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 fan fiction intended for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made off it.

Chapter 26: A Coming Storm

Elizabeth stepped outside of her tent when she had heard a commotion. There was a fast moving individual, which was ignoring the cries of those trying to catch up. She felt her eyes widen as she took in the Tigrian that she quickly realized was rushing towards her.

She wasn't surprised that it was Charage but was surprised once she saw his clothes were torn and that his left eye was open a slit. She could still see his green eye peering out of the bruises surrounding it.

Cirkinen came running. "Brother, what happened to you?" He inquired as he stepped up to his brother, but Charage just held up his hand.

"Ereshkigal suspects that I helped her." He pointed at Elizabeth and turned his head to look at her with his better eye.

"How did you get away?" She asked feeling a little guilty that the bruises and cuts on Charage had occurred because he had helped her escape from Ereshkigal.

"Someone who supports our cause helped me." He shook his head vehemently when Cirkinen opened his mouth to ask more questions. "I do not have time to explain. She is sending out a small army to find this camp. You need to get everyone out of here."

Cirkinen nodded his head, turned around and began shouting orders. The camp erupted into action as the people rushed around, carrying out Cirkinen's orders.

Elizabeth looked at Charage who stepped towards her.

"We need to go. Now," he ordered as he snatched her right arm and tried to pull her along with him.

She was surprised at his strength as she tried to free her arm. "Charage, let go of my arm!"

He sighed and released her arm. "You need to come with me," he responded urgently. "While my brother moves these people, you and I are going to stop Ereshkigal."

Disbelief filled her but she couldn't help her curiosity. "What? How are we going to do that?"

He shook his head and waved his hands. "I shall explain as we go."

The pleading and determination in his green eyes caused her to hesitate. Something in her gut told her to follow him, so she gave him a firm nod of her head and followed him.

Elizabeth stood next to Charage on a path of white stone. The sun shone on the massive temple before them, making it look like a giant opaque crystal. If she had taken a hair from her own head and tried to put it between the perfectly shaped stone blocks it wouldn't go.

He roughly grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back. She spun around and looked at him, with a mixture of anger and anxiety. This past week had been rough on her and she just wanted to get back home.

"If you go through there, you will die," he explained as his voice quivered.

She sighed. "Ok. Then, how are we supposed enter the temple?"

"There is a secret way. Follow me." Charage headed toward the right side of the temple.

"How do you know about this?"

He stopped and turned around, urgency in his voice. "There was a map of the temple in the Archives that had been written by one of the builders of the temple. He had put a hidden entrance to the temple while it was being built."

She nodded her head and motioned for him to continue. "Do you think Ereshkigal knows about this secret entrance?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I am not certain."

Fear filled her at the thought. If Ereshkigal did know about the secret entrance, she may have booby-trapped it like the front entrance. "Let's go."

He led her to other side of the temple. He paused at a section of the wall of the temple.

She waited as he studied the wall and she was unable to hear what he was mumbling underneath his breath. He touched two of the stones simultaneously, and then said a few words that she didn't understand and then he touched two more stones.

The blocks of stones vanished leaving behind a two-foot wide by six-foot tall opening.

"This is it," Charage said as he looked to Elizabeth, with fear in his eyes.

She cocked her head as she looked at the doorway. She bent over and picked up a rock that fit comfortably in her fist. She threw it through the opening. It clattered onto the floor. She waited a minute and when nothing happened, she took a deep breath. She exchanged looks with her companion before she stepped through the doorway.

Ereshkigal stood looking out the large window from her room. She looked over the city wondering if the plans that she had put into place would not become as twisted as a vine encircling a tree. Her thoughts turned to the reason why her last plan hadn't worked and anger filled her.

The Tigrians had failed to find Dr. Weir. She had heard rumors of a possible rebel encampment and she suspected that was where the good human had ended up.

She didn't turn around when she sensed someone stealthy enter the room. "Sinell, welcome to Tigria," she greeted, her voice filled with honey.

"You really believe I wouldn't leave a way out of Atlantis?" Sinell asked as he walked up to her.

"That is what I love about you, Sinell," Ereshkigal replied as she turned around and sauntered up to him but her eyes lacked light or warmth. "You always have another plan for me." She forcefully pulled him toward her pushing her lips and his lips together.

She released him and took a step back, a smile forming on her lips as ideas rapidly came to her mind.

There was a loud knock on the door.

She held back a curse and whispered to the Ancient that he needed to disappear. If any of the Tigrians saw him, it would cause complications that she didn't want to deal with.

Once the Ancient had hidden, she smoothed out her robes and turned to the door. "Enter," she called out.

An orange Tigrian with black stripes opened the door and entered the room. He went to the center of the room and bowed deeply before her. "I have news, my Goddess."

She motioned for him to speak. As he told her about the captured rebels, a smile crept onto her lips. Finally, things were going to work out the way she wanted.

"Goddess, there is something else," the Tigrian said slowly.

Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

He began to tremble. "The descendent has eluded us."

Blue lightning flashed in her eyes as she struck the Tigrian, sending him back through the door. The two guards outside of the door pulled the unconscious creature off the threshold and closed the door.

Sinell came out of his hiding place as she paced the room, breaking as many items as she could. "I am growing irritated at the failures of these creatures. I should just get rid of all of them."

"I don't believe that would be necessary, my love," the Ancient stated, having easily avoided the woman's wrath.

She paused in her rage of destruction and spun around to face him. "Why won't it be necessary?"

"You are their Goddess. They are at your command and it would be a waste of resources to destroy them. They may have failed this time, but that means they shall fervently work to appease your anger."

She paused for a moment and took a few moments to think. The Ancient had a point. She did need the Tigrians at least until she got what she really wanted. "The creatures have yet to live out their usefulness."

"What do you have in mind?" He asked, his eyes never wavering from hers.

A smile crept along her lips as her eyes went from sky blue to the darkness of the sky during a coming storm.