Disclaimer: I don't own YGO 5Ds
"Seven Reasons Yuki Tono's Plans Should be Keeping You up at Night, Number Six will Surprise You!"
"The Zephyrs: The Deadliest Gang We've Ever Seen"
"Don't be fooled: An Insider Look at What's to Come Beyond Chaos' Web of Deceit"
"Why You Should Be Fleeing the Satellite and Why Kessler is the Reason Behind it Again"
"The Light from Neo Domino City: Five Reasons Director Goodwin's Factories Will Win you Over"
"What You Read May Surprise You: Here is How Tono is Ruining the Satellite"
I glanced at the tablet from over Galen's shoulder, smiling tiredly at the familiar headlines. Material like this has been popping up throughout the Satellite since Rex Goodwin officially deemed us a threat about a month back, now they're everywhere. Annoying as it sounds (and is), I've frankly gotten used to it. Unfortunately, given that tkhe education system had crashed 17 years ago, an entirely unsurprising proportion of the Satellite population had taken it as gospel.
They'd rather believe Goodwin's words over mine, pouring over every public announcement that they read on the tablet I created, bought with the money we printed, earned from the economy we built.
"This latest one says you're a spy sent by Tokyo to destroy the Satellite," Felice supplied helpfully with a teasing smirk.
The obvious irony being, there wasn't anything worth destroying before I got here. The less obvious irony being, this lack of public support might end up being our downfall. In a non-magical reality, it would have been. Propaganda is the easiest way for Rex Goodwin to completely destroy us. But in this world, individuals and organizations are tried on the dueling fields before they're tried in the court of public opinion, for better or for worse.
"Those traitors!" Galen threw his PDA against the far wall, it shattered to pieces as a consequence of our lower quality standards for reusing plastics. There're only so much recyclable goods available, especially seeing as Domino factories were beginning to target and remove materials we could use.
"It's human nature," Vincent said darkly, flipping through the same news stories. "To be enticed by the slightest gain, to their own detriment."
It doesn't help that Domino City had unveiled its new plan two days ago. It closed old factories and opened new ones with income and benefits comparable to ours. Residents of the Satellite who hesitated to join us for fear of repercussions from the government swarmed the new facilities, as did over a third of our own staff. More are likely to follow, given the rapid increase of food prices in the Satellite after Neo Domino cut off exports.
It was perhaps the most dangerous thing the Domino City Director could have done. Not to attack directly or infiltrate our ranks, but simply offer a legal alternative to our limited operations. With much more resources and a larger market, they would crush us in a fair fight.
That's not to say we were faced with a fair fight, Goodwin raised tariffs and perhaps most detrimentally, quadrupled food prices to the Satellite. Most people, myself included, still depended upon those acid cubes from Domino City to survive. While we ordered similar products from any other city, it would take weeks to arrive, or even maybe even months if Goodwin is willing to put in the effort to add some extra bureaucratic red tape.
"We have to get rid of Goodwin," Felice muttered, turning around and noticing Roman, she elaborated sheepishly, "Present company not included."
Vincent snorted at that, clearing disagreeing with the exclusion of present company.
"It's not just Goodwin, the Satellite isn't exact on our side either." Galen replied, restating the obvious. After all, we did kidnap all gang leaders in the city and basically threaten them to do our bidding. As much as I laughed at the idea of 'duel gangs' (and still do), these people hold significant influence in their respective communities. In an area where the main source of information comes from Neo Domino, those who don't trust Domino tend to trust information from 'those in the know', like the people we kidnapped not too long ago. "They still think you're trying to take over the Satellite."
"I'm not trying to take over the Satellite, I have taken over the Satellite." I grumbled. "I bought the darn place. " Technically, I could kick all of those people off my property if I wanted to, Sector Security included, but then I'd be left with like 5 thousand people. Also they'd riot and I'd die.
"Anyway, they think you're using the Satellite as your base to take over the world," Chaos shrugged. Knowing me and the rest of our barely-literate team, we had originally found the idea hilarious. Then we realized how many people truly believed in the idea.
I was frankly a little insulted, just because there has been an unreasonable number of local organizations trying to take over the world doesn't mean I deserve to be counted among the ranks of anime villains doubling as comic relief. Taking over the world... We barely hire more people than my local Walmarts. Though to be entirely fair, if I had been in some other corner of the world, and had just learned about some gang in a small city that barely hired more people than my local Walmart had gotten their hands on a weapon that can blow up the planet, I'd think they're trying to take over the world too.
