Wow, this chapter turned out to be longer then I thought. I don't know if that means that it is good or bad, but I hope it is at least still enjoyable. Oh, and if I did a horrible job on Joey's accent, please forgive me. If enough people really don't like the way I did it then I'll just take it out and make him talk like everyone else, but that is only if a bunch of people complain.
There is only a little more, plot wise anyways, to get through until SG1 and Yugi meet. I'm hoping to get to it in about two to three chapters, but it all depends.
Disclaimer, I'm sure you all know this, but I don't own the people mentioned here. As I said in the first chapter the only character I own is Siris/Kathryn, and the way things are going she won't show up for three or four chapters.
Ah well, Please Enjoy __
"Good evening Colonel." Carter calls out as she pauses in front of his open office door. O'Neil barely glances up as he mumbles a response and waves his had towards the available seat. With a small laugh Carter walks in and sits down.
"Don't tell me you haven't been getting any sleep either. At this rate there won't be anyone fit to run the SGC, everyone will keel over from exhaustion."
"It's been two months Carter, and General Hammond still hasn't made a response to that Kaiba kid. Daniel and Jonas haven't figured anymore out, and there is no point in Teal'c and I continuing our useless trips. God, what are we doing?" Reaching for one of the items on O'Neil's desk, Carter hesitated before answering.
"We are fulfilling a promise sir. A promise to protect Earth and the people here no matter what, no matter how hopeless, and no matter the cause. That is what we are doing sir." Standing in order to leave she replaced the item she had picked up, only she placed it in front of O'Neil's face. That done, she turned and left, leaving O'Neil staring at a picture of his son.
Teal'c was walking towards his room when he passed the room where Jonas and Daniel were still trying to figure out the little information they had. Looking into the room he saw that Daniel had fallen asleep at the desk, Jonas was practically asleep standing up. Raising an eyebrow, Teal'c entered the room.
"Is there anything interesting about the lamp Jonas?"
"Huh, oh hey Teal'c. Oh, no, I was just moving it so I could see better."
"You should rest, even Daniel Jackson is." Teal'c motioned with his head at the slumbering archeologist.
"I know, I know, I'm almost asleep as it is, it just, I can't stop yet. I mean, look at this line here. It's in Egyptian and yet I can't read it. It's been altered somehow, and I can't see the new pattern, which there has to be one. I keep thinking that if I stare at it for just a few more minutes, then the answer will just pop into my head. It's foolish to think that isn't it?"
"Not at all, that very concept has worked for many people on many planets. But I think you would benefit from another."
"Which one would that be?"
"Things always look different in the morning."
"I don't think that will work, it hasn't for the last two months."
"Indeed, but tomorrow will be different, you shall see Jonas Quinn. Now, would you mind assisting me in getting Daniel Jackson to a proper bed, and then doing the same yourself." Agreeing with a sleepy grin Jonas and Teal'c managed to move Daniel without waking him. After that, Jonas went off to get some much-needed sleep.
~~~~~**~~~~~
A month went by, and very little happened. Daniel and Jonas, now joined by Teal'c deciphered a bit more about the 'shadow realm'; Carter and O'Neil had helped complete the response to Kaiba, which pretty much said forget it pal; and the teams continued their missions without any major mishaps. Yes, life had become a rather tense, if dull, routine.
Hammond had waited until the last minute to respond, knowing that then it would take Kaiba longer to respond. He needed more information and it appeared that Daniel and Jonas were at a standstill. Of course, it would be nice if they could actually go out and search for more information on their own planet, but they were stranded within the mountain.
One thing that Hammond found ironic was that Kaiba had been right about one thing. They wouldn't have been able to hide in the mountain forever; if that is, they weren't being helped by people like the Asgard and the Tokra. Because of them they kept food coming to the members on the base and kept people busy enough that they could get their minds off of what was happening without too much trouble.
"Sir, Doctor Jackson would like you to come to the conference room, they say that they've found something." Hammond looked up at the corporal and assured the youth that he was heading there right away. Standing up he didn't even bother to shut off the lights as he headed towards the impromptu meeting.
When he arrived he found that all of the members of SG1 were there, and that they all looked quite excited. Taking a seat he motioned for Daniel to begin.
"Thanks for coming sir." Daniel began.
