INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — SUNSET
A pair of Heru Guards stand within the stargate chamber, facing the gate itself, which stands open, the chevrons and engravings aglow, its torus filled with rippling silver energy.
A TALL FIGURE emerges from the stargate, the white glow enveloping it fading as it regains three-dimensional form. Clad in a hooded robe of some shimmering black material, the figure is nine feet tall, the fingers of its hands exceptionally long. As it pulls its hood back, though, it reveals itself to be — if not strictly Homo sapiens — still a member of the same genus. Stepping aside, the tall figure allows SIX MORE INDIVIDUALS to step through the portal. These beings are short, squat, and muscular — dwarvish — but also still of human extraction. Between them they carry a large crate.
As the dwarves set the crate down, one of the Heru Guards approaches the crate. At the lanky being's command, the dwarves lift the crate lid away, exposing the bricks inside. The bricks are of iridescent gray crystal — weapons-grade naqahdah.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — SUNSET
Faizah is seated at the long table, engaged in a senet match with one of her servants. Moving an obelisk-shaped game piece, she takes one of her opponent's. At that moment, Sihathor and two other Heru Guards enter the room.
SIHATHOR: The shipment of naqahdah has arrived, Lady Faizah.
FAIZAH: (concentrating on game) Send the bomb down to the stargate.
With one commanding look from Sihathor, the two falcon-headed guards collect the tray bearing the nuclear bomb and head off for the ring transporter.
EXT. SHE WHO MAULS — SUNSET
More than a dozen figures emerge from the desert en route for the pyramid. Kawalsky, Feretti, Brown, and the Nagadan kids walk forward with their hands behind their heads, a pair of armed Heru Guards shepherding them from behind. There is no sign of Daniel or O'Neal among the captives.
INT. PYRAMID/ANTECHAMBER — SUNSET
Silver light cascades through the rings and the pair of Heru Guards with the bomb materialize inside. As the transporter deactivates, the rings retracting back into the ceiling, the Heru Guards head for the gate chamber.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — SUNSET
The Heru Guards carry the bomb-laden tray over to the open crate of naqahdah bricks. Lifting the tray up, they set it down atop the bricks, then proceed to head back out.
INT. PYRAMID/ENTRANCE HALL — SUNSET
Inside the entrance hall, the pair of Heru Guards and their captives make their way into the antechamber. As they approach, the two Heru Guards who delivered the bomb step out. An armoured warrior lifts his hand, commanding them to halt. One of the shepherding Heru Guards approaches this warrior.
HERU GUARD #1: (subtitled) We caught the First Worlders and their helpers attempting to sneak back into the city. We've brought them here, as Lady Faizah commanded.
HERU GUARD #2: (scrutinizes captives; subtitled) Where are the commander and scribe?
HERU GUARD #1: (subtitled) Killed in the firefight.
HERU GUARD #2: (subtitled) Why didn't you report their capture?
HERU GUARD #1: (subtitled) Our transmitters were disabled.
The Heru Guard studies the other, blue-green eyes in search of some hidden untruth.
HERU GUARD #2: (subtitled) Disengage your exohelm.
The other refuses to respond. Unholstering his pulse rifle, the suspicious Heru Guard approaches the other's companion.
HERU GUARD #2: (angry; subtitled) Disengage your exohelm!
Rather than obey, the silent Heru Guard brings up his own pulse rifle — single-barrelled — and jabs it into the Heru Guard's stomach.
O'NEAL: How ya doin'?
An orange plasma bolt tears through the Heru Guard's armour and gut, the kinetic energy of the impact hurtling him backward. As the dead Heru Guard hits the floor, O'Neal and Daniel disengage their falcon helms, bringing their pulse rifles on the remaining Heru Guard. Another pair of Heru Guards who had secreted themselves in the shadows of the entrance hall come out into the open to assist their brother-in-arms. The resulting firefight is incredibly, intensely bloody. The three armoured Heru Guards prove formidable opponents, avoiding direct hits from the pulse rifles, staff weapon, and M4s of the Terrans and Nagadans long enough to kill several of their opponents.
