LOCK PLEASE

[Lemniscate]

This is a Fanfic I started a while ago (too long to bump), so here it is again. I made some changes, so I want to know what you think.

 

 

Chapter 1

 

Two people walk down an alleyway, their long coats trailing on the damp ground. There eyes focusing solely on the things around them. They were not to be seen. They couldn't be seen.

They approached the door in front of them with constant briskness. They opened the door and walked through the hole now afforded to them.

As they closed the door, a voice came out of the shadows.

"Has he paid?" asked the voice.

The two men turned their heads to the side, just in time to see the small frame of an elderly man step out of the shadows.

"Not yet, he says he's broke, but he was at the bank yesterday." responded the taller of the two individuals.

"You think he's hiding something Raymond?" queried the elderly man.

"Yes sir."

"And how about you Blake?"

"I'm not sure." said the other man.

He considered this with a look of stony indifference. His hands rubbing along his chin as he mulled over the new information.

"What do you think, Blake."

"I think it's time we get him, broke or not."

"My thoughts exactly."

"Want us to get him sir?"

"Yes, go do that, take him to Branch 17."

"Yes sir."

"Well... thank you then, you two may leave."

With that the two men turned on thier heels and returned out the same door they had entered.

 

.........................................................................

He sat on the grass, a little green blade twirling across his fingers. Today was a lazy day, there was no work today, no school, no chores, no anything. Just a day where he could sit on the grass and stare at the clouds.

Hours would pass this way, hours he would lay here watching the water swirl around in the air above. It was a rare day.

So he sat, and soon his eyes closed with the weight of sleep. His mind drifted off to dreams of warriors and homework.

Where he woke was different. Looking around it was dark, and he was moving. But he wasn't walking, his legs weren't carrying him. What was going on? Where was he?

"Well look, he woke up." said a voice from above.

"Finally, and we're almost there too."

Almost where?

Then he felt dropping, they must be in a Grav-Platform. They were going down, and it was a long trip. Grav-Platforms usually only took a couple seconds. It had almost been a minute now.

Then the door opened, and he was carried out.

And immediatly hit with noise.

It was loud in here, and full of people. All of them carrying cards, all of them with oversized wristbands with more cards on them. And monsters floating off the ground. Attacking each other. What was this?

"You like it kid?" asked one of the men who now carried him

"Yeah, what's it called?"

"It's called Duel Monsters, and this is your new home."

And with that, he was tossed in a room, and promptly fell asleep again.

 

Chapter 2

He woke up with a start. Looking around the room he saw several beds other than the one he was currently laying on. The room was dimly lit and smelled dusty. Looking on the nightstand next to his bed, he saw a note.

It read "Welcome, James Formal, you have now joined the underground world of Duel Monsters. You failed to pay your debts and so now you will work to earn your keep. This is your new home. Do not attempt to leave.

Go out of your room and approach the bar next door. Bryan there has your deck. Keep it close, keep it safe, learn it. It is your key to suvival."

The letter was unmarked, and chilling, James was unsure how to react. They had taken him? The Company had taken him? It was all too surreal. Well, he had best do what the letter said.

So he got up, and quickly exited the room.

Outside he looked around until finally seeing the bar the letter had spoken of.

As soon as he walked up to it, a tall musculay man with no hair handed him a stack of the cards he had seen the night before.

"What are these?"

As this the man laughed and turned away.

"There called Duel Monsters, you battle with them." said a voice from behind James.

James turned and there stood a man. He wore army clothes and had paint on his face. He had short blue hair that barely passed for fuzz on the top of his head.

"Hi," said the man, "my name is Cay Clark"

"James Formal"

"So you're new here huh?"

"Yeah."

"I remember that. Wasn't fun. I try to help out all the newbies now."

"Thanks, so what are these cards?"

"Well, it'd take a while to expalin. Here, come watch a match."

The two quickly walked over to a crowd of people watching a game of duel monsters. Two guys stood in the center of the crowd, playing card after card. As they watched, Cay explained the game of Duel Monsters to James. James learned quickly and was fascinated by the subject, but was shocked when he was told his role in it.

