(no subject)

[sharktoothtotem]

 jobs and broken hearts

Lara meets with an info broker

Nathan and Sully talk.

Notes:

Yes I was mean... but really I couldn't think of how to do things how I set it up with Elena there. And well... Not really a shipper of them, it seemed too forced so... At least I didn't go the other option I had for her! Which was really tempting.

 

London

David Andrews was livid.  It wasn’t often that he had the rug pulled out from under him, and that’s exactly what Taylor Lin had done. First, he had expected his foster child to stay in Hawaii, not run off to Kyoto on some cooked-up assignment teaching at a college.  He knew that she was bright enough to do a few lectures, but a whole semester seemed a bit much for a nineteen-year-old.

He hadn’t even realized until a month into her visit to Japan, was when he had realized she had destroyed the shared server they had, with all of the information that they had spent the last sixteen years collecting on a legendary island.  He wasn’t sure how she had done it either.  The server had been hacked, a skill he knew that she didn’t have.  The kid spent more time out on the damn water than at her studies.  And the files from the Animus were also missing.  Even though they hadn’t managed to actually unlock video files from those sessions yet, even after ten years of trying.  Though David had figured out where the True Priestess had been raised.  Something that had been lost in time.  Only people that actually known where she had been, were further back in the genetic history than they had been able to go, and Sages.  But finding a Sage and unlocking them had, so far, been something that had been proving difficult to Vidic. 

Which was why they had actually located Taylor’s mother.  Dan-Bi had fought to the end, covering for both her child and two others that her Brotherhood had wanted to bring into the fold. 

The picture of one, he was looking at on his phone as he waited for the only contact, that would know where she was since she had escaped his men after they had trashed her apartment.  He was still trying to decide exactly what he was going to do with those men as well.  The Order frowned a bit when it came to killing off incompetent members of their society. 

Sitting in the University café, he sipped at the coffee he had ordered while he waited for his contact’s daughter, with her father missing, it was easier to keep tabs on her after all.  Others in the café were taking him as one of the professors on a break, the man, bound to a wheelchair due to a childhood illness, paid them no mind.  After all, if he managed to find the artifact he was looking for, they’d all just be pawns.  It wasn’t worth talking to pawns about anything of importance.  Instead, he flipped through the little bit of data that he had managed to not save on the server, trying to figure out exactly what Taylor was planning and where she had hidden the research.

He had men scouring for her, every location that she would probably frequent.  David knew that she wouldn’t go far from her precious ocean, nor would she go somewhere cold.  The Korean American girl hated being cold.  It was one thing the two of them had in common.  His chair didn’t really handle ice and snow well. 

Where are you hiding Taylor?  Doesn’t help Vidic thinks he’s managed to figure out how to clear up the visuals when you’re in the machine.  Would make our search so much easier.  He thought as he saw Lara Croft walking up to his table, a backpack over her shoulder, and getting stares and glares from the other patrons of the café dressed in shorts and a cropped tee.  Her long braid swishing about behind her as she moved.  David now understood why Taylor had liked hanging out with the English woman, both of them screamed that they didn’t fit in boxes fitting their rearing.  Ms. Croft was a Lady, with a title, while Taylor had been raised to be higher society, despite the dreadlocks she insisted keeping and the skimpy clothing she adored.  David knew both women could play the role they needed to when needed.  It was something he admired about both of them actually.  Though he still wished that Taylor had been a little more controllable.

“Mr. Andrews,” Lara set her bag on the empty chair, as well as the books she had on the table.

“Lady Croft, I hope you excuse me for not standing.”  He nodded to the wheelchair and she flashed a soft smile. 

“I’d be a total arse if I did.”  She held out her hand.  “And I have told you before Lara’s fine.  Though, I’m curious as to why you called me.  Usually I’m calling you for information, not the other way around.”

He shook her hand offering the last chair for her.  “Then please, your father called me David, I insist his daughter does the same.”  He raised his hand to signal one of the wait staff he was ready to order.  “Would you like anything?”

“Tea is fine.”  She brushed her braid back.  “Now David, I’m curious as to the notes that you sent me.  Still looking for that lost continent?  Though isn’t it supposed to be in the Atlantic?”

“That’s what we thought before we found legends to prove otherwise.   Though my former partner and I got into a disagreement, mostly over how to proceed, and unfortunately, she managed to wipe out the server that we had most of the data on.  I was hoping that you and I could work together to find it.  I would go alone, but alas my adventuring days are long over.  I will fully compensate you and any team you wish to bring along.  I even have a ship to use.”

Lara watched him a moment.  “You do know that I am about to leave on an expedition, right?”  He was in his mid-sixties, already salt and peppered hair.  If he wasn’t in the wheelchair, she would have guessed he played the support role much like Victor Sullivan did.  Lara had met him and Drake before, the two assisting, getting her out of a tight spot a few months before.  She also knew who the man’s former partner had been.  Taylor had helped Samantha get some of the information on Yamatai, actually being able to read more languages than Sam was able to translate.    

