A/N: I love you people :) I've gotten so many different ideas for characters, and I'm going to have a good time integrating them all into the story! Thank you all!
EDIT: I separated the paragraphs towards the end. Sorry about that. :)

Chapter Three – The Irish Independent

Morning came early to Limerick. As the sun rose over the eastern horizon and cast its glow over the city, people crowded the streets on their way to their jobs, briefcases and trench coats in tow. The lights flickered on in buildings all the way down the avenue, brightening the city with every passing second. Wrens and orioles sang songs of welcome to the sun that seemed to make even the most tired of commuters smile as they walked.

Ohio watched this for a moment from the first-floor room of the inn where he and Rhode Island had taken shelter for the night. It was something he didn't often get to do. Usually, when the pair was in a new city, there would be no time to relax and take in the views; instead they'd spend their days following treasure maps or running from the people who keep trying to take the artifacts they save.

Something inside his head made him look away. Something that was whispering, danger, danger. Some sort of premonition, something that gave him the oddest feeling of being watched.

"Forget it, Flynn," Ohio murmured. "You're overwhelmed. You just need to clear your head, that's all." Snatching up his dark brown jacket, he glanced back at the still sleeping Rhode Island before stepping out the door and onto the street.

-x-

Within ten minutes, the crowds of rush hour had diminished into a small trickle of people, the people who wandered the city during the day purely for fun. Ohio slipped into a group of pedestrians and glanced around at the architecture of Limerick. Maybe there's a museum closer to here than Dublin. If so, surely one of the locals could direct us there… He noticed a familiar figure stepping down from the steps of a small townhouse wedged between the vendors of Catherine Street, a light blue sweater over her shoulders and a newspaper in hand. She made her way down the street with her head bent, and Ohio couldn't help but follow her.

She continued down the street until reaching the crest of a hill, pulling a rolled-up bundle of paper out of the canvas bag hanging from her shoulder. She shook her head, staring out at the emerald green fields in the distance. She had a worried look on her face, but it seemed to diminish a little when she looked out at the scenery.

Ohio followed her gaze. "It is a beautiful sight."

Birmingham jumped at the sound of his voice, turning to face him. She sighed with relief when she recognized his face. "I didn't expect you to still be here, Mr. Flynn. I assumed you were on your way to Dublin already."

"My name's Ohio," he said with a smile. "Mr. Flynn is my father. And we will be leaving as soon as RI wakes up."

"He's still asleep?" Birmingham asked amusedly.

Ohio shrugged. "He was awake half the night trying to get us two train tickets to Dublin. I'd say he deserves some rest." He decided to change the subject before there could be too long of a silence. "How are you?"

"Not too well. Have you seen today's newspaper?" Birmingham handed him the newspaper. The main headline: ARCHEOLOGIST FOUND MISSING FROM PLYMOUTH HOTEL ROOM.

"It's my father," she started. "He's been traveling through England for the past few days. The reporters wouldn't say why, but he told me that he was recruiting fellow adventurers to start an excavation at…" She lowered her voice. "The locals don't like talking about it."

"Why not?"

"Beats me. I think someone's brother went there and never returned. But that's beside the point. I have to go to Plymouth and find him."

"Wait a minute!" Ohio scratched his chin. "Do you know if he had any important artifacts with him?"

"He didn't. But he was on the trail of one of the most important treasures in Africa. It's supposed to be in the Valley of the Kings."

"The Valley of the Kings?" Ohio smiled in awe. "What exactly was he looking for? The statues of Tutankhamen? Cleopatra's tomb?"

"Even better." Birmingham folded the newspaper in half. "He was looking for an artifact that he's been searching for his whole life. The mythical Gold Platypus of the forgotten pharaoh Theidondumuch."

"Theidondumuch? I haven't heard of him."

"Exactly!" Birmingham smiled proudly. "He's one pharaoh that's been lost to the ages."

Ohio thought for a moment. "Do you think it's possible that your father might have been kidnapped because someone else was after the Platypus too?"

Birmingham sighed. "It's always a possibility. I hate thinking about that though. But we have to do something."

"We'll come with you," Ohio replied, just as the thought came to his mind. Birmingham smiled surprisedly. "Would you?"

"Of course. You are a friend, after all."

They both turned as they heard a yawn, and saw Rhode Island walking toward them, his eyes drooping tiredly. "What did I miss?"

"Rhode Island," Ohio said with an adventurous glint in his eye, "we're going to England!"