Chapter One:
For The Dancing And The Dreaming
Date: Unknown…
Location: Office of Nathaniel Lopéz, head of the Upgraders division, Tempus headquarters…
"Lopéz! I heard you have some new toys for me," Alexis called, entering the office of the seventeen year old teenager whose brown curly locks were tied back into a low ponytail. Despite currently working on another invention of his, the teen still held the air of superiority and intelligence; something Nathaniel was well aware of.
"I refuse to allow you to take that low-grade shit from Jones again. What was going through the commander's mind to allow such disgrace is simply beyond me," Nathaniel muttered, putting down the screw-driver and pressing a few buttons on his desk. "However, after reviewing your mission and the long duration of it, he returned to his senses and allowed me to be in charge of you."
"Wonderful," she yawned tiredly as several light blue lights shot out from the crimson carpet, each holding an item or items of a different sort.
"Your Verbatim will be upgraded," Nathaniel informed her, watching the young woman walk over to the empty light and thrust her left arm into it. He pressed a few buttons and her brace was covered in white energy before it was absorbed into it. "Seeing as how you will be a part of the native's life—"
"Ratonhnhaké:ton," Alexis corrected him and he waved it off, obviously not caring whether or not he pronounced her target's name correctly. Even she was surprised at how easily she could remember it and speak it.
"Your clothing will be updated regularly, so will your medical supplies and weaponry," he continued, handing her a dark brown satchel with a crescent moon weaved into the middle. He gestured for her to turn her eyes upon her first outfit to wear and she gazed at the image of her wearing it. Nothing more than simple black tights with brown boots, white linen blouse that looked large enough to be a dress with a brown belt wrapped around it. Her hair was to be done in a fishtail side braid with two eagle feather poking out from behind her ear. A simple, golden locket around her neck with a light brown hooded cloak draped over her shoulders; although the front only covered her chest and left the rest exposed.
"Getting into fashion, are we Lopéz?" Alexis teased, pointing her brace at it and the outfit shot out and into her Verbatim. Pressing a few buttons, she made sure it was the first thing she wore once she entered the void.
Nathaniel scowled at her, returning to his desk. "Hardly. Now, some of us have more important things to accomplish."
"I'll miss you too," she smirked, shaking her head and leaving the office.
oOo
Date: 1760…
Location: Kanatahséhton, North America…
Alexis stepped through the vortex, exiting out of a tree of all things and found herself in the middle of a forest. Bringing up her Verbatim, this was disguised as a leather brace, she discovered where she was.
Pressing herself against a tree, Alexis pressed the button on her locket and turned on her communicator to speak with the librarian assigned to her for this particular mission. None other than her friend Rhythmi who worked as an Operator within the Librarian category.
"Rhythmi, can you hear me?" Alexis called, hoping the connection was strong enough and not blocked out by the trees. She remembered her mission to 19th Dynasty New Kingdom Egypt and she was in a tomb….it was horrible.
"I have you loud and clear Alex. How's everything looking?" the sweet voice of the French blonde woman questioned her.
The way the communicator worked was the Operator's voice was directly transmitted into the head of the agent so no one else could hear it. However, it often made the agent seemed mentally unstable as it appeared they were talking to themselves. Not exactly a fun image.
"Leafy and green," Alexis replied dismissively, taking a few steps forward and observing the scenery around her. "Do you have a location on Ratonhnhaké:ton's whereabouts?"
"Oui, your boy is heading your way actually. With a few other kids as well," Rhythmi answered as Alexis quickly scaled a nearby sycamore tree. As she climbed, a few different types of laughter echoed in the distance, signalling her of their approach. "This is the day where Ratonhnhaké:ton loses his mother to a fire started in his village."
"A perfect moment for Azealf to strike," she murmured as she stood on the branch, concealing her face with the hood attached to her cloak and began observing.
Sure enough, a four year-old Ratonhnhaké:ton ran up the small hill along with his friends. Needing to be closer, Alexis jumped across a few trees, cautious to remain hidden until she was directly above them.
"Updating your communicator in just a moment…"
The same feeling of popping your ears when flying in a plane happened as the native tongue the boys spoke was translated into perfect English for the brunette's benefit.
"What will we play?" Ratonhnhaké:ton asked his friends as Alexis watched them carefully.
"Hide and seek?" a younger boy with his hair split into two small ponytails suggested, bending down and picking up a few small twigs.
