The sun was midway through its journey across the sky before the three had stopped for gas at a small station in a small town in the middle of practically nowhere. The sun was unbearable when they were standing in its direct path. The heat wasn't as bad when a person is flying down the road at an excess of 100 mph. but sitting there waiting for the bikes to be filled up seemed more like a cruel and unusual torture than a necessity. Of the three white hooded males, Altair seemed to enjoy the heat and sunlight more than Desmond or Ezio. Then again the Syrian was raised in the Middle East and was used to the scorching heat and blinding sunshine.
Desmond and Ezio took refuge in the convenience store attached to the gas station for a few things of supplies and drinks as well as some A.C., while Altair gassed up the bikes. Ezio made a bee line for the energy drink section of the store glancing over the dozen different brands of drinks available. There were small bottles that, more likely than not, held no more than a mouthful of liquid in it. Then there were tall large ones. Desmond picked up an American brand names on called a 'Monster' and turned it over curious as to what it did. Their tanned companion had been adamant about getting something that would keep them awake through the night till they reached Masyaf late that night.
"What about this stuff?" Desmond piped up holding the 'Monster' up to Ezio to look at it. Ezio regarded it for a moment in curiosity before plucking it out of the American's grasp. Turning it over his golden eyes grazed over the list of ingredients and side effects and warning. After a moment he frowned deeply.
"Sicuramente non (Definitely not). There is way too much caffeine in that for Altair to drink." Ezio shook his head before returning it to the shelf with the others.
"But I thought the point was to get something that would keep us awake…" Desmond responded.
"Caffeine and Altair Ibn-La'ahad, get along together like a house on fire." Ezio scowled as if remembering something frightening and shook his head as if dispelling the thought.
"But he was drinking coffee this morning and that shit has a lot of caffeine in it to begin with." Was Desmond quickly comeback.
"That was caffeine free coffee he was drinking. Understand this Desmond, the last time Altair had caffeine, let's just say all of Masyaf was in danger of being destroyed. That stuff makes Altair both incredibly hyper and irritated and the simplest thing will set him on the war path." Ezio explained before going back to the drinks again. Desmond stood dumbfounded, his mind conjuring up an image a hyper easily pissed off master assassin with a hidden blade and anger problems running loose. Desmond swallowed and shuddered at the thought. That image was probably the scariest thing, in his opinion, Desmond has ever seen.
"Ah here we go!" Ezio exclaimed catching Desmond's attention. Wondering over to the Italian's shoulder Desmond looked down at the tiny little bottle in his hands. It was another American brand drink called '5-hour energy'.
"Are you sure?" Desmond asked suspiciously.
"Si, Altair and I used this drink before when we have long rides to missions and assassinations. You truly do not crash that bad in the end." Ezio replied as he picked several off the shelf and snagged a few bags of snacks and headed to the counter to pay for the food. Desmond trailed after him carrying a few bottles of water.
"Will that be all sirs?" the cashier asked his tone lazy and slightly annoyed.
"Yes. This will be all." Ezio fished through his pocket to he produced the stolen credit card and handed it to the man behind the counter. After scanning and bagging the items he swiped the offered card and punched in a few numbers before handing the card, bags and receipt back to Ezio.
"Thank you very much sirs and come again." The man droned as they left without another word. Ezio stopped by the trash can by the door and took out the card and held it with his shirt and proceeded to clean the card off.
"Now what?" Desmond asked.
"It is high time we got rid of the card. I don't wish to leave behind fingerprints for them to trace if they need to." Ezio finished cleaning the card then dropped it into the trashcan and walked away without a second glance. Sighing at the no regard for people's property or well earned money, he followed Ezio over to where Altair was leaning up against the bikes watching them from underneath his hood golden eyes glowing like beams of lights in the shadows.
"Is everything ready?" Altair straightened as they approached. Ezio nodded raising the bag in emphasis. Like before the three males split the goods between them. Desmond ended up keeping two water bottles and the energy drinks in his backpack along with his spare set of cloths. Altair kept the snacks and two more water bottles. Ezio carried whatever was left. Climbing on behind Altair Desmond settles the black helmet over his head and wrapped his arms around the other's waist, gripping his opposite wrist. The bikes revved once more in a beautiful animalistic purr and rolled out without another second thought.
