PART TWO
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Seto Kaiba watched unnoticed as Anzu Mazaki came dashing out of the makeshift hospital room set up by the emergency medical staff for the man they now knew to be Rishid, apparently in pursuit of Jounouchi so she could give him a piece of her mind. He made certain that no one else had hung around, and then walked into the room himself, just barely missing the automatic doors. Unfortunately, his trench coat got caught between them, to be released seconds later when the door's computer sensor array realized that something was between them that wasn't supposed to be. Normally Kaiba would have been deeply annoyed by this, fired the person responsible, and redesigned the sensors himself. This time, though he barely noticed, because he'd paused just inside the door, feeling curious, and also more than a little intrusive.
The man on the bed-Rishid, he reminded himself, not Malik-was so still it was hard to believe he was alive. The only indicator that Seto Kaiba was not alone in a room with a corpse was the soft, regular beep of a heart monitor.
*You called him "Master". Weird. He can't be more than half your age or so. He was screaming for you like a little kid, before...before he lost his mind. To whatever that *thing* is.*
Kaiba didn't want to think about it. The Not-Malik, the insane Malik with the screwy hair, had gleefully turned on him and declared that he couldn't escape his own past, nor his connection to the Rod. That brought up dozens of issues he *really* didn't want, starting with the fact that the current Rod Bearer seemed to have gone completely off his rocker, in a new and special way. Mokuba was going to have nightmares about that face- stretching loon for years. Assuming any of them made it off the Battle Ship alive.
It's not important, Kaiba told himself firmly. And it's not that serious. What matters is getting the God Cards, that's all. But he wasn't completely convincing himself, so he returned his attention to Rishid, or more specifically, the still man's medical chart.
The doctor had left succinct and nearly-illegible notes on Rishid's physical condition, but Kaiba was used to weird handwriting, and deciphered it quickly. What he saw surprised him. Apart from the apparently self- inflicted facial carvings, Rishid had extensive scarring from third-degree burns on his back, not to mention a great deal of other scars and leftovers from old injuries. The doctor noted rather blandly that the man showed signs of childhood abuse and trauma, and that on recovery, he should probably receive therapy and counselling.
*Therapy. Hnh. Too little, too late. He is already what he is. No therapy can change that.*
Kaiba almost fancied he felt a phantom strap tighten around his neck, and a sharp pain jabbed at the base of his skull. Migraines again. He'd have to...
His eye wandered to Rishid's face, and he noticed something he hadn't previously: one of the hieratic words sliced into the skin had been engraved deeper than the others. Had the Egyptian's hand slipped while he was working? It was surprising that nerve damage hadn't ensued. Kaiba wondered briefly what the Hell had possessed the tall, dark-skinned man to inflict that sort of pain on himself...and then became suspicious.
"Computer, access central AI program, authorization Kaiba-one-six- four delta." There was an ensuing beep, as the Battle Ship's system contacted the AI residing in Kaiba's lab at home. Then a female voice sounded from the audio-recognizer and speaker panel across the room.
"How may I help you?"
"Use the room's security cameras to scan the markings on this man's face in the KaibaCorp database." There was an electronic whirring as the AI program did so.
"Do you want me to translate them, sir?"
Kaiba paused, then pointed at the deeply-graven word on Rishid's cheek. "No...just that one."
"Searching database..." the AI chirped. There was a moment or two of silence, during which Kaiba sat quietly and watched Rishid. He knew he was wasting time; the next duel would begin soon. But he couldn't help it.
**So is there nothing we will not sacrifice for those we love, you and I?**
Kaiba blinked as Mokuba's smiling face swam before his eyes. For a brief moment, he could have sworn it mingled with the image of a little blond, dark-skinned boy who was sobbing in hysterical pain. Kaiba jerked his head back, startled.
*Maybe *I'm* starting to lose my mind now.*
"Sir?"
Kaiba looked at the panel the AI's voice had issued from. "Yes?"
"The word is on file, sir. It's 'love'."
Kaiba closed his eyes and dismissed the AI, then opened them again and looked back over at Rishid. He hadn't really expected the man to stir...it was amazing he was even alive after being struck by lightening like that. He looked so peaceful and serene that way.
Kaiba reached out and touched the deepest engraving on Rishid's cheek, his face softening just for an instant. Then he stood up and made for the door, coat flaring behind him, face immobile again.
*I'm not going to fail. I don't have that luxury.*
Behind him, the soft beeping of Rishid's heart monitor increased in speed ever so slightly, just for a moment: then it was normal again. Seto Kaiba assumed he had imagined it.
