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 – At this point, I'd like to thank those who read Reverse of Arcadia, it was a pleasant surprise to find three reviews and six people having favourited it. I'd also like to thank everyone whose read this as well, seeing as it has reached 9000 hits and has just over than 50 favourites, especially those who have reviewed, telling me that they seem to feel I'm going in the right direction. And so, with this chapter, the Detention Centre mini-arc comes to a close and Fortune Cup draws closer. Hopefully, this duel is a good enough end to the arc, it was certainly difficult to get done, so I hope it's right. Hope you enjoy. Please read and review.
Yusei / Aoyama -「Neo-Domino」- Detention Centre
Yusei sucked in his breath as he watched from behind the barred window, observing through the slits as the duel progressed, the continuation of his own fight with the devious warden. His body still felt numb, like there was nothing beneath his waist. The electric shocks were brutal, that much anyone could tell, but to actually experience them was another matter. He was exhausted, but rest was far from his mind. He wanted to ensure Rena could pull it off, to finish what he had started. And maybe to learn the true reason behind Takasu's interest in her. Their original agreement was a one-on-one duel, nothing more and nothing less, only Takasu had then added in he wanted to duel the girl, with the condition that if either of the inmates was to lose, it would count as a loss for not only the duo, but everyone in the facility.
Naively, they accepted. No-one knew electricity was going to be involved, and only as it was revealed did they expect something to be rigged. Yusei glanced at Aoyama in the corner of his vision, it was thanks to him that the playing field had been evened; towards the end of his duel with Takasu, the current had been restored and the warden shocked with the power of all damage dealt to him – a punishment that Yusei himself had been forced to endure throughout the whole duel.
The problem was that he could still stand easily; his body was large and more suited to stand the shocks. Yusei and Rena, on the other hand, weren't so lucky. They were thin, made of muscle, skin and bone, little natural fat in comparison to the large man whose stature had finally been taken advantage of. Yusei was close to collapsing and passing out when he had been duelling, falling to his knees on more than one occasion, he could only guess how long Rena would stand it. Or if she would get to stand by the end of it all.
Takasu still stood opposite, chained to the spot by the iron rope locked onto his Duel Disk, smirking in the same cocky way. He was off to a good start, having damaged his opponent by his second turn. Rena glared at him on the other end, a few strands of hair still hanging out of place and poking into her view.
"So what you do plan to do now, brat?" Takasu chuckled. "You're fairing no better than your scumbag friend. And let's get one thing straight – he got lucky, you won't".
"We'll see. About everything" Rena hissed. She tore the top card from her deck. "Draw!"
-遊戯王5D's-
Stardust ~ Chapter 12 – Push Forward! Unleashed Ordered Chaos ~ Sutādasuto
Rena -「Neo-Domino」- Detention Centre
FOURTH TURN – RENA
Rena brought her new card back in front of her, casting her eyes over it. She was already in Takasu's trap; his method of deck destruction was already nibbling away at the cards given to her by the inmates that trusted her and Yusei. Her azure eyes hardened, there was no way she could let them down, she had to win; not just for her, but for everyone's freedom. No matter how much she had to go through. She slapped the card onto her Duel Disk.
"I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior [ATK 1600]" she called.
A mage appeared on her field, dressed in blood red armour lined with gold. Across his curved helm, chest plate, on the ends of his arm pieces and fixed into his narrow sword and diamond shield were spheres of lapis lazuli. Only the bottom half of the mage's face could bee seen, revealing its skin to be a cyan shade. A cape matching the armour hung behind its back, swaying as it moved its sword fiercely.
"Breaker's monster effect – it gains a Spell Counter when it's summoned, and that gives it 300 extra attack points" Rena added forcefully. A faint blue glow crept around the mage's form. Rena opened her hand as she reached out for it. "I'm not keeping it on him though. That Spell Counter can be used to destroy a Magic or Trap card on my opponent's field. Breaker, destroy Gravity Bind!"
The sword of the warrior-mage began to shine, much more brightly than the piercing gleam that sparkled from the tip under the light of the lights. Breaker swung its arm again, launching the sword across the field and into the active Trap, piercing it as it shot through and landed with the handle close to the image of a sphere trapped under a grid of green lines, fixed in the ground like a javelin. The card exploded as a result, showering Takasu with the remains of his defence against the new creature.
"Breaker, attack Chain Shooter!"
The weapon-less warrior lunged forward and leapt. Soaring over the head of the gravelly cannon like an acrobat, the warrior landed by its sword and slid it out of the slit in the floor. With ease, it spun and stabbed the Chain monster in the back, resulting in another small explosion. Bolts of electricity flashed around the base of the chain before crawling up and reaching Takasu. The large warden let out a fierce yell as the power raced around his body.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 3400
"Alright, she narrowed the gap" Himuro chuckled; clenching his right fist like a new strength had entered his body. Hope.
"It feels much better to hear him yelling instead of someone who doesn't deserve it" Yanagi added.
"Yusei, it's working" Aoyama exclaimed proudly. "Now that he's feeling the shocks, maybe he'll be less cocky and feel exactly what you felt all that time".
"The problem is that it doesn't guarantee he'll lose" Yusei sighed, drawing his friend's eyes.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he mumbled.
"I'll be fine. Honest" Yusei replied, closing his eyes as he did so.
The purple-haired prisoner frowned, he didn't like that Yusei couldn't even look at him whilst answering – he wasn't convinced. "Perhaps it's best you rest for now".
"No… I have to see this" Yusei protested, opening his eyes again.
"Turn end" Rena declared.
FIFTH TURN – TAKASU
"Little bitch, you'll regret that attack" the large warden snarled. "Draw!" He brought the card back and glared at it, grinning madly after a second and burst into a roaring laughter that unnerved those watching the duel from their cells. Rena glared uneasily, but remained still, unflinching until she could understand what it was that amused the man. "I activate Poison Chain and Nightmare Steel Cage!"
The two cards shot into the Duel Disk, appearing on the field either side of him. The inmates around gasped as iron bars erupted from the flat hexagon, encircling Takasu and encasing him, a familiar sight, albeit a strange one considering who the prisoner to the card was.
