Read a Chapter from Atlantis Vortex
Sacrifice During a Hurricane
Sacrifice During a Hurricane
Chapter Eleven
Jessica rose early. When she reached the dig area, the Marines and construction
crews were already fortifying the dykes around the dig, trying to save what was left
of the collapsed Pyramid from the approaching Hurricane. Gingerly, Jessica
walked to the edge of the pit where the Pyramid was and stared down in to the
abyss of muck. She felt a firm hand on her arm.
“Pardon me, Ms. Carter,” it was Lieutenant Merk, one of Captain Curtis' Marines,
“Ma'am, this isn't a safe place, please come away from the edge.”
“Of course, Lieutenant, sorry.” She knew it wasn't safe, but it had been her first
big effort and she hated to see it gone. Guilty, she turned away and saw Captain
Curtis staring at her with a relieved look on his face.
“Ms. Carter, you look like you didn't sleep too well last night,” Captain Curtis
commented.
“You got that right, Captain,” she sighed. “I don't think I am cut out to drink.”
“You only drank two beers, ma'am,” Captain Curtis laughed.
“I know. Does that make me a wimp?” Jessica questioned the tough Marine,
feeling like a novice recruit.
“Of course not! Maybe that nut that attacked you last night is the real problem.”
The Captain offered.
“Possibly,” Jessica paused, “After last night… I guess so.” Jessica agreed,
hesitant to tell him about the other little disturbance that she dealt with.
“Is Ms. Simon here?” Jessica asked, hoping the woman wasn't at the dig.
“No, she was here but left after she had talked with the General. He wants to see
you. I will inform the General you're on site,” Captain Curtis went to do so.
“I didn't know the General was here,” Jessica muttered as he left.
Jessica shrugged and went back to cataloging the few remaining artifacts, one of
which was the statue. She regarded it for a long time. It was really out of place with
all the other artifacts. They had not found another object like it or from that time. It
was a total mystery. She set it aside before logging it in and assigned it a separate
number out of sequence with the other objects, intending to consider it for further
research before placing it in the vault. Its beady little eyes seemed to follow her. It
gave her the creeps.
“Ms. Carter,” Captain Curtis called her attention away from her work.
“Yes?” Jessica answered, a bit distracted.
“General Grill would like to see you now,” Curtis told her.
“I'll be right there,” Jessica told him, rising after finalizing her latest entry to her
daily logs. Following Captain Curtis to the Command Tent, she found the General
studying her last report.
“General Grill.” Jessica drew his attention as she walked in and almost saluted
him, but stifled the urge at the last second.
“I see the Pyramid suffered a bad mishap last evening,” he said regretfully.
“Yes sir, we had an earthquake and the Pyramid collapsed.” Jessica reflected on
the near miss.
“Isn't an earthquake in Florida a bit unusual?” The General gave her an odd look.
“Yes sir, General, but almost everything connected with this dig and that Pyramid
has been unusual. I have asked the Captain to step up security. But with this
Hurricane approaching we will probably lose what little is left.” Her voice betrayed
her feelings about the importance of the project.
“I was also informed that Captain Curtis and his squad tried to pull out a final
artifact or two and Captain Curtis pulled you out.” The General commented,
concern in his gruff voice.
“Yes sir, I might not be here if it weren't for him, but we did lose a few artifacts.”
Jessica wasn't about to tell him about the strange maps she had found then been
cautioned not to disclose.
“Good man, he's up for promotion. This will secure that, I am sure. Couple other
things, I was told about the incident with the man who attacked you and
something about a man bowing to you?” the General asked, his tone skeptical, but
concerned.
“Yes General, and that could be a problem. The man who attacked me, and I
reported this to Sheriff Flagler, made a reference to a statue we found of an Aztec
god. It seems this man, and possibly the one who, ah bowed, thinks I am the
reincarnation of the daughter of an Aztec god's daughter that was sacrificed
during the Aztec Empire. Not an enviable position, this does worry me a bit.” She
sighed, knowing there was little she could do other than being cautious.
“Very well, Ms. Carter, I know you have been required to wear your side arm on the
dig sight, I am now requiring you to wear it at all times, I am more comfortable
knowing you are armed. I have seen your marksman's scores and they are
remarkably high. The local authorities have been notified so you won't have any
problems from them. I have looked over your file - please consider yourself
activated from this point, although it isn't required for you to wear a uniform, yet.”
The way he added yet concerned Jessica, she knew she would be wearing one
soon and wasn't sure that was where she wanted her career to go.
“Thank you, sir, but with this Hurricane there may not be anything left to
excavate,” Jessica explained.
“That may be true, but we still have many valuable artifacts, most of them are
under strict security now. I am sure you can appreciate how priceless they have
become. We do not intend to release them to the public for an extremely long time
and we will need you to work closely with our engineers, you may in fact be back
in uniform. This is considered top secret, do not discuss it with any one.” General
Grill enlightened her but didn't really explain.
“Yes, sir, General, I would not do that anyway. May I ask the General what I would
be doing back in uniform, sir?” There goes publishing our work, Jessica thought.
Bruce isn't going to be happy.
“Ms. Carter, as you know NASA's engineers considered the pictures they took of
the now gone mosaic of the astral wall without equal in originality and some
considered it extraterrestrial in origin. Material samples taken of the construction
make-up of the wall itself are unknown until this find. I'm not entirely privy to all
the details myself; however, as we discussed before, some of the artifacts may
have national security implications. These orders have come from my superiors.”
Jessica could tell by the General's tone of voice he didn't like being fazed out of
the loop of information and that was what was beginning to happen.
“Are my artifacts still being kept together where they originally were stored? I may
want to re-examine them.” Jessica asked, wondering if she might not be able to
see them all again herself.
“For now, yes, they have been examined by some of our Military engineers and for
security have been kept together. The artifacts will remain together - when moved,
and I may add, you are one of the few who will be notified when they are. That is all
I can tell you for now.” General Grill gathered up his things and stuffed them in his
briefcase. “Good day, Ms. Carter. I will be in touch after the storm.” the General
dismissed Jessica as he was leaving himself.
By late afternoon, the sky had turned a rancid gray color. Jessica had lived in
Florida long enough to know, the storm's outer edges were beginning to approach.
Already labeled unpredictable because of the storm's sudden course changes and
fast approach, Igraine behaved as if directed other than by the steering currents,
“Hey Jessica!” Bruce yelled as he turned his personal Lexus into the parking area
at the hotel where he usually stayed. He had driven down instead of flying because
of the storm. Jessica turned her attention from the sky to Bruce's arrival.
“Bruce, what are you doing running into the storm?” Jessica asked giving her best
friend a brotherly hug. Bruce turned her hug into something more and covered her
lips with his own in a passionate kiss.
"Bruce!" Jessica pushed him away, "What has come over you?"
"Jessica, I have missed you and I've come to realize…" Bruce was about to declare
he wanted a closer relationship when they were interrupted by Captain Curtis'
approach. Bruce cleared his throat. “What's happened at the dig? Anything new
after the cave-in?” He asked.
“It's gone. All of it and after this Hurricane, we are done for.” Jessica explained,
watching him get his suitcase. “Go get settled in and I'll see you later.” her tone of
voice was sharp and a little angry as she left him standing with a perplexed
Captain Curtis.
By dusk, sustained forty-five mile an hour winds had picked up with gusts much
higher. Rainsqualls started shortly afterward. Igraine's top winds were over a
hundred miles an hour with rainfall amounts projected to fall at six to eight inches
an hour. Soaking up the eighty-five degree warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico as it
came closer to the West Coast of Florida it strengthened rapidly. As predicted,
when Igraine moved over the lake, the rain alone would fill the sinkhole where the
dig had been. What they might have recovered would be lost. All this made Jessica
somewhat sick.
Everyone had done their particular jobs to protect what was left of the dig, and
then retired to their respective shelters for the blow. Instead of her small
apartment, Jessica settled into a room at the same hotel where most of the others
from the dig decided to stay. Her apartment was too close to the water to be safe.
Jessica and Bruce sat having dinner in the small hotel bar. Captain Curtis and his
men were there enjoying the bar and the barroom games. Most had ordered the
local favorite dishes and were dulling their taught nerves with drinks from the bar.
“Bruce,” Jessica said in quiet tones, she picked at her food and Bruce knew
something was bothering her other than his earlier behavior. “What do you think
we have found?”
“An entrance,” Bruce replied. “We've been through this before.”
“To what?” She put a piece of fried catfish in her mouth.
“A very old civilization,” Bruce theorized, downing the last of his Jack Daniel's
Black in one gulp and signaling the waitress for another.
Jessica met his eyes, and then let her eyes casually drift across the Bar. Captain
Curtis and his squad were now playing pool or sitting in the back corner sipping
their beers.
“Which one?” Jessica asked her voice lower. Their eyes met.
“You and I both know which one, and neither of us wants to say it,” Bruce said,
finishing his dinner. “When this storm is over, we need to take a long bike ride
away from our military friends and Ms. Simon.”
