We interrupt your regular scheduled program to inform you on breaking news that has just been brought to our attention here on New Domino News Network. At approximately 2 A.M. last night numerous cases of theft were called into the New Domino police department. One such call came from the history of Duel Monsters exhibit from the ND museum. We have confirmed that cards from histories past have been stolen. The quantity and details of those cards are top secret for security reasons. Meanwhile one other case came in from our city's famous hero, Yusei Fudo, last night detailing that he is another victim of the thefts. We will keep everyone informed with information as soon as it comes in, but for now this is Tom Hardy signing out.

It was a pleasant March evening, not to hot but cold enough for Jace Yuta to have his trademark custom yellow jacket that opened in the middle revealing a black shirt underneath complete with dark blue, almost black, jeans and brown boots with cufflinks attached to his jeans and boots on. Jace himself has ocean blue colored eyes that have the ability to reflect anything they look into, spikey black hair underneath his yellow helmet and tan skin with a thin figure to match. The sound of his duel runner's engine was relaxing tone after a long day of studying and tuning his yellow with white striped runner. The wind was calm as it rushed past him as he sped on the highway. Being as late as it was, there wasn't many people out on the road, so he decided to speed up in order to get home quicker. From the University of New Domino that both Sam Mitchell, his childhood friend and roommate, and himself were attending to their apartment was about a 15 minute commute without traffic, with traffic it would take a lot longer especially since they lived in old Satellite. They both new their history well, about how many battles for the city were fought, possibly right outside their front door just a meager 23+ years ago and because of that many people decided to not live there for fear that it was too dangerous. Because of this, they didn't have many neighbors and their landlord was always on them about rent. With Jace only being a semester away from graduating and getting his degree in Mechanical Engineering, he chose that he would focus more on his studies than a job, Sam however already had an internship with a hospital and was learning hands-on, plus he was making good money which is always good for them. Sam is a hazel haired man that somehow always looks like he just got out of bed, crimson colored eyes and always wore pale blue jeans no matter what time of the year to match his black shirt with a symbol of the American Red Cross in the center. More recently however, he was the stereotypical college student a couple years back, not doing the homework and barely was scraping by but in reality was one of the brightest people out there. As a child he received a 128 on an I.Q. test and because of that he was always told that he could become anything but ever since then he never broke away from being a doctor even though in college his grades never showed that desire. It took 2 semesters of barely getting by for Sam to shake out of it from his own power (and an "unexpected visit" from his parents secretly set up by Jace) and soon Sam was on the Dean's list. That was 3 years ago, they both have learned so much from each other day by day. Sam once tried teaching Jace on how their majors in college could help them get women with his biggest argument being how women love doctors and big time engineers. For the sake of the inevitable "why would you try to do this?" moment Jace would give later, he went along with it. Sam eyed up a group women and went in for the kill. Needless to say Sam got slapped when he used "love doctor" and "check up" in the same pickup line. Being the persistent one he tried again only to get thrown out of the bar from supposed "harassment." Leaving Jace alone with the women his friend was hitting on. Being a proper friend he bought the women a round of drinks, apologized, and went after his friend that was lying in the alley. "They wanted me" was his reply to the situation.

Thinking back on old times was a calming method for Jace, with being so close to graduation he had no idea what would happen to them both. And his first choice of memories was that day in the bar. Come to think of it, Jace had to think of what day it was. Looking down at his dashboard that would record the field and both players Life Points in a turbo duel, in regular conditions it is used to tell time, switch radio stations, etc. It was Friday, he found out "Thank God it's Friday" he said to himself. Knowing Sam, he probably went to the bar a couple blocks away and picked up a girl that was there. "Better call to make sure" he thought. He then went to press a few buttons on his dashboard and used the wireless speaker that was part of his yellow helmet, to call the apartment. After a number of rings, the answering machine picked up. "Hey, your reached Sam and Jace, leave a message after the ding-dong." "I have got to change that", he thought to himself, "Hey Sam, I'm on the Daedulus Bridge right now, be home in about 10, I can imagine what you are doing or what you're trying to do, so I will be quiet when I come in." He hung up and disconnected the speaker with a touch of a button.

After being lost in thought for so long it took Jace a moment that there was another runner behind him, flashing his lights as a signal for a challenge to a duel. Not really in the mood, to duel tonight Jace waved his arm as a signal to go past him. However, he kept challenging him. Getting a little annoyed, he purposefully slowed down for the runner behind him to go past. But the other slowed down as well. All of a sudden the automated voice on Jace's runner said "Duel Mode engaged. Speed World 3 activated."

