44.- Triumvirate
A storm downpours in Surrey, England. In the front gates of Manor Croft, a big figure stands and rings the bell. Winston sees the figure on the camera. "Ms. Croft," Winston says. "I believe one of your acquaintances is standing in the door." "Who is it?" Lara asks. "I simply don't dare ask," Winston says. "It looks like a monster." Lara sees the camera video feed. "To me, it looks more like a King," Lara says. "I will open the door to him myself."
Miss Croft wears a raincoat and loads her 9mm. Precautionary measures… And she approaches the main gate, where there stands, a robotic figure of about twice the height of Lara, with two mechanical legs holding the torso of a person who has been injured to the point it cannot walk by itself. "It's wet and cold," it says. "I know," Lara says. "What brings you here?"
It tilts its head to a side. "The Scion, or whatever is left of it," it says. "It can be fixed. I need it to stop my sister from doing something stupid." Lara starts walking towards the manor, and it is followed by the mechanical figure. "Qualopec," Lara says. "You cannot save your sister. What's the experiment? A new hive?" The former King enters solemnly to Manor Croft. "She will open the Lost Dominion," Qualopec warns. "Our best chance is to try flooding it again."
Lara calls Winston and asks him to bring her the remnants of the Scion. "Do you like my office?" Lara asks. "It's cozy," Qualopec says. "I'm usually in cold places. There is a danger in experimenting with Nephilim, like Natla wants. They are half angel, and that half is a species beyond our understanding." The Scion is handed back to Qualopec, and he rebuilds it. "And the other two parts?" Lara asks. "They are to be returned to their owners," Qualopec answers. "Its wisdom may reunite us and guide us."