Giza Port, Cairo

Pulling up near the port road, the taxi came to a halt, letting out its single passenger, who was quick to pay the fare and gather his bags. After three long days of travel, going mostly by plane from Rome into Egypt and then taking a taxi, he had arrived in Cairo. And for that swiftness, Gabriel Van Helsing was thankful.

The port along the Nile River was bustling, no doubt preparing for the departure of the nearby river boat. People were boarding, departing, and some even loading on animals. Gabriel sighed as he began heading for the boat, then grunted when he accidentally ran into someone else. "Sorry," he said as he brushed himself off. "My fault."

"Don't worry about it," the other man replied, his accent clearly American. For a moment, Van Helsing could swear there was something familiar about him. Brown hair, dark blue eyes, and a square set jaw. The direction he had been walking in gave the suggestion that he was as well headed on the river boat, and there was a tan brown bag slung over his shoulder, very similar to the two that Gabriel carried. "Heading down the river?"

He nodded. "Yourself as well, I assume," Gabriel said, now walking alongside this new acquaintance. "Just got in for a bit of an archeological expedition." Pausing, he held out his hand. "Sorry, forgot my other manners. I'm Gabriel Van Helsing."

"Rick O'Connell," the man replied as they shook hands, now giving Gabriel an odd look. "Van Helsing?" he inquired. "As in Abraham Van Helsing, Bram Stoker's Dracula and all that?"

It never failed to get a chuckle from Gabriel. Leave it to that Irishman to have made the old professor famous. "Yes, actually. Abraham was my father, he was an acquaintance of Mister Stoker's when he was writing his infamous book." And left out quite a few details, he added inwardly. Oh, true, the professor had been careful about what he had told the playwright, but did Bram Stoker have to change everything so much? His book had read more like the events surrounding Count Orlock than Dracula himself. Such was the way things went, though, and perhaps it had been for the better.

Up ahead, he could see a man with a red fez hat shouting orders to a few Arab workers. If his suspicions were right, that man was probably preparing to search for Hamunaptra. Judging from the conversations his inhuman hearing picked up, his presumption was right. Gabriel made a mental note to keep an eye on that man and anyone who seemed to be working with him. "What brings you out here?" he asked of Rick, glancing to the American for a moment. "Trying to cut your place in history finding some lost city like Hamunaptra?"

Rick had the urge to halt in his tracks the moment he'd heard those words. "How did," he muttered, not quite sure if he could believe what had been said by Van Helsing. "What makes you think I'm looking for Hamunaptra?"

There was a smile on Gabriel's face. Very familiar indeed, he reflected for a moment. It was then he gestured to all the things bing packed onto the boat. "Well, judging from all that, there's a sizable dig being prepared. Now, I'm not sure if they're looking for it, but Hamunaptra is certainly one of the biggest troves of legend and treasure out here in Egypt. Also..." Now, he shrugged. "Lucky guess, and the fact I'm headed there myself."

"You're looking for Hamunaptra?"

Again, Gabriel nodded. No sense keeping the secret from his new companion, being that Rick felt like someone who could be trusted. There wasn't greed in the man's eyes when discussing the City of the Dead, so, he wasn't in it for the money, that was for sure. "History and finding the secrets of the past are something of my forte, Mister O'Connell. Hamunaptra represents one of the lost world's greatest challenges."

O'Connell narrowed his eyes a bit. Something didn't feel right, like Van Helsing wasn't being quite all that truthful. "And I suppose that the fact the city is supposed to be cursed doesn't get to you at all?"

Gabriel shifted his gaze a bit. Looked like some things did hang around for people to hear about after all. "I'm not too keen on all edicts of the ancient gods," he replied calmly. "But I still don't intend to screw around with anything that looks like it should be left well enough alone." A thought crossed his mind then. "What kind of team do you have, if you don't mind my asking?"

For a moment, Rick was silent, until he noticed the people he was himself looking for. "Not too big," he replied. "Myself and two others."

"Mind adding me to that?"

With a confused expression, Rick turned to look at Gabriel. Something was odd about this man named Van Helsing, but he wasn't quite sure what it was. There was also something very familiar about his presence. "You don't have your own team?"

