Hello, all! Here's the next chapter in the story. I'm posting this here as an update, of sorts. I am quite busy right now, so I don't know when the next chapter will be posted.
Just so you know, there will not be a Duel in this chapter. There will be some in-story explanations on changing my custom card designs (aka the Netrunner's Deck). I would appreciate your attention to these changes.
There will also be mention of characters named 'Palus'. These were made by user Myyddraal, and I am using them in this story with this user's permission.
To user Andrey258, thank you for your comments on Apex and Epsilon's personalities being explained in the previous chapter. I hope the personalities in this new chapter will be interesting enough for you, also.
To user D3lph0xl0v3r, thank you for the constant words to 'keep up the great work'. I hope this chapter is as interesting as the previous ones.
To the rest of the readers, please read and enjoy.
Now, for the Japanese-English names:
Godwin = Goodwin
Angela = Angela Raines
Aki = Akiza Izinski
DISCLAIMER: The author does not own the 'Yugioh!' TCG, or any related anime/manga series to this game (Konami owns those). The author does own any original characters/cards/factions/devices shown in this story, and in this story's prequel.
Onward to the Chapter.
[SAMUEL POV]
I take in a breath, and open my eyes. A dim glow comes from a ceiling light. My metal eye flicks around like my human eye, and even blinks like a human eye. That hadn't happened before.
I slowly sit up. The first thing I note is the white bedcover that has wrinkled around my body. I'm in a small bedroom, on a queen-sized bed. An ornately-carved deskside lamp with a silver shade shines beside the bed, the walls a simple shade of gray and blue. A wooden door with a silver handle is to the room's far right, the only way in and out.
Words appear in my right eye in a dark red shade: [CURRENT LOCATION IS HOME OF ANDROMEDA, AGENT OF THE COLLECTIVE]
My head suddenly pounds as I see more words appear: [DATA ON THE COLLECTIVE IS MISSING] [RELOADING FROM PRIOR INFORMATION SAVE]
The pounding turns into a flowing sensation that moves from my head down to my toes. Information as to what 'The Collective' is, and who its members are, come back to me. I remember what they've done to me, and what they hope to accomplish in the world. I remember my work for them in the 'Fortune Cup' tournament, and the reaction they received by society.
After that… nothing. Just an empty void where memories should be. I know things have happened, but any traces of them have been ripped out and wiped clean. I sigh as, once again, I'll have to recover my memories to figure out exactly what's happened to me.
A soft click comes from the door, and I instantly cover myself up with my arms. The door opens to reveal a tall and curved woman with long, flowing black hair, ghostly-white skin, aquamarine eyes, and a face more like a computer image than actual human skin. It's Clarissa, Andromeda's 'maid', and old friend.
Clarissa wears the same maid uniform as I've always seen her wear, except that the bonnet that bound her hair up is missing. I think she looks a bit more human with her hair down. She still sports the same calm smile from the last time. Even so, I keep my bare chest covered from her sight.
"Welcome home, Sir," she greets me in the same French accent she's always spoke with. "Madame has tasked me with getting you ready to meet her clients after you woke up. If you are ready, we can get started."
I nod, slip off the bed, and walk over to the door as Clarissa steps back through it to let me out of the room. My cheeks grow a bit hot due to my nakedness, but Clarissa doesn't seem to bear it any mind as she leads me down a dark blue hallway with several hanging pictures in golden frames.
"Clarissa." My voice sounds twisted to my ears, like I wore it out not too long ago. She looks back at me without stopping, waiting. I can't stop myself from asking my next question.
"I…" It takes me a moment to form what I want to say. "I want to confirm something. Is Andromeda really so important to you that you call her 'Madame'? You aren't just compelled to do that?"
"The Madame is my friend," Clarissa instantly replies with a wider smile. "She works hard so that the two of us can live as we do now. I work hard to keep her happy, and content, while she does her work. That is how a maid should act in the house she works in, and the people she serves."
