Elemental Guardian SagaCo Writer Sohkarra

by Trynia Merin

A new forensic scientist working on mummies for Amanda at the Museum, encounters the mummies and her own destiny as a Guardian wearing St. George's and St. Andrew's armor!

5. Knight of the Periodic Table

Disclaimer: The characters of Mummies Alive are the property of DIC. The characters of Dr. Marianne and Cameron Ellis, Mennehotep and Kara are property of me, Trynia Merin. Sohkarra is property of Jaime. This story means no harm to the show, or the legends of St. George from English history, or his shield or that of St. Andrew. ( All prayers copyright from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer of the Protestant Episcopal Church.)

Knight of the Periodic Table

by Trynia Merin

***

Part 1

It was Friday afternoon, and Marianne Ellis clicked her tongue in irritation as somebody pounded on the small lab door. In her hand she held an automatic pipette, its loaded sample tip inches from the test tube in a small rack.

Cameron poked his head and shoulders around the door frame at her, saying, "Dr. Ellis, there is someone waiting to see you in the Museum Lobby..."

"Cameron, I've got a great deal of work to do..."

"Well, they want to see both of us," he laughed. "I don't know why, but Amanda said it was of the utmost importance..."

"I don't recall..."

Amanda Carnarvon pushed beside Cameron, nudging him into the small labs. She added, "It's a tour group who wants to see the conservation labs... and the...."

"I'm not technically conservation, even though you seem to have me helping out with that lately in Analytical..."

"Still, you should come... they have been waiting..." Amanda said to her as she urged Marianne out. Cameron pulled at her labcoat as she moved out of her small lab near the analytical lab.

"Oh good grief will I never get anything done?" Marianne muttered. But what hit her eyes was a familiar set four people carrying a paper box and some oddly wrapped things. They moved to the Museum lunchroom with a whole gang of others.

"Happy Birthday!" Amanda laughed as she maneuvered her into the Lunchroom.

"I am going to kill you, Cameron!" she laughed, feeling her chest. Still she wore labcoat, gloves and safety glasses with a pipette in one hand.

"That's a safety violation!" Amanda Carnarvon joked, as Anne and some of the conservators divested Mary of her lab clothing. "Let's equip her for partying!"

"Who... what..."

"It was Amanda's idea," said Cameron, guiding her to the flat sheet cake. They had made it in the shape of a conical flask, complete with the little lines. She giggled at their sense of humor. And someone was serving punch in mugs shaped like beakers with little handles.

"Blow out the candles and make a wish!" Jaime Garret laughed as she suddenly materialized out of the group of art conservators, museum workers, and five familiar figures in their modern clothes. "Jack Garret" stood there at Jaime's elbow, dark blue eyes framed by the short brown hair and cowboy style shirt and blue jeans he wore. "Rutherford Higgins" moved to her side, resting a hand on her shoulder. He looked handsome as always in that cream colored coat and

white shirt that set off his bronzed skin so well. And that rust colored fez that gave him the look of a Middle Eastern sort of academic. Even Tina and Armon were there, cool in black minidress and platforms, and sports leathers respectively.

Marianne inhaled, and closed her eyes as she spoke a wish. Then with a rapid exhalation, thirty-one candles were extinguished.

"Happy birthday, my love," Rutherford said softly as he kissed her cheek. Cam also pecked his sister. Amanda passed Marianne the knife as she plunged it hesitatingly into the cake. Odd custom, JaKal thought to himself concerning the anniversary of one's birth. He had witnessed one birthday with Presley already, when the lad had turned fourteen, only recently.

Compared to that, this was an interesting event indeed, since Cameron and Marianne were twins.

Someone suddenly unveiled a cake made in the design of a pyramid, and edged Cameron over to it.

"It's your birthday now..." Amanda laughed as she checked her watch. "A hour apart, was it?"

Cameron extinguished his own sizable blaze with a hearty puff. Both twins accepted the well wishes of their friends. Nefertina also gave the birthday boy a kiss he'd not soon forget.

Gifts were exchanged, and laughter ensued. No one suspecting that five of the partygoers were most unusual well wishers indeed. And the idea of thirty-one years paled in comparison to their true ages.

***

"In Science news today, a new process of DNA extraction and reproduction was refuted in the New England Journal of medicine by a team at NIH. Dr. Marianne Ellis, the renown local expert on mummification and DNA sequencing is to be honored by a grant from NIH for her continued work at the San Francisco Art Museum..."

"Dr. Ellis, how stupid of me to forget!" Scarab exclaimed as he barely waited for the end of the news snippet.

"So what? She is with the Mummies!"

"Yes... but I had abandoned all hope for capturing her because those dratted Mummies were in the way!"

"Why didn't you abduct her at work?" asked Heka.

"Because when a prominent scientist goes missing, people are bound to notice! but if I am there at the presentation ceremony... and some accident happened... then there would be the perfect excuse to get her!"

"Oh, so you will finally follow through on this old plan... and oh... it's taken you close to a year to..."

"I don't need your commentary, you foolish excuse for a walking stick!"

"My, aren't we cranky..." Heka crowed as Scarab threw the remote control at her. Neatly she dodged, slipping it up in her coils to change the channel.

"It's almost time for Oprah anyway," she cackled.

***

"I had wanted to save the best till last," Sohkarra said when they were at the Sphinx. Each of them had their own special gifts for Marianne. Their blush of life spell had faded, so she was in the company of the ancient ones again. Cameron had gone out with his buddies for a regular birthday pint as was his custom on his birthday. Marianne chose to spend the rest of her special day with those she had come to love over the past year.

Marianne looked at the pieces of birthday cake Armon lifted out of the small white box, and placed carefully on the table near Rath's pyramid. "Shall we sing the special incantation again?" Rath asked.

"That will not be necessary Rath," Marianne moaned, already embarrassed and surprised with one birthday celebration. Nefertina rushed in, wearing a silver and gold party hat over her snow white hair. A loud undignified squeal shot out at JaKal as a party horn lashed him in his bandaged face.

"Come on! Let's open presents!" she laughed. JaKal shook his head when Sohkarra plopped a conical hat on his head, and slipped a "happy birthday" crown over Marianne's dark bobbed hair.

"Oh no, you didn't," Marianne groaned, mortified. Rath smiled patiently as he rested a hand on her shoulders and guided her to stand near the pyramid, and the remnants of cake resurrected from her office party.

Armon presented his gift to her first, then Nefertina, and the others. There came the rustle of paper while Marianne ripped the ribbons and brightly colored foil off her gifts. Presley had already given his at the office party, a T-shirt that said Mad Scientist at Work he'd made up. Nefertina's was a set of workout clothes she thought would fit Marianne, hoping she could join them at the gym once in a while. Armon's was a whole set of recipes he'd remembered his mother cooking for him long ago. They chuckled as they realized rhino roast and lion steak wasn't easy to come by in twentieth century San Francisco.

"And here is my gift to you," Rath whispered, reaching behind the pyramid and retrieving a flat box, ornately carved and painted in the bright reds and greens of Egyptian finery.

"Oh god what did you do?" Marianne asked, taking the box from him. Intricate hieroglyphics decorated its surface, all freshly carved and neatly painted. "What a lovely jewelry box!"

"Open it," Rath urged. She tentatively swung back the lid, and gasped in surprise at the lovely glint of gold and copper within. A miniature snake seemed to have coiled itself there in the fine cedar.

"What is it?" Marianne asked, extracting a fine coiled serpent in gold, flexible made from little jointed pieces.

Rath snapped his fingers, and the thing seemed to have a life of its own. With a sparkle of light it twined itself around Marianne's left wrist, its emerald eyes sparkling in the torchlight. "Oh no... oh no..." Marianne groaned.

"It's magical," Armon commented. "Now she won't have to worry about putting it on...""

"Naturally," Rath folded arms across his chest with pride. At the shocked look in Marianne's face he looked a bit concerned. "What is wrong, is it not to your liking?"

"No... it's perfect," she wiped away a tear. "Lovely my dear..."

She planted a firm kiss on his cheek, and the Scribe bore up against the public display of affection rather well. Coughing he allowed himself a little smile.

That left JaKal and Sohkarra to present their own presents.

"Er, I had a little help with my gift to you," Sohkarra said to Marianne mysteriously. "Rath... did

the bulk of the work..."

"But you had the original conception, and you did commission me to craft it, which I did most proudly," Rath said with a bow of his henheted head. Sohkarra chuckled as took a long slender object wrapped in a white linen cloth. "And it was I that selected the gift myself," JaKal said proudly. "For a friend to the Guardians, who has proved her courage in the fight..."

"Your present... use it in good health," Sohkarra smiled. Slowly Marianne took it.

"What on Earth?" she wondered, till she unwrapped the cloth. And gasped. For there in her grasp was a gleaming blade, in the soft gray and copper hues so similar to the weapon Rath carried. At its hilt twined the serpent motif of Wedjet, with some modifications. Yet the blade was straight and true, as a mediaeval sword would have been. The snake's coils joined the crossbar of the hilt, in an Egyptian motif. As she held the blade up to the torchlight, she noticed the hieroglyphics engraved into its surface.

"Oh... my goodness..." she breathed. "What... is this?"

"One should have a fine weapon, if one is to defend herself and her friends," Sohkarra said. "And I do know my Tutor you have been teaching her as of late. This is our gift of trust to you, one who has bravely fought alongside us in battle. It is enchanted, like the blade of my tutor, with

peculiar properties..."

"I cannot wait to try this out..." Marianne murmured, testing the weight. It was surpassingly light.

"It is composed of the same copper alloy as my own worthy blade," Rath remarked, as he summoned his own weapon for her to compare the two.

***

That afternoon, from an otherwise quiet Sphinx, the sounds of combat came. High-pitched whoops mingled with base shouts, sparks flying as two blades met. Gracefully Rath swung his in glistening arcs.

Marianne let out alto-pitched shouts as her blade met Rath's. Yet the two fighting styles seemed different. For Rath used the Egypt-su stance while Marianne kept one hand held up behind her as she strutted on bent legs in a sideways stance. A fencing stance.

"I would advise... you drop that form..." Rath panted, even though he didn't need to breathe. "It

limits... your maneuverability..."

"It's hard to let go... of old habits," she gasped, ducking a slash from Wadjet.

Nefertina gasped as the blade came within inches of Marianne's masked head. Both guardians watched out of the corner of their eyes as they tried to master the strange game that Presley had introduced them to last week. It consisted of a strange green colored table, with an upright slab of

mesh separated into two sections. Two oddly shaped flat pieces of wood were used to knock a feather light ball between the two opponents. Despite his lack of an arm, Armon's bulk belied his agility.

"It's okay," Armon told her. "Rath wouldn't hurt her..."

"Sometimes he gets that odd look in his eyes... like a snake about to strike it's prey..." Nefertina commented, as the ball plunked against her paddle.

"I know that look, for it's the fighter's stance. To fight, you must focus, and always match eyes with the opponent. First rule of Egypt-su..." Armon reminded her.

"I know that... but Rath's fighting style is so different from yours or mine... all those arcs and sweeping motions. Ever since he saw those kung fu movies with Bruce Lee... it's seeped into his fighting style..."

"Ever since you went to that gym to take... new fighting lessons... you're not the same either, Neff," Armon told her, whacking the ball from the opposite corner of the table.

"it's Tai-Bo, a combination of kick boxing, tae kwon do, and modern dance," Nefertina said.

"That's what Cameron calls it..."

"So how many times have you thrown him?" Armon asked her. Nefertina gave him a lopsided grin as they both focused on the game again.

Rath turned a perfect flip as he backed away from Marianne's lunge. "How did you... dodge that?" she panted.

