Disclaimer: Alright,
let me put it to you this way. I own this wonderfully gifted plot, the
way these characters think, and well, I guess I own you two. Tell me
what you think, because all constructive criticism is needed. Please
don't flame though. That won't be nice, would it?
Chapter one
My arms were getting tired from braiding my hair, and I tried to retrain the urge to cut it all off. After all, it was awfully long. Besides, it brought me an effeminate feature to my statue, yet I could destroy anyone who owned a butt. Sighing, I crossed my legs over the sofa and gazed at the clock longingly. Why was this bloody puzzle… such a hard puzzle to figure out? It's been over a week already, and yet a blank still remained in my head.
"My lady?" My eyes wandered up at the voice and I smiled.
"Ah, Joseph. I'm glad to see you're out of the gutter today, as you've so nicely put it?"
He smiled and ducked his head so I couldn't catch the light pink patches across his cheeks. "I suppose so, Lady Croft. Tell me, have you got the chance to receive any clues from the clock? I know it's awfully hard these days…" His voice trailed off.
I frowned. Now, wasn't this interesting? I haven't heard from this old bloke since I've almost started this little test, and now he pops out of dwindle land and wants to know how I'm doing? Well, that was awfully considerate of the old fart, considering he was quite younger than myself, as hard as it was for me to admit. I grinned sheepishly, nodding my head to the clock that was still left in my hand.
It wasn't an ordinary clock. It was one of those clocks that you would find at a garage sale, and yet no one bothered to look at. It was unordinary really, and if it wasn't for this problem I think I'd actually enjoy its company.
"Lady?" I snapped my head up at Joseph. "Are you feeling well?"
"Yes," I replied, touching the side of my eyebrow and sighing. "Just a bit dazed with all the load of work. You know."
"Indeed." He glanced at the clock and then back at me. "You just hurry on that clock, understand?"
Yes, I understand you ungrateful arse… I smiled. "Awfully well."
He nodded and with one last glance at the clock, he turned and left the warm room of the library. Well, wasn't that just interesting? Looking down at the clock, I gazed at it once more before shoving it in my pants and heading outside into the brisk, summer morning. Or was it the afternoon? Damn whisky bottle.
The cool breeze was refreshing against my face as I cruised down just one of the Los Angeles high ways. Bloody Americans, all they believe in was honking. You've got to improvise. Grinning, I turned my bike in the center of the yellow lines and sped passed the honking, impatient cars. Ah, you have got to love California.
It took longer than expected to return home. The cops had pulled me over for a warrant. Turned out they were looking for another lady, so with some cursing and waving of the fingers, I was left free.
Free to my big, country house next to some blubbering fame.
And unfortunately, I was living besides some English bloke, over reacting to fame named Bloom. He was outside on his lawn taking in the sun when I parked my bike, taking my helmet and throwing it over at a shrub.
He turned to me, his sunglasses raising. "Well, 'ello neighbor."
I smiled, knowing he did not like me. "Mr. Bloom, lovely day outside isn't it?" I walked over to my front door and unlocked it, turning my head slightly as my braid flapped against my face. "If you excuse me, I have some asses I have to kick."
"Hey Lara." I did not look up to know who entered my working station.
I turned on my side and side kicked the sand bag. "Hullo Brice." I gave another kick as he walked besides it to get my attention.
"I have good news." He announced, dodging one of my strong blows in time before getting whacked by the bag.
"Ah-ha." I took a few steps back before throwing my fists against it.
There was a pause. "Don't you want to know it?"
"Who said I didn't?" I glanced over at him and hid a smirk. He still wasn't use to my good nature attitude.
"Anyway…" He sat himself on one of my railing posts and regarded me closely. "I've just got a call from Banks."
I stopped assaulting the boxing bag and froze. "Ralph Banks from Oxford?"
"No," Exaggeration was evident in his tone as his eyes rolled far back into his head. "Agent Cody Banks. Of course Ralph Banks! He called just before, bloody Doctor degree and all…"
"Hmm, he is just a Doctor with a degree, isn't he?" I grabbed the bag with both my hands and stilled it. "Well, what did he want? Checking up on the clock account, I presume?"
"Negative." He replied, looking at his hands before looking back at me. "He's here now. He's wanted to talk to you all evening but with you being at the local L and all…"
"Local L?" I raised an eyebrow and grabbed a set of knives from the wall.