“I hate it when we think alike,” Jessica said, and she looked at Bruce with affection
she had for the brother she never had, and smiled. She wasn't angry with him for
his earlier attempt to press their relationship but they both knew it would never be
more than a close friendship.
“When we go for our bike ride, Jess,” he said, and Jessica could hear
disappointment in his voice. She didn't understand he longed to see passion in her
brown eyes and knew he never would.
“Okay, I may have something to tell you then too,” she smiled, failing to recognize
the passion in his eyes, despite his earlier slip. Jessica was still innocent and
didn't understand his desires. They finished their dinners in silence.
Ms. Simon's orders required her to stay in Okeechobee despite the storm. She too
was staying at the hotel and was sitting alone at a small table in the back corner
finishing her dinner. She had never been through a Hurricane, and would not admit
it, but bad storms were her worst nightmare. She watched all that went on around
her taking special note of her prime targets, Jessica Carter and Bruce Lance. From
all appearances, they were only good friends. Meredith found this rather peculiar,
but she considered Jessica peculiar. Most women found Meredith Simon, FBI
intimidating, but not Jessica Carter. Meredith had to admit, if only to herself, it was
a little the other way around. Ms. Carter was a forceful and headstrong woman,
General Grill, at times, did not go against Ms. Carter wishes. Ms. Simon watched
Jessica and Bruce as they talked, she knew they were discussing the dig but
could not hear them. Rising, she went to their table, her dinner finished and her
wineglass in hand.
“May I join you?” Ms. Simon asked, her cordial manner doing little to cover her
unease with the current weather conditions.
“Sure.” Jessica said graciously, and the woman sat down. “This your first
hurricane?”
“Yes, I don't think I like them,” Ms. Simon admitted.
“Not many people do,” Bruce agreed. “This one is a small one, so it won't be too
bad. But, it will ruin our dig,” he said in a resigned manner.
“You'll be able to go back to your normal office I would guess,” Jessica said by
way of conversation.
“Maybe,” Ms. Simon shrugged. “I'll have some wrap-up work to do.”
“There is always paperwork, I don't care what business you're in,” Bruce said, and
finished his drink.
“Even in your business, Ms. Carter?” Meredith queried.
“Just call me Jessica, and yes, Bruce and I do mount - ah - Pyramids of it,”
Jessica smiled at her slight humor.
“Just Meredith here,” she smiled, “I guess you have to keep accurate records.”
“How did you draw this assignment?” Bruce asked.
“Junior agent in the office, and my Supervisor didn't like the way I turned down his
dinner invitation.”
“Oh,” Jessica said flatly, “one of those. I had an Anthropology professor like that.”
Bruce started laughing; he remembered that incident. “That professor doesn't
teach anymore.”
“Really?” Meredith said, “What happened.”
“Jessica tricked him into revealing his true nature,” Bruce said, “The University
found they didn't need his services any longer.” An object startled them all by
slamming against the Hurricane Shutters of one of the windows.
“That's my cue,” Jessica announced with a slight laugh. “I'm going to bed. See
you all in the morning.” Jessica went to her room.
“Can she really sleep through this?” Meredith asked Bruce.
“Sure, she is cool in about any emergency. I don't think I've ever seen anything
shake her.” Bruce stood, having finished dinner, excused himself, and went to play
a couple of games of pool with the Marines.
Bruce waited to go to his room, now it was raining so heavily he pulled the
raincoat up almost over his head and started for his room. He saw a black Porsche
Boxster drive into the parking lot and he paused. A tall man stepped out, obviously
unaffected by the weather. He actually seemed to relish the rain on his face. Bruce
knew the man couldn't see him from where he stood. Something so striking about
him caused Bruce to watch a few more seconds. It was his unusual aquamarine
eyes, not many people had eyes that color. Bruce ducked into his room, just
missing Jessica’s call.
Bruce wasn't the only person who saw Xerxes. Meredith observed him too. She
intentionally acquired a room as close to Jessica's as possible, two doors down
the corridor that opened into the parking lot. Ms. Simon unlocked the door to her
room and was about to duck inside when she noticed Xerxes arrival as he
emerged from the high-powered sports car. She analyzed him, not as an FBI agent,
but as a woman would a man. Attracted to the handsome, powerfully built High
Lord of Atlantis, and aroused by the charisma that radiated from him, she shivered
as a rush of adrenaline raced through her body. The fact he was unaware of it,
only heightened the effect. Meredith noticed too, he enjoyed the rain on his face.
She found his reaction highly erotic, and watched as he momentarily closed his
eyes and let the gale force drops splash down on his blonde hair and tanned
complexion. With sheer force of will, Meredith closed her door then peeked out the
curtains to see Xerxes walk towards the office. Going to take a shower, Meredith
wishfully wondered what room he was staying. Absently it occurred to her, she
had not been able to see the color of his eyes. Chiding herself, trained observer –
yeah - right! She stepped under the warm water. Still, his was not a face or body
any woman would easily forget. She turned the water temperature to a cooler
setting.
Alone with the map, Jessica decided to decipher it if she could. She started by
gently cleaning the extrinsic amalgam. Light as aluminum, strong as magnesium,
but the color of copper, as she cleaned it, it turned more gold. She could clearly
discern the coast of Central America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and
Florida, as it looked several thousand years ago. What really grabbed her attention
was the larger landmass that encompassed where the Bahamas should be and
fitted the description of Plato's account of Atlantis.
Jessica stared a long time at the object, disbelieving her eyes though it confirmed
her suspicions. She jumped suddenly when a high gust of wind blew a heavy
object against her door. She quickly picked up the nine-millimeter pistol, then
scolded herself and laid it back down, drew a deep breath and started looking at
the map again.
When she looked again, the landmass seemed to be merely a light watermark, now
the Bahamas were visible, and an atoll was clearly marked with a Pyramid symbol
that matched the one they had just excavated. She peered closer and there
seemed to be a symbol like it in the Pacific. The new one in the Atlantic was next
to the atoll in about one hundred feet of water. Jessica could not convince herself
of what she was seeing. Her eyes and tired mind were playing tricks on her. She
felt like the walls were closing in, and despite the sixty-five mile per hour winds,
she stepped outside her room. Wind and rain pounded her, almost knocking her to
the ground, but restored her senses.
Rain soaked, she went back inside, grabbed a towel, and changed into fresh
clothes. Once again, Jessica repeated the steps to decipher the artifact as if she
had never seen it.
Again, she drew the same answers. 'No way!' she said to the walls, picked up her
cell phone and attempted to call Bruce. After two tries, she still could not get
through to her friend around the corner seven rooms away.
Jessica continued to examine the metal maps, hoping for clues she might have
missed - something had to be wrong. After several more hours of frustration, she
knew there wasn't any other conclusion. Like any archaeologist, she began to log
all her theories and conclusions in her diary. However, this was her private diary
that she kept double encrypted and only her mother knew the passkeys.
Xerxes saw the door close, but didn't realize it was Meredith. He did see Jessica
step out into the heavy rain moments later, a perplexed frown on her lovely face
and he felt sure the map was the cause. He was careful not to allow her to see him,
smiling at her obvious dilemma. Giving her a few moments after she went inside,
he called her on his cell phone from the hotel restaurant.
Jessica's cell phone rang and startled her, “Hello?”
“Ms. Carter.” Xerxes Kallias said, “By now I am sure you have deciphered the
secret of the chart you were given. Again I ask you, do not share it with anyone. It
is for you alone. And, Jessica,” his voice became rich with concern, “be more
careful, the man who attacked you means you great harm.” static buzzed in her ear
before she could speak. His voice was very clear, he must have been close to
make the call she concluded.
Pericles had planted the artifact just yesterday that would draw her to the spot,
dropping it at Jessica's feet just before the Pyramid collapsed. Xerxes had
prepared the strange map himself, knowing it would intrigue Jessica and she had
found it as the ground shook ominously beneath her feet - allaying any suspicions
she might have had about it. Xerxes knew Jessica would be unable to resist
following the mysterious clues to their conclusion. After the map's exposure to
surface pressure and sunlight for one hundred and four hours, the maps would
disintegrate.
"Oh! I know your name, but I don't know who you are," she said to the walls, "but
you're damn frustrating.” Jessica was infuriated. He did not leave her enough time
to reply or question him.
"Where do I know you from? I've seen you before that night at the dig. I just can't
remember …," She asked aloud while she tried to dial out on her cell phone. The
weather was still interfering with her calls, if not Xerxes Kallias' calls.
Xerxes wanted to take Jessica now! A hurricane would be a perfect cover.
However, if he took her too soon, he might not be able to allow Pericles and his
men enough time to recover the artifacts she had unearthed. Xerxes sat at the bar
watching Pericles and his squad play pool from a short distance and thinking
about his problems. Atlantian Councilor Marcus was still demanding Xerxes
execute Jessica and Bruce Lance to ensure the security of Atlantis.
