The Sniper

Mika's hands shook as she aimed for his head.

The grail under her knees overlooked the grand atrium of Kaiba Corp's main building, where a meeting was taking place. Businessmen circled the podium where Seto Kaiba spoke coolly, slowly, with an arrogant drawl. He wore a look that said, "No one can touch me" and he thought it was true.

"The DuelNano will create a new generation of humans," he said. Her heart thudded. "A generation that won't have duel stadiums, holograms, or card slots." No one dared to breathe. "They won't have televisions, cell phones or computers. They won't have the internet." A bodyguard carrying a black box mounted the steps to the podium. "Mr. Kaiba," he murmured, and bowed stiffly. Scanners beeped, locks snapped, eyes riveted to the tiny drop of quicksilver that appeared between the young executive's finger and thumb.

It was the size of an apple seed and when he crushed his fingertips together, it gave way, like a balloon, only to pop back up again. Murmurs of puzzlement went around the crowd as they wondered whether it would grow larger or produce wires or lenses like they were used to. "Doesn't look like much to me," called a blonde woman in the back. "I know I'd probably lose that wee bit of plastic. And not regret it." She laughed like the sound of glass falling.

"Would you volunteer to test it, then, Ms. Waltz?"

"Gladly." Her green eyes met his blue ones with a smile. Her heels clicked through the parting crowd.

Mika squeezed the trigger and fell back with a bang.