Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Of Gods And Men ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Of Gods and Men

A Yu-Gi-Oh!/Stargate: SG-1 Crossover

Written By RogueMoon

Chapter Three

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~Then~

Hathor stretched her arms and arched her back, giving her bedmate an unobstructed view of her ample chest. The slave smiled and lazily ran a finger over her stomach, circling her bellybutton, "Did I please you, my Lady?"

The goddess purred into the man's ear, "We are quite impressed with your skills." She ran her tongue down his cheek, ending at his mouth, where she gave him cause to be breathless. Satisfied that she had him suitably enthralled, she called for a servant to bring her a robe.

As she was dressing, one of most loyal servants, Mnevis, overseer of her Jaffa, bowed his way into the goddess' room. Like Hathor, the man was a Goa'uld; unlike Hathor, he was one of Egeria's brood. But he was loyal, and able to, on occasion, predict what her enemies were doing. On this particular occasion, the goddess' enemy was her husband. Mnevis was smart and loyal, but his chosen host was not the kind Hathor found attractive. The man still favored Unas. Hathor couldn't stand the beasts.

"I have found the information you require, my Queen," the Goa'uld said as he bowed at the waist.

Hathor stood and shooed her servants out of the room, including her now-pouting lover. Making sure that no unwanted ears would hear them, she smiled at her underling, "Good. Tell us everything."

The hulking brute sat on his heels, a more comfortable position for him, and started his report, "The village Rabata's host was taken from was destroyed the same night the slave was taken by Ra's personal guard. The village was called Kuruerna by the slaves. Buried beneath this village were seven items of great power that Ra has now bestowed upon the slave family of Atemu."

Hathor poured herself a drink and thought for a moment, "Do you know anything about these items?"

" A few thousand years ago, just after Ra discovered this planet, the Asgard sent to the System Lords these seven items as a 'peace offering'. One of the minor lords under Sokar, Zork Necrophalis, stole them for himself to use against his master. He activated their abilities and was destroyed. Ra tried to destroy the items, but found he couldn't, so he had them buried within his domain here in Egypt."

"If these items are so dangerous, why did he not leave them buried in the sand?" the goddess asked the air, not really expecting an answer. Ra's reasoning and motivations were a constant mystery to her. "And what powers could they possibly have?"

Mnevis tried to answer her question with one of his own ideas, "Perhaps he wished to have them where he could keep a closer eye on them, my Queen?"

"Perhaps…"

:::::

Bakhura groaned as he came to. His entire body ached from the punishment it had received when hit by the magic of Ra's soldiers and when he had fallen to the ground in unconsciousness from the blow. The noon sun now beating mercilessly upon his body didn't help either.

'Maybe mother can mix a potion to...' the boy started to think before he remembered that his mother was dead, along with the rest of his people. They had been killed the day before by the Pharaoh's men and Ra's soldiers. At least, he thought it was the day before. Tears came to the boy's eyes as he pushed himself to his feet and turned around to face the ruins of his village, 'Why?'

The soldiers had attacked without warning or provocation; sweeping down upon the village in their magic birds that breathed fire and killing the innocents within. Ra's men hadn't even fed any of them to their mounts. That he could have understood. Hunger was something Bakhura was very familiar with.

But the soldiers had herded his people to the center of town only to kill them with blasts of magic from their staffs. The albino survived by hiding, but his family had burned and what remained of their bones left to bleach in the sun. There wasn't enough of them left to give a proper burial to even if he could have recognized their remains from that of the other villagers.

An echoing feeling of confusion and anger rose from the back of the boy's mind.' Why…Why did they kill my family?!' Bakhura sobbed and started the slow trek back to his old home. Bitter tears ran down his face as his thoughts became darker, 'They should have made sure I was dead…'

'But killing… is bad?' a seeming voice of reason rose to question his own values.

'Only killing without a reason. I have a reason.'

The voice was quiet and the boy somehow knew it was searching for the right word to describe a proper reason for killing. The voice was his own, his innocence dying. Bakhura was sure of this. He also realized he was crazy, justifying himself for the crimes he was contemplating. He smiled, not caring.

