Sorry for the delay friends. My laptop was on the blink for around 10 days, while which I had to take it into the shop for a much needed repair and upgrade.

Well here we are once again. Time to catch up with the end of Yusei's duel and the continuation of gathering forces. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter 25: A Giant Problem Part 2

Title Song: Rising Darkness - Yace Young

It was always about ending, destroying, defeating… you never once considered beginning, building or creating… it's the reason I left… because you made the biggest mistake in your life… Sarah frowned. The day you almost broke my sister's future.

Flashback

Things had calmed down since the end of duel gangs in Satellite. Sarah had decided to dedicate more of her time to Martha's orphanage, due to her sister staying there with the other kids.

One afternoon, Sarah went for a walk with her sister, and using a pair of duel disks, had a friendly duel. Sarah was winning, her field currently occupied by two Shinobird Tokens and Shinobird Crane.

Kione's field was occupied by Defender of the Ice Barrier and Dance Princess of the Ice Barrier.

"Come on Kione, you'll have to do better to beat me," Sarah smiled.

"Yeah I know!" Kione nodded, examining her hand. As she did, a claw suddenly clamped around her wrist with the duel disk, shocking Sarah and causing Kione to yelp in pain.

"This brat causing you trouble Sarah?" The elder sister gasped, looking to see Kalin holding the other end of the wire. "Don't worry!" He harshly pulled the cord, causing Kione to be dragged towards him.

"Kalin!" Sarah gasped. "Let her go!"

"But she's an enemy of Team Satisfaction. We can't allow new duel gangs to rise up and take back turf we've worked so hard to control!" Kalin grinned, pulling Kione towards him. When she was within a metre, Kalin lifted his boot, stomping down on her duel disk, damaging it and ending the duel. Kalin then stomped again, and Sarah's eyes widened as she heard a sickening crack coming from Kione's wrist.

Kalin started to laugh. "This is what happens when you challenge Team Satisfaction! Now run along to your little duel gang and tell them we're going to pay a visit, real soon."

Suddenly a heavy boot slammed into his gut, followed by a powerful jab from an elbow. Kalin dropped the cord to face whoever attacked him.

"Kalin. I'm going to say this once, so clear the gunk from your madness occupied ears," Sarah snapped, grabbing him by his blue hair and pulling him in close. "Get. The. Hell. Out. Of. My. SIGHT!" She yelled.

"Sarah! Kalin!" Crow and Jack were here now. "What's happened?" Crow asked.

"Kalin attacked my sister!" Sarah spat.

"What?!" Crow sprinted over to the girl, who was nursing her wrist. "Oooh… definitely broken… I'll take you back to Martha." He said, helping her to her feet.

With him gone, Jack and Sarah stared at Kalin. "What do you think you're doing, attacking a child?!" Jack demanded.

"She was duelling Sarah. A duel against one of Satisfaction is a declaration of war against all of us!" Kalin said.

"Nonsense! Sarah's been teaching Kione how to play Duel Monsters for a long time now!" Jack shot back.

"Yup, she's pretty good," Sarah smiled, proud. But that smile inverted quickly. "But she doesn't need people like you stomping down on her."

"Sarah. She's an enemy to the Satellite and must be dealt with!" Kalin snapped.

"Then congratulations. You've lost one member," Sarah said, heading to walk after Crow and Kione.

Jack and Kalin both gasped. "What do you mean?" Kalin asked.

"What do you think it means?" Sarah asked, rolling her eyes. "I quit."

With that, she walked away.

Flashback end

"Looks like that tumble Yusei almost took did more than effect his lifepoints. Look at his runner…" Marcus observed from next to her.

Below on the circuit, Yusei's runner was starting to bounce, the wheels wobbling all over the place.

K: 4000 SC: 7
Y: 1800 SC: 7

"Gotta hand it to your brother. He knows how to work a deck. That dragon's got one nasty combo. As long as his hand is empty, he can work with any monster effect in his graveyard," Sarah admitted to Hikari.

"He's always loved that playstyle. And he makes it work," Hikari nodded. "Yusei's finished."

"It's my turn!" Yusei started, resuming the duel. "Since you've got monsters on your field, and my field is empty, I can summon Level Warrior as a level 4 monster!" Yusei said.

