Chapter 40: Leon and Lara
Okay, sorry this took a while. Hit Burnout again. My new strategy is working on two Fanfics at the same time, switching back and forth when I feel the burnout and writer's block. The other strategy is skipping over game play of Rise of the Tomb Raider. It's a very long game if you go for the completionist route. So I'm now focusing on dialogue bits, the occasional game play, and cut scenes. So that's what I've been doing. This is not dead. It'll just take a while to complete.
So enjoy the slow updates!
I don't own anything. Resident Evil belongs to Capcom and Tomb Raider belongs to Core Design, Crystal Dynamics, and I think Square Enix. The only thing I own is the changes made to the stories of the Tomb Raider games/comics and Resident Evil games/comics/CG movies, the Government branch S.P.E.L.L., the person that has taken over Kathrine Warren's life, and Rose Warren. This story also will be bloody, violent, and have cursing. It's rated T for Teen.
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley/Acropolis, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:12 KRAT…
"Jacob…" Lara reported as she looked to the approaching leader. "They're gone."
Jacob nodded as he looked to Kat and Leon as well, seeing Kat's arm in a sling. "I fear this battle is far from over."
Lara nodded looking at the other injured and lined up cloth covered dead. "Will you tell me more about this place?"
Jacob nodded after a moment. "You've earned that much. The three of you have." He sighed and gestured for them to follow him. "Come with me."
They followed him with Sofia following a distance behind them. He led them to an overlook. Despite it being evening, they could still see some of the darkened trees and natural rocks of the valley from there.
"In ancient times, our Prophet brought the Divine Source to this valley." Jacob explained. "My ancestor's built Kitezh to protect it from the outside world."
"To what end?" Lara asked not understanding why something like that was hidden, just for a second, before she remembered what Kat said about it. "What is the Divine Source, Jacob?"
He took a breath before looking to the three. "An artifact from a time long forgotten. We believe it holds a fragment of God's soul." He looked away, a haunted look coming to his face. "Legend tells us those who behold the Source were granted immortality," He nodded to the distance, the moon's glow glinting off the old roof tops of an old temple. "Others have always been drawn here seeking its power." The three saw that it was there that Trinity had started to set up shop after their retreat.
"Trinity…" The three said not liking seeing the two helicopters.
Jacob looked at them and nodded. "Yes. They seek to spread their darkness across the world." He looked fearful of his next statement. "With the Source, their soldiers would be…unstoppable."
"Then help me find it…" Lara begged. "Before they do!"
"We can get rid of it permanently." Kat said making Lara turn sharply to her. "Then no one gets it."
Jacob shook his head. "This is not your burden." He told them.
"Of course, it is!" Lara said turning to look at him with a pained look. "My father was killed for this."
Jacob looked to Leon and Kat, but saw they agreed with the idea that the Source should be destroyed, not left alone. He focused on Lara. "You can't fill the emptiness inside you, Lara. You can only set it free."
Lara looked at where Trinity had gathered, her mind too focused on her quest. Everything they'd gone through to that moment just made her harden her resolve. "I'm going to find it." She looked sharply to Jacob. "With or without you."
She turned away and stormed back to the camp she, Leon, and Kat had set up. Jacob sighed and looked down at the ground. It wasn't the first time he'd seen someone obsessed with finding the Source. But it was clear to him Lara was missing something that would stop her from being consumed. He looked to Kat and Leon.
"Kat has voiced her opinion on this matter. And although it's drastic, it's an option." He voiced looking to Leon. "What of you?"
Leon sighed. "In the beginning, I was like Lara. Thinking it'd be good for the world. But at this point, it's more trouble than it's worth." He voiced. "It would be better off lost or destroyed."
Jacob nodded. "I'm starting to see that." He looked to Kat and Leon. "May I speak with Kat for a moment?"
Leon thought about it then looked to Kat. "You gonna be okay?"
She nodded with a soft smile. "I'll meet you and Lara back at camp."
He nodded and paused for a second. It was a quick thought. The idea to kiss her cheek before leaving. But decided against it. He left Kat and Jacob alone. Jacob looked to Kat then at her spear on her back.
"You're very old, Valkyrie." He stated, making the switch to Old Norse.
Kat nodded, joining him in the old tongue. "So are you. Prophet."
He smiled grimly. "So, you knew. How long?"
"From the beginning." Kat told him "I have…I've lived three lives so far. My memories are jumbled and hazy. But I know things about this life before they happen because of it."
"A Valkyrie turned Norn." He spoke.