"But, Andromeda told me what you were before all this, how you acted before you took up this work as her 'maid'. Do you remember any of that?"
Clarissa stops in her tracks. I tense up as she doesn't make a sound. After a few seconds, she turns to me with a completely neutral expression. Her flowing hair brings out the glaze in her eyes, her mind probably somewhere else than taking to me.
"I do not remember my past, Sir," she answers, each word spoken absolutely the same as the previous one. "Nor do I want to. I am fully satisfied with my life as it is, and do not wish to change it. We do not need to speak of this again."
I yield to her words, and Clarissa turns back around to resume her steps. She leads me out to the dining room and living room, both the same as I remember. She then opens another wooden door by the far side of the room, and opens it. Inside is a bathroom with accompanying shower, glass walls allowing the user of said shower to be hidden from view. The floor is tiled without any cracks, the tiles symmetrically patterned.
"Madame requested you wash yourself before you meet her clients," Clarissa states as she gestures inside the bathroom. "I will have new clothes ready for you when you are done."
I step inside the bathroom, and spot my reflection in a mirror above the marble sink. I look at myself as Clarissa walks out into the dining room. Just like my clothes, my body looks different from when I last remember it. But, the changes here are greater than a simple change of wardrobe.
The first thing I notice is my metal eye; it now has tiny eyelids that blink, and move, like human eyes do. The color of the light inside that eye is now the same blue as my human eye, instead of a brighter green. I rub a finger along the upper lid, and it feels polished to the touch. In short, I look more human in the face than before.
The second thing I notice is the lack of a bar code tattoo on my left arm. The Collective had marked me with that when I first joined them, the symbol of an agent. Now, each of my shoulders has the tattoo of a gear inked into the skin. I tap a finger against the inked area, and don't feel any pain. These marks look much simpler on my skin; plus, they're much easier to cover with clothing.
My face and skin are the same as when I last remember, and my hair lies flat against my head with the same shades of red, green, and blue. It was spiked before, right? Whatever, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that I still look like a cyborg, android, or whatever term people use to mark human-machine hybrids.
"I haven't changed at all," I tell my reflection, which looks at me with the same disappointment I feel at my new look.
"If I may state my opinion, Sir," Clarissa says as I hear her high heels clack on the bathroom's tiles, "you still look beautiful to me." I blush at her words, and she pats a hand on my shoulder before she leaves. She shuts the bathroom door behind her, and I turn to the shower to 'wash' myself before my meeting.
I don't take too long in the shower, but there isn't a clock in here to keep track of time. My metal eye isn't damaged by the water, but the lids react like my human eye does when it gets water in it. The Collective must have modified the implant's neural responses to outside situations, and made it more responsive than before. Regardless of the abilities of the Collective's tech, Clarissa has a set of new clothes for me to wear once I get out.
I dry myself off with a large towel that hangs on a rack by the shower, slip the clothes on, and look myself over. I now sport dark blue pants that fit snug around my legs without constricting them, equally-snug black socks, a hooded black shirt with a gray gear in the center, a white undershirt, black sneakers with white lines on the sides. I smooth out my hair, the color not lost from the shower, as I double-check everything is in order. Then, I step out into the dining room.
My stomach growls as I smell something spicy from the dining room table. Clarissa stands by one of the chairs, pulled out for me to sit. A bowl of soup sits on top of a placemat, a metal spoon placed adjacent to it. Clarissa invites me to eat, and I do so as she heads into the kitchen. The soup is a mix of beans, mushrooms, and chicken; my taste buds seem to like it, but I don't rush in eating it. I don't want a repeat of what happened at the Fortune Cup.
Once the meal is finished, Clarissa returns to take the dishes away. She comes back almost instantly, and hands me two small items. The first is a blue and white credit card with a long series of numbers and the letters 'NDC DPB' along the top. This card must connect to that 'Neo Domino City Duel Point Bank' I once had a balance of 'Duel Points' with. I used that balance to purchase an incomplete D-Wheel, back in Satellite so long ago.
