Duel Fragments
Chapter 5
Syrus, had spent the rest of the day catching up with Alexis. He had been told the details of what Zane had said to Alexis, and now he was even more worried for his brother. Was his brother completely reverting back to his Hell-Kaiser side? He heard Alexis's footsteps cease behind him, prompting him to turn around. She wore a concerned expression, so he glanced around, for the cause. Then he saw heard it, the sound of approching,and heavy foot-steps in the near-distance. The noise, initially faint, grew louder and more distinct as a cloaked figure emerged from an allyway. The figure moved with purpose, the hood obscuring their face while the shadows seemed to cling to their every step. He then turned to Alexis, "I have a bad feeling about this..we should go..Alexis-while we still can."he said hurridly.
Alexis however remained still, her eyes fixed on the approaching figure. Then she spotted it, the glint of a duel-disk. Once, the cloaked figure was two metres away, she activated her duel disk,"I can see that you're a duelist."
"Ah, you have keen eyes," the cloaked stranger replied, a sly smile crossing their lips.
Syrus knew the sound of that voice, but unlike before, the sound and tone was very unstable,"I think, that's her-the Vagabond.."he whispered.
Alexis nodded subtly at Syrus, her fingers poised over her duel-disk that was pre-loaded with cards,"If you want to Duel then,I'm more than ready.."she stated, firmly.
The Vagabond, ripped the head-set off her duel disk, and flipped it onto her ear; causing a red red holographic circle to appear in front of her right eye, "This will be a Speed Duel. So cut your deck."she stated.
Alexis ejected her deck out of her duel-disk, took out exactly twenty cards, and gave the remainder to Syrus. She turned her attention back towards the Vagabond, "There, I've cut my deck down to twenty let's duel.."she stated.
The Vagabond activated their new duel-disk, and a blue holographic light appeared in the shape of a blade, " Hmnn, what deck should I select? Hmnnn let me think.." she mused aloud, tapping her fingers rhythmically against the hologram.
Syrus couldn't help but shudder as the Vagabond settled on her deck. There was an unnerving stillness in the air that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He shook it off, because he had to be strong for Alexis, and needed to keep his focus sharp.
Alexis met the Vagabond's gaze with unwavering determination. "Who takes the first turn?"she asked, her fingers hovering over her deck.
The Vagabond tilted her head slightly to the side, and extended her arm outwards, "You can have the first turn.."she said, without feeling.
Vagabond: 4000
Alexis:4000
Moving her hand swiftly, Alexis drew four cards, and examined them. "I set a card and end my turn."she said.
The Vagabond drew four cards, and sighed. Such dull cards, but the mental-effect on her opponent would be worth it, "I set a card. Next, I summon, a monster. Come out Proto Cyber-Dragon (1100/600)" She said, in a dull tone.
Alexis watched as the cybernetic dragon, hologram came to life. She had seen it used so often by Zane, but this one was different. It was a dark metallic black, and it's eyes were crazed with a much darker orange, "So you're the type of person, who has to copy a real-duelist's deck.."she said, dryly.
The Vagabond simply shrugged their shoulders, at the accusation. " If you think that; then you're going to have a mental-break down if you enter Duel-Links."she quipped. 'you hunk of scrap-metal, attack the face-down card."she said, pointing her finger fowards in a dramatic fashion. The mechanical dragon attacked, and the set card revealed a humanoid monster in a red suit. So Alexis had played, Etoil Cyber (1200/1600), she mused, before she felt the sting, of losing 500 Life-Points, "Oh dear, I guess I have to end my turn now.."she said.
Vagabond: 3500
Alexis:4000
The Vagnabond was not taking her,seriously at all. Well that was going to change-right now. She drew a card, and then held it up."I play the spell Machine Angel Ritual! Now I tribute Etoille cyber from my side of the feild, the Blade-Skater (1400/1500) in my hand. So Ican ritual summon: Cyber Angel Idaten (1600/2000) she said, as the monter appealed on the feild."Next I activate Idaten's effect, and add another Ritual card to my hand. Now Attack Cyber Angel Edaten!"ahe said, as her monster lunged at the mechanical dragon.
