The Jellicle's Creed

IV Family Ties

Extracts from the journal if Munkustrap Grayhame

Sequence 2

Memory 1: On the trail of a Traitor

13 years later

6 June 2024

1

Finally I found him. Or rather, her.

Another had betrayed us. That first time I ever met a Templar was when I was nearly slain, when the Mentor had rescued me from her blades, and left her disarmed and helpless. We took Voalle back in as a new recruit, Giving her hard tasks that were barely able to be completed properly. We took her back in as I had said. Then just three years ago, 1 November 2021, she took a contract to Egypt, and apparently she also failed it because the last we heard from the Den in Alexandria, she was killed.

That was a lie.

But we did not know it at the time either.

For three years we continued our work. But the news from Egypt was grave with every passing month. Supplies went missing. Recruits were injured or worse, killed. It just was not good news.

It got so bad that The Mentor held a conference in Tripoli in May of 2022 with the local Den Keepers. Taku and Myself among them.

With all of my training The Mentor requested that it was time to fully connect me to the order. I was given proper robes. Even branded my right finger on my left hand when told to do so. Healed moments later by a friend named Snowfeather. Also to be made an Assassin. All things considered it worked out well this trip.

Blackmane, the Assassini Den Keeper of Tripoli was remorseful when she told her news shortly after the meeting. The Mentor and Blackmane held a one on one conversation behind closed doors. Not letting anyone inside for almost an hour. Then I heard my named called. I went in. Next thing I knew, I was given a task.

2

It took me two years to do it however, to track down my former enemy turned ally turned enemy. Made me wonder rather briefly, what the fuck is going on in Voalle's head ? Thankfully I was never going to find out, if at all. I had spoken with Taku, told him of my venture in Spacae when Patrino and how he told me, and gave me, the information we needed to secure things in Spain between Spain and England. So far so good I thought.

But what confused me was how I managed to get said information from Patrino, had I imagined it, or was it real ? I asked Taku this, and he had no answer, instead he directed me to seek out Blackmane. In the meantime, I had other duties. Which kept me from writing nightly.

Nevertheless. After two solid years of searching, tracking and information gathering. I managed, finally, to find everything I needed. Voalle was right where I wanted her. Though she had me curious, for almost fourteen years we worked together since she nearly killed me off. Of course she was under me in training at the time, givien the nearly deadly tasks and the like, none of us trusted her completely with our lives and gear.

Thing was, Voalle simply couldn't go back to the Templars, they'd kill her outright, instead she had to win back our trust, which after ten years, she managed to do. Though Taku and myself, along with Akilla and Snowfeather, did not trust her completely, we still had our doubts. Which were then justified by the information Blackmane had gotten concerning Voalle.

Voalle had been on a contract in Alexandria Egypt. Only we got word that the contract mission had failed and that Voalle was killed. Blackmane however got news just before the Den in Alexandria was destroyed. Voalle was still alive. She had rejoined the Templars. Unless it was for her own gain.

Which then had me on this mission. I'd taken two years to track down Voalle, just like she had most likely tracked me down. I used information given my by locals, eavesdropping, heck even pickpocketing when I needed to. I found myself thankful that I had stayed with Tiri for a few nights after my fathers death, It was not much, but it was well worth it. With Tiri's girls, at least in London, I could get in and out off trouble and places really quickly. The men seemed well aquainted with Tiri and her girls. Some of them even scared of Tiri herself.

Anyway, I seemed to have grown distracted thinking of Tiri and her very sweet and loving ladies. I shall try to focus. Voalle had rejoined the Templars, and was sent at the same time we sent her, to Alexandria to do a mission direct contrast to the one we gave her. Which then gave us one tiny problem. She had control of the only den in Alexandria, but not the only den in Egypt. There were other dens we could count on, but Alexandria was the capitol of Egypt, and it was under Templar Control

So that was why I was in Alexandria that morning, the sixth of June. I had gone there to finish it. Voalle might have better experiences with weapons and blending, but the last thirteen years I had honed my skill extensively.

