Ener-D Thieves
Chapter 6: Clash
Yusei dialed Officer Trudge's number and spent several minutes discussing their plans. After a moment he hung up. "Trudge said there's suddenly activity in the house. Maybe they saw the new post on the dark web."
"I hope we do too," Luna said in concern.
"What?! Sudden activity?!" exclaimed Jack. "We have to go at once!"
"Trudge is handling it," Yusei said. "They're probably coming here, which is what we wanted, to gather them all at the same place."
"Should we remain in here, or go outside to meet him?" asked Akiza.
"We should wait," Yusei said. "All the crooks coming after the documents should be on their way here now."
"Alright, will do Yusei." Akiza nodded with determination.
"Everyone, prepare your decks in case we have no choice but to fight," said Kalin.
"And I'm sure we will," Yusei said.
The businessman looked more and more nervous as the cars started to drive up and various gangsters and other shady people got out.
"Aw, man, things are heating up," Leo stated with a slightly nervous tone in his voice. "Well, I guess it's time to show the world what superheroes do."
"I hope the police will arrive to arrest everyone," Radley mused. "We need to capture an exchange of documents and money in order to have enough ammo to arrest anyone for trying to buy and sell them."
Meanwhile, outside the house, Carly ran towards Officer Trudge and his men. She smelled a scoop and there was no way she would stop until she got evidence.
"Hey! This is no place for you!" Trudge exclaimed.
"Jack and everyone else have been gone for several hours now!" yelled back Carly. "Something big must be going on!"
"Yeah, and if you don't stay down, you might spoil it!" Trudge said.
"Ok,ok, I understand, Trudge!" nodded Carly. As she followed Trudge she couldn't believe what she saw. Her gut instincts told her to take many photos.
Trudge let her, as long as she was quiet. Soon it was time to drive off after them. As the two of them headed towards the scene of the crime, the businessmen entered the mansion and greeted the owner. Sensing trouble was heating up, Bruno transformed once again into Antinomy. Kalin glanced over at him and knew he meant business.
"I suppose it's time for the criminals to face the judgment of the Death God," he muttered under his breath.
"And me too," Radley said. "And Yusei is furious."
"Here they come!" yelled Jack. He was prepared to unleash the power of Burning Soul.
"Well, hold off, everyone!" Radley scolded. "They shouldn't even see us here until the exchange happens."
"Radley's right," said Akiza. "I know you're all itching to battle but have to hear them out to understand the full story."
Everyone was let in and the businessman tried to hide his nervousness. He started the bidding and they all started calling out numbers once they had inspected what he had and were sure it was genuine. Antinomy smirked, as he and Yusei had made up fake but authentic-looking papers for this purpose.
"Looks like the meeting is underway," whispered Luna.
Kalin made sure to record footage using his phone so he could show it to Trudge later. Trudge had followed the last group there and was waiting outside. Finally the auction ended and the exchange was made. Several people took pictures.
As soon as the meeting ended, the police force barged into the mansion, pointing guns at the businessmen. Trudge stood behind them and gestured at them in his usual loud, booming charisma.
"Alright!" Trudge called. "You're all under arrest!"
"Yeah!" cried Carly, stepping next to him.
"Heh, looks like you fell right for our trap!" smirked Kalin.
The men swore. Some opened fire, one right at Carly. But a bright light surrounded her and the bullet glanced off.
"Ahh!" screamed Carly as she winced.
"No! Carly!" cried Jack.
"What the …?!" Radley exclaimed.
However, when everyone saw the light, they gasped in shock. As the light faded, Carly was holding a card.
"She has the other dragon?!" Radley said in surprise.
"What are you talking about?!" exclaimed Jack.
"Huh? I'm still alive?" asked Carly as she looked around in confusion. She then noticed the card in her hand.
"A card?! Where did I get this?"
"It can't be...Carly is one of the Three Spears of the Ice Barrier?!" exclaimed Kalin.
"And it looks like she needs it right away!" Radley exclaimed.
Some of the men's thugs wanted to duel and pulled out their duels started while other crooks tried to start gun battles.
"This is ridiculous!" Yusei exclaimed. "And someone's no doubt going to get hurt!"
"Carly! Summon that monster now!" yelled Jack as he punched one of the crooks.
"Um, right Jack!" said Carly. "I summon Brionac, Dragon of the Ice Barrier!"
Immediately, the temperature of the room fell as the dragon emerged from the card. Radley brought out Gungir, praying this would work. Kalin also unleashed Trishula. With all three Dragons of the Ice Barrier unleashed, the temperature of the room dropped to zero. The criminals stared in disbelief as the sudden drop in temperature hampered their focus.
"What are those things?!" one of them yelled.
"These are the Dragons of the Ice Barrier," smirked Kalin. "And they're going to put the freeze on your plans."
The dragons attacked and the dueling crooks were defeated. But there were still the other crooks to deal with. Having given up on gun battles, they were just trying to get away while everyone was distracted.
"Oui! Where do you fools thinks you're going?!" yelled Jack.
