Yu-gi-oh
No Limits
By Kevin Jones
Turn 7-A day with Damon
October, 4 2040; 4:00 p.m.-For about 3 days now I've been on the hunt for the answer to why playing duel monsters was able to make a little girl seem like the kid from The Omen. Literally in a day I've gone from this weird girl named Vanessa's apartment to the apartment of probably the worst mom ever and ending off here at a boarding school in upstate New York where I've had to duel some loud idiot and now right in front of me is the woman who appears to be pulling the strings.
"Tell me Mr. Rhodes when I told you to forget about what happened, why did you chose to remember?"
"I like a good adventure."
"Really, cause from what I know you don't show much of a desire to do much of anything at your school."
She's right, but how on earth could she possibly know that?
"Now listen, I want you to leave, permanently this time, or else."
"If you know so much about me than you probably know I've got nothing to lose."
She giggles at that and she is now turning her black eyes toward Vanessa who has been frozen in fear, probably, ever since this lady walked out.
"You're traveling with a very pretty young woman; it would be a shame if something were to happen to her."
Now what, I don't put it past this lady to do something to Vanessa, I may not like her but right now it's my job to keep her safe, I know what I have to do but I'm not going to like it.
"Alright we'll leave."
I look at Damon, for the first time he is dead silent which tells me 1 or 2 things about this woman and this school.
October, 4 2040; 8:00 p.m.-Vanessa has been quiet ever since we left the school, unlike on the way to the school she's not angry, I can tell she's scared.
"Well I should probably get you home shouldn't I?"
"Are you sure it's safe."
"No, but I'm not sure where else to put you."
At that she starts to look sad, I know I'm going to regret this.
"You know what, how about I get you something to eat."
She looks up at me and smiles.
"I'd like that."
October, 4 2040; 8:10 p.m.-Arnold is at his hot dog stand, exactly where it was yesterday. We parked the Runner out of sight and walked up to him, he doesn't seem to notice either of us.
"2 hot dogs please."
He almost jumps after hearing me; he flips around and now looks surprised to see me.
"Vanessa this is Arnold, he helped me get to the Tops, Arnold this is Vanessa she helped after you dropped me off at the Tops."
"You're alive!" He says surprisingly.
"Why wouldn't I be?" forgetting about the mind controlled security agent, school that is possibly full of psychic duelist, and riding on a duel Runner that is powered by gasoline, and gasoline explodes.
"Benigni called me before, there are some weird people hanging around your school."
"Sector security?"
"No, he's not sure who, and we're not sure what are next move is either."
"Why don't you just come back to my place?" Asks Vanessa, this idea appears to confuse Arnold.
"Where do you live?" He asks.
"An apartment up in the Tops, luckily I'm not too far from an entrance so we don't have to worry about someone seeing us."
Wait a minute that means I'll be stuck with this girl for another night, no way.
"Since its too dangerous for you to return to the school and you've got nowhere else to go my place is probably your only option."
Didn't think about that, as I glance at Vanessa I see her scribble something on a piece of paper.
"When you guys come up with an idea call this number."
Arnold takes the number out of Vanessa's hand and puts on a pretend confident face.
"Right so you'll be at your girlfriends place."
"She's not my girlfriend."
October, 4 2040; 8:40 p.m. - With the duel Runner put away me and Vanessa return to the upstairs apartment, now that were here I feel more nervous than I have all night.
"So than I take it you're going to sleep on the couch?" Is what I think she just asked, I'm not listening, something isn't right. I walk back to the front door; not listening to whatever Vanessa is asking me. As I look outside the door I can tell something isn't right, as I stick my head back inside I close the door and turn around towards Vanessa.
"We're being watched aren't we?"
"Do you really want to know?"
She nods her head.
"Yes."
"What! By who?"
"Not sure, call it more of a feeling, normally I wouldn't say yes based on no more than a feeling, but considering everything that's happened, I guess our instincts are all we can rely on.
"We, you mean you, I'm not cut out for this. All I wanted was a little adventure, not all this telepathy and dueling, and spies!"
"Yeah well guess what, like it or not you're involved."
"This is all your fault!"
