Chapter Eight

The mysterious man placed a picture in front of Ahmed and said to him: "Is this you?"

It was a picture of Ahmed, Maryam, and Omar during the fight that happened at the hospital; but it was poor quality and the features were unclear.

The Man: "Your name is 'Ahmed Kamal'. You were very close to the giant vehicle incident that happened in Egypt, and yet you and your father survived. You kept messaging us since you were in university, asking us to allow you to investigate the evidence we extracted from the vehicle. After Atlantis appeared, you traveled to the closest country to Atlantis whose coasts aren't completely closed. Shortly after all this, a strange attack happened on a hospital in the same city you booked your hotel in. And finally, an attack on the hotel you were staying in, using the same black, pointed objects we found at the hospital, plus we found your father's body. So I'll ask you again, who are you?"

Ahmed: "I thought I had been kidnapped by magical genies or aliens, but it seems simpler than that. Just the intelligence agency of the world's most powerful country currently detaining me."

Some distance away, in the hotel reception room, Ali and Maryam were sitting, waiting for the rest of the team to arrive.

Ali, yawning: "They're late. I don't want to be late for Sakhmat's first job interview."

Maryam: "It's okay if Ahmed is late. What happened to him last night wasn't easy."

Ali: "I don't know. I think he's fine now. Since he woke up underground, he's been somewhat composed. I don't know how he kept his cool after losing it so quickly."

Maryam: "I think he talked to the System when he lost consciousness. Maybe it helped him focus."

Ali: "I don't know why your System is so gentle. It always tells me I'm trash compared to those who came before me, and it doesn't tell me who those before me are."

Then he sighed a little and said: "Anyway, are we going to treat Egyptian myths as real from now on?"

Maryam: "Not necessarily that they are true, but at least it seems some mythological figures actually existed, but they turned into myths somehow."

Ali: "Can you remind me who Horus and Set are in the myths?"

Maryam: "I think I've told you at least 20 times already."

Ali, with a goofy smile: "Yeah, but some of the audience doesn't know their story. Of course, I remember perfectly. I didn't forget."

Maryam, in frustration: "What a great way to tell me you don't listen to what I say. Anyway, I don't know if this has any relation to reality, but I'll summarize it. The legend says Set symbolized chaos and destruction, while his brother, Osiris, was a just king loved by the people. At a party, or something like that, Set brought a fancy sarcophagus and said it was a gift for the first person who tried it and fit their measurements..."

Ali, mockingly: "Wow. What an appealing gift."

Maryam continued: "Set made the sarcophagus to Osiris's exact measurements. As soon as Osiris got in, Set sealed it, cut the sarcophagus into pieces, and threw it into the Nile. Osiris's wife, Isis, collected his parts from the river. He lived for one more day and then died. But several months later, Isis bore Osiris's son, named Horus, who then sought revenge on Set, and many battles happened between them."

Ali, disgruntledly: "That's one of the worst stories I've ever heard. It sounds like a child made it up. I was expecting an epic tale."

They chatted a bit until Youssef came and sat with them.

Ali: "One of you finally came. I was about to break into your rooms to wake you up."

Youssef: "And I don't think the other one will come anytime soon. I passed by his room, and he's not inside."

Maryam: "What exactly do you mean? Did he just leave?!"

Youssef, yawning: "No, he's not that stupid to leave alone. I think he was just kidnapped. I broke into his room, and the stuff was scattered as if someone had searched it."

Ali and Maryam were silent for moments to process what Youssef said.

Then Maryam screamed: "Do you really mean what you're saying?!!"

They were interrupted by the sound of Ali's phone ringing.

Ali: "Unknown number. It's probably Sakhmat. What should I tell him?"

Maryam, disappointed: "Just tell him the truth. Maybe he can help us."

Ali answered the phone and told Sakhmat what happened. Sakhmat replied annoyed: "It seems you are having more trouble than I expected. I'll handle it this time, but I don't promise to do it again." Then he ended the call.

*In the interrogation room with Ahmed *

The interrogator lost his patience after several attempts to question Ahmed were useless; he ordered some men to beat him until he talked. But they soon noticed his wounds were healing quickly. While they were surprised, a black portal with glowing green edges appeared next to Ahmed, and Sakhmat came out of it.

Sakhmat looked at Ahmed lying on the ground and said pityingly: "You have the worst luck I've seen in my life."

