Speak Softly
One O'clock and All's Well

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.

~~~~~~~

There was a light rustling sound in the near hallway that announced Necromancer's return. The torch had burnt out, leaving Ardeth and Rick in the pitch black of the dungeon. Ardeth turned his head and waited for the creature to speak. Necromancer swept past them, his robes brushing them. "The priest will come. We should prepare." It waited.

Ardeth got up from the dirt below and fumbled to offer Rick a helping hand. Taking hold of Necromancer's robe, he gripped O'Connell's shirt and the three of them traveled a short distance to the door, then turned right into another hall. Necromancer stopped not far from the door and hissed, "We will wait here. When Imhotep returns then Ardeth shall attack him."

"Right," Rick said uncertainly. He was near to where Ardeth stood. "Are you sure you can do this, Ardeth? I mean you said you drew blood, but it's still Imhotep."

Necromancer hissed across from them and snapped, "He will do what is needed!"

Taking in a breath, Ardeth scratched his healing arm as Rick huffed, "Okay. Okay. Look, I know you don't care what happens to Ardeth, but I do."

Ardeth shook his head and touched Rick's shoulder. He was touched by his friend's concern, but if Necromancer was correct, he had to take this chance. People out there needed them. Evy needed them. "It is alright, Rick. I will do what I must as our outspoken guide has said. But I ask that you do not wait for me to beat him, my friend. As soon as I attack I want you to try and get out. If I don't make it, then at least you may find escape and save Evy and Jonathan."

His friend sighed at that and didn't answer right away. He knew Rick would have trouble with the idea of leaving him behind to die. Ardeth himself had trouble with that thought. Sometimes that peace called to him again, but he wasn't so sure he was ready to go back. Life after 'life after death' was confusing and lonely, but he knew that there was a reason for his return. He didn't want to fail it. So they waited and the minutes passed slowly.

"How long?" he breathed to the undead being across from he and Rick.

Necromancer's voice sounded intent and hungry for the battle to come as he rasped, "He comes now."

Ardeth knit his brows at this, wondering how this creature could possibly see these things in their future. "How do you know he is coming?"

The creature exhaled in irritation and Ardeth could swear he heard the dry, papery sound of his hands rubbing together. The noise made his fists clench. "I see many things, Ardeth. The dead speak to me, remember? They are my children. All manner of beings hiss knowledge into my ears, things that assist me and some things I care not to hear. The underworld breathes in the death of Imhotep and moves towards that goal."

Ardeth had nothing to add to that. As far as he was concerned he himself waited for that moment. Of course he reminded himself of the dangers of letting roots of bitterness entangle his heart, but the image of his people as they were now made his fists clench. A part of him would greatly enjoy attacking the priest and making him pay. He heard a dark little whisper of laughter from across the hallway and lowered his head.

Suddenly a sound filled the air. The large door ahead of them was being unlocked. Necromancer had been right. A sudden burst of adrenaline rushed through Ardeth's veins as he prepared himself for whatever would happen. The bolted door swung open.

Instinctively the Med-Jai grabbed Imhotep's wrist as it passed the threshold at the end of a torch. The priest tried to jerk away, but Ardeth pounced on him and knocked him to the floor. "Go!" he shouted before devoting all his concentration to Imhotep, who was already growling his anger. In the dim light he saw Rick and Necromancer pass to the stairs.

Caught off guard, Imhotep forgot to take advantage of his acquired abilities. Sudden attacks left little room for strategic planning and instinct took over at first. Imhotep wrenched his wrist free and rolled away. Before he could think a foot slammed into his side as Ardeth began pulling himself up. He groaned and rolled over, trying to block off another kick. "What have you done, Med-Jai?" Imhotep hissed, tossing his torch down and getting to his feet.

Ardeth held his reopened wound and staggered up. "Only what I had to, Priest!" His dark eyes glared at the dark form before him and rationality threatened to leave him to the mercy of this being. In his anger he was tempted to have he and Imhotep's final contest now instead of sometime in the distant future. In this priest's dark face he could see Evy's frightened eyes and Rick's cynical expression. He could see the Field of the Med-Jai and it made him tremble in want for vengeance.

Now was not the time. Those very things that angered him reminded him there was a reason that he needed to survive this encounter, for without doubt he knew he likely would not survive the last. But Imhotep was intent on him now, focused on ending the threat here and now. Ardeth could see it reflected in the cold eyes that glared at him. There was real fear there because Imhotep knew Ardeth could harm him.

Imhotep was the first to make a move. He darted for his Med-Jai enemy and with rough hands gripped his arms. The next thing Ardeth felt was being slammed into a hard wall. He gasped for air, having the wind knocked out of him. Imhotep laughed and pulled him forward to throw him back again, but Ardeth made himself act despite the pain.

With a force of will Ardeth shoved himself into the priest and they fell to the floor together. Imhotep groaned in the pain caused by Ardeth's action, then shoved the punching Med-Jai off him. Ardeth's back hit the dirt as the mummy stood up once more, making ready some spell to end this madness. There was little time left for escape. He had to think quickly. A flicker of shadow mixed with orange light gave him an idea. Moving as quickly as he could, Ardeth flung his arm out and grabbed Imhotep's all but forgotten torch. The priest's chanting paused.

Ardeth sat up and tossed the torch into his enemy and watched as Imhotep's long black robe caught on fire. It was an attack performed by Ardeth's hand and despite his doubts as to whether or not this whole attack would work, it did. Imhotep screamed and thrashed as his flesh burned, the flames rising higher and higher despite his frantic attempts to bat the fire out. Ardeth stood up and backed away towards the door until finally he could watch no longer. Imhotep fell to the ground as he turned and raced up the dark stairs.

