Bastion was walking through the academy hall when he saw Syrus sitting off by himself.
Bastion: Care to join me for lunch Syrus?
Syrus: No thanks.
Bastion: Still down and out about Jaden?
Syrus: Yeah. I know he had to leave to get better, but I just wish he'd come back soon. I miss him so much I'm starting to see him everywhere.
He looked up and saw Jaden's face in front of him.
Syrus: I'm even seeing him right now.
Bastion: Um, so am I.
Syrus: Wait, what?
Syrus looked again and saw that Hassleberry had made an iron-on of Jaden's face and stuck it to the back of his uniform.
Hassleberry: Check it out soldiers, now Jaden's really got my back. Wherever I go, he goes. After all, he is my best friend.
Syrus: Jaden's only got one best friend: me! And I don't need an iron-on to prove it.
Hassleberry: Don't go dissing my jacket! You're just jealous of us because we're a two-man army and you've been demoted. If you want, you can carry our supplies little man.
Syrus: Listen you lug nut, you're just a third wheel!
Hassleberry: Then I'll roll right over you!
Syrus: That does it!
Hassleberry: Bring it!
Bastion: Not again.
15 minutes later, Syrus and Hassleberry were being bandaged up in the Slifer dorm by Lily and Alexis.
Syrus: Ow!
Alexis: Hold still.
Syrus: Cut me some slack, I'm the victim here.
Hassleberry: Yeah, a victim of poor combat training. Scratching and hair pulling are illegal maneuvers, which is why I deserve to be Jaden's best friend.
Lily: Come on you two, this is the third time this week you've gotten in a fight, and your pointless arguing is doing nothing but eating up the supplies in the first aid kit.
Bastion: I agree. Can't you both be Jaden's best friend?
Syrus & Hassleberry: I'm not sharing my rank.
Atticus: I guess I showed up at a good time.
Everyone directed their gaze upwards and saw Atticus lying on one of the rafters.
Alexis: How long have you been up there?
Atticus: For a while. I was just trying to find a good spot to chill for a while, but when I heard these two going at it, I had to step in to keep the band together. I mean you can't let your fans down.
Bastion: I'm sorry, did I miss something?
Lily: With Atticus, everything's a music reference.
Atticus: Look, you both wanna be frontman, but you're singing backup, just like my sis. She dreams of stardom, but takes a backseat to her bro.
Alexis calmly walked up to Atticus and picked up Pharoah, who was laying at the man's feet. Before he could ask what she was doing, she squeezed Pharaoh's tail, causing him to scratch Atticus across the face.
Atticus: Ahh! My face! My pure, unblemished face!
Alexis: And there's plenty more where that came from.
Syrus: Watch that temper Lex.
Hassleberry: Violence isn't the answer.
Alexis: Like you two are ones to talk! Look, if you want to settle this best friend business, then just shut up and duel already!
Hassleberry: She's right. Suit up soldier, and prepare for an assault.
Syrus: You're on serge. I'll take your tough talk and wrap it up in a box, then I'll mail it right back to you!
Atticus: At least my analogies make sense.
That night, Alexis was brushing her hair out when she got a call from Bastion.
Bastion: Sorry to bother you, but is Syrus at the red dorm?
Alexis: No. I thought he was at the yellow dorm with you guys.
Bastion: No, and I'm afraid this isn't the first time he's run off in the dead of night.
Alexis: Are you serious? You know, I've noticed that ever since Jaden left, he hasn't been himself. Bastion, do you think he could be looking for Jaden?
Bastion: It's possible, and that's what worries me. In addition to his lack of sleep, Syrus hasn't eaten much in days. I'm worried about him.
Meanwhile, Syrus was searching the woods, calling out for Jaden.
Syrus: I can do this. No fear. No fear!
He walked past the lake, but if he had stayed a little longer, he'd have found Jaden, who surfaced shortly after Syrus left.
Jaden: Oh man, catching these fish is harder than I thought. I'm starving. Guess there's nothing to do but sleep.
