Title:  Who We Once Were - Chapter Ten - Paradigm Shifting
Rating:  PG13
Author:  Nine - http://www.oocities.org/ninthsaturn
Summary:  Alternate universe where TMR didn't take place.  Evy's having strange dreams and returns to Egypt and runs into an old friend.
Notes:  No I'm not into torture.  hehe.  It simply fits the story and what I'm saying about these characters.  I dunno if this or recent parts should have been R rated, but if I am mistaken in my ratings, then sorry! :-)

*Looks for snipers in the trees*  Er, ah.  Yeah.  Thanks my friends, my reviewers.  You guys are too cool. ;-)

**

Evy sat beside Rick, petting his hand and talking to him.  What did it matter if he couldn't hear?  She needed to talk and even an unconscious audience was good enough.  Rubbing a hand over her brow, she exhaled a shuddering breath and looked towards the exit to the other chambers where Imhotep and Rameses were.  "Oh, Rick.  I've never been so nervous in all my life."  She rubbed her stomach softly and swallowed.  "Of course what Imhotep is planning out there isn't making things any better either."

Evy absently began rubbing Rick's forehead.  "Oh, I wish you'd wake up.  Give me some words of strength.  I could use them right now, you know. Imhotep is going to raise the dead Med-Jai tonight, Rick.  How can I stop him?  He took Ardeth to the surface and let him go.  I know that dreadful priest isn't good at keeping his word, but it appears that this time is an exception."  She shrugged and bit her nail.

"Rick, I just don't know what to do.  If he raises the Med-Jai tonight..."  Evelyn frowned and looked again at the exit.  She sniffed and looked at Rick, sprawled out on the floor.  His face looked troubled in his sleep.  "What did my wayward brother do to you, anyhow?"  She smoothed his hair back.  "In a matter of a few days I've managed to lose you, Ardeth and Jonathan - at least temporarily.  Now I'm left with decisions.  How are we going to win this time?"

She sighed and looked at a golden statue that lay nearby on the cracked floor.  Something had to be done tonight.  Imhotep was going to act and the Med-Jai would surely be killed with an army of dead ancestors and even long gone pharaoh's battling them.  Imhotep, Lord of the Dead.  He could raises thousands upon thousands of soldiers, willing to obey every command.  She had to distract him somehow.  Get him to put off raising the dead until hopefully someone out there found out what was going on.  The idea made her very anxious.  She laughed nervously and shivered.  "It won't be so bad, will it?  I'm sure if you were awake you'd tell me not to do anything.  Not to worry about it - that you and Ardeth would handle everything.  But you're not awake."  Evy felt a lump in her throat as she looked at the arch, seeing Imhotep and Jonathan talking.  "But it will buy Ardeth time to reach his people.  Give him time to prepare them for the battle ahead.

"I'll be strong, Rick.  You always told me that you believed I was."  She bent down and kissed his cheek and smiled at his sleeping face.  "I'll be back before you know it."

Steeling herself, Evy stood up and brushed off her dress.  She would stay strong for Ardeth, for Rick and Jonathan if he were still alive somewhere within the twisted soul of Rameses.  "All right," she murmured, entering the main chambers.  

Imhotep and Rameses immediately hushed and looked at her.  The priest stood from his place on the floor.  "Nefertiri?" he questioned. His eyes darkened at the interruption.  "Do you need for something?"

Evy clasped her shaking hands together and forced herself to nod.  "May I have a word with you?" she said very quietly.

His eyes were troubled now.  Furrowing his brow he moved to her, so close.  "I have things that must be attended to.  What do you wish to say?"

Evelyn didn't know exactly what to say or how to approach this without sounding stupid.  Her eyes met the floor and then raced back to his at his exhale.  "I've been thinking, Imhotep.  About..."  She didn't know if she could go on.  Ardeth needs time, Evy, she told herself.

Imhotep laid his hand on her shoulder.  "You have trouble speaking, Nefertiri.  You may be truthful with me always.  I will not punish you unjustly."

She could have laughed at that if she wasn't so nervous.  But of course to him these punishments were just.  Taking a deep breath, she licked her lips.  The quicker she got it out the better.  "I...I want..."  She just didn't know what to say to him.  With a trembling hand she reached for his bare stomach and started rubbing softly, trying to tell him with her eyes what her lips forbid her to speak.  "Don't go tonight."

