Acceleration

TEASER

(The shabby fluorescents shine high up above the floor, hanging from a crossbeam.) Crow: Did that cooling rod work? We in business? (Below, Yusei is kneeling beside an unfamiliar red runner, tinkering with something; Jack and Crow are standing over Yusei and the runner on the opposite side.) Yusei: Yup! (stands up) Thanks for tracking it down! Akiza: Tracking *what* down? (All three guys look up; standing on the ramp that leads from their front door down into the garage is Akiza, wearing a sleek, form-fitting red riding suit edged in black. She looks even a bit sheepish at her flashy new turbo-dueling garb.) Crow: Lookin' *good*...! Jack: You *almost* look like a *turbo-duelist*. Akiza: Is that what I *think it is*...? Yusei (nods): This is your membership card!

(Flashback. Yusei's runner is parked at the side of a road, near a railing facing the sea. Yusei and Akiza stand at the railing side-by-side, looking out at the water.) FB Akiza: So... (hurried) I wanna join the club. I want a piece of the action, I wanna speak your *language*, I just-- I wanna be a part of your *world*, Yusei. FB Yusei: What're you *saying*? FB Akiza: I wanna become a turbo-duelist. (End Flashback.)

(Akiza has walked over to stand near Yusei and the runner. The floor around is scattered with ends of assorted cables, a bucket of water with a rag, a low table and stool with odds and ends scattered on the former, a few open tool boxes, and a laptop sitting on the floor plugged in.) Yusei: We built this bad boy using parts we scraped together from a couple scrap yards. It's no Z-X-twenty-two-hundred, but it'll treat you good enough-- for *now*. (Akiza looks down at her new runner-- fairly modest and nondescript in design-- and at Yusei, misty-eyed.) Akiza: Ah...! I don't know what to *say*, fellas! Yusei: Well, how about-- 'nothing can stop me from getting my license!' (Akiza smiles.)

(Opening)

ACT 1 <1:54>

(Out behind New Domino's Duel Academy, there is a winding loop of track, surrounded by grass.) Instructor: Well enrollment certainly has gone up since the announcement a' the Grand Prix! <2:00>

(Indoors, the lecture hall is filled to the rafters with over a hundred students, most wearing male Duel Academy students' dark blue blazers. A few students are wearing non-Academy clothes. Each hunches over a laptop, while the instructor speaks at a lectern in front, far below.) Instructor: I used to teach this class in the *basement*! Quick warnin' for all you dreamers out there, though-- (Akiza is sitting in the midst of this class in her red school blazer, looking quietly determined.) Instructor: Gettin' your turbo-license is *hard*!

(Later on, Akiza sits alone on a bench in her riding uniform while other students in blazers, including several girls her own age, mill around and chatter; none of them are in riding suits. She shines her helmet until she can see her reflection in its visor.) Instructor (VO): Qualifyin' for the Grand Prix is even *harder*! (The twins' reflections appear in her shiny helmet.) Leo: So does this mean you're gonna be taking the Grand Prix by storm? (The twins takes seats on either side of her; she chuckles a bit at how their arrival startled her.) Akiza: Leo. Luna... Let's not get ahead of ourselves or anything. I'm not even *thinking* about the Grand Prix right now. I'm just hoping I can qualify for a *license*. Luna: Don't worry, Akiza, you're gonna be *great*! - Excuse me, but, uh, are you *sure* you're in the right place? (Akiza looks up; standing over them are three rough-looking guys about her age. The one on her left has a light blue button-up shirt and messy blonde-brown hair; his buddy on the right has black, shiny hair with sideburns, and is wearing an orange jumpsuit for riding. Their friend, behind them in the center, has bright red streaks in the first few locks of his limp brown hair and wears a brown jacket with fluffy lining over a maroon shirt. These three male turbo-dueling students don't look like real trouble, but they look a lot like a hassle. Orange jumpsuit speaks next.) Orange: Yeah, shouldn't ya be at home playin' wit' your *dolls*? Or pretending to cook in a little plastic oven while watching boy bands on TV! (Blue shirt snickers. Luna stands in Akiza's defense.) Luna: Uh, Akiza's a senior at Duel Academy? And she's the best in her class! (Blue shirt, who wears a green riding suit in later scenes so I'll call him Green, puts up his hands, palms-out, sarcastically feigning terror.) Green: Oh, oh, I'm *so scared*! (Brown jacket speaks up contemptuously. In this transcript I'll call him Streaks.) Streaks: This ain't *duel school*. Turbo-duels are the toughest duels *ever*. And it takes a real *man* to handle a duel runner. Akiza: So when are these *real men* supposed to show up? (Once they realize what she just said, they don't like it. Akiza calmly sits on the bench and matches their gazes. Just then, the instructor shouts--) Instructor: Hey, *you* four! Enough dawdlin'! The track's not walkin' over to *you*! <3:00> Move it! (Akiza gets up...)

