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Post by Duragizer on Jan 16, 2018 15:50:20 GMT -5
DESERT — MONTAGE
For the next several hours, the captain, master sergeant, staff sergeant, and Egyptologist trudge through the desert, passing over and under dunes until they finally come to the road, unaware that Skarra, Nabeh, and the rest of their small band are following along behind at a respectable distance.
EXT. SHE WHO MAULS — DAY
Emerging from the open desert, they finally come to the end of the road. In wait for them is a most unwelcome surprise. Past the twin obelisks, past the entrance ramp, the pyramid of basalt all but hidden beneath its awesome bulk, is the She Who Mauls. With the three suns low in the eastern sky, the entire front face of the bronze-panelled craft has been cast in shadow, lending it an air of quiet, foreboding menace.
BROWN: Looks like somebody was home after all.
KAWALSKY: What the hell is that?
DANIEL: It’s a spaceship. (takes notice of others’ skeptical stares) Well, maybe not a spaceship, but some sort of flying machine. It was on the ruin walls.
Silently, O’Neal hefts up his P90. Taking off in a low sprint, he makes a dash for the pyramid. Own weapon at hand, Kawalsky follows the captain, covering him.
BROWN: (hands Daniel M9) Here. You might need this.
Daniel takes the pistol, and he and Brown take off in a run, joining the captain and master sergeant as they sprint up the stone entrance ramp into the pyramid. Still on their trail, the Nagadan kids follow them up to the pyramid.
INT. PYRAMID/ENTRANCE HALL — DAY
As Kawalsky and Brown take up guard positions behind the forward columns, O’Neal moves deeper into the chamber, where he finds the spent ammo casings lying in the dust on the floor. Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly spots movement — a vaguely humanoid figure moving from behind one column to another. Taking hold of Daniel and dragging them both to a column, the captain takes cover behind it.
EXT. SHE WHO MAULS — DAY
Climbing up a shelf of sand which had accumulated against the base of the pyramid during the sandstorm, Skarra and his friends peer in through the slot-like windows into the entrance hall.
INT. PYRAMID/ENTRANCE HALL — DAY
Hearing the approaching steps of an enemy, Brown braces himself against his column, collecting his resolve, before leaping out into the open. Standing out before him, energy rifle in hand and eyes glowing blue-green within the sockets of a falconesque head, is the iridescent bronze form of a low-ranking Haru Guard. Bringing his gun to bear, Brown pulls the trigger, emptying a full round into the bronze monster. Unharmed, the Haru Guard brings up its energy rifle and Brown goes down, the weapon’s electrical beam sending him sprawling.
CUT TO
O’Neal as he sees Kawalsky, who has been grappling with another bronze Haru Guard, lifted off his feet and thrown back into a wall, knocking the big man out cold.
As the Haru Guard who dispensed with Brown appears, aiming its rifle in Daniel’s direction, the captain automatically leaps into action.
O’NEAL: Look out!
Taking Daniel by the collar, the captain pulls him out of the way just in time to avoid the blue-green beam. Swiveling his gun into position, O’Neal returns fire, then pulls the Egyptologist alongside him in a mad dash for the stargate chamber.
DANIEL: Where are we going‽
O’Neal has no time to answer. He and Daniel duck inside the antechamber, avoiding another energy beam blast.
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — DAY
Bounding down the ramp, the captain looses his hold on the scholar’s collar, dauntless as he crosses through the antechamber into the gate chamber directly to the FRED.
DANIEL: Why are we going to the stargate? We can’t leave without the others.
O’NEAL: Stay right here and shoot anything that comes down that ramp.
DANIEL: What are you doing?
O’NEAL: Just cover me.
Opening the FRED’s secret compartment, O’Neal takes a look inside. It’s completely empty; the bomb isn’t there.
DANIEL: (approaches O’Neal) What is it? What’re you looking for?
O’NEAL: (stoney) It’s gone.
At that very moment, the circular recess in the ceiling of the antechamber opens up, the inner disc splitting apart into eight separate sections which draw inward, revealing an inner compartment which casts a column of bright white light down upon the floor with a corresponding mechanical HUM. Twisting around, Daniel brings his pistol up as ten black stone rings drop from the opening. Piling up, one stacked atop the other, they form an iridescent black column. A stream of silver energy passes down through the rings — the surplus light escaping through the gaps between the rings and bringing brief, intense illumination to the chamber — and a black shape takes form within them. The process complete, the rings ascend back into their compartment and the recess closes once more.
Standing where empty space had been only moments before, green-black armour glistening in the scant light of the stargate chamber, is the form of the Haru Guard Sihathor.
Daniel keeps his gun trained on Sihathor, ready but apprehensive to open fire on this dark god, when the other two falcon-headed warriors finally enter the gate chamber and take position behind their leader, bringing their weapons to bear.
O’NEAL: Put it down, Jackson.
Almost as if to punctuate the captain’s request, Sihathor unholsters his own energy rifle and levels it at Daniel. Conceding defeat, Daniel finally lowers the pistol.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BRIDGE — DAY
With a flash of silver light, Daniel and O’Neal materialize aboard the She Who Mauls with their Haru Guard escort. Unlike the ring transporter down in the pyramid, this transporter utilizes only five rings, all of which are stored in a compartment under the floor rather than in the ceiling, indicating perhaps that it is a newer, more advanced model.
Once the black rings have slipped down into the floor, the five figures find themselves standing on a raised, circular platform. Leading away from the platform is a low, narrow catwalk which crosses the length of the chamber, connecting to the command section at the front of the bridge. Barking a mechanically augmented, bass-toned command, Sihathor prods the two Earthlings with the barrels of his rifle. Getting the message, they step off the platform onto the catwalk.
Crossing the catwalk, Sihathor and his two subordinates behind them, the captain and doctor are taken clear across to the front of the bridge. At the command deck wait three figures: a PAIR OF FEMALE UBASTE GUARDS, armed with long copper-plated sceptres, who stand at guard on either side of a SEKHMET GUARD, who is seated upon the throne-like command chair. Unlike the Haru Guards, the cat-headed Ubaste Guards are not garbed in full body armour. From the shoulders down, they are garbed in white linen crop tops and kilts, their exposed arms, legs, and midriffs hard with lean muscle. In contrast, the Sekhmet Guard is fully enclosed in armour of iridescent silver, the eyes in her lioness’ head alive with yellow flame.
Making a harsh proclamation in his tongue, Sihathor knocks Daniel’s and O’Neal’s legs out from under them, forcing them to kneel before the silver entity before them. The Earthmen’s eyes riveted upon her, the Sekhmet Guard raises a single hand, issuing an order to her underlings. Sensing something of import in her unintelligible words, Daniel begins scrutinizing his captors, waiting for whatever is now about to transpire.
