Rating: PG13 prolly eventually
Author: Angel - http://www.geocities.com/ninthsaturn
Summary: The ending of the Scorpion King changed and expanded upon. The O'Connells meet up with some strange people that look very familiar. Almost too familiar.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Mummy or it's characters. But I would give a whole heck of a bunch to own Imhotep and Ardeth. ;-)
*
The morning was approaching slowly and with it came a cool breeze. For that Rick was thankful. He walked alone and ready to meet whatever faced him at center of this oasis. He'd give anything to see Evy and Alex just one more time before having to go against this monster. Of course after that he'd given anything to see them again. There would never be enough of them to satisfy him. They were his everything.
His footsteps alone would keep him company, he'd saw to that, and it was a strangely lonely feeling just now. Now that he was walking towards death. Rick sighed at his own cynicism and maintained to himself that he would succeed, that there was nothing to stop him. He was the good guy, after all. He had to win.
He had feigned sleep for Evy's sake, had laid there with her until he was certain she'd fallen asleep and even an hour after that, then kissed her one last time and headed for his son. They looked so beautiful, innocent and peaceful when they slept. Nothing would tear him away from the pure joy that came from being a part of them if he could stop it, but to keep this world safe for them he would give all. The feeling that phrase gave him was hard to swallow. Of course he didn't want to do this, to give up his life. But there was no alternative as far as he was concerned, if it came to that.
And that was just it. If. God willing, he would go into that pyramid and show that bug just who was going to triumph. He'd already taken enough from Evy by hurting Jonathan and from Ardeth by his loss of the Med-Jai. There was no way in hell Rick was going to let him take anything more.
It occurred to him several times as he trudged through the brush that this perhaps wasn't exactly the wisest thing to be doing. But one thought kept him going, kept him on this perilous task. It had to stop. Not next week, after another bunch of people had been killed, not next year. Now. He was going to keep his family safe if it was the last thing he did. Literally.
The element of surprise was his, that much was going for him. If he could get close enough a few bullets should end this Scorpion King's tirade then and there. O'Connell held his gun firmly, keeping his eyes open for any movement in the forest. Those pygmies could very well be crawling around and he wouldn't know it until it was too late if he weren't careful.
Yet oddly enough, everything was deadly silent. No birds, no footsteps, no patrolling Anubis creatures. He could see the pyramid ahead and even it was left unguarded. That gave him some second thoughts about this whole thing. It was unnatural to leave yourself so open to attack. Rick stopped and waited, listening and watching. Nothing. He turned around, pretending to leave as if it would draw out anyone that was watching him. Still nothing. After a short walk he turned back and sighed, leaning against a tree.
It wasn't as if that muscle bound maniac didn't have reason to be confident. Perhaps he truly felt he didn't need guards. That could either be very stupid or just plain true. Not knowing his enemy kept the truth of which case it was away from Rick. But he had defeated the Scorpion King in the other timeline. Surely he was mortal otherwise Rick couldn't have stopped him. He didn't know but maybe a few words of Egyptian, so that left brute force. Imhotep had certainly been overconfident last time, resulting in his defeat. Hopefully that sort of thing had been common among these ancient types, leaving this Scorpion King foolishly open.
Rick pushed himself from the tree and again headed towards the pyramid. He was going to go through with this, guards or no. Hey, it made his job easier. Drawing his gun, he looked up at the lightening sky and said a silent prayer for Evy and Alex.
*
Ryan had a habit of tapping his fist against the desk while waiting for his computer to load. The young doctor exhaled deeply and muttered, "Come on you stupid machine." He rolled his eyes and looked at the other three, who stood around the desk in his office. Sitting back in his chair, he shook his head at the others. "Gotta love having computer problems right in the middle of a time travel crisis," he said ironically.
His hands together and his expression dramatically serious, Jonathan peered at the CPU on the floor. He had an air about him that suggested an all knowing, wise mind. The Med-Jai knew what was coming. "There's something wrong with the computer. You don't know what it is, but it's there like a splinter in your mind..." his lowered his voice menacingly, "...driving you mad."
