Assassins Creed: New Breed.
Chapter 1: Catching Up
She watched as her Grand Master entered the Guild on Isola Tiberina. He looked magnificent in his armor. She looked up to this man, this one man. A man who had eliminated all of the followers of Romulus, ended the reign of the Borgia, and proudly strutted through Castel Sant'Angelo like he owned the place. The main headquarters for Cesare, Lucrezia, and Rodrigo Borgia could not keep the assassin out.
Among those few achievements she also heard of his past successes against the Pazzi, and his aid with the Medici in Firenze. She wondered if anything could stop him. But just as she was about to wonder, from behind her entered Niccolò Machiavelli.
"Ezio. You have returned. After news of the downfall of Cesare, we expected you back immediately to give good news. When you had not returned we were left to speculation. Where have you been?"
For the first time since her recruitment into the guild, she watched as Ezio lowered his hood, revealing his face. The man was absolutely handsome. Everything about him reassured her that life was already getting better. Then he spoke. And his voice was even more captivating.
"I have been at the Colloseo. I needed to stash something away, where it will never be found again. I trust its hiding place to never be uncovered."
She looked over to Machiavelli, and he seemed to have a look of understanding on his otherwise emotionless face. "Yes I understand, Ezio. This is good news. But relay to us the story of the battle at Viana Castle. We heard that Cesare's entire army was there."
"Along with the tyrant himself. Michalleto had broken him out, and they charged the castle. I arrived on the battlefield with help from "the fruit of wisdom". I engaged in a small battle with Cesare before his guards intervened and he made his way up the hill. I was besieged by cannon fire and fled into the olive field. I managed to fight my way to the castle gates, and fought Cesare upon the southern walkway of the castle walls. I eventually defeated him, and as I was about to kill him, he claimed that "no man can kill him." So I left it up to fate, and threw him off the wall of the castle. I immediately departed for the Colloseo."
"I see. And what of Rodrigo?" Machiavelli asked.
"As I made my way into the Sant'Angelo, I discovered Rodrigo with a poisoned apple shoved down his throat. I paid my respects and raced Cesare to the apple. Soon he was arrested, and you know the rest."
Incredible she thought. What a story! Only he could tell it the way he did, and only he could have pulled it off.
"We have achieved our goals, Ezio. Now all that is left is to root out the rest of the Borgia supporters and rebuild Roma. You should meet with La Volpe, Claudia, and Bartolommeo in the other room."
With that Machiavelli left through the front door along with some assassin recruits. No doubt to cleanse the rest of Roma of tyrants. Ezio walked into the other room to meet with his friends and sister, and she promptly followed at a distance.
She watched as his sister Claudia walked to him and embraced him. Bartolommeo came up from behind and slapped him on the back. La Volpe stood a foot away with a smile. He was the first to speak.
"Well done Ezio. This is a true victory for all of Roma, as well as all of Italia. With the downfall of the Borgia, we can begin reconstructing the people's lives. No doubt many of the people's stolen goods remain in the Sant'Angelo. I will lead my men in to retrieve it and return it to the populous." With that he left for the streets.
"Ezio! It takes a true warrior to be able to take on an entire army like you did!" Bartolommeo's loud booming voice rang throughout the guild halls. "It will surely prove as an example for the rest of my men".
"Grazie Bartolommeo. What will you do now?" Ezio responded.
"I will lead my men into France to ensure that they do not try to repeat their actions with the Borgia. They cannot be trusted, not after this. Goodbye Ezio Auditore da Firenze. May we meet again one day on the glorious battlefield!" He clapped Ezio's shoulder and left the room.
"Ezio, Mario would be proud." Claudia hugged him once more. "What will we do now? How can I assist in Roma's reconstruction?"
"You lead the most popular brothel in Roma, Claudia. No doubt the civilians will be in need of "comfort" after these dark times. That's where your girls come in." He said all this with a smirk.
Claudia raised one eyebrow to him, but then lowered it. "When you're right, you're right Ezio." She touched him on the shoulder compassionately, and then left. As she left, she caught the eavesdropping assassin's eye, and walked past.
"I know you are there, Liza. You've been listening and watching me since I walked into the guild."
Liza's heart stopped. He was talking to her. He had noticed her from the very beginning. She slowly stepped into the doorway and met his gaze. Her hood covered the top half of her face, concealing her medium length blonde hair. Her violet eyes met his brown ones.
Ezio let out a low chuckle. "You may approach me you know. I do not bite." He beckoned a finger for her to walk towards him, and with small steps, she slowly approached him, lowering her hood.
"Grand Master." She kneeled before him on one knee with her head low. She felt a hand grip her shoulder and she looked up to his face.
"You need not bow Liza. You have the rank of Assassin now. You have worked hard for your rank, you bow to no one. You are my first recruit to be initiated, you should be proud."
She smiled softly and rose to her feet. "Thank you, Master. It has been an honor to fight alongside you during this war. And I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I remember the day you assisted me with those guards, and I was in awe. I knew I wanted to be like you. The skills, the equipment, the speech skills."
He laughed at that last part. "It all comes growing up with the family I did. And I pass it down to my recruits so that they may pass it down in return, should they wish. And Liza. Should anything happen to me, I want you to lead them."
She could not comprehend what he had just said. "But Master, that won't happen. You won't be defeated by anything. You will lead us for as long as we live." With that she bowed once more to her master, and took her leave of the room.
She passed more assassin recruits as she walked to the door, and emerged into the outside street. As she climbed the walls of the guild she kept thinking about what he had told her.
Should anything happen to me, I want you to lead them. Did he mean it? She didn't think she could even hope to lead a guild of assassins. And she hoped she wouldn't have to find out.
She continued up to the roof of the guild, and took her usual spot at the edge of the eagle perch. She crouched there and thought about her journey through the guild.
Traveling to London to poison the food of a corrupt general. Going to Moscow to eliminate the ranks of an entire army. She had done so much in the last year. And she hoped to continue to do much more. She kept repeating the words in her head.
I am Liza Baralelli. I am an Assassin. I am Liza Baralelli. I am an Assassin. I am Liza Baralelli. I am an Assassin.
She took the ever so familiar Leap of Faith off the perch, and as she fell, the same phrase echoed in her head. I am an Assassin.