Chapter Text
The American Museum of Natural History hadn’t had any new arrivals in a long while. This was due to its curator, Dr. McPhee, being so caught up in trying to find something that would attract the most visitors. The museum went through periods of time when it lost money, and times like these stressed him out. McPhee had been losing interest in artifact auctions and nationwide rotating exhibits, as many were too expensive or not impressive enough. As a result, he was feeding into the cycle by not providing anything new. That’s when he finally gave in and decided to purchase a small, traveling collection for the meantime.
Larry anticipated the day that McPhee would call him to his office and tell him a new exhibit was on its way. Since coming back from the Smithsonian trip, he had been contemplating for almost a year what he would do in that situation. Sometimes the exhibits didn’t have good intentions and were truly threatening. In Washington D.C., when he met Ahkmenrah’s brother, Kahmunrah, Larry had to fight against him, for he tried to take over the world. The danger that the exhibits could pose made him debate the decision to keep future ones locked up. And this was controversial for him, for he was the first night guard to let them roam the museum freely.
Larry didn’t look forward to any time that McPhee would call him into his office. His boss didn’t have much patience, if any, and acted as if there was only time for what he had to say. But just forty-five minutes before dark, Larry walked into the museum for another casual night of work, and unfortunately met McPhee in the center of the lobby.
“Mr. Daley,” He started shortly, “I have something important to share with you. Follow me to my office.”
Larry frowned and expected the worst from this meeting. The museum curator sped off with his nose in the air through a door marked Employees Only. Larry followed him down a long hallway lined with offices until they stopped before a locked door. It read McPhee on a slim bronze plate.
“Is everything alright?” Larry asked, readjusting the duffel bag on his shoulder.
“I’ll tell you in a moment.” McPhee snorted, unlocking the door with a tap of his ID and entering the room. He walked behind his mahogany desk and shuffled through some papers. He then found a packet and flipped through it.
“The museum is once again struggling financially so I’ve decided to bring in a temporary exhibit.” McPhee began.
“Really, again?” Larry wasn’t too surprised on how McPhee handled the finances.
“Yes, but I don’t think it’ll do any good because what I could get a hold of isn’t impressive enough.” The curator sighed in annoyance rather than disappointment.
Larry didn’t even have to be told, for he already knew that McPhee had risked the museum’s income because he couldn’t find a new exhibit that appealed to himself rather than to the visitors.
“That’s great that we’re adding something, but don’t you think we lost money because we didn’t have something new in a while?”
“No! That’s not the point here!” McPhee snapped, setting down the packet.
“I’m just saying.” Larry shrugged.
“Go ahead and just ‘say’ anything.” He mocked, disgustedly. “Anyways, early tomorrow morning a crew is coming to load in some Roman artifacts and other stuff.”
Larry began to pay closer attention and asked, “Wait, what kind of ‘stuff’?”
“Oh, just some pots and pans,” McPhee walked around his desk and grabbed his satchel bag and keys, preparing to leave, “one of the janitors gave me the idea for an ancient Mediterranean exhibit. We’ll start with Rome, then Greece, and put it by the Pharaoh so it’s all similar geographics.” He was now outside the door with Larry following behind. McPhee was hardly paying attention anymore and pulled his office door tightly shut, making sure the lock clicked loudly. He began walking down the hall with the night guard speed-walking after him.
“Just pots and pans?” Larry called after him.
“Sure, let’s say that. Maybe some mannequins wearing the outfits.” McPhee answered from the end of the hallway. Larry had caught up with him and they both exited the door reading Employees Only, standing outside of it. “I don’t know, why are you so worried about it? It’s not like the exhibits come to life and wreak havoc each night.”
“Right.” Larry hesitated.
“See you tomorrow, Mr. Daley.” McPhee said and proceeded to walk out of the building.
Larry stood for a moment and sighed heavily. If the new exhibit was only Roman artifacts, then he wouldn’t have to worry about keeping them locked up, they wouldn’t even come to life. The problem was that he didn’t know for sure. McPhee said there could be mannequins dressed in Roman garb, but he didn’t know either, or he just didn’t care to. If it were true, Larry would have to risk a potential angry representation of a Roman ruler or god. But that was only if he didn’t keep them locked up. But then what would he tell the other exhibits? They would be so disappointed with him. It was all so frustrating. Larry shook himself from his thoughts and checked his watch. There was only about 30 minutes left until everyone would wake up. He quickly went to change into his uniform and set the theft alarms, anxiously trying to figure out what to do.
