The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction Part 1

Chapter 136: Sacrifice Stone, Edo's Camp, Kamchatka Wilderness, 1960

Sacrifice Stone

Edo's Camp

Kamchatka Wilderness

Soviet Russia

1960

Edo's second in command, Chiba stood guard over them, leering at Emily. Emily glared fighting the urge to be afraid. She knew that gaze... and it carried torment for her and unholy desire for him.

"Em?" Indy called softly.

"No talking!" Chiba ordered.

"Shut up, Chiba," Indy growled.

Chiba slapped Indy across the face with the back of his hand. "We do not need you as a sacrifice. I will beat you until she surrenders."

Indy spat blood onto Chiba's face. "Then why are you using your left hand? Is it because she broke the other one? I trained my daughter to fight men like you. And I'm damn proud of her skills."

"Chiba!" Edo called.

Indy and Chiba glared at each other, unwilling to surrender.

"Chiba!" Edo ordered again.

The big man left, moving to the circle of ninjas, finally obeying his master. The ninjas gathered around Edo who spoke in rapid fire Japanese. The tone was fury.

"Damn, someone burned his toast," Emily snarked. "You all right, Dad?"

"I was gonna ask you the same thing, Em. You promised me that you'd stay close."

Emily shrugged, moving the side of her head to brush against her shoulder. "I saw an opportunity to rescue Lizavet."

Shorty craned his neck, trying to see Emily around Indy. "I thought we weren't supposed to go charging into a camp because we'd get captured! And look what happened! This is why girls don't belong on adventures."

Indy elbowed Shorty. "Shorty - Em's tougher than both of us. Let her alone. My adventures aren't always successful either." He looked at Em. "That being said, Em - what the hell were you thinking?"

"A rescue," she lowered her head. "I'm sorry, Dad. It was unexpected and I just took the opportunity. I remember what its like to be helpless...." Emily looked at Lizavet. "And I don't like anyone being helpless. That and I didn't want to give the swords to Edo."

"Think before you act, Emily!" Indy scolded before he could stop himself.

She stared at him from her one sight blessed eye and started laughing. "Dad! Are you suggesting... planning something?"

Indy realized what he'd suggested, a sheepish grin flickering across his face. She'd caught him. Then he became serious. "Em, this is not the first time you've been threatened by a villain. But I don't like it. And I'm your father. I want to protect you. Don't make my job more difficult."

"Yes, Dad," Emily turned her head slightly and rubbed it against her shoulder. "I'm sorry. But... I almost lost you tonight too. So I think I'll remember that. Is that what you're mad about?"

Indy paused. "No. Not exactly." His mind flickered back to Dr. Elsa Snyder. She'd screamed, dropping into darkness, as another piece of ground had collapsed under his boots. "Em - when I say let go. I mean it. I..." he swallowed. "Em... you know there were women before I married your mother. And one of those... even though she betrayed me, I begged her to grab my hand so I could haul her out of a pit. But she wanted the Holy Grail. And her hand slipped out of my fingers. I will never forget that feeling. I didn't love her. And she betrayed me, but she didn't deserve to die like that. So when I say 'let go' - even if its me - even if its a priceless artifact - I want you to let go. I am not worth your lives. No object is worth your life. I want you to go and live, Em. I don't want you to die by my side."

Emily paused. "Dad... what if I want to die fighting for your life?"

"Em - I'm sixty. I've seen a lotta death. Most of the guys I knew in my twenties and thirties, even forties are already gone."

She turned and stared at Indy. "But that doesn't mean you have to go too. Think of Laurel, Annie, Mom. You can't leave, Dad. I won't let you. I love you too much to let you go."

Indy considered the apkallu's words and then his daughter's big brown eyes pleading with him, as he realized the one thing she was afraid of was being without him. He spoke his next words gently, "Em, I love you. I want you to always know and treasure that. But when the time comes, you may not have a choice."