One by one, the helms of the animal-headed guards dissolve. Breaking apart into disparate segments, the helms collapse in on themselves, shrinking down and retracting until the skullcapped heads of human beings are fully revealed. Like the Nagadans, each of the guards are of North African ethnicity, and they are all — to differing extent — physically attractive; Sihathor, in particular, bears an aquiline nose and strong chin which lends him a striking, regal air. Their eyes, though, are hard and cold — harsh and unfeeling. Turning their attentions to the Sekhmet Guard, the Earthlings watch as her mask then disintegrates into the collar around her neck. The Sekhmet Guard is, to put it unflatteringly, an unspeakable beauty. Her skin, without blemish or flaw, is the rich brown of darkest chocolate; her lips, sensuous in their fullness, are painted a deep black; her dark eyes, accented with kohl, are fierce and hungry — the eyes of a lioness on the prowl. The face of their mistress bared to them, the Haru Guards kneel in reverence to her.
SEKHMET GUARD: (in High Kemetic, subtitled) You have come here to destroy us.
With a gesture, the Sekhmet Guard summons two manservants. Carrying an ornate tray between them, the two slender, scantily-clad man-children cross over to the space between their mistress and the captives, setting the tray down on the floor there before speedily departing. Situated upon the tray is O’Neal’s bomb.
DANIEL: (alarmed) What is that? (turns to O’Neal) That’s a bomb, isn’t it? That’s what you were looking for. (beat) What the hell were you thinking? What’d you come here for?
O’Neal doesn’t say anything. Instead, he turns on Sihathor and strikes, punching the Haru Guard in his now-unshielded kisser. Wresting the energy rifle out of the senseless Haru Guard’s limp fingers, the captain turns on the other two Haru Guards, takes aim, and squeezes the handgrip twice in rapid succession. Instead of releasing beams of blue-green electrical energy from the secondary barrel, this time the weapon discharges bolts of concentrated orange plasma from the primary barrel; with a pair of strong CHOOMS, the plasma bolts bore through the heads of the falcon guards.
The bridge then erupts into chaos. As O’Neal spins back around, opening fire on one of the two Ubaste Guards, the other springs into action; levelling her sceptre in the captain’s direction, she slides her hand along the instrument's underside; in automatic response, the pod-like head of the staff splits open, crackling with energy.
DANIEL: (leaping between Ubaste Guard and O’Neal) Wait! Stop! No! No —!
A plasma bolt springs from the woman warrior’s staff weapon, punching through Daniel’s gut and driving him into the floor with enough kinetic force to halt a charging rhino.
Daniel’s body sprawled out twisted and lifeless, the captain sets his sights on the Sekhmet Guard. Eyes burning with challenge, she rises from her seat, providing the Terran a clear kill shot. O’Neal takes it, squeezing the handgrip to unload yet another devastating plasma bolt. This time, however, the bolt is stopped dead-cold as it meets an invisible protective force field enveloping her body, disincorporating and dissipating completely without leaving a single mark on her or her armour.
Before O’Neal can try squeezing off another shot, Sihathor — recovered from the blow which felled him — comes up behind the captain and brings his armoured elbow down between the Earthling’s vulnerable shoulder blades, rendering him unconscious with a single blow.
Just as the large Haru Guard gets ready to deliver the out-cold captain a serious beating, the Sekhmet Guard orders him back. Deferring to her command, he takes a step back, bowing in supplication. Leaving her chair, she crosses over to O’Neal. Looking him over, she then goes to Daniel. Bending low, she turns him over; that is when she sees the gold pendant, the Eye of Atum itself looking back up at her.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/HOLDING CELL — DAY
A grate in the ceiling of the holding cell slides open, and Sihathor tosses O’Neal’s unconscious form inside. Upon hitting the cold water which fills the cell, O’Neal is immediately roused to consciousness, springing up fighting mad. There are no enemies in wait for him, however; only Kawalsky, Feretti, Brown, and Freeman share the cell with him.
KAWALSKY: Captain, it’s us! You alright?
The ceiling grate slides closed, and O’Neal looks up. Sihathor looks down at him, smirking, then spits down at him before leaving.
KAWALSKY: Where’s Jackson?
O’Neal’s expression of fear and shock tells the master sergeant the whole story.
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 17, 2018 17:27:26 GMT -5
EXT. BASE CAMP — DAY
Skarra and the others are rummaging through the remains of the base camp, digging in the sand and searching under the toppled tents for any equipment or supplies which survived the sandstorm intact.
As Nabeh finds a brown helmet and sets it down on his enlarged cranium, another of the kids — a girl maybe thirteen or fourteen years old — unearths a large crate. As she flings the top open, her face lights up with wonder.
GIRL #1: (in Low Kemetic, subtitled) Guys — I’ve found something!
Dropping what they are doing, the others all crowd in around the girl on all sides, leaning forward to peer inside the crate. This is the very crate of two dozen M4 carbines Daniel had dragged here all those days ago.
NABEH: (subtitled) Guns?
SKARRA: (nods; subtitled) Different guns from the ones Black Hat and his friends were carrying.
Taking one of the M4s, Skarra begins looking it over. Pointing the muzzle skyward, he tries pulling back on the trigger, but finds it stuck.
SKARRA: (subtitled) I can’t fire it. The trigger won’t bend.
GIRL #2: (subtitled) Maybe it’s jammed.
Fiddling around with the weapon, he eventually manages to find and release the safety catch; now the trigger bends back, but still the weapon won’t fire.
SKARRA: (subtitled) It must be unloaded. (beat) Start looking for bullets.
At that, the teenagers resume digging in the sand, now on the search for ammunition.
EXT. BUS STOP (MINDSCAPE)
Daniel sits alone on a bench at a bus stop, legs close together, his sack of books at his feet. Surrounding him from all sides is a heavy pea soup fog. The fog before him lifts a little, revealing that the bus stop is situated on the edge of the shore of a large, black lake. Stealing a glance at his watch, Daniel sighs with frustration.
Something then appears on the water, far in the distance, obscured behind the fog. As it moves closer, on approach for the shore, it emerges from the heavy mists and its identity becomes clear; it is a long, narrow boat crewed by THREE FIGURES: two passengers, who remained seated, and the seven-foot-tall ferryman, who stands guiding the craft forward with each slow push of his long pole.
As the boat comes ashore, Daniel rises to his feet, collects his heavy book sack, and — with a heavy grunt — steps forward. Now we are afforded a clear view of who, exactly, is aboard the boat. The passengers are Reilly and Porro, very life-like is spite of the caved-in skull and broken neck they respectively sport; the ferryman, clad in a hooded robe of black sackcloth, bearing sallow skin, hollow cheeks, cataracted eyes, and a five-foot-long gray beard, is CHARON, the Greek psychopomp himself.