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The museum woke up slowly, like a child rolling out of bed in the early morning. Except it was night. Sometimes it took a moment for the exhibits to warm up their limbs from being stiff all day. When Larry waited for them, he usually sat at the lobby desk. While there, he would sometimes play with the speaker on the phone, singing and making funny noises. It was entertaining and never got old since the first time he tried it.
Rexy, the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton and wax model of President Theodore Roosevelt and horse, Texas, were always first to greet Larry in the lobby. The rest of the museum usually headed there to see their favorite night guard. Shortly after, they were allowed into a different Employees Only room meant for storage. That’s where DJ equipment, film projectors, and other fun things were brought out for entertainment during the night. They threw parties and watched movies. Things truly were better with Larry as the night guard.
With the lobby becoming busier, Larry returned his friends' greetings when the President rode up to him.
“Great to see you again, Lawrence!” Teddy slid off of Texas and the horse trotted away.
“Hey, it’s nice seeing you again tonight. How are you doing?” Larry smiled sheepishly.
“Just a little tight in the joints but nothing a little exercise can’t fix,” Teddy chuckled, “how are you, son?”
“Yeah, I’m doing good, just the usual.” Larry lied and swallowed. Teddy shifted his weight and raised an eyebrow.
“Something isn’t right. Are you coming down with a cold?”
Larry sighed before proceeding. He didn’t know how any of the exhibits would react to the choices that were on his mind.
“No, it’s not that. It’s–well–it’s–it’s nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me, son. What’s bothering you?” Teddy leaned in, darkening his voice.
Larry sighed and gave in, “It’s hard to explain. Actually, maybe you might know what to do. How about we go over there?”
Larry immediately pushed Teddy by the shoulder to the side of Texas’ pedestal. Once there, Larry looked around to make sure none of the other exhibits were really paying attention to him, then he whispered to the President.
“McPhee called me into his office just before you all woke up.”
“Oh dear.” Teddy rubbed his chin.
“He said we’re getting new exhibits but the problem is he didn’t tell me what exactly.”
“Oh, I think I see where this may be going.” Teddy hesitated.
“Right! And remember what happened last time with Kahmunrah in D.C.? Not all exhibits are safe.”
“Don’t tell me what you’re about to say, Lawrence.” The President tensed up.
“I can’t risk you guys to some evil Julius Caesar. I’m going to have to keep them locked up.”
“Have you gone mad?” Teddy rubbed his forehead with his hand, shaking his head.
“I don’t have much of a choice. And here’s the catch: it’s only a traveling exhibit so they’ll only be here for a few months.”
“But they’re still people. Fifty-four years, I still can’t even forgive myself for what I did to the Pharaoh.”
“I don’t know what else to do. But there’s also the chance that we only get some clay pots.” Larry grinned.
“That does make a big difference then.”
“You see then?”
“I do, unfortunately, but you’ll still have to tell the others or else they’ll wonder why the new exhibits are trapped in display cases. We know how some don’t take lies well.” Teddy motioned towards Attila and his Huns who were setting up the movie projector behind Larry. He remembered when his magic trick didn’t work out so well in front of him.
“I was thinking I could make an announcement for a meeting.”” The night guard suggested.
“That’s good, but be wary that no one will take it well. I’m not as a matter of fact, but I know that you are a man of good intentions and are strong-willed.” Teddy pat Larry on the shoulder.
“Thanks, Teddy. I’ll do it now.”
“Though I may not understand this decision, I respect it.”
Teddy walked away to the elevator to find Sacajawea on the fourth floor. Larry quickly went to the front desk in the center of the lobby and climbed behind it. He sat in the swivel chair and grabbed the telephone, pressing dials and setting them to go through all of the speakers in the museum. He then held the phone up to his mouth and began to speak.
“Hey, everyone, we will have a family meeting in the lobby at one-thirty a.m. That is a family meeting in the lobby at one-thirty a.m. Thank you.”
