Title: Empire of the Sun: Chapter 5
Rating: R just in case (K+)
Summary: The agents are sent to the ancient ruins of Machu Pichu for a possible Warehouse emergency. (I suck at summaries)
Pairings: Myka/H.G.
Disclaimer 1: Warehouse 13 and characters are not mine, just playing around with them.
Disclaimer 2: To anyone who is from Peru, I apologize for making some stuff up. I did do some research but for story purposes, I had to use my imagination :) I've been there once a few years ago and completely fell in love with the country.
Disclaimer 3: First fan fic so any feedback and constructive critcism will be greatly appreciated.
Author's note: The events here take place aprox. one year after Helena joins the Warehouse and assume she decided not to go along with the whole blowing up the world incident. So, no Steve Jinks (for now).
To everyone who sent me feedback; thank you so much and sorry I haven't gotten around to replying (work is killing me).
There isn't much HG/Myka interaction in this one. But, it's coming…I promise!
There is a reference from the film "The Goonies" (I think I explicitly mention it at one point). If you haven't seen it, what are you waiting for? :)
…
"Claudia!" Pete yelled out as he ran across the room in vain; the young woman having been dragged out at break neck speed. He quickly turned on his flashlight and without a backwards glance, headed out of the dark chamber in search of his friend.
Helena felt Myka's body instinctively jerk at her partner's departure and took a hold of the younger woman's wrist with slightly trembling fingers as she gently applied pressure to get her attention. "Go" She breathed out when Myka turned worried eyes towards her. "I'll be fine, go get Claudia" She encouraged as Myka's feature's turned forlorn and dubious. Myka grabbed her friend's hand and squeezed it gingerly before getting up and running towards where Pete had disappeared to.
Adriana and Gustavo stared on in horror, their search for the key having been completely forgotten in light of recent events.
"Yes? Hello? Still trapped in an endless sea of despair here" Helena choked out, forcing herself to a kneeling position and leaning heavily against the wall.
"Mierda" Adriana cursed under her breath as she and the archeologist resumed their frantic search. After what seemed like endless minutes, Roberto gave out an elated laugh and held the newly found key up to his light. He ran up to the author and taking care not to touch the chains opened them. H.G. immediately wrenched her wrist free, instantly feeling the effects of the artifact disappear, though she doubted the memories would leave her quite so easily.
"We must go after them" A breathless Helena stated, her eyes fixed on the chamber opening. Focusing her will power on what felt like inanimate legs, she used the two guides as leverage and hauled herself up.
"Are you okay to walk?" A worried archeologist asked as he helped steady the queasy looking writer.
After several seconds, H.G. answered: "I think I can manage walking…but I'm afraid we're going to have to make a run for it" Was her reply, when she heard her friend's agitated shouts getting nearer.
….
"Pete!" Myka called out to her partner.
"Mykes! I'm over here" Myka turned a bend and saw Pete waiting for her, his flashlight searching for any evidence of Claudia's whereabouts.
"She could be anywhere, damn it!" He cursed in frustration after he directed his light towards three different tunnel entrances.
Myka walked up to the first one and searched the ground while Pete did the same near the second tunnel. Before they could make up their minds, a bright light came from deep within the second tunnel and momentarily blinded the two Warehouse agents who used their hands to block the glaring light from their eyes. Just as suddenly, they heard a deep howl followed by the young tech's voice, cursing to the four winds.
"Claudia!" Both agents called out, hearing the girl running towards the entrance.
They ran into the tunnel and as they turned yet another corner they gave out a sigh of relief. Claudia was running towards them, a strange looking device strapped to her belt from which two blinding lights had been turned to illuminate the darkness behind her.
"I pissed it off! I pissed it off! Ahhhh!" She yelled out as she grabbed the two agent's forearms and without stopping, turned them around and hauled them along the tunnel. They heard yet another piercing screech from somewhere close by and the two agents reacted by grabbing the young tech's elbows and picking up their speed.
They soon reached the chamber entrance where the rifle had been chained in and to their relief the others were already waiting outside for them.
"Run!" All three Warehouse employees hollered at once.
They were soon making their way back to the catacomb's entrance. Adriana at the lead, followed closely by H.G., Myka, Pete, Roberto and Claudia who still had the device's lights on, keeping the creature at bay.
"I can't hear it anymore; do you think it's still following us?" Pete asked as he was helping Adriana into the narrow hole in the wall.
