Renegades: A New Dawn
Chapter IX: Deceit
Four days later
In the hospital, Rio was lay in bed reading a cage-fighting magazine when Blair came running into the ward. 'Slow down B, you'll hurt your… yourself. Sorry, still tricky. So, Maddy training you up?' 'Seriously? I was just speaking to your doctor, and get this – they said you can go home tomorrow!'
Rio's eyes suddenly lit up. 'Seriously?' 'Seriously. You're coming back to the base!' 'Awesome!' Kelly then walked in, reading a colour chart. 'Hey Rio, can I ask you something?' 'Sure!' 'See this? Lilac or Fuschia – which colour do you want our room painting?'
'Our… room?' 'Did Blair not tell you? Ok, I'll explain. I heard about an hour ago that you were coming home tomorrow, and I immediately got on the phone to Maddy, and we agreed that you can move into my room when you're back, at least until you're settled back in and feeling a bit better.' Rio then hugged Kelly. 'Thank you so much!'
'Don't thank me, it's Maddy who agreed. And don't worry about your legs, we're on the ground floor. But I need to know what colour you like.' As Kelly sat down next to Rio, Blair smiled. 'I can't wait for you to come back.'
Blair then left the ward, and found Phil waiting outside for her, wearing some cool new blackout sunglasses. 'You girls don't half keep me waiting. "I'll just be 20 minutes" she says. An hour later, she's back.' 'You know, I really owe you for having a word with the doctors.'
'Her recovery will be much better at home with people who love her. Did you tell her about Kris?' 'Yeah, I let her know yesterday.' Blair then slapped herself on the head. 'Just realised I forgot to give that book to Rio.' 'Oh yeah. I'm coming with you this time.' 'Really?' 'Otherwise I'll never get home.'
The two of them then went back inside, surprising Rio. 'Hey Phil.' 'Listen, we're back in because idiot here forgot to give you your little coming home present.' Blair then handed a big thick book over. 'What's this?' 'After she took over the club, Maddy opened a book of well-wishes for people to write whatever they liked to you. I read some of the early ones to you while you were unconscious, but I don't know if you understood any of it.'
'Kinda, my memory's hazy. Like, I can only remember bits of what happened before I woke up here.' Rio then started reading the comments, and started crying. 'Some of these are so beautiful.' 'They're a poetic bunch when they put their minds to it. Well some of them are anyway.'
'And Maddy didn't twist their arms?' 'Nope. The book was just left open for a few weeks for people to write in at anytime. Don't think Maddy was too happy when Astrid asked her for the keys to the office.' 'Why?' 'It was half 4 in the morning.'
Blair and Phil then went to leave. 'You're forg… for… for… forgett… forgetting the book.' 'Rio, that book is yours. Reading that will keep you entertained for a few hours probably.' 'Thank you.' The two of them then left again, for the base.
As they travelled back, Phil glanced over to his side, and Blair was lay in the seat, a tired and pained look on her face. 'Are you feeling alright? You look terrible.' 'I'm fine. Just kinda tired that's all.' 'If you insist. I'm just not used to you being so quiet.' 'Yeah I'm fine.' Blair then gave a false, unconvincing smile.
After a near half-hour journey, they arrived back. As Blair got out of the car, Maddy greeted her father. 'So, did she enjoy it?' 'She's delighted. Sorry, do you know where Sakura is?' 'Yeah she's in her room. Are you ok?' 'It's not me it's Blair. Something's not right with her.'
As Phil knocked on the door, a voice came from within. 'Come in.' As he walked in, Sakura was stood there, reading. 'Well this is an unusual surprise, the godfather himself. What can I do for you?' 'While me and Blair were in the car, she looked seriously unwell – slumped in her seat, face was all flush, her breathing was laboured.'
'Temperature?' 'Elevated but not massively so – probably about 40-42 when I touched her arm. I did have the heater on in the car, but it's a cold day out there.' Sakura wrote the information down and quickly had an idea. 'Phil, you'll likely know this – has Blair had any kind of accident which lead to a cut in the past few months?'
'Now you mention it, probably mid-August, she had some sort of accident. I think she said that she was moving an old shelf, and the shelf fell on her, with a nail gashing her bicep. Have you had an idea?' 'It sounds like she might have a Staph infection. I'll need to look at the cut though.' 'You available in half an hour?' 'Sure – I'll get set-up right away.'
Phil then went and found Blair, who was coming out of the toilet, still looking sick. 'Hey Phil, I… I don't feel right.' 'I could tell that in the car, so I booked a check-up with Sak for you. She's ready when you are.' 'I guess I could do with a once-over.'
As Blair entered the medical room, Sakura was waiting, wearing her signature green headband. 'Sit down. Phil gave me his account, but how are you feeling?' 'I've been doing ok, I mean I've not been 100%, but this morning I woke up and just instantly felt sick. Feels like I'm burning up, my head's all scrambled, and I've got an ache in my arm.'
'Have you had any kind of cut in recent months, maybe from a spike of some sort?' 'Yeah, August 11th, I was dismantling an old bookcase and a shelf fell on me, I got a cut from a screw in it. I've got a scar on my bicep from where Akiza glued it back together.'
'Right. Is there any chance I could look at the arm?' 'Of course.' Before Sakura had chance, Blair suddenly clutched at her chest while groaning. 'What's happening right now Blair?' 'My heart… it feels like it's coming out of my chest.' 'Palpitations?' 'Think I'm having a heart attack.' Sakura then got a stephascope out of the cupboard. 'Your heart rate is very quick. Right, I need you to suck your breath right in Blair, right in, and tense your body up.'
As she did that, Sakura looked at Blair's arm. 'Alrighty, that looks pretty bad. Blair, did Akiza clean the wound out?' 'No, she said it was all fine.' 'That would explain a lot. You've got quite a severe staph infection. The area around your bicep is very red, there's swelling and there's a large red lump which has blistered over.'
'It's definitely a Staph infection though?' '100%, you've got the classic symptoms. You'll be fine.' 'Can I continue duelling?' 'I know about your and Maddy's plans, and I'd prefer you not to duel after Quebec. At least outside of the arena.'
'How long?' 'Depends how you recover. Likely no more than about 6-8 weeks. You just need to take these antibiotics. Twice a day, at least 8 hours apart. For now I'll just give you an intra-venous drip, to flush out your system. How's your chest now?' 'Better thanks.'
As Blair breathed a sigh of relief, Sakura flushed out her system with sterilised water. 20 minutes later, Blair was starting to feel better. 'Here are your antibiotics.' As Blair went to take them, Sakura kept hold of the box. 'If you don't keep to a regular schedule with these you won't get better. If you're still feeling like this and the lump hasn't gone down in two weeks, book an appointment with me and tell whoever takes the booking that I'm expecting you.' 'Of course.'
Before Blair left, Sakura stopped her. 'One more thing.' 'Huh?' Sakura then smiled. 'You should really wear your hair down more, you've got the best hair of anyone here!' 'Gee, thanks.' 'You're welcome. Look after yourself now, ok?'
When the Michigan warrior walked out of the medical office, Phil was stood outside. 'How are you feeling now?' 'A bit better thanks.' 'Was it related to that cut on your arm?' 'Yeah, it wasn't cleaned properly and now I've got the mother of all Staph infections. She wants me to take time off duelling until the new year, and I've got some medication.'
'I want you to promise me that you'll take it.' Blair replied unblinkingly, with a newfound steel in her eyes. 'I promise. I'm not going to jepordise my own health when Rio needs me.' 'You should be doing it for yourself as much as anybody else.' 'Why? In the grand scheme of things, I'm nothing.' Blair then left, as Phil shook his head. 'What has happened to you?'
Later in the day
Maddy was getting ahead with paperwork in her office, when Astrid ran in. 'For god's sake man, knock! That's why I have a door here!' 'Sorry, but it's Blair and Akiza – they're having a massive shouting match outside and it's really bad.' 'I'll be there shortly.'
The moment that she walked outside, the president was confronted with Blair and Akiza in each other's faces. 'You think you're so awesome just because you kissed a girl. Well guess what – you're not. You're a loser!'
'Better being a loser than supporting a rapist! Yeah, I saw your texts with Claude.' 'I told Claude to get rid of you, not rape you. We were so much better while you were in Michigan. I would say go home, but let's face it, you've not got a home have you?'
Maddy then stepped between them. 'What is going on here?' As they both started shouting over each other, Maddy tried again. 'Blair, shut up. Akiza, what's going on here.' 'This ungrateful little rat is accusing me of giving her a Staph infection on purpose. You let her get away with whatever she likes, just because she's a bean flicker.'
Blair then went to attack Akiza, but Maddy stood in front of her. 'No Blair. Anything else Akiza?' 'She has lied to you, she's a thief, and she never does a thing that's special or interesting in any way.'
'Right, Blair.' 'Akiza knew I had a potential Staph infection and chose not to clean the wound out. And she calls herself a doctor? Also Akiza texted Claude to blackmail him in order to not say anything about him attacking me the way he did.'
Maddy nodded. 'Right then. I'd normally deal with this in my office, but since you both want to make a show of it, so will I. Blair, Akiza clearly made an error in judgement with your Staph infection, but I don't believe for a second that it was deliberate. As for the texts, I can do nothing unless you have physical evidence of them.'