Kat shook her head. "The memories aren't always accurate."
"Still." He looked at where Lara and Leon and vanished. "And you've fallen in more than just from Valhalla."
Kat sighed and looked down. "Don't start."
"Kat, you can't bottle emotions forever. Sooner or later, it will boil over. It should be when you're safe. But that might not be the case with how your days have been." Jacob told her.
"It's not just that. It's my job. We wouldn't be allowed to work together anymore." She spoke. "I like working with him. I know he's got my back."
Jacob sighed. "Have you ever been happy? In any of your three lives?"
Kat frowned. "If you're about to tell me that I need a life partner to be happy—"
He shook his head. "You don't. No one does. A life partner is a gift though. It's a rare gift if two souls are one." He nodded to where Leon and gone. "The way you both are, it seems to be the latter. I know this advice wasn't asked for but let me give it anyway. Don't let this slip away. Act on your emotions soon."
Kat sighed and shook her head. "It's still hard to."
"If you don't, he might." He told her. "He was about to kiss you. Just now."
Kat lifted her head. "No…"
He nodded. "He clearly respects you enough to think better. As someone who's been around for centuries, as painful as relationships can be when they end, the loneliness of life is worse."
Kat blinked at those words. She might not remember living either life fully, but she could only guess she'd go mad if she did. If she lived the slow path as Jacob had alone…she'd go insane. "I…I'll think on your words, Prophet." She said before turning to leave. She stopped and looked back over her shoulder. "Even though I didn't ask, thank you."
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley/Acropolis, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:15 KRAT…
Lara and Leon meanwhile had gone down some stairs to head back to camp when Sofia stopped them both.
"Wait." She said stopping them.
"Sofia, let me go." Lara began. "I have to do what I can."
Sofia sighed as she let go of their arms. "You three spilt blood for us. I want to help."
Leon's eyes widened with Lara's. "You know where the atlas is." They both said then frowned at each other as it felt beyond weird.
Sofia looked around. Then turned back to the pair. "The Cathedral. In the archives below." She then shook her head. "But we won't follow you there."
"Why?" Lara asked confused.
"What would we find down there?" Leon asked.
Sofia swallowed then took a breath. "There are others. The Deathless Ones." She said and Leon and Lara both remembered what Kat had said about them. "They will kill anyone who trespasses. My father believes they will stop Trinity."
Leon sighed as Lara shook her head.
"I can't take that chance." Lara voiced.
"I know." Sofia said then pulled out lengths of thick cords and hooks. "Here, take this." She handed them to Lara and Leon. "It will help you all reach the Cathedral."
Lara nodded holding one of the cords and hook. She then headed down the stairs. Leon held his and Kat's and sighed.
"Kat wouldn't be able to use this. Her arm's in a sling." Leon voiced worriedly.
"She doesn't strike me as the type to rest." Sofia said. "Who is she to you? You care more for her then Lara."
He sighed. "We're…going to figure it out, later."
Sofia looked confused. "You two are not a couple? I assumed you were."
Leon lowered his head. It wasn't the first-time people thought him and Kat were a couple.
"We're not." He said.
She nodded. "Then you should be. This life is short. When you find a partner that can fight beside you, watch your back, take care of each other, you should pursue it."
He blinked and looked to the ginger. "Is that from experience?"
"My father and mother were like eagles. Circling until they couldn't stay away. They dived for each other, giving in. Even when my mother died, my father still said that his time with her was the best he had in a while." Sofia explained. "Whatever feelings you have for her, act on them soon. The dive might not be as scary as you think."
With that she climbed up the stairs to go talk with her father. He stood there thinking about her words. First Jonah, then Lara, the conversation with Kat, and now Sofia? He felt like he and Kat were part of one big joke or show that people yelled at the screen for. "Don't split the party!" "He's lying, just shot him!" "You're in a creepy cabin in the woods, don't go outside!" "Just kiss the girl already!"
He turned to head down the stairs. 'Fuck it. Next time we're close, I'm kissing her.'
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley/Acropolis, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:23 KRAT…
Kat frowned as she joined Leon and Lara by the camp. "Okay, I'll gear up too."
"No." Lara said before Leon could speak. "The way we'd have to go, your arm would slow us down."
Leon's eyes widened at how Lara said that with a focused tone.
"But—"
"Lara's right. If you want to come with us…you have to wait for next time. Your shoulder had a dislocation, it's still sensitive. Could dislocate fully if you're not careful." He handed Kat one of the new pieces gear Sofia had given him and Lara. "You'd need both hands for this."
