Stargate Hastings

Chapter Twenty one: One shall fall, to save them all

Abydos, Nagada.

Nebu was sad to see his new friends leave but he knew that he would see them again. He had a rebellion to build now and they needed to be ready, for when their day of deliverance arrived. They would be over half way there by now but until the time had passed for the journey to be complete. Nebu and his fellow rebels, his new brothers. When not down the mines, were spread out around Nagada listening, to be certain that nobody had raised the alarm or suspected anything. Once the time had passed, they would be able to relax.

Nebu was in the part of the city, that his little brother's best friend, Ne'rut lived. His father was a known snake, so Nebu had chosen to keep his eye on him personally. His name was Ne'rut, the same as his son but that was where their similarities ended. Ne'rut Jr was a good boy, Nebu thought a lot of him and would always play fight with him and little Nasseef. He could not help who his father was and Nebu knew that his father only did what he did out of fear. The snakes were just as much slaves as everybody else and when the time came to kill them, Nebu would not enjoy what he was going to have to do.

Nebu was just turning the corner to where Ne'rut and his father lived, when he heard Ne'rut Senior speaking to his son. "Go out and see one of your friends, I want some peace and quiet".

Nebu waited for him to re-enter his home, then he turned the corner and after making sure nobody was watching. He got young Ne'rut's attention, then indicated for him to follow him. When they were in a quiet part of the city, Nebu asked him, "What is wrong little big man?". The name he had always called him.

Ne'rut was smaller than the other boys his age but would never back down to any of the bigger children. He looked at Nebu and replied, "You know what is wrong with me, Nasseef he is gone".

Nebu knew instantly what had happened. Nasseef had been best friends with this boy, ever since he was aloud out of his home on his own. Which for Abydonian children, was from a very young age. He was told not to say goodbye to anyone but he could not blame the child, he should have kept his eye on him. "Where as Nasseef gone? I know nothing of this". Nebu asked, trying to sound surprised about the boys revelation.

"He tell me not to say anything, that it was a secret". The boy looked down to the floor as he spoke.

"Where did he say he was going, Ne'rut?".

"He not tell me, just that he would not see me again for a very long time and that he could not leave without saying goodbye".

"Have you told anybody else Ne'rut?". He already knew that he had but he needed confirmation before he would act.

"My father asked me why I was sad, so I told him but nobody else Nebu".

"Listen my little big friend. Nasseef is playing a trick on you, he has gone with his brother to work. He will be back soon enough". Nebu then started laughing, before adding, "You may be strong little one but you are easily fooled". He then winked at the young man and finished, "Now go and find your other friends, I will send Nasseef to you when he returns".

The smile that came to the young boys face, told him that his words, had the desired effect. His father was a completely different problem. There would be no convincing him and from the way he had shooed his son away, Nebu was certain, that he was already calling Ra. He did not like lying to the boy and getting his Hope's up but it was better that one boy be sad, than a lot of people be dead.

His next job was to find his father and tell him to inform his brother, that he would be in command now. He would then have his father hide his wife and son in the caves. He did not want to leave them but he had no choice. If he left soon, he would be able to get to the pyramid before they did. Ra would send warriors through the Chappa'ai and they would block his friends escape, until Ra arrived. He was certain that they could fight their way through.

To Nebu, Robert Parker and Jeem were true gods among men. They had fought all six of the rebels and the two of them had defeated them every time. Their extra numbers had meant nothing against them, even after they had learned to work as more of a team. One of them would engage the rebels and use one of their bodies to keep the others at a distance, while the other would wait and then strike when their attention was completely on the first man. They had came close but they had never won a single contest against the two.

His father was where he expected him to be, which was fortunate for Nebu. He was running out of time and would need to explain everything to his father quickly. When he found him, they headed in the direction of the mines, as they would be able to talk and not look suspicious doing it there. When they were clear of the other people, Hassif asked him, "What is wrong son, why have you bought me here?".

"You did not keep your eye on Nasseef, he told Ne'rut he was leaving and would not see him for a long time". He did not mean to blame his father but he should have been watching him.

"That is where he went. I am sorry son, he knew not to say anything to him. We have all warned him about his father". The look on his fathers face, was one of utter devastation.

"It is not your fault father, we all should have warned him not to say goodbye to anybody and we have bigger problems right now".

"Yes of course we must warn them son, I will go. If I leave now, I may be able to reach them in time and then they can return to the caves. All will be fine my son".

"No father, it is I who must go. Take my wife and son to the caves and tell people that I take them with me. Then tell my brother Hassif, that he is in command now. He will have to learn from the others but he already knows much of what he will need".