'Just look at her phone!' 'That's an invasion of privacy. As for you Akiza, I absolutely have given Blair nothing just because of her sexuality. I would suggest you grow up. As for Blair stealing, if this about stealing from Rio, I can do nothing about that because a) it happened before Blair joined the club, and b) Rio doesn't care. I'm not asking for you both to like each other. I'm just asking that you try and work together. All for the Renegades, ok?' They both nodded. 'Good.' After this, the situation seemed to have blown over.
The next day, 11am
Blair and Jade arrived at the hospital, finding Rio sat up, with a doctor. 'I will give your case to Dr. Maya Andreu. You are scheduled for a check-up every Friday at 11.30am. If you ever need to change that, here's our phone number, so you can call up or you can name up to two people to call up on your behalf.'
Rio then looked around. 'Hey guys. B, could you give him yours and Phil's numbers?' 'Sure. Is there anything else you need?' 'No, everything looks fine. I will just go and put your details into the computer, and then you will be free to sign yourself out.'
As the doctor left, Jade hugged Rio. 'Can't believe you're coming home. And, I've got a special coming home present for you.' Jade then nipped out of the ward. 'Where's she going B?' 'Don't ask me, I dunno.'
Rio then noticed Blair's pigtails, each with a black scrunchie in. 'I like your hair.' 'Thanks, thought I'd try something different.' 'Good on ya.' Jade's surprise was then revealed, as she walked back into the ward, carrying a familiar red and black jacket. 'Err you do realise I've got my jacket?' 'What – this? No way would this fit you, you'd be drowned in it. This is more… my size.'
Jade then put the jacket on. 'No way! You didn't!' 'I sent in my application two weeks ago and it got accepted just yesterday evening. I mean, this isn't my proper jacket, it's not got my name on or anything, but yeah, I'm one of you now.'
As Blair and Jade shared a very long kiss, Rio looked around. 'No Phil?' 'Oh he's coming, he's just stuck in traffic.' 'So you didn't come together?' 'No, not seen him all day actually. Went out real early.' Jade then crawled onto Blair, pushing her onto Rio's bed as they kissed again.
Just then, a voice boomed from across the ward. 'Put her down you don't know where she's been.' Rio's eyes then lit up. 'Phil, you made it!' 'Well of course I did. I wasn't that far away.' 'But Jade said' 'I didn't tell either of those two where I was because I didn't need them bugging me. I was just collecting my coming home present to you.'
'This my birthday?' 'No, this is purely practical.' As he said that, Sean came in on an electric wheelchair. 'Sean, I told you to bring it in, not test-drive it.' 'Practising becoming a car dealer.' Phil looked sceptically at his old friend. 'Going up in the world are we? What's next – becoming a car auctioneer?' 'Very funny.'
He then turned back to the bedside. 'That's your present, I'm sorry that it's got a mark on it from somebody's sweaty behind, I don't have him house-trained yet.' Rio stood up, and flung herself at him. 'It's got adjustable gearing so you can go on different terrain, it has different seating positions, and you can drive it yourself so Blair doesn't spend all day looking at the back of your head. Cushions, sparkles, and mud pies not included. I've also brought you a fresh set of clothes.'
'Do you… think I could… return?' 'One step at a time Rio. First you need to focus on getting your body stronger. I'm looking into some martial arts classes to help with your co-ordination, but you have to prove you can take the rigours of it before I book anything.'
Then the doctor came in, smiling. 'Ms. Kastle, you're free to go now.' 'Thank you so much.' 'It's my pleasure.' After Rio got changed into a black thermal top and her club jacket, she sat in her wheelchair. 'This is nice.' 'I was going to have a nicer one custom-made. But I ran out of time, so I bought a cheap one and gave it to Sean for a day.' 'Awesome.'
As she left the hospital, her hand started shaking. 'Nervous?' 'Kinda. Keep getting tremors.' 'We'll keep an eye on it. If it's still persisting next week, we'll ask your doctor about it at the check-up. Alright?' 'Thanks.' They then drove off, for the short trip to the base.
In the base
Astrid walked in to find Maddy at the top of a ladder, stretching to put a banner up. 'Why are you doing that on your own?' 'Because nobody thought to offer their help other than Freja.' 'Who's too short.' 'Who shouldn't be within 50m of a ladder.' Astrid then stood on a chair, and started helping. 'How can you reach from there?' 'You're short – I'm not.'
'Thanks for this 'trid.' 'You're never going to get it done in time by yourself.' 'I've got Jana on lookout – she'll hear the car coming about 5 minutes before they get here.' 'Another "wolfie" power?' 'It's wolfblood, not wolfie.' 'Whatever. So, what you going to do about Akiza?' 'I don't know, rather out of ideas. I'm not expelling her from the club though – we're stronger with her than against her.'
'You know, it rather seems like she's against us anyway.' 'Well we'll have to be nicer to her won't we then?' 'Uh was that directed towards me?' 'Among others. We all have to be more accepting of each other. We've transformed into a group of people who only care about their own agendas, and that's not what we should be. We should be working together to make a difference.'
Just after Astrid finished hooking the welcome home banner up, Jana came in. 'Heard them.' 'Thanks Jana.' 'Not a problem. Can we talk about my application later?' 'Sure. Book a meeting and I'll fast-track your application to the top of my mailbox.' 'You think it'll be accepted?' Maddy laughed. 'I'd say you've got good odds.'
As the car pulled up and everyone entered, Rio saw a new entranceway with a ramp. 'When did that happen?' 'Maddy had it installed a couple of weeks ago because she wanted to make it easier to get in. Also she didn't want to prevent people with wheelchairs from becoming Renegades.'
'So Maddy's in charge?' 'Yep.' 'Good president I take it?' Blair then smiled. 'Maddy was born to do this – get this, the club actually has an identity now. Someone actually knows what they want us to stand for.' 'Awesome.'
The moment Rio drove in, she smiled as everyone bar Lukas and Tee were waiting for her. Straight away Astrid walked up to her. 'Welcome back.' 'You're a club member?' 'Yeah, thought you'd been told about it.' 'How'd you get in?'
'Erm I applied? How do you think?' Rio the tapped her on the arm. 'Just messing with ya. Where's Maddy?' 'In her office.' Rio then drove to the bottom of the stairs, and with Blair's help, lifted herself up, one step at a time, before knocking on the door. 'Come in.'
As the door opened, Maddy smiled. 'Well look who it is.' 'Is that hello?' Maddy then hugged her. 'It's welcome back. Still can't get used to seeing you back on your feet.' 'Did you know about the wheelchair?' 'What wheelchair?' 'The one Phil got me.'
Maddy just smirked. 'Dad never tells me anything. So are you going to show me this wheelchair?' 'Kinda forgot to bring it up.' Blair then turned to get it. 'No way Blair, not with your arm.' 'What's wrong with her arm?'
'Nothing is wrong.' 'Other than the face you've got a staph infection and a dodgy calf.' 'I only pulled it in bed.' 'Am I the only person who's noticed that you've been limping around all day?' Rio then rewound the subject. 'A Staph in… infe… that word.' 'Did Blair not tell you about that? It's where she got that cut a few months ago.'
'I thought Akiza had cleaned that out?' 'So did Akiza.' 'She's absolutely mortified about that.' 'It wasn't on purpose was it?' Blair then smiled at her. 'Needless to say me and Akiza don't get on too well. But Akiza wouldn't risk her career just for me.' 'Sorry.' 'I understand how you feel. Before you enjoy being back though Rio, I need to make one thing clear: the rules apply to everyone, even you. And if you want to find out how breaking the rules goes, just ask Claude.'
'I would if I knew where he was.' Blair then turned to her. 'Claude's gone Ri – Maddy expelled him for good. Not a moment too soon either.' 'No way!' 'Yes way.' 'Just for attacking us?' 'No. Claude also stole a very important letter from my office, and I found evidence of him committing treason.'
'B, low-down on treason?' 'Treason is crime against the monarch or president. Basically he was plotting to overthrow her from the presidency. So Claude's gone and he isn't coming back.' 'Good.' 'Now you go and enjoy yourself. And Blair, look after that arm.' 'Got it.' After this, Rio and Blair returned to enjoy her homecoming.
Meanwhile, outside
Jana was just walking back to the base when Lukas and Tee surrounded her, with another man, short and stocky with flame red hair. 'You guys alright?' 'You belong to Akiza now. It has been commanded.' Jana was then knocked out from behind by a glove loaded with a brick. Akiza stood over her, and smiled. 'You first, then Maddy.' The other three then forced Jana's body into a guitar case, before carrying it to the car and slamming the boot.
Three days later
On the plane to Quebec, Maddy seemed oblivious to what had happened. 'You know, I've not heard from Jana in a couple of days.' 'She'll be fine. She quite regularly returns to her hometown of Penarth, and the phone signal there is crap.' 'Crap?' 'I'll have to teach you about slang. But yeah, it's nothing unusual. She'll probably rock up next week and spend an hour telling me about Caffi Joe, gyda'i chefnder a nai bach.'
'I'll pretend to know what you mean. So who's Blair teaming up with?' 'Jodi.' 'Why?' 'Dunno.' 'Jodi ever duelled?' 'Oh yeah, plenty.' 'Good record?' 'Terrible. But she usually duels me and Rio. She's beaten the twins a handful of times though.'
