Welcome to the third and final chapter of "It's Good To Meet You Connor"! And thank you to Portrait of a Scribe for giving great ideas and making me happy with the review! Thank you!
Davenport Homestead, 1776
Rudi
Connor and I stand facing the portraits of the men we are to take down. It has been a straining silence as it follows an arguement about treading carefully around the Templars with the war going on. Me and Connor both are far too stubborn to apologize for anything so I leave the training room and go to the living room where Achilles is sitting with another man. How did I not hear him knock?
"Ah, Rudi. This is Benjamin Tallmadge. His father was one of us, no need for that glaring," Achilles said.
I blink and go take a seat. I guess old habits die hard. I've glared at strangers since I was a child. It always worried people how so unlike my mother I was in ways.
"So, what are you here for, Benjamin?" I ask him.
"Information. For you and your partner," he answers before taking some tea. I nearly shiver at it. I am not the biggest fan of tea. You would think that different for a Southern girl, wouldn't you?
"I see. Achilles, could you go get Connor? We-"
"We know Rudi. Benjamin and I heard your and Connor's latest quarell when he rode up to the house," Achilles cuts me off with.
I just look down until I hear Achilles' footsteps fade from my hearing range. I sit up straight and let out a breath I didn't know I was even holding.
"So Miss...?" Benjamin leads.
"Maher. Rudi Maher, Mister Tallmadge," I finish.
He nods. "So Miss Maher, how did you come to know Achilles?"
I laugh. "Oh, that is a good story," I tell him.
Connor and I had returned from uncovering the plot to murder Washington and Achilles was standing at the door, waiting for Connor. It was a good test of my wit when I blurted,"Oh my gosh it's you! It's Achilles!"
I quickly followed with: "I mean, you're a pretty well-known Assassin, sir." I reach out my hand to shake yours. Seconds pass and he doesn't shake back, so I give him a hug. "I am so glad to meet you."
I'm fairly sure Achilles thinks me insane. I thought he was when he hugged me back and chuckled. Throughout that day Achilles and I went on to embarass poor Connor with teasing him and me being told stories of when Connor first started training.
"You should've seen the boy's trying at walking across thin spaces like rope or a thin beam." Achilles laughed at the memory. "I told him he wasn't ready for jumping from that height, but did he listen?"
"No," I laugh with Achilles.
"Poor Connor nearly snapped his collarbone."
"Alright Achilles. I think Rudi has heard enough now," Connor said. His embarassment showed with evey word as he lifted me from my chair (I mean it. He just grabed my hips with his big hands and lifted me from the chair.) and took me outside. I laughed that much harder.
Benjamin and I moved to the dining room when he said he needed more tea. I found the tray in the kitchen and brought it out to the table so he could pour himself a glass.
"Don't think I'm gonna do it," I said. "I've just met you. I have no respect or anything to you. Until you get that from me you can just pour it yourself."
Tallmadge looked a bit shocked-slash-awe-struck when I told him that. He went to pour himself a cup. Earning me a look from him when Achilles entered and I poured him a cup. Achilles-in the short time I've known him-is more of a father to me than my real one ever was.
"You're gonna have to try alot harder to impress me than that," Achilles says.
I feel Connor's thundering footsteps and he comes through the kitchen to the dining room.
"Is that so, old man? Or perhaps we should step outside? I will gladly demonstrate hwo eaily I coudl trounce y-"
I stand there trying not to laugh while Achilles gave Connor the same speech he gave me moments ago.
"Achilles tells me you two have uncovered a plot to murder the Commander in Chief," Tallmadge said.
"Yes. But there are only false starts and dead ends to show for it," Connor said.
"Not anymore, my friend. Thomas Hickey's your man-and I aim to help you catch him."
Okay I don't care if you're part of the Assassins or not, you do not touch Connor. Happiness greets my spirit when Connor shrugs off his hand.
"How do you want to help?" I ask.
"I'll explain on the way. We are going to New York."
Upon our arrival we witness a scene between a merchant and a customer. The merchant man says that that'll be the last time he cheated him. I nod to Connor and we follow the man to a small building. I go to knock on the door, but stop in my action when I notice a shadow at the crack of the door. I take a big backward step out of the way so that Connor could break down the door. I jump inside and stand with Connor.
"Thomas Hickey!" I say as if he were an old friend. Oh, acting. It is wonderful.
"Might be. What's it to ya?" Hickey said.
We bring out our blades.
"Ain't s'pposed to be none of your kind left."
"Glad to prove you wrong," I said. I step forward and follow Hickey and he runs out of the building. I hear a window break behind me and know that Connor is right on my heels. I manage to tackle him after chasing Hickey for a few blocks. Connor then pushed him against the wall, leaving me at my place sitting on the ground in front of a store. Mens' voices brought me out of my tired stupor to pay attention. I stand up quicky and ready myself to bring out my blade.
"Quiet!" Connor silences the babbling Hickey. "What're the charges?"
One of them steps forward with a large bag of something. "Counterfeiting."
"I had nothing to do with that-"
" 'Course not!" The officers laugh.
"Listen-there are more important things at stake here. This man is planning to-ah!" Connor is knocked to the ground. Unconcious and a small cut leaking blood on his cheek. I bring out my blade and stab the guard who hurt Connor in the neck, killing him. I thank the Great Spirit I had my hood on as I realised what I did and decided to run away to get Achilles.
Connor
I wake with a start on cold, stone floor. My first sight is Thomas Hickey.
"You..." I say.
He smirks at me and says: "You miss me sweet'art? What? Nothin' to say?"
"If you are here then Washington is safe."
"True, true. Thing is...I believe I've just been pardoned."
Damn! My breath catches at seeing my father walk by me.
