A/N: In honor of Ac3 being remastered I wanted to start a new fic. Thank you for choosing my story and I hope you enjoy. -M.
Chapter 1
The dimly lit midnight road was illuminated by the bright lights of two SUVs as their tires burned down the pavement. They seemed to be chasing an individual of interest to say the least. Hard boots clanked against the pavement as their target lurched forward, the sound of running echoed off the walls of the neighborhood. The sleeping Sicilian villas were as undisturbed as they've been for the last 100 years, their inhabitants even more undisturbed.
Sage trucked her body down a rocky path that ran towards the back of the hills. The small armies in the SUVs slid open the doors and chased her down the rocky trail. Thoughts of how they found her raced through her mind. Were there details in her "everyday life" she missed? How did they find her here? Was she the last of her kind? There was a tunnel she knew that was well hidden enough to not be found easily but accessible by those who knew the landscape. She threw back a curtain of leaves and ran down the tunnel. As often as she has visited this place, she's never really explored more than 20 feet down into the tunnel. But tonight, she had no choice but to see what the mysterious tunnel had for her. The sound of the Abstergo agents behind her got quieter as she scooted her way quietly down the tunnel. About 15 feet into the tunnel she froze and held her breath, waiting. Her heart thudded in her chest. Crouching on her hands and knees, she put her ear to the ground, balancing her backpack on her shoulders. No sound. Allowing herself to breath, Sage stayed crouched down on her hands and knees.
Still no sign of them. Sage allowed herself to relax a bit, but the sound of something like a rock being thrown down tunnel startled her. Whatever was thrown rested at her feet and she picked it up. Tapping on her smartwatch for light, she examined the trinket. A grenade. The realization of what she held hit her and she threw it back towards the entrance and bolted down the tunnel. With everything inside of her petite frame she ran away from the boom behind her. The deafening sound of the grenade blared down the tunnel. She closed her eyes and accepted death. Up to this point in life she hadn't done all that she had wanted, but was willing to accept the consequences of being an Assassin in a world of Templars. As much as she tried to ignore her lineage she couldn't, if the Templars didn't ignore it how could she live a normal life with them chasing her around the world? The last two years here in Sicily were bliss though. Working in a cafe, perfecting her pastry skills, Sage actually believed that a normal life was possible up until this fateful moment.
A wall of fire was quickly approaching behind Sage. She looked behind her and let out a cry as the heat began to grow in intensity. Thoughts of a painful burning death raced through her mind. As her last thoughts floated through her mind, the feeling of falling caused her heart to leap into her throat. Is this what death is like? Falling? She didn't realize that she was falling down a gaping hole in the ground. The boom caused the tunnel to shake, and as she fell several rocks followed her down and knocked her out cold as she hit the ground. Her last thoughts were wiped from her mind and she groaned in pain and slipped into a state of unconsciousness.
The cold dry wind of winter whistled through the bare trees. Sage's vision was clouded by the throbbing pain from the back of her head. She was lying on the floor of a forest. Where am I? Was I falling? These thoughts drifted through her mind as she came to her senses on the forest floor. She opened her eyes slowly and looked around, allowing her vision to focus. I thought it was summer in Italy? This doesn't look like the an Italian forest. The cold wind stole every bit of heat from her as she struggled to her feet. Her backpack was securely strapped to her back, her smartwatch was cracked, and her black hoodie had a rip in the sleeve. Instinctively she pulled her hood up over her long curly head of hair. The pressure from the hood on her head caused a wave a nausea to wash over her, and she vomited whatever contents was left in her stomach onto the fresh Massachusetts snow. I need to eat she thought to herself. Sage couldn't remember what she had in her backpack so she dropped to her knees and swung the pack forward to examine it contents. A pack of tampons and pads, her journal, her iphone, a small bluetooth speaker, a copy of The Great Gatsby in Italian, a pair of custom hidden blades designed so that the cuffs folded into the blade making it light and portable, a small glock, a phone charger, headphones, a metal water bottle, a paper bag of smashed pastries from the Cafe Sicily, gum, a portable charger, her wallet, car and house keys, a lighter, and other loose articles.
