The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the water lapped gently at the dock, and all Jack Smith could think about was how much he hated the notion of spending three days on a boat. Even a cruise ship like the Academy fliers had bragged about wasn't doing much to raise his spirits. Just great. He glanced out the corner of his eye, looking at his Augmented Reality relay. Bunch of messages from his fanclub, mostly expressing sadness that they weren't coming with him or wishes to follow him. He sighed and shooed them away with the flat of his hand. Writing replies could wait until later.
When had that even started? The whole AR thing. Before he was born, certainly, but not much before then. So maybe... he was fifteen, so maybe sixteen years ago. For Jack, it had been a constant in his life, as natural as breathing, but for those even a few years older than him, that wasn't the case. Adults especially often stumbled with the technology.
Jack was a tall guy for his age, firmly built, with short black hair, blue eyes, and an easy smile. For as long as he could escape the confines of a uniform, he wore black leather pants and vest over a white overshirt, all hanging neatly on his frame. Then there was the belt – with considerably more clips and hangings-on than it needed, not to mention the holster for his Vanguard deck. In reality, the belt was not even remotely for keeping his pants up; it was just a convenient place to wear the AR Sheathe when it wasn't in use. Nobody played Vanguard with physical cards anymore – certainly, it was distributed in that fashion, but games were played by loading the deck into an AR Sheathe and carrying it out over the local AR. On the plus side, this completely eliminated sleights of hand and other such tricks, plus it allowed everyone in the vicinity to spectate with ease.
Well, the flier hadn't been joking about the cruise ship. The thing completely dwarfed the other vessels in the harbor, painted garishly with prominent Vanguard units; Jack could make out his own ace card at the forefront of the pack. That made him smile, just a little, as he joined the crowd thronging to board.
The problem with a queue, of course, is that it's boring. Half the hopeful students had already glazed over and begun fiddling around, browsing the net in midair or playing games quietly. Jack's gaze didn't waver from the boat. That was the goal and if he had to stand here and sweat in the sun then so be it. Something would definitely go wrong at the last second if he wasn't paying attention. With that in mind, he'd determined to keep his attention up for as long as possible. Obviously, this couldn't last. Within twenty minutes he was distracted by the commotion going on in front of him: a mousy brown-haired girl with cute glasses wandering up and down the line, examining every guy she saw and giving them a pass-over. There was a question, too, but most of them looked either confused or annoyed that she was addressing them.
Then she finally made her way over to Jack, walking in a slow circle around him. He guessed that she was possibly a year younger than him, although she was quite short and thin so it looked a lot younger. "Nice outfit." he told her, deadpan; she wore red bike shorts under what looked an oversized Japanese men's school jacket – what was the word for... gakuran, that's it. Why did he know that? Oh, right. Thank you, Christie. He glanced at his list of admirers. That one would be getting a reply. The thought was shaken away as the girl in front of him opened her mouth.
"You like it? Sally is cosplaying -"
Jack cut her off. "Utena, from Revolutionary Girl Utena." Thank you, Christie!
She looked utterly taken aback that he recognised it. "Uh, yeah. You must have a girlfriend."
"Not exactly..." he shook his head. "Your name is... Sally?"
The girl nodded. "Sally plays Dimensional Police centered around Daiyusha. Your name?"
"It's Jack..." he trails off as she starts running her mouth again.
"Ooh, Jack? Jack is a good name! Sally likes that. Are you the protagonist?"
What. The question blew his mind so thoroughly that he nearly fell over. That's what she'd been asking as she was going down the line? No wonder everyone looked so irked by it.
"The, uh, protagonist?" He must have said something wrong, because Sally started pouting at him like a little lost duck.
"Probably not, then..."
Jack didn't even have a response to that. He pushed his hand against his face, wondering what exactly he'd got into by striking up a conversation with the weird girl. This definitely wasn't going to do him any favors in the area resembling popularity. She didn't move on from him, though.
"Hey, you didn't tell Sally what deck you play." Sally prompted him.
"Well, I play..." Jack winced and cut off as the ship's signal horn blared and the line started moving. "I'll tell you later, okay?"
Certainly, nobody had been joking about the cruise ship. Jack had seen less pretentious parties at actual parties; even discounting the pool on the deck, the ship's mess hall was basically a floating buffet. And it was all free, too. PSY Academy really wanted its target families to know how much money they had to throw around, it seems... and it must have been working; he'd already seen several people excitedly calling their families and thanking them. At least there was no need for that on his end. He slouched at one of the tables, quietly working on a chocolate mousse and putting his thoughts in order.
Electing to attend at PSY had been a case of finding a way to blow several years of his life without committing to anything much. School was always boring, of course, but Jack quite enjoyed the card game, especially since he didn't find it particularly mentally taxing, and he had blown through the entrance exams, including the practicals, with relative ease. As with most sixteen year-olds, he had only the barest glimmer of a thought of what he wanted to do with his life, other than that he didn't want to sit through a more practical course and he definitely didn't want a job working manual labor or customer service in his corner of the city. The thought made him smile. What a symptom of the world: a midlife crisis at age sixteen.
"Hey, can I sit here?"
Jack looked up at the gentle voice, blinked at the girl he saw. She must have been his age, and everything about her screamed princess – long, bushy, silky black hair, vibrantly blue eyes, and elegantly-refined features. Then his eyes hit her outfit and his brain nearly turned inside out. As with him, she preferred the smart-casual type – white slacks and allegedly-sleeveless overshirt, plus a loosely-worn black tie – but then there was her coat, a classic old naval trenchcoat that reached her ankles... but with the sleeves removed, leaving her arms bare, and an equally-naval cap, worn at a jaunty angle that shaded her tanned features.
She didn't wait for him to respond, instead shaking off her coat so that he could see the jolly roger emblazoned across the back and spreading it across the back of the chair opposite him, then dropping into it, leaving her cap beside the table. "Thanks."
Jack raised an eyebrow at her and continued with his mousse, wondering if she'd introduce herself or say anything worth hearing. After a moment, though, the girl did continue, as if thoughtfully: "You looked kind of alone over here so I thought I'd come and cheer you up."