The second item is a bit more interesting; a pair of glasses with heavily-shaded transition lens, and a lighter brown frame. The lenses curve around the side, top, and bottom of the frame's front, protecting my eyes from being seen at any possible angle. The glasses easily fit, and the lenses give everything I look at a shaded appearance without blurring up my vision. However, I can still see everything around me just fine.
"Were these glasses designed by Andromeda's clients?" I ask Clarissa. She nods in confirmation, and then adds in, "Madame suspected you would be concerned about your appearance while out and about in the City, so she asked her clients to make this. If it goes over well, Madame predicts these can be mass-produced for future use."
"They seem effective," I comment as I take them off and carefully place them into a side-pocket in the coat, along with the Duel Point credit card. "I'll be sure to give them a good test."
"Also," Clarissa then states in an angrier tone, "the credit card is connected to Madame's funds, just like the previous one you had. You seem to have a habit of losing these cards in dire circumstances, and Madame has not appreciated having to cancel separate accounts. Don't lose this one, if you can help it."
"I got it," I quickly say with a few nods. "I'll be careful."
"Good!" Clarissa gives a smile I swear is exaggerated. "Now, I just need to lead you to a specific place. Madame's clients will take it from there. If you are ready, we can go."
I answer her with a gesture for her to lead on. She curtsies in response, and takes me to the elevator for the apartment. She presses a button marked 'P3', and we stand in silence for the short ride down.
The doors open to reveal a parking garage for the Tops. Most of the spaces are empty, the place lit by bulbs strung along large pipes in the ceiling. Clarissa leads me away from the elevator, down a few rows of cars, and to an unmarked white door with a gray knob. The door doesn't have any light over it, and looks like any other door to me.
Clarissa flips a lock on the knob, and opens the door to reveal a tunnel that's barely lit at all. The metallic walls remind me of the Collective's underground base; maybe this is an entrance to it. I look to Clarissa for an answer, but she just points down the tunnel. I don't want to delay a meeting with Andromeda's 'clients', so I give her a wave and start walking down. I get several steps into the tunnel when I hear Clarissa shut the door behind me.
It doesn't take long for the path to join up with several others at an intersection. This path leads further down, but a man wearing a short-sleeved white shirt, and a red bandanna strapped around his forehead, walks up from there before I get started. I recognize him almost instantly; Edward Kim, the Superior's bodyguard. Funny how he's wearing a shirt, though. Maybe that has to do with his angry expression.
"Edward," I greet with a smile. "Nice to see you again."
"Same to you," he grunts back without a returning smile. "You're the last agent we need to get before the meeting can begin. I was told you'd be coming down about now. Let's go." Edward leads us to a metal door in one side of the path's walls, and opens it to reveal a large chamber filled with people.
The chamber has a large, circular folding table with plastic chairs around it. A large holographic projector shines on the table's center, but I also see several smaller cameras placed across the walls. Only two of the chairs are unoccupied, and I slide into one of them as casually as I can. I then look around the table to see who else the Collective has called to this meeting.
The Superiors sit by each other, with Sandra Wu at the center of the trio. They each wear almost-identical gray suits, and sport their cybernetic implants without any kind of cover. They all nod to Edward, and then to me, without a change in their expressions. I suppose the Superiors saw enough of me when they fixed me up.
To Dwayne William's left is 'Andromeda', who smiles at me when we lock eyes. She wears a red dress that isn't so extravagant as most of the other clothes I've seen her wear. Then again, an underground base is probably too dirty to host a very formal event.
To Andromeda's left is 'Chaos Theory', who fingers a portable drive in one hand with an intense stare. But, she does give me a wink after I look at her for a few seconds. She's probably got something important to say. Maybe she's the reason why this meeting was called.
