Chapter Eight-Veronica's Promise

Noa knew a few minutes after it happened that his father had caught Veronica. He cursed himself for allowing that to happen, as he made his way back to the control room in his base. He'll use her to get to me. I know him. Well,I won't let her be used! I have to find a way to send her home..or somewhere safe. But first,I have to get these blasted computers running again. Noa's thoughts continued to tumble in his mind, while he attempted to get things back online. It took him some time, but eventually three of his numerous security monitors flickered back on. "There we go. I knew he wouldn't be able to keep me in the dark." The lights had come back on as well. "Now to locate my sister." He started issuing voice commands. "Locate Veronica Skylar. It's urgent."

"I can take you to her, Son." Gozabouro stood behind Noa, smirking.

Noa's eyes narrowed, and he glared his father's holographic form. "How did you get back here?"

"No concern of yours. Now, where was I? Oh yes…destroying your happy little virtual life."

"You'll never get away with this!" Noa exclaimed indignantly. "Veronica's not as weak as she seems to be." The boy added, hoping his father would buy it.

"She's as weak as they come, if not weaker. Broke down the minute I caged her. Pathetic."

"You have her in a cage?!!" Noa was outraged. "Why don't you just let her go! She's nothing to do with us!"

"Oh, is that so? Then why do I sense so much concern and love for her from you? No, Noa, I don't think I will let her go." Gozabouro was truly enjoying the pained expression on his son's face.

"You…You're going to pay for this! Take me to her, now!"

"Certainly…Certainly. But first. Shut down your base. Forever."

Noa gritted his teeth, before turning to his console panel again. "You will live to regret this,Father." He said father in a very sarcastic tone. Gozabouro Kaiba had stopped being his father years ago. Now he was just an evil being that haunted the virtual boy.

"We shall see who regrets what,My Boy." Kaiba Senior replied coldly. He had big plans for Noa's destruction. And he had already begun to make plans for his friend Veronica's. "Hurry up, Son. It gets rather cold in Alcatraz. We don't want your friend to freeze to death, do we?"

"Alcatraz…." Noa muttered angrily. "You jerk! You'll kill her!"

"Well about that…..I really don't care." His father sneered.

"Well,I do!" Noa finished shutting down everything. As soon as he had, he felt himself beginning to weaken.

"Feeling a little sick, are we?" He grabbed Noa's arm and teleported them to Alcatraz.

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"Noa! Oniisan!" Veronica shook Noa gently. He hadn't stirred since Gozabouro threw him in with her. The girl pouted at the eldest Kaiba, fearfully. What had he done to Noa? "Noa, please wake up!"

"Shh…Ronnie, don't cry…I'm okay." Noa's eyes opened, and he turned to look at the terrified girl. "C'mere." He struggled to pull her closer to comfort her. "Relax. I'm going to get us out of this, okay?"

"H-how? What did he do to you? You look so weak."

"It's my fortress, Veronica. He refused to bring me to you unless I shut it down. Remember what I said about controlling it? Well, I guess my life energy was put into it as well. It being shut down means I'm almost too weak to live."

"No! Don't say that!" Despite everything that had happened, Veronica realized how much she loved Noa. He was her best friend…her oniisan, even if only by virtual standards.

"Pipe down over there!" Gozabouro ordered.

"Drop dead!" Veronica retorted. She turned to look at Noa. "Is there anything I can do, Noa? Anything??"

Noa was about to say no, when suddenly a thought occurred to him. "There is one thing. You have to get the Key, Veronica."

"But….I don't want to go home….I want to save you!"

"This will save me, Doll. You have to get some help. We can't do this alone." Noa hugged her tightly. "Be strong, Veronica. You can do this. I have many friends here. They will help you." He continued to explain how the key worked. "You have to get Mokuba."

Veronica nodded. "I won't fail you, Noa."

Noa smiled weakly. "I know you won't." He used the last of his energy to send her out into the virtual world, away from the cold cell of Alcatraz. At least for a time, Veronica was out of Gozabouro's reach.