'What deck does she have?' 'It's a Psychic deck, Dad's collected thousands of cards from his career and stores them in a massive box. He armed Jodi with a deck in case of invasion.' 'That paranoid?' 'Listen, we're not exactly in the business of making friends, are we?' 'I guess. You think they'll get their heads together?' 'Hope so – they're going on first.'
'It's a risk.' 'Want to catch the scum off-guard man.' 'Sounds like a good job you picked Blair.' 'It's what I chose her for. Because she's just an absolute winning machine man. She can beat them both on her own.'
'I kinda wouldn't have minded being picked myself, but for your ideas of remodelling me.' 'Once you and Blair are both back in action, why not talk about it?' 'Probably not. Always found Blair… tricky to talk to.' 'She's not much of a talker to most people. Only talks to me because she has to. But just try talking to her. Unless she's having a bad day.'
'A bad day?' 'Yeah… please don't' 'I won't say a word.' 'I think Blair's still got PTSD. Between being attacked and then the stuff with Bitch Boy, and with her grandmother, she's got real issues.' The draw was as follows:
WDC Tag-Team Championships (if the Renegades lose, no club members may challenge for the titles again): (c) Nash and Mizar vs. Renegades (? and ?)
WDC Young-Gun Championship: (c) Maddy Robinson-Cummings vs. Dumon vs. Radley
Top Contender's duel for the WDC Championship: James Birchall vs. Kalin Kessler
Lydia Mckinna vs. Kari Tsukumo
Career-threatening duel: Phil Robinson vs. Martin Garcia
WDC Championship: (c) Rhydian Morris vs. Justin Pipe
In Quebec
After arriving at Jean Lesage airport in Quebec City, the club quickly made their way to the arena. Before Blair and Jodi left, Phil stopped Jodi to give her some advice. 'Jodi, attack. Leave the defending to Blair. You go full attack.' 'Understood. I won't let you down.'
The show opened with the typical fireworks, followed by Blair and Jodi coming down. Blair had her mask on, and hair down with a lime green bandanna on, while Jodi had her club jacket on and earphones in, which had been approved due to her eyesight. 'The following duel is for the WDC Tag-Team Championships. Introducing first, the challengers, representing the Renegades, first from Shelby Michigan, Blair Flannigan. And her tag-team partner, from Bolton, England, Jodi Allen.'
As they arrived in the duelling zone, Nash and Mizar warped in, each with a title belt. The two teams faced off, before the titles were handed over. Both teams then activated their duel disks, with Blair's left bicep heavily strapped up.
WDC Tag-Team Championships: (c) Nash and Mizar LP:4000 vs. Renegades (Blair Flannigan and Jodi Allen) LP:4000
Turn 1: Nash: 'I draw. I summon Hammer Shark (Atk:1700). Next I'll activate Double Summon, to also call out Speak Shark (Atk:1600). I overlay my two Level 4 Sharks to build the overlay network. Appear Number 101 – Silent Honor ARK (Atk:2100). I end my turn with two face-downs.'
Blair: 'I draw. I activate Fusion Conscription. By revealing a Fusion monster in my Extra deck, I can add a material for that monster to my hand. I'll reveal Gem-Knight Topaz and add Tourmaline to my hand. Next I'll activate Gem-Knight Fusion to bring together Tourmaline and Sapphire to Fusion summon Gem-Knight Aquamarine (Def.:2600). I end my turn with a face-down.'
Mizar: 'I draw. I activate Graceful Charity, to draw 3 cards and discard 2. By revealing Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon in my hand, I can summon Galaxy Brave (Atk:0). And by revealing Photon Dragon again, I can summon another Galaxy Brave (Atk:0).'
'I overlay my two Level 8 monsters to build the overlay network, and Xyz summon Number 62: Galaxy-Eyes Prime Photon Dragon (Atk:4000). Prime Photon Dragon, attack Gem-Knight Aquamarine.' Prime Photon Dragon's galactic fury wiped our the Gem-Knight. 'When Aquamarine leaves the field, it returns a card of yours to your hand. I choose Number 101 – Silent Honor ARK.' The Ark was caught in a sudden whirlpool, which dragged it down, returning it to Nash. 'But why… I end my turn with a face-down.'
Jodi: 'I draw. I activate Card Destruction. I hope you weren't too attached to the cards in your hand, because they're all going to the graveyard. We then all draw as many cards as we lost. Now I activate Telekinetic Power Well. This lets me revive as many Level 2 or below Psychic monsters from my graveyard by taking damage equal to their combined Levels x 300. I summon Psychic Jumper, Doctor Cranium, and two Mind Masters (Jumper Atk:100, Cranium Atk:100, Master Atk:0, Renegades LP:4000-2800).'
'Now the ability of Psychic Jumper. By paying 1000 Life points (Renegades LP:2800-1800), I can send Psychic Jumper over as a sleeper agent, and recruit your Prime Photon Dragon.' Jumper spread it's arms out, and caused Prime Photon Dragon to warp over to Jodi's field, with it replaced by Cranium. 'How dare you!' 'Prime Photon Dragon, attack your former master.'
'I activate Slip of Fortune. This stops the attack and then the monster you gave me is removed from play until my next Standby phase.' 'Well you're not getting your monster back. I activate my face-down Xyz Rebalance. By banishing a card from my hand, this reduces the Rank of Prime Photon Dragon by 1 (Rank:8-7). And when Xyz summoning, it counts as two monsters.'
'I overlay my Level 7 Prime Photon Dragon to build the overlay network and Xyz summon Number 74: Master of Blades (Atk:2700). I end my turn with two face-downs.'
Nash: 'I draw. I activate Monster Reincarnation, to add a monster back from my graveyard back to my hand by discarding a card. I summon Silent Wobby (Atk:800). And as I control a Water monster, I also summon Silent Angler (Atk:800). I overlay my two Level 4 monsters to build the overlay network and Xyz summon Number 101 – Silent Honor ARK (Atk:2100).'
'ARK, I'm activating your ability. To detach one Xyz material and absorb your Master Of Blades.' As Jodi did nothing, blair stepped in again. 'I'll do it all myself then shall I? I activate Number 74's ability. By detaching an Xyz material, I can negate the effect and destroy your monster.' 'By detaching it's other material, Honor ARK is safe.'
As the chain resolved, nothing changed. 'You got rid of my monster once. Lucky shot. It won't work again.' 'You can't stop me. Because when Master of Blades has used it's effect, then it can destroy a card on the field. And with no materials left, there's no way you can protect your ARK. Give it to him!'
Master of Blades raised it's hand, and several swords manifested, before slamming in and causing it to explode. 'I end my turn with a face-down.'
Blair: 'I draw. I activate the effect of Gem-Knight Fusion, to banish Tourmaline from my graveyard and add Fusion back to my hand. Now I activate it again, to fuse Gem-Knight Lapis and Gem-Knight Garnet to Fusion summon Gem-Knight Lady Lapis Lazuli (Atk:2400). And by sending Gem-Knight Master Diamond from my Extra deck to the graveyard, you lose 500 Life points for every Special-summoned monster on the field. We have five out, so get ready for the big freeze. Metamorphic Rage!'
Lapis Lazuli shone, and shot five blue pieces of rock at the champions, rocking them badly (Nash and Mizar LP:4000-1500). 'What kind of an attack is pelting us with old rocks? What are you – 6?' 'When you say old, I think you mean Afghanistan in the 7th Millennium BC. In the middle ages it was turned into a very expensive powder' 'Who cares?'
'Hey, don't get mad at me just because you're losing. Lapis Lazuli, attack directly.' 'You didn't really think that would work, did you? I activate Xyz Reborn, to bring back Silent Honor ARK (Atk:2100).'
Mizar reacted badly to this. 'Nash! That is not the agreement we had!' 'Your monsters can't get the job done Mizar.' 'How dare you? You know my deck is far stronger AND I am better equipped to deal with these little pests.' 'I'm the leader Mizar.' 'And not a very good one.' 'I will beat them – stay out of my way.'
A shout then came from across the battlefield. 'Continue attacking.' 'I activate the effect of Silent Honor ARK, to protect it (Nash and Mizar LP:1500-1200). 'Master of Blades, attack.' The blades slashed, and ARK exploded again (Nash and Mizar LP:1200-600). 'I end my turn with two face-downs.'
Mizar: 'Stay out of my way Nash! I draw. As you control an Xyz monster, I can summon Radius, the Half-Moon Dragon, making it's Level 8 (Level:4-8). And he'll be joined by Parsec, the Interstellar Dragon (Atk:800). He may be Level 8, but can instantly come to the field if I have another Level 8 monster on the field. Now I'll overlay both my Dragons to build the overlay network and Xyz summon Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon (Atk:3000).'
'As I enter my Battle phase I'll use Tachyon Dragon's ability to negate all your cards. Tachyon Transmigration.' Tachyon Dragon retreated into it's prismic sealed form, and spun with it shining several different colours, draining the colour from every card on the field. 'Now attack Mind Master. Tachyon Stream of Destruction.'