Edward sits between Chaos Theory and myself, filling the chair with his powerful frame. He crosses his arms over his chest and waits, his eyes focused on the Superiors. I skirt a tiny bit away from him as I continue to look around.
To the Superior's right is Kate 'Mac' Mcaffery. She wears gray overalls over a dull green shirt, along with the same work goggles I saw in her shop. She doesn't look directly at me as she drums her fingers on the table. It's strange that she's here, when I recall she didn't like the Collective. Maybe she was brought here by a forceful demand from the Superiors? Or, did she rekindle her friendship with Andromeda, and this is a consequence of that?
The other two people, a man and a woman, grab my attention because they are completely new to me. They each carry a concentrated air in their actions, like the Superiors themselves. They both look older than me, and they don't seem disturbed by what they see among the other agents. Their appearances are as unique as any other agent here, even though I only see the top of their bodies because of the table.
The man, who sits to my direct right, wears a white business suit that looks very sharp on his body. His skin is darker than the suit itself, darker than any of the other people here. His eyes are focused on a personal tablet, it's soft blue glow reflecting on his face as he flicks his fingers across the screen. He doesn't look up at me, at all.
The woman, who sits between the Superiors and the suited man, has a thin face. Her eyes and lips have a lot of makeup on them, and her bright green hair trails down her body like a spiked tail. She wears a vest that leaves her shoulders exposed, the vest itself made of patchwork brown leather. She looks at the skin of her hands with a sharp gaze, and rubs a finger along a small section.
The woman locks eyes with me as I take my glasses off, but she looks away just as easily. I look around the table to judge the other people's reactions to my new look, but they don't seem to care. The man with the tablet tilts his head up when Wu claps her hands to get everyone's attention.
"This meeting of the Collective will now come to order," Wu states, the walls giving a bit of an echo to her voice. "Our first order of business is preliminary introductions."
"As some of you do not know everyone else here," Williams explains, "each agent will now give their code name, and their assigned purpose in the Collective. This will allow each agent to understand how they fit in the Collective's greater plans."
"For starters," Bordeau concludes, "we are the Superiors. We lead the Collective down the path of Peace Through Unity, and we monitor the activity of Neo Domino City's digital network, and technological developments." Bordeau then nods to Andromeda, which begins a chain of introductions that go around the table, including me.
"I am known as Andromeda. I monitor the celebrity activity, and media paparazzi, in Neo Domino City." She says this in a low, calm tone, each word important.
"I'm called Chaos Theory. I keep tabs on Satellite, and the Sector Security there." She gives a quick smile as she says this, and instantly slips back into her prior mood.
"I'm Edward Kim. I'm the Superior's bodyguard, and a heavy lifter for any big assignments." He keeps his arms crossed over his chest as he says this. The tone of his body speaks how good he is at his tasks.
"I'm the Netrunner. I represent the Collective's goals through Duel Monsters." I speak my words without any hint of the emotions inside me right no. No one is surprised by my role, though the green-haired woman raises an eyebrow like she's confused.
"I am Nero. I track the financial state of the Collective, Neo Domino City, and Satellite." The suited man inclines his head as he says this, his voice as calm as Andromeda's.
"Call me Quetzal. I keep posted on any biological trends in Neo Domino, like medicine or diseases." The green-haired woman says this like she's said it a thousand times to us already.
"Thank you, agents," Wu says to us all. "Our next item of business is individual reports. Every agent that has information they feel needs to be spoken to the Collective as a whole, please do so now."
"I'll start off," Chaos Theory instantly says as she jumps up from her seat. "Plug this in, please, and dim the lights a bit."
She tosses the disk drive in her hands to the Superiors. William catches it, and inserts it into the projector near the table's center. At the same time, Bordeau snaps a finger towards the ceiling lights, which causes them to dim down enough so we can see the image before us.