The Vagnabond merely tilted there head to the left, "I activate my face-down card..Magic Cylinder, and send half of your monster's attack points right back to you as damage!" She said, with a laugh.
Vagabond: 3500
Alexis: 3200
'That was nothing, it's your turn.."
The Vagnabond drew a card, and examined it carefully. It wouldn't be that useful-yet. Her eyes then looked at her other cards, and she set a single card face down, and changed Proto-Cyber Dragon (1100/600) into defense mode. "Your move.." she said, as she ended her turn.
Alexis drew a card, and her eyes flicked towards the Vagabond, who didn't seem very serious."Alright, I set a card, and attack your Proto-Cyber Dragon (1100/600) with Cyber Angel Edaten (1600/2000) she said.
The Vagabond, was finding Alexis's moves very predictable.I activate my trap card, Cyber Network! And Banish-Proto Cyber Dragon for now!"she stated,with a creeping slasher smile.
"So you have a new card huh? I end my turn.."Alexis stated calmly.
The Vagnabond drew a card, and then set it down in defense mode."I end my turn."
Alexis drew a card, and then summoned it instantly to the feild in attack position,"I summon Blade Skater! Now blade skater (1400/1500) attack that face down card!" She said, and the moment her monster did, the Vagabond's "Cyber Phoenix" (1200/1600) was revealed. Alexis saw the creature, but unlike Zane's Cyber Phionex, the Vagnabond's was black, and it's metal wings oozed a black substance. She instinctivly covered her eyes as she was hit with 200 points of damage, because Cyber Phionex had higher defense points, "What is wrong with that Cyber Phionex..?"she asked.
Vagabond: 3500
Alexis: 3000
"Who cares. Now thanks to it's effect, I can draw a card."
"Urrgh, I end my turn.."
The Vagabond drew a card, and then just ended her turn.
Alexis was now convinced that the Vagabond was just playing around."I draw! Now I summon armoured lizard in attack mode, and end my turn.."she said.
The Vagnabond drew, a card and then smirked. "Since it's been three turns, cyber-network is destroyed. It's effect brings back Proto-Cyber Dragon (1100/600) from banishment."
"Well that's a new trick.."
"It's no let me see..what should I do next? Oh I know! How about one of your friend's moves?" she said, as she revealed a card, "I play the spell-card Polymerisation, and fuse then Proto Cyber-Dragon, with the Cyber dragon (2100/1600) in my hand to create..Cyber Twin Dragon (2800/2100)"she exclaimed,as the image of the two monsters swirled together, to form a black and white oil covered twin-headed dragon.
Alexis stared at the hologram of the twin-headed monster, it was so hideous and gross compared to Zane's Cyber-Twin dragon. "Your imitation pales in comparison," Alexis replied defiantly, her eyes narrowing with determination.
"Oh? Well don't mind if I bring back another immitation then! I play Cyber Repair plant, and bring back Cyber-Dragon to my I sacrifice Cyber-Phionex (1200/1600)and summon Cyber Dragon (2100/1600)Oh and I end my turn.."she said, with a grin.
Alexis blinked, because the Vagnabond could have attacked, and finished off her life points-but didn't,"Not attacking? That's a mistake that you may regret. It's my turn.I drawn!' She said, as she pulled out a card. Unfortunately, it wasn't the card she needed."I switch Armoured Lizard (1500/1200) and Blade Skater (1400/1500) to defence-mode and end my turn.."she said quickly.
The Vagnabond, whipped out a card from her deck, and then glanced at it, "It's time to tive you a thrashing, with your friend's cards! I activate, Fusion Recovery! So both Polymerisation, and Cyber Dragon (2100/1800) return to my hand. So I fuse the Cyber-Dragon (2100/1800) in my hand, with the one on the field..and bring out another Cyber-Twin Dragon(2800/2100). Now each of them can attack twice! Now attack armoured Lizard!' She said, as she watched the dragon destroy the armoured Lizard, "Now attack again and destroy Cyber Edaten!"she said.
