View Full Version : Lara Croft Vs. Predator
June 22nd, 1900 hrs, eastern:
In the darkness of space, beyond our solar system, a ship approaches our planet. A ship colored metallic steel and bronze, resembling an armored crab in an alien way. Inside of the ship, in the center chamber, The occupants of the ship stand around a sacred shrine. Warriors from another planet. They softly chatter among themselves, until the large pressure door nearest the warriors opened. A elder of their kind walks out with a flowing red cape, holding an object in his arms that is covered with the same fabric.. He steps on into the shrine's center area. As he looks among his area, the warriors go silent, and bow their heads in respect. The Warrior elder begins to speak to them, reciting words he'd heard from the elder before him, and the warrior before him. He then turns to a door that is farthest from the shrine area, the warriors all look up and watch the door open. Standing behind it is a young warrior, wearing a full set of their armor, which showed sign of past battles. The young warrior slowly walked up the steps that led to the center of the shrine. He kneels down to the elder. The Elders wave his hand, and 2 warriors from the side bring bowels and fans. inside the bowl, strange sage burned a soft blue. The Young warrior slowly stands up, and the ones from the side fan the smoke from the bowls on his body. He breaths it in deeply, and allows them to pat the smoke on his body. After the smoke from the bowls stop. The warriors step aside as the elder approaches the young warrior. The Elder uncovers the object in his arm, revealing it to be a sleek face mask, which also showed signs of past battles. The elder hands it to the young warrior, whom respectfully accepts it, and places it over his own face. He bows one more time, before turning around, and leaving the shrine. Preparing for the challenge he just accepted.
Date: June 22nd 08
Location: Somewhere within the jungles of Brazil.
A group of scientists from around the world wander the jungles, collecting samples from just about everything they can find. It seemed like a normal routine, until they heard a screeching sound from above...
They all looked up, and saw something, leaving a fire trail and it fell fro the sky, beyond the trees that shielded the sun from theirs eyes, and moments later, they felt the sonic boom. The scientists chattered among themselves as they hurried in the direction of the object. About 30 minutes later, they found a clearing in the jungle, with small fires burning on the tree branches and a scorched skid that led deeper into the jungle to a crater. The scientists huddled around the open crater, but were confused. There was nothing inside, the soil in the center, how ever, was stirred and loose. As if something was buried there.
Suddenly they heard the rain forests wildlife screech and scream. The sounds were coming from all around. They could feel something hot nearby, the approached the heat's source and stared in amazement. There was a deep drop in the jungle, a wide area that was almost 2 miles wide, and at the center, was a large burning Blue Flame, that burned away at the vines and planes around it, revealing stone. The fire was quickly spreading, burning away the trees near it. The Scientists fled, running back toward civilization, not seeing the fire clearing a way thousands of years of jungle growth, revealing a pyramid larger than any ever seen...
2 Days later
Lara Croft, world renowned Archaeologist and Adventurer, drove through the jungle in a Jeep, showing exceptional skill of an experience jungle rider.
"Lara, doesn't it ever bother you you might crash?" Alister asked through the headset.
"Not even a little." Lara said, adjusting the earpiece. "Are you chaps picking all of this up?"
"Better than Cable! Maybe we should start a reality T.V. show." Zip said through the headset.
Lara snickered, "It'd take all the fun out of our adventures. Besides, we get enough attention from competitors." Lara scanned the jungle around her. "How much farther to the place with the blue fire?"
"According to the GPS, you're almost there, another minute or so and you'll probably see it." Zip said.
"I still think this isn't the best idea Lara," Alister said, "I mean this pyramid was buried under thousands of years of jungle plants. The Aztecs didn't build Pyramids in Brazil, so it couldn't have been them, and not to mention from the satillight feeds Zip showed us, I don't have the foggiest idea who made it."
"That's why I'm here, Alister." Lara said.
There was a large clearing in front of the jeep. Lara slowed to a stop and hopped out. She carefully walked to the edge and stared at the deep drop, with the enormous Pyramid in the center. There was a large bowl at the top, with the blue fire burning in it.
"Has that fire been burning all this time?" Lara asked.
"Yupe." Zip Said. "It burned away all the plants in less than a few minutes. That fires hotter than our sun, you know that don't you?"
"I feel it." Lara said, wiping sweat from her head. She looked down toward the base of the pyramid, she saw tents and trucks, and at least 70 people. "Who are those people down there?"
"Lord Everette's men."
Lara paused in confusion. "Lord Everette? As in 'I own half of what the Queen doesn't in England'?"
"That's him."
"What's he doing here? He's never taken an interest in archeology, as far as I know." Lara said, producing her binoculars and zooming down.
"Maybe he knows something you don't."
"Or thinks he does." Lara said.
"Why don't you go ask him?"
"I think I will." Lara said, putting away her binoculars.
****
"And hurry up lads, I'd rather not disappoint the public." Lord Everette said, clapping his hands at the men with construction tools.
"HEY YOU!" A man in the distance said. "You're not supposed to be here?"
"Said the pot to the kettle." Lara replied.
Lord Everette turned around and saw Lara Croft walking up to him, and 2 of his men running up behind her.
"Stand down men." Everette said. "Lady Lara Croft, such a suprise to see you."
"Funny I was about to say the same to you. Why are you here, Lord Everette? This isn't England."
"No it isn't." Everette said, fishing a cigar out from his pocket. "This, is a grand discovery that was wrapped in a box canyon. And whoever explores it first gets publicity."
"And therefore, more money." Lara said.
