Okay.  Heh.  Things are becoming interesting.  Yet another explanation chapter, I seem to have a lot of those.  Well, please enjoy.

ENJOY

                Pain.  Darkness.  Emptiness.  Loneliness.

                He was lost within it.  Drowning in an invisible sea, and he was alone.

                /Out.  Let me out!/  He screamed in his mind.  Strength.  That is what he needed.  Searching within he reached for his strength, he had to find it.  He needed to get out, and he needed the strength to do it.

                He began to struggle, to free himself.  He had no clue as to how to get out, but he was not about to stop trying.  Somehow he would succeed.  Wait, what was that?  There was something just passed his field of vision.  Without thought he began to follow where he thought it had gone, simply pushing through towards an unseen destination.

                Cautiously his eyes began to open.  His small body twitched a little as he returned to consciousness.  He blinked as his eyes met the torchlight illuminating the area.  Regaining the use of his senses he looked around without moving.  His entire body ached and he did not relish the idea of forcing it to move.  Unfortunately, there was very little to see from his position on the ground, though he did notice the semi-rough texture of the rock floor. 

                Minutes went by, and still he did not move.  His eyes focused on the floor, counting the pebbles and the cracks.  He ignored the constant waves of pain that swept through him.  Maybe if he just waited, then he would be fine.  But, no, to wait meant that someone would have to find him, and he didn't know how he knew, but he knew that he was alone.  No one would be finding him anytime soon.

                Sighing in frustration he managed to maneuver himself into a sitting position.  Holding his head since the slightest movement caused the world to spin.  Taking a better look around, now that he could see he saw he was in the middle of an intersection, underground.  There were half a dozen tunnels that split from the room he was in.

                "Great, just great.  Look at this Yugi, you have managed to make your way into a labyrinth and you forgot the map."  He muttered to himself, trying to figure out where he should go.  Not finding any answers he thought back to the fight.  He didn't really remember much, just vague pictures of his friends fighting and feeling useless at not being able to help.  He could only remember one image clearly, and that was of Siris' cape fluttering behind her, bleeding.

                "What else happened?  How did I end up here?"  He concentrated, trying to push the image of the cape from his mind.  Concentrating he closed his eyes, and he saw again the last moments of the fight.  He saw the desperation on everyone's faces, the pain etched in Yami's eyes, and then he was back to the cape, fluttering in the wake of his power.  But then he remembered something else, he had momentarily locked gazes with Siris, and it had seemed as if she were trying to say something.

                What if she had?  Could she have said something he hadn't heard at the time?  Pushing all other thoughts out of his mind he thought back to that moment.  His eyes flew open when he realized that she had said something, but not out loud.  He had heard her in his mind, like he heard Yami through the link.  But what had she said?

                'The path to take is clear.  The rest is but illusion.'  It came to him, yes, that is what she had said.  So, what did it mean?  He looked at the six tunnels critically and tried to find the message behind the words.  Wait, the paths, they were dull and foggy.

                All, that is, except one. 

                "The path to take is clear huh?  Well, let's see how true that holds up.  Wait for me everyone, I'm coming back."  He said as he struggled to his feet and began to walk towards the clear passageway.  A part of him wondered what lay beyond, but he knew he would deal with it.  He had to if he was ever to see his friends again.

~~~~~**~~~~~

                Voices.  He heard voices.  He couldn't hear what they were saying but it didn't matter.  If he could just reach them then they could tell him what was going on.  Painfully he opened his eyes, only to squeeze them shut immediately when the light assaulted his senses.

                "Well, lookie here.  The pharaoh is awake.  Enjoy your nap?"  The sound of a chair being pushed back and footsteps approaching told him the occupant was fully concentrated on him.  The voice held a bored tone to it and even though he recognized it he couldn't quite place it.  He opened his eyes again, only this time slowly and he shielded them with his hand.

                "Malik."  He managed when he found himself staring at the lavender-eyed youth.  A cocky grin graced the other's features and he turned to whoever else was there.

                "We should probably inform the others Marik.  Do you want the pleasure or should I?"

                "I'll go.  If I can deal the next round, that is."

                "Hah.  Fine.  Don't take long."  Marik hurried off, shuffling the cards as he went.  "So, pharaoh, have a headache I hope." 

                "Why are you here, and where is Yugi?"  The blonde's smirk dimmed a little, but only for a moment.

                "I'm here because it is my turn to keep an eye on you.  You should have seen it, not that you could have with you and everyone else being unconscious, but still.  It was rather interesting, one minute we were enjoying lunch and the next, boom, you and everyone who went after the imposter just appeared."

                "Wonderful Malik, but what about Yugi?"

                "Quiet, I'm telling a story here.  Anyway, I suppose I should say how Tali was the only one not unconscious.  She got everyone organized and moved all of you into rooms and treated any wounds.  She also said that we should keep a special eye on you since you would insist on going out to find Yugi since he didn't return."

                "What!"  Yami declared, attempting to sit up only to be forced back down by both the sudden pain and Malik's hand.  "He didn't return.  And Siris, where is she now?"

                "Good question.  She left as soon as everyone was settled, had some things to see to.  Hasn't returned yet."      

                "All right Malik, prepare to lose.  Oh, and pharaoh, there is going to be a meeting later.  They'll send someone to get us when it is time."  Marik called as he hurried back to the table and started dealing out the cards.

                "In your dreams Marik.  And don't think of moving pharaoh, we are watching."  With that the two began a very intense game of poker. 

