A/N- I hope this chapter isn't too confusing. Just try to imagine the episode where Kaiba tested his Obelisk the Tormenter…got the image of that place in your head? Okay, on with the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own YGO.

The Price of Obsession

Chapter 2

"Deck construction, check. Back up generators at full power. Energy index is reading normal…"

Ari absently listened to the three man crew run through the check list as she stared into the large room below. She was the picture of calm awaiting the go ahead from the technicians she had personally selected to assist her with the test, but inside she was anything but calm.

If the fiber-optic cable is too weak, the duel disc could short-circuit. If the energy transfer is faster than we anticipated… I have no idea what will happen. The theory has never been explored before.

"All systems are a go, Ms Nieche," someone finally told her.

She slipped her headset on and picked up the duel disc. "Okay, I'll head down. But we will wait until Seto arrives before we start the test, understood?"

"Yes, ma'am."

This is going to work. I have no reason to be nervous. The words did little to reassure her. Itchy fingers sought the cool stone at her throat and she smiled. I'm going to be just fine.

The large holo-duel projector on the opposite side of the massive room seemed non-threatening for the moment. Ari acutely remembered her first encounter with a hologram, the magnificent Blue Eyes White Dragon whose energy wash sucked the breath from her lungs with tremendous force. Today she would be facing holograms of a potentially greater magnitude.

This first test of her hologram enhancement program would prove two things. One, that the revolutionary fiber-optic cable that she and her late father constructed was capable of laser data transfer on a scale never before attempted. And two, the cable and program combined could create solid holograms with the ability to inflict physical damage.

If successful, Kaiba Corp would assert an indestructible hold on the gaming community. Also, a new breed of duelist would rise to the challenge of true power and skill. As for her, she would have the satisfaction of making Seto Kaiba's dream a reality. That was enough for her. After all, what else could she possibly give to the man who had everything?

"What do you think you're doing?" a sharp voice rang in her ear and Ari smiled, lifting her gaze to the observation room above. Even at that distance, his glare had unnerving power as he gazed down at her.

Ari adjusted her headset. "It's about time you got here," she spoke. "I was thinking of starting without you."

Her good humor did little to quell his displeasure. "You are not testing that thing," he snapped and Ari frowned.

"How am I suppose to make adjustments and compensations if I don't know exactly what happens? And how am I to know exactly what happens if I don't experience it for myself?"

"I don't want you to run the prelim test," he was not deterred. "We don't know what to expect on the first run."

"We're running on the lowest power setting possible and we've loaded the system with all low level monsters so I won't get hurt," she promised. "A direct attack will be like a slap on the wrist."

He growled softly and was about to demand that she step down and let him do it when Mokuba suddenly jumped up beside him.

"Hi Ari! I made it just in time, I see!"

"Hi, Moki. We were just waiting for your brother's consent." The look she offered up then made the man swear softly under his breath. It was difficult to tell her no when she looked at him like that, hopeful and beseeching. She must have learned that from Mokuba.

"Fine, but we shut down the minute there's a glitch, you got that?"

"Fair enough," she grinned as she raised her arm and launched the holo-projectors from her duel disc. The test holo-duel projector on the far side of the room shifted into place and began to draw its cards as she did likewise.

She wasn't much of a duelist, but Mokuba had been working with her regarding the rules of play. Maybe she didn't know enough to defeat a real duelist, but she knew enough to test the program's abilities.

Having the first move, she set a monster in defense mode and set a trap, ending her turn.

"Analyzing opponent's move," an automaton voice spoke as the holo-duel projector spun and selected a card. "Summon Dragon Zombie in attack mode."

Ari took a step back as the creature stepped forth from the void, its ghastly growl rattling her bones.

"Attack opponent's face down monster."

"Energy levels still reading normal," a voice announced in her ear as the Dragon Zombie launched its attack. Ari could feel the heated fumes reach out to her, grinning all the while as she activated her face down card.

"I activate the trap Mirror Force and deflect the attack," she announced calmly. Sizzling blue-green energy formed around her and her face down card to reflect the intended attack. The Dragon Zombie burst into pieces and dissipated into white energy.

"Set one card face down and end turn," the computer announced.

Ari took a moment to study the field after the brief battle. Are those burns on the opposite wall? It couldn't be. The hologram isn't capable of that kind of damage with the limits we placed on the energy feed.

"Did you detect an energy surge," she asked into her headset.

"There was a slight power spike as anticipated but all readings have returned to normal."

So far so good.

"What power spike," she heard Seto demand.

"There's an energy spike during an attack," she explained. "The hologram emits more power just as it would if it were real. That's what you wanted, isn't it?" She looked up at the observation room to find him staring down at her with his usual stone cold expression.

"Everything is still a go, Ms Nieche," one of the technicians advised and she turned her face back to the field.

I have one monster in defense mode and the computer has a card face down, probably a trap. I'll trigger it to test the effects of a deflection attack.

"I summon Celtic Guardian in attack mode," she stated simply as she laid the card on her disc and it formed itself on the field. "Attack its life points directly," she ordered and the giant elfin warrior leaped to do her bidding.

"Activate face down card, Trap Hole. Destroys monster summoned to attack mode having excess of 1000 attack points."

Her warrior sunk into the massive hole that formed in the floor and vanished from sight before it could complete its attack.

"Saw that one coming," she heard Seto murmur and she rolled her eyes.

"How are the readings, Mr. Kazu," she asked.

"Odd," he spoke softly. "When the computer activated the Trap Hole, there seemed to be a deficit in power."

"A deficit," she echoed. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Shall we continue?"

"Less power doesn't present any kind of danger," she stated and glanced up at Seto for confirmation. As he remained silent she turned back to the field.

