Title: Empire of the Sun
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 criticism will be greatly appreciated.
Author's notes:
1) 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).
2) This is a short one guys. Very little Warehouse agents but, I needed this chapter to move things along. Next chapter will be longer, it will also have a lot more agent action aaaand it will be posted soon. Promise. ;)
3) Once again, thanks for all your feedback. It really helps out when I feel stuck. I just read it and it's super encouraging :)
/
It was a beautiful night, the stars shone brightly in the usually foggy sky. As Gustavo looked up from his balcony, a nostalgic smile appeared on his haggard face. He was known to keep to himself, to live in isolation from almost everyone. His solitude was something he dearly loved, although if this was an innate character trait or if it had sprung out of necessity since most people tended to keep him at arm's length, he couldn't say. But tonight, for the first time in a long time, the quiet saddened him. He missed the noise and excitement of the past couple of days. He inhaled deeply and smiled to himself before turning around and heading back to his study. He walked towards his desk, his usual energy missing from his gait. He sat down and looked at the sickly plant in front of him. The plague that had been attacking his crops and cherished gardens still puzzled him to no end. He grabbed the small transparent flask with the golden substance in it and proceeded to delicately pour it over the small plant which immediately turned green and straightened. A hopeful smile transformed his worn-out features, giving him a childlike mirth which quickly transformed into a disappointed scowl. The small plant had turned black and had practically disintegrated before his very eyes. Another failed attempt at saving his beloveds. He had an entire room which served as a reminder of his constant failures. With a loud sigh, his heart sank even further as his mind went back to that very afternoon.
/
"Ah! Here we go!" Gustavo exclaimed proudly as he grabbed the white sheet and pulled back on it, revealing a large oak wardrobe.
"Is-Is that little Jackie's wardrobe?" A stunned Helena questioned as she neared the large piece of furniture. Sensing questioning eyes on her, she turned to her friends with an indulgent smile as she explained, "Jackie is- or I'm afraid to say, was - Clive Staple Lewis? His mother used to be an…- ah, I believe the term is Independent contractor- for Warehouse Twelve. I met Jackie when he was about two years old. Christina had been gone for a few years by then. I remember this wardrobe was in his nursery. How he loved to hide in here while her mother and I had tea… I hear he became a proficient author in his own right. I'm afraid I haven't gotten around to reading his works though." She finished wistfully.
"Why am I not surprised you used to have tea with C.S. Lewis' mother?" Myka half quipped as she walked over to Helena; looking at her with a smile before turning her attention to the Wardrobe.
They were back in Gustavo's home, in the same room where H.G.'s family's belongings were stored. They had woken up early and after an extensive breakfast had packed their bags and had followed Bingham over to his house. The fear of having to go back into the forest where they had first been attacked, weighing heavily on the group. But, the ever lighthearted Gustavo had told them not to worry and had insisted they join him at his manor. Now they stood in a semi-circle around the large wardrobe.
"Wait, wait…don't tell me. This is where he got his idea for the magic Wardrobe in his books…please, tell me it can get us the heck out of here." A hopeful Claudia intervened.
"Very good, my dear Miss Donavan. That is exactly what it is and it is precisely what it will do." A jovial Bingham cheered.
"Sooo…Why couldn't we have just used this to get us over here in the first place?" A tired Pete inquired.
"I'm afraid this Wardrobe can only allow you to leave. Its doppelganger is in a small bed and breakfast in Cusco where it will take you. You will not be able to get back here this way. You'll have to cross the forest again or wait for spring when the rains come. Oh, please tell me you'll be back!" Gustavo practically begged as he grabbed unto Pete's sleeve.
Pete put his hand on the small man's shoulder, an easy joke on his lips, but upon seeing the hopefulness in his strange, blue eyes he bent down to be more at eyelevel with the older man and said, "We'll be back Gustavo". Pete's open and honest gaze, calmed Gustavo's anxiety and he simply clapped his hands together and bolted towards the Wardrobe.
"The owner of the Bed and Breakfast, Mrs. Rosa Rivera, is expecting you. She is also a Warehouse contact and I dare say she is a bit strange, although perfectly harmless, I assure you."
Myka and Pete as well as Claudia and H.G. shared bewildered looks and skeptic smiles. If someone was considered strange by Gustavo, then they were surely in for one heck of a ride.
They each said a heartfelt goodbye to their new friends, Gustavo and Adriana, as they stepped into the Wardrobe. The last one to head in was Roberto. Adriana held her friend's hand and smiled up at the tall man.
"Take good care of them, especially the little one…I see darkness in her future…in all our futures." She cautioned her friend.
Roberto looked into the Wardrobe, making sure the others were out of earshot. "Did you dream this?" He asked gravely.
A curt nod and the downward cast of her eyes was all the answer he needed. He held her by the shoulders, forcing the younger woman to look at him. She slowly gazed up, her eyes haunted by whatever she had seen last night. Ever since she was a little girl, she had been afflicted by premonitions in the form of dreams and nightmares. Although sporadic and discordant, they always preceded a great change in her life and the lives of those around her.
