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. ;-)
*
Rick coughed and hovered on his knees, not sure anymore of where he was, what time it was or who was holding him. Pain had a way of doing that to someone, making it impossible to think about anything much else. He coughed again and groaned. They had him bound, a rope holding his arms behind him that was attached to a tall wooden post. Another rope wound it's way around his neck, keeping him unable to go any lower than slumping forward on his knees. His clothes were torn and bloody.
He'd fought the Scorpion King bravely, if he did say so himself. He hadn't done all that bad, either, considering that this bug king was immortal. But in the end his solitude and mortality gave way and as reward for his bravery he'd been beaten and chained. Right now two steely brown eyes were regarding him coldly. Suddenly a laugh penetrated the quiet. He forced himself to look up. The Scorpion King bent down and looked into his eyes, saying, "You speak English, right? What on earth possessed you to wander in here alone?"
Rick yanked at his bonds and glared. "I had this notion of making you pay for butchering my friend's people, you coward!" The venom of seeing all those dead innocents still made his blood run hot.
The Scorpion King straightened and laughed, pacing a little in front of his prisoner. This man wasn't like Imhotep, Rick could see. Oh, sure the priest was bad and scary, but this man carried a slightly more dangerous air about him. Imhotep had been a shallow man, shallow in his goodness and even shallow in his evils if one could believe that. This man's twisted heart ran a little deeper. Suddenly a commotion brought them both from their thoughts and Mathayus looked towards the door. Someone was yelling.
Rick also looked, wondering what could have stirred the creatures, praying it wasn't what he suspected. And at first it wasn't. An Anubis creature burst through the door with Imhotep - the one from the future - and shoved the priest of Osiris down. The Scorpion King laughed and moved to stand before him, kicking his side viciously.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Rick was thankful that it wasn't his wife that had been dragged in. Perhaps she'd escaped. But his hopes were dashed when the door creaked open again. At once his heart panged and his adrenaline raced as two women were pushed through. Two women who had the same face. "Oh, God, Evy," he breathed, unable to conceal the hopelessness from his eyes.
Her own dark eyes mirrored that as she and Alannah were brought before the King. "I'm so sorry, Rick," she told him sadly.
"Silence!" the King barked, raising one had grandly. Rick grunted and would have spit on the man if he'd been close enough. For the moment his attention focussed on Alannah, leaving Evy free from any physical abuse. Mathayus smirked cruelly and drew his hand back, sending it into the blue haired woman's cheek. She crashed to the floor with a cry and Imhotep was on his feet. Rick could empathize. Quite suddenly he remembered to wonder where his son and the other priest was.
Two jackals yanked Imhotep down to the floor again, forcing him to kneel before his king. Their king. Mathayus rubbed at his cheek, then folded his arms and looked at his four prisoners. "Quite interesting," he remarked, pacing again. He always paced and it drove Rick nuts for some unseen reason. "You all knew what you would face if you came here, yet like blind children you still ventured into my little demesne as if you could put a stop to my evil ways." He clicked his tongue and waved a condescending finger. "You really should have known better."
Alannah opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced by another slap. Mathayus took on an imploring tone as he said, "Please don't waste time by begging, talking or threatening. You've blundered by coming and that's that. Now face the consequences." He walked a circle around the women, his face thoughtful and neutral. "Two lifetimes have pit me against you people. Two lifetimes of the same foes. You must be something special to the universe, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. I wonder..." he trailed off and looked at each of them in turn. "Will you again come against me in the future?"
He sniffed and rubbed his hands together. "Which of you should I kill first?"
*
Aaron, hacker and genius, took a deep breath and wrung his hands. Beside him Ryan chuckled, watching the intent work going on. "Can't get that little panel to sit pretty? You, can't get in?"
The hacker frowned at his friend and smiled smartly, laying a hand on the doctor's shoulder and giving a tart little shove. "I can't work with you all breathing down my bloody neck is all. Let me think, okay?" He peeked back inside the panel and exhaled. "Besides, are you looking forward to going in there and dying?"
Ardeth looked around the hallways, conscious that the guards wouldn't be away forever. "Not looking forward to that," he agreed, keeping his keen eyes on the lookout, "but we must hurry before our enemies too greatly outnumber us."