~~~~~~~

The first thing that occurred to Rick when he and the beast hit the top of the stairs was the fact that they had absolutely no weapons. This wasn't exactly a good thing, seeing as two jackals were stationed not ten feet away and now bearing down on them. "Uh, got any bright ideas?" he asked his unwanted companion. It should be Ardeth by his side, not this thing!

Necromancer pushed past O'Connell and extended deathly thin arms. His voice came out dry and sharp as he uttered words in what Rick presumed was ancient Egyptian. With a loud screech the jackals shuddered and turned to dust. The necromancer passed them and began down the hallway without paying his companion any attention. Rick swore and followed. "Why didn't you do that to Imhotep?"

"Because Imhotep is the Master of the Dead, you great fool," it replied hastily. It stopped as another group of jackals headed for them. Again those guttural words passed from his lips, rendering their foes to dust. This was definitely going to be easier than Rick had initially thought.

A little too easy if he had anything to say about it. A man in the cage beside where Rick stood begged for release, but the ex-Legionnaire shook his head, saying, "Sorry, pal. I think you might be safer in there." He glanced back towards the stairway that led to Imhotep and Ardeth.

Necromancer bent to the ground to get something and when he straightened Rick had the blunt end of a scythe shoved into his hands. The creature drew its hands away in distaste at Rick's, then hissed, "You must fight the living guards. I cannot end the life of a living being through magical means. Imhotep will have prepared for this."

"Right," Rick replied dryly, allowing for another glance. He wondered where Ardeth was, how he was doing against Imhotep. The priest wasn't angrily stalking towards them right now, so Rick took that as a good sign. At least he hoped it was a good sign. Reluctantly, he followed the creature in front of him.

It didn't take long for Necromancer's warning that Imhotep may have planned for undead magical attacks to come true. Rick could see three humans enter the prison, all three brandishing guns. He swore again. "Perfect. Guns against my scythe. I didn't think Imhotep would have thought of arming his men with modern weaponry."

The dead Med-Jai snorted and shoved Rick down a side hall leading to more cells. "Imhotep is no fool, at least not completely. He knows better than to take for granted this time's advantages."

O'Connell drew back into the shadows and rolled his eyes at that. "Yeah, well, what I wouldn't give for a Panzer right now. I don't suppose you could whip one up for me?" The creature gave no reply. Rick grunted, muttering, "Figures."

"Rick?" they heard suddenly and the ex-Legionnaire exhaled. It was Ardeth. His name was whispered again, followed by a sudden burst of voices from further away. The guards had spotted him.

Rick left Necromancer behind, not caring whether or not the thing was any help. Right now he knew he had to get out there. Shots rang out and Rick picked up the pace. He looked down the hall from where he had just come, seeing his friend dodge enemy fire. The other side showed him that the guards were getting close. Ardeth was closer. Rick darted after the Med-Jai and yanked him into another side corridor. "Good, you're alive," he breathed, looking for any other route towards the front. There weren't any.

Ardeth backed up against the dead end they had trapped themselves into and nodded his head. "Perhaps for not very much longer, my friend. I don't suppose you were able to hide any weapons from Imhotep before being brought down here."

"No," Rick replied tensely. The footfalls were getting louder.