Again, Van Helsing shrugged as they waded through the crowd. "Normally," he stated. "I work alone. But for this, perhaps it would be best if I had some friends to count on." Again, he smiled, now with a shine in his brightly lit eyes. "If you don't mind the help, that is."

For a moment, Rick had the idea to decline. But there was a growing sense that he shouldn't refuse the offer. Certainly, this man knew a bit about what he was planning to look for, and there was a profound feeling of trustworthiness about him. Definitely didn't come across as the type who would backstab you at the first chance. And they could use the extra pair of hands. "All right," he finally answered, giving Gabriel a grin. "Just don't expect to get an easy trip though."

"Mister O'Connell," he said, readjusting the straps of his bags. "I've never had an easy job in all my years of doing this."

As they walked toward a pair moving down the pier, one a woman with brown hair that was held up in a bun under her hat, the other a taller man wearing an explorer's helmet, Gabriel had to resist the urge to laugh when he heard their conversation. They were talking about Rick, as he caught the name "O'Connell" being mentioned, and most of the comments from the woman were not too flattering.

"...filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. I don't like him one bit."

"Anyone I know?" O'Connell asked and he and Van Helsing walked over. The woman turned and looked at him, her eyes going wide with surprise. Judging from how she was looking Rick over to make sure it was him, he obviously had been less presentable the last time they'd met. This was going to be an interesting assignment.

She was still looking him over in surprise when she finally spoke. "Oh...hello."

"Who's your friend?"

With a glance to Van Helsing, Rick gave a shrug. "Gabriel Van Helsing, says he wants to tag along with us."

"A pleasure to meet you," Gabriel stated as he took off his hat and bowed slightly to the woman. Again, like with O'Connell, there was something familiar about her, but it seemed to draw from farther back. Rick merely bore a resemblance to someone he must have known, but this English woman, she seemed more tied to his ancient past than a mere resemblence. "Mister O'Connell informs me that you're all headed to Hamunaptra."

"I did not," Rick snapped indignantly. "You're the one who assumed it."

Again, Gabriel grinned. "Am I wrong?" he asked, now slipping his hat back on his head. He missed his usual black pants and Duster coat, wearing instead a light whitish beige pair of pants and a gray coat over his brown vest. It was odd for him, a contrast to how he preferred to dress. But, he was not willing to be separated from his hat, desert heat or not. "I said I was going there myself, and you pretty much confirmed your own heading, so I'm not lying."

The British man stifled a laugh. It was enough for Van Helsing to keep his smile, because he wasn't being feared here, but accepted, a rare event. Plus, he was having one interesting banter with his new acquaintances. "Van Helsing, is it?" the man said as he held out his hand. "I'm Jonathan Carnahan, and this is my sister, Evy."

"Short for Evelyn, I presume," Van Helsing added while again giving a slight bow. "Again, a pleasure, madame. I look forward to being part of this team."

Jonathan nodded, as if remembering something. "Yes, and what a smashing day for an adventure, eh, O'Connell?" he said, patting Rick on the side of his arm.

There was a nod, but all the same, Rick checked his coat pockets, warily looking at Jonathan. "Yeah, smashing," he muttered, finding that everything was still in there.

"Oh, I would never steal from a partner," the British man replied, keeping a cheerful smile on his face. "Partner."

Gabriel looked back and forth between the two men. "Did I miss something?" he asked. "Because if there's already trouble in the ranks..."

"No, just a little misunderstanding when we first met," Rick replied. His tone suggested there was more to the story, and Van Helsing made a mental note to ask about it later. "That reminds me," he continued, now looking to Carnahan. "No hard feelings about the..." He paused and made the gesture of punching Jonathan in the face.

"Oh no!" the man exclaimed, waving his hands as if warding something away. "Not at all, happens all the times."

Somehow, Van Helsing inwardly remarked while keeping his eyes on Jonathan. I find that easily to believe. He'd have to watch this one carefully, if the indications he was getting were correct.

