Hello, all. Here's the next chapter of the story. It's a short chapter, but it is building up to what I think will be a big Duel.

I do not have the Duel fully written at this time, and I wanted to post a chapter before too much time passed by. This is to certify that I will be continuing this story when I can. I appreciate anyone who continues to read it, and enjoy it.

Now, for the Japanese-English names used in this chapter

Godwin = Goodwin

Divine = Sayer

Carly Nagisa = Carly Carmine

Also, this chapter shows a custom character used by Myyddraal, who appeared in the last chapter as well. All credit to this character goes to them.

DISCLAIMER: 'Yugioh 5D's' is owned by Konami. 'Android: Netrunner' is owned by Fantasy Flight Games. The author owns their custom characters/factions.

Onward to the Chapter.

SAMUEL POV
CYBERSPACE

As I look through the Collective's database, I try to hold back my emotions. All these images of agents, tactics, and technology the Collective saved up gets to me. I used some of these cards, but many more are unknown to me. Some of the new cards are the agents I saw at the meeting, personified into Duel Monsters. Nero Severn, Quetzal, Edward Kim, Andromeda, Chaos Theory, even Kate, are all here.

None of this helps me choose how I want to my Deck to be. Maybe I should ask for help? I guess I should: I've got help here with me. Why would I choose to not use it?

"Hey, Masque," I try to casually ask the AI near me without looking back at her, "could you help me with my new Deck?"

"What 'help' do you need?" she asks back as I hear her walk towards me. "Try to be specific, please."

"Well… I don't know where to start. A Deck can have so many strategies, so many ideas, in just 40 cards. I can't figure out what I want my Deck to show."

I look to the digital woman as I say this last bit. She strokes her chin as she looks over the database, and doesn't respond until she finishes.

"Let's start simple, Netrunner. Do you have any cards you think are special to you?"

"Special to… me?" I repeat this with a confused tone.

"Cards you can relate to," she explains, "ones you have relied on in your Duels prior. A Monster, for example, that you kept bringing out because of its versatility."

A few Monster cards instantly come to mind, and I type the name of one on the keyboard. The screen shows an enlarged image of that card, along with its statistics. I note its types have changed to "Machine" and "Warrior". I press the "ENTER" key, and jump back as the screen fires out a blue beam of light to my right. The beam strikes the white surface and sculpts out a body in milliseconds, down to the detail of skin and hair. It faces me, the Masque, and the screen.

I take a slow breath as Rielle 'Kit' Peddler – or a digital copy – opens her eyes. She first notices me, and gives a very human smile. It almost makes me feel better, a glimmer of serenity against my greater problems. She then steps next to me, and hugs me with an equally-warm touch. I freeze up before I carefully wrap my arms around her.

"I thought I'd never see you again," Rielle whispers in my ear. "All of us did, when the Arcadia Movement snatched you away." She pulls back to get some breathing room before she continues with, "We would be honored to work with you once more."

"There's a problem with that," I state with a lump in my throat from the close contact we just had. "From how I've used each of you as Duel Monsters cards, I don't think all of you are equally useful in a Deck. I've probably used you more than Gabriel Santiago, for example. But, I don't want to just discard any of you away."

"I see why you would think that way," Rielle replies with a nod. "We have all seen you become an agent of the Collective, and recover from your amnesia. We have seen your highs and lows, your rises and your falls. We haven't forgotten."

"But, what if one of you isn't used in my Deck? Hivemind didn't like being chosen after I used it in a Duel, remember? I don't want any of you to feel like that."

"Hivemind was a special situation." Rielle frowns as she states this with an angry tone. "It always wanted to be better than before, constantly chasing the dream of perfection. We understand that change takes time, and that our talents won't always be useful. That doesn't mean we'll be jealous if another card, another type of talent, is used in your Deck."

"Change is a constant fact of life, cyborg," the Masque suddenly states from behind me. "You can't ignore it for some joy in the present moment. You need to look to the future, like the Superiors used to."

I step away from Rielle as the Masque looks at her impassively. The cyborg gives a small frown in return. There's a tension between them that I can't really figure out, or want to try and fix right now. Luckily, both women break off at the same time without further issues.

