Speak Softly
Between Old Friends

1935: Ardeth Bay is resurrected from the dead. He awakens to a world vastly different, to familiar faces changing and to the knowledge that he is Egypt's final hope for freedom.

He also finds out just how far love and despair can take him.

~~~~~~~

Rick lifted shackled arms to his face, scratching through his itchy stubble. Licking his lips and exhaling loudly, he gazed out the window at the gray sky. Two days had passed and tonight he would meet with Imhotep. Tonight could mean the difference between life and death. But it wasn't like Imhotep to kill and be done with it. He liked to prolong suffering and death was seen as a way of escape. No, Rick had a feeling he would have a long, horrible life if Imhotep had his way.

The thought made him grunt and Abul beside him glanced his way. "Today is the day," he announced as if Rick didn't know it. He grinned at O'Connell and elbowed his arm. "Looking forward to it?"

Rick smirked and nodded sarcastically. "Yeah, you bet." More and more as the minutes passed into hours he thought about what he was doing and how foolish it really was. There was no guarantee Imhotep would put him with Ardeth. There wasn't even a guarantee Ardeth was still alive. Nerves, Rick reminded himself. It's just nerves. You've always found a way out. "How long?" he breathed, looking in his rearview mirror at the distant Field of the Med-Jai. It was small now, thankfully. He hated passing that place. It made him wonder how they could hope to succeed.

Abul looked up into his mirror and shrugged. The car eased off to the left towards Imhotep's grand palace. "I say no more than an hour or two. I'm pushing her as fast as she'll go."

Rick grunted and leaned back in his chair. He wondered what Evy was up to and if she would be there in the throne room when he was brought. He hoped not. It was probably disheartening enough for her to have been separated from one friend without having to see him thrown into the same place or killed.

He also wondered about that. There were stories about what lay beneath the palace of Imhotep. Some said horrors unimaginable, others claimed they themselves had seen a great torture chamber filled with machines the likes of which no decent person should see. Rick snorted and rolled his eyes. He seriously doubted anyone who had seen whatever was under the grand palace had lived to tell the tale. But he would. He had to.

There were so many people counting on him and more importantly, Ardeth. They all did what they could to end this terrible war, but sometimes Rick's mind would look down the path that lead to failure. He usually shied away from it at that point, but right now he couldn't help but consider that. After that the most important thing would be to keep Ahamad's people safe and secret beneath the earth, to get Evy out, and Jonathan and Ardeth. Rick cared what happened to the world, but if Evy had to live under the rule of Imhotep for the rest of her life then he would rather be dead than live with the knowledge.

And then there was Ahamad and Mayadeh and their people. Mayadeh's little son, five years old and had lost his father at the start of this war. They were new friends, but touched his heart nonetheless. He didn't want to be there when and if they were destroyed like the Med-Jai.

Time seemed to pass slowly while these thoughts ate at him, but not slow enough. Before he knew it they were stopped before the large palace with three jackals heading their way. Abul rolled his window down and spoke at length with one before it was satisfied and motioned them through. His jailer pulled around the palace to a parking lot and Rick smirked, thinking it looked out of place with this style of building.

Abul got out and came around, opened Rick's door and pulled him out. With a grunt Rick followed him towards a small walkway decorated with water and plant life on either side. He was a brave man but anyone walking into this would have to be a little nervous. His hands started to shake again.

They came to the front of the palace and Rick looked up. It was complex, large and forbidding with its smooth obsidian walls, black as night and polished to shimmer like the water. It was both modern and ancient, lovely in the blue of dusk and fearsome during a storm. A very clear statement to the world of what sort of man ruled them. Abul took a hold of his arm and ushered him up the main staircase. There were jackals on every other large step, guarding their master's lair. He frowned at the climb. It was just like Imhotep, overstated and unnecessary.

When they reached the top Rick grunted and followed his captor into the warm entrance. The inside was as cold, though the beginnings of a more hospitable atmosphere shown through cream-colored drapes against the black walls and artwork displaying Egypt's history. There were statues in the main hall and a long burgundy carpet leading to two huge doors that were ornately decorated in silver hieroglyphs. Two jackals pushed open the heavy doors. Beyond Rick could see a black throne at the end of a large room where Imhotep was seated, waiting for him.