Aaron grunted at that, yanking his hand back as sparks flew. "Yes, well, they already do my friend. I'm quite certain of it. Anyway, I'm almost through so keep your robe on."
They waited in silence, each not only keeping watch with their eyes but also their ears. There wasn't any indication that they would be joined any time soon, but Ardeth still felt uneasy. This time was a novelty to be sure, but he was quite looking forward to getting home and putting this behind him. He hadn't slept well since he'd gone to England to investigate Meela's people and was looking forward to life becoming a bit more simple. He loved Rick, Evy and the others like family, but he missed his own people.
Ardeth wondered idly what was going on - or rather what had went on. All he knew was that Rick had failed somehow, resulting in the Scorpion King taking over the world. Apart from it's stunning movies, strange music and convenient inventions, this place was a frightening reality. A place where Mathayus ruled with an iron fist and murdered anyone that got in his way. His eyes met the priest's and he decided to get a little more information. "How did Rick fail?"
Imhotep inhaled and his eyes held a shade of painful remembrance. Even the bright lighting of this hallway couldn't shake the shadows in his eyes as he spoke. "I don't know exactly how he failed, Med-Jai, only that he fought the king from the future and was beaten. Take care what point in the past you enter or you may be too late to stop this future from happening."
The Med-Jai moved his eyes to Michael, wondering if such a thing was controllable. His counterpart shrugged and shook his head, betraying that he did not know. Ardeth could only pray for the sake of his friends that it were so. He couldn't imagine returning to the past too late, with Rick and Evelyn dead. It was unthinkable to him, yet he feared it. He swallowed and watched the hacker at his work. It wasn't really logical, but he felt an urgency to return to the past - not because of some danger here, but to return and make sure everyone was all right back then. His mind still lived in the past, still thought of that as the present.
Time travel wasn't something he really cared for, he decided.
Suddenly the grand doors before them clicked. Aaron looked up from his diligent work and grinned. "There we go. Death's awaiting. Shall we?"
The doctor shrugged and rubbed his neck a little nervously, but seemed poised and ready to do what he must. "No time like the present," he replied dryly. "Or the past, or whatever."
Smirking, Jonathan clapped the doctor on the shoulder and said, "A bit confusing, this big reality game? Just remember, my good man - there is no spoon."
Ryan rolled his eyes and smiled. "Yeah, yeah. We're bending. Not reality. You know that could be completely false in this situation, right?"
Rubbing his hands together and giving the door a meaningful and wary glance, Carnahan shrugged. "Why waste a good line?"
The doctor grinned at Ardeth and Michael. "Why do I get the feeling that when time gets back to normal these stories are gonna have a different author?"
At this little revelation Izzy's eyes brightened considerably. Money signs could be seen in his very eyes if one looked hard enough. "Oooh! I hadn't thought of that! Jonny, forget the TV we were gonna lift. Whattaya say we get into show biz? You and me, writing partners?"
"That doesn't sound half bad," Jonathan agreed, thinking it over. He bit his lip and smiled innocently at Michael's little unamused glance. "It's not like we'd be making a major impact on the timeline!"
The psychologist exhaled defeatedly. "All I ask is that you use your knowledge of the future wisely."
"What's the fun in that?" Izzy snorted.
Near the door Aaron frowned at the banter behind him, speaking as freely as children. Ardeth smiled as the hacker turned on them and wrung his hands, then pushed his glasses higher onto his nose. "Look, you people, are we gonna do this or are you gonna stand here chat all night? There are jackals on the prowl, in case you've forgotten. Shall I open the door?"
Ryan laughed at his friend and nodded. "We're all ready...I assume?" His blue eyes looked around the group for any sign that they weren't. There was none. He nodded.
"Right," Aaron breathed, for the final time placing his hands inside the panel and doing whatever it was hackers did. There was a spark and a curse from Aaron, then the doors to the throne room opened ominously.
Darkness poured from the opening, the only illumination coming from a few displays on either side of the massive room, and the display in the center. Ardeth could see what stood before them, a long path into a huge room. The scroll for the time travel spell waited for them. He exchanged glances with his companions and took a step into the room.
