Ardeth Bay was sitting at his desk, sorting through a stack of papers, when Yanit stuck her head around the door.

'You wanted to see me, Ardeth?' she said.

'Ah, Yanit,' said Ardeth, looking up at her. 'Yes, I did. I'm just going through the mail, and I've come across something that I think you'll be very interested in.'

Yanit entered the room, followed by Alex. Ardeth raised his eyebrows when he saw that their fingers were entwined, but he made no comment on the fact.

'This invoice informs me that the new plane will be delivered sometime between eight a.m. and five p.m. tomorrow,' said Ardeth, placing the piece of paper into Yanit's free hand. 'Perhaps you could try very hard not to crash this one, hmm?'

Yanit read through the invoice and smiled.

'Oh, I am glad it's finally coming,' she said. 'I'll be able to start my flight training programme with the new recruits!'

'Flight training programme?' Ardeth queried.

'Yanit's drawn up a really detailed plan,' said Alex. 'It's already been approved and ratified by the Supreme Council.'

'Yes, of course it has,' said Ardeth. 'Speaking of new recruits, I've recently accepted applications from ten young Medjai; they're coming to join us the day after tomorrow. I hope the Supreme Council doesn't consider that I've exceeded my remit.'

'No, Ardeth – you're in charge of all new admissions, and the training programme,' said Alex.

'Apart from the bit with the aeroplane,' said Ardeth.

'Yes,' said Alex, 'apart from that bit, which Yanit is in charge of.'

'Are there any girls in this new batch?' asked Yanit.

'No; it's ten boys all aged either twelve or thirteen,' said Ardeth.

'That's a shame,' said Alex. 'Oh, not that there's anything wrong with ten boys, of course. There's a lot to be said for boys aged twelve or thirteen – after all, I was one myself a couple of months ago.'

'Indeed – apparently they're all stout of heart, broad of shoulder and strong of arm,' said Ardeth. 'Let's just hope they're also strong of mind.'

'They will be when we're done with them!' Alex grinned. 'Still, I hope they don't all have sisters who're desperate to join the Medjai Order but have been indoctrinated to believe that they can't.'

'We should ask them if they have,' said Yanit.

'We'll be sure to do that,' said Alex. 'Hopefully, after I've given my speech to the Elders, word will spread that girls are just as welcome here as boys, and we'll start getting a good mix of new recruits.'

'Speaking of which, don't you think it's time you got yourself ready for your investiture?' said Ardeth. 'They'll be starting to arrive soon.'

'Okay, Ardeth – I'll take a bath and put on something regal before they get here,' Alex grinned. 'Do you have a copy of the new recruits' details I can take with me, to read at my leisure?'

'Yes, certainly,' said Ardeth, beginning to rifle through his pile of papers. 'Sorry; my desk always falls into complete disarray when I have post to sort out. Most of it's just piles of boring administrative documents that I've glanced at and said, "Alex doesn't need to see this; Alex doesn't need to see this".'

'Quite right,' said Alex. 'The Supreme Medjai doesn't have time for junk mail!'

'Here it is,' said Ardeth, handing Alex a piece of paper.

'Thanks,' said Alex. 'Okay, so... we'll see you at the investiture, then.'

Ardeth smiled and nodded, and Alex and Yanit left the room. As they walked hand-in-hand along the corridor, they both read through their pieces of paper.

'I'm going to give the new plane a name,' Yanit announced. 'I'll paint it on the sides so that everyone can see it.'

'What are you gonna call it?' asked Alex.

'I want to name it after you!' Yanit declared.

'Won't that get a little confusing?'

'Well, I don't actually want to call it Alex. That's the perfect name for you, of course, but I don't think it'd really suit a plane.'

'Aren't planes and boats and things supposed to have girls' names?' said Alex.

'Alex, I'm surprised at you,' Yanit laughed. 'We're defying gender conventions here, aren't we? So, let's have a plane with a boy's name!'

'But which boy's name?'

'Well, let's see... do you have a middle name?'

'Um... yes, I do,' Alex was forced to admit, 'but I never use it 'cause it's a really jerky middle name!'

