Chapter 7 - SET! This time around, Clio's getting a turn to duel, and she'll be up against the most dangerous group of Duel Monsters criminals ever assembled! ROLL IT!

Deep inside a cave on Academy Island, a group of criminals were planning to attack.

"We've been waiting for this day for years, now it's finally here."

"I can't believe the boss is actually coming!"

"He'll be here, now that all the pieces are in place..."

"They will be, once we enact the plan."

"THERE'S NO STOPPING THE DARK SCORPIONS NOW!"

Meanwhile, on a boat bound for Academy Island...

"LAND HO, DETECTIVE! That's Academy Island right up there!"

"Time to go to work..."

Inside the Duel Academy campus, Atticus and Alexis were staring off into space when Jaden and the rest of the group walked in.

"What's up, Alexis?" Jaden asked cheerfully.

"You seem out of it," Clio added.

"How's Atticus doing?" Twister asked.

"So-so...he's out of the hospital, but still can't remember much of what happened."

"I'm sure he'll come around soon, Alexis," Otto reassured the blonde Obelisk Blue.

"I sure hope so...so what brings you here?"

"Funny you should ask that..." Reggie said.

"The law, actually," Banner said, blowing the surprise. Just then, a funny-looking man in a trench coat and fedora appeared.

"Good afternoon, madame. I'm Detective Zaloog," the man greeted in a Brooklyn accent, similar to that of Joey Wheeler.

"Okay..."

Alexis wasn't buying it one bit.

"You see, Alexis, since 4 of the 14 Spirit Gates have already been opened and the fate of the world rests on protecting the remaining 10, the Academy thought it best to call in the police," Banner explained.

"By the way, where is your key, 'Lex?" Jaden asked.

"Right here, under my shirt, Jaden."

"Sounds like Clio and I had the same idea you did, Alexis," Reggie replied.

"Otto, Twister, eyes front, ya clowns!" Clio chided, catching Otto and Twister in the act of looking at their breasts.

"We're busted, Twist..."

"Now's not the time for snappy word play, Otto-man!" Twister snapped. "Anyway, our keys are around our necks."

"Same here."

"Yeah, same with me."

"Present and accounted for..." Sam said.

"Check..." Zane answered.

"Oh dear, that's what I was afraid of. You might think that's where it's safest, but it's not. You see, all the Shadow Duelists have to do is find you and they've found the key," 'Detective Zaloog' explained.

"So Detective Zaloog suggests we all hide our keys in a safer location," Banner told the group.

"Whatever's clever, I guess."

Later that day, the Chosen Duelists all picked out their hiding places.

"I doubt anyone would find my Spirit Key in my makeup bag..." Clio said with an Otto-like cockiness in her voice.

"It's messy enough as is, Clio," Reggie started. "I'm hiding mine in my rollerblades."

Alexis hid hers in her jewelry box, which actually happened to be in the same room she shares with Clio and Reggie. Someone then burst into the room...it was Meanae, the 'school nurse'. Chazz hid his under his bed. They then heard a door open. That was Gorg, the 'janitor'. Jaden hid his in his junk drawer. Outside, Syrus and Chumley saw a 'transfer student' by the name of C.K. Otto and Twister decided to keep their keys around their necks. Sam hid his in his desk while Zane hid his key in his Deck Box. Banner, on the other hand, found a safe in his office and decided to hide his key there, where it would be guarded by Cliff, the 'security guard'.

However, late that night...

...SOMEONE BROKE IN AND SWIPED THE KEYS!

"STOP! THIEVES!" Reggie screamed, jumping from her bed, waking Clio and Alexis.

"What's all the commotion, Rocket Girl?" Alexis asked.

"Someone's amscrayed away with our Spirit Keys!"

"NO!" Clio freaked.

"We gotta warn Jaden and the others, PRONTO!" Alexis barked.

...but they were too late. Jaden and the others were also burglarized.

"And it is done...the Spirit Keys are ours." 'Detective Zaloog' quipped.

"So why aren't the gates opening?", Meanae asked.

"That's the only way we can get to those Sacred Beast cards!" Cliff said.

"We must have to do something else!" 'C.K' deduced.

"Yes. And I bet those children know what..."

Back at the Slifer Red dorm...

"So all your keys are gone too, huh?" Reggie asked.

"Afraid so," Zane answered.

Detective Zaloog came in with some 'suspects'...the same people from earlier. He was to question them after he posed questions to the Chosen Duelists. But Otto and Chazz weren't buying it.

"Chazz, I have a feeling this detective isn't who he says he is," Otto told Chazz.

"And you may be right. Sounds like a job for...CHAZZ PRINCETON AND OTTO ROCKET!"

"Now...everyone who knew were the keys were is in this room right now. So the thief is among us. What we need now is evidence," Otto explained.

"Wait...I saw a press-on nail on the bedroom floor..." Alexis remembered.

"UH-OH!" Meanae cowered.

