Chapter 3

Mariku sat in his cabin leaning against the wall and stared at the door. Malik's self-confidence had surprised him. He was so convinced that he would not die, that Mariku felt downright stupid that he even considered it at all. Of course, he had asked Malik what made him so sure, but Malik had turned away from him. The only respond he got was: "You bore me." Mariku sighed. He tried to measure up Malik, but it was impossible. For him, everything seemed to be just a game.

Mariku touched his left shoulder. The pain was getting worse. Should he wake Bakura? After all, it was almost morning. At least he hoped so, because he had no desire to sit around idly and wait until the others woke up, only because his shoulder made it unable for him to sleep. In addition, Malik's behavior disturbed him. It made him uneasy, not knowing what he was planning.

Mariku sighed annoyed. He wanted to get away from here and go to Ptera. He only hoped they would arrive in time. He still had two days before he had to report to the school. Why was this happening to him? He had always dreamed of adventures, but after he was a pilot. He sighed and leaned his head back. At least, he had a story to tell on his first day, given that he got out alive.

Mariku listened attentively as he heard noises in the hallway. He quickly stood up and walked out of the room, where he collided with Bakura. Mariku grimaced in pain and clutched his arm.

"Sorry," Bakura muttered, but he didn't look at him. His gaze was fixed on Ryou, who disappeared along with Honda in the room, in which Malik was detained. "Do I need to take a look at your arm again?"

"Yes." But Mariku wasn't sure if Bakura had heard him.

"Sweet," they heard Malik say, as they entered the room. He had a scratch wound on his cheek and blood dripped from Ryou's claws on the ground.

Malik shot Mariku a quick glance, and then turned his attention back to Ryou.

"Get out!" Ryou hissed at them, without turning around.

"I'm not here to stop you." Bakura said, shrugging, leaning with crossed arms against the wall.

Mariku remained standing at the door, not sure why he was here at all. He didn't want to watch Ryou kill Malik. Still, he kept his gaze fixed on him, curious about how he wanted to get out of this situation.

"Come on, scum," provoked Malik. He tensed the muscles in his arms. "Show me, what you've got." He tugged at the chains. "Keep going, as soon as I'm free, I'll show you what pain is!"

Ryou shook with anger; he threatened Malik with his claws. "You'll never hurt anyone again, you bastard. You'll beg me to finally kill you. I will avenge my family. I will avenge them all!" His voice was low, but Malik was not impressed by his threat. He just laughed and it sent cold shivers up and down Mariku's spine. Bakura shifted his weight uneasily.

"You'll regret it, slave." Ryou struck Malik again and left another scratch wound.

"I am not a slave," Ryou hissed, clenching his hands into fists.

"But you will be one again, soon."

Ryou grabbed Malik by the throat. His face was contorted with rage and hatred. His claws scratched at the scaleless skin and blood slowly trickled down Malik's neck. Malik still showed no sign of fear. On the contrary, he looked at Ryou bored, then turned his eyes to Mariku and fixed on him.

Mariku shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. He was not allowed to interfere. That didn't concern him. He would only regret it. "Wait," he said finally, Malik's lips twisted into a triumphant grin.

"What?" Ryou snapped at Mariku, without letting Malik go. The grin on his face made him even angrier. He wanted to tear his head off immediately.

Mariku sighed. What had he done? "We still don't know where we are, right?" Ryou didn't answer. He kept his eyes glued to Malik. "But he knows."

"And you think I trust even one word that comes from his mouth?" Ryou spat. He let go of Malik and whirled around. He looked like he wanted to attack Mariku any moment.

"He will hardly lead us into death when he is on board."

"We will find a way to get out of here; without help from scum like him!" He turned back to Malik.

Mariku took a deep breath. Why did he defend Malik? He didn't deserve it. He was a monster and didn't even deny that. He was even proud of it. "But..."