The voice returned, 'Revenge.'

'Yes, revenge.'

'This will bring… Satisfaction?'

'Yes.'

The voice seemed to understand, 'Killing for a reason is good. Revenge is a good reason.'

Bakhura stopped walking when he came to the doorway of his home, now filled with broken furniture from when the Pharaoh's men had attacked. The wind changed and brought the scent of burnt flesh to the boy's nose. He gagged and nearly threw up as he collapsed to the floor from the stench. It was the most horrifying thing he had ever smelled.

The boy's stomach growled despite the scent, his body more concerned with the physical, rather than the sentimental. The primitive need over-rode the boy's own reaction and the boy became disgusted at himself for feeling that way.

Bakhura picked himself up and stumbled to the food jars. Only one was still intact. The boy found himself wishing that the dried fruit within was the mutilated remains of Akunadin so that he might devour the man's heart, taking from him the promise of the afterlife as the man had done for the villagers. Bakhura started to laugh at the thought.

He had recognized the banner of the High Priest as he rode in after Ra's men had landed their pets. It was absurd to think that he would ever get near the man. Getting close enough to Ra to learn the God's true name seemed a much more attainable goal. The Goddess Isis had already done that, hadn't she?

The seeming voice of reason returned, 'Akunadin created something from the blood of my family and friends, yes? By right of blood, those items he created belong to me as I am the last living member of my family, yes? Maybe…'

'Maybe what?' Bakhura replied to himself.

The voice was quiet, but an idea blossomed in the silence and the boy found himself laughing harder. Akunadin had created something golden in the massacre. He had the Pharaoh's men with him and thus had to have been ordered by the Pharaoh to do this. Bakhura would find a way to take that golden something. He would challenge the king by becoming a king himself and taking what was rightfully his.

He would become the king of thieves and steal back the golden something that had been born from the blood of his parents. He would turn his name into a mockery of both the Pharaoh and the 'greatest' of the gods.

Thief King Ba-Khu-Ra had a rather nice ring to it.

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The Pharaoh lowered his head as a small smile of relief took over his face, "Ra smiles upon our family greatly this day. First he gives Akunadin the means to gift his Pharaoh with power unseen by even he greatest magicians and then he blesses you with his own hand."

Atemu tilted his head to one side, "Our Lord Ra has given High Priest Akunadin more powers?" The Prince had just returned from his visit to the Great Temple, his heart filled with happiness at the truths he had learned from Ra's own mouth. He wanted his mortal father to share in his happiness and had immediately sought the man out upon entering the palace gates. He had found his father in the gardens, relaxing in one of the pools during the mid day heat.

"No, my Son. Ra has given my brother the means to awaken magic within me and six others of my choosing. I have granted my brother one of the items in gratitude for the gift." Akunumkanon placed his hand upon a large pendant that Atemu hadn't noticed before . It was gold and shaped like an inverted pyramid etched with the symbol of Ra. The Pharaoh smiled, "It is called the Puzzle of Unity, or the Millennium Puzzle. It is the most powerful of the seven items Akunadin presented to me at daybreak this morning. He created them yesterday with the blessings of Our Lord Ra. They bring the power of demons unto the hands of mortal men. Our Lord Ra has granted his most favored family this ability by allowing Akunadin to create the Items." The Pharaoh stood and led his son into the shelter of the palace, "I have already given the other six to my most trusted high priests. When you become Pharaoh, I have already decreed that you shall inherit the Puzzle."

"Who else has been granted this fine gift, my father?"

"My brother Akunadin has been given one in return for the gift. I let him choose the item he wished and he humbly took the smallest of the others, the Eye of the Mind. Shimon Muran has been given the Scepter of Power," Akunumkanon sat down at a table dressed for a game of Jackals and Hounds and started to set the pieces up. "Come, my son. Let us play as we talk."

Atemu sat across from his father and placed only half of his pieces on the board, giving his father something of an edge. The Prince was very skilled at games and even at such a disadvantage, the outcome of the game was not in question.