The priest was dressed in fine robes of navy and he wore the expression of a victorious king who delighted in his chance at justice, but knew because he was better, he must understand the faults of his enemy. Rick's eyes narrowed.

They approached and Imhotep held up one hand, stopping them before him. His dark eyes glared down upon Rick in thought. Not breaking eye contact, he leaned over and said something to a man standing by his side. This man also watched Rick as if he were lowly trash. "Lord Imhotep commands that you kneel, slave. He wishes to know why you are here."

"Son of a…" Rick grumbled as Abul elbowed him in the stomach. He swallowed his pride and did as he was told for the sake of winning the mercy of this monster, though it burned him to do so. "I'm here because I'm tired of everything. I want to ask for mercy for the people that used to fight with me. They know they can't win, so I'm offering myself in exchange for their safety. They won't interfere anymore. Tell him…tell him I know he's a reasonable man."

The aide turned back to his pharaoh and presumably repeated everything, hopefully as Rick had said it. He hated not knowing Ancient Egyptian. Imhotep's lips became a condescending smile as he regarded him with these words. He spoke to his translator. With a respectful nod, the aide looked back to Rick. "His Majesty graciously says he will consider your request. However he does not believe that is the real reason you are here. He wishes you to rethink your lies and come up with a more truthful answer."

Rick frowned up at the haughty priest, who merely continued smiling in reply. His eyes dared O'Connell to risk his anger. "Tell Lord Imhotep that it isn't such an unbelievable thing to think I would give my life to save loved ones." He looked down, playing it up for all his worth. "I just want them to be okay. And I want to see Evy." Those blue eyes slid up to Imhotep's nearly black ones in what Rick hoped looked like broken need.

The translator spoke and Imhotep's smile vanished. He raised his chin, spoke and was handed a silver dagger. Rick tensed when he came off the throne. With a command suddenly two jackals were beside him, holding his arms so he couldn't fight. Imhotep's face was dark as he ripped his shirt open and dug the knife into his shoulder. Rick yelled out and struggled to no avail.

When Imhotep finished he drew the dagger out and tossed it to the floor, his stance regal and commanding. He glared Rick down and said something in his ancient tongue, but the only thing Rick understood was Nefertiri. Evy's name. The aide beside Imhotep's throne said, "Lord Imhotep regrets that he cannot grant your second request to see Nefertiri, but still offers to think over your first. The mark you bear now is his cartouche, naming you as his servant." Imhotep spoke more and the aide smiled darkly. "He says he hopes you will enjoy your stay here. You are to be taken to your quarters below."

Rick inhaled at that. He was walking out of this room with his life. First step accomplished. Now he could only pray Ardeth would be where he was going. He looked to Imhotep and the priest smiled again. Before he could think a fist was slammed into his cheek, knocking him violently back into a jackal. Rick whipped up and glared, watching Imhotep laugh and wave him off as if he were nothing. The jackals dragged him back from the throne and into the main hall.

Not walking fast enough for their liking, Rick received a few hits and clawings from the creatures that lead him to his so-called doom. As they raced through the halls Rick wondered where Evy was and if he would see her by some stray chance out here. When they arrived at a dark door near the back of the palace his hopes were dashed.

The jackals opened the non-descript door and shoved him in, then followed as he toppled down a few stairs. Before he could even catch his breath he was yanked up again and dragged the rest of the way down. It felt cold down here.

The first room they entered was one filled with implements of torment and torture. Imhotep must like his prisoners to view this before being locked up, he thought dryly. Some of these machines were pretty twisted, offering pain to any assortment of body parts and Rick wondered what sort of a mind would think them up. Obviously Imhotep had been reading up on his history to acquire these somewhat foreign devices.

Past that lay a typical dungeon with cells on either side of the hall. Rick looked into each, hoping to see Ardeth inside. They walked endlessly and numerous slaves looked up with hopelessness in their broken eyes. The jackals growled deep in their chests and continued dragging him. There was no sign of Ardeth.