This caught him off guard.  He stared at her for a moment, trying to register exactly what she was communicating.  "Nefertiri?"  He looked down at her hand and took it into his.  "You wish me to stay here in Hamunaptra this night?"  Imhotep leaned close to her, his face inches from hers.  "You think one night's delay will help your Med-Jai to prepare?"

Her eyes widened and she really started shaking.  "No.  I don't!  I just..."  She suddenly found it hard to breathe.

He rubbed at her fingers softly, his eyes intense.  "I know when you lie to me, Princess.  Do not mistake and think you can deceive me."  Imhotep watched her.  "One night's delay will mean nothing.  Would you still have me stay here?"

Evy slid her gaze to Rameses who watched in interest.  Imhotep was wrong.  One more night could mean everything.  She tried to fight the well of hopelessness that started to bubble within.  She'd be strong.  Her eyes went back to his gaze once more.  Fully expecting him to laugh in sinister delight, she nodded.  "I asked you not to go and I meant it.  This will come one way or another and I'd rather it be my choice, not yours."  She drew from the inner strength she found within and locked eyes with him.

His eyes weren't boastful or triumphant, merely measuring.  The creature ran the back of his fingers down her cheek and considered it.  Without breaking the eye contact, he raised his voice.  "Rameses, we will not battle tonight.  My Nefertiri wishes to sample her destiny and I will not deny her."  He finally turned to look at Jonathan.  "You will watch over the western warrior.  We are not to be disturbed."

"Right," Rameses said, his brows furrowed as he gazed between them.  "Sure thing, Chap."

Imhotep turned back to her and clasped her arm.  He didn't say anything as he drew her from the chamber and down a hallway where they could be alone.  Evy bit her bottom lip and tried to think of something else as he pulled her along.  It was done now.  She'd just committed herself to this.  It'll be all right, she kept telling herself, trying to calm her nerves.  It's better this way.  If he got mad and grew tired of waiting it might be worse.

When they entered a small room with several slabs in it, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her with a fierce passion that worsened her fears.  As he finally pulled away, she exhaled and looked down at the floor.  He touched her lips softly and then tilted her chin up.  

His gaze was soft and yet commanding.  She couldn't tell what was behind those eyes.  "Do I frighten you?"  She couldn't find the will to speak right now and instead simply nodded.  He closed his eyes and slowly pressed his lips into hers, kissing and speaking against her.  "Close your eyes, Nefertiri."  He moved to her neck, wrapping his arms around her and closing her into him.  His body was warm.  Evy wasn't sure why that surprised her really, but she was grateful that this felt normal in some way.  "Let go, my Princess."

Evy did close her eyes, letting go of herself, of her reality.  Imhotep kissed softly, let his hands explore slowly and gently.  Whatever moved him to be merciful when he could easily hurt her, she couldn't say but was thankful.  She was reminded of her dream when he picked her up and carried her to one of the stone tables and laid her down.  Her mind went to Ardeth as she lay there letting this creature kiss her.  She wondered how Ardeth's touch felt.  That small glimmer of hope left in her clung to the hope that someday she'd find out.  Prepare them, Ardeth.  Good luck.

**

When Ardeth awoke he immediately felt the warmth of a fire on his weary body.  Laying on his back wasn't exactly what he would call "comfy" because of the cuts there and he could hear a few of the Med-Jai talking nearby so he sat up.  Ali stopped talking and looked at Ardeth.  "You should rest, Ardeth.  You don't look so good."

Ardeth smiled, then winced.  "I would agree with you.  But we have little time."  He looked around at the small camp.  "The creature has been awakened once more."

Ali and another Med-Jai exchanged glances.  "Ardeth, you know we watch Hamunaptra continually.  We have seen no one, including yourself, go near the place where the city is buried."

Nodding, Ardeth sighed deeply.  He was so tired, but he had to convey to them what was going on.  "He shielded your eyes from seeing.  The American is there and the woman Evelyn and her brother.  They are prisoners of Imhotep."

