Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - The Neo-Domino Purge

Originally an RPG after the airing of Episode 6. Following the events of Episode 8; Rex Godwin uses the information regarding research on momentum to plan an attack and elimination of the Satellite residents. When a leak reaches Satellite, the residents band together. All but Yusei Fudo, who is forced to watch from the outside.
Contains violence, language, character death.


ARC 2 - Unconditional / Wavering Ties

--Neo-Domino: Godwin Mansion--

Rex Godwin's eyes surveyed the view from one of the highest levels of his extravagant mansion. Clouds continued to drift overhead, blanketing the City in shadows occasionally, passing over and permitting the sunlight to bathe the City again until the next shade passed over. His eyes, however, remained focused on the battlefield in the distance - Satellite resting atop the surface of the water that stretched to the horizon. The assault on the breakaway region was under his command, but everything that happened was out of his hands; individual attacks were choices of the duellists entering a place they had lived for seventeen years believing was populated by thugs and miscreants - those who were left behind after the devastating event that separated the area from the City and those rejected by the City once they, too, sunk as low.

The plan he had formerly devised was running smoothly, inching closer towards the desired result. His eyes lowered gradually to the detached island that was his residence, a severed land far more graceful than the pitiful state that Satellite had been left to rot in. A thin smile crossed his face when his mind shifted back to a matter inside the City's borders. A matter that he could proudly claim victory regarding, his right hand tightened around his left wrist, united behind his back in his usual manner. Something positive had come from the conflict already - his first objective in the Tail Signer had been succeeded. Yusei knew of his fate and had been backed into a corner by the Director. His eyes rose to the island again.

"A dragon without claws, far from completion and the necessary strength it requires to survive" he muttered to himself as he smirked.


Chapter 11 - Burden of Indecision: Tests of Arcadia

[Ketsudanryokunai no Futan: Arukadiya no Tesuto]

Finally regaining her composure, Carly straightened her body opposite the immense white D-Wheel of the Duel King, cheeks coloured by the glowing blush from her admiration of him. Jack's expression remained stern; his piercing violet eyes narrowing at the pursuer that had succeeded in catching him, a persistent girl that had grasped him where thousands had failed, all in the hope of a simple quote, something to tie together an article she hoped could be published.

"King Jack" she began, clutching her camera and tape recorder in her shaky hands. Even to the untrained eye, her naivety in the profession was painfully clear; some could pity her, but not the superior Duel King. "W- What is it that you feel about the attack on Satellite?"

The blonde's jaws locked; his first tactic to avoid answering the probing inquiries that she would have to offer. In the moment of silence, he inwardly praised the past two years; the opportunities in which facing the media had prepared him for anything, gaining a professional approach to those that would bombard him with abuse if they were to learn of his true history. Carly, however, was not as welcoming to the silence, her eyes stayed on him as she waited for a response. One that wasn't going to materialize any time soon.

"What about the Detention Centre?" she pressed on. "I hear that a lot of inmates escaped, many flooding into Satellite, what do you have to say about how they've failed to learn just what the City has been trying to teach them. 'The people of Satellite are stubborn children', that's what's being said about them, I'm sure you have a view cast downwards upon them without sympathy. I mean, who in Satellite could really be important?"

Jack's eyes twitched at the claims of his previous home, he knew the answer to her question. One of the two stood before her and the clueless girl had no idea, no-one did and no-one would ever need to. He was doing the City that rescued him a favour by leading the assault on Satellite, he was protecting himself and carrying out the task handed to him that each citizen had been waiting for. There was nothing wrong in attacking Satellite, he was King and it had been his order from a higher position.

Carly gazed at the blonde, hairs standing out of the smooth curve atop her head when she realized she wasn't going to get her long sought answer. Behind her glasses, her eyes continued to stay upon Jack, being a reporter was something she had wanted to do for years, she wasn't going to give up merely because one reluctant individual, these circumstances occurred regularly.

'I know! My Fortune Telling deck!' she thought, a finger extending from the grasp she had over the tape recorder still running.

Her eyes darted between her two hands, each holding an object, the tradition of pulling a card from her deck would require them both. She ungracefully fumbled with her possessions, slipping the camera under her right arm upside to avoid taking a picture of her underarm and removed the deck from the holder attached to her belt. Jack raised an eyebrow at the sight of the cards; surely this girl wasn't going to challenge him? Even she had to be aware that she stood no chance, she was simply another small reporter no older than him - more than likely younger - she didn't look like much of a duellist either, even to an individual without ties to the game. He said nothing as she pulled a card from the deck, gazing at it with raised eyebrows.

"Fortune-Telling Witch Fu?" Carly mumbled to herself.

The revving of an engine filled the alley, interrupting Carly's mental analysis of the card's meaning, furrowing her forehead when she could no longer concentrate. She looked up to yell back at Jack for his ignorance only to see him seated back in the machine and racing towards her. Panicked by the shocking sight, Carly yelled ungracefully, dropping to her knees with her arms thrown over her head by the small car blocking his path.

