I followed behind the Elder as we once more arrived on the world of Dendred. It had been barely a few days since I had last been here, but things already looked significantly different. Vibrant colors decorated the walls of the Sanctum – the large, colosseum like structure built to house the Stargate.
Unlike before, the large metal entrance was held open and a constant stream of people approached the Stargate. Many of them were bringing food, but just as many were simply walking around – as if to get a view of the Gate itself.
A Resistance member I didn't recognize walked up to us.
"Welcome back, Elder James. Is there anything I can help you with?"
The Elder smiled.
"No, we're just back early. We'll be heading over to the Sanctum to wait for the others."
The man nodded.
"Then let me escort you there."
"That would be much appreciated, Andreas."
We silently followed behind him as we made our way through the streets. The crowd dispersed somewhat as we gained distance from the Stargate. Eventually, the site of Eris' Ha'tak came into full view. Just a few days prior I had been leaving this ship. Now I was back, and this time it was under new, much more pleasant, management.
We followed Andreas into the ship and to the bridge. To my surprise – and the apparent surprise of Elder James as well – we found Ma'chello, Eudora, and Arktos at the table. Ma'chello was the first one to notice our entrance.
"Arthur! It's good to see you're among us once more. I hope you're doing well."
I smiled.
"I am, especially with Ares, no longer a concern. Thank you."
Arktos remained stoic and turned to me.
"You have done me a great service, and put yourself in serious harm while doing so. If there is anything you require of me then do not hesitate to ask."
There was a surprising amount of sincerity contained in his voice. I nodded to him once – which he returned in kind – and found a chair to sit in alongside Elder James.
Arktos was the first to speak.
"Now that all of you are here, my people have come to a decision. We will be leaving Mycena."
Before anyone could get a word out, he continued.
"It will be soon. Some time in the coming days."
There was a moment of silence at the table. Everyone suspected that this would be coming. Ares might have been a minor System Lord, but he was still a System Lord. It would only be a matter of time before someone realized that he had disappeared. When people started searching for him, the first place they would look would be his first world; Mycena.
"Where do you plan to go?" I asked
Arktos remained stoic as he replied.
"We hope to find the Sodan."
I leaned back in my chair while Elder James nodded in understanding. Meanwhile, Ma'chello and Eudora seemed rather confused.
"I am not familiar with these 'Sodan'."
Arktos nodded.
"I would be more surprised if you were." He gave myself and Elder James a glance; "legend goes that they were once mighty warriors in service of Ishkur. One day, they declared the Goa'uld 'False Gods' and fled."
Ma'chello raised an eyebrow.
"It sounds like you don't really have any idea where you're going."
A smile graced Arktos' face.
"You could say that, yes, but it is better to die following a dream than live as a slave. Ares is no longer a concern and I am free. I will not return to the Goa'uld – not while I am still alive."
He continued.
"I must ask for a favor from everyone at this table. Ares often spoke about his mistrust of Ra; about how Ra always seemed to know the location of every ship in the Goa'uld Empire's Fleet. I have no doubt that part of that was simply paranoia, but I cannot discount that he was correct."
Ma'chello's jaw was visibly clenched.
"We will need to start stripping the ships apart. That is the only way to know for sure."
Arktos nodded. They both knew; if the ships were being tracked then Arktos' followers would not be the only ones in danger. It would mean that Dendred was compromised as well.
Elder James nodded as well.
"While my people do not have much knowledge of Goa'uld technology, we will help how we can."
Arktos let out a deep sigh.
"Good. Onto the second subject."
He turned to Elder James.
"You claimed that one of Ares' Goa'uld was a Tok'ra. The one you spoke of has denied this and I have no proof – other than your word – of your claim."
Elder James nodded.
"One of my men recorded her sending a message. During the conversation she specifically mentioned failing to meet with a Jolinar of Malkshur."
Arktos narrowed his eyes.
"Indeed? May I hear this recording?"
The Elder pulled out his compad. The short recording began to play.
"...Enyalius and Korybas have begun to ramp up their attacks on other Goa'uld holdings. Athena has lost all known vessels. Contact with Jolinar of Malkshur failed. She was likely captured…"
Silence fills the room before Arktos nods.
"That is sufficient. Even if she is not a Tok'ra, she is still an infiltrator for another Goa'uld."
I hesitated for a moment, before speaking to Arktos.
"If they are a Tok'ra as we suspect, then they might be more comfortable speaking to someone who isn't a Jaffa."
He seemed to think for a moment.
"A reasonable suggestion."
He turned to me.
"Would you like to speak to them?"
My eyebrows shot up. I turned to Elder James who nodded lightly at me.
"If you'll permit it. I'm rather curious about the Goa'uld and I haven't exactly had the chance to speak with any of them yet."
Arktos turned to the two members of the resistance.
"Would you two be interested in participating?"
Ma'chello shrugged.
"I am afraid I have other matters to attend to. Eudora, this is more your field of expertise anyway."
She nodded.
"If you'll have me I'll be coming as well."
Arktos looked around.
"Very well. If we are all in agreement then I see no reason to remain here."
Once more he turned to Ma'chello.
"Would you please inform your men that we will be making a return trip to Mycena?"
Ma'chello nodded and saw us off. With the meeting over, we began the walk back to the Sanctum. Elder James spoke to me in a hushed silence as we walked – he made sure we were outside of the hearing range of Arktos and Eudora who were ahead of us.