Suddenly there were gasps echoing into the halls. A shuffling sound announced Necromancer had come out of hiding and Rick and Ardeth listened as he began to speak. "Drop your weapons," he rasped in a tone that made Rick chill. "I am the bringer of death and destruction. Look upon my face and see your death, for it will meet you swiftly if you fail to obey my command."

There were mutters of indecision. Rick knitted his brows and looked to Ardeth for an answer, but got only a shrug in return. Suddenly a strange throbbing sound seemed to fill the air and the guard's voices grew alarmed. Metal hit concrete and their feet fled the area. Rick and Ardeth came out of hiding, seeing their ghostly companion standing triumphantly above three guns. "I thought you couldn't use magic on them," Rick said sarcastically as he picked the weapons up and gave one to Ardeth. He offered the other to Necromancer, who declined.

The creature turned and began down the hall, answering tersely, "They did not know that."

Rick shook his head and followed with Ardeth. "Okay, next stop is getting the Carnahans, which should be fun since neither of us have any idea where they are. I don't suppose you do, huh pal?"

Necromancer gave him a withering look as another group of jackals and humans entered the prison and came towards them. He spoke the words that killed the creatures, leaving Ardeth and Rick to take care of the living. They pointed and fired and ducked down another side hall. Rick adjusted his Colt and leaned against the wall, waiting. Ardeth backed against the wall across from him and leaned out. A round of shots rang out and the Med-Jai withdrew back with an exhale.

Steeling himself, Rick held his gun out and turned into the intersection, firing at the human guards. Two dropped to the ground and two others ducked away. Rick pulled himself back out of harm's way and blinked. Necromancer merely stood in the shadows with a hard stare at his living companions. Ardeth leaned into the hallway and fired. Rick heard another guard drop and groan out in pain. "Get their guns on the way out," Ardeth breathed as he stepped back. They waited.

Rick nodded and turned back into the hall, immediately dropping his gun and raising his hands as a guard rushed at him from sneaking towards them. The guard ignored the fact he dropped his arms and pointed his gun. Ardeth shot him before anything more could happen and Rick reclaimed his weapons and his enemy's. He gave the fourth gun to Ardeth.

They came to where the other three guards lay on the floor and Rick pulled Ardeth back just in time to avoid getting shot by the one still living. His friend nodded his thanks and peeked around the corner, shooting the guard's arm. Ardeth took the scattered weapons and the three of them headed on towards the exit. Rick scratched his arm and peered at the wooden exit, then motioned Necromancer on. "I assume you're the only one of us that can't die?"

Necromancer didn't dignify that with an answer and opened the already ajar door. The snarls of jackals could be heard and the undead Med-Jai began his chanting once more. The hiss of their destruction and the quiet that followed made Rick deem it as safe as it was going to get. Necromancer entered the outer hall first, then Ardeth followed, keeping an eye on their behind. Rick emerged and watched the front.

Quite suddenly a guard rounded a corner ahead, alone and seemingly unaware of the breakout happening. His eyes widened and he turned to run, but Rick was on him before he could escape. He slammed the young man into the wall and pressed a gun to his cheek. "Where's Evy and Jonathan?"

Very startled at having Rick's gun barrel shoved into his face and Ardeth's glare coming from over the American's shoulder, the young man pointed down a softly decorated hall and stammered, "J-Jonathan Carnahan? He…he has rooms down there! Lady Nefertiri is probably upstairs, two flights up in either her or Pharaoh's rooms."

Rick smiled and patted the guard's cheek, muttering, "Thanks. Now if you knew what was good for you you'd get out of this line of work. You're not very good at it. Stairs?"

"Down there!" the kid answered with a nod in the right direction, squirming from Rick's hold.

Letting go, Rick muttered, "Thanks," before knocking the boy out. He headed towards the stairs, but Necromancer was intent on heading towards Jonathan. "Uh, no. We're gonna go get Evy first," Rick told him firmly.

Necromancer shook his head and began down the hall, ignoring Rick's tone. "The brother is closer. I will not retrace my steps for him if we get the concubine first." Rick fought back irritation at him referring to Evy that way. Ardeth seemed bothered as well and reluctant to follow his old friend. Necromancer whirled around and pointed at Rick, hissing, "You go and find her! Ardeth and I will go after the brother."

Rick exchanged glances with Ardeth, who glanced down the hall as if he wanted to go that way. The ex-Legionnaire didn't offer to let him go in his place. His friend didn't try to disagree either, and finally nodded. "Save her. I will save Jonathan," he said as he headed with the necromancer.