CHARON: Room for one more.
Reaching into the nasty hole burned through his abdomen, Daniel pulls out a bus ticket.
CHARON: Climb aboard.
Daniel climbs into the boat and takes a seat beside the two dead non-coms. Charon then pushes the boat out across the water and proceeds to guide it back to whence it came.
INT. CHARON’S BOAT — TRAVELLING (MINDSCAPE)
As Charon silently guides the boat across the placid, dark waters, Daniel turns to regard his two companions.
DANIEL: Reilly, Porro — you’re dead, too?
REILLY: (grins) We certainly are.
PORRO: That Sihathor really did a number on us. (beat) I’m not complaining, though.
REILLY: Me neither. Got me a sweet little number waiting on the other side; she died fourteen years ago. (frowns) Hope she’s aged well.
They finally come to their destination on the far side of the lake. Rising from the rocky shore, disappearing into the dark clouds overhead, is a tremendous stairway of black marble.
PORRO: Well, here we are. (stands up) Be seeing you, Doc.
DANIEL: Likewise.
Leaving the boat, the non-coms begin climbing the grand stairway, soon slipping into the clouds where they disappear from view.
Now alone with Charon, Daniel looks up at the cadaverous ferryman. When the psychopomp says nothing — when he doesn’t so much as acknowledge the ex-Egyptologist’s continued presence with a downward glance — Daniel sighs and, picking up his heavy sack, steps out of the boat and begins the long, laborious climb up the stairway.
EXT. PEARLY GATES (MINDSCAPE)
Reaching the top of the stairs, Daniel finally finds himself on a short causeway which leads to the pearly gates of Heaven itself.
As he moves on approach for the gates, Daniel pauses as he comes upon a white marble statue. The statue, carved in the Greco-Roman style, is shaped in the likeness of a beautiful woman; it is Sha'ure herself. In her hands she holds a bust; it is the exact duplicate of the bust he gifted to Karin Langford before leaving through the stargate. At this point, it is finally made clear why Daniel found Sha'ure so uncannily familiar upon their meeting; she is the living twin of the long-dead woman whose likeness his bust was carved to represent.
Leaving the statue, he completes his trek to the pearly gates, where SAINT PETER stands in wait for him, a large, heavy book in hand.
DANIEL: (frowns) Saint Peter? Is that you?
ST. PETER: (bored) Certainly not Saint Nick, kid. (opens book) Name?
DANIEL: Daniel — Daniel Jackson.
ST. PETER: (looks through book) Daniel Jackson … Daniel Jackson. (beat) Would that be Daniel T. Jackson?
DANIEL: My middle initial’s “G”.
ST. PETER: Ah, yes, Daniel G. Jackson. (beat) Oh, I’m sorry. You can’t get in yet.
DANIEL: (frowns) I can’t? Why the he-
Saint Peter frowns.
DANIEL: (cont’d) Double hockey sticks not?
ST. PETER: Says here that you haven’t been weighed yet. (closes book) Sorry, kid, but you’ve got to pay Osiris and Anubis a visit before passing through these gates.
Stepping off to the side, Saint Peter reveals a lever which had been concealed behind him. Taking hold, he pulls the lever back, opening a trapdoor beneath Daniel’s feet.
INT. BLACK VOID (MINDSCAPE)
Falling through the trapdoor, Daniel hits the unseen floor of the void. Even with the bright white light shining down from the opening above, his surroundings remain a perfectly featureless black.
At the very moment Daniel climbs to his feet, five things materialize in this void: OSIRIS, the green-skinned lord of the underworld; ANUBIS, the jackal-headed god of judgement; THOTH, the ibis-headed scribe; AMMIT, the crocodile/lion/hippopotamus hybrid devourer; and a large scale. These five things are all enormous in size, each towering over Daniel, who is but a mouse beneath them.
OSIRIS: Daniel Jackson, son of Melburn and Claire, do you know why you are here?
DANIEL: For judgement — to see whether or not my heart is free of sin, if I’m worthy of joining my loved ones on the other side.
OSIRIS: You catch on pretty quick. (to Anubis) Let’s get this going. I’ve got dinner with Isis at 4:00 and I don’t wanna be late getting to the restaurant. Traffic’s absolute he-
ST. PETER: (O.S.) Ahem!
OSIRIS: (cont’d) Absolute heck this time of day.
Reaching into his kilt, Anubis pulls out a feather — the feather of Maat. Licking his fingers, Anubis straightens the barbs of the feather, then gently lays it down on one of the two sides of the scale. He then picks Daniel up and sets him down on the other side. Daniel immediately proves heavier than the feather by far.
OSIRIS: Well, that’s that. Toss ‘im.
Picking Daniel back up, Anubis crosses over to Ammit, who starts wagging her tail in eagre anticipation.
ANUBIS: Would you like a biscuit, Ammit?
Ammit begins panting frantically.
ANUBIS: Then stand, girl, stand!
Ammit rises up on her hind legs.
ANUBIS: Good girl! Here you are!
The jackal god tosses Daniel into the air. Ammit snaps the little man up in her long crocodilian jaws.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH’S BEDROOM — SUNSET
With a hoarse cry of panic, Daniel bolts upright, gasping as he comes to. Looking around, he finds himself on the pyramid ship, seated on the spacious bed Feretti had seen earlier. Looking down at the large hole burned through his shirt, he feels around inside for the wound he knows should be there, but there is no wound at all; there isn’t even a scar to mark where one had been. Touching his face, he finds he no longer has his glasses, either. Indeed, he no longer needs his glasses; he can now view the world with 20/20 vision.
Rising from the bed, he finds a manservant standing in the doorway. This boy, one of the very same scantily-clad youths who unveiled the bomb earlier, gestures for Daniel to follow him.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BATHING ROOM — SUNSET
Within a bathing pool, the Sekhmet Guard — FAIZAH — lies submerged up to her breasts in hot, steaming water, eyes closed in relaxation. Now shed of her armour and all accoutrements, she allows her long, full, curly black hair to frame her face and cascade down her shoulders. As Daniel enters the room with the manservant, her eyes fling open, burning into him.
FAIZAH (SEKHMET GUARD): If was foolish of you to reopen your stargate, man of the First World. Your presence here was detected the moment you stepped through the gateway.
DANIEL: (amazed) You — you speak English?
FAIZAH: (half-smiles) After a fashion. (beat) After my guard’s blast-lance felled you, I sent the ka-less forms of you and yours through to my world. While the healers of Aset peeled your brains in search of information, I had them repair your body. During the procedure, lingual nanites were injected into the language areas of your brain. All the tongues known to the Imperium are now cognizant to you, and vice-versa. (beat) Consider it a gift.
