Chapter 14: A Thief meets Raider

"I've been such an idiot, such a naive girl. People call me a woman of integrity, but I can't find an integrity in myself. I see different person in myself, I see I always live at other people's life, but I never live at my own life. Why dad told me that he hope I can make my own mark in this world someday? He don't talk about my record, but he talk about being myself, not somebody else. Now I know why he always talked that the extraordinary is in what we do, not who we are. It's about my decision to my life, not about my life." Lara closed her journal slowly, then she open her smartphone. When she's about to unlock her phone, she saw a reflection of herself, a girl who made a decision to her life. She realized that her life isn't about her record that she need to achieve, but it's about the decision to her life. Now Lara became a newborn woman, who knew her decision and her meaning of life. She now understands that she can't blame herself again for what already happened. She stop living in her past, she look to the future, a woman who partner with a man. Walking together to their new life. Now it's time for her to get back work, as usual become the Nine Bells bartender. Lara then put on her uniform, the get out from the apartment to catch a bus to the Bells. Arrived at her workplace, she stand in her bar stool to do her job. It's been 2 hours she's working, about 11 o'clock, Jonah comes in, bringing a newspaper and seat at the bar stool. This isn't ordinary, he usualy don't want to take some place in bar, more likely on the coffee shop, or somekind like that. Jonah then talked to Lara about her expedition.

"Lara, how's your expedition?"

"It's great Jonah, great. There's something need to be told from there."

"Then tell it Lara, I'm listening."

Lara agree to tell her story, but she need someone to replace her position. Not long enough, she found a newbie who work at the Bells too. Lara then ask the newbie to replace her position. The newbie agree to do it, then Jonah invite Lara to her car. Jonah then drive to the town park. Arrive at the park, both of them sit on the bench park and Lara start to tell her experience. Jonah was amazed about Lara story with Nathan when she stranded on Kemujan, he feels her experience just like the Yamatai. When Lara done with her story, Jonah then ask Lara a question that leave Lara in tears when she answering his question.

"Lara, where's Kaz? Sam didn't tell me about her. What happened to her?" At first, Lara can't answer Jonah question, she was speechless when she recalled her memories on the waterfall where Kaz dead.

"Jonah, do you really want to know?" Jonah was silence hearing Lara's question, but he should know what happened to his friends.

"No, but you should tell me about her. She's my friend, just like you." So Lara tell what happened with her from the beginning.

"You were right Jonah, I should give her some chance to become just like me. But I was too afraid of her, she was with me when we're doing our assault. Our plan worked, but we can't match firepower with supranatural power. When we was fight on the waterfall, she was attacked, she- she-" Lara stopped, she couldn't continue her story. Tears started flowing through her eyes. She wiped them and sob. Jonah now know what happened to Kaz, but he don't want to know how she death, because Jonah know it must be horibble to be heard. Lara can't help to cry about Kaz on Kemujan, Jonah then place his right palm on her left head and hug her. Lara place her head below Jonah chin and in there, she keep crying for what happened to Kaz on Kemujan. Jonah then gave her some tissue to wipe her tears of her eyes. After she done with her tears, Jonah laughed looking both of Lara eyes looking swollen, he try to comfort the mood. Lara know this looking ridiculous, but she can't help to laugh to about her eyes. Moreover, she used more tissue to clear her nose from snot that full on her both nose, because she's crying, now they can't help to laugh each other because of Lara act after she's crying. Jonah then pull out his newspaper, he wants to show something to Lara about her achievement on the Kemujan.

"Lara, I think you need to see this, I mean, you should see this. It's important." Lara then take the newspaper, then she was surprised until her jaw dropped when she read the actual news. "British Archeologist Uncover the Mysteries of 999 Stupa of Prambanan." Lara couldn't believe what she saw. She know too there's no way any reporter on the Kemujan when she got stranded, but she know why her name appear on the newspaper, beacuse the one who write the news was 'NATHAN DRAKE' the journalist from the Uncle Sam.

"Ah, Nathan. What the hell are you thinking." Lara talk to herself when she saw Nathan Drake name on the edge of the article, leaving Jonah in confuse about Lara.

"Wait Lara, wait. You knew each other?"

"Umm, actually for a long-long time, but we just get to know from about 2 weeks earlier Jonah." Jonah was surprised hearing what Lara just told.

"Lara, are you in relationship?!" Jonah try to pry Lara identity, he really want to know what Lara do to this Drake guy, but Lara don't want to answer it.

"Jonah, Jonah, Jonah Maiavi. That's a girly things Jonah. It's none of your business. Can you bring me back to apartment?" Jonah then nodded slowly. While Lara gave her a girly style grin to Jonah. He just surprised why Lara became such a crazy mind. Whatever it is, Jonah keep thinking that Lara need some psycologycal theraphy.

Arrived at the apartment, Lara take of her Bells uniform and wear her leather jacket that she used on Kitezh. Lara then get her bike key, then she head to her garage, and take out the Yamaha MT-125. Roth bought it for Lara, it was pre-owned, and Lara never used it since the Yamatai incident. Lara then start the engine, considering that the bike never used within a year, she rev it for a moment so the engine could heat up. Lara remember Roth's teaching about the clutch motorcycle, the clutch must be released slowly when you turn the gas, eitherway, the engine will gone off. But before she ride the motorcycle, she call Nathan first.

"Hi Lara. What is it?"

"Nathan, where are you now? Are you busy?"

"No, I'm in my hotel room right now, what is it?"

"We need to talk, lets go to the Lakeside drive. I got something important to tell you. I recommend you used motorcycle, Nate."

"Okay Lara, I'm on my way."

Nathan then close his cellphone and go to the lobby to rent a bike. Nathan remembered that his brother Sam, has taugh him how to ride on the clutched motorcycle. He remembered his first time riding the clutched motorcycle. It was the Yamaha RX-K 1983, a 2-stroke motorcycle that belong to his brother, Sam. Nathan then rent a 300cc motorcycle, a Yamaha MT-03. Then he ride to the Lakeside drive and wait for Lara in there. A half an hour later, Lara arrived at the Lakeside drive. Both of them then go to the railing overlooking a giant lake. Nathan starts to ask about his news to Lara.

"Lara, have you read my news?" Lara then only laugh at Nathan's question, then she answer it.

"Nathan, I only read the title only, I see you already know what happened on it right?" Nathan then scoffs at Lara's answer. Lara then ask Nathan about something that she shouldn't know.

"Nate, how about the El Dorado treasure? Did you uncover it?" Nathan was surprised hearing Lara question. He knew that Lara shouldn't be knew about it, so Nathan ask Lara how the hell he know it.

"Lara, how the hell you know it?" Then Lara gave Nathan a sheet from his notebook. It was his journal about his failure when finding the El Dorado.

"Nathan, I could help you find the El Dorado. I know where is it."

"Okay, you got any references?"

"It's my father journal. It says the tomb of El Hombre Dorado, the golden man, is located somewhere in Amazonian rainforest. Now it's my turn to help you. How's your thirst for adventure Nathan?" Admit it, Nathan was surprised hearing his partner offering. It was his lifetime wishes to find the tomb and the lost city of El Dorado.

"It's never satisfied, Lara."

Lara then gave her father's journal to Nathan. The thief and the raider then start to think about their new adventure, and they realised 2 things: Life's a raider, and their home is uncharted lands.

THE END

Thanks for reading my novel project guys! Please comment about my story, I'll be thinking for the next project about Tomb Raider and Uncharted. Sorry for my terrible grammar alongside the story.