The thought of Trudge likely forcing me into a duel was practically instantly followed by my runner changing into duel mode.

I guess he wants to be beaten again. I'm looking forward to this.

Drawing my cards, "Since you are forcing me to duel, I will take the first turn. I summon Quillbolt Hedgehog in defense mode, and end my turn."

Quillbolt Hedgehog-800

His now customary laugh came from behind me, "I summon Search Striker in attack mode."

Search Striker-1600

"Now take out that rodent!"

He is not going to get the pleasure of me getting upset.

Quillbolt shattered under attack, but thankfully Trudge's next words were, "And then I end my turn."

As I drew my next card, a smile nearly came on my face, Perfect.

Keeping my voice even, I put my card down, "I summon Junk Synchron in attack mode, and his special ability brings back Quillbolt from the graveyard in defense mode."

Junk Synchron-1300

Quillbolt Hedgehog-800

"Next, I tune the two of them together into Junk Warrior."

Junk Warrior-2300

Suddenly I heard the sound that meant a trap was activating, and I turned around to see what it was. He smiled, "I activate Discord Counter, which destroys your Junk Warrior, puts the monsters that summoned it in defense mode, and makes it so you can't summon any monsters for two rounds."

Junk Synchron-1300

Quillbolt Hedgehog-800

Just wonderful. And now he's probably going to summon at least one monster just to rub it in my face that I can't.

"I summon Pursuit Chaser in attack mode."

Pursuit Chaser-1400

His next words brought fury into my soul, "My monsters will now take out your pathetic creatures!"

Both monsters shattered, while he continued talking with his aggravating voice, "Whenever Pursuit Chaser destroys a monster in defense mode, you take 500 points of damage.

Life Points Yusei=3500

Without the ability to summon a monster, this is all I can do.

"My turn. I place one card facedown and end."

We rounded a corner, revealing the door of the elevator in front of us. There was not a single way to turn and avoid it.

"I'll take care of that."

Where did that voice come from?

The voice came again, this time I could see the icon on my helmet, showing me where it was coming from, "I'll make it so you can get through there."

Finally I connected the voice to the owner, "If you say so Blister."

Behind me, Trudge kept yelling something about me driving towards a wall, but instead of listening, I sped up. Just as I got to the door, it exploded open.

Upon entering the shaft, I angled my runner so the impact would hurt the least when I got to the ground floor.

The idiot named Trudge followed me down, "I activate the spell, Rapid Shotwing. It adds 500 attack points to the monster of my choosing, and I choose Search Striker!"

Search Striker-2100

His cackle was equivalent to metal on metal, "Next I have him attack you directly."

Life Points Yusei=1400

The cackle grew in volume as we continued to fall past dozens of floors, "Now I have Pursuit Chaser attack you directly."

I smiled, "Exactly what I was hoping for. I activate my facedown card, Confusion Chaff. If I get attacked directly twice in a row, the second monster attacks the first instead of me."

My smile was so wide that it was hurting my face as I watched as the monsters battled, and Trudge's life points finally dropped.

Life Points Trudge=3300

He glared at me as his monster disappeared, "I set one facedown before I end my turn."

Search Striker-1600

Blister's voice came through again as I neared the ground floor, "Brace yourself Yusei."

Tilting my runner backwards, I hit the ground floor hard and the doors opened. I shot through just before they closed. I heard Trudge land behind me, but I let myself worry about that as I rushed towards the exit.

I shot forward only a few feet before he caught back up to me somehow. He crashed into me and started yelling in my face, "If I can't beat you, then I will find a way to make sure that you never get out of here!"

Suddenly, he was shoved away by someone else riding a runner. The rider came even with me and I saw who it was, "Blister, thanks for your help back there."

Trudge screamed from behind me, "This duel isn't over yet!"

Rolling my eyes openly, I continued the duel, "Then I summon Speed Warrior in attack mode."

Speed Warrior-900

"And on his first turn..."

More laughter came from his stupid mouth, "I don't think so Satellite. I activate Power Bind, which not only prevents his points from going up, but actually puts them at 0 until your next turn."

Tilting my head, I activated my card, "Since you used a Speed Spell, I can activate Reactor Pod, which deals you Speed Warrior's original attack points as damage. Say goodbye to 900 life points."

Life Points Trudge=2400

Every time he spoke, I wanted to rip my ears out, "My turn, Search Striker, take out his Speed Warrior!"

Before anything else could happen, I quietly activated Scrap-Iron Scarecrow. He immediately started yelling language that Martha would have not tolerated in her house.

It didn't take a genius to tell that he really wasn't happy with me now, "I activate Final Countdown. After I activate this spell, once per turn I set one card down, and when I remove this spell from play you take damage. 500 for two cards, 1500 for three, and 3000 for four. I set one card facedown and end my turn."

Drawing my next card, I started my turn, "Okay, Speed Warrior, I'm putting you in defense mode, and bringing out some backup. I summon Healing Wave Generator in defensive position."

Speed Warrior-400

Healing Wave Generator-1600

"Next I activate my Generator's special ability. I pick one monster that isn't it, and gain 100 life points for every level it has."

Life Points Yusei=1600

As he drew his next card, a quiet chuckle came from Trudge, Oh, that's just peachy.

"I summon the tuner monster, Torapart and tune it with my Striker to create Goyo Guardian!"

Goyo Guardian-2800

His voice somehow grew in volume, "Goyo, attack that Generator!"

"I activate Scrap-Iron-"

More laughter from him preceded a slight shock, "When Torapart is sent to the graveyard because of a Synchro summon, you can't activate traps for the first turn."

Some more non-Martha-approved words came through my head as my Generator was dragged to his side of the field. Fury built up inside of me as he laughed again, "I think I'll use it's special ability to gain 600 points."

Life Points Trudge=3000

He was still very smug as he spoke, "I'll end my turn with a facedown."

My cards helped me out as I got the final card for my plan, "I summon Turbo Synchron to the field, which allows Quillbolt to return once again."

Turbo Synchron-100

Quillbolt Hedgehog-800

"Next my Turbo attacks Healing Wave Generator."

Life Points Yusei-100

Trudge truly needed some intervention about his laughter problem, "Are you insane? Why would you ever do something so stupid?"

A smile spread over my face, "Turbo can't be destroyed in battle, and I can summon a monster with as many points as I just took as damage, such as my Sonic Chick."

Sonic Chick-300

"I now use the spell Urgent Tuning, which allows me to Synchro even if it's not the time for it. This allows me to bring out my Turbo Warrior."

Turbo Warrior-2500

"And in case you didn't know, all level 6 or higher monsters that Turbo declares battle on have their points cut in half, but I'm not done there."

Goyo Guardian-1400

"I activate Synchro Strike, which adds 500 points for every monster involved in his summon."

Turbo Warrior-4500

"Turbo Warrior, take out Goyo Guardian!"

His monster shattered, and my spirits lifted.

Life Points Trudge=0 Defeat!

Trudge slammed into me again, but almost instantly vanished from my side.

I shot free and glanced back, seeing Blister fall over with Trudge. He looked at me and mouthed, "Go, I'll be fine."

Nodding, I launched out of the building, shooting past countless Security agents, all with weapons armed with my 'new best friend', the tazing rod. As more and more electricity went into my system, my world went slowly black.


A/N: Thanks to Let's-Go-To-Vermont for reviewing on the first version of this chapter!