He swallowed slowly. "Thank you. I'm okay, though. Just thinking."
"Ah. Well, this is awkward." she chuckled. Her voice was soft and dusky, like smoke on the water. Jack waved a hand.
"Don't be, it's fine." he assured her. "I missed your name...?"
The pretty girl leaned back in her seat, playing with her hair. "It's Laura. Laura Wagner. And you?"
"Jack Smith. I have a boring name." Jack admitted, fiddling with his cup. "Laura... hm."
Laura raised an eyebrow at him. "Is that a problem?"
"Ah, no." he laughed, raising his hands defensively. "It's just a pretty name, and a powerful one."
"Pretty and powerful?" she asked, blushing a little. Jack folded his arms on top of the table, nodding.
"It comes from the late Latin Saint of the same name, and that name is itself derived from laurus, or laurel tree, but most commonly L. nobilis, the bay laurel. To the ancient Greeks, the bay laurel wreath was a symbol of wealth and status; to the Romans, victory. In Christianity, it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ." he explained himself and went back to working his way through his mousse.
"You're very well read."
"I'm a sixteen year old going away to study card games for three years..." Jack smiled softly. "If I had better things to do with my time than memorize random trivia I'd be doing something more useful with myself.."
The blase way he said it made her wrinkle her nose. "You think this is a waste of time?"
Sensing that he'd got on her nerves, Jack chose to retreat slightly from that line of conversation. "Well, if I thought it was a waste of time, I wouldn't be here at all." He put his now-empty cup of mousse aside and stood up. "It seems to me like it would be a waste to not take the opportunity to go and soak up some sun by the pool. Join me?" he threw in a flirting wink, making her laugh softly.
"Wow, that was fast."
Jack's smile grew. "That doesn't sound like a no."
Laura let out a breath and stood, collecting her cap. "Alright, alright, I'll meet you out there, as a reward for your straightforwardness." she shook her head, still laughing softly. Jack's smile turned to a grin.
"If you want something you should be upfront about it, right?"
"Well, I'm not sure that applies if it's to get a girl you just met into her swimsuit, but..." she trailed off; Jack was already walking away with a wave over his shoulder.
"Wow, you must be like the buffest cardfighter I've ever seen." Laura told Jack teasingly – they had indeed met on the somewhat crowded deck, where Jack was trying to ignore the crowd of admirers his swim trunk-clad self had attracted as he worked on sunscreen. Sure enough, he was quite fit and reasonably muscled, although it seemed like he'd kept himself toned rather than trying to bulk up.
"Well, I'm reasonably fond of the notion of staying in shape and not getting too sick, so there's that. Shall I help you along?" he asked, raising the bottle of sunblock he'd been using. Laura laughed, putting her hands on her hips. The one-piece swimsuit looked suspiciously like it was a school swimsuit, blue and all, and fitting very well indeed at that.
"Nice try, but I already got the 'slop' part down when I was getting changed."
Jack shrugged. "Hey, it was worth a shot." A few of the girls hovering around the pool looked like they'd be fairly eager, but Jack didn't have eyes for them. Unfortunately, events chose that exact time to go to hell – there was a shout from the other end of the deck and the pair turned to look.
In hindsight, going over her cards by the pool had been a mistake, but the idea of looking over her deck on the deck had appealed to Sally so much that she couldn't quite resist. Unfortunately, while her skimpy two-piece swimsuit bikini didn't do a lot to attract attention with her flat frame (Sally had got one with ruffles and everything!), her deck, centered on her Nation Leader, had done plenty to get attention from all the wrong people... like this guy, Jason, who felt like he was twice her height and was easily twice her width. Tall, buff guy, short hair, shorts and a sweatshirt... must be a football jock of some type. Unfortunately, well, he'd demanded her deck, and when she'd refused and started gathering it up, he'd grabbed her to get at them... the shout across the deck had been her yelp of pain as his rough grip bruised her soft skin.
On the positive side, it was that shout that had brought Jack and Laura to her aid, with Laura looking incredibly disapproving and Jack mostly amused.
"Man, you sure know how to pick up a woman." sure enough, Sally's feet were dangling nearly a foot from the deck. Jason made a noise that may have been embarrassment and let her down, careful not to drop her – which was fortunate, because Laura was lining up to give him a black eye. Sally hurriedly scampered over to them, hiding behind Jack with a whimper.
"He still has Sally's cards..."
Laura's eyes narrow. "Give them back, musclehead."
Jason raises his big hands, smiling and shaking his head. "Unless you think you can take them..."
That makes them stop. Laura could have probably knocked him over while he was distracted, but now his attention is on them, and Jack doesn't seem inclined to fight. He glanced back at Sally, clinging to his arm, and raised a hand to pat her hair down gently. "Don't worry."
"Is that a yes?" Jason challenged him.
Jack turned and starts to walk away from him, closer towards the pool, since his effects lay at the edge. "It's true that neither of us could defeat you in a physical fight. You played football at your old school, right? Well, where we're going, all that will matter will be your cardfighting skills." he picked up his belt, flicking it around his arm with a practiced motion so that the AR Sheathe attached was held on the back of his wrist. "That being the case, why don't we settle this with one?"
Jason considered this, and finally reached down to his belt, tapping the AR Sheathe there. "That's fair. Although, you have nothing to lose here. That being the case... if you lose, I'll be taking your deck, too."
"That's fine." Jack smirked, getting a quiet gasp out of Sally, but he pressed on. "If it's the same for you, of course."
"The same for me...?"
Jack nodded. "If you're willing to part with your deck when you lose."
Jason paused for a long time, clearly thinking hard about it, but he finally swallowed, gathered his resolve, and nodded. "Since I pushed those terms on you, I can't complain."
They ended up facing each other from opposite sides of the pool. Not that setting up the game was any problem – they'd been automatically patched into the ship's area network the minute they'd come within range, and that simply meant that the game was visible to anyone who didn't choose to filter it out. Most of the kids in the pool had cleared out, although a few remained, either splashing about beneath the battlefield or ignoring it entirely.
