Well here's chapter 1 I hope you guys enjoy. Updates for this are going to be pretty irregular as I've got a job and am in the middle of University. But I will update when ever possible. I don't own Star Wars or the Mummy. But I do have a cat named Anakin. Feel free to favorite and review!
Chapter 1
Anakin Skywalker was not sure how he ended up in this position, stuck on some desert rock that reminded him too much of his home planet, barricaded in some ruined city with the rest of his crew facing off against an army of marauders. Crouched behind a low wall on the edge of the city Anakin glanced over his shoulder just in time to see the ships captain drop his blaster rifle and take off running into the desert. Shit. Anakin's friend Hondo, a sleazy Weequay had also seen the captain take off, placed a not so comforting hand on Anakin's shoulder.
"Congratulations. You just got promoted." A rag tag group of pirates under the leadership of a nineteen year old were no match for experienced desert raiders. Needless to say everything went to the seventh Corillian hell fast. Anakin raced through the ruins dodging blaster bolts left and right. Hondo was far ahead of him, having taken off as soon as the shooting had started. He had found and entrance into some sort of temple and was trying to close the heavy metal door.
"Wait! Don't shut that door!" Anakin shouted, Hondo gave the human a shrug and the door closed with a loud bang. "You Bastard!" Anakin cursed Hondo in in every language he could think of. Finally, Anakin saw a large statue sticking out of the sand he dove next to it narrowly avoiding a blaster bolt to the skull. As quickly as it had started, the shooting stopped. Anakin frowned in confusion, he slowly rose up only to find that the raiders had all disappeared. Looking up at the statue he came face to face with the god of the dead. It was suddenly dead silent. Even the hot desert wind had ceased. Anakin felt a seed of dread take hold in the pit of his stomach. Suddenly and inhuman scream filled the air and the sand around him exploded. Terrified he took off running out of the city. Anakin didn't notice the face form in the sand behind him or the distant figures observing him from the ridge on the far side of the ruins.
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Three Years Later: Imperial City
Padme Naberrie was perched precariously on the top wrung of the library ladder with a large stack of holo-books in her arms, blowing a stray curl out of her eyes she went about her business of shelving the books. Occasionally she would mumble something about the ancient empire or old republic, lost in her own little world.
"Now what are you doing here?" Padme asked as she came across a copy of Languages of the old Republic. That particular book was meant to go on the opposite shelf. Placing the rest of her stack on top of the bookshelf Padme leaned out across the aisle, trying to reach the other shelf. Unfortunately, Padme underestimated the distance to the shelf. The ladder she had been standing on fell away from where it had been placed. Crying out Padme dropped the book and tried to keep the ladder upright. She failed, the ladder crashed back into the shelf causing a rather unfortunate domino effect throughout the oval room. With one final crash the shelf she had been trying to reach toppled down onto the first. Padme stood in the center of the library taking in the damage laid out before her.
"Oh kriff." Padme pushed more dark curls out of her face from where they had fallen out of her bun. An office door slammed open behind her, Padme cringed and slowly turned to find herself face to face with her boss; Dr. Mace Windu, curator of the Coruscant Museum of Ancient History and Antiquities. He looked around the room then back at his young librarian. Shaking his head.
"Give me a plague, a sandstorm, any disaster. All are nothing compared to you Naberrie!" Padme was know for being a bit accident-prone.
"Dr. Windu I'm so…" Windu held up a hand silencing her.
"I don't want to hear it just get this mess cleaned up." With that the man swiftly turned and stalked back to his office. Sighing, Padme began the long and tedious task of cleaning up the library.
Hours later, Padme had most of the library cleaned up, what was left the old protocol droid could do on its' own. The Museum had closed for the evening and the only living beings left inside were herself and Windu. Padme was currently walking through the main corridor making sure everything was in order before heading home. When she was going past the room for the Ancient Empire exhibition she heard a clanking sound coming from inside. Curious, Padme entered the exhibition hall to investigate. The only light in the hall was from the security lamps, casting a ghostly light through the space. Looking around, Padme couldn't see anyone or the source of the noise.
"Hello?" No reply. "The museum is closed." Padme walked further into the chamber, once she reached the center of the exhibition she stopped. Next to her stood the mummy and sarcophagus of a Sith Priest. As Padme turned to the casket, the mummy shot up towards her. Screaming Padme jumped back, heart racing in her chest. Laughter filled the room as the imposter revealed herself from inside the casket. Sabe Naberrie propped herself up next to the mummy casually throwing her arm over its' shoulder.
"God, Sabe, I've told you not to do that!" The elder Naberrie sister shrugged and gracefully jumped out of the coffin.