Faizah rises from the pool, allowing rivulets of water to run down the length of her strong, beautiful body. As a pair of manservants slip her into a translucent black robe, Daniel catches note of her belly; where a navel should be is a pair of slits criss-crossing her abdomen to form an “X”.
DANIEL: You aren’t human.
FAIZAH: (cocks eyebrow) I was human. My years of service to the gods have earned me greater status. I am now Jaffa, first prime of Sekhmet, war goddess of the Imperium.
DANIEL: Jaffa….
FAIZAH: The Jaffa are the pinnacle of humanity, enhanced by the prim'ta to possess strength, health, and longevity the mere man couldn't dream to obtain.
DANIEL: Prim’ta?
Sliding her hand down her chest to her stomach, Faizah slips her fingers past the “X” slit into her abdomen, drawing a cringe from Daniel. Amused by Daniel’s revulsion, she plunges her entire hand inside, taking hold of what lies nestled within. Pulling out, in her grasp is a wriggling, white, worm-like creature with two beady, black eyes and weak four-pronged jaws.
FAIZAH: A remnant of a race subdued by Atum in ages past. Where they once sought to ravage the Imperium, they now serve it dutifully through us.
Faizah returns the prim’ta to its pouch.
DANIEL: The godlings, Atum’s viceroys — are they, too, Jaffa?
FAIZAH: They are … more than Jaffa. How much more, that is not for me to say.
Tying her robe in place, Faizah steps out of the bathing room, accompanied by her servants. Daniel follows them.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH’S CHAMBERS — SUNSET
Entering her chambers, Faizah steps past a long marble table and crosses over to a dressing chair. As she sits down in it, her manservants proceed to brush her hair. As Daniel steps inside, he sees the table and everything laid out on it: guns; ammo; radios; dog tags; jewellery; some of his books and photos; even an entire uniform stripped from one of the dead airmen.
DANIEL: You said you had the minds of my friends — my mind — searched for information. You must know everything we knew.
FAIZAH: (nods) Yes.
DANIEL: Then you know we came here as explorers.
FAIZAH: You may have come through in the spirit of exploration, as did your guards. But your commander? (shakes head) No. (beat) You of Earth have harnessed the power of the atom; you have become dangerous. You may no longer be under Sutekh's thrall, but your chieftains still mean to bring war to us.
DANIEL: What are you going to do?
FAIZAH: My mistress has ordered me to send your weapon back to your world. I will encase it within a shipment of weapons-grade naqahdah. It will increase your weapon’s destructive power a hundredfold.
DANIEL: Why did you give me back my life?
With a wave of her hand, Faizah dismisses her servants. Rising from her chair, Faizah approaches Daniel, naked save for the thin robe which barely conceals the curves of her body.
FAIZAH: The Imperium encompasses a thousand worlds; I have not seen your like on any of them. (smiles) You will serve me.
DANIEL: And if I refuse?
FAIZAH: Then I shall destroy you (leans in close) and all who have seen you.
INT. RUINS/HALL OF HIEROGLYPHS — NIGHT
Sha'ure is back down in the ruins, examining the hieroglyphs by lantern-light, when Skarra and Nabeh enter.
SKARRA: Sha'ure.
Sha'ure turns at the sound of his voice.
SKARRA: The gods have called an assembly … an execution.
SHA'URE: Skarra, Nabeh, I want you to listen.
As she beckons them to come hither, the two boys approach.
SHA'URE: I want you to know what Daniel told me, about where our people came from … and why we can’t let this happen.
The pair looks up at the pictures on the walls as the young woman begins her tale.
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 18, 2018 16:11:49 GMT -5
EXT. SHE WHO MAULS — DAY
A new day has come to this side of Abdju, and along with it all the people of Nagada. Summoned by Faizah’s emissaries, they have left the shelters of their inviting city and travelled in the thousands under the hot desert suns to come to the pyramid, where they have assembled before the entrance ramp to bear witness to the upcoming execution of O’Neal and his men. As for O’Neal and the remaining members of his team, they stand midway up the ramp, facing the entrance, guarded by a pair of armed Haru Guards.
Upon the ramp, a long burgundy carpet has been unfurled, leading up to the entrance which, in turn, has been festooned with a canopy of matching burgundy fabric to shield the empty throne sitting beneath it from the harsh sunlight. Emerging from the entrance, accompanied by her Ubaste Guards and servants, is Faizah, once again attired in full Sekhmet Guard armour. Upon sighting the silver demigoddess, the Nagadans all bow to the ground, prostrating themselves before the lioness-helmed woman and her entourage.
FAIZAH: (raises arms; subtitled) Rise.
At her command, the Nagadans return to their feet.
As Faizah takes her seat on the throne, Sihathor steps out of the pyramid, Daniel in tow.
KAWALSKY: (to O’Neal) You told us he was dead.
The two Haru Guards leave their posts to join their mistress at the entrance as Sihathor positions Daniel at the head of the ramp.
SIHATHOR: (addressing crowd; subtitled) This one has come before you, bearing the seal of Atum. (takes hold of pendant and holds it up for all to see) He sought to take the mantle of the god of gods, but there can be only one Atum. (pulls pendant free of Daniel’s throat) It is Atum who commands him to kill these men, (points at O’Neal and other captives) his friends, his brothers. He will obey him unto death.
One of the Ubaste Guards leaves Faizah’s side and approaches Sihathor. Bringing forth her staff weapon, the cat-helmed warrior presents it to the green-black Haru Guard. Accepting the long weapon, Sihathor then thrusts it out to Daniel, silently commanding the smaller man to take it. Tentative, the scholar takes the sceptre. Getting a feel for the ungainly ceremonial weapon, he descends the ramp toward his companions and brings the pod-like barrel of the staff weapon to bear on O’Neal. Running his hand along the underside, he primes the weapon for fire.
As Daniel gathers the nerve to pull the trigger, bright light falls across his vision. Distracted, he looks away from the captain, past the other Americans, and spies what has caught his eye. Standing in the crowd beside Sha'ure, using O’Neal’s lighter as a mirror, is Skarra. Squinting, Daniel sees the boy draw aside the folds of his long coat to reveal the M4 carbine he has hidden beneath it.
As everyone — the guardsmen of the Imperium, the Nagadans, and the airmen — stand/sit in anticipation of the first energy blast, Daniel spins around, training the staff weapon on one of the Haru Guards. Pulling the trigger, a bolt of superheated plasma lances out, striking the falcon-helmed guard in the breastplate, knocking him off-kilter and reeling. The loyal band of palace servants then whip out their M4s, opening fire into the sky.
