"Note them, Jerren. Our future allies."

Daniel marveled that, after all these years, Goa'uld could still impress him. Disgust him too. And fill him with fear. But if there was one thing the System Lords knew it was the power of image.

He decided they could be impressive or silly. Morrigan looked like an over-the-top dominatrix. When one remembered she was several thousand years old and supreme ruler of a few dozen star systems she seemed more formidable.

There were eight arrayed around the room. Drinking, talking, brooding. No one sat.

His own "lord" was particularly impressive. Yu was content to circle the edge of the room, while every other lord watched him from the corners of their eyes to see what would happen. He did not take center stage. He did not need to.

But he had a role to play. And Yu was waiting for his reply. "Bastet and Kali the Destroyer." Daniel turned his attention to the two goddesses. Kali reminded him vaguely of Catwoman from the comics of his childhood, all in black and somewhat impractical. "They made a treaty with Sobek, then moved against him during the celebratory feast." Kali looked to be the most delicate of the assembled lords, in bright colors and intricate embroidery. It was hard to think of her as an avatar of death and destruction. "Sobek let his guard down." But that's what they all were. Destroyers and murderers. "Rumor has it, his head still decorates Bastet's palace in Bubastis." And cruel. Cruel beyond imagining.

"Do not accepts gifts from Ba'al." Yu merely glanced at the other god, leaving Daniel to look him over directly and fill in the details.

"They have a habit of exploding." He finished the thought. The lord in question was speaking quietly with another whose back was turned. "Especially when he feels he has been slighted." Both wore dark robes. The other Goa'uld would have disappeared entirely into Ba'al's tall frame had it not been for her crown of golden laurels. "He wiped out the inhabitants of two star systems, sixty-million lives, rather than losing to Sokar in a territorial dispute." He couldn't be sure who the small one was. Someone Greek, if the costume was anything to go by.

"Poor loser." Yu's measure pace brought the mystery goa'uld into view. Daniel worked very hard to keep his face neutral. "Be careful with Hades."

Hades' brow furrowed beneath her laurels. She flashed a smile that could have been for either Yu or Daniel. No matter the recipient, the gesture was bizarre.

No one else in the room was smiling.

Least of all Daniel.

"You can't be here. You're insane." Ba'al's eyes glittered in amusement. Or maybe something else. Hades didn't know him well enough to tell. He had been a minor—or rather miniscule—player last time she was at one of these meetings. But that was many centuries ago.

"Since when has that mattered to the System Lords?" She chose to read amusement in his expression. That was always the impression he'd given. Or at least what she remembered of him. "You've moved up."

"That's old news." The corner of his mouth turned up. "To everyone who isn't a hermit."

His insults. She liked his insults. There was sure to be many thrown at her, so she might as well enjoy a few. "Good for my health."

"Of course. I'm sure a woman your age needs plenty of quiet."

"Watch it, kid." He held up his hands in mock surrender. Hades decided to make it true surrender. "Miranda wants a report on the Ha'tak operating system."

Ba'al's eyes stopped glittering. He took her aside with as much force as he could politely use. "It's nearly done. And don't mention it out loud."

"Why not? She's paying you enough."

Hades knew why not. Ba'al glared at her. "Because our arrangement, while an open secret, is still a secret. It can't look like we're giving in to the Jaffa on all fronts."

"But we are."

Ba'al studied her for a moment. "You like being a death god."

"All things come to an end. It's what makes them bearable."

"Some of us enjoy things."

"I'll take your word for it." She muttered. Her face lit up. "Thanks, by the way. I'm trying to be more god-like."

"I didn't say you were god-like." Hades had never been god-like. That's what Ba'al remembered most about her. And yet she had been at these meetings long before he had. Why was an eternal mystery. One he thought on often. "If you don't like it what are you doing here?"

"I am the fig leaf covering the open secret." Hades frowned, held her breath for a moment, and finally decided to let it out on a sigh. "Does it ever bother you that everything we are is built on lies?"

