Chapter 5 - Friendly Competition

7/31/2019 Chapter 5 - Friendly Competition

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Written by

Andrew Roberts

These stories are based on

characters and settings by Pinnacle

Entertainment and Great WhiteGames.



Paris Catacombs – 1938

Buck Savage slowly regained his senses. Looking around, he found himself chained to a wall in adank underground chamber. A wooden door at the opposite end of the room opened up. The

Templar Grand Master entered, accompanied by two other figures wearing Templar mantles. Buck

immediately recognised them as two of the guests from Delmar’s party: Admiral Carlisle and Giles

Richmond.

“So,” the Grand Master said threateningly, “You’re Buck Savage. You’re the one has disrupted our

plans.”

“You’re trying to profit from war.” Buck stated in response. “You’re selling arms to someone in

Germany.”

“War profiteering?” Richmond remarked, raising his eyebrows, “You have a smaller imagination

than I thought. The Nazi government is in our pocket. We are using them to return to power. Philip

IV and Pope Clement drove us underground, but we will rise again and have our vengeance.”

“And what’s the Holy Lance got to do with this?” Buck asked.

“The Lance of Longinus is a source of great power.” The Grand Master explained, “We need that

power, or the empire the Nazis are rebuilding for us will collapse. You will believe us, Mr Savage.

We need your help. We need you to find the Lance.”

Buck laughed at the Grand Master’s demand. “You want me to help you find a holy relic that will

bring about an apocalypse?” he quipped, “What makes you think I’ll help you?”



“Saint Bernard’s spirit can influence the minds of his flock.” The Grand Master said, hauling Buck

to his feet and chanting a Latin incantation. Buck realised that he was being hypnotised. He

quickly bowed to the Grand Master’s will and repeated the chanting. Carlisle and Richmond freed

him as he stood, repeating the chant over and over.

“You will find your friends and bring them to me.” The Grand Master ordered, “They will also be

converted to our cause, and will find the Lance of Longinus for us.”

“I will obey my masters.” Buck said ominously, leaving the chamber with Richmond.

Meanwhile, Virginia and Danny were still exploring the maze like sewers and eventually found

themselves in the Catacombs. Danny pulled his Walther PPK from its holster and primed it.

“Do you think Buck will be OK?” Virginia asked.

Danny shrugged, only to hear another grinding sound behind him. He turned and aimed the PPK

at the newly opened secret door. There was nothing there. He beckoned Virginia to follow him in.As the pair entered the passageway, they were quickly surprised by Richmond. He rapidly

emerged from around the corner and aimed a revolver at the pair of them.

“I’d drop that if I were you.” He said to Danny, indicating at the PPK. Danny tossed the pistol to the

ground and kicked it towards Richmond. Buck emerged from behind the pair, aiming his Webley at

them. As they were kept covered, Richmond patted down Virginia and took the Mauser she had

stolen from Solak.

“Buck?” She asked, “What are you doing? You’re not one of them.”

“I pledge my allegiance to the Knights Templar.” Buck said ominously, escorting them through the

hallways at gunpoint.



Buck led Virginia and Danny to an entrance to the Paris Sewers. The Grand Master was waiting

for them with a barge, accompanied by two bodyguards and Admiral Carlisle.

“Well done, Mr Savage.” He said, “You will serve us well. So will your friends.”

Virginia and Danny looked at each other in shock. Had Buck really been converted to the

Templar’s cause? They turned to face Buck, furious that he seemed to have surrendered. Buck

winked at them, raising the Webley and shooting Richmond in the stomach. The Templar fellbackwards into the murky sewer water. Virginia and Danny sprang into action, quickly attacking

the Grand Master’s bodyguards with blows to the throat, rendering them unconscious. The Grand

Master quickly took off down another passageway. Buck aimed his Webley at Admiral Carlisle,

who raised his hands.

“Don’t shoot!” he cried, “I’m unarmed!”

“Get in the boat.” Buck demanded. Carlisle obliged, followed by Virginia and Danny. As Buck

stepped aboard, Virginia loosened the mooring and took control of the boat’s paddle.

“This is impossible!” Carlisle snapped, “How did you willingly snap out of the hypnosis?”

“It didn’t work anyway.” Buck replied, “That stuff never does, but I wanted to create the illusion that

it did. But that is not the point. The point is that I want to get out of here and find that treasure your

boss is looking for.”

“Unfortunately, we’ve hit a standstill as all the information we had has been stolen. All we found

was this.” Carlisle explained, handing Buck an ornate horn.

“That’s the horn Volkov had.” Danny commented.

“He must be looking for the Lance too.” Buck replied. Virginia’s face lit up.

“Do you mean the Spear of Destiny?” she asked enthusiastically. Buck nodded.

“Yes, the same spear that perforated Jesus on the cross.” Buck answered. He turned to Carlisle.

“Where are you looking for the Lance?” he asked.

“We’re heading to Hatay.” Carlisle told him, “We believe the Lance to be in the vicinity of Antakya.”

“Antioch.” Danny stated, “Where Peter Bartholomew found it.”

The group rowed out into the River Seine and moored at a nearby jetty. As Buck’s group

disembarked, Carlisle remained in the boat. “Good luck in finding the Lance.” He said as they left,

“I’m done with these people. The Grand Master will have me killed if he knew I’d been so

forthcoming. I’ve seen enough action already, and I’d sooner die peacefully in my sleep.”

Buck simply watched the man leave. He turned to his companions.

“We need to get to Hatay and fast.” He said critically, “It’s a safe bet Volkov is already in Antakya,

but he’ll need guides and the Templars won’t make it easy for him.”



