Sands of Time
Summary: When an artifact found in Egypt is linked to Atlantis, how will the remaining members of the Ulysses crew deal with the wrath of centuries old Egyptian gods come back to reclaim their followers, and how can a young eccentric Egyptologist help save them all from total annihilation?
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Disney does. I do own Anna Maria Victoria Gonzales Gay XIII, the city of Basheer, andAshzur Talmos. Ideas for the Book of the Prophets were inspired by the Summoner II game, but are in no way linked.
This story was Beta read by Myrrcoaster, whom I thank profoundly for the help and ideas.
Ch. 1: City of the Dead
The bustle of the Cairo airport was enough to make anyone sick. Bodies all around and stifling heat did not make the best conditions, especially for the young Latino woman sitting in the terminal.
Audrey Ramirez had been the first to arrive after receiving a letter from Vinny. He'd said to meet him and the others at the airport in Cairo, but apparently, the their planes had not come yet.
Sighing, she placed her head in her hands and waited.
Hours later, she felt a hand on her shoulder and jumped, turning only to see Dr. Joshua Sweet and the Parisian geologist, Gaetan Moliere.
"Hi guys," she murmured, running her arm across her forehead to keep the sweat from out of her eyes.
"Has anyone else gotten here, or are we the only ones since you?" asked the physician.
"Only you. Milo and Kida haven't come yet. I hope they get here soon; Vinny too. It's too hot," she whined.
Nodding, Sweet and Moliere sat beside her to wait. The quiet was unnerving, making Audrey more uncomfortable. Turning to them, she raised an eyebrow.
"Did Vinny ever tell either of you why he wants us in Egypt?"
"Non," replied Gaetan, "I asked Sweet ze same thing while we were on ze plane."
"Great," moaned Audrey.
"We're stuck in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do and no air conditioner."
After another hour of Audrey's whining, Mole's sighing, and Sweet's groans, someone called out to them.
"Sweet, Audrey, Mole, how are you guys?" came the over-enthusiastic voice of Milo.
He and Kida strode over to them, setting their luggage down as they exchanged handshakes and hugs.
Walking to the front door, they saw Vinny drive up in a rather questionable looking van; one used for hauling military weapons and illegal immigrants.
"It took you long enough!" cried the Latino, scrambling for the door only to realize that there was no air conditioning.
"What'sa matter with her?" he asked, helping his friends with their luggage.
"Heat," came Sweet's steady reply.
Shaking his head, he helped the others in and climbed back into the driver's seat. Several hours later, they reached a large campsite. Nearby, they could hear the shouts of the laborers as they dug through the sands.
"Vinny! Anna's caught in the entrance to that new shaft we found yesterday. She can't move enough to get out," shouted a young man.
Sighing, the Italian beckoned the others to follow him as he made his way across the desert. A pair of legs was flailing about not far from them. Muffled curses could be heard as the group looked on.
Grabbing her legs, Vinny pulled with all his strength, trying to liberate the woman stuck inside.
"Milo, Sweet, come'a help me out."
Soon, the three men had budged the body out by a few inches, just enough for the woman to begin freeing herself.
Rising out of the shaft, the albino woman shook the dirt out of her hair and coughed.
"For the love of Mike! You should see it down there, Vincenzo. It's gorgeous."
Her blue eyes shot daggers at the man as she rose to her feet, brushing her clothes clean.
"And you nearly blew it all to Valhalla! Honestly, Vinny!" she shouted.
Grabbing a pickaxe and swinging it over her shoulder and into a leather sling on her back, she crossed her arms, scowling.
"So, are these the people you told me so much about? I suppose this will do," she spat, surveying the lot.
"Look, they're the best in the business. Besides, if Mr. Whitmore weren't funding this little escapade, you'd be out of a job."
"And so would you, Santorini. Come on, you all, I'll get you something to eat."
Milo shot the others a questionable look before reluctantly following the woman and Vinny to a large tent. Sitting around a large table, they were served a large plate of sandwiches and iced tea.