In the end, only five individuals are left standing: O'Neal, Daniel, Kawalsky, Sha'ure, and Skarra. Feretti, Brown, and Nabeh are all dead, more unfortunate casualties of this war.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — TWILIGHT
Faizah is still engaged in the senet match with her manservant. By all appearances, she has the upper hand. Sihathor enters again.
SIHATHOR: You summoned me, Lady?
Taking her attention from the game for a moment, Faizah gestures for the armoured warrior to come to her.
FAIZAH: Send the bomb to Earth now.
Sihathor bows his head once in acknowledgement, then turns and leaves the chambers.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — TWILIGHT
O'Neal, Daniel, Kawalsky, Sha'ure, and Skarra enter the chamber. As Skarra and Sha'ure see the stargate for the first time in their lives, their mouths fall agape, captivated by and in awe of this magnificent ring of iridescent black stone.
O'NEAL: Okay, Jackson, fire it up.
Heading for the dialling device, Daniel whips out his notebook and flips to the page with the address for Earth. When he goes to punch in the first glyph, though, the panel won't depress, won't light up, and neither does the stargate. He tries other glyph panels, all to the same effect.
DANIEL: (frowns) Something's wrong.
Leaving the dais, he steps up to the gate itself. Taking hold of the inner ring, he tries turning it, but the thing won't budge.
DANIEL: I don't believe it!
KAWALSKY: What?
DANIEL: They've sealed the gate!
Joining Daniel at the gate, he, too, tries turning the ring. It still won't move.
KAWALSKY: He's right, Captain. It's locked up tight!
Before they can consider their next course of action, a Heru Guard — grievously wounded, dying, but not yet dead — enters the chamber, double-barrelled pulse rifle in hand. As he levels his weapon at O'Neal, Skarra jumps between them.
O'NEAL: (horrified) Skarra!
Skarra opens fire with his M4. The bullets make no mark on the Heru Guard's bronze armour but pass through the holes already present, punching through the underlying flesh easily. As he falls backward, the dying Heru Guard triggers his weapon one last time, firing off a shot which cuts straight through the boy. O'Neal fires several shots off into the Heru Guard, finishing him once and for all.
Tossing the weapon aside, O'Neal crouches down, taking the mortally wounded Skarra in his arms. As the boy looks up at the captain, he smiles one last, faint smile. He then leaves this world, departing for whatever waits beyond.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BRIDGE — TWILIGHT
As Sihathor steps up onto the ring platform, he turns around, face of unyielding rock facing forward. He presses the round blue gem set in the back of his left gauntlet, activating the ring transporter. As the five black rings come up from the platform to surround him, Sihathor engages his helm, swapping one countenance of living stone for another.
INT. PYRAMID/ANTECHAMBER — TWILIGHT
As the aperture in the antechamber ceiling opens, Daniel takes up his pulse rifle and crosses over into the antechamber, positioning himself under the ten black rings as they descend. Sha'ure joins him. Despite his protests, he cannot turn her away.
O'NEAL: Jackson!
As O'Neal and Kawalsky approach the lovers, the rings encircle the scholar and Nagadan beauty.
DANIEL: Wait for us.
With a flash of silver light, they are gone, replaced with Sihathor. As the rings return to their compartment, the Heru Guard swats O'Neal across the face, knocking the captain aside. He then points his pulse rifle at Kawalsky, firing off a bolt which catches the sergeant in the chest, sending him flying backward.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BRIDGE — TWILIGHT
As the rings return to their compartment under the platform, Daniel and Sha'ure find themselves on the bridge of the She Who Mauls. Sha'ure, accustomed to Industrial Age trappings, is nearly overwhelmed by the Type II technology surrounding her now.
SHA'URE: The chariot of the gods. (beat) Daniel, we shouldn't be here.
