A/N: Here's the first case of the original names being used but also somewhat mixed as Blitz, Tank, and Nervin all have their proper names (they were mixed up in the English anime) but Nervin was actually called Nerve in the Japanese version. I believe the game actually got them in the right order. For clarity, Blitz is the guy with the dreadlocks in a ponytail, Tank is the big guy, and Nervin is the guy with the bandanna.

Chapter Two: The Next Gear (Alternate Title: A Sense of Security)

Truly, I was at a loss for words. Mere moments after waking up to find that I had no recollection of my own identity, I'd met and come to the defense of what I had to assume was a boy dressed in girl's clothing. After saving him from a thug who thought he was owed something, I learned many things about the place I had woken up in. Basically it was the slums of New Domino City. Called 'Satellite', it was were the lower classes and the criminals live. Those who weren't actually criminals quickly became them to survived and carried the same mark of identification on their faces, like the boy Rally. I had no marker, but I was in Satellite. Mysteries abounded about that one. At least I'd have a place to stay, as Rally had offered to let me sleep where he and his friends hung out. It was only an abandoned subway station, but at least it had a roof.

However I found myself walking down those stairs alone as Rally had run off to do something. I'd wanted to go with him, but the boy assured me it was safe since they were probably still running away with their tails between their legs after the defeat I'd handed their leader. The moment I reached the bottom of the stairs I spotted a red motorcycle of clearly higher quality than the three I'd seen before. It was still assembled out of junk parts of course, but they were of impeccable overall condition and been lovingly restored to looking almost brand new. The spiked haired guy next to it clearly had a respect for his ride that those punks from earlier did not.

"Excuse me, I'm Koyou... Rally Dawson said I should come here." I paused my approach a fair distance away from the man working on the bike, "You're Yusei right?"

The man nodded, taking the time to look my direction even though he was clearly trying to put all of his attention on the project a hand. I figured out immediately that he was the quiet type and didn't show a lot of his emotions. He did however smile very slightly, almost undetectably. He was a warmer person than he came off as at first glance I could tell. He didn't say anything however and simply went back to his work, leaving it to me to state my business rather than bother asking. When I didn't speak he tried revving his bike up and it sounded terrible.

Somehow I knew what the information displayed on the laptop he had connected to his bike meant, "That's odd...."

Suddenly, a voice from a nearby tent took my attention away from the screen, It was a big guy in ratty brown clothes sitting at a desk, two guys standing casually around him, "Oi, you say you know Rally? Where is he then?"

Oh, so it was confirmed, the strange child with a voice that didn't match his appearance was in fact a boy, "He said he had to go do something, didn't say what."

"Really?" a scruffy guy in a green shirt and blue bandanna voiced his skepticism, "Didn't he give you any other names but Yusei's?"

I shrugged, "Sorry, but he only said I could stay here if Yusei said it was fine. He didn't say anything else."

"So you don't have any place to stay?" the big guy didn't seem to shocked. Homeless people were probably pretty common, "Well, as long as your Rally's friend, it's fine by me. The name's Tank."

Bandanna guy spoke up, "I'm Nervin."

The third guy, a skinny fellow with glasses and dreadlocks styled in a ponytail gave a small wave, "My name's Blitz. Nice to meet you. Koyou you said? Don't think I've ever seen you around, and you don't have a marker."

"Yeah, I'm new to the area. I still don't know my way around and I've no place of my own."

The failing of Yusei's engine brought my attention back to the bike, looking at the data, I mulled over what it meant and what was causing it in my mind. Even though it was a mystery how I knew the stuff, I could worry about that after earning my keep a little.

"Looks like either the regulator program or the CPU itself."

Yusei grunted affirmatively. Apparently he knew what the general problem was, but was trying to get around it. A price of having to scavenge parts?

"So, it's the CPU then. Mind if I take a look at it?"

Tank was surprised at my offer, "You know about duel runners?"

"Enough." I said, avoiding the issue of my amnesia, "Got any spare gloves? I don't want to work on wiring with bare hands, that causes problems.

Yusei stood and his three friends crowded around as he popped open a panel and revealed the bike's motherboard. Tanks handed me a pair of gloves that were probably Yusei's spares. After I got them on, Yusei handed me the chip in question.

I didn't have to look long at it, the problem was pretty obvious, at least to me, "Yeah, the CPU definitely. Must be an old model, this part of it burned out. It can't even use a regulator program with this gone. You have the tools to work on it?"

Yusei shook his head. Blitz confirmed it, "We've only got basic toolbox stuff here. We can only assemble, not repair."

Nervin sighed, "So there's no using it?"

Shaking my head I handed the chip back to Yusei, "You'll need a new one, or a work-around program, but that's not working is it?"

