Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monster GX Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkness of Destiny ❯ Casino Duel! Slot Machine MK-II ( Chapter 8 )

The Darkness of Destiny

 

Chapter 8

 

Casino Duel! Slot Machine MK-II

 

The doors to what Alexis supposed would be the backyard in a normal house opened wide. The backyard housed a tennis court in the back, but a large holographic dueling arena was staring Alexis right in the face.

 

“She's a beauty ain't she?” Aster nodded, walking up behind her. “The thing is practically an antique, ever since Kaiba Corp started manufacturing Duel Disks at large.”

 

“So why keep it around?” Alexis replied, climbing over to the red podium.

 

“I requested it from Pegasus myself,” Sartorius explained, moving past Aster. Behind him, a young woman with long blonde hair and green eyes looked over the arena. She had on blue jeans torn at the knees with a pink tank top. A charm bracelet of spade, heart, diamond and club symbols hung around her left wrist. A pair of earrings shaped like red dice hung from her ears.

 

“Nice place. I could dig a crib like this,” Jaclyn Martingale nodded, following Sartorius to the blue podium. “How much am I getting paid for this anyway?” she asked, stepping on the platform to the console. The platform rose up.

 

“Five hundred dollars,” Sartorius replied. Jaclyn tapped her chin and looked down at him after a moment.

 

“That's about fifty bucks for each card it'll take to win…meh, I've had worse,” she shrugged, pulling out her deck and placing in on the console. It descended into the machine and was auto-shuffled.

 

“Good luck,” Aster said. Alexis nodded and climbed up onto the platform, rising into place. The auto-shuffle opened to receive the deck.

 

“So, you're the chick who's crashing with Aster,” Jaclyn called. “Nice to meet you, I'm Jaclyn. Nothing personal, but I'm gonna have to crush you. I'll buy you lunch afterwards.”

 

“No thanks,” Alexis replied, taking out her deck. Aster turned and watched as Sartorius walked up to him, his hands clasped behind his back.

 

“Well then, Aster, shall we proceed?” the manager asked. Aster nodded, and Sartorius looked up between the two women. “Begin!”

 

-Alexis LP: 4000, Jaclyn LP: 4000-

 

“I'll start,” Alexis cried, drawing. “I summon `Cyber Boarder' (1800, 1600). That's all for now.” The blue and red Cyber girl did a spin as Jaclyn drew. Her eyes twinkled as she looked at the card.

 

“Nice start. But I'm not worried, I've got an ace up my sleeve, and I mean that quite literally,” she smirked.

 

“You mean you're cheating? No wonder you don't duel pro,” Alexis scowled.

 

“Cheat? What kind of loser do you take me for?” Jaclyn snapped. “Yeesh, ever hear of a pun? I never cheat, for your information. I just meant I happened to have this Spell card.” Jaclyn slipped the card onto the console, the hologram appearing in a flash. It showed a pair of handing playing poker with another card hidden under the cuff of the player's sleeve. “Like I said, this card is called `Ace Up a Sleeve', and it lets me look at the top card of my deck. If it's a Light-Attribute Warrior monster, I can summon it. But if not, my card goes to the Grave, and I take a thousand points of damage,” Jaclyn flipped up the card and smiled. “Seems like Lady Luck's husband has a soft spot for ol' Jacky,” she chuckled.

 

“I summon `Queen's Knight' (1500, 1600) in attack mode!” Jaclyn announced. The blonde knight in red armor appeared in a burst of white light. “And next I summon her faithful partner `King's Knight' (1600, 1400)!” A second knight rose, this one in orange armor. “And when I summon him alongside Queen's Knight, I can summon `Jack's Knight' (1900, 1000) to join them!” A third, taller knight in blue appeared between the first two.

 

“I told you she was as competent as any professional,” Sartorius said, glancing at Aster. Aster had his eyes fixed on Jaclyn's field.

 

“This is what we in the gambling biz call a shut-out! Jack's Knight, take the field and attack! Destroy Cyber Boarder with Royal Slash!” Jaclyn called. The royal warrior charged across the field and raised it sword, cleaving the enemy warrior in two. Alexis cried out at the monster exploded. “Now, King's and Queen's Knights, go forth!” Jaclyn continued. The other two warriors leapt up and slashed at a barrier around Alexis's podium. The barrier sparked as the blades made contact.

 

-Alexis LP: 800, Jaclyn LP: 4000-

 

“Alexis!” Aster cried, taking a step forward.

