yugi." Selena typed on her phone. Yugi nodded, right when Bakura collapsed. "Bakura!" Yugi exclaimed. At the same time, Melhana shouted "Ryo!" Yugi knelt down and gently turned his friend over. Bakura was unconcious and breathing shallow."What happened?" Crow asked quietly. "Oh Ra," Melhana whispered. "His heart's given out. Probably from the strain of keeping that sheild up no doubt." |
"Well, at least I'm not alone in this" Ashleigh replied.
"I think it's a good idea to head underground. I'm pretty sure that there are still medics working there" Aka said, "At least Bakura will get medical attention." |
"That he will," Melhana said, helping Yugi lift Bakura up by the arms. "Selena, get the hatch."
'What does it look like I'm doing?' Selena linked irritably. She was tapping away on a PDA in her hand, and when she stopped a grinding could be heard. "Stand back, guys." Yugi warned. "This is how we get into the temporary HQ." |
Everyone took a few step backwards and a pair of stairs. Saharia smiling.
"I casted a spell on this place so they think that they won this round but they MUST NOT find out about this HQ" she said. |
"They won't, trust me." Yugi replied. "See those sigils around the inside of the doors? They're a complex illusion spell which works on all senses. Even if there's a frat party going on in there and they're standing where we are, directly above the HQ, they'll still never know it's here."
"Good for us, because that means that this is a safe haven." Melhana said. "Yugi, I'll get Bakura down. Think you can make sure everyone else gets in?" "Yup." Yugi replied, nodding. |
One by one, everyone walked down the stairs and after a good walk, they finally made it to the underground HQ. The Kaiba copy (yes, the one who was created to confuse the foe) was accessing the data from the Kaiba Corp Mainframe.
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"How's the data recovery going?" Selena typed on her phone, showing it to "Kaiba". Even though the place was underground, it looked very much like the HQ that just went kablooey. Medics were getting the people who needed medical attention to the sickbay, starting with the most critical. She repressed a cringe at seeing that Edo was still in pretty bad condition from their duel.
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The mark re-appeared on Ashleigh's arm as she walked over to Edo. She touched Edo's hand and the young man glowed. After a while, Edo opened his eyes.
"Ashleigh, you're alright" he said. The woman smiled. |
Kasanagi stopped short, hearing Edo's voice. She turned her head to see that he was concious at last. "Edo," She whispered, her heart in her throat.
"You all right?" Jun asked when he noticed that his sister wasn't beside him. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine," Kasanagi replied. |
"I been ok for a while now" Ashleigh replied. Edo hugged her tight.
"Thank you" he said. "Yugi....help please" Ashleigh said. Everyone laughed. |
Yugi snickered. "Ashleigh, I think we're going to need a bit of help unlocking the magic division labs." He said, saving Ashleigh from embarrassment.
Kasanagi didn't laugh along with everyone else. Instead, she strode past Jun in a huff. "I'm going to help set up the forensics labs." She said. |
Ashleigh used a magic bind on Kasanagi.
"I can't allow you to do that. Not yet. You have to at least give Edo one hug" she said. |
"I don't have to do anything," Kasanagi replied. "Now will you let me go? Somebody's got to babysit Jun."
"Hey!" Jun protested. |
"Come on. I know you are hiding something. Unless you want me to spill, you do it" Ashleigh said.
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Kasanagi sighed. "All right already," She said. She knew this was NOT the best time to use her siren voice on everyone. Especially not on the one she loved...
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