Chapter 6: The Facility
The teal cloaked man observed the arrests below, a unreadable expression on his face as Yusei and the twins were tossed into separate Security cars. He inhaled deeply as jack stood on the side wordlessly, the officers questioning him as the vehicles started driving away. A few tow trucks loaded the duel runners (even Leo and Rua's wrecked runners), the man soon speaking calmly, "I'm fine, old man..."
The old man from the desert approached behind them, watching Security leave Jack alone, whom looked at the direction they were heading before a limo pulled up, Goodwin soon stepping out and approaching Jack. "Was that your doing Goodwin?" The King questioned as his expression showed a mix of confusion and frustration. The Director chuckled as he replied. "Security? Why, yes it was. Can't have Satellite pests bothering my champ."
Jack growled, "I could have handled that situation! Where are they going?! And what in blazing hell was that?!" He shouted, startling Mina, who stepped out of the limo and stood by Goodwin. Said Director chuckling even more, "For the answer to your first question: to where all scum go once Security apprehends them." Jack's expression grows even more angry.
"The Facility!? They are just children Goodwin!" He shouted, clenching his fist as the Director continued, "But Jack, why concern yourself with them? Remember that you left your past life for the one you hold now." This did little to calm Jack, but Goodwin continued, cutting his rage off for a second, "And for the second question: that lovely light was the Crimson Dragon."
Jack's expression seemed to shift a little to more confusion, "What...?"
Goodwin explained, "It's a being of great power, though it bestows this power to 5 chosen people, known as Signers. You Jack, are one of those chosen few. I presume Yusei Fudo is another. But we'll discuss this back at your home." Jack remained quiet about seeing Leo and Rua's arms glow as well, not sure what Goodwin was intending for such a dragon.
The two men observe silently, soon the older of the two speaking, "I believe we should adjust the boy's decks. That should speed the awakening process up." His partner looks back curiously, "Do you think the world will be ready for such power to be introduced so early?" He asked the old man, whom sighs. "I admit, this world will not be prepared for this, but those boys must grow for their future battles. You should know..."
The younger man nods, "I know... I shall do it. I wonder, any sign of... her?" He asked, holding his emotions as the older man shook his head. "I'm sorry. I'm sure she's doing what we are right now..." The two sit in silence before they vanish, the wind howling as the power slowly kicked back on in New Domino.
(Later that night, in a New Domino court...)
A old judge rummaged through reports of the trio before him, speaking in a smug tone. "Tsk tsk tsk... Trespassing into New Domino, carrying dueling decks... Oh my, and underage duel runners! You Satellites sure are quite the trouble makers. We'll have to fix that."
The boys were all forced into chairs, restrained as a laser machine slowly lowered to aim at their faces. Yusei was first, the beam shooting and tracing a yellow mark on his face. a line going down his cheek. Leo was next, a lightning bolt being traced down his left cheek before the machine mirrored the mark on Rua's right. "These marks will help us monitor you three. Though a trip to the Facility will deal with you Yusei Fudo. As for you two... I think the Jr. Retention Center will be prefect for you."
The twins give horrified expressions, being dragged with Yusei out of the court room, the older man being dragged to separate location for a while before the twins are forced on a transport bus. They mostly kept to themselves as the other boys glared at them, one chuckling darkly while Leo growled. The bus separated the seats with metal gates, so the twins could relax a little, soon feeling their eyes heavy before they drift off to sleep.
(...)
A sudden banging on the gate startled the twins, looking up at a mean looking woman, "Wake up, you maggots!" Rua made a cringy face at the ugly and pudgy woman, making her growl as Leo casually said, "Screw a alarm clock, your face works better." He immediately regretted saying that as she almost tore the gate open and snatched each boy by the ear. One guard shook his head, "Chief Hilda, ma'am. Aren't you being a little rough?" She glares at him to shut him up, tossing the boys into a white room with a bunch of other kids, "I'll deal with you brats in a moment..."
Hilda returns after a hour, looking around for the twins in the room only to find the window was open... "What!? Where did those brats go!?" She screamed as Rua and Leo sprinted away from the Center. "Ha, those lessons Crow gave us are finally paying off!" Rua said with a grin, Leo laughing as they made their way into the streets of the big city.
(New Domino Park)
After a good while running, the two decide to stop at a nearby park to catch their breaths, the sun high in the sky as the afternoon heat beat down on them
"So... What now?" Leo asked as he plopped down on a bench with his brother, the two panting for a while. "I don't know. I wish we had Yusei with us. And we don't even have our runners... or what's left of them." He sighed as they stared at the street light, their minds beginning to wonder. "You know Rua..." "Hmmm?" "Ever get the feeling... like there's someone we should find? Not Yusei or Jack... Just someone... Special?"
