A/N: This is my contribution to the cssns, it is a re-adaptation/reworking of the 1999 version of the Mummy. This fic has been a labor of love for me, and I truly hope that I have done the movie justice with my CS transmog. As always, beta'd by the lovely ilovemesomekillianjones. Fantastic art made by abeylin1982.

Prologue trigger warning: Minor character death during childbirth.

Prologue

The commanders of the twelve Medjai tribes had seen the war coming. They'd had just enough time to move the women and children to a camp that would remain safely away from the carnage the war to defend Hamunaptra, would surely bring. Taking up arms as they were honor bound to do, they engaged the invaders in a great battle to keep the creature undiscovered.

Elizabeth was eight months along in her pregnancy with her second son when the tribes had to prepare for the coming war. All of the women and children were travelling to a place far and away from the line of fire. All women save for Elizabeth who'd started having complications with her pregnancy, and her favored handmaiden Jasmine. It had been decided that Elizabeth and Jasmine would go to Cairo so she could have her best chance bringing her second son into the world. When it was time to say her farewells to Brennan, he'd told her to meet with their man Nemo at the museum, that he would help her find suitable lodging and medical care. He'd also handed her a packet of parchment, beseeching her to give it to Nemo as soon as she found him. She had kissed her husband goodbye, unsure if she and her oldest son would ever see him again, or if her second son would ever meet his father, but praying that they would. On the morning Elizabeth was to depart for Cairo, she held little Liam just a bit longer than normal, knowing that he'd be fine, and well cared for by all the other women in her absence, but knowing she would also still miss him terribly.

Once the two women arrived in Cairo, Nemo was as accommodating as Brennan had assured her he would be. He got them set up in a small flat halfway between the museum and the hospital, stopping in everyday after his shift to make sure that they had everything they needed.

Finally the day came for the babe to make his way into the world, but unfortunately more complications arose. Elizabeth was hemorrhaging and the doctors were unable to stop the bleeding. They had to make a heartbreaking decision based on her pain filled pleas, she had begged them to get her son out. "Please, save my Killian. If you can't save us both, please make sure he survives." Cutting her womb open, they went in to retrieve him as her heart stopped beating. For a few long moments the room was silent, everyone stared at the babe who had yet to scream; the nurse rubbed his back hoping to coax him to take a breath. Finally, after what felt like ages the babe, Killian, made his discontent known with a hearty wail.

With Elizabeth having passed on, and Brennan away at war, the nurse handed Killian to Jasmine, making a comment to the handmaiden. "I've never seen a newborn babe born with a mark like that, it looks almost as if it has been tattooed on. It is an interesting symbol, do you know what it means?"

Looking down at the resting babe in her arms, Jasmine feigned ignorance about the importance of his mark, "I think it's just a birthmark." Then, looking back to the nurse in front of her, she continued, "Thank you for all you have done. I know you tried to save them both, but Allah had another plan. I shall take the babe home to be with our family."

Later than usual that afternoon, Nemo had stopped by the residence Elizabeth and Jasmine had been staying in, only to find it empty, without a trace of either woman.

KJ~KJ~KJ

Several years later Nemo received a package, inside he found letters from Jasmine, as well as her personal journals detailing what had happened that fateful day he had discovered her gone, and learned of Elizabeth's death. She confirmed that Elizabeth had died from complications in childbirth, and that she had taken the babe to London after having been followed by sinister looking men from the hospital to their abode. The men had markings that resembled their most recent enemies, and they'd seemed to know she was of the tribes. When they continued to stake out the place, she'd hurriedly packed all of their worldly possessions and snuck out of a window to get away from them. Feeling that Cairo would not be safe for her or the child, she'd booked passage to London for his safety. Jasmine told him the child's name is Killian, and even mentioned that he had been born with the symbol of the protector on his wrist. There was a sketch included of what it should look like. Nemo discovered the reason he was receiving these letters was because Jasmine had fallen ill, and would presumably be dead by the time he received her correspondence.

Jasmine had until her dying breath, done everything she could to protect Killian from the enemies of the tribes, so that one day he could rejoin his family, and take his place as the second prince of the preeminent tribe.

A/N: Reviews feed the muse. Please let me know what you thought.

See you in two weeks with chapter 1.