Heartland: Greetings magnificent duelists. The sun has set on the second day of the World Duel Carnival. Tomorrow, the battle for Heart Pieces continues, but for now brave duelists, rest your decks and gather your strength, because come tomorrow, you're gonna need it.
Orbital: Master Kite, I know you need to find more numbers, but you've been in Photon Mode for far too long. I have to warn you that if you keep this up, your body could,
Kite: Your concern is noted, now get back to tracking down info on the numbers.
Troy: Hey Kite.
Kite: Hello Troy.
Troy: Well, I'd better be getting home. I'll see you tomorrow.
On his way out of the building, he got a text from his sister asking him to pick up a few things from the store. Meanwhile, Kite headed up to Hart's room to check on him. He arrived and saw his little brother staring out the window.
Kite: Hey Hart, how you feeling?
Hart: Brother.
Kite: I've gathered more numbers. Before you know it, you're gonna feel a lot better, I just need you to keep hanging in there. Think you can do that for me?
Hart: Okay.
Kite: Great. I've gotta go for now, but I'll be back soon.
Once he made it to the elevator, he felt a sharp pain run through his body and fell to his knee.
Hart: Big brother!
Kite: I'm okay, I just tripped is all. I'm such a klutz.
The elevator went down and Hart was left alone.
Hart: Brother. I must go.
His eyes glowed blue and he let out a massive blast of energy before he disappeared.
Meanwhile, Yuma and Tori were walking through town, and Tori had a bundle of sweets in her arms.
Tori: Thanks for getting this stuff for me Yuma, but how come you didn't get anything for yourself?
Yuma: I thought you would share with me. I didn't realize you were gonna hog it all.
Tori: What was that?
Yuma: Nothing!
They were interrupted by the sounds of multiple car horns going off and people talking in response to a child walking in the middle of the road.
Yuma: Are you seeing this?
Tori: What is that kid doing?
Yuma: Wait, I know him. That's Kite's little brother.
He ran out into the street to get Hart before he got hit.
Tori: Yuma, be careful!
Yuma: Hey! What are you doing playing in traffic?
Just then, a huge truck came towards them. The driver tried to turn away, but the truck tipped onto its side and began to slide towards Yuma and Hart, the former putting himself between Hart and the truck to try and protect him as he clenched his eyes shut. Suddenly, Hart's eyes glowed blue again and he and Yuma were wrapped in a sphere of energy that tore a hole through the truck, protecting them. Yuma opened his eyes and saw that he and Hart were fine.
Astral: Yuma, look.
Yuma turned around and saw the massive hole in the truck.
Yuma: There's a hole in the truck?! But how?!
Astral: At the moment of the collision, some sort of power phenomenon occurred, which seemed to protect you and the boy. Could this power have come from him?
Hart: You look like you're cold
Astral: Are you saying you can see me?
Hart: Yes, I can. Who are you?
Yuma: This is freaking me out. Is he one of you or something?
Astral: My name is Astral.
Hart: I know that name.
Astral: Do you know something about me?
Tori: Yuma. You're okay.
Yuma: Yeah, but I don't think we should stick around.
Astral: Bring the boy.
Yuma: What?!
Astral: I need to ask him more questions.
Yuma: After what he did to the truck? I have a feeling I'm gonna regret this.
Tori: Probably.
Back at Heartland Tower, Nistro and Dextra were looking at the surveillance feed from Hart's room.
Nistro: So, what do we think caused this? Meteor? Big monster maybe?
Dextra: You know fully well it was subject zero. If Mr. Heartland finds out that he's out there,
Nistro: Yeah well, he won't find out. And neither will Kite. We'll have the kid home by morning.
Dextra: Maybe we should call Troy for help looking for him.
Nistro: Why bother him? We can find him without Troy's help.
Dextra: Alright, but I'm keeping Troy on standby in case we need him.
Nistro: Suit yourself.
In Yuma's home, he had arrived with Hart and Tori, and the story about the earlier accident was playing on the news.
Yuma: Bringing him to my house was not a good idea.
Lillybot: Yuma, be quiet. Yuma, be quiet.
Astral: I need to ask you something Hart. How is it that you can see me?
Hart: Why wouldn't I be able to see you?
Tori: Hey, it's almost ready.
Kari: Get over here and set the table, doofus.
They all sat down to eat, and Astral showed Hart how to use his chopsticks. Meanwhile, Nistro and Dextra were flying over the city looking for Hart.
Heartland officer: We're scanning the western district.
Nistro: Copy that. If you see him, do not try to apprehend him. Unless you want to be blasted by an otherworldly power.
