Hey, guys. Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I've been caught up with my newer stories. So let's se what I can get into this. Read and review!
"So what did you think of the place?" Tina asked as they sat at a table. She had received a latte while Hector just got regular coffee and a muffin.
"It was...interesting. The museum feels different at night." Hector wasn't sure if he should tell her the truth. Would she believe him?
"So, what do you know about the Stone of Khonsu?" He asked.
"Not much." Tina began. "The Stone was brought here by a group of archeologists led by Charles T. Lemley, who wrote the best-selling novel based on his adventure in Egypt where he found it. 'What Lies Beneath'." She reaches in her handbag and pulls out the novel.
"He does mention that there's a legend to the stone as well. According to ancient texts, the stone can bring people back to life."
"Do you think it's true?"
"Ha, if that were the case, do you think it would be kept in our museum guarded by one person?"
"No, I guess not." shrugged Hector.
"What if I told you that the museum was filled with...magic?" Hector carefully explained, almost expecting her reaction.
"I'm kind of a believer." Tina answered. "But if this stone does hold some kind of ancient spell, would you be willing to show me?"
"If you were a night guard like me." Hector said.
"I'll have you know that I can be a bit of a nightowl. But maybe another night. I have somethings to take care of first. Would tomorrow be ok?" Tine promised, sipping her latte.
"Yeah, that's fine."
Meanwhile, a few tables over, there were three elderly men who were listening into their conversation and heard everything they said about the Stone and the museum.
"Do you think it's true? About what that stone thing can do?" said a portly gentleman.
"Who cares? Magic doesn't exist." gripped another man, presumably the leader of the three.
"Still, the stone itself would fetch a high price on the black market. Not to mention the other priceless items. Henry, when does our client expect us?" The other gentleman asked Henry while David was practically gorging on a bagel.
"We should start heading that way. David, don't stuff that in your mouth! Chew like a normal person!" Henry answered before scolding the shorter man.
Hector arrived at a local motorcycle repair shop and walked into the garage to see a black-haired man in a wifebeater working on a motorcycle.
"Max?" Hector called to him. The man stopped what he was doing and looked towards Hector, removing his goggles.
"Hector Dominguez?" Max asked. "It's been a long time."
"Yeah. See you still work on bikes and all."
"What about you? What have you been up to?" asked Max.
"I got a job yesterday in being the new night guard at the Manhattan Museum of American History and Art." Hector explained.
"In your natural habitat, huh?" Max joked.
"Say, Max," Hector started. "I was wondering that if you ever free tonight, you could come visit me during my night shift. I could use your linguist expertise."
"I guess. Why?"
"Just a thought, you know." Hector shrugged innocently before whispering, "There's something about that museum that might blow you away."
"And what might that be?"
"It be better if I showed you. Meet me tonight before the museum closes."
Later that day, the three old men, named Henry, Guy and David, from the coffee shop were sitting in the living room of a luxury apartment outside of Central Park. They were sitting on a couch in front of a large screen window with a view of the park below while they were speaking with unseen people.
"And what about this Stone of Khonsu?" The male voice asked.
"Well, uh..." The shorter man, David, began to say, before the portly man slapped him.
"Shut up! I do the talking!" He barked. "That punk new kid claims that the museum is filled with magic."
"It's no matter. Just get those items tonight. My wife and I plan to be in Paris before the authorities catch on. Here's a list of items that we require and then sell." said the man handing them a list.
"Don't worry, we'll take care of this." said Henry.
The three looked over the list. "This seems legitimate enough." The portly man replied.
"Oh! Can we have some of this stuff to ourselves?" David asked gleefully.
"You will be paid according to our agreed upon price." said a woman's sharp voice.
"You have what is required. Get moving." said the man.
And with that being said, the three men quickly left and slammed the door behind them.
"Incompetent fools." snarled the woman.
"Two of them are good, it's the third I worry about. However, the two will keep the third in line."
"Let's just hope your judgement pays off."
Maxwell arrived at the museum on his motorcycle at the precise time he was told to come. He gets off his bike and walked up the steps. He knocked on the door and saw Hector coming. He unlocked the doors and let him in.
"So glad you could come." Hector told him and lock the door.
"You seemed really excited about it." remarked Max.
"Yeah, but it will be so worth it."
"So, how should we proceed?"
Hector checked his watch. "Well, at exactly 10:00 P.M., some crazy stuff will happen." He explained and walked over to the front desk.
"A robbery?" Maxwell asked as he followed.
"No." Hector shook his head.
"A terrorist attack or bombing?" Maxwell asked.
"Not even close." The teen guard shook his head again.
"Then will happen?" Maxwell asked.
"You'll see." Hector said as he sat behind the desk. "I think you'll be pleasantly surprised."
And so they waited until the precise time. Hector got some help with learning a few words in different languages to help pass the time.