(Later, she stands at attention before the instructor, in a line of other turbo-dueling hopefuls, each carrying their helmet under one arm. Their runners are parked some distance away.) Instructor: It's time for the trainin' wheels to come off, boys and girl! *No more autopilot* from here on out! (The four students in this group are Akiza and the three boys who tried to pick on her. All four look determined. We finally see the instructor, who's a hefty, square-jawed drill sergeant of a man.) Instructor: It's jus' you, your runner, and the cruel, cruel pavement! Now get on your rides and show me what you're made of! (The four hurry over to their runners; Green now wears a green jumpsuit and Streaks wears a dark blue jumpsuit.)

(As the first student turbo-duelist zooms by on his way onto the track, Yusei joins the twins in the bleachers, hands in his pockets.) Yusei: What did I miss?

(The guy in the blue jumpsuit is first to take the track.) Streaks: This is *cake*; I'm gonna fly around this track faster than a bolt of lightning! (He rounds the first curve, leaning into it at an acute angle, lighting up sparks from the road, and skids out of control, yelling. He crashes into the low barrier of blocks that marks the side of the track. He picks himself back up after his failed run, adding sheepishly--) Streaks: Well, even lightning *crashes*...

(Yusei and the twins watch in the background as the instructor raps a long stick on the ground, emphasizing his words.) Instructor: *Numbskull!* Ya *went too fast*! Next! Orange: Uhh, okay!

(Next contender is the guy in orange. He's a bit more cautious.) Orange (think): Just *stay upright*, just *stay upright*... (aloud) I made it! Instructor: Too slow, fraidy-pants! I coulda lapped ya *four times* already!!

Instructor: Who's next?! (Akiza is the next rider. She rolls forward on the runner Yusei, Jack, and Crow built her.) Akiza: *I* am. (Yusei, Luna, and Leo are watching closely as Akiza glides past them and out onto the track.) Leo: Go, Akiza, rip it up!!

(The wind rushes past Akiza and her runner.) Akiza (think): The *speed*...! The whole world just *flying* at me like this! It's... it's... <4:00> (aloud) It's so incredible! Whooohooooooo!!! (She races into the curve, whooping out loud.)

(Yusei gasps and leans forward.) Yusei: Ah! Luna and Leo: Huh? Yusei: Akiza! Slow down, you won't be--!! Ugh! (All three wince; looks like Akiza crashed spectacularly. We hear her say, sort of whimsically cheerful--) Akiza: I'm okay! Heh!

(Out on the track, Akiza's practice runner's wheels are slowing down in a pile of track-side blocks; Akiza has been flung some distance away, and is picking herself up. She smiles up at the bleachers, chagrined.)

(Another day, late into the afternoon. Yusei's runner is parked by the side of the track, and Yusei and the twins are standing near it, watching Akiza circle the track.) Leo: She's getting better and better every day! Yusei: Yup.

(Akiza is coming up on the sharp turn that thwarted her and the other students.) Akiza: You're *mine*, sharp curve! (She leans into the turn and sparks glint on the edge of her footrest. As she goes into the turn, her runner flips forward and she flies over the handlebars. Yusei and the twins run over to her.) Yusei: Akiza, you okay?! Luna: Easy does it! Akiza: I almost had it, I just...! Uh...! (stands) That's *it*! If more I *drift* at the turn of the beginning then gun it when I bend the *round*, and hold the torque... *that* oughta do it...! (They watch her walk away, probably to retrieve her runner, a bit nonplussed at her mangled grammar.) Leo: I think she's crashed one too many times. (Yusei nods slightly, frowning.)