'There's nothing about you that I would ever consider jerky,' Yanit assured him. 'Come on; tell me what it is.'

'It's Rupert.'

'Rupert... yes, I can see why you wouldn't want to use that name for yourself – you don't really seem like a Rupert.'

'I know, right?' said Alex. 'I'm not a bear with a yellow scarf!'

'But it's the perfect name for a plane,' said Yanit. 'That's why you've had the name all these years, Alex – to keep in storage so you can give it to the new plane!'

'Well, I did always wonder,' Alex laughed. 'Okay, then – Rupert the Plane it is!'

'Are you really going to take a bath before your investiture?'

'Yeah, I think I will – I don't want the Elders to refuse to take the oath of allegiance because they think I stink!'

Yanit laughed, kissed Alex on the cheek and then let go of his hand.

'I'll see you soon, then,' she said, turning her steps towards her own bedroom.

'Yeah,' Alex smiled at her, 'see you soon.'

Alex straightened the collar on his shirt, took a deep breath and prepared to enter the assembly hall. Just before his hand made contact with the door, Ardeth appeared behind him.

'Alex, I think you should come down to the Great Cavern for a moment before you go to meet your audience,' said Ardeth. 'There's something you really need to see.'

'Does it have to be right now?' said Alex. 'I've spent the last two minutes psyching myself up for this, Ardeth!'

'You will find the delay worthwhile, I assure you,' said Ardeth, the ghost of a smile flickering on his lips. 'Please, come with me.'

Alex followed Ardeth along the corridor and down the stone steps to the Great Cavern.

'Ardeth, would you please tell me what this is all about?' said Alex. 'The Elders and their students aren't going to want to swear an oath of loyalty to a Supreme Medjai who turns up late!'

'You don't need to worry about that,' said Ardeth.

'Why? Haven't all the guests arrived yet?'

'They've arrived, but I've already warned them that there will be a short delay, the reason for which will become obvious to you imminently.'

Alex's brow creased into a frown, but he refrained from pressing Ardeth any further as he realised that he could hear several voices wafting up from the Great Cavern. When he reached the bottom of the steps, he saw three familiar figures deep in conversation with the Minotaur.

'Mom! Dad! Uncle Jonathan!'

A huge smile split Alex's face as he ran towards his family. The Minotaur took a tactful step back as his three visitors rushed to greet Alex in various enthusiastic, heartfelt ways.

'Good to see you again, mate!' said Jonathan, pumping Alex's hand up and down vigorously. 'It's been too long – I can't believe you missed Uncle Reginald's Hawaiian luau!'

'Good Lord, you've grown again!' said Evy, as she covered Alex's face with kisses. 'You're going to be bigger than your father in no time!'

'He's got a ways to go yet, Evy,' said Rick, looking appraisingly at Alex nonetheless. 'You're looking good, sport – is this one of your new Supreme Medjai powers, bulking up so much that you show up your old dad?'

'Er... no; I think it's just natural growing up combined with regular Medjai training,' said Alex. 'I do have one new power, though – accelerated healing!'

'Oh, that is good to hear!' said Evy. 'Such a useful power for the Supreme Medjai.'

'The Minotaur was just telling us about how you dealt with the Scarab once and for all, son,' said Rick.

'Yeah,' said Alex, 'that really needed doing!'

'We're very proud of you,' said Rick.

'And we know we'll have even more reason to be proud of you in the near future,' Evy added.

'Oh, well,' said Alex, rubbing the back of his head and staring at the floor, 'I sure hope so.'

'Of course we will, mate,' said Jonathan. 'What about all those future plans you were telling me about? I expect you're just about to bring some of them to fruition, aren't you? You know, what with this being your official investiture and all.'

Alex grinned and said, 'You read my mind, Uncle Jonathan.'

'Speaking of which,' said Ardeth, 'perhaps we should be getting back upstairs now.'

'Just give us another minute, Ardeth,' said Alex. 'I want to hear about what you guys have been up to. Are you still working for the British Museum?'

'Yes, but we're not flying all over the world anymore,' said Evy. 'There's an exciting archaeological dig taking place at Verulamium, just a few miles up the road from London; we're doing a lot of work for that.'