The biggest advantage to using augmented reality is that it didn't have to actually exist. The graphics were rendered purely in-brain; that they held a fixed position was simply an illusion. Still, they were certainly impressive; you could almost swear that the huge billboard advertising their fight and their faces was actually there... and then it dissolved down, culminating in five cards floating in the air to their sides – their starting hands.
In the shade beneath the overhang from the dining hall, two women lay ensconced in one deck chair. They were far enough back from the pool to not attract much attention, and anyone who did look their way was quickly sent scurrying by the intense golden gaze of the dark-haired half of the pair. When the game began, though, she stiffened a little, and her partner yawned and uncurled from her side a little, looking up into her face through sleepy green eyes. "What's up?" she glanced back over her shoulder. "Oh, a game."
"I suppose it still catches my attention even though I moved on to playing Weiss Schwarz full time." The dark-haired lady stroked her friend's auburn hair down gently. "Am I making you jealous?"
"Not really. I still remember the first game we had." she shut her eyes, as if reciting it from memory.
"Imagine it... that the two of us have appeared on a fantastic planet, Cray, Earth's mirror image. But, we are weak creatures, astral projections without any real strength. To that end, we are given two abilities: 'Call', the ability to summon the creatures in this world, Units, to our aid – the cards in our hand are the Units we can Call. Those Units have their own summoning costs and their own unique abilities. And then there's the second ability... to transpose ourselves onto a Unit of our choice, the ability to Ride into the battlefield. And, the Unit we use in this instance is called the Vanguard."
Her partner tapped her back gently, making the green-eyed woman wriggle in her lap. "I know, since you're quoting me."
Done wriggling, she laughed and leaned up to kiss the intense lady's cheek, then squirmed into her lap, laying back against her. "Good. Then, let's just watch and enjoy it, since these people are going to be our customers later on."
"Let's get started. I'm only returning one card." Jack informed Jason, raising his hand. The chosen HUD for the game was different for everyone. For spectators, it simply showed results, but for him, his cards hovered in midair in front of him, easily visible. Judging from the way Jason held a hand near to him, he must have had his as if the cards were physically in his hand.
"Two for me." the jock archetype replied, and there was a brief moment of silence as the AR system dealt them out new cards and chose who start. After a moment of the portraits hanging above them flickering, Jason's was lit, and Jack nodded. His hand was really quite convenient, since he'd only had to return a single Trigger – the winning shape, his image of victory, would come out easily, with any luck.
"After you. Stand Up, the Vanguard!"
"Stand Up."
There was a yelp and a laugh from the pool itself as the water seemed to swirl and their two creatures sparked to life on the surface of the water, sending the few people remaining in scattering away to the edges of the pool. Jack had chosen to start up with a handgun-wielding nun, Battle Sister Eclair, while Jason's card was, as anticipated, a demonic football player in spiked armor, crouched low over the water.
[Battle Sister Eclair – 4000]
[Smart Leader, Dark Bringer - 5000]
"Smart Leader, Dark Bringer..." Jack murmured. "That's like you, I suppose, since everyone's first thought was that you're a jock."
"Isn't it so that your deck should be a reflection of your personality?" Jason queried him. "I draw... and Ride, Commander Gary Ganon!" With a splash, his new monster hit the field – a tall pink-skinned demon with impossibly cool shades and an equally impossible trenchcoat, with a popped collar that did its level best to defy the laws of physics [Commander Gary Ganon - 6000]. "Also, Dark Bringer outrides." Jason added, shifting his starting Vanguard to the back and left of Gary Ganon. "That's it."
"Spike Brothers... that could be dangerous." Laura noted to Sally, watching from the edge of the pool and idly kicking her feet in the water. Sally, legs folded beside her, frowned.
"What's the problem?"
"Spike Brothers are based around swarming the field. Although Jack is playing Oracle Think Tank, which are all about drawing a heap of cards, so it might be equal..."
Jack glanced at them as they spoke and drew his card, considering. That's certainly true, and I haven't played against Spike Brothers before, so I don't know what I'm in for. However... he thought, and turned his gaze on Jason, who raised an eyebrow at him, waiting patiently. Something's wrong. He's under the pressure here as much as I am, but I can't sense anything resembling killer intent from him. His first play, too, was reserved. Further, he backed off from Sally almost instantly. What's going on here?
Putting those thoughts aside for now, he touched one of the cards hovering around him. "I Ride Battle Sister Cocoa." Replacing one nun for another, this one with a crazy smile and far too many knives [Battle Sister Cocoa - 6000], Jack outrode Eclair to the back-right circle, mirroring Jason's field – dragging the image of the card on the translucent field in front of his eyes. "When Cocoa hits the field, I get to check the top card of my deck and return it to either the top or bottom." Tapping Cocoa, the game system registered her skill and popped up his next card. "... I don't need this one." he murmured, sending it back to the bottom and selecting another card in his hand instead. "I call Sphere Magus."
In stark contrast to the crazy nun in his Vanguard circle, the Unit he'd called behind her was the quintessential magical girl, complete with cutesy staff and puffy clothes [Sphere Magus – 3000 – Heal Trigger].
"Calling a Heal Trigger?" Sally queried.
Laura smirked faintly. "Watch. This is one of the few strengths Oracle Think Tank can claim to have that isn't Scarlet Witch Coco at this point."
No sense over-committing right now, with only one target and no huge swing to hand. "Sphere Magus boosts – and she boosts double – and Cocoa attacks the Vanguard." Jack declares, tapping his units in mid-air and turning the little glowing cards he favoured side-on. With the Magus raising her staff, Cocoa's power jumped up to 12000, enough to be a difficult block. [(3000*2)+6000 = 12000]
Jason considered his hand for a moment. "No Guard."
"Check the Drive Trigger..." Jack tapped over his deck icon, then ran his fingers across the card that seperated from it, spinning it once as it enlarged, making it visible to all:
[Drive Check: Luck Bird – No Trigger]
"No Trigger."
In the middle of the pool, Cocoa spread her robes, unleashing a barrage of knives that rained down on Gary Ganon, making him raise a hand to shield himself.
