I decided to skip the long part when Goodwin told Yusei about the Dark Signers and the darkness that's in Satellite; it was supposedly to be at the end of this chapter, but I removed it.

The chapter begins in normal point of view.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's characters! I only own my OCs!

Chapter 16: Departure

Somewhere, in the shadows and below the surface of Satellite, stood a table with three chairs around it and several candles burning on candlesticks. Three figures sat on the chairs, all of them wearing black cloaks, having purple glowing eyes, and male body shapes.

A wind blew the light of the candles, but it wasn't strong enough to extinguish them.

"It appears our drone was cleansed by the Crimson Star Priestess", the Dark Signer with red marks on his cloak spoke up.

"So your web wasn't strong enough to hold back the little butterfly", the second Dark Signer with blue marks on his cloak chuckled. "Poor Yusei couldn't be a man and protect the Priestess; she had to do all the dirty work herself."

"Her sudden appearance has disturbed our plans", the third Dark Signer with yellow marks on the cloak pointed out. "What action should we take next?"

"We shall just wait for the right moment", the first Dark Signer replied. "We need to weave a much stronger web and make sure she cannot escape her fate."

"I can't wait to see the rest of the Signers' expressions when they find the Priestess's dead body!" the second Dark Signer laughed maliciously.

The third Dark Signer stayed quiet while playing with a certain card in his hand. The first Dark Signer just smirked at the thoughts of what his next actions to ambush Estelle would be.

XXXXXXXXXX – Estelle's POV

Yusei and I deactivated our Duel Disks now that the Shadow Duel with the Shadow Drone was over. The Energy Ring had vanished straight after our victory, so we were free to go. I rushed straight to the fallen Shadow Drone to see if he was okay. The innocent man was lying on the ground, weak and a bit burned by the real attacks. The glowing Spider Mark he had on his arm had vanished.

Yusei didn't waste any time and ran to the man and grabbed him by the collar, shaking him violently. "Wake up! Hey, you owe me some answers! Start talking!"

The man woke up by the shakings and looked disoriented. "Start talking about what? Who are you? What am I doing here?"

"Stop fooling around and tell me what your Spider Mark has to do with Satellite!" Yusei demanded.

"It's no use, Yusei", I shook my head. "His Mark is gone, and so is the evil darkness that corrupted him. The darkness erased his memories of the Shadow Duel."

I didn't get surprised when Carly showed up out of nowhere and joined us, but Yusei blinked his eyes confusedly at the new character.

"Dick! Aren't you Dick Pitt?" Carly exclaimed. "What's a street Duelist like you doing here?"

"Who are you?" Yusei asked the reporter.

"I-I'm Carly, a reporter", Carly introduced herself before she picked up a Dictaphone from her bag. "S-Speaking of that Duel, what exactly happened?"

I ignored Carly as she tried interviewing Yusei and picked up Dick's Duel Disk, which got blown off his arm by Trident Dragion's attack, and removed the Deck to check the cards. The cards he had used as a Shadow Drone were still there.

I felt a chill run down my spine when I sensed a tiny hint of darkness. I glanced down and flinched lightly when I spotted a spider leaving Dick's shirt before dissolving into the shadows. I looked down at the Deck in my hand and flinched back when a purple cloud of darkness emitted from it. I almost dropped the Deck, but I held myself back before returning my eyes at the Deck, seeing the Shadow Cards were gone.

I sensed Yusei was standing behind me, so I turned around and showed him the cards. "The Dark Tuner and Dark Synchro are gone, Yusei."

Yusei took the Deck out of my hand and went through it. "You're right. He's got none of the cards he used before."

Carly was busy interviewing Dick and I couldn't help but catch a few words he told her. "-reminds me of something! I was down in the narrows waiting for a couple of Duel buddies when, out of nowhere, I felt something crawling on my back. It felt like some kind of spider stung me or something."