Still loyal, his Councilors wanted no part in murdering the two young scientists
either. After their last council meeting, they all waited until Marcus left, then
requested in a respectful, and this time in a serious manner, that Xerxes replace
him. Again suggesting that perhaps one of the upper-world archaeologists, Bruce
Lance to be exact, would be better suited. Xerxes had been giving their suggestion
consideration and had requested his aid, Geb, to do a comprehensive employment
check on Mr. Lance, above what they already knew, for future reference. It was
possible that Mr. Lance, after the conclusion of this situation, would become a
resident of Atlantis, Xerxes was sure Jessica would be able to accomplish this.
Other security risk problems came to mind, Ms. Simon. Pericles had kept her at a
safe distance and Xerxes hoped he would continue to do so. Xerxes could not sign
her death warrant with a clear conscience but he didn't want her as a resident of
Atlantis either, he knew her allegiance would always be in question. He hoped he
would not need to make that decision. If she found Marcus' trail and identified him,
Xerxes would have a more difficult problem and be forced to act swiftly. Atlantis
would gain another resident. Xerxes would avoid Marcus' solution and use it as a
last resort only. Maybe the woman would be truly happy in Atlantis, Xerxes
thought. She might provide the needed evidence to convict Marcus. Xerxes smiled
to himself remembering Geb, as usual, had been ahead of him when he had
requested an investigation and background check on Ms. Simon. When asked how
he knew what Xerxes wanted before he did, he had replied. “Milord, it is part of the
job to know what you will need, before you do,” Geb laughed.
“Okay, then how do I handle this problem with Councilor Marcus?” Xerxes asked
with a laugh.
“I am not a soothsayer, milord,” Geb smiled. “I am sure you will deal with him
justly, I am also sure he is the traitor.” Geb left without his smile.
Xerxes was thankful Pericles solved one problem. Pericles, with the help of
Ambassador Barrous from Alpha-Centauri, would retrieve the other artifact when
the military moved them, according to Xerxes' plan. Until then, Xerxes would keep
a close watch. For now, the urgent reason he came ashore and taken this serious
risk to his own safety occupied his thoughts. He had left Atlantis in Geb's capable
hands, as acting regent since Alena, his sister, was still off World as acting
Ambassador.
Concerned about the threat to Jessica from the group of dangerous Aztec
worshipers who believed she was the reincarnated daughter of a lesser Aztec god
named Coxcox, Xerxes had come during the storm to keep a personal watch on his
future bride. From information obtained from a source in their ranks, Xerxes knew
Jessica was in greater danger during the eye of the storm when they planned to
sacrifice her, if they could abduct her.
Xerxes closely watched the parking area of the hotel for any sign of these
individuals and signaled Pericles when a beat-up old truck with two men of that
pagan sect drove in and parked. Pericles and his squad had been casually passing
time in the hotel bar but instantly came together as group in a darkened corner of
the bar.
Jessica heard the winds suddenly drop and the rain stop. The eye of the hurricane
was passing over. Quickly she donned her raincoat, stuffed the maps back inside
her mud-encrusted work vest for safekeeping, and left it in the room. Deciding a
short trip to the lobby was in order to get something to eat and drink; supplies for
the rest of the storm. She weighed taking the nine-millimeter pistol with her, but
who would attack me during a hurricane? She thought. Shrugging, she left it
behind.
Halfway down the open corridor, a figure jumped out at her. Jessica recognized
same ugly-faced man who had accosted her at her apartment, with another knife in
his hand.
Damn, she thought, angry with herself for being so foolish to have left her gun in
her room. Jessica immediately went into a slight crouch, ready to defend herself,
at the same time she felt someone behind her. Now she knew she had a problem.
“I still do not have the statue with me.” Jessica said in a warning tone.
“We want you, we have statue already!” he said in broken English.
“Why?” she felt the one behind her move closer, she kicked backwards catching
him in the groin, he groaned and Jessica stepped away from him. He managed to
trip her, and she fell onto the wet pavement. She swung wide with her right leg but
the brutal looking man with the knife was weary of her and jumped over her
swinging legs, grabbing her legs instead. Jessica was terrified, the first one now
had her arms, and without warning, the world went dark.
Meredith heard Jessica's door open then close for the second time. This time the
winds were down and the rain had stopped, she hoped the storm was over. She
heard loud voices, Jessica's voice, and the sounds of fighting. Meredith grabbed
her gun and ran out.
Another shadow stepped out. This one tall and broad-shouldered, but he was too
late. It had taken both of the two Aztec guards to carry Jessica, but they managed
to avoid Xerxes and tossed Jessica in the back of their pick-up truck. Their truck
looked dilapidated, but the engine sounded finely tuned, and they sped away.
Meredith also saw the brutes abduct Jessica, but she didn't see Bruce who had
waited for the winds to drop, figuring he too would run down to the lounge for a
couple of cokes. He had just stepped out in time to see two horrid looking men
toss Jessica, unconscious, into the bed of a pickup truck. Moving fast behind
them and talking into what appeared to be a cell phone, the man with the strange
aquamarine eyes jumped into his Porsche and raced away after them.
Bruce ran for help, almost colliding with Pericles and six of his Marines as they ran
out into the storm before he could stop them. Bruce went for Sheriff Flagler and
heard Meredith react as her training dictated.
She yelled, “Halt! FBI!” At the tall man who drove the Porsche, he ignored her
command.
Bruce stopped at the sound of Meredith's voice in time to see her fire her Glock
pistol twice. He stared, both rounds hit the car, but both deflected off. Each
deflection illuminated by a blue glow. Bruce knew an electronic barrier when he
saw it. What had they gotten into? He wondered as he again turned to find the
Sheriff.
Xerxes had jumped into his little Porsche, ignoring the FBI agent's shouts and
called his two back-up aids for help, they had to work fast, the storm's center
mechanically could hold for a limited time.
Next, Xerxes called the agent he had assigned to the upper-world military.
“Pericles,” Xerxes' tone was concerned, “They got her. We've got to act fast, I
think they will take her to that place just outside Buckhead Ridge, you know
where, near ten-mile bend?”
“Yes, Lord, I know. We'll be there.” He paused. “Was that gunfire?” Pericles asked.
“Yeah, Ms. Simon's on the case,” Xerxes said with a smirk.
“Are you hit?” Pericles sounded concerned.
“No, the barrier deflected the shots,” Xerxes said casually.
How long before the storm's eye will shift?” Pericles asked as he too drove toward
the location in their Marine Hummer.
“Our scientists estimate we can hold it for two hours,” Xerxes informed him.
“It'll drive the meteorologist's crazy,” Pericles laughed.
Xerxes laughed with him, “I know, but that's their problem.” He pressed the
accelerator, going faster. Sliding and swerving to miss the huge puddles on the
rain-soaked pavement of State Road 441 that circles around the Levy of Lake
Okeechobee, headed west. If they didn't get there in time, Jessica would be
sacrificed to the Aztec's pagan god.
Slowly Jessica started to regain consciousness. The truck's bed was wet and
rough. Bruised, uncomfortable, and disorientated, she tired to move, only to find
her hands and feet bound. Jessica became aware that a man sat next to her. The
man who had the knife was watching her closely.
She looked up into the stars between the massive wall clouds of a Hurricane's eye.
Her eyes focused on the lightning that flashed in those clouds and how strange it
looked to see lightning all around and stars overhead.
“You be a Princess soon,” he told her. He seemed to want to reassure her, it
didn't. She knew the story.
“I am not Coxcox's daughter,” Jessica told him firmly.
“Yes, legend says. You thirsty?” He gave her a drink. It tasted terrible, like raw
Tequila and Chocolate but with a little more kick. She thought it was water and
swallowed some before she spat most of it out. “You should drink, it is sacred.
Oh God, Jessica thought. What did I drink? Her head started to feel strange, he
poured more down her throat; she coughed and tried to spit it out. Time seemed to
slow down, the sky swirled, and the clouds took on faces. Then she knew it was a
hallucinogenic and she knew what they were planning on doing. Jessica's last
coherent thought was, I am going to die.
Time stopped. The lightning flashes slowed, she could follow the lines they took,
and they seemed to point at her. Giant faces ethereally illuminated by the lightning
bolt's powerful flashes glowed in colors Jessica had never dreamed existed. Their
faces were angry and heated eyes glared at her. She knew it wasn't real and only
by the last thread of reality did she refrain from screaming. She closed her eyes,
shivering.
How far they traveled, she had no idea. It seemed like the Hurricane's eye was
holding a long time. Time moved in a swirl, when she opened her eyes again, the
clouds were circling her, the faces gone, leaving an open window to the stars of
heaven. The heavens were clear, and brilliant, beckoning her to float up into their
cool perfection. Stars moved in patterns. Jessica knew she had to be seeing
things. Some of the stars looked like arrow-shaped ships. She counted six, before
they turned to blurs and disappeared straight up into the stars.
“See!” The Aztec with the knife said with a knowing smile, and indicated the
moving stars, pointing with his knife. “The gods come to carry your soul away to
be reborn!” Jessica shuddered, wondering if she was really going to die in this
manner.
