Chapter Two

The elevator hummed and shot upwards, making Marik's already unsettled nerves jump. Regaining his breath a little, he took stock of his arm. Feeling had started seeping back in, while bloodied it seemed only twisted. Leaning against the wall Marik closed his eyes and composed his thoughts. Though there had been many mishaps in the virtual reality pods, he himself had never gotten all the details. Though most disturbing was the incident in Duelist Kingdom, an incident none seemed to remember well. Unsurprisingly of course, Yugi Mouto had just become aware of the tangled web he'd set foot in, and undoubtedly put little stock in the ravings of a delusional man. But Pegasus's entire goal in acquiring control of KC was these pods. With some shady magic and these machines... Marik shuddered, the implications were great.

Of course, Marik told himself, there was the possibility it wouldn't open. And all this would amount to was some harmless computer programmings. Interesting, but programmings none the less.

It stopped, almost eight minuets latter. Rolling down his jacket sleeve to hide the scratches he stepped out into a white washed hallway. One door was directly opposite him. Knocking on it loudly, a green light near the top blinked on and a cha-chunk noise resonated as the lock was disarmed. Pulling on the handle the door slide aside and Marik stepped in. The entire elevator ride Marik had been figuring how to put it all exactly, but even if he'd come up with something, at the moment, it couldn't have mattered less. The imposing room started him down and won. Marik's eyes were examining the blueish grey carpet around his feet. Kaiba's high back swivel chair was turned from him at the moment, the CEO apperentely admiring the storm outside through the glass wall.

"Shachou," Marik finally looked up and said loudly. "What can you tell me about the virtual world. Was it destroyed during Battle City?"

"So you're here to talk to me about technology?" Kaiba voiced the questing to his own reflection in the window.

"Mostly, yes."

"I'm disappointed then, seeing as I was in the mood for a good ghost story. And you and Yugi always tell the best occult fantasies." He sneered, sounding in a worse mood than early over the intercom. "Didn't I tell you to get that arm fixed, I don't really want you bleeding on the new carpet." By this point he turned the chair round to face Marik.

"Since when do I take your orders?" Marik laughed contemptuously. "And don't worry, the ghost stories are coming. Although, it really depends on what you tell me about the virtual world."

Resting his head in his hand, Kaiba laughed. "Would it surprise you if I said 'not a lot'? It's not like I make products I sell, Ishtar, I have a vague understanding of the principles behind those pods. But thats about it." He shifted slightly, resting his feet on his desk. "As to what happened within the world, that's classified." He smirked, "Sorry."

"Firstly, I don't believe you." Marik returned the facial expression. "My sister has a fairly accurate information system amongst a few circles. It would be fair to say your name... showed up." Throwing a manila folder near Kaiba's feet Marik shrugged. "Look at if you don't believe me."

Grimacing, but not making a move to get the folder, Kaiba asked, "You said 'firstly', what would the second part be?"

"Simply that I already gather the 'what' from Yugi and co., as much of it as I could any way. The rest I guessed at." He winked, "Your past is hardly a secret to me. Not that your dysfunctional family concerns me in the least bit, Kaiba."

"So, before we get into the details of your delusional occultist nonsense." Kaiba said, the coolness coming back into his voice. "What's your conjecture about all of it?"

"Do the words, 'Digital Soul' mean anything to you? It's not as though I don't see her, and the fact that I do means the worst may come to pass."

"Nonsense."

End Chapter Two