"OH they always said you were smart." Everette snickered. "So tell me, are you here to investigate this pyramid too, or do you know something the world doesn't?"
"I'm here to see what I can make out of it." Lara said. "Though I'd prefer your chaps to stay out of my way."
"Oh they will...so long as you stay out of our way, understand? After all we're very far from home." Everette said, turning around and walking into an air conditioned tent.
"Was that a threat?" Zip asked.
"It doesn't matter what it was. Unlike Everette and his rental archaeologists, I know where to look for an entrance, properly."
"In that case, you might wanna get started before he sets up his camp around the whole pyramid." Zip said.
Lara walked beyond Everette's men. "That was the idea."
***
Lara was half way along the wall of the north side of the pyramid, drinking sips of water as she went. She couldn't believe how hot it was. As she continued, she heard something. She stopped and looked around. She had the feeling she was being watched. She looked up at the pyramid, and noticed steps going up.
"Its always useful to look for the front door, don't you think lads?" Lara said.
"You hardly use them anyway Lara." Alister.
"Grand entrances are always impractical, thats what makes them grand." Lara said, starting up the steps. Not even 15 feet from the middle of the pyramid, did Lara see a disturbing sight, as she continued toward it she prayed she was not looking at what it seemed. But when she reached them, there was no mistaking it.
"Oh my god Lara...they've been skinned?" Alister suddenly grunted, and Lara could hear the sound of Alister's headset clattering on the table, and his feet running away.
"Hope he make it to the bathroom, Winston just did the floor." Zip said, disgust could b heard in his voice. "Who are they?"
"Maybe they're some of Everette's men, or some locals." Lara said, looking away, and into the mouth of a large entrance." Whoever left them here, however, does not want people to come inside."
"Maybe you should heed the Warning Lara" Zip said.
"Do I ever?" Lara asked.
"Oh that's right, it's why you never bring climbing gear to the mountains." Zip replied.
Lara slowly walked up the steps to the corpses. The smell was nauseating. She examined the bodies without touching them.
"Two puncture wounds on one...the other seemed to have been blown open from behind. The wound is cauterized, like whatever struck him blew a hole in him like a close range shotgun, but it burned his wound shut. This man didn't bleed...at least not before..."
"Lara, if you please." Alister said, sickly.
"Yeah, It's bad enough I'm about to take the same trip Alister just finished." Zip said.
"Will do. Your at least not smelling this." Lara said, passing the bodies and walking inside the pyramid. It was dark, but nothing her Personal Lighting Device couldn't fix. She looked at some of the hieroglyphics, stopping to read a portion of the wall.
"Lara, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't some of that, Egyptian?" Alister asked.
"Yes it is. Along with some early Aztec, and a little bit of Cambodian." Lara studied the hieroglyphics. "Only....those Chosen....may compete..."
"This isn't some sort of...sacrificial thing...is it?" Zip asked.
"No, Competition of some sort...which means there's probably booby traps for those who weren't chosen." Lara said, looking ahead.
"Maybe those guys outside weren't chosen...lets hope you are." Zip said.
"No booby trap did to those men what became of them...someone or something did it and hung them outside to ward off people. I don't even think those men set one foot in this pyramid." Lara looked around, she had the feeling she was being watched again. She could hear a soft crackle, or rattle of something nearby...and perhaps breathing."
"Lara...you're creeping us out." Zip said.
"I think it's time we proceed inside, before you two get my imagination to bother me." Lara said, walking deeper inside the pyramid. Unknowns to her, she was being followed by something not of this earth...
******
To Lara, this pyramid was the basics, just more at the same time. Pressure pads, puzzles, spike pits. But none of it seemed so much to keep her from whatever was in this pyramid. It was more like a test. A simple examination.
"Think this place has anything you HAVEN'T been through yet?" Zip asked.
"Maybe, I don't think I'm near the center of this floor yet, I haven't been down below yet either."
One more booby trapped hall, much more difficult than the one's she'd just been through. Swinging blades, a large pitfall, a ledge with bladed edges Lara had to use her magnetic grappling hook to avoid entirely. Once she got to the end, the traps stopped. She continued into a large chamber. Inside were two statues, back to back, one was destroyed, the pieces laid at the base. From what Lara could make out, it resembled an Aztec Warrior. The other statue however looked much different from anything she'd ever seen.
"I'm assuming this is what they worshiped as a god back then." Lara said. The Statue was at least 7 or 8 feet tall. The head was larger than any humans, with long decorations on the sides of its head that touched the shoulders, much like dreadlocks. The face was sleek, and resembled a mask. The body of this statue was covered in Armor that resembled a Samurai's, but the style was much different. Its arms were outstretched, and in it's hand was a large blue crystal ball. Upon closer inspection Lara could see it wasn't crystal, more like something else. As she examined it, a red light front behind the statues lit. She looked past them, and saw an object on the floor glowing red. Lara cautiously approached it. It was another crystal ball, except much smaller. What ever the material, the light inside of it was dancing, it reminded her of fire.
"This is interesting...how many artifacts have you found that glow like that?" Zip asked.
Lara ignored the question. She carefully reached out and picked it up off the floor. She turned it over...and the glow inside the crystal stopped, and the edge of Lara's hand was red. She turned her hand a little, and saw 3 red dots. Moving her hand some more she saw it was like a laser sight of a gun. She turned around and saw the source of the lights...floating about 7 feet in the air.
"Lara...what's going on?" Alister asked.
She felt heat crawl up her arm, past her shoulder, up her neck, and rest between her eyes.
