Yep, it's another installment. I know I don't update so often anymore because my schedule has gotten so full. Rest assured, the show must go on. So please enjoy, R&R, and well, you know the drill by now.

After several hours, Yusei and Blister landed on the shore of the Satellite. It was now late in the afternoon. Yusei rode onto the dusty ground in his Runner, and Blister came after him. The copter then ascended and took off, when Yusei heard a familiar voice call his name.

"Hey Yusei? Is that you?" Yusei looked up, to see the orange-haired, bright eyed Crow standing confidently on a pile of scrap metal, with his new, amped up black and gold avian-like Duel Runner.

"Crow?"

"You've got some explaining to do pal!" Crow declared at he hopped and skid down the pile until he landed on the ground in a cloud of dirt, "So start talking."

"First things first." Said Yusei. He put up his fist. Blister thought they might be starting a fight and got off his bike.

"You asked for it!" But, instead, their fists came together and they shook hands. Each of them had a smile on their face.

"Hey there Yusei!" Crow greeted him eagerly.

"How've you been? I see you've learned to use a wrench!" Yusei looked at Crow's runner, which was polished and gleaming in the sunlight.

"I just finished her last year! Ain't she a beauty? Anyways, you know me…fighting the good fight, robbing the rich to give to the poor." Blister walked up behind them, nodding with approval. Crow returned the gesture.

"Crow, this is Blister. He's been a really big help to me the last couple of weeks." Blister greeted Crow.

"Crow is an old friend of mine." Yusei commented.

"Yeah, Yusei and I go way back, don't we? Anyway, I hear your some hotshot champion now." Crow smiled slyly.

"Something like that."

"So, what do you say we hit the streets? We can go to my hideout!"

The three of them got into their runners and starting rushing down the street.

"Woooooooooooooo!" Crow yelled with enthusiasm as they jumped a hall and came down with a thunk as they rode down the streets and across the ashen land.

They arrived at Crow's hideout, which wasn't too far from where the incomplete bridge that connected the Satellite to the mainland was. Crow, Yusei and Blister were all outside the door, when Crow put his finger to his lips in a gesture to be quiet.

"I have another guest her right now, she's been through a lot and she was taking a nap when I left. So we need to keep it down a bit, if that's ok." Crow explained in a soft voice. Yusei blinked. Blister cocked his head.

"Is she a new friend of yours, Crow?" Yusei asked innocently. Crow got a somber expression on his face as they walked in and all slipped passed the sleeping figure on the small sofa against the wall. The girl had several bandages on her. Yusei could feel his arm hurt as they walked by her, but noticed his mark wasn't glowing.

"What happened to her?" Blister wondered as he got a grim look on his face.

"I found her lying on the beach all cuts and bruises, and I noticed her clothes were pulled every which way. She hasn't really said much about it other than she was taken from her grandfather by these guys in hoods…but…"

"Guys in hoods?" Yusei asked, remembering his duel with a Shadow Drone.

"There are these creepy cats running around spouting weird teachings and rounding up followers. I hear they're gathering people deep beneath the Satellite and they work for a group called the Dark Signers." Crow explained.

"Wait. Did you say the Dark Signers? I think I ran into one of their followers not to long ago." Said Yusei. Blister nodded, as he had heard the story before.

"So you know a little about these guys. Well, you haven't seen nothing yet." Crow looked at the girl with a sickened expression.

"Her name is Midori. That poor girl…I tried not to think of it, but the way she was sprawled out and where her wounds were… Yusei, those bastards handed her over to one of the Dark Signers and he laid his filthy hands on her! It's the only thing that makes sense." Yusei felt a nauseating sensation in his stomach. Blister clenched his fists. Crow took a deep breath to calm down as he took a seat on the bigger couch in front of the TV. Yusei sat on one side, Blister sat on the other.

"I understand how it must feel. But, why would the Dark Signers attack her?" Blister wondered. Yusei thought for moment and got an idea in his head.