"My fault, I spent all morning trying to tell you this was dangerous, you chose not to listen, you chose to loan me a Duel Runner, and you chose to come with me, if anything this is your fault!"
"You're just a big jerk!"
Oh great now she's storming away, and I just heard her slam a door.
"That was cold dude."
As I turn my head Debris Dragon has materialized next to me.
"Where have you been?"
"Trying to keep up with you Speed Racer."
"You have wings."
"Yeah, tiny wings and you've got the fast Runner, so I gave up and came back here."
"Whatever happened to Dragons being brave, powerful beasts that could do anything?"
"They got fat when McDonalds showed up, but never mind that, why were you so harsh to Vanessa just now."
"I'm just telling the truth, and second are we being watched?"
"I don't know."
"Then go check."
"Alright Mr. pushy, but on one condition."
"What."
"Go apologize to Vanessa."
Great now the little white Dragon is running towards Vanessa's room. I reluctantly follow only to find him sticking his ghost head through the door.
"She's crying."
"If you like her so much why don't you go cheer her up?"
"You're the only one who can see me remember, but if I could I would."
"Yeah well I can and I'm not."
"You should, and I'm not leaving till you do."
I guess I have no choice if I want Debris Dragon to start searching. I turn the knob and slowly open the door. Debris Dragon was right Vanessa's room is full of half open boxes and whatever isn't in a box is on the floor.
Vanessa lifts her head off a wet pillow and looks at me.
"What do you want?" She says trying to hide that she was crying.
"I'm, I'm sorry, about before." I'm not use to apologizing.
"I guess I'm sorry to, I shouldn't have freaked out like that."
"You're scared aren't you?"
"Aren't you?"
"I don't know, I've always been sticking my nose into strange things but nothing like this."
"So then what do we do now?"
"We should probably get some sleep, we'll figure out what to do in the morning."
Man I can't believe I just did all that, oh well at least it's over.
"Oh yeah and Chase."
"What?"
"Good night."
What's that about?
"Good night."
October, 5 2040; 8:50 a.m. – There's someone on top of me, he or she still thinks I'm asleep so I have the element of surprise, I don't hear Vanessa so, hopefully, they don't have her yet. Whoever this is feels light so if I move quickly enough, I've got its leg, I roll a little and I hear something hit the floor with a thud, I quickly move forward and jump over the side of the couch, wait a minute this is…
"Morning bro."
It's that kid from yesterday, David or Damien I think.
"Sorry about that Damon, but you got to admit it was fun scaring him." Vanessa says from behind me.
"Sure was."
"What's going on here?" Now I'm confused and I find it hard to believe that this idiot was sent to spy on us.
"I woke up about an hour go, that's when I saw Damon over by the pool completely lost and confused."
"She let me come in and we put together this little prank."
"What on earth are you doing here?"
"You tell me."
"Wait a minute; you think I brought you here."
"What other option is there, you were so impressed by my dueling skills yesterday that before you left town you waited till I was asleep and kidnapped me, now you want me to be your partner."
"Partner?"
"Yeah, well I figure you're some kind of dueling superhero guy and you need a partner like something out of a comic book."
"If it helps when I found him this morning he was convinced we kidnapped him because I had fallen madly in love with him."
"Wrong on both accounts Damon, now what's the last thing you remember before showing up here?"
"The last thing I remember is going to bed."
"I mean do you remember anything out of the ordinary?"
"Well now that you mention it, I've been feeling this weird tingling feeling in-between my toes, I thought it was just athlete's foot but…"
"I'm talking about anything odd that has something to do with our duel!" This kid's driving me crazy.
"Well after our duel, Headmaster Ivanov brought me into her office and asked me a bunch of questions about the duel."
"Ivanov?"
"Yup, I don't know what her first name is though."
"Definitely sounds Russian, and considering the way she talks she probably is…" At that moment the phone rings and Vanessa stops talking to go answer it in the next room.
"Damon does the phrase Togda ozornaja lisy vernulis' v noru mean anything to you?"
He pounders this thought for a moment and apparently thinking doesn't seem to hurt him.
"And then the mischievous little fox scurried back into its hole or something like that."
"You speak Russian?"
