Missy looked on the Abandoned Dorm with trepidation. She had heard stories of this place, of the dark magics students claimed resided there. The annual hazing ritual, as it were, was for the older students to tell the younger ones of the missing duelist, the ones lost within the mansion…roaming its halls for all eternity.

There were other stories though.

Stories about the rogue duelists, the Hunters as they were known, that had been supposedly beaten down and placed under the control of the strict Professor Milo. She had been warned never to get in their way…for they had left a line of defeated duelists in their path. Some girls told her of Candace Misawa and Vanessa Fox, now Cassandra and Nessa Lockehart. They had been brainwashed, the other girls had told her, turned into Hunters by the Hunters.

'If I want power…they are the ones to seek out though.' She thought to herself. 'And I want lots of power.'

Steeling herself, Missy marched towards the door and gave it a healthy rap. After a moment, Dhmitri appeared, looking around her for a moment before letting her in. As she entered, Missy watched as the dorm shimmered, the de-glamour spell fading and revealing the grand dorm in all its glory.

"Whoa." She whistled. "This is nicer then the Obelisk Dorms!"

Dhmitri nodded. "I should say so. We have better backers."

"Oh?" Missy asked. "Who?"

"The Lockhart family controls several major corporations." Missy turned to see Professor Milo enter, Samantha Ciro on his arm. "Ciro Paper is one, but we also have stock in Kaiba Corp, Roads INC, I2, and, of course, Lockehart Industries. A tax shelter, to be sure, but it still produces a profit."

"Don't forget Wal-Mart." Samantha said. "We own 39 of the company."

Dhmitri rolled his eyes. "Of course Wal-Mart is run by evil Shadow Mages."

"Hush Dhmitri. Mommy and Daddy are talking." Samantha said with a grin.

Missy frowned. "Professor Milo…"

"Please, call me Arlen." He turned to Samantha. "This is my trophy wife, Mayday."

"I thought I was your sex slave." Mayday said with a pout.

"TMI!" Dhmitri shouted.

The 4 of them entered the main room, and Missy notice 3 more people in attendance. Hayden and Cassandra were seated together, tinkering with some sort of gadget, while someone looking very much like Alexis Rhodes was digging into a pail of ice cream.

"Missy, you've met my quasi-son, Dhmitri, and my wife. May I present my sister, Lexie Lockehart, my niece, Cassandra, and her boyfriend, Hayden McGregor."

"'ello dare." Cassandra said with a nod.

"So you'll be duelin' Mayday then, lassie? Good luck to ya." Hayden said.

"You can't have any of my ice cream." Lexie proclaimed.

Missy frowned. "I wasn't…"

"MINE!" Lexie shouted. "MINE MINE MINE!" She stomped her foot, and the house shook. "No fat jokes!" She screamed at Dhmitri.

Hayden sighed. "Just shut your gob, Dhmitri, before she eats us all." He looked at Cassandra. "You're never getting pregnant, Cass."

"I 'ear girls in dare 1st trimester are 'orny nyphos."

"…maybe it wouldn't be so bad."

Missy looked her lips. "Uh…I'm suppose to duel at some point, right?"

"That you are!"

All the Hunters turned, eyes glued to the upper level. Missy's own eyes widened as Arliss and Nessa stepped regaly into view. It was like watching two gods descend from the heavens, gracing the world with their presence. As if Apollo had stepped out of the clouds, joined by some wicked dark goddess. She couldn't help but notice how all the Hunters, even Dhmitri and Hayden, seemed a bit more…regal…then she would have suspected. The way Hayden and Cassandra sat, how Dhmtri folded his arms…even Lexie, with her big belly and ice cream.

Glancing back at Arlen, she shivered. If Arliss was Apollo, then Arlen was Ares. There was something deadly about him and Mayday, the twinkle of murder in their eyes. These were two that could kill…without mercy.

'When you want power…you can't be surprised by what you find.'

"There is great fear in her." Nessa said simply, looking down at Missy. "Much fear."

"There is fear in everyone." Mayday argued.

"But for her…perhaps too much."

"There's a lot of fear in Hayden." Arlen said simply. "And we let him in."

"YOU FORCED ME TO JOIN!" Hayden shouted. Cassandra put a restraining arm on his shoulder, forcing him to sit down.

Arliss looked over Missy carefully. "I want to see her duel. Arlen, we got an opponent for this here girl to duel?"