 

“I'll be fine,” Alexis muttered, drawing. “Good move, Jaclyn, but I'm not out yet. I activate the Field Spell `Ritual Sanctuary'!” Jaclyn looked up as a gleaming white church rose around the field. “Now by sending a Spell from my hand to the Grave, I can take any Ritual card from my deck and place it in my hand. I'll discard `Ritual Weapon' to retrieve `Machine Angel Ritual'!” The church background turned into metal as a white portal appeared in front of Alexis. “I sacrifice my `Mind on Air' in order to summon `Cyber Angel Idaten' (1600, 2000)!” The pink and black Angel jump out of the portal and backflipped into place.

 

“And I'll use her special ability to select any Spell card from my Graveyard. And I'll take back the Ritual Weapon I just discarded!” Dakini held a hand into the air as a blue and gold crossbow appeared on the back of her hand. “My Spell raises the power of a Ritual monster by 1500 points!” Alexis cried. “Alright Idaten, take out Jack's Knight with Shining Barrage!” Idaten (3100, 3500) raised her arm and fired a blast of golden lasers. The blue knight was sliced into digital pieces and shattered.

 

-Alexis LP: 800, Jaclyn LP: 2800-

 

“Good move, but I'm not finished. I've still got cards in my hand and chips in my pile,” Jaclyn smirked, drawing. “I play `Quick Draw'. This lets both of us draw one card from our decks. And next, your ante, `Wild Card' (500, 500)!” A small playing card with arms and legs appeared, no eyes or other featured evident on it. The card's back was facing Alexis. “And next, I'll use his special effect! It's a trade-off, Alexis, I give up one card and get one back!” Wild Card flipped over to show Alexis the face. Aster gasped as the Jack's Knight card glowed and reappeared.

 

“But as much as I like the royal family, I've always had a soft spot for the forgotten cards of the deck,” Jaclyn laughed, sliding a card into play. “I activate `Polyermization'. I sacrifice my three Knights!” The warriors turned into balls of light and floated around the field before slamming into each other. A tall, black-suited knight rose from the field. A sword shaped like an elongated spade-symbol was in his hand, a shield like a heart on the back of his other hand. Purple hair ran down his back.

 

“Meet my personal favorite fifty-third card, `Arcana Knight Joker' (3800, 2500)!” Jaclyn called. “Now to cause a little damage! Arcana Knight, attack with Royal Flush!” The knight roared and slashed the sword horizontally, a flurry of playing cards erupting from the blade and zooming across the field. Idaten screamed as the torrential shattered her crossbow.

 

-Alexis LP: 800, Jaclyn LP: 2800-

 

“I'll wrap up my turn by playing a little number I like to call `7'.” Jaclyn finished. A glowing red seven floated up behind the Joker Knight as Alexis drew.

 

“C'mon, Alexis!” Aster shouted. Alexis gave him a quick glare before going back to the duel.

 

“I'll place two cards face-down, and summon `Cyber Gymnast' (800, 1800) in attack mode. And next I'll use her special ability. By sending a card in my hand, like my `Fulfillment of the Contract', to the discard pile, I can destroy one of your monsters in attack position. So wave goodbye to your Arcana Knight!” The brown gymnast flung out a hand and hurled a dagger across the field.

 

“Do you think my Arcana Knight is so easily defeated?” Jaclyn scoffed. “Arcana Knight has a special ability. Whenever he would be destroyed by a card effect, if I happen to discard the same type of card that is destroying him, he survives! Now, since he is being destroyed by a monster, I can ditch a card of the same type from my hand to negate his destruction! Now, since he's being destroyed by a card effect, I simply have to discard my `Slot Machine' to block that assault!” The dagger screeched to a halt and exploded.

 

“My Gymnast is vulnerable!” Alexis cried.

 

“This is not good,” Sartorius muttered. Aster clenched his fist.

 

“I'll assume you're done, so I'll draw now,” Jaclyn said, drawing again. “I play my second `7' card. And now, Arcana Knight Joker, attack her directly and end this duel!” The Joker slashed and sent another flurry of playing cards across the field.

 

“I reveal my Trap card `Mirror Force'!” Alexis said, flipping the card up. “This card calls off your attack and destroys your monster!”

 

“Not so fast! Arcana Knight, activate your effect! I send the Trap `Straight Flush' to the discard slot to cancel out your Trap!” Jaclyn countered.

 

“Not yet, I have a second face-down card! Reveal `Pure Pupil'! As long as I have a monster with less than 1000 points, I can negate your monster's effect and destroy it!”

 

“You don't learn,” Jaclyn scowled. “I discard…” Jaclyn looked at her hand and gasped. “No!”

