"Lost Secrets"...at last!

[The Builder]

While Enik carefully slips past a patrol inside the fortress, Cha-Ka makes his way through the carbon mines below until he comes across a caravan of Pakuni slaves pulling huge wagons. There are only two guards present and he manages to avoid them and secretly free the other Pakuni one at a time. Meanwhile, Skorr approaches the sandship with a handful of Sleestak drones and sees the unconscious guards as well as the remains of pongo fruit all around them. He orders a couple of drones to bring him the girl and then tells the others to gather up as many Sleestak as they can and meet him back at the Great Pylon.

Inside the pylon, a single drone guards the matrix. He hears something and walks cautiously towards the opening. Enik suddenly appears startling the guard who addresses him as "Lord Enik". The guard draws his crossbow but Enik is too quick for him and uses his Atlatl to pierce the guard "between his chin and breast armor". The guard stumbles backwards and Enik grabs him from behind in a full nelson telling him to sleep before breaking the drone's neck. He rushes to open the pylon's iris. As it opens, sunlight shines down on the matrix.

Deep within the catacombs of the Icaza Penal Colony, Rick leads his kids to the shale pits explaining that they're going to meet Enik at the pylon. As Will climbs atop a mountain of ore, the mound beneath his feet is assaulted with a volley of bolts from Skorr's guards who have taken positions below them. As they reload, Will tells his father they can't go that way. They have to go back.

Back in the pylon, scores of drones pour into the chamber with their weapons trained on Enik. They order him to move away from the matrix table but Enik refuses to move. The drones part to reveal Hassan. Hassan's eyes travel from the shaft of sunlight to the spot on the matrix where the Magetti fits. He says that Enik has everything except that which he needs most. Enik then "turns a control, flooding Hassan's half of the chamber with a focuses beam of blinding light." The drones are temporarily blinded but Hassan appears to be unaffected and orders his guards to shoot. They fire their weapons and we hear what sounds like crossbow bolts being fired but the drones fall back clutching the necks and various extremeties as we see PAKUNI BLOW DARTS embedded in their skin. The bolts fired from the Sleestak crossbows scatter into the air harmlessly. Enik looks upward to a balcony where Cha-Ka and the freed slaves stand with blowguns in hand ready for a second round. Hassan grabs a crossbow from a fallen drone but before he can aim, Enik swiftly uses his own Atlatl to pin Hassan to the wall. The Sleestak assassin struggles to remove the lance from his shoulder and get free.

We hear footsteps and as Enik loads another lance, the Pakuni turn their aim as one towards the pylon's main entrance. It's the Marshalls!
Will waves to Cha-Ka and tells them it's OK. Cha-Ka tells the other Pakuni to lower their weapons. They're friends. Rick notices the particle cannon and asks what it is. Enik says it is "The Doom Cannon. The weapon I spoke of. It can be fired through the portal, destroy cities, even small planets a hundred light years across the galaxy."
Rick passes the Magetti to Enik as Will says they're about to have company. Enik removes his Atlatl and tosses it to Will. Holly sees the image of Arizona in the hologram and recognizes Tower Butte. "It's Earth!" she exclaims happily. Enik corrects her and says that it is only a holographic image but that his Magetti will change that. As he pops the crystal into its rightful place, the light in the room is focused into a tight beam that moves slowly across the room towards the
image of Earth.

Suddenly, they hear the sounds of approaching Sleestak as one Pakuni is struck by a bolt and falls from the balcony. Will tells Enik to hurry but is told "I can not hurry the planet, my young friend." Behind them Hassan laughs telling them they'll never escape. Holly has had enough. She walks up to the Sleestak defiantly and tells him to shut up before kicking him in the shin. Rick collects the discarded crossbows from the fallen guards and tosses them to Cha-Ka one at a time. Cha-Ka dispenses the weapons out to more Pakuni who arrive. More drones arrive and although the Pakuni fight valiantly, they're outnumbered and they're losing. Enik rushes to the matrix table and begins manipulating the controls. As the beam of light begins to fade, Will is shocked and asks what he's doing but is ignored. A light begins to form inside the hologram creating a doorway. Will unwittingly crosses Hassan's path as the Sleestak grabs him with its free arm while a blade springs from its battle glove. He pushes the blade against Will's neck. Holly sees this and screams, alerting both Rick and Enik. Rick screams "wait" and lowers his crossbow signalling Cha-Ka and the rest to do likewise.

Skorr enters the chamber with his Doom Staff, Kobelle, and more drones. After they've secured the area, he approaches Hassan with an amused look. He removes the lance pinning Hassan to the wall and commends him. He then turns to the portal which no longer shows Tower Butte but a jungle instead. The beam of light continues once again towards the image. Skorr tells his son that he might have escaped if he hadn't gotten there sooner than he expected. Rick tells Skorr that he and his family are leaving. Skorr stares at the portal's image again and then back to Rick amused. He asks Rick why the portal is opened "right here on Coomb" if he plans to go home. Rick looks to Enik feeling betrayed. Enik simply replies to Skorr that leaving was never his intention. Skorr stares at him darkly and says "You'll wish you had. But, fear not. Your death shall commemorate the Sleestak return to interplanetary domination of the Alliance." Enik says that Skorr will answer to an even "gretaer justice - history". "And all you'll be remembered for is your weakness, your arrogance and your great insolvency for all things living." Enik adds. Skorr asks Enik what HIS legacy will be then. Enik replies, "For siring the loveless bastard that your are." Skorr then fires a bolt through Enik's chest. The kids scream. As Enik falls back, Rick lunges at Skorr but is tackled to the floor by drones. Skorr puts Kobelle down on the ground. The little animal inches closer to Rick.