Finally, the truck stopped. Two men helped her out of the truck's bed, and some
reality returned. Cutting her bonds, they turned her care over to five Aztec women,
assigned to bathe and dress her. These women were unlike their men. Where the
men were highly fit and hard-bodied, the women were the opposite. They were
heavily breasted and matronly, some to the point of obesity. As they dressed
Jessica's slender, but muscular body in a sheer white shift they laughed at how
small she was, underestimating her. Had she not been drugged she would have
made short work of escaping these huge pagans and been done with them.
However, her captors had poured so much of their horrid potion down her that
throat she was somewhat passive.
Jessica performed the tasks they commanded of her in a daze. She sat
submissively as they painted heavy make-up on her face and brushed out her long
dark red hair. Over the long white shift, they buckled an ancient gold, and
turquoise girdle on her hips, and laid a heavy turquoise, and gold necklace on her
shoulders.
The women forced more of the horrid drink down her throat. She coughed again
and managed to spit out most of it. Ritual chanting started, the women led Jessica
out among the small crowd of worshipers and they all bowed from the waist to her
before joining in a procession around a huge bonfire. Trying to clear her head,
Jessica attempted to count how many times they circled the fire, but she had
become hypnotized in the chanting.
Two of the women took her by her arms and broke the circle. They guided her
toward a large stone Altar that stood between two huge carved Jaguar statues,
their muzzles drawn back and their white ivory fangs dripped red with blood. A
half-naked man stood there, he wore only a short Jaguar skin around his hips and
a mask of gold on his face. His upper body painted with what appeared to be red
paint. From somewhere deep inside Jessica's mesmerized mind she knew it wasn't
paint but blood and she knew this man was a deadly Aztec priest. She began to
tremble; she could feel her heart beating wildly, stories of human sacrifice flowed
through her drugged mind, visions of still beating hearts torn from terrified
victims. Now she was one of those victims and she was terrified.
A cup held to her lips contained more of the horrid liquid and they forced some
down her, much of the potion dripping down her chin. Another cup put to her lips
contained a far worse substance, blood. Try hard as they did, Jessica would not
drink from that cup; she struggled, causing the cupbearer to spill the contents.
Even with their strong drug in her system, she began to fight. She heard one of
them grunt in pain when her foot found his knee and broke the cap with a loud
crunch, despite the strong drug, and he sank to the ground. It took four of their
painted warriors to put her on the Altar. Beside her was that horrid statue she had
found at the dig. Its grotesque's features seemed to laugh at her.
Their chanting began anew. She looked into heaven's stars praying as well as her
drugged mind would allow. Surrounded by striking lightning coming closer, and
growing stronger, the pagans' chanting reached a heated, almost sexual climax.
The Hurricane's eye wall was collapsing on the area bringing the backside of the
storm's fury.
Xerxes could see smoke rising from the fire, he pulled off the road, and he knew
he had found the spot. His aids were only moments behind him. He parked his car
in the bushes and waited for them. They arrived at the same time Pericles and his
six Marine/Atlantians did.
Xerxes knew they were outnumbered but they had superior firepower. Time was
not on their side. Aztec guards were fearless fighters and in the throes of the
drugs, they used during this type of ceremony felt little, if any pain. His men would
have to kill them. The Aztec's High Priest was the fiercest. Xerxes had decided the
Priest would be his target, knowing he would have to kill him instantly, and he
would be the closest to Jessica. Xerxes also instructed his men to give no quarter
to the five women; they fought as vicious as the men, even at their massive size.
Xerxes looked through the scrub oaks that surrounded the site and could see the
pagans leading Jessica around a huge bonfire. She appeared drugged and tripped
twice, supported by two of the women in the group to prevent her from falling. Her
beautiful face heavily painted, the sheer white garment they had dressed her in
leaving little to the imagination about the loveliness of her body. He turned to
address his men.
“I don't care how many you have to kill, but I want Ms. Carter safe,” Xerxes told
them. “Let's go.” Xerxes had brought an old weapon - centuries old, the Sword of
his Fathers, the Sword of Atlantis. He strapped on the ancient weapon now. Xerxes
had trained with this weapon; his father insisted he, Alena and Ainu be proficient
with even the oldest of weapons.
Using all their stealth training, the seven Marines/Atlantians surrounded the small
clearing and on signal from Xerxes attacked with their weapons on full automatic.
They carried both their Marine and Atlantian issued weapons, but depended on the
more advanced ones used by the Atlantis army. Each chose their targets carefully
to kill as efficiently as possible. Xerxes other agents remained as perimeter guards.
Chaos prevailed. Screams of death ruptured the night. Atlantians were a peaceful
people, but fierce warriors when called upon. Only a few instances deteriorated
into hand-to-hand combat. Xerxes found himself engaged in one of these as he
fought his way to the Altar to save Jessica. He drew the Sword, his Atlantian laser
pistol knocked from his hand. He swung the ancient sword, his strength flowing
into the weapon as his instructor taught, and slew two of their numbers that
obstructed his path to the Altar.
Aztecs fell in numbers due to the drugs they had taken dulling their reactions. The
Atlantians suffered no casualties, but a few injuries. Xerxes battled as a warrior of
old until he made his way to where Jessica lay at the mercy of the Aztec Priest.
The Priest continued chanting, caught in the headiness of the drug and intent on
completing his pagan ceremony, despite any interruptions.
At last, Xerxes reached her and quickly sheathed the Sword, his hands stained red
with the blood of hand-to-hand combat. He hoped the sight of so much blood
wouldn't frighten her further when he snatched her from the slab of death.
Jessica was lying on the stone Altar, the chanting, and the drugs they forced down
her throat had her totally entranced. She was staring up into the coldest, blackest
eyes she had ever seen. The Aztec Priest's heavily painted eyes stared back into
hers, and he was chanting words she could not understand. She was sweating,
her breathing rapid, her chest heaving, and in some part of her mind, she was
horrified. He held a huge golden knife high over her breasts, with it poised to
plunge into her chest. The heat from the bonfire they had built was close by, and
Jessica felt singed by its proximity, but she couldn't move to get away despite
being unrestrained.
Suddenly, loud noises were erupting. The chant was broken, but she still could not
move. People were falling. A loud, close shot numbed her ears. The Priest was
falling back, blood erupting from a sudden hole in his chest spattering her white
shift. The knife was falling - falling toward her. Jessica tried to move but could not.
Strong arms snatched her off the stone Altar and cradled her close to an equally
strong chest. Jessica looked into the most clear aquamarine eyes she had ever
seen. No, she had seen them before, but could not remember where.
Somehow, she was safe. Whenever she saw those eyes, she was safe. Jessica felt
drawn to him. He kissed her, and his lips lingered on hers. Her head was spinning
again. She looked at the strong arms that held her, the large hands covered with
blood, and Jessica looked back into those eyes.
“So much blood.” her voice was raspy, and weak, from the strong liquid her
captors forced down her throat.
“You're okay. It isn't your blood. You're safe,” Xerxes told her, with a soft smile
down into her face.
Jessica saw he was bleeding from a slice on the right biceps “You're hurt,” she
whispered and gently touched the wound, her fingers red with his blood.
“It isn't serious,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. His lips touched hers once
more to kiss her in a deeper, more demanding manner. Xerxes knew sweet
response, and her arm weakly went around his neck, drawing him closer.
It was starting to rain heavily, the lightning was worsening, and the wind had
returned. She was suddenly cold and trembling. The rain making the sheer white
shift they had dressed her in transparent. Xerxes wrapped a heavy blanket around
her, reminding her drugged memory of another time and place. Those wonderful
strong arms carried her away from danger, placed in a car seat, and buckled her in.
His lips touched hers, longer this time, arousing emotions deep inside her. Jessica
touched his face as his mouth held hers. She didn't want him to leave her, she felt
so safe now, but the storm was getting worse, and her head hurt so badly from
that stuff they made her drink. He started the car and they drove away from the
place of death. She didn't know to where, and now she didn't care, she just did not
want him to leave her. Jessica looked at him, he was so handsome, and she smiled
at him, and managed to say “Thank you. Don't leave me…” before she passed out.
Xerxes' heart told him now was the time to take Jessica to Atlantis, while she was
grateful to him for saving her. He first had to consider the security of his domain,
and the retrieval of the artifacts was paramount. If he took her too soon, he would
also need to extract Pericles and his team, and that would mean he would lose
track of the all-important artifacts. With great reluctance and a breaking heart,
Xerxes placed his future wife safely in the seat of her jeep, just outside her hotel
where the sheriff would soon find her. With one last kiss on her soft lips, Xerxes
realized she was regaining consciousness, her eyes fluttered open. "I love you,
Jessica," he whispered softly to her.
Xerxes climbed into his Porsche, drove back into West Palm Beach, and boarded
his private yacht-sub to return to Atlantis and the problems there. Hurricane
Ingraine would take a turn back into the Gulf of Mexico shortly as he had ordered
his six research ships to direct her. She had entered the state over the Everglades
and would exit the same way, causing a minimum of damage to the state's
residence.
