A/N: I OWN NO PART YU GI OH 5DS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE CREATORS!
Chapter 23: The Lockdown
Era's POV
I just sat in the Demon Cage. I could feel the burning of the darkness on my body but didn't pay it any mind. I was scared and shocked by what Brehnam had told me. I was still trying to figure out how I was going to tell Yusei about us being mates.
And the more I thought about the possibility being a lie from Brehnam, the more I found reasons for it being true from class and what's happened after Yusei wrapped his wings around me that first time. Firstly, the definition of a male wrapping his wings around was that it meant a deep loving relationship between the male and female angel. And secondly, he's been all the more protective of me since he first wrapped his wings around me. After all, the second part of the definition was that it was a sign of protection between the two angels.
'Is it… really possible?' I thought. I fearful tear fell onto the bottom of the cage but the light within the tear made it evaporate upon contact with the dark floor. 'Yusei… please, help me…'
Suddenly, the door opened as Primo and Brehnam seemed to argue. I was quick to wipe my tears away and return to a determined, stoic face as I looked at the two with a glare.
"You want to what?!" Brehnam exclaimed.
"If he finds out our plans, it could cause big trouble," Primo replied.
"It is your plan, Primo. My plan is to finalize my revenge by letting Yusei watch as I take Era to the Underworld," Brehnam argued. "And if you trap them here and activate the self-destruct, I will never get that chance!"
"Your revenge means nothing to me. All that matters is that you get the girl anyway and my plan to create more Ghosts to draw the circuit faster succeeds," Primo retorted defiantly.
'Create more Ghosts? That's what Lazar got the program for!' I thought.
"I could always tell Jakob of your plan, Primo, early," Brehnam threatened.
"Do that, and you will regret messing with me. Remember, you can't possess me," Primo responded.
Brehnam glared. "And I can obliterate you if I wanted to," he retorted.
"I'll give him some more time before I activate the self-destruction. If he can beat the duelbot before then, he'll be able to find her. But I won't wait until he's done with the bot. Can we agree to that?" Primo suggested.
"Fine," Brehnam agreed. "But don't test me, Primo." Primo glared and walked out. Brehnam turned to me. "Oh, how I can't wait to bring you to the Underworld."
"You won't bring me there. Yusei will stop you and Primo and get me out of here," I retorted.
Brehnam kneeled to my eyelevel where I was sitting on the floor, too weak from the darkness and the cage too small for me to stand. He slowly reached in and held my cheek.
"Oh, Era. So naïve to think your mate will be able to save you before you're taken to the Underworld with me," Brehnam whispered.
"What'll you even do to me, an angel, when I get into the Underworld?" I asked. "I don't think the demons would look up to a leader who takes an angel there without any torture in store for them."
Brehnam gave a demented grin. "You'll find out exactly what I have planned for you when we arrive," he told me. "And Yusei won't be able to stop me."
"We'll see if you can even get me there first. After all, an angel can't go to the Underworld through force. It must be by choice," I told him.
Brehnam's grin turned to a demon's smile as he laughed. "When the time comes, you'll find out what's true," he told me.
He sent a shock of dark energy through my body making me whimper slightly as I was already in pain from the Demon Cage. He then took his hand away and walked out, leaving me with more confusion and with tense, uncomfortable silence once again.
Third Person POV
May and Yusei ran through the halls. They were keeping an eye out for Era's location and Lazar who probably still had the program.
"How big is this place?" May wondered in annoyance.
"I don't know," Yusei replied. "But it seems to go on forever."
"Can't we just fly?" May asked.
"And how would that be any better than just running?" Yusei asked.
"We would go faster," May replied in a bored voice.
"But that would also make it harder to look for anyone or anything," Yusei reasoned.
"True," May agreed. "Oh and Yusei, congratulations on beating Era's graduating record."
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
"Era's Date of Academic Learning, being a year and a half, was the fastest known yet. And you beat it since you graduated at six months. Era told me to congratulate you when I got the chance. After all, a Combat Angel's lessons and job is probably the hardest to master compared to the others," May explained.
"I kind of figured Combat Angels have a harder time learning and graduating. Especially with the Demon Exorcist Spell being so complicated," Yusei responded. May shrugged. He turned and noticed a familiar, purple haired clown turning a corner into a room. "There's Lazar."
"Come on, Yusei," May ordered and they turned behind him.
As soon as they got within arm's reach of Lazar, Yusei grabbed him and pinned him to the wall. Yusei held Lazar off the ground slightly, with his arm at Lazar's neck.
"Oh, hello, Yusei and friend," Lazar greeted nervously. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Where's the program and Era?" Yusei asked sternly.
"Why, I don't know anything about either of them," Lazar denied innocently.
"Don't play dumb, Lazar," May ordered as Yusei's glare intensified and even Lazar grew slightly fearful of the deadly eyes being directed at him.
