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The Supernatural characters belong to Kripke Enterprises and the CW, not me. The Stargate franchise is currently owned by Metro-Goldwin-Mayer. No money is being made from this story. It is for entertainment only.
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Camelopardalis
Chapter 10
A New King Anointed
From Chapter 9
Daniel, crude and noisy scientist that he was however, could not take a hint. Although everyone else turned their eyes away from the two strangers Daniel could not bring himself to look away. He hungrily drank in every detail.
The two men Sam had called Oldest raised their outstretched palms toward the Angel group fluttering above them. There was no laud and noisy burst of energy, no fancy sparks or colored arcs. There was a sigh like that of a tired child and the Angels appeared to be blown backward, tumbling head over heels. Angel feathers fluttered to Earth and in another moment the sky was clear.
Daniel looked to the sky, now empty of Angels then looked back at the jungle. The Oldest were gone.
Chapter 10
So powerful were the effects of the (Blood Rituals) that the objects, people, buildings, and places in the landscape in which the supernatural materialized accumulated energy and became more sacred with repeated use.
Thus as Kings built and rebuilt temples on the same spot over centuries, the sanctums within them became ever more sacred. The devotion and ecstasy of successive divine ahauob sacrificing within those sanctums rendered the membrane between this world and the Otherworld ever more thin and pliable. The ancestors and Gods passed through such portals into the living Monarch with increasing facility.
The strategies of political competition were conceived and executed within this matrix of sacred power. Ritual, war, trade, marriage, accession, and other social activities were more likely to succeed if they were conducted at the proper place and time.
From "A Forest of Kings" by Linda Schele and David Freidel, copyright 1998
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Daniel was back at Star Gate Command, his messenger bag bulging with the notes and drawings from his two month sabbatical on Seladon. He was looking forward to some peace and quiet and, he admitted to himself, air conditioning, to write up his secret report. He had a contact in the Archeological Department at Stanford who was skillfully grafting Daniel's translations into existing materials so that the knowledge gained on Seladon could slowly seep out into the Earth's scientific community.
Until such a time that the existence of the Star Gate project was made public that was the most that Daniel could expect for all his hard work; for his aching back and time spent in hot, dark, dusty stone lined rooms sequestered from the sunlight and other people day after day. It was enough though. Every time he saw one of his facts used in his collaborator's papers published in a scientific journal be counted it as his reward. Every time his suppositions and interpretations passed peer review he felt justified in continuing his work.
"Hello there, Daniel," a voice drifted in from the open door. "How was your vacation?" Jack stood there, hands braced on the lintel, looking over the collection of small, ancient objects scattered on every surface of Daniel's lab.
"Hi, Jack." Daniel stood and welcomed his friend and commanding officer into the room, brushing papers off the seat of one of the stools and inviting Jack to sit down with a friendly gesture.
"It was great. I love that place. The stuff I learned, the people, the food…"
"Whoa," Jack grinned at him. "You do know that you said the exactly the same things about SAG 15 and Cap 5 last year, right? You think you might be just a touch fickle?" Jack smiled and cocked his head to the side.
"By the way, Daniel, the brass is expecting to have you debriefed this afternoon. The Pentagon and Senator Meckelberg's office plan to sit in on the meeting. They are under a lot of pressure to get moving on a formal embassy on Seladon. Sorry." Jack knew Daniel's attitude about sending more officials to the planet.
"Well Jack, first of all. Seladon is unlike any place we have ever been before. The level of the civilization is much higher than anywhere else I have been." Daniel replied.
"These people bleed for their Gods, Daniel," Jack said and shook his head. "That does not impress the upper brass. They put the natives at about the stone age."
"It's a major mistake to ignore the power and sophistication of these people, Jack. Remember the Nox?" Daniel picked up a small statue covered in complex symbols. "We thought the Nox were a simple, childlike race and what happened? They handed us our heads in a woven basket."
Jack laughed. "You should have seen me trying to explain that they wore those sticks and feathers in their hair because they liked it that way. The military and a lot of politicians aren't exactly imaginative or flexible. They see what they want to see. What they see on Cam 20 is a remnant of a long, lost Earth civilization stuck in the past."
"Be careful this afternoon Daniel." Jack's tone became serious. "The reason they are all looking over our shoulders and attending what should be a standard discussion of an alien civilization's religious beliefs and customs is that both the Asgard and, surprisingly, the Nox, want permission to set up their own embassies on Seladon. That's new, especially for the Nox. They haven't asked us for a damn thing since we met them and now this gets their attention. The Pentagon and our friend the Senator are concerned. I can't say worried because they claim that is not an emotion they are familiar with; they say concerned and stick to it. Got it, Daniel?"
"Yes, Jack," Daniel replied. "I bet they are worried that if the Asgard and Nox know about Seladon, can the Goa'uld be far behind? There are a couple more groups out there, not to mention the NID that might want to stick their own noses into a place like Seladon."
Jack O'Neill slid off the stool and stretched. "You got it Daniel," he said and slapped Daniel on the back. "Just watch where you step and we'll be fine."
"Wait," Daniel's hand nervously picked at the surface of the little statue. "There's something you should know, Jack and I hope you can keep it to yourself. It is pretty likely that we are going to be in the middle of a succession at the top. While I was there I and the Royal family were attacked by a flock, I guess you would call it, of those Angel creatures." Daniel sighed and continued.