He watched me twirl them around before replying, "Local Library. Anyway, Lara, look. He says it's urgent and I think he has something to with the clock alright. But… it's strange. Ever since this talk of the circle and all, it got me thinking."
"That is strange." I placed them back on their shelves and threw back a strand of my black hair that fell from its braid. "You thinking and all-- Brice, I'm only joking. Cheer up. I've got some news on the clock after all."
"Oh?" He jumped off the railing and grinned. "Tell me then, go on!"
"Well," I threw back my finger, motioning him to come closer. "Well, I've figured out this: It doesn't tell time."
He blinked and threw back his head. Frustrated, he pounded his fists against the wall. "Honestly Lara, do you realise how this all is going to end up? If you don't find out what this bloody clock means then the world might as well vanish!"
"What I do know," I told him, walking with him towards the lounge. "is that the clock must have something to do with the circle. The blasted thing can't just appear out of no where, can it?"
"You don't suppose anyone planted it there, by any chance?" Brice suggested.
I shook my head, my braid swapped me in the face. Angry, I tucked it behind my shirt and entered the lounge, where sat old Mr. Ralph Banks, drinking a glass of whisky and looking at the fireplace. He was a good man, don't get me wrong, it was just that the whole 18th century look gave him off a little. Silly old man.
"Ah, my lady!" He cried, taking a swig from his whisky glass and standing up. "How are you dwelling this fine evening?"
"Good," I shrugged, pecking him on his cheek. "And how are you? I've heard about your surgery, are you doing ok?"
"Fine indeed!" He laughed, clapping his hands against my shoulders. "You've grown. Have you not?"
"In the eyes of whisky, I dare say." I said, smiling as he poured himself another glass. "Careful now." I took hold of the glass and downed it down before pouring another. "I might have to drive somewhere soon."
He found that humorous and giggled, falling against the sofa and looking at me. Then he fell silent, a serious look on his wrinkled, battered face. "Lara…"
"I know, I know." I sighed, running my finger against the glass. "The clock-"
"Is ticking." He finished pointedly, his gray brow raising. "Lara, I came here not for a drink, but to tell you something."
I rubbed the side of my head, taking a large gulp from the whisky bottle. This damned headache was too much, but I do not like all that pain reliever junk, so I'm just going to deal with it. "Yes?" I didn't want him here. Good chap or not, I wanted to be left along for just one night.
"Er…" Brice removed himself from the edge of the sofa as the door bell rang. "I'll just… Get that." And scurried off.
"He's been here long?" Mr. Banks asked me, his brow still perked up.
I laughed. "You can say that."
He smiled on the slightest, and sighed. "The clock," He continued, fingering the gold ring, -that I now noticed-, on his index finger. "Is a ring."
"A ring?" I asked, putting down the bottle and gaping at the old man. "That's why it hasn't begun ticking! That's why I haven't been getting any information! It's a blasted Ring! Gah!" I grabbed the whisky bottle and took another gulp.
"Easy does it," He told me, reaching out and grabbing it from me. "The information is not needed any longer. What you know is all you need to. The clock is a ring and it holds the power of One."
"Meaning…?"
"Meaning it can take you places where you've longed to go." I raised my eyebrows.
"Country wise, Mr. Banks?"
He shook his head and smiled. "Indeed not, Lady Croft. You have longed to go there, but you do not have any recollection just yet. That is why I am telling you before hand." I stared at him, and he hesitated, but continued, "My lady, the ring is indeed a clock, but none you have yet witnessed. It is sort of like… a time bearer. It can change time, but at the same it could destroy it. The ring is wanted somewhere else, and now that you own it, they are after you."
I nodded. "They? Who are they? The travelers?"
He shook his head again. "Not quite. They are attempting to travel, yes, but they can not come to our time period. If they do then the world is doomed to perish." I rolled my eyes. Like I haven't heard that before! "So I have to ask something of you…"
"Don't bother," I waved him off and leaned back. "You want me to go back in time and destroy the ring watch so that this time period is not doomed to 'perish'? Yes, that's exactly what you've come to ask me."
So… You will do it, Lara? Do it for me?" He looked pleading, and I gritted my teeth.
After a long pause, I nodded, the empty glass bottle shattering. "Yes, Mr. Banks. I will."
He smiled, clapped his hands together and stood.
"Excellent. Well, Miss Croft, you best get ready for your travel to Middle Earth."