"Mister O'Connell," Evelyn said, now bringing herself into the conversation. "Can you look me in the eye and guarantee me that all this isn't some sort of a...a flimflam? Because if it is, I'm warning you-"

"You're warning me?" Rick replied, looking at Evelyn with amusement. "Let me put it this way; my whole damn garrison believed in this so much, that without orders, they marched halfway across Libya and into Egypt to find that city." He paused a moment so that Evelyn could get the idea so far. "And when we got there, all we found was sand and blood." Again, he paused. "Here, let me get your bags."

Impressive display it was, Gabriel had to admit. Even as Rick picked up Evelyn's bags and carried them up the ramp, she was watching in surprise. Indeed, this was going to be one interesting mission.

"Yes, you're right," Jonathan intoned, stepping over to stand beside his sister. "Filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. Nothing there to like at all."

As Evelyn glanced back at her brother with one of those looks which told of her amusement, a short portly man with a fez hat and about a month's worth of a beard walked over. "Bright good morning to all," he said, causing quite a negative reaction from Evelyn.

"Oh no," she groaned in dismay. "What are you doing here?"

As the man walked up the ramp, he glanced back at the three still on the pier. "I'm here to protect my investment," he replied. "Thank you very much."

Investment? Now this was a man Gabriel knew he had to watch. "Might I ask-"

"Gad Hassan," Jonathan answered. It was obvious he wasn't too happy about this turn of events either. "Warden of the Cairo Prison. Smelly man, was going to hang our Mister O'Connell if Evelyn hadn't intervened."

Yes, no wonder he referred to this expedition as an 'investment'. Evelyn must have been forced to promise a profit from the dig. He would have to keep an eye on this Warden Hassan.

Night had descended, and while the party deck was alive with activity, Gabriel used his time studying up on the problem at hand. According to the file he'd brought with him, Hamunaptra was indeed a cursed city, home to a horrible creature who had been beset by the worst of all the ancient hexes of Egypt. His offense had been grave, not only daring to enter the City of the Dead, but using the black Book of the Dead in an attempt to resurrect his lover. It was also suspected that he'd had something to do with Pharaoh Seti's death.

But for some reason, something else tugged in Gabriel's mind, like a memory he'd forgotten. Granted, he was used to it now, what with the trickles of his life as the Angel of Judgement slowly returning, but this was a major part of his past, he knew it. Knowing his luck, the lost memory would reveal itself at the last possible moment. Still, it was something.

The sound of revery was starting to tug at him now. For a moment, Gabriel considered ignoring it, then finally smiled and grabbed his weapons bags. He had to go through and prep his equipment anyway, might as well go out and enjoy himself while doing it.

Outside on the party deck, he could see the passengers who were enjoying themselves out in the refreshing river air. Some people were having a light meal, some were sharing a few drinks, and at least one table, there was a poker game going on. Notably, there at that game was Jonathan. It was probably wise to check up on the man, to make sure he wasn't causing any problems.

A door opened behind the table, and out walked O'Connell, his own bag slung over his shoulder. It looked like he'd gotten the same idea as Van Helsing. Perhaps joining with Rick's team hadn't been such a bad idea after all. They seemed to think alike, after all.

"O'Connell, just in time," Jonathan intoned as Rick stepped over to the table. "Sit down, we could use another player."

A fool's game, to throw away his fortunes, that voice in the back of Van Helsing's mind whispered. He inwardly laughed, since his own luck at such games of chance had been incredibly good. All the same though, it would be interesting to find out who was doing what on this boat.

"Sorry, but I only gamble with my life, never my money."

As Van Helsing walked over to the game table, he got a better look at Jonathan's fellow players. One man was the stereotype image of an American cowboy, slack-jawed with messy light brown hair and brown eyes, complete with tarnished cowhide vest and a bandana around his neck. The one directly across from Carnahan was more of the city-born gun for hire, wearing a casual business suit, yet still displaying that feeling of lethal ability. It was probably due to his rather short crop haircut. The last man, however, looked almost like the typical museum archeologist, rather well dressed with a pair of glasses. Quite an interesting mix to be sure.

