LATEST INDIANA JONES STORY FROM TESSA

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Posted by Goodsport from adsl-216-102-199-185.dsl.snfc21.pacbell.net on March 02, 2000 at 01:33:25:

    Here's the first chapter of the latest story that Tessa wrote. She e-mailed it to me and asked me to post it here (apparently, she doesn't have much access to the internet at the moment).

    Here it is. :)


*************************


1936
"You will pay for this, Jones!" René Belloq yelled as he turned to dust.
Indy and Marion kept their eyes shut until there was silence. Indy peeked and saw no one there. The rope that tied him and Marion had disintegrated.
It's over, Indy thought, it's finally over.

June 1986
A woman was teaching her archeology class on the warm day at the Sorbonne. Her French casually rolled off her tongue as if she was a native. The woman smiled, pushed her glasses back and said in French, "That will be all. Til next time."
The students left in hurry, as if to escape the professor. The men stared at her with longily as the woman smiled and shook her head. For a woman of 33, she had been through a rough time, although no one knew the details - her relationship with an archeologist that left her alone with two young children. She sighed, grabbed her briefcase, and headed to her office,
"Bon jour," she said to her secretary as she opened the door to her private office.
She looked at the mail on her desk and saw a letter that she opened with delight - the one from her father.
"My child:
Will be in Paris on the 12th. We can tour the campus grounds and rekindle some memories. Love, Dad."
"Dear old Dad," the woman said with a smile. Her father was a legend for his historical and religious artifacts. Only close people knew who she really was - in her profession and academic worlds she was known as Alexandra J. Stephens, renowned scholar of archeology. But to her family and close friends, she was still Lauren Jones, daughter of archeologist Indiana Jones. She resembled her father to their hair, clothing, and archeological styles. But there is where the similarities ended and thus Dr. Stephens was born.
She laughed to herself and said, "Til tomorrow, Dad."

Lauren arrived at the airport for her father's arrival. She spotted the familiar fedora and ran to him,
"Dad" as she hugged him, "It's good to see you."
Indy smiled at his youngest child, "Laurie, you didn't have to come get me…"
"Nonsense," she cried, "It gave me the excuse to escape reality."
Indy couldn't help but laugh at her. She was too much like him, he realized. It was not a surprise she pursued archeology, even though he forbade her too. He clasped his daughter's shoulder and said,
"Now, let's go and see your two rascals."
"And they are anxious to see you too," agreeing as they walked to her car. Lauren's two children; Jack, 8, and Michaela, 5; were her pride and joy. Indy loved them dearly and missed them.
A man watched them from the distance as he pounded a fist in the air, "Til we meet again, Dr. Jones."

Lauren got her father settled in her house over looking the Seine. Indy looked around the house with amazement and said, "You've done wonders, child."
"Thanks, Dad," touching the banister lightly, "I tried my best."
Indy was about to say something when he heard, "Grandpa!"
Jack rushed to him as Michaela watched from Melanie's, the nanny's, side. Indy hugged his grandson and looked over to his granddaughter,
"Micki, don't I get a hug?"
Michaela smiled shyly and ran to him, arms outstretched. Seeing Micki reminded Indy of Lauren and Jack looked like his father, his former colleague, it brought tears in his eyes as Lauren said,
"Don't get too sentimental, Dad. It will ruin your image."
Indy laughed and said, "What image?"
Lauren couldn't help but smile, "The rogue and famous archeologist Indiana Jones, reduced to tears? Come on."
Indy chuckled and said, "You're too much like your mother that way."
Michaela ran into her mother's arms and talked excitedly in a combination of English and French. Melanie laughed and said, "I will prepare dinner, Mademoiselle Jones."
"Merci, Melanie," Lauren called out.
Indy smiled and looked at his daughter, "We have the good life."
"Because we have each other," Lauren said, "And Rebecca, Eric and Michael…"
Indy nodded and grinned. Rebecca, 53, was Indy's stepdaughter and lived in New York with him, with her husband and two children. Eric, 35, was living in a rural town in Poland, where he was the local doctor. Michael, also 35, was living near Indy and president of their mother's music company. They had all married, had children, and were happy. Except for Lauren, who had two children without a benefit of a husband and her happiness died when her childrens' father did, Indy mused.
"I am happy, Dad," Lauren said as if she was reading his thoughts.
Indy smiled and said, "I know, dear, I know."

