Yugi hitched up his vest, feeling the weight of all his supplies, running through his head to make sure he hadn't missed anything. He still felt a bit ridiculous dressed in military fatigues, dog tags banging against his Millenium Puzzle, an item he wasn't supposed to be wearing.
/It will be fine, Aibou./
*They gave me a gun, Yami.*
/And they taught you how to use it./
General Hammond had explained that the SGC wanted Yugi in the field. Dr. Jackson had proved time and time again to be an invaluable asset and one in much demand, constantly being shifted from team to team. By placing Yugi in the field they could hopefully scale back Dr. Jackson's duties and increase the amount of information brought in by old ruins. But only on the condition that Yugi could carry his own weight, otherwise he would be given a desk job.
So it had been off to Basic Military Training. The course had taken seven weeks and had been tailored for an emphasis on self-defense. He had also been expected to study the files on the SGC, brushing up on mission reports so he knew exactly what he had gotten himself into. Every moment he spent on base was with a folder in his hand and every moment off involved a gun, or at least that's how it felt.
It had been a bit of a private hell for Yugi, like repeating high school all over again. Everyone here was bigger than he was, was stronger, and a few of the stupider ones like to remind him of that fact, especially when they found out that he was older than many of them. He wasn't sure what amused his peers more, the fact that he looked fourteen or the fact that he was almost a decade past that. But no matter what the source there had been a few that had decided it would be fun to act upon it. Nothing too major, a shove here, a push there, all the little things that cowards resort in the face of diversity.
If Yugi hadn't had Yami he probably wouldn't have made it through. Even as it was the spirit himself did occasionally add to his frustration. He found himself continually explaining that the Air Force would notice if their recruits started falling into comas, and though it might improve the military's standards they were unlikely to see it as a favor.
Though Yugi got his revenge. On the day of graduation Colonel Jack O'Neill, decorated military officer and hero to more than a few of the cadets, had come to offer both his congratulations and a ride back to base. That had dropped more than a few jaws. Yugi had smiled all the way back to base.
But the smile had buried itself into worry. He hitched his vest again.
"Nervous?" Yugi nodded and Colonel Mike Hutchenson flashed him a reassuring grin. Hutchenson was the leader of SG-13, the team that Yugi had been assigned to. "Don't worry squirt. The MALP said that PX3-9G7 showed no signs of indigenous life. They gave you a breezy first assignment."
Yugi bit the inside of his lip. He didn't like Hutchenson. The man was loud, arrogant, and continually spoke down to Yugi, his voice often thick with contempt. Yugi was certain the man didn't even know his name, referring to him only as squirt. Thankfully the other members of his team, Captain Frank Samson and Captain Elise York, at least treated him with the cool courtesy of professionalism. Yugi couldn't really blame them. On their last mission they had been ambushed, the fourth member of their team killed in the exchange. It would have to be hard to see someone selected to fill the shows of a man who would have been their friend. He was optimistic that, given enough time, things would get better between them all.
"All right, squirt. Remember that PX3-9G7 mainly forest, so when we get to the trees you are to stick close to me. Our mission is to-"
*Scout out, searching for ruins, civilizations or valuable resources. We are to remain as a group in order to improve efficiency, so no wandering off and getting lost. It would be awful if I tripped on you.* Yugi ran through the speech in his mind, having already heard it a dozen times. He winced as Hutchenson roared with laughter at his own thin joke.
/Yugi, are you certain that this is all right?/
*It's fine Yami. We survived basic training, we can survive this man. He just needs time to get to know me and I am certain it will be fine. Besides, I have you here. I am sure we will be okay. I am just nervous.*
/Right./ The spirit's response was dry, but Yugi could feel his worry and his agitation like an itch across his skin.
Then the Stargate began to spin. "Chevron one, encoded." The voice blared over the PA, causing Yugi to start a little. He felt his pack again, feeling the smooth outline of his gun and his knives, one on his belt and one in his boot, before triple checking for his radio. It gave him something to do besides think about the fact that he was about to be millions of light-years away from his home planet.
"Chevron seven, locked."
A giant spurt of what looked to be water shot forward, lighting up the room in a cool blue before settling itself across the circle, a vertical pool of rippling water, reflecting unseen light.
"It's something ain't it?" Captain Samson spoke up form his side. The man shot him a toothy smile, his pearly whites emphasized by his midnight skin.