"Yeah all students have to take Russian."
That's right this kid duels like a 4 year old but apparently he speaks fluent Russian.
"Ok, do you know a girl named Abigail Starzan?"
"Unfortunately." Answering took him no time at all.
"She's a stuck up brat who scares her entire grade and probably most of everyone else, but she's Ivanov's teacher's pet. How do you know her?"
"She…"
"We got to get out here!" Vanessa interrupts.
"Why's that?"
"That phone call I just got was a recording from sector security; detectives are coming to question Tops Residence about that Sadusky guy you put in the hospital. I don't know how much they know but if they see you they might make a connection."
"Good point let's get out of here."
"Sweet we get to explore New York City."
"Hold on their Blondie, as soon as we get out of here we're going to a park, we're going to sit you down and you are going to tell us everything about this Arcadia group, understand.
"That's no fun."
"He's right Chase."
"Who's cares about fun at a time like this."
"Oh come on Chase he went to sleep in his nice warm bed last night only to wake up to being in a strange city, don't you think you could cut him some slack?"
"Yeah we're in the most famous city in the world and we should enjoy it."
"Fine, but while we're sightseeing you have to answer all my questions, understand?"
"Understood Bro."
God I hope I can get somewhere useful.
October, 5 2040; 7:50 p.m. – Today was useless. I spent the whole day running around New York City. I'd ask Damon a question and he'd answer with let's go to the empire state building or let's sneak into a Mets game. I've been dragged, on foot, by both Damon and Vanessa; in fact I think the baseball game was Vanessa's idea.
"Who's hungry?"
"I am," yells Damon for the whole world to here.
"Chase what about you?"
"Do I look hungry." It's a statement not a question.
"Oh come on Chase you've acted annoyed all day even when we snuck into the baseball game."
"I am annoyed."
"Oh you're a Yankee fan."
I turn my head Towards Damon.
"I don't like Baseball, what I would like to do is find out more about Arcadia, you 2 on the other spent the whole day fooling around."
"Fine than Mr. grouchy, I'll go get us some hot dogs over there; while I'm gone you 2 can question each other all you like. We're in central park, one of the most calming places in the city surely that could even calm you down Chase."
"Ok Damon first question, how'd you get involved in Arcadia?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I've been going to that school for as long as I can remember."
"Do your parents ever talk about how you got involved?"
"I don't have any parents." He says this like it's the simplest thing in the world.
"Where do you go during summer vacation or Christmas break?"
"Most students stay for Christmas or Thanksgiving, I don't know about summer but me and a bunch of other kids go to a summer camp down in Pennsylvania."
"So most students don't see their parents."
"As far as I know no. Hey can I ask a question now?"
"Depends on the question."
"Vanessa isn't your girlfriend right?"
"No." Why does everyone seem to think we're together?
"And she's not your sister or cousin, right?"
"Right."
"And she doesn't have a boyfriend right?"
"As far as I know, what's this all about?"
"Well I was just thinking that when she gets back I might just put my moves on her."
"You have moves?"
"Yes I…"
"I knew I'd find you somewhere."
Oh crap, hundreds of girls in this city and this one finds me.
"You know you cut class, you fall asleep in class and you mouth off to teachers but I never thought you'd skip school for 2 days straight."
Both I and Damon turn around at the same time to the sight of Millay Dewint. I've known her for as long as I can remember, and every time I remember I try to think of something else.
"You look like someone out of a magazine."
From the sounds and looks of it Damon has forgotten all about asking out Vanessa and now has his jaw dropped in front of the tall blonde.
"Who's this?"
Oh crap Vanessa's back; this is going from bad to worse.
"Oh my, oh my indeed at first I was shocked to see Chase hanging out with a friend, mostly cause I didn't think he had any friends, but skipping school to hang out with a girl, that makes a little more sense."
Millay than walks over and starts scanning over a now red Vanessa. Damon has a point though Millay is hot; if she wasn't so annoying I may not have really noticed until now. Where Vanessa has long red hair that appears to just get brushed and hair clipped every morning Millay has blonde hair that always looks styled, where Vanessa doesn't appear to wear any makeup what so ever Millay checks her makeup once every 20 minutes and finally Vanessa is just wearing jeans and a t-shirt while Millay is basically wearing something that has a big price tag. Wait a minute, did I just compare Millay to Vanessa, good god I have to get away from this girl.