Yusei put Dick's Deck back in the Duel Disk and put it down on the ground when both of us moved our heads up when we heard the sirens of Sector Security vehicles echoing in the distance. They were getting louder as if they were heading toward the parking garage.

"Who called Security?" Carly wondered.

"We better get out of here before they start asking questions", Yusei turned his eyes at me.

"Right!" I nodded.

"B-But my interview…!" Carly whined like a child who didn't get the toy she wanted.

"We'll finish it later!" Yusei told her.

With that said, he ran towards the open walls of the garage. I followed him, but my eyes widened in shock when I saw him jumping down from the second floor. I reached the edge and let out a sigh in relief when I saw he didn't get hurt, but he was waiting for me.

"C'mon, Estelle! Jump!" Yusei called.

"It's the second floor, Yusei! I can't jump from this height!" I shouted to him while shaking like a leaf, fearing to break a bone.

"I'll catch you!" Yusei held out his arms. "Just hurry!"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes before jumping up in the air and out of the parking garage. I could hear the wind in my ears as I fell towards the ground. I curled myself into a ball by instinct and waited for the crash. The pain I expected never came. Instead, I felt myself falling into a pair of arms. I opened my eyes and looked up, only to blush in embarrassment. Yusei's face was like ten centimeters from mine and he was holding me bridal style.

This was possibly every Yusei-fangirl's dream!

"Thank you…", I mumbled shyly.

Yusei just gave me a soft smile before putting me down on my feet. But to my surprise, he grabbed my right hand and pulled me along as we dashed from the parking garage. I blushed even harder because Yusei had never done something like this before. It made my heart beat faster, but I made sure to swallow back my feelings for him. I was afraid my crush on Yusei would continue to develop and in the end become a love that could hurt me for many reasons.

XXXXXXXXXX

Yusei and I made it to the apartment building where the others were staying, but we snuck into the garage to hide for a while in case Sector Security was going to patrol the area and ask the residents for information about the underground Duel. We ended up sharing the couch as we leaned our heads against each other while sleeping in a sitting position.

A few hours later, we took the courage to walk up to Blister's apartment. Yusei removed his Duel Disk before we headed to the apartment, only to find Tanner in the main room who was by himself and checking something on a laptop.

Tanner looked up when he saw we were back. "Hey. Where'd you two run off to last night? I was gettin' worried."

I went straight to the kitchenette and poured cold water into a water boiler to make some tea while Yusei told the former pro Duelist where we had been. "There was a really strange guy outside and we followed him."

"What happened?" Tanner asked frantically as he stood up from the chair. "Did he challenge you to a Duel?"

"I joined Yusei to help him, so it was a Tag Duel", I added as I turned around to face the men while I waited for the water to boil.

"You Tag teamed against him?" Tanner raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah", Yusei nodded. "And he was being controlled by a group called the Dark Signers."

"Did you say 'Signers'?" Tanner questioned.

"He had a Mark", Yusei stated. "And it glowed like mine and Estelle's, but it was in the shape of a spider."

The water boiler started whistling so the water was done. I clicked it off and picked up two cups from the cupboard and two tea bags. It was then I noticed something. "Where are Yanagi and the twins?"

"They went to buy some breakfast because we're short on supplies", Tanner replied. "They'll be back soon."

XXXXXXXXXX

Yusei spent the entire day on the laptop, trying to find clues and information about spider marks. He only left the laptop when he had to go to the bathroom or grab something to eat. Tanner found another laptop and helped Yusei with the research while Yanagi, Leo, and Luna were a bit bored. I wasn't really that bored because I was busy writing a novel I came up with, but I was slowly running out of empty pages in the notebook. Leo complained several times that he wanted to Duel, but he didn't have his Deck with him. Luna would just sigh and shake her head and tell her brother to stop yelping like a Chihuahua.

The sun was starting to go down for the day and Yusei was still on the laptop, his eyes never losing concentration. Tanner fixed two cups of coffee and returned to the desk, placing one cup next to Yusei's laptop. "How's it goin'?" he asked.