Rua had such a feeling, as if something was calling out to him, but he couldn't find it. "Yeah. Maybe after this is all over, we can explore the city. I wonder if those stories were true... About how the city is. The Duel Arena was just like we seen on the TV." He said Leo nodding, "I just hope people can watch us duel someday. With out the, you know, 'Satellite' label. He said.
Leo remained silent for a while before he stood. "I'm sure we'll do it one day. For now, we need to find Yusei..."A feminine voice startled the boys, both jumping and turning around to find Mina approaching them. "Hello boys." She greeted them, the twins giving her a cautious stare. "Who are you?" Leo demanded, the pair ready to book it if she was from the Retention Center.
"Please relax. I am here on behalf of Director Rex Goodwin." The boys remain cautious, as if they were wary animals. "He instructed me to bring you two to Yusei Fudo at the Facility. He is your brother?" She asked with a friendly and professional smile, making the two look at each other before relaxing their guard a little. "Yeah... We are..." Rua replied.
Mina nods inn understanding, "Then come with me please. I promise to take you directly to the Facility where your brother is." She said, the boys hesitant for a moment before they start to follow the blue-haired woman. She leads them into a limousine, ushering them inside with her before it pulled off down he road.
(At the Facility)
Yusei sat in his cell, his cell mate Alex, was in a bunk below him, sound asleep for a while while Tenzen Yanagi was tending to his 'treasured' deck, smiling after the amazing duel Yusei had using his cards to defeat Bolt Tanner before a guard approached their cell. The old man quickly hid the cards as the cell was opened, Yusei gasping and jumping down from his bed as Rua and Leo ran into the room, 'Yusei!" the two cried out as they tackle hugged him.
After the cell was closed, Yusei pulled back and looked at the two of them, "How did you two get here?" He questioned while Leo responded, "Cuz we're awesome!" Rua shook his head and explained what happened since their separation, Yusei rather shocked before speaking after her finished. "That was reckless of you two. But at least you're OK and here."
Yusei recounted what transpired on his end, Rua looking confused as her finished about something, "They ran tests on you before bringing you here?" Yusei confirms this with a nod. "They were looking for some mark. I'm thinking the one from when we were dueling Jack." This caught Tenzen's attention, making his way over to the group.
"Did you say mark?" He asked, very interested and eager. "Yeah, last night some dragon appeared during our duel with Jack." Rua told the old man, watching his eyes widen. "W-was this dragon like crimson?" He questioned rather desperately the trio nodding to him. "You somehow called the Crimson Dragon! You must be Signers!" He exclaimed happily. The twins mirrored confused looks as he pulled out a piece of paper and started drawing.
Once he was done, he revealed a complete dragon in a circle, "This is the mark of the Crimson Dragon. There are 5 pieces of the beast in 5 different marks, known as Marks of the Crimson Dragon. You three must be Signers if you have them!" He cried out as he drew how the marks looked, Leo and Rua looking confused as their marks (that they saw) looked very different.
"Where's ours?" Leo asked, confusing Tenzen, "What do you mean?" "Well, neither me nor Rua have any of these marks. Ours looked different." He explained, Yusei soon pondering for a bit before he noticed it was starting to get late. "Hey, we'll continue this conversation tomorrow. You two go to bed and we'll figure this out." The boys prepare to complain and groan, but Yusei's stern gaze stopped them, both scrambling up to the top bunk as Alex chuckled.
(In the Chief's office of the Facility)
Rex stood with the current Chief, a burly man by the name of Armstrong, who as sitting at his desk. "We did all those tests and not once did any mark appear. I knew that Satellite low-life wasn't one of these so called 'Signers'."
Rex remained silent throughout Armstrong's rant, waiting for him to finish before suggesting a different approach, "Let's try something different. Perhaps a duel will give us the results we seek." Armstrong blinked for a second, registering what was said before bursting out in laughter, "Sir, with all due respect, inmates aren't allowed to carry any cards here."
"I'm sure Yusei will find a way to obtain a deck. But he may need a incentive... And I know just what will work..." He said as Armstrong grinned maliciously. "I see... Hehehe..."
(The next day)
Before the twins had wen't to bed, Alex relayed the plan to them, reminding the group last night when their window was to execute the plan. Those got halted as Yusei noticed something horribly wrong: Leo and Rua are not in the cell. He frantically looks for his little brothers, but soon a alarm blares, the inmates looking through their cell doors at the Chief standing on a walkway.
"Looks like one of you all been smuggling magazines in here. Y'all know that's against the rules. And we already caught our little culprit." As he says this, Yusei wanted to scream at Armstrong as a guard dragged a beaten up Rua into the scene, the poor boy's face body bruised and a bit swollen with a few cuts decorating his exposed skin. "While we are on the topic of breaking rules, this little brat was caught with dueling cards on him. And you all know cards are prohibited." Yusei was shaking with anger as Leo was dragged, a bit worse state than Rua as he was tossed to the ground in front of them. "So, anyone care to confess who gave these items to these kids?"
