YUGIOH
Hopeless Collisions
Chapter 13.
The VR unit was on. Combined with Kaiba's holographic imaging system, it made the perfect image of his brother Mokuba. It hurt just to look at him.
"Your computer had all sorts of files showing past filmings of your brother. We implanted many of the phrases your brother had been recorded saying, made sure the synthesizer matched his voice pattern exactly, and even gave it artificial intelligence....much like that unique system you had hidden down in that emergency shelter of yours." Pegasus explained.
"So, now what?" Kaiba asked.
"What do you think? Test it all ready....tell me if it's satisfactory. Say something to him!" Pegasus replied.
Kaiba forced himself to look at the image, and commanded, "Respond." He refused to talk to the image like it was his brother.
Mokuba smiled, saying, "Hey, big brother....what do you need?"
Again, Kaiba looked away. It was too painful.
Mokuba's image approached, saying, "Please, Seto....don't feel bad. I know what I'm here for. I've been programmed to be the beta for becoming the real Mokuba Kaiba. And I'll be back soon enough. I know I will. Because you can do anything....even bring me back. Wont you, big brother?"
"ENOUGH!!" Kaiba shouted. He pointed at Mokuba, and hissed at Pegasus, "That is 'not' him! What do I have to do to make him Mokuba? I want to know, NOW!!"
"Use the power of the Millennium Rod." Pegasus said. "Don't look away from him. Look at him, focus on him and your power. Make him into what you want him to be!"
Kaiba glared at Pegasus, then finally forced himself to look back down at Mokuba....but it was almost unbearable to see the image of what he lost. 'No....I can bring him back. I can do this!'
Gritting his teeth, Kaiba brought the Rod up towards Mokuba, and looked intently at the image. "You think I can do anything, Mokuba? Well, let's find out...."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
It was taxing....Kaiba never felt so drained. All the power he could muster was being pumped into that hologram, in order to try and make it whole....give it a soul, Mokuba's soul. He could feel the pull, as if the dead was fighting him to keep Mokuba away from him.
And for a moment....he thought he saw it. There was a spark in his eyes that even a hologram could not make. The smile on the fake Mokuba started to fade, as he looked at Kaiba like he really recognized him. Mokuba's mouth began to move. "Se....Seto....??"
All at once, the system exploded....sparks were flying everywhere. Kaiba looked in horror as the holographic image faded to nothing in an instant....and still there was an image, but it wasn't holographic. It was almost ethereal, as he looked up at Kaiba and gave a genuine smile, then faded to nothing.
"No! MOKUBA!!" Kaiba cried out, rushing over to try and touch the image....it was gone, he was gone. And once again, Kaiba was alone.
Kaiba dropped to his hands and knees, unable to handle the pain of losing him a second time. And he was so drained, and so tired....he wasn't sure if he'd even be able to keep conscious.
Warm arms and hands suddenly wrapped around him, as everything started to become black. Pegasus' distant words were saying, "Kaiba, I'm here for you....I'll make sure you'll be all right."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Kaiba woke in his room. It was evening. Pegasus was sitting not far from him, in his robes and reading a comic book. Kaiba questioned, "How long have I been out?"
Immediately, Pegasus looked over and smiled. "Ahhh....you're all right. You had me worried there. You expelled a great deal of energy from that, almost every ounce of Ba you had. You have to be careful not to do that. You can kill yourself with zero energy, you know."
"It didn't work." Kaiba said.
"Are you kidding me?" Pegasus beamed. "Did you see how close we got? I had the scientists do a full examination, after that little experiment. Your system was not made to handle such intense amount of energy. They're working on it, now. I'm making sure everything's reinforced to handle even up to three times the amount of energy that was poured into it, just to be on the safe side. I even had some of my own men flown in to help with the job. Between both crews, they feel this should be up and ready in two days. Then it'll have no problem handling that kind of power, and we'll finally be able to achieve what we're after!"
Pegasus' smile then began to fade. "So....why do you still look so grim? I guess meeting your brother once again took a toll on you, huh?"
"It's not enough power." Kaiba answered. "Even if you get the system up and ready to handle it, I don't have enough to do it. I could feel it....I was no where near the amount I needed."
"Then, we'll just have to have you take more souls." Pegasus said.
"I'm not taking any more souls!" Kaiba snapped irritably at Pegasus, as he tried to pull himself up and failed. He then looked away. "Just for Mokuba's life....he'd never forgive me if I did that. I'd be no better than Gozaburo himself, if I did what you asked."
"Hmmm....yes, I did sense some friction there between you and your adopted father, at one time. Who would have thought? A war monger and a peace freak living together in the same house. Oooh, that must have been fun during the dinner-time meals." Pegasus mused.
Kaiba didn't look so amused. "I'd rather not talk about my personal life."
"Sorry." Pegasus said. Then, as if a light bulb came over his head, Pegasus said, "But, wait! There's still another way."
Kaiba turned, hearing Pegasus' words. But Pegasus suddenly looked uncertain. "Uh, well....I'm not sure you're willing to do it, though."
"What? Tell me!" Kaiba snarled, despite how weak he felt.
"The Eye." Pegasus said. "If you get the Millennium Eye, the combination between the two items would more than make up for what you have to achieve. Then you would have all the power you need to bring Mokuba back."