The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction - Part 2

Chapter 341: Unseen Realm

Unseen Realm

Edge of Eternity

Indy stood, stunned. He knew he didn't have pain in his shoulder any longer... and his quest for the secrets of the Ark of the Covenant and the mysteries of the Holy Grail seemed somewhat complete... or maybe he'd found something that really mattered: Family.

The Treasure Guardian held out the Seventh Sword of Diya.

Indy swallowed, still not daring to touch the sword. "You sure you want to give this to me, sir?"

"I believe in your loyalty, Indy. And I know you'll return it when the time is right."

Adventure filled Indy's soul. "Yes, sir!" He picked up the sword and paused. "How do I get back?"

The Treasure Guardian gave a mischievous shrug. "Jump?"

"I'm not as young as I used to be," Indy confessed. "I don't land well when I fall down."

The Treasure Guardian chuckled. "This is one leap of faith where fly yes, land no... isn't going to matter too much."

Indy paused, the sword leaning against his healed shoulder. "Thanks, Commander. Someday we're gonna have to have a conversation about the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail."

"I can settle that right now, Indy," The Treasure Guardian replied. "It's believing loyalty... not in an object or ritual or consuming something sacred... it's walking out the mundane every day with a settled sense of trust in the truth and knowledge of the actions of sacrificial love."

Indy paused. "Like my little girl trusting that the sun will come up even though she's afraid of the dark?"

"Exactly."

"Or... following the legends to a leap of faith and trusting something is gonna be there?"

"Exactly."

Indy took a deep breath. "Been doing that my whole career. What's different now?"

"Your eyes are open, you're not covering your heart with armor and trying to protect it from pain. And you've seen the truth and decided to follow where it leads."

Indy looked at the sword in his hand. "Does that make me a shaman?"

"It makes you a treasure hunter. The fact that you can now see into the supernatural, you know there's an unseen realm and you've put your trust in me and declared your loyalty... just means that you have bigger challenges ahead. Your quest for adventure is far from over."

Indy smiled. "That means I get to go home. Home to Marion... and the kids... and the grandkids. I get to patch things up with Annie and Tyler. And Marion. And I get to... I get to spend more time with Em. And Marion and I finally get the family we talked about having... she wanted a son, I wanted a third little girl... with Shorty and Lizavet... that makes both." He struggled with his emotions for a moment... a grin finally won. "It's gonna work. I get a second chance at a family. Maybe a third chance."

The Treasure Guardian smiled. "Now you know why I do what I do."

"Yes. I know, sir. And..." Indy glanced over his shoulder at the edge of eternity. "I'd better get back there, sir."

The Treasure Guardian stepped close and asked in a jesting manner. "Should I give you a push?"

Indy paused looking over the strange edge of the tiled floor that he was just now seeing. "Sir, Commander... one more question..."

"Of course, Indiana. You can ask me without fear."

Indy looked at the Seventh Sword of Diya. "Now that we have all of them, will they start working against the apkallu?"

The Treasure Guardian smiled. "Dr. Jones... the swords are just swords. It's the people who carry them that make the difference."

Indy paused. "Just like... you said earlier...? The Grail was just a cup? The Ark was just a box?"

"And it's what's inside that counts," the Treasure Guardian smiled.

"Believing loyalty," Indy murmured, trying to understand. "Not to an artifact... but the power behind the artifact..?"

The Treasure Guardian nodded. "You had it right when you looked into the Mirror of Heaven in 1939."

Indy smiled, fondness in his eyes. "I saw Em... didn't I?"

"It's better in natural time, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Indy grinned. "Wouldn't miss it for the world. But I don't understand why you do this... why you would be so intent on getting a stubborn archaeologist as a... right hand man?"

"I wanted a family, Indiana. The apkallu kidnapped and abused that family. And that's why I'm working to protect and reunite my family... my whole family... in every culture across the world. And I think, Indiana... that's something you as a good father can understand."

"Yes... Yes, sir." Indy took a shaky breath, securing his hat. "I got this, sir. And... I need to get back to my family." He looked over the edge, then laughed. "Dad was right - this is a leap of faith."

Then he jumped.