'You mean finding Roman coins and stuff?' said Alex.

'Yes, that kind of thing,' said Evy. 'Although I'm going to be stuck cataloguing artefacts from behind a desk soon because... well, because I'm going to need to take it easy for a while.'

'Why, Mom?' Alex asked, concern evident in his voice. 'You're not ill or anything, are you?'

Rick and Evy exchanged a look.

'No, I'm not ill,' said Evy. 'I'm... well, the thing is... you see, what with all the time we've spent hanging around the house and relaxing instead of flying off in the Zephyr and getting into scrapes the whole time... well, certain things have happened and... you see, what I mean to say...'

'Your mum's pregnant, mate,' Jonathan cut in.

'Jonathan!' Evy admonished him. 'I wanted to tell him myself!'

'You could've fooled me,' said Jonathan, folding his arms and adopting a peevish expression.

'Pregnant?' said Alex, leaning against the wall of the cave for support. 'Wow... Mom, Dad, that's... that's fantastic news!'

'We certainly think so,' said Rick, giving Evy an enormous hug.

'And we're so glad that you agree, Alex,' Evy added.

'Of course I agree!' said Alex, grinning broadly. 'I'm going to be a big brother. Jeez, that makes me feel... well, a little nervous, I guess... but mainly, it makes me feel really good!'

Rick and Evy beamed at their son, and the three of them moved into a close embrace.

'It won't be long before you're sending for your little brother or sister to come and join the Medjai clan, I suppose,' said Jonathan.

'Not if it's a sister, Jonathan,' said Rick.

'Yes, if it's a sister!' Alex said firmly, taking a step back from the hug. 'Girls are just as welcome as boys in my Medjai Order... if they want to come, that is.'

'We'll have to wait a while before we discuss that subject with her,' said Evy. 'Or him, of course.'

'I don't care which one it is – I just can't wait to be a big brother!' Alex grinned. 'Oh, and all that talk about girls and boys reminds me – I really want you guys to meet Yanit and Fadil properly.'

'Oh yes,' said Jonathan, 'your little Medjai gang.'

'They're my best friends,' said Alex, 'and they're also my Supreme Council. Wait here while I go fetch them, okay?'

'Alex, we really must press on with the investiture now,' said Ardeth. 'There'll be plenty of time for that sort of thing afterwards.'

'Okay,' said Alex. 'I guess you're right, Ardeth. You lead the way.'

Ardeth disappeared up the staircase, followed by Rick, Jonathan and then Evy. Just as Alex was about to go too, he remembered the Minotaur. With one foot on the bottom step, Alex turned back to see that he was still skulking in the shadows on the far side of the cavern.

'Aren't you coming?' Alex called.

'Your investiture is not the place for me,' the Minotaur replied. 'I'll see you afterwards, for the feast.'

'But I... I'd like you to be there,' said Alex. 'Won't you come? Please?'

'I fear I would alarm the Elders too greatly,' the Minotaur confessed. 'To them, I am nothing more than an old Medjai legend. To come to terms with my existence at the same time as they are forced to swear allegiance to a fourteen-year-old boy... that would be too much for them, I am certain.'

'They're not being forced to do anything,' said Alex.

'I know; that isn't exactly what I meant,' said the Minotaur, smiling slightly. 'But you must trust me on this one, Alex – the Elders are old and set in their ways, and they wouldn't be able to cope with so many challenges to their world view all in one go.'

'What makes you think I'm planning to challenge their world view?' Alex asked, as casually as he could.

'Because I know you, Alex,' said the Minotaur. 'Good luck.'

'Thanks,' said Alex, and he turned and ran up the stairs to the assembly hall.

Alex arrived in the assembly hall to find that a wooden stage had been set up at one end. Ardeth was standing at a lectern on the stage, while Fadil and Yanit were seated on chairs behind him. There were also three empty chairs, which Alex's family was heading towards with the obvious intention of sitting down.

In front of the stage, a large crowd of spectators was gathered. Alex's eyes opened wide as he took in the sight, and he swallowed a gulp. Most of the audience was sitting on the floor in neat rows. As well as all the young Medjai recruits with whom he was already acquainted, a swarm of about thirty unfamiliar red-clad teenagers was waiting for him, talking and whispering amongst themselves. On three chairs at the back of the hall, the Medjai Elders sat in silence.

