THE RETURN TO THE LOST ISLAND ================================ PROLOGUE -------------------- Lara walked among the Roman exhibition, looking at all of the rust encrusted pottery. Interesting, but all the same, she preferred a little action. She smiled as she saw something she found a little more her scene. In a cabinet were ancient weapons, including swords, shields and spears. Lara looked a little out of place in the exhibition. Most of the people there were scholars or historians, and a pretty young girl dressed in jeans and a T-shirt certainly didn't match the standards of the other people. She didn't care much though, she had never really cared much about what people thought of her ever since she had discovered the care free life of an adventurer, and her family had disowned her. "Boo!" said a voice from behind her. Sean, Chris, and somebody else who she didn't recognise, stood behind her, with grins on their faces. Lara turned and reached up to hug Sean and Chris, and the unknown character raised his hand in order to introduce himself to Lara. "This is Matthew Anderson," said Chris to Lara. Matt and Lara shook hands. "Pleased to meet you," said Matt. "And you," said Lara in response. "Matt and I are old friends," said Sean. "I found him at a shooting range a few weeks ago, and was impressed. I thought you and him would want to meet." "What are you doing here, anyway?" asked Chris to Lara. "Just looking around really. I haven't seen much action for a while, and have spent the last couple of months going to exhibitions like this," replied Lara with a hint of boredom in her voice. "Why are you here?" she asked. "A couple of reasons really. Firstly, we fancied a little look at this exhibition, and for you to meet Matt, and also for one other reason. The Lost Island." "You found it?" she asked excitedly. Sean and Chris nodded. Lara had asked them a few months ago just after her visit to see if they could find the Lost Island again, as she wanted to prove her findings of the animals, and besides that, it would make an excellent adventure journal. "Matt hacked into the Crystal Corporation's computer systems," explained Sean. "It turns out Michelle Tyford is very much alive and kicking, and I happened to stumble across the exact location of the Lost Island," said Matt, with a slight grin on his face, impressed with his ability. "Matt here is not only a pretty good shot, but is also pretty good with computers," said Chris. "When will you be ready to go? I have a private helicopter on standby any time this week," said Sean. "Matt knows the pilot." "How about tomorrow?" asked Lara. "We'd better get packing then!" said Sean, leading them out of the exhibition. ONE - FLIGHT ----------------------- Michelle Tyford walked out of the research laboratory, shaking her head and frowning. Yet another faulty piece of equipment had been found. It wasn't any wonder that Natla Technologies had always been ahead of the Crystal Corporation. They had been enemies for years, and their competition was legendary in the business. It had to be said though, Natla Technologies did make a lot more efficient equipment. Tyford thought it might be because she was being too lenient with her workers. She had actually felt like shooting one of them when they had told her they had failed, again! Her scientists had studied the construction and tested everything out in simulations, but somehow these things still came out wrong. Tyford was just about to sit down when one of her researchers walked in. "If this is about another piece of faulty equipment...." "No Ms. Tyford," started the nervous man. "I have news concerning Lara Croft." When Lara's name was mentioned, Tyford calmed down and took more of an interest. "Do continue," she said. "A certain Matthew Anderson hacked into our systems last week. They have discovered the location of the Lost Island." Tyford smiled. "Send out best team over there, and find Lara and anybody else with her. Tighten the security systems, we need to make sure that they don't find out any more about the Crystal Corporation or the Lost Island. I am going with the team to the Lost Island. I want Lara Croft dead." Lara, Matt, Sean and Chris piled into the helicopter, and did up their seat belts. "How long will it take to get there, do you think?" asked Lara to Tom Jacobson, the pilot. "I'm not quite sure," Tom said, trying to get comfortable in the pilot seat. "Maybe about three or four hours." Lara sighed. It was going to be a long flight, and she wasn't even sure if the information was correct, but she was still a little excited. She knew that the unknown animals she had discovered, as well as the dinosaurs would prove very interesting to the people of the world. Lara had still taken precautions though, as well as taking her camera to get evidence of the creatures, she had also taken her guns. Three and a half hours later, they were nearing the Lost Island. Matt took off his sunglasses, and leaned forward. "Pretty impressive, don't you think?" he said. Lara nodded. "Just wait until you see the animals...." TWO - DANGEROUS RESEARCH -------------------------------------------------------- The helicopter blades slowed, and the five intrepid explorers stepped out onto the island. "Grab your guns," said Lara, instinctively checking her holsters to make sure her guns were still there. Matt jumped down holding a powerful hunting rifle, fully equipped with a scope and advanced sights. Sean also had one, and Tom and Chris just had simple, but