Jack forced his body back, launching the D-Wheel off the ground and over Carly. The girl opened her eyes, gazing up in awe at the sight of the blonde hovering over her, gasping as she fumbled for her camera. Before she could grasp it, the D-Wheel hit the road on the opposite side of her car, sparks lighting the base of the machine before Jack attempted to regain control from the temporary rebound from the concrete following his reckless manoeuvre, clutching the handgrips tightly. Carly leaned on the roof of her car, pressing down on the button, a flash wildly capturing the scene. Jack glanced at her after the flash, not bothered by the rapidly lighting that faded as quickly as he registered it.

"Don't bother following me. Even a stubborn reporter should know their limitations and this is beyond anything you can handle" he shouted over the purring of his engine.

The machine shot forward, racing along the road before Carly could even attempt to get inside her car again. Hairs rose from their usual places again, a drop of sweat sliding down the side of her face.

"That was close" she sighed, eyes leaping back to the camera. "But I have the beginning of my scoop!"

She darted into her car, starting the engine without a second thought. The camera sat on the passenger seat, waiting to be hooked to the machine that would project images. Carly pulled the seatbelt over her chest, pressing her foot down once she had prepared herself, taking her left hand from the wheel in order to connect the two devices.

"This must be what Fu-chan meant - "You may find what you lost"" she intoned, smirking at her success. "So Jack, this is beyond anything I can handle, huh?"

The image capture of Jack appeared, the D-Wheel at an uneven angle in the corner of the image, seeming like it had been rolling downhill.


--Neo-Domino: Arcadia Movement--

Knocking against the door of the chamber where Rua continued to rest shattered the silence that had befallen. Like an electronic reaction to the sound, Aki rose from her seat and approached the entrance, Ruka's eyes following her slender body. Aki's gloved hand reached for the knob, twisting it and allowing the ingress to open, revealing Divine on the opposite side of the wall. Ruka stood with crooked legs, glaring uneasily and surprised at the man's appearance.

"Divine" Aki half-gasped. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing to worry about, Aki" Divine answered, shaking his head with a reassuring smile. "I came to see how the boy was doing".

"He hasn't woken yet" Aki answered, shifting her body in order for Rua to come into Divine's sight. "He's been resting ever since he was brought here after our duel".

Divine motioned for Aki to pass through the threshold, the movement catching the girl's auburn eyes. Obeying the silent command, she stepped forward, allowing Divine to grasp the door knob and slowly dragging the door until the click proving it had shut completely sounded. Aki gazed at Divine curiously, perplexed by her sudden withdrawal.

"Divine…" she exhaled.

"Aki, I've been thinking about the girl's reluctance to join us, I believe that if you talk to her, then she may listen to you about what this place means".

"Me?" Aki asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, that girl seems to look up at you in a way" Divine answered softly. "I believe that because you both share a power, she can feel you understand her more than anyone - even that brother of hers. He cannot emphasize with her seeing as he possesses no powers of his own. Being the man that sent you out to find them, I'm certain that she won't trust me, she would disregard every word I say".

"But I'm the one that located them and duelled her brother into this condition, I can't see her trusting me either" Aki sighed.

"You're the best option we've got Aki; I'm trusting you" Divine specified, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders.

"I… I'll do whatever I can, Divine" Aki replied, adversely yielding to the appointed task."Thank you, Aki. The Arcadia Movement saved us both; I'm hoping we can save this girl from a world that cannot comprehend the abilities she possesses. We can open the door to a world that will embrace those powers, we can understand her and be there" Divine respired gratefully, smiling pleasantly at Aki's acceptance of the commission.

Divine retreated a number of steps, granting Aki access into the room they stood before. The young woman accepted the opportunity, opening the door and passing through again. What she saw inside was a sight not surprising, Ruka gripped Rua's arm like she was shaking him in the hope of waking him from the sleep he had been in since arriving the room, yearning to leave the towering Movement's nerve centre. Noticing Aki's return, Ruka turned to greet her, keeping her fingers wrapped around Rua's arm, struggling to devise an alternative scenario to avoid angering the urban legend alive before her.

"I-" she began, halting when Aki raised her hand in front of her chest. A silent shrugging off of what she had seen.

"You don't need to lie. We're not holding you captive here" the woman claimed.

"Aki-san" Ruka muttered; surprised by just how the woman under the mask of a destructive legend behaved. Did she only ever feel anger during her duels? Was there a trigger to unleashing her fury? A violent figure that Rua and Tenpei had discussed in the past was proving far more complex than the simple rumours that she was a loose cannon destroying any duellist she passed. Conscious that she was technically alone with that figure, Ruka placed her hand over her right forearm anxiously, not taking her eyes from the Psychic Duellist. "I appreciate everything you've done to supply Rua with a place to rest after that duel".