"That we do." Arlen said, his own natural accent falling back into place. "Mayday has volunteered." Arliss accepted this, waving his hand towards the Guardians. "Take yoru positions."

"If we aren't letting her join…she we be telling her everything?" Hayden questioned.

"If she don't work out, she won't be tellin' anyone." Cassandra said, nodding towards Lexie. The pregnant woman slipped a gun into her coat. "Ever."

&&&

Marco grit his teeth, fists clenched tight, as Vera laughed at some joke Antonio had told her. After Satorious and Vera had convinced father and son to put their guns away, Satorious had pulled Marco aside and begun to explain his plan to him. Vera, easily bored, had gone off to talk with Antonio.

In five minutes she was batting her eyes and licking her lips.

'Dal martello di Marte, se tocca la sua guancica una nuova volta, spruzzerò i suoi cervelli sulla coperta!' He thought in anger.

"Mr. Giovanni, pay attention!" Satorious snapped. "I am not paying you to daydream."

"My apologizes." Marco said, still staring at his father. "asino." He muttered.

"Excuse me?" Satorious said.

"He called you an ass." Antonio said. Marco glared at him and the older assassin shrugged. "It is not my fault you let your anger get the best of you. You are like your mother…always snapping when you should not…."

BANG

Antonio reached down and touched his shoulder, looking at the blood that slowly leaked from the bullet wound. "See what I mean?"

"Talk of my mother again and I will kill you!" Marco threatened, his trigger finger getting rather itchy.

"Then you will be a wanted man, Marco." Vera said hauntedly. "The Clan has warned you before…and I will not lift a finger to help you out of the mess." She gave a soft smile to Antonio. "Your father is much to charming to kill."

Marco shivered in rage before he storm towards the door. Satorious demanded he return, but Marco simply ripped the door open and stormed out of the room.

&&&

"You first, Missy." Mayday said.

"How about this card?" Missy said, setting one monster on the field in defense. "That will end my turn."

Mayday looked over her hand carefully, a slight grin slowly forming as she selected one. "I will start by summoning Harpie Lady #1 to the field, in attack mode." With a scream, the hot pink haired harpie burst onto the field, green feathers fluttering to its feet. The winged female closed her eyes, a gust of wing blowing from behind her, raising her attack to 1600. "Harpie Lady, attack Missy's downface card…now!"

The Harpie Lady flew into the air, wings suddenly closing as it dove at Missy's downface card, shattering it. But from the shards, a small black shelled ladybug appeared.

"My Skull-Mark Ladybug, when destroyed, increases my lp by 1000." Missy said, eyes sparkling in mischief. "Too bad for you." (Missy-5000)

"Not at all." Mayday said. "Just means I get more chances to smack that look off your face." She waved her hand at the younger woman. "Your move."

Missy nodded her head, drawing her card. "mmm, perfect. I will first summon the powerful Insect Knight to the field!"

From behind the Obelisk Blue Duelist, the large green knight leapt into the air, landing swiftly before Mayday, swinging its sword to and fro. Mandible clicking, the knight's red eyes took in the Harpie Lady.

"Next, I will activate this field spell…"

"Not that garden thing…" Mayday said, rolling her eyes.

Missy shook her head. "Oh no…a much different field card. I activate The Spider's Web."

Beside Missy, two spinnerets appeared, one on each side. They began to release silk, firing it all around the young woman, forming a massive glistening web between her and her monster.

"This field increases the attacks all my beautiful insects by 300, making my Insect Knight's all the more deadly. Attack!" The Insect Knight leapt into the air, swinging its sword right into the gut of the Harpie Lady. The winged-beast cried out before shattering, Mayday hardly batting an eye. (Mayday-3400)

Mayday swept her har back with her fingers. "Are you finished?" Missy narrowed her eyes and the female Guardian shrugged. "Very well. I will start by playing a card close to my heart: The Harpie's Pet Baby Dragon. Come to momma, sweetheart!"

With a squeal, the chubby little dragon appeared, squawking and flapping its wings. Scratching its head, the Baby toddled over to Mayday, nuzzling her.

Arlen, from his hiding place in the shadows, looked down at Norman, who was seated comfortably in his arms. "You better not get that big."

"Next, I will activate a very special card…a one of a kind card…"

"Because we printed it off this morning." Hayden muttered.