'I activate my face-down.' 'You idiot! You can't activate anything.' 'That only counts for face-up cards. Not face-downs. Like this – Vain Betrayer. This not only negates the effects of your Dragon, but you can't attack with it either. So your monster is useless.' 'I end my turn.' 'During the End phase, Vain Betrayer forces you to send three cards from your deck to your graveyard Mizar.' 'I thought you had all that figured out Mizar.' 'I'm sure you saw that coming oh great leader.'
Jodi: 'Can you two sort out divorce court later? Jodi's waiting.' 'I draw. I summon Reinforced Human Psychic Borg (Atk:1500).' Blair then signalled something to Jodi. 'I tune Level 4 Psychic Borg with Level 1 Mind Master to Synchro summon Magical Android (Atk:2400). Next I'll tune my other Mind Master to Magical Android and summon Psychic Nightmare (Atk:2400).'
'Finally, I'll tune Level 2 Psychic Jumper and Level 6 Psychic Nightmare, and Synchro Summon Thought Ruler Archfiend (Atk:2700).'
'I got your back Jodi. I activate Battle Teleportation. Because we only control one Psychic-type monster, it can attack directly. Attack!' 'I activate Barian's Battle Buster. This negates the attack simply by banishing the Barian's Force that you forced me to discard earlier.' 'And I'll send Battle Buster to the graveyard, so now your Thought Ruler has to battle Tachyon Dragon. And because it isn't attacking, Tachyon Dragon can't be stopped by Vain Betrayer.'
Blair's eyes then opened wide. 'I never forget a card! I activate my face-down Shrink. This halves the attack of Tachyon Dragon for the rest of the turn (Atk:3000-1500). This one's for Rio!' Thought Ruler grabbed hold of the weakened Dragon, and choked it with a dark mist from it's skull-like appendage, sealing the result (Nash and Mizar LP:600-0).
As the duel ended, the official handed the titles to Blair and Jodi. Mizar and Nash briefly stared daggers at each other, before both warping out of the building, to continue their strife. Meanwhile in the zone, Jodi lay down her title in the very centre.
Blair just stared at the title for over four minutes, before laying it down alongside the other belt, and with one last rueful look, walked away, leaving the two titles abandoned, as the crowd sat in total bemusement.
As they returned, Blair looked very unhappy, her amber eyes looking vacant. Immediately Phil came over to her. 'I was wondering if you could help me with my car – think there's an issue with the suspension.' 'Sure, whatever.'
As they got to the car, Phil unlocked the doors. 'You don't need to unlock the doors for the suspension.' 'Get in.' 'Phil' 'Now!' As Blair got in the car, Phil followed her. 'What's this for?' 'I know that giving up those tag titles isn't easy. But Rio will be back out there as soon as she can, and then you'll have those titles like you always should.'
'And if she isn't?' 'What are you so concerned about? You're young, you're not even 21 until August.' 'Everyone thinks I'm some boring idiot who's got no charm and wit, I'm lucky, and I'm never going to be anything because I'm ugly and useless and everyone hates me. I needed… I needed that title to prove to everyone that I am good, that I can win, that I have talent. I need to prove I'm the best.'
Phil just stayed quiet for a moment, his feelings impassive under his thick black sunglasses. After over three minutes of silence, it broke. 'You done?' 'Thanks.' 'Perhaps you should take a break from social media. At least until you can cope with those comments. Trust me, I still get comments like that all the time.'
'How do you cope with them?' 'I look back at everyone I've beaten, and I use that as evidence. I'm an evidence-based person, I believe anything that has enough evidence. I think what I'm saying is look at everyone you've beaten, look at last year's World Championship.'
'What – losing to you?' 'You gave me an almighty scare. I have never come out of a duel I've won feeling better than I did than that one. Because that was an absolute war. I felt lucky that I'd beaten you. I've never felt like that in over 11 years. When I saw you duel, I knew you were good. When I duelled you, I was truly blown away, I knew you were something special, something rare – a champion. But you need to be more ruthless.'
'You think?' 'Your style is excellent, you are unbreakable defensively, and prove a threat when attacking. But you have to be more aggressive. I want you to take duels to your opponents, and shut them down. Use your natural born talent, because you have something nobody else has – observation. You see patterns nobody else does. So analyse your opponents, and then find the best way to beat them.'
'Really don't get you.' 'Spend a couple of turns, just play safe, watch how your opponent duels. You need to know if they look confident. If they're sweating, they are nervous. If they are taking a long time looking at their hand, then they aren't confident. If someone is smiling, then they are' 'Baiting you'
'Correct. If you remember nothing else from our conversation, remember this: duel like nothing is on the line when everything is on the line.' 'How do I do that?' Phil unlocked the car at this point. 'How are you going to learn it if I tell you? Tell me when you've found the answer. Now head up.' 'I'd love to… team with you again. It was kinda cool.' 'Get fully healed from your issues, then we can talk.'
In the duelling zone
Martin came down, sauntering, on his own. 'Yo amigos. So someone told me Brady's spoiling for a fight because somebody's got his bitch's casket. You know, the bitch he murdered because he was jealous. Jealous that he's not even half the man James is. And if he ain't half the man that James is, he's got no hope of stacking up to this. So how about our amigo comes down here so I can finally retire his fat ass? Now introduce me amigo!'
'From Buenos Aries, Argentina, Martin Garcia.' Phil's music then kicked in, and he walked down, sunglasses and cap still firmly on, looking more set for a strongman competition than a duel. 'Introducing his opponent, from Manchester, England, Phil Robinson-Cummings.'
As Phil reached the zone, Martin immediately started goading him. 'Yo amigo, yo so fat that your mama can't fit you through her womb! Like, they needed a crane amigo! You ever thought of a diet? Like a 50 stone diet?' Martin then laughed manically, before realising Phil hadn't reacted in the slightest.
'Yo amigo! You could at least acknowledge me amigo!' As he didn't speak, Martin started waving in his face. 'You awake in there amigo?' A duel disk activation was all it took. 'Fine, you want to be embarrassed eh? I'll happily do that for you!'
Career-threatening duel: Phil Robinson LP:4000 vs. Martin Garcia LP:4000
Turn 1: Phil: 'You start amigo!' 'I draw. I summon Cyber Phoenix (Atk:1200). I end my turn with a face-down.'
Martin: 'Pathetic. I draw. I summon Steelswarm Gatekeeper (Atk:1500). Gatekeeper, attack Cyber Phoenix.' The Gatekeeper rammed straight into Phil's Phoenix, destroying it (Phil LP:4000-3700). `When Cyber Phoenix is destroyed, I draw a card.' 'Draw 20 for all I care amigo. I end my turn with two face-downs.'
Phil: 'I draw. I activate Blaze Accelerator.' 'That ain't normal amigo! You lied amigo!' 'With this, I can load up a Pyro monster with 500 or less attack, and destroy your monster. I'll load it up with Jigen Bakudan.' The bomb-shaped monster was loaded into the Accelerator, and then fired out, burning through Gatekeeper.
'I can't attack on the turn I use Blaze Accelerator's effect, but I can still summon Solar Flare Dragon (Atk:1500). I end my turn. And during my End phase, Solar Flare Dragon will give you 500 things to think about.' Flare Dragon shot out a five-pointed burst of flame, roasting Martin and nearly blinding everyone in attendance (Martin LP:4000-3500).
Martin: 'I draw. I activate Premature Burial, paying 800 points (Martin LP:3500-2700), and bringing back my old amigo Steelswarm Gatekeeper (Atk:1500). Now he'll go goodbye so I can summon Steelswarm Girastag (Atk:2700).'
'I would ask how you can summon that with one tribute, but I just don't care.' 'Yo about to care Amigo! Girastag has an ability. I can send Blaze Accelerator to the graveyard, and then I gain 1000 Life points.' As Martin was hit with a pulsating purple light, he laughed manically (Martin LP:2700-3700). 'Now attack Solar Flare Dragon.'
'I activate R: Blowback.' 'Where from?' 'My hand. I can activate this from my hand if I control no Spells or Traps. Your attack is stopped, and 100 damage for every card on the field (Martin LP:3700-3400).' 'I end my turn.'
Phil: 'I draw. I summon Solar Flare Dragon (Atk:1500). I end my turn with a face-down. And now you lose 1000 points for two Dragons.' Both Dragons released their fire simultaneously, roasting Martin further (Martin LP:3400-2400). 'The lock is complete.'
Martin: 'My turn. Amigo, you're going down! I tribute Girastag to summon another Girastag (Atk:2700). So I'm going to send one of your Dragons to the graveyard.' 'I activate Ash Eruption. As long as I have at least two Pyro-type monsters on the field, you can't target any of them with any card effect.'
'What can I do then?' 'Nothing.' At this point, Martin looked around and tried to run away, but he was unable to, as Phil had caught him with a duel anchor. 'Fuck this amigo, I can replace this old duel disk.' 'This anchor is redesigned. It stops you from running anywhere. However hard you try.'
'What can I do?' 'Simple – you can stay and be tortured.' Phil then took his glasses off, and there was a look of pure rage. 'I'm sure James is watching. So let this be a message to him. Because this is nothing compared to what I'm going to do to him.'
As Martin went to but his hand over his deck to resign the duel, a sharp electrical shock travelled through the anchor to the Argentine, stopping him in his tracks. 'Tell me what he's doing with my wife's coffin!' 'Never. I end my turn.'
