Chapter One
Change of Plan

For most people, getting into the car after a hard day's work was a relief. The day was over, and they were ready to go home and relax. For Chloe Frazer, it was never like that. That may have had something to do with what her job was.

Shifting the van into gear, the dark-haired getaway driver crept quietly along the road to the rendezvous point. Once there, she switched off her headlights and waited. Things had gone perfectly on her end. All she had to do now was pick up the other two and this heist would be a success. She had observed their entry into the tower through her binoculars. She had not been able to stick around long enough to see them exit, but she wasn't worried. After all, Drake had said that they wouldn't make any mistakes.

After a few moments, Chloe heard something like a distant wailing. She could not pinpoint it at first. It sounded like….

"An alarm," she deduced after a moment. "Shit."

A few seconds later, she spotted one person running toward her. One. Not two. Opening the door on the van, she switched the headlights back on and shifted into gear. Flynn clambered in a moment later.

"And just where in the hell is Nate?" she demanded after the door was shut.

"What, you mean I'm not good enough for you?" Flynn replied with a smirk. She glared, and he turned more serious. "He's not coming."

"Does it have something to do with that alarm?"

He nodded. "Yes. Now drive or we're next."

Chloe floored it. She didn't want to leave Nate behind, but there was no sense in getting all of them captured. They could just break him out later once they found out where he was. Looking over at Flynn, she realized what he was carrying in his right hand.

"Where did you get a Desert Eagle?"

"Oh, this?" He held it up and shook it a bit. "I had it commissioned, actually. Same fellow who made Eddy Raja's gun. I didn't go for the gold plating, though. Too eccentric."

She glared. "I mean, why didn't you mention you had it earlier?"

"Well I didn't want to give Drake the wrong idea," he answered, stuffing the gun in his backpack, which he had just removed. "He didn't want to kill anybody."

"He didn't want to attract any unnecessary attention," she corrected, turning hard at the intersection they had just reached. The van skidded a little but they stayed upright. "There's a difference. He's actually killed quite a lot of people."

Flynn raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Well, it was all self-defense. He's not a cold-blooded murderer like our client."

"Real one man army, isn't he?"

Chloe laughed. "You could say that." A thought suddenly struck her and she almost slammed on the brakes. She stopped herself, because that would be silly. This wasn't some dramatic scene in a movie or anything. "What did you need that gun for?" she asked cautiously. "Is that why…?"

He shook his head. "No, I didn't use it on Drake."

"I wasn't asking if you did."

"Yes you were," he accused. "Don't pretend like that's not the first thing that popped into your head once you saw I brought a gun."

"Fine," she replied. "Then what did you do with it?"

"Just shot out a couple of the cases. Summoned the guards."

This time Chloe did slam on the brakes. Flynn, not having bothered to put on his seatbelt, had his nose introduced to the glove compartment. "You did what?"

"Ow!" He pinched the bridge of his nose to stop the sudden bleeding. "What the hell was that for?"

"You set off the alarm on purpose?"

"Well yeah." He dug a handkerchief out of his backpack and put it over his nose. "Couldn't have Drake following me after I double-crossed him like that. It was just to give the guards a head start."

The fact that his nose was already bleeding made punching him a pointless exercise. "And why did you double-cross him?"

"Because," he said, dabbing his face with the handkerchief, "he would have done the same to me."

Chloe did her best to look skeptical.

"Oh, don't give me that look. You know just as well as I do what happens when he gets obsessed with something. Everyone else just stops mattering to him."

She raised an eyebrow "And how would I know that?"

Flynn lowered the handkerchief and gave her a wicked grin. "I know our little rendezvous in the Bahamas wasn't the first time you met him. I know what you two used to be."

"Is that what this is about?" Chloe threw her hands in the air. "You're jealous of me and Nate?"

"So there is still something going on, then." He smirked.

Chloe cursed herself for slipping like that. She had to cover it up, quick. "No, I'm asking if you're jealous of what we 'used to be.' Note the past tense."

"For your information, no." After wiping off the last of the blood, he stuffed the handkerchief in his backpack. "Are we going to drive again anytime soon? Those guards aren't going to be satisfied with just one intruder."

She started accelerating again. "If you're not jealous, then why did you double-cross him like that?" Another thought occurred to her. "And why did you tell me about it?"

"I wanted to test you," he answered, smirking. "See, I didn't know whether you were still involved with him or not. And since you're not at this moment trying to rescue him from being carried off to a Turkish prison, I think I'm pretty safe assuming you're on my side."

'You would.' She pressed the gas a little harder to emphasize how committed she was to getting away. "So what's our plan now?"

"Well, there's been a slight change," he said, fishing something out of his pocket. "We're not going to be bringing an oil lamp back to Lazarevic."

"You mean you didn't even get it? After all this trouble?"

Flynn smirked. "Oh, I got it alright. This is what was inside." He held it up for her to see.

"A blank piece of parchment." She didn't even try to hide her disappointment. "That's it?"

"The light of the Great Khan shelters the fate of the Thirteen," he recited, stuffing it back in his pocket. "We'll need to stop at a novelty shop on our way to Lazarevic."

