Stargate Hastings
Chapter Thirteen: The Gatekeeper
The corridor that Rachael and Jim had entered, was empty but for a stone wall at the end of it. They could have walked side by side but it was not wide enough to do so comfortably. Instead Rachael took the lead, with Jim walking behind her ready to drag her out of there, at the first sign of trouble. Jim had a bad feeling about this. Not a feeling of impending doom, exactly. If what Rachael and her cousin hoped was here, was actually here. Then he may be helping to deliver, weapons of great power to his world and while he had little doubt his friends intentions were pure, he just could not forget the change in the man. He was still the same man but he would never have manipulated people, like he does now and putting power into his hands, could be a very bad thing to do. Richard had told him, the reason he was like this now, was because he could not afford people saying no to him and that the reason for that, was the liberation of our race. Not just among the stars but for the people of our own planet as well.
Maybe he had just lost his edge, he had even given up his command. He had done so, because his son was the one, who was in the best position to command the mission but four or five years ago, he would have taken the command he had been given and simply used his sons greater knowledge, as he needed it. No it was more than that, he even sometimes wished he had died with his men. Men who were now waiting for him, waiting to tell him that they had died for nothing. They were taught to fight for honour, only for those with less than honourable intentions. He had always found a way to survive, would always have that little extra to give. "Survivors guilt" as he had told many before him but he had lost men before. Men that he had known far longer than those men, that had sent him over the edge. It was how many different men, that he had known for only a week or two at a time. Men he had too few memories to remember them by.
Now he found himself on a world not his own, trying to find weapons. In order to put them into the hands of a man, whose intentions he no longer completely trusted. The genie had already been let out of the bottle now. He only hoped he could stop his friend, from becoming that which he claimed to hate. His family was extremely wealthy and his claims that wealth would be used to help the people, when the time was right. Was just a little too vague, for his liking.
As they reached the end of the corridor, a light shone and a ghostly figure appeared. It looked just like any other living human being, only one that could be seen through. The man was small in height and had very dark skin and a shaven head. Before he could stop her. Rachael reached out and touched the man now stood before them. He relaxed when he saw that her hand just past through him. It looked as if he were looking at the man through a reflection and she had swiped her hand through the water his image was reflecting off. When she had finished, the man returned to the original clear image.
The man stood before them, then started speaking in the language of the rebellion. Rachael translated as best she could, what he was saying into English "Too long as past for the original plan to be successful and that the snakes on earth, must have taken power. If it is those sent by the lion who stand before me, they will know the answer to the question!".
They suddenly heard the doorway that they had entered through close, then the man began speaking again. "If it is those sent by the snakes who stand before me, then you will both die a slow death". Rachael translated for him. The man then just stood there with a neutral expression on his face.
Jim did not like the sound of a slow death or the word both and what that could mean but at least they would not be killed instantly. "If we get this wrong, that means we are stuck in here right?". He asked Rachael.
She replied, "We can only hope, that is what that means". She then said in the strange language. "In the time before Ra there were no gods. There was only truth!".
The ghostly man then began speaking again, "You speak the wisdom of the lion but do you have his spirit. The snake may speak words but only the lion would give his...". Rachael did not finish the translation.
"Give what? His life?". She did not answer him, so he asked. "What did he say Rachael?". This time with a slightly raised voice.
She was a Hastings, if not by name she was most definitely through blood. It was her place to die, as the strange man made of light, had just told her. There was one big problem, the person who was supposed to do the deed and take her life, would never agree to it. He may be convinced of being the one to give his life but he would never take hers. They had the talk, that she had been ordered to have with him and they had agreed that there was something growing between them. They had also been in agreement, that here was not the place to deal with that. They had sorted the problem though and were getting along well. "He said that if only one of us would have entered, that person would have been asked to sacrifice himself but because there were two. One must sacrifice a willing other and then the power of the gods will be revealed". She did not look at him as she spoke.
"Ask him to open the door and then politely tell him, where the gods can shove their power".
Rachael looked into his eyes and said pleadingly. "This is what it as all been for, everything my family have been working towards. I will freely give my life but I need you...?".
