Synchro Straits

TEASER

(A dark turbo-dueling track, somewhere among New Domino's faceless, glittering buildings. Yusei careens around a corner, flanked by Shield Warrior and Speed Warrior, both in attack mode. An opponent races around the corner, right on his heels. Yusei's two facedowns, "Scrap-Iron Scarecrow" and "Urgent Tuning", flip over and shatter-- destroyed.) Yusei: Ugh... Opponent: And just like that, your monster is *wide-open*! Now, Tiger Dragon-- attack that Speed Warrior! (Yusei's opponent's big, fierce, tiger-striped dragon breathes fire and destroys Speed Warrior. Yusei's lifepoints dramatically fall to 300, from 1800.) Opponent: I have you on the very brink of defeat, Yusei! I place one card facedown and end my turn! Yusei (think): I have three hundred lifepoints left and a twenty-four-hundred-attack-point Tiger Dragon left to take down! I'm gonna need all the help I can *get* here... (aloud) It's *my* draw! (Scoreboard: Yusei, 300, 6; Opponent, 2400, 6. Yusei's card is-- Debris Dragon! He smiles.) Yusei: Come out, Debris Dragon! [Debris Dragon 1000//L4/wind] Opponent: What, a tuner monster?! Yusei: That's right! And when Debris Dragon is successfully summoned onto the field, I can summon *another* monster from my graveyard that has five hundred or fewer attack points! <1:00> And that monster's-- Sonic Chick! [Sonic Chick 300//L1/] Yusei: Now, level-four Debris Dragon tunes with level-three Shield Warrior, and level-one Sonic Chick, to create-- a creature that has the elements of the cosmos coursing through its veins! (Tuning math L3 + L1 + L4 = L8.) Yusei: I synchro-summon-- the Stardust Dragon!! [Stardust Dragon 2500//L8/] Opponent: Heh! Hmhmhmhm! Just as I'd hoped! (Then Yusei's opponent starts changing, spontaneously morphing into someone else.) Yusei: What...? (Soon, instead of a random any-duelist, he's facing--) Yusei: The Ghost?! (And the five pieces of Machine Emperor Wisel are already hovering above. They begin to transform; arms and legs unfold, pieces snap together, then the robotic body is crowned with its head, features glowing red against black.) [Meklord Emperor Wisel ∞ ///] Yusei: His ultimate monster! Ghost: That's right-- Machine Emperor Wisel. And once per turn, <2:00> he can absorb a synchro monster on your field-- a synchro monster like *that dragon*!! (And just as it happened before, shining white threads explode from Wisel's chest and wrap around Stardust Dragon, binding its neck and limbs, dragging it in. Stardust screams, fighting futilely against it.) Yusei: Stardust Dragon!! Sherry: Was zat ze best you could do, Yusei? (Yusei gasps, ahead of him, larger than life and looming over the duel, stands Sherry LeBlanc, her arms folded in disappointment. Her voice echoes.) Sherry: It's true you're a good duelist; But 'good'... *isn't quite enough* for people like us, *is* it? No, we crave *more*-- and if you battle beside me, you *just might find* what you are looking for! Yusei: Sherry...! (He turns as Stardust shrieks one last time, halfway into Wisel's chest. It glows brightly, and is gone. Sherry looks on as he cries out--) Yusei: Stardust, NO!!!!!

(And his eyes fly open! Yusei is lying in bed; it was just a nightmare. He catches his breath, sitting up.) Yusei: Just a dream... but what's it mean?!

(Opening)

ACT 1 <3:44>

(Morning on the plaza where Yusei, Jack, and Crow live. A few birds are bathing in the fountain outside.) Jack: What?! (The birds all scatter.) Jack: You want to *duel me*?!

(Inside...) Yusei: Mmm-hmm. (They're standing in the main garage; Jack's at the top of a flight of stairs that probably leads to his room, and Crow has walked over to Yusei, standing at the bottom of the stairs. Crow was apparently interrupted stacking Clucker's boxes toward the door.) Crow: Wait, but why wouldja wanna do *that*, Yusei? *We're all on the same team*! Yusei: Right, so why not take advantage of each other? (Crow gives him a weird look.) Yusei: I need to find a new way of battling that doesn't involve summoning synchro monsters. <4:00> Jack: No *synchros*? But *why*? Yusei: Because of the Ghost. Remember when I dueled him? Crow: Sure, but ya *won*. (Then Crow gasps.)

