The next few days passed quietly. Brendan and Sarah, when she had some free time from working on the scans she had taken off her fellow Assassins, researched the names and locations of Templar agents. Meanwhile, Michael and the others trained. For the past few months Michael had been sent on missions constantly honing his skills in real situations. With George out injured Michael's skills had also ceased to grow. That changed now.
Michael woke with the others at dawn, it was a struggle to extricate from his warm bed and get up into the cold winter morning to train. Very often the only thing that sustained him through the excruciating sessions was the thought of a massive bowl of Alex's porridge. After a few days he's arms and legs felt lighter, his strikes faster. He was pushed to his limits and beyond them. After three weeks he felt stronger than he ever had in his life.
After training one morning they were gathered in the kitchen as Brendan walked in. He looked exhausted and worn down. Stubble covered his face and he had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. Michael looked up from his breakfast and furrowed his brow in concern.
'We've managed to identify several new targets. The Templars have had ten years to grow unchallenged. They've recruited a large number of important individuals throughout the country from a variety of sectors. Everything from politicians, bankers, lawyers right down to street thugs and drug dealers. We're going to hunt down every last one of them.' Brendan said sitting down.
'What's the plan exactly?' George asked.
'We obviously can't go after the higher ranking Templars.' Brendan said regretfully.
'We'll start from the bottom up; hit the lower level guys and the ones that don't have the same protection. Cut them down from the ground up.' Brendan growled smiling. 'Remove the infrastructure they've built. Replace theirs with ours.'
'What do you mean?' Emma asked.
'We've contacts down south. Old contacts that supported us when we were strong. After the purge when we were driven underground so were they. They're waiting for a chance to take back what they once had and we're going to help them.' Brendan answered smiling.
An uneasy ripple went through the gathered Assassins.
'George, Dave and Mike are going to head to London. Emma, Ian and Danielle I want you to go to Liverpool. We start hitting the Templars there they'll be too distracted to come after us directly.' Brendan ordered.
Michael looked over at Emma who stared back.
'Ok everyone, you heard the man lets gear up.' George ordered.
Michael and Dave moved sluggishly. It was going to be a very long mission.
Dave and Michael loaded up one of the cars with everything they would need for a long mission down south; weaponry, surveillance equipment and Michaels personal favourite the explosives. Ian, Danielle and Emma prepared a second car as Brendan and George discussed the respective missions by the door. Michael tried his hardest not to think too hard about how long they may be gone and avoided looking at Emma as best he could.
'Ready to go?' George asked.
'Everything is loaded up.' Michael answered flatly.
George looked at him peculiarly.
The Assassins stood around momentarily.
'I know this is a big undertaking. One of the largest we've attempted in many years. Remember we have to do this. We have to hit them as hard as we can or they'll come after us.' Brendan said solemnly. 'We've to distract them, show them we won't hide and allow them to hunt us. We will make them afraid of us.'
They all nodded determinedly.
'Make sure you all come back.' Brendan ordered.
They looked at each other, the full weight of the tasks set out before them becoming apparent. George clapped Ian on the back as Dave and Michael hugged Danielle and Emma respectively.
'Take care of yourself.' Michael said fiercely hugging her tightly.
'I will. You too.' She answered quietly her eyes glowed with tears.
Rain clattered heavily against the windows of the car. They spoke intermittently about sport, books and films keeping the conversation light. Michael yawned and grew stiff sitting in the back seat as George drove. The view alternated between heavily built up cities and green countryside that reminded Michael of home. Finally the unique skyline of London floated into view. The sun dipped on the horizon silhouetting the sparkling city lights. Michael grew nervous and excited. He had visited London when he was younger, he liked the city. Each building, each street was imbued with history stretching back well over two thousand years. He loved it the sense of being part of that walking amongst it and its people.
They drove through the city, over the Thames passed the famous tower. Michael watched the city go by with unabashed fascination. They drove into Brixton where the city gave way to suburbs. The air of history and grandeur flowed into dilapidation and neglect. They took lefts and rights that left Michael confused to the actual direction of the city centre before stopping outside a rundown block of flats.
'Home sweet home.' George said sarcastically.
'You are joking right?' Michael said.
'What did you expect the Hilton?' George asked.
'No but...not...this.' Michael said shocked, 'It seems...very...insecure. To say the least.'
'Just wait.' George said grinning.
They each took a box full of equipment from the car and walked into the building. The lights flickered menacingly and it smelt like stale urine. The walls were covered in graffiti and stained in things Michael didn't like to guess. Michael continued to have a confused near scandalised look on his face as they climbed the stairs.
They stopped outside an entrance to a hallway. Michael glanced through the small window in the door and it looked like it was jammed shut from the inside.
'Well isn't that just fantastic.' Michael muttered sarcastically.
'Just watch.' Dave said smiling.
George took what looked like a remote from his pocket and typed in a code. The door whirred, Michael recognised the sound of surprisingly heavy metal lock tumblers opening. The obstacles on the other side of the door moved with it as if they were attached to it.
'Very clever.' Michael said impressed.
They continued down the hallway. It smelt slightly better than the one downstairs and didn't have any graffiti on the walls.
'Hurry up this box is bloody heavy.' Dave complained.
'Calm down.' George said.
He moved to the door number 407, putting down the equipment he'd been carrying slid out his knife and inserted it into a light switch beside the door. Flicking it open revealed a keypad.
'Very clever.' Michael said again.
The door opened revealing a large clean apartment. Michael walked in slowly marvelling at the place. The kitchenette stood immediately to the right and opened out into a living area with a couch, T.V. and two desks. A hall led off to the bathroom and three bedrooms.
'This place is awesome.' Michael breathed.
'A relic of when we were more powerful.' George said wistfully setting down a box.
'Come on let's get the rest of the gear. We've got a lot of work to do.'