Finally they reached a large door at the end of the hallway, which lead into a storeroom with another door. They opened that and Rick saw one torch with blackness beyond. It gave him the creeps. One of the jackals ripped the torch from the wall and gripped Rick's shirt, throwing him down the stairs. They laughed and followed, kicking him down when they got to him.

Rick groaned and fought his way to his feet, then dodged another merciless kick. He tried to stay ahead as the evil monsters closed in on him with bloodthirsty eyes. After what seemed like forever they finally reached a large, black door. One jackal ripped Rick away while the other unlocked and opened it.

Before they could react Rick grabbed the torch and threw himself into the black dungeon, then kicked the door shut. He listened to see if they would open the door to punish him. The only sounds that came back were a few growls and the click of the locking mechanism. Rick smoothed his hair back and looked around in the scant light provided by his torch. Two earthy halls lead from each side and one straight away from the door. With a grunt he chose the middle.

In the shadows he could hear shuffling and the sounds of dripping water. He held himself ready for anything, sighing in frustration. Ardeth could be anywhere down here—if at all, and calling might draw every creature in the place down on him. Of course the light his torch bleeding into the place wasn't helping him remain anonymous any.

Suddenly Rick froze, seeing movement ahead. He held the torch up and looked down the hall as two shades crept closer and closer, their details obscured by distance. But soon enough they entered the light. Bright gold embroidery glared out against a black backdrop and Rick widened his eyes. "Ardeth?" he breathed, ignoring the form behind him.

They approached and stopped, and his friend squinted in the light. "Rick?" he replied, using his hand to shield himself from the brightness of the fire.

He was alive. Rick had known he was alive, but seeing him brought back so many feelings of the past—the remembrance of the funeral being at the forefront of his emotion. He tossed the torch to the floor and gripped his friend's shirt to make sure he was real. "It's you. It's really you. My God."

Ardeth smiled softly and nodded, and looked about to say something when Rick pulled him into a hug. The Med-Jai flinched back slightly, but returned the gesture whole-heartedly, saying, "It is good to see you, my friend."

He loosened his grip, but couldn't help but hold his friend. Too many years had passed since he had heard that voice. Way too many years. He looked out into the darkness beyond, grateful for this chance to see him again. It was then Rick saw the horror behind his friend. It watched through cold, dark eyes, its face gaunt and dead looking. It too wore the robes of a Med-Jai. "Who, ah…who's your buddy?" Rick asked, pulling back with concern.

Bay rolled his eyes and turned back, but stopped short. Rick saw what he was looking at. Those robes. It was pitch black down here. Ardeth would have likely never known if Rick's torch was the first light he had seen in a long while. "This is Necromancer," he answered in unnerved tones. "He…he was my guide through here…a…Sajul? Sajul, is that you?"

The deathly creature's lips twisted cruelly in dark amusement. Its breathing was unpleasant sounding to say the least. In otherworldly tones it said, "You look so surprised, Ardeth. I thought I would never see your face again, thought you blessed because you were spared this terrible existence. Tell me, when you visited our people did they welcome you warmly?"

Ardeth's fists tightened, but he seemed too stunned to take any action. "But why did you view my memories if you already knew what had happened?"

Rick looked at the dead Med-Jai before them as it glared Ardeth down. This creature wasn't something hr termed cordial, that was certain. It hissed and rasped in contempt towards its brother-warrior. "Because I have not lived your life through your eyes. I wanted to know your heart, Chosen. I wanted to know why you were spared and not the rest of us."

Looking away at that, Ardeth replied, "I have no answer for that, Sajul."

The creature hissed and brought its arms up, baring sharp teeth. "That is my name no longer, Ardeth Bay! I am not your friend! Hhhrrr. I hate you and the task before me."

"What task is that?" Bay asked in low tones and Rick could see pain in his friend's eyes. It made him want to hit this wretched thing.

Necromancer hissed sharply and wrung his gnarled hands as if he would tear the life out of his once friend. "When you leave this place I must go with you! There are things we all must do before stopping Imhotep. Parts we all must play. I must take you to the Temple of Osiris for the staff."