(Flashback. Stardust screams, a heart-rending sound of pain and fear, and vanishes into Machine Emperor Wisel's chest.) Crow (VO): Oh wait, you *barely* won. That Wisel's special ability! (End Flashback.)

Jack: It seals *away* synchros...! Yusei: That's right, it was pure luck that Majestic Dragon was able to save me.

(Flashback. Majestic Star Dragon swoops in and takes Wisel's head off. It explodes from that point, smoke and debris raining down on the Ghost. End Flashback.)

Yusei: But if another duelist like the Ghost appears... I may not be lucky again. Which is the reason why-- you and I need to duel! So that I can prepare for that day. Crow: *I* see. (Jack vaults over the stair railing and lands on the floor; he turns, and he and Yusei are feet apart, glaring at each other like rivals.) Jack: *You're on*, Yusei! Synchros are *fine*-- but if you wanna duel, you're on. Yusei: All right. Crow: Well-- (sets down his box gleefully) Then let's *do it*!

(The vista from one of New Domino's many bridges, across all of the rest of them, is quite beautiful. Yusei, Jack, and Crow, each on his duel runner, ride this highway.) <5:00> Crow: This should be interesting. Yusei *counts* on his synchros, I wonder how he'll change his game plan? Jack: I'm ready when you are. Yusei: Go! Yusei and Jack: Activating field spell, Speed World Two! (Both of them press their duel mode buttons at the same time, and the field spell flashes across their screens. According to both screens, it's 10:23 AM and they're traveling at about 120 kilometers per hour.) Computer: Duel mode engaged; autopilot activated. (over loudspeakers) A turbo-duel is about to commence. All non-dueling vehicles must vacate the combat lane immediately. (on screens) Formulating cross-town duel course, and awaiting Central Grid Authority's official authorization. Authorization has been granted. Yusei: Then let's rev it up!! Jack: Right!!

(Ahead, a lone figure in an odd jumpsuit and pink visor walks to the edge of the road, observing the duel from a distance...)

ACT 2 <5:41>

(Jack and Yusei race along one of New Domino's bridges.) Yusei (think): Ghost was able to neutralize my synchro monsters when I summoned them. I wonder if there's a way to put their power to use, but *without* putting them in harm's way? (aloud) Let's do this! (draw) First I summon Shield Wing in defense mode! [Shield Wing /900/L2/] <6:00> Yusei: Then I'll place one card facedown and *end my turn*! (Jack looks over his shoulder at Yusei, clearly unimpressed to the point of annoyance.) Jack: It'll take more than defense to beat *me*. Especially when it's a defense as *pathetic* as the one you just mounted! My turn now! (Scoreboard: Yusei, 4000, 1; Jack, 4000, 1) Jack: And *first*, I'll summon Twin-Sword Marauder! [Twin-Sword Marauder 1600//L4/] Jack: He's got *twin swords* because when Marauder attacks a monster in defense mode, he gets to wage an *extra* assault. Now go, Twin-Sword Marauder! Attack Shield Wing! (Twin-Sword Marauder collides with Shield Wing midair, and bolts of energy radiate from the strike.) Yusei: Shame on you, Jack, you should know that Shield Wing can withstand two attacks per turn. Jack: And *you* should know that since Marauder's attack points are greater than Shield Wing's defense points, you take the difference as damage! Yusei: Uggghh...! (Yusei's lifepoints are already down to 3300. Jack turns around and is now riding backwards, directing his assault with fearless precision.) Jack: That's one attack, and here comes number *two*! Hope keeping your monster alive was *worth it*! Hit 'im again, Marauder! Yusei: Hang tough, Shield Wing! Jack: Oh, *he* may hang tough, but your lifepoints sure won't! Yusei: Ugghhh... (After the second blow, Yusei's lifepoints fall again to 2600. <7:00> Jack swivels around to ride forward again.) Crow: Wow, it'll be tough for Yusei to come back from *that*! Jack: Yes it will, Crow-- especially since this card is now automatically summoned because the warrior-type monster on my field failed to destroy a monster during battle! Come forth, Sword Master! [Sword Master 1200/0/L3/earth] Computer: The card Sword Master is a level-three warrior-type monster with twelve hundred attack points and zero defense points. Jack: Your Shield Wing may be able to withstand *two attacks*, but as they say-- the third time's the charm! Actually-- make that *harm*! (And Sword Master slashes Shield Wing to pieces.) And once again you take the points difference as damage. (Now Yusei's down to 2300.) Crow: Whoa, this is turning into a *blowout*!

