I forgot to put this before so here it is; I DO NOT own the Titans or Assassin's Creed, any characters, places, concepts or anything else related to them. Would be awesome if I did but I don't, anyway enjoy.

Chapter 2

Aleksey swiftly scaled the fire escape stairs without a sound. Moving like a shadow in the night he soon came to the window he was after and slid in, closing the curtains and window behind him sealing out the city. He stood in the sparsely decorated apartment, standing perfectly still and slowed his own breathing so it couldn't interfere with his hearing; he listened for any noise that was out of place. Nothing... then a faint creak and shuffle, someone was off to his left. He advanced flicking the blade on his right wrist out, aiming for the unseen person's neck.

The woman in the shadows blocked with a sword opening Aleksey up to her free will. 'You still have much to learn Aleksey.' She smiled.

'I'm sorry Mistress Anya, you startled me.' Aleksey withdrew his blade and she released his arm;

'So you're back in America, any trouble with customs?' Anya asked.

'None at all, walked right through; they didn't look twice at me.' He replied.

'Excellent,' she smiled, 'Master told me that you were coming so I prepared your usual equipment and something special for you.' Mistress Anya said retiring into another room collecting some of his equipment; she had a USP45 with a silencer and an extending sword with sheath. Mainly things he could carry on aircraft or through customs like the hidden blades and throwing knives where made of carbon ceramic composites. Light weight, strong and wont set off metal detectors. The modern day swords had a similar design to the ones The Grand Masters of the past used but where still made of metal. It was decided after many years that you really couldn't make an effective sword for what they wanted out of anything else, but they adjusted the design. It now collapsed down to a much smaller size, similar to a police officer's whip out baton and was held in its own specialised sheath. When you drew it the sword extended to full length and wouldn't shorten until it was put back in the sheath.

She also handed him a pack of Taser stun discs. 'Now for your special gifts,' she continued, heading into another room, 'you have a size 40 chest don't you?'

'Erm yes Mistress. How did you know that?' Aleksey asked puzzled.

'Me and your wife have been the best of friends for a very long time, there is little we do not know about each other's personal lives. I hear little Cassandra is growing big.' She answered, eventually coming out with a long ankle length coat, in white of course. It was the coat of a Master Assassin. 'Here, try it on.'

'This is the dress of a Master Assassin, I cannot wear this I do not hold the rank.' Aleksey protested.

'Ah but you can. I received this from the Master an hour or so ago,' she handed him a print out from the computer.

Aleksey read the printout; Anya, the council has made its decision to half promote Aleksey to Master Assassin. When Aleksey arrives you will give him the coat that belongs to the Master Assassins. They recognise his skills and efforts in the name of the Creed and although cannot make him a full Master they are going to give him the honour wearing the dress of one, denoting he is almost there and should be treat with the same respect as a full Master Assassin. I wish I could have given him this myself but the council took too long to in making its decision.

Aleksey has earned this and is proof of the changing face of the Order, if he refuses to take the rank... force him to take it. Tell him I wish him the best and may fortune favour his blade.

Aleksey gulped. He was all but a Master Assassin, he never dreamed of getting that far. He'd never counted on living until he was 21 or getting married and have a baby girl for that fact. 'Well if Master says I am entitled to wear it then I shall.' He took off his hooded top and pulled on the long jacket, it wasn't as heavy as it looked. He stood up letting it hang properly and flicked the hood up, the cowl covering his face in shadow. He looked every bit the assassins of times past.

'My, my Aleksey it really does suit you, you've come a long way from the street punk we found in Vladivostok.' Anya said smiling.

'Thank you Anya,' he was smiling to himself, he had come a long way. If he hadn't have been taken in he'd either be dead or well on his way with a good mix of drugs and booze, 'it was some of your teaching that got me here.'

'Ah shut up you soft Russian lump, anyway I have the second part of your surprise.' She said smiling; she turned a laptop around to face him and pressed play. The screen lit up as the short clip started, the image on it warmed his heart greatly, made him smile deeply.

'Hello my love, I hope this finds you well,' Natasha said her smiling almost leaping out the screen at him, 'Anya has told me of the council's decision sort of make you a Master Assassin. You've changed so much from when Master dragged you into the compound after you tried to pick pocket him, you were such a little monster. Anyway, I am so proud of you my sweetheart, please come home safely Cassandra misses you dearly and so do I.' In the back ground a baby started crying, 'speak of the devil, I love you.' She kissed her fingers then pressed them to the screen; an instant later the screen went blank. Aleksey fought back the tear in his eye, not wanting to appear any softer in front of Anya.

'My god you are going soft, you daft Russian fool.' Anya said sliding him shot glass of vodka across the bench. 'Na zdorovia!' she said her shot back.

'Spasibo' he replied knocking his back swiftly. 'Right celebrations aside, you got any information on my target?'

'Yes I do. Even though Jump City is well away from Gotham we do here stuff. I gather you only know the bare minimum?' Aleksey nodded in reply, 'it was wildly believed that he fell into a volcano after his apprentice turned on him, she stopped the eruption. But only just, she sacrificed herself in the process.

'Everyone thought he was dead, until sometime about 18months ago when he resurfaced and was linked to the coming of Trigon and hasn't been seen since. We have information he's been selling tech to the Templers trying to rebuild his name and fortune and more than likely reattempt to take the city again.' Anya explained.

'So how do you think I should proceed?'

'With caution obviously and try and worm your way into the underworld see if you can pick anything up. I would advise you follow the Titans because he would no doubt be watching them but they are away at the moment,' Aleksey raised an eyebrow propping for an answer, 'fighting some bunch called the Brotherhood of Evil.'

'Good means I can slip in fairly unnoticed, maybe even eliminate him without them noticing.' He said confidently.

'Maybe, but don't get cocky Aleksey. It's always been your undoing and it may be so again, be careful and get your ass home to them two or Natasha will kill me.' She chuckled, 'now do you have everything you need?'

'I believe so,' he checked himself over, 'yes I have, just need to be on my way Jump City.'

'Good now fuck off!' she shouted laughing loudly.