Chapter One.
Countdown: one week, one day, seven hours, fifteen minutes, three seconds.
Yugi and his friends were gathered around the television watching the latest news reports of the Kaiba Corp's new business venture.
"And topping the news at this hour, Kaiba corp's test shuttle, "The Blue Eyes One," is lifting off with it's new deep space probe on board. We've really seen a rushed job here from Kaiba Corp. as it has begun to rapidly catch up with over fifty years of space technology development." The Anchor man said.
"What's really impressive is that they've caught up in just under three weeks." Commented an Anchor Woman sitting at her desk. "We've really seen some great technological advancements come out of Kaiba Corp. in the last few years since it's changed from Military Technology to Gaming and commercial products. Now it seems the company under the leadership of Seto Kaiba is taking a turn towards the Air/Space field."
"Wow guys," Tea said, "Sounds like Kaiba's turned into a real space case."
"Yeah, well he's always been a total nerd when it come to that high tech stuff." Joey said picking at his ear. "You know my sister's still totally taken with him. I can't understand why though, I mean the only thing he's got going for him is his money and my sister's no gold digger."
"Yeah, but maybe she just genuinely likes Kaiba." Yugi said turning around. "He's a pretty cool guy when you think about it. Could any of you guys have built a space ship in less than three weeks?" He asked them. Joey just shrugged and Tristan clamed up. "Well I think all this stuff is pretty cool." Yugi turned back to the news and left his friends to their own devices. If they couldn't recognize how great all this space exploration stuff was then it was their loss.
--------Scene Break---------
"This is wonderful Seto." Serenity Wheeler said looking up at the monitor from Cape Kaiba mission control, an artificial island built out in the harbor from which, Seto Kaiba could over see every aspect of his company's new space program.
"It's the power of technology, my dear." Kaiba told her as he watched the monitor closely. Everything had to go exactly according to plan if his escape from earth was to be successful. Building a fully operational command and control center out on the ocean and simultaneously constructing a secret fleet of space ships was the difficult part. It required more money and recourses than even he had at his disposal.
"Well, well, well Kiaba boy, looks as if we've had a successful launch." Said Kaiba's new business partner. This was an unholy alliance if there ever was one.
"Pegasus, try to not to be too surprised. Nothing can match the power of my technology." Kaiba bragged.
"Oh I'm so sure. And what about our other projects?" Pegasus asked his young counterpart.
"We'll have a fully operational space fleet within the deadline. Just be sure that you're ready for the primary launch date." Kaiba reassured him.
"Wow, our own fleet of space ships." Mokuba dreamily said. "Won't that be so cool Serenity?"
"Sure will, promise that you guys will name one after me." Serenity pleaded.
"Sure thing babe, yours will be the next one commissioned." Kaiba promised her as he put his arm around her and grabbed her butt.
"Ah, young love." Pegasus commented. "I think I'll name one of my ships after my departed wife."
"Do as you wish with your half of the fleet." Kaiba said. "Just don't forget to fork over the money for them."
---------Scene Break-------
"So Tea, you spending the night with Yugi again?" Joey asked her as the evening began to wind down.
"You're going to see Mai tonight aren't you?" Tea asked.
"Sure am." He bragged. Yugi returned to the living room with some more sodas which Tirstan and Joey drank quickly before leaving. They didn't want to hang around too long and ruin Yugi and Tea's romantic evening together. "See you tomorrow Yuge. " Joey said and threw up his hand at the door.
"Bye guys, see you tomorrow at school." Yugi replied and that was it. He and Tea were completely alone. "So what do you want to do now?" He asked her as they went back into the living room. Tea smiled at Yugi's seductively.
"Let's go up stairs to your room." She told him and took his hand. Yugi smiled with glee and they both went upstairs to Yugi's room where they undressed each other and made love.
--------Scene break-------
"Oh Kaiba boy, what about the crews?" Pegasus asked as he turned to leave the control room.
"What about the crew members?" Kaiba asked.
"I can still pick my own crewmen to man my half of the fleet can't I?" Pegasus had something up his sleeve, what Kaiba had to no idea, but he was sure that it was something underhanded.
"Oh course." He answered.
"Good then I'll leave you alone to continue monitoring the test shuttle." Pegasus said then he left Cape Kaiba in his private helicopter for his own corporate headquarters where most of his part of the operation was being coordinated. "Oh Croquet, get my old friend Yugi boy on the phone." He asked his assistant.
