Notes: And this is where everything we thought we knew about Crash Town really turns on its head a bit. And Malcolm really does the following to his bar counter in Over the Nexus, LOL! I just had to write about it happening.
Chapter Four
It's Hard At the End of the Day
Malcolm quickly proved that he was a formidable and dangerous foe. He was used to getting his way and intended that this venture would be no different. But it wasn't enough to just start trying to outmatch Radley in paying for the mine's facelift. He was soon ordering his men to bully all the townspeople they could into siding with him against Radley's Bunch. Radley, however, wasn't about to let that stand. His boys were directed into positions around town to protect the people from Malcolm's cruelty, and since they had grown up on the streets and were used to being forced to defend themselves, they were a good match for Malcolm's thugs.
Malcolm's next attempt was forcing Radley's Bunch to fight the Crew in out-and-out brawls in order to gain control of the various miners in town under their employ. Radley only put up with that for a short while and instead started charming miners into switching sides.
"Does every plan you come up with involve brute force?" he finally said in annoyance one evening.
"Brute force always won before!" Malcolm fumed.
Radley just sneered. "Well, unfortunately for you, Malcolm, we just don't back down easily. We can easily beat you in a game of brains. It looks like we can beat you in a game of brawn too," he giggled.
Of course, that only enraged Malcolm all the more. Time after time, no matter what he tried, Radley always won and the older man was always left looking the fool.
It didn't take long for Malcolm to become thoroughly enraged by the repeated humiliations. "AURGH!" he screamed one evening in the saloon he had built for his Crewmembers.
Many of his men flinched. Malcolm wasn't handling this mess well anyway, and when he completely lost his temper, he was even worse. Most of them tried to quietly ease away from him.
"I can't take any more of this!" Malcolm roared. "No one's ever kept besting me before! How does he keep doing it?! He's half my age! He's commanding an army of preschoolers!"
He grabbed a knife out of his boot and flipped the blade up. To everyone's shock, he started carving into the bar counter. No one dared say a word. When he finished, Radley is an idiot had been forever engraved in the wood.
". . . I think the boss is acting like a preschooler," a bird-faced thug whispered to his friend Seluga.
"I think that's an insult to preschoolers," Seluga whispered back.
A cruel sneer twisted Malcolm's features. "You know, I think I've got an idea," he said. "Radley's always saying I'm no good at strategizing and using my brain. Well, he's going to be eating his words after our next maneuver. And the mine is going to be all ours!"
"What's your plan, Boss?" Seluga asked.
Malcolm started to tell them. And as they listened, their eyes gleamed. It just might work.
xxxx
Radley had fallen asleep on the bed in his newly built house, a motorcycle magazine open on his chest, when he was suddenly awakened by Scotch's frantic voice.
"Radley! Radley, come quick! It's Malcolm!"
Radley jumped a mile, the magazine slipping to the mattress. "What is it?" he exclaimed as he got up. "What's he done?!" He grabbed his jacket off a chair and pulled it on.
Scotch was already running back into the living room and the front door. "The Crew is all down in the town square, and they've got hostages!"
Radley immediately ran out after him in alarm. "Who?!"
"Some of the kids," Scotch said. "Ben and Belle and others!"
Radley just stared at him in sickened horror. "What's this all about?!" They got out to the front porch and he pulled the door shut after him.
"He won't say," Scotch said. "He'll only talk to you."
Radley was swiftly on his motorcycle and racing to the town square, Scotch following closely. When they arrived at the square, the rest of the Bunch was already there, staring down Malcolm's Crew on the opposite side. The townspeople on Radley's side of the town watched worriedly, the fear in their eyes. They looked to Radley with hope. If anyone could set this right, they believed he could.
Radley pulled up sideways in front of the Bunch and got off his motorcycle. As he took off his helmet, his green eyes flashed with danger. "What's this all about, Malcolm?"
"Now, I just wanted to have a friendly talk." Malcolm sneered as he stepped forward.
"There's nothing friendly about taking children hostage," Radley spat.
"They're not hurt," Malcolm snapped. "And they won't be if you just play ball."
Radley clenched his fists. "What does that mean? You want us to clear out of the mine and the town and let you completely take over?"
"No!" Belle exclaimed.
The bird-faced thug pulled her closer to him, his arm around her throat. "Shut up."
Klaus pushed his way through the crowd, his eyes filled with both horror and rage. "Belle! Ben!" he screamed. "You let them go, you devil!"
Another of Malcolm's stooges lashed out with a cruel grin, kicking Klaus in the stomach. He went down with a gasp right in the center of the square.
"Grandpa!" Ben screamed.
Belle screamed too.
