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 27: Taken

Charage watched as Elizabeth entered the temple. He waited for lightning to strike her or for her to burst into flames. Neither of those things occurred, which he was thankful. He took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold.

The size of the temple on the outside didn't prepare him for the immensity of the inside. The echo of his footsteps almost hurt his ears. The crystals in the ceiling illuminated the statue of Ereshkigal that was in the very center.

He carefully walked around to look at the statue. He saw that the sculptor had placed a serene look upon her face and a blessed kindness in her eyes. He knew that was her face, but the emotions were all wrong. He had never seen a serene smile upon her face, only a deceptive one. He had never seen a drop of kindness in her eyes. He had only witnessed anger and hate.

"Where are these crystals that you told me about?" She asked, pulling the Tigrian out of his thoughts.

He stepped forward, putting his hand in his pocket and pulled out a medallion. He placed it on the statue and a drawer opened. It was empty.

"That's it?" She asked with disappointment.

He shook his head, closed the drawer and went to the wall. He bit his lip as he studied the symbols on the wall. A sliver of a triumphant smile came to his lips as he placed the medallion against one of the symbols on the wall. The wall faded away. He stepped back to show her the room.

She stepped forward, her carefully placed steps barely creating an echo. The light crystals illuminated her widened eyes and the awe on her face. There were various sizes and colors of crystals placed carefully on many shelves.

"She has so many." A worrying frown took place of the awe that had been on her face. "What do all of these crystals do?"

"I know that some are dangerous." The Tigrian stated as he pulled sacks out his bag." We must take all of them."

Elizabeth nodded her head as she took one of the sacks that he had handed to her and began to grab the crystals.

Charage opened one the many sacks he had brought and started to take the crystals. His soft hands treated the crystals like fragile glass. He wasn't certain if he could even use the crystals, but he knew that as long as the crystals were out of Ereshkigal's hands, the better chance that his people had at freedom and survival.

Ereshkigal stepped into her personal temple. Something was wrong. She couldn't quite place the reason for the feeling. The sensor was still in place.

She walked forward and stood before a certain portion of the wall. She pulled the medallion from her neck and placed it on a symbol engraved into the wall. The wall disappeared.

She stepped into the room, her blue eyes darkening to almost black. Her eyes darted around the room, disbelief stretching across her face, rapidly replaced with anger.

The crystals were gone. Every single one of them. She raged. She screamed. She spun around, returned to the main room, and broke an arm off the statue that had her divine image. She swung the stone arm against the statue. The blows didn't cease until the arm and the statue were completely broken.

She took a large piece of stone that had once been the statue's torso and threw it into the light crystals on the ceiling. The crystals shattered, sending shards down upon her, cutting her in several places, but she ignored the insignificant pain.

It wasn't long before the inside of her temple looked as though a tornado had been released inside.

Her breathing returned to normal but her eyes remained almost as dark as they had been during her anger. It had been Elizabeth. She would make the woman pay and not only with her life, but also with the lives of those she led.

One item hadn't been stolen. A wicked smile came to her lips that if anyone were there to see it, they would have cowered in fear. A new plan began to form in her mind. She knew what she had to do and she couldn't wait to do it.

Charage stopped and grabbed his side. He wasn't used to all of this running. He imagined cool, clear water in a goblet. He imagined himself taking a drink and then throwing the rest of the water onto his face.

"Are you all right?" Elizabeth asked, returning to him once she had realized he was no longer by her side.

He waved away her concern as he tried to catch his breath. "Yes, yes. Let us continue."

He knew they were not far from the where the new rebel camp had been set up. He quickened his pace; knowing that water, food and rest would soon be in his future.

A frown appeared on his lips as he looked at the skyline about the trees. "Is that smoke?" He asked as he pointed, hoping that his eyes were lying to him.

"Oh no," she exclaimed as she took off in that direction.

He could only follow his companion, feeling tightness in his chest that had nothing to do with exertion.

He saw the torn fabric of some of the tents, and the smoldering remains of others, but thankfully, he did not see any bodies. He knew that his people hadn't been killed but had been taken. Taken by Ereshkigal.

Charage was about to suggest to Elizabeth that they leave, but he saw movement to their right.

Someone rose out of the shadows. He could tell, even in the darkness, the one standing before them didn't have the pointy ears of a Tigrian. He tensed, wondering if Ereshkigal had been lying in wait for them.

"Who are you?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes narrowed as she grasped a pole from a tent, pulled it from the soil and held it before her.

"It is all right." The figure said calmly. "I am a friend."

Charage breathed a sigh of relief, recognizing the voice. He stepped between Elizabeth and the figure. "Elizabeth, it's ok. He's a friend."

The figure stepped into the light. "I am Sinell."

"You're an Ancient," she replied, suspicion still clouding her eyes.

"Come. It is not safe here," Sinell said as he turned around and started to walk, stepping to the side of the debris from a destroyed tent.

When Charage looked at Elizabeth, her lips turned into a frown. He took her hand. "Trust me."

Her body tensed up in hesitation. He could see her eyes searching for something in his eyes. He hoped that she believed him or else everything would be lost.

When she nodded her head, he felt a profound sense of relief. He motioned for her to go first. He walked behind her, carefully avoiding the debris of the camp. He didn't see any bodies, but he knew that didn't mean that the people were safe. It meant that they were in even greater danger.