Larry set the phone down and sighed. He then pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and set an alarm for one-thirty, and then placed it by the desk phone speaker. The museum knew that he did this for family meetings. Larry saw some of the exhibits across the room making eye contact with him. They smiled and gave him various waves and thumbs ups in response to receiving his message. Larry waved and grinned awkwardly in return.
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The clock struck one-thirty a.m. too soon. The museum was full of exhibits playing music amidst table tennis and bumping a volleyball in the air in a circle, as well as other various activities. For example, the miniature best friends, Jedediah and Octavius rode around the waxy floors in motorized toy cars. Larry had fixed them to run on a rechargeable battery and installed working pedals and a steering wheel. In the daytime, they charged up and once the sun went down Jed and Octavius would zoom about the museum all night. It was fun, but also an easy way of transportation.
Larry’s alarm rang right on schedule. Most of the museum jumped at the loud tone. They turned off their music and stopped their games. Larry turned off the alarm and waited about fifteen minutes for the exhibits to make their way to the lobby. When they were finishing filing in, the room was packed. The animals upstairs stood at the top of the staircase and around the second floor balcony. The human exhibits had filled themselves in to sit on the stairs and on the floor in front of it. All of the miniatures stood right beside it in a group so no one would step on them. And Rexy stood near the middle of what was left of the lobby, with Larry between him and the exhibits around the staircase. Everyone waited patiently and chatted quietly until he began.
“Alright everyone, thank you for coming to this family meeting, I have to tell you all something important because it affects all of us,” Larry started. He firmly stood on the cold tiles and glanced at Teddy, gulping. He smiled and nodded in return.
“So, we’re getting some new temporary exhibits-” He continued.
At that, the museum exploded into excited chatter. Larry acknowledged their excitement but that was not the point he wanted to get across.
“Yeah, I’m excited, too,” he hesitated and put his hands out in front of him, “but that’s not all I need to say. I don’t know what kind of exhibits they are and I hate to burst your bubble,” The room quieted and prepared themselves for the worst, “but if they come to life I have made the decision to keep them locked up.”
The museum became a cacophony of distasteful sounds. All were complaining and protesting because most of them used to be locked in their exhibits, and dreaded the nights before Larry became the nightguard. He was the first to let them roam freely about the museum.
“Why would ya do that? That goes against everything you fought for.” Jed whined from the left staircase railing.
“Dum-Dum is Dumb-Dumb.” The Easter Island head overheard and frowned.
“Guys, I know this isn’t- look, it’s only for a few months. They’re not permanent here.” Larry countered, trying to deflect from the real point.
“They don’t ask to be brought to life,” Sacajawea protested, “you’d be forcing them to stand in boxes against their own will.”
Larry sighed, he knew this wasn’t going to go well, “Okay, everyone quiet down for a moment. It’s a part of a bigger thing at hand.”
The bickering continued and Larry was losing his patience. This was important to protect the museum, even the world.
“Guys, c’mon!”
Teddy noticed Larry’s frustration and ungloved a hand to whistle for them to stop. Everyone quieted immediately at the command of the President, “I don’t like this just as much as you all, but I believe our nightguard wouldn’t have gotten us all together if it weren’t for something serious.”
“Thank you, Teddy,” Larry started to pace around the room as if he were giving a speech, “For the record, I don’t even know what the exhibits are, yet. McPhee didn’t tell me much, just a small traveling Roman exhibit with a few clay pots that will sit near Ahk’s tomb to highlight ancient Mediterranean culture, or something like that. And because that guy doesn’t really give details, I don’t know what else is coming with it. We might have Roman soldiers.”
“But we’ve already got them.” Octavius shouted from Jed’s side.
“I know Octavius, I don’t control the inventory and I’m sorry to say this but we can’t afford a life-size Julius Cesar trying to take over the world. I don’t want this to be another Kahmunrah situation.” Larry was getting annoyed at the reaction he was getting from his friends.
“I just don’t want to risk any big changes again. It’s hard losing you guys. Maybe it will just be a bunch of pots and pans, but if not I don’t want to risk it. And it’s temporary. I know it sucks and I’m sorry.”
Sighs were heard from the crowd of people and they began to walk away from sitting on the staircase. Jed and Octavius were brought down from the railing by Sacajawea and they joined their respective men. She met back with Teddy and they walked off, hand in hand. Ahk passed Larry on his way back up the stairs to his tomb. His face hung with disappointment and stopped in front of him.
