Chapter 9 #2
“Wow,” Nera said under her breath. The museum rose up ahead. The building was an imposing structure topped by a large dome, now grimy with time. It was impossible to tell what it was made of. “So much of it is intact and still standing.”
“It was custom-built to house the country’s archeological treasures,” Niklas said. “It was reinforced and constructed using some of the best tech of the time.”
As they neared the building, the ravages of the years were easier to spot. The windows had long ago been smashed in, and were now just gaping holes. Black, soot-like stains coated the once-cream facade. She could see that the eastern wing of the museum had completely collapsed.
Long, wide steps led up to the large metal front doors.
“Clear the debris,” Avril ordered.
Ryant and his team hurried up the stone steps to clear the accumulated debris that blocked the entryway.
Before long, the way was cleared. One of the agents pulled out a portable laser cutter and set to work on the heavy metal doors. Orange flame flared as the man cut an opening. As the cutaway section fell, he flicked off the cutter and stepped back.
Ryant raised his laser pistol and went in first, followed by two of his team.
Everyone waited. Avril tapped a boot, her gaze never leaving the door.
A moment later, Ryant popped his head back out. “Clear. Come on in.”
Avril pushed forward and ducked through the opening. Nera followed Niklas in.
The museum must have been just as grand as some of the Institute’s monstrosities in the central systems. The tiles, even under the dirt and grime, looked like they were a once-regal marble.
Huge columns speared up to the soaring dome overhead.
A mezzanine floor circled the dome. She studied the upper level.
It appeared to have been just used for display, as there were no stairs leading upward, and the mezzanine held several large statues and engraved pieces.
Wide, arched doors led off into corridors that she presumed led to the different wings.
Avril clapped her hands. “Okay, we’ll split up here.”
Niklas stepped forward. “Nera and I will take the northern wing.”
Avril looked between them, her expression falling. “I’d hoped you’d come with me to the southern wing, Nik. It was supposed to have housed the museum’s star attractions.”
“Maybe after I take a look in the northern wing.”
Nera ran her tongue over her teeth. She might need to have a little chat with the perky Dr. Luma-Smythe if this kept up.
“Fine.” Avril waved a hand. “You two take the northern wing. Gunn, Solomon, you take the western wing.”
“Got it,” Gunn said.
“Okay, everyone synchronize timepieces. Like I said, the radiation levels are lower here, so the exposure limit is four hours, but I don’t want any more close calls.”
Nera watched the woman lean in for a quiet word with Agent Ryant. Ryant gave a short nod, and waved at two of his team, who disappeared into the collapsed eastern section. Nera watched them go.
“Ready?” Niklas asked.
She nodded, hitched her small backpack higher on her shoulder, and followed him out.
Their footsteps echoed on the floor. The corridor was long with rooms opening off it. In places they had to climb over rubble where parts of the roof or wall had collapsed. “Why this way? Why didn’t you take up Dr. Perky’s offer to head to the southern wing?”
He glanced back. “I wanted to go with you. And I think the Sun Stone is this way.”
She jumped over a large chunk of rubble. “Why? Wouldn’t it have been in the southern wing?”
“During my research I found references to a special exhibition taking place right before the worst of the Terran War battles. The museum placed some of its most popular exhibits together in the Special Exhibitions Hall, a room reserved for exclusive exhibitions. I couldn’t find a list of what was included, but the Sun Stone was one of their most popular pieces. ”
She nodded. “Makes sense.”
“Besides, I think the special exhibition was a front.”
She thought about it for a second. “To move the most valuable pieces together…and possibly transport them out if needed.”
“There’s that clever mind of yours.”
She passed what looked like an odd accumulation of dried up…something. Organic material? She kicked at it and frowned. “What is this? Some sort of…nest?”
Niklas paused. “Maybe some animal sheltered here at some stage?”
It was a pretty damn big nest, so it had either been a large animal or a pack of smaller ones. Neither prospect made her happy. Then she spotted a flash of paler color among the debris. She crouched to take a closer look. “Bones.”
There was a small pile of them hidden under rubble and nesting material.
He picked a long bone up, turning it over. He caught her gaze with a frown. “Definitely human.”
“Let’s hope that whatever did this lived in here a long time ago.”
“Well, it doesn’t look fresh.”
They kept moving. Niklas was studying his wrist Sync. “Not much farther. Ahead should be the doorway to the Special Exhibitions Hall.”
Nera really wished she could explore some of the side rooms. They all appeared damaged and empty, but her treasure radar was going off, and she’d bet her bank balance of e-creds there were still small valuables in there to find.
Her boot struck a rock. She almost ignored it, but she quickly glanced down and paused. “Look at this.”
It was the top half of a small statue. She picked it up, turned it over. Terribly damaged, but still valuable. The woman’s face was serene, her arms by her side in a rigid pose. A long, elegant headdress sat on her head, accenting her long neck. “Egyptian, right?”
“Yes. I might make an astro-archeologist out of you yet,” he said, grinning in the gloom.
“I don’t think so.”
He touched the statue. “It’s excellent quality. Such a shame it’s broken. She’s—”
When he broke off, she looked up at him. “She’s?”
“She was ushabti. A servant for the afterlife.”
Nera stared at the woman’s face. “You mean a slave.”
He didn’t say anything, but she smiled. God, he was cute…trying to protect her from a past long dead. For some reason, that tight, hot pain she often felt didn’t feel so poisonous right now. “I’m taking her. I like her.” Nera opened her backpack and carefully slipped the statue inside.
Shouts came through their nano-earpieces.
They were cut with static, making it hard to make out what was going on.
Nera tensed, ready for anything. Niklas pressed a finger to his ear and he smiled.
“Gunn and Solomon found something.” He paused again.
“A giant Olmec head. Avril’s organizing the security team to secure it and ready it for transport. ”
“Come on, then,” Nera said. “We can’t let Gunn outdo us.”
They reached a wide-arched doorway at the end of the corridor. It was partially blocked by rubble.
“This it?” she asked.