She saw something blue appear
Reflexes took over and she dove aside, and a blue fireball swooshed by where she was standing, and it impacted the floor, searing the stones and leaving a deep crater! Lara's canteen fell off her belt. Lara looked up at the source of the beams again, and saw them moving side to side, and the air around them shifting. It got close to her canteen, which suddenly exploded. Sparks danced around the shifting air, which flickered and sparked, untill a large shape appeared before her eyes. A creature that looked much like the statue, except with a different face mask. This mask almost resembled a skull. It's armor had signs of wear all over it, scratches and scorch marks. The Helmet looked older than the armor, and the creature wearing it. The source of the three dots rested on the side of the helmet, and a small device sitting on its left shoulder pointed at her, like a gun.
"WHAT ON EARTH IS THAT THING!!!" Alister exclaimed.
"Grand Entrances are always impractical." A distorted mimic of Lara's voice said, coming from the creature.
Lara rolled to the side, avoiding a second bolt from the shoulder mounted gun. She launched her self off the floor and onto her feet, securing the crystal in her backpack. The weapon on it's shoulder folded back, and the lights on the helmet turned off. The Warrior stanced, 2 sword like blades extended from devices mounted under its forearms. It sprinted at Lara with swift movement, a blade held horizontally for defense, and the other up high behind it, for the attack. Lara back flipped, avoiding the first attack, as she planted her feet, she saw the second attack already in motion, she reacted with a second back flip, the blade barely missing her legs, her back hit the wall behind her, a third attack was in motion! She ducked down, avoiding what could have taken her head off! From the crouch, she rolled forward between its open legs and ran for the exit, which the booby traps were still not working, and a new floor bridged the gap. She did not look behind herself. The Warrior watched her leave, and then it walked to the statue that was similar to itself, and carefully removed the blue crystal, shoning its laser sights through it, orange fire danced inside as it rattled in satisfaction.
****
Lara ran as fast as she could, not noticing none of the traps she'd set off previously weren't active at all. She couldn't believe what she'd just seen. An invisible monster was not her cup of tea. Lara neared the exit of the Pyramid, when she saw four men with guns jog up to the entrance. One pointed at her, and they opened fire! Lara moved aside, hiding behind one of the pillars.
"Geez Lara! I hate to say this but this don't look like one of your good days."
"You don't have to tell me, Zip." Lara said, drawing her handguns. "But these lads aren't invisible monsters. I can handle them."
Suddenly she heard screaming from the men. The gunfire stopped abruptly. She peered around the corner, and saw the air moving again, and the creature from before appeared!
"How the hell did it get there so fast?" Alister asked.
"Lara, I don't say this much, but maybe you should drop this little adventure." Zip said,
"Now Zip..." Lara began,
The creature knelt down to one of the mens corpses. She couldn't see what it was doing, but she hear snapping and ripping, and the creature ripped one of the mens head and spine off his body! Lara looked away, the sound of Alister's feet, and Zip grunting hard could be heard.
"...maybe that's not such a bad idea." Lara finished, looking back at the creature...which was already facing her, staring her down. Lara saw something shimmer on it, and saw the blue orb from the statue hanging from its belt. "It took the blue crystal."
Zip coughed "..It what?"
Lara backed away from the creature, aiming her handguns at it. The Creature didn't move, it just stared at her. The mans spine dripped blood on the stone slab beneath it's feet. Lara was scared, unsure of what to do. If it attacked her she'd feel a bit better, but instead it just stared at her, making a strange rattling sound from beneath its mask.
"Lara, give it the orb!" Zip said.
"Zip-"
"Lara, you can probably get it back later, just-"
The 3 laser beams from the helmet shone out, Lara didn't look at where they were pointing on her, but she could feel the heat from them. It was going up and down her body in quick motions, like it was scanning her. Before anything else could happen, she heard someone shouting from outside. The Predator creature turned it's head and looked outside. It pressed a series of buttons on its left gauntlet, and it vanished, right before her eyes.
"How did it..."
Suddenly she saw a pair of yellow eyes glow where it was standing, and they disappeared. The Air shimmered as it swiftly and quietly moved past her, deeper into the pyramid.
"FREEZE!" A deep voice from the entrance yelled. Lara looked and saw 6 men armed with assault rifles aimed at her. "Put down the guns and step toward us!"
Legend Killer
06-12-07, 17:06
Good story so far. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. :tmb:
*****
"I must say, dear Lara." Everette said. "I heard you were a killer, I just didn't know you were a savage!"
Lara was tied to a wooden chair, her equipment and backpack confiscated. "I did not kill your men." She said.
"Oh please Lara, don't think your reputation for killing Yeti's and bigfoots are going to make me believe, that some invisible monster shot, AND stabbed my men, and butchered them!" Everette said, getting into Lara's face. "How can you do something like that to your own country men?! HOW?!"
"I told you I didn't do it!" Lara said.
"Ms. Croft, My men are very, VERY upset. Most of my mercenaries are former Royal Marines, they're brothers. And I can assure you that they will take their revenge on you! I personally want to bring you back to England, so you can face the appropriate charges!"
"So you can become famous, yes, I know, Everette. You seem to be fixated on having your name written in the history books."
"Perhaps, But now that I know what you do to your competitors, I want everyone else to know!"
Suddenly someone outside the tent screamed. Everette stared at the tent opening. They could hear people chattering, and someone moaning in pain.
"So, apart my story, the fact I have no blood on me what soever to do something so grueling, and that someone else more than likely just got killed in your company, NOW do you believe me?" Lara asked.
