24 hours had passed since Morgan disappeared. The team were back at their base. Malik and Hannah were sitting on some seats. The mood was sombre.
"Should we not be moving bases again? Sampson found us here." said Hannah.
"If he can find us here, he can find us anywhere." replied Malik. "Plus we need to find Morgan."
"Morgan was teleported without his own teleporter. He could be anywhere."
"He could yes, thats why we need to know exactly where this Fire World is and how we could get there."
"So how are we going to do that?" Hannah got up from her chair.
"The only people who know that, are in the City. We need to get back into Sampson's office."
"Are you nuts? We only just escaped from there."
"I know. But the fact Sampson hasn't sent his goons back, im guessing they are all still injured from Morgans flash of light."
Alex appeared after overhearing the conversation. "If only we had our spies back in the City. Then we could truly know."
"We don't need our spies. We have a way of getting straight to where we need to go."
Alex looked at Malik. "You don't mean Morgans teleporter?"
"Thats exactly what I mean Alex. We haven't built our own version yet, so its our best chance. Morgan explained it to you how it works?"
"Yes, but even with the knowledge we cant guarantee it will work. It teleported you into the middle of the City, it could go wrong."
"We have one chance Alex, the DP and Elite Squad are all out of action."
"Fine. But I don't agree with this plan." Alex said displeased. He went to fetch the small teleport device.
A few minutes later Alex reappeared with the teleport in hand.
"OK, I have set the teleporter to teleport into the near outskirts of the City. It should be safe there." said Alex.
"How does the teleport actually work?" said Hannah.
"Its a simple map teleport. You choose where you want to go and there you go." Alex answered.
"Cant we just teleport to this Fire World?" replied Hannah
"We could, but we don't know where it is." said Malik.
Malik took the teleport from Alex's hand. "OK. I will be there and back in no time."
Alex took it back from Maliks hand. "What do you think your doing Malik?"
Malik was confused. "Even if that guards are injured, they still want you. You cant do this mission." said Alex.
"But you cant do it?"
"Why not?" said Alex. "You think were weak?"
"I didn't say that. I mean this is my mess, it should be up to me."
"Alex is right, me and him will go. " said Hannah.
"Then were agreed." Alex put the teleport on himself.
"No, you two. I cant have you risking yourselves."
"I thought you believed in risks?" said Hannah.
"Yes, but not one this big." replied Malik.
"Look Malik. Were a team. A team sticks together, we do things for each other even if we don't agree with it. Morgan has disappeared, Sampson is continuing to reign and is after you, this affects all of us not just you. We have to do this" said Alex with determination.
"Alex..."
Alex took Hannah's hand. "We will be back in no time."
Malik nodded, he knew he could not stop the two. "You two. Be safe."
Malik put out his fist for a fist pump. Hannah and Alex joined in. "We will be back quicker then you can say-" Alex pressed the button before Hannah finished her sentence.
A Run Down Building
Alex and Hannah dropped down in a rundown building.
"OK, never doing that again." said Hannah standing up, holding her neck.
"Well im surprised that worked." Alex said looking out the window. "There is no one out there. Looks like the DP really are out of it."
Hannah and Alex made there way onto the dusty streets.
"Hard to believe this used to be home." Alex looked around.
"Yeah, but like I said, I cant remember much."
Alex looked at Hannah again. All he could keep seeing is Rachel.
"OK lets make our way to the office."
"Why didn't we teleport directly into Sampson's office?" said Hannah.
"Because this thing takes 20 minutes to recharge. Plus we don't know whats lurking in there. We need to scout the place out."
Hannah agreed by nodding her head back to Alex.
Outside The Prison/Office
Hannah and Alex were now outside the Prison. Hiding behind a brick wall. They knew Sampson's office was on the ground floor.
Alex looked around the brick wall and he could not see anyone or anything. All there was, was a large shut metal door which blocked the entrance to the prison.
"OK lets go." Alex said to Hannah.
A few minutes they were outside the metal door. The pair kept looking around keeping vigilant.
"OK Alex. How on earth are we going to get past this metal door?"
"Easy." Alex found a small switchboard by the bottom of the door.
Alex bent down and moved some wires around. As he finished, the metal door slowly begun to open.
Hannah was stunned. "Hacking this door is nothing." said Alex. "Come on lets go."