Level Warrior – LIGHT/Warrior – Lvl 3 (+ 1) – (300/600).

"Next I'll summon Hyper Synchron!" Yusei added.

Hyper Synchron – Light/Machine – Lvl 4 – (1600/800).

"Now level 4 Level Warrior, receive a tune up from Hyper Synchron!" Yusei ordered. "Clustering Wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path it's light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take Flight, Stardust Dragon!" Yusei then chanted, bring forth his ace.

Stardust Dragon – WIND/Dragon – Lvl 8 – (2500/2000).

Stardust Dragon – (3300/2000).

"Finally busting out your ace monster? I'm flattered, really I am! It means you're finally taking this seriously!" Kalin sneered.

"Not bad. Stardust now has the Hyper Synchron guarantee. A nice boost and immunity in battle," Marcus grinned.

"But who knows what else Kalin's got to use in that graveyard," Sarah frowned.

"Stardust Dragon, attack with Cosmic Flare!" Yusei called out.

"Attack all you want, because now my One Hundred-Eyed Dragon gains the ability of Infernity Guardian! With it, my dragon can't be destroyed in battle!" Kalin proved Sarah right.

"But you'll still take some damage!" Yusei reminded Kalin, before some of Stardust's laser lanced towards the Dark Signer.

K: 3700
Y:1800

"Yusei finally is on the board!" Marcus grinned.

"If you actually want him to win, he's still got a long way to go," Hikari sneered.

"Shard of Hope now activates due to Stardust successfully dealing battle damage. I get to draw a card, and if it's a trap, I can destroy Shard of Hope and use the new card right away," Yusei said, drawing.

"I'm destroying Shard of Hope to activate my Miracle Locus. Now you get to draw a card, and Stardust Dragon gains a thousand attack points and the chance to strike again!"

Stardust Dragon – (4300/2000).

"Yusei… that's some heart of the cards right there… what a draw!" Sarah laughed.

"Tsk… Kalin… are you really going to let them get the last laugh?" Hikari grunted.

"Stardust, destroy One Hundred-Eyed Dragon!" Yusei called out, another blast flying free and taking down Kalin's dragon.

K: 2400 SC: 6
Y: 1800 SC: 7

"Not bad Yusei! But I activate the final effect of my One Hundred-Eyed Dragon. When it's destroyed, I get to add any single card to my hand," Kalin smirked.

"Well I plan on ending this duel before you get a chance to use anymore cards! I activate Synchro Destructor! When my synchro monster destroys a monster in battle, you take damage equal to half that monster's attack points, and if it was a synchro monster, you then take the other half as damage."

"Seems like game to me. That's two doses of 1500 coming right at ya!" Sarah cheered.

"Not so fast Yusei. I play my own trap, Damage Translation! This halves all effect damage I take from a card effect," Kalin smirked. He still yelped in pain considerably as he took back to back bursts of 750 points of damage.

K: 900
Y: 1800

"Damnit…" Marcus grunted.

"Too close," Sarah agreed.

"Game over," Hikari laughed.

"Not yet. Yusei's got Scrap-Iron as well as Stardust with 4300 attack and battle immunity. What's Kalin got that can beat that?" Asked Sarah.

"Wait and see," Hikari smirked.

"Now for the second part of Damage Translation. For each time it halves damage, I summon one Ghost Token, meaning I get two," Kalin giggled. "You know… I really must thank you Yusei. Now I get to introduce you to one of the gods of darkness! Showtime everybody!"

Upon his words, countless people, all wearing black robes with pale blue lines materialised, lining the outsides of the seal.

"Uh… why are there people down there?" Asked Sarah.

"I don't know, but I don't like it," Marcus frowned.

"It's almost time…" Hikari gave a dark giggle.

"It's my turn, but due to the effect of Power Baton, I can't draw a card," Kalin said.

K: SC: 7
Y: SC: 8

"What's going on Kalin? Why are these people here? What are you planning to do with them?" Asked Yusei.

Kalin giggled. "Isn't it obvious Yusei? I'm going to channel their energy with this card!" Kalin smirked.

"What?!" Asked Yusei, Marcus and Sarah.