Rick shook his head, not liking the sound of this or the evil of this thing. Why would a friend feel such passionate hate towards him? "Uh-uh. Why don't you just tell us where this temple is and we'll part here, hmm? I'm sure you won't like the outside. It's wet up there. That's assuming any of us can even get out of this hellhole." He rubbed his cheek thoughtfully and looked around, seeing very little.

The creature wouldn't have anything to do with Rick's suggestion of parting. It ignored him and kept its cool gaze on Ardeth. "If you are to follow through with your destiny, Ardeth, I must join you. I like it no better than you, but it is what I must do if Imhotep is to be stopped. I hate you with everything I am now, but I will do what my destiny calls for. Only when Imhotep is dead will I find rest."

Ardeth considered it and exhaled, looking to Rick for a second and back. "If this is what must be, I will accept your help." He looked his friend in the lifeless eyes that stared back. "Is there anything of Sajul left within you?"

Rick watched Ardeth's small hope of that snuff out when Necromancer shook his head fervently, and sighed, watching emotions play across his features. "I missed you, you know," he said, hoping to draw Ardeth's attention from yet another friend lost. Ardeth turned back with a wan smile. O'Connell touched his arm and found it difficult to let go of his friend. It was hard to believe he was alive after so long of knowing he was gone forever. "Me and Jonathan and Evy, we got together to fight Imhotep when he was raised and it just felt weird, you know? There was this empty slot where you should have been. I just thank God that you're back."

Necromancer grunted and stalked past them towards the entrance. Ardeth watched after him and exhaled softly. "Thank you, my friend. I think the love of you three is all I have left."

A week into the world and Rick could already see the taint of this place all over his friend's stance. He gave Ardeth a sympathetic look and asked, "Is it enough?"

He nodded without a beat. "It's enough." He looked Rick over as the present situation came back to mind. "Why are you here? Did Imhotep capture you?"

O'Connell ran a hand through his hair and rolled his eyes. "No, I turned myself in." He smiled at the other's confusion. "I have contacts in here. They thought they saw Imhotep drag 'a man in black' down into the dungeon, so I knew I had to get to you. I sent Evy the book."

The Med-Jai shook his head and gazed towards Necromancer. "I am grateful for the gesture, my friend, but I do not think it wise. You could have gotten killed and despite the necromancer's belief we will get out, it is not guaranteed. You may have come only to die here in the darkness with me."

"Yeah, well, I figured we'd find a way out. It's us, Ardeth. What can stop us?" The momentary doubt in Ardeth's eyes startled Rick, but he made no mention of it.

Bay rubbed at his arm and Rick saw a large cut there. "Perhaps nothing, Rick." He turned back with forced strength—forced, Rick knew, because he wore that expression quite often himself. He could hardly blame his friend. This place was hell. "First thing we must concentrate on is escape. I have only just arrived here at the entrance myself, so I do not know the strength of the door."

From his spot near yet far, Necromancer rasped, "The priest will come. Then you will overtake him in surprise."

Brows knitting, Rick grunted and eyed the creature. "You aren't much for reality, are you? Have you ever even seen Imhotep?"

The laugh that came was unsettling and irritating. A bony finger stretched towards Ardeth. "He has power over Imhotep in that he can cause the terrible priest harm. Ardeth has passed over to the other side, he is touched by eternity."

"Touched by eternity?" Rick asked, looking back to Ardeth.

Bay nodded his head with almost wistful eyes. Rick wondered what things were locked within the mind of his friend. "Necromancer claims that my having been dead and returned somehow changed me, made the priest's immortality nullified to me. Something to do with his curse, I think."

Rick shrugged. "Okay. We take the bastard by surprise and you kill him."

Necromancer snarled and wrung his thin, pale hands, startling Rick into the defensive. "Oooh, were it that simple, whelp! He may cause the priest harm, but that does nothing to change Imhotep's healing powers! Ardeth could run him through with a scimitar and he would heal himself before death took him. We must have the Staff of Osiris and the Book of Amun Ra."

At that Rick shook his head and sighed, knowing their's promised to be a long, difficult path. "Book of Ra, huh? Well, that's just perfect. No one knows where Imhotep stuck it."

The dead thing smiled hideously, making him highly regret the torch. Not that the thought of this thing being near him in the dark was any better. "I know, whelp. I know a great many things."

