Warning: Attempted rape in this chapter, just wanted to let you guys know just in case of any trigger warnings.
She's lying. She's lying through that set of pretty white teeth. Jankovic's expression was as neutral as they came, but on the inside he was fuming like a furnace. My built-in bullshit detector just went through the roof. He took a step forward and he put his face within three inches of Lara's, their noses almost touching. A smile slowly forms on his face. He was deciding what to do with her and since she was lying to him, he decided to lie and play along with her. "In that case, welcome to Trinity Lara Croft. You're are very valuable indeed."
Several minutes later, Jankovic walked out of Lara's captive room and went to the morgue. He was given some alone time by the Trinity forensic scanner and allowed to do a quick forensic on the fallen soldier Ivan. His naked body had a sheet over and his face was terribly scarred from ripping off the resin. Jankovic felt bad for the soldier as he was the only who actually listened to him. Zima, Kovak and Slavik always opposed him and even when he punched him in Paris, Ivan was still loyal. He paid his honorable respects by closing his eyelids.
"Ivan Kuznetsov, you were one loyal dog I will admit. Sure I punched you in the nose in Paris and I somewhat insulted you on that airplane ride in Africa five months ago, but your loyalty was unlike anything that my other teammates have ever shown. I will be sure to send my regards to your family and tell them that you died a good soldier. I'm pretty sure you would appreciate it." He puts two fingers to his own lips before placing them on Ivan's forehead. "I'm sorry for your death Ivan, I really am. We'll find the crown."
He went over to his rolled up pile of clothes and began looking for the wire that Ivan had on his chest. Each of the clothes he wore were put in a separate pile from his uniform and his street clothes. Since the wire was part of Trinity, it was in the uniform pile. He digs through his shirt and vest and finds the wire rolled up and placed very carefully into his left back pocket. He removed the long wire and took out a chop hidden in a small box at one of the ends.
Ivan died for this.
The chip was about two square inches and painted a silver color with no distinguishing marks other than the Trinity insignia. Only higher ups in Trinity were allowed to have their own distinguishing chip or one given by a Trinity higher up. He takes the chip and walks over to the nearest radio set in their, usually set up for announcements, and inserted it inside. If Ivan died when he was a good distance away from Zima, Kovak and Slavik, then that meant that he must've recorded something that he wanted only me to see. Let's see what on tonight.
He pushed the play button. He heard a little bit of static, and a few voices speaking to each other. He identified the voices as Ivan's, Slavik's, Kovak's and Zima's.
Kovak: What's the matter Slavik? What are you planning you wannabe-Lara-Croft-rapist?
Slavik: I know we are just following orders, but I don't think Lara deserves to wear the Trinity badge. You remember back in Siberia-when I spotted her behind that church and you knocked her out-how many of our friends died because of her. She will bring us nothing but pain and anguish as long as we look at her. She can slit all of our throats in our sleeps. Even if we brainwash her, then how long until her programming and brainwashing end. Once that happens, then she'll slit our throats.
Kovak: She killed my uncle two years ago. Commander Montez saw it and told me about it. I wanted to hurt Lara so badly, but he told me not to. I agree with you.
Zima: Me too.
Kovak: Why would you guys want to kill Lara?
Zima: She killed Konstantine and Ana, they were my friends. I met them before I met you three.
Ivan: My son was a casualty in Syria. When she blew up that tomb, my son was lost in the cave-in. She deserves no mercy from Trinity or me.
Kovak: It seems we all have a bone to pick with Lara. What about Jankovic?
Slavik: No, after the way he treated you and for his objections for genuinely not wanting to kill Lara, he can't be included in this conversation. There has to be a new commander for Trinity.
Kovak: So we are going to kill him along with Ben and Nadia. He's been with Trinity since he was thirty-seven. We've all seen Jankovic survive even the most dire situations, how is he even going to die by one of our hands?
Zima: I say when Trinity acquires the Crown of Immortality, then we take it from him by force and then we blow up this place, with Jankovic tied up inside. As of now, I'm taking charge and any actions as of now are unsanctioned so if any of you guys want out, then step forward.
The recording stopped there and Jankovic was riddled with pure anger at his betrayal. The only in his group that did not betray him was Ivan because he knew that he had no son and he deduced that Ivan was running to warn him about the coup, until resin fell onto him and suffocated him to death. Ivan was dead, but he didn't die for nothing and he was going to make sure of it. He had to do something about this problem. A chicken coup against me huh? I'll show those backstabbing cowardly dickheads who don't seem to have the guts to kill me themselves. He turns back to Ivan and walks towards him. "You died a hero Ivan, I'll get you the funeral you deserve. You saved, thank you." He removed the chip, smashing it at his feet and went walking out of the morgue.
It was nighttime and Lara was sitting uncomfortably in her chair, sleeping. The door creaked open and Lara snapped awake instantly. Who stood there at the open now closed door was a man with a familiar face.
