Return of the Old World
Ch3: School Yard Bullies
The next day at school Presley is at his locker grabbing some books to put in his bag before he goes to class, he closes his locker door but as he turns an eager Jade Chan stands in front of him stopping the young man in his tracks.
Presley: Uhhh, hey Jade what's up?
Jade: How long have you been doing this?
Presley: Doing what?
Jade: You know, the whole "I'm a Pharaoh and I have mummified body guards that fight evil" thing?
Presley: Umm since the Rapses exhibit opened up I guess. We shouldn't be talking about this out in the open should we?
Jade: Oh everybody is so busy talking about what they're science fair project is I think we'll be fine!
The two begin to walk to their respective next classes and Presley isn't looking very enthused by this conversation.
Jade: So I'm thinking, about expanding our operation a little bit! You see, me and my Uncle Jackie started a task force when stuff really hits the fan called the J-Team!
Presley: Very original name.
Jade: You can think whatever of the name but we've saved the world at least a dozen times over!
Presley: The Mummies have saved the world a couple times... Returning the Tree of Life to Duat, returning the ancient Egyptian me back to the past, and the handful of times they've stopped Scarab from taking me.
Jade: You met pharaoh you? That's cool, I meet future me! I'm going to be a super spy and give the pencil pushers in the CIA and SHIELD a run for their money! You know, we have a lot in common! You met your past self, I met my future self! You have mummified protectors and I am pretty sure Uncle is an undead sorcerer!
While this amuses Jade she can barely get a smile out of Presley as they walk out of the door and Presley puts his headphones in she tries to stop him and asks him "What's the deal?" to which Presley responds with "Nothing's wrong, I'm fine. We can talk about this later". The bell rings and Presley then walks off to go to his next class.
Meanwhile back at the shop, Uncle is hard at work alongside Tohru and Rath trying to locate the Summoning Key. They stand around a table that is covered with a large map of San Francisco as well as multiple stacks of books. The three of them are chanting "Yu Mo Gui Gwai Fi Di Zao!" until finally the hologram of Scarab's Pyramid in downtown takes the shape of a small holographic image on the table.
Tohru: Scarab must be an associate of Harris Stone.
Uncle: No, I think that Scarab IS Harris Stone!
Rath: Ja-Kal and I have long speculated this, I suppose it was only a matter of time before we confirmed it. Well now we know where the Summoning Key is so now we must-
Before Rath can finish that sentence they see a strange energy emitted from the very top of the pyramid that would only be visible to those using magic. The group of sorcerers are all curious so naturally they modify the spell to see where this magic energy is going. They follow this energy all the way to the school of Presley and Jade. Outside of the school three vans with pull up with Shabtis disguised as janitors all pile out, they are lead by a young woman wearing a rabbit mask and a suit and tie. The three sorcerers all look horrified.
Tohru: Jade!
Rath: Rapes!
Tohru: We must leave now!
Uncle then smacks Tohru on the forehead with his two fingers telling his apprentice "No! We must find counter spells to neutralize their spell! Rath, you must tell the other mummies to protect the school while we work!". Rath nods and begins to cast a spell to the mystic dial back at the Sphinx. Armon and Ja-Kal is struggling to sleep in his coffin, and Nefertina is the only who hears the the signal go off. She looks in Rath's makeshift laboratory to see it glowing, she quickly runs back to the Hot Ra. She looks back and begins to wonder if she should get the others.
Nefertina: I could probably use Armon and Ja-Kal... They always come in handy.
A strange almost etherial voice tells her "Aiyah! There is no time! They snooze they lose!" She turns to see holographic projections of Uncle, Rath, and Tohru all standing across from her.
Rath: Chuckles seems to have a wide variety of tricks up his sleeve. We are working on neutralizing Scarab's weapon but in the mean time we need you to defend Rapses and his peers from Scarab's newfound allies!
Nefertina: Just me!?
Rath: Armon and Ja-Kal will join you in due time now go!
