PREPARATIONS FOR THE AFTERLIFE

A story as old as time, Cleopatra is returned to life, after her tragic departure.

<<<<<< CIRCLE OF SIX

The salty sea air whipped Cleopatra's hair as her barge cut through the waves, a stark contrast to the luxurious life she had once known. Her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of fear and determination. The Battle of Actium had been a crushing defeat, and she had fled, leaving Mark Antony to face the wrath of Octavian alone, sure in the knowledge he would be killed in the action, his fleet decimated and sinking, as she deserted the fleet.

Now, she was returning to Alexandria, her once-beloved city, to face an uncertain future. The Roman fleet was surely on its way, hot on her heels and with it, the end of her reign. Yet, Cleopatra refused to surrender. She had faced down Julius Caesar, charmed Mark Antony, and she would not be cowed by Octavian.

As her galley drew closer to the shore, Cleopatra’s mind raced. She knew she had to act quickly. The Romans were ruthless, and she could not afford to make a single mistake. She must use her wit, her beauty, and her seductive charm to sway her captors.

The galley, battered and weary, finally touched the Alexandrian shore. Cleopatra, her heart heavy with dread, stepped onto the familiar sands. The once-vibrant city, a testament to her power and beauty, now seemed a ghost town, a stark reflection of her fading fortunes.

Stepping onto the dock, Cleopatra felt a surge of adrenaline. She was home, yet it felt foreign. The once-vibrant city was subdued, a shadow of its former self. The news of the defeat had spread, and the people were fearful.

Her mind raced, calculating her next move. Octavian, the ruthless Roman leader, was closing in, his victory at Actium a harbinger of doom. She knew she couldn’t rely on military might; her forces were depleted, many had deserted, her allies scattered. She would need a different weapon, one she had wielded with deadly precision countless times: her allure.

With a grim determination, she made her way to the royal palace. Its grandeur, once a source of pride, now felt hollow and oppressive. She ordered her servants to ready her for a fateful encounter. She would use her beauty, her wit, and her cunning to beguile the Roman conquerors.

Cleopatra moved through the streets, her presence commanding attention. She visited the royal palace, now a symbol of her fading power. The once-ornate rooms were dusty and neglected. She ordered her servants to clean and prepare the palace, making it ready to receive her Roman guests.

As she surveyed the damage, a plan began to form in her mind. She would use her beauty and intelligence to seduce Octavian, just as she had done with Caesar and Antony. She would beguile him, ensnare him, and turn him to her side.

She knew it was a long shot, but it was her only hope. If she could win over Octavian, she could secure a future for herself and Egypt.

As she bathed, she thought of Caesar and Antony, men who had fallen under her spell. Octavian, though younger and less experienced in love, was still a man. She would ensnare him, just as she had the others.

Dressed in a simple yet elegant gown, she emerged from her chambers. Her eyes, dark and mysterious, held a promise of untold pleasures. She would play the role of the helpless queen, the victim of cruel fate. She would let Octavian see the woman beneath the powerful ruler, the woman who longed for love and protection.

As the Roman soldiers arrived, she greeted them with a facade of submission. She would use their arrogance, their thirst for power, against them. She would turn their victory into her own triumph.

The stage was set. The play was about to begin. And Cleopatra, the eternal seductress, was ready for her final act.

BITTER FAREWELL

And then a fly in her ointment came on the scene as a shock. Cleopatra had planned for every eventuality, every contingency in preparing to seduce Octavian. But she hadn’t planned for this. Cleopatra's heart pounded with a mix of relief and dread. Mark Antony, the man she loved, the man she had betrayed and deserted when it mattered most, had defied death, evaded capture and limped back to Alexandria to lick his wounds, mostly heartbroken at being abandoned in battle.

How then to deal with this, with Octavian so close. The political animal inside her sent news to Antonious, that she had poisoned herself, where he refused to attend her bedchambers.

She had sent the false news of her death, a desperate ploy to lure him back.

She had sent a message, a cruel deception, to lure him to her.

She had expected angered reprisals, perhaps even resentment. But not this. Not the look of utter devastation in his eyes. The news of her supposed suicide had ignited a fire within him, a desperate love that blinded him to the truth. 