"You and whoever else is out there will be punished! I promise you!" Everette said, leaving the tent.
Lara looked around the tent. There had to be so way to get out of this place. They took everything she had, and left nothing in the tent. Not even a table. Her feet were tied together as well. Only thing they didn't do was gag her, or perhaps they-
Suddenly Lara felt something cover her mouth, something very firm and strong! Like an enormous hand. She heard the crackling sound the Predator creature was making, She tried to scream, but it was too muffled by its invisible hand. Suddenly she felt something sharp and hot in her neck. The pain was intense! She felt blood run down her neck and onto her shirt. She wasn't sure but something felt like it was clamping into something into her neck. After it was done, she heard snapping sounds! She was scared, the thought she was being mutilated and she couldn't feel anything but whatever was in her neck!
Then the ropes around her fell to the ground.
The hand released her mouth, Lara sprang up to her feet and turned around. There was a tear in the tent wall behind the chair, but there was no shimmering air! It had left her. Lara put her hand on her neck, feeling something warm and metal embedded on her neck! She wasn't sure, but judging from position, it was clamped on an artery! If she pulled it, she'd bleed to death. Other than that, there was no damage-
Suddenly she felt a painful shocking feeling from the device, it was so intense it dropped her to her knees, and after a moment, the shock slowly went down to a steady vibration, the pain died along with it.
"I need to get my equipment back, Zip and Alister need to have a look at this."
****
Lara found sneaking through the camp easier than she anticipated. Everyone was investigating whatever happened earlier. She carefully checked the tents, looking for her equipment. She finally found her equipment in what appeared to be their armory. She turned on her ear piece and put it on.
"Zip, Alister, are you still there?"
"Lara!" Alister said, relief and joy in his voice." Are you alright?"
"I honestly don't know." Lara said, putting on her gun belt. "That creature snuck into the tent where they were keeping me, and he freed me, but perhaps at a price." Lara removed the headset and pointed the camera at her neck. When she put it back on she could hear Alister and Zip chattering. "The device hurt me for a short while after it was put on. I feel it vibrating all the time now, it gets stronger every once in a while, but not to the point where it hurts."
"I'm sure you already know it's right over an artery, right?" Alister said.
"Yes." Lara said, running her fingers around it, scratching off some of the dried blood on her neck.
"I have no idea what it is, but be careful Lara, he's got something implanted on a vital, he could kill you at anytime, maybe." Zip said.
Lara put on her backpack, and turned around...and the device on her neck vibrated harder and harder until felt shocking pain! She nearly keeled over from it. She looked up at the entrance of the tent, the Predator stood in front of her, uncloaked, but not posing a threat. It took the Blue Orb from it's belt and raised it up within Eye level with itself. Lara fought the pain and looked up at it.
"Lara, the Orb!" Zip exclaimed.
Lara reached into her backpack, her hand fell short. "I know this isn't a word I use much, but....****. They took the orb."
The Predator put the orb back on it's belt. Lara braced herself for an attack, but instead, the Predator pressed a button on it's gauntlet, and the pain in her neck stopped. Lara stared at it confused. It took her by the arm and picked her up on her feet. It led her outside the tent, and pointed at the largest tent.
"What's it doing?" Alister asked.
"I think...it's telling me where it is." Lara looked up at the Predator, the empty eyes of its helmet seemed fixed on her. "Why is it-"
The Predator released her arm and ran forward. It extended the sword like blades from its gauntlets and leapt up into the air, roaring loudly. Everette's men ran outside the tents, the Predator killed two in a swift motion, and killed a 3rd with eh shoulder mounted Plasma Caster. It then turned invisible and attacked more, becoming visible for a brief moment, drawing their fire.
"He's distracting them for me!" Lara said.
"Well, he'll either kill them all or they'll kill him, but I'd suggest getting that orb before either happen." Zip said.
"I agree." Lara drew her handguns. "Time to pay Everette a visit."
MadCroy101
07-12-07, 02:37
beautiful, i wish i was that creative i really am excited for the next part
Story is good :tmb: But I highly doubt that Lara - a true loner - could take those babbling baboons with her :p
Nice story so far. Will we have a flashback to where Karima gets sacrificed? :p Oh wait, that was AvP.
I think that this is quite an interesting crossover. Keep it up, I'd like to read the rest of it.
kryptonite23
07-12-07, 12:37
I like the story :tmb:
****
Everette paced back and forth in his air conditioned tent. He had a small television studio set up inside, but all his mercenaries where outside, fighting something, something that kept roaring, and it made him uneasy. He'd never fought anyone in his life, how could he stand up to an animal? The screams he heard weren't helping either. Someone was shot with a strange dart and bled to death less than half an hour ago, he didn't know what scared him more, the animal, a second competitor, or even-
"Freeze!"
Everette turned around, Lara Croft stood before him, pointing her guns at him.
"Ms. Croft! I should have known you murderous-"
"Where is the artifact?" Lara asked.
"I have no idea what you're talking about?" Everette said, putting his hands behind his back.
"Then what were you going to televise?" Lara asked, stepping toward him.
"I captured you, didn't I?" Everette said, being smug.
"And the one who's been killing your men, is outside. Where do you think he's coming next?" Lara said. "Tell me where the red orb you stole from my backpack went, and it will attack me instead of you."
"You're mad!"
"Would you rather find out for yourself? I'd be happy to just go home and hear about what happened later, but Assuming you're trousers aren't dry, I doubt your name will be on television for a good reason." Lara said.