(High above the duel lane the three guys are riding in, they are still being watched by the stranger with the pink visor and the strange jumpsuit. As he watches them pass, we glimpse a sharp, intense eye through the visor.)

Jack: There; I'm through. Your move, Yusei-- if you dare! Yusei: Oh, I dare! (draw) (Scoreboard: Yusei, 2300, 2; Jack, 4000, 2.) <8:00> Yusei: For my first move, I summon Junk Synchron in defense mode! [Junk Synchron /500/L3/] Crow: A tuner monster?! Yusei: And since Junk Synchron's been summoned, I can now bring back from my grave to the field a level-two-or-below monster in defense mode. And the monster I'm summoning back is Shield Wing! [Shield Wing /900/L2/] Crow: A level-three tuner monster and a level-two monster. Usually there'd be no doubt, Yusei'd go ahead and synchro-summon Junk Warrior. But since he swore off synchro-summoning, it's anyone's guess! Yusei: And now because I have two monsters out in defense mode, I can summon forth *this* card from my hand! Backup Warrior! [Backup Warrior 2100//L5/] Yusei: Then I'll play a trap-- "Synchro Deception"! Ya see when the monsters needed to synchro-summon are gathered on the field, by sending Junk Warrior from my extra deck to the graveyard, Backup Warrior's attack points increase by half of Junk Warrior's attack points! In other words, Jack, Backup Warrior's strength now goes up by eleven-hundred and fifty points! <9:00> (Backup Warrior's new total is 3250.) Yusei: Now go, Backup Warrior, take out that Sword Master! Rapid Blast Barrage! (Backup Warrior destroys Sword Master; Jack's lifepoints plummet to 1950.) Jack: Ugh... Yusei: I end my turn. (Backup Warrior's attack points return to their original 2100.) Jack: Interesting. So instead of *summoning* a synchro monster, you used its components to increase *another* monster's attack points. Guess that's *one* way to keep them *in* the battle but *off* the battlefront. However in *my* opinion it's quite a *cowardly* way, Yusei! My turn! (Scoreboard: Yusei, 2300, 3; Jack, 1950, 3) Jack: First I summon Dark Bug from my hand! [Dark Bug 100//L1/] Jack: And I can assure you he's gonna *bug* you, because when he's successfully summoned I'm then allowed to summon one tuner monster from my grave! Return to battle, Sword Master! [Sword Master 1200/0/L3/earth] Jack: And now I'll tune my level-three Sword Master with the level-one Dark Bug and level-four Twin-Sword Marauder to do what you should've *never questioned doing*, Yusei!! (Tuning math: L1 + L4 + L3 = L8) <10:00> Jack: I'm going to bring out the ultimate, the all-powerful, the Red Dragon Archfiend in a synchro-summon!! [Red Dragon Archfiend 3000//L8/] Jack: Now then, here's where I prove that you're *wrong* about synchros, Yusei! Go, Red Dragon Archfiend, attack Backup Warrior! (Archfiend blasts Yusei; big cloud of fire, brimstone, and dark smoke.) Yusei: Aaaaagggghhhh!! (Yusei's down to 1400 lifepoints.) Jack: Yes! (Jack swerves around sideways and brakes. Yusei halts also, still winded. Crow brakes beside him.) Crow: Jack...? (Jack presses a button on his runner.) Computer: Duel mode disengaged. (Archfiend evaporates.) Jack: This duel's *over*. (Jack rides over and stops beside Yusei.) Jack: We both know how it's going to end, there's no point going any *further*. (Yusei stops breathing heavily, but doesn't answer.) Jack: D'you understand now, Yusei? Synchro monsters may not be perfect, but they're still the best weapon we've *got*. Crow: No one's saying they're not a great weapon, Jack; it's just that the Ghost was able to trap them. Jack: The Ghost is long gone. (He accelerates and heads back the way they came.) Jack: ...And so am I! (Yusei's hand is shaking on his runner's acceleration grip.) Crow: O-*kay*... (Crow doesn't notice that Yusei is shaking all over, his eyes wide with fear and desperation.) <11:00>

(The guy with the pink visor is still watching from afar; he's seen the whole thing.) Visor (think): I've seen enough.

(Suddenly Yusei has a feeling, and looks over his shoulder at the spot where the man with the visor was just standing. There's no one there.) Yusei (think): Someone's out there...