(Akiza tries the curve again, this time wobbling in toward the inner edge scraping against it, almost staying on course--) Akiza: Ugh! *Hold it*...!! (And she goes flying from her runner again.)

(She tries again, <5:00> suddenly accelerates a bit too much, loses her grip with surprise, and crashes again. She hears Yusei call--) Yusei: You're *pushing* too hard!

(Akiza stands up, ready for one more go, shakes out her hair-- which has stayed in its roller and not much mussed.) Akiza: Okay... I think I've got the hang of it. Yusei (smiles): Good. Just keep trusting your instincts.

(Akiza zooms toward the curve one more time.) Akiza: Angle of entry is good...! And the bike is gripping the track right... Now just let it drift with the curve... Just- *let it drift*... (And at just the right moment, she accelerates and swings out the other side of the curve, completing the maneuver successfully.) Akiza: I *did it*!!

(The twins chuckle, cheered by her success. Yusei smiles proudly, his gaze challenging.) Yusei: Very nice.

(Night, at Yusei, Jack, and Crow's place.) Yusei: This should help stabilize the handling, Akiza. (Yusei works on Akiza's training bike while she stands and watches.) Akiza (think): It's so nice of Yusei to help me like this!

(A bright new day. Akiza races out onto the training track, with Yusei and the twins watching from the bleachers.) Akiza (think): Time to rev it up! (Akiza smoothly rounds the curve, swirls around a sequence of loop-the-loops in the track, and leaps from a ramp, soaring into the sky! She lands on her back wheel, skids a bit to the side, hits the ground riding and keeps going. She rounds one last turn, wheels sparking, and completes the lap.) <6:00> Leo: Oh, man, just *wow*! That's her best time yet! (Akiza is glowing with pleasure at her successful run, then hears--) Instructor: You qualify! Akiza: You *bet* I do! (While the twins cheer, Streaks does *not* look happy.) Streaks (think): She may've qualified, but there's *no way* she's passing the final exam! *I'll* see to that!

ACT 2 <6:15>

(The student turbo-dueling track behind Duel Academy is bright and sunny. Akiza and four classmates, including the three she began training with, line up before the instructor alongside their runners.) Instructor: Well, it's been a gruelin' two weeks. But *Akiza's* the only one a' you sorry punks that even qualified for the final exam! (He raps the ground angrily with his stick.) Instructor: *The rest a' y'all are little failure baby men*!! (Akiza smiles, elated with her success. The boys are very jealous.) Streaks: You gotta be *kidding* me! Orange: This is *bunk*! Green: I can't believe how lame we are... Streaks: Yeah...

(Late in the afternoon...) Yusei: All you gotta do now is pass the final exam. You can do it, Akiza. (They're standing on the track, runners side by side. Akiza's standing beside her practice runner, and Yusei's sitting astride his own runner. The twins are standing off to the side.) Akiza: Ya think? Yusei: Of course; though there's one trick you might wanna learn. (He demonstrates, riding forward at an easy pace, swinging his back wheel around and U-turning back the way he came, then whipping his back wheel around to turn again and continuing moving, backwards, to glide past her as he speaks.) Yusei: You need to know how to drift *backwards*. Akiza: I'm guessing it's *harder* than it looks... <7:00> (Yusei has stopped a few feet behind her.) Yusei: At first. But once you know you can pull it off, you're ready for almost *anything* that might come your way. Akiza: Right; let *me* try.

(Akiza zooms down the track, twists her runner around backwards, and starts skidding and wobbling all over the track.)

(Yusei and the twins are watching from a distance.) Luna: This looks bad-- (All three wince; Akiza just crashed again. They look up--) Yusei, Leo, Luna: Huh?

(Akiza's runner is crashed into one side of the track and she's sprawled over on the other. She groans.) Akiza: Ugh... anyone get the license plate on that *rhino*?