still effective all the same, pistols. Lara had her weapons of choice: twin Magnums. Lara put on her sunglasses to protect her eyes in the blazing heat, and led them forward, into the jungle. Seconds later they were surrounded in the intense humidity of the dense jungle, and surrounded by unknown fascinating unknown plants. "Wow! Take a look at this!" said Chris stepping over and pushing his spectacles up before kneeling down to examine the plant. It was a huge black plant with white speckles at the base, and was nearly five feet tall. Lara felt quite small compared to the huge plant. Chris reached over to touch the amazing plant, and Lara grabbed his arm and pulled it back to save him. The huge flower created a bed of spikes, and snapped shut at an amazing speed like a man trap. Chris's arm would have been completely cut off. "Thanks," Chris stammered, shocked. "Looks like they beat us to it," said John Kitts, the Captain of Tyford's boat. They were just nearing the island, and could see Lara's helicopter on the beach. Tyford walked into the control room, and looked out of the window. She wore clothes not too dissimilar to Lara's usual gear. Tyford put her sunglasses on as she looked at the island. "Get the guns ready, and make sure we have enough supplies. Prep the jeeps, and make sure there's enough petrol. It's time to find Miss Croft, gentlemen. And remember, it's not just Lara and her friends we have to watch for. If you're not careful you'll be mauled to death by one of the strange beasts on the Island. Believe me, we're going to need the guns." "What the hell is that noise?" asked Matt, raising his rifle and looking around the jungle. There was a low rumbling sound, and then the sound of a chorus of primeval roars. "Watch your backs," whispered Lara, before stepping forward, her Magnums held tightly in her hands. She led them out into a clearing. "I don't like this one little bit," said Tom, nervously clutching his pistol. He felt quite intimidated. "You're not the only one," said Chris. He didn't feel great with his pistol either. "Don't look now, but there's a load of really big unfriendly looking lizard things in front of us," said Matt. Out of the bushes on the other side of the clearing were six lizard beasts, just like the ones Lara had encountered. These ones were a lot bigger, more muscular, and had small crests around their necks. They were also an even deadlier shade of red than the last beast Lara had encountered. They growled and moved forward, their thin yellow eyes glaring at Lara and her friends. "D'you think they'll just ignore us if we leave them alone?" whispered Sean. "Yeah, I wish," said Matt, raising his rifle. The beasts then all leant back, preparing to pounce, just like cats. Matt fired a shot, and hit one of the beast's legs, completely blowing it off. The others pounced, and Matt fired again at the same beast, killing it completely. Lara back-flipped and fired a series of blasts at one of the beasts. It roared in pain, and lunged at her. She quickly ducked, and rolled before finishing it off with another round of shots at point blank range. It fell down to the floor with a heavy thud. Meanwhile, Sean and Chris were also busy. One of the beasts jumped and pinned Chris to a tree, and it was up to Sean to save him. Sean raised his rifle, and shot at the beast's head, sending it flying back with the blast. Tom and Matt had just shot another beast together, and now there were only three left. Two walked slowly in towards Lara and Tom. Tom shot at one, and the other pounced at him, tearing at his torso with huge claws. Tom screamed out in pain, and Lara shot the beast at point blank range in the head, stopping it from doing Tom any more damage. Matt then turned and shot the other beast surrounding Lara with his rifle. It hit it's back, and it fell to the ground, unable to do anything. The last beast lunged at Tom, seeing him weakened. Chris and Sean shot at it, creating fountains of blood from it's stomach, and killing it almost instantly. Lara helped Tom up, and looked at his wound. She took off his shirt, and looked closer. "It looks worse than it is, don't worry. How do you feel?" "Like shit," said Tom, getting to his feet and staggering on. THREE - CAMP -------------------------- Jim Selleck stared into the computer screen in the back of one of the jeeps, It showed in green lines, a map of the Lost Island. He then saw what he was looking for. "Ms Tyford!" he shouted. "We've found the location of five people! One of them must be Lara Croft!" Tyford walked across to the jeep. "Good," she said. "Take us there now." Tom sat on the log, his leg aching, and stared into the fire. Lara, Matt, Sean and Chris sat on other logs, and Sean was piling more wood onto the fire. They had decided to keep watch in the night, but none of them could get to sleep, partly through excitement and partly through fear. Lara sat and looked through the photos she had taken of the dead lizard beasts. She was pleased with herself, but was also quite worried. It was cold, and she felt quite alone on the Island. She felt as though there was nobody around for miles, and no way of protection from the unknown beasts apart from their guns. Lara shivered, and sat up. "Are you okay?" asked Sean. Lara nodded. "Just a little bit cold," she said. Sean then took his sweater off and gave it to Lara. She put it on, and was just feeling safer and warmer when she heard the sound of an engine. "What's that?" she said, picking up her gun