"Hai," Yugi nodded. "It is amazing!"
Samson laughed, a deep, rumbling sound, like friendly thunder. "Wait til you get to the other side." Then the captain stepped through with a whoosh, the ripples his path left smoothed out in mere seconds.
Yugi took a deep breath.
*Ready?*
/Ready./
Together they stepped through.
Yugi blinked as green light and bird calls surrounded him. He stumbled forward a few steps.
/Yugi? Are you well?/
*Whoa! That was amazing Yami! Amazing! Did you feel it? Did you?*
/I felt it./
*I will never be able to ride a roller coaster again!* His body buzzed with the excitement of instantaneous space travel, his nerves on fire from over stimulation. It was fading, quickly, but for a few seconds Yugi felt as though either bungee jumped from the Burj Dubai or drank a hundred cups of coffee. It was difficult to tell which. *You can be in control when we ride back.*
Yami appeared by his side as they stepped off the platform and into the moss of the forest floor. /I'm not sure this is wise. I like roller coasters./ He maintained a silent connection, a reminder so that Yugi wouldn't speak to him aloud. It was nice to be free from the puzzle and difficult to do on base. Luckily only Samantha Carter and the alien Teal'c had been able to detect his presence, though only the ghost of it, but it was easier to remain hidden then risk exposure. Not that they had that problem here.
"Well squirt," Yugi stumbled as he was patted hard on the back. "What did you think of that? I bet Japan doesn't have anything that exciting to ride on!"
"Not that I am aware of Sir." He answered to avoid further conversation, rolling his shoulder to work out the stiffness forming from the man's blow.
Hutchenson laughed again before settling into his role as leader. He looked around the forest, seeing nothing but trees. "All right people," he barked, "this is a simple recon. Explore and report back, in and out. There should be no problems. Understood?"
"Yes sir!" Everyone chimed in. Yami rolled his eyes at the inane displays of the living.
"All right! Then let's move out!"
***
/Do you wish to trade?/
*I am fine.*
/You're exhausted./
*I said I was fine.* His heavy breathing as he labored to keep pace with his team undermined his own point. SG-13 was moving rapidly, silently scanning the area without pause and the pace determined by Colonel Hutchenson. The balding officer was almost jogging as he moved, forcing Yugi, who was easily a foot shorter than the man, to run in order to keep up. It was a small relief when he noticed that Captain York also looked strained by the pace. Still, Yugi wanted to prove that he could do this.
"Halt!" Hutchenson stopped suddenly, holding up a hand. He looked back to SG-13, noting their exhaustion. "Okay folks, we're gonna have a five minute breather. Hey squirt, you still with us?"
"Right here sir!" Yugi waved as he sat, sucking air deep into his burning lungs. He could hear Yami clucking at him like a mother hen, unimpressed by Yugi's sudden attempt at machoism.
Hutchenson looked genuinely surprised, as though he had expected Yugi to not actually be there. Yugi felt a ring of annoyance flash through him. Or Yami. It was hard to tell. "Good thing squirt," Hutchenson flashed another easy smile. "When you finally caught your breath I want you to report to me."
"Sir?"
"I wanna show you around, give you a feel for recon."
"Sir," York spoke up, her voice husky, "you told us we weren't supposed to split up."
"Oh, we aren't," Hutchenson's smile widened, "The squirt and I won't be far. I just wanna give him a few pointers on tracking. Might save his life someday. Just want what's best for my team." York rolled her eyes. Yugi had a feeling that this was not out of character for the team leader. "So, ready yet squirt?"
"Hai!" Yugi struggled to his feet, still tired from his long run here. But he wanted to show that he deserved this, just as much as anyone else. Yami rolled his eyes but let Yugi be, instead contenting himself to float behind the boy, watching his back as the and the Colonel drifted deeper into the forest.
They made the trip in silence, Hutchenson saying absolutely nothing to Yugi. The only time he made noise was when he pulled out a hand device, muttering to himself about the downsides of technology. It was a small blessing, as was the fact they were actually walking instead of running along at a breakneck speed. Actually the trip was turning out to be quite pleasant, allowing Yugi to catch a glimpse of the plant life of the planet. He spent more time than was wise noting the differences and similarities between the species present here and back on Earth.
"Here!" Hutechenson finally announced. Slowing down as he planted himself in the middle of a clearing, sunlight falling heavily through the gap in canopy.
