Wow, this is turning out much different then I originally planned. But I like it.
PLEASE ENJOY
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\\Okay, come on over in two's, that way it will be easier to hide if something should happen.\\ Celt called across the link, since he had a much easier time of traveling unnoticed, he had been made the scout.
\Got it.\ Yugi responded, indicating for O'Neill to send the first pair over to where Celt had gone. O'Neill sent Carter and Yami over first. As soon as Yugi got the signal from Celt, Bakura and Ryou were sent next. O'Neill waited with Yugi, since they were the next pair to go. Teal'c and Dark watched their backs.
It was in this manner that the group traveled through the forest right next to the castle. Since this was a reconnaissance mission, it had been decided that not everyone would go. The participants had been decided based mostly on how they would contribute to the mission. O'Neill had soon realized that where Ryou went, Bakura went, there was no option there. And while he might have been able to convince Yugi to stay behind he had not thought it worth the effort.
Ryou was along because he knew what the presence he had mentioned felt like, so hopefully he would be able to locate, or at least indicate, where it would be. It was some hours after they had left that Ryou indicated to Celt he might have something and to have the others wait where they were for a moment.
\\Yugi, tell the Colonel that you guys should wait a moment. Ryou may have something and he wants to be sure.\\
\Will do, just let me know when we should head over.\
"Colonel, Ryou might have something. He'd like us to wait until he checks it out." Yugi whispered. O'Neill simply nodded and kept his focus on possible threats. O'Neill wasn't watching Yugi and so he didn't notice when he suddenly tensed and glanced nervously around. A worried look crossed his face, he'd felt something, not a dangerous something, but a different something.
\Dark, did you just feel that?\
\\I have not felt anything for some time. What is it that you felt?\\
\I don't know how to describe it. It was almost like someone was trying to call out to us, but I couldn't tell you why.\
\\Do you think that it is dangerous?\\
\No, it actually felt, well, trapped.\
\\Do you think maybe you are feeling what Ryou has told us about?\\
\I might be, I'll have Celt ask Ryou a question for me. Thanks.\
\\It was my pleasure.\\
\Celt, could you ask Ryou something for me?\
\\Of course. What would you like me to ask?\\
\Could you have him describe to you what the presence he talked about feels like, and then tell me?\
\\Sure, just wait one moment................................. He says it feels like someone has become aware of our presence and is trying desperately to call out to us, only being unable to.\\
\That sounds about right. Tell him I'm coming over, we need to talk.\
\\Okay, I'll let him know.\\ Cautiously O'Neill and Yugi slipped through the forest and over to where the group was waiting. Immediately Ryou and Yugi went off to the side and soon where deep into a whispered conversation. O'Neill noted that Celt was not visible, keeping an eye out from within the trees. Yami and Carter were over on one side of the clearing, listening for anything out of the ordinary. Bakura watched Ryou, not really paying attention to anything else.
"Hey, Colonel, Yugi and I both agree that whatever it is, is over to the right. But from what we can tell, it shouldn't be too far."
"Okay then, it's off to the right. Celt, you lead." They headed out again and it was not long before they entered another clearing and both Yugi and Ryou stopped. The presence was strong there, they could almost make out what was being said. A close examination of the site offered no information. It was coming close to the time when they were to head back whether or not they had anything. Carter was standing in the middle, looking around her as she pivoted slowly. Ryou walked over to ask her if she noticed something when the ground shook.
"Ryou, get over here!" Bakura shouted, not caring who heard him.
"Carter!" O'Neill also called, but even as he said it the two fell downward, into a hole that sealed itself as soon as they were through. Bakura started to rush to the spot only to be held back by Teal'c.
"It will do them no good to follow. It may very well be a trap."
"Teal'c is right. We have to get out of here."
"We can't leave them. Colonel, that was one of your team!"
"We will not abandon them Bakura. We must figure out what happened, but I am not going to allow the rest of us to get swallowed up too. All right, back to base campers, on the double." Teal'c dragged Bakura along, moving to the front of the line. Yami waited with O'Neill and Yugi, who were now at the back of the line. O'Neill stared at the spot Carter had disappeared into.
/We'll find you Carter, don't you worry about that./ He thought before heading back with the others.
~~~~~**~~~~~
"Colonel, Teal'c, Yami, is anyone there?" Carter called out, sitting up in the dark and rubbing her head gingerly.
"I'm here Major. I don't think there is anyone else."
"Ryou, is that you?"
"Yes."
"Where are you? I can't see."