"Young Yugi Mouto may not be available this hour sir. Shall I try him in the morning?" Croquet asked.
"I want Little Yugi and his friends to meet me tonight, so please get him on the line, I have precious little time to make my own arrangements for next month." Pegasus said sitting down behind his desk.
"Very well sir." Croquet said then bowed. Maximillion Pegasus did not like to be let down and even without his Millennium eye, he was quite a force to be dealt with. Croquet went out to his own officer on the other side of the lobby and made the call to Yugi house.
---------Scene break----------
Tea and Yugi's were fast asleep when the phone beside the bed began to ring. At first the two lovers ignored it but after ringing several more times, Yugi finally had to answer.
"Hello, this better be good." He said
"Mr. Yugi Mouto, this is Croquet of Mr. Pegasus' office at…"
"I know who he is." Yugi said, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Very sorry to disturb you sir, I have urgent business to discuss with you though." Croquet explained. "Mr. Pegasus wants to make an appointment to see you at your earliest convenience."
"An appointment to see me?" Yugi asked. "That's not necessary Croquet, I've always got time for Pegasus. After all he did help us out when we were facing Anubis. He's like an old friend now."
"Glad to hear it Yugi boy," Came another voice on the line. "I've missed you oh so much."
"Uh, hello Pegasus, what's up?" Yugi asked.
"I was just wondering if maybe you and your friends would like to make another trip out to Duelist Kingdom this weekend? I've got something that I absolutely must share with you." Pegasus hinted.
"Really, what is it?" Yugi asked excited. "Is it a new Duel Monsters card, or maybe another Tournament in the works?"
"Now, now, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Just gather all your friends and their families together this weekend and bring them out to your place this weekend. Make sure they all pack enough clothes to last them a couple of days because this is going to be a long weekend." Pegasus told little Yugi.
"A long weekend. Okay, that sounds great, I'll bring everyone I can. Oh, do we bring our duel disks and decks?" He asked.
"Sure thing Yugi boy, don't want to forget those. I'll be unavailing my big surprise after a grand ball, dinner party, and splendid celebration."
"Celebrating what?" Yugi asked.
"You'll find out." Pegasus was being awfully secretive about all this but it all sounded like it was on the up and up. After all, what could Pegasus possibly have against them now? After Yugi hung up the phone he laid down next to Tea and told her all about his strange conversation. She had to agree that it all sounded a little too good to be true but that they had all better go since it was an invitation for their entire families and Tea was never one to turn down an invitation from anyone of her many friends.
--------Scene break--------
When morning came Yugi set to work on rounding up his numerous friends to tell them about Pegasus's grand celebration. He and Tea went around telling everyone. Joey and Serenity Wheeler, Tristan, Duke Devlin, Ryou Bakura, Rebecca Hawkins, Mai Valentine, and all their families. Needless to say they were all surprised to hear that their old adversary turned friend was having them all over again. After all they had heard that Pegasus wasn't dueling anymore.
"Why would he want to come to Duelist Kingdom?" Rebecca asked Yugi as they sat on the fence outside of the Domino Museum together. "I mean he's never even met me."
"I don't know but he's invited you so you should come." Yugi said to her.
"I'll come for you." Rebecca told him, leaning over to take his hand but Yugi pulled away.
"Rebecca, you know I'm with Tea right now. I just don't feel the same way about you that you feel for me." He told her. The young girl hung her head.
"I know you don't right now, but maybe one day, I mean I have to keep hoping Yugi." Rebecca said sadly.
"Hope is a good thing." Yugi agreed. "Who knows." He got up then and started down the street. There was still one more person he had to invite. Yugi went all the way down town to Kaiba corp. headquarters to see someone who he considered a good friend though the feeling was definitely not mutual.
"Let me get this straight, you came here to invite me to be your guest at one of Pegasus's meaningless little balls?" Kaiba asked when Yugi finally got in to see him.
"Well, you, and of course Mokuba. I've already invited Serenity and Joey. They seemed pretty psyched about going so I thought that maybe you would like to come too."
"Yugi, I have no need to participate in meaningless activities such as parties, and balls, and frivolous wastes of time. I am a business man with a lot on my mind. I don't have time for your meaningless friendship." Yugi couldn't pretend that he wasn't hurt by Kaiba's words. He just shook his head though and turned around to leave the office. But before he was completely out of the door, he had one more thing to say to Kaiba.
