Tomb Raider: The Quest for PEPPERMINT

DarkPhoenix-24
9. Chapter 9

Rated: T - English - Adventure - Reviews: 50 - Updated: 02-20-10 - Published: 01-01-09 - id:4762400

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Chapter 9

"27…"

"28…"

"29…"

Sweat poured down Lara's chest and abdomen as she did her morning pull ups. The morning sun streamed in and tickled everything it touched. Lara didn't like how nobody knew who Valcroy worked for. She didn't like being in the dark and she definitely hated being kept in MI6 like a dog locked up in a cage.

"35…"

"36…"

"37…"

Lara's mind raced over why M was keeping her in the dark. Why would she let James go play fetch and have Lara just conveniently play the part of a sidekick that does the master's bidding? Lara dropped down after she hit 41. Breathing heavily, Lara went to the bathroom and turned on the hot water.

"How is this possible?" M shouted.

All three guards flinched.

M tossed a file across the room, "Which one of you was on duty to watch him?"

One of the guards spoke up, "None of us mum. Tyler was the one who found the detainee dead."

"I don't think you realized the importance of this situation. The fact that Mr. Valcroy is dead has put everything on hold. I need a status report of every guard on duty. I want to know who was on duty that day!"

DIVIDE

Lara finished getting dressed as a very distraught look James burst into the room.

"James! Have you ever heard of knocking?"

James just went towards the window, looked outside, and drew the curtains closed, "We have been compromised."

"What are-"

"Valcroy's dead! Whoever did the job knew this building from the inside out. I have a feeling that Valcroy is another member of Spectre." James explained

"Who the bloody hell is Spectre?" Lara asked.

James just started packing Lara's things, "It's a long story…"

Lara got on the phone, "Zip, it's Lara. You, Alister and Hillary need to get out of there. We've been compromised and I don't want anything happening to you while I'm away."

"Thanks for the heads up Lara. We will head to the safe house."

"Got it and be careful." Lara breathed a bit as she hung up.

"So where is this safe house?" James asked.

Lara smirked, "If I told you, I'd have to kill you."

"You know about MI6, so I think I have every right to know."

"Ok, I'll show you then."

James smiled, "To the safe house it is, but M is not going to like this."

Bremerhaven, Germany

Lara and James pulled up to the safe house in a Jeep.

"Well this is a nice spot for a safe house." James stated.

Lara pulled her belongings out of the Jeep as Alister came outside to help. The safe house was nothing fancy. It was a quiet street that had a port going into the Geeste River.

"I plan ahead for everything." Lara replied.

Everyone was inside the cozy living room as a fire was started.

"There is a guest bedroom in the back." Lara explained.

"Where will you be sleeping?" James asked.

"I'll be in the guest bedroom connected to the living room here. Zip and Alister will be sleeping in the master bedroom."

"Wait, not the same bed, right?" Alister chimed in.

Zip rolled his eyes, "Ya, like I would want to share a bed with you!"

James looked at Hillary, "Where will you be sleeping?"

"Here on the couch. I want to keep watch on things."

James smirked, "Are you sure?"

Hillary crossed his arms, "I can hold my own thank you very much."

"No really, James, he can." Lara cut in.

Hillary smiled to himself in victory as everyone else got their stuff set up. Zip set up his portable computers in the living room.

"Is the boat fueled and ready, guys?" Lara asked.

Alister nodded, "Yes, we made sure she was ready just in case."

"Good."

James nodded, "Once again, you think of everything Lara."

"Well, when you have had many close to death encounters as I have had, you really start thinking way ahead of yourself for situations like this."

Zip laughed, "One time, Lara's own house was busted into by Mr. Powell's mercenaries and got the clock for the triangle of light. We had so much damage to clean up."

Lara rolled her eyes, "Well if you guys are going to share stories and sing Kum Ba Ya, I'm going to get some work done and figuring out who Valcroy worked for."

Lara walked to her room and shut the door before James could follow her in.

"I think you pissed her off, Zip." Alister chimed in.

"How?" Zip asked.

Hillary took a seat on the couch, "That was a very emotional and personal time in her life. I think you just stirred up some bad memories for her."

Zip nodded, "I forgot about all of that."

