Chapter Seven
Without warning the large golden doors slid open, startling Aphrodite as they did. Behind them followed Egeria and a pair of Jaffa guards. Upon entering the room Egeria stood there for a moment to just take in the comforting sense that her quarters offered before doing anything else. Feeling a more relaxed sense work its way into her she let out an exhale of breath and emotion before turning to one of the two Jaffa and relaying to him a command. Once this command had been received both he and his companion gave a quick bow before turning on their heels and exiting the room.
Wishing to rest after having to put up with the stubborn arrogance of her fellow Goa'uld brethren she made her way across the room to a lavishly decorated sofa. As she approached she gave off an impression that made it obvious of her intent to enjoy her rest in solitude. This caused a pair Tau'ri slave girls to scurry away from their Goa'uld master and out of the room. Falling back onto the sofa she gave out another sigh before closing her eyes to enjoy the calming stillness that surrounded her.
From the moment the doors had opened Aphrodite had kept her eyes fixed on her queen. She could tell from the way that Egeria had entered that her meeting with the System Lords had not gone according to plan, and Aphrodite felt very curious to know what exactly had transpired. This curiosity almost forced her to ask her queen directly, but at the last moment she had decided against it. Seeing how Egeria had acted she felt that the best thing for her to do was follow the slaves' example and make a quick exit so as to leave Egeria alone. Pushing aside a bowl of grapes she got up from where she had been laying and began to make her way towards the golden doors that had been opened moments ago.
"Aphrodite stay," Egeria commanded with slight hostility as she sensed her subordinate's departure.
Being only a step away from exiting Aphrodite paused as she heard her name. Turning back around she walked towards where Egeria sat, noticing that her queen's posture didn't seemed to have changed at all. Finding a seat across from Egeria Aphrodite obediently sat down and awaited whatever news her queen decided to share with her.
Slowly opening her eyes Egeria stared at her subordinate through exhausted slits. When she had so abruptly entered she had done so with the intent to force any Jaffa or any slaves present to exit her presence. That intent had not been extended to Aphrodite, who as her subordinate and closest advisor, made Egeria feel that it was necessary for her to know what happened during her meeting with the System Lords.
Shaking off any bits of fatigue that grasped onto her being Egeria sat up, quickly seeming fully awake and once more majestic. Stretching slightly she stared across at Aphrodite and wondered exactly where she should begin. With another exhale her mind settled on something. "Things did not go as smoothly as I had hoped down there Aphrodite." she simply put as she folded her arms across her chest.
This statement evoked no shock from Aphrodite as she had been able to tell this fact the moment Egeria had entered the room. She would dare not mention this though. No, Egeria was her queen, and as such demanded all of the respect that Aphrodite had. Instead Aphrodite just leaned forward and listened intently as Egeria continued.
"Those stubborn, arrogant fools!" Egeria suddenly said as her tone was filled with disgust and her mood was filled with a new fire. "Their own demise is staring them right in the face. Their demise as well as the demise of our entire race and our way of life, and yet they will do nothing to stop it!"
"I take it then that they rejected your idea for an alliance against Ra?" Aphrodite softly asked, wanting to make sure she understood while still treading lightly so as not to upset her queen.
"No," Egeria quietly muttered as she realized her effort had not been totally in vain. "No, they said they would discuss it amongst themselves and come up with a decision shortly."
While this statement made the situation far from hopeless in Aphrodite's opinion, she could understand Egeria's feelings on the matter. The Goa'uld had a tendency to jump at anything they agreed with, and this hesitation that the System Lords showed made it nearly a certainty that the plan for an alliance would be rejected.
"But you know as well as I do Aphrodite that for them to hesitate like this is a bad omen." The Goa'uld queen said confirming her subordinate's thoughts with a weary tone.
In hearing her queen's tone Aphrodite could sense the feeling of defeat that lay just under it. A sympathetic feeling made its way into Aphrodite's being as she heard that defeat and the anger and sadness that surely went along with it. Though Egeria had once been her bitter rival, Aphrodite had come to appreciate and respect her since she had decimated Aphrodite's forces and forced her into servitude. Egeria had treated her so well that she had come to feel more like Egeria's friend, rather than her servant. Through this she had decided that her goals and those of her new queen were alike enough for the foundation of an alliance to be built.