END
Seto Kaiba watched unnoticed as Anzu Mazaki came dashing out of the makeshift hospital room set up by the emergency medical staff for the man they now knew to be Rishid, apparently in pursuit of Jounouchi so she could give him a piece of her mind. He made certain that no one else had hung around, and then walked into the room himself, just barely missing the automatic doors. Unfortunately, his trench coat got caught between them, to be released seconds later when the door's computer sensor array realized that something was between them that wasn't supposed to be. Normally Kaiba would have been deeply annoyed by this, fired the person responsible, and redesigned the sensors himself. This time, though he barely noticed, because he'd paused just inside the door, feeling curious, and also more than a little intrusive.
The man on the bed-Rishid, he reminded himself, not Malik-was so still it was hard to believe he was alive. The only indicator that Seto Kaiba was not alone in a room with a corpse was the soft, regular beep of a heart monitor.
*You called him "Master". Weird. He can't be more than half your age or so. He was screaming for you like a little kid, before...before he lost his mind. To whatever that *thing* is.*
Kaiba didn't want to think about it. The Not-Malik, the insane Malik with the screwy hair, had gleefully turned on him and declared that he couldn't escape his own past, nor his connection to the Rod. That brought up dozens of issues he *really* didn't want, starting with the fact that the current Rod Bearer seemed to have gone completely off his rocker, in a new and special way. Mokuba was going to have nightmares about that face- stretching loon for years. Assuming any of them made it off the Battle Ship alive.
It's not important, Kaiba told himself firmly. And it's not that serious. What matters is getting the God Cards, that's all. But he wasn't completely convincing himself, so he returned his attention to Rishid, or more specifically, the still man's medical chart.
The doctor had left succinct and nearly-illegible notes on Rishid's physical condition, but Kaiba was used to weird handwriting, and deciphered it quickly. What he saw surprised him. Apart from the apparently self- inflicted facial carvings, Rishid had extensive scarring from third-degree burns on his back, not to mention a great deal of other scars and leftovers from old injuries. The doctor noted rather blandly that the man showed signs of childhood abuse and trauma, and that on recovery, he should probably receive therapy and counselling.
*Therapy. Hnh. Too little, too late. He is already what he is. No therapy can change that.*
Kaiba almost fancied he felt a phantom strap tighten around his neck, and a sharp pain jabbed at the base of his skull. Migraines again. He'd have to...
His eye wandered to Rishid's face, and he noticed something he hadn't previously: one of the hieratic words sliced into the skin had been engraved deeper than the others. Had the Egyptian's hand slipped while he was working? It was surprising that nerve damage hadn't ensued. Kaiba wondered briefly what the Hell had possessed the tall, dark-skinned man to inflict that sort of pain on himself...and then became suspicious.
"Computer, access central AI program, authorization Kaiba-one-six- four delta." There was an ensuing beep, as the Battle Ship's system contacted the AI residing in Kaiba's lab at home. Then a female voice sounded from the audio-recognizer and speaker panel across the room.
"How may I help you?"
"Use the room's security cameras to scan the markings on this man's face in the KaibaCorp database." There was an electronic whirring as the AI program did so.
"Do you want me to translate them, sir?"
Kaiba paused, then pointed at the deeply-graven word on Rishid's cheek. "No...just that one."
"Searching database..." the AI chirped. There was a moment or two of silence, during which Kaiba sat quietly and watched Rishid. He knew he was wasting time; the next duel would begin soon. But he couldn't help it.
**So is there nothing we will not sacrifice for those we love, you and I?**
Kaiba blinked as Mokuba's smiling face swam before his eyes. For a brief moment, he could have sworn it mingled with the image of a little blond, dark-skinned boy who was sobbing in hysterical pain. Kaiba jerked his head back, startled.
*Maybe *I'm* starting to lose my mind now.*
"Sir?"
Kaiba looked at the panel the AI's voice had issued from. "Yes?"
"The word is on file, sir. It's 'love'."
Kaiba closed his eyes and dismissed the AI, then opened them again and looked back over at Rishid. He hadn't really expected the man to stir...it was amazing he was even alive after being struck by lightening like that. He looked so peaceful and serene that way.
Kaiba reached out and touched the deepest engraving on Rishid's cheek, his face softening just for an instant. Then he stood up and made for the door, coat flaring behind him, face immobile again.
*I'm not going to fail. I don't have that luxury.*
Behind him, the soft beeping of Rishid's heart monitor increased in speed ever so slightly, just for a moment: then it was normal again. Seto Kaiba assumed he had imagined it.
END