"Yes." He said it to throw her off. It worked. He watched Hades puzzle over his flash of humanity. It served her right. She wasn't the only one who could rock boats.

Hades decided to leave the conversation altogether. She turned around and smiled at Yu. Genuinely smiled. It was amazing how she could do that.

Hades approached.

Daniel knew that Yu's silence was his cue to prove his knowledge of the political scene, but it took a moment for his voice and brain to communicate properly. "She is the son of your late ally, Cronus, and newly created lord of his territory. I am to offer help when not inconvenient to your own interests, my lord."

"If she's asking for help, you are already doomed."

"Lord Yu." Hades shook his hand. Of course she would smile for him. Ba'al didn't stand a chance of holding her attention. Yu's alliance with her father was the stuff of Goa'uld legend. Rumor had it Hades had spent time with him as a youth, and it was a known fact that she began her most recent hermitage in his territory. Plus they were the oldest people in the room.

Still, Ba'al trailed behind her.

"While we speak informally, you may say godfather, child." Yu's face remained stoic and his body rigid with dignity, but his tone changed ever so slightly.

Allies—true allies—were few and far between for the System Lords. They were things to be treasured. Cronus had been and ally. A close enough ally to entrust the safety of his heirs to Yu, should the need arise. It never did, but Yu still had a soft spot for his friend's eccentric son. He leaned in and spoke as low as the symbiote voice allowed. "Use your other voice. It gives a better impression."

"I've never been very good with impressions."

"You'll have to once it starts." Ba'al interjected.

"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it." Hades grinned. She flicked her eyes to Daniel. Her expression softened into reassurance. Daniel wasn't sure what she was trying to assure him of, but she looked very sincere.

"Yu." Ba'al inclined his head to the ancient lord. "I am pleased you were able to join us. Given recent events. I understand your fleet suffered some heavy losses."

"I am not the only one." Yu calmly countered the attack. "Did I not hear your flagship was destroyed?"

"I lost two-thousand Jaffa." Ba'al's voice was bitter. Paired with other words his tone might have been hostile, but Goa'uld did not share such tactical information lightly. It was an olive branch.

"Such is war." Yu gave nothing away. If he was interested in Ba'al's bid for an alliance he did not show it.

Daniel saw Hades clenched her teeth. The situation was hard for her. Then again it wasn't exactly a cake walk for him.

By a miracle sent from a power higher than those gathered in the room, Hades held her tongue. Good. Daniel did not have time for Hades' problems. For that matter he did not have time for Hades.

The symbiote poison weighed heavy at his side. He wondered if he'd miss her after she was gone.

It couldn't be helped.

"No." Ba'al continued. Daniel returned to the present. "This is different. This enemy attacks like a coward." Ba'al stole a glance at Kali and Bastet. "Apparently Bastet and Kali have suffered similar set-backs."Kali turned at the mention of her name, but remained where she was. "They are becoming more frequent while the identity of the antagonist continues to elude us."

It took Daniel a moment to unravel all the meanings in Ba'al's speeeh. In four sentences he created a common enemy, aligned himself with Yu, and pointed out that none of the other System Lords were courting Yu's favor. Only him.

Ba'al had quite the silver tongue.

But it was not silver enough for Yu. "I'm certain you have your suspicions."

He persevered. "We are all suffering at the hands of this unknown adversary. By shrouding himself he sows discord amongst us." Yu nodded slowly. Ba'al had finally struck a chord.

"It's working." Hades gave a small shrug. "And isn't that how it goes? Time marches on." An old melancholy settled on her. "Things change."

Ba'al replied simply. "Gods don't."

The world and characters depicted in this story belong to Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin, Jonathan Glassner, Brad Wright, and the Sci-Fi Channel. No profit is made off their use herein.

Italics indicates symbiote voice.

This continuation was encouraged by several readers from "One Piece Left." The story will span from season 5 to season 8. I have some idea of where the plot is going, but it is much more flexible than my usual stories. It is also longer. If you have ideas or requests, no matter how wacky, please talk to me. This is an ambitious project and I may need help.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Taattosbt