"So,you see, all of us here play. Every Saturday, some of us are chosen for duels, I have one this week." said Cay"

"What do you do?"

"Well we battle with decks we were given, people bet on them, and the winner gets the prize."

"What's the prize?"

"Living"

"Wait, they kill the loser?"

"Yep."

This was absolutely horrifying to James.

"So, when do I play?"

"They usually give you a week to joins a Sect, then they start giving you assignments."

"What's a Sect?"

"There are various clubs that exist here, each of them using different cards, the deck you got is a preliminary deck, once you choose a Sect, they give you a real deck."

"What Sect are you?"

"Well, I'm in the Gray Sect, although my cards are from the Black Sect."

"How did that happen?"

"I started in the Black Sect, but I quickly left when I realized how they played. Always cheating to win, it didn't sit right with me."

"When is your Duel?"

"Later today, come watch, you'll have a good time."

James sincerely doubted that, but now that he had a friend, he wasn't going to turn it down. So they set out to prepare for Cay's date with destiny.

 

Chapter 3

He was going to see a fight. He was going to watch a duel.

It was the first duel he would see a friend in, the first of many. He kept looking and worrying about what might happen, would his newfound friend die? This was all happening so fast.

Just yesterday he had been as carefree as the wind on his back, but now he was stifled, stifled and stuck. There was no wind here, there was no freedom.

When the James and Cay approached the Duel spot, they found that the arena was already set up, it was like a massive underground stadium. People lined the seats cheering for whoever they bet on. The noise was defeaning. The feeling was horrible.

For all of the exitement in the voices of those in the stands, James still felt an overwhelming sadness, a feeling of longing, a feeling of entrapment.

At least he wasn't the only one.

"Will the two competitors please step towards the floor." shouted a voice from the center of the arena.

As James looked down, he saw a short, plump man standing in the center of the stage holding a Ampli-Node to his mouth.

"Well, that means me." said Cay, as he stepped down onto the floor around the stage.

James was worried, but for now he found a seat where he could best see the action. He wanted to get a good view.

"Today we have two very fine competitors." bounded the plump announcer.

"Todays battle is between Cay Clark of Gray, and Blanche Winthrop of White."

The screams from the audience got even louder at this point, every one shouted with their largest voice, all the sounds melding into one monstruous force.

"Who will win? Who will lose? What will happen?" taunted the announcer.

The screams got louder and louder.

"Will Cay walk away the victor?"

Louder and louder.

"Or will Blanche steal the show?"

Louder and louder.

"Today we find out, now begin!!!"

And the duel was on.

Cay started the game.

"I draw." said Cay as he pulled his hand out of his Duel Disk.

He smiled as he looked at his cards, things were going well already.

"I set one monster face down on the field, and set two cards in my Spell and Trap Zone. I end my turn"

Blanche smiled indifferently.

She was a tall woman, her striking white hair trailing down to the small of her back, her skirt just barely scraping the floor.

"I summon Boutiful Artemis (1600/1700) in Attack mode. Now I play one face down. Time to battle. Artemis, attack his face-down!"

Artemis lunged forward and struck the floating face-down card.

"Ha!!" laughed Cay, "My face-down card was Magician's Valkyria (1600/1800)!! Because of its 1800 defense, you lose 100 Life Points."

"Darn." said Blanche as her Life Points went down.

"Now I have 3900 Life Points." she said

"Oh well, I end my turn."

"Yes, now I draw." said Cay.

"I sacrifice Magicians Valkyria to summon Dark Magician Girl in Attack mode. Now I play Mage Power to increase my Magician Girl's Attack points by 1500, taking her to 3500 ATK!!! Now, Dark Magician Girl, attack Bountiful Artemis!!!"

Now the spellcaster leapt forward and swept her magic staff through Bountiful Artemis, as Artemis exploded into little pixelated pieces and debris.

"That brings your Life Points down to 2000, Blanche!!!" taunted Cay.

"I end my turn." he said.

Blanche looked visibly worried now, she needed something to save her quick. It looked like she had drawn just the thing.

"I play Double Summon, with this card I can perform two normal summons in one turn. First I summon another Bountiful Artemis, then I sacrifice both Bountiful Artemises to summon Majestic Mech- Goryu (2900/1800)."

