Dreams of power
Chapter 17:
Malik jumped off the stage and walked back into the dark hallway from where he came. He stood by the staircase, waiting for Marik and the others to show up. No sooner did he get comfortable Marik came bounding down the stairs.
"Marik!" he said, turning around. "Did you see me, huh?"
"Yeah, I saw you! You were great!" Marik turned to Kaiba who was coming down behind him, "Wasn't he great?"
"Well, he didn't crash and burn. Which is what I anticipated."
Marik waved away his comment, "What does he know? You did a lot better than anyone thought you would. But I knew you could do it. I couldn't stop laughing, you really had Edwards on the ropes."
"Really? Cool. You'll do great, too, Marik. Kerry's got nothing on you."
"That's right." He grinned, "Once I'm done with him, we'll have the whole election in the bag! This is so awesome."
Sanders was soon in the hallway, "Marik, I suggest you rest until the thirty minutes are up. Getting too overly excited isn't a good idea."
"Whatever. I'm not excited." He put on a 'not caring' face, "I'm totally calm."
Just then more bodyguards entered the hall from the large double doors. They were surrounding John Kerry and Edwards. But behind them, two spiky tri-colored heads could be seen. Marik and Malik squinted to see a little bit of Yami and Yugi's faces.
"Hey!" Marik called out, "Yami?! Yugi?!"
Everyone stopped and the two boys stepped out into the light. Yami stood in front of Marik, "Hello. Did ya miss me?"
"What in hell's name are you doing out here?! I tied you up!"
"Where there's a will, there's a way. We got out, and we're going help Kerry and Edwards as thanks for saving us."
"What?! Why?!" Malik asked.
"We would have done it anyway," Yugi said, "It's just something we've got to do."
"Aw, come on!" Marik pleaded, "Think about all the time we've spent together! We're practically best friends! And you're going let some guy come between us?"
"Best friends?!" they exclaimed in unison, "You've beat us up, tricked us, and stuffed us in closets!"
"And you don't call that bonding?"
"Ugh!" they yelled in aggravation and kept following Kerry and Edwards down the hallway.
"Fine!" Marik called after them, "But don't expect a Christmas present this year!"
Malik swallowed, "What do you think they're going to do, Marik?"
"Don't worry. They can't do much. Can they, guys?" he looked at Sanders and Kaiba.
They pretended not to pay attention to him. In truth... there was a lot they could do. But as usual... Marik and Malik were blissfully unaware of it.
The thirty-minute recess went by fast. Marik and Malik spent the time sleeping in the hallway. Mr. Jennings told Kaiba to get Marik up on stage for the Presidential candidate debate. Marik wasn't tired once he got up; he rushed right over to metal doors that Malik went through earlier.
Malik started up the stairs with Kaiba and Sanders behind him, "Good luck Marik. We'll be watching!"
"This'll be cake." He said waving, then turned and the guards opened the doors.
The bright light ran down the walls of the hallway and Marik stepped into it. The same things were in the same places as before. But on the other side, John Kerry was walking on stage, to the podium opposite Marik. As Kerry walked up he gave Marik a look of pure hatred. Marik stuck his tongue out.
Peter Jennings took his microphone once again, "Hello and welcome to the second half of today's debate. This promises to be a real spectacle. With Senator John Kerry going against Marik Ishtar. Once again let me explain the rules... Each panelist will ask each candidate two questions. When the candidate is answering said question the other candidate isn't allowed to interrupt. This time, though, there will be a time limit for the candidates' answer, 5 minutes is all. The panelists will be the same... Mr. Brockton, Ms. Kirk, and Mr. Crow. This time we'll go from right to left. Mr. Crow, please start us off."
Taylor nodded, "Thank you Mr. Jennings. My first question is for Mr. Kerry. John Kerry, how do you plan to revitalize the economy?"
"Well, I blah blah blah..." he didn't really say 'blah blah blah' but that's all Marik heard.
He was starring at Kerry as he answered the question, 'What the hell?! I don't even know what most of those words mean! What's 'revitalize' anyway? Isn't that something you put in tea? How are you gonna tea the economy? This makes no sense! They better not ask me something like that. I don't even drink tea.'
In another couple of minutes, Kerry finished his short speech. Which Marik paid no attention to whatsoever. He was counting the number of hairs on his knuckles when Mr. Crow looked back at him, "Mr. Ishtar?"
"Huh?"