Phil: 'Fine. I suppose I'll just have to keep this up. I draw. I activate Accelerator Starter. This allows me to add one Blaze Accelerator to my hand and one Pyro-type monster with 500 or less Attack. Now I'll load the Accelerator with Burning Algae to destroy Girastag.'
As the flaming plant impacted Girastag, there was a big explosion and the stag was no more. 'And because Burning Algae went to my graveyard, you gain 1000 points (Martin LP:2400-3400). And the other effect of Accelerator Starter entitles me to banish it and a Pyro monster from my graveyard, to add any two Pyro monsters to my hand. I choose another two Burning Algaes, and banish Jigen Bakudan. I end my turn. Now feel the heat again.'
As the fire burned away at Martin and started to steal the oxygen from the atmosphere, Phil tried again. 'Tell me Martin. Otherwise the pain will never stop! I'm going to burn away at you with all my pain, all my anger, until you're dust (Martin LP:3400-2400).
Martin: 'I'm not telling you a thing! I draw. I set a monster and end my turn there.'
Phil: 'My turn. I'll send Volcanic Scattershot to my graveyard and destroy your monster.' As the Scattershot blasted through, Martin got slammed with more fire. 'If Scattershot goes to the graveyard, you lose 500 points.' Scattershot lived up to it's name, and speared straight into Martin, knocking him to the ground (Martin LP:2400-1900).
As Martin lay on the ground, Phil didn't let up. 'I end my turn with a face-down. Now tell me where my wife's body is!' Martin then laughed. 'She's not your wife anymore amigo! She's a dead bitch! Because people like you don't have a happily ever after.' Martin was then nailed by the double burn from Phil's Solar Flare Dragons (Martin LP:1900-900).
Martin: 'I draw. I play a monster face-down and end my turn.'
Phil: 'My turn.' 'Give it up, you're not going to truly harm me.' Martin then saw an evil look in Phil's eyes and started to panic. 'You're… not going to… are you?' 'I'll start with you and then I'll work my way down through your little mice until I get to the big ugly rat. And then, do you know what I'm going to do?'
As there was no answer, he raised his voice. 'Do you know what I'm going to do?' 'No.' 'I'm going to chop that rat's head off! And then vengeance will be mine! So you can either tell me where Hannah's body is, or you can perish here and now. If you speak, I will let you go.'
'Ok ok ok, I'll tell you amigo! James stole Hannah's body from the funeral parlour, he's taking it to a witch doctor next week, she'll be revived and he'll immediately brainwash her if she has any memories so she's his forever. We'll even get the philosopher's stone to make her and James immortal!'
'You do realise the philosopher's stone is just a myth, right? It was made up by a Greek nutter to make him feel better about being old.' 'How about letting me go now amigo?' Phil then gave a slight smile. 'I end my turn.' 'No no no no nooooooooo!' Martin was interrupted by being completely fried, leaving him laying with his clothes charred, his body shaking (Martin LP:900-0).
As Martin lay there, Phil walked past him, then looked back, walked backwards, and stamped on his chest, before walking by again. After being on the ground for over 4 minutes, Martin was helped away by the referee.
Backstage
Phil was looking around, banging on all the doors and walls. 'Come out come out wherever you are James! I'm not done with you!' Someone then tapped Phil on the shoulder, and he swung around, pointing a crowbar at Michael. 'Lower your weapon please.' 'Tell me where James is.' 'We have, shall we say, a professional relationship'
'Tell me where he is!' 'What – and have you win? Have your little club win? James is far more valuable than your little Renegades cult.' 'Bad news suit – I hold no power in the club anymore. I didn't long before Hannah. Now tell me where he is, otherwise you're going to get his beating instead!'
'Mr. Robinson, if you lay a finger on Mr. Birchall, I will have you fired.' 'I don't care. Maddy needs me but that doesn't mean she needs me competing.' 'You're sounding insane.' 'Oh I'm very sane. I could quite easily go back home tomorrow, quit duelling, and find a job until my business is up and running. In fact, I might just go after your job. Because I know when the re-election date is.'
'And when's that may I ask?' 'June 26th.' 'And where might this re-election take place?' 'Nobody knows yet – the location isn't decided until 6 weeks in advance usually.' This started to freak Michael out.
'How do you know all this?' 'Did you forget? Your last re-election in 2013 – you offered Hannah a 1% stake in the company for voting for you. I mean, she would have voted for you anyway, but you just sweetened the carrot. So tell me where he is!' 'I'm telling you nothing.'
Phil then pushed Michael to the ground, and walked past. 'You're fired! You're fired and not coming back!' The one-man wrecking machine then stormed off, not even acknowledging that he'd heard the threat.
Phil continued banging and shouting and searching until eventually he saw a blonde figure lay by the side of a corridor. 'Astrid? What are you doing out here?' 'I heard what he was doing, I came to find him and get the coffin back. And the body.'
'Does Maddy know?' 'No. She may have guessed. But I walked here, and I was ambushed.' 'By who?' 'I don't know. But they left a mark on my back.' 'Do you mind if' 'No.' As he uncovered the mark left, he was surprised at the pattern. 'That looks just the same as Blair's mask.' 'Are you going to find James for us?'
Phil dragged Astrid back to her feet, and immediately there was an issue. 'My neck – I think I pulled it.' 'I'm getting you straight to Sakura.' 'What about James?' 'He'll get what's coming to him.'
As they went back, they finally talked. 'I'm sorry I've been so cold to you for so long Astrid.' 'Please, if I've done something, tell me. I can take it.' 'It isn't you. You seem pretty level-headed, so I'll tell you. Not even Maddy knows this. It's not you, it's Finn.'
'Uncle Finn? I've not heard from him in years.' 'They say he just disappeared after losing a duel.' 'That's all we know, he never returned. We got a letter assuring us he was alive some months later, that was it.' 'I was that last duel.' 'I know.' 'There's something that happened between me and Finn, did he ever tell you?' 'No, never.' Phil then put his arm around Astrid. 'It was at the start of my career. 10 long years ago.'
In the box
With Phil still not back, Maddy was getting into her leather vest ahead of her title duel. 'Are you not concerned about Astrid?' Maddy smiled. 'Lydia, Astrid is smart. She won't go in there unless she's certain Phil's also there. Let's go. Blair, you're in charge.' 'Sure.'
The entrances began with Dumon warping in. Radley then made his way down, smirking as he did, while wearing a shirt saying "Renegade Hunters". As he got to the duelling zone, he grabbed a microphone.
'Hey, you Renegades dis those titles? Well they're coming to the No Remorse Corps – Kari and myself. We're called that because we're hunting down all the Renegades to rid duelling of their scum and we're not going to show any remorse. No regrets, no guts, no glory. So get your arses out here now!'
Maddy then walked out on her own, and went straight down to the duelling zone, a steely look in her eyes. Her vest now had the word "temptation" scrawled on it in red letters. As she got to the zone, she squared up to Radley, and made the salute in front of his face, before jabbing him in the eyes. She then showed Dumon her title, and rubbed it in his face, before throwing it up in her hand, showing off to the crowd, who lapped it all up. As she handed her belt over, Claudia came down, and handed Maddy her deck, shocking Radley. 'What's that?' 'Claudia is our… servant.'
'Ain't she that gymnast chick?' 'She was. But after she met us, she decided to give up her career, to serve us, a greater force. Ain't that right Claudia?' 'Yes. I am loyal to the Renegades. It was only right I gave up everything I was.' Claudia then passed Maddy her deck, and the referee waved the duel on.
WDC Young-Gun Championship: (c) Maddy Robinson-Cummings LP:4000 vs. Dumon LP:4000 vs. Radley LP:4000
Turn 1: Maddy: 'Champion's starting. I draw. I activate One for One, sending a card to my graveyard and summoning out Bunilla (Atk:150). Next I summon Kinka-Byo (Atk:100). And when Kinka is summoned, I can retrieve a Level 1 monster from my graveyard. Return, Rodenut (Atk:100).'
'Now I'm going to overlay my three Level 1 monsters.' Maddy howled, as winds picked up and the ground shook. 'Here's my fighting spirit! Roar, Number 54 – Lion Heart (Atk:100).' 'That's it? You've got a Rank 1 monster with 100 Attack and you were making it sound deadly?' 'If it's such a pushover, attack it. I end my turn.'
Radley: 'I'm next. I draw. I summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Buffalo (Atk:1700). I throw three face-downs and end my turn.'
Dumon: 'Something is not as it seems. I draw. I summon Star Seraph Scout (Atk:1200). When he is summoned, he retrieves Star Seraph Sage (Atk:1600). By discarding a Spell card, Sage can summon Star Seraph Sword (Atk:1400). I overlay my three Level 4 monsters to build the overlay network and Xyz summon Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry (Atk:2500). I end my turn with a face-down.'
Maddy: 'I draw. I activate Ring of Magnetism. This equips onto Lion Heart, and drops it's Attack by 500 (Atk:100-0). Also, you can only attack it and none of my other monsters. Next I'll summon Guldfaxe of the Nordic Beasts (Atk:1600). I end my turn.'
Radley: 'Well if you won't attack, I will. I draw. I activate my Graceful Charity, so my hand's getting a nice boost. Next I'll summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Caribou (Atk:1100).' 'It's still useless.' 'Say that to my face-down Limit Reverse. It brings back a weak monster from my graveyard. I summon Tuning Gum (Atk:400).'