"Damage Check... damn." Jason muttered as his card came live.
[Damage Check: Silence Joker – Critical Trigger]
"... for what it's worth, I give the power to my Vanguard."
"Indeed." Jack's roving hand moved to Sphere Magus, as if he were conducting a symphony. "Sphere Magus returns to my deck and the deck is shuffled. Your turn."
"Ah, Sally gets it... if you get a Heal Trigger you can put it back in your deck." Sally nodded as if she had suddenly grasped the whole secret, making Laura smile and ruffle her hair.
"Something like that. That thought can also be a trap in and of itself, though."
"Certainly, being able to return your Heal Triggers to your deck is valuable." The brown-haired lady over in the shade smiled quietly. "But..."
"The question is whether you'll fall prey to the mental trap that line of thinking creates." her intense friend (or cushion, maybe) murmured, eyes narrowed over the former's shoulder.
Jack
Hand: 5
Front Row: -/Battle Sister Cocoa/-
Back Row: -/-/Battle Sister Eclair
Damage: Empty
Jason
Hand: 5
Front Row: -/Commander Gary Ganon/-
Back Row: -/-/Smart Leader, Dark Bringer
Damage: Silence Joker
Back on the field, things had begun to heat up with Jason's turn beginning. "I Ride Field Driller." As if done screwing around, Gary Ganon twisted into the cyborg form of the Grade 2 Field Driller – a green-skinned, one-horned demon pockmarked with mechanica, his hands overwritten by a pair of huge drills [Field Driller - 7000]. "He's weak, but he'll have to do." Jason admitted. "Next up, I'll push Dark Bringer forward into the front row, and call out Medical Manager."
The Unit that flickered into existence behind Dark Bringer was the quintessential goblin, if one outfitted as a sports team manager and carrying a number of bottles that looked suspiciously like they contained Purple Drank [Medical Manager - 7000]. Jason carried on with his turn, hurriedly explaining: "When he hits the field, I get to Soul Charge a card." He raised a hand to click at the air and a card image flashed over the pool – Cheerful Lynx, a Draw Trigger. "Damnit... well, that being the case, I'll call a second Medical Manager behind my Vanguard and Soul Charge again..."
Proving that he had no luck at all, Jason managed to Soul Charge away a Dudley Douglass, a card he would have much preferred to have in his deck. He wrinkled his nose and settled for calling another Field Driller in his remaining front row slot. "Alright, now we attack. First things first, Medical Manager boosts, and Dark Bringer attacks your Vanguard." [7000+5000 = 12000]
Jack didn't bother to guard that one; he needed the damage anyway. "No Guard." he murmured, watching Dark Bringer line drive his held ball into Cocoa's chest, making her groan in pain. "And for damage..." he absently clicked at his deck and stared with dismay at the resultant Perfect Guard.
[Damage Check: Battle Sister Chocolat]
"God damnit."
"Now you know how I feel." Jason grumbled. "Anyway, Dark Bringer's skill: when his attack hits, I move him to the Soul..." he dragged the card from point to point in the air. "... and I get to grab out a card from my hand." he selected one, taking an obvious breath to steady himself. "Devil Summoner, Superior Call!"
Beside his Vanguard, the water turned inky, swirled, and then exploded upwards, realising into the form of a tentacle-covered quarterback, face perpetually twisted into an eerie, bony grin [Devil Summoner - 7000]. "When he comes to the field, I get to check the top card of my deck, and if it's a Grade 1 or 2 Spike Brother, I get to Superior Call that..." Jason mutters, and checks. "... Panzer Gale, behind my other Field Driller!" With a crash and a splash, his new Unit arrived, head and shoulders above the others, a menacing ogre with a heavy, spiked helmet [Panzer Gale - 8000]. "Although he won't do much good back there... still. Alright, time to continue my attacks. This time I'll attack with the Rearguard Field Driller."
"No you won't." Jack plucked a card from the air, a rat-thing holding a pair of dice. "That attack is only 7000; I Guard it with Miracle Kid." Even as his little rat was shattered away under the force of Field Driller's drills, Cocoa refused to flinch, regaining her crazy smile. Jason hissed.
"Guarding already... fine. I attack with Devil Summoner, too." Another line drive, but Jack is ready for this one.
"Guard with Luck Bird..." Using up a Grade 1 in the process, he blocked that attack, too, leaving Jason's only recourse as his Vanguard. Jason twitched gently.
"I even got a fourth attack and you still blocked..."
"It's not really difficult given how my hand is. Please, carry on." Jack told him, shifting a little under the sun. Jason growled at him.
"Fine. Medical Manager boosts, and Field Driller attacks!" [7000+7000 = 14000]
Jack glanced at his hand. Strictly speaking, he could guard a 14000 swing, but it wouldn't be in his best interest to. Maintaining hand advantage is the key in Vanguard... even if he spams the field, he can't overcome that. "No Guard."
Field Driller lurched forwards, enunciating in hoarse groans – Dig, dig, dig, diiiiig! - as it splashed across the pool to Cocoa, driving its drills into the nun such that her clothes were ruined and she screamed in pain. Jason's hand rose. "Drive Trigger, check..."
[Drive Check: Fierce Leader Zachary – No Trigger]
"Damage..." Jack reached for his own.
[Damage Check: Dark Cat – No Trigger]
Another card he's desperately liked to have played. "Damnit. Nothing here, either."
"That being the case, with Field Driller's skill – since his attack hit and I have four Spike Brothers Rearguards, I draw a card - that's the end of my turn." Jason told him.
Jack
Hand: 3
Front Row: -/Battle Sister Cocoa/-
Back Row: -/-/Battle Sister Eclair
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolate, Dark Cat
Jason
Hand: 5
Front Row: Field Driller/Field Driller/Devil Summoner
Back Row: Panzer Gale/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker
Two damage to one isn't exactly unexpected when your opponent went first, so Jack wasn't very flustered... more importantly, something else was bothering him. Jason's demeanour, once again. I don't get it. Honestly, why are you doing this? The way you play is gentle even though your deck is designed to crush your opponent. He glanced over at Sally and Laura, quietly watching the game. Cunning stunts indeed... geh. Now isn't the time to get distracted, Jack. The only way I'm going to get to the bottom of this is... He drew his card and smirked nastily. Pushing him until he cracks.
