"So," Akiza sat down in the garage's kitchen. She twirled a pen in her fingertips and wrote everyone's name down on a piece of paper. "How do we decide who goes to the Momentum Express Development Company?"

"It shouldn't be someone easily recognizable," Crow said. He sat down next to her to help mull over the list.

Sherry shook her head. "Zhat rules out everyone on your team."

"Not us!" Leo raised his hand, jumping up and down excitedly. "We can be invincible!"

"I think he means invisible," Luna sighs. "And this mission could be really dangerous, Leo. We can't drive our way out of a sticky situation."

"But we have our duel boards!"

"The team we choose needs to be stealthy and quiet," Crow was saying. "So that rules out Jack."

"Hey!"

Everyone stared at him. "Doesn't it?"

Jack scoffed and crossed his arms. "Fine, you have a point, but the great Jack Atlas should never have to hide his identity to-"

"Exactly, thanks for demonstrating, Jack." Akiza giggled and crossed his name off her list.

Carly raised her hand. "I can go. I can take photos privately as well as publicly."

"Okay, Carly's a contender," Crow scribbled a star next to her name.

"I will go too," Sherry said. "I've waited so long for answers. I want to have zhem in my hands zhe moment we find zhem."

"Good point. Carly and Sherry on a team…"

"Anyone else?" Akiza's brown eyes passed over everyone.

"I don't think I can go." Lise scowled. "Since Goodwin was my uncle, I have no doubt he's kept extensive info on me that Yliaster would probably recognize me the moment I stepped foot inside."

"That brings up a good question," Yusei said. "Should any of the Signers go? Goodwin probably kept files on all of us, extensive ones. What if we walk in and the jig is up from the very beginning?"

"We'll have to take zhat risk," Sherry spoke up immediately. "We're so close to answers. I'm willing to fight for zhem no matter what."

"And if something happens to our infiltration team, we'll do everything we can to get you all out safely," Lise added solemnly.

"Which is why I think it's important that I'm part of that team," Bruno said.

"And why is zhat?"

"You said you wanted to get answers no matter what. We need someone who can decipher the technology if we encounter it."

"Which means if Sherry has a tech savvy partner, Carly needs a tech savvy partner."

Slowly, but surely, it dawned on everyone what that meant. Every eye slowly turned to Yusei's.

He seemed to have come to the conclusion long before everyone else. Judging by her sullen expression, Lise had known this fact earlier too.

"I think it makes sense," Carly said.

"Can you use the empathy link to protect the others too?" Akiza asked Lise.

"Well…" She rubbed the back of her neck. "Technically, it's doable. I can remain nearby to ensure everyone is okay, but I can't guarantee that the Crimson Dragon will help in case things go south. The best we can hope for is that you all stay together and I can find you through my connection with Yusei."

Sherry nodded. "I accept zhe risks."

"Me too."

"Same here," Carly clenched her fists to keep them from shaking. This was an extremely dangerous mission, but it was important that she be there. She knew she could do this job. As a reporter, she was uniquely qualified for recon missions.

/

On the day after next, they were ready. The Momentum Express Development Company resembled a scaled down version of New Domino City. Arranged in the shape of a hexagon, metal walkways spread out from the center of the company like the lines of a spiderweb. Numerous, slender towers reached for the sky atop the main dome of the structure. There were only two visible ways in or out of the company.

Carly, Sherry, Bruno, and Yusei stood together at the company's entrance. Each in disguise. Carly had pulled her hair back into a ponytail extending out of the company uniform's hat. She also hidden her eyes underneath new glasses that didn't fit her face shape at all. Yusei had needed some cosmetics to hide his unique mark from his time at the facility. He'd also hidden his gold and dark hair under a uniform hat. He was practically unrecognizable in a momentum test rider jumpsuit. Sherry had tied up her long hair into a bun. She wore a technician's uniform jacket. Bruno was the only one who needed the least disguise prep. He merely wore the technician uniform jacket and hat.

"Here is where we'll find clues about Yliaster's ultimate goal," Yusei whispered.

