The evening was just starting in Satellite. Darkness had just fallen, and a two-story building surrounded by a cluster of other buildings, most which had fallen into a state of disrepair, began teeming with life. Michael Aker sat in a window sill on the second floor. He was wearing blue jeans with a white long-sleeved shirt and a brown vest. He had a yellow criminal mark that travelled in a straight line from just below his eye to just above his chin. A person entered the room he was in and informed that Securities had been sighted not too far away.

He nodded and replied that he knew. He'd known they were coming long before they actually arrived. He could see the flashes of red across the buildings further down the road that their sirens gave off. He wasn't worried though. Everyone here could out duel most of the standard Sector Security. Most of their decks were composed of the same cards, with a few tweaks where the Officers 'personalized' them. Just take precautions against the standard strategy and you could do fine. He had taken those precautions, and that was why he wasn't worried even when Sector Security formed a line in front of the building and dismounted from their Duel Runners.

This wasn't an uncommon sight here. This building was more or less used to strip Duel Runners, most of which had been stolen, for their parts. There was a large garage at the back where Michael kept his own Duel Runner. He stayed here so he didn't have to worry about it getting stolen. Of course Security would come here, where the citizens actually broke the law instead of terrorizing the regular citizens like they were known to do. It was said they could track the marks, so it made sense they ended up here as more or less everyone in the building had one, Michael included. It wasn't a difficult task to get the Security to move along however, a simple bribe or defeating them in a duel would usually suffice.

"You're all under arrest!" One of the Officers shouted.

"Okay then, come and get us!" A voice laughed from the first floor window. Several other voices joined in the laughing and jeering. The Security stood stone faced, unfazed by the laughter. Michael found this odd; usually they could get a rise out of at least one of them.

"Aww what's the matter, no sense of humor?" Another voice said. The owner of the voice waltzed out of the building and stood confidently in front of the Security. Michael recognized this person. His name was Rory. He had shaggy black hair that ended just above his shoulders and his face was dotted with patches of stubble. He was wearing a long, light brown coat and black pants. A criminal mark extended from just above his eyebrow and curled down towards his nose.

"Go get 'em, Rory!" Another voice cried.

"Will do!" Rory grinned, turning back to the building and giving it a thumbs up. As the black-haired duelist turned to look at the Security Officers, his smile faded. "Hey… I don't recognize any of you guys." Rory said.

"Huh?"

"New guys?"

Looking down at them, Michael had to agree. Even with the helmets covering their eyes, he couldn't recognize any of them. If he squinted, he could barely make out some of their faces. None of them were familiar, but then again, he didn't commit every Officer's face to memory. The building came alive with chatter over who these new Officers could have been. Replacements? New trainees?

"New director." A new voice boomed. The line of Security Officers broke open to allow a large man, easily over six-foot and built like an ox to pass. Even from here, Michael could see a beard starting to grown on the man's chin.

"And you are?" Rory asked.

"Everest Ashur, head of the Sector Security in Satellite." The man said clearly and confidently. Even though he was a good deal away from the man Michael felt intimidated.

"So where are all my buddies?" Rory asked, a smile playing on his lips.

"Reassigned, or sent to the Facility due to their incompetence." Everest stated.

"…What? The Facility?" Rory said. His smile faded, replaced by a frown.

"Repeated failures have tarnished the good name of Sector Security. They were punished for losing to trash like you and allowing you to do as you please. But no more." Everest said.

"Alright then," Rory started "Now that we know what we're up against, how about we have a duel? I win, and you guys skedaddle and give us a head start. You win and I'll turn myself in here and now."

"Negative. We know you're running an illegal business in that building. Duelling you would just be a waste of time." Everest responded.

"Nervous? Maybe you're all bluster and you don't have the skills to pay the bills." Rory said, chuckling softly.

"…Very well!" Everest boomed. "I accept your challenge."

Michael watched all of this from his window, a sense of dread starting to set in. He didn't want Rory to duel. He knew it would end badly. The way the Officer gave in so easily to Rory's taunting... it just didn't seem right. But at the same time, he was filled with a sense of curiosity. He wanted to know what he would be up against. He bit his lower lip and watched the scene unfold.

"Wonderful!" Rory grinned, the black-haired duelist activating his duel disk. Everest did the same.

"Duel!" They shouted in unison.

[Rory: 8000 / Everest: 8000]

"Since you challenged me, I will begin. Draw!" Everest declared, drawing a single card from his deck. The man smirked. "I summon Laval Miller in Attack Mode!"

A creature that appeared to be made of orange stone wearing tattered clothing appeared in front of Everest. [ATK: 300]

"That ends my turn." Everest finished.

Even with a floor separating them Michael could hear the murmurs of the others below. Summoning a monster with 300 attack in attack position? Not even setting a card to protect it? Was he insane?

"I draw. I summon Scrap Beast in Attack Mode!" Rory said.