The former Roman General had stabbed himself a mortal wound, never to heal. She of course was skeptical, thinking on her own benchmark deceptions.

When he arrived, his anger and anguish were palpable. He begged to enter, knowing he was fading fast. Pounding on her door.

She, the master manipulator, was caught in her own web. She finally allowed entry to her mausoleum.

As he raged, blood spewing from his wound, she feigned weakness, her eyes filled with crocodile tears.

“You should not have left me to die,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

The man in her arms, ravaged by grief and betrayal, was a mere shadow of the powerful leader she had once known. Now a bloody mess.

“No,” she replied, her voice trembling. “I should have believed.”

He managed a weak smile. Knowing she had destroyed him, and yet given him great joys in the process. Her lover was now dying in her arms. His life force was ebbing, his breath shallow. Cleopatra leaned down and kissed Mark Antony, a kiss that said everything to the receiver, without words.

“You always were too kind.”

With his dying breath, he whispered her name, "C L E O P A T R A," his voice filled with a love that transcended betrayal and pain, a smile creased his rugged features. In that moment, she realized the true cost of her ambition. She had sacrificed love for power, only to find that power was meaningless without love.

She held his hand, her fingers tracing the lines of his palm. “I’m so sorry, my love.” Genuine tears now streaming down her face.

His eyes slowly closed, his face became expressionless, his grip loosened.

And then, .......... 

He was gone.

A tsunami of grief washed over her.

She had lost the love of her life, the only man who had ever truly understood her. She had sacrificed him on the altar of power, and now she was paying the ultimate price.

Gone forever.

But she couldn’t afford to dwell on her sorrow. Time was the enemy now.

She had to think of the future, of Egypt, of her children. Octavian was approaching, and she had to ready for the performance of her life. Quickly, no time to dwell.

Now, she faced a new challenge: negotiating with Octavian. She would use her grief as a weapon, exploiting his pity and remorse. She would bargain for the right to bury Antony with the dignity he deserved, buying herself precious time to plan her next move.

As she prepared to face the Roman conqueror, she knew that the game was far from over. The final act of this tragic drama was yet to be played.

She sent a message to the Roman general, requesting a meeting. She would use her beauty, her intelligence, and her desperation to negotiate a favorable deal. She would at least ensure that Mark Antony received a proper burial, and that her children would be safe.

As she prepared for the meeting, she couldn’t shake the feeling of emptiness. The world had lost its color, its joy. All that remained was a bleak, uncertain future.

AN UNDERSTANDING

Cleopatra, once the epitome of beauty and power, now stood before Octavian, a mere shadow of her former self. Her attempts to seduce him, to rekindle the passion of old, had fallen flat. The man who had once been captivated by her charms now saw her as a relic, a prize to be displayed and controlled. A political pawn. And that she understood from the looks of pity that the Roman commander could not hide.

The realization was a bitter pill to swallow. She had underestimated the passage of time, the toll it had taken on her body and her allure. She was no longer the young, untamed queen who could ensnare any man. Now, she was a pawn in a game she could no longer control.

Cleopatra was though a survivor. She would not allow herself to be humiliated, to be paraded as a trophy. She would dictate her own fate, even if it meant accepting a diminished role. She would play the part of the submissive lover, the devoted companion, the prize of his victory over Egypt. But beneath the facade, she would plot her revenge, a slow, insidious poison that would consume Octavian from within.

Though, with no thoughts of love or lust, he only offered her humiliation. He proposed to parade her through the streets of Rome, a captive queen, a trophy of his victory. The thought of such public degradation was unbearable, but she knew she had no choice. Her power was waning, her options dwindling.

To salvage what little dignity remained, she offered a diverse manner of treaty. She would become his loyal slave and do his bidding, a silent partner in his rise to power. In return, she asked for one final request: to be buried beside Mark Antony, to spend eternity with the man she had loved.

Octavian, intrigued by her proposal, agreed. He saw in her a potential political asset, a symbol of his triumph over Egypt. But he was also wary of her cunning. He knew she was capable of great deception, and he would not underestimate her.

She would ensure that her legacy would not be one of total defeat and humiliation, but of enduring power. She would secure her place in history, not as a conquered queen, but as a woman who defied the odds, who dared to dream and to scheme. A casualty of circumstance. A martyr.