The next day, everyone was in front of the Slifer dorm to watch the duel between Hassleberry and Syrus, but the latter of the two hadn't shown up yet.
Alexis: I don't like this. Syrus should've been here by now.
Hassleberry: Hey half-pint! We said 1300 on the dot! Unless you've chickened out!
Syrus: Guess again Hassleberry!
Syrus came out of the woods, his uniform scuffed up.
Alexis: Was he searching for Jaden all night?
Hassleberry: Well I'll be. I thought you'd surrendered, but since this battle's still on, let's review the conditions. If I reign victorious then I get awarded with the title second in command to Sergeant Jaden Yuki.
Syrus: And if I win, you'll accept that Jaden's my best friend. And then you'll become my second in command.
Hassleberry: What?! You can't add conditions like that at the last second!
Atticus: I approve it.
Hassleberry: What?! Who made you referee?
Lily: He prefers the term "celebrity judge".
Syrus: What? Afraid you'll lose?
Hassleberry: To you? No chance.
Both: Let's duel!
Syrus: 4000 LP
Hassleberry: 4000 LP
Syrus: I'll go first. I play Ambulanceroid in defense mode.
Level 3/Earth/Machine
ATK 300/DEF 1200
Syrus: Next, I'll place this face-down and give you a shot. You'll never break me and Jaden up. He never gave up on me, and I won't give up on him!
Atticus: Nicely done. You've got pizazz, and that'll take you far. You get 3 stars for execution, and 5 stars for originality.
Bastion: Stars? I'm lost.
Alexis: Ignore him. It's his dream to judge a talent search reality show, so he's practicing.
Hassleberry: So maybe you have a longer history with Jaden, big deal. I'm here to fortify our future plans, not to wallow in the past. Report for duty Archeonys.
Level 3/Wind/Winged Beast
ATK 300/DEF 1300
Hassleberry: This monster has a special place in ma heart, because I played it on the day I met Jaden. But like I said, that's in the past. I play New Ultra Evolution, so by sacrificing Archeonys, I can summon Black Tyranno in attack mode!
Level 7/Earth/Dinosaur
ATK 2600/DEF 1800
Hassleberry: I dedicate this move to Jaden, in honor of the day our bond began.
Atticus: Way to show us your tender side. That's exactly what this competition's about.
Hassleberry: Due to Black Tyranno's special ability, if all your monsters are in defense mode, it's aloud to bypass them to strike at you directly. This'll teach you to try and outrank me. Black Tyranno, relieve the enemy of some of his life points. Rex Bomber!
Black Tyranno charged forward and slammed his tail on the ground at Syrus' feet, narrowly missing him.
Syrus: 1400 LP
Alexis: Syrus!
Hassleberry: Depleted of more than half your points, and I'm still fighting at full capacity. Well soldier, ready to surrender?
Syrus: As if. You used that exact same strategy when you fought Jaden, and I ought to know. I was there.
Hassleberry: Doesn't mean you can beat me. I end my turn.
Syrus: We'll see about that serge. I draw! And I summon Submarineroid in attack mode!
Level 4/Water/Machine
ATK 800/DEF 1800
Syrus: And due to his special ability, he can attack you directly. Go, Deep Depth Impact!
His monster dove underground and launched a missile at Hassleberry that exploded at his feet.
Hassleberry: 3200 LP
Syrus: And due to his other special ability, after he attacks he can switch to defense mode. Next, I'll place throw down two face-downs and end my turn.
Hassleberry: Your direct attack barely left a mark soldier. This duel is mine.
Syrus: Oh yeah? A duel isn't over till the last cards played.
Hassleberry: Is that right? That's gotta be the most pathetic advice I ever heard.
Syrus: For your information, Jaden taught me that.
Hassleberry: Really? Well, I suppose it sounds a heap better when he says it.
Syrus: You're a fraud, and I'm gonna prove it.
Hassleberry: At ease, Private Truesdale, it's time to advance my troops now. This is gonna be a risky maneuver. Giant Rex, front and center.