"Oui," Sherry whispered back. "And clues on my father's killers."

/

"So where is zhe Momentum Express? Tell us about it." Sherry demanded.

She and the others were meeting with the new CEO of Bolger's company, Rick.

"The Momentum Express, M.E, for short, is a private manufacturing company. Our company was also commissioned by them to produce the engine. Duel runners also have Momentum built in, but a lot smaller. The original Momentum was a large particle accelerator unit that was about a couple kilometers to tens of kilometers in diameter. M.E. is currently receiving financial support from the world while I'm developing the Momentum in that device."

Bruno frowned. "They're your business giants."

"But the whole picture is that they're veiled in mystery and are trying to reach some kind of space development program."

"I'm just listening and I'm already smelling something suspicious," Jack said.

"Haven't they been investigated before?" Carly's fingers itched to have her camera and notepad.

"Why can't you investigate who zhey are?" Sherry added.

"Because the company always has its doors closed. I know! Our company staff will be testing the new engine sometime soon. We'll provide you disguises to pose as our staff members to sneak in."

"But will you be able to do this?" Yusei asked. This was a huge risk for a smaller business to take.

"I'll be able to. Think of it as an apology for what happened during the WRGP qualifying round. I'm willing to cooperate to help you find the truth. I ask that you help with the test reports properly, please."

Yusei smiled. "Thanks, Rick. We'll do our best."

/

Lise, are you with us?

Yes. Lise's voice resounded in Yusei's head as if she were standing right beside him. She was actually several miles away, hidden from the sightlines of the company. Akiza was keeping watch over her, just in case. I still don't like this idea.

Me either. But we're working with what we've got. We go in, get info, get out.

Yusei could practically feel Lise rolling her eyes. It's rarely that simple.

I'll keep my fingers crossed.

"Are you guys from the Bolger & Company team?" A man dressed impeccably in a grey suit and glasses intercepted the infiltration team. He had an ascot tied loosely around his throat, and ashy blond hair. "I've been waiting for you." He consulted his clipboard. "Misters and Misses…"

"Daniel," Yusei smiled as wide as he dared.

Bruno's grin was beyond cheesy. "Timothy."

Sherry nodded. "It's Eva."

"And I'm Juliet," Carly pushed her glasses further up her nose.

"Nice to meet you. I'm in charge around these parts. Call me Clark," the blond man said. "The loss of Mr. Bolger was quite the shame, but he and his corporation still remain one of my many friends. I appreciated his work more than anyone creating amazing duel runners."

"We appreciate your kind words," Bruno said.

Sherry frowned up at Clark. "Have we met somewhere before?"

"No, I don't think so."

"I see, sorry," Sherry lowered her head.

"Follow me to the testing," Clark lead the way.

Carly elbowed her lightly. "Are you trying to blow our cover?" she hissed.

"Do you really think we've met him before?"

Sherry shrugged. "Perhaps."

"I'm often the one to get up and get our Infinity engine running," Clark was saying.

Yusei shared a look with the others. "Infinity?"

Clark brought them to a grand observatory. Below them was a massive particle accelerator. Its vibrant lights pulsed rhythmically. The troubling part was this accelerator was massive, even bigger than the one that created Zero Reverse.

"It's huge," Bruno said.

"What exactly does this machine do?" Yusei asked Clark.

This is giving me a really bad feeling.

Yusei felt Lise nod. Me too. That much energy safeguarded behind secrets and they're tied to Yliaster?

Clark was a lot more forthcoming for a company known for its secrets. "Infinity is a matter transfer device currently being studied by our company. In this machine, the Planetary Particles start to run at high speed to create a dimensional distortion. It then creates a wormhole that is used to transfer material. If we continue to work on this, we may no longer need to launch rockets to space."

Yusei mulled that over. That kind of technology in Yliaster's hands didn't seem like a good thing. He caught sight of a red door behind Clark, the red floors marking the access clearance level ten.

"What's the matter, Mr. Daniel?"