A few minutes had pass and the pair were walking up the stairs. Trying to reach Sampson's office.
"How do we know Sampson wont be in his office?" said Hannah quietly.
"We don't. But with his guards still injured, with us two. He wont be a issue."
The pair arrived on the office floor. There was still no signs of life. Sampson's office was to the left of the stairway.
Hannah and Alex slowly reached the corridor which housed Sampson's office. The door was open.
"OK here we go." said Hannah. Alex nodded back to her.
The pair made there way to the door, Alex stood on the left of the door, Hannah stood on the right. They both slowly looked into the room.
As there eyeballs saw more and more of the room they saw nothing but a empty office room. The pair entered the room and went towards Sampson's desk. Alex saw Sampson's computer on desk, he went to it while Hannah walked to his bookcase.
"OK what are we looking for?" said Hannah.
"Anything which can tell us where the Fire World is. Just be ready for Sampson to return." Alex said while trying to hack into Sampson's computer.
Hannah looked through Sampson's bookcase, flicking through the books. She found nothing.
"I'm in." said Alex, as he finished typing on Sampson's computer.
Alex pulled out a USB flash drive from his pocket and begun to download the information onto it.
"Wait, cant we just get the information and go?" said Hannah.
"No, there's to many bits of information on here, I will need time back at base to analyze it all."
Just as Alex had finished his sentence, he pulled the flash drive out of its socket and put it in his pocket. "Right lets go" he said in a hurry.
The pair walked towards the door, but as they were within a hand of opening the door. A loud noise could be heard.
Metal bars rushed down from the top of the door slamming shut.
"What?!" said Hannah. She looked back and the windows behind Sampson's desk were now also barred.
"We've been comprised." said Alex in a serious tone.
The speakers in Sampson's room turned on, making a static noise at first.
"Yes. Yes you are Team Fightback." said Sampson on the speaker. "We have not formally met. I guess you two are Alex and Hannah. Maliks two best friends."
"Yes. Yes you got that right." said Alex.
"Good. I was able to identify you from the memory scans of the two people we scanned earlier."
"So where are you then Sampson. Cant you come down here and meet us in person?"
"I'm sorry, im busy dealing with another concern. The day is getting closer, and I need to make sure it wont fail."
" "The Day" I keep hearing that. What does that mean?" said Hannah.
" You will see soon enough. Did you really think anyone could sneak into my office without a security system?"
"Well your guards hardly put up a fight." said a sarcastic Alex.
"Yes my guards got knocked out, the dome must have exploded. But with Malik now gone, your team is finished."
"That might be the case... if Malik had been teleported."
"What... What are you saying?!" Sampson shouted.
"You teleported our friend Morgan instead. Where is this Fire World?!" Hannah replied.
"Impossible... Malik didn't teleport... Your lying!"
"Check your records. Malik is safe and sound, and you wont be. Come down here and face us." Alex replied.
Silence was heard from Sampson's speakers. However a sound of Sampson losing his temper could be heard, the sound of books throwing were also heard.
"Losing your temper, not a great thing for a President." said Alex smirking.
"I'm sorry you two, but I have other things to deal to. However since my guards are all still injured, I will get one of my prototypes to take you to the seal room."
"Prototype?"
At a blink of a eye, Sampson's bookcase lifted up, showing his hidden duel arena. Inside was a cyborg, it was part human and part robot. He had half a human face and a short black hair.
"No way." said Hannah.
"What is it?" Alex replied.
"That Cyborg looks like just like the one Sampson built out of Maliks old friends."
"Sampson is turning people into Cyborgs. Why?" Alex looked at the Cyborg.
"You two with me." said the Cyborg. He begun to walk towards them.
"I don't think so." Hannah put on her duel disk, she touched the automated duel button on her disk.
"AUTOMATED DUEL - THIS CAN NOT BE SKIPPED"
"I do not need to listen to a dumb computer program." The cyborg continued to walk towards the two, however as he walked the Cyborg was shocked. "What is the meaning of this!"
"In a automated duel, neither can avoid it. If you do then your shocked." said Alex
"Very well." The Cyborg put his left arm out and a duel disk appeared from inside his body."
Alex got out his disk and clicked a button. "Malik its Alex."
"Alex, is everything OK?"