Thinking more about the meeting with the System Lords a rage started to boil up inside of Egeria, and with that rage her typical Goa'uld mentality reasserted itself. "They think they are so invincible just because they have yet to be defeated! Fools, all of them, fools! How can they possibly not comprehend the danger that Ra represents?"
Aphrodite could understand the other System Lords hesitation on the decision of whether or not Ra was an actual threat, or at least as big of one as Egeria made him seem. She herself had not been fully convinced that Ra posed such a threat, but she would never voice this fact. Instead she simply said, "I don't know my queen."
Unable to simply sit there and let her emotions consume herself Egeria got up from where she sat and began to pace across the room. As she did so she went over the meeting in detail and tried to think of anyway she could make up lost ground when she returned to the planet's surface.
Still with her eyes focused on her queen Aphrodite watched as Egeria rose from the sofa and began in her pacing. Not knowing a single detail about what took place, not even who and how many Goa'uld had shown up, made it very difficult for her to help her queen. This caused Aphrodite to feel very useless as her curiosity about the meeting rose. She felt that she needed to know what had occurred so badly, yet she was hesitant to voice that need for fear it would serve only to worsen Egeria's state. Sitting there in silence would be to no one's benefit though, so cautiously she ventured a question. "Who was it that you met with, my queen?" she asked, making sure to add a high degree of respect and reverence in the question's closing.
At first Aphrodite's question confused Egeria, which she showed as she stopped in her pacing. She wondered for a moment where her subordinate's question had come from, then suddenly she remembered that Aphrodite had not been standing beside her during the meeting with the System Lords, and that she had yet to divulge such information. Once she had relayed the five names to Aphrodite she paused for a moment in her words and thought over each of them. "Shaq'ran is the only one that would be worth having as an ally," she muttered, "though Rhiannon could prove to be useful." With these thoughts and these words Egeria fell back into the pacing silence she had slipped out of only moments before.
Going over the five names in her head Aphrodite recognized each of them to be formidable Goa'uld, with the pacifistic Gilgamesh being the only one who would be of little help. She understood her queen's decision to so reflect upon Shaq'ran, but to leave the others practically nameless was something she couldn't understand. Sure Shaq'ran had one of the largest domains out of any of the System Lords, and his already strong rivalry with Ra was sure to make him more likely to join any attack against the sun god, but surely Egeria saw the potential in the other System Lords to help in their cause. Deciding to push this new doubt aside Aphrodite moved on with her questions. "What did they think about your plan, my queen? I mean, who appeared to be for it?"
Her subordinate's question caused Egeria to carefully go over everything once more, paying close attention to what each Goa'uld said in response to her proposal. "None of them seemed to show their full hand," she quietly started, sounding very vague about things. "If I had to speculate about where they each stood, I would say that Rhiannon is our best chance for support, though Shaq'ran could easily side with us as well." Pausing for a moment she took in a deep breath of the surrounding air as she let her mind further focus on what had happened. "As far as detractors, I don't think that Marduk was very receptive to the idea; though I might have goaded him into reconsidering," she said with a small smile. "I haven't a clue where Gilgamesh or Yu stand."
"So there is some support for us to walk away with," Aphrodite said as hope about Rhiannon and Shaq'ran came to her mind and her words.
While Aphrodite seemed so hopeful about their chances for support Egeria felt otherwise. It was true that there had been at least a flicker of support behind the glowing eyes of Shaq'ran, and Rhinannon's statement: "And what makes you think that we weren't serious about joining you against Ra?" had showed at least some interest. Or maybe those words had all been part of some elaborate mind game that was being played in the hope that her entire hand would be shown for all the System Lords to see. But she hadn't held anything back. She had been as clear and as sincere about her intentions that she felt she could be. Giving an inaudible sigh Egeria decided that she simply couldn't know their thoughts until given the chance to be in front of them once more. Anger and frustration grew inside of her at this fact, and suddenly her hands tightened in response. "In honest Aphrodite, we might not be able to count on any of them."
With this admission Aphrodite could feel all of her hope suddenly shatter. Egeria's words had seemed to carry a hidden belief that at least some of the System Lords would fight alongside them against Ra, and that belief had fueled Aphrodite's hope and strengthened her resolve. Now she felt as though everything was falling apart and she unknowingly blurted out the question, "But if they won't support us..." she decided to stop with that however, fearing the power that her words contained.