(It's late afternoon at the roller rink. Several skaters glide here and there in the background; we see a couple of people leaning against the side talking, a few others outside the rim of the floor watching the skaters, and a couple who seem to be practicing a pair dance on skates. Yusei and Akiza stand in the middle of the skating floor, both of them wearing in-lines.)

(The twins are leaning against the railing outside the floor.) Leo: Um, d'you feel like a *third wheel*? Luna: This isn't a *date*, Leo.

Yusei: It's all about remembering what was behind you and relaxing. (He easily skates backward several feet, then back around her, still gliding backwards. He stops, and she attempts it next. As soon as she moves a skate, she loses her balance.) Akiza: Whoa-oa-oa! (She topples forward right into him, and he catches her before she falls.) Yusei: You have, uh, skated *before*, right? (She sheepishly looks up at him, blushing slightly; they're still halfway into each other's arms.) Akiza: ...I've *watched* people skating in the park...

Leo: See? This is *totally* a date! Luna: Leo..! He's *trying to teach her something about turbo-dueling!* <8:00>

(We see a series of still shots and hear snatches of dialogue as Yusei and Akiza continue to practice skating. First still. Yusei holds Akiza's hands, gently leading her as she learns to balance; she looks afraid to let go.) Yusei (VO): It's all about anticipation. (Next still. Akiza grabs one of Yusei's hands for balance, nearly causing him to fall.) Akiza (VO, rushed): Maybe I should learn how to go forward first. Yusei (VO): You have to just *trust yourself and let go*. (Next still. Akiza careens backward, balancing haphazardly on one skate, Yusei belatedly reaching out after her.) Akiza (VO): Just for the record, I *meant* to do that!

(Akiza's skates are gliding more smoothly now.) Yusei: You got it! Now spin around and coast! (Akiza glides backward, serenely looking up at the pink and purple domed ceiling. Yusei glides up beside her, also skating backwards, and they meet eyes, smiling, skating side by side.)

(The twins are still watching from the sidelines as they turn around and skate forward.) Leo: *Still* thinking it's not a date? Luna (sigh): Okay, yeah, it's totally a date.

(One final still and voiceover. Yusei and Akiza skate side-by-side, both smiling triumphantly. Yusei hovers just within reach, prepared to steady her.) Yusei (VO): I *know you can do this*, Akiza. Just *trust yourself*!

(Bright early morning at Yusei, Jack, and Crow's place. Akiza walks through the front door, and looks down at the work area, surprised. Yusei, Jack, and Crow are all bare-armed in the sleeveless shirts they wear under their jackets.) Crow: Hey. Jack (teasing): About *time* you showed up. (They're standing around a shiny new runner that bears only a little bit of resemblance to her practice bike. Clearly they've been working hard to surprise her. It's absolutely beautiful.) Akiza: What is *this*! Yusei: Your practice bike wasn't cutting it anymore; so we made a few *adjustments*. (As they speak, we look closer at Akiza's gleaming new duel runner, shimmering in the morning sunlight through the door. It looks like a real, pro runner now, not a practice bike. The new body design is sleek and aerodynamic, in Akiza's signature color of crimson red.) Crow: I installed the brake system and the deck interface. Yusei: I added to the frame and reconfigured the engine. Jack: I provided, *verbal* encouragement. Akiza: It's *awesome*! Yusei: It's a real runner. (She wipes away tears.) Akiza: I guess that... now all it needs is a real rider! Yusei: Are you ready? (Akiza nods.)

(A bright sunny day on the training track behind the Academy. <9:00> Akiza and a few other contenders in yellow jumpsuits stand beside the track, their runners lined up and ready to race. Akiza's three training-group-mates are sitting in the bleachers, Streaks laughing maliciously. Crow and the twins eagerly grab seats in the front row, Jack and Yusei in the next row up.) Crow: Ah! Looks like we just made it! Leo: Here goes the first guy.

(The first contender races out onto the track, his test proctor following on his Security-regulation duel runner. The student's wheel grazes the side of the track, and he flips over his handlebars, hitting the pavement. The proctor zooms past, leaving him in the dust, and finishes the lap.)