The light and noise of the staff weapon and M4s assaulting their unaccustomed senses, the thousands of Nagadans succumb to panic, fleeing in droves in all directions to put as much distance as they can between themselves and the weapons of gods and men from unfamiliar stars. Taking advantage of the chaos, the Earthmen break off in a run, sprinting down the ramp and blending into the morass of Nagadan bodies. Bringing forth their weapons, Sihathor and the other Haru Guards begin firing into the crowd. While his subordinates are content to utilize the stun beams to avoid needless slaughter, Sihathor has no such qualms; he releases a steady stream of decimating plasma bolts upon everyone within range of his rifle. One such bolt manages to strike Freeman, catching him between the shoulder blades and blasting through his sternum, dropping him instantly.
FERETTI: Freeman! Freeman!
There is nothing the technical sergeant can do for his fallen friend.
The Earthlings meet up with Sha'ure and the others and are led to a waiting group of mastadges. Climbing atop the hairy beasts, they make their escape, galloping off into the open desert and evading Faizah’s forces for the time being.
EXT. DESERT — HILLS — DAY
After hours of travel, another fierce sandstorm has picked up, and the Terrans and their Nagadan accomplices have come to a series of caves set in a range of low, craggy hills. Dismounting the mastadges, they corral the creatures inside a shallow cave. Leaving a pair of girls and one boy to keep watch over the beasts, the rest then set off again on foot, deciding to put as much distance between the mastadges and themselves as they can should the former ever be found by Faizah’s people.
After nearly another hour of trekking through the howling, gritty wind, they finally decide to stop and set up shop within one of the deep caves nearby.
INT. CAVE/MAIN CHAMBER — DAY
The Nagadans and Terrans file inside, and we see that all the Earthlings’ weapons and ammo have already been stashed inside. Apparently Skarra and the others already had this cave picked out as a hiding place before their escapade at the pyramid. As torches are lit and fixed in makeshift sconces, casting light throughout the shadowy recesses of this dank place, the travellers all collapse to the stone floor, weary from their journey. As the kids go about inspecting their borrowed guns, O’Neal studies them with cold eyes.
KAWALSKY: (grins) What do you think, Captain? They’re not exactly Special Forces, but they sure were eagre to join up.
O’NEAL: (wrenches gun away from a Nagadan) Take these guns away, Sergeant, before they hurt themselves.
KAWALSKY: (frowns) Sir?
O’NEAL: You heard me. Send them all home.
KAWALSKY: There isn’t anywhere for these kids to go. Besides, we sure could use their help right now.
O’NEAL: (enraged) For what, huh‽ To do what‽
This outburst from O’Neal catches everyone by surprise. Everyone, that is, save for Daniel.
DANIEL: Why don’t you just tell them everything? Why don’t you tell them about the bomb?
KAWALSKY: What’s he talking about?
O’NEAL: (sighs) My orders were simple: Track down signs of any possible danger. If I found any, blow up the stargate. (beat) Well, I found some.
KAWALSKY: (angry) Why wasn’t I told of this?
O’NEAL: It was strictly need to know.
KAWALSKY: (dumbfounded) Need to know‽ Don’t you think this is something I would damn well need to know‽
O’NEAL: (flustered) You weren’t even supposed to be here! None of you were. You were all gonna go right back through with Daniel.
DANIEL: And this great plan of yours would leave you here with a nuclear weapon? Well, your bomb is Faizah’s now, and soon she’s going to send it back to Earth along with a shipment of the crystal the stargates are made of. And when that thing goes off, it’s going to cause an explosion a hundred times more destructive than that bomb alone is capable of.
O’NEAL: She told you all this?
DANIEL: Yes.
O’NEAL: Alright, then. I’ll intercept the bomb and destroy the stargate before she can send it through.
DANIEL: (frustrated) Destroying this one gate won’t accomplish anything! There’re bound to be more!
O’NEAL: You have a better idea?
DANIEL: It’s the gate on Earth that poses a threat. As long as that one is up and functional, they’ll always have access. That is the one that we have to shut down!
O’NEAL: You’re absolutely right. But with the enemy controlling the gate here, we may not have that option.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH’S CHAMBERS — DAY
Faizah is standing in her quarters, looking out the simulated bay window which provides a holographic view of the swirling brown winds of the sandstorm billowing beyond the ship’s hull, when Sihathor, his falcon mask retracted, enters the chamber.
FAIZAH: (turns to Sihathor) Where are they?
SIHATHOR: They vanished.
FAIZAH: (frowns) What do you mean, vanished?
SIHATHOR: They are nowhere to be found — not in Nagada, not in the ruins. My men have searched both thoroughly.
FAIZAH: Then they are somewhere out in the wilderness. (beat) Send forth the udajeets. They will scan the hills, the sands, the entire face of Abdju if need be until the First Worlders are found.
SIHATHOR: (bows) As milady wishes.
EXT. DESERT — HILLS — DAY
As the sandstorm continues to sweep across the desert, a sole udajeet — a crescent-shaped, one-man fighter craft with downward curved wings — flies on through, heedless of the elements buffeting it.
INT. UDAJEET/COCKPIT — DAY
Within the small cockpit, the pilot — a young man barely out of his teens — scans the landscape below him for human lifeforms. As he studies the readouts he is getting on his helmet display, however, he frowns. Something is messing with the craft’s instruments, giving him readings which are all over the place.
EXT. CAVE — DAY
Nabeh is stationed outside the cave opening, standing guard, when he hears the whine of the approaching udajeet. Dashing inside, he drops down, taking cover in shadow as the glider passes overhead, clear over the cave and the humans secreted therein. Once the noise of the udajeet’s engines have faded into the distance, Nabeh crawls back out, keeping a cautious eye out for more gliders.
INT. CAVE/O’NEAL’S ALCOVE — DAY
Away from the main chamber, sitting away in his own private alcove with only a lit torch to keep him company, Capt. Jack O’Neal stares straight ahead at the wall, all but a zombie.
DANIEL: (O.C.) So, you’ve accepted the fact that you’re never going home?
O’Neal’s gaze remains fixed straight ahead; never once does he turn his head or otherwise give any physical indication that he’s aware of the Egyptologist standing behind him.
DANIEL: (cont’d) Don’t you have people who care about you? A family?
O’NEAL: I had a family. (beat) No one should ever outlive their own child.
With this revelation, Daniel clams up. Although he’s known plenty of pain in his own life, he still doesn’t know how to respond to the pain of others.
DANIEL: Captain, listen … I don’t want to die.
With those five words, the captain finally turns to face Daniel.
DANIEL: (cont’d) Your soldiers don’t want to die, and these kids helping us don’t want to die. (beat) It’s a shame you’re in such a hurry to.
Daniel’s words punch O’Neal straight in the gut. He then gets ready to respond, to say or do whatever it’ll take to get Daniel out of his face, but the renegade Egyptologist turns and walks away before the captain can speak a single syllable.