"To good of an opportunity to pass up baby sister." Padme rolled her eyes. While she and Sabe shared similar features save hair color and height that was where the similarity stopped. Padme was a reserved patient woman who preferred to focus on work and making a name for herself in the world of Archeology. Sabe meanwhile preferred to have adventure and live on the edge, she had long since tossed away the idea of having a stable job and income.
"What are you even doing here Sabe?" Padme asked, once she had placed the priest's mummy back in its proper position. Honestly, her sister had no respect for the dead.
"Well baby sister of mine." Sabe grinned, "I think I may have found something you may be interested in." Before Padme could object to whatever cheap trinket Sabe had found this time, the woman in question removed an object from her coat pocket and handed it to Padme, who's curiosity got the better of her once she was what Sabe had found. It was round and made of brass and was old, very old. Padme carefully examined the hieroglyphics that had been carefully etched into the metal. By the looks of it, this was some sort of puzzle box.
"I found it at the South Center. Please tell me I've actually found something valuable." Padme carefully twisted the device, the top popped open revealing it to be some sort of key. Inside of it was a carefully folded piece of parchment. Padme carefully removed the paper. Grinning, she turned to her sister,
"Sabe, you found something."
Padme had to practically drag Sabe with her to Dr. Windu's office with the puzzle box and parchment. Windu sat patiently at his desk as Padme went on about what Sabe had found. He picked up the parchment and began to examine it. Padme moved over his shoulder.
"It's some sort of map. I already dated it to the ancient empire, most likely Valorum the first. That's his cartouche in the corner." Windu simply nodded, Padme pointed at the bottom, "And down there, that's the symbol for Hamunaptra." Sabe who at this point had just been fiddling around with the key dropped it onto the table and jumped up.
"Hamunaptra, as in the legendary city of the force, and the treasury for the ancient empire! The place with millions of year's worth of gold underneath it. The place that can be destroyed with one word from the emperor! That Hamunaptra?" Padme grinned at her sister.
"Yes, and the home of the Book of Life." Windu cleared his throat.
"All of this is nothing more than a children's tale meant to entertain the tourists. Hamunaptra doesn't exist and it would be completely pointless to go after it." As he said this he lifted the parchment closer to his desk lamp. Three million year old paper and heat do not mix and the parchment began to smolder.
"The map!" Sabe cried. Windu dropped the burning parchment leaving the two women to put out the fire.
"Damn it man you burned part of the map off!" Sabe shouted angrily. Windu just leaned back in his chair.
"All for the best, I assure you." The sisters exchanged a dark look.
Later on Sabe and Padme were walking back to the Naboo Delegation Complex, where they both lived.
"Tomorrow take me to where you found the box." Padme stated.
"What?"
"We're going to find Hamunaptra." Padme said.
The next morning, instead of traveling to the South Center Padme found herself being led through Imperial Center's prison courtyard by a stinky Toydarian named Watto. Padme grabbed her sister's arm.
"You said that you found it in South Center on a dig. Not in some drunk's pocket when he wasn't looking." Sabe shrugged.
"We were in South Center and I never said anything about a dig." The Toydarian had finally stopped in front of one of the visitor cages.
"This way ladies. I must warn you this man is a no good pirate and is not use to women of your… refinement." He said looking over Padme with a sleazy gaze. Sabe glared at Watto.
"Just bring him out." Watto signaled the guards and they dragged out the prisoner. He was younger than Padme thought he would be. His skin had tanned from an extended amount of time in the desert, his golden brown hair hung in his face unwashed and matted. But his eyes, they were as blue as the oceans back on Naboo. His rugged look was finally completed by a scar over his right eye.
"What was his crime?" Padme asked, noticing the shackles on his wrists and ankles.
"He was looking for a good time." Watto stated simply, the guards kicked the man forward roughly. To keep himself upright the prisoner grabbed onto the bars of the cage, shooting a venomous look back at the guards. Padme took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Hello Mr. Skywalker, my name is Padme Naberrie. My sister and I found your puzzle box and wanted to ask you about it." Anakin looked over at the woman in front of him.
"Why the hell would a woman like you want anything to do with that?" Padme shifted, he kept looking at her with those blue eyes.
"Please don't look at me like that, it makes me uncomfortable." Anakin smirked and looked away. Sabe leaned against the bars of the cage.
"This is a waste of time Padme, he's completely useless." Anakin looked over at the other woman, his eyes widened in recognition.
"You!" He lunged at Sabe, but seeing him coming she was able to jump back and escape his left hook. "You thieving bitch!" Sabe shrugged.
"I get that a lot." Padme glared at her sister.
"You're not helping." She turned back to Anakin. "Can you at least tell me where you found it?" Anakin rolled his eyes.