"Hold on, I activate machine angel ritual! By banishing it from my grave yard, Edaten is bot destroyed!"
The Vagnabond was not impressed, by her opponents move and let out a small yawn."You still take 1200 points of damgage to your life points! Oh and did you forget, that Ihave another Cyber-Twin Dragon on the feild? Oh well Cyber Twin-Dragon(2800/2100), attack each of them!"she said, as she watched her opponent monsters be destroyed.
Alexis flinched, as she took another 1200 points of damage."Damn..it"
The Vagnabond laughed,"Okay I end my turn.."she said, with a wave of the hand.
"I draw. Next I-activate Machine Angel Ritual and send the Edaten from my graveyard, back into the deck, and summon Cyber Angel Benten (1800/1500) to the feild, and switch it to defnse position. I End my turn" Alexis said.
Vagabond: 3500
Alexis:600
The Vagnabond stomped one foot on the ground, the entire duel had been boring! "I'm so done with this pathetic excuse for a duel. Now I draw. Now Cyber-Twin Dragon(2800/2100), destroy that monster!"she exclaimed, as CyberBenten was destroyed. "Now lets end this duel with a thrashing! Cyber-Twin dragon attack directly!"she said, with a slasher smile creeping onto her face, as her monster attacked. She laughed as her opponent's life points dropped to Zero.
Vagabond: 3500
Alexis:0
Syrus clenched his fist, as the twisted cyber-twin dragon obliterated the remainder of Alexis's life-points. He then walked over to Alexis's side, "Are you okay?"he asked, kindly. He had made a note of the 'new-card' that had been played by the Vagnabond.
"I'm fine Syrus, just a little shaken up." The fact that the Vagabond had played Cyber-Dragons, was too unsettling. She watched as the Vagabond, removed the headset, and de-activated the duel-disk, "Tell me how you could possibly have Cyber-Dragons.."she demanded.
The Vagabond turned her back on the duo, the moment she felt something trickle down from her eye. Whatever it was, it had cascaded down her face, and now dripped onto the ground. She quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand, pretending nothing had happened, " I don't. Those cards I just played..were nothing but memories.."she said, as she concealed her increasing pain. She quickly flicked something out of her pocket,and watched it fall to the ground unnoticed.
A small frown appeared on Alexis's face, upon hearing then Vagabond's cryptic awnser. She turned her head, to the sound of rubber burning against the road, followed by a loud lowered into a rythmatic hum,"Who is that?" she asked tiredly.
Syrus adjusted his spectacles, the black chrome of the bike, and it's silver trim, along with the word "Kaiser" gave it's owner away."It's my Brother."he said.
Zane had spotted Syrus, and Alexis just as he had swerved his motor-cycle to a halt. He removed his helmet, and surveyed the scene. Alexis's duel disk was still activated, so there had clearly been a duel. Then he observed a cloaked figure turning a corner and walking away. "How interesting, that there is a duelist in this part of town, who was able to defeat you,Alexis."he said.
Syrus frowned, at his brother's lack of greeting, and indifference to Alexis. "Zane, that was no duel! It was a sick imitation of the cyber-style! The monsters themselves, were perverse!'he said defensivly.
Zane rolled his eyes at his little brother, no doubt he would be in for a lecture later."Hmnn, that just makes it even more intresting. So where is this duelist?"he asked.
Alexis pointed ahead of her, to where the Vagabond was walking away "Over there.."she said, tiredly.
Zane turned around just in-time to see the Vagabond vanish, as if they had never been there in the first place. He let out a slight grumble of irritation, because had once again eluded the sight of a card sticking out from a crevice on the footpath caught his eye ,he picked it up between his fingers, and examined it closely. It was a card he had never seen before, but it was a card he could use,"Heh, it seems the Vagabond left some bait.."he stated..