"Simple, my dear... the battle cry indicates your intention..." Rath commented, recovering as he changed his sword to one hand. "You must think several steps ahead if you are to master basic..."

Suddenly Marianne dropped her fencing stance. Something clicked inside her, and she held the long sword in two hands instead of one. Carefully she began to swing the formidable weapon in a figure eight stroke, then up over her head. Caught in the middle of his lecture, Rath nearly lost his henhet as he dodged her strokes.

Marianne moved quickly, bottom tucked under as her left hand passed her whirling sword to her right, then a half circle over her head. Her eyes fixed within those of the cobra, matching his own odd display. She lunged forwards, her weapon aiming for his armpit. Rath whirled, his blade crashing down against hers. Bravely she gritted as she brought her sword around in an odd twist. His khepesh went clattering to the ground.

"What sort of a move is that?" he asked, with surprise, as he rubbed his stinging wrist. "I don't believe that was in any of the forms..."

"A fencing move," she laughed, sweat pouring down her forehead. "Not quite Egypt-su, but you were having so much fun I thought..."

"Hmm, intriguing," Rath noted. He would have to learn that particular move himself. For he had taught her much in addition to magic. At JaKal's insistence that Marianne be trained to defend herself, Armon had bestowed much training on the Scientist. Yet their past adventure had shown that Marianne very much wanted to be part of the action, and she required far more then just magic or hand to hand. Especially when Marianne had taken Sohkarra to a fencing match and explained the martial art to her. Sohkarra realized that Marianne had knowledge of the use of a weapon. And what a shame not to enhance that talent. For since then, the spells that Rath taught Marianne seemed to be near impossible for the scientist to use. Only her elemental powers still seemed to work, slowly improving. So Rath had taken over training the scientist, as her drill instructor. He couldn't help but marvel at the strange new resolve that fell over his love whenever she picked up a sword.

"That was awesome," Armon said as Marianne pulled off the "spaghetti strainer". She wore a fencing outfit, the tight pants and fencing jacket that zipped up the front. Through the mesh of a fencing mask she peered upon Rath in his henhet. It was odd to see such modern equipment faced off against the bandaged form of her love.

Dabbing sweat from her forehead, Marianne turned to Armon and Nefertina. Still their ping pong game continued, neither warrior able to trounce the other.

JaKal too had wandered into the room, nodding his admiration. "You are becoming quite the warrior," he said to her. "It was as if in that one second... your eyes were filled with the hawk's singleness as he swoops down to strike..."

"I don't know quite what came over me that moment," Marianne muttered. Still the plank, plunk of the table tennis game continued in the background.

"Thank you," she nodded, and extended her gloved hand to Rath's. She tucked the fencing mask under one arm, gripping her weapon with blade downwards. He looked at her oddly.

"It's a fencing tradition," Sohkarra added. "To shake hands after a match."

Rath looked thoughtful for a moment, and then extended his own gauntleted hand. His large hand grasped around hers as she gave it a firm hearty shake. "Well done," she nodded. Pride beamed in the green eyes.

"Under my instruction, of course," Rath added, with pride. He had recovered his khepesh, and now leaned upon it as if it were a cane.

"Well I did teach her Egypt-Su..." Armon reminded him.

"And she did know the art of the strange long skewer long before she even met us," JaKal reminded him.

"Er, that's fencing..." Marianne said to him.

"But my refinements had improved her very much indeed..."

"Rath that's all well and good," Marianne added. "But as I recall you weren't exactly thrilled to teach me at first..."

"Hmm, but that was only because I was concerned for your safety... but it is evident that you are progressing quite well. A most elegant weapon this long sword, but not quite as elegant as the khepesh, when mastered..."

Suddenly a wildly flying Ping-Pong ball whacked him unceremoniously in the henhet, tipping it to one side. Armon promptly burst out laughing as Rath stopped cold in the middle of his lecture.

"Oh, sorry!" Nefertina giggled. Rath pitched them a rather stern stare, straightening out his headgear.

"Well there is something to be said for more modern sword techniques," Marianne shrugged. Carefully she balanced the weight of her weapon again, swinging it with almost decided ease. An odd look came into those blue eyes yet again as she moved away from the group. Tossing the swinging weapon from hand to hand she passed it in ever increasing arcs, just barely missing her head. Then she flinched, sword clattering from her hand as she backed away from it. Everyone's eyes were fixed on hers, silence as Rath was staring right at her.

"Are you all right, my dear?" Rath asked her, coming to her side as she felt a bit shaky. Nefertina stood on her other side, helping her to stand as she leaned heavily on the Scribe.

"I... don't know. I had this strange feeling again..."

"What sort of strange feeling?" Nefertina asked.

"As if... I wasn't guiding my hands... and yet I was. Almost as if instinct took over... but it couldn't could it?"

"Face it you're getting better," Armon said, thumping her on the back. She let fly a gasp, as she seemed to move forwards with the firm blow.

"Perhaps you'd better rest... that is enough for one day," Rath told her, as she bent to recover the weapon. She shook her head, blinking as if she had just awakened.

"Even the Hawk must have its time to divide the catch among its young," JaKal said, blue eyes not missing any of this strange situation. Even as two brightly dressed figures in odd hard shells upon their heads and matching joint pieces, he watched their entrance with all the seriousness of his trade.

"Hello there, miss us?" Sohkarra chirped, pulling off her helmet.

"How goes the practice?" Presley asked, leaning his skateboard against the wall as Sohkarra unlaced her roller blades.

"I trust you had a good time, my young love," JaKal said, coming over to her as he slipped an arm around her waist. Strange things those sandals with the little chariot wheels all in a row.

"I... feel... really odd..." Marianne muttered, rubbing her head. Sohkarra didn't miss the concerned looks that JaKal and Rath exchanged, or the fact that Nefertina seemed to be supporting Marianne as she moved in a haze.

"Maybe you'd better have something to eat," Armon suggested.

"Or a bit of a lie down..." Rath suggested.

"Oh don't fuss all of you, I'm fine," Marianne said irritably. "I may have just turned thirty one, but that doesn't mean I'm an old lady yet..."

JaKal glanced again at Sohkarra. As if to confirm that something indeed strange had happened that they would not, should not ignore. Sapphire blue eyes affirmed JaKal's concern as Marianne left with Nefertina and Sohkarra.

"Did you enchant that sword or something," Armon asked Rath, who held Marianne's weapon in his hands.

"Of course!" Rath sniffed. "All weapons I forge have their specific properties... and that blade is almost an equal to my own..."

"What sort of enchantments?" JaKal asked him.

"The usual sort, to enhance the strength of the blade, and the proper wards of protection..." Rath muttered, as he took the weapon towards his lab. "But I attenuated it to her own soul and mind, so it should not cause any harm..."

"Well something happened to her," JaKal said. "And if it wasn't your sword..."

"What sort of something are you talking about?" Rath wondered.

"Did you not notice the look in her eyes, like that of a warrior born..." JaKal asked. "That came before she disarmed you... and the second time... when..."

"Obviously my teaching skills in the use of weapons are effective indeed," Rath sniffed.

"Perhaps," JaKal muttered, as he moved away with the others.

"What are you looking at?" Rath asked Armon, who had an odd look in his brown eyes.

"Nothing. But JaKal is right. She didn't learn those moves from you..."

***

Part 2

Friday evening came and went as just any other for Marianne. However, she slipped between the sheets far earlier that evening then her usual time of eleven thirty. For some reason that fatigue laced her muscles, sending her into a deep sleep.

"Let go... let go of all you have learned..."

Marianne felt her head toss from side to side as the voice spoke again, very plain and calm.

Within her mind she was in a classroom, back at grammar school. Only it more closely resembled her chemistry class back in Oxford University.

"You must let go," came the voice again. Where did it come from? A white coated instructor, with a bushy gray beard who eyed her like the proverbial hawk.

"But I cannot let go of my science," she sighed, swirling the strange mixture in the flask as her professor shook his head.

"I don't mean your science... but something else. Do you believe the reaction will proceed?"

"No..."

"That's why your experiment's a failure..."

Indeed she looked at the flask, but it had not changed color. This was very strange. It was an experiment a basic freshmen chemistry major should have been able to do! Phenothalien always turned pink in the presence of base! Didn't it?

Yet all the laws of science did not obey her.

"Curse it!" she screamed, throwing the flask against the wall. Before her eyes it dissolved a huge hole, the paint bubbling and flaking as the acid ate away the counters, the periodic table on the wall. Blue skies peered through, clouds moving quickly as the outside air came through into the hot lab. Marianne felt the irresistible urge to leap through, and felt herself falling. The lab building streaked past to an invisible point far below as she plummeted. A thousand floors up she was, seeing her flailing reflection as it fell at the same velocity mirrored in the modern windows of each floor.

Only to hear the voice again... "Believe, and you will not fall..."

Glancing she saw a blue eyed hawk fly overhead, its golden wings bright in the noonday sun.

Gasping she felt her white labcoat billow into a set of wings that flapped at the thin air. Terror sprang into thrills as she winged her way after the hawk. But it wasn't a hawk... it was a Pegasus, sorrel and red that flapped its wings mightily in the air. Laughing she threw herself after it, flying as if she were a bird herself.

Slowly, tongues of black vapor crept in among the puffy white cumulus clouds. As food coloring spills and rolls before it dissolves into water, the blackness of the storm moved in. Lightening rent the skies, sizzling at her wings. Yet she could reach out with one hand, and block its effects as her wing morphed into a magical three-cornered shield. At the heart of the maelstrom cackled an ebony beetle, lightening arcing between his claws.

"Scarab..." she gasped, as his bony hands threw the lightening towards the Pegasus. It winged away, leaving Marianne alone.

"You will perish for associating with them!" he cackled, sending a glaring flash at her.

"No!"

But hands gripped hers, large hands that seemed made of gleaming metal. Holding her close and fast as she was shielded from danger. The lightening hissed and crackled off, spilling over the hands that gently closed around her wings without crushing them. As she turned her head she saw two large figures: one in armor and the other robed, lightening passing betwixt them in two fiery bars. The armored figure rode astride a white charger, his shield held high while he brandished a medieval lance.

"Who... what are you?" she asked again.

Both figures looked upon her, and one smiled to the other. "You must let go... if you are to be safe from the evil one..." the robed one said.

"Believe... believe..." came the command of the knight.

"Believe what?" she asked. But her only answer was an enigmatic grin from one. Slowly the other, in silver armor, began to open his mouth. Yet the words were garbled to her. She could not hear the words, only a featureless voice at first. Then the words became crystal clear saying, "We must take a stand against the monster, the ancient evil which threatens our world! Join me, Marianne MacLaren Ellis, in my fight against the demon Scarab! That he may be slain for his threatening of the innocent!"

A serpent slithered around her wrist, emerald green. Its red tongue flickered over her hand, gently soothing where the lightening had burned. Slowly it fused itself around her wrist, coiling there as if it were quite comfortable. From afar Scarab cackled, his lightening licking out as the radiance was darkened.

Shrieking she lifted her hand. The serpent upon it hissed, and suddenly straightened out to its full length of three feet. Yet the lightening did not touch her as it crackled over her, forming into strange metal skin. Even the serpent changed, forming into a sharp sword that fused into light itself. Gripping her arm, the knight pulled Marianne onto his stallion to ride behind him.

"Let us go forth and fight the good fight, milady!"

"Go forth in Peace, to love and serve," came the voice of the robed one, his blue cape fluttering with nine silver stars upon its chest. Slowly he faded into the blue skies. Scarab flew into the retreating storm, Marianne and the knight in hot pursuit. Hooves thundered beneath them both, Marianne holding aloft her sword.