"I didn't engage duel mode, did that guy do that?" jace thought. As if he read his thoughts, a masked man came up on Jace's screen, "you're not getting away. I haven't had a duel in quite some time you see. Can you help me out." he said almost like a threat.

"Look guy, I don't want to duel right now, so just leave" Jace replied trying to keep his cool. Just then the Life Point counters for both duelists lit up and counted to 4000.

"I don't think you understand, you don't have a choice in the matter" the masked man said, becoming angry.

"Looks like I don't have a choice in the matter, I'll end this quickly." Jace said to the screen. The automatic card shuffler activated, and both players drew 5 cards. "Duel" they both yelled.

Elsewhere in the police station located in the cities square, the usual routine for a Friday night was in effect. Cops sent out to help catch those who drank too much and decided to go riding, driving or dueling. Other than that nothing was really going on, which caused some cops to get bored out of their minds. One in particular was Cana Alvarez. She was a green-eyed 28 year old woman with silver hair that went down to her shoulder blades. Being on the job she was wearing the police women uniform of a gray one piece suit that looked more like a riding suit than anything else whose collar went to the middle of the neck. Needless to say it could get pretty warm in the middle of summer. Overall however she had no qualms about it in particular mainly because it got to show off her symbol of rank on her left arm. This was her most prominent characteristic, a person who had just graduated from the police academy only 5 years ago and has already risen through the ranks to make it to Captain and has proven to handle herself time and time again in situations where the outcome could mean life or death. Today however she wasn't showing any acts of heroism. Right now she was resorted to throwing pencils to the ceiling and trying to catch them on their way down. She is stationed at the duel station that provided details on all duels within the city whether it is on foot or car. This was implemented to the force due to the recent outbreak of motorcycle thefts and duel disks that were being robbed and illegally sold back to public circulation. Whenever a duel would commence, a notification of who is in it, details of the duel (who is winning, details of the disks/runners), if the disks/motorcycles are liscensed and legal, and a map of where it is taking place would appear on the central computers screen. So far, nothing has happened until the ping that notified that a duel was commenced. Cana, slowly looked over and read over the details. On one side is Jace Yuta, riding an early model duel runner, customized engine, liscensed, all clear. On the other, unknown name, ink black runner with unknown specs, not liscenced/registered. Red light. Cana immediately got up from her seat and got to the phone. After a few rings the chief of police John Kimbleton, answered "What can I do the sergeant of duel monitoring tonight?" snickering as he did. Duel monitoring was the equivalent of cleaning the toilet after someone used it, no one wanted it, especially because it got very rare action. "Funny' Cana said sarcastically "I just wanted to inform you that there is a duel going on right now."

"Cana, that happens everyday, what of it?" Chief said. "It's only that one of the combatants is using a completely unknown runner with no discernable specs, unlicensed, and I can't get a fix on this guy's identity due to him wearing a mask."

"Really?" Chief said with increasing interest. "Really. What are your orders?" Cana asked assertively. "Hmmm, send a team after them, and have a helicopter observe them from above. Until the rest arrive"

"Understood, right away" Cana said and immediately doing as she was told. Soon a team of 5 policemen went after the duelists on motorcycles while a police helicopter took off. As Cana sat back down in her seat she looked back at the monitor and thought to herself. "Not many duel runners didn't have any information on them in the past, only one so far in history. Who is this duelist?"

MEANWHILE BACK, AT THE DUEL

"DUEL" Jace and the masked man yelled out.

"I think I will start things off," the man stated bluntly.

Jace rolled his eyes and said "Well that's pretty rude don't you think, after all you are the one forcing me to do this."

"My turn, draw!"

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 1 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 1

Jace had studied the man in the time that he challenged him and the duel started, "He's wearing a mask which means he has something to hide plus he wanted the first turn, which when dueling usually means he will start his turn off with either a face-down monster that prevents destruction by battle and/or multiple spells/traps for his back row. Then for his second turn he will either Synchro or XYZ summon." He then looked at his hand. "Either way, I have a strategy to combat him."

The man looked at his hand and then said "I will end my turn with 5 face-down's." This took Jace a little by surprise, "A complete back-row? This narrows down the possibilities of what to expect, and if I'm right then he is running a stall or a burn deck, maybe even both. I guess it's time to find out. My move, draw!"

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 2 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 2

Taking a second to look at his newly drawn card, he said to the masked man "I have no idea what exactly those face-down's are so for now I will place a monster face-down along with another face-down card and end my turn."

The masked man chuckled and with a confidence said "Then I will show you exactly what I have, my turn draw!"

