/Mounting DNA Data...
/Sequencing/Digitizing...
/Launching ...
/Sequence 1
December, 1797 – Paris, France
- 3 years after the Death of Elise de la Serre
Arno strode quickly through the dirty streets of Paris. The blackened snow had been pushed back from the walkways in front of the shops. He wore a heavy coat in his favorite blue coloring, and in his arms he carried a long item wrapped snugly in a wool blanket. The street were relatively empty, the cold having forced most of the people inside. The sight of the empty streets was far different from when he had last been in Paris.
Since Elise's death he had been living in Versailles and executing her will to the best of his ability. However several weeks ago he decided that he couldn't bear the weight any longer. He had to bring the weapon that killed her back to Paris, and seek answers from his old Order.
Arno slipped unnoticed into what was once his favorite entrance to the underground Assassin Den. There was a large grated door which led through the sewer into the hide-out. He leaned the wrapped Sword of Eden against the grate, then gave the door some deafening pounds.
"Hello!" Arno screamed "I know someone is listening, the Order always has someone posted watching this gate." He knew this simply because it was a task Bellec had him execute on the regular back when he was still 'Pisspot'.
Almost on cue a Novice Assassin appears from the shadows in a white cloak armed with nothing more than a rapier and a hidden blade.
"...I'm sorry, and you are?" The guard said impatiently.
"My name is Arno Dorian. I am formerly a Brother of the Order, but I have brought something the Mentor may want to see. Please let me through"
The hooded guard stepped close to the door and sneered through the bars. "Well Mister Dorian, I regret to inform you I'm not allowed to let traitors into the Den."
Arno reaching his limit on frustration reached through the bars and grabbed the loose cloth of the shirt the guard was wearing and pulled. The guards head slammed against the bars and his body went limp. Arno reached down to his belt and recovered the keys to the door.
'I was hoping this would be more civil.' Arno thought to himself as he keyed the door and moved the unconscious guard out of view. He locked the gate behind him and pressed on into the sancutary gripping the Sword of Eden tightly through it's wool wrapping.
Several Minutes Later
Arno stormed into the chamber of the Mentor his boots still moist with the sewage he walked through the entrance. Below the raised platform still sat the chalice he drank from on the day he was initiated into the Brotherhood, a day and dream, he would certainly never forget.
"Mentor!" Arno shouted from the bottom of the stairs, staring up at the yellowed white tapestry adorned with the Assassin logo.
"Dorian, how did you get in here. Guards!" The mentor called out. From the surrounding rooms a flood of white cloaks and french rapiers came flying, surrounding Arno quicker than he would have expected.
"Mentor, I have no intention of harming anyone. In fact I come bearing a gift..." Arno said as he slowly unwrapped the Sword of Eden, watching around him to make sure none of the guards perceived him as a threat.
"...it is the sword of Grandmaster Germaine, I believe it has been enchanted or holds some sort of sorcery" Arno said as he finished unwrapping the Sword of Eden and presenting it in front of him across hi flat palms. There were several gasps from the crowd of guards and the eyebrows of the Mentor suddenly became lost in his hairline.
"Guards...see we are left alone...Arno, Let's talk" The mentor said as he brushed his hand towards the exit and the guards filed out of the chamber. "Come up here boy." Arno grabbed the wool blanket from the ground and ascended the stairs to meet the Mentor.
"Place it here." The Mentor said as he hastily cleaned up his desk. Arno placed the wool blanket down and then the Sword of Eden on top of it. "Do you have any idea what this is" The Mentor said an air of excitement about his voice.
"Yes...as I stated it is the Sword of Grandmast..." Arno began before being interuppted.
"Of course of course, but it is a Piece of Eden." The Mentor said as he looked it over in a state of wonder.
"I'm sorry, a what" Arno asked placing his thumbs inside of his belt line and collapsing back into one of the Mentors chairs
" A piece of Eden, it's super powered technology from The Ones Who Came Before, what did this Sword do? What were it's powers?" The Mentor said lifting and looking down the blade as if he expected it to be something other than dead straight.
"I'm sorry again, but the who? And what it did was kill Elise, I finally couldn't bear looking at it anymore, and I figured that the Templar's enemies might have some insight on what the hell it was, and how it was able to teleport Germaine and shoot lightning out of it's blade."
"Amazing..." The mentor said "...The Ones Who Came Before. There are many items like this Sword each has a different thing it does. Records show instances of Mind Control, Teleportation, and other powers far beyond what you could ever imagine." The Mentor said finally placing the sword down and looking seriously at Arno.
"I know you were voted out of the Order, but removing this Sword from the hands of the Templars is an action that would normally earn you a place in the Assassin history book...should you want to rejoin the Order and continue to work with us...I'll allow it." The Mentor suggested reluctantly.
Arno was taken slightly aback. He had come here for answers, not necessarily to plead for his position with the Order back. However he had spent enough time with that Sword, hating that Sword to be interested enough to consider rejoining the Order to learn more, and feel like he had a purpose again.
"Before I answer you Mentor allow me to ask you this, do you have more information about these 'Pieces of Eden', in the Mentor's Library" Arno asked leaning forward, with brow furrowed as if he was thinking very critically about what he was about to do.
"Yes...there is quite a bit of reference to them the the History of the Order, including a sword like this one in the entries of Thomas de Carneillon" The Mentor replied.
"If I can read about it, I'll come back" Arno matter of factly, as he stood to match the Mentor.
The Mentor paused for a moment. While historically no one had been allowed to read the Mentor's Library it had been a while since someone associated with the French Brotherhood had done something as grand as capture a Piece of Eden.
"I'll allow it on three conditions." The Mentor said.
Arno looked intently at him. Despite the agreement being reached the two stared at each other as if the negotiation had just begun.
"Name them." Arno said confidently
" The first, The Order keeps the Sword." The Mentor said worrying that taking Arno's 'trophy' might be seen as a deal breaker.
"Done. I'm sick of looking at the damn thing." Arno responded quickly.
Almost taken by surprise by the quickness of his willingness to give up the Sword, the Mentor paused before laying out the next condition.
"You may have access to the Mentor's Library under the cover of secrecy. It is called the Mentor's Library for a reason"
"Too easy, I'll speak of it to no one." Arno said feeling ever more confident about his willingness to accept all three conditions.
"The final condition is to accept the role of Master Assassin inside this Brotherhood."
Arno gave pause to his response for a moment.
'How often does a once exiled Assassin go directly to a Master. I don't know that I'm entirly comfortable with coming back to the Order with a higher level of responsibility, but it will without a doubt fill up my schedule...'
"Fine." Arno responded flatly.
"Grand!" The Mentor exclaimed as he opened up his desk. He fished about one of the drawers for a moment and produced several items. "Here is my spare key to the Library, feel free to come and go as you please, and here is a slip for the tailor. Go have your Master Assassin robes made. You'll be needing them, I've decided we'll be having a ball on your behalf."
"Mentor, that's completely unness..." Arno began to say
"Nonsense, it's happening and you'll like it. Now get to it...Assassin"
/End Sequence 1 Data Stream