"Nightmare Steel Cage? That was the card Yusei played to protect himself" Gohachiro called as he watched from his cell, alone. "Why would the warden have one of those when he's always trying to prove people behind bars have no life?"
"Yusei" Aoyama gasped, his mouth hung open. "That's-"
"I know" Yusei murmured. "He's building up his defences so he can put together his strategy. Breaker easily gets in the way, so he's setting up a wall to stop it".
"Now I summon a good friend you may remember – Chain Repairer! [ATK 1600]" the warden howled.
Rena glared at the sickly rounded man that leapt up from nowhere on the opposite field, dull green trousers held up by the chains hanging over his shoulder. A large steel mallet in his hand gleamed under the light, a weapon she was all-too familiar with .Takasu's chuckle continued for another moment, unnerving many of the inmates who watched anxiously; their futures were still on the line, Takasu laughing was never a good sign.
"Poison Chain activates, forcing you to discard from your deck to the Graveyard equal to the levels of my monsters. That means four are gone, so throw those useless cards out!"
Rena removed the top six cards of her deck, leaving her with 25 to play with, and placed them into the Graveyard, the Duel Disk still hungrily sucking them up like they were nothing more than food, or sacrifices of war. A drop of sweat was sliding down her forehead when she glared back at Takasu, whose wide grin held when the other Magic card began to glow.
Power surged through the chain and into her, she screamed as everything began to feel as though it was on fire. Her entire body shuddered as it tried to endure the pain as long as possible, but while her eyes were closed, all she could see was Yusei in the same place. Time rewound and reached their reunion behind the bars of the facility – even then he had been exhausted, had he been through something similar? The power stopped and Rena began to suck in deep breaths, legs trembling as they struggled to keep her up.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 3100
"He's opening up the gap again. With that damned cage, she can't do anything!" one of the inmates cried.
"And to think, that card helped Yusei" another spat. "Did he steal it from the deck? Is that mine?"
Takasu snarled, glaring at the pair, focused more on the latter. "Don't talk bullshit. I wouldn't use your cards if they were the last on Earth. These cards are mine, those of Neo-Domino's law; we don't need some scumbag's cards. I left those with Hero-dono up there". He pointed at Yusei, smirking when he watched the Satellite duellist with Aoyama beneath his right arm, still looking exhausted. His smirk widened. "And look at what good they did him; he's on his last legs. Maybe you should just quit before you both drop down dead".
He exploded into laughter again, clutching his large stomach with his free hand. Rena snarled fiercely as she stood, slightly bent over, shoulders heaving up and down as her body worked to get itself back to normal.
"That is, unless you want an early grave back in Satellite" he laughed. "In that case, I'll end my turn and let you pick a dump".
SIXTH TURN – RENA
"Draw" Rena called. She smiled at the card and then moved her focus elsewhere. To Gohachiro's cell where the blonde watched slightly bewildered by the expression. He then smirked lightly and nodded, assuming he understood what she had received. Rena set her eyes back on Takasu, glaring confidently at him.
"I trust Gohachiro. I summon Spear Dragon [ATK 1900]".
A blue vortex shone and through it, a pterodactyl shot through, azure on the top of its long and narrow head, wings, beneath the knees and across its back. The rest of its bod was a dull beige; its torso, the upper half of its legs, its face and beak. Two grey horns protruded from the back of its head, slightly misshapen after the millennia of living in the other world.
"Wait, does she mean that's Gohachiro's card?" Aoyama asked, leaning forward slightly.
"They spoke while others were handing us their cards. I suppose he must have given her that Spear Dragon as a wish of luck" Yusei mumbled.
"Magic card activate – Fissure!" Rena snapped, holding up the Magic card. "This will destroy your Chain Shooter before it can deal any damage to my lifepoints". The cannon vanished, Takasu growled at the undoing of his Chain army gathering. "I'll set a card face-down as well" Rena called, slotting the card in. "And since you're so busy hiding behind that cage, I'll have to end my turn".
SEVENTH TURN – TAKASU
"Feh, cocky bitch" Takasu spat. "Draw. I summon Chain Coil [ATK 1100]".
The small beige cone-bodied Tuner appeared; waving its chain arms around eagerly, its face remained the same, however, lifeless and looking shocked with the placement of the salmon coloured space. Rena groaned anxiously at the sight of the creature, clenching her teeth and narrowing her eyes.
"No, that's his Tuner!" Yanagi yelped. "He's going to summon his Chain Dragon!"
"Let's hope you're wrong, because I doubt that deck will be as lucky as Yusei's" Himuro sighed. "She's already in a bad place; it doesn't need to get worse".
"You don't reckon he's still using those cameras, do you?" Yanagi whimpered, looking at his injured companion.
"Can't be sure… but it's probably safe to assume he is" Himuro scowled. He raised his left hand by his mouth. "Rena!"
Rena looked over her shoulder, gazing up at the cell where the two men stood. Her face showed her surprise at one of the spectators calling to her directly rather than commenting from afar, yet felt lucky that Himuro, a former Pro Duellist, had been the one to call her name.
"Hide your hand. He's probably still using those cameras to spy on you" Himuro yelled.
Rena's bottom jaw fell slightly when she remembered the tactic and berated herself for having not concealed her hand. Takasu, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and snarled.
"The cameras were brought down when that brat destroyed the computer. They're still being worked on to make sure you scum don't break the rules when this is all over" he snapped.
"Could that be true?" Yusei asked his cellmate, turning his head to face the purple-haired convict.
"Honestly, it could be. But I didn't think about it at the time" he chuckled, scratching his cheek playfully. "If that's the case, it's just another advantage for us – if he can't see Rena's hand, he can't screw her about like he did you".
Yusei smiled and turned his attention back to the duel; if what Aoyama said was the truth, then it meant the playing field had been equalled where there had been two injustices during his own duel. Takasu would have to rely solely on skill now, without knowing what cards Rena had been handed before they were played.
"Chain Repairer's effect revives Chain Shooter from the Graveyard!" the warden yelled, bringing an end to the intermission. The iron weapon moaned as it materialised on the field one more, between Chain Repairer. "Now for the fun; I tune Level 4 Chain Coil with Level 2 Chain Shooter!"