As the Egyptologist disappears around the corner, Skarra comes around from that same corner, carrying a full bowl of stew in his hands. Approaching O’Neal, he holds out the bowl.
SKARRA: Anasaar?
O’Neal turns away from Skarra, ignoring the boy in the hopes that he will soon depart and leave the captain to his troubled thoughts. Perplexed, thinking that maybe O’Neal finds the food abhorrent, Skarra gives the stew a sniff. Finding nothing obviously wrong with the concoction, he sets the bowl down on the ground, just past the captain’s reach. When the Earthman continues to ignore him, Skarra decides to make a game of the situation. Playfully he slides the bowl slightly closer to the older man, then slightly closer more, then closer once again. He then begins trying to invite O’Neal to eat, making comical faces and gestures to entice the captain into taking a bite. In spite of himself, O’Neal finds this whole display incredibly goofy and he feels his stoic resolve weakening. When Skarra finally resorts to flapping his arms and clucking like a chicken, O’Neal completely caves.
O’NEAL: (laughs) Chicken, right?
SKARRA: Shickan!
Grinning, O’Neal musses up Skarra’s hair. Then he accepts the bowl of stew.
INT. CAVE/MAIN CHAMBER — DAY
Daniel rejoins Kawalsky, Brown, Feretti, and the Nagadans in the main chamber. As he sits down beside Feretti, accepting a bowl of exotic alien fruit from one of the Nagadan boys, he steals a glance at Sha'ure, who is eating her own dessert in the company of the other girls.
FERETTI: (smirks) There she is, Romeo. Why don’t you pay her a visit?
DANIEL: (turns to Brown) I don’t know what you’re talking about.
FERETTI: Wouldn’t be so bad, would it? You two could honeymoon back at the pyramid. Rent an apartment here in the caves. Find yourself a job in town. Maybe teach Greek and Latin to pick up money on the side. Start a little family.
Clearly not in the mood for Feretti’s jocular remarks, Daniel stands up and leaves the chamber.
FERETTI: (puzzled) What’d I say?
INT. CAVE/ENTRANCE TUNNEL — DAY
Leaving the main chamber, Daniel steps out into the low-ceilinged tunnel which leads outside. In no mood to be with any company, he takes a seat midway between the main chamber and cave opening, far enough away from both those inside and Nabeh outside.
As Daniel slowly begins eating his bowl of fruit, Sha'ure slips inside the tunnel, joining him.
SHA'URE: Daniel….
Sensing his desire for solitude, the young woman clams up and turns to go back.
DANIEL: Sha'ure … you don’t have to go. Stay if you want.
Accepting Daniel's reluctant hospitality, Sha'ure takes a seat on the tunnel floor, directly facing him.
DANIEL: (sighs) It’s my fault we’re here. (beat) I hadn’t told the truth when the general asked me if I could bring the team back. The pictures of the stargate the MALP sent back to Earth were clear enough; there was no cartouche in the room, no way of establishing a new address for the trip back home. I assumed West was going to send the team through whether I went with them or not, and I was willing to risk myself to satisfy my curiosity. I failed to consider the consequences my actions would have on others. (beat) How many more will die because of me?
SHA'URE: (half-smiles) When did you become so fluent in my tongue?
DANIEL: It’s a complicated story.
Absorbed in his own self-loathing, Daniel absentmindedly picks a piece of fruit which resembles a hairy strawberry out of his bowl. As he gets ready to bite into it, Sha'ure seizes his wrist in a strong grip, holding it back.
SHA'URE: No more looking behind you, Daniel. (takes fruit from his fingers) Our future lies ahead.
The girl peels away the hairy, papery skin of the fruit, exposing the soft green flesh beneath. Raising the fruit to his lips, she very gently feeds it to him. There is more tenderness in the gesture, more intimacy, than either of them would normally be comfortable with. Yet they cannot deny what they are — literal star-crossed lovers, brought together over vast gulfs of time and space by whatever gods may be to fulfill some untold destiny — and so they loose their reticence, surrendering themselves to the moment.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/FAIZAH’S CHAMBERS — DAY
Faizah is seated at her table, absorbed in holo-recordings from the tumultuous times of the First Days, of the uneasy years of excess and corruption which led to the bloody uprisings on the Abdju and Nebwat colonies and the coup which saw Earth cut off from the stargate network. That is when Sihathor opens the doors to her chambers, admitting the udajeet pilots who had been dispatched to track down the escapees. Deactivating the holo-projector, Faizah leaves her table and approaches the pilots.
FAIZAH: Well?
One of the pilots — specifically, the young pilot who passed right over the escapees’ hideaway without discovering their presence — takes a step forward and gets down on one knee.
UDAJEET PILOT: They are dead.
Turning to the young man, she walks up to him, her stride full of menacing grace. Crossing in front of him, she looks down on him, examining him as a housecat would a mouse.
FAIZAH: Bring their bodies to me.
UDAJEET PILOT: The naqahdah deposits in the surrounding terrain interfere with our scanners. We could get no positive readings of their presence. (tries and fails to make eye contact with Faizah) They are still in the sand. Surely the sandstorm will have killed them.
Faizah sighs, her disappointment evident.
FAIZAH: You tried.
Resting her left hand on the man’s head, she begins stroking it, petting him as lovingly as a master would his ever-loyal dog.
FAIZAH: (cont’d) I know you tried.
The demigoddess then tightens her grip and pulls his head back. Raising her right hand, she exposes the round, red jewel in the centre of her palm. Held in place by loops of black metal wire, the jewel comes alive with baleful light as she presses her hand down upon the crown of his head and keeps it there. Immediately the pilot’s arms and legs shoot out stiff, his whole body spasming violently. His head itself begins vibrating at an unnatural rate, going suddenly still as his facial features begin to distort radically, the skull losing the integrity of its shape, swelling and constricting like a thin bag of water. Once the punishment jewel has worked its dark magic — rearranging the pilot’s molecules, transfiguring him into a grotesque Picasso of hideously misaligned flesh and bone — Faizah closes her hand, deactivating the weapon.
FAIZAH: (sighs) Let this serve notice. I will not accept failure.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2018 20:11:19 GMT -5
Loving it and you have a great taste in storytelling ...  |
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 19, 2018 17:10:30 GMT -5
EXT. CAVE — DAY
The long sandstorm has finally dissipated, allowing Abdju’s trinary stars to burn bright in the vibrant yellow sky once more. As the Nagadans file out of the cave, ready to leave the hills for the open sands, the Earthlings stand off to the side of the rocky entrance, discussing their next course of action.
O’NEAL: (cont’d) It’s too risky. We don’t have time to orchestrate an uprising. We have to take fast and immediate action.
