I just watched Crystal Skull, an' if you don't feel like writing an Indy fic after seeing a brand new Indy movie then you're just not human. This chapter isn't long, rest assured they'll get more lengthly as we go, this is just a sneak peak to wet your appetites. I know Excalibur has probably been done and I know for a fact Avalon has, but I'm English so go figure, not greatly familiar with the Arthurian legend, but every boy dreamed of being Lancelot at some stage, just like every boy has dreamed of being Indy, so that more than qualifies me I reckon.
Light-Hearted-But-Still-Valid-Disclaimer: Don't own Jones, damn it all.
Indiana Jones and the Blade of Avalon
A Vacation?
Just Outside Cairo
Semptember 23 1939
02:00am Local Time
Indy continued to struggle as he was pulled out of the car and over to the newly excavated temple, it was Greek/Macedonian, little more than a shrine, probably a way shrine intended for passing Greek merchants, probably post Alexander, but Dr Henry Jones Junior had little else better to do, okay so it was the fabled resting place of a golden arrow worth more than Doctor Jones made in a month, which is also the reason he hadn't taken a great deal of care about dating the site, no point in splitting hairs. Indiana now found himself with a muscular German at each arm and a very deep hole in front of him, not the way one should spend the ideal morning. "I can assure you Doctor Jones, you'll find lying in this place quite restful, a permanent vacation if you will." The slick haired, beady eyed SS Officer turned archaeologist, Karl Glick sneered from behind.
"Thanks sour puss, but I already took my vacation this year." The two Nazi's hurled him forward, he teetered on the edge and his toes a second before splaying himself across the hole, his fingers clawing at the newly exposed stonework. It was at this point that the gunshots started The spooked Germans scampered for cover, the indignant officer actually running over the poor Doctor in an attempt to get to safety and having the absolute nerve to trample all over his fingers as he did so. Calling up all the strength he could Indiana pushed himself into a quick handstand as the fascist dismounted him before tumbling onto his back in the sand, kicking out at the slime ball's calves and taking his legs out from under him as he did so.
The sneering officer landed beside Indy in the sand and Jones had no qualms about introducing his elbow to that amateur's nose before snatching the arrow clutched in his greedy fingers and making a dash for freedom. Reaching the bottom of the sand dune which concealed the shrine he saw Sallah speed into view on a horse and bringing a second for Indy, reins in one hand rifle in the other. As Sallah sped by with the horses he swung himself up onto one.
He was soon aware that he had made a slight miscalculation as he found himself sitting behind an equally surprised Sallah. But Sallah wasn't looking at him, more at the car behind them, speeding down the beaten dirt track which lead back to Cairo. Stretching out his right foot Indy slipped it into the stirrup of the second horse's saddle and swung his other leg over. Another slight miscalculation as he was now sitting the wrong way in the saddle. His horse startled by the engine and lack of any direction from its rider sped up and overtook Indy's even more confused and now slightly amused comrade. Scowling Indy snatched Sallah's rifle and levelled it at the approaching Nazi's.
Over the neighing horses and roaring engine he heard the mocking words, "Farewell Doctor Jones!" shouted in a thick German accent. Cocking the gun Indy let off a shot, hit the driver's arm and caused him to spin out off the track and into a dune. Swinging himself back around he heard curses and scoldings bellowed in German and they brought a smile to his lips. The companions sped off into the dawn and to freedom.
The USA
Two Days Later
"Well?" Marcus asked once the last of Indy's student's had been dismissed. Indy smiled and strode over to his desk, picked up his bag and opened it, removing a thin object wrapped in three or four layers of cloth. Opening it slightly he showed Marcus the golden arrowhead within, glittering on the end of its shaft.
"A single piece of gold." Indy stated, "And still intact after all these years, that's got to be worth top bill right?"
"Oh yes." Marcus agreed as he received the carefully wrapped parcel from Indy, "Only a minor artefact but by God I never imagined it would be so beautiful. One of a kind?"
"It is now, the statue had a quiver full of those things until der fuhrer dropped a ceiling on it. They'd look for a toothpick with a chainsaw and cut the bottom out of my wallet while they were at it."
"This kind of thing is why you're never going to get to retire Indy."
"Tell me about it." After negotiating on a rough price with Marcus Indy decided to make his way home, it just so happened that Henry Jones Senior was due to drop in for a couple of days and Indy wasn't due to give another lecture until he'd left. After finding the Grail the older Jones had developed a remarkable energy and the first thing he'd wanted to do upon getting home was get back out in the field, it really was as though he had gained a 'spring of life' within him. When the old man got excited enough even Indy could barely keep up with him these days. He'd spent the time since visiting the canyon of the crescent moon chasing up loose ends of his Grail research.
The scratchings of a pen reached his ears as he opened the door, never not working, always absorbed in something, that was Indy' dad alright. Nearly tripping over the case left absentmindedly in the hall Indy swore under his breath and backed up towards the door to his sitting room. "Dad y'know you left your case..." The sight that met Indy as he turned around would chill him to his very foundations.
One could tell Henry Jones was around, not merely because he was actually in the room, but because the room itself had been swamped in documents, loose pieces of paper and leather bound volumes of god knows what. And there he was sitting in the middle of it all, oblivious to the fact that it looked as though someone had dropped a library on Indy's house. "Junior you're back!" The older Jones greeted his son, he got up from where he'd been sat, the sofa by Indy's coffee table, which looked more like a desk seeing as how it was swamped in notes. As the older man embraced him Indy only looked on in fright at his room.
"Well come on you better get packing." Henry said as he pulled away. "Lot's of work to do."
"Dad..."
Henry fished out his bag and umbrella, swept an untidy pile of notes into the bag and shoved it into Indy's arms, "No time to waste, never know, eh? Somebody could very well get to it before us."
"Dad..."
"Come on don't stand there with your mouth gaping, we need to get under way right now." Henry said shooing the younger Jones out into the hall. "Did you knock my suitcase over Oh never mind we've got to be gone yesterday."
"Dad." Indy had raised his voice a little, not out of anger, mainly because he just wanted to be heard, "What?" They stood there for a second, Henry cocked his head and then clapped his hands all of a sudden.
"Of course! You don't know do you?" The older Jones rushed back into the room he'd come from and soon reappeared with a single piece of paper. Discarding his father's bag by his suitcase Indy moved closer and looked at the sketch that the paper bore. Taking it in his hands he squinted down at it.
"Well... it's a sword." Indiana observed, Henry gave a little nod. "A pretty impressive sword, serpentine design on the cross-piece, jewelled hilt. Weapon fit for a king as far as I can see." Henry gave another nod and was quite to add.
"Quite right, THE King. King Arthur of Camelot himself."
"No." the younger Jones exclaimed in disbelief Indy looked closer at the sketch, it was so obvious, it matched every description of Excalibur he'd ever heard, "Serpentine cross-piece right down to the runes on the blade, 'Take me up.' And you've got a lead on this?" His father nodded and Indy smiled as the two Joneses left the house, off on another adventure.