Chapter 13: Saving Sam
I don't own anything. Resident Evil belongs to Capcom and Tomb Raider belongs to Core Design, Crystal Dynamics, and I think Square Enix. The only thing I own is the changes made to the stories of the Tomb Raider games/comics and Resident Evil games/comics/CG movies, the persion that has taken over Kathrine Warren's life, and Rose Warren. This story also will be bloody, violent, and have curseing. It's rated T for Teen.
Country: Philippine Sea, State: South of Japan, City: Dragon's Triangle, Place: Yamatai, Area: Trinity Helicopter crash site, Month: August, Day: Tuesday 18th, Year: 1998, Time: 11:49 PM…
The Rain fell from the sky. Plinking on the broken and sizzling burning copter remains. Roth came to first. A part of the copter's tail rested on top of his legs as he blinked rainwater from his eyes. He looked to his right as he struggled with the copter part. There unmoving was Lara.
"Lara!" He called to her. "Lara!"
She made no move. He sat up and shoved the metal off himself with great effort. His previously injured leg hurt worse, making cracking sounds as he did. He growled as he got it off then turned and quickly moved to Lara's side.
"Lara…" He panted and pulled her shoulder, rolling her onto her back.
She was dead limp and unmoving. He held a hand under her nose and felt no air come from her.
"Oh no!" He breathed feeling panic rise.
He quickly started doing chest compressions. Counting to 30 then stopping to push air into her lungs before starting again. All he could think about was Lara. She had to live. It didn't matter if he died. He didn't care if what Kat had told him would happen happened. All he cared about was his ward living. He would willingly give his life for hers. He even prayed then. An explosion got him to stop for a moment. He then looked back to Lara, grabbing her face in his hands.
"Come on, Lara." He breathed and started again, pumping harder. 'If there's a god out there, take my life. Let my girl live. Please.' He prayed. "Come on!" He yelled feeling his eyes burn from not just the rain or smoke from the fire, but from the painfully tight fear that gripped his heart.
One final push on Lara's chest and she suddenly gasped before choking and coughing on that air. He rolled her onto her side as she coughed.
"…That's it, that's it." He encouraged her to live. "Come on!" He pulled her to her feet as they both stood.
She was still too weak from being resuscitated to stand on her own. Roth slipped his arms under hers and pulled her away from the wreckage quickly. If it blew again with them as close to it as they head been, it wouldn't matter if she was breathing. They had gotten ten feet away, when the copter exploded. Roth and Lara where thrown back. What little air Lara had gotten in was knocked out of her making her gasp and wheeze for air again as she started coughing again.
Roth turned to her and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, Lara." He told her as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders for support.
She panted into his ear as he held her up right. He was overjoyed to see her alive.
Lara's eyes widened as she saw the men coming. "It's them." She wheezed.
Roth spun around to face them and squeezed off a shot from his pistol. A man dropped from a head shot. Two more shots and he spotted Mathias taking careful strides wielding a tomahawk; arm out as if measuring the throw. A man went down as Roth looked on Mathias.
'If you get in a moment, where you think to block a blow with your back…duck down to shield.' Kat's voice echoed.
Roth knew. He just knew, there was no way to avoid this. A thrown axe would be faster than he could duck down over Lara. He then spun around shielding Lara. Lara's eyes widened as she too remembered Kat's words.
"No…" Lara gasped as Roth tightened his hold on her.
Mathias threw his tomahawk with an angered roar. It cut through the air and sank into Roth's back. Roth's arms involuntarily let go of Lara as he stumbled from the pain of its sharp edge. He growled out in pain as Lara started to fall back.
"Noooo!" Lara screamed as she fell back, her hands reaching for Roth's shoulders, fingers curling wanting to help him, for him to hold her, for him to live.
Roth grunted and then spun around with stiff movements. He pulled the trigger of his gun, aiming to scare Mathias and his men away. He killed two of them and injured Mathias' arm. Mathias ran away seeing that this small battle was lost in this war. Roth watched as he ran and saw no other threats. He struggled to stay standing as he lowered his hand that held his gun.
"Roth!" Lara screamed at him as he swayed.
He dropped to the ground panting as blood had soaked through his back and his hands that held his tactical pistols lowered. Lara pushed herself up on to her hands as she began crying. She could not save the pilot, she couldn't save Grim, and she couldn't save Roth.
"Roth…" She whimpered as tear mixed with rain. "I can't do this without you."
Roth looked at his handguns. "I'm sorry, Lara. I'm sorry." He apologized. "You can do this." He assured. "You're a Croft." With that, Roth sagged, the handle of the tomahawk in his back propping him up.
When he did not speak or move, Lara began to sob as she wrapped her arms around her mentor and guardian. He'd raised her, he'd been there for everything. For her first archaeological find. For her mother's death in that horrid plane accident. For her father's death in his office. For her secondary school graduation. Her first love and break up. Her college graduation. Here. He had been here on Yamatai with her. He could not just die. Not now. And yet…he had. She was hugging his rapidly cooling corpse.
Country: Philippine Sea, State: South of Japan, City: Dragon's Triangle, Place: Yamatai, Area: Trinity Helicopter crash site, Month: August, Day: Tuesday 18th, Year: 1998, Time: 11:55 PM…
Lara stared at Roth's body. She had calmed, but she was by no means done morning. She had removed the tomahawk from his back and laid him down. She couldn't stop shaking and staring at him. She had tried the childish thing of closing his eyes, but they would not stay closed. It scared her and made her more afraid of him really being dead.
She did not look up when she heard footfalls. It was everyone else who'd lived. Sam, Kat, Jonah, Alex, and Reyes. Kat's eyes widened as she and the others came up on the scene. Roth wasn't moving and Lara looked devastated. That meant that…it happened anyway. Roth's death happened even though both Roth and Lara were aware of it coming.
"No…No!" Reyes yelled as she picked up the pace and rushed to Roth's dead body.
Alex and Jonah slowed to a stop as Kat and Sam rushed to Lara's side. Sam slowly rubbing Lara's shoulders as Kat collapsed next to her horrified that it all still happened.
"Are you okay, Lara?" Sam asked softly.
Reyes, who had been about to start crying, looked up at Sam, Lara, and Kat sharply with anger, "Is she okay?" She asked almost bitterly. "Because it's all about Lara, isn't it?" She asked angered. "Have you forgotten she's the reason we're here?" She asked accusingly.
"That's not fair, Reyes." Sam stated calmly looking to the morning woman.
"Have you forgotten that Roth raised Lara after her father died?" Kat asked sharply, momentarily forgetting about her small mental breakdown. "Can you imagine not losing just one father figure in your life, but two?" She asked trying to remain calm. "And if you really believe that it was Lara's idea that we're stuck here, then you're kidding yourself. Sure, Lara came up with the idea, but it was Roth who had final say on where the ship goes as her captain."
Reyes shook her head as her hands gripped on Roth's shirt. "You're right." She let go and looked down at Roth, her anger softened to understanding and sorrow. "I shouldn't have said that." She breathed out trying to not cry, but the tears ran and mixed with the rain. "It's just…Roth…" She began as Jonah and Alex came closer and stopped behind Reyes. "I don't know what we're going to do without him."
Jonah lightly rested his hand on Reyes' shoulder. "Let's just find someplace safe and make preparations." He said then let go as Reyes shook from a suppressed sob. "He died as a worrier…we'll send him on as one."
Alex nodded in agreement.
Country: Philippine Sea, State: South of Japan, City: Dragon's Triangle, Place: Yamatai, Area: Summit Marsh, Month: August, Day: Tuesday 18th, Year: 1998, Time: 11:59 PM…
All were gathered. Roth's body was on a funeral pyre. Reyes approached and kneeled with a lit torch. With a shaky breath, she tossed the torch into the pyre. It caught on fire quickly and Reyes stood slowly and backed up, rejoining the group. Reyes stood at the left end of the gathered line; next to her to the right was Kat, Sam and Lara holding each other, Alex, and Jonah. No one spoke as the pyre burned with Roth's body.