"When she wakes up, I'd like to talk with her, if it's ok."

"If she's willing to talk to you, I'm all for it. I can't get her to say hardly anything, but she clings to me. I think she needs someone to stand by her. After all, her grandpa's missing and we have no idea where he went."

…

Sidney spent the rest of the previous day resting and regaining her strength. By the time the morning sun had risen the next day, she was in considerable shape from where she was the night before last.

The teen was browsing around in her closet, trying to find the dress she had mentioned to Laura. After a few minutes or so of searching, she had just found it when there was a knock on her door. She allowed whoever it was to come in, and was surprised to see that it was Mina, Jack's secretary, or so Sidney had come to know her as.

Sidney felt a bit awkward since she was still in her nightgown and Mina was fully dressed in her work attire.

"Mr. Goodwin has sent me to discuss his expectations for the Dinner tonight." Mina told her with a hint of a sigh in her voice.

"Ok." Sidney nodded. She put the dressed back for a moment and sat on the bed patiently. Mina took a seat on an empty chair across from her.

"He wants you to arrive with Mr. Atlas. …He'll be here to pick you up at seven…Goodwin wants you to be on your best behavior." Mina began. There was a moment of silence before the teen spoke up.

"Wait a minute; I'm supposed to go with Jack? Like we're on a date or something?" Mina sighed.

"Oh no, no, no…I'm not mad at you. I just…please go on."

"Anyways, Mr. Goodwin and Mr. Atlas are…I guess I should be truthful. I want you to know that Jack and Mr. Goodwin are making a special announcement tonight and I want you to be prepared."

Just then, there were footsteps coming up the hallway. Mina glanced out the open door to see it was Lazar. He kept his gaze averted, but spoke to Mina with a sharpness that made Sidney's hair feel like it would stand up on end.

"Mina, I know you want to tell her, but it's best if she simply know that she will probably not like what she hears." He marched down the stairs, apparently he was in a hurry and had some other place to be that wasn't here. Goodwin was in his household study, and the two of them were having a meeting previous.

"What does he mean? Is there something wrong, Mina?" Mina's cell phone rang just then. It was Jack, who required her presence, supposedly, Sidney thought. The meek secretary stood up and bowed before she carefully walked down the stairs in her heels.

…

Crow, Yusei, and Blister had spent most of the day riding around the Satellite, dueling, or simply talking to each other. Midori had been asleep the whole time. However, when the three of them got home, she had gotten up and was sitting on the couch with the television on. It was now seven thirty in the evening.

"Midori? How are you feeling?" Crow asked with deep concern. Midori had a surprisingly calm expression as she stared at the screen. She invited the three of them to have a seat around on the couch. Her voice was strangely monotone.

"E News Domino is having live coverage of the New Domino Honors Dinner tonight. I thought it might be of interest to one of you. They said Goodwin has invited former champ Jack Atlas and his foster daughter is supposed to be coming too. I didn't even know he had one. Guess we'll get to see her." Midori seemed to be almost in a trance. Yusei could feel an energy emanating from her that was stronger than when they say her sleeping before. Everyone out of curiosity gathered around the TV and took a seat on the couch. Yusei had a pretty good idea of what to expect.

"Is this foster daughter the same one who fell out of that hospital window? The one with the special markings?" Crow asked. Yusei nodded.

Angela, the blonde, wide-eyed, confident reporter was deck out in pink evening wear as she held up the microphone to her mouth. She stood behind the red rope that separated the press from the red carpet as limos were dropping off guests.

"This is Angela, reporting live from Downtown New Domino City. Most of the guests, including Misty Treadwell have arrived, but two very important guests have yet to show up. Oh wait…here comes a limo now."

The Camera zoomed in on the door of the limo. Jack Atlas emerged from the car, dressed in a fancier, formal version of his blue and white daredevil outfit. He held out his hand, as if waiting for someone else to get out.