"Neither can I. Hold on, I might be able to fix that, I only hope this doesn't alert Kaiba as to where we are." Grasping the ring he held it up, calling upon it's magic for some light. In moments it flared to life, illuminating the area around him for roughly 10 feet.
"How is this Major?"
"Great. How long can you keep that up?" Carter asked, walking over to him and helping him up. Together they looked around. They were in a small underground chamber made of dirt. The fact that only one tunnel led out of it may or may not be a good thing.
"I should be able to keep it up for some time. I'll let you know if we haven't found any other light source if I am unable to continue."
"Sounds good. Before we start walking, do you think you might be able to contact Bakura?"
"I don't think so, something is not right here, but I will try."
{Bakura. Can you here me? We're all right, lost, but all right. Are you able to hear me? Bakura?} Ryou shook his head. Wherever they were was messing up his communications.
"Well, I guess the only thing we can do is see what's down that tunnel. Let's go." The two started off. Ryou took the lead, since he had the light. There were no passages leading to the side, and the tunnel had no curves. They walked straight, neither talking, unwilling to break the silence.
Abruptly Ryou came to a halt. Just up ahead they could barely see a fork in the road, but that wasn't what had stopped Ryou. No, what had stopped him was that he could once again feel the presence, and it was much stronger.
"I think we should go to the right, Major. I believe what we were looking for is down that way."
"Then by all means, let's go right." Nodding, Ryou resumed walking, only now he went much slower. He focused on the presence and simply went towards it. He took no notice of anything else, he trusted Carter to watch out for that. When he saw a light up ahead he extinguished his own. Even though it took a few minutes to readjust to the level of light, they were just able to make out the pathway.
They reached the lit area and stopped. Blinking, they looked around, not quite believing what they were seeing. They were in a dungeon, of sorts anyways. Empty cells stood open, the doors rusting on their hinges, while magical torches permanently illuminated them. Carter was the first to notice the two cells that were closed. Tapping his shoulders she indicated that they should check them out.
Ryou found himself leading the way. He didn't know why but he was becoming more and more anxious with each step. When he and Carter were finally in a position to see into the two cells they froze simultaneously. The smaller of the two prisoners lifted his head, and they found themselves looking into a pair of anguished gray blue eyes.
~~~~~**~~~~~
"What could have happened? Is there no way we can find out?" Daniel demanded, pacing in the small room. To say that everyone had been surprised when the group had come back with two missing members was a vast understatement. Now, they had spent a very long time it seemed debating how they might be able to find their friends.
"It had to be Ryou, didn't it. Especially since the ring is the item that can locate the others. Why'd you hold me back?" The last statement was directed at Teal'c, who raised an eyebrow but otherwise didn't answer.
"We may be able to use the puzzle to find them."
"Really pharaoh. Last time I checked locating millennium items was not an ability of the puzzle."
"I didn't say that we would locate the ring, I said we might be able to locate them."
"What are you saying?"
"I think I get it Yami. Because Ryou and I are so close as friends we have a bond of sorts. Not like ours, but if I could concentrate on that, I might be able to sense where they are."
"Exactly. It would probably be best if you and I tried as soon as possible."
"Right, we'll be in our room if we're needed." Yugi grabbed Yami's hand and together the two quickly left the room in order to test their theory. Bakura looked at those who remained, his gaze falling on Siris, who sat alone in the corner. Throughout the entire conversation she had remained quiet.
"You don't believe that the pharaoh's plan will work, do you Tali?" Looking over Siris sighed, shifting positions.
"I'm afraid I don't. If you can't even sense him I do not believe that Yugi, even with the puzzle, will be able to."
"Is there nothing you can do? You have proven to have powers, use them." Jonas declared.
"I can't. My powers, as you say, don't work that way. But I will say this, I don't believe it was a trap. I think that whatever presence Ryou felt found a way to get in touch with them. If you recall you said that it was after Ryou had approached Carter that they fell. Since Ryou would have been the one it would be most familiar with it was Ryou that triggered the event."
"You better not be saying that there is nothing we can do for them."
"Colonel, I am saying that we should wait. I think that in not too long a time Ryou will find his way back with Carter, and who knows, maybe he'll know what it was he felt while imprisoned in the shadow realm."
"I can't just sit back and wait. I have to do something."
"Colonel, we can begin to work on the rest of our plans. Let's stake out the castle, maybe we'll run across some clues about their whereabouts that way." Celt stated confidently. With a sigh O'Neill nodded and the group got to work, trying their best not to think too much about the two people still missing.