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 off of it.

Chapter 17: The Assembly

Charage stood before the seven members of the Assembly wishing he could smooth out the imaginary wrinkles in his robes, but he knew that would be a sign of weakness. He raised his head but he blinked because the light came from the three luminous crystals that hung from the ceiling. He kept his hands steady as he tried to focus on the Assembly before him but it was difficult because the Assembly members were sitting in darkness.

The oldest and fiercest member leaned forward into the light so Charage could see his narrowed eyes. "Charage, you are the Eternal One's messenger. What are her wishes?"

Charage refrained from nervously licking his lips. "The Eternal One's wishes are her own. She has yet to reveal the details of her divine plans."

"We have waited a long time for her to return. We have waited for her to lead us to glory!"

"I understand," he began before he heard the door open behind him.

He turned and was surprised to see Ereshkigal walk into the room with a mixture of purpose and elegance he had never seen before. It caused his stomach to drop and an ache to strike his heart.

"Eternal One," the lead member of the Assembly said as he stood up and bowed. The rest of the Assembly followed suit.

She didn't acknowledge Charage as she faced the Assembly. "I order you to prepare for battle."

"Yes, Eternal One," the Assembly members hissed excitedly in unison.

Ereshkigal turned and ignored the Assembly as they cried her name as she walked away.

He watched as she walked out of the room, wondering if her return would lead his people to glory or to their destruction.

Ereshkigal walked on a path made from stones that reminded her of a white river cutting through an endless sea of green. She had waited a long time for this chance to destroy the Ancients and all that they had created.

She had protected this world from the influence of the Ancients. It had taken nearly a hundred years to build up their trust in her and her godliness. She hadn't allowed anyone to interfere with her plans until a thousand years ago but she had returned to the course she had set.

As she casually walked to her destination, her thoughts went to the man whom she had saved from death. Even when she had been under the influence of the chip, there had been something aching in her soul whenever she looked at him. She shook her head and reminded herself that it had been the chip. The chip had forced her to protect him because of the Ancient within him.

She focused on her objective. It had been a long time since she had walked this path but she had known that one day she would return when everything was in place. Something in her caused her to pause as she thought about the people she had met in the city of Atlantis. That one face in particular continued to overwhelm her mind, but she forcefully shoved it away. She had the desire to allow the people of Atlantis more time because they intrigued her. They were descendents of the Ancients, but there were many differences between them.

She shook her head knowing that they were dangerous and these distractions didn't go with her ambitions at all. She was concerned that she was losing sight of her goals. These feelings had never been in her before and she wouldn't allow these emotions to get in her way, just like that face that continued to appear in her mind.

The path ended to a temple that she had her followers build to house and protect one her most precious objects.

She pushed open the doors and stepped inside the enormous room. The crystals in the ceiling glowed at her presence when she passed the threshold. If it had been anyone other than her that walked into the temple, the crystals would have incinerated him or her.

Reaching the statue made out of pure crystal that a sculptor had created into her image, she took the medallion from her own neck and pressed it onto the engraving on the statue. The statue glowed and a box appeared in the statue's hands.

She grabbed the ornate box and smiled, knowing that this would enable her to do as she wished and to fulfill her plans.