"Where are they?" Yusei asked again, slightly anger and frustration in his voice.
"Uh… um… uh…" Lazar stammered. He was obviously trying to find a way out of the situation without telling anything of what he knew but he was struggling to with Yusei's glare that only seemed to grow stronger the longer he waited. "I… You see, my higher ups…" Lazar was cut off as a robot came out, taking all of their attention to it.
"Orders received. Closing and locking all exits in room," he listed off.
"Oh, great," May stated sarcastically as the doors shut and were locked tight. She went to one and tried to open it but merely yanked her arms back. "Demon energy is surrounding all the doors and locks, isn't it?"
"We're trapped here, then," Yusei stated. He sent a glare at Lazar before letting him go.
"Lockdown sequence complete. If the doors are to be unlocked, you must defeat me in a duel," the robot requested.
"So we have to beat that thing to get out?" Yusei asked.
"Correct," the robot answered. "Choose a player."
"Uh, how about one of you do it?" Lazar suggested.
"I'll do it," May stated.
"No, May," Yusei denied. "How much have you actually dueled at all?"
"I learned and mastered dueling in Angel Academy. I was the best in class and nearly stripped Era of her record," May replied.
"But have you kept up your practice?" Yusei responded and May saw his point.
"Choose a player," the robot requested again.
"I'm going," Yusei responded. He jumped over the railing and onto the ground. He got his duel disk and deck ready in its slot.
"Yusei, be careful!" May called. "I do not want to get on Era's bad side by letting you get hurt."
"I'll be fine, May," Yusei told her. "I have to save Era anyways and I'm not planning on letting her down."
"Duel initiated," the robot called. "Opponent may have first turn."
"Fine," Yusei agreed and drew his card. "I activate the spell card One for One! By sending Speed Warrior from my hand to the graveyard, I can special summon Level Eater (Attack 600/ Defense 0) in defense mode. I then summon Junk Synchron (Attack 1300/ Defense 500) in attack mode and activate its effect. This allows me to special summon Speed Warrior (Attack 900/ Defense 400) from my graveyard in defense mode with its effects negated. Now I tune Speed Warrior with Junk Synchron in order to synchro summon, Junk Warrior (Attack 2300/ Defense 1300)!" His monster came to the field with his signature punch. "And due to Junk Warrior's effect, it gains attack equal to the attack of all level two or below monsters I control (Junk Warrior: Attack 2900). I then set a face down and end my turn."
The robot drew his card. "Activating card, Level Limit- Area B! Now all level four or above monsters will be changed to defense position," it declared and Junk Warrior switched to its defense mode. "Ending turn with three face downs."
Yusei drew his card. "I activate Graceful Revival to special summon Speed Warrior from my graveyard in attack mode," he declared.
"Activating counter, Malfunction to negate the activation of Graceful Revival and resetting it by paying 500 life points," the robot fought and its life points fell to 3500. And since Graceful Revival was negated Speed Warrior returned to the graveyard. "And now since a counter trap card I control negated one of your cards, I can special summon Lock Dragon (Attack 0/ Defense 2000) in defense position. Now while Lock Dragon is in face up defense mode, both players are forbidden from special summoning monsters. I then activate Counter Force. This card gains one Charge Counter due to a counter trap card being activated. During my standby phase, I can send Counter Force to the graveyard and inflict 1000 points of damage to you for each Charge Counter that is on Counter Force."
'That thing is going to try to put four counters on it, so it can inflict 4000 points of damage at me. I need to find a way around this monster and fast,' Yusei thought.
. . .
Meanwhile, Bruno walks into a new room and looks around in shock. Suddenly the door opened behind him and he couldn't see who it was before he was knocked out.
. . .
"I set a face down and end my turn," Yusei finished.
The bot drew its card. "I activate Summon Pass! Now when a player normal summon a level four or below monster, the player's opponent draws one card and the summoned monster's controller must then call what type of card is drawn, a monster, spell, or trap. If the player calls wrong, the summoned monster is destroyed," it declared. "I set one face down and end my turn."
Yusei drew. "I switch Level Eater into attack position and activate Synchro Gift. By reducing Junk Warrior's attack to 0 (Junk Warrior: Attack 0) until the end phase, I can increase the attack of Level Eater by the original attack of Junk Warrior until the end phase (Level Eater: Attack 2900)," he declared. "Level Eater, attack Lock Dragon!"
"Countering with Negate Attack. This negates the attack and ends the battle phase. And then the effect of Counter Force activates, giving it a second Charge Counter," the robot countered.
"I end my turn," Yusei finished and due to it being the end phase, Level Eater's attack returned to 600 and Junk Warrior's attack returned to 2900.
The robot drew a card. "Setting one face down and ending turn," he declared.