Something stirred in the depths of the room and they paused, each in turn listening and waiting for the attack. It didn't come. Ardeth and Michael listened to the echoing silence for any sign of ambush. The psychologist shook his head when they heard nothing. Aaron glanced around and shrugged. "Well, if there's a trap someone's gonna have to set it off, chaps. Be right back."
Before Ryan could grab his arm and stop him, the hacker was in the throne room. He walked straight towards the scroll - and unfortunately through now singing laser alarms - looking to either side of him. "Freaking nut," Ryan mumbled, looking for a light switch on the wall and the others threw caution to the wind and entered.
Ardeth and his counterpart started for the scroll case. The sooner they got this over with, the more likely they were to survive. Imhotep followed while Ryan and Jonathan had a look around.
The jackals of Anubis weren't in immediate plain sight, but Ardeth could hear footsteps in the remaining shadows near the walls. The main entrance to the throne room abruptly closed.
*
Evy worked frantically at her bonds, mostly because if she just gave up and sat here the screams of her husband threatened to drown her sanity in pain and worry. She felt sick when she glanced up and watched the accursed Scorpion King kick Rick in the stomach, sending him again to the floor. His arms were still tied behind his back and he was being forced to fight. As if he had any chance.
Her begging hadn't phased the cruel king and neither had insults. He merely laughed them off and continued tormenting her husband. Now the tears ran freely down her cheeks as she listened for a moment to his breathing. It was labored and halting. He wouldn't last very long if this kept up.
If there was any time for Ardeth and the others to return, now was it. Things seemed to be falling apart all around them. She thought about Alex and Jonathan, about how she might never see either of them again. Evy pulled at the ties around her wrists again. Ahead of she, Imhotep and Alannah, Rick groaned and hit the floor. His blue eyes met her momentarily, still trying to convey his love and hope. He didn't want her to give up.
But giving up is exactly what she felt like doing. She kept waiting for that "any moment the others would save them" to happen, but it didn't. The minutes passed away rapidly, each shouting louder than the last that they were on their own. To die.
Alannah was laying against Imhotep, both watching the horrible fight as Mathayus dragged Rick to his feet only to hit him down again. "You killed me once and sent me to Hell," the King hissed, pacing around Rick to gloat. "How does Hell feel to you?"
Mustering any amount of strength he had left, Rick O'Connell drew himself off the floor and glared at his enemy. He cursed and was punished. Evy closed her eyes, trying to wake up from the nightmare. It didn't stop the sounds she was hearing, the pain Rick was going through. She prayed that something would put a stop to this, that perhaps this man would have mercy.
And for the moment a distraction was provided. Two Anubis creatures began towards their King bearing a prisoner in their hands. Imhotep. The younger Imhotep who'd been trusted to watch over Alex. Evy looked around for any sign of her son. It seemed that the Scorpion King noticed his absence as well. "Where's the boy?"
It's voice scratchy and unpleasant, one of the creatures rasped, "He's escaped us. The priest hid him and we cannot find him."
Mathayus glared at the beast for it's boldness to report something bad to him, but took no action. Inside Evy's heart was singing. Her son had escaped. Imhotep had hidden him away that he might get out of here and have a life. She shared a glance with the mummy and he nodded his assurance. Rick gazed at the priest in open astonishment that he'd do something like this for his son after all they'd been through against each other.
Finally the Scorpion King sighed, commanding, "Find him." He kicked Rick and looked down on him. "Now the question is this. How would using the boy torment you more? Shall I kill him or keep him as my own?"
Rick didn't bring himself up from the floor, but Evy could see the expression on his face. He was worried for Alex. Her heart broke for him that he'd have to face that fear for his child - because she knew that fear too well, and for Alex that he was the subject of this man's attention.
"He'll never be yours," Rick managed, bringing himself up to glare in one last show of defiance. "You'll never have him, not his heart. He's like me and Evy. Stronger and smarter than you."
The Scorpion King regarded the American before him, his dark eyes revealing nothing. He nodded slowly and looked to one of his creatures. "Kill him."
*
The fighting began almost immediately after the door closed with a boom. From seemingly nowhere jackals sprang forward, their weapons drawn. They held swords for the most part, but some few of them were armed with guns Ardeth saw. He swallowed and held his borrowed sword ready, seeing his counterpart in a mirrored position.
