A/N: This chapter has a few jumps in it, so I put the dates in to keep track of the passage of time. This chapter and the next will be the last ones to deal with what happens "pre-DSOD". I'm really excited to start getting into the main plot line, the aftermath, but I've also enjoyed writing the backstory behind the film's end.
Chapter 3: Final Preparations
August 21.
The grandfather clock chimed 9:30pm. Mokuba let out a sigh as he stared up at the ceiling. He had been waiting for Seto to return home from HQ for hours. Tomorrow was his first day of school for the new year, and it was always a tradition for the two brothers to spend the eve getting Mokuba ready for his next round of classes. Though, in recent years, the elder brother seemed to lose a bit of interest in the activity, thinking Mokuba old enough to know what he would expect from school by now. Mokuba enjoyed the tradition more for the chance to spend time with his brother. And recently, moments like that were fleeting. Work days were extending later, and later. And it seemed at least once every Monday-Friday cycle, Seto pulled an "all-nighter". This evening was starting to look like one of those nights.
Mokuba jumped off the bed and paced in his room with his fists clenched. "This isn't fair! Why can't Seto just let go?"
He let out a sigh and sank down on his bed once more. And here I thought he was getting better…that he was moving on to more important things…like the future of KaibaCorp…and me. How long is he going to keep up this obsession with the Pharaoh? The closest pillow got snatched and he clutched it tightly against his chest. His mind flashed back, to the evening when Seto broke the news of his project. That's what seemed to be the root of it all.
-Flashback-
August 6
Mokuba waved goodbye to Yugi and his grandfather as he got into the black limo. While he had enjoyed his weekend with the Mutos, he was more excited to get home. Seto had promised to reveal the new prototype to him.
The anticipation made the car ride back to Kaiba Manor seem like an eternity. By the time the vehicle pulled up to the stairs, the boy jumped out and dashed into the home. The driver would bring in his bags, he didn't care. Right now, there was only one person he wanted to see.
"SETO!" There was only one place his brother would be hiding out at this hour. And there he sat, behind the desk in his office. Stacks of files covered every inch of the desk.
The elder Kaiba brother looked up from his work gave a small smirk at his brother's outburst. He stood up just in time to get rammed with a hug, which he was happy to return. "Hey kid."
Mokuba gave a cheeky grin. "Did you miss me?"
"Of course."
"Did you really?"
"You don't believe me?"
Mokuba raised his brow and looked up at his brother. "It's hard to read you sometimes, Seto."
"I prefer to be unreadable."
"mmmmmmh. Sure." Mokuba pulled away and plopped into Seto's office chair. "So. How was your weekend in space?" Mokuba waved his hands as if he was speaking 'magic'.
"It was…productive. Very productive."
Mokuba blinked. "That's all you have to say?"
"What were you expecting?"
"I don't know. Juicy details."
Seto rolled his eyes in response. "I spent three days bouncing back and forth between multiple labs and computer consoles." He perched on the corner of the desk and looked at Mokuba. "But you don't really want to hear all of that."
"I would…if you tell me what you've been up to!" Mokuba grinned and bobbed up and down in the chair. One of the papers on his desk showed the old virtual pods used just after Duelist Kingdom. Mokuba pointed to it. "So, what is it, a new virtual reality game? Are we finally refining the old software we made years back? Are we gonna market these pods to arcades all over Japan?" Mokuba was growing more excited by the minute.
Seto hesitated before answering. "No. Not quite. It's not a game pod. Not exactly."
Mokuba tilted his head, curious. "What do you mean?"
"This prototype isn't something for mass market production. It's not a game for someone to play out. It's….a tool."
"I don't understand, Seto…"
Seto leaned across the desk and gestured to another stack of files. These documents pertained to the mysterious cube used by Diva during the dueling exhibition early summer. "I'm going to use this pod to find the Pharaoh. If I pair it with the Quantum Cube…it should allow me to cross into other worlds."
"Wait…this is about the Pharaoh?" Mokuba tried hard to hide his falling expression.
"You're surprised?" Seto asked, raising a brow. "Ever since he and Yugi split, it's always been about him."
Mokuba rubbed his arm nervously. He had to tread carefully. "Yeah, but…after all of your attempts…don't you think it's time to stop?"
"Not until I've exhausted every option available. You know I've never given up on anything in my entire life."
Mokuba knew he had a point. The day Seto Kaiba calls it quits on any personal or corporate related mission is a day hell freezes over. All Mokuba could do was sigh and force a smile. "Well Seto, I know this is important for you. But do you really think it's possible?"
