Disclaimer: I don't own YGO 5Ds
The next weeks passed quickly. Time tend to pass quickly when you're overwhelmed with work, or in my case, overwhelmed distributing work to other people.
Things were... okay. Oddly so.
We're just settling into Netherdale, so I really can't tell if the chaos is a natural part of the process or a sign of impending disaster. I kept on expecting our fragile system to implode on itself but it continues to fail at even that. But Bruno and Yusei's technological prowess is keeping us profitable, so we're... afloat, doing well even, by corporate standards.
I mean, technically, legally, we're a company with a large amount of land and a profit-sharing plan. We offer our employees shelter, land, seeds, fertilizer and machinery, and they pay 50% of their harvest to us. Okay, I admit it, it's a ridiculously high agricultural tax, or a normal-rate rent. For me, it's a signature; for Kalin right now, it's days and nights pouring his heart and soul onto each plan to settle the new residents of NDC.
Oh yeah, they call us NDC now, short for Netherdale City, even though we're technically a town, not a city. Being identified as a city would touch way too many nerves at Tokyo.
I've been reading up on the legalities involved in my situation for a while now. Japan had reverted back to a feudal system after the 4th War. There was an emperor, who technically ruled the entire country, and actually controlled several key cities like Tokyo and Domino. Most of the other lands were ruled by feudal lords, or as I had thought of them before, land owners, of which we are now a part.
Even though each area technically followed federal laws, the land owners themselves were able to design and enforce any law, not in violation of the constitution, on their land with their own 'security force'. This began as federal control over remote areas weaned at the beginning of the last war. Rather than having the land fall into rebel hands, the Japanese government decided to permit private citizens to 'own' towns and cities, and train militia where Japanese armies cannot reach. Then it got out of hand. Now, even the adherence to federal law was often suspect; federally-funded Sector Security are much less effective at 'citizen-ruled' districts. As is expected of an area our size, we need somebody half-decent at legislation to draft up a copy of regulations for NDC, preferably before too many people move into it. Meh, worst case scenario, I make Rex do it.
And there shall be nothing, I repeat nothing resolved by dueling.
"Next on the agenda," Roman Goodwin faked a smile, "Crash Town, as proposed by our dear friend Yusei Fudo."
"The floor's yours Yusei," Kalin motioned.
I sat straighter on the couch. I didn't usually come to these things, and we haven't had that many. On paper, this committee represents the ultimate decision of NDC, so far, their only function had been to organize lunch meetings to get everybody on the same page and cut down on some bureaucratic nonsense.
But you know, it's Yusei.
Yusei had called Kalin when the latter turned down the former teen's proposal, Yusei all but forced Kalin into initiating this meeting. The topic of debate: Crash Town. I vaguely recalled the place, it's the cheap Wild West/Mexico knockoff, in the middle of Japan. When I was watching the show, I kept on wondering whether they had that kind of desert-like climate on the island nation of Japan.
They didn't. But after the 4th War, we do now.
"Guys," Yusei walked to the center of the room and began his speech. Bad move, he needed to stand at one end to properly face all audiences, he really isn't used to this sort of thing. But I still liked him. So pure and virtuous, it's admirable, though not quite how I'd choose to live my life.
"I got a letter a week ago, asking me to see the conditions of the people in Crash Town." Yusei wasn't not off to a strong start. "It's ran by two gangs, who each hire people to duel, and the loser is sent to the mines, never to see sunlight again."
"We are aware," Roman Goodwin replied placidly, I mentally gave him an English accent. "Mr. Fudo, of the situation in Crash Town."
"Then are you going to do anything about it?" Yusei retorted "There're people imprisoned for life, dying so some rich guy could make an extra buck, and you guys are just sitting here?"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Roman didn't bother disguising his disdain. It's the Signer-Dark Signer thing, he instinctively didn't like Yusei back then and the feeling held. "These duelists did sign a contract, so it is entirely legal."
