"Ben, it's just a myth. You've been reading too many legends, your starting to confuse fact and fiction," Indiana said as Ben lead him down the path.
"You've said so yourself dad, most myths are founded in reality. Are you sure it's safe to go back there?"
"Ben, you're an archeologist. If you can't handle being around dead remains than you need to find a new profession," Indy answered.
"I don't mind dead remains, until they sit up and look at me!" Ben answered.
"It was probably rigged, some kind of springboard or something," his father replied.
Finally, they reached the room where Queen Uadjit rested. Ben put his hand on his father's shoulder to stop him. He took his father's gun from his holster and put in his hand, his hands shaking.
Indiana put his hand on Ben's shoulder. "Just relax kid, I'm not scared of some undead Queen. Would it make you feel better if I went first?"
They both stepped into the doorway. Indiana gasped in surprise as he saw the mummy sitting up in the coffin. She turned to look at him through the eye-slits in her golden mask.
"I told you not to open any sarcophaguses without me," Indiana pointed a finger at Ben. "I leave you alone for five minutes and you awaken some ancient death queen."
Ben hung his head. "Sorry dad. I thought you were just joking."
"It's alright. I don't know if this will work, but it's worth a try," Indiana lifted his pistol and pointed it at the mummy.
Ben put his hand on his father's arm and lowered his gun. "Wait dad, something's not right."
Indiana looked at him, pointing at the mummy. "I'll say! There's a corpse staring at us!"
"No. Not that. Look," he pointed to the gem at the top of her mask. "The gemstone on her forehead is supposed to be red, not blue. I don't think this is Queen Uadjit, I think it's Queen Khepri."
"I don't know..." Indy began.
"And look at the walls."
Indiana looked at the walls of the tomb. Etched into the walls in the typical Egyptian art style was the entire life story of one of the queens. As his eyes scanned the walls he realized that Ben was right, it was the story of Queen Khepri.
"Just trust me, please?" Ben asked.
Indy nodded. "Take a closer look. But be careful. I'll be right behind you."
"Careful for traps, don't step on the tiles that don't have the Egyptian symbol for eternal life on them," Ben said.
Indiana looked at him. "Kid, don't you know who you're talking to? I'm always careful."
"Right sorry... just wanted to point it out."
"Good eye kid," Indy answered, placing his hand on Ben's shoulder. He swallowed hard, holding his gun in a ready position. "Just take it nice and slow."
Ben nodded and slowly approached the sarcophagus. The girl didn't move, but a seed of doubt told him that that was only so that he would get close enough for her to reach out and grab him and suck the life out of him.
Finally he reached the sarcophagus. He reached out for the golden mask that covered the queen's face. His hands were shaking from fear and nervousness, but he grabbed the mask and gently removed it. As he did he saw a girl with dark hair and light golden brown skin. Her dark eyes held no malice, only joy and compassion. But most convincing of all was the warm grateful smile that she offered him.
She was so familiar, he was sure he had seen her before. The memory felt distant like something from a dream.
She began to speak in ancient Egyptian. "Thank you for rescuing me."
"You're welcome," Ben and Indiana both replied together in her language.
"Who are you?" Indy asked.
"Khepri," she replied.
Ben and Indy both heaved a sigh of relief.
"I've waited for you for so long. Only you could awaken me, I have chosen you as my guardian," she told Ben.
"I am honored that you chose me, your highness. I promise that I will do my best to protect you," Ben replied, even though he had no idea what she meant by that. How could she have chosen him? That was thousands of years ago.
"I'm beginning to like her," Indiana said. "I'm glad I didn't kill her."
Ben nodded.
"How long have I slept for the world to have changed so? You're strangely dressed and your companion speaks a strange tongue. I speak Hebrew, Egyptian, and Greek and your words are unfamiliar to me," she said.
"You've been asleep for thousands of years, your highness," he tried to be gentle knowing that she most likely had friends and family that were now long gone.
They could both tell that she was in shock, and in pain. No doubt experiencing the grief of everyone she knew all at once.
"Don't worry kid, we're going to take care of you," Indiana said. "You won't be alone."
Ben nodded.
"Thank you," she answered. "What is your name?"
"I'm Indiana and this is my son, Ben," Indy told her.
"Indiana is a beautiful name," she replied, the she looked at Ben and smiled at him. "I remember hearing the stories of Joseph who saved Egypt from starvation. His brother's name was Benjamin. Were you named after him?"
"Yes," he answered.
"Are you just going to stand here, or are you going to help the girl out of the sarcophagus?" Indy asked.
"Right," Ben answered. He scooped Khepri up and lifted her from the sarcophagus.
