Chapter Eleven- Back to Virtual World
"Wake up, Ronnie. Let's go." Mokuba shook the girl.
"Mm….." Veronica turned over, looking at him. "Is Seto coming?"
"No." Mokuba replied darkly. "But don't worry. We're going to get Noa out ourselves."
Veronica sat up. It was still dark outside. "Mokuba, it's still dark outside…"
"I know. Come on." He handed her a light jacket. "Do you really have to get dressed?"
"Nope." She stood up, and put the jacket on. "I just need my shoes."
"Right." Mokuba found them for her. "Here."
"Thank you." Veronica slipped into the shoes, and looked at her idol in adoration. "We're going to sneak into the laboratory, aren't we?"
"My thoughts precisely." Mokuba grinned widely. "You are good." He grabbed her arm, and headed for his room. He strapped the pack he had to his back, and then opened his window. "Come on."
"Um….Mokuba?" Veronica stared at him, with wide eyes.
"What? Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark…." The young Kaiba looked at her.
"Well….heights, actually." She admitted sheepishly.
"That's okay. I was too, at one time." He patted her shoulder. "After the things you told me, this should seem like cake."
Veronica raised her chin now. Mokuba's right! Noa did all those things to help me stop being such a baby. I don't have Vinnie right now, and I don't have Noa either. I'm on my own. And I have to help him! "Let me go first."
Mokuba didn't object. He'd seen the change of expression on her face. "Go slowly."
"Right." She crawled out the window, feeling for the first rung of the trellis. After a few steps, Mokuba followed her out.
When they got down, Mokuba looked around. "Come on. I don't think anyone noticed." He grabbed her hand, and pulled her through the gate.
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"I'm sorry sir. There is no sign of the fortress." Gansley reported to Gozabouro.
"Damn it all! That little brat must've sank it to the bottom of the ocean!"
Noa smirked at his back. Good girl, Ronnie. Very good. "What's the matter, father? Did you get outsmarted by another ten-year-old?"
"Shut your mouth. When I see that friend of yours, she's going to pay for messing with me!"
"Really now? How do you know she hasn't come back already?" Noa was of course bluffing. He had no idea when his "sister" would be back. It had already been two weeks in virtual time since she'd left. He was still strong, but certainly that would not last forever. Please hurry back, Veronica. I don't know how long I can keep the fortress under control!
"Krump! Status report, now!"
Krump's face appeared on a wall screen. "There is no sign of the child anywhere."
Gozabouro smirked at Noa. "She'd better come back with my key, Noa. Or it's you who is going to be sorry."
"Keep threatening me, "Father". You'll get yours!" Noa replied darkly.
Kaiba Senior merely turned from his son now, and looked out at the calming ocean illusion.
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Kaiba was waiting for the two of them when Veronica and Mokuba showed up. "I was wondering when you would get here, Little Brother."
"Seto! Are you going to help us?" Mokuba wanted to know. He had his hand in Veronica's.
"Perhaps. However, I really don't buy this whole thing." Kaiba narrowed his eyes on Veronica.
"Please, Mr. Kaiba. You have to let us in to the pods. Noa doesn't have that much time."
"Very well. But I'm coming too." The CEO let them pass and watched as Mokuba and Veronica turned the VR pods on.
"Okay. I'm gonna go first. When I go, you get in, and turn the key a quarter to the right. It will take you directly to Alcatraz…or…the virtual copy of it. Then your brother just has to grab the Key as you reappear."
"Okay. Be careful, Ronnie." Mokuba smiled at her reassuringly.
"I will be." With a quick motion, the Key turned, and Veronica was gone.
Mokuba looked at his elder brother. "Thanks, Seto. This means a lot to me."
"Don't mention it, Kid." He smiled at him. "Go on now. Your friend needs you." Mokuba turned the key again, and he disappeared too.
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"Noa!" Veronica hugged her friend tightly. "Are you okay?"
"I am now." The teal headed boy looked over at Mokuiba when he appeared. "Moku-chan…."
Mokuba smiled slightly. "It's good to see you too, Noa." The younger looked out at Gozabouro Kaiba. "I can't believe that creep is still around!"
"Why you little….Seto!?! Well now, isn't this an interesting reunion. "
"Hold your tongue! What are you trying to do?"
"Getting my pay back, of course." Kaiba Sr. glared at him. "Krump! Bring me that girl!"
"No!" Noa held on to Veronica tightly. "Leave her alone!"
"Come on, Veronica. Mr. Kaiba wants to see you." Krump yanks her away.
"Ronnie!!" Noa watched with a look of pure hatred on his face, as Gozabouro asked her over and over where the Key was.
"I don't have it!!" Veronica replied again and again. Gozabouro glared at her angrily.
"You brat! I know you're lying." He pushed a button, sending Veronica away.
"Where did you send her?!" Noa demanded, fearing the worst for Veronica.
"That's not your concern. My other associates will take care of her now."
Seto scowled. "I don't like the sound of that at all." He narrowed his eyes on Gozabouro. "If anything happens to her…."
"Oh no, don't worry, Seto. She'll be perfectly safe. Once she's here for a while."