Chapter 19: Right and Wrong

Indy leaned against a stone pillar, hit with another wave of dizziness. It was possible now that he had a concussion. Or worse, a skull fracture. He had felt nauseated since coming up from the underground cavern with Rourke, leaving Milo and Helga behind with the crystallized princess. He and the others were forced down the palace stairs to the courtyard, all but Sweet who remained at the king's side, refusing to leave the dying man unattended. Vinny and Mole helped Indy down the steep steps, half-carrying, half-dragging him. The dizzying height and his aching skull caused waves of nausea to come over him.

While they had been underground, Ohsiv, along with his warriors and the Nazi soldiers; gathered up every citizen in Atlantis, close to five hundred or so. Men, women and children. The soldiers herded them to the main courtyard below the palace steps and keeping them there under guard. Children clung to their parents, their little faces frightened. Ridden with guilt, Indy had to turn away from the heart-wrenching sight, knowing he had helped cause their misfortune. The men and women were confused and frightened that several of their fellow Atlanteans were helping the pale-skinned visitors, not realizing they were somehow under the Crystal's influence.

To Indy's surprise, Rourke didn't say a word to him about helping with the equipment; instead taking several soldiers to retrieve the expedition's vehicles once the gathering of Atlantis's people had been done.

Relieved, Indy had sank to the bottom steps and sat down. The others stood around him, arguing in hushed tones, not wanting the gathered Atlanteans to overhear.

"We can't stay here, even if it is Atlantis," Vinny argued. "We all have families waiting for us to come home. Lives to return to. I'm not stayin' in this godforsaken, underground hole."

Indy scoffed and looked up at him, cocking an eyebrow. "You'll be siding with Rourke and Nazi Germany."

"He's our only way out of here." Audrey defended the Italian man, her large eyes narrowed. "You're the one who needs to leave the most. You don't look good at all, Doctor Jones. If you don't get that injury looked at, you could die."

As if to back up her description of him, another wave of nausea hit him. He swallowed hard, fighting it stubbornly.

"If we cooperate with that son of a bitch, Rourke is going to make sure we remain supportive of them. He's not going to let us go back to our regular lives." Indy snapped, glaring at them. He wondered if they had even thought that far ahead about the consequences.

Packard let out a puff of smoke from her cigarette. "According to Rourke, we have been all along. So, what's the difference?"

Angry, Indy got to his feet, his sudden movement making him dizzy again but he ignored it, training his blurry s on each of their faces. "Once that crystal leaves this cavern, these people will die."

"Hell, so will we if we stay here!" Cookie replied vehemently.

"And what about when we reach the surface with it, huh?" Indy pointed above his head to emphasize his point. "We are on the verge of war up there. We hand that thing over to the wrong men and all of us will suffer the same fates that are about to fall on these people."

There was an audible silence for a while, as if each of them were contemplating what Indy said. It was Mole that finally broke the silence. "I say we go and face the consequences. At least we'll be out of here."

Indy shook his head in disgust. "You all do what you want then. These peoples' lives will end brutally because of your selfishness." Ignoring their stunned faces, he turned around and headed for a small grove of trees growing out of a crumbling pavilion. During the argument, Indy's willpower to hold his nausea at bay finally failed him and he needed to go and release the pressure.

Audrey frowned. "Where are you going?"

Indy stopped and looked over his shoulder. "To think!" He snapped before stomping off.

Having seen the green-tinged look on the archaeologist's face, Vinny followed him to make sure he didn't pass out without anyone knowing.

Sweating and disoriented, Indy leaned against the first stone pillar he came to out of sight of the courtyard. He grabbed a hold of the thick, flowering vines that entwined around the ancient stone. Unable to hold it any longer, he vomited, trying to make as less noise as he possibly could.

Rourke stood in the clearing, gnawing on another toothpick, as he watched the last of the equipment being loaded into the last truck. He grinned, highly pleased with himself. Among the salvaged wreckage in the dormant volcano where they had crashed, his men had found an iron vault with a circular glass window to put the crystal-infused princess into. If they could get her in there without touching her, it would be smooth sailing right after.