"Not good", Yusei shook his head before grabbing the cup and sipped the coffee. "My searches on spider symbols aren't turning up any solid leads."

"I know you'll find a way to save Satellite, Yusei", Yanagi tried encouraging him.

"Count on it, Yanagi", Yusei nodded as he stood up from the chair. "But first, I'm gonna have to get some answers."

I was writing at the other side of the large desk before I stopped my hand that held the pencil. I grabbed the right side of the notebook and shut it before looking up. "You mean Goodwin?"

Yusei nodded, confirming my guess.

"But you can't trust him!" Yanagi exclaimed.

"Yeah, you forget he locked you up?" Tanner added. "He's not your friend!"

"But he's the only one with answers", Yusei argued.

"Who?" Luna suddenly spoke up.

Leo and Luna had gone outside to look at some cards in a nearby shop they came across with earlier with Yanagi, and they had just come back to hear our conversation. Both of them had worried expressions. Leo was trying to comfort his sister by wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her left arm.

"You're leaving?" Luna questioned worriedly. "But it's not safe for you out there."

"Please don't go", Leo begged.

"I have to", Yusei told the twins. "The people in Satellite are in danger and I have to try and help them somehow."

"Stay here! You'll be safer in the city!" Leo begged. "'Cause who knows what's out there, and what if it's true? What if some spider's gonna destroy all of Satellite?!"

"He's right…", Luna nodded with tears in her eyes. "Don't leave. What if you get stuck and can't get back here ever again?"

"That won't happen", I said as I stood up, getting the twins' attention.

"What do you mean?" Leo questioned.

I walked to the twins and kneeled down before hugging both of them, letting their chins rest on my shoulders. I rubbed their backs to comfort and assure them nothing would happen.

I pushed them back gently to look at them in their eyes. "Because I'm going with Yusei. Remember what Yanagi told us about the Priestess? She was the mother figure for the Signers, so there's no way I'm letting Yusei go alone. That and I'm also worried about our friends in Satellite."

"But what if you get hurt?" Luna asked as she grabbed my jacket.

I smiled softly before I patted Leo and Luna's heads. "Then we'll raise up again, like the Phoenix reborn from its ashes. We're not that easy to break." I looked over my shoulder to glance at Yusei. "Right?"

Yusei nodded, "Don't worry about us. In fact, I already made some arrangements for some backup."

It didn't take seconds when the sirens of Sector Security echoed from outside, making all of us turn our heads toward the windows. I straightened up and went to Blister's bedroom to grab my Duel Disk and satchel. I brought them out to the main room and put away my stuff as the others had gathered by the open windows.

"Alright, Yusei, I got your message. Now, get your Deck and get down here! I'm not gonna wait just because we're teaming up temporarily! You understand me?!" Trudge's voice called from the outside through a megaphone.

"Trudge is your protection?" Tanner questioned.

"He's more", Yusei replied, surprising the others. "If he gets us to Goodwin safely, we just might have to call him one of the good guys."

I put on the satchel and strapped the Duel Disk on my arm before walking over to the group. "We better go now before Trudge drags us out, Yusei." I turned to Tanner and Yanagi. "Promise me you'll look after the twins."

"Don't worry, we'll keep them safe", Tanner nodded.

"Be careful, youngsters", Yanagi said concernedly.

Yusei and I nodded to the old man before I glanced at the twins. I gave them another smile before we left the apartment.

We took the elevator down to the ground floor and stepped out of the apartment building, getting a "warm" welcome by Sector Security. Trudge gave us an irritated look when he saw Yusei.

"You've got a lot of nerve asking for my help, you Satellite reject", Trudge growled.

The officer was about to grab the collar of Yusei's jacket to give him a beating, but the young man caught his arm before a fight could break out.

"Good to see you too, Officer Trudge", Yusei replied calmly.