"I harmed him, I had to make amends. I don't want to harm people constantly, it's just something that is buried inside of me" Aki sighed, tearing her eyes from the children, they were beginning to touch upon sensitive nerves. She had to convert the topic into something she could use to fulfil Divine's request. "I was going to spiral down a path of self-destruction until Divine appeared in my life. He's helped me understand myself and my powers ever since, I owe him everything for rescuing me as he did".

"Aki-san" Ruka exhaled, eyeing the expression upon the Witch's unmasked face. In her eyes were the haunting memories that filled her mind, the past she longed to disown.

"I believe that Divine wishes to see just what abilities you posses, he just wants to offer you somewhere that you can feel like you're surrounded by people that can understand your inner suffering of being isolated" the elder female added.

"But I'm fine with Rua in the Tops".

"He doesn't understand your power though, does he? He doesn't possess the same power, does he?"

"N- No" Ruka sighed. "He may not understand, but he's the only one that is always there for me. He understands me like no-one else does, that's how I'm used to life. We're like opposites, but… we're all the other has, is it really alright to change that because of the Arcadia Movement? Would you accept Rua? I can't leave him and the world I know for something so distant, I don't want to leave him alone".

"You should speak to Divine, he was the one that took me in; he's been more than willing to take you in. If you wish for the Movement to embrace your brother as well, he would be the one to talk to" Aki replied delicately.

"But I don't know if I can transfer to a new life, I don't know if I can relinquish everything I've always known" Ruka intoned, casting her eyes to the floor.

"Divine is simply waiting for you to decide, he isn't going to force you to you" Aki responded. "Why don't you talk to him? I'll take care of your brother".

Ruka nodded her head discreetly. "I think I will. Thank you, Aki-san".

Rising from her seat, her left hand hung by the correct side of her body. In a manner effortless proving her reluctance to leave Rua behind, she advanced towards the door gradually, taking small steps across the chamber. Aki noted the gradual progress, suppressing her thoughts of reassuring the girl that Divine meant no harm. Ruka pulled the door open and passed through without gripping the knob as she pulled it shut, with it completing the barrier between Aki and herself, Ruka gave a sigh. Divine hadn't cared about Rua previously; he just wanted to recruit Ruka into his shadowy organization.

"I might as well get this over with; then I can return to Aki-san knowing that I'll never join this place and go back to living with Rua".

Without further hesitation, she hurried along the corridor, seeking out Divine. A simple chat that would end the feud over where she belonged, a feud that she couldn't lose as long as she could choose which path to walk, the path Aki was trying to guide her down and the path where Rua stood waiting for her return. She knew her choice; all she needed was for Divine to acknowledge it.


--Neo-Domino: Duellist Army Training Ground--

Yusei's eyes examined the sight before him once his feet came to a halt, he had arrived at the location Godwin had told him of. The large structure ahead took an exterior shape similar to the Duel Stadium with a roof over where the Riding Duel track would be, it dwindled in size - something slightly over half of the aforementioned site's dimensions. Dozens of duellists loitered outside of the building - Neo-Domino's next wave. A fraction that could have gathered after the number of duellists had invaded Satellite during the night before. Without an alternative, Yusei approached the structure, avoiding as many duellists as he could, expecting someone to recognize the large Marker running down the left side of his face, proclaiming that a Satellite duellist had slipped through the cracks and made an extremely foolish move to challenge them.

Fortunately for Yusei, he was able to enter through the large doors before anyone could pick up on his presence, let alone his Marker. He had entered the massive structure that Godwin had spoken of whilst directing him to the next location, a place where he would fulfil the choice he had made before the Sky Temple. He was disgusted with himself, but there was no other choice, he would atone later. He advanced casually through the vestibule; at a distance, he simply blended in with the other duellists lurking within the large chamber.

"Hey, you".

Yusei's eyes moved to the left corner, observing a tall dark skinned man approaching. His forest green eyes were fixed upon Yusei, drawn in by the sight of the large Marker running down his left cheek. The man halted a few feet from Yusei, towering over him, his massive build capturing the eyes of a number of duellists around, several whispering that with men like him, defeat in the war was impossible. The man held a photograph in his hand, regarding the character in it, wearing the same attire. His eyes moved back to the identical duellist, possessing the same Marker, standing before him

"You're Fudo Yusei, correct?"

Yusei listed one of his eyebrow, when had his name been given to a complete stranger? As an answer to the man's inquiry, he gave a brief nod. The man placed the photograph away, leaving Yusei without any answers to the questions yet to be spoken outside of his head.

"Your D-Wheel has been recovered from Satellite"."My D-Wheel?"

"Two men were caught making off with it during the breakout at the Detention Centre - an old guy and a former Pro Duellist named as Himuro Jin" Bommer stated. "They made it all the way to Satellite to meet up with a group of young men, most around your age. Security is simply going to let them hold their own in the war rather than waste time in arresting them again".

Yusei gave a nod, relieved to hear that not only had Himuro and Yanagi escaped Neo-Domino, but had united with his friends in the subway. At the same time, they were alone in the middle of the battlefield, with only Himuro holding a competitive deck against the City duellists that could attack at any given moment.

