Chapter Text
The Ascended Being stood back, watching, aware of every thought and movement made by the warriors around him. The Jaffa moved the heavy stones methodically, studying each area thoroughly before moving on. It was strange work for warriors, digging through ruins, but their "god" had demanded it, and so they dug. They had already found the corpse of the Goa'uld. His outfit was strange to the Jaffa, but the ribbon device on his hand was an obvious clue to his identity. They had brought the body to the ha'tak, and the underlord Goa'uld there confirmed they had found Marduk. Although they scoured the area immediately around the Goa'uld's corpse, the Jaffa had not found their prize.
The search had now led to the outlying corridors. So many areas had been buried by the rubble, but each was searched with strict intent and thorough care. No one wished to be the one to displease their god–-the god that caused other gods to tremble in fear at the mere sounding of his name. No, these Jaffa were secure in their faith and apprehensive at failure. So, they worked.
Finally, after finding more decaying corpses scattered throughout the temple, they found the one who held the object of their quest. Their shock was apparent that a mere Tau'ri, bones shattered under the stones, cradled the device of the gods. The warrior who had taken on the distasteful task of searching the body itself cried out in triumph as he held it aloft, carelessly dropping the corpse at his feet. The other Jaffa wiped the dirt from their faces, pleased their mission was over, jealous it was not them who held the prize. Their comrade would be richly rewarded by their god Anubis. He held the Eye of Tiamat.
The Ascended Being watched stonily, unseen, unfelt, as the Jaffa raced back to their ship to report their success. Old memories returned of when he too walked these corridors as flesh and blood, and new concerns arose at what rediscovery of the Eye would mean. There was nothing more to be seen here; he must consider this matter further.
Before departing however, he paused and ghosted his presence over the human remains the Jaffa had abandoned so carelessly. Colonel Zukhov had given his life to protect the Eye of Tiamat from the Goa'uld. The Russian colonel had sacrificed himself to save an American: someone in a different time and place would have been Zukhov's enemy, someone the Ascended Being once known as Daniel Jackson considered one of the best friends of this life or any other. So this pause was appropriate, a wish that Zukhov's soul may have some peace, that his sacrifice would not have been in vain.