"I activate Harpie's Shattered Hand Mirror." Mayday exclaimed. The spell card flashed, a hand mirror appearing, reflecting the image of the Baby Dragon. The Infant squealed and rushed over to the mirror, knocking it over and shattering it. Whimpering, the baby let out a cry, as the shards began to reform into 4 clones of itself. "This card creates imperfect clones of any harpie monster on my field. They are tokens, duplicates of whatever monster I had out. But they are just right enough that they can help my baby gain all the effects he needs!" Mayday held out her hand. "The first token will make it that my baby will protect all the clones." The clone Baby grabbed onto the chain around the original's neck, holding tight. "The second token will cause my baby to grow up rather quickly, doubling its attack!" The Baby roared, body twitching as it expanded, losing baby fat in exchange for muscle until it transformed into an adult. "The third will make it that he can destroy one card on your side of the field…" The Dragon snarled, stomping its large foot and shattering the Insect Knight. "And the 4th…that's just for show. Harpie's Pet Baby Dragon, attack Missy directly!"

Missy cried out as the blast hit her dead on, sending her stumbling back. Mayday chuckled, enjoying the show. (Missy-2600)

&&&

Satorious glared at Antonio. "I do not see why you are so happy. The cards have shown that Marco will play a key role in this plot. Without him, we are doomed to fail." 'Besides,' he thought, 'I have already had one plan fall because I did not consult the cards.'

Vera shrugged. "Marco is much to huffy…let him blow off steam and return like a good puppy."

"It is more then a huffy, bella." Antonio said. "My son and I…we are not on the best of turns."

Satorious frowned. This was news to him. "And why would that be?" He questioned. "Are you not his father?"

"Only through act, nothing more."

Satorious glared at him. "Stop speaking in riddles…"

"To understand, you must realize that we are more then mere assasins. For over 2000 years, the Clan of the CrosSword has served not just as a league of assasins, but the priests and guardians of mother Rome. We are the descendents of the high priests, and as such, are high priests ourselves. Vera is a priestess of the Temple of Venus." Antonio puffed out his chest. "I am the Head Priest of the temple of Uranus."

"And Mr. Giovanni?" Satorious questioned. Antonio's good mood deflated.

"He…is a different story. His mother is the daughter of the Head Priest of the Temple of Mars, the greatest of our deities. 25 years ago, her father betrothed me to her, for she had no station: there are no priestesses in the Temple of Mars. She was to come to my grand home, be my wife, our child my heir.

"For a year she served in my household, doing her duties, growing fat with child. On the day she went into labor, I long with my family waited to welcome the newest edition to the House of Caesar. But…that glory was stolen from us.

"The moment the babe was born, the great god Mars appeared before us, dressed in his finest red robes, war hammer in hand. He snatched the child before I could lay a finger on him, and proclaimed, 'Behold, a child of my house, twice over. For he is the ancestor of Romulus, my son and founder of Rome. But once more, he is of my house, for he is my son, and mine alone!'

"Lord Mars told us that during the fateful night, when our child was suppose to be born, he had stepped in. He had taken my form at the crucial moment, and that it was his seed from which ths child was born.

"I tried to protest, and begged Lord Uranus to save his future priest…but the gods were cruel. Lord Mars revealed all that I had done…he proclaimed my ways of dealing with a pig-headed wife violent, and going against the gods. He said I was fortunate that he only took my child and wife, and did not have Juno smite me.

"Lord Mars named the baby, my son through action but not of blood, Marco, and named him not only the priest of the his temple…but the future ruler of Rome. He whisked my wife and my child away, set them in his temple, and left me in disgrace."

When Antonio finished, Satorious could only sit there in shock. Never…never had he dreamed that Marco Giovanni was the son of a god…and the heir to the throne of Rome. Perhaps this was why the cards demanded he be there…with the Emperor at his side, Satorious could not fail.

Vera rubbed Antonio's shoulders. "Poor, poor man. Marco shamed you even during birth…and a high priest like yourself." She leaned in close, tongue flicking against his ear. "Perhaps I can help…rehonor you?"

&&&

Adjusting her a strand of hair, the insect duelist grinned. "Good…very good…I was hoping you would do that. Because now I get to show off my Spider's Web's effect. As you may know, a spider uses her web to catch prey…and that is exactly what this web does!" The web shimmered, and everyone watched the Insect knight reformed, wrapped up tightly in silk. "Whenever an insect monster is destroyed, I get to add it to the web…a treat for later on. Now then, my draw." Missy drew her next card. "Perfect…first, I summon my Pinch Hooper to the field." There was a droning noise, and the large hopper leapt onto the field. "But it won't be on their for long. Because I will now activate the Mystik Wok!"