She recognized him, it was the Trinity soldier who tried to rape her in the Yucatan and with him here, his intentions seemed as clear as ever: he was going to finish what he failed to start a long time ago. "Hey there Lara, long time no see, I missed you."
Lara cringed upon hearing the voice of her attempted rapist. "I can't believe it is you. You tried to do horrible things to me!" She was hoping that Jankovic did not send him to her, although she genuinely believed that he didn't.
"My name is Slavik," he said as he took a step forward. "No need to introduce yourself Lara, I know who you are. You encountered me twice before, once in the Yucatan and the second time in the bar. You were drinking yourself to death and my buddy Kovak slipped a worm inside your drink. Not a tequila worm, a paralyzing worm drug and a GPS tracker. For some reason, it was upchucked a little prematurely, most likely due to a large amount of alcohol consumption."
She tried breaking the bounds around her wrists, but it was useless. Like trying to lift a car while trapped in mud. She stared at him in the eyes with no fear visible, at least not to him. "Does Jankovic know what you want to do?"
Slavik was contemplating on whether or not he should lie or tell the truth. He wanted to tell her about his little coup against Jankovic, but he was not some kind of James Bond villains, and plus she could easily squeal on him when Jankovic comes into the room. He was not going to take that risk.
"Where's Ben and Nadia?"
Slavik sucked his teeth and put a single hand on her shoulder. "If you really must know, then I will tell you, only if you agree to do one thing with me." His hand travels from her shoulder to her chest. He stops upon feeling his hand brush against her breast. "Just one thing and I will tell you Ben and Nadia's fate."
She spits.
Slavik wipes the saliva out of his right eye and growls hungrily. "That's it, now you pissed me off." He ripped her shirt, exposing her bare chest to himself. "Don't worry, I won't be gentle with you." He smiles as he forcefully kisses Lara while at the same time forcing her shirt off. She tried to protest, but the best she could do was bite him on the lips, and that seemed only to cause him pleasure instead of pain.
A hand grabbed the back of Slavik's hair and yanked him back. Slavik was caught by surprise and then he felt a blade pushed against his throat and blood flow. Lara gasped upon seeing the sight of a cut throat Slavik in front of her. The person who cut Slavik's throat open was none other than the first person she expected to see, which was Jankovic. The blade in his right hand was completely coated with Slavik's blood and the expression on his face was that of a sadistic man. "I warned you Slavik: you get inappropriate with Lara and I cut your throat. I gave you a fair warning and you go behind my back and try to be heinous with Lara. I hate people who go behind my back."
Slavik falls to the ground, both hands clutching his bleeding throat. Both Lara and Jankovic watched as he died slowly. Lara forced herself to look away at the dying man as Jankovic leans forward to talk to her. "You see Lara, if there is one thing I gotta watch out for between soldiers and mercenaries is that soldiers think they are so superior because of their actual ranking in Trinity. They think they can just do whatever they want behind a commander's back."
"How did you get in here when I didn't see the door open?"
Jankovic answered quickly. "I was already in here, hiding in the shadows and just waiting for him to come in here so I can kill him. I never liked the bastard anyways. I told him not to hurt you in anyway possible and he refused. Kids these days am I right. I promise Lara as long as I'm around, none of my men will do anything horrible to you. If you don't believe, just tell me and I will get a trusted guard to come in here and protect you."
"I trusted you," she lied, but she didn't know that Jankovic knew.
Jankovic nodded and released the restraints around Lara's wrists. "Why don't you go take a shower while I have a little moment with our dying friend here? Zima and Kovak are not going to be pleased, but deal with it. Markie here…" he points to a mercenary standing at the door. "...will guide you to the shower rooms. Oh and Markie, don't try anything stupid or else you will end up like the dying Slavik here. Understand...dickface?"
Markie nodded. "I understand, I won't be inappropriate with Miss Croft."
Jankovic shoved Lara forward towards Markie while Jankovic turned to the dying Slavik. When the others left the room, Jankovic had a few words with his former friend. "Consider yourself lucky that you didn't impregnate her. I was thinking, if she ever was pregnant, regardless of who while she becomes an initiated member for Trinity, I would have been the godfather of her child while Ben would assume the role of the father. Honestly, I don't think that will happen soon, but at least I'm honest. I know about the coup you, Kovak and Zima are planning against me. Ivan had a wire on him and he recorded everything; now he is one loyal dog. I hope you take comfort in knowing that I have such wonderful plans for Zima and Kovak and as soon as my scientists are done deciphering that cube, then will I initiate them. The three of you messed up big time. I'm kinda disappointed that you won't be around to see what they are though." And with that, he walked out of the room as Slavik died from a huge amount of blood loss.
Slavik Kennedy (May 13, 1982-April 6, 2016)
A fitting end for a bastard like himself.