So I'm back! My laptop's charger port broke so I haven't been able to use it for a month, but now I'm able to write again! Anyway, here's the next chapter in Tanion's journey. I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 12 – The Resistance
By the time Jorann and Tanion landed in the ruins of Allentown, the sun was already beginning to set. The journey had been tiresome, but Jorann seemed to showing no ill effects from being on the back of a dragon for the majority of the day. After they had dismounted, Tanion noticed that the ruins were deadly quiet. Nothing seemed to be alive, and plants were beginning to take back the ruins just as they had been doing at Devil's Lake.
"What happened here?" Tanion wondered as he followed behind Jorann.
"This was the base for the Resistance, our east coast counterpart. They were a major thorn in The Grand Order's side right from the start, thanks to Yusei. Eventually, the Order decided to simply level the place. They took a great many casualties, and their operations decreased dramatically for a time. But in doing so, they wiped out the Resistance."
"Were there any Synchro users among them?" Tanion asked.
"Aside from Yusei, there were three, if I recall correctly," Jorann answered. "Although it was difficult to identify some of the bodies, none of the Synchro users were among them."
"Is that a common theme among Order raids?" Tanion asked.
"Unfortunately, yes," Jorann said grimly. "We don't know why that is the case, but it is the case nonetheless."
"They could've just been captured," Tanion suggested.
Jorann shook his head. "The Grand Order takes no prisoners. We've been into some of the strongholds before. No cells, nowhere to hold anyone. Besides that, they are Synchro users. They wouldn't allow themselves to get captured."
Jorann led him through long destroyed remnants of corridors, his pace and expression suggesting that he remembered walking the halls from a different time. Seeing the determination of the old man's face, Tanion decided to keep quiet as he followed Jorann's decisive movement throughout the crumbled fortress. Eventually, and heading down a few flights of stairs and through broken hallways, they made their way to a huge set of iron doors, which had somehow escaped the destruction.
"So well preserved, even now…" Jorann whispered.
"This is?"
"This was where Yusei and his higher-ups both slept and met," Jorann explained. "When the Order attacked, it would appear that they knew not to damage anything about this room. After all, if they had come in and destroyed the place, who knows what information would've been lost?"
"So they left the inside untouched?" Tanion wondered.
"No," Jorann admitted. "They trashed the place, looking for and taking every bit of information they could find, but they had no need to destroy anything. The chaos around us happened because they were trying to destroy any resistance. Once they got to here, there was none."
"And so what we are searching for is in here?"
"This card was found in Yusei's bedside table," Jorann said, holding out the Junk Synchron card. "Stardust showed me that within the war room is a hidden passageway, accessible thanks to this card. We just have to find it."
Heaving open the doors with a helping hand from their monsters, they pushed their way into the headquarters of the vanquished resistance. The way that the place had been trashed spoke volumes to Tanion, his mind barely able to comprehend the level of organised chaos within the room. Every single cabinet, every file, every piece of paper and instrument had been methodically checked and then tossed aside. He could see as he walked the room where some papers were missing from files, and the floor itself was covered with others that had simply been tossed aside in anger if they didn't contain any useful information.
"They weren't messing around, were they?" Tanion noticed.
"At the time, some thought that they Order had attacked because the base here contained information about them they wanted destroyed," Jorann said from afar as he searched for a place to put the card. "However, since we don't actually know what information they did and didn't take, it was impossible to discern."
Tanion walked the open room, the large table in the room undoubtedly the war table. Around them, many corridors led off in different directions to what he assumed was the chambers of the higher-ups. The walls themselves were covered in all sorts of equipment and technology, but they all looked like they like been either destroyed long ago or hadn't been powered up in just as long.
"I found it!" Jorann suddenly exclaimed triumphantly.
"Where?" Tanion asked, turning to face him.
"In the side of the war table here," Jorann answered, kneeling down. "Stand back, and be on your guard. I have no idea what might happen."
The card fit perfectly into the tiny crevice in the table, and as it did so Tanion readied his duel disk. At first, nothing happened, but then the ground began to shake, and both he and Jorann had to hold onto the walls in order to stop themselves from falling over.
"What did you do?" Tanion exclaimed.
"I told you, I don't know!" Jorann shouted back. "Look, the table is moving!"
The war table then cracked into two even sides and began moving away from each other. After what seemed like an eternity, the rumbling slowly came to a stop, and Tanion was able to see the stairway that had been revealed between the two halves of the war table.
"Yusei, what the hell are you hiding?" Tanion heard Jorann whisper.
"Do we head down?" Tanion asked.