"Never?" the man across from Jonathan replied as he began dealing the cards. "What if I was to bet you five hundred dollars that says we get to Hamunaptra before you?"

What! Van Helsing quickly made his way over as quickly as possibly the moment he'd heard those words. If these people were involved as well, there was quite a bit of trouble to behold if everything went wrong. "You're looking for Hamunaptra?" he said as he made his presence known.

The cowboy nodded and grinned while looking at his cards. "Damn straight we are."

"And who says we are?" Rick inquired.

All three men pointed at Jonathan while answering in unison. "He does."

The man gulped as he could feel both Van Helsing and O'Connell glaring at him. Perhaps making mention of that little fact wasn't such a good thing. "Well, I..uh..."

"So how 'bout it?" the man with the short hair said, glancing to Rick in anticipation. "Do we have a bet?"

Indecision was in O'Connell's eyes, but then, he smiled. "All right, you're on."

"What makes you so confident, sir?"

The question came from a man sitting at a nearby table, where he was reading a red-cover book. Van Helsing recognized his as the man from the dock who had been shouting orders. No doubt, he was the leader of this other group looking for the lost city. "What makes you?" he asked, wondering how this man had such confidence.

"Well, we got us a man who's actually been there," the cowboy said. There was a trace of smugness in his voice, and it gave Gabriel a feeling of suspicion. The only people who had been out to the lost city and back were either those who watched over it, or someone from the garrison three years ago. Rick, by logical conclusion, was one of the latter, while the former would never lead someone out there. Which meant that there were other survivors.

"What a coincidence, because O'Connell-"

He took his chance to hit Jonathan in the back of the head with his bag, getting the man to shut his mouth about that and change the subject. He saw the thanks on Rick's face, and knew that he had been about to so the same thing. It seemed they really did think alike. "Gentlemen," Van Helsing remarked while moving to go around the table. "We have ourselves a wager." He smiled, then held Jonathan by the shoulder, digging in hard to give him a warning. "Evening, Mister Carnahan."

"Good night," he replied weakly while Rick and Van Helsing wandered off.

For a moment as they stepped around the side of the ship, Rick looked at Gabriel with an expression of amusement. "You know, I was going to shut him up, but thanks."

"Men with loose lips need a tight reminder to keep their mouths shut," he replied. Grinning, Gabriel let Rick know that the feeling about Carnahan was mutual. "I gather that he also has some loose fingers, let's just hope he keeps those out of trouble as well." He was silent for a moment, looking out at the stars in the sky. Once, he'd flown up there, among the birds and the clouds, but now, he had to be careful, lest the public discover his nature as a divinity. "So, what did happen out at Hamunaptra, anyway?"

Again, O'Connell had that look of surprise, though it wasn't so great this time as it had been back at Giza Port. "We got ambushed by the Tuaregs, couldn't pull out, so it was pretty much a slaughter." Rick frowned, not sure right now what to make of his new companion. He felt trustworthy, but he seemed so secretive at the same time, like an enigma. "I only survived because something scared them off right when a bunch of them were about to kill me."

They knew what lies under the sands of that damned city, Gabriel thought. But it was better not to let on that he knew exactly what was going on. "The curse of the city, I'd imagine," he said. "I don't put a lot of stock in the ways of the old world, but some things, I have to agree, are best left alone." He tilted his head, sure he heard something in the water. It sounded like a rowboat, very quiet, but there was something else as well. The other sound was almost like someone swimming under the water.

Up ahead, seated at a lone table, was Evelyn, reading a book and seemingly oblivious to everything around her. There was a person who he couldn't figure out. Most of the people searching for the lost city obviously had some vested interest in fortunes, but Evelyn Carnahan didn't give that impression. Perhaps, for once, he was looking at someone with a genuine desire for knowledge, an understanding of the times long ago. Perhaps she was someone he could have a real discussion with. Plus, it would help kill the time while he checked his equipment.

Both of his bags landed next to the table, startling Evelyn with the sudden thud. "Sorry," he apologized quickly. He glanced to Rick, then moved his bags to make room for the other man to have a place to sit once he found a chair. "Didn't mean to scare you."