"Tell me Chase do you have a thing for red heads, that girl from last year was a red head to, hey…"
"That's enough Millay."
"It's just food for thought; however, and don't take this the wrong way, you look kind of plain, not really the kind of person I'd pair Chase with.
This appears to make Vanessa a little sad. This is what Millay does, even if it's something that doesn't normally bother you once she figures out how to get her fangs into you there's nothing you can do.
"Oh well it can't be helped, ever since we we're little kids you've been braking hearts and causing trouble, I guess it's just bad blood."
"Ok that's it!" Oh crap now Damon's talking.
"Nobody messes with my pals and gets away with it!" Except your evil school principal who tried to kill me.
"Got a duel disk in that hand bag of yours?"
"Yes and who may I ask are you?"
"The names Damon and where I come from you got a problem with somebody or their friends you solve it with a duel!"
"Are you for real, oh well I've got 5 minutes."
Millay
"Lady's first."
"You're sweet, to bad I have to destroy you. I summon Precious Stone Knight-Ruby Sword in attack mode." (ATK: 1100/DEF: 1600)
"Hey Chase do you know anything about this Precious Stone knight thing?"
"Oh yeah, there dangerous when used correctly."
"Does Millay know how to use them correctly?"
"Let's just say they match her materialistic personality."
Damon
"You like gem stones, well I prefer something a little more interesting. I summon Bagon in attack mode." (ATK: 2000/DEF: 0)
It's a small blue, domed head dinosaur vs. a knight with a long sword and ruby armor.
"Bagon steel head!" (4000-3100)
"Oh my you're so strong, I think I may be in trouble." Millay doesn't fool me for a second.
Millay
"Ok then I summon Precious Stone Knight- Sapphire shield in defense mode (ATK: 0/DEF: 2000)."
Damon
"Ok then if Bagon attacks nothing will happen unless I, yeah this will work I play the equip spell Rage, now Bagon attack!"
"Wait a minute the attack didn't do anything."
"Not quite, when the monster equipped with Rage attacks and doesn't inflict battle damage its ATK points increase by 100." (2000-2100)
Millay
"Clever, but not clever enough I summon Precious stone night- Jet Axe in attack mode (ATK: 1600/DEF: 1400) next I activate Jet Axe's effect, allowing me to destroy your equip spell and inflict 300 points of damage to your life points."
"That's the problem with powerful spells," I start.
"What?" Asks Vanessa.
"They make easy targets." (4000-3700)
"Next I activate the effect of the Ruby sword in my graveyard; I can equip it to my Jet Axe and increase its attack power by 500. (1600-2100) Now precious stone slash!" (3700-3600)
"Precious stone monsters, while in the graveyard, can be equipped to ones that are on the field."
"So she wanted her Ruby in the graveyard."
"Yup Millay has no respect for her cards, let's see if Damon get past that."
Damon
"I summon Beldum (ATK: 0/DEF: 0) in defense mode!"
Millay
"I summon Precious Stone Knight-Topaz Daggers in attack mode. (ATK: 1000/DEF: 700) Now destroy his Beldum, topaz stab!"
"Sorry but Beldum can't be destroyed by battle."
"True but it has a side effect, but until then I set one card face down and end my turn."
Damon
(3600-3400) "Hey what was that?"
"During your standby phase Beldum inflicts 200 points of damage to you."
"Oh, well fine I summon Piplup (ATK: 300/DEF: 1000) in attack mode; next I play star growth which doubles the level of my Piplup, (2-4) now then I tune my level 1 Beldum with my level 4 Piplup in order to Synchro summon Empoleon in attack mode (ATK: 2300/DEF: 3000) now I activate Empoleon's effect by removing my Bagon from play I can increase Empoleon's ATK points by Bagon's ATK points! (2300-4300)
Now Empoleon drill peck on Topaz Daggers. (3100-3100) Hey that attack should have finished you!"