Suddenly, a familiar voice could be heard on the radio.
Troy: Dextra, Nistro, do you read me?
Dextra: What is it, Troy?
Troy: I just saw the news report, and I think I might be able to help you find Hart.
Nistro: And what makes you think you can find him before us?
Troy: Because I know who he's with. I could just barely make it out, but I'm sure I saw him leaving the scene of the accident with Yuma.
Dextra: Okay, try and find him, but be careful. Hart can be very dangerous.
Troy: Understood. I'll let you know if and when I find him.
In Yuma's house, Hart was asleep in Yuma's room, who was talking to Tori in the room below it.
Tori: So where do you think he was heading?
Yuma: Beats me. I guess we should get him to Kite, so we'll have to track him down somehow.
Tori: Yeah, but you know what's gonna happen if you see Kite. There's gonna be trash talk, and then a duel, and if you lose, then,
Yuma: How about we worry about that part when we get there ye of little faith?
Astral: Yuma, Hart can see me. There is something quite special about him. I have a feeling he knows about me and where I am from.
Kari: Hey Yuma! One of your friends is down here looking for you!
Yuma: Coming! Jeez, who could it be coming over at this hour?
He went downstairs to the front door and was surprised at who it was.
Yuma: Troy.
Troy: Hey Yuma. I need to have a chat with you in private.
Yuma: Okay.
Once they were alone, Troy pinned Yuma to the wall.
Troy: Okay Yuma, where's Hart?
Yuma: Chill out man, he's upstairs in my room asleep.
Troy: You're lucky I'm the one here instead of Nistro and Dextra, or you'd be in serious trouble.
Yuma: Why is that?
Troy: Look, just take me to Hart so I can bring him back to where he belongs.
Yuma brought Troy up to his room only for them to find that Hart had gone out the window.
Troy: You didn't think to lock the window?!
Yuma: It's not my fault!
Hart: Now's not the time, we need to go find Hart.
Troy: She's right. The longer Hart is out there, the bigger the chance someone is going to get hurt.
Yuma: What do you mean?
Troy: Hart is a ticking time bomb of energy. If something sets him off, he could level the whole city.
Yuma & Tori: What?!
Troy: I don't have time to explain this. I've gotta find Hart. I promised Kite I would help protect him.
Yuma: If Troy is right, we need to help find Hart.
Meanwhile, Troy was using his skates to try and find Hart as fast as he could.
Troy: Man, where could he be? It's only a matter of time before another accident happens.
96: I believe you're right.
Troy: And just where have you been this whole time?
96: That's not important. The boy is that way.
Troy: How do you know?
96: Because I can sense the energy he is emitting. It feels strangely familiar, but I cannot place where I have sensed it before.
Troy: Well, I guess I have nothing to lose.
Before long, Troy reached a street full of cars that had sections cut out of them like the truck from earlier that day.
Troy: Do you see him anywhere?
96: On that overpass.
Troy: Hart, wait up!
He ran up the overpass and made it to Hart.
Troy: Hart, what are you doing wandering around on your own? You know it's dangerous for you to be out here.
Hart: I have to go.
Troy: Go where?
Hart: To that place. Kite needs my help.
Troy: Kite needs your help? Alright, I'll help you get there, just stay with me.
Hart just nodded and walked on.
Troy: Hart, I don't suppose you can tell me where exactly it is you want to go?
Hart didn't answer and just kept walking.
Troy: 96, you said you recognized the energy Hart gave off. Where do you recognize it from?
96: I am not sure, but I can tell you that it's not of this world.
Troy: Well, that's less than helpful.
He looked around and realized that Hart lead him out of town.
Troy: These are the turbines that power the city. Hart walked up to a tower in the middle of them and walked inside. While they were walking up, Troy got a call on his phone.
Troy: With all the craziness, I forgot I had my phone with me.
He pulled it out and saw it was from Yuma.
Yuma: Hey Troy, have you found Hart?
Troy: Not that it's your business, but yes. He lead me to a big tower outside of town. I'm gonna call the others and try to get someone to come pick us up.
He hung up and called Dextra next.
Dextra: Have you found him, Troy?
Troy: Yeah. We're at the central tower for the turbines outside of town.
Dextra: Copy that, we'll be there soon.
They reached the top of the tower and Hart began to look around frantically.
Hart: Where is it? It's supposed to be up here.
Troy: Hart, calm down. What are you looking for? Maybe I can help you find it.
Hart: It's a square. It's small and very sweet.
Troy: You mean like a piece of candy?
