Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - Sutādasuto / Stardust Accelerator
by Yusei
Summary - "Rena awakens in Satellite with no memory of who she is. Sticking close to Yusei, the journey to uncover the past and follow the unknown Signer into Neo-Domino City unfolds. Then the adventure really begins".
Disclaimer - I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's or any of the characters.
A / N – Please forgive the belated delay, this particular chapter was simply one massive pain; originally, I had been hoping to write a duel differing from the anime's, but it wasn't going to happen, so this chapter is basically another novelization chapter. I've also been considering writing a Reverse of Arcadia fic like this, more so now that I've played some of the game. Though I'd like people's opinions on whether or not to try it and whether to use Rena or make an entirely new character for the role. I'm aware there is another version and Starlight AT is planning one (which I'm eager to see), but I'd like to give it a shot myself. There'll be a poll on my profile if you wish to give me your opinion and I'd be glad with any comments you would offer. But for now, hope you enjoy this chapter, hope it makes up for the wait and thanks for the review so far, I will go back and correct flaws with this story so far, like making the previous duel more interesting. Please read and review.
Yusei / Rena -「Neo-Domino」- Detention Centre
"Yusei…" Rena exhaled, trying to get her head around the latest revelation of her time in Neo-Domino.
Yanagi's eyes darted between the two Satellite teenagers, keeping silent as he pieced together what was happening in front of him. Yusei pushed himself back into a casual sit, looking over his right shoulder at Rena, who remained standing over him. Behind them, one of the Security officers grunted, making his way into the cell.
"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" he scowled.
"Hold on a minute, they just met for the first time in who knows how long, can't they get just a minute?" Gohachiro interjected, standing in front of the officer.
The uniformed man sneered. "A minute, I'm timing them as well".
He passed through the unsympathetic threshold, blind to Gohachiro's glare aimed at his unprotected back. With the man gone, the blonde turned to the duo in front of him; who were already deep into discussion, Yanagi's eyes leaping from one to the other.
"-Something strange happened at the Duel Stadium when I duelled Jack, it led Security to me" the young man spoke.
"They must have tightened security at the Pipeline" Rena sighed. "As soon as I got through, they were onto me".
"I'm sorry…" Yusei exhaled.
"Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong" Rena protested gently, creasing her brow as she looked down at the tired Satellite adolescent. "Did you get your card back?
Yusei shook his head dejectedly, his eyes closed as he did so. Rena's own narrowed sorrowfully, falling to the ground beside the elderly man who listened intriguingly.
"I should have, but Security appeared before I could. But at least I know where it is. The same can't be said for the rest of my deck" he murmured.
"They confiscated yours too, huh?" Rena uttered. "It feels strange being without my cards".
"They're a part of you – a deck that you built. I'm sure a lot of people here understand how you feel" Yusei responded, looking up at her.
Rena glanced at Yanagi; no doubt that he had shown off his treasured deck to his cellmate. The elder grinned happily, showing off his golden tooth set into the jaws of white, the girl shifted her focus back to Yusei. Before either could say a word more, the guard appeared behind Gohachiro.
"Alright, minute's up. Get back to your cell" he snapped.
The blonde shot him another unsatisfying look briefly and then turned to the three in front of him, His expression softened while he took a step closer, wrapping his fingers around Rena's left arm just below her armpit, drawing her eyes.
"We should get back now. You guys will have time to catch up tomorrow" he suggested, smiling lightly at her.
Rena hesitated, looking back at Yusei and Yanagi briefly again, she was reluctant to leave them after they had all bonded. But at the same time, her other friend had a point, and the last thing they wanted was to provoke the officers behind them. She lifted her right hand as she turned slowly, a motionless wave, words were caught in her throat.
The two exited the cell, which the trailing guard closed the door to, locking it with the small device in his hand. His companion sneered at the pair as they went on their way, passing the small number of cells separating the two rooms. His partner followed them, the man that had already tried to get them to return, readying his baton in case they tried anything rebellious. He needn't carry it as the pair paused outside their cells, Gohachiro pausing to let his companion in first. She entered silently, quickly followed by the blonde. The officer appeared at the door, leaning against the frame with baton still in hand.
"Try that again and you'll find yourself having a talk with the warden" he growled. "Quit stirring trouble, just 'cause you're a girl, doesn't mean we'll go easy on you when it comes to anything".
He disappeared and slammed the door, the fearsome sound clanging through the corridor and waking a couple of sleeping inmates who groaned and complained about the noise. The electronic beep that signalled the locking of the door followed subtly. The two inside finally took their eyes from the door, the blonde man heading for his bed, Rena tuned to him.
"I'm sorry about causing you more trouble" she sighed.
"Just don't do anything rash like that again, okay?" he replied, exasperated as he stood in front of his bed beneath the barred window. "The warden isn't someone you want to meet alone, regardless of who you are".
Rena lowered her head slightly, embarrassed that she had not only set the stage for trouble when taking on Himuro, but standing in the line of fire by her recent actions. Not only that, but she had dragged her friend in with her. The blonde man lifted the sheet and climbed in beneath it, removing his bare arms to support his head as he laid his body down and turned to her. He smiled gently when he recognised her dejected expression, the same she had been wearing as she was guided into the cell.
"It's alright. Those guys are idiots anyway, they never pass on information to each other" he chuckled. Rena lifted her eyes and smiled at him.