"What!! It still can't beat me, my Magician Girl's ATK is 3500."

"Watch and learn." replied Blanche."I play Mystical Space Typhoon to send your Mage Power to the Graveyard. Now, Goryu, attack!!!"

This was a serious blow to Cay, with his Magician Girl gone, he had lost one of his heavy hitters, and now his Life Points stood at 3100.

"Well, that was fun. Now I end my turn." said Blanche happily.

"I draw." said Cay a bit of a stumble in his voice.

"I play Polymerization and send Dark Magician and Flame Manipulater from my Hand to the Graveyard to summon Dark Flame Magician in defense mode. Next I play de-fusion to return Dark Flame Magician to my Extra Deck, to special summon Dark Magician and Flame Manipulater to the Field. Now I play Knight's Title, and send Dark Magician to the Graveyard to summon Dark Magician Knight. Fianlly I sacrifice Dark Magician Knight and Flame Manipulater to Special Summon Dark Shade Knight (3500/2500). Now, Dark Shade Knight, attack Majestic Mech Goryu!!"

He had done it, he had pulled it off, he had gotten out one of his absolute best cards and this was it, he was going to win now for sure.

"Not so fast, I play Negate Attack." responded Blanche.

"Okay then, I set one monster in face down defense position and end my turn."

Blanche new she was in trouble, she had only bought herself some time, she would have to pull a rabbit out of a hat to win this one.

"I draw." She pulled a card out of her Duel Disk.

"I play Special Hurricane, I discard one card from my Hand to destroy all Special Summoned monsters on the Field.:

"Oh no you don't, said Cay, " I play Magic Drain and destroy your Spell Card."

"I end my turn." said Blanche with defeat.

"Fianlly." muttered Cay, "Dark Shade Knight, attack Majectic Mech- Goryu!!!"

She was down to 1400 Life Points, he had his best card on the Field. It was over.

"I end my turn." Shouted Cay with triumph.

She drew, but she had nothing. James could see a little tear rolling down the side of her face, she was going to die.

"I end my turn." she muttered.

"Yes!!! Dark Shade Knight, attack Blanche directly!!!"

And with that it was done. People were shouting with joy, people were running around carrying wads on cash in their hands. And through it all, Blanche layed on the floor and cried as she was picked up and carried away.

James met up with Cay just as Cay was exiting the stage.

"Great job man, you won!!!"

"Yeah, it was pretty easy. I hate to see Blanche go though, that's the rough part of these things, oh well, better her than me."

And with that the two of them exited the arena.

 

Chapter 4

 

 

He had won. Cay had won. He would live.

A weight was lifted off of James' heart, he didn't have to worry about funerals for the moment.

"What did you think?" queried Cay.

"It was great, you just dominated."

"Blanche was never very good with back-up plans. She would have one strategy, you beat that, you beat her."

"Sad though."

"Yeah," he said, "hey, come meet my other friends."

With that Cay led James over to a pack of guys standing in a circle. As soon as they saw Cay they all started cheering. Cay took it in stride, acting as humble as possible, but it was obvious he enjoyed the attention.

"Here's the man." said one of the poeple in the group. He was tall and muscular, with a sleeveless shirt and cargo shorts.

"Well, James, this is the gang, this guy is Tyson Smith." said Cay as he pointed to the tall muscular man.

"And this is Alex Frost." he said as he pointed to a thin man with glasses.

"Nice to meet you." said Tyson and Alex.

"So, what Sect are you in?" asked James.

"I'm in Gray with Cay here." said Tyson, "Machine-types for me."

"I'm in Blue." said Alex, "all Aqua, all the time."

"So what Sect are you in?" asked Tyson.

"I don't have one yet."

"Well, you'll always be welcome in Gray." said Cay.

"Or Blue." added Alex.

"Thanks." said James, "so how do you choose a Sect?"

"Well, you go find the Sect Leader, and ask to join."

"What happens if you don't join one?"

"They tag you as Unresponsive and kill you."

"Yikes."

"Yeah"

James mulled over this. They really wanted to kill you. There was no way to live down here, everyone gets killed eventually. It was a frightening thought.

