Scarlett Fox smiled at the moldering stone temple before her. "We found it, Karma. At long friggin last." The thing hadn't seen human habitation for thousands of years at least. Really, it was a wonder that it still stood at all. And tucked away in some long-forgotten nook was a lovely little gold idol just waiting to be found by cunning escape artist Scarlett Fox. "Alright now, the faster we find the idol, the faster we get out of this stinking swamp." Karma nodded silently. The young girl was always quiet, especially compared to Scarlett, who tended to be on the rowdy side, always making bets and getting into situations she would later regret. She always got out of them of course, sometimes by herself, but usually with the help of her loyal friend. But she'd never truly been stuck. And she'd like to keep it that way.

She shouldered her pack again and started for the mouth of the temple, Karma Lee following just a bit behind. However, just as her first step landed on the nearest uneven stone, a grinding sound alerted her to an all-too-familiar danger. She spun quickly to the side and pushed Karma back out of the tunnel. She heard and felt a solid thunk as a stone knife lodged itself in her pack. "Damn it." She growled. She'd run into temples like these before. Ones with booby traps which actually worked. Usually that meant some kind of locals were maintaining them, keeping the primitive gears oiled and the spears sharp. This would make things far more difficult than they need to be.

"You didn't see any villages, right?" She asked Karma, who shook her head, little beads rattled quietly from her hair ornaments. Karma always dressed in the traditional Japanese garb and kept her hair immaculate in intricate twists, even while slogging through a putrid jungle. Scarlett herself preferred denim and boots. Her long, red hair was kept out of her face and off her sweaty neck in a simple pony tail.

Scarlett briefly considered turning back, but she wasn't about to let go of her prize after spending weeks searching in this Godforsaken swamp, picking up clues and hidden signs. They'd simply have to find another way in. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom of the tunnel, she could finally see the telltale signs of the traps: dried blood and bones littered the floor, as well as what looked like monkey droppings, but all of the bones were definitely human. So how were the monkey getting in?

Karma tapped her shoulder and pointed up. Long, thick vines spilled from deep cracks in the ancient ceiling. Some were stripped of their leaves from countless little monkey hands swinging from them daily, others were covered in them. Scarlett decided to trust the monkeys and not touch the leafier ones. They were too high up for them to jump with the heavy packs weighing them down, so they began the arduous task of removing the extra weight and keeping only what would be absolutely essential.

There was no telling how long they would be in the booby-trapped temple or what they might run into. Scarlett removed a torch and length of rope from her pack along with what was left of their provisions and started transferring them to the small leather pouches she wore strapped to either side of her belt along with a small pistol and knife. Karma did the same with her cloth sacks then stashed their packs under some nearby brush.

"Okay, Karma, think you can make it?" The vines were a fair way past the entrance, so if they missed the vine and fell, there was a pretty good chance they'd get impaled on something. The tiny girl took a few steps back and made a running leap for the nearest vine.

She caught it neatly in one hand and reached out for the next before stopping midair to look back with one eyebrow raised. "Fair enough." Scarlett said, and leaped for a vine.

The tunnel got darker and darker the farther in they went. Even as their eyes adjusted to the dark, they still had trouble finding the vines to swing from. At one point Scarlett missed and caught one of the leafy vines in her panic. Karma noticed and pulled her away just as the ancient stone roof began to topple around the trick vine.

Coughing in the thousand year old dust they hung helplessly, trying to catch their breath. "You know, I used to think monkey bars were fun." Scarlett laughed shakily. "So do your arms feel like they're about to fall off?" Karma nodded and said in her heavily accented English, "I hope there isn't some ancient disease floating around in this dirt." Scarlett laughed, "You know, that's what I love about you, Miss Lee, you always see the bright side of things."

Finally they reached the end of the tunnel. Scarlett cautiously lowered herself down onto the uneven stone floor and looked around. The room was piled high little gold, red and blue discs. "Umm, Karma, do you remember anything about ah…" she tried to pick up one of the discs but it crumbled into brightly colored powder, "this stuff?"

Karma cupped some of the powder in her palm and smelled it, "No but it's an herb. There was a woman in my home town that would use this to make potions and things. They were supposed to lengthen your life." Scarlett nodded, "Weird. Think we could sell it?"

"Still looking to make a profit off of the world's history I see, Scar." The booming voice echoed around the room as a two tall figures stepped out of the shadows. One's face was almost completely obscured by a worn felt hat.

"Still wearing that ratty old hat I see, Montana. Who's your friend? I thought you worked solo."

Montana glanced at the boy at his side. "Zack. We were on a educational trip, but it turned out to be a little more than we expected."

Scarlett snorted. "Yep, that sounds about right for you, Montana. Now, get out of here. This is our job."

The kid, Zack, looked confused, "Is she working for another museum, Professor?"

Montana shook his head, "No, Zack, Miss Fox doesn't work for anyone but herself."

Scarlett laughed derisively, "That's rich coming from you, Professor. I remember a time when you would have happily sold this idol to the highest bidder."

Montana grunted, "Well it doesn't matter anymore because it isn't here. We've looked. Plus, the place is riddled with booby traps so I suggest you and your… I'm sorry who are you?"

"You know Karma."

"Not her. The conquistador."

Everyone turned to stare at the blonde gentleman in full blown armor who had crept quietly into their midst while Scarlett and Montana were snarking at each other. "Francisco Montoya, pleasure to meet you. Now, may I suggest that you run. The monkeys are coming."

Hey there sparkles here. Please leave a review, you have no idea what joy reviews bring me. (bushels full. B.U.S.H.E.L.S.) I know our street wise cop isn't in this chapter or Guy Dangerous but believe me. I'm getting there. Just a little something to look forward to ;)

Sincerely, Lady Rainbow Unicorn Sparkles the 3rd

(Jk not my real title... But it could be O_O)