A picture of two holographic dragons, Red Dragon Archfiend and Stardust Dragon, appears over the table. The beasts are frozen in place over the racetrack, like they're about to do battle. Chaos Theory clicks her tongue, and I see her pull out a small remote from her pocket. She twists it as deftly as the disk drive from before.
"Agents, Superiors," she speaks to us all as she walks around the table with light steps, "you've all probably heard about the results of the Fortune Cup tournament. How a man from Satellite is the new King of Riding Duels. Well, the so-called 'Satellite's Shooting Star' has brought about more problems than you may think."
With those words, she points the remote at the projector and presses a button. The image shifts to a wide-angled shot of Yusei Fudo's face and hair. The yellow 'Marker' line by his left eye is clearly visible, and his expression is focused on something else than the camera.
"By the end of the Fortune Cup," the agent continues, "the name 'Yusei Fudo' became common knowledge. Everyone from factory workers to Sector Security officers knows who he is, where he's from, even how he Duels. The fact that he came from so low, and climbed so high, has given inspiration to a lot of people. This includes a cult called the 'Dark Signers'."
I sit up at the name 'Dark Signers'; those words make me shiver, but I don't know why. It might be the image that's now on the projector, of three dark-cloaked people preaching to a large crowd in the middle of a ruined street. The image is a bit blurred, like the shot was taken quickly.
"This cult consists of people wearing dark cloaks, like what you see here. They have been preaching of worse things to come, that Yusei Fudo's victory is the first sign of a terrible disaster. Besides, Neo Domino City officials don't believe that final Duel was legit, and they show their anger against Satellite itself. Now, this cult is capitalizing on that hatred to stir up revolt."
The next photo appears with a click of the remote. This one shows the people listening to the preachers raising their fists together. They look like they're chanting something, probably what the preachers want them to believe.
"If this continues to build," Chaos Theory continues, "and it will unless it's dealt with, Neo Domino will have a revolution on its hands. Anything connected to Satellite, or even just out of place in Neo Domino's society, will be hunted down and dealt with. I'm sure you all can think of ways that bad situations can be 'dealt with'."
The projector turns off with a final click of the remote, and William detaches the disk drive from said device. He tosses the drive back to Chaos Theory, who catches it as she walks back to her seat. No one else speaks, and some of the agents look at the table with deep frowns. Bordeau snaps his fingers again, and the room's lights brighten again.
"A substantial report, Chaos Theory," Wu speaks to break the silence. "Other reports may connect to this growing cult. The next agent may now give their report."
"Very well, Superiors," Andromeda says as she stands up from her seat. "I will go next." She reaches down beneath the table and pulls out a small purse. She takes a slip of folded paper from the purse, and folds it out onto the table. There's enough light here to see the paper clearly, and I certainly look the paper over.
The paper is a poster showing a man I recognize as Jack Atlas in a dramatic pose, along with his signature 'Red Dragon Archfiend', and his silver-white D-Wheel. The words 'ROAD OF THE KING' are written in gold Japanese characters behind his image, the background a mix of red, purple, and black.
"This poster," Andromeda explains to us all, "was distributed on social media when the movie 'Road of the King' was premiered, the night after the Fortune Cup's conclusion. Many reporters were there to document the event, along with several famous celebrities. One example was the world-famous model Misty Lola, who I did a photo shoot with before the Fortune Cup began."
"Do you have any insight as to her thoughts of the film?" Quetzal asks from her end of the table. "A world-famous model like her might have starred in it, or something."
"No," Andromeda answers. "We were on a tight schedule for the shoot, so I didn't get the time to talk about that, or whether she helped in the film's production. But, I went to the premiere event to judge how other people felt about it. The atmosphere there wasn't the best, because the so-called 'King' has been uncrowned.
"While at this event, I caught a few snippets of the movie as it played, but the bigger thing was a statement that unnerved Mr. Godwin. A reporter named Angela, who works for the newspaper Duel Daily, asked the Director about a false claim in the movie's narration. The film said Jack was born in the Tops; Angela claimed Jack was born in Satellite, and came to the Tops by possibly-illegal means.