"Their combined strength will give this card unbelievable power! By releasing the two Ghost Tokens on my field, I banish the taken to the netherworld as an offering to the Earthbound God Ccapac Apu!" As he spoke, the ghosts vanished, and a large stone object floated in the sky, tattooed with red markings.

Marcus watched it pulse, before the people around the circuit turned into purple lights, surging towards the object. It started to throb in two quick thumps. "Ummm… Why am I getting the nasty suspicion that's some kind of heart?"

"Forget the heart, it's sucking up all those people!" Sarah gasped.

"Their energy has been assimilated. Now, Earthbound God Ccapac Apu will descend upon this world!" Kalin whooped.

Hikari got on her knee, head bowed low as an absolutely gargantuan beast appeared. It was black, almost looking like some kind of humanoid shape, with blue lines on the shoulders, hands, torso, and a large circular one that suddenly pulsed brightly.

Earthbound God Ccapac Apu – DARK/Fiend – Lvl 10 – (3000/2500).

"That… is the biggest monster I've ever seen. Well… that touches the ground, Kosmo Dark Eclipser is still the biggest thing I've ever seen," Marcus mumbled.

"It's humungous!" Gasped Sarah.

"Ok… how come Goodwin never warned us about this guy?!" Yusei demanded.

Kalin wasted no time in attacking with his Earthbound God, and no matter what Yusei tried, it was no good. Stardust just phased right through, and the massive hand that was currently aiming at Yusei flicked aside Scrap-Iron Scarecrow like it didn't even exist.

"YUSEI!" Sarah and Marcus gasped.

"Yes! Die signer! Let this be the lesson that none may challenge the shadows!" Hikari laughed.

Suddenly Yusei's duel runner fell out from beneath him, sending the raven-haired duellist tumbling nastily out of control. There was some good news though. Due to Yusei's runner failing, it ended the duel before Ccapac Apu could turn him into roadkill.

Kalin spat his insults, recalled his ace monster, and left. Marcus turned to Hikari, but she was also gone.

Sarah and Marcus leapt aside the Black Spirit, racing down to find Rally, Blitz, Nervin and Tank all checking on Yusei. It wasn't good. "Yusei!" Marcus gasped, spotting a nasty metal spike impaled in Yusei's gut. "Don't touch him!" He ordered before Rally could reach for the damaging object.

"Get me something that makes light, I don't care what it is," Marcus said. Sarah handed him a flashlight.

Marcus leapt out of the sidecar, flashing up to the Security chopper.

Up in the helicopter, Jack was trying to make the pilot follow Kalin, but Mina pointed out that without his runner or duel disk, Jack wouldn't be able to do anything. Then the woman spotted the flashing light below.

"Looks like they want us to land," the pilot noted. He turned to Mina for her call, and she nodded.

Marcus sighed as the helicopter came down, Jack Atlas coming over. "Yusei!" He gasped, spotting his rival in peril. "Mina, can we transport him in this condition?" The ex-king asked the blue haired woman behind him.

"Not to Neo Domino, a wound like that would kill him from blood loss," She shook her head.

"Then we'll take him to Martha's. She and Dr Schmidt will care for him!" Crow said.

"We'll take him in the helicopter, Jack, can you direct us?" Mina asked.

Jack nodded, Marcus and Crow lifting Yusei carefully, while Blitz and Tank held him up from his torso, keeping him straight.

"What about Yusei's runner?" Asked Sarah once the helicopter was away.

"Well… let me have a quick look…" Marcus said, cracking his knuckles as he lifted up the runner as the helicopter lifted away.

"The cosmetic damage can be dinged out later," He observed the nose damage, "It won't be able to go fast, but it can run." He said, checking the data on the screen. "I'll ride it. Rally, you take the sidecar, the rest of you, meet us at this 'Martha's'," Marcus said.

The duel runner student took a deep breath, climbing into the seat and folding down the handlebars. "Sure you're ready for this?" Asked Sarah.

"I'll be fine. I've got great balance, this should be alright," Marcus said.

"Well… take care of that thing. We all put blood, sweat and tears into that runner, bringing back parts and helping Yusei build it. It'd be a shame if it was lost," Tank pleaded.

"I'll do my best. One way or another, this runner will return to Yusei," Marcus said.

