CHAPTER 17

Earth, Sol Sector

"I’m afraid time is up, Janoj." A Dnunian face filled the screen. His voice sounded very refreshing and relaxing, like the water in a brook. The lines of his face showed genetic relation to Janoj and Sharc, but his face was the fairest of all the Princes. However he had extraordinary features. He had not green eyes like the others but blue, like humans. His long hair was straight not curly, and the color was silvery white. But his skin is as pale white as the others. He was Troy, the heir of the throne of Dnunia, the bearer of the crown, the reincarnation of Holy Yagnar.

"Have you told Father, then?" Asked Janoj.

"Yes. And he ordered me and Vassago to join with you. In fact I’m now on my way to Earth. I’m taking a full battle fleet with me." He replied with emotionless expression on his face.

"Holly Yagnar! This matter is out of hand." Janoj cupped his face with his hands for a few seconds.

"Do not worry, Janoj. We desire not to have a war with The Federation. And I know they do not wish to dispute with us either in fear that the Klingon and Romulan Empire will join our forces."

Janoj shook his head, "I still do not like this situation, Troy. When you get here you will feel the coldness. One slip of a tongue, one misunderstood sentence will lead us to war."

Troy smiled, "Do not worry, my brother. I will take charge once I arrived. I will handle this matter delicately. Until then, my dear brother."

The monitor flickered to show the Royal Emblem of Dnunia.

30 hours later….

The meeting room once again filled with VIP. The President of the UFP seemed to be deep in conversation with Prince Troy. The later seriously listened to him without interrupting. The others around the huge table listened carefully as Mr. President summed up the result of the investigation.

Finally Troy nodded and looked around. His gaze stopped at Dr. Faric.

"Tell me Doctor," His beautiful voice piercing the silence, "If this is one of our ancient technology, do you have an explanation that you can offer as why you took time in creating a passageway, now that you have the precise time and location? Without interfering too much with the history of the past time, of course."

Dr. Faric seemed nervous at first, he cleared his throat before responding. He rose from his seat and bowed. He remained standing while talking to Troy, "Your Majesty, just like the other keys that had been found long ago in our planet, this key also has a homing beacon. However, since Princes Salvia took the key with her while crossing the passage, the beacon would be ineffective. The mechanism will then activate an emergency energy wave to search for the time and coordinate last recorded within the key. When it is confirmed, it will re-open the passageway, Sire."

Troy seemed to be thinking for a second or two before speaking.

"Dr. Faric, you are not answering my question. Why can’t we just open a simple passage through time? You have the time and date of her arrival. We do not even need our technology to do so. Since the time of your famous Captain Kirk, traveling back in time was not a hard thing to do, am I right, Mr. President?"

The President nodded, approvingly. He too seemed to be nervous. His eyes went to Commander Riker and Data.

"Your Majesty, I believe we have another problem regarding that matter. Commander Riker and Lieutenant Data can explain the matter to you."

Riker signaled Data to rise from his seat to answer Troy’s question.

Troy lifted his eyebrows in amazement as he saw that Lieutenant Commander Data was in fact an android with strange golden skin and eyes. However he didn’t say any words.

"Your Majesty," Data began. "The Key, as Dr. Faric had explained, is emanating energy waves, searching for the last time and coordinates last recorded. As far as our research has concluded, the last recorded time of the opening was precisely 5000 years ago, at the same place. The key had been buried in the sand for thousands of years that no one had recorded a new time passage."

He looked emotionless at the Crowned Prince and continued his speech.

"We have attempted, with our technology and Dnunian technology to open a new passage to the year 1933. However, the energy wave of the Key is blocking us, somehow creating a barrier in the very end of the tunnel. Thus, we are able to create a tunnel of time to the year 1933, yet we cannot get through the time barrier to that year. As far as we can go, is to see, to watch what is happening in that time, without being able to interfere."

"There is however, another possibility. We might force open the barrier to enter the year 1933 with a stronger energy wave, using anti-mater. However, this attempt might cause a great disturbance, most likely great damage. We might interfere too much with the past and most likely resulted in alteration of history."

The android sat back to his chair. "Thank you Mr. Data," Said Commander Riker.

The room was suddenly quiet. Everyone seemed to be thinking, pondering their minds with the options of saving two people in one side and avoiding alteration of the history in the other side. The choices however, were not so hard to logical minds. Like the Vulcans always said, "the need of the many outways the need of the few or the one". But neither of the two races involved in this case was Vulcan.

Troy broke the silence suddenly. His soft, beautiful voice piercing through the entire room.