Reyes pulled out a photo of herself and her daughter, smiling at the camera sitting on a porch maybe. It had been taken when there wasn't a worry in the world. Kat had opened her own locket and found that the picture inside was a little waterlogged at the edges, but still intact. She could still see Rose and Sherry. She just had to use it to remind herself that there is someone more important to her that she had to get back to. She had no doubt in her mind that Reyes was thinking the same thing. Roth would want them to not morn him for long. Not while still on a dangerous island filled with killers and a vengeful spirit. Reyes folded up the photo and tucked it away as Kat closed her locket and kissed it.
"The old PT boat on the beach," Reyes began. "I should be able to fix it up." she voiced her voice sounding determined.
Jonah looked to her from the far-right end. "It's worth a shot."
"It doesn't matter…" Lara voiced. "We're not getting off this island." She stated. "I'm sure Kat's told you."
Alex turned to Lara looking saddened that she appeared to be giving up. "Come on, Lara…" He said gently. "Don't be like that." He said drawing her attention. "We just gotta regroup, come up with a plan, you know." He told her.
"You just don't get it…" Lara began as she looked from him to the others, excluding Sam and Kat. "Any of you. Himiko won't let us leave."
Reyes growled and looked to Lara. "Himiko? Lara, you need sleep."
"Look, I'll be first to admit that I usually go for the weird stuff—but this place is off the charts." Alex voiced looking to Reyes.
Reyes glared at him. "I'm not dying here!" She voiced. "I'm fixing that boat and we're leaving!"
Before she fully turned, Kat grabbed her arm. "Reyes… Jo, you know that I understand how you feel. You have a daughter waiting, just like me. You have to listen. You know me. I don't make up shit unless it's a story for my daughter because she's seven." She told her. "Just think about it. It makes no logical sense that every time a plane, copter, or ship comes too close to this island or tries to leave is hit by the most powerful storms mankind has ever seen outside of myths and legends. And it's only then that they act up." She told her as Reyes looked at her with an angry but uncertain look. "Himiko's spirit is to blame. Fix that boat. We are going to need it for my plan to get us off the island. Because if my plan works, we all get off this death trap and back home to our girls, our beds, and get real medical attention." Kat let go of Reyes' arm. "Just think about it. Working on that boat should help you think and sort things out."
Reyes looked down then nodded slowly and marched off. Jonah watched as Reyes walked away frowning before looking to Kat and Lara.
"You know this island isn't right, Jonah." Lara said looking to the New Zealander. "I know you do." She said as she looked back at Roth's burned body on the still burning pyre.
"All I know is that we can't use logic to understand this place." Jonah told her as he approached. "I know you think that your instincts are a weakness—but they are a strength." He told her. "Trust them as Kat has trusted hers. We need you, Lara." He said making Kat jolt.
"The big man's right." Alex stated looking to Lara.
Lara took a breath as she switched to hold Sam's hand tightly a moment before speaking. "I can't leave him yet…" She said. "I need time."
Jonah and Alex nodded and turned away, walking the direction Reyes had gone. Sam turned to Lara as Lara watched them go.
"You know where we'll be." Sam said gently as she took Lara's hands in hers. "Come down when you're ready." She told her. "We won't go anywhere without you."
The pair then hugged a moment before separating. Lara then took out Roth's silver tactical pistol and handed it to Sam.
"Keep this close." Lara said as Sam took it.
Sam nodded and gripped it then turned to leave, briefly resting her hand on Lara's elbow. She gave the young archaeologist a reassuring look then turned and followed the path of the others. Lara watched her go for a moment before turning back to the flames. Kat took a breath and looked to Lara.
"I'm so…I'm sorry…" Kat told Lara. "I knew…I told you both and he…"
"It's not your fault." Lara told her. "He…he knew…he knew there was no time. It was too fast." She looked down. "Can you make sure the plan follows through?" She asked looking to Kat. "Give Sam that tattoo, get the others to believe you?"
Kat took a long breath but nodded. "I can try. Reyes looked like she will think about it. Alex and Jonah don't need too much convincing, and Sam whole heartily believes me and you." She bit her lip. "I'll tell them of my past life's death…"
Lara's eyes widened. "You…you remember that? You haven't blocked it out?"
Kat chuckled dryly and hollowly. "Why do think I've been so scared and nervous around heights?" She told her. "I was hiking. I slipped and fell. The blow that did me in I don't quite remember, but I'm thinking it was a good crack to the head."
Lara looked back to the flames. "I'm so sorry you remember it."
"Not your fault." Kat smiled lightly. "I've come to peace with it." She looked to Lara. "Helps when most of your other memories are happy ones. They don't make the ones of death and horror go away, but they make them easier to live with." She looked back at Roth's pyre. "Losing someone always hurts."
"I know…" Lara nodded thinking of her mother who died in front of her and of her father whose body she found. "It takes time, but it scares you."
Kat turned to Lara, hugged her before pulling away, and said one of her favorite quotes of the Harry Potter books. "The ones who love us, Lara, never truly leave us." She put a hand to Lara's chest. "You can always find them, in here." She quoted Sirius Black. "Your mother's there, your father, Roth. All are here." She lowered her hand and smiled. "Not physically though. I think you'd explode like a loony toon."
Lara snorted smiling sadly. "Where did you get that? You're shit at inspirational speeches."
"I may or may not have memories of future Harry Potter books and other geeky media." Kat smiled. "That first part was from Harry Potter. I won't spoil who says it." She smiled. "But it's in the third book."
Lara smiled. "How many books?"
"Seven. And eight films." Kat told her and squeezed Lara's hand returning serious. "The plan will work, Lara. We'll get off this rock, Himiko will be forced into her proper afterlife, and we'll read those books, see those movies. We will get home. I promise it." She let go and looked at where they others disappeared to. "Do you want me to stay?"
Lara looked back at the flames. "No. I want you to go and give Sam her tattoo. Or prepare for it." she told her. "I…I need to be alone for a bit."
Kat nodded and hugged her. "See you in a bit then."
Kat then let go and limped after the others. Lara took a breath and watched the flames dance over Roth's bones.
Country: Philippine Sea, State: South of Japan, City: Dragon's Triangle, Place: Yamatai, Area: Shipwreck Beach, Month: August, Day: Wednesday 19th, Year: 1998, Time: 12:10 AM…
Kat stepped into the new camp. Seeing Reyes had already set up most of it and that Jonah and Alex had just started helping her. Sam was sitting by the fire, gripping Roth's pistol as she watched the flickering flames. Kat approached her and took a seat next to her. No one spoke until Reyes sighed as she stopped working on some wires.
"What is your full plan then?" She asked looking to Kat. "And what do you mean that you were reincarnated?"
Kat took a deep breath. "When I was three…" she then told them about her tumble, how it jogged her past life's memories from her birth up to her death while hiking. She told them of Umbrella and Irons. She ended with telling what she remembered of Himiko. "…That is why I've made a plan." She ended. "Himiko is a vengeful spirit. Specifically, a Goryō, that's a Japanese spirit of the aristocratic class." She explained. "There are two ways to get rid of Himiko. Give her wat she wants or destroy her body; the last one she inhabited and is trapped in." She shook her head. "She wants Sam's body. We can't give that to her. So, destroying her body it is. We have to find a rocket launcher, paint an Ofuda on the rocket, and aim it at her forehead. Not only will that definitely destroy her body but also force her soul into the proper afterlife."
"Why a rocket?" Alex asked clearly concerned for Kat's sanity now.
"It's big, explosive and will guarantee her body's destruction. Plus, it's that or an anti-tank rocket which I doubt is here." Kat explained. She left out the fact that a rocket launcher was the thing that ended almost every RE game and that TR and RE had now mixed. "But for extra insurance that Himiko doesn't possess Sam or get a fragment into her should Sam get too close or gets captured again…We have to tattoo the right Ofuda on her. On her somewhere hard to find until it's too late."
Sam shivered. "And you have the tools to do it?"