"Oooh, doesn't that make you special?" O'Connell retorted and Ardeth shook his head in forestalling. He gave in. "Okay, so we escape this dungeon, butcher our way through three dozen jackals, grab the Carnahans and run like hell before Immy realizes his thong's in a knot. Easily done, right?"

A familiar smile spread across Ardeth's lips as he nodded and crossed his arms. "You have a remarkable talent for stating impossible odds in a tone that suggests they do not matter, my friend."

Rick shrugged once and gave his friend a lopsided grin. "Hey, what were the odds Evy would wake you up? We'll make it."

"We'll make it," Ardeth repeated with a glint in his dark eyes. Things were definitely looking up despite the fact they were stuck in a dark, death-filled and tomblike dungeon from which there was little hope of escape. The Med-Jai groaned and looked at the side he had been favoring since Rick met up with him.

Rick peered down, trying to see what was wrong. "You okay?"

"Yes," Bay breathed, opening the rip in his robe to show him a long, purple cut. "It isn't very deep, but aches from the cold and from standing. It should heal soon." He slid down the wall to sit and motioned Rick down and he followed. "Enough of that. We must plan."

Rick nodded, fighting back annoyance when Necromancer sat across from him. He wasn't going to get much sleep with that thing's gaze on him. It seemed to burn towards he and Ardeth unlike Imhotep's hate. He seemed more dangerous in a way. Imhotep was a cat that played with the mice before pouncing. This thing wouldn't bother to play. Rick frowned at him and turned his eyes back to his friend, saying, "Right. Let's get talking about kicking Imhotep's butt, shall we? Nothing cheerier."

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad, Nashean, Mayadeh, Sajul/Necromancer and a few, less significant originals belong to me.

A/N: Last update until after Christmas! :-O Enjoy! I saw Two Towers Saturday and wow. Awesome movie!!! Beautiful music…everything was too good. See it asap!!! :-D

To Reviewers:

Elven Sapphire – Hehe! Thanks for your compliments! Glad you're still reading. :-) Orlando is a hottie. I love how he grins. ;-) And well, while Elijah is less my type, I'll agree that he's a cutie. But after seeing Two Towers, I must say I've fallen for Viggo Mortensen. ;-D Mmmm. Aragorn. Must have Aragorn.

Lula – Hehehe! You've been hacking into my system and reading ahead, haven't you? ;-) Wow…you just touched on some points that actually were made right in this chapter. Now you know what befell Sajul and you even hinted at a few things, including my plans to reveal the rest of that dream! Lol. Yeah, though. Locky's a butt. :-P I'm glad you're enjoying my Jonathan as well…I have some plans for him in the futurish area soon. Lol. So Jonny fans, look forward to some stuff throughout, and Ricky stuff including some luuurve maybe. :-D Thanks a bunch, my friend!!

Hadassaknamu – Hey! Glad to have you back! I was beginning to wonder if I'd scared you off with how I ended Passion…sometimes authors get killed for that sort of thing. Lol. ;-) Thanks for reviewing and I'm pleased you still like! Merry Christmas!

Mommints – Inspiration for battle? See Two Towers, of course! ;-D Most excellent movie…nice battles and good characters. *sniff* I can't believe what happened. Poor ------! ;-) I won't say, so as not to give away, but I thought it unnecessary and well, just sad. Doh! Hmmm…can't wait to see your Locky! He's such a hateable character I think. I just wowna kick him! Thanks for the review!

Marcher – Imhotep is up to his old manipulative tricks and doesn't he do it so well? ;-) lol. Thanks for your compliments, my friend! Daylight is sloooowly approaching…hehehe. Chapter after next! ;-)

Marxie – Well, I have this habit of taking certain names and adding a Y sound at the end, such as Locky, Ricky and Jonny…though I refuse to call Ardeth Ardy. Lol. Sometimes it fits, sometimes it doesn't with different names. Marxie works, no? :-D Thanks for the compliments, anyway. :-D I try to be as open about the plot as I can, which means lotsa talking! ;-) But some action's around the corner…there was a teensy bit here too, I spose. And yeah…Evy will betray Ardeth. Muahahaha. ;-)