A day later, Buck and his crew had disembarked from a plane which had arrived in Aleppo, and

had taken the train to Antakya.

“What do you know about the Lance, Danny?” Buck asked.

“The Spear of Destiny was supposedly recovered by a drunken preacher named Peter

Bartholomew.” Danny explained, “When the Knights of the First Crusade captured Antioch in

1098, Bartholomew excavated the Church of Saint Peter and found the spear, which promptly

strengthened the resolve of the Crusaders to take Jerusalem.”

“Rubbish.” Doc commented, “You can’t capture a city with some enchanted spear.”

“That’s what everyone else said.” Danny returned, “Until they captured Jerusalem that is.”

“You and Doc try and find anything about the Spear in the city’s history. Virginia and I are gonnasearch for Volkov. We’ll meet back at the apartment.” Buck stated. The others nodded in

agreement.

Within half an hour, Danny and Doc Gold were in the archives of the Hatay Archaeology Museum,

researching everything on the history of Antakya and its previous state of existence as Antioch. At

the same time, Buck and Virginia were roaming through the city centre, gathering whatever

information they could find on Volkov. At a bustling marketplace, the pair found themselves

meeting with a middle-aged Turkish man tending an empty stall.

“Are you looking for someone?” he asked them in almost perfect English.

“Who’s asking?” Buck returned in a low voice.



“My name is Halim Terzi.” The man explained, “I normally deal in crafts, but when I’m out of stock I

sell information.”

“We’re looking for a Russian, a Cossack to be exact. He possesses something of great

importance and he may be in danger.” Buck revealed, handing him two Syrian banknotes.

“Do you have a name?”

“Volkov.”

Terzi pondered for a moment, and then remembered: “I know that man.” He said, “He came to me

to ask about any guides based in the surrounding area. I told him that there was a large dig

somewhere outside the city that was being overseen by a detachment of Hatay soldiers.”

“Thanks.” Buck said, leaving with Virginia. Terzi watched them leave, and ran down the street to a

nearby bar. Inside, he was greeted by a shifty Italian man wearing an earth-tone suit.

“Marino, there are some people of interest looking for the Cossack.” He informed.

“What did they look like?” Marino replied.

“There were two people.” Terzi explained, “A black haired woman and a rugged looking man with

a fedora.”

“Grazie . I’ll take it from here.” Marino stated, handing Terzi an envelope.

As Buck and Virginia continued to make their way through the streets, they found themselves in

another part of the market. Vendors were hawking their wares to everybody, tourists and locals

alike. A truck pulled into the marketplace, and Marino disembarked to meet up with the pair.

“Buck Savage?” he asked, “My name is Marino. I’ve come from the museum to ask for your help.”

“Forget it pal, my schedule’s full at the moment.” Buck replied distrustfully.

“I’ll make it worth your while.”



Buck’s hand was slowly making its way towards its holster. Five local street toughs were making

their way towards the trio. Virginia quickly noticed them and tapped Buck on the shoulder. As they

both turned around, the thugs ran towards them with clubs and knives. At the same time, Marino

drew a .38 snub nose revolver. Hearing the gun being primed, Virginia turned around and grabbed

Marino’s arm, punching him in the face before throwing him into a market stall.

“Virginia, get back to the apartment!” Buck yelled as he punched out a thug who charged at him

with a knife. “I’ll hold them off!”

“No! That’ll just lead them back there!” Virginia replied. Another thug swung at her with a club, only

for her to duck out of the way and cause him to hit one of his companions and overbalance. As he

tried to stand up again, Virginia kicked him in the chest while Buck dispatched the last two thugs

with a series of punches and kicks. The pair took off down the street while their attackers

attempted to pursue them.

“I think that we should split up now.” Virginia informed Buck as they ascended a flight of steps

leading to another plaza, running down a nearby side alley. Watching her escape, Buck noticed a

cart full of wicker baskets left on the corner. With all his strength, he pushed the cart down thesteps, spilling its contents towards his pursuers while he made his escape.

After at least fifteen minutes of running down side alleys and doubling back in an attempt to shake

off his pursuers, Buck finally arrived at the apartment they’d rented. Noticing Virginia running

inside, he breathed a sigh of relief. He approached the hotel entrance, only to see Marino exit with

two of the other thugs. One of the thugs had an MP38 slung over his shoulder, while the other one

carried a Mauser C96. Noticing Buck, they opened fire, forcing him to take cover behind a

fountain. As the bullets flew over his head, Buck drew his Webley and primed it, but was pinneddown by the enemy fire. The thug with the MP38 giggled maniacally as he fired wildly, only for the

gun to jam. He jiggled the slide violently.

“You idiot!” Marino yelled, snatching the MP38, “Don’t hold it by the magazine or it will misfeed!”

Seeing an opportunity, Buck leapt out from behind the fountain and fired two shots. The two thugs

dropped dead while Marino fled the scene. As Buck made his way towards the hotel, a large

explosion threw him backwards into the fountain. He looked up to see the bombed remains of the

hotel.

“Virginia!” he cried out as a crowd of onlookers assembled. “Virginia!”

“You’re lucky to be alive, Mister.” One of the onlookers told him, “I don’t think anyone would

survive that.”

Buck viewed the chaos as the emergency services arrived on scene. He feared the worse. It

wasn’t likely that Virginia had survived the explosion. Overcome by a wave of sadness, he trudged

away from the remains of the hotel.

To be continued…

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Chapter 5 - Friendly Competition