ACT 3 <11:12>

(Nighttime in New Domino City lights up the new racing tracks in dazzling loops of multicolored streetlights, leading up to a brightly-lid pavilion on stilts above the water. The video screen atop it displays the WRGP logo, and there are several holographic screens floating in the night sky around.) Leo: The *World Racing Grand Prix Gala!*

(Inside the pavilion, a fancy gala is happening. Leo has his best clothes on and a big, enchanted smile on his face.) Leo: This is cool!! (Leo is standing with Yusei, Crow, Akiza, and Luna. Apparently they just walked in. Luna is cautiously a few steps up from the floor, also in her nicest clothes. Akiza is wearing a bright red strapless evening gown, white elbow-length gloves, and high heels. Yusei and Crow are in their normal clothes, but don't look entirely underdressed. Leo jumps around, trying to take in everything at once.) Leo: The music! The decorations! The duelists! and best of all, the *food*! (Elsewhere in the room, three young men in matching blue jumpsuits with a unicorn emblem on the chest smile and wave politely at the flashbulbs. The one of the three standing in the center has a distinctive point sticking out of the front of his red hairdo. We hear a reporter speak.) - The stars are out tonight, ladies and gentlemen. Some of the *best duelists in the world* are here with us. (The reporter and his camera guy move away from the crowd around the guys in blue jumpsuits; the reporter keeps talking.) - Oh, that's it-- I have to get my autograph book!! Ohh! Or maybe they could just sign my face! (The reporter and camera guy run past the twins, Crow, Yusei, and Akiza, who are still uncomfortable in their swanky surroundings.) Crow: I'll tellya, things have been so *intense* lately! This party should really help us take our mind off things, don't'cha think? Akiza: ...Huh? ...Uh, sure. (Crow glances back and notices the same thing Akiza has; Yusei's even quieter than usual, staring straight ahead, and doesn't look very happy.) Crow: Huh? (singsong) Yusei... hello, Yusei? Akiza (think): *He's* thinking about it, too.

(Flashback. Yusei, riding his runner with Akiza riding double on the crossbar behind, draws a card.) Akiza (VO): The duel with Sherry. (Sherry glances back over her shoulder at him, her eyes bright with mischief and excitement. Akiza worriedly glances at her, then down at Yusei; she can't see his face, only the back of his helmet.) Akiza (VO): She got under Yusei's skin *then*... (End Flashback.)

Akiza (think): And she's *still under it now*. Something needs to be *done*. Carly: ...*Anyway*, it all started-- <12:00> (Carly, in the same ruffly periwinkle gown that we saw her in at the Atlas Rising gala and carrying her trusty camera, has been chatting over near Andre and Breo of Team Unicorn. She just noticed Yusei's group and waves excitedly.) Carly: Hey guys, over here!! Crow (wearily): Hey, Carly. What're *you* doing here? Carly: What else? I'm doing a story. After all, this is like *the* premier duel event of the season! (As she speaks, one of the spaghetti straps on her gown slips down around her shoulder and she readjusts it.) Carly: Ooh! Check it out, there's Team Unicorn! (she turns and raises her camera to snap a picture) Pointy hair and all! Speaking of... why isn't *Jack* here? Crow: ...You're right. Jack *lives* for these kinds of events, it's not like him to miss a big party like this. That is, unless-- Jack: Looking for *me*? (Crow and Akiza turn to look. Jack is wearing an absurdly snazzy suit in his usual white and purple, with gold embroidery around the edges. A sort of waist-down cape creates the effect of a duel blazer; white pants; white shirt under gold-embroidered gray vest with purple collar and fancy bell sleeves with wide, gold-embroidered cuffs and golden rings around his biceps; and to top it all off, a white hat. The effect is actually a bit cowboy, and a lot tacky, but no one could accuse him of being underdressed for the occasion.) Crow: ...Unless he wants to be fashionably late. Jack: *Fashionable* is right; *nothing* beats a *tailored suit*! Crow: What?! Ya had it *tailored*?! Jack, how many times do I have to tell you-- we barely have enough money to make our rent and eat!!! (Carly's watching this exchange sheepishly. Jack never once loses that smug look.) Crow: What made ya use a tailor?! Jack: Carly. She said I'd look extra-handsome in a fitted suit. (Just when it looks like the argument could go all night...) Lezar: Your attention, please! Carly: Uh... Jack: Oh, *good*, it's starting! (Lezar is standing on a gallery above the room. His face appears on several holographic screens that float through the air as he speaks. We can definitely hear him clearly, his voice echoes slightly; he's most likely wired for sound.) Lezar: I am Lezar, and I thank you for joining us tonight to celebrate the commencement of the first ever, World Racing Grand Prix! <13:00> (The guys in the blue jumpsuits are also watching, elsewhere in the crowd. As Lezar speaks, the screens shift to show images of the city and its new bridge architecture.) Lezar: As everyone knows, New Domino City has undergone quite a few changes as of late, not *least* of which was the opening of the Daedalus Bridge, which has effectively ended the strife that once existed between the City and the Satellite. Now duelists can come and go through *both* districts. So what better way to celebrate this *triumph*, than with a duel event like no other! And I *assure you*, my friends, the World Racing Grand Prix will be *exactly that*. Many surprises await, believe you-me, but for now let me just say *welcome*!! (The crowd cheers; several people on the ground clap politely. Yusei, Jack, and Crow don't; once again Akiza glances over at Yusei, worried.) Yusei (think): ...Do I *really need a new strategy*...?

