Faith, thank you for the review. Hope you don't mind the waiting for the next chappie, but here it is and I hop u'll enjoy it. Personally I don't think its that good, but please tell me what you think of it.
Peace pixie, Thank you for the review, its appreciated. There is not much action in this chapter either but I'll promise more action in the next chapter.
Darlian, Answers to all questions will come in this chappie, hope you like it. Thanks again for the review Darlian. Oh and I am glad you liked the part where Bryce couldn't resist Lara's beauty, it was funny wasn't it?
Cato, Yes off course I remember you. Its always fun to read ur reviews. And I am glad ur still sticking with the story. Thank you for the review and I hope u'll enjoy the next chappie.
Sexy Bitch, (love ur pen name) Hello there thank you for the review and I am glad you like the story plot. Will Powell find out? Read the next chappie and find out!
Chapter 9, Discovery.
Croft manor
Daniel had just disabled the security system of Croft manor. He walked to the backside of the manor and opened the door to the kitchen. With a flashlight in his right hand and a gun in his left he found his way through the kitchen and entered the main hall. He had already planned his way through the manor. First the living room and the tech room, then Lara's room. Especially with Lara's room he had to be careful. If he would make one wrong move he would awake the tomb raider and his life is over.
Daniel walked to the living room and started to scan the room with the help of his flashlight. The light showed him a few cupboards and a closet. He looked through all of them and found nothing. They were already searched the last time he was at her manor and nothing was found then either. It made him decide to enter the tech room, just a short peek to see if there is a possibility to steal the hard disk back.
Every time he sees the tech room Daniel gets sort of jealous. If he had all these computers and gadgets for himself it would be much easier to do all his research, but Mr Powell has neither the money nor the will to provide him with all this equipment.
Daniel placed himself on one of the chairs and let his eyes scan the computers, so many computers, how can he ever find out in which one the hard disk is. He sighed and leaned back in the chair. Suddenly, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. He turned to it and saw his eyes landing on a robot.
"Holy chit…I haven't seen that one yet."
He stood up from his chair and carefully walked to the robot. Daniel slowly moved his hand over the robot and carefully watched its structure.
"Wow, this Bryce really is good at his work. Would you look at this bloody robot."
Then Daniel reminded himself of the small amount of time he has to search the manor.
"Oh bugger, only fifteen minutes left, time to search Lara's room."
He left the robot for what it was and found his way up the stairs into the long hallway that leads to Lara's room. With light footsteps he passed Hillary's room and stopped when he reached Lara's. Much to his surprise the door to Lara's room was open and when he walked in he was even more surprised to see that Lara wasn't lying in her bed. The first thing that came up in his mind was that she had noticed him. But then he saw that the bed had not been slept on. It could be to trick him but he had a feeling that if she had noticed him she would have attacked him by now.
He lit the flashlight and started to search Lara's room. At the same moment he started to think of a reason why she wouldn't be at home. The only time she is not at the manor during the night is when she is on an adventure, something that is unlikely now that he and Powell are crossing her path.
Still he could think of thousands of reasons for her absence in the manor but it would only steal a lot of his valuable time, so he turned his thoughts to the drawer he'd opened and tried to find something about the ring Powell wants so badly.
When there was nothing to be found in the drawer he closed it and walked to her closet. Except for clothes two guns and three knifes there was nothing more to find. He looked at his watch, only seven minutes left. He already knew from the start that this was not going tow work, simply because there was just too little time. Half an hour is certainly not enough to search the entire manor. It would be much easier to just assault the manor and ask her personally, or forget about the stone and completely focus on the rings.
Daniel closed the closet and decided to leave Lara's room and to go back to London. But when he took a step towards the door he noticed his foot landing on something. After he moved his foot away he shone the flashlight on it. There was a small cotton box, Daniel started to read what was printed on it.
Pharmacy pregnancy test
"What in the world…" The box was picked from the ground and Daniel reads the text again. "Bloody hell, Lara Croft is pregnant?"
He shrugged, Alex West sure was a lucky man. He's in love with a beautiful woman and now she's pregnant. Never the less, this is very useful information even though it was not the reason behind his visit here. At least some good news to bring back to Powell.
Suddenly his watch started beeping. Daniel knew exactly what that means. He has only two minutes left to leave the manor. Immediately he placed the box back on the floor and calmly walked out of Lara's room. With soft footsteps he passed the butler's room and walked down the stairs. Daniel passed the hallway and then the tech room. One last look was aimed at the robot before he entered the kitchen and left through the same door he used to enter the manor. At the left side of the manor the security transmitter switched from a red lamp to a green one, Daniel saw it happening and knew he was just in time. His hand removed the chip from the transmitter and he left Croft manor.
Japan, Fuji Mountains.
Lara was sitting on the wooden floor of the temple. The old monk was sitting across her. On their way to the temple the villagers had all been looking at her with questionable looks. It was obvious that they don't get many visitors from normal civilization.
Another monk appeared carrying a plate with two tea cups. One was offered to the old monk, while the other one was handed to Lara.
"So, Lara Croft, you are here because of box, am I right?"
"Yes I am here for the box…" Lara answered.
"You know that we sworn to keep it secret and we do everything to prevent from leaving village."
"I understand, but I only want it to stop a very bad man from using the rings."
The monk nodded "Yes, Mr Powell, luck has been at his side."
He knows about Powell why does that not surprise her.
"You must be careful Lara Croft, this man will not make same mistake again."
