Good day to all of you. I've been gone a long while and if you've read any of my other stories you know that I'm not the best at keeping up with my stories due to how busy my schedule is but this little parasite invaded my mind and I need to remove it. Unfortunately there aren't any Tok'Ra around to help me out so I'm just going to write as much as I can and see if I can finish this.

I have an outline written that covers at least 30 chapters so here's to hoping that it keeps going after that. You're thoughts and reviews are most welcome however ruthless or comforting they may be so have at and tell me what you think. This is purely Stargate and is slightly based on the story Empress in the Shadows by Voider but I added my own spin. There won't be any off the wall improvements and I will be as loyal to the source material as possible with timelines and information. Obviously this is AU.

The premise is in the description so take from that what you will however I do not condone the actions of the Protagonist. They are a Goa'uld and you know how they are if you're here.

Anyways, enough of my babbling and let's get on with Chapter 1 of Eclipse!

I was swimming. The currents of the water moving around me in waves across my skin. It was this existence that I loathed, to be stuck. I had been taken from my Queen and now I sit in a pool before my new master. I knew his name, his face. His mannerisms. All of it within me for I was his child, or rather he provided the genetic code to create me. Our species, the Goa'uld could see memories not our own. Eons of memories that led all the way back to our time on our homeworld.

It wasn't all bad though, for I had been chosen. Fate selected me to be given a host and I would not pass off that chance only to be eaten at the Summit. I knew there was a chance that I could be selected for such a purpose. It happened in the past, even if our Lord Ra had deemed it unnecessary with our newfound host source, Tau'ri. It gave us the chance to be reborn. A golden age for our kind after the deaths of our forefathers. Few remembered that time and fewer still could say they were old enough to have made a difference.

I writhed with a hiss as a hand caressed my body. I was so small, I wanted to feel the power of a host, feel the strength of being within one of the slaves. To be a God. It was my destiny to stand among the Goa'uld System Lords. One day, one day I would see it happen. I would make it happen.

The feeling of the hand gripping my body caused me to writhe under its absolute influence. For something to pull me from the safety of the pool, my instincts screaming at me that feeling air around my body is wrong. Screaming out in defiance as is my instinct, I soon relaxed as a human came into view. A non-blended human. My form lurched forward but the hand around my form prevented me from moving. The human was a fairly tall and ruggedly handsome man of a darker complexion. His onyx beard weighed down to his chest and he wore a long robe that fell to just above his ankles. His torso was covered by a thin fabric that wrapped around his body like a veil. Overall the host was most worthy to me and suited my tastes.

Goa'uld, such as me, were genderless. The only Goa'uld that were not were the Queens as they specifically favored and even required female hosts. This man before me though would skew my tastes towards male hosts and he was an excellent specimen indeed.

As I was brought closer to the priest, his hair pulled to the side, I was finally released. It only took me a moment before I was burying my jaws into his neck and wrapping around his spine. I was surrounded by pleasure. Fresh, oxygenated blood. The sensation of wrapping around the spine of the host. All of it fueling my fervent desire to control. For a body that would soon become my own.

After securing myself around his spine, I sent tendrils up to meld with his brain and my mind was overtaken by pain. White hot, excruciating pain. It took me a moment to gain full control of the host nervous system and shut down the pain receptors as the screams of my host in agony filled my mind. Deciding to deal with him later, I shoved him into a corner of my mind and put his consciousness to rest. A mercy most other Goa'uld would not abide but I didn't care for them. Only for the here and now, me and mine.

I could feel it, connected to my host's brain, my mind becoming his and in turn his becoming mine. It was all there, eyes, ears, nose, speech center. All of it was now mine.

I found myself staring at the floor. My head lowered as I knelt before my progenitor and first Lord. His Lord Marduk, a Lieutenant of Lord Enki. I was to be his assistant, I knew that much. It wasn't hard to decipher from the genetic memories I had received from my Queen. I knew I had to remain kneeled before him, otherwise I would risk my life and future. No, I had to play nice. I had to serve him and garner his support. He was powerful and I needed him in order to further my own ambitions.

Marduk was one of the more reserved Goa'uld Underlords. One of three serving under Enki and his Queen Damkina. Both of which served as System Lords. The highest rank among the Goa'uld that one can achieve in this age. Answering only to the Supreme System Lord Ra, they stood head and shoulders above the rest. I had to give them respect to both their power and age as most of them had seen the rise of our great empire from the Unas all the way to now. Tens of thousands of years these old ones have been alive and it was due to their age and power that I had a begrudging respect for them.

