COLLiSiON Chapter 1: Preparation for an exhausting day, an assassin's creed fanfic

So, I'm finally putting this up after months of procrastination. My first ever fanfic~ This chapter jumps around a bit, so it might be a little confusing. BUT IT WILL ALL MAKE SO MUCH SENSE LATER. Or not. We'll see. Also, some of you Baccano! fans out there may notice two characters with uncannily similar names and uncannily similar behavior to a pair of eccentric robbers from the show.

Preparation for an exhausting day in which the unexpected is to be expected

"Hey Isaiah!"

"What's that Maria?"

"What do you think this machine does?"

"Hm… Well, Maria, judging from its odd shape and structure… I deduce that it is a snow cone machine!"

"Oh wow! Fire it up!"

"What are you guys doing? No! Don't touch that!"

2012 AD

Abstergo Industries

"We've done it!" Vidic exclaimed. Lucy stood by his side and stared at the figure now emerging from the machine. She was donned in white robes, with a hooded cape covering her eyes. "At last, we have brought back Subject 11."

"She's grown…" Lucy stated, watching as the figure stumbled out, disoriented.

"Yes, well, it has been fifteen years since we last saw her, Lucy," Vidic replied, stepping towards the woman, now vomiting her guts out onto the floor.

"Is she alright?" Lucy asked, concerned. Vidic simply shrugged.

"It is a common side effect," he answered. "Most of the people who have gone through this machine have had similar experiences."

"How many people have gone through?" Lucy questioned.

"Oh, about five," Vidic replied. "Don't worry, only about four of them died, so there's still a chance that she'll live through this."

Lucy stared in horror as she rushed to help the woman onto her feet and half dragged, half carried her over to the nearest chair. "Are you going to help?" she glared at Vidic. The man simply smiled and went back to his desk, ignoring the two.

"Let me know when she stops spewing her guts onto the floor," he said, "I need to know when to get the clean-up crew." Lucy sighed in exasperation as she helped her into one of the gray cushioned chairs. By this point, she had stopped vomiting and was now sweating profusely. Her skin had turned a ghostly pale as she struggled to stay conscious.

"Breathe, Sonya, breathe," Lucy said soothingly. The woman's head snapped up as she heard her name being called and opened her eyes. She pushed Lucy aside and stepped back towards the wall, drawing her short sword. She took up a fighting stance and shouted something in Arabic. Lucy picked herself up off the ground as Vidic walked past her.

"I believe she's inquiring who we are," he stated, studying her.

"You speak Arabic?" Lucy asked.

"Not in the least," Vidic answered. "However, it is natural for that to be the first question to ask when standing in an unfamiliar room with unfamiliar people." Sonya glared at them as she shouted something else. Lucy stepped towards her slowly with her hands up.

"It's okay Sonya," she said, attempting to calm her down. At the mention of her name, Sonya lunged at her and pinned her to the ground. She spat out more foreign words as she held her blade to her throat. Lucy stared at her one visible eye, since the other one was covered by an eye patch, and tried to think of what to say. Vidic quickly took out his phone and punched in a number.

"We've got a problem," he said softly. "Send in as many men as you've got." Just as he hung up the phone, a team of security guards burst through the doors into the room, all wielding firearms. "Try not to get blood everywhere," Vidic stated moving out of the way. Sonya looked at the newcomers and stared at their strange weapons, but she did not move.

"Step away from the lady and come quietly," said one of the guards. "If you do not cooperate, we will—GAH!" Without letting him finish, Sonya had flung a knife at his shoulder, causing him to drop his weapon. "What're you waiting for?" he growled, clutching the wound in pain. "Shoot her! Shoot her!" The rest of the guards obeyed as they emptied a round of bullets into her. She cried in pain and fell to the floor as they penetrated her body.

"Remember, we need her alive!" Vidic cried as the guards kept firing. Sonya was now sprawled out on the floor, blood seeping out from the wounds. She couldn't move her arms or legs and took short, raspy breaths. A large bullet had just grazed her forehead, leaving a large gash. Her eye patch had fallen off of her right eye, revealing it to be dark red in color. It gleamed brightly as the blood from her head wound slowly found its way into her pupil. "That was a bit excessive," Vidic stated, staring at the mess on the floor. Lucy, now standing beside him, felt sick to her stomach. One of the security guards, the one who had the knife in his shoulder, walked towards the half-dead woman. Leaning down, he stared at her and spat in her face.

"Serves you right, bi—" The guard stared in shock as Sonya pulled her hidden blade out from his neck. He fell to the floor with a loud thump, the life slowly draining from his eyes. Sonya stood slowly, short blade in one hand, her sword in the other. She held the swords in front of her body in a defensive stance, her red eye gleaming brightly.

"Fire! FIRE!" one of the guards yelled, pulling the trigger. The others quickly snapped out of their daze and followed suit. A maelstrom of bullets ravaged the room. Lucy and Vidic quickly found cover from the thousands of tiny projectiles ricocheting all over the place. Sonya was not fazed. Her bloodstained eye followed the path of each bullet, tracking its movements. Her hands were a blur as her blades blocked every single shot that came towards her, sending them flying back to where they came from. The guards fell one by one as they were hit with their own bullets. As the last guard fell to the floor, Sonya quickly charged through the doors and into the hallways. Aggravated, Vidic pulled out his phone and punched in another number.

"Get another unit down here!" he screamed into the receiver. "I want Subject 11 back here, even if she has to come in pieces!"

"Are you kidding me?" Lucy exclaimed. "Did you see what happened just now? She deflected a hurricane of bullets as if it were nothing! Do you really think another unit is going to stop her?" Vidic started to answer when his phone beeped.

"Yes, what is it?" he asked agitated.

"Uh…" the person on the other side said nervously. "Subject 11 just jumped out the window."

1191 AD

Damascus Poor District – Souk Al-Silaah

"How could you have lost the documents?" he roared at his incompetent lackey.

"I-I don't know! I was sure they were in my satchel when I-" the messenger stuttered before he was struck down by a fist.

"The others will not be pleased with this," the man said as he swore multiple profanities under his breath. He turned to the messenger whimpering on the floor and motioned for the guards to come. "He is of no further use to me."

"Tamir, please!" the messenger cried, "I beg you, have mercy!" A loud guttural sound was heard as the guard's blade penetrated his body and spurts of red liquid sprayed across the ground. As the guard withdrew his blade, the messenger fell to the ground, soaking in a puddle of his own blood. The Black Market merchant paced about his office, muttering to himself as the guards carried away the corpse to be disposed. A small piece of parchment slipped out of the messenger's satchel and fell to the floor.