Ryou rolled his eyes. "If you keep this up, I'll kill you. Get out, Mariku! This is nothing of your concern, or do you want to offer him your right shoulder as well?"

Mariku bit his lower lip. "I know what he and what his people have done, and yes damn it, he deserves to die, but think about it, what if there are more of them? What if they are planning another war?" This time Mariku's words gave Ryou food for thought. "You don't want the past to repeat itself, right? It would be smarter if Malik..."

"Malik?" Ryou broke in and Mariku knew he had made a mistake. "You know his name?"

"Well, I..."

Ryou turned his bloody claws on Mariku. "Don't you see what he does? He manipulates you! And with great success." Mariku looked over Ryou's shoulder at Malik, who was still grinning at him. "You humans are just too weak."

"But he's right," Bakura said suddenly. "We can't risk another war. He is a war criminal and has to be punished, but we should hand him over to the authorities."

Ryou shouted angrily, and stormed out of the room. Honda followed him. Bakura looked at Mariku almost reproachfully. "I hope I don't regret this one day." He pushed himself off the wall and left the room too.

Mariku took a deep breath. What had he done?

"See, I told you, I'm not going to die."

"I'm going to regret this for sure." muttered Mariku and stroked his hair.

"Don't worry, as a reward, I'll kill you quickly."

Mariku screamed as Bakura pinched his shoulder. "I don't want you to forget what he's capable of." he said grimly.

"I won't." He took the glass that Bakura gave him and drank. The liquid tasted bitter, but it helped the pain. Nevertheless Mariku grimaced. "Hundreds of years of evolution, and medicine still taste disgusting. Yuck!"

Bakura sank onto the bed and looked up at Mariku. "Tell me what you were thinking; that was really stupid."

"I know," replied Mariku and sighed. He sat next to Bakura. "He's probably really influenced me somehow, and I was too stupid to realize it." He stroked his face. "I'm such an idiot."

"You can only hope that he will kill you first, because he'll do it faster than Ryou will."

Mariku grinned slightly. "Ryou would tear off my cock and eat it while making me watch."

Bakura started to laugh. "Yep, that's what he would do. And I warn you," he tapped his finger against Mariku's chest, "if I gambled my chance with him because of you, then you have to make up for it."

"What chances?"

"Hey, there's definitely something going on between Ryou and me."

"Yes, of course; in your dreams maybe." They both laughed.

"OUT!" Ryou yelled as Mariku and Bakura entered the cockpit. The ship had set in motion again.

"We just wanted to..."

"GET OUT! I don't want to see your faces. Get out! Get out! GET OUT!" Ryou pointed at the door forcefully and Bakura and Mariku backed out.

"We can probably be glad that he has not yet thrown us from the ship," Bakura said with a shrug. They had to support themselves against the wall, since the ship flew very unstable. The controller was still damaged.

"I'm sorry that you're in trouble now because of me." Since Jupiter everything seemed to go wrong. It would have been better, if he had stayed on Earth. Mariku sighed. And all this trouble just because he had sided with Malik, who had almost killed him in addition. He really had to work on his priorities. It was better, if he stayed away from him in the future.

At this moment the ship took a slight skew. The two men lost their footing and slid down the hall. Mariku cursed, as his shoulder slammed against the wall. "This is the worst trip of my life," he murmured, holding his injured arm tight.

"You have never flown with my uncle. Once and never again, I tell you." Bakura rubbed the back of his head. The ship returned to its normal position and they stood up again. "We should fasten our seatbelts anyway. The landing could be a bit uncomfortable."

"Landing?" asked Mariku.

"Well, there was a planet outside. I'm assuming we will land there. The ship needs to be repaired," Bakura opened the door to his room, "and I don't trust the Notechis to ask him where we are."