The road they were traveling was out in the open a two lain road. The once bright yellow line that divided the two halves was now almost nonexistent. The years of sand, wind, tires and rain warring off the paint so now only a few speckles of the yellow line still could be seen against the gray backdrop. The scenery around them looked like a picture out of a post card. Deep dense forests around them. In the wake of the bikes were light dust clouds. Dust picked up from the road and kicked up as they passed. Oddly it made Desmond feel at peace and almost at home really though it confounded him as to why but he enjoyed the feeling.
"Desmond, may I ask you a question?" Altair's voice filtered through his thoughts.
"Yeah sure go ahead." Desmond prompted.
"Why did you never tell Malik about your past with the Templars? Had he know he could have helped you through better?" Altair commented. Desmond took a deep breath. Unsure if he really wanted to respond to the question or not. Secretly he wished he could just rebottle the memories up and erase the whole scene he had caused by revealing his past. But he couldn't hide anything from the two master assassins' so why try?
"I don't really know why I didn't. It's not like Malik didn't try to get me to explain. He tried almost every month to get me to reveal what happened. Whether it was trying to trick me into saying something or confronting me face to face, he always tried to help me. But I guess I just felt like if I told him, he would treat me differently or leave me, think of me as a possible traitor to the assassins or something like that." Desmond explained truly he didn't know exactly he hadn't told anyone before. But honestly how do you go around explaining darkness of the world that Desmond had seen? Ezio hummed in understanding Altair said nothing, his silence communicating his complete understanding.
"What happened when you woke up after they took you in?" Ezio asked this time. Desmond paused thinking back. That first year of living with Malik and Kadar was blurry. He truly didn't remember much of what happened that year.
"I guess when I passed out my mind must have gone into shock. I think from all the shit I had seen my mind finally took it all in at once, since I was finally away, and shut down. From what Kadar told me I didn't do much of anything for the first few weeks. Apparently I would just sit in the bed they had given me and stare blankly at the wall, in shock. Malik was apparently ready to raise hell on the people who had hurt me so much, or so Kadar said." Desmond sighed thinking back on the time a few years ago when Desmond had been listening to Kadar drone on about anything that came to the blue eyed novice's mind. Suddenly the younger Al-sayf had started rambling about Desmond's first year with them.
"About 2 months after they saved me I started moving around more on my own, more like a robot. I mostly followed Kadar around like a lost puppy. Needing something to cling to I suppose. Apparently he would talk to me constantly, then one time two months after they took me in I laughed at something Kadar had said and apparently Kadar was the about ready to do back flips when I did. I started talking to him and acting normal again, though I still never talked or looked at Malik, until about 4 months later when it was just me and him home alone. Kadar had left for the night to do something. I just started talking to Malik about anything and nothing and he seemed pleased I opened up to him finally and he listened." It was then Desmond was sure that Desmond starting thinking of Malik as an older brother, asshole yes, but an older brother none the less much like Kadar did.
"How exactly did you start being a Bartender? I remember you mentioning that at the mall." Ezio comment. Desmond grunted in response and almost laughed when he remembered that day in his mind.
"Well… When I was 18 I started noticing that Kadar and Malik, mostly Malik was becoming more and more busy and I just figured out it was time that I move out and find my own apartment. Kadar went all batshit on me, telling me I was too young even though he was only a few years older, Malik asked me if that was my true choice and I told him it was. So, actually believe it or not, Malik helped find me an apartment to live in, which is the one I took you two to, sure it wasn't the best but Malik helped me find the nicest in the district, which had low rent, so that I could pay the rent and I didn't have to worry about missing a lot of payment. It was then I went out and started looking for a job. I didn't go to school and didn't have a high school diploma like most, so I couldn't find a good, good job but the local bar by the bureau hired me. I quickly learned the skills I needed and climbed the ranks till I became the senior bartender. I got decent tips and a good paycheck. Most of the money went to bills and for the rent. What I could not do Malik and Kadar provided even though I told them no." Desmond explained at length.
"So Malik really did look after you?" Altair wondered.
"Yeah he did really, he took me in and treated me like I was part of his family, and he looked after me, and made sure I didn't work myself to death during graveyard shifts. And he made sure I ate well enough…" Desmond trailed off. The list of what the one armed man had done for him was endless really. The three lapsed into a comfortable silence once again and Desmond rested against Altair's back feeling the tanned assassins back and chest rise and fall with every life giving breath he took. It was comforting to say the least. The forestry around them and the very climate seemed to shift around them as they rode on. The dense forest with it dark high trees, and forest floors covered in leaves and decay became fewer and father between. The trees becoming shorter and more bushes started popping up. Until, not before long, the ground became sand and the trees quite literally stopped abruptly. They stopped once around dusk at a small run down settlement. They spend roughly an hour stretching their legs, eating and drinking till they were content before continuing on their journey.