"Sir?" Yugi had no idea how this was supposed to help him with recon. He wasn't trained in tracking and he had no clue what it was that he was looking for. Then he heard a rustle in the brush. *Yami, did you here that?*
/Yes Aibou./
"Sir, I think there is something out there." Yugi peered deeper into the trees.
/Fuck!/ Yami screamed in his head. Instinctively Yugi moved to clap his ears, to drown out the spirit's voice, but instead he found himself beside his body, staring at the barrel of a pistol that had been leveled at the back of his skull as Yami took over.
Hutchenson held the weapon with the calm ease of a professional who had everything under control. "Raise your hands squirt." Slowly Yami brought them up, holding them level with his ears. He stood perfectly still as Hutchenson crept closer, circling one arm around him, feeling up his front. The man delicately pulled Yugi's own hand gun out of its holster, stuffing it into the back of his pants before moving to relieve his of his belt knife and his radio.
"What are you doing?" The Pharaoh felt the cold metal poke into the back of his skull.
"Stay quiet squirt. Wouldn't want you startling me. Something… unfortunate could happen."
/Fucking son of a bitch! May his intestines fill up with camel dung as scarabs devour his eyes! May-/
*Yami!* Yugi interrupted his string of curses. *Yami, do you have any idea what is going on?* His thoughts buzzed with worry.
/We are being attacked,/ Yami snarled, his mind rolling with dark fury.
*Yes, I had figured that much out.* Yugi's amused exasperation floated through the bond before congealing back into worry. *Do you know why?*
/Because this man has a death wish./ Yugi sighed. It was impossible to talk to Yami when the spirit was like this, and there was nothing that Yugi could do to help. He sunk back into the puzzle, waiting to see where this could lead.
They didn't have to wait long.
The rustling in the bush gave way a large figure emerging from the trees. He was tall, definitely over six feet, and was solidly built with wide muscular shoulders that rippled even under his uniform. His clothes and weapons marked him as an Earthling but Yami had never seen the blond man before.
Hutchenson had. "Waldo, what took you so long?
"I vas here the entire time," his words slogged out through his thick accent. "Is this the boy?"
"Yeah, it's him, all safe and sound, just like you ask- hey! Stop! Freeze!"
The Colonel watched in horror as his diminutive bounty vanished into the tree line. He swore, holstering his gun, moving to go in after.
A cold blade at his throat stopped him.
"Your services are no longer required."
***
Trees raced by. Yami had no idea which direction he was going but had decided that that was a minor detail. He stumbled and cursed his way through the woods, choosing speed over caution. Part of his mind raved at the damned forest and how it slowed him down, while the other was at grateful for the cover. Mostly it raved. He never had this problem in Egypt.
/I'm going to kill him./
*Later Yami. We need a plan.*
/I have one. I'm. Going. To kill him. It's a simple plan./ From within the puzzle Yami heard Yugi's exasperated sigh, sprinkled with amusement.
The Pharaoh smiled grimly, stumbling in a pothole. They had been through worse. This was just like Pegasus's Duelist Kingdom. Except people were trying to kill him. With guns. On another planet.
Okay, so it wasn't like Duelist Kingdom at all. Still, they could handle it.
Branches cracked. Yami threw himself against a tree, keeping his back to the trunk. He cursed and fumed silently. He heard another branch crack. He pressed his body harder against the wood and slowly slid over, eyes looking for the source of the noise. He slid out further.
"Kuh!" A hand buried itself in his short spikes, dragging him into the open. Yami hissed as some hairs gave free with a harsh ripping sound. He swung his fist into the gut of his attacker, hissing again as a shock ran up his arm.
Waldo snorted in amusement as the puny Asian struggled ineffectually, his punch bouncing off of solid muscle. Then the snort became a grunt as the boy struck again, slamming a fist just under Waldo's sternum. He didn't have time for this.
Yami was winding up for another punch when the hand jerked him sidewise. He stumbled, trying to stay on his feet as he was propelled forward.
Straight into a tree.
***
Lieutenant Colonel Maksim Chesnokov sat polishing his AK47 and chewing on a cigar. The thing wasn't lit, smoke could give away his position to any potential enemies, but it gave his mouth something to do. It helped calm his nerves.
