The Hunt for Babylon:
By cheekychaos
Chapter Five:
Lara sighed rather contentedly as she stepped out of the steamy bathroom. That hot shower had done wonders for her sore and tired muscles. She was dressed more comfortably now in jeans and a light sweater, with her damp hair falling down her back.
The hotel room Lara was staying in was small, but comfortable. It had everything Lara needed – a bathroom, a bed and a nice warm furnace. And as inviting as that bed looked right now, Lara knew she had to keep moving. The business of this artefact had just got a whole lot more complicated. Someone else wanted it badly – enough to try and kill her for it.
Digging out her phone, Lara called home. "Bryce?" she said when her tech answered the phone.
"Hey, Lara." Bryce replied sounding sleepy.
"Where's Hilary?"
"Shopping, I think." Bryce said. "Why? What's wrong?"
"The situation has become a lot more complicated. Tell Hilary I'll be home early tomorrow. I'll explain more when I get there." Lara said.
"Sure." Bryce replied. "No problem, Lara."
Suddenly Lara heard a sound at the door to her room. "I have to go." She told Bryce.
"Bye, then." Bryce said as Lara hung up.
Tucking her phone into her pocket, Lara tossed her towel on the bed and grabbed her leather jacket and backpack from a nearby chair. There was a louder clicking sound as Lara walked to the open window and she grinned slightly ruthlessly. Someone was picking the lock. But they wouldn't get what they were after.
Lara climbed out the window onto the fire escape and shivered slightly in the cold air outside. Small flakes of snow drifted down through the air and settled on her still damp hair and shoulders. But before she climbed down, Lara paused off to the side of the window and took her digital camera out of her backpack. It might be helpful to find out who exactly was after her and pictures would make that easier.
As Lara watched, the door swung open and a man crept in. He was dressed in dark clothes and carried a gun. Behind him stood a beautiful woman with pale brown skin. Lara recognized them both from the Pyramid – and from South America. Taking her camera, she snapped off a few quick shots, before carefully drawing further back from the window as the woman walked towards it.
"She's not here." The man said after a moment. "There's nothing left."
The woman swore heartily in Russian, causing Lara to raise an eyebrow. "Find her!" the woman snapped. "I want to know who she is and what she wants with the artifact!"
'Same goes for you.' Lara thought.
Lara waited for another long moment until the woman moved away form the window, before creeping down the fire escape as quietly as she could. Walking quickly down the snow covered street, Lara kept a wary eye out for anyone suspicious. She had a feeling Dr. Jackson's friends might be around somewhere too.
Climbing into her hired Jeep, Lara gave the area a last scan before easing out into the traffic. She needed to get back home so she could find out who was following her. And it might be time to find out exactly what Dr. Daniel Jackson did for a living now, too.
Sam ran a hand over her tired eyes. She, Teal'c and Agent Vaughn were all in her lab. They'd been through the Intel at least three times so far. Sam had already briefed the General on the size of the security breach and what it led to. Sam sighed. This was Daniel's field of expertise, not hers. He was always figuring out things like this. Sam was happier when things involved wires or physics.
"I do not believe this is working, Major Carter." Teal'c said, breaking the silence.
Sam looked at him. "I don't either, Teal'c." she said.
Agent Vaughn frowned and shot them both an annoyed look. "We need to find out what Sloane is after. He went to great lengths to get his hands on this Intel, so there's got to be something in here to give us a clue."
"But we're just going round in circles." Sam said. "If there's something here, we can't see it."
"Indeed." Teal'c agreed. "Perhaps Dr. Jackson would be of more help."
Sam sighed again. "When's Daniel getting back?"
Before anyone could answer, Jack, Daniel and Sydney all walked through the door. Daniel had his nose firmly buried in a book and Jack and Sydney appeared to be deep in conversation. "Just the archaeologist we were talking about." Sam said.
"Indeed." Teal'c agreed.
"Hmm?" Daniel said as he looked up from his book and blinked.
Sam smiled. "How was your trip?" she asked.
"Oh it was just peachy, Carter." Jack said as he came to sit down. "We weren't the only ones after the artifact."
"What?" Vaughn snapped.
"Anna." Sydney said. "She was there. She didn't get the artifact, though."