The small large-eyed creature vanished into four green rings, aligning in the air and descending over the snake, reducing it to two stars, each hanging in the centre of the middle rings around them. A stream of light blinded those watching as it engulfed the rings.
"Synchro Summon! Appear now, Chain Dragon! [ATK 2500]"
A fierce roar rippled through the air, shaking the spines of those watching. Through the light, the grey and saxe blue dragon reappeared, the large chain rattled and its blood-red eyes shot open. The beast unleashed another terrifying roar.
"It's just a shame that I can't do anything with him for now" Takasu chuckled. "So with the Battle Phase ignored, Poison Chain activates, meaning you have to discard 10 cards for each of my monsters' levels".
Rena scowled, picking up what had been a quarter of the deck when the duel began and slipped them into the Graveyard, watching each Monster, Magic and Trap that could have been of use as they slipped through her fingers and into the shadowy depths of the burial ground. Lost. Opposite, Paralyze Chain began to glow again, Rena grit her teeth. The feeble attempt to bite her tongue did nothing once the electricity poured into her again, pushing another cry of anguish from her. Like they were broken, her legs gave up and she fell to her knees, pressing her right hand against the ground as the bolts flickered around her, dying as the wave came to an end. Heavy breaths followed, Takasu roared with laughter as her lifepoints fell yet again.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 2800
"Looks like you're ready to give up" he taunted smugly. "Why not just pressed your hand over the middle of your Duel Disk and end your torture here".
"He wouldn't be so merciful. He'd just deal us all a rough just as rough" Aoyama snarled.
"Surrender isn't an option; she knows it" Gohachiro mumbled to himself, his hands shivering as he clutched the panels acting as bars to keep the inmates in. "But no matter what she does, it doesn't work. He still has a way to counter it. That bastard is toying with her and he loves every second of it. What he's doing now is just a taster for the rest of us if he wins".
"So how about it?" Takasu chortled heartily.
"Never" Rena hissed, glaring at him through the hairs of her matted fringe, shaking her head to throw them back into place. She stopped before continuing, pushing herself up from the floor. "Yusei put his life on the line for everyone here. I wouldn't be fit to call him a friend if I was to do that. I'd let down everyone here – build up their hopes and smash them with your iron hammer. I'm not about to let that happen, I wouldn't submit to you if my life depended on it. Even if I'm not strong enough, even if I fail, I tried for them, I didn't give up".
Yusei and Aoyama watched anxiously, they both understood what it was Rena was saying, what she was implying. That possibility that haunted them still. Rena glanced in the direction of her own cell, the one where the tale of the lost soul took place. She could see the man standing inside, frowning in the same way he had been the whole time, doubtful, filled with pessimism. Maybe he had known the man, maybe he had been fighting like this.
"After all" she breathed, barely loud enough for the warden to hear. "It wouldn't be the first time you killed someone in here".
"Believe what you want, I think you're getting delusional after all those shocks" Takasu spat, throwing a card into his Duel Disk. "I set a card face-down and end my turn".
EIGHTH TURN – RENA
"Draw!" Rena bellowed.
"Trap card!" Takasu snapped, grinning while Rena flinched at the sudden protest. "Jar of Greed. This lets me draw an extra card. Y'know, because I can afford to draw extra cards".
"Damn him" Himuro spat.
"He's really rubbing it in" Yanagi lamented. "If only there was some way to wipe that smirk off his face".
Rena scowled, glaring sternly at the man as he drew from his deck, keeping the card a secret. He smirked and lifted his eyes to her; a signal to continue.
"I release Breaker in order to Advance Summon Cyber-Tech Alligator! [ATK 2500]" she shouted.
Breaker vanished, consumed by the rainbow aura of momentum and reshaped into a much larger creature. The being shed the light, revealing the green scales that made its natural skin, but much lost beneath the crimson armour across its head, back, torso, right arm, left leg and right wing. Grey coils connected the pieces together and circular meters kept measures on the pressure within the armour. Gold claws protruded from the four claws of green and red, large jagged teeth were fixed into the jaws, the bottom covered by yellow scales that matched the central strip through the beast's torso.
"Next, I activate Pot of Avarice" she added. The Magic card appeared on the field, depicting a fat pot with a greedy face, gems for teeth and decorations like it had drained the rest of the world of its riches. "This lets me return five monsters from the Graveyard to my deck, and then draw two cards. So I guess you're not the only one fishing from your deck".
Five monsters slid out of the Graveyard, Breaker among them. Rena grabbed them and placed them on top of the deck, which was then automatically shuffled by the machine. She removed the top two cards once the process was complete and added them to her hand. The others held their breath, Rena had increased her deck by a small portion, but five cards had been rescued from the grim fate that they had already endured. They had increased the deck's chances of survival.
"Since I still can't attack, I'll end my turn there".
NINTH TURN – TAKASU
"It's my turn" Takasu called as he drew from his deck. "And with the start of it, Nightmare Steel Cage comes to an end".
The iron bars around him dissolved, releasing the warden and his field. The Chain Dragon hovering above him hissed; steam curling out of its mouth as it tasted fresh air outside the dome of steel. A bead of sweat slipped down the left side of Rena's face as she glared up at it; the strongest creature in Takasu's deck with level attack points to her Cyber-Tech Alligator, the strongest she could produce.
"I activate Oozaki!" Takasu bellowed, holding the card above his head.
"No!" Gohachiro gasped. "Rena, watch out!"
A large ball of flames grew above the warden, much larger than that produced by a Hinotama card. Rena's eyes shot open after blinking, much wider than they had been before, the mass flew at her. The others said nothing, but gawped in disbelief as the flames crashed around her, flaring angrily as they ate at her lifepoints. To accompany them, electricity shot up the chain and into her again. Overcome by the two elements, she screamed in agony, the cry rippling through the tower.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 2000
Yusei shuddered as he watched the scene; he felt so helpless, more so because of his condition. Aoyama watched him in the corner of his eye, turning his head to the Satellite adolescent, seeing the look of frustration in his eyes.
"Maybe you should just lie down" he mumbled. "If you trust Rena as much as you do, then you should know she'll win. But what matters is you getting your strength back".
"But if I don't watch, then she may feel as though I've turned my back on her" Yusei protested weakly.