Nefertina then jumps into the cockpit of the Hot Ra speeding off to the Presley and Jade's school, Back at school Presley is bored in class trying his best to follow along but begins to doze off. When he opens his eyes he finds himself in a grand ancient Egyptian hall with statues of Rapses holding up the ceiling and the floating head of Uncle at the center of the hall.
Uncle: Presley!
Presley: Where am-
Uncle: Not important, listen! Scarab and his new found ally have sent an assassin to come get you.
Presley: Who is it?
Uncle: An assassin bearing the mark of the White Rabbit and a group of Shabti's. They are cloaked so they will not be caught by your peers.
Presley: So since it's magic are you coming?
Uncle: I have important work with Rath and Tohru at the shop. We have already sent Nefertina she is on the way. I will also alert Jade to stay vigilante.
Presley: But what's Jade-
Uncle then smacks Presley on the head with giant spiritual hand causing Presley to shake awake in the real world and almost fall out of his desk. Everyone around him looks confused.
Presley: Didn't sleep a whole lot last night. Haha…
Meanwhile in the girls restroom Jade is washing her hands when she hears a faint but familiar voice whispering in her hear, "Jade…. Jade". The voice keeps whispering her ear over and over and with every whisper it gets louder until finally it's a crystal clear "JADE! CAN YOU HEAR UNCLE?!". Jade then looks in the mirror to see Uncle standing behind but when she turns around he's not there. She then looks back in the mirror to see Uncle still standing there.
Jade: Uncle?! What are you-
Uncle: Not important! Rath and I have detected that Scarab's forces have infiltrated your school to find Presley. You must be vigilant, the Shabti's have no doubt already infiltrated your school.
Jade: I'll be ready Uncle! This clay dummies ain't got nothin' on me!
Uncle then shakes his head muttering "Aiyah… " but Jade laughs this off thinking that she can take on bunch of clay statues no problem.
Jade: Uncle, I'm older now! I'm almost fluent in the ancient art of Butt-Whoop! If all I gotta worry about is clay statues I think I'll be ok!
Uncle: No stay away from them, keep Presley informed. If you need anything please keep a line of communication, Rath and Tohru are at the shop with me working on a protection spell that will expel the evil forces lurking at your school as well as spells to neutralize the Summoning Key! Stay safe, no mischief making!
The reflection of Uncle then fades away. Jade walks out of the bathroom overzealously feeling confident in her martial arts prowess and her previous adventures with Jackie, Uncle, and the rest of the J-Team. She marches back to class but accidentally bumps into a janitor mopping the floor.
Jade: Oh! My bad I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-
Jade looks up, her eyes widen in fear as the janitor turns around revealing he's a Shabti. She begins to back up but two more Shabti's in janitor uniforms walk up behind her and feminine voice from behind the Shabti's says "That's Chan's niece." Jade looks past the Shabti's revealing Celia Penderghast.
Celia: Looks like our intel was spot on, Chan's little brat niece goes here too!
Jade: A little weird to have "intel" on an underage girl don't ya think?
Celia: I'm not the one who gathered it you'll have to take that up with my boss.
Jade then goes to run but the Shabti's grab her by the collar. The Shabti makes Jade faced the rabbit masked conduit both looking smuggly at the other. Celia then cocks her head and tightens her shoulders to express to Jade that she has the power here but Jade can't seem to find it in her to be scared of this woman.
Celia: Where is he?
Jade: Waldo is hard to find, I struggle with those books too.
Celia: You're funny, I bet we would've been friends.
Celia then unsheathes her blade and stars wave it around Jade's face. Celia's grimace is visible through her mask. Any inkling of bravado in Jade has now left her body as a katana is being waved around and the on staff resource office is either not looking at the cameras or they are actively looping the playback.
Celia: Where is Presley Carnovan?
Jade: Uhhh Well….
