The Walkthrough – Chapter 8
"And you didn't mention that before?" Cassie said facing Minotaur. This guy was really starting to annoy her. He was just like the way Daniel described Oma to her. Cryptic non-sentences, as they fail to achieve the main function of a sentence: to make sense.
"I tried, you would not listen," he reminded her.
"OK, I'm listening now. What's down here?"
"The beast you expected to see down here exists."
"But you said..," Cassie started.
"I said I was not him. He does not go by the name of Minotaur. He is so foul he has no name."
"How do I defeat him?" Cassie asked. Minotaur simply laughed.
"You cannot kill him. Many before you have tried, and failed. You have seen them."
"Bes," Cassie said remembering the remains. Minotaur nodded. There was a noise from behind them, and both turned in the direction of the dark tunnel.
"We should leave here," Minotaur suggested.
"Ya think?" Cassie said turning to leave.
"I do. That's why I said it," Minotaur said looking confused.
"No, I meant… Never mind."
They set off down another tunnel. With the torch pointed forward, they briskly walked through the tunnel, looking for somewhere to hide if they needed it. They came across more remains. These on the other hand were not so decomposed. It scared Cassie when she first happened upon them, but as soon as she realised the creature was dead, she calmed down and approached it.
"That's an Unas," Cassie said recognising the distinctive look from the photographs Daniel had shown her.
"Yes, I truly evil creature," Minotaur said keeping his distance.
"They are not evil, just misunderstood," Cassie said in its defence. She has seen video of Chaka and Daniel seemed very fond of him. It was not evil, just not use to other company. Daniel was able to communicate with them and they seem to understand him. Chaka and Daniel are good friends. Admittedly, they have caused SG-1 trouble in the past, but not all are bad. She did find it unusual to find it down here though.
She thought back to the Thors Hammer incident she read about on file. That Unas was trapped down there unable to get out. Rather like this one. It must have died of hunger. But what she knows about their physiology, it must have taken years to finally starve to death. Not the best of ways to go.
"You seem to fear it. But you've been down here for forever?" Cassie asked as they stared at the beast lying dead in front of them.
"I have been running from it forever. That is why I have my little hideout, cut into the rock face. I needed somewhere to rest."
"So even the Minotaur fears something. How ironic," Cassie quipped. Cassie was looking at the Unas when she saw it has something in its hand. "What's that?" She bent down to take a closer look.
"Be careful."
"It's dead," Cassie reminded him. She reached her hand out to see what it was in its hand when the arm suddenly moved, jumping up, making Cassie and Minotaur also jump.
"God, I hate when they do that!" Cassie said, knowing it was just a chemical reaction. Bending back down, she grabs the item in its hand. As soon as she touches the item she can sense the Naquadah in it. It's definitely Goa'uld. She always hated that sensation. It reminded her too much of both of her mothers…
She looked closely at the item. It was strange device, one she did not recognise. It was like a spear, but no bigger than her hand. There didn't appear to be any buttons on it, but that was often the way with Goa'uld technology. It was made of gold and encrusted with precious stones, making it a very impressive piece. The image of a light-sabre came into her mind. Not sure what it was, and not wanting to hang around, she shoved it in her pocket and stood back up.
"Do you think it wise to remove such an item? You require a certain gene to use it," Minotaur asked.
"Actually, it's a chemical element in your blood that activates the technology," Cassie corrected him
"Really? You seem to know a lot about it?" Minotaur questioned.
"I do. I have it in my blood," she announced and continued walking.
The Minotaur stood for a moment, taking in what he had heard and then followed her further down the tunnel, having to slightly jog to catch up.
"You're Goa'uld?" he asked.
"No, but a Goa'uld experimented on my people, and for that, I have the element Naquadah in my blood. It means I can sense Goa'uld's and use their technology."
"That is a useful tactical advantage, I can imagine," Minotaur said, seemingly impressed.
"Well, haven't had to use it yet, but that statement may be short lived. Which way is home?" Cassie said taking control as they emerged from the tunnel to another cavern.
The Minotaur pointed down one of the tunnels and they walked down it. After a while they reached the Minotaur's resting place, but something seemed to be bothering him. Cassie noticed him slowing down and looking nervously around.
"What's up?" she asked concerned.
"The sky. But I think the creature was here," he told her now coming to a complete stop. Cassie rolled her eyes and held back the urge to say something about the sky comment, and stopped and turned to face him.
"What makes you say that?"
"Years of running from this creature means I can almost sense it. Or, more accurately, smell it," he explained.
"But it's not here now?" Cassie said.
"I do not think so. But it was here not so long ago. We better get inside quickly."
"No," Cassie said definitely. She had had enough of wandering these tunnels, who knows how long she had been stuck down here. She had lost count of the days. "I need to find my way out."