Taking Sha'ure by the hand, Daniel steps down from the ring platform and, turning left, takes them to an open doorway leading off the bridge.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — TWILIGHT
As Kawalsky's still form rests upon the floor where it fell, smoke rising from the smouldering fabric of his robes, O'Neal grapples with Sihathor. Having seized hold of the Heru Guard's pulse rifle, his strength magnified by the stolen power armour he wears, the captain tries wrenching it free of the extraterrestrial warrior's grasp. Sihathor's own armour-augmented strength is just as considerable, however, so the Terran manages to do nothing but trigger the weapon accidentally, blowing the weapon up in both their hands as the burning plasma reflects and refracts against their armoured gauntlets.
Pushed away from Sihathor by the blast, O'Neal hits the floor, rolling over to come beside the copper-plated staff weapon which has lain discarded since Kawalsky fell. He takes the sceptre and, fighting through his dizziness, pushes himself back up. As he brings the staff weapon around, priming it for fire, Sihathor grabs the head of the staff, pointing it away from him, locking the weapon in place between the two of them. As O'Neal grimaces, fighting to free the staff weapon, the Heru Guard disengages his helm. As the falcon's head retracts, Sihathor's cruel face — gray and granite — is revealed once more. A mirthless grin coming to his thin lips, Sihathor forms a fist and brings it down on the shaft of the staff, snapping the weapon clean in two.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — TWILIGHT
The senet game continues. As her opponent makes his tentative move, Faizah smiles wryly, then picks up her own piece.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — TWILIGHT
As Sihathor takes a swing at him, O'Neal ducks, then sends an uppercut to the Heru Guard's right armpit. Feeling the blow even through his protective armour, Sihathor doubles over. Spying the M4 of a slain Nagadan within reach, O'Neal makes a leap for the firearm. Sihathor recovers quickly enough to take hold of O'Neal in midleap, preventing him from obtaining the gun. Bearing his teeth, he hoists the captain up then heaves him into a wall.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — TWILIGHT
Moving her piece, Faizah takes her servant's last remaining pyramid. The game is won.
DANIEL: (O.C.) Senet?
Hearing his voice, Faizah turns her head, finding Daniel and Sha'ure standing in the doorway, pulse rifles fixed on her position. She doesn't seem the least bit surprised or perturbed at their presence aboard the ship.
FAIZAH: Indeed. (smiles) Do you play?
DANIEL: After a fashion.
FAIZAH: (to manservant) You may go.
As the servant rises to leave, Sha'ure turns her rifle on him. As he freezes, terrified, Faizah rises from her chair, not at all worried.
FAIZAH: (points at Sha'ure) Who is your companion?
DANIEL: Just one of the locals. (tightens grip on rifle) Now sit back down.
Disinterested in Daniel's order, Faizah leaves her side of the table to join her servant. Placing an arm around his naked shoulders, she begins stroking his hairless chest.
FAIZAH: Why come here now?
DANIEL: I think the answer's obvious.
Smiling, Faizah shakes her head slightly, amused as if by some private joke.
FAIZAH: You've come demanding access to the stargate. (beat) It's yours — provided you have the key.
DANIEL: (puzzled) Key?
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — TWILIGHT
With O'Neal bloody and bashed, on the verge of black unconsciousness, Sihathor turns his back to him. He will finish the Terran off — most slowly, most painfully, and at his own leisure — after he has completed the business he was sent here to complete.
Crossing to the bomb, the Heru Guard stands it up on end. Setting the timer, he activates the weapon. Satisfied the weapon has begun its countdown, he takes the pendant clasped around his neck and lifts it to the stargate. The Eye of Atum glows, coming alive with golden light.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — TWILIGHT
DANIEL: No more games, Faizah. Unseal the gate and let us return home or —
FAIZAH: You'll fire upon me? Cut me down with your rifle? (grins) Such weapons failed against me before.
DANIEL: You aren't in your armour now.
Faizah looks upon herself. The robe she wears is of dark brown silk; it hasn't the ability to withstand a sharply thrown pebble, let alone a searing plasma bolt.
FAIZAH: Very, very clever.
Faizah shoves her servant aside as she raises her right hand, exposing the punishment jewel. Activating it, a kawoosh effect not unlike the stargate's is unleashed, striking the two humans, hurtling them backward, parting them from their weapons.
