This is another chapter which I have basically used the dialogue from the ep. It's such a good episode! But hopefully the POVs just expand on this and you can see what they're going through.

Chapter Seven

STARSKY

Oh God, I felt my knees shake as I noted the size of the bear, and its teeth and claws. I could only watch in complete horror as the huge animal started to approach me. The sound of laughter startled me but I was still frozen with fear.

"Welcome, pilgrim! Welcome to Simon's dream!" A strange voice floated through me but I could do nothing but stare at the growling and approaching bear. I reached behind for something to throw at him when my hand found a rock. I picked it up, but the bear was still coming for me.

"Don't get him mad. He bites!" The mocking voice was laughing at me but I couldn't tear my eyes off the bear. I was trapped in a corner as the bear further approached me. I tensed and tried to prepare myself for the attack but suddenly a bell rang and the bear turned away and scampered out of the room. Still shaking from the ordeal, I turned to go back. Despite the mocking voice and laughter, I couldn't see anyone there, so I continued on, desperate to escape. I hurt so much and was feeling sick, but I knew I had no hope if I didn't get away. The sounds of laughter started again, and I lost my temper, hating this cat and mouse game.

"Having fun, scum...? Am I supposed to go into shock now and cry...? You're nothing! You hear me...? Without your dumb robes and that chanting garbage you're nowhere! Losers and freaks playing big-time monsters... but you don't make it! You're still zero!"

I nearly jumped out of my skin as I heard a venomous voice in my ear, "PIG".

I wheeled around at the sound and was horrified at the flaming torch that was thrust towards me, catching me on the forehead. I let out an involuntary scream of pain as I collapsed backwards trying to avoid the torch being speared at me. I fell on the ground, my hands coming up to protect my face as the torch kept coming too close, the intensity of the heat was searing.

The freak was laughing as he tormented me, poking, stalking me. God, my head hurt so much where he'd burned me. I fought for my life with what little strength I had.

"How do you feel now, Starsky...? This more like it...? I'm the keeper of the flame. Simon dreamed we'd get together...!" He lunged at me again and I grabbed the shaft above the flame, trying to push it away with the little strength I had, but the heat was singeing my arm and I was losing the little strength I had rapidly. My tormentor seemed to lose his confidence slightly which gave me added impetus to keep fighting. Man, my arm was hot and my head was throbbing. No time to think about such things. I stopped tugging, which overbalanced him and I managed to seize the opportunity to push the spear and my assailant against the wall, pinning him down.

Although out of breath and weak, I couldn't resist commenting, "Like I said…nothing!"

I smashed the spear under his chin and threw it aside, watching him collapse. I then continued on my desperate attempt to escape. My head was pounding, and I was dizzy with pain but I was determined to escape. I knew it was my only chance. I stopped at a corner, a sawn-off shotgun was pointing at me, and my hair was pulled back by someone standing behind me.

"You'll never make it, sucker." I gasped in pain as my head was pulled back roughly and the gun pressed hard into my neck.

"We're not nothing, man. We're your executioners!" The gun lashed out at me, knocking me down. I felt the flurry of punches and kicks as I finally lost consciousness.

Hutch

I shook with fury and frustration. Time was running out, Starsky's life was running out and I was so angry I wanted to scream and rage. It seemed so unfair that he'd die in such a horrible way and I couldn't bear to contemplate life without him.

"It's a game! The blood, Starsky's I.D., killing the rancher, all a twisted, sadistic game! Marcus planned every move!" I was ranting but I was just so furious and felt like I'd been running around in circles, while Starsky was enduring God only knew what.

"He couldn't figure on the van getting clobbered. Maybe the lab will find something." Dobey was trying to keep me calm and although I appreciated his efforts, it couldn't work, not while Starsky was missing. My frenzied panic was only increasing.

"Maybe there's a tooth fairy." I looked at my watch. "Less than seventeen hours left, and Marcus rigged the play. While we're chasing our tails, he's got to be laughing because he knows something he hasn't told us--the sentencing bit is a smoke screen! No matter what we do, Simon plans to kill Starsky!" "

"That's always been the bottom line. We still got to take our shots." Dobey was the voice of reason but I knew there was only one option remaining now.

"Okay. Then I'm going to talk to Simon again. Maybe this time, I can turn one of his dreams into a nightmare!" I started to run back to the Torino.

"Keep plugging" Dobey's voice called out after me. I then heard him barking out an order to another officer in a much more characteristic way. "And you get your butt in gear and take that vehicle apart. Now."

I stared across the table at the smirking Marcus. How I wanted to wipe that self-satisfied smirk off his face. How I would do so if Starsky didn't come out of this alive. I made that promise to myself as I sat there, bracing for another round of word games. I tried to keep my voice soft and calm and reasonable.

"I know you've been playing with us, Marcus, but we're through being jerked around. You're going to snuff Starsky, no matter what. Right?" I tried to remain cool, pretend I was talking about another kidnap victim, anyone but my partner.

"Ain't that too much?" His cool tone was too much for me and I slapped his face, sharply. I really wanted to punch his lights out, but I couldn't afford that luxury, not yet.

Simon was surprisingly angry. I say surprisingly because to date his attitude had been one of cool superiority and smirking and he'd shown no real emotion. "You aren't allowed to do that!"

"Do what? From where I sit, it looks like you're beating your head against the wall just like you bit through your own lip." I decided to try to play his game, but I slapped him again. This time Simon laughed.

"You mustn't strike Simon. It isn't done."

I tried another tact, my worry for Starsky overtaking me. "I don't expect this to mean anything to you but you can't always have been this way. There must have been a time when you felt the way others feel about human life. Think back to that time, Simon. Remember what it was like to have a soul and for God's sake, tell me where I can find Starsky." I couldn't help the pleading note that crept into my voice.

"In school, when I was little, even the bullies were afraid of me because of my dreams. They had to go to sleep, but I could dream with my eyes open and my dreams always came true! Always true..."

I sighed angrily and looked at him. I decided to keep trying, as if I had a choice. "Your dream about Starsky. Tell me that dream, Simon..."

"My dream... I dreamed of a temple of the first kingdom. A temple forever barred for man's sake, where only the faithful keep the flame... the faithful and heavenly polaris..."

I was puzzled, the man looked like he was on a trip and made as much sense. "Where are your people holding, Starsky, where?" He said no more and just stared. A last pleading look and I left him, knowing the chances of finding Starsky alive were decreasing every second.