"Well, its been a long day, we should all get some sleep."

"Yeah." said everyone.

So they all turned and spread out to their individual rooms.

....................................................................................................

"Hey, get up."

James was being shaken awake. Someone was standing above his bed.

"Get up."

James looked up, it was Cay.

"What happened?"

"They shortened your deadline. Newsman just told me. You need to choose a Sect now!!!"

"Why did they shorten it."

"Don't know, just find a leader now!!!"

James was scared, he jumped out of bed, and quickly rushed with Cay to the outside room.

Where was a Leader?

"Quick over there!"

James looked around, there stood a man with a bright red jacket, looking at his cards.

"Who is he?"

"Leader for Red. Now hurry!"

They ran over, nearly stumbling over themselves.

"Hello, Red Leader, my name is James Formal, I need a Sect right now, and I would like to join Red."

He turned his head and looked over at James.

"You good?"

"I've never dueled before, please I just need a Sect now!!"

"Why should I let you join?"

"I'm hard working, smart, I have great drive to win."

He spent a couple seconds viewing James.

"Okay, you're in. Go to Marty and get your deck,"

"Yes!!! Thank you!!!"

He was safe, he would get a deck, he had joined a Sect.

"Well, it's not Gray, but oh well." said Cay.

"Where is Marty?" asked James.

"He's over there." said the Red Leader, as he pointed to another man across the room.

"Thank you." said James.

He quickly jogged over to the other man, who also stood looking at his cards.

"Hi, I just joined Red, can I have a deck?"

"A deck?", asked Marty, "sure, take this one." He said, taking a deck out of his belt.

"Yes, awesome." shouted James.

He had a deck, he had a Sect, he was happy.

.................................................................................................

He was part of Red now, he had joined them.

He hadn't even looked at his cards yet. He pulled out his deck and viewed the little rectangular pieces of paper in his hands.

It was a Dragon Deck, full of cards with pictures of beasts with wings and scales. He had always liked Dragons, they interested him.

"Hey, James." said Alex who was walking up, "I heard you joined Red."

"Yeah"

"Wanna duel?"

This surprised James.

"Okay."

"Get ready, I pull no punches."

And they started dueling, they each drew their cards, and the battle was on. This one was no pressure, because it wasn't a competition battle, neither of them were going to get killed.

"I'll start." said Alex.

"I play Permafrost Soldier (1900/1200) in attack mode!"

This was a strange monster, it looked like a knight covered in thick ice sheets that made the shape of armor.

"Now, I play one face-down and end my turn."

Permafrost soldier was strong, he would need something really good to beat it.

He drew.

"I summon Lord of D. and activate Flute of Summoning Dragon, to summon two Green Dragon of Twilights."

"Nice." said Alex.

"Now I attack your Permafrost soldier with one of my Green Dragon of Twilights (1900/1200)."

He was exited, he had just destroyed his first monster ever, it felt good even though he lost a monster too.

"Ha, perfect, when you destroy my Permafrost Soldier, you lose 500 Life Points and your Battle Phase ends."

Oh, well, he still felt good.

"I end my turn."

"Finally, this is over" said Alex.

He drew a card.

"I play Monster Reborn to special summon Permafrost Soldier, I sacrifice Permafrost Soldier to summon Negative Temperature Beast (2400/2000). When Negative Temperature Beast is summoned I can pay 3000 Life Points to destroy every monster on your side of the Field. Now I play Minus Celsius to raise Negative Temperature Beast's ATK by 1000. Now I attack and lower your Life Points to 600. I end my turn."

He had been hit, hard.

"I draw."

He still had a chance, he had to play his cards right.

"I summon Luster Dragon in attack mode."

"Now I set one card face-down and end my turn."

He had it, Alex had it.

He drew a card.

I play Smashing Ground to destroy your Luster Dragon."

He was about to lose.

"Now I attack directly, you lose."

It was over, Alex had won.

"Nice job kid." said Alex.

And then he walked away.

 

 

Chapter 5

 

Alex had beaten him, he had lost his first duel.

Still though, it was exhilarating, there was something about it that just got his blood pumping.