"Well, you, Clio and I don't wear press-on nails, so we can't be the thieves," Reggie said.

"And where is this press-on nail?" Otto asked.

"I left it on Alexis's dresser," Reggie said.

"We goofed and didn't bring it with us," Clio added, embarrassed.

Banner then remembered what happened near his safe. He had seen a trail of footprints leading to the safe. However, he vacuumed them up. Luckily, Sam and Zane had passed that corridor on the way to Duel Alchemy class and took pictures of that trail just in case. It was a size 9 boot that had made that trail. Banner does not wear size 9 boots. He wears size 10 shoes. Banner is not the crook. That also rules out Zane and Sam. Lars and Keoni were in class and had no clue where the Spirit Keys were, so they're ruled out automatically. Crowler was teaching a class, so he's out. That leaves Jaden, Syrus, Chumley, Otto, Twister and Chazz...as well as Detective Zaloog and his suspects.

"You know, I did see a hole in our room," Jaden recalled.

That ruled out Jaden, Syrus, Otto, Twister and Chazz, as they do not have tools to make holes in walls. While Jaden had patched up the hole, all the clues had pointed to one group - Zaloog and his crew.

"The true criminals are...ZALOOG AND HIS BAND!" Otto chimed. "And in case you doubt Chazz and I, allow me to settle things. You see, when we were hiding our Spirit Keys, we hid some eyewitnesses in their hiding places. I hid my Buster Blader, Black Luster Soldier and Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!"

"And I hid...my Ojama Brothers! They're like our eyes and ears when we're not around," Chazz explained.

"And in our dorm rooms...we stashed our entire decks! Doesn't matter if you can't see them, we can! And they know who did it!"

"Got ya punks!" The spirit of Buster Blader said.

"You fellas are done!" The Black Luster Soldier spirit quipped.

"I'll put a shock to your systems!" Valkyrion added.

"CAUGHT YA RED-HANDED!" Ojama Black said.

"CERTAINLY DID!" Ojama Green added.

"YOU'RE SO BUSTED!" Ojama Yellow finished.

"Chazz and I know you're behind this, Detective!"

Zaloog chuckled. "It wasn't just me...it was all of us! We...are...the criminal gang known as..."

"THE DARK SCORPIONS!"

"Sorry, never heard of you," The group said.

"Of course you haven't. We've been undercover at your school for years, waiting for our chance to nab those Spirit Keys, and now..."

"WE FINALLY HAVE THEM!"

"Big deal. In order for them to work...YOU HAVE TO BEAT ME IN A DUEL!" Clio said.

"Of course! That's why they didn't work! We have to win them from you in a duel!" Zaloog said.

"BRING IT ON, SHADOW RIDER!"

Outside the Slifer dorm, the duel was about to start. Decks ready, Duel Disks on, Life Points set and...

"DUEL!"

Zaloog: 8000

Clio: 8000

"I'll win this..." Zaloog started, drawing his card. "...as easily as I stole your key! I'll start with GOLEM SENTRY in Defense Mode!"

ATK: 800

DEF: 1800

"Then, I'll play a card face-down. You're move, girlie!"

"Here I come, crook!" Clio said, growling as she drew her first card. "I'll begin with the SHIELD CRUSH Spell Card! This automatically destroys any defensive monster! That means your Golem Sentry gets torn down!"

Golem Sentry exploded, signifying its destruction.

"Next, I'll play my ELEGANT EGOTIST Spell! This will let me Special Summon HARPIE CHANNELER!"

ATK: 1400

DEF: 1400

Next, I summon this monster...CYBER HARPIE LADY, you can come on out!"

ATK: 1800

DEF: 1300

"Attack Zaloog directly! TWIN VIRTUAL SLASH!"

Both Harpies flew up and divebombed Zaloog, slashing him and knocking him back a few inches.

Zaloog: 4800

"I'll conclude with 4 cards face-down."

Zaloog was not fazed by Clio's direct attack. "Slash me with your bird all you want, it won't matter! And you're about to see why!"

Zaloog drew his card and smiled. "First, I play POT OF GREED! This lets me draw two more cards!"

When that effect resolved, Zaloog's look didn't waver. "Just what I wanted! The one and only DON ZALOOG! And when I say one and only, I mean it..." he began as he walked onto the field. "...because, my children, I AM HIM!"

ATK: 1400

DEF: 1500

"NO WAY! He's a card?" Twister asked.

"Not just me! I play MUSTERING OF THE DARK SCORPIONS! Now all Dark Scorpion monsters in my hand can join me on the field! SCORPION...ROLL CALL!"

"Rolls? Who's got the rolls? Where are the roles?" Gorg asked.

"He means 'say your name', Gorg! I'm Meanae the Thorn!"

"The name's Cliff the Trap Remover! Guess how I remove 'em?"

"I'm Chick the Yellow! I'm 6 foot when I jump up!"

"AND TOGETHER, WE'RE THE DARK SCORPIONS!"