DANIEL: We can’t just turn our back on the Nagadans. They only serve the Imperium because Atum’s viceroys have used their technological superiority to maintain the illusion they’re divine.
O’NEAL: We don’t have any choice. All we can do is try and complete our mission.
FERETTI: Sir, we owe our lives to these kids. The least we could do —
O’NEAL: Forget it. I have my orders.
KAWALSKY: Then disobey orders.
O’NEAL: (bemused) Excuse me?
KAWALSKY: No, Daniel's right. We won’t accomplish anything unless we tear down the Earth gate.
Daniel looks at Kawalsky, surprised and impressed, then back to O’Neal.
DANIEL: Captain, are you with us or not?
Everyone scrutinizes O’Neal, eagre to know his final decision.
O’NEAL: (sighs) It better work.
INT. PALACE OF THE ELDERS/CENTRAL HALL — DAY
Within the central hall of the Palace of the Elders, a magnificent celebration is underway. A multitude of attractive dancers in scant clothing sway and leap and pirouette to the harmonies played by an accompanying band of musicians. Nearer to the back of the room, seated in regal chairs arranged in a semicircle facing the dancers, are the elders themselves. Behind the elders, seated upon a raised throne of platinum and gold, is a Haru Guard, his helm deployed, the turquoise eyes of his falconesque visage aglow. On either side of him stand his lieutenants, another two Haru Guards. Fearing no danger here, they wear their power armour retracted, revealing the close-fitting black bodysuits worn beneath the plates of bronze naqahdah.
As the dance continues, more than a dozen cloaked figures — hoods pulled up over their faces — enter the hall through one of the side doors, their arrival going all but unnoticed by the revellers captivated by the festivities. They don’t go unnoticed for long. Pushing back his hood, O’Neal then unveils his energy rifle — the same archaic single-barrelled rifle found in the ruins of Old Nagada. Taking aim, he unloads multiple shots in rapid succession, punching clean through the Haru Guards’ bodysuits, cutting them down before they can react. The loud reports of plasmafire bring an immediate and abrupt end to the celebrations. Surrounding the remaining Haru Guard, O’Neal and his compatriots disarm him, pull him down off his throne, training their M4s and captured energy weapons on the unarmed warrior.
Initially dazed at this blatant act of blasphemy, the palace guards come out of their befuddlement to surround the intruders, bringing their muskets to bear. All are now trapped in a Mexican standoff. Seeing his daughter among the assassins, Kasuf breaks through the palace guards, rushing up to her and grabbing her by the front of her robes, pulling her to him with fierce desperation in his wide brown eyes.
KASUF: (subtitled) You will bring disaster to all of us, daughter!
SHA'URE: (subtitled) Father, we will not remain in servitude to false gods!
Kasuf then begins ranting and raving, first to his daughter, then to the other Nagadans assisting the Terrans.
O’NEAL: Jackson, what’s he saying?
DANIEL: He’s saying we’re going to bring a massacre down upon his people, that Atum will slaughter everyone who disobeys. Now he’s telling them not to cooperate with us, not to anger the gods.
O’NEAL: Don’t anger the gods, huh?
Heedless of the musket barrels trained on his back, O’Neal approaches the Haru Guard in the bronze crystalline armour. Leaning in close, he peers into the burning turquoise eyes of the falconesque countenance, wholly contemptuous of the being standing before him.
O’NEAL: (cont’d) This guy ain’t no god!
Bringing up his energy rifle, O’Neal unloads a plasma bolt at point-blank range into the mechanized falcon head, slagging it and catapulting the Haru Guard clear off his feet. As the Haru Guard lands on the other side of the room, his helm hopelessly damaged, it begins crackling with varicoloured energy, the atoms writhing and churning as the gaseous membrane holding them in place deteriorates. The compromised helm finally disintegrates, falling away in a cascade of glittering bronze sand, revealing the all-too human visage which is the true face of the Haru Guard. Kasuf, the other elders, the palace guards, and all the other revellers are struck dumb by the sight of the unmasked would-be god.
DANIEL: (to the Nagadans; subtitled) Take a look at your god! He is a man like any other!
The Haru Guard, struck senseless by the blast but otherwise unharmed, climbs back to his feet. His face contorted in rage at this gross violation of his person, he makes a dash for the captain, deploying his armour as he reaches for O'Neal's throat. Before O’Neal can defend himself, Daniel takes initiative. Bringing up the staff weapon he has had on his person this whole time, the Egyptologist opens fire on the Haru Guard, unloading four plasma bolts in quick succession; three slam into his suit of armour, leaving only slight damage where they land, but the fourth takes the Haru Guard’s unshielded head clean off. Daniel stands there, looking down upon the warrior he just slew, staff weapon quivering in his shaking hands. This is the first time he’s ever killed another human being.
O’NEAL: Not so easy, is it?
Gently pushing Daniel and the captain out of the way, Kasuf approaches the headless corpse. Looking upon it, his expression one of mixed shock and confusion, he takes off his outer robe, bends low, then drapes the robe over the body, hiding it from sight. He then gets down on his knees and begins to pray, the tones in his voice heavy with dread.
As the others gathered for the festivities join Kasuf, kneeling down on the floor to add their own lamentations and pleas for forgiveness to his, Daniel, O’Neal, and the others realize their effort to incite a rebellion has failed.
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 20, 2018 15:51:29 GMT -5
INT. PYRAMID/STARGATE CHAMBER — SUNSET
A pair of Haru 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 Haru Guards approaches the crate. At the lanky being’s command, the dwarves lift the lid of the crate up and off, exposing the bricks inside. The bricks are of a smokey gray, slightly iridescent stone: 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 piece of the chess-like game, she takes one of her opponent’s. At that moment, Sihathor and two other Haru 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 Haru Guards shepherding them from behind. There is no sign of Daniel or O’Neal amongst the captives.
INT. PYRAMID/ANTECHAMBER — SUNSET
Silver light cascades through the black rings and the pair of Haru Guards with the bomb materialize inside. As the transporter deactivates, the rings retracting back into the ceiling, the Haru Guards head for the gate chamber.
CUT TO
The Haru Guards entering the stargate chamber.
The Haru 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 turn around and head back out.
INT. PYRAMID/ENTRANCE HALL — SUNSET
Entering the entrance hall, the pair of Haru Guards and their captives make their way through the entrance into the antechamber. As they approach, the two Haru Guards who delivered the bomb step out. An armoured warrior lifts his hand, commanding them to halt. One of the shepherding Haru Guards then steps forward, approaching the warrior who ordered them to stop.
HARU 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.
HARU GUARD #2: (scrutinizes captives; subtitled) The commander and scribe — where are they?
HARU GUARD #1: (subtitled) Dead — killed in the firefight.
