Disclaimer: We still don't Yugioh. If we did, we'd be looking at all of
your stories and stealing your best ideas. (Hey, it's happened to Mr. T
before!)
--
Hopefully this chapter will be easier to write than the last one. It's still dedicated to Mr. T, and if we added anything he didn't like he'd sic the Summoned Skull and Curse of Dragon on us, because that was his idea. Mr. T: Please stop dedicating it to me. I'm sure they know already.
--
Chapter Three: Every Rose has its Thorns
--
Japan; Queliyg shipping docks
A lone human teenager stood on the dock. The wind blew, ruffling his snow-white hair and blowing his cloak open to reveal a glint of gold.
"Soon, Father," he murmured to himself in English, "I and my other will free the Earth, and then you too will be free."
This wanderer was one Ryou Bakura, black market trader, traveling under direction of a dark and powerful being, someone who had told Bakura to simply call him "Kekatsu" for the time being.
_Time to get yourself settled, Bakura,_ Kekatsu muttered in his ear.
--
Texas; the Oil Caves (Rebel base)
Keith stalked through the grimy corridors, on his way to the quarters of two very important people. Max was on a mission and had left Cecilia behind because she hadn't been feeling well. This was perfect for Keith.
He stopped outside the covered doorway. From the shadows he saw that Cecilia lay on the bed, probably asleep. Even better. Silently he drew the heavy woolen curtain aside and entered the room.
He paused when he saw the rebel leader's wife, peacefully curled up atop the covers, looking even more like an angel in her slumber.
_Sorry, lady, but the Queliyg can offer more than your husband can if I bring you to them._ He tied her hands and feet gently and covered her mouth, then wrapped her up in the blanket.
Carefully lifting her, Keith wondered at how light she seemed, and how she had yet to wake.
Slinking back through the corridors, "package" in his arms, Keith went to the vehicle hangars and found his jeep. He laid her in the back seat, then covered her with a tarp.
_Next phase,_ he thought nervously. This would be the hard part. He walked over to the girl in charge of "traffic flow," as she jokingly called it.
"Hey, Kamilah," he called. The red-head looked up. "Sorry to bother ya, sweetheart, but I need a ride up?"
Kamilah grinned. "All right then, Brown Nose. Get in your jeep." She skipped lightly over to her transport truck and hopped lithely in, like a cat.
Keith carefully drove up into the empty back of the transport. And dwelled for a minute on what a shame it was that they took the precaution of hiding the entrances from him, just in case he was "captured." The doors closed behind him by remote. Boxed in. Keith hated it.
The truck began to move and Cecilia stirred under the tarp. Keith stared back and felt a little panic, but then she stilled.
After what seemed like forever, the truck stopped. Keith knew they were now on an old highway and tracing Kamilah back would be impossible. The Queliyg had shot down the old spy satellite network and it had never occured to them to build one of their own. They didn't see how anything that was a mammal's idea could possibly be useful.
"Okay," Kamilah called as the doors opened and a ramp lowered for him to back down on, "take care of yourself, blondie."
"Be seein' ya," Keith replied, driving off.
--
Even before Max realized that his wife was missing, he could feel that something was amiss. Soon it was evident she was nowhere to be found.
He went to Kamilah. "Has anyone come or gone other than my group since this morning?"
Kamilah shrugged. "No one other than Keith. Is something wrong?"
Max felt as though five pounds of ice had dropped into his stomach. _Cecilia was right about him,_ he thought in horror. _And I never listened. This is my fault!_
"No," he told the teenager, who had been staring at him worriedly. He needed to get out from under that blue gaze. "No, nothing is wrong, Kamilah."
--
"Keith is a traitor, Arthur," Max told the older man wearily. Arthur stared at him.
"You mean-- You think that's what happened to Cecilia? She's been kidnapped?"
The young man nodded, heart heavy with guilt. "I have to get her back, Arthur. I don't know where he's taken her, but I'll to follow her to the ends of the Earth if I must."
"But Pegasus-- your work here--"
Max shook his head. "You aren't talking me out of this, Arthur. I'm leaving you in charge... Say goodbye to your granddaughter and everyone else for me. I'll try to return soon."
Arthur found himself staring at the door. "Pegasus, I hope you know what you're doing..."
--
Somewhere over California, heading into the Pacific:
Cecilia was aware of the movement before she opened her eyes. Now if only she could muster up enough energy and rise above how nauseated she was feeling, she might have a chance of figuring out what was going on, other than that she was somewhere she probably didn't want to be.
Cecilia opened her eyes and saw a pair of boots, then looked up to see that Keith was the one filling them.
"You sure slept for long enough," he commented. "Longer than I even needed."
She managed to sit up, slowly to avoid the wave of dizziness that threatened to overcome her. "Keith, you traitor. Where are we?"
Keith gave her an innocent-who-me look. "What in the world would possess you to think me, of all people, a traitor?"
"We're in a transport of some kind and no human power has resources for such large transports. Where are we, and tell me now before I hurt you."
