Chapter 6: When Push Comes to Shove

With Jack and Crow gone, the air in the Enforcers base grew tenser. Kalin rarely left his "strategy room", and if he did it was just to get something to eat at the insistance of Yusei or Akiza. He rarely spoke more than a few words to either of them, and if he did it was usually just a reminder to keep on their guard. Still, things were peaceful for once, which the two of them enjoyed.

At least, until Sector Security showed up.

No one really knows when they arrived, they just sort of showed up one day. They were there, as they put it, to "lay down the law." In other words, oppress innocent people who were just trying to make the best of the lot they had been dealt in life. A few duelists tried to fight back, but when the Duel Runners came in most just gave up and ran. The unlucky few that were caught were shipped off to "The Facility", never to be seen again.

Now, most people would cut their losses and just give up, maybe join the underground dueling scene. Unfortunately, Kalin wasn't like most people, and would constantly get into a brawl with an officer on foot. Yusei and Akiza were constantly having to pull him off of them, just barely managing to get away before backup arrived.

At the moment, it had been a fairly uneventful morning, which worried Yusei.

"Akiza, have you seen Kalin lately?"

"No…which probably means he's gotten himself into trouble again."

"Come on, we'd better go find him."

They soon found him in an alleyway, though they soon wished they hadn't. The teen loomed over the fallen form of a police officer, blood that most certainly wasn't his on his face as he grinned maniacally. Akiza almost threw up from the sight.

"Kalin, what did you do?"

"What we should've done ages ago: fighting back! He thought he was so tough, but I dropped him like a sack of potatoes!"

"Kalin, enough! This has gone too far!"

"Too far? Are you kidding me Yusei? This hasn't gone far enough! But I know how to bring an end to their tyranny once and for all!"

Kalin took out a map of Satellite, with the Sector Security headquarters circled with red marker.

"This is their main base of operations. If we can take it out, they'll be powerless! Now, we need to get to the fuel center. Akiza, you'll use your psychic powers to charge up a Hinotama and then BOOM! Goodbye Sector Security!"

But when Akiza took a closer look at the map, she saw something that didn't sit right with her.

"Kalin, there are several houses near the Security building. Won't they get caught in the explosion?"

"That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make!"

Akiza's eyes went wide with fright.

"No! It was one thing when we were fighting duel gangs, but this? This is insane, Kalin!"

"Akiza, you're not looking at the bigger picture! Sure, some people will be lost, but this will drive Sector Security out of here for good!"

"No! I don't care who the enemy is, it's not worth innocent lives!"

Kalin growled, and grabbed Akiza by the throat, nearly strangling her in his fury.

"Don't you get it? If we don't do this, Sector Security won't let up!"

"No! I won't hurt innocent people!"

"You don't have a choice!"

"Kalin, enough!"

Enraged by Kalin's behavior, Yusei ran up and decked him across the face, forcing him to release Akiza as he spiraled to the ground. Akiza hunched over, gasping for air.

"Enough, Kalin. Come on Akiza, we're leaving."

Yusei took Akiza by the hand gently, guiding her away gently as Kalin came to his senses.

"Hey, where are you going? Come back, guys! You can't do this to me! Traitors! You're no better than Jack and Crow! You…"

But Kalin's tantrum fell on deaf ears as Yusei led Akiza away, neither of them so much as giving him a passing glance.

"Yusei, I'm not a monster. You know that, right?"

"Of course, Akiza. You're just as normal as me, Jack, or Crow."

"Kalin…how'd it get this far?"

"I don't know, Akiza. I can only hope he'll come to his senses."

Little did Yusei know just how wrong he was.