"You said ‘might’, Lieutenant. You are not certain about the damage. Yet it is certain that Princess Salvia shall be rescued. I will appreciate, Mr. President, if you go ahead with the plan to force open the barrier. My brothers, Prince Janoj and Prince Sharc will see it done."

Troy rose from his seat, followed by the other four Princes. They were about to leave the room when a voice stopped them suddenly.

"It is not that simple, Your Majesty."

The four Princes halted and turned to the man.

"I’m sorry to interrupt. My name is Ardeth Bay VII. I’m the owner of the Hamunaptra Resort. Please allow me to give you another option, less risky, but more dangerous, Your Majesty."

Troy looked at him carefully and motioned his other brothers to sit.

"I’m aware of who you are, human. Speak up what’s in your mind." He said to him, waving his hand as a signal for Ardeth to continue.

"There is another way to open a portal without interfering nor altering the course of history. Yet this way is much more perilous." He paused a moment, searching for words to say.

"Among my possessions, I have an artifact called The Golden Scepter of Amara. This scepter was created precisely 5000 years ago in the year of the Scorpion by an Egyptian witch named Amara. It is believed that the evil spirit of Amara was trapped inside the scepter. Your Majesty, this year is, according to Egyptian calendar the year of the Scorpion. Thus, the spirit of the Amara can be resurrected by proper rituals. It is written in The Book of the Dead, that the scepter will open the gate of time and the Amara will walk through it to find the people who resurrected her. They will share her power and reign the world with her."

Ardeth stopped again, to give the others time to understand his explanation.

"Your Majesty. We can open this gate, walk into the ancient time and wait for the Key of Ananka to open the gate to the year 1933. However, we have to fight the Amara preventing her from ruling our present world. This way is less risky in terms of changing the course of history, yet much more dangerous because we have to fight the evil Amara…. Plus the risk of missing the opening of the Key, if we didn’t get there in time to jump to year 1933. Once we’re there, there will be no problem in getting back to our time because we can destroy the Ananka Pass."

Troy rubbed his chin, thinking about the possibility.

The President looked at Ardeth’s eyes intensely. Then he nodded his head, "Mr. Bay, I believe your option is the best offered. In one hand, we will not risk altering the course of history by fighting Amara in the present time. In the other hand we can save the Princess without causing damage to the people in the year 1933. But of course the decision is on Prince Troy’s hand." He turned to see the Prince.

Troy winced looking at Ardeth. "Go on with your ritual, Mr. Bay. We will use your option first. If it failed, we will break the barrier. Meanwhile, I still expect your scientists to cooperate with ours to break the barrier. I give you 5 hours for preparation."

Ardeth nodded, "Thank you, your Majesty. I will bring her back to you, or die trying."

Troy lifted his eyebrows, "Brave words. But we do not wish you to die, Mr. Bay. It is too easy for you. If you can’t bring her back, you WILL wish to die."

With the words, the royalties left the room. Ardeth was about to go when Admiral Jericho touched his shoulder on his way out. Ardeth turned around.

"You are indeed brave, Mr. Bay. I know your game plan. You will sacrifice your own life rather than having those aristocrats change the course of our history."

Ardeth sighed, "Is it that obvious, Admiral?"

The Admiral smiled, "No. I don’t think they suspect anything. But Commander Riker and I know."

Ardeth turned to the door, "Then I’d better be going. There are a lot of things to do in 5 hours, Admiral."

"You just tell me or Commander Riker if you need anything." The Admiral assured him.

Ardeth left without saying anything more.

CHAPTER 18

Med-jai Village

Egypt 1933

"So you want to check this frequency?" Ardeth Bay stood in front of Captain Picard and Salvia in Picard’s tent.

He was mainly conversing with Captain Picard, while Salvia watched them both by the opening of the tent. Sometimes she looked out watching people watching her, but she listened carefully to the conversation.

"Yes, Chief Bay. If this device.. this key, somehow re-open the gateway, we want to be there. From my calculation, the count down will stop in 70 hours, but anything could happen before that. I do not ask much of you, Chief Bay. Just one tent, and some blankets for me and Salvia for tonight. We need to stay as close as possible to the tomb."

Salvia turned her attention to Ardeth Bay, waiting for his respond to the Captain’s request.

"Very well, Captain Picard. I will go with you. We will go to the tomb in 2 hours." He turned and walked out of the tent. He turned to Salvia when he passed her and smiled nicely, nodding his head in a respectful way. Salvia merely nodded back and went inside.

________________________________________________________________________

Hamunaptra Resort

Earth, Sol Sector

"You what!?" Monica Bleeth cried in disbelieve.

Ardeth stood in front of her, "You heard me. Now help me prepare the rituals."

