Ah ha, I put in some obvious YuGiOh. I think it's getting there. I have a rough plan for where I want the story to go, and if all goes well I'll have SG1 and Yugi officially meeting in only a few chapters, and then they'll meet my original character. This story is coming along slightly differently then I originally planned but I think I like it, I hope you do as well.
I know I thanked Katya last chapter but I'm going to again, especially since the part with Yugi and Kaiba is so obviously based on her fic. Well, thank you for letting me use it.
And now the disclaimer, I own no one mentioned in this fic, nor do I own the shows. Ah well.
Well, enjoy the story. ~_~
General Hammond sat in his office staring at the small pile of reports he had left to go. It was not very encouraging. In the year and a half since the sky had turned black and blue and creatures of all shapes and sizes had appeared, no one in the SGC had managed to find any clues. Teal'c had long since joined O'Neil and Jonas in searching for clues on the other planets. Carter spent her time on the Tokra base, searching through their seemingly infinite database. And then there was Daniel. He only left his room when he ran out of coffee grinds, or there was a meeting that he had to attend.
"If this keeps up much longer I think we are all going to lose our minds." Hammond sighed, then picked up the next report, this one from SG7, about the time they had spent on patrol. He began to read through, hoping that the meeting with SG1 tomorrow would perhaps clear up at least one of the thousands of questions that everyone had.
Carter, Teal'c, Jonas, and O'Neil sat at the conference table waiting for the general and Daniel to arrive. It was time for their monthly update, something O'Neil had come to despise, especially since they never learned anything and always left far more depressed than when they arrived.
No one was talking, they didn't want to say anything that might lead to their reports and then make everyone miserable before the meeting even began. After a few minutes the door opened and General Hammond strolled to the front of the room.
"Everyone here?" Hammond questioned as he looked up, only to notice Daniel's empty seat. "I suppose one of you knows where Doctor Jackson is."
"Actually, I don't think any of us have seen Daniel for quite some time, at least I haven't. What about any of you?" Jonas said.
"Ah, nope, not me. But I think I have a good idea of where he is. I can go get him if you want."
"Yes, that would be a good idea Colonel. We will wait, so don't take too long." Nodding, O'Neil pushes his chair back and then walks out of the room.
O'Neil stops in front of the door to one of the many rooms containing artifacts, both from off world and on. He smiled slightly when he heard someone move inside, it would appear that he had guessed right.
"Hey, Danny, what's the hold up?" Startled Daniel jumped slightly at the sound of O'Neil's voice.
"Uh, well, what hold up?"
"The monthly meeting was supposed to start about ten minutes ago. You haven't forgotten have you?"
"Oh, right, great, we uh, better get going. I think I might have finally found something." Grabbing a few selected items Daniel took one last sip from his never absent coffee cup and practically ran out of the room. Shaking his head in amusement, O'Neil shut off the light and closed the door softly behind him before following the rapidly retreating back of Doctor Daniel Jackson.
"Sorry I'm late. But I think I might finally have something." Daniel apologized the minute he came in the room, followed closely by a still smiling Colonel, who quietly took his seat while Daniel attempted to take his without losing the items he had taken with him.
"Wonderful, well then, I think we will start with you Doctor Jackson, unless someone else has something to report." Everyone nodded a negative and so Daniel took center stage.
"Well, it's not much, I had hoped to have more sorted out, but well. Okay, I was going through the information we have on ancient Egypt, since most of our problems seem to arise from there. I actually have been overlooking this information, because we don't have much on this time and it never seemed to hold anything of………"
"Danny, what's the point?" O'Neil interrupted.
"Yes, what is it that you have found Doctor Jackson?" Teal'c added to O'Neil's comment.
"Of course. Well, I've been looking at it all wrong, trying to find out if there was some incident similar to what is happening now…" Daniel glanced at O'Neil, who had just cleared his throat, and quickly decided to get to the point. "Anyway, as I was saying, I have found reference to a place, that appears to be similar to what has happened to Earth. In this transcript here, there is a phrase concerning a 'shadow realm, where the monsters are made real'."