"Hey, James, I just saw Alex. he said you dueled him?" said Cay.

"Yeah, he beat me. It was awesome though!!" responded James.

"So, you like dueling."

"Yeah!!"

"Good, cause this week's competition assignments were just posted, and you're up."

His heart sank.

"Against who?"

"This guy from Green, they call him Novarus."

"What kind of cards does he use?"

"No one really knows, his cards change with each duel."

"Really?"

"Yeah, his last duel he used Mini-Beasts, just swarmed the Field with Rescue Cat."

"So, he's good."

"Yeah, he's one of the best. Never even has a challenge."

"Then whywould they put me up against him!?!? I'm just a beginner!!!"

"They probably want to test your mettle, see how good you are."

"What am I going to do?"

"Hey, come on, I'll help you, you can train with me."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah. Come on, we'll train right now."

So the two of them walked off and started dueling.

James lost the first 3, but kept getting better. He would het his strong cards out early, but then fail to hold onto the lead.

Finally though, in the fourth duel, he won.

He had gotten down to 200 Life Points, just as Cay was attcking with his Gemini Elf when James played Magic Cylinder. This took Cay down to 0 and James won.

"Good job." said James after the duel was done. "Now do it again."

It took James a while to repeat his win, but finally he started getting the hang of it. A couple of days had gone by at this point, and he felt ready for his duel the next day.

"So Cay."said James.

"Yeah." replied Cay.

"Do you think I'll win."

"I don't know, I would hate to see you go though."

"Yeah, okay."

James was tired, he had to rest up for his duel tommorrow. His life was on the line. He couldn't lose.

.............................................................................................

It was morning, of course morning was almost a relative term in a world so far below ground there was no sunlight.

He was dueling today, he was playing against Novarus.

It would be a tough one.

They all went to the arena, same as last time.

Everyone got seats in the stands, same as last time.

But James' path was different, he stepped out onto the arena, ready for his duel.

The same short, plump announcer came and started everything going. Then he got off the stage, and the game was on.

"I start." said James with command.

He drew his hand. He was ready.

"I set one monster and play two face-downs. Then I end my turn."

Now it was Novarus' turn.

"I special summon Big Piece Golem and set a face-down."

A level 5 already, this guy was good.

"Now, Big Piece Golem, attack."

The giant rock thing then leapt forward and clobbered the face-down.

"Not so fast, that was my Troop Dragon. With it I can summon another Troop Dragon to the Field." said James.

"Fine." said Novarus, "I end my turn."

James drew.

"I summon Red Dragon of Twilight."

He was prepared.

"I play Bottomless Trap Hole" said Novarus.

His Red Dragon of Twilight was gone.

"I switch Troop Dragon to defense position."

"I end my turn."

Back to Novarus.

"I summon Chainsaw Insect."

Another strong monster. He was on a roll.

"I attack your Troop Dragon with Big Piece Golem."

"Not so fast, I play Draining Shield. It stops your attack, and I gain 2100 Life Points bringing me to 6100."

"Fine then, I attack Troop Dragon with Chainsaw Insect."

And his Troop Dragon was gone.

"Now you get to draw one card."

He drew.

"I set one card face-down and end my turn."

Back again to James.

"I play Call of the Haunted to bring back one Troop Dragon."

He had a plan.

"Now I play Premature Burial to bring back the other one, taking me down to 5300 Life Points."

"Now I sacrifice both of them to summon Dark Dragon Warlord Zalikai (3000/2500), and I special summon one Green Dragon of Twilight."

"Now I play Raigeki to destroy both Big Piece Golem and Chainsaw Insect."

"Good job." said Novarus.

"Now, Dark Dragon Warlord Zalikai, attack his Life Points directly."

Novarus was down to 1000 points. James was kicking butt.

"Now I end my turn."

Novarus again.

"I special summon Vice Dragon to the Field, and now I play Inferno Reckless Summon to special summon two more Vice Dragons. Now I play Gift of the Martyr to destroy one my Vice Dragons to raise the attack of one of my other Vice Dragons, bringing it up to 4200 ATK."

He was good.

