Sphinxes and Astrea Portas
Disclaimer: STARGATE belongs to Gekko and GARGOYLES to Disney and Greg Weisman. In addition, many characters from the online Gargoyles Saga (TGS) are going to be mentioned here. I just want to say thanks to the TGS staff for creating these magnificent characters and allowing me and other writers to use them in our own fics! THANK YOU!
Summary: Searching for the Sangraal, SG-1 travels to a world from the Ancient database. Surprises abound and once more Daniel's perspective on world history is tipped on its head.
Timing: After the ark of Truth before Carter goes to Pegasus to take command of Atlantis.
Author's notes: Hope u Enjoy this :)
Chapter 10
The Eyrie Building, Manhattan, New York city
Detective Elisa Maza rode the elevator upwards towards the castle proper, the simplistic music of the elevator droning on and did nothing but irritate her further.
As far as she was concerned, the entire evening had been a complete bust. The mountain of paper she had been putting off since god knows when had finally caught up with her.
So instead of hitting the streets and fighting crime, she'd been stuck behind her desk, fighting the NYPD bureaucracy.
She'd won many victories tonight, but by the end of the night she'd felt as if she was loosing the war, Elisa thought morbidly.
The elevator door chimed and opened, bringing Elisa out of her musings.
She stepped out of the 21st century elevator, and stepped into the 10th century architecture of Castle Wyvern. She took a deep breath taking in the musky leathery smell that pervaded all of the castle these days.
It was the smell of Gargoyles. One that she'd come to love and associate with more happy events than she could count, over the years.
She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, "Home, sweet, home," she said with a heartfelt sign. Back when she and Goliath had first gotten married, they'd had many heated arguments about where she was going to live.
Eventually Goliath had managed to con her to move in the Castle, despite the close proximity to Xanatos this would entail. Goliath's eloquence and conniving, round about arguments for this had been worthy of Xanatos himself.
She snorted in amusement, despite how she had technically moved in with Xanatos, a convicted felon in the eyes of the Department, it had hurt her career but after a while it hadn't mattered-sure Matt had been promoted to lieutenant and she had been passed over for a couple of promotions but in the end she'd realised that she was willing to live it.
Life in the castle was now something else, especially after the first Gargoyles World Council.
More Gargoyles had come to Manhattan in the aftermath of the first meeting. Youngsters, adults and elders from many clans had visited over the enjoining years. She'd watched as the entire Manhattan clan had been revitalised with each visit.
"Ooooph..." Elisa managed to say as a white ball of fur barrelled into her, knocking her over onto her ass.
When the room stopped spinning, Elisa found herself looking into a pair of round black in a white furred felinoid face.
The small felinoid gargoyle of the London clan gave Elisa a sheepish smile, "Sorry Aunt Elisa, I didn't see you there," she said apologetically as she helped Elisa up.
"Lucy...what have we said about running in the main hall?" Elisa asked sternly.
Lucy, the small blonde white furred felinoid gargoyle with angelic feathered wings from London, turned wide round innocent looking black eyes with a solemn expression to Elisa.
Tough as nails, NYPD cop Elisa Maza managed to maintain her stern scolding expression for all of five seconds before melting in the face of the cuteness that she was facing.
"Scat cat, you're too cute for words kiddo," Elisa said with a small laugh.
Lucy gave her a big toothy grin, before taking off in a run on all fours as if nothing had happened at all.
Elisa smiled to herself as she remembered the first time she'd met the youngsters from the London Clan. She'd known instinctively that London Gargoyles were more animalistic in appearance a la Leo the lion and Una the white unicorn.
But the moment she'd laid on Lucy, she'd been consumed with the sheer cuteness of her. Lucy and the other London youngsters and initially been wary of Elisa due to her tough exterior but they all became fast friends ever since, especially after they'd discovered just how much Elisa was a pushover when faced with Lucy's innocent act.
When Goliath and the rest of the clan had discovered this, it became a running joke. Tough as nails Detective Elisa Maza, who faced down rabid Unseelies, Mob boss Toni Dracon and the immortal gargress Demona, at the height of her madness without flinching, simply...melts, when faced with Lucy's innocent expression.
Elisa shook her head ruefully and turned down the main hall in the opposite direction heading towards the rooms she shared with Goliath.