Sage opened the paper bag from her backpack, and scarfed down a danish. Her eyes drifted up and studied her surroundings. Elk sounded in the distance, rabbits scurried through the snow, a river rushed, the wind tickled the trees. Sage came to the conclusion that she wasn't in Italy anymore.
"I need to find shelter." She mumbled to herself. The snow began to fall again as she armed herself with the hidden blades and the gun. Thankfully both weapons were small enough to fit in her backpack so that she could just forget about them in there and go about daily life. She checked the clip to find she had 15 rounds. Fully loaded. There were stray bullets in her bag from the last time she went to the range so she figured she was set for a while.
Making sure the safety was on, Sage trudged her way through the snow. Thoughts of how she got there ran through her mind. Am I dreaming? I must've hit my head really hard. Did they catch me? Thoughts of all the places she tried to start a new life at floated through her mind as she made her way down a path in the snow. Thoughts of her time in Cevennes with her father's family in France, thoughts of her childhood in California with her Hawaiian mother, thoughts of her fresh start from it all in Sicily.
Sage is a vagabond, never really settled here or there, thanks to Abstergo. She left the creed five years ago when she was 18. It was 2013 then and the presence of the Assassins in the world was growing dim. She thought it to be wise to leave so she moved to France before the Assassins in California were made to be… desolate. Abstergo exterminated their kind and any trace of them left to ensure their power in the world wouldn't be challenged. Sage may be one of the few still in existence in the modern world. All she wanted was to live a normal life. But that was to much to ask it seemed.
In the distance ahead of her she heard rhythmic drumming and marching. Sage trudged forward hoping to find the source of the beat. A unit of what looked to be seven red coat soldiers marching toward her shocked her. Maybe they're just those nerds who reenact these type of things. I'll ask them about this place. As they drew their attention to her hooded figure she shouted their way, "Hey! Where am I?"
Confused looks surfaced on their faces as they stopped to inspect her while she approached. "Must be a yank spy." The officer mumbled to the soldier next to him. Before Sage had the time to ask again they made a line and drew their muskets. They can't be loaded. They're just faking. She quickened her pace and jokingly shouted, "Don't shoot!" and to her surprise they began firing real musket balls. A bullet tore through her arm, her calf and one lodged in her side.
"What the hell." Sage winced in pain. She whipped her glock out from her hoodie pocket while stumbling to the ground to her knees. The redcoats began reloading as she switched off the safety. Her marksmanship was not as sharp as normal, (due to the growing knot at the back of her head) but it was sharp enough to take out six red coats before they could reload. Her gun was much quieter than the muskets. The last redcoat she shot in the leg. Sage furiously limped to the last redcoat and pointed her gun at his forehead. "Where am I?!" The soldier shook in fear as he stared at the clearly lethal device she was wielding. "The Diamond basin on the frontier! A few days travel north of Boston!" his hands were up in his face. "Please leave me!" He begged.
"What year is it?!" Sage growled.
"1780!" a look of confusion and fear mingled on his face as peered at her.
"Don't fuck with me! What year is it?!" Sage shot his other leg. He cried out in pain.
"1780! Its December! We are at war with the colonies! Please leave me!"
"I'm going to ask one more time before I end your life. WHAT YEAR IS IT!?"
"1780!" the soldier began to weep. "Please let me go!" the snow around them was brightly decorated in shades of red. Sage lowered her gun in confusion and took note of his clear British accent.