"The Masque is correct," Rielle states as she looks back at me. "Everything changes, and that can't be prevented. But, people like you have the freedom of choice. Take what you've learnt in past Duels, and see how you could be better. Make your Deck as you want it to be, not as others say it should be."

"Your point is countering itself," the Masque butts in. "He's asking for your help with a choice that will affect his future, and you say he should just believe in his instincts?"

"No, no," I reply as I turn away from Rielle's darker frown, "I think I get it. Let's not get into a fight, please."

"I had no intention of harming the Masque," Rielle states as she walks toward the computer screen and keyboard. "I have changed from that time. The Arcadia Movement's… experiments… were a part of what brought this change. I'm sure you understand how persuasive the Movement can be."

I stare at the white ground, not wanting to look Rielle in the eyes. I feel a mixture of shame, regret, and anger at what she reminds me of. I don't want to remember those times, but they aren't going away on their own.

I see a fizzle of green light. When I look up, Rielle is gone. Her card appears in a separate category on the display screen. This new section has the title, "CHOSEN DECK", with an indicator showing 1 out of 40 cards have been chosen. So, Rielle is now a part of my new Deck.

Granted, I wanted Rielle in my new Deck, anyway. She was the first card that literally 'spoke' to me, probably because of her cybernetic enhancements. But, if I have to 'speak' to every single card I choose, this whole creation process is going to take a while. I don't have the convenience of forever to make my choices.

I walk back to the screen to choose my next card. My fingers move quickly as I move between the cards. I quickly find Gabriel Santiago's image among the collection, and add it by pressing the "ENTER" key again. He doesn't appear by me, but I feel a momentary glimmer of satisfaction that feels like something he'd have.

More cards are quickly added. Magnum Opus. The three 'Cerberus' Tuners. Clone Chip. The three Rabbit Holes. Personal Workshop. Test Run. Sure Gamble. Cyber Threat. I see other familiar faces among the cards, and they don't look or sound upset when I pass over them.

Gordian Blade. Snowball. Wanton Destruction. Wyldside. The Source. Sacrificial Clone. I move almost automatically, now, the image of my Deck slowly forming in my head. It's a muddy image right now, but it's better than nothing at all.

Dinosaurus. Queen's Gambit. Planned Assault. Inside Job. Feint. Singularity. The three 'Shard' Synchros: Eden, Hades, Utopia. Terra-Wing Netrunner Dragon. The Synchro Monsters are ones I especially want in my new Deck, since they've been with me from the beginning. Even though they go in their own "Extra Deck" section on the display, they feel just as much a part of my Deck as the other cards.

I stop as I realize something. I don't want to add any more old cards: or, rather, the other old cards don't fit well with my new Deck's theme. There aren't 40 cards selected, though. Looks like I'll have to pick new options. Which to choose?

A few cards pop out because of their appearance, others because of their effects. I choose them, and spread my selection out from there. I move slower than before, looking closely over each option in silence. I don't hear the Masque, or Apex, make any comments as I work.

After one last selection, I have 40 cards. There are more old cards than new, but the new cards all have their own unique qualities. I still feel some regret over the programs and agents not in this new Deck, though. I suppose that will never go away.

I look over each card one more time, and then step back with a glance to the Masque. She steps over to the terminal after a moment's pause, and analyzes my choices without a word. I feel my heart beat faster as I grow nervous about what she'll eventually say. What feedback will she give?

"Interesting," she finally says. "I would have expected something more aggressive, considering the pain you've had to experience."

"That's not what I want," I reply. "It's… I'm not sure I can describe it."

"Give it a try. We'll listen." I blink at the "we", and then realize Apex is still technically here with the Masque. Well, it might learn something from this experience. I move back to the display as I begin.

"Rielle talked about the freedom of choice, right? Well, I don't think I have had the chance to make a proper choice before now. There was always some rule, or some limitation, that blocked me off from some options. Sure, some of those options would have been bad for me had I taken them, but… I never got to figure that out for myself."

"And, you think building this Deck is your first real 'choice'?"

"Maybe?" I feel silly for not being certain with my words, and I try to explain it. "The Superiors have opened up their "Project Archives" to me with this database. They trust me with their past, but not with things like their current agendas. I'm one of their Agents, a position they put on me without my agreement."