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Veronica found herself back in that dreaded dark castle. Noa had told her the Virtual Key was there, and she was determined to find it. She climbed another set of stairs, exploring each room cautiously. But without his base, Noa was virtually harmless. There weren't any traps or holograms now. For some reason, this made Veronica even more scared. However, the fear wasn't for herself, but for Noa. If she should fail, Noa, and the rest of the virtual world would collapse. No! I won't fail him. He's kept his word, and protected me. I must return the favor. Alright, Veronica. Let's save Noa from this nightmare! Encouraged by her own thoughts, the young girl continued searching.

Hours went by before Veronica came to the room that held the Key. "Took me long enough." She reached for it, and found that it came to her easily. "Yes!" She put the small key in her pocket. "Noa,I have it! Help will come soon!" Then she did the thing she'd been longing to do since Noa'd first told her she'd be able to. She snapped her fingers, and Skye appeared. "It worked!" She hurried to climb Skye's back. "Nii-sama's in trouble, Skye. You've to take me to his fortress. Hurry!"

Once she got there, Veronica dismissed Skye, and walked into dark base. Okay. I'm in the base. All I have to do is reboot it, and get it back underwater Then Gozabouro won't be able to find it to shut it down again, and Noa will have his strength back. She went to work beginning to repair things. The virtual key was also a mapped out control station, once she set it in it's place on the console. It told her exactly how to reboot things. Once the monitors were back online, she located Alcatraz to see how Noa was doing. He still seemed weak. "Hang in there, Noa. I'm working as fast as I can."

She next checked the engine room, to make sure they had enough fuel. "Good. All systems checked." Returning to then control room, she gave the command for descending once more into the ocean. Submersiont, check! Now all I have to do is use the key as a portal to find Mokuba. This is going to be a challenge. What makes Noa think Mokuba will even listen to me? No no! Now's not the time to be doubting him! I have to get Mokuba to believe me!

Veronica decided to change first. She was still in her pajamas. When that was done, she headed out of her room, towards the control room to get the Key, and then to the transport corridor, to the machine the Key really belonged to. "Okay….put the key in the slot, and turn a quarter to the left. I can handle that…" Veronica stepped on the platform, and followed those very instructions, calling out the name Mokuba Kaiba before she vanished,Key in hand.

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Back at Alcatraz, Noa felt himself regaining his strength. She did it! I knew she could do it! He smirked at his father's back. He would soon be strong enough to take him on once more. He whispered to himself. "Nice job, Ronnie…nice job."

"Where did you send her, Noa!" Gozabouro demanded. He was furious that Noa had been able to free his young friend.

"That is for me to know, and you will find out soon enough." Noa growled in reply.

"Your strength….but…that's impossible…" The elder Kaiba glared. "You sent her to the base, didn't you? You sneaky little brat!"

"I told you Veronica was stronger than you thought, didn't I?" Noa snickered.

"Ah, but I've people too, my boy. With me,I've brought some friends from the past." He turned to a corridor now. "Gansly! Krump!"

Noa's eyes narrowed. This might make things even more difficult for her. I hope she's made it to my brothers' world by now. He watched as the two former Kaiba Corp. workers appeared.

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba?"

"We've a pest control problem. See if you can locate this Veronica Skylar."

"You'll never find her!" Noa declared. "She's not even in this reality anymore." He hoped he was right.

"Well well…look who it is." Krump chuckled.

"That's right, Krump, and when I get out of here, I'm going to tear you apart!"

"Pay no attention to him." Gozabouro instructed. "Gansly, you look for the girl. Krump, you get that base shut down again!"

"Yes Sir!" They replied, and then departed.

"You're wasting your time. Veronica's not here. She's gone for help."

"That's impossible! She doesn't know her way around this place!"

"You're underestimating her again. She has been here for four days. She's seen it on TV in her world, and she is well equipped with my knowledge and abilities now." Noa replied calmly. "She has gone to get the other Kaibas for help."

Gozabouro merely laughed now. "You're a foolish boy! You really think Seto and Mokuba will come save you? After everything you did?!"

"Mokuba will come. I know he will!" Noa shot back.

"Such a pity." Kaiba Senior responded coldly. "Trusting on hope to save you. What makes you think she'll even come back?"

"She will." Noa set his jaw in determination. "Then we're going to destroy you, once and for all!" He leaned against the glass of his cell, and glared at his father's form. I only hope Ronnie won't make a liar out of me……..