"Ah, Desmond Miles! What a pleasant surprise." He walked from his desk as Desmond entered the office. He also brandished a compact machine pistol taken from place concealed within his desk. Desmond raised his arms to show he intended no fight. "I am. And you are?"
"You know, I thought it was an Assassin's job to study his target before advancing to kill. That isn't very good now, is it?" He studied Desmond. "My name is Alan. Alan Rikkin." Desmond paused. "Rikkin?" he echoed. The name was familiar to him. "Look, I'm not here for what you think. I'm not here to kill you. So please.." he beckoned to the pistol. "Could you point that somewhere else before you make a mistake?" Rikkin seemed to chuckle to himself. "What else would a blood-thirsty Assassin want other than to kill? It's not like you try to resolve things." Desmond took a step forward. "That's exactly why I'm here! Rikkin, we need to side together. Whether it be permanent or temporary, I don't care."
Rikkin laughed louder this time. "You mean to tell me that you stand before the Grand Master of the organisation you've been fighting for centuries, and you just want to chat?" His laughing continued, but hastily stopped and formed into a hardened stare. "You're serious?" He grunted. Desmond took another step forward. "You know about the first civilisation right? One of them is free. She has all of her power now. She's seeking out Pieces of Eden to try to enslave humanity. She tried to get a piece before but we stopped her, barely. We-" Rikkin stopped him. "You mean the business in Masyaf? Yes I heard about that. And I know about her return. In fact we're tackling it ourselves. But there's no way in hell that I'd allow an Assassin to watch my back in a war!"
"Jesus, Rikkin! Think about this!" Desmond walked forward again but this time he was grabbed from behind. He heard the familiar flick and hum of a hidden blade and felt its cold steel against his neck. But who was its owner?
"Desmond, I'd like you to meet Subject Alpha. Or if you like, Jonah Talbot. My right hand man and second in command. Alpha here is very skilled, trained in an Animus much like yourself. We trained many candidates but he triumphed high above his associates. We trained them with collected memories from the descendants of Assassins and Templars who fought and trained throughout history, all siphoned into the Subjects. That's how we learned the trick to crafting your sneaky little weapon there." Desmond looked to the bracer on Jonahs arm. "In fact, he lead the team who abducted your father, the mentor." Desmond felt rage building inside. "Now who's wrong with their info? William Miles stepped down."
"Oh? Then who is the new teacher among murderers?" He studied Desmonds face. "Oh my. You? He made you the Grand Master?" He began to laugh once more. "That is precious. If not nepotism." The rain slammed hard on the large windows behind Rikkin. The storm was picking up. Among the dark grey clouds was a bright flash and Desmond thought of his taser. Maybe if he shocks Jonah he can throw him in front and stop Rikkin from firing. But with Desmond being held by Jonah, the shock would knock him out too.
"Well that certainly interests things. I can put down another leading dog, and your pack of assassins will be too set back to bother us as we fight Juno. Very interesting indeed." He looked to Jonah and began to command Desmonds death sentence, but was stopped by a brighter flash and an echoing boom. The whole building shook. At first he thought lightening had struck. That didn't matter, because Jonahs grip loosened. Desmond gave a shunt with his back and sent Jonah reeling backwards. Rikkin had turned to face the window to investigate the source of the explosion. Jonah regained his footing and ran for Desmond who grabbed an oncoming arm which wielded a hidden blade. He punched Jonah in the ribcage and used his arm as a lever to send him falling away again. He had no intention of killing anyone here. The alliance he needed was too important. Desmond felt Jonah was thinking along the same lines. He was holding back. Jonah came again and parried Desmond's defensive blows and caught his neck in his hand. He retracted the hidden blade and punched Desmond in the gut before extending the blade again about to hold it to Desmonds neck again. Another explosion boomed, this time the windows, and in fact the entire wall they had belonged to, now fell out into the rain in a shower of glass shards and rubble. Where they once were stood Juno. She was clutching objects in both hands. In one hand pulsed an Apple of Eden. In the other was some type of cloth. The same energy as the Apple seemed to be woven with it and was coiled around her arm and draped over her shoulder. "Desmond. I sensed her. I am surprised to see you here. But that solves why I felt the presence of Minerva." She looked to Rikkin who had now raised his pistol. He pulled the trigger but the bullets whizzed around her. She extended the arm with the Apple and Rikkin, corrupted, threw himself to the mercy of the storm outside. "Consider your lives lucky that I am only recovering." She looked to the Shroud. "Next time our paths cross you will meet your end." There was a flash and Juno was gone.
Desmond and Jonah looked at one another but before they could speak an alarm was sounding throughout the building. Among the deafening ringing boomed a voice stating an emergency evacuation was taking place. Desmond wheeled around to look for an escape route. The mission was a bust. He looked back to Jonah who now seemed to realise what had happened. He turned back and ran for the crumbling breach in the building. He glanced down over the edge to the depths below. This was an unofficial emergency escape planned back at the headquarters. No one agreed to it. Not even Desmond. He can't exactly walk out now. He checked the straps of his backpack containing the parachute were secure. This is a little different than Manhattan. He saw a girder jutting out from the building and took a step out onto it. The winds were strong and the rain was cold and sharp. He heard the door behind him opening. He looked around to see five men storm in with assault rifles. Shit, it's now or never. The men all raised their guns and took aim. Jonah roared out. "Stop! As your Grand Master I command you to stop!" The men turned to Jonah noticing Rikkin was nowhere to be seen. "Sir." The men withdrew their weapons. "Miles!" Jonah shouted to trump the loud whistling gales. " I agree with what you proposed! Rikkin was a fool to refuse that!"
Desmond stopped and thought for a second. He allowed a smile at this new victory. "Then we'll be seeing you soon!" And with that, he leapt from the building. Desmond plummeted through the murky sky. The rain seemed to stand still around him as he fell. He felt his body being buffeted by the gales around him. His hand searched for the catch to release his chute. He pulled and it unfurled in the strong winds above him. As it did so his body jerked as the chute was pulled up by the wind. The sudden movement send Desmonds earpiece flying from his ear. He regained control and positioned his path for a now visible river. As he descended still rapidly towards the water he felt the wind try to steer him away. He pulled the handle and turned to the river again. He was close now, only five stories up. The wind wrenched his chute again, this time tearing it from the cords connecting it to Desmond. He felt himself falling again. He barely had time to think before he crashed into the cold water. He took a second to himself and then kicked furiously upwards. The current wasn't very strong despite the storm. He swam to the bridge nearby and began to climb the wall. He leapt over the wall and sat on it for a moment. The past few minutes had taken a lot out of him. But he had gotten the attention of this new strange Templar Grandmaster. Desmond had a good feeling about him. Maybe this is the break we need. Soon a car pulled up in front of Desmond. Ruth was driving. He was so happy to see her. He got in the passenger seat next to her and threw his head back onto the headrest. "We got your last location from your earpiece then lost it. It was falling. But I see I had no reason to worry, eh?" Her smile was of delight and it hid her worry for his safety. "Let's get back home. I'm sure you've a lot to tell us."