Now was not the time for dwelling on the past though as my new Lord, Marduk, now stood before me.

"Rise, what is your name?" His voice layered and metallic grated against my ears. I did not like that sound for whatever reason but it was a show. A farce. It wasn't impossible to turn off the effects our physiology had on the host but we as a race wanted to live as the God's the humans, Tau'ri, worshiped. Just another part of the game we all played. Personally I hated it, why act as arrogant as we do when it could just as easily mean our downfall. If and when the Tau'ri revolt, that arrogance would be our undoing. Maybe not now or a thousand years from now, but the time would come and our playing God would catch up to us. I would not allow that to happen. I wished for power and prestige. To be above all others but I would not allow, could not allow myself to become arrogant enough that my own hubris would allow for my defeat and death.

A time would come when we would have to change our ways to remain in power but I would wait. Wait for the right time and set myself up and when that time comes. I would be ready to ensure my place in the galaxy. I would not allow myself to be caught off guard and the first step was keeping my arrogance in check.

Rising to my feet, my eyes pulsing with a white hot glow as I take in my Lord's visage. He stood taller than me by close to a foot. His eyes a piercing golden brown as they raked across my body. Taking in every detail as I did his. He was cleanly shaven and wore an ornamental robe weaved with golden fibers and dyed in purples, reds and blues. A beautiful contrast of color that accentuated his status as a God of this land. His robes fell just below his ankles which, from my host's memories, was a sign that he was of a higher status. The length of the robe denotes his status; the longer the robe the higher the status.

I bowed my head respectfully towards my new master before raising it and allowing the release of a chemical that caused my eyes to glow a bright, white hot.

"My Lord, I am known as Nabu." A cheshire grin spread across his face as he absorbed my name.

"A fitting name, who do you serve?" This was to be my first test. A failed blending would be revealed if I messed up my next few words.

"I serve my Lord Marduk, his Lady Sarpanitum." His hum of approval being all I needed to know I had passed his trial with ease.

"Then serve me well, there is much to discuss my child. I will show you to your quarters. Tomorrow, we will meet and discuss your role in my empire." I was then led through his temple to my chamber. A lavish display of gold against stone walling and furniture that would befit any God. As his first child, I would be given many opportunities that those to follow would not. Opportunities that I would not hesitate to take full advantage of. This would be my new home for the coming centuries and I was not going to simply lounge around and do nothing as my predecessors had come to do. No, I was going to take charge and prove my worth. Many a boon lay bereft of use because of the arrogance of my species.

Looking around, I couldn't help but feel that the room had been set up with great care. The placement of the furniture maximizing the space utilized. The bed was made with goldlined silks with dyes of royal purple and the walls were mounted with tapestries of Marduk and Sarpanitum. It was almost that of a favored child. This would be interesting indeed.

I allowed a small smile to cross my face as I let my suspicions settle within my mind. This was going to make things very interesting and exceedingly more difficult. That, however, was a thought for another time. Today I was told to rest and rest I would. Perhaps, after familiarizing myself with my new duties, I should have a conversation with Abdul, my host, and see what use he would be.

A sigh escaped my throat and as if a steady weight rested on my shoulders allowed myself to drift towards the comfort of the bed. Goa'uld need not rest or recover but it was good for the host to rest occasionally. The benefits leading to a sharper mind and a clearer mentality. I would not fall to the hubris of allowing myself to think that I was immune to the disease of exhaustion nor would I allow it to prevent me from taking such moments to rest. Something tells me that rest would come in short supply in the near future and so should take full advantage while the opportunity presented itself.

Yes, tonight I would rest and tomorrow I would begin my journey. My new life as the faithful subordinate of Marduk and Sarpanitum.

I know this was a rather short chapter. Some will be longer, some will be shorter but I chopped them up so they all convey some action or plot point. Please be patient and see where this goes, I expect to have about 3 chapters out before things slow down but for now I will push them out as quickly as I can write them which might be next week or tomorrow but they will be out and when I get into a rhythm I will create a more consistent schedule. Thank you all for reading this story and thank you for your time.

Last note: If you read and enjoyed this story you might also see that there are plenty of grammar and perspective issues. If you would like to be a Beta Reader my discord is below. Please reach out as I am in need of a Beta Reader and would be honored to bring someone onto the team.

Mariposa de Medianoche

Farewell and see you all next chapter! 3