"I don't understand." Sam said. "If Anna Espinosa didn't get it and you didn't get it…then who did?"
Jack scowled. "Why don't you tell them, Danny?" he said. "She's your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Daniel snapped back at Jack, a matching scowl on his face. It sounded as if the two of them had been over this a few times on the ride home.
Still frowning, Daniel turned back to the group. "The reason we didn't get the artifact is because Lara Croft got there first. Lara is a well known archaeologist and was dubbed the 'tomb raider' by the press. She was the speaker I flew to Washington to hear."
"What does Lara Croft want the artifact for?" Vaughn asked.
"My guess would be that she's trying to find what it leads to as well." Daniel answered.
"Then she might know why Arvin Sloane wants it." Sam said.
"If only it were as easy as that." Jack muttered.
"Yeah." Daniel agreed with a slight wince. "Lara doesn't like to work with other people."
"We need that artifact." Sydney stated. "So we're just going to have to find a way to get Lara Croft to share."
"Good luck." Daniel muttered.
After a long and tiring flight, Lara pulled into the drive of Croft Manor. Even the fast drive from London in her Aston Martin hadn't helped to alleviate the feeling of trouble in her gut. Something was going on and she was involved now whether she liked it or not. All Lara had to do was figure out what it was she had gotten mixed up in.
"Hilary?" Lara called out as she walked in the door. "Bryce?"
Hilary walked out of the doorway leading to the kitchens. "Morning, Lara." He greeted. "How was your trip?"
"Complicated." Lara answered. "Where's Bryce?"
"With his computers, I think."
Lara nodded. "Good." She said, handing Hilary a small case. "Put this in the vault, will you?"
"Of course." Hilary replied, taking the case. He knew Lara well enough to guess what was in there.
Lara strode towards the tech room and pushed open the glass door. Bryce sat inside, happily typing away at a computer and singing a little off key to whatever music was pumping through his large headphones.
Tapping him on the shoulder, Lara watched Bryce whirl around in surprise. Raising an eyebrow, she spoke. "Bryce?"
Taking off his headphones, Bryce gave Lara a bright smile. "Hey, Lara."
Lara smiled softly in return. "I've got a job for you." She said, handing Bryce her digital camera. "Find out who the woman in the photos is and who she works for."
"Sure, Lara."
"Oh, and Bryce?" Lara added. "Find out who Dr. Daniel Jackson is currently working for."
"No problem."
Leaving him to his work, Lara moved towards the back of the room and began to pace. Her hair, now done up in its customary braid, twitched every time she pivoted, making Lara look a little like an edgy cat. Her mind was running at a hundred miles an hour, sorting out everything she knew about the artifacts and the map they made.
"Lara?" Hilary asked as he walked in, breaking into her thoughts.
"Right." Lara said. "Bryce, you'd better listen to this too."
"Alright." Bryce said, but kept on typing.
Starting from the beginning, Lara told her two trusted friends about the events in South America and Tibet, ending in the break in to her hotel room. "Do you think they'll come here for the artifact?" Hilary asked.
"I'm not sure." Lara replied. "But we'd better be on our guard."
Hilary nodded, looking thoughtful. Before he could say anything else, however, Bryce cried out in triumph. "Found her!"
Lara moved quickly to stand behind Bryce, leaning over his shoulder and staring intently at the computer screen. "Anna Espinosa. Born in Cuba and trained by the KGB. Currently working for the highest bidder." she read from the screen.
Leaning back, Lara swore. "Why the hell would a spy want an ancient Babylonian artifact?" she snapped. "Bryce, can you find out who she's working for?"
"I could…" Bryce said. "…if I hacked into Langley. The CIA would have all the information we want."
Lara took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Do it." She said. "But, Bryce? Don't get caught this time."
"Yes!" Bryce cried out excitedly, the light of challenge in his eyes. He had been dying to hack into Langley for months.
Tiredly, Lara rubbed a hand over her face. "Don't forget about Dr. Jackson, Bryce." She said, before turning to Hilary. "I'm going to get a few hours sleep. Wake me up if anything happens."
"Of course." Hilary replied.
When Lara came back downstairs six hours later, she found Bryce standing triumphantly outside the tech room. As she approached him, he held up two folders. "One file on Anna Espinosa and one on Dr. Jackson's current employer." He said.