Keith smirked. "Heavens, but you're moody today."
Cecilia felt all her nausea and exhaustion vanish with her anger. "Keith!" she growled threateningly, jumping to her feet, "Where! Are! We?"
The man stared at her in startlement. "In a Queliyg airship headed for Japan."
The exhaustion reclaimed her and she sat heavily down on the floor. "You could have had the decency to put a chair in here. Or a bed."
Keith stared at her. "I'd think there should be a bed where you're going, lady."
"Which is where?" she asked, warning in her tone.
Keith shrugged and strolled away from her. "I may as well tell you since there's nothing you can do. You'll be an honored guest of Gozaburo Kaiba himself."
Cecilia made a face and lay down on her side. "The Queliyg pet, 'governor' of Japan, hmm?"
"I wouldn't insult him like that to his face if I were you."
Cecilia sat up again and glared at him. "I'll do as I please, and listening to the advice of a turncoat like you is not exactly as I please, featherboy. How could you betray us, your own people, like this?"
Keith got a particularly cocky grin on his face. "You have to look out for Number One in this world, sweetheart. Number One's the only guy that counts."
She shook her head and looked away from him, arms crossed. "Nobody who really counts believes that. Take Max's father, for example. He could've kept to himself, could've looked out for Number One and Number One's family, but instead focused on people he didn't know. And started the rebellion his son leads. Only cowards think that Number One is all who counts. Cowards-- and that's it. That's you."
Anger twisted Keith's face. "How can you call me a coward? I--"
"Can't prove yourself otherwise!" Cecilia raged, standing again. "Everything you've ever done is for your own gain! You never cared about the people you could free, you've just wanted to live in the lap of luxury. I've seen it in you ever since I met you. You're a self-serving, weak- willed miser who's so stuck on himself you can't recognise what a tiny backbone you've got!"
Keith boiled with fury, but he didn't do anything. The two glared daggers at each other for a few minutes, and then he turned on his heel and marched out.
"You know I'm right!" she yelled at his back.
--
End Chapter Three. Wow, Cecilia's mean when she wants to be, isn't she? I'm sorry this one was short, it had to be. Anyone wondering about that "Kekatsu" thing, "Kek" is the god of darkness and "Atsu" means twin. So it's "Dark Twin." Also, anyone wondering why Cecilia seemed to be under the weather, well, you'll find out what's wrong when she does and it wasn't just for convenience. One last thing for anybody who's confused; since the Queliyg came nine years ago in here, it was before Seto and Mokuba's father died and therefore Gozaburo Kaiba never adopted them. He was too busy kissing alien butt.
--
Hopefully this chapter will be easier to write than the last one. It's still dedicated to Mr. T, and if we added anything he didn't like he'd sic the Summoned Skull and Curse of Dragon on us, because that was his idea. Mr. T: Please stop dedicating it to me. I'm sure they know already.
--
Chapter Three: Every Rose has its Thorns
--
Japan; Queliyg shipping docks
A lone human teenager stood on the dock. The wind blew, ruffling his snow-white hair and blowing his cloak open to reveal a glint of gold.
"Soon, Father," he murmured to himself in English, "I and my other will free the Earth, and then you too will be free."
This wanderer was one Ryou Bakura, black market trader, traveling under direction of a dark and powerful being, someone who had told Bakura to simply call him "Kekatsu" for the time being.
_Time to get yourself settled, Bakura,_ Kekatsu muttered in his ear.
--
Texas; the Oil Caves (Rebel base)
Keith stalked through the grimy corridors, on his way to the quarters of two very important people. Max was on a mission and had left Cecilia behind because she hadn't been feeling well. This was perfect for Keith.
He stopped outside the covered doorway. From the shadows he saw that Cecilia lay on the bed, probably asleep. Even better. Silently he drew the heavy woolen curtain aside and entered the room.
He paused when he saw the rebel leader's wife, peacefully curled up atop the covers, looking even more like an angel in her slumber.
_Sorry, lady, but the Queliyg can offer more than your husband can if I bring you to them._ He tied her hands and feet gently and covered her mouth, then wrapped her up in the blanket.
Carefully lifting her, Keith wondered at how light she seemed, and how she had yet to wake.
Slinking back through the corridors, "package" in his arms, Keith went to the vehicle hangars and found his jeep. He laid her in the back seat, then covered her with a tarp.
_Next phase,_ he thought nervously. This would be the hard part. He walked over to the girl in charge of "traffic flow," as she jokingly called it.
"Hey, Kamilah," he called. The red-head looked up. "Sorry to bother ya, sweetheart, but I need a ride up?"
Kamilah grinned. "All right then, Brown Nose. Get in your jeep." She skipped lightly over to her transport truck and hopped lithely in, like a cat.
Keith carefully drove up into the empty back of the transport. And dwelled for a minute on what a shame it was that they took the precaution of hiding the entrances from him, just in case he was "captured." The doors closed behind him by remote. Boxed in. Keith hated it.
