Chapter 6: Another Stranger Rides to Town
"What?" Hideo asked, taken aback by the sudden revelation.
"Want me to repeat that in Japanese?" Chaud asked. Hideo just stared at him, disbelief and a bit of disgust on his face. He quickly looked at Goodwin who had the faintest appearence of a smirk on his face. He was calculating something.
"I... I just can't believe it. I don't really remember what happened at all that long ago."
"Mom said you were drunk, listen if you want a blood sample for testing I got the hole in my arm now just give me a needle..."
"That won't be required, Chaud. Mr. Izinski, if you'll please join me outside for a moment." Goodwin stated as he motioned to the door. Hideo nodded and followed the Director into the hallway outside of the cell. When the door was closed securely Goodwin began to speak. "This is certainly an interesting turn of events." he commented.
"I suppose, but don't you think its strange that he chose now to make his appearence? I mean if he knew who I was why not just track me down right away?" Hideo posed.
"If you had no clue who your father was for seventeen years, would you not want some time to prepare what to say? Regardless, I believe this Chaud character may be a powerful ally. Do you perhaps think you can bring your daughter in here? I have an idea that may prove if he is your son and may provide us with a loyal ally."
"I'll see what I can do." the politician responded as he pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and began to dial.
Two Hours Later, Sattelite
Crow grinned in satisfaction as The Black Bird roared into life, the primal noise of its engine filling the air before quieting down to humming that only an engine could make. Crow stood up and wiped his hands on an oil rag and set about throwing his old tools into their box and placing them on the old wooden shelf in the dusty garage.
The day Yusei had left for the city he had told Crow his intentions and had asked whether he would come; he had declined as evidenced by his presence in the slums on the grounds that he still had things to do. Mainly feeding the runaways he had 'adopted' as siblings. "Much in the same way Yusei and Jack are mine." He muttered to himself as he stretched his arms and stepped outside.
The two of them had grown up in Martha's orphanage together and although they had not immediately 'hit it off' (Crow had at one point ripped the head of a tearful jacks teddy bear and had killed Yusei's pet spider) they grew to adopt each other as brothers, their bond had been strained at points but never broken. As he exited the shack and stepped out into the afternoon sun he smile to himself as he saw some of the kids playing an improvised game of baseball on an old derelict parking lot just past the various improvised houses of corrugated steel and junk and past improvised gardens of weeds and common small flower. In short an improvised world. An adaptable one. It was one of the reasons that made Crow proud to be a Satellite Native.
Above him was the still unfinished Daedalus Bridge. There had been progress though. When the Dark Signers had been defeated Goodwin and sent them material and consent to build it themselves. It had been tough and at times unfair (materials had mysteriously vanished and had been blamed on Inland Rebels despite their being miles from any Rebel territory) but it was getting there. They were roughly halfway.
Crow stepped out and walked toward the field where the kids were playing and watched for awhile, cheering when they scored and laughing at their mistakes, not unkindly and helping them when they hurt themselves. After an hour or so of this the kids got tired and left to rest, eat, talk and do whatever a satellite child does to enjoy themselves. It was then Crow decided it was time to make a 'grocery' trip. He got his trusty duffle bag and made his way back to the garage to mount his bike, attaching a small battered trailer to the back before though. It started with a reliable vroom and he sped off, performing a frontal wheelie for the young ones watching.
He was heading to the docks for the weeks supply of food handouts, he had a bag full of child coupons as well as his own adult one. You collected your handouts at the allotted time on the ticket and got another telling you when your next time was in a week's time.
The air tasted dirty and pungent on his nose as he rode despite his helmet muffling it slightly. The huddled masses moving slightly as he shot past on the barely established ruined roads and through the ruined maze of buildings. Just because the city would soon be accepted within the cities limits didn't mean things would definitely get better, at least not immediately.
He came eventually to the broad open square that categorized where the Admin centre of the island (the PSMB branch) was when held when his bike conked out and he pulled over near a dried out fountain. He got off and heard the sound of cheering and shouting through loudspeakers. He turned and saw a large group of people together with boards bearing slogans like 'SATELLITE FREEDOM!' and 'BURN GOODWIN BURN' among others. On their arms sat an armband, every single one, a simple brown piece of cloth with a black S painted on crudely, in different shades for each person. At their lead was an elderly man with a loudspeaker who appeared to be leading them. He stuck it not only for his hunched over stature but the fact most of the crowd were young teens and adults.