 

“I'm guessing you remembered, your Arcana Knight requires you to discard a Trap, and from the shocked look on your face, it seems you're all out!” Alexis cried. A blast of fire shot out from Alexis' trap and engulfed the Joker.

 

“Arcana Knight!” Jaclyn moaned, watching the monster burn.

 

“That's more like it!” Aster shouted, nodding. Sartorius watched him with a strange smile.

 

“My move, now!” Alexis said, drawing. “I sacrifice my Cyber Gymnast in order to summon `Cyber Discus' (2300, 1400).” The new Cybergirl had blue skin under a purple bodysuit, and a pair of razor-sharp discs in her hands. “Cyber Discus, attack Jaclyn directly!” Alexis commanded. The girl whooped and flung the discs across the field. Jaclyn cringed as the hologram shot through her. “And whenever Cyber Discus destroys one of your monsters, you have to discard a card!” Jaclyn glared and sent `7 Complete' to the Graveyard. “That's all for now,” Alexis finished.

 

-Alexis LP: 800, Jaclyn LP: 600

 

“I'm not gonna lose,” Jaclyn muttered, drawing. She smiled. “Perfect. I activate the final card `7'!” A third glowing even symbol appeared. “And now that I control three of them, I can activate their special abilities! First, I gain 2100 Life Points! Then, I banish all three of them to the discard pile and draw three new cards!” Jaclyn drew with a smirk.

 

“Well well, seems Jacky hit the jackpot! I play the Spell card `Silent Doom'! This nifty card lets me revive a normal monster from my Graveyard in defense mode, and I choose `Slot Machine' (2000, 2300)!” A giant, gleaming machine rose onto Jaclyn's field, three slot dials on its chest. “Next I activate the Spell card `Polymerization'!” Jaclyn called. “I'll use it fuse the Slot Machine on the field the `Roulette Barrel' (1000, 2000) in my hand!” Alexis' eyes widened as a cloud of dust enveloped Jaclyn's field. As the smoke cleared, a hulking form loomed from the cloud. The machine was covered in gleaming dark blue metal, with a pair of large cannons slung over either shoulder. It's left arm jutted out forward and ended in a spiked mace, and the right was flat and had a coin slot on the palm. Three silver slot dials were displayed on the monster's chest.

 

“Behold my favorite card, `Slot Machine Mk-II' (2800, 2500)! And if you think he's impressive now, just wait! Slot Machine, give the reels a spin!” Jaclyn commanded. The mace arm of the machine creaked down and sprung back up, the reels spinning. One by one, they slid to a stop to display three `lemon' symbols. “Three lemons. That means I get an extra thousand chips! And with that taken care of, Slot Machine MK-II, attack Cyber Discus!” The machine's arm cranked again, and a bombardment of golden coins flew out of the coin tray below the slots. Cyber Discus let out a cry as the coins exploded around her.

 

-Alexis LP: 300, Jaclyn LP: 3700

 

“I think I've done enough damage for one turn, so I'll end,” Jaclyn smiled. Alexis scowled.

 

“Alexis, keep going! Like Jaden always used to say, a duel's not over until the last card is played!” Aster cried. Alexis flinched visibly, but nodded.

 

“I'm going to win this!” she snapped, drawing.

 

“Unlikely, seeing as how even if you manage to get rid of my Slot Machine, which you won't, I've still got more Life Points than ever. There's no way you can deplete a chip stack like this in a single move,” Jaclyn countered. Alexis looked at her hand.

 

“I play `Pot of Greed'. This lets me draw two more cards from my deck,” she said, doing so. Alexis gasped. “Oh no!”

 

“Let me guess, no good?” Jaclyn yawned. “Hey, don't sweat it, you made some good bets, but sooner or later the antes get too big to handle.” Alexis gritted her teeth.

 

“I have to…wait a minute!” she muttered, reaching into her pocket. She drew her deck case and took out a card. “I nearly forgot about this!” she cried, smiling. She looked up at Jaclyn and put her deck case away, keeping the single card in her hand. “You want to make this a casino duel, Jaclyn? You can bring all your cards and games, I'll be bringing the dancing girls.”

 

“What are you babbling about?” Jaclyn demanded. “If your monsters are so hot, roll `em out!”

 

“You got it! I activate `Landscaping'! This handy card changes the scenery, by destroying the current Field and letting me replace it with another Field from my deck. And I choose `Fusion Gate'!” Jaclyn stepped back as the chapel field crumbled to reveal a network of glowing blue grids.

 

“I do believe Alexis is about to win,” Sartorius muttered. Aster nodded.