With that, the three runners pulled away, Crow in front, Marcus in the middle, and Sarah and Rally bringing up the rear. So far so good, it's a bumpy ride, means the suspension took a bash. It drives though, which is all that matters.

Eventually, they arrived at a large building that reminded Marcus of the hostel he stayed at when he and Emma first travelled to Neo Domino City.

Leaning the red runner against a tree outside, Marcus and Rally followed Crow and Sarah to the door, knocking. An elder woman with black hair and dark skin answered, wearing something that reminded Marcus of a sister of the church.

"Oh, Sarah, Crow, Jack said you'd be coming," She said, pulling both into a hug.

She then glanced at Marcus, who held out a hand, "Marcus Cersy, friend of Yusei," He introduced himself.

"Call me Martha, welcome to my orphanage," Martha shook his hand.

"How's Yusei?" Asked Crow as they stepped inside.

"He's in surgery with Dr Schmidt right now. I'm needed back with him in a moment," Martha said, gripping a white facemask.

"It looked bad when we found him. What're his odds?" Asked Sarah.

"Just leave it to us adults. You just rest, it looks like you've had a busy night," Martha said.

"Thank you for that offer. If you don't mind, I'll go find a couch to crash into, let me know when Yusei's pulled through," Marcus yawned.

"Crow, why don't you show Marcus to a bed?" Martha said. "Rally, you should rest too. A boy like you should not be awake in these hours."

"But I…" Whatever Rally wanted to say was cut off by a massive yawn.

"Sleep young man, let us worry about Yusei," Martha glared at him sternly.

"If looking for a place to sleep, follow me," Crow yawned, heading upstairs.

The next morning, Marcus came down the stairs to find everyone outside the room the Doctor and Martha were working on Yusei. "He's been in there all night?" He asked.

"Yup. The spike is out. They're making sure nothing was skewered," Sarah said from where she was leaning against the wall near the door.

Marcus noted that Blitz, Nervin and Tank had joined them, as had Blister. "I sent Kyrian to make sure the nest was ok," Crow said. "Once news has been given, I'm going back to join them, we're thinking about getting the kids over here, it's safer than Daedalus Bridge."

"Logical idea. Martha seems like she knows you guys quite a bit," Marcus noted.

"She's had a hand in raising almost every kid in Satellite, since the incident." Sarah explained. "Me, Yusei, Crow, Jack, Kione, even Kalin's been here. He was suck on this side with…"

"His mother. I know. She was lost in the accident," Marcus said.

"What's the story with that girl anyway? She definitely seemed acquainted with you," Sarah asked.

"None of your business," Marcus frowned, looking away.

"But if she's an enemy, then we should know if there's any chance you might turn on us," Sarah pressed. "Who is she?"

"I said none of your business! She's my problem, let me fix it!" Marcus snapped. Sarah glared at him.

Suddenly the door opened, and out stepped Martha and the Doctor. "How is he doc?" Crow asked.

"He'll live. The spike missed anything vital. He's still under for now, but should make a full recovery," Doctor Schmidt replied.

Everyone sighed with relief. "Now that he's safe, how about I arrange some breakfast?" Martha asked.

"Can I help? I may not look like it, but I'm a pretty good cook," Marcus offered.

"But you're a guest," Martha objected. "Besides, it sounds like Yusei's not the only one with personal issues at the moment. I understand if you don't want to share, but remember this is an orphanage, please take your outside voices outside."

"Please, I need to do something to calm down. It's been a manic week," Marcus bowed.

"Alright then, let's head to the kitchen. Maybe you can surprise me with some Neo Domino way of cooking, eh?" Martha asked with a grin.

"Wha…" Kione's eyes widened considerably as she wheeled Emma into the penthouse. "You weren't kidding…"

"Told you they were loaded," Emma giggled. Behind them, Tanner and Yanagi put down their bags.

"Some place you've got here," Yanagi grinned.

"And you said your parent are away?" Tanner double checked.

"Mm-hmm, they constantly travel thanks to work and rarely come home," Luna nodded.

"Mi casa es su casa and all that jazz," Leo added. "We've got rooms to spare."

"Look at you busting out the Spanish! That in the curriculum your parents signed you up for?" Emma raised a brow.