"Are you serious?" Now she was even more confused. Her heart thumped in her chest as she tried to quickly limp away down the path. To avoid anymore encounters with redcoats she b lined into the deep snow. Her wounds left a red trail behind her. Wooziness began to overtake her as she trudged through the snow. 1780? He must really be in character. Unless he was telling the truth.. No he can't be. There's no way I'm in.. colonial America. I need to find shelter. With every step she groaned in pain. The amount of blood she was losing caused her to stop. Sage tore the bottom of her jeans and tied it around her leg wound, exposing her small tribal Assassin tattoo just below it.
But it wasn't enough. Sage tried to push on. To find somewhere to recuperate at, but she was too weak. Unconsciousness began to overtake her. A blizzard was brewing as the moonlight reflected on the red snow. Sage slumped down in the snow coughing blood and shivering as she fell into the darkness of the unknown.
Connor flew through the canopy of the trees fluidly without stopping. In the winter he preferred to travel either by horseback or through the treetops. The snow sometimes was too deep to walk through efficiently and he doesn't like being cold. He was headed back to the homestead after his mission uncovering Benedict Arnold, the British spy among the patriots. As he was making his way from one tree to another, gunshots rang through the forest and the cry of a woman came quickly after. Instinctively he made his way toward the sound. There were a few more quieter clicks, some screaming, then nothing. Connor quickened his pace through the treetops and found himself above a very peculiar scene. The dead redcoats had single bullet holes in them but not any kind he's seen before, they were smoother and cleaner looking, upon entry. One redcoat was writhing on the ground in pain. Connor leapt out of the tree onto the path and inspected the scene. There was a trail of blood down that path that went into the snow. The bodies are still warm, she can not be to far. "She's crazy! She'll kill you!" the redcoat cried out to Connor.
Connor was sure that he could handle whatever it was that she is, so he followed the blood trail and found her passed out in the snow. He knelt down beside her to feel her pulse. "She has lost much blood." He whispered. Sage's pulse was soft and slow. Connor picked up her dainty figure gently from the snow. He nuzzled his hand under her backpack on her lower back and trudged back to the path. Connor jogged to the nearest Soldier encampment, laid her down, and stole one of their horses. First he sat her upright on the horse. Then got on behind her so that her weight would be supported by his. He had her blood all over his arms. "I must get her to the Homestead, she has lost too much blood." Connor spurred the horse, and he hurried to get her help.
"Doctor White! This girl needs help!" Connor rode with urgency as he approached the doctor's tent. The Doctor ran out then back inside the tent, clearing the table, "Bring her to me!" He shouted back.
Connor carried her in and softly laid her down on the table, "She was attacked by redcoats in the forest." He stood back and let the doctor remove her backpack and sweatshirt. Sage's white V neck t-shirt was stained with blood, her black lace bra exposed. On the table her curly locks soaked by the snow stuck to her wet pale face, her purple lips were slightly parted exposing her beautifully white teeth. "I found this... contraption in her hand. I do not know what it is, but it seems to be some sort of weapon." Connor examined the glock then set it down on the doctor's table of tools and medicines.
"She has been shot several times and has a large knot on the back of her head behind her left ear. The loss of blood caused her to go into shock. I should be able to clean her up." Doctor White spoke calmly as he assessed her wounds. "Only one ball lodged itself in her side, It isn't too deep the ball only caught flesh. It just grazed her lung, but no serious damage." Doctor White dug the mass out of her side and stitched her up. "You brought her just in time Connor, I don't know how she would've survived like this by herself in the snow."
"I am glad that you are able to help her." Connor was relieved that this mystery woman can be helped.
From where this mystery woman hails I do not know, but she bares the brotherhood symbol. Perhaps she is an Assassin. But from where? I should bring her to Achilles. These questions ran through Connor's mind as he carried Sage back to the manor. Doctor White informed him that she needs to warm up so her body can begin healing and to keep her from catching a fever.
"Achilles!" Connor called to his mentor as he entered the manor. He trudged up the stairs with Sage's limp body and gently set her down in front of the fire in the Library on her stomach. He took off her backpack and shoes then set them down next to her softly. Perhaps she needs a blanket he thought to himself as he looked at her lifeless body on the floor. So he walked across the hall to his bedroom and grabbed his blanket from his village paired with one of his pillows. Achilles was making his way upstairs and entered the room as Connor covered her with his blanket.