FAIZAH: Now you can die together.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — TWILIGHT
As the pendant glows in Sihathor's hand, the entire stargate powers up, unleashing a geyser blast of glowing quicksilver to form a bridge back to Terra.
As Sihathor stands basking in the silver light of the rippling puddle, O'Neal picks himself up and staggers over to a pulse rifle lying on the floor. Picking it up, he takes aim, wavers on unsteady knees, then fires. The plasma bolt blasts right through the bomb's arming mechanism, disabling it automatically. Spinning around, Sihathor finds O'Neal standing there with the rifle in hand. Growling, he takes a running leap for the captain.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — TWILIGHT
Faizah strides forward, dark folds of her brown robe unfurling behind her like the wings of a fallen angel as she approaches Sha'ure. Battered but alert, Sha'ure scurries backward, fishing around inside her robes until she gets her hands on a pistol. As she pulls it out, Faizah lunges, seizing the girl's wrist in her right hand, knocking her aim off as she pulls the trigger. Activating the punishment jewel, the demigoddess begins rearranging the atoms in Sha'ure's forearm.
SHA'URE: NGHAAAAAAH!!!
Faizah releases Sha'ure's arm before the jewel can work any serious damage, taking a step back as the Nagadan girl cradles her wrist in agony, evaluating the helpless creature.
FAIZAH: (to Daniel) You would spurn my love for this waif? (laughs sardonically)
Faizah brings her hand up again, reactivating the punishment jewel — not to realign the molecules of Sha'ure's body this time, but to pulverize it into the floor with a force blast.
DANIEL: No!
Collecting himself, Daniel rushes headlong for Faizah, but the demigoddess is quick to redirect her blast, knocking the Egyptologist back as he comes within reach of her.
FAIZAH: (frowns) I am no longer amused.
Leaving Sha'ure where she lies, Faizah moves over to Daniel. Crouching over him, she seizes the crown of his head in her right hand, engaging the dark jewel within the centre of her palm to deliver him a most grisly finale.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — TWILIGHT
O'Neal seizes Sihathor in a bear hug as he comes to him. Wheeling him around, the captain headbutts him, breaking the Heru Guard's nose. Using fists, knees, and elbows, O'Neal turns the tables against Faizah's first. Locking his leg around Sihathor's, he brings the Heru Guard crashing down. Pinning Sihathor in place, O'Neal then brings his heavy armoured boot down on his throat, bringing this contest to a close.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH'S CHAMBERS — TWILIGHT
Faizah and Daniel are locked together, her hand upon his head, the energies of her punishment jewel wreaking havoc upon his nervous system, paralyzing him in place.
FAIZAH: Do you enjoy the kiss of the punishment jewel? It works on the same principles as the stargates, applied to much deadlier effect.
Daniel's very face begins rippling, the molecules swelling and contracting. Within seconds, Daniel will be dead.
Sha'ure then comes to Daniel's aid. Attacking Faizah, she elbows the larger woman in the back. Faizah's concentration broken, the punishment jewel goes dim. Turning on her heel, she backhands Sha'ure across the face, sending her sprawling and quickly ending her role in this fight. With the matter-displacing energies of the punishment jewel no longer working upon him, however, Daniel's been bought the seconds of clarity he needs. Lunging at Faizah, Daniel sends his hand forth, plunging it deep inside her abdominal pouch. Pulling the prim'ta out, Daniel tosses the white worm clear across the room — much to Faizah's most evident horror.
FAIZAH: NGHAAAAAAH!!!
All thoughts of anything else forgotten, Faizah rushes over to the prim'ta, intent on preserving its health. Daniel and Sha'ure are quick to use this opportunity to escape.
INT. PYRAMID/ANTECHAMBER — TWILIGHT
O'Neal enters the antechamber, dragging Sihathor's body behind him. Bringing it around, he deposits it directly beneath the inactive ring transporter.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BRIDGE — TWILIGHT
Having returned to the bridge, Daniel and Sha'ure head over to the ring transporter. Climbing atop the platform, they then hear the mindless raging of Faizah in the distance.