"Uh… Sir…" One of the guards picked up the slip of parchment and handed it to Tamir. His face turned into a scowl as he scanned the paper. In a neat script, the note read:

We have stolen these documents in the hope that it will halt all black market activities~

Tamir crumpled up the parchment and threw it onto the floor. "I want those documents found! I don't care if you have to shake down the entire city! Get to it!" The guards did as told and rushed out of the office into the bustling streets. Tamir rubbed his forehead and sat in a plush chair behind his desk. If those documents weren't found soon, he would be in a very troubling situation. He dared not disappoint the others now, not after last week's incident. The door slowly creaked open and Tamir looked up to see a black robed man standing in the doorway, his face partially covered by his hood.

"Rough day?" he asked in a playful tone, walking towards the desk. Tamir, not amused by this, simply glared at him. The man simply laughed and sat on the edge of the desk. "Don't look at me like that," he sighed. "If looks could kill…"

"What is it you want?" Tamir spat. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not in the best of moods."

"Then let me get to the point," the man said. "You're a day behind. Our plans are slowly coming to a halt because of your incompetence." The man turned to look at a now pale-faced Tamir. "I would have thought that after last week's incident, you would be a bit more productive." The man paused for a while, taking in Tamir's reaction. "I think you know what happens to those that slow me down," he stated, hopping off the desk. "I'll check back tomorrow. If you don't pick up the pace," the man made a slicing motion across his neck with his hand, and left.

1191 AD

Damascus Poor District – Assassin's Bureau

The bureau was as welcoming as always. The plush carpets that hung on the walls and the two fountains on opposing sides gave the room an exquisite feel. A group of pillows were placed near the wall, offering respite to weary assassins. The bureau leader's room next door featured a counter with bookcases filled with various pots in different shapes and sizes. There was no other piece of furniture except a small chess table situated in the corner with two chairs next to it.

Two figures entered the main chamber. One was dressed in a white robe, resembling that of a scholar. A sword and a red sash were attached to his belt. Behind him was a similarly dressed woman, though instead of a robe she wore a hooded cape. Beneath this her sword and red sash were attached to her belt. A bright blue eye gleamed under her hood, while the other was hidden by an eye patch.

The rafiq looked up from a piece of parchment he was reading and greeted the two. "Ah! Al Mualim said you would arrive!" He directed his attention to the white robed man, "I had heard you had gotten demoted Altair…" The man stayed silent.

"Yep, now we're both novices!" The woman said cheerily as she put her arm around his shoulder.

The rafiq continued, "A few of your brothers were here earlier in fact. Oh, if you'd heard the things they said, I'm certain you'd have slain them where they stood!"

"It's quite alright," Altair replied, shrugging off the woman's arm.

"Yes, you've never been one for the Creed, have you?"

"Ain't that the truth!" The woman replied.

"Sonya," Altair said, glaring at her. Sonya just ignored him and walked closer to the rafiq.

"So, who exactly are we looking for?" Sonya asked, leaning on the counter.

"Your target is a black market merchant, a man named Tamir," said the rafiq. "It is said that he is the largest black market merchant in all of Damascus. He specializes in arms and armor and runs the largest underground trade in the entire Holy Land."

"Interesting…" Sonya replied, leaning in closer. "I'd like to learn more."

"You can probably pick up some information around the Souk Al-Silaah," the rafiq suggested. "I would suggest you seek out the following places: the small souk north-east of here, the madrasah to our east, and the gardens north of this bureau. Focus on these places and he should become well known to you."

"Well, Altair, I'll leave you to it!" Sonya scaled the wall and exited the bureau, jumping off the side of the building and landing in the streets bellow.

The rafiq laughed as he watched her go. "Looks like you're gonna have your hands full with that one, eh, Altair?"

Altair sighed, "I assume you want me to return to you when this is done?"

The rafiq nodded. "I'll give you Al Mualim's marker, and you'll give us Tamir's life!" Altair turned to leave the bureau when the rafiq said, "Remember Altaïr, should you find yourself in trouble and the city turned against you, return to the Bureau; I can shelter you from the storm. Be warned though; if your enemies are too close, my door will remain closed until you've lost them."

As he climbed on top of the roof, he looked down into the streets in search of his missing partner. He scanned the crowd, but could not locate her. 'Good,' he thought, 'It would be more of a burden having her around.' He dropped down into the crowded streets below and made his way to the place he thought may provide the most information: the Souk Al-Silaah. Being as quick as he was, he reached the souk in very little time. He searched the perimeter, hoping to find means of obtaining useful information, when he saw two people standing near one of the stalls. He watched as one of the men handed off some documents to the other.

"Make sure to get this to Tamir, right away," the man said. The messenger nodded and went on his way. This was his chance. Altair moved slowly through the crowd, careful not to raise suspicion as he approached the messenger. He extended his arm towards the satchel that contained the documents when he was shoved out of the way by two figures dressed in black.

"Good morning sir!" said one of the figures, who appeared to be a man.

"Good morning!" mimicked the other one, a small young woman. The messenger stared at them, baffled.

"Can I help you?" he asked apprehensively.

"Why yes you can!" answered the man. "You see, we are new to the city and we've been wandering around for hours!"

"Hours!" repeated the young woman.

"Please, kind sir, we are ever so hungry! Could you please point the way to the nearest food place?" the man implored, grabbing his shoulders.

"Please, kind sir!" said the woman, mimicking his actions. The messenger shakily pointed a finger to the food stall directly behind them. The odd pair then seized him up in a huge hug.

"Oh thank you so much sir!" the man exclaimed.

"Thank you!" With that, they quickly fled the scene. The messenger, still baffled, went back on his way. Altair watched as the couple ran past the food stall and into the streets. Something was wrong. When he looked back to the messenger, he saw that he was desperately searching his satchel for the missing documents.

Altair headed back to the bureau in disappointment. He was only able to gather a few pieces of information about his target. Whenever he was close to obtaining anything of use, something would go wrong. And it always seemed to involve the mysterious odd couple. He recalled his last encounter with the couple, ending with him being chased around the district by half the city's guards. He sighed in frustration as he climbed down into the bureau's main chamber.

"Ah, welcome back Altair!" the rafiq greeted as he entered. "So, have you found out anything useful?"

Altair shook his head. "I found very little information concerning the target."

"Really? That's unusual…" the rafiq stroked his chin. "What went wrong?"

Altair thought for a moment before replying. "There was an… odd couple in the city. It seems as if every time I would get close to learning something useful, they would appear and take away my opportunity."

The rafiq shook his head. "That's tough luck, Altair. I guess our only hope is that Sonya has been more successful."

"Please, if I couldn't get anything, what makes you think she would have a better chance?" Altair retorted. Suddenly a thud was heard from the main chamber. Altair and the rafiq turned to see Sonya stumble through the doorway, smiling like an idiot. Her hair and clothing was a mess and she was covered in hay.

"I know exactly when and where Tamir is going to be."

