by Drivtaan
“Tati,” a voice called out.
Dr. Ashley Halberstam spun at the sound, catching one of Set’s monsters in the jaw with the mace as he did so. Seeing no one but the fallen creature, he started to turn back around.
“Tati,” the voice called out again.
The voice stopped him, and he noticed a brief flicker of light in the distant shadows. A jackal-headed creature rushed in that direction, prompting the Egyptologist to quickly follow.
Rip Hunter caught a glimpse of his friend running off but had no chance to understand why.
Ashley managed to draw close enough to the creature to be within striking distance. He made a leap, then brought his mace down upon his foe’s head. There was a sickening crunch, and, as the thing fell, Ashley landed atop it, lost his footing, and ended up sprawled on the floor.
“Tati,” the voice called out once more.
“Come where?” Ashley finally asked. The light flickered again, and scrambling to his feet, he cautiously proceeded forward.
There was a final turn when he reached the aisle’s end. With another quick glance behind him to be sure no more of Set’s minions were approaching, he rounded the corner. He was surprised to find a small opening in the wall scarcely five feet tall. Whatever the cause of the light, it was within. Lowering his head, he peeked inside.
“Udkhil,” the voice beckoned him to enter.
“Who is it?” Ashley asked as he stepped through the doorway. Inside, he found he could stand upright again. A sound behind him caused him to glance back, mace at the ready.
The opening he had stepped through not ten seconds ago was gone, replaced by a solid wall. Despite this, Ashley felt neither a surge of panic nor a sense of doom. Instead, his eyes were drawn to the source of the light: a simple wooden staff resting in the farthest corner of the room.
“Khadhani,” the voice seemed to emanate from the staff, though Ashley realized he was actually hearing it in his mind. Without hesitation, he reached out and wrapped his fingers around the staff.
A surge of energy filled every cell of his body, of that he was certain. Though not athletic by any means, Ashley felt his muscles gaining density, becoming more solid than any bodybuilder. His skin began taking on a golden-yellow hue, and his eyesight grew sharper and clearer than ever before. Even his perception changed, and he realized he was now taller. Beneath his Greek attire, he felt his skin begin to tingle. As he began to remove the costume, he was surprised to find a new outfit appearing.
Layered around his chest and back were strips of sewn-together linseed flax. A pleated kilt of bluish-purple dyed linen, along with a yellow belt and apron, covered him from his waist to his knees. A large bluish-purple collar trimmed in onyx rested easily around his neck and across his shoulders, with two large protrusions reminiscent of a beetle’s pincers emerging from the back. Bluish-purple cloth trimmed in black attached to small golden loops at the base of the protrusions, connecting to golden bracers around his wrists, giving him the appearance of having the wings of a great beetle when his arms were extended. Golden sandals were laced up to the tops of his calves.
His clothing and appearance weren’t the only things that were transformed; the staff also underwent a change. The outer wooden layer fell away to reveal a golden handle. Like a flower blooming, the tip of the staff began to open, and a golden beetle emerged. It stretched its wings — more like those of an eagle than an insect — to reveal an orb of Ra on its chest.
“Go, thou Golden Pharaoh,” the voice said, emanating from the orb on his staff. “Destroy the offspring of Set.”
The opening reappeared, and one of Set’s minions thrust its head inside. Ashley, in his new form, thrust out his hand, and a burst of light shot forth. The monster attempted to scream as its body crumbled to ash.
Stepping through the opening, ever ready to defend himself, Ashley made his way back to where he had last seen Rip and Nommo. The din of battle guided him, and he arrived in a matter of moments.
The presence of such power as Ashley now commanded was enough to draw not only the attention of Set’s minions, but of Nommo as well. Putting his hand on Rip’s shoulder, the man whom the time traveler would one day call friend pulled him away from the fighting. He then gave Ashley a nod. The transformed Egyptologist stretched out his hands and unleashed a burst of light that obliterated all save his companions.
Rip was wiping tears away in an attempt to regain his eyesight when Nommo spoke. “You have found the staff Set has sought for so long.”
“It called to me.” It was the first time Ashley had spoken since becoming the Golden Pharaoh, yet he was not surprised to discover his voice was much deeper.
“Who are… ?” Rip began, then his eyes grew wide.
“It’s me, Rip,” the Golden Pharaoh said, “Ashley.”
Rip looked from Ashley to Nommo and back again. “What happened to you?”
“He has fulfilled his destiny,” Nommo replied. He then turned to Ashley. “Be wary. Set will try to come for the staff, regardless of where — or when — you are.”
“I feel like I can handle myself,” Ashley said.
“Plus,” Rip added, “I have some pretty powerful acquaintances who would be willing to help if need be.”
Nommo nodded. “Then gather the scrolls you seek and go while you can. I hope we have the opportunity to meet again someday.”
“One question before you go,” Ashley said.
“Yes?”
“How do I revert back to my original form?” he asked. “Or am I stuck like this forever?”
Nommo smiled. “The staff will know when it is safe for you to assume your natural form.” With that, he turned to go, taking three steps before vanishing before their eyes.
***
Rip and Ashley took a final moment to marvel at the collection of scrolls they had acquired before closing the door to a room the time traveler had specially prepared in a sub-basement beneath the Egyptologist’s home. Both men sighed, then laughed at themselves for doing so in unison.
“I look forward to studying these,” Ashley said as they finally closed and sealed the door.
Rip smiled. “I’m kind of curious about the stories they contain myself.”
“Are you sure they will be safe here?” Ashley asked, adjusting his grip on the plain wooden staff in his hand. “What if Set comes seeking to take my property?”
“I am not the only one interested in seeing these scrolls preserved,” Rip replied. “I’m sure my… friend… knows we are back, even though he has yet to contact me. I have little doubt he will take the necessary steps to make sure nothing happens to the scrolls.”
Ashley nodded as he led his friend back up to the ground floor. Upon reaching the top of the stairs, Rip thanked him again for accompanying him on their adventure, promising to bring help if Ashley ever found himself in need.
“You are welcome to stop in and examine the scrolls whenever you wish,” Ashley said as he and Rip entered the garden where Rip’s Time Sphere awaited. “Where are you going next?” the Egyptologist asked.
“I have some business to take care of in the States,” Rip said, then added, “in the present day, of course.”
Both men laughed.
Rip entered the Sphere, and within seconds, he was gone.
Ashley walked back to the door to find his assistant waiting for him. “Yes?” he said as he stepped inside.
“You have a visitor waiting for you in the study,” the young man replied.
Ashley checked his watch. “It seems a tad late for visitors. Does my visitor have a name?”
“He never said,” the assistant answered.
That brief exchange gave Ashley two important pieces of information: his visitor was a man, and he must not be a danger, since the staff had not reacted to him. “Isn’t it time for you to be leaving?”
The young man looked at his own watch. “I can stay a little longer, if you would like.”
Ashley shook his head. “I won’t ask that of you. Please, feel free to run along.”
“Only if you are sure.”
“I assure you, I am.”
The young man bid his employer good evening and collected his things. Ashley was just entering the study as he pulled the front door closed behind him.
Something about the way the man in the dark green suit stood, perusing the numerous books on the shelves with his back toward the door, seemed familiar. “Sorry to have kept you waiting,” Ashley said, drawing the man’s attention.
The man turned, a big smile on his face. “Dr. Ashley Halberstam? I am Doctor Mist, and I have waited a very long time to meet you.”
The End