Michael walked briskly through the dark suburban streets. His breath rose in a mist illuminated by the streetlights. He loved winter in Scotland he'd always been weird like that. His heart beat rapidly from the exertion and excitement of stalking his target all day. Again he tensed his right arm feeling the warm leather of his hidden blade against his flesh. Michael turned a corner, stopping suddenly as his spotted three men silhouetted by a streetlight. Michael retreated behind the corner again. He had recognised one of the silhouettes, Martin Salisbury, a drug dealer and Michael's target. Michael poked his head around the corner again noting the subtle, almost imperceptible, head and hand movements that indicated a drug deal.

'Spotted him.' Michael muttered, seemingly to himself.

'Keep on him.' A voice crackled through an earpiece, 'we'll take him tonight.'

The man finished their transaction and walked away. Martin looked around suspiciously and walked toward a nearby housing estate, followed by Michael. Ian and Michael had been stalking their target for three days. The man was a low level Templar enforcer. His side gig was of little concern to his Templar masters as long as their less than savoury activities in Glasgow ran smoothly. Michael and Ian had been sent to remove him.

Ever since the attack on the Abstergo research facility three months ago and their declaration of war against the Templars, the Assassins, for the first time in ten years, had been aggressively hunting the Templars. Before the Assassins in Britain had been content to wait for orders from the high command to target and kill specific Templars. Now Brendan and Sarah were identifying Templars on their own initiative and sending their colleagues to hunt them. Before the Templars had arrogantly dismissed the remaining Assassins in Britain as an annoyance not something to be considered seriously. This had changed since the attack, it was proving impossible for the Templars to identify and capture the Assassins. Michael and the rest had been hunting and killing Templars all over the country, striking in one area and moving rapidly to strike in another. They had been cutting off the Templars eyes and ears everywhere. This was Michael third target in as many months.

The first had been a corrupt town official further North, the second a medical doctor with less than ethical practices. Danielle and Dave were hunting in another part of the country and had taken out a similar number of Templars. It had become more and more difficult to move around, the Templars, using their connections in high politics, the police and army, had declared the attack on the research facility a terrorist act and had brought in a raft of new security measures such as passports being checked on the borders between Scotland, England and Wales and random spot searches. These, on top of the measures in place to control and stop the spread of the plague that had swept through Africa a few years back made life very difficult. Protests and demonstrations took place almost daily all over the country, even a few small riots. Brendan and Alex were trying to get close to the organisers of these protests and use them to the advantage of the Assassins.

Michael often despaired from the magnitude of the job in front of them, the people were trying to rise but were being fed false information and kept down by an increasingly aggressive and vicious police force backed the army all under the control of the Templars. Emma and George constantly encouraged him, they were both recovering in the Homestead and kept him company whenever he returned from a mission. Sarah, having recovered a huge amount of information and blueprints from Abstergo, had been living nearly constantly in the garage. Long periods of silence were broken occasionally by thumps, bangs and other assorted sounds of construction and even the occasional small explosion. Michael grinned as he thought about the memories from the past few months and refocused on his target as he turned down a small alleyway between two houses. Michael followed him into the dark and spotted a third walking in the opposite direction. Michael increased his pace to catch Martin. His footfalls became louder, Martin turned and spotted Michael. Michael snarled and the faint click indicated his hidden blade popping out from his wrist.

'Assassin.' Martin hissed.

Michael darted forward but had his right hand grabbed. Michael head butted Martin but connected awkwardly with Martins forehead rather than nose. Michael stumbled back momentarily as Martin drew a knife and slashed at Michael who leapt back. Martin slashed again, fury in his eyes but Michael grabbed his knife wielding hand and stabbed towards his neck with his hidden blade. Martin leaned back and suddenly went rigid and made a huffing sound as the air was driven from his body. The third figure stood right behind him, his left hand on Martins right side. Michael stepped back watching the blood slowly seep from the wound in Martins side.

'I had it under control.' Michael said calmly.

Ian looked at Michael, mildly annoyed as he lowered Martins body to the ground.

'You gave yourself away too early, don't rush a kill like that, he wouldn't have gotten away.' Ian scolded.

Michael bit back a retort and retracted his hidden blade.

'You're right, I'm sorry.' Michael said.

Ian looked at him, more understandingly this time.

'You're a good fighter just impatient.' Ian said simply.

Michael bent down over Martin and began searching his pockets.

'What are you doing?' Ian asked suspiciously.

'Spoils of war.' Michael smiled holding up a wad of money.

Ian glared as Michael pulled small packets from his pockets, pills, cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

'What are you going to do with that lot sell it?' Ian asked scathingly.

'Nope' Michael answered walking to a nearby drain and dumping the pills and powders.

'I'm keeping the weed.' Michael said smiling.

Ian rolled his eyes.

'Come on back to the safehouse.' Ian ordered.