As she prepared for her final act, she thought of Mark Antony, the man who had loved her truly. She mourned his loss, the loss of a love that had been both a blessing and a curse, now blood on her hands. But she also knew that his death had freed her, had given her a chance to rewrite her story.

She would face Octavian with a mixture of defiance and resignation. She would accept his terms, but only on her own conditions. She would demand the right to a dignified death, a burial worthy of a queen. And she would make sure that Octavian would pay the ultimate price for his arrogance and cruelty, with a return after his natural term on life.

As the days turned into weeks, Cleopatra prepared for her final act. She feigned submission, playing the role of the heartbroken lover. But beneath the facade, her mind was racing, plotting her escape. She knew that her life, and her legacy, depended on it.

THE FIG BASKET

Cleopatra, though a prisoner, was far from defeated. She had secured a promise from Octavian: a dignified burial in Egypt, alongside her beloved Mark Antony. Yet, she knew that the Roman’s mercy was a fragile thing. He suspected her intentions, the flicker of defiance in her eyes, the secret plans whispered to her loyal handmaidens, Charmian and Iras. About which she begged of them silence.

In the quiet solitude of her chambers, she conferred with her trusted companions. A daring plan was hatched, a final act of defiance against fate. A plan as old as Egypt itself, a silent, venomous kiss. Asps, the sacred serpents of the Nile, would be smuggled into her chamber, their deadly bite a swift and painless release.

But even as she rejoiced in this small triumph, a shadow of doubt crept into her mind. Octavian, ever the cautious ruler, suspected her intentions. He knew she was capable of anything, even self-harm. To thwart her plans, he had doubled her guards, restricting her movements.

She saw herself, a divine being, sailing down the Nile, towards the gates of the underworld. Anubis, the jackal-headed god, would weigh her heart against the feather of truth. If her heart was found to be light, she would be allowed to enter the realm of the blessed.

But her preparations extended beyond the mortal realm. She summoned her priests, men versed in the ancient mysteries of the afterlife. She instructed them to embalm her body with the finest resins and oils, to preserve her for eternity. She wanted to be ready for the journey to the underworld, to face the judgment of Anubis, the god of death. She trusted them to do her bidding. And they wished only to see their Queen once more at the helm of a free Egypt.

As the fateful day approached, a sense of peace settled over her. She was ready. She had lived a life of passion, of power, and of profound loss. She had loved fiercely, lost tragically, and fought with unwavering determination.

Now, as the shadows lengthened, she awaited her final act. The asps, symbols of rebirth and renewal, would be her passage to the next world. She would join Mark Antony, her eternal love, in the afterlife. And there, in the realm of the gods, she would find the peace that had eluded her in life.

POISON ASP  >>>>>>

PROLOGUE    INNER CIRCLE OF SIX - Nazi funded medical human research laboratories Joseph Mengele's Fourth Reich escape to Brazil reserve plan.

CHAPTER 1.  THE BATTLE OF ACTIUM - Queen Cleopatra retreats leaving Mark Antony to lose against Octavian and seek a new deal with Rome

CHAPTER 2.   THE POISON ASP - Hotfoot from Actium, Cleopatra's plan to seduce Octavian backfired leading to a suicide pact with Anubis and Isis

CHAPTER 3.   WRATH OF THE GODS - 365BC destruction of Thonis and Alexandria, Anubis and Isis watch on in horror as Cleopatra is submerged

CHAPTER 4.   NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy, for doing good

CHAPTER 5.   THE AFTERLIFE - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries submerged and out of sight with little change of discovery

CHAPTER 6.   CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a semi religious sect, New World Order

CHAPTER 7.   INCUBUS - Roberta Ferrara secures the expertise of Franco Francisco for knights of the New World Order: Neuwelt Rittertum

CHAPTER 8.   SPLICE - Klaus and Eva von Kolreuter find a way to live forever using cloning technology; Genonimo Investments, Geneva

CHAPTER 9.   TREMORS - Cleopatra's feels vibrations after a shift in the tectonic plates triggered a tremor off the coast of Alexandria.

CHAPTER 10.  PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - The secret is out, an enhanced human is spotted running at unbelievable speeds

CHAPTER 11.  THE AMAZON - Charley agrees to meet John & Dan at Manaus, but is a little too inquisitive

CHAPTER 12.  TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures.