"When Angela asked Godwin about this, Godwin was noticeably angry. He said he couldn't answer such, I quote, 'uncertain information', and left without another word. I stayed until the film was done, but I was one of the few people to do so. Most of the reporters left after some interviews, and the celebrities left once the hype of their arrival died down."
Andromeda takes hold of the poster, folds it up, and slips it back into her purse. She then looks at us all with a sad expression, like we don't understand what she has experienced to get this information.
"There has also been a mass exodus, of sorts, from the city, in the wake of the 'Dark Signer' attack at the Arcadia Movement Headquarters two nights ago," she states. "The Movement itself has publicly fallen apart, and several corporations are shifting their headquarters away from the City to avoid property damage."
"There's an exception, though," the elite agent then says with a raised finger. "The 'Palus' family, connected to a household in ancient Britain of the same name, actually came into the City after the attack took place. I first judged this as pure coincidence, until I remembered one of the Duelists in the Fortune Cup was Michael Z. Palus, the supposed son of the family."
"Let me guess," Kate cuts in with a glint in her eye. "Michael is the least regarded of the household, right? Did his appearance in the Fortune Cup make the family come here to give him what he deserves?"
"Kate," Andromeda replies with a frown directed at the mechanic, and using her actual name, "he isn't officially part of the family at all. All records I could find about the household don't have him listed, just their daughter, Elizabeth Y. Palus. Either this Michael is an imposter, or the family purposefully had him removed from the records."
"Oh," Kate replies with a deflated look. "I see." She mutters something to herself as Andromeda sits back down in her chair, her report apparently complete.
"Thank you, Andromeda," Wu states. "The next agent may now give their report."
"I shall speak next, Superiors," Nero says as he reaches into his suit coat. "Let me just connect my personal tablet to this projector. I have some data you all need to see."
Nero pulls out a long computer cable, plugging one end into his tablet. The other goes into the projector, and Adam dims the lights again. The projector now shows a line graph with several separate lines to list several separate pieces of data.
"Neo Domino City has suffered a sharp financial crash in several aspects recently," Nero begins without looking up from his tablet. "The Fortune Cup's dissatisfying conclusion has led to a complete overhaul of advertisements and sponsors. That faction's economical state has gone belly-up, and it most likely won't come back to its former glory. The surrounding buildings have suffered major structural damage, which has forced a large set of funds into repairing damages."
"Current market predictions say that the City's greater economic state won't be crippling to the common workers. But, the immediate level of concern should still be noted, because the people who have lost their homes and resources must rely on insurance to get by. Not many of them have it, of course, what with Neo Domino's current economy at a stagnant state."
"Hold on!" Kate suddenly cuts into Nero's report, pressing her hands onto the table and jumping to her feet. "Your report isn't accurate, Nero. I want to add in my set of information, the social side of your economics."
"Interruptions are not accepted, Agent Mcaffery," Bordeau says with a dark frown. "Sit down, and let Agent Nero conclude his report. You can give your opinion once he has finished." Kate glares at the Superiors, who all stare her down without flinching. After three seconds of silent looks, Kate flops down into her chair. Nero continues.
"Funds have also been directed to a project that's been untouched for a few years. It's known as the 'Daedalus Bridge', the remnants of which can be seen in Satellite. It was a symbol of unity between Satellite and Neo Domino, but it was shut down by Sector Security before it ever got under way."
"There's a legend that goes with this," Chaos Theory cuts in with wide eyes. "The project was started off by the so-called 'Legendary Man'. He wanted to bridge the two cities together, cross the gaps people had made since Zero Reverse. But, when the project was shut down, all his helpers gave up. The man was cornered by Sector Security, and he drove his D-Wheel off the bridge. No one knows what happened after."