"Where do you think I got it. Hamunaptra." Padme's eyes widened.
"So it is real." Anakin scoffed.
"Yeah, it's real. I barely got out of there alive." Padme stepped closer.
"Can you tell me how to get there?" Anakin smirked.
"You really want to know." Padme nodded eagerly. Anakin motioned for her to come closer. Padme was practically right next to the bars. "Are you sure you want to know. Padme nodded again.
"Yes." She whispered. Anakin lunged through the bars and crushed his lips against hers. He was quickly yanked back from her by the guards while Sabe pulled the shocked Padme away from the cage.
"Then get me out of here lady!" Anakin yelled as the guards dragged him back inside. Padme stood absolutely still shocked by the unexpected kiss her hand moved up to her lips, which were still tingling.
"What's going to happen to him now?" Sabe asked. Watto snorted.
"He's going to be executed." That got Padme out of her stupor.
"What, why?"
"Apparently he had a very good time." Watto stated before flying off. Padme took off after him.
"I'll give you one hundred credits for his freedom." He laughed.
"I would pay that just to see him hang."
"Two hundred." Nothing.
"Five hundred."
"Nope" Watto said. Padme wanted to pull her hair out.
"Five hundred and he knows the way to Hamunaptra!" That got the creature's attention. He spun mid air to face the young woman.
"You lie!" Padme straitened.
"I would never do such a thing. If you let him go I will ensure that you get twenty percent of the treasure." Watto glared at the human.
"Fifty Percent."
"Thirty and that is my final offer." Padme smirked at the Toydarian. He growled.
"Deal."
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As dawn touched Imperial City the next morning, it found the Naberrie sisters making their way through the barge port. The area of the planet they were traveling to had a no fly zone. So the only way to get there was by sail barge on the River Nile.
"Bet you ten credits the man won't show up." Sabe said glancing around at the various creatures that filled the port. Padme adjusted her hold on one of her suitcases.
"I may not be overly fond of him and he may be a scruffy nerf-herding scoundrel…"
"Anyone I know?" Padme and Sabe quickly turned around to find a clean-shaven and dressed Anakin Skywalker. Padme felt her cheeks go warm. Unlike her younger sister Sabe took things in stride. Patting the tall man on the chest.
"Good to see you Skywalker, and no hard feelings about the key, okay." Sabe shouldered her rucksack and swiftly made her way up the gangplank.
"Yeah, no hard feelings." Anakin said as he checked his wallet. Sabe turned back around.
"Don't worry, I never steal from coworkers." She then made the rest of the way up to the ship. Padme rolled her eyes, but then noticed the old blue Toydarian flying towards them.
"What are you doing here?" Watto glared at Anakin.
"Protecting my investments." Anakin sighed as the warden flew onto the barge. He noticed that Padme was struggling with her bags.
"May I?" Padme nodded and Anakin took the heavier case from her.
"Thank you." Anakin grinned and gave her a small bow.
"After you milady." Padme's cheeks reddened even more as she went up the gangplank, Anakin right behind her.
Once they were loaded on the barge, Padme sat back and watched as other passengers boarded. Sabe had disappeared no doubt causing trouble. Watto was also nowhere to be found. This was it, the start of an adventure that could shape the rest of Padme's career. Padme shuddered that the thought. Glancing across the deck she saw Skywalker stacking their gear in the luggage area. Their eyes met, Padme quickly looked away. A phantom kiss ghosted over her lips. She quickly disregarded the thought and pulled out her notebook. She ignored the ocean blue eyes that observed her from afar.
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Anakin strode through the barge on to the main leisure deck. The sun had long since set and a starlit night with a gentle breeze had replaced the desert's sweltering heat. They were making good time and would hopefully reach port by the next afternoon. He found Sabe playing an intense game of Sabacc with three men; a Human, a Zabrak, and a Rodian. The Rodian was currently taking his sweet time cutting the deck. Growing impatient the Zabrak snapped at him.
"Quit fooling around and deal the damn cards Greedo." Greedo finally dealt out the cards. Sabe saw Anakin and waved him over.
"Skywalker, come join us, I'm tired of cleaning these men out all on my own." Anakin inspected the game, Sabe did seem to be winning.
"Sorry but I never gamble with money, only my life." The Zabrak grinned at Anakin slyly.
"Really? What if I bet five hundred credits that we get to Hamunaptra before you." Anakin raised a brow and saw Sabe shift in her seat.
"You're looking for Hamunaptra too?" The Human played his hand.
"Damn strait we are." The man was Mandalorian by the sound of his accent. "We've got someone who's been there."
"And who says that's where we're going?" All three men pointed at Sabe.
"She does." They said in unison. Anakin glanced at the very guilty looking Sabe then back at the bounty hunters.