Billy immediately ran to Klaus, knowing it would be too dangerous for Radley to take his eyes off of Malcolm for a moment to help.
Radley watched the scene, the anger building in his heart. "What should happen is for all of us and the town to throw you out," he said. "You're not welcome here. Your methods are not welcome here!"
Klaus groaned in pain as Billy tried to help him up. "Only . . . we can't do anything with the kids in Malcolm's grasp," he said.
"We were here first," Malcolm snarled. "And we're not going to turn over this town to the likes of you. You'll find it's not so easy to run us off when we're the ones with the tanks. Here's my condition, Radley. Turn yourself over to us. Your boys can go free. Maybe they'd like to join us. We'll set the kids free and turn this town into Malcolmville."
Radley glowered at him. "And what happens to me?"
Malcolm leered at him. "Maybe the mines. Maybe I'll make you run around helplessly while one of my tanks chases you. Maybe I'll just have you gunned down in the street as a show of power. But if you're really a friend to these people, you'll take whatever fate we give you. It's the only way to save them."
"No!" Marty yelled.
Belle's eyes filled with tears and she again struggled to get away. "No, don't hurt him! Please, don't hurt him!" She sobbed, slumping against her captor.
"Ain't that sweet?" a thug jeered.
"Her taste in men leaves something to be desired," Malcolm mocked. He looked to his nemesis. "Well, Radley? What'll it be?"
Radley trembled. He didn't want to show his fear, but it was an involuntary reaction. He had never thought leaving California would put him in this kind of danger. He really was in over his head now, and he had the responsibility of looking out for not only the Bunch, but the entire town. Malcolm had put it all on him. What was the right thing to do? Should he give himself up, or . . .
He took a deep breath. ". . . No."
"What?!" Malcolm yelled.
"I won't turn myself over to you," Radley said. "I wouldn't be saving anyone. You can't be trusted, and if you get complete control of this town, you'll oppress everyone. We're the only thing standing in your way. You know that, and that's why you stooped to something as underhanded and cheap as this to try to get what you want. I won't play your game, Malcolm."
Malcolm wavered. Clearly he hadn't planned for what to do if Radley wouldn't bend. "Well . . . then the kids will get hurt!" he insisted.
"Will they?" Radley retorted. "You're low, Malcolm, but are you really going to murder children? Especially in front of everyone here?" His eyes narrowed. "You'll create a lynch mob directed at you and your cronies."
Malcolm's eyes darted about. His thugs looked worried. Clearly they hadn't planned on actually hurting the kids.
"Or maybe just at you," Radley continued, seeing this. "Not even your men want to obey this order."
Suddenly Malcolm stomped his foot in utter frustration. ". . . Let them go," he ordered.
Relieved, his men released the kids and they ran to the other side of the town into their families' arms. Ben and Belle both hurried to Klaus.
"Once again, you've shown that all you know how to do is operate with brute strength," Radley said. "You really aren't capable of any other types of plans."
Malcolm snarled. "It was intellectual! It was getting to whatever heart you have!"
"And it was all about the threat of physical harm against the innocent," Radley said in disgust. "I'll bet you don't even know how to run a mine in spite of your claims."
"Oh, you think I can't think things through?!" Malcolm spat. He took out his Duel Gun. "Duel me! Now!"
Radley sighed. "Why should I?"
"Because I just got an idea," Malcolm sneered. "I want to see how well it works."
"You'll regret it." Radley took out his own Duel Gun. They were odd devices, but more portable than Duel Disks. They unfolded into something almost as large as a Duel Disk. Radley had never heard tell of them until he had come here and found them all the rage at the general store. He found the concept corny, really, but he couldn't deny the practicality.
The duel was fierce and long. Malcolm believed in striking hard and fast with powerful monsters, to no one's surprise. But his cards of choice also had strategic effects. Radley was having difficulty holding his own, although he managed to defend until he could land a couple of blows and activate a destructive continuous trap. Finally he found another key trap card and laid it down.
"You see?" Malcolm exclaimed in triumph. "I can do more than just focus on brute strength! Now all of my X-Sabers are gonna attack you, and you're defenseless!"
"Am I?" Radley smirked. "Mirror Force."
"What? NO!" Malcolm screamed as every one of his monsters was destroyed.
"And my Skull Invitation will punish you for every card you just lost," Radley said. "I believe that will take the rest of your lifepoints down to zero."
Malcolm fell to his knees. "Radley, you rat," he snarled.
Radley folded his arms. "Alright, so what was the point of this exercise? You certainly didn't need to be humiliated any more than you already were."
Malcolm looked up. "I've got a proposal. Instead of all this fighting for new mining labor, we duel for it."
Radley blinked. "What?!"