'Tuning Gum's ability lets it turn my Buffalo into a Tuner monster. Which means I can tune my Level 4 Buffalo to my Level 4 Caribou. I summon Brotherhood of the Fire Fist – Kirin (Atk:2000). And for every face-up Spell or Trap on my field, your monsters all lose 100 points (Guldfaxe Atk:1600-1500, Sentry Atk:2400-2300).'
'Now for the effects of Caribou and Kirin. When Kirin is summoned, I can set a Fire Formation from my deck. And when Caribou goes to the graveyard, it sets a Fire Formation from my deck. Next I'll activate Rush Recklessly, to take advantage of your stupidity (Atk:2000-2700). Attack!'
Kirin rode his horse into battle, and swung his staff at Lion Heart, which took the blows. Peculiarly, the shockwave then went through Kirin, and the whole attack went back to Radley (Radley LP:4000-1300). 'What the hell?'
Maddy then laughed. 'You just couldn't resist could you? That's what being tempted feels like. Lion Heart can't be destroyed in battle. And by detaching an Xyz material, you take all the damage I would have done.' 'Damn that hurt! I end my turn.'
Dumon: 'I draw. I activate the effect of Star Seraph Sentry. It might not be able to halve the Attack of your Lion Heart, but it will still lose it's effect.' 'What – and I wouldn't see that coming? I activate R:Veil. This negates your effect, and makes Lion Heart completely immune to all card effects.'
'This is indeed a delicate situation. I may struggle to find a way out of this one. Star Seraph Sentry, attack Kirin.' Sentry loaded it's bow with an arrow, which shot through the air, destroying Kirin (Radley LP:1300-900). 'I end my turn with two face-downs.'
Maddy: 'I draw. I summon the Tuner monster X-Saber Airbellum (Atk:1600). Next I'll activate Double Summon, so I can tribute Airbellum and Guldfaxe, summoning Mosaic Manticore (Atk:2800). Manticore, attack Radley directly.' 'I'm not going to let you do that. I activate Draining Shield. So now I'm gaining 2800 points.'
'Sucker. I activate my other face-down – Bad Reaction to Simochi. So I'm reversing your reverse, and you lose the amount of points that you would have gained.' A shield appeared around Radley, but it then started to emit a foul odour, dropping Radley's points (Radley LP:1300-0). 'I end my turn.'
Dumon: 'I draw. I activate the Spell card Oni-Gami Combo. By detaching all of my Seraph's Xyz materials, it is allowed to attack twice this turn. Next I activate Rank-up Magic Barian's Force. This ranks my monster up with the power of chaos. Chaos Xyz Evolution! I summon Chaos Number 102 – Archfiend Seraph (Atk:2900).'
'And with Barian's Force, I can steal the materials of Lion Heart.' 'Not with R:Veil on my field.' 'Fine, I will just have to use the ability of my Seraph. To detach an Xyz material and reduce your monster's Attack to 0, negating it's effects.' 'Did you forget about Veil already?' 'No. Veil only protects monsters on your field when you were activating it. So I will target Mosaic Manticore.'
Seraph shot a purple arrow with cherubs around it into Mosaic Manticore, creating a hole as Manticore turned dark (Atk:2800-0). 'And when Archfiend Seraph uses up it's last materials, you lose 1500 Life points. Fire away my monster.' An arrow came twisting towards Maddy, striking her in the chest (Maddy LP:4000-2500). 'I end my turn with a face-down.'
Maddy: 'I draw. I'll lay a face-down and switch Manticore to Defence (Def.:2500). That's me done for now.'
Dumon: 'I draw. It may only be a temporary solution, but it's one which I deem necessary. I activate Full-Force Strike. This turn, Archfiend Seraph cannot be destroyed in battle, neither of us take battle damage, and it destroys any monster it battles. Attack Lion Heart.'
'I was waiting for you to do just that.' 'You… were?' 'Yes. I activate my face-down Xyz Tribalrivals. Because you're attacking an Xyz monster with two or more materials, your monster is destroyed.' The two monsters colliding caused a sharp burst of light, as they both disappeared. 'I end my turn with a face-down.'
Maddy: 'I draw. I activate the effect of Flash Wolf in my hand. An effect which summons itself by destroying a card on your field. I choose your face-down (Flash Wolf Atk:900). Next I summon Kinka-Byo (Atk:100). With it's effect, I can revive Key Mouse (Atk:100). Now let Level 1 Key Mouse tune Level 1 Kinka-Byo and Level 5 Flash Wolf. Run like the wind, Voltic Bicorn (Atk:2500).'
'Next I activate Wild Nature's Release, giving my monster Attack equal to it's Defence (Atk:2500-4500). Bicorn, attack him directly.' Bicorn charged straight in with electrified horns, zapping Dumon to the point where he simply fell backwards (Dumon LP:4000-0).
As the duel ended, Maddy raised her title in the air, before handing it to Claudia along with her deck and duel disk, picking up a microphone. 'Michael, out here now!' As he didn't appear, she started ranting. 'It appears that I've just about exhausted all my competition here. Quite honestly, I've beaten everyone. And I'm getting bored of how easy it all is. So get out here, I want some proper competition!'
This didn't bring Michael out, but Geoff Maltby instead. 'Maddy, Michael is currently in a very important meeting. But he wanted me to pass on a message. The board of directors of the WDC are extremely impressed with your defences. They are so impressed in fact that they decided to close out the year in your hometown by having you defend your title against a special guest. You will face the Leo Federation of Duelling's Atlas Champion, the Glasgow Gladiator, Johnny McGregor. You wanted competition? You got it! Before you go though, it says something at the bottom.'
After a few tense moments, several crowd members giggled as Geoff was forced to get out his reading glasses. 'It says here that your special duel will be taken away from you unless you "stop being a nuisance." No idea what that means, but seemingly you do. Anyway, see you in Newcastle.' As Geoff left, Maddy raised her title again, before she and Claudia left.
Upon returning, Astrid was waiting. 'Hey, uh, could I have a word?' 'Give me a minute.' 'Of course, sorry.' 'No problem.' After Maddy put her title down, she and Astrid found a private corridor.
'So, what's up?' 'I was wondering if I'd be excused from club duties for a week or so next month.' 'Why?' 'I've got a few things to wrap up back in Norway.' 'Would it be intrusive to ask?' 'It's nothing serious, just got some family back in Bergen, and I need to visit my old chieftain in Longyearbyen. And they are different ends of the country – Bergen in the south, Longyearbyen in Svalbard. I'll be gone for around two weeks, maybe less.'
'Things are a little crazy at the moment, so is there any chance you can hang on until after Feast of Fools?' 'Sure. I'll head off the next day.' 'Getting the ferry?' 'I will be, yes. Thank you.' 'It's fine.' 'I'll be back for Christmas. I'm looking forward to seeing Andre.'
'Who's Andre?' 'He's my cousin. He's the lead for a metal band called Høyt Kryss. Translates as High Cross.' 'Religious nut?' 'Like, he has faith, but he doesn't force it on anyone. He's mainly Lutheran.' 'And you?' 'Asatru. It's a Scandinavian Paganism.' 'Sounds wicked.' 'So, you?'
'Kinda religious, I mean, I guess' 'It's complicated.' 'Yeah, like I believe in nature. It's kind of like what Mam believed, she was totally Wiccan. You know about Wiccans?' 'Yeah. Believing in nature, I like it. How's your neck?' 'Just a pull.' 'Glad it's nothing more.' 'Me too. When can I return to duelling?' 'Probably in the new year, we'll see. Now I need to go and see Dad.'
As Maddy went to see Phil, James and Kalin had a thriller of a duel, ending with James beating Kalin with 100 Life points to spare. After the duel, James, Martin, Brooks, and Marshall beat Kalin down, and then James sent them all away, as he picked up a microphone.
'That's what you get for interfering Kalin. Next time you want to defend Brady, don't! Now I'm sure you heard Martin's scared ramblings earlier, so I will produce what you all want to see. Bring it out boys.' A gold-plated coffin was then wheeled out by Marshall and Brooks, the beaten-down Argentine providing no assistance.
Before they could do anything however, Astrid walked out, carrying her trusty axe. 'Go away little girl, nursery's that way.' Astrid laughed sarcastically, showing no fear in her eyes. 'Make me leave.' 'Happily. This time I won't leave your little chicken neck in one piece. Or should I say Marshall and Brooks won't?'
As the two goons moved towards Astrid, she smiled. With one fell swoop, both men were bowled over, as Astrid held her axe in front of her face, grinning. Several individuals, ranging in height and skin colour, then approached her from behind and started to attack her, leading to a flurry of spinning kicks and knees, as well as blows from her double-headed weapon.
Eventually however, Marshall caught her in the neck with a thumping blow, and he and Brooks started beating on her neck, after handcuffing her to prevent any resistance. As she fought them away with her legs, Birchall laughed. 'Little girl, this is Hannah's body in here. And after next week, she'll be back… and mine.'
James then had Martin open the coffin. As he dragged the heavy wooden lid across, they both laughed. That was until he saw the look of shock and confusion on the faces of everybody around. A look which suggested not everything was as it seemed.
