Chapter Ten- From Bad to Worse
"YOU LET THAT FUCKER TAKE DR. JACKSON?!" Ferretti yelled at Gonzalez. "YOUR ASS IS MINE WHEN WE GET BACK!!!" Well, after the rest of SG-1 is done with him. Ferretti added to himself. "We're heading back to the SGC. We need to get more personnel. And probably a couple of tranquilizer darts."
Gonzalez nodded numbly. He knew at this point his career was over and he could already see the jail cells. "Yes, sir." The two men communicated the best they could with the tribal men before shooting off to the Stargate. Cuauhtémoc posted men around the pit hole, waiting when they would return.
It was hungry.
It had been so long since it last fed on fresh blood and meat. So long. Already, it was beginning to wake up from its long slumber. The air in the tunnels was filled with the stench of fear, blood, and men sweat. The long tail uncurled, the spikes digging deep gouges into the earth. The feathers on its head rustled slightly, the fangs dripping fresh venom onto the floor. It was highly potent from years of non-use. It could already taste the blood of its closest victim. It was hungry and the instinct to feed could not be ignored.
Daniel slammed into the wall, not seeing the slide. He cried out in pain as his shoulder was jarred again. Climbing to his feet, he walked into another cavern. This one had no visible exit. "Fuck." The archeologist whispered the sound echoing around the cavern. There was another waterfall, the water cascading in shimmering veils. The crystal clear lake was lapping softly against the small beach, the lush vegetation offering protection.
But not enough to stop a bullet. Daniel mused. He walked toward the vegetation, quickly going over what Jack had told him of camouflage. He's only chance was that Ferretti had made it back to the SGC and was coming in with reinforcements. "Damn it!" Daniel cursed, jarring his shoulder again. He had to make sure he didn't leave a visible trail of blood behind him. Otherwise he was screwed. Making sure he was covered in mud and leaves, he hid under dense foliage.
Minutes ticked by.
"Come out come out!" The crazed soldier limped into the cavern, gun waving around in the air. "Where are you, doctor?" Perez yelled, the shout echoing off the naturally polished walls. "You can't hide from me!" He let off a couple of bursts into the air.
"Once I find you, I will carve the flesh off your bones. Every little cut will be slow. I promise you that, Dr. Jackson." Perez let loose a hail of bullets. As the crazed man came nearer to where he was, Daniel lowered himself to the ground. He didn't see the small stone near his hand. With a clattering sound, the rock fell down the small rocky slope. Perez swung around, strafing the away. Daniel rolled away, avoiding the area.
"I got you now!"
Daniel did the only thing he could do.
He lunged.
The archeologist caught the man around the middle, his speed bringing them both down the floor. He bit off a scream as he again jarred his shoulder. Perez brought up the gun, smacking Daniel in the head with it. Dazed he was rolled to his side.
I can't lose. Daniel kicked out with his leg, slamming his heel into Perez's knee. He kicked again as the captain bent over to clutch his knee. It caught him right in the forehead, sending him backward, and the gun flying out into the bushes.
Fuck! Daniel thought as he scrambled to his feet. What he heard next froze him to the bone.
The growling in the dark brushes.
"Shit." He whispered looking around. Daniel didn't see as Perez got him around the middle. Bringing up his knee, he slammed his knee into the other man's groin but the captain foresaw it and twisted his hip so the strike hit him in the hip.
Perez was trying to wrap his arm around his neck. Daniel recognized it for what it was. A rear naked choke hold. Quickly, he brought up an arm, blocking Perez from gripping his throat with his arm.
They both didn't see the beast coming at them.
Perez and Daniel landed headfirst in the mud.
Perez yelled.
Daniel looked up, the mud sliding down his face. Without his glasses he only saw a black shape. If he had them, he would have seen the great panther before him. At four feet high at the shoulder, it was larger than any cat on earth. Long black spines ran from the base of its neck down to the end of its spine. More spikes grew from its tail like in the pictures of dragons. Black and dark purple feathers crested its great head like a headdress. Gracefully curved claws extended from its great paws that were as big as dinner plates. Fangs like a saber-tooth cat curved from the upper lip, glistened an eerie white, dripping saliva onto the covered ground below. Dark green eyes sparkled with intelligence of a night hunter. It growled at them, eyes narrowing.
"Oh, shit." Daniel didn't dare move.
Perez on the other hand had other ideas.
He ran toward the only door.
The cat leapt after him.
The captain screamed as the giant hunter jumped onto his back, dragging him to the floor. Daniel took the opportunity to run. As he ran down the hall, he heard the screams and yells of the dying man.