"The 'shadow realm'?" O'Neil repeated.
"Yes, according to this, roughly 5,000 years ago, those in power used this realm in some sort of test. I can't seem to fully translate what this says, but it points to either they used this realm or entered it to prove their power or their right to rule."
"Do you mean that this 'shadow realm' has always been here, like when we started to see those creatures that are here but on a different dimension?" Jonas asked skeptically.
"No, not really. I actually think that it is completely separate, maybe existing next to our world, or something."
"What do you think it means Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c inquires.
"Well, I don't really know. That's all I have managed to translate so far. Whoever wrote this, did not use the Egyptian of the age, it's obviously of the same language, just altered slightly making it very hard to read."
"Okay, at least we finally seem to have a lead. Keep up the good work Jackson. Why don't the rest of you keep working on what you are, try looking for any evidence of this 'shadow realm' anywhere besides here. You are all dismissed." Everyone stood and departed, only this time they left with a small sliver of hope that they would figure out what was going on.
~~~~~Meanwhile, in Japan~~~~~
Kaiba entered his throne room soundlessly. He couldn't believe how bored he was. The only possible entertainment was when one of his agents appeared to be closing in on that rebel Wheeler. It was impossible to believe that the puppy had managed to escape from his clutches for so long, but soon he would rectify that. In the meantime….
Glancing over to the corner he smirked, at least he still had his favorite toy. For a moment his cold blue eyes sparkled with what could be considered amusement. Then, almost gliding, he made his way towards the table in the corner.
Yugi Motoh sighed as his hands moved almost mechanically. Pick up a piece, test it, put it back, and then choose another. Why was he doing this he thought to himself, why was he willing to put Yami through what he was going through. It just wasn't right. He shuddered as he closed his eyes, trying in vain to prevent the tears that never seemed to leave.
Somehow Yugi managed to keep his hands moving, despite how weak his treatment had made him, and the rather heavy chains attaching his wrists to the edges of the table. The puzzle he was working on was almost completed, only a few pieces were left, but he just couldn't seem to make the pieces on the table fit into the holes in the puzzle.
/It's because you don't really want to solve it./ The voice in his head reminded him. He could only sigh in agreement.
"Aren't you done yet?" Kaiba's cold voice suddenly said from behind him, causing him to jump up only to be pulled back down immediately by his restraints.
"I I'm sorry Kaiba sama. I it is di difficult." Yugi stammered in response. In response to this Kaiba grabbed Yugi by his hair, pulling his head back and practically hissed.
"It is difficult what?"
"I it is difficult ma master." The tears he had somehow prevented from spilling from his amethyst eyes returned and this time he could not stop them from falling. Snorting in disgust Kaiba released his grip on Yugi only to slap him instead.
"I would think that you would know you're place by now, I should not have to keep reminding you."
"Y yes m master." Yugi whispered casting his eyes downward.
"Besides, this shouldn't be difficult for you to complete something you have already completed once before. How long did it take you the first time anyway?" Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat Yugi answered in a voice so low Kaiba almost didn't hear what he said.
"I it took ei eight y years, ma master." Yugi winced at the sudden grip on the front of his shirt that pulled him up from the chair, not very far for he was very quickly at the end of his bonds. Yugi stared in terror at the emotionless gaze of Kaiba, who simply pulled harder, causing pain in Yugi's arms and legs, which were chained to the bottom of the chair, where they were trying to extend in ways that they were not meant to.
"That. Is. Not. Acceptable. You will finish by the end of next week or I will see to it personally that you spend some quality time with Marik and Bakura. Do I make myself clear?" Unable to do anything besides nod, since he suddenly didn't trust his voice to speak, Yugi showed his compliance. Kaiba slowly lowered Yugi back into his chair and then turned sharply on his heals, causing his cloak to bellow out, before stalking off. Yugi watched in terrified silence before turning back to the puzzle and reached for one of the pieces left.
/Forgive me Yami, oh please forgive me./