The knight handed her his shield, white with a cherry red cross upon it. "Take my standard and do not fear..."

"But I cannot alone..."

"You are never alone my child," came the strong voice. "Believe... and accept the potential that has always existed within you. That which he whom you love has awakened..."

Then she jolted awake, laying there in her full bed as if she had fallen. Marianne wiped the sweat from her forehead. How very strange indeed...

"What was that all about?" she wondered.

***

Within the Sphinx, Presley perched on an Egyptian carved chair. Face nestled between his hands, elbows rested on the table as he watched Rath pouring a bubbling foam from one conical flask to a shiny beaker. They stood in his lab for Presley's weekly lesson in magic, which happened every Saturday.

"Dreams reveal the most important aspects of your life..." Rath insisted. "And portend the future... of your spirit and destiny..."

"Rath, ya gotta be kidding! Sure, there are all kinds of people saying that dreams mean something..."

"You would do well not to laugh, Young Prince," Rath said. "In Egypt, dreams held many secrets otherwise not known."

"Yeah, my mom read a book about that," Presley said. "About how when ya dream about tornadoes, it means your life is in turmoil or something. But dreams predicting the future?"

"Not only that. But hidden meanings can be expressed in dreams. And spirits from beyond the Western gate can even manifest themselves in them..."

"Whoa, that's pretty heavy stuff," Presley laughed.

"Indeed it carries great weight..."

"Speaking of dreams, I had a rather odd one last night," came Marianne's voice.

"Hiya Dr. Ellis..." Presley said, as he saw her in the doorway. Dark circles were under her blue eyes, as if she had not slept very well. The glitter of gold came from the serpent bracelet about her left wrist.

"Ah, my dear..." Rath said, moving over to her as he deposited a kiss on her cheek. "What an unexpected surprise... I did not think you would come this early..."

"Yeah, it's a Saturday..." Presley said. "I thought you were gonna party the night away!"

"Excuse me, did you say you had an odd dream?" Rath asked her.

"Yes... as a matter of fact yes... and it was unlike any dream I had before..."

"Tell me, and it will make a most fitting lesson for the young Prince," Rath nodded with a hint of cunning.

"Well, it all started in the chemistry lab..." Marianne began. Her words drew strange looks from both of them, till when she at last finished, "And that is it then..."

"Most... intriguing," Rath muttered. "I think... perhaps I will need some time to consult my scrolls on this matter..."

"So are ya telling me you can't say what here dream means?" Presley teased him.

"Well, er... it will take some time. For... it is a modern dream," Rath muttered. Marianne noticed the wavering in his softly accented voice, combined with the look of fear in the green eyes. As if he was holding back from them both.

"Hey, why don't we ask my sis about this..." Presley asked.

"All right then," Marianne said. "Don't worry Rath. It's probably nothing..."

"I... will let you know as soon as I have determined the dream's meaning, my dear," Rath said as he shoed them out of the chamber.

***

A few hours later, Rath emerged from his lab in a frenzy. He moved into the main chamber, passing by the spirit box. "This is most distressing," the Scribe worried. Rapidly he orbited the main chamber, ankh clutched in one hand as he glanced from it to everyone else. Armon and Nefertina were fighting over the remote control fiercely.

"I want to watch Bugs Bunny!" Armon shouted.

"You watched that same episode last week! That stupid coyote never catches that fast feathered bird!" Nefertina complained, holding the remote out of his reach. Rath turned, rushing right over with his ankh.

"What now, don't tell me you fired up that Talos spell again," Nefertina joked. yet that look in

Rath's eyes said it was no laughing matter. Armon saw his opportunity, snatching the remote away from her.

"Come on, what?" she asked, with a slight laugh. "You've got the sense of humor of a statue!"

"A stray sense of energy, foreign, and completely not Msirian in nature..."

"Hah, maybe just the magic box," Nefertina said to him.

"Your thing went crazy the last time that..." Armon began, flipping to Daffy and Bugs.

"I need to check everyone's amulets," Rath broke in. "This could be most distressing..."

"All right, all right," Nefertina laughed, with a wave of her hand. She drew her legs onto the sofa, reclining on one arm. Armon watched Yosemite Sam blown up by dynamite yet again.

"Thank you my dear," he said, and continued to wave the ankh all over. When he moved it close to her, an eerie chiming noise, like a single piercing note cut into everyone's ears.

"Ooh, knock it off Rath!" Armon moaned, covering one ear with his one hand.

"Yeah, what in the name of Bastet are you doing?" Nefertina snapped. Marianne Ellis wandered in, carrying a bowl of popcorn and several diet cokes in hand.

"I have some goodies for you two," she called. The wailing increased to fever pitch when she stood right next to Rath.

"Good Grief Rath, what are you doing?" she complained, reaching for the ankh.

"Marianne, you are the source of energy?" Rath gasped, moving his ankh away.

"What energy, what's going on here?" she asked.

"Oh Rath just is in some kinda thing about an energy source," Nefertina dismissed with a wave of her hand. Armon and Rath glanced right at her, brown eyes and green ones boring holes in her.

"What is with those suspicious looks," Marianne asked them.

"We cannot be certain if one of us might have been affected by Scarab's latest spell," Rath tried to explain gently.

"Affected? You think that I am under some sort of hocus pocus?" Marianne asked, a bit hurt.

"And I suppose that makes me some sort of threat?"

"But the energy is not Heka in nature... that is what I am concerned about, my dear..." Rath tried to explain yet again.

"So let me get this straight," Marianne sighed. "Any magic you sense... magical energy, which isn't Egyptian, is suspect?"

"Well..." Rath muttered.

"That sounds like a yes to me," Nefertina put in.

"I cannot believe what I am hearing!" Marianne said, voice rising in volume.

"We must be prepared for any risks," JaKal came in at that moment.

"What is this, a conspiracy?" Marianne asked, as she saw the Hunter enter with Sohkarra.

"It's not that..." Rath tried to explain. "I simply need to study this energy you are exhibiting... so that it may..."

"I'm not a threat to the Prince and Princess! I wouldn't let myself harm them!" Marianne shouted.

"Now there is no talk of accusation," Sohkarra broke in. She had noticed the argument, and had come running to see what the commotion is about.

"Sohkarra, I have found the source of the foreign magic," Rath announced, inclining his head.

"Foreign magic?" Marianne raised an eyebrow. "What in blazes is this about?"

"We had sensed it, as soon as you had last entered," Sohkarra explained. "I could not find a trace of it myself with my psychic powers, and had asked Rath to investigate it...."

"Investigate? And you think I'm the cause of this whatever it is?" Marianne asked, dropping the cokes onto the sofa. Armon deftly took the popcorn from her outstretched hand.

"My Tutor is simply concerned about doing his duty, as I would. And I think that it would be wise if we find out what caused this. The power I sense in you is very strong indeed... and if we are to deal with it..."

"Deal with it?" Marianne asked sharply. "You make it sound like a disease! Is any non Msirian

magic suspect? Why cannot you admit that... I can't believe this..."

"You should not address the Princess in such a manner..." JaKal put in.

"Don't give me that!" Marianne snapped sharply. "How dare you pull rank on me!"

"She is only doing her duty as is Rath... until we can assess what has happened to you..."

"I'm sorry, but I'm very hurt at this whole business," Marianne said, choking back the quaking in her speech. "With all due respect, I thought I was a friend to you all... and I... the fact that you suspect I could be a threat..."

"Marianne, I said that there was more to you then you expected..." Sohkarra said. "You must let us help you..."

Marianne broke away from them, anger still broiling through her system. "No... if I am such a risk then perhaps it would be best if you did not have to figure this out..."

Rath and Nefertina moved to her, but the look in her eyes stopped them as she quickly turned to walk out of the room. Sohkarra's telekinetic power swept out to enfold Marianne, stopping her in her tracks.

"Dammit, let me go!" Marianne shouted back. There came a blaze of magnesium that nearly blinded the Princess and her friends. Sohkarra's power receded with the momentary flare.

"Why do you resist me?" Sohkarra exclaimed. The flash wasn't enough to blind her, only to catch her attention. Still that look unnerved them all!

"Let her go," JaKal said. "Till she can see fit to be calm about this..."

"Don't shut us out," Sohkarra implored the exiting Marianne. Frustration flashed in her sapphire eyes. Marianne had never lashed back before.

"I'm sorry, but I need to sort all this out!" Marianne shouted back. Her voice echoed in the exit corridors. Slowly the sounds of her footsteps meandered till they could hear them no more.

"Why did you use your power on her?" Rath snapped. "That was uncalled for, young lady!"

"But Rath, she needs us!" Sohkarra protested. "Why did she retaliate?"

"She... just needs time alone..." JaKal said. "We cannot force our help upon her."

***

Sunday morning saw many citizens practicing their unique rituals for the week's new beginning. No strangers to this, the members of St. Andrew's Protestant Episcopal church gathered in the small gothic style building. A white banner fluttered under the American flag, its red cross upon white, with a field of blue in the upper left corner slowly half disclosing in the breeze. A white x of nine stars spread on the blue. The four points on the church's boxlike belltower rose three stories off the street corner. Its red doors were open to the English country church motif within.

Halfway through the service, the lessons had been read, and the creed of faith had been recited.

Tears dripped into her eyes, misting over the view of the sanctuary. Marianne pulled off her glasses, wiping them with a length of tissue she fished out of her purse. From the front of the blur came a spear of rainbow light, flashing over her Sunday best in the firm wooden pew.

"Prayers of the People, form III... on page 387 of the Book of Common Prayer," came the voice of the Intercessor, from up front somewhere. Marianne reached for the book sheathed in red leather, the little gold cross flashing on its surface.

Licking her fingers she thumbed the thin pages apart. And lay the book on the pew seat before her as she knelt on the thick cushion. There were several dozen thumps in the church as everyone else did the same.

Marianne pushed her glasses back on, her face lowered to read the words in response:

Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

That we all may be one.

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and

humbly serve you;

That your Name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;

That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and

Sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations

of the world;

That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;

That our works may find favor in your sight.

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;

That they may be delivered from their distress.

Give to the departed eternal rest.

Let light perpetual shine upon them.

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;

May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

All people, Marianne thought. Even for my ancient friends who have sought to question my very right to have my own abilities. Somehow through the Centuries the church had sprung from the believes of a tentative few followers of a man condemned to die for his beliefs. Those few whose wisdom held the light in the troubled times.

Would Rath understand this ritual? There was no statue of his god Ptah or Thoth that he was accustomed to. Merely the crossed bars near the ornate screen behind the altar, carved with images of the many Apostles.

St George's Church was a sizeable one, with a traditional English altar and choir stalls facing each other in carved dark wood. The organ to one side, the Priest sitting on the other. Decani, and Cantoris. Two sides. The congregation sat further back, in the nave, or main part facing the altar. Now the Intercessor, reading the prayers from the pulpit, closed his book and moved back to his seat in the Congregation.

Thousands of years of tradition here. Her mind could not focus on the prayers as it usually did. That knot choked her inside. Why did she feel as if she was being torn in half?

Her eyes danced around the room, to the stained glass windows. To one side was a window of a handsome knight on horseback, his lance spearing into a green dragon. And a castle behind him, with nobles looking out upon the Knight's deed. Such an image she'd seen in many a church in England, her home. St. George.

"Why do I feel so conflicted? Am I betraying myself with Hecka?" she silently asked. The image did not answer. It wouldn't.

"And yet I love him. Love them all. I was always taught to tolerate diversity, not shut it out. And yet... they saved my life. But here it says such magic is against what I should practice..."

