Chapter 20 - Attack

Lara felt free. She loved flying, and she loved flying fast. The adrenaline rush that blew through her as the wind came through the windows stung, but it exhilarated her. She swooped the chopper down and skimmed over the water. The sun was high in the sky behind them and blazed into the mirrors that allowed Lara to see behind the chopper. She looked at the mirror again, although her vision was restricted, she could see something moving - something big and black, and moving fast. It was too big to be a bird…Wait! There were now two, and

"Oh Shit!" she whispered to herself.

She had to think, and she had to think fast.

"Chase…get up here now…hurry"

He got up and stumbled towards the co-pilot seat. Lexa..you better get up here too..we have company"

"What?"

"Yes..I believe you were right about the building back on the island. Bryce..how far till we reach the co-ordinates?"

"About 7 minutes and 43 seconds. Oh..41 now, wait 40,..39, 38, 37.."

"Bryce! Enough! I don't have time for jokes right now..we have to get rid of them..and fast"

"We can't just kill them Lara"

"I'm sorry Lexa, its either them and you get your empire, or its us and they get the empire and you, and evil rules the world…make your choice now..I can either fight, or we can run"

"Fight them Lara…kick some butt"

"Now that's what I'm talking about..Get strapped in guys..we're going for the Crash Rally!"

She swung the chopper round. Chase brought her extra ammo and sat down with his chosen guns.

"No need for mine just yet honey. I've got a surprise for them"

Lara pressed a concealed switch on the control board, and two heat and motion sensored guns appeared from the front of the chopper.

"I like that.." said Chase…"Kay…I'm strapped in..lets go"

Lara pushed the helicopter forwards and it picked up speed. By now, the other choppers had realised that they were being charged down by some Kamikaze woman flying a large chopper. And then they saw the guns..but too late. Lara pulled the trigger..aimed perfectly, the bullets tore through the gas tank of the chopper and it erupted into a ball of fire.

"One down, two to go! Chase..one of them's missing"

"I know..you just shot it girl!"

"Not that one you jackass…one of the others"

Checking in her mirrors again, she saw the other creeping up the left hand side of the chopper. Its side was open, and about 6 men in black with automatic rifles were all aiming at the plane..but they weren't firing.

"Clever boys!" said Lara

 "You know we've got the Empress, you know we've got the pieces, and you know we've got the location. Hell, we even have your old employee"

Lara also knew that her chopper had reinforced sides with alloy steel runners…

"Crash and Burn baby!" she shouted, and with a wild grin, slammed her chopper into the side of the other…by some miracle, the blades missed each other and the hit from the chopper caused the       Xao-Tul-Ca's chopper to swerve violently to the side and tip. However, the wind took the blades and the chopper spun wildly out of control into the ocean. The last chopper moved up to the side. Only this time, a hail of bullets struck the side and ripped through the casing.

"Oh that's right. Save the best for last!"

Taking a deep breath, she summed up her last manoeuvre. . Spin the chopper 90-degrees anti-clockwise and let it rip into the other chopper. Only 1 chance, only one life.

"Ahhhhhhh!"

The bullets ripped into the other choppers gas tank, and that too exploded into a ball of fire. Lara pulled on the controls to move the chopper away from the fireball as it plummeted into the water.

"Woah Baby..!" she laughed, and chuckled to herself.

"Hey Bryce..how far?"

"We should be flying over it…………now!"

Lara looked out through the window and into the azure water…however at this patch, there was a discolouration where the water was slightly darker, but still as beautiful. Her yacht was positioned over the discolouration. It looked small and insignificant than when she was on it.

"Chase…look at this…isn't it beautiful?"

………………………

"Chase?"

She turned, and looked at Chase…he was slumped sideways in his seat, and then she noticed the blood trickling down the chair and onto the floor.

"Noooo….Bryce..quick..Chase is hurt..he was shot!"

Lara circled and spun the chopper round slowly. She performed a perfect landing on the water (water landing legs and stands of course). The landing boat motored over quickly, but Lara was already out of her seat and with Chase.

"Hang on buddy..we'll get you sorted!"

Chase barely heard her, and then he lost conciousness

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Chase was lifted down onto the motor slowly. Lexa climbed in with him and they sped to the yacht. Bryce stayed with Lara to get the stuff to the main doors of the chopper and ready for unloading. A silent tear slid down Lara's face.

"Hey Lara?"

"Yes Bryce"

"He'll be OK…I know it..maybe you two should go out for a drink afterwards, you know…to celebrate reconciliation"

Lara smiled a weak smile.

"Maybe"

They continued in silence until the boat came back for them. Lara used to sonar to grab a measurement of the depth of the water, and the distance to the land. She willed the boat to hurry, and for Chase to be alright. They boat arrived, and they loaded the stuff on as quickly as possible.

"Andre?"
"Yes Miss Lara"

"What of Chase?"

"Dr. Rossler is with him now. I'm afraid I do not know the details"

Lara kept her fingers crossed, but by the time they arrived back at the yacht, Lexa was standing by the landing deck, head down, and Lara knew that Chase was gone.

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Disclaimer - I do not own any recognisable characters. They all belong to Core Design and Eidos Interactive. However, Alexa belongs to me. J

This fic is dedicated to my best friend Jaina.

As ever,
Lara

XxX

Another chapter soon, I promise.