"Be on your guard men." Crow heard from the building where the PSMB was held for the island. Looking closer he realized at every window was a riot officer with a rifle. They were preparing for the worst. Crow turned and looked back at the crowd of people. The man had been giving a speech and although Crow had missed the beginning parts he most certainly knew the more pivotal parts were approaching.
"- Goodwin keeps you all prisoners here!" Shouted the man with more enthusiasm than his frame suggested. "He uses you as slaves for his corrupt regime, breaching all your rights leaving you to build his empire only to thro you to the dirt! Where would he be without us?"
The crowd roared in approval and the officers stiffened.
" This Alias! He fights our enemy! He humbles them! He shows them fear and speaks of liberty for all, I say we follow his example and set the land alight with our passion and our fury! He is an ally! A good man whom all should aspire to if we are ever to gain our place in the world!" Roared the man over the crowd who were gearing themselves up. "Let them know! Let them know we will give no more! Let them know the price is Blood or FREEDOM!" At the last word a huge cheer went up and the crowd began chanting Blood or Freedom over and over proudly and angrily. Crow grimaced and after fiddling with his bike escaped as fast as he could incase anything bad happened.
He had been rather disgusted by the word of the man. Alias a Good man!? To aspire to!? If slaughtering Neo Domino Citizens and religious leaders made you great and good then Crow wanted to be bad. He just feared that the Satellite Civil Right Movement wouldn't understand that. Later he reached the docks where a large freighter sat. On the dockside were a few venues where many stood in line and walked away from with bag of food clutched to themselves like a holy book. It was little and stealing was rife. An unspoken law that being a thief among the other people was condoned but only if you got away with it.
Crow stopped his cycle and waited in line, not before he activated the anti-theft devices though. Eventually he handed in his food tickets and collected the rations into his trailer and began going back. Halfway through his trip he suddenly heard a noise of another engine, unlike any he had ever used. It was petrol driven. The clunky roaring noise far more noticeable than the whining roar of his Black Bird. Crow frowned and thought of the food in the trailer. "Thieves." Thought the serial criminal as he turned off suddenly and proceeded through a more deserted area to loose the chaser.
He made sharp turns, drove through perilous ruins and even shot over deep crevices that would have killed him if he had missed but still the pursuer followed him.
"He can ride." Muttered Crow as he snatched a look back to catch a glimpse. He wasn't there. Confused Crow turned forward and suddenly he braked and pulled his bike to the side in an attempt to slow down. In front of him was his foe. He stopped 6 feet short of hitting him.
"How'd you get there then?" Questioned Crow suspiciously.
The rider pointed up and Crow noticed a rocky ramp of junk that he appeared to have turned onto and then dropped down here. The bike he rode looked a real monstrosity of technology. Its basic frame was an old darkest green petrol driven motorcycle, complete with petrol tank in the chassis and fume release system. On the sides were nailed down roughly hologram projectors and compartments to allow riding duels along with a clunky looking holographic display and duel disk holder near the handle bars. Finally at the back was slung a brown bag that strapped on to the seat and had two large duffle bag sized pouches.
The rider was dressed in black tracksuit bottoms with a yellow stripe design going up the side and a dark grey top. Over this was slung an old rough and dirtied green jacket and on his head sat a helmet that appeared as old as his bike design. Off-road design in black and with an orange tinted glass section so Crow could just see his eyes sizing him up.
Crow stopped his bikes engine and the guy followed suit. Crow dismounted but the rider didn't move. "I guess you want the rations." Chuckled Crow as he cracked his knuckles. "Well, your not getting them."
"Lucky I don't want to steal them, despite my longing for food then." Came the muffled reply. It's accent was hidden as a result but it was rather posh and that threw Crow abit, it contrasted greatly from his look.
"What do you want?" Asked the orange haired man ( for he was now legally) as he narrowed his eyes.
"You to give me some rations."
"You said you didn't want them."
"I said I would not steal them." The rider leant back a little and crossed his arms. "Not that you wouldn't be courteous enough to share your sizeable bounty with myself Mr?"
"Crow."
"Crow?-"
"Just Crow to you pal." He smirked. "No matter what long words you may use you aren't getting any of this food." Silence for a few seconds.
"You appear rather too…healthy for the amount of food you are carrying to be only for yourself." The rider looked him up and down. " Surely we can come to some arrangement."
"Yes we can. Here it is; you can leave me alone and I don't knock you over." Crow turned and got back on his bike and that was when the rider made his challenge.
