Chapter Seven-Trouble in Paradise

"Watch those screens up there." Soon enough, he had them all programmed to show her different scenes in her world. "I believe that little girl right there is Morgen? She seems to be in your arcade."

"That's her….." Veronica was speechless, watching the scenes before eyes. It seemed that the entire city had been shut down to look for her. "Noa…. You have to let me go. My brother looks so scared."

"No. It's all publicity for your company. Deep inside, he's relieved you're gone. At least he'll never have to hear your whining again. Now, I believe you wanted to talk to this Morgen…." He pushed a button, and a holographic image of Veronica appeared in front of Morgen. "Just talk normally. It will say anything you want it to say. "

Veronica swallowed hard, and then began to talk. "Morgen….Morgen, don't cry. I'm safe."

"Ronnie? But…..it's not you….it's a projection!"

"I know. Listen to me, Morgen. I know Vincent won't believe you, but I want you to know the truth."

Morgen nodded, transfixed. "Yes?"

"I'm….I'm with Noa Kaiba."

"Who?!" Morgen stared at her. "But…how is that possible?!"

"It's a very long st-story…I won't be coming home for a very long time."

"But…. Everyone's looking for you! They'll pronounce you as dead!" Morgen reached out to her holographic form. "You must come home!"

"I can't…." Veronica looked at Noa now, hating him even more. "I just can't. You just don't let them forget about me."

"I won't…" Morgen promised through her tears. She looked towards the stairs now. "My brother's calling me. I have to go."

"Okay…." Veronica looked up at Noa when Morgen left the sight of the monitors. "You will never have my love." She got down out of the chair, and ran out of the control room into her room.

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Noa spent the rest the night alone in the control room. He was angry with himself for allowing his manipulating ways to resurface. And he was worried too. He knew Veronica couldn't feel it, but there was a great disturbance in the virtual world he inhabited. He was working now, as he thought about how badly things were turning out between the girl and him, on finding out what the problem was. I know it can't be my father. If it is him, that's bad. He's been trying to shut me down for months. I knew I should've gone to Mokuba for help! Maybe now that I have Veronica, he'll try to use her against me. I cannot allow that to happen! I made a promise to protect her. I know she hates me right now,but I still promised to take care of her like my little sister.

"Noa? Noa, I can't stay mad at you…." Veronica spoke up from behind him.

"C'mere, Veronica." Noa said softly. Now would be his chance to make up for his manipulations.

The girl came to his side, and he put a hand on her arm. "Veronica, I'm really sorry. I just don't want you to leave yet."

"But you can't keep me forever." Veronica pouted at him. "I've a life too."

"If you want to call dueling at your brother's every beckoning call a life…." Noa muttered. "I will let you go home very soon. I just think your brother needs a lesson taught."

"I think he's learned it. I saw his face, Noa. He's really scared." Veronica persisted.

"Well, I don't." Noa fought to keep the sharpness out of his voice. "You have as much right to your parents' empire as he does. Yet, all you get is scraps." Veronica looked at the floor then, and Noa felt sorry for her. "Listen to me, Doll. Your brother does the same thing to you that Seto does to Mokuba. It's not right. I tried to tell Mokuba the same thing, but in the end, Seto won him back. You won't ever have to be used again. You're free here." He was no longer even trying to manipulate the girl. He just wanted her to belong to him, willingly.

Before Veronica could respond, the lights went out, and she shrieked. "Noa! What'd you do?!"

Noa cursed under his breath, and grabbed her hand comfortingly. "Don't worry…it's a temporary glitch." He stood up, looking around sharply. He knew it was Him. It had to be. He pulled Veronica behind him. "Stay close, Otoota." He said quietly.

Veronica was afraid of a lot of things, but the dark was the worst for her.

Forgetting the fact that Noa was holding her against her will, she clung to his hand tighter, a fearful gasp escaping her lips.

Noa turned to look at her. "It'll be okay. I'll have the power on soon, Little One." He led her over to the fuse box. He flipped a few switches. "Oh Geez…. He turned off the generators too!"

"Who?" Veronica ventured to ask.

