Chapter 10

Luckily the others had been good about returning to their places before the sun rose. Mau and Skye had no choice but to check on every exhibit after the panicked search for Dexter and the keys. Even the animals and miniatures had returned to their places on time. The only one left was Dexter whom Mau just returned to his spot in the fake tree. Once he was returned they checked returned the lid to Ahkmenrah's sarcophagus, minus the stone and the pins this time. All of those items were carefully moved to the back of a storage closet hoping that no one would notice. Once more Skye hid in his sister's pocket with the backpacks as she went out to open the door for McPhee.

Afterwards she changed, went to the front desk to await any complaints from Dr. McPhee.

"You're going to loiter around here all day like an extra statue?" Here he was now.

"No, Dr. McPhee. After last time I thought I better stick around in case you wanted to inform me of any mistakes I made."

Most people probably wouldn't but she wanted to stroke his ego, make him feel respected. She didn't totally respect him but, hey, he tended to be a jerk.

"If there is I will let you know later tonight. Now be off with you."

"Yes, sir." And now for an attempt at eight hours sleep.

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Five and half hours sleep, plus three hours of trying to sleep would have to do for the night.

Both twins were restless so they were searching the apartment for the planted goods stolen from the museum. After a while a Ziploc bag of gold artifacts was found in a closet, Skye put on rubber gloves and removed it. Carefully shrinking the whole bag down and placing it in a small pocket on the backpack. Now they could spend the rest of the day planning.

"Tonight after the doors are locked and the sun has gone down we're going to check on the tablet. If it's already gone then it's in the docking bay."

"Then we both go there and reclaim the tablet."

"No Skye, I go alone and you wait in the museum to warn the others of the theft with the Larry watch. Tell Teddy, run to the Hall of Discovery break out Sacagawea, go tell Attila and his men and rally the others. Then take yourself to the Hall of Miniatures, tell them to disable the van outside. Then go check on Ahk's tomb, by then they should have locked me up in there."

You shouldn't face them alone! They beat me up last time!

"I have some training and a sword. I can delay them for a bit that's all we need."

J-just be careful tonight. Last night things nearly went bad in a way we hadn't expected.

They gazed down at the Larry watch, hoping that nothing else unexpected happened.

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They both silently rushed about after the doors were locked. Skye placed the little yellow hummer with Rexy's rib bone tied to it on the floor behind a plant near the hall of miniatures with a note in case they found it first. Mau as an extra safety left some sticky notes on Sacagawea's display case for Teddy to find later. It took only a few minutes but they only had a few till sundown.

"Here, take this." She handed Skye the Larry watch. "Take care of him. If the worst happens you're his only hope left."

Putting it on Skye sighed, "I hope it doesn't come to that. Maybe the exhibits will stop them from leaving the museum."

"Perhaps… It's sundown. Wish me luck." She left the lobby quietly and quickly. Leaving Skye behind to contemplate what would do next. He went over the check list several times. It was about the seventh time that the museum came to life.

"Good evening, lad. Has the tragedy you spoke of occurred?"

"Yes, Teddy. The tablet is being stolen!" Skye took off in the direction of the Hall of Discovery, when he got there he picked up a rock and waved at the people inside to get away from the glass. He waited for them to back away to a safe distance before hurling the stone, glass rained down from the display.

"Hello, Sacagawea. I'm Skye I'm going to need your help soon but I need more people. There is a theft in progress. Follow me!"

"Very well." Following in shock at suddenly being free, running around the museum and following a young man.

Skye ran around the museum trying to find the others to rally only to find everyone was already gathering in the lobby for the major fight Larry spoke off that they hoped to avoid. The crowd of animals and people got larger and larger by the moment. Changing tactics he picked up the little yellow hummer and went to Ahkmenrah's tomb.

Then he saw their error, Mau and Ahk were stuck because there was no stone slab to use on the gate. There was only one thing he could do at this point, pick the lock like he had tried with Sacagawea's display.

"What are you doing, Skye? Go rally the others!"

The young pharaoh seemed to agree, "You must prevent them from removing the tablet."

Thinking Skye handed the lock picks to Sacagawea. "Try and pick the lock if you can."

"Or I could have the stone gaints kick down the gate." She supplied.

"That might be better." He ran back to the Lobby to the stone Maoi head. "If you tell everyone to be quiet I will give you some gum after I talk to everyone." Holding up a yellow bubble gum pack to the statues face, the moment it opened its mouth he ran to the balcony nearly running into Attila as he tried to avoid having his ears blown out.

"QUIET! DUM-DUM WANT TO TALK-TALK."

All eyes were on Skye, he had to get the point across quickly, "The tablet that brings you all to life at night has been stolen. The three old night guards stole it. I know you have your differences… But that tablet is what brings you to life at night. It could all end to night if they succeed."

The faceless puppet people.

Larry was trying to guide Skye, "You the civil war soldiers, your brothers and you trying to kill each other when the war ended a long time ago. It's over; you don't need to fight any more."

The minis, tell them they're great leaders who want what's best for their people.

"Jedediah and Octavius, you both want to do what is right for your people, right? So help me stop the theft. Their van is by the docking bay, disable it in some way."

"I don't see why we need to work with these skirt-wearers."

"Roman's…"

Skye cut Octavius off angrily, "Yes. I know 'Roman's work alone.' But you both have ways of thinkin' that may help provide a solution to disabling the van. Your also great leaders but if you let your squabbling lead to the loss of the tablet that doesn't help your people one bit."

"So are you with us?" Mau's voice shouted from nearby, they were free. Mau, Ahk and Sacagawea stood not far from Skye.

The room filled with shouts of the affirmative.

"Okay, everyone we need to find those old night guards. Columbus take the Neanderthals and search Invertebrates through Reptiles. Everyone else I want you to search the museum top to bottom for the old guards. Let's go take the tablet back!"

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Magna: I know I flipped the order of events around but again I'm trying to do this differently than others in the past have.