Down the corridor, Yanagi gazed at Yusei, still eager to know what it was that had happened after he had been taken from the gym-like recreation hall. The young man set his slightly dulled blue eyes on him.
"What'd they do?" the elder asked, leaning forward.
"They looked… for that mark" Yusei sighed. Keeping the glowing pattern a secret wasn't going to happen with the warden's guards all over him, dragging him to the isolated chamber and performing tests on him while every other inmate was left to his own devices.
"Mark? What mark would that be?" Yanagi inquired.
"It showed up on my arm when that crimson dragon showed up. And then it vanished" Yusei replied. The scene of the glorious dragon flashed in his mind, followed by his view of Jack once the duel was over, clutching his glowing arm as though he understood, or was at least used to, the phenomenon.
"What'd ya mean?" Yanagi asked. He took a moment, pressing his forefinger against the tip of his chin and staring at the ground, searching his archives of history for anything that could match the vague description. His eyes widened dramatically when he hit something that could answer his questions; he leaned forward, pressing his left hand beside his mouth. "You a Signer, sonny?"
Yusei turned his head to face the now closer elder. "'Signer'?"
"When I was wandering around South America, I caught word about the legend of the People of the Stars" Yanagi responded, smiling as he spoke. Perhaps he had really hit onto something close to the truth. 'Signer' happens to be a word that comes out that legend". His smile faltered when he perceived Yusei's perplexed, but stern, expression. If what he said was truth, and the case, then he would have to be serious. Legends and fables of ancient times were no laughing matter to him; they were more valuable than any Duel Monsters card. "According to the People of the Stars' legend, the Crimson Dragon is God and they call people with the dragon Birthmarks that'll call it out 'Signers'. Word has it that there are five Signers, each has a dragon to unleash their powers – which means there're five dragons as well".
Yusei lifted his head slightly, his eyes widening in the same degree to shake off the standard glare he wore. "Five… dragons/"
If that was the case, then it must have meant that Stardust and Red Demons were two – they called out that legendary dragon. There was no way that had been a Duel Monster; not with its size and power, it kicked up fierce gusts that threatened their lives. It was something far more powerful, and the answer may have just been unearthed. His eyes returned to Yanagi as he surfaced from the memory of the duel.
"So if you have a Birthmark, then that means…" Yanagi muttered, tapping the knee of his crossed left leg with the forefinger of the same side's hand. He gasped, grasping his ankles as his back stretched, his wide eyes set on Yusei. "Sonny, do you have a dragon?"
Yusei's eyes fell once again to the arm where the Birthmark had been glowing, the strange pattern passed down from someone else who had fought a long time ago. The movement in the place of an answer intrigued Yanagi.
"If that's what that card is, that would make sense…" Yusei muttered to himself.
"A card? The dragon lives on as a card now?" Yanagi exclaimed, bringing his head in front of Yusei's, their hair almost brushing each other as the old man cried out. His face quickly softened and pressed the tip of his forefinger against Yusei's chest, drawing pleading circles on his shirt. "Sure'd like to see that card…"
"I don't have it…" Yusei sighed.
Yanagi howled; a world-class discovery and the vital component to prove it all was missing. He exhaled, lowering his head back in between his shoulders.
"That stinks, I wanna see that card" he lamented. "Huh? But that's pretty strange. Why would the folks at the Detention Centre be interested in this stuff?"
He tucked his chin into his hand and glanced out the thin strips of the window, where light flooded the corridor to guide patrolling officers. It was a question on both minds; Neo-Domino was an advanced city relying on science and technology – who in this place could care less what an ancient story claimed?
-遊戯王5D's-
Stardust ~ Chapter 10 - Bound Truth! The Wager of the Future ~ Sutādasuto
Rena -「Neo-Domino」- Detention Centre
The sunshine poured through the glass window, illuminating the cell shortly after dawn. Lying in the bed opposite the door, Rena was in its line, squinting as she opened her eyes to the new day. She lifted her hand to safe her eyes from the harsh glow of the star and moved them to the sight of the sleeping Gohachiro opposite. So the day before hadn't been a dream; she, Yusei, Gohachiro, Yanagi and Himuro were together within the walls of the Detention Centre, all prisoners to the laws of Neo-Domino. The very rules set to oppress people from Satellite – so why were people like Yanagi, Himuro and Gohachiro inmates in the facility?
Instead of worrying about reasons, Rena began to rub her eyes, clearing the dry grains of sleep from her eyes, scratching the edges of her sockets as they tumbled. Even if what she faced was reality, at least she had friends to face it with. She set her cleared eyes on the blonde, smiling contently at him; she wouldn't have traded him as a cellmate for anyone else in the facility.
He grunted, turning his body over and opening his eyes narrowly. His blurred vision picked up the girl sitting in the extended rectangle of sunlight. He lifted his head, revealing the extent of his blonde hair's transformation, becoming much more of a mess laying on top of his head like it had been ruffled throughout the twilight hours.
"You're up?" he moaned tiredly.
"Just now, can't get back to sleep" Rena mumbled, shrugging her shoulders. "Is it too awkward me watching you? Would you rather I turn away so you can sleep?"
"Do what you want, doesn't bother me. We're living together, so we have to adjust, I've got to make room for you" the male replied in the same droned manner.
