Chapter 6

With this information gathered, Lara rendezvoused with the man at the mouth of the cave. He whitened a little as she approached, shocked to see her still living.

"I can't begin to comprehend how you survived. Did you find anything?"

"Oh yes."

She divulged this information to him, and his eyes widened at the prospect.

"So, the suspicions were true."

"So it would seem. However there is one thing I do not know. Where are UPP based?"

"Now there I can help you. Their HQ is in Moscow, however the CEO and all high ranking characters involved with charity are from the USA or the UK."

"Thanks for your help."

The man smiled at her, and she returned to the boat. She was destined for Croft Manor, where she could spend a day pondering her next move. She needed to find plans and blueprints about the site, and any other information she could about the security there. She would also need some protection and an arsenal of weaponry. She was already considering uzis and a machine gun, and of course her pistols. Finally she decided she would also clip Kurtis' glaive to her belt, it could come in handy.

The five were again assembled in the dim hall, surrounding the hexagonal table.

The final member arrived again, and this time, instead of standing, the members bowed to the floor. He reached the chair.

"Iubeo, my loyal followers, I ask you to sit."

"Yes, great Imperator."

"The time is upon us - the weapon has brewed. In three days, all the world leaders will announce the success of our program. The new plumbing will be activated, and within twenty-four hours the whole world will turn to me, us, the leaders of this new age. Those unaffected need only wait for the water to flow into rivers and seas, evaporating into the atmosphere. No one shall escape. Our plan is infallible."

"Yes, great Imperator."

"This world will be ours, and no one can remove it from us!"

The other members cheered, rejoicing in their masters success, almost bound to it. The Imperator laughed to himself, finding his thoughts amusing.

"They do not realise that I have in fact, mixed pareo into their wine. Having slipped the control word 'iubeo' into my speech, they too are under my spell, and I shall have total world control."

He laughed, and with this the other members laughed in tune, creating a hauntingly strange sound. He had them in his power now - and he had great expectations.

"Another cold, dark city. Great!"

Lara's face tingled as she met the chilly Moscow air, and her warm breath left pale billowing trails. She was clad in a black shirt, green jacket and a thick coat, teamed with her camouflage trousers and thick black boots. Snow crunched against them noisily as she trudged through it. It was easy to locate the UPP HQ, but the issue was finding a way inside without making her intent obvious. She decided it would be best to venture round the back and enter through the nearby warehouse. Stealthily, she crept, but silence was impossible with the ground covered by snow and sleet. Carefully, she withdrew a pistol and attached a laser sight. She peered round the warehouse entrance, and could make out guards clad in dark body armour patrolling the inside. Five huge vats also caught her eye, brimming with an odd blue liquid.

"What the hell's going on around here?"

Then Lara realised. This was the weapon. Everything began to fall into place. This was why the water plan had been introduced! UPP were going to use their apparently charitable work to brainwash the world. With this realisation, Lara began to work faster.

She removed the laser sight and attached a silencer. She raised her pistol, and two pips sounded in quick succession - both guards were down with a headshot. Checking whether any alarm had been raised, Lara stepped inside. There appeared to be no reaction, so she picked up the pace to a brisk jog.

She made it through a few winding stairwells and finally emerged at the rooftop of the warehouse. The UPP building was only a cable away. Night was already beginning to fall, and there did not appear to be anyone around. Lara strapped herself to the cable and swiftly crawled to the other side. There was a small gap, the air system, which was big enough for her to crawl inside. Quickly she checked her map, she was in the right place and would soon be far enough inside to explore on foot through the tunnels, until she reached the member's communal hall. The metal drummed and shook as she made her way on hands and knees through the complex air system. There were few slits in the metal maze, but through the tiny gaps Lara could make out that UPP were very much up to date with technology. She consulted her map one last time. Far enough inside, she loosened a panel and dropped down on a patrolling guard, winded him, then shot him in the head. The silencer was working effectively, and Lara quickly rummaged through the man's pockets, withdrawing an ID card.

"This'll come in useful."

Ever more cautious, Lara scanned the card and continued through the complex. Suddenly she heard the thunder of footsteps and three guards emerged, armed. She dived to avoid their shots, withdrew her machine gun and squeezed the trigger violently. It was too late, one of the guards had called for backup in the heat of the moment, and whilst the three lay bleeding a vehemently spoken security announcement echoed through the hallways.

"Our security has been compromised - We have reached Code 2, mask up and shoot to kill. Repeat, shoot to kill."

Lara sprinted down the corridors, stealth had not gone to plan. She bolted round one corner, followed by another. She knew that she was close now, and all she could do was squeeze the trigger. All she could see was red, bodies strewn left right, and centre. The corridors suddenly fell silent, until another guard burst out from the shadows. With no range to shoot, she punched him square in the jaw. He recoiled, but as Lara went to withdraw her weapons he kicked her in the chest, and she crashed to the floor. She winced a little, falling onto one of the spokes of the glaive, leaving a gash in her side. The glaive was released from its clip and clanged across the floor. Nothing moved. Suddenly the man reached down, retrieved the glaive, and knelt down to face Lara. She was panting, confused.

"If you plan to kill me, make it bloody quick."

The man removed his headgear, revealing a pair of formidable blue eyes, thick arched brows, and a mop of black hair, the ends drenched with sweat. He was unshaved, and as he edged closer she could smell the faint, sweet scent of cigarettes. The nauseating feeling of remembering passed between them.

"Lara," a familiar voice twanged, "is that you?"