My nerves were trying to make a break for it as I triple checked to make sure that I was packed. The compartment under my seat had my spare set of clothes, my second deck, tools, and a small box.

Rally watched as I checked my things, "Do you ever go places without your box?"

"No. Just like you cling to the few cards your parents left for you, I keep this box with me. If it weren't for this, I would know nothing about my birth family."

She helped me roll my runner down to the track level of the subway, then I doubled back to make sure that Nervin knew how to work the program on my laptop.

"We got this Yues. Go kick Jack's trash."

I smirked as I climbed back on my runner, "Of course I will."

Rally jumped down, "I have something to give you before you leave."

She handed me a card, Turbo Booster. I stared at it in surprise, "This is your favorite card. Why give it to me?"

"For good luck!"

I smiled at her, "Thank you. And guys?"

They looked at me, "Keep her safe, okay? I'll get back as soon as I can, but it might be a month from now, when the pipe opens next."

"Sure thing!"

"Of course we will Yuse."

"We always stick together."

Taking a deep breath, I smiled and nodded, "Well, here I go!"

I put on my helmet and shot off down the tunnels. This was going to be quite the trip, even if I don't' get caught. But if I do...let's just say I wouldn't mind the break in this extremely long ride.


Right on time, I shot out of the tunnels, and hurried to the waste plant. Just like in all of the test runs, I still had about ten minutes before the hatch would close.

Pain shot up my leg as something crashed into my side. I sped up and glanced back, Oh, come on! Where did that copper come from?

It was the cop that laughed way too much last time we dueled. I shook my head and hit the throttle as much as I could. I heard him prattling about something, but I didn't have time to care. I felt a couple bumps as I ran over the barricade, and then I lept over the gate. Come on, Justice! You can do this!

The landing was rough, but I managed to keep going. Behind me I could hear the clank of the gates opening, and the hum of a chasing runner.

Once again the man laughed, "Guess what, scum? We just got a new mechanic in our runners! I can now force you to duel me whether or not you like it!"

"Speed World set, Autopilot, standby."

Biting back a wave of nerves, I spit out the words, "Fine. Let's do this."

Not the kind of excitement I was hoping for, but I can probably handle this.

Before I got a chance to do anything, he practically screamed, "I get the first turn! I summon Gate Blocker in defense mode and place one card facedown."

Gate Blocker-2000

Okaay... That's not a monster I've seen before.

"My turn!" I stared at my (lack of) speed counters in shock, "What on Earth?"

He snorted with laughter (what is it with this guy and laughing?), "Gate Blocker is a card only in the decks of Security officers. It makes it so your opponent can't gain speed or speed counters as long as it is on the field."

I bit back an insult and summoned Speed Warrior by slapping down his card.

Speed Warrior-900

Once again, he did his thing, "So? Even if it doubles it points, it's still not enough to destroy Gate Blocker."

Speed Warrior-1800

Trying, and failing, to control my temper, I spoke again, "I summon Turbo Booster in attack mode."

Turbo Booster-0

For once he didn't laugh, "What use is that monster? It has no attack points!"

Why is it so hard to not slap someone, "I release Turbo Booster in order to use its special ability. I can destroy your monster, regardless of points, and mine isn't destroyed."

"But you'll still take damage!"

I shrugged, "So? Go Speed Warrior!"

Life Points Yusei=3800

The second the stupid monster was gone, I slammed my foot on the accelerator. Yet the bastard kept talking, "I activate my trap, Broken Blocker. If a monster with more defense than attack points is destroyed, I can summon two of them in defense mode."

Gate Blocker-2000

Gate Blocker-2000

Oh, come on! I sighed, "I set two cards facedown, and end my turn."

Speed Warrior-900

Without turning around, I could hear the smile in his sentence, "I summon Gonogo in attack mode!"

Gonogo-1350

"Now attack that Speed Warrior!"

Life Points Yusei=3350

It's impressive that a man I just met has tied with my foster brother for my "Worst Person in the World" award. I'd almost rather be dealing with Jack right now. Scratch that, I WOULD rather be dealing with Jack than this man.

"My turn! I summon Junk Synchron, and activate Graceful Revival to summon Speed Warrior from the graveyard."

Junk Synchron-700

Speed Warrior-900

"Now you can probably guess what is coming next, I synchro summon Junk Warrior!"

Junk Warrior-2300

He looked positively bored, but I pushed on, "Now attack that Gonogo!"

Life Points Trudge=3050

Yet another cackle hit my tired ears, "My turn, I summon Jutte Fighter in attack mode."

Jutte Fighter-700

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as I rolled them, "Looks like it's your turn to synchro summon."

"Sure is, and I synchro summon Goyo Guardian!"

Goyo Guardian-2800

To my shock, apparently he could get louder, "Now get Junk Warrior!"

Life Points Yusei=2850

"Goyo Guardian's special ability allows him to take the monster he destroys, and put it in defensive mode on my side of the field."

Junk Warrior-1300

"Next I activate a speed spell, Sonic Buster!"

Oh yeah, I've been waiting for that. I quietly activated Slip Stream, and watched him act so pleased about the fact that I was going to be taking 1400 points of damage.

Life Points Yusei=1450

"And now...I activate another Sonic Buster."

You are just getting more and more annoying.

Life Points Yusei=50

Despite the time crunch, I took a quick second to calm myself down, "My turn, and I summon Nitro Synchron."

Nitro Synchron-300

Scanning my set up, I smiled, "Then I activate Dash Pilfer."

"You can't do that you don't have…"

My smile grew as he stopped talking, "Noticed something on my field? When you used your first Sonic Buster I activated this little spell here which made my speed counters the same as yours. Now, Dash Pilfer allows me to take a monster on your side of the field in defense mode, and bring it to my side, so long as I have four or more speed counters, which I now do. I chose Junk Warrior."

Junk Warrior-1300

"Now I synchro summon Nitro Warrior."

Nitro Warrior-2800

"And, if, on the turn he is summoned, a speed spell was used, he gains 1000 attack points. Now take out that Goyo Guardian!"

Nitro Warrior-3800

Life Points Trudge=1050

It was almost funny to me how our expressions had switched. Now he was the one who was upset, while I was the one enjoying the duel, "Then his special effect comes into play, which turns one of your monsters in defense mode into attack mode and can attack it. It may be without the 1000 extra points, but it's more than enough for now."

Life Points Trudge=0 Defeat!

Just as I shot free, the hatch opened, dumping things that were enormous into the tunnel. Shoot, shoot, come on, Justice, come on!

I did my best to maneuver around, and went over the top of the tunnel. I skidded when I hit the bottom and started sliding towards the door. This works, just make it to the side tunnel.

A loud metal clang filled the air as the door slammed shut, thankfully with me on the side I wanted to be on, even if it was a little difficult regaining control. It took a minute for me to come to a safe stop, and I took a quick break trying to calm down my heart-rate.

Taking one more deep breath, I stretched, Time to catch up with Jack.

I gunned my runner and went through the tunnels at a much more leisurely pace.


A/N: I'm back! Thanks to PipeDream and Lets-Go-To-Vermont for reviewing on the first version of this chapter!