"Of course. There are no limits to what I can accomplish." Seto said matter-o-factly. "It's just a matter of time until my techs can integrate the power of the Quantum Cube with our KaibaCorp technology."
"Well, if this will make you happy, then I'm happy, big bro." Mokuba said.
Seto leaned over and tussled the boy's messy hair. "Thanks, Mokuba. I-"
Mokuba interrupted him. "Just make sure you don't go nuts about it. Promise me."
"Alright, Mokuba. I promise."
-End Flashback-
Mokuba sighed. Upon reflection, he realized he should have held his brother to that promise. There was no real pinky swear. While on the outside, he supported his brother and his decisions, he couldn't help but feel slightly put off. Seto's obsessions sometimes became unhealthy, and he had a terrible feeling this drive to defeat the Pharaoh would eventually lead to something terrible.
It was 10:30 when Seto Kaiba strolled through the front door of his home. He made the usual stop to his office to set the briefcase down, and decided to head to bed early instead of staying up for a few extra hours. Dealing with his board of directors for hours on end had given him a headache.
He stopped dead in his tracks on his way back into the foyer when he took notice of the stairs. Mokuba, dressed in his pajamas, was laying across them, fast asleep. He couldn't help but let out a sad sigh, knowing Mokuba had tried to stay up way later than he should have just to see him. Carefully, Seto bent down and scooped his brother up into his arms and carried him back upstairs. Luckily, Mokuba didn't wake up, and Seto managed to get him back into his room and tucked into bed. As he turned to leave the room, he noticed Mokuba's backpack sitting on a nearby chair. Then it struck him, why Mokuba was hoping to see him so late. He started school in the morning; his first day of middle school, and the kid was always so adamant about the childish traditions of past years.
He spotted a notepad on Mokuba's desk. He walked over to it and wrote down a message. He slipped the note into one of Mokuba's folders tucked away in his sack and gave one final look at his little brother before shutting the door behind him. Sleep well, Mokuba.
August 22
Mokuba was hesitant to vacate the limo that morning. He looked out at his new school. Domino Intermediate, where he would be spending his next two academic years: seventh and eighth grade. He recalled back in the middle of the summer when he and his fellow classmates spent a day here for new-student-orientation. The academic campus was far more spread out than the elementary school he had grown accustomed to.
"Mr. Mokuba, is something wrong?" Roland asked from the driver's seat.
"Do I really have to go?"
"Well sir…" Roland started to reply. "You can always return with me to KaibaCorp instead and further your corporate career."
"Wait, really?"
"But doing so would anger Master Kaiba. And most likely have you sent back here later in the day. It would be easier for you to just step out and start the day on a good foot."
Mokuba sighed. Seto has been on short fuses, and he didn't want to be the reason for an explosive lecture. "Okay, okay. You win." He didn't see the proud smirk showing on Roland's face. "Are you coming to get me after school? Or…"
"Or?"
"Will Seto come get me?" Mokuba asked, hopeful.
Roland watched the boy through the rear mirror. "I'm afraid Master Kaiba will be busy with…" He saw Mokuba's sad face forming. "….I'll see what I can do."
"Yesss!" Mokuba grinned, and finally hopped out of the car. Perhaps today wouldn't be so bad after all.
He pulled out a slip of paper from the front pocket of his backpack. His homeroom and locker assignment, that was mailed home to him a week before. He tried to remember where locker 1025B was located. Was it upstairs in the history wing? No…it was in the back wing near the fine arts department.
He felt relieved that Roland dropped him off at school so early. By the time he made it to his destination, other students were arriving and slowly filling the halls. No one he recognized. Suddenly, it dawned on him. Being in the lower grade at this school, he was now at the bottom of the "social food chain", despite his name. Not that he had many school friends in the sixth grade, but he wondered where many of the familiar faces were. Deciding he didn't want to loiter in the halls for too long, he looked down at his assignment paper. His homeroom was 201. One of the history classrooms upstairs. He made his way there as quickly as possible.
The room was empty so far. Mokuba took a seat towards the window. Second seat back. Each desk contained a school calendar and assignment planner. Mokuba took a few moments to flip through each one. His homeroom also served as his first period class, so he opened his backpack and pulled out a folder and notebook. Something fell out of the folder and onto the floor. Huh? What's this? He picked up the slip of paper and unfolded it.
"This is…from Seto!" He whispered to himself. "But when…" he stopped as he started to read.
Kid,
Sorry I missed you last night. I'll spare you the details of what happened.
Good luck on your first day of school. I look forward to you telling me all about it. I hear seventh grade is a big deal. How does it feel to be the first Kaiba to be attending Middle School? I expect you to make your mark, and knock everyone's cheap socks off.
