“Excuse me?” She waved her hand in front of the suited man in front of her, “You know, not that I don’t appreciate the free limo ride but I kind of had plans for today.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Green, but Master Pegasus was most insistent that we find you.” The guy did look apologetic at least.
Green went quiet. She was a reporter in the Duelling world, so she had run into the C.E.O. of Industrial Illusions before. He had never had her brought in for a meeting before and she couldn’t think why he would do so now. She had been a little rude about Kaiba Corp’s recent total system failure but she hadn’t belittled Industrial Illusions once the entire time.
“Did he say why?” Green finally asked, looking a little worried.
“He said you would understand if I were to mention ‘four years ago next Sunday.’ He also told me to offer you anything you wanted from the drinks bar.” The goon informed her.
Green paled at the mention of four years ago. She remembered what happened four years ago all too well and she had hoped that no one else had known about it. It had been a little event she had gotten involved with purely by accident and had been the most involved with magic she had ever gotten. It had also changed her world and left her trying to re-centre herself and understand how her world had changed for weeks.
“If we’re going to be talking about four years ago, I’ll take a glass of whatever is the strongest thing he’s got in that bar.” She grimaced, “I’m going to need it.”
The goon chuckled and poured her a glass of champagne. “This is the strongest thing in the bar, enjoy.”
“This glass is probably worth my entire week’s wages.” Green said as she swirled it around gently before taking a sip, “And I probably should have eaten before drinking this.” With that she downed the glass.
“Another?” The goon asked, “We’ll be pulling into Industrial Illusions London in another minute or so.”
“No, one is quite enough.” Green could feel the haze settling in already, helping her relax about what was to come, “Especially with your boss waiting for me.”
The goon nodded and when the car pulled up he followed her, still holding the open bottle and the used glass, both of which he put on the table next to her. “Master Pegasus will be here shortly.” He promised, “If you need anything, I will be right outside.”
“Thank you.” Green nodded to him. There was no need to be rude to the staff when they were only trying to do their job after all.
The goon nodded back and left the room. Green was there for less than ten minutes before the door opened again and Maximillian Pegasus walked through the door.
“Ah, Dani-girl!” He grinned at her cheerily, “Sorry about the pickup, but you see there’s something rather urgent come up and I’m afraid it just couldn’t wait.”
“Mister Pegasus.” Dani shot to her feet and offered her hand, “It’s an honour sir, but...”
“If I thought there was anyone better for the job, I would have sent my men to pick them up instead.” Pegasus informed her, “However, there wasn’t and you’re perfect for what I have in mind.”
“I’m not magical.” Dani shook her head, “Surely there’s someone with magic who’d be better suited to sort out this mess. I can’t...”
“You can and you must Dani-girl.” Pegasus interrupted, “You see, I have a rather large problem and to be quite frank you’re the only person who can get in there and solve it before it turns from a big problem, to a mass murder.”
Dani went very still at that. “Mass? But it only takes one...”
“Not this time, not as far as they’re concerned.” Pegasus shook his head. “And it’s that time again. I know you aren’t normal, Dani-girl. None who are touched by the Shadows as you were four years ago are ever ‘normal’ again. But that isn’t entirely why I asked you here today.”
“Oh?” Dani asked, wondering how much he knew of her ‘changes’ in the last four years and how it had made her job easier.
“I find myself in need of your skills as a reporter and as a Duellist.” Pegasus explained.
“What skills as a Duellist?” Dani pointed out, reminding the head of Industrial Illusions that she was just as famed for her lack of Duelling ability as she was for her reporting skills.
“Not your skills with the game, Dani-girl, but your skills with the monsters.” Pegasus chuckled, “Your deck loves you and you love them. More importantly you talk with them, not to them or at them. When you step into the VirtualNet, they will aid you because of that. That’s what I need. Someone I know I can trust with my secrets, who I know will not rest until she has uncovered the truth and protected as many people as she can and who I know will be protected in turn.”
“What is it, exactly, you want me to do?” Dani asked, confused and curious, “And what VirtualNet?”
“You haven’t heard, Dani-girl?” Pegasus looked far too amused by that, “I thought you were on top of everything.”
“Apparently this slipped through the gap.” Dani grouched, trying not to get mad and wondering if she should have skipped the glass of Champaign if Pegasus was going to talk circles around her.
No comments:
Post a Comment