"We have had a small distraction." Alex pointed his disk to the Cyborg to show Malik via a video feed. "Sampson has us trapped."
"No way. I know that robot."
"You do?" Hannah questioned.
"Thats Hank. I dueled him a while ago, he wanted to take our old Village base, he was a gang member."
"You never told us this?" said Alex.
"It wasn't important. Hank. Its me Malik, can you hear me? What happened?"
"Ah Malik. The person who threatened me. After you defeated me and my gang. We ran away. We had nowhere to go."
"Then what?" said Malik.
"We were cornered by Sampson's guards, they were scouting the area for recruits for the Upgrade Project. We were captured, and turned into this."
"Hank. I'm sorry, we can fix -"
"I don't need fixing, Sampson has turned me and my ex gang members into the perfect dueling machine. Half man, Half Cyborg, and soon he will do the same to everyone."
"So, you three are all one, like the last robot?"
"No, Sampson saw his mistakes, He discovered putting three minds into one body didn't work. So instead its one mind in one cyborg, with a much better cyborg AI. I can calculate any move you dare think of.
Alex turned the disk back to himself. "Malik, what shall we do?"
"Beat him. Thats not Hank. By the time you beat him the teleporter should have recharged. I'm going to come aswell."
"Malik don't you dare come." said Hannah " This is mine and Alex's mission."
"Hannah!"
"Malik we need to do this. Please trust us, we can do it." said Alex.
Malik nodded. "Beat him guys, and return home." Malik faded out of the screen.
"Alex, try and find a way to get us out of this office."
"Right, Hannah be careful."
Hannah entered the duel arena, both she and Cyborg Hank were ready.
"Lets go!"
Turn 1
Hank Hand: 5 LP: 4000
Hannah Hand: 5 LP: 4000
"I shall start this duel off. I summon PowerBeast-Ogre to the field."
PowerBeast-Ogre ATK:1500 DEF:0 LVL 4 Earth/Warrior
"Next his effect activates, I can special summon another Powerbeat from my hand. Appear PowerBeast Gorgon!"
PowerBeast-Gorgon ATK: 1500 DEF: 0 LVL 4 Earth/Warrior
A woman with snakes for hair came to the field. "I gain a Gage Counter for Ogres effect."
Hank Gage: 0 - 1 (Effect)
"I end my turn with a face down."
Turn 2
Hank Hand: 2 LP: 4000
Hannah Hand: 5 LP: 4000
"My move then, I draw!"
"I summon Outlaw Doc" He wore a red cape and his face was covered by a hankerchief.
Outlaw Doc ATK:700 DEF:300 LVL 4 Earth/Warrior
"I play his effect, I pay 1000 life points, this allows me to add 2 spell cards to my hand."
Hannah LP: 4000 - 3000
Hannah added the two cards from her deck. "I added Hell Fire and Outlaw Gun. And I play Outlaw Gun right now. If I lost life points this turn, I can attack you directly. Go Outlaw Doc!"
Outlaw Doc gained a new gun in his hands, he fired it at Hank.
Hank LP: 4000 - 3300
"Very well, I play my trap. Gage Power Up. This forces one of your monsters to attack one of my monsters. But your monster isnt destroyed but I gain the same counters as I would if I destroyed it."
"Dammit. Fine, I attack Gorgon."
Outlaw Doc was destroyed after attacking the monster.
Hannah LP: 3000 - 2200 Hank Gage: 1 - 3 (Trap effect)
"I set two cards and call it quits this turn."
Turn 3
Hank Hand: 2 LP: 3300 Gage: 3
Hannah Hand: 5 LP:2200
"I draw!"
"Your nothing compared to what Malik is. Nothing."
Hannah begun to clench her fist. "Make your move."
"I summon PowerBeast-Centaur!"
PowerBeast-Centaur ATK:1800 DEF:0 LVL 4 Earth/Warrior
"I play the equip spell card Power Push. This increases one monsters ATK by 300, also you cant activate any cards this turn! I equip it to my Centaur."
Centaur ATK: 2100
"Finish this. First off all go Centaur!"
The Centaur struck Outlaw Doc with a sword, slasing the Outlaw in half.
Hannah LP: 2200 - 800 Gage: 3 - 5 (Destroyed Monster)
"This was to easy, go Power Beast Gorgon!"
