Chapter Text
"At all times and in every country, the priests gird up their loins and try their best to preserve the ancient customs and usages, while on the other side stand in opposition kings like Janaka, backed by Kshatriya prowess as well as spiritual power. We have dealt at length already on this bitter antagonism between the two parties,"
Quotes about King Janaka
Seventh Century B.C.
June 2041
Maui, Hawaii
Archaeology Institution
Cassie Drake, a girl with everything someone like her could ever ask for, could not get her hands on a simple object. All she wanted was just one slice of pizza, cheese pizza, and here she was, reaching over, and just as she was about to grab the last one, her co-worker, Marcus Cote, snatched the last piece.
"Seriously?" Cassie huffed. "Marcus, I hate anchovies and cheese pizza is the only good type left on this planet."
Marcus had already taken a bite of the pizza. "Sorry, Cass, but if you snooze, you lose."
"Whatever." I don't need pizza; I have soda. She took a sip of soda and spat it out. I think that is mostly Chlorox and drainage fluids.
Cassie got up and moved away from her table and decided to go back to her cubicle. Due to the recent success of discovering several new pyramids in the region of British Columbia, Cassie's supervisor, Henry Decker, decided to show his appreciation by buying a lot of good pizza for his employees. He told them to enjoy themselves because they had a big assignment, one that would top their BC job.
Deciding that she would rather have pepperoni than nothing, she went back to the conference room, took three slices of pizza, and went back to her cubicle. Cassie sat down in her leather chair and took a few bites of pizza before looking over the framed photo of Evan in the corner of her desk. She decided to eat only one pizza and save the last two for her son.
Marcus Cote approached her, the last half-eaten cheese pizza on a plate in his hands. "Cassie, did you get any details on this new job coming up?"
Cassie looked at him. "Hey, pizza thief. No, Decker said nothing revealing too much about the job. But I'm pretty sure it's going to be a big job."
"Why don't you take a break this time around?" Marcus suggested. "Last month, you helped us find Xibalba so why don't you take a break this time around? I mean, you've earned it."
Cassie shook her head. "Nah, no thanks, man. I'll take a day in the field over a day in the office any time of the week now."
"Are you sure?"
"Why don't you take a day off? You've earned it."
Marcus smiled at her, which seemed unnatural. "Nah, I hate sitting on my ass all day." And it's because of a bitch like you that I'm sitting on my ass all day. You being out there in the field, stealing my glory, forcing me to be a background character, you selfish bitch.
"Hey, be grateful, Marcus; you never know the last time you'll be able to sit on your ass."
"I'll keep that in mind." He turns around. "See you." Next Tuesday.
As Marcus walked away, he bumped into Derek. "Sorry."
"Hey, as long as you don't bump into my car, then I'm forgetful and forgive-full about you bumping into me." Derek looks at Cassie. "Hey, Cass."
"D-Man." Cassie spun around in her rotating leather chair. "I got some dinner for tonight."
"Not feeling like cooking?"
"Nope."
"Good, because neither do I."
"Well, this is win-win because no one has to play each other to do the dishes."
"Yeah. Losing against me would've been embarrassing... for you."
"I am a master of third-person shooter video games."
"Life is a first-person so you should be mastering first-person shooter video games."
"But it is no ice to see things from all kinds of different perspectives."
Marcus rolled his eyes and left.
After a few minutes, Henry Decker finally called everyone to the conference room with Cassie and Derek sitting next to each other at the end of the table.
Henry Decker, the supervisor who usually had a serious look on his face, now had a giant grin plastered on his recently Boxtox-treated face. "Guys, now that everyone is fat on pizza I paid out of pocket, it's time to get down to business." He looked at his watch. "It's five minutes to five o'clock so I'll keep this brief so you all can go home on time." He slapped his hands together. "A contact of mine contacted me - hence the term, 'contact' - recently and he delivered me some excellent news." His smile widened. "Apparently, there's evidence to suggest that there are a pair of lost cities."