'My friends!' Ardeth declared, bringing the buzz of chatter to an immediate halt. 'The time has come. I present to you the Supreme Medjai, Alex O'Connell!'

Ardeth stepped back from the lectern; Alex forced himself to step up onto the stage and take Ardeth's place, his feet feeling as heavy as lead as he dragged himself into position.

'Er... hi, everyone, and thanks for coming,' Alex said awkwardly. 'As you just heard, I'm the Supreme Medjai, Alex O'Connell... and just in case you're wondering, yes I am of Medjai blood, although I've always believed that blood shouldn't be an important factor in deciding who makes a good Medjai.'

Alex noticed that some of the members of his audience had started whispering to each other again, although the Elders at the back were as still and silent as statues.

'Well, as you can imagine,' Alex continued, 'it came as a shock to me to find out that I'm the Supreme Medjai, but I'm very proud to be the Supreme Medjai and I'm very keen to do the job to the best of my ability. I've already started bringing in some changes, which I'll tell you about in a moment, but I have a few more ideas that I'd like to share with you first, so -'

'Change for the sake of change is unnecessary and unwise,' one of the Elders suddenly interrupted. 'The teachings and traditions of the Medjai Order have kept us strong for three millennia. Why should we change them now?'

'Er... look, Elder... I'm sorry, but I don't know your name,' said Alex.

'I am Elder Kahn,' said the one who had interrupted.

'Elder Kahn, I have no intention of screwing around with the teachings and traditions of the Medjai Order,' said Alex. 'I just think there's so much more we can add to them, to make the world a better place.'

'We protect the world from the undead,' said another Elder. 'That is our sole purpose.'

'Yes, but it doesn't have to be!' Alex insisted. 'Listen, Elder... um...'

'Elder Black,' came the prompt.

'Elder Black, don't you think the Medjai Order should move with the times and adapt itself to the twentieth century?'

'How?' Elder Black asked suspiciously.

'By doing even more to help the people of the world than it's done before!' said Alex. 'The Medjai Order has great wealth and great power... and with great power comes great responsibility. There's so much good work we could be doing, here in Africa for a start! I've been looking into some community projects to dig wells and irrigate farmland and stuff like that. With the kind of manpower that we have, think of all the good we could do!'

Alex was pleased to hear vocalisations of assent and enthusiasm coming from many of the younger members of his audience, although the three Elders were still staring at him impassively.

'And I want to put together some kind of peacekeeping squad too!' Alex continued. 'What about all the tension and civil war and bigotry and hatred that's going on in Europe right now, huh? Can't we do something about that?'

'It has never been the way of the Medjai to interfere in global politics,' said the third Elder. 'We are a secret society, and so we must remain!'

'Who says?' Alex shot back. 'I'm the Supreme Medjai, and I say we don't have to do that at all!'

'Supreme Medjai or not, you don't have the power to make that kind of decision!' the third Elder snarled. 'You may have special powers, but you yourself are no one special!'

'I'll tell you exactly who I am, Elder... Elder...'

'Elder Garth,' Ardeth supplied.

'...Elder Garth!' Alex snarled back at the heckler. 'I'm the guy who inspired the founding of the Medjai Order in the first place, so put that in your pipe and suck on it!'

Murmurs of surprise and confusion erupted around the hall. All three Elders had now dropped their impassive looks and were eyeing Alex with deep suspicion.

'Elder Bay, it appears that this supposed Supreme Medjai of yours is in urgent need of psychiatric attention,' said Elder Kahn. 'Every Medjai Elder knows that the Order was founded by Amar al-Horoth.'

'Yes, we do know that,' said Ardeth, rising to his feet. 'But even in spite of the fact, what Alex says is true; you have my word on that. He went back in time and met Amar al-Horoth, who was inspired by Alex's words and actions to found the Medjai Order. In a very real sense, Alex is the original Medjai as well as the Supreme Medjai.'