Ryan slit his eyes at the Englishman and scowled darkly. "You know, you're really starting to burn me up with those. Knock it off." After the first ten or so, Ardeth noticed the young doctor had had his fill.
Of course Jonathan wouldn't let that pass. With a grin he stepped back, elbowed Izzy and smartly asked, "And what do we burn apart from witches?"
The pilot raised his hands high and exulted, "More witches!"
Before Ryan could make any type of move, Ardeth stepped between them and examined the computer terminal with a little more interest than he might normally. Even still, the doctor shot an icy glance around the Med-Jai to Jonathan and Izzy, who both shared an amused smirk. "Just as I thought," the doctor announced, replacing his attention away from Jonathan's new hobby of quoting movies. He sighed and swirled his chair to face them. "Access denied."
"Well then," Jonathan breathed, flopping down on the burgundy sofa and running fingers through his hair. "We're stuck, aren't we?"
The young doctor considered it and shrugged. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, clearly uncomfortable with this attempted escape. "I don't think you three are restricted to saying in this infirmary. Mathayus didn't tell me to keep you here. I'm sure you can't leave the palace, but maybe we could poke around the halls and see what we can find out. I'll go with you, naturally, to head off any unpleasantness." He stopped and let his chair go forward. "Mmm. First I gotta make a call."
Ardeth moved to sit beside Jonathan as Ryan picked up his phone and dialed. "How do you like this future?" he asked Evy's brother with a quiet smile.
Instantly Carnahan's eyes got brighter. "It's something, that's for sure. I think I'd fancy a nice long stay. Imagine not even having to leave your home to get a look a pretty young bird. I wonder if they have machines that can make women you can talk to and touch. Lots of them." He thought it through, then grinned sheepishly and shrugged. "I mean...you know."
The Med-Jai chuckled at that and shook his head. "I certainly hope not, my friend. That would take the fun out of living, I think, if machines could create false life." He eyed his friend a moment. "Just how many movies did you and Izzy watch?"
Jonathan leaned his head back on his hands and considered it. "Hmmm. Not enough, I can tell you that."
"Heeey," Ryan suddenly said into the receiver of his phone as he swiveled back and forth. "Aaron, it's me. Pick up. Come on, I know you're there. I know that new chip came in, so God knows you wouldn't be anywhere else but - ah. Hey." He stopped twirling and leaned onto his desk. "I was wondering if you could wrench yourself out of that dark little hole you've probably been cooped up in for the past 24 hours and come by the palace." There was a pause and Ryan bit the end of a pen. "No, I just thought you could use a little fun after all that hard work. Come on. I know you want to." He rolled his eyes and pointed to the phone in his hands. "Trust me. It'll be worth the stop by. Seeya in a few hours? Good. Bye." He pressed the off button and laid the phone down. "Ready to go have a look around?"
Sulking at this, Jonathan looked up and sighed. "Wouldn't it be ah...safer if we stayed right here?"
Standing up, the doctor cocked his head and smiled. "Come on, Jonathan. Mathayus has a few very large movie screens on first floor. You haven't seen a movie until you've seen it at the theatre." He looked around the room. "The screen wouldn't even fit in here, that's how big."
Ardeth had to grin when Carnahan stood, suddenly a bit eager to be out the door. He rubbed his hands together and grinned with bright eyes, absently exclaiming, "Oooh! My preciousss."
Immediately Ryan's expression grew frosty as he took a step towards Jonathan, but Ardeth grabbed his shoulder and pulled him out the door. Rick's counterpart huffed and straightened himself out as they exited the infirmary and came into a grand hallway. "I've seen those movies dozens of times. I don't need him quoting in my ear ever five minutes.""
Sighing with great defeat, Jonathan gazed to Ryan with apologetic eyes. Ardeth winced in expectation as the words came from his lips, knowing full well it wasn't going to lessen Ryan's irritation. "You are asking me to be rational. That is something I know I cannot do."
Shaking his head and smiling to himself, Ardeth looked away as Ryan began for Jonathan. Ignoring the little spat going on, he took this opportunity to see what his surroundings were like. It was lavish, much more visually appealing that than small infirmary had been. Every bit as grand as any king could ask. And probably every bit as heavily guarded as beautiful.