"Yup. Modern languages. A different one each day," Leo groaned.

"I know how you feel," Emma agreed.

"There's more languages than Japanese?" asked Kione.

"Ooh… right, sorry Kione," Emma smiled. "I keep forgetting you're from Satellite. You're so… normal."

"Should I be offended?" Asked Kione. She shook her head, turning to the twins, Tanner and Yanagi. "I believe we've not been properly introduced. My name is Kione Radcliffe."

"Bolt Tanner, call me Tanner," Introduced the big man.

"Tenzen Yanagi, just Yanagi will do," The old man then said.

"Leonard-"

"And Luna Collins, a pleasure to meet you," Luna said, the twins bowing.

"Call me Leo," Added the male twin.

Kione pushed Emma to the stairs, where Tanner placed the ramps to head upstairs. "Man… I've never been this high above sea level in my life," She said, looking out the window of the guest room they'd been given.

"I know. I always feel like a giant whenever I come here," Emma smiled.

"Honestly, I thought you were joking when you said to hit for the top floor," Kione giggled, causing the two of them to burst into laughter together.

Putting their bags on the bed, they came down to find Leo examining his arms and legs, poking them. "What is he doing?" Emma dared to ask.

"He thinks he's the fifth signer," Luna sighed.

"Any word from the away team?" Asked Emma.

"Nothing from Yusei, Daiki hasn't checked in either," Tanner said, putting down the laptop Blister had given them.

"So that dream you had Luna," Leo asked. "You said Power Tool Dragon was there?"

Luna looked up, in deep thought. "Well… it resembled him, but there were differences, no armour for one," She said. She then perked up. "Five stars of different colour were there too, but the monsters were covered in shadow…"

"Don't worry about those monsters Luna," Yanagi said. "All records of the Star Guardians showed different monsters each time. I recall one note saying one had Dark Magician as their ace once."

"Whoa… the ace of Yugi Muto was a Star Guardian ace?" Asked Tanner.

"So… a quick roster then… Signer-wise, we've got four out of five. Yusei, Jack, that Akiza girl and you Luna," Yanagi muttered.

"And me!" Leo added.

"Leo… I don't think you're a Signer. If you were, you would have seen the vision the Crimson Dragon gave us in the stadium," Emma pointed out.

"Daiki may be trying to convert Akiza to our side, but she's also a high-ranking member of the Arcadia Movement." Tanner said, getting the confused glances from everyone else. "Mad group that gathers Psychic Duellists and conduct nasty experiments. Nothing concrete, all ear to the ground rumours."

"Why would Akiza and Daiki be with a group like that?" Asked Luna.

"Who knows. Everyone has their reason to do something in life," Kione sighed.

"We need to try getting Akiza to cooperate. Why don't we all go over and ask?" Leo asked.

"Huh?" Tanner and Emma asked, everyone looking at the boy.

"Them doing their experiments is all rumours, right?" Leo pointed out. "No need to distrust them without solid evidence."

"He has a point. The Arcadia Movement may just be that building of boogymen," Emma shrugged.

"I think you two are onto something," Yanagi chuckled. "We grown-ups are too distrusting of others."

"True. No harm in checking info," Tanner concurred.

"But how do we contact the movement? Not like we just have their phone number, right?" Kione asked.

Tanner opened Blister's laptop. "Blister might know. I'll dig around his data and see if there's anything."

Daiki watched from the vents as Akiza finished the training dummy off, knocking it to the ground with Black Rose Dragon. She's struggling. Definitely a result of some inner turmoil. Me and Yusei really got into her head, but so did Sayer.

He carefully circled around to be above the door as Akiza left, being intercepted by Sayer. "Something the matter? Not feeling well?" He asked.

"Not really. I've just had a lot to think about lately," Akiza sighed.

"Well, remember that if you want to talk, I'm always ready to listen," Sayer said. "After all, we are friends, right?"

"Thanks, but I'm trying to figure this out on my own," Akiza replied.

"Akiza, we Psychic Duellists are mavericks in society. Although we didn't ask, we were born with these abilities. And it's because of these powers that we have been discriminated by friends, family and the world," Sayer reminded her. "It's why I built the Arcadia Movement, to give our numbers a safe place to call home. I can help stop the war raging inside you, just let me in."

