Indiana Daniel
by
Layton Colt
Daniel goes on a dig in Egypt as a favor to an old friend and his team members tag along.
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Part Five: Hall of the Two Truths
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"My ship no longer functions," Sakhmet said the words as though they were distasteful. Obviously not a fan of admitting defeat. "You will take me to the Chappa'i."
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Jack said. "You see it's very far away and we can't--"
"Don't lie to her, Jack," Daniel interrupted. "She isn't stupid. I'll take you to the Chappa'i."
Daniel's companions turned to him in disbelief.
Daniel smiled at the Goa'uld. "It really isn't very far at all."
"Daniel what the hell do you think you're doing?" Jack cried.
Daniel shot him a glare, "Maybe you don't want to get out of this situation alive, Jack. But I'd like to, what does it matter if we let her go through the Stargate?"
"Daniel," Sam said quietly. "You can't be serious, I mean how do you expect to even get there?"
"Mira, the temple of Ma'at is only a mile away isn't it?"
Mira nodded hesitantly, unsure of what it was Daniel was planning. "Yes, why?"
Daniel smiled, "Because that's where the Stargate has been hidden,"
"What's the Stargate?" James asked as Jack, Sam and Teal'c wondered what Daniel was thinking and what this temple of Ma'at was.
"Enough," Sakhmet. "You," she said pointing to Daniel, "Will take me to the Chappa'i. The rest of you will die,"
Sakhmet raised her ribbon device but Daniel stepped in front of her, "No, you allow them to live or I won't take you where you want to go."
Cold eyes leveled in his direction, "If I leave them here how can I be sure you *will* take me where I want to go?"
"Because frankly I'd like to get you off my planet as quickly as possible,"
Sakhmet's gaze didn't waver from the young man as she studied him, he wasn't a warrior like the three standing behind him and she guessed he wasn't quite as aggressive as the two glowering at her from behind the three warriors.
But of all of them it was he whom she feared. There was an intelligence in his eyes that promised justice. Judgment.
"You will take me, and I will bring this one as insurance," Sakhmet grabbed Mira by her long brown hair and pulled her to her. "The others may live and remain."
Daniel nodded, he knew he wouldn't be able to talk Sakhmet into leaving Mira as well so he decided this was the best he could hope for, for now.
"Deal," he said assuredly.
"No!" Jack yelled, getting frustrated at having matters taken out from his hands. "No deal, you want a hostage then you can take me."
Sakhmet turned smiling eyes in O'Neill's direction, "For a warrior that isn't a very sound tactical request. I get the feeling that this one will cause less trouble than you would."
Mira, who was in the process of trying to disentangle her hair from Sakhmet's grasp growled. "We'll see about that," she muttered.
Sakhmet opened the door and tossed Mira through, motioning that Daniel should precede her through as well.
Daniel looked back to his friends who were watching him with varying expressions, anger, concern, acceptance, and uncertainty.
"Sorry," he whispered as he walked from the room.
"Daniel, don't--" Jack's protests were cut off as Sakhmet exited as well and sealed the door, locking it's four occupants inside.
"You can't just lock them in there!" Daniel cried.
"I can do whatever I wish," Sakhmet said coldly. "They will find another way out, I am simply assuring that we will be gone before they succeed."
Daniel sighed, hoping he was doing the right thing, and praying he was right about his theories. He'd read some of the hieroglyphs adorning the walls, and what he'd seen had fascinated him.
And given him a way out of this mess. But looking at Mira he began to have doubts. The plan had been to get Sakhmet away from his friends so they would be safe. So if he were wrong he would be the only one hurt.
But now Mira's life hung in the balance.
And if Ma'at wasn't who he thought she was, and her temple didn't have what he thought it did…
"You will lead," Sakhmet ordered prodding both Mira and Daniel in front of her.
Daniel sighed and began to make his way out of the pyramid.
Mira gave Daniel a sideways glance, "So what is this Stargate? And why is it in the temple of Ma'at? Ma'at was the goddess of truth and justice."
"Yes,"
"Well, Sakhmet is pretty much the opposite, why would she want anything of Ma'at's?"
"The Stargate doesn't belong to Ma'at."
"Then who does it belong to?"
Daniel shrugged, "I don't know who built it,"
"But you do know what it is?"
"Silence!" Sakhmet ordered.