Connor looked over his shoulder at Achilles, "I found her on my journey back from Monmouth. She was attacked by redcoats."
"And how does this concern me child? She's just a woman. You should have paid for her to stay at the inn, not here." Achilles settled himself on one of the couches.
"Believe me old man, I considered leaving her at the inn, but then I saw this." Connor lifted the blanket to reveal the tribal Assassin tattoo on her leg. Achilles stood up and leaned on his cane.
"She bares the brotherhood symbol. I thought that perhaps she was trying to find other Assassins here in the colonies, but she does not look like a colonial woman. She was hooded when I came across her body." Connor covered her leg and also showed Achilles her wrists that adorned hidden blades much like Connor's but lighter and smaller.
"We shall wait until she comes to her senses and regains her strength before bombarding her with our curiosities." Achilles started slowly making his way out of the room while simultaneously coughing and slightly losing his balance. Connor got up and hurried to his aid but the old man waved him off.
"Child I need not of your assistance." Connor lifted his hands away and gave Achilles a concerned look as he stepped back. Connor shook his head and made his way to one of the couches and examined Sage as Achilles shuffled down the stairs.
Where could she possibly be from? Could she be from this land? Possibly born of another tribe? She does not appear to be white. Her skin bares the same appearance as mine. Does she know of my work here in the colonies? Has she come to offer up her knowledge of Templar activity? These were the questions Connor had as he watched her slow and steady breathing while she rested there by the fire.
Connor laid down on the couch and drifted to sleep as the warmth of the fire filled the room with its comfort and safety.
The heat from the fire cause Sage to stir. She slowly tried to flip to her other side but a sharp pain shot up her side and immobilized her. The morning sun shone through the windows and she flipped herself onto her back, wincing while doing so. As she lay on her back she slowly opened her eyes which were glued shut. The picture of a wood ceiling came into focus as she lay there staring up. Sage lifted up her head and saw she had a blanket and a pillow. Her hands made her way up to her face and she rubbed the previous night from her eyes. There was a mounting pressure in her head and she massaged her temples. Someone on the couch near her stirred and she heard their feet softly touch the ground. They were awake. Sage tried to turn her head to see but the bump on her head began throbbing and she decided against it.
"You are awake." The soft raspy voice was that of a man waking up. "I found you last night in the woods." He came down to her side wobbling as the morning sunlight shook him a little. "Would you like for me to move you to a bed? The floor is no place for a woman to rest." Connor said this as he rubbed the morning from his eyes. Connor was not a morning person. He leaned over into her line of sight.
"Who are you?" Sage managed to cough out.
"Connor. I found you in the forest last night unconscious in the snow. You could have died." He spoke softly to her with a look of concern. "I will move you to a bed." Connor cradled her head in the crook of his arm and scooped up her legs beneath her knees. He picked her up with grace, Sage could feel the strength in his shoulders as she rested her head. The blanket was still over her body as he carried her from one room to the next. He set her down softly and pulled the covers back so she could get under them. Sage tried to bring her legs over but she was too weak. Connor motioned for her to allow him to move her with his hand up matched with a soft look of care. "Here, let me."
He gently grabbed both her feet in his calloused hands and tucked them gently under the covers. Connor pulled the blanket off her body exposing blood stained bandages beneath her white bloody v neck and pulled the bed covers up to her chest. Sage faced up, avoiding eye contact with Connor. "Thank you Connor for finding me and taking me in." At first she spoke to the ceiling, but once she was settled in the bed, she allowed herself to study him. Connor walked to the corner of the room and pulled a chair up to the bed next to her. Her head turned to watch him and she winced with the action. He straddled the backwards chair facing her, resting his arms on the back of it. Connor cleared the morning cobwebs from his throat, "Might I ask what your name is?"
