Yu-gi-oh
No Limits
By Kevin Jones
Turn 6-The Fool
"What the hell is going on here?" I ask, granted I don't expect a useful answer.
For about 45 minutes now I and Vanessa have been in the apartment of Deborah Starzan, a famous fashion designer who has also been hiding an illegitimate daughter, the same daughter nearly killed me in a duel a few days ago.
"I hired a private eye," Starzan begins, "Sadusky I think his name was."
"Wait a minute, did you Sadusky?"
"Yes why?"
"Tall, wide, black hair and dark brown eyes?"
"Yes, but how do you know him?"
"Know him, he's a sector security agent, I was just dueling him last night."
"You think he's involved in this?" Asks Vanessa, when I told her about my encounter with Sadusky I chose to "cut out" the part where Sadusky fell to his death.
"It doesn't surprise me that the group that took my daughter, Arcadia, I think they call themselves is full of people with even more dangerous powers than Abigail, I knew that when I hired him, but I had to know what they did to my daughter, I hired Sadusky 2 years ago, he didn't turn up a lot at first but one day he found out that the Arcadia Movement had a building they used for psychic research upstate. When he went to go investigate I never heard from him again, a few weeks past and I received the D.V.D we just watched."
"Do you still have the address of the school?"
"Yes, but why do you want to go there?"
"I'm curious?"
After that Starzan looks at me with a combination of confusion and what looks like either anger or disgust, I get both a lot.
"Don't worry," Starts Vanessa as she picks up Starzan's hand and holds it tightly while looking her straight in the eye, don't ask me what she's doing.
"We're going to get your daughter back, I promise."
As sappy as that was it convinced Starzan to give us what we needed, which for some reason was written on the back of a napkin she pulled out of a safe hidden under the couch of all things, I chose not to ask. With that me and Vanessa leave, and now that we're outside I think she's angry at me.
"You know it might have helped if you showed some sign of sympathy in there."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"The woman's spent the past 4 years wondering what happened to her daughter, only to find out some Russian lady tells her that if she even try's to find out about her she'll kill her and then has someone else come and make her feel like crap."
"She made her daughter think that it was bad that she existed."
"She never said that."
"How else do you explain keeping her a secret?"
"She didn't know what else to do, just cause you deal with weird stuff doesn't mean the rest of us do."
"Well of course you're going to take her side."
"Why's that?"
"Because you're a girl," to all the woman out there, here what I have to say before you all get the desire to strangle me.
"What does me being a girl have anything to do with this?"
"Awhile back the FBI did a study on crimes that were motivated by gender to see what the biggest bias was and you want to know what they found out?"
"Indulge me."
"In crimes against men or women the biggest bias is the gender of the judge."
"Are you saying I'm taking it easy on the woman because I'm a girl!" It is more of a statement than a question.
"Me, Darwin, 2,000 years of evolutionary biology and, of course your ovaries."
"That's the most ridicules thing I've ever heard!"
"And what we heard in there is definitely one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard, now do you still want to come or can I do this in my own now?"
"No way, with your people skills there likely to shoot you, and second I promised Ms. Starzan I'd get her daughter back."
"And 30 years ago President Barack Obama promised we'd be out of Afghanistan by 2011."
"Fine, mock me if you like but, unlike you, I actually care about people."
I thought it best to end it there with her having the last word, which is probably what she wanted, or maybe she wanted to continue arguing, I don't know, all I know is that as we rode off she had both hands in the forms of fists and I don't think she was holding on tight because she wasn't used to the speed.
It's taken us about 4 hours to get to the school, I look it over from one end to the other, it doesn't look any different from a normal boarding school, I look at all the kids on the grounds and they look like ordinary teenagers, but I can't help but feel nervous.
"Hey I just had a thought," said Vanessa.
"Was it hard," I remark.
"Look, what if we go in there and the first person, who sees me, looks at me and, I don't know, reads my mind."
"This isn't X-men."
"I know, but after that DVD all I can think about is what's in there."
As she points I switch my turbo deck with my ground deck and walk back to the runner.
"Detaching Duel Disk," Is said by a computer voice as the duel disk rises from the runner, I place my wrist dealer over the duel disk as it than lowers and makes "bing" noise as it attaches to my dealer. As I move my arm up I can feel the disk wiggle, it's not a perfect fit, but it will do.
"How's a duel disk going to help us?"
"In case you didn't notice these people seem to control their power through dueling, so way I figure if anyone wants a piece of us there going to duel us first."
"So according to you if they want to kill us there going to challenge us to a card game," she says sounding skeptical.
"If that's how you want to see it."
"Well, to be honest the game seems kind of boring to me."
"Boring, you know what let's just get going."
Nobody turns there head as we walk through the large, apparently old, front gate however Vanessa still stays close to me.
"Hey you!"
As I hear this I quickly turn my head to the voice and Vanessa jumps behind me.
"Who are you?" I say; the boy I ask this too is short and skinny with orange eyes, messy blonde hair and the buttons on his school uniform appear to be buttoned with the wrong buttons.