2011 AD

Abstergo Industries

"Hey Isaiah! Is this the place?"

"It certainly is, Maria my dear!"

"Woooooow! This looks like the perfect place to do a robbery!" A man and a woman stood in front of the building, taking in the view. The man was tall with thick, brown hair and mischievous eyes. The woman, in contrast, was much shorter, having long blonde hair that reached well past her shoulders and eyes full of excitement. They were both wearing janitor suits.

"Let's get to it!" Isaiah and Maria quickly checked to make sure their janitor outfits were on right before entering the building. "Remember Maria, just act natural, like you come here all the time." Maria nodded as they both entered the building, nonchalantly twirling their fake mustaches. They made their way past the receptionist, who gave them a strange look before shrugging it off and going back to work. The couple walked casually down to the end of the hall, where they made a break for it in the next corridor.

"This is it! We're in the clear!" Isaiah exclaimed as they sprinted towards the stairs. Maria laughed in delight as they flew up three flights of stairs before stopping on the third floor landing to catch their breath.

"So… Where do you… Think they… Keep the money?" Maria asked, catching her breath.

"Hm… An excellent question, Maria my dear," Isaiah replied, stroking his chin. "If I had to guess, I would say that they keep it at the bank!" Maria gave him a puzzled look.

"But, if they keep it at the bank, what are we doing here?" she asked, studying him.

Isaiah stood silent for a moment before replying, "The answer is simple, Maria! We're here to steal some expensive looking equipment and sell it on the market for quadruple its normal price!"

"Wow!" Maria exclaimed, jumping into the air. "That way, we'll make even more than the people who work here!"

"Exactly Maria!" Isaiah chimed, taking her hands. "With all the equipment here we can steal, we'll be billionaires in no time!"

"Billionaires!" Maria laughed, twirling into his arms.

"Right then," Isaiah said, suddenly serious. "Let's ransack this place and gather as much stuff as we can!"

"Hey! What are you two doing in here?" The couple looked up to see a security guard on the staircase above them.

"Isaiah," Maria said nervously, "I think this may be the time to make our exit."

"Right you are, Maria," Isaiah replied. "I'm sorry sir, but we must bid you ado!" He shouted at the guard before sprinting down the stairs to the third floor, Maria following close behind him. They quickly made their way down the hall and turned the corner, hiding in a vacant looking office. Both of them held their breaths as they watched the security guard run past from the window in the door. Maria exhaled deeply and looked around the room.

"Isaiah, look!" she exclaimed, pointing to the strange device in front of her. "What do you think it is?" Isaiah stepped closer to the machine and examined it. It was positioned in the back of the room and took up the entire wall space. Various wires and tubes criss-crossed this way and that, forming a large maze of lines on the wall, and buttons of all shapes and sizes could be seen everywhere. In the center was a glass door that led to a large chamber big enough for two people.

"Well, Maria, from its odd structure and size, I deduce that it is a snow cone machine!" Isaiah announced, finishing his inspection. Maria gasped in awe.

"Oh wow! Fire it up!" she exclaimed, reaching for one of the buttons, only to be stopped by Isaiah.

"Now now, Maria," he scolded, "You're pressing the wrong button! It's THIS one!" Isaiah reached out for the large button next to them.

"Um… Isaiah," Maria asked, "If that's the button that starts it, why does it say WARNING: DO NOT PRESS?"

"Why, Maria," he replied, "It's obvious that the sign is just a ruse so that people won't abuse it!"

"That's incredible!" she cried as the chamber's glass door slid open. "Um… I guess we have to order inside?"

"It would seem that way…" Isaiah stated entering the chamber, Maria following close behind. Suddenly, a young woman entered the room. A look of shock flashed on her face as she saw the couple, and then quickly turned to panic.

"What are you doing here?" she asked. Her eyes fell across the machine's monitor. "Oh no… QUICK! YOU HAVE TO GET OUT OF THERE!" The woman raced towards them as the door closed. She banged on the glass and shouted inaudible words to those inside the chamber.

"Isaiah, why is she banging on the door?" Maria asked.

"She probably just wants to get a snow cone," Isaiah answered. "I'M SOOOORRY BUT THEEEERE ISSSS NO ROOOOM FOR YOUUUU!" he mouthed to the woman. She sighed in exasperation and proceeded to pressing random numbers on the screen. Suddenly, the couple became blinded by a flash of light.

1191 AD

Kingdom – Damascus outskirts

"Please?"

No response.

"I'll be your best buddy!"

Altair stopped for a moment, as if considering the offer, then put his horse into a light canter. Sonya sat and stared, annoyed, as he rode away. She then kicked her horse into a gallop and raced at full speed towards him. Sonya closed the distance between the two fast, her horse matching stride with Altair's. Pulling up beside him, she jumped off and tackled him, sending both of them flying onto the hard, dusty ground. Sonya sat and glared at him, pinning his arms and legs to the ground.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she spat. Without warning, Altair threw her off and pinned her to the ground in the same fashion.

"I could ask the same of you," he retorted. Sonya just rolled her eyes at him.

"It was just a small favor…" she said quietly. Altair glared at her with a murderous intent. Sonya stared at him with huge puppy dog eyes, but he would not waver. After a few minutes, she gave up and sighed. "Could you let me up?"

"Once you apologize," he stated flatly.

Sonya lay silent for a while before muttering, "I'm sorry you're such a dick." Altair raised his fist as if to strike her. He was clearly enraged by this statement, however, after a moment, he hesitantly lowered his arm.

"If you were not a woman, you would have a broken nose and black eye by now," he growled, standing up. Sonya made an indignant sound as she dusted herself off. "What was Al Mualim thinking, pairing me up with you?"

"Maybe he thought you could use a little help," Sonya replied in a playful tone. At this, Altair scoffed.

"As if I need your help," he said, getting on his horse. "I am your superior–"

"You were my superior," Sonya interrupted. "Now you are just the same as me. Or did you forget that Al Mualim stripped you of your rank?"

"We may be the same in rank," he replied, "but not in skill." Sonya smiled.

"Okay, how about this?" she pointed to the top of a nearby tower. "I bet I can beat you to the top of that tower."

Altair looked at where she was pointing. "Very well, but when I win, you have to obey all of my orders and submit to my will."

"Oh, cocky aren't we?" She smirked as they positioned themselves. "Ready… Set… GO!" Sonya took off and in the blink of an eye, she was already at the tower's base. She didn't need to look behind her as she scaled the wall to know that Altair was far behind. He may be fast, but she was faster. What she lacked in fighting ability she made up for in agility and speed. In a few seconds, she was already hauling herself up onto the top of the tower. It was thirty more seconds before Altair finally made it to the top. Sonya smiled at him as she examined the view.