"Ohhh…it's still following us alright" Claudia assured "But, as long as we keep to the light I think we'll be alright" She tried to remain positive but, as soon as she uttered the words, the lights from the contraption flickered and gave out, leaving them bathed in the dimmer light of their flashlights.
"Ooof course" The young tech grumbled dejectedly.
"Move! Move! Move!" Roberto urged as they made their way into the small hole.
Pete was the last one to go through and soon he was the only one left in the narrow tunnel, the others waiting impatiently on the other side. The agent only had a few feet to go when he felt the creature behind him; a wet, clammy hand, pulling at his right foot, trying to drag him back. He clumsily aimed his tesla at it - his movements impeded by the enclosed space - and fired.
"Pete!" He heard Myka's worried voice but, the hand was at his ankle again. Just as he was about to be pulled back by the irate shadow, two pairs of callused hands came into view from the tunnel's entrance and grabbed his arms, hauling him out. A group of the Hacienda's farmers, including Manuel, had arrived and were currently helping the struggling agent. They yelled out instructions and motioned for the agent to continue on his way out of the tunnels.
Pete felt blood start to trickle anew across his brow and his world tilted to one side but, before he could fall on his face; Roberto wrapped strong arms around him and half carried, half dragged him the rest of the way.
They reached the wooden stairs that led up to the surface and he found himself climbing them, more from inertia than anything else. As soon as his head was out of the catacombs a gush of cool breeze hit him square in the face, the night air a balm to his aching head.
He dragged himself a few feet on hands and knees and looked up, making sure everyone in his group was accounted for.
Roberto had just climbed out of the catacombs and was crouching beside Adriana who was waiting anxiously for the farmers that had stayed behind; Claudia was making her way over to him, while Myka gave him a relieved smile from her crouching position in front of a woozy looking H.G.
The three farmers who had gone in quickly made their way out of the catacombs and as soon as the last one was in the clear, Manuel shut the door. Gustavo, who had appeared out of nowhere, calmly placed a small stone on the door.
"There, that should do the trick." He announced with a whimsical smile. They all gave a start when they heard the creature smashing against the door several times but it appeared that the small stone was keeping it trapped inside.
"Claudia, that device you had on you…it was simply amazing. Thank God you had the foresight to take it with you" Adriana praised the Warehouse tech who at the moment was helping Pete up.
"Well, I can't take all the credit" She humbly replied as she turned to a grinning Pete.
"Goonies!" They both blurted out in singsong as they bumped fists.
When all they were met with were confused stares, she continued; "Well, as soon as they told us we were heading into a deep, dark, scary mountain I kinda took inspiration from one of the classics and made my version of a 'Bully Blinder'…turns out…batteries still don't last that long" She continued as she sat Pete beside Helena who gave them a weak smile; having no clue as to what they were referring to but who was ever so grateful they were all there, in one peace.
"Helena?" The writer turned tired eyes to a disheveled looking Myka, her small smile still in place. "What happened down there? What-what did you see?" The younger agent prompted as she examined H.G's hurt wrist. The writer shook her head slowly, looking down at the delicate hands soothing away the pain; "I-I can't quite say…but, I think it is imperative that we send our young apprentice back to the Warehouse" She mused as she turned her focus to an affronted looking Claudia.
"Wait-What? Come on H.G. I totally kicked ass down there" She tried to reason.
"I am not arguing your merits in the tunnels darling; it's just-I believe the chains granted me a vision of what is to become of you if you do stay." She countered, her mind on the horrible vision of her young friend, burned and limbless, dragging herself across the floor while she cried in pain and terror.
Before Claudia and the other agents could ask the inventor to explain herself, Gustavo clapped his hands together to garner everyone's attention.
"Well, I must say that was quite the adventure" He proclaimed, earning raised eyebrows from the bruised and battered group. "I say we get you all back to your rooms where you can freshen up – I'll get my Physician to come see you all - and we'll meet back in the courtyard, say at ten o'clock on the dot? Oh! I have such a wonderful surprise for you all." He exclaimed excitedly as he practically jumped up and down in his spot.
…
"Ow,ow,ow!" Was the first thing Helena heard when she opened the door to Myka's room. She was welcomed by the sight of Pete who was sitting on Myka's bed while a coppered skinned man with long black hair was finishing adjusting some gauze over the agent's injured head. Claudia was sprawled on the bed behind him, skimming through an old magazine and Myka in turn was leaning against the far wall, the bathroom's low lights making her features indistinguishable.