"How about a duel. If you win I piss off and we can forget we ever had this encounter, when I win you share some ration with me...Please, I'm desperate." He pointed at him as he said this and crow decided to take notice of him now as he mulled it over, holding back retort on how overconfident his statement had been. Looking at him he did seem a little nervous and his body language suggested he was suffering from great hunger, backed by a small growl from his stomach.
"Perhaps that's why he didn't stand up. Okay then." Nodded Crow to which the other guy relaxed slightly and leaned back a little, fishing his deck from and inside pocket in his jacket and placing it in the duel slot, Crow noticed he appeared to have more than one deck on the insides of his jacket but didn't get a close enough peek to see how many. At least 3 on that side of the jacket at least. He ignited his bikes engine again and pulled alongside Crow. The two of them activated their Speed World as per the rules of a riding duel.
"Duel mode; Auto Pilot Standby." Came the computers responses on both just before their bikes jetted off into the distance.
C: 4000 (Counters: 0)
? :4000 (Counters:0)
"I'll go first!" Crow snapped a card from his deck and grunted, not satisfied with his hand but having a way to remedy it.. "Firstly I set two cards facedown and then I activate Reload!"
He placed his 3 remaining hand cards on top of his deck and watched as the automatic shuffler did its work and expelled 3 new cards for him. Much better.
"Summon Black Feather-Black Lance Blast (4/1700/800)." A bird like creature began to descend from above to take its place in front of Crow. It looked almost chicken like with a red feathered head but a blue body and wings. In its grip was a great lance that looked as if it could completely decapitate you let alone stab you.
"Turn end. Show me what you've got!" Called Crow over the noise. To the guy just behind him.
C: 4000 (speed counters: 1)
? : 4000 (speed counters: 1)
"Very well." He drew his card and studied his hand before placing his card carefully down. "I set a monster and a spell or trap and end my turn there."
The facedown spell/trap momentarily appeared while the set monster remained, travelling along with them. Crow smirked and drew another card to add to his now 3 card hand.
C: 4000 (speed counters: 2)
? : 4000 (speed counters: 2)
"I summon Black Feather-North Pole Blizzard(2/1300/400) ." The newest Black feather was small and icy blue, it flew acrobatically over the field calling loudly. "I then use Blizzards effect as a tuner to synchro summons a level 6 monster."
The two monsters transformed into granules of light and floated up high before clashing together in a display of light which when it had died allowed the Ride to see his newest monster.
"Black Feather-Arms Wing (6/2300/2100)." He simply said as a black and purple armoured birdman glided above him. A man of red feathers around its head and in its arms a deadly looking bladed weapon. "Activate set card; Delta Crow-Anti Reverse!"
The card flipped up and a yellow glow enveloped his synchro.
"My trap means when a Black Feather is in play I can destroy all set cards you have, just in case that card is a trap. Now, Go!"
The birdman lashed out and the aura became a wave that crashed over his spell/trap and obliterated it, the biker shaking slightly around in the seat of his cycle. Crow didn't let up though and declared the attack of Arms wing which cleaved the set monster clean in half.
C: 4000 (counters 2)
?: 1700 (counters 2)
"I assume your monster has trample effect, but even so I should have lost less." Proclaimed the opponent, calling over his shoulder. "My monster had 500 defence not 0 as my lp would have me believe."
"Arms wing gains 500 attack points in the damage step if he battles a defensive monster." Explained Crow causing the rider to nod in understanding. "So you may want to get more aggressive if you want to win."
Before he could declare his turns end though the helmeted guy interrupted.
"The Monster you attacked was flipped before it was destroyed by the way so that means I can activate its effect." His deck spat a card out for him which he placed carefully on the top of his deck. "Artisan Picora (2/600/300) lets me place one monster in my deck with an equal or lower level than the highest ranked monster on top of my deck as long as it is an armourloid."
The rider drew slowly again. Grabbing the newest monster that at the very least was a level 6. Crow raised an eyebrow.
"Armourloid? Is that a family of cards?" he said to himself.
C: 4000 (Counters 3)
?: 1700 (Counters 3)
"I activate the Speed Spell: Angel Baton! Because I have over 2 speed counters I can now discard a card and draw 2!" He flipped his newly acquired card into the graveyard slot and snatched another 2 from his deck. As his card entered the grave it was ejected out again and a new monster began to appear on Crows opponents' field, just ahead of Crow's D-Wheel. An insect like green and grey steel machine made its mark upon the field. Its two arms holding buzzing chainsaws that cut through the ear violently.