"You've got some good friends over there".

The claim snapped Yusei out of his thoughts surrounding his comrades, craning his neck back in order for his eyes to meet with the towering man's.

"They were willing to defend that D-Wheel until the end, even when the duel was over" he continued. "Himuro understands just how to lose with pride, perhaps you'll get lucky and won't have to fight them". Yusei turned his eyes away, looking at the floor ahead of him rather than to his left. "My name is Bommer. I don't really approve of this, so you know. After all, I lost my village through events out of my control".

"Your village?" Yusei repeated.

"Just something that happened a long time ago" Bommer shrugged, taking his eyes from the smaller duellist. "When I heard of what was happening, I wasn't exactly thrilled".

"Then why are you here where the next wave of duellists is gathering?" Yusei asked.

"I've been hoping to talk people around from attacking. It won't be long before these people are shown the path to the Maintenance Pipeline and head into Satellite to join the wave before them" Bommer muttered.

"The City won't listen to the needs of Satellite; before, they brushed it off as nothing more than a black sheep born in this world as the result of an incident. Now they wish to erase it altogether. The people who live there were once from the City too, how can they turn against people they once lived and worked alongside?"

"Pride is a funny thing. Some people are just willing to give up everything for the sake of looking good in front of others. What does it matter in the end?"

Yusei's eyes fell gradually, thinking back to whom he could link Bommer's words to. What the muscular duellist said was true, as much as he despised it; there was no changing the world's disposition. A door ahead of them opened up, drawing the attention of several duellists including the pair. Through it stepped a large man whose build challenged even Bommer's, wearing a full military dress. The attire alone unnerved a small percentage of the duellists watching, the man looked more like he was about to train an army's regiment, not duellists about to dash into a neighbouring region and battle with cards. But war is war - guns or cards, there was no denying the conflict was much more than what the majority of the City had been led to believe. The man's short blonde hair gleamed in the morning light, piercing blue eyes analysed the duellists gathered in the vestibule before him. The thundering sounds of his boots meeting the floor came to a sudden halt, the thuds reverberating throughout the chamber.

His eyes gradually surveyed the room, the duellists gathered nonchalantly between the four walls, the last few entering through the large threshold.

"Listen up, because I'll only make this clear once" he spoke, his thunderous tone shook the ambience. "My name is Judge Casey and I'm the General here. Got that? I'm simply here to oversee your training so you get yourselves sorted and head off to fight in Satellite. We're all aware of the scum that they and how little they invest in our lives".

His eyes met Yusei, the Marker on his cheek drawing the man's attention instantly. He had been told of a duellist bearing a Marker amongst the ranks in the coming wave of fighters. He sneered, his great disdain for the island's residents seizing the opportunity. He stepped towards Yusei, leisurely crossing the distance between them.

"So you're the new recruit, huh?" he sneered, smirking as he halted in front of the shorter man, forcing his neck back in order to keep his eyes fixed on the General's face. "Can you see through the helmet of a D-Wheel with hair like that, pretty boy?"

Before even taking a breath following the rhetorical question, he reached forward, seizing a clump of Yusei's fringe and hoisting him from the ground. Yusei's hands rose, grabbing the edges of the General's hand in a feeble attempt of freeing himself, hanging solely from his grip, his feet dangled above the ground as Judge held him slightly higher. The General smirked at Yusei's expression, his face screwed up in discomfort, unable to keep his eyes open from the stinging of his hair supporting his body in Judge's grasp.

"It's people like this punk that drag the world down. These are the type of people we're aiming to eliminate from this world" Judge proclaimed, seeing no disapproval of the treatment of Yusei, each and every duellist in the room was from Neo-Domino except him. They accepted his torment. Judge chuckled coldly, bringing his face slightly closer to Yusei's. "It's pretty sad to think that Satellite thought it stood a chance in reality. Only weaklings like this scum are conceived in that hellhole. These people think they can be strong, they believe they can duel".

Yusei continued to hiss and groan, refusing to take in Judge's words and focusing on his failing attempt to escape Judge's firm grip. Judge's arm swung to his right slightly, before back towards his left arm, his hand opening up and launching Yusei from his grasp. Bommer watched soundlessly as Yusei descended from the slight elevation that Judge's exploitation had brought him to, his body thudding against the floor. Around him, the eyes of the City's duellists gleamed in amusement at the display; Yusei struggled to pick his body from the ground, lifting his head before he glared back at Judge.

"Pathetic" the General scoffed arrogantly.


--Satellite: Yusei's Hideout--

Himuro continued to sit on the edge of the platform, legs hanging over the edge, gazing at the dereliction rails below with a glassy look in his eyes. The former Pro Duellist had been in the state since Bommer's departure, taking with him Yusei's D-Wheel. Himuro had yet to get over the loss and pass blaming himself. Rally watched him, astonished that someone they had learned was once in the Pro League had lost to another duellist they had never heard of, more so that his acceptance of the defeat was purely for show. Hoping to lift the fallen duellist's spirit, he crossed the platform and paused just behind the sulking man.