"And former champ Jack Atlas has just arrived. Wait…who's this getting out of the car?" Angela asked. A small hand came out and reluctantly grasped Jack's. Sidney slowly made her way out of the car.

Her long lavender, shoulderless dress was fashioned in an asymmetrical handkerchief style, with an elegant ivory floral pattern. A darker violet shawl was draped over her shoulders, and a silvery choker was around her neck. She looked almost like a princess doll at first glance. But, Yusei knew it was the same Sidney, and seeing her all dressed up made him go red in the face for a brief second or two until Crow called his attention. Nobody seemed to notice the split second change from being red-faced to the seemingly blank expression he assumed afterwards except for Midori, who giggled.

"Wow, is that her, Yusei?" Crow asked.

"It looks like her." Blister commented. Yusei nodded.

"…She looks incredible." Crow poked Yusei. "I can see why you like her."

Yusei sighed, but let it go. He noticed that Sidney looked a little on the sad side, and wondered what was really going on. His bets were this was set up by Goodwin, and it was probably a publicity stunt of one kind or another.

…

Sidney rigidly took Jack's arm as he led her down the red carpet, surrounded by a sea of flashing cameras and enthused reporters. She could hardly hear anything; everyone was speaking so loud it made her ears ring. If there was one thing Sidney hated, it was being around huge crowds of people. The only exception was the mall. At least in her mind, you could breathe without feeling another person breathing down your neck.

Because of this, she followed Jack closely, trying to keep a pleasant expression for the media. As a doorman opened the door to let them inside, she felt a wave of cool air flow across her and she felt relieved when there was a lot more space and fewer people inside.

The room was covered in a deep wine colored carpet, and the wall were made out of glass and black steel, revealing the setting sun and the beginning of the night sky. People were scattered around the place, and there were several attendants, some of them carrying trays with glasses full of champagne.

Goodwin was waiting at the head of the room, in front of a big screen that was at the top of a flight of stairs. Jack had Sidney sit down at the end of the large table in the center of the room.

"I'll be right back." He whispered in her ear. Jack them proceeded up the stairs towards Goodwin and Lazar. Sidney sighed. She whipped out a fan she had been hiding and waved it. It was a traditional European style fan, with an oriental light purple Koi fish design, surrounded by a field of black.

"Wow, I'm glad to see a friendly face here!" Sidney perked up; she turned around to see the familiar face of Carly Nagisa, dressed in a light blue, lacy dress. Carly adjusted her glasses as she waved at Sidney.

"Well, at least someone here isn't a rich clawed-cat How did you get in here? That's quite a mystery…" Sidney said thoughtfully.

"I just wanted to thank you for the interview. You really saved me back there!" Carly stood over Sidney and shook her free hand. She took a seat next to her, when they were interrupted by another young woman who sat on the other side of Sidney.

"Excuse me ladies, may I ask you for a minute of your time?" The young woman had elegant black hair that fell around her shoulders, and her dark eyes were full of shine. Her dress was a dark rosy red, and she wore a gold necklace, long white gloves, and a dangling golden headpiece.

"You…You're Misty Treadwell the supermodel!" Carly exclaimed. Misty cupped Carly's cheek in her hand and examined her closely. Sidney was slightly weirded out.

"Your Carly, right? You tell fortunes with your cards." Carly nodded as best she could. Misty smiled.

"I tell people's fortunes by reading their face. And what I see," said Misty, "Is a darkness ahead. This darkness is in you, and it's apart of you, Carly. When you come to meet this darkness, you will understand yourself better than you ever have in your entire life."

Carly blushed, clearly not understanding what Misty meant but not really caring. She thanked Misty, bowed to Sidney, and walked off towards an attendant in the corner to question him. Misty turned to Sidney, and held her face with both hands.

"As for you, Miss Clay-Jacques, your face is quite intriguing." Misty commented. Sidney waited patiently. Then, Misty looked at her very seriously.