"You're sick, Armstrong!" One inmate shouted at him, the whole Facility echoing Yusei's anger at the treatment to his little brothers, each person shouting at Armstrong and irritating him more and more. "You wanna see sick? Then how's this: I'm declaring lock down! No one is allowed to leave their cells at all!" This caused a uproar, calling it unfair while Yusei had enough.
"Enough! Pick on someone your own size Armstrong! Duel me!" Yusei shouted towards the smug man, who scoffed at his words. "Ha! You, a Satellite. duel me? Not happening! Besides... You don't have a deck to face me with!" He countered, a bellowing laugh echoing through out the facility while Yusei grit his teeth at the sight of the twins.
"And what if I do get a deck to duel you with?" He questioned, trying to hold his anger in check as the Chief slowed his laughter before pondering a bit.
"Heh, sure. If you can get a deck built by tonight, I'll duel ya. And when I win, you and the twin trash here are going into the Hole." He stated, Yusei contemplating his choices before making his counter offer. " And if I win, everyone here is free to go." This earns murmurs and gasps from the other inmates, including Tanner and Alex as Armstrong stared in shock at the proposal, soon bursting out laughing.
"Hahaha! That's rich! You know what? It's a deal! Later tonight, you better have a deck, or else you'll forfeit the match!" His bellowing laugh echoed throughout the cell, irritating Yusei and Alex as the guards carried the boys back into the cell, Leo waking up, "Sorry... Yusei..." The taller male shakes his head, "No, get some rest..." Leo frowns before falling asleep.
Alex paces, "You know that we can't afford to waste time on this Yusei... We have a limited window and we can't waste it on one duel!" Yusei glared at Alex, "That man hurt my little brothers. I'm not going to let him get away with that." He replied with clenched fists before Alex noticed some thing slip in the cell: a card.
"What?" He said, walking past Yusei and picking up the card, Yusei walking up and examining the card before a voice spoke, "H-Hey? Yusei Fudo? That's a prized card of mine... Make Armstrong pay with it!" The two looked at each other before inmates passed more cards from all over into the cell, Yusei grinning as he collected the card and held up a new deck. Alex shook his head, "This is ridiculous..."
(Later that night...)
Yusei stood across from Armstrong, Alex trying to convince him to ignore the duel and just to prepare to escape, but the guards quickly came in, "Let's go..." One tells him, tugging his arm hard before they walk over and grab the twins, who were up and awake at the time and were still sore, though they were treated a little more gently than their older brother.
Alex curses as Yusei stands across from a smug Armstrong, who was holding a duel disk up with a triumphant grin. "Well... Here we are, and it seems you don't have a deck to face m..." Yusei holds the cards he gathered up, the Chief blinking in disbelief before growling as as he snapped a finger, the guards attaching a duel disk to Yusei's arm and a cuff to his leg. "And what's this?" He asked as Leo and Rua were restrained behind him.
"You'll find out..." Armstrong replied before the two drew, "Duel!" They shouted.
(For this duel, I'll simply link to it: Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Episode 9 & 10: Lockdown Duel Part 1/2)
Leo and Rua both cheered as Armstrong fell to his knees, Yusei standing over him as the guards were at a loss for what to do. Armstrong soon growled before getting on his knees, "Drag these lowlifes to the Hole!" Yusei growled as he expected the guards to apprehend them, but they didn't move, Rua and Leo struggling before noticing the same thing. "Huh?" The inmates shouted before they quieted at the source: Rex Goodwin stepped onto the walkway, guards standing in salute to him as he walked between Yusei and Armstrong. "S-sir!?" Rex soon turned his head to glare at him.
"Chief Armstrong... I have been watching this duel and saw the disgraceful tactics you employed... And I have received reports of your abuse of power, giving Satellites even more reason to dislike new Domino. As of this point, get your things and clear out..." Armstrong had a ghastly face as Rex turned his attention to Yusei. "As apologies for this brute's actions, I have honored his end of the bargain before hand and pardoned everyone here. You all are free to go." With that the whole Facility cheered, even Alex who was in disbelief that he would get out at all.
"Thank you, Yusei..."
(Outside in a warehouse...)
The teal cloaked man stood over a crate, holding two decks in his one hand while a his marks glowed radiantly. After the decks glowed for a period of time, he soon phased them back into the crate, nodding to the old man behind him. "It's done... Now we wait..." He said, the two soon vanishing as Trudge made his way onto the scene, staring after flashing a light at the box. "Hmmm..."
I should have clarified, I have a poll on my profile if I should introduce Pendulum cards to the boy's decks. Please check it out as I'm postponing working the next chapter until I see what people say. You can also leave a review with your choice.