Chapter 20: Breaking Ice

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 Government branch S.P.E.L.L., the person that has taken over Kathrine Warren's life, and Rose Warren. This story also will be bloody, violent, and have cursing. It's rated T for Teen.

Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Soviet Installation/Train Yard Control Room, Month: November, Day: Sunday 26th, Year: 2000, Time: 13:57 KRAT…

Lara and Kat entered a small control room. More than likely meant for the train yard. Slumped in a chair by some computers was a man in whiteout gear.

"What happened here?" Lara asked as Kat spotted a red laptop with a tape next to it.

Kat walked over as Lara checked the body in the chair. "Not sure…"

Kat grabbed up the tape after trashing the laptop. She popped it into her tape player and hit the play button. She looked to Lara as Konstantin's voice played.

"As we push deeper into the valley, I feel re-assured that this is the work I was chosen to perform.

My stigmata itch with sensation. It is a constant reminder of my higher purpose, of my singular position in this higher purpose. I was a child, innocent to the evils of the world. Then, one night, I woke in such pain, a scream on my lips.

Blood dripped from my palms. When I saw it, I was terrified.

It marked me. It meant something.

I cannot shirk this mission anymore that I can shirk my own hands."

"Oh God..." Lara breathed in horror. "Someone did this to him...Someone pushed him onto this path when he was a child..." She shook her head.

"It's wrong. I feel bad for a child that was failed. I feel only a small amount of pity for the man he became. The rest is anger at his cruelty." Kat voiced as she put the player and tape away.

The pair checked the last two bodies and found some more ammo. Before they moved to the exit, Kat pulled her radio.

"Leon? Jacob?" She asked getting Lara to look at her. "Lara and I are close to the Train Yard, I think…" She let go for a moment, then pushed the button again. "Are either of you there? Can you hear me?" She bit her lips her brows knitted. "Hey, all we heard after was a lot of gunfire. Please tell me that it was you guys owning some Trinity Asshats."

Just static.

"They're okay." Lara assured her.

"Jacob…he'll be harder to find then any of us…I'm worried about Leon." Kat admitted.

"I get it. Is there any particular reason you're hesitating to tell him? How you feel I mean?" Lara asked as she led them to the stairs.

Kat looked down. "I can't think about that—"

"You can't run from your feelings, Kat." Lara interrupted. "You had a crush on him before you met him. I understand not making a move then, and then he was dating Claire. You've both been friends for nearly two years. He and Claire have split, so what's holding you back. It can't be him being with someone or you both not knowing each other long." She shook her head. "And it can't be that bullcrap rule about not dating people your work with. You're both in different divisions of the government."

Kat stopped on the steps. "Lara…it's really complicated."

Lara turned around. "What could be complicated? Is he supposed to end up with someone?"

Kat swallowed and looked away.

Lara's eyes widened. "What? That's the reason?"

Kat nodded. "He…He can't feel the same for me. I'm so far from his type it's laughable." She explained. "And if we did date, it wouldn't be for long. He's…he's a womanizer in the timeline. Dates one woman for a short period of time then moves to the next. Only because…" She trailed off.

"Because of what?" Lara asked, feeling like she was pulling teeth.

"Because of…Ada." Kat bit out. "He's infatuated with her in the timeline. No one holds his love interest for long. He fell in love with her in Raccoon. And has been ever since…"

"Kat…" Lara sighed shaking her head. "You're a complete idiot."

Kat startled. "What?"

"Leon hate's Ada." Lara told her. "Haven't you noticed how angry he gets when she's brought up?"

"It's only temporary." Kat sighed. "He…I can think of every time they met up and all those times, it's like Batman and Catwoman. It is a strange love-hate thing between them. He hates her but he loves her anyway."

Lara shook her head. "Maybe because of you, it's not like that anymore."

Kat looked down. "It wouldn't—"

"Do they ever get together?"

Kat looked at Lara. "Huh?"

Lara turned to Kat fully on the lower step, arms crossed. "Do they get together? Do they go on dates? Get married? Have sex?"

Kat swallowed. "I-I don't know. It's implied they've gotten together a few times and…My knowledge only goes to the year 2022. Hell, the remake of the fourth game was coming out and I never got to see what changed in it."

"But they never got more than physical or kissing?" Lara asked. "Kat, how was that relationship?"

"Toxic…to me it was anyway. Him always chasing her, her letting him, leading him on. No honesty…" Kat shook her head. "Why are you asking all this? Why are you asking me shit Sam would ask?"