Mira lowered her voice but wasn't quite intimidated enough to stop talking all together, "What is it, Daniel? Don't you think I've got a right to know?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can tell you. I'm sorry, but there are some secrets that are best kept."
Mira glared at him, "So I'm just being led to slaughter, you've got no plan, do you?"
Daniel narrowed his eyes, "Nope, you've got me. No plan, I'm just giving Sakhmet what she wants," Mira didn't notice how he clenched his hands to keep them from running through his hair.
"That's not like you," Mira said, unwilling to believe that Daniel would allow this creature to go free even for the sake of his friends.
"I do a lot of things that aren't like me nowadays," Daniel said quietly.
Mira looked behind her and saw Niven in the distance, she nudged Daniel but he quickly shook his head. He didn't want to involve any more people and Sakhmet would have no reason to keep Niven alive.
With a sigh Mira continued to lead the way to the temple of Ma'at.
"I do not sense the Chappa'i," Sakhmet said.
"It's in a protective field, built by my people," Daniel lied.
Sakhmet's eyes narrowed but she seemed to accept the answer.
"Have you been in the temple of Ma'at yet?" Daniel asked Mira.
She shook her head, "No, we were planning on exploring it after we finished with this one,"
Nodding Daniel stared ahead into the sands, the sun was halfway past the horizon and had turned a dull orange. He hoped that Jack was able to escape from the temple before dark and get Niven to take them back to the camp.
"How much further?" Daniel asked.
Mira pointed in front of them and Daniel looked up, the pyramid was slightly smaller than the other and the stones seemed newer. He guessed it would take about another twenty minutes to reach it.
More than enough time to perfect his plan.
If you could call what he had in mind a plan…
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Jack pounded his fist against the wall in frustration.
It looked like he'd be having that martyrism lecture with Daniel again.
Carter winced sympathetically, "I'm sure Daniel has a plan, sir," she said quietly.
"Right, unfortunately Daniel's plans usually involve him almost getting himself killed."
"O'Neill," Teal'c said. "We must leave this place and reach Daniel Jackson."
"Damn right we do," a recently familiar voice snapped. "We have to get to them before that goddess realizes Daniel has no intentions of giving her what she wants. Daniel ran a good bluff, I almost believed the act but he can't keep it up forever," James said solemnly.
O'Neill turned to James, "Well, you're the grave robber can you find us a way out of here?"
James pointed to a spot over O'Neill's left shoulder and Jack turned around. Across the room was a the narrow staircase that James had come down earlier.
"Right," Jack said as he spotted and picked Daniel's gun off the floor. "Let's go."
The staircase led them back to the old bedroom. "This is where Sakhmet brought us earlier with those rings."
O'Neill nodded, "Carter, do you think you'll be able to reactivate the rings?"
Carter shrugged, "I can try, there should be some control switch somewhere, they usually have them on the ribbon devices like one Sakhmet's but there might be a stable one around here somewhere."
O'Neill, Carter and Teal'c began to search the walls as James walked to the middle of the room. Seeing a familiar blue jewel he reached out to touch it.
O'Neill turned around just in time to see his fingers caress the diamond. Cursing archeologists everywhere for being so impulsive he called out to Teal'c and Carter.
They could hear the hum of the rings warming up and reached James just in time to be caught inside the rings as they collapsed to the ground.
When they appeared back in the mass tomb O'Neill shot James a glare and James returned it with a cheeky grin, "Floor One, ladies wear and lingerie."
"Come on, kids," Jack said ignoring James unsuccessful attempt to lighten the mood. "We should be able to find our way out of here now. James, can you take us to this temple of Mat?"
James nodded, "Ma'at, and yes but it will take a while to reach it on foot."
Jack nodded, "Alright, I'd like to get a report in to Hammond but I don't think we have time to get back to camp and I don't think we should split up."
"I can send Nivan back to the camp for help," James offered.
Jack nodded his approval, "Good idea, I'll tell you what to say though… I don't want you to lead him to believe we've run into some dead goddess."
"But haven't we?" James interjected.
"No," Jack said firmly. "Not even close."
"What then?" James snapped irritably. "Is it some alien? God, all this time and Daniel's been right! There is no way that that technology belonged to the ancient Egyptians! So why don't you just tell me what the hell that was!"
Jack looked at him with real regret, "I can't, and you're better off not knowing anyway."