"Fools!" Egeria suddenly shouted again as the last bit of her restraint was engulfed by the fury of her anger. Now fully unleashed, her rage took hold of her body and found release only at the expense of a shattered vase, which she knocked off of a nearby table. Eyes fiercely glowing, she stared at the broken remains as she took in a deep and angered breath.
Aphrodite cringed slightly as the vase tumbled upon the floor and she wondered if she had gone too far with her words. As this wonder passed and she once more gained control she ignored her queen's anger and simply pressed another straightforward question. "If they won't help us, my queen, then what are our options?"
There was something about Aphrodite's question that Egeria didn't like at all. Whether it was the actual words or the tone behind them she wasn't sure, but she was sure that she would not tolerate such insolence. Treading over the vase's remains Egeria walked over to her subordinate and wrapped her left hand around Aphrodite's throat. Standing there crushing the life from her subordinate Egeria expected some resistance, some reaction at all from Aphrodite, but she gave none. Instead of gasping for air as was expected she simply stared into the eyes of her queen with a faint glow and the arrogant superiority that was commonplace for the Goa'uld. For some reason this caused Egeria to let go of Aphrodite before any serious harm could be done. Deep down she knew that Aphrodite's death would serve no purpose, and as such should be avoided.
Turning away from her subordinate and her blind rage for a moment she took in Aphrodite's question and gave it serious thought. If none of these System Lords decided to help her then what was she to do? Give up in her ambition to see Ra destroyed? No, that was something she simply could not do. Her desire to see Ra dead was not simple ambition, but knowledge that his demise would be the only was to save her race from the heel of his boot. Ra had to be defeated, and she would be his conqueror, but she knew she could not do it alone. What other option was left to her then if the System Lords refused? In that moment only one thing came to mind. It was something that had laid dormant there ever since the need for allies first arose, buried by her because she feared it. "We make an appeal to the devil," she quietly said.
Rubbing her neck Aphrodite stared at her queen and awaited Egeria's next words. When her final words were spoken Aphrodite didn't quite know how to respond, yet she did anyway. "The devil? You mean..."
"Anubis," Egeria flatly said before cringing, hating the taste his name left in her mouth.
"But my queen," Aphrodite started to protest, "Anubis is nothing short of pure evil. He doesn't care about anything other than the destruction of everyone and everything. He wouldn't hesitate to destroy you on the slightest whim, or anyone else for that matter."
"I know Aphrodite," Egeria said with a softer tone as she looked over her shoulder at the blonde haired woman, "but he has the next strongest force after Ra. He is evil and vengeful, but maybe we can figure out a way to turn those characteristics and his forces against Ra."
Though Aphrodite looked on with absolute resolve, she couldn't help but to feel some doubt about this option. Anubis was well known and well feared throughout the Goa'uld race, and to try and ally with him seemed nothing short of certain death. Giving in to her queen's judgment though she saw how this option could be their only option in fighting Ra, and would be if the System Lords rejected Egeria's proposal.
"Aphrodite," Egeria quietly said, beckoning her subordinate over. When Aphrodite stood beside her queen Egeria continued on, "I want you to go and send Anubis a message. Tell him that I must speak with him on a matter of great importance." There was a brief pause in the words as the two Goa'uld looked at each other, both of them trying to confirm in their mind that this was indeed the right decision. "In case things don't turn out well down there."
Still racked with doubt, Aphrodite simply gave an affirming nod before turning around. Not letting either herself or her queen have the chance to change their mind she quickly exited the room, leaving only a whisper of doubt hidden amidst the sounds of her steps upon the dark marble floor.
Finally being totally alone, Egeria focused her attention out of a nearby window and out into the blackness of space. As she stared she felt as though asking the twinkling stars for some sort of guidance. There would be no guidance for her though, deep down this was already a well known fact, and with a sigh she pushed such notions aside. She felt totally alone in her ambition to see Ra's demise, though she knew she wasn't so alone in all other matters. Fate stepped in at this moment and reminded her that she wasn't alone as the large golden doors behind her opened and two armored Jaffa made their way in.