The Commander sighed with satisfaction. Everything in his years' long plan was coming together quite nicely.

Breathing heavily after his recent bout of vomiting, Indy had sank down to his knees, sitting with his back against the pillar. Vinny stood nearby, watching Indy anxiously. He knew the archaeologist was furious with him but he didn't dare leave him alone.

"You okay?" Vinny asked him tentatively. "You need some water?"

Indy shook his head, staring blankly at the ground. "I'm fine."

The two men were quiet for a while, consumed by their thoughts before Indy became nauseated. He turned on his side and vomited again.

Vinny shook his head, walking over and grabbing Indy by the arm. "We gotta get you out of here. I'm no doctor, but that's not a concussion. I think you busted your skull open."

Indy spit and looked up at him. He had a feeling this expedition would end badly for him. Hitting his head certainly didn't help. "Vinny... I don't think I'm going to make it out of here alive." He winced, reaching up with a hand over his wound as an excruciating stab of pain pounded in his skull.

Vinny jumped to his feet. "I'm gonna go get Sweet." He turned to go but Indy called him back.

"No." The archaeologist shook his head. "The king needs him more then I do." Deep down, even with a skilled physician like Sweet to attend to him, he knew he wouldn't survive the return journey through the caves, even if they did make it out of Atlantis somehow.

Far beneath the throne room, Milo nervously paced back and forth, his thoughts filled with different scenarios of what could happen when they did reach the surface with Kida. The only light in the underground cavern came from the princess's illuminated, crystallized body. She hadn't moved from her spot near the carved "A" in the stone floor since Rourke and Indy had ascended to the throne room above.

She was completely motionless except for her flowing hair and skirt. Her eyes were still open but they did not blink.

Helga sat on the ground nearby, nervously playing with her unloaded pistol.

Milo stopped pacing and stared down at her. "I don't understand. Why are you and Rourke working with the Nazis?"

Helga looked up at him, her dark eyes narrowed. "That's not any of your concern, Thatch."

"It is if myself and everyone above us are at risk of getting shot and killed."

Helga got to her feet, her pale face red with fury. "I would keep your opinions to yourself."

Milo stood his ground as Helga continued on her tirade, her voice getting louder in volume as her anger increased.

"I worked too hard to get in this position and I'm not about to let you or anyone else sabotage this mission!"

Milo narrowed his eyes. "Money. That's all you care about isn't it? Innocent lives are at stake and all you want is money."

"Shut up, Milo!" She snapped, her voice echoing loudly. Kida's form suddenly turned a bright shade of blood red, making both Helga and Milo leap backwards in terror.

They watched her warily until she changed back to her normal blue hue once more.

Helga clutched a hand to her chest and closed her eyes. "Damn him for leaving me down here with that thing."

Once Milo gained his composure back, he shook his head as Helga sat down on the ground again. She saw his disapproving stare.

Glancing nervously at Kida, Helga kept her voice low when she spoke, not wanting to anger it again. "What I do is my business. If that thing didn't get angry every time we made a loud noise- I'd shoot you right between the eyes!"

Taken aback by Helga's threat, Milo turned his back on her and looked up, hoping fervently that Indy was up there, possibly thinking of a way to get out of the mess they were in. Milo was ready to give up, not certain what to do anymore. With the Crystal now within Rourke's reach, there was no telling what lengths the wicked man would take to get it out of Atlantis.

The underground cavern's light source was giving way to its subterranean night by the time Rourke returned to the throne room with his men, lowering the iron vault into the underground cavern with heavy chains.

Milo watched in surprise when Kida's crystallized form entered the vault willingly. Seeing the greedy look on Rourke's face, he turned away as the iron box was bolted shut and lifted up and pulled to the throne room above their heads. When it came his turn to ascend, Milo remained silent, keeping his eyes on his feet. Helga had her pistol trained on him, despite the fact he was no threat to her.