The Pharaoh played his first Jackal and continued to speak, "To High Priest Isis was given the Necklace of Truth. I think it fitting considering her background. The Scales of Justice I gave to High Priest Kharem because he is one of the best judges of character I have ever known and this will enable him to serve better. How is it that you can win so quickly?" Akunumkanon surrendered his last Jackal to his son and flipped the board, taking the Hounds as his army.

Atemu smiled and arranged his forces, again shorting himself, "I was simply trained by the best, my father."

"I suppose you were," the Pharaoh grinned, thinking his son meant him.

The Prince saw his father's ego inflate and took the opportunity to burst the bubble, "It is a good thing Shimon is so capable or I might never have learned to strategize so well."

Akunumkanon frowned and took out one of Atemu's pieces, "If he taught you so well, than why do my hounds have you surrounded?"

"My father! You surprise me," the prince returned with a devilish grin, "surely you can recognize a trap when you walk right into it?" Atemu moved his Jackals and took out the Pharaoh's remaining Hounds for the second time in the last ten minutes.

Akunumkanon sighed and leaned back in his chair as his son marked the win on a nearby tally board, "Why do I even try to win against you anymore, my son?"

The Prince smiled wider and waved a servant over to bring them drinks, "I have often asked that of myself, my father. The only reasoning I can come to is that you enjoy losing."

"That is not so!" the Pharaoh laughed, "I simply wish to build your confidence in your abilities."

"So you lose on purpose?" Atemu questioned, humor in his sarcasm. "My Father, that is scandalous!"

:::::

~Now~

The morning of SG-1's second day at the site started out calmly enough. Their hosts were early risers and had already used the bathroom, leaving the facilities to the newcomers. Samantha called first dibs and headed straight for it without waiting for an answer.

"Bet she uses all the hot water and leaves the cold for us," O'Neill said to no one in particular.

Teal'c, being his usual self, took the statement at face value, "There is no hot water here, O'Neill. The stream is unheated. She must use cold water as well."

Several amused snorts followed, only one of them came from Daniel.

"Thank you, Teal'c," Jack replied. "That was supposed to be sarcasm."

Daniel took the opportunity to breach the subject he had wanted to talk about yesterday, but had been a little distracted by Ryou's chastising to say anything about, "So, Bakura, you said you'd tell me more about Atemu. I don't know much more than what was said in the Book of the Dead and little bits and pieces from a story or two."

Ryou shrugged, a mischievous smile on his lips as his words came out saccharine-sweet, "Yugi knows much more than I do. Why don't you tell him some more about the Pharaoh, Yugi-kun?"

Yugi froze as his friend turned the attention of the room upon him. After returning Ryou's smile with a glare, he attempted to relax, "What do you want to know, Jackson-san?"

"Well, everything. Just start wherever and go from there."

Bakura chuckled, "Everything, Yugi-kun. How about you start with the poetry?"

Yugi's glare was at double strength, "How about not?"

"Poetry?" Daniel inquired, curiosity laden in his voice. "What poetry?"

Yugi hung his head and waved at the walls, "Atemu was something of a romantic and his priests decided to immortalize him by covering the walls of this place with his poetry. But you'll see that soon enough, when we go through the final corridor."

"What else? There has to be more than just poetry."

"No, really," Ryou grinned, "That's all that we found on the walls. Atemu's poetry. Really, really bad poetry."

"It's not that bad," Yugi murmured, his voice deepening slightly.

Daniel shook his head, "No, I meant there has to be more to Atemu than just poetry. What else do you know?"

Yugi sighed and rifled through his bag, looking for a clean notebook, "Well, Atemu was considered to be a great Pharaoh. Beloved of his people…"

Ryou snorted.

"Aside from the criminals that is. He was the son of Pharaoh Akunumkanon and was also the son of Ra. When Akunumkanon died, he took the throne and reigned for about eight years before dying in battle. He had no children, so his blood line ended with him."

The room went silent as Daniel and the others waited for more information. Upon realizing that they wouldn't be getting any, Jackson spoke, "Is that it? I mean, there has to be more, right? Why is he called Atemu? That's the name of a god referenced in the book of the dead, not a pharaoh."