"Then which way to do want to go?" Minotaur asked her. She looked in both directions and decided that going back the way they came seemed to be the best choice.
"This way," she said, but the Minotaur looked sceptical. "What?"
"Are you going that because it feels right or because you already knew nothing is down that route?" he questioned. Cassie stopped to think. Landon's words about following her heart were echoing in her mind. "Fear is a powerful force, Cassandra."
"And what? Only those who overcome it will succeed?" she challenged him. He remained silent waiting for her answer. Something in her told her that the scary way would be the right way. And she wasn't about to prove this guy right by letting her fear devour her. "Lets go this way then," and she started to walk, a little slower than she usually would. She felted for the Goa'uld device she had pocketed earlier, thinking she would give it to Sam later to play with it. That is, if she ever got out of here…
Creeping along the tunnel, Cassie could swear it had grown colder. And the silence of the old man was disconcerting. Was he worried about disturbing the creature as much as she was, or was it for dramatic effect? She was hoping it was the latter, but she couldn't be sure. The tunnel was dark, a lot darker than the rest, and she feared the creature could easily double back and find them there. There was no place to hide. It was getting so dark that the light from her touch was only reaching a few centimetres in front of her. She kept her left hand trailing along the wall investigating any sudden dips in the tunnel wall.
Suddenly, the wall fell away from her and she couldn't reach it any more. She desperately tried to find it, but came across a strange round stone craving. Lowering her flame torch to inspect it, she accidentally set it on fire. Then streams of fire started flowing further and further away lighting up an entire cavern, three times as large as the last one. She couldn't believe it. It was huge. The flame stream lit up the cavern in a ring around the outside. The cavern was beautiful. Inside was an arena, with a series of stepped seats that extend from the cavern entrance to a raised platform at the arena floor. It reminded Cassie of a Roman amphitheatre. Other than the entrance Cassie was standing in, there are no other exits or entrances.
Cassie turned round to see the smug face of Minotaur standing there. "Don't start," she warned him.
Descending the steps, Cassie carefully examined her surroundings. Clearly, this was an important place for her to be almost like an end point. But what exactly is meant to occur here?
Minotaur had seated himself on a seat opposite the entrance, while Cassie investigated the centre the arena. A noise behind her disturbed Cassie from her thoughts as she looked up towards the entrance. A shadow was approaching the cavern.
"We should get out of here," she shouted toward Minotaur, but he didn't respond. She tried to leave the centre but a force field prevented her from moving off the raised platform.
Cassie took a deep breath, panicking was not going to help her now. She needed to control herself, although her heart was racing so fast she was concerned she might faint. The shadow was now becoming more and more defined as what ever it was approached the entrance. Cassie moved around the edge of the field, hoping to find the power source of the field. It had to be somewhere around it. She heard a growl behind her, and she slowly stood up from examining the ground and turned around to the see a beast standing in the door way.
It was the Minotaur. Not the old man, but the Minoan Minotaur – bulls head and all. He was staring at Cassie. Cassie had never been so terrified in her life, and found herself unable to move. Slowly, he walked down the stairs.
Cassie prayed that the force field worked two ways. To her horror, it did not, as the beast stepped across the invisible barrier and towards her. She turned to Minotaur.
"For God's sake, help me!" she begged. Panic was rising in her now, as she pushed herself against the force field, trying to increase the distance between her and the creature.
"You must release your fear," he answered.
"That's not helping," Cassie screams as moves round the circle platform edge, trying to avoid the beast.
The creatures went to grab her and she managed to duck and roll out of its way. Surprised at herself for executing such a move only lasts a second as it turns around and heads for her again. She pats herself down to look for something that could help. She finds the ribbon device. It's worth a shot she thought.
Placing the device on each finger, whilst moving wasn't easy. Cassie had almost got it fitted correctly, when she tripped. She looked up to see the creature approaching. Fiddling with the device, she managed to fit the device in time and thought hard about what she wanted. Finally, the device sprung to life and the force pushed the creature backwards against the opposite wall.
"Yes!" Cassie celebrated after it worked. She got up, and smoothed down her clothes. As she did, she noticed the creature moving, and starting to get up.
"You've got to be kidding me?!"
The creature stood up. It was down but not out. And Cassie was drained from using the ribbon device. She knew that it could take energy out of her, and she hoped that would have been enough. Now, she needed a new idea.
"Any bright ideas?" she called to Minotaur.
"Only you can win the battle," he answered helpfully.
"Take that as a no then," she quipped, as she frantically searched for some way out of this situation.
"The people on the planet above believed you were possessed, why?" the Minotaur asked.
"And you want to talk about this now?" Cassie ducked under the monster. She looked up at Minotaur who was looking expectantly at her. "Fine. They think I'm possessed because they think there is a devil in me," she guessed.
