Sentinels of Creation: A Tale of Two Gardens (Sentinel's of Creation Book 2)

by Robert Ross

  Kellan took in his surroundings as did Seramai. Both seemed to be ignoring Meghan. She punched Kellan on the arm.

  “Ow. Damnit Meghan,” said the Sentinel noting the glow in her eyes as he rubbed his shoulder.

  “I hate being ignored,” she growled, then repeated, “Invisibility. Contacts.”

  “Ok. Ok. Contacts are new. Long story. Not invisible. It’s more like we are visible but not perceived. People who see us, just don’t know they see us.”

  Seramai nodded, “That is quite convenient. How long does this perception filter last?”

  Kellan turned to him, “Good question. I’m not sure, but I think it might have more to do with locality than time. If we stand right here, it might last, well, forever. I remember portal’ing in to New York and just stood there waiting for my phone map to catch up to me. Must have been at least ten minutes. Nobody noticed. They didn’t even bump into me, just weaved around like stream water around a rock. It was pretty cool actually.”

  Seramai grunted something vaguely affirming and motioned above them. “You should have seen him before the nose was broken off.”

  Meghan looked up at the massive Sphinx and then back to Seramai. “Didn’t Napoleon shoot that off in the 18th century?” She put her hand on his chest. “You sure do look great for your age?”

  He smiled down at her and was about to say something when Kellan commented, only partially aware of the exchange as he tapped on his iPhone. “Actually, Napoleon’s troops did shoot at the Sphinx repeatedly, but the nose was gone all the way back in the 14th century. A Sufi Muslim named Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr caught people making offerings to the Sphinx for harvests or something. He didn’t like that at all, so chiseled the nose right off.” Kellan looked up to find both of them staring at him. “What?” then added, “He was hanged for vandalism, if that helps.”

  Meghan shook her head at Kellan, but narrowed her eyes at Seramai, “Remind me to circle back to this, lover. I’ve mocked women who are into much older men, so really need to get a handle on this.”

  The general smiled noncommittally, and turned to Kellan. “The scripture said, ‘Beneath the lion,” and that was written ages ago. I suspect it refers to an entrance that is well covered by now.”

  “Yeah, I’m on it,” said Kellan as his eyes flared to life. “We’re cloaked so stay close. It’s only around 9:30 here, so folks may still be out and about.”

  “Wait, cloaked or not perceived,” asked Meghan as Kellan started forward.

  He stopped, frustrated, “Cloaked, Meghan. You know. Gryffindor!!”

  The former Marine groaned, “Having flashbacks to our time in Afghanistan now, thanks. Sorry I asked.”

  Minutes later, the small party found itself within the fenced perimeter of the giant statue with Kellan slowly circling around and muttering to himself.

  “Kellan?” Meghan finally asked

  “What!” he shouted then crouched looking around before speaking softly, “What. Stop distracting me.”

  “No,” she growled. “You are freaking both of us out, and that takes some doing. Are you seeing things and who the hell is Jarvis.”

  Kellan froze and looked a little panicked. “Where did you hear that name?”

  “From you, idiot. You keep mumbling things and then say something to someone named Jarvis.”

  “No I don’t,” said Kellan defensively. He looked to Seramai for support but the warrior simply shrugged and mouthed the word sorry.

  Meghan put her hands on hips and glared at the young Sentinel, “No you don’t?” then affected Kellan’s voice, “I don’t care, Jarvis. Just retask the bloody satellites then.”

  Kellan cringed and she smiled at him. “Now does that sound like something I just made up?”

  “Maybe?” he offered and was about to continue when he saw Seramai standing behind Meghan signally that he had better change tactics immediately. The Sentinel sighed. “It’s complicated, Meg. I really don’t want to go into all of it right now.”

  She shook her head. “You’re brilliant or so you always tell me. Give it to me in one sentence.”

  Kellan though a moment. “Ok, but no questions. Deal?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Deal, but it better be a good sentence.”

  Kellan took a breath. “Jarvis is an artificially intelligent branch of the Watson super computer that James, who is actually a computer scientist and not an idiot, works on at IBM. That AI fabricated a set of contact lenses that serve as an interface between me and him.