"Himuro…" he began softly. "Are you alright?"

The cyan-haired man gave no response, not even acknowledgment that he was listening to the child. Rally sighed by the lack of response, moving to the edge of the platform and standing by Himuro's side.

"You don't have to feel bad; Yusei would forgive you if he was here".

"But he's not…"

Rally's neck twisted, allowing his eyes to fall onto Himuro, who continued to stare ahead with downcast eyes. His response, however, had altered his position after losing - he wasn't distancing himself from the others, he was allowing words through to express his disappointment in himself.

"Maybe not, but how do you know that huge man wasn't trying to get it back to him?" he asked.

"You forget who he stated gave him the task of retrieving Yusei's D-Wheel" Himuro mumbled coldly. "He was sent by Security, there's no way that they would allow Yusei to have his D-Wheel again. It can only mean on thing - he really was recaptured during the breakout. Even though we agreed that if someone was missing at midnight, the others would have to escape into Satellite; I still feel guilty about leaving Yusei behind".

"I'm sure he expected that you would" Rally sighed. "He would know that we worried while he travelled into the City to meet up with Jack. Jack used to belong here in Satellite. He and Yusei were friends. Until about two years ago when Jack forced Yusei into a position where he chose Stardust or us and took the card when Yusei proved his decision". He paused, sighing at the memory of costing Yusei his prized dragon. "Yusei became determined to follow Jack in order to regain Stardust and his first D-Wheel".

"But it took him two years to perfect that D-Wheel of his, how does he plan to get back without it?" Himuro inquired. "He's in the Detention Centre; he's got no hope of escaping there again. Face it, Rally, he's stuck there and there's nothing we can do. He won't be getting back that dragon of his any time in the near future".

Rally sighed, acknowledging that Himuro was far from optimism. Approaching from his previous position, Yanagi could be heard by the clacking of his wooden sandals against the cold concrete area. He laid his hand onto Rally's shoulder, drawing the youngster's attention over his shoulder to the elderly man, his standard elated disposition absent in the strained time.

"It's best that Himuro-chan comes back to us in his own time" he muttered. "There's something I want to ask you about Sonny anyway".

Rally complied, picking himself up from the edge of the raised area and following Yanagi across, approaching Blitz, Nerve and Taka all speaking to Crow in a discreet manner. Rally averted his eyes from them and back to the elderly man leading himself towards the provisional dwelling created when the group took residence in the subway.

"What do you want to know about Yusei? Is something wrong?" Rally asked.

Yanagi prolonged answering, waiting until they stood by the hut, his eyes fixed onto the four Satellite teenage men talking by Crow's D-Wheel, close to where Yusei's had been.

"Have you ever felt something different about him, Sonny I mean?"

"Huh? No, when we met, he was a lot like Jack - he was quiet a lot of the time, they shared some characteristics. I suppose it's because they came together, they've been together for years".

"Jack? Jack Atlus?!" Yanagi yelped, leaping back swiftly. Rally nodded, leaving Yanagi to regain his composure, hearing that Jack was from Satellite changed everything. "So his arm never glowed when he played his dragon in a duel? Or when the King played his Red Demons Dragon?"

"Nope. We never witnessed anything like that" Rally answered, shrugging his shoulders lightly.

"I see. So there's never been any reason to suspect it… no wonder Sonny seemed surprised when he heard it" Yanagi muttered, pressing his thumb against his chin, forefinger resting against his jawbone.

"What are you talking about? Why would Yusei's arm glow?" Rally questioned impatiently, the aged man made very little sense; Rally struggled to comprehend what he was muttering about.

Yanagi hesitated, contemplating whether to tell the others, would they even understand or believe him if he was to narrate the legend of the Signers? He gave a sigh, making his decision. But before he could proceed with supplying an answer, Crow approached them; Blitz, Taka and Nerve close behind.

"So what're we going to do? Without Yusei, we're a duellist down to fight back and preserve this place" Crow inquired. "I've got my turf to watch over as well. Something tells me it's only a matter of time before we meet up with Jack again; I've already seen him near Daedalus Bridge. And then we parted".

"Jack's leading the City's duellists, if only we could talk to him and make him see the errors of his ways in doing this" Rally sighed.

"He's gone beyond that" Crow abjured, shaking his head. "I never wanted to think that Jack would truly lose himself, but bringing Neo-Domino's duellists in Satellite is just proof that he has".

"Yusei's in the Detention Centre and can't get back. Jack's turned on us. Isn't there anyway that we can stop the City from overpowering us?" Rally asked, downcast eyes travelling along the ground aimlessly. "Satellite has barely survived so far, Neo-Domino won't have scratched the surface of their power. What if there are more duellists about to break through? Satellite can never survive as an equal to Neo-Domino; they're going to prove that through their strength".

"What happened to your optimism, Rally?" Blitz asked anxiously.

"I don't know; everything seems hopeless right now. I can't see a way we can avoid what's coming" Rally sighed, tears brimming in his eyes.