Gorg the Strong:

ATK: 1800

DEF: 1500

Meanae the Thorn:

ATK: 1000

DEF: 1800

Cliff the Trap Remover:

ATK: 1200

DEF: 1000

Chick the Yellow:

ATK: 1000

DEF: 1000

Don Zaloog wasn't done just yet! "Now I play a Trap! DARK SCORPION COMBINATION! On the first turn that all the Dark Scorpions are out, this trap allows us to attack you directly! And for each attack, you'll lose 400 points in addition to the battle damage!" (Yes, I errata'd the card)

First, Chick the Yellow...

Clio: 6600

Then, Meanae the Thorn...

Clio: 5200

Cliff the Trap Remover was next...

Clio: 3600

Then, Gorg the Strong...

Clio: 1400

And finally, Don Zaloog!

"If this attack hits, it's GAME OVER!" Otto freaked.

"Not yet, Otto! I play EMERGENCY PROVISIONS! For each Spell or Trap Card I send to the Graveyard, I gain 1000 points! So I'll send Swords of Revealing Light, Solemn Warning and Hysteric Sign to the Graveyard and gain 3000 Life Points!"

Clio: 2600

"Now our special abilities will work against you!"

"First, one monster on your field must return to your deck..." Gorg explained as Cyber Harpie returned to the deck.

"Next, a card on your field returns to your hand..." Chick said, returning Harpie Channeler to Clio's hand.

"The top 2 cards of your deck...go to the Grave!" Cliff added as Clio sent Cyber Harpie and Harpie Harpist to the Graveyard.

"Then one card in your hand is destroyed!" Zaloog chimed as Clio's Channeler was sent to the Grave.

"Then a card with 'Dark Scorpion' in its name is added from the Graveyard to our hand," Meanae explained.

"And I'll add this - DARK SCORPION COMBINATION! The card that started it all...will finish you off! I'll play 2 face-downs and end my turn!"

"I hate it when this guy plays face-downs..." Syrus freaked.

"I hear ya, Sy," Jaden said.

"When you end your turn, the effect of Hysteric Sign activates, letting me add 3 Harpie cards from my deck to my hand! NOW I DRAW!" 'Sweet!' Clio thought as she looked at the card she drew. "I play CARD OF SANCTITY! This forces us to draw until we both hold 6 cards! Next, I play...RAIGEKI! Now all monsters on your field are destroyed!"

Not so fast, Clio!

"HOLD IT! I play a Trap! RETREAT OF THE DARK SCORPIONS! Now all Dark Scorpions on my field...RETREAT TO MY HAND!"

"Fine...I'll play my HARPIE'S HUNTING GROUND! Now my Harpies gain 200 Attack and Defense Points! In addition, whenever I play a Harpie monster, I can destroy one of your Spell or Trap Cards! Now, I'll summon HARPIE QUEEN!"

ATK: 1900 - 2100

DEF: 1200 - 1400

"Harpie's Hunting Ground now activates, taking out your Dark Scorpion Combination!"

"OH NO!"

"I'm afraid so!" Clio retorted as the card shattered. "Next comes another ELEGANT EGOTIST! This lets me turn my Harpie Queen into the HARPIE LADY SISTERS!"

ATK: 1950 - 2150

DEF: 2100 - 2300

"Now I play TRIANGLE ECSTASY SPARK! This increases my Harpies' Attack to 2700 and forbids you from activating any Traps until the end of your turn!"

"WHAT?!"

"HARPY LADY SISTERS, ATTACK ZALOOG DIRECTLY WITH TRIANGLE ECSTASY SPARK!"

Don Zaloog: 2100

"I'll throw a card face-down and end my turn."

"My move! DRAW! I summon myself - DON ZALOOG!"

WRONG!

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! You've triggered my Trap Card!"

"TRAP CARD?!"

"That's right and it's gonna cost you dearly! GO, SOLEMN WARNING! Whenever a monster would be summoned or an effect activates that includes a monster summoning, all I have to do is give up 2000 points and I can negate that effect or destroy that monster!"

"OH NO!"

Clio: 600

"And that leaves you wide open for this!" Clio said as she drew her card. "Harpie Lady Sisters...END THIS DUEL WITH TRIANGLE ECSTASY SPARK!"

The trio of bird-women banded together and charged beams of light, forming a triangle, before launching them at Don Zaloog, knocking him to the floor.

Don Zaloog: 0

Clio: WIN!

"No! This can't be! I can't lose!" Don Zaloog cowered as he vanished, taking his team with him, but leaving behind his Shadow Charm.

"4 Shadow Riders down...and 3 to go," Clio said, picking up the Shadow Charm. Chazz ended up picking up the Don Zaloog card. Big mistake. His spirit, along with the other Dark Scorpions and the spirits of the Ojamas partied in his dorm all night. Bad luck, Chazz.

Close call for Clio, but she pulled it out! Way to play, girlfriend! Up next - a trip 5000 years into the past as Abidos the Third rises from the tomb! STAY TUNED!