Evelyn looked at Van Helsing for a moment, then to O'Connell. "The only thing that scares me are his manners," she replied in a tone that was almost scolding.

"Still angry about that kiss, huh?" Rick asked while setting his own bag on the table and pulling off his coat.

Gabriel raised a brow. A kiss? he thought while observing his companions. Now this was getting interesting. Just what had happened prior to the port in Giza?

She snorted. "If you call that a kiss," Evelyn replied scathingly.

There was an expression of indignation on O'Connell's face as he quickly undid the straps of his bag and threw it open to reveal the guns and belts of ammunition inside. It didn't compare to his own cache of weapons, but Gabriel had to admit, he was impressed, and judging from the look on Evelyn's face, so was she.

"Did I miss something?" she asked as she looked over the collection of weapons. "Are-are we going into battle?"

Rick took the chance to pull over a seat and take a place at the head of the table. He pulled a six-shooter revolver from the bag, opening the chamber and loading it before locking it shut and slipping into the right holster on the gun harness that was around his shoulders. "Lady, there's something out there," he said while repeating the action with a second gun and slipping it into the left holster. "Something underneath that sand."

"That goes without saying," Van Helsing muttered. When O'Connell looked to him for an explanation, he shrugged. "There's quite a bit out there, obviously. Besides the lost city itself, the stories say that the wealth of ancient Egypt lies under the sands of Hamunaptra." He paused a moment, shifting in his seat. "Might I ask what you think is out there, Mister O'Connell?"

He frowned for a moment. "In a word," he said, now wiping a shotgun that had been strapped into the bag along the width. "Evil." Rick sighed, setting the gun down for a moment. "The Bedouin and the Tuaregs believe that Hamunaptra is cursed. After what happened there the last time, I'm almost inclined to agree."

A scoff from Evelyn signaled her thoughts on that matter; she didn't buy it one bit. "I don't believe in all those fairy tales and hokum, but..." She hesitated, now smiling. "I do believe that one of the most famous books in history is buried out there, the Book of Amun-Ra." Again, Evelyn paused for a moment before continuing. "It contains all the rituals and secret incantations of the ancient kingdom. It's what first got me interested in Egyptology as a child, actually, it's why I came out here. Sort of a life's pursuit."

Rick glanced at her while he started locking the shotgun into ready form. "And the fact that they say it's made of pure gold makes no never mind to you," he said flippantly.

"You know your history."

It was his turn to scoff. "I know my treasure," Rick replied, now turning the stock piece of the shotgun and locking it into place. He set it back on the table, looking to Van Helsing now. "What brings you out here anyway? You said that finding secrets is a hobby of yours, but other than that-"

"I have to correct you there," he said quickly, leaning back slightly in his seat. "It's not a hobby for me, it's a job." Gabriel frowned, his ears still picking up a sloshing of water that definitely was not the boat. "I've seen quite a few unexplainable things in my life, which is why I'm a bit careful when treading into places like Hamunaptra." A shrug, and he sighed, looking out at the passing Nile River. "But rest assured, it's not treasure or riches I'm looking for out there." For a moment, he was silent. Then, he glanced to Rick. "By the way, she mentioned something about a kiss. Mind telling me what that's about?"

As he was loading an automatic, Rick snorted and pulled back the slide. "It was at Cairo Prison. I was about to be hanged, it seemed liked a good idea at the time."

There was an indignant growl as Evelyn slammed her book shut and stormed off. Gabriel raised a brow while Rick only turned and locked a clip into his gun while watching the woman walk away. "What?" he asked. "What did I say?"

He smiled, shaking his head. "That, my friend, was something you don't say to a woman." Van Helsing reached over to take a look at one of O'Connell's firearms, then paused when they both heard a noise from the crates aside the way they had come from. Rick slid his auto into his belt, walked over with Van Helsing behind him, then reached around to grab the person hiding there and pull him out.

"Ah, what a surprise!" the ratty looking man exclaimed, obviously taken more by surprise than he wanted to reveal. "My friend, you're alive! I was so very, very worried."

