"Isn't that just lovely?" Lara Croft spoke to herself, using her binoculars to zoom in on the astonishing Temple ruins she was currently rummaging about. Winding up the lens, her picture came to a full zoom as she read about the Australian markings on the outside walls, very reminiscent to Algebra.
Brushing back a lock of her dark hair, she pulled the camera down, a small smile creeping upon her lips. "Oh yes, this should be fun" Slipping her binoculars back into the right pocket, she rose to her black boots that time. Putting both her gloved hands on each side of her holster, she looked about the rest of the scenery where she was; Brisbane, Australia.
Lara enjoyed the beautiful rays from the sun going down, casting over the tall, thick bristles of pine trees she was surround by. It took her a hell of time getting through the Marsh, considering the front wheel of her dirt bike got stuck in the thick grass, leaving her to hike the rest of the way up the hill. Good thing her leather pistols didn't caught in the weeds as well, already losing her carrying bag on the way.
She glanced back to see her bike now sinking deeper into the mud, and rolled her brown eyes, putting her attention back on the Tavern. Checking to make sure she hadn't lost anything else; she had her guns, her medic kit and her Swiss Army Knife. 'That should do it,' she thought, before stepping back somewhat away from the edge.
Taking a deep inhale, Lara stepped forward onto her hands, carefully balancing herself on the mucky grass. Her thick braid swung around her face as she walked forward carefully, measuring herself on the edge. Small pieces of rock crumbled and slipped downward, falling and disappearing before they hit the cold water below.
"Relax, Lara, relax" She gave herself small advice, closing her eyes. Readying herself, she used her gymnastic ability to swing around in a 360 circle, before leaping off the cliff. The wind blew around her face as she turned stomach first, facing the water. It was about a fifty feet drop, giving her enough time to pull out her magnetic grapple. She looked and went to aim for something to grapple upon, but her eyes widened when she saw there was nothing sight.
"Oh bloody hell!" She cursed herself for being so stupid, knowing it wouldn't work on any branch or wood type. Getting closer and closer to plunging in the water, she thought quickly. An ancient memory of her Father teaching her how to swan dive flooded her mind that point.
"Now Lara, you must concentrate" Her father said sternly, standing behind her on the large diving board. She stood in front of him, her feet touching the end. Both their weight together made the board dip slightly, and she didn't know if it would work or not.
"But father-"She was silenced when his hand touched the top of her French braid, and she knew it was her time not to interject. The board was fifteen feet high above the large pool below them, not even seeing her reflection.
"Concentrate" Richard's words cooed softly in her ear, and she relaxed somewhat. Letting her body fall slack momentarily, Lara closed her brown eyes briefly.
"Jump"
With her Father's word, Lara soared off the diving board with lightning speed, her eyes still closed as she did. Wind blew around her as she angled herself in a straightened position, spreading her pale arms on each side of her.
Fixing out her legs, she reminded you of a snow angle as she fell, before meeting the water. She tilted her head first, and before she did, her arms came to a point in front of her head, fingers tips touching the water, before her entire body.
She kept her eyes closed as she swam back up towards the surface. She popped out quickly, taking in air as she did. She shook her braid out, before gazing upwards, seeing her Father smiling and clapping down towards her.
"Very good, Lara"
When Lara opened her eyes, coming back to reality, she was few feet from the water. Doing as she was taught, she straightened out each of her limbs. Tilting head first, she brought her arms close to her in a sharp point, finally reaching the water. She gasped as the cold, pristine water breached her bare flesh, the dark water surrounding her. She touched the bottom momentarily, before heading back up towards the top.
Sunlight came into view as she came out of the water, exhaling deeply. Rubbing her eyes, Lara began swimming towards the nearest land. Reaching it, she grabbed the edge tightly, before slowly easing her figure out. Her legs swung above her as she did, then she plopped down onto her feet, without breaking a sweat.
She was soaked in water, from head to toe. Not worrying about that however, she ringed out the back of her braid, feeling around to see that she still had equipment. Gazing up to see she was near the Temple, she grinned. It was a remarkable sight up close, and her nerves began tingling with excitement from getting what's inside.
"Thank you, Father" She said, before heading over towards the nearest wall.
xxxxxxxxxxx
"Well, that figures" Indiana Jones spoke harshly, using his hand as a shield from the sun. He was in the bank of the Temple, looking for a way inside. He cursed when he spotted a couple of Mercenaries down below near the entrance, trying to get inside. He rolled his eyes before taking off his Fedora.
