Wrapping Up

Suddenly there is a blinding light that fills the ruined temple. Connor thinks for a second that they must’ve used a flashbang or something and considers slitting the man’s throat but judging by the screams of everyone else, the light must’ve come from somewhere else. Then he sees a dark figure approach from the direction of the dig. It’s a woman. She waves her staff and there’s more screams. Connor looks past Stuart’s bald head and sees the mercenaries running the other way.

“What is this bullshit?! Get back, you useless bastards!” Mirabel backs away and shoots at the woman but as the projectiles approach her they turn to sand and brush off from her skin like dust. The woman swings her staff again and Mirabel’s eyes go wide. The hand she used for holding the weapon shakes and turns to sand. It drips on the floor as the woman looks in horror. She screams and starts running. “Mirabel! Don’t you fucking leave me here!” Stuart shouts and suddenly grabs the blade on his throat. Connor didn’t expect him to be so bold and the man manages to push the blade aside and kick the gun away. His palm is bleeding badly but he puts his hands up, ready to throw a fist fight.

“I got a knife... And whoever that is seems to dislike your little group.” Connor nudges towards the gorgeous naked woman who just now sees the two and raises her staff. Stuart looks back, curses and starts running while looking over his shoulder. He points at Connor Tusk, his nemesis and spits. Connor watches as the mercenaries run into the desert and sits down next to Fathi who is on his back tensed up and gasping for breath.

“You ok?” Connor asks as he watches the weird tall Egyptian woman walk through the hall with a calm but curious look on her face. Monica and Nolan join the two and Nolan rushes to hug the man. “Ah! Connor! I didn’t want to leave you!” He hugs him as Connor pats his back and mutters: “Actually… I thought it was better you didn’t get caught up in this. Glad you were safe. So… who’s our friend here?”

After a long explanation and a bit of a breather break, Connor and Fathi are just about on board with whatever happened in the crypt. “I’m dreaming, I know I am. There was a scorpion, I shoveled sand and I went to sleep. That’s what happened. None of this! You are all insane! S-she’s definitely not a mummy! I refuse!” Fathi stammers and stares at the pleasant Egyptian woman who is sitting gracefully next to Baya and currently massaging his feet over her lap.

“I’m sorry, Connor. This was the only way. I-I had to trust that discovery would save us. I… I had to see it through before it would be too late.” Monica says shyly and Connor leans to her and says: “Good. You are the ones who matter. The job’s all that matters. And it turned out great in the end. To be fair with you. I’m always putting my trust in people smarter than me. This is nothing new. And as Nolan said, I can look after myself. It’s just that I’d prefer to also look after you. But, if you think that’s not the right call. I’ll listen.” He smiles at Monica and Nolan who are both blushing.

The desert is pleasantly warm. The afternoon is calm and the crew try to pack up their things and get everything back to the truck. Fathi looks from a distance at Baya and Onemia talking and laughing and nudges Nolan who is trying to figure out how a Collectors’ Collective radio works. “She’s hot, huh? Mr. Brahman. She has those… those boobs.” Nolan looks at the older man a little weirded out and turns back to look at her. She is looking at Baya flying around. Smiling softly and giggling every now and then.

“Yeah… but don’t stare. You are being weird. I don’t think they wore clothes like we do now. It’s probably not weird for her to have them… you know. Showing.” Nolan tunes the radio and tries to pick up on a useful channel. “But they are so big! I thought Osiris was a man. I remember when my mom told me of the god Osiris when I was a little lad. This is perverted, mr. Brahman. I don’t like this. Why is she hot? Why am I getting a stiffy looking at Osiris?? I’m not gay like you!” He turns to Nolan who looks at him and shakes his head sighing.

Then Nolan picks up on something. There is a voice and it seems to be English: “-the boss… -headquarters, at four… -hours… -disappointed in… -lack of results in… -punitive action…” The channel goes quiet and Nolan looks at Fathi unsure and the two just decide to pack up. It is still a long drive back to camp, but everyone is more than happy to return. At the end of it all, Zou was never seen or found. Everyone just accepted he was a turncoat after all. With now all the funding for the expedition cut indefinitely, the future for the discovery of the century would be clouded in mystery. At least for a while.