After struggling down the steep palace stairs with their burden, Rourke's men finally reached the courtyard safely, with the vault ready to be loaded on one of the trucks. The gathered Atlantean people were silent, their eyes fearful and curious as they glimpsed the Crystal for the first time.

Ohsiv swallowed the lump in his throat when he recognized Kida's now crystallized form. He wasn't expecting that to happen at all. He assumed the Crystal was just that, a crystal. Guilt overwhelmed him. Trembling, he sank down to the steps of the palace and put his head in his hands.

Helped by Vinny, Indy had returned to the courtyard once they heard Rourke and his men coming down the stairs. Opposite Ohsiv, Indy sat down on the steps again, watching everything go on with a grim look on his face.

Milo approached the vault, looking at Kida through the glass, just as the soldiers were tightening the bolts to ensure its security.

One of the men brushed Milo aside as the squad leader shouted orders. "Sergeant, keep those people back."

Inside the vault, the crystal glowed and crackled like ice as it conformed to its prison, Kida's face vanishing within its blue light.

Milo was shoved backwards with the barrel of a gun to his chest. "You heard him!" One of the men threatened in a German accent. "Step back!"

The young man clenched his fists. He glanced behind him at Indy still on the stairs. The archaeologist met his eyes briefly before looking away.

Milo turned back, watching in disbelief as Audrey and the others joined Rourke's group willingly, agreeing to cooperate in order to return to the surface. As the vault was loaded onto the truck, Milo couldn't help but voice his disappointment.

"So... I guess this is how it ends, huh?" He began, his voice cold. "Fine. You win." He shrugged, pacing around until his eyes settled on Audrey and then Vinny. "You're wiping out an entire civilization." He met Vinny's eyes briefly but the demolitions expert quickly looked away. "But hey..." Milo narrowed his eyes. "You'll all be rich."

Indy struggled to his feet, fighting back the dizziness as he limped over to Milo's side.

Milo continued, his voice tense and accusing. "Congratulations, Audrey. Guess you and your dad will be able to open up that second garage after all." Audrey had been getting into the truck, but Milo's words made her pause, her hand on the door.

Milo shrugged. "And, Vinny, you can start a whole chain of flower shops. I'm sure your family's going to be very proud." He took a deep breath. "I don't think I could live with myself, knowing I caused the deaths of innocents to save my own life."

Rourke had been watching him through the rear view mirror of his truck, half-listening. The commander chuckled with amusement and turned his head to look at him. "Get off your soapbox, Thatch." He got out of the truck and walked over. "You've read Darwin. It's called natural selection. We're just helping it along." He said coldly, pausing a few feet away from Milo and Indy.

Helga stood up from her seat in the same truck. "Commander, we're ready!" She shouted, eager to leave the underground realm behind.

Rourke shot her an annoyed glare. "Yeah, give me a minute!" He turned back to the two men, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "I know I'm forgetting something."

Indy watched him warily, sensing the commander was up to something. He tensed, watching as Rourke's right hand strayed to his belt.

"I got the cargo, the crystal, the crew..." Rourke listed off to himself. He looked up, his dark eyes settling on Milo and grinned. "Oh, yeah..."

Pulling the pistol from his belt, he aimed it at Milo and pulled the trigger.

What followed happened so fast, Milo couldn't comprehend it. He heard the shot but he was so stunned, it took him a moment to realize he had been slammed into and shoved to the ground and had fallen on his side, right as the gun went off with a loud bang. His satchel had been tossed from his shoulder in the momentum, causing its contents to fall out all over the stones.

Adrenaline still pumping, he sat up and looked behind him. Indy was sitting on the ground nearby, grimacing in pain, holding a hand over his left shoulder as bright red blood gushed from between his fingers. It took a few moments for Milo to register that Indy had shoved him out of the way and took the bullet meant for him.

Seeing the archaeologist go down, Audrey jumped down from the truck and ran towards them, passing Rourke and kneeling at Indy's side. She whipped her head around, looking up at Rourke with fury and hate in her dark eyes.

Rourke was equally surprised at the outcome. The watching Atlanteans had stepped back in fear of the strange weapon, whispering softly among themselves. Rourke quickly overcame his surprise and put the gun back in his belt, shrugging nonchalantly.