I watched as Voalle had two men with her keeping watch, a child ran out, then turned, I kept an eye on the two men. Watching them, they tensed up as the boy got close, but I saw that they did not relax, they remained tense and viligant.

I too am viligant. I am an expert swordsman, and I am skilled in the business of death. Although, unlike theogoly, philsophy, classics and my langauges, Particulary Arabic, which I am quite good at, enough to pass infact as a native speaker. I take no pleasure in my skill at death. Simply, I am good at it. Perhaps if my target were Paterino, perhaps then I might take some small measure of gratification from her death at my hands.

But it is not.

3

I blew it; everything went down hill.

It was not Voalle, it was a double. Her double, Voalle is dead. Her double is dead, and the Templars still have control of the city. I'm on the run now, this sucks seriously. I did everything to the letter, carefully moving through things, opening doors at the right careful time. And now, this mess occurs. Just, my, rotten, luck.

It started off well enough I should guess. I snuck in as part of my targets retinue as if nothing was wrong. Plugged into their security detail, everything was fine and dandy.

I bided my time, carefully planning out each step I took. I wanted only one person dead, that was Voalle, I did not know she was already slain until I found her casket in the main hall of the place. Ready for any to see, sealed within the glass casing was she herself. Now all I had to do was off her double. That was harder then I thought. Or rather, not as hard as I thought, she was somewhere inside the mansion. All I had to do, was figure out where, and when the guard times changed.

I waited until just after sunup to make my first move. None of the guards really cared of my walking about, they figred me off duty moving around or some such nonsense. I was able to make my way through the mansion without arousing any curious glances or questions of why I was there. None seemed to care if at all in fact, that I was even there to begin with.

I moved through the halls quickly as I could as I was summoned by my target, this was my chance. Sadly I knew not what to expect, I was hoping for Voalle, but she was dead, I saw her body. Blackmane was going to have to be informed of the outcome of this for sure. I entered the office. And that was when shit went down. I knew I'd started a chain of events. An unwanted chain of events.

"Welcome to Honka Hill Master Grayhame." My target said, her name was Visturia. Deep green eyes, I could tell she was a Jellicle. But also a Templar. "I've been expecting you for a long time."

"You are not Voalle, what did you do to her ?" I asked. Something told me that the dead body in the hall was just a dummy. I was right.

"She is downstairs, well kept I must add." Came the reply. Visturia stood from the desk and turned to face me. "Its been a while hasn't it Munkus ?" I recognised her. The girl from next door to my old home!

"You!" I said, then asked "How did you know my name ?" I dreaded the answer.

"What ? You do not fully recognise me ?" Visturia asked me. She smiled, "Tiri always looked to you as her star pupil. Odd I thought it. But worthwhile. You wont survive in this city. Good luck getting out." She snickered then. That gravel sound burned in my ears. If I were a cat they'd have folded flat to my head by now.

"What do you want ?" I asked, I had a way out, not simple, but it would do. For the nonce.

"Everything" Visturia replied. She withdrew a pistol from her bodice and leveled it at me. "Starting with your death. A pity I had to care for you that night. Couldn't be Tiri, she was busy. Like always the old bitch." I raised an eyebrow. Well, two could play at this game I thought.

"So Tiri is a bitch ey ? Funny, she did not seem like it to me the years I've know her. Is that why she's dead ?" I asked, a lie, sure, Tiri was actually in Madagascar at that moment. Visturia faltered slightly, the pistol wavered. I kept my eyes locked on her own. I pressed on "I mean seriously, you never got the memo of her funeral last summer ? Geezuz I was certain I mailed you one." I lied.

That did it for her. I spied a tear trailing down her face. I pressed onwards and upwards, time to go for the throat. I took a step closer as I spoke, my voice calm. "Yes, I did send that memo, but you never got it, you know why ? Because you turned your back on her when she needed you the most!" I hated lying through my teeth, but I had to do it to get my point across and keep myself alive. "Now she's dead and long buried! And you never came!"