Rick wasn't so joyed to see the weasely Hungarian. "Well if it ain't my little buddy Beni," he hissed. A pause as he seemed to be in thought. "I think I'll kill you now," he finished, whipping out his gun and pointing it at Beni's head. Van Helsing almost intervened, but there was something peculiar about this man, something that made him wait to see what happened.

"Wait, think of my children!"

"You don't have any children!"

He gave one of those puppy-dog eyed looks, or as much as an attempt at one that he could muster. "Someday I might," Beni replied.

Rick angrily shook the man. "Shut up!" he hissed, keeping his gun aimed at Beni's face. "So you're the one who's leading the Americans...I might have known." He paused a moment. "So what's the scam, Beni? You take them out into the middle of the desert, and then leave 'em to rot?"

"Unfortunately, no," Beni stated. He had ceased struggling at this point, being that if O'Connell didn't catch him again, his solidly built companion would. "These Americans are smart. They pay me only half now, and half when I get them back to Cairo, so this time I must go all the way."

Yes, just as weasely as he looked. But still, something else seemed off to Van Helsing about this Beni, something about his looks, and a bit of how he sounded. His face was familiar, but the small mustache and the short hair seemed to be throwing him off, it seemed. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but...have we met somewhere before? You look familiar."

Beni shook his head. He'd never met this man in his life, or at least, he hoped he hadn't. But, he did get that odd feeling he'd perhaps seen him somewhere before. "I don't think so," he quickly muttered, wishing he could just run away now, like he always did in times of trouble. He looked to Rick, who finally relaxed and stowed away his gun. "You never believed in Hamunaptra, O'Connell. Why are you going back?"

With a sigh, Rick gestured to the far corner, where Evelyn was petting a camel. "See that lady?" he asked. "She saved my neck."

That answered how Rick and Evelyn had become associated. Just what had Rick been in Cairo Prison for though, that was the other part of the question. It probably wasn't worth it to ask, because Gabriel got the feeling he didn't want to know the answer.

That and Beni was making one of those stupid comments you don't say to a man who had just been about to blow your head open. "You always did have more balls than brains."

He laughed, Rick slowly joining as if it was a joke. "Funny," he remarked, sorely tempted to just shoot the weasel and get it over with. But that wouldn't do to well for his own well-being. So, instead, he just patted Beni on the back, led him to the railing, then grabbed him by the front of his shirt. "Good-bye, Beni," he stated just before throwing him over the side and into the river. Beni hit with a resound splash, and he could be heard coughing and fighting to keep about the water.

Already, his interest in his new ally was piqued. "Might I ask-"

"Trust me," Rick quickly said, intercepting the question before it could finish. "You don't want to know." He moved to sit back down and resume his preparations, then stopped when his eyes caught sight of water tracks leading from the railing to around the corner. With an expression of confusion, Rick looked back over the railing, but Beni was still in the river, splashing loudly as he paddled toward shore. "Did you..."

Van Helsing had already opened up one of his own bags and was strapping the metal arm guard to his left forearm and wrist. He noticed as Rick stared at the amount of guns, ammunition, and other weapons that were stored in the slots. "That's just part of my collection," he said, pulling out two silver automatics and loading the large clips. He slid them into the holsters on the back of his belt, pulled off his coat to show that there were no sleeves to the shirt under his vest, then grabbed a pair of leg harnesses that quickly were strapped onto his calves. Two more automatics were withdrawn from the cache, loaded and holstered with catches to hold them in.

Rick took a look at the back harness while Van Helsing grabbed a few more pieces of equipment and saw the rather ingeniously designed ammo holder which now was being loaded with automatic clips. "Holy moley," he whispered as his eyes now wandered to the other bag which no doubt held just as much as Van Helsing's first. Being prepared was one thing, but this was beyond anything he'd thought possible. "Who the hell are you?"

As he hooked the last two clips onto his back harness, Gabriel grinned and rolled the bag back up before fastening all the straps and buckles. "Think of me as the insurance policy from God." He paused for a moment before heading toward the corner and following the track. "He certainly knows that this trip is going to need one."