Lauren came home in a happy mood two days later. Indy looked up from his reading and said,
"You're in a good mood, princess."
"Oh - I," blushing as she laughed.
Indy smiled and said, "Who is he?"
Lauren studied his face and said, "Who's who?"
"Come off it," Indy said, tossing the paper aside, "The man you've been seeing for the past two months," seeing the confused look on his daughter's face, "Melanie told me."
"Jean-Paul Reginer," Lauren said happily, "He's wonderful. We talk about everything."
"Do I get to meet him?"
"You sure do," smiling brightly, "He's coming for dinner tonight."
"What is he like?"
"Tall, beautifully French. I'm a washout in comparison."
Indy grinned and said, "Ah, Laurie. You are not washout. You're a beautiful woman and bright."
"You'd have to say that," she said smiling, "You're my father."
"But it's true," he protested, "And its' inherited."
Lauren laughed, the blue eyes twinkling; "It's weird. I feel almost human since…" she swallowed hard.
"I know," he said softly, "Tom was a wonderful person."
"The best," Lauren nodded, "If only I was persistent of him staying and not going to Central America…" tears forming.
Indy nodded familiar with the routine. His daughter blamed herself for her fiancé's death, for letting him go off on a dangerous archeology expedition. He wondered how she would have dealt with it if her mother (bless her soul) was still alive. She knew how to handle Lauren and their other children with their emotions.
"Laurie, you don't feel guilty, do you?"
"I do," softly, "Like I'm betraying his memory…"
"Stop doing this to yourself," he commanded, grasping her shoulders, "Tom would have wanted you to go on with life. Find someone to help you raise the children."
Lauren smiled and went upstairs to dress.

I will have her in my grasp and her father. And then I'll kill them, a man thought as he walked towards Lauren's house.
Jean-Paul Reginer was an aristocrat, well known for his medieval studies in Europe. But he had been plotting to avenge his grandfather and father's deaths since being told the cause was Indiana Jones.
His father, Louis Belloq, died in an excavation for artifacts in the United States when he was only a year old. He was claiming a relic back from the States -The Ark of the Covenant - when Indiana Jones stopped him and had been killed. His grandfather, René, who met his fate with Jones fifty years ago, Jean-Paul was told, rightfully found the Ark.
Afraid for downfall for Jean-Paul, his mother changed his last name to her maiden name. But it didn't change the fact how Jean-Paul felt about Jones. He had to die, to avenge his ancestors' deaths.
Oddly enough, he met Jones's daughter in Paris, but he didn't know at first. He was introduced to her as Alexandra Stephens, a becoming and forthmost archeologist and teacher at the Sorbonne, three months ago. He didn't know she was actually Jones' daughter when he came across her diploma from Barnett College -Lauren Marie Jones- --- was scrawled on the front and he waved it at her. She smiled a bit and said,
"So you know?"
"Know what?"
"That I'm related to an archeologist," she said, her blue eyes shining, "My father is the ultimate authority on archeology and the occult. His name is Indiana Jones."
Father, Jean-Paul couldn't believe it. His beautiful girlfriend was one of them, the Jones broad he had read in the papers. He had read about Jones' marriage to a socialite, his adoption of his wife's daughter and the birth of his three children. She would have to die, but not before her father would hand out the Ark to him and she, her father, and her two children would die.