  Seramai said, “That was two sentences.”

  Meghan whirled and punched him hard in the chest as her eyes flared. The general stumbled back and reached up to rub where she’d impacted him then silently mouthed that Kellan was on his own.

  She turned back to Kellan and he did his best to look resolute as her eyes bored into him. “I’m not going to ask any questions about how all this happened and James is going to pay, but I am going to ask tactical questions.”

  Kellan nodded.

  “Ok,” she continued, “Your robot friend can control government satellites?” Kellan looked noncommittal, but she continued, “Have it retask the Russian Persona class Kosmos 2506 to this area and let me know how long that will take.”

  Kellan stared at her blankly for a long moment and she asked, “Well? Is it done or does it at least have an ETC.”

  “Um, I don’t know if Jarvis can do what you are asking, Meghan. I didn’t ask him yet, I’m still trying to process your question. I don’t know anything about satellites.”

  She frowned at him. “I heard you tell it to retask them. I heard you say that.”

  “I just remembered that line from Patriot Games so I figured I’d ask.” Kellan took a step back. He raised his hands placatingly as he saw Meghan’s countenance darken and eyes luminesce. “Easy, Woody, I’ll ask him now. In fact, give me your hand. You ask him. He’s made these contacts work with Ordered Sentinel energies so I’m guessing you can hear him just like you could those Lycanthropes in Samangan Province. Kellan reached inward drawing on his power and channeled a trickle through the contacts, activating them. He reached out and Meghan placed her hand in his.

  “Is it there?” she asked.

  Jarvis’ clipped British voice resounded in Kellan’s head and he felt Meghan’s grip shift as her eyes widened in surprise. “Is that Captain Daugherty, Kellan? There is only one female within your insurgency so I am making an educated guess. How am I able to hear her? The ophthalmological implants I fabricated should not function for her. This is intriguing. Please explain.”

  “It’s almost as annoying as you are,” Meghan growled.

  “I am not an ‘it,” Captain, I am a he. I am Jarvis.”

  She glanced up at Kellan, “Correction, he is almost as annoying as you are.”

  “Thank you, Captain.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, Jarvis, I need you to retask the Russian Persona class Kosmos 2506 to this area. Can you do that.”

  “I am not sure, Captain. Those systems are hardened to prevent such intrusions. Kellan had previously asked me to retask a United States satellite so I was endeavoring to do so. I have substantially better access to domestically launched reconnoissance satellites.”

  Meghan shook her head. “No good. We need one that has laser based underground cavity detection.”

  There was a slight pause and Meghan stared up at Kellan who merely shrugged and offered a weak smile that only earned him narrowed eyes. Jarvis came back a moment later. “Captain, are you referring to the system developed by the Central South University in Changsha, China?”

  “Yes.”

  “Standby, I was not aware that had been deployed.” There was another slight pause and Jarvis continued again, “Three satellites currently have this capability and only one currently within your operating region. The Kosmos 2506. I must say, Captain Daugherty, that is quite impressive. I begin to see that your reputation is well deserved.”

  Kellan sighed. “Great Jarvi
s, she now has a very self satisfied look on her face. Can you do anything with that thing.”

  “I have already circumvented several levels of security, Kellan. It will take some time yet, but I do believe I can retask the 2506 to your area before its orbit passes beyond range. What shall I ask it to do?”

  “I want it to create a 3D model of the area around around and below the Sphinx.”

  “Understood.”

  “Great. Does Kellan’s contact lens interface allow for AR overlays.”

  “Of course.”

  “Perfect. Once your get the data, I want you to generate a SURPAC or CAD model and overlay them on his lenses.”

  “I understand the request and could accomplish this, but the AR layer would be quite disruptive to Kellan’s ability to see. Kellan, is this your request as well?”

  “Uh, well, I’m not sure what an AR layer is and—” stammered Kellan, but Meghan interrupted.

  “Kellan, AR is Augmented Reality, and what I’m going to do is have any cavern projected onto your lenses so you can visualize them. If you can visualize a thing, you can portal to a thing, or so you’ve said. I don’t fancy trying to dig beneath a couple millennia of sand, do you?”