I tried to smile and bowed my head the slightest. "It was very nice to see you then, Mr. Banks."
"Oh, we will meet again Lara Croft. Do not worry yourself."
Chapter one
My arms were getting tired from braiding my hair, and I tried to retrain the urge to cut it all off. After all, it was awfully long. Besides, it brought me an effeminate feature to my statue, yet I could destroy anyone who owned a butt. Sighing, I crossed my legs over the sofa and gazed at the clock longingly. Why was this bloody puzzle… such a hard puzzle to figure out? It's been over a week already, and yet a blank still remained in my head.
"My lady?" My eyes wandered up at the voice and I smiled.
"Ah, Joseph. I'm glad to see you're out of the gutter today, as you've so nicely put it?"
He smiled and ducked his head so I couldn't catch the light pink patches across his cheeks. "I suppose so, Lady Croft. Tell me, have you got the chance to receive any clues from the clock? I know it's awfully hard these days…" His voice trailed off.
I frowned. Now, wasn't this interesting? I haven't heard from this old bloke since I've almost started this little test, and now he pops out of dwindle land and wants to know how I'm doing? Well, that was awfully considerate of the old fart, considering he was quite younger than myself, as hard as it was for me to admit. I grinned sheepishly, nodding my head to the clock that was still left in my hand.
It wasn't an ordinary clock. It was one of those clocks that you would find at a garage sale, and yet no one bothered to look at. It was unordinary really, and if it wasn't for this problem I think I'd actually enjoy its company.
"Lady?" I snapped my head up at Joseph. "Are you feeling well?"
"Yes," I replied, touching the side of my eyebrow and sighing. "Just a bit dazed with all the load of work. You know."
"Indeed." He glanced at the clock and then back at me. "You just hurry on that clock, understand?"
Yes, I understand you ungrateful arse… I smiled. "Awfully well."
He nodded and with one last glance at the clock, he turned and left the warm room of the library. Well, wasn't that just interesting? Looking down at the clock, I gazed at it once more before shoving it in my pants and heading outside into the brisk, summer morning. Or was it the afternoon? Damn whisky bottle.
The cool breeze was refreshing against my face as I cruised down just one of the Los Angeles high ways. Bloody Americans, all they believe in was honking. You've got to improvise. Grinning, I turned my bike in the center of the yellow lines and sped passed the honking, impatient cars. Ah, you have got to love California.
It took longer than expected to return home. The cops had pulled me over for a warrant. Turned out they were looking for another lady, so with some cursing and waving of the fingers, I was left free.
Free to my big, country house next to some blubbering fame.
And unfortunately, I was living besides some English bloke, over reacting to fame named Bloom. He was outside on his lawn taking in the sun when I parked my bike, taking my helmet and throwing it over at a shrub.
He turned to me, his sunglasses raising. "Well, 'ello neighbor."
I smiled, knowing he did not like me. "Mr. Bloom, lovely day outside isn't it?" I walked over to my front door and unlocked it, turning my head slightly as my braid flapped against my face. "If you excuse me, I have some asses I have to kick."
"Hey Lara." I did not look up to know who entered my working station.
I turned on my side and side kicked the sand bag. "Hullo Brice." I gave another kick as he walked besides it to get my attention.
"I have good news." He announced, dodging one of my strong blows in time before getting whacked by the bag.
"Ah-ha." I took a few steps back before throwing my fists against it.
There was a pause. "Don't you want to know it?"
"Who said I didn't?" I glanced over at him and hid a smirk. He still wasn't use to my good nature attitude.
"Anyway…" He sat himself on one of my railing posts and regarded me closely. "I've just got a call from Banks."
I stopped assaulting the boxing bag and froze. "Ralph Banks from Oxford?"
"No," Exaggeration was evident in his tone as his eyes rolled far back into his head. "Agent Cody Banks. Of course Ralph Banks! He called just before, bloody Doctor degree and all…"
"Hmm, he is just a Doctor with a degree, isn't he?" I grabbed the bag with both my hands and stilled it. "Well, what did he want? Checking up on the clock account, I presume?"
"Negative." He replied, looking at his hands before looking back at me. "He's here now. He's wanted to talk to you all evening but with you being at the local L and all…"
"Local L?" I raised an eyebrow and grabbed a set of knives from the wall.
He watched me twirl them around before replying, "Local Library. Anyway, Lara, look. He says it's urgent and I think he has something to with the clock alright. But… it's strange. Ever since this talk of the circle and all, it got me thinking."
