National Treasure - A Rewrite

Chapter One - The Charlotte

An icy wash went over Riley Poole but it was not caused by the below freezing temperatures. The gun was levelled at his best friend's chest. The person holding it looked incredibly smug yet the one who had ordered the shooting was turned to the side so he didn't see it happening.

Riley hadn't really liked Ian or Shaw from the beginning. Both were quick to anger, hadn't wanted him around in the first place and he hadn't been entirely convinced that the times they had 'accidently' tripped him had really been an accident. He had put up with it though. They were treasure hunting for one which, as big and impossible as it sounded, it was exciting and exhilarating. The other thing that had got Riley to put up with them was Ben. Ben always was interested – or showed interest – in his computer babble and was absolutely brilliant. He convinced Shaw and Ian that having Riley along couldn't hurt, explained things when Riley didn't understand (which was surprisingly often) and generally made him feel like part of the group. Or Riley was at least part of a duo whilst Ian used a questionable source of money to fund Ben's genius.

Things had been going more okay lately. They had been joking earlier. He had even been the one who figured out that if The Charlotte would end up here due to the hydrothermic properties of the region that produce hurricane-force ice storms that would cause the ocean to freeze then unfreeze. That would result in a semi-solid migrating land mass which would lead to this. Ian, of course, had doubted that the 'little techie would know anything about this' and it had felt so good to prove him wrong...Well for like three hours whilst they dug up the snow to go in. Then everything had gone downhill faster than a laptop crashing.

First Ian had talked about 'area of expertise' and his not just being 'writing cheques'. Then when Ben was trying to talk him out of stealing the Declaration of Independence and saying he wouldn't let him and so Ian decided that Ben would now be a 'hindrance'. The idea would be almost laughable if Shaw hadn't immediately pulled out the gun aiming it directly at Ben's chest. It was made much more terrifying by how smug – or even amused – Shaw looked. Ian at least had the decency to look away...or he was keeping his eye on Riley so he didn't try anything. Which was fair. Riley did, after all, briefly consider trying to tackle the gun out of Shaw's hands although he did bear in mind that he was much slower than a bullet.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to shoot me, Shaw?" Ben asked. There was a note of amusement in his voice – forced obviously – and he looked remarkably calm for someone who could get shot at any moment. Shaw nodded, smirking his insufferable smirk removing the safety getting ready to pull the tr- "Well you can't shoot me. There's more to the riddle, information you don't have. I do. I'm the only one who can solve it." Riley let out a slight puff of relief. Sure Ben could be bluffing but it would at least make Ian and Shaw hesitate.
"He's bluffing," Shaw stated. Riley glared daggers at him. How eager did you need to be t kill someone?
"We play poker together, Ian. You know I can't bluff," Ben pointed out. He was right. He was dreadful at bluffing and Ian seemed to be believing him even nodding slightly in thought. "Tell me what I need, Ben. Or I'll shoot your friend," Ian threatened.

Before Riley could even fully comprehend that statement, as casual as it sounded it didn't fit with the words, the gun was now pointed at his head.
"Hey!" he protested, trying to step to the side. Ropes wouldn't do much defence though and Ian probably had no reason to keep him alive. He was equal parts terrified of dying and relieved that Ben's life was no longer in immediate danger but also slightly offended that whilst Ian looked away when Ben was shot he seemed to have no issue with watching Riley die. Damnit, Riley! Priorities!
"Quiet Riley!" Ian snapped with such a hate-filled expression that Riley froze in every movement. Even his heartbeat and breathing seemed to still to a stop for a moment. "Your job is finished here." Riley felt faint and had a nagging feeling that even if Ben decided to co-operate with everything Ian would find a way to get rid of him.