Yusei was again speeding through the subway tunnels in Satellite. The chip he received earlier from Rally was working perfectly.
/
In slightly more comfortable standards Jack mused over where and how he came to be in the city.
Ah, now this is the view that I was always meant to have, even if I did have to double cross a few friends to get it. And to think that it was only a few years ago that I was living amongst the losers and garbage of the Satellite. I'm glad that nightmare is over.
Jack looked at one of his cards.
Stardust Dragon, I wonder if Yusei still misses you.
"Quite the view isn't it, Jack?" Goodwin said from the doorway. "Still thinking about your days in the Satellite?"
"I'm done thinking about that dump, Goodwin."
"That's good, Jack, because sometimes dwelling in the past can cost you your future, and we've worked too hard to let that happen. Now shouldn't you be focusing on your match this evening?"
Jack hmphed and threw Yusei's card into his deck sitting on the table. Stardust obviously didn't slide in perfectly with the other cards. It landed halfway in between Jack's deck and jutted out at every angle "I'm plenty focused, Goodwin. You don't have to worry about me dwelling in the past. Cuz' if I had my way, Satellite would've been destroyed years ago."
"I understand how you feel, but the Satellite plays a valuable role in our society. Everyone has been given a role in life. Those in the Satellite exist so that the chosen may prosper. They keep our city functioning by recycling what the chosen discard. Without the Satellite, New Domino City could not exist. Glamorous a role it is not, but a necessary one for everyone's survival. But you know that already, don't you Jack? How silly of me to give a history lesson to someone who experienced it firsthand. Now leave your memories of that place where they belong. It's time for you to make new ones."
"You're right, but what if my past comes looking for me?"
/
Back in the subway tunnel Rally watched the darkness of one end of the tunnel. He held a stopwatch, his thumb poised above the stop button.
Rally turned his head to avoid the dust as Yusei and Lise rocketed into view. His runner was steaming just a little. Rally checked the time he measured on the stopwatch.
"Yusei, that's your best time yet!" Rally told him and displayed the stopwatch. "You think it's gonna be fast enough to get you to New Domino City?"
Yusei's raised his visor and glanced at the stopwatch. "It better be." Lise climbed off the runner and joined Rally on the side of the track.
"You gonna go again?" Rally asked eagerly. "Either way I know you can do it!"
"I hope your right about this," Yusei smiled and put his visor back down. "Time me again."
Without another word Yusei sped away. Lise and Rally lost sight of him quickly.
/
"Jack, you're a part of New Domino City now. The only link you have to the Satellite is Yusei Fudo. And you can rest assured that we're taking every precaution to keep that link buried," Goodwin told Jack back in the city.
/
"Okay, Nervin, your turn!" Tank said as he, Blitz, and Nervin carried three boxes each of recycled materials at their job.
"I'm thinking a cheeseburger with bacon and extra onion rings."
"Don't forgot the french fries and an extra thick milkshake."
"Good one...whoa!" Tank struggles to keep his three boxes from falling.
"Or lemonade."
"But nothing beats dipping hot French fries into a cold chocolate shake. It really brings out the flavor. Oh, I could dream about it, so guys, you think we'll ever taste a real cheesbu-ahhh!" Tank cried as the middle boy out of three on a bench put out his leg to trip Tank. The three boxes contents splayed out across the floor.
"Tank, what happened?" Nervin and Blitz discarded their boxes, making an even bigger mess
"I fell."
"On the contrary, it's actually called a trip," the boy in the middle corrected.
"It looks like he scuffed up your shoe real bad. What do ya think he should do about it?" the boy's friend on the left said in a mocking tone. The friend on the right sniggered.
"How bout' he buys me a brand new pair of kicks and we call it even. I wear a size eleven," the boy smirked.
"You'll get nothin', got that? Unless you want a bruise to match that mark on your face? It'd be an improvement," Blitz told him defiantly.
"I'll show you an improvement!" the boy rose from his seat and grabbed the front of Blitz's shirt.
"Guys, a little help?" Blitz nerves got the better of him just before the boy punched him.
/
Back in the subway, Lise was bandaging cuts.
"I thought I knew what I was doing when I challenged those bullies. Boy was I wrong; I mean they just ran us over!" Blitz complained.
"Yeah, I know, I didn't even get a chance to get into the fetal position!" Nervin complained. He winced when Lise moved on to him.
"Now I gotta buy some new shoes for that guy," Tank sounded weary.
"Guys come on, lighten up! Yusei maxed out his duel runner!" Rally cried as Lise finished up. She closed the lid of the first aid kit with a snap. She stood up, retrieved her sketchbook, and sat down to sketch in her usual spot.
"Yeah, like how maxed out?"
"Enough to get out of here."