He laid his head down on the pillow again, burying the left half of his face and closed his one exposed eye. A deep breath entered him and left, within seconds, he was asleep again. Rena smiled and shook her head; it was almost like being in Satellite again.
Yusei walked silently between the two guards, each with their arms around one of his, keeping him secure between them. After the way he had grabbed the warden's attention and then Rena's sudden interest in him, they weren't about to take any chances. The brightness at the end of the hallway grew larger, embracing them as they walked through and onto the galley stretching across the level of the towering block that the inmates had been guided through when they first entered the building.
The two guards halted, allowing Yusei to look up at the inmates already gathered, leaning against the railings and sneering in the direction of the young man and the authority figures. Each looked like he could be a dangerous man, some more than others, but together in their dozens, they glared down at the uniformed men who spoke.
"Listen up. As of today, this is going to be where you live".
Yusei looked over his shoulder as those watching from the higher levels, observing with the same unsympathetic eyes; they had all been through the procedure before themselves. One of the guards shoved Yusei forward, who stumbled forward a few steps, struggling to keep himself balanced. Over the edge of the railings either side of him was an immense drop, spanning a dozen levels of cells and prisoners. Within seconds, the guards were behind him again, ready to seize his arms, yet didn't. A chuckle came from overhead, reverberating throughout the hexangular tower, Yusei turned to face the source – the distant figure of the large dark-skinned warden – Takasu. His azure eyes blazed with disgust towards the man and his foul habits, plucking noise hairs and blowing them into the faces of people was only one to name. Whatever he had planned for Yusei in this tower, he wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of knowing how unsettled things would become without his friends around.
Another shove followed, the guard's hand slamming against Yusei's back, they had no patience. He continued to lead them to the opposite end of the gallery, where the other then grabbed his wrists, pinning them against his back, his colleague led the way. They brought him to a cell like any other and opened the door. The guard restraining his hands released them, pushing him in slightly.
"Get in there" he snapped. "This will be your room". The door shut behind him.
"Oh ho, so you're here, huh?" a jovial voice came from a purple-haired man sitting on the bottom bunk bed. Clothed in a teal jacket zipped two-thirds of the way up his torso, the open space revealed his white shirt underneath, with a joint cyan and yellow stripe across the thick fabric and grey-brown trousers, he smiled as he leaned forward. He was beyond caring. "Well, this is going to be great. You can use the top bunk. You know, newcomers usually get stuck at the bottom, I'm not all that particular about that, though".
His incessant yammering was too much, with permission to use the top bunk; Yusei grabbed the narrow bars and climbed the few steps. Once on top, he laid himself down, stretching his legs over the folded sheet and tucking his arms beneath his head. His mind travelled elsewhere while the man continued to make conversation, his words falling on deaf ears. There was still everything that had happened; the duel with Jack, that crimson dragon appearing, the Birthmarks, and the legend.
"You a Signer?"
"'Signer'?"
The cellmate's head appeared over the edge of the bed, smiling as naively as ever it seemed. He was still interested in getting his new companion to open up.
"Hey you".
"What?"
"You're a pretty major deal, what with you beating Himuro and all" he declared proudly, then pointed his thumb at himself, as though giving a thumbs-up. "Call me Aoyama, nice meeting you. I watched your duel. Let's see… you're Yusei I take it?"
"Not to be rude, but do you mind keeping it down?" Yusei murmured. He wasn't interested in all this trivial business, but who was this guy to know?
The guy's face shifted to reflect the minor injury to his attempts of bonding; he had nothing to worry about, no secrets about him, no special interest from the authorities. He was lucky, but he looked as though he had become the victim.
"Sonny" a voice came. "Hey, sonny".
Yusei sat up, finding Yanagi standing on the opposite side of the window, his wrinkled hands clutching the rectangular bars.
"Jii-san…"
Yanagi led him along the gallery where he had been escorted between two guards. In the centre of the narrow path, Himuro stood with Rena and Gohachiro behind him, all waiting for the pair to reach them. Himuro's bulky arms were folded over his chest while the others waited naively, clueless why they had been moved or what was happening. The large former-Pro Duellist's harms unravelled as Yusei and Yanagi came to a halt in front of him.
"Yusei? You were transferred over here too?" he asked.
"How in Pete's sake did this happen to us?" Yanagi lamented. "This side's the place for long-period inmates".
Gohachiro's brow creased. "You don't think it was anything to do with last night, do you?" he inquired. Rena shifted uncomfortably by his side, her eyes dropping to the narrow floor at their feet.
"You don't really believe something as trivial as that would land the five of us here, do you?" Himuro scoffed, glancing at the blonde in the corner of his eye.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, you know how pissy Takasu can get" Gohachiro protested, folding his naked arms over his chest.
"Who's that?" Yanagi asked, tilting to his left. Rena looked to Gohachiro; he had mentioned that name the night before.
"He's the Chief here, the guy in charge" Himuro replied. "He's the one that sent for Yusei after our duel, can't have been good, can it?"
Yusei said nothing; his eyes remained as defended as ever. Himuro sighed, pressing his hands against his hips briefly; being moved to a place where long-term inmates were held could only mean one thing – someone was screwing with them. People like the authorities didn't make mistakes; they just tortured people with false hope and lies.