It was breathtaking. From where she stood she could see a great distance away, getting a good view of the village below them that was situated next to a small lake. A light breeze blew through the air, ruffling her clothes as it hit them. It carried the scent of palm trees, crisp and clean compared to the dry smell of the dirt roads. She put her hood down and closed her one visible eye as the wind hit her face, blowing back strands of her raven black hair.

"We should get going," Altair stated, ruining the moment. Sonya glared at him as he hopped up on the ledge and prepared to do a leap of faith. A smile flashed across her face as she walked towards him. Without warning, she pushed him off of the ledge and watched as he landed in the pile of hay below.

"I BELIEVE I CAN FLY!" she yelled as she jumped off after him. The sensation of falling overwhelmed her as her body fell through the air, adjusting itself so that she would land on her backside. It was exhilarating, this sensation. It gave her a sense of freedom, that she was in a whole other world where nothing could harm her. That is until she entered the pile of hay, landing on Altair as he tried to get out in time. She couldn't help but laugh as the "Master Assassin" groaned in pain from the sudden impact.

"Get off of me," he growled, but Sonya just sat there and smirked at him. Seeing that she would not budge, he then pushed her off and exited the hay pile. She followed after him, shaking bits of hay out of her clothing.

"Why do you always have to kill the fun?" Sonya asked as they mounted their horses. Altair simply rode away without answering her. She sighed and kicked her horse into a light canter to catch up with him. The rest of their trip to Damascus followed in silence. Neither had said a word to the other since the race at the tower. Sonya had tried to make conversation several times, but eventually gave up. Altair just wasn't very sociable. They had reached the main gates of the city within the next hour. Sonya halted her steed and stared at the large towers spread out across the city.

"Looks like the main entrance is guarded," Altair stated, though Sonya had barely heard him. She was too busy taking in the sights, or rather, what she could see from outside the walls. Her mind drifted off as she imagined herself at the top of those towers, free falling through the sky into the city below, not a care in the world. She imagined how wonderful it would feel to just plummet to the ground from such a high point, and then to land in a soft pile of hay. A cry for help broke her out of her reverie. She looked around and saw a scholar being assaulted by some of the city guards.

"Altair…" she started, but he had already dismounted his horse and headed towards the guard in front.

"What is it you want?" the guard spat. "Go away–" Before the guard had finished his sentence, Altair had stabbed him in the stomach with his hidden blade. This got the attention of the other guards, and they soon turned to face him.

"Infidel!" one of them shouted as he lunged for him. Altair did a quick sidestep and slashed at his back, sending him to the ground. As soon as he was down he turned and struck the third guard, piercing his sword through his heart. Blood sprayed everywhere as he removed the blade and looked at the fourth guard. The guard stood still for a moment, the fact that his colleagues were dead still registering in his brain. Before he could fully register this fact, Altair had already slashed at his throat, causing more blood to spray about the area.

"Oh, thank you so much!" the scholar exclaimed. "I'd best be getting home now, don't think I'll leave it anytime soon, either." With that, the scholar left, leaving Altair and Sonya alone with the guards' dead bodies.

"You would do well to stop daydreaming," he said flatly as he sheathed his sword.

"Sorry," she muttered, getting off her horse, "I've just never been to such an amazing city before." Altair led their mounts over to the stables and handed them over to the stable boy.

"You truly are a novice," he remarked, walking over towards the group of scholars. Sonya huffed and followed him, folding her hands in prayer and bowing her head in order to blend in as they entered the city. She held her breath a little when they walked past the guards, but then released it once they were in the clear. "First things first," Altair said, "We find the Assassin's Bureau."

The city was even more amazing inside the walls. Even though they were surrounded by the shoddy old buildings of the poor district, it was still a sight to see. Merchant stalls were placed everywhere with men crying out great deals as people bustled around browsing through various goods. Sonya couldn't help staring at the large towers that loomed over the city, the architecture was simply brilliant. Her reveries of falling were coming back to her, only to be chased away by Altair dragging her down the street by her arm.

"I thought I told you to stop daydreaming," he said impatiently.

"I told you, I can't help it!" she cried. "Could you not grip my arm so hard? OW!" Altair paid no heed to her cries as he continued dragging her along to a small alley with a ladder on one end. "Um, why are we in an alley with no witnesses around?" Sonya asked nervously. Suddenly her eyes widened in realization. "A-Altair! You wouldn't! I won't let you! I'll run! I'll scream! I'll kick you in the most painful place imaginable, but I ain't going down without a fight!"

"What are you talking about?" he asked, climbing the ladder. Sonya stared as he climbed onto the roof.

"Oh… Uh, nothing," she said sheepishly, following after him.

"As much as I would love to kill you," he continued, "you're my ticket back to the top, and I will not lose that ticket."

"Oh great, now I'm something to be disposed of when I'm no longer of any use," Sonya replied sarcastically, jumping down into the bureau with Altair.

"You became something to dispose of the moment you became an assassin," Altair murmured almost inaudibly. She landed with a soft thud and examined her surroundings. The main chamber was quite welcoming, with expensive looking carpets hanging on the walls and a cluster of pillows offering a quick reprieve from the day's work. Sonya examined the potted plants scattered throughout the room, poking one with particularly strange leaves.

"Ah! Al Mualim said you would arrive!" she heard the rafiq greet from the other room, "I had heard you had gotten demoted Altair…" Altair remained silent.

"Yep, now we're both novices!" Sonya said cheerily as she put her arm around his shoulder.

The rafiq continued, "A few of your brothers were here earlier in fact. Oh, if you'd heard the things they said, I'm certain you'd have slain them where they stood!"

"It's quite alright," Altair replied, shrugging off the woman's arm. Sonya looked at him crossly and turned away.

"Yes, you've never been one for the Creed, have you?"

"Ain't that the truth!" she replied, giving him a look.

"Sonya," Altair said, glaring at her. Sonya just ignored him and walked closer to the rafiq.

"So, who exactly are we looking for?" she asked, leaning on the counter.

"Interesting…" Sonya replied, leaning in closer. "I'd like to learn more."

"Well, Altair, I'll leave you to it!" Sonya scaled the wall and exited the bureau, jumping off the side of the building and landing in the streets bellow. She quickly blended into the crowd to avoid arousing suspicion from the guards. "Now, where to start…?" A nearby tower caught her eye as she surveyed her surroundings. She smiled as she made her way towards it, thoughts of falling through the air already flowing through her mind. However, this reverie was also broken by a shrill scream.

"That'll teach you to mess with the city guards!" Sonya turned around and saw a few guards kicking a man who lay motionless on the ground, curled up in a ball, while one of them was holding a young woman and preventing her from escaping.

"What is it with the guards in this city?" she muttered, making her way towards the spectacle. As she approached, one of the guards noticed her and stepped in her way.