Kat took it and blew out a soft sigh or was it a curse word. "You two better watch each other's backs. All right?"
Leon nodded. "We will. You just rest your shoulder."
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley/Acropolis, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:26 KRAT…
Leon and Lara dropped from using their motors to ride on a rope. They looked to the wooden beam with metal loops that hung over the middle of the large gap. One at a time they used their woven wire grappling hooks to cross. Lara was able to do so without too much trouble, but Leon struggled to get the swing right then get the hook back.
"Here, just watch me." Lara said as she did a tug, loosen, and pull movement.
With that movement, the hook unhooked, and she was able to real the tool in.
"So, how'd the talk with Kat go?" Lara asked him as she handed him his hook and line back.
"It went okay, I think." Leon said.
"And?"
"We're going to talk more after this. When it's all over. That way we can talk it all the way through." He sighed as they crossed a fallen tree to another platform.
"Talking is good." Lara told him. "So how are you handling the mystical?"
"I'm fine. I've dealt with this kind a thing before." Leon told her. "The biggest one was a haunted town in Alaska."
"Kat told me a little about that. It was a corrupted priest's, ghost, right?" Lara asked.
Leon nodded. "Yeah, on top of that, T-virus zombies, and an assassin."
"So, does Kat's switching worry you too?" Lara asked as they moved to climb a rock wall.
"It does." He sighed. "I try to help ground herself when I can.
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:32 KRAT…
Leon and Lara came out of cave back in the main valley. Their radios beeped.
"Lara, Leon…If you two are headed to the cathedral, Trinity will be everywhere." Sofia alerted.
Leon pulled his Radio as Lara got an old metal box open. "We know. But we don't really have a choice." He said Lara got out some material for fixing Leon's new bow. "So, is it the string or the bow that is the weight?" Leon asked as he got a fire going for a short rest and for light.
Lara worked on making him the new bow string. "It's a bit of both, but mostly it's the bow."
"Ah." He nodded.
"Have you got any ideas on where you'd take Kat on a first date?" Lara asked.
Leon huffed as he lowered his head while getting the fire going fully. "No. I'm respecting her choice of talking about it later. I don't want to get my hopes up."
Lara nodded. "You should think about it anyway. Just in case."
He sighed but wanted to change the subject. So, he looked to Lara. "Why are you doing this?"
She frowned. "You need a new bow string—"
"Not my new bow. This." He gestured around them. "Kat's told us what that Source can do. We both know from her how bad this could go. So why do you think it can still do good?"
"Because it could save lives. If we could find someone to fix it, make it work the way it was intended, it could end every disease, biochemical weapon, sickness." Lara listed as she braided the string. "It'll be also killing two birds with one stone. If we find the atlas, and it leads us to the Source, we can take it away from here. Jacob's people could finely live peaceful lives, not worried about guarding this cursed gift. They'd truly be free of that burden."
Leon shook his head slowly.
"Leon, you have to believe this is a good thing. Think about what it could do to Umbrella? Black Umbrella? It or any others that make bioweapons. It would stop them." She said and even to Leon's ears that sounded so naive.
"Lara, it's not that simple. That thing, it makes undead. You just said it. It's a cursed object. If anything we'd hand it over to the Russian branch of S.P.E.L.L.." He spoke. "And Kat's right, if and when we find it, it's best that no one gets it. It should be destroyed."
Lara strung Leon's new bow and shoved it at him. "You don't get it!" She hissed as he quickly caught the bow. "I have to find it. I must help people with it. If I don't…" She lowered her head. "I'll never clear my dad's name. Or mine. The papers in America and England are already talking about how crazy I am, and the possibility of the other survivors being crazy." She looked at the flames. "If I fail…I don't know what I'll do…what we'll all do."
Leon sighed. "Look, your right, I don't get it. But what I do get is people looking at me weirdly. Kat, Claire, Jill, Carlos, Sherry, Rose, and I all survived Raccoon City. People wonder what happened and none of us can talk about it. Not until the trails are over, and maybe not even after." He reminded her. "I also get what is like wanting to be like your dad. I became a cop because of my dad. I wanted to be a good cop like him. For days after leaving Raccoon, I felt like I failed him." He took a breath, this was something he had told only Kat, not his therapist. "I didn't handle anything well. After. Kat found me at my new place. She joined me on my…" He shook his head. "I was drinking a lot. Lost track of how much I had. I failed having a girlfriend, I failed my fellow officers, I failed Raccoon City, and worst of all, I failed to be a cop. So, I drank, I wanted to just disconnect. Kat was the one that got me out of that. But…She called my dad. Then a day later, he called me." He took a breath. "He told me I didn't fail. He said, 'legacies and dreams need to work together. You can't keep to the same trail. You have to make you're one way.' So that's what I've been doing. And I think your dad would want the same thing." He said getting Lara to look at him in astonishment. "I don't think by finding and destroying the source would fail your dad. Just like not finding it wouldn't fail him either. Doing what's right would honor him."