Ah, the legality argument again.
"You guys run a city that could fit Crash Town a hundred times over" Yusei persisted, "all I'm saying is that if there's something you can do to give these miners a chance, some hope while they're trapped underground."
Yusei is my favorite type of citizen. Innocent, hard-working, intelligent, but never overly-demanding. As long as he had a chance, he wouldn't blame anybody if he lost, regardless of how slim or unreasonable that chance had been. Not behavior to be encouraged in a healthy civilization, but great for a society of sheep. Okay, maybe in Yusei's case, sheepdog. Sheepdogs are adorable.
I missed part of Yusei's impassioned speech (calling it a rant seemed harsh) daydreaming about different dog breeds, just in time to hear Kalin quietly cut him off.
"Yusei," Kalin said firmly, "We don't have the resources available, it's just not a good idea for us at the moment."
He's not wrong. We have the resources, but 'available' is an interesting word.
"Kalin, these people need my help, and I promised them that I would help them" Yusei replied solemnly, "We have a lot on our plate and I understand that you think this isn't a priority. So here's my offer, I will do whatever it takes, if it means these miners can be freed."
"Now that's interesting," Rex Goodwin leaned forward, lacing his gloved fingers together. I glared him back down.
"First of all," I coughed, "Yusei, please don't ever say 'you'd do anything', you have no idea what 'anything' means."
I got sniggered from half my crowd. Like I said, lack of sex-ed or a proper school system. Yusei, for one, obviously didn't understand the joke.
"But I was wondering about this letter you got, how do you know it's from somebody we could trust?" I asked curiously. Wasn't there a couple of side quests based on Yusei being tricked? Actually the entire Dark Signer arc involved Yuki being tricked, but that's another story. More importantly, given the Postal system in Japan and the unique positioning of Crash Town, anyone who could physically send a letter has some sway in the area.
"I've met her, her name's Barb" Yuki turned to me, with his positioning at the center of the room, he now had his back to half the committee. Behind Yusei, I noticed both Goodwins turning on their laptop.
I was lounging on a couch by the door, my usual spot. I've only taken up the center seat once, for the official establishment of this committee, all other times, the place was left empty. I've told everybody that it's because I wanted them to make decisions on their own, so they would be better prepared for the tests to come. Truth is, the seat is right under an air vent, and it gets really cold in the summer when the AC's on. I'll probably move back there during the winter when we turn on the heat.
"She told me about the things that happened to these duelists, and I've seen it with my own two eyes," Yusei answered my question, "what's going on in that town is seriously messed up, we can't let things go on like this."
"Crash Town is actually one of the better places north of Neo Domino," Blizzard interjected, "with reliable underground resources, its average GDP is over 300% the national average."
"What exactly did she ask you to do?" I ignored Blizzard. The thing with Yusei Fudo was, people either really liked him or really didn't, Blizzard belonged in that second group, who generally saw Yusei as a brat ungrateful for his talent.
"She said the Radley group sent her brother, Lautner to the mines when he lost, so she was hoping that I would be able to win and force Radley to give him back."
"And that was not suspicious to you at all?" Even Chaos added in, Greiger elbowed him in the ribs and Chaos went down with an audible oomph.
"Show of hands, everybody who thinks this was suspicious?" My interest was piqued.
Both Goodwins, Chaos, Blister and Blizzard were the only people who rose their hands. I slapped my face into both my hands.
"Kalin?" I asked shakily, Kalin looked confused.
"Nervin? Come on, you're the smart one!"
"What?" Nervin looked at me with wide-eyed innocence.
"Vincent? You must have seen some bad things on the road."
"Obviously I do now that you asked about it." Vincent observed. How very astute of him.
"She had a side she obviously wanted you to fight for," I sighed, making peace with the people I worked with, "a story with no reliable alibi, nothing to back her story except what she chose to show you, and you don't do whatever strangers ask you to do. You just don't." Growing up orphans and without a proper schooling, I guess they never had the 'don't trust strangers' speech.