"Look at it this way, son." He stepped forward, purposely smashing the glass frame of Milo's picture under his boot. Milo flinched at the crunch it made and looked up at Rourke in disgust.

Rourke crouched down to his eye level. "You were the man who discovered Atlantis and now you're part of the exhibit." He turned to Indy and smiled. "You and Doctor Jones."

"Go to hell, you bastard!" Indy hissed through gritted teeth.

Vinny and Mole watched the commander nervously as the big man turned his back and walked over to his truck. "Let's move, people!" Rourke's voice rang out, echoing off the stones.

"That was an order, not a suggestion," Helga snapped impatiently. "Let's go!"

Vinny and Mole looked at one another for a few moments before stepping away from their truck and going over to stand with the others. Vinny reached down and helped Milo to his feet, putting his arm around the young man's thin shoulders. Cookie followed their lead, jumping out of his chuckwagon and giving Packard a knowing glance before stomping over to join them.

Packard inhaled a puff of smoke before releasing it in a irritated sigh. "We're all going to die." She flicked her cigarette away. Reluctantly, she slipped out of the truck and stood alongside them.

Rourke shook his head incredulously and scoffed. "Oh, you can't be serious."

"This is wrong, and you know it!" Audrey snapped from where she knelt on the ground with Indy, pressing a handkerchief to the wound.

Rourke laughed dryly. "We're this close to our biggest payday ever and you pick now of all times to grow a conscience?" He tone hardened with the last words he spoke.

"We've done a lot of things we're not proud of," Vinny replied bluntly. "Robbing graves, plundering tombs, double parking..."

Everyone turned their heads and gave him stony looks. He shrugged, thinking his little joke would have lightened the mood. "But nobody got hurt." Still getting cold stares, he sighed and shook his head. "Okay, maybe somebody got hurt but nobody we knew." He shrugged his shoulders.

Rourke glared at them for a few moments before replying. "Well, if that's the way you want it, fine." He turned his back one last time, sat down in his truck and started the engine. "More for me!" He hollered back. He glanced at them again in the rearview mirror before shaking his head scornfully. "P.T. Barnum was right." He muttered to himself before nodding to Helga, who had taken Audrey's place in the other truck, before purposely revving the engine, causing it to backfire and spout smoke at Milo and the others.

Once the smoke cleared and he could see more clearly, Milo shook his head as the expedition drove onto the rope bridge.

As soon as the truck containing the crystal left the floating island, the waters suddenly dissipated and stopped flowing. Jaw dropping, Milo turned around. His stomach twisted as the light from the Atlantean peoples' pendants also started going out. A few of them met his eyes, fearful and worried. Those entranced by the crystal were broken from its spell. Some of them dropped their spears, surprised by the aggressive way they had been using them.

Without stopping to think, Milo sprinted after the fleeing Nazis, ignoring Indy's protests for him to come back. Vinny chased him down, struggling to keep up with Milo's longer legs.

"We can't let him do this!" Milo shouted before being grabbed by the arm and pulled back by Vinny.

"Wait a second." The Italian tightened his grip as Milo struggled to get away from him.

Rourke waited until the last truck reached the opposite side of the lava-filled pit before taking one of Vinny's detonators in his large hands. He turned around to watch, grinning deviously as he gripped the handle and pushed down.

BOOM!

The rope bridge exploded into the air, throwing pieces of flaming wood and rope everywhere. Milo and Vinny fell to the ground, covering their heads with their arms.

The lava hissed and spat flames as pieces of the bridge fell into it.

Milo and Vinny uncovered their heads. Milo had a shocked expression on his face, his jaw open and eyes wide.

Vinny's remained impassive. He turned to Milo. "Okay, now you can go." He said sarcastically.

Milo met Vinny's gaze. He gestured to the destroyed bridge with a thumb. "I thought you were out of dynamite?"

"I uh... may have had some extras lyin' around." He admitted.