But they would make a way to free Michael and escape. Make a way or fight to the death trying.
*
Jonathan wasn't exactly sure what to make of this Aaron fellow really. Sure, he seemed a decent enough chap, but there seemed to be an edge to him. That same edge he'd noticed in Ryan actually. They had left the infirmary and had a bit of a look around - which had been fruitless - and afterwards Jonathan had been pleasantly treated to seeing another movie. Ah, he could really get used to movies. They were beautiful, stunning really, and so realistic. He didn't think he could pick a favorite out of the few he'd seen.
After the movie had ended they opted to return to the infirmary. Ryan was waiting for his friend Aaron and so far they hadn't been contacted. Upon their arrival they had been welcomed to quite loud music and the form of a man shoved beneath Ryan's desk. The first thing this stranger had said once they 'rudely turned off his music' was, "What took you so bloody long?"
Aside from his dashing good looks, though, Jonathan did notice that he shared his fondness for drink. It was like staring at himself in a mirror and once Aaron had wrenched himself from underneath the desk, dusted his hands off and looked up he'd noticed Jonathan right off. Carnahan had gaped at the sight of this man, his futuristic seeming clothing and his hardened eyes, while his counterpart merely shrugged and peeked through glasses into his bottle to make sure he was drinking what he should be and nothing stronger.
Now he sat at Ryan's desk, trying to "break into the system". Apparently in the future Jonathan's spirit would reincarnate into a chopper...or a smacker. Hacker? Jonathan hadn't really caught much about that, but gathered that this man was very versed in the knowledge of computers. Aaron wasn't exactly rude as much as cynical and suspicious. Ryan had told his friend that breaking into the Scorpion King's system could very likely get him dead, an admission that would have warded Jonathan away right then, but all Aaron had answered with was a shrug and an almost apathetic, "Yeah, well, it's not like I've got to be anywhere important."
Jonathan didn't like seeing himself so hard and troubled. What could have done this to him, anyway? Jonathan could admit to himself that he was protective about his life, but he did care and he didn't let things bother him as bad as this. He had a light hearted spirit, didn't he? He thought so, anyway. And this man was supposed to have his spirit? Ryan noticed Jonathan staying a bit away from the group and stepped over. "Hey," he breathed, sitting beside the man from the past. He looked across the room. "He wasn't always like this, you know."
"Hmm-What?" Carnahan stammered, a little surprised that Ryan could read him so well. "What happened?"
The doctor's face was dark and angry as he leaned back and closed his eyes. His tone spoke plainly of his want to hide whatever was going on inside away. "The Scorpion King happened. Jon, I don't know about Mike and Lannah, but whatever happened in the past changed the future and now Aaron and I have two sets of memories." He opened his confused blue eyes and fixed them on Jonathan. "A part of me knows Lannah and Mike, and another part doesn't."
Jonathan sighed and glanced away momentarily. "I take it the new memories aren't all that happy?"
"No," was Ryan's firm reply. His fist tightened. "We were happy in that other life, Jon. We had loved ones and lives we thought were worth living. Then suddenly everything changed and we were slaves of an evil madman. Everyone we'd loved had been killed or turned against us." He leaned forward and played with his fingers. "I know it looks like I've got this great career as a doctor and Aaron's got his freedom, but he hurts us. He hates us for our interference in his past agenda's and every time either of us looks even remotely happy he rips the source away. We have to change the past back. We have to."
Exhaling deeply, Ryan got up and went back to the desk to see how the hack was coming. Jonathan stayed right where he was and watched his future self, thinking about all this. It was all very complex and strange, this time travel idea. He wasn't sure he even wanted to understand it all, given the chance.
Something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Turning his head and peering into a room at the side, he saw Izzy standing just out of sight, stuffing something under a bed. Figuring it fell to him to find out what disastrous thing Izzy was up to, Jonathan got up and headed into the little room. His eyes widened when he saw that the pilot was shoving a small television beneath his infirmary bed. "Shh!" the man hissed, motioning him out of the room.
Jonathan shook his head and went back out and leaned against the wall, waiting for something to happen. It didn't take long. Leaning back in his chair and stretching with a grin, Aaron turned to Ryan and asked, "What was it you wanted to know?"