"I will look after them…do not worry my friend." He promised as he leaned in and gave her a brotherly kiss on the brow.
He turned to a worried looking Gustavo and leaned in to give the older man an affectionate hug before turning and walking into the Wardrobe.
/
That was the last time he had seen the agents and he had not heard any news on their whereabouts for the rest of the day. Extremely worried, he had decided to keep busy working on an antidote to save his crops and gardens. If he didn't find something soon, he was afraid the farmers and their families living in his estate would go hungry. He had concocted a formula with some of the artifacts with rejuvenating qualities and a mix of some homegrown vitamins and supplements to help the plants fight the disease but, it had strangely proven fruitless despite the artifacts' great powers. He looked at the golden substance for a few seconds before sealing the flask and placing it carefully on the desk in front of him.
The small man decided he would give the agents time to settle in and tomorrow morning he would call them to assuage his worries. Tomorrow, he would also ask Adriana for help with the crop problem and they would surely find a solution together. And tomorrow, he would find an artifact to get rid of the monster trapped in the catacombs. Feeling better with this in mind, his exhaustion made itself known. He sweetly caressed the remains of the withered plant, saying a silent goodbye, before turning off the light on his desk.
Gustavo found it strange that he saw colors before his eyes despite having turned off the only light in the room. He grabbed his throat, feeling tightness around it and realized there was a cold, thin wire around his neck. Instantly, there was more pressure applied to his windpipe. He felt blood trickle from the wound caused by the makeshift weapon. For the first time in his life, he found he wanted to be another. Someone bigger, braver than he. Gustavo felt his attacker behind him, overpowering his small, feeble frame. His great grandfather had been an adventurer. He had fought in wars and looked death in the eye many times. This was the first time he had ever been in any real peril and in his mind's eye he saw Hiram Bingham looking down at him with such disappointment. Feeling his body numb, he grabbed the vile that had been on the table and quickly and discretely placed it inside a hidden compartment in his coat. Whoever was his aggressor, he would not have access to the formula that could potentially hold the key to successfully combat wounds and decease.
This small act of heroism gave his soul peace and as the colors faded and his eyes closed, he sent out a prayer to whoever was listening to protect those he was leaving behind. His last thoughts were of the night before. His friends surrounding him, laughing and content. Him dancing with a beautiful young woman; something he had never done before and something he had felt ashamed to admit until this very second. He smiled to himself as his memories went to that night, picturing the huge campfire. Its warmth enveloping him as he got nearer and nearer until there was only the flame and then nothing at all.
/
Helena was the first inside the wardrobe. It was empty and pitch black. She spread her arms outward, certain to hit the hard wooden posterior at any moment. Her hand hit something but it was definitely not hard. It was a cold, slimy substance which immediately engulfed her hand. Alarmed, the inventor gave a sharp gasp and pulled back quickly but found she couldn't free her hand. She felt the oily matter creep up her arm.
"Claudia, darling. How did one travel through the wardrobe in Lewis' books?" She asked, her claustrophobia taking a hold of her more rapidly than whatever was creeping up her arm.
"Umm, you just walked through and a few seconds later you were right smack in the middle of Narnia…why?"Claudia's voice could be heard a few feet behind.
"Well, it appears that my dear Jackie omitted a few things." H.G. commented as she felt the substance move to her shoulder. She felt smooth, calming fingers intertwine with her own.
"Myka?"
"I'm here." She heard her friend whisper beside her and then a small light almost blinded her sensitive eyes. Myka had turned on her pen light.
"What's going on up there? Is everything okay?" Pete's worried voice carried to them from behind the others.
Myka looked at the dark substance riding up Helena's arm and unconsciously moved closer to the smaller woman.
"Yes. Just be careful guys. It looks like the ride over there will be –" As Myka searched for the right word, she instinctively squeezed the writer's hand – "uncomfortable." She finished, not sure if she picked the best word to describe what was happening to Helena who was at the moment giving her a childish sneer. She clearly wasn't on board with her description of what was happening to her.
"Oh, yeah…I forgot to mention. Hold your breath and prepare to be grossed out." Roberto exclaimed from the back of the line, smacking himself mentally for having forgotten to warn the rest of the group about this very important detail.
"I'm going to bloody murder him." A fuming Helena promised under her breath as she felt the matter run up her neck and chin.
"Shhh….come here." Myka's calm voice tried to soothe her friend.
The older woman felt Myka's arm wrap around her waist and she proceeded to gently nudge her forward clearly intending for both of them to cross the barrier together.
"Myka, don't you dare let go of me." Helena's voice was commanding yet Myka could hear the tremor in it.
"Wouldn't dream of it." Myka exclaimed gently as she held her breath and submerged her face into the cold, dark substance.
/
Thanks for reading this far. Any and all comments are welcomed!