"Is the priest completely regenerated?" one of the Med-Jai asked.

Ardeth nodded and laid down partly, propped up by his elbows.  He groaned as his left shoulder burned and quickly shifted his weight onto the right arm.  "Yes and he seems to be more powerful than last time.  He plans to resurrect our ancestors to fight against us."  There was a murmuring among the Med-Jai that were awake.  Ardeth sighed.  He wasn't so certain that hurrying to the Valley of the Kings was the answer.  Naturally he would want his people to prepare, but they had fought hard in that dream and still lost.  What could possibly be the key to their winning this war?

Ali looked angry.  "To raise our family against us is unthinkable!  That monster would desecrate our ancestors rest!  I will destroy him tonight!"  Ali had always been quick to anger and battle.

Ardeth shook his head and sat up completely, groaning as he did so.  "No.  You must not go to Hamunaptra tonight..." he started.

But Ali cut him off.  "He must be stopped!"

Rubbing his thankfully uncuffed and scraped wrists, Ardeth shook his head firmly.  He tried desperately to convey the gravity of the situation.  "Ali, getting yourself killed in some fool attempt to strike out at an enemy that could kill you before you even reached him will not help our people."  The young Med-Jai and he had argued before about when the time to fight was.  He prayed this time Ali would listen.

"Our people are fighters, Ardeth Bay.  Perhaps you have forgotten that while sitting in your father's museum and sleeping in your father's bed."  Ali crossed his arms defiantly.

Ardeth reached for the nearby warrior and laid a hand on his shoulder firmly.  Ignoring the young man's expression, Ardeth said, "I know you are angered by this.  I am no less.  Yes we are mighty warriors but there is a time to fight and a time to plan.  Imhotep isn't going to rush into an attack.  He's going to weigh all of his options and chose the one that's going to see him successful.  My friend, if you go tonight and try to kill that creature, he's going to kill you.  I have no desire to see that happen.  Please, Ali."

His face softened and he sighed.  "We will go to your uncle Elihu and see what he says about this matter."  Ali looked over the Med-Jai, both sleeping and awake.  "Our men are tired, Ardeth, but do we have time to wait?  It's only midnight."

Ardeth looked across the desert then over the warriors that surrounded.  "I don't know, my friend.  I would like to think so, but it's hard to tell with Imhotep.  He's unpredictable."  He looked in the direction of Hamunaptra, worried for Evelyn's safety.  The creature wouldn't kill her, but what other things could happen?  "Give the men an hour, maybe two.  Then we should leave."

Ali took a deep breath and nodded.  "All right."  Turning to the Med-Jai that had stayed awake, he nodded again.  "We'll do as Ardeth says.  Get as much rest as you can."

The Med-Jai complied quietly.  Ardeth could sense an air of disquiet among his companions as they settled.  It felt strange for him to be back with them.  Good, but different.  He sighed and positioned himself on his stomach to avoid hurting the whip marks on his back.  He felt angry.  Imhotep had caused so much suffering.  He could easily put aside the beatings he'd suffered, the words of insult, but not the pain Evelyn was going through, nor the idea that Imhotep planned on using his own people against him.  It put an anger through him that was hard to describe.  There was an angry excitement that came with battle, but these things went beyond that.  Ardeth looked across the starry sky and then closed his eyes tiredly.  If Imhotep didn't come tonight, he would surely come tomorrow.  That didn't stop his resolve, though.  They would overcome.  They would succeed.

**

Rick drowsily sat up and frowned when his blue eyes rested on Jonathan.  With a groan he licked his lips and looked at the ropes around his legs and wrists.  "Awake?" Rameses said, eyeing him.  "Ready for more?"

Shuddering, Rick shook his head.  Whatever those spells were, they weren't fun.  "Give it a rest, will you.  Didn't your monster, I mean master return?"  He rolled his eyes and scooted to sit against the wall, hoping that Rameses would talk instead of chant.  "How long have I been out?"

Jonathan shrugged.  "Some while.  Hours.  Imhotep did return.  Not that it's any of your business."  He picked at his sleeve and looked out the door.

Rick watched him a moment.  He looked troubled.  "What's wrong?  Did Master get mad at little Rameses for some reason?"