He groaned, "Mr. Ishtar, please pay attention. My question was... As president, what do you think the American people would expect of you?"
"Hmm. Well, they'd expect me to be a good leader. Great, even. Actually, I think they should be grateful for any president that doesn't get them blown up... just because someone has more experience in combat thing doesn't mean they'd be the best candidate for president. Anyway, everyone thinks experience is an important trait in a president. But it isn't."
"It isn't?" Kerry asked in a low voice.
"Nope." He shook his head, "A lot of the previous presidents had a lot of experience... but look at what's happened. We've been bombed, and we've got terrorists running amuck all over the country. And I thought America was supposed to be the safest country in the world."
"You're never completely safe in a world where people are willing to blow themselves up just to take someone with them."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... So, there are crazy people out there. They've been there since the beginning of time, and something tells me they will always be there. That doesn't mean you can go and hide. There are ways other than heavy artillery and being afraid."
"I don't intend to-"
"I'm sorry gentlemen, but the time limit for that question is up." Mr. Jennings interrupted, "Mr. Crow will now ask his next question to Mr. Kerry."
"Mr. Kerry, how do you plan on winning the war against terror?"
"Anything can be solved with a little patience and negotiating. We don't have to completely destroy them to win this fight. We must re-evaluate our situation with the Middle East. I do intend to put this war to rest. Nothing will stop America from overcoming these dark times!"
The audience clapped soundly at Kerry's small speech. Once the applause died down Mr. Crow turned towards Marik, "Mr. Ishtar, same question."
"How would I solve the war against terror? Easy. Blow them away! For Ra's sake, all this talk about negotiating... it's pathetic. And what was that?! Dark times? Where are we, Lord of the Rings? That's what's wrong with some people today... they're afraid to fight for what they believe in. And another thing, every time someone yells 'America' you people go nuts. I'll tell ya something... if you people don't come back to reality, America will be gone."
Gasps were rising from the crowd but Marik continued, "That's right, I said gone. I mean, really. We've got people running around blowing things up. And people like him," he pointed to Kerry, "Are in office drinking espresso and trying to 'negotiate' with crazy poor people who speak a different language! How much longer are we going to remain like this?"
Once Marik stopped, crazy applause was erupting from the crowds. Malik, Sanders, and Kaiba were making the most noise. Even the panelists were applauding. Marik smiled and then turned to stick his tongue out at John. Kerry returned the gesture, then turned back around and smiled to himself.
Peter Jennings cleared his throat, "We will now go to out second panelist. Ms. Kate Kirk."
She nodded, "Thanks, Pete. My first question is for Mr. Ishtar... Why don't you want Mr. Kerry to win?"
"Well, besides the fact that he's just plain ugly... he's going to try and lead this country in the wrong direction. Notice that when he's asked a question about his plans for America... he doesn't really say anything. He goes around and around without getting to the point. A guy like that shouldn't be in charge of the most powerful country on Earth."
She nodded, "Mr. Kerry, same question."
"My opponent Mr. Ishtar..." he went on to say that Marik was the one trying to lead the country astray.
Malik was still sitting and watching the debate. He was intensely watching everything that went on. Briefly, his eyes went up to the other side of the room where John Edwards was watching Kerry as he answered the question. Yami was sitting next to him, watching as well. Malik didn't think much of it... he knew Yami and Yugi were on their side.
'Huh?' he thought, 'Where's Yugi? He was here a few minutes ago.' He looked around and in a minute saw a spiky head moving back towards the hallway. 'Hmm.'
Just out of curiosity Malik snuck out of the booth to see where Yugi was going. He got down onto the lower level and looked around. Yugi was moving pretty fast and Malik had to run to keep up with him. They were at the back of the audience near the two different staircases, one went up and one went down.
Yugi started up the stairs and Malik followed quickly but quietly. The stairs were tall and Malik was starting to get bored following someone he hated for such a long distance. Finally the stairs stopped and a long metallic hallway came before them.
Malik stopped about two feet behind Yugi. He had to hold his breath so Yugi wouldn't hear... unfortunately, Malik couldn't hold his breath for long. He ended up gasping loudly for air and Yugi whirled around to see him standing there.
"What are you doing up here?!" he asked backing up.
"I should be asking you the same thing." A little videotape in Yugi's hand caught Malik's attention, "What's that?"
He stuffed it in his pocket, "Nothing."
"Don't lie. What, is it a dirty movie? Did ya come up here to watch it?"