She didn't get far before running into another of the castle's denizens.
"Good evening Detective Maza," Owen Burnett spoke stiffly.
"Owen." she answered succinctly with a nod if her head. "How's tricks?"
Owen raised an icy blonde eyebrow in response, "Everything is well enough, though Mr Xanatos is a couple of days overdue from his business trip to Nevada."
Elisa shrugged, "Maybe he took a side trip to Vegas or something? You never know with these big shot Billionaires?" she jested.
Owen's bland expression didn't change, "Doubtful Detective, Fox and Alexander have been expecting him, they had a small trip planned to embark upon, upon his return."
Elisa frowned, despite how much she still didn't like Xanatos, this didn't match the new persona he was developing for himself.
"I'm sure it's nothing, maybe he's business plans were more complicated than expected," Elisa suggested.
"Possible, but unlikely, in either case, I can do nothing till he contacts me," Owen stated in the same monotone he was known for.
"Whatever may be the case, I'm just too tired to do anything about it now," She said with a yawn.
"Of course Detective, if you will excuse me," Owen replied.
"Sure, whatever you say," Elisa moved past him and continued on her way to the rooms she shared with Goliath as Owen pondered the current circumstances that his employer might be in.
And just how much Trouble, Mr Xanatos probably was in, considering that his business meeting was with the USAF.
Demona glowered menacingly up the cameras watching her in her cell. Inwardly, she cursed herself and her wretched situation, trapped in a USAF base that was most likely being covertly run by one of the fallen Unseelie lords.
She growled angrily and looked around her room, trying to envision some sort of escape route, she'd tried to over power the guards several times but the oblivion of temporary death had met her on those times.
A small part of her mind wondered when the real torture would begin, they'd hadn't tried much in the few days that they'd held her so far.
The sliding heavy metal door opened cutting into Demona's self recriminations. Demona growled and braced herself for whatever was coming next, her mind going to dark places.
She was surprised when She was met with Xanatos's face. He was flanked by two airmen.
The airmen remained outside the room as Xanatos stepped in. The metal door closed behind him, leaving them alone together in her cell.
"What have you done Xanatos? Have you sold your soul to these enslaved humans and their Unseelie Lord?" Demona demanded angrily. "What did he offer you? Immortality?"
Xanatos gave her a stern look, "It is nothing of the sort, in fact what I've discovered pales in comparison to your paranoid ravings."
Demona growled at him angrily, her eyes flashing red for a moment, "I don't know what they've done to you human, but clearly, that Unseelie scum has messed with your mind."
Xanatos sighed, "Your short sightedness is impressive as usual Demona," he paused for a second before continuing, "There is no Unseelie lord here. The Fey you met is Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of knowledge, and he is a Seelie...he just hasn't been on Earth for thousands of years. He is ignorant of current events."
Demona was taken aback, the slashing remarking freezing on her tongue in surprise.
Xanatos continued ruefully, "If you'd given them a few seconds to explain anything then they wouldn't have had to shoot you so many times."
Demona growled again.
Xanatos glared back.
"What now then? I doubt the humans will simply allow us to leave...especially after the way I have been reacting," Demona snarled in anger, berating herself for her impulsive if at the time warranted actions. At least warranted from her point of view.
"You may be surprised at what they will allow," Xanatos commented smugly, allowing a smug smile to cross his face. He walked to the a table in the middle of the room and gestured to Demona to take a seat, "You might want to sit and listen to what they've told me."
Demona eyed him suspiciously but slowly made her way to the offered chair.
Xanatos relayed his news of Stone Haven and Sanctuary and for a very long time Demona simply sat there unable to speak.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The Lord Thoth sat running the events of today's encounter through his mind, many revelations had been laid at his feet, more than he imagined could be revealed in a single day.
The Unseelie Court defeated and many the villainous traitors dead and gone.
He mourned for them despite everything they had done over the millennia, but he was relieved they were finally gone perhaps now he would be able to go home?
He missed the shores of Avalon and the eternal summer bliss. Too long had he been gone. Too long since he'd last interacted with members of his species.
Idly he wondered what his friends and family thought had happened to him. Did they miss him? Did they mourn him?
He hoped they'd at least given him a few fond thoughts over the millennia.