Hassif was not happy with his son leaving but he would be more help to them, than he would himself. He put his hand on the back of his sons head, then pulled him closer, so that their foreheads were touching. "I have loved you since the day, that I helped bring you into this world my son. If you can not return to us, then stay alive and take care of your brother and sister". He then kissed his sons forehead and then left to perform his duties.

Nebu did not have any weapons on him, they were kept in the caves and only used for training purposes. He knew that he did not have time to collect them but he did not care, he was the weapon. Even before he had learned from Robert Parker, Nebu would have been able to defeat any man who did not have the same training, as his mentor. With all that he had learned, he believed that he could kill the Hawk bastards. Because he would not allow them to end his peoples fight for freedom, before it had even begun.

Once he was out of view, he picked up the pace. Only a fool would run in the desert but he could walk fast enough to either intercept them or join the fight, if they had already arrived at their destination. He just hoped that he could make it in time or his people would never be free.

Final dune before the pyramid.

"Are you certain?". Jim asked Larry.

His disembodied voice replied, "Yes I am certain, their are ten Jaffa waiting in the Stargate chamber and two more that are positioned in the entrance hall". He then projected a small image of the building, that the Stargate was housed in. Their were ten dots scattered around the Stargate chamber and two more were hiding behind the two pillars, that were furthest away from the entrance. Jim could see what they intended to do. Once their group entered the corridor at the end of the entrance hall, the Jaffa would follow them and cut off their retreat. They would not be able to see the light from the Stargate, until they were passed the two Jaffa that were waiting to cut them off.

Only the Jaffa had no idea that they knew exactly where they were or that they had a device, that could activate the Stargate from a distance. Larry had assured them, that the Stargate would shutdown within the next five minutes and once it had, he would be able to make a connection with a planet, that was not earth. The guards would be able to see the address on the pedestal and their helms would record it. Meaning they would not take that information, to the afterlife with them.

Larry could also send a signal, that would send the guards helms false readings and was how he was going to try and make them shoot each other. When the Stargate was activated, the guards would assume that they were just reactivating it, to send reinforcements if called for but before it activated they would see that it was not from their home world and when their helms, showed them the Jaffa of Apophis. their gods greatest enemy. Suddenly charge at their comrades, through the Stargate. They would in theory, open fire on one another leaving only one or two remaining. He would then mess with them even further, if they had not yet realised and retracted their helms.

The two waiting for them, they would use the carnage going on in the Stargate to ambush. Larry would stay with the children and had assured them all, that he was more than capable of keeping them safe. He would not tell them how he would keep them safe but he promised them that he could. He had also assured them that Ra's ship was not yet in the system and would inform them if he arrived.

They headed towards the ramp leading up to the pyramid, under the assumption that they would not be attacked. If they did intend to ambush them, until they reached the corridor up ahead they would be safe. The children had been told to stay behind them and then quietly take Larry to the second pillar on their left hand side and then hide until called for. They had timed it to coincide with the Stargate shutting down and just as the children separated from them. Larry, who had projected himself into the space between the last two pillars on their right hand side, gave the signal for them to get into position.

Donald then peeled off to the left, with his father going to the right. Robert Parker drew his huge broad sword from its sheaf, as quietly as he could and his daughter, with a small crossbow in each hand. Readied herself to aim a bolt at each of the Jaffa's legs. It was hoped that even if she missed, the sight of a man wielding a massive broad sword, would keep their attention long enough for the two men to come up behind them. It was risky but both Donald and Jim were skilled enough to kill the men, before they could hurt the bate.

They did not need Larry to tell them when the Stargate had been reactivated, the sounds of weapons and muffled screams could be heard clearly enough. To the Jaffa's credit, the two ready to complete the ambush, did not panic, had they had hoped but when they did make their move, Rachael connected with the shot to her right. Seeing this, her father advanced and then swung his sword at the Jaffa on their left. The warrior skilfully deflected his strike with his staff and with a strength that even Nebu did not possess, he kept the weapon pressed to the ground and gave him an arrogant smile. As Robert Parker had known it would be, that smile was wiped off of his face by James Eldens dagger, slicing his throat from ear to ear.

After they pushed the Jaffa onto his back, Jim stabbed his dagger into the pouch that held the larvae form of the Gau'auld, until he heard the snake like creature squeal in agony. When they looked over to the other Jaffa, Rachel was plunging her own dagger into the pouch and they heard the same squeals from that direction.

They then took cover, in case anyone had survived the phantom attack through the Stargate and then Jim turned to Larry's projected image and asked, "Can you tell if anyone as survived in there?".

"Eight Jaffa are dead, the other two have weakening life signs". Larry informed him.

