Something Corporate

Chapter 16:

Everyone left the courtroom and went out to either use the bathroom or go eat lunch across the street. When the courtroom was emptied of everyone, even Judge Coral, Pips was still sitting in his seat.

He just couldn't get over what Kaiba and the Judge had said. He'd have to take the stand and testify against Marik and Malik? Why? Why couldn't it be Kaiba… or maybe Mokuba?

"Oh, I don't know if I can do this…" He sighed and got up. The doors were still opened and he went out into the hallway.

Marik and Malik were sitting on the bench about ten feet away. They were just sitting there, not really saying anything of any particular importance, but Pips went ahead and sat down with them anyway.

Malik looked at him, "… Hey, Pips, what's up?" He said half-heartedly, and nudged his yami to say something as well.

"Yeah, hi…"

"Hello." Pips whispered.

They sat in silence for about five minutes, till Pips looked at his watch and sighed loudly, 'I… I have to say something to them. This silence is killing me…'

He cleared his throat, "Well, it's… it certainly is hot out today." Immediately, Pips slapped his forehead, 'Aw, that isn't what I wanted to say!'

"Oh yes, it… it is very hot out." Malik agreed, when Marik didn't say anything, he nudged him again.

"Yeah, hot..."

Another five minutes of awkward silence followed. And, out of the blue, Pips stood up and shouted, "I… I don't want to do this! You know that, right!"

Marik raised an eyebrow and then looked at Malik who was surprised at the sudden outburst as well, "Oh, I know… we know that… eh, it's just that there's really nothing either of us can do about it… is there…?"

Pips sat back down, "…"

Just down the hallway, Kaiba and Chimera were walking and talking about the trial. They told each other that they never thought of how easy it would be to get Marik and Malik buried in court. All the witnesses they called all point to one word… guilty.

"Oh, yes." Chimera chuckled, "When you told me about those two, I thought you were exaggerating, but it seems that they really are clueless. To hire such an inexperienced lawyer on such a large case? What a joke."

"Heh heh. Well, that's Marik and Malik for you. They have no judge of character. This entire thing has been so easy from beginning to end. First they thought they were going to scam me and ruin Kaiba Corp, but now they're facing a prison sentence."

"God couldn't have written this any better."

Kaiba smiled, "The last piece of the puzzle will be testifying in less that fifteen minutes. Carter is all we need to seal the deal. You're questioning him, first, right?"

"Yes. But it doesn't matter, even if young Kyte was going first. Mr. Carter wouldn't open up to him. His loyalty to you is too strong, right? I've seen the way he is around you. The perfect subordinate."

Before Kaiba could say anything, he and Chimera stopped right in the middle of the hallway. Kaiba did a double take when he saw Pips sitting on a bench with Marik and Malik on either side of him. Pips' face was red and looked as if he'd been crying or something.

Kaiba and Chimera rushed over there and grabbed Pips by the tie and yanked him up at eyelevel with Kaiba, "What in hell's name are you doing with them?"

"Um! I was… just talking, Mr. Kaiba!" Pips squeaked and tried to get Kaiba's hands off him, "Really!"

"Yeah, right! Do I have to make you eat another lizard? This is the worst possible time for you to go against my directions!"

"Kaiba! Let him go!" Malik stood up and pulled Pips away from Kaiba's grasp, "You have no right to treat your employees like that!"

Marik looked at Pips, "Why aren't you quitting? You don't need to suffer this kind of abuse from Kaiba, of all people!"

Kaiba growled, "Carter, listen to me. Did you just hear what Marik said? He wants you to quit Kaiba Corp, so you can go up in front of the jury and lie for them! Is that the kind of people you want to be around? Think about it, you've been with me for three years, you worked so hard for the past three months to get back with my company… don't throw it away, Carter."

Pips starred at Kaiba then looked back at Marik and Malik, who were arguing amongst themselves about what to do.

"I think Kaiba's right. Malik, it does look like we're doing this for ourselves." Marik whispered to his hikari. "We're in a weird situation."

"Who cares how it looks? Are we just gonna sit idly by and watch Pips be manipulated? Pips doesn't want to be with him any longer!"

"How do you know? Kaiba said that Pips' been trying to get back with him for the past few months. It does make sense now. All those things… when he knew about Kaiba wanting to deal, when he was acting funny… He knew what we did."

"…"

Pips overheard what they were saying and before Malik could ask him about it, he blurted out, "He's right. I-I need to be loyal to Mr. Kaiba… for once."

Malik tilted his head, "You… you mean you actually knew? All that time, you knew! Why didn't you-"

"Mr. Kaiba, the recess is over. It's time for me to take the stand, now." Pips said, ignoring Malik.

Kaiba grinned in triumph, "Heh. See you inside, guys." He said tauntingly to Marik and Malik. They were soon inside the doors, with Chimera following.

Marik sighed, "Well, that's a bummer."

"A bummer! Is that all you have to say after that?"

"Eh… yeah, that's about it. C'mon, let's go. We have to face our doom… Oh, Ra, this isn't going to be pretty."