INT. PYRAMID/ANTECHAMBER — TWILIGHT
O'Neal regards the body of Sihathor. Meeting the sightless eyes which stare straight upward, bright against the otherwise blood-darkened face, he then spies the gold pendant still entangled around his neck. Bending low, the captain retrieves it.
O'NEAL: Give my regards to the Pussy Queen, asshole.
The captain presses the colourless gem adorning his left gauntlet, activating the ring transporter.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BRIDGE — TWILIGHT
Sha'ure and Daniel are still waiting on the platform when Faizah enters. Face dark and contorted with rage, she charges them.
The ring transporter activates at that very moment. White light shining up from the platform under their feet, the five rings rise to surround the pair, cutting Faizah off from them. With a flash of silver light, they are teleported away, Sihathor's severed head taking their place upon the platform.
Faizah roars.
INT. PYRAMID/ANTECHAMBER — TWILIGHT
The ring transporter disengages. Daniel and Sha'ure find themselves back down inside the pyramid. O'Neal is there waiting for them, face hard, the pendant clasped in his hand. Sha'ure recoils when she spots the decapitated body lying at their feet.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — NIGHT
O'Neal, Daniel, and Sha'ure enter the stargate chamber. The stargate has returned to its dormant state, the connection to Earth severed once again.
O'NEAL: (hands pendant to Daniel) It's a key to the stargate. It can open the door to Earth. It can probably open other doors, too.
Slipping the pendant inside a pocket, Daniel crosses over to the dialling device and punches in the nine-symbol address for Earth, this time meeting no resistance. The stargate reopened, Daniel takes Sha'ure by the arm and takes a step toward the gate. She keeps him from stepping through, though, once she hears a groan. Leaving the gate, they cross over to Kawalsky. As they examine him, looking him over for wounds, they open his robes, revealing he has been wearing a suit of Heru Guard armour under them this whole time. The plasma bolt laid him flat, but the armour saved his life.
Picking Kawalsky's limp form up between them, Daniel and Sha'ure head for the stargate. They only stop when they notice O'Neal isn't joining them. Indeed, he has turned his attention to the bomb. In between the killing of Sihathor and the beaming of his head up to the pyramid ship, O'Neal spent his time tinkering with the nuke. A makeshift dead man's switch has been jury-rigged into the weapon.
DANIEL: (dumbfounded) I thought we agreed to dismantle the gate on the other side.
O'NEAL: And you will. That's your job now.
Taking the switch in hand, O'Neal engages it.
O'NEAL: (cont'd) I'm gonna stay here, make sure this goes off.
Daniel is ready to protest, but the captain silences him with a steely gaze.
O'NEAL: (face softens) I'll be seeing you around, Dr. Jackson.
Resigned to the captain's decision, Daniel exchanges solemn glances with Sha'ure. Together, Kawalsky held between them, they step through the stargate, leaving the pyramid, Nagada, and the whole of Abdju behind for all time. O'Neal watches the lovers vanish through the portal, his gaze lingering there for several moments.
As the ring transporter activates, O'Neal turns his attention to the antechamber. The ten rings pile over the floor, white light shining through them.
O'NEAL: (shuts eyes tight) Sarah….
Silver light passes through the rings, then the transporter deactivates, leaving Faizah and seven Heru Guards standing there, all attired in their armour, armed with pulse rifles.
Capt. Jack O'Neal releases the switch and the world goes white.
INT. CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN/LEVEL 28/EMBARKATION ROOM — DAY
Daniel, Sha'ure, and Kawalsky are spewed from the gate into the dark abyss of the embarkation room. Hitting the ramp, they take a roll, tumbling end-over-end until they come to a stop near the base.
After tending to Sha'ure as her first bout of gate sickness takes hold, after checking Kawalsky to make certain the master sergeant suffered no further injuries transiting through the stargate, Daniel turns to look upon the glowing doorway which links Earth and Abdju. There then is a sudden burst of intense white light and that link is violently severed, casting them in pitch darkness.
TO BE CONTINUED
THIRD DRAFT: 2019/06/04
S. D. G.