"Neither will I." Lara replied and made the monk laugh.
"How is baby doing."
Everything inside her froze, how could he possibly know that she's pregnant.
"Like I told you before, we Fuji monks only know what we need to know. You Special guest, know more about you then butler."
Another monk entered the temple, he carried a key with him and handed it to the old monk. The monk stood up and walked to the altar at the other side of the temple. He used the key to open something inside the altar. A small box emerged in Lara's sight and something tells her that is the box she's looking for. The monk locked the drawer and handed the key back to the other monk, then he seated himself across Lara again and placed the box between them.
"This is box you want." The monk said. "We sworn never to allow it to leave village…but we decide you can take box to protect world from Powell."
He placed his right hand on the box and slides it to Lara. Lara looked at it for a few moments. It was made of wood and engraved with Japanese symbols. Then she lifted the box from the floor and put it in her backpack.
"I'll make sure Powell doesn't activate the rings."
"Off course you will, be careful with the little creature in your stomach."
"Thank you," Lara said and stood back on her feet. "I guess I'll go back to Alex before the monks will drive him crazy."
"Yes good, my monks can be very annoying." The monk joked.
He showed Lara out of the temple and guided her back into the woods. It all went rather slow, because the monk couldn't walk as fast as Lara can.
"Ah thank god your back, another hour with these guys and I think I might have died." Alex said as he was relieved to see the tomb raider standing in front of him.
"You should spend some days with these monks Alex and learn to be patient."
"I am patient, except when these guys are around me, now did they give you the box?"
"Yes Alex we have the box." Lara turned to the old monk. "I'll promise to return it once the rings are safe."
The monk nodded at her "I have faith in you Lara Croft." He said as a smile was forming on his face.
Lara nodded back at the monk, then she and Alex walked back into the jungle.
Croft manor
"Bloody hell…" Bryce said.
Hillary just entered the tech room, carrying a plate with Bryce his favorite coffee and wondered why he said this.
"What's wrong Bryce?" he asked with his eyes focused on the monitor Bryce was looking at.
"The security system had been offline for half an hour." He replied and immediately started ticking on his keyboard to find out what the reason behind this was.
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to find out."
The ticking on the keyboard continued. Hillary heard Bryce mumbling and he could have sworn Bryce had let out a few curses.
"Blimey, I've found it."
Hillary peered at the monitor "Then what is it?" he asked curious.
"The transmitter outside has lost its power, that's why the security has been offline. But the weird thing is that it has been offline for exactly half an hour."
"I take it that's not normal." Hillary replied.
He always tries to figure out the technology these days but it's just too complicating for him.
"No, it could mean only one thing…" Bryce said "and that thing is a someone who broke into the manor."
The butler frowned and could hardly believe it.
"What could someone possibly think to find here in only half an hour? It would take a day to walk through the entire manor."
Bryce chuckled at Hillary's words.
"Yes I know, let's see what's missing."
Again Bryce started to tick on the keyboard and click with his mouse. Hillary did his best to keep up with him. After a few minutes the ticking and clicking stopped.
"Nothing, the bugger didn't mess with our computer. This only leaves the rest of the manor to check."
"I think that would be a waste of time. Obviously the man who broke into the manor works for Powell. So if you would break in and try to find something to use against Lara, where would you look?"
The tech frowned "I guess I would look in Lara's room and in the tech room." He said confused.
"Exactly, I can almost be certain to tell you that nothing is missing, because everything we have against Powell is in this computer and in her father's secret hideout."
"What makes you believe that the bugger didn't find the stone?"
"They didn't find it the first time why would they find it now, trust me Bryce, the thief has come here for nothing. He came empty handed and he left empty handed."
"Who came empty handed?" a female voice suddenly sounded from behind them.
Both men turned around and saw Lara standing in front of them, accompanied by Alex.
"Lara, back already?" Hillary asked without bothering to answer her question.
"Yes…with the box, but you didn't answer my question."
"Someone broke into the manor last night, for half an hour."
"Half an hour?" Alex said confused. "You need at least a day to break in and search the entire manor."
"Is there anything missing?" Lara asked.
"I believe there isn't." Hillary replied.
"You believe or you know?" the tomb raider asked.
"I know."
"Alright, in that case…" Lara handed him her bag "you can go back to work." There was a tone of sarcasm in her voice.
The butler shakes his head and smiled at Lara.
"Yes milady."
Lara smiled back at him and watched the butler walk upstairs. Suddenly her noxiousness returned. Her head started spinning and she had the feeling that she would throw up soon. It seemed Alex noticed this and already wrapped his arm around her for support.
"Why don't you get some rest Lara? It's been a long day."
"No Alex there is no time to rest, not with Powell on our heels."
"Lara Powell has just been here, he won't show up again today…" he saw Lara wanted to protest "now shut up and get some rest."
The look in his eyes reminded Lara of Hillary. Impossible to ignore it. And she knew he was right. Some rest would be good for her and for the baby.
"Alright West, you've made your point, I'll get some rest."
"Good." The yank replied and placed a kiss on Lara's cheek.
He still couldn't believe it. In less then a year he is going to be a father. Alex just can't stop thinking about it. But there has been one thing bothering him. He and Lara aren't married yet. If he is going to be a father he believes that they should marry. When all this trouble with Powell is over and if they might survive he would find the perfect moment to ask her to marry him.
Please continue reviewing, I'll promise to write the next chappie soon!