"She saw the way you were when we got here. I know she'd understand; she's experiencing it all for herself now" Aoyama argued. "The last thing she needs now is you passing out or something just because you're too stubborn. Standing your ground got you into this mess; it's not going to get you out".
Yusei sighed, and then smiled at the purple-haired man. "Alright. But only because I trust you".
Aoyama returned the look and turned away from the window, slipping himself from under Yusei's right arm and guided the boy around. He clutched Yusei's left arm, close to his armpit, and began to lead him to the bunk bed. There was nothing special about the bottom bed, if anything; it would be far easier for Yusei to sleep on that rather than the above. He leaned over; Yusei pressed his right hand against the soft mattress and sat himself on it. Aoyama released his arm when he sat opposite him, smiling at the dark-haired teenager. The cries outside had died, leaving them in silence as the others gawped.
"I'll tell you when it's over. Just sleep until then" he commanded.
Yusei reluctantly retreated deeper into the bed and laid himself with his back to the wall. There wasn't a sheet to use, so he removed his jacket and left it at the foot of the bed, laying his head against the pillow and closing his eyes. To Aoyama's surprise, he was out in a matter of seconds. He smirked and shook his head playfully, returning to the window where he found the duel having not continued further. Rena was on her hands and knees, panting heavily as she struggled to cope with the pain. The others watched without anything; no complaints, no cries for her to rise, nothing encouraging to say. They were as stunned and terrified as her, like timid rats in the face of a great threat. Opposite them, Takasu stood playing with his nostrils.
Aoyama gripped the bars of his cell, it didn't matter if he woke up Yusei; there was nothing anyone could do to stop the duel, especially when Rena had already declared she wouldn't give up even if it meant breathing her last.
"Rena, keep going" he yelled. "You're strong enough to stop him, we believe in you. But don't feel as though you have to give up your life for that. We'd understand, it's not worth losing someone just to get our own freedom".
Rena looked over her shoulder, revealing the extent of the matter hairs hanging over her forehead to the man. He was surprised by it, her hair didn't have a permanent shape like Yusei's, but even his had a few strains that had poked out of place. Seeing her tired face, he gripped the panels tighter and leaned forward, pushing his head through the gap.
"Yusei taught me that" he continued. "Don't sacrifice yourself for us if it's too much. But until then, we're all cheering for you".
Around the tower, voices began to follow, filling the building with noise. Rena looked around as they came, eyes filling with tears as she recalled the importance of her fight; it wasn't just to carry on Yusei's fight, but it was grant everyone their lives back. Her right hand clenched into a fist, shaking against the cold floor.
"Shut up! Scum has no right to talk" Takasu hollered furiously. "If you don't stop, you'll all be put into lockdown regardless of the result".
"No!" Rena snapped. The voices died down, Takasu turned to her instantly. She was in the process of picking herself up, shakily, but climbing back to her feet. "You'll leave them alone. Now this result only affects me. If I lose, you'll have another name to add to your list of victims, but they had nothing to do with this. They're innocent people prosecuted unfairly by a city more concerned by its image. That's why it disowned Satellite, isn't it?"
Takasu snarled, glaring with abhor at the girl who had suddenly gained a new strength. She was standing, leaning forward with a fierce face, a moment before she was crumbling on the ground. Together, those in captivity had united and drawn their strength together in the avatar that was this girl.
"Isn't it?"
"I know nothing of all that, you little brat" he yelled. "That subject belongs to someone else. Let's just stick with the duel so I can put an end to your miserable life".
"He's evading the subject, maybe we've hit a nerve" Yanagi commented.
"Probably, he deals with the outcasts of Satellite and those that Neo-Domino don't care about anymore" Himuro mumbled. "Look at yours truly if you need a case study".
"I summon Chain Snake [ATK 800]" Takasu called in the centre of the tower, throwing the card onto his Duel Disk. A replica of the reptile that latched onto Drillroid appeared, hissing in the same manner. "Chain Snake's effect – I equip it to Cyber-Tech Alligator".
The snake dove across the field, transforming into an inanimate chain that toppled over the creature, hanging around its neck in the same way another hung around Chain Dragon's. The creature struggled against the immense weight that had fallen over it suddenly, downed onto one knee and snarling viciously as it tried to fight back [ATK 1700].
"Cyber-Tech Alligator" Rena cried out.
A sphere of glowing emerald energy built up before the enemy monster's jaws, growing into a stream that raced across the field, lighting the opposite side of the field and stretching the shadows of the targets. Rena glared at the blast, throwing her right arm open to the side where the face-down card in front of the extended limb rose.
"Trap card open – Kunai with Chain" she protested defiantly.
From the card, the weapon with three rounded blades shot out, connected to a rope of chain coils. The weapon lunged into the field and met the blast with its two larger blades at the top. Chain Dragon hissed as it lowered its head, a shade of blue falling over its body, Takasu noted the change and looked back to the collision as the energy faded, revealing the enemy field to be in tact.
"What the hell?" he blurted.
"Kunai with Chain has two effects" Rena stated. "First, it can increase my monster's attack power by 500. As well as that, it can force your monster into defence mode, which flips the situation around. Now my monster is in a position to be called strongest".
Takasu snarled; in one move, not only had she protected both her monster and lifepoints, but also pushed his monster into a vulnerable position. His eyes moved from his blue Chain Dragon [DEF 1300] to the reinforced Cyber-Tech Alligator [ATK 2200] as the weapon snaked its lead around the monster's red armour and connected itself to the metal fist.
"I'll set a card face-down" he snarled, slotting the card into his Duel Disk. Beside him, Poison Chain began to glow again. "And although I tried, an attack didn't happen, meaning that Poison Chain activates. And with my monsters' levels, you have to discard 10 cards".
Murmurs buzzed in the tower, Rena picked up another once-quarter and deposited the cards in the Graveyard, leaving her with seven cards left. Takasu chuckled as he watched.
"To think, you just threw out most of your remaining deck just to keep a useless monster like that" he chortled. "Even with that Trap on it, it's not strong enough to take on Chain Dragon. Far from it. You must be losing it to keep that around. Especially now that Paralyze Chain activates".