"And pick up what?"

He smiled. "A black light."

"And do what, have a glow in the dark party?"

"Just wait," he answered, smirking again. "You'll see."

Sounds of gunfire provided the soundtrack for the long drive through some god-forsaken city in Eastern Europe. Smoke and burning rubble surrounded them, which made Chloe wish she had gotten a covered jeep instead of an open-top model. At least there weren't that many bumps.

"And here we are again, in yet another war-torn country the world forgot," Chloe deadpanned as they neared their destination. "Why are we heading for a mansion instead of a camp again?"

"Lazarevic just got himself a great deal on a new house," Flynn answered. "It's a pity the old residents still haven't moved out, though. I mean, I know I've got a few skeletons in my closet, but…."

"Oh, quit with the morbid humor, Harry. You're not that good at it."

"Fair enough. As long as you quit with the complaining. I told you, I've got a plan."

"Yes, Drake's plan. I've yet to see you carry out one of those without mucking it up."

"I don't muck up, I give it my own personal touch," he insisted. "Are you still mad about what happened at the museum?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. Dealing with Drake is much easier than dealing with this lunatic."

"Oh please, like Nate could ever finance an expedition on his own." He leaned back in his seat. "Every time he goes after a treasure it ends up being him versus every living thing. I'd prefer having a personal army to protect me."

"Even if Lazarevic had pockets as deep as the Marianas Trench, Nate would still be more resourceful," Chloe argued. "Nobody can figure a way out of a tricky situation better than him."

"Well, he wasn't resourceful enough back in Istanbul," he reminded her.

"I still don't see why you betrayed him like that. You're asking for trouble."

"I had to," he insisted. "I know he was planning to betray me as well. I just beat him to the punch."

"Whatever. We're here." She brought the jeep to a stop just outside the gates, which had been completely demolished when Lazarevic acquired the mansion. Neither of them bothered to open the old, rusted doors of the jeep, hopping over them instead. They started heading for the mansion.

They were about halfway across the courtyard when they heard a series of loud clicks. "Don't move!"

"Okay, seriously, do they keep their rounds unchambered just so they can do that?" Flynn muttered while putting his hands up.

"It's a common intimidation tactic among security forces," Chloe answered calmly while raising her hands as well. "So many people see it in the movies that it's just as effective as a warning shot."

"Get your hands up!"

"They're already up, you idiot!" Flynn shouted. "We're just here to see Lazarevic."

"We know. We are under orders to bring you to him."

"So we can be executed by firing squad, no doubt," muttered Chloe. She turned to Flynn. "What did you do to upset him this time?"

"How should I know?" The soldiers poked them with their rifles and they started walking forward. "He's a pretty upsettable fellow."

"Well, you had better figure it out quick," she replied. "Maybe if you get down on your knees and beg he'll let you suck his dick instead of killing you."

"You have such a filthy imagination," Flynn scolded. "It's not going to come to that, believe me."

"I suppose you have a plan?"

"Yes, I do. I'm going to tell him our plan."

Chloe let out an exasperated sigh. "I hope you know what you're doing."

It was silent the rest of the way. Just as the gates had been demolished, so had the door. They stepped through the gigantic hole, and the guards led them up a staircase. Flynn lowered his arms after a minute and the guards said nothing, so Chloe brought hers down as well. Not that she was getting tired or anything.

The stairs parted to reveal two separate paths, both of which led to the same floor. They took the stairs on the right, then turned right again when they reached the top. Another left turn later and they had reached Lazarevic's new office. He stood with his back to them, observing the ruined city outside through a massive window.

"Sir!" one of the guards called, and Lazarevic turned around. Chloe could see the scar on his face and had to stop herself from cringing. Normally it would be rude to classify a man as a monster based entirely on his appearance, but she had seen the way his actions backed it up and she knew that such an assertion was accurate. His arm was hidden by the pitch black suit coat he wore, but she knew that it was heavily scarred as well.

"So," he began in an eerily calm voice that turned Chloe's spine to ice, "the two thieves return. You had better have stolen what I asked for, and not more of my private files."

Flynn stepped forward. "Now Zoran, I can explain." The guards raised their guns and cocked them again, and Chloe had to stifle a laugh when she saw the formerly chambered rounds fall on the floor. It was only effective once.

Lazarevic held up a hand, and the guards lowered their weapons. "I am listening."

"Er, right." It took him a moment to regain his composure. He seemed to be having trouble thinking of what to say. "The reason I stole one of your files is because we needed three people to do the museum job. I knew the file I took would be enough to catch that person's interest."

"Really? And who is this third person you decided to let in on a job that I specifically hired you for?"

"Nathan Drake."

Lazarevic chuckled quietly and smirked. "Ah, Drake. The man who found El Dorado. A pity he did not keep it."

"Right. He's the only man I know who ever made it into that museum and escaped. Until I did it, that is."

"And where is Drake now?"

Flynn smirked. "Rotting in a Turkish prison. I only needed him to help get the item and figure out what it was really for. After that I sent the guards after him."

"I am glad it was not me you double-crossed," Lazarevic replied. "You would have deeply regretted that."