Cassie looked up. Oh, two lost cities, how invigorating.
"That's right, you heard me correctly, evidence that two lost cities are interconnected to each other." He pulled out his phone to read over notes. "She texted me details on my phone which I will only show you when you need to know but when I went over these notes and pieces of evidence, it struck me: there shouldn't be lost cities existing. At least not in these regions." He put his phone down. "All you need to know about these lost cities is that, one: they are believed to be located in Alaska and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they are unnamed."
The co-worker named Gil raised his hand. "Uh, sir, if there are-"
"Please note that if you ask questions, you risk staying longer past five."
Gil hesitated then put his hand down.
"I know what you guys are mostly thinking: two lost cities without a name? That doesn't make a lick of sense but let me explain it to you. Yes, while archaeologists like us typically try to look for evidence of existing civilizations, and maybe mythical legendary lost cities like Xibalba last month, discovering the unknown is something else we specialize in. And these two lost cities being interconnected makes the find that much bigger. If we manage to find evidence of two lost cities that went unrecorded by the history books, then think how it can boost our reputation. And the best part of it, is we get an opportunity to name not one but two lost cities. We will be naming two lost cities that will be recorded on the internet as legendary lost cities that were found... by us."
Cassie tilted her head. Huh, looking for a lost city that has no name, certainly is a step up.
"A fine this big will give us a lot of recognition and more potential job openings. In the long run, we could be a very successful team of archaeologists. That means more revenue for all of us. Do you understand this? Finding proof of these lost two cities is a big help for all of us. I hope you guys are as hyped up as I am because we're going to have to divide our resources."
"What?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, because the two lost cities are allegedly located in the DRC and Alaska, then we're going to need at least two teams." He looks at Cassie. "Cassie, Derek, as much as I would love to pair the both of you up on this adventure, I'm splitting you guys up on this adventure."
"What?" Cassie gasps.
"You both are capable of finding a lost city on your own so splitting you up will benefit all of us. Derek, I'm assigning you and Gil to Alaska and as for Cassie, you're going to the DRC." He held his hand up. "If you have any questions, please write them down for me to answer tomorrow." He looks at his watch. "This operation begins at the end of the week. By then, I will have texted all the necessary information for all of you to gather and decipher. Plane tickets have been bought and most of all, my contact has everything set up. We leave for Egypt where we will meet our contact."
As everyone left the conference room to go home, Cassie and Derek picked up their son from the daycare center.
As Cassie strapped Evan in the car seat, she looked up at her husband who took the driver's wheel.
"It's been a while since we went on an adventure together." Cassie hops into the passenger seat. Derek starts the car up.
"I'll say."
Cassie buckles her seatbelt. "The last time we went on an adventure together was our Noah's Ark adventure."
"Yeah, it's been so long. Like three years too long."
"Yeah, being a parent sure kicks a lot out of ya." She looks at Evan in the rearview mirror. "But don't worry my little prince, you are still adorable and we don't regret having you."
Evan ignored them and ate Flamin' Hot Cheetos from a bag in his lap.
"I love you, Evan."
"I love you too, Mommy," Evan babbled.
Cassie reached back and ran her hand through his thin, silky hair.
"And we're still not going on one together," Derek pointed out. "If this job is legit, then that means we'll be on opposite ends of the world."
"True. But, as Decker said, if we do this and we succeed, then that's more zeroes on our paychecks. More money to invest in Evan's college fund."
"Yeah." Derek rubbed his lips. "We gotta call our parents, and ask them to babysit Evan when the time comes."
"My parents can do it. They love babysitting Evan."
"So do mine." He looks at her. "Should we decide on a coin flip?"
"Nah. Whoever is available on whatever day this operation takes place, we'll call them."
"Good idea." Derek looks behind him. "Guess what, Evan, you'll spend more time with your grandparents."
Evan ate another hot Cheeto, not showing any reaction. "Okay, okay."
Derek smiles before putting the car in reverse.
"Let's go home," Cassie told him.