"Hang on, why not just write the whatever on something and make sure Sam's holding it?" Reyes asked as she, Alex, and Jonah had joined the two by the fire.
"If Sam is captured, Mathias would find it on her and take it from her. He'd insane, but he's not stupid." Kat stated.
"Okay, what do you have for tattooing?" Alex asked sighing.
Kat nodded and pulled the small box out from her pouch and opened it showing the wooden handled, metal needle tipped, silk wrapped tools. There were three, one with a single thin needle, one with a rounded grouping of needles, and one with a two-layered line of needles. Within the box as well was a small jar that had dark purplish staining on the inside.
Alex nodded. "Do you know what ink you need?" he asked making everyone frown at him.
"Squid ink?" Kat asked. "Or some plants…"
"You need indigo. It's a purple flower." Alex stated.
"How the hell do you know that?" Jonah asked shocked that the tech nerd of the group knew what plant.
"Hey, I've been on the internet since I was 9 and have been hacking since then. When you get bored you tend to read a lot." Alex defended then looked to Kat. "I don't remember what the technique is called or all that, but I remembered what the ink was made from. I found it pretty cool."
Sam shook. "Okay…I'll get the tattoo. I don't want Himiko…in me." She said. "Can I pick where it will be?"
Kat looked to Sam. "You can pick, but I'd recommend on your torso. Not because of the pain, it's pretty panful there, but because of your Solar Plexus Chakra." She told her. "That chakra is located on your upper abdomen, stomach area. It represents your personal power. So, it would power the Ofuda and protect you." She explained. "We could put it in the same area just on your back for less pain, but your abdomen/stomach is the best place."
Sam looked at the campfire for a long moment then nodded. "Let's do it then."
Kat nodded. "We need the ink first." She looked to Alex. "Do you remember what Indigo looks like?"
He shook his head. "But Lara might know. She had had to study ancient cultures for her degree right? And Indigo is from Japanese culture."
"Okay, while we wait for Lara, we need to sterilize these needles." Kat said. "We need fresh water brought to a boil and stick them in that boiling water for…an hour. And then hold them over an open flame until its red hot and then cool it down and whip it down with clean gauze."
As they nodded and split off to do this and sorted out who would take first watch, Kat pulled out her journal and wrote her next entry.
They know everything now. Not the game parts, but they know. Roth…Roth's gone now. I wish he lived. He was a good person; he was the only father figure Lara had left. She'll become stronger. I hate thinking like this. But it's true, she will be.
Now that the others know, we can also move forward with the plan. Starting with getting Sam tattooed. She's getting it on her upper abdomen, her fifth Chakra. It should really protect her then. It will hurt and Lara should be here to hold her hand, but she's strong and can get through it.
Alex believes it all and so dose Jonah. I knew Jonah would, he's a very spiritual kind of person. Alex deals with conspiracies online; he would believe it if there is enough proof and too many coincidences. Reyes will take time, but she is slowly believing. She's been given a lot to think about.
She sighed putting it away as Sam fell asleep. Lara will find the location on the map. Then they can act. As soon as they find a rocket launcher. She'll look for that once Sam had her tattoo.
Country: Philippine Sea, State: South of Japan, City: Dragon's Triangle, Place: Yamatai, Area: Summit Marsh, Month: August, Day: Wednesday 19th, Year: 1998, Time: 1:01 AM…
Lara sat looking at the horizon. She sighed looking down as her knees. She had dozed a few times as she sat there, but not for long. Roth, Grim, and the men she had killed would come to mind and she's wake up.
"Roth…" She breathed out shakily. "What am I going to do?" She asked the air as Roth's pyre burned down to charcoal and ash behind her, keeping her morbidly warm.
"You've got great instincts, girl" She heard his voice in her thoughts. "You've got to trust them."
Lara looked down thinking. Thinking about everything. "No one leaves." She replied what Himiko called out in Japanese, what was written everywhere on the island, what Kat had told her. "Himiko's storms…the Sun Queen's power. Just like Kat said, that's what's stopping us leaving, pulling people to the island." She stood up and pulled out the map she had taking from the Solarii, unfolding it and looking it over. "The monastery has a ritual chamber…Kat said that that's where Himiko's body is…if that's what the Stormguard are protecting, then that's where Himiko's body is and how we'll stop the storms." She muttered as she looked at the map seeing the red X and then she saw it. "A hidden river entrance." She then gasped smiling with joy. "The boat!" She beamed. "We'll use it to go inland, to the ritual chamber." She folded up the map and looked to the path the others had taken to get to the new camp by the beach.
She took a couple of steps and then pulled her radio.
"Jonah? Kat? Reyes?" She asked but got nothing back. "Damn it." she cursed at the static and put it back to her belt checking the black tactical pistol. "I should have gone with them."
She stopped and turned around to look at Roth's pyre. It was practically embers. Then saw a paper on a rock that had been held in place by rocks. She walked over and picked it up. She remembered Jonah taking it from Roth's vest pocket and putting it there. She saw her name on it and flipped it around.
Lara, I'm sorry. I got you into this mess. I made a promise to your father. The last time I saw him, I swore I would look after you, keep you out of trouble. And what did I do? I put you right in the thick of it. Now you're the one looking after me.
You know, you're just like your father. He was smarter, wiser, and stronger than anyone I knew. He never gave up, no matter how tough things got. I worry about you, but I know if there's anyone who can survive this place, it's Lara Croft.
Whatever happens, I want you to know that I loved you like the daughter I never had. I'm proud of you.
Lara cupped a hand over her mouth as she felt her tears run again and struggled to stop the sob from bubbling up. Her hand shook on the letter before she hugged it to her chest tightly. She stood there for a long moment before looking at Roth's last words to her.
"Roth, I can't believe you're gone." She whimpered as she took slow breaths. She then tucked the letter into her journal. "Thank you for everything you taught me. You were the father I needed." She said to the embers.
She walked over to the small campfire, opened her journal, and started writing her next entry.
Tears won't bring me back, girl. That's what Roth would've said. I just can't believe he's gone, no more stories about my parents, no more mountain climbs. God, I wish they'd killed me instead.
But they didn't. I'm here, I'm alive and I'm certain that no boat or plane is going to get us off this island, at least not yet. I know the answer is Himiko's spirit and that her body must be at that monastery. I partly want to stop this on my own. No risk of losing more people. But the others wouldn't like that and insist helping me. We have to destroy Himiko, we have to end this.
Lara took a breath, cleaning her weapons and looking over Roth's pistol. She then stood and set off on her path down to the others. She descended a set of stairs and passed the Copter crash site. As she was jogging on a forest path, she heard a voice.
"Find anything?" It was a voice she didn't know.
"Oh shit!" She hissed and ducked into the darkness of the trees about of the well-lit path.
"No, it's too damned dark. They could be anywhere." Said another voice.
"You sure they're here?" Said one as Lara moved closer. "Maybe I should just climb a tree and wait this out." A howling was heard. "Great. Fucking wolves."
Lara saw they had flashlights and that they were searching the trees. She nocked an arrow as she watched them.
"Hey! If you're hiding, come out!" Yelled one as Lara took aim.
She loosed. He dropped with an arrow to his head. Nocking another arrow as the other spun around at his pals drop, Lara took aim again, evening out her breathing. She was getting used to killing. She didn't like it. She had little choice.
"What the hell!?" He yelled terrified of who killed him.
Then he was down with an arrow in his head, just like his friend. She nocked another arrow and moved positions, there were more of them and they all had to be taken out before she could move normally.
"Come out, come out!" Called one of them.
"Anything?" Lara heard as she moved closer.
"No. Nothing. Gotta keep looking." Called back another as Lara took aim through the trees to a small open clearing.
She loosed but missed. 'Come on…stop moving' she thought getting another arrow ready.
She loosed. He dropped dead from a head shot. She slowly got into the water. Moving closer and taking aim.
"Huh?!" The one she was close you yelped hearing the water ripple but had not seen her. "In the water!" He called.
She loosed an arrow and hit his head before he could go anywhere or shine a light on her. He dropped into the water as she waded away from him.
