Chapter 2

Japan

The plane ride (to Lara) was extremely boring. Then again she was still excited for the job.

When she finally got into Japan, she ordered a cab to the Yun Hikaru Garage, where she would find her car. Or at least that's what she thought.

There sitting in the compact parking space, was a black and purple Harley, 2003 edition.

"Surprise, surprise," Lara said, "Where is my car?"

"We threw it in the bay," said a big man sitting near the motorcycle.

"People get sued for that, you know," Lara replied, "so you better find my car before I kick your sorry little bum."

"Sorry, Miss Croft. Didn't mean to get on your nerves."

"It's too late for that. Now where is my car, idiot."

"Right this way. They sent your silver Corvette this time, Lara."

"Excellent. Just what I wanted."

She got in, and sped away out the garage and onto the street. The traffic was light, and Lara got to the Chinese Embassy gates earlier than she had expected.

"I would like to speak to the ambassador," Lara said to the nearest guard.

"That is not possible," he replied. "He cannot see anyone."

"Well ask him why there's a pile of his men in my house," Lara said.

"Oh, I see. He has been waiting for you," he said as he pulled the clearance switch.

"Thanks," she said as she sped towards the Embassy.

Lara's high-heels clicked as she walked down the well-furnished, tiled hallways. She looked absolutely stunning.

She took the elevator to floor 55, where she would be speaking to the ambassador.

The elevator stopped on Lara's floor and Lara walked out, only to find herself face to face with a huge guard.

"Name please," he said in a huge monstrous voice.

"Lara Croft, your welcome!" she snapped back.

"Right this way, ma'am," he said, this time in a lighter tone.

They entered an enormous room, guarded with at least 30 or more guards. Lara hoped she wouldn't have to kill any.

"Ah, you must be Lara," said the ambassador sitting in a well-furnished chair behind a beautiful oak desk.

He looked to be about 5o or so and was fairly tall. He had slightly dark skin and was a native of Japan.

"What can I help you with?" the man asked, "The call I got from the security sounded pretty serious."

Lara snorted. "Well, I got a question for you. Could you explain why there is a pile of your men in my front hall?"

"Oh my." He was obviously shocked by her question. "What exactly do you mean by 'pile of my men'?"

"All I know is that there's a bunch of dead men, not natives of Japan, wearing black and a Japanese flag on the outfit. They just burst into the hall and thenâ€wellâ€I guess they're not really there now."

"Oh no," the ambassador said with regret, "this is much worse than I thought."

"Please explain," Lara said.

"There's a group ofâ€gangsters going around terrorizing parts of Japan. They call themselvesâ€the Japcaps." He chuckled slightly at the name. "Lara, I fear you're in much more trouble than you bargained for."

"Japcaps, huh? Well, thanks for the info."

Lara started to get up and leave, but the ambassador stopped her for a moment.

"Lara, my dear childâ€please be careful."

"I'm always careful," she said, and with that she stepped out the door.