Before turning to face these Jaffa Egeria took one last moment for
herself. She knew who it was that had entered her quarters, for she had commanded for their presence. While she supposed she should be focusing the entirety of her thoughts on the matter of the System Lords, she found she simply couldn't. Not that she wanted to though, for in relating the information about the meeting to Aphrodite it had given Egeria her fill of the matter, and now she felt it necessary to tie up one bothersome loose end. Turning away from the window she laid her eyes upon Ven'ar and Arbrol't, who immediately bent to their knees in reverence the moment her eyes fixed on them.
Making her way towards the two strong Jaffa she felt a brief rush of pride. Pride in the fact that these strong and noble soldiers could be claimed as her own as their lives and their loyalties had been unquestionably devoted to her. "Arise," she said in a deep and almost villainous tone when she stood before them.
Standing from their sign of reverence the two Jaffa soldiers looked upon their goddess as stolid as one could be. When faced before the Goa'uld they had pledged their life to many Jaffa were known to suddenly come under a great sense of awe, but this was not the case with either of these Jaffa. Ven'ar had proven himself earlier to be a soldier of firm assurance, and Egeria inwardly smiled as Arbrol't echoed that same mentality.
"Ven'ar," Egeria started as she moved to stand before the strong warrior. "This is the Jaffa who bears the name of Arbrol't?" she asked with a gesture to the other soldier.
"Yes, my queen." Ven'ar crisply said, letting no part of him other then his mouth move with the words.
Taking a step to Ven'ar's left Egeria moved to stand before Arbrol't. When her eyes took in the tall and strong warrior that same sense of familiarity that she had sensed earlier flashed in her being. With that sense flashed something else. He stopped chopping wood and wiped some sweat off of his forehead... flashed a memory from where Egeria could only guess at. Wherever the memory had come from it was strong enough to send a very disconcerting ripple throughout her being. Shaking off the feeling Egeria straightened to give herself as majestic and commanding of a presence as she could before addressing her two soldiers.
"As you both know my First Prime Lo'tak was recently killed in a battle against the warriors of Ra." Pausing for a moment Egeria looked the two over for any sign of emotion they might choose to show at this information. Both of them had known Lo'tak very well and had fought beside him during several campaigns. For these reasons she would not have thought any less of them for making some sort of acknowledgement about his death. In professional soldier form though neither man flinched. Impressed by this, Egeria continued on.
"Lo'tak had no apprentice, and no one to rightfully take his place should he be killed, which has left me without a First Prime." Another pause came and Egeria gave another glance at the two men to see if they yet showed a glimmer of emotion. She knew that both of them coveted the role of First Prime. This of course was a role that all Jaffa coveted. To serve one's god and to lead their troops in that god's name was a true honor for Jaffa. Still seeming very statuesque though neither one of them flinched.
"The decision on to whom that honor should be bestowed has not been an easy one, as there are many fine warriors that fill the ranks of my armies. You two, however, have seemed to stand apart from the rest."
This comment, this praise and validation that came from their goddess, made the two Jaffa feel suddenly much stronger and much more proud. They felt like a truly great honor had been bestowed by Egeria's words, but they wouldn't let those feelings show. Being seasoned warriors they both had grown passed the unprecedented jubilation that the youngest warriors sometimes showed. Plus they didn't want these feelings to be known by Egeria herself, fearing that some of her respect for them would be lost were she to know.
"In considering who would best serve me in the role of First Prime I have extensively gone over both of your records. Ven'ar," she said as she stepped back in front of him and focused her attention on him, "you have lead my elite guard faithfully for many years and you have led them successfully in more campaigns than I feel need mentioning. Arbrol't," she said with a shift of her presence and her attention, "your record comes with very high distinction as well. You both are undoubtedly the best Jaffa who serve me."
Looking at each of them for a moment Egeria suddenly turned away as her words ended. Making her way back to the window she stood there in silence and in the mind of both Jaffa came the sudden wonder if their presence was still needed. In Egeria's mind though something different took place. She weighed her decision very carefully, knowing that it would forever change things with her and with whomever she chose. This decision would also send out ripples of change throughout her entire domain. While this factored into her thoughts she ultimately pushed it aside. From the very beginning she had known who should rightfully take Lo'tak's place at her side, and even though a part of her wished for that person to be Arbrol't, she knew that she could not allow feelings borne from a simple dream dictate such matters.