"We have to. It's obvious that Yusei wanted to keep whatever is down there hidden away from the Order, so we need to figure out what it is."
Following Jorann tentatively down the stair well, Tanion noted that light was filtering up from below. It had to mean that some of the machinery and technology was still active, but he had no idea what they were to find. They soon found themselves at the source of the light, a door that looked like it had been sealed for a very long time. To the right on the wall was some sort of pad, but Tanion had no idea what it was either.
"It's an energy identifier," Jorann answered, as if reading his mind. "This door must be sealed by Synchro energy. That explains why it's untouched. Even if the Order had found this place, none of them have ever been documented as being Synchro users…"
"We can open it, though," Tanion noted.
"Indeed," Jorann said, smiling wryly. "Stand back. I'll open it. Just make sure nothing tries to attack us."
As Jorann pressed his hand onto the panel, Tanion once again stood at the ready. The machine begun to whir to life, analysing Jorann's energy signature. After a short moment, the whirring stopped, and everything went silent.
- SYNCHRO USER IDENTIFIED. NAME: JORANN FULMANN -
"Family like the name Ann did they?" Tanion asked humorously.
"This is no time for jokes, boy," Jorann scowled. "Your turn. I think it knows there is two of us, so it'll need to read you as well."
"Is it an A.I. of some kind?" Tanion asked as he approached the panel.
"This was as far as the technology progressed before the invasion," Jorann answered. "It still serves its purposes, though."
Placing his hand upon the panel, Tanion waited as the whirring started up once more. Tanion waited patiently as the machine did its job, despite the fact that it took much longer than it had done with Jorann to do so. Eventually, the whirring stopped, and both of them waited for the mechanical voice to speak once more.
- UNKNOWN SYNCHRO USER DETECTED. COMMENCING EVALUATION -
"What does that mean?" Tanion asked Jorann worriedly.
"I don't know," Jorann said, disk at the ready. "Be wary."
A gust of air came from nowhere and threw the duo back to the edge of the stairs. Regaining his composure after that surprise, Tanion realised that a holographic projection of a woman now stood between them and the door. On her arm she wore a duel disk, and she wore garments reminiscent of the duel priestess he fought in the duel for Stardust Dragon.
"What the hell…" Jorann muttered.
"Commencing evaluation," the projection said in the same voice as before.
Tanion disk's whirred to life. "Jorann, what is happening?"
"I think it means to duel you," the old man answered. "Maybe if you beat it the door will open for us."
DUEL!
"Commencing turn," the projection said mechanically. "I discard one card in order to special summon Quickdraw Synchron in defence (Lvl:5/ATK:700/DEF:1400)."
"But that's…"
"I think I get it," Jorann murmured. "This computer is using Yusei's deck. However, since it has no connection to the cards and their spirits, everything it has will be random, much like duelling on Eden."
"But if it's using Yusei's deck…" Tanion trailed off.
"Concentrate, boy!" Jorann ordered. "This A.I. has neither Yusei's duel spirit nor his connection to his cards. You can win this!"
"I hope you're right, old man," Tanion muttered.
"I then revive Quillbolt Hedgehog (Lvl:2/DEF:800)," the projection continued. "I tune Quillbolt to Quickdraw in order to Synchro Summon Nitro Warrior. (Lvl:7/ATK:2800/DEF:1800). I then set one card. Turn over."
Tanion – 4000 LP
Projection – 4000 LP
Okay, think Tanion. In the anime, one of the weaknesses Yusei had was that it took him a couple of turns to get his combo pieces out, but there's already a Synchro monster on board. Not only that, but I think I know what that face-down card is…
"My turn!" Tanion said, drawing. "First off, since you have a monster and I don't, I can special summon this monster. Come forth, Woodsman Knight! (Lvl:5/ATK:2100)."
"Royal Knight already, Tanion?" Jorann asked.
"I can't give someone using Yusei's deck any breathing room," Tanion said through gritted teeth. "Next, I summon Marksman Knight! (Lvl:3/ATK:1400/DEF:200). I then use Marksman's effect! Once per turn, if I control a 'Knight' monster other than him, I can destroy one of your Spell or Trap cards. Said goodbye to that face-down!"
The card fluttered away, and Tanion saw that it had been Scrap-Iron Scarecrow. I knew it, he thought to himself. That is exactly the same move that Yusei would've made. Now I've just got to deal with Nitro Warrior.
"I tune my Level 5 Woodsman Knight to my Level 3 Marksman Knight! Synchro Summon. Appear before us now, Level 8! Royal Knight! (ATK:2500.) Royal Knight's monster effect! I destroy your Nitro Warrior, and deal half of its ATK to you as damage. That's 1400 points of damage!"