"When Kamikaze Chainsaw Warrior (3/1400/700) is sent to the graveyard outside of battle I can special summon it immediately with half its normal point score." Explained the rider, as he said this machine halved in size and the appropriate changes to stats made it a 700 atk power monster and 350 def. Crow gritted his teeth.
"He wouldn't summon a weak card like that alone. He's going to release it!" he thought with a grim face. Then he remembered.
"hang on!" He shouted just as the rider was ready to play his next move. "That isn't an armourloid or whatever it was you said it was! You cheat!"
"Armourloid isn't a card name. Allow me to illuminate you." The guy said simply, look carefully at the card info on your computer screen."
Crow did that, tapping on kamikaze and bringing up the card picture and stats. He noticed why it was an armourloid now. Where Machine was written a forward slash separated it from the word 'armourloid'. Also it had an effect stating that it would not be treated as a machine but only as an armourloid.
"Understand now?" he questioned ahead of Crow.
"Get on with it." grunted the orange haired one.
"Of course. I release Kamikaze in order to release summon a new monster." Kamikaze disappeared an in its place stood a great bulbous steel creature with long clawed steel arms and short stubby legs. A red globe for eyes at its centre and many rockets planted on its back. Primed to kill. "Armoured Walker Urherion (6/2500/1800) is today's choice." Commented the rider loosely. "Now attack Arms Wing! World in Pieces!" As he called for the attack it delivered a rocket skyward which began to trace a route straight for the Black Feather. It screamed in fear just before it left the world in a fiery ball of destruction.
C: 3800 (Counters 3)
?: 1700 (Counters 3)
"Next I'll set a card and I'll end my turn there I believe." The holographic set card briefly appearing before fading away above the fast moving road.
Crow slipped a new card off his deck.
C: 3800 (counters: 4)
?: 1700 (Counters 4)
"I'll copy you I think by playing my own Speed Spell: Angel Baton." He discarded a card and drew two cards himself which he smiled at slightly. "I special summon Black Feather-Dawnbreak Sirocco (5/2000/900) because you have monsters and I don't." Another birdman flew down, this one more crow like in a brown tunic of sorts. "Next I'll normal summon Black Feather- Mistral the Silver Shield (2/100/1800)!" A small silverish bird chirped in a high pitched tone and settled on the front of the Black bird D-Wheel happily. The two new monsters suddenly burst into light balls symbolising levels and flew upward, signifying a synchro summon via Mistrals status as a tuner.
"Synchro summon! Black Feather-Armoured Wing (7/2500/1500)!" Crows signature monster took its place next to its master. The black and orange rimmed armoured Black feather with a face like a Cyclops made a few combat gestures before settling down, impatient to fight.
"Activate set card! Call of the Haunted! I can special summon a monster in my grave in attack mode and I choose Arms Wing!" materializing from a mist expelled from the card came the second high powered Black Feather. "Attack Urherion Armoured Wing!" the signature card flew forward and prepared the punch the armourloid square in the eye which it did. The eye shattered and the walker wobbled wildly for a bit before collapsing backward onto its missile supply, exploding and wiping it out.
"Armoured Wing must be impervious to battle destruction." Noted the rider to himself, eyeing it in admiration and frustration.
"Arms Wing! Finish him off!" The resurrected Black Feather screamed in agreement and flew forth to win for its master only to be stopped by a trap card.
"Crisis Boulder activate!" The rider shouted his voice more noticeable now. As he said this from behind Crow came a rumbling, he turned and his eyes widened as he saw a huge orange metal ball powered by an engine rolling at Arms Wings back. "Boulder can only be played when I would lose a duel to an attack. It destroys the attacking monster and you take damage equal to its level times 200. Sorry." The boulder overtook the Black feather and it screamed in pain as it was crushed underneath the weight of the trap-tank. Crow groaned as he took more damage.
Crow: 2600 (counters: 4)
?: 1700 (counters: 4)
"Had enough?" Asked the rider, turning around more than before, his voice dripping with sarcasm to which Crow shook his head only to end his turn.
The rider drew a card.