She did not have to finish the request. He wanted to slap some sense into her, she was talking like a crazy woman. "There is not a chance in hell, that I'm going to do that and I could not give my life willingly, I'm just not built like that. So tell our friend here, that we would like to leave. That is an order". He was not expecting, that giving her an order would work. "I will not do this and I will not give my life willingly. You have no choice but to do as I say!".
She knew he was right, whoever or whatever the man was. He had told her that the person would have to give their life willingly and the other would have to take that life. So she did as ordered and said in the secret language "We can not do as you request, for the lion would never ask this of us". She didn't know if it would make a difference. But she had phrased it in a way, that showed a respect towards life.
They were both stunned, when the man said in perfect English "Thank you, I thought you were going to do it for a moment there". Then returned to the same stance and expression, as he had before. The mans accent, sounded a lot like Rachael's fathers.
That fact was not lost on Rachael, so she asked in English, "You speak English and why do you sound like my father?".
He answered immediately "I have learned your language from your discussions in the caves and of all of those I have heard speak your tongue. His voice is the most agreeable to me". Again returning to his former pose.
"Does this mean, that you will show us the power of the gods?". Rachael asked him.
"I am, the power of the gods!" he replied. As he did so, a section of the wall behind the man, started to rise. Revealing a square hole, with a pyramid shaped object inside. The pyramid was made from the same material as the Stargate, except for the top point of the pyramid, which was made of some kind of orange crystal. The strange man disappeared but his disembodied voice said "All of the knowledge, that those who created me could gather on the false gods power, their technology. Is stored in this device. I am the Gatekeeper of that knowledge and whilst I do believe you are from the lion. However a long time as passed and I must know to whom I give this knowledge and for what purpose? Man can be as cruel as the gods". The last part he added, to help them understand.
Jim was pleased with what the man had just told them. "What do we do now?" he asked the disembodied voice.
"Take the pyramid, the entrance will reopen once you do. You only need to speak and I will answer you but if you wish to see my avatar, place me on the ground or a flat surface and I will appear, if you call me". The voice answered.
Rachael walked up to the square hole in the wall and picked up the small pyramid. As soon as she did, the wall could be heard rising upwards behind them. "It looks like we have found, what we have been looking for. If I am right, we will not need to stay around and wait for Ra". She started walking towards the exit, with the very light device, considering its importance, held in both hands.
They could see that Robert had a hold of his grandson, probably stopping him rushing in when the doorway had reopened. Once they had both stepped out of the opening, the wall began to lower again. Donald asked, "Is that all you found?". Pointing to the pyramid in her hands.
She placed it on the floor and said "Can you come out please Gatekeeper?".
The bald headed man appeared before them. "How may I be of service?". In the same voice as her father. Who seemed to be the only one to have not noticed.
It was Tom who spoke up. "He sounds like you granddad". Then started laughing to himself.
Robert in a completely deadpan manner said, "I do not hear it".
Everyone else started laughing then and when the strange man who was there but was not actually there. Said in the same deadpan voice. "Humour, interesting but I do not understand. What did he say that was funny?". Even Robert Parker. A man that few had ever heard laugh before. Let out a belly laugh of his own. The gatekeeper waited for them to stop laughing, then asked. "Was there a reason, that you required me to appear before you?".
Rachael answered. "Yes gatekeeper, is the knowledge you have pertaining to Ra's Military strength and his kinds tactics. Available for us to access?". If she suspected correctly, all the information they would need, would be here.
"Yes, that would be considered knowledge, that you are able to access. Is there anything in particular you would like to know?".
Robert asked. "Can you tell us about the weapons, that their soldiers wield?".
The image of the man disappeared and a muscular man appeared in his place, his head was completely covered in what looked like the metal head of an hawk. He had a tall staff weapon in one hand and a shorter version in the other. The hawk helmet started flashing and the voice said "The Horus guards helm, allows them to see across great distances, find hidden people by searching for the heat, that the individuals body generates, target their weapons fire with greater accuracy and communicate with their fellow Jaffa, over large distances. It does however reduce manoeuvrability and his deactivated when in close combat". As he said the last part the helmet began to morph, seemingly magically and then disappear. Leaving only a necklace, where there was once a full hawk helm.
