A/N: First: Thanks for the reviews!
Sorry this is so late.>>; To make a long story short – school. I blame it on schoolwork, projects, and my lack of motivation to open up Word. –shot-
I realize that the prologue may have seemed extremely confusing (and far too long for a prologue) but stick with the story and it'll make more sense. o Additionally, since this is AU, characters from the ancient Egypt arc, and quite possibly the Doma arc, are going to be in here too. Bakura also swears mildly here – but I'm sure we can all handle it. –cough- Also, someone asked me if there would be any YamixAnzu... And that answer is no. It, I suppose quite obviously, will be SetoxYami. Whoo. XD
So, here we go!
-Operation M.A.R.S-
:Transmission Chapter One: Madman:
Tick tock.
Seto calmly sipped his tea as he watched the boy across from him. Malik had not said a word since he had entered, opting for a stiff nod as a greeting – which was not in the least bit respectful, Seto noted.
Tick tock.
Malik's hands were tightly cupped around his cup of tea, as he stared blankly down at it. Kill him? What on earth were they thinking here? Why kill him? He had never done anything wrong. Unless...
'He hasn't even gone through the Ambassadors' challenge...'
'...the government will know something's going on… They'll send more people here...'
He shivered, his eyes closing tightly, as if he could somehow block those words that were all so true...
'The only way to avoid the trouble the newcomer will stir up is to kill him. You know that."
"No... No!"
The cup fell from Malik's hands and onto the bed, its yellow color seeping into the sheets. Seto quickly placed his cup down, and yanked Malik out of the already wet bed. "I suppose something's bothering you?" he asked, eyeing Malik.
"..." Malik shook his head mutely, his gaze meeting Seto's for one moment, before dropping down to the bed again. He had to think, clear his thoughts, save himself... The only thing Malik could think of was the million curses he would bestow upon his father as soon as he saw the old geezer...
No. Focus. What about you? You have to survive...
The Dragon stared down at Malik, resting one hand on the other's head. "Excuse me, I believe I just asked you a question."
He was acting like an ass, definitely – but you couldn't blame him for that. After all, being a leader had rubbed off of Seto: including the perks of having everyone obey his every command.
Malik finally looked up at Seto. "Um..."
"Yes?"
He took a deep breath. "Well... I was wondering if you could like, you know, train me to be an 'ambassador' so that way I can go back and you won't kill me... Please?"
Seto took a moment to pull apart the string of words that was like a rapid babble. "...You heard." A flat statement, absolutely not a question.
"..." Malik nodded slowly, his head sinking lower.
Seto could not help it – he broke into a deep chuckle, his hand ruffling Malik's hair. "No need to worry. You just need to stay around here more and learn to ignore the Madman's words. Everyone knows that he's crazy, at any rate."
Madman? Of course. The flash of red he had seen as Seto entered the room must have been the hasty departure of the 'Madman'."Um... The Madman?"
"Pegasus J. Crawford is his birth name – but he's too much of a loony to be called anything else. Watch out for him – in fact, be sure to avoid him at all costs. He may act upon his threat himself."
Malik shivered. "All right. I don't think I want to know him anway."
"Don't. I have a feeling one day he will do something harmfully damaging. That man never forgets – nor does he forgive. Another reason why we keep him 'locked up'."
"Oh." Malik desperatel wanted to changed the subject. "So... You aren't going to kill me?"
A snort. "Of course not. I think all that sleep made your head woozy. Now." Seto removed his hand from Malik's head, clapping once. "Mutt!"
A teenager with blonde hair waltzed in, dressed in a white shirt and slacks. He glared at Seto, hand rising up to take off his hat and give his leader a stiff bow. "Ass," he muttered under his breath.
The Dragon ignored his words. "Ah, mutt. Here you are at last." He turned to Malik. "This is the mutt, Malik. He'll be helping you to your room, as well as getting dressed." Seto's gaze then traveled to Jonouchi. "And I daresay you hurry with that. After all... I though dogs could run fast and energetic, eh?" With one wide smirk, Seto exited the room, with one more command, this time for the both of them. "I expect you in half an hour, Malik, outside at the stables. Leave the mutt a chew toy to entertain himself."
