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Chapter 2. Of Pilots and Pirates
He decided to try his luck with the payphone when he heard his little brother scream.
Seto ran to the back of the room where Mokuba had been standing and saw the darkened hallway. "Mokuba!" He had just started down it to look for his brother when he saw a burly older man carrying the struggling Mokuba under his arm. This man had the large, barrel chested build that suggested he was a linebacker in his younger years, and he walked with a hint of a swagger. He was balding. Most of his greying hair had fallen out and that some of that hair seemed to have decided to reappear as stubbly patches on his chin and jaw. Seto couldn't make out much of his facial features in the dim light, but could tell they were toughened and worn like old leather from years of hard living.
"I believe he belongs to you," the man drawled at Seto. The young man glared icily at the older one. He wasn't about to let anyone mess with Mokuba and get away with it.
"Put my brother down," Seto responded dangerously. Not in the least bit intimidated, the man wheezed out a curt laugh and released his prisoner. Mokuba fled to the protection of his big brother's side.
"You'd think by the way you're actin' I was the one doin' the tresspassin'." The man eyed his uninvited guests. "What do you think you're doin' here?" The question was suspicious but wasn't exactly unfriendly. Seto crossed his arms and gave him a look as if to say answer was pretty obvious.
"We were caught in the storm and needed a place to land."
"I see." The man thoughtfully rubbed his chin. He looked slightly amused at the uptight young man in front of him.
"We tried to radio. You never answered," Mokuba piped up. The man turned towards the younger Kaiba. His dark eyes glinted eerily in the partial light. Mokbua stepped closer to Seto.
"Course not, kid. I was sleepin' – somthin' I intend to get back to doin'," he said gruffly. "It's near midnight, you know." He yawned and turned his back on the brothers. "I have some cots over there, considerin' you're now my guests," he motioned with his arm to a room on the left side of the hallway. "See you two in the mornin'." Mokuba looked uneasily as their host retreated back down the hallway before disappearing into the darkness. Seto followed Mokuba's gaze.
"He's just a harmless old coot, Mokuba. Let's get some sleep. We have to get an early start tomorrow." Mokuba felt rooted to the spot, half expecting the man to jump out at him again. "Mokuba?" The sound of his name brought him back out of his thoughts. He turned towards Seto.
"I'm coming Niisama," he replied softly and followed his brother into their room, not wanting to be left alone.
The next morning, Seto woke with a start and looked at his watch. Good. Six o'clock. It was still early. He should be able to fix whatever was wrong with the instrument panel fairly quickly and they could be on their way with most of the day still ahead of them. Seto nudged his little brother awake. "Come on, Mokuba. We need to get going." Mokuba groggily sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Wha hime izit?" he yawned.
"Just after six." Mokuba gave his brother a look and sank back onto his pillow.
Is he nuts? He wasn't like his brother; he liked his sleep, and his desire for rest transcended any sense of urgency or worry he felt the previous night. Seto let him lie there for ten more minutes before he nudged him awake again. He wasn't trying to be cruel. If he had a choice he would let Mokuba sleep, but he wasn't about to leave his little brother alone in this strange place.
After Seto had finally succeeded in rousing the sleepy Mokuba , they entered the main room they visited the previous night. Their host was reading one of the magazines, waiting for them. Seto confronted him.
"Look, I'm going to need some tools."
"Ahh. You're awake. I thought I heard movement back there. I've got breakfast goin' in the kitchen," greeted the old pilot without looking up from his magazine. Seto wasn't in the mood to be delayed.
"Thanks for letting us stay here," he began again grudgingly, "but we don't have time. So if you could…" The man glanced up and interrupted Seto.
"Coffee should be about done. You like pancakes, kid?" Mokuba nodded slowly. He was a little surprised that the man didn't seem as scary to him in the daylight. Seto heaved an impatient sigh.
At this rate, it is going to take all morning just to get those stupid tools "I don't think you understand, old man. We need to be on our way. Now." Their host remained undeterred by Seto's rudeness. He stood up and looked Seto straight in the eye as if determined to shove some charity their way whether they liked it or not.
"After breakfast," he replied. The man moved to usher his unwilling and slightly more willing guest to the kitchen. Seto gave in. He had no other alternative as he had no tools of his own. In the kitchen, the man gave Mokuba a glass of powdered orange drink and sat a mug of thick black coffee in front of Seto. The young man looked at it disdainfully.
"Gotta name?" their host asked as he busied himself over the griddle. Seto glowered at him.
"Kaiba."
"That's it? You some kind of rock star? Just need one name?" Mokuba stared at him in amazement. Did this guy live under a rock? Normally people could infer who they were if not by sight at least by their last name.
"Kaiba." Mokuba tried again. "Of the Kaiba Corporation?" The man shook his head. Mokuba shrugged. "I'm Mokuba, and this is my brother Seto."
"Nice to meet you. The name's Sloan." He unceremoniously placed a large plate of pancakes on the table and took a few for himself before passing the plate around. Seto took a pancake but only picked at it with his fork.
"Just Sloan?" He asked incredulously.
"Yup." Sloan's weathered face cracked into a grin. He was clearly enjoying Seto's indignation over his response. "You were sayin' somthin' about tools?" Seto shot him look. Of course he had said something about tools.
"There is something wrong with my instrument panel. I need to fix it so we can get out of this dump."
"Sorry, but you got more problems than that." Mokuba looked up from his breakfast and glanced from Sloan to his brother. Seto did not look happy.
"What do you mean?" demanded Seto.
"I was checkin' over your plane this mornin'. You did some damage to your landin' strut last night. You're gonna need order some parts. No doubt about that. How long have you been flyin', son?" He had a small smirk on his face. Seto chose not to answer that question. His piloting skills were just fine.