"Because Sam's not here to point it out and say it." She came down a few steps and put a hand on her shoulder. "Because I want you to be happy. I want Leon to be happy. This world is full of danger, death, loss, and you both have the most dangerous jobs. You both need someone you love. Someone who is stable. Someone to lean on, to support each other and encourage each other. Leon doesn't want or need someone like Ada. He needs someone like you." Lara explained making Kat stiffen up. "I get it. You have not had a stable relationship and it is hard for you to trust. The last two stable good ones you've had was with me and then Luella. But neither of us were stable relationships either. Luella was in another country and was easily jealous. And me? We were more friends that got together to see what would happen. And it was good. But then it got weird." Lara grabbed Kat's other shoulder. "When I see you and Leon together, you two just relax. Everyone else, you are on edge or guarded. It's not noticeable until you and Leon are in the same room."

Kat stared at her. "I'm…I'm not on edge."

"You are. When you know everything, you know, you're weighted down. When you're with Sherry and Rose, it's a different weight to you. But when Leon's around, you seem lighter. Less worried about everything. Yeah, you're worried about him, but at your house, just you, him, and sometimes with the girls, you're so relaxed." Lara told her honestly. "You really haven't noticed? Chris noticed. So, did Claire, Jill, Sam, and Carlos." She laughed. "Even Barry noticed."

Kat closed her eyes. Had she really relaxed that much like Lara said? Could Leon like her more then she thought he did? Did she like him more than just an infatuation? Did he? She then shook her head. "I can't think about it all now though."

"I know. But after this is over, you should really think about it." Lara told her.

"Lets…let's get moving please." Kat said, trying to gain focus back. "As much as I hate to say this, the, whatever their last name is, are right about needing to focus."

Lara sighed but nodded. "Ward."

"Huh?" Kat asked as they started going down the stairs.

"That's got to be their surname. It's Ana's." Lara said. "Then again she could've been lying."

Kat groaned and closed her eyes. "Ward. Are you kidding me? Ward? Spelled W.A.R.D.?"

"Yes, what's wrong?" Lara asked as they reached the bottom.

"That's the last name of a character from a future TV show. Good first season. Then it got stupid." Kat sighed thinking about Agents of SHIELD.

"Am I right in guessing whoever this 'Ward' is a bad guy on the show?" Lara asked as she kneeled by a box.

"Pretty much. And man, he seemed like such a fun character, then…" Kat shook her head. "When it comes out, I'll let you watch and see."

"What kind of show is it?" Lara asked as she opened the box and Kat watched the door.

"Spys in the Marvel Universe." Kat shrugged. "It started out with some good monster of the week kind of feel then it just went downhill."

"Hmmm…" Lara hummed then pushed the cloth aside.

In the box was a metal. The ribbon of this badge-like metal was red and black. The metal itself was gold and red. The symbol was Trinity's.

Lara lifted it and showed it to Kat. "A badge of rank in the military order…specifically in Trinity's military."

Kat nodded as Lara tucked it away. "What are you putting it away for?"

"Give it to S.P.E.L.L." Lara smiled. "Maybe they can use the evidence."

Kat smiled and nodded. "Possibly."

They stepped into a connecting hallway for the shelters and stopped by another old Soviet plaque. Kat brushed the frost and mud off to read it herself.

"My Russian's rusty but…'Enemies must answer for their crimes…'" Kat cringed. "If I read that right, that's grim."

Lara stepped over and squinted at it and nodded. "You read it right. It is a bit grim."

As they turned a corner, they found themselves in the train yard. And it looked like someone was busy. Dead trinity men were all over. They'd run into three bodies before climbing up on a train car. Kat saw Leon striking a pose against a train wall. His feet were crossed at the ankles as he leaned on one arm, the forearm resting on the wall and his other hand resting on his hip near his gun.

"Looks like I missed the party, Kitty Kat."

Kat smiled a huge grin and felt the biggest relief she'd felt in a while. It was like when she found Sherry and Rose again in Raccoon. When Sherry was returned home after that kidnapping. Seeing him, mostly unharmed, was a sight she was happy to see. She didn't even realize it until she was in front of him and hugging him. Leon startled at the movement. He had pushed off the edge of the train car and jolted as Kat's arms wrapped around him. Their small height difference made it, so her head tucked under his chin easily. After a second, he wrapped his own arms around her. He swallowed, taking in this small moment. His heart used to race around Kat, but now it was as if she had a calming effect on him. His heart slowed. In that moment as he held her and she him, he wondered. Did her heart race or did it slow down like his? Then the moment ended as Kat pulled away.