"My father." Noa said in a low voice. "We're in a lot of trouble, Veronica."

"Gozabouro Kaiba?! He's here?! Oh good! Let me at him!"

Noa's eyes widened at her outburst, and he hurried to clamp a hand over her mouth. "Shh! You shouldn't say such things! He'll listen to you. You've seen the arc. You know how he feels about children."

Veronica calmed down then, and Noa released her. After a moment, she looked up at Noa. "What's he doing here? I thought you blew him up?"

Noa sighed. "No, I didn't. See, that cartoon of yours is okay, but it exaggerates too much, and leaves out even more. I won't tell you right now, but when the threat of losing virtual world is over, I'll give it to you the right way."

"Losing virtual world?! What do you mean by that?!" Veronica's eyes widened into saucers.

"My father's been trying to deprogram this thing for a quite sometime. So far, I've been able to fight him off, but from the looks of things….." He trailed off. "Veronica, there's a good chance he'll succeed..and if he does,we'll both be lost."

"No! I won't allow it!" Veronica exclaimed. "This is my chance, Noa! The one way I can prove myself to Mokuba."

"Don't be stupid, Veronica. Mokuba would never ask you to do anything that could potentially kill you." Noa was slightly irritated with the fact that she seemed to only want to please his foster brother. "And anyway, he doesn't even know you exist."

Veronica sighed, and looked up at him in the darkness. "I'm really scared…."

"Don't be afraid, Sis. I won't let him hurt you." Noa consoled her. He led her into his room now, hoping to find the emergency flashlights. "Argh! He took everything! Well, two can play in that way!" He snapped his fingers, and two flashlights appeared. "Come on, Ronnie. We're going to have to head for the island."

"But the bridge….." She began, but Noa just smirked.

"You keep forgetting that I own this world. Come." He had to take her the back way, since the elevator was out of service. As they got to the metal steps, he looked at her. "Whatever happens, do not wander off. He's taken control of the holographic illusions, and probably other things too."

"I'm scared, Noa….I want my other brother…" Veronica's lower lip trembled.

"It's okay, Doll. I'm here. " Noa replied soothingly. He led her down the steps to the big gap where the bridge had been. With a snap of his fingers, a Blue Eyes White Dragon appeared. "Veronica, this is Skye. He's been my only companion for many years. He's going to carry you to the other side."

"He's not a hologram?" The dragon flew lower, so that Veronica could touch his nose. "I guess not…." She let Noa hoist her up on to Skye's back. "What about you?"

"I'll be fine. I have to get you away from here. If I know my father, this is where he'll attack first. He thinks I never leave the base."

"Okay….."

Noa watched them fly off, then returned to the darkened base.

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Skye landed gently beside a brook. He nudged Veronica with a low snort.

"What is it? You want to stay with me?"

The duel monster tossed it's head in an answer, before flying off. "I guess not.." Veronica watched him go. Maybe he's going to get Noa…Oh, I wish we hadn't parted! I don't what will happen if I run into Kaiba Senior. I'll be too freaked out! She didn't have long to worry about how she'd handle Noa's father, because just then, she fell into a hole that appeared out of nowhere. She shrieked in fear. Oh this is really bad… really really bad! It's Kaiba Sr. I know it is!

"Very intelligent, Child." Gozabouro Kaiba's sinister voice agreed.

Veronica looked around in terror. "Where am I ?!"

"Don't you recognize this place? It's Alacatraz, my Dear, and you will not be leaving anytime soon!" The man laughed cruelly. "Now to deal with my disobedient and otherwise useless son!"

"Leave Noa alone!!" Veronica found herself wishing more than anything she had acquired the snap-reaction ability Noa had.

"Oh do be quiet!" Gozabouro waved a hand, sending her into a glass tube prison. "That should hold you, while I locate Noa."

Veronica sank to the bottom of the tube, burying her face in her knees. "Oh Noa….Please don't let him hurt you….please….Oniisan….my Onissan…" At that moment, Veronica decided she'd let Noa be her brother here in the virtual world, while Vinnie would remain her brother in her world. And she vowed to be help him, if she could.