Card of the Day: Abyss Soldier

Episode 99: The Route to Escape!

A helicopter flies over the stadium as the reporter is talking.

Reporter: We are here over the Road Stadium with breaking news. A scandal has been discovered in our own tournament! Yusuke Iruiza was arrested today under charges of fixing his duels and the duels of his opponents in the ROFGP to get ahead and win. In addition, Axel Seshia, Dex Aikawa, Alicia Flouruna, and Tamika Haiken have also been charged. They were recently transported to Cynemia Penitentiary, where they will stay and await their trial.

Dex's father: What?

Yusuke's father: That's insane! Who wrote this?!

Ariana: What did the idiot do now?

Seth begins to open his eyes and sits up.

Salia: Thank goodness you're awake!

Seth: Salia? Ow….my head. What the hell happened?

Koga: Hold on, don't look at the news!

Seth: ….What?! But this is…!

Armen watches the news while sipping wine and only smiles at it

Opening

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Yusuke is banging against the walls of a truck as he is being driven to the prison. Everyone else is handcuffed and silent. The truck comes to a stop and a guard opens the door, Yusuke falling out of the truck.

Guard: Come on, get up.

He is dragged to his feet as everyone else walks out. Guards chain them together and they start walking.

Dex: Please, can't we at least have a phone call?

Alicia: This is completely unreasonable!

Guard 2: I'd love to let you go, but the station has evidence to hold you at least. We'll need to review it before an actual conviction. Trust me; you'll be out within a week.

Axel: This is insane! What about our basic rights?!

Tamika: Besides, Armen was behind all of this! We're innocent!

Guard: Watch your mouth! Armen has done so much for this city! Don't you dare sully his good name with….

Guard 2: Steve….

Steve: ….Oh right. Sorry Emily. I lost myself for a second.

Emily: Whatever. Listen up. A lot of people here really respect Armen. Don't go insulting him. Armen has donated often to this prison. You'll piss off a lot of people going around insulting him. Just….show a little respect.

Steve: Yeah, Armen does deserve it.

Yusuke: I'll tell you what Armen deserves….

Dex: We'll make sure to remember that!

Emily: Good. Come along then, chop chop.

They follow the two guards inside. As they walk by cells, people stare out.

Skye: Well, well. It's been a while.

Buzz: Haven't seen you guys in a while.

Will: Yo, remember us!

Axel: Of course. We end up in the same block as these losers.

Angelo: Well, look who it is. One of the duo. But where's the other?

Diablo: Probably dropped him. After all, who would want to work with a prune like him?

Angelo: Ah ha ha! Yes indeed! I'll even excuse your misuse of that word!

Yusuke snarls and lunges at the bars. The guards have to hold him back.

Angelo: Oh my, keep the wild animal on a leash!

Diablo: Don't want him getting out and eating all the observers!

Alicia: Yusuke, stop it!

Yusuke: ….Fine.

Five cell doors open. Each person is tossed into a different cell.

Steve: Lucky for you dinner is in an hour. Until then, just sit tight.

They walk off. Yusuke tries to ram into the bars, but nothing happens. Dex and Alicia simply sit down and cry. Tamika begins to scrape the dirt on the wall with her fingernails as Axel bangs his hand against the wall.

Axel: Damn! How could we have been tricked so easily?! We fell right into Armen's plan….like a freaking mouse in a trap! Damn!

Tamika: Shut up. How could we have stopped him? Nobody would have believed Cynemia City's philanthropist would be sadistic. Nor could we have expected him to pin everything he did on us. If anything, he's a genius.

Yusuke: So what?! He murders Neo and we're supposed to sit here and clean up his spilled milk?!

Tamika: Not much we can do. Sorry, but it's true.

Dex: Hey wait….there's only five of us. Where's Seth?

Alicia: Oh! Seth wasn't taken with us!?

Axel: So Seth is on the outside huh? Looks like we'll have to leave it up to him then.

Yusuke: Seth….

In a hospital room, Seth is sitting up as his friends are around. Arnold is on the phone with a dejected look.

Arnold: Yes, I see that. But can't you….yes, I understand they are prisoners but….YES, I can understand you will get in trouble for releasing too much information but…hello?

He sighs and hangs up the phone.

Arnold: No good. They won't even let me talk to them.

Koga: But what's the deal? Doesn't Armen need those guys for his plan? Why lock them up?

Seth: That's obvious. Damn….

Salia: I don't get it. What's obvious?

Seth: If people need to put in a nail, what do they use? A hammer. So you use the hammer to ram the nails inside the wood. But what do you do when you are done using the hammer? You throw it back in the toolbox. Or….away.

Salia: Wait…do you mean then that….?!

