Chapter 6: Out of the frying pan and into the fire
"That was excellent Pizza, Tea." Seto smiled as he tossed the paper napkins and plates into the trash can.
"Why thank you. I'll order Pizza Hut again." Tea grinned.
"Oi! Seto, go one and take your fax!" Mokuba called. "Stupid thing kicked me off the Internet! Why can't you have two phone lines?"
"So, what are you trying to do, Mokuba?" Tea asked, as she looked over Mokuba's shoulder.
"Well, for the last four weeks I've been trying to hack into the CIA network. I mean, naturally, I've done it before, but now they've gone and changed the passwords and backdoors on me. Stupid viruses." Mokuba muttered and Seto rolled his eyes.
"Quit showing off and stop scaring Tea with your lies."
"Who said I was lying?" Mokuba asked the ceiling as Seto ran up to his room where the fax machine was. Grabbing the paper off the machine, Seto read the short message and blinked in surprise.
RESIGN OR DIE!
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"And you can't figure out who sent it?"
"No. The number is encoded." Mokuba shrugged. "I doubt the phone company has any idea."
"Seto, what are we going to do?"
"Tea, it's all right. Everything will be fine. I'll figure something out."
"But Seto!"
"But what, Mokuba?"
"But they're threatening you! We don't even know who they are!"
"Of course we do. It's the Big Five."
"Who?" Tea asked.
"The board of directors. Scum of the earth, but good businessmen."
"Seto, let's just call the police! Let them deal with it!" Mokuba pleaded. "This isn't safe!"
"No. I want to keep this quite; I can handel this myself. Besides, I don't think I'm in any real danger."
"But Seto!"
"Seto please! Listen to your brother!"
"I am. Look, they want me to resign so Mokuba can take over. It's the only logical reason. So…...... if Mokuba can escape, their plan will fall apart." Seto reasoned, as he stood up and began to pace. Suddenly, the phone rang and Mokuba picked it up.
"Hello? Yes. All right. One minute." Mokuba nodded before handing the phone to Seto. "It's for you."
"Hello?"
"Mr. Kaiba?"
"Serenity?"
"Hey." Serenity laughed. "Glad you remember me."
"How could I forget my father's secretary."
"Well, now I'm yours, I suppose, but that's not why I called."
"What is it then?"
"I'm not exactly sure what is going on, but I've been tipped off that something is going on that's not quite right."
"What do you mean?"
"There's going to be a meeting of the Big Five at eleven a.m. tomorrow and I've been ordered to take the day off."
"Ordered?"
"Well, not ordered, but it was a very pointed suggestion."
"Oh." Seto nodded. "Well, thank you. I'll keep this in mind."
"Do you think something is wrong?"
"No. No, not at all." Seto lied quickly. "But why don't you take that day off anyway?"
"I will. Well, I'll see you later."
"Yea. Later." Seto nodded, before hanging up.
"Who was that?"
"My dad's secretary. Turns out I'm right. The Big Five is planning something."
"Seto, why don't you just resign?" Tea asked suddenly.
"I can't do that." Seto shook his head. "No one threatens me and no one tells me what to do. And, certainly, no one will use my family like pawns."
"So what are you planning?" Mokuba asked.
"I'm not quite sure." Seto admitted, before sitting down on the couch, next to Tea. The three of them sat in silence for a bit before Seto stood up and began to pace rapidly.
"I've got it!" Seto smiled, suddenly snapping his fingers. "It's brilliant. And ever so simple. But first, everyone needs some sleep. We'll start tomorrow."
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Quickly typing in to the address box the web site for a airlines, Mokuba opened up another window and scrolled down a list of flights leaving that day.
"Mokuba?" Tea asked walking into the room. "What are you doing up so early?"
"A bit of work for Seto. Say, got any relatives down south?"
"Well, My parents live in Tampa, Florida."
"Perfect." Mokuba smiled. "And how about west of the Mississippi?"
"I know Tristan."
"Oh, good point."
"What are you doing?"
"Well, I'm booking five sets of two tickets to five separate locations about the world."
"Why?"
Shaking his head, Mokuba pressed a finger to his lips and pointed to the computer screen.
'We can't say any more. Seto things the room might be bugged.' Tea read silently.
'Better safe than sorry.' Tea wrote back. 'So, why five sets of plane tickets?'
'For me and you!'
'?'
'It'll confuse the Big 5.'
'Oh. Where are we going then?'
'Where ever you want. We're to go to the station in about an hour and get train tickets to somewhere where we don't know anyone.'
'Train tickets?'
'Seto will give us enough money for train tickets and a hotel room and some food.'
'Why are we to leave?'
'Seto wants us safe.' Mokuba shrugged. Tea nodded and straightened up.
"So, Mokuba. When you're done that do you want some coffee?"
"Well, all right. Thank you."
"Your welcome." Tea nodded before typing another message.
'We'll need some clothes. Shall I pack for you?'
'No. I need to bring my laptop anyway. I'll just pack around it.'
"Okay. Talk to you when the coffee is done." Tea smiled before leaving to pack. Making her way up the stairs, Tea almost bumped into Seto.
"'Morning." Seto smiled, kissing Tea on the forehead.
"'Morning." Tea smiled back and looked down as Seto pressed something into her hand. It was a roll of money—mostly tens and twenties—along with a note.
"Is Mokuba doing his 'homework'?"
"Yes. When did you get him up?"
"Eight. He needs the time." Seto frowned and leaned so he could whisper in her ear. "Did he fill you in?"
"Yes." Tea whispered back. "I'm going to pack."
"Good. I'll make coffee."
"Make Mokuba a cup." Tea smiled before she moved past Seto and began to pack.
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"Is everything set up?" Seto asked once Mokuba and Tea were packed.
"The tickets are ready. I'm packed." Mokuba nodded.
"I'm packed, with everything." Tea agreed.
"Good. Mokuba, a present for you." Seto smiled before handing Mokuba a small antenna.
"What's this?"
"A audio bug." Seto smiled, showing Mokuba a small pin he had clipped to his trench coat.
"OH! COOL!" Mokuba exclaimed.
"Glad you like it. Well, I guess I'll be seeing you two later then." Seto sighed, hugging Mokuba.
"Be careful, Seto." Mokuba sighed, returning Seto's hug.
"There's nothing to worry about, Mokuba. Everything will be fine and I'll see you again in two days. Max!" Seto grinned, hugging Tea. "Wait a second. Tea, you aren't wearing a vest."
"A what?"
"A vest." Mokuba repeated, showing Tea the bulletproof vest he was wearing underneath his sweater.
"You'll have to take mine." Seto sighed, as he took off his trench coat and unzipped his vest. "It's probably a bit big and you probably won't be very comfortable, but you'll have to make due."
"But what about you?" Tea asked, not taking the vest from Seto's outstretched hand.
"I don't need it. Besides, you don't want me to constantly worry about you, do you?" Seto asked. Letting out a defeated sigh, Tea took Seto's vest and slipped it on under her jacket.