Lauren was dancing in the room off her bedroom, the stereo blasting. She was wearing her workout gear and dancing to one of her mother's hits. She was singing along and dancing. Micki was smiling in the corner of the room and calling, "Mama…"
Lauren grabbed her daughter's hands and danced with her. Indy came up to the room with Jack, hearing the commotion. He laughed and said, "Lauren Marie, you're as good as your mother was."
"I could never be as good as Mom was," she commented as she rushed to turn off the stereo.
Indy smiled at the sparkling eyes. She's happy, relaxed, and calmer than I've ever seen her, he realized as Micki jumped to him and said, "Grandpa, isn't Mama great?"
"She sure is, Micki," picking up the girl and holding him close.
"Ok, everyone," said a voice, "Group hug."
Indy and Lauren looked at each other and said, "Eric," as they turned around.
Eric Jones was smiling at them at the doorway. At 35, he was the doctor in a small village in Poland, with privileges in both Krakow and Warsaw. The long hair had been gone and he had gotten his ear pierced with a diamond stud, much to his wife's dismay.
"Eric!" Lauren said, "What are you doing here? Did you bring Jacks and the kids?"
Eric shrugged and said, "Jacks who?" as he slumped against the doorframe.
"I'm not following" Indy said.
"Jacks and I have separated. Things were getting complicated."
Indy's eyes widened and Lauren knew it came as no surprise. Jacqueline Shannon was Lauren's best friend from her childhood. It was during their junior year in college, during an earthquake, when Jacks and Eric realized they were in love with each other. They waited until Eric was done with medical school to get married. They had constant fights, usually Jacks accusing Eric of working long hours at the clinic and having no time for her or the children.
"What brought it up again?" Lauren said, mopping her face with a towel.
"She's accusing me of having an affair with my assistant."
"Were you?" Lauren asked.
"Of course not. I was helping her study for her exams to get her doctorate. Jacks kept telling me that I was lying. Finally, I couldn't stand it, packed a couple of bags, and headed here for a break and to have a chance to think."
Lauren nodded and put a hand on her brother's shoulder, "You're welcome to stay. Although, you'd have to share a room with Jack. Dad has the guest room."
"Thanks, sis," giving her a hug. Eric looked at Jack and smiled, "So which bunk do I get, Jack?"
"The bottom one, Uncle Eric," the eight-year-old said excitedly and grabbed Eric's hand, "I want to show you the model of the battleship I did," pulling Eric.
Eric laughed and said, "Sure thing, kiddo," and walked off with Jack.
Lauren shook her head in confusion; "It seems Eric gets along better with children than his own wife."
"It seems that way," Indy said softly, "I wonder if Jack knew about his daughter's problems."
"Probably not. You know how Jacks is towards Uncle Jack. She's a typical, hot blooded Irishwoman."
Indy laughed and said, "You're right. But I'm a father, Laurie. I look out for you four."
I know, Lauren thought as Melanie came up and asked, "Is your brother staying with us?"
"For the moment, Melanie," she said gaily, "Set up a table for seven tonight. Monsieur Reginer is joining us as well."
"Oui, mademoiselle," as the nanny left.

Jean-Paul rang the doorbell at Dr. Stephens' home. A tall, blond-haired man greeted him and Jean-Paul was taken a back.
"Excuse me. I must have the wrong house…"
The man laughed and said, "Are you here to see Lauren?"
"Yes, yes," he said.
"Come in. She's upstairs and told me to expect you. I'm her older brother, Eric."
That would explain it, Jean-Paul thought and said, "Mr. Jones…"
"Eric, please. No need to be formal."
"Eric, I understand you have a busy practice as a physician. Lauren did not mention you would be here, except for her father."
"Surprise visit. I needed a break," as he led Jean-Paul to the parlor and he instantly saw an older gentleman, wearing glasses and eyepatch. The man arose from his chair and walked towards the young men with a cane assisting him. The man smiled and said,
"Bon jour, Monsieur Reginer. I am Lauren and Eric's father, Dr. Indiana Jones."
This man killed my grandfather and father? staring at the man's outstretched hand. He took it and forced a smile, "Professor Jones, delighted to meet you. Lauren has told me a great deal of your adventures and life to me. She's very proud of you."
"Thank you," Indy smiled, "I am very proud of her as well, as well as my other children," looking at Eric.
Screams were heard above as Micki ran downstairs, terrified, "Uncle Eric, Jack let his lizard out of his cage," sobbed the little girl, "It's going to eat me."
Eric laughed and picked up his niece, "Silly Micki. It won't eat you."
"Jack said it will," crying now.
"Come on," Eric said, "Let's go and talk to Jack and find the lizard."
The girl nodded and Eric turned to Jean-Paul and his father, "Excuse us. It seems we have to settle a matter with Monsieur Jack," as he went the stairs.
Indy chuckled and Jean-Paul eyed him a bit, "Reminds me of how Eric pulled the same stunt to Lauren when they were kids."
Jean-Paul laughed as Lauren came down, "What's so funny?"
Jean-Paul went to Lauren, kissed her cheeks, "It's nothing, mon cherie. Just remisnicing about the past. You look stunning."
"Thank you," smiling at him, "Melanie has dinner ready. Shall we?"
Jean-Paul took her arm and escorted her to dinner, Such a pity that I have to kill her and her family to get the Ark.

