Disclaimer: The characters of, "Stargate: SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis", are owned by Robert C. Cooper, Brad Wright, Sci-Fi Channel and whoever else was involved with the creation and production of these two shows. Any new characters and story lines that come into play are of my own creation. No copyright infringement is intended. This is a fanfiction intended for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made from it.
guardianM3: I apologize for the late update. I've been very busy. I'll try to update regularly, especially since it is a new year. Let me know what you think about the story so far.
Chapter 13: Ereshkigal
McKay was pacing in the cell he shared with Sheppard, Lt. Reynolds and Captain Baker. He wondered what was happening to the other members of the team. As soon as the inhabitants of the planet had calmed down enough, they had placed them in cells. He had seen Teyla, Colonel Harper and Captain Conway placed in a cell in the first part of the dungeons. He knew Sky had not been locked up even though he had no evidence to support it.
Sky hadn't moved or even blinked when they had been taken from the room. McKay suspected that Sky either had been in shock or had been placed in a trance by the crystal. McKay suspected that the first option was the correct one.
When they were being put through that test, it hadn't taken McKay long to realize that they were sorting out the people who carried the Ancient gene. It was also apparent that the people on the planet didn't care for anyone with the Ancient gene considering how they treated those that had it. It also seemed as though they didn't like the people who associated with those who cared the Ancient gene. McKay couldn't help but wonder what the Ancients had done to these people.
His mind changed direction as he changed the direction of his pacing. He thought about how the crystal worked. Was it as a unique crystal or perhaps the crystal was merely a façade for the real device? He couldn't wait to take that device apart piece by piece and learn how it worked and what else it could do.
He focused his mind to return to the problem they were currently in and how to get out of it. His gaze lingered on Sheppard. Sheppard hadn't spoken or moved at all since they had been placed in the cell. McKay knew that he had to save everyone again.
"Does anyone have any ideas on how to get out of here?" McKay asked.
"What exactly are we supposed to do, McKay? Our weapons were taken from us, and we have no idea if the others are still being held in the cell that we saw them placed in. Oh yeah. I almost forgot, it seems that our ally Sky is in league with the enemy," Lt. Reynolds said.
"We do not know for sure that Sky is in league with them. You saw her face, she was in shock," Captain Baker replied defensively.
"Right, Baker. Sky is setting up relations with the natives and they just put us here until they get our suites ready," McKay said sarcastically and with a snort.
"Stop it. We don't know anything right now. Especially anything regarding Sky." Sheppard said firmly yet in a low, threatening voice.
"Well, Colonel, what do you want to do to get out of this situation?" Reynolds asked his gaze turning dark.
"We wait. Those are my orders." Sheppard said firmly when it looked as though Lt. Reynolds was about to protest.
McKay saw Reynolds frown but the Lieutenant didn't try to argue with Sheppard. He wondered if Reynolds would disobey Sheppard's order.
McKay wondered if a fight amongst them would happen before the natives returned to their cell and brought them to their fate. He just hoped that Sheppard would come to his senses and help him think how to escape before the natives returned.
Charage walked down the corridor, his feline eyes reflecting from the light from the crystals set into sconces on the walls. His long black robe hid his slender frame and a medallion that bore the image of the Eternal One.
Being the Keeper of the Archives, he had been entrusted with the medallion and the secrets of the Eternal One. It had never been a burden, but an honor to carry on the secrets that he had kept for years. It felt as though the medallion was being pressed against his chest by an invisible hand.
She had returned. It had been several millennia since she had led them in the fight against the Ancients. It seemed that the wait was over and that they could finally return to their destiny.
He entered the Altar room where the Eternal One had been left and spotted her standing next to the window, looking at something unknown to him.
"Eternal One, we welcome your return," Charage bowed deeply.
She turned and looked at him with anger in her eyes. "My name is Sky."
Charage frowned but he knew that he must continue for his faith in the Eternal One had never wavered. "You are the Eternal One," Charage said firmly his eyes never leaving her face. "You lead us for centuries before you were forced to be away from your loyal worshippers."