"Do you not want to be an Agent anymore?" The Masque frowns as she asks this, probably because she left the Collective herself.

"No," I reply, "I do. But, the Collective has used me like almost everyone else has. Godwin, and the Order of Yiliaster, cloned me and my four 'brothers' from a dead Psychic Duelist. The Arcadia Movement treated me like a weapon for their cause; Divine tried to brainwash me into his service. The citizens of Neo Domino City call me a 'Dueling Terrorist' because they fear how different I am. Even the Crimson Dragon, a deity from thousands of years ago, has made me a 'Signer' of its power to fight some great evil."

I look to my right hand and arm as I comment on that red-and-gold creature. I remember the red eye that shone with power, and gave me strength in Duels. I remember the vision it showed me after I had Dueled my brothers. I remember the 'Dark Signer' Carly Nagisa fighting Divine, proclaiming that her 'God' would shroud the world in darkness.

Now, that mark doesn't appear. The Dragon has probably moved on to a better person, an actual person, to be a 'Signer'. That was its choice: why does it hurt me that it happened?

"I want my own choice to mean something," I finish as I look back to the display screen, "to myself, and my friends. It may eventually change, but I don't want to forget it."

"Then, I think I've given all the help I can. If you are sticking with this Deck, that's your choice."

The Masque steps away from the display with a smile on her face. I feel a smile start to grow on my face in return as the screen shows the words "Confirm?" for my Deck. I press the "Y" key to confirm my choice, and the display glows slightly as my Deck is constructed. The white space around me starts to break apart at the same time.

"Looks like we're done here," the Masque comments as the air rumbles stronger with each second. "Good luck out there: I'll be sure to keep watch on the war from the Network."

I nod back before her form disintegrates into blue pixels. The sight doesn't disgust or upset me. A growl comes from the display, and I look to it as Apex's eye blinks once, and then also vanishes. Everything turns to black a moment later.

REAL WORLD

The cold needle pulls out from the back of my neck, and I breathe in a metallic scent in the air. My eyes open to show I'm back in the 'connection room'. My mouth feels dry, and my throat is parched. That feels strange, since I don't think I was in cyberspace for very long.

I sit up from the chair as the Superiors come out from the room's long shadows. Sandra holds a sealed grey Deck box in her hands, which she offers to me as I fully stand up. Bordeau holds a larger silver briefcase in one hand, and Williams has a small glass of water.

"Your Deck, Netrunner," Wu ominously states as I take the box. It feels a bit heavier than I expected, and I place it in a pants pocket as Bordeau opens the briefcase with both of his hands. I also take the water from Williams with a nod of thanks, and quickly down the cool liquid. My throat quickly feels much better.

"The Duel Disk we originally created for you has not been found from the Arcadia Movement's headquarters," the younger Superior explains as I hand the empty cup back to Williams. "We assume it was destroyed in the 'Dark Signer' attack. Therefore, we have created a replica from parts in our storage. All information and data you had on the original disk was also lost, I'm afraid. But, the Disk now has two-way communication, and a user-recognition program in case it gets stolen."

Williams takes out the replicated Duel Disk as Bordeau finishes talking, and hands it to me. I grasp it with a rush of familiarity, even though this is a copy of the original. It's got the same colors, the same pattern in the panels, and the same type of clamps to keep it attached. I strap it on my left arm, and the weight feels like it's always been there.

"Thank you," I say as I tuck the Deck box into my pants pocket. "By the way, how long was I in the simulation?"

"Approximately 2 hours," Williams answers. My eyes widen at this answer.

"Time flows differently in cyberspace," Wu answers before I even ask the obvious. "It is hard for those who do not regularly access the Network to understand. The digital world consumes your senses, immerses you in a false reality. Your physical body's demands are disregarded in place of what you are experiencing." She places a hand to the cybernetic implant on her face as she then states, "We discovered that for ourselves the first time we jacked in."

"It can be even more complicated when you spend most of your real-world moments underground," Williams adds on. "The passage of the Sun and Moon have been natural displays of the time of day for millennia. Living beneath the Earth's surface, where these lights don't naturally reach, removes most sense of time from one's mind."