That broke her, I stood not inches from her pistol. She was about to pull the trigger and end me when I struck. I had thankfully taken along Takus experimental weapon. The disc sprang to life as I grabbed it and sliced the barrel clean off the pistol. Nearly cutting into Visturia's fingers as I struck. She dropped what was left of the pistol and dove for my arm.

Our fight took us all over the office. Finally it ended with my knee on her chest, my disc close to her neck. "Tell me truthfully before I end you. Where is Voalle. What is your plan."

Visturia smiled, Though bloodied lips she growled. "Go to hell." I set my face in a grim line and stabbed at her neck. She gave off a squeak and once more time stopped. I was in that other world, that world between death and life. Time did not matter. Lines and what looked like code floated around me and under us.

I laid Visturia on the apparent ground. "Tell me now then, in the last throes of deaths embrace. What exactly is your plan ?"

"you mean the Templars ? Those I serve ?" Visturia asked me.

"Yes" I replied.

She took a ragged breath "Our plan is to take over, control, order, purpose. Nothing more nothing less. We are honorable. We kill only when we need to do so."

"No" I corrected. "You lost honor when you found money. Since then you wanted to control everything until you had nothing left to control but each other." I told her

"You wield your blades like a man. But your tongue like a child. I fear there is much for you to learn, but now, its too late for that. Too late for you to learn the truth now. Good luck getting away."

"No! Tell me what the plan is, tell me now!" I said grabbing Visturia by the shoulders.

"Oh" She said, smiling as she lost presious lifeblood. "Were you hoping for an outline ?" She smiled and breathed her last. I stood up as time caught up with me. Kicked her body once, and walked away.

Sadly, the alarm went off the moment she died. I hadn't taken two steps from the door of the office when two soldiers came at me from nowhere. Striking quickly I hammered at the first guard, then sent the other sailing off the third floor balcony to the ground below. "Fuckin' loser" I growled as the second soldier sailed to the floor thirty five feet below. Crashing with a gut wrenching noise I dare not bring back up else I wont be able to finish writing this.

I moved on. I figured that each soldier had their own weapon of some form or another. Which meant I could disarm and use their weapons and save the batteries on my own. Then again the powercell in my new experimental disc weapons were unique, self charging when not used, very helpful. Heck the thing even came back to me like a boomerang thing.

Moving through the third floor of the mansion I cut through several groups of soldiers, chopping into several before making a break outside. The street below was in complete chaos. Which meant I'd need another path out of trouble. I ducked back inside the building and fought my way to the second floor. Guards were massing downstairs I could see them, I was starting to get tired.

Finally I had enough. Without a word, or much of any speaking other then maniac screaming I vaulted off the second floor railing and crashed to the first floor, breaking the fake casket and sending glass everywhere. I activated my identity disc, as Taku called it, and also a light rod swordlike thing.

Using the weapons as if I were using a sword and shield, which also worked in tandem with being a bladed edged thing. I bashed and hacked my way to the basement of the place. Once inside I bolted the door behind me and blocked it off. Sure it was workable at the time. But there was another way out, I had come into this place before and found it on accident. I just hoped it was still open.

I moved through the basement, it was a maze. Moving quickly I eliminated one guard, then the next, I heard Voalle calling out for her to be set free and other guards calling for aid to guard the prisoner. To which another mentioned putting her on the honor system and letting her guard herself. I snickered. A guard came to where I was in the corner. I snatched him quickly and managed to break his neck and then slide him into the corner where I was standing peeking around.

I moved deeper into the maze that was a basement, Taking out guards as needed while not noticed throughout the time I was there, the guards knew they were to be on alert, but not why. Which helped me greatly. After offing the final guard I found Voalle in a cell. Typical. "Nice to see you still alive Voalle."