Crow: Ooh, wipeout! Jack: Poor sap never drew a card. (The test proctor glides to a halt in front of the stands and removes his helmet--) Trudge: Huh! Another wannabe bites the dust! (Akiza's spectators gasp-- what the?!) Crow: Is that *Trudge*?! (Trudge notices them.) Trudge: Well; if it isn't the *peanut gallery*. You're up, Akiza! (showdown.) Congrats for getting this far. Now there's just one thing standing between you and your turbo-license-- and that thing is handsome, wears a sharp uniform, and answers to 'Officer Trudge'! And it's plannin' on wipin' the *road* with ya, *kid*.

(Crow sits down next to Jack, annoyed.) Crow: Aw, come on!! He's really gonna trash-talk after all we've been through together?! Jack: There's no *way* she can defeat *him*.

(A few seats away, the three boys from Akiza's class are watching the showdown with unpleasantly smug looks on their faces.) Green: You ever hear of 'schadenfreude'? Orange: You mean 'pleasure derived from the misfortune of others'? (Streaks is holding a small remote control in one palm.) Streaks: Sure have! Heheheheheheheh!

(Akiza and Trudge are at the starting line. The heat off the road distorts the air around their feet.) <10:00> Trudge: Sorry, Akiza; but I can't go easy on ya. Akiza: Wouldn't wantcha to.

(A man in a suit with a clipboard speaks from the sidelines.) - It is now time to begin the turbo registration final exam. (He raises an arm.) - On your marks, get set--

(Both duelists' eyes narrow; they tense, ready for the word to begin. They hear it--) - Duel! (-- And they take off. Akiza's wheels squeal a bit then propel her forward; Trudge follows at a distance of several feet, as he did with the last student he proctored.) Trudge: First, I activate the Speed World Two field spell! Let's ride! Computer: Duel mode, engaged. Autopilot, activated. (Trudge rides up next to Akiza, and she glances over.) Akiza (think): If I take the first curve before Trudge, I'll be able to make the first move! Trudge (think): Let's find out what she's got! (They accelerate into the curve, side-by-side. At the last minute Akiza pulls ahead by a nose, her eyes warily glancing over toward Trudge-- Akiza (think): *Yes*! (--And zooms out of the turn, well ahead now.)

Luna: She took that corner perfectly!

(Akiza smiles and stares into space a moment. Trudge gains on her.) Trudge: What're you waiting for, the first move's *yours*. You're not *scared*-- areya, kid?! (He nudges her back fin with his runner, igniting sparks. Akiza winces, shaken.) Akiza: Ugh! Trudge: Look, no one'll blame ya if ya wanna quit *now*! I mean nobody expects you to pass, anyway!

(The other Signers and Leo are on their feet, watching tensely; *they* sure do!) Crow: Man, Trudge is doing everything he *can* to shake 'er up, isn't he! Luna: Why is he *being* like that? Jack: He's just making sure that she can *take it*. (Yusei is watching silently, intensely serious.) Jack: 'Cause if a little pressure throws her off... <11:00>

(Akiza clenches her teeth, steeling herself.) Jack (VO): ...Then her game'll *never* pass this test.

ACT 3 <11:04>

(Akiza races down a straightaway on the track, Trudge in hot pursuit. Akiza's right hand trembles on its handle as she carefully lets her grip loosen, reaches over, and draws a card.) Akiza: The first move's mine! I draw! (She glances at her card, "Speed Spell - Summon Speeder".) Akiza (think): A speed spell! Perfect! Trudge: Come on, kid, show me that you've got what it takes to prove all the doubters wrong!! Akiza: I summon Revival Rose in defense mode! [Revival Rose /1300/L4/] Akiza: And *next* I activate the Summon Speeder speed spell! Computer: Action prohibited. (Akiza freezes.) Akiza: Huh?!

Crow: *Huh?!* ...Did she just do what I think she just did...? Jack: Mm-hmm. I guess she forgot that speed spells require some actual *speed*. Yusei: She's more nervous than I thought...