Power raced through the chain and into Rena, she cried out the same as she had every other time, voice growing hoarse. Aoyama glanced over his shoulder to see if Yusei had stirred as a result of the anguished noise. He felt fortunate that he hadn't. Like the others around them; Yanagi, Himuro and Gohachiro shuddered as they watched, faces of horror and fury blended in with those above and below. Rena remained standing when the brief wave ended, swaying back and forth as fatigue crept further up.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 1700
"So you're still standing" the warden chuckled. "Not for long. I'll end my turn there; make good use of your last. No matter what happens, you'll be finished".
"You're pretty confident for someone whose best monster is in defence mode opposite something powerful to stop it right now" Rena commented, smirking vaguely.
Takasu scowled at her line, Aoyama smirked from his cell, his hands clutching the panels as hard as they could. But not with fear, but with hope – this was the perfect opportunity to turn everything around.
TENTH TURN – RENA
"It's my turn. Draw!" the girl called. She drew from her deck, reducing her remaining supply to six cards. That fact unnerved several of those watching. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon, destroying the Chain Snake that holds Cyber-Tech Alligator's attack power down".
The chain hanging around the alligator's neck exploded, freeing the creature to stand upright at full strength [ATK 3000]. It hissed readily as it stretched, directly opposite the muzzled dragon, Rena pointed at the designated enemy.
"Cyber-Tech Alligator; take out Chain Dragon!" she shouted.
The wings of the creature stretched, ready to glide across the field and lead the body to the enemy. Takasu smirked, pressing down on a key on the edge of the Duel Disk's rounded centre. The Trap card rose in front of him and grounded the monster.
"Negate Attack" he called. "This'll stop any attack you try for this round".
Rena clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth; that meant there was no point trying with Spear Dragon either. Her eyes fell to the card in her hand, picking up two and moving them along the back of the Duel Disk's flat zones.
"I set two cards face-down" she sighed. "Turn end".
ELEVENTH TURN – TAKASU
"You just blew your last chance" Takasu cackled, drawing from his deck. "I switch Chain Dragon into attack mode".
The beast shed the blue skin and roared, hungry for revenge after being reduced to a shield. Rena clenched her right hand into a fist, furrowing her forehead as she gazed at the dragon with a mixture of frustration and confusion.
"Why would you do that? It's not strong enough to destroy Cyber-Tech Alligator" she commented.
"It's not strong enough, that's true. But that card belongs to scum – and scum never wins" the warden jeered, fiddling with his nose hairs.
"I seem to recall one of us has already taken you out" one of the inmates in a level above mocked.
"Does that mean you're scum? Because you can't win?" another laughed.
"Seems they're having their last few moments of freedom making wise cracks" the warden chuckled darkly. "I activate Chain Repairer's effect, reviving Chain Snake".
"Damn, that thing again" Himuro groaned. "No matter how many times we get rid of that thing, it keeps coming back".
"It's some kind of Chain boomerang. I hate it" Yanagi mumbled, shaking his head.
"Chain Snake equips onto Cyber-Tech Alligator" Takasu stated. The process of the snake transforming into a chain and plummeting onto Cyber-Tech Alligator repeated, pushing the creature back onto one knee [ATK 2200]. "That's not all though; by removing the other Chain Snake and Chain Shooter from my Graveyard, Chain Dragon gets 400 more attack points".
Steam puffed out the dragon's jaws as the two spirits dove into its body [ATK 2900]. A chorus of exclamations, gasps and groans followed the power boost, none pleased with the way the warden's turn was going. He, however, smirked as darkly as ever, confident that his strategy couldn't be overcome. He threw his large arm forward, pointing at the immobilised monster.
"Chain Dragon, wipe out that wimp once and for all!" he yelled.
Another emerald blast of swirling energy parted from the dragon, rumbling across the field with the power to almost shake the platform. Rena raised her Duel Disk in front of her, knowing there was nothing she could do to protect her doomed creature. The blast slammed into the pinned shield, which then exploded without any kind of resistance, unable to fight back. The torture began again, Rena cried out in agony, body trembling; throat dry and sore.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 1000
"You think it's over now, don't you, because Chain Repairer isn't strong enough to take on Spear Dragon" the warden chuckled. "I'm afraid not – Chain Dragon's effect forces you to discard three cards!"
Rena removed half of her remaining deck, slotting them into the Graveyard's mouth. One by one they disappeared. She didn't do anything as she waited, but rather accepted the following shock. She looked to the sky overhead before it happened, closing her eyes before yelling once more. Smoke rose from her body as she endured the wave with the little strength left inside of her. Legs trembled and gave out. Aoyama, Yanagi and Gohachiro gasped as it happened, like in slow motion. The girl's knees hit the ground and pushed her legs straight as she fell, the right side of her head hit the floor; the cards in her hand slipped out of her possession and just in front of her closed face.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 700
Everyone was silent, like they were mourning. Takasu was tugging at his nose hairs; it didn't matter to him what had just happened. Himuro shook with rage, the vibrations moving through to Yanagi, who could literally feel his high emotions. He set his eyes on the muscular prisoner, dejection written across his face.
"You don't think this is really it, do you, Himuro-chan?" he asked. "You don't think that's the end, right?"
"I don't know what to think right now, Jii-san" the larger cellmate uttered through clenched jaws. "What I do know is that the first instant I get, I'll kill him".
Gohachiro retreated from the window, he couldn't watch anymore. Even through their brief time together, a friendship had been kindled between the two; to watch the scene progress would be torture. He pressed his back against the wall beside the space and slid down, pressing his elbows against his knees and crossing them in front of him, burying his face into the overlapping forearms. Aoyama's arms slackened by his sides; Yusei was oblivious to everything that had just happened. He looked over his shoulder at the dark-haired teenager, what would he say once he woke up?
Yusei was lost in his mind; he had experienced this power before. Stripped down to his boxers he had been at the time, making his body vulnerable, exposed to the power. The procedure began and everything tingled; everything burned. It was like nothing he had felt before, like an expanded version of the searing pain that shot through his face while the Marker was being tattooed onto his face – this time, his whole body was burning. He groaned, clenching his teeth to stop it from coming, but it came anyway. His bottom jaw fell and a scream like nothing he had ever sounded like exploded out. He squirmed and tried all he could to break free, but nothing worked. Not until it stopped and his head fell against the cold metal. He felt completely naked by being strapped down and used as a guinea pig more than the fact that he wore next to nothing. It didn't matter though, he was fading.