"So, what's the time right now?" I ask, with the hopes I'll get a straight answer. If it's too late for me to go outside, I'll have to wait on testing my Deck until tomorrow. Not that testing my Deck is a huge thing right now, but I've got an itch to get out there and Duel.

"It is currently 8:32 pm," Bordeau relays after a momentary silence. "We speculate there are still people awake and active in the City for you to test your Deck against, especially in the public areas."

"So, you do want me to test this out as soon as possible?" I feel a bit silly for asking this question, but I just want to make sure.

"If possible, yes," Williams replies. "However, there is an issue we need to discuss with you before you go."

I raise an eyebrow at this. What could be so important that I need to stay here, after being just told that I should go out into the City?

"We detected an anomalous presence in the same server as you," Wu states. "We were unable to track its signature, but it did not appear to do any damage to you while you were connected. Can you explain what that presence was?"

My eyes widen at the fact the Superiors, for once, were not prepared for something. It makes me not want to give them the answer, or maybe lie about it to keep them happy. But, my conscious says doing so would just make things worse. So, I answer honestly.

"That presence was actually two presences: The Masque, and Apex. I think they're bonded to each other."

"The Masque is involved with the anomaly?" This comes from Wu, but all three Superiors stare at me with shocked expressions. "This is an unprecedented outcome. We have not located the Masque in the Network since before the Fortune Cup tournament."

"Oh, she's been out there," I bluntly state. "She probably has her own plans, and kept them to herself. It's the anomaly, Apex, which I'm more concerned about."

"So that's its name," Bordeau mutters, "Apex. The highest point of a hierarchy, organization, or power structure. Rather fitting, considering it sought to assimilate any data it encountered."

"I'm sorry," I interrupt with a raised hand, "what is this interest about Apex for?"

"It was an unprecedented threat to Neo Domino's safety, consuming data in the Network at an alarming rate and growing more powerful in the process," William states, and I lower my hand as I take in what he says.

"Apex acted like a virus," he continues, "and would have infected the entire Network if unchecked. Neo Domino's electronics and technology could have been destroyed, or wiped clean, or reprogrammed. We neutralized, and contained, Apex within an isolated server here at the base, when we infiltrated the Arcadia Movement headquarters."

"You broke into the Arcadia Movement?" I don't entirely believe their words, even though they did leave the Collective base for that private meeting with me.

"A risky decision," Bordeau admits, "but with a worthwhile reward. Now, Apex is contained to our liking, and the protection of the Network. However," he states with a dark look at me, "if it managed to interact with you while you were connected…"

"That might have been the Masque's doing," Wu picks up with an equally-dark frown. "If she was involved with it, then she must have created it for some purpose."

"A distraction, maybe," Bordeau suggests as the Superiors turn to face each other, "to keep us occupied from her true intentions. Could she have taken the assimilated data, if she is actually 'bonded' with the virus?"

"Uh…" I start as I sense the Superiors sound like they're ignoring me. "Excuse me? I'm still here?"

"What use could she have modified data for?" Wu asks her fellow Superiors, not noticing me at all. "It'd be a collection of random numbers to her. Who plugs a random set of numbers into a program?"

"Perhaps she had created the virus to begin with?" Williams asks. "It is within her power, as an independent Artificial Intelligence in the Network. She has also had years to compile the necessary data."

"Data run on random numbers?" Wu counters. "That isn't very logical, and an AI such as her acts on programming first and foremost."

"There have been several illogical incidents in the past few weeks," Bordeau informs her. "The combined effect may force us to consider different options than before."

"HEY!" I instantly regret raising my voice when all three Superiors send me the same glare at the same time. I flinch up as I then ask, "Can I go now?"

All three Superiors look to each other, and then adopt a neutral expression. Once again, they move simultaneously, which still slightly creeps me out. I don't think that'll ever be normal to me.

"You may leave, Netrunner," Wu states. "We are sorry to have kept you here for so long. Be sure to inform us, or any necessary agents, of a situation in the City that requires our help. Take the same path you came through to get here. May you run the Net freely."

"May you run the Net freely," I repeat back before I turn away from them. I rub my arms through my jacket to get some warmth into my arms. Has it always been this chilly down here, or is it just me? I hope the City has a warmer atmosphere than here.