A dog-like creature made out of various odds-and-ends machine parts appeared in front of Rory and howled loudly. [ATK: 1600]

"Scrap Beast, attack Laval Miller!" Rory declared.

The mechanical beast charged forward and sank its teeth into the shoulder of the orange creature, causing it to explode.

[Rory: 8000 / Everest: 6700]

"When Laval Miller is destroyed, I can send two Laval cards from my deck to the graveyard." Everest explained as he did exactly that. Michael had never seen or played against Lavals before. He had no idea what to expect from this man.

"I set one card face-down and end my turn." Rory finished.

"Draw," Everest started "I summon a second Laval Miller in Attack Mode!"

An orange creature identical to the one who was destroyed mere moments ago appeared. [ATK: 300]

"Next, I set one card face-down and end- …No, scratch that. I don't end my turn. Rather, I'll attack your Scrap Beast!" Everest announced.

An uproar shot through the people in the building. What was this guy doing? Was he crazy?

The orange creature ran forward, but a single slash from Scrap Beast's claws destroyed it.

[Rory: 8000 / Everest: 5400]

"I'll use Laval Miller's effect to send two Laval cards from my deck to the graveyard, and then I'll end my turn." Everest said.

"You do know the object of the game is to reduce your opponents' life points to zero, right?" Rory laughed. Everest gave no response. "I tribute Scrap Beast to summon Scrap Golem!" The black-haired duelist said.

Scrap Beast was replaced by a larger creature whose body was a refrigerator and whose head was a microwave. The arms were composed of tubing, one which ended in a propeller and the other which ended in a hammer. [ATK: 2300]

"Now, Scrap Golem's effect activates! Once per turn, I can special summon one Level 4 or lower Scrap monster to either side of the field. I revive Scrap Beast!" Rory grinned.

Scrap Beast reappeared next to Scrap Golem, growling at the unprotected Everest.

"Now, Scrap Beast! Attack him directly!" Rory commanded.

The beast lunged forward and slashed Everest across the chest with its claw. The mountain of a man that was his opponent didn't even flinch.

[Rory: 8000 / Everest: 3800]

"Next, Scrap Golem attacks!" The Scrap duelist grinned.

The makeshift monster rolled forward and brought its hammer arm down on Everest. Again, the man didn't flinch.

[Rory: 8000 / Everest: 1500]

"Now, during my Main Phase 2, I tune my level four Scrap Beast with my level five Scrap Golem!" Rory declared, a grin spreading over his face. Scrap Beast and Scrap Golem rose up into the air, Scrap Beast transforming into four green rings which surrounded Scrap Golem. The Golem was reduced to a wire-frame version of itself, and then became 5 white stars.

"Among the rubble lies infinite potential! Once discarded, rise again! Synchro Summon! Howl, Scrap Twin Dragon!" Rory chanted.

The rings and stars disappeared in a bright flash of light. A brown mechanical dragon with two heads appeared, its body composed of various machine parts. Its blue eyes lit up and both heads screeched loudly. [ATK: 3000]

"You don't even have enough cards for me to use Scrap Twin Dragons effect… what a shame." Rory sighed. "I end my turn."

"Draw." Everest said. Michael could swear he could see the man smirking. But he was so far behind; Michael didn't see how he could recover. Even if Everest made a comeback and destroyed Scrap Twin Dragon, its effect would allow Rory to summon one Scrap monster from his graveyard. Knowing Rory, he'd bring back Scrap Golem and Everest would end up right back where he started.

"Well?" Rory asked. Everest had simply been staring at the card he drew for a few the past few moments.

"Boy. I will show you the true power of Sector Security. This is the last turn." Everest said, laughing triumphantly.

"You have 1500 life points and no monsters, where as I have 8000 life points and a 3000 attack point monster. If you can win this turn, I'll tip my hat to your magnificence." Rory chuckled.

"Very well! I'll start with the Field Spell Molten Destruction!" Everest announced. A huge volcano with lava running down the sides appeared in the background, ash and sparks slowly falling over the battlefield. "All Fire monsters gain 500 attack, but lose 400 defense. Next, with three different Laval monsters in my graveyard, I can special summon Laval Burner from my hand!" Everest said.

A large creature made out of orange rock appeared. Its two large fists were engulfed in flames and it had flowing oranges hair down its back, with two strands falling down the sides of his face. [ATK: 2100 - 2600]

"Then, I summon Laval Warrior!"

Another creature built from the same orange rock as the others appeared, two steel plates on his shoulders. The creatures' arms were red and the weapons it wielded were two burning axes. [ATK: 1800 - 2300]

"Wonderful, maybe if you'd done that last turn you could've actually damaged me." Rory snickered.

"I'm not done. I activate the spell card Rekindling! I can summon as many Fire monsters from graveyard with 200 defense as possible! Come forth, Tender of the Laval Volcano! Laval Forest Sprite!" Everest shouted.