Everette paused, stammered, and then finally said, "Alright fine!" He turned around and opened a small box that resembled a treasure chest. He pulled out the red Crystal orb, but before he could even turn to her, Lara was already there and snatched it from his hand. "You'll regret this Croft!" Everette said, stepping back.
"I regret everything." Lara replied, before turning and jogging out the tent.
****
"Your friend still busy?" Zip asked.
"Maybe, but I think this would be the best time to go back inside the pyramid. I want to know what those orbs are, and why is this thing toying with me." Lara said, jogging around the Pyramid back toward the entrance.
"By the way Lara, you noticed it's been getting cooler lately?" Zip said.
"Now that you've mentioned it." Lara said, glancing up at the Blue fire. The Fire wasn't as large as before. "What's happening?"
"I don't know, I checked the satilight feeds and noticed the fire going down, and the temperature's gone down a little bit." Zip said. "I'm betting that has something to do with your new friend."
"Perhaps, but we're soon going to find out."
****
The first place she stopped to read hieroglyphics was the entrance again, she found nothing of interest, just the same "Only the Chosen may compete." As she progressed inside, she found more. This time it provided useful information.
"It says that creature is infact one of their gods. They came from the skies and taut them to build." Lara said after studying the hieroglyphics. "Some of their structures were used for a Rite of Passage ritual, were 7 people were sacrificed to bring about 7 black serpent-like creatures, where the youth gods would fight them, to become men."
"Sounds like a bad movie." Zip said.
"Well not a bad movie, just one that's-" Alister started.
"This structure, however is for a potential god for the gods, as the early civvies put it. The god would chose an opponent, one with considerable skills...and they would compete withing this pyramid's trials, in which the two opponents must work together, as well as fight one another."
"That's a weird oxy moron." Zip said.
"Least this is starting to make sense...Lara remember when you showed us that device on your neck?"
"Yes?"
"Well, It has a symbol on it. One I recognized from the entrance. I'm not sure, but judging from 'Only the Chosen May Enter', The device on your neck has the symbol for Chosen on it." Alister said.
"Splendid. I've always wanted to be picked for something big." Lara said, continuing to read the hieroglyphics.
"So how does this game end?"
"It ends when the fire above has gone out. The new God must retrieve an artifact that represents himself as a new ruler. The competing human may also retrieve the artifact to become the leader of the human tribes. However, if that happens, the God will be put to death by his own kind."
"Hmph, no skin off our bones." Alister said. "No pun intended."
"So what happens to you if he wins?" Zip asked.
Lara began to read again, but suddenly the device on her neck shocked her again, the searing pain caused her to move away from the plaque, and backed up into something firm, and warm. She turned around, and saw the Predator creature again! She stepped back, clamping her hand over the device in her neck. The Predator stared at her for a moment, and pressed a button on it's gauntlet, again the pain stopped. The Predator pointed down the hall to his right, deeper into the pyramid, toward where they found the crystal earlier.
"I guess he wants to get the show on the road, Lara." Zip said.
"It's fine by me Zip." Lara said, walking in the direction he pointed. This time, the Predator walked along side her.
****
Minutes later, they'd returned to the chamber where they found the crystals. The Predator stopped at the door, being careful, Lara did too. The Predator stared up at the ceiling, from what Lara could see it was covered with spikes, or stalagtights. The Predator moved along his left side to a section of the wall that had a small cavity. It reached inside. Something mechanical snapped inside, and instantly, the room was illuminated. Lara looked up and saw the tips of all the spikes above were glowing. Some where closer to the floor than others.
"I recognize the pattern!" Alister said. "Toward the right, it's Orion, the constellation!"
"A Star room huh?" Zip said.
"It's quite impressive." Lara said. She looked at the Predator, which was holding the blue crystal from earlier. The Crystal was glowing. Lara reached in her backpack and pulled out the one she had. In the light, the Crystal began to glow as well.
The Predator approached the broken stature and raised up his crystal, bowing his head as he did. The Crystal in his hand glowed brightly. Lara watched him for a moment. The Predator didn't move, with the exception of breathing. Lara walked over to the Statue that resembled the Predator. She looked at the Predator behind it, copying his pose as much as possible. She raised up the red crystal to the hands of the statue and bowed her head. Even though she wasn't looking, she could tell the crystal in her hand was glowing just as bright as the other. Within moments, she heard the familiar sound of stone sliding. She looked toward the source of the sound, and saw a secret door opening. The Predator took a step back, still bowing his head, and raised it as he lowered his arms. Lara did the same. They both walked into the secret chamber. In Lara's amazement, it was a grand hallway, lit by small torches along the walls. Statues on both sides, both Predator and Human, all with outstretched arms and bowls. In each bowl was a weapon. In most of the human bowls were stone knives and segments of spears and arrows. The Predator bowls had weapons such as things that resembled a common handgun, weapons like the Predators shoulder cannon, swords, knives, and other strange devices.
"This is absolutely fabulous Lara!" Alister said.
"That thought came across my mind too Alister." Lara said softly.
She and the Predator walked along the statues until the Predator stopped at a statue. Lara saw there was nothing in the statues bowl. Looking to her side there was nothing in that statues bowl either. The Predator reached for a small device on its hip that almost looked like a circular belt buckle. It pressed a button on its side, and instantly 8 long blades snapped forward, forming an enormous shuriken! The Predator retracted the blades, and gently set it into the bowl, bowing its head to the statue. It turned to Lara and watched. Lara turned to the statue on her side. She couldn't give up her handguns, she knew she was going to need them. She reached on her gunbelt and unclipped a Magazine from it.