That brought a big smile to the young doctor's face. He clapped his friend on the shoulder, exclaiming, "Man, you are the king!" He leaned in to view the screen. "Michael was taken by that over glorified bug and we haven't seen him in God knows how long. Can you find out if he's being held and where?"
Some rapid typing and clicking later, the hacker looked up at the party. "The boy's being held right across from Imhotep, if you can believe that. How bloody obvious. I can crack the codes and let him out." He drummed his fingers. "What would you like?"
Ryan and Ardeth exchanged considering glances, as per usual on these little adventures. Some things never changed. The doctor exhaled in thought. "Well, if you think you're up for fighting...?" He left it hanging.
The proud Med-Jai nodded his head, always willing to go beyond the call of duty. "I leave the decision in your hands, my friend. I am able."
"Well, good cause we might have to do just that," the doctor continued, turning his eyes on Aaron again. "Aaron, what I need you to do is send a message down there as Mathayus. I need them to at least give me access to the prison before we start busting heads."
The hacker turned back to his screen, doing things so fast Jonathan didn't have a prayer of understanding. Moments later he sighed - not a good sigh. "I can't. He's got the bloody thing protected good." He shrugged and rubbed his chin. "I mean I could in perhaps a few hours, but that would be way too long. People might start to notice the gaping hole I made in the system."
Ryan bit his lip and looked down. "Try Cassandra. She's under him, but maybe isn't as secured."
Making a few noises that Jonathan interpreted as bad, Aaron furrowed his brow and continued breaking through the system, searching for ways to do what he sought. Finally he pushed his glasses up onto his nose and grinned. "Got it. What should your little message say?"
The doctor had already stepped away and was preparing a syringe on a counter nearby. "Tell 'em I've been given clearance to treat Mike and keep an eye on him. I'm sure they didn't put him down there just to sit. Cassandra is very to the point and doesn't need reasons for what she orders, so you won't have to explain why. Then I want you to give me fifteen minutes to get down there and into the prison. After than, lock the main door and unlock Mike and Immy. I know a little back door that can take us into the grand ballroom. No one'll be there tonight."
Jonathan spoke up as Ryan quieted. "Exactly who all is going on this little adventure?"
Ryan shuffled through his desk drawers and pulled out a gun, handing it to Ardeth. "You, Izzy, Ardeth and me," he replied, moving towards another room. He stopped at the door. "I don't know we'll be able to come back here after we rescue Mike and Imhotep." They heard a curse from the pilot in the other room.
Examining the gun given him, Ardeth ignored Izzy's outburst and asked, "Are there more weapons?"
"None short of stealing and we don't have time." He rolled his eyes ironically and slipped into the medical bay. "They don't exactly trust me with arms." He came back out, holding up some scalpels and scissors. There was a small grin written across his face. "Messy, but helpful, huh?"
The cynical hacker snorted from his chair, swiveling it around a few times. "Sick, Ry. Sick. What do you want me to do after I unlock Mikie and Immy?"
"Izzy, let's go," Ryan called, heading towards the exit. He handed out a few medical instruments as the pilot joined them. Exhaling, he looked at his friend with grave eyes. "After that I suggest you get the hell out of here. Hide. Anywhere. Forever if you can, cause Mathayus isn't going to be happy."
Spinning around and stopping, Aaron raised his eyebrows and tsk'd. "Well, that's just too bad isn't it?" He smiled up at his friend and Jonathan was reminded of Rick. Just what was happening...or did happen to he and Evy? The urgency of the situation hit him for the first time since he woke up. "Good luck."
Jonathan sighed, wondering what was going to happen to his future self. His counterpart looked up and for a moment they exchanged curious glances. Then he grinned and looked back to the doctor. Ryan opened the door and motioned the others out. "You too."
*
Hey guys...thanks
for the reviews!!! :D Hehehe...sorry this is confusing for
some of you...I've tried to make it as plain as I can...I'm a fan of sci-fi,
so I'm used to thinking in temporal terms...lol. Anyhow, hope it
gets more clear for you and thanks for reading! -Angela