A tanned woman with a steel tiara and long orange hair appeared. [ATK: 100 - 600] Next to her, another tanned woman with a sleeveless black shirt and a black hood with long red hair appeared. [ATK: 300 - 800]

"None of them are strong enough." Rory said.

"Rory! They're tuners! Watch out!" A voice from inside the building shouted.

"I tune my level one Tender of the Laval Volcano with my level four Laval Warrior!" Everest declared.

Tender of the Laval Volcano turned into a single green ring and Laval Warrior turned into four bright stars. The rings and stars flew into the background above the volcano, hovering over the mouth.

"Warrior of the raging inferno, come forth and cut down every enemy who stands before you! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Laval Dual Slasher!" Everest shouted.

The volcano in the background erupted, engulfing the rings and stars in lava. A ball of molten rock fell right in front of Everest. The only reaction the man gave was a slight smirk. It became clear very quickly that this was no rock, as it stood up revealing itself to be a bipedal creature. The monster was composed of the same orange rock as the others, but it had blue rocks along the sides of its torso, and down its shoulders and arms. At its elbows, two long blades extended that burned red at the ends. [ATK: 2400 - 2900]

"You fell just a tad short in terms of power." Rory commented.

"I still have two monsters left. Now, I tune my level two Laval Forest Sprite with my level five Laval Burner!" Everest declared.

The same process happened between these two monsters as the others. The two green rings and five stars hovered above the mouth of the volcano, waiting.

"Beast of rock and flame, emerge from the depths of the earth and incinerate everything in your path! Synchro Summon! Come forth, Laval Stennon!" Everest roared.

The volcano erupted and another creature appeared on Everest's field. This one was huge, composed of blue and white rock with one arm ending in a cannon. It let out a menacing growl as it stared down Scrap Twin Dragon. [ATK: 2700 - 3200]

"3200 attack?" Rory shouted in disbelief.

"It gets worse." Everest chuckled. An image of Laval Forest Sprite appeared behind the two Laval Synchros.

"What is this?" Rory mumbled.

"When Laval Forest Sprite is sent from the field to the graveyard, all Laval monsters I control gain 200 attack for each Laval monster in my graveyard until the End Phase." Everest said. He removed cards from his graveyard and fanned them out so Rory could count them. "Eight Laval monsters reside in my graveyard. Therefore, Slasher and Stennon each gain 1600 attack points!" Everest said, returning the cards to his graveyard.

The image of Laval Forest Sprite raised its arms, seven other creatures appearing behind it. All of them hovered for a moment before their forms became consumed by flames which then flew towards Dual Slasher and Stennon, increasing their power. [ATK: 2900 - 4500] [ATK: 3200 - 4800]

"4500 and… 4800?" Rory gasped.

"Stennon! Destroy Scrap Twin Dragon!" Everest ordered. The beast roared in compliance, raising its arm and firing a stream of super-heated lava towards Scrap Twin Dragon.

"Mirror Force!" Rory shouted, a shimmering wall appearing in front of his monster.

"Royal Decree!" Everest countered.

"What?" Rory shouted as the wall in front of his monster shattered. The blast hit Scrap Twin Dragon and the beast screamed out in pain as it slowly melted away.

[Rory: 6200 / Everest: 1500]

"When Scrap Twin Dragon is destroyed by an opponent's card, I can special summon one non-Synchro Scrap monster from my graveyard. I summon Scrap Golem in defense mode!" Rory declared.

The refrigerator golem appeared, then crossed its arms over its chest and turned blue. [DEF: 1400]

"I should let you know, Laval Dual Slasher has a special ability. If there are two or more Laval monsters in my graveyard, if attacks a defense position monster he can attack again." Everest smirked.

"I'll still make it through the turn though. It looks like you were wrong." Rory said.

"Oh no. When I said this was the final turn, I meant what I said. Laval Dual Slasher has a second effect. If there are three or more Laval monsters in my graveyard, he inflicts piercing damage!" Everest said.

"No…" The color drained from Rory's face.

"Go, Dual Slasher! End this duel!" Everest commanded.

Michael left at this point. He ran downstairs. He wasn't there to see Laval Dual Slasher cut through Scrap Golem, then deliver a second blow to Rory that depleted his friends' life points to 0. He was glad he wasn't there to see his friend fall to his knees as Security approached him, handcuffs in hand. No, he ran into the storage area at the back.

His Duel Runner was there, a grey and blue Gamma frame model. As he hoped on and started it up, he could see about eight other people had a similar idea. Someone opened the large door at the back. Michael sped through the door and into the night just as he could hear some of his friends above shout the word "Duel!"

A/N: Well, that's the first chapter out of the way. I'll admit, this story will probably end up being a little slow in terms of development but hopefully you can find some enjoyment in it anyway. I probably won't be using any characters from the actual series since I don't feel I can write well enough to properly represent their established character. There will be some custom cards in this, and I'll try and stick as true to actual game as I can. That's about all I had to say, so I'll just wish you all a nice day and be on my way.