Chapter 5

Leo opened his eyes as he sat up with a throbbing headache. His duel against the stranger was a breeze as within 10 turns Leo had obliterated the man. His opponent Runner caught fire due to lack of a Momentum heat sink. Or Leo assumed as usually when they got old or damaged that's when fires would break out. He managed to push the man off his Runner before the fire did any damage. But with that Leo drove off leaving the man from 'Sector Security' behind in the dirt. He came up towards an old abandoned building several kilometers out of sight. It was an old rugged brick building with cracked and shattered glass. The heat was rising as an uncomfortable silence filled the room. This snobby place had become his hideout in this disaster of a place that Leo was still uncertain about. A damp cold breeze followed Leo as he walked into his hideout where he had been staying for the past few weeks. His last two had either been discovered and raided or destroyed.

With that Leo closed the door behind him to let the darkness seep in. Kuriboh appeared next to him, "What's wrong Kuriboh?" Leo asked his friend who cried out with distress Leo surveyed the room. Not that he could make much out as most of it was broken glass, rotting bricks, dust and other things Leo couldn't name or identify. "What do you mean we're not alone? This place-"

"Unfortunately for you your imaginary friend isn't wrong," Leo shifted away. As from the shadows came a man that was not much taller than Leo. The man was clearly older than Leo, but not by much in terms of height. With spiky purple hair, green eyes, with a red striped face tattoo. Wearing a red silk overcoat with a white shirt with matching colored pants, a silver belt. Heavy black boots with white gloved hands; this man stuck out like a wind turbine in the age of Momentum. An old disastrous technology that had been replaced by the warmth of Momentum itself. Leo could tell the man was barely producing any amount of Momentum energy. He barely had a pulse with him and a sinister aura seemed to follow. "Well I must say you've gained quite the reputation Ghost. My name is Lazar. I'm special deputy of Sector Security 2nd in command and a trusted friend of Director Goodwin. To be honest we've been tracking you for some time. You've given our officers quite the beating with your talent for dueling."

"And what do you want? Clown. Can't you see you weren't invited," Leo said. "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's not polite to enter someone's home uninvited." Kuriboh flew in front of Leo not that Lazar could even see him.

"My, my it seems my mother skipped that lesson while I was growing up," Lazar said sarcastically. Wiggling his pointer finger in front of Leo with a mocking tone to his voice, "But alas we are not here to discuss." With that from his hand a letter appeared with a white color and goldenseal upon it. Leo took the thing and carefully looked at the envelope.

"What is this?" Leo asked.

"An invitation," Lazar said. "Director Goodwin would like to invite you to a very special event. An event that a select few individuals such as yourself have been chosen for. You see Director Goodwin is looking to hire a few really skilled dulelist for a special job in the near future. If you attend I assure you will be transported to New Domino City and out of the satellite. Leo looked at the man with interest which meant he was in Japan. New Domino City, Japan. Home to the legendary warrior who died 200 years ago and Jack Atlas the king of Turbo Dueling. That explained quite a few things that meant this was the actual Satellite. A silence formed between Leo and Lazar as Leo thought for a moment before finally responding.

"I'm confused," Leo said.

"Director Goodwin is inviting you to participate in a special duel to see if you're worthy for a special job. He's looking for an exponentially skilled duelist and you make the cut. If you're interested tomorrow night at the bridge near the oceanfront Director Goodwin will be there with a special guest, your opponent. If you win the job is yours and all you have to do is bring that invitation. Ghost and Director Goodwin is willing to give you anything you want. Of course the specifics will be discussed assuming you show up tomorrow." Lazar said.

"I see," Leo said. He looked over at Kuriboh as Lazar put out a smoke bomb and slammed it on the ground. It took Leo to regain his vision and he had to focus on the man's Momentum energy.

"Kuri?" Kuriboh asked.

"I don't know Kuriboh," Leo said. "But if he can get us to the big city that means we are one step closer to getting home. Well we know this place isn't safe anymore." With that Leo lifted his finger and a blue portal appeared in front of him. A gateway into the digital world and his personal retreat. He would follow this lead to a better place if this meant escaping his current predicament; it was worth all the possible risk.

X-x

It was another warm night in Chalice Town. As Leo, Avery and their families had gathered to go swimming at a local pool. They had privately reserved the swimming pool for a few hours and it had been the most fun. Leo was 8 years old at the time and wore green shorts. Silently he walked behind his best friend who was completely distracted and shoved her into the water. Which caused Avery to yelp as the two of them went directly into the water. "Leo!" Avery screamed at him as Leo resubmerged from the water laughing at her. Avery's face cheeks puffed up in frustration, "I told you I didn't want to get wet! I just got my hair done." Leo stuck his tongue out at her as Leo splashed her with water.

"Nah nah nah nah," Leo said.

"Mom!" Avery screamed as she moved away from the water.

"Leo," he looked up to see his mother looking at her. "Don't be mean to her, Leo. You know if you keep it up you might lose her friendship as she won't want to play with you. Besides, you have a friend here to see you." Leo looked up and smiled on his face as an old friend had indeed appeared. Aporia. Leo and Avery looked at each other and smiled upon finally noticing the tall man who had appeared. Aporia had been a family friend since as far back as Leo could remember. Aporia was a tall man with white hair, brown eyes and wore a white swim trunks. He was an easy going laid back person that had been a friend to his mother for a longtime.

"Nice to see you causing a little bit of trouble," with that Leo and Avery rushed out of the water as fast as they could. Almost slipping to hug the man who was essentially a member of the family. Aporia was a mysterious man with a sadden look on his face that was hard to ignore. No one knew much about his history as the man had amnesia that seemed unrelenting. "So I heard from your mother you're having a problem channeling Momentum. Is that true?"

"Well so is Avery," Leo said in defense.

"Hey," Avery said. "It's not my fault. Mom says-"

"And you believe her?" Both of them looked at Aporia confused, "That whole thing doesn't exist. And I can prove it." Aporia said, "And all you have to do is close your eyes." Leo looked around, but agreed and Avery did the same. Aporia held out his hand and it was like a new life had truly begun. Momentum energy trickled through his entire system pulsing through every vein. It was an overwhelming experience and it was Leo's first real taste of the power of Momentum energy and evolution.