O'Connell exhaled and ran for the stairs.

~~~~~~~

Imhotep pulled himself from the ashes and rose up from the floor. Turning his hands around, he took in the sight of his blistered skin. It infuriated him. His chain link loincloth was now dirty with soot and just barely keeping together. So, his enemies had attacked him in his blindness with the help of that infernal creature!

The High Priest of Osiris growled low in his throat and headed up the dark stairs quickly. The most important thing right now was to reach Nefertiri. They would try to rescue her, he knew. He could not allow that to happen.

Nor could he allow his princess to see him this way. She would wonder how he could be harmed and the knowledge of Ardeth's life would be revealed. That could not be allowed. With concentration the dark priest willed healing into his body as he stormed into the lighted prison above. A few prisoners gasped at the sight of him from their lonely cells. His skin tingled as the rawness disappeared and blood dried up.

The evidence of fighting announced blatantly that his foes had succeeded in passing the prison. They were now free in his palace, roaming around, doing only the gods knew what. He tightened his pained fists and glared at the guards on the floor as he passed. Their fates did not befit them. They had escaped his wrath.

Imhotep ripped his tattered robe off and tossed it to the floor. By the time he reached the prison exit his healing was complete; his body whole and skin flawless. He stalked out and ignored anything and everything that might be out here. The Med-Jai could harm him, yes, but could not kill him. Imhotep still could use his healing powers to retain life. That was encouraging.

One flight up, he stopped and listened with his immortal hearing to a sound at the very surface of his hearing. Nefertiri was being called for by the voice of his fair-skinned foe. The priest picked up his pace with murderous intent. When he came to the second floor his enemy was nowhere to be seen.

~~~~~~~

Jonathan rubbed his hands together and leaned against the windowsill in his room. He spread his arms helplessly. "How are we supposed to get them out? There's bloody guards galore, not to mention those Anubis types. You say Ahamad's got a car waiting in the hills? How'd he manage that with the watch?"

Nashean paced the floor with his arms behind his back. "Ahamad can remain unseen if he wishes. Mayadeh is disguised as a serving girl in the kitchens. She can get the four of you out, but you are correct. The problem will be in liberating O'Connell and Bay and then acting quickly enough to escape. A surprise prison break in the night is our best shot."

Nodding thoughtfully, Jonathan bit his bottom lip and looked at his contact with the outside. This man was usually very quiet and to the point, offering only what was needed. "Yeah," he breathed, scratching the back of his neck. "That and getting Evy away from Imhotep long enough. When do we act?"

"That I will have to get back to you on," Nashean answered with a frown. He opened his mouth to say more but they were cut off by the sound of struggling outside.

Jonathan pulled himself from the sill and pointed to a coat closet. "Hide there," he suggested, knowing how important keeping a contact in Imhotep's palace was. He straightened his jacket as Nashean hid. Suddenly the sounds stopped and there was a long pause. He waited, hoping whoever it was would just go away. Imhotep's jackals were known for their rough attitude towards humans and sometimes that blood thirst got out of hand.

Unfortunately the silence wasn't followed by blissful peace, but by the sound of a doorknob being turned. His doorknob. "Uh..oooh," Jonathan murmured, looking around the room for anything to use as a weapon. He ran his hands through his hair and spotted a bottle of scotch. Shrugging because it was better than nothing, he grabbed it and took a swig. The unlocked door opened and he made ready to throw the bottle, shouting, "Come in and I'll have you!"

He came quite close to actually tossing the bottle, which he soon realized he would have regretted much. When the door flung open a dark figure rushed in, dragging one of the king's human guards with him. The long, black hair betrayed to Jonathan who it must be, but even if his eyes could accept it, his mind was having a little trouble. Suddenly he was taken back to another time where the troubles were still nipping at their heels, but there had been hope of escape. "Ardeth?" he said as the Med-Jai dragged his captive to a chair and slammed him into it. Another figure entered the room that made Jonathan stop his questions. "Whoa," was all he could say at the sight of this gaunt creature.

"I need a rope or something to tie him," Ardeth managed as he struggled, interrupting Jonathan's revulsion.

Carnahan snapped back into the here and now and went for the drapes, ripping off the thick, rope tieback. He brought it to his friend and handed it over. "Here." It was different. Jonathan had thought he wouldn't be too shocked at seeing Ardeth again—after all he did know he was back, but knowing hadn't prepared him.