Crow: 2600 (counters: 5)
?: 1700 (counters 5)
"I summon Rothus, the Traveller (4/2000/1000) in attack mode an activate his effect in succession." A brown robot with a 'head' and gun arms atop tank treads rolled forward. "It's effect states when it is summoned we must both pick a face-up monster and destroy it. Obviously I choose Rothus and obviously you choose-"
"Armoured Wing." Sighed Cow, as they both slid the cards into the graveyard, his field now open. "Next I play a Speed Spell, Speed Spell: Summon Speeder. When we have 4 counters I can special summon a level 4 or lower monster from my hand. In this situation I think Explosive Trooper Zalmez (4/1900/1400) will do the trick nicely." He explained in his usual calm voice. A red armoured more humanoid machine thing trooped outwards, its arms covered in pistons and its head almost insect liked in its shape. Its right arm dominated by a 2 pronged claw with a hole in it which proved to be a flamethrower which it sprayed threateningly all the time clanging the claw open and shut. The rider pointed at Crow. "Attack Zalmez!" The trooper, made a stance and exulted flame all over the Satellite Native as he screamed in pain.
?: 1700 (counters: 6)
C: 700 (Counters: 6)
"Now I'll end my turn with a set card. Your move."
Crow breathed heavily and took up his next card for his two card hand.
?: 1700 (Counters: 6)
C: 700 ( Counters: 6)
He looked at his hand hard for a good few seconds before making the next play of the game. He sighed and set a monster facedown.
"End turn." In his head he knew he had lost now but his heart told him not to give in easily.
The rider drew.
?: 1700 (counters: 7)
C: 700 (counters: 6)
"This is over I'm afraid Crow, do you want to give in?" Asked the rider in a tone that Crow associated with concern, although he refused to believe a satellite guy would be that concerned with winning.
"No way!" Called Crow back. "Come and get me if you think you can!"
"Ok then sir! I accept your challenge!" he declared with a laugh making Crow raise an eyebrow. This guy spoke differently to anyone he had met. Only Yusei's descriptions of Goodwin seemed to bear resemblance. As he pondered a new monster had been summoned. A second Kamikaze Chainsaw Warrior.
"Zalmez attack!" the trooper snatched the set card with its claw and slowly crushed it, briefly revealing Zayu the Black Feather monster before being destroyed.
"And now for the final curtain, kamikaze-" But he never made the attack.
Crow saw it just as he began to talk, he had been watching Crow and for some reason the D-Wheel auto Pilot had not responded properly. A boulder was ahead of him. Crow cried out to him and he noticed just in time, leaping off his bike to the side. The bike crumpled into it, the steel screeching in pain and the engine crackling dangerously. The Rider was different though. He flew out at speed, his bike sliding round the side with him in pieces; he bounced several times painfully, cries yelping from him, his head cracking against stones badly before he came to a stop, sliding a good 50 ft away.
?: 1700 (Counters 7)
C: 700 (Counters 7) Duel: No Result.
Crow's hologram turned off and his duel mode program stopped as he pulled over hurriedly beside the fallen and lifeless body of the guy. He ran over and rolled him over onto his back. His body was cut up and bones appeared to be broken in his arms as he turned him because he made a groaning noise but luckily he seemed mostly ok. The again everything could have been broken, he couldn't tell. His helmet visor was now smashed so his sea blue eyes were visible, pain in them.
"Guess I should have kept my eyes on the road." He commented quietly. "Damm computer, I knew I should have salvaged a new harddrive."
Crow, slid his helmet off, just in case any visor glass was pressing into his face. The appearance of him was contrasted greatly from Crow. He was around his age, maybe younger and was more smoothskined than he was, his brown hair down to his shoulders in away not messy but not tidy either. Most surprisingly there were no criminal marks.
"All that for some food aye?" chuckled the guy before dragging himself to his feet crow heaving him up, he flinched as he placed pressure on his left leg. Something had been damaged and he fell back onto his arse swaying in an almost delirious manner
"You wouldn't mind fetching my deck would you and the duffel bag seat?" He said in a distinctive English accent of the upper classes.
"Not a satellite boy I guess." Commented Crow s he did as he was asked. "I guess your bikes a goner and being the good guy I am I'm not going to leave you here."
"Thank you very much Crow." He accepted his things back.
"I could do with some favours." Smiled Crow, explaining himself. "I save you, you save me. Besides for some reason I feel bad about leaving you here."
"Touché then." Replied the boy with a wrist gesture.
"What's your name then?"
"Jacob." He replied slowly, his eyes beginning to glaze and a strange expression graced his face. "I'm sorry to be of trouble but I'm rather badly injured, alone here and I'm about to retreat in unconsciousness, be a chap and help me please." And then he fell back and blacked out on the floor. Leaving Crow to heave him onto the bike trailer resting on the load and to drive carefully back to the encampment.
