Something Corporate

Chapter 14:

It was a week after the contract between Ishtar Industries and Kaiba Corporation was signed. When Marik and Malik shut down their headquarters and went back home, Kaiba took the contract and the recordings of their conversations to every news paper, news channel, and news station within the country.

The news so spread to every place on Earth that had receive shipments of the Miniports. But, seeing as Marik and Malik don't ever watch the news or read the morning paper, they were not aware.

"So, it was true." Jack said, "Ishtar Industries knew about the malfunctioning of the Miniport all along, and they still continued to sell them."

Jen sighed, "It's a sad day in the corporate world when a company has to lie, just to keep from losing the admiration of their buyers. Who would've thought such a absolutely adorable company would do such a thing? And with such a cute mascot, too…" A picture of Ryou in the Marik costume appeared on the screen.

"Ahem… Jen, I think you've lost the plot, here… Anyway. One fifth of the population has been horribly mangled due to the recent Miniport incidents. Police and government officials are handling loaded complaints and requests for a trial of the former Ishtar Industries Presidents."

"More on that later tonight. But, first, the lottery numbers!"

Pips turned off the television and stood up. "Oh, I just can't take it anymore! This is driving me nuts, knowing that Marik and Malik are facing a trial!"

He plopped back down on the couch and sighed, "But what can I do…? Mr. Kaiba told me to stay away from Marik and Malik by any means necessary. But I can't just"

"…" Pips' was interrupted by Rupert, "…"

"Oh, Rupert, I can't!"

"…"

"No… not after what Mr. Kaiba has done for me. He's accepted me back, despite the fact that I'm tainted. I-I mean, he hired me in the first place."

"…"

"Yes, I know. But I have fun doing his laundry, really, I do! I even made up this little song when I do the coloreds… it goes like"

"…"

"Please, Rupert, don't use foul language."

"…"

"I know, I sort of am acting like a… well. Yes, you're right!" He hopped off the couch and bounded over to the door of the apartment. "I will, Rupert! I'll do just that!"

"…"

"You stay here, like a good boy!" Pips opened the door and closed it behind him, "I shall go forth and… follow my heart!"

Back at Marik and Malik's house, they were playing Tiddlywinks on the floor of their bedroom. Since the company was sold to Kaiba Corporation and they got all that money, they bought themselves a big mansion on the outskirts of Domino.

They even bought themselves a car, which they rarely used. Unless it was a boring afternoon and they wanted to run over old ladies.

"Aha!" Marik flipped the little, yellow chip onto the X, "Five points. You suck at this game, Malik."

"Hey, that's not true. I'm only…" Malik counted in his head, "Two hundred points behind. I can make it up in half an hour."

"Yeah, well" Marik was cut off when the large door to their bedroom flew wide open and a maid popped her head in.

"Mr. Ishtar, sir. T-There's some crazed man here to see you. He's scaring everyone dreadfully… please, sir, make him go away!"

"Hmm? Who is it?"

"A… A Mr. Carter, sir, he saysAAHH!" She ran down the hallway just as Pips came into the room waving a large stick around.

Malik raised an eyebrow, "Pips…?"

He quickly looked around and then stepped into the room, "Marik! Malik! Oh, am I glad to see you two! I just finished bombarding my way through guard dogs and maids with mace! Um… that's what the stick is for."

"Oh, I'm so happy to see you!" Malik ran up to him, "It's been way too long!"

"That it has."

Pips and Malik looked as if they were about to hug, when Marik intervened, "Whoa, that's enough of that. Listen, Pips, what are you doing here? I thought we got rid of all the nuts when we sold the company."

"Marik, you kidder." Pips chuckled, "I'm no nut. Rupert convinced me to come here. I have to follow my heart."

"Hmm. Well, as interesting as your heart sounds, I think I'll stay out of this." Marik began to walk away, but he was stopped by Pips' hand on his shoulder.

"Wait, there's something important I need to tell you two. Haven't you been watching the news today? What about the paper? Ishtar Industries is"

"Pips, we sold Ishtar Industries. We have nothing more to do with it, or it's new president. We're retired. Haven't you noticed the huge mansion we live in?"

"Ooh, yeah!" Malik nodded, "Did you see our pool outside? It filled with one hundred percent natural Jell-O. And it's the green kind, too."