"Shut up," was his annoyed answer.

Rick smirked.  He scratched his cheek.  "Short and sweet.  Where's Evy?"  Keep him talking, he thought, wanting to keep him firmly away from placing those nightmarish spells on him again.

Rameses glanced over at the door again and shrugged.  "Imhotep said something about her wanting to sample her destiny and not to disturb them."

That set off a few alarms in Rick's mind.  Just what the hell does that mean?  "What kind of destiny?"

"He didn't say," Rameses answered testily.  "By the way she was rubbing his belly and gazing at him I'd imagine it means she wanted to sample him."  He frowned.

Rick closed his fists and swallowed.  God, Evy.  No.  You didn't.  "I'm gonna kill him."  That made his heart ache, thinking she'd given herself like that. No doubt buying time or buying someone's freedom.  Maybe his own.  Funny, it seemed to even bother Rameses.  "You don't look exactly happy about this.  Why?"

"How I feel isn't any of your business, O'Connell," Jonathan retorted without looking.

Rick licked his lips and pressed further.  "Maybe you feel bad because part of you is still Jonathan.  He loves Evy and wouldn't want to see her get hurt."

Rameses met Rick's gaze and pointed.  "Jonathan is dead.  Don't make the mistake of thinking he lives in me.  He doesn't anymore."  Leaning against the wall, he exhaled.  "I never did get to tell you how I killed her."

"You didn't."  The room was chilly, Rick thought.  Or perhaps it was the feelings within him making him cold.  "Did it make you happy to see her dead?"

The Betrayer shrugged.  "Funny thing is I'm not sure."  He shook his head.  "No, I was happy with it.  I laid her out on a stone slab and took a knife to her.  She screamed for a while but then as she was dying I could see almost a relief in her eyes and a sadness.  Funny how life turns out."

Rick grunted and rolled his eyes.  "Yeah.  Funny."  He rubbed the back of his neck and yawned.  "So a part of you didn't miss her?"

Rameses looked down.  He started rubbing his fingers together absently.  "Why are you asking me these things?"

"'Cause I wanna know what kind of man kills his family like they mean nothing to him."

Jonathan watched him for a moment and sighed.  "Those were different times, Rick.  You don't know our ways.  Family didn't mean as much to Rameses as it did to Jonathan."

Rick nodded softly.  "But who are you?  Are you Rameses or are you Jonathan?  I see Jonathan in you so I assume that darkness is Rameses."

Betrayer picked up a golden vase and examined it, then threw it.  "Both and neither, I guess.  More Rameses than anything and you would do good to remember that."

"Maybe," Rick conceded.  "But I don't think so.  I think there's more Jonathan in you than you let on."

Rameses didn't bother to answer him.  He brooded silently, starting out into the other chambers.  Rick sighed, wondering how Evy was doing.  If she was okay.  His chest hurt when he thought about her.

**

"Poor little Nefertiri," Rameses said coldly when Nefertiri entered the throne room.  He sat upon his father's throne, now ruler of all Egypt. "Father's dead now.  Just like Mother.  And your sweet promised husband, dishonoring you with none other than Father's concubine."  He tsk'd. "Now he's dead too, just like your Med-Jai."

Nefertiri looked out one of the great windows, looking out across the desert sands.  "Everyone dies.  You will die too someday, Rameses."

At this Rameses laughed and looked at his guards.  "You are dismissed."

"My Pharaoh," the chief Med-Jai said, bowing and leading the others to leave their king and his sister in privacy.

Rameses watched his sister for a long time.  "Yes.  I will die.  Not so soon as you, I think."

Nefertiri turned and stared icily.  "What do you mean?"

"You are the lone survivor in this mess.  The only one left to grieve."  He stood from his throne and approached.  "You should have been more like me, Nefertiri.  Shouldn't have let yourself care."  Rameses tangled his fingers into her hair and drew her into his embrace.  "My poor sweet Sister. You've had such pain."  He rubbed her back.  "I'll end the pain for you."

Nefertiri tried to pull away as he drug her into a room behind the throne room.  She screamed and struggled when he pushed her onto a stone slab and pulled his knife from his belt.  "Brother, no!" she cried out, trying to push him away.  "Don't do this."