"Is there anything else that you can remember about the Sodan?"
I thought hard, but there really wasn't all that much.
"They worship the Ancient's as Gods, live on a world that was probably once an Ancient outpost, and heavily use Ancient personal cloaking devices. That's all I remember."
Then it struck me, something that might actually be helpful.
"They semi-regularly raided Goa'uld Strongholds for young symbiotes."
That finally got the Elder thinking.
"If nothing else, it'll be useful for when they start searching."
We soon arrived at the Sanctum. Soon enough, all seven chevrons were dialed and I found myself once more on Mycena.
The Stargate had been moved into the very center of the city. At least 50 Jaffa surrounded the gate, pointing their Ma'Tok Staffs at us. The moment they saw Arktos, all of them raised their staff and as one shouted.
"Jaffa, Kree!"
Arktos nodded and gestured for one to come forward.
"Have our guests prepared. We'll be interrogating her once more."
The Jaffa immediately ran off towards Ares' former flagship and Arktos gestured for us to follow. The city itself appeared much emptier than when Ares was still in command. Whereas there had once been a significantly larger number of servants, tending to the Jaffa, the number had decreased by about half. I spoke to Arktos as we walked.
"I'm surprised so many of those who stayed are not Jaffa."
Arktos nodded.
"Those who follow me do not mistreat those who take care of us."
He let out a dark chuckle.
"Tell me, do you know of the System Lord Apollo?"
I shook my head.
"Just legends. He was a god of Music and the brother of Artemis."
Arktos nodded.
"My first mission as a Jaffa of Ares was to hold a world that Apollo had set his sight on. Apollo rushed in and defeated our commander. I knew the bastard though; the night after the battle, as they were celebrating, I provided poison to his most trusted servants. The very same night we took his head and killed all of his warriors as they slept."
He stopped and looked up at the flagship looming over us.
"Apollo forced those who he chose as servants to kill those closest to them. If they refused, then all of their family would be killed alongside them. He was an extreme example among the Goa'uld, but it is still best not to tempt fate. I earned Ares' favor by returning to him with Apollo's head."
He turned to me.
"Those who make enemies of those who they command will not be rulers for long."
For a long moment he stared at me. I gulped once but nodded. This was a man who had clawed his way to the top in a world that he hated. He had learned how the Goa'uld functioned; he had learned how to exploit it for his own gain. We were just lucky that he considered us his allies.
He patted me once on the shoulder and we continued into the flagship. The gilded hallways were the same in every Ha'tak. I followed Arktos to a set of rooms near the middle of the pyramidal ship. Dozens of doors lined each hallway, with a Jaffa standing before every single door.
Arktos approached one of the doors and turned towards me.
"She's in there."
I nodded.
"Are you really sure that I should be the one going in?"
Elder James chuckled.
"It's fine."
Arktos nodded encouragingly as well. Before I entered, I had a thought.
"Would it be alright if I saw the materials you confiscated from her first?"
Arktos quickly ordered a Jaffa to go fetch the He returned with a bag filled with various knick knacks and pieces of jewelry. After shuffling through the box, I quickly found what I was looking for. Attached to a necklace, was a purple and blue ring with a black gem mounted on the outside.
Carefully picking it up, I turn once more to Arktos.
"I need this."
He raises an eyebrow, but nods soon enough.
"Very well. Keep it as a gift."
First Perk Activated. Partial Blueprint Acquired: Mirin‐Nal (Hidden Ring)
Beam Focuser
I nodded my thanks to Arktos and prepared to enter the room. He motioned for the Jaffa at the entrance to open the door and I walked in.
Sitting at a table was a young woman who appeared to be no older than 20 or 25. She was dressed in rather ordinary clothes – something I knew most goa'uld would despise wearing. Her eyes immediately turned to me and I took a seat across from her.
- - -
POV: Isetri and Ren
We stared at the boy who sat before us. He was strange; he had naquadah flowing in his blood, that much was certain, but it wasn't the normal sensation you'd feel from someone who had once been a host.
Things had already been strange when all those working under Ares were thrown in cells. It became even stranger when the Jaffa claimed they had overthrown Ares; what was worse was that they believed I was a Tok'ra.
The boy before me placed something on the table. I looked down to see my ring. Ren's heart clenched. We sat in silence for a moment.
"You are a Tok'ra, are you not?"
I knew how I had to act.
"You dare accuse me of being one of those…"
As I began to speak, he pulled out a tablet of black metal. A light green light flashed from the device and I heard a voice – my voice – begin to speak. I froze mid-sentence.
"...Enyalius and Korybas have begun to ramp up their attacks on other Goa'uld holdings. Athena has lost all known vessels. Contact with Jolinar of Malkshur failed. She was likely captured…"
I was stunned. How could they have possibly… they must have been watching me. My eyes narrowed on the boy in front of me. He continued from where he left off.
"Ares, Enyalius, and Korybas have all been captured. We know that you are Tok'ra," he picked up the ring, "let's pretend we didn't have that recording. This is enough to identify you."
The ring… how did he know about the ring? I clenched my teeth. There was nothing else I could do. Either they would kill me, or I would sit here. We stared at each other for nearly two minutes before the boy finally spoke again.
"Excuse me for one moment."
It was about three minutes later that he returned. We hadn't moved as we waited. Calmly, he returned to his seat and looked me in the eye. His words would have made me stumble had I been standing up.
"We know where to find Egeria."