Lara looked down. "When the hell did you get wise. You sound like an old wizard."
"Hey, I'm not Gandalf, Obi-Wan, or Merlin." Leon snorted.
"I'll…I'll need to think about it…a lot of people this month have given me a lot to think about." She told him.
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:32 KRAT…
Lara and Leon dropped into some bushes in the overrun village. They stayed crouched and looked up as a helicopter flew over. They ducked behind some nearby crates as some of Trinity's people passed by.
"The hired guns can finish the sweep down here; we're needed back at base camp." One of the men said. "Leave 'em to it."
"Rodger, we're clear." Called a woman.
"Copy that." Was said over the radios.
Leon and Lara split off. Lara drew an arrow back as she looked at one of the men off by himself. Leon sneakily grabbed a red can of gas. Lara loosed her arrow at the man's head, killing him so when Leon threw the can, the only people who'd see would be the people he threw it at. Leon threw the can at the group of four Trinity people. It sloshed and thunked to the ground at their feet.
They were confused as Leon stood with his shot gun and aimed. A smooth trigger pull, and the buckshot of shotgun pellets flew at the can. Some of the shot hit the gathered men but Leon's real target was hit. A fiery explosion erupted from the can. Metal shrapnel from the can flew with the shock wave, slicing and cutting into the men. Fire and lit gas hit the men who didn't die from the shrapnel. They screamed and burned to death as Leon reloaded his shotgun.
They had to deal with a small fire fight. It just took a moment, 46 seconds really. A couple headshots, neck, and chest shots. Even some knife stabs and axe cracks. With the small area clear they searched the buildings and bodies. Lara found a tape player and tape already loaded in. After hitting play, she and Leon heard Konstantin's voice.
"I have sinned in God's name. Much blood has been spilled on this valley floor. As I speak now, blood continues to flow.
Forgive me. That the divine work requires sacrifices does not mean I am clean.
Forgive me. For since I've suffered the stigmata in my youth, I have sinned in your name.
Forgive those I have killed myself and those who have been killed in my name. They knew not what they were doing.
Forgive me. Forgive me for the work I do is not yet done. And there is yet much blood to be spilled."
"What the fuck…" Leon shook his head in disgust.
"Konstantin is a man driven by his faith." Lara voiced but shook her head too. "It's twisted and vile. He's been warped by his obsession." She said slowly as Leon went silent. "Let's get moving." She tucked the tape away for evidence.
He nodded as they moved on. They eventually came to a bush and ducked down, to avoid being seen by Trinity's bonfire light. Looking around, they saw they were right beneath the cathedral. It was large and looked like a haunted castle on the backdrop of the dark night sky and rainfall.
"So, what did he say?" Asked one of the men.
"It's not his call, but he's going to put in a recommendation for us both." The other said as Lara pulled her bow and gestured for Leon to do the same. "Then there'll be…an initiation ceremony of some sort."
The other guy got mad as both Leon and Lara nocked arrows. "So that's it? That's all he can do?"
"Look, some of those guys were on contract for years before Trinity gave them rank." The second said while shrugging. "You have to be patient. There's more to it than performance."
"Like what?" The other asked arms crossed.
"There's some sort of oath, and then the ceremony." The second said shrugging again. "He said we'd find out soon enough."
The two then split off to do their patrols. Leon aimed his bow at the one coming their way. Leon took a breath but found it hard to aim or draw the bow back while crouched. He shook his head and looked to Lara. He tossed his head at the guy as he had been trying to aim at. Lara nodded and demonstrated how to do it. Turning her bow on its side she drew back. She loosed the arrow and it sank into the man's face. As he fell, Leon caught him and pulled him into the bush to hide the body.
Leon and Lara looked around for the next target. A man who was looking at a tree. Leon looked to the other men then turned and ran at the guy. He switched his bow for his knife and grabbed the man's head. After pulling the man's head back he slit the man's throat. Unfortunately, the man had yelled before the cutting, which alerted the others.