“I know.  And I am willing to wait.  It would take my former partner time to get a team together.  And I don’t doubt she won’t be gathering one as soon as she can.”

The fact he was willing to wait had her more curious, there had to be a catch to it.  When she got a moment, she was going to have to make a few calls.  That would be later though.  “You seem confidant that she isn’t going to be able to get a team together quickly.”

“It’s going to take her a while to sort through the skillsets she’ll need.  You know how researchers are with planning these.  It’s why I came to you; your father was one of the best.  I’m betting that his daughter is going to be just as good if not better.”

Okay this guy is pouring on the flattery a bit much.  She thought as she decided to play innocent on it.  “As soon as I’m back, I’ll call you about the next adventure.” 

“I look forward to it.  I hear that where you’re going now, is the Devil’s Triangle?”  He watched her.  “How prepared are you for that?”

That had Lara pause. Though she wasn’t surprised.  Samantha had basically vlogged most of it, which was the only reason why they had the funding for the trip, someone was paying to have it fully documented for one of the cable networks.  Everything was screaming at her to walk away.  Her father’s journals after all had stated that Lord Croft thought it was a bad idea to get too involved with the man and his associates.  Though Lara wasn’t sure why her father had been wary.

“I’m hoping that it will be favorable.  And I look forward to seeing the documentary.”

“You know about it?”

“A friend of mine is sponsoring it.  I found out only a few weeks ago.  He wanted a suggestion on a good captain for your trip.  Alas, Taylor’s the one with the informants when it comes to sailing the seas.  I just know how to read maps.”  Their orders came and David picked at one of the chips with his meal.  It had been far too long since he had properly done fish and chips, being stuck on Hawaii so long, made him feel like he had been starting to shift towards American standards.  Shoving the thought away he reached over to his journal, pulling out a photo.  “Found this the other day, looking through some of my old journals from when I was here in Cambridge.  Thought you might want it.”

The photo was a rugby team, it took her a moment to realize the smallest of the men in the photo was the one in the wheelchair before her, though leaning over his shoulders was a taller man.  “Father.”

“I thought you’d recognize him.  Two hours after that photo was taken, all of us were in the dean’s office getting lectured on how we should be setting a better example and not pub crawling in the middle of the day.”

Lara sat back in her seat giggling.  “Must have been before he met Mother.”

“About a week before I think.  I remember telling him about her, I was going to ask her out, but he beat me to it.”  David sighed.

She smiled a moment.  “I will think it over, I can’t promise anything, if we are successful I might want to stay and make sure the site is properly investigated, as well as documented.”

“I’m not planning to even get a team fully together until next year anyway.  Gives the rest of the team I want to get together time to finish up loose ends they have as well.”

Lara nodded and handed the photo back. 

“Besides, she’ll take a little longer, my former associate would be on the circuit to raise funds.  I swear she has to do everything the hard way.”

Lara bit her lip on what she thought of that, though David had confirmed it, he had lost Taylor.  She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of being the researcher’s assistant if she took the job, though she slid the photo back to him.  “Why don’t you hold on to that for me, until we work together okay?”

“Lara!  There you are, they approved our passports.”  Samantha was holding up their passports.  Lara chuckled at that and was about to introduce her guest.  “Oh, wow, Dr Andrews, I didn’t think you were here.  Now I feel like such an idiot.”  The dark-haired woman paused.

“Oh, It’s quite alright Miss Nishimura.  I am glad my associate could help grant your expedition.”

“You’re the one that talked them into it?”

“I may have asked for a favor, all it was, was to listen to your plan.”  He smiled.  “The rest was all you.”

“Thank you so much, I don’t think anyone would have listened without you vouching for us.”

“I know what it’s like to look for the past.”  He glanced up at Lara.  “I believe the two of you have some packing to do.  I do hope that you’ll think about the offer Lady Croft.”

 

Boston Massachusetts

“You know kid this is well beyond stupid.”  Sully leaned back in his seat as he picked up his beer.  He was worried about Nathan, the kid was taking things hard, not that he blamed him.  Elena had done him cold.  She had left with her producer, two weeks before she and Nate were going to renew their vows after Tibet…

Nate sighed pulling him out of that train of thought. 

“You could call her?”  Sully said looking at him.

The look he got in return had him chuckle.  “Right, after I pushed her away, there’s a reason we came back without her Sullivan.  She made it clear that Yemen was the last time she’d help.”  He took a drink of his beer grimacing slightly.  He had signed the divorce papers, partly because he had realized she needed better than he could give her.  Even though the two of them had bought a house.  She had let him keep it in the divorce, which he had sold because he didn’t need the space. 