Milo picked himself up off the ground and shot a worried glance at the opposite side of the lava pit where they had first entered into Atlantis. A feeling of defeat enveloped him as he realized Rourke had won and with the only way out of the underground realm destroyed...

Not wanting to think about what would happen in the next few hours, he turned away and slowly walked over to where the others were still standing around where Indy had fallen to the ground after being shot. Audrey was tying the now bloodied handkerchief around the archaeologist's injured shoulder to stop it from bleeding more until they could get Indy to Sweet.

Indy looked up as Milo approached and shook his head at him. "I told you to get back here."

Milo stared at him suspiciously. "Did you know he was going to blow up our only exit?" He pointed behind him.

Audrey stood up, wiping Indy's blood from her hands onto her overall pants. "All of us knew." She replied guiltily and crossed her arms. "But we didn't anticipate you and Sweet staying behind or Rourke attempting to murder you, either."

Milo sighed and shook his head before reaching down for Indy's hands. "Let's get you to Sweet." With Vinny and Audrey's help, they brought the archaeologist to his feet. As they turned to face the stairs, Milo glanced over and saw Ohsiv several stairs up, still sitting in the same spot. Clenching his fist, he let go of Indy's shirt sleeve, taking Indy's pistol out of its holster on his belt and stomped up the stairs towards the Atlantean captain.

"Milo!" Audrey protested but she was ignored. She went to go after him but Indy pulled her back. She stared at the archaeologist in confusion but he only gestured for her to be quiet.

Ohsiv looked up. His eyes widened when he saw Milo coming towards him with the gun in his hand. He leaped to his feet but lost his balance and fell back on the steps. Milo stood over him, absolutely furious. He cocked the pistol and aimed it at the frightened man.

"Why?" The young man managed to say, feeling grief at Kida being taken away as well as Atlantis's impending fate.

Ohsiv swallowed. "I didn't know it would end up this way. All I wanted was to get rid of it." He replied as the others walked up behind Milo.

"I don't understand. That crystal is what's keeping you alive!" Milo shouted in disbelief. "Why?"

The Atlantean shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "I've lived for over a thousand years, Milo Thatch. And during that time, Atlantis has remained the same. The king kept the crystal hidden, allowing us to live in ruins and ignorance instead of using it to restore us to the surface and regain the knowledge we lost." He shook his head again, his eyes suddenly misty which surprised Milo. "My family were destroyed in the first destruction. And I wanted the crystal destroyed for what it had taken from me. I searched for it for a millennium!" He snarled spitefully, sitting up from the stairs. "And it only took you strangers two days to find it!"

Milo was silent for a few moments before finally dropping the pistol at his side. Ohsiv relaxed against the steps, relieved. He had seen what that weapon could do, having witnessed Indy get shot with one. It had frightened him that Milo was about to use it on him.

"Milo?"

Indy's voice broke Milo out of his trance. Reluctantly, he turned away from Ohsiv and handed the pistol back to Indy. The archaeologist took it from him and put it back in its holster.

As the group struggled up the stairs, Milo voiced his remorse at almost killing someone. "I almost shot him. I could have killed him."

Indy snorted with laughter. "No you couldn't, Thatch." Milo gave him a questioning look. "What do you mean, I couldn't?"

Indy grinned knowingly. "Because Rourke took the bullets out of it."

They all started laughing as Milo turned bright red with embarrassment.

Luckily for Indy, the bullet had only grazed his shoulder. But that still didn't help the fact that the archaeologist was still suffering from a cracked skull. Even Sweet was certain he had one after learning he had recently started vomiting. Once Indy was patched up, did the doctor return to the king's side. Milo joined him, kneeling next to the throne.

"How's he doing?" Milo asked softly, though he wondered why he even asked. It was obvious the king was dying. His breathing was labored and coming out of his mouth in harsh gasps.

Sweet shook his head. "Not good, I'm afraid. I was able to do a more thorough examination and found that there's some internal bleeding." He gripped his stethoscope and turned away. "Rourke's punch shattered his rib cage and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them didn't pierce a lung." He sighed. "There's nothing more I can do for him."