"That is strange." I placed them back on their shelves and threw back a strand of my black hair that fell from its braid. "You thinking and all-- Brice, I'm only joking. Cheer up. I've got some news on the clock after all."
"Oh?" He jumped off the railing and grinned. "Tell me then, go on!"
"Well," I threw back my finger, motioning him to come closer. "Well, I've figured out this: It doesn't tell time."
He blinked and threw back his head. Frustrated, he pounded his fists against the wall. "Honestly Lara, do you realise how this all is going to end up? If you don't find out what this bloody clock means then the world might as well vanish!"
"What I do know," I told him, walking with him towards the lounge. "is that the clock must have something to do with the circle. The blasted thing can't just appear out of no where, can it?"
"You don't suppose anyone planted it there, by any chance?" Brice suggested.
I shook my head, my braid swapped me in the face. Angry, I tucked it behind my shirt and entered the lounge, where sat old Mr. Ralph Banks, drinking a glass of whisky and looking at the fireplace. He was a good man, don't get me wrong, it was just that the whole 18th century look gave him off a little. Silly old man.
"Ah, my lady!" He cried, taking a swig from his whisky glass and standing up. "How are you dwelling this fine evening?"
"Good," I shrugged, pecking him on his cheek. "And how are you? I've heard about your surgery, are you doing ok?"
"Fine indeed!" He laughed, clapping his hands against my shoulders. "You've grown. Have you not?"
"In the eyes of whisky, I dare say." I said, smiling as he poured himself another glass. "Careful now." I took hold of the glass and downed it down before pouring another. "I might have to drive somewhere soon."
He found that humorous and giggled, falling against the sofa and looking at me. Then he fell silent, a serious look on his wrinkled, battered face. "Lara…"
"I know, I know." I sighed, running my finger against the glass. "The clock-"
"Is ticking." He finished pointedly, his gray brow raising. "Lara, I came here not for a drink, but to tell you something."
I rubbed the side of my head, taking a large gulp from the whisky bottle. This damned headache was too much, but I do not like all that pain reliever junk, so I'm just going to deal with it. "Yes?" I didn't want him here. Good chap or not, I wanted to be left along for just one night.
"Er…" Brice removed himself from the edge of the sofa as the door bell rang. "I'll just… Get that." And scurried off.
"He's been here long?" Mr. Banks asked me, his brow still perked up.
I laughed. "You can say that."
He smiled on the slightest, and sighed. "The clock," He continued, fingering the gold ring, -that I now noticed-, on his index finger. "Is a ring."
"A ring?" I asked, putting down the bottle and gaping at the old man. "That's why it hasn't begun ticking! That's why I haven't been getting any information! It's a blasted Ring! Gah!" I grabbed the whisky bottle and took another gulp.
"Easy does it," He told me, reaching out and grabbing it from me. "The information is not needed any longer. What you know is all you need to. The clock is a ring and it holds the power of One."
"Meaning…?"
"Meaning it can take you places where you've longed to go." I raised my eyebrows.
"Country wise, Mr. Banks?"
He shook his head and smiled. "Indeed not, Lady Croft. You have longed to go there, but you do not have any recollection just yet. That is why I am telling you before hand." I stared at him, and he hesitated, but continued, "My lady, the ring is indeed a clock, but none you have yet witnessed. It is sort of like… a time bearer. It can change time, but at the same it could destroy it. The ring is wanted somewhere else, and now that you own it, they are after you."
I nodded. "They? Who are they? The travelers?"
He shook his head again. "Not quite. They are attempting to travel, yes, but they can not come to our time period. If they do then the world is doomed to perish." I rolled my eyes. Like I haven't heard that before! "So I have to ask something of you…"
"Don't bother," I waved him off and leaned back. "You want me to go back in time and destroy the ring watch so that this time period is not doomed to 'perish'? Yes, that's exactly what you've come to ask me."
So… You will do it, Lara? Do it for me?" He looked pleading, and I gritted my teeth.
After a long pause, I nodded, the empty glass bottle shattering. "Yes, Mr. Banks. I will."
He smiled, clapped his hands together and stood.
"Excellent. Well, Miss Croft, you best get ready for your travel to Middle Earth."
I tried to smile and bowed my head the slightest. "It was very nice to see you then, Mr. Banks."
"Oh, we will meet again Lara Croft. Do not worry yourself."