James remained quiet as he led the way out of the temple. He hoped that Daniel knew what he was doing and he and Mira were unharmed.
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"Well?" Daniel prompted. "We're here,"
Sakhmet was staring at the temple with wide eyes, "Ma'at was one of my great enemies," she said as she made no move to enter.
"I'm sure she's dead by now," Daniel said as he started for the entrance.
"She is," Sakhmet nodded, "I'm the one who killed her."
Daniel grimaced, "Then why are you afraid to enter?"
"I fear nothing!" Sakhmet growled grabbing Mira's arm and propelling her into the temple.
Daniel took the hint and helped steady and lead Mira into the temple. Sakhmet followed them in and as she crossed the threshold the entire pyramid began to shake.
Daniel threw Mira to the ground and shielded her from the falling rocks.
Sakhmet let out a cry of out rage as cold metal walls slammed down around them, sealing them in.
A woman flickered to existence in the center of the hall and the shaking began to calm. "Welcome to my temple," the hologram said.
It reminded Daniel of the hologram of Thor Jack had described to him. Maybe Ma'at had been and Asgard.
"You have come here despite my warnings to stay away and now you're fate is sealed. Only the pure and the judged may exit here. You may stay until you are ready to face judgment in the Hall of Two Truths."
As the hologram disappeared Sakhmet wasted no time in redirecting her attention to Daniel who was being pushed away by a haughty Mira.
"You did this! You knew what was here, there is no Chappa'i! This time you shall pay true and dearly for your deceit."
"Hey," Daniel said as he stood. "You were the one who said trusting me would be your undoing, is it my fault you didn't take your own advice?"
"I can bare no fault, so yes, you *are* the one to blame. I am above reproach."
"Really," Mira drawled as she stepped forward, seemingly every bit as fearless as Jack had been earlier, and he was use to this. "You want to put that theory to the test? Because I have a few things I'd like to say about what I think of you…"
Daniel grabbed her arm to stop her forward progress. "You're trapped now, do what you want with us but you can't escape."
Sakhmet's gaze traveled to the only exit in the room, the narrow hallway with an inscription engraved across the top. "Dai truva me soventra."
"The Hall of Two Truths," Daniel translated. "Are you prepared to weigh your worth?"
Sakhmet eyed the innocent passageway with suspicion. "I have killed Ma'at," she repeated. "Her tricks are most likely inactive now."
"So test it," Mira challenged.
Sakhmet turned cold eyes on her two slaves. Her two *expendable* slaves. "No, I will not, but you will." Sakmet motioned to Daniel. "You slave will weigh your worth, if you may pass judgment then I know there will be no worry for me."
Daniel stared at the imposing entrance. Remembering Thor's hammer and how it only harmed those with parasites he took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Daniel!" Mira called as he stepped forward, scared of what this Hall of Two Truths might entail.
Daniel made it to the other side unharmed. Sakhmet smiled evil. "A slave would never be judged worthy. It is as I said, these tricks no longer work."
Sakhmet pushed Mira through to Daniel and the young woman muttered, "She does that just one more time…"
"Now that you've used up your worth slave," Sakhmet sneered at Daniel. "I can inflict your punishment at last.
Daniel grabbed Mira's hand and subtly pulled her back as Sakhmet approached.
He braced himself as the goddess reached the entry. A flash of orange lit the hallway and Mira gasped and stepped further back.
Sakhmet was caught in the energy field, obviously in pain. Daniel had no pity for the god but he couldn't help but feel for the host.
With a final crackle the metal barriers lifted and the limp body of Sakhmet fell to the floor. Daniel rushed to her side with Mira calling after him not to get close to her.
Daniel knelt beside the woman and felt for a pulse. "She's alive," he said with relief.
Mira eyed him dubiously, "And this is a good thing?"
Daniel nodded. He didn't quite know how to explain that Sakhmet was dead, and it was someone else entirely he was kneeling beside.
A host that had been lost to themselves for centuries upon centuries.
Daniel sighed. One problem solved. Two more coming into play.
Working out exactly what to say to Mira and James about all they'd seen and taking care of a recently imprisoned refugee from ancient Egypt.
Routine, indeed…
To be continued… I know I said that this *might* be the last part but there was just no way I could tie up all the loose ends in only one part. But the next and last part is the epilogue, finally!
by
Layton Colt
Daniel goes on a dig in Egypt as a favor to an old friend and his team members tag along.