"Dead, no doubt," Quetzal remarks as she looks over the back of her hands. "No one could survive a fall into the ocean, especially on a moving vehicle."
"I know that," Chaos Theory shoots back. "But, that doesn't mean people can't keep their hopes up in something fantastical." Quetzal doesn't answer, and Nero unplugs his tablet from the projector, apparently finished. Wu then nods to Mac, who stands up and places her hands on the table for the second time.
"The people injured in the Daimon Area attack have lost more than their homes," she firmly insists. "They've lost friends and family in the chaos, and they've got just about no one to turn to for help. The Daimon Area is one of the poorest areas of Neo Domino, and the damage this terrorist attack caused was the last thing it needed to experience."
"I guess the people who needed help turned to you?" This comes from Chaos Theory as she raises an eyebrow at Kate's words.
"Well, not immediately," Kate replies. "But, I've gained the trust of a few bartenders and mechanics. They heard about the Collective through the Fortune Cup, and what the Netrunner said."
All eyes turn to me. I scrunch down in my seat at the combined gaze, but no one says anything. I'm not ready to speak up, if that's what they want. But, Kate goes right on talking like she never paused at all.
"These people can make their workplaces sanctuaries for agents when needed, and they're willing to keep a lookout for any further 'Dark Signer' attacks in Neo Domino's poorer areas. As Chaos Theory said, tensions are running high, and I think we need all the help we can get. I want to make that clear to you all."
"Thank you, Mac," Bordeau states as Kate sits back down with a sigh. "The next agent may give their report."
"I guess I'm next," Quetzal says with a loud sniff, without getting up from her seat. "This report actually doesn't connect much to my assigned task, but it was leaked online just a few hours ago. It's about the Nazca Lines in Peru; they're disappearing."
"Disappearing?" Edward repeats this word with a huff. "That shouldn't be happening."
"Correct, Edward," Quetzal replies without losing her stride. "There is no known biological phenomena that can cause erosion on this scale. There are claims that this is a practical joke, like how crop circles were once used to convince local farmers aliens were invading. I thought that way, too, until I reviewed what satellite images showed of the 'Dark Signer' attack. Two of the Nazca glyphs that have vanished were shown in purple fire; the Lizard, and the Hummingbird."
"You suspect a magical influence, yes?" Nero asks, his interest apparently peaked.
"I'm not suspecting anything," Quetzal replies with a glare at the businessman. "I'm just saying what I've found. What you make of it is your choice, your freedom."
"Thank you, Quetzal," Williams says when no one else speaks up. "Are there any further reports?" No answer comes from the agents. I certainly don't have anything to report; nothing special has happened that I can remember. The Superiors probably know a lot more about what's happened to me than I do.
"Very well, then," Wu states. "Based on the information we have all heard, every agent here shall now be given assignments to complete until further notice." I sit up straight in my chair as the Superiors look to the different agents. Wu states all the assigned tasks.
"Andromeda, continue observing the Neo Domino elite, especially the actions of Rex Godwin, and his council, against the public eye. If you have the time, consider investigating the Palus family, as well." Andromeda just nods in response.
"Mac, talk to some of your frequent customers in the Daimon Area, the ones you said would help out the Collective if need be. See if they, or anyone they know, will be able to accomplish minor tasks for us when needed." Kate nods as well, but she looks more worried than Andromeda.
"Chaos Theory, Quetzal, you two will return to Satellite and continue investigating into the 'Dark Signer' cult. Figure out as much as you can, within the limits of safety. Send your findings to us as often as possible." The two women nod as they look at each other. I don't know what they're thinking, but I don't think they'll hate working with each other.
"Edward, you will continue your bodyguard duty, unless called on by another agent for muscle or heavy lifting." Edward just nods, like everyone else. It seems a bit odd that he isn't getting any new tasks, but he probably already has a lot to deal with.
"Nero, look further into this 'Daedalus Bridge' project. If it is being revived after so many years, there must be a special reason behind it." Neo slips his tablet into his suitcoat as he nods as well.