"It's too dark…I can't see shit in this forest." One called.
Lara spotted him and loosed. He was down with a chest shot. She turned around and took out another man that came too close to shining a light on her. Unfortunately, it was too late. She ducked behind a tree in time to avoid gunfire. After assault rifle fire, changing cover eight time, reloading three times, and killing two black wolves, Lara was able to take down eight men. Each time she took them out another flashlight beam went out. It was a bit unnerving that this was way to tell if she killed them.
Lara found another campsite outside of an old hunting cabin. She looked around inside and found an old scroll.
Stormguard Warriors, today we stand on the brink of a great change. The enemy fleet that sails to our shore will be the last to ever attempt an invasion of our beloved Yamatai. The rage of our great Sun Queen will raise up a mighty storm and we will ride forth upon the winds to destroy them.
But when we emerge victorious, we will not stop. A new day will dawn as our Queen's light will reach across the ocean to touch all lands. While we of Yamatai bask in the warmth of her grace, those who oppose us will burn.
'A Record of the General's speech given on the eve of a great battle. If the Yamatai were conquerors, what stopped them?' Lara wondered. 'Was it like Kat said? That poor priestess killing herself, did that stop them?'
She walked out and found herself at some stairs up. She followed them before stopping at voices again. How they didn't hear the gun fight that just occurred, Lara didn't know and didn't care. She waited and listened. Again, they might let slip some information.
"I was on a crew that was sent into the monastery." Said one as Lara nocked and arrow, readying. "We saw a lot of dead soldiers up there. Some with that red and white symbol."
"No shit? See any Oni?" Asked the other.
Lara shook her head. They were just talking about what she already knew. She loosed an arrow and killed one, but again it went downhill. She was forced to use her rifle again. She killed six men and two wolves before entering the small tunnel. Using a rope arrow, she pulled the door open, breaking it to pieces. As she walked into the tunnel and at the end…she saw the reason why the wolves of the island were so aggressive.
"Wolves…" She gasped seeing stacked cages of the creatures. "Like the ones from the forest…Are they breeding them?" She asked as she drew her an arrow.
She couldn't leave them here. They would rot with no one caring for them and they were too aggressive to release. With a heavy heart, Lara shot each one with her arrows. There were no more sounds of wolves growling or barking when she was done, and she felt horrible. It was better this way, they would not hurt anyone, and they would not suffer.
Lara climbed up on top of the cages and saw a pole, but it was facing the wrong way for her to use it to get across to a rock wall. She saw the tied up dead deer that the Solarii were more than likely planning to feed to the wolves. She drew a rope arrow and loosed. Once rooted, Lara gave a hard pull and let go. The deer swung toward her before swinging back and hitting a part of the pole. The bar swung around making a hold for Lara to swing herself over.
Lara ran, jumped, swung, let go, flew, and sank her axe into the rock wall. She looked back a moment and watched as the pole swung back to its old position. If she had jumped too soon or late she would have missed and be there all day. She walked into a room finding another alter of candles for the Sun Queen. She shook her head, took some salvage from a pair of boxes before walking through a doorway.
She slipped and slid down a slippery slope. As she slid over the edge, she grabbed it before falling. She pulled herself back up and sighed as her heart hammered. If she had not caught herself…she might have died. Lighting her torch, she stayed crouched and moved through a short tunnel. Crossing a small stone bridge, she was finding roots from trees as she entered a real tunnel and not just a path with a drop. At the other end, she watched a cloud of bats fly by making her suddenly feel like Batman. She smiled. Kat had made her watch that Tim Burton movie…through now that she thought about it she was acting she'd seen it a few times even though it had just come out. Must be one of the media that came with her memories of her past life.
Lara pushed it away as she followed where the bats went. Bats were always good to follow if you were in caves and don't know the way out. She found the way out and stepped outside to see it was bright out and sunny. Had it taken her that long to get here? She did not know. Nevertheless, she could see the shantytown. She closed her eyes. Grim. He had died there, and it pained her. She shook her head. She would make the Solarii pay.
Lara walked to a rope line and jumped onto it, sliding down it with her axe. Just as she dropped from it her radio buzzed.
"You there, Lara?" Alex asked her.
Lara sighed with relief. "Alex!" She called into her radio. "I've been trying to reach you all morning."
"We just woke up. We've set up camp at the beach." He reported as Lara walked along a path that was heading down. "Boat's in pretty bad shape. Without the right tools, we might have trouble getting it up and running." He said getting Lara too pause by a collapsed bridge. "Kat's getting the needles ready to give Sam her tattoo. She needs Indigo plants to make the ink. So, if on your way down you find some, grab it." He took a breath. "We could sure use your help down here."
"See what you can do, I'm on my way. And I'll keep a look out for Indigo." Lara nodded before putting her radio away.
"Watch yourself out there." Alex said his parting words.
Lara then dashed up the ramp the old bridge made and jumped onto the rope line with her axe. She slid down it a long way before dropping off it on a small metal roof in the shantytown. She then jumped onto another rope line and climbed on it to another platform, this one connected to another gondola line with moving gondola charges. She stood on the ramp and waited for an open one. When one was close, she jumped onto it and panted a bit. Wow, she was really high up.
As she entered some fog, her radio buzzed again. "Lara, are you there?" Came Sam's voice. "Alex said that you're on your way down?"
"I should be there soon…" Lara assured. "I need to tell you something, not sure if Kat's told you or not…."
"Is this about Himiko?" Sam asked. "If so, Kat's told us everything."
"Yes. We can't leave. She'd keeping us here." Lara agreed. "I've found out where her body is. Well, the last vessel she had, anyway. It's at the monastery Kat and I have been before. She didn't even realize it. With all the blows to the head and the fact she didn't keep track of the timeline, it's not hard for where Himiko's body is would slip her mind." She explained.
"Are you sure? It's there?" Sam asked.
"Yes, Sam." Lara paused. "Can you keep this between you and Kat for now? I'm going to help Reyes fix that boat, then Kat and I will take it inland. We'll end this."
"Lara…I don't know about this. Jonah and Alex believe Kat, at least a little. Reyes is starting to, she's thinking about it anyway." Sam paused. "Please. You need more back up then just Kat. She's pretty beat up from when she helped me out of the city."
Lara sighed. "Okay…but let me do the talking. I'll be looking for Indigo on my way down. You'll be protected from Himiko, no matter what."
"Yeah. Alright…you be careful." Sam told her before Lara put the radio away.
Lara soon came out of the fog and saw more of a lower shantytown. One she hadn't seen before. Suddenly the gondola jolted shaking and rocking before stopping and swinging in one place.
"Damn it! No!" She looked around her and saw a spot she could use her rope arrow on.
She barely loosed the arrow at the right time for it to root in the wooden pole. She tied off the rope on a bit of wood attached to the support of the gondola. She then jumped onto the line and slide down it onto the platform and shook her head. Stupid gondola, breaking at the wrong time. She moved around the platform and found a ladder that was old and rusty, but it would get her up the tower to more rope lines to the other towers.
She climbed up it pulled herself up onto the upper platform. Something was off with this old shipping yard or whatever it was. This was…
"It's too quiet…" She realized.
She hadn't seen or heard any Solarii men for a while. She rushed up a wooden ramp, jumped onto a rope line, and started sliding down it toward an old ship skeleton. Just like that, she was spotted and spotted the men.
"Hey! She's here!" yelled one as they rushed to their own lines to meet her at the ship.
"Go, go! Use the lines!"
Lara dropped onto the deck she took to cover as the men dropped and began to fire on her. She drew her rifle and started firing on them. Several died and several came. A Grande launcher here and there, bullet fire. It was starting to get tedious with how they just wouldn't leave her the hell alone.
Lara smirked a bit as she stopped the dynamite from hitting her by setting off in the men's hands. "Come on!" She called out mockingly. "Is this your best!?"
"Get down there and take her out!" Yelled one as she continued to take down every man that jumped onto the lines.
The ship that they were on, started to rock. 'That's not good. Who knows how long this had been here.' she thought, as she grabbed the cover she was behind for support.