Seto
Mokuba smiled to himself as he reread the letter a few more times. The excitement was starting to grow a bit. Seto was right, he got to do something that his brother couldn't. Maybe Middle school could be his chance to make a mark for himself other than just being 'Seto Kaiba's kid brother'.
Today might not be so bad after all…
"Seto!" Mokuba exclaimed as he climbed into the back seat of the limo. He had completely forgotten about his request to Roland that morning. The final bell at three couldn't come fast enough for him. Today was more exhausting than he expected. The distance between his classrooms was further than he anticipated, and crowded hallways made moving around slower. He made a mental note to find alternate routes to some of his classes.
"So, how was your first day?" Seto asked.
"It was good." Mokuba said. "Well, actually, it was tiring. I didn't realize there would be so much walking."
"That's all you have to say about the day?"
"Well…the textbooks got a lot heavier."
This brought a laugh from Seto. "You'll have to find a strategic time to stop by your locker. Don't expect to carry every textbook to every class."
"There are strategic times?" Mokuba asked, turning to his brother. "Tell me more!"
Seto smirked, and he could see Roland's amused expression from the mirror. "Let me see your schedule." Mokuba pulled it out of his bag and handed it to his brother. "Ah, see. You have a third period study hall during these rotations, and a seventh period free on the opposite days. Use those opportunities to get some of your homework done, then you can use your hall pass to go to your locker and drop off those books. Less to carry, less backache, less homework you have to complete at home….or in my office."
"Wow, Seto. How do you know so much about middle school?"
"High school isn't much different, kid. Except the kids are bigger, the books are heavier, and the research papers get longer."
"Oh." Mokuba frowned. "I think I liked elementary school better."
"I'm not surprised."
"How did you like middle school?"
"I didn't go, remember?" Seto replied.
"Oh. Right." Mokuba nodded, remembering the note from that morning. "Well, high school then."
Seto shrugged. "The intense private instruction set by our stepfather taught me more than I would ever learn in public school. I went through high school more for the social experience, and the proof of the diploma. Not that I needed it to secure a job. I had KaibaCorp well before that. I went through school to make an example for you. Hopefully, you'll have a better academic experience than I." He added with his trademark smirk and chuckle. "You'll actually learn something."
September 7.
"Roland? Aren't we going home?" Mokuba asked after Roland picked him up from school that day.
"No, Mr. Mokuba. Master Kaiba requested your presence."
"At the office? But he'll be heading home soon, too. It's Friday." Mokuba replied. He looked out the window. The KaibaCorp skyscraper was visible and getting closer. He noticed the surrounding trees were moving in the wind. But….it wasn't windy today. And what was that noise?
When the limo pulled into the Corporation lot Mokuba noticed a helicopter on the ground, running, and ready for take off. Roland opened the door for Mokuba and gestured for him to climb aboard.
"Roland…where is Seto?"
"Aboard the station, sir."
Mokuba's eyes went wide. "The station? I get to go to the station? YES!" Mokuba pumped his fists into the air. "It's about time I got to see his new project."
"Master Kaiba is very proud of his prototype. He hopes you will be, too." The helicopter rocked as it took off.
"I'm sure I will be, Roland. Seto has poured so much time and soul….and sanity into this project." Mokuba smiled. "And it's my job as Seto's little brother, and as KaibaCorp's Vice President, to support him in his endeavors." …. Even though I don't really agree with him one hundred percent. Mokuba pulled open his backpack and looked to Roland sitting beside him. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna get a head start on my homework."
"Of course, Sir."
The ride to the launching site was a quiet one. Mokuba had put headphones on and listened to music on his mp3 player while he completed some of his math homework. After that had completed mid journey, the young Kaiba had decided to doze off, and ended up leaning over onto Roland's arm. Roland glanced down and a small smile formed on his face. The 'employee' Roland wanted to jostle Mokuba awake and straighten him up, but the 'family friend' Roland who helped raise the Kaiba brothers seemed content to let the boy rest.
Roland himself was a bit apprehensive about this trip to the station. During his phone call, he learned Seto wanted to discuss something of great importance. With the tone of voice Seto used, Roland was afraid it wasn't going to be good news.
Mokuba was jostled awake a bit later when the helicopter landed at the site. "Wow, here already?" Once the helicopter doors open, he eagerly grabbed his bag and hopped off, with Roland behind him. Together, they made their way inside to the elevator shaft.
"Go ahead, Mr. Mokuba." Roland said, gesturing to the seat inside the chamber.
"There isn't enough room for both of us?"