He walked over, and popped his his hand over, feeling around for the decomposing remains he had inherited. After not finding anything, he looked round, and saw the truth. Inside the velvet-lined coffin, lay… nothing. Nothing but a note stuck on with sticky tape. The note read "You think you know everything. You know nothing. You think you have lost everything. You have lost nothing. Judgement Day is coming. At the Feast of Fools, I eat. The famine will run blood red."
As James took the note out of the coffin, he turned around and was leapt on like a wildcat by Blair, who's eyes were glowing purple again, with her arm spikes out. As she rained down punches on the rat-faced maniac, Martin was able to pull him to safety, only for Martin himself to be dazed by Phil clocking him with a car jack, before being thrown into Astrid's signature kick, and then a spear from Blair. As Blair returned to normal, she raised her fist along with her club-mates as James' crew ran away.
Back in the box
As they returned, Maddy pulled her father to one side. 'You managed to control your temper there?' 'Maddy, I was always in control of my temper.' 'Even against Martin?' Phil smiled at her. 'Promise. Look in my eyes and tell me I'm lying.' As Maddy looked, she was shocked. 'No way you're lying. But what…'
'Trust me, there's nothing scarier than the thought of death. I was never going to seriously harm Martin, but I was more than happy to let him believe that. All I intended on doing was getting answers.' 'And if you didn't?' 'I had no doubt he would. But I would have continued until he did. I could have beaten him 20 minutes earlier if I'd wanted to. I was controlling my anger and harnessing it.'
'Thank you.' 'For what?' 'For being the greatest father ever.' Phil then started to well up, but pushed his tears away. 'I'm really not, but thank you anyway. It means a hell of a lot to hear that from you.' 'Should have told you sooner. I have no idea how you're coping.' 'It's all thanks to Blair. She's been my shoulder to cry on. Which makes this even concerning.'
'What?' 'Ever since she came back from Michigan, something's been different. She's been getting possessed a few times I think.' 'How many times have you seen it?' 'Including just now, twice.' 'Now?' 'Her eyes were glowing purple, her voice was distorted, and she kept saying "It's coming, it's coming, it's coming". I don't understand it at all – I'm worried all the strain is leading to someone taking advantage of her.'
'I'll run the info through the system when we get back, see if there's anything to match.' 'Thanks.' 'I want to get it sorted as much as anybody else.' 'You really like Blair don't you?' 'She's the most important member of the Renegades. Know why? 'Cause she's something you can't just buy. She's passionate, she's brave, and she'll fight for us. Everything we need.'
In the corridor
Dumon was patrolling the corridor looking for his fellow Barians. 'I can't contact them. This is most unusual.' Just then, he ran into Birchall and Vector. 'Well if it isn't Dumon. It's been a long time.' 'Indeed. Since you turned on us.' 'Nash seems to have forgiven that.'
'Yes, well that goes for Nash. Some of us require longer to regain trust.' 'You speak so grandly, it's as if you actually want to forgive me.' 'Forgiveness is earned not given. Regardless, I am looking for Nash.' 'What – you can't contact them?' 'If I could, I would not need to ask you.' 'Ooh aren't you bashful?'
Suddenly a figure rushed by, creaming both Vector and Dumon in one hit, before flying off. Birchall looked around, and ran off. Meanwhile, Dumon was aware enough to get up again. After looking down at Vector, he disappeared off.
On the very next corridor, he found Nash laid out in his human form, blood on his hand. 'Nash!' 'I'm… fine Dumon.' 'Where's Mizar?' 'I don't know. We were both attacked by something. Next thing I knew I was on my own here. I think I got a good shot in though.' 'I'm going to find Mizar.' 'Don't worry about me will you?'
Eventually, Dumon found Mizar outside. 'Mizar, you're safe.' 'Have you seen Nash?' 'Yes.' 'So you know that we were attacked.' 'Yes. I was attacked, Vector too.' 'I can tell you who attacked.' 'Really?' 'They were quick, but I saw enough.' 'I have a suspicion.' 'Blair Flannigan.' 'Who I thought.'
In the box
While this was going on, Lydia was preparing for her duel. 'Nervous Lyds?' 'Oh hi Freja, wondered where you'd gone. Of course I am.' 'You'll smash it, you're good. By the way, I've got a couple of cards for you.' 'Thanks. You wouldn't mind… coming with me would you?' 'C'mon twinnie, let's go.'
In the corridors
Phil was coming back from the toilets when he saw Dumon. 'I wished to speak with you.' 'Dumon, I'm not interested.' 'I think you will be.' Phil then set the timer on his phone. 'You have three minutes.'
'Myself, Vector, Nash, Mizar and your Astrid have all been attacked.' 'How do you know about Astrid?' 'That is irrelevant.' 'What are you trying to tell me?' 'Blair is the attacker.' 'Is she? Is she really? Tell me how you know this.' 'Because Mizar and myself both saw her. Nash and Vector were blind-sided.'
Phil took a moment to think, and nodded. 'I suppose I have no reason to distrust you.' 'The only word I wouldn't trust is Nash's.' 'Fascinating.' 'That is a story for another time however.' 'Right. I will investigate this. But if I find you have fabricated this' 'Trust me you will not.' 'Good.'
In the duelling zone
Lydia came out first, hair up in a loose bun with a green scrunchie, while Freja had her hair down with her. Both twins were wearing their club jackets, as well as white shirts saying "Renegades Rulez". 'The following is a duel under standard rules. Introducing first, from Manchester, England, Lydia Mckinna.'
As Lydia waited in the duelling zone, Kari came out to Radley's music, and Kari walked down wearing a red and white tracksuit. Meanwhile Radley was arguing with a member of the front row. Kari and Lydia faced off, and then both activated their duel disks.
Kari Tsukumo LP:4000 vs. Lydia Mckinna LP:4000
Turn 1: Kari: 'I draw. I summon Gogogo Golem (Atk:1800), and end my turn.'
Lydia: 'My turn, I draw. I activate Machine Angel Ritual. By sending the Level 8 Arcana Force XXI: The World from my hand to my graveyard, I can summon out my Cyber Angel Dakini (Atk:2700). Dakini, attack Gogogo Golem.' Dakini swung her duel staff, which smacked Golem and destroyed it (Kari LP:4000-3100). 'I'll throw two face-downs.'
Kari: 'I draw. I summon Gogogo Ghost (Atk:1900). And when it's on the field, I can bring back Gogogo Golem that's resting in my graveyard by switching Ghost to Defence mode (Golem Def.:1500, Ghost Def.:0). Now I'll activate Onomatopia.' A brilliant, shining light then appeared above the field of play, along with several other spotlights.
'Now I overlay my Gogogo Golem and Ghost to build the overlay network and summon Number 39: Utopia (Atk:2500).' One of the spotlights then lit up. 'That's a Kattobingu Counter. Each one gives my monsters 200 more Attack and Defence (Atk:2500-2700). And I'll equip it with ZW – Sleipnir Mail.'
The ZW monster galloped onto the field, before equipping to Utopia as a mail-like vest. 'It gives Utopia a full 1000 Attack (Atk:2700-3700). Attack Dakini with Rising Sun Mail Slash!' 'I activate The Forceful Checkpoint. Because of this, I can look at your hand. If you have a monster there, I can negate the attack and send a monster from your hand to your graveyard.'
Kari then showed her hand (Gagaga Gardna, Xyz Reborn). As Kari discarded her Gardna, she shook her head. 'I end my turn.'
Lydia: 'I draw. I activate Ritual Cage. Now when a Ritual monster of mine battles, I take no damage. Also, all my Ritual monsters are immune to card effects. I end my turn.'
Kari: 'This is going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. I draw. I activate Pot of Greed, to draw 2 cards. Now I'll lay a pair of face-downs and activate Dragged Down Into the Grave. So we both see each other's hands, and then each send a card from each other's hands to the graveyard before drawing a card.'
This forced Lydia to reveal the one card in her hand. 'Fine, you can take Ritual of Destruction.' Kari then revealed her card (Xyz Agent), and sent it to her graveyard. 'Utopia, attack Dakini. Rising Sun Mail Slash.' Utopia picked up it's swords, and swung them, before crossing them and defeating Dakini. 'I end my turn.'
Lydia: 'I draw. I activate Swords of Revealing Light, and end my turn with a face-down.'
Kari: 'I draw. I activate Mirage of Nightmare, and end my turn.'
Lydia: 'I draw. I summon Cyber Petit Angel (Atk:300). When I summon it, I can add Machine Angel Absolute Ritual to my hand. Now I'll activate R:Sacrifice. This Spell allows me to tribute a Level 4 or below monster on my field, and draw a card for each Level it has. In return though, I can't Special summon for the rest of the turn. So that's three cards. \I end my turn.'
Kari: 'I draw. Thanks to Mirage of Nightmare, I now draw 4 cards.' 'And I activate Greed Punishment. When you draw two or more cards, I can force you to discard all of them.' 'That's fine, that's fine. I activate another Pot of Greed. I summon Gagaga Magician (Atk:1500), and end my turn.'
Lydia: 'I draw.' [Why can't I draw anything good? I thought Maddy said I was good. Perhaps she was just being nice…] I end my turn.'