Mariku stared at the closed door for a moment, but when the ship jerked again, he hurried into his own room and sat down. Shortly after he had fastened his seatbelt, the ship turned head. Mariku felt like riding a roller coaster. The alarm sounded again and Mariku closed his eyes. The seat belt pressed painfully against his shoulder, and the vibrations didn't help his situation. Mariku cursed. He felt the ship accelerating. Because of the slope, however, he was assuming that the speed was not intended. They were shaken and Mariku bit his lower lip.

When they hit the surface of the planet, Mariku was pulled forward; one of the belts cracked under the strain. The lights flickered and went out. "Fuck, fuck, fuck," muttered Mariku without interruption. He leaned back in his chair and wiped the sweat from his forehead. His shoulder was bleeding again. The door to his room slid open. "Please don't tell me we crashed."

"Okay, I won't tell you," said Bakura. He stood at the open door and had survived the crash without injury. "Shall I help you?"

"No." Mariku supported himself with his uninjured arm on the table and pushed himself out of the seat. His arm was shaking and his legs almost failed him.

"Okay, I'll see how the others are doing, and then I'll check your shoulder. You better lie down."

For a moment, Mariku took Bakura's advice into consideration, but then he also left his room. He heard Malik hissing and cursing. "Are you totally stupid?" Malik hissed at him, as he entered the room.

"We are a bit crashed."

"Oh, really?" He said with a sarcastic tone. "You're really good for nothing." He tugged at his chains. "Let me free, I'll release you from your disability."

"Are you hurt?" Malik made only a snide sound and Mariku rolled his eyes. Why was he even here again? "You should really be nice to me; since I help you not get killed."

"I'm not dependent on your grace, human!" He spat out the last word.

"Oh yes you are, Notechis!" Malik hissed. He tugged at the chains and bared his teeth. Mariku left him alone again. Great, now he had made him angry too.

"Mariku damn, there you are!" Bakura came to meet him. "You've really got a crush on him, huh?"

"Shut up," muttered Mariku. "Are the others alright?"

"Just a few bruises." Bakura shrugged. "Let me see your shoulder."

They returned to Mariku's room and Bakura loosened the blood-soaked bandage. He swallowed hard as he saw the open wound. The smell of blood reached his nostrils and made his mouth watering.

"Are you okay?" Mariku wanted to know as Bakura made no move to take care of the wound.

Bakura answered nothing. Mesmerized, he stared at the blood. Human blood smelled so sweet, it made him almost mad. Just a sip. Only a small sip. "Bakura?" Mariku turned around and Bakura woke up.

Blinking, he looked at Mariku. "I... your...," his eyes fell again on the wound. A trickle ran over Mariku's chest. "Blood." He licked his lips. "It's so... distracting."

"There was a reason why Ryou called you a blood-sucker."

Bakura had difficulties to look away. "Yes." His breathing had become noticeably faster. "Just a little bit," he whispered.

"Damn," cursed Mariku and put his foot on Bakura's chest to keep him at a distance. "Why is it that you aliens either want to fuck me or eat me?" He pushed Bakura with the foot off the bed, which again brought him back to reality.

He shook his head a few times. "I'll be right back."

But before he could leave the room, Ryou stood at the door. "Jou, Honda, and I will go out and look around. You stay here. You don't leave the ship. Do you understand me? "

"Yes, sir!" Bakura hinted a small curtsy and Ryou shot him an angry look.

Sighing, Mariku dropped onto the mattress and didn't care that the sheets got dirty. Would he ever arrive on Ptera? He doubted it.

Bakura came back with a bottle in his hand. "So," he grinned, "I'm myself again."

He attached the bandages and surveyed his work. "Any more pain?"

"No, not at the moment." replied Mariku and pulled his shirt back on.

"Do we take a look outside?"

"Sure!" Even though Ryou had forbidden them to leave the ship, he was already so angry at them, it didn't matter if it got worse.

Outside it was sultry and oppressive. Mariku wiped his forehead and lifted his shirt. The ground was soft and muddy, and they had to be careful where they stepped, in order not to sink into the mire. Mariku put his head back. He could barely see the tree tops. It looked like they had crashed into a kind of jungle. Only slightly penetrated the light through the hole, which they had torn in the canopy.