"My Lord, is everything all right?" Hypatia asked softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Brought out of his reverie he turned and gave his fosterling a small smile, "I am well my child, my thoughts way heavily upon me." He paused before sighing, "The man, Xanatos has vexed me, confounded me with events that I could not have imagined or expected. For the first time in a long time I find myself at a loss over what to do."
Hypatia moved around Thoth and knelt down at his feet, "You will do what you always do my Lord and find the correct path."
Thoth snorted, "I am not perfect child-and there is no need to so blatantly reassure me. Though it warms my heart to see how much you care."
"How can I not my lord?" Hypatia replied with a wide innocent eyes.
"That's enough buttering girl," he ordered in a huff.
Hypatia only response was an restrained laugh.
A knock at the door interrupted their banter.
"Go see who that is you irrepressible girl!" Thoth ordered.
Still laughing, Hypatia, got up to open the door.
"Hello, I hope I'm not interrupting anything?" asked Daniel Jackson innocently from the doorway.
Hypatia turned to give Thoth a mirthful smile before answering, "Not at all Daniel, I was merely lightening my Lord's mood. Please come in." She stepped aside and gestured for him to come in.
Daniel stepped into the room and nodded at Thoth respectfully, "Lord Thoth."
"Dr Jackson is there something we can help you with?" Thoth asked in acknowledgement.
"No, no, I just came to see if you were all right or if you needed anything?" Daniel asked politely. "We dragged you into this situation so fast I doubt you've had enough time to think everything through," Daniel paused for a second casting a glance at "-plus of course there's the fact I don't think we mentioned the time difference between here and Stone haven."
Hypatia frowned, "Time difference?"
Daniel nodded, "It's almost sunrise here, I wanted to make you aware of this, because we're in an underground facility I don't think you're aware of the time changes."
Surprise coloured Hypatia's face, "We are underground? But this place is so extensive!"
Daniel nodded, "Yes this place was built years ago, we're actually under 29 levels under Cheyenne mountain," he explained simply.
"Impressive," Lord Thoth said.
Hypatia eyed the roof sceptically, "That's one word for it."
Daniel raised his hands in a reassuring gesture, "It's quite safe you don't have to worry about being trapped here, this whole facility was made to withstand titanic forces assaulting it."
Hypatia's only response was a non-committal sound.
"Anyway," Daniel continued quickly, "The main reason I came I came here was inform you that sunrise is in approximately," he checked his watch, "five minutes. Do you require anything to prepare for the day?" he asked of Hypatia.
Hypatia shook her head, "A small unused corner will be adequate for my needs."
She moved into an unused corner of the VIP suite. She capped her wings tightly about herself and knelt down in preparation of the approaching dawn and Stone sleep. She curled her tail around her feet to keep it out of the way.
"And now I just wait for sleep to come," Hypatia mused with amusement from her kneeling position.
Daniel gave her a small smile in response.
A wave of dizziness washed over her, her eyesight dimmed and the world tilted and turned, she fell heavily onto her side and sprawled on the floor. As quick as the dizziness appeared, it vanished.
She shook her head to clear the cobwebs, when her eyes cleared she found Daniel staring down at her his mouth open in disbelief and Lord Thoth merely gave her an enigmatic smile. Though she could see mischief dancing in his eyes.
"Oh my god..." Daniel managed to say as shock surged through his being.
Hypatia frowned and tried shakily to get up, she tried to push off the ground and walls around her with her wings.
Nothing happened.
Her frown deepened, she gathered her legs under her and leant forward to push off and up with her hands. She froze as a small delicate looking five fingered human hand passed though her field of vision.
Slowly she brought the hand up turning it over and flexing the fingers experimentally. It took her a moment to realise that it was her hand she was looking at. Gone were her four trusty talons and in their place were five smaller delicate human digits. Her natural bright white skin tone was replaced with a deeper pinkish white complexion.
Hypatia, concern written across her face, turned alarmed pale blue eyes up to Lord Thoth, "What's happened to me?"
"Fear not my child, this is merely my gift making itself known to you," Thoth reassured.
Daniel slowly glanced between the two beings, Thoth and the newly transformed Hypatia.
He stared at the confused looking former gargress, now human woman before quietly commented to himself in a deadpan, "Oh yes, just another day at the SGC..."
Author's notes: Hope you enjoyed this! Do not forget to Review!