"Whoa, you sure you won't need that?" Zip asked.
"To be honest, no, but I'd like to show my respect to this creature, and the tradition in this pyramid." Lara said, gently placing the magazine into the bowl, and respectfully bowing to the statue.
The Predator made the strange rattling sound from under its helmet, and continued down the hallway, Lara followed. They finally came to the end of the hall, which a pair of doors, and a strange looking device sat in the middle of the room. The Predator stood at one side, Lara stood on the other. The Predator held out the crystal, a light from above illuminated it. Lara copied him, and the same happened. The Predator then repositioned his hands behind the crystal, Lara quickly did the same. The Predator held his crystal over the side of the tallest part of the device between them, which was at shoulder level with Lara, so she did the same. The Predator pushed his crystal into hers, at first Lara didn't understand, but she saw something happening where they were touching. So she pushed back. And before her eyes, the two crystals seemed to almost liquefy, and merged into a single crystal, and glowed a bright gold color!
"This is amazing!" Lara said softly.
The Predator lowered the new crystal downward, Lara did with him. The Crystal fit perfectly into the device. They took their hands away, and a series of blades snapped upward, and four of them covered parts of the crystal and connected at the top. The Blades below sank away, revealing a mantle. Lara looked at the Predator, she wasn't sure because of its mask, but she had the feeling it was staring at it the same way she was.
"That was pretty cool!!!" Zip said, excitement in his voice. "So...now what?"
The Predator lifted it off the device, and aloud Lara to place her hands on the other side. They both took it to a cavity between to two doors. They both gently set it inside and stepped back. The Mantle glowed brightly and slowly sank down. The Predator moved to the door nearest him, and pointed at the other. Lara did as what she believed he was telling her. The Predator faced his door, seemingly focused on whatever was behind it.
"Lads, I know this probably isn't the best time, but I believe I need a clear head for this part. No distractions please." Lara said.
"Good Luck." Alister and Zip said.
Lara looked up toward the stone door. She heard mechanical clicking sounds. Within a few minutes, the doors lifted, and the Predator sprinted forward! Lara did the same.
The Trial had begun...
To Lara's surprise, the first step in was a steep drop, but the floor leveled quickly. She glanced to her side. There were bars between them but she could see the Predator was already ahead of her. Ahead of them was a very long jump, the Predator leaped over it with ease. Lara leap forward and used her grapple to catch a metal decoration above her and use it to swing across. As she continued to run, she noticed the Predator was purposely slowing down. She looked ahead to see a wall of spikes in front of her! She was about to slow down when she noticed the Predator was watching his speed with hers. She was confused, but continued to run on. She saw part of the floor ahead of him was different. She instant his foot landed on it, the wall fo spikes she was a second about to impale on, folded back into the floor! After she crossed, the panal he was running on ended, and the spike wall lifted back into place behind her. She noticed the same trap was in front of him, and the same pressure pad. As she crossed it, again, the trap went down just in th e nick of time,and reseted as she stepped off with him right next to her.
With the rules of this trial in mind, she knew she'd have no trouble. She noticed that they were going upward now. They had more counter balancing traps, some were complexed, She began to wear out and slowed, the predators thigh armor saved him from having a bad gash from the folding trap. when the trial tunnel stopped steeping upward, it began to wind, the fence between the two had stopped behind them. Now the Predator ran closely next to her. Up ahead was a set of the classic swinging pendelems, which they both avoided with ease. But then they came toward another spike wall, and this time there were no pressure pads. Suddenly the Predator got behind Lara, tossed her up and held her like she was nothing more than a bowl of soup, and then he proceeded to throw her upward like a basket ball!!! As she flew up, screaming, she saw what he wanted her to do. There was a hook dangling on a rope. She grabbed it just as she started back down. The Grates mechanisms turned and lifted, she was practically on the ground again when the predator picked her up as he was passing, leaping over the unfolding spikes under him!
"I know your kind uses us for sport, but that was ridiculous!" Lara said out loud.
The Predator set her back on her feet, and they began to run again. Ahead was a heavy gate, and the floor leading to it methodically opened and closed. They waited for a moment before the Predator leaped it, placing his feet to the sides, they had barely any room with the floor opening behind them. It then grunted and snarled and it lifted the heavy gate up over its head and took a step in, holding it for Lara as she made it across. They continued through, and Lara saw what appeared to be the final test, another long jump, except this 1 was twice as long as the first. The Predator looked down at Lara beside him, she produced her grapple and pulled some of the cord, readying it. The Predator picked her up again, sprinting as fast as it could, it leapt far, but despite this, it wasn't far enough. Lara through her grapple at another decoration, which it caught, the Predator grasped the cord, and they both swung to the end!
"Remind me to upgrade my gym." Lara said, tapping at the headset.
"Will do Lara, that was awesome by the way!" Zip said.
The Predator walked forward, Lara followed. They entered a large cone shaped room with a flat ceiling. Lara knew she could be wrong, but she guessed they were at the top of the pyramid. The Predator continued forward, Lara stopped when she heard a heavy gate crash behind her, blocking her from going back through the trial halls. The Predator stood near a small cavity in the center of the floor. The cavity began to glow, and then slowly, the Gold Crystal Mantle rose upward with a stone pillar raising it upward. As it did, the ceiling spread apart, and the bowl with the blue fire sank down on chains, Lara saw the fire had died down to a yellow toned flame, the hole where the bowl was remained open, a starlit night sky was visible. The ceremony was almost over.
"So....now what?" Zip asked.