"You ass!" Jonouchi called after the retreating figure. "You..." He suddenly stopped when he saw Malik. "Oh... Let's just get you dressed."
Malik paused. "Um... Just one question."
"What?"
"Do I really have to call you 'mutt'?"
Jonouchi's laughter echoed through the infirmary.
"What?"
The Blood Prince winced slightly at the huge roar a group of 30 vampires could raise – especially inside a tavern.
"Hell no!"
"This is outrageous!"
"A new ambassador? A child?"
"Goes to show you how loony the old one was."
"No, really? I'll bet he wasn't as loony as you." A punch was dropped, and the entire crowd broke into a fight.
Yami groaned, massaging his temples. His followers had been on pins and needles that past few days, due to his meeting with the Dragon, and the whole thing had just climaxed at this moment. Where was Bakura when you actually needed him?
Bakura pushed his way through the angry mob in the tavern, plopping down in front of the bartender. He eyed the bartender. "The usual. And easy on the sugar, remember."
"Getting drunk again, Bakura? Not very wise in my opinion." The bartender turned and plunked down a keg of blood. "But then again, I'm not the one in charge."
Glaring, the vampire general took a swig, and immediately spat it out. "What the hell is this!" He slammed the jug hard against the wooden table, the rest of the blood sloshing out and splattering everyone nearby with drops of red.
The bartender had been working at the tavern for countless of years, and had experienced enough of Bakura's 'tantrums' that he was completely unfazed. "Your order, general."
Bakura scowled, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. "It sure doesn't taste like it."
"Really? I thought a week's old blood carefully preserved wouldn't taste this bad."
The general blanched. "This is one week old! Where the hell is our fresh supply!"
"Most likely the Scavengers are still hauling it here." The bartender had gone back to polishing his cups, his eyes glazing over as they always did in boredom. "Then again, it is Weevil and Rex 1 ..."
"Aw, hell." Bakura reached inside his pocket and flipped a bronze coin to the bartender before standing. "If it's those two, then we won't see them until next year."
The bartender picked up the coin, and began polishing it. "Or later. And by that time, those to will be the only ones left."
Bakura grunted in agreement. "I'll go off and fetch them, I suppose. They are back at the ship, aren't they?"
"Naturally. Oafs probably haven't even unloaded one barrel of blood yet. Such a shame. All that supply of blood the former ambassador collected rotting. Do hurry and bring them back, won't you?"
"What? The blood or the midgets?"
The bartender fixed Bakura's with an amused stare. "Both, if you think you can handle it, general."
Bakura smirked in reply. "Oh, I'll try. Although, when I do make it, I'll expect five kegs of fresh blood – on the house, Noa 2."
"We'll see." Noa turned away from Bakura, and filled another keg for a bloodied vampire.
"There ya go!" Jonouchi stood proudly before Malik, hands on his hip and an accomplished grin on his face. "That's what I call dressy."
Malik inspected his white shirt, tugging on the cuffs. "Do I have to wear this?"
"You kiddin'? I think it's great!" Jou beamed at Malik.
"Well..." Malik opened his mouth to object, when –
"Oop!" Jou grabbed Malik by the wrist and began dragging him out the room and down the hall. "C'mon, you'll be late – and as much as I love seeing that ass Kaiba get pissed, t'day's an important day for you."
Malik couldn't help but grin as Jou's words. 'Ass' was like Seto's middle name or something by the way Jou used it almost all the time. "But why is it important?"
"You kiddin'? You're the first person t' get a tour here for years and years! Big celebration, man! And besides, I think the big ass wants t' tell you something."
"Oh."
Seto stood outside the stables, grooming his horse absentmindedly as he waited for Malik. Shadow whinnied softly, leaning in to nuzzle his rider's face gently. The Dragon smiled, turning his attention to Shadow.
The Blood Prince watched the scene from the cover of the nearby trees, his lips twitching into a smile. How adorable, he thought, peering further as he sat on a thick branch.
The horse seemed to sense the vampire's presence as he lifted his head in the direction of the trees. Immediately, Seto was on the alert. "Show yourself," he commanded, as Shadow began to make his way to the tall oak where Yami was hiding. "Now."