"Which is exactly why I didn't do it," he said. "Now, I suppose you'll be wanting this." He reached into his pocket, and the guards cocked their guns again. The rounds fell to the floor and Lazarevic growled.

"Quit cocking your weapons!" he shouted, and they lowered them. "It is only practical if the round is not already in the chamber! Otherwise you are just shitting on the floor of my office!" The guards looked suitably terrified and nodded to show they understood. "Now," he continued, turning back to Flynn. "Did you get what I sent you to steal?"

"Sure did," he answered, pulling out the parchment and handing it to Lazarevic. He did not look impressed.

"I sent you to steal a Mongolian oil lamp," he said in the same eerily calm tone with which he had greeted them. "And you return to me with a blank piece of paper? Are you completely brain dead, or do you have enough common sense left to understand why I am strongly considering letting my guards shoot you?"

"It's what was inside the lamp," Flynn explained. "Do you think you could draw the curtains in here, make it darker?"

Lazarevic raised an eyebrow.

"Just do it," Chloe urged, and they both turned to her. "It's Drake who explained all this to him. I don't fully get it either, but I know Nate is really good at figuring these things out."

"Then perhaps I should have hired him," Lazarevic said as he glowered at Flynn.

"Wouldn't have done you much good," he replied, trying very hard not to seem worried. "This is the guy who let El Dorado sink to the bottom of the ocean, remember? He's got a thing against crazy schemes."

Lazarevic chuckled. "We will see who is the crazy one," he said, then shouted something at his guards in what Chloe thought was Russian. The curtains shut, and the room became significantly darker.

"Right," Flynn began, digging a UV flashlight out of his backpack. "Now if I could just see that parchment again…."

"I do not trust you with it," Lazarevic said, then turned to Chloe. "Ms. Frazer, if you would be so kind."

She walked forward and grabbed it. "Hold it up," ordered Flynn. She did so and he flicked the flashlight on, shining it on the paper.

Nothing happened.

Lazarevic stood there, the white of his shirt glowing brilliantly under the UV light. "What are you doing?"

He moved the flashlight closer to the parchment, as if trying to reveal something. But still nothing happened. "Damn. I need a stronger light."

Lazarevic snapped at his guards in Russian and one of them went out of the room. The guard returned a few moments later and handed something to him. He offered it to Flynn. "Perhaps this will be of some use. Unlike you."

"Forensic light, excellent." He took it and turned it on. "Set the paper down on the desk," he told her.

The desk took on a bluish tint as Flynn raised the light high over his head. Suddenly the ink on the parchment became visible, and several of the guards gasped.

"Not quite as impressive as when Nate did it, but it works," Flynn remarked.

"What does it say?" Chloe asked.

"Something about the thirteen ships being hit with a tidal wave off the west coast of Borneo," he answered. "And something else about a treasure they were carrying." He pointed to a rough sketch that looked like a mountain. "That must have been the closest landmark when they crashed. If we find that, we find the ships."

"And what were the ships carrying that was so important?"

"That's the other thing it says," Flynn explained. "It says they were carrying treasure from Shambhala."

Chloe's eyes went wide. "Wait, Shambhala? The lost city of Shangri-La?"

"It is more of a valley, actually," Lazarevic corrected. "And I have been searching for it for years."

"Marco Polo found Shambhala?" she repeated, just to be clear. "And then his men got shipwrecked because of it? What the hell kind of treasure were they carrying?"

"The Cintimani Stone," answered Lazarevic.

"The what?"

"The wish-fulfilling gem. It is a treasure unlike any other."

"And I've just given you the means to find it, old friend," Flynn said, switching off the light. The guards opened the curtains again. "So are we square?"

Lazarevic regarded him evenly. "For now. But do not test my patience again. You get me the treasure, or I will hire someone else who can. And I will not hesitate to kill you first."

"Right sir, of course sir." Flynn looked very uncomfortable and relieved at the same time. He looked at Chloe. "I suppose we're headed to Borneo."

Author's Notes: I know I shouldn't keep switching fandoms until I finish at least one story in each, but I think I deserve a free pass on this one since I've been working on it for the better part of a year. It's not exceptionally long (I've pumped out chapters longer than this entire story in the space of a week), but I've had a lot of time to tinker with it and I think I've gotten it just about perfect. The next chapter is what gave me writer's block, and I got sidetracked with so many other fandoms that it's taken me a while to work my way back to this one. Ultimately I'm only publishing it because it doesn't feel right letting it fade into obscurity on my hard drive. Hopefully a few of you will enjoy it.

Obviously this isn't the entire story. There are two more chapters after this, and then I'll be done. I'm experimenting with shorter chapters, since I noticed that my longer works seem to go ignored. This actually works better than my original plan of releasing it as one big short story, as it allows me to set the pace. I have the entire thing already written, so at least I can rest knowing I won't get distracted halfway through.

Next update is in a week, because this fandom is tinier than I anticipated and I want to give people time to find this before I dump the next chapter (seriously, I've only gotten ten hits so far). I will release the entire thing eventually, but feedback is pretty much the only reason I post these here instead of keeping them on my hard drive for my own private reading.