"Keep it up, boy," Jorann muttered from the sideline.
"I now attack you directly with Royal Knight! Sacred Blade!"
The blade went through the projection, but just as Tanion had thought, it made no reaction to the attack. Unlike a normal duel, since this was just a projection, it felt no damage and showed no emotion.
"It seems you miscalculated," Jorann commented. "It still has 100 life points left."
"I know, but that's the best I could do," Tanion said angrily. "I set one card. Turn over!"
Tanion – 4000 LP
Projection – 100 LP
"Commencing turn," the projection said, drawing. "I activate the spell One for One. I discard Synchron Carrier in order to special summon Tuningware from my deck. (Lvl:1/ATK:100/DEF:100). Next, I summon Junk Synchron (Lvl:3/ATK:1300) and use his effect to revive Synchron Carrier from the graveyard (Lvl:2/DEF:1000)."
"Three monsters just like that," Tanion remarked. "The projection may not be Yusei, but it sure is duelling like one."
"I tune Tuningware at Level 2 with Junk Synchron in order to Synchro Summon Junk Warrior (Lvl:5/ATK:2300)," the projection said. "Tuningware and Synchron Carrier's effects activate, so I draw a card and also Special Summon one Synchron Token (Lvl:2/ATK:1000/DEF:0). Next, Junk Warrior's effect activates, and it gains 1000 ATK to now have 3300 ATK."
"Tanion, do something," Jorann warned.
"I don't have anything for this, old man," he snapped back.
"Synchron Carrier allows me to normal summon one 'Synchron' monster in addition to my first normal summon each turn," the projection continued. "I summon Road Synchron (Lvl:4/ATK:1600) and then tune Synchron Carrier and Synchron Token with it in order to Synchro Summon Road Warrior (Lvl:8/ATK:3000/DEF:1500)."
"Two Synchro monster with 3300 and 3000 ATK," Tanion whispered, gulping. "This won't be fun."
"I attack with my two monsters," the projection said.
All Tanion could do was shield himself as Junk Warrior first took out his Royal Knight, and then braced as Road Warrior attacked him directly. Not only had he lost all of his advantage in the duel, but now he was facing off against two strong monsters with nothing on his field to protect himself with.
"Turn over," the projection said nonchalantly.
Tanion – 200 LP
Projection – 100 LP
"Finish this, boy," Jorann ordered. "This is taking much too long."
"You're right," Tanion said, drawing. "I've got to finish it this turn, otherwise that deck is going to overwhelm me."
"You have to get rid of his monsters first," Jorann instructed.
"I know," Tanion said curtly. "I don't need you coaching me from the sidelines, old man."
"I'd prefer if you didn't call me that, boy."
"And I'd prefer if you didn't call me boy," Tanion shouted angrily. "From my hand, I activate the effect of Vampiric Knight! I tribute your Junk Warrior in order to special summon it with half of Junk Warrior's ATK points. Come forth, Vampiric Knight! (Lvl:6/ATK:1650)."
"What are you doing, you idiot?!" Jorann bellowed. "Now they won't take any battle damage this turn!"
"I know that," Tanion said, eyes firmly fixed on Road Warrior. "But in order to beat that deck, risks need to be taken."
"What are you talking about?"
"I activate my face-down card, Infirmary!" Tanion revealed. "I return Royal Knight from my graveyard to the Extra Deck, and then special summon Marksman Knight from my graveyard! (Lvl:3/ATK:1400). However, it now means you can draw two cards from your deck."
"Tanion, this is a huge risk," Jorann warned as the projection drew its cards. "If you don't win this turn…"
"Lay off me, old man, I know what I'm doing," Tanion snapped. "I now tune my Level 6 Vampiric Knight to my Level 3 Marksman Knight! Synchro Summon! Descend before us now, my strongest monster! Level 9! Mary, Queen of Knights! (Lvl:9/ATK:3000/DEF:2600)."
"It has the same strength as Road Warrior, but you can't inflict battle damage anyway," Jorann noted.
"If I could, her effect would be very useful," Tanion said in turn. "However, I have another card that'll end this just as well. This card can only be played during my first Main Phase, so here goes. From my hand, I play the spell card Sacrifice of the Knight! By returning Mary to my Extra Deck, I can inflict damage to my opponent equal to her ATK. This duel is over, projection!"
The Queen of Knights fell to one knee as she began to glow a radiant white. As Tanion turned away from her glow, he saw Road Warrior dissolve into nothingness, and the projection slowly phased out of existence. As the light dissipated, both he and Jorann saw that the door the projection had been guarding was now open, and waiting for the them to enter.