Seth: I think in this case….Yusuke and the others are the hammer, Armen's goons were the nails….and Armen is the one who holds the hammer.

Koga: But we have to hurry! We need to get them out of prison!

Arnold: And now do you propose we do that Koga? Just waltz in and free them? Even if we wanted to try some kind of operation, we are only an army of three. Too short to try that kind of mission.

Seth: Then what are we supposed to do!? Let Yusuke and the others get life sentences for Armen's crimes?!

???: Perhaps I can lend some assistance.

Everyone turns as someone walks in the door.

Seth: Prometheus?!

Prometheus: I think we will need others in our operation. So, let's get started, right away.

In the prison, guards are pushing carts to all the prisoners. One stops in front of each of the five's cells.

Guard: Dinner.

Yusuke: I don't want any.

Guard 2: I'd make an exception. This is quite a meal. And….

Guard 3: You'll get a special dessert.

All five guards lift their hats a little.

Yusuke: Wait….Neptune!?

Axel: Mercury?!

Dex: Apollo!

Tamika: You're….Vulcan, right?

Alicia: Diana?

Elsewhere, Armen is at a computer typing stuff in. Grayson and Chimera stand nearby.

Armen: Yes…the finishing touches are almost done.

Grayson: Are you sure the kids won't be able to get in the way? After all, they are such annoying little pests.

Armen: I have no doubt in my mind they will try to get in the way again. Assuming they do, it will not make any difference. My plans are too far in their stage to be stopped now. They can try….but fail.

Chimera: Tamika….

Grayson: Did you say something Chimera?

Chimera: Nothing at all sir.

Armen: I'll warn you my friend. Chances are they will come after you first.

Grayson: No need to worry. I have the card you gave me. I'll be ready to fight if the moment so arises.

Armen: I see. Then soon…..my ultimate project will finally be a reality.

That night, Arnold has goggles on looking at the prison. In other places are Koga and Salia.

Salia: Should be any minute now.

Arnold: Not yet. Five more minutes. Everyone, get in position!

Koga: R-Right!

Steve: Hm….

Emily: What?

Steve: The new kids are too quiet. Grayson said to keep an eye on them in case they get rowdy….but they're awfully calm about this.

Emily: It could just be resignation they are feeling. Not necessarily up to something.

Steve: True. But to warn us about those kids…Grayson obviously takes them really seriously. We can not afford to take them too lightly.

Emily: If you are sure…

Suddenly, an explosion rocks the building. Steve and Emily quickly stand up.

Steve: What?!

Emily: What the hell was that?!

Steve: Call the other guards. I'll go ahead and investigate it first!

Armen and Grayson watch as a monitor flashes red.

Grayson: Well, well, well. Those kids didn't stand still after all.

Armen: Too bad. Had they just stayed put, I might have vouched to release them early. Now they must be….erased.

Chimera simply looks down and doesn't respond. He runs off. In the cell block, Vulcan presses a switch and a hole is blown in the floor.

Vulcan: Hurry. Your D- Wheels are already down there. A tunnel will get us to safety.

Axel: Guess we should thank you. You Olympians are really saving us.

Vulcan: Save it for later. We must leave. At best, we can only give you an hour long gap. We must move.

Yusuke: We mean it. We really owe you guys for this.

Neptune: Save the exchange of greeting cards for later. We need to get moving, come on then!

Everyone hurries into the hole. Steve is running towards the cell block as Apollo looks up.

Apollo: Looks like we'll be having company. Go on, get moving! I'll deal with the nincompoop!

Yusuke looks uncertain before jumping down the hole. Steve runs into the room seeing them escaping down a hole.

Steve: No! They're getting away! Damn it!

Apollo: Sorry, you aren't going any further.

Steve: You really wanna bet that?

Everyone hurries to their D- Wheels under the floor and gets on. Yusuke stops for a second and looks up.

Diana: Hurry. My brother's an idiot, but he can handle himself.

Yusuke: Maybe he can, yeah. But even so, I can't help myself. I'll be back!

Diana: Hold on! Gr…

Alicia: What's going on?!

Diana: Change of plans. Get moving. We need to contact Jupiter.

In the prison room, Apollo and Steve seem ready to fight as Yusuke races out of the hole on his D- Wheel, taking off.

Apollo: What?! Yusuke, that wasn't part of the plan!

Steve: You! Stop right there! You're under arrest!

He runs off after Yusuke as he races down the hallway.

Steve: Emily, get my D- Wheel ready! I've got to stop this guy!

Yusuke races through the front door and down towards the main street. He speeds up when guardrails rise up and he is forced to turn.

Prometheus: Yusuke, can you hear me? What's happening down there?