Akiza (think): Oh, that's *right*! The whole 'speed counter' thing! (They round another curve.) Trudge: *Stop stalling*, make your next move! Akiza: I, I- I end my turn! (They cruise around another corner, past several shelves that hold piles of metal pipes.) Trudge: *My* move, then! <12:00> (Draw. Scoreboard: Akiza, 4000, 1; Trudge, 4000, 1) Trudge: I summon-- Stygian Street Patrol in attack mode! [Stygian Street Patrol 1600/1200/L4/dark] (Trudge's monster is a rider in a dark uniform on a demonic runner.) Trudge: Let's rumble! Go, Street Patrol, send her Rose to the slammer! (Stygian Street Patrol leaps high into the air, and crashes down into Revival Rose.) Trudge: And now Stygian Street Patrol's special ability activates! After destroying your monster in battle, it can knock you with damage equal to the level of your defeated monster multiplied by one hundred points! (Stygian Street Patrol, now riding behind Akiza, blasts her with damage. Akiza yells out and sways a bit.) Akiza: Agh! Trudge: I slap one card facedown and *end* my turn! Akiza (think): If I don't get it together I'm *done* for! Trudge: Are ya feelin' the pressure yet, Akiza? Heheh, how'bout-- *now*! (He decelerates back to meet her, and nudges her front wheel with his back fin, prodding her off-balance. She flinches, but stays on.) Akiza: It's my turn! I draw! (Scoreboard. Akiza, 3600, 2; Trudge, 4000, 2.) Akiza: And I summon, Twilight Rose Knight! [Twilight Rose Knight 1000//L3/] Akiza: And when Twilight Rose Knight is successfully summoned, it can immediately grant me the ability to summon a level-four-or-below plant-type monster from my hand! <13:00> So I'm summoning Lord Poison in attack mode! [Lord Poison 1500//L4/]

Leo: Now *that's* what I'm talkin' about! She's findin' her groove!

Akiza: And now Lord Poison gets a tuning from Twilight Rose Knight! (Tuning math: L4 + L3 = L7) Akiza: I synchro-summon-- Black Rose Dragon!! [Black Rose Dragon 2400//L7/] Trudge: Huh. Pretty good, Akiza. But if you think some overgrown flower lizard's gonna put the fear in *me*, then you need to get real and get serious! Akiza: Yeah, well-- let's see if you're still saying that after Black Rose Dragon attacks Stygian Street Patrol! (Trudge takes the hit; he's down to 3200 lifepoints.) Trudge: Rrrgh! Not a good move, Akiza. Not with my "Final Penalty" trap card on the field! Akiza: Ah?! Trudge: See when you destroy one of my monsters in battle you take damage equal to half its attack points-- and then "Final Penalty" obliterates your attacking monster!! <14:00> (Black Rose Dragon shatters; Akiza ducks. She's down to 2800 lifepoints.) Akiza: Ugh!

Crow: Well, so much for the Dragon. Yusei (mutters): Don't let 'im get to you; come right back at 'im!

Akiza: Since you destroyed one of my monsters, I can summon Revival Rose from my graveyard! [Revival Rose /1300/L4/] Akiza: Next, I place two cards facedown and end my turn! Trudge: Let the good times roll! (draw) (Scoreboard: Akiza, 2800, 3; Trudge, 3200, 3.) Trudge: By yanking Stygian Street Patrol from my graveyard and removing it entirely from play, I can radio for backup and summon a fiend monster from my hand! And look who's arriving on the scene-- *another* Stygian Street Patrol! [Stygian Street Patrol 1600/1200/L4/dark] Trudge: Next, I summon Stygian Security in attack mode! [Stygian Security 100/600/L1/dark] (Stygian Security is a batwinged demon with a siren blaring on its head; it carries a megaphone and a police baton.) Trudge: And since these two just *love* working together, I think I'll tune my Stygian Security with my Stygian Street Patrol, in order to synchro-summon the Stygian Sergeants! [Stygian Sergeants 2200//L5/] (Trudge's Stygian Sergeants are a two-headed demon with bat wings astride a toothy, multiple-eyed hog of a bike.) Trudge: Time for some *brutality*! Stygian Sergeants, *uproot* that Revival Rose! (Revival Rose is destroyed.) Trudge: But I'm *not done there*! <15:00> (Akiza gasps.) Trudge: I'm sure you've heard about officers teaming up to play 'good cop, bad cop', *right*? Well, Stygian Sergeants prefer to play '*bad* cop, bad cop'! When they successfully destroy your monster in battle, they gain eight hundred attack points, and then attack you *again*! (Stygian Sergeants' new attack point total is 3000.)