As first wave of five creatures began towards them while two others sniped from unseen places in the shadows. Ardeth moved as the loud crack of a shot rang out, initiating the fight. He attacked an approaching creature, noticing that Michael watched from nearby while holding off an attack of his own. He tried to mimic Ardeth's movements.
Ryan looked around the large room for the creatures that were shooting, his gun held forward to claim the life of any one of them he found. "Imhotep," he shouted, ducking the scimitar of a jackal and moving fast on his feet. "Get the scroll!"
The priest had already taken the initiative and was well on his way towards the large case. An Anubis creature jumped at him before he could break the case, knocking him down to the floor with a snarl.
Jonathan blinked and jumped back from an attacking, unarmed and looking for escape. It was Izzy that pulled him away and drew him to the side where they would hopefully go unnoticed. But Jonathan shook his head and yanked away, seeing his counterpart in distress. A jackal with a sword stood before him, but it was the creature behind that caught Jonathan's attention. He ran towards Aaron with a shout, pushing him down just in time for a bullet to fly by and hit the creature of Anubis.
Two more jackals emerged, heading towards Michael and Ardeth. The Med-Jai thrust at his first foe, then deflected a hit as another came to it's aid. The hilt of a scimitar hit Ardeth's back, however and sent him to the floor. He breathlessly got up and continued the fight.
Nearby Imhotep was struggling with a jackal he had capture with his chains. Wrapping the manacles around the beast's neck, he pulled and effectively killed it only to be attacked by another. He groaned and punched his equally immortal enemy fiercely, growling, "You will fail."
The creature laughed and clawed at the priest beneath him. Jonathan and Aaron looked at one another before deciding to aid the fallen mummy. The three together managed to best the jackal.
Ardeth licked his lips as another shot rang out, his blood running cold as he heard it hit something soft. Something flesh. "No!" he heard a voice call, a voice that belonged to either Jonathan or Aaron. He whipped around to see Evy's brother holding his counterpart in his arms, blood all over him. But there was no time for him to contemplate or mourn this. Bay swung his sword into the head of a jackal and faced another. His psychologist counterpart fought also, but not without gazing with wide eyes towards his fallen friend.
"Aaron," Ryan breathed from nearby, his gun having run out. He threw it and headed towards his friend. "Oh God."
Recognizing the urgency of not remaining in one spot for too long, however, Michael yelled, "Get up!" As if to prove his point another few bullets rained down.
The doctor pulled his friend into his arms and with Jonathan's aid, carried him to the large pillar that Izzy hid behind. The pilot cursed and helped them lay the hacker down.
Ardeth, Michael and Imhotep were left alone to fight. Michael groaned as he hit the floor, having been clawed in the arm by a jackal. Just as the beast slashed it's sword, Ardeth deflected the blow and swung for it's neck. It became as dust before his eyes and Michael got to his feet. The jackals were gone, either dead or gathering reinforcements. They had to act quickly. "Get the scroll," Ardeth breathed, heading towards the case himself.
Imhotep reached it first, sending his fists into the glass and shattering it. He snatched the spell scroll and looked up. "You must stand together."
"Jonathan! Izzy!" Michael called, motioning them over.
Carnahan looked at Ryan, his face concerned. "Will he be okay?" he asked.
Ryan nodded his head, looking over where Izzy was headed. "He'll be fine as soon as you get back to the past and kill that bastard."
The group gathered together; Ardeth, Michael, Jonathan and Izzy. Not sure if it would help, Ardeth picked a point in time to which he thought they should return and concentrated on it, praying it would somehow sway the spell. He looked over at Ryan and Aaron as the priest began chanting. There wasn't time for any lengthy good-bye, but he could see it in the doctor's eyes. That and a wish for good luck. The jackals would likely burst into the throne room a second time any moment now.
Imhotep knew that and read the scroll quickly. Ardeth only had a second to catch his eyes as he ended and looked up to confirm the spell's success. Then everything began changing.
*
:O
Another chapter finished and posted! I'm on a roll tonight.
:) Thank you thank you Lula, Deana, Marcher
and everyone else!!! You rock! Especially to Deana, who reads
this before all you all (for the most part) and keeps up the excitement
and encouragement. Unfortunately she went to bed before I even started
the final part, so I guess she'll catch it later. Thanks! -Angela