Rameses' eyes glinted as he began finding places to cut into her flesh.  "I'm going to erase your pitiful existence from history just like Father did for Moses.  I am Egypt and what I say will be seen as fact.  My beloved sister fell quite ill and had to be put out of her misery."  Rameses pressed the knife into her arm making her scream out.

Nefertiri squirmed on the table and tried to wrench herself from her brother's torment, but to no avail.  "Please," she begged, trying to grasp his hand.

Rameses started cutting into her collarbone, making her scream even harder.  "I'm sorry it has to be this way, Sister."

She'd screamed until her voice simply ran out and was replaced by pitiful whimpers.  Her struggles lessened until she simply lay there, writhing in pain and crying.  Rameses stopped his game and looked down at the damage he'd done.  With a frown and hooded eyes, he held the knife up one last time and plunged it into her stomach.  "It's all over now, Nefertiri."  He wiped her wet cheeks.  "Shhh."

She stared up at him, her eyes continually asking him why he'd done this, how he could do it.  It didn't take her long to die.  Her sadness was finally over.

Rameses dropped the knife and went to the window, gazing out and gripping the long drape.  He ignored the blood from his hand that stained the white fabric.

**

Evy licked her lips and looked up at the cracked ceiling above her as she stretched.  She winced as she sat up.  Sleeping on a hard stone slab wasn't exactly the most comfortable way to rest.  Evelyn sighed and laid back down, pillowing her head on her arms and looking at the stone wall that had chiseled pictures on it.  She wondered what time it was, where Imhotep was.  There was no sign of him now.   Maybe he's off reflecting, she thought with a groan.  She closed her eyes and yawned.  One thing was certain, she herself wasn't ready for reflection.  "Rick," she whispered, pulling her mind to the here and now as she stood up and drew her cotton jacket around her.

Exiting the chamber, she looked at the maze of hallways that Imhotep had dragged her through last night.  Funny, she couldn't remember it being so complicated before.  She took a breath and braved the halls, finding her way momentarily.  When she entered the main chambers she found it empty.  "Rick?  Rameses?"  She rubbed her shoulder.  "Imhotep?"

"Evy?" Rick's voice came from the side room.  "Where are you?"

She rushed in and went to his side.  Rick was tied to another column and looked pretty miffed about it.  "Where's Imhotep and Rameses?"

Rick shrugged and urged her to untie him.  "Rameses got kind of mad last night because I was saying some things that I think made him mad or at least helped Jonathan come out.  I fell asleep for a while but woke up to him grumbling to himself.  He got fed up and left, muttering something about raising the Med-Jai for himself."

Evy gasped as she worked the last knot out.  "He can't do that.  Imhotep is the Master of the Dead.  He should have command over them, not Rameses."  The American raced to his feet and went into the main chambers, after his guns.  Evy followed.  "What are we going to do?  What about Imhotep?"

Rick stopped short and turned, looking at her.  "He came in here about an hour ago and asked about Rameses I assumed.  So I pointed up and he stormed out of here, madder than hell."  He paused for a few seconds, wanting to ask her but not sure if he should.  "Evy..."

She shook her head and closed her eyes.  "Not now, Rick.  We've got to get out of here."

They both turned towards the stairs and stopped when they saw Imhotep racing down with a worried expression on his face.  "Nefertiri," he said, ignoring the fact that O'Connell had a gun drawn on him.  "Rameses has taken the Black Book and vanished.  I searched but could not find him, but I believe he wishes to raise the dead for himself."  He took notice of Rick and shook his head.  "We have no time for this foolishness!  You do not wish me to rule over this world, but I tell you true that Rameses would be much worse a master.  We cannot allow this!"

Rick glanced quickly at Evy but kept his watchful eyes on Imhotep.  "What's he saying?"

"He says that he couldn't find Rameses and that he thinks Rameses is going to try and..." she shook her head, "rule the world.  He says we must stop him."

Rick smirked.  "Yeah so he can take over."

Evy looked back at Imhotep.  "How can Rameses take control?  Aren't you the Master of the Dead or something like that?"

Imhotep eyed Rick and held up a hand.  "Remember the spell that gave him control before?  When last we were here at Hamunaptra?  That is how. Are we going to have trouble with this one?"