Flares where fired off into the air. She soon ran out of ammo for the rifle and switched to her shotgun. When she ran out of that, she switched to her handgun, the one she took from Roth. She didn't know how many men it was that she killed, but one of them took a position on a heavy machine gun, like back in the city that she had to avoid. Great.
Lara dove to the floor of the ship as the bullets started raining down. She looked up as the floor was breaking and then she heard it. A whine then thick snapping sounds. She looked up and saw the cables for the ship snapping and breaking from stray bullets. Then the ship tipped and men who were on it fell screaming to their deaths. Lara gripped the floor as sit tipped and held on as long as she could.
The ship swayed back and forth. Then her fingers slipped. She fell back and landed on her back with a yelp and grunt on the rails of the ship. A man fell and smacked on the rails. They broke making him and Lara fall. Lara just managed to grab the hanging rail as the man continued to fall. She panted a moment then jolted at the man's voice.
"You killed my brothers…" He called as he started firing and Lara started climbing. "Now you die!"
He had horrible aim. His bullets broke the wood, which provided good proper handholds for Lara. She climbed these until she didn't have any more hand holds. So, she waited. Another man fell from the bullet fire that made Lara shake her head. He was killing his own group.
"Come on, you piece of shit!" He yelled as the gun jammed.
A part of the ship fell and crushed the wood reveling more handholds and killing a man who had held on. The man laughed darkly as Lara started moving along the handhold.
"Stop…the whole thing is going to fall…please!" One of the men left on the ship called out.
Bullets started raining again.
"Coward!" The man yelled as Lara jumped to new handholds. "Kill the girl and I'll stop shooting."
Lara continued to climb.
"Help…help me! I don't want to die!" Yelled the ones that held onto the mast.
Lara got to a window and pulled herself through it as the man on the gun laughed again. She slid through, seeing a bit of wall. She dropped down. She could now see him. On a tower. Lara bolted forward as he grinned.
"Hold still!" He called and started firing.
She then jumped off the edge of a platform and grabbed some metal, intending to climb. The man growled and changed targets. He stared firing at the cables at the back of the ship. They snapped and the ship began to tip backward. Lara struggled to hold on as she was moving up with gravity. She lost her grip and fell a few feet before grabbing another part of the ship as it moved. Then the wood she had a hold of snapped and she fell again. Her back smacked into a metal box and jolted it. She looked up and a heavy bracket smacked the box behind her head, knocking it loos and making her yelp and drop again. She barely caught herself on the metal and shook for a moment.
The ship was swinging forward, and solid ground was coming up. She tried to climb up only for the ship to hit something and threw her off. She hit the new wooden platform and rolled on her side for a bit. She panted in pain for a moment but then the ground jolted and collapsed partly, sending her tumbling back. She was hanging onto the edge with one hand. She looked around panting and panicking. She then saw the rope line. Her new lifeline.
She dropped onto it with her axe and started sliding down it. The line started to jerk indicating the ship was falling on the tower she had just dropped from. Another line was coming up. She had to time her drop right or she was dead. At just the right moment when she was five feet from it she dropped. Her momentum from the first line carried her to the next. Snapping her arms on her axe around the line, she was sliding on the new line as the other one snapped and the tower she had left collapsed. Soon she saw she had to drop to another line again. She waited for the right moment then dropped again. She was then on the new line and sliding down to a drop off.
She dropped and found herself sliding down on a metal sheet. She quickly fired her shotgun at a wooden blockage. It splintered apart. She launched off the slide and grabbed a bar, swinging herself onto another rope line. She then saw that the next tower was nothing but a death trap. Sharp points of metal that shined a bit in the sun light. She also saw another rope line. She quickly dropped onto it and slid, until she realized she had to drop again.
She dropped into the river rapids. Another shotgun blast at a wooden block shattering it as she was pushed passed by the rushing river water. She saw it was a waterfall and fell five feet into a less aggressive river. She swam back up and gasped for air as she did. She let the river push her for a bit until she felt her feet drag on the bottom. She stood and slowly waded to the right side of the river. She pulled herself up onto a small wooden dock. She shook for a few moments. That had been so intense and frightening, but she was glade to be alive.
"Something tells me that the others found an easier way down." She panted to herself before setting off again.
She walked to a wall and slipped through a crack in it to the other side. The moment she did, she saw them. A flowerpot of what looked like dark purple Snap Dragons. This was the indigo plant. She quickly picked it and tucked it away before continuing on the wooden path on the sand.
"Strange that this was here, but I'd better not look a gift horse in the mouth." She muttered before stopping and seeing the beach with all the racks. "Made it…now where are they?" She muttered.
Lara could see the camp and beamed at seeing the fire. She rushed down the sandy hills and to the campfire. She could hear the sound of a boat trying to start up. Laying passed out was Kat by the fire. Hanging of the fire was a pot of water. Next to the fire, drying under a clean cloth was some small thin shapes.
Lara kneeled next to Kat, and lightly shook her shoulder. "Kat? Wake up."
Kat blinked awake she smiled and hugged Lara tightly a moment then let go before looking around her. "Crap…what time is it?"
"I don't know…" Lara looked to her watch that still worked, sorta. "It might be 3:12…but not sure it's PM or AM."
Kat nodded. "Did you get the Indigo?"
Lara nodded handing them too her. "Will it be enough?"
Kat looked them over. "I hope so. Might need more. I'll go ahead and make the ink with these and see if we need more."
Lara nodded as Kat pulled out a makeshift mortar and pestle. "Where are the others?"
"The boat through there. Reyes isn't having a great time with it." Kat told her.
Lara nodded. "How's your thigh?"
Kat looked at it; it was bandaged now and looked painful. "Not bad, not great, but I'm good now."
"Okay, I'll go check on the others." Lara nodded as Kat started the grinding and ink making process.
Kat nodded relieved Lara was there, but noticed her cloths were really ripped to all hell. Not so badly that she was barely wearing anything, but her pants had a bit of her thighs showing and her blue shirt was ripped enough to show she was wearing a white tank under it. Kat sighed looking at her grinding. She just hopped that this would work.
Lara walked into the old cement building and saw a note on a desk. Looking to Kat a moment, Lara walked over to it and picked it up. it was a dairy page written by Reyes.
Roth, I know you want me to ease off Lara. But I'm hard on her for a reason.
This big expensive ship and all its people are heading into uncharted, dangerous waters based on her theories. Lara needs to understand the weight of that responsibility. I know it was your call, but sometimes I think you forget that she isn't actually your daughter. No one else could get away with steering the Endurance into Dragon's Triangle without at least some hard evidence. So, you tell me – what convinced you?
She's smart, I'll give her that. I admit the expedition has potential. But big ideas and grand plans will only get us so far. You know as well as I do, nothing like this ever goes according to plan. Lara's green – if the shit hits the fan and she screws up, someone's gonna get hurt. Maybe it'll all play out fine. But until we're sailing home safe and sound with a pile of riches, I'm not giving that girl any slack.
Lara sighed as she read it and then tucked it away. 'Reyes was right. I was a fool and people did get hurt. But I'm going to do whatever it takes to get them home.' She thought as she walked out and saw a steel door.
She walked over to it, slammed her axe into the handle, and pulled until the handle snapped. She stepped inside and found a few more pots of Indigo plants. She picked them up and then saw a note blowing in the corner, as if it had been blown in from somewhere. She picked it up finding it was a journal entry from Jonah.
I feel something in this place, something I haven't felt since I was a child. When my father would go insane with rage, I would hide with my brother and he would tell me the tale of Pania of the Reef. I remember feeling the ocean calling to me. I wanted to escape, to give myself to the silent sea.
Now, as I look at the reefs surrounding this beach, I feel that urge again. I see Pania's green seaweed hair, woven among the wreckage. I feel her tears in the spray of the waves, lashing upon the rocks.
Lara and Kat are right, this island is cursed. There is a rage here, Himiko's rage, which will never let us go. If the worst happens and I'm the last one standing, I will let Pania take me. I will swim away and join my brother in the waves.