The staff weapon then started flashing and shortly after that, the warrior began wielding it. He was swinging it with great skill and was going through many different strikes and blocks with the weapon. The gatekeeper gave a description, "The Ma'tok staff, is a weapon that can be used in close quarters but its primary use is as a ranged weapon. It is accurate to a range of fifty to sixty of your strides and will still fire, although less accurately, up to one hundred of your strides. I do not yet know your units of measurement, until I am familiar with them. I will need to be literal with my descriptions. They fire a ball of plasma, that can burn through most metals even Naquadah, with enough concentrated fire". The five humans were all transfixed by the images floating in the air before them.
The warrior in the image then changed again. Instead of the longer staff, he started wielding a shorter version of the weapon. "The Ma'tok staff weapon has two different configurations, the second being a shorter version of the first and can be wielded with one hand". The five watched on, as the warrior wielded the shorter weapon. Instead of the finesse, that the warrior had shown when wielding the longer weapon. The shorter weapon was used more like a club. Still with great skill, only with a more aggressive style. "The shorter weapon is not as accurate at range but is a far more efficient weapon, when engaging an enemy at close quarters".
An S shaped weapon that was attached to the warriors belt, then started flashing, before the image became larger. "The Zat'nik'tel, is a weapon that can be used to incapacitate an enemy.." The image changed again, this time there were two warriors. One holding the longer version of the Ma'tok and the other a Zat'nik'tel. "It fires a stream of electrical energy, that shocks the victims nervous system for a short time, causing great pain. A second discharge of the weapon, will kill the victim and a third will disintegrate the body, leaving no trace of the victim behind". As he said this, the two warriors played out the description, he had just given. "However, a warrior proficient in the use of the standard Ma'tok staff. Can use that weapon to block the bolt of energy, that the Zat'nik'tel expels". Again the two warriors demonstrated his description.
"Although you have not requested this information, it is of far more importance". The image changed again, to one of the warriors abdominal area. The part of the mans garment that covered his stomach, then vanished. In place of the mans naval, was an X shaped opening. "The Jaffa are imbued with great strength and long life, by the Primta. The Primta, is the larvae state, of those who claim to be gods. The Gau'auld". The four triangular shapes, that made up the X on the mans abdomen. Started retracting and a snake like creature, emerged from the hole in the mans stomach. "Until the Primta as matured to adulthood and is able to take a human host, it is completely reliant on the Jaffa for survival. A Jaffa with his Primta removed, would die within a few hours or days, depending on the will of the individual. Do you have any questions?". As he said the last part, the image returned to that of the Gatekeeper.
Robert asked "How extensive is your knowledge concerning these Gau'auld and is it up to date?".
"The men who created me, their descendants are still out there and send me updates on the state of Gau'auld technology but they have advanced little, since the time of the rebellion. The Gau'auld are challenged rarely by other species and when they go to battle against each other, it is their Jaffa that pay the price. Any advancements they do make, are usually to existing technology. They may have technology, that I do not know of but my knowledge is quite extensive".
Rachael then asked, "What are you exactly?".
Unlike the other times the man had spoken, this time it took him a few seconds to reply, "Not a difficult question. I am the device on the ground before you, or to be more precise, the crystal within that device".
She should not have said the word exactly, she thought to herself. "Not the device, you the Gatekeeper. What are you?". She asked.
"I see. I am the artificial intelligence, that acts as the interface for this device". He answered.
"Artificial intelligence?". She had only read about such things in fiction.
"Yes. Intelligence that was artificially created".
"When was you created?". She asked.
"Before the rebellion on the first world". He replied.
Jim then asked "You have been in there alone, all this time?".
"Alone yes but I have not been lonely. I have watched over the people of Abydos, they are fascinating". He actually smiled, when he spoke of the Abydonians.