"I Ride Silent Tom." With his battle nun replaced by a slick-suited undead hitman, his field was newly set to go back on the attack [Silent Tom - 8000]. "Next up..." Jack's hand moved to his damage zone display, double-tapping one of his cards. "I use Battle Sister Eclair's skill. Counterblast, and she moves to Soul... in return, I get to check the top five cards of my deck, look for a Grade 3 OTT, and add one to my hand if I get one."
Five cards splayed out in the air before him and Jack slapped his hand across them, making them spin and reveal themselves. Only one got his attention, though: CEO Amaterasu, his deck's lynchpin. "Got one. I'll add Ammy to my hand, and the rest shuffle into my deck. Hey, do you know why I play Oracle Think Tank?" the question was an open one, but it's Jason who answered.
"Enlighten me."
Jack smirked. "That's because, no matter what I try and do otherwise, all the ladies just gather to me."
"Oh please." Laura snorted, reaching down to send a light spray of water in Jack's direction, although it fell miserably short. Sally glanced at her.
"Angry?"
Her companion leaned back on her hands, considering, and eventually smiled a little. "I guess it's pretty funny, if nothing else."
Jason, on the other hand, didn't look amused. "Are you finished?"
"I'm just getting started. I'll call a second Silent Tom, and back my Vanguard with another Sphere Magus." Jack continued, conjuring up two more Units out of the waters. "Sphere Magus boosts, and my Vanguard attacks yours." [(3000*2)+8000 = 14000]
With 14000 power coming out of his finger guns, Jason found himself staring down a swing that mirrored his own from the previous turn – and like in the previous turn, he wasn't going to spend the hand to block it.
"No Guard."
"Then, Drive Check..." Jack murmured.
[Drive Check: Luck Bird – No Trigger]
He sighed. "I don't even believe this."
"Hey, Jack, I thought all the ladies gathered to your hand." Laura called out mockingly.
Jack glanced at her and gave her a jokingly-condescending bow. "Obviously, I'm picking up chicks." She groaned and gave up the attack, letting him get back to the game. "Now then. Your Damage Check?"
Jason nodded. "Let's see..." as the card came out, a green wave washed over the field.
[Damage Check: Cheer Girl Tiara – Heal Trigger]
"Heal Trigger, Cheer Girl Tiara! … but I can't use it, so I'll give the power to my Vanguard."
"Ow... you have my luck." Jack smiled wryly. Jason laughed gently.
"I know, right?"
There it is again. That flash of softness. Jack's eyes narrowed. "Well, anyway... my other Silent Tom will take out your other Field Driller." Almost a mirror match, Jason chose not to Guard this one, either, losing his Rearguard to Silent Tom's attack – of course, that would only give him the option to move Panzer Gale up.
"Sphere Magus returns to my deck, and that's it." Jack extended a hand. "Your turn."
Jack
Hand: 3
Front Row: Silent Tom/Silent Tom/-
Back Row: -/-/-
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolat (F), Dark Cat
Jason
Hand: 5
Front Row: -/Field Driller/Devil Summoner
Back Row: Panzer Gale/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker, Cheer Girl Tiara
"Stand and Draw..." Jason looked at his hand and winced. "I... don't Ride. I move Panzer Gale up to the front row."
"All that Superior Calling and Soul Charging and you still missed your Ride? Damn." Jack whistled lowly. Jason flinched.
"Shut up! Medical Manager boosts and Devil Summoner attacks your Vanguard!" [7000+7000=14000]
Jack barely deigns to acknowledge that as an attack. "No Guard."
[Damage Check: Oracle Guardian Red-Eye – No Trigger]
Seemingly still angry, Jason continued his assault. "Panzer Gale goes after your Rearguard Tom." With the huge Unit bearing down on his Rearguard, Jack almost considered letting it go through. Almost.
"It's only 8000. I guard with Luck Bird. Again." His bird may have been shattered away by Panzer Gale's punch, but his Silent Tom was left unharmed.
"Damnit..." Jason muttered. "Fine then, Medical Manager will boost and my Vanguard attacks yours once again." [7000+7000 = 14000]
"And, once again, No Guard." Leaving his Vanguard to suffer to the drilled hit, Jack awaited Jason's Drive Check.
[Drive Check: Medical Manager – No Trigger]
[Damage Check: Battle Sister Chocolat – No Trigger]
"Another Chocolat. It's a typical game of threes, I suppose." Jack noted, watching Jason come down from his brief rage.
"... once more, I get to draw for Field Driller's attack hitting, and then it's your turn."
Jack
Hand: 2
Front Row: Silent Tom/Silent Tom/-
Back Row: -/-/-
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolat (F), Dark Cat, Oracle Guardian Red-Eye, Battle Sister Chocolat
Jason
Hand: 6
Front Row: Panzer Gale/Field Driller/Devil Summoner
Back Row: -/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker, Cheer Girl Tiara
"Jack's at four damage... is he going to be okay?" Sally asked Laura, who considered.
"It's four damage to two. However, Jason missed his Ride, whereas Jack purposely moved Amaterasu to his hand with Eclair's Counterblast."
"More importantly, he'll be the first to reach Grade 3, even though his opponent started." The intense lady over in the shade noted to her cuddled-up friend, who smiled.
"That's a priceless opportunity. It'll give him an extreme amount of hand advantage, propped up further by the fact that he's playing the Clan who have the best hand advantage generation in the game... after your old Clan, anyway." the brunette responded, folding her arms across her waist. "Even with the damage he's suffered, he can turn it all around this turn."