"That is Kanen'tó:kon, a friend of Ratonhn—Fuck it! I'm calling him Connor," Rhythmi groaned, giving up on pronouncing his name. "Anyway, those two have a long history together."
I'm doubting it's a good one,she figured, watching in amusement as the children began to play hide and seek with Ratonhnhaké:ton counting. The brunette watched each of the kids scramble to their feet and run away, trying to find spots to hide in.
"…Seventy-six, seventy-seven, seventy-eight…"
I wonder how long this gig will take; Alexis frowned, crouching on the branch as Ratonhnhaké:ton reached to a hundred and began running away from the tree in search of his friends.
The brunette watched in fascination, her eyes wide slightly as he studied the ground closely for a few moments before sprinting off. Not wanting to be left behind, she took off after him through the trees, remaining above ground.
The first one he had found was none other than Kanen'tó:kon who, upon being found in a large clump of leaves and twigs, proceeded to startle the young Ratonhnhaké:ton.
Alexis found herself smiling softly, watching their innocent game until Ratonhnhaké:ton found the other children and after another round of picking a twig, Kanen'tó:kon was picked to count.
"Your turn!" Ratonhnhaké:ton announced gleefully to his friend before running off with the other children. Once again, Alexis followed him but kept an eye out for anything that seemed off. As soon as he found himself a hiding spot, similar to the one Kanen'tó:kon hid in previously, Alexis slumped against a tree, exhausted.
I just want to sleep, not fucking run around after some kid straight after running around with Aveline, she thought bitterly, annoyed due to lack of sleep. Honestly, is he trying to run me dead? Or revenge for some bullshit I probably pulled during one of my recent missions…
The snapping of a twig caught her immediate attention as her eyes narrowed, seeing a few men in uniforms marching down the trail. Crouching in a position to launch herself, Rhythmi's voice stopped her.
"Arrêtez! You can't interfere with this!" Rhythmi warned her, halting Alexis in her movement as she continued to watch. "Those men are the Colonial Templars, Charles Lee is among them. This must happen for the fire to start and for his motivation to rid this area of Templars!"
So in dismay, Alexis watched them pull Ratonhnhaké:ton out of his hiding spot and point guns at him. When he tried to run away, the man whom appeared to be Charles Lee on her Verbatim, tripped him over and caused him to land roughly on a rock.
"You look…familiar. Where have I seen you before?" Charles Lee wondered, staring at the boy after he had forced him onto his back. Alexis almost smirked in pride as she witnessed him spitting on the white man, not impressing him in the slightest. "That wasn't very nice."
He grabbed his arm roughly as Ratonhnhaké:ton shouted for him to release him. He must have said it in English with the way the men reacted at his pained cry.
Alexis was gripping the tree branch that she sat upon hard with her fingers, repeatedly reminding herself that this was part of history and she couldn't do anything.
Not that she was convincing herself well.
Charles Lee shoved the small native boy up against a tree. "We have…questions for your elders. Only tell us where your village is boy, and you can go."
The brunette continued to watch with a sick feeling in her stomach as Charles Lee tightened his grip around Ratonhnhaké:ton's neck. Eventually, she looked away, closing her eyes until it was over.
Finally, as she listened to the footsteps of the men disappearing further down the hill, she glanced back and saw Ratonhnhaké:ton rubbing his neck, trying to ease the pain.
Her chest clenched at the sight and she jumped down from the tree, appearing a few meters away from him. Ratonhnhaké:ton visibly flinched at the sight of the hooded figure, his breathing still heavy and fast.
"Shh, it's okay," Alexis reassured him, lowering her hood and revealing her face to him. She faltered in her movements, staring at him the entire time until she was sitting on her knees in front of him. "Allow me."
Ratonhnhaké:ton watched cautiously as the olive skinned woman searched her satchel before pulling out the small tub of ointment. Opening it, she dabbed some onto her fingers before holding them out.
"May I?" she asked and he slowly nodded. Smiling warmly, she proceeded to rub the ointment around his neck. "How does that feel?"
"F-Fine…" he muttered his thanks as he allowed her to do it until she rubbed it all in.
"Chérie are you sure you should be doing this?" Rhythmi asked her hesitantly and Alexis had enough of her voice for the moment. After rubbing the ointment in, the brunette lightly pressed her locket and cut off communication with the Operator.
Suddenly, birds flew past them in a hurry as a strong breeze hit them, carrying smoke with it towards the path. Ratonhnhaké:ton scrambled to his feet and staggered for a moment before setting off down the hill.