Rachael suddenly felt a little uneasy, so asked, "Do you have emotions?".
"No, emotions are a result of your bodies reactions to certain mental stimuli. What I experience is far more.. complicated than that".
"Complicated in what way?" She probed. She did not like where this was going.
"The Gau'auld are false gods but the men who created me were not. To become a God, all one must do is create. Emotions however. To bestow them upon me, was beyond their abilities. They did give me the ability to learn and that is what I have been doing. I still do not understand humour but now I will have the opportunity to interact with humans, I am sure that I will in time".
Robert then asked him. "The people that send you these, updates. Do you know where they are?".
"No. To protect them, I have no knowledge of their identities or locations. I receive my updates, whenever Ra's vessel is within this star system. Although I have not received any updates, in one hundred and thirty of your years. It as been longer between those updates in the past, so I am sure they are still out there".
"What can you tell us about Ra's spaceships?". Asked Robert.
"I require more information, regarding your units measure".
Rachael explained to the Gatekeeper, using a foot long piece of string that she had brought too Abydos with her. The string had inches marked out along its length and using those as a guide. She explained that there were twelve inches to a foot, three feet to a yard and one thousand seven hundred and sixty yards, in a mile.
When she had completed her explanation. The image changed to that of a huge ship, with what looked like a pyramid with a metal structure built around it. The disembodied voice of the Gatekeeper then said, "The dimensions of a Gau'auld Ha'tak vessel are as follows. The length of the vessel is approximately seven hundred and sixty five yards, the width of the vessel is approximately seven hundred and ten yards, with the height or depth of the vessel, being approximately three hundred and forty five of your yards. Ra's personal vessel is slightly smaller than that of his fellow Gau'auld and of a different design but as the supreme system Lord, it is far more powerful than theirs and from my scans of Ra's ship, I believe it to be a small section of a much larger vessel".
Donald blew out a whistle, "That is impressive. What kind of weaponry, do these monsters have?". He asked.
The image zoomed into the vessel. To show cannons that were a larger version of the ones, on the business end of a Ma'tok staff. "A Ha'tak class vessel will on average, have around sixty of these cannons. They are similar to the Ma'tok staff, only have a far greater destructive capacity. These weapons are used primarily for ship to ship combat. Although the Gau'auld, have been known to use them to destroy cities of civilisations, they believed would one day become a threat to them". The image changed again. This time to a sphere made of Naquadah, that was rotating in mid air. "They also have a supply of Naquadah enhanced, explosive devices. One of these devices has the destructive power, to level an area of five square miles. With all buildings and biological life destroyed in the process ".
Sat there listening to a magical, as far he was concerned, being. Who had all the intelligence he would need. Jim decided that now was the time to step up and accept the responsibility he had been given. "Thank you Gatekeeper, that will be all for now". The cave suddenly went dark.
When his eyes had readjusted, he looked to his son and said, "although I have the utmost faith in your abilities Don, we now have more information, I will be able to catch up pretty sharpish, now we have the Gatekeeper but this as just gotten a lot bigger and the original mission is now scratched".
"It's about bloody time. I was happy that you trusted me but commands not for me man. Give me a job to do and I'll do it. Telling other people what to do, no thanks". Donald exclaimed.
With that out of the way, they all sat down and went over the information they had just been given. They were all concerned about the Gau'auld's spaceships and knew that Jim had stopped the Gatekeeper, before he had even scratched the surface of their military strength. That was not an issue now, there were far more important things to do, before they learned about their military strength. Probably the most important of these, would be starting an underground resistance on this planet. One few in numbers but ready to rise up, when their brethren from the first world or the Tauri as they called them in their own tongue. Were strong enough to come liberate them.
Hassif and the others were going to send trusted members of their own families, to learn from Robert Parker but they would need to learn the more subtle nuances of war, if their rebellion would be successful. He would speak to the five elders and go over some things with them, on their next meeting. It was the Gatekeeper himself that had convinced him. If he would put limitations on the knowledge he revealed, then the likelihood of that power going to his friends head, would be reduced.
