Zoalords
Chapter 24
Discovery
Dahshur, Egypt
" . . . May his peace be undisturbed." Professor Malik Hassan traced the inscription on the sealed tomb with a trembling finger. It was something else, something earlier that had bothered him. He had never heard of a Pharaoh named 'Nephren-Ka', and had had never before heard of anyone being described as 'The Fangs of Seth.' Seth, serpent god of evil and darkness . . .
It worried him.
Ever since CHRONOS' rise to power, the archeological community had been thrown into turmoil. Accepted history was revealed as false, everything they knew had been turned on its head. CHRONOS agents now investigated even the most minor excavations in the hopes of finding relics of the mysterious aliens known as Ouranos. A number of his laborers and likely some of his colleagues were Zoanoids
He broke the seal and the workers began clearing a way into the tomb.
One look at the murals in the Outer Chamber realized his fears to the worst possible extent. The murals were magnificently preserved and superbly detailed. They depicted the proud Pharaoh striding over the bodies of his enemies, nations kneeling at his feet. He was wearing armor unlike that of any known Pharaoh.
He was wearing the armor of a Guyver.
Later
"Please, be careful, my lord, this site is over 3000 years old." Professor Hassan followed lord Bin Jamar closely. Fortunately, the Zoalord was careful not to disturb anything. He stopped from time to time to stare at the paintings and hieroglyphics on the walls, but his real interest lay in the burial chamber.
Zoalord Ali Bin Jamar examined the inscription on the sarcophagus. Along with the usual threats to deter grave robbers was a curious inscription.
May his soul never again trouble the land.
As the workers moved the heavy slab away, Professor Hassan noted that something was wrong. The mummy was unremarkable, relatively speaking, in all but one way. The arms lay flat at his sides, not crossed on his chest. Instead, a large, almost mechanical looking pentagon of unknown metal had been placed upon the mummy's withered chest.
A Guyver Unit.
"Secure the room. Post guards at the entrance." Lord Bin Jamar ordered, he turned to the archeologist, "Please, limit your work to the outer chambers. Once Lord Archanfel has taken possession of the device, you will be free to examine this chamber."
Professor Hassan had no choice but to obey.
Lord de Galenos was the first to arrive, being geographically closest. He merely confirmed Lord bin Jamar's identification, then moved to guard the entrance. It was a small chamber, and he was a large man. Lords Barcus and Archanfel would need room to examine the Unit.
Professor Hassan recognized most of the Zoalords, though he had never seen the beautiful young man with Lord Mirabilis. Of them all, Lord Czyvek seemed more interested in the archeological significance of the tomb rather than the Guyver Unit.
Lord Czyvek could not help but notice that The Eye of Horus was depicted numerous times, in hieroglyphics, in jewelry and, bizarrely, directly above the Pharaoh's head in the murals. It appeared to be intended, not as a symbol of protection or Pharaonic power, but of wrath. Everything The Eye shone upon was destroyed. It represented both the god Horus and the goddess Wadjet. Uraeus, the Greeks called it. It was the symbol painted on ancient boats for protection and good luck. It could also be an evil eye. In the context of the murals The Eye appeared to be totally different from typical Egyptian art and theology. It looked so much like The Eye of Ouranos that Czyvek felt a chill rush up his spine. The All-Seeing Eye. The All-Consuming Eye. He looked away from the Eye.
"Wow. This is cool." Lord Ingriam Mirabilis words echoed throughout the burial chambers. There were statues of people, gods and animals, including a full-sized crocodile. He stopped and looked at the crocodile. It was made of a shiny metal, maybe gold. This guy was really rich.
