When:2010, before the story The Erasure of Larry Daley.
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Nasty Sweet Treat
One of the blessings of not being on display at the American Museum of Natural history was that Kahmunrah could take possession of his human double and send him there. So the tablet wouldn't stop Mr. Richards from entering the museum during the day time while the exhibits were inanimate. Once he was done he just simply left. He wondered how many might parish before the night was out.
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"Why am I drivin' with ya instead of Octy or Mau?"
Skye sighed, he could sense the discomfort, "Mau is talkin' to Octavius about a theory of hers. She thinks the tablet does more than brin' ya to life at night. Like it gives some of ya magical affinities, like maybe the reason Octavius could tame the squirrel is he has one for animals."
Jed's face went blank at the idea, "What's mine then?"
"No idea, the only thin' we noticed is that ya never lose anythin' ya have on your person. Maybe ya like Velcro, just that you didn't know it so ya haven't learned to control it."
The idea of him being like Velcro made Jedediah crackup laughing, he had to pull up under a bench till the laughing fit passed.
"I guess ya have a point. Ol' Jedediah since wakin' up here hasn't lost a thin', unlike before I died. So what she's testin' out her theory with Octy?"
Skye looked out at the underside of the bench, "Yeah, she's seein' if any of the animals will listen to him or not."
Mulling over the idea Jedediah barely noticed the glint of the wrapper. Squinting he clapped his hands together. It was a lost candy, still in the wrapper. He was out of his car and running over to examine it with excitement.
"Jed, why do ya guys keep eatin' lost chocolate? We give ya candy regularly. Someone may have tampered with it."
"Nah, it's still in the wrapper." The cowboy already cutting through the plastic to goods beneath, using his hand he dug out a chunk of chocolate.
"It's the kind that can be re-wrapped, Jed. Jed, stop!" He went to knock the chocolate out of his hand but the cowboy side stepped the assault, he held up treat and took a big bite.
Exasperated Skye tried to hit the miniature on the back of the head but he again avoided being hit. The cowboy mockingly grinned and swallowed, "We been doin' this for years boy. Nothin' bad ever has yet to happen from free chocolate."
Growling Skye was about to slap Jed when the piece of chocolate dropped from his hands, the tiny westerner collapsed, his whole body shook violently, eyes rolled up and strange noises issued from his mouth. Dropping to his knees by Jed it took him a moment to come to the conclusion that the chocolate was poisoned and that he needed to try a healing spell. Rolling Jed on his side, he placed a hand on poor man's chest and the other on his back while chanting in Egyptian. The soft glow of the healing spell lit up under the bench as it fought the poison.
After a while the seizure lessened and stopped as Jed lost consciousness. Even after this Skye continued chanting for a few more minutes before he walked out from under the bench and returned to his normal size. Laying Jed out in his right hand he picked up the poisoned chocolate in his left to take to Larry. On the way he warned anybody he ran into about the poisoned chocolate, asking everyone he met if they found it to throw it away.
Larry was in the hall of American mammals talking to Ahkmenrah in private when Skye found him.
"Larry, we have an emergency!" Running up, his right palm held out flat they could see the pale, unconscious cowboy.
"Oh my god, Jed! What happened to him?" Larry gently touched the tiny body with his finger to feel for signs of life.
"Someone left poisoned chocolate. I used a healing spell on Jed but I don't know if that is enough." Holding up the candy as he spoke Larry took it and glared at the wrapper.
"I wish I knew more of healing spells but I fear I have taught you all that I know. However if we used my tablet it might take care of the rest." Ahk offered, holding his hand out flat so Jed could be transferred.
"As for you and me, we are going to warn everyone else and search the museum."
For the next few hours they searched and warned everyone they ran across. When they searched the lobby Larry used the intercom to warn anyone else who could understand English, also announcing that Jedediah had been poisoned.
It didn't take long after that for Mau to arrive with Octavius standing on her flat palm. Their anxiety was clear; the Roman's face was full of anger, fear and concern. Mau looked nauseated and angry as she approached Skye.
"What happened? You were with him when I last saw you both. Where is Jedediah?"
"He's with Ahkmenrah in his tomb. He's tryin' to help heal Jed. I tried to stop Jed from eatin' the chocolate but he ate some before I could stop him. Larry and I are searching for more so no one else is poisoned."
"There are more of these poisoned treats?" Octavius was outraged at the idea that someone could do such a thing.
Larry spoke up from behind a potted plant he was searching, "So far I we have found about twelve more just like it. All of them have been thrown out."
"If I catch the fiend who did this I shall-"
"Octavius, we should go check on Jedediah. Make sure he's alright."
At that point Ahk entered with Jed in his right palm, the little cowboy was still unconscious but not as pale. "Have no fear; he shall live to see another night. Jedediah is however exhausted from the ordeal."
Gently he handed Jedediah off to Mau, placing him in the same hand as Octavius. The General knelt by him checking his life signs. "His heart beat is a bit weak but it rhythm is sound and he seems to be breathing okay."
"O' course it is…" Jedediah's voice spoke up weakly. "I'm never eatin' anythin' off the floor again."
"When you say things like that I wonder why I kiss you." Mau was only joking of course.
"I promise I won't do it again." He began to drift back into unconsciousness.
"None of us will." Octavius swore, taking his friends hand as he did so.
"From now on I will bring more candy, but only after you recover."
"Okay, just no chocolate..." The cowboy managed to say before sleep over took him.
The End