Kari: 'I draw. I get three more cards thanks to Mirage of Nightmare. Next I'll use Mystical Space Typhoon to get rid of my own Mirage. After this, I'll equip Utopia with ZW – Tornado Bringer, giving it 1300 Attack (Atk:3700-5000). Now you'll never get over Utopia. I end my turn.' The Swords then vanished from the field.
Lydia: 'I draw. I activate Machine Angel Absolute Ritual. Normally for a Ritual summon you send monsters to the graveyard, but this allows me to return monsters from my graveyard from my deck as the cost, if their levels exactly match. I return Arcana Force XXI to my deck and Ritual summon Cyber Angel Izana (Def.:2600).'
'When Izana hits the field, you have to send a Spell or Trap from your field to the graveyard. But hey, you get to choose which one at least, so there's that.' 'I'll send Sleipnir Mail to my graveyard (Utopia Atk:5000-4000). Next I activate Incarcerated Machine Angel. Now my Cyber Angel Izuna is immune to being destroyed by battle. I end my turn.'
Kari: 'I draw. I'll equip Utopia with Fairy Meteor Crush. So when it attacks Izana, you're taking the damage. Utopia, Rising Sun Tornado Slash!' Utopia crossed it's swords, which created a fierce wind, before slamming it into Izana (Lydia LP:4000-2600).
'And I'm not done. Because I'm triggering my face-down Utopian Rage. Because a Utopia monster failed to destroy your monster in battle, it can attack again. Rising Sun Tornado Slash!' The Rank 4 monster slashed again at Izana, leaving Lydia's points crippled (Lydia LP:2600-1200). 'I end my turn with another face-down. During the End phase, Utopian Rage is destroyed, and you take 600 damage (Lydia LP:1200-600).
As Freja shouted support at her sister, Kari stuck the knife in. 'Once I'm done with you, I'm going after your buddy Blair, after what she did to my brother. Because you're all a disgrace. And she's the biggest disgrace of them all.'
Freja then shouted back. 'Shut up about Blair! Why don't you try focusing on your actual opponent? Because this duel? It ain't over!' 'Might as well be.' 'Yeah, well we'll prove you wrong. Won't we Lyds?' Lydia nodded at her sister. 'I can.'
Lydia: 'I draw. I'll activate Pot of Greed, to get two more cards. I end my turn with a face-down.'
Kari: 'Easy street. I draw. Utopia, attack Izana.' 'I activate my face-down D2 Shield to double Izana's Defence (Def.:2600-5200). So bring it on bitch!' Utopia slashed at Izana, but one of it's swords snapped and went through Kari like a hologram (Kari LP:3100-1900). 'Little pest!' 'Before you end your turn, I activate my other face-down Spirit Chain. So I can nab any Spell or Trap from your graveyard and place it face-up in my Spell and Trap card zone. Like Mirage of Nightmare.' 'I end my turn with a face-down.'
Lydia: 'I draw. Because it's my Standby phase, I draw three cards because of Mirage. I activate One Day of Peace, saving me from damage until your turn ends, and we both draw. Now I'll use Machine Angel Ritual, to tribute Izana and summon out another Cyber Angel Izana (Atk:2500).' 'Why though?' 'Izana's effect activates. So now you have to send a Spell or Trap to your graveyard.'
'Fine, you can take my face-down.' 'Next I activate Ritual Spellcasting.' 'Ritual what now?' 'Ritual Spellcasting allows me to banish a Ritual monster from my deck and summon another one from my deck. And it's treated as a Ritual summon. I summon Cyber Angel Izana (Atk:2500).' 'I don't know why you're'
At this moment, Kari saw Lydia's strategy. 'You had this planned, didn't you?' 'I can't say it was ideal. Izana forces you to send a Spell or Trap to your graveyard.' 'I have none.' 'Not true. Tornado Bringer is being treated as an equip card. As Phil said, if it's in the Spell and Trap zone, it's treated as one (Utopia Atk:2700).
'To finish, I activate The Sanctum of Parshath, to give my Fairies another 300 Attack points (Atk:2500-2800)x2. Izana, attack Utopia!' 'I activate the ability of Utopia, to block your attack.' 'That's fine. Izana numero dos, ataque!' 'Once again I'll use Utopia's other material to stop your attack.'
'By banishing Spirit Chain from my graveyard, I can activate a Spell or Trap card from my deck by paying 500 Life points (Lydia LP:600-100). Ever heard of R:Replay?' 'Yes.' 'Well I'm using it. Izana, attack!'
'I'll use the effect of Xyz Agent from my graveyard to attach it to Utopia as a material. Now I use the effect of Utopia to negate your attack. The danger's passed for now.' 'For now maybe. I activate Wave-Motion Cannon. So in just two short turns, you're done. I end my turn.'
Kari: 'I draw. I activate Premature Burial. I pay 800 points (Kari LP:1900-1100), and revive Gogogo Golem (Atk:1800). Next I summon Gagaga Mancer (Atk:100). I overlay my two Level 4 monsters to build the overlay network and summon out the game ender. Shoot 'em up Gagaga Cowboy (Def.:2400-2600).'
'Cowboy, I'm activating your effect. By detaching an Xyz material while it's in Defence mode, you lose 800 points. It's called Cowboy for Game.' Cowboy shot lasers from his guns, which struck Lydia and ended the duel (Lydia LP:100-0).
As the duel concluded, Kari and Radley slapped hands. Meanwhile, Lydia looked disappointed, but cheered up after Freja spoke to her. They then left with Lydia having given her all, as Kari took a microphone. 'What the Renegades and in particular Blair did to those tag-team titles was disgraceful. We are the best team around, and we want to prove it with the WDC Tag-Team Championships.' They left, having laid down their claim for the vacant titles.
Back in the box
When Lydia returned, Maddy was waiting for her. 'You were awesome there Lydia.' 'Yeah, still lost though.' Phil then passed by, and stopped to offer some advice. 'You duelled well Lydia.' 'Thanks.' 'The only thing you did wrong was being caught out at the end.' 'So I am decent?' 'There's potential there. If I could find confidence classes for you and Blair, you'd be almost unstoppable.'
The main event then played on with Rhydian crushing Justin, taking just 19 minutes for a 3500 Life point victory. Afterwards, Marshall and Brooks ran down and started beating up Justin, before Phil came down to deck them both. Meanwhile Rhydian was just stood there, title belt over his shoulder, watching impassively.
Birchall then came down and started arguing with Rhydian, leading to Rhydian headbutting James, and taking a microphone. 'I'm not your friend James, I'm not your partner. I hold all of your secrets. For starters' Rhydian was then distracted as the letters H.R.C appeared on all the screens, before a mysterious character appeared on the screens, shrouded in black. The only distinguishing feature, a purple mask. Speaking through a voicebox, the silence was broken.
'You think these are secrets? There are no secrets. You all fight, and over what? A dead woman? No, you fight because you are all guilty. You are all murderers. You all had the opportunity, none taken.' 'Who are you and why are you interrupting me? No, what gives you the right to interrupt me.'
'Ah Rhydian, "the cobra". But you are a cobra with no fangs, you have nothing to threaten with. You are an empty threat, no harm to be seen anywhere. The only things which matter to you are a piece of metal and a girl who you had to control with drugs just to keep her with you. The only weapon you possess is knowledge, knowledge of the truth. That is nothing without the conviction.'
'Moving onto Phil. Or is it Mr. Phil? The thug? The businessman? The grieving husband? All these are roles which you portray. Which one is the real one though? Or are none real? Are they all just characters? Who are you really? Are you the demonic cult leader? Or just the desperate loner, eager to latch on to an idea and call it home?'
'Who are you?' 'Wouldn't you like to know? My name is not of your concern. Nor is my true face, indeed should I have one. You had a chance to save the one you loved. But you chose not to, to leave it to others. As a result, she was lost to the shadows.'
Phil started getting very angry at this point. 'I did not "allow" my wife to die! I loved Hannah, and I always will. It's him that's the murderer, I saw it!' 'Oh shut up Brady. You might have saved her if you weren't busy trying to waddle over. Let's face it, you can barely move you're that heavy.'
'Ah, the one they call the rat. If you were not so busy insulting others, you might see how you're not so different. Like all humans, your unhealthy desires are your greatest weakness, and will be your downfall. Take stealing bodies for instance.'
'That was just a joke. You really think I'm a grave-robber?' 'Oh but you are. I know everything that happened. You did steal a corpse. But I took care of that, it's where it belongs now.' 'And where's that.' Phil then interrupted. 'What – so you can steal it again? I don't think so.'
H.R.C then laughed. 'Judgement Day is close.' Phil then challenged the malevolent being. 'Reveal yourself! Now!' 'At the Feast of Fools, only I will eat.' 'So you will be there?' 'Yes, indeed we will. For we are the many, not the few. The Feast of Fools is the Judgement Day. At the Feast of Fools, the true image will be revealed. The true image of fear and terror, the fear of the truth. The fear of all your secrets will be revealed. You are all guilty! Guilty! GUILTY!'
The image went off-screen. As Phil turned around, Rhydian sucker-punched him in the gut, before laying Birchall out a lead pipe hidden in his sock. The show ended with Rhydian standing tall, as the fans roundly booed him.
Next time: Phil vs. Jaden, Maddy faces her biggest challenge as champion, and H.R.C is revealed! RENEGADES A NEW DAWN CHAPTER X: ARISEN!