Yusuke: Um….long story short, I'm trapped.

Prometheus: Right….listen, I have an idea. We're going to take out those guardrails. Just give us a few minutes.

Yusuke: Alright, got it. No problem. I'll….

Steve suddenly races out of a corner and rams Yusuke. He spins out and manages to slide to a stop as Steve comes at him again.

Steve: You aren't getting away from me! Come back to prison right now!

Yusuke: Damn! I can't let him endanger everyone else. Hey, if you want to stop us, then fight me!

Steve: Fight you? Fine. If you won't go quietly, I'll use force!

Prometheus: Yusuke, don't!

Yusuke: Get everyone else first Prometheus! I'll hold him off as long as I can! Neo Speed World, set on!

D- Wheels: Duel mode, auto-pilot standby.

The connection cuts off as both race down the road.

Prometheus: Damn it Yusuke!

Jupiter: No matter. Come on, let's at least get everyone else to safety. And hope…that idiot boy doesn't do anything dangerous.

Both: Duel! [Yusuke LP = 4000] [Steve LP = 4000]

Yusuke: I'll start this duel off. Here we go, draw! Good. This monster will help me stall for time. Right now, that's important. This guy can't be that tough after all. I set a monster. That ends my turn.

Steve: Hmph. I saw you duel in both the DMGP and ROFGP. Don't think you can take me by surprise. I know every single one of your strategies.

Yusuke: That so? Then come at me! Try and take me down, just try it! It's okay. I should be able to hold back a level 4 monster. That's all he can really play. Still, I don't know how good this guy is. I need to be cautious.

Steve: My turn [SPC: Steve = 1 Yusuke = 1]. I summon my Abyss Soldier [ATK 1800/DEF 1300 LV 4]. I discard one WATER monster to the graveyard and return that monster on the field to your hand.

Yusuke: What?! My Curse Diver…

Steve: Abyss Soldier, attack him directly.

It grins and swings its sword, slashing Yusuke across the chest. He gasps in pain and slows down [Yusuke LP = 2200]

Prometheus: Sounds like he's in trouble. Maybe….

Jupiter: No. Remember the plan.

Everyone else is underground racing away.

Alicia: Yusuke….

Dex: I'm sure he's fine, don't worry. After all, he's too tough to lose that easily.

Steve: You're really one of the Kings? I really didn't expect that to work. Maybe you aren't as tough as everyone says. I set two cards and end my turn.

Yusuke: Alright, I'll give you that one. I wasn't expecting a Hand Return deck. You won't catch me off guard next time.

Steve: Whatever you say. But if you lose, you're being locked up again.

Yusuke: That's why I can't lose this duel! Here we go, I draw! [SPC: Yusuke = 2 Steve = 2]. Next I summon Magic Cloaker [ATK 1600/DEF 1000 LV 4]. He's not affected by your Spell or Trap cards.

Steve: Not bad. But my monster affects you. You can't do anything about that.

Yusuke: I set a card and end my turn. Good. Now I'll able to block his attacks. Hope it'll work

Steve: Here we go, I draw. [SPC: Steve = 3 Yusuke = 3]. I'll show no mercy, even to a king. I discard one card in my hand to return a monster on the field to the hand. I send Magic Cloaker away.

Yusuke: I was expecting that! Trap card, Lightning Jump. Now I can summon a monster sent to my hand. Come on back, Magic Cloaker [ATK 1600/DEF 1000 LV 4]. Now I'll at least be able to block your attack.

Steve: ….I wouldn't be so sure if I were you. I summon another Abyss Soldier [ATK 1800/DEF 1300 LV 4]

Yusuke: No way!

Steve: Now I send this to the graveyard in order to return your monster to your hand.

Yusuke: No….this can't be?

Steve: Take this! Abyss Soldier, attack him directly!

It jumps up and slashes him across his chest, making him spit blood [Yusuke LP = 400]. He begins to slow down and swerve, coughing.

Steve: Time to take you out. Abyss Soldier, finish this duel!

Yusuke: I discard my Crash Dummy and block the opposing attack.

A dummy appears and blocks the attack. Outside a timer counts down

Jupiter: Damn. We only have a 45 minute window of opportunity. Yusuke, you must hurry.

Prometheus: Hurry up….please….

Everyone else keeps moving underground as Yusuke is being pursued above ground still as he looks nervous.

Steve: You will not escape! That, I swear!

Yusuke: Oh man….

Ending

Narrator: Time is racing towards us. Hurry, for soon the time will come. Erase all fear and hesitation, and take that great jump. Next time, on Yu-Gi-Oh! Riders of Fate, Episode 100: Machine Emperor Pisciel.