"My natural given name is Maluhia Dubois. But people call me Sage." She studied him as he sat before her. Sage noticed first how young and built he was. He couldn't be more than a year or two older than me she thought to herself. "My father is French and My mother is Native Hawaiian." She saw his brow furrow at the mention of Hawaii. "Hawaii is an island very far west from here. If I am where I think I am," she gulped and tasted blood, "Then you 'colonists' have yet to discover my home land."
"I am no colonist." He corrected her, "This is the land of my people." Before Connor could ask her more questions, she began coughing uncontrollably. "I will bring you some tea to soothe your coughing." He quickly got up from his chair and thudded down the stairs. Sage's coughing began to subside as Connor returned promptly with a cup of warm black tea. He helped her sit up in bed by sliding the pillow beneath her up, then gently gripping her upper arm, all while balancing the cup of tea in his other hand. When she was settled sitting upwards, he handed her the tea. "Thank you." she smelled the black India tea and noticed there was no tea bag.
"What is it that you meant when you said 'if I am where I think I am'?" Connor sat down again backwards in the chair. Sage sighed and stared down at the tea. She felt a new tightness in her neck and chest. Before she could answer his question, she allowed herself to study him. Her eyes began to observe and analyse him. She noticed his Assassin insignia belt. She noticed his brown skin, his dark shiny hair, half of it up half of it down. She noticed his traditional Assassin robes and the small braid he had on the left side of his head. Sage decided that she could trust Connor with her situation.
"That symbol," Sage weakly pointed down at his belt, "I know that symbol." She weakly tried to slide her left leg out from under the covers. "I have seen the symbol on your leg. When I took you to our doctor I noticed it and decided it better for you to stay here at our manor to ensure your safety." Connor spoke as if there were more Assassins living in the manor other than him and the old man.
Sage winced as she slid her leg back to its previous position. "I was an Assassin. But the templars became too strong so I left the brotherhood here in the United States." Should I tell him about the future? Maybe leaving details out is my best bet. I have nothing about my life I feel the need to hide. Good thing I don't know much about brotherhood history, thanks to Abstergo destroying or stealing it all. Sage decided to tell Connor how she got to where she was now, and he listened with great intent.
They sat in silence. Sage searched his face for any sort of reaction. Connor stared at the ground, trying to process this mind boggling story. The atmosphere was stiff, "I don't know why I'm here Connor. After I left the brotherhood all I ever wanted was to live a normal life, but life for the Assassins in the future is spent running from Templars." Connor was in deep thought, his hand gripped his chin as he turned over this story in his head, trying to make sense of it. Sage's stomach began to growl and she felt the hunger from within claw its way up her throat. In reaction to her stomach, Connor stood to his feet, her eyes watching him. "I will bring you some food, and I will also bring Achilles, my mentor. Perhaps he can make sense of this.. Problem." His warm voice was quiet as he walked down stairs to the kitchen. Sage nodded and sipped her lukewarm tea. Was it a good idea to tell him about the future? She thought about the ripple effect her presence was already having in the universe. She then decided that it was the universe's problem, not hers.
Connor returned with a bowl of soup and Achilles followed behind him up the stairs. He handed her the soup but no spoon. Sage watched him turn the chair around for Achilles before he sat down. Then he went into the next room to get himself a chair. "The name's Achilles. Might I ask what your name miss.." Achilles sat down slowly.
"Maluhia Debois. But people call me Sage."
"Well Miss Sage, Connor tells me you have quite the story to tell." Sage sipped her soup from the lip of the bowl. She nodded and started from the top.
A/n: I hope you guys enjoyed this first chapter! If your're wondering what a glock is, it is a small almost pocket size gun. Thank you again for reading! I will make an effort to update every Friday from here on out. Sometimes maybe even before Friday if I'm super eager. Please leave a review! Thank you 3