Ardeth tied the guard to the chair and stood straight, looking his friend in the face for the first time since 1929. It was as if nothing had changed. "Good to see you," Jonathan told him with a smile. For the first time in a while he wondered what might happen if they actually made it out of this mess.

The Med-Jai returned his smile, then looked around the room. "We must hurry. Do you have any weapons?"

Jonathan shook his head and took a gun that Ardeth pulled from his belt. "Imhotep won't let me near guns since I shot one of his dogs in the foot."

Ardeth cocked his eyebrow in amusement and nodded towards the exit. "Then we must leave here and find Rick and Evelyn." After Jonathan grabbed his scotch bottle they began towards the door. Ardeth stepped into the hall and scouted around, then returned his eyes to his friend. "You shot a dog?"

With a roll of his eyes as they began down the long hallway, Jonathan nodded and kept an eye out for guards. He could hear that strange being in black robes shuffling behind him and felt uneasy. "It was an accident. I was cleaning his Royal Majesty's rifle—he likes his weapons big, probably to compensate for something else that isn't, and I forgot to put the safety on. Next thing I knew the thing went off and Kenamun was howling." They turned left at a four-way hall. "I very nearly died that night. Ah, Ardeth, who is this rather unsettling fellow following you?"

The Med-Jai stopped at another hall and looked back. "He is a guide. You have no need to fear him right now. Where is Evelyn's room?"

"Upstairs," Jonathan replied with an unconscious look upwards. "If you'll follow me I'll take you to a shortcut. It's a little bit away, but the fastest once we get up. I don't suppose you have Rick with you?"

Ardeth shook his head and peeked around the corner. He turned back. "All clear. Rick is looking for Evelyn upstairs."

That set off an alarm in Jonathan's mind. "Alone? With Imhotep creeping around? Has he lost his bloody mind?" He looked at the other two, then lead them down the hallway towards a set of stairs that opened up two flights up right outside Evy's rooms.

~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: No infringement intended. Ahamad, Nashean, Mayadeh, Abul, Sajul and Necromancer belong to me.

A/N:

To Reviewers:

Lula – Silly! Don't apologize for "late" reviews…reviews are never late, I'm glad to get them whenever. :-D Just so long as I'm doing well enough to merit them, ya know? Sorry to hear things are going iffy…prayers are with you, my friend! :-) Anyhow, I know I'm making Imhotep a real jerk in this one…it's very rough and as I'm sure you can see there's some evidence of me lightening him up…lol. I'm trying not to make him too good, but *sigh*. I think that's where Necromancer comes in…lol. I find it easier to vent my darker inclinations through him. Hehehe. Not to say I'll make Immy a cream puff, but ya know. Thankie! ;-)

Mommints – Did I hear rumor from a friend you updated Heroes????? :-O I must go read after I upload this. As for the title, well it didn't directly come from Indiana as much as me wondering what the heck to call it and basing it on what Evy believes is best for her and if Ricky believes Neccy. But I've been keeping Indiana on in the background, so perhaps it filtered through the vibes…lol. ;-D Thanks! Oh and, got battles scenes a brewin', eh? Woohoo! Can't wait to see! LOTR is such an inspiration, ya?

Wildcardgal – Heeey, nice to see a new face. :-D I'm happy you like it and I thank you for your compliments!!! :-D

Marx – Hey, great chapter of Hereafter last time I looked! Excellent work! As a Jonny fan I thought you might like the interaction between bro and sis. :-) I'm giving him more to do in this fic than before and I'm really glad cause I enjoy Jonathan. :-D As for Ricky's jealousy, well I've made him brush it off in my other fics I thought it was time he got a little irked about Evy being with someone else. ;-D Thanks, my friend! Look forward to more of your story!

Marchy ;-) – Sorry, had to call you that after your mentioning it. Hehehehe. Yeah, poor Evy's got some choices to make. Bleh. Rough situation to be in, eh? I wouldn't wanna be…well, that's a lie cause God knows I WOULD want to be at the 'mercy' of Imhotep. ;-D And yeah Rick did it on purpose. ;-) Muahahaha. Poor Ricky. I'm glad you liked his jealousy! Thanks!

Deana – Hey, thanks! Hehe…yeah, it would be awful, having our friend act that way with so much hate. Poor guy. Anyhow, so much to read, so little time…I'm off to read your Presidio story, as well as the one belonging to Mommints and I think there's more of Marcher's Captain up as well. Hmmm.