"Brilliant." Lara replied. Then she raised an eyebrow. "I won't be getting a call from Langley, will I?"
"Not on your life, mate!" Bryce said with a grin.
Still smiling, Lara took the files and walked upstairs to the library, where she settled down to read. Five minutes later, Hilary came in with some food. Lara looked up and smiled. "You're an angel, Hilary." She said.
Hilary merely smiled. "Did you need anything else, Lara?"
"No thank you, Hilly."
Lara was soon engrossed in her reading. The file on Anna Espinosa was fascinating. The woman was a ruthless and sometimes cruel killer, but she had an undeniable intelligence and cunning. She knew just how to use whoever and whatever was around her to get what she wanted.
The man she was currently working for was just as ruthless and cunning, if not more so. He had once been a member of the Alliance, a deadly terrorist organisation, but now he seemed to be setting up his own. He was apparently recruiting a team for something, but no one knew what – except Lara knew they had something to do with those artifacts, or Anna wouldn't have been so desperate to get them.
Switching to the file on Dr. Daniel Jackson, Lara felt a little guilty for prying. She knew there were things she wasn't supposed to know – but when it came down to it, not knowing could get her killed. Lara was surprised when she saw he was currently working for the military. The United States Air Force to be exact. Now how did one of the world's most brilliant, if slightly offbeat, archaeologists get involved in the military? They didn't exactly go around digging up ancient civilizations.
Frowning, Lara continued to read the small file Bryce had dug up. There wasn't much information, but Lara wasn't surprised considering the military's track record. They weren't the world's most forthcoming organisation. There were several references to a find at Giza and some ongoing investigation into whatever it was that had been found. It just didn't say what it was.
A little disturbed at what she had learnt, Lara got up and went for a walk. Something very complicated was going on here and Lara supposed she would have to go straight to the source.
Reaching her decision, Lara picked up the phone. Doing a quick calculation of the time zones, she hoped Daniel would be awake already, as it would still be early morning in America.
"Hello?" answered a sleepy voice.
"Daniel? It's Lara."
"Lara? Hey. How are you?" Daniel said as the sleepiness faded from his voice.
"Tired." Lara said, before letting out a sigh. "Daniel, can you tell me why you were really at that tomb in South America?"
"Ah…" Daniel began.
"I know whatever it is, is complicated." Lara continued. "But there's something you should know. There is a second artifact. And Anna Espinosa was after that one too."
"You know Anna Espinosa?" Daniel asked, sounding a little shocked.
"No, but I did some digging." Lara answered. "I like to know who I'm up against."
"And the second artifact?" Daniel asked after a slight pause. "Do you have it?"
"Yes."
Daniel let out a long breath. "Look, Lara, I'm sorry I can't say why, but it's important I have a look at those artifacts."
"I thought you would want to see them." Lara said. "I'm coming down to Colorado Springs. And Daniel? Call whoever it is you have to call, because when I get there I'm going to want to know exactly what is going on and why Anna Espinosa tried to kill me."
"She tried to kill you?" Daniel said, sounding worried. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Lara said. "People have shot at me before."
"Okay." Daniel replied. "I'll call my boss. Hurry Lara. I think something very serious is going on here."
"I will." Lara said. "Bye."
"Bye."
Lara hung up the phone and glanced at the two files. Gathering them up, she walked towards her room to pack. Hilary was just coming up the stairs as she exited the library. "Hilary, can you book me on the next flight to Colorado Springs?" she asked.
"Of course." Hilary answered. "May I ask why, Lara?"
"I'm going to see Dr. Jackson." Lara replied.
"I see." Hilary said. "I'll take the artifacts out of the vault for you."
"Thank you, Hilly." Lara said with a smile.
Lara was packed in an hour and ready to leave half an hour after that. "I'll keep in contact as much as possible." Lara said to Hilary as they walked to the front door. "And tell Bryce I may need him."
"Of course, Lara." Hilary said. "Have a good flight."
"I will." Lara replied. "I don't know what I'd do without you sometimes."
Lara chuckled as Hilary blushed slightly and climbed into her Aston Martin. She pulled out of the drive to Croft Manor a minute later and headed towards Heathrow. Dr. Daniel Jackson had some explaining to do.
To be continued…