"Now...we play for keeps." Lara said, looking at the Predator, who just turned to her.
Slowly, the Predator raised a hand up, and pulled off a pair of cords attached to the helmet, and then reached onto its back, removing the shoulder mounted gun and backpack, throwing it to the side of the room. It then pulled at a pair of cords under the helmet, and then used both hands, to slowly remove the helmet from its face. It tossed it aside with the plasma caster. Lara gasped looking at it's face. four mandibles surrounded its mouth, its eyes were in deep sockets, and its large forward was decorated with scars, the one centered between the eyes was the most noticeable. The Predator snarled, its mandibles parted for a brief moment.
"That..." Zip said. "..is one ugly...motha-"
The Predator roared aloud, stancing at Lara, whom instantly drew her guns.
"Zip, please." Lara said.
"Shutting up now."
The Predator started toward her slowly. Lara slowly moved to her left, getting ready to strafe. The Predator started for a second, causing Lara to flinch, in which it capitalized to charge at her roaring loudly! Lara opened fire with both handguns, to her amazement, the Predator was deflecting any shots that got near its face and head, and taking the rest without even flinching! Lara ducked and rolled, avoiding its attempt at clotheslining her! But as she stood, it used the same arm to back hand her in the stomach, hard! She flew several yards before hitting the floor and rolling back on her feet. It was VERY strong. Lara noticed green glowing liquid running down its body, as it turned to face her she saw it was coming from the wounds!
"You're a tough bugger, I'll give you that." Lara muttered.
The Predator reached for a device on the back of its belt, at first it looked like a dish, but with cavities along the sides, which the Predator fit its fingers through, then it opened it, not only changing the shape, but along the edges, black blades, with pulsing Red edges sprang out! It threw the disk at her, in which Lara avoided with ease. She watched it ricochet off the walls, and come back at her! She avoided it again, this time the disk came back to the Predator, whom caught it with ease! The Predators upper mandibles parted for a moment. If Lara could guess, it just smiled! The Predator put away the disk, spread its arms apart, and the sword like blades extended from under the gauntlets! Lara smirked, ejecting the empty magazines from her handguns and clipping in fresh ones from her gun belt. The Predator started toward her, and she toward it. She fired as rapidly as she could, again the Predator protecting its face, but taking what its armor didn't protect, and again it tried to clothes line her, except with the blade on its arm, Lara slide under the attack and while laying on her back, fired at the Predator from behind! The Predators armor protected most of its upper torso, but the lower began to ooze the green blood as the red of the wounds did. The Predator continued to sprint in the direction it was going, running up the way, back flipping with a twist, and landing over Lara with her between its legs! Lara lifted herself up, barely avoiding the arm blade going down to impale her! She got to her feet and rolled forward, avoiding the second attack! And as she landed on her feet this time, the Predator pulled out both blades and spun at her, aiming for her ankles! But thanks to her agility she leapt up, avoiding the attack, and as she was coming back down, she tucked her legs in, and mule kicked the Predator in the face! It stepped back as she landed and turned to it, aiming her guns, seeing she was already out of ammo for both. The Predator had its head raised up still, it slowly lowered it to eye level, flexing its mandibles, it seemed to smile again. The Predator then rear its arms back, leapt straight up with its blades up high! Lara jumped back, ejecting the clips from her guns and avoiding the swords as they hit the floor with a loud CLANG!!! But before she could reload, the Predator stepped at her again, swinging her blades at her again, she moved back, and avoided them as it skillfully twisted and added attack after attack, until she finally hit the wall the Predator pulled its arm back and thrusted its sword straight at her head! She tilted it to the side, avoiding it, but then she noticed what looked like two tiny blades resiting on the upper section of the gauntlet on its arm, taking no chances, Lara ducked down, avoiding the wrist blades as they extended forward into he wall!
"Sneaky." Lara said. Lara rolled to the side, avoiding the other arm swinging at her! Lara moved away from the Predator, finally reloading her guns. The Predator stanced at her again, this time it spread its arms out long, and with a simple twist of its hands the swords entire devices dropped from its arms and clattered to the floor, it then raised its wristblades up near its face, looking at Lara through the space between them, rattling its mandibles.
Lara fired at its face again as she moved back, and again it blocked all the bullets coming at its face, this time, it purposely waiting for her guns to empty, once the slides went back, it reached behind itself and threw a small septar, that as it flew, extended into a long spear! Lara back flipped, seeing every design and detail as it passed over her! The Spear stuck in the wall behind her.
Lara ejected the clips from her handguns and reached down to her belt to reload...but only one clip received a magazine.
"This is going to count." Lara said, holstering her empty handgun.
The Predator snarled, starting toward her, but then it stopped... and paused. It turned around, and suddenly a shot rang out, the Predator had a large whole blow out its back, it screamed in pain as it fell back to the floor!
"That was for ruining my trip!" Everette called down from the whol above, a smoking 223. bolt action in his hands.
"Everette! What are you doing?" Lara called up.
"I'm taking what good I can from this expedition." Everette threw down a rope, and began to repel down. Lara turned her attention to the Predator, it was shot in the chest where its skin was exposed. It slowly sat up and snarled at Everette, whom was leveled with the Crystal Mantle, which still glowed. "This will provide as an excellent trophy!" Everette said, reaching for it.
Lara aimed her handgun at him. "Lay one finger on it, and It will be the last thing you ever do!"
"Oh Lara, so tough. But you have no clear shot, and besides, you want to risk this valuable artifact to hit the floor? I'd believe that to be unwise." In that moment, Everette grabbed the side of the mantle. "Pull me up, NOW!" Everette called up. Methodically, he was being pulled back up to the whole above them.