"Maybe his father had high hopes?" Yugi replied innocently. This sent Marik and Ryou into fits of laughter, shortly followed by the Japanese boy, who couldn't keep a straight face for very long.

Sugoroku narrowed his eyes at the boys and cleared his throat, "Yugi, the joke's only funny if you know the reference. Some of the people here don't, so be considerate."

Yugi looked suitably admonished, but the other two kept snickering as they packed up their shoulder bags for the day's work. The members of SG-1 were noticeably confused so Yugi took it upon himself to try and worm in a 'proper' explanation, "If you knew any Japanese, you'd know my name means 'to play', or 'game'. Jii-chan named me that because he's a game freak and wrote it down on the birth certificate faster than mother could write down her choice of a name. The really odd thing is that I'm as much a game freak as Jii-chan so my name is fitting. Jii-chan hoped I would be into games as much as he was, and named me Yugi. The joke's a reference."

Daniel grinned, "I can see where the joke comes from. Still, I'd like to know more about Atemu."

Ryou rolled his eyes and stood, "That what we're all here to find out, isn't it? The whole point of this survey? So when we learn more, you'll learn more." The boy shrugged his bag onto his shoulder and Marik joined him at the door, "We're going to set up the lanterns in the final corridor. See you all in a little while."

Yugi and Sugoroku waved at his retreating backside. When he was gone, Teal'c brought his own question before the short boy, "YugiMotou, that pendant you wear; where did you receive it?"

Yugi glanced down at the puzzle and then back at Teal'c, "This is a memento of my grandfather, Murray-san."

Jii-chan frowned, "I'm not dead yet."

"You will be. All old people die sooner or later," The boy grinned.

"You'll fall to the curse if you keep wearing it."

"We've been through this: you can't sell it. It's a memento of my grandpa."

"Again, I'm not dead yet! I ought to break that thing and make you solve it again for that comment."

Yugi stood and put his pack on his shoulder, "I love you, too Jii-chan. I'm going to help Ryou-kun and Marik-kun put up the lights."

"Solve what?" Carter asked as she rejoined the room and the men of SG-1 picked up their bathing supplies.

"The Millennium Puzzle," Sugoroku replied as Yugi walked off. "The pendant Yugi wears. I found it in the false tomb of Pharaoh Atemu about forty years ago. About twelve years ago Yugi found it gathering dust on one of the back-stock shelves of my shop. He liked puzzles and games and since I had never been able to solve it and had even given up on it, I let him have it. Took him eight years to finally put it together. He was fourteen when he finally solved it."

Jackson stopped in his tracks, "You said you found it in the false tomb of Atemu?"

"Yes," the man blinked, "I didn't know it at the time and it caved in soon after I got out. The puzzle and its storage box was the only thing I could salvage from the trip. After facing all those traps, all I got was a gold box with the pieces of a gold puzzle inside it. But it's brought Yugi luck and happiness, so I guess it was fair trade. Yugi still carries its storage box. I think he has his Duel Monsters deck inside…"

"Where was the false tomb?"

Sugoroku thought for a moment, grinning as he remembered that particular trip and the girl he had met in town just after nearly losing his life to the traps," It was found in the infamous Valley of the Kings, burial place of such legends as Tutankhamun and Ramesses. Have you ever been there? Oh, wait, you said you've only been to Abydos, didn't you. After we're done here, you might want to take a trip down to Naquda and Thebes, and then to the Valley. They are all great burial sites. Or perhaps we can convince the Ishtars to let us barrow their private jet to fly down to Saqqara for a few days and you can look over the step pyramids there? Those are a little closer than the Valley. I especially like the tomb of King Unas. He had boat pits built next to his so he could go sailing in the afterlife. There used to be a lake near there before the desert sucked it dry."

Daniel smiled, "I'd like to that. But I don't think Mr. Ishtar likes me too much. Maybe you can breach the subject to him?"

"I think I could manage that..."

"Great. I'm going to ask him if me and the others can visit Harem later this week, when the supply guy comes back. Maybe we can make a day of it then."

