Traitor of All Traitors: Thank you very much. While researching monsters for this story I came across Humanoid Slime, Worm Drake and Humanoid Worm Drake. This in turn led me to re-watch the original series as I had completely forgotten about Yugi's duel with Strings. I liked those monsters and wanted to include them.

Ilovevocaloid93: I appreciate the review and your advice. However, with all respect, I feel that ending every quotation with a full stop is too limiting for me and I simply don't feel comfortable doing so. I hope you will continue to enjoy my story despite this.

"Gruesome Goo, destroy her turtle!"

The ooze monster slithered forwards and rose up in a wave that crashed down and engulfed UFO Turtle. The other monster held its shape for a second before being completely dissolved by Gruesome Goo.

Sadie: 3700 Life Points.

She called, "I activate UFO Turtle's effect. When it's destroyed in battle it lets me Special Summon a Fire monster with 1500 attack points or less from my deck. I now summon Solar Flare Dragon!"

A giant horned orange serpent wreathed in flames appeared in UFO Turtle's place and reared up like a cobra. At once the flames went out and it lowered its body but it still glared at the opponent.

Solar Flare Dragon: ATK 1300. DEF 800

"Even weakened by your field spell my dragon is still too strong for your other blob," she said confidently.

Sludge grinned wickedly. "Good thing my Mucus Yolk can attack your Life Points directly then."

"What!" Tyranno yelled as his friend's eyes widened.

"Get her Mucus Yolk!"

The blob monster fired a red laser from its orb. She winced as it hit her directly and Tyranno stared in horror as her Life Points decreased.

Sadie: 3500 Life Points.

"I'll set one card face down and that's all."

That Sakuretsu Armour should protect Mucus Yolk if she tries to destroy it he thought.

"Hang in there Say," Tyranno called encouragingly.

"Don't worry Sarge I will," she replied. "I set a monster face down and I place one card face down. That ends my turn. Oh by the way, at the end of my turn you lose 500 Life Points thanks to my dragon's effect."

"Why you little… Aggh" Sludge yelled as Solar Flare Dragon opened its jaws and blasted him with a fireball.

Sludge: 2100 Life Points.

He glared at her but then the angry look faded and his unpleasant smile returned. "My turn now doll. Oh yeah, I forgot ta tell ya about Mucus Yolk's other effect. Each time it inflicts damage it gains another 1000 attack points at the start of my next turn."

Mucus Yolk: ATK 1200. DEF 300

He laughed mockingly at her alarmed look. "And you recall it can attack directly. Mucus Yolk attack!"

The red laser fired again, hitting harder than the previous attack.

Sadie: 2300 Life Points.

"Say!" Tyranno cried. He tugged again at the cuffs to no avail.

"Just 200 points difference," Sludge crowed. "Won't be long now before I win this duel and make you my girl."

Sadie faced him defiantly. "I will never be your girl," she said firmly.

"Oh yeah? Gruesome Goo, destroy her dragon!"

But as the slime monster oozed forwards to attack Sadie smiled and said "I reveal my face down, Mystical Space Typhoon! Now I'll use it to destroy your field spell!"

"No!" Sludge yelled as the card flipped face up. A whirling tornado shot out of it and shattered his field spell card. Instantly the water covering the field vanished.

Solar Flare Dragon: ATK 1500. DEF 1000

Gruesome Goo: ATK 1300. DEF 700

Mucus Yolk: ATK 1000. DEF 100

Solar Flare Dragon reared up again, its flames flaring up as its attack points returned to normal. Its jaws opened and it breathed out a stream of flames. Gruesome Goo disintegrated as the fiery blast engulfed it.

Sludge: 1900 Life Points.

He snarled in fury. "I place one card face down and end my turn."

I can still win this he thought. I just gotta keep her from destroying my monster. Two Sakuretsu Armours should do that.

"My move," said Sadie confidently. "First I play the spell Dark Room of Nightmare."

A hologram of the card appeared. It depicted a torch-lit chamber with two shadows, one of a man chained to a wall, the other threatening him with a whip.

"With this on the field you lose an extra 300 Life Points every time you take effect damage. Next I'll flip my monster face up."

The card flipped to face up position and a monster resembling a giant blue bird with large bat-like ears materialized on the field.

Stealth Bird: ATK 700. DEF 1700

"Now thanks to Stealth Bird's flip effect you lose 1000 Life Points, plus an extra 300 thanks to my spell card."

"What? Aggh!" Sludge yelled as Stealth Bird opened its mouth and blasted him with a sonic wave.

Sludge: 600 Life Points.

"I end my turn," Sadie said with a triumphant grin. "That means Solar Flare Dragon's effect activates, which also activates Dark Room of Nightmare which means you lose the duel."

He uttered a wordless yell of rage as Solar Flare Dragon launched another fireball. It exploded on contact, blasting him off his feet.

Sludge: 0 Life Points.

He lay groaning as the duel disks powered down and the holograms vanished. Sadie hurried over to the table and picked up the key.

"You okay Sarge?" she asked as she unlocked his handcuffs.

"Yeah I'm okay," he replied as he rubbed his writs. "Now let's hand this guy over to the authorities."

A short time later Sludge was loaded into a police car and driven away. Tyranno and Sadie watched him go.

"Thanks for saving my hide back there Say," he said. "I appreciate you taking a risk like that."

"It's all right Sarge," she replied. "You'd have done the same for me."

"Yeah. Anyway I'm sorry about all this. I'd have sworn that guy was gone and that part o' my life was all behind me." He sighed. "But then I guess the past does have a way of catching up with us."

"Hey," she said gently as she lightly put her hand over his. "It's okay Sarge. I know you aren't like that guy. Whatever you used to be like doesn't change who you are now and the guy you are now is my friend."

He smiled. "Thanks Say, that means a lot to me. And thanks again for saving me. Those were some amazing duelling skills you showed."

She chuckled. "Thanks Sarge. Hey the rain's stopped. Can we still make it to your hometown before it gets dark?"

"Sure can. We'll check into a nice little bed and breakfast I know and then tomorrow I'll give you the grand tour."

"I'll hold you to that" she replied with a smile that he returned as he started the car's engine and drove them away.