"I am not this Eternal One. I am called Sky. What is the Eternal One's name? I mean, she must have a real name."
"Your name is Ereshkigal."
"I am not her."
"You do not know your own name! What have those beings done to you?" Charage knew that the Ancients had taken The Eternal One's memories from her. He felt a jab of fear that she would not remember. "Those wretched beings that you brought here have done this to you! They should be destroyed for doing this to you."
She walked up to Charage and stood before him, her eyes "They are my friends and all they have done is to help me. If any harm has come to them, you will regret it."
Charage held back his anger and kept reminding himself that he had help her remember her true identity. "They have not been harmed." Charage paused for a minute thinking about what to say. "The fates have returned you to us. We have waited for you for centuries."
"What proof do you have that I am this Eternal One?"
Charage turned and pointed at the crystal. "The crystal does not reveal falsehoods. It tells us who is a vile Ancient but when the crystal glowed with such pure white light we knew that you were the Eternal One."
"Just because the crystal glowed a certain color doesn't mean that I am her. It could be a coincidence."
"It is no coincidence. I know that you are Ereshkigal, the Eternal One because of this," Charage said as he slid his hand beneath his robe, pulled out the medallion, and handed it to Sky.
He watched as she studied the image of a woman on the medallion. He saw something flicker in her eyes and he thought it was recognition. Then he saw her eyes darken.
"You are our goddess, our queen. Your return was prophesied and this medallion proves it is so."
"This medallion doesn't prove anything." Sky said as she threw the medallion back into Charage's hands.
"Where are my friends?"
Charage couldn't hide the disgust on his face or the hatred in his voice. "They are in the dungeons, where they belong."
"You must remember. You must." Charage said as he held the medallion in the air before the crystal.
The crystal shot a beam of pure white light onto the medallion causing the light to beam into her eyes.
Sheppard lay on his back with his hands behind his head staring up at the ceiling. He saw McKay continuing to pace out of the edge of his vision. It bothered him that he was the only one who trusted Sky. Sky had saved his life and he had given her his trust in return.
He certainly had not ignored the fact that their captors had treated him and the others like vermin. McKay wasn't the only one wondering trying to figure a way out of here. He just didn't want his team to worry but as far as he could tell, they were trapped until the guards returned.
The natives had acted strangely when the crystal had glowed differently for Sky. Sheppard hoped that this was a good sign and that it would mean Sky could set them free.
Teyla and the others joined them, as they were lead out of the dungeons and back into the room with the crystal. All along the way, Sheppard noticed that Teyla was trying to get his attention, but he shook his head, knowing that she wanted to try to break free.
He recognized some of the paintings and thought that they were being led back to the room with the crystal. He hoped that Sky was there and was unharmed.
As they entered the room, he saw Sky standing next to the crystal surrounded by half a dozen of the natives dressed in robes. He saw no visible wounds and it seemed as though the robed natives were standing guard over her. He started to plan a way to grab Sky and get them all out of there just in case the natives were intending to kill them.
The guards forced them to stop about ten feet from where Sky stood. Absolute silence filled the room and Sheppard couldn't help but notice that everyone, including the members of his team, were looking at Sky and waiting.
"You are being released," Sky said as she nodded her head toward the guards.
Sheppard smiled and sighed. "That's great. So, how did you convince them to let us go?"
Sky ignored Sheppard as she pointed her finger toward the door. "You shall go and tell the Ancients and those who follow them, whether by worshipping them or those who carry their blood, that they shall all be destroyed."
"Sky?" Sheppard asked as one of the natives prodded him forwarded and away from Sky.
Sky looked into Sheppard's eyes, showing that hers were no longer the color of blue from a sunny day but the blue of a darkening sky. "I am Ereshkigal. The Eternal One."
Sky looked away from Sheppard as she continued. "Be warned, your lives shall be spared just this once. You shall be the messengers of your people's own doom."
"Come, John. We must leave," Teyla said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him along.
Sheppard allowed himself to be lead away by Teyla. He couldn't believe what he had seen in Sky's eyes. She had looked at him with such hatred and revulsion, Sheppard wondered if it had been Sky at all.