:::::

Daniel stared at the walls, not sure if he should be laughing or crying. Laughing because the worst possible prose was etched onto every inch of the wall, forcing one to read it if they looked anywhere but at the floor. Crying for the same reason. If he had thought to get the opinions of his teammates, he would have seen a rare smile gracing Teal'c's lips as the Jaffa went for the first choice.

Further down the hall, Ryou was rubbing his temples in pain, "If ever there was a worst possible torture in all the universe… I think this could top it."

O'Neill stared at the wall, not understanding a thing, "Why? What's it say?"

"You don't want to know," the joint voices of Yugi, Ryou, Marik and Daniel chorused in reply.

"Now I have to know," Jack grinned and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall.

The albino groaned and tapped a point on the wall about a foot above his head, "This is the beginning of a particularly… wrong, couplet. I can't figure out why they even put it up. The other ones, in the other halls, those I could see. They were all praises to one god or another or songs about the Nile, stuff like that. This is no where close."

"Maybe this was the harem hall," Marik laughed from further down. "It would explain the one I'm looking at."

Samantha, trotted down to that end, "What's it say?"

Yugi cringed in horrified anticipation as Yami silently pleaded to whomever would listen for Marik to become suddenly mute. The Arabic boy grinned and cleared his throat, as if he was on stage and about to give the performance of a lifetime, "I will paraphrase for a more modern translation, if you please…"

"Oh, please don't," Yugi moaned. "We've put up with enough of it already. We really don't need to hear it out loud."

Ryou spoke a quick question in ancient Egyptian, thinking only he, Yugi and Marik would understand. Yugi's voice deepened slightly as he growled back a reply, "Na-ney. Hasshak."

"Mikta," Ryou returned with sneer.

The short boy glared at his friend and his eyes flashed almost too quickly to catch, as if it was a trick of the light. SG-1 exchanged glances and Daniel and Teal'c met each other's eyes, fully understanding the exchange that took place. Both Sam and Teal'c could feel the presence of the Goa'uld within the two boys for a brief instance before it disappeared, as Sugoroku broke into

the middle of the blossoming argument.

"I know you've been cooped up with each other for a while, but that's no excuse to be at each other's throats. Now calm down," the old man sent a stern glace to both of the boys, who immediately shared a crestfallen pout. "Say you're sorry."

"Gomen," the two muttered.

"What was that? My old age must be getting to me, I didn't quite hear that."

Yugi rolled his eyes and spoke clearly, "Gomen nasai, Bakura-san."

"Gomen nasai, Motou-san," Ryou replied with a grin, his good humor returned.

Daniel cleared his throat and drew the attention of the corridor to himself, trying to be sly, "So, what was that you just said? I don't think I know that language."

Marik snorted, "I doubt you ever will. It's an old dialect of Arabic."

"Really, which one?"

"Why do you care?" the blond gave the man a withering look.

Jackson shrugged, "Well, I know almost thirty spoken languages, and a lot more written… I'd just like to add another to my list."

The original survey crew stared in wonder. Ryou blinked in awe, "You… Can speak thirty languages?"

"Just abut thirty, yes."

"Fluently?"

"Yes."

"Cool," Yugi and Ryou said together and those with naquadah in their blood felt the return of the Goa'uld presence within the boys. Yugi got the first question in, followed closely by Ryou's own tirade, and soon no questions were understandable as they went on to bug the man about his knowledge. Daniel couldn't answer them fast enough and found himself at a loss for words amid the onslaught.

"Kids! Kids, quiet down!" O'Neill broke in after Jackson sent him a look of desperation. "Danny-boy will answer all your questions later. After we get done here. You know, during dinner. When we stop working."

The boys sighed in resignation and the Goa'uld presence disappeared once more. Marik shook his head and went back to studying the walls with Sugoroku. Carter and O'Neill exchanged another look with Teal'c, an unspoken agreement to discuss this later going between them.

"Speaking of not working," Jackson said. "Mr. Ishtar, I was wondering if I could go to your home and visit Harem when the supply bus comes later this week. Although we've talked, I haven't actually seen the man in years. I'd kind of like to."