He let go of Trudge's arm and walked past him as if nothing had happened. I followed him to a Sector Security vehicle which he opened the back door, but he didn't get in. I blinked my eyes confusedly, but when our eyes met each other I understood the hidden message. I got in first and moved over to the other side of the vehicle before Yusei got in and sat down before shutting the door. The window of the door was rolled down, so we could hear Trudge's ranting.

"Let's get something straight", Trudge said, frustrated. "You want my protection; you need to respect my authority." We both ignored him as he rushed to the window. "Hey, did you hear what I said?! If you keep ignoring me, Yusei, the deal's off, you got it?!"

"Let's get going", Yusei said simply.

The Security men got on their Duel Runners and vehicles and drove away from the Daimon Area. I looked over my shoulder and saw how Trudge drove on his Duel Runner behind us and he still had a scowl on his face.

"What is it with you and Trudge, Yusei?" I questioned out of curiosity. "He can't be that bitter because of what happened in the pipeline more than a month ago."

Yusei crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "I honestly don't know myself. He started picking on me around the time Jack stole my first Duel Runner and left Satellite. At first, he approached me and our friends on regular visit controls. He was like a…worried father, I think."

That caught my attention. Trudge actually cared for Yusei like a father would for his child?

"But when he caught the words of me building another Duel Runner, he warned me several times there will be consequences", Yusei continued as he opened his eyes and looked out the window. "Weirdly, he left me alone until the day Rally found that acceleration chip. I never expected to see him again after several months."

I turned my head to look out the window and hide a grin that slowly grew on my lips. Trudge had at one point taken a liking to Yusei and started viewing him as a son, but he hid that well by trying to act like a bad cop. Oh, the irony. I had always suspected that was a similar case in the anime, especially in the last episodes when Trudge approached Yusei the evening before Team 5D's officially split up.

XXXXXXXXXX

Yusei and I were escorted to a room with a television, couch, and a desk to wait for further instructions, and wait for Goodwin who was currently presenting the movie "Atlas Rising: The Rise of Jack Atlas". The television was on, so we could watch the presentation live from the Party Hall where the event took place. We even got to see the moment when Angela Raines revealed to everyone in Japan that she had done her research and found out Jack wasn't born in New Domino City but in Satellite. That caused an outbreak among the journalists and they started flooding Goodwin with questions. The Director declined them all and left the Party Hall.

Yusei said nothing, but he frowned and looked away from the screen. I had no idea what he was thinking, but I could sense he was conflicted with his feelings. At the same time, I could sense Jack's anger through the Marks and he was furious now that the truth of his birthplace was revealed.

We snapped our heads up when the door to the room opened, revealing Trudge and two other officers behind him. "Enjoying the movie?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

"When can we talk to Goodwin?" Yusei asked.

"Be patient, Yusei", Trudge replied. "The Director is a busy man. If you're bored, we can always pass the time with a Duel. What do you say? Are you game? Or are you afraid you might lose your title before your first endorsement deal comes through?"

"Hah! Now, that would be an interesting development", Lazar spoke up as he joined us. "Though, I seriously doubt our new champion would fall to a man of your character, Officer Trudge."

"Why you!" Trudge growled at the clown.

Lazar walked to me and Yusei. "Sorry to keep you waiting. The Director is ready to see you now." We nodded to him before the clown turned to the officer. "Mr. Goodwin would like to thank you for escorting the champion and his female friend here. Now, we'd like you to go to the hospital and fetch Jack."

Trudge grimaced, but saluted. "Whatever he needs, sir."

With that said, we split up into different groups. Trudge went on his own and Yusei and I followed Lazar to the garage where a limousine was waiting to drive us to an unknown destination.