"You can't rely on Yusei to save you every time" Crow scowled. "Now's the time when Satellite is meant to stand on its own legs, but everyone's hiding. How can we convince the City that we're not worthless as they believe if we just hide in the shadows while they take over our streets?"

"But how many duellists can stand up to those in their forces? Only Himuro has that kind of power in his deck based on the fact that he was in the Pro League himself" Blitz intoned lowly.

"So Yusei can stand up to Jack, doesn't mean he's all the power in Satellite. There were dozens of duel gangs here in the years Satellite has existed, I'm sure they're going to fight back. People are going to invade places they once fought for" Crow protested. "My Black Feather deck is all I've got to fight them with, but I'll defend my turf until a time when I can't draw a card from this deck. I won't give up just because Yusei's in a pinch in the City".

Rally gazed at Crow, listening intently to what he had to say - even if the situation was hopeless, he was still determined to fight for what he believed in. Just as he lived close to Daedalus Bridge, the monument that represented hope in Satellite, a beckon for his hope. He was well aware that Neo-Domino's duellists were bound to overrun Satellite at the rate events were unfolding, but he wasn't surrendering before he could retaliate. Over Rally's head, Yanagi smiled, Crow reminded him of Yusei, regret over leaving the young D-Wheeler temporarily lifted. There was nothing to alter the situation in any case; Yusei had understood that from the beginning.


--Neo-Domino: Duellist Army Training Ground--

Yusei stared at the sky in the direction of Satellite, thoughts remained on his friends. Each insult Judge launched about him and those in the breakaway region meant nothing to him; it was simply how those in the City perceived people like him. The man was supposed to be professional, but his hatred for those living in the district was clouding his professionalism. A period of rest for the duellists had come while Judge had departed from the area, rumours drifting about a meeting regarding the situation in Satellite. Yusei stood alone, unwilling to interact with the enemy duellists he had reluctantly collaborated with.

The silence around him eventually faded into the roaring of an engine, drawing Yusei's attention from the sky above the treetops a short distance ahead of him. His eyes descended to the earth, observing a circular white D-Wheel storming down a narrow road nearby - one that he recognized. He watched in disbelief as the machine rolled towards him, halting a stonecast from him. Within the stationary machine, the white riding suit clad rider removed his helmet, revealing his spiked blonde hair, the man setting his piercing violet eyes on Yusei.

"Jack…"

"Yusei… So what Godwin said is true" Jack mumbled.

"Godwin? What did he tell you? Just about me? What about our friends?" Yusei questioned, stepping towards the blonde as he climbed out of his D-Wheel.

"I don't know. He just mentioned that you have volunteered to join Neo-Domino's duellist army" Jack replied casually, turning to face his rival after setting down his helmet.

"I didn't volunteer, Godwin gave me an ultimatum in which I had very little choice" Yusei growled, his eyes narrowing sharply. His hand reached for the deck holder attached to his belt, removing the first card and holding it up for Jack to see - Stardust. "He told me to betray my friends or betray my destiny and Stardust. He claims I'm a Signer, that's why that dragon appeared the night we duelled".

"I've heard what he has to say" Jack intoned. "I'm surprised that you've finally turned against Satellite, it's about time".

"Jack!" Yusei barked.

"Settle down. It's the truth and you know it. There was going to be a day where you would have to choose just which world you truly belonged in" Jack continued, notwithstanding Yusei's rising temper. "Satellite will be destroyed as a result of this war, you were born in this world and it's where you belong".

"Regardless of what 'world' I belong to, I have friends over there. Friends that both you and I cherish" Yusei protested.

"I thought that my leaving Satellite proved a point" Jack sighed. "I betrayed you for my sake, now you're betraying your friends for your sake. Friends won't be there when you need them the most, there's no point in having friends. I learned that on my first step to becoming King".

"A lonely King" Yusei muttered.

"Believe what you want, but I'm not the one who had my dragon taken, only to be returned as part of a deal later on" Jack scoffed. "Do you know what Godwin intended to do with that dragon?"

"I don't" Yusei replied doubtfully, taking his eyes from the Duel King.

"Hmph. Is getting a Marker and spending a few days in the Detention Centre really that terrible? You've been rattled" Jack commented, narrowing his eyes. "You're not the same Yusei that I met the other night".

Jack turned his back on Yusei, lifting his helmet from the seat and placing it over his head, concealing all save a few hairs of his blonde locks. He mounted his mechanical steed, glancing at Yusei once more as he began the engine, a furious roaring erupting from the engine. Their eyes locked briefly before Jack's D-Wheel accelerated, ending their brief reunion. Yusei watched Jack depart, his eyes locked onto the rider rather than the D-Wheel until the distance grew too far.

"I suppose not…" he mumbled. "Jack…"


--Neo-Domino: Arcadia Movement--

Ruka's dash along the corridors in order to catch up with Divine eventually resulted in the preferred result, the man had been strolling casually in the direction of the duel fields that Rua had been transported from following his duel with Aki. Ruka raced towards him, ready to get her encounter with the man over and done with.