CHAPTER 13.  SCOTLAND YARD - The famous London DNA database is stolen, the biggest data heist to date. The Yard initiates a cover up

CHAPTER 14.  OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace.

CHAPTER 15.  KIDNAP - Charley is taken prisoner but John rescues her, in the process becoming injected with a serum

CHAPTER 16.  UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice.

CHAPTER 17.  REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence and implanted memories.

CHAPTER 18.  FULL STEAM AHEAD - Storm speeds to Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered.

CHAPTER 19.  RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation.

CHAPTER 20.  SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds secret Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators.

CHAPTER 21.  THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant.

CHAPTER 22.  MILITARY INTERVENTION - The military detain Cleopatra to appease stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught.

CHAPTER 23.  BATTLE ARMOUR - Thanks to some unexplained divine intervention, Dan Hawk talks John Storm into wearing a bullet proof suit.

CHAPTER 24.  DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned:  FINALE

GRAPHIC BRIEF - SUGGESTED LAYOUTS/ FORMAT

CHAPTER 1.   THE POISON ASP - Overwhelmed by grief, Cleopatra poisons herself with a cobra bite in her mausoleum

CHAPTER 2.   WRATH OF THE GODS - The destruction of Thonis and Alexandria

CHAPTER 3.   NEW WORLD ORDER - A Neo-Nazi plan to regenerate Aryan supremacy

CHAPTER 4.   CYBERCORE GENETICA - Nano computer technology is purchased at an auction by a religious sect

CHAPTER 5.   INCUBUS - Franco Francisco accepts offer of employment from Roberta Ferrara

CHAPTER 6.   SPLICE - Klaus von Kolreuter perfects a method of gene manipulation

CHAPTER 7.   TREMORS - Cleopatra's tomb lay lost for centuries, until shift in the tectonic plates trigger tremor off the coast of Alexandria

CHAPTER 8.   PANAMANIAN RUNNING MAN - Marjorie Boyle videos exceptionally fast athlete, Sam Hollis investigates

CHAPTER 9.   AMAZON QUEEN - Elizabeth Swann navigating river and docking at Manaus

CHAPTER 10. TOMB RAIDERS - Safiya Sabuka and Musa Bomani dive among sifting sands to discover precious artifacts and golden treasures

CHAPTER 11. SCOTLAND YARD - London's secure DNA database is stolen

CHAPTER 12. OPERATION ALEXANDRIA - Neo-Nazi occultists recover Cleopatra's sarcophagus from underwater tomb near Palace

CHAPTER 13. KIDNAPPED - Charley is taken prisoner, John, Dan and CIA rescue her

CHAPTER 14. UNESCO - Catholic Church fear grave desecration heritage theft, asks agencies for help. Interpol issue Red Notice

CHAPTER 15. REPLICANT - The Society reproduce Cleopatra using Francisco's RepliVator™, uploading synapse sequence, implanted memories

CHAPTER 16. FULL STEAM AHEAD - To Thonis, then uses the Swann's AI sensors and the Ark database to find tomb has been plundered

CHAPTER 17. RITUAL SACRIFICE - The Baron prepares a drugged Cleopatra for ceremonial impregnation

CHAPTER 18. SANCTUM INTERRUPTUS - John finds Nazi hideout near Alexandria, disturbs ritual - rescues Cleopatra, arresting conspirators

CHAPTER 19. THE CHOSEN ONE - The reincarnated Cleopatra falls for her rescuer. John comes under her spell, despite her being a replicant

CHAPTER 20. MILITARY INTERVENTION - Military detain Cleopatra for stakeholders, despite media & medical protests. Storm distraught

CHAPTER 21. DÉJÀ VU - History repeats itself, military lock up technology as gross violation of human rights, John left disillusioned

THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN STORM: CLEOPATRA & THE MUMMY

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The rights of Jameson Hunter and Cleaner Ocean Foundation to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988. This website and the associated Cleopatra artwork is Copyright © 2022 Cleaner Ocean Foundation and Jameson Hunter. This is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the authors' imaginations, and any resemblance to any person, living or departed, is entirely coincidental.