"If you change your mind, we'd be glad to have you." He said then closed the door behind him. Kaiba sat at his desk with his hands clasped together thinking of what possible reason Pegasus could have to throwing a party on the eve of their departure. He decided he'd just better get from the horse's mouth. He turned to his private video phone and called Pegasus up.
"What do you think you're doing?" He demanded once he had Pegasus on the line.
"Hello there Kaiba boy, what is it exactly that I'm doing that you don't like?" Pegasus asked.
"This ball you're having the night before we leave." Kaiba answered. "Why are you inviting my worse enemy and my girlfriend to the same place? I don't want Serenity left behind. She's destined to give birth to a new dynasty of Kaiba Corp. Princes once we reach the new world."
"Oh you're worried about pretty little Serenity Wheeler. That's commendable Kaiba, but you don't have to worry, I'll have your blushing bride to be at church on time come Monday morning. You see I plan on freezing her in suspended animation along with Yugi and the others. That way when the end comes, they won't feel a thing."
"You're being way too kind." Kaiba said. "Why the elaborate ball?"
"Oh you know the old saying. Eat, drink, and be marry for tomorrow we die. Right Kaiba boy. I just want to show these kids a good time before they die a horrible death in the flames of the approaching asteroid. You should consider doing the same for those of your company that you're going to be leaving behind. Oh that's right, you're taking all of your loved ones with you. The best of the best, of the best minds in your company to populate a world ruled by you and your brother."
"Like that isn't your plan?" Kaiba asked Pegasus
"I only want to survive." He replied "I don't care about ownership of a planet or about saving the human race from extinction. I only care about myself." Pegasus said.
"If that were true then you wouldn't be doing all this for Yugi and his friends." Kaiba challenged.
"Well I'm not heartless after all. Don't worry about a thing, this is coming out of my pockets, not yours, Kaiba boy. I can do as I please so long as it doesn't jeopardize our chances of escaping this miserable, doomed world." Kaiba had a funny feeling about all this but he couldn't very well do anything about it. Pegasus was right, he could do as he pleased with his own money, and his own time. He just hoped that things wouldn't get too out of hand or else they might have to scrub the launch and that would be catastrophic.
Countdown: one week, one day, seven hours, fifteen minutes, three seconds.
Yugi and his friends were gathered around the television watching the latest news reports of the Kaiba Corp's new business venture.
"And topping the news at this hour, Kaiba corp's test shuttle, "The Blue Eyes One," is lifting off with it's new deep space probe on board. We've really seen a rushed job here from Kaiba Corp. as it has begun to rapidly catch up with over fifty years of space technology development." The Anchor man said.
"What's really impressive is that they've caught up in just under three weeks." Commented an Anchor Woman sitting at her desk. "We've really seen some great technological advancements come out of Kaiba Corp. in the last few years since it's changed from Military Technology to Gaming and commercial products. Now it seems the company under the leadership of Seto Kaiba is taking a turn towards the Air/Space field."
"Wow guys," Tea said, "Sounds like Kaiba's turned into a real space case."
"Yeah, well he's always been a total nerd when it come to that high tech stuff." Joey said picking at his ear. "You know my sister's still totally taken with him. I can't understand why though, I mean the only thing he's got going for him is his money and my sister's no gold digger."
"Yeah, but maybe she just genuinely likes Kaiba." Yugi said turning around. "He's a pretty cool guy when you think about it. Could any of you guys have built a space ship in less than three weeks?" He asked them. Joey just shrugged and Tristan clamed up. "Well I think all this stuff is pretty cool." Yugi turned back to the news and left his friends to their own devices. If they couldn't recognize how great all this space exploration stuff was then it was their loss.
--------Scene Break---------
"This is wonderful Seto." Serenity Wheeler said looking up at the monitor from Cape Kaiba mission control, an artificial island built out in the harbor from which, Seto Kaiba could over see every aspect of his company's new space program.
"It's the power of technology, my dear." Kaiba told her as he watched the monitor closely. Everything had to go exactly according to plan if his escape from earth was to be successful. Building a fully operational command and control center out on the ocean and simultaneously constructing a secret fleet of space ships was the difficult part. It required more money and recourses than even he had at his disposal.
"Well, well, well Kiaba boy, looks as if we've had a successful launch." Said Kaiba's new business partner. This was an unholy alliance if there ever was one.