"Stand and Draw." Jack picked one card, shutting his eyes. "The beautiful goddess, shining radiantly... I Ride my Clan Leader, CEO Amaterasu!" In a crash of spray and a dazzle of rainbow, the white-robed goddess appeared before him, dark hair blowing gently in the sea breeze [CEO Amaterasu - 10000]. "Now, her skill... I Soul Charge one card..." and there went another Sphere Magus. Oh for fuck's sake. Jack's irritation showed only briefly on his face. "... and I check the top card of my deck, then return it to the top or bottom as I choose." With his card revealed only to himself, of course, his poker face came back into action. "This one can go back on top."
Jason's eyes narrowed. "What's up with that?"
"Oh, you'll see." Jack smiled cheerfully. "Now, Ammy attacks your Vanguard." At only 10000, Jason could certainly block the incoming nova, but since he's ahead on damage, he chose to maintain his hand instead.
"No Guard."
"Then, I give the power from my Draw Trigger to Silent Tom, and draw a card." Jack said confidently. Jason's jaw came very close to dropping and his voice went very quiet.
"... what?"
"Oh, come now. The purpose of checking the top card of my deck... it's obviously to get myself a Trigger." he chuckled. "Now then. Twin Drive, first check."
[Drive Check: Dream Eater – Draw Trigger]
"Like I said, I give the power to Silent Tom and draw a card. Also, I have four cards in my hand now, so Ammy's skill kicks, giving her an extra 4000 power." Jason winced as Jack calmly continued. "Second Check..."
[Drive Check: CEO Amaterasu – No Trigger]
"You got lucky this time. Still, I'll have you take this one damage."
Jason reached, trembling slightly, for his Damage Check switch...
[Damage Check: Cheer Girl Tiara – Heal Trigger]
"Again!? I... give the power to my Vanguard."
Jack nodded. "Fine. Then, my Silent Tom attacks your Panzer Gale at 13000." he extended his hand. "Will you guard?"
Jason couldn't seem to decide whether to be angry or depressed, so he just drops his Panzer Gale; on the field, the Unit dissolved back into the water under the assault from Silent Tom. "My turn?"
"By all means." Jack smiled meanly.
Jack
Hand: 5
Front Row: Silent Tom/CEO Amaterasu/-
Back Row: -/-/-
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolat (F), Dark Cat, Oracle Guardian Red-Eye, Battle Sister Chocolat
Jason
Hand: 6
Front Row: -/Field Driller/Devil Summoner
Back Row: -/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker, Cheer Girl Tiara, Cheer Girl Tiara
Jason's draw was useless again – and worse, he had no Ride, either. "I call MVP Black Panther and another Medical Manager behind him; as before, I Soul Charge." The goblin was no different from usual, of course, but his new Unit, the treasured black panther, stood tall, clothed in flawless orange and black armor, its feline lips curled in a snarl [MVP Black Panther - 10000]. Jason checked his Charge card. "... Kung Fu Kicker. A Stand Trigger." he complained.
Jack raised his hand. "If you're done, then come at me." he said, making Jason flinch.
"Fine, here I come." the jock returned, rising to the challenge. "My first Medical Manager boosts, and Devil Summoner attacks your Vanguard." [7000+7000 = 14000]
"I Guard with Dream Eater; you're blocked." he said coolly, defending himself with the mystical elephant, determined to hold Jason to four damage. Jason actually snarled at him.
"In that case, with Medical Manager boosting, my Field Driller attacks Amaterasu." [7000+7000 = 14000]
Jack smiled. "I Guard with Luck Bird!"
"Again!?" Jason groaned. "How many of those do you have?"
"Three..." Jack admitted. "And I've used each of them to Guard. Come now; one to pass."
"Risky play." Laura muttered. Sally looked sideways at her.
"Why's that?"
She kicked her feet idly in the water. "Normally, you'd hard block the Vanguard at four Damage, just to defend against a potential Critical Trigger."
Over in the shade, the conversation was going in a similar direction, with the black lady narrating for her friend. "However, with the flow as it is now, it's highly likely that his opponent won't get a Trigger. He can probably sense that."
Jason reached for his Trigger, obviously trying to will one to him. "Come on...!" he growled, tapping his Drive Check switch.
[Drive Check: General Seifried – No Trigger]
"Hey, at least you have a Grade 3 for next turn." Jack tells him cheerfully. Jason doesn't look pleased.
"Finally, with one more Medical Manager boosting, my MVP Black Panther attacks the Vanguard." [7000+10000 = 17000]
Now that was a swing, and this time Jack allowed it through, eyes shut. "No Guard." he reached for his Damage Check and was 'rewarded' with a golden flash.
[Damage Check: Psychic Bird – Critical Trigger]
"... Psychic Bird. This is the worst game for Trigger luck I think I've ever played, Christ." Jack muttered. Jason made an annoyed sound.
"I'm done."
Jack
Hand: 3
Front Row: Silent Tom/CEO Amaterasu/-
Back Row: -/-/-
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolat (F), Dark Cat, Oracle Guardian Red-Eye, Battle Sister Chocolat, Psychic Bird
Jason
Hand: 6
Front Row: MVP Black Panther/Field Driller/Devil Summoner
Back Row: Medical Manager/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker, Cheer Girl Tiara, Cheer Girl Tiara
"No kidding. Stand and Draw." Jack's hand moved back to his deck. "Ammy's skill, I Soul Charge... Maiden of Libra... and check the top card." it went back to the top of his deck and he picked another card from his hand. "I call Psychic Bird, and, using its skill, add it to the Soul to draw one card." a flick and the card was there. "Now that I have it in hand, I'll call out Weather Girl Milk." Jack's latest Unit, appearing behind Amaterasu, was a happy fairy in a pretty yellow sundress [Weather Girl Milk - 6000]. Jason frowned deeply.
"You worked that hard to get a 6000-point booster into your hand?"
"Well, you'll see." Jack chuckled softly, picking another card. "I'll also call Blue Scale Deer out to Ammy's other side."
Now his Vanguard was flanked – on one side by Silent Tom, and on the other by... well, the Unit was exactly what it sounded like: a blue deer (well, technically a stag) covered in scale armor, with a heavy set of prongs [Blue Scale Deer - 8000]. "Okay then... now we kick it. Milk boosts and Ammy attacks."