"Now Vice Dragon, attack his Dragon Warlord."

He was down to 2100 Life Points. He had lost his Dragon.

"Now my other Vice Dragon attacks your Green Dragon of Twilight. Taking you down to 1900 Life Points."

Novarus was still in control. James had nothing.

"Now I end my turn."

Okay, he had to draw something good, if it was the wrong card he was fininshed.

"I draw."

Okay, this was good.

“I play Monster Reborn, to Special Summon my Dark Dragon Warlord Zalikai.”

"Pretty good card." said Novarus.

“Now I summon Green Dragon of Twilight. Then I remove it from play to Special Summon Red Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon. Finally I play Polymerization send both my Warlord and my Red-Eyes to the graveyard to Fusion Summon. Dark Metal Warlord Dragon (3000/ 1000)!”

“Interesting.” Said Novarus, “but futile, I play Ring of Destruction. Taking both our Life Points down to 0.”

The duel was over, James was astonished as he watched both their Life Points fall to 0 simultaneously.

"This is finished." said Novarus.

How had they tied, how had that happened? Novarus had just given up, why would he do that?

James ran after him to find out.

He caught him just at the door.

"Why did you do that? Make it end in a tie?" shouted James, attracting onlookers.

"You got talent; I didn't want you to die just yet."

And with that Novarus was gone.

And James was left bewildered and joyous.

 

Chapter 6

 

It was the next day. He still felt strange. He felt like nothing he had ever felt before.

He was happy he had won. He was happy no one had died.

He was happy...

Oh no.

It was them.

He had just seen two men walk into the Underground, they carried one small man in their arms.

He had seen these men before. These were the same two men who had taken him and brought him down here. They were back, and they could work the Lift. He saw the opportunity the same second he saw them.

It was his one shot, one chance, who knew when they might come again?

He was running, already running after the men. Chasing them, attempting to reach the Lift in time.

"Hey, James?"

It was Cay, he had seen James, and the rest of the group was with him.

And then they were running, they were all running. James chasing the two men. The group was chasing James. They were all running fast, and faster.

The two men reached the lift and stepped in, punching the up button as fast as they could.

They jammed their fingers in to escape as quick as possible. And then they were up.

And James and the gang were holding onto the bottom of the lift.

Rising, and rising.

The gang was silent, they didn’t want the two men to know they were there. Just as both of the men had turned around and the lift slid up and away, they had all grabbed on.

Their fingers burned, they wouldn’t be able to do this much longer.

And then they stopped. And the two men exited the lift. And James and the gang snuck off after them.

And as quick as could be, they were above ground.

..........................................................................................................

The breathed in the fresh air, James, Cay, Alex, and Tyson. They hadn't felt it for quite a while. Some of them longer than others.

It was great.

They all stood there, forgetting the fact that they were chasing those two men, forgetting all other things that they had felt, just breathing in the air they had so long ago forgotten.

Then they all came to their senses.

They were going to be searched for, they had to do something. They had to hide.

They searched the surrounding area for an open building, for anywhere that might provide shelter and safety while they figured things out.

Finally they found a spot, underneath an old apartment complex, where they could rest.

None of them had their things; they would have to live off of the clothes off their backs.

That was fine. They were free.

They spent the night playing Duel Monsters and planning their next move. They battled back and forth as to what they should do. Arguing as to what they should do next.

Finally they decided, they had to find those two men again.

They would watch the door to the Underground, and then they would ambush the two men and interrogate them.

That was that, they had a plan.

They weren't going back down anytime soon.

[Lemniscate]

bump

[Plaguespreader Zombie]

Still see in the first chapter your calling him Clay

[Lemniscate]

fix'd

[Plaguespreader Zombie]

Let me bump this for ya...bump

[●The True Riku●]

When is the next chapter coming out?

[Lemniscate]

soon. i am working on it. I really want to make sure that i get it right. I won't be posting as much as before, my schedule has tightened up. I will still be posting though, so keep checking here.

[Plaguespreader Zombie]

Okay, and also justfor the heck of it BUMP

[Lemniscate]

Okay. Sorry. But I am discontinuing this story.

I have no time for it anymore.

Sorry.