Disclaimer:  I unfortunately, own nothing from The Mummy or The Mummy Returns.  I would love to own the MEN from said movies. =sigh=  Rebecca is mine however.

Humanaptra

The sun beat down mercilessly upon the men toiling at the site. The wind kicked up a spray of sand, causing a momentary pause as raised arms protected eyes. The landscape was sand, with nothing else to see on the horizon.

Rebecca stood atop the crest, looking down with satisfaction at the archeological site that lay before her. This was her first time leading a dig, and she was pleased at what they had uncovered thus far. Ancient buildings were being slowly uncovered with painstaking work. Jars and tools were being discovered, many of which had not been seen in more than three thousand years.  Over the horizon a group of camels approached, and she squinted against the sun's glare trying to see who it may be.

"We have visitors." She called down to the foreman of her crew.

She walked towards the command center of the dig, a large tent that housed what they had located and the half-burnt map of the city. By the time she had reached it the camels were halfway to the site. She took the time she had to tuck away the one or two items of value they had already discovered, not that every item didn't have value. Many people had died coming to this place, much seeking gold. She was here for the knowledge. Many did not understand that. Her own parents did not understand.

She shook herself and took a drink of water from the canteen slung across her shoulder. She rolled her shoulders, trying to relieve some tension before going out to face the visitors. She stepped outside, and waited as the group dismounted from their camels. She saw that one man was heavily armed, and her hand went to the pistol at her hip in preparation for a confrontation. He approached with a long stride that brought him to her quickly. He stood above her and she frowned, waiting for him to reveal his face. He removed the protective cover from his face and grinned down at her: she couldn't help but grin back.

"Rick!" She said with delight, dropping her hand from her gun "What are YOU doing here?"

"Alex wanted to see his favorite aunt." Rick replied dryly "And for some reason we keep letting that boy get his way."

"He did bring his mother back from the dead." She reminded him.

"There is that." Rick admitted.

Conversation was cut off when a 10-year-old sized missile launched itself into her midsection. She landed on her butt in the sand, trying to get her arms around the fireball that was her nephew.

"Aunt Becky!" Alex cried, snuggling into her shoulder "I've missed you!"

Rebecca hugged him to her, never minding the fact that she was lying in the sand. When he detached himself from her she pushed herself up into a sitting position, grinning up at Evy as she approached.

"Your child has no manners." Rebecca complained, though there was no heat to the complaint.

"He's a walking disaster." Evelyn O'Connell said with a laugh, as Alex tore off in the direction of the dig "I wouldn't let him near anything you care about."

"He can't hurt anything." Rebecca laughed, "If Imhotep couldn't damage this place, I'm sure Alex can't hurt it."

Rick and Evy looked around, a shiver going through them as they viewed the place where all the troubles had started. Even though Imhotep's body had been lost at Ahm Shere, and the Book of the Dead along with him, Humanaptra still carried a feeling of other worldliness that sent chills down one's spine.

"I'm glad you're here." Rebecca said, hugging Evy to her. "I was thinking that it wouldn't hurt to have an expert around."

"Rick wasn't too keen on the idea." Evy admitted, watching her husband walk over to join their son "He's still hoping I'll take over as the curator of the British Museum. They've almost got it rebuilt from the fire."

"You'd hate it." Rebecca said with a frown, you'd be stuck behind a desk, forced to be diplomatic."

"You know me too well, 'sis'."

Rebecca and Evelyn had known each other since birth. Jonathan had dubbed them sisters because they'd been inseparable. It was obvious by looking at them that they were not related. Where Evy's hair was dark, Rebecca's was a deep auburn. Rebecca was as slim, but her curves were more pronounced, her legs longer. Both had the same creamy complexion, though Rebecca's tended to freckle under the sun, while Evy's tanned.

They were interrupted by a loud ruckus from the vicinity of the camels.  Both women looked up to see Jonathan tugging helplessly at the reins of one of the great beasts, with the animal refusing to budge.  Rebecca grinned at the sight, knowing how much he hated camels.

"A little help would be great!" he bellowed when he saw her laughing, "These flea bags just don't listen!"

Rebecca and Evelyn walked to meet him, and they got the animals sheltered and watered.  Rebecca took Evy to the tent, eager to show her what they'd unearthed in their attempt to unbury the City of the Dead.  Evy fingered the pots, tools and urns with interest.  She turned, gasping when she saw what Rebecca was holding.

"Where did you find that?"

"Lying in front of Anubis." Rebecca admitted.  "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Indeed it was.  It was a necklace of fine gold, the strands so fine they appeared as wire.  Various stones decorated the strands, rubies, diamonds, emeralds.  It was designed to lie across the top of the chest. It fastened at the neck with a gold clip.  One could just make out the tiniest hieroglyphics etched onto it.

"Anuck-su-nanum." Evelyn breathed. "Fashioned for the wife to be of Seti.  It was buried with her."

"I know.  It must have been unearthed when Imhotep tried to raise her soul from the underworld." Rebecca said quietly, "Then, when they dug him up again."

"Thank goodness they both were lost when Ahm Shere was destroyed." Evy said with a shudder. "But I cannot believe you found it just lying around!"

"I know.  I can't wait to see what else we can find here." Rebecca said, "Let's go get you and your boys set up, and see what we can find for dinner."

When they stepped out of the tent Rebecca was surprised to see yet another man had arrived, and was talking with Rick like an old friend.  He had his back to her, but she could see that he wore a black robe, with a sword hanging down the side. Both men turned to face her.  The breath caught in her throat when she saw how beautiful he was, and she was curious about the markings on his face.  As the men approached she could not help but admire the way he moved, and the way the desert breeze toyed with his hair.

"Who's that?" she whispered to Evy, nudging her friend with her elbow.

"That is Ardeth Bay." Evy answered, throwing an amused look at her. "I believe I've mentioned him."

"You didn't tell me he looked that good!" Rebecca protested.

"Evelyn."  Ardeth said, greeting her.

Evelyn hugged him, glad for once to be meeting him under non-end-of-the-world circumstances.  He hugged her back, his hands on her shoulders as she stepped back.

"What do you mean returning to this place?" he asked, concern making his voice commanding.

"Well-"

"I believe I can answer that, Evy." Rebecca said coolly, her spine straightening as his gaze swept over her. "I've been here for weeks now.  Evy has just arrived.  I came here to learn."

"This is a sacred place, with many things that should not be seen by the outside world.  Evelyn has learned this, twice now.  You should not be here."

"I second that." Rick broke in, earning a glare from both his wife and Rebecca. "I'm just saying that two strikes is enough for me."

"Imhotep is no longer here." Rebecca argued, her gaze on the Medjai. "Nor is the book that can awaken him.  The scarabs were burnt up with flamethrowers.  What else can go wrong?"

"Don't ask that." Rick muttered.

"There may be other curses." Ardeth continued, his gaze on the angry woman before him. "You would do better to leave now."

"I'm not going anywhere." Rebecca said, her voice low, her gaze hot as she glared at him "But you are more than welcome to do so."

She turned and stalked away, unaware that his gaze followed her appreciatively. 

"That went well." Rick said sarcastically, "You certainly talked her out of staying."

"Be quiet, Rick." Evy said, her voice exasperated, "I'm going to talk to her."

Rick watched his own wife stalk away.  He looked at Ardeth, a smirk on his face as both men realized they'd gotten nowhere with the women.

"I guess that means we're staying."

"I shall remain as well." Ardeth said, arms folded across his chest regally.