Tank raised an eyebrow, "Um... how do you know Yusei's trying that already? It only just broke down."

Weird how they couldn't pick up on the information, "Yusei already knew what the problem is, and he's trying to work with the software. The program is on screen right now."

"You can tell that bunch of numbers is a regulator program that fast?"

"No, but since that's not a diagnostic program, what else would it be? And if he's running it, clearly he already knew what was wrong." Seriously, that should be obvious right?

Blitz laughed, "Oh you and Yusei are going to be great friends I can already tell. You know about runners and can figure out what's on his mind without him having to talk."

I noticed Yusei smile slightly. Friendly guy.

"Maybe. Sorry I can't help you with it though, or even tell you anything you didn't already know. I think I could fix it with the right tools, but you don't have them so...."

"Don't worry about it." Yusei broke his silence and put the CPU back in, not bothering to close the compartment.

Nervin grinned as Yusei went back to work, "Quick, Koyou, what's on Yusei's mind right now?"

"He's going to try a few more times but call it a day if he can't get it running within 5 to 10 minutes, then he'll work on it again tomorrow."

Tank laughed, "Wow, that's detailed. Is he right Yusei?"

The quiet man just grunted in agreement. I again spotted a slight smile.

"How do you even do that?"
I admit to beaming with pride a little, apparently I had a flair for reading people's behavior that most didn't have. "Easy, he went back to work without closing the hatch."

"So?"

I scratched my head, "Well, to be totally honest, it just seemed like something he would do if he were doubling his efforts but not worrying too much about it. He seems determined and patient. He'll probably not give up on it unless he can find a new part."

"Ah, so you had a good hunch huh?

"Basically."

Rally came up behind us in that moment, "Ah, so you guys were here too? Good to see you getting along with everyone Koyou."

Nervin chuckled, "Oi, Rally, tell us next time you meet a runner mechanic will ya?"

"Mechanic?"

"You didn't know?"

Rally shrugged, "We just met. Koyou was unconscious in an alley with amnesia."

"Wait. So you have no memories?"

Rally answered for me, "Yeah, he only just remembered his name. I guess he remembered some more."

I shook my head and sighed, "Not really, I just know this stuff, I don't know why."

"Well, I owe you one for helping me out with Danny, so I'll help you until you remember. Okay?"

"Danny?" Nervin was annoyed at the mention of the name and grabbed the small boy's ear, "You aren't mixing with that loser again are ya? He's bad news."

"Ow! NO! I promise! He just bought some junk parts I salvaged and wanted a refund, even though they were good parts." Getting free, Rally ran over to Yusei, "That reminds me. I got you a better CPU! You said you were worried about that one holding up."

Again Nervin stopped him, grabbed the arm holding the part in question, "Hey, this is new! Are you stealing again?"

Rally pulled his arm loose, "Of course not. I found it in the junk. I got lucky."

Yusei smiled full on and held out his hand, before the others could complain, "I'll use it. Thank you, Rally."

Tank protested, "Oi! Yusei! If he really took that thing-"

Not listening, Yusei swapped out the old CPU for the new one and closed the panel. Grabbing the handle he tried revving the engine again and it sounded beautiful.

I myself was surprised, "Wow. Where'd you get that engine? It must have taken months to get a scrap part working that smooth. Kudos. The CPU is running the regulator program great obviously."

Rally was ecstatic, "Great! Take it for a ride Yusei! I better it's a hundred times faster now!"

Suddenly a spotlight blazed into the crack in the ceiling I was just then noticing, a voice booming over a megaphone, "Rally Dawson, come out with your hands up. You are suspected of larceny. You can't run, you know that marker lets us track you. There is no escaping it.

Nervin gnashed his teeth together, "I knew it! What's the big idea? You could get us all arrested!"

I stood, too confused to join the panicking quartet. No, it was more of a shock than a confusion. My brain had become stuck going 'What the?' and I just stood there observing the chaos. Yusei, ignoring the griping going on around him, did some on his computer and unhooked it from his duel runner.

He sat down, putting on a red helmet that prtoecting his entire head except the face, a point on the top sweeping backwards. I matched his duel runner, which left me wondering how he got a helmet that matched when he was scavenging parts, but the thought process was broken by him speaking, "I jammed the signal. You guys take Koyou and escape out the back way, I'll draw them away."

"What about you? Can you outrun them? They have a helicopter." I said with concern. I'd just gained him as a friend, I didn't want to loose him to a prison sentence.

"I'll manage. Don't worry about me." With that his revved up his engine and rode away, without any means to give chase and help him, there was no other choice but to obey him.

Following my new friends down the subway tunnel we came to a break in the wall a short ways down and went through. It wasn't long before we were on the surface, looking back down the road the opposite direction as all the police stupidly went casing after Yusei. I could only assume they thought he was Rally and that he'd been alone done there.