Monica rose from her seat, her eyes grew wild. "What rituals? Ardeth, you are insane!"

Ardeth sighed, he walked closer to her. "I thought you are a believer, Monica."

Monica looked at him and grew softer, "I am, Ardeth. I believe that all the things that are written in the journals of the Chiefs are based on true events. But I do not believe if I can make this happen. I’m not an Egyptian priestess."

"Please, Monica. You have to help me. If we can’t open the gateway, they will break the energy barricade by force. Can you imagine what could happen?"

Monica sighed, "I can’t believe you’re saying this, Ardeth. I don’t know how much you love that woman, but you’re more concern of this barrier thing."

Monica suddenly saw a cloud covering Ardeth’s eyes as he looked at her.

Ardeth spoke softly "Monica, she brought the key with her. How do you think she will get back? What chance can bring her back safely?"

He shook his head and continued in a lower voice, "None. Even our attempt to open a passage failed. We can break the barricade, Monica. I know we can. But the price is too high. I love Salvia, you know I do. But should we sacrifice the future to save two lives? Monica, an anti matter explosion could bring damages in wide ranged area. What if someone got killed? Someone that has a very important role in the future of the Earth… like a Med-jai Chief? Will you risk it? You’re the believer."

Monica now understood. She walked to him and took his hand in hers.

"Ardeth, I’m sorry… I didn’t think that far ahead…"

She kneeled by the side of the chair, looking deeply into Ardeth’s grim face.

"But what if I failed?" She asked.

"We cannot, my dear Monica. We cannot. We must open the gateway and rise the spirit of Amara. We will have to fight Amara, I don’t think that even a great evil spirit such as her could defeat Starfleet forces." He smiled wearily.

Monica kissed Ardeth’s cheek lightly, whispering, "Then let’s start to work, my brother."

________________________________________________________________________

Hamunaptra

Egypt 1933

"We will camp here." Ardeth ordered his men to make the tents and prepared for the camp.

Captain Picard and Salvia had been surprised when finally they had been allowed to camp by the tomb with no less than 35 Med-jai Warriors going along with them, not included the Chief. Salvia had been more surprised to learn that she got herself a bodyguard. The Chief had brought Hazanah along to guard her. Salvia preferred another word for her though, ‘a jailer’.

So, they set up the camps some distance away from the point where the passageway had been opened before. The warriors were acting very cautiously and they looked like people who were ready for a war. Neither Picard nor Salvia understood why. But they both certainly seemed tired of being treated like prisoners. Picard could tolerate more than Salvia. She was obviously upset by having Hazanah tailing her all around, but was enraged to learn the fact that she had to share tent with her.

The dusk came and colder wind started blowing. Salvia walked up a small hill and looked across the desert, watching the sun setting. Hazanah sat on the sand a few steps behind her. Salvia seemed to have learned to ignore her presence.

The wind blew and caressed her long red hair. The yellow ray lighted her fair face as she gazed upon the sun. She was standing up on the highest point of the small hill. Her body silhouetted in the gloom. Hazanah looked up at her, stunned. The picture before her was like a painting of the strangest art. Beautiful, yet scary. She shivered a bit. At the moment she realized that Salvia was humming a song. Softly at first then it went louder until her voice was carried out by the wind and could be heard from the camps below her. She was singing in a language Hazanah could not understand, but then the singing paused a moment and Salvia started again, in English.

Salvia ended her song. At the same time she heard someone moved behind her and she turned her back quickly. Ardeth was standing there, stunned. The soft wind blew his long black hair back and a smile was on his face. He walked closer to Salvia and stopped only some inches before her.

"You sang beautifully. I didn’t know you know so much about Med-jai warriors." He said.

Salvia looked at him and shrugged, "I don’t. I didn’t write the song."

Ardeth was interested to find out more, so he kept standing there. "Who did?"

Salvia watched him closely, "Why are you so interested?"

Ardeth chuckled and shook his head, "The last words are enough to arouse my curiosity."

Salvia let out a long sigh before answering, "I see that you’re not going to let me go until I answer your question. Can it wait till later? I promise I will tell you. Now, I’m starving. I didn’t touch any of the things you called lunch. It was animal’s food."

Ardeth laughed softly. He bowed a little and waved his hand towards the camp, "Your wish is my command, Princess Salvia. After you."

Hazanah who was watching some distance away didn’t like what she was seeing. She saw that Ardeth smiled and bowed to the creepy woman and calling her Princess. As far as she could remember, Ardeth has never been acting like that to any woman before. He was a gentleman, but he never chuckled nor laughed that way in front of any woman before. She watched them go down hill with burning jealousy.