As she walked into the room, the man looked up and gave her a warm smile before giving Pete's dressing a once over and standing up. "Hello, I'm Doctor Arpasi" He introduced himself to the agent as he offered his hand.
"Agent Helena Wells" She replied, giving the hand a confident shake before taking a look around. It appeared that Pete had dragged his mattress over from his quarters and had placed it on the floor near the foot of the bed while Claudia had brought over her overnight bag; her pajamas and personal belongings haphazardly strewn about the room.
"What's this then? We're having a sleepover, are we?" The writer inquired with a mirthful smile.
"That thing down in the tunnels is gunning for us so I decided that the best thing for me to do is to keep watch and protect the hen house" Pete explained smugly as he wiped his nose in what he apparently thought was a manly fashion. Helena simply crinkled her nose at her friend's gesture.
"Pffft….right" Claudia scoffed sarcastically, her eyes still focused on the magazine.
"Pete has a slight concussion and we have to keep an eye on him for tonight" Myka offered as she stepped closer to the group. With the light no longer at her back, H.G. could now see that the younger agent had already been attended to by the doctor. She had some sort of white, viscous liquid plastered on the cuts on her face giving her a comical yet childish appearance.
"Just ignore it" Myka said with a small, bashful grin; seeing her friend's amused smile and effectively stopping the writer from whatever quip she was about to throw her way.
Helena raised her hands up in capitulation, her smile still in place.
"Agent Wells, Ms. Fernandez mentioned you have been under the effects of Francisco Chavelilla's chains. I must say, it's been awhile since I treated someone who stumbled upon those ghastly things." Doctor Arpasi stated as he pointed to her wrist, wordlessly asking for permission to examine it.
Helena gave a heavy sigh and sat down on the bed beside Pete; presenting her wrist to the Doctor. After a few moments in which Arpasi poked and prodded the injured wrist, he continued to speak; "Physically, you should be fine; I'm more worried about how the whole ordeal left you feeling."
"I'll live" The agent stated dryly.
Sensing that the young woman wasn't one for chatting, the doctor tried to remain silent…and failed, curiosity getting the better of him.
"Adriana also mentioned that you actually countered the effects of the chains; you escaped the mental prison it had created for you…that, that - well to be honest with you, Agent Wells – that is something unheard of." He exclaimed.
H.G. looked up at the doctor then, really seeing the dark skinned man for the first time. He was probably in his mid-fifties, with long dark hair and a weather beaten face. It was obvious he had not been a doctor his whole life, his callused hands giving away his farming roots all too easily. He was applying some sort of ointment to her injured wrist, skillfully massaging it into her skin.
"Do you mind telling me how you achieved this?" He asked while he took out some dressing and began wrapping her wrist.
Helena's eyes shot up to meet Myka's before quickly looking away. "I-I heard one of my fellow agents calling out to me and I just had to come back." She declared matter-of-factly.
At the statement, both Pete and Claudia gave Myka furtive glances; catching a small lopsided smile form on her face as she rubbed the back of her neck in self-awareness.
The doctor made a noncommittal sound at the statement while he secured the dressing.
Myka cleared her throat and decided to break the tense silence that followed.
"Doctor, have you ever heard of the chains presenting someone with a glimpse of the future?" She tentatively inquired; the image of Helena shouting out Claudia's name in a panic after she awoke ever present in her mind. The doctor turned his attention to the slender agent.
"From what I have been told when I was a young boy; the chains find many ways to break their captive…it is very possible that they showed Agent Wells an undetermined and appalling future." He explained. "Or, it could have simply conjured up an awful scenario based on her fears. There is no way of knowing; but let us hope it is the latter." He smiled, trying to ease the group's obvious anxiousness.
"So, H.G., mind telling me what you saw? I mean, it must have been something pretty harsh if you're actually considering sending me back to the Warehouse and depriving yourselves of my awesomeness." Claudia tried to joke but failed miserably, her nervousness all too apparent in her voice.
Helena turned to focus her attention on her young friend, a disheartened look in her eyes. "What H.G.? Am I going to burst into flames or something?" Claudia prodded with a doubtful smile, still trying to keep appearances but, as she noticed Helena withdraw and look away at her statement she instantly felt her stomach drop.
"Oh" The redhead softly exclaimed in realization.
"No Claudia, but you were so terribly injured and you had been severely burned…I-I didn't even recognize you until you were close enough that I could make out your eyes". Helena said, deciding that it was best, in the end, that the young girl acknowledged the gravity of the situation.