She smiled up at him then softly punched his arm as she walked past. "Don't worry. There will be more. Not that I'm keeping count."

Lara just shook her head. "Enough jokes, we are not in the clear yet. Good to see you in one piece." She said with a knowing smile.

They all then heard a yell of pain and turned at the sound. They climbed up and into a train car and walked to the back of it. They saw that a Trinity man looking a bit battered aiming to punch Jacob. Jacob dodged to the left, avoiding the right hook. The guy tried for a left hook, and Jacob ducked down and to the right, avoiding the wide swing of a punch. The man was open then. When he moved to throw another punch, Jacob blocked its movement by using his forearm on the man's upper arm.

The man was startled by the seeming pacifist. That moment was what Jacob needed. He sent a quick chambered punch at the man's face, crushing his nose. The man stumbled, but Jacob's hand by the man's shoulder gripped him. He then pulled the knife from the man's belt and used a trapping technique to spin, and slice open the man's chest. The man yelled out in pain as Jacob then turned and sank the blade into the man's lower right lung on the right side as he moved behind him.

The fight was over as Lara, Leon, and Kat got off the car and walked over. Jacob laid the man down on the railroad and left the blade in him for a moment. Kat was suddenly struck with the image of a monk. 'I don't normally use violence, but I'll fuck you up if I must', that kind of a thing.

Jacob looked up at the three as they came over. "What took you so long?"

"We thought we lost you back there." Lara said honestly.

"Had to find them." Leon shrugged.

"Found each other just fine." Kat voiced as Jacob pulled the combat knife from the man, hastening his death by blood flooding his lungs.

He cleaned the blade on the man's coat then took the sheath. He sheathed the blade and clipped it to his own belt. He stood and turned to the trio. "Not a chance. It's good you found each other." He nodded then looked to Lara. "Thanks for getting me out of that place."

A bright light to the right of them alerted them to the helicopter. It was high in the air. The spotlight wasn't on them yet, but it could be on them any second.

"Let's move!" Jacob called over the chopper's sound. "We can get out through there." And lead them toward a train car near the end of the tracks.

Just as they all started running and moved to climb, the light was moving passed them then back at them.

"Watch out!" Lara called out at seeing the search light locking on them.

Some gun fire rained down from the chopper, thankfully it missed them but did set off a few of the red barrels of fuel that exploded. Kat yelped from the pain of the heat but otherwise was not hurt, no one else was affected. Once on the old train, they all kept running, Jacob in the lead, Leon right behind him, Lara, and Kat behind them. The wood roof of the cars then splintered as more gun fire cut through. Arms lifted around their heads to shield themselves from the wood splinters, they all speed up to try avoiding the debris and bullets.

They exited the other side, stumbling as the walls fell and they were out in the open and on the now wall less train car. Kat helped Leon get back to his feet and Jacob helped Lara before they looked at the helicopter. A missile fired from the firing rig on one side. It flew passed the four and they turned to see it hit the other end of the train tracks. The second it hit the world flashed white for a second before fire and a shock wave erupted. The whole track rumbled and shook from it and wood splinters flew.

For a second it seemed fine, but then they saw it. The part of the tracks they were on was a wooden bridge and part of it was gone. Not only that, but a car ahead of them fell over the edge and was still attached to the one they stood on. Brakes were no longer functional. Add to the fact that the car was slowly lighting a blaze and it was flashback inducing for all involved. They were also now in a very precarious decision.

Let themselves fall with the slowly flaming car or jump for the river below them. Lara looked at the helicopter, then back the way they came. A handful of soldiers appeared on the other cars and had guns putted at them. They now had only one option.

"We've got them! They're on the tracks!" Called a female voice from the radios. "Don't let them escape!"

Lara looked at the others in the white light of the chopper. Leon and Kat looked at her and nodded. They knew there was only one way out of this. She looked to Jacob who nodded as well. She looked to the river below and held her hands as if about surrender to Trinity. They all did. But then broke into a run and jumped off the car. The four began to fall downward from the 30-foot drop.

