Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Tomb Raider characters in this story,
nor do I plan to profit from their use. This is just for fun.
Larson stepped into Ms. Jacqueline Natla's office on the top floor of her Natla Enterprises office tower. "You wanted to see me, Ma'am?" He asked.
"I have a new assignment for you, Larson," said Natla. Ms. Natla was somewhat of an enigma in the business world. An unknown 20 years ago, she had used her own resources and business savvy to build one of the top 100 business conglamerates in the world. Time magazine recently ran an article about her, calling her the "richest woman in the world". It wasn't exactly true, however her company was the largest in the world that was headed by a woman.
Larson was Natla's "executive assistant", but that didn't really describe what he did. Sure, he answered phones and handled company coorespondence, but he was also Natla's muscle. He was her personal bodyguard, and also headed up security whenever a franchise of hers opened in a hostile part of the world. He also did recruiting for Natla's "special assignments", such as the one Natla was about to give him.
"There's a very special someone I need for a very special project," Natla continued. She punched some keys on her laptop and turned it towards Larson. "Lara Croft- archeologist, excavator, adventurer. She recently assisted a team uncovering some ancient and valuable treasures in Iraq, which now reside in the Baghdad National museum. I want you to get her for me. By any means necessary," she added with emphasis.
Larson knew what that meant. First large monetary offers, then flattery. But if she wouldn't come willingly he would have to subdue her by force and kidnap her, taking her someplace where Natla would force her new recruit to work in exchange for her freedom. Natla could be cold sometimes, but she always got things done.
"Nice," commented Larson. He was a devout admirer of the female form, and Lara was one fine specimen of feminity. Larson sincerely hoped he wouldn't have to resort to using force on her.
"Yes she is," Natla replied dryly. "Just remember what you've been sent out to do. And remember- you belong to me." A veiled threat, Larson knew. The closer one got to Natla, the more dangerous it was to cross her. No woman, no matter how attractive, was worth arousing the wrath of his boss.
"Don't worry. I'll reel this fish in for ya!" Larson drawled.
"Good. That will be all," said Natla, and dismissed him.
***
It turned out that Lara agreed to the quest without the need for physical violence. She wasn't swayed by money but rather was enticed by her sense of adventure. The two of them packed up for the Andes mountains in Peru. Natla explained to Lara via satellite that Larson would be along to provide "outside security" up to the entrance of the cave leading to Qualopec's tomb. But neither Larson nor the native guide had any skills in spelunking so Lara would have to continue on alone. In reality, Natla had told Larson to stay with Lara to make sure the goods were delivered to her. Lara was no fool and must know that the artifact she was seeking was worth a fortune. Natla couldn't have her running off and selling it to the Smithsonian. Larson would make sure of that.
So the three adventurers made their way up the mountain trail leading to the cave entrance. The trail was covered with snow and the wind was blowing hard. Lara trotted ahead spiritedly with the quiet Peruvian guide close behind. Larson struggled at the rear, slipping and cursing. He was large and strong but not very quick or agile. Climbing was definitely not his strong point. Larson's boot hit a sheet of ice and he came crashing to the ground, with most of the party's gear landing on top of him.
"Goddammit!" Larson bellowed.
Lara looked back with an amused expression. "Come on, Larson! Get the lead out!"
Larson struggled to his feet and managed to smile back. He didn't want to lose his temper in front of a woman, especially one as attractive as Lara. And he remembered Natla's offer to share part of the bounty with him once the Scion was recovered. "I'll be right there, Ms. Lara. Just sit tight for a sec."
Lara spoke quickly to her guide in Spanish, who hurried back to help Larson with the gear. "Almost there," the guide told Larson in broken English. "Entrance just ahead." Larson followed in the guide's footsteps to avoid any more slippery patches. In another 5 minutes, the three were standing at the cave entrance.
"Now what?" Asked Larson. The guide shrugged.