"Yeah sure, can you get me out of here ?" She asked me. It was thirteen years since I first laid eyes on her, a deadly woman to be sure, yet not as well trained as I, since I had access to better weapons since then. "One of the guards you took out have the key" She said, then shut up as I withdrew my disc. "The hell is that thing ? What good is a CD going to do in a situation like this ?"

I smiled, it was time to show off I mused. I activated the disc, it sprang to life with a loud PURM I struck at the lock, shattering the thing into dozens of tiny pieces. "Shall we go ?" I asked her as I wrenched open the cell door, letting it fall with a crashing to the floor."Or do you want to rot down here ?"

"Lets go." She said, she followed me as I went towards where I knew the secret passage I found the last time I was there was at. I went to a corner, my radar picked up several dozen guards around it. I went to the corner and leaned against it, peeking out I took stock of what was there. Seven men, typical Templar squad. Voalle also peeked around and then looked at me. "By any chance, out of curiosity, do we have a plan B ?" She asked. I just smiled. Yeah, I had a plan B. She was not going to like it though.

"Wait here" I said, I flung first one of my discs, then the other, as they spun through the air towards their targets I sprang into view, snapping the neck of first one guard, then another. Whipping out my hidden blae I slit the throat of another man. Finally, the last man was standing, in a panic he dropped to his knees, Without a word I pulled him to his feet and ended his misery. "Clear!" I called out.

Voalle joined me and we ducked into the sewer network. It was a good few hours later when we were mostly out of Alexandria though. And even then we still had troubles. My objectives were set. Survive, and make sure that Voalle did not take any injuries. I was unable to raise Taku or Snowfeather, but I knew the meeting location. I activated the GPS software on my weapons and handed a weapon to Voalle, who was currently using a normal 7mm pistol. With the pistol I just gave her she too had the location mapped out.

All we had to do, was get out of the city limits and out to the desert to the pick up location. A good five thousand meters away.

M.G.

Return to Sender

Outside Alexandria Egypt, industrial zone 7R

Moving down an alley in the direction he was intending to go Munkus came to a halt and back tracked quickly. He motioned to Voalle to hide and ducked into a crevice as several men walked past, This was going to have to be fast. He thought. He waited until the group passed before walking up behind them quickly, engaging his hidden blade he struck. One after the other dropped like a sack of grain as he went through the group without a pause. Snick, snick, snick, snick, snick. It was just that simple.

He motioned to Voalle, it was time to get moving again. They went to the end of the alley and peeked out, nobody in sight. "Come on, its not far now." Munkus said, he pointed in the direction they were to go. It was interesting, feeling and somewhat seeing the marker floating always ahead of him as he moved. It helped, sort of.

They cut through an empty school yard, the school had been left empty for nearly a dozen years since the last school revolution in America. Munkus knew his history. 2015 saw the largest school shut down in the world starting in Detroit and Ann Arbor Michigan USA. Shortly after wards the entire state of michigian had emptied out its schools and revitalised them into teaching more realistic things such as severe weather survival, everyday survival, and last but not least, self defense and weapons handling, it was as if the world was rebuilding into stronger military powers.

For a time it worried Munkus, but then he saw the better trained soldiers America was pumping into its ranks of the armed forces. The lesser trained soldiers were called back to retrain on a daily basis. For a time things were going smoothly. Until the Templars took control of Moscow. And also London. Which made things only slightly worse. And also justified America's move to teach reality to its kids. A soldier trained to survive at all costs is a very good asset in the field. Munkus knew that first hand.

The school was empty, long empty, grafitti in Arabic was all over the walls, the ceilings were ruined with water and elemental damage, the windows blown out from a not so recent gas line explosion. Munkus lead the way to the meeting point, the mrker changed slightly when he reached the entry to the school. Moving swiftly the two climbed upwards to the roof and scampered along quickly, timing their movements to remain unseen by the cameras set up in the area. Last thing they wanted was to get noticed.

