Chapter Two- The Dark Signers Gather
He pulled up the hood of his cloak and held up his arm at the door. He heard the click of the lock. He opened the door and walked out to see Roman alone at a table. The Dark Signer leader smiled and stood. It was clear from Yusei's attire and escape from a locked room that he had given himself to the darkness. "Welcome to the Dark Signers, Yusei. The mark of the Spider belongs to you as well as me and as such, I give you these cards as symbols of your loyalty." Roman handed over three cards: A field spell, a trap card, and Earthbound Immortal Uru. Yusei accepted them and shuffled them into his deck. Roman gestured to a chair to his left, indicating that Yusei should sit there. He did so and Roman also sat. "Devack is picking up a comrade from the city and hopefully another one or two members. Kalin is trying to learn what the Signers are doing."
"It's obvious they'll want to rescue me," Yusei said before smirking. "I say they are they ones who need to be rescued."
"Perhaps they can be- after they are defeated."
Yusei was thoughtful for a moment. "I want to defeat Goodwin. He must pay for what he did to me."
"He will, my friend. But first, the Signers must be dealt with."
Yusei knew Roman was right. In order to get to Goodwin, the Signers needed to be eliminated. He wonder if he would get to duel one of the three remaining Signers.
"We need to find out where these Dark Signers are hangin' out so we can save Yusei," Crow said firmly. Luna, Leo, Jack, and Akiza whom Jack picked up along with his runner stood silent and thoughtful.
"Easier said than done, Crow," Jack finally said. "It's not like one of them is going to walk up to us and hand us a map or lead us there."
Suddenly Jack, Akiza, and Luna's signs glowed and Crow grasped his arm. Everyone looked on in surprise as a dragon mark appeared on Crow's arm- a very familiar mark.
"That's Yusei's mark," Akiza gasped.
"Does that mean that Yusei's been sent to the Netherworld," Luna asked, voice trembling at the thought.
"I don't know," Jack admitted. "But, it seems Crow's a Signer now."
Crow stared at his arm. His friends was in trouble and the mark transferred to him. Was Yusei really in the Netherworld and lost to them? No, I refuse to accept that. He's gotta be all right.
Yusei revved the engine of his runner which was now black with red markings to go with the Immortal he had received. He raced his vehicle around the crater of the energy reactor, delighting in its new speed. The shadows were indeed powerful and rather generous with their followers. His runner never looked or ran better. He ran it up and over debris, and between the piles of trash. He was speeding down one path and saw another runner coming at him at incredible speed. At the last second, Yusei slid his runner sideways to a halt as did the other rider. Yusei looked over to see Kalin.
Kalin grinned as he took in Yusei's face and clothes. He laughed. "So, you're a Dark Signer, too. Roman said you were, but I had to see for myself."
Yusei grinned as well. "I had time to think and realized that giving in to the darkness and shadows was the right way to go.' He held up his arm to show the spider mark. Suddenly, it glowed as did Kalin's. Yusei sensed that Roman was summoning them. They stored their runners in a safe place before taking a secret shortcut to the meeting table. Roman was there as was Devack and a woman. Kalin and Yusei took their places and Roman said, "Yusei, this is Misty." He waved a hand at the woman.
Yusei nodded at her and she seemed to be studying his face. Then she spoke. "The Fortune Cup winner. Yes, you have come into your true destiny and if you desire to continue on this new path, you must discard everything and everyone you have known."
"What?" he said.
Misty smiled. "I dabble in fortune telling just by looking at peoples' faces."
"Ah." Interesting, he thought. So, she was telling me that I must leave my old life behind to embrace my true destiny. That includes my friends. They want to stop us from bringing forth the King of the Netherworld. The King will bring the vision of the world I saw to life. A vision that greatly appeals to me.
"Misty brought us a new member as has Devack," Roman said. "We are ready to take on the Signers or rather we will be when your friend truly accepts her destiny, Misty. It won't take too long as a new card in her deck will enlighten her."
Yusei wondered what card that was and where these new Dark Signers were. He wanted to deal with the Signers so that he could go after Goodwin. Footsteps sounded and everyone looked to see a young woman come forward, sporting the same cloak and hood as them, the latter pulled up. Her eyes were as black and evil as theirs.
"Welcome, Carly," Roman said as he gestured to a seat beside Misty. She took the seat and he added, "Now, while we believe our decks to be unbeatable, it would be best to know the decks of the Signers. Yusei, perhaps you could give us some ideas on the subject?"
"Yes. Jack depends heavily on his dragon, so locking down his ability to Synchro Summon would be a good idea, but he can adapt. Best to take him out as quickly as possible. Akiza, she also depends on her dragon, but her plant cards are trouble by themselves. I'm afraid I don't know much about the little girl, Luna."
"No matter," Devack said. "I insist I duel her as I have something she wants." He held up a card.
"Ancient Fairy Dragon," Yusei said. He thought of his own dragon. Would Stardust still serve him? I can try and if it won't, I'll dismiss it from the field and turn to Uru for victory. On second thought, I'll put my full trust in Uru.
"Very well, Devack. The girl is yours," Roman said.
Misty rose. "I demand to face Akiza again. She knows something about my missing brother and I want answers."
Yusei was surprised at Misty's reason to duel Akiza. Did she really know something about Misty's brother? He didn't really know Akiza all that well, so it was possible. So, who will face Jack? I defeated him once before and I'm certain I can do it again.
Carly raised her hand. "I ask to duel Jack," she said.
"Do you?" Roman rumbled
Misty smiled at Carly before looking at Roman. "She defeated the leader of the Arcadia Movement who was quite the strong duelist. I'm unclear as to why but I believe Jack has some small part in her rebirth."
"Very well," Roman said. He looked over at Yusei. "As I promised, Goodwin is yours once the Signers are gone."
Yusei nodded, but his thoughts were on Carly. He met her briefly when he dueled that Shadow Drone, but hadn't given her much attention. So, what was her connection to Jack? Was he really a part of her rebirth? My rebirth was the vision of the world under the control of the King of the Netherworld and my desire to make Goodwin pay. Misty's fortune is true; by being reborn as a Dark Signer, I have left my previous life behind.
Roman broke up the meeting so that Devack, Misty, and Carly could track down their opponents and duel them. Yusei looked at Kalin. "What would you say to a friendly duel or a race?"
"Oh, I would like to see how fast your runner can go now."
"You got it." As they headed after their friends, Carly stood off to one side and as he passed, she said, "Yusei."'
He paused and looked at her. "Yes?"
"How were you reborn?"
"Goodwin's threatened and manipulated me in that tournament and the shadows have granted me the power to get revenge. Carly, what's your story with Jack?"
"Revenge for most part. I know Jack will want to 'save me' and that will be his downfall. I would like for him to join us."
"Defeat him, then. You can share your mark with Jack like Roman did with me." Yusei exposed his mark.
Carly nodded as Yusei left for the surface. He suspected that Carly might have a crush on Jack and that was why she expressed a desire to make him a Dark Signer. If that's the case, fine with me; it will insure that our side will win. He climbed the stairs leading upwards. He had a race with an old friend and was eager to see how fast his runner could go now.