"It was a very tough decision indeed," she said softly, letting the decision she was about to make cement itself in her mind. Turning back around and approaching the Jaffa she looked at both of them before finally and flatly stating, "You Ven'ar, you will be my new First Prime."
As he heard these words come from Egeria Ven'ar could scarcely believe it. Within him this came as no great surprise, he was the best Jaffa soldier within Egeria's ranks and he knew it, but still, to have such an honor! Were he a little younger and a little more reckless then he might have taken this moment to make some grand overture to express how grateful he was to become her new First Prime. Instead he kept his celebratory emotions locked inside his being and simply gave Egeria a slight bow with the words "As you wish, my queen."
Though Ven'ar did all he could to hide his enthusiasm about her choice Egeria knew just how excited he was at the prospect of being her new First Prime. For some reason she wished to share in the happy moment that had surely been created within his mind, but shrugging it off she simply gave a nod of recognition at him with a cold and blank stare.
Arbrol't stood there and wondered why he was there. If Egeria's intent had been to simply make Ven'ar her new First Prime then why had he been summoned? He could have been left on Ventarea, left with his battalion to train and prepare for the next glorious victory that they would bring to their goddess. Egeria's eyes then made their way from Ven'ar to once more rest upon him and suddenly he realized he had been too quick in his thoughts. He hoped that Egeria didn't know that he had assumed that he knew her intentions. To a god, Arbrol't knew, there could be know greater offense. Swallowing away some excess saliva he merely stood there, deciding to wait until all of his goddess' intentions were made clear.
"For you, Arbrol't, I have another honor," Egeria flatly said as she correctly assumed his uneasy feelings and questions about her purpose for him being there. "With Ven'ar to become my new First Prime it will leave no one to lead my elite guard, to whom so many of my victories can be attested to. You Arbrol't, are to succeed Ven'ar in this role."
Unlike his companion, Arbrol't did not harbor any excitement at this news. His hesitation on the matter was not due to any disappointment or lack of desire to accept this role, for it was an honored role in its own right and was only overshadowed by the role of First Prime. Plus he had long ago realized that any role that was in the service to one's god was a role worth having. Yet still he paused in his acceptance of this role. Deep down he knew himself to be a different type of soldier from Ven'ar and Lo'tak. He was good at following orders, but to give them? The responsibilities of command made him uncomfortable, but he would accept the role nonetheless. It was the role that Egeria, his goddess, had chosen for him to fulfill. Bowing his head slightly at this command he thought only of how he would not question his goddess' judgment on this decision.
"When we return to Ventarea you will undergo the Rite of Kint'su and begin your service as First Prime to me, Ven'ar." Looking over the two strong warriors for one last time she knew that this decision would be the right one if she intended on winning in her war against Ra and any other System Lord that opposed her. Feeling as though nothing more needed to be said she simply gave a wave of her hand. "Now go and prepare yourself, there will be much to do ahead."
"In your honor," they both said with a bow before turning on their heels and making there way out of the room.
Having the issue concerning her First Prime finally resolved and Aphrodite off on her task to contact Anubis a calm set into Egeria. She felt as though things were finally starting to come together for her, and for the first time the serious possibility of being able to pull everything off. She smiled as she stared out into the darkness and wrapped the fleeting solitude around her, enjoying every moment of it before it was once again broken by a new visitor.
"The System Lords signal for you from the planet below," the Jaffa crisply said. This soldier was of a different quality than Ven'ar and Arborl't, and as such he wished to be in Egeria's presence for as brief as she would allow.
"Very well," she said with a sigh. Taking this as a signal for his departure the Jaffa soldier quickly turned and made his way out of Egeria's quarters.
Pressing a hand against the window's force shield she stood there and watched it shimmer blue at her touch. Leaving behind the doubt, the anger, and all the other emotions that she had let out during her talk with Aphrodite, Egeria readied herself to once again face the vast arrogance she was about to endure. She would convince the Goa'uld to side with her against Ra, no matter what. This thought she kept at the fore front of her mind as she made her way across the room. Before she exited though something came over her and she suddenly felt very dizzy. Wondering for a moment what had caused the dizzy spell, she decided its cause was simply emotions tied in with what she was about to do. Despite anything she had felt though she marched on, more determined and resolute than ever.