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Part Five: Hall of the Two Truths
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"My ship no longer functions," Sakhmet said the words as though they were distasteful. Obviously not a fan of admitting defeat. "You will take me to the Chappa'i."
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Jack said. "You see it's very far away and we can't--"
"Don't lie to her, Jack," Daniel interrupted. "She isn't stupid. I'll take you to the Chappa'i."
Daniel's companions turned to him in disbelief.
Daniel smiled at the Goa'uld. "It really isn't very far at all."
"Daniel what the hell do you think you're doing?" Jack cried.
Daniel shot him a glare, "Maybe you don't want to get out of this situation alive, Jack. But I'd like to, what does it matter if we let her go through the Stargate?"
"Daniel," Sam said quietly. "You can't be serious, I mean how do you expect to even get there?"
"Mira, the temple of Ma'at is only a mile away isn't it?"
Mira nodded hesitantly, unsure of what it was Daniel was planning. "Yes, why?"
Daniel smiled, "Because that's where the Stargate has been hidden,"
"What's the Stargate?" James asked as Jack, Sam and Teal'c wondered what Daniel was thinking and what this temple of Ma'at was.
"Enough," Sakhmet. "You," she said pointing to Daniel, "Will take me to the Chappa'i. The rest of you will die,"
Sakhmet raised her ribbon device but Daniel stepped in front of her, "No, you allow them to live or I won't take you where you want to go."
Cold eyes leveled in his direction, "If I leave them here how can I be sure you *will* take me where I want to go?"
"Because frankly I'd like to get you off my planet as quickly as possible,"
Sakhmet's gaze didn't waver from the young man as she studied him, he wasn't a warrior like the three standing behind him and she guessed he wasn't quite as aggressive as the two glowering at her from behind the three warriors.
But of all of them it was he whom she feared. There was an intelligence in his eyes that promised justice. Judgment.
"You will take me, and I will bring this one as insurance," Sakhmet grabbed Mira by her long brown hair and pulled her to her. "The others may live and remain."
Daniel nodded, he knew he wouldn't be able to talk Sakhmet into leaving Mira as well so he decided this was the best he could hope for, for now.
"Deal," he said assuredly.
"No!" Jack yelled, getting frustrated at having matters taken out from his hands. "No deal, you want a hostage then you can take me."
Sakhmet turned smiling eyes in O'Neill's direction, "For a warrior that isn't a very sound tactical request. I get the feeling that this one will cause less trouble than you would."
Mira, who was in the process of trying to disentangle her hair from Sakhmet's grasp growled. "We'll see about that," she muttered.
Sakhmet opened the door and tossed Mira through, motioning that Daniel should precede her through as well.
Daniel looked back to his friends who were watching him with varying expressions, anger, concern, acceptance, and uncertainty.
"Sorry," he whispered as he walked from the room.
"Daniel, don't--" Jack's protests were cut off as Sakhmet exited as well and sealed the door, locking it's four occupants inside.
"You can't just lock them in there!" Daniel cried.
"I can do whatever I wish," Sakhmet said coldly. "They will find another way out, I am simply assuring that we will be gone before they succeed."
Daniel sighed, hoping he was doing the right thing, and praying he was right about his theories. He'd read some of the hieroglyphs adorning the walls, and what he'd seen had fascinated him.
And given him a way out of this mess. But looking at Mira he began to have doubts. The plan had been to get Sakhmet away from his friends so they would be safe. So if he were wrong he would be the only one hurt.
But now Mira's life hung in the balance.
And if Ma'at wasn't who he thought she was, and her temple didn't have what he thought it did…
"You will lead," Sakhmet ordered prodding both Mira and Daniel in front of her.
Daniel sighed and began to make his way out of the pyramid.
Mira gave Daniel a sideways glance, "So what is this Stargate? And why is it in the temple of Ma'at? Ma'at was the goddess of truth and justice."
"Yes,"
"Well, Sakhmet is pretty much the opposite, why would she want anything of Ma'at's?"
"The Stargate doesn't belong to Ma'at."
"Then who does it belong to?"
Daniel shrugged, "I don't know who built it,"
"But you do know what it is?"
"Silence!" Sakhmet ordered.