A few days later, Lauren was dancing to a hip-hop song on the radio. Dressed in a white tank top and blue exercise pants, she started dancing as she remember seeing her mother dance in her old music videos. Her brown hair was in pigtails and she started singing. Eric paused outside the room and peered in. He noticed his sister, grinned, and said,
"Pretending you're a superstar, Laurie?"
Lauren turned and laughed, "I'm doing my exercise. I saw it on MTV in music videos."
"Laurie, Laurie, Laurie. You know, we're considered ancient. No more MTV."
Lauren smiled, "Talked to Jacks lately?"
Eric said, "Tried to. It's hard to put calls through. Now here's my song," hearing a tune from his high days, "Let me show you what I've got."
Eric started dancing in his white T-shirt and faded blue jeans. Lauren grinned and followed his lead. Indy, Micki, and Jack showed up to watch. Eric bowed when the song ended and said, "Still have it after seventeen years."
"I don't think it will ever go away," Indy said, "Your mother is in you too much."
"Don't forget that Laurie like you, Dad," Eric said.
Melanie came into the room and said, "Mademoiselle Jones, this note was on our door."
Lauren took it from her maid and her eyes widened,
"I know who you are. Give me the Ark of the Covenant. An admirer," she read out loud.
"This is ridiculous. No one knows about the Ark of the Covenant," Eric said, "Right, Dad?"
Indy trembled and Lauren and Eric stared at their father, "Dad?"
Indy sat down and covered his face with his hands.

"Ok, Dad. What's going on?" Lauren demanded.
Indy looked at his daughter to his son and sighed, "Fifty years ago, I was called by government officials to help acquire the Ark of the Covenant. They picked up on a Nazi cable saying Abner Ravenwood acquired the headpiece to the Staff of Ra."
Ravenwood, Lauren thought, that name sounds familiar.
"I went to Nepal, where I got the headpiece from Abner's daughter, Marion. We became partners to finding the Ark. Which we found in Tanis…"
"Egypt," Lauren finished, "So Sallah helped with you as well?"
Indy nodded, "There was someone else who wanted the Ark for the Nazis. A man named René Belloq, a French archeologist. We had been rivals for years since he claimed a paper I wrote as his own."
"Belloq!" Eric exclaimed, "Mom mentioned this to us. You and he were studying under Ravenwood in Chicago."
Indy nodded and said, "Belloq captured Marion and I when trying to get the Ark away from the Nazis. He tied us together as he and a few Nazis prepared to open the Ark and view the contents. I remembered what Sallah telling me that death has always surrounded the Ark. I instructed Marion to keep her eyes shut and I kept mine until we heard nothing."
"Nothing?" Lauren's eyes widened.
"Nothing. I opened my eyes and saw that the rope had disintegrated. Marion and I saw that the Ark was on the altar and Belloq and the fleet of Nazis gone. Turned into dust."
"So what happened to the Ark?" Eric asked.
"Marion and I brought it back to the States. It has been with government officials since its' return."
Lauren paced the floor and said, "Marion? Marion Ravenwood? The girl you had an affair with twice after Mom left the first time?"
Indy nodded, "Marion was also with me in India with your mother. To help me find an artifact in order to get treatment for Kate."
Lauren stared in amazement and Eric said, "There was a Belloq years ago, Dad. Mom told me it was during the Second World War…"
"Rene's son, Louis. He blamed me for his father's death. He tried to claim the Ark in order to turn it to the communist regime. He was killed when trying to escape with it at the airport. Shot by government officials about 35 years ago."
"Who else knows?" Lauren demanded.
"You two, myself, and Marion."
"You better call Marion, Dad," Lauren said grimly, "I'm afraid death is surrounding all of us. It's better if we were all in one place at the same time."