"Pegasus, try to not to be too surprised. Nothing can match the power of my technology." Kaiba bragged.
"Oh I'm so sure. And what about our other projects?" Pegasus asked his young counterpart.
"We'll have a fully operational space fleet within the deadline. Just be sure that you're ready for the primary launch date." Kaiba reassured him.
"Wow, our own fleet of space ships." Mokuba dreamily said. "Won't that be so cool Serenity?"
"Sure will, promise that you guys will name one after me." Serenity pleaded.
"Sure thing babe, yours will be the next one commissioned." Kaiba promised her as he put his arm around her and grabbed her butt.
"Ah, young love." Pegasus commented. "I think I'll name one of my ships after my departed wife."
"Do as you wish with your half of the fleet." Kaiba said. "Just don't forget to fork over the money for them."
---------Scene Break-------
"So Tea, you spending the night with Yugi again?" Joey asked her as the evening began to wind down.
"You're going to see Mai tonight aren't you?" Tea asked.
"Sure am." He bragged. Yugi returned to the living room with some more sodas which Tirstan and Joey drank quickly before leaving. They didn't want to hang around too long and ruin Yugi and Tea's romantic evening together. "See you tomorrow Yuge. " Joey said and threw up his hand at the door.
"Bye guys, see you tomorrow at school." Yugi replied and that was it. He and Tea were completely alone. "So what do you want to do now?" He asked her as they went back into the living room. Tea smiled at Yugi's seductively.
"Let's go up stairs to your room." She told him and took his hand. Yugi smiled with glee and they both went upstairs to Yugi's room where they undressed each other and made love.
--------Scene break-------
"Oh Kaiba boy, what about the crews?" Pegasus asked as he turned to leave the control room.
"What about the crew members?" Kaiba asked.
"I can still pick my own crewmen to man my half of the fleet can't I?" Pegasus had something up his sleeve, what Kaiba had to no idea, but he was sure that it was something underhanded.
"Oh course." He answered.
"Good then I'll leave you alone to continue monitoring the test shuttle." Pegasus said then he left Cape Kaiba in his private helicopter for his own corporate headquarters where most of his part of the operation was being coordinated. "Oh Croquet, get my old friend Yugi boy on the phone." He asked his assistant.
"Young Yugi Mouto may not be available this hour sir. Shall I try him in the morning?" Croquet asked.
"I want Little Yugi and his friends to meet me tonight, so please get him on the line, I have precious little time to make my own arrangements for next month." Pegasus said sitting down behind his desk.
"Very well sir." Croquet said then bowed. Maximillion Pegasus did not like to be let down and even without his Millennium eye, he was quite a force to be dealt with. Croquet went out to his own officer on the other side of the lobby and made the call to Yugi house.
---------Scene break----------
Tea and Yugi's were fast asleep when the phone beside the bed began to ring. At first the two lovers ignored it but after ringing several more times, Yugi finally had to answer.
"Hello, this better be good." He said
"Mr. Yugi Mouto, this is Croquet of Mr. Pegasus' office at…"
"I know who he is." Yugi said, "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"Very sorry to disturb you sir, I have urgent business to discuss with you though." Croquet explained. "Mr. Pegasus wants to make an appointment to see you at your earliest convenience."
"An appointment to see me?" Yugi asked. "That's not necessary Croquet, I've always got time for Pegasus. After all he did help us out when we were facing Anubis. He's like an old friend now."
"Glad to hear it Yugi boy," Came another voice on the line. "I've missed you oh so much."
"Uh, hello Pegasus, what's up?" Yugi asked.
"I was just wondering if maybe you and your friends would like to make another trip out to Duelist Kingdom this weekend? I've got something that I absolutely must share with you." Pegasus hinted.
"Really, what is it?" Yugi asked excited. "Is it a new Duel Monsters card, or maybe another Tournament in the works?"
"Now, now, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Just gather all your friends and their families together this weekend and bring them out to your place this weekend. Make sure they all pack enough clothes to last them a couple of days because this is going to be a long weekend." Pegasus told little Yugi.
"A long weekend. Okay, that sounds great, I'll bring everyone I can. Oh, do we bring our duel disks and decks?" He asked.
"Sure thing Yugi boy, don't want to forget those. I'll be unavailing my big surprise after a grand ball, dinner party, and splendid celebration."
"Celebrating what?" Yugi asked.