HARU GUARD #2: (subtitled) Why didn’t you report their capture?
HARU GUARD #1: (subtitled) Our armour was damaged, our transmitters disabled.
The Haru Guard studies the other, blue-green eyes in search of some hidden untruth.
HARU GUARD #2: (subtitled) Disengage your exohelm.
The other refuses to respond. Unholstering his energy rifle, the suspicious Haru Guard approaches the other’s companion.
HARU GUARD #2: (angry; subtitled) Disengage your exohelm!
Instead of obeying, he brings up his own energy rifle — single-barrelled — and jabs it into the Haru Guard’s stomach. The words he then speaks, though heavily bass-toned through the helm’s filters, are in recognizable English.
O’NEAL: How ya doin’?
The disguised captain squeezes the rifle’s grip and an orange plasma bolt tears through the Haru Guard’s armour and gut, the kinetic energy of the impact hurtling him backward. As the dead Haru Guard hits the floor, O’Neal and Daniel both disengage their falcon-headed helms, bringing up their energy rifles to focus on the remaining Haru Guard. Just then two other Haru Guards — a pair who had been hiding somewhere within the entrance hall — come out into the open to assist their brother-in-arms.
The resulting firefight is incredibly, intensely bloody. Their hackles now up, the three armoured Haru Guards prove to be formidable opponents, avoiding direct hits from the energy 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 game with her manservant. By all appearances, she has the upper hand at this point. Sihathor enters again.
SIHATHOR: You summoned me, Lady?
Taking her attention from the game for a moment, Faizah gestures for the green-black armoured warrior to come to her. At his approach, she reaches into her robes and pulls out the pendant bearing the Eye of Atum.
FAIZAH: (hands pendant to Sihathor) Send the bomb to Earth now.
Accepting the pendant, 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 pressing 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? What is it?
DANIEL: They’ve sealed the stargate!
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 Haru Guard — grievously wounded, dying, but not yet dead — enters the chamber, double-barrelled energy rifle in hand. As he levels his weapon at O’Neal, Skarra jumps in between them.
O’NEAL: (horrified) Skarra!
Skarra opens fire with his M4. The bullets make no mark on the Haru Guard’s bronze armour, but they do pass through the holes already present, punching through the underlying flesh easily. As he collapses backward, the dying Haru Guard triggers his weapon one last time, firing off a shot which cuts straight through the boy. Bringing up his own rifle, O’Neal fires several shots off into the Haru 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, his face of unyielding rock facing forward. Bringing forth his left arm, he presses the large, round blue crystal set in the back of his gauntlet, activating the ring transporter. As the five black rings come up from the floor 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 up, casting white light onto the floor, Daniel takes up his energy rifle and crosses over into the antechamber, positioning himself under the ten black rings as they make their descent. Sha'ure joins him, and 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 completely.
DANIEL: Wait for us.
With a flash of silver light, they are gone, replaced with Sihathor. As the rings return to their compartment, the Haru Guard swats O’Neal across the face, knocking the captain aside. He then points his energy 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.
DANIEL: Precisely. You should’ve stayed down in the pyramid.
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 where the plasma burned through the fabric of his robes, O’Neal grapples with Sihathor. Having seized hold of the Haru Guard’s energy 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 was taken out of the fray. Though dazed, he takes hold of 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 and locking the weapon in place between the two of them. As O’Neal grimaces, fighting to free the staff weapon of Sihathor’s hold, the Haru Guard disengages his helm. As the falcon’s head retracts, Sihathor’s cruel face — gray and granite — is revealed once again.
A sinister 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 on. 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 Haru 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, eh?
Hearing his voice, Faizah turns her head, finding Daniel and Sha'ure standing in the doorway, energy rifles fixed on her position. She doesn’t seem the least bit surprised or perturbed at their presence onboard 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 there, 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 here, 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 on 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 over to the bomb, the Haru Guard stands it up on end. Setting the timer, he activates the weapon. Satisfied that the weapon has begun its countdown, he takes the pendant clasped around his neck and lifts it up 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: (interrupts) 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 and 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 nine panels on the stargate bearing the symbols for Earth light up. Within a second the entire stargate powers up, unleashing a geyser blast of glowing quicksilver to form a bridge back to Terra.
As Sihathor stands there, basking in the silver light of the rippling puddle, O’Neal picks himself up and staggers over to an energy rifle lying upon 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) Pitiful taste.
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 then headbutts him, breaking the Haru 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 Haru 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 — hard. 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 the dead form of Sihathor 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 on 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, he then sights the gold pendant still entangled around his neck. Bending low, the captain retrieves it.
O’NEAL: Give my regards to the P***y Queen, ass****.
The captain presses the colourless crystal adorning his left gauntlet, activating the ring transporter.
INT. SHE WHO MAULS/BRIDGE — TWILIGHT
Sha’ure and Daniel are still waiting there on the platform when Faizah enters. Face red 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 iridescent black rings rise up 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 up, revealing that he has been wearing a suit of Haru 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 attentions 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 hold of the switch, 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 up over the floor, white light shining down through them.
O’NEAL: (shuts eyes tight) Sarah….
Silver light passes down through the rings, then the transporter deactivates, leaving Faizah and seven Haru Guards standing there, all attired in their armour, armed with energy rifles.
Capt. Jack O’Neal releases the switch and the world goes white.
INT. CREEK 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 with 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
01/05/2017
S. D. G.
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Post by Duragizer on Jan 22, 2018 2:54:44 GMT -5
If I could get this screenplay made into a movie, here are the actors I'd cast to play the major and supporting roles.
 THOMAS JANE as CAPT. JACK O'NEAL  JAMES McAVOY as DANIEL JACKSON  FAYE GRANT as KARIN LANGFORD  ROSE BYRNE as SHA'URE  KURT RUSSELL as GEN. W. O. WEST  DAVID HARBOUR as SGT. ADAM KAWALSKY  CHAIM TOPOL as KASUF  ADRIEN BRODY as SGT. LOUIS FERETTI  HEATHER LANGENKAMP as SARAH O'NEAL  AMANDA TAPPING as DR. BARBARA SHORE  ETHAN SUPLEE as DR. GARY MEYERS
Unfortunately, I don't know of any actresses who'd fit the part of Faizah. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 22, 2018 9:29:10 GMT -5
Loved your picks for the roles for this Stargate! |
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Post by Duragizer on Oct 28, 2021 1:38:51 GMT -5
I recently finished revising the fifth draft of this screenplay. The version serialized here is the second draft; suffice to say, I've put a lot of work into polishing the script since then. The main beats haven't been changed, though I've updated the setting to the present decade, improved/cut a lot of weak dialogue, and made miscellaneous other tweaks which I feel have improved the storytelling. Here's the PDF for anyone wanting to check it out: |
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