"Nothing."

I'm pretty sure that's our target. Lise said.

Literally.

/

They had promised Rick they'd at least test one of the duel runner engine performances. It was their cover story.

Yusei tapped impatiently at the duel runner's controls. It was performing well, but they needed to get going on their sneakiness.

Carly paced in the main control center. She held a clipboard just in case someone came in, but she too wanted to get going. Bruno and Sherry sat at the controls, Sherry recording the duel runner's diagnostics for Rick, and Bruno using his laptop to hack into the company from the inside.

"I'll explore the inner workings of the company as much as possible before I'm found out."

"Get all the info you can," Sherry instructed.

/

The four of them took a break around their scheduled lunch time.

"I knew it. Still have no info on Yliaster," Bruno scowled deeply at his computer, typing away.

Carly nodded, tightening her ponytail. "I was only able to get footage of that red door; the level ten clearance one? I think that's our best bet at uncovering secrets."

"Oui," Sherry gestured at Carly. "The person who should be in contact wizh zhe company is zhe director. We 'ave just a few 'ours left before zhe afternoon test run."

"And the only place we haven't investigated is Infinity. Maybe zhere's something zhere."

"Infinity is heavily protected though. It'll be hard," Bruno warned.

"Carly's right," Yusei finally spoke up. "What's important is what's beyond that door."

"But we don't have level ten clearance. We'll need an access key for the higher levels."

"Access key… You think the director might have one?" Yusei speculated.

Bruno smiled at him, gesturing with his soda. "That's I was thinking, and I was also thinking he should be having lunch too…"

Sherry smiled too. "So his office is empty now."

"Bingo," Carly winked. "Let's go!"

The four of them raced up to the highest level of clearance. Clark's office was supposedly on that floor. Checking the emergency exit floorplan confirmed their suspicions, and even indicated which office was his. Unbeknownst to the little team of infiltrators, they'd been caught on camera.

"Where's the card key? Found it yet?" Carly asked. She'd stayed by the door, holding it open a tiny crack to keep watch and take photos of the office.

"Nope…" Yusei frowned at the impeccably neat desk. Course he wouldn't leave it lying around.

Sherry was already sifting through Clark's desk drawers. On the bottom of the smallest drawer she spotted it. "Found it!" Shery held up a small card the size of a business card with the Momentum Express Development Company logo on the front.

"All right, let's go."

"No, wait!" Carly stopped them. "He's coming back!"

"Merde," Sherry swore under her breath.

Carly stepped from one foot to the other. "Whatta we do? Whatta we do?!"

/

Clark stepped into his office. However, it was not empty as he had expected it would be by then.

This is the dumbest idea you have EVER had. If Clark doesn't kill you, then I will when it's all over!

I know. Yusei winced. Lise was right, but right now he didn't have a better idea. Plus, he could buy time while Sherry, Bruno, and Carly got to level ten. I promise to be careful.

"I've been waiting, Director Clark."

"Daniel? What're you doing here?"

"Truth is, I've been waiting to duel against you."

"A duel with me?"

"Rick always says you're proud of your duels, right?"

Clark smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "It's really an honor."

Yusei kept his fake smile plastered on his face. He couldn't resist his eyes darting over to the vents. Bruno, Sherry, and Carly were crawling away as fast as they could in the darkness.

"Very well then," Clark grinned down at his cards housed in a clear box upon his desk. "I'm still a beginner, just so you know, but there are conditions."

Conditions? Uh oh…

"Would you like to know this different rule?" Clark held his deck up.

"Different rule?"

Clark flung his cards onto the glass table of his office. "This is a concentration duel."

"A concentration duel?" Yusei did the same.

/

"Moment of truth," Sherry whispered. She swiped the key card at the level ten red door.

The door slid open immediately. "Nice," Carly grinned and lead the way inside.