Yusei: Oh no! She's got twenty-eight-hundred lifepoints-- if he lands this attack then it's all over!

Trudge: Hahahahahahahahaha! Now I attack you directly! (Stygian Sergeants turn around and go after Akiza.) Akiza: I activate the "Offensive Guard" trap card! *When* you attack me directly, I can use the power of "Offensive Guard" to halve the attack points of your monster until the end phase of this turn! And then I can draw another card from my deck! (Now Stygian Sergeants' attack points read 1500. A barrier appears around Akiza, deflecting most of the damage; she's down to 1300 lifepoints.) Trudge: Come *on*! You *survived* that attack?! Well my turn's not over *yet*. And I'm activating the speed spell Speed Demon (sic)! (This card is officially known as "Speed Spell - Speed Storm") Trudge: When I have three speed counters, I can use Speed Demon (sic) to knock you with a thousand points of damage! (Akiza's lifepoints fall again, to 300.) Akiza: Ugh! <16:00>

Crow: Well, she's still hangin' on, but not by very *much* (mutters) ... stupid Trudge...

(Trudge places a facedown; Stygian Sergeants' attack points go back up to 2200.) Trudge: This is your *last chance* to turn things around! Akiza: Well, in *that* case-- (draw) I *will*! (Scoreboard: Akiza, 300, 4; Trudge, 3200, 4.) Akiza: I summon Witch of the Black Rose! [Witch of the Black Rose 1700//L4/] Akiza: When I successfully summon this monster to my field, I get to draw another card from my deck! But if the card I draw's not a monster card, then Witch of the Black Rose'll be destroyed. I draw! ... And it's Dark Verger, so my Witch is safe! Trudge: Hm! Safe but *useless*. Akiza: Huh? Trudge: I play "Climactic Barricade"! This trap can activate when you summon a monster, and once it does I can seal that monster away for the rest of this turn! (Witch of the Black Rose gets sealed inside a translucent purple cube.) Trudge: But that's not the *only* piece of bad news I have for you, Akiza. For every level-four-or-below monster you have on your field, Climactic Barricade dishes out five hundred points of damage-- so like I said earlier, this is your last chance to turn things around! Akiza (think): I've got four speed counters. (aloud) <17:00> Let's see if I can turn things around with the Summon Speeder speed spell! This spell allows me to summon another monster from my hand. [Dark Verger 0/1000/L2/earth]

Yusei: I think I like where this duel is going, Akiza!

Akiza: You may've stopped Witch of the Black Rose from *attacking*, but I can *still* use it to synchro-summon! So now it gives Dark Verger a tune-up! (Tuning math: L2 + L4 = L6) Akiza: I synchro-summon Splendid Rose! [Splendid Rose 2200//L6/] (Splendid Rose is a nimble, graceful blonde warrior with a skintight suit half black, half bright green; thornlike spikes around the hips; and several vines that whip out gracefully from behind her. Her boots are sprouting up flower petals around her ankles.) Akiza: Next, I activate Splendid Rose's special ability! By taking a plant monster from my graveyard and removing it entirely from play, I can cut back the attack points of a monster on the field by *half*! Your Stygian Sergeants just got a little weaker! (One of Splendid Rose's vines grabs Trudge's monster around its middle; it roars.) Akiza: And with *that*, Splendid Rose attacks Stygian Sergeants! Whip it! (Splendid Rose whips around another of her vines and deals a destructive blow to Trudge's monster, and his lifepoints; he's down to 2100.) Trudge: Too little, too late! Akiza: I'm not *done*, there's *more* where that came from!! Trudge: ...There *is*...? <18:00> Akiza: I reveal my trap card, "Blossom Bombardment"! Computer: When your plant-type monster destroys a monster in battle, "Blossom Bombardment" deals damage equal to half the destroyed monster's attack points. Akiza: Now, get ready for my Splendid Rose to prune your lifepoints down to size! (Trudge is now down to 1000 lifepoints.) Trudge: Very clever!