"Divine!" she called.

The brunette turned to face her, his quiff almost obscuring his left eye. He was certainly surprised to see her following him; even more that she was running as though she had had second thoughts. She came to a halt just in front of him, her eyes locked on his face sombrely.

"Aki-san and I were talking about what the Arcadia Movement means to her and what it could mean to Rua and me" she began.

"Aki convinced you to join us?" Divine asked, the corners of his mouth ascending to form a smile.

"She didn't 'convince' me to do anything" Ruka protested calmly. "I came to see if there was any way for the Movement to accept Rua if I were to join".

Divine stepped forward, motioning for Ruka to follow. Glaring at the man who proceeded forward at the mention of her brother, Ruka hesitated before unenthusiastically followed.

"Why are you running when I bring up Rua?"

"I'm not running. I'm simply bringing you to another chamber to discuss the matter. As Aki must have told you, I am an influential individual in the Arcadia Movement, but I am one man. I cannot make decisions for every person in the walls of this place".

"So you're going to let others decide if Rua would be permitted to live with me if I were to join?"

"I'm only one of many. I can't make the decisions without those highest up in Arcadia's chain of command acknowledging and accepting them".

Divine came to a halt before a large pair of oaken doors, Ruka peered past him at them, unsure why he had brought her to the chamber. Divine rested his hand on the handle, forcing it down and unlocking the doors that creaked open. The room that came into view was much like the one Rua continued to rest in, but much larger in size. A chamber very similar to a dining room. Divine turned his eyes to her, Ruka regarding his face in the corner of her eye.

"This is the room where I'll bring them to" Divine claimed gently. "You just wait inside and I'll be back in a few moments".

Ruka nodded anxiously, stepping through the threshold and into the large apartment. The doors closed gradually behind her. Unnerved by finding herself alone in the nerve centre of an organization that one man proved himself desperate to recruit for her 'unique' ability, the gift she had possessed for years. Of all times they had to approach her, they had come when she and Rua had commenced their self-appointed mission. Their timing couldn't be worse.

But there was nothing that could be done to alter that fact and she would simply have to accept it. At least she had a moment to reflect on what had happened, wishing that Rua would wake from his rest shortly and grant them a chance to depart from the tower. Through vents placed at the top of the walls surrounding her, chloroform gas began to leak, the hissing of the flow barely audible to the young girl who sat on a chair close by silently, her fists connecting with her knees, eyes fixed upon the door. Moments passed before a sufficient amount of the gas poured into the room, wearing out Ruka's senses, her eyelids becoming far heavier than she expected.

"Wh- what's happening?" she asked herself drowsily. "Why do I feel tired?"

Her eyes fell shut before she could answer her questions, her senses failing to alert her brain when the hissing came to a halt and the doors eventually opened.

---------------

When Ruka awoke, the scene she found was far from the dining room setting she had fallen asleep in. Instead, a dull grey ceiling was all she could see. She attempted to lift her hand and rub it against her eyes to brush away any grains that had formed during her rest, only to find herself incapable of lifting her arm. She gasped, looking down in horror when her wrist had been locked to the surface she laid on, her other wrist also placed in a cuff; her ankles were the same. It was then that it dawned upon Ruka that a steel loop had been placed around her head. Fear crept up her spine when she realized she had been tricked - not only by Divine, but by Aki too!

"What's going on?" she whimpered, struggling against the bindings.

"So you're awake" the familiar voice belonging to Divine uttered.

"You!" Ruka snapped, glaring at the man as he approached.

"Forgive me for this treatment. However, this is how we test those that are worthy of joining the Arcadia Movement" Divine spoke solemnly, no sign of pleasure or remorse in his expression or tone.

"And you do this to children? How could you?" Ruka cried out in distress. "Does Aki-san know about his? Is that why you convinced her to talk me into meeting with you?"

"Aki does not know. I realized her potential extended the need of these tests the night I met her" Divine answered, smirking at the immense power the Black Rose Witch possessed.

"So this is just for people like me whose power you've no conception of" Ruka snarled. "You're a despicable man; someone could die from this one day".

Divine's smirk faded and the man turned away like Ruka had hit a raw nerve. He exited the room, crossing through to the next where a small number of men stood, observing Ruka through the glass panel built into the wall. Ruka watched anxiously. Through the glass, she couldn't understand what Divine said as he turned to the men, two turning to stations close to them.

Electricity raced through the wires attached to the ring binding Ruka's temples, surging through her body. She swiftly sucked air through her teeth, hissing briefly as the sensation ran throughout her body, forcing her to squirm more in the vain hope of escaping the torment. She groaned while her muscles tensed, feeling her body already tiring - she wasn't physically strong. Was Divine trying to kill her?

Like it had been on cue, the voltage increased, sending more electrical energy flooding into her body. Unable to bear it, Ruka cried out, cries quickly growing into screams. Her body ached, Rua appeared in her mind - was this the pain he experienced in facing Aki? Was this what it felt like to have such pain inflicted upon your body that it felt too much to handle?