She felt the anger. This place existed only a fraction of the time as the mighty temples of Karnack and Luxor. An ancient people with every bit as much faith and belief as the young families here. Who was right and wrong?

"Where do I belong?" she wondered. "St. George, I feel like a blasted fool saying this to you. I'm no Catholic... but I am taught to revere you... as some sort of example. Is there room for the ancient magic in this world? And if it's the only way to help... why do my friends not see I'm no threat to them? What's happening to me?"

There came no answer from the stained glass. A hand fell on her shoulder as the people began to exchange the peace. Her eyes fell on the banners in the back of the church, the standards of Scotland and England united in this... small branch of what was a child of England's church.

***

Part 3

That Sunday afternoon her friends in question were attending to another ritual. Armon and Nefertina planted themselves in front of the magic box to ward off the gloom that pervaded the Sphinx. Even Sohkarra was far from her usual mischievous if not regal self. "It's just not the same without Marianne," Armon dared say, expressing their silent concern.

From the floor, Presley nodded. "Yeah, you guys are all majorly bummed out. I couldn't get Rath out of his lab..."

"She made her choice," Sohkarra sighed, as she sat down upon a stone chair near the couch.

"Shh, the news is coming on," Nefertina cautioned. "And it's the Museum!"

"Wait, I remember," Sohkarra muttered. "There was something about an award being given..."

"It is strange how they reward in this time," Armon said, diving into the bowl of popcorn.

"Instead of covering a warrior in gold, they hang a little ribbon with a small coin around the necks of their mighty warriors... and sometimes they give them little cups that cannot be used to drink from..."

"Hey, what can I say, times have changed..." Nefertina said.

"There's Marianne! She's in the magic box!" Armon said. "No wonder she is not here..."

"Armon, that's not how it works," Nefertina began to say before she noticed a finger before Sohkarra's lips.

"Turn up the sound," Sohkarra urged, as Nefertina aimed the control of Destiny, which was what Rath and Armon called it, and upped the volume. Upon the flickering screen they saw the front of the Museum steps. A small group of workers had gathered. Sohkarra's eyes narrowed as she noticed a tall thin man in rather fancy clothes advance upon the podium. Nefertina's eyes widened at the sight of Cameron, from behind the podium with Amanda Carnarvon.

"It is with great pleasure that I call this meeting. To announce that our museum is the proud recipient of a Grant, from the National Institutes of Health. And who is responsible for this grant of money?"

"Who is Grant?" asked Armon. "And how will he help the museum?"

"Shh silly! A grant is a chunk of change, a whole lot of money," chuckled Nefertina.

"It is with great pleasure that our benefactor, Mr. Harris Stone, will present us with the check, and a special award to the employee responsible for this marvelous achievement in conservation science...."

"Oh pukorama, there's Mr. Stone!" Presley groaned as the figure in fine suit and glittering watch chains elbowed Mrs. Carnarvon out of the way. "He drones on for hours!"

"Fellow patrons of the Museum, it is with great pleasure I present the sum that was presented to me, and which I personally match from my own pockets to Mr. Hepplewhite, Director of Antiquities... the sum of ten million dollars to the museum's Conservation department..."

"It's just a slip of papyrus!" Armon moaned. "What is glorious about that?"

Hepplewhite took the check, his eyes bugging out when reading the number of zeros behind the number one. Stone moved aside for a moment, Mr. Hepplewhite gripping the microphone, "It is with great thanks we accept this grant from Mr. Stone on behalf of his generosity in matching NIH's own generosity. But there is another we will reward today. An indispensable member of this museum's staff, without whom we could not have become one of the new pioneers in forensic science. This year's outstanding Employee award goes to Dr. Marianne Ellis. Whose keen mind and brilliant work has attracted the attention of NIH, and Harris stone..."

"What will be her reward?" Armon asked. He saw a strange piece of wood, shiny in gold being handed to a blushing Marianne. They noted the strange sadness in her eyes as she was about to take it. No wonder she seemed sad. What could one do with a piece of wood covered in gold? Except perhaps use it as a mirror?

Suddenly Sohkarra emitted a strange noise. "WE have to get over there now! She's in danger!"

"What?" Presley asked

"You heard her, move it!" Nefertina shouted as they stumbled over each other in an effort to hurry.

***

From the crowd, there moved strange figures as the flickering of cameras sounded. Marianne took the award from Mr. Hepplewhite, her hands shaking with mixed emotions. For a second she glimpsed out into the crowd, wishing to see those five familiar faces she'd come to know over the months. Yet she wasn't altogether surprised not to see them in the sea of clicking cameras and clapping hands.

Harris Stone moved before her, extending his bony hand. Marianne shivered as she took it, clammy cold within hers. "My congratulations," he said, voice gravelly as she saw the strange look in his eyes.

"Th-thank you," she choked, feeling fear creep down her wrist. What was it about him that gave her the creeps?

Cameron beamed with pride as he shook his sister's hand, followed by Amanda Carnarvon and Mr. Hepplewhite. Out of the corner of her eye Marianne noticed the strange orange complexion of several of the TV technicians filming the ceremony. Shabti?

Suddenly there came a shout from the street, as a van rolled by, and several figures in black burst out. There came cries and shouts as the crowd parted, and everyone screamed in fear. She felt Harris Stone's hand grip hers and pull her away, flanked by her brother and Amanda.

One of the figures, with a loudspeaker shouted, "We will not tolerate these acts of desecration to the treasures of the past!"

For their leader suddenly moved within shot of the podium. Security guards ringed the museum personnel, blocking the advancing figures. But the terrorists stopped short, only ten feet from the escaping throng on the museum's steps.

"In a few minutes the Treasures of the past will be forever buried, where those desecrations will not be able to make profit of them!" came the voice of the leader.

"How dare you!" Amanda shouted. "This museum is for everyone to enjoy! The art is donated..."

"What..."

"Stop, and your demands will be met," said Harris stone. What was that gleam in his eyes, Marianne asked herself.

"Too late!" he laughed.

Suddenly there came an shockwave of fire from the podium, as smoke poured everywhere. The air itself slammed into Marianne, hurling her into darkness. Everyone screamed, their cries lost in the thundering boom of falling masonry.

***

The Hot Ra was stuck in traffic, backed up for ten city blocks. Downtown San Francisco choked on a string of honking vehicles. Like a strand of oddly colored beads they curved over the hilly terrain.

"What is causing this infernal stoppage?" asked Rath indignantly.

From above, JaKal wrapped in Sohkarra's invisibility spell, flew circles around the museum.

"There's been some sort of accident," he said over his communicator.

Sohkarra felt a strange sensation overcome her as she let out an unearthly cry.

"What is it, little sister?" asked Armon, holding her.

"Screams... as if a dozen people had felt intolerable pain..." Sohkarra gasped. "JaKal, get there now!"

Pulling away from Armon, the Princess led the others out of the Hot Ra. Presley choked as he ran after her with Armon and Rath. Nefertina roared up onto the sidewalk, gunning the Hot Ra through the park to the rear of the Museum. JaKal swooped down into the billowing cloud of smoke. Fire trucks had arrived on the scene, spraying at the fast rising blazes.

The Mummies concerned themselves with helping the choking people to safety, as Sohkarra's telepathic powers held the flames back so the firefighters could douse the flames.

"Mom!" Presley screamed as he raced to the smoking steps, only to be held back by police.

Choking, several paramedics carted a stretcher between them, with Mr. Hepplewhite on it, fussing and fretting.

"Young Prince... Presley come back!" Rath shouted, moving after the boy.

"Mom!" Presley cried as he saw her being moved between two police officers, a blanket over her shoulders.

"Honey, what are you doing here?" she wailed. Sohkarra noticed this, throwing a spell around Rath to make him into "Rutherford Higgins," museum consultant. He quickly caught up to Presley's side.

"Mr. and Mrs. Garret asked me to bring him," Rath coughed. "I had heard about the bombing on the news, and thought it best to see if my friends were all right... is Dr. Ellis..."

"They're still pulling people out..." Amanda coughed, her face streaked with dirt. A few minor bruises and cuts from debris were the only injury she seemed to have suffered.

Suddenly "Jaime" moved up, with "Jack" at her elbow. "There you are!" she said to Amanda.

"We were so worried! When we heard the news..."

"Thank you for looking after my son... but..."

"Where is Marianne?" Rath despaired.

Cameron Ellis came forth on another stretcher, moaning and groaning Marianne's name. He had burns upon his arms and face, but thankfully nothing serious. Sohkarra moved towards him, but stopped cold. Tears suddenly formed in her blue eyes as if she had been struck in the face. Oddly she stared into the direction of the building.

It was then that two firefighters were coming forth out of the smoke choked air, carrying something between them. Several strange black casings, like garbage bags. Presley felt sick in the pit of his stomach. "What are those?" JaKal asked him.

"Body bags... somebody was killed..." Presley gasped.

ON yet another stretcher lay Harris Stone, weak as they were starting IV's on him. They all walked past as they saw the aged man blinking, burns on his face here and there. Rapidly he vanished into the waiting ambulance.

"Marianne!" Cameron shrieked from his stretcher. "Where is she?"

"Better go with him, Nefertina," Sohkarra said to her. "He needs you now... I fear... as we all will need each other in the ordeal ahead..."

Amanda held her son close as JaKal stood by them both. Nefertina moved quickly to Cameron's side, leaping into the ambulance behind him.

"Wait... who are you?"

"We're friends," Sohkarra explained to the paramedics.

"He's my boyfriend!" Nefertina told them crisply, and the paramedic decided not to argue. For Nefertina shoved her way into the seat, the ambulance swallowing her and Cameron up.

"Has Mrs. Ellis been found?" JaKal asked two of the policemen who moved to stop the small group from advancing any further. A strange yellow tape with black lettering was being stretched out by the large heavy man. His partner, a thin fellow with a loose baggy uniform scratched his head and scribbled notes into his small pad.

"No... they're still sorting things out..." Joe muttered, looking to JaKal.

Rath rushed towards the Museum frantically. "She must still be in there..."

"Sir, you can't go there... it's a crime scene," said Officers Joe, blocking his way.

"But I must know..." Rath snapped, shaking Joe as he seized his shoulders. "The woman I love may be suffering in great pain!"

"Please Mister!" Bob cautioned. "We'll find her, dead or alive!"

"No..." Rath gasped. Already JaKal and the Carnarvons had joined him, Armon gripping Rath as he struggled to push past the police. Officer Bob held him fast. "Sir, ya gotta stop or you could get arrested for obstructing justice..."

He felt Sohkarra's voice in his mind, "Rath, we'll find out later. You wont' do yourself or her any good by going hysterical. I'm reading no trace of her mind..."

"Marianne!" Rath cried.

"There's nothing we can do," JaKal said to him as he moved to grip his friend and pull him away from Officer Bob.

"We'll let you know as soon as we know anything," Joe said to him, not unkindly.

"Whoever she was she must have been very special to you. So don't worry we'll find out what happened..."

"I dunno Bob, it looks like a secret terrorist plot..."

"Not with that story again!"

JaKal and Armon pulled a despairing Rath away from the two police as Sohkarra joined them.

"Rath, there's nothing we can do..." JaKal told him, voice cracking.

"But Marianne..."

"I cannot feel her mind here..." Sohkarra said.

"You cannot mean..."

"I... am sorry, Rath," Sohkarra said, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Are you sure?" asked JaKal.

"She cannot be..." Armon gasped. By now Presley and his mom came forwards.

"No! I refuse to believe it!" Rath cried, voice rising two octaves in pitch. "She cannot be dead..."