"The names Damon and from the looks of things you're a duelist."
"What's it to you?"
"Well spiky head it just so happens that duelists are only allowed on campus if they can get past me."
"Spiky head?" that's a new one.
"Well," starts Vanessa, "it's not as much spiky as much as it's all sticky uppy and leaning forward in the front, kind of like that actor David Tennant."
Great, apparently where I just thought people wanted me to comb my hair, other people were comparing it to 2000's British actors.
"Well what's it going to be, duel or run away in fear?"
"Wait a minute," starts Vanessa, "are you telling me that in order to do what we came here to do he has to defeat you in some children's card game."
"Listen missy this…" Damon stops as he scans Vanessa from head to toe, as fast as he does that he is now in front of Vanessa, only inches from her face.
"Wow your pretty."
"Thank you," Vanessa says confusingly.
"You know, if Duel Monsters isn't your thing maybe you and I can go catch a movie over in town."
He is now attempting to place his arm around Vanessa's shoulder. Vanessa lifts her hand up and slaps Damon, hard on his, he quickly brings his arm back, jump's a few feet back and then starts rubbing his red hand.
"You know what Chase, I change my mind, kick his ass at his own game."
"My pleasure and if you want Damon you can have the first turn."
"With pleasure."
Damon
"Alright than I summon Bulbasaur (ATK: 100/DEF: 100) in attack mode."
There is now a small reptilian toad thing with a bulb on its back staring at me with red eyes.
Chase
"That's' it?"
"You bet, now make your move, if you dare."
"Fine, I summon Elemental Hero Voltic (ATK: 1000/DEF: 1500) in attack mode."
"You know I never pinned you as the comic book super hero type." Remarks Vanessa, I ignore this and decide to continue.
"Now Voltic use Voltic thunder on, whatever that is!" (4000-3100)
"Hey you can't attack on the first turn!"
"No, you can't attack on the first turn because the first turn is for setting up your strategy so to be fair I get the first attack."
"Oh, well I knew that, that was all just part of my strategy, now are you done?"
I nod and he starts to draw, I have a bad feeling this is going to be a long match.
Damon
"Alright than I summon Charmander (ATK: 200/DEF: 0) in attack mode!"
Chase
I have a bad feeling he summoned the little orange bipedal salamander with the flame on its tail to bait me, but I have don't have time to play games.
"Ok than Voltic destroy his lizard!" (3100-2300)
"Like a moth to a flame." Says Damon, as the lizard falls the tail on its flame engulfs it and then explodes with the flames going in all directions.
"Now you take damage equal to the combined amount of Charmander's ATK and DEF points!" (4000-3800)
"Wait a minute; you only inflicted 200 points of damage."
"I know, not bad huh."
"Let me reiterate, you took 800 points of damage and I only took 200."
"I don't know what reiterate means but I agree with you, now mind if I trick you again."
"Please do."
Damon
"I summon Squirtle in defense mode." (ATK: 300/DEF: 1000)
Chase
"Well that's a nice change of pace." I comment
"You've heard of that thing?" Asks Vanessa
"Yup, basically it's a little blue turtle that when it's in defense mode it needs to be attacked twice in order to be destroyed by battle."
"I got you cornered don't I?"
With that I draw
"No, it just means my Hero needs some company. "I summon Elemental Hero Stratos (ATK: 1800/DEF: 300) in attack mode, next due to Stratos's effect I can add another hero to my hand, and next I play the spell card H-Heated Heart giving my Voltic 500 extra ATK points, (1000-1500) now Stratos Stratosphere storm!"
As the winds kick up the shell that holds the turtle in it is hurtled and lands promptly on Damon's head.
"Oh yeah and also the monster who's power is increased via H-Heated Heart also gains piercing ability."
"What's that?" Asks Damon.
"Simple, normally because your monsters in defense mode your life points would be spared by Voltic's attack, but with piercing ability you'll take damage equal to the difference in my monsters attack and your monsters defense points, now Heated thunder!" (2300-1800)
Damon
"Ok that's it, no more games!"
"This is a game." Remarks Vanessa.
"Hey it isn't my fault your boyfriend keeps using Voodoo."
"For starters I'm not Vanessa's boyfriend, and second I've dueled fairly and intelligently unlike you who barely knows how to play!"
"You want intelligence, I'll give you intelligence. I summon my Prinplup (ATK: 1300/DEF: 2000) in attack mode, like my blue penguin, good, because when I summon a level 3 or lower Water monster I can special summon my Piplup tuner monster (ATK: 300/DEF: 1000) in attack mode."
"What's a tuner monster?" Asks Vanessa
"Trouble," I answer.
"That's right; I tune my level 2 Piplup with my level 3 Prinplup in order to Synchro summon Empoleon (ATK: 2300/DEF: 3000)!"
There is now an even bigger navy blue penguin, and this one is armored.