Everyone aimed their weapons at Sakhmat.

Sakhmat raised his hand and said sarcastically: "Sorry for the interruption. I think this is an interrogation room, so as my apology, I'll continue the interrogation myself."

In less than a minute, Sakhmat had broken the bones of everyone in the room and grabbed one by the neck, pushing him against the wall.

Sakhmat in a cold voice: "I want a comprehensive report with all the information you've gathered about any strange phenomena."

The Man, fearfully: "I don't know. I'm just here to do the interrogation."

Sakhmat: "You know? I have a strange ability. I can control living cells. For example, this right arm of yours, I can make it rot gradually until the rot reaches your brain, and all of this in just one minute. Unfortunately, you will die because your bosses didn't give you useful information for me."

The man's fingers began to turn pale and his skin dried up.

The man screamed: "No one knows anything! All the phenomena are unrelated and beyond our capabilities. We couldn't link anything together except Ahmed Kamal's involvement in several similar events. I swear that's all we have."

Sakhmat: "You couldn't find any other people besides him? Sure?"

The man fainted from the stress; Sakhmat threw him on the ground.

Sakhmat, untying Ahmed: "What kind of stupidity did you commit for that country's labs to know you're hiding something?"

Ahmed: "I didn't do anything. It was just obvious after my father died there. How did you even know they were intelligent?"

Sakhmat: "First, the last thing the type of enemy that might target us would use is pistols and rifles. Second, they've been chasing me too for a while, but they don't know my identity because I always wear my mask. A, B, superpowers."

Sakhmat opened a portal for them to cross through.

Ahmed: "Did they announce the news of my father's death yesterday?"

- "Can't we just go? You can search for yourself when we get back."

-- "If I were them, I would have kept his body to examine it, and I certainly wouldn't tell the press, so they'll erase his trace."

- "So what is required then?"

-- "It's definitely in a place near here. Not much time has passed to move it."

- "Okay, I'll find him, and we'll leave immediately after."

Sakhmat's eyes glowed and he said: "There are more people outside the room. I'll find out from them if he's really here."

Sakhmat went out and beat them severely; then he returned.

- "You were right. He's in a fridge in the next room. Where do you want to move him?"

-- "If we return him home, his death will be suspicious, and they will definitely dissect his body to find out how he got these wounds, and likely those who kidnapped us will retrieve him. I think we should return him to where they kidnapped him from, but we'll inform the press and news channels ourselves. This will ensure they don't get near him for a while."

- "Okay, I'll return him in the evening, but we have to go back to your friends now."

-- "Yes, we need to plant your flax seeds at the hospital first."

Sakhmat looked at Ahmed and said surprised: "How did you know!?"

-- "Know what? That you can only open portals to places where you spread the flax seeds from your bag? I know more than you think. I know you work as a doctor, and I know the members of your fami..."

Sakhmat grabbed him by the neck and pushed him against the wall, saying angrily: "You've dug too deep. Give me a reason not to kill you now."

Ahmed, choking: "I don't know anything. I tried to provoke you into talking. It's easy to guess you work as a doctor; your powers would make you the best doctor on this planet."

Sakhmat loosened his grip a little.

- "How did you know my secret of using the seeds, and why did you mention my family?"

-- "I heard Ali talking about the trick you did when you moved Omar away, and before I slept, I found some of those seeds of yours on my clothes. Your quick arrival to my location confirmed my suspicions. If you teleport anywhere, how were you able to find me precisely? As for your family; it was just a guess to pressure you. Your interest in keeping your secret identity means you have something you want to protect."

Sakhmat let him go and said: "I'll let it slide this time, but if you try to manipulate me again, I won't leave a single part of you intact."

Ahmed, catching his breath: "Fair enough."

Sakhmat brought the fridge and opened a portal for them to cross. Sakhmat transported them to a barren desert.

Ahmed: "Why here?"

Sakhmat: "We're in the Western Desert. It's hard for the little princess to be kidnapped from here. I'll bring the rest of your friends."

Ahmed gritted his teeth in annoyance and said to him: "Teach me then. All of you use these superhuman things because you trained well for them. I found this thing inside me just days ago."