"Leave now peasant– " The guard was unable to finish his sentence, for his mouth was met with the sole of her boot, knocking him to the ground. The other guards took notice and turned their attention on her.

"You'll pay for that, heretic!" yelled one of the guards as he lunged for her. Sonya swiftly blocked the blow with her blade and punched him in the gut. She then grabbed his shirt and flung him at the two remaining guards into a merchant stand, causing it to collapse. Luckily, no one was manning the stand.

"Oh thank you so much, miss!" The man exclaimed as he got up off the ground and embraced her.

"Thank you!" cried the woman as she mimicked him. Sonya stood there stunned at how friendly they were.

"Uh, it really was no trouble at all," she said, pulling herself out of the hug.

"Oh please, what you did was so heroic!" The man yelled.

"Heroic!" The woman mimicked. Sonya just stared at the strange couple, wishing she had just let the guards do what they wanted.

"Please, there must be some way that we can pay you back," the man insisted. "We'll do anything!"

"Anything!" They dropped down on their knees into a begging position and pleaded with her. Sonya looked around nervously. These two were drawing a crowd, and she needed to get rid of them, fast. Suddenly, an idea hatched in her brain.

"Actually, there is something you might be able to do for me."

1191 AD

Damascus Poor District

"Ow, my head…"

"That was some fall, huh Maria?"

"Isaiah, look!" Isaiah opened his eyes, blinking them repeatedly to adjust to the bright light. Once the brightness wasn't so unbearable, he looked around and gasped in shock. Isaiah and Maria sat in the middle of a dusty street, surrounded by old clay buildings and merchant stalls. The inhabitants of the city stared at the two, making snide remarks about how oddly they were dressed, and then simply walked around them, minding their own business as they went on their way.

"W-wait a minute!" he stammered, getting up. "Weren't we just inside that snow cone machine?" He ran up to one of the merchant stalls, cutting through the gathering crowd. "Excuse me sir, but could you tell me where we are and what year it is?"

The merchant looked baffled. "Why, it is the year 1191! And here we are in the great city of Damascus! More specifically, we are in the poor district. It is home to the Souk Al-Silaah, the most bustling marketplace around!" The merchant picked up one of his items, a brilliantly colored and bejeweled comb, and offered it to Isaiah. "Would you like one for your lady friend over there?" he asked, but Isaiah declined and returned to Maria, relaying the news.

"W-what could this mean?" she asked, confused and frightened. Isaiah sat cross-legged on the ground and thought hard.

"I've got it!" he exclaimed, shooting up into the air. "This is all just some crazy dream!"

"R-really?" Maria asked, relieved.

"Of course, Maria my dear!" he continued, "We're really still back in that snow cone machine, passed out from eating too many frozen treats!"

"But Isaiah," Maria said, "I don't remember eating any snow cones."

Isaiah paused for a moment before saying, "But of course, Maria, they must have been so delicious that we got lost in their flavor and wound up here!"

"So you're saying that they were magical snow cones that could transport us through space and time?" she asked excitedly.

"Exactly, Maria!" Isaiah continued. "We ate some magical snow cones that transported us into a whole other dimension!"

"That's incredible!" Maria cheered, hugging Isaiah. "But, how will we ever get back home?"

"Well Maria, the way I see it, we'll just have to look around this city for a while," he answered, "At least until the effect of those magical snow cones wears off."

"By look around, do you mean pull a few jobs?" Maria asked.

"That's exactly what I mean!" He exclaimed, grabbing her hands and frolicking in the middle of the street. "We'll pull the biggest, baddest heist in this city!" Maria laughed and cheered as they danced all around, ignoring the growing stares of the crowd. Suddenly, Maria stepped on something, causing them to slip and fall onto the hard dirt. A yelp of pain was heard and they looked up to see one of the city guards staring down at them, a furious expression on his face. He grabbed Isaiah, still wearing the janitor outfit, by his collar and lifted him into the air.

"Watch were you're going you idiot!" he spat, "You ruined my boots with all your dancing on top of them!"

"Hey, let it go, we're still on duty," said another guard behind him. The first guard grunted and dropped Isaiah onto the ground.

"You're lucky we don't have any time to waste on you filth," he growled, walking away.

Isaiah scrambled onto his feet and called after them, "I could say the same for you, you dirty bastards!" The guard stopped and turned around, a look of anger on his face.

"Yeah? Well if it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get!" he shouted, punching Isaiah in the face and knocking him to the ground. "Not so tough now, are you?" The guard repeatedly kicked him as he curled up into a defensive ball.

"Isaiah!" Maria cried as she rushed to help him, but one of the guards restrained her as the others joined in on the beating.

"This'll teach you to mess with the city guards!" yelled one of them as he stomped on Isaiah. A cry of pain was heard behind them as the guard holding Maria fell to the ground. They turned to see a figure dressed in white with a hooded cape covering their eyes. The guards stood dazed for a moment, but quickly got over it as one of them charged for her.

"You'll pay for that, heretic!" he shouted, lunging at her with his sword. The figure swiftly blocked the blow with their own sword and delivered a punch to his stomach. Then, grabbing his shirt, they flung him at the two remaining guards, causing them to fly into a nearby merchant stand, which collapsed at the sudden impact. The whole scene took less than ten seconds. Isaiah got up and took a good look at his savior.

"Wow, Maria," he whispered, "he's strong!"

"Strong!" she whispered back. "We should thank him! But…"

"What's wrong Maria?" Isaiah asked. Maria stared at the figure.

"Doesn't he seem a bit… feminine?" she replied. Isaiah looked them over carefully and gasped in shock.

"You're right, Maria!" he exclaimed. "With curves like those, it's easy to see that she is indeed a woman!"

"Oh wooooooow!" Maria gasped in awe. Isaiah stood up and went over to their hero.

"Oh, thank you so much, miss!" he exclaimed, embracing her.

"Thank you!" Maria mimicked, hugging her as well. She stood there stunned at the sudden display of affection.

"Uh, it really was no trouble at all," she replied, pulling herself out of the hug.

"Oh, please," Isaiah interjected, "what you did was so heroic!"

"Heroic!" Maria cheered. The woman simply stared at them, nervously looking at the crowd they were drawing in.

"Please, there must be some way we can pay you back!" Isaiah insisted. "We'll do anything!"

"Anything!" The couple dropped to their knees in a begging position, oblivious to how uncomfortable they were making her.

After a short pause, the woman replied, "Actually, there is something you might be able to do for me." Isaiah and Maria leaned in closer to listen. "You see, I need help gathering information about a black market merchant named Tamir. He specializes in selling weapons and arms."

"He sounds dangerous!" Maria exclaimed.