"Next I activate Empoleon's special ability; I remove by Bulbasaur from play in order to add Bulbasaur's attack points to Empoleon until the end phase (2300-2400), now Empoleon destroy his Voltic, drill peck! (3800-2400) Next I set one card face down and end my turn." (2400-2300)
Chase
Ok so maybe this kid isn't the worst duelist ever, but that birds getting fried this round.
"Alright than I play the spell card Hero's Bond which allows me to special summon 2 level 4 or lower elemental Hero's from my hand. Now allow me to introduce you to Elemental Hero Avian (ATK: 1000/DEF: 1000) and Elemental Hero Lady Heat, (ATK: 1300/DEF: 1000) both in attack mode!"
"Now who's playing weak cards?"
"Watch and learn cause next I play the spell Hero Pressure, now your overgrown penguin loses 300 ATK points for every Elemental hero on the field,
(2300-1400) now Stratos attack!"
"Sorry but my Empoleon has a second effect, now I remove from play my Charmander in order to switch my Empoleon from attack to defense mode!"
The penguin's fins went over its face and I watched as a simple but deadly strategy eats away at my life points. (2400-1200)
"I set 1 card face down and end my turn (1800-1200)."
"Hey why did my life points go down?"
"Upon ending my turn Lady Heat inflicts 200 points of direct damage to your life points."
"Oh, well either way this duel is almost over."
Damon
"So spiky head looks like I've got you between a rock and a hard place, you can't negate my offense, or breakthrough my defense, there is one option if you don't mind getting on your hands and knees."
"Make your damn move."
"Uh-oh, someone's angry, oh well, I remove Squirtle from play to give Empoleon 300 ATK points, (ATK:1400-1700) now, destroy his Avian!"
I've got to act quickly if this is going to work.
"(1200-500) I activate the trap card Hero Signal!"
Ok there's a light shining in the sky that has the elemental hero symbol on it, now it's time to teach Damon a thing or 2 about special summoning.
"Now because 1 of my monsters was destroyed by your bird I can special summon a level 4 or lower hero straight from my deck, now allow me to introduce you to Elemental Hero Ocean! (ATK: 1500/DEF: 1200) Now mind if I teach you something special summoning?"
"Be my guest." (1700-1400)
Chase
"First up because it's my draw phase I draw one card from my deck," yes, "Next because it's my standby phase I can activate the effect of Elemental Hero Ocean allowing me to add Elemental Hero Voltic from my graveyard to my hand, next because it's my main phase I can activate the spell card Polymerization."
"What's that do?"
"Let me guess you've never heard of fusion summoning have you?"
"Of course I have, but since your friend isn't too familiar with this game maybe you should explain it."
"Of course, now because I have an Elemental Hero monster in my hand, Voltic, and a water attribute monster on the field, Ocean I can combine them in order to fusion summon Elemental Hero Absolute Zero in attack mode (ATK: 2500/DEF: 2000)!"
Synchro, fusion, and ritual in the game of Duel Monsters there's never a dull moment, especially when it's fat, overgrown, navy blue Penguin vs. armored, white, super hero who can control ice.
"Now because you control a water attribute monster my hero gains 500 ATK points, (ATK:2500-3000) now Absolute Zero attack!"
"Did you forget, I can remove my Piplup from play to switch Empoleon to defense mode, so it looks like your last shot at victory failed."
As I glance over at Vanessa I see worry on her face, since I know Damon won't notice I have no problem shooting her a quick smile which for one reason or another makes her turn red.
"I set one card face down and end my turn (1200-600)."
Damon
"Alright than I remove Prinplup from play in order to increase Empoleon's ATK power, (1400-2700) now Empoleon attack his lady and end this duel!"
"I activate the trap card Defender Hero."
"Wait, what?"
"Simple now your Empoleon's attack target is switched from Lady Heat to Zero."
At that moment both Vanessa, Damon and the small group of people watching the duel watch in shock as Zero gets in the way of Lady Heat. Zero effortlessly grabs Empoleon by the beak and freezes it (3000-2500) (600-300).
Chase
"How did you do that?" Asks, a shocked, Damon.
"Simple, every card I play is part of my strategy."
"So do I."
"No, every card you play is played so it can be used in some mundane, childlike, bone head strategy. A duel is about adapting to your opponent and your cards have to the same, now Elemental Hero Absolute Zero freezing at moment!" (300-0)
Chase: Win Damon: lose
I hear a number of applauses coming from the crowd around us telling me that Damon really is either one of the best this school has to offer or he's that annoying that everyone's glad I shut him up. As I turn my head to see Vanessa's response; she looks like she's seen a ghost and at that instant everybody quiets down.
"Mr. Rhodes, how nice to see you again, and it looks like you brought a friend this time."
I quickly turn around and here she is, right in front of me, the same woman who seems to be pulling the strings behind Abigail Starzan.
Next time: A day with Damon
As I look outside the door I can tell something isn't right, as I stick my head back inside I close the door and turn around towards Vanessa.
"We're being watched aren't we?"
"Do you really want to know?"
She nods her head.
"Yes."