"The devil is in everyone, but it manifests itself in different ways. Fear is your devil."
"Of course I have fear, for example I fear this thing!" she said backing away from said creature.
"That is not the fear I am referring to."
"Which… particular… fear… are you… on about?" Cassie said, while avoiding the beasts swinging arms.
"That you feel helpless. And that helplessness will and have caused your loved ones to perish. Both your mothers have died, because they felt the need to protect you."
"That is not true," Cassie argued, but could feel the pangs of fear striking her. "I wasn't even there."
"But you wouldn't have been able to do anything even if you were. That is your fear. Even if you had been there when your mothers died, there was nothing you could do."
"And this is supposed to help me?" Cassie threw back, trying to change the subject that was bringing tears to her eyes.
"Even now, you have to be rescued by your friends, because you can't do it yourself."
"Shut up!" she screamed finally losing it and turning to Minotaur.
This was not a good move. This meant turning her back on the creature, who then used this advantage to throw her across the arena once again. "You son-of-a-…" she swore and cradled the arm she landed heavily on.
"You're friends are on their way. And they will come here to find you. And they will have to rescue you. Unless, of course, they get killed in the process."
"Why are you saying this?" Cassie cried.
"I'm just saying what you know to be true."
"It is not true! I can look after myself. I'm here aren't I?"
"And just waiting for your friends to arrive and save you."
Again, she patted herself down, while ducking and running from the beast. She wasn't going to let the Minotaur's words get to her. She needed to concentrate on finding something to help her. But no matter how much she wanted to ignore what the old man had said, she knew he was right. And what was worse, her friends were now endangering themselves to come and save her. She was leading them into danger. She should have defended herself. She should have stopped them from taking her. Why was she so weak?
She had been through basic hand-to-hand training with Jack and now instinct was kicking in. She was fighting for her life, and she couldn't believe that Minotaur was watching, watching what could turn into a blood bath. She needed an idea.
She found the strange gold device Bes had on him. It had not done Bes any good, but maybe she will get something out of it. She held the object out pointing it towards the monster, and hoped it would do something. However, it did not, so after completing another defensive manoeuvre, she turned it round in her hands trying to work out how to make it work. She tried to concentrate hard on it, but with a fierce animal approaching it was difficult. She left it too late to move away and was thrown to the other side of the arena platform, dropping the object a few feet away from her.
Cassie looked up and noticed something in the doorway to the cavern. Focusing, she realised it was Sam and Jack, standing, horrified at the scene in front of them. They had found her. Relief flooded over her for a brief moment. But the Minotaur had also noticed their presence and turned towards them. Cassie had placed them in danger, and yet again.
"No…" she said in an almost inaudible whisper. Images of her mothers and both Jack and Sam in the infirmary flashed before her eyes. She had lead them straight into danger.
The Minotaur was now upon Jack and Sam, who struggled to keep the beast back despite having the firepower to back them up. It picked Sam up and threw her down the stairs towards Cassie. She was watching the scene unfold in front of her in slow motion. She watched as Sam landed hard in front of her, clearly hurt by the fall, though desperately trying to get up.
Jack wasn't doing much better. He was able to avoid many of the Minotaur's blows, but not all. The P90 in his hands was almost useless with the beast hardly reacting to the shower of bullets Jack had inflicted on it. Now Jack was desperately trying to distract him while Sam set about trying to free Cassie.
"It's ok, I'll get you out of here," Sam's voice rang out, trying to calm the young girl.
"No, Sam, get out of here. You can't beat it. It's not after you. It's me it wants." Cassie was desperate. The longer Sam stayed, the more danger she was in.
"Like hell it's getting you," Sam screamed. Sam found the power source for the force field and started to work on the panel while Cassie watched her. She needed to get her out of there. She found the power crystal and pulled it out, breaking the connection. But while working on the panel, they had taken their eyes off the beast. It was only a second before it reached for Sam the Cassie noticed it.
"Sam!"
The creature had picked her up and thrown her away from the panel. She landed hard not too far away from where Jack had ended up. It was happening all over again. The beast took a step forward towards the almost unconscious Sam and Jack. Something in Cassie snapped. She wouldn't – no couldn't – let it happen again.
She ran over to where she had dropped the device and picked it up. Suddenly it sprang to life. The jewels on it flashed several colours and somehow she knew to press the green diamond. She jumped upon the back of the Minotaur and attached the device before slipping off and dodging the swing from the creature, who had moved over Sam and Jack. The lights on the device flashed quicker until it finally created a bright light. Covering her eyes she waited to see what the device would do.
The bright light filled the dark cavern blinding all those within it. For a few seconds, Cassie could not see what had happened. She looked up, to where the creature had once stood. It was just about visible, fading, and without warning, it disappeared.