"Why exactly did you need my help with this?" asked Max.
Hector checks his watch again to see 9:59 P.M. turn to 10:00 P.M.
"For this." said Hector as a magical whir was heard off, presumably from the Egyptian room. Then all of the sudden, all the exhibits came to life as well as Methazor and Abe. There were absolutely no words to best describe Maxwell's reaction right now.
"Holy sh..."
"I'd watch your tongue, young man." said Abe approaching them.
"Shiitake mushrooms." finished Max.
"Amazing, right?" Hector asked.
"You have no idea." exclaimed Maxwell, shocked beyond all belief.
"What be your name, son?" asked the 16th President of the United States.
"Maxwell, Mr President."
Methazor came bounding up to them to get a look at the newcomer.
"Hey, boy, how's it going?" said Hector.
The skeletal beast brayed and rubbed his head against, Hector's body, almost knocking him down.
"Easy, boy." He said before the T-Rex turned toward Maxwell, who was drained of all colors on his face when Methazor advanced toward him slowly.
"Nice dinosaur." croaked Maxwell.
"Just hold your hand out. It's okay." said Hector.
Maxwell did so and Methazor touched it with the front of his skull. Maxwell rubbed the spot and Methazor wagged his tail.
"He likes you, bro." smiled Hector.
Maxwell chuckled nervously. "So why did you need me for this?" He asked.
"Your linguists skill, Max." said Hector. "There are exhibits here that don't speak English and I thought I could have someone around to help translate."
"Well, I guess I could help. Where did you want to start?"
"Follow me. There's a gold statue that is giving me trouble."
Buddha spoke something in his native tongue, further confusing Hector.
"He said, 'Who is this other fellow with you?'." Max translated then said to the statue in Mandarin "我是来帮你的语言新日夜守护" (I am here to help you're new night guard with the languages.)
The Buddha nodded and said, "很高兴与一个能够理解和说同一种语言的人交谈。" ("It's a pleasure to speak with one who can understand and speak the same language.")
"快乐服务" ("Happy to be of service.") replied Max.
"Ask him if he can help us protect the stone." Hector requested to Max.
"你能做些什么来帮助我们保护这个石头？" ("What can you do to help us protect this Stone?") Max asked.
"没什么，恐怕。 我只是一个雕像。" ("Nothing much, I'm afraid. I'm just a statue.") Buddha answered.
"He said he's just a statue to he can do much." Max said to Hector.
"Well, then ask him if he could keep an eye out for trouble."
"万一有麻烦，你愿意留意吗？" ("Would you be willing to keep a watchful eye in case of trouble?")
"我很乐意以这种方式帮助你。" ("I would be glad to assist you in that way.")
"He says he can assist us in that way." said Max.
"Thank you, Buddha." said Hector.
"Go long!" A voice cried.
"Now what-?" replied Hector until Max was struck by a baseball.
Hector turned to see an obese-looking man in a baseball uniform and holding a baseball bat.
"Babe Ruth." Hector told him. "I recommend you not play baseball in the museum. You're gonna break a lot of expensive stuff and the curator's not gonna be happy about that."
"Ah, you worry too much kid."
Max groaned and Hector helped him back up. Max then noticed the baseball legend.
"You're Babe Ruth! The Sultan of Swat! The Titan of Terror! The Colassus of Clout! The King of Crash!"
"Who's he?" Babe asked Hector.
"My Google Translate, of course." Hector joked.
"Uh-huh. Hey thought I'd warn ya kid, but Big Al is not in a good mood tonight. Best watch your back."
"Thanks Babe. Just be careful with your bat. If you break it, I bought it and I can't afford to even pay for the windows here."
Babe nodded and walked away. Hector noticed that Max had left. Looking around, he wasn't anywhere.
"Max?" called Hector.
Pocahontas was tending to Max's wound on his forehead from the hit. He was starting to look seriously delirious.
"Make no mistake, he hits pretty hard for a batter. RAINBOWS!" Max explained, then cried insanely.
"Max!" Hector came running when he noticed Pocahontas with him. "Is he gonna be ok?"
"I'm not sure. He's got a nasty knot." She explained.
"Just put the apple in the hay and eat the candle." said Max in a slurred tone.
"How many fingers am I holding up, Max?" Hector asked holding up four fingers.
"There's pixies, everywhere." Max then passed out.
"Well, that's just great." groaned Hector.
"Seems like head trauma, but that's unlikely." deduced Pocahontas. "He should be alright in the next couple of minutes."
"Is there a problem?" Cleopatra entered the room.
"My friend got hit by a foul ball from Babe Ruth. I brought him here to help me communciate with those who don't speak English and now he's out cold."
"Let me see." ordered Cleopatra and Pocahontas showed her the bruise on his forehead.
