Lara Croft: Origins

Chapter III: Meeting

Chapter III

The captain himself wasn't exactly a figure of power, but he was the captain of this ship and could do as he pleased.

     He called everyone closer to the table. "Good evening everyone as you all know we've come together these couple of days for a little expedition. One funded and being led by Dr. James Whitman, famous historian. He thinks there is some sort of lost city in the Dragon Triangle in the South China Sea. This place just happens to be probably the most dangerous place of the seven seas."

     People's laughter started to fill the room. It occurred to me that there were very few women among the crowd here. I was glad Sam was beside me.

     "Dr. Whitman would you mind explaining what our mission is on this expedition?" The captain asked almost skeptically that anything Dr. Whitman would say would be logical.

     "Thank you captain. Yes I do have quite a bit to say actually."

• • • • •

     "The island we're looking for is actually well, we don't know exactly where it is." as unsure as his words were, his voice projected throughout the dome shaped room with authority.

     "Reports from local tales and manuscripts from people like Marco Polo, and Ferdinand Magellan say that it's off the western coast of Japan and I believe we should head there," said Dr. Whitman pointing to the location on the map.

     That's when I decided to let myself into an argument against him,"Dr. Whitman, I've researched the weather patterns and numerous reports of shipwrecked boats and ships in the area and more physical evidence suggests the island may be in the South China Sea." I said it with enough authority and confidence to match my professor's.

     I received several stunned looks from around the room. It wasn't necessarily what I said, it was just the fact I was disagreeing with someone who's famous for being a historian. And I am just a girl with a famous archaeologist for dad. Not something you see everyday.

     "Excuse me, Lara, you may be my student, but I am lead archaeologist on this expedition and I won't let you disrespect me and my work." he said, obviously offended.

     "Listen Dr. Whitman, I get it, you're smart and you get paid for being that or whatever, but you shouldn't let your ego get in the way of this expedition. All the physical and current evidence lies in the South China Sea." I was surprised at my bravery and frankly, at my outright disrespect. Really though I was just being honest, I just really wanted to find this island and make a discovery. Dr. Whitman had gone some of these expeditions before. All fruitless. That had to change even if only once but at least the one time it'd be me who'd find it. For my dad.

     "I think she's right, let's do it," said a dark skinned man with short hair on the opposite side of the table. I was sure he was Jonas, if I remembered correctly. It felt good for someone to agree with me.

     "Yeah, what Jonas said, Lara has a point, there's a lot of evidence pointing to the South China Sea," this time a middle aged woman with light brown hair standing a few people right of Jonas. She might have been Reyes.

     Dr. Whitman's brow was climbing closer to his hairline. He seemed pretty pissed about the whole revolution. More people continued to agree. Until finally the captain himself raised his voice and said, "As the captain of this ship, I'll take it to where I will and we set sail in one hour to the South China Sea."

     "FINE! Lara you better be right on this one. This whole expedition is being funded by me and if the Island of Yamatai remains unfound by the end of the voyage you'll have a lot of money in debt to me".

     I spoke for the first time in a while, "I won't let you down Dr. Whitman."

     "It suits you best you don't," he threatened. "Meeting dismissed." he announced.

     We all scattered to our rooms.