11 days, 9 hours, 18 seconds before the event.
"God speed SG-1" Ferretti spoke through speakers in the observation room.
Teal'c, Colonel Mitchell, Vala and Daniel walked up the metal ramp making their way to the Stargate. They were invited personally, to attend a luncheon on P78-259. It had been exactly two days since a negotiation team was sent through the Gate in an attempt to form an alliance with the advanced race. For which they have formally named themselves Asherah.
The stargate zipped into action- quickly dissipating when SG-1 stepped through. A split second had passed and they were no longer under the confines of the SGC, there was no recycled air, no dim lighting, nothing. The sights befalling on them hurt their eyes. The suns rays burned their retinas.
Pulling the sunglasses over his eyes Mitchell scanned the area. Looking around the area he can see nothing apart from the light, there were these tree like figures all around the stargate, but it didn't look like trees. They looked sculptured, like Lego bricks. the only sounds that could be heard were from the people bartering at a type of bazaar.
Moving through the bazaar, their eyes drawn to various mixed metal trinkets, some flashed some had been encompassed in extravagant crimson jewels. As SG-1 and SG-12 walked though the town, onlookers cowered away in fear, drawing themselves into the darkness where their faces could not be seen; hiding behind intricate carved pillars and delicate fabrics.
After a few moments through winding pathways they came towards the set of the stairs that would take them to meet the ruler.
The ruler, Shmuel had been in power for over one hundred years, he was handed down the title over thousands of years; it has always been his birthright. Shmuel was the tenth ruler of Asherah and named after his great, great grandfather the seventh ruler.
Shmuel was rather tall in stature; he downed broad unnaturally squared shoulders, his long arms hung lifelessly by his thighs as though he had been stretched forcibly. His eyes furrowed into his skeletal skull. His skin looked ghostly pale, as though he has never taken a step out into the light, His hair greasy but not from dirt, but by the overuse of too much hair product a status of wealth.
Unlike the residents of Asherah, who wore simple hand woven cloth tunics Shmuel's clothing was one of grandeur, of superiority. The tunic decorated head to toe in purple toned silks, the only garment seen thus far which encompassed such vibrant colour.
Teal'c looked around, to the common man he'd look nothing more than a tourist soaking in the sights. He looked as far as he could see, studying the reactions, looking for advantage points, escape routes anything they could use to their advantage. Cameron did the same, taking mental notes of places that could provide cover.
Colonel Rhodes led them steep uphill towards the main housing- the central house, fit for the king himself. The roads were simple made of tightly pressed cobble stone, much like the Romans of Earth. The house is made of the same clay and limestone. At first glance this did not seem to be a very advanced civilisation. They lived a more simple life, plain architecture adorned by intricate carvings, nothing set the houses apart. All made out of simple limestone brick, with deep red clay tiles for the roof. There were no windows in sight, white slated shutters and simple small gardens filled with small delicate green trees. Each building was complete with a mirror image there was nothing distinguishable between each home, it would be every easy to get lost up the winding streets.
"Blessed passing's I'm Shmuel," he beckoned his head, his voice sounded horse, a slight echo hung from his words.
"Blessed passing's your eminence. As requested, I bring you an audience with SG-1." Colonel Rhodes bows forth with.
"Ah blessed passing's your eminence. I am Dr Daniel Jackson it's a pleasure to meet you." Daniel bowed in greeting.
"Blessed passing's Dr Daniel Jackson. I have grown wise to your blessed teachings." Shmuel smirked.
"I'm sorry. I don't understand what you mean by 'blessed teachings." Jackson scrunched is eyebrows in confusion crossing his hands together.
"Colonel Rhodes has blessed us with knowledge forthwith from your past comings with higher wisdom. Please you must commune with us."
Daniel dropped his hand beside his legs. His face burrowed with annoyance he wondered exactly how much Colonel Rhodes had shared. "Erm, sure let me introduce my team..."
"Yes, yes... come, come."
Shmuel beckoned over a fellow servant and whispered in-distinctively into his ear. The servant wore an orange tunic, nothing extravagant or of notoriety, simple plain. Like a prison overall. The man himself looked smart, professional, cleanly groomed without odour. He leaned in listening to his Masters orders, understanding fully he nodded in confirmation and quickly sprinted up the stairs towards the palace.
"Where are we going?" Colonel Mitchell asked.
"We must feast to celebrate our forth-comings." Shmuel almost skipped up the stairs in joy.
He stopped and turned around frowning in disdain once he realised that the alien visitors were not following.
"Come, come we have much to manthanĂ³."
Cameroon looked towards Daniel confused.
"I have no idea." Daniel shrugged.
"Aren't you the world's top linguist?" Vala remarked.
"Hey, doesn't mean I know every language just like that." Jackson glared.
"Well boy' a translator would come in handy right about now... Wouldn't you say Teal'c?" Mitchell remarked.
"Indeed."
"Ha- Ha your're all so funny. Whatever it is I'm sure we will find out soon."
They followed behind Shmuel being careful not to step on his long elongated robe. The stairs felt as though they would never end, the stairs in all its might, all its grandeur seem to tower the tallest mountain. It took them twenty minutes to climb to the top, looking below them everything looked small and obsolete.
As they reached to the top of the stairs the main palace came into view.
Daniel looked towards Teal'c and the others in awe. But not only in awe, but in disbelief – is his eyes deceiving him.
the stairs did little to take them to the palace itself, instead it took them higher than the palace. On the top of the world as that is what it had seemed like. Overlooking the vast blinding landscape, that spread for miles upon miles of minuscule limestone buildings. That looked more like a maze than a town. There was little greenery, little signs of fauna and flora; just blinding white rooftops of these houses.
The grand stairs encircled the palace, yet the entrance remained unseen.
"I beg your pardon your excellence." Daniel paused, waiting for Shmuel to turn to face him. Hoping this might be the time to ask him about his true intentions.
"This is much to marvel over, would you agree?" Shmuel smirked, waving his hand over his kingdom. "This is what is means to be Asherah!" Shmuel whispered loudly.
"I'm sorry I'm afraid I don't understand?" Daniel frowned.
"The Asherah watches over all, that believe..."
"Believe in what exactly?" Mitchell protested.
"There is only one belief..."Shmuel asserted, "Life, life is the blessed belief."
Teal'c and Vala looked at each other in silence.
Shmuel rolled up a sleeve on his robe delicately, with uneven grace. Once the robe revealed his bare flesh, it also showed something else. His arm lit up like a Christmas tree, his long fingers seemingly pressed the air although, they could see nothing.
Vala looked at Teal'c she had seen many technologies in her time, but this is far out ranks anything they had ever seen before. Given the shocked looks from Teal'c, he too was just as surprised.
The floor beneath them started to rumble. The palace started to rise beneath the ground.
SG-1 stood in shock, the palace was really quite remarkable, they tried not to show emotion. They were forewarned of the Asherah's structures, of their technology. But nothing could have prepared them for this.
"Please come forth we have much to confer." Shmuel smiled, walking up towards the palace guard doors.