In another three minutes, everyone was back in the courtroom, seated and ready for the conclusion of this crazy case. The bailiff came to the center of the room and said, "All rise for the honorable Judge Coral."

Everyone stood and the Judge came strutting out and sat down.

"You may now be seated."

"Mr. Carter, please come up to the bench, and take the oath." She said gently, probably because he looked fragile. "Mr. Chimera, your witness."

The bailiff came put his right hand on the Bible he held, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

Pips looked out into the crowd, first at Marik, then Malik, and his eyes settled on Kaiba. He took a deep breath, "I swear. To tell the truth."

Marik slumped back in his chair, "Hoo boy."

Kaiba beamed from ear to ear, 'This is it.' he thought, excitedly.

"Mr. Carter," Chimera began, "You were fired by Mr. Kaiba after working for him for three, years, correct? (Pips nodded) Well, then, you began to work for Ishtar Industries, and you became Marik and Malik's assistant… tell me, did they ever behave strangely?"

"Yes." Pips said stoically, "But then, they always do."

"Heh heh. Do you remember if Marik and Malik told you specifically that the Miniport was their invention? Their creation?"

"They did. I asked often and they said yes."

"Did you ever find out otherwise, that the Miniport was in fact created my Mr. Elmer Fizz?"

"…" Pips looked down, "I was… at Mr. Kaiba's office one day and met Elmer. He and Mr. Kaiba explained it all. It was right after Marik and Malik made the manual to go with the Miniport. I found out later that Malik had disguised his voice and tricked Elmer into explaining the Miniport."

The Jury looked straight at Marik and Malik and whispered to each other. Chimera smirked and said, "The prosecution rests. Mr. Kyte's witness."

Chimera sat down next to Kaiba and whispered, "I bet Kyte will only dig himself in deeper. This should be amusing."

Kyte stood up and walked over to Pips, "Mr. Carter. You've been saying how you know that my clients didn't invent the Miniport…"

Pips wasn't listening to anything that Kyte was saying. Kyte could've been explaining the way to gain immortality, and Pips wouldn't care at all. He was too busy inside his head.

'Oh my God…' He thought, 'I-I've just done the unthinkable… I've sold out the only people that have ever been nice to me. Even Rupert has been rather abusive lately… Marik and Malik are the only one's who… oh no! I can't let them face a prison sentence! Not when they… I know what I have to do. But…'

"M-Mr. Carter?" Kyte starred at him, "Mr. Carter, were you listening to the question?"

"…" He kept his eyes blank starring out into oblivion.

Kyte swallowed hard and then scratched the back of his head, "Jeez, talk about space-case."

Marik tilted his head, "What's up with him?"

"Maybe he's had a nervous breakdown or something." Malik said, "He's always been a bit fragile. Maybe he's finally cracked."

Judge Coral looked down at him, "Mr. Carter, are you all right?"

"…" Pips sighed and stood up, "Mr. Kaiba tricked Marik and Malik. He's the one who everyone should blame. He manipulated Marik."

Everyone gasped and looked at Kaiba. Kaiba's face was a reddish-blue color as he balled both his fists. Marik and Malik kept both their eyes focused on Pips.

"Kaiba's known Marik for quiet some time." Pips continued, "He knows what makes Marik not think as much as he should. I was there when Kaiba threw a contract at Marik and Malik, saying that he wanted the Miniport. It was too much money, Marik couldn't resist it. He didn't care about the people getting mangled like he said! Kaiba didn't even care about the money! He and Marik were in a contest to see who's company could survive this mess! That's what this whole thing is about!"

"Carter!" Kaiba shot up and slammed both his fists on the table, "Shut-up!"

"No! I'm not going to!" He shouted back, "I'm not going to listen to you anymore, Kaiba! I'm not going to waste my life kissing your fanny!"

It was then that both Marik and Malik fell backwards into their chairs laughing. Kaiba glared at them but they didn't even notice.

"They're the good ones," Pips was addressing the Jury as he pointed to Marik and Malik, "Kaiba isn't the perfect, clean businessman that Chimera made him out to be. He strung them along just about every step of the way. And about Elmer being tricked by Malik's impersonation, that was just stupidity. He desserved it."

The Jury nodded and talked to each other, then one stood up, "We'd like to talk this over amongst ourselves. Requesting small recess."

Judge Coral slammed her gavel, "Recess granted. When we come back, we will hear the Jury's verdict."

"Wait…" Pips held up his hand, "Please… let me say just one more thing. I'm sorry, Marik. I'm sorry, Malik. I almost let the Jury give their verdict when I wasn't being totally honest. You both have been better than any boss ever could. Thank you."

Marik wiped a fake tear from his eye, "I think I'm going to cry!"

Malik nudged him and smiled back at Pips.

The gavel slammed down once again and the Jury left the room.

Two minutes later, when they were waiting, Malik was talking to Kyte and his yami about the way the Jury decides the verdict.

"I heard once that when they take only a little while to decide, that it's not a good thing…" Malik said, "But when they take a long time, it means their debating over you. Is that true?"