"You have your doubts. And yes, you will endure great suffering. Some of it will be not your fault; some of it will be self-inflicted. But there is a light that surrounds you that cannot be easily be extinguished. In the end, it will be the lover's song that will carry you when you have lost the power to walk the journey you travel."

Misty let go of Sidney's face. "Also, you are awaiting some disappointing news. But I can assure you, you're not the only one who will be hurt by it."

Sidney looked up. Misty nodded and excused herself as her agent came up to her and requested for her to come sit down at her proper seat. Jack came back just then and sat down next to Sidney.

Goodwin stood in front of the screen with a mic in hand and proceeded to speak as everyone took a seat.

"I want to thank everyone for attending the New Domino Honors ceremony. Before we begin, we have a special performance for you all tonight by Cassandra, followed by an announcement made by myself and one of our guests."

Good went to sit down as the majority of those seated applauded him. The room darkened as a tall looking figure walked down the stairs in front of the screen. Cassandra stood in front of the screen, her bright blue eyes sparkling like her billowing silvery-blue colored, black tinged oriental style dress. She wore a signature bow in her hair, which was black like the edges of her dress.

She gave thanks to everyone, especially Goodwin. The singer then began to sing a song, which Sidney knew to be titled, "The Hero's Lover".

"There are days

When it seems I cannot breathe

Without you at my side.

I wish I could be

Like you

Strong…

Like you.

You are my hero

Who climbs the dark tower

And rescues me from my despair.

You ask me

To let down my long hair

So we can be together.

My love for you

Cannot be broken

And your love for me

Knows no limits

May we always be in love…"

Her voice radiated throughout the room. It moved some to tears, and some simply huffed, and one person snickered. But, when she was finished and the room grew quiet, everyone cheered and gave her a standing ovation.

Goodwin excused her to go put away her microphone so she could come and eat with the rest of the guests. Goodwin came back up the stairs and brought his mic with him. He invited Jack up onto the stage, where he stood at Goodwin's right side.

Sidney felt her stomach curl inside of her. She knew this was it. She knew this was where the news would come. Whatever it was, she would face it, she thought.

"There is some very special news that I would like to share with all of you, my guests this night. As you know, I have a wonderful foster daughter and I am happy to say she has a bright future ahead of her." Sidney rolled her eyes. Even she could tell he was fabricating. But then again, some people seemed to totally believe him. The spotlight came on Sidney and Goodwin asked for her to come up and join him next to Jack.

Jack tried to subtly wrap his hand around hers, but she stepped back slightly. Goodwin ignored this, and managed to give everyone a crowd-pleasing smile.

"As of tonight, dear Sidney is no longer a child but a beautiful woman. For now, she is to be engaged." Everyone whispered excitedly. Sidney's eyes darted back and forth. She balled up her hands into fists as she struggled to keep a cool expression. She glanced over to see Cassandra was peeking over. But, then Lazar was shooing her away as he stood at the edge of the stairs, observing everything carefully, apparently in the direction of her dressing room.

It made Sidney curious, but she was forced to look back at the audience.

"I am proud to say my foster daughter, Sidney Clay-Jacques, and Jack Atlas will be betrothed to each other as of now, and will be married in the coming months. Congratulations to both of you."

Sidney could feel panic building up inside of her. How could nobody tell her this? Why didn't Mina say something sooner? She had hardly ever dated anyone, and now she was supposed to get MARRIED? And the worst part of it was she didn't even love the guy who she was supposedly going to marry. At the very most, she was sympathetic, but she barely even LIKED him.

She wanted a way out. Sidney could feel her stomach begin to ache and her head felt swimmy. She wanted to tell herself it wasn't real, that it was all a bad dream and it would just go away…but she knew very well that it wouldn't.

Ok, in case you were wondering, Midori really is in a trance, but that will be explained in the next episode. So, I've been waiting to post this one for a while, so I want solid reviews on this one, please? Anyways, R&R, have a nice day, and see you back here for episode eighteen.