"Don't get ahead of your self, since I have less then 1000 LP I can play this trap from my hand, so your Power Push wont effect it. I play the trap ReBurst."
"What does that do!"
"Simple. By paying half of my life points, this allows me to take control of the monster which is attacking me, and it cant be destroyed by battle this turn."
Hannah LP: 800 - 400
"Now your Gorgon is mine!" The Gorgon disappeared from Hanks field and reappeared on Hannah's. "And since your final monster has the same ATK, only your monster would be destroyed."
"Brat, I end my turn with a set card"
Turn 4
Hank Hand: 0 LP: 3300 Gage: 5
Hannah Hand: 4 LP 400
"I draw!"
"Little girl you was foolish to take me on me."
"Who are you calling a little girl." Hannah was now shaking her clenched fist.
"Hit a nerve? Wont matter, you will sealed soon enough."
"Let me guess, you thank Sampson for turning you into a Cyborg?"
"Oh yes, when I lost to Malik, I was struggling I had no purpose. Him capturing me was the best thing, and soon we will be part of his new City."
"New City?"
"You wont be here to find out. Now make your move."
"Fine, I summon Outlaw West!"
Outlaw West ATK:1200 DEF:800 LVL 3 Earth/Warrior
"When this card is summoned I send one LVL 4 or below Outlaw from my deck to the field, then I can increase my LP by its ATK. I send Outlaw Billy, which gives me another 1200 LP. However it cant attack the turn it uses this effect."
Hannah LP: 400 - 1600
"Next I play my spell, Changing Of The Guard! This allows me to destroy a monster I control and then I can special summon a monster in my deck with the same LVL or less, by paying 500 LP."
Hannah LP: 1600 - 1100
"I special summon Outlaw Jesse!"
Outlaw Jesse 500 ATK 200 DEF LVL 2 Earth/Warrior
"If my life points are under 2000, I can pay 500 LP to tribute summon this card and special summon a LVL 5 or 6 monster from my deck."
Hannah LP: 1100 - 600
"A tribute summon from the deck?!"
"Oh yes, I tribute Jesse, and I bring out Outlaw Butch!" The outlaw appeared on a sliver horse.
Outlaw Butch ATK: 2000 DEF:1500 LVL 6 Earth/Warrior
"When this card is tribute summoned, Butch's ATK increases by the difference in our LP. Which is 2700!"
Butch ATK: 4700
"4700?!"
"Now go Butch attack his Ogre!"
Butch jumped off his horse and fired shots at the Ogre.
Hank LP: 3300 - 100
"I play my quick play spell, Hell Fire. By paying half of my life points, I can attack again!"
Hannah LP: 600 - 300
"I don't think so. I play Power Change, if I control a PowerBeast with 1500 or more ATK, then your spell is negated."
Hannah's spell was destroyed. "But thats not all, you 500 points of damage and I gain 500!"
Hank LP: 100 - 600
"I play one of my face downs, the trap Outlaw Swing if I control a Outlaw monster, then any effect damage I take is instead used to increase my LP."
Hannah LP: 300 - 800
"I end my turn. My Butch's ATK returns to normal."
Butch ATK: 2000
Turn 5
Hank Hand: 0 LP: 600 Gage: 5
Hannah Hand: 2 LP: 800
"I give you credit, your a stubborn little girl. I draw!"
Hannah was growing more angry at Hank. Alex came running back into the room.
"Hannah, I got the door back to normal, it took a bit of hacking but its open."
Alex saw Hannah gritting her teeth and shaking.
"Hannah, whats wrong?"
"Stay out of this Alex."
"But-"
"GO AWAY!"
Alex was breathing faster, he had flashbacks to Hannah's last duel, and transforming into Rachel while she was angry.
"I summon the Foundation monster PowerBeast-Chimera, thanks to Sampson. I can now be just like Malik."
PowerBeast-Chimera ATK: 500 DEF: 0 LVL 2 Foundation/Earth/Warrior
"Another Foundation monster." said Alex.
"I pay all five of my counters, this allows me to Growth Summon!"
Chinerma disappeared from the field as a new monster took its place.
Gage Counter: 5 - 0
"Come forth Gage LVL 5, PowerBeast-Sphinx!" The monster was giant size, it was half a man and half a lion.