Level 4/Earth/Dinosaur
ATK 2000/DEF 1200
Hassleberry: Now destroy Submarineroid!
His monster rushed forward and bashed Syrus' using his tail.
Syrus: Since you attacked a machine type monster, I can activate my Supercharge trap, letting me draw 2 cards.
Hassleberry: He still has two traps, but that's a risk I'm going to have to take. Black Tyranno, attack directly! Anyone trying to get between me and Jaden is gonna get squashed like a skunk on a freeway.
Atticus: 5 stars for word choice. That earned you a spot in the semifinals. What you lack in grace you make up for in that grittiness we've come to love.
Alexis: If anyone asks, you and I are not related.
Lily: Ditto.
Syrus: I play my continuous trap, Cyber Summon Blaster! Now, every time a machine type monster is special summoned, you take 300 points of damage.
Hassleberry: Now that we've narrowed down the field, I play the Dino Stamp spell card, which means your remaining face-down is destroyed.
Syrus: Actually, I was hoping you'd do that. The card you just destroyed was Wonder Garage.
Hassleberry: You lost me pipsqueak.
Syrus: Since this card was sent to the graveyard, I can special summon a level 4 or lower machine type monster from my hand, so I summon Drillroid in attack mode.
Level 4/Earth/Machine
ATK & DEF 1600
Bastion: Not a bad move. Since he summoned it in attack mode, Hassleberry can no longer attack him directly.
Alexis: And since Syrus special summoned a machine type monster, Hassleberry loses 300 life points.
Hassleberry: 2900 LP
Hassleberry: Big deal, 300 points is nothing. But you're gonna lose a whole lot more, because now Black Tyranno attacks your Drillroid.
Black Tyranno slammed his tail into Drillroid, sending it flying into the air before it exploded.
Syrus: 400 LP
Hassleberry: I'll place one card face-down and defer to you.
Syrus: Alright, I draw! And I play Polymerization to fuse Ambulanceroid with the Rescueroid in my hand to summon Ambulance Rescueroid in attack mode!
Level 6/Fire/Machine
ATK 2300/DEF 1800
Hassleberry: Is that all?
Syrus: Not by a long shot. Since my Summon Blaster is still active, you take 300 points of damage.
Hassleberry: 2600 LP
Syrus: Now Ambulance Rescueroid, attack Giant Rex!
His monster revved its engine and ran over Hassleberry's Giant Rex.
Hassleberry: 2300 LP
Syrus: Next, I summon Decoyroid in defense mode.
Level 2/Wind/Machine
ATK 300/DEF 500
Syrus: I'll place one card face-down and end my turn. By the way, as long as Decoyroid's in play, it's the only monster you're allowed to attack.
Hassleberry: Since Rescueroid is in attack mode, I can't use Tyranno's ability to attack directly, but I can send your Decoyroid on a one-way trip to the graveyard.
Syrus: Wrong. When Ambulance Rescueroid is on my field, once every turn I can bring back a monster that was destroyed in battle.
Hassleberry: Since I can only attack Decoyroid, I'm trapped. Unless I draw the right card that is. My move! And I drew just the card I needed. I sacrifice Black Tyranno to play the spell Big Evolution Pill, which means for the next three turns, I don't have to sacrifice any monsters to summon my dinosaurs, which means I can summon Ultimate Tyranno in attack mode!
Level 8/Earth/Dinosaur
ATK 3000/DEF 2200
Lily: That's bad for Syrus.
Hassleberry: That's right. When Ultimate Tyranno is in attack mode at the start of my battle phase, it has to attack first, but it attacks all your monsters. Now go and take out Decoyroid!
His monster snatched Decoyroid in its jaws before biting down, crushing it in an instant.
Syrus: I activate the effect of Ambulance Rescueroid! I summon Decoyroid back to the field in defense mode!
A panel in the side of his monster opened and Decoyroid came out of it.