"We have failed in our duty to protect she who was our friend," JaKal said, fist clenching. "But... I swear by Osiris whoever is responsible..."

"JaKal... jack..." Sohkarra warned. For they saw Amanda and her son within earshot.

"Marianne, noooo!" Rath screamed, suddenly as a hysterical look came over his green eyes. Armon gripped him as he scrambled back to the museum and the string of ambulances.

"Rath, stop it!" Armon rumbled. "It's no good..."

"Forgive me, my tutor," Sohkarra said, as she whispered a sleeping spell on him. Promptly Rath fainted and passed out. Anger tightened in JaKal's throat as he glanced at the wreckage of the museum. In grim silence the four moved away, leaving Presley with his mother for now.

***

"In tonight's news, the San Francisco Police Department has pieced together the Museum explosion as a possible victim of a terrorist attack. A group calling itself the Liberators of the Past has claimed responsibility. Other such attacks upon museums in Cairo and Jerusalem have happened in the past months, but police are still investigating the connection..."

Nefertina gripped Cameron's good hand as they both watched the hospital television. Tears formed in Cameron's clear blue eyes as she sat pensive with him. She shivered as she realized this was the second time she'd been in such a place, since she had taken Bix to the hospital nearly a year ago. It still smelled of the sick and dying, mingling with the pungent smell of alcohol and disinfectant. That strange plastic serpent that pierced Cameron's wrist snaked up to a small clear bladder of water. Slowly the liquid dripped down the snake's hollow body, into Cameron's. Presley said it was an IV. So many changes in this new time. And yet death was still a reality.

"Those animals," Cameron gritted bitterly. Nefertina squeezed his hand more tightly.

"I know... but you've gotta get better..."

"I swear... if I find the person responsible..."

"Cam..." she said gently, pushing down her own anger.

Just then Officer Joe came in, with wary looks from the nurse's aid that showed him Cameron's room. "Mr. Ellis, police to see you..."

"I've already told you all I can remember," Cameron said wearily.

"Sir, I'm sorry to disturb you and your lady, but I have some bad news... about Marianne... Ellis..."

"What... have they found her? What..." Cameron asked, nearly jumping out of his bed as Nefertina fought to restrain him.

"WE... found some of the victims... and... we wanted... you... to verify... her dental records...."

"Yes... you have all that... no..."

"I'm sorry," Officer Joe said, taking off his hat. "They... matched..."

"No..." Cameron gasped, his skin even more pale then usual. Nefertina pushed him down to the bed as he struggled to get up.

"Cameron..." she gasped.

"Those bastards! I swear... I will.. I will..." he stammered, before falling back to the bed. Weeping bitterly he clung to Nefertina, who leaned over into the bed to embrace him. Like a small child she rocked him back and forth as hot tears spattered her shoulder.

***

Part 4

Rath awoke in his sarcophagus, shaking his head. As he wiped his eyes with his bandages he saw them soaked with his own tears. "Marianne," he said softly. If only he could be sure the horrible nightmare was over. Unfortunately the images of the smoking doorway burned too deeply into his psyche to be a dream. Slowly he swung open the sarcophagus, to see JaKal sitting nearby. The hunter's legs were wrapped in a meditative pose, as JaKal's blue eyes fixed upon Rath's exit. "Rath... you are awake..."

"I... am. To what good I cannot think..."

JaKal unlaced his long legs, rising to his feet. Slowly he moved to Rath's side. "I am sorry my old friend. Words cannot describe how sorry I am... but I swear... she will be avenged..."

Rath felt the ache inside, growing ever stronger. The green eyes squeezed shut as his henheted head buried into his gauntleted hand. "Of what good will that be, JaKal? Will it bring her back?"

They heard a door open, and the sound of soft footfalls. Princess Sohkarra wandered into the room, moving warily to both men as Rath fought his tears. "Sohkarra... do... excuse... my conduct... earlier..."

"Rath... my tutor," was all she said, moving to his side as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "You are not the only one in pain over this. For she was my good friend as well. And the loss... pains me as much as I sense it does you..."

"She was friend to us all..." JaKal said. Armon moved into the room, Presley slowly walking at his side. They joined the tableau, as Sohkarra enfolded Rath in an embrace. He accepted it, as JaKal gripped Rath's shoulder with one arm still around his own beloved's waist. Armon and Presley moved into the group, sharing the strange emptiness.

"Who would do such a cowardly thing?" asked Nefertina. "To endanger innocent children and mothers?"

"One who would stop at nothing to prove a point," Sohkarra snapped.

"There is no honor in such a cowardly attack..." JaKal agreed. "For the butchering of bystanders..."

"But didn't people get killed by even Amenhotep's forces... if they got in the way of a battle?"

Presley asked JaKal. "I mean, you guys did have slaves..."

"My father treated captives of war justly," Sohkarra said quickly.

"My prince, the soldiers of your Father did not go out of their way to butcher the innocent..."

Armon told him. "But sometimes in war people will get hurt..."

"Those guys think it's a war," Nefertina said. "On the Magic box there are a lot of those groups that think they are fighting this way..."

"I just don't understand... why they didn't find anything," Presley finally said, as tears were shed.

"What do you mean?" Rath asked, through sobs.

"I mean... usually there are some remains... something..."

"I cannot sense her thoughts anywhere... in the museum. Or in the City..." Sohkarra said. "There is nothing but silence where I once felt her thoughts..."

"But isn't that weird? Because you said when somebody you loved died, you felt the emptiness. And you say you hear silence!" Presley said suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Sohkarra asked. Suddenly JaKal's eyes blinked.

"I think I know. For the serpent moves in stealth, to strike the rat. Yet if the air does not move.. how can the serpent have even been there?"

"What nonsense is that?" Rath muttered, turning away.

"Wait... you're saying, JaKal, that because I sense nothing... instead of emptiness, that Marianne..."

"Yeah!" Presley said. "Because... you said you couldn't feel anything. But if she was .... gone... then you would feel the emptiness..."

"You... are right," Sohkarra said, sapphire eyes lighting up. "JaKal, we must use your hunter skills, back at the Museum..."

"What are we going to do back there?" Armon wondered.

"I want to see her body... that is!" Sohkarra demanded. "Only by seeing it can we know... if she is crossed over. And if so, perhaps I can still help her..."

"You mean... bring her back to life?"

"I have the power of resurrection, do I not?" Sohkarra said firmly. "And if her remains are properly prepared... I can bring her back to life!"

"Nefertina, you take the Prince home while I return to the museum," JaKal said.

"I'll drop him off on the way to the hospital," Nefertina offered.

"Be careful sis, and guys..." Presley said, as Nefertina took his hand.

Sohkarra kissed her brother on the cheek, whispering, "Be brave my spirit brother. For your mother will need your strength in the time ahead... for we cannot be sure... even if the faintest hope exists that Marianne is still alive..."

"I hope so..." Presley said, turning to JaKal.

"Either way she will be found."

***

Nefertina dropped Sohkati with Presley, the prince moving off into the safety of his mother's two story walk-up. Gunning her motorcycle, the Cat guardian rolled towards the hospital. Presley remained on the front steps, watching the Jetcycle pull away for a few minutes. Sighing, he turned to unlock the front door.

"This is all too weird... and way whacked," he said to Sohkati. Her answer was a muffled soft meow.

Suddenly Khati hissed, her fur bristling as she arched her back. "What is it girl?" Presley asked. Slowly he picked up the sacred cat in his arms, stroking her head.

Walter came forwards, with Elaine. "Quick, hide!" Presley whispered to Khati.

"Hey Presley, where have you been hiding your self?"

"Where do you think, dummy?" Elaine elbowed him sharply.

"Sorry guys, I've been... doing some stuff..."

"We heard about the accident... hope your mom's okay," Elaine said.

"She's getting ready to come home from the hospital today," Presley said.

"Yeah, my dad was thinking maybe... you and I might wanna go to the mall for pizza," Walter said. "Till she comes back..."

"Thanks guys..." Presley said. "Got nothing better to do..."

Sighing deeply he left his house behind, climbing into the car behind Walter's dad, crammed between his two friends. Sohkati meowed as she leapt onto the back bumper of the car, hanging on for dear afterlife.

***

JaKal sniffed the burning stench of the museum. Still it was closed, police tape over the front of the one entrance. At the rear people could still gain admittance to the collection. Thankfully none of the other paintings had been stolen. Miraculously the art had survived. Sohkarra had used her powers to keep the flames at bay, saving priceless artwork form the centuries.

"It's all so quiet..." Armon muttered, glancing around at the strange yellow tape blocking off charred walls. Only the one wing was singed, the main gallery still standing intact. No yellow busses stopped with their loads of children. Not today.

Quietly JaKal stepped over the yellow tape. Sohkarra followed, leaving Armon to keep watch for anyone. Shadowing JaKal, Sohkarra felt the echoes of pain from a dozen people, freshly left Twenty-four hours ago. Pain so intense it left its fingerprint upon the scorched walls.

With great care JaKal's fingers moved lightly over charred timbers and cracked stone. He frowned, stepping right before the podium's charred remains. "That is strange..." he said.

"What do you mean?"

"Look here... I see strands of charred hair, and flecks of blood... but something feels wrong about it... there is no blood where Marianne was standing... and you say you saw her right on top of where the fire spread..."

"I did, in my mind's eye," Sohkarra said, reliving the experiences one last painful time.

"But if she was burned, there would be ashes... a footprint of where she was..." JaKal said.

***

Presley was last out of the car, running quickly after Walter and Elaine. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a quick movement. There was a small yowl as he turned. "Oh, Sohkati, don't do that..." he hissed, leaning over onto his side to stare under the car.

Sohkati mewed, backing out as she moved to Presley's ankle. "Best stay outta sight, girl,"

Presley told her. "They don't let pets in the Galleria..."

"Hey Carnarvon, get a move on!" shouted Walter from across the busy lot. Presley shook his head, picking up his backpack to move after Walter. He failed to notice the strange white van pulling up nearby. It rolled slowly after him. Presley saw Walter holding the door for him, Elaine impatiently tapping his foot.

"Come on we don't have all day!" she called.

"There's a pizza with your name on it!" came Mr. Lu's voice. They waited for him. And waited. Slowly there came a sound of rubber on asphalt as Presley stepped across the crosswalk. Vans and cars pulled up to drop senior citizens off at the mall's entrance. So Elaine thought nothing when the white van pulled behind where Presley walked, and the sliding door opened.

Her jaw dropped the next moment when a black suited figure grabbed Presley's backpack.

"Hey!" Mr. Lu shouted, rushing up. A second figure blocked him from the first.

Another person grabbed Elaine, as she rushed to help her friend. Presley brought his foot down on the figure's foot. But it did no good. His arms were locked behind his back, unable to reach his amulet... to call for help.

Mr. Lu shouted to anyone who would listen, "Call 911! Walter, get inside!"

"Dad!" Walter shouted. Mr. Lu's hand flashed out, smacking against the man who held Elaine. Rubbing his wrist he let her go. But the van pulled away before Mr. Lu could help Presley. And it was too late. Walter ran to his dad, tears in his eyes.

"I told you to get help!" Walter's dad scolded him. But Walter was muttering something over and over.

"Dad, the license plate! Elaine, get some paper and write this down..."

Elaine reached into her purse, and scribbled the numbers, her hand shaking as she did so.

***

Slowly she moaned, feeling the fire receding. Marianne felt a floating sensation as she came into consciousness. A soft silky surface brushed under her fingers as she stirred. Slowly her eyes opened to stare up into an ornate canopy. Satin sheets wrapped her snugly in their embrace, a silken nightgown wrapped around her form. Where in the world was she?