"Netrunner." I jump a bit as my name is announced. "Please remain here for the time being. We will provide you with new data for a Duel Monsters Deck, which you will use to represent the Collective's goals against future Dueling opponents." I just nod, eager to figure out what the Superiors mean by this.
"If there are no questions about your tasks…?" Wu pauses to leave time for anyone to answer. No one does, which leads her to finish with, "You are all dismissed. May you run the Net freely."
The agents all respond in kind, and then all stand up to leave. I do so a moment later, even though I feel I'll be sticking around. Chaos Theory and Quetzal quickly join up and start chatting to each other as they walk out. Andromeda follows a moment later with quick steps, Kate shaking her head a few paces behind her. Nero slips his tablet inside his suit coat before he moves out the door, and Edward moves to the door to guard it. I pocket my glasses into my coat, and move from the table when the Superiors do.
I stay behind the Superiors as they each move with precise steps and motions. We soon reach a familiar metal door, which Wu opens by tapping the implant on her face. Inside is the large metal chair that I had used to 'connect' to the Superiors when I had first met the Collective. All the wires that connect to the chair give it a creepy appearance. Sweat runs down my back, even though I've been in this chair before.
"You will connect to the Network through here," Wu explains as she indicates said chair. "Our data for 'Project Archives' is stored in our private server. You may take as much time as you need to compile the data you need. There are a few important things you need to know before you begin, though."
"First," Bordeau states, "all our Program, Cyborg, Virus, and other custom Monster types have been reformatted into Machine or Warrior-Type Monsters. This is to allow greater balance with the rest of the Duel Monsters collection, both good and bad."
"Also," William adds in, "our data on 'Project Archives' has expanded since the Fortune Cup. Now, every agent, living or dead, has their information stored this way. Any living agents will have their data updated periodically, but this will not affect the statistics of your cards unless we believe it important to do so."
"Once you have the data compiled," Bordeau finishes, "we will run that data through our card creator program to create your Deck. You will receive the Deck once it is complete. Do you have any questions?"
"What happened to my old Deck? Last I remember, I had used it against… Aki. Against Aki." I try to recall any other Duels beyond that, but can't. The air feels a bit colder with this hole in my memory.
"Your previous Deck has been recovered," William answers. "The physical cards have been damaged beyond use with Solid Vision projectors, but the data is still intact. You may use as many of your old cards as you wish."
"Right, right." I rub a hand along my forehead as it starts to throb. Wu notices, and frowns.
"Are you certain you are well, Netrunner?" she asks. "We will not force you to do this immediately."
"No, no, it's just…" I stop as the pounding gets worse. "I'm just confused about a lot of things. I don't know how to say it."
"If you need further rest," Bordeau says as I see him reach for my arm, "we have spare rooms that—"
I gasp as pain pierces through my eyes. I stumble back from the Superiors as images of the living, and dead, agents of the Collective fly around me. They all talk at once, fight for the chance to tell me something important. The room's walls, and the wired chair, all move in on me, press against me.
My vision turns red as I mentally push the voices back with a wordless shout. Then, I run as the voices get back up and continue talking. I shove past someone, and race down the passages to try and find a way to escape these people. They turn angry as I run, screaming at me to listen.
They're angry at me. Angry for what I've done, or what I haven't done. They've waited until now to tell me their problems, when I thought I was safe with the Collective. I don't want to hear them, don't want to relive the horror of seeing these people die. I can't take the pain. I can't.
I just run, run, run away…
All right, that's all for now. I know this chapter had a lot of things to take in, and it ends on a cliffhanger, but this is the best I could write at this time. That being said, I would appreciate any feedback on how the explanation in this chapter was to you.
Again, I do not know when the next chapter will be posted. I don't want to post half-finished things here, and this story needs a lot of planning to get done right.
Until next time, Draconos is taking off.