Yusei's eyes shot open, finding himself in the same cell he last remembered being; none of it had been a dream. He pushed himself up from the bed, Aoyama shifted quickly in the corner of his eye. The purple-haired convict was by his side in an instant.
"Yusei, maybe you should take another few minutes to get some strength back" he attempted, moving his hands in front of him in a pushing motion.
"I'm fine. I'd rather see how Rena's doing" Yusei replied, grabbing his jacket. He gazed out of the space in the wall. "It's quiet out there, has something happened?"
"What? No!" Aoyama protested hastily. "Nothing's happened".
Yusei picked himself, sliding his arms through the holes in the jacket until his hands poked through the opposite side. Aoyama stammered as he picked himself up, trying to come up with a convincing argument why he should stay away from the duel, but Yusei ignored everything and crossed the room. He paused when he reached the edge of the room, peering through; a gasp escaped him when he realised what had happened. Aoyama scratched the back of his neck once he heard the breath; there was no hiding it now.
"She just collapsed a moment ago. There were quite a lot of shocks that she endured" he mumbled. "I don't know how she is, no-one's said anything, but, think about it… she's not physically that strong, at least, she doesn't look it".
"Rena!" Yusei called, doing his best to keep his cool. Outwardly, he seemed to be succeeding.
Takasu looked up at him, breaking into a fit of laughter when he noticed that Yusei had just caught on to the truth. He pressed his hands against his large stomach; then moved his empty right hand to his nose, pulling a few hairs from his right nostril.
"Sorry, Hero-dono, but she's out for the count" he laughed. "If she doesn't get up soon, I'll be declared winner by default and you can lead the others to Hell after her".
Yusei scowled, gritting his teeth as he glared down at the scene; it wasn't just that Rena was down, but that Takasu was laughing at it all. Like just because they were prisoners, they meant nothing; that the world would better off without them. Rena remained still, breathing, but otherwise unmoving. Everything was black, but something broke through.
"Well this isn't very satisfying' a voice sighed. Someone she had never heard before. 'I thought you were going to fight for them. It's too late for me, but they've still got a chance. Go on; do it. Fight on".
Rena's eyes opened slowly, the sounds of laughter flooded into her ears immediately, proving she wasn't dead, everything hurt. She pushed her head from the floor, bringing a sudden end to the noise. In the place of one voice, dozens chattered. It took a couple of minutes before Rena was on her knees, pushing her hands against the floor to force her legs to work. They moaned in protest, but reluctantly followed the orders of the brain, and worked. Rena seized the dropped cards, clutching them tightly in her left hand. Her body shook weakly, maybe she was hallucinating, maybe she was dreaming. A noise reached her.
"Rena!"
She looked over her shoulder, past the untidy hairs of her fringe, to the source of the voice. There she found Yusei standing with his eyes locked on her, standing without any problem. Whole again.
"Yu… sei…" she breathed.
"Rena, remember the people you're fighting for" he called. "I know it's hard, but I've been through this. You're strong enough to take him on and win. Trust that deck, trust yourself, we're behind you. It won't be in vain if everyone is given their lives back. You can do it, hang in there".
A chorus of optimistic voices followed, spiralling down the structure as others joined in with the belief that their future was in good hands. That they still had a future. Rena stared at Yusei for a moment longer, and then to Takasu.
"Hmph" he snorted, unimpressed by the last few moments. "Scum is scum. Your hopes are all wasted. Turn end".
TWELVTH TURN – RENA
Rena set her eyes on the cell she had come from once more, a dim flame flickering inside each as she thought about the man lost. The one who had spoken to her, encouraging her to fight on. Who was he? What kind of person was he like? Why had he been damned to Hell? Her eyes hardened as she stared, seemingly without any intention of continuing the duel. Yusei and Gohachiro noted her fixation on the room, Aoyama moved beside the former.
'Thank you… whoever you were' she thought.
With the mute gratitude passed on, she turned to her opponent, who stood wiggling his finger in his nostril, bored of her silence and inactivity. It had been a while since anything had happened.
"My turn. Draw!" she shouted. She watched the card, reading the text beneath the image of a game control pad. With the revelation, she smirked cockily for the first time in a while, her finger moved to the key behind the left face-down card. "Reverse card open – Micro Ray!" The card lifted, concealing Rena's Duel Disk from the eyes of the warden. "This reduces the defence points of a monster to zero".
Chain Dragon growled, its defence points plummeting to nothing. Takasu smirked, turning to her as steam left the jaws of his creature.
"What exactly was the point of that? My dragon's in attack mode, defence doesn't matter now".
"For now, it's in attack mode. But that won't be the case when I'm through with it" Rena called. "Magic card – Enemy Controller!" Cheers rang out above and below, Rena smirked as the card revealed itself on the field. "With this, I can switch Chain Dragon into defence mode".
"What?"
The dragon hissed, folding its wings around its body. Like before, a blue aura descended over it, recolouring its scales a dim blue [DEF 0]. Takasu snarled at his opponent, furious that his strongest monster had been reduced to a shield, this time, one without any strength to defend itself on top of that.
"Smashing Ground – this destroys the monster with most defence points" she declared, holding up the card. "In this case, that's your Chain Repairer!"
The wide man exploded, scattering fragments across the ground, Takasu shielded himself with his large arm, clenching his jaws and glaring hatefully with his beady eyes. Rena continued to smirk cockily on the other side of the hexagon platform, further infuriating him.
"You think it's over now, don't you?" Rena mocked, quoting him from the turn before. "I'm afraid not – I activate Twister, destroying your face-down card and your last hope of rescuing Chain Dragon". The card vanished peacefully, erasing the remainder of Takasu's cards with the exception of his vulnerable Chain Dragon.
"There is the small matter of 500 lifepoints that you lose" Takasu barked.
"It'll be worth the pain to take you out, once and for all" Rena mumbled.