Jessica rose early. When she reached the dig area, the Marines and construction
crews were already fortifying the dykes around the dig, trying to save what was left
of the collapsed Pyramid from the approaching Hurricane. Gingerly, Jessica
walked to the edge of the pit where the Pyramid was and stared down in to the
abyss of muck. She felt a firm hand on her arm.
“Pardon me, Ms. Carter,” it was Lieutenant Merk, one of Captain Curtis' Marines,
“Ma'am, this isn't a safe place, please come away from the edge.”
“Of course, Lieutenant, sorry.” She knew it wasn't safe, but it had been her first
big effort and she hated to see it gone. Guilty, she turned away and saw Captain
Curtis staring at her with a relieved look on his face.
“Ms. Carter, you look like you didn't sleep too well last night,” Captain Curtis
commented.
“You got that right, Captain,” she sighed. “I don't think I am cut out to drink.”
“You only drank two beers, ma'am,” Captain Curtis laughed.
“I know. Does that make me a wimp?” Jessica questioned the tough Marine,
feeling like a novice recruit.
“Of course not! Maybe that nut that attacked you last night is the real problem.”
The Captain offered.
“Possibly,” Jessica paused, “After last night… I guess so.” Jessica agreed,
hesitant to tell him about the other little disturbance that she dealt with.
“Is Ms. Simon here?” Jessica asked, hoping the woman wasn't at the dig.
“No, she was here but left after she had talked with the General. He wants to see
you. I will inform the General you're on site,” Captain Curtis went to do so.
“I didn't know the General was here,” Jessica muttered as he left.
Jessica shrugged and went back to cataloging the few remaining artifacts, one of
which was the statue. She regarded it for a long time. It was really out of place with
all the other artifacts. They had not found another object like it or from that time. It
was a total mystery. She set it aside before logging it in and assigned it a separate
number out of sequence with the other objects, intending to consider it for further
research before placing it in the vault. Its beady little eyes seemed to follow her. It
gave her the creeps.
“Ms. Carter,” Captain Curtis called her attention away from her work.
“Yes?” Jessica answered, a bit distracted.
“General Grill would like to see you now,” Curtis told her.
“I'll be right there,” Jessica told him, rising after finalizing her latest entry to her
daily logs. Following Captain Curtis to the Command Tent, she found the General
studying her last report.
“General Grill.” Jessica drew his attention as she walked in and almost saluted
him, but stifled the urge at the last second.
“I see the Pyramid suffered a bad mishap last evening,” he said regretfully.
“Yes sir, we had an earthquake and the Pyramid collapsed.” Jessica reflected on
the near miss.
“Isn't an earthquake in Florida a bit unusual?” The General gave her an odd look.
“Yes sir, General, but almost everything connected with this dig and that Pyramid
has been unusual. I have asked the Captain to step up security. But with this
Hurricane approaching we will probably lose what little is left.” Her voice betrayed
her feelings about the importance of the project.
“I was also informed that Captain Curtis and his squad tried to pull out a final
artifact or two and Captain Curtis pulled you out.” The General commented,
concern in his gruff voice.
“Yes sir, I might not be here if it weren't for him, but we did lose a few artifacts.”
Jessica wasn't about to tell him about the strange maps she had found then been
cautioned not to disclose.
“Good man, he's up for promotion. This will secure that, I am sure. Couple other
things, I was told about the incident with the man who attacked you and
something about a man bowing to you?” the General asked, his tone skeptical, but
concerned.
“Yes General, and that could be a problem. The man who attacked me, and I
reported this to Sheriff Flagler, made a reference to a statue we found of an Aztec
god. It seems this man, and possibly the one who, ah bowed, thinks I am the
reincarnation of the daughter of an Aztec god's daughter that was sacrificed
during the Aztec Empire. Not an enviable position, this does worry me a bit.” She
sighed, knowing there was little she could do other than being cautious.
“Very well, Ms. Carter, I know you have been required to wear your side arm on the
dig sight, I am now requiring you to wear it at all times, I am more comfortable
knowing you are armed. I have seen your marksman's scores and they are
remarkably high. The local authorities have been notified so you won't have any
problems from them. I have looked over your file - please consider yourself
activated from this point, although it isn't required for you to wear a uniform, yet.”
The way he added yet concerned Jessica, she knew she would be wearing one
soon and wasn't sure that was where she wanted her career to go.
“Thank you, sir, but with this Hurricane there may not be anything left to
excavate,” Jessica explained.
“That may be true, but we still have many valuable artifacts, most of them are
under strict security now. I am sure you can appreciate how priceless they have
become. We do not intend to release them to the public for an extremely long time
and we will need you to work closely with our engineers, you may in fact be back
in uniform. This is considered top secret, do not discuss it with any one.” General
Grill enlightened her but didn't really explain.
“Yes, sir, General, I would not do that anyway. May I ask the General what I would
be doing back in uniform, sir?” There goes publishing our work, Jessica thought.
Bruce isn't going to be happy.
“Ms. Carter, as you know NASA's engineers considered the pictures they took of
the now gone mosaic of the astral wall without equal in originality and some
considered it extraterrestrial in origin. Material samples taken of the construction
make-up of the wall itself are unknown until this find. I'm not entirely privy to all
the details myself; however, as we discussed before, some of the artifacts may
have national security implications. These orders have come from my superiors.”
Jessica could tell by the General's tone of voice he didn't like being fazed out of
the loop of information and that was what was beginning to happen.
“Are my artifacts still being kept together where they originally were stored? I may
want to re-examine them.” Jessica asked, wondering if she might not be able to
see them all again herself.
“For now, yes, they have been examined by some of our Military engineers and for
security have been kept together. The artifacts will remain together - when moved,
and I may add, you are one of the few who will be notified when they are. That is all
I can tell you for now.” General Grill gathered up his things and stuffed them in his
briefcase. “Good day, Ms. Carter. I will be in touch after the storm.” the General
dismissed Jessica as he was leaving himself.
By late afternoon, the sky had turned a rancid gray color. Jessica had lived in
Florida long enough to know, the storm's outer edges were beginning to approach.
Already labeled unpredictable because of the storm's sudden course changes and
fast approach, Igraine behaved as if directed other than by the steering currents,
“Hey Jessica!” Bruce yelled as he turned his personal Lexus into the parking area
at the hotel where he usually stayed. He had driven down instead of flying because
of the storm. Jessica turned her attention from the sky to Bruce's arrival.
“Bruce, what are you doing running into the storm?” Jessica asked giving her best
friend a brotherly hug. Bruce turned her hug into something more and covered her
lips with his own in a passionate kiss.
"Bruce!" Jessica pushed him away, "What has come over you?"
"Jessica, I have missed you and I've come to realize…" Bruce was about to declare
he wanted a closer relationship when they were interrupted by Captain Curtis'
approach. Bruce cleared his throat. “What's happened at the dig? Anything new
after the cave-in?” He asked.
“It's gone. All of it and after this Hurricane, we are done for.” Jessica explained,
watching him get his suitcase. “Go get settled in and I'll see you later.” her tone of
voice was sharp and a little angry as she left him standing with a perplexed
Captain Curtis.
By dusk, sustained forty-five mile an hour winds had picked up with gusts much
higher. Rainsqualls started shortly afterward. Igraine's top winds were over a
hundred miles an hour with rainfall amounts projected to fall at six to eight inches
an hour. Soaking up the eighty-five degree warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico as it
came closer to the West Coast of Florida it strengthened rapidly. As predicted,
when Igraine moved over the lake, the rain alone would fill the sinkhole where the
dig had been. What they might have recovered would be lost. All this made Jessica
somewhat sick.
Everyone had done their particular jobs to protect what was left of the dig, and
then retired to their respective shelters for the blow. Instead of her small
apartment, Jessica settled into a room at the same hotel where most of the others
from the dig decided to stay. Her apartment was too close to the water to be safe.
Jessica and Bruce sat having dinner in the small hotel bar. Captain Curtis and his
men were there enjoying the bar and the barroom games. Most had ordered the
local favorite dishes and were dulling their taught nerves with drinks from the bar.
“Bruce,” Jessica said in quiet tones, she picked at her food and Bruce knew
something was bothering her other than his earlier behavior. “What do you think
we have found?”
“An entrance,” Bruce replied. “We've been through this before.”
“To what?” She put a piece of fried catfish in her mouth.
“A very old civilization,” Bruce theorized, downing the last of his Jack Daniel's
Black in one gulp and signaling the waitress for another.
Jessica met his eyes, and then let her eyes casually drift across the Bar. Captain
Curtis and his squad were now playing pool or sitting in the back corner sipping
their beers.
“Which one?” Jessica asked her voice lower. Their eyes met.
“You and I both know which one, and neither of us wants to say it,” Bruce said,
finishing his dinner. “When this storm is over, we need to take a long bike ride
away from our military friends and Ms. Simon.”