Running his hand over his matted hair, he looked back downwards. "Why do all of these bastards have to ruin everything I'm looking for?" Indiana couldn't tell if they were German or Indian, but he knew they were trouble. On his left knee, he leaned over a little farther, spotting the men carrying a battering ram, to get the door open.
"Amateurs, you're just going to sects inside pissed" He spoke to himself, before checking around his belt and waist, grinning when his whip was still intact. On his way here, he had to climb over broken tree branches and shattered stones, almost spraining his ankle at one point. Not to mention he was covered in water, starting to dry somewhat.
From the back entrance, he had to swim across the pond that stood behind the Tavern, giving him luck that no Snakes, Alligators or anything else was in the water. His bag was dropped in the sticky sand at the ocean/land line, sinking down to the bottom. Now he was left with his Magnum Pistol, his signature whip and his fedora. Nothing could get worse at this point, he thought.
Once they were unable to get in through the door, most of them had descended back into the Militia trucks and wagons. Smirking as they failed, Indiana swiftly put his Fedora back on, pulling out his whip. He swung down to the bottom, picking up where they left off.
Indiana spotted and open crack from where the ram had being used to crushed, and headed towards it. Slipping on his gloves, he grabbed a hold of the side, beginning to it outwards, giving him enough space to slip inside. Once he was in, he closed the stone door behind, securing it so that now outside intruders could get in.
He around, the area light briefly by two torches. Grabbing one of them, he began making his way into the interior section. "Amazing" He said, his fingers brushing against the Algebraic markings on the marble walls, no dust left on his skin. He crooked an eyebrow at that, but shook it off as he focused on finding the main corridor.
Ducking under an angled ceiling, he didn't realize where he was going. Gaping as slippery rocks gave out under his feet, he retreated and grasped onto the door way frames, taking in a deep breath from almost falling. "God damn…" He panted, looking down to see the rocks fall into the water below. "Water must be leaking from outside" He said, looking at it once more, before walking around it.
As he ventured more in, it began getting darker. He held the torch up higher on an angle, squinting his eyes to get a better view. He came to a set of stairs that point, and he paused briefly, using the fire to rid the stair well of rats. They all scattered like roaches, hiding and running into small holes and cracks in the walls.
Indiana carefully walked up the stone steps, not sure if they were stable or not. Bracing himself, just in case of a fall he put his hand on the wall, balancing his step. Now off the stairs, he entered a long corridor, not paying attention to where he was going. Too wrapped up in the Australian writings above him, he lost his footing.
He swung his arms around to find something to grab, but it faulted when he fell backwards, landing on his ass. He groaned from the pain, holding his tail bone. His torch had gone out, sizzling somewhat when it touched the shallow water. Completely dark, he realized he was in very cold water, but it wasn't deep as it came up to his waist line. Feeling around for any glass or sharp objects, he came up empty.
He paused then. A hissing noise came about in the darkness moments after he fell. He couldn't make out was it was, but hoped it was nothing dangerous. Trying not to move around to cause more noise drawn to him, he reached into his jacket pocket. He fiddled around somewhat, before reaching his lighter. The noise was louder and it seemed like it was close by. He flipped the lid open, and the flame appeared. When he flashed the fire over in front o him, his heart nearly stopped.
Sitting before him was a Snake. Not just any snake, a Cobra. He froze almost immediately, not knowing what to do. He'd been through this before, but he didn't have a big enough fire to scare it away. Indiana swallowed the thick lump forming in his throat, and felt the tips of his fingers start to numb.
"Okay Indy, take a deep breath" His words even scared him. The Cobra didn't move, its penetrating eyes attached to him. He sucked in his bottom lip, glancing to the left to see his torch was a few inches away in arms reach. 'If I can reach it' He thought, still holding the lighter.
Slowly, Indiana reached over some, keeping an eye on the Cobra doing so. He gripped the handle of it firmly and pulled it back towards him. Shaking it softly to get the water off, his eyes widened when the Cobra hissed, opening its mouth.
Its fangs were visible when it retracted forward. "Shit!" He cursed, ducking when it struck forward, almost taking a chunk out of him. He lit torch then, the fire now expanding even larger than before. He held it out when the Cobra tried to come closer, but the light made it slither away, disappearing into the water.
He sighed once it was gone, his heart rate slowing down. "Get a hold of yourself, Indy" He mumbled, mentally slapping himself as he found his way back up.