Lara studied the hieroglyphics on the entrance. "Hmm. It's a puzzle, of course. The ancients loved puzzles. Ahah!" And with that she climbed up to the top of the gate and pressed a block. They heard a click, then the gate slowly rumbled open. The guide cried out with delight. Larson looked through the doors but could see only blackness. Then he saw glowing points of yellow light. First two, then four, six, eight. They were moving towards him quickly. As the charging figures emerged from the darkness he realized they were eyes. The eyes of wolves on the attack. Larson cursed and drew his Glock 9 millimeter. He pumped his entire magazine into the leading wolf, who yelped and slid to a stop almost at his feet. The other three were tearing at the guide who was unarmed. Larson fed another magazine into his pistol and aimed at the wolf pack, but couldn't find a clear shot.
"Hey!" Lara yelled at the wolves. She leaped down from the ledge and howled to get their attention. She must have hit the right note, because all three turned to Lara and charged. She let out a warrior yell as she drew two 9 millimeter pistols and blazed away with both hands. She dropped one wolf, then two. Her magazines ran dry and she stopped to reload. Larson drew a careful bead on the final wolf and shot it straight through the heart.
They stood for a moment in shock, panting and holding their smoking pistols at their sides. Then Lara walked over to the guide and knelt down to check his pulse.
"Is he-?" Larson asked.
"Dead." Lara answered. They were silent for a moment as they paid their respects. Larson looked at the dead wolves, then Larson. "Nice shooting."
"Thanks. I could've done even better if I had more firepower. Never thought there'd be wolves up in these mountains."
"So are you coming in? I don't think you're very fond of ice and snow. It should be warmer inside."
Larson's original instructions were to wait at the cave entrance while Lara worked her way through the underground maze to retrieve the Scion. She would then bring the Scion back to Larson and he would pay her. It sounded fine in theory, but now that Larson was there he didn't relish the idea of waiting out in the cold for hours.
"I'll keep you company, lil' lady. I just have to make a phone call first." He opened up his laptop and punched in Natla's number. "Go on ahead. It's kind of a private call." He took on last look at Lara as she disappeared into the cave. "Thank you for this assignment Ms. Natla," he murmered to himself.
Larson stepped into Ms. Jacqueline Natla's office on the top floor of her Natla Enterprises office tower. "You wanted to see me, Ma'am?" He asked.
"I have a new assignment for you, Larson," said Natla. Ms. Natla was somewhat of an enigma in the business world. An unknown 20 years ago, she had used her own resources and business savvy to build one of the top 100 business conglamerates in the world. Time magazine recently ran an article about her, calling her the "richest woman in the world". It wasn't exactly true, however her company was the largest in the world that was headed by a woman.
Larson was Natla's "executive assistant", but that didn't really describe what he did. Sure, he answered phones and handled company coorespondence, but he was also Natla's muscle. He was her personal bodyguard, and also headed up security whenever a franchise of hers opened in a hostile part of the world. He also did recruiting for Natla's "special assignments", such as the one Natla was about to give him.
"There's a very special someone I need for a very special project," Natla continued. She punched some keys on her laptop and turned it towards Larson. "Lara Croft- archeologist, excavator, adventurer. She recently assisted a team uncovering some ancient and valuable treasures in Iraq, which now reside in the Baghdad National museum. I want you to get her for me. By any means necessary," she added with emphasis.
Larson knew what that meant. First large monetary offers, then flattery. But if she wouldn't come willingly he would have to subdue her by force and kidnap her, taking her someplace where Natla would force her new recruit to work in exchange for her freedom. Natla could be cold sometimes, but she always got things done.
"Nice," commented Larson. He was a devout admirer of the female form, and Lara was one fine specimen of feminity. Larson sincerely hoped he wouldn't have to resort to using force on her.
"Yes she is," Natla replied dryly. "Just remember what you've been sent out to do. And remember- you belong to me." A veiled threat, Larson knew. The closer one got to Natla, the more dangerous it was to cross her. No woman, no matter how attractive, was worth arousing the wrath of his boss.
"Don't worry. I'll reel this fish in for ya!" Larson drawled.