Yami smirked, dropping down from the tree and directly in front of Shadow. The horse never flinched. "A noble steed to have there, Dragon," he said, nodding at Seto. "Better than any of your scout parties."
"If I recall, scout parties aren't needed anymore – not since our compromise – one that you have vowed to keep. Prince." The last word was spat out.
Yami blinked, a smirk spreading across his face. "You seem testy today, Dragon. Allow me to relieve you. I never mentioned breaking our alliance; just complimenting your horse. As the leader, I am surprised that you haven't heard one of those before..."
"Yami..." Seto growled, walking towards the other.
"Excellent. First name basis at last... Seto." Yami beamed innocently at Seto. "Now, I must speak with you. Our meeting date has long since passed."
"...I must meet with someone, though," Seto protested, albeit half-heartedly.
"Meet them later. I haven't seen you in so long, Seto. I miss you." Yami smirked teasingly, tugging Seto.
"Oh..." Seto sighed, giving in. "Some day, I'll overcome that odd persuasion charm all you vampires have. Honestly." He turned to pat Shadow on the head, who was calmly grazing at a patch of grass, as if the Dragon and the Blood Prince had a rendezvous like this every day. "When Malik – the sandy boy – comes out, I want you to lead him to the ship's site, understood?"
Shadow nodded. "Good boy. I trust you to that."
Seto sighed, giving Shadow one last affectionate pat, before facing Yami. "All right."
Clip, clop. Clip, clop.
Malik sighed, wrapping his arms around Shadow's neck and burrowing his head into the horse's mane. He was still tired, and the heat was making him woozy again.
As if sensing Malik's mood, Shadow quickened his pace, running so that the wind was whistling by them.
"Thank you," Malik murmured as the wind whipped by them. He felt cooler, and he managed to focus on the site they were approaching. "Hey... It's my father's ship!"
Bakura grunted, placing the last barrel from the ship and into the cart. He had already dismissed Weevil and Rex, giving each a sharp thwack to the head for dawdling. It was as he believed: You can never rely on anyone but yourself.
"Hn." Bakura dropped the barrel onto the cart, lifting his head in time to see a black horse kicking up the dust. "What the hell? What's the Dragon doing out here?"
The horse and its rider came in closer, and Bakura spotted that the rider was not Seto, but a slightly familiar face he had seen not so long before.
As Bakura tried to match a name to the face, Shadow reached him, and stopped. Malik looked over the horse. "Eh? What are we...? Oh!" He gaped down at Bakura.
Bakura looked up at Malik, a smirk on his features. Still no name, but none-the-less, if he didn't know it, it probably did not matter. "Who are you? What are you doing here? Speak up now, and quickly."
"Um... I'm Malik Ishtar and the horse brought me here, and um..." Malik became extremely flustered. He heard laughter for the second time that day, as Bakura threw his head back, laughing.
"Malik, eh? Never heard of you before... Therefore, you aren't a vampire, are you?"
"Um... No... Are you?"
Bakura smirked, walking closer to Malik so their faces barely touched. His opened his mouth, displaying his sharp canines that had just grown and enjoying the way Malik's eyes widened in terror. "Of course. But what are you doing here with the Dragon's horse, of all horses?"
"He's here because I needed to speak with him." Malik and Bakura both turned, as Seto appeared, with Yami in tow. "So back off, Bakura."
"Watch who you speak to, Dragon. I can easily rip off your head."
"Again with the threats? Why don't you go and practice them... Maybe then you'll inspire a speck of fear in me."
"...You ass! 3"
A chuckle.
During their argument, Yami walked over to a dumbfounded Malik. "Greetings. You must be Malik. I am Yami, the Blood Prince." He smiled. "Welcome to Mars. Enjoy your stay."
Sadly, that had been the first welcome Malik had heard during his 32 hour stay on Mars.
:End transmission Chapter One:
1 Also known as Insector Haga and Dinosaur Ryuzaki in Japanese, but I like their dubbed names better. XD
2 I couldn't resist. Noa love. XD
3 And thus, it is established that Seto is an ass. Oh dear. >>;
Rather long, but I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. It's more of a character set-up, with slight foreshadowing. Hooray. XD
Reviews are appreciated.