"The fact that we're here means we need to be careful; someone's targeting us, I reckon" he sounded, turning back to Yusei – the first person that came to mind when who could be the victim cropped up.
Rena stepped forward, tilting slightly to her right in order to get a better view of Yusei and Yanagi beyond Himuro's muscular arm.
"Yusei?" she muttered. "Is something the matter?"
"It's nothing" he replied without taking his eyes from the large experienced duellist. "But Himuro's right, we should keep ourselves prepared – don't let your guard down".
As night rolled around, the five split up and returned to their separate cells, with the exception of Himuro and Yanagi who had been matched together. Rena sighed as she entered the new cell, having only settled into her last the night before, and with someone she felt she could trust. The man in the new cell was much older, his hair a paled grey, almost white completely. He smirked as she came back; he wasn't vicious, but he wasn't as warm as Gohachiro.
"Made it back in one piece, huh?" he started.
Rena's eyes fell to the floor, she missed the people she cared about and considered friends – both inside and outside of the building. The pale-haired man stepped towards her and laid a hand on her shoulder, drawing her eyes.
"You know, there's a rumour that's been going around for a while now" he spoke again. "Apparently, sometime over a year ago, there was a guy who was locked up in this very room. He lasted a while, but eventually it became too much for him – he was mad. So the warden came in one day and found him dead".
"'Dead'?" Rena echoed; her eyes filled with a mixture of horror and despair of the deceased being.
"Yeah, never did find out what happened to his body. There hasn't been word of anyone else dying while here" the man sighed, setting his eyes in the centre of the room.
"Is this some kind of ghost story that you think will freak me out?" Rena asked, cocking a suspicious eyebrow.
"Oh no, it's true" the male responded immediately.
"You said it was a rumour" Rena protested.
"But people claim to have known him here".
The girl rolled her eyes; there was no getting through to the guy. Instead, she moved to the bunk beds and climbed onto the top, earning a moan from her cellmate.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" he demanded.
"If you want to play games, then you can play them on the ground and lower bunk, I'm going to get some sleep" Rena responded, casting a weak glare at the man who shook his head in her direction. But regardless of what she thought of, she continued to come back to the lost soul.
It was almost noon when an agonised yelling filled the whole tower; a chill crept down Rena's spine. The inmates all remained in their cells; all but Himuro who had been secretly escorted to an interrogation room after Takasu uncovered a knife on his person. Inmates clutched the rectangular bars and listened in horror, Yanagi shuddered while pressing his hands over his ears. Yusei couldn't look out the window, but he didn't ignore the cries.
By the time Himuro was seen, he was covered in bruises, tossed onto the gallery by a few guards. He didn't get up, but merely groaned in agony. Takasu towered over his body like the predator of some wounded prey he had managed to hunt down, but his eyes rose instead to the masses of inmates watching on in terror.
"Himuro has committed a serious crime" he proclaimed. "Everyone here will have to take responsibility for it. For the next year, all of your free time will be levied". Immediately, dozens of inmates pleaded against the punishment, protesting that the punishment was far too strict, but the warden brushed off their voices just as quickly. "Shut your yaps! What are you pieces of garbage babbling about? The world doesn't need a single one of you".
Yusei's brow twitched, the fists hanging by his sides clenched tighter. From where he stood, all that the warden had just uttered had been nothing but lies, there wasn't a single person in the world who didn't matter in their own right, but this man was declaring that false and sweeping every single inmate out of their world, forcing them under his hand. Just as Neo-Domino had Satellite. This continued though, he refused to even accept them as human beings, enough to bring his blood rising closer to boiling point on top of the other offences he had committed.
"Your kind doesn't have freedom or privileges. All you do have is the misery of carrying on your future lives forever in the shadows. If you have any complains, speak up – I'll make sure that you'll all end up like him". Towering over Himuro, who continued to twitch weakly on the floor, Takasu began to roar with laughter, he had made his point and no-one would be brave enough to fight back. He had stunned everyone into silence by the best way possible – fear.
"Hold on".
His laughter stopped; someone had dared to invoke his power. And as his eyes opened, he found them immediately on him – Fudo Yusei, his jaws clenched fiercely as he fought to keep his fury under control.
"No-one in this world is unneeded" he protested sternly.
"So, the trash from Satellite trying to play the hero, is he/" Takasu chuckled.
"Himuro is innocent. He's a genuine duellist, he's not scheming anything" Yusei continued in his friend's defence.
"Did you make that remark knowing that yours truly is a duellist too? He's the genuine article and I'm a fake, is that it?" Yusei said nothing. "Very well. Let's settle the scores with a duel for everyone can see, then. If you win, I'll turn a blind eye to Himuro's crimes and promise not to take away your free time. However, what do I get if I win?"
"I'll be at your mercy for the rest of my life" Yusei responded tonelessly.
"Yusei" Rena muttered from her cell, wrapping her fingers around the bars. "You can't put yourself on the line like this, can you?"
"Very interesting" Takasu chortled. "We duel tonight at half-past eight. Got it?"
"That's fine" Yusei replied.
Another cry erupted from the tower, drawing all eyes to the source – finding Yanagi being dragged by two Security guards. In his cell, Aoyama stood and crept up behind Yusei, watching over his shoulder as the elderly man pleaded for the officers to release him. Once in front of the warden, they began to remove cards from the hiding places in his clothing, filling him with horror as they held the deck for Takasu to see. He cried out, pleading again for his cards back, calling them his 'treasure' as he had before.