  “No, that doesn’t sound fun at all. Jarvis, just do what she said.”

  “Very well. ETC 11 minutes. By the way, there are three heat signatures approaching your location. I suggest you engage a photon dispersion field to avoid detection.”

  Meghan looked around quickly and gave Seramai several hand signals that put him on alert as well, but Kellan just released Meghan’s hand, put his arms loosely around both their backs and guided them toward the foot of the statue.

  Meghan leaned into his ear, “Photon dispersion what?”

  Kellan smiled and whispered back, “That’s Jarvis for Harry’s Cloak. We’re invisible. Gryffindor!”

  Kellan turned around slowly, completing his second 360° circle.

  “Well,” asked Meghan clearly frustrated by their lack of progress.

  “Don’t rush me, Woody. I don’t want us portaling into solid rock. That will ruin your whole day.”

  “I thought he was projecting the CAD images directly on your lenses. This should be easy.”

  “He did project it,” growled Kellan, “I see something, but it’s not crystal clear and there are parts missing where I assume there wasn’t enough information to created the model. I’m trying to find the most open area. It looks like there is a large cavern but I’ve been unable to open a portal to it, so now I’m trying to examine what looks to be an entrance tunnel. It’s almost directly beneath us, but looks really narrow.”

  “How narrow is really narrow,” asked Seramai.

  “Who cares,” said Meghan, “Let’s go already!”

  “Fine,” said Kellan with a resigned sigh, then as a portal rotated into existence he continued, “But wait until I’ve—“

  Meghan jumped through the glowing oval in a crouch, turned back to them and gave a thumbs up as Kellan stared dumfounded at Seramai, “Until I’ve thrown a glow globe or something in there,” he continued as the general shrugged, then leaped through after Meghan.

  Kellan generated three globes of light that hovered nearby, one in front, one behind and one directly between them. The tunnel was both low and narrow. Only two of them could walk abreast and Seramai had to stoop slightly to keep his head from scraping the ceiling. Kellan traced his fingers down the smooth tunnel walls and marveled at the imagery his light revealed. Classic Old Kingdom artwork ran down its length, disappearing into the gloom. Kellan peered at a particular image as one of the light globes drew close.

  “I think this is Pharaoh Khafre,” he said excitedly. I’ve never seen him represented so young. This is amazing!” The Sentinel turned and found both Meghan and Seramai staring at him with flat expressions. He gave them each a weak grin, “Which I will return to someday and examine when all of creation is not at risk?” They both nodded.

  “I’ll take point,” said Meghan and gave Seramai a quick look to see if there would be any objections. He simply extended his right arm. She smiled as she passed and the general fell in beside Kellan who softly whispered, “Good call.”

  “I am capable of learning,” Seramai whispered back.

  “I can hear both of you,” Meghan growled.

  The three continued along the tunnel for several minutes when Meghan suddenly crouched and lifted her right arm, hand formed to a fist. Kellan and Seramai likewise bent down. The former Marine turned and said, “I see some kind of light up ahead. Kellan, can you pull up the map and tell me how close we are to the large cavern?”

  Kellan nodded and channeled through his contacts. Instantly the map appeared showing that they were nearly upon it. He dismissed the images and explained their position to Meghan and Seramai.

  “So, what could be providing light in a sealed 4,500 year old underground cavern,” she asked?

  Both men simply shook their heads.

  “Well, one way to find out. Ready?”

  Kellan and Seramai nodded and the three crept forward as the tunnel opened up into an expansive cavern. Unlike the tunnel, its walls were smooth but unadorned and the roof was of unfinished stone almost as if the cavern hadn’t been completed. In the center of the room rose a large square dais, surrounded on all sides by nine steps.

  “Well, now we know what’s providing the light,” offered Kellan.

  “Indeed,” said Seramai, “and it is something I’ve never seen before. A persistent portal.”