~~~~~**~~~~~

                "So, we don't have any clue as to what happened to Yugi?"  Yami muttered.  They had gathered together to figure out what had gone wrong.  They had succeeded in discovering that the enemy was far more powerful then they thought.

                "Well, we don't have an idea, but I bet that Siris does."  Jonas stated, remembering the very end of the fight.

                "Why did she disappear on us?"

                "I'm sure there must be a reason.  There must be."

                "Reason, Yami, she stopped you from helping Yugi, what could be the reason being that?"

                "There is no way we could know the reasoning behind Tali's motives, but there always is one."

                "She must have some pretty strong powers to shield all of us and not fall unconscious, why didn't she use them in the fight?"

                "Unless she is the one that made us unconscious."

                "She wouldn't do that, I'm sure she was doing what she thought was best."
                "Why would you say that?  The way I see it if she hadn't of interfered we would all be back right now, with Yugi."

                "Yeah, that or dead.  We don't know what Yugi did, maybe she had an idea."

                "If she did she could have clued us in."

                "In the middle of a battle, come on."

                "It still makes me wonder what she is up to."

                "Especially if she isn't trying to sabotage our mission, why isn't she here right now?"

                "What could she gain by working against us though?"

                "What does she gain by working for us?"

                "Will all of you quit it.  Siris is not our enemy."

                "After what happened I'm not so su..."

                "Enough."

                "..........................." 

                "If you are going to argue about me the least you could do is do it to my face."  Siris stood in the doorway and only when she had everyone's attention did she move to sit down in one of the chairs.  Solemnly she faced the group.

                "I'm not sure exactly what to say to all of you, but I will say this.  I did what I believed was what I had to do.  I saw no other options."  Her voice was low and sincere, but there was a tone in it that it took a moment for the group to recognize.  It was defeat. 

                "You could have stopped it."

                "Bakura, what are you talking about?"  Carter exclaimed.  Siris simply held Bakura's gaze as he continued.

                "You could have prevented this whole thing, couldn't you have?  Come on Tali, don't lie to me."

                "Perhaps.  Probably." 

                "Then why by Ra didn't you?"  Sighing she ran a hand through her hair and thought a moment as everyone stared at the implications of her statement.

                "I'm going to ask you all to bear with me for a second.  This is not an easy explanation to give."  Receiving nods she took a deep breath and began.

                "I'm playing by a different set of rules.  I actually have already done far more than I was supposed to.  For instance, I was never supposed to meet Yami, but I did.  I was told to leave Egypt for good when he became Pharaoh, but I didn't.  I was not meant to travel with Bakura on occasion, but I did.  I was supposed to be in that sarcophagus in an induced sleep for 5,000 years or so, but I refused.  I'm not supposed to be as involved in this as I am.  I'm breaking and bending all the rules set for me, but I can only bend or break them so far."

                "What do you mean?"  Red questioned.

                "Well okay, let me ask a question.  Daniel, when you were ascended, you had to obey certain rules, right?"

                "Yeah, what does that have to do with this?"

                "Well, I have similar rules to what you had, but I am not the one they will punish if I push the line too far.  If I become too much of a nuisance, then it will be bad for you.  I saw Yugi began to power up, I could have stopped it then, but it was not in my right.  Then, when he did get to the point of releasing it I would have harmed him had I attempted to stop it then.  Being separated may be a good thing.  Hopefully he will learn about the power innate within him during his time away.  He is unharmed, I know that much.  You see, in the end it is going to be up to Yami and Yugi.  We are only going to be making it possible for them to do what is needed."

                "So, do you know the future or something?"

                "No, Colonel.  I don't know the future.  All I know is that Yugi is fine.  I can't tell how I know, it is just a feeling.  I sensed somehow that Yugi had to be allowed to complete that attack, and I really doubt any of us could have stopped him at that point."

                "So, you are not using your full power?"

                "Absolutely not Teal'c.  I don't know what I am fully capable of, but I will not test it out here.  I will help as I can, but I cannot be the one to win this for you."

                "Yugi will come back?" 

                "Yes Yami.  That he will.  We just have to wait.  Now, I am very tired.  I spent hours searching for signs of the imposter.  All I could tell was that he made it through, I couldn't tell if he had been weakened or not.  I need to rest.  It would probably be a good idea for all of you to rest as well."

                "As long as you are on our side.  Well, let's go campers.  We need to be rested for a long day tomorrow."  O'Neill stood and left with the rest of SG1.  Siris departed as well, headed towards her room.  The others stayed a while longer, mulling through this new development.  Finally they began to disperse, all hoping that the new day would bring new hope.