City of Diya's Temple of Doom
Cave
Kamchatka Wilderness
Soviet Union
1960
Emily stared into the flames dangling over the fiery chasm. She instantly recognized the scene below her. "The Egyptian scales of justice!" Her thoughts scrambled in a moment of clarity amid panic. "Just like in the Book of the Dead. The weighing of the heart. The feather of truth and justice is weighed against the heart. Unjust, evil souls are devoured by Ammit. Where's Ammit?"
She looked again, searching the flames...
There was a sudden roar as a beast snarled, rattling the chains of the scales of justice.
Emily swallowed gathering her courage and strength. "It's... it's in multiple ancient religions that justice is a form that keeps the earth in balance. And when justice isn't answered or respected - chaos comes."
The volcano shook.
Emily looked at Mola Ram.
The thing locked eyes with her - and for a moment she saw evil's true unspeakable ugliness.
Emily swallowed her fear and dared to fearlessly stare right back. "There is nothing just about you, human sacrifice or the enslavement of children...." She whispered, knowing it could understand her. Then she quietly shut her eyes against the pain, knowing that she was facing the same decision as her father. And it was suddenly instantly clear. If Mola Ram lost his grip on her she would die.
Emily took a deep breath, fighting the thing that was crushing her throat. She suspected it would be her last. "SHORTY! KNOCK HIM INTO THE PIT!"
Mola Ram moved toward her, still choking her without touching her - his other hand reaching for her heart.
He was standing near the edge of the fiery pit, dangling Emily over the edge. "I will let you go. I will let you scream. Your screams of fear will empower the apkallu. Everyone is afraid to die. Everyone is afraid of the underworld. Everyone is afraid of death and judgement."
Emily gave her father's grin. "Not me."
Shorty charged up behind Mola Ram - giving a flying kick at the last moment.
The high priest of The Temple of Doom was knocked into the pit.
Emily screamed, feeling herself fall with the madman idol possessed by evil.
Ammit, the soul-eating beast, a fearsome hybrid of a lion, crocodile and hippo rose from the flames - mouth open waiting to devour -
A whip caught her wrist.
Shorty appeared at the rim of the canyon lifting her out of the chasm.
Mola Ram fell past Emily and into the flames, wailing in a strange terror as if he knew what awaited him in the abyss. His chest split open on the way down - his still-beating heart landing on the scales of justice. The weight of the wickedness made a clang, throwing the feather of truth into the air.
Emily reached out to touch it. It brushed Emily's fingers and eased back down onto the scales of justice as Ammit licked her lips, charging forward in a devouring roar.
Emily scrambled out of the chasm. "Thanks, Little Brother."
Shorty tossed her the second sword. "I'd say anytime - but I don't think you want to go through that again."
"Hell no." Emily shuddered, pulling her fedora low. "Let's get outta here."
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The Seven Swords of Diya: An Indiana Jones Fan Fiction - Part 2
FanficPart 2: Indiana Jones and his daughter Emily Ravenwood Jones continue their adventure in the frozen Soviet peninsula of Kamchatka, searching for seven mystical swords. With them is Indy's bodyguard from 1935 India - Short Round, grown up! And his re...