"Good, we will go first. When the other Jaffa are dead, you follow with the boys, understood?".

"Yes I understand but please be careful, the Jaffa may not be dying and if they are, their Primta will be desperate for survival". He then vanished from sight, as if by magic.

The three men and Rachael, then started gathering the Jaffa's weapons. They both had a staff weapon and a Zat'nik'tel each on them, so Jim and Rachael took the Zat's and then took the lead. Robert and Donald followed behind with the staff weapons. Larry had taught them all they needed to know, about how to fire the weapons. Before they advanced though, Robert ripped one of the sleeves off his desert robes and tied his broad sword, to the weapon.

The plan was for Rachael and Donald to go in and repeatedly fire the Zat'nik'tel at the dead bodies, until they vanished. That would solve the problem of the Primta's, trying to take them as hosts in desperation. Robert and Jim would be covering them, with the staff weapons.

Outside the pyramid.

When Nebu reached the final dune, he could still see the tracks left by his friends and little brother. The winds would usually hide tracks after a few minutes, so he guessed that they had only recently headed towards the pyramid. When he made it to the entrance hall, Nasseef jumped out from his hiding place. "Nebu quick, a Jaffa his hiding ready to attack them but Larry can not reach that far to tell them. You must hurry".

Nebu did not answer his brother, instead he ran straight in the direction of the Stargate.

Stargate chamber.

San'kha had realised what was happening and retracted his helm as soon as the phantoms had not, passed through the Chappa'ai. His fellow Jaffa had fallen for the ruse but not San'kha son of Tu'rok. He had seen the phantoms just like his fellow Jaffa but he had not seen the ripples, that are the consequence of someone travelling through the ring of the gods. So had found cover, when they opened fire on each other. He did not know who was sending these phantoms but he knew that it was the power of the gods, that they were using.

San'kha had faced the Jaffa that were loyal to the vile one Sokar and he would use such tricks. Making Ra's Jaffa believe that friend was foe and foe was friend. Ra had used his power to prevent this from happening but none were this powerful, since Anubis had challenged Ra and was banished or as some say killed by Ra. Maybe it was Anubis, come to punish Ra's first prime. He had dared carry the name in his absence, just like San'kha's father Tu'rok had before him.

Many had believed San'kha would follow him and take his place at Ra's side but San'kha was no fool and would never disrespect the gods in such a way. Even if Anubis did not return, he would be waiting in the afterlife to judge your heart, on the scales of purity. Only those with the most pure devotion to the gods, would be deemed worthy and would be sent on to the afterlife. It was said that those who displeased Anubis, would welcome the eternity they would spend with Sokar.

He only hoped that the reverence that his father showed to the title, would be recognised by Anubis but he knew that the one who now held the title, would not. Out of reverence for the gods, his father had only used the name as a title and when not in Ra's presence, he would insist on being referred to as Tu'rok and not Anubis. This one believes he is a god and insists all call him Anubis.

Now San'kha was in a situation in which he would fail Ra, all because of fools who rely to much on their gods power and not enough on their own senses. If this enemy could mess with Ra's power, then they would also know who was dead and who would be left alive. He quickly used a reflective device he had created himself, for times when he could not rely on Ra's power, like now. They were all dead except one, who had been shot in his Primta sack and would die a slow agonising death.

He quickly put himself into a deep state of Kelno'reem, a difficult thing to do quickly. His father had taught him how, when he was still very young. He had told him that Ra's enemies had the same power and that one day he would need the skill. His fathers prediction had proved true on many occasions and San'kha had become very proficient in the act. He had failed his god but he would take as many of the Shol'va slaves he could with him and hope Anubis recognises his reverence for him and his death in the service of Ra. He just hoped Anubis hatred for Ra, would not blind him to that fact but it mattered little, San'kha's heart would be balanced. None were more devoted to the gods.

Even though his body was slowing itself down, his mind still had a sense of what was going on around him, even if his mind was in a deep state of concentration. He was hidden around the right hand corner as you came into the chamber from the outside and hoped they believed that all had been killed and did not immediately check the whole area. Ra would arrive soon but he feared he would be too late. The vast distances between the stars took time to traverse but he would kill as many as he could and delay their departure for as long as possible.

He heard them enter firing the Zat'nik'tel's repeatedly, San'kha could hear the distinctive sound of his brethren being vaporized and for a moment felt a grudging respect for these Slaves but that soon passed and his instincts kicked in. He rose in a single elegant motion, his Ma'tok staff had been vertical the whole time at his left hand side ready to grab at a moments notice. As quiet as those that resemble the banished goddess Hathor. San'kha advanced to seal his place in the after life.