Munkus then hit the latch on a style intact skylight and dove in, Voalle followed seconds later. The hatch closed, Munkus lead the way some more, now inside the upper levels of the school, more intact the deeper one got infact. As if someone was doing their best to keep it kept up good and proper. He moved quickly down a hall, took a left, went down another hall, before taking a right and through a door, opening it they went down a flight of stairs to another door.

They had made it to the Assassini Den in Alexandria. One of the few Munkus had set up shortly after the school was left for nature to take over. Opening the door Munkus had unlocked with his disc, Voalle found herself in a mostly well kept underground vault of some kind. Lines of light iluminated the floor and ceilings with pale white light. Doors were outlined also in the same pale white light. Steel was everywhere, the walls were black steel, the ceiling and floor also black steel. Some areas of the floor were actually thick shatterproof glass, which made some unnerving walking when walking across the thick glass.

"About time you two got here" Taku said, Snowfeather was yet to get there. Blackmane was there however. She smiled when she saw Voalle. Giving the other a hug, Taku continued whiule Blackmane was busy. "We got word from Snowfeather, Pretty much all of Egypt is out for your neck now. There's no way in hell we'll manage to get you out of the country short of killing you, and no we thought of that and it wont work because the borders are closed."

Munkus sniggered "The Templars had a double, Voalle was in the cells below the Templar Den. Visturia was in charge of that den. Can we mobilse our own troops ?" He reported.

Taku nodded "Yes, the report was sent out, we're waiting now on confirmation of the west bank and the harbors being cleared. We may have to do some fighting though. Worse comes to worse. We can fight in the sewers if need be." He replied

"I'd much rather fight in the open. Draw our enemy in a trap for example. With the city out for my neck, it could work for me. Most of the common populace would much rather fight the local police if rallied to do so." Munkus said thoughtfully.

"Good luck, I'll meet you at the harbor when you're done then. If you survive." Taku said.

"I will go with him." Blackmane spoke up. Taku, Voalle and Munkus all turned towards her as Snowfeather arrived. "I will go with Munkus. No doubt I can sway some minds to our aid" She said.

"If Blackie goes along, I go along. But first, someone tell me what the fuck is going on in this country! Everyone pretty much took potshots at me on the streets and on rooftops!" Snowfeather complained. Munkus explained what occurred. When he was done Snowfeather spoke up again "So that den is gone and done for huh ? About time, Alright I got an idea" She smiled then, activating the hologaphic touch screen map table Snowfeather focused on where two Templar dens were.

"What are you thinking, we just came out of this one, not planning on going back there." Munkus said, "I doubt very much that Voalle wants to revisit the cells to begin with."

"We're taking it back. The Templars lost their den leader, we just need to relight the signal fire at the top. Here" Snowfeather said. "Voalle and I can act as decoy to keep their attention while you light the fire, once we take back the den I can take the job as Den Master of that den. This way we have a toe hold in Alexandria, and a safe way out for you and Voalle back to London for debrief."

Munkus was quiet as Voalle spoke up "I'm in, Visturia is dead thanks to Munk here. I think I can work out the kinks I caused in failing my initial mission by helping retake the den I was supposed to work with three years ago."

"Four years" Munkus broke in. iGod/i he thought, iI cannot believe I almost killed her, and now I am working with her. Just my fuckin' luck/i He clearly was unhappy with the situation he found himself in. He had gone to Egypt to kill Voalle, a traiter to the Brotherhood. Instead he found a double in her place and Voalle locked in the basement.

"Really ? Four ? Has it been that long ?" Voalle asked, Munkus just looked at her. "Anyway, yes, I'm in. Where's the gear" She had given the weapon Munkus loaned her back to him when they met up with Taku.