"It's not a problem Doctor Jackson, I hear you may have found something."
"Actually, it was more Teal'c than me, but listen to this. Jonas and I have spent the last two months trying to figure out how the hieroglyphics were altered in order to make some sort of code. The thing is, it isn't that they were altered, which Teal'c pointed out. Each individual hieroglyphic was written sideways."
"Sideways?"
"Yes sir. You see, we were looking for subtle changes, reversal of words, even upside down. But sideways is not easy to see, especially with the particular glyphs they have used here."
"Okay, so I assume that you are now able to read it."
"Yes, only this one manuscript, the others are done differently."
"So, what does it say?"
"It says that the shadow realm once existed alongside our own world. That within its borders monsters lived and roamed freely, until they were called."
"Called?" O'Neil suddenly spoke up. He was very confused at the moment; he'd have to have Daniel explain things in more detail later.
"Well sir, you might say summoned. In other words, the people back then would wage battles, or duels, using the monsters. Only it began to be too much." Jonas clarified.
"And?" O'Neil said with a slight rising of eyebrows.
"And so the Pharaoh sealed the monsters within stone tablets, and the duels continued. At this point it gets slightly confusing. Up until this point it has been written as if in the third person, the pharaoh did this or that, but now it turns into 'I did this or that'" Jonas trailed off when he realized that the others in the room were looking at him quite confused.
"What Jonas is trying to say is that we have come to believe that this was written by the prince, and at some point he became the Pharaoh, which is why he started writing in the first person. But anyway, he writes of creating items with which to seal the power of the shadow realm in."
"Wait, wasn't the power already sealed away in those stone tablets?" Carter questioned.
"Well, no, not really. The monsters were sealed, but the shadow realm was still there. These items he writes about, there were to be seven in all. The puzzle, ring, rod, necklace, key, scales, and eye, however, that's all it says."
"What, how can that be all it says? Did he finish them, and if he did, where the hell are they?" O'Neil blurted out.
"We have to
assume that the items were made and hidden.
Otherwise the shadow realm would never have faded from the people's
knowledge. So, basically, Jonas,
Teal'c, and I have come to the conclusion that somehow Kaiba found one or more
of the items and has managed to release the shadow realm."
"Do you believe he did it on
purpose?" Hammond asked.
"There is only one way to answer that question sir." Jonas said.
"Yeah, and how do we answer it?" O'Neil said.
"We must ask Kaiba." Teal'c answered for Jonas.
"Ah, yes. I see. So, when do we leave?" O'Neil looked expectantly around the room and was relieved when the others smiled and shook their heads; they still had a ways to go before they could try and look up Kaiba.
~~~~~And back to Japan and Kaiba's castle~~~~~
Joey Wheeler walked along behind Mai Valentine. He was finally going to see that good for nothing Kaiba and give him a piece of his mind. The castle was huge, and Joey knew he should be keeping an eye on where they were going, but he couldn't help but watch the blonde in front of him.
"Hey Mai, why are ya worken for Kaiba? It's not like ya." Without slowing down or turning around, Mai gave her answer.
"Because Joey, There really isn't anything else that I can do. Now enough with the questions, we are almost to the throne room." Reluctantly Joey did as she bid and couldn't help but looked amazed when they came to the doors to the throne room.
The doors where at least twenty feet tall, and carved with pictures of various duel monsters. They were a deep blood red in color and where more than a little imposing, but Joey refused to show anything but contempt to Kaiba. Mai strode to the door and knocked twice, then stood back as the doors seemed to open on their own.
The two walked forward through a very large entranceway. Columns lined the edges and at the far end in the middle of the wall, on a raised platform sat Kaiba's throne, as well as Kaiba. Joey almost stopped halfway to the throne when he saw who else was there. His eyes narrowed in agitation and anger as he walked closer. The closer he got the more he felt himself going into a rage, but he held himself back, he would not let Kaiba win this game.
The reason for his anger were the two tri-colored boys sitting on either side of the throne. Yami sat on Kaiba's right side, and Yugi on the left. Yugi was clearly in bad condition, he was curled up and leaning against the throne for support, he had more than his share of bruises, and was clearly in pain. Joey could see this even though Yugi had clenched his eyes shut, unable to bring himself to see the look his friend would be giving him. Due to his position the chains attached to his wrists and ankles seemed to snake around him, as if ensuring he would not escape. Yami, on the other hand.