"Good. That will be all," said Natla, and dismissed him.
***
It turned out that Lara agreed to the quest without the need for physical violence. She wasn't swayed by money but rather was enticed by her sense of adventure. The two of them packed up for the Andes mountains in Peru. Natla explained to Lara via satellite that Larson would be along to provide "outside security" up to the entrance of the cave leading to Qualopec's tomb. But neither Larson nor the native guide had any skills in spelunking so Lara would have to continue on alone. In reality, Natla had told Larson to stay with Lara to make sure the goods were delivered to her. Lara was no fool and must know that the artifact she was seeking was worth a fortune. Natla couldn't have her running off and selling it to the Smithsonian. Larson would make sure of that.
So the three adventurers made their way up the mountain trail leading to the cave entrance. The trail was covered with snow and the wind was blowing hard. Lara trotted ahead spiritedly with the quiet Peruvian guide close behind. Larson struggled at the rear, slipping and cursing. He was large and strong but not very quick or agile. Climbing was definitely not his strong point. Larson's boot hit a sheet of ice and he came crashing to the ground, with most of the party's gear landing on top of him.
"Goddammit!" Larson bellowed.
Lara looked back with an amused expression. "Come on, Larson! Get the lead out!"
Larson struggled to his feet and managed to smile back. He didn't want to lose his temper in front of a woman, especially one as attractive as Lara. And he remembered Natla's offer to share part of the bounty with him once the Scion was recovered. "I'll be right there, Ms. Lara. Just sit tight for a sec."
Lara spoke quickly to her guide in Spanish, who hurried back to help Larson with the gear. "Almost there," the guide told Larson in broken English. "Entrance just ahead." Larson followed in the guide's footsteps to avoid any more slippery patches. In another 5 minutes, the three were standing at the cave entrance.
"Now what?" Asked Larson. The guide shrugged.
Lara studied the hieroglyphics on the entrance. "Hmm. It's a puzzle, of course. The ancients loved puzzles. Ahah!" And with that she climbed up to the top of the gate and pressed a block. They heard a click, then the gate slowly rumbled open. The guide cried out with delight. Larson looked through the doors but could see only blackness. Then he saw glowing points of yellow light. First two, then four, six, eight. They were moving towards him quickly. As the charging figures emerged from the darkness he realized they were eyes. The eyes of wolves on the attack. Larson cursed and drew his Glock 9 millimeter. He pumped his entire magazine into the leading wolf, who yelped and slid to a stop almost at his feet. The other three were tearing at the guide who was unarmed. Larson fed another magazine into his pistol and aimed at the wolf pack, but couldn't find a clear shot.
"Hey!" Lara yelled at the wolves. She leaped down from the ledge and howled to get their attention. She must have hit the right note, because all three turned to Lara and charged. She let out a warrior yell as she drew two 9 millimeter pistols and blazed away with both hands. She dropped one wolf, then two. Her magazines ran dry and she stopped to reload. Larson drew a careful bead on the final wolf and shot it straight through the heart.
They stood for a moment in shock, panting and holding their smoking pistols at their sides. Then Lara walked over to the guide and knelt down to check his pulse.
"Is he-?" Larson asked.
"Dead." Lara answered. They were silent for a moment as they paid their respects. Larson looked at the dead wolves, then Larson. "Nice shooting."
"Thanks. I could've done even better if I had more firepower. Never thought there'd be wolves up in these mountains."
"So are you coming in? I don't think you're very fond of ice and snow. It should be warmer inside."
Larson's original instructions were to wait at the cave entrance while Lara worked her way through the underground maze to retrieve the Scion. She would then bring the Scion back to Larson and he would pay her. It sounded fine in theory, but now that Larson was there he didn't relish the idea of waiting out in the cold for hours.
"I'll keep you company, lil' lady. I just have to make a phone call first." He opened up his laptop and punched in Natla's number. "Go on ahead. It's kind of a private call." He took on last look at Lara as she disappeared into the cave. "Thank you for this assignment Ms. Natla," he murmered to himself.