"Fine, I'll take your bet." With that he shouldered his bag, purposefully knocking Sabe on the back of her head with it, she cast a quick glare at the man as he strode off.
"Young lady, what makes you think your team will find the city first?" The fat old Twi'lek scholar accompanying the bounty hunters asked. Sabe merely shrugged before laying down a winning hand.
"Luck." She smirked, careful not to let any of them see the card tucked up into her sleeve, "Maul, Jango I believe you owe me some more credits." The other players cursed as Sabe collected their money.
After leaving the elder Naberrie sister to her card game, Anakin found Padme sitting at a small table farther back on the deck, her nose buried in a book.
"Mind if I join you?" Padme, who had been so immersed in her book jumped in her seat.
"Of course Mr. Skywalker." Anakin set his bag on the table and took a seat across from the woman.
"Call me Anakin." He replied. Padme shifted in her seat. "Sorry if you're still angry about the kiss." Padme was suddenly very glad that the oil lamps had such limited light or Anakin would have seen her turn bright red.
"I've had better." She replied confidently. Anakin smirked, gods that made him even more dashing. He undid the clasps on his bag and rolled it open. Padme looked over the collection of blasters, blades, and energy clips in shock.
"I wasn't aware that we were going into a battle." Anakin set to work cleaning his blasters, checking the safety he tucked it into a holster and moved onto the next one.
"There's something out there, something evil." He didn't even bother looking up at Padme, he was so focused on his task. Memories from three years ago running through his head.
"Well, I'm not looking for anything evil. I hope to find a certain artifact." Anakin holstered the second blaster and began grabbing extra energy clips.
"What artifact?" Padme's grin was as bright as one thousand suns. Anakin suddenly was remembering the stories he had been told as a child about the Angels of Iego. He was now fairly certain one of those divine beings sat before him.
"The Book of Life." Padme stated. Glancing down she picked up a small knife and began to fiddle with it. "Sabe thinks that there are going to be rooms filled with gold. So what do you think we will find?" Anakin took the blade from her and placed it back in his case.
"Trouble. All the native tribes stay clear from the place, they say it's cursed." Padme chuckled.
"I'm not one to believe in curses." Anakin was now cleaning a blaster rifle.
"So back to this Book of Life, you're not interested in it cause it's supposedly made of solid gold?" Padme gave him another thousand-sun smile.
"You know your history." Anakin merely shrugged as he placed the rifle back in the case.
"I know treasure."
"You know, I've always been fascinated by the legend. It supposedly carries all the secrets of the ancient empire. Can you even imagine what we would learn from that. It's one of the reasons I came to Coruscant to complete my studies." It was rare to find someone so passionate about a subject. Anakin found that he enjoyed Padme's enthusiasm immensely. After that the two sat in a comfortable silence, Padme reading her book and Anakin cleaning his weapons. Finally Padme shut the book.
"Why did you kiss me anyway?" Anakin shrugged.
"I was about to be executed, it seemed like a good idea at the time." He said nonchalantly. Padme's eyes narrowed, huffing angrily she stood and walked off. Anakin, confused looked after her.
"What'd I say?"
Anakin was quickly distracted from the angry woman by a crate falling to the deck. Getting up, he went to investigate. There was a shadow kneeling behind it. Snarling Anakin grabbed Hondo Onaka by the lapels and pulled the Weequay to his feet.
"Anakin, what a surprise my old friend! I had no idea you were still alive." Anakin shoved him against the crates.
"Well I am. And I think I'm going to kill you now." He pulled out a blaster and shoved it into Hondo's chest.
"Think of my children!" Anakin rolled his eyes.
"You don't have any children."
"I might." Hondo mumbled.
"Let me guess, you're the one who's leading those bounty hunters to Hamunaptra. What's the scam? Lead them into the middle of the desert then abandon them?" Hondo sighed.
"Alas no, They're too smart for that particular trick. Paid me half before we left Imperial City and the rest I get when we return." Anakin finally holstered his blaster. "What are you doing here Skywalker? You never believed in Hamunaptra." Anakin looked down the deck and saw Padme fondly petting one of the pack animals.
"That woman over there, she saved my neck." Padme looked up and saw Anakin staring at her, she turned and quickly walked away. Hondo threw an arm over Anakin's shoulder.
"You always did have more balls than brains." He chuckled. After a somewhat tense moment Anakin relaxed and threw his arm around Hondo's shoulder.
"Good bye Hondo." Anakin stated before effortlessly pushing the Weequay over the side of the barge into the water. Anakin closed his case and walked off ignoring Hondo's curses from the river below. He was completely unaware of the shadows following him across the deck or of the wet footprints leading from the side of the boat.