"Every night the new labor will battle, and whoever loses goes to the mines and works for whoever won," Malcolm said. "That's fair even for you, isn't it?" He smirked. "They'll all agree to the terms and everything. No one'll be strong-armed into it."
"So you're saying our wanted labor will duel for the right to have jobs in the mines," Radley said.
". . . Something like that," Malcolm said.
Radley frowned. "And if I agree to this, you'll stop terrorizing the townspeople?"
"On my word of honor," Malcolm said as he got to his feet.
Klaus snorted. "Honor! As if he even knows the meaning of the word!"
Radley frowned. Something definitely sounded off, but if the alternative was more scenes like tonight's, that was unacceptable. At least this proposal of Malcolm's somehow did sound fair. And it would save a lot of wear and tear on the townspeople and the Bunch.
". . . Alright," he said. "It's agreed. We'll start dueling for new labor."
Malcolm's face split into a nasty grin. "Good. Well, now that we've solved this like gentlemen, we'll ride off for the night." He turned back to his vehicle. "Let's go."
Everyone watched as Malcolm's Crew roared off into the night, heading for their compound. Radley quickly turned to face the others. "Are you badly hurt, Klaus?" he demanded.
Klaus was still holding a hand to his stomach and being supported by Billy, but he shook his head. "I'm alright. But mark my words, something's not right about Malcolm's proposal. I don't trust anything that comes out of his mouth."
"Well, I don't either, but it didn't look like we had a lot of choice," Radley said. He sighed. "Maybe for once Malcolm's actually thought of something reasonable. This will enable both of us to stick around, so I can make sure he can't take over the whole town. And maybe this way, the mine can really get going and not be held up by all our childish fighting."
Klaus shook his head. "Something's just not right," he insisted.
"I'll be careful," Radley said. "Right now we need to get you home."
Klaus didn't protest.
I was such a naive fool. I honestly thought the duels would help the town. I didn't know Malcolm was going to mistreat his labor so badly. I didn't know people would die. I tried my best, but . . . I wasn't good enough. I didn't do right by the town or the Bunch or by the Duelists who came here. And the more time that passed, the more I became blinded by my delight that the mines were operating and I was making money.
What did I cause?
xxxx
"Hey," Crow exclaimed as the night dragged on. "What's up with Radley? It looks like . . . like he's crying."
"What?!" Kalin looked over at the man. Radley was still comatose, but Crow was right—a tear was slipping down his cheek.
Immediately Kalin got up, bending over the bed. "Radley?! Can you hear me?"
"It's my fault," Radley whispered. "It's all my fault. . . ."
"What's he even talking about?!" Crow wondered.
Kalin didn't know. He wanted to be relieved that Radley had pulled out of the coma enough to actually cry and talk, but he had the sinking feeling that Radley's trial was nowhere near over yet. He was clearly troubled, and this sounded like Kalin's devastation and blame directed at himself. Was Radley really carrying such a burden?
"What's your fault?" Kalin frowned.
"Malcolm . . . the mines . . . all the deaths. . . . It's all my fault," Radley replied. "I agreed to the duels. . . ."
Kalin gripped Radley's shoulder. "It's not all your fault," he insisted. "Malcolm was the one killing people. Not you."
"My fault," Radley whispered. "The dead blamed me. . . . They all pointed their fingers at me. . . ."
"Alright, now he's talking utter nonsense," Jack snorted. "He must be delirious."
"Don't be so sure," Yusei frowned. "He was clinically dead for over an hour. What happened to him during that time? He may have seen some terrifying things."
Kalin frowned too. What really had happened? He could relate to having been dead and having seen disturbing things, although in his case, nothing could have disturbed him more than realizing what he had done under the Dark Signers' power.
"Radley," he tried again. "Do you know who this is? Do you know who's talking to you?"
Radley didn't respond now.
Jack grunted. "Maybe he just doesn't want to answer."
That wasn't what Kalin needed to hear when he was already feeling bad enough about having rejected Radley so many times. His shoulders slumped. "Oh Radley. . . . I want to help you," he pleaded. "I know it's galling and I have no right, but . . . please. . . . I'm afraid you're going to die."
". . . Why . . . would you care?" Radley said after a long moment.
". . . I guess he knows who's here," Crow said.
"I should have cared from the start," Kalin said. "I wasn't well. As soon as Yusei and the kids and Jordan helped me, I started to see everything more clearly. I realized how I was treating you and it was devastating. I'm so sorry. Nothing can make up for how I must have hurt you, but . . . I want to help you now."
". . . Cheap talk," Radley muttered. "People always say nice things they don't mean later on."
Jack snarled. "Look, you! Kalin means every word!"