"We'll use what's here. Along with hidden blades and the more recent Identity Discs that Taku came up with. Here" Snowfeather handed one to Voalle, the plane white and black disc activated upon Voalle's touching it. "you can password protect it, it wont harm you when you throw it. It'llcome right back to you to catch. It also holds information in it as well, everything you learn or experience will be printed into the disc. Like a massive hard drive." Snowfeather really got into the new tech, she had suited up pretty quickly upon Taku giving her the weapon. She really liked the idea of it.

Voalle followed her instructions and found the password settings location, typed in a password only she could ever know. And then deactivated the disc. Turning to Snowfeather she asked "Where does it get put ?" It was then she saw Snowfeathers disc. The golden edged weapon was at the small of her back. Neatly locked into place. Voalle went to place her own disc on her black in the same manner when she felt and heard the audible click, her vision blurred briefly before she managed to focus.

Snowfeather smiled "There, your disc is all set. Munkus has two. Blackmane has two, and I have two, so far. Taku can make another, but the Templars also have a few stored in the den. So the sooner we get the den back, the better. Come on." She said, the map disappeared, allowing them to leave the room. Taku took Blackmane and went to the harbor. Whereas Munkus, Snowfeather, and Voalle went back to the den.

Alexandria Egypt

Templar Den

Industrial District E3

thirty minutes later

Templars swarmed the place. The streets around the den were filled with Templar soldiers. And also egyptian soldiers. Each of them trying to make sense of what was going on. A woman, high ranking in both the Egyptian Army and the Templar ranks was dead in her den. Which left everyone to question, who did it.

And then the three Assassini showed up, armed with technological weapons beyond the Egyptians. Slicing through with speed and grace the three made quick work of many squads of Egyptian soldiers before taking on any actual Templars. Moving swiftly into the alleyways Munkus split off from Snowfeather and Voalle, both women of whom, were skilled in their own ways. Munkus focused his vision. And soon found a path upwards. Perfect. A single squad of Templar soldiers guarded where he needed to go. And so, he took them on.

He started at a dead run. Flexing his wrists he slammed into the first two soldiers he encountered, then hammered his way forwards towards the next two. Slicing into them without a problem he then aimed for the last few and tossed a datura bomb into their midst. With the squad dead he started climbing. As he reached the top he hit an activator and lit a torch, tossing the lit torch into the colored wood, which gave off a pink smoke, he swan dove off it into some hay down below. His part of the mission was complete. He now had to meet up with Voalle, and get to safety.

At that same moment

As soon as Munkus split off from them, Snowfeather withdrew her twin discs and activated both. Helmetless by choice, the silverhaired woman was a deadly foe as the Egyptian and Templar soldiers alike fell before her, some in fear, but most in bloodshed. Throwing one of her discs she withdrew a sword of white energy, activating the lightsword she kept flinging her discs for longer ranged attacks, destroying everything that she hit in an explosion of sparks and white fire.

Moving swiftly she carved a path towards the front door of the den, chopping into Egyptian and Templar soldiers alike as she moved. She turned and blocked a strike, time seemed to slow around her as she countered fast, stabbing deeply into the neck of the man who made to attack from behind, swiftly turning she caught her next target dead in the face, forcing him, back of the head first into the ground as she piledrove the man down she kicked out with a foot at the next target, sending him flying into a wall, dead before he hit the ground.

While Snowfeather took on the core of the enemy, Voalle focused on taking down any that got past Snowfeather. Working in tandem at times back to back with the elder Assassini, Voalle learned a very good lesson. Always cover your ally. It worked for her most times. All she had to do was cover Snowfeather.

Moving to her left she took on the remains of a squad that Snowfeather and plowed through. Her sword a windmill of activty, whereas her disc was more of a shield and thrown weapon, watching Snowfeather use both her discs in tandem with a sword. And both discs moving rapidly in the air, Voalle took and used that example, ranged and closer contact attacks were then formed out of the blue. Defensive moves made at the last second to keep out of trouble and danger.