Lara swallowed at this. 'Jonah probably believed this island was cursed before any of us. I've got to make sure our plan works and get them all out of here.' She thought as she tucked it away, intending to give it back to Jonah later.
Lara walked back to Kat and gave her the plants before going to the boat, finding Jonah, Sam, and Reyes there. Reyes and Jonah were by an engine and were trying to get it started for testing it, Alex wasn't there, and Sam was sitting at the edge of the boat, holding a bit of paper with Konij on it.
"Sam!" Lara called walking over. "I'm here!"
Sam turned around and smiled at seeing Lara. "Lara!"
Lara stepped a board and smiled lightly as Sam hugged her. Jonah smiled and joined in the hug.
"Alex will be sorry his missed out on this." Jonah smiled.
"Yeah!" Sam smiled as they all parted.
"Where is Alex?" Lara asked uncertain.
"Heading over to the Endurance to grab some tools for Reyes." Jonah informed.
Reyes turned back to look at them. "Jonah…" She called getting his attention. "Give that hoist a try."
Jonah nodded and patted Lara shoulder before getting off and moving to the hoist. Lara and Sam approached Reyes looking to the engine.
"This has got to be our best chance, right?" Sam asked. "The tattoo, the monastery?"
Lara nodded as Reyes closed her eyes. "We've got to try."
"I hate to admit this, Lara…but If what you and Kat say is true, and that is a big ass if, then I'm glad we're doing this. Not happy about it. But I'm not angry either." Reyes voiced.
"What can I do to help?" Lara asked.
"Help Jonah." Reyes told her nodding to him.
Lara nodded and walked over to Jonah. Once both had the rope, they struggled to pull. It was like they had no leverage, or it was too heavy. Jonah and Lara then let go of it as Kat walked over carrying a jar and set of needles.
"Shit!" Reyes groaned as she let go of her end of the rope.
"We'd be able to lift it more smoothly with some kind of block and tackle." Lara said as she looked up at the pulley system that was missing the pieces she mentioned.
"You're right." Jonah nodded. "I should be able to fashion one from some pulleys."
Lara nodded thinking. "There might be some on that rigging we can use. I'll check it out."
"Be careful, Lara." Sam said then saw Kat. "It's ready?"
Kat nodded. "Sorry…I'm not experienced with Tattoos, not even in my old life. I'll try my best to get the characters right on you. We can do this in the bunker for privacy." She offered.
Sam nodded looking to Lara. "When you get back, we will be in the bunker."
"The process will take a while." Kat admitted.
Lara nodded. "I'll see you soon."
"I'm going to see if I can get this gun working." Reyes said as Lara walked off.
"Alright, I'll dismantle this set up and get the engine ready for that block and tackle." Jonah nodded.
"Anything I can do after I get my tattoo?" Sam asked as Kat walked to the bunker.
"No, just stay back and rest after that." Reyes told her. "You might be in a bit too much pain to do anything."
"You really think these things will still fire?" Jonah asked as Sam walked to the bunker.
"They'll need a bit of cleaning…but yeah, they'll work." Reyes said.
Jonah sighed as he looked at the dock Lara was heading toward. "Hopefully we won't need to use them." He then looked to Sam as she paused by the bunker door. "Be brave, Sam. After a little bit it stops hurting as bad."
Sam nodded. "Thanks…but I've never gotten one before."
"You'll be okay." Reyes assured.
Lara's POV
Lara jumped onto a boat and looked out at the sea. The 17th Country ship was right there. There was plenty of rigging and so plenty of pulleys to choose from. She drew an arrow and loosed it at a mine, setting it off. She then spotted a small tower with a rope line at the top that led to the ship. She jumped off the small boat and ran through the water, splashing a bit as she did.
Lara climbed up a ladder onto the old docks. She ran on them and jumped the broken gap. She grasped the other side and ran to the tower. She climbed up the ladder and jumped up to where the rope line was. She paused and looked back at the camp and boat. Sam she could not see Sam or Kat. They were more than likely working on the tattoo. She sighed. She read about the tools Kat held. They were old tattooing tools from the old days of Japan. It was going to be more painful than a tattoo from a tattoo machine. Because it will take longer to get it all done. Kat would have to be very precise.
Lara sighed and looked to the line. "Here goes nothing. Sam, I'll be back soon and to hold your hand."
She then jumped onto the rope line with her axe. She dropped at the end on a small dock. She looked to the small bar and ran for it, jumping, swinging, and then sinking her axe into the rough stone that the ship had run aground on years ago. She looked up, climbed up, and saw an open hole of the ship. She moved closer to the end of the stone. She then jumped to the hole. She grabbed its lip and pulled herself up, then slipped through.
She dropped to the cargo hold floor. She fell on her hands and knees, just stopping her head from hitting the rusty chains that had been part of the ship's anchor at one point. She sighed. She and Kat both had taken way too many blows to the head in the past…three days? She frowned. Head it really been three days or was it four? She shook her head.
"Who the fuck are they? Sounds like they got guns!"
Lara stiffened and pulled her bow and an arrow. She looked ahead of her and saw them. Solarii.
"I don't know…let me think." Said the other as Lara stood and took aim.
"Radio's been dead for hours…we're cut off, brother…what…" he said shakily as Lara took slow breaths, evening out her breathing.
She loosed. He dropped as her arrow hit his head. She then moved to cover as the other one came down the steps on the other side of the ship. He stopped as he saw her. Both drew arrows. Both dipped into Archer positions. Lara's eyes narrowed as they took aim. He loosed, missing her head by inches. She let go of her breath and loosed. Her arrow was true and didn't miss his right eye. He dropped down the stairs, dead with his brother.
Lara put her bow to her back and then jumped across. After taking ammo from the bodies, she climbed the stairs and climbed up the side of the ship. She had to get to the rigging. Once there she saw it. Holding the anchor to the masts cross was a pair of pulleys.
"There it is…now how to get it." Lara muttered.
She drew her pistol and took aim down the sights at the pulleys. She squeezed the trigger and the bullet fired. The rope snapped from the force and the pulleys hit the floor in front of Lara and the anchor to the ocean. Tthen the whole mast snapped and made a small bridge for Lara to get back. She walked over and picked up the pair of pulleys. She then stood and clipped them to her belt. Though she was running out of room, she could fit them there for the moment.
She stepped onto the mast bridge and balanced on it as if it were a balance beam, moving quickly over it. She was much more confident then on that tree when she and Kat escaped capture the first time. Back then, she was injured and scared. Now she was mostly healed and determined to get the plane. As she came to the end, she heard male voices again and slowed down.
"Shit!" Yelled one as Lara lowered herself into a crouch, drawing her handgun and putting the newly made silencer on the barrel. "This thing's falling apart! Let's get outta here!"
Lara took aim. Three shots were all it took to kill the three men. She lowered her gun and holstered it. Was she really going to be like this? Was this really going to be who she was to become? She shook her head, jumped to the other side, and checked the bodies. This was about surviving, saving those she cared about. She just had to keep telling herself that. She then ran and jumped off a ramp onto a rope line with her axe.
As she slid down it, she switched lines and then dropped into the surf. She waded back to shore and onto the sand before making her way to the camp. She could hear the whimpers and a yelp from the bunker, telling her that Sam was still getting her tattoo. She walked over to Jonah who stood vigilantly watching the wracks with a sawed-off shotgun in hand. Jonah turned around at the sound of the sand shifting. Lara handed him the pulleys.
"Thanks…" He smiled taking them before frowning and looking to the beach.
Lara frowned too. "What's wrong?"
He sighed looking at the wrack of the Endurance as Sam's pained sounds came to a stop. "Alex should've been back by now." He told her.
They then heard the sounds of gunfire.
Kat's POV while Lara was getting the pulleys.
Kat finished setting up the desk. On top of it was an old sail from a ship, laid out on top was the jar of tattoo ink and the tools. On the floor was a bowl of water and a clean cloth. Another sail was on the floor. Sam entered and swallowed.