"Your strongest monster, eh?" Jorann quipped. "I thought every Queen had a King."
"The King was going to be printed in the next set, the strongest monster in the archetype," Tanion scowled. "Because of this mess I never got the chance to get it, nor the other Synchro monsters."
"There are others?" Jorann asked.
"The Knights archetype has a Synchro monster for every level, some multiples," Tanion explained. "I had bought the Level 10 and Level 11 but now they're going to arrive with no one there to collect them."
"The King is a Level 12?" Jorann asked.
"It hadn't been revealed yet," Tanion answered. "Why do you care anyway?"
"I have my reasons," Jorann muttered. "Now come on. Let's see what's behind that door."
Although unhappy with Jorann's answer, Tanion followed him silently through the doorway as he knew he was not going to get an answer. They entered a small room, and within lay a single card, illuminated by one dimly lit downlight. Tanion recognised it immediately.
"That's… that's Formula Synchron," he gasped, reaching for it. "What's this doing here?"
As he touched the card, a projection suddenly appeared over it, causing him to leap back in fright. However, he soon realised the projection was none other than of Yusei Fudo. Although it wasn't really him, Tanion struggled to believe that he was now seeing the man in real life with his very own eyes.
"Attention Synchro Users," the projection of Yusei said. "I do not know whether you are with The Grand Order or not, but that is simply a risk I will have to take. This information needs to be known by the Coalition."
"It's a recording set to go off when someone touched the card," Jorann realised. "Pay close attention, boy."
"I am making this recording because I've received word that The Grand Order will soon attack in full force," Yusei said. "As such, I have taken precautions to make sure that they do not capture me or my deck. I will leave Stardust Dragon in a warehouse in Los Angeles. I hope the Coalition finds it, and returns it to me, along with both my Junk Synchron and the card hidden here. I know this is a massive risk, but I cannot allow The Grand Order to get its hands on my Synchro cards."
"What's so important about them?" Tanion wondered. "There was never a guarantee that we would find all his cards."
"If those who broke in here are Coalition forces, or other rebel forces, then please listen to me," Yusei's recording said. "The Grand Order is trying to collect every Synchro user and every Synchro card on the planet. I don't know why they want this, but I learned this thanks to an attack on their computer systems a few weeks ago, and it may be the reason why they're coming after us now. They don't want this information getting out."
"What purpose could that possibly have?" Jorann whispered.
"I am leaving before the attack," Yusei continued. "One of my advisors, Cimbelle, has agreed to stand in my place, with our holographic technology disguising her as me. It is a death sentence, but one we all know is necessary. If we are to win this, I can't afford to be captured."
"That sounds nothing like the Yusei from the anime," Tanion noted. "He'd never abandon his friends and allies."
"War changes people," Jorann said softly.
"I am heading for the East China Sea," Yusei said. "If you are a part of the rebels, you will understand what I mean. There I have been gathering as many Synchro users as possible, not just to keep them from the clutches of The Grand Order, but also to initialise Operation Theta. If you are with the rebels, please join me there. We will need everyone we can for the battle that is to come."
"What's Operation Theta?" Tanion asked.
Jorann looked horrified. "The end game," he whispered lowly.
"If this room is found, I will know, and will wait one month before initialising Theta," Yusei said. "That is as long as I will wait. And to whomever takes the card before you, I wish you good luck and safe travels through this hell."
The projection blinked out, and Tanion and Jorann were suddenly left in a blank room, again, with just Formula Synchron and the dim light to keep them company. Tanion could see the crease on Jorann's brow as his mind furiously went over all the information they had just received, and so he decided to retrieve the card while the old man did so.
"What's our next move?" he asked, putting the card into his deck box.
"Stromberg Castle is on the way to the East China Sea," Jorann said, his mind still in overdrive. "We stop there and inform Felirae of what Yusei said. He needs to know."
"About Theta?"
"About everything," Jorann corrected. "Then we head for the East China Sea. We can't allow Yusei to go through with this idiotic plan."
"Why not?"
"Because it is a death sentence for everyone involved," Jorann spat. "There isn't nearly enough numbers to pull off Theta. It'll be suicide."
"What is Theta anyway?"
"That, boy, is not information I can freely give," Jorann answered. "You want to know? Ask Felirae when we get back. We'd better get moving. The Grand Order will likely be converging on this location given the nature of our actions. They would've had monitors on this place and they would've started moving in the moment we put the card in the table."
"We don't have much time then."
"Let's just hope we get out of here without any fuss," Jorann said as he began to move. "And let's hope we get to Duel Academy before everyone on the island is sent to their deaths."