/

Clark shrugged. "The basic rules are the same. You have to flip a card and declare what it is. For example, if you want to summon a monster, you have to declare it and flip a card. If the card meets the requirements, then you can successfully summon the monster. Otherwise, you put it back. Same for spells and traps, if the activation timing is correct. Otherwise, you put it back. Also, only one spell or trap card can be activated once per turn. All of the cards facedown on the table can be flipped over."

Simple…but tricky.

Right. It's like two games in one; Memory and Duel Monsters.

"Oh, there's another condition. The winner takes all cards left on the table."

"What?!"

"In other words, you better win all of your opponent's deck. I hope you accept this condition." Clark's smile was becoming less and less friendly.

Yusei swallowed. So the loser loses their deck…

What other options do we have?

We don't. I have to buy time for Carly, Sherry, and Bruno.

Good luck.

"I accept the conditions. Let's start."

"In that case…"

"Duel!"

Yusei: 4000

Clark: 4000

"Please go first," Clark gestured across the table. "You're still unfamiliar with the rules. Think of it as an advantage."

"Then it's my turn. First, I summon a monster." Yusei stared at his cards splayed out on the table. The possibility of flipping a monster is half and half… "I choose this card."

It was a trap.

"That is not a monster, unfortunately. Please set that card back down."

Yusei frowned at the trap. I see. This rule makes you not know where your cards are. What a waste… "I activate a spell card?"

This time he was successful. Except…

"It seems you have drawn a magic card, Release Restraint Wave allows you to select the opponent's equip spell and then destroy it along with all set spells and traps. It doesn't meet activation requirements, so please, put it back."

Yusei did so, reaching for a new card. "I activate a trap?"

Monster. Damnit.

Going first has got me nowhere. "I end my turn."

"My turn," Clark said. "I summon a monster. I choose…" He didn't hesitate in picking his card.

What? Even though the odds of activating a spell or trap card before summoning a monster should increase, given these rules… How?

"It will be this card." Clark indeed flipped a monster. "Nice. Seems I got lucky. Hexa Knight is a level six monster, but if there are no monsters on my opponent's field, it can be summoned without a tribute."

(Hexa Knight: Atk: 1800 Def: 1200)

Hexa Knight resembled a small armored knight with a shield and sword. Its main colors were black with yellow plates and boots. Both its shield and face were adorned with the same 's' shaped symbol.

"You seem to have given me good fortune by not being able to pull your monster. I use Hexa Knight to attack you directly!"

Yusei: 2200

Clark: 4000

"I end my turn."

The key to winning will be drawing a monster. But at least I know for sure where Max Warrior is. "My turn. I summon a monster!"

Max Warrior joined the field, albeit smaller than usual.

"Both Hexa Knight and Max Warrior's attack power is eighteen-hundred," Clark said.

"However," Yusei corrected. "Max Warrior gains four hundred attack points whenever it attacks an opponent's monster. Go, Max Warrior!"

Yusei: 2200

Clark: 3600

"But when Max Warrior destroys the opponent's monster, until your next turn, it's level, attack, and defense are halved."

Clark knows way too much about your cards. Do you think he's onto you?

Even if he is, we have to buy Sherry, Bruno, and Carly as much time as possible.

"I activate a spell card."

"That is a trap card," Clark said. "It can't be activated."

But now I can prevent an attack next turn. "I now activate a trap."

"Unfortunately, you can't activate a spell."

It took some doing, but I think I have everything I need to win.

Really? Yusei couldn't see Lise's face, but he could picture her surprised expression.

Yes. Prevention Star can be equipped to my monster when it's changed to defense mode. Then I can play Release Restraint Wave, effecting almost every card he has face down, destroying all his spells and traps.

I hope that plan works. You always were better at Memory than I was.

"It's my turn." Clark grinned down at his cards. You did well, but you won't be winning this game. His glasses glittered. "I'll also activate a spell card."

He guessed right again?

That can't be a coincidence.

"Lucky me, eh? I pulled the spell Equivalent Exchange. I draw three cards from my deck to send to the graveyard, the combined levels of the monsters I draw will be the same amount of cards you destroy from your deck. Now which cards should I choose?"

