Pentavus

Chapter 12

The King stood, surveying them with his grey eyes. "My Methra soldiers have told me much about you. You Pentavus creatures have violated my territory for the last time. It is fortunate you survived the mind torture and the riddles…or I would not be able to kill you myself. Hm."

Pentavus-1 was frozen in place. The King seemed to be trapping all of them in place with his mind as he gave his long lecture. "You have no idea, Pentavus, how long I have wanted…"

Then, the answer came. Shawn Jordan. I am here.

Shawn summoned all of his telepathic power and sent a message out across the ethers. Mottè? Shawn asked.

Yes.

How can you—?

I am not dead, Shawn Jordan. I have become greater.

Greater? Shawn asked. Greater? What does that mean?

Hallie joined the conversation. Ascended, Shawn. He has been ascended, like the Ancients before him.

Shawn could almost hear Mottè nod. Yes. I give you these gifts…Shawn felt his muscles loosen as he was released…I release you from your bonds. I also give you the key…And Shawn felt something fall into his hands behind his back…to your victory.

It was The Poison.

Slowly and silently, Shawn, who was in the back of the group and less noticeable, began to load the poison into his gun. The Poison, once added, would coat each outgoing bullet with the substance.

"…what you did not realize, Pentavus," the King was saying, "was that I had a few tricks…" He waved his arm, and Hallie flew through the air, her neck landing in his outstretched hand. He held her there, hanging. "…up my sleeve."

A small tinkling distracted him. The empty poison bottle had fallen to the floor. Shawn stood, his gun pointed straight at the Methra king. "I have a few tricks up my sleeve, too."

The king dropped Hallie and turned to face Shawn. "You would dare defy me? Even with your friend Mottè's help?"

So he knew somehow. But that didn't matter. Shawn pulled the hammer back and fired. The king, in one movement, eached up and caught the bullet before waving his arm again. The gun flew to his outstretched hand. "Hm. Interesting. Farewell, Shawn Jordan." He pointed the gun at Shawn. He pulled the hammer back and—

Bang.

The king turned around. There behind him, stood Marcus, holding the real Poison-loaded gun.

"Come now," Shawn said smugly, "You didn't think I'd try to kill you by myself? Did you?"

The king sputtered. "Interesting…" and then he collapsed.

And everywhere in the universe a Methra stood, they died.

The Pentavus team barely had time to register their victory before the whole room began to shake.

Shawn looked at Marcus. "What's happening?"

"The whole planet is powered by the King's life force. We have to get out of here."

"Okay. EVERYBODY OUT!"

They ran down the passage toward the Stargate. The tunnel was slowly shrinking as dirt and dust began to fill the floor.

"RUN!!!"

They reached the gate. Shawn pulled the dialer from his pocket and pressed the button. The Gate's dial began to spin.

"Dial Home!" George hit the yellow crystal and the gate opened. In a moment, they were through.

Shawn and the others emerged in the Pentavus gate room.

"Shut it down!"

The gate disengaged and all were safe.

For now.