"I'm afraid not." Roland replied. "Go ahead and take the lift up. I'll be right behind you."
Mokuba took a seat and looked around the elevator pod. The doors closed in front of him and the space inside seemed to get a lot smaller. He gripped the arms of the seat as the lift roared to life and shot him quickly up to the station. He closed his eyes so he didn't have to see the earth growing more distant with the speed of the elevator rising. When the lift finally stopped and the doors opened, Mokuba let out a sigh of relief. He felt glad he didn't have to make the trip up to this station often. The mere shot-ride alone gave him a little queasiness.
Roland followed a few minutes later, and the two of them took the moving platform into the heart of the station.
"Do you know where Seto is up here?"
"I believe the central lab. There's –" he couldn't get out anymore, because Mokuba suddenly darted ahead of him down the hall.
It took Mokuba a moment to sort out which scientist was his brother. Everyone in the room was wearing the same long white lab coat. But there was one standing in the unmistakable 'Kaiba pose': Arms crossed, back angled back slightly; and anyone who seemed to approach him appeared nervous. Seto was staring at a computer console off to the side.
"Seto!" Mokuba waved as he zoomed over to his brother's side. Seto smirked and greeted him back with a tussle of his messy black hair.
"Hey kid. How was school?"
Mokuba shrugged. "It was ok. Nothing of interest happened."
"You have a lot of homework?"
"I did most of it on the helicopter ride."
Seto nodded. "Good. I was hoping you could stay up here with me for the weekend."
Mokuba's eyes widened. "Really?"
"You did express interest in coming up here," Seto said, and knelt down so he was at more eye-level with Mokuba. "It's been getting harder for me to take time off for you, so I thought maybe you could help me out here instead this weekend."
"I'd love to!" Mokuba smiled. "Though I'm not sure what I can do." He glanced around the lab. The scientists and technicians were hard at work. "My brain isn't like yours, Seto."
Seto cracked a slight smile. "Your brain is fine, Mokuba. Don't sell yourself short. You help me in ways you could never understand." He rose to his full height and put his hand on Mokuba's back. "C'mon. Let me show you the pod." He escorted Mokuba deeper into the lab. No one was currently working on the prototype, which allowed the brothers a few moments of privacy. Roland remained positioned outside the doorway.
"Wow…" Mokuba said quietly in awe as he walked up to the pod. It looked like the old virtual reality pod in terms of shape and overall design, though peering inside he could see some differences, mostly due to the updates to technology. "This is so neat!" Seeing the prototype in person did help him feel a little better about it. "So, how does it work?"
"Take a seat inside."
"Wait, what?" Mokuba freaked. "What if it turns on?"
"Nothing will happen. It's not connected yet. I won't shoot you halfway across the cosmos."
"Promise?"
"Would I lie?" Seto countered, raising a brow.
Mokuba mulled it over for a moment just for show, and hopped into the pod. "It feels just like the old virtual pod, bro."
"It should. It's the same basic design. In fact, it's the same damned seat." Seto replied, leaning over the side to point out different components. "It was dismantled before being brought up here. Unfortunately, the original plans for the pod were destroyed when the Big Five took over my research lab."
"You guys did a great job putting humpty-dumpty back together again!"
"Thanks. So," Seto pointed to the original deck chamber. "You remember this is where you loaded my dueling deck when you came to rescue me, right?"
"Yeah."
"It's been converted to a housing chamber, for the Quantum cube. And this…" he gestured to the blank console screen, "will connect to the Cloud network. That will allow the pod to travel exactly where I want to go."
Mokuba nodded and ran his fingers over the blank console. "This is impressive, Seto. Really." He could see a proud smirk forming on his brother's face. "Do you really think it'll work?"
The smirk faded. "Of couse. It's my design. Although, there have been setbacks regarding the cube merging with our tech. The early simulations didn't provide much success. We're running another one right now, different variables."
"Is it working?"
Seto nodded slowly. "It's showing promise. Like all the ones before it. Only time will tell."
Mokuba nodded, and tried to suppress a yawn. It didn't quite work, and he his face turned red with embarrassment.
"Don't tell me I've bored you…"
Mokuba shook his head quickly. "NO, I swear you haven't." He replied. "It's just been a long day at school, and I'm a little tired. I was kinda expecting to be going home and taking a little nap."
Seto nodded, and helped Mokuba out of the pod. "Why don't you have Roland take you back to my quarters. Get some rest. I'll come get you in about an hour, we'll grab a bite."