"LUA! LUA!" Called the pigtailed girl from the living room to her identical twin upstairs.
"What is it? I'm about to go out and play with Tempei." Called down Lua as he presented himself from around a corner and slowly descended the stairs with a backpack slung on his shoulders.
"Mums on the phone!" Chirped his sister happily. A huge smile enveloped his face and he rushed down as quick as he could, jumping the last 4 steps. He ran over to where Luka was and they stood huddled around the house phone which had been placed on loudspeaker mode.
"Hi mum!" cried Lua happily down the phone.
"Hi sweetie." Came a pleasant female voice that was chuckling at her son's enthusiasm. "Now how are my lovely children keeping? I hope you haven't got into too much trouble while we've been away."
"Not really." Chuckled Lua nervously as he glanced at Luka. There had been plenty of trouble. Dark signers, terrorists in masks among other closer troubles. E.g. Lua still was wetting the bed occasionally.
"Are you sure? I saw the news and I just had to call, your fathers friends assured me everything was ok but-" She sounded worried but Luka cut her off suddenly.
"We're fine mummy." She assured her in her calm young tone.
"Are you sure you are?" They heard her mum take a breath. "Things are…a little less calm than we thought they'd be here. Your father's work has hit a bump in the road but it isn't anything that'll affect you much, I promise. Everything is and is going to be fine." Luka looked at Lua worriedly and he looked at her in the same vein. "She's hiding something." They both thought in unison. She sounded strained and it was easy to tell she was putting on her optimism. Before Luka could stop him Lua asked the question he had been told never to ask.
"Mum what does dad do? Where are you?" He blurted. A silence fell on the line for a good few seconds.
"You shouldn't ask that Lua." She said slowly and deliberately, but not dangerously. "Somethings children are too innocent to know."
"I'm not a kid anymore! I'm a big boy!" he retorted loudly and proudly with a silly smile.
"A big boy who still wets the bed." Luka mumbled looking to the floor ever so slightly.
"Well…" Their mother went silent again. "I'm not going to tell you what your father does Lua, it's his choice to tell you or not. I suppose I can tell you where we are though."
"Where?" Asked the girl.
"We're in Vietnam at the moment, in the city of Sa-"As she had said this a new voice jolted from the background.
"What are you doing? What the hell are you doing!? DON'T say another word, don't you dare!" a raging mans voice from the background, now booming through their home and causing the twins to flinch. They knew exactly who it was. The authority and rough texture filling their ears with an anger they had heard previously but not commonly.
"Inagawa! It's the kids they just wanted to know where w-"
"I DON'T CARE! THIS IS MY BUSINESS! I CHOOSE WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN! YOU DON'T WANT THEM INVOLVED DO YOU? DO YOU!? Stupid bitch." A scuffling noise came through to them, after which the twins could hear their mother weeping gently. The next sentence was addressed to the two of them now in a dangerous tone of voice that they had grown to fear and respect over the years. Slow and patient and dangerous. "Luka, Lua… You're both old enough to know better. You NEVER ask those questions! NEVER! Understand?"
"Yes father." They sighed quietly.
"Good." A short silence followed and the only sound was their mother quietly sobbing and their father breathing down the speaker. "We'll see you soon. I promise. Just, stay away from us for the time being. You will learn to thank me in the end. ..I know you will. I'm sorry… Goodbye kids, I love you."
"Love you too." They replied one after another as the phone went dead in Vietnam
Akiza sat in the back of the car, her chin in her hand gazing out of the darkened window thoughtfully. Her father sat next to her while a chauffeur drove for them behind tinted and soundproofed screen in one of her fathers limos. Being a senator had its perks especially with such a generous and often controversial expenses system.
There was a slightly uncomfortable silence in the car which had lasted for the last 10 minutes or so although she hadn't really cared. It wasn't uncomfortable to her.
She was healing the rift between her father and herself but he still partially believed he could see her as the little girl that had run away still. She had changed into a new woman and that couldn't be overlooked and he had played his part in that, no matter what their relationship was like now. He shifted slightly and cleared his throat. "Your mother told me that you were thinking of moving out of your old room." She tilted her head slightly so he was in her eyeline.
"Are you thinking of getting your own place then soon?"
She sighed slightly. "Maybe."
Silence for a few more seconds. "Is there something you want to talk about? You seem abit…preoccupied." He asked lowly and caringly placing his hand on hers.