Milo rubbed the back of his head, running his fingers through his sweat-soaked hair as guilt and regret flooded through him. "What a nightmare. And I brought it here."

Sweet looked up and gave him a small smile. "Ah, don't go beating yourself up. Rourke's been after that crystal since Iceland."

Milo sat back against the throne. "Yeah... that's what Indy told me." A thought popped into his head and he jerked up, startling Sweet with his sudden movement. "The crystal! Sweet, that's it!" He reached for the crystal pendant resting on the king's chest. "These... these crystals... they have some sort of healing energy." Seeing the doubtful look on the doctor's face, Milo became more insistent. "I've... I've seen it work."

He jumped when the king suddenly grabbed his hand with his own. "No!" He croaked out a protest, his voice more gravelly and labored then it had been when they first encountered him. The two men looked down at the dying king in concern.

The old man reached a hand up and gripped Milo's thin shoulder tightly. "Where is my daughter?"

Milo turned his head slightly, shutting his eyes. "Well, she... she..."

The king's hand slipped down his arm. "Mmm. She has been chosen," he coughed. "Like her mother before her."

Milo and Sweet stared at him in surprise. "What?" Milo asked, shaking his head in confusion. "Wh... what do you mean?" Behind them, a few Atlanteans gathered behind them, watching and listening.

The king took another labored breath before he spoke again. "In times of danger... the crystal will choose a host... one of royal blood... to protect itself... and its people." He was racked with another painful cough before choking out, "It will accept no other."

Milo couldn't believe what he was hearing. "W-Wait a minute. Choose? So this thing is alive?"

The king gave a slow nod. "In a way. The crystal thrives... on the collective emotions... of all who came before us. In return, it provides power... longevity, protection. As it grew..." his voice grew weaker. Milo and Sweet had to lean closer to hear him. "... it developed a consciousness of its own." He coughed up a few clots of blood that Sweet quickly cleaned up with a clean handkerchief. "In my arrogance..." the king struggled to breathe with every word but he seemed determined to finish his story. "I sought to use it as a weapon of war... but it's power proved too great to control. It overwhelmed us... and led to our destruction."

Milo sat back on his heels, his mind reeling. "That's why you hid it beneath the city," He looked at the king's pain-filled face. "To keep history from repeating itself."

"And to prevent Kida from suffering the same fate... as my beloved wife." The king choked out a sob.

Milo's stomach twisted. "What do you mean? Wh... what's going to happen to Kida?"

The king didn't speak for a few moments. He let out a few gasps as if death had finally come to claim his life. He gripped his crystal pendant, as if seeking its power to help him continue. "If she remains bonded to the crystal... she could be lost to it forever." Tears streamed from his sightless eyes. "The love of my daughter is all I have left. My burden would have become hers... when the time was right... but now..." With great difficulty, the ancient king used the last of his strength to sit up and remove the pendant from around his neck. He put it in Milo's hand. "It falls to you." He sank back against his pillows.

"Me?" Milo gaped at him. The king grabbed the young man's hands and clasped them together with the crystal between them. "Return the crystal. Save Atlantis." He gasped out his last words: "Save my daughter."

His hands slipped from Milo's and fell across his chest. His eyes closed for the last time, never to open again.

The gathered Atlanteans behind them, dropped to their knees in respectful silence.

Milo opened his hands and stared at the crystal. Its light was faint, flickering like a flame.

Sweet took a deep breath. "Hmm. So, what's it going to be?" He stuffed his stethoscope in his medical bag.

Milo looked up at him incredulously. "Excuse me?"

Sweet gestured to the throne room's destroyed doors with his medical bag. "I followed you in, and I'll follow you out." The doctor rose to his feet. "It's your decision."

Milo jumped to his feet. "Oh, my decision?" He laughed dryly. "Well, I think we've seen how effective my decisions have been. Let's recap!"

Sweet blinked in surprise as Milo continued on his rant.