 

“I use the effect of Fusion Gate! It lets me summon a Fusion monster without the need for a Polymerization card! I fuse together `Etoile Cyber' with `Cyber Tutu' to bring out this!” The blue grids flashed as a tall, lean monster floated out of them. Pink, purple and blue spirals of silk ran down her arms, and long pink hair down her back. Her skin was a swirl of red and blue. A long blue skirt with red frills covered her lower body.

 

“Give it up for my new pal `Cyber Ballerina' (2000,1500)!” Alexis cried. “Alright, Ballerina attack! Doom Spin!” The dancer held her hands up and kicked into a rapid spin, jumping up into the air.

 

“She doesn't have the power to beat my Slot Machine!” Jaclyn protested.

 

“Who said I was attacking your monster?” Alexis asked. “Cyber Ballerina can bypass your defenders and attack you directly. But there's more, because whenever she attacks due to her special effect, her attack power doubles!”

 

“Say what?!?” Jaclyn shrieked. The ballerina dropped down and delivered a high kick. Jaclyn screamed and stumbled back and tripped over the back of the podium, falling back with a thud.

 

-Alexis LP: 300, Jaclyn LP: 0000-

 

“And that's game!” Alexis laughed grabbing her deck and jumping down from the podium before the platform finished descending.

 

“Very impressive Ms. Rhodes. I'm glad to see that my trust in you was not misplaced,” Sartorius said, walking over to her and offering a hand. “Ms. Martingale and I must discuss her fee, but afterwards, come inside and we'll get these contracts signed right away.” Alexis nodded and shook his hand as Jaclyn stepped up behind her.

 

“Day-am, Rhodes, nice skills. Hey, you ever want to throw down again, gimme a call,” Jaclyn offered. Alexis turned and nodded as Jaclyn followed Sartorius into the house.

 

“Way to go,” Aster offered, leaning back against the podium. Alexis nodded again.

 

“Thanks. For everything, I mean. Maybe now I can finally get my career going for real,” she replied. “It was close, but I pulled it off.”

 

“No biggie,” Aster shrugged. “It's like I said, or like Jaden used to say, or whatever, just believe. You've got a real bond with your deck, Alexis, and that's something not too many pros have. It's also the makings of some of the best duelists in the world.”

 

“Yeah, a bond with your deck,” Alexis muttered, narrowing her eyes. Aster noticed and stood up.

 

“What's up? What did I say this time?” he asked. “Is it that Jaden comment or something?”

 

“Look, it's something no one needs to hear about,” Alexis replied.

 

“Yeah, well I wanna. Obviously something is bugging you, so spill it. Where is he, what happened to him?” Aster demanded. Alexis sighed and waved at a patio set.

 

“Sit down,” she whispered, doing so. Aster pulled out the chair opposite her and sat. “I don't know where he is. He vanished about half-way through our third year, after…” Alexis trailed off.

 

“Come on, tell me,” Aster urged. Alexis closed her eyes.

 

“Alright, but trust me, if you even consider Jaden half the kind of friend I used to, you're not going to like this,” she warned.

 

Ace Up a Sleeve

Spell

Flip up the top card of your deck. If it is a Light-Attribute Warrior monster, Special Summon it. If not, shuffle that card into your deck. You take 1000 damage.

 

Quick Draw

Spell

Both players draw 1 card.

 

Wild Card

3 Star LIGHT Warrior

ATK: 500

DEF: 500

Offer this card as Tribute to Special Summon one monster in your Graveyard that was destroyed as a result of battle.

 

Cyber Discus

5 Star DARK Warrior

ATK: 2300

DEF: 1400

When this card inflicts damage to your opponent's Life Points, your opponent discards one card. When this card is destroyed, draw 1 card.

 

Slot Machine MK-II

8 Star DARK Machine/Fusion

ATK: 2800

DEF: 2500

Slot Machine + Roulette Barrel

Once per turn, roll a six sided die and activate one of the following effects depending on the results:

1 - destroy 1 card on the field

2 - draw 1 card

3 - gain 1000 Life Points

4 - decrease your opponent's Life Points by half

5 - draw 3 cards

6 - nothing

 

Landscaping

Spell

Activate only when there is a face-up Field Spell. Shuffle that Field Spell into the owner's deck, and activate 1 Field Spell from your deck.

 

Cyber Ballerina

7 Star EARTH Warrior/Fusion

ATK: 2000

DEF: 1500

Etoile Cyber + Cyber Tutu

This card can only be special summoned by Fusion Summon. This card can attack your opponent's Life Points directly. If this card attacks your opponent directly using this card's effect, double the original ATK of this card.