Hart: Yes. Without it, my brother,
That's when it clicked for Troy. He remembered a story Kite told him about just before they began living in Heartland City, and how he gave Hart a piece of caramel to try and make him feel better.
Troy: Hang on, I think I might have what you're looking for Hart. Is this what you've been looking for?
He pulled a piece of caramel out of his pocket and showed it to Hart.
Hart: Yes. I wanted to give my brother a caramel to give him strength. He's so tired, and it's all my fault.
Troy: Hey, it's not your fault Hart. Kite's doing this for you because he wants to, okay? He doesn't blame you for the way he feels. He cares about you so much that he wants to do everything he can to help you, and so do I.
Hart: Thank you, Troy. You're a really good friend.
Troy: You're welcome.
One of the Heartland Choppers appeared and landed on the roof.
Troy: Come on, let's get you back before your brother gets worried, okay?
Hart: Okay.
Dextra: You sure got here quick Dextra.
The hatch opened and someone entirely different stepped out of the craft. He was tall, with blue eyes and silver hair. Troy recognized him from Kite's description of the man who taught him how to duel.
Troy: You're Chris Arclight.
Quinton: These days, I go by the name Quinton, but for you to know that name, I can assume you know Kite.
Troy: Yeah, and I also know you left him and Hart years ago, so what are you doing here?
Quinton: I've come to take Hart.
Troy: Not without going through me first. Hart, stay behind me.
Quinton: Fine, we'll settle this with a duel.
Troy: Fine by me.
Augmented Reality Vision Link Established
Both: Let's duel
Troy: 4000 LP
Quinton: 4000 LP
Quinton: I'll go first, and I set one card face-down and activate the Dark Door continuous spell, so we can both only attack with one monster during our battle phase. With that, I end my turn.
Troy: A single face-down and no monsters? It's true I can only attack with one monster because of his spell card, but he'll still take damage if I attack. Unless his plan is to use his face-down to destroy my monsters when I attack him. Okay, I draw. And I play the spell One for One, so by sending a monster card from my hand to the graveyard, I can summon a level 1 monster from my hand or deck, so I send Gorz the Emissary of Darkness from my hand to the graveyard to summon my Unauthorized Bootup Device.
Level 1/Dark/Machine
ATK 500/DEF 0
Troy: Now I play the spell Monster Reborn to bring back Gorz in attack mode.
Level 7/Dark/Fiend
ATK 2700/DEF 2500
Troy: Next I play Machine Duplication, which will allow me to summon my other two Unauthorized Bootup Devices from my deck, but they won't be here for long, because I sacrifice them to summon Dark Simorgh in attack mode.
Level 7/Dark/Winged Beast
ATK 2700/DEF 1000
Quinton: So you have two level 7 monsters in your first turn.
Troy: I overlay level 7 Simorgh and Gorz. With these two monsters, I build the overlay network and xyz summon Number 89: Diablosis the Mind Hacker!
Rank 7/Dark/Psychic
ATK 2800/DEF 1200
Quinton: What?! A number card?
Troy: So you also have number cards. I guess I'll take them once I beat you. I activate the equip spell Xyz Unit onto Diablosis, giving him an attack boost equal to 200 times his rank.
Diablosis: 2800-4200 ATK
Quinton: 4200 attack points, impressive.
Troy: Now I activate the effect of my Unauthorized Bootup Device. You see Quinton, this card is a union monster, so I can equip him onto Diablosis for some added protection, so whenever he would be destroyed by battle or an effect, this card will take the hit for him.
Hart: So if he tries to destroy it with his face-down card, your monster will be safe.
Troy: Exactly. Now go Diablosis, and attack his life points directly!
His monster charged up a massive red laser blast and fired it at Quinton.
Quinton: You played well, but not well enough. I play the trap Magic Cylinder, so your attack is redirected at you.
Two large cylinders appeared in front of him, the blast going in one and out the other towards Troy.
Troy: Hart, look out!
He pushed Hart away before the blast hit him, sending him flying into the railing and nearly causing him to pass out.
Troy: 0 LP
Winner: Quinton
Hart: Troy!
Troy: Hart, don't worry about me, run.
Quinton: I'm afraid Hart isn't going anywhere but with me.
A bright light shined from his forehead, putting Hart into a trance, who then began to walk towards Quinton.
Troy: Hart, don't go.
He felt his consciousness slip away and he passed out.
Quinton: You were a fairly skilled duelist. A shame that I must take your soul along with your number card.
He extended his hand towards Troy. A blast of energy shot from his hand at Troy, but before it reached him, a red barrier and the number 96 appeared in front of Troy.
Quinton: What? I cannot take his number? I suppose it makes little difference, I have what I came for.