Her hand began to glow as she passed it over the bruise and the rest of his head. When she moved her hand away, the glow faded and so did the bruise. This was another displayed ability she possessed to heal the sick and injured.
"Whoa." said Hector.
"He should be fine now." said the Queen.
Outside the museum, the three men, Henry, Guy and David are standing at the steps of the museum preparing for their little assigned heist. In their hands are an assortment of tools necessary to perform the heist.
"So how are we gonna get in without waking that little four-eyed punk?" David asked.
"Just keep as quiet as possible. If he gives us trouble, I have some chlorophyll." said Henry.
Guy trips on the stairs, due to his poor eyesight.
"Get up, you old coot!" Henry griped, helping him up and headed from the entrance as David followed his comrades.
The trio walked up to the entrance and noticed the lights were on. This confused them. Why there the lights still on if the museum was closed?
"I thought the place was closed." David said.
"He's obviously trying to trick us into thinking there are other people in there." Henry exclaimed. "Well, he ain't fooling me."
Guy peeked through the windows, despite his blindness. However, even though he was blind, he could see blurred figures inside the museum wandering around. Guy yelps and rears back in terror.
"What?" Henry demanded.
"That joint is haunted! We have to leave now!" Guy said with fright. But Henry did not believe this for a second.
"Oh, get out of the way!" Henry barked, pushing him aside. "You're as blind as a bat!"
"Hand me that crowbar." said David.
With it in hand, David got to work on the door to get it open. He finally got it and they quickly snuck in. Unbeknownst to them, a certain chimpanzee noticed them and quickly ran off to find Hector. The young man himself brought Max to the Egyptian room to explain everything to him about the Stone.
"So this is stone bring everything..." Max began when Koba busted in, chittering and hooting as if trying to say something.
"Is that a monkey?" asked Max confused.
"What is it, Koba?" Hector asked. The chimpanzee grabbed his hand and hurriedly brought over the railing and pointed downward to the first floor, showing him the three thieves.
"Who are these guys?" asked Max.
"They aren't part of the museum. That's for sure." said Hector. "Koba, go get Agamemnon and have him round up everyone. Max, go with him."
"Why me?"
"I need to stay here in case they decide to go after the stone. I promised the Queen I would protect it and that's what I will do. I'm counting on you."
"Alright, be careful."
Koba took Max's hand and they were off.
"What's first? This spider-crab thing?" David asked, pointing at a horseshoe crab display, then to an Easter Island Head. "Or that giant ugly face made of stone?"
"Shhhhhhhhut up!" Henry hissed in annoyance, covering his mouth. "What did I say? Keep quiet and follow out my lead."
"Let's get the smaller items first. Things that won't be noticed." said David.
"Now you're using your brain." Henry nodded.
"Surprised you have one." quipped Guy.
"Shut up!" cried David.
The three of them began to load up on their smaller items first. They didn't notice someone walking up to them. Cleopatra walked up to the trio with a stern look across her facial features. One that made chills go down their spines.
"May I ask what you gentlemen are doing in my territory?" Cleopatra demanded with an authority tone, crossing her arms.
"Who the hell are you supposed to be?" Henry demanded.
"I am Cleopatra VII Philopator, pharaoh queen of Egypt. Now for the last time, what are you three doing here?" related Cleopatra in a more irritated tone.
"Nice costume lady, Halloween is not for another three months." said Guy.
"Look sweetheart, we've got a lot of ground to cover so unless you want a face full of chlorophyll, get lost." warned David.
"Your imputence will lead to your demise." snarled Cleopatra.
The trio laughed uproariously at this.
"You and what army, bimbo?" Henry threatened.
"This one." She said as Agamemnon showed up with his army along with the Vikings and knights and others.
"That little squirt hired a bunch of actors to keep us out?" David asked. "That's cheesy."
"I assure you that we are not actors. Now, you have two choices: leave now or feel my wrath." stated Agamemnon.
David scoffed. "'Leave now or feel my wrath'." He mocked and laughed. "You're really killing that."
"We ain't going nowhere, pal." Henry barked. "If you don't like it, throw us out."
"As you wish." Cleopatra smirked and snapped her fingers.
Agamemnon and the others rushed to the thieves and hoisted them up.
"Hey! Put me down!" yelled Guy.
"Where should we dispose of them, my Queen?" asked Agamemnon.
"In the trash, where they belong." She ordered.
The exhibits all carried the three no-goods outside to the dumpster and toss them all inside and closed the lid before heading back inside. The trio are now covered with dirty trash and lift themselves up.
"What a revolting development this is!" Guy complained, wiping the trash of of his jacket.
"What do we do now? We can't go back empty handed." cried David.
"Shut up, we'll just have to try something else!" said Henry.
"Like what?" Guy asked.
"Get the blueprints, there's gotta be another way in since the direct approach won't work."
So there's the new chapter. Again, sorry it took so long. See you guys next time!