"You shoulda seen him and his runner speeding through the tunnels!" Rally couldn't contain his excitement. "What did you think, Lise?"
Lise took the chance to be a smart ass. "Words cannot describe the sensation of awesomeness."
"Is that a quote?" Yusei wondered with an added raise of his brow.
"No, it's an original."
Rally's grin widened and turned to Yusei. "So Yusei, are you gonna go for it tonight?" Yusei nodded and Rally's smile grew.
"Am I the only one who's got a bad feeling about all this?" Blitz inquired.
"I do, but that's not really saying much, cuz I've got a bad feeling about everything," Nervin said.
"Yeah, but don't worry guys, I got it all planned out. I think."
"Well that's completely reassuring." Lise's words dripped with sarcasm.
/
In the Sector Security headquarters, Trudge was meeting with his boss. "Captain, I know you're less than happy about Yusei getting away, but is this new pursuit deck really necessary? I don't need any help catching that Satellite."
"Well, judging from your last duel, I beg to differ. Now listen up, if I had my way you'd have been handing out parking tickets until you retire, and this special pursuit deck would've gone to someone who goes by the book. But apparently Mr. Jack Atlas thinks you deserve a second chance. And when Jack Atlas says do something, I do it," the captain explained to Trudge.
"So what are my orders?"
"Find Yusei and his duel runner and bring them in. There are some very powerful people who want him off the streets. Permanently."
"Understood, captain."
"And just so you remember, there are no third chances with Mr. Atlas. Am I making myself perfectly clear, Officer Trudge?"
"Yes, sir. He may have caught me off guard in our last duel, but next time I'll be ready. You won't be disappointed. When you lock onto the chip's homing signal, let me know."
/
"So what's this plan you think might work, Yusei?" Tank asked.
"It's gotta work, Tank!" Rally declared.
"I hope you're right, Rally. Cuz if everything falls into place, Stardust Dragon will be mine again, and we'll all be one step closer to leaving the Satellite," Yusei said.
"Yus, are you sure that card is worth the risk? Do you really think one card's gonna make a difference?"
"Of course it will! Don't you remember the feeling when you first saw it in action? I'll never forget it!" Tank swore, thinking on the memory fondly.
"Yeah, and when he summoned his Stardust Dragon I couldn't believe my eyes, or ears! I mean you were screaming at the top of your lungs, Blitz!" Nervin recalled.
"Right, I lost my voice for a week after all that hollerin'. Too bad Jack took away our dreams."
"Well, Yusei's about to get them back. Cuz with this new runner, Jack doesn't stand a chance!" Rally assured them.
"Yeah, what are we waitin' for?"
"Midnight tonight."
"Why, what's at midnight?" Nervin questioned.
"The tiniest of opportunities. Check this out, guys." Yusei brought up a simulation on his computer that they all crowded around. "See, the only way between the Satellite and New Domino City is this sewer pipe line here. Problem is they flood it with trash 24 hours a day seven days a week. But once a month at midnight, they shut the system down to check the compressor pods. Then a maintenance hatch is automatically opened, and that's when I'll get my chance to make it through."
"A sewer?" Nervin wrinkled his nose doubtfully. "That sounds a bit unhygienic. The odors and fumes alone-"
"Remind us of you," the bully from before interrupted. He and his buddies stalked in like the owned the place.
"Yeah, you stink like the garbage you recycle," his dimwitted friend added.
Yusei and Lise glowered at the boys. They'd seen these types of people before.
"That's a pretty sweet runner you got there," the first boy remarked, walking closer and cracking his knuckles. "How much do you want for it?"
"The runner's not for sale, so beat it," Blitz broke it to them.
"Well, if it's not for sale, how about you give it to me instead of the shoes we're here to collect? Or would you prefer I go topside and tell Sector Security that you're hiding an illegal duel runner down here?"
"Here's an idea," Lise smiled hungrily, tossed her sketchbook aside, cracked her knuckles, and stepping in front of the runner. "Fight me for it."
All three bullies laughed.
"And why would we do that? You're just a stupid girl! There's no way you can beat us!"
"Then what's the problem? Since I'm just a little girl. Your odds of winning should be pretty good," Lise persuaded. Her whole body was tense, poised for a brawl.
"You know what, fine, we'll fight you. All three of us, one-on-one, and at the end whoever is still standing wins the runner," the bully proposed.
"You sure you wanna go one-on-one?"
"We're sure. We should at least give the lady a chance. Slim as it may be already," the bully taunted.
"Fine, and no chickening out."
"Um…Lise? Are you sure this is a good idea?" Blitz whispered.
"Oh yeah, I'll be fine. And I have a feeling this is gonna be a ton of fun," Lise confirmed and smiled an icy smile. She started to stretch herself out, cracking her back and neck too.
Lise and her first opponent faced each other.