The crooks ignored Jack and continued running.
"Oh no you don't!" Yusei gave chase as they ran outside.
"Yusei! Wait!" Antinomy yelled, running after him. The others ran too.
One crook turned and fired at Yusei. He managed to dodge. However, before Yusei could recover, another fired. Radley tackled Yusei to the ground and flinched before going still. Yusei stiffened. He wasn't sure who had grabbed him in the dark, but it felt like they were hurt.
"Radley! Yusei!" cried Kalin as he saw both of his friends fall.
His whole body froze at the horrible realization that his two best friends had been shot.
Yusei paled, hearing Kalin scream. "Radley?!" He rose up and tried to turn around. "Radley!"
The Bunch roared, collectively jumping on the crooks. Jack and Antinomy, enraged that the criminals tried to hurt Yusei, followed suit and spared with them.
"He took the blow for Yusei?!" yelled Akiza.
"No! Why did you have to get shot?!" cried Kalin. Tears leaked down his face like fountains. The dark purple aura enveloped his body as he couldn't control his emotions any longer.
Yusei was trying to see how badly Radley was hurt when he hear Kalin again. He spun around in concern. "Kalin!"
Kalin ignored his friend as he had gone into full Death God mode. He approached the thugs and used his psychic powers on them, laughing in delight at the sight of them getting pummeled.
Scotch was also enraged that Radley got hurt and continued punching a crook, tears spilling down. Biff tried to pull Scotch away when he saw Scotch just wouldn't stop. Just before any more harm could be inflicted on the criminals, Crow had arrived in the nick of time with his division and they apprehended the no-gooders.
"Kalin ..." Yusei debated what to do but finally got up and tried to approach Kalin. That was what Radley would want. "Kalin, they're all getting arrested now. You can come back. Let's focus on helping Radley."
Kalin simply stood there, not moving. It was unclear if he even heard Yusei or not.
"Oh, Kalin..." sighed Akiza as she examined Radley's wounds. She began to use some of her healing powers on him.
Radley hadn't been shot, but he had hit his head when they fell. Leo and Luna were kneeling down next to him, helping Akiza with the first-aid kit.
Yusei looked back, then to Kalin. "Akiza's trying to help Radley, Kalin. He must still be alive. Let's go over." He held out a hand.
"Fine…" sighed Kalin.
The aura slowly faded away as Kalin returned to normal. He glanced over to Radley and then at Yusei. Kalin took the other man's hand. Yusei smiled in relief and led him over. The Bunch was already gathering.
"Radley?" Scotch said sorrowfully.
"I have some good news, everyone," smiled Akiza. "Radley's wounds are not fatal. He only suffered a bruise to the back of his head after he pushed Yusei out of the path of the bullet."
"Thank God." Yusei knelt down by Radley. "Radley? Can you hear us?"
Scotch gently took Radley in his arms and looked to Kalin.
"Radley? Can you see me?" asked Kalin. He touched Radley's hand.
Radley stirred, looking up at his friends. "Hey ..." He smiled.
"Thank goodness you're ok!" said Carly with tears in her eyes.
"We did it. We stopped the thieves," smiled Kalin.
"Great," Radley said.
Scotch hugged him close. "We all thought you were ..."
"Hey, I'm okay," Radley soothed. He hugged back.
"You saved my life," Yusei said. "Thank you so much."
Kalin smiled and also embraced his friends.
Radley hugged him close. "Are you okay, Kalin?" he asked in concern. "If you thought I was dead ..." He knew how that had affected Kalin before.
"Everyone, including me, thought you got shot," said Kalin, looking at the ground.
"I'm so sorry," Radley said.
"It's not your fault," said Akiza. "You wanted to protect Yusei."
"Hey guys, you know how I almost got shot and then I suddenly got a dragon?" asked Carly. "Do you know how?"
"You're one of the new dragon-bearer people!" Scotch said. "It's epic!".
"And you did," Yusei said. "I'd probably be dead without you."
Carly was surprised. "I'm now a Dragon-Bearer? That's awe-some!"
"Yes! So awesome!" Scotch said.
"I'm so cool!" grinned Carly. "Now Jack has to take me out for dinner!"
Jack flushed. "I would have taken you anyway!"
The police, in the meanwhile, finished rounding up the criminals into the vans.
"Good work guys!" grinned Crow. "The thieves who targeted Yusei's latest tech have been stopped!"
Radley was still concerned about Kalin. "Kalin, are you really okay?" he asked. "I know it must have been hard for you..."
Kalin gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine, really."
Radley finally relaxed. "Good."
He draped an arm around Kalin for the pictures. Yusei was on Kalin's other side. Kalin draped his arms around his two best friends.
Carly giggled and hugged Jack. "Oh! That reminds me! Time for a victory photo!"
"Yes!" Scotch exclaimed.
A lot of them started gathering for the picture. Carly set up her camera and took several pictures.
"This will be a photo for the ages!" she exclaimed.
Kalin smiled at the whole team and announced. "Let's go back to the garage and celebrate Christmas for real, shall we?"