Kyte nodded, "I had Jury duty once. They mostly just write down either guilty or not guilty on little slips of paper. And then they draw out of a hat."

"Really!" Marik and Malik starred at him, "That's what their doing?"

"Well, that's how it was when I was in the Jury. But that was about ten years ago, and I'm sure times have changed."

"That's good to hear…"

Suddenly, the side door opened and the Jury walked back in their seats in two straight lines. The woman who stood up before, stood again, "We have reached a verdict."

Everyone stopped talking and gave them their full attention.

"Ahem." She cleared her voice, "Guilty."

Marik and Malik fell over in their chairs and Kyte slapped his forehead, "I lost one…" He said.

Kaiba and Chimera gave each other a look of triumph and then glared at Marik and Malik. Pips stood up and screamed, "WHAT!"

"And not guilty." Said the woman, still standing, "We also have the verdict not guilty."

Everyone looked at her. Judge Coral twisted her mouth, "There is only one verdict. You are aware of that aren't you?"

"Yes. But we have an idea, since this happens to be a very… strange case. I… err, we propose that Marik and Malik not be thrown in jail, but repent in regular society."

"How?" The Judge asked.

"As Mr. Carter said in his statement, the contract with Mr. Kaiba provided Marik and Malik with an incredibly large amount of money. He could pay the damages for this trial and, as for the trials ahead, he will have to settle them with the other courts."

Judge Coral turned to Marik and Malik, "Mr. Kyte, will your clients accepted the Jury's conditions?"

Kyte turned to them, "Well, guys, what do ya say? Sounds good to me."

Marik nodded eagerly, but Malik groaned, "This means I'll have to give up my lovely green Jell-O pool!" Marik slapped him and Malik agreed.

"They will comply." Kyte told the Judge.

"Very well then. I hereby sentence Mr. Marik and Malik Ishtar to give all their gained money to the cause of the families in Domino that were affected by the Miniport's malfunction and as for the lawsuit against you from Kaiba Corporation, they get nothing. (Kaiba moaned) Marik and Malik, your other court dates will be mailed to you later in the week. Court adjourned!" The gavel was slammed for the last time.

They all rushed out of the building. Some of the people congratulating the two Egyptians and some, like Kaiba, just sulking.

When Marik and Malik got out, they met Pips out on the stairs. He was waiting for them and smiling when he said, "Well… that was interesting. I'm sorry you won't get to keep all that money."

"Eh… I had a feeling it wouldn't last forever." Marik shrugged, "We'll get used to living back in out old house."

"My poor pool of Jell-O…" Malik whined, then got smacked by Marik. He smiled again, "Pips, that took a lot of guts for you to speak out in court like that. It was really nice of you… if you hadn't done that, we'd probably be in a cell in the Domino City Jail right about now."

"No, no…" Pips blushed, "I just did what any friend would do."

"Carter!" Kaiba came storming down the steps and over to the three standing next to each other, "What in heaven's name were you thinking? You cost me a huge business venture! You know this means your fired, right! I'll make sure you can't get a job as anyone's assistant anymore!"

"I don't care what you have to say Kaiba! I don't need you or a job as an assistant! I'm beginning a new life with my new best friends!" He put his arms around Marik and Malik, and they made nervous gestures.

"Grr!" Kaiba growled and jumped into his limo. They drove off and left Pips, Marik, and Malik standing on the corner.

Pips sighed, "Well, I should be going as well. I'll be with you guys when you attend your other court meetings. So, just let me know where to go… I'll be there." He started to walk down the street and soon was out of sight.

"Well. We'd better get over to our mansion and start packing. If you really want to take all that Jell-O with you, were going to have to put it all in a big box. Or maybe three or four."

"Really? We can take it?"

"Sure. But, you know, it… uh, might leak."

Epilogue:

All together, Marik and Malik had fifteen trials in different countries around the world. They were exhausted when they got back, and poor. All the money that Kaiba gave them wasn't enough to pay for all the worldwide expenses, so they had to dip into their own account.

It wasn't so bad, but Malik did make a pretty big fuss when they had to sell his Beanie Baby collection. Marik forced him to and they got off with six months of probation and community service.

As for Pips Carter, he no longer worked for Kaiba Corporation or any other corporation for that matter. He now works as a waiter at the Little Rock Coffee Shop in southern Domino. His work keeps him busy most of the time but he keeps in touch with his two very best friends.

Kaiba's plan for the Miniport was washed down the drain. He mourned it for a little while but then moved on to bigger and better things. Elmer Fizz is now his assistant and business partner. Their next project is coming out this summer.

Even after all that's happened with Ishtar Industries and Kaiba Corporation, Marik and Malik still keep their business door open for future schemes in the corporate world. But something tells me they wont be doing anything corporate for a while.

THE END…

Her Sweetness: does the happy dance Woo, baby! I'm done! Oh yeah! Welp, I'm gonna start on my next one. I just gotta figure out a name, then it's posting time.
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