To one side lay a silken bathrobe, and a white lab smock. Yet she could see no sign of her business suit.

"Ah, the sleeper awakens," came the voice as it blended into a cackle.

"What..." she moaned. And snapped to attention, her eyes fixing on the television monitor in one wall of the darkened chamber.

"You are most fortunate," he leered. "To be alive..."

"What did you do?" she screamed, backing away. Before she realized that he may well see her in the sheer nightgown beneath the sheets, and pulled them up around her to hide herself.

"Tis a shame what happened. To some of those unfortunate victims..."

"What have you done, you murderer?"

"I... have done nothing, except save your own existence. And you have a chance to repay me.... and help your friends and your dear brother at the same time..."

"What are you talking about, and where am I?"

"Silence, woman. Your own brother and several others were badly burned in the bombing. Most unfortunate... but even now you have a chance to save their lives..."

"How? What do you want me to do, and why should I help you?"

"I merely want a small thing. Immortality..."

"I cannot help you! And I won't!"

"Then for your brother's sake. Why even now he clings to life in the hospital..." Scarab cackled, as he conjured up an image in the elaborate mirror in one corner of the luxurious bedroom.

"Cameron!"

"I have provided a laboratory. What I want is something simple. I have obtained the pieces of several prominent Pharaohs. And I want you, an accomplished biochemist, to extract DNA from them. And extract the DNA that I may take the life essence... and use it to restore the life of those who were damaged."

"I won't let you have immortality."

"Oh it will not grant me immortality. Just a few more paltry decades. But can you live knowing you owe me your life, and that your refusal might well kill your brother..."

Marianne gritted her teeth. "You perhaps know I wouldn't. But you cannot expect miracles..."

***

Dressed in an ultramodern form-fitting smock, Marianne reluctantly let Scarab transport her to the "lab". This had involved a strange trek with bandaged eyes and a dizzying route that rivaled the maze inside the Great Pyramid. Where was she? When the blindfold fell, she drew in her breath sharply. There were no windows in the chamber, gleaming white and black with the smell of new paint from a dozen lab counters.

"Here you will find all you could want, Dr. Ellis. But be warned, defy me, and you may well be what causes your brother to die," Scarab leered. With a sweep of his robed sleeve he traced along the black lab counters. Modern equipment and gleaming flasks were neatly stacked on one table, ornately carved with Egyptian formula. Electrophoresis setups and such were present, the best that any grant money could buy.

"How can I be sure everything I need is here?"

"For I have my ways of knowing, Dr. Ellis. My spies have seen your lab's interior, in the museum. All the equipment you had there is here now. So no stalling..."

A strange stretcher shaped device with Velcro straps lay against one wall. "What is that for?"

"None of your concern. There are yet other projects here.... that you have no comprehension for. But never you mind, or else. Heka, be a good girl and keep an eye on our scientist. I shall return. And by the miracles of modern technology I shall know what you do and do not do..."

"And what is it you want of me?"

"Extract the blueprints of life from these samples," he said, as he conjured a strange gold dish in his hand. Upon it was a fine powdered dust. "Behold the skin from the Pharaoh Rameses. If you can isolate his life's blueprint with the methods you used in that paper... you will promptly hand it over to me..."

"Whatever for? What good will it do you..."

"Stop asking so many questions."

"I cannot work unless I know how you're going to use the DNA...."

"Very well. Infusing my potion with the DNA will make an elixir that can restore youth. Mennehotep's dear sister Princess Kara was working on such a formula. But due to her lack of extracting the spirit essence she failed. But you, being a scientist, can take life's blueprint. And from that I will work my own considerable powers. Now work!"

Grimly Marianne moved over to the modern electrophoresis setup on one table. It looked odd to see the glass and plastic frame with the two test leads upon the Egyptian style table. Somehow she had to help her brother, yet was the cost of compromising her own principles worth it?

Scarab left her, slamming the door behind him. In the midst of her work, Marianne happened to glance up. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a blaze of energy, undulating and swirling upon the stretcher. Slowly it coalesced into a prone figure, head tipped to one sides. Velcro restraints closed around his wrists and ankles, holding him firmly in place.

"What... Presley!" she gasped, seeing the boy laying there on the bed with restraints.

"I see you know the boy?" came Scarab's laugh. He had not left the hallway!

"Why have you captured an innocent child?"

"Oh but you know who he really is. You cannot fool me. You see, plans have changed. I want you to extract the boy's life essence... so that I may consume it..."

"What?"

"If you can extract his DNA, and clone it... the spirit may be deceived, and enter a false body..."

"You cannot clone a human!"

"One can clone a sheep. And all the scientific papers that certain other scientists have written on cloning are here..." Scarab laughed, throwing down the ream at her.

"I'm not a geneticist..."

"Oh, but you can separate the DNA. And I know you can do whatever I say. Or else I will tear the Prince's spirit from his body. And I guarantee the boy might not enjoy that..."

"All right. I'll help you. But the boy mustn't be harmed..."

"I knew you'd be reasonable," Scarab laughed. "Now I suggest you get to work. Time is wasting... for your brother..."

She waited till Scarab left the room. It would only take him a short time to return. And she had little time before he reached his office. Quickly she moved to Presley's side. Already he was beginning to come around as he moaned. She put a hand over his mouth, hiding his face with her body as his eyes snapped open.

"Be quiet, you're in Scarab's hands!" she hissed.

"Miss Ellis, you are alive!" he gasped, glancing at her. "What are you doing here? And why are you helping scarab!"

"I wish I knew where here was," she hissed. "Now keep your voice low. I have no choice, or Cameron will die..."

"Are you nuts? He's in the hospital, and Nefertina's been with him. He just got burned that's all!"

"What? Scarab told me he and several others would die unless I help him with his project. If I didn't he said I would be responsible for their deaths!"

"We thought you were dead. That's why we didn't look for you," Presley said, as she moved close to him.

Suddenly she moved away as she heard Scarab enter. "Ah, I wouldn't try freeing him if I were you..."

"I merely was assessing the best place to extract a blood sample," she said. "I need much genetic material if I am to do what you say..."

"Be quick about it," Scarab urged her. "For..."

"But Scarab, if you insist upon cloning, why not have me make a clone of you? Surely with your power I could grant you immortality by making a clone body... and you can transfer your soul into it!"

"My dear, that may well be. But that body will die. What good it is for that?"

"You could keep cloning new bodies when the old ones come close to dying. And by the time this first clone will die I am sure such technology will exist to..."

"Your mind is brilliant, but you think me stupid? No, the boy is to be cloned first. Every good scientist uses a guinea pig... for if you should fail..."

"No..."

"Now be silent and get back to work!"

Marianne whispered a silent curse on him as she fitted a blood pressure cuff to Presley's arm. She winked at him while she pumped the pressure, tapping his bare arm for any popping veins. Carefully she slipped a needle into his arm, drawing up the plunger. Thank goodness she knew something of taking blood samples, from the laboratory rats in graduate school so long ago.

***

Part 5

Officer Bob wrote down the license number, as Joe held up his cell phone. "That sounds just like the van in front of the museum..." Joe babbled on his phone. "I tell you it's a conspiracy..."

"Eh, pipe down," Bob urged him.

"Could it be the same van?" Mr. Lu asked, his delicate features twisted with worry.

"I don't know... but sounds like it. Say, you're son's really brave for remembering to get that license number..." Bob said, turning to a wide-eyed Walter. He clung to his dad's waist, as Elaine clenched her own mother's hand.

"Oh yeah, a real hero," Walter muttered. "I was scared to death..."

"You should have seen his dad," said Elaine. "He saved my life..."

"You are a very brave man Mr. Su..."

"That's Lu," Walter piped in. "I hope you nail those creeps, Officer! Give em one for me! They can't get away with kidnaping my friend!"

"Uh, sure thing kid," Bob said.

"Don't worry, we'll do all we can to get those conspirators," Joe said, patting Elaine's shoulder.

"And the Past is not all they'll need saving from..."

***

Grimly Marianne poured Presley's blood out of the centrifuge tube. Her hands shook as she added the cells to a buffered solution. The minutes ticked by as she knew the chemicals would cause the cell membranes to burst, leaking their contents. Only the white cells would do, for only they had the precious genes in their nucleuses.

Then came tense moments as she changed buffer yet again, and started to wind the strange thread on her stirring bar. The white goo landed in several vials of liquid, stirring fast with the small white capsule magnetic bar whirling in it. Slowly she poured the thick clear gel into the upright glass frame. While it hardened the strange enzymes were chopping Presley's DNA into little bits. She'd done this before, separating the DNA from the thousands of other molecules in a typical cell. Under the watchful eye of Scarab she mixed and injected the dilute samples into the tiny squares at the top of her gel. A flip of the switch, and the little blue lanes began to creep down the gel in segmented bands.

"How long is this going to take?" Scarab hissed.

"As long as it takes. I must find the right markers. And how can you be sure which sequence you even want to use?"

"Enough to let me mingle it with mine..." Scarab hissed.

Under his yellowed gaze she flinched, hands shaking as she began to turn on her DNA amplifier, a device that would reproduce any DNA molecule, and copy it like a copy machine rattled off facsimiles of a dictionary. Just what he was asking of her seemed impossible.

Scarab busied himself with stirring the contents of a strange flask. Odd ingredients she couldn't begin to guess at landed in the foul smelling liquid. Presley strained against his straps. Very slowly Marianne looked at the bottle of polyacrilamide, reading the words, neurotoxin. A million chemicals she could taint it with that could kill the old wizard. Yet would she sink so low?

There had to be a way to stop him. Marianne saw the gel hardening. Ever so slowly she disassembled the apparatus, extracting the glass pieces with the gel sandwiched between them.

"It is done?" Scarab asked her.

"Yes..." she said. "But I must stain it..."

"Be quick about it!" he snapped.

"Don't rush... if this tears," she muttered, struggling to peel the gel off the bottom plate. Her hands shook as she wrestled with it.

"You don't need to play," he snapped. "Just throw the blasted thing into the brew..."

Scarab poured a foul smelling glass of the odd steamy brew into a goblet, thrusting it towards her. If he thinks you can put an electrophoresis gel into that... he must be joking... she laughed mentally. But it might kill him... and could she do that... not saying anything. But the world could do without Scarab. Painful and quick the polyacrilamide carrying Presley's DNA would dissolve into that stew of potion. And poison the wizard quickly.

No more Scarab, no more problem. But it was murder. Did it justify the ends?

"Drat this gel, I'm afraid it will tear," Marianne grumbled, backing ever so slowly to Presley. She noticed that one of his hands was ever so slowly slipping out of its Velcro strip. Her spatula moved under the delicate gel, peeling it off the glass sheet.

"Oh, drat I forgot to get the stain..." she muttered.

Scarab growled. Marianne suddenly shrieked as the bottom glass slide shattered into a million pieces on the floor. She grabbed the electrophoresis gel in her hands, the flat slab waving in her grip like a sheet of tissue paper.

"You will give me the DNA extract of the boy now!" Scarab snarled. Then his jaw dropped as the gel accidentally ripped in half.

"Oops... clumsy me," Marianne said. "Now I'll have to get another blood sample..."

"Idiot!" Scarab snarled. "You think to delay me?"

Marianne rubbed the gel on her hands, reaching behind her as she moved to Presley's right hand. Scarab snarled as he advanced on the hapless scientist.

"Give that to me... now! Give me that gel!"

"I won't let you have a hair on his head!" Marianne cried, smearing the gel onto Presley's wrist. He gasped, realizing it was easier to slip his wrist out.

"Give that back you... don't you know your brother could die for this?"