belt, strapping it on and walking to where she heard the noise. "Looks like we aren't the only ones interested in the Lost Island," said Sean, picking up his rifle, and walking to where Lara stood. Chris and Matt got their guns and did the same. Into the clearing where they had put up camp came two safari jeeps. "Michelle Tyford," said Lara. Tyford got out of the lead jeep. "Good evening Lara," she said. "It's early morning," said Lara. She was right, it had just gone midnight. "I don't care, but what I do care about is ridding the world of you, and your friends. After the death of my husband, and your friend Mr Anderson hacking into our security systems, I can't risk to have you alive." Tyford, and all nine of her 'associates' raised their hunting rifles, which were similar to Matt's and Sean's, and aimed them at Lara. "It's time to say goodbye Lara," Tyford said in a sinister, yet deadly serious way. She then aimed carefully, and fired. Her shot went right off target when she heard it. Two or even three great bellowing roars. "That's not good is it?" asked Matt. Even Tyford and her men were startled, and now she no longer had her rifle aimed at Lara - she was more concerned on the creatures she had just heard. The trees shook, looking as they were shivering in terror themselves. There was a short period of silence. Then they attacked. "Oh shit…" said Chris. Tom hobbled back, and fell. He couldn't move, he was frozen in terror. Three huge dinosaurs stepped into the clearing, their heads taller than the trees - they were at least twice the size of any Tyrannosaurus Rex. "Gigantosaurus Carolinni," said Lara, half amazed and half shocked in seeing them. One stepped forward, leant down slightly and bellowed a deafening roar. "Let's get the hell out of here!" shouted John Kitts, turning away and running. Immediately one of the Gigantosaurus' chased after him. Lara, Sean, Matt and Chris dodged the running dinosaur, but Tom wasn't so lucky. One of the dinosaurs bent down and picked him up as they ran. It mauled him about, and he screamed. The dinosaur jerked it's neck up, and Tom fell into it's huge mouth. It crunched every bone in his body, and then swallowed him whole. Meanwhile, the other two dinosaurs were chasing Lara and her friends and Tyford and her men. Tyford's men had just set off in their jeeps, but Lara was making it faster on foot on the rough forest terrain they were in. They Gigantosaurus' weren't as fast as the Tyrannosaurus Rex's, but they had larger strides as they were much bigger, and there teeth were twice the size of it's smaller cousin. One of the Gigantosaurus' speeded up, and reached into the jeep behind Lara, and picked out the driver and a couple of the other men. The two remaining men jumped out, completely panic stricken. They were soon killed by the Gigantosaurus'. It was a good job Lara knew when to keep calm and when to do the right things. She knew the terrain was better a little further up, and the jeep was empty. "Quick, Matt, Chris, Sean! In the jeep!" she shouted, leaping over into the driver's side. The Gigantosaurus was busy devouring the last passengers, but the other one was catching up to the jeep. Matt, Chris and Sean piled into the jeep, and Lara hit the accelerator. The jeep sped forward, the two Gigantosaurus' in close pursuit. The other dinosaur was ahead, chasing Tyford's jeep. Matt and Sean sat in the back of the jeep, and they aimed their rifles at the chasing dinosaurs behind. They fired, and hit the dinosaurs. Blood spurted from the wounds, and they slowed down to roar out in anger and pain. They then gave chase again, this time even faster in their rage. "We need more speed!!!" shouted Chris to Lara. She then drove even faster, and the ride was more bumpy than ever. Matt and Sean both had trouble aiming, but they both took their time and aimed at the same Gigantosaurus' head, where the brains would be. They fired, and scored direct hits. The Gigantosaurus roared one last time before falling to the ground with a loud thump. Matt and Sean shot the other dinosaur a few more times before it slowed and decided to give up on them. There was no sign of the other dinosaur, or Tyford's jeep. "We made it!" said Chris with a sigh of relief as the jeep sped onwards towards the beach. "Let's just get the hell out of here," he said. EPILOGUE ------------------ Lara stood and stared at the wrecked jeep before them. It looked as though the last Gigantosaurus had found Tyford, and Lara was almost one hundred percent sure that Tyford couldn't have survived that. Lara took a few photos of the area, and of the wrecked jeep before setting off towards the beach again. It was nearly dawn and they were all very tired and exhausted. Lara drove onwards, as they listened to the primeval calls of the creatures of the Lost Island. Lara slowed the jeep as they came out onto the beach. It finally stopped, and they bailed out and walked to the helicopter. It looked a little battered, Lara presumed that some creatures had investigated the vehicle, but sure enough, it still worked. Lara knew how to pilot the helicopters, she had been on a crash course years ago, and although she was a little rusty, she still knew the basics, and knew how to fly them back, away from the island. "I don't think we'll be returning back here for a while," she said as she started the helicopter blades. It looked as though the others all agreed, although they said nothing but stare at the sea as Lara lifted up the helicopter and flew off.