The truck began to move and Cecilia stirred under the tarp. Keith stared back and felt a little panic, but then she stilled.
After what seemed like forever, the truck stopped. Keith knew they were now on an old highway and tracing Kamilah back would be impossible. The Queliyg had shot down the old spy satellite network and it had never occured to them to build one of their own. They didn't see how anything that was a mammal's idea could possibly be useful.
"Okay," Kamilah called as the doors opened and a ramp lowered for him to back down on, "take care of yourself, blondie."
"Be seein' ya," Keith replied, driving off.
--
Even before Max realized that his wife was missing, he could feel that something was amiss. Soon it was evident she was nowhere to be found.
He went to Kamilah. "Has anyone come or gone other than my group since this morning?"
Kamilah shrugged. "No one other than Keith. Is something wrong?"
Max felt as though five pounds of ice had dropped into his stomach. _Cecilia was right about him,_ he thought in horror. _And I never listened. This is my fault!_
"No," he told the teenager, who had been staring at him worriedly. He needed to get out from under that blue gaze. "No, nothing is wrong, Kamilah."
--
"Keith is a traitor, Arthur," Max told the older man wearily. Arthur stared at him.
"You mean-- You think that's what happened to Cecilia? She's been kidnapped?"
The young man nodded, heart heavy with guilt. "I have to get her back, Arthur. I don't know where he's taken her, but I'll to follow her to the ends of the Earth if I must."
"But Pegasus-- your work here--"
Max shook his head. "You aren't talking me out of this, Arthur. I'm leaving you in charge... Say goodbye to your granddaughter and everyone else for me. I'll try to return soon."
Arthur found himself staring at the door. "Pegasus, I hope you know what you're doing..."
--
Somewhere over California, heading into the Pacific:
Cecilia was aware of the movement before she opened her eyes. Now if only she could muster up enough energy and rise above how nauseated she was feeling, she might have a chance of figuring out what was going on, other than that she was somewhere she probably didn't want to be.
Cecilia opened her eyes and saw a pair of boots, then looked up to see that Keith was the one filling them.
"You sure slept for long enough," he commented. "Longer than I even needed."
She managed to sit up, slowly to avoid the wave of dizziness that threatened to overcome her. "Keith, you traitor. Where are we?"
Keith gave her an innocent-who-me look. "What in the world would possess you to think me, of all people, a traitor?"
"We're in a transport of some kind and no human power has resources for such large transports. Where are we, and tell me now before I hurt you."
Keith smirked. "Heavens, but you're moody today."
Cecilia felt all her nausea and exhaustion vanish with her anger. "Keith!" she growled threateningly, jumping to her feet, "Where! Are! We?"
The man stared at her in startlement. "In a Queliyg airship headed for Japan."
The exhaustion reclaimed her and she sat heavily down on the floor. "You could have had the decency to put a chair in here. Or a bed."
Keith stared at her. "I'd think there should be a bed where you're going, lady."
"Which is where?" she asked, warning in her tone.
Keith shrugged and strolled away from her. "I may as well tell you since there's nothing you can do. You'll be an honored guest of Gozaburo Kaiba himself."
Cecilia made a face and lay down on her side. "The Queliyg pet, 'governor' of Japan, hmm?"
"I wouldn't insult him like that to his face if I were you."
Cecilia sat up again and glared at him. "I'll do as I please, and listening to the advice of a turncoat like you is not exactly as I please, featherboy. How could you betray us, your own people, like this?"
Keith got a particularly cocky grin on his face. "You have to look out for Number One in this world, sweetheart. Number One's the only guy that counts."
She shook her head and looked away from him, arms crossed. "Nobody who really counts believes that. Take Max's father, for example. He could've kept to himself, could've looked out for Number One and Number One's family, but instead focused on people he didn't know. And started the rebellion his son leads. Only cowards think that Number One is all who counts. Cowards-- and that's it. That's you."
Anger twisted Keith's face. "How can you call me a coward? I--"
"Can't prove yourself otherwise!" Cecilia raged, standing again. "Everything you've ever done is for your own gain! You never cared about the people you could free, you've just wanted to live in the lap of luxury. I've seen it in you ever since I met you. You're a self-serving, weak- willed miser who's so stuck on himself you can't recognise what a tiny backbone you've got!"
Keith boiled with fury, but he didn't do anything. The two glared daggers at each other for a few minutes, and then he turned on his heel and marched out.
"You know I'm right!" she yelled at his back.
--
End Chapter Three. Wow, Cecilia's mean when she wants to be, isn't she? I'm sorry this one was short, it had to be. Anyone wondering about that "Kekatsu" thing, "Kek" is the god of darkness and "Atsu" means twin. So it's "Dark Twin." Also, anyone wondering why Cecilia seemed to be under the weather, well, you'll find out what's wrong when she does and it wasn't just for convenience. One last thing for anybody who's confused; since the Queliyg came nine years ago in here, it was before Seto and Mokuba's father died and therefore Gozaburo Kaiba never adopted them. He was too busy kissing alien butt.