"Which is why I activated a trap, Precious stone Martyr, I sent my Precious Stone Knight-Rose Quartz Bow and Arrow to the graveyard to negate your attack."
"I end my turn." (4300-2300)
Millay
"Ok than I tribute Precious Stone Knights Sapphire Shield and Jet Axe in order to summon Precious Stone Queen in attack mode." (ATK: 0/DEF: 0)
"But it has 0 ATK points." Says Damon.
"Not for long." I respond.
"Correct, I equip Precious Stone Queen with Precious Stone Knights Ruby Sword, Sapphire Shield, Jet Axe, Topaz Daggers, and Rose Quartz Bow and Arrow to increase her ATK and DEF points by 500 for each Knight equipped to her and don't forget the 500 ATK points for being equipped with Ruby Sword and 500 DEF points for being equipped with Sapphire Shield. (ATK: 0-3000/DEF: 0-3000) Now attack Precious stone judgment!"
"Oh no you don't I remove from play my Beldum in order to switch Empoleon to defense mode so your attack does nothing!"
"Actually my first attack does everything."
"First?"
"First of all because my queen is equipped with Rose Quartz Bow and Arrow your Empoleon is destroyed."
"Not good."
"Not good indeed little Damon especially because since my Queen is equipped with Topaz Daggers she can attack again." (3400-400)
With that the multi colored queen attacked Damon directly, and if Damon can't think of something next turn that multi colored Queen's next attack will end it.
Damon
"Chase you have to help him."
"Damon got himself into this mess he has to get himself out."
"Look at him, you saw his deck before, surely there's some advice you can give him."
"Well if I remember correctly he did have one possible combo that could save him."
"Then tell him."
"Why should I?"
At that moment Vanessa grabs me by the shirt collar and pulls me right in front of her.
"Because if he doesn't win we're never going to hear the end of it."
"Even if he wins I'm probably never going to hear the end of it."
"Fine than if he loses you'll never hear the end of it from me!"
"Good point."
Vanessa looseness her grip and I turn towards Damon, it's a long shot but it's also our last shot.
"Think about it Damon, what's her Queen's power coming from."
"Those other rock things."
"Correct, when the Precious Stone Knights are in the graveyard they can become an equip card to another precious stone monster."
"Equip card, I've heard that term before."
"Exactly now what card in your deck can help you win."
"Actually it's in my hand."
"Wait a minute are you telling me it's been in your hand this whole time?"
"Yes."
"Damon you idiot, you…"
"Chase calm down."
"What's it matter anyways, it's a level 5."
"Exactly and what card in your graveyard can help you with that problem."
"Card in my graveyard, of course, I activate the second effect of star growth which allows me to special summon Piplup by removing from play Star Growth and Empoleon."
"How's that suppose to help you?"
"Just watch; I tribute my Piplup in order to summon Primeape in attack mode!" (ATK: 2000/DEF: 500)
"How's your muscular fur ball going to help you?"
"Simple because on the turn Primeape is summoned I destroy all equip cards on the field and inflict 400 points of damage for each card."
In all the years I've known Millay I've only seen shock on her face on a few occasions, and this is one of them. (3100-1100) (ATK: 3000-0/DEF: 3000-0)
"Now Primeape Big muscular slam!" (1100-0)
Damon: Win Millay: Lose
"How on earth could I lose to some moron?"
"Simple, there was no way you could lose to my awesomeness."
"That's one word for it." I say
"Nice work Damon." Says Vanessa
"Put your hands up!"
Instinctually we all turn around only to find 2 police cars in front us.
"Chase Rhodes, Damon Doe, and Vanessa Aaronson you 3 are under arrest for the murder of Detective Michael Sadusky."
"Murder," starts Vanessa, "You told you me he was thrown back into the tunnel."
"I lied."
"What else have you been lying about?"
I look at the cop in front of me, it's Sadusky's former partner, Detective Tate, now I'm sure there's something up with this woman.
"We'll soon find out."
Next time: The Facility
The men behind us slam us to the ground and me and Damon both look up at the young Hispanic man in front us.
"Ok let me explain the rules, first day in everyone duels, you duel well you get respect, you don't duel well, well let's just say you might want to watch yourself in the showers.