Two days later, Marion Ravenwood Ness arrived at the airport. Lauren noticed her right away from the descriptions her mother and father had given her, "Mrs. Ness?" falling in step.
Marion stared at her, "Who are you?"
"I'm Lauren," tipping her fedora to her, "Come with me," gruffly.
Marion nodded and followed Lauren. The car ride was tense as Marion looked at her and said, "You look like your father, Lauren."
"So I have been told," tense with her, "Throughout the years, especially by my mother while she was alive."
Marion shivered a bit as Lauren drove around the roads and pulled up to a maginificant house. Marion gasped a bit and said, "This is yours?"
Lauren nodded, "Bought it when I moved to Paris."
Marion was led in and saw him. She would recognize him in an instant, "Indy?"
Indy nodded, "It has been years."
"Thirty-five years," as she looked at the younger gentleman at Indy's side. Indy patted the man's shoulder and said, "I guess you won't recognize Eric. You haven't seen him since…"
"The christening," Marion marveled, "Yes, he has changed."
"I better," Eric quipped, "I'm bigger and not wearing diapers."
Marion laughed a bit, "Your father's sense of humor, too."
"You were at my brothers' christening?" Lauren asked.
Marion nodded, "Your mother and father asked me and my husband to be godparents when she found out she was pregnant."
"Husband?" Lauren wondered out loud, "Eliot Ness?"
Marion nodded, twisted a gold band on her finger, "We married shortly after your brothers' birth. In fact, the day we got married, your brothers' were baptized."
"What happened to Eliot?" Eric asked.
"He was killed twenty years ago. Gunshot battle in the north side of Chicago. A few years before your mother's death."
Eric and Lauren was silent for bit until Micki burst into the room, "Mama," crying a bit, "Can I go outside? It's nice out."
"May you, Michaela?" Lauren said.
"Ok, may I? Please," the blue eyes shined on her.
"If its' alright with Melanie."
"Ok," as she ran from her mother and started to look for her nanny. Marion looked at Lauren, "Your daughter?"
Lauren smiled a bit, "She's mine. My last gift to me from her father."
"You're a widow?" Marion asked.
Eric snorted a bit, "Lauren's never been married. She was engaged to her childrens' father but they never found the time to plan a wedding. He's been dead for almost six years."
Lauren shot a glare at her brother and shrugged, "It's a mistake I have to learn to live with."
"And what about your other brother?" Marion asked.
"Michael are living in New York and married with kids. He's taken over Kate's business," Indy said.
"And what do you two do?" Marion asked Lauren and Eric.
"I'm a doctor in Poland," Eric said, "I have a few children. My wife is someone I care not to discuss at the moment."
Lauren looked at Marion, frowned and said, "I'm like my father. An archeologist. I teach it at Sorbonne."
She's an archeologist? Marion was in awe and then she recognized Lauren's face, "Alexandra Stephens?"
Lauren nodded, "I've changed my name around the time I got my degree from Sorbonne. Figured it would be easier."
My, my, things have changed, Marion thought as she looked at Indy, remembering how he made his choice to stay with. He chose Katherine over her because he loved Katherine and she made him happy. Lauren cleared her throat and said, "Now about the Ark, Mrs. Ness? Tell us everything."

Indy stared at the television screen, pausing the tape he was watching. He stared in fascination and thought Katherine.
Kate had died years ago from leukemia. She suffered in the year of treatments when she decided two months before her death no more. She wanted to be at peace and not to suffer. He still missed her, even though he would never admit it to his children. They would have told him to move on with life.
But he couldn't, he thought, I would betray her memory. Just like Lauren believed would betray Tom's. But Lauren was young, she needed to find someone. I'm, Indy admitted to himself¸ getting up there in years.
"Your daughter is something else," Marion remarked walking into the room, "She's very much like you -" as she looked at the screen, "Katherine?"
Indy nodded, "Lauren took most of reels and put them on tape," pointing at the screen, "This was after the twins were born. In fact a year before Lauren was born."
"Her revival album," nodding, "I remember Eliot pointing it out to me. I have it at home."
"She was beautiful," he said, "Smart, wonderful to me and the kids. I felt I didn't deserve her."
"Because she was rich?"
"That and among other things," he sighed, "Katherine was one in a million. After Deirdre was killed, I felt I could never cared for anyone else like I did with her. But she changed that," Indy pointed at the screen.
"She bought you?" Marion couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"No!" as he slammed a fist on the nearby table, "She never would have done that. She didn't care about her money. She wanted to be loved for who she was on the inside, not in the public eye's view."
Marion nodded. Eliot had told her the similar stories of Katherine. Indy closed his eyes and said,
"I keep remembering the last thing she said to me, 'I'm taking a nap upstairs. Wake me for dinner.' She gave me a kiss, went to the bedroom, and never woke up again."
"Oh, Indy," Marion softly said, reaching out to touch his hand.
"I blamed myself for her death," somberly, "Thinking I could have saved her…"
"Indy, she had cancer. She was suffering. There was nothing you could have done."
"Dammit Marion!" exasperated, "She had money. She could have continued with her treatments, found a cure for it, but she didn't want it. She didn't want me!"
Marion was shocked, as was Lauren, as she came in, hearing the argument in the hallway. Her eyes watered, she held back a sob and went to her father. She looked at him and said, "Mom loved you, Dad. She said so til the very end."
She walked away and brought back a well-worn book, "Here, you should read this."
Indy took it from her, "What is it?"
"Mom's diary," Lauren said softly, "I found the hiding place after her funeral. I've kept it as a reminder of her."
Indy touched the book and said, "You've had it? All these years?"
Lauren nodded, "It helped me when she died. I wanted to be close to her."


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