"You'll find out." Pegasus was being awfully secretive about all this but it all sounded like it was on the up and up. After all, what could Pegasus possibly have against them now? After Yugi hung up the phone he laid down next to Tea and told her all about his strange conversation. She had to agree that it all sounded a little too good to be true but that they had all better go since it was an invitation for their entire families and Tea was never one to turn down an invitation from anyone of her many friends.
--------Scene break--------
When morning came Yugi set to work on rounding up his numerous friends to tell them about Pegasus's grand celebration. He and Tea went around telling everyone. Joey and Serenity Wheeler, Tristan, Duke Devlin, Ryou Bakura, Rebecca Hawkins, Mai Valentine, and all their families. Needless to say they were all surprised to hear that their old adversary turned friend was having them all over again. After all they had heard that Pegasus wasn't dueling anymore.
"Why would he want to come to Duelist Kingdom?" Rebecca asked Yugi as they sat on the fence outside of the Domino Museum together. "I mean he's never even met me."
"I don't know but he's invited you so you should come." Yugi said to her.
"I'll come for you." Rebecca told him, leaning over to take his hand but Yugi pulled away.
"Rebecca, you know I'm with Tea right now. I just don't feel the same way about you that you feel for me." He told her. The young girl hung her head.
"I know you don't right now, but maybe one day, I mean I have to keep hoping Yugi." Rebecca said sadly.
"Hope is a good thing." Yugi agreed. "Who knows." He got up then and started down the street. There was still one more person he had to invite. Yugi went all the way down town to Kaiba corp. headquarters to see someone who he considered a good friend though the feeling was definitely not mutual.
"Let me get this straight, you came here to invite me to be your guest at one of Pegasus's meaningless little balls?" Kaiba asked when Yugi finally got in to see him.
"Well, you, and of course Mokuba. I've already invited Serenity and Joey. They seemed pretty psyched about going so I thought that maybe you would like to come too."
"Yugi, I have no need to participate in meaningless activities such as parties, and balls, and frivolous wastes of time. I am a business man with a lot on my mind. I don't have time for your meaningless friendship." Yugi couldn't pretend that he wasn't hurt by Kaiba's words. He just shook his head though and turned around to leave the office. But before he was completely out of the door, he had one more thing to say to Kaiba.
"If you change your mind, we'd be glad to have you." He said then closed the door behind him. Kaiba sat at his desk with his hands clasped together thinking of what possible reason Pegasus could have to throwing a party on the eve of their departure. He decided he'd just better get from the horse's mouth. He turned to his private video phone and called Pegasus up.
"What do you think you're doing?" He demanded once he had Pegasus on the line.
"Hello there Kaiba boy, what is it exactly that I'm doing that you don't like?" Pegasus asked.
"This ball you're having the night before we leave." Kaiba answered. "Why are you inviting my worse enemy and my girlfriend to the same place? I don't want Serenity left behind. She's destined to give birth to a new dynasty of Kaiba Corp. Princes once we reach the new world."
"Oh you're worried about pretty little Serenity Wheeler. That's commendable Kaiba, but you don't have to worry, I'll have your blushing bride to be at church on time come Monday morning. You see I plan on freezing her in suspended animation along with Yugi and the others. That way when the end comes, they won't feel a thing."
"You're being way too kind." Kaiba said. "Why the elaborate ball?"
"Oh you know the old saying. Eat, drink, and be marry for tomorrow we die. Right Kaiba boy. I just want to show these kids a good time before they die a horrible death in the flames of the approaching asteroid. You should consider doing the same for those of your company that you're going to be leaving behind. Oh that's right, you're taking all of your loved ones with you. The best of the best, of the best minds in your company to populate a world ruled by you and your brother."
"Like that isn't your plan?" Kaiba asked Pegasus
"I only want to survive." He replied "I don't care about ownership of a planet or about saving the human race from extinction. I only care about myself." Pegasus said.
"If that were true then you wouldn't be doing all this for Yugi and his friends." Kaiba challenged.
"Well I'm not heartless after all. Don't worry about a thing, this is coming out of my pockets, not yours, Kaiba boy. I can do as I please so long as it doesn't jeopardize our chances of escaping this miserable, doomed world." Kaiba had a funny feeling about all this but he couldn't very well do anything about it. Pegasus was right, he could do as he pleased with his own money, and his own time. He just hoped that things wouldn't get too out of hand or else they might have to scrub the launch and that would be catastrophic.