The pleas were quick to push Takasu to the end of his short patience, swinging his arm around and knocking the shot man off his feet. Even the two guards' mouths hung open as they watched him soar briefly, crashing face-down opposite the warden, who held up the cards.
"I am confiscating this deck. Listen up, this will be your last moments of free time" the abusive warden proclaimed. "Make sure to spend them without regrets". He smirked at Yusei again. "And now that we have a new offence to add to the list, I'd like to add a new condition to our duel".
Yusei glared at the man, there was no doubt that he was about to pull something underhanded in order to get his way. Aoyama's brow creased anxiously as he watched over the Satellite teenager's shoulder. Takasu's large hand moved in the direction of a cell along the next wall, pointing at where Rena watched through the window.
"She's caused nothing but trouble since she arrived, pretty much like you" he growled. "So for the sake of the old man, she can duel too. And if either one of you lose, then I win".
Rena's face paled, she hadn't even given her consent to duel, she had no deck and Yanagi's had been confiscated. She looked to Yusei, who she couldn't get a good view of because of the placement of her cell. She followed the eyes of dozens of other inmates, tracing Takasu as he withdrew in the direction of his office, laughing proudly without any doubt that he would win when night fell.
Four guards retrieved the two beaten bodies and dragged them to their cells, as they arrived, the door to Yusei and Aoyama's cell burst open, Yusei flying through and down the path to his friends. The two were thrown in as he arrived, pushing past the guards who walked after their boss and dropped down on his knees beside his beaten comrades.
"Himuro".
"Yusei…"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'll manage" Himuro spoke, his voice shaken from his body's battered state. "Yusei forgive me, that guy took away my deck too".
Yusei shuddered – that meant he had no deck to fight Takasu with.
A group of four inmates rushed in, each calling out to Himuro as the posse that had been around him previously had. Yusei walked past them, out into the eyes of the others who had come out of their cells. Rena and Gohachiro rushed towards him from his right while Aoyama leaned against the doorframe on his left.
"Do you get it now? This is how the Chief does things" he lamented, watching Yusei over his shoulder. His spirits had dropped dramatically after the challenge had interrupted their plan to escape through outside contacts. He had been hoping to take Yusei with him, now the events would clash. "He never intended on duelling fair from the very start. His provoking completely suckered you in; without a deck, you'll be little more than a joke". He leapt from the frame, arms opening either side of him. "Come on, let's just you and me escape, by the looks f it, those two won't be up for this".
"I can't do that…" Yusei murmured.
"But why? There's no honour among the people here" Aoyama protested.
Yusei turned to face him. "If they duel me, they're my friend. If I were to leave my friends behind, I wouldn't truly be free".
"Don't act all tough if you don't even have a deck" Aoyama spat. From where he stood, there was nothing Yusei could do, all hope was lost and he was even refusing the last chance of freedom he would ever be granted. Did he consider Himuro and Yanagi more important than Aoyama? Or even himself? What kind of inside person would think like that? He turned on his heels, unable to look at the Satellite civilian anymore. "Do whatever you want then! Freaking Hell".
"Yusei!" Rena cried, rounding the last corner between them. Yusei turned to face her; she stopped in front of him, panting slightly having descended a couple of levels. She glanced at the fleeing Aoyama and then looked back at her companion. "What are we going to do?"
"We'll duel somehow" Yusei muttered.
"What about your friend, where'd he head off to?" Gohachiro asked, pointing to where Aoyama had been standing. Again, he said nothing in response.
"We need to have a lil' chat".
Yusei looked over his shoulder, finding the group that had rushed to Himuro's aid standing with scowls across their faces and arms folded over their chests. None looked happy about how he had stood up to defence their freedom, perhaps Aoyama had been right.
Eight-thirty rolled around after what felt like the longest hours in history. The door to Yusei and Aoyama's cell opened, revealing the former standing ready to fight and the latter seated on his bed where the concealed tunnel to freedom remained heavily guarded.
"Come on out" one of the guards spoke, his voice free from the gruff tones normally used by the officers.
Yusei approached the doo, Aoyama leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrow with worry in the shade. "Yusei…"
The challenger looked over his shoulder, getting one last look at his cellmate before he scurried off in search of freedom. "Don't worry about me".
"Move it!" the guard to his right snapped, shoving him forward. The door closed behind them.
The duo led him to the hexagon platform in the centre of one of the walkways crossing the towering where Takasu stood waiting, chuckling as his opponent appeared.
"Satellite Hero-dono, you need a deck to duel, but you, of course, don't have one, am I right?" he taunted, grinning the entire time. "Believe it or not, but if you don't have one, then I win this duel by default!"
Himuro, Yanagi and Aoyama gasped; what they heard was only further proof that the warden wasn't intending on playing fair – he was going to win by whatever technicalities he could.
"You want a deck?" Yusei asked, glaring at the man and producing a deck in his hand.
"T- That's impossible! Where'd you get that?" Takasu roared.
"You just don't know… just how much care a duellist gives to a single card, or how much they cherish it" Yusei scowled.
The cards in his hand were gifts from the others who had hidden their most precious card in a secret place, some more desirable than others. But together, they had pieced a deck with a little of them all inside; their hopes and their treasures. Takasu snarled; glaring in Rena's direction, the girl nodded and held up another deck – proof that there were far more than just enough prisoners prepared to hand their prizes over in order to fight for their freedom.