James leaned on the wall, "What happened?"

Hillary took a deep breath, "Lara's father was killed by a man named Manfred Powell while he worked with the Illuminati. They are the keepers of time. This triangle of light gives its holder the power to control time itself. Lord Croft knew where to find it, but kept it a secret in his journals. Manfred Powell killed him for this. One day, Lara discovered the key to the triangle of light as the first phase of the planetary alignment started. Mr. Powell discovered that Lord Crofts daughter had it and stole it. Throughout this entire mission, Lara discovered that this man was the one that killed her father and she promised her father she would destroy the triangle. Lara killed Manfred Powell along with the triangle."

James nodded, "It's devastating when a child loses any of their parents. Both my parents died in a horrific car accident."

"So, your organization only takes in people who have no families or ties to the outside world?" Alister asked.

James just look towards Lara's door and walked away to his own designated room.

Lara rubbed her thumb over her father's pocket watch. Tears brimming on her eye lids.

"No, enough tears." Lara said to herself as she put away the watch.

Lara lay stretched out on her bed as she stared at the ceiling. Before she knew it, she was sound asleep. A snow storm whirled around her as she fought the torrential winds to get to a safe haven. Lara found a cave and could hear shouting in it. She pulled out her pistol and turned a corner to see her father standing on the edge of a cliff. The torrential winds were still there, but no snow. She could see Manfred Powell aiming a gun at her father. Lara shouted but couldn't be heard. Running towards them, Lara pointed her pistol towards Powell. Pulling the trigger, the gun shattered in her hands. She looked down to see a silver powder in her palms as Manfred Powell spoke, "You see Lara, I will take everything away from you just like you took everything away from me." A gun shot was heard and Lord Croft fell dead. Lara started to scream and found herself falling down a black pit…

"LARA! WAKE UP!" Hillary grabbed Lara's shoulders.

James bolted in, seeing a shaking Lara thrashing in her bed, screaming. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL IS GOING ON?"

Hillary calmed down Lara as she came around from her dream, "She was having a nightmare."

Lara grabbed Hillary and pleaded, "Where's father?"

Hillary let go of Lara and took a step back as a confused Lara looked down at her hands. James felt like he should say something, but didn't as Zip and Alister came in with a glass of water.

"Here drink this," Alister asked.

Lara took the glass of water and threw it across the room. She got out of bed and stormed out of the room into the kitchen. James was about to go after her when Hillary put a hand on his shoulder, "Don't do it. She needs some time alone."

Mr. Powell surveyed the Illuminati hall as it was dark like a dungeon instead filled with the suns powerful rays. "I love what you have done with place."

One of the mercenaries snickered as he left. Mr. Powell took a seat at the head of the former Illuminati. "I've always known this chair belonged to me. Joseph?"

"Yes sir."

"Is Valcroy dead?"

Joseph nodded, "I made sure he knew his services were no longer needed."

"Good, however, does MI6 know anything?" Powell asked.

"No sir."

"Very well, you will have your bonus Joseph."

Joseph smiled as he left the hall.

"I don't know what the hell you were thinking James, but to leave MI6 headquarters like that and not notifying me should get you reprimanded."

"There are more things for me to be worried about than being reprimanded. Finding this mysterious boss is one of them." James said over the phone.

M sighed, "Have you made any progress?"

"No, but do you think Valcroy worked for Spectre?"

There was a long pause, "We have run into this group before, but I highly doubt it."

James thought for a moment, "I think we should keep the option open just in case."

"Fine, but in the mean while tell me where you are."

James smiled as he just hung up the phone. He imagined a very peeved M as he walked outside to see Lara going into the boat house and James follower her in as she sat down at the end of the dock.

"Are you ok?"

Lara nodded, "Ya, I'm sorry for scaring you guys like that. I just get these intense dreams…"

"You were close to your father. I can understand why your dreams are so real." James replied.

Lara just stared out into the water, "Has there been any progress in finding out who this guy is that employed Valcroy?

James shook his head, "We are trying to find a needle in the hay stack."

"Right." Lara responded. "We need to bring this guy out into the open then."

"How do you suggest we do that?"

Lara smiled, "Do you trust me?"

"I don't like where this is going…" James replied.