(Flashback) FB Jack: Now then, here's where I prove that you're wrong about synchros, Yusei! Go, Red Dragon Archfiend, attack Backup Warrior! (Archfiend blasts Yusei; big cloud of fire, brimstone, and dark smoke.) FB Yusei: Aaaaagggghhhh!! (End Flashback.)

Yusei (think): Could Jack be right? Is it foolish for me to try and duel without using synchros to their full ability? (Then once again, Yusei feels the gaze of a sharp gray eye through pink glass. He jumps a little, startled. <14:00> The person who was watching his duel with Jack can be seen walking away on the other side of the room.) Yusei: Uh... (Then, the Kaibadome announcer appears on the screens above, holding a microphone.) Announcer: Greetings, one and all!! It is my great honor to announce a very special feature in this, our premiere Grand Prix! (The lights dim, and a holographic model of New Domino's dueling tracks appears in the air above the room. Small specks of light race along the tracks like fireflies on duel runners. Some of the tracks even seem to loop-the-loop. Akiza gazes up at it in openmouthed wonder; Jack and Crow look serious, faced with a fresh challenge.) Announcer: What you see before you is a new duel course currently under construction in New Domino City! *But* this is not just *any* duel course; these roads can transform to create tracks the likes of which you've never seen! But, in order to duel on it, you'll need to prove your Duel Monsters mettle and win your way to the finals! Good luck, duelists!

(Elsewhere, probably in the same building, Lezar walks down a plain, curving hallway and enters a sitting room in which the three Directors-General are sitting on couches observing the festivities on a holographic screen.) Lezar I am pleased to report that the gala is a great success, my Directors. (We don't yet know the Directors' names as of this transcript, but for clarity's sake I will use their names. The one with the thick gray facial hair is Jacob, the one with the sword is Primo, and the shortest one is Lester.) Jacob: Well done, Lezar. Lezar (bows): But of course. Lester: The fools don't have a clue what's *really* going on! Heheheheheheheheh! Primo: And it's important that it *stays* that way. After all, if these duelists find out what we're up to, this will all be in vain. <15:00> Jacob: Yes. If we're going to use their power, they must *believe* that they're exerting it only to win this tournament. Then, when their duel energy is ours, and ready to be channeled for the grand design, it will be too late for them to stop me-- that is, too late for them to stop *us*. (Primo turns away to conceal the sneer of rage on his face!)

(Back to the party. Carly and the twins are enjoying the buffet; Jack and Crow are chatting nearby, with Akiza listening off to the side. Yusei is still brooding, off a distance away from his friends by himself.) Andre: Yusei Fudo? Yusei: Huh? (Yusei snaps out of his reverie at the sound of his name. He's being addressed by the three guys in the blue jumpsuits. The one speaking to him has dark red, spiky hair.) Andre: It *is* you; you're the duelist who won the Fortune Cup a while back, am I right? I've heard about you; good things! (Yusei is a bit taken aback, then frowns suspiciously. The guy with the dark red hair misinterprets his discomfort.) Andre: Sorry, allow me to introduce ourselves; we go by the handle 'Team Unicorn'. Crow: Team Unicorn?! (Crow has joined the conversation, and he is stoked to meet them.) Crow: I know you! You guys have, like, every team-dueling record that's *out* there! *You're* the guys who made team dueling so popular! Andre: And *you are*? Crow: The name's Crow; I'm one a' Yusei's teammates. Yusei: Uh, excuse me. (With one last suspicious glance at Team Unicorn, Yusei turns and walks away.) Crow: Yusei-- what gives, whereya goin'?! (to Team Unicorn, false-cheery) Uh, sorry, he's really not usually like this. Uh, pardon me for a second. <16:00>