"The winner is declared when one person can't get up, or is knocked into the subway tunnel!" the leader said.
Lise nodded and took a deep calming breath. Her opponent stood and giggled almost neurotically.
Rally trembled with anxiety as he and the others watched. He moved closer to Yusei. "Are you sure she can do this, Yusei?"
"Oh yeah, just watch, she'll be fine," Yusei smiled and crossed his arms knowingly.
"If you say so."
"Begin!" yelled the leader, and he threw his hand down to signal both fighters to start.
Lise's opponent ran straight at her. He was quick, but Lise was ready. She dodged his right punch and slammed her elbow into his gut. He retreated slightly, trying to catch his breath. Instead of regaining his lost wind, he was knocked out cold by a sidekick to the chest.
The two other bullies watched with their mouths hanging wide open. The bully Lise had kicked was lying on the ground and didn't appear to be getting up soon.
Rally, Blitz, Tank, and Nervin had identical looks on their faces. Yusei just smirked.
"Um…Lise wins?" Rally spoke tentatively; the first astonished person to find their voice.
Lise smiled briefly in his direction, a real smile, one that reached her eyes this time. "Who's next?"
The leader shoved his lackey towards Lise; the poor guy was shaking a little as he raised his fists. "Fight," the leader said half-heartedly.
This one was easily a foot taller than Lise. Her eyes were cold and calculating, staring and waiting. He tried a punch, letting Lise block and swiftly delivered a right hook to her ear. Lise cried out and backed up, grimacing and holding her throbbing appendage. She centered herself and waited, hoping she looked more hurt than she was letting on. Lug punched again and this time Lise snatched his hand and held his arm tightly against her body.
"Hey! That really hurts!"
"That's the idea!" Lise yelled. She brought her knee up and it quickly buried itself in the guy's stomach. He groaned heavily and sat down.
The leader stepped out. "I'll show you guys how to beat her. Sometimes when you need something done, you have to do it yourself! That runner is as good as mine!"
"You really shouldn't count your chickens before they've hatched."
"Huh?"
"Expression."
Instead of punching, the leader started off with a kick; Lise ducked. He tried another kick and Lise stepped back to avoid it. The next kick she caught and jammed the side of her shoe into the back of the bully's knee like a jackknife. In his panic, the leader's fist clipped Lise's cheek. She dropped him, but he fell hard on his ass. Lise was the only one still standing.
His eyes widened as Lise squatted down beside him. "W-whattaya want?"
"Get out, and leave us alone," Lise growled. "Don't come back."
"Y-you got it," the bully stammered. He grabbed his friends and the three of them high-tailed it out of there.
Lise brushed her hands off as she walked towards her own friends. They stared at her for a few seconds.
"That was awesome!" Rally cried and ran forward to hug Lise.
"Thanks Rally, but that was easy," Lise returned the hug with a small smile due to the painful bruise blooming on her cheek.
"Thank God that runner is here to stay," Blitz grinned.
"I was so nervous I almost wet my pants!" Nervin proclaimed.
"Whoa, man, TMI."
"That was cool! Could you teach me how to fight like that?" Tank jumped up and down excitedly.
"Sure, whenever you want," Lise promised.
"I wouldn't, if I were you. Her training program could kill you," Yusei advised with a smile. "I almost died."
Lise stuck her tongue out at him, and Yusei rolled his eyes, handing Lise her sketchbook. "You almost forgot this."
"Thanks." She smiled warmly, and accepted her drawings.
Blitz raised an eyebrow, spying an opportune moment. "Do you two need a room?"
"NO!" the two of them cried simultaneously.
The others laughed as Yusei and Lise's faces turned bright red.
"What's for dinner?" Tank finally changed the subject. He aimed for the kitchen. "I'm in the mood for breakfast."
"Bacon and eggs," Blitz agreed, licking his lips.
"Bacon? You're kidding, right?" Nervin said. "We haven't had bacon in years."
"I don't think we have eggs, either," Rally said, following the men into the kitchen.
Lise stopped Yusei. "Sorry I bet your runner. You know how I get when people piss me off."
He shrugged. "It's okay; I knew you'd win. Even I can't beat you in a fight, but when it comes to dueling there's no chance of you winning against me."
"In your dreams! You're lucky you're leaving soon or I'd duel you right here and now!"
"Yeah right," Yusei rolled his eyes and sat down to make final adjustments on his runner. Lise's palm heel struck the side of Yusei's head. "Hey!"
"Don't push your luck, wise guy." Lise cracked a smile, grabbing her sketchbook before heading into her room.
Yusei rubbed his head in the place where Lise made contact and smiled. He caught Rally peering curiously at him from the kitchen doorway. "What?" He could feel his face growing hot again.
"Oh, nothing. Just...get ready to go," Rally said with a grin.
"Whatever."