Mira lowered her voice but wasn't quite intimidated enough to stop talking all together, "What is it, Daniel? Don't you think I've got a right to know?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can tell you. I'm sorry, but there are some secrets that are best kept."
Mira glared at him, "So I'm just being led to slaughter, you've got no plan, do you?"
Daniel narrowed his eyes, "Nope, you've got me. No plan, I'm just giving Sakhmet what she wants," Mira didn't notice how he clenched his hands to keep them from running through his hair.
"That's not like you," Mira said, unwilling to believe that Daniel would allow this creature to go free even for the sake of his friends.
"I do a lot of things that aren't like me nowadays," Daniel said quietly.
Mira looked behind her and saw Niven in the distance, she nudged Daniel but he quickly shook his head. He didn't want to involve any more people and Sakhmet would have no reason to keep Niven alive.
With a sigh Mira continued to lead the way to the temple of Ma'at.
"I do not sense the Chappa'i," Sakhmet said.
"It's in a protective field, built by my people," Daniel lied.
Sakhmet's eyes narrowed but she seemed to accept the answer.
"Have you been in the temple of Ma'at yet?" Daniel asked Mira.
She shook her head, "No, we were planning on exploring it after we finished with this one,"
Nodding Daniel stared ahead into the sands, the sun was halfway past the horizon and had turned a dull orange. He hoped that Jack was able to escape from the temple before dark and get Niven to take them back to the camp.
"How much further?" Daniel asked.
Mira pointed in front of them and Daniel looked up, the pyramid was slightly smaller than the other and the stones seemed newer. He guessed it would take about another twenty minutes to reach it.
More than enough time to perfect his plan.
If you could call what he had in mind a plan…
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Jack pounded his fist against the wall in frustration.
It looked like he'd be having that martyrism lecture with Daniel again.
Carter winced sympathetically, "I'm sure Daniel has a plan, sir," she said quietly.
"Right, unfortunately Daniel's plans usually involve him almost getting himself killed."
"O'Neill," Teal'c said. "We must leave this place and reach Daniel Jackson."
"Damn right we do," a recently familiar voice snapped. "We have to get to them before that goddess realizes Daniel has no intentions of giving her what she wants. Daniel ran a good bluff, I almost believed the act but he can't keep it up forever," James said solemnly.
O'Neill turned to James, "Well, you're the grave robber can you find us a way out of here?"
James pointed to a spot over O'Neill's left shoulder and Jack turned around. Across the room was a the narrow staircase that James had come down earlier.
"Right," Jack said as he spotted and picked Daniel's gun off the floor. "Let's go."
The staircase led them back to the old bedroom. "This is where Sakhmet brought us earlier with those rings."
O'Neill nodded, "Carter, do you think you'll be able to reactivate the rings?"
Carter shrugged, "I can try, there should be some control switch somewhere, they usually have them on the ribbon devices like one Sakhmet's but there might be a stable one around here somewhere."
O'Neill, Carter and Teal'c began to search the walls as James walked to the middle of the room. Seeing a familiar blue jewel he reached out to touch it.
O'Neill turned around just in time to see his fingers caress the diamond. Cursing archeologists everywhere for being so impulsive he called out to Teal'c and Carter.
They could hear the hum of the rings warming up and reached James just in time to be caught inside the rings as they collapsed to the ground.
When they appeared back in the mass tomb O'Neill shot James a glare and James returned it with a cheeky grin, "Floor One, ladies wear and lingerie."
"Come on, kids," Jack said ignoring James unsuccessful attempt to lighten the mood. "We should be able to find our way out of here now. James, can you take us to this temple of Mat?"
James nodded, "Ma'at, and yes but it will take a while to reach it on foot."
Jack nodded, "Alright, I'd like to get a report in to Hammond but I don't think we have time to get back to camp and I don't think we should split up."
"I can send Nivan back to the camp for help," James offered.
Jack nodded his approval, "Good idea, I'll tell you what to say though… I don't want you to lead him to believe we've run into some dead goddess."
"But haven't we?" James interjected.
"No," Jack said firmly. "Not even close."
"What then?" James snapped irritably. "Is it some alien? God, all this time and Daniel's been right! There is no way that that technology belonged to the ancient Egyptians! So why don't you just tell me what the hell that was!"
Jack looked at him with real regret, "I can't, and you're better off not knowing anyway."
