Lara Croft leapt across a wide gap between her and another ledge. She sailed momentarily through the daytime air, her back against a horizon of light blue sky, cloudless with the glowing noon sun. Then her semi-gloved hands reached rock, where her fingers slammed into a gripping hold onto the ledge. Dust and pebbles from the auburn cliff sprinkled over Lara's fingers, while her booted feet pressed against a ledge just below her. Clutching tightly with her hands, Lara suddenly kicked forward—propelling herself in a front-flip motion. She found herself ten feet higher now, once again hanging from a slender edge. She slung another hand skyward—but, unfortunately, found no ledge. She hung now, with one hand suspending her, Lara's feet dangling below.

She took a moment, as though relaxing, and gazed towards the sky behind her. Sunlight glared into her audacious brown eyes, and a hawk glided by across the horizon. She grunted as she reached for the climbing axe holstered at her waist; retrieving it as quickly as she maneuvered herself, she managed to sling her free hand up above her—and find a crevice. The pick slammed into the slot of rock, where it lodged securely, giving Lara additional support. With axe in right hand and left holding onto ledge, Lara retracted her arms—muscles taut, feet climbing—attempting to reach her designation above. When the brunette finally got up to seize hold of another ledge, she heaved a heavy breath and let out a long sigh.

"Couldn't you have brought a grapple, Lady Croft?" A male voice crackled over her headset COM Link. Lara sighed, threw her axe above her head and, again, landed the pick in yet another crevice. She made sure it was secure and not anywhat loose, then began pulling herself up again. She started to easily ascend her way up the cliff, which gradually curved inward, Lara responded, "Alister, if I wanted to make things boring, then I would consider proper climbing equipment."

"But, as we know of you, you like the risk." This voice was a different one; not that of Alister Fletcher, Lara's friend and butler back at Croft Manor—but of a more hip young man. Zachary "Zip" Page, Lara's technical backup, friend, and often teaser.

"The…risk?" Lara grunted back, pulling herself up a few more meters.

"Of dying, Lady Croft." Alister murmured audibly over the line.

Lara's stout lips folded back as dimples formed and she let a wide smile spread across her face. With that, jaw clenched and sweat glistening over her skin, she took yet another swing of her axe at the rock above her. "It…isn't risk, gentlemen…but rather—"

Suddenly the pick of her axe hit a loose chunk of rock, and her weight on the tool caused her to fall. She managed to, luckily, grab a ledge and pull herself closer to the cliff as the chunk of rock tumbled down. It freefell just inches behind her back, while dust and pebbles sprinkled down over her head.

"I'm sorry, what were you saying?" Alister snapped back, undoubtedly smiling.

Lara's smile had vanished for a moment, but it just now began to resurface. She shook her head, peering up over the ledge which she now hung. "I was saying, gentlemen, that…" Lara kicked herself momentarily free of the cliff, but only to hook the pick of the axe into a horizontal crevice five feet above her—and once again regain stability. "…this may be, somewhat, of a risk—but, may I say, that I am—"

"Enthralled?" Alister interrupted.

Lara shrugged the best she could to herself while cliffhanging, then nodded. "Yes, I suppose you could put it as that…"

"Well," Zip started, you are the 'Tomb Raider'—so I guess you're not as crazy as it would make you seem."

"So, then," Lara said, heaving herself upwards, "I am still considered somewhat 'crazy'?"

"Precisely." Alister added, and then—unknown to Lara—left Zip to 'monitor' her alone. She's all up to you, now, Zip, Alister thought as he retracted.

Meanwhile, Lara climbed towards the ridgeline of the cliff—for it was now in her view. She holstered the climbing axe in her utility belt and reached for the cliff's upper ridge. Her fingers gripped a rocky surface, and she started to heave herself skyward. She lifted herself up, clutching the edge of the cliff, then brought herself to a handstand position—before gently flipping herself to the ground. Her booted feet clamped to the rocky earth, and there she viewed a partially blocked-off entrance to her goal: an ancient Aztecan structure.

"Made it." Lara said with a slight smile.

"Oh, yes—I can see." Zip replied; he had not only audio feedback, but also a microchip video camera attached on Lara's right shoulder-strap. It was fully water-resistant, durable against anything except subterranean levels and, of course, bullets.

Lara hopped up and over a thigh-high guardrail of block, feeling the soles of her sheathed feet slam into the rock-hard floor. She glanced back to take a final gaze at the noon horizon and the birds in the distance. She then turned back, letting the light fade from her view.