INT. LADY OF SLAUGHTER/BRIDGE – TWILIGHT
As the rings return to their compartment under the platform, Daniel and Sha’ure find themselves on the bridge of the Lady of Slaughter. Sha’ure, accustomed to Industrial Age technology and its trappings, is nearly overwhelmed by the Star Age architecture 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 augmented by the stolen power armour he wears, the colonel tries to wrench 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 as the weak copper plating gives way.
INT. LADY OF SLAUGHTER/FAIZAH’S CHAMBERS – TWILIGHT
The Senet game continues on. As her opponent makes his tentative move, Faizah smiles wryly, then picks up an obelisk.
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 mid-leap, preventing him from obtaining the gun. Bearing his teeth, he hoists the colonel up then heaves him into a wall.
The timer of the bomb currently reads 7:13.
INT. LADY OF SLAUGHTER/FAIZAH’S CHAMBERS – TWILIGHT
Moving the obelisk, Faizah takes her servant’s last remaining pyramid. The game is won.
DANIEL: (O.S.) Senet, eh?
Hearing his voice, Faizah turns her head, finding Daniel and Sha’ure standing there in the doorway, energy rifles fixed on her position. She doesn’t seem the least bit surprised or perturbed at their presence on-board the ship.
FAIZAH: Indeed. (smiles) Do you play?
DANIEL: After a fashion.
FAIZAH: (to her 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 his grip on his 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 to stroke 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 is 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.
Stepping over to the bomb, he inspects the timer. Satisfied that the weapon is counting down to an inevitable detonation, he takes hold of the pendant clasped around his neck. As he lifts it up to the stargate, the Eye of Atum begins to glow, coming alive with golden light.
INT. LADY OF SLAUGHTER/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 that rifle in your hands? (grins) By now you must know I’m immune to such weapons.
DANIEL: You aren’t wearing a suit of armour this time.
Faizah looks down upon her body. 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 then shoves her servant forward, propelling him towards Sha’ure. Startled, the girl accidentally opens fire, tearing him open with a superheated plasma bolt; that same bolt continues on to impact against Faizah’s personal force field. Faizah then 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 colonel.