'Me and Amar really hit it off, and I showed him a bunch of Medjai moves and taught him a load of Medjai mantras and values, and I even introduced the term "Medjai" to him!' said Alex.

'Anyone could make such a claim,' said Elder Black. 'How do you know that what this boy says is true, Elder Bay?'

'Because he told me the whole story before he knew anything about who Amar al-Horoth was,' Ardeth said coolly. 'I'm the one who revealed to Alex that he must have inspired the founding of the Medjai.'

'That... that still doesn't mean he's right!' said Elder Garth.

'No, I suppose not,' said Ardeth. 'But I believe in Alex and his new ideas, and I think you should at least do him the courtesy of giving them some thought before you dismiss them out of hand.'

Elder Garth scowled, but said no more. Elder Kahn and Elder Black were now looking impassive again, which Alex decided to take as a good sign.

'There's another big change that I believe we need to implement as soon as possible,' said Alex. 'In fact, we've already started. I want to introduce you now to my Supreme Council. I have sworn never to make a decision as Supreme Medjai without their backing – they've already approved all the plans I've mentioned so far – and I want you to treat them both with exactly the same respect you'd treat me with... which admittedly hasn't been all that much so far, but still... Fadil, come on up here.'

Fadil came up to the lectern and smiled self-consciously.

'This is Fadil,' said Alex, clapping him on the shoulder. 'And this... come and join us, Yanit.'

Yanit forced herself to abandon her expression of extreme nervousness, and nodded in determination. She came to stand on the other side of Alex, shaking out her long black hair and thrusting out her chest as far as it would go.

'This is Yanit,' said Alex. 'And no, your eyes aren't deceiving you – she's the first ever female Medjai warrior! And if I have my way, she won't be the last!'

The hubbub of chatter had risen to its highest volume yet. Alex could tell that many of the younger Medjai were both interested and pleased to see Yanit standing before them in all her feminine glory, but the three Elders were looking mortified.

'No!' Elder Garth roared. 'This will not do! Medjai warriors are men – they always have been and they always will be!'

'No!' Alex shouted back. 'They just always have been!'

'Elder Bay, we really cannot tolerate any more of this extremist nonsense!' said Elder Kahn. 'How can you have betrayed us all by training a woman as a Medjai warrior?'

'Such an action is grounds for excommunication from the Order,' Elder Black added.

'Yanit is one of the best students I have ever trained,' said Ardeth. 'Alex is right – this is the twentieth century, and the Medjai Order needs to move with the times.'

'Blasphemy!' Elder Garth declared. 'You are a traitor, Elder Bay!'

'We cannot possibly have women in our Order!' said Elder Kahn. 'It is a scientific fact that women's brains are smaller than men's – they are an inferior species!'

'Women belong in the kitchen, cooking the food to keep us men going so that we can make the world work!' Elder Black added. 'That's the way society functions – it always has been and it always will be!'

'That's nonsense!' Alex snarled. 'More and more people around the world are starting to realise what a load of outdated, bigoted, hate-filled crap everything you've just said really is! Yanit is a way better Medjai than any of you! She could run rings around you so-called Elders, plus she can fly a plane! I bet you can't do that, can you?'

'We don't need to fly planes!' Elder Garth said derisively. 'That is not the Medjai way!'

'It is now!' Alex insisted.

'It is not, and it never will be!' Elder Garth yelled.

'Yes it will!'

Alex brought his right fist thundering down onto the lectern as he spoke. This not only caused the wooden structure to splinter and disintegrate, but also affected the three chairs that the Elders were sitting on. Elder Kahn, Elder Black and Elder Garth all found themselves tumbling to the floor as Alex's wild emotions activated his telekinetic powers in a subconscious act of aggression.

'He means to kill us!' Elder Garth cried indignantly.

'No, he doesn't!' said Ardeth. 'He just -'

'I just need to get out of here!' Alex cut in. 'I can't talk to these bigoted old fossils anymore!'

With that, Alex jumped from the stage and ran back down the stone steps to the Great Cavern. Yanit and Fadil came right behind him, followed closely by Evy, Rick and Jonathan. Ardeth cast one last look at the Elders as they dragged themselves to their feet, then he too followed Alex.