Leon and Lara worked together, taking advantage of the explosive barrels, gas cans, and throwing Molotov's. Causing men and women to light on fire or be killed in explosions. Anyone who survived that, were killed by axe swing of a few bullets to the head. Keeping their guns up and aimed through the door as they moved to the side, they moved in a crouch, moving quietly but quickly. They knew going in the front was dangerous, so they were going to scale the side and go in higher up, where they hope no one would be looking.
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley/Cathedral, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:38 KRAT…
In the middle of climbing the side of the ruins to get into the cathedral, Leon and Lara's radios beeped. For a second, they paused, expecting it to be someone they knew. But the voice that spoke wasn't anyone they knew.
"Heads up, we seem to have lost contact with the team sweeping the lower valley." The man said as Lara jumped up and sank her axes into the wall above. "Do you have eyes on them?"
"Negative..." Said a response as Leon jumped to the hand hold Lara had been on as she climbed up onto a platform/opening to a hallway. "Possible hostiles?"
"Could be just radio interference, but Konstantin's not taking chances." The first said as Leon jumped up with his axes.
Lara froze a moment as she spotted a man with his back to her. He was dressed like a hired gun more than the other members of Trinity. She pulled her knife and kicked the back of his knees. This made him drop onto them with a startled yelp. She wrapped her arm around his head and pulled to the side before stabbing her blade into the side of his neck. Leon climbed up as Lara let the body fall over the edge to the ground and on some spikes.
"How's your hands right now?" Leon asked as he shook his, sending rainwater flying.
"Bit wrinkled and sore. Climbing in the rain's not very fun." Lara said. "But we haven't got a choice."
Leon nodded. "Let's just hope the atlas, if not already discovered, we get there first." He said nodding at the body Lara had just disposed of.
Lara sighed. "Let's hope it's the latter." She said before sheathing her blade and using her grappling hook to get to some stairs that the bottom had long ago rotted and broken away.
Country: Russia, State: Siberia, City: Siberian Wilderness, Place: Near Kitezh, Area: Geothermal Valley/Cathedral, Month: November, Day: Wednesday 29th, Year: 2000, Time: 21:38 KRAT…
They finally found their way in. Leon and Lara were soaked to the bone from the cold rain. The ruins would flare up with a blueish white light from the lighting flashes outside. Their ears would ring from the thunderous booms. As they climbed the wall to get farther in, they could hear it. Ana's voice.
"These ruins hide much, Commander." Ana said calmly as Leon looked to see Lara freeze then look angered. "We cannot dig too deep or too fast."
Then over the radios they heard the response. "The men are trying to be cautious—"
"Cautious?" Ana asked confused as the pair continued to climb the wall with their axes. "Why? We no longer have time for caution. And I no longer have the patience for it."
They jumped to some wooden slats, still listening to Ana speaking with the unknown Commander. "With all due respect, if all of my men die down there then—"
"We are all expendable here, Commander." Ana interrupted him with an annoyed yet grave tone. "What matters are results. The stakes are too high."
Leon looked to Lara as they continued climbing, dropping down and shimming along the walls.
"Was that Ana? The woman who betrayed you?" Leon whispered to her.
Lara nodded stiffly. "And got my father murdered."
The radios buzzed again. The Commander wasn't done. "We've reached the lower level, but we have another problem. We've lost all our rear guard." He informed, making Leon and Lara tense up as they pulled themselves up onto a solid platform.
"Define 'lost", Commander." Ana ordered.
With that, Leon and Lara were climbing again.
"No radio contact, no visual contact." The Commander explained. "Just gone."
"Then proceed without them." Ana stated as if it were obvious, Leon and Lara pulling a balance beam act as they moved to the center of the scaffolding.
"That's outside of mission protocol, ma'am!" The Commander said loudly and quickly, not liking this protocol break. "It introduces unnecessary risks."
"Can you achieve your mission without them?" Ana once again interrupted whatever he was about to say next.
"Ma'am, I don't think we're alone down here!" Commander hissed loudly, spooked like the Romans invading the Celts. "I need tactical support."
It hit Leon then as he remembered both Kat and Sofia's warnings. "The Deathless…" Leon breathed as Lara nodded.
"No." Ana said, not knowing what fate she'd just sent these men to, nor caring. "We are stretched too thin across this valley." She said as Leon and Lara jumped to some wooden bits that seemed like it felt just right for a ladder. "If you feel you are being pursued, then I suggest you move faster."