TAKASU - RENA
3500 - LP - 200
A small surge of electricity raced through the chain, zapping Rena once more. She grit her teeth, able to suppress the cries with the newfound strength given to her by those who had passed on their cards to her and Yusei. The words of encouragement and wishes of the people depending on her. She glanced once more at Gohachiro once the torment was over – now was her time.
"Spear Dragon, attack and destroy Chain Dragon!" she yelled, pointing at the defenceless creature.
The azure and beige pterodactyl flapped its wings, lifting its body from the ground. Like a bullet, it shot across the field, shrieking ferociously as it closed in on its target. The narrow beak of the creature pierced the dragon that then roared before exploding. Takasu groaned as gusts whipped his body and past.
"Spear Dragon's effect – it inflicts Piercing Damage" Rena declared.
"Damn it" Takasu hissed.
Suddenly, he began to yell, stunned by the massive amount of electricity surging through the chain and into him. Flashes leapt around him, flickering as they surfaced and dove into him. His hat fell from his head, slapping the ground powerlessly.
TAKASU - RENA
1600 - LP - 200
"She's got him on the ropes" Himuro cheered.
"What do you to stop Spear Dragon's effect getting in the way, Rena?" Gohachiro mumbled, gripping the panels in front of him tightly.
"The cost of this Piercing Damage is that Spear Dragon then goes into defence mode" Rena stated. The ancient creature folded its wings in front of it, its entire body becoming blue [DEF 0].
"Hah, I knew you couldn't pull it off" Takasu mocked, pointing at the lone creature on the field. "If that thing's in defence mode, there's nothing you can do but watch as I finish it off next turn. You wasted your last chance".
"There is no next turn" Rena protested coldly. "This is the last turn".
"How's that?" Takasu snarled, cocking a suspicious eyebrow.
"Reverse card open – Zero Gravity!" Rena yelled, moving her arm over the final face-down card. Gohachiro smiled brightly, well aware of what was coming. "This Trap can switch the position of all monsters on the field, meaning Spear Dragon returns to attack mode [AK 1900]".
The creature parted its wings, shrieking once it returned to its ready stance. Rena held up the final card in her hand, Takasu gasped with horror at the image depicted in the centre of it.
"Surprise from the Darkness" she stated blandly. "This lets Spear Dragon once more". The anxious and doubtful faces across the tower lit up with hope and elation. "Spear Dragon… direct attack!"
The creature shot across the field, tucking its wings in by its sides as it passed across the hexagon. Takasu waved his hands, trying to make some sort of bride for the girl to buy, but failed to piece together words as he watched the charging dragon. The dragon's beak drilled into the centre gem of the Duel Disk, sparking the reaction for another wave of power to flood into the warden, who yelled in agony.
TAKASU - RENA
0 - LP - 200
DUEL END
Rena said nothing as roars and cheers filled the dull air with fervent life. People had their freedom; they would be able to walk out with a future. Takasu's large body tumbled onto the ground, laying face-down, his arms twitching. Rena removed the final two cards from the Duel Disk, holding them up to see just what had escaped the Graveyard – Marshmallon and Penguin Knight. She smiled at the pair.
"At least he didn't get you two" she muttered to the cards.
Her arms slackened by her side and a heavy sigh left her, her eyes closed halfway as the nature of the duel began to take its toll. Yusei, well aware of how exhausting the battle was, charged at the door and kicked it open. Aoyama stepped towards him when he stormed out, reaching the edge of the balcony and leapt over the edge, grabbing the iron railing.
"Rena!" he called as he leapt over the barrier.
Aoyama was at the edge by the time Yusei hit the floor below, a small tingle of numbness swept up his legs, but he ignored it. Instead, he rushed towards Rena, who was swaying lightly, and grabbed her shoulders as she began to tip backwards. Her eyes snapped open when she realised what was happened, and what could have, she looked behind her, finding Yusei's smiling face and returned the look.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"I am. Thanks, Yusei. It was you that pushed me the final stretch" she replied.
Her eyes moved to the cell of the deceased man, finding her cellmate standing inside with a smile plastered on his face as he leaned against the wall, arms folded over his chest.
'And you too. I hope you can find peace' she thought.
Rena stood up straight, taking her shoulders out of Yusei's hands and placing the two surviving monsters into the deck slot. Takasu's body began to move, slowly withdrawing as he tried to push himself from the ground.
"She did it!" Himuro laughed.
"We're free!" one of the inmates exclaimed joyfully.
"We'll never have to put up with the warden again!"
"I can get my deck back from Security!"
Takasu groaned, pointing at the pair standing opposite him. "Grab them!" he snapped.
"What?" Yanagi gasped.
"You're planning to fight someone else now?" Himuro scowled.
"Like Hell will I acknowledge those two duels. Decks aren't even allowed in this place, so you two couldn't have duelled!" the warden fumed. "Tonight never happened, and none of you will ever see the light of day outside this place again!"
"End this, Warden Takasu" a sterile voice came from above.
Takasu snarled as he glared up, wondering just who it was that defied him now. His eyes widened dramatically when he recognised a man standing in a grey suit, with a shirt beneath of a paler shade bearing some kind of pattern that vaguely resembled a bird, standing on one of the galleries above the platform. Faded grey hair hung down the back of his neck, his cold eyes remained fixed on the fallen man. Rena and Yusei watched the man curiously, neither quite sure who he was.
"Director Godwin!" Takasu gasped.
Rena blinked, feeling a sharp jolt in her head. She pressed her left hand against it, drawing Yusei's eyes when the Duel Disk moved. He noticed the twinge was affecting her expression, with half screwed up as she struggled to suppress the sudden pain.
Within the room she had seen before, the same D-Wheel stood in the centre; fixed in place and unused since the last time she had seen it. Whose D-Wheel was it? Where was it? What did it mean to her? A voice began to speak, from a distance, the same sound distortion as the previous incident clouded the truth, like she was listening to the voice whilst under the surface of water.
"Everything… the power… The People of the Stars… the world's…"
The voice sounded vaguely familiar, like she had heard it elsewhere. As she returned, she began to wonder. Her eyes moved back to Godwin, gazing up at him beside Yusei, who focused on the conversation between Director and warden. The voice… sounded somewhat like Godwin. But when had they ever met? Why would he be interested in her – someone from Satellite?