"I won't work hocus pocus for you!" Marianne hissed back, throwing the gel on the floor and stepping on it. Instantly she dove for the acid, tossing it upon the remnants of the electrophoresis gel.

"No!" Scarab shouted.

"And he is alive and well, no thanks to you! I'm through playing Dr. Moreau for you!"

"You have defied me for the last time. It is a shame to bid farewell to such a brilliant mind as yours... but I cannot let you leave with this knowledge of what you have attempted."

"Ms. Ellis!" Presley cried as he jerked his wrist out. Lubricated by the smashed electrophoresis gel, his wrist was free! Scarab snarled as the scientist slipped between him and the boy. A blast from his scepter hit her hand, and she gasped as she felt the sting of the fire. She had moved away just in the nick of time

to prevent being singed.

"Is that the best you can do?" Marianne asked, wringing her hand. "Singe the poor helpless little scientist as the big bad wizard?"

"You are dancing with oblivion! I wont' be stopped! If I cannot have the boy's DNA essence, I will take his spirit here and now!"

Marianne struggled to hold up a magical shield, but it soon fizzled as his blast hit it. Yet it was long enough to protect Presley as she blocked him from Scarab's view. Presley realized she was distracting Scarab, giving him time to reach across and free his other hand. He reached for his amulet.

"You dare interrupt my destiny!" Scarab snarled. "Very well... die like the idiot you are!"

Scarab's claw raised, as he chanted an ancient spell, "Take the essence from this sacrifice... that her Ka may sustain this decayed form!"

Marianne drew in her breath sharply as she recognized the words in the Msirian tongue. A horrid spell she had seen in Rath's scrolls about death. Harsh syllables dropped from his dry tongue, reaching across the lab to her. Each beat of her heart suddenly became a major effort. Gasping she felt a heavy weight pressing down on her chest. Every spell she tried to think of seemed to fizzle with the draining energy that leeched out towards him. Presley desperately fumbled with the other straps as he saw the scientist stumbling against the lab counters.

"Your life force is strong, Dr. Ellis. It will sustain me for at least a few decades... if I cannot have the boy!"

"No, I won't let you..." she choked, fighting the inexorable tugging upon her soul. "I cannot... let you win!"

Beryl energy crackled around her as she lifted her hand. It was so hard to summon even the most easy of barriers, the very first spell Rath had taught her was next to impossible. "Oh Lord what's wrong with me!"

"Let go, Marianne." came a soft voice. She seemed to see flashes of light, as time slowed. Scarab's wrinkled features fixed into a devilish grin of delight.

"But my powers are useless."

"The power of faith is far stronger. Let go of that which you have taken for granted. For ever since your brow was christened, I have watched you. We all have. Let go and say my name, ask for my help, and all will be well."

"Who be you?" she asked aloud.

"Those of the lands of your origin... whom you pay homage. You know us as of old... say our names and be transformed. You had the power within you all along..."

Images shifted. As Scarab advanced upon her, she noticed how monstrous he seemed. An evil stinking worm. Worms, dragons... not all were bad. And there was an ancient legend, of one who slew monsters. In her mind's eye she the brave knight astride his white horse, lance in hand as he held it over the Worm, the evil dragon. Another figure, of ancient times, his white cross upon blue that was Scotland's standard next to the Princess in the balcony of the Castle. Half of her was from this ancient source. For the blood flowed even still in her veins. "Andrew...George... you called me in my dreams..." she stammered.

"Pray to whatever deities you believe, woman. For your mind will be mine!" Scarab hissed, as his eyes fixed into hers. By now he seized her throat, reaching through the remains of her crumbling barrier. She gasped as she felt her thoughts leeching through that evil gaze. Instantly she blocked the probes, trying to remember what Sohkarra had taught her about shielding her mind. Unfortunately she faced a far more ancient mind, with centuries of experience. But Scarab gasped, a blaze of energy hitting him from behind. For over his shoulder he saw Presley grabbing his Amulet from Heka. Already he had freed himself from the table. And now the Prince turned to face Scarab, amulet raised.

"Let her go, beetle-head!" Presley shouted. "Or I fire again!"

"Treachery!" he roared, hurling Marianne aside. The scientist hit the floor with a dull thud as Scarab leapt after the fleeing Presley.

Slowly Marianne shook her head, as she lifted it from the lab floor. Slowly she climbed to her knees, feebly shouting, "Stop!"

"You cannot presume to stand against me, you who have no shred of magic!"

"You are evil, and I must stop you... no matter the cost..." Marianne's voice came. Climbing to her feet she threw herself between Scarab and the fleeing Presley. She gripped him in her arms, backing away as Presley held close to her waist.

"George and Andrew, I summon thine aid..." she stammered out. Warmth surrounded her as a beryl radiance flashed before her eyes.

"Oh whoa! Where did you get that armor?" Presley asked.

"What..." she gasped. Scarab's blast crashed against her, the purple lightening snaking over her form. Her eyes peered from behind a slatted visor, safe from harm!

Scarab moaned in dismay as he saw the new development. "I don't care! You'll soon die anyway! Spirit of the True Rapses, come forth... I scarab Command you..."

Suddenly Marianne gestured, and an odd tri cornered shield formed on her wrist. Scarab's crimson claws shattered as the Shield blocked them from both. "You command no spirit, oh evil one..."

Scarab grabbed Heka, squeezing her unceremoniously as she belched fire. Yet Marianne held up the gleaming white and red shield, the image of a dragon and knight rampant in its upper left corner. Presley squeezed his eyes shut as Heka's fireballs roared. Slowly he opened one eye and noticed the shield was stopping the flames, diverting them into twin opposing streams that roared elsewhere into the lab.

"We must get out of here..." Marianne said, pulling him along with her as she came towards the door.

"You fools, there is no escape!" Scarab laughed, ripping off his robes as he transformed. Raising a purple claw he fired a magical missile at her. It too glanced off her shield. Desperately Presley tugged at the resistant doorknob, to no avail.

"We're locked in..."

"No we're not..." Marianne said, covering Scarab with her shield as she passed her other hand over the door. In a shimmer the doorknob and bolt became carbon. Presley gave the door a good kick, pulling Marianne after him. Both ran for their lives in the hallway. Magical bolts ricocheted against Marianne's armor, spots of white-hot heat against chain mail. Yet it held.

Dimly lit hallways stretched before the scientist and the boy. Odd carvings decorated the walls, as Marianne felt her armored boots pounding carpet. Just how long would this armor last, she wondered. Was it anything like that of the Guardians?

"How in the heck can you have armor?" Presley breathed as they stopped to rest.

"I... don't know," Marianne said, as she glanced at the shield. "But it's odd. This is the Shield of St. George... England's national saint... and look here... he is on the top with the Dragon..."

"Whoa... wait a minute! You mean..."

"I cannot rationally explain it..."

"Great, but right now we gotta blow..."

"Let's try this way," Marianne said gripping her gauntleted hand in his.

***

"I cannot believe it! Does every confounded friend of those Mummies have magical powers?" Scarab complained as he motioned to his Shabti. There was no sign of the boy or the woman so far. How insulting to have to root through his own headquarters for his quarry!

"Well boss, it just goes to show we don't know everything, now do we?"

"Who is we, Heka?" he snarled, squeezing her till she coughed. "I don't recall you giving me any such indication. And as for you knowing as much as me?"

"I was stuck in that tomb for 35 centuries too... oh great one... how could I have not learned from your... brilliance..." Heka coughed. Scarab's grip loosened at her flattery.

"You're fortunate I have need of your... talents. But soon I will have the boy, and that woman. Powers or not... she will perish for defying my will..."

***

"Quickly... the trail leads this way..." JaKal shouted, flying ahead of the Hot Ra. Sohkarra drove the Hot Ra, Nefertina having remained behind at the hospital to wait with Cameron. Armon saw the Princess tense up as she sensed something.

Rath flew in the Skycophagus, ahead of them all. A sea of conflicting emotions, he didn't know whether to be angry towards Marianne, or pleased she might still be alive.

"I sense a source of great power. And that of Scarab... I've finally managed to punch through his magic..."

"The amulet signal's coming from there..." Rath spoke, ankh in hand.

"Step on it, Princess..." Armon said. "Something tells me we'd better..."

***

Marianne and Presley pounded their feet against the endless stairs. Quickly they panted as they pushed open the swinging door. Marianne peered out onto a tar beach. Air vents whirled in the open air, sweetly smelling of elusive freedom. "We're still in San Fran..." Presley gasped. "There's the Golden Gate!"

"I think I know where... somewhere by the bay..." Marianne said, emerging with Presley's hand in hers. Blinking in the sunlight, she shielded her eyes with one gauntleted hand to survey the landscape. Through the slits she could glimpse nearby spires of the Bank building, and a huge pyramid shaped structure that was perhaps Scarab's place. The green square of Golden Gate Park spread verdantly along several city blocks, a half mile away. Low hills rimmed the horizon.

"Fools, you have trapped yourselves..." Came Scarab's cackle as he fluttered up from one side of the building.

Marianne narrowed her eyes, raising her hand as she concentrated. A greenish mist hissed towards Scarab. As he coughed and spluttered, she and Presley ducked behind the shelter of the utilities brick building.

"Phew it smells like a swimming pool," Presley pinched his nose.

"Chlorine gas..." she said. "Rather nasty... but since he's close to immortal... it won't hold him for long."

"Curse you, infernal meddlesome woman!" Scarab wheezed, as he dropped to the tar beach. Slowly he marshaled his power to heal his suffocating lungs.

"Oh no, I curse you, with this arrow!" came a voice that made their hearts leap. An arrow crashed into Scarab's from behind, sizzling against his armor.

"JaKal!" Presley screamed with joy. For the golden Hawk circled, arrow on string as he fired another shot at Scarab.

Several Shabti emerged from the staircase blockhouse. Aiming their staves they fired towards JaKal. Yet he was quickly joined by a figure in gold horse armor, which seemed to float in midair. Magical energies surged against the Shabti, knocking several over.

Scarab got up, hurling fire towards JaKal. Marianne focused her strength, running towards Scarab as she held her shield before her. Bodily she slammed into him, pushing him aside. JaKal swooped down, grabbing up Presley on his next pass.

"JaKal! It's Marianne! She's alive!"

"Horus be praised... where is she?" JaKal asked. "And who is that warrior with you..."

"Cant you guess?" Presley asked him as JaKal flew him to safety.

"Your paramour has deserted you," Scarab laughed at Sohkarra, as he recovered. Shabti grabbed Marianne, holding her close as she fought against them. Yet their rays were ineffective against her chainmail as she kicked and punched. Easily two of them shattered from blows of her armored fists. A clay fist smashed as soon as it hit St. George's shield.

"Not so!" she laughed. For the Skycophagus suddenly swooped in, dropping Armon as he landed with a thud. Golden arm swinging, he smashed the Shabti advancing upon Sohkarra.

"My thanks, big brother," she said.

"Anytime, my honorary sister..."

"Rraagh! Enough of this!" Scarab shouted, purple energies crackling as they swept the entire areas of the tar beach. A stray beam hit Armon, as Sohkarra rushed to help him. A flying bit of Shabti crashed against her, stunning her. Head hurting she tried to keep the advancing Shabti off with a telekinetic shield.

Marianne placed herself between Scarab and her friends, holding up St. George's shield against the purple blasts. Several shots caromed off, shattering his own Shabti. There came a fast jetting nose as the Skycophagus swooped down once more, firing its lasers towards Scarab. Sohkarra recovered her wits, speaking a healing spell over the stunned Armon.

