Chapter 4

Anna was pulled into the photo against her will and quickly the three warriors found their companions. The group of them pushed their way through the celebration in search of Larry and the tablet. All around them men and women dressed in their military uniforms wove the American flag with smiles on their faces, many shouting 'It's over! It's all over!' while they held up newspapers that proudly displayed the announcement. People danced to trombone music and laughter was the lyrics.

She wasn't sure who caught sight of Larry first, her or the Egyptians. But her eyes locked with Daley's and his became wide seeing her held hostage. She saw him get stopped by a young man who had a smile on his face but it quickly vanished as he spoke to Larry. Then he looked shocked and called over some of his friends. The group of them quickly pushed their way through the crowd toward Anna and started throwing fists at the Egyptians. In the scuffle she was able to get free and the man who had been speaking to Larry gave her a quick smile before pushing her away from the brawl so she wouldn't get hurt. She gave him a grateful smile back before she rushed over to Larry.

"You okay?"

"Better now." She replied a bit breathless as her nerves calmed back down. "How do we get out of here?"

"I'm not sure. Look for the kissing couple?"

"I think they're in front of Walgreens." Anna pointed and Larry followed her lead. They found the couple easily enough but they weren't out of the woods yet. Through the crowd they spotted Kahmunrah's warriors - and they were already on their tail.

"Go!" Larry shouted at her. "Go. I'll be right behind you."

She jumped through the frame and back into reality. Turning around she saw Larry kissing the nurse just as the man he'd nudged out of the way got tackled by the warriors. Amelia appeared from the throng of people, smiling as she tapped Larry's shoulder and they both joined Anna.

"You're quite the smooth operator, aren't you Mister Daley?" Amelia asked with a smirk.

"Call me!" the nurse yelled to Larry. But before he could enjoy the moment the warriors were back.

"Quick!" Larry shouted grabbing the edge of the frame and tossing Anna the tablet. Amelia grabbed the other side and they turned the picture trapping the Egyptians in 1945.

"That actually worked." Larry muttered shocked.

Amelia looked the polar opposite, "What's next?" she asked, excitement lighting her eyes.

"Look, nothing personal, but I'm kind of in the middle of something here that's not really your fight." Larry told Amelia as the three of them made their way through the museum.

Anna led the way as they passed a skipping giant balloon dog and a pair of colorful chattering teeth.

"It's because I'm a woman isn't it?"

"No, it's because I've got this ancient raised-from-the-dead evil Pharoah guy who's willing to kill me and probably anyone near me to get this tablet so he can rule the world." Larry explained.

"So it is because I'm a woman!" Amelia said angrily. Anna wanted to point out to her that Larry couldn't be sexist because Anna herself was a part of this mess and he hadn't sent her away – so far.

She also had enough on her mind as the traitorous organ in her skull kept drifting back to Billy. Learning about him and his history had revealed controversy about him that lasted to this day – hence why no governor had yet to grant his stinking pardon. She'd always been on Billy's side, that he was a good person in a harsh world, on his own at a young and confusing age having to make his way in the world. He'd run into people who were bad influences but ultimately it was ride with them or be on your own and risk death. By the time he met John Tunstall, the only decent man willing to help Billy, and others like him, build better futures a decade long tension in Lincoln New Mexico was already at a boiling point and erupted into a war only weeks later. Only a person without a single empathetic bone in their body would still think of Billy as evil.

But thinking back to when she'd been dragged away from Kahmunrah and that smile that Billy had been wearing she was starting to question herself.

Maybe Billy wasn't who she thought he was.

.

.

"I am Kahmunrah. I am half god, once removed, on my mother's side. Rightful ruler of Egypt. Future ruler of, well everything else." The Pharaoh was introducing himself where he had set up shop in the lower level. Around him were boxes and crates that had been unpacked, their stuffing strewn about the concrete floor. The men who had been unpacked were still wiping straw from their shoulders as Billy sat on the lid of one empty box with his elbows on his knees as he toyed with his gun, opening and closing the cylinder, then spinning it so it made that musical sound. There were three groups of people gathered in front of the Pharaoh listening to his speech.

"Now, I have lost some men. So I am in need of some new generals to join me in my little plan of conquering this world." He turned to the one furthest to the left. "Ivan the Terrible."

The older bearded man stood straighter at his name, his grip tightening on his staff. He was in a long grey coat with a fancy pattern, a matching hat sat on his head adorned with rubies. The men behind him were in metal suits like knights with only slits in their helmets to let them see. They carried big shields and long swords that looked heavy enough to slow them down in a fight.

