Project Sorna

Forty-Two

                  White noises prompted a robotic drawl from the radio.

                  "Hello, islander. You have located the base exterior tower. May our crew help you?"

                 I had mixed impressions most of all, but I had some attitude myself with a clever side-eye, winking in the process.

                "Lara Croft, here. I'm here for some friendly competition, if your 'crew' is aware." I shot back with some British tune. Despite my pretend charm coming out just as intended, something didn't sit right with the plan. It  made me hold against it.

                    A mediocre gentlemen took his time to respond. "Ya, ya. Don't think I don't see that pretty gal you brought."

                   Don't think I don't know your smiling, I m b e c I l e.

                  "The feeling's mutual. Now get us up there!" toughened up Robin.

                ((3rd POV))

                 "Got your cuffs?"

                From a light elevator ride, Lara & Robin came sauntering their way over to meet with some gladiators.  Robin made an exception to come along with her own calculations. Not one, but two women found themselves in an arena.

                Looks were exchanging heavily from both sides. Inaudible comments lost to laughter at the manly crowd. That was, until a spiffy gladiator of a man approached, patched-worked eye & all out devilishly tanned.

              "Your on. About time, too." the Portuguese remarked with a taunt.  

              "I was hoping you say that fashionably late, Drew. Especially with two of us."

              "Hehe." his tongue licked. "Lara. You just keep getting better & better."

             "Flattered." a more challenging expression on her face. "But not that flattered, talking to some 18-year-old.  I'd rather ask where's the head's at, first of all. I'm here for the coin to free Elijah & Maisey." 

             Robin was baffled. "Who exactly?"

             Nobody needed to wait for long, noticing the deceased & wired head of a animatronic Tyrannosaurus king lowering. His eyes were replaced with eerie voids where light died out. To a mild shock, everyone was averted at the huge target fixed in the mouth.

            "That's the head?"

           "The real deal, Croft. And remember-Ackerman's intentions! Yours too!" he claimed. Drew flaunted a coin from his very pocket. "Since he's not here, I guess you'll have to take heads."

           "I'd rather take tails. And since when do you get to hold that?" she all of a sudden took matters into aiming one of her guns.

          "Big deal." Drew mocked.  "Excuse me, but this won't take long." he pardoned himself to walk away from the intervention. Little did he know a definite Lara Croft would still be eyeing him.

           Robin appeased at the moment, taking her chances with the .40SW in her hand instead of Lara's. Abruptly, Lara saw her real dread. That didn't do anymore than to snatch & keep the gun in her holster.

           Minutes ticked with the men becoming only more ravenous & desperate for the woman's attention. Others warned their comrades in a blunt manner to stop their obnoxious games of flirting.

         "I think we said it enough for you lads; get lost, already." Lara rejected.

        "Alrighty-I'm back." piped the leader, Drew again. "Lady, no hard feelings. But if you think the two of you can make my boys any prouder, I'm up for Robin to get up here & show some skill with that lucky bow."

       "Not by a long shot, twit."

       A burden that was on his shoulders. Then, his objectives turned more critical.

      "I'll just have to show her, then!" Drew snapped at her, taking a lunging walk at Prestley, whom stared him down in horror. No threat posed to Lara, even though.

    "We're not fighting this. Lets just....get this over with." a forceful Lara got in-between them.

    He sensed a losing battle already with Lara in his sight. The only subtle thing to do was choose to walk with her to the dueling.

    A collection of wires tied the head of the haunting animatronic in the air by a pole. Random strings & debris decorated the outside look of the tower, suspended with the wind taking it's stride. Almost perfect humidity or setting for 'friendly competition' going about. As any old-fashioned match would offer, an audience of burly grownups roused from the other direction.

    "Ready?" asked Drew. Chuckles of pterodactyls passed the tower from above & below. Men weren't the only beings entertained.