The woman nodded before continuing, "Yes, he is. He constantly terrorizes the streets. He is a heartless, cruel man who will stop at nothing to leave this world in ruins!" The couple stared in horror as she gestured wildly. "THIS EVIL MUST BE STOPPED! YOU MUST HELP US DEFEND THESE STREETS SO THAT THE WORKING CLASS MAY LIVE IN PEACE ONCE AGAIN!" she shouted overdramatically. "So I'm leaving it up to you two to help gather information about him!" The woman smiled to herself, her tone changing to a lighter one, and gave them all the details they needed before sending them on their way.

"We'll be happy to help!" Isaiah announced.

"We will bring down this evil man!" Maria exclaimed.

"Come, Maria! Let's get to work!" The couple turned and started in a random direction.

"Wait!" The woman stopped them and handed them some coins. "You might want to change into some less conspicuous outfits," she said, pointing out their janitor uniforms. The couple looked down and stared at their outfits.

"I guess these things won't cut it in this kind of place," Maria said.

Isaiah nodded and accepted the money. "Right Maria, let's go get us a whole new wardrobe!"

1191 AD

Damascus Poor District

Sonya watched as the strange couple headed off and disappeared into the crowd. "Guess I'll be able to take it easy for a while," she said, starting in a random direction. "Although I have to admit I exaggerated a bit when describing Tamir's 'evil'." Damascus was really something. Even though she was in the poor district, it was still much grander than she had expected. All her life, all she had ever known were the confining walls of Masyaf. Now, here in this large and beautiful city, she felt a sense of freedom she had never known before. Children laughed and played while their mothers watched nearby. Merchants called out to potential customers from flamboyant stalls, enticing them with exotic goods.

"Come! Look at this fine specimen I have with me today!" exclaimed one of the merchants, holding up a large sapphire necklace. "This fine piece of jewelry was hand-crafted by the best in the business! None can match its quality!" Sonya peered over the gathering crowd at the beautifully made necklace. Her visible eye gleamed with envy as the sun hit the jewel, making it shine brighter than anything she had ever seen. She quickly cut through the crowd to the front of the stand.

"I'll take it!" she shouted, snatching the necklace from the merchant's hands.

"A fine choice indeed, my friend!" he smiled. "Now of course, there is the matter of payment…" Sonya, paying no attention just stared at the necklace as she held it up in the light. She started bragging to the crowd about how beautiful it was as she put it on. The merchant, growing impatient, cleared his throat loudly and held out his hand. Sonya stared at it blankly before his intentions registered in her brain.

"Oh, right!" she exclaimed taking out her coin purse. "How much do you… need…" Sonya stared at the empty purse in dismay and started sweating profusely.

"Ten thousand gold coins," the merchant answered, holding out his hand expectantly. Sonya looked at him, then the purse, and back at him.

"Um… How about we just put it on my tab?" she asked nervously. The merchant looked displeased.

"Either you pay me my money now, or no deal!" he yelled, snatching the necklace off of her neck. "Next!" Sonya walked away solemnly, dragging her feet along the dirt road. She shook her head, causing her eye patch to come loose. She caught it in her hand as it fell, and snapped her head up, her red eye gleaming.

"This is all Altair's fault!" she exclaimed suddenly. "He sent me out on my own without any money!" Her sadness turned to rage as she stormed through the streets. "ALTAIIIIIIIIR!" The crowd parted as she made her way through, more out of fear than anything else. "Now, where would he be…?" Sonya looked up at a nearby tower that hovered over the city. It reached far above the buildings below, casting a looming shadow. Near the top, she could just barely make out a figure climbing up the side. "I'm gonna kill that bastard!" Sonya sprinted through the streets, shoving people aside as she made her way to the nearest cart of hay. There, she watched as the white donned figure jumped off of a small platform and landed in the cart next to her. Without waiting for him to get out, she reached into the pile and grabbed him, pulling him out into the street.

"Altair, you bastard!" she yelled, holding him in a stranglehold. "How could you just send me out on my own without any money? There was an amazing necklace down at the marketplace that I just had to buy! But I couldn't buy it, because I'm flat broke, because you never gave me money!" The man struggled, and with some effort, broke free from her grip.

"There must be some mistake!" he exclaimed, "I'm not—" Before he could finish, Sonya had slugged him and knocked him down to the ground. She then kneeled down and grabbed him by his shirt, studying his face carefully. His eyes were a dark green, seemingly staring into her soul. He wore similar robes to that of Altair, except his sleeves and pants were a darker gray.

"Oh," she said, letting go of him, "I must have mistaken you for someone else." The man stood up slowly, still recovering from the blow, and dusted himself off.

"You must be Sonya," he said, watching as she put her eye patch back on. "I've heard a great deal about you." Sonya looked at him and smiled.

"Sorry about that," she said, "I should really make sure my eye patch is tied securely so that doesn't happen again. You must be another assassin." She gestured to the red sash under his belt.

"My name is Salil, I was assigned to assassinate a certain politician who had stuck his nose too far into other people's business," he replied. "I heard that Al Mualim partnered you with Altair to take care of the black market merchant Tamir."

"Yes," Sonya nodded, "what do you know of him?" Salil smiled and walked towards her.

"Come, let us take a walk around the city," he suggested, "I will tell you everything you need to know." Sonya watched him warily before nodding and followed closely behind as he led her through the streets. "As you probably know, Tamir is a weapons dealer and supplies most of the Holy Land with his wares. He is often busy with his clients and is always seen barking out orders around the Souk. If you stay in that general vicinity long enough, you should be able to get a clear shot at an assassination." Sonya, listening intently, now looked up at the bright desert sun.

"So, it's as simple as that, huh?" she asked, taking idle steps.

"I suppose so," Salil laughed, walking closer, "but enough about that. I have given you information, so you must return the favor."

Sonya raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

"Well, for starters, why don't you tell me about yourself?" he suggested. "How did you get into the Brotherhood? And why is a beautiful young woman like you an assassin?" Sonya stared at him.

"Are you flirting with me?" she asked, incredulous. Salil burst out laughing at this.

"Not in the least," he smiled. Sonya stared for a few more seconds and just ignored him altogether.

"You know," she replied after some time, "the last person to try and flirt with me ended up with their dick up their ass." Salil chuckled a bit, stepping off to the side nervously.

"Well, if it's any consolation," he answered, "I really do think you are beautiful."

"Keep talking," Sonya smiled, "in the next few minutes you may be the first man to crash into the sun."

"You speak so openly for a woman," he stated, smirking. "It's a wonder no one has put you in your place yet." Sonya paused and looked down at the ground, studying the dirt path she stood on.

"Believe me, they've tried," she muttered softly. Salil watched her for a moment before putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I did not mean to bring up old memories," he apologized. Sonya just shook her head and kept walking, brushing his hand off.

"WE'RE BAAACK!" screamed the odd couple as they ran up to her.

