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Chapter 14: Located

Versailles, Paris, France

Abner Ravenwood scowled at the photographs in front of him. By his side, a strong-looking Italian man stood. He didn't look to happy either. The group in front of them stood rather passively.

'That's your daughter, then?' the Italian man asked. 'The one you've agreed to give me?'

'That's her,' Abner said.

'Who's the ragazzo with her?' he asked.

'Henry Jones Junior,' Abner answered. 'He prefers the name "Indiana Jones" though. A former student of mine.'

'Ah, yes.' The man leaned down. 'A very prominent archaeologist, isn't he?'

'He's also a trouble-maker, Ezio,' Abner told him. 'I had him helping me find the Ark about seven years ago. Let's just say Marion took a shine to him and he took advantage of it.'

'Does he know you're royalty?' Ezio asked.

'Apparently, he does.' Abner tapped the photograph with the two of them in a gondola and Henry handing Marion something, to her intense joy. 'And he must be trying to cash in on it. That looks suspiciously like…'

Ezio nodded and spoke through gritted teeth. 'A marriage proposal. That's my territory, isn't it?'

'Oh, certainly.' Abner looked up at his men and switched to French. 'Obtenez la princesse en arrière et mettre ce salaud à sa place.'

Venice, Italy

Indy was woken by something. He couldn't be sure what it was but he soon noticed the silence. Normally, something could be heard at this place. Now…nothing. Indy slipped out of Marion's embrace and quickly got dressed. He paused to look back at her and smiled as he looked at the engagement ring he'd placed on her finger a few days earlier. The diamond may have been an overkill, but she'd seemed happy with it.

Hopefully, this wouldn't take too long.

Indy leaned down and kissed her. He grabbed his gun and headed out. As he went down to the lobby, Indy scowled. Quick? Unlikely. There were a group of men on the lowest floor. They'd killed everyone down there.

Indy raised his gun and cocked it, drawing their attention to him. 'All right. Who sent you and why did you kill them?'

The men who appeared to be the leader stepped forward. 'You have stolen the King's property.'

Ah, shit. He knew things were going too well. Goddamn Abner. Indy shot the leader in the chest. 'Abner's no king.' Knowing they wouldn't listen to it, he flipped down the stairs and took cover. Not a moment too soon either.

The sound of gunfire ripped through the room. Indy focused on keeping under cover and shooting. He wasn't letting go of Marion. It looked like it was going all right. He took out about three guys.

Suddenly, Indy felt his body slammed into the wall he was taking cover behind. Damn bastard had snuck up behind him. He grabbed Indy's head and slammed it into the wall again. And again. Now Indy knew what people meant when they said "seeing stars". Damn, that hurt.

Indy felt his body lifted clear off the ground, right into the sight of the gunmen. Thinking fast, Indy slammed his heel down into his captor's knee. The bastard cursed in French and dropped him. Indy kicked him in the ankle this time, knocking him off his feet and jumped up over the railing and onto the stairs again.

As he ran up, bullets being shot behind him, Indy glanced up. That beam happened to be in just the right spot. Indy raised his gun and shot it through the centre. The whole thing fell, bringing down that part of the ceiling, and crashed to the staircase and leaving a very big mess. With any luck, that'd hold them off for long enough. He just hoped that no one was in the room above it.

Indy turned and ran back up the rest of the stairs, shooting down certain things as he went. When he ran back into his and Marion's room, she was up at the doorway to the bedroom. There was only a sheet wrapped around her. In any other circumstances, Indy would have done something about that, pulled her into his arms and made love to her again. But now wasn't the time.

Marion took one look at him and her eyes widened. 'I think you looked better in Morocco, Indy. What's going on down there?'

'Abner found us,' Indy said.

'Shit!' Marion ducked back into the bedroom. Same reaction as him. Indy looked around anxiously. There had to be a way out of here…

Indy heard doors being beaten in and screaming. This was worse than it looked. Either Abner had these guys on all floors or those ones down there were flexible and athletic enough to climb over the mess he made and get up in a very short amount of time.

That would be just his luck.

Indy ran back and pressed his body weight against the door. He still had no idea how to get them out. Marion came out of the bedroom, dressed now. She had her sword in one hand. That was his girl. She wasn't going without a fight anymore than he was just going to let them take her.

Something slammed against the door but Indy dug his heels in. He heard rapid French. Unfortunately for them, Indy spoke the language fluently. He looked at Marion. 'You gotta get out.'

Marion's mouth set. 'I'm not letting you fight them on your own, Indy. Look what they've done to you already.'

Indy shook his head. 'Marion, for once listen to me. You're the one they're after. I'll be fine if they can't find you.'

'You can't guarantee that!' Marion insisted. 'I'm not going to leave you.'

God, she was stubborn. Marion really wouldn't leave him, goddamnit. On one hand, that made him frustrated. How were you supposed to protect someone who wouldn't look after their own interests? On the other hand, it made him swell with pride. This was his woman. She was the one who would never abandon anyone she cared about and that was probably the greatest thing in the world.

Indy's thoughts were torn from Marion when he heard something on the other side of the door. It was a hissing sound. Indy tried to work out what was making it. Were the bastards trying to gas them out?

A glance down. No. Nothing coming under the door and Indy could still breathe fine.

The sound was vaguely familiar actually. Indy tried to work out where he'd heard it from. He thought back to the last time he heard it. He'd been young…still a kid but nearly an adult. It was…in Russia…when he'd been a spy.

'Oh…shit.'

'What's the matter?' Marion asked.

'Get back!' Indy barked. He wasn't telling her what was on the other side. One thing was sure, though. Those guys wouldn't be near it.

Indy pushed himself away from the door. Too late. Indy didn't hear the explosion. He just saw the wall rush forward to meet him and then…nothing.