"So…on my abdomen? Right?" Sam asked as she walked over.
Kat nodded. "It's the best place." She told her.
Sam nodded and took off her jacket then t-shirt and paused as she sat down on the floor sail. "Do I need to take my bra off?"
Kat shook her head as Sam pulled out the paper charm. "Shouldn't be needed." She took up the jar and tool with the line of needles. "Ready? Would you like something to bite on?"
Sam paused as she laid down. "No."
Kat sigh through her nose and kneeled next to Sam. "Okay. Want me to talk to distract you from the pain?"
Sam nodded as she shoved her shirt and jacket under her head. "That'd be nice."
Kat moved next to her. "What would you like me to talk about?"
"Um…Raccoon. Why you hate it there…" Sam said.
Kat took a breath and nodded. "Sure. It's all too due with Chief Brian Irons." Kat said as she dipped the needles into the ink in the jar. "I told you that I was reincarnated with memories of a few possible futures?" Kat began as she took the paper charm. "Well, in all of the possible futures that is in here…" She tipped her head then leaned over Sam's upper abdomen holding the tool just below her bra line. "I die, and it's Irons who kills me." She then started work on the first of the Ofuda Kanji.
Sam yelped and struggled to stay not only still but also not scream. "Shit!"
"Sorry…" Kat apologized as she kept going.
"It-it's…craaAHp!" Sam struggled to say. "Keep…Keep talking…Pl-please."
Kat nodded as she kept working. "I knew what he wants to do to me, and I also knew there was no way I could stop the T-Virus from turning the city. So, prior to having my daughter, I made the plan to graduate high school early, get accepted into a collage outside of the state or even country and stay there. Wait it all out." She whipped at the excess ink and blood with the clean cloth, checking over the first Kanji, once she was sure it was clean she put the cloth in the water and moved on to the second kanji. "I could see the way Irons looked at me when he thought I wasn't looking. It made my skin crawl. Made me feel sick and have the need to shower." She gritted her teeth, at the memories. "Sorry." She said. "Went off track."
"N-No…that's a-AHHH Shit! It's a good reason." Sam voiced. "Keep go-going."
"Then I had by daughter. She wasn't planed and she wasn't in any of the futures I remembered." Kat informed. "So, I changed my plan to include her. It remained the same. Just getting a home outside of Raccoon, far from it. But I gained two ties that would keep me there a little. Claire Redfield and I became pen pals on AOL. She is the sister of Chris, the guy that treats me like family that I told you about. In all variations, she comes to Raccoon looking for her brother." Kat paused checking over the Kanji and whipping blood and ink away to check. "And my daughter became best friends with Sherry Birkin. And she gets infected with the G-Virus and is cured but is in great danger in Raccoon." She moved to the next Kanji making Sam whimper and hiss. "So, my plan changed to getting Sherry and Rose to have a sleep over, then when the outbreak starts get them both out of the city. Maybe meet with Claire and a young rookie cop."
Sam suddenly smiled. "Boy or girl OW!" She yelped.
Kat snorted. "Guy. Leon Kennedy." She informed. "But…that plan wouldn't work. Sherry's mom Annette is a real bitch and won't trust me when I get back from this." She said as she worked. "So…" Kat sighed. "I only have one option." She said as she finished the fourth Kanji.
"What's-what's…fuck! What's that?" Sam asked yelping.
"That I'll have to stay in Raccoon city, protect my daughter, find Sherry, and join Leon and Claire to escape the city of zombies and monsters." Kat told her as she cleaned up Sam then moved to the fifth.
"What's the Gah! T-virus? And the G-virus?" Sam asked as Kat worked.
"That's a long story that is very complicated and hard for even me to wrap my head around. Simple version is that T-Virus, Or Tyrant Virus, is the zombie one. This virus can infect humans making them into zombies, plants making them bigger stronger carnivores and animated, animals making them zombified but faster and more aggressive, Reptiles making them bigger and more aggressive, and…I hate this part…Arachnids and insects, making them bigger and aggressive." Kat explained as she finished with the fifth Kanji and cleaned it up before checking it over. "And the G-Virus…well it just makes monsters. If cured in time the cured person gains an accelerated healing factor." She said as she set to working on the last one.
"And…who OW! Made them?" Sam asked as her body started to shake involuntarily.
"The Umbrella Corporation." Kat told her as she struggled to keep Sam still enough for the final Kanji. "Try to stay still, Sam. I'm almost done."
"I-I'll t-try…" Sam whimpered, teared falling from her eyes and down her temples into her hair. "So…all-all that is why-why you hate Raccoon?"
Kat nodded as she drew closer to the end. "Yeah. It is all that…but mostly its Irons. He…he's always scared me." She told her carefully moving with Sam's movements. "I've…I've had nightmares about him killing me and they…they get worse as I get older. Or maybe it's because I'm coming closer and closer to my death day…" She got to the last of the ink marks.
Sam yelped and whimpered. "When…do you have a-a date of…"
"When I'm supposed to die?" Kat asked as she stopped and whipped up the blood and ink and cleaned up the tool and cloth in the bowl. "Yeah…I know when. I…I haven't told anyone. Not even Lara. I don't want her to worry about me on a specific day." She sighed grabbing the gauze, herbs, and bandages.
"Please. You have to tell us the date, Kat. We're your friends…we can help you come up with a strategy or maybe be there for you." Sam said as Kat put the last of her and Lara's herbs onto Sam's tattoo, which spanned from just below her bra line and just above her navel.
"No, Sam!" Kat gasped looking at Sam's tear-streaked face sharply; she shook her head and put the gauze in place. "Sit up slowly, I've got to wrap you up." She told her.
"Kat, why don't you want us in Raccoon?" Sam asked ass he slowly sat up hissing and wincing. "I get that there would be zombies and monsters—"
"It's…" Kat started wrapping Sam's torso. "It's not just that. On October 1…the US Government can't handle it and can't risk the virus spreading. They nuke the city." She tells her closing her eyes, as she tied off the bandage. "I…don't know why I'm telling you. I shouldn't have."
Sam shook her head as she pulled her shirt back on. "Because you want help." She said but just as she was pulling her jacket on, they heard gunfire.
Kat groaned. "Raccoon plans will have to wait. Whitmen has arrived and is leading the Solarii here for you."
Normal POV
Kat rushed to Lara. "Twitmen betrayal." She simply stated as the gunfire got closer drawing everyone out into the open.
"Help! Heeeeelp!" Whitmen's voice yelled as he drew closer.
Sharing a look, they all nodded.
"It's Dr. Whitmen!" Jonah called, signaling they act as normal as posable to the up-and-coming betrayal.
Kat stuck with Sam as they moved to where Whitmen was. Jonah got his shotgun ready as Whitmen rushed over acting a bit panicked.
"Jonah! Help!" Whitmen yelled as he backed up and squeezed off more shots with his handgun.
Jonah looked around where Whitmen had come from, looking for movement of hidden Solarii. Whitmen tripped over himself as he tried to climb the small step up to the camp. Kat raised a skeptical eyebrow at him, her eyes moving over him making note of things that had not stuck to her memory. Lara gaped at him, Sam held her stomach and leaned on Kat, and Reyes came over kneeling and aiming down her handgun, looking for the hidden Solarii like Jonah who slowly lowered his shotgun.
"How many are there?" Reyes asked quickly.
"I don't know…" Whitmen stated looking fearful.
Jonah helped Whitmen to his feet as Sam looking him over putting on a concerned look.
"Are you hurt?" Sam winced.
"I couldn't see anyone." Jonah stated.
"I must have scared them off." Whitmen stated bracing on his knees, but he was not shaking. "Feel like I've run for miles." He looked back at the woods.
Lara took two long slow strides. "And yet you've barely broken a sweat." She pointed out.
Whitmen straightened out. "Must be fitter then I thought."
"Really? I don't even know of a body builder that doesn't sweat after running a marathon." Kat stated. "You're shirt and vest is dry, your glasses aren't fogged or smudge, your hair, though, greasy is also dry." She stated her observations. "And most importantly, the only dirty on you is from that fall you took in the sand. There's no mud from the forest."