On Missy's side the field, the Hopper let out another buzz as the giant cooking bowl appeared below it, the insect falling it. It cried out as the fires struck hot, and shortly was reduced into a stew. (Missy-3800)

"This card increased my lp by my hopper's defense…" Missy said, looking at her web. "And the hopper's remains are added to my web." The insect's remains were poured into a silk cocoon, then placed on the web's threads. "And that just about does…oops, I almost forgot." Missy grinned. "My Hopper's effect. It calls another insect from my hand…a very special one. Say hello to the mistress of my web, the all powerful Insect Queen!"

With a ear shattering scream, the massive spider emerged from the ceiling, climbing down the web and baring her fangs at the Pet Baby Dragon. She crawled along the web, heading right towards the Insect Knight's form.

"Interesting." Hayden said "The web increases her Insect Queen's attack to 2500, just enough to defeat Mayday's dragon. But, with the web's second effect, Missy's Queen has two more insects on the field, which are increasing its attack to 2700 and giving it the monster it needs to attack."

Cassandra glared at her boyfriend. "Stop admiring the enemy."

The Insect Queen sank her fangs into the Insect Knight, draining it of its remaining lifeforce. The monster let out another scream, leaping at Mayday's dragon and shattering it into pieces. The Queen gave birth to a small Insect egg, then returned to the web. (Mayday-3100)

Mayday looked over her hand carefully, plotting her next move. 'Now, my tokens can't attack, thanks to their effect. So…lets try a different tactic.' She set one card on her field, switching her tokens to defense mode.

Missy let out a mock sigh as she drew her next card. "And here I thought this would be heard." Mayday remained silent. "I will summon a second Insect Knight to the field, in attack mode." The Knight appeared next to its queen, ready for battle. "Next, I sacrifice a Insect Monster Token to my queen, so that she can attack, and her and the Knight take down two of your Harpie Tokens!"

The two insects moved as one, latching on and ripping two of the cloned Baby Dragons in half, before returning to their side of the field. Missy rubbed her locket, taking in the battle with a smirk. The Queen grunted, plopping out a new egg.

Mayday chuckled.

&&&

"Il Clan è maledetto. Non lavorerò con quell'uomo, qualunque cosa dicano." Marco muttered to himself as he made his way through the streets of Venice. He pulled his suit coat tighter around his form. "I will see them burn for this." He grumbled in English. He passed a street performer, tossing a few bills into the violinist's case. "Have them removed from standing and tossed out on the street!"

"Is that really wise?" Marco turned back, looking questionably at the violinist. The man continued to play, dark eyes staring off into space. "I know you might go against the Clan…but I know the figlio of Lord Mars is not foolish enough to go against the gods."

Marco feel to his knees, not caring if he was kneeling in a puddle of dirty water, soaking his suit pants and probably leaving stains tailors would cry about. "Lord Mercury."

"Arise, Marco. You are family, and you have need to bow to me." The violinist continued to play. "Uranus is displeased…you shot his priest. Luckily for you…he is not to thrilled with your father right now. Feels he has lost his way. Uranus only wants you smited fast and painless." The god in disguise shrugged. "We all were able to talk him down, get him to see that you are far too important." The violinist switched to a new song. "But that doesn't let you off the hook. You have a job to do."

"What, helping that fool, Satorious? He reeks of evil."

"That he does." Mercury said. "He has plans…he will use the light to stamp out the darkness, only to bring about a darkness far worse then any could imagine. The gods will fall, the earth will crumble…everything will cease to be."

"Charming."

"Quite." The god deadpanned. "That is why your father and grandfather sent me. They want you to help him."

Marco shook his head. "You heard them wrong."

"Your only half of us, Marco. You may or may not ascend to our rnak one day. And it does not help you that you talk back to the messenger of the gods." Mercury shook his head. "There is a task…that you must complete. The gods have already put the pieces in place. New threats have arisen…and we all must rely on unlikely allies if we are to survive. You felt the surge?"

"Yes." Marco said.

"Anarkayis and Solaris have escaped…Satorious the one that released them." The violinist sighed. "We can not find them…they are too well hidden."

Marco stood up straight. "What must I do?"