Uh oh…

"The first one is…Amazingly, I drew this card! I drew the level ten Decago Knight."

Ten cards?!

And he still has two more cards to pick!

"And the second one will be this card…"

"What?!"

"What a coincidence!" Clark chuckled a little. "Another level ten Decago Knight. The third card shall be…this card! Perhaps it's the third one? I can't wait to see!"

It was.

"Impossible! You picked all three Decago Knights?!"

"God has brought a miracle to me!" Clark was full blown snickering. "The combined level is thirty. Now send thirty of your cards to the graveyard." He slammed his hands onto the table, throwing Yusei's cards up into the air. They all landed in different places, effectively shuffling his cards around.

Yusei collected thirty cards, biting at his lip. Calrk had to be cheating, but how? "Thirty to the graveyard."

"Next, I activate Decago Knight's effect. When there are three of them in the graveyard, I'm able to shuffle my deck." Clark pulled his cards together and splayed them out on the table again. "Next, I summon a monster. I summon Triangle Knight!"

(Triangle Knight: Atk: 900 Def: 900)

The new Knight resembled the previous, but with red gear instead of yellow.

"I end my turn."

He hasn't failed once the past six attempts. He managed to get three of the same cards. Is that possible?

It shouldn't be!

/

Bruno, Sherry, and Carly were well into hacking into the computers for Infinity. Something was dimming the lights.

"Huh?" Bruno paused with his fingers over the keyboard.

/

Akiza lowered her binoculars. She didn't need them to see the electricity snapping across the roof of the company. "What is going on over there?"

She glanced over to Lise. She still hadn't moved, but Lise's brow was knit together.

Akiza returned her attention back to the company. "I hope you guys know what you're doing."

/

And you're right, it shouldn't be. Yusei's eyes narrowed as he had his silent conversation with Lise. The odds of guessing three of the same card right are ten thousand to one.

"What's wrong?" Clark still had his frightening smile in place. "You're looking pale."

The game was rigged from the very beginning. Let's see. I have Max Warrior with eighteen hundred attack points. He has Triangle Knight with nine hundred attack points. He'll most likely come back with a counter. If I fall for one of his tricks, I'll lose.

And lose all the cards left on the table.

Don't remind me.

"What's wrong? It's your turn."

But how exactly do I…

Just like Bruno, Sherry, and Carly had experienced, the lights flickered. Everything was washed in darkness, except for the glass table they were dueling on…

"No need to worry," Clark's smile never wavered. "The power shortage was caused by Infinity."

Yusei frowned and gasped. The gleam from Clark's glasses caught his eye, and reflected in Clark's glasses were his cards!

/

"Infinity…" Bruno muttered.

The lights flickered back on momentarily. Carly snapped photos over Sherry's shoulder just in case. Bruno and Sherry downloaded and saved the info.

"Finally got zhem, Yliaster's file!" Sherry was the happiest she'd felt in a long time.

"How are we doing with the download?"

"Just a few more minutes," Bruno tapped his finger as he waited for the download to finish.

/

"I think I've solved the mystery."

Clark's eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"

"Let me show you," Yusei's lip curled upwards. "It's my turn. I summon a monster. I choose this card. It's Junk Synchron, a monster, which means I can summon him! Junk Synchron's effect activates. When its summoned, I can special summon one monster from my graveyard that's level two or below. I choose Sonic Chick!"

"What?" Clark's smile had fallen for the first time the entire day. He used effects from the graveyard to get two monsters at once?

"I tune level three Junk Synchron to my level four Max Warrior and level one Sonic Chick!"

Yusei, not Stardust! He'll know it's you!

I have a feeling he already does. This guy… Based on how he duels, he's the kind of man who had measures in place to know who we were right from the beginning.

Okay, then go for it!

"I synchro summon Stardust Dragon!"