"I'll think about it," Akiza said, walking away.

"Yusei isn't here to save you. Neither is Daiki," Sayer said as Daiki prepared to move. "Try not to forget that you owe me for giving you this safe haven."

As Akiza's footsteps grew quieter, Daiki was about to follow, when he heard Sayer's phone ring. "Bolt Tanner? The former circuit duellist?" Asked Sayer, causing Daiki to almost give himself away. "Understood, I'll arrange a meeting with them."

The man walked off. Daiki quickly wormed his way out of the vents. The Naturia Cosmobeet he had summoned earlier pushing the grate shut before someone noticed and cancelled his powers.

"Damn. He really has a way with words, doesn't he?" He asked Akiza once they could talk quietly without being caught.

"He certainly does. If what you say is true, that Sayer is using the Arcadia Movement for personal gain, then it's unforgivable, I agree," Akiza nodded. "But he has also given a lot of us a home when the world rejects us."

"I know. It's not easy to accept what might be true when it comes to a parental figure," Daiki reassured her. "I'm worried… the twins and their temporary guardians are coming here. I'm worried that Sayer's going to do something that becomes a problem."

Akiza sighed. "Do you think Yusei is ok? Our marks darkened so suddenly that I admit I'm worried for him," She asked.

"Yusei's tough, and he's got Marcus and Sarah, I'm sure they'll be fine," Daiki pointed out. "For now, I'm going to head out and keep my eye open for the twins. Watch out for them if they come past me, ok?" He asked.

"I can try. Good luck," She said. Daiki pulled up his hood, slipping out the room before anyone saw him.

"Look who's up," Marcus smiled, looking up from where he was working on repairs to Yusei's runner as the man himself walked over. "Feeling any better?"

"I hear I have you to thank for getting my runner here in one piece. Thanks for that," Yusei nodded.

"No problem man. Besides, now that I've had a ride on one, even if it's always throwing you off it, I'm set. I'm going to build my own runner," Marcus vowed.

"Really? From the ground up?" Yusei asked.

"Not the frame. It's an optional extra you can get from the Duel Runner mechanics course at Duel Academy. You have the backing of the Academy as you construct a duel runner for extra credit," Marcus said.

"Sounds like fun. Something tells me you won't be getting round to it anytime soon though," Yusei remarked dryly.

"Yup, which is why I'm doing what I can to fix up your ride," Marcus nodded. "The suspension was bashed to hell in that duel, I'm honestly amazed it made it here under it's own power."

"Leave that part to me," Both heard and turned to Sarah as she approached. "I can go look for a replacement suspension if you need it?" She offered.

"I think we'll be fine for now, but we'll keep that idea in mind," Yusei said. "For now though…" He put a hand on the back of the runner, on the arch that curved up at the back. "Let's get it back into fighting shape. I'm sure we'll need it in the duels to come."

"While we do this, let's talk about what the hell that Earthbound God was," Marcus nodded.

"Good point. It was massive… and the Dark Signers each have their own one of these monsters?" Sarah mused. Marcus then noticed that Yusei had zoned out.

Poor guy… got to fight one of his brothers, who almost turned him and his runner into a pancake… gotta be rough…

"I see…" The table of seven was busy, with the Arcadia Movement leader, Sayer, at the head, with the twins on one side, the former Facility occupants on the other, and the young Star Guardians opposite each other at the far end.

"These dark signers have their sights set on Neo Domino?" He clarified. "Quite the story."

"Remind me, why did we let Leo tell the story?" Emma whispered to Luna, who just gave a dejected sigh.

"Right, and it's the Signers' duty to stop them. Me and my friends saw Akiza with a red mark on her arm during the tournament and just before in the Damon Arena, we'll need her help in the battles that are coming," Leo said. "She has a similar mark to Yusei and Jack."

Sayer glanced at Tanner, "Tell me, have you had any word from Yusei?" He asked.

"No. Unfortunately the signal between Neo Domino and the Satellite isn't easy to connect on the clearest days, and we've tried reaching them from the tops," Tanner shook his head.

Sayer smiled. "Very well, we shall give you our utmost cooperation."