  Meghan’s eyes swept over the oval as it sat silently toward the far end of the dais. It glowed and pulsed around its edges, green on its right, red on its left, with a large band of violet pulsing where the two others met. “Shouldn’t we be able to see through it?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” answered Kellan, “If it were one of mine, but this thing is something altogether different.” He put a hand on Meghan’s shoulder and she turned. “Promise me you aren’t just going to jump through that thing.”

  She smiled. “I’m headstrong, Kellan, not stupid. Besides,” she snickered and continued as she pointed to a large throne that sat several paces in front of the portal, “Our host might want to chat with us first.”

  Kellan frowned slightly at her jest but looked back to the skeletal form resting there. It sat straight backed and silent with empty sockets starting directly towards the tunnel entrance. Wide concentric circles of hammered gold and precious stones adorned its neck. Two short gold ropes extended down from the necklace and attached to a large hexagonal amulet that rested against its exposed sternum. The skeleton wore robes that draped across boney shoulders and flared across its legs. Though the millennia had worn them to tatters, it was easy to see that the clothes were once finely made.

  “What are those?” asked Meghan pointing to three jars located on small raised pillars along the the dais. They seemed made of gold and each had a different statuette capping the jar. The first held an image of Osiris, the second of Anubis, the third of Set.

  “They look like canopic jars,” said Kellan, then added, “They usually hold organs.”

  “Those three,” began Seramai as he gestured to the golden jars, “Are all sons of Horus.”

  “How did you know that,” asked Meghan

  The general stared at her a moment then said, “Horus is the god of war.”

  Meghan’s eyebrows went up and she nodded in understanding.

  “What?” asked Kellan.

  “Nothing,” the two said in unison as Seramai placed one foot on the first step of the dais to examine the skeleton further.

  “Oh Shit!” yelled Kellan and he drew deep from his river of power snapping shields around the three of them. The skeleton’s eye sockets glowed as if hot coals burned deep within them and its bones grated as the skull turned to regard Seramai.

  The general paused for only a moment regarding the now animate corpse, then smoothly drew his gladius and struck where where skull met neck. The blow ne
ver connected for the skeleton had raised its right hand and a blue sphere burst forth hurling Seramai high into the air to crash against the wall to their right. He staggered back to his feet and gave Kellan a thankful nod for the timely shield.

  The skeleton had risen fully from its throne, its glowing eyes regarding each of them in turn, but took no further action.

  Meghan had sprinted over to Seramai but now turned to Kellan, “Ok, genius, what the hell is that thing.”

  As if in answer, the skeleton spoke, voice rasping like dried leaves, “I am Imhotep. Make peace with your gods. You have entered this sanctum of your own free will and by my will, you may not leave.”

  “Oh boy,” said Kellan, “That’s Ah’Anon’s dad.”

  “Who?” asked Meghan turning worried eyes to him.

  “Ah’Anon, the vampire I told you about. He’s the bastard son of this dude. Who, if you didn’t recognize the name Imhotep, is the undead monster from all the Mummy flicks going back to the 1930s”

  “Ah’Anon?” said the skeleton questioningly. “What do you know of my son.”

  Kellan started feeling a bit hopeful and stepped forward. “Ah’Anon is my friend. He sent me here. Creation itself is in danger of being unraveled and we must pass through that portal. Please, for the sake of your son and our friendship with him, let us pass.”

  The glowing red eyes seemed to bore through Kellan and several long moments passed. Finally, Imhotep tilted his skeletal head back and laughed. “Ah’Anon is the bastard son of a whore. I slew his mother for whelping him and thought I had killed him as well. If you are his friends, then I will take additional satisfaction in your deaths.”

  “Nice job,” said Meghan, “You managed to make him even more pissed off.”

  “How should I know,” growled Kellan, then held up his hands to the skeleton, “Wait, before you do anything. If we cannot continue, creation will end and so will you.”

  Imhotep raised his right hand, made a fist, and thrust it at Kellan. Blue energy lanced forward and the Sentinel’s sword manifested a split second before energy bolt arrived. Kellan deflected the blow and watched as it careened into the cavern wall, where it sent up splinters of stone. “Do you think I wish to remain as I am?” shouted the Skeleton. “I sought to prolong life, not end up as you see me. I long for creation to end and with it, my existence.”