"Look guys, I'm sure that whatever H.G. saw was some hocus pocus voodoo stint the chains conjured up to screw with her. You want to know what's really scary? The conversation we're about to have with 'El Capitano' back at the Warehouse. He's going to have a freaking field day with us." Pete interceded, trying to keep his friends focused on the present and refusing to consider the possibility that his young friend was in any real danger.
The three women in the room cringed at the thought of having to talk to Artie now. They had yet to tell him they had not gone to Cusco as ordered and, after almost getting themselves killed several times over, Artie was most definitely not going to be pleased.
…..
"Do you mind telling me where the hell you've been? I've been trying to reach you for the past twenty three hours! Of all the inconsiderate, selfish…" Artie's grumbling became unintelligible after that and the three agents and Warehouse tech waited with guilty faces while the custodian vented his frustration. After a few – long - minutes of this, Artie finally took a calming breath to center himself. "Okay, so I assume you've reached Cusco by now. What's our status?" He asked.
Pete, Helena and Claudia all turned to look at Myka, decidedly sealing her fate.
"We-um- we're not in Cusco" The agent stammered, once again rubbing the back of her neck.
"I beg your pardon?" Artie replied in a calm voice which only served to fuel the group's anxiousness. "My ears must be getting the better of me at my old age because I thought I heard you say you're not in Cusco?" He continued, his voice getting louder with each word articulated.
"Yeah, we're in Chincha" Myka confessed quickly.
"Just like a band aid" Claudia whispered to Myka as she patted her on the shoulder.
"What?!"
...
The next thirty minutes were filled with some a lot of yelling –mostly from Artie- and feeble and stuttering attempts at an explanation – all from the Warehouse crew. After they finally got their story out, Artie serenely removed his eyeglasses and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Okay, the good news is that we now definitely know that somebody is trying to get whatever artifact is in Hauyna Picchu and that they haven't been able to do so so far. Let us assume that the only way he could get to said artifact is with this rifle. So no rifle, no artifact; that means we have the advantage. So! This is what we're going to do. You're going to haul your insubordinate behinds to Cusco. There's an airport there so Claudia, you're gettingt on the first flight out to Lima-"
"Bu-"
"Uh-huh, no buts…you see this right here?" He stated, gesturing to himself "This is me about to have an aneurism. So, you are marching yourself right over and the rest of you…get the artifact and get back here ASAP." He finished.
"Sure Artie, we'll head over to Cusco first thing tomorrow." Pete conceded, not wanting to say anything that would set Artie off again.
"Oh and one more thing" The older man exclaimed before Pete could close his Farnsworth.
The group waited expectantly for more ear pulling. "Be careful…please" Artie's eyes softened at his last words. "And for God's sake keep me updated."
...
"Ouch. That was painful." Claudia deadpanned as she got up from her place at the foot of the bed and went over to the window.
"Guys, we have company" She continued and after a few seconds there was a knock at the door.
Myka walked over and opened it, Amaru and Dr. Arpasi stood outside; wide grins on their faces.
"What is it?" Myka questioned, a smile of her own gracing her face; the men's goofy grins contagious.
"Remember Gustavo saying he had a surprise for us?" Roberto reminded the younger woman.
"Yeeeah" Myka answered apprehensively.
"You have to get out here now" Roberto's smile getting impossibly wider, giving his distinct face a child-like quality.
He enthusiastically took a hold of Myka's forearm when he saw her hesitate and guided her out of the room.
"Take care of those cuts Agent Bering, remember to apply the lotion at least twice a day; Gustavo would never forgive me if there was needless scarring on such a striking face." Dr. Arpasi recommended as the pair walked by him.
"Roberto wait, I have to get this stuff off my face" Myka stated, remembering the white liquid the doctor had applied earlier.
"Come now, there's no need for that. You look perfect." Rodrigo assured enthusiastically, as he gently pulled her over to the bar area.
Myka gave the back of his head a lopsided grin and shook her own head from side to side in resignation. It appeared that the Doctor could turn into a ten year old boy when he got excited; a charming ten year old boy, she had to admit to herself.
"I don't think I can handle another surprise" Claudia half – droned, following them out just the same, excitement and curiosity beating out trepidation.
"Awesome! I love surprises" Pete chimed in with his usual overeagerness.
"Don't we all, darling." Helena replied in a decidedly less cheerful, more ironic tone as she followed him out and closed the door behind her.
...
Thanks again for taking the time to read!