She grinned ever so slightly. "It's nothing really. It's just…I keep thinking about someone…having thoughts randomly of him...dreams."
Hideo Izayoi nodded. He believed he had a good accurate idea of who it was, the image of the coal and yellow haired young man making his way into his minds eye. He owed so much to him. He was decent, brave and honourable and even though deep down he knew he had little claim to it, he would be more than happy to give his daughter's hand to him someday.
"Why does Goodwin need us?" came Akiza's voice.
She had been called by her father and told that The Director had business concerning all the signers and Illiaster and funnily enough he had told her that he was deeply involved in the matter which made her question how political this so called 'cult' was becoming.
"mmm." Her father looked down at his feet and she saw confusion among other emotions in them. Guilt? Sorrow? Regret? "I…I did something that…I shouldn't have…It's complicated and I'm sorry The Director wants you involved."
"I'm sure I can forgive you papa." And she smiled at him to his joy. It wasn't often he saw the glimmers of his little girl in his daughter.
"Hopefully you will enjoy it…Yusei will be there after all, you can tell him about your dreams." He added with a small wink at the end to which she blushed abit, her composure briefly lost. Aki looked back out the window as her father chuckled. And she found herself thinking about him again. Someone she didn't think she should have been thinking about after all this time.
"Divine." She muttered with a slight narrowing of her eyes in thought.
When they arrived at the entrance to the cell division of the base and past the guard booths after a brief security search (Mostly on her father, she was left alone after she showed her birthmark) they strode down the narrow well lit hall and found themselves face to face with Yusei Fudo, Jack Atlas and Director Rex Goodwin.
"Director, Sir." The ageing senator bowed in respect while Akiza gave a curt nod which he ignored, she was above needing to give privy to this man in her opinion. He may have been on their side and had 'led' them but she still remembered what he had ordered to happen to Bommer and his village. She gazed over at the other two who met her gaze in their silent and intense ways. Luka and her brother were not here but to be honest she was partially glad.
This place was not strictly legal and many 'bad' things happened here that shouldn't have. Children had no place here.
"Senator Izinski, thank you for returning so quickly, and thank you for coming Ms. Izinski." He glanced at her and met here stare briefly in his cold calculating way. "Now we can begin."
He walked down the hall silently and the others followed before they came to a large door at the very end which had two guards outside wielding submachine guns. They saluted as he approached and handed him a set of keys for the door. He inserted them but did not turn. He turned to them. "The person in here is of great interest to us signers." He spoke with an air of finality. "You are here not only so I can reveal to you why I am doing what I am doing immediately but so our guest can see first hand what he will be aiding. So he can see why he joined the wrong side and so he can see how he can make penance for his crimes. So he can have something good to die for to make it more beautiful to live."
Jack smirked and crossed his arms. "I believe we have met him. My fist has most certainly"
"But you have not known him which you will soon." He was about to turn the key when one of the guard spoke to him.
"Mr director ,sir, I must protest, the prisoner has made a jail break attempt while you were gone he came perilous close to killing and-" He was interrupted by a hand to the throat.
"I do as I do because I know I must and can." He said slowly and cruelly without much change in voice. "You apprehended the prisoner and you healed your man I believe. Yes I read the brief report. It was a minor controlled incident which you are blowing out of proportion. Never try to stop or preach to me again."
He let go and the guard withdrew, his pride hurt. Goodwin turned the key and they all strode in. Akiza took in the sight as the door closed behind her and she was locked in the baking hot room. In the middle of the room was a table with 3 seats which her father, Goodwin and Jack took leaving Yusei and her to stand. On the other side of this table was a guy with a black bag on his head and in dirty clothes that were crumpled and ripped in places, on closer inspection she saw he was chained to his chair, his hands sweating profusely and attached to one of his wrists was an IV tube filled with water. An orange glow bathed the room coming from great heaters that were nailed temporarily to the walls. Like being in a toaster. The guys deep tired breathing was the only sound for a short while. And then Goodwin reached over and pulled the bag of his head. Akiza's eyes widened very slightly. It was the boy she had met at the market. He stared at the floor, blinking as his eyes got used to he sudden light. The way this 'Blaare' guy looked at her when he finally stared around seemed rather too familiar for her, who was this guy? He settled on Jack and grinned
"Remember…me, Jack the lad?" he cocked his head and a big bit of sweat rolled off his face.
"I'm going to ask you a question to which only one answer sees you out of this facility." He said directly and roughly. "I want you to work with us."