But that power has to be going somewhere. She shook the puzzling thought from her head. "Now we get to see how real a monster attack can be."

"Ari…"

"Have a little faith in me, Seto," she cut him off. "Besides, it can't be any worse than an energy wash. The settings are too low."

He grumbled something she didn't quite catch and she shrugged as she told the computer she ended her turn without making a move.

"Summon Beta the Magnet Warrior," the computer announced as the creature formed on the field. "Attack opponent's face down card."

Ari felt herself shoved and she tripped as she stumbled back under the force, sitting down hard on the floor. A massive wind scattered pieces of her monster in every direction and her eyes watered as she felt sharp flecks brush across her face.

"Ari!"

"I'm okay," she said quickly. "It just took me by surprise." That was too real, she warned herself. I actually felt my monster break apart, like a glass shattering in my own hand and the pieces blowing back into my face! She wiped her hand across her cheek but felt no blood or scratches. It had all been simulated. Incredible. The boundary between solid mass and dense energy was so minute.

Kaiba frowned as he stared down at her. "I don't like this," he told her.

"Energy levels are still reading normal, the power spike had been of identical strength to the first attack initiated," Mr. Kazu reported.

"Exactly the same?" Kaiba repeated. "That's not possible."

"You didn't really think the computer would react to it, did you," Ari said as she climbed to her feet. "Seto, I swear this is the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. I felt that attack. It was so much more than an energy wash. I don't know how to describe it."

"And so far we have detected no glitches," Kazu added.

"With low level monsters, I'm not surprised," Kaiba murmured. "I guess it's working out just as you planned."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," she laughed. "There's still the direct attack remaining."

"What?"

"Don't worry. The energy readings are stable and it won't do anything more than knock me down. Honestly, Seto, you can't expect me to stop now."

I've turned her into a monster, he realized with slight amusement. "If you make this work, Ari, I promise I will make you the wealthiest woman on the face of the earth," he grinned.

"Why do I get the feeling I should get that in writing?"

"You will."

Ari laughed again, all her anxiety having faded with the realization that both her program and the fiber-optic cable prototype were working flawlessly.

Mokuba glanced from her up to his brother. "You mean you didn't ask her yet?" he asked softly so his voice wouldn't carry to her headset.

Seto smirked. "Tonight."

Mokuba grinned and returned his gaze to the room below.

"I end my turn without making a move," Ari told the computer and watched as it calculated its move.

This is it. Now I will feel the true impact of a solidified hologram. This is my day.

"Activate the magic card Monster Reborn to bring Dragon Zombie back to the field," the dull voice announce

"Uh oh," Ari muttered.

"Sacrifice Dragon Zombie and…"

"We're getting a power surge," Mr. Kazu announced.

"But an attack hasn't been ordered," Mokuba stated.

"Ari, you said it was all low level monsters loaded into the system," Kaiba nearly shouted.

"It was," she looked up at him. "I checked the deck myself. There wasn't anything in there that has to be tribute summoned."

"…Beta the Magnet Warrior to summon…"

Ari turned her gaze back to the field, her eyes widening as light burst before her and an earth-shattering roar ripped through her body. The ground shook and Ari raised her eyes to stare up at the devastating magnificence of the Blue Eyes White Dragon.

"Dear God," she whispered.

"Energy readings are higher than normal," someone spoke.

"How much higher?" Mokuba demanded even as the control panel sparked and the technician leaped away.

"Shut it down!" Kaiba snapped fiercely.

"Seto," a soft voice called to him and he glanced out the window at the woman below even as the computer called out its attack.

"Ari!"

Blinding white lightening erupted like an exploding star from the dragon's mouth and struck her full force in the chest, slamming her into the back wall and swallowing her in pure energy, her scream sharply cut off into silence.


"Three broken ribs, fractured collar bone, first degree burns on both arms and a severe concussion," the doctor surmised. "The fractures will heal without trouble as well as the burns. I've noticed from her previous record that she is quite a resilient woman…"

Kaiba's eyes narrowed in angry irritation. "Quit jumping around the subject," he growled and the tiny man startled.

"Well, she suffered a great deal of trauma to the cerebrum." He placed a film on the light box and pointed to three different places on the image. "There doesn't seem to be any bleeding, but there is considerable swelling."

"Meaning?"

"She's comatose, Mr. Kaiba," he admitted. "She could wake up tomorrow, next week or next year. There is no way of knowing."

Seto felt the blood drain from his face as he stared at the man.

"Are you saying there's a possibility she may never wake up?"

The doctor looked at the suddenly pale business tycoon with veiled sympathy. "I'm saying that we don't know. She's a resilient woman, Mr. Kaiba. Hope is not something I would throw out at this point."

Hope was not something Seto Kaiba was used to entertaining.

"This is my fault," he murmured as he cradled her limp hand in his an hour later. Her expression was eerily peaceful in silence. Had she awakened at that moment, he knew she would promptly tell him to stop being an idiot because it was her decision to run the preliminary test personally.

"Just when I feel that I have you, I lose you," he whispered, touching his lips to her slender fingers. "Please don't leave me now. What would I ever do without you?"

Afraid to even consider that road, he dropped his head onto the side of her bed and clutched her hand to his chest, never wanting to let go.


Phoenix-Aluzei- I think Kaiba has a lot to be paranoid about. He feels invincible and is used to getting his way, but when it comes to Ari his whole world is out of control. More than anything he wants to protect her but can't seem to succeed at that.

Sweetbriar- Actually Ari does where sundresses (ie- the airplane trip to Honshu she was wearing a yellow sundress) but at this point in time it is November and a bit too chilly for sundresses.