(Crow follows Yusei around the staircases, through the corridor between them and the windows, and grabs him by the shoulder.) Crow: Hey, Yusei! (Yusei shoves him off; his mood's been getting worse and worse all night.) Yusei: Let go! Crow: Huh? Ugh, what is your *problem*, man?! Don't tell me it's still the Ghost! (Yusei stops walking.) Crow: So it *is* the Ghost. (He walks up to Yusei, but doesn't try to grab his shoulder again.) Crow: Look, I'm not gonna pretend to understand what you're going through. But if you wanna talk about it, I'm *here*. Yusei: Sorry, Crow, not this time, okay? Crow: Huh? (Crow grimaces, watching Yusei keep walking away all alone. As Yusei walks past a guy looking out the huge plate glass windows that make up the wall of the pavilion, the guy starts to freak out. Yusei turns to look at what's going on, right before a giant duel runner, bristling with punk-metal spikes, crashes through the window. The party is immediately in chaos. Everyone tries to run for cover as the huge guy on the runner happily perpetuates the mayhem. Huge guy, big bulging muscles, tanned complexion, T-shirt with a skull and crossbones, electric pink mohawk and prison dye shaped like a lightning bolt between his right eye and mustache. He is now parked in the middle of the floor.)

(The Directors-General are watching all this.) Lezar: What? Who is *this* guy?!

Debacle: Hope none a' you uppacrusts mind me crashin' your party! (Carly mutters aside to Crow, Jack, Akiza, and the twins.) Carly: That's Debacle; he's a local tough guy. (Security officers move amongst the crowd. Debacle holds up a WRGP poster.) Debacle: I heard about your little contest, but guess what-- it ain't happenin' unless I gets a cut a' the prize dough! (Trudge is there, in a stylish business suit that suggests he's stepping up into his role as Vice-Chief from having been enjoying the party.) Trudge: Arrest him!! <17:00> (Dozens of Security officers swarm forward at Trudge's command; Debacle easily sends several of them flying. The party is in chaos again; Debacle starts riding, scattering bystanders and overturning tables.) Debacle: Comin' through!!

Primo: Heheheheh. I like this fellow's style.

(Debacle keeps riding, scattering the crowd and the party tables.) Debacle: Lemme clear those tables! (Party guests scatter right and left, until finally the only person left standing in front of Debacle is Akiza, looking delicate and helpless in her evening gown, her duel disk already activated on her white-gloved arm. She squares her shoulders and faces down the charge.) Yusei: Look out!!

ACT 4 <17:19>

(Debacle blazes a path across the floor of the soiree, scattering tables and bystanders.) Debacle: Who wants some! (Soon the only person standing in his path is Akiza, looking delicate and helpless in her evening gown, her duel disk already activated on her arm.) Debacle: How 'bout *you*! Yusei: Akiza!! Akiza: Come forth, Black Rose Dragon! (Akiza's card shimmers with power as she throws it onto her duel disk. Debacle shouts in terror at the sight of Akiza's monster.) Debacle: Aaaaagghhh! (Black Rose Dragon whips him back with her vines; double take, triple take-- )

(And he crashes through another window, his runner overturned, and lands on the dark patio outside.) Debacle: H-how dare you! (The big tough Facility thug looks up at the petite female duelist whose gown perfectly matches her monster's petaled wings. She's smiling slightly, an unnatural glimmer in her eyes. Security takes advantage of the moment and rushes in.) - All right, men, surround him! You're coming with us! Debacle: You'll *never* catch me!! (Debacle jumps back on his runner; the big back wheel allows it to flip itself back over; the officers scatter before he can land his front wheel on any of their helmets and he speeds away across the wide terrace.) Trudge: Quickly! Take to your duel runners! (Security guys run past Akiza, as she stands, motionless, on the terrace.)

(Her face is up on the screen the Directors-General are watching.) Jacob: A *psychic duelist*? <18:00> (Primo stands, disgusted.) Primo: I've have enough of these theatrics! Time to put an end to this. (He heads for the door.)