A whip then wraps around Celia's katana and pulled out of her hand and behind the group. The group of assailants turn around to see a fully armored Nefertina standing in the hallway whip in hand and Celia's katana at her feet. The mummified warrior cracks the whip and begins to pace back and forth.
Nefertina: Let the girl go.
The Shabti then drops Jade and she books it back to her class as fast she can. Celia then points the Shabti's to Nefertina and they charge her. Nefertina smirks as simple strikes with the claws of her gauntlet dispatch each clay warrior with ease. Celia then jumps in the air throwing her shurikens at Nefertina but they are blocked by the undead warrior's gauntlet and the two go out.
Celia: Where is the boy?
Nefertina: If you want the prince you'll have to go through me!
Celia then sweeps the ground out from under Nefertina and quickly grabs her sword and puts it the tip on Nefertina's throat.
Celia: You want to die a second time?
Even with the blade at her throat Nefertina doesn't care. She quickly gets up but not before Celia slits her throat but it seemingly does nothing. The mummy then wraps her arm around the conduit's throat, extending her gauntlet's claws.
Nefertina: I don't know who are you are but you're going to have to do a lot more to take me down.
Suddenly the school bell turns on letting the students out for their next class. Celia then turns into multiple pieces of paper and begins to drift away as if there was a breeze and in almost an instant Nefertina jumps up to the ceiling cutting open a panel with her claws and hides within the ceiling. She looks to see that thankfully none of the students have seen her. She peeks through the panel to see that Presley walks through the hall and straight to the library for a study hall. Presley immediately heads the bookshelves with the intent very clearly in his eyes. Nefertina thinks he'll be safe when she sees a Shabti disguised as a librarian very clearly keeping an eye on Presley from a distance and the other students going in and out.
Nefertina: Gods be damned! Why must you make it so hard Rapses!
She slams her fist in frustration then suddenly a distinct voice of an elder then asks her "What happened now?". She looks up to see the floating head of Uncle staring her down face to face.
Nerfertina: Rapses is being stalked like a gazelle in the desert and the Shabti's have already infiltrated the school.
Uncle: You and Jade must protect the young Pharaoh at costs! Do not let him get captured! Tohru and Rath are at the shop right now working on an important spell and Jackie has a meeting at the museum.
Nefertina: What of Armon and Ja-Kal? The big oaf was watching wrestling highlights as I left.
Uncle: Armon will be there in due time do not worry. In the meantime I need you to watch over Presley.
The telepathic vision of Uncle then fades away, Nefertina shakes her head and begins to make way to the the ceiling over the library. Down below in the hallway now that the students have gone to there respective classes Heka decides to slither out the janitor's cart towards the library. Inside the library Presley notices the Shabti posing as Librarian, puts his bag down on table near a group of students who are also in study hall class so the Shabti can't make a move only observe. The young Pharaoh then discreetly goes to a book shelf in the hopes of hiding. Presley coincidentally finds himself in the g"Mythology" section trying to be discreet so the Shabti doesn't seem him. While pretending to go through books one book catches his eye titled "Myth Among Myths" by Professor Hans Rottwood. On the side of the book the Eye of Horus almost shines at Presley. The young pharaoh pulls the book from the shelf and begins to go through the pages. He skims over chapters titled "The Ghost of Sparta", "Shadow Lords", "Demi-God Training Grounds", "Mediterranean War Cults", "Golden Army", and "A Samurai Named Jack". Until he finally comes across a chapter titled "Rapses, the Savior That Never Was". Presley states oddly at the chapter.
Presley: Huh?
Presley begins to read the various passage in the book when he comes across a passage that strikes interest.
"Rapses, the son of the great Pharaoh Ahmonhotep was prophesied by the Gods to save our world from a far off evil."
Presley flips the page to see carvings of Ahmenhotep holding an infant Rapses to a handful of different Egyptian Gods such as Ra, Khonshu, Bast, Thoth, Isis, and Osiris. Presley looks under the photograph of the carving to see a small italicized caption saying "Carvings were found in Catacombs outside of Shiruta, Kahndaq home of Supernatural Champion Teth Adam!". Presley continues to flip through the pages to find another passage detailing a great prophecy.