"Fine" he scowled, looking back to Yusei. "If you have yourself a deck, then I'll beat you down in a duel".
Two of the four guards positioned behind Yusei moved towards him, one connecting a Duel Disk to his arm, the other attaching a chain to it. The same setup was seen on Takasu's side of the premature battlefield.
"What's with the chain?" Yusei asked, his eyes set on the metallic links.
"Don't fret, it's just for entertainment. You know, so you don't run away" Takasu chuckled. "Only the survivor will get to take their Duel Disk off".
"'Only the survivor'?" Yusei echoed.
"What on Earth's he planning to do?" Rena asked anxiously.
"This is bad…" Gohachiro murmured from his cell, his hands tightening around the bars.
Both duellists inserted their decks and set their eyes on each other; everything was set.
"Duel!"
DUEL START
TAKASU - YUSEI
4000 - LP - 4000
FIRST TURN - YUSEI
"It's my turn" Yusei declared swiftly, drawing a sixth card from his deck. "I summon Greatest Thief of the Century [DEF 1000] in defence mode".
The mysterious man appeared; clothed in a tuxedo and top hat, a red masquerade covered the top half of his face outside his eyes. A large shimmering cape hung from his shoulders, shedding the stars as he posed elegantly.
"I end my turn".
"He better be careful" Himuro mumbled gravely. "That deck may be filled with everybody's wishes, but it's still no more than a mish-mash deck that ignores any strategy".
"Even true, I know sonny can do it" Yanagi replied, smiling slightly.
SECOND TURN – TAKASU
"It's my turn. Draw" Takasu called, removing the top card from his deck. "I summon Chain Repairer [ATK 1600]".
A masculine figure appeared, its skin dull and greyed, much like the faded green overalls it wore, chains wrapped over its shoulders to keep the piece on. A red bandana was tied around its head and its eyes glowed orange, in its hands was a large steel hammer, the head a rectangle.
"I'll attack your monster with Chain Repairer".
The creature lunged across the field, hovering high above its target, who braced himself in vain. The being dropped down, swinging the large hammer onto the defensive blue monster, crushing it with ease and reducing its form into golden pixels that scattered.
"And it's now that Chain Repairer's effect activates" Takasu continued, moving his left hand clutching his cards in Yusei's direction. When it destroy a monster through battle, the opponent is dealt 300 points of damage. Get ready to accept your fate, Hero for the Trash".
"What?" Yusei gasped.
Before he could catch on to what was happening, electricity surged though the chain, shocking with viciously. He screamed blindly, unable to bite his tongue quickly enough and brace himself. His agonised cry rang through the tower, chilling those that watched.
"Yusei" Himuro and Aoyama gasped.
"Yusei!" Rena cried out, grasping the bars in front of her and leaning forward.
Yusei descended to one knee, his body shivering as it struggled to deal with the shock. He opened one eye, glaring at Takasu, well aware that he had been led into a trap.
TAKASU - YUSEI
4000 - LP - 3700
"Seems I forgot to explain that part" Takasu chortled. "These Duel Disks have a special mechanism in them, so when we take damage, they're set to stream an electric current through them to match. I'd doubt that the loser would even survive the match – when I said only the survivor will be able to pull off their Duel Disk, this is what I meant".
"It can't be" Gohachiro gasped. "That bastard".
"Yusei, that's insane" Rena cried out.
"I place two cards face-down and end my turn" the warden added.
THIRD TURN – YUSEI
Yusei stood, gradually, his body still shaking after the pulse that had run through him. He drew from his deck in the same style as previously.
"It's my turn" he called. "I summon The Kickman [ATK 1300] in attack mode". The pink-skinned creature appeared with a large stomach, it's only clothing was a pair of faded yellow trousers, behind it, Yusei pulled a card from his hand. "Next is the Equip Spell, Stim Pack – it raises my monster's attack points by 700".
The creature shrieked, tensing as its muscles bulged and its power grew, becoming far stronger than it had been before [ATK 2000].
"The Kickman, attack his Chain Repairer".
The pink-skinned fighter leapt across the field gracefully, stretching its legs ready for the collision with the enemy.
"I don't think so" Takasu growled, pushing down on one of the keys on his Duel Disk. "Permanent Trap – Soul Anchor". An aura of pink surrounded the Chain monster, who groaned as immortality was granted. "This card equips to Chain Repairer and for as long as it remains on the field, it remained immune to destruction through battle".
The Kickman's foot dove into the large monster's chest, only to withdraw and the monster flip back to Yusei's side of the field, everything across it remained the same.
"But damage calculations are still applied" the warden added, smirking still.
TAKASU - YUSEI
3600 - LP - 3700
Across the tower, inmates beamed as they were about to witness Takasu get a taste of his own medicine, he would be the one to suffer the horrendous electric shock that would course through his body sinisterly. A spark crossed the steel ring on the ground where the chains began, Takasu cried out in the same way Yusei had. Only his yelling softened into laughter. Confident laughter, stunning Yusei and those watching; something wasn't right, it was far from right.
"I'll be damned" Takasu chortled. "Why it looks like my Duel Disk is out of order"
"It's what?" Yusei scowled.