"Rua!" she cried, instantly returning to her screams of agony. "RUA!!"

"She's persistent. She's not going to break, especially while her brother exists" Divine scoffed. "He's what's holding her back".

"I won't join!" Ruka yelled. "I won't join a society that does this! You won't accept Rua anyway".

Divine clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth; even with the electric power running through her body, Ruka continued to defy his desires in recruiting her. She continued to utter her brother's name, over and over like it would ease the pain. Seeing that the experiment was going to head nowhere, Divine turned to the men in his company.

"Halt the test" he commanded. "I have a plan to have her yield to fate. Release her and make sure she says nothing to Aki or her brother. If she does, then we'll be in a situation far more awkward than we could imagine. Aki may buy the story, I'll see to her while you sort the girl out".

The three in his company nodded in unison, following his command. While one dashed from the room and into the next to release Ruka, Divine set his eyes on her tiny form - he held no regrets, another stain upon his diminishing conscious would mean nothing.


--Neo-Domino: Duellist Army Training Ground--

Judge stormed along the corridor towards the D-Wheel compartment, furious that his meeting with Godwin had gone disastrously. The conflict in Satellite was going nowhere until the next wave of duellists could join those already meandering the streets until someone brave enough appeared to face them. The rumours about his departure to meet with the Director were true, but his intentions were far from whatever word would claim - he had devised his own method for bringing the conflict in Satellite to a close. His eyes swelled with abhor directed at Godwin, the man who had disregarded all he had said; did his former position as Head of Security mean he was nothing in the present? He scowled furiously at the memory of the man's austere face.

"Don't you understand? This is the only way to bring everything to an end. What's the point in leaving duellists there with nothing to do while those cowards hide in the shadows of their ruined homes?" he protested furiously.

"There is a purpose behind the invasion of Satellite. The fact that no-one has stepped forward to fight may be a clue" Godwin murmured, speaking in a tone that practically excluded Judge from the discussion.

"What kind of crazy purpose must this be? It's a war!" Judge yelled, disapproving whatever secrets the Director was hiding from everyone else in the City. "People fight in a war. There's only two occasions when two warring armies come to a halt - a ceasefire or a result of the war, whether it be through absolute victory or surrender".

"Then consider this a period as a ceasefire" Godwin replied, his mouth obscured by the two hands brought together in front of his lips.

"Bullshit!"

"General, it is not your place to decide what moves are made in Satellite" Godwin hissed, narrowing his eyes on Judge sharply. "Your place is to train the next wave of duellists in order to confirm that each is capable of following their predecessors. I will deal with the matter of Satellite's reluctance to fight back; perhaps they are already surrendering in the face of such tremendous enemies they know they cannot overcome".

"You haven't done anything productive since this began. What were you thinking in bringing that Fudo Yusei guy into the army?" Judge spat.

"He is not like the others Satellite residents. This is a test to see just what path he walks and what moves he will make against his comrades. I know you despise those from Satellite, but I want to see just what Fudo Yusei's potential really is".

"'Potential'? Satellite scum don't possess potential. Their existence in this world is meaningless" Judge scowled, opening his left hand by his side. "That's why I proposed we simply destroy Satellite with bombs and nuclear weapons. It'll save time and effort rather than boring the duellists to death. I'm sure they're dying to engage in battle as I would be".

"While the destruction of Satellite is an objective in this conflict, there is one more purpose that place has to fulfil" Godwin replied coolly, watching Judge over the bridge his hands forged. "We must wait until that time. That is why simply obliterating Satellite is not an option".

If Satellite was destined for annihilation, why would the process have to be drawn out? Judge snarled like a vicious animal denied its way, Godwin was standing on the sidelines and observing what was happening. Perhaps he even set up the breakout in order to get Fudo Yusei out. The man was manipulating the City; he had been for some time. Judge was a former Head of Security before dedicating his life to the military, his job had been to protect the public and keep their best interest in mind - how was pushing hundreds of duellists into Satellite to battle until a certain point benefiting them before the destruction of the island?

When Judge came to a halt outside a room close to the D-Wheel compartment, the door slid open, light pouring over a small portion of a machine sitting in the darkness, waiting for its time to arise. Judge continued to frown, while the machine was vital for his plans regarding Satellite, his current situation wasn't ideal for its use.

"It seems I may have to take matters into my hands shortly…" he muttered bitterly.


PREVIEW

Judge: It won't be long before the next wave of attacks rips Satellite apart. That meaningless place will finally disappear.

Yusei: Judge, that's enough!

Judge: Speaking up to me, you little brat. You're powerless, just like Satellite.

Yusei: I won't allow you to disrespect my friends, I'll take a stand against you for everyone. Next time: "Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's: The Neo-Domino Purge, Chapter 12 - Satellite-Threatening Riding Duel! Vs. The Ally of Justice Catastor Combo!" Riding Duel, Acceleration!

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