The assignment had sounded too good to be true. He was to take a few of his best men and go camping on this peaceful forest planet for a week or so, wait for the Americans to show up, meet up with their contact and snatch one of American's civilians for hire. Sounded simple enough. So he had accepted.
He should have read the fine print.
By camping his commander had meant roughing it as only soldiers could. There were to leave no discernible campsite. That meant no fire, no generators, no electricity and the constant need to move around. That meant that he and his best men where tired, cold, occasionally damp and totally caffeine free. Not to mention they had started to smell.
Then, just to spice things up, radio contact had been banned. The stupid probe the American's used could detect radio waves and pollution levels. If the Russian soldiers wanted to go unnoticed they would not be able to create either.
And if all that weren't enough they were going to have to find a way through the Stargate, making sure they ended up on their base and not that of the Americans.
Chesnokov shook his head, the voice of father floating in his mind, quoting his favorite proverb. "You're elbow is close yet you can't bite it." Chesnokov really needed to pay more attention to the assignments he accepted.
Footsteps in the forest pulled him out of silent litany. He dropped his rag and raised his gun, biting deep into the cigar between his teeth. Around him his men, Senior Lieutenant Prokofiev and Captain Kuzmin, also raised their weapons.
"It's me," rumbled Major Waldo Baranov. They all breathed a sigh of relief. "I have acquired the package."
He stepped into the camp. His uniform was splattered in blood, the heavy smell filling the clearing. A small figure was slung over his shoulder.
"I take it you successfully dispatched the contact?" The key to the success of this operation was discretion. The commanding officers back in Russia placed this above all else. A man who would betray his own country would just as soon betray theirs. There were other ways to acquire silence besides buying it.
Baranov nodded. "Yes, but there were complications." He dropped his burden.
Chesnokov swore viciously. The package was breathing lightly and bleeding heavily. The left side of the boy's face was covered in blood, and underneath that, bruises. There were small scrapes by his eye and along his jaw. The actual source of the blood was hidden, probably coming from a gash somewhere in his hair.
Chesnokov bent down, his heart calmed by the steady pulse beneath his fingers.
"Kuzmin!"
The Captain jumped then trampled over to the package. As he began first-aid, Chesnokov turned to Waldo.
"Major, what were your orders?"
"Retrieve the package and eliminate potential threats."
"And in what state was the package to be retrieved?"
"Alive, sir."
"Incorrect," Chesnokov hissed, angered as much by Waldo's calm as by how badly the man had fucked this up. "He was to be retrieved unharmed. That means not bleeding everywhere. That means without a concussion."
For the first time Waldo's calm cracked as the man fidgeted. "There were complications."
"Such as?"
Waldo's fidgeting grew more pronounced. "He attempted to escape. I dispatched the contact then went in pursuit."
"And?"
"And when he resisted it became necessary to use force."
"What did he do? Pull a weapon on you?"
"He hit me sir."
Prokofiev and Kuzmin both stifled their laughter, or tried to. Prokofiev choked while Kuzmin muffled his under a cough.
Chesnokov ground his teeth. "He hit you."
"Yes sir."
Chesnokov swore again. He didn't have the patients to be dealing with this. "Senior Lieutenant Prokofiev," the man snapped to attention, "Go at keep watch at the Stargate. Set up the charges but make sure they are hidden. Signal the moment the Americans have left."
Prokofiev hoisted a pack then turned, sprinting into the forest to prep the gate for the Russian's return home. Chesnokov watch Kuzmin in silence and the man cleansed and bound the wounds on the package's forehead.
"How is he?"
Kuzmin shook his head. "It's difficult to say. Head injuries are tricky. He might be fine, he might drop dead at any second. It would be easier to assess the damage if he were awake."
He turned to Waldo. "If he dies, so does your career."
"Sir?"
"If you have a god, Major, now would be a good time to ask for a favor."
***
Wow, my bad. I totally forgot to translate Aibou. It means partner. It seems to be Yami's pet name for Yugi.
Hai= yes
I also want to apologize if I got the military info (the Russian's ranks as the Russian rankings, not the American equivalent) wrong as well. I researched is as best I could but sometimes the internet lies.
Someone asked me about the pairings. Its gonna be YamixYugi and it won't be for a while. As you can see Yami is on the down low for now. Also, sorry it took me so long to update. I wanted to put this arc up in 1 fell swoop but it has almost doubled in length. So its not quite finished yet. But will be soon. Ish.
