Chapter 19 - Zante: A Close Call
"Flight ZT2004 has touched down at 14.37, local time. Thank you for flying British Airways Zante Charter. Could all passengers remain seated until the plane has fully stopped, and could all passengers in Business and Economy class please stay seated until called"
"I love flying first class Lara. Don't you?" said Chase
"I do love flying first class, but personally, I'd rather be flying the plane"
"Why?"
"I like flying"
"I never knew you could fly a plane?"
"You never asked"
The plane rolled slowly to its position, and ignoring the "Seatbelts On" sign, leapt up and started grabbing her things from the overhead compartment.
"Excuse me, Miss?"
"Yes"
The air steward looked at her nervously. "I'm afraid you'll have to sit down until the plane has come to a complete standstill"
"Look kid, I'm bigger and meaner than you could ever imagine. If I can scale down a sheer wall of ice without a safety belt, and just a rope to hang on to, I can stand up in a plane without a seatbelt when its moving at 5 miles-per-hour. Get it?"
"I'm sorry Miss…but rules are rules. You have to sit down"
Bing
"Oh Dear…looks like I'm out of time! Keep trying kid"
Looking decidedly dejected, the young air steward started to turn away. Lara felt a pang of guilt, realising that the kid really just was doing his job.
"Hey…kid?"
"Yes Miss?"
Lara kissed him on the cheek…
"I promise I'll be a good girl next time"
And with a happy grin on his face, the steward went to open the door.
"Me too..me too" said Chase
"Sorry Mr Carver…this is business now"
"Lara?"
"Yes Bryce?"
"How are we going to get all your equipment through the security…You know that Zante airport is a military base and there are armed guards everywhere…"
"Don't worry Bryce…the licences are in, and I have a friend. Kritian is around here somewhere..he said he would be meeting the plane and he will be. He's got a helicopter out for us to take us to the marina"
"I didn't organise any chopper!"
"I know Bryce…I didn't ask you to. Ah..there he is"
"Ahhhh..Miss Croft, Lara…a pleasure to see you". "
The young man bent his head and kissed Lara's hand.
I'll have your bags brought immediately..but please..come into the cool and have a drink.."
"Thank you Kritian. These are my friends, Alexa Munroe, Chase Carver, and this is Bryce, my technician"
Kritian Silvos bent his head over Alexa's hand and kissed it, he then saluted to Chase and Bryce and shook their hands.
"Delighted, Delighted…please…come this way"
They followed him over to a white building next to the main airport… As they went in the door, Alexa glanced up at the markings over the doorway, and gasped, inaudibly, to the other. But Lara, whose trained senses were wary as always, heard the almost indistinct whisper of the sharp breath and sae Lexa's shoulders rise suddenly. Lara followed Lexa's line of vision to the inscriptions above the door way..they looked strangely familiar.
"Hey Lexa…I need the bathroom..how about you?"
"Oh..Yes…please…it was a long flight"
"Kritian. We have to go to the ladies. We'll meet you in the hall in 5"
"Of course…"
Lexa followed Lara and entered the Ladies bathroom.
"What's wrong?"
"Lara..the markings over the door…they are Xao-Tul-Ca. We have to get out of here.
"I see…if we run out then we raise suspicion. We must wait until our bags are out and loaded on the chopper..then we will be on our way…but wait…that means Kritian is one of them…No…he can't be…"
"No…I can sense them…I don't think he is one…I think he is just an innocent."
"Good. Come on..we must get back to them"
They sauntered casually back to the others.
"Ah..Miss Croft..your bags are finally here and are being loaded into the chopper..please..follow me and I will take you there"
"Thank you"
Kritian led them to a large helicopter..with enough room for them and the luggage"
"Lara?" Chase whispered
"Yes?"
"How do we land on the water?"
"You'll see!"
"Oh..Ok.."
They loaded up onto the chopper…Lara had already strapped her holsters on and grabbed her guns and ammo.. Lexa had her Staff in her pocket..Chase chose himself an couple of pistols…and Bryce..well..he had a can of soda.
"Be careful with those Chase. They aren't toys!" Lara smiled.
"Oh yeah…really?? I never knew…who's flying this thing?" Chase said as the chopper started up and watched in horror as Lara placed the earphones over her head, strapped herself in and
"This is "Croft-zero-two-zero" waiting for permission to take off, Control" Lara said in perfect Greek.
"Croft-zero-two-zero" you have permission to fly. Have a nice flight"
"Roger. Thank you Control"
Lara signalled to the men standing by the runway who waved. The blades rotated faster and faster and the chopper began to lift from the ground"
"Oh Shiiiiiittttttt" came the sound of Chase's voice in the back…
"If she flies this thing the same way she drives, we're screwed!"
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Hey all…here is another chapter for you to feast your eyes on…I have only one exam left now which is in 8 days..Thank Goodness…These A-levels are so taxing..but it's good to have something to take your mind off work for a while.
This fic is dedicated to my best friend Jaina….
Mwah..XXX
Lara J
Disclaimer….Everything recogniseable belongs to Eidos or Core Design…Alexa Munroe belongs to meeeeeee…
PS: If anybody reads Witchblade/Tomb Raider or just Witchblade…please tell me….What happens to Ian Nottingham after he gets thrown out the window…(WHAT A WASTE!!!!) I mean, the guy jumps from
helicopters and thinks nothing of it…and what relation is Jackie Estacado to him…Because…Damn..If they aren't related then something freaky is going on (And they are both fine)…and what about Kenneth Irons…I mean…what a boring ending for a bad guy…surely Sara and Ian should have got together…that's what everyone wanted…right??????
PPS: Does anybody know where I can get hold of the Witchblade comics from Episodes 14 onwards?
PPPS: I promise to get another chapter out soon…I promise……..please review though…It makes me write faster *hint* *hint* J