With Jack's field set up as it was, now was definitely the time to go hard, and he was showing it with the sudden rush of attacks – although leading with the Vanguard was definitely strange. [6000+10000 = 16000]
"His deck doesn't have any Stands." Laura murmured, frowning. "Interesting choice."
"How can you tell?" Sally asked from beside her. Laura glanced at her.
"Normally, you'd swing with your Vanguard second or third, so that you could get a fourth attack with a Stand Trigger, but since he's swinging first, and judging by the fact that we've seen both Dream Eater and Miracle Kid, it's likely that his deck is running eight Draws and no Stands. Basically, he's sacrificing offense for hand advantage."
Sally considered this and smiled. "How gentle."
Jason wasn't about to let this one through so easily. "I guard with Cheer Girl Tiara and Fierce Leader Zachary for a total of 23, so you need two to get through."
"Oh... is that so?" Jack smiled. "I think you'll find I only need one. Twin Drive!"
"Here we go. Ammy is the weakest of all the Oracle Think Tank Grade 3s, in theory, but her ability to surprise swing is unsurpassed." The conversation in the shade continued as usual, leading the cheerful lady to laugh.
"Especially since the game only declares her power at the start of the attack, not including the inevitable change. That makes it easy to forget, causing you to under-guard like this."
[Drive Check: Oracle Guardian Apollon – No Trigger]
Jason let out a visible sigh of relief. "Now you can't get through."
"Don't be so sure of that." Jack replied. "Remember what I said? I only need one Trigger. Second Check, here we go!" he picked the card and span it, and smiled at the resultant green flash.
[Drive Check: Sphere Magus – Heal Trigger]
"Gotcha. Power to Ammy, and I heal away one damage."
Jason frowned. "That's only 21000, though."
"Is it?" Jack laughed. "Now I have four cards in my hand..."
Jason's expression went from 'confused' to 'oh crap' in record time. "Amaterasu's skill..."
"That's right. She gets an extra 4000, putting her to 25... in other words, that's enough to get by. Now, take this one damage."
The football player shied away from the red blast that smashed down on his field, courtesy Ammy's starburst of fire, making his Field Driller groan in pain.
[Damage Check: Commander Gary Ganon]
"Oh, feel bad about it." Jack chuckled. "Now then, Silent Tom attacks Devil Summoner."
Jason glanced at his hand and shook his head. "No Guard." he returned, watching Silent Tom level its literal finger-guns and blow his Eldritch quarterback away. Jack continued calmly.
"Finally, Blue Scale Deer swings at your Vanguard again." It was only 8000, but Jason didn't seem to have any choice but to take the deer by the horns as it were, forcing Field Driller to take a nasty trampling.
[Damage Check: Kung Fu Kicker – Stand Trigger]
"For what its worth, power to Vanguard and Black Panther stands." Jason just shook his head, disappointed. "That it?"
"My battle phase isn't quite over yet. Deer's skill, Soulblast: I drop two from my soul..." he raised a hand to his field, doing so. "... and draw a card. Now it's your turn."
Jack
Hand: 5
Front Row: Silent Tom/CEO Amaterasu/Blue Scale Deer
Back Row: -/Weather Girl Milk/-
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolat (F), Dark Cat, Oracle Guardian Red-Eye, Battle Sister Chocolat
Jason
Hand: 4
Front Row: MVP Black Panther/Field Driller/-
Back Row: Medical Manager/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker, Cheer Girl Tiara, Cheer Girl Tiara, Commander Gary Ganon, Kung Fu Kicker
"And now Jack's on top!" Sally cheered happily.
"With his field mostly full, that Seifried isn't going to be much good. Also Jack has a hand advantage and can afford not to guard at least one attack." Laura analyzed it slowly. "That could well have been the point where any semblance of a balance of power crumbled."
Sally gave her a long look. "Sally thinks you don't enjoy this game enough." Laura made a noncomittal sound and looked away.
"Stand and Draw." Jason picked a card from his hand. "Not my first pick, but it'll do. Leader of the Dark Legion, master of the forbidden play... I Ride General Seifried!"
Jack had to actually step back a little as the on-deck pool briefly became a maelstrom wrapped around Field Driller – even though it was just a graphic, it still caught him by surprise. When the water fell, Field Driller had been replaced a towering leader, wrapped in armor of black and silver, with the odd green jewel here and there for effect; two silver 'wings' extended from his shoulders, framing his hulking body [General Seifried – 10000].
"Finally, a Grade 3." Jack nodded to his opponent. "Show me what you can do with it."
"You really need to quit running your mouth." Jason returned hotly. "I call another MVP Black Panther," he glanced at the field as it arrived, leaving Seifried flanked by the two golden-armored jungle cats, "and then boost with my first Medical Manager and attack with my first Panther." [7000+10000 = 17000]
Jack plucked two cards from his hand. "I Intercept with Blue Scale Deer and guard with Dream Eater." Black Panther's tackle was halted by the sudden appearance of the armored deer and its elephant companion, causing a crash in the waves but no actual damage to his Vanguard. Jason didn't let up.
"Then, I'll attack with my other Rearguard column." [7000+10000=17000]
Jack smiled. "I'll guard again, you know. It's unfortunate, but I'll use the Sphere Magus in my hand and block you out."
"He's not going to guard General Seifried again?" Laura frowned deeply, obviously confused. "What the hell is he doing?"
Beside her, Sally pulled her feet out of the water. "As you said, the flow of the game is going against the big guy... Sally thinks Jack knows that."
With his Rearguards blocked, Jason chose to make his swing with his Vanguard. "Medical Manager boosts, and General Siefried attacks. Also, Seifried's skill: when he's boosted by another Spike Brother, he gets an extra 3000 power." [7000+(10000+3000) = 20000]
Jack glanced at his four card hand and shook his head as Seifried set itself, gathering an immense amount of energy between its arms. "No Guard."
"Come on, Critical Trigger..." Jason muttered, grasping slowly for his checks.
[Drive Check: Wonder Boy – No Trigger]
[Drive Check: Dudley Douglass – No Trigger]
If Jack was at all relieved, it didn't show on his face, not even as Amaterasu shrieked and writhed in pain as Seifried's black shockwave washed over her body.