Scarab turned his attention to the Skycophagus, firing a shot towards it that crashed against one wing. A familiar cobra shape tumbled out, to safety as it rolled onto the tar beach. Pulling his sword, Rath shook himself off. Two approaching Shabti were quickly dispatched.

"A stunning example of brain over..."

"Rath look out!" came a familiar voice. He saw a figure in silver armor, carrying a red and white shield as it approached. Taking its shield it bashed a Shabti away with a flying tackle. The Shabti tottered at the edge of the roof, till a kick from a silver boot sent it flying.

"What in the name of Ptah?" Rath gasped as the figure faced him. It resembled that he'd seen in that movie Excalibur, about King Arthur. And that red cross upon its white shield... looked oddly familiar, as did the design of the knight and the Dragon upon it.

Armon and Sohkarra advanced upon Scarab, Armon's fist upraised as he sent it pounding into the floor. The rumbling shook the whole building, knocking several Shabti off their feet. Unfortunately it knocked Sohkarra off balance, her telekinetic power reaching out to levitate her.

Beside Rath, the silver figure tottered on its feet, knocking into him as both of them sprawled headlong on the tar beach. Rath shook his head, straightening out his cobra helmet as he moved off the small armored one. He helped it to stand.

"By the Wings of Horus! Who, what... are you?"

"I... am rather hurt you don't recognize me, sweetheart..." came the voice, a hint of teasing in it. The figure lifted its visor to reveal a most welcome face.

"By Osiris it cannot be!" he gasped, grabbing her in his arms and pulling her close. "Marianne my love you are alive!!!"

"Rath... whoop!" she grunted as he whirled her around in his glee. "I'm glad to see you as well..."

"I thought you had perished!" he laughed, wrapping her in his arms despite the fact they were right in the middle of a battle! Marianne pulled him close, hugging him through the thickness of both their armors. Rath planted frantic kisses on her face, Marianne laughing as he did so.

"Touching reunion, but you will not survive to enjoy it!" Scarab snarled, as he sent a hale of fire at both. The scientist twisted her body to block the blow, collapsing limp in Rath's hands as the force threw them both headlong.

"I beg to differ!" Sohkarra shouted. Reaching out with her mind she hurled a percussive telekinetic force at him. The impact crashed against him like a tidal wave, sending Scarab over the edge of the building. A fireblast of Magic from Rath crashed against Scarab's claw as it tried to hook onto the ledge.

"Nooooo!" he cried, a blast wildly sent towards them. As it crashed into the ceiling, it hit the air coolant system. Suddenly there came an explosion that sent them all reeling. Sohkarra quickly wrapped everyone in her power, struggling as she lowered them safely to the street four stories below. Shakily she got to her feet as JaKal defended Presley a few hundred feet away.

"Sohkarra!" the Hunter cried, rushing toward her.

"JaKal! Presley, thank Isis you are all right... and Marianne..."

"Is alive and well... if a bit shaken..." Rath announced, rubbing his own head. Everyone turned, to see Rath holding a strange figure on his knees, which appeared dizzy. Sohkarra was stunned to see the silver armor covering its body. Within she sensed Marianne's mind. Rath pulled off the helmet to reveal Marianne's face, her eyes blinking open to stare up at both of them. A blue tabard covered a suit of chainmail with platemail armor on her legs and feet. A white "x" cross was on the front of the blue, belted with an ornate swordbelt.

"Is she all right?" Armon asked, wondering at the strange armor.

"She's gone medieval," Presley said as he came up leading JaKal by the arm. "Like a knight of King Arthur."

"It's magical, all right," Rath muttered, waving his ankh over the armor. Sohkarra helped give a mental push to bring Marianne around. "And it's the source of the strange power I saw earlier..."

"Still going on about that rubbish?" came Marianne's voice as she stumbled into consciousness.

"Er..." Rath said, a bit awkward.

"I'm glad to see you too," she laughed, and smiled weakly up at him. "I feel so drained..."

"And well you should," Sohkarra said as she leaned over her with a relived smile. "That armor is very much like that which we summon..."

"We thought you had died!" JaKal came forwards, leaning over her as Rath held her upon his lap tenderly. There came a glow as the armor fizzled out into nothingness. Armon too leaned over, helping Rath to lift Marianne in his arms between them.

"Died?" she asked, bewildered as she regarded the concerned faces.

"Yes, but I thank Ra you are alive..." Sohkarra said, taking her hand.

"We were all set to avenge you..." Armon said.

"It was the Prince that kept the hope you were still living," JaKal said, holding Presley close.

"Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a rather long story?" she asked, feeling confused as she looked up at Rath.

"It's far too complicated to explain right now..." he said, and stopped himself. "At least... till we get back to the Sphinx..."

Everyone laughed with relief as Marianne's hand reached up to stroke his face. Gently Rath returned the caress, smiling as he carried her back to the awaiting Hot Ra. Yet a nagging thought bothered him. What did this new armor's manifestation suggest? Would somehow it threaten the study of Heka she undertook with him?

"Sohkarra, what is the source of her power?" JaKal asked her as they rolled towards the hospital to meet Cameron and Nefertina. Sohkarra flew in the Skycophagus to keep up with JaKal.

"I cannot answer you, my heart," Sohkarra said to herself. "The road ahead is unclear for her power. That part is hidden from my perceptions. But some greater power has stood by her as our patron gods have by us. But I only sense goodness from its source. We were silly to think it

a threat to the Prince. For clearly it saved his life, as well as Marianne's."

"It would seem that we don't fully understand the magic that may exist in this new world," JaKal mused.

"Or other magic that have yet to be rediscovered," Sohkarra told him.

"Who cares," Armon said over the communicator. "At least she's still alive!"

***

"So, let me get this straight... you had thought I had died in a terrorist attack... on the museum?"

Marianne said to her brother Cameron, who sat up in bed by now. Everyone was gathered in his hospital room, Nefertina's hand in his.

"That's right..." said Sohkarra, in her disguise as Jaime Garret.

"It was some demented bunch of blokes that called themselves the Preserve the Past society..."

Cameron said, anger and disgust as he said their name. "The Museum was their latest target..."

Marianne shivered, as Rath... or rather Rutherford, gripped her hand. "Just the thought of them harming innocent people makes me quite ill..."

"Fortunately none have yet died from this accident," Sohkarra said firmly. "And I have a feeling who was behind that..."

JaKal returned her look of affirmation. Neither dared say the name aloud, for fear of Cameron again discovering their secret. "You do?" Cameron asked. "I'd love to get my hands on their throat... and how did you survive Marianne?"

"I was being held hostage. But somehow I managed to escape. But I am afraid that I cannot remember what I was working on. The next thing I remember was waking up in Rutherford's arms, with Jack and Jaime standing over me..."

"Yes. We called the police, but by the time they got there, everything was pretty much blown up..." JaKal said. And Sohkarra had been clever, using her powers to slightly alter the fireman's perception to think that she and the Mummies were fellow police officers who had helped rescue a hostage. In fact they all had little recollection of the event, except thinking it was perhaps the group that had planted the bomb in the first place.

"I wonder if they'll strike next," Armon couldn't resist asking.

"Well if they do, they had best stay clear... of whomever it was that stopped them," Nefertina said. "Because I'm sure they'll think twice..."

"How do you feel Cameron? I'm terribly sorry for all the anguish I must have put you all through... thinking I was dead..."

"It's not your fault," Armon said. "After all..."

"You gotta admit not every dead person can claim coming back to life..." Nefertina said, and everyone stared at her.

"But weren't you scared... when they had kidnaped you?"

"Yes... but in some way I was being looked after," Marianne said, glancing down at her hands.

"You were," Cameron said, extending his hand to her.

"Definitely, in more ways then you realize," Sohkarra said cryptically. "I always did know there was something more to you then you first knew yourself..."

"What does that mean?" Rath asked.

"We all have our secrets that are not always revealed to us... save at the proper time," Sohkarra smiled simply.

"You could have warned me," Marianne looked at her rather pointedly.

"Well, I never thought you would have access to it so soon," Sohkarra scratched her head.

"It was my manipulations that revealed it..." Rath began, but shut up when Cameron glanced at both of them in confusion.

"Ixnay guys," Nefertina hissed.

***

Epilogue

Soft lights twinkled in the distance as she stood on her balcony. Marianne felt the cool breezes of night whispering into her ears. Slowly she closed her eyes and listened to the wind, as if it were saying something to her. Reality had yet again changed, and nothing would be the same. Just how complicated was her life going to become now?

"My love," Rath said, resting a hand on her shoulder. He was in his blush of life form, gently caressing her back muscles. From behind he passed both arms around her, laying his head on her shoulder.

"Rath," she breathed, sipping a bit of wine that rolled down her parched throat.

"If I were to lose you..." Rath murmured into her ear.

"Yes... I know..." she drew in her breath, as he turned her to face him. From inside came the soft strains of Gustav Holst's the Planets on her stereo. Nefertina and Cameron's shadows danced from the yellow glow within, faint sounds of laughter drifting to their ears.

"Come on in you two," Nefertina coaxed. "There's plenty of wine..."

"I... somehow don't feel like celebrating," Marianne said as Rath firmly pulled her into the warmth of her living room. The snake hiplet around her black dress felt cool to the touch.

"You were dead, and came back to life, what else is there to say?" Cameron asked her, refilling her glass. "And that does call for a celebration..."

"Not everyone can say so," Nefertina smiled, her arm around Cameron's waist as she clinked her glass with Cam's, then Mary's.

Marianne sighed again, Rath's arm drawing her even closer to his lean form. Both he and Cameron were splendid in their tuxedos, as was Nefertina in her red knee length evening gown with the splits up the side.

"We'd better hurry if we're going to make the symphony performance," Cameron checked his watch. "I called the cab to be hear at half past..."

Rath placed Marianne's blazer over her shoulders. "Wait," she muttered, moving into her room for one last detail. Soberly she caught her reflection in the mirror, her pale features hidden by the soft tones of makeup. Those thick framed black glasses were the rage, yet something was missing. Slowly she fitted the small shield pin hidden beneath piles of jewelry onto her jacket's lapel. To one side she caught the site of the wall picture, of the knight and the Dragon. And could swear it had moved.

"What does this mean?" she asked her mirror image again. "Why do I have the feeling that there is a barrier forming that I have no control over..."

"Marianne, we're ready to go," Cameron said softly, as his image joined hers in the mirror. "Are you ready... sis?"

"I... don't know. I am in some ways... but in others I don't know if I ever will be ready... to face any more changes..."

"Chin up sis," he kissed her cheek. "It's another birthday done. And another year alive... what more can you ask for? Thank God you're here to ask that question..."

"Thank God indeed," she muttered, glimpsing the image of the knight upon his horse, boldly stopping evil in its path. Dare she think this was her role? Why her?

"Why indeed.." she bade her reflection as she joined her brother, friend, and the man she loved. The moonlight flashed off the small shield pin of St. George she had placed upon her jacket, as the lights flicked out in the apartment, and Cameron pulled shut the door.

The night received two couples, glad to be alive, and firm in the knowledge that it was only a matter of time evil would strike again. A new fighter had found her strength, and the battle would never be the same. Nor the stakes ever higher in the gambit ahead.

She found little happiness that night at her love's side. Soberly Marianne sat there in Cameron's Jaguar convertible next to Rath, wondering why she felt the separation that had suddenly fallen betwixt them. Rath could not answer nor bring her out of the pall of sadness that had fallen over his love.

"But my love, you are alive! Can you not celebrate this simple truth?" he stroked her cheek.

"I am glad for that," she raised her head, eyes bright with a film of tears. "But this isn't the end. Only the beginning..."

***

Fin.