"Thank you kindly for the rescue, gents."
"There can be no further mistakes Thomas. Am I understood?" Haytham Kenway turns to walk away when Hickey stops him with his words: "What about the Assassin?"
My father barely looks at me. I should not expect him to know me. We have never even met, yet there's a piece of me wishing he knew me so I could out of here. Father then looks back to Thomas Hickey.
"Yeah. 'E's here. They got him in that cell next to mine. There was a girl with him when they got us, too. Killed the officer that knocked that Assassin out. Guess we didn't get 'em all, eh?"
Rudi killed the man who knocked me unconcious? I make a small smile at the thought. I know not to make her angry.
"Deal with this Charles," my father commands.
"At once, sir." Charles Lee looks worse than at the Congress.
"What'cha gonna do?" Hickey asks Lee.
"Hm...I believe I have an idea...Yes. Two birds with one stone."
"Do tell," Hickey said.
"All in good time. It's not like the Assassin's going anywhere. For now we should see about getting you better accomodations."
"What are you on about? I thought I was getting' out."
"No thanks to Benjamin Tallmadge. He has been spreadin word that you have plans to assassinate George Washington."
"What a load o' bullocks! I thought you was gonna handle that!"
"We'll discuss this ELSEWHERE."
Rudi
"Move it people! Angry female coming through!" I cut through the crowd in the streets like butter in my desperate search for Sam Adams. Achilles told me he was at the docks as usual when I told him I had to get help for Connor. I could see Sam's head in the crowd, making me run and shove people. I didn't even care if the could've gotten hit by a carriage. I bump into a woman who grabs my arm. I do not have time for this.
"Outta my way dammit!" I push myself past the woman and her child to finally reach Sam. I turn him around to face me and push him against the wall as Connor did to Hickey the other day.
"R-Rudi, what's going on?" Sam asks, terrified.
"Connor's in jail and I need your help to save him!" I say, gripping his shirt tighter.
"I see. Well I'm busy at the moment-"
"Help. Him. NOW!"
Connor
One of the guards takes me to a recreational area for the prisoners. I spot a man sitting at a table with a game board and I grab the chair opposite him and try to confirm his name.
"Mason Weems?" I said.
"Could be," he said.
I will take that as a yes. I grab a chair, turn it around and sit with my arms crossed over the back of the chair.
"I need you help."
"With what?"
"They say you know a way out of here."
"THEY say alot of things."
I grab his arm. "I do not have time for games."
"A shame, as I was hoping you might play one with me."
As I play this forsaken game Mason asks random questions: Where are you from? How old are you? Any friends? You got a girl?
"Maybe," I answer.
"Maybe?"
I just sit there and move my piece.
"Oh, so you're afraid of rejection."
"So? Most men are."
"True, true."
THE DAY AFTER...
I try to unlock my cell door in vain.
"This key is useless!"
I hear a guard coming up and hide the key.
"What're you looking at?" He punches the door. "You in the market for a husband?"
The next morning I spoke to Weems again and he told me of a plan that would get me the real key. Once that was carried out I tried this key on my door.
Yes!
I walk past the guard's back and to Mason. How could they have not heard me? It is ridiculous! After accomplishing the task of not raising the alarm I go to the warden's room. I peek around the door and see he is sleeping. I silently enter and put my hands around his neck so he won't say anything. But upon feeling his neck I found no pulse. I turned him over and there was blood on his neck and shirt.
"Not who you was expectin', am I right?"
I turn to see Thomas Hickey and Charles Lee.
"What have we here?" Lee said, scratching him chin with a large pistol. "I though we finished off your kind."
"You would like that, wouldn't you? To rid the world of all who do not share your views."
Lee laughs and chuckles,"Guilty as charged! Your meddling in the revolution has caused us no small measure of grief. It cannot continue. Our work is too important. But what would you know, beyond all the lies Achilles feeds you and tales you tell yourself."
"I know that the people wish to be free - and that men like Washington fight to make it so."
The argument continues until I charge Lee. He pushes me against the wall. His arm cutting off my air until I faint.
The next day I am brought to the gallows by Hickey. As I am stopped before the steps a woman punches me hard enough for me to fall to the ground and then spits on me. I then hear that same woman scream as she herself is punched to the ground as well. I see her nose is broken. Her face was pushed to the ground by a moccasin and legging like mine and she was spat upon by Rudi. Then Rudi pushed her blade into the woman's chest and pushed her back into the crowd. She and Achilles come to meand tell me to just signal the recruits when needed. I notice nothing from when Rudi kisses my cheek until the rope around my neck is cut and I run to stop Hickey. Rudi shoots him and I deal the last blow. We become surrounded by soldiers and Putnam stope them all, saying we are heroes and kicks Hickey's corpse.
"Stop," Rudi said.
"He wanted to kill the Commander. Nearly killed Connor as well. He was a scroundrel," said Putnam.
"But still human," Rudi countered.
"Hmph. You are nothing if not consistent."
"Where is Washington now? I need to speak with him," I said.
"Bundled off as soon as your execution went sideways. He's likely on his way back to Philadelphia by now."
"Then let's go," Rudi said.
"Something wrong?"
"He's in danger. Hickey didn't do this alone," Rudi snapped.
When Rudi and I went out of hearing distance from Putnam and his men I asked Rudi a question: "Why did you kiss me?"
Rudi stopped walking and stood there for a few seconds.
She punches me in the gut and walks away quickly.
I hope you all liked this last chapter of the story! Give reviews and ideas for my Assassin's Creed 2/Brotherhood story coming soon. And yes in my AC 3 story I will use these as the first three chapters. And one more VERY IMPORTANT thing: What should I name the AC 2/Brotherhood story?