"Napoleon Bonaparte." A shorter man in the center snapped his feet together the way a solider would. His black boots were polished and stood out against his blue and red uniform. It matched the men behind him though their hats were different to show their rank. Napoleon's was the only one without a stupid red fluffy feather on the top.

"And young Al Capone." The grey skinned man Billy had met in the halls upstairs nodded with his coat draped over his shoulders like a king's cape. The pinstripe suit underneath was standard for his men, as were the fancy guns they all carried. They were unlike any rifle or pistol Billy had ever seen. But what drew his eyes were the rounds of bullets hanging from each one.

Billy looked over his shoulder to the rows of crates stacked up to the high ceiling. All that history and important people and he still highly doubted he'd ever find a Charlie Bowdre or Tom O'Folliard among the bunch. Otherwise he'd probably be standing in front of his group of Regulators, instead of sitting alone off to the side.

"Some of the most despicable, most feared rulers in all history." Kahmunrah smiled, "Gentlemen – really it's just fantastic to meet you all."

Billy had to hold back a snort at how instantly giddy the high and mighty Pharaoh suddenly sounded.

"And us too."

"And me, you."

They all muttered in reply.

"All I ask is your allegiance and in return, I offer you the world – literally." He gave a wave of his hand, "Are there any questions?"

"Yeah I got one." Capone spoke up in a drawl, "How come you're wearing a dress?"

Billy's snorting laughter broke free that time. He tried to hide it behind his hand and disguise it as a cough but was failing miserably. Kahmunrah paid him no mind though, as he answered Capone's question.

"This is not a dress. This is a tunic. It was the height of fashion three thousand years ago I assure you. Are there any other questions?"

"Da. This um, dress you are wearing, do we have to wear one of these too?"

Kahmunrah stuttered, "No of course, wha, were you not listening? I just told Mr. Capone here, that this is not a dress, this is in fact a tunic, very big difference. Are there any other questions?"

Napoleon raised his hand and Kahmunrah sighed.

"Are there any questions not about the dress – tunic?"

Napoleon's hand dropped.

"All right then, moonlight is wasting and the time is short –"

"Short!" Napoleon snapped drawing his dagger, "Why do you look at me when you say 'short'?"

Kahmunrah stuttered again, "I – uh – sorry. It slipped out."

Napoleon pointed a warning finger at him and for a moment Kahmunrah looked like he was wondering what he'd gotten himself into.

"Da. If we are talking about world domination, of course I am interested. But first I want to clarify something so you know what you are getting. People always say 'Ivan the Terrible, ooh he's so terrible. Oh I'm so scared of Ivan. He's bad news.'"

Join the club, Billy thought, Lord only knew how much had actually been written on him that was a bunch of lies. Once he'd become 'famous' every town in America wanted to claim he'd come from there. Any Billy they had who was a troublemaker they said picked up stakes and ended up in New Mexico. He'd seen names in the paper listed as his 'aliases' names he'd never even heard of. But everyone wanted a piece of the fame Billy had – everyone but Billy. Did anyone care to be accurate, of course not. Sorry Ivan you're stuck with 'Terrible'.

"When in fact the correct translation is: Ivan the awesome."

"Ivan the awesome?" Kahmunrah questioned, "It's not really as catchy is it? Ivan the Terrible, that really pops."

"But I wasn't terrible, in fact I was quite an effective leader."

"Duly noted." Kahmunrah let it go, "Now, I'd like to wrap up the old meet-and-greet with a question for you gentlemen: Are. You. With me?"

"Yeah." Capone shrugged, "Yeah, sure."

"Oui."

"Da."

"Why not?" Billy shrugged.

"Then bring Larry Daley of Daley Devices, his companion Anna, and the golden tablet of Ahkmenrah to me!"

The three leaders began to divide up their men and called various places they'd check. Billy stood and reholstered his gun walking over to one of Capone's mobsters.

"How's it going fellas?" he smirked.

.

.

"We'll get you back down to your chums, Mister Daley. You won't get lost following Amelia Earhart."

"Hey, Anna." Larry called ahead to her at the front of their group, "In all that chaos where did Billy go?"

"Oh." Anna stammered, "Don't worry about it."

She tried to shrug it off but when Larry didn't look convinced she passed him back the tablet hoping having it in his hands would distract him and get him focusing on their friends again.

As for Anna, the longer she went without seeing Billy the better. Thinking about him was too confusing and if he'd decided to throw in his lot with Kahmunrah she couldn't really stop him, just stay as far away from him as possible.

"Quick, get down." She heard Larry beckon and turned to see French soldiers approaching. They'd gotten distracted by a sculpture of some animal and were using their bayonets to keep it back while they entered the room. Larry and Amelia dove for the fountain in the center of the room but Anna doubted three people would be able to hide there. She backed up into an alcove with a tall potted plant and hugged the corner as best she could.