“I hate it when we think alike,” Jessica said, and she looked at Bruce with affection
she had for the brother she never had, and smiled. She wasn't angry with him for
his earlier attempt to press their relationship but they both knew it would never be
more than a close friendship.
“When we go for our bike ride, Jess,” he said, and Jessica could hear
disappointment in his voice. She didn't understand he longed to see passion in her
brown eyes and knew he never would.
“Okay, I may have something to tell you then too,” she smiled, failing to recognize
the passion in his eyes, despite his earlier slip. Jessica was still innocent and
didn't understand his desires. They finished their dinners in silence.
Ms. Simon's orders required her to stay in Okeechobee despite the storm. She too
was staying at the hotel and was sitting alone at a small table in the back corner
finishing her dinner. She had never been through a Hurricane, and would not admit
it, but bad storms were her worst nightmare. She watched all that went on around
her taking special note of her prime targets, Jessica Carter and Bruce Lance. From
all appearances, they were only good friends. Meredith found this rather peculiar,
but she considered Jessica peculiar. Most women found Meredith Simon, FBI
intimidating, but not Jessica Carter. Meredith had to admit, if only to herself, it was
a little the other way around. Ms. Carter was a forceful and headstrong woman,
General Grill, at times, did not go against Ms. Carter wishes. Ms. Simon watched
Jessica and Bruce as they talked, she knew they were discussing the dig but
could not hear them. Rising, she went to their table, her dinner finished and her
wineglass in hand.
“May I join you?” Ms. Simon asked, her cordial manner doing little to cover her
unease with the current weather conditions.
“Sure.” Jessica said graciously, and the woman sat down. “This your first
hurricane?”
“Yes, I don't think I like them,” Ms. Simon admitted.
“Not many people do,” Bruce agreed. “This one is a small one, so it won't be too
bad. But, it will ruin our dig,” he said in a resigned manner.
“You'll be able to go back to your normal office I would guess,” Jessica said by
way of conversation.
“Maybe,” Ms. Simon shrugged. “I'll have some wrap-up work to do.”
“There is always paperwork, I don't care what business you're in,” Bruce said, and
finished his drink.
“Even in your business, Ms. Carter?” Meredith queried.
“Just call me Jessica, and yes, Bruce and I do mount - ah - Pyramids of it,”
Jessica smiled at her slight humor.
“Just Meredith here,” she smiled, “I guess you have to keep accurate records.”
“How did you draw this assignment?” Bruce asked.
“Junior agent in the office, and my Supervisor didn't like the way I turned down his
dinner invitation.”
“Oh,” Jessica said flatly, “one of those. I had an Anthropology professor like that.”
Bruce started laughing; he remembered that incident. “That professor doesn't
teach anymore.”
“Really?” Meredith said, “What happened.”
“Jessica tricked him into revealing his true nature,” Bruce said, “The University
found they didn't need his services any longer.” An object startled them all by
slamming against the Hurricane Shutters of one of the windows.
“That's my cue,” Jessica announced with a slight laugh. “I'm going to bed. See
you all in the morning.” Jessica went to her room.
“Can she really sleep through this?” Meredith asked Bruce.
“Sure, she is cool in about any emergency. I don't think I've ever seen anything
shake her.” Bruce stood, having finished dinner, excused himself, and went to play
a couple of games of pool with the Marines.
Bruce waited to go to his room, now it was raining so heavily he pulled the
raincoat up almost over his head and started for his room. He saw a black Porsche
Boxster drive into the parking lot and he paused. A tall man stepped out, obviously
unaffected by the weather. He actually seemed to relish the rain on his face. Bruce
knew the man couldn't see him from where he stood. Something so striking about
him caused Bruce to watch a few more seconds. It was his unusual aquamarine
eyes, not many people had eyes that color. Bruce ducked into his room, just
missing Jessica’s call.
Bruce wasn't the only person who saw Xerxes. Meredith observed him too. She
intentionally acquired a room as close to Jessica's as possible, two doors down
the corridor that opened into the parking lot. Ms. Simon unlocked the door to her
room and was about to duck inside when she noticed Xerxes arrival as he
emerged from the high-powered sports car. She analyzed him, not as an FBI agent,
but as a woman would a man. Attracted to the handsome, powerfully built High
Lord of Atlantis, and aroused by the charisma that radiated from him, she shivered
as a rush of adrenaline raced through her body. The fact he was unaware of it,
only heightened the effect. Meredith noticed too, he enjoyed the rain on his face.
She found his reaction highly erotic, and watched as he momentarily closed his
eyes and let the gale force drops splash down on his blonde hair and tanned
complexion. With sheer force of will, Meredith closed her door then peeked out the
curtains to see Xerxes walk towards the office. Going to take a shower, Meredith
wishfully wondered what room he was staying. Absently it occurred to her, she
had not been able to see the color of his eyes. Chiding herself, trained observer –
yeah - right! She stepped under the warm water. Still, his was not a face or body
any woman would easily forget. She turned the water temperature to a cooler
setting.
Alone with the map, Jessica decided to decipher it if she could. She started by
gently cleaning the extrinsic amalgam. Light as aluminum, strong as magnesium,
but the color of copper, as she cleaned it, it turned more gold. She could clearly
discern the coast of Central America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and
Florida, as it looked several thousand years ago. What really grabbed her attention
was the larger landmass that encompassed where the Bahamas should be and
fitted the description of Plato's account of Atlantis.
Jessica stared a long time at the object, disbelieving her eyes though it confirmed
her suspicions. She jumped suddenly when a high gust of wind blew a heavy
object against her door. She quickly picked up the nine-millimeter pistol, then
scolded herself and laid it back down, drew a deep breath and started looking at
the map again.
When she looked again, the landmass seemed to be merely a light watermark, now
the Bahamas were visible, and an atoll was clearly marked with a Pyramid symbol
that matched the one they had just excavated. She peered closer and there
seemed to be a symbol like it in the Pacific. The new one in the Atlantic was next
to the atoll in about one hundred feet of water. Jessica could not convince herself
of what she was seeing. Her eyes and tired mind were playing tricks on her. She
felt like the walls were closing in, and despite the sixty-five mile per hour winds,
she stepped outside her room. Wind and rain pounded her, almost knocking her to
the ground, but restored her senses.
Rain soaked, she went back inside, grabbed a towel, and changed into fresh
clothes. Once again, Jessica repeated the steps to decipher the artifact as if she
had never seen it.
Again, she drew the same answers. 'No way!' she said to the walls, picked up her
cell phone and attempted to call Bruce. After two tries, she still could not get
through to her friend around the corner seven rooms away.
Jessica continued to examine the metal maps, hoping for clues she might have
missed - something had to be wrong. After several more hours of frustration, she
knew there wasn't any other conclusion. Like any archaeologist, she began to log
all her theories and conclusions in her diary. However, this was her private diary
that she kept double encrypted and only her mother knew the passkeys.
Xerxes saw the door close, but didn't realize it was Meredith. He did see Jessica
step out into the heavy rain moments later, a perplexed frown on her lovely face
and he felt sure the map was the cause. He was careful not to allow her to see him,
smiling at her obvious dilemma. Giving her a few moments after she went inside,
he called her on his cell phone from the hotel restaurant.
Jessica's cell phone rang and startled her, “Hello?”
“Ms. Carter.” Xerxes Kallias said, “By now I am sure you have deciphered the
secret of the chart you were given. Again I ask you, do not share it with anyone. It
is for you alone. And, Jessica,” his voice became rich with concern, “be more
careful, the man who attacked you means you great harm.” static buzzed in her ear
before she could speak. His voice was very clear, he must have been close to
make the call she concluded.
Pericles had planted the artifact just yesterday that would draw her to the spot,
dropping it at Jessica's feet just before the Pyramid collapsed. Xerxes had
prepared the strange map himself, knowing it would intrigue Jessica and she had
found it as the ground shook ominously beneath her feet - allaying any suspicions
she might have had about it. Xerxes knew Jessica would be unable to resist
following the mysterious clues to their conclusion. After the map's exposure to
surface pressure and sunlight for one hundred and four hours, the maps would
disintegrate.
"Oh! I know your name, but I don't know who you are," she said to the walls, "but
you're damn frustrating.” Jessica was infuriated. He did not leave her enough time
to reply or question him.
"Where do I know you from? I've seen you before that night at the dig. I just can't
remember …," She asked aloud while she tried to dial out on her cell phone. The
weather was still interfering with her calls, if not Xerxes Kallias' calls.
Xerxes wanted to take Jessica now! A hurricane would be a perfect cover.
However, if he took her too soon, he might not be able to allow Pericles and his
men enough time to recover the artifacts she had unearthed. Xerxes sat at the bar
watching Pericles and his squad play pool from a short distance and thinking
about his problems. Atlantian Councilor Marcus was still demanding Xerxes
execute Jessica and Bruce Lance to ensure the security of Atlantis.