"I guess you have a point." Yusei conceded, "Galen came with me because he said he wanted to see what the outside world was like, and he insisted that we came back before I agreed to duel in that town."
"Barbara Malcolm, age 28, mistress of the leader of the Malcolm gang, wife of his brother, Lautner Malcolm." Rex Goodwin read off his computer screen, stunning the room into silence. Something was stirring at the back of my mind, this plotline seemed familiar, Lautner was the guy who dueled Yusei and Kalin together.
"Goodwin?" Kalin looked at Rex inquiringly.
The older man shrugged with a smirk, "I was the director of Domino City you know."
"That's ... seriously messed up," Greiger shuddered.
Roman Goodwin yawned, leaning back onto his chair. "Please do not be fooled by my brother, Domino City had had its eyes on Crash Town for quite a few years now. As does Tokyo."
"What?" Yusei exclaimed, "The government knew about this all this time and they let it happen?"
I coughed again, drawing his attention back. I mean, we're talking about Rex Goodwin, he let the Satellite happen, then tried to destroy the world. The federal government who instated first him, then another group trying to destroy the city they ran can't have been the most responsible bunch.
"Care to elaborate?" I shot Roman Goodwin a dirty look, the latter lowered his gaze back to the laptop and recounted the Cliffs-notes version of Crash Town history.
"Crash town, otherwise known as District 149C, was founded 21 years ago when a dyne mine was discovered 2.8km north of the site of the current city." Roman Goodwin duly read the report, "Domino City first laid claim to it due to proximity. After Zero-Reverse, Tokyo took the chance and separated the area into an independent municipality, now directly governed by the Emperor. That means they pay taxes to Tokyo instead of Domino City" He added for Yusei's benefit.
"What about all the duelists, and the gangs?" Yusei asked perplexed.
"They are the local government," Rex Goodwin continued his brother's briefing, "no matter which gang controls the town, they sell to Kaiba Corp and pay taxes to His Royal Maggotness. Tokyo cannot be bothered with establishing a new government, not when the current one provides the same stability and much more income." Rex still held a grudge against Tokyo, probably always will. It's the animosity between local and federal government and we've all gotten used it by now.
"Stability?" Yusei asked incredulously, "with constant gang wars and life-time imprisonment, you call that stability."
"There're no rebellions," Rex Goodwin shrugged, "no attempts at expansion, no potential for threat, and a stream constant tax revenue."
"How does Kaiba Corp factor into this?" I interrupted Yusei's indignant protests.
"It doesn't," Goodwin replied, "they never made an attempt at the land since dyne can also be used in numerous military-grade vehicles. They do purchase the ores, but only for profit."
Something clicked in my head, "Hobbs!" I said, getting confused looks all around. I waved it aside. I remember that episode now! There was that wrinkly old man, I couldn't quite place him even when I was watching the show, but now I remember! That's who he reminded me of, Hobbs, Gozaboro Kaiba's butler or something from the original Yugioh series, that's the guy in the carriage that kidnaps the duelists who lost and ships them to the mines. His descendants looked exactly like him and were still working for Kaiba Corp? Or is he still alive? That's creepy.
"We have no cause to interfere," Kalin said flatly.
"Then think something up!" Yusei insisted.
"I guess we could rule it as unconstitutional and go from there," Kalin began.
"Except we don't have a constitution," Roman said, glancing quickly at me under his eyes.
"Constitutions are so... restrictive," I scratched my head sheepishly. I mean, we don't really have a justice system either, so it's not that big a deal to not have a constitution, right? "We'll think of something else.
A/N: Really didn't expect to post this early, I'm angry writing because Barcelona just lost to Liverpool, so pissed off.
A/N 2: Given the implied political environment in 5Ds, Crash Town actually isn't that much of a stretch