"That's totally off topic Malik." Marik glared at his hikari.

"You guys! You might be facing trial! Mr. Kaiba has somehow given a recording to the police and every form of news media is covering the fact that the Miniport was stolen from Elmer Fizz, along with the fact that it's been malfunctioning!" "No way!" Marik and Malik exclaimed at once.

"Yes way. Every family that has had a loved one fall to the Miniport's malfunction is now filing a law suit, conjointly. Even though Mr. Kaiba is now the technical owner of Ishtar Industries, he's convinced the public that he's the hero in all this."

"I-I don't believe this… It's too much." Malik touched his cheeks, "First I was losing to Marik in Tiddlywinks and now I'm facing a trial against the entire country…"

"This just isn't your day, Malik." Pips shook his head.

"Oh, this can't be happening!" Marik growled through his teeth, "I've just retired and now I have to put up with Kaiba tricking me! How awful can you be to senior citizens?"

Malik poked his yami, "Marik, we've run over senior citizens just this week. And you aren't even eighteen yet, so don't over dramatize."

"That no-good, two-timing jerk! I can't believe the way he treats me! And after all I've done for him! He's going to pay, oh man, is he going to pay!"

"We can't do anything about it now…" Malik said lamely.

Marik turned to Pips, who was sitting on the bed eating caviar, "Pips! How could you put up with Kaiba for so long?"

"Well," Pips looked around nervously, "I'm here secretly. Mr. Kaiba didn't want me to see you at all. And besides, today's laundry day… I've gotta go in twenty minutes to wash the whites. If I'm late, Mr. Kaiba will make me eat another lizard again."

"…" After Marik came out of his daze, he asked, "So, when exactly is this trial? We're going to need to get a lawyer, I guess."

"It hasn't been decided yet, Marik. You two should really consider watching the news every now and then. It really would be a wonderful help." He looked at his watch, "Well, I must be going. I don't want to have to hitch-hike up to the Kaiba mansion again."

"Oh, Pips, thanks for telling us!" Malik smiled, "We wouldn't have known if you didn't come. You're a very good assistant… err, ex-assistant."

"Yeah, yeah." Marik said, indirectly, "Now, I've gotta figure a way out of this mess. See ya, Pips."

"Goodbye." Pips walked out the door. When it shut behind him, all the terrified maids and butlers came out of the shadows and chased him down the hallway and out the house with torches and pitchforks.

He hit the sidewalk and bounded down the street over to the Kaiba mansion. His car was still in the shop and since Pips thought of buses as a danger to his health, he ran everywhere. (A man's gotta have his exercise.)

When the large mansion came into view, Pips rang the doorbell and the maid led him inside. He immediately went into the laundry room and pulled out the detergent.

After about five minutes, Pips was well into singing a little ditty he made up to pass the time while doing Kaiba's clothes.

"Oooohh! The streets are glowing passionate blue… I'm winking at you every night. Just ooooooooone taste makes me love you…! Just like that special night"

"Ahem. Sorry, to interrupt." Kaiba stood in the doorway of the laundry room, leaning on the side of the wall.

"Gah! Mr. Kaiba, please don't frighten me so!"

"Anyway, I just wanted to tell you that my clothes you lost have been found. And I don't except to have to send a S.W.A.T team out to look for them again, you understand?"

Pips nodded, "Of course, sir."

"Good." Kaiba began to walk away but Pips made a small squeak, and he stopped. "Ugh… Yes, Carter?"

"Well… sir, I just wanted to know if you too would be filing a lawsuit on Marik and Malik. I-I mean with the whole world in a frenzy of fury against them, would it really be necessary to…"

Kaiba nodded, "Duh. That was the whole point. I give them money, they get in trouble, I need the money back. Elmer has promised to fix the malfunction when all this is over. I need that extra money to help pay for it all."

"B-But, Mr. Kaiba, they"

"They, what? Have you been speaking to them again? Carter I thought I told you NOT to talk to them!"

'Uh-oh!' Pips swallowed hard and thought of something to help the situation, "Just like that special night! I see you refracted in a cat's eye… That brilliant green…"

Kaiba quirked an eyebrow as Pips continued to sing. He thought, 'What the hell,' and sat down and listened.

"It'll be all right… In the shadows you connect me, just like that special night. When all we needed was a dream…"