“I know you have good faith for us, but I don’t agree with this.” He swallowed, looking Larry stern in the eyes before walking up the stairs.
“Ahk, wait!” Larry called after him but he didn’t even turn around.
All of the exhibits didn’t engage with Larry the rest of the night. However, they didn’t avoid him, even for not being in favor of his decision to keep the new exhibit locked up. Even though Larry said he was doing it out of his fear for their safety, they needed time to process the decision.
Larry sat at the middle desk the rest of the night. The museum was boring without the usual parties and loud music. It was uncomfortably quiet and he couldn’t stop staring at his watch to wait for the time to pass. He yawned and leaned in the chair to close his eyes when Teddy approached him.
“Just wanted to make sure you were alright, Lawrence.”
Larry sat up, “Thanks Teddy. You’re the only one who seems to be fine with talking to me.”
“It can come down to maturity. I’m not particularly in favor of your decision, but I respect it because I know you only want the best for us."
“Well, it’s true,” Larry began, “after the Kahmunrah thing, it really opened my eyes that not every exhibit is going to play nice. I mean look at Attila, he was trying to kill me when we first met, but now he’s softened up. But like, Al Capone was a cardboard cutout at the Smithsonian and he was firm on his intentions! The same with Napoleon! And we almost lost Jed because of them!”
“And Kahmunrah.” Teddy added, solemnly.
“Right, but you get it. I can’t risk it, especially if it’s temporary.”
“I understand. Say, when is that exhibit arriving?”
“Tomorrow morning, er, today at around 7am. There’s people coming in to set it up before the museum opens to the public. McPhee really emphasized how it wasn’t that big, so I don’t think it’ll take long.”
“Maybe you’re right and there will only be clay pots afterall.”
“I’m hoping. And he wasn’t even clear on what we were getting just like, ‘oh, it’s a bunch of Roman pots and pans and other stuff! Might bring in revenue for a larger Ancient Egyptian exhibit!’” Larry mimicked McPhee’s accent and rolled his eyes.
“Well, no matter what happens, don’t hesitate to ask for anything.” Teddy reassured.
“Thank you.” Larry smiled sadly and nodded. Teddy did the same and walked away, leaving his friend to ponder in silence.
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Ahkmenrah quietly walked back to his tomb. He hung his head and sighed at the jackals who greeted him with a nod. He tried to not let the fury boil up in him, but he couldn’t believe how easy it was for Larry to be okay with keeping the new exhibit locked. He sat on the top of his sarcophagus and reflected on the situation.
“Why on Earth would Larry do such a thing?” He started to his jackals. “He doesn’t understand what it’s like to be crammed in a box, screaming until your lungs ache. The claustrophobic feeling of cloth taught against your face. So tight you can barely breathe even though you’re already alive from being dead once! And then there’s the sand!”
The jackals kneeled on one foot in front of him, sympathetically.
“What can I do?” Ahk shrugged, and there was a pause of silence.
But then it hit him. He perked up and sped between the jackals to the outside of his exhibit. He peered around the hallway, filled with glass cases that had some of the treasures from his original tomb inside. However, the area to the right, outside of his exhibit’s doorway, was empty.
“This must be where they’re putting the new Roman exhibit. Has it always been empty?” Akh spoke aloud to himself. “It’s a bit of a small area to represent the mighty history of Rome. I don’t understand McPhee and his visions sometimes.”
The jackals appeared behind him and peered outside of the doorway, as well.
“I know what I’m going to do,” He turned towards his massive Anubis statues, “ if and only if, something alive is inside of those cases tomorrow night, I’m going to take Larry’s keys and unlock them myself!”
In turn, the jackals glared at Ahk and shook their heads.
“What? You want them to be locked up, too?” He threw his hands out, frustrated. The jackals shook their heads again.
“Well, I guess you are right that stealing from Larry isn’t the greatest idea,” He began to pace around, “but I need to do this.”
The jackals lowered the heads to bow in front of their king.
“Thank you,” Ahk bowed in return, “now don’t disrupt me tomorrow with this.” He chuckled at his guardians and ran between them to the inside of his tomb, relaxing in peace for the rest of the night.