Rally pulled on my sleeve, "Hurry! We have to get away from here until the heat is down. We usually hide at Tank's place when Securities is on the hunt."

"This happens a lot?" I asked, chasing after them as they hurried away.

Tank shook his head, "Not this exactly, but sometimes securities go looking for reasons to arrest us satellites, like they have a quota or something."

"Hold it right there!" Suddenly my arm was snagged by something, actually looking at the site of the snag it was actually my duel disk that was caught. A clamp of some kind had affixed a rope to it, and that rope was cuffed to a guy in what I assumed was a security uniform, "You don't have a marker, but you're clearly fleeing the scene of a crime!"

Rally turned, "Koyou!"
"Go!" I shouted to my friends, "He can't chase you while tethered to me."

Tank grabbed Rally and turned again to run, giving me some advice before forcing the boy to flee with him, "Be careful, that's a deathmatch duel rope. Securities use it to disable disks. If you lose then your duel disk is fried!"

"Then I won't lose. Duel!"

Koyou: 4000, Security: 4000.

"I'm the challenger, so I'll take the first move!" the officer drew his starting hand and then one more card. "No satellite scum can beat the securities-issued deck! Let me show you authority! I send three monsters to the graveyard, a level 3, a level 4, and a level 4 to special summon Montage Dragon." A huge blue dragon with three masked heads was summoned to the field. "It's attack points are 300 times the combined levels of the cards I sent to the graveyard. That comes out to 3300! One facedown card and I'll end my turn!"

Wow. A monster with 3300 attack on the first turn? Looking at my cards I went to work equalizing the situation. I started by bringing out an arrogant looking masked mage, "I summon Gemini Summoner in attack mode. Two face downs and that'll be it."

"You idiot, that monster only has 1500 attack points! I draw, then summon out Jutte Warrior" a tiny samurai looking guy joined the battle, but its attack was only minor, "I'll take out your Summoner with Montage Dragon!"

"Ack!" the simulation of damage was a little more real, perhaps dueling securities turned the usual stinging up a notch. "Once per turn, Gemini Summoner is not destroyed by battle!"

Koyou: 2200, Security: 4000.

"Plus, I discard a card to activate a trap card: Damage Condenser! With this I can special summon a monster with attack points equal to or less than the damage I just took. I choose Blazewing Butterfly in defense. Both its attack and defense are 1500, care to attack with your another monster and loose life points?"

"Grrr, I end my turn."

The man was paying the price. Getting that monster in his first turn meant he didn't get the benefit of a lot of trap cards. Whatever that one facedown he did have was, it clearly didn't stop traps, "During your end phase I can activate Gemini Summoner's effect. By paying 500 life points I can normal summon a gemini monster. I normal summon the Blazewing already on the field, which turns it into an effect monster." drawing a card I began my turn, "On my turn I activate my other facedown: Ultimate Offering. With this cards I can pay 500 life points to normal summon additional times on my turn or during your battle phase. First, I normal summon the monster I just drew: Infinity Dark." A figure in black armor and a cape appeared, poised to strike with great agility. "Next, I cast the spell card Foolish Burial to send a card from my deck to my graveyard. I send Chthonian Emperor Dragon, but he won't be there long, for I activate the effect of Blazewing Butterfly, sending it to the grave to special summon Chthonian Emperor Dragon with its own effect activated already."

"Nothing you're doing makes any difference, that dragon is your strongest and it's 700 attack short."

I grinned, motioning to my Ultimate Offering card, "But that dragon isn't the one that's going to kill yours. I activate Ultimate Offering, paying 500 life points to normal summon Infinity Dark again. Then I attack Montage Dragon with him."

"You're suicidal!"

As the 1500 attack point monster charged, he threw dust into the face of the other monster, forcing it to shift to defense. "Infinity Dark has an effect: every time I declare an attack with him, I can shift the battle position of one of your face up monsters. Sorry, but Montage Dragon only has 0 defense." the huge and powerful dragon shattered, "It's all over. Gemini Summoner takes out your Jutte Fighter!" The little guy shattered as well.

"What are you talking about? I can survive that dragon's 2400 points."

I grinned again, "You forget. Chthonian Emperor Dragon was summoned in a special way and had an effect. That effect lets him attack twice!"

"No! Wait! I am the law!"

"You're the loser. Finish him, Dual Flame Doom!"

Koyou: 1500, Security: 0

The duel rope shorted out the officer's duel disk and unlocked my own. I didn't waste any time running in the direction I'd seen the others go. Hopefully I would be able to find them again. If not, I'd come back to the subway later once the heat had died down.

Next Chapter: A Path to the City