Despite how Lara hated the idea he was going to get away, he was right. She couldn't risk damaging it. But then, the Predator stood up.
"You're a tough Bugger, I'll give you that." The Predator spoke roughly.
The Predator approached Lara and knelt down, tapping its shoulder. Lara knew what it wanted, and just hoped it would be a good idea. She sat down and wrapped her arm around its neck. The Predator leapt up as high as it could, coming short of the top of the pillar where the mantle was, but it grasped the side, digging its claws into the stone, it climbed to the top, just as Everette was about to reach the hole. It leapt up again, grappling the edge of the fire bowl, and using its one arm to vault its way high into the air, through the whole, and landing on the edge of the hole itself. It turned around, letting Lara off its shoulder. Everette was just getting to his feet as he turned to face them.
"Kill that creature, and bring me its head!" Everette called out to the men behind him! The Predator ran around the circular hole, toward the group, but just as the men behind Everette began to open fire, Lara carefully fired at the men, aiming for vitals. The Last of the men tried to shoot her, but she reacted faster, emptying her clip...
Everette backed away from the predator as it approached him, snarling. Everette held the Mantle outward, catching the Predators attention. "Come close rand I'll drop it! I swear I-"
He didn't finish the sentence, the Predator reacted it lightning speed, grabbing him by his neck and lifting him up! Everette gaged in pain, but used a strong effort to throw the mantle toward the fire in the open hole! The Predators expression turned to shock as it watched the Gold Crystal Mantle plunge down toward the fire...to be caught by Lara's grapple, and yanked back up into her hands, she cradled it with care and respect, looking at the Predator.
The Predator slowly turned its head back to Everette, whom was whimpering. It roared angrily in his face, raising him up high, Everette screamed loudly, barely audible over the Predators roar. It then tossed him down like a rag doll...into the fire of the ceremonial bowl. he screamed in agony as he was burned alive, until he finally went silent.
The Predator stared down at the fire, victoriously. Lara slowly approached it with the glowing Crystal mantle in her hands. She held it out for him to take it. It did, staring at it for a long moment, before looking back at her. It bowed its head to her, in which she returned. The Predator turned toward the fire again, lifted the mantle high above its head, and roared loudly, as the fire below him faded and burned out...
The Predator lowered the Mantle and stared at it, not looking up when suddenly all the air around them seemed to move, and with a second, the moving air around them solidified into over a dozen other Predators! Lara gasped in shock, all of them wore armor similar to him, and different face masks. Only one did not wear a mask, it seemed much older than all the others, featuring blue dreadlocks instead of black. It approached the blood soaked Predator, which knelt to him, presenting the mantle. The Elder took the mantle carefully and looked at it. The Elder bowed to him, moving away. 3 Predators approached the victorious predator from behind, bringing him his weapons and helmet.
But then, the Elder turned to Lara, pointed, and spoke a strange language. The Predators around her grabbed her by her arms and restrained her, she watched as the rest of the Predators extended long spears, and approached her! They raised them up, and just as they were about to deliver the fatal blow, the Victorious Predator stood in front of her, barking at them in their language. The Elder protested, the two seemed to argue, but the Elder fell silent as the other spoke to him, the other turned back to Lara. It got down on one knee, and bowed to her. Slowly, the rest did as well.
The Predator then stood up and spoke, "For your respect...and courage...and Honor..." The Predator reached behind itself, and produced a device, just like the one it set in the offering bowl, and handed it to Lara.
Lara smiled and bowed again. "Thank you."
The Predator nodded its head, He then produced another device from his wrist computer, it looked simular to pliers. The Predator reached over and used the device to carefully remove the one he implanted in her neck, the prongs that were clamped on the artery released it and slide out the wound. The Predator put away the devices, and then turned to the others, putting its helmet back on its face, it spoke aloud in their language for a few minutes, which gloriously ended with an enormous ship appearing out of nowhere in the sky, a ramp lowered down to them, and they all entered, the new leader last, giving Lara one last look, before walking inside, and the ship leaving earth, back into the heavens.
Lara stared upward for a long time. She smiled.
"That was really weird..." Zip said.
"Yes, I agree with him on that." Alister said. "Should we...?"
"No Alister...The Jungle will reclaim this pyramid in time, along with all the evidence of what happened tonight."
"Maybe." Zip said.
Lara shook her head. "Well...I'd say that's the end of this adventure...I'm coming home Lads..."
The End.
I'd like to thank you guys for your comments, they were at least letting me know I was doing better than I thought I was!:D
I actually wrote a Lara Vs. Predator fan fic a long time ago, but when I reread it recently I didn't like it. It was too inaccurate and unlikely, but it did make it to AVPplanet.com's front pages, and their polls (You wouldn't like the results on who that community thought would win.)
I plan to write another fan fic soon, doubtful it'll b another cross over though, but I wanted to do this 1 for a while now, since I've loved Predator since I was 6, and Lara since the first game!
Thanks again guys, u got any questions, just post 'em and ask!
Legend Killer
10-12-07, 17:11
Well done! :tmb:
I had a sneaking suspicion that they'd end up working together in the end. ;)
Well, at first I was going to have it so that the Predator died after Everette shot it, but I'm tired of seeing and reading about Preds dying all the time.
Sides, I was pretty fond of this 1, I based him mostly off Celtic Predator from AVP (He was wearing the same mask.) but I pictured him with a bronze colored armor, like P2.
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