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 3 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 3

"It's only fitting now that you have cards to hide behind so I activate the trap card "Secret Barrel" which allows me to inflict 200 damage for each card in your hand and on your field and I count 6 so you lose 1200 life points and then I chain it with "Jar of Greed, Reckless Greed, and Accumulated Fortune" those of course allows me to draw 5 cards in total, any response to these terrifying change of events?"

Jace shook his head "I don't know who you're trying to scare but it's definitely not me, at this point I special summon "Damage Mage" from my hand. You see when I take damage from a card effect, I can special summon this card and regain all the life points I lost." A mage with a black cloak with red fringes appeared from a portal next to Jace's runner and spread her wing and gave off some glittering dust that showered over Jace as his LP counter went back to 4000.

Damage Mage Attribute: Dark

Level 3

600 ATT 1200 DEF

The man chuckled again "but I still get my cards, and I think I will set 4 more cards and call it a turn." Jace turned from the monitor and looked at his deck and thought "Alright lesson learned, he's running a mixture of both burn and stall, which means he's going for something big, the only thing is that I have no idea what it is. For now I have to play it safe and prepare for whatever it is, I already have "Shield Wing" in facedown defense and his effect allows him to withstand 2 attacks before being destroyed."

"I'm waiting!" the man said impatiently, "are you going move or are you going to forfeit the duel?"

"I never quit, even if the odds are against me I never give up until the last card is played" Jace replied.

"Then go" the man said annoyed.

"I will. My turn Draw!"

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 4 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 4

He glanced down at his hand he then said "I end my turn with a face-down."

The man just laughed and said "THAT'S your move? After all this talk of never giving up your comeback to my impeccable strategy is 1 measly face-down? Whatever suits you, you're going to lose anyway. My turn!"

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 5 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 5

"Due to Reckless Greed from last turn I can't draw during my draw phase this turn, but that isn't going to affect me at all. Because I activate the traps 'Jar of Greed' and another Reckless Greed allowing me to draw 3 cards. Then I'm going to have 2 more set cards. But there's more because I summon 'Cardcar' and use his effect to tribute him to draw 2 cards. Yours." The man said with increasing anger.

"Ok, time to make a move, I cannot wait any longer and just let him get what he's drawing for." Jace thought. "My turn, Draw!"

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 6 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 6

"First, I'm going to summon 'Nitro Synchron' from my hand. A monster that looked like a red and white nitro canister appeared from a portal as it let off steam from its nozzle on the top of its head. Then I'm going to tune my level 2 Shield Wing and Level 3 Damage Mage with my Level 2 Nitro Synchron in order to synchro summon Nitro Warrior." The two monsters went into the two rings that Nitro synchron created and with a flash of white, a muscular green and black colored warrior with horns on its head took its place. "Furthermore, when Nitro synchron is used as the tuner for Nitro Warrior, I can draw one card." As he does he looks at the card and smiles thinking to himself, "I can use this later."

Nitro Warrior Attribute: Fire

Level 7

2800 ATT 1800 DEF

The man broke his thought with a laugh and said "That's your big move? And here I thought this was going to be a challenge."

"That's because I'm not done with my turn yet, I now attack you directly with Nitro Warrior!" Jace yelled out. Nitro Warrior responded by activating the jets on his head and went in for the attack.

"Useless! I activate the trap card, Waboku. This card allows all monsters on my side of the field to not be destroyed by battle and I don't take battle damage for this turn. Since I don't have any monsters only the latter effect applies. Another wasted turn." The man said. As the card flipped up a group of women appeared and held out their hand and stopped Nitro Warrior in his tracks.

Jace could almost see a menacing smile across his face behind the mask. He knew it's only a matter of time before he got whatever he's drawing for. "I've got to prepare for when that time comes. Defense Draw and this will do" He muttered to himself. "I end my turn with a two facedowns."

"The time is almost ripe. I'm going to give you two turns before I end this duel." The man said.

"We will see about that, do not underestimate me." Jace replied

"By what I've seen there is nothing to estimate at all. My turn."

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 7 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 7

"Reckless Greed negates my ability to draw in my draw phase so instead I activate Jar of Greed to draw that 1 card. Furthermore I activate the speed spell Angel Baton, in exchange for 4 speed counters I can draw 2 cards, then send 1 card from my hand to the grave." He draws and studies his hand and sends 1 card from his hand to the grave. "I then end my turn with a facedown. However, I have 7 cards in my hand so I have to discard 1. Your move. Make it count."