"How long is that going to take?"
"Oh…two, three weeks," was the vague reply.
"You've got to be kidding!" Seto couldn't believe what he was hearing. The last thing they needed was a major delay. Sloan just put his hands up in a mock sign of surrender. Seto got up and walked to the telephone hanging on the wall.
Sloan chucked. "Won't do you much good. Storm knocked out the phone lines. No tellin' when they'll be fixed." Seto slammed the phone back onto the receiver and returned to the table. He was growing tired of this Sloan's sadistic sense of humor.
"What's the rush?" their host inquired.
"That is none of your concern. Our business is our own." Sloan looked indifferent to their predicament.
"Do you have another plane, a car, anything?" asked an exasperated Seto.
"Gotta truck."
"How much?"
"How much what?" Sloan asked, toying with Seto.
"How much do you want for the damn truck?" he asked, eyes narrowing.
"It's not for sale."
That's what you think. "Name your price." Seto began reaching for his checkbook.
"That's quite an offer." Sloan waved his hand. "But the thing is, the truck doesn't run. Needs a new transmission. It won't be here for another coupla days. You're more than welcome to walk. 'Cept…it must be about thirty miles to town, and it's desert mosta the way. You are in Nevada you know." Seto was loosing what was left of his patience - fast.
"What idiot decided it would be a good idea to build an airport that far out of town?"
"Use ta be a lot busier here. There was another closer town. Pretty quiet now though since it died out. Don't get a lot of visitors." He took a big swig of coffee. Seto watched him and irritatedly drummed his fingers. He was running out of options.
"Then how, pray tell, are we going to get out of here."
"You're not. Not for a while anyway." Sloan got up from the table.
"What! You don't understand…"
"You're too young to be that hard a hearin', son." Sloan put a heavy hand on Seto's shoulder and continued in a low voice, "I said y'ain't goin' no where." He grinned wickedly. The Kaiba brothers stared at him. They were a little taken aback by his change in disposition. "Now where did I put those tools…" he mumbled on his way out of the room.
Sloan made good on finding the tools; however, fixing the VOR was taking Seto longer than he had expected. It was already the afternoon and the heat of the day was starting to make him drowsy. He looked over at his brother who had fallen asleep in one of the armchairs. An osculating fan was rhythmically ruffling his shaggy black hair. Since there was no real rush to fix the instrument as they had a damaged landing strut, Seto decided to follow Mokuba's lead and stretched out on the couch. Perhaps a quick nap would help him to concentrate. He closed his eyes, but as tired as he was, he couldn't sleep. A particular scene from the dinner following the last KC stockholders' meeting was playing in his mind.
"Mr. Kaiba, I want a word with you." Seto cringed inwardly at the sound of the woman's voice. If it was who he thought it was, she was someone he really did not like.
"Ahh. Mrs. Ohhira," he said turning to face her.
"You've been avoiding me." Seto looked at her nonchalantly.
"Have I now?" Madeline Ohhira's eyes narrowed at his audacity.
"Yes you have. I don't appreciate it considering I flew all the way here from Silicon Valley," she said flipping her blond hair indignantly.
The Valley isn't the only thing that is silicon, thought Seto tongue in cheek. "If you are referring to the business proposal you made earlier, I gave you my answer over the phone yesterday. It is no fault of mine you wasted your time."
"You knew my former husband well – may he rest in peace. I had only hoped that you would have taken my proposal more seriously." It was true. Seto had known Mr. Ohhira well. He was a good and loyal businessman. Mr. Ohhira was originally a KC stockholder when the company was controlled by Gozaburo and was producing war technology. When Seto made his takeover of Kaiba Corp, Mr. Ohhira was one of the few old stockholders who had decided to remain with the company. Seto had respected him for that. As for his widow Madeline, she had come into the picture as Mr. Ohhira's much younger second wife not long before Gozaburo lost his company. Seto never trusted her though his feelings were more instinctual than fact-based.
"It may come as a surprise to you, but I did give your proposal some serious consideration," Seto responded. Right before it went into the paper shredder. "However, it would not have taken my company in the direction I wish it to go. My answer is still no. The focus of Kaiba Corp will remain game technology."
"Listen up, Boy-Wonder," said Mrs. Ohhira getting tough. "After you, I am Kaiba Corp's largest stockholder (1). That should provide me with greater say in what direction this company will go. I don't know what you take me for, but…."
"Honestly?" replied Seto cutting her off. "I see you as a former gold digger intent on getting richer by any means possible."
Madeline Ohhira's green eyes blazed. "Maybe I should buy more stock. Who knows, your company could easily become mine."
Seto laughed at her last statement. "No it couldn't. Nor will it become yours. I see that you have conveniently forgotten my brother's stock holdings. Now if you'll excuse me, there are some other people I need to talk to." He picked up a glass from the tray of a passing waiter before turning to leave. "Enjoy the party. The food is delicious."
"You underestimate me, Mr. Kaiba. I am no fool," she threatened after him.
Seto didn't look back. "Neither am I, Mrs. Ohhria."
"Underhanded banshee. If she thinks she can steal Kaiba Corp out from under me…." muttered Seto as he sat up and opened his eyes. He was beginning to get a headache. Looking over at his brother he saw that Mokuba was still peacefully asleep. I have to get you out of here soon. I have to keep you safe. Don't worry Mokuba. I won't let her get you or our company.
(1) For Mr. Ohhira and his KC stockholdings go to Doma series (episode 148 The Creator Returns/Pegasus' Invitation) where Kaiba thinks that Pegasus is trying to buy out his company – the ratandfox episode guide.