Green: Dude, what if this girl actually *wins* this? Streaks: Not gonna happen! (Streaks shows them his little remote control.) Green: *Huh*? Streaks: Time for the demolition derby! (He presses the remote's single button.)

(Out on the track, Trudge and Akiza are rounding the corner next to the shelves of pipes. Several small explosions erupt, severing the connection between the shelves and their vertical supports, bringing the shelves, and their stacks of metal pipes, crashing down and cascading onto the track, right in front of Akiza!) Akiza: Huh!

Yusei: Akiza!! (Jack, still seated, notices the glee of the guys sitting a few seats away from him...) Streaks: Heheh, take *that*, loser!

(Akiza dodges one pipe that flies past her head, then another.) Akiza: Oh! Oh!

(Trudge, riding ahead, doesn't even glance back.) Trudge: Well *that's* not good -- but if she can't react fast enough, then she's not cut out to be a turbo-duelist!

(Akiza can barely see, surrounded by a cloud of obscuring dust-- until she sees another pipe falling straight toward her head!!)

ACT 4 <18:48>

(As Trudge and Akiza zoom around the corner, the shelf beside the track stacked with metal pipes explodes, sending the pipes cascading down onto the track. Akiza weaves and dodges as pipes fly past her.) Akiza: Ohh...! *I can do this*!

(Flashback, series of still shots. First still; Akiza clings to Yusei's hands as he coaxes her onto the skating floor.) FB Yusei (VO): It's all about *anticipation*. (Second still; Akiza grabs one of Yusei's hands for balance, nearly causing him to fall. Third still; Yusei and Akiza skate side-by-side, both smiling triumphantly. Yusei hovers just within reach, prepared to steady her.) FB Yusei (VO): I know you can do this, Akiza, just trust yourself! <19:00> (End flashback.)

Akiza (think): Yusei's right-- and it's *time I prove it*! (There's a pipe falling straight down towards her head. Akiza presses a button on the end of her left-hand grip with her thumb, depresses the left-side pedal, and rides out the storm of pipes, weaving side-to-side, flipping around backwards than forward again, dodging with nimble precision. She flips around backward again as she comes out of it and just keeps gliding backward.)

(Akiza's three classmates gasp, amazed. The twins cheer.) Luna: Look at her go! Yusei: I *knew* she could do it!

(Akiza swings around to ride forward again, gaining on Trudge once more.) Trudge: Where did you learn how to *ride* like that? (The sunlight sparkles across Akiza's visor like lightning, accentuating her fierce, determined eyes. She is no longer afraid or uncertain.) Akiza: Trudge, *you're goin' down*! I activate Splendid Rose's special ability-- by removing a plant monster in my graveyard from play, I can empower Splendid Rose to attack again with half its attack points! And *since* you don't have any monsters out on your field, Trudge... Splendid Rose attacks *you*! Go, Aerial Twist! (Splendid Rose backflips into the air, spins herself into a whirlwind of thorns and petals, and comes flying right at Trudge, taking out the rest of his lifepoints. The front vent on Trudge's runner pops open, expelling steam. He stops and removes his helmet.) Trudge: Good job, Akiza! (Akiza takes off her helmet and looks at him anxiously.) Trudge: ... You passed the test. (Akiza's face lights up with joy.)

(The twins are laughing and cheering.) Yusei: Nice. Crow: That's our girl! <20:00>

(Jack straightens up, scowling, turns, and walks away.) Jack: *Next* time, *leave my friend alone*. (Behind him, Streaks and his buddies are much the worse for wear, sprawled haplessly on the ground or even hanging backward over the back of the seats.)

(From a distance, a vantage point at a roadside with a clear view of the track, Sherry LeBlanc has been watching from astride her fiery white runner.) Sherry: It would seem zat all ze pieces are gathering on ze board! (She presses a button on the side of her helmet, closing her visor and the grille below it, pauses, then rides away.)

(Her helmet under one arm, Akiza walks up to Yusei and her friends.) Yusei: Hey you. How does it feel to be an official turbo-duelist? (He offers a hand, and she clasps it, eyes shining.) Akiza (with feeling): Great. Just, great.

END