Sakhmat approached him and said quietly: "A piece of advice from me: you should just leave. You've gotten involved in something far bigger than you. I don't know what will happen exactly, but believe me, everything that's coming will be much more dangerous than what you've seen. This island that appeared out of nowhere hasn't made any moves since it appeared, and I don't think this calm is a good sign. When they move, they might ignite something bigger than even a world war. So I advise you to just give it up. Leave it to the professionals."

Ahmed: "I have nothing left to lose. I don't have a life anyway. Besides, I didn't choose this. It fell on me from the sky..."

Sakhmat interrupted him: "Coincidence. Coincidences always happen, even in the toughest battles. Don't tell me you think you're chosen or something like that. If you are chosen, the one who chose you is a fool. The fighting will end, and there's no time to teach a beginner like you."

Ahmed: "I thought that. But the System told me there's a reason I'm here now. I don't know what the reason is, so I decided to stop acting randomly and do the only thing I'm good at: learning and observing."

Sakhmat: "Good luck with that. But I'm not interested. I want to make sure I know everything you know. Then I'll go check on Atlantis. I have to find my next mission, as my teacher said."

Ahmed: "And why can't we be your next mission?"

Sakhmat suddenly stopped moving, and his mask evaporated. He said:

"This is why I disagree with Sakhmat about you. You really seem like trouble, but we need this trouble now. Sakhmat prefers to work alone according to planned strategies, but we don't have the strength for what's coming, so we have to accept trusting some allies. We'll test you for a month. I mean, we'll join you for a full month as a team. If we don't find it useful for us, we'll just part ways as before. What do you think? Answer me before Sakhmat changes my mind."

Ahmed: "I definitely accept. But, what happened? Why did you change your mind so quickly?"

Sakhmat: "This has been my opinion from the beginning. You were just talking to the wrong person. I'll explain it to you when the rest of the team comes."

Sakhmat called Ali: "Found your friend. We have a lot to talk about now."

Ali: "Great!! You didn't disappoint me, Sakhmat. Where are you?"

-- "Are you all together? I mean, can you see all the team members?"

- "Yes, why?"

Sakhmat snapped his fingers and transported them all to his location.

Ali, screaming: "You bastard! Where are we? We were in the paradise of the hotel's air conditioning, and you moved us to the hell of the desert in a moment!"

Then he fell to the ground, trying to catch his breath.

He continued: "But thank you for checking our locations. I was planning to go to the bathroom. That would have been very embarrassing."

Maryam: "Did you just take off the mask so simply? You were very sensitive about it yesterday."

Sakhmat: "To clarify things in order: Your friend was kidnapped by the intelligence agency of a country. They discovered something strange was behind him. So, I moved you here, the Western Desert. Here, they can't find us or watch us easily, and we can talk at our leisure. Finally, Nader: I am not Sakhmat. My name is Nader, and Sakhmat and I share the same body."

Youssef: "Great. More compounded nonsense."

Maryam: "What do you mean by 'share the same body'?"

Nader: "When they preserved Sakhmat to send him to the future, they couldn't return his body completely, so he needed a host. And that's me."

Ali: "Wait, wait. You mean you're 'possessed'? Cool!"

Maryam: "So according to you, you are two in one body."

Nader: "Yes, exactly. Sakhmat thinks we shouldn't have disclosed that, but I think if we keep treating each other in a way that hinders our work and makes us closer to enemies... I want us to give each other a chance to be a team. In the end, our goal is almost the same."

Ali: "I thought you were the Teacher at first. But the Teacher would never take off his mask."

Several kilometers away, the masked Teacher and another man wearing a suit like the one Omar wore, but with blue lines and a circle on his chest with a drawing of a bird's claw inside it, were watching them.

The Teacher: "See? I told you Nader would tell them the truth today. You owe me a shawarma sandwich as we agreed."

-- "Gambling is forbidden, as you know."

- "You bastard! You were the one who suggested it in the first place!"

-- "Don't change the subject. What's your next plan?"

- "Nothing. We have about a month until the countdown begins. I'll check on some things during this time. You continue watching them, and if anything new comes up, just let me know."

-- "I don't need your orders to care for my brother. Are you sure I can't do anything else?"

- "Enjoy your time. The end is near, and we don't know who will come out victorious."

-- "But you'll keep your promise, right?"

- "Of course. I'll ensure Youssef's safety as I promised you. At least as long as I'm alive. But that doesn't mean he won't get many scratches, as you know he's trouble."