Point being, popular opinion isn't in our favor at this exact moment, which makes Goodwin's blockade even more effective than it otherwise would have been. I haven't yet managed to convince Jack and Yusei of my decision to leave the Satellite either, thankfully I haven't lost Akiza's support.
"You know, all of our problems would be solved if we could just get rid of Rex Goodwin." Galen commented casually, getting back on topic.
"Would you like me to kidnap him?" Greiger asked tentatively.
The rest of my crew burst out laughing.
"I don't kidnap people for a living, Greiger," I couldn't help a reluctant smile.
"No, of course not, Yuki-sama," Greiger immediately agreed.
"Not that I don't want to," I added thoughtfully. "It's just that most people whose kidnapping would help my case are too difficult to kidnap, or their kidnapping would result in too large a repercussion..." I mused over people I might kidnap, eventually abandoning the very tempting idea. Though in Rex Goodwin's case, it seems much easier just to murder him, if it ever came to that.
"Rex is merely a stepping stone in the grand scheme of things," Roman commented, leaning against the wall as to appear more relaxed and less intimidating (It's not working). "His obsession with the gods would soon be his downfall. It is really our decisions for a future beyond Neo Domino City that would decide our fate."
He's right of course, and for once, he's using 'fate' without the capital 'F', referencing our financial and political future rather than destiny of the human race. He's a quick learner, I'll give him that much.
The Satellite's problems go far beyond Rex Goodwins propaganda, and that's at least part of the reason why I want to move away to start fresh.
"Alright, we'll just wait for Goodwin's challenge then." I shrugged, "In the meantime, keep an eye on Yusei and Jack, should really be any day now."
Since Rex Goodwin had converted himself into a Dark Signer, the Netherworld monster would still be capable of crossing over. If I remember correctly, Rex Goodwin would challenge the Signers when the Netherworld Monster enters this world, whenever that is. In the meantime, there's not much we can do except to deal with the unrest in the Satellite and plan for our (hopefully imminent) departure.
"There's always been one thing I don't understand about you," Chaos sat down on the sofa beside my desk, choosing to stay in my office (yay, office!) after the crowd had dispersed studying me carefully. I haven't seen him like this since we first met.
"Of course, whatever you want to know." I replied, looking up with a smile. He's been my right hand throughout my entire time in the Satellite, sometimes it feels like I've know him forever.
"How do you know this will work out?" Chaos asked, "This move you're talking about, this brand new city you want to build. I've never seen a Satellite so ambitious."
I shrugged. Technically, Rex Goodwins had been more ambitious than me but this is clearly not the time or place for that argument.
Chaos continued. "They say Atlas is proud but he's nothing compared to you. You honestly believe everything decision you make is not only right, but the best thing that could possibly be done, that's more arrogant than Atlas could ever dream of. But why?"
"Why?" I repeated.
"Why. Why do you believe this, how dare you rush into one venture after another, betting the Satellite's future at every turn, and expect you would come out victorious." Chaos stated his question as a statement instead.
"I don't. I don't believe anybody knows the intricacies of exactly how to change the world to our will. We're all wandering in the darkness, looking for that better world we created in our daydreams. The difference between you and I is... am? You and me? I and you?" I coughed, and continued under Chaos' glare, "The difference between you and I am that I'm not imaging it. I haven't seen our destination per say, but I've at least seen a rest stop. Not the way a better world could be, but the way is is. Not a great world mind you, not even a good world, but definitely a better one."
My previous reality may be messed up in a million and one ways, but it is undoubtedly better than this one. So unlike them, I have a concrete idea of what I'm trying to achieve, as opposed to abstract concepts and ideals.
"What are you trying to say?" Chaos asked cautiously.
"You've never seen a better world, Chaos." I said with a wistful smile, "Even before Zero Reverse, your world wasn't like mine. You, and the entire Satellite is fighting for a figment of your imaginations. It's really no wonder none of you made it."
"I don't know if my decision is correct, but it's most likely to be the least wrong option we have. I'm confident for a reason." I have the backing of an entire world behind me.
The Netherworld monster is just around the corner, its powers seeping through to this world so that even those without magical powers could feel its presence. Crime rates, especially violent crime rates, increased dramatically in its wake. Signers have grown progressively more agitated, even ex-Dark Signers were constantly under the pressures of its powers.