"Oh I shall." He said not affected by the man's trash talk. "My turn, draw!

Unknown Duelist LP: 4000 Speed Counters 4 Jace LP: 4000 Speed Counters 8

"I will start by paying 2000 life points to special summon summon 'Garbage lord.' With a flash of light a gray and purple monster holding a staff appeared and flew alongside Jace's duel runner. "Then, I normal summon Junk Synchron from my hand." Again with a flash of light the orange machine appeared and flew alongside garbage Lord. "Now, I activate Junk Synchron's special ability, when he is normal summoned I can bring back a level 2 or below monster from my graveyard with it's effect negated and I choose, Shield Wing in defense mode." The green dragon appeared once again with its wings covering its body. The man sat and watched as silent as he's ever been the entire duel, waiting to see what would come out. "Now I tune my level 5 Garbage Lord with my level 3 Junk Synchron in order to Synchro Summon Jewel Flare Dragon Stardust!" With orbs of light entering the three wings that Junk Synchron created a huge burst of light appeared and blue and white dragon took its place. A huge roar came from the dragon as it swung itself around to face the masked man.

Jewel Flare Dragon Stardust Attribute: Light

Level 8

2500 ATT 2000 DEF

The man had an evil smile underneath his mask. The monster he had heard about was finally before him and his ultimate goal was within his grasp.

Jace had not noticing this change in behavior. "Next I attack you directly with Stardust." The dragon loomed over and began to rear back for the attack. Just before he could however the man suddenly yelled "At this moment I activate the effect of Swift Scarecrow from my hand. When my opponent attacks me directly I can discard this card from my hand to negate that attack and end the battle phase. Another wasted turn, 1 more to go."

"Not so fast, I am not done yet, sure your life points are safe for this turn but I cannot allow that many cards to be in your back row, so I activate the continuous trap 'Speed Rescue'." As the giant card flipped up an ambulance appeared from it with a flash of light and parked in Jace's back row. This card allows me to not pay the cost of a speed spell or a Speed World 3 effect once per turn and only on my turn as long as I still have the necessary speed counters to activate it. Then I activate speed spell Heavy Storm, you see by removing 6 speed counters I can activate this card from my hand and all spells and traps on the field is destroyed. But since I just played Speed Rescue so I will use that effect allowing me to keep my 6 counters." Jace said with a smirk on his face. The ambulance opened its rear door put a visual representation of heavy storm in closed the doors and let it back out, then heavy storm activated which caused a huge gusts of wind to rock the runners and field. The man began to laugh, a chuckle at first but then it turned into a laugh, then into a frenzied laughter he wouldn't stop.

"What's so funny?" Jace asked genuinely concerned with his entire back row gone, there shouldn't be anything to laugh about next turn when he can't protect himself.

The man stopped laughing and said to Jace, "Jewel Flare Dragon Stardust. I remember when that card came out to the public a couple years back except it was rare. Only 1 is said to be released, that's how rare it is. Based off of Yusei's one of a kind card "Stardust Dragon" it makes me wonder how you got into possession of it." Jace was taken back by this, he knew it was rare but the only one in the world? That's unheard of.

"It was gift from my dad on my 16th birthday when I made this duel runner" he replied.

"I see." Replied the man. "Now tell me, have you ever seen the original card? Yusei's precious card whom he won countless battles with?"

"Only in old news stories from before I was born. Plus I know that he keeps it in a undisclosed location when it's not on him personally. Everyone knows that. Why? Where are you going with this?"

"At this moment I activate the trap card, starlight road, this card activates when 2 or more of my cards will be destroyed and negates it." Jace's smirk vanished when the realization set in of what exactly was coming.

"This can't be." Jace said in shock and awe.

"It is… the second effect of starlight road allows me to special summon, Stardust Dragon, from my Extra Deck." From the trap card erupted a funnel of wind that destroyed heavy storm and a white and blue dragon that looked exactly like his Jewel Flare burst out of the funnel and let out a roar as it flew beside its "master."

Stardust Dragon Attribute: Wind

Level 8

2500 ATT 2000 DEF

Jace was awestruck at the magnificence of the dragon. Although it looked just like his own, it was almost like he could feel the memories that Stardust Dragon has seen, from small battles to world changing ones. One of the legendary Dragon's was before him, and the man began laughing hysterically again.

"How did you get that?" Jace finally said as Stardust just stared at him, facing him down. Something was wrong here, and Jace knew it. "Don't worry, Stardust, I will figure this out and get you back to your rightful owner. I swear it" Jace thought as Stardust let out another roar that shook the Earth itself.