"We've got the documents!" exclaimed Isaiah.

"And we overheard some important information about Tamir!" Maria added. Salil looked the couple over and smirked.

"Getting others to do your dirty work?" he questioned.

Sonya smiled, "They owed me a favor." She thanked the couple as they exchanged the information they gathered and headed back towards the bureau.

"By the way," Isaiah called after her, "we got into a little bit of trouble with the guards…" Sonya stopped and turned around.

"You see," Maria continued, "we bumped into this guy, causing him to bump into one of the guards on patrol. Then they started shouting out about him being an infidel and chased him around the city. A few even went after us!"

"Guess we better ru—Hey!" Sonya stared at the spot Salil had just been standing in seconds ago, and looked down the street to see him running through the crowd at top speed. "Bastard," Sonya muttered, climbing up the nearest building onto the roof. Once she reached the top, she ran down the line of buildings to the nearest rooftop garden. Looking over her shoulder, she could see the guards gaining on her. "When did they learn to climb so fast?" she asked in exasperation, tripping over a ledge in the process. She skidded across the roof, acquiring multiple cuts and bruises. The guards were gaining on her still, and she was running out of rooftops. After a few minutes, she finally reached the end of the line. The next line of buildings was too far away to jump across and the roof was too high to jump down from. She looked around frantically for options when she noticed that the ledge she was standing on had pigeon poop. She smiled as she spotted the cart of hay right below her and prepared to do a leap of faith. Then she got hit in the head with a rock.

Losing her balance, she fell off the ledge and landed roughly in the hay, gathering even more bruises to add to her ever-growing collection. She could hear the guards cheering as she fell, thinking that they had killed her. Once the laughter had died down, she heaved herself out of the cart, not bothering to brush off the pieces of hay all over her, and headed towards the bureau. Thankfully, it wasn't too far from where she was. She easily found the alleyway and, with some effort, climbed up the ladder. Once she reached the entryway, she stared at the ledge. Carefully, she tried easing herself down slowly. However, this didn't work out too well, for she slipped and fell flat on her back with a large thud.

Despite her multiple injuries, she had a large smile on her face as she entered the Rafiq's chamber and greeted the two assassins. "I know exactly when and where Tamir is going to be."

"Well, it looks like she did better than you after all, Altair!" the Rafiq laughed. Altair, however, was not amused.

"Beginner's luck," he muttered under his breath. Sonya ignored him and limped towards the counter.

"Tamir rules over the Souk Al-Silaah. He is the largest weapons dealer in the land," Sonya reported. "Tomorrow he is having a meeting to discuss an important sale. He'll be distracted with work, which gives me an opportunity to strike."

"Your plan seems solid enough," said the Rafiq, "but may I ask; why are you limping?" Sonya looked down sheepishly.

"Eh… I got into some trouble with the guards," she said nervously. The rafiq just laughed and beckoned her over to him.

"Come, let me treat your wounds," he offered, handing a white feather to Altair.

1191 AD

Damascus Poor District – Souk Al-Silaah

"Do you see him Maria?" Isaiah asked, scanning the crowd. Maria stood on tiptoe, searching as well. The couple now wore less conspicuous clothing, but their pure black garments still stood out quite well. People still avoided them as they ran around searching for someone, hoping to not get caught up in their antics. The souk was quite crowded now as the streets were filled with people browsing through the merchant stalls. Maria sighed and sat on the dusty ground.

"I give up, Isaiah," she said in defeat. Isaiah looked appalled.

"Maria! How could you say that?" he exclaimed, kneeling beside her. "We promised our dear friend that we would help put a stop to this treachery! And dare I say, I have never broken a promise!"

"But how will we ever find him in this huge crowd?" Maria asked. Isaiah stared at the ground in thought.

"We just have to keep looking, Maria!" he shouted, standing up abruptly. "WE WILL PUT A STOP TO THIS EVIL LIKE TRUE HEROES!"

"You mean like superheroes?" Maria asked, excited.

"Exactly Maria! We'll take this city by storm and secure the peace and tranquility of the people!" Isaiah continued, pulling her on her feet.

"Alright!" Maria exclaimed, pumping her fist in the air. "We'll be true heroes!" With that, the couple continued their search, vigorously scanning the crowd. After several minutes, Maria finally announced, "Over there! I see him!" She pointed off in a random direction as Isaiah tried to see past the crowd. Two people stood in a secluded area and a handful of documents were exchanged.

"Good going Maria!" Isaiah cheered. "Let's go put our skills to the test!" Without hesitation, the couple shoved their way through to where the man was standing. They followed behind him slowly as he headed for his destination. "Follow my lead," Isaiah whispered, "I have a plan." Maria nodded and watched as Isaiah rushed up to the messenger and followed suit. "Good morning sir!" he greeted cheerily.

"Good morning sir!" Maria mimicked, watching Isaiah carefully. The messenger looked startled.

"Can I help you?" He asked apprehensively.

"Why yes you can!" answered Isaiah. "You see, we are new to the city and we've been wondering around for hours!"

"Hours!" repeated the Maria.

"Please, kind sir, we are ever so hungry! Could you please point the way to the nearest food place?" Isaiah implored, grabbing his shoulders.

"Please, kind sir!" said Maria, mimicking his actions. The messenger shakily pointed a finger to the food stall directly behind them. The odd pair stared at it for a minute then seized him up in a huge hug. Isaiah carefully reached into his satchel, pulling out the documents stored in there and quickly put it in his own.

"Oh thank you so much sir!" Isaiah exclaimed.

"Thank you!" With that, they quickly fled the scene, running directly past the food stall and down another street. "Wow, Isaiah! That was so easy!" Maria exclaimed as she stared at the documents in his hand.

"Piece of cake, Maria my dear!" he replied slowing his pace. "Now then, let's report our findings to our dear friend!" Maria looked over the documents, frowning slightly.

"But Isaiah," she said, waving them around, "this doesn't look like enough information!" Isaiah looked over the papers and nodded in agreement.

"You're right Maria," he stated, putting them away in his satchel. "Then we'll just have to scout out more information!"

"Alright! Let's get to it!" Maria exclaimed excitedly. The couple then started in a random direction in search for more findings.

Two hours had passed, and the couple had gotten all the information they needed. They laughed merrily as they walked down the street. People still avoided them, and they cleared a path through the crowd wherever they went. Isaiah looked around, noticing for the first time that the crowd wanted no part of them.

"Hey Maria," Isaiah whispered, "Why are they all avoiding us?" Maria looked around and thought for a bit. She then noticed that a strange man in white robes was following them.

"Maybe they're too scared of that man over there," she whispered back, indicating the figure behind them. Isaiah looked over his shoulder and stared at him for a moment before turning back to Maria.