This genuinely surprised everyone at the table. "The Arcadia Movement has been conducting research on Psychic powers and the ways they can be used for duelling. Unfortunately a series of questionable rumours have emerged, and we want to prove that we are on the side of humanity. We'd be glad to help."

Leo and Luna both smiled, Emma gave a small grin. Kione, who had been rather uncomfortable in the cherry pink dress Luna had lent her, frowned. That was too easy.

Sayer stood, "I'll go get her. Please wait here." With that, he walked out the room, and doors closed behind him.

"I told you he's not such a bad guy," Leo grinned.

"I can't believe that talk went so well," Yanagi said to Tanner.

"I don't know… that was too easy for my liking. For a group that likes to stick to themselves, he sure made his mind up quickly," Kione frowned. As Leo began to speak, Kione's ears barely picked up on something that made her worry. "Anyone hear hissing?" She asked.

"Hissing?" Asked Tanner. His eyes widened, but it was too late, Leo and Luna were first to fall asleep, followed by Emma, Yanagi went next. Kione tried to stop it, putting a handful of napkins over her nose and mouth, but she and Tanner soon succumbed to the gas.

Daiki, under the guise as one of Sayer's mindless drones, followed orders to take Luna to the observation deck, while another went with Sayer to the duel field, carrying her twin.

Damn. I was too late. Now Leo is going to get hurt and Luna will have no choice but to watch. Daiki growled.

Akiza was already there when Daiki put Luna down on a bench in the back of the room. "I was too slow. Sayer… the lying snake," He growled.

"What's going on? I was told to come up here and watch a duel," Akiza asked.

"You're about to see for yourself Sayer's 'induction'. The same one I had to take when I first came here. It sucked," Daiki said.

Soon, Luna woke up, and Daiki made sure she was ok. "I'm fine, just woozy," She groaned. "Where's Leo?"

Akiza just pointed through the glass, causing Luna to walk over, gasping as she saw Leo awake, trying to get a chain off his ankle while a helmet and shoulder-pads with pylons had been strapped to him.

The duel began. Sayer was ruthless with his psychic deck and his powers. Leo fought bravely with the aid of Power Tool Dragon, but in the end, Thought Ruler Archfiend, Sayer's ace, by-passed Leo's ace thanks to one of Sayer's traps, and finished the poor boy on the fourth round.

Daiki then noticed something odd. Before the monsters faded, Power Tool Dragon seemed to show some form of emotion, hovering low and protecting it's master from anymore danger, staring back to check on the boy.

"No mercy, just like I remember…" Daiki sighed. "Take Luna to the room. I'm to go get Leo and put him next door." He pulled up his hood, heading down.

"Did the test go well sir?" He asked, disguising his voice by deliberately making it lower.

"Unfortunately the boy has no ability to his name, take him to some lodgings so he may recover," Sayer sighed, taking off his duel disk.

"Yes sir," Daiki nodded, unlocking the chain and taking off the monitor gear.

When he got to the room, which a window divided him from his sister. Daiki tucked him in and left the room, going next door. "I'm sorry. I couldn't do a thing. Sayer's too powerful for one lone Psychic to beat." He said to the girl. "Do you have any monsters that can restore lifepoints? I can speed up his recovery."

"White Magician Pikeru," Luna nodded. Daiki took the card in question.

"Come forth, White Magician Pikeru!" He called out, summoning the level 2. Luna was amazed at the power he displayed, shaking hands with Pikeru when the adorable mage in white offered one.

"Please use your power to heal Leo," Daiki instructed.

Pikeru nodded, her staff lighting up as dust of light sprinkled over Leo. She finished, then nodded to Daiki. "Good job. Thank you."

He gave the card back to Luna, causing Pikeru to fade. "Why'd you even come here?" He asked.

"We wanted to convince Akiza to join us, we'll need her help, right?" Luna asked.

"Then say no more," Both turned, seeing Akiza enter the room. "After seeing Sayer's performance today against a boy that clearly had no psychic potential, I might be swaying to believe you Daiki."

"That is excellent to hear Aki," Daiki smiled. "Now. Let's think about how we're going to get out of here."

Sarah: Wow, a little bit from everyone huh?

Marcus: Yup. Next chapter will be similar, so look forward to it.

All: Next chapter: Rising Shadows!