Syrus: Now Cyber Summon Blaster hits you with another 300 points of damage.
Hassleberry: 2000 LP
Hassleberry: Nice try little man, but since you can only use that ability once per turn, it's my win.
Syrus: Not quite. I play the spell De-Fusion, which will split my monster back into Ambulanceroid and Rescueroid!
Level 6/Fire/Machine
ATK 1600/DEF 1800
Bastion: Since Syrus summoned two monsters, his trap inflicts 600 points of damage to Hassleberry.
Hassleberry: 1400 LP
Hassleberry: You may have summoned new monsters, but it doesn't change the fact your Decoyroid is destroyed!
Ultimate Tyranno stomped on Decyroid, smashing it to bits.
Syrus: Maybe, but now Rescueroid's special ability activates. Whenever one of my roid monsters is destroyed in battle, I can return that monster to my hand. And doing that activates Ambulanceroid's special ability. Whenever a roid monster is returned from my graveyard to my hand, I can special summon that monster, so I'll bring out Decoyroid in defense mode!
Bastion: I see what's happened. Whenever Decoyroid returns to the field, it counts as a new monster, which means Ultimate Tyranno has to attack it again because of its special ability.
Lily: And every time he destroys it, it revives, causing Cyber Summon Blaster to activate again, dealing Hassleberry 300 points of damage.
Alexis: It's an infinite loop.
Hassleberry: One that ends in my defeat.
Syrus: That's right, now do your thing blaster!
Hassleberry: 1100 LP
The loop continued three more times, leaving Hassleberry with only 200 life points.
Alexis: Looks like Syrus has this duel won.
Bastion: Indeed. Syrus knew exactly how Hassleberry would duel, so he set up the ultimate counter play against him.
Lily: I have to say, I'm impressed.
Syrus: One more blast and this duel is mine. Guess you're gonna be my subordinate after-
Before he could finish, a wave of dizziness hit him, causing him slightly lose his balance.
Hassleberry: I guess I have no choice.
He reached to activate his face-down, but stopped when he heard Bastion call out.
Bastion: Syrus!
Lily: Syrus, you look like you're about to collapse.
Syrus: I'm okay. I just haven't slept much lately.
Alexis: You've been searching for Jaden every night, haven't you?
Bastion: And you haven't eaten much either.
Hassleberry: What? A search and rescue? But Jaden may not even be back to the island yet.
Syrus: Of course he is! I mean, he promised he'd be back as soon as he could, and Jaden never breaks his promises. Besides, dueling is Jaden's whole life, and Duel Academy is like his home.
Hassleberry: So what? He's just been wondering around?
Alexis: Knowing Jaden, he's probably gotten lost.
Bastion: That certainly sounds like him alright.
Syrus: That's why I've been searching. If Jaden is lost, I wanna do everything I can to bring him home.
Hassleberry: Private Truesdale, you really are Jaden's best friend.
Ultimate Tyranno attacked one last time, causing Cyber Summon Blaster to activate.
Hassleberry: 0 LP
Winner: Syrus
Syrus: I did it, I-
He wasn't able to finish his sentence before he dropped to the ground and passed out.
Alexis: Syrus!
Bastion: He's alright, he's just finally getting the rest he needed.
Hassleberry pulled out the last card in his duel disk and looked at it, a trap with a picture of a meteor crashing towards Earth.
Hassleberry: Jurassic Impact. When your life points are lower than your opponent's, you can activate this card to destroy all monsters on the field and deal 1000 points of damage for each to the players that controlled them. If I had played it, I could've ended the duel in a draw.
Atticus: Minus five stars for not believing that Jaden's out there.
Hassleberry: You know, this delusion of yours is starting to really get annoying. Besides, I realized that Syrus is the one who deserves to be Jaden's best friend, not me.
Hey everyone. So, I'm sure a lot of you are wondering why there was no upload last week. The truth is my internet went out last Friday and we only got it back last night. To make up for it, I'm uploading two chapters today. Hope you all enjoy and happy holidays to everyone.