He quickly surveyed the situation, they had checked the other side first with two of them in that direction, another was at the corridor entrance that led to the outside and his first target, wa a man with completely white hair and was equal in height to himself. He aimed his weapon and fired, just as a huge blur pushed the man at the entrance out of his way, then pushed the old man out of the way also. While his shot would have killed the old man, it only clipped the newcomer on his left shoulder.

San'kha had been hit in the same manner in the past and the reaction this massive slave gave, had been nothing like the one he had given. He did not stop for a second, he absorbed what part of the blast that had caught him and with a look on his face that told San'kha, that this slave was going to enjoy this, he reached forward and grabbed the staff just above, the actual cannon part of the weapon.

San'kha had believed the man would try to pull the staff from his hand as another Jaffa would. The man before him could be a Jaffa, he was only a little shorter than himself but larger in overall body mass. Instead he used the fact that San'kha had set himself for such a manoeuvre and launched himself at him and before San'kha knew what had happened, he was on the floor his body shaking. There was however another presence, desperate to save its own young life.

Robert Parker felt like he had been hit by a rampaging bull but his years of experience kicked in and he spun in the direction of the two sounds he had heard. The first was the sound of the Jaffa's weapon readying itself to fire, the next, well the next was just a thud really. Nebu was just off the floor travelling very fast in the direction of the Jaffa. Robert did not really see what Nebu did to the man but he knew once he saw him on the floor, with his neck almost completely the wrong way round. Nebu's left shoulder was smouldering but his friend and protégé, did not even seem to notice.

Without even thinking about it, on pure instinct Robert Parker bellowed, "Nebu retreat now!".

Just has instinctively had Robert had given the order, Nebu followed it. He went from looking down with glee at the hawk headed bastard he had just killed and instantly jumped at least as far back, as he had leaped towards the Jaffa. Then a stream of bright blue white energy, intercepted the snake like creature, that was desperately trying to save itself. He saw his King fire two more shots into the creature, in order to vaporize the false Godling. He turned to Robert and Donald in turn and said, "My friends you saved me, thank you but we must leave now!".

The two men did not bother to correct him about them saving his life but instead focused on the part of getting out of here. The children had slowly started approaching the Stargate chamber, as soon as Nebu had charged off. When Larry informed them that the final Jaffa was dead, they began running. Just as they entered the chamber, Larry projected his avatar into the chamber and declared "Ra is here". The Stargate then shut off and instantly started activating to send them home.

Donald was ready with the radio and after thirty or so very anxious seconds. He gave the all clear for first Tom, who would tell them the strangers that followed were friendly but to be ready just in case. Nasseef holding Larry and his injured brother would go next, followed by the others. They threw the staff weapons and Zat's that had not been disintegrated with their owners and then there was only three of them left. Rachael had seen that Jim had not moved from the pedestal. "Let's go now!".

He could see it in her eyes, that she knew what he intended to do. if Ra had not shown up, they would have had their happy ending. Jim so wanted that for her, more than he wished it for himself. Jim was a soldier and although he had done those things with a sense of honour and viewed the things he had done, the people he had killed, as his sworn duty. As with all soldiers, he was simply telling himself a factual lie. He did his duty for all of those reasons but each time he had took another mans life, even in self defence. It had chipped away at his spirit, until that spirit no longer dreamed of happiness. Only to be iron strong and unbreakable.

That was until he met the incredible woman whose eyes were pleading with him, to leave with them but he could not. Larry could only shut down the Stargate from the side that had made the connection. Meaning he would have to stay behind and when they had left, he would press the central button on the pedestal to shut it down manually. If he did not, then they ran the risk of revealing earths location.

Only a few seconds had passed but it seemed like an age, before he nodded to the woman's father. Robert Parker hit the woman he had grown to love, on the base of her skull and threw her limp body over his shoulder, before his daughter could realised what was happening. Before he entered the puddle of energy, he turned and saluted to Jim. At the same time Jim heard the rings begin to activate behind him. "Just go dam it".

He waited until the rings were almost to the ground, then pressed the button that would shut down the Stargate. When it did, Jim returned the salute that the old man would never see and then just before being struck by two staff blasts square in the back. His heart broke for the woman he had fallen in love with, her first love had left her alone and now that she had finally aloud herself to love another, he had left her as well. At least her husband had left her a son. The last thought he had before the reaper took him was. There was a chance his seed had took.

Then James Elden, Jim to all of his friends but one and the woman he loved. Died not just to save the that woman but for everyone on that spinning ball, called the earth. A place were he had lived through hell but a place he now believed, could one day be heaven itself.

The end of the beginning...