James remained quiet as he led the way out of the temple. He hoped that Daniel knew what he was doing and he and Mira were unharmed.
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"Well?" Daniel prompted. "We're here,"
Sakhmet was staring at the temple with wide eyes, "Ma'at was one of my great enemies," she said as she made no move to enter.
"I'm sure she's dead by now," Daniel said as he started for the entrance.
"She is," Sakhmet nodded, "I'm the one who killed her."
Daniel grimaced, "Then why are you afraid to enter?"
"I fear nothing!" Sakhmet growled grabbing Mira's arm and propelling her into the temple.
Daniel took the hint and helped steady and lead Mira into the temple. Sakhmet followed them in and as she crossed the threshold the entire pyramid began to shake.
Daniel threw Mira to the ground and shielded her from the falling rocks.
Sakhmet let out a cry of out rage as cold metal walls slammed down around them, sealing them in.
A woman flickered to existence in the center of the hall and the shaking began to calm. "Welcome to my temple," the hologram said.
It reminded Daniel of the hologram of Thor Jack had described to him. Maybe Ma'at had been and Asgard.
"You have come here despite my warnings to stay away and now you're fate is sealed. Only the pure and the judged may exit here. You may stay until you are ready to face judgment in the Hall of Two Truths."
As the hologram disappeared Sakhmet wasted no time in redirecting her attention to Daniel who was being pushed away by a haughty Mira.
"You did this! You knew what was here, there is no Chappa'i! This time you shall pay true and dearly for your deceit."
"Hey," Daniel said as he stood. "You were the one who said trusting me would be your undoing, is it my fault you didn't take your own advice?"
"I can bare no fault, so yes, you *are* the one to blame. I am above reproach."
"Really," Mira drawled as she stepped forward, seemingly every bit as fearless as Jack had been earlier, and he was use to this. "You want to put that theory to the test? Because I have a few things I'd like to say about what I think of you…"
Daniel grabbed her arm to stop her forward progress. "You're trapped now, do what you want with us but you can't escape."
Sakhmet's gaze traveled to the only exit in the room, the narrow hallway with an inscription engraved across the top. "Dai truva me soventra."
"The Hall of Two Truths," Daniel translated. "Are you prepared to weigh your worth?"
Sakhmet eyed the innocent passageway with suspicion. "I have killed Ma'at," she repeated. "Her tricks are most likely inactive now."
"So test it," Mira challenged.
Sakhmet turned cold eyes on her two slaves. Her two *expendable* slaves. "No, I will not, but you will." Sakmet motioned to Daniel. "You slave will weigh your worth, if you may pass judgment then I know there will be no worry for me."
Daniel stared at the imposing entrance. Remembering Thor's hammer and how it only harmed those with parasites he took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Daniel!" Mira called as he stepped forward, scared of what this Hall of Two Truths might entail.
Daniel made it to the other side unharmed. Sakhmet smiled evil. "A slave would never be judged worthy. It is as I said, these tricks no longer work."
Sakhmet pushed Mira through to Daniel and the young woman muttered, "She does that just one more time…"
"Now that you've used up your worth slave," Sakhmet sneered at Daniel. "I can inflict your punishment at last.
Daniel grabbed Mira's hand and subtly pulled her back as Sakhmet approached.
He braced himself as the goddess reached the entry. A flash of orange lit the hallway and Mira gasped and stepped further back.
Sakhmet was caught in the energy field, obviously in pain. Daniel had no pity for the god but he couldn't help but feel for the host.
With a final crackle the metal barriers lifted and the limp body of Sakhmet fell to the floor. Daniel rushed to her side with Mira calling after him not to get close to her.
Daniel knelt beside the woman and felt for a pulse. "She's alive," he said with relief.
Mira eyed him dubiously, "And this is a good thing?"
Daniel nodded. He didn't quite know how to explain that Sakhmet was dead, and it was someone else entirely he was kneeling beside.
A host that had been lost to themselves for centuries upon centuries.
Daniel sighed. One problem solved. Two more coming into play.
Working out exactly what to say to Mira and James about all they'd seen and taking care of a recently imprisoned refugee from ancient Egypt.
Routine, indeed…
To be continued… I know I said that this *might* be the last part but there was just no way I could tie up all the loose ends in only one part. But the next and last part is the epilogue, finally!