Yusei drew his card. He was beginning to worry. 'The longer I stay here dueling this robot, the less time I have before I won't be able to stop Era from going to the Underworld,' he thought. That's when alarms started going off and lights blinked in an eerie, red glowing pattern.
"SELF-DESTRUCTION INITIATED! PLEASE EVACUATE THE PREMISES IMMEDIATELY!" a mechanical voice called. It continued to repeat its warning over and over.
"Yusei, please hurry!" Lazar called.
"I'm trying, Lazar! I have to find Era anyways," Yusei retorted. He turned back to the duel. "I summon Drill Synchron (Attack 800/ Defense 300) inn attack mode!"
"I activate the effect of Summon Pass!" the robot called and it drew its card. "Guess the type of card."
"A trap," Yusei stated. The robot revealed the card to be the trap card, Barrel Behind the Door. "I activate Blind Spot Strike! This increases the attack of Drill Synchro by the defense of Lock Dragon until the end phase."
"Activating, Magic Jammer. This negates the effect of your card and destroys it by discarding Barrel Behind the Door! This also added a third Charge Counter to Counter Force," the robot defended.
"I end my turn," Yusei finished.
"Yusei!" came Crow's voice in Yusei's mind. "You and May need to get out of there!"
"Are you watching this?" Yusei asked.
"Yeah, and you need to get out of there now!" Jack replied.
"I can't. This entire room's been put on lockdown until I beat this robot. I have Lazar in here too and none of us can leave until I beat this thing," Yusei explained.
"Then hurry it up!" Crow retorted.
"I'm trying, Crow. For now, all of you get out of here. I'll meet you outside. And hopefully with Era," Yusei reassured.
"Do you know where she is?" Bruno asked.
"I think," Yusei answered. "But I'll get to her as soon as I'm done here. For now, you three get out."
"Yusei, you don't have time to beat that thing and look for her," Bruno stated.
"I don't have a choice. Just get out now!" Yusei responded before cutting the connection. He turned back to the duel again, blocking out Lazar's urgent, and annoying, calls for the angel to hurry.
The robot drew its card. "Activating Messenger of Peace! Now neither player can attack with monsters that have 1500 or more attack points," it declared. "And during each of my standby phases, I must either pay 100 life points or destroy Messenger of Peace. Ending turn there."
Yusei drew his card. "I activate Double Cyclone! By targeting my set Graceful Revival and your Counter Force, I can destroy them," he declared.
"Activating Solemn Judgement to negate the effect of Double Cyclone by paying half my life points," the robot declared and its life points fell to 1750. The effect of Counter Force activated, giving it a fourth counter.
"I tribute Level Eater in order to tribute summon Earthquake Giant (Attack 1600/ Defense 2100) in attack mode," Yusei fought but duel to the effect of Level Limit- Area B, Yusei's monster was switched to defense position since it was a level five monster. "I activate the effect of Earthquake Giant! Since its battle position was changed, I can switch Lock Dragon to attack mode. And this means Lock Dragon's effect is no longer applied to both players. And then I activate, Panic Wave! By destroying Graceful Revival, I can negate the effects of all face up Continuous Spell and Trap cards and any effect monsters you control this turn. So now I tune Junk Warrior with Drill Synchron to synchro summon, Stardust Dragon (Attack 2500/ Defense 2000)! Now Stardust Dragon, attack Lock Dragon!" The attack succeeded and the robot's life points fell to 0.
All the doors were unlocked and Yusei ordered, "May, get Lazar out of here! I'll go find Era!"
"But…" May began.
"No 'buts', May! When you're outside, get information out of Lazar and the program. I'll meet you outside once I get Era," Yusei responded.
"Ugh…" May groaned in defeat. "Fine. But don't make me regret doing this!" She then grabbed Lazar and pulled him out.
Yusei changed into his angel form, shocking Lazar a bit, before he flew out of the room and through the halls. He followed Era's trail thanks to his locket, hoping to get to her in time.
. . .
May and Lazar got out and Jack, Crow, and Bruno ran up. "Where's Yusei?" Crow asked.
"That angel is as stubborn as a Belanchi," May responded and they gave her confused looks. "It's an animal from the planet Myliee. They're more stubborn than a mule. But he wouldn't budge. He's probably flying around, tracking Era down. Hopefully, he'll make it out in time."
. . .
Yusei entered a room and saw Era locked in her cage. "Era!" he called and she turned to him.
"Yusei!" she responded and he reached in and touched her face.
"I'm getting you out of here," he stated.
"Not quite, Yusei," said Brehnam and they turned to him. "She'll be coming with me."
"No, she won't," Yusei retorted.
"You misunderstand the truth of an angel coming to the Underworld. It doesn't have to be by choice," Brehnam responded shocking and worrying Yusei. Suddenly a dark portal formed underneath Era's cage and she began to slowly sink into it.
Brehnam stepped on top of it and they disappeared. Yusei didn't waste a second before following the two in, just before the gate closed.