Lucca's Desert Journey Chapter 3
Sandstorm at Midnight
By The Game God
Lucca shivered, “It’s getting cold.”
Asaahn draped a blanket around her shoulders, “It gets very cold at
night in the desert.”
Lucca pulled the blanket around her, “You mentioned ‘The
Pharaohess’, Ta-Kahjet. Who is the Pharaohess.”
Ta-Kahjet nodded, “No one knows for sure… not even my powers have
told me who she really is… but I believe she is immortal.”
“Immortal warriors…” Lucca said, thinking back to Queen Zeal.
“Queen Zeal has nothing to do with the Pharaohess.” Ta-Kahjet
said, answering Lucca’s unasked question.
Asaahn sighed, “All of my research still has yet to reveal the cause
of the drought.”
“It is beyond science…” Ta-Kahjet said.
Asaahn shook his head, “Ta, nothing can totally defy science.”
“That’s what I used to think…” Lucca said, “…
but I’ve seen a lot of things to the contrary.” Lucca looked
to Ta, “You think the Pharaohess is caused the drought.”
Ta shook her head, “Not caused it, but I feel she is prolonging it.
Asaahn and I are an antipode, he is a follower of science, myself, the
supernatural. That was why we chose you Lucca, you are a follower of
both. Together, we could…” Ta looked up suddenly.
Asaahn stood up, “What is it, Ta?”
“The Pharaohess has sent her Karnak here for me. He will arrive
here shortly.
Asaahn took a spear from the wall, “We won’t let the happen, Ta.”
Ta-Kahjet shook her head, “It cannot be stopped…” A loud rumble
of thunder sounded from outside the pyramid, “… they are already
here.” Five snake-like creatures burst into Ta’s temple.
As Asaahn and Lucca moved towards the creatures, they were grabbed from behind
and thrown out into the streets of Mirage.
They turned to see a ten-foot-tall, muscle-bound creature holding a jewel-lined
skull in each hand. “Karnak!” Asaahn said.
“You and Ta-Kahjet have crossed the line, Asaahn.” He crashed
the skulls together and a rumbling rose from beneath Lucca and Asaahn.
“Your life ends here and now, Asaahn!” Karnak shouted. He
crashed the skulls together again causing lightning bolts to crash down from
the heavens.
Lucca took aim and fired at Karnak. The blast knocked one of the jeweled
skulls from his hands. Asaahn ran forward, swinging his spear at the
beast. Without both of his skulls, Karnak’s magic was gone.
Even so, the beast delivered a devastating blow to the scientist. Lucca
took aim at Karnak again, but was knocked to the ground by one of Karnak’s
serpent warriors.
Karnak looked back to see Ta-Kahjet being carried away by one of the serpent
warriors. Karnak picked up his skull and glared at Lucca, “Come
and get her if you dare, girl.” He crashed his skulls together
and the sands swallowed up Lucca and Asaahn. Karnak and the serpents
headed for the horizon.
?????????????
Lucca and Asaahn crawled out of the dune Karnak had created. Lucca
spit out a mouthful of sand, “Oh man, I’ve got sand in places I
didn’t even know I had.”
Asaahn rose to his feet and pulled a monocular from his robe.
“They’re long gone.” he said.
Lucca dusted sand off her clothes, “Do you know where they took Ta?”
“They will take her to the Grand Pyramid, beyond the City of the
Dead. Come with me.” Asaahn led Lucca to a stable where
six tall slender birds were sleeping. “These chocobos will take
us to the City of the Dead.” Lucca and Asaahn mounted the two
tallest chocobos and rode off into the desert.
?????????????
Ta-Kahjet was led into the Pharaohess’ throne room. Ta stared
at the dark woman in the white and gold robe, “Your plan will not succeed,
Pharaohess.”
She smiled, “It has already succeeded.” She rose and floated
towards Ta, “You see, your ‘hero’ will come here and meet
her doom, forever destroying your last hope.” She turned to Karnak,
“Let her find her way to Ta-Kahjet… and me.”
Karnak nodded, “And what of Asaahn?”
The Pharaohess smiled, “Kill him.” Karnak nodded as he and
the serpent soldiers headed for the City of the Dead. The Pharaohess
looked back to Ta, “By sunrise, all hope will be lost… I will make
sure of that.” Her laughter filled the enormous throne room.
Ta-Kahjet lowered her head, her plans were failing and even she could not
foresee Lucca’s future… if any.
.