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 the 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 that they’re divine.
O’NEAL: We don’t have any choice. All we can do is try and complete our mission.
BROWN: Sir, we owe our lives to these kids. The least we could do –
O’NEAL: Forget it. I have my orders.
Kawalsky then takes a step forward, leaning in close over O’Neal.
KAWALSKY: Then disobey orders.
O’NEAL: (bemused) Excuse me?
KAWALSKY: No, Daniel is right. We won’t accomplish anything unless we tear down the gate back home on Earth. Having friendlies holding down the gate here may give us enough time to do that.
Daniel looks at Kawalsky, surprised and impressed, then back to O’Neal.
DANIEL: Colonel, 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 dancers, attractive men and women 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 flawlessly crafted platinum and gold, is a fully armoured Haru Guard, his helm deployed, the turquoise eyes of his falconesque visage aglow; on either side of him, equipped with energy rifles, stand another two Haru Guards, his lieutenants.
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 careful aim, he unloads multiple shots in rapid succession, blasting holes through weak points in the Haru Guards’ suits of armour, 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 pull him down off his throne, training their M4s and captured energy weapons on the armoured but 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 to rant and rave, 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 armoured 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 right 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 to crackle with iridescent 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 colonel, armoured fingers outstretched for his 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 hit, but the fourth takes the Haru Guard’s unshielded head clean off.
Daniel stands there, looking down upon the headless remains of 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 colonel out of the way, Kasuf approaches the headless corpse. Looking down on it, his expression one of mixed shock and confusion, he then takes off his outer robe. Bending low, he drapes the robe over the corpse, hiding it from sight, 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 efforts to spark off a rebellion have failed.