Each of them hit differently though. Leon and Kat, given their different agency training, had squeezed their legs together, pointed their toes and crossed their arms across their chests. Lara crossed her legs and held her arms out at first for balance, aiming to cross them but was too slow. Jacob did a similar thing to Leon and Kat but tipped forward and turned the drop into a dive and hand his arms above his head. They then all hit the water about the same time. It was icy and freezing cold.

They split off though. Jacob was nowhere in sight, Leon vanished, Kat was there but Lara lost sight of her. Lara tumbled in the water and struggled to find a way up. She hit solid ice though. Lara pushed away from the ice and swam down, seeing a light ahead of her. Lara pulled herself through some barnacle covered metal. She wondered for a moment what it once was but felt her lungs beginning to burn.

She felt some bubbles involuntarily escape from her nose before she started stager swimming at the light. Even as she got closer, the more her chest hurt, and the edges of her vison darkened. She let more bubbles escape. She reached the surface just as she needed air and sucked in some water on accident. She grasped the edge of the ice and couched up the painfully cold water.

"Lara?" Leon's voice rasped as he ran over, pulling her from the water more as she shook from her coughing and the cold. "Sh-shit, are you okay? Where's Kat? And Jacob?"

"I-I-I don't know…" Lara said as she struggled to get on her knees as frost formed on her body. "I-I lo-lost sight of them in the-the water."

Leon hissed then nodded helping her stand up. "Kat's a better swimmer the me. So…F-uck…" He growled as they looked at the only path forward.

The path was a frozen river and tall bits of ice from maybe glaciers or something. Just as Leon was about to ask Lara something they heard the helicopter blades and looked back behind them. Sure, enough there it was, rising up of the trees like a monster. They both stood up and saw the light was on them.

"Shit. Run!" Leon yelled as he pulled Lara to get moving.

It was one of the worst terrains she or Leon had ever tried to run on. The ice was lumpy and slippery all at once. It was thin and thick in places. So, they'd slip as they ran, their foot would sink into the ice for a second. Then a missile hit the ice ahead of them and shattered a hole into it. The heat of its blast melted the frost on Lara and Leon and the shockwave sent lukewarm water and partly melted ice chunks at them. At the edge of the ice, they jumped to solid area of ice, just barely avoiding jumping into the water.

They continued running and ducked down as another missile flew passed. But bullets fired after and hit the path ahead of them, letting the waterfall to the right open back up. They jumped over the gap the bullets opened. They landed and skidded on the other side, their arms pinwheeling, getting their balance they ran over the last of the ice. Once on solid ground, they were able to run better. They tore across the ground, kicking up snow and frozen dirt. They ran up a ramp, climbed up a wall and pushed off it to a platform on the side of a cliff.

The bullets rained on the pair as they ran along the path. They jumped from the platform and grabbed at a tree branch swinging from it to a metal platform. The bullets shattered many icicles, and they held their arms over their heads, trying to shield themselves. They jumped from the metal platform and landed on a lower one that might have once been a lookout tower. One of the sheet metal pieces bowed under the weight of them landing on it together, with a loud screech is started to come apart from the frame. Look up they, saw a cable anchored to part of the old frame of the tower.

"Follow me! Like this!" Lara pulled out her axe and jumped onto the cable and used it to start sliding down.

Leon pulled his axe and with a yell for courage, he jumped onto the cable, riding down it among shattering ice and fiery explosions all around them.

Two more missiles missed them, but they felt the wind of them shooting past. Leon let out some choice curses at how close it was. Then they saw a third missile hit the tower that their cable was attached too. They yelled as the tower fell apart and they started to fall diagonally over the raging river. Timing it just right, they dropped from the cable and landed on the icy rocks. They took off along the forest floor. More bullets rained over them, just nearly missing them. Thankfully the gunner was finding it hard to hit them when they were in an icy forest gorge. The helicopter could not lower, it had to stay above the tree line.

They ran and jumped from breaking rock debris to the next. They ended up on some ice that broke apart from the gun fire of the high gauge bullets. Leon knew how badly they'd look if they were hit. They wouldn't even look like Swiss cheese. They'd look like exploded tomatoes. They came to the end of the road and saw they only had one way to go. Jumping off the waterfall to a cable that they had no idea where it led. Letting out yells as they jumped for the line.

As they slid down it, the missiles started to fire gain. Leon had the briefest thought that they had to be on their last missiles when the cable behind them and its connection in front of them were hit. Just like that they were both falling from the cable and into the water, screaming. They hit the water at just the wrong angles and were greeted by cold darkness swirling over their heads.