"Perhaps it would be best if you were the one to leave" Godwin stated to the shamed warden, who sat on his hands and knees, as though begging for forgiveness. "Stop acting like a disgrace and consider your new life".
He turned his back on the scene and strode away. The two Satellite teenagers watched silently, neither exchanging a word to the other by their side.
It was some time later when the duo stood together, in the arena where they had both met Himuro, and in Rena's case, Yanagi. The cards had been returned to their rightful owners, each returning to their rooms to gather the few belongings they had managed to keep and waited eagerly for word from the new authorities in the process of taking over the building about their release. Yusei and Rena, however, had been given permission the moment they won their duels against Takasu. They stood alone in the chamber, recalling how their time in the building began and how it was now over. Rena smiled as she clutched Marshmallon and Spear Dragon, gifts from her friends inside the facility. After the fight with Takasu, she had tried to return Spear Dragon, only for the blonde to insist she take it with her, as a reminder that he was with her no matter where they were physically. She gratefully accepted the offer and promised to treasure the card with her life.
Yusei was back to holding no cards, stripped of them when Security confiscated his deck as he was charged and sentenced to imprisonment. He had spoken with Himuro as Rena and Gohachiro met. He knew where he was going, who he was searching for. He turned to Rena.
"I'm going to head off now. There's someone I've got to meet up with" he said. "You should stay safe; you don't want to be around me at the moment".
"But Yusei-"
"Hey, Rena" Himuro's voice boomed.
"I'll find you when it's safe" Yusei mumbled over his shoulder, making his way towards the door that led back to the main building.
Rena stepped after him, only to hear Himuro calling her name again. She froze and waited for him; he smiled at her and held out a card. She stared at it for a moment, unsure why he was handing her the strongest monster in his entire deck.
"It's Giant Bull Djinn" he commented, stating what she could see. "I want you to take it".
"But Himuro…" she protested feebly.
"There's an ulterior motive to you taking this" he interjected.
Rena closed her forefinger and thumb over the edge of the card, taking it from Himuro's hand delicately once she heard the addition. She traced the limbs of the beast that had almost cost her any chance of friendships spawning in the facility a couple of days before.
"There's a place in the Daimon Area called 'Bootleg'. If you show the barman that, he'll lead you to a guy called Saiga. He should be able to help you get your D-Wheel and deck back".
"Is that who Yusei's looking for?" Rena asked, casting her eyes onto the face of the man, eyes touching upon the twin Markers either side of his nose.
"We spoke earlier, I guess that's his first stop" Himuro replied with a shrug of the shoulders. "Jii-san, the others and me aren't getting out just yet, you two got lucky because of how you beat the warden. Just be careful out there, people are talking about how Godwin showed up. Normally, he wouldn't give a crap about anyone here, but it seems he's interested in you and Yusei".
"Yusei mentioned tests, maybe that has something to do with it" Rena mumbled uncomfortably. "But I don't get what he'd want with me. Could it be because I'm Yusei's friend and I followed him through the Pipeline?"
"Who knows?" Himuro sighed. The tip of his large finger tapped the Monster card in her hand. "Just make sure to get that to Bootleg and find out where Saiga's hanging out nowadays. We'll be there as soon as we can".
Rena nodded, smiling at the muscular duelist. "Thank you, Himuro" she chirped gratefully.
Godwin / Jeager -「Neo-Domino」- Public Security Maintenance Bureau
Godwin sat in his large seat behind the rounded desk as the clown-like figure in front of him questioned his reason behind letting the people inside the Detention Centre free. He turned around and stood from the seat, pacing towards the glass wall behind him peered into a control centre with an immense screen showing the Detention Centre from a camera set on a nearby skyscraper as a precaution.
"Are you sure it's alright to let them go?" the dwarfed clown inquired. "To really let them roam free as they please? You said it yourself, the boy's a Signer. We can't afford to lose him".
"It's that very reason he's leaving. He can't awaken his Signer abilities whilst trapped within the walls of that Detention Centre" Godwin explained, keeping his back to the clown. He peered over his shoulder, smirking before he carried on. "Besides, this doesn't mean we're allowing him to do as he pleases".
"So we're setting up a trap, huh?" Jeager gasped with delight. He deteriorated into a fit of sniggering with a sinister grin to match.
Godwin continued to smirk, looking ahead to the monitor showing the building. As his eyes met it, his smile faded into his standard stern face like it was carved in stone.
'I didn't expect to see you again in a place like that though' he thought, recalling the girl who had been standing by Yusei's side in the centre of the tower. 'Funny how it turns out to be you're who came from Satellite after Fudo Yusei. I wouldn't have guessed your skills would develop this much. It seems Rebirth is moving ahead much quicker than I originally intended. We'll see just what there is lying ahead'.
Rena -「Neo-Domino」- Detention Centre
The massive doors that had last opened to trap the newest group of inmates groaned as they scraped along the ground and opened, granting Rena passage through and out of the Detention Centre, officially free of the punishing facility. She walked through and beyond the walls and towards the nearest street. After a couple of moments, she paused and looked back, narrowing her eyes softly at the building.
While it was a detestable place, she couldn't help but feel a sense of security in the structure. She knew people in there, she knew where things were. Now she was heading out into the massive city of Neo-Domino without much of a clue. Like taking her first steps. And there was no telling what people would make of her once they picked up on her Marker, Rally's impression of how City people treated those with Markers made her feel more anxious. But looking back wasn't an option, not now. She had to keep moving forward; to recover her deck, her D-Wheel and to meet up with Yusei once again.
She turned her back on the Detention Centre once more and began to walk; towards Neo-Domino. Towards the future.
-
Stardust ~ PREVIEW ~ Sutādasuto
Rena: Now that we're out, Yusei's gone ahead. I have find Saiga alone.
Saiga: So you're another one looking to get their D-Wheel out of the Impound Centre? Crazy Satellite kids.
Rena: What? You've seen Yusei?
Saiga: You could say that.
Rena: We're working to the same goal. Yusei… Next, Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's - Sutādasuto Accelerator, "Security Infiltration! The Narrowing Path". Has something happened in the Impound Centre? What's going on?
