Something Corporate

Chapter 12:

"And now for our top story tonight… Just recently there has been a most unnerving incident throughout the world. People in all different countries have been found disappearing and then reappearing intertwined with another person. Scientist can't figure it out, just yet. More information must be obtained."

"Yes, Jen," Jack said, "But the latest fad, the Miniport, has been spotted at the scene, each time. Police and Scientists have yet to make a connection, but they're awfully close

Kaiba shut off the television in his office and turned around to the three people who were sitting behind him, "Did you see that? It's just about to hit the fan. Everyone's on the verge of finding out that the Miniport is behind this."

"It sure is taking them a long time." Mokuba said, "It's been a week since this all started and they're just now connecting it to the Miniports."

"And Marik and Malik probably don't even have a clue." Pips added.

"Well, actually…" Elmer scratched his head and looked up at the three people were starring back at him, "They… uh, they probably do."

Steam was coming out of Kaiba's ears as Pips nudged Elmer, "You shouldn't have said that."

"Fizz! What in hell's name did you do? Do you know how hard I had to work for that information? I finally got ahead of Marik and Malik! You better not have opened your big mouth and ruined it all!"

"… Um. Well, I got another phone call last week… and, um…"

"Mike Tyson?" Kaiba asked, breathlessly, "You fell for that again?"

"No way. Not Mike Tyson…um, Dolly Parton. She called and I was so taken at first that I won another contest… I didn't really think."

Kaiba sat down at his desk, and, as calmly as possible, he asked, "What did you tell them this time?"

"Eh he he he…" Elmer twiddled his thumbs, "Oh, I just… told them that the Miniport was probably malfunctioning due to it's worldwide use. A stream of teleportation that massive would indeed result in a overload of the space-time-continuum. That many molecules going at the same velocity would probably fuse together, causing the recent disfigurations that we've been experiencing."

Kaiba sneered, "Why are you so smart and so incredibly dumb at the same time?"

"I dunno." Elmer shrugged.

"So," Mokuba began, "I'm guessing you just lost your advantage on Marik and Malik, right Seto?"

"… Well, not really. Chances are Marik will want to keep this under his hat, as anyone would. So, I think I have a way to get out of this mess and at least break even." He turned around, "Carter, can you do something for me?"

"Oh! Yes, sir, Kaiba, sir!" Pips stood up straight and saluted, "I'd do anything for you to make up for my past disappointments."

"Good. Because I need to you to get Marik and Malik to come here."

"H-Here? But, Mr. Kaiba, sir… they wouldn't come here. I know that Marik is highly suspicious of what you think about this situation and"

"So, is this too big of an assignment for you, Carter?"

Pips gasped, "No! I… I can do it, sir."

Kaiba nodded and pointed at the clock on his desk, "Get them here by nine o' clock tonight."

"Nine o' clock? But, Mr. Kaiba, that's in one hour!"

"I guess you'd better get moving then, right?" He grinned.

"Yes, sir." Pips stood up and ran out of the office as fast as his peculiarly skinny legs could carry him. He reached the lobby and didn't even get into his car, just started zooming down the street and across town.

Marik and Malik were in their office, on the floor, playing video games with Bakura and Ryou. It was Saturday, and since no one really wanted to work, Marik declared a company holiday. Let's hear it for Video Game Day!

"I'm winning! I'm winning!" Bakura shouted with the controller in his hand, "You're all way behind!"

Ryou was having a hard time, he was in last place and complaining about it, "That's not fair! The hands for this stupid suit I'm in are holding me back! I can't even hold the controller right!"

"Stop whining, Ryou. You've never been very good at MarioKart." Marik said, "And will someone turn the volume down, it's really annoyingHey! Who shot me?"

"I did!" Malik grinned, "You disserve it for making me slip on that banana peel!"

Suddenly, Pips burst in through the door, panting heavily, "M-M-Marik… come… wi-with… hoo, man, that was a long run."

"Yeeeesssssss!" Bakura jumped up and screamed, "First place, baby! Beat that! Oh, yeah! Egyptian victory dance!" He began to mambo all around the room.

"Next time, I get to take off the stupid suit!" Ryou pouted.

"Oh, I'll beat you Bakura!" Marik looked at him and grinned, "I was just distracted by Ryou's whining. Any time, any place."

"Is that a challenge I hear?"

"Sure is!"

"Ha! You're on!"

Both Bakura and Marik jumped back in front of the large television and the Nintendo, and grabbed the controllers, "First one around the Rainbow Road course, wins. Three laps!"

"Hey, no!" Pips had caught his breath and stood in front of the T.V, "No, not now. We've got to get to Kaiba Corp!"