&&&

"What are you so happy about?"

"Nothing much." She said. "I'm just so happy that I get to take you down. Watch carefully now. First, I will set two cards on the field. Then, I will send my Harpie Queen to the graveyard to add one Harpie's Hunting Ground to my hand, which I will now play." The mansion shimmered before it transformed into a barren island, covered in rocks and long drawn out plains of brown dust. "Next, I will discard this Harpie Lady #1 from my hand to activate the trap card Hysteric Party!"

Everyone was forced to cover their ears as bird-like screams ripped through the air. From the ground rose first the Harpie Lady, then a second, followed by the white winged Harpie Queen. The mistress of the skies, the Harpie Queen raised a clawed hand towards her sisters, motioning for them to be ready.

"Wait." Missy called out. "Hysteric Party only summons Harpie Ladies…"

"My Queen, when she is in the graveyard or on the field, counts as a Harpie Lady. Which means all my spell cards work perfectly with her. Now then, lets get a couple things out of the way. On my hunting field, for every harpie that appears, I have to destroy a spell or trap card. So, first I will take out your web…" The Harpie Queen raised her hand, and with a flourish, cut it into ribbons. "And the two cards I set this turn, so my Hysteric Party and Hunting Ground are safe. Next, lets do the math. My Harpie Lady #1 increases her own attack by 300. Her sister does the same, so she is now at 1900. Add onto that 200 from the Hunting Ground, and that is 2100. Your Little egg is…what, 100?" The Harpie Lady slashed her claws out, shattering the egg. "Yup, 100, dropping your LP to 1800.

"Next, my other Harpie Lady #1. She to is boosted to 2100…for the same reasons, actually. Now, against your Insect Knight…" The Harpie lashed out, striking that monster down as well. "Yup, dead a doorknob, and you are at 1600. That just leaves our queens. My Queen gets the 600 boost, plus the 200 boost, to equal a whooping 2700. And with your other Insects gone, your Queen…well, just isn't up to snuff. Harpie Queen…show them how you work!"

Mayday's monster nodded, leaping into the air and beginning to spin. The Insect Queen tried to run away, but her massive bulk wasn't designed for land movement. Falling from the sky, she crushed the Insect Queen, popping her like a zit. (Missy-1300)

"Goodie, I get another turn to take you down." Mayday cheered.

Missy looked down at her hand, closed her eyes, and set one final monster on the field. But even with the Atomic Firefly's 1000 points of effect damage, it was not enough to safe her, and with a blitz of winged beasts, the Insect Duelist was done, and Mayday claimed the victory.

"Enough!"

All of the Hunters, along with Missy, turned towards Arliss and Nessa, the King and Queen staring intently at the outsider.

&&&

"I will need time to hack into the Holst's security system." Antonio said, guiding the speedboat towards his son's plane. "Once we are inside, we can make our way towards the academy."

"Why would you need to hack in?" The 3 of them looked up as the boat slowed, taking in Marco as he leaned against the doorway of the Holst. "Hurry now…we have an academy to destroy."

&&&

"She is weak, dependent on others, and gives up easily." Nessa said.

"But she has proven she can stand against Mayday, one of our best."

"She lacks skill."

"She needs polishing. A Diamond in the Rough."

" She is too…girly." Nessa complained.

"So were you, if you remember." Arliss comments.

Nessa nodded her head. "True. Then it is settled…Missy, you are one of us." The young woman raised her head in shock. "Arlen, get her a jacket. Cassandra, find her a room. Dhmitri, prepare a feast. We welcome a new hunter to the table!" The Rare Hunters cheered.

Arliss nodded, and Missy couldn't help but smile. But the smile grew less bright as she noticed the smile Arliss was giving her. "Missy, enjoy this night…for tomorrow, we train, and you will learn the true definition of hell."

Next time on G/X Hunters: The White Society has come to the academy. While Satorious ushers in Chazz, Marco is sent to take on the number one in the Obelisk Dorm- Brutus. Armed with new Agent monsters, Mars' son is ready to take out his anger on the silent duelist. But has he bitten off more then he can chew when Brutus summons his dragon?

Meanwhile, Arliss and Nessa train Missy. But when the King notices his Queen's fear, he will be forced to snap her out of it.

Episode 59- The Gear Dragon Rises! Marco v Brutus

Author's note: expect a lot more duels this season…I currently have 24 duels planned, 3 already done.