Still loyal, his Councilors wanted no part in murdering the two young scientists
either. After their last council meeting, they all waited until Marcus left, then
requested in a respectful, and this time in a serious manner, that Xerxes replace
him. Again suggesting that perhaps one of the upper-world archaeologists, Bruce
Lance to be exact, would be better suited. Xerxes had been giving their suggestion
consideration and had requested his aid, Geb, to do a comprehensive employment
check on Mr. Lance, above what they already knew, for future reference. It was
possible that Mr. Lance, after the conclusion of this situation, would become a
resident of Atlantis, Xerxes was sure Jessica would be able to accomplish this.
Other security risk problems came to mind, Ms. Simon. Pericles had kept her at a
safe distance and Xerxes hoped he would continue to do so. Xerxes could not sign
her death warrant with a clear conscience but he didn't want her as a resident of
Atlantis either, he knew her allegiance would always be in question. He hoped he
would not need to make that decision. If she found Marcus' trail and identified him,
Xerxes would have a more difficult problem and be forced to act swiftly. Atlantis
would gain another resident. Xerxes would avoid Marcus' solution and use it as a
last resort only. Maybe the woman would be truly happy in Atlantis, Xerxes
thought. She might provide the needed evidence to convict Marcus. Xerxes smiled
to himself remembering Geb, as usual, had been ahead of him when he had
requested an investigation and background check on Ms. Simon. When asked how
he knew what Xerxes wanted before he did, he had replied. “Milord, it is part of the
job to know what you will need, before you do,” Geb laughed.
“Okay, then how do I handle this problem with Councilor Marcus?” Xerxes asked
with a laugh.
“I am not a soothsayer, milord,” Geb smiled. “I am sure you will deal with him
justly, I am also sure he is the traitor.” Geb left without his smile.
Xerxes was thankful Pericles solved one problem. Pericles, with the help of
Ambassador Barrous from Alpha-Centauri, would retrieve the other artifact when
the military moved them, according to Xerxes' plan. Until then, Xerxes would keep
a close watch. For now, the urgent reason he came ashore and taken this serious
risk to his own safety occupied his thoughts. He had left Atlantis in Geb's capable
hands, as acting regent since Alena, his sister, was still off World as acting
Ambassador.
Concerned about the threat to Jessica from the group of dangerous Aztec
worshipers who believed she was the reincarnated daughter of a lesser Aztec god
named Coxcox, Xerxes had come during the storm to keep a personal watch on his
future bride. From information obtained from a source in their ranks, Xerxes knew
Jessica was in greater danger during the eye of the storm when they planned to
sacrifice her, if they could abduct her.
Xerxes closely watched the parking area of the hotel for any sign of these
individuals and signaled Pericles when a beat-up old truck with two men of that
pagan sect drove in and parked. Pericles and his squad had been casually passing
time in the hotel bar but instantly came together as group in a darkened corner of
the bar.
Jessica heard the winds suddenly drop and the rain stop. The eye of the hurricane
was passing over. Quickly she donned her raincoat, stuffed the maps back inside
her mud-encrusted work vest for safekeeping, and left it in the room. Deciding a
short trip to the lobby was in order to get something to eat and drink; supplies for
the rest of the storm. She weighed taking the nine-millimeter pistol with her, but
who would attack me during a hurricane? She thought. Shrugging, she left it
behind.
Halfway down the open corridor, a figure jumped out at her. Jessica recognized
same ugly-faced man who had accosted her at her apartment, with another knife in
his hand.
Damn, she thought, angry with herself for being so foolish to have left her gun in
her room. Jessica immediately went into a slight crouch, ready to defend herself,
at the same time she felt someone behind her. Now she knew she had a problem.
“I still do not have the statue with me.” Jessica said in a warning tone.
“We want you, we have statue already!” he said in broken English.
“Why?” she felt the one behind her move closer, she kicked backwards catching
him in the groin, he groaned and Jessica stepped away from him. He managed to
trip her, and she fell onto the wet pavement. She swung wide with her right leg but
the brutal looking man with the knife was weary of her and jumped over her
swinging legs, grabbing her legs instead. Jessica was terrified, the first one now
had her arms, and without warning, the world went dark.
Meredith heard Jessica's door open then close for the second time. This time the
winds were down and the rain had stopped, she hoped the storm was over. She
heard loud voices, Jessica's voice, and the sounds of fighting. Meredith grabbed
her gun and ran out.
Another shadow stepped out. This one tall and broad-shouldered, but he was too
late. It had taken both of the two Aztec guards to carry Jessica, but they managed
to avoid Xerxes and tossed Jessica in the back of their pick-up truck. Their truck
looked dilapidated, but the engine sounded finely tuned, and they sped away.
Meredith also saw the brutes abduct Jessica, but she didn't see Bruce who had
waited for the winds to drop, figuring he too would run down to the lounge for a
couple of cokes. He had just stepped out in time to see two horrid looking men
toss Jessica, unconscious, into the bed of a pickup truck. Moving fast behind
them and talking into what appeared to be a cell phone, the man with the strange
aquamarine eyes jumped into his Porsche and raced away after them.
Bruce ran for help, almost colliding with Pericles and six of his Marines as they ran
out into the storm before he could stop them. Bruce went for Sheriff Flagler and
heard Meredith react as her training dictated.
She yelled, “Halt! FBI!” At the tall man who drove the Porsche, he ignored her
command.
Bruce stopped at the sound of Meredith's voice in time to see her fire her Glock
pistol twice. He stared, both rounds hit the car, but both deflected off. Each
deflection illuminated by a blue glow. Bruce knew an electronic barrier when he
saw it. What had they gotten into? He wondered as he again turned to find the
Sheriff.
Xerxes had jumped into his little Porsche, ignoring the FBI agent's shouts and
called his two back-up aids for help, they had to work fast, the storm's center
mechanically could hold for a limited time.
Next, Xerxes called the agent he had assigned to the upper-world military.
“Pericles,” Xerxes' tone was concerned, “They got her. We've got to act fast, I
think they will take her to that place just outside Buckhead Ridge, you know
where, near ten-mile bend?”
“Yes, Lord, I know. We'll be there.” He paused. “Was that gunfire?” Pericles asked.
“Yeah, Ms. Simon's on the case,” Xerxes said with a smirk.
“Are you hit?” Pericles sounded concerned.
“No, the barrier deflected the shots,” Xerxes said casually.
How long before the storm's eye will shift?” Pericles asked as he too drove toward
the location in their Marine Hummer.
“Our scientists estimate we can hold it for two hours,” Xerxes informed him.
“It'll drive the meteorologist's crazy,” Pericles laughed.
Xerxes laughed with him, “I know, but that's their problem.” He pressed the
accelerator, going faster. Sliding and swerving to miss the huge puddles on the
rain-soaked pavement of State Road 441 that circles around the Levy of Lake
Okeechobee, headed west. If they didn't get there in time, Jessica would be
sacrificed to the Aztec's pagan god.
Slowly Jessica started to regain consciousness. The truck's bed was wet and
rough. Bruised, uncomfortable, and disorientated, she tired to move, only to find
her hands and feet bound. Jessica became aware that a man sat next to her. The
man who had the knife was watching her closely.
She looked up into the stars between the massive wall clouds of a Hurricane's eye.
Her eyes focused on the lightning that flashed in those clouds and how strange it
looked to see lightning all around and stars overhead.
“You be a Princess soon,” he told her. He seemed to want to reassure her, it
didn't. She knew the story.
“I am not Coxcox's daughter,” Jessica told him firmly.
“Yes, legend says. You thirsty?” He gave her a drink. It tasted terrible, like raw
Tequila and Chocolate but with a little more kick. She thought it was water and
swallowed some before she spat most of it out. “You should drink, it is sacred.
Oh God, Jessica thought. What did I drink? Her head started to feel strange, he
poured more down her throat; she coughed and tried to spit it out. Time seemed to
slow down, the sky swirled, and the clouds took on faces. Then she knew it was a
hallucinogenic and she knew what they were planning on doing. Jessica's last
coherent thought was, I am going to die.
Time stopped. The lightning flashes slowed, she could follow the lines they took,
and they seemed to point at her. Giant faces ethereally illuminated by the lightning
bolt's powerful flashes glowed in colors Jessica had never dreamed existed. Their
faces were angry and heated eyes glared at her. She knew it wasn't real and only
by the last thread of reality did she refrain from screaming. She closed her eyes,
shivering.
How far they traveled, she had no idea. It seemed like the Hurricane's eye was
holding a long time. Time moved in a swirl, when she opened her eyes again, the
clouds were circling her, the faces gone, leaving an open window to the stars of
heaven. The heavens were clear, and brilliant, beckoning her to float up into their
cool perfection. Stars moved in patterns. Jessica knew she had to be seeing
things. Some of the stars looked like arrow-shaped ships. She counted six, before
they turned to blurs and disappeared straight up into the stars.
“See!” The Aztec with the knife said with a knowing smile, and indicated the
moving stars, pointing with his knife. “The gods come to carry your soul away to
be reborn!” Jessica shuddered, wondering if she was really going to die in this
manner.