"Ratonhnhaké:ton! Wait!" Alexis shouted, shoving the tub back into her satchel before following him. The further down she went, the heavier the smoke became until she was covering her mouth and coughing slightly. "Ratonhnhaké:ton!"
People were rushing past her in blind panic, children crying in fear. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Alexis began directing them towards the entrance of the village before scanning the area for her target.
"Mother!"
Alexis's head spun towards the familiar voice as she caught sight of Ratonhnhaké:ton running towards a burning hut. The brunette shot off towards him, covering her mouth with her cloak and running through the fire. Just as she ran into the same hut, finding Ratonhnhaké:ton trying to free his mother from fallen, burning debris, a bit of the roof collapsed in front of her.
Alexis jumped back as her heart pounded hard in her chest, her breathing becoming heavy, remembering that night—
"Help me!" Ratonhnhaké:ton cried out, seeing her standing there. It was enough to snap her out of her daze as Alexis jumped over it and towards them.
"Take my son! Leave with him!" the woman cried out, seeing the hut collapsing even more around them. Her brown eyes gazed at the amber ones, filled with tears. "Please!"
A lump formed in her throat, a single tear falling down her face as she could see the desperation on the woman's face. It was the love a mother had for her child, wanting them to be safe at all costs…
Even at the cost of their own life…
Alexis nodded and the woman grasped her son's hand underneath the debris. "You must be strong, Ratonhnhaké:ton. You must be brave."
He shook his head furiously. "Stop it. Stop it!"
"You will think yourself alone, but know that I will be at your side. Always and forever."
The extreme heat of the fire raging around them forced sweat onto Alexis's back and she glanced around, her Verbatim vibrating at the level of danger. She needed to get him out of there.
"We have to go!" Alexis called, grasping Ratonhnhaké:ton and pulling him close as she stood back. Of course the boy struggled against her hold, shouting at her to leave him be but she would have none of it.
She began running back out towards the entrance when large parts of the roof collapsed in front of her. Both of them coughed as the smoke grew heavier with more fuel added to the fire.
Her eyes searched for a way out and discovered a weakened wall. Despite his struggles against her, Alexis managed to cover Ratonhnhaké:ton's body with her cloak before ramming into the wall and breaking free out of the hut.
Quickly, she rolled them away from it just as it all caved in.
"MOTHER!"
oOo
An Hour Later…
After guiding the remaining villagers away from the smoke and at a safe distance, Alexis made camp for the night. Mothers hugged their crying children, men began setting up watch around the camp in case the white men returned, a few younger women began building a fire and making food.
Alexis removed her satchel and placed it against a tree as the village elder floundered away from Ratonhnhaké:ton's figure and towards her.
"How is he?" she asked the elder who seemed just as tired as the brunette was.
"His heart is heavy by the mourning of his mother," she answered before walking past and towards a few of the other mothers. Alexis watched her for a moment before heading towards Ratonhnhaké:ton.
She had noticed despite a few of the children's attempts to talk to him, the young boy coldly dismissed them before continuing to stare out at the distance, sitting by himself on a log.
"Ratonhnhaké:ton," Alexis called to him quietly, removing her cloak and draping it around his small body. He glared at her for a moment as she sat beside him and said nothing. There were no words to describe what he was going through and she offered him no words of comfort. Instead, she did the next best thing she could do:
"Moonbeams and starlight, magical twilight, the warmest ray," Alexis sung softly, as best as she could. While she wasn't a beautiful singer, she wasn't tone deaf either. "Hear it whispering your name…rainbows at midnight. Sparkling night skies…don't go away, stay another day…"
Ratonhnhaké:ton hugged the cloak tighter to his small body, his shoulders shaking in response to the tears running down his face. Reaching out, Alexis pulled him close and he buried his face into her stomach, sobbing softly at the loss of his mother.
"My throat, it asks me to sing… And the pain goes away, like a memory goes away," the olive skinned woman continued, rubbing his back in comfort as the young boy scrunched her shirt with his hands into small balls. "Ever since childhood, and until the sun rises…To rest, when I find you…"
The two of them stayed like that for a while; Ratonhnhaké:ton cried until he fell asleep, and Alexis stayed by his side, offering him warmth and comfort.
Song: For the Dancing and the Dreaming in How To Train Your Dragon Two.
I'm glad some of you guys liked the prologue and hopefully you'll enjoy the first chapter! I cry every time this happens...
Enjoy~!