XXXXXXXXXX

We were escorted to the unfinished Daedalus Bridge when the sun had gone down and the moon had taken over the sky. Goodwin joined us two hours later and told Yusei the tale of the Daedalus Bridge, the Signers and the Dark Signers, the Old Ener-D Reactor and the meltdown seventeen years ago, Negative Energy, the Army of Shadows, and everything that he mentioned in the dub anime. By the time he finished his tale, the sun had already come up to start a new day.

"What about Estelle?" Yusei questioned all of the sudden, getting my attention.

"What about her?" Goodwin asked.

"Did you suspect her to be related to the Signers ever since the beginning?" Yusei added. "Is that why you brought her to your home to watch over her?"

Goodwin turned his eyes on me before nodding. "Yes. I could tell she's related to the Signers, considering the bonds she was able to create with you, Luna, and Aki in such a short time." He gave me a tiny smirk. "Are you the one who I suspect you are?"

I hesitated for a moment, but I pulled up the sleeve of my top to reveal my Star Mark. "If you mean I'm the Crimson Star Priestess, then yes."

"Excellent", Goodwin nodded. "With the Crimson Star Priestess, the Signers will have a higher chance to defeat the Army of Shadows. With her powers of creating miracles, not even the darkness can stop her."

"But the Shadow Drone warned us they want to destroy and banish Estelle to the Netherworld because she's a threat to the Dark Signers", Yusei added.

"That's why the Signers must protect her at all cost", Goodwin told him. "She will become the essential key to end the war with the Dark Signers. She is the solid connection to the Crimson Dragon. If she loses her life, well… The Crimson Dragon's powers will fade and the Dark Signers will be strong enough to destroy the world, even if the Signers try to intercept them."

I held back a gasp of shock in my throat. Was that true?

"Yes, it is, Little One", the Crimson Dragon spoke in my head. "That is why you need to be cautious with every move you make from now on."

That really scared me now. I had to be extra careful and not act so reckless. I felt like I had more responsibilities than the Signers because of my connection to the dragon God.

"What am I to do? Am I supposed to beat this Army of Shadows on my own?!" Yusei asked, frustrated. "Am I supposed to put the safety of all of my friends in my Deck?!"

Goodwin narrowed his eyes before pointing at the horizon. "The people need a hero, Yusei! Be that hero! Defeat the Dark Signers or let them take over! The choice is yours. What's it going to be?"

Yusei calmed down and looked aside to think. I watched him carefully as his eyes shone with confusion. He then blinked his eyes, replacing the confusion with determination, and turned back to Goodwin. "I'll take these Dark Signers on. But you said there's five of us, didn't you? I'm only counting four Signers. Who's the fifth?"

"I'm still working on that, Yusei", Goodwin lied. "But I'm sure they'll show up. For now, let's get you back to Satellite."

A chopper suddenly hovered above us before it descended down to the bridge. It opened the cargo hatch to reveal Yusei's Duel Runner in the cargo hold. It looked extra shiny as if they had polished it to make it shine like the red cape of the hero.

"Don't let the world down, Yusei, Estelle", Goodwin told us. "Now, go and stop the Dark Signers. I will gather the other Signers in due time."

Yusei and I looked at each other, but I could tell the young man wanted me to stay. "You should go back to the others", the Signer told me.

"No, I'm going with you", I shook my head.

"Estelle, you heard what Goodwin told us. The Dark Signers want you gone, and if something happens to you-"

"Stop!" I said strictly and raised my index finger, stopping him from speaking. "I'm aware of the danger, but I'm also part of this war. I'm going with you whether you like it or not. Besides, your friends are also my friends and I'm worried about them just as much as you are."

Yusei eyed me with surprised eyes before a chuckle erupted from his lips. "I guess I can't hold you back."

I returned the smile. "Nope."

The chopper lowered itself so the hatch rested on the bridge. Yusei got on it first before he held out his hand to me. I reached out and grabbed it before he helped me up and led me to the cargo hold. Once we were inside, the cargo hatch pulled up and trapped us inside the chopper. We could feel it flying away and heading towards Satellite where the next battle was going to take place.