"Kaiba Corp? Why would we wanna go there?" Marik scooted the young man out of the way and continued the game.

Pips sighed and looked at the clock on Marik's wall. It was 8:28. They didn't have any time to waste but it looked like Marik was cemented to the carpet with his eyes glued to the screen. 'If I don't get them in that office in thirty-two minutes, Mr. Kaiba will fire me! Again!'

Malik came up to Pips while he was thinking, "Pips, why do we need to go to Kaiba Corporation?"

"Huh? Oh… yes, well." Pips had to think of something quick, "Yes… uh, he wants to strike a business deal. He, um, called and told me. He said that he'd buy the Miniport off of you… for a large amount of money."

"Really? Hmm. Wait right here, Pips." Malik went over to talk to his yami. Though Marik was still highly involved in that game, Malik was whispering in his ear, "Marik, this is our chance."

"Our chance to beat Bakura on Rainbow Road? Damn right. I'm gonna win."

"No! Kaiba wants to buy the Miniport from us. Think about it, we've been trying to think of a way to get the Miniport off our hands… this could be it. When the whole malfunction thing cracks wide open, it'll be Kaiba's problem."

"…" Marik wasn't fully listening, "What'd ya say?"

"If we don't do this now, Marik, we'll be under a mountain of trouble! This is our only chance to shift the blame. If we do this, you'll still come out on top of Kaiba! You can still win! He'll be stuck with all the blame!"

"… I like it. I like it very much!" Marik dropped the controller and stood up, "What are you standing around for, Pips? Let's get going!"

"Uh! Yes, let's go! It's already 8: 32! He's only offering this deal for twenty-eight more minutes!"

"What? Why didn't you tell us that before?" Marik grabbed his hikari's hand and they started running down the stairs. "We can't take the bus, it isn't fast enough!"

"And we don't have a car!" Malik added, "Pips, where's your car?"

"I… um, it's… in the shop! I ran over an old lady yesterday and she scratched the paint!"

"Oh, my Ra!" Malik gasped, "What a shame! That was such a beautiful car, too!"

They reached the lobby and ran out of the building, going fifty miles per hour. While running, Malik suggested they use the Miniports. But with all the things happening now, Marik didn't think that'd be too wise.

Pips looked at his watch, it read fifteen minutes to nine. And at this late in the evening, they couldn't see five feet in front of them.

"Marik, I don't think we can make it!" Malik whined, "But if we don't, we'll be totally done for!"

"Hmm." Marik stopped running and looked around. "There's gotta be something…"

When Marik stopped, Pips finally had a chance to catch up. He was about twenty feet behind the two at first, now he was practically crawling on the floor, "W-Water…"

"I… I need water…" He moaned. Pips looked up and saw Marik pushing someone off their motorcycle and into the street.

Malik was sitting behind his yami, while he put his helmet on. Marik motioned for Pips to come over, "Let's get a move on! We've got a deal to seal!"

Pips stumbled over, put his feet on the back and held on to Malik's hips, "Marik! This isn't your bike!"

"So, what else it new?" He stepped on the gas, and sped down the road.

Kaiba was sitting in the empty board room, on the forth floor of the Kaiba Corporation building. Elmer had gone home and Mokuba was sitting on a chair, in the corner, sleeping.

"They've got thirty seconds. There's no way they can make it." Kaiba whispered to himself, so as not to wake his sleeping brother.

Marik, Malik, and Pips were in the building, now. Marik slammed on the brakes as soon as he saw the large building. They all tumbled off the seat, and Malik had to practically shake Pips off his waist, because of the rocky ride, he was scared to death.

Inside the elevator now, Pips pressed the level four button, "Oh please, oh please!"

"Relax, Pips, I'm sure" Malik was cut off by the elevator door opening and Pips grabbing both his and his yami's hands.

He dragged them through the hallway and then kicked open a door. Kaiba was sitting in the large chair on the farthest side of the table, counting, "5...4...3"

"We're here!" Pips called, running in with Marik and Malik's hands in his, "I did it, Mr. Kaiba!"

"Very good, Carter. You're not as useless as I thought you were." Kaiba smirked.

"What's he talking about?" Malik asked, "You quit Kaiba Corp a long time ago."

Pips looked down, shyly, "Um, well…"

Kaiba stood up and looked at Marik and Malik, "Enough. We've got things to discuss, you two. Pips, you can go now, your presence is not required."

"Yes, Mr. Kaiba." Pips walked out and left his former bosses in a room alone with Kaiba and his little brother, who was still fast asleep.