As the light beam continues towards the matrix, it passes within a foot of Holly. Without attracting attention, Holly reaches into her pocket.
Kobelle is nearly on top of Rick now, her double set of jaws exposed baring down just inches away from his face. Holly pulls a CD from her pocket and reflects the "streak star plasma" (light beam) across the room VAPORIZING KOBELLE. As Skorr cries out in both anger and grief, Will makes a run for the portal. Holly looks at the light beam. It has almost reached the hologram. Rick gives a knowing glance to Enik. They have a plan. He calls out to Will who suddenly stops allowing Hassan to cut him off brandishing his saber menacingly. He's all that stands between Will and the portal. Skorr orders Hassan to "shred him!" Hassan smiles and raises to deliver the killing blow when the light beam touches the hologram of the jungle. The portal suddenly comes to life and opens but Hassan ignores it preferring to give Will his undivided attention. Behind him, something inside the portal begins to move. Something BIG.

[The Builder]

Outside in the jungle, we see HUNDREDS OF PAKUNI holding back the captured KEELBREEDER with vine and rope. Directly before them, lies the OPEN PORTAL. The Pakuni cuts the restraints.

Suddenly, the Keelbreeder's head explodes out of the pylon-side of the portal as Hassan turns slowly around scared witless. "Entree-voux" says Will. The creature claims Hassan in its massive jaws, crushes him, then devours him. Then it steps out of the portal. Chaos ensues.

Hundreds of armed Pakuni emerge through the portal as well. The Marshalls struggle to help Enik who is propped up against the side of the matrix table. They are surrounded and protected by the Pakuni although luckily most of the Sleestak's attention is focused on the angry Keelbreeder for the moment and not them. Rick helps Enik to his feet and says that they'll help him get to safety but Enik instead says that he'll remain to keep the portal open so that the Marshalls can escape into the jungle. Will pleads for Enik to come with them but Enik says that if he doesn't destroy the Magetti, Skorr will simply come after them.Rick hands Enik his Atlatl but is told to keep it for him...until they meet again. Holly is in tears and kisses Enik lightly on the cheek promising that they'll do that. They race toards the portal avoiding and ducking crossbow bolts, Sleestak, and the rampaging Keelbreeder. Skorr snaps his fingers and a drone climbs onto the Doom Cannon and swings it toward the portal. Holly stops running just long enough to jam her CD into the cannon's muzzle before joining her family at the portal.

Enik makes a few last-minute adjustments to the matrix as the portal suddenly shifts....to Earth. Skorr orders his soldiers to stop him and Enik is assaulted with a volley of bolts. He crumples to the floor. He grabs a crossbow near him and loads it. Skorr is now standing directly above him. He asks if his father can kill his only child...his legacy. Skorr opens his arms wide saying that his heart is Enik's for the taking. Enik hesistates, tears streaming down his face. Skorr draws his saber. "I have always loved you" Enik cries. Skorr simply replies that his father's weakness disgusts him. He is just about to decapitate Enik when a lance pierces his shoulder. Skorr turns around in confusion to see Rick with the Atlatl in his hand. Skorr falls.

Rick tells his kids to go and hands the Atlatl to Will. His son is adamant that they won't go without him. Rick tells them they must go.
He'll guard the Magetti and keep the portal to Earth open so they can escape. As Will grabs his sister's arm, a drone prepares to fire the particle cannon. Holly is first through the portal while Will fends off an attacking Sleestak with the Atlatl. As he jumps through the portal to safety, he sees that Skorr has managed to stand and sneak up behind Rick, his saber raised for the death-stroke. Will cries out "Noooo!" as his words are echoed eerily throughout time and space. Then he is gone.

A crossbow bolt slams into Skorr's chest from behind and explodes out the other side. Skorr turns around in surprise to see Enik dropping the freshly-fired crossbow. "Father?!"
"No. Not any more" Enik retorts. Skorr collapses. Dead.

The beam cannon is now charged and prepares to fire. Rick stands ready to "flood the Matrix, an action that will destroy the Magetti and imprison him on the planet Coomb." As he closes the portal for the last time, a hand reaches over and touches the controls. The portal re-opens. Enik stands next to him and he doesn't look good. The wounds he's suffered appear fatal. He urges Rick to hurry while he keeps the portal open. They thank each other for everything and Rick sprints towards to portal ducking enemy fire. The Keelbreeder's hide is covered in crossbow bolts but it continues to fight. The Pakuni retreat back into the mining tunnels....all except for Cha-Ka who has been cut off by the towering beast. Rick quickly grabs the Paku in his arms and dives into the portal.

In slow-motion, Enik uses his dying breath to tear the Magetti from the matrix and tosses it. Numerous Sleestak try to catch the crystal but it sails over their heads and into the portal sealing it shut forever. The drone sitting in the cannon's firing station, swings the weapon and aims at the charging Keelbreeder. The beam travels through the barrel but is reflected back by the CD Holly jammed into its muzzle. The screen goes WHITE.

Below Tower Butte, the Marshalls and Cha-Ka stand by the edge of the Colorado River watching the portal high above them close just as a huge blast bursts forth from it "so bright, it eclipses the sun". They are knocked down by the resulting shockwave. They hear voices as a raft full of tourists sails past them pointing at both the mountain and the sky. The Marshalls hug claiming they can't believe they're finally home. Cha-Ka looks at his unfamiliar surroundings. Holly asks what's going to happen to the Paku. Rick says they'll "have to take good care of him". Will says they can do it and Holly replies "Yeah, we can do anything." They are about to leave when Rick sees something glinting in a small pool of water. He hangs back for a moment to check it out and finds a crystal. It's the Magetti. He looks at it incredulously and then puts it in his pocket. He races to catch up with the rest of his family as the sun begins to set.


THE END

Finally.