“So you sending a wedding gift?”  Sully asked watching him.

“Why not?  She invited all of us to the wedding.  And really there aren’t hard feelings, I just…” He shrugged.  “I don’t think it would be right if I was there.”  He glanced at the man who had taught him a lot of what he knew.  “Actually, already did, said it was from both of us.  One of those tacky shrunken heads we bought in the touristy part of Peru. 

Sully almost spat out his beer glancing over at Nate, who was grinning.  “It was actually just a blender.  I just needed to see your face on that one Sully.” 

“You’re gonna be the death of me kid.”

Nate chuckled as he put the invitation down along with the newspaper announcement that Chloe had sent him.  Though I did add in one of the skulls we brought back from El Dorado too, as well as a few of the tokens the Sherpas gave us after Shangi-la, just felt right.”

Sully bit back a comment about the gifts being cold, though he knew the meaning behind them. 

“I behaved.  I could have done worse.”

“Yeah, and if she asked you to go back?”

“Probably in a heartbeat.”  He tipped back his bottle.

 

Nathan’s head was still pounding as he made it to the shipyard in the morning.  The sun hadn’t fully risen yet though he was hoping to finish the salvage job for his buddy today.  Coming around the cabin of the boat he paused, someone was leaning against the rail.  “Hey buddy, we don’t open for another two hours.” 

“Then it’s a good thing I’m not here to talk to the boss.”  Sam didn’t look over as he lit a cigarette.  “Taylor told me this is probably where I’d find you.”

“Taylor who?”

“Lin, she wasn’t sure what your number was.”  Sam stepped closer.  “And well, we weren’t sure if this should be done on the phone or not.”

Nathan froze.  He remembered that voice.  True he hadn’t thought about the owner of it for years, but he knew the voice. 

“What’s the matter little brother, cat got your tongue?”

“S-sam?”

“Yeah, not dead.” He looked over at Nate.  “Think we can go somewhere to talk, it’s fucking freezing out here.”

Nate stammered a moment and nodded.  “Yeah, huh, let me just call him to let him know what’s up.”  Nate reached out touching his brother’s arm, realizing it really was a person.  More ink than he remembered his brother having, but it was Sam.  Which brought way too many thoughts and questions up at once.  A quick call had him watching his brother pick up his bag, and fishing out an envelope.

 “I’m not blaming you for Panama Nate.  Hell, from what Tay’s told me, you did well for yourself.” 

 

An hour later had the two of them sitting at Nate’s kitchen island.  Nate was pissed, the story that Sam had told had him furious.  “So how much is the ransom?”  He asked.

Sam had left out the fact that He and Taylor had been working for Rafe for now.  Hell, he wanted to talk to her first before he dropped the bomb that not only was he still alive, he, had a daughter.  One that Nate already knew.

“Too much Nate.  Though I get this job done I’ll have enough to pay them back and free the kid.” He had at least told him that Taylor was being held until the job was done.  “He won’t hurt her.  Not while she’s useful, and she has the resources to keep herself useful at least.”

“I’m just glad she’s okay, last I heard her apartment in Japan was destroyed, she went dark after that.”  Nate leaned against the counter.  And here I was just talking to Sully about hanging it up.”

“If you want out, I won’t drag you back in Nate.”

“This is the last one.  I can’t let Tay down, seriously she’s like a niece to me.”  He rubbed the back of his neck.  “So, who are we screwing over?”

Sam smiled, he fished out the notes that he had written down for the hunt.  “Rafe’s working with him too, though Rafe’s missing this.”  He pulled the printout out Taylor had given him of the cross.  The one with the blood test was safely tucked away in the inner pocket of his jacket.

“Damn, this is…”

“Yeah, though this one’s complete.  We just need to beat Rafe to the Rossi estate, they’re going to use Taylor’s connections to get into the auction.  Figure we get there we can grab her on the way out.  I’d rather not let the kid stay with them longer than needed.”

Nate thought a moment.  “Well, Sully has some connections, and he’s been saying he’s bored.”

“You’re still with the old man?”

“That old man is my partner okay.  Trust him more than I ever trusted our old man.”  Nathan bit back the fact that he didn’t disappear on him like Sam did.  Not after hearing the hell, he had gone through in the prison. 

Sam chuckled.  “Okay I get it, I’m stuck with him if I’m gonna reconnect with you got it.”  Sam didn’t look upset about it though.  “Hey he still have that flying wreck?”

“If he heard you call it that he’d push you out at a thousand feet.”  Nate laughed.  “Though sadly no, he has a new one.  The other one didn’t make it through a hunt a few years back.  It was actually cheaper to get a new one than rebuild her.”

“Ow, sad to know it’s gone.” 

“Let me call him, see how we’re getting to Italy.  When’s this auction?”

“Two days. “