PowerBeast-Sphinx ATK: 3000 DEF:0 Gage LVL 5 Growth/Earth/Beast
"When Chimera is used to Growth summon, I gain the counters I paid to summon Sphinx!"
"What?!" said Alex. Hannah was still looking on angry.
Hank Gage: 0 - 6 ( 5 from Chimera, 1 counter for Chimeras effect)
"Now then, time for some fun. First of all Sphinxs normal effect, when this card is Growth summoned, one monster you control is destroyed, I destroy your Butch!"
Outlaw Butch disappeared. "Next I pay three gage counters, this takes your monsters ATK points and adds them to my Sphinx. I take your Outlaw Wests points!"
Gage: 6 - 3
Outlaw West ATK: 0 Sphinx 4200
"Next I pay two counters, this allows me to prevent any monster with 2000 or more ATK points on my field from being targeted by card effects while this card is on the field!"
Gage: 3 - 1
"Dammit Hannah." thought Alex. Hannah was stood there, not even making a gesture on her face.
"Time to end this. Go Sphinx, take out her West!"
The beast galloped towards Outlaw West, the running picked up pace per step.
"Hannah do something!" shouted Alex.
"What did I tell you!" Hannah's face stared right into Alex's face. "I play my second face down trap card Outlaw Ride. I pay half of my life points This allows me to special summon one Outlaw from my grave, with its effects negated, and it cant change position from DEF mode. Plus you must attack this monster instead!"
Hannah LP: 800 - 400
Butch appeared on the field in DEF mode, the Sphinx hit the Outlaw and jumped back.
"Fine. I end my turn."
Turn 6
Hank Hand: 0 LP: 600 Gage: 1
Hannah Hand: 2 LP: 400
"I draw."
"I'm struggling to understand little girl. Why are you so angry all of a sudden." Hank said prompting her.
"Leave it!" said Alex to Hank.
"Stay out of this Alex." Hannah said forcefully. "No one calls me a little girl. Never.
"Why not? Little Girl. Are you hiding something?" Hank said.
"NO ONE CALLS ME THAT!" Hannah's hair started to turn black, Hannah's eyes started to turn red, they blinked from Hannahs normal eye colour which was blue to red.
"Hannah!" Alex ran over to Hannah. "What on earth is going on, why is this happening."
"Go...Go away!" Hannah said trying to fight her anger.
"No. We ARE a team, and im not leaving you, would Malik want to see you like this?"
"I don't like this, I cant control this." she shouted. Her physical appearances was flicking from Hannah to Rachel.
"Hannah please."
"I said.. go away!"
"Plan B then." Alex slapped Hannah around the face with full force. "Sorry Hannah, but im not having you turn into that Witch again."
Hannah's transformation ceased, she looked up at Alex. "Did I fall? What... happened?"
"Hannah im sorry."
"Why are you sorry? What happened? My head hurts."
"If you two are done, make your move." shouted Hank.
"Oh im dueling, I forgot. I have a bad memory, weird I don't remember the last few turns."
Hannah looked at her hand and then at her duel screen. "A Growth monster, how did I miss that?"
"Make your move!" Hank said again.
"Fine. This will be the final move aswell, I play the spell card, Ultimate Tribute. I tribute two Outlaws from my field, then I take damage equal to that of my lowest ATK monster, then I can tribute summon a LVL 7 or 8 monster from my deck. But in this case the lowest ATK monster is 0. So I take nothing!"
Hank gritted his teeth with annoyance. "I tribute Outlaw Kid and West to bring out my strongest Outlaw. Lets round them up Outlaw John!""
Outlaw John ATK: 2800 DEF:2000 LVL 8 Earth/Warrior
"When this card is tribute summoned, all monsters you control are destroyed, and since your Growth monster's effect only stops itself from being targeted, and my effect destroys everything, your monster is gone!"
Outlaw John fired a golden bullet at PowerBeast-Sphinx, destroying it.
"No, it cant be. I finally had a Growth monster, and im going to lose."
"Growth monsters aren't everything, go Outlaw John. Finish him off, Golden Shot!"
John fired his gun one more time, this time it hit Hank in his half cyborg chest, sending him backwards.
Hank LP: 600 - 0 Hannah Wins.
Hannah ran over to Hank. "I'm sorry, come back with us. We can fix you."