Taking in a breath, Evelyn looked back to Rick again.  "He wants to know if you're going to be trouble."

Rick glared at Imhotep.  "Yes!  Yes I'm gonna be trouble for that bastard!  By all means!"  He cocked his gun and pointed.

The dread priest advanced with deadly intent in his eyes.  Evy gasped and stepped in front of Rick, switching back to Egyptian.  "Imhotep, please. He's just angry and you can hardly blame him."  She placed a hand on Imhotep's shoulder.  "Please."

Imhotep glared over her shoulder and then turned around with a frustrated sigh.  "Why I give you my continued mercy is beyond my grasp, Nefertiri! By rights I should kill both of you where you stand!"

Rick grunted, motioning with his gun.  "What's got his loincloth in a knot?"

Evy turned and smiled softly.  "He's not going to kill you and it makes him angry."  She lowered his gun.  "Live today, fight tomorrow."

The American frowned and shoved his gun into his holster.  "Yeah.  Right.  Sure.  What does he want?"

Evelyn trembled, touching Imhotep's shoulder to turn him.  He whirled around and caught her wrist, his eyes flashing.  "Is he agreeable?"

She looked once at Rick and then nodded hesitantly.  "For now.  He wants to know what you want to do."

Imhotep pointed around the chambers.  "Help me find the Book of Amun Ra and pray to whatever gods you believe in that Rameses does not have it."

Evy sighed and translated for Rick.  He nodded.  "I'll help him find that book all right.  Find it and destroy that jerk."

Imhotep laughed, reading his intent as he clasped his hands together.  "Nefertiri, I forbid you to search alone.  You will come with me and he shall search on his own, bringing the book to me if he does find it."

She looked at the beam of sunlight that shot down from the hole in the ceiling atop the stairs and sighed, longing for this to be over.  "Rick, he knows you can't read or speak the ancient tongue.  You're to look alone while I search with him.  Rick, what are you going to do?"

He glared at the creature, full of rage.  Through gritted teeth he answered, "I'll give him the book, Evy.  I swear I'll kill him as soon as I find a weakness.  I promise you that."

Evelyn took a weary breath and nodded.  "We'll get out of this, Rick.  All of us."  She turned to Imhotep.  "He said he'd give you the book."

Imhotep pointed down a chamber to the left.  "Search there," he told Rick.

Rick scowled and turned, disappearing into the shadowy halls.  Imhotep grasped her wrist and yanked her down the hall to their right.  "Teach me your words, Nefertiri."

Evy gulped and licked her lips nervously.  That was an advantage she didn't want to give.  "What words?"

He pulled her into a room and started looking.  "How will I recognize 'yes'?"

She frowned sullenly and told him the English translation.  "And we say 'no' instead of 'ni'.  I don't think I can teach you the whole language very quickly.  English is complicated."

He blatantly ignored her and kept on.  "How do I say lost?"  

That puzzled Evy.  "Why would you want to know that?" she replied, looking at him from an open coffin she'd been peering at.

Imhotep grinned and shook his head.  She found that very strange on him.  "Because I believe I have lost my mind," he answered wryly.

With wide eyes, she looked down and sighed in English, "Oh my."

He ignored that too.  "And how would you say what you felt about what happened between us last night?  Say it in your language."  He turned to her and took her hand, holding it to mirror his own.

Evy swallowed and opened her mouth several times.  She flooded with conflicting emotions.  "I..." she finally said in English.  "You frightened me, Imhotep.  But I don't know what was worse, the fact that we did what we did or the fact that you weren't yourself.  Or maybe you were more yourself than you ever let us see."  She paused for a moment, gathering her composure, then, "I'm sorry you've had so much pain in your life."  She turned away, not knowing why she had any feelings of compassion for this evil monster.  Covering her lips, she gazed at the torch on the wall before closing her moistening eyes.

This wasn't a reaction Imhotep was expecting.  He didn't press her for a translation.  Turning away from her, Imhotep began searching the room in silence, leaving Evy to her thoughts.  She took a shuddering breath and began to help him and wondered if he knew what she'd said by her eyes. Something told her he did.