"According to the scholars of Cairo and Shiruta, Rapses would have grown into a powerful god king that would rival even the likes of Osiris. His powers were bestowed upon him by the god's of Egypt. Rapses purpose was to defend the world from an otherworldly but still to this day an unknown evil…"
Presley then looks to see another carving but this looks like a missing puzzle piece, it depicts a young man in royal garbs floating over the Pyramids of Giza engulfed in some kind of energy. A nefarious but unfamiliar voice then whispers in Presley's ear "Quite an interesting read isn't it?". Presley turns around shocked but nobody is there. He continues to look around but the library is empty with the exception of one librarian.
Presley: Who's there?
The voice speaks up saying "You would not remember me but I was there when you were born. I trained Rath and Scarab, due to my own studies I eventually left Egypt.". Presley continues to look around to see nothing but he turns to the table and sees over him the projection of the undead sorcerer Kan-Ra hovering over the table with his legs crossed. Presley almost falls out of his chair.
Kan-Ra: I am Kan-Ra. I am going to ask you to surrender!
Presley begins to slowly get up from his chair with the book in his bag, he turns his head to see a Shabti disguised a librarian at the end of the row of books.
Presley makes a run for it anyway but not before Kan-Ra uses his abilities to throw books at vicious speeds in the direction of Presley. The Shabti charges down the row of books only to be pounced on by a strategically perched Nefertina. More Shabti's enter the library, the mummified guardian jumps at the Shabti's. Nefertina commands Presley to "Run Prince! This place is not safe for you!". Presley runs out of the library and turns around to see the spirit of Kan-Ra trailing behind him, Nefertina tries her best to attack the spiritual projection with her whip but that does nothing. Kan-Ra is moments away from cornering the reincarnated Prince of Egypt when he is suddenly halted by the projection of Uncle with his hand out creating a force field trapping the spirit.
Uncle: Presley! Run!
The Chi Wizard repels the sorcerer with a chi blast and the spirit into the wall. Kan-Ra's projection disintegrates but reforms just as quickly.
Kan-Ra: You must be the cranky Chi Wizard I have heard so much about! Tell me, will I meet your nephew as well?
Uncle: Jackie is busy, in the meantime you will have to deal with this grumpy old man!
The two begin to enter spiritual warfare. Presley runs away and into the hallway and goes into the bathroom locking himself in the handicapped stall. The young man is panting trying to catch his breath, he splashed some water in his face in an attempt to cool off but when he looks up he's startled yet again by seeing the telepathic projections of Rath and Tohru.
Presley: AHHHH!
Tohru: Do not be alarmed!
Rath: Young Prince are you injured?
Presley: I'll survive, is Nefertina and the old man okay?
Tohru: As far as we can tell both are fine and doing battle with the evil spirit and the Shabtis.
Presley: That spirit claimed to teach Scarab and Rath.
Rath: Kan-Ra?! That's impossible?
Presley: So you do know him?
Rath: He was my teacher before Pharaoh discovered who he truly was. He was Babylonian sorcerer from before I was born. Truly a wicked and vile creature. Presley whatever you do STAY in your classrooms. DO NOT LEAVE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!
Tohru: In the meantime, keep a low profile.
The vision of the two sorcerers fades away, Presley walks out of the restroom feeling frustrated when bumps into Jade in the hallway and the two of them look at each other perplexed.
Presley: What are you-
Jade: Looking for you before I pulled the fire alarm! It's the only way t-
A raspy but feminine voice can be heard behind them telling the two young heroes "You're not going anywhere!". The two heroes turn around to see Heka ready to pounce at them, they decide to run but are then stopped by a strange gust of win bringing multiple pieces of lose leaf paper. The wind dissipates and the paper forms Celia Penderghast. The conduit assassin unsheathes her katana and the two heroes are now cornered unsure of what they're next move will be...