Hank looked at Hannah. "I'm the one who is sorry, Sampson screwed with my head. I didn't want to be a Cyborg, and I didn't want to hurt you, after losing to Malik, he showed me what I did was wrong. Going to different towns and stealing from them. I was a bad guy. Please go, im counting down to self destroying myself."
Hannah looked at Alex. " We can do something, cant we?"
Alex shook his head. "Hannah im sorry, but not even im this smart."
Hannah looked at Hank. "Please go, but I have one thing which could help you." Hank said.
"Sampson is planning a war, he plans to use the other Cities to fuel his army. NOW GO!" Hank said.
Alex grabbed Hannah and started to run out of the room. Hank looked up. "At least I did something good for once."
Alex and Hannah ran up the stairs, they heard a loud boom. Hannah and Alex dropped their heads.
Morgans teleported begun to bleep. "Its recharged. I set it to return us to the base while you was dueling." Alex grabbed Hannah, and pushed the button. They disappeared from the staircase in a blue aura.
The Science Lab
Sampson was looking at Project N.W. A scientist came to him.
"Sir, im sorry to say but the prototype lost, he self destructed as per his programming. The pair got away."
"WHAT?!"
"Sir im sorry."
"Sorry wont cut it, go and send the other prototypes to Maliks base, fetch me Malik. I cant have my plans being ruined because we sent the wrong guy!"
The Scientist ran to the door. Sampson was alone.
"I need more power for Project N.W, if we are to send our prototypes to war then we need N.W working. Since Project Upgrade is nearly complete, Its time to begin the final phase."
Sampson said to himself.
"Oh really. I'm sorry but we need your power for ourselves. My King needs it." a voice from behind said.
Sampson turned around, it was Blaze.
Next Time - Sampson and Blaze go head to head, while Team Fightback discovers what Sampson's true plans are.
Cards
Hannah
Outlaw Doc ATK:700 DEF:300 LVL 4 Earth/Warrior
Pay 1000 LP, add two spell cards from you deck to your hand.
ReBurst/Trap
Pay half of your lifepoints, take control of a monster which is attacking you. Speical summon that monster to your side of the field, it cant be destroyed by battle this turn.
If you have less then 1000 LP, you can play this trap from your hand.
Outlaw West ATK:1200 DEF:800 LVL 3 Earth/Warrior
When this card is summoned, you can send one LVL 4 or below Outlaw monster from your deck to your grave, increase your lifepoints by that monsters ATK. This card cant attack the turn it uses this effect.
Changing Of The Guard
Pay 500 LP, destroy one monster you control, then speical summon one monster from your deck whose LVL is equal or less then that of the monster you destroyed.
Outlaw Swing/Trap
Any damage you would take from a card effect is instead used to increase your LP.
Outlaw Ride/Trap
Pay half of your life points, Speical summon one Outlaw monster from your graveyard in DEF mode, with its effects negated. It can not be switched from DEF mode. If this card was activated a battle phase, your opponent must attack this monster and only this monster during the battle phase.
Hank
PowerBeast-Gorgon ATK: 1500 DEF: 0 LVL 4 Earth/Warrior
No effect
PowerBeast-Chimera ATK: 500 DEF: 0 LVL 2 Foundation/Earth/Warrior
If this Foundation monster was used for a Growth summon of a PowerBeast monster, then you gain the Gage Counters, you used to summon the Growth monster."
Gage Power Up/Trap
Activate this only during your opponents battle phase, force one of your opponents monsters to attack on of your monsters, even if it attacked this turn. Your opponents monster is not destroyed but you gain 2 gage counters if your monster would have destroyed it.
Power Change/Trap
If you control a monster with 1500 or more ATK, then you can negate one spell card your opponent activates. After this effect resolves, inflict 500 points of damage to your opponent and you gain 500 LP
PowerBeast-Sphinx ATK: 3000 DEF:0 Gage LVL 5 Growth/Earth/Beast
One PowerBeast Foundation monster + 5 Gage Counters
Main effect: When this card is Growth summoned, you can destroy one monster your opponent controls. (This does not count towards your Gage Counter's)
You can pay any amount of Gage Counter's to activate these effects during your turn. (This does not count towards your Gage Counter's)
3- Reduce the ATK points of one monster your opponent controls, reduce it to 0. Then increase this monsters ATK by that amount.
2 - This card can not be targeted by card effects for as long as this card remains on the field.