I was the only one apparently oblivious, to the magic side of things at least. The tension in the Satellite, on the other hand, had mounted to suffocating levels. Even I was not immune to that.
"Master Yuki," Roman murmured quietly, approaching me from the halls. Him calling me that still gives me goosebumps, I'm not sure if it's the good kind yet so I haven't corrected him.
"What is it?" I paused from perusing our newest source of income, the Dark Signers... I.e. Roman's assets... What used to be Roman's assets.
Roman had been unexpectedly forthcoming in allowing us access to everything he owned, or as he put it, 'he had given me all that was his, body and soul'. I was more disturbed than moved by the comment, but he had indeed been true to his word.
Despite the open hostility he received from literally everybody, with the dubious exception of ex-Dark Signers, Roman had proven himself quite useful by knowing things the rest of us don't, such as taxation, organizational structure, methods of recruitment, methods of transportation. You know, the non-magical, non-world-saving stuff that is nonetheless crucial to our continued survival in the Satellite and beyond. I have to give the guy some credit. He went from the leader of an evil organization to municipal government middle management overnight and he's taking it remarkably well.
"I-I had hoped to ask you about your plans for Rex, if you had already had something in mind." Roman approached the subject carefully.
"I do," I admitted, slightly irritated. Roman was obviously hoping I'd hold back in a game that might get me killed, while Rex Goodwin is actively trying to obliterate me both inside and outside of our upcoming children's card games, but Roman did pay for the privilege. "A couple of ideas actually, depending on how cooperative he is. I promised not to kill him unless I had to, and there's really nothing more I can do."
"Rex is not as challenging an opponent as he first appears," Roman began a little hesitantly. I wonder if he's guilty over ratting out his brother or if he's afraid I wouldn't believe him, "I am familiar with his dueling style and his immortal. He might have upgraded his deck but there're things he can't change so easily."
"I know." I replied. I know Rex Goodwin's strategies and deck too, I've seen how he actually plays, in the anime I mean. That's probably more than Roman knows given Rex had obviously been playing him like a fiddle for the last god-knows how many years.
"After his defeat," Roman continued, undeterred, "The control of Neo Domino would naturally transfer to you."
I looked at him skeptically. I don't think governmental positions are transferred through the results of a children's card game. No, not even in this world.
"Tokyo might object, of course," Roman added, correctly reading my skepticism, "But with Rex under your control, there's not much they can do in the short term. Of course," He leaned in a little closer, I could almost feel the heat of his breath in my ears, "I would ensure Rex is completely under your control."
"Don't worry about it," I smiled thinly, tilting my head just a little but nonetheless turning away, "I told you I'd try to keep your brother alive, and I will."
"Yes, Master Yuki," Roman said a little too quickly. "I have no doubt of your abilities at all."
Roman doesn't talk this much unless he's unsure, and it took me a second to figure out why all my promises seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
"You think I've been too lenient." I noted with a grin.
"...Generous." Roman managed, straightening up and scuffing the tiles with his foot, staring at the ground. "More than I had a right to expect."
"Right." I couldn't help the smile, "I guess I'm just used to a higher standard of evil."
Roman looked up at me, perplexed. I smiled back, with a little bit more sincerity than he expected, maybe a little bit more than I intended. There's more truth in my words than he'll ever know.
Neither of the Goodwin brothers were really fighting for personal gain, already, that sets them apart from the majority of the population and certainly the vast majority of the political world in my previous reality. Roman Goodwin honestly believed he was destined to serve as a pawn in a game between supernatural powers, and any resistance on his part would not only be futile, but also lead to worse destruction than Zero Reverse. Rex Goodwin wanted to free humanity from the Gods (so that he could become said god, but that's another story), and lead the human race into prosperity.
Both lofty and stupid ideas, but neither necessarily selfish. They certainly erred in the methods in attaining said goals, but given what they knew in the anime, their decisions are actually not unreasonable.
In a reality with lower moral standards, such as the last one I had been in, they might have been called the good guys.
"Look," I reached out and ruffled his hair impetuously, his wide-eyed look of surprise actually made him look innocent for a brief second, "I told you I'll take care of it and I will. Stop worrying, your brother hasn't done enough to quite justify his death yet."
A/N: Lost my entire Rex Goodwin chapter and a bunch of clips :( Because of real life stuff that I'm not taking care of either... I don't like real life stuff.
A/N 2: On a completely unrelated note, does Messi and Ronaldo remind anybody else of Yugi and Kaiba? LMAO