Larry and Amelia whispered a few things back and forth before music filled the air. Anna looked around and quickly found the music was coming from little cupids above them and the cherub's song grew louder and drew the attention of the French men. As they drew closer Larry and Amelia crept around the fountain in the opposite direction. But Anna was about to be spotted.

The shot of adrenaline that hit her system helped her process the situation very quickly. Larry had the tablet. Kahmunrah couldn't, under any circumstance, get the tablet. If Larry and Amelia continued creeping back around they might be able to escape but it would be easier for them if something distracted the French men. Biting her lip she stepped out from her corner, she was going to be spotted eventually, might as well get a head start. She folded her arms behind her back hoping it looked like she was hiding the tablet.

"Over here!" she shouted before taking off to the right. The four men chased after her shouting in French. She didn't hear Larry and hoped he'd made good use of her gamble.

Now all she needed was something to distract the French from her.

She ran room to room looking for something that could work. But many of the statues milled about looking at her confused and many she assumed didn't speak English.

Eventually she ended up back in the room where they'd hopped into 1945. She caught sight of the picture of the crying girl. It's dotted and blocky design gave her a weird idea – but in a museum that had come to life she was willing to bend where the line between weird and brilliant was drawn.

She ran up to the crying girl and grabbed her frame. "I'm in a bit of trouble, would you mind?"

The woman shook her head and smiled. Anna turned and threw the painting similarly to how one would toss water from a bucket. All the colorful dots that made up the woman bounced along the floor in tennis ball sized marbles, the blocky parts that made up the rest of her bounced like slinkies on the floor. The French rushed in and immediately started falling all over themselves. Anna rested the frame back on the wall, she was happy to see that the girl seemed to be able to control her own medium as the balls bounced around the French making them slip and fall as they tried to get back up while the corkscrew bits hopped into their faces knocking them back down.

Good, she'll be able to bounce them all right back into her own frame later.

Anna ran from the room, when she spotted a hall with a glass display case much taller than her. It rested along a short wall that was only a few feet long and stood between two archways that led deeper into other exhibit rooms. She crouched behind the far side of the case, hoping there was just enough wall left to hide her well enough. She crouched behind it and hoped once the French continued their pursuit they'd race right in front of her passing the short hallway. She took the time to catch her breath but her heart was still pounding as she played the waiting game. She was surprised her body hadn't run out of adrenaline yet to shoot through her veins and her pulse pounded in her eardrums blocking out smaller sounds, like someone stepping through the doorframe and coming up behind her.

"Well this seems familiar."

Her eyes widened.

"You!" she turned only to have Billy slap his hand over her mouth and back her up into the corner where the glass case met the wall. He pressed his body up against hers tightly and brought his other hand up, holding one finger to his mouth in a 'shush' action. Down the hall French was being shouted and Anna tried to calm her racing heart and stay as still as possible.

Billy turned his bright blue eyes away from her and kept an eagle-like watch down the hall. Several pairs of rushing feet pounded against the tiled floor and Anna hoped there were enough artefacts in the glass case to conceal them.

When the sounds of the French men passed until they couldn't hear them anymore she relaxed a bit, but only a bit. She still had Billy to deal with.

He chuckled and looked back to her, "That was close. Lucky for you I was here."

She glared at him from behind his hand. His smile dropped for only a second before it reappeared, more amused then before.

"What, are you mad at me?"

She rolled her eyes hoping the 'obvious' response she wanted to give was translatable.

"Sorry Anna, but the guys in the fancy suits knew where all the old-time ammo was." He pulled his hand away from her face and rested both hands on his belt. He now wore two, the one that had his gun and a cartridge belt. Both were fully stocked with ammo fresh from the 1880's.

She stared down at the belts for a minute putting the pieces together, but she wasn't fully ready to trust him yet. Keeping her head tilted down her eyes turned up to him. Her brows pulled together accusingly.

"That offer of 'the world' and all that power seemed pretty good."

Billy shrugged, "I've never really been one for power."

"You only went so you could get ammo?" she wanted to clarify.

"You have to admit, I'm much more useful with it."

That was debatable. Because she knew a single gunshot in the nation's capital was a big deal. But if they got in a jam she knew they'd have better odds with a fully stocked Billy the Kid.

"Kahmunrah's going to be mad once he realizes you've double crossed him."

Billy's smirk widened, "I guess we'll both be on his wanted posters then."

A tiny, very tiny, smile pulled up the corners of her lips. It seemed enough to please Billy, and assure him he wasn't in the dog house.

"Where's your friend?" he asked.

Anna sighed, "I don't know. Hopefully he got away."

"Well we better go find him."