Yusei got up, quickly getting between Jack and the bed. "He's not fully conscious," he said. "We don't know how much he's really hearing or even understanding right now."
"Maybe he's thinking about how his gang turned on him after being loyal for so long," Crow frowned.
"And if he hears everything and that's his response specifically to me, he has every right to feel that way," Kalin said. "I know I hurt him deeply. After I even abandoned him to the mines without a second thought, how could he possibly believe I'm sincere now?"
Jack growled and turned away.
"Someone should get the doctor," Yusei said. "He's obviously waking up more to respond to us at all. The doctor should know."
"I'll do that," Jack grunted, and stormed out.
Kalin shook his head. "He's so protective of me after everything. . . ."
"Well, sure," Crow said. "None of us ever stopped caring about you."
"It's still incredible to me," Kalin said. "After all I did. . . ."
"That's how real friendship is," Yusei said. "There's nothing you can do to make your friends stop loving you."
Kalin sighed and looked back to Radley. Would Radley have cared about him like that, if Kalin had been willing to let him in? There was no hope of it now, surely. Radley didn't want Kalin's help. He couldn't be made to believe that Kalin was sincere, especially not in his current state. But Kalin would keep staying. He had to stay until Radley was fully conscious and there were better prospects for his survival. Then, if Radley was completely awake and told him to leave, he would.
"What happened to you, Radley?" he said quietly. "What happened when you died? . . . And what happened before I got here? Who were you?"
This time, again, Radley did not respond.
Who was I? I'm still trying to answer that one myself. I'm also not sure who I am now. Or how much damage I caused.
Everyone was tense in Crash Town over the next days. The miners practiced dueling with Radley's and Malcolm's men, still not sure what awaited them when Malcolm's plan got underway. Radley, too, wondered. And he wondered if he had made a dreadful mistake agreeing to anything Malcolm suggested. It had seemed the only option at the time, but maybe there would have been another one if he had waited and thought about it before agreeing.
Then came the evening for the first duel. Malcolm had already made the suggestion that each ride out from the part of town that was more loyal to them and meet in the town center, "all dramatic-like." Radley had agreed to that too, and he did like the impression it seemed to make as they rode past the townspeople and squared off with Malcolm just like in the Old West days. But to his shock, the town hearse approached from a third direction, driven by two men he didn't know and carrying a coffin in the back.
"What is this?!" he demanded of Malcolm, who just sneered at him.
"I thought it would be dramatic and get everybody in the right mood," he said. "This is the loser's . . . transportation, shall we say."
A low, troubled murmur rose among the townspeople.
"Going to the mines isn't a death sentence," Radley objected.
Malcolm laughed. "You're still so naive, Radley." He folded his arms. "The hearse stays."
Radley glowered. "Alright, Malcolm, have your sick kind of fun."
The duel soon got underway. For a while it looked like either side could win, but eventually Malcolm's Duelist got the edge and Radley's was beaten. He fell to his knees in defeat.
Malcolm broke out in raucous laughter. "I finally found something Malcolm's Crew is better at than you, Radley! Now I get the new labor!"
Radley just glowered back, his eyes dark. "Then take him, Malcolm," he said coldly. "But tomorrow will be a different story."
"Oh, I'm takin' him, alright," Malcolm grinned.
He snapped his fingers and the hearse galloped forward. The tall, burly man stood up, swinging his lariat above his head. To Radley's utter shock, the defeated Duelist was lassoed and roughly pulled off the ground before being deposited in the open coffin. He screamed in terror as the lid slammed down and silenced his cry. Then the hearse was off again, racing towards the mountain. Radley's Bunch and the townspeople were all left staring in stunned disbelief. By the time they snapped to, Malcolm's Crew was riding off after it.
"W-What . . . what just happened?" Ben said in horror.
"Lord have mercy," Klaus whispered. He held his grandchildren close.
Billy sidled up to Radley, vaguely trembling in fear. "Radley, do you remember that joke Marty made about you charming the Devil?" he said.
That seemed a lifetime ago. "Yes," Radley said.
"Well . . . I've got a feeling we just made a deal with one," Billy said.
Radley couldn't disagree.
That was an understatement. But even though none of us liked the arrangement, we kept on with it. As time went on, more and more I threw myself into the competition. I felt the same frustration and anger Malcolm must have felt when I kept winning, and I delighted every time I found a Duelist who could win for me for a while. The nightly duels consumed me. They became a game to me and I didn't even think as much about the fact that we were playing with people's futures. They'd agreed to the terms, after all. And I knew I wasn't mistreating any of the ones I got. Over time I gradually got desensitized to the duels and saw them as harmless, but I was just fooling myself. I kept telling myself it was the only way to keep Malcolm from taking over completely.
But was it?