Marik glanced at him out of the corner of his eye and shrugged, "I guess. I'll let Ishizu know tonight when I e-mail her."

Sugoroku caught Daniel's eye and winked, "Well, since he's going to visit a friend, how about we make a day of it? Why not go to Saqqura or Giza for the day? I know you boys could use a break and Harem could come if he wanted… What do you think Yugi? You haven't been to Giza yet. The Sphinx is amazing." The old man knew exactly who to ask to get what he wanted.

The short boy grinned and nodded his head, turning his big pleading eyes on his friend. The Arabic boy sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to hold out against Yugi, especially when the boy could get Ishizu to back him up in a heartbeat, "I'll talk to my sister."

:::::

"General Hammond?" one of the newer interns trying to climb his way up the martial ladder knocked on the door of his commanding officer's office. Hammond glanced up and waved the man in. "Sir. You asked to be notified as soon as SG-1 sent back their preliminary report."

The General nodded and held out his hand for the manila folder the intern carried. The man handed it over, saluted, then turned and left his commanding officer to go over the information. Hammond opened the folder and

read over the two page preliminary and then headed down to the Control Room. Once there, he ordered his people to contact the Tok'ra and the Asgard.

It didn't take long for the Goa'uld resistance to dial in and send their signal through. When the wormhole formed, Jacob/Selmak trotted through, waving to his old friend who was waiting at the bottom of the ramp. Hammond smiled and embraced the man in a brief hug before getting down to business, "Jacob, Selmak, welcome back. First off, your daughter says hello."

Jacob chuckled, "That's good to hear, George. But I assume you didn't contact us just to tell me that."

"No, I sure didn't. Actually, Major Carter needs me to find out if Selmak or any of the other Tok'ra have heard of a Goa'uld by the name of Atemu. We'll also be inquiring the same of the Asgard, as soon as they get back to us."

Jacob's head dropped as he and Selmak switched places and the human

let the symbiote take control, "I have heard of this Atemu, but only in passing. He was mentioned once briefly by Mnevis, one of our first members, when we were talking idly of the past, and his service to Ra in particular. Why do you need to know about him?"

"SG-1 is currently investigating a Goa'uld hiding out on Earth, and they believe it may very well be this Atemu. We'd appreciate as much information about him as possible. If he is still on Earth and running around like Seth did, then we need to know what kind of surroundings he favors. Also, we need to know of any Goa'uld that might have been a follower of his. The team has confirmed

the presence of two adolescent symbiotes and we need to know if he had a Queen loyal to him that may still be alive and spawning."

"How do you know they are adolescents?"

"They don't seem to have full control; even Teal'c is having problems sensing their presence unless they try to exert themselves. He says that kind of control fluctuation is a sign of a symbiote taking a host before they're fully developed. He's not sure what's causing the problems sensing the naquadah, but he's positive the Goa'uld aren't strong enough to have full control."

Selmak nodded and his head hung once more as Jacob again took control of his

body, "Selmak and I will have a talk with Mnevis. Find out what he knows, once

we get a hold of him. I don't really know how long that'll take. But as soon as I can, I'll let you know. I wish we could talk longer, but we should really get back. There's still some rebel Jaffa who don't seem to get that we aren't Goa'uld. That we aren't out to enslave them." The older man pulled a piece of paper from

one of his pockets, "Can you send me here? Oh, and tell Sam I said hi."

"Will do," Hammond nodded and went up to the control room, giving the technicians the address to dial out to.

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End Chapter Three

Some of the Stargate information this chapter is based on, and contains, comes from the pages of the Stargate SG-1 Roleplaying Game core rulebook and Living Gods: Stargate System Lords supplement. Mnevis included.

For those who haven't read my story 'The Fourth God' (shamelessplugshamelessplug), Ba-Khu-Ra can be translated to: Soul and Spirit of Ra. (Ba= soul, Khu= spirit, Ra= Ra) Just thought you'd like to know so you guys don't think I'm writing it that way just to get you to pronounce it correctly. ~.^