Yusei and Jack and her looked at him, it was unexpected alright. But then again so was this.
Elsewhere in a location that will currently remain undisclosed, in a small abandoned office stood 3 guys. They were criminally marked, the lot and looked like the bottom of every pile of life. Indeed one of them had attempted suicide 4 times in the last 3 months. In the middle of the room was plain plastic desk and behind that on a revolving chair was Alias. His hat on the desk and his cane sitting in his crossed arms and he turned his chair back and forth.
"Uh-hmm." One of the guys cleared his throat, he stepped forward a bit. He had elected speaker by the rest of the men who were underneath this intimidating mystery man on the grounds that he was the most disliked but also the most forceful. Just in case their boss was a little stronger and more dangerous than they had anticipated.
"Boss." He stated simply. "W-"
"Correction." Interrupted the terrorist with a raised finger before pointing with it at all three of the present men. "You will begin by apologizing for interrupting me when I was about to leave for my home and will make sure this group session will be finished quickly. Now, what do you say now?"
"Uh...Yeah…Sorry for interrupting you sir…I hope this…meeting will end fast." He replied slowly, slightly unnerved. Something about this costumed weirdo freaked him out. Was it the voice changer? The clothes? The mask? No. he carried an aura, you could feel the cauldron of danger boiling in him when you addressed him. He was having second thoughts now but if he backed out he would probably not be popular at all with the others. "Me and the others have been thinking sir-"
"That's a funny thought." Laughed Alias. "Half of you numb nuts would need a pamphlet to know what you were doing with a girl, let alone make a coherent thought."
"Anyway sir… he continued, alitle irritated at the comment. "Me and the boys were wondering…when we were going to be paid. It's been weeks sir and all that planning for the building hit and the shooting-" Alias raised a hand. guy carried on though. "- and you promised payment would be regular and generous like a philanthropic hooker, in your own words! Well boss, I'm not going to work another day until we all get paid... and we want double!"
He added the last part in on the spot. He knew if he pulled this he would be a King for awhile, popularity he had never had would be his. Then he looked into the blank mask of Alias and saw his hands wringing the cane and knew he was in for a grilling.
"So…" He said slowly, his chair swinging 360 degrees now. "You come to me; after all I have done for you and your 'loved' ones to tell me to my face that I'm a fuckhead, a liar and that I'm going to get it if I don't give you dunces your, in the end, worthless green paper!"
The guy tried to interrupt to say sorry but no words came he was transfixed. Silence and the chair continued to turn as his Alias moved his foot along the floor slowly. He could feel his heart in his mouth as did the others. One of them was already contemplating suicide again, just in case.
"Bravo." Said the terrorist eventually. The three men blinked.
"What?" questioned one of the others in disbelief.
"You pulled my bluff gentleman." He said again now looking sat the wall away from them, chair turned away. "You will get all you deserve tonight and so will anyone else who dares to brave me."
"Thank You Mr Alia-"
"Gentleman Alias." He declared with finality.
"Thank you Gentleman Alias, Sir! Thank you! The medias so wrong about you sir! You're a real decent guy! A shiny copper in the wallet alright sir!" gasped the talker. Perhaps this guy wasn't so bad after all. Bad but not as bad. "Where do we go to get it sir, and when?"
"Now and here. All stand in a line please in front of my desk." He demanded to which they did. When they had stopped shuffling he turned his chair round, as quick as possible and all 3 of them fell to the floor, knowing at the last a flash and a cracking noise. Dead. Alias wiped the end of his cane with a handkerchief. Its end had been screwed off while he had been facing the wall and the handle had folded out to reveal a trigger and a chamber for a bullet which he kept in his pockets at all times. One bullet was all that was needed, straight through all their lined up heads. He found himself chuckling at the crazy way, to him, he had killed these men.
"What a bunch of idiots!" he barked in laughter as he got up and walked over to a cabinet, fishing within until he pulled out a dirty great machete. He stripped off his suit leaving him in his shirt and got to work as the blood leaked from the three mens heads onto the floor like a grizzly lake.
The next day all three were found, headless and ball-less in their homes along with the words "THEY ASKED FOR THEIR MONEY BEFORE PAYDAY" carved into their chests. Their heads were later found in footballs that were played with by children at schools, wrapped in the leather, a month or two later to horror of many a child and indeed adult.. Their own balls never turned up although there was a rumour that some strange looking pack of meatballs had been purchased in a supermarket. No one ever asked for their money again. Instead they sat and waited.