"That's plain dirty! I bet the current never passed your Duel Disk in the first place" Aoyama roared.
"Quit making your wild accusations" Takasu sniggered. "I can't help if it's broken".
The prisoners began to bellow their protests, each and every one disgusted at the new tactics that the warden had resorted to – there wasn't just their freedom on the line, but, if what Takasu said was true, then Yusei's life was also at risk.
"You have to stop, Yusei" Aoyama hollered. "This duel doesn't count!"
"That isn't an option" Takasu declared. "I apologise to Hero-dono that things turned out this way, but there's no goo reason to stop this duel".
FOURTH TURN – TAKASU
"My turn. I summons Chain Snake [ATK 800] from my hand".
A single stretch of iron links appeared, slotted untidily together to form the thick body of a reptile, hissing as it landed on the ground.
"Now I'll use Chain Snake's effect". The metallic creature leapt across the field, soaring in the trapped air. It hissed again as it fell, landing on The Kickman and dragging the creature down, the fighter attempted to resist the weight of the opponent monster, but found it useless. "Chain Snake turns into an Equip card on an opposing monster and decreases its power by 800 points, both offensive and defensive".
Yusei grimaced as his creature shuddered on its hands and knees, unable to do anything [ATK 1200]. It had become merely another victim to the weighty binds that held every single person in the building prisoner, and his endurance at witnessing it all was drawing very near to its end. His eyes shot a glare at the warden, who smirked tauntingly, while around him, people muttered and watched anxiously, unable to do more than merely hope for his victory.
"Go, Chain Repairer.
The wide and hefty creature leapt up once again, its large hammer above its head. The Kickman's struggle intensified, trying all it could to evade destruction, but the hammer came done nevertheless and struck it on the head, driving it to the ground. Both it and the chain shattered into a shower of glowing pixels that quickly faded. Another surge of electricity raced through the chain and squeezed the strength out of Yusei's body, the young Satellite screamed again despite his cool demeanour. The pain was too much. Amongst the others; Yanagi, Himuro, Rena, Aoyama and Gohachiro all clenched their jaws or listened to their heartbeat quicken; the anguished cried of a friend was too much, especially one risking himself for their sakes. Yusei stumbled forward, struggling to keep his balance once the torment came to an end, shaking his head briefly in the hopes of clearing it. But he still felt numb.
TAKASU - YUSEI
3600 - LP - 3300
"Chain Repairer's effect activates again – dealing 300 points of damage to the opponent".
A bead of sweat ran down his head, sliding down as quickly as possible to escape the next second. The same agony resumed, and was received the same way. A few spectators stepped back, others pressing hands over their ears, their freedom was slipping away and one of their own was suffering for it, and in such a terrible way.
"Yusei" Aoyama and Himuro gasped.
"Sonny" Yanagi called in the same second.
TAKASU - YUSEI
3600 - LP - 3000
Yusei dropped to his knees, his eyes wide as he stared at the ground. His body was exhausted already, screaming at him in regret, Aoyama had been right. And now he was paying the price. His breathed deepened to ragged breaths, just to get some air back into his fiery lungs after the series of blood-curdling screams. In his cell behind Takasu, Gohachiro clenched his jaws, watching the duel anxiously; it wasn't his future he was worried about. It was about the gruelling journey to get there in the corrupt and sickening facility.
"Yusei…. Hang in there…" he muttered, clenching the bars tighter.
Rena's eyebrows twitched as she held herself back from tears, determined not to cry in front of the warden and his power, or with her new cellmate around. Instead, she shook her head. Again, the lost man came to mind, she shook it harder – Yusei wasn't going to end up like that. But how could she be sure? She had only see him duel once and heard of other duels. She set her azure eyes on his trembling form on his knees, hands pressed against the ground to keep him up.
"But there's more; when the monster Chain Snake equipped to is destroyed by battle, its controller must send a number of cards from their deck to their Graveyard equal to the level of the equipped monster" Takasu added proudly, his voice booming in the vast structure. "Kickman's level was 3, so you lose three cards".
Yusei was on one knee, his right arm pressed against his knee. He drew the three cards from his Duel Disk, which had become coated in an ominous veil of purple fog. The Graveyard hungrily sucked in the cards as he placed them in front of it. Three cards that could have been useful in taking on the power of the warden.
"I'll get right on sending you back to your dump of a hometown, just as soon as I put your life to an end" Takasu declared, smirking confidently.
His opponent was down, weakened severely and there was no way it could happen to him because of his setup. The match was his already and there wasn't anything Yusei could do about it. He roared with laughter, while around the tower, prisoners pleaded for Yusei to fight back, calling his name and other words of encouragement. They only served to amuse Takasu further.
"Get up" Aoyama cried out from behind him.
When he finally did rise, moments later, his body swung back and forth, struggling to stay straight. He glared at Takasu, who continued playing with his nose hairs smugly. Rena stepped back from the window and pulled the deck compiled of another random forty cards from more hopeful internees. She looked down at it with narrow eyes, finding the Marshmallon that she had been given the bottom card, its light pink form smiling at her. What if Yusei was to lose? Would she even get to fight for his sake? But… if Yusei couldn't beat the warden, what chance did she stand? Even when she had her own deck that too was a mish-mash of cards that had been on her person when she woke up.