[Damage Check: Blue Scale Deer – No Trigger]
"Looks like this is as far as you go." Jack said calmly. I think I have it, now. "You're not any good at Vanguard, are you?"
Jason bristled. "Hey!"
"Jason. Even if there was a monster who ruled over this world from the shadows, he couldn't twist the truth." Jack folded his arms across his chest. "Nothing about this adds up. You were gentle with Sally when we arrived, and you didn't pick a fight you probably could have won. You also agreed to my terms even though you had no reason to do so, as if you wanted to punish yourself. And it's obvious that you don't really have the handle on that deck. Given that your physique suggests you've been playing sport pretty much full time..." he pointed across the pool at his opponent. "You aren't a Vanguard player at all, are you?"
Jason recoiled visibly and, after a moment's hesitation, hung his head. "... that's right. I only just began playing. And everyone here was so good..."
Jack was quiet for a moment before he spoke. "You're good at football, aren't you? A perpetual winner?"
"Yes."
"Then, I see what happened." Jack smiled gently. "You know you're out of your league, here, so the pressure got to you. Your mental balance fell apart, and you grabbed for whatever advantage you could. … isn't that right, Jason?"
Jason went quiet for a long time, and didn't speak even when he agreed, just nodding gently.
"That's it. This game is over." The intense lady in the shade murmured. "His heart isn't in it anymore."
"Stand and Draw." Jack's words jolted Jason out of his reverie. "This game isn't over yet."
Jack
Hand: 5
Front Row: Silent Tom/CEO Amaterasu/-
Back Row: -/Weather Girl Milk/-
Damage: Battle Sister Chocolat (F), Dark Cat, Oracle Guardian Red-Eye, Battle Sister Chocolat, Blue Scale Deer
Jason
Hand: 5
Front Row: MVP Black Panther/General Seifried/MVP Black Panther
Back Row: Medical Manager/Medical Manager/Medical Manager
Damage: Silence Joker, Cheer Girl Tiara, Cheer Girl Tiara, Commander Gary Ganon, Kung Fu Kicker
Jack only had to consider his hand for a moment. "Ammy Soul Charges... it's Sphere Magus." His eye twitched, betraying his frustration with the generally awful luck the game had suffered from. "Anyway, I return the top card of my deck to the top and call out Oracle Guardian Apollon." Unlike the rest of his deck, which was full of combat nuns, pretty priestesses, and armored animals, his new Grade 3 was pure war machine, built of chrome and ivory, a statue-fortress of guns. [Oracle Guardian Apolloon – 10000].
"Now then, let's finish this up." Jack snapped his fingers. "Milk boosts and Amaterasu attacks. Since I have four cards in hand, Milk boosts for 10, while Ammy gets her plus-four pump." His fairy almost seemed to be dancing in the doubled-size sun, only to pleased to give her power to her Clan Leader, whose now-golden radiance dyed the sea around them the color of a pure emerald [(6000+4000)+(10000+4000) = 24000]
"24000... that's a lot. I Intercept with both my MVP Black Panthers and guard with Cheerful Lynx." Jason's field rapidly comes to with the feline players, all trying to guard their General.
Jack raised an eyebrow. "That's only 25000 in total; are you sure that will be enough, since I returned my top card to the top?"
"If I threw away more than this I wouldn't be able to counterattack next turn anyway, so I just have to hope that you're bluffing." Jason replied. Jack smiled.
"Good attitude. Then..." he moved his hand to his Drive icon. "I give power to my Vanguard, and Draw."
"God damnit!"
[Drive Check: Miracle Kid – Draw Trigger]
Ammy's sun swelled yet further, and Jack didn't hesitate to pull his second card.
[Drive Check: Weather Girl Milk – No Trigger]
"Now, take this: Sunlight Yellow Overdrive!" Seifried twisted and roared in pain as the sun began to encroach down upon him, but Jason stood firm.
"I still get a Damage Check. Come on, Heal..." he muttered, grabbing for his Check, only to be disappointed by a golden flash.
[Damage Check: Silence Joker – Critical Trigger]
Seifried twisted and disintegrated under the blast, and the field slowly dissolved back into the billboard that had started the fight, proclaiming Jack's victory. Jason hung his head. "... I lost."
"Good game. You did well to hold out for so long with no Grade 3." Jack complimented him in turn, easing out of his AR Sheathe. Jason started to pull his deck free to offer it to him.
"Here, since you won."
"No." Jason stopped and stared as Jack shut him down, shaking his head. "Just apologise to Sally and give her cards back. I don't care about yours."
"So, lover, what did you think of that?" Over in the shade, away from the pool, the brown-haired lady shifted and kneeled up, straddling her friend's lap.
"They're both amateurs and they were both unlucky, but it was an okay game. That Jack kid might be good with some practice." her dark-haired friend stretched out beneath her, groaning like a cat. "He doesn't really know how to play OTT, though; he even guarded with Sphere Magus, which you shouldn't really ever do if you can possibly avoid it."
"Sounds like he caught your interest. Should I be jealous?"
"Hardly. I'll just be glad to enlighten him on the proper way to expand your hand if he ever comes by the store."
Back by the pool, Jason handed Sally her cards back, being extremely gentle with her. "I'm sorry."
Sally took them, half-hiding behind Laura, but... "... it's okay. Just don't do it again."
"I won't."
"So, are you entertained?" Jack asked Laura, smiling at her. She beckoned him to lean down to her level.
"Come here and I'll show you."
Smugly, he leaned down, and Laura wrapped her arms around his shoulders... only to throw him roughly into the pool with a loud splash, making him quickly struggle back to the surface, spluttering.
"H-Hey!"
She laughed and slipped into the water, patting Sally's leg. "That was more entertaining than the fight. Come on, I'd like to actually use the pool."
Sally lit up and followed her, then glanced back at Jason. "You know, you should, too, instead of standing around like an idiot." she said in a too-polite tone, and chased after Laura, leaving him with a bemused expression for a few moments before he finally followed them in.
"Fine..."