July 30- The Lost Temple of Artemis, Greece
James Newrick wasn't sure if he could do this alone, yet he knew he had went through worst as he used his G.P.S. as he got closer to the co-ordinates to the Lost Temple of Artemis the Goddess of the Moon, and Hunting. He knew it had been a while since the last time he was here, and he knew what exactly happened on that last mission, he had to get one person out of a tomb that was stabbed through the torso then bomb bombarded by a Landslide.
His only regret was about this one person who happened to be his protégé because he blamed himself for not telling that person that the artefact had the power to change the person's life purpose, he never thought it would turn out to be true. Now he does it on his own, but he would never tell or confirm who his protégé was, for some believed his protégé was dead because the last time he was here in Greece there was an horrible landslide and the protégé was in the middle of it.
Yet not far from his position a pair of binoculars hidden high up by the limbs and leaves from the trees. They watched him sharply like a hawk as he headed deeper into the land of Legend where the temple once or could still be standing.
"James, do you know what you're doing?" said a female British voice from his Watcher, as the binoculars lowered as a pair of brown eyes blink, as an smile appears on the Watcher's face, "Well, I hope you don't mind company, then."
The Watcher jumps out of the tree as she heads for her all terrain vehicle an Land Rover Jeep, modified for her adventure purposes; and the first thing she grabbed was her gun belt with twin pistols fully loaded and ready, it was none other than Lara Croft Tomb Raider.
Lara then caught up with him. She exited out of her Jeep and peeked out of the Bushes carefully. 'That's odd, he knows where he's going, like he's been here before, why didn't he tell that to me?' Thought Lara as she observed James as he explored the terrain around him then headed into the Temple.
James had a feeling he was being followed, yet when he turned he saw nothing. He scanned the area carefully, he still saw nothing, he knew he had to be careful. He knew whoever it was, that was after 'The Silver Star' one of the sacred symbols of the Goddess Artemis. Like the rest of the Family; James hated surprises, then like both Lara and his Former Protégé which hated; certain Secret Societies, yet both he and the Protégé hated most of all was Private Collectors with a passion. James didn't always work alone, he sometimes had a friend (being her) or a family member with him during his travels. He always mentioned his family but she was never introduced to them, the fact is she was either too busy to meet up with him or what he said 'vice versa on my side'.
Lara sighed as she turned slowly from her hiding place in the shadows to see James had turned his back. She knew he was always hiding something, mainly personal, yet he had been there for her as an best friend. Not because his birthday was the 15th of May, she sensed it was his nature to act as an younger or older brother. He seemed very much like her Father in a few ways, and one of them was how he inspired her to never forget who she was and to keep her dreams/goals alive. James had almost have been there for her ever since they first met in University long ago.
Lara then noticed something new, James was armed with a hunting rifle with an optic scope attached. Lara knew James hated guns, but why did he have one with him this time? Lara then hid again as he was about to turned around. She waited ten seconds, then she turned around to observe James as he threw a stone to activate the trap to see spears flying from most directions. James then knelt down took the rifle, looked around with the scope then he snipped and defused the trap with one bullet.
Lara was both impressed and surprised as she watched his back as she followed James further into the Tomb's hallway. 'Not bad James. Not bad at all.' she thought as they continued on in the tomb.
August 20- Kandahar, Afghanistan; US/ Canadian Military Airfield
I wish I was home to help Celebrate my Parent's 24th Wedding Anniversary on the 4th, then Dad's Birthday two days later, but here I am in Kandahar, Afghanistan, it's hotter than the hell I've been to long, long ago.
I was in my tent doing work on my Laptop Computer on one of the transcripts of artifacts that I had a team record for me on my Digital Camcorder earlier. I took a break to check my emails, I only check them once a day here, twice when at home. I found one from James, I smiled as I clicked it then saw a picture of him at an tent entrance holding a Silver anulk with the 'Eye of Isis' inside the loop.
"Hi." said his voice. I turned and saw him smiling and holding the Anulk. I got up and gave him a big hug. "How are you doing Sissy?" He asked.
"Oh you know me; Finding artefacts and discovering their history their Mythological secrets, kicking bad butts, Flying fast over the sound barrier in the F-18's. Not like it's the usual Raid routine." I said as I let go.
"Oh yeah. Locating artefacts, stopping evil, and saving the world; that usual?"
"I'm still technically new to the 'Saving the World' part, and you should add promoting justice to that too. You said The Tomb Raider's description, mine's more complex, I'd guess."
"See, you always know what I missed in anything we done."
"Relax would yah? So what are you doing here, Bro?" I asked, changing the subject for his sake.
"Well since I was the Middle East I thought I'd stop by and visit my Sister like Cousin. I found this I thought I'd give it for you for luck since you are in the hell- hole of Terrorism." he said as he gave me the Anulk of Isis.
James sat on my bunk as I sat down at my desk chair. It wasn't much to live in an cramp Military tent, but I made it home for the while I got here. I placed the Anulk beside my laptop, he knew what I could be thinking.
"James, you know I wouldn't accept an artifact as a gift, but that is how you got me into this." I said, a bit tired.
"Yah I know; you'd 'rather earn it than receive it'." he quoted to something I had said long ago, "How about having it for Safekeeping then?"
"Well, nobody would suspect it to be here in my custody while in the War Zone. I guess that should be something to consider." I said.
Yet, I had a strange feeling that there was something he knew about the Anulk. That he wanted me to find out, but he never let on what the bigger picture was or could be. "Why don't I show you around the place?" I offered.
"You mean your research on Afghan artefacts Sector?" he corrected me as I burst into laughter.