Finally, the truck stopped. Two men helped her out of the truck's bed, and some
reality returned. Cutting her bonds, they turned her care over to five Aztec women,
assigned to bathe and dress her. These women were unlike their men. Where the
men were highly fit and hard-bodied, the women were the opposite. They were
heavily breasted and matronly, some to the point of obesity. As they dressed
Jessica's slender, but muscular body in a sheer white shift they laughed at how
small she was, underestimating her. Had she not been drugged she would have
made short work of escaping these huge pagans and been done with them.
However, her captors had poured so much of their horrid potion down her that
throat she was somewhat passive.
Jessica performed the tasks they commanded of her in a daze. She sat
submissively as they painted heavy make-up on her face and brushed out her long
dark red hair. Over the long white shift, they buckled an ancient gold, and
turquoise girdle on her hips, and laid a heavy turquoise, and gold necklace on her
shoulders.
The women forced more of the horrid drink down her throat. She coughed again
and managed to spit out most of it. Ritual chanting started, the women led Jessica
out among the small crowd of worshipers and they all bowed from the waist to her
before joining in a procession around a huge bonfire. Trying to clear her head,
Jessica attempted to count how many times they circled the fire, but she had
become hypnotized in the chanting.
Two of the women took her by her arms and broke the circle. They guided her
toward a large stone Altar that stood between two huge carved Jaguar statues,
their muzzles drawn back and their white ivory fangs dripped red with blood. A
half-naked man stood there, he wore only a short Jaguar skin around his hips and
a mask of gold on his face. His upper body painted with what appeared to be red
paint. From somewhere deep inside Jessica's mesmerized mind she knew it wasn't
paint but blood and she knew this man was a deadly Aztec priest. She began to
tremble; she could feel her heart beating wildly, stories of human sacrifice flowed
through her drugged mind, visions of still beating hearts torn from terrified
victims. Now she was one of those victims and she was terrified.
A cup held to her lips contained more of the horrid liquid and they forced some
down her, much of the potion dripping down her chin. Another cup put to her lips
contained a far worse substance, blood. Try hard as they did, Jessica would not
drink from that cup; she struggled, causing the cupbearer to spill the contents.
Even with their strong drug in her system, she began to fight. She heard one of
them grunt in pain when her foot found his knee and broke the cap with a loud
crunch, despite the strong drug, and he sank to the ground. It took four of their
painted warriors to put her on the Altar. Beside her was that horrid statue she had
found at the dig. Its grotesque's features seemed to laugh at her.
Their chanting began anew. She looked into heaven's stars praying as well as her
drugged mind would allow. Surrounded by striking lightning coming closer, and
growing stronger, the pagans' chanting reached a heated, almost sexual climax.
The Hurricane's eye wall was collapsing on the area bringing the backside of the
storm's fury.
Xerxes could see smoke rising from the fire, he pulled off the road, and he knew
he had found the spot. His aids were only moments behind him. He parked his car
in the bushes and waited for them. They arrived at the same time Pericles and his
six Marine/Atlantians did.
Xerxes knew they were outnumbered but they had superior firepower. Time was
not on their side. Aztec guards were fearless fighters and in the throes of the
drugs, they used during this type of ceremony felt little, if any pain. His men would
have to kill them. The Aztec's High Priest was the fiercest. Xerxes had decided the
Priest would be his target, knowing he would have to kill him instantly, and he
would be the closest to Jessica. Xerxes also instructed his men to give no quarter
to the five women; they fought as vicious as the men, even at their massive size.
Xerxes looked through the scrub oaks that surrounded the site and could see the
pagans leading Jessica around a huge bonfire. She appeared drugged and tripped
twice, supported by two of the women in the group to prevent her from falling. Her
beautiful face heavily painted, the sheer white garment they had dressed her in
leaving little to the imagination about the loveliness of her body. He turned to
address his men.
“I don't care how many you have to kill, but I want Ms. Carter safe,” Xerxes told
them. “Let's go.” Xerxes had brought an old weapon - centuries old, the Sword of
his Fathers, the Sword of Atlantis. He strapped on the ancient weapon now. Xerxes
had trained with this weapon; his father insisted he, Alena and Ainu be proficient
with even the oldest of weapons.
Using all their stealth training, the seven Marines/Atlantians surrounded the small
clearing and on signal from Xerxes attacked with their weapons on full automatic.
They carried both their Marine and Atlantian issued weapons, but depended on the
more advanced ones used by the Atlantis army. Each chose their targets carefully
to kill as efficiently as possible. Xerxes other agents remained as perimeter guards.
Chaos prevailed. Screams of death ruptured the night. Atlantians were a peaceful
people, but fierce warriors when called upon. Only a few instances deteriorated
into hand-to-hand combat. Xerxes found himself engaged in one of these as he
fought his way to the Altar to save Jessica. He drew the Sword, his Atlantian laser
pistol knocked from his hand. He swung the ancient sword, his strength flowing
into the weapon as his instructor taught, and slew two of their numbers that
obstructed his path to the Altar.
Aztecs fell in numbers due to the drugs they had taken dulling their reactions. The
Atlantians suffered no casualties, but a few injuries. Xerxes battled as a warrior of
old until he made his way to where Jessica lay at the mercy of the Aztec Priest.
The Priest continued chanting, caught in the headiness of the drug and intent on
completing his pagan ceremony, despite any interruptions.
At last, Xerxes reached her and quickly sheathed the Sword, his hands stained red
with the blood of hand-to-hand combat. He hoped the sight of so much blood
wouldn't frighten her further when he snatched her from the slab of death.
Jessica was lying on the stone Altar, the chanting, and the drugs they forced down
her throat had her totally entranced. She was staring up into the coldest, blackest
eyes she had ever seen. The Aztec Priest's heavily painted eyes stared back into
hers, and he was chanting words she could not understand. She was sweating,
her breathing rapid, her chest heaving, and in some part of her mind, she was
horrified. He held a huge golden knife high over her breasts, with it poised to
plunge into her chest. The heat from the bonfire they had built was close by, and
Jessica felt singed by its proximity, but she couldn't move to get away despite
being unrestrained.
Suddenly, loud noises were erupting. The chant was broken, but she still could not
move. People were falling. A loud, close shot numbed her ears. The Priest was
falling back, blood erupting from a sudden hole in his chest spattering her white
shift. The knife was falling - falling toward her. Jessica tried to move but could not.
Strong arms snatched her off the stone Altar and cradled her close to an equally
strong chest. Jessica looked into the most clear aquamarine eyes she had ever
seen. No, she had seen them before, but could not remember where.
Somehow, she was safe. Whenever she saw those eyes, she was safe. Jessica felt
drawn to him. He kissed her, and his lips lingered on hers. Her head was spinning
again. She looked at the strong arms that held her, the large hands covered with
blood, and Jessica looked back into those eyes.
“So much blood.” her voice was raspy, and weak, from the strong liquid her
captors forced down her throat.
“You're okay. It isn't your blood. You're safe,” Xerxes told her, with a soft smile
down into her face.
Jessica saw he was bleeding from a slice on the right biceps “You're hurt,” she
whispered and gently touched the wound, her fingers red with his blood.
“It isn't serious,” he said, his voice husky with emotion. His lips touched hers once
more to kiss her in a deeper, more demanding manner. Xerxes knew sweet
response, and her arm weakly went around his neck, drawing him closer.
It was starting to rain heavily, the lightning was worsening, and the wind had
returned. She was suddenly cold and trembling. The rain making the sheer white
shift they had dressed her in transparent. Xerxes wrapped a heavy blanket around
her, reminding her drugged memory of another time and place. Those wonderful
strong arms carried her away from danger, placed in a car seat, and buckled her in.
His lips touched hers, longer this time, arousing emotions deep inside her. Jessica
touched his face as his mouth held hers. She didn't want him to leave her, she felt
so safe now, but the storm was getting worse, and her head hurt so badly from
that stuff they made her drink. He started the car and they drove away from the
place of death. She didn't know to where, and now she didn't care, she just did not
want him to leave her. Jessica looked at him, he was so handsome, and she smiled
at him, and managed to say “Thank you. Don't leave me…” before she passed out.
Xerxes' heart told him now was the time to take Jessica to Atlantis, while she was
grateful to him for saving her. He first had to consider the security of his domain,
and the retrieval of the artifacts was paramount. If he took her too soon, he would
also need to extract Pericles and his team, and that would mean he would lose
track of the all-important artifacts. With great reluctance and a breaking heart,
Xerxes placed his future wife safely in the seat of her jeep, just outside her hotel
where the sheriff would soon find her. With one last kiss on her soft lips, Xerxes
realized she was regaining consciousness, her eyes fluttered open. "I love you,
Jessica," he whispered softly to her.
Xerxes climbed into his Porsche, drove back into West Palm Beach, and boarded
his private yacht-sub to return to Atlantis and the problems there. Hurricane
Ingraine would take a turn back into the Gulf of Mexico shortly as he had ordered
his six research ships to direct her. She had entered the state over the Everglades
and would exit the same way, causing a minimum of damage to the state's
residence.
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