"Okay." Mokuba smiled. He gave his brother a quick hug, and walked out of the lab. Roland nodded to him, and then glanced to Seto. The CEO shot him a 'we need the talk' look, which Roland understood, as the security chief escorted Mokuba to the sleeping quarters.
When Roland returned, he found his employer circling the prototype, slowly tracing his fingers along the open rim. Roland cleared his throat to announce his presence.
Seto didn't look up. "Is he settled in?"
"Yes, sir."
Seto nodded, and pressed another topic. "The new duel disks release Tuesday. I assume everything is still on schedule?"
"It is, sir." Roland responded, and tilted his head, curious. Something was off. Seto Kaiba almost seemed…distracted. He knows Seto wanted to discuss something with him…was that the cause for his behavior? "Mr. Kaiba, you mentioned on your call earlier, there was a matter you wished to discuss?"
"Yes." Seto straightened and turned towards his right-hand. "I'm going to need you to stay at the mansion this week for Mokuba. I won't be leaving with you two when he heads home Sunday morning."
"You're remaining aboard the station, sir?" Seto nodded in response to Roland's question. "For how long?"
"Until after I test the prototype."
Roland didn't hide his surprise. "It's that close to being finished?"
"The pod construction is complete; the new software has been installed. With the confirmation of the computer simulation, this machine only needs moved to the cargo elevator shaft for installation, and it's good to go."
"I didn't realize it would be ready so soon."
"We had a breakthrough earlier this week. That's why I rushed up here…and why I wanted to let Mokuba see it. I did promise him."
"Does Mr. Mokuba know about its completion?"
"He knows we are running another simulation. I didn't tell him it was the final one."
"With all due respect, Mr. Kaiba…. don't you think he has a right to know?"
"He will know once it's finished. Don't think I'll just vanish off to another dimension without a word to my brother first."
Roland clasped his hands behind his back. He had a delicate issue to bring up, and wasn't entirely sure how Seto would take it. "Sir. How long do you plan on being away in this…other dimension?"
Seto shrugged with indifference. "A few hours? It shouldn't take too long to locate the Pharaoh and duel him. Then I'll return." His eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Well sir…" Roland adjusted the knot of his tie nervously, as if the fabric was choking him. "I….have you considered the possibility that you could be away for much longer than you anticipate?"
"Roland. How long do you think a Duel Monsters match takes?"
Roland shook his head. "Not the duel. What if the mere act of returning becomes complicated? The pod malfunctions…..the cube is lost…or some other factor out of your control? What will become of Mr. Mokuba?"
"Mokuba has survived on his own when I've gone on convention and business tours around America before. This will be no different."
"Yes, sir. Those lasted a few days…a week tops." Roland sighed. "As your chief of staff, I have to put Mokuba's livelihood and safety into account. Hypothetically speaking….and I know you don't wish to consider this. What if you never reach your destination?"
Seto tapped his fingers against the pod. Roland didn't have to spell it out any further; the implication was clear. What if he never came back, was the underlying message. He was Mokuba's legal guardian. "It seems you've already given thought to the topic." It wasn't the answer Roland wanted, but at least the discussion was out.
"I have. Mokuba will need to be cared for by someone he trusts. Someone you trust as well. I am aware that's an extremely short list."
"Roland, it's a list of one." Seto replied and crossed his arms. "You."
"I am prepared to take on the assignment, sir." Roland said. To anyone else, the proper term would have been 'challenge' or 'burden', but since Roland was used to living at the mansion for extended periods of time, as well as assisting in handling official KaibaCorp affairs, not too much would be added on. Which brought on another related query. "And Kaiba Corp, sir? Who shall handle all affairs?"
Seto huffed. "You seem confident I won't be returning at all."
"I am merely planning for all contingencies, sir. Better to know now, than to scramble to find a way once it's too late."
Seto sighed. He had every ounce of faith in his technology, and was fully confident in his ability to return safely. Nothing he ever created had failed before. Part of him began to wonder if Mokuba talked his chief into questioning him like this to convince him not to go. Seto Kaiba was no fool. He could read Mokuba like an open book. Yes, he showed outward support, but he could tell his latest attempt to reach the Pharaoh bothered the kid.
He still had to answer Roland. "Mokuba will make the executive decisions in my absence. My short absence. He bears the Kaiba name, and the corporate laws demand family take charge of this company. But he will need you, Roland. Guide him. Just be mindful, his education is equally as important as this company, if not moreso. He doesn't have the advantage of intense private study that I had thanks to our stepfather."
"I understand, sir." Roland replied with a bow to his head. "I promise you, sir. Should anything happen, Mokuba will be in good hands, and well taken care of."
"It won't have to come to that, Roland. Trust me. This will work."