She removed the card and looked at the one beneath; Spear Dragon, the one that Gohachiro had given her. She smiled slightly, and then retraced, hope was slipping away fast.
"Your friend's in a bad way" the cellmate murmured, leaning against the wall beside the window.
"Yeah" Rena mumbled, keeping her eyes on the dragon. Why was it Takasu had wanted to duel her anyway? Why not just challenge her from the start and leave Yusei alone? Or was this about where he had been during her duel with Himuro? She looked at the man who watched the match casually, amongst the masses who were counting on Yusei's victory. "But he'll pull through. And he'll come out on top".
FIFTH TURN – YUSEI
"It's my turn" the dark-haired Satellite adolescent called, drawing Call of the Haunted. Something useful that hadn't been lost to the Graveyard. He placed it in his hand and removed another card, slotting it into the lower level of the Duel Disk. "I activate the Magic card Nightmare's Steelcage from my hand".
A red glow in the shape of bars grew rapidly, expanding into a large half-dome of curved iron rods that would serve as a new prison for Yusei. But at the same time, a new barrier. Himuro smirked at the setting, well aware of the card's influence on the field and how it couldn't have come sooner.
"When this card is activated, no monster can attack for two turn" Yusei declared.
"Not even summoning out a monster, huh?" Takasu scoffed.
"I place a card face-down and end my turn" Yusei replied, setting the Trap he had drawn on the field.
In a cell close to Himuro and Yanagi, two inmates stood together at the window, the black-haired cellmate smiling at the move made by their only hope of freedom.
"All right, my card bailed Yusei out of that fix" he swore gleefully.
"You dimwit, he's still in a fix" his companion, sporting short cornflower blue hair, called.
"Yusei…" Rena murmured, staring down at the hexagon platform. Nightmare's Steelcage would protect him, but there was no telling what Takasu was going to pull out next, and the cage was only going to lock Yusei in place.
SIXTH TURN – TAKASU
"It's my turn" the large warden declared, drawing from his deck. He smirked at his draw and turned his eyes back to Yusei, unnerving his friends and those watching around them. "Hmph, you seem to think that you can fend off against damage so long as that Iron Cage is around". A chill ran down Rena's spine, was he about to eliminate it already? "But how true does that hold up? Appear now, Chain Snake!"
A second steel reptile appeared, hissing in the same way as its predecessor, its yellow eyes gleaming menacingly [ATK 800]. Gohachiro grimaced in his distance chamber.
"Here it comes" he mumbled to himself. "Brace yourself, Yusei, he's setting up for something big".
"Chain Repairer's effect Special Summons a level 4 or lower Chain Monster" the dark-skinned warden bellowed. "Be reborn, Chain Snake".
The original limbless creature appeared like a mirror had been placed over the central creature. Yusei's eyes flared as he watched, wondering just what it was Takasu was building up to.
"Next, I activate two Permanent Magic Cards" the man continued, placing them into his Duel Disk so they appeared simultaneously on the field. "During a turn I haven't battled, Poison Chain sends my opponent's cards from their deck to the Graveyard equal to the total number of levels of all my Chain Monsters. The total number of all my monsters' level is ten".
Purple mist enveloped Yusei's Duel Disk again, rising in a vertical stream as it thickened. Yusei set his eyes on the machine, puzzled by the phenomenon.
"What?" he breathed.
"That deck is just scrounged up from cards of those scumbags, right? Trash will always be trash. Now, hurry up and send 'em to the Graveyard".
Yusei grabbed a large portion of his remaining deck, ten cards in all and placed them in the mouth of the Graveyard, which continued to greedily swallow them Rena's brow creased worriedly, Yusei had just discarded what made a quarter of his deck when the duel began, leaving him with very few turns ahead.
"That puts the number of cards in your deck to 19" Takasu stated, grinning still.
"It's a deck destruction strategy" Himuro groaned. "If he discards ten cards every turn, Yusei's deck will only last two more turns".
"So Nightmare's Steelcage ended up backfiring on him, did it…" Yanagi verbalised uneasily.
"Next is Paralyze Chain. When an effect that sends cards from my opponent's deck to the Graveyard is activated, this inflicts 300 points of damage".
Yusei cried out again, his body flaring in anguish as another surge of electricity ran through him, stinging and burning unnaturally while his lifepoints dipped further. Gasps came from the people watching; he was running out of cards, running out of lifepoints and running out of options fast.
TAKASU - YUSEI
3600 - LP - 2700
"Yusei…" Himuro exhaled heavily.
"Sonny" Yanagi cried.
"Yusei…. Hang in there" Rena whispered as he lifted his eyes again, glaring at Takasu with hatred. "We know you can do it, prove it to him. Prove that our hopes aren't in vain and throw open the doors that'll lead us to freedom. Come on, we believe in you".
-
Stardust ~ PREVIEW ~ Sutādasuto
Rena: Don't give in, Yusei!
Takasu: Nyahahahaha! There's nothing you can do, these shocks will just sap you of any fighting spirit you scum have.
Yusei: I refuse to bow down and allow you to continue treating people here the way you have been. I'm putting a stop to this, no matter what toll it takes.
Himuro: The situation isn't good, he's only going to last a little bit longer.
Yusei: Next, Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - Sutādasuto Accelerator, "Overthrow the Deck Zero! The Strive for Freedom". I'll prove the worth of these people now.