"They attacked us on the top of a pyramid and hurt the King very badly. I think that one of his wings may be a lost cause and he was terribly burned down one arm. There's no way he'll ever fight in the air again and I think that might be one of the King's responsibilities. Our little friend Dean might be anointed King fairly soon if his father can't fulfill all the king's duties."
"That's not good news at all, Daniel." Jack face furled and he bit at his compressed lips. "I mean, Dean's a nice kid and all and he was impressive fighting that ugly bat but he's just a kid. How is he going to control his people?"
"You remind me of something," Daniel muttered and made a note on a pad on the table. "I think you should perhaps meet Dean and Sam again. I also think that Dr. Fraiser and a medical team should go to Seladon with us. "
"A medical team, Daniel?' Jack picked up a stone dagger from the table and started to fiddle with it. "Why?"
"First of all I think Dr. Fraiser needs to gather some data on the growth rates of these Maya. You are going to be shocked when you see the boys. Dean looks about fifteen now judging by human standards and you would guess that Sam is around twelve now. It's only been a year. Dean might be an adult in just another couple of years and Sam is catching up to his older brother very fast. He's going to be unusually tall if he keeps it up.
Additionally it might be possible that Dr. Fraiser could help the King with his burns." Daniel glanced up at Jack. "Isn't that what friends do, help each other out?"
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Bahlum-Kuk sat at his father's side at the head of the meeting table. Down each side were representatives from the city states surrounding Anthol. Everyone had heard about the Angel attack and the rescue performed by two of the Oldest.
The King, Balam-Han, Jaguar's Paw, was recognized as the preeminent King of this side of the world. His power in the realms of the Gods was revered and feared. Even the Lords of Death in Xibalba honored his name.
This gathering of minor Kings and other Lords from the cities that Balam-Han had conquered and made subservient were concerned about the harm done to the World King. The damage was easy to see. No longer did the King spread his wings in a dominance display. He held his left arm close to his body in a sling.
The question was did the Gods still look on Balam-Han as one of their favored? The Oldest had appeared to come to his aide and protection but was he still strong enough to provide the protection and intercession that they all depended upon? Did they still owe the City of Anthol the annual tithes? Was the King still their liege lord?
Balam-Han shifted in his seat and glared at the assembled vultures. He knew that they all would attack at the slightest sign of weakness, eager to offer his blood up on their own sacrificial alters. The King glanced at his son. Bahlum-Kuk appeared relaxed but just as aware of the assembled vassals as his father. The boy had been trained all his life for his approaching ascension to the status of King. Now was the time to show that he would be worthy of their allegiance.
"My friends," Balam-Han finally spoke, gathering the attention of the assembly. The other whispered conversation fell away. "As you are all aware I was attacked by a flight of Angels recently and suffered some damage. One of my wings is damaged and seems to be unwilling to heal. I take this as a sign from the Overworld that my time is coming to an end. I wish to have you meet my son, Bahlum-Kuk.
The boy stood to the side and slowly started to spread his wings. There were other Winged Kings in the room but none of them could reach the extension or depth of color that Bahlum-Kuk had now. Immense wings were an early sign of a powerful man but this was still a boy. If they were to bow to him there would have to be more.
The King continued as Bahlum-Kuk looked from face to face as if he was burning each person into his memory.
"My son has been trained from birth in the responsibilities of a King." There was the noise of a door opening and the King's second and younger son entered the room and went to stand behind and off to the right side of his brother.
"In addition the Gods have placed their hands on the head of my second son, Yat-Balam, and given him the power of prophesy. Such a pair of brothers so blessed has not been seen since the ancient days of the Hero Twins." The silence in the room was unbroken. Balam-Han knew exactly what he was claiming. He was telling the assembly that his sons had been chosen by the Gods and that they had been given significant gifts. It meant in the Maya lore that these boys were already anointed as the chosen of the Gods. Anyone who tried to stand against them risked not only their own places in the spiritual hierarchy but also the very fate of their City's people.
The Great Wheel turned in the Overworld and all that was old was new again. The hero brothers had returned, risen from the dark world of Xibalba to live once more.
The King stood. "Also remember that my sons have been protected by Seladon's Oldest. They appeared on the field when the Angels attacked. They didn't just save me. They also saved and protected my sons."
"Now that you have met my successor and his shaman brother I invite you all to stay for as long as you desire. There will be food brought in soon and the house has many rooms for sleeping. I am going to my own rest. I do not know when I will be called by the Gods but you all deserved to know that no matter when it happens you will have a new King. One who has already been accepted by the Gods and welcomed into the spirit world."
The King reached behind him and brought out a heavily carved cane. He had been unwilling to show any signs of weakness until he had established Bahlum-Kuk to stand firm in his place.
"Bahlum-Kuk and Yat-Balam will stay with you to eat and discuss any matters you would like. My son will report to me any problems he feels that I would need to handle."
Balam-Han left the room and Bahlum-Kuk took his father's place. Little brother stood still at his older brother's right hand side. They smiled and nodded as conversation throughout the room began again, noting carefully who looked agreeable and who appeared to have doubts. Bahlum-Kuk would sort through his possible friends and perhaps enemies with his father later.