"I lead a band of plundering vandals to the greatest archeological find in recorded history, thus enabling the kidnap and/or murder of the royal family," he gestured to the deceased king behind them. "Not to mention personally delivering the most powerful force known to man into the hands of a mercenary nutcase who is going to sell it to the most evil organization that could use it to take over and destroy every single country on the Earth!" His shouts echoed in the domed ceilings above their heads. "HAVE I LEFT ANYTHING OUT?!" He spread his arms wide.

Sweet shrugged his broad shoulders. "Well, you did set the camp on fire and drop us down that big hole."

Milo rolled his eyes and through his hands up in the air. "Thank you!" He turned and stomped down the steps to the pond. "Thank you very much!" He leaped across the stones to the other side and stomped out into the evening air. Indy was sitting on the top of the steep stairs leading to the courtyard below, head in his hands. He straightened and looked over his shoulder as Milo stomped over.

"What's wrong with you?"

Milo stopped and crossed his arms over his chest, shaking his head. "The king is dead."

Indy looked away, glancing down at the courtyard. He heaved an exhausted sigh. "Well... he won't be the only one."

Milo dropped down next to him. They were silent for a while, each with his own thoughts.

"Its all my fault." Milo grumbled. "I should have taken your advice the day Mr. Whitmore and I met you at your university."

Indy chuckled dryly. "Do you know why I said yes, Thatch?" He turned to Milo with a knowing grin.

Milo rolled his eyes. "Obviously it was the money. Mr. Whitmore wasn't kidding around with the amount he offered you."

Indy sighed and leaned back a little, still smiling. "It was you."

The young man leaned back indignantly. "What do you mean me?"

"Your faith in the whole expedition. The Journal. It was intriguing." Seeing that Milo was still confused, Indy went on. "Milo, you sparked the call to adventure for me. Not only that... but I got to watch you change into a whole different person since we boarded the freight ship."

Milo shook his head and looked away. "What changes? I've been nothing but a pest to you, Indy. And you've saved my life several times, even getting yourself hurt in the process." He glanced at him, frowning. "Why did you take that bullet? Rourke could've killed you."

Indy stared at him for a while, his hazel eyes piercing. "Because Rourke knew you were Atlantis's only hope in becoming strong again. He may not seem like he's afraid of anything, but he's scared of you. I could see it in his eyes."

Milo scoffed. "He's ten times bigger then me. He could break me in half if he wanted to."

"Milo," Indy continued, "He was afraid that Atlantis would retaliate if he stole the crystal away. And you have the knowledge to help them get it back. He thought if he killed you and destroyed the bridge, he would succeed getting that crystal out of here without being pursued."

"Well, he did!" Milo jumped to his feet. "I don't have the slightest idea what to do! We have no way across that pit of lava! Its not like we can sprout wings and fly!" He turned to go but Indy's next words stopped him in his tracks.

"Well, it's been my experience... when you hit bottom... the only place left to go is up."

Milo sighed and looked over his shoulder. "Who told you that?"

Indy gave him a knowing smile. "A fella by the name of Thaddeus Thatch." He winked.

Stunned, Milo turned himself around. He glanced down at the king's pendant still in his hand before looking up and across the city where they had entered Atlantis from the caves.

It was then that an idea hit Milo like a ton of bricks. He looked down at Indy. "There is a way to go up."

"Uh... how?" Indy asked, perplexed.

Milo dangled the crystal from its cord, giving Indy a mischievous grin.

The archaeologist's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh, no." He protested. "No... not those things."

Milo gripped the pendant tightly and started down the stairs, leaving Indy still gaping after him, passing Audrey, Vinny and Mole as they came up from the courtyard.

Audrey stopped with her hands on her hips and stared at him, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going after Rourke." Milo called to her over his shoulder.

Audrey's jaw dropped. "Milo, that's crazy!"

He paused and looked up at their stunned faces. "I didn't say it was the smart thing..." he shrugged. "...but it is the right thing." He spun around and continued down the stairs. Behind them, Sweet, Cookie and Mrs. Packard joined Indy at the top.

Audrey sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes. "Come on. We better make sure he doesn't hurt himself."