"I didn't run into any puddles." Whitmen stated.
"No…Kat's right. You could've lead them straight to us…" Lara stated as she peered at Whitmen like a lioness dose a zebra. "Like you did back at the palace." She elaborated.
Reyes's eyes widened a bit. "What?" She asked standing and turning around.
"That's not how it was, guys." Whitmen stated a bit startled. "Th-they…they caught me while you were getting Sam."
"What the hell's this about?" Reyes asked sounding pissed in the way only a momma cop could.
"They said it was the only way they'd let you and the other's live." Whitmen tried. "I-I tried to warn you!" He said, panicking that everyone seemed wary.
"Oh, that's some horseshit." Kat stated.
"We don't have time for this!" Reyes called out annoyed and looked between Lara, Kat, and Whitmen. "Look, I don't know what the problem is between the three of you, and to tell you the truth, I don't much care." She stated as Kat kept her eyes unnervingly on Whitmen and Lara rolled her eyes away from him.
Whitmen sighed and looked down. "I was only hoping…"
"Look, another word and I swear to god I'll start smashing that expensive dentistry of yours!" Reyes stated harshly and firmly effectively ending it.
Jonah stepped in, pushing Reyes away from Whitmen. "Stop, stop, stop!" He looked around at everyone. "If we fight amongst ourselves, then we lose."
Reyes sighed and nodded. "You're right." She stated. "Which is why this is not happening, okay?" She asked looking to Kat and Lara pointedly.
Lara looked to the Endurance shipwreck. "I'm going after Alex." She stated simply. "Where are the tools?" She asked.
"The engine room…Look, he can take care of himself, Lara." Reyes said reassuringly.
"Good." Lara said simply. "Then we'll be back soon." She turned away and walked in the Endurance's direction.
Everyone splits. Reyes went back to the boat, Kat moved to go to the fire with Sam following, and Jonah rushed after Lara, all leaving Whitmen alone. Sam stopped Kat and hugged her. Kat was confused but hugged her back.
"Go with Lara." Sam whispered.
Kat blinked. "Huh?"
"Go with Lara. I know you're thinking about it." Sam told her. "Just go. I'll be fine. I have the Ofuda."
Kat nodded slowly. "Are you sure?"
"Not really, but I don't want Lara to go alone." Sam admitted. "I'll go with her if you don't."
Kat rolled her eyes, partly believing her and partly not. "Okay, Sam. Just don't let your guard down around Whitmen."
"Won't." Sam promised as they parted.
"Lara, wait!" Jonah said stopping her and picking up a hunting compound bow. "Here, take this bow." He told her holding it out to her. "I've been saving this for you ever since I found it." He said as Lara took it in hand seeing it had sights on it. "It's powerful…can shoot an arrow through almost anything."
Lara nodded slowly calming down. "Thank you, Jonah."
Lara took a moment by the fire as Kat walked over.
"Hey, you can't go alone." Kat told Lara as she took a seat next to her.
Lara looked to Kat as she moved her lighter to her compound bow. "Kat, you should stay here with Sam."
"Sam's the one telling me to go with you." Kat smiled lightly. "And she's threating to go instead if I don't."
Lara smiled. "Sam's stubborn."
"And while…" Kat looked around for Whitmen. "When I was giving her the Ofuda, I told her more about Raccoon…and some dates. I haven't told anyone when it all will happen, but…"
"I'd come with you, Kat." Lara offered.
Kat shook her head. "Lara, I know you would, Sam too, maybe even the others. But I can't risk you guys."
"You've seen me fighting here, surviving." Lara pointed out as she handed her the recurve bow.
Kat took it and tested the draw again. "I know. That's not what I'm worried about. Only 10% of the human population is immune to the T-Virus, Lara." She explained lowering the bow and lowered the bow before taking her assault rifle from her back and shaking her head at it. "Even if you and the others are great at avoiding getting bitten by the zombies, dodging the dogs, keeping quiet with the lickers, and quick enough to evade the tyrants, I can't risk you guys." She looked at the bow feeling ten times more comfortable with the bow and crossbow then the assault rifle. "On the first of October…the whole city will be nuked. After it's over it will be a nuclear waste land where no living life can survive."
Lara's eyes were wide with horror. "But…what about the survivors? The people? Doesn't a cure exist?"
"It will…but far far too late to do any good." Kat told her. "A group of people make a cure called Daylight while at the university…but by the time they get it out of the city…the bombs will drop and it's useless to save Raccoon. Sure, it'll help in the future with other outbreaks; an airborne cure gets made too…but far too late to help Raccoon." She looked to Lara. "It'll be safer to get a smaller group out then getting a big group in." She informed. "It'll be just me, Claire, Leon, Rose, and Sherry."
"No one else survives?" Lara asked sounding saddened.
"Yes. But it's very few. Jill will be among those that survive. I cannot put Rose in the kind of danger Jill will get in. She gets out of the city a bit too close to the nuke launch." Kat informed as they stood. "And then there's…" Kat froze.
"Yes?" Lara asked looking to Kat.
"I'll have to warn Claire and Jill!" Kat gasped feeling incredibly stupid. "I didn't do it sooner. I was focused on you and Himiko. I…" She felt fear. Fear for Claire and Jill. The pair had cared about her, Jill like a big sister and Claire like a little sister. "They're unprepared."
"Then, we'll strategies." Lara told her putting a hand on her shoulder. "After we defeat Himiko, we'll come up with a plan. I'm sure you've got a plan, but you need to talk to people about it. Bounce the ideas off of someone till it's clear." Lara smiled lightly. "Sure, you came up with the plan against Himiko on the fly, but I'm pretty sure you can't do that for Raccoon. Not completely at least."
Kat smiled at Lara a bit. "That's…very true." She nodded. "Okay."
"Lara, Kat, the Endurance is beached on the other side of those cliffs." Jonah called to them pointing to said cliffs on the left side of the beach. "You can probably use that new bow to make your way there…" He looked to where he pointed and lowered his arm. "Maybe on those rocks from the docks?"
"Thanks, Jonah." The pair said as Kat picked up a quiver and strapped it to her back with her new recurve bow.
"Good luck, you two." Jonah nodded as he kept watch of the woods and the beach.
Kat and Lara turned to see Whitmen sitting with Sam. Sharing a nod, the pair approached. Whitmen was writing in his own journal like Lara and Kat, Sam was sitting on the floor resting and reading a book.
"Find something to take your mind off things?" Lara asked Sam looking to her.
"I found an old copy of Robinson Crusoe." Sam said making Lara chuckle. "A little irony."
"Well, he eventually escapes the island." Lara told her before sighing. "Let's take that as a good sign."
"I haven't read it yet. Maybe I'll read it on the journey back to Japan." Kat said making Sam smile.
Lara and Kat turned away but Whitmen sighed.
"Lara, Kathrine…I hope you both understand how in the palace there was nothing I could do." He said sounding apologetic and yet looked like he had tasted something sour.
Lara frowned. "So you said." She stated.
Whitmen hummed uncertain. "Well…yes…not time to talk. I'd like to record everything I've seen here. So-so much fascinating history and culture…" He trailed off as the pair looked to Sam.
Sam sighed shaking her head as Lara rolled her eyes and Kat sighed. The pair then walked into the bunker and Lara saw the tattooing tools were tucked away, hidden from the unobservant eyes of Whitmen. Lara and Kat walked up to Reyes and the boat making her sigh.
"Once I get this all hooked up, Jonah and I should be able to hoist up the engine and then make the repairs." Reyes told them both.
"That's good." Kat told her.
"You two sure about where Himiko's body is? And that it will stop the storms for us to leave?" Reyes asked, sounding both disbelieving and believing all at once.
"We're sure, Reyes." Lara told her. "We just need to get there."
"Okay. But if you're wrong, we could die out here." Reyes reminded them. "We have our girls to get back to."
Lara nodded with Kat. "We know."
"Good luck then." Reyes wished before turning back to the engine.