"My name is Anna Maria Victoria Gonzales Gay XIII. Yes, I am an albino. My country is none other than Mother Russia. My expertise includes Geology, Egyptology, Mythology, and cooking the best pot roast this side of the Great Sphinx. Vinny has told me much about you all and I hope that you might be able to help me with a little project of mine."
Her voice had become less harsh as she looked around the table, and Milo was now considering that they might be in for something worthwhile after all.
"If I may, Miss Gay, why would you need our help?" he questioned.
"Please, call me Anna. I know about your ascension to the throne in Atlantis. In fact, that is part of my problem. Have you ever heard of the City of the Dead?"
Her heart fell as she saw the plethora of shaking heads. Sighing, she began to wonder if Vinny had known what he was talking about.
"Ten thousand years ago, the city of Basheer was the heart of all trade in Egypt. It would not have been so successful if it were not for the Atlanteans and their technology. In fact, it was that technology that lead to the construction of the pyramids and the Sphinx, but I digress."
Drawing a breath, she brought out a piece of cloth. Unwrapping it, she produced a small crystal orb. Adorning its top was a clawed hand crafted from silver with Atlantean inscriptions covering it.
"Basheer was prosperous, until the gods became unhappy. You see, with their wealth, those that lived in the city became conceited. Power hungry, the pharaoh proclaimed that he was the true god and that all other gods were nothing but myth. Banning the worship of the old dieties and slaying the temple priests, he became the sole icon of the city. Angered, the gods came forth from the heavens and enacted vengeance, slaying all that worshipped the pharaoh. Virgins were sacrificed by the dozens in the temple to appease Ra and his minions. It was all for naught, though. One man, a half Egyptian, half Atlantean, was able to seal the gods away by sacrificing his own life. Ashzur Talmos was the eldest son of the pharaoh. Leading the gods to the temple, he used all of his power to imprison them in statues. The city supposedly sank during an earthquake following the imprisonment, sealing off the remaining survivor's fate."
Looking up, her eyes seemed to bore into Milo. The very thought of what she had said being even remotely true was enough for chills to run up the man's spine.
"Wait. Eef what you say ees true, do you sink zere would be no evidence of a tremor zat strong around ze world? Eef a tremor has enough magnitude to sink an entire city, eet would show in ze current formations we see today," argued the Parisian.
"An anomaly, though rare to occur on earth's terra, could have commenced. There is no reason to think it did not happen," snapped Anna.
"But zere must be some form of evidence; a shift in bedrock or some-sing. Carbon dating would confirm ze age of any irregular occurrence."
Growling, Anna slammed her fist on the table as she stood.
"Listen, you little French freak! I've had the soil around this orb carbon dated. The periods match the myth. There is plenty mythological evidence…"
"Mythological! Zat's my point! Eef it's mythological evidence, eet can't count!"
"Imbecile! Where do you think mythology comes from! Within all the lies, there is some truth! That's why I'm hiring you people! Ever since I was four years old, the only thing I ever wanted to do is dig up bodies here with a toothbrush! The City of the Dead could push back the timeline for Atlantis, as well as Egypt! This could be the find of the century! If you don't want the job, go back to your little mining gig in France and see how much they pay you to dig up worthless rocks! What I'm offering is far greater than a measly fifty francs per hour! What I'm offering is millions!"
Milo looked to Kida, then back to Anna.
"We'll help you. After all, this could be beneficial as far as the history of my people goes," spoke Kida.
Rising, the Atlantean queen stretched out her hand to the other woman.
"If it can help solve the forgotten mysteries of my people, then I will be most pleased to help in any way possible, Anna."
The albino smiled, taking her outstretched hand in a firm grip.
"Thank you. This orb is the only clue I have to finding the city thus far. I can't decipher it, but I was hoping you could."
Handing it to Milo and Kida, she turned to leave.
"You shall find your tents by the large fire pit. Dinner will be at seven 'o' clock, sharp. I hope you all find your quarters to your liking."
With that, she took her leave, leaving behind an intrigued team, a stunned Milo, and a very angry Moliere.