Moving as quickly as she could, Voalle mowed what was left of the Templar and Egyptian soldiers trying to take her on. She kicked at one man, snapped his neck with a whack of her blade hilt, then sent a second man flying into a wall to which she kicked his neck hard enough to snap it. Moving swiftly to her right she blocked a strike and sent the man flying weaponless. He crashed into one of his fellows and she struck both at once. Snapping the neck of one, and breaking the skull of the other with a single gunshot upwards.

As the two women fought with skill, more templars, and more egyptian soldiers arrived, aiming to take down the pair. Only to get ambushed and cut into half their number as they tripped off a few mines that Munkus had taken the time to set up while the forces were focused on the two ladies.

With half their reenforcements destroyed, the remaining soldiers fought and fell at the blades and efforts of three people. Soon the streets around the den were cleared, and the locals rejoiced at the sight of the remaining templars driven away. Food was shortly brought to the victors. The three fighters then waited long enough to fight it out with what was left and then went inside

"I see the place is still in one piece" Munkus mused seeing the state of the inside. "Funny I was here only an hour or two ago" he snickered.

"Yes" Snowfeather replied "Templars may be bad hosts, but they are pretty decent tennants. When they take a den, they like to keep it as intact as possible."

"Because they plan to stay" Munkus replied with a nod, he knew the reasons behind it all. Quite typical really as far as he cared. He turned to Snowfeather "Weapons store ?"

"Second floor, armory is always on the second floor towards the core of the den." She pointed at a door upstairs and to the left of the grand open area they stood in. "That room there. And the room directly across from it." She said. Munkus smiled and nodded to Voalle, though Snowfeather said. "The discs you want are most likely in the main office room, or in the weapon lab on the right, that way." Snowfeather pointed towards where the kitchen should be in such a den.

"Remind me to make a full floor plan layout of the dens I encounter so I know where everything is located" Munkus grumbled as he followed the directions. Voalle scampered for the weapons lab whereas Munkus went to the armory upstairs and raided it for the gear he needed. A few pistols, some more rounds for his hidden blade gun attachment. And also a whetstone. When he had what he sought he left the armory.

A few moments later

When Munkus went back downstairs he noticed it got dreadfully quiet. "Snowfeather ? Voalle ? Girls ?" he called out, the place was deathly quiet all of a sudden. He turned and went where Snowfeather had gone, activating his focused vision he followed her trail and came to a halt. Snowfeather was staring at something on the wall.

No, Munkus realised. On the mantle.

He went forwards and saw that Snowfeather actually was not moving, time had stopped for him. Or had it ? He was able to still move around without a problem. So what happened. He turned towards the device that Snowfeather was looking at. It was no larger than a bowling ball, yet it was smooth to the touch and glimmered with an unearthly glow. What the hell was it ? Munkus wondered

'The Apple' Said a voice.

'What ?' Munkus asked

'The Templars sought my secrets, in the hopes of using them against the world, but now one more worthy of my truth is here. Take me up, keep me safe!' The voice cried before fading out.

Time caught up to Munkus and Snowfeather spoke "That voice, did you hear it ?" She asked him when she noticed him. "I think the Templars had that for a long time until you arrived. I tried to pick it up but it was too heavy." She said. I guess that was why it was set up there. Munkus thought.

He went over and picked it up. Without a problem it fused and felt lighter. "Feels light enough to me." He said. He tossed it to her. "Catch" Snowfeather caught it perfectly, it did indeed feel light. Munkus continued speaking "you heard the voice too ? Did it tell you to pick it up or not to touch ?"

"Niether, I just heard the voice calling out. 'Find me, keep me safe' and then repeating it constantly. It was not until I focused on it well enough that I saw the Apple being the source." Snowfeather held the Apple up. It was weird. Smooth, round, no visible controls of any kind. Maybe it worked with the mind ? No, she thought, it was not her part to play. She passed the Apple back to Munkus. "I think it is time you and Voalle head back home to London. Tell the Mentor of what you now possess. He will lead you right." She told him. She then took Munkus in her arms and gave a kiss to his forehead.