"A synchro summon? Summoning a synchro monster from the extra deck so it wasn't affected by the table…"

"Next, I activate the first card I flipped over, the continuous trap, Future Battle! I can select a card from your deck at random, if it's a monster, it can be special summoned to your field. It then has to conduct battle with Stardust Dragon. If Stardust Dragon destroys that monster in battle, I can continue to use the same effect. I choose that card!" Yusei pointed at a card he knew for a fact was a monster; Decago Knight. "Go, Stardust Dragon!"

Yusei: 2200

Clark: 2100

"The same effect activates again! I choose…that card!"

"Impossible!" Clark flipped over another Decago Knight.

Yusei: 2200

Clark: 600

"And finally…" Yusei walked around the table to point at the final Decago Knight. "I'll flip it over for you."

Yusei: 2200

Clark: 0

"How…" Clark's mouth was agape. He'd been beaten at his own game. "What did I…"

"Your trick almost worked, but I figured it out," Yusei held up the room's remote.

"You mean…cheating… what do you mean?"

"What is this?" Yusei pressed a button on the remote. The lights went out. "During the power outage, the cards reflected on your glasses. You were able to identity what the cards were with your glasses." Yusei pressed the lights back on.

"What you saw in that 'trick' is that I remember the placement of the cards. I've been beat, Yusei Fudo."

Yusei's jaw clenched. I knew it.

Clark's smile returned. "You don't seem all that surprised, but my company is about being safe." He snagged the remote back and turned on one of the monitors. Sherry, Bruno, Yusei, and Carly in disguise popped up on screen. Each one of them were scanned and identified. "We examined your fingerprints and faces to find out who you are. I knew your identities from the very beginning. I thought you all weren't going to do much, but I guess I underestimated you."

"You're involved with Yliaster then?"

"I think your friends are a bit more important than that right now, am I right?" Clark's grin became downright sinister as he pressed the emergency alarm on the bottom of his remote.

/

"Crap," Carly cringed at the red lights and wailing sirens. "We've been discovered."

"We have what we came for. Let's go!" Bruno ran out of the Infinity computer room with Sherry and Carly right behind him.

/

Time to leave! Meet up with the others and Akiza and I will get you all out!

You got it! Yusei turned tail and booked it out of Clark's office.

Clark watched on his office monitors as they met up with each other in the hallway…

/

"Yusei, we have zhe file!" Sherry greeted him.

Uniformed security officers came from a nearby hallway. "Tjhere they are!"

"Get the intruders!"

"Uh oh!" Carly closed the pocket holding her camera phone. Couldn't risk losing her footage again.

"This way!" Yusei gestured for the others to follow him.

The four of them ended up in what looked like an airplane hangar. Many small shuttles lined the large room.

"Let's hide in that shuttle!"

Once they were inside, the door closed firmly behind them.

"We're locked in!"

Yusei cursed under his breath. "We've been lead into a trap!"

Carly's balance wobbled. "Guys, I think we're moving!"

"We are!" Sherry ran up to the shuttle control panel. The glass windows showed they were indeed moving.

"What do we do?"

"I don't know!"

"Can Lise and the Crimson Dragon do something?!"

"I DON'T KNOW!"

/

Clark watched them panic with glee. "You'll now disappear into the void…"

/

The shuttle stopped. The particle accelerator started charging up. Its bright rainbow lights would have been beautiful if they weren't being used for a terrifying purpose. Below them, Infinity was charging up! The lights of Infinity's power grew brighter and brighter…

(All right, here we go, guys! I'm going to try using the motivating powers of NaNoWriMo to get on a better writing schedule! For those who don't know NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month! In the past I have written drafts for a novel as well as written fanfic for the month! Last year I didn't participate as it was my last year of college, and I needed to focus on completing my Senior year!

But this year, we're giving it a go with Soul of the Dragon 2: Enter the Void! I'm excited to write more as well as draw. I never feel like a complete artist unless I'm drawing and writing. Both creative aspects are important for creating the worlds I envision, at least in my book.

I hope you're all staying safe and healthy, and if you're American, that you're voting! Once again, thank you so much for reading and sticking with me all these years! I appreciate it more than I can say that you want to embark on this journey alongside me! So thank you!)