Yami sat on the top step, arms crossed and resting on his knees, he had his chin laying on his arms, almost giving the impression of being bored. There were no chains attached to his wrists, but there were some attached to his ankles. To anyone else it would have appeared like Kaiba had finally broken Yami, but Joey saw that he hadn't. Joey saw the look in Yami's eyes that told the truth, he was currently held at bay, but when the opportunity arose, Kaiba would be in trouble. Holding back the grin he wanted to direct at Yami, Joey turned his attention to the figure on the throne.
"What have ya done Kaiba?" Joey snarled, giving Kaiba his very best glare.
"I am only doing what is my right as ruler of the world. But don't worry about you're friends, you'll be joining them soon enough, there is always room for one more mutt."
"If ya could control me ya would be, but we both know dat you can't. I came here in ordah to pass on a message."
"Then give it and be gone, puppy."
"We are gonna take this world back. Be prepared to surrendah." Kaiba laughed out loud and stalked forward. He stopped only a few feet from Joey and stared at him. It annoyed Kaiba to no end that he couldn't control Joey, even with his blue eyes, of course Joey couldn't even begin to think of challenging Kaiba but semantics only go so far. With a slightly maniacal gaze Kaiba decided to prove his superiority once and for all.
"I don't think so, why just look, I have the all powerful pharaoh, the spirit of the millennium puzzle at my beck and call, isn't that right Yami." Yami didn't move, didn't even twitch.
"Make this easy on yourself Yami, just come over here so I won't have to embarrass you in front of this pathetic puppy." Still Yami didn't move, though Joey thought he noticed Yami tense his arms as if preparing to get pulled up.
With a mock growl Kaiba motioned for Yami to stand up and Joey stared in surprise when suddenly one of Yami's hands shot up, causing him to float above the ground, dragging his chain, and trying to pull his hand back down with the other. In this way Yami floated as far as his chains would allow before he suddenly crashed. Kaiba was about to do something else when Yugi moved and spoke through tearstained eyes.
"Please, please don't hurt him. Please." It was barely a whisper, but Kaiba heard it, and heard what Yugi failed to say. Ignoring both Yami and Joey he stamped towards Yugi and roughly pulled him up so he could stare into his eyes. Yugi simply hung limply, half swollen eyes pleading for mercy for both him and Yami.
"No, Yugi. Kaiba you let him be!!" Yami yelled as he rushed to defend Yugi, only to come to an abrupt halt a foot away. Joey could see Yami trying to move forward, but it was like his arms were pinned in place and could only watch in horror as Kaiba threw Yugi down before kicking him back to where he had begun.
"Kaiba! Stop! LET HIM BE!!" Yami yelled. Kaiba glanced at him and then back at the barely conscious Yugi before stepping up to Yami and slapping him across the face.
"Never command me Yami, or I guarantee that I will show Yugi a whole new meaning to pain. Now go sit back down or I'll resume what I was doing." Despite his urge to rush over to Yugi and comfort him, Yami leaned back and waited for Kaiba to release control on the bands before he backed up, never once looking away from Kaiba and sitting back down in the same position he had been in when Joey had arrived.
Joey had watched in silence, prevented from moving to help by Mai, who had simply whispered, 'what good will you be to them if you get caught?' Kaiba turned back to Joey and smirked before continuing as if nothing had happened.
"See, I am in control, don't you forget it. Whatever power you have that keeps you safe will not last much longer. Soon you will join these two. Now leave before I decide to test exactly how much power you have.
"Ya haven't won yet Kaiba, not yet." Joey declared, and with one last look at Yugi and Yami, he turned on his heel and marched out, Mai following in order to show him the way once he left the throne room.
Kaiba watched him leave and smiled, /this is going to be fun/ he thought before sitting back down.
Mai showed Joey to the exit, but he wouldn't just leave, he had one thing left to ask. She hadn't answered it last time.
"Why do ya follow him Mai? Don't ya see what he's doin?"
"There really isn't any choice for me Joey, there is nothing else I can do." Nodding his disagreement he turned and ran towards the forest, where Mai watched as the Flame Swordsman met up with him and together they disappeared into the forest.