"Sebek, God of the Nile." Lord Czyvek stood beside him, "Crocodiles were sacred animals to him. He often took the form of a crocodile." "That is an oversimplification." A man Ingriam didn't recognize approached them, "Sobek, or Sebek, controlled the Nile, protecting the people from flooding while allowing it to water their crops. He gave military power to the Pharaohs. He was also a Fertility deity, extremely sexual in nature. In fact, his name comes from a root word meaning 'to impregnate'." Czyvek quickly pulled the man aside, "Professor Hassan, correct?" He whispered, "Please, don't discuss sex in any graphic way around Lord Ingriam. He is . . . Innocent." The professor's eyes widened, and he nodded agreement. He had no idea why a Zoalord would be innocent of carnal knowledge, but he had no desire to anger one or more of the powerful men in the world. When he looked over another Zoalord, Lord Mirabilis, was directing the first toward the inner chamber.
"Professor, is it just me, or does it appear to you that the curses and barriers served both to keep robbers out and to keep the Pharaoh within?" Czyvek asked.
"Yes, it would appear so, Lord Czyvek. That is most odd. He was buried with all the royal finery and tradition of a Pharaoh, but great care seems to have been taken to ensure he remain buried. It is possible that his subjects hated him, but feared his wrath even in death. Thus they prepared him for the Afterlife and tried to make sure that he did not return to this one." He turned to Lord Czyvek, "You have knowledge of Egyptology?"
"A passing hobby. That image," He pointed to a mural of Nephren-Ka and the gods Osiris, Maat and Anubis. It depicted the divine judgement of Nephren-Ka's spirit. Maat held a pair of scales in her hand. On one weight was a feather, on the other, the Pharaoh's heart. The scale was tipped toward the heart. "His heart is depicted as heavy with sin. Someone wanted him to experience eternal damnation."
"So it would seem." The Professor sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes, "This is such a groundbreaking discovery! All these years, all of this work and to have it taken over . . ."
"Don't worry, Professor, we will be careful. All we are really interested in the Guyver Unit. Once Lord Archanfel has that, I am sure that you will have your site back for a proper archeological excavation."
"I certainly hope so, my Lord."
"Professor, do you have any idea why the Eye of Horus is used on such an unusual manner in this tomb? I mean, do you have any theory on what its significance is?"
"We have not had time to do any real research, so I honestly cannot say. But you are right, the Eye seems somehow . . . Malevolent. I have never seen it depicted so."
"Professor, if you would be so kind I would like you to brief me on any discoveries involving the Eye motif in this tomb during your research. I believe it may represent the Ouranos themselves."
"Are you suggesting a connection between the Ouranos and The Eye of Horus?"
The Zoalord removed the Eye of Ouranos from his jacket and handed it to the professor. "Take it. This is the only representation we have of the Ouranos. They -" Czyvek turned his head suddenly, "Lord Archanfel is here."
Lords Archanfel and Barcus arrived together. Everyone on site, Prof. Hassan included, knelt before the handsome being as he stepped into the tomb and made his way to the inner chamber.
"We must be extremely careful, Lord Archanfel. After what happened to Lisker . . ."
"The others have already examined it, Hamilcar."
"We should take it to The Ark first. Examine it there. Your safety is paramount. Everything else can wait."
"And if we are attacked before we reach The Ark? Examine it here." He sighed, "I know you have only my best interests at heart, and I appreciate your concern. But we cannot afford to hesitate too long. Even now Makishima may be on his way."
The room was crowded, even with only Zoalords permitted inside. Archanfel would have to take the Unit outside and activate it, or risk obliterating his Council. He carefully lifted the dusty device from its resting place upon the corpse. Everyone, Zoanoid, Zoalord and human, swiftly cleared a path for The Supreme Zoalord. He stepped into the light and walked several yards from the tomb as the others emerged two at a time. He stopped amid the dust and sand, looked down at the Guyver Unit in childlike wonder.
He activated it.
It was both awesome and awful as the creature's tendrils tore their way into Archanfel's frail body, transforming the child-like being into a resplendent, angelic warrior who shone like polished gold beneath the hot Egyptian sun.
Everyone dropped to their knees as Supreme Zoalord Archanfel, The Golden Angel of CHRONOS, became the first Zoalord Guyver.
To be continued . . .