(Out on the tracks and roads below the pavilion, Debacle zooms out into the road, pursued by about ten Security runners.) - Stop, in the name of the law!! Debacle: You Sector slobs just don't give up, do ya? (He pulls ahead; the Security runners just can't keep up. Then the Security officer in the lead is startled as yet another duel runner joins the chase, overtaking him and leaving him in the dust with ease and bulleting after Debacle.) - Ah! (He pulls up a screen on his runner; it shows a diagram of the runner he just saw, with question marks populating every label.) - Unregistered runner? Could it be... the Ghost?!

(The Director with the sword, astride the mystery runner, is coming up fast on Debacle.) Debacle: Agh?!

(Meanwhile, back at the party, Security officers are comforting injured or traumatized guests, and reporters are buzzing around. Everyone's sitting around, groaning, recovering from the shock. Jack can be seen being interviewed by a few reporters. Trudge is standing around with an earpiece.) Trudge: What?! *Did you say the Ghost is on the scene?!* (Yusei and Crow, standing nearby, both turn-- what?!)

(Back on the road, Debacle careens out of a huge cloud of fire and smoke, skidding all over the road.) Debacle: Please, I'll surrender but no more duelin'!! (His opponent is right on top of him once the smoke clears, and his monster is frighteningly familiar-- it's Machine Emperor Wisel!)

(Yusei, Jack, and Crow run down a hallway in the pavilion, Akiza and the twins running behind.) Jack: I don't know how the Ghost is back. But I do know *this* much-- Jack Atlas is going to *take him down*! <19:00> (Yusei looks uncertain.)

(Another explosion, and Debacle flies into the air then lands, scraping against the sides of the duel lane, out of control. His opponent gracefully rounds the corner, right on his tail.) Debacle: Aaaagghh!

(The pavilion has what has to be the biggest ever parking garage full of duel runners; this is the most of them we've ever seen, let alone in one place. The Signers are jogging past them.) Jack: Come on-- we've got to try and catch up with him! (A stranger blocks their path, and they stop running.) Crow: Hey, outta the way, we're in a *hurry* here! (It's the same man who's been watching Yusei from a distance, the guy with the pink visor and the blue jumpsuit, with a sort of mantle of armor around his collarbone and shoulders made of grey plastic or metal. His dark blue hair is spiky.) Leo: Do we *know* you? (The stranger walks up to Yusei; we again glimpse his sharp grey eyes through his visor.) Yusei (think): It's those same eyes. The ones that've been watching me...!

(Flashback. On the road earlier, Yusei turns suddenly, aware that he's being watched. No one is there. Again he felt that same eye, across the room at the gala. End Flashback.)

(The strange character and Yusei are now face-to-face; they stare at each other for a moment. Yusei seems surprised, startled out of his gloom by what he sees in this person's eyes, which caught his attention even when directed at his back from far away. Jack snaps out of it first.) Jack: Forget *him*, Yusei! Let's *go*! (Jack and Crow keep running, the twins and Akiza follow, and Yusei shakes it off and starts to follow also. The stranger turns and calls after them.) Visor: Go and do *what*? (All six of them stop running and turn back to face him again. He speaks with almost sardonic candor.) Visor: The duel will be over by the time *you* find the Ghost. And even if it's *not*-- you won't be able to help. *Will you,* Yusei? (Yusei gasps. The grey eye behind the visor meets his gaze levelly.) Visor: You're not ready to face the Ghost again. <20:00> (Yusei's eyes betray alarm; how does he know?!)

(Out on the road, Machine Emperor Wisel reigns over a ghastly bonfire that rises high into the night sky in a smoking column of fire and burning ashes. There is little doubt how the duel ended.)

Visor: You must first find what you're looking for. Yusei: 'Looking for?'

(Primo sits astride his runner, close enough to feel the flames, the five pieces of Machine Emperor Wisel on his console. He looks over his shoulder right at the camera, as if he can see beyond it.) Visor (VO): That's right. The Synchro Solution.

Crow: The *Synchro Solution*? What's *that* all about? And another thing! Who exactly *are* you?! How'bout a *name* or somethin', *buddy*! Visor: You can call me Visor. Yusei: So Visor, how do we know we can trust you? Visor (short laugh): You *can't*. Where *I* come from, trust is something a person has to *earn*. Guess you'll have to duel me and find out for yourself! Yusei: ...Lead the way, *Visor*.

END