Around them it was dim and Mariku had a hard time to see anything. He looked up and saw Anzu standing on top of the ship. "What's going on?" He called up to her.

"The outer shell is slightly damaged, but that doesn't worry me." She jumped down and landed gracefully on her feet. "The controller makes me more worried. I can't find the problem." She sighed.

"You'll find it," Mariku spoke encouragingly to her and Anzu, embarrassed, stroked a strand behind her ear.

"Look at that!" Bakura shouted suddenly. He stood at some distance, with his hands stretched out to the side, as if he wanted to hug someone. Between the trees was a net-like structure, dew drops shimmered.

"Looks like a spider web," said Mariku, as he came closer.

"What's a spider's web?"

"Spiders are a species on earth. There are different types and they spin such nets to catch prey." He shrugged. "Usually they are much smaller though." He looked at the net. The threads were as thick as his arm. Mariku got goose bumps. He didn't want to meet that spider.

Bakura reached out to touch it, but Mariku stopped him. He picked up a branch from the ground and touched the net. The wood got stuck immediately and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the branch off anymore.

Bakura shuddered. "That was close."

"Let's go back." Mariku looked around uneasily. "I don't like it here."

Bakura's eyes were still on the branch. He nodded slowly. "It's too damn quiet here."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," he ran his fingers through his hair, "I hear nothing. Absolutely nothing." He let his gaze wander over the trees. "Either this is a dead planet or something here prevents any noise." Bakura's words didn't ensure that Mariku felt calmer.

"What about Ryou and the others?" Bakura shook his head. "They can't be too far."

"I know." He gritted his teeth. "I should be able to hear them without problems, but..." He shook his head.

Mariku was glad when they were back in the ship again, but he didn't feel calmer. What kind of Planet was this? Were Ryou, Jonouchi and Honda alright?

"I'll ask Malik where we are." he said.

Bakura looked at him skeptically. "Ryou is right, he is not very trustworthy."

Mariku shrugged. "But he is currently the only one who can give us a clue at all. He doesn't want us to die as long as he is chained."

"You humans are really weird."

"You're telling me," muttered Mariku and went to Malik. Malik glared at him. "Where are we?" But Malik just pressed his lips together, like a pouting child. Mariku sat down opposite of him. "In your position I would talk. We could die and then you would rot in these chains."

Malik hissed. His long, forked tongue shot out and then disappeared again behind his pointed teeth. "How should I know? If you haven't noticed yet, I'm chained here and there are no windows." He had a point.

"It looks like we are in a jungle," Mariku began to describe, "high trees, very dim and its uncomfortably humid. The ground is mud. Bakura says he doesn't hear the slightest sound." Malik looked at him with a straight face. Mariku couldn't say whether Malik knew the planet or not. "There are huge spider webs."

"What's that?" His voice sounded bored. Mariku gave him the same description as Bakura. Then Malik's facial expression changed. He looked worried; at least Mariku interpreted it as concern. The chains rattled as he restlessly changed his seating position. "Free me." This time he sounded tense.

"Certainly not."

"Free me!" He repeated insistently. "I'm not going to die with you bastards."

Mariku raised an eyebrow. So Malik knew where they were and whatever lived on this planet, it even bothered him. That boded nothing good. "Where are we? What lives here?"

A Hiss. "Pack your little friends and get this ship out of here."

"Tell me where we are!"

"Let me go!" Malik leaned forward so that the chains were pulled taut. Mariku stayed in place, unfazed, even if Malik's face was only inches from his. He still felt uneasy in his presence.

"Maybe I'll free you, when you finally tell me where we are." He was tired, that these aliens thought they could intimidate him with their claws and teeth.

With a frustrated hiss Malik fell back. "Happy dying then." He turned his head to the side and Mariku rolled his eyes.