"No! Shouldn't you be down stairs supporting Marik?"
"Shouldn't you be down stairs supporting Kerry?"
He backed up a little more, "I'll be there in a minute..."
"Come on, I don't trust you." He took Yugi's hand to drag him down stairs but as he did, the tape fell out of his pocket. On the front, it said 'Thief'.
Malik snatched it up before Yugi could, "Thief, huh? What kind of name for a porn tape is that?"
"It isn't pornography! Give it back to me!"
"No."
"Ugh!" Yugi jumped for it and surprisingly he managed to take it from Malik. He ran down the hallway and into a room. He shut the door behind him and pushed a chair up against the doorknob.
Yugi turned around to see a bunch of buttons and a big screen T.V that kind of resembled the plasma screen down stairs. He could hear Malik pounding on the door to get in. He went over to the consol and pushed the tape into the drive. He had to watch the tape all the way through one more time before he aired it in the debating room.
The video was about two minutes long... it was of the night before where Marik and Malik broke into the cabin and kidnapped John Edwards. Some of the footage had been edited out... like anything with the Purple Hearts. Mostly it was of Marik throwing Edwards to the floor and of him putting a wiggling body in the back of Kaiba's limo. If the taped aired on the plasma screen, Kaiba would be toast as well as Marik and Malik.
'I'm sorry to do this to ya, Kaiba. But it's the only way to make sure Marik doesn't get into office.' Yugi thought as he rewound the tape to the beginning.
Just before Yugi pressed the 'play live' button Malik came busting through the door, "Yugi! Hold on!"
He turned around, "What?"
"Are even thinking, man? It's only gonna make Kerry lose if you show that. Not that I care but-"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Marik still has the Purple Hearts, duh!"
"No, he doesn't." said a voice from behind. Malik turned around to see Yami in the doorway.
"What are you talking about?"
Yami held up a plastic bag full with four Purple Hearts, "I took them while you two were sleeping during the intermission."
Malik started to panic, "Oh no, not good!"
"Yugi, play the tape! Now!" Yami yelled.
Yugi did as he was told and punched the play button. As the tape started Malik bit his lip and ran towards Yami. He jumped on him and tried to take the plastic bag from his hand. Yami managed to push him off so that he could throw the bag to Yugi who was now in the hallway.
Once Yugi caught it, Malik ran after him and they were down the hallway heading for the stairs. Malik was about two steps behind Yugi and they both were almost halfway down the steps. The plastic bag was going back and forth in Yugi's hand as Malik tried to grab it.
As they rounded another corner, Malik slipped and started to tumble head first down the metal stairs. He bumped right into Yugi and they both went down together. Turns out that falling was a faster mode of transportation then running. They hit the bottom step in less than five seconds.
After ten seconds of not being able to see straight Malik got up and found himself back in the large debating room. Yugi was on the floor at his feet with the Purple Hearts still in his hand. Malik quickly grabbed them and started running towards the stage.
As he got closer he could see the tape playing on the plasma screen behind Marik and Kerry. Marik's eyes were practically popping out of his head as he starred at himself on screen throwing Edwards on the hard wood floor.
Kerry on the other hand was grinning so hard that his cheeks looked like they were about to fly from his face.
Malik ran as fast as he could but when he got about fifteen feet from the stage, he yelled, "Marik! Catch!"
Marik looked back just in time to see the plastic bag fly through the air and into his hands, 'I was wondering where these went!'
When the videotape went off the crowd was silent. Every last pair of eyes in the room was directed at Marik. Kerry was looking at him, too. 'I wonder what stupid thing he's gonna say to try and save his butt this time...'
Marik smiled and held up all four of the Purple Hearts, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to show you something that Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards have been keeping under their hats. John Kerry now has four Purple Heart Awards. But guess what? Each one of them is FAKE!"
Gasps and shouts of disbelief were now coming from the audience. Their stares were now directed at Kerry and some at John Edwards who was still in his seat.
"This is unbelievable!" Mr. Jennings shouted.
Statements just like that one came from the panelists and others that were appalled at Kerry's behavior. Some were disgusted with Marik's behavior. Malik had gone back to his seat in the booth along with Kaiba and Sanders (both were on the floor.)
Kerry was still looking at his counterfeit awards that were in Marik's hand. He felt light-headed and dizzy. All that Marik felt was exhaustion. Seeing yourself kidnap a vice presidential candidate on a big T.V in front of many important figures takes a lot of you.