Williamsburg, New York, A Week Ago

For a dive bar located in Williamsburg, My Son's Place is doing pretty well, its owner Miles Olddann, a man no later than thirty-one bought this place out three years ago with money that no one is really sure how he came into – nor does anyone ever really bother to ask, New York in general is a hotbed of shady activity and most citizens have adopted a see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil type policy. He stands at the window of his second story office, looking down at the group of one or two drinks away from being waking up in the morning with lots of regrets of the night before and no memory of how those regrets came to be partiers dancing away on the floor – not a care in the world.

Good lord Miles, if your father was alive to see this place, to see how you managed to turn it from a place where unhappy middle aged working class men sought refuge to a legitimate money making business, maybe for once you'd gain his approval. Maybe.

"Not too shabby of a shack y'all got setup here, not too bad at all.." A very familiar voice says in the background. Miles could never forget it no matter how much one tries to cover it up. Miles turns around to see a pair of feet propped up on his desk, in his chair he sees someone he isn't seen a good three years, with an inquisitive squint of his eyes he begins to walk towards his desk.

"Richard? Richard Harper? What the hell are you doing here?"

The blonde shaggy haired twenty-eight year old takes a swag of beer before talking again, "You're not still sore about that whole Guatemala thing are ya Miley?"

"It's Miles and that whole 'Guatemala' thing nearly cost me the head off my shoulders. So yes friend, forgive me if I am still a little bit 'sore' over that."

With a sarcastic shrug of his shoulders and a spin of the office chair, Harper replies, "How was I supposed to know that the backer sent us to rip off a drug lord? Besides, the payoff of that job alone allowed you to purchase this… fine establishment, if you will." Harper takes another a pause and swag of beer before continuing "Listen, I came here to make that up to you…."

"Make it up to me? Three years later?" A puzzled Miles can't help but interrupt.

"Ya Miley, three years is a lot of time. In that time I've done a few more jobs, both nationally and internationally with less than stellar partners. But Imma fixin' on something big here, friend, and I want you in on it. 100 Percent. I have a guy, he's moneybags, and he's offering 10 Mil to go over to Egypt next week, it's essentially a grab and dash – no danger …"

"I'm legit now. Not interested."

"You're going to turn down 5 Mil? Come on friend, it's just us pulling off a fast one on a couple of Archeologists, coming back to America, doing the drop off and getting paid."

"You really don't understand the meaning of the word 'no', do you Asp? Listen, years ago we had good times, travelled the world, made money but that's in the past. However, I grew up, wanted more, went legit and am perfectly content. Maybe you should give it a try, invest in something here in New York.. Hell you might like it!"

Harper stands up from his seat, gently placing the now empty beer bottle on Miles desk; he runs his hand through his blonde shaggy hair before making his way, albeit slowly towards the office door.

"I didn't want to say anything Miley, but I'm in deep with the Maggia, some bad people with bad intentions are on the lookout for me, rather I have money or not. I need this job and I need you by my side to do it.." Harper reaches the, slightly opens it and looks back at Miles "my numbers on your desk, I'm leaving for Cairo in one week. I hope to hear from you by then but if I don't... see ya around, Miley."

"It's Miles!", its already too late as Richard Harper is gone, however Miles eyes a piece of paper on his desk that's a reminder of the interesting proposition and the worrying revelation that Richard Harper left him with.

Egypt, Now

The days of actively going out on expeditions for one Alexi Skarab had been over for a few years, he had settled into a nice teaching job in a university in Manhattan, however two weeks ago a man named Amhet Abdol showed up in his office with an opportunity to good to pass up, Alexi was getting to lead an expedition into what's believed the forgotten Pharaoh, which unknown to Amhet or his boss it just happens (it's funny how fate works, right?) to be what Alexi Skarab the beginnings of his bloodline. So now he sits in the back of this jeep, both the drivers and jeeps paid for by Amhet and his boss, riding along the desert, inch closer to and closer to what he believes to be the most important moment of not only his career but his life.

On each side of him sits his two top students and what he considers his protégés, Janice Carr and Ron McAllister, both only in there only twenties with their whole lives ahead of them yet, but both smart enough to know that this opportunity may never come again. Behind them another jeep follows, one which holds two aids provided by Amhet - Richard Harper and Miles Olddann.

"Professor, you've barely said two words sense we left Cairo and hit the desert. Your first expedition in five years and you seem so… stoic, Janice and I can barely contain ourselves." Remarks Ron

"My apologizes Ron, it must be nerves – no matter how many tombs you explore, no matter how much of the world you see, sometimes your biggest obstacle to overcome is your own self."

"Ten minutes and we have as far as a vehicle can drive Mister Skarab, my partners and I will give you a few hours to do your, make the most of it." The driver of the jeep quips.

"Thank you, we greatly appreciate all that you've done."

"Do you think we can really rely on those two other guys though, Professor? Every time that Harper guy gets within twenty feet of me he gets all love struck.." Janice questions

"Unfortunately Janice, sometimes on the job you have to do the best with the tools you got, even if they are a little bit dull."

"So do you think they trust us? Miles asks, as he uncomfortably shifts in the backseat of the following jeep.

"Miley my man, that Janice is totally into me. We might have been about for a few years, but I've still got that ol' charm."

"I don't think she's into you, she looks worried for you. Like last night, when you were trying to get her attention back at the hotel and took out that plant. By the way, it's Miles!"

"Yeah. That's all part of the charm Miley."

Without much of a warning the driver slams on the breaks of the driver slams on the breaks of the jeep. "How about you two charm your way out of here, its time" remarks the driver.

With that Miles and Harper get out of the jeep and meet up with Alexi, Janice and Ron whom hands them a few bags of each.

"It's about a half hour to a forty five minute hike from what the instructions Mister Abdol has me to believe. Remember, keep yourselves in eyesight and hydrated at all times. Both during the hike and once we hit the cave and tombs. Commutation is key" Alexi firmly instructs both beginning to lead his team into the desert and on course to their destination by foot. Once the team appears to be out of sight one of the two driver jeep drivers approach each other.

"The master will be happy, now that the players have been set in place the Orb of Ra is nearly his, Egypt shall once again reclaim its glory."

Author's Note - This wasn't a good chapter at all, however I just wanted to at least introduce some key characters and try to, if nothing else get the story to this main setting in modern Egypt. I'm hoping by at least attempting to do that this chapter, I can really stink my teeth into this and get the story moving properly now.