"What a pighead!" Mariku stood up. There was no point in staying longer. He had to wait until Ryou returned and tell him that the planet was dangerous. At least he hoped that Ryou came back.

"What did he say?" Bakura asked. He stood at the doorway of the ship and had his eyes closed.

"No details. Only that whatever lives here is dangerous. Even Malik seems to be afraid."

Bakura looked at him. Concern was in his eyes. "If someone like him is afraid then…" he turned his gaze back outside and left the sentence unsaid. Mariku knew what he wanted to say anyway.

"Do you hear something?"

Bakura shook his head. "Only Anzu. The silence makes me crazy."

"I hope Ryou comes back soon."

As if on cue, Bakura's body tensed suddenly. Mariku had the impression that his ears pricked up. Then he ran. He almost stumbled as he sank in the mud with one foot.

Mariku stepped outside and watched him questioningly. What was going on? Anzu joined him. She seemed just as confused as him.

Ryou suddenly burst out of the undergrowth. He was breathing heavily and had a hunted expression. Worried, he glanced over his shoulder. Honda was right behind him. Even from a distance Mariku could see that his skin was glowing. Jonouchi didn't show up and Mariku had a bad feeling about that. Ryou had a gash on his arm. Honda seemed unharmed.

"What happened?" Bakura called out to them and stopped.

"Didn't I tell you to stay in the ship?" Ryou snapped at him, but seemed glad to see him. He slowed his pace and stopped panting in front of Bakura.

"What happened?" Bakura asked again and carefully took Ryou's arm. His shirt was soaked with blood, but the wound itself was no longer bleeding. Ryou shook his head with clenched teeth.

Honda answered for him: "We don't know." The glow of his skin died away.

"And Jonouchi?" Another shake of the head from Ryou.

"It all happened very quickly." Honda replied again. "We don't know what attacked us." He shook his head. "Suddenly Jonouchi was gone."

They returned to the ship and Bakura looked at Ryou's wound. It looked like an elongated cut, but the edges were frayed and had corroded. "Do you feel strange?" Asked Bakura and Ryou shook his head. "Are you sick? Dou you have breathing problems?"

"No."

"Malik says we should disappear if we want to survive," said Mariku.

Ryou's eyes narrowed as he heard Malik's name. "Why should I care what he says?"

"Because you were attacked and Jou disappeared? Even Malik is scared." Ryou made a derogatory sound. "He'll tell us where we are, if we let him go."

Ryou laughed out loud. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

Mariku was losing it. He had enough of it, that everyone treated him like an idiot just because he was a human. Despite the fact that Ryou could split open his body with his claws without problems, Mariku grabbed him by the collar and pushed him against the wall. Ryou gasped painfully and grimaced. "Now listen to me, you conceited jackass. There is something out there that is going to kill us and inside this ship is also something that will kill us. Either way, we're going to die. However, there is a small chance that Malik will not kill us, because he wants to leave this planet, so stop acting like a whiney bitch and let him go!" He let go of Ryou, who slid down the wall. Ryou put his hand to his throat and took several deep breaths before he raised his eyes and looked at Mariku angrily. "He's the only one who can help us now!" He watched as Ryou's jaw tensed and his hands clenched into fists. He expected that Ryou would attack him at any moment, but Ryou's posture relaxed slightly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a key, which he threw at Mariku's feet.

"I hope he will kill you." he spat at him.

Mariku picked up the key and left without another word. He was still angry. He stood in front of Malik and held up the key. With raised eyebrows Malik looked first to the key, then to him. "Will you help us when I release you?"

"Yes."

"You won't kill us?"

"Not now."

It was a risk, but they had no other choice. Their death was inevitable, as long as they didn't know what was lurking out there and they could put Malik back in chains afterwards. At least Mariku hoped that they still had the chance. The key clicked in the lock and the handcuffs fell clattering against the wall.