"Hey, he's wearing the same clothes as that lady who saved us!" he exclaimed.

"You're right!" Maria gasped. "Do you think he knows her?"

"Let's go ask!" Isaiah suggested, strolling over towards him. "Hi there!" he greeted. "I'm—GWAH!" Just before he reached the robed man, Isaiah tripped and tumbled forward. The man barely had time to react before he was shoved backwards into a group of guards.

"Isaiah!" Maria squealed, rushing over to him. "Are you okay?" Isaiah picked himself up off the ground and rubbed his head.

"I'm fine…" he replied, just as the guards noticed them.

"Assassins!" he cried out, drawing his sword. The robed man quickly fled the scene, a few guards on his heel. It took a moment for the couple to register what was going on. They scrambled onto their feet and ran in the opposite direction. Two guards chased after them, crying out things such as "INFIDEL!" and "DIE HERETIC!" The couple rounded the corner, hoping to lose sight of them, but instead ran into another group of guards that happened to be standing there. Alarmed, they drew their weapons and chased after the couple as well. Isaiah and Maria ran about the city, the crowd parting in front of them as they passed. The guards slowly gained on them, inching closer and closer. They finally managed to lose them in a busy intersection.

"GET DOWN!" Isaiah yelled, dropping to his knees and crawling through the crowd, with Maria following suit. They quickly made their way through and once they had cleared the area, looked up to see that the guards chasing them were nowhere to be found.

"We did it Isaiah!" Maria cried, embracing him. Isaiah hugged her back as he looked around.

"Look, Maria!" he exclaimed, pointing towards a woman dressed in white. "It's the lady who saved us!" Maria looked over where he was pointing and stared in confusion.

"Isaiah," she asked, "Who's that man standing next to her?" Isaiah looked closer and thought for a moment.

"Why, it must be her boyfriend, Maria!" he answered, heading towards the two.

"Is it okay to interrupt them like this?" Maria asked, keeping up.

"I'm afraid that evil cannot wait," Isaiah said, "not even for a lovely couple such as them!"

"How awful!" Maria cried as they approached the white donned figures.

"WE'RE BAAACK!" screamed the couple as they ran up to their hero.

"We've got the documents!" exclaimed Isaiah.

"And we overheard some important information about Tamir!" Maria added. The man standing next to her looked at the couple and smirked.

"Getting others to do your dirty work?" he questioned.

The woman smiled, "They owed me a favor." She thanked the couple as they exchanged the information they gathered and walked off. Isaiah and Maria exchanged glances as they heard shouting behind them.

"Do you think we should tell her?" Maria whispered. Isaiah nodded and turned towards the woman's retreating figure.

"By the way," he called after her, "we got into a little bit of trouble with the guards…" The woman stopped and turned around.

"In fact," Isaiah stated, "they're probably on our tails right now!" Just then, a pack of guards rounded the corner and spotted the group. "Well, it was nice meeting you miss, but we must take our leave!" he said, grabbing Maria by the arm and running in a random direction. Most of the guards concentrated their attention on the two figures in white, while two of them ran after the couple. Again, the commotion they caused attracted even more guards, and soon, practically half the city was chasing them. The guards were slowly gaining and the couple was running out of energy. Though they were very good at running away, they couldn't keep this up much longer.

"It looks like this is the end, Maria!" Isaiah cried.

"Oh Isaiah!" Maria exclaimed dramatically, attempting to hug him. Instead, she tripped and sent both of them tumbling down to the ground. They groaned loudly as they tried to stand up, but the guards had caught up with them. They held each other in a last embrace as one of them prepared to slash them with his sword. The blow never came. Confused, the couple looked up to see a group of men holding them off.

"Come with me!" One of them whispered, leading Isaiah and Maria to safety as the others kept the guards occupied. They entered a small house, holding no furniture except for a large wooden table and some chairs scattered about. "Are you alright?" the stranger asked.

Isaiah and Maria nodded before exclaiming simultaneously, "Thank you for saving us, kind sir!"

The stranger smiled as he introduced himself, "My name is Kadin, and you are quite welcome."

1191 AD

Damascus Poor District – Assassin's Bureau

Sonya lay in the pile of pillows, staring up at the stars through the grated ceiling. Her body still ached from the chase earlier that day, but she was healing remarkably fast. It was all just a dull pain and her bruises were nearly gone. Still, it hurt if she moved around too much, so she just lay still as she observed the night sky. It was a beautiful, cloudless night. Each star was perfectly visible and shone brightly against the midnight blue sky. Using her finger, she silently formed various constellations of her own. In one cluster, she traced the outline of a large eagle. In another, she managed to create an intricate drawing of a face. She absentmindedly traced her finger over the nose, mouth, and hair. Just as she was about to finish the eyes, she realized what, or who, she was drawing and gave up on the stars altogether. Memories of the boy who once was her friend flooded her mind. She shook her head in an attempt to clear it, and buried her face in one of the pillows.

The linen was soft and gave off a very interesting odor, but the memories still came to her. As a last resort, she started shouting random phrases into the pillow, babbling on about nonsensical things that made no sense to anyone. After a minute or two, she gave up and threw the pillow aside, her eye patch falling off in the process. She then looked up to see Altair standing in the doorway of the main chamber, staring at her. She stared back at him, her red eye gleaming brightly in the moonlight.

"What?" she asked after a few seconds, clearly annoyed.

"It's not every day that you see a grown woman shouting nonsense into a pillow," he replied calmly. Sonya growled softly as she deployed her hidden blade, the moonlight reflecting brightly off the metal. Altair remained silent as he walked past her and picked up her eye patch off the floor. He then tossed it into her lap and sat down next to her facing the wall. "You should make sure that thing is tied tightly enough." he said, lying down to rest. Sonya growled as she put it back on, tying it extra tight. Her growls turned into a yawn as she lay down as well, staring back up at the sky. "Go to sleep," he ordered.

"Sing me a lullaby," she commanded, tracing more constellations with her finger. Altair remained silent and unmoving. After a while, she put her finger to rest and rolled onto her side, her back towards the assassin next to her.

Long, long end of dreams

The clock hands keep spinning to anywhere

She sang softly to herself, her mind trying to recall the words.

Words lost their meaning

I left them inside my mind

I looked through the lost time

But I can't see you yet

Her eyelids started to get heavy as she sang the next verse of the song, the lyrics slowly coming back to her.

I slightly rewinded the clock

And forgot about the far away time and distance

Her voice started fading as she slowly lulled herself to sleep. Quietly, she whispered the last few words of the verse before falling asleep.

The very moment I held the small hand

I woke up from a dream that won't come true

Lyrics for the lullaby at the end were taken from a song called Counterclockwise by Hatsune Miku. So, read, review, criticize, you know the drill! If there's anything I can improve on just let me know and I'll do my best!