There's a light on in the front room of Kate's shop when I step into her garage. It's got the same parts as before, in the same places. I notice the same box of Collective-emblem gears, and mutter a curse at my forgetfulness to ask the Superiors what that is all about. Kate probably won't give me the answers, if she wants to talk at all.

I quietly walk to the small steps that lead out of the garage, and Kate sits behind the front desk in a hunched position. She straightens up when she notices me out of the corner of her eye, and snorts slightly after she sees me fully.

"Got another job to do?" she asks. I wince at her tone, tired and uncaring. I sense she's been working hard for the past several hours, and I nod back to her. She points to the door, and looks to a tablet on her desk, with a brief, "You'd better get going, then."

"Kate, wait," I say as I step towards her. "You look terrible. What's going on?"

"It doesn't concern you," Kate answers without looking at me. "I don't want you getting involved in my life right now."

"I can't stand by and watch you act like this," I say as I place a hand on the desk. "Please, tell me what's going on."

Kate rubs a hand across her face before she says two words: "I can't." I hold back a follow-up question when I see a glazed look in her eyes.

My guidance implant, put in by the Superiors to help my brain adapt to my cybernetic enhancements, gives a message: [AGENT MCAFFERY APPEARS TIRED OR FATIGUED. FURTHER CONVERSATION MAY RESULT IN A VIOLENT RESPONSE.]

I sigh and yield to the implant's guidance: I don't want to hurt anyone right now, and we both have assigned jobs to do. I move to the front door, open it, and walk out into the Daimon Area's streets without a glance back at the mechanic-turned-Agent. If she wants to be left alone, I won't trouble her with my presence.

The sun is hidden behind the buildings around me, but the sky still has a tinge of orange. The air is warm and humid, and my breath feels heavy in my chest. I close the shop door behind me and turn to the left, a street in sight at the far end of the alleyway. There's no one outside to get in my way, or slow me down, which is a comfort.

What isn't a comfort is a tense growling in my stomach. It comes and goes as I walk, and I try to ignore it for as long as possible. How long has it been since I ate something? I should probably fix that, but what places are open right now to get some food?

[SEARCHING FOR POTENTIAL EATERIES…]

Once again, my implants kick in for me. I continue to walk, but at a slower pace, as I come to the underpass of a multi-lane highway. Only a few cars, buses, and D-Wheels travel along above me, their lights visible beneath the cloudy sky. I still can't see the Sun, but its light is clearly fading. There isn't much daytime left to find a Duelist, or to get some food.

A streetlight on the opposite end of a crosswalk I approach turns green when I come to it: I see that's the signal to walk across the street when a chatting couple does so from that end. I walk by them, and my metal eye locks onto a small ramen shop squished between two larger business offices. There's an older woman with sunken eyes and wearing a stained apron by a cash register, so I guess it's open for business.

I venture over to the place, and look over what they have. I eventually order a prepackaged salad, and she gives me a set of wrapped utensils with the dish after I pay for it. I leave with my stomach growling louder than before. Now, I need to find someplace to eat this.

It takes me a few minutes walking away from the highway to find a small playground between two streets. It's got a few benches alongside a swing set, and a small sandbox. The metal is a faded green, and all the equipment is too small for me to use properly. Then again, I didn't have plans to swing on a swing set anytime soon. My growling stomach reminds me of my hunger as I see a few people walk by the playground's entrance, but don't go inside.

I go inside, and take a seat at a bench. The painted seat creaks a tiny bit from my weight, but I pay it no mind as I open my salad. It has tomatoes, celery, lettuce, and spinach all mixed together, and I chew it all up without a problem. It doesn't provide much taste, but that's not a huge concern. I only need a few minutes to eat the meal, during which time no one comes by the playground.

I dispose of the meal, and the utensils, in a nearby trash bin. I then turn to leave, but stop as someone steps into the playground. It's that woman with the tricorn cap and cloak, who questioned me in the alleyway. I don't know her name, something I probably should have asked about when we last met. But, the frown on her face says she doesn't want to talk about that.

My right arm tingles slightly, but I dismiss it in the face of this advancing figure.

"Hello again," I say as the woman takes a few steps towards me. "What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that, Netrunner." she answers without looking at me. "But, I have a bigger question I need to ask. Why did you lie to me when we last met?"

"I 'lied' to you?" I try not to get angry at her, despite her accusation. "How so? I answered all your questions as best I could."

"No, you didn't. Your uncooperative attitude led me to stop the conversation early. I did not think you were a good source of information. That has changed."

"So, you're going to ask me more questions?"

"No." Her eyes narrow to a sinister glare. "I'm going to punish you for not telling me the truth."

"What truth are you talking about?"

"I refer to your curse, Netrunner. You bear the mark of this world's enemy." She dramatically points at my right arm as she then shouts, "You've been tainted by the Crimson Dragon!"

I automatically clutch that arm with my left hand, and take a step back. The woman's cloak billows behind her for a second, to dramatic effect. So dramatic, in fact, that it gets the attention of a nearby businessman. He lowers his phone from his hands as he gives a confused stare at Elizabeth.

"The Dragon will bathe this world in blood," she rants as she pulls out a Duel Disk from somewhere in her cloak. "Mankind will fall into chaos under its golden gaze. The destruction has already begun, and I won't allow any more of it."

The Disk has a dark-blue base, with several curved lines of varying colors along its curved shape. The five card slots extend out in a straight line from the Deck holster and main computer. The central gem is a white crystal, housed in the middle of a blue sphere. The lines seem to glow to my eyes, but that's probably a trick of the light.

As the woman places a Deck within the Disk's card holder, I notice a purple glow on her right arm. My vision zooms in automatically to look at it better. It looks like a tattoo of a spider, but the purple glow makes it otherworldly. My right arm tingles again, stronger than before, as I realize what it is.

"A Duel of Darkness will demonstrate the Dragon's lies," she states as her Disk activates. Multicolored energy flows through the slots, and the ethereal lines, as she takes a battle stance. My eyes zoom back out to catch her full, intimidating, appearance.

"Face me, Netrunner," she challenges, "and I will show you the darkness that will save this Earth!"

"You're saying nonsense!" I respond as my right arm now starts to throb with pain. "Don't do something you'll regret."

"You won't escape me! The Duel of Darkness begins, now!"

She snaps the fingers of her right hand. Purple fire instantly materializes behind her, and around the two of us. A ring of flame encloses us in sweltering heat: some of the playground equipment melts away as the ground inside the ring rumbles and cracks in a few places. The businessman from before screams out as he jumps back from the fire. He then gets up and raises his cell phone to his ear, probably to call for some help. I hear other voices in distance, muted against the roaring fire between me and the outside world.

"Please," I slowly say to the woman, "don't do this. I'll answer whatever questions you want, just don't hurt anyone."

"The only one who will be hurt is you," she responds with wide golden eyes, and a creepy smile. "Your cursed Signer mark will be wiped clean, along with your tainted soul, by my Dark Signer powers!"

"You're a 'Dark Signer'?!" My right arm now burns at this realization, and I finally raise my hand away from that area. My eyes widen as that glowing red eye, the Crimson Dragon's mark, shines through my clothing with a bright red glow.

"What…?" I mutter in confusion. "It's back?"

"You see?" the woman shouts at me. "That mark signals you out as a Signer: an enemy of the world. An enemy that needs to die!"

I look at this woman, and feel determination wash away my other feelings. This Signer mark throbs all the more as I take my new Deck from my pocket and place it into my Disk. The device activates instantly, and the woman's smile grows a bit wider.

I wanted a Duel, and now I've got one. I just also have to survive whatever this woman, and her 'Dark Signer' mark, throws at me. If the Crimson Dragon thinks I need its power to accomplish that, then I'll accept it. The main focus right now is to stop this woman from harming anyone else, whether she's a 'Dark Signer' or not.

Hopefully, I can get an explanation to all this when it's over. I think I deserve one.

We both shout, "DUEL!" as I hear other people start to notice what's about to happen...

Alright, that's all for now. The next chapter will primarily show a Duel between Samuel and this mysterious woman. Again, the Duel isn't fully written up at this point, so there will be some time before I post it. I will do my best to make the Duel entertaining for you.

As usual, any comments, constructive criticism, and feedback are appreciated.

Draconos is taking off.