"Do you guys have any family? You know outside of all this?" Desmond suddenly asked curious as to the lives of the two men he had come to trust even though he knew so little about them. The communication between them went quiet for a moment as the bikes revved up once again.
"La mia famiglia (My family), like yours, was born into the assassin world. My father Giovanni is a well known assassin back in my home city of Florence, back in Italy. My older brother Federico, is also an assassin, he took up the coat a few year before I did. Though I still outrank him." Ezio replied with a hint of pride and hidden victory in his voice.
"Ego much boy?" Altair quirked the smirk evident in his voice when he spoke. Desmond snickered, biting on his inner cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
"Chiudi il becco! (Shut the hell up)." Ezio growled back over the communicator.
"Anyway. My mother, Maria, my sister, Claudia and my youngest sibling Petruccio are all part of the assassin community as well. My mother and sister work as informants gathering information for the assassins that come through and need information for their missions. Petruccio is always too sick to be an assassin out in the field. So he helps gather information with my sister and mother." Ezio said an odd tone in his voice. Desmond chalked it up with pride for his family. For really what family out there could have 3 fully fledged assassins in one house? The American could only fathom the worry his mother, Maria would experience every time one of them left the house on a mission. Or the worry Ezio, his brother and father would have when they left for missions, worried if someone would use their love for their family against them. The pain and worry at times must be unbearable. He made a mental note to himself to ask the Italian what he was doing so far away from home.
"What about you Altair?" Desmond turned this question to the third member of their tiny party. At the question Altair stiffened in Desmond's arms. Blinking in confusion Desmond raised an eyebrow. What had caused that reaction from the assassin?
"I never knew my mother; she died giving birth to me. My Father, Umar died when I was very young on an assassinator mission. Al Mualim took me in after my parent's death and raised me and taught me in the ways of an assassin." was the Syrian's terse, sharp reply. An awkward silence fell over the three assassins at that bit of information. Ezio didn't say a word. Family for Altair was a touchy subject to say the least. The tanned assassin never honestly had a mother and father growing up. But Altair had unconsciously made a new family with Kadar and Malik, which Altair was deadly protective of, just like Ezio was. Nobody messed with their family members. That explained why Altair was so enraged about Desmond's situation. The master assassin had sworn he wasn't ever going to forgive the Templar's for what they did to Desmond. Ezio had seen that angry blaze in those golden orbs and the dark frown on his scarred lips that promised pain and agony and a slow death if Altair ever got his hidden blade on those who did the deed.
It was then when Ezio had agreed with Altair that he and Altair had unconsciously welcomed Desmond into their family circle and were going to protect him and love him as he never got to experience growing up with in the Templar compound. They both wished to heal not only the physical wounds that the Templar's had caused but also the mental ones. Being with the Templars for 6 years had to effect one greatly regardless how well Desmond hid it.
Desmond absorbed this new information he had been granted knowledge of. Altair was kind of in the same boat as him. Growing up without parents and any really there. Granted Desmond may have ended up with the better end of the deal. Altair wasn't that bad off either. Altair grew up under a great teacher, the mentor, the head assassin in the order, Al Mualim. He couldn't help but feel a slight connection between himself and the man in front of him.
Longer and longer they drove. Desert land became more rocky as time waned on. Soon the sun made its drunken climb across the sky and dripped beneath the horizon as the moon and stars took its place in the sky. The silence settled around them almost enough to suffocate a person or make another go insane with the lack of sound. Any sound that was made appeared to be snatched away by the night and flung out violently into the vast emptiness of the land they blazed through. The light around them was the reflective light of the moon, borrowed greedily from the sun on the other side of the planet, and the artificial light from the head lights of the two bikes as they continued down the road. The road was eerie and frightening in the pale light mixing with the yellowish light of the headlights. Soon small outcroppings of tree and shrubs began to appear along the edge of the road just in the head light beams. Around them the sounds of the night began to repress the silence and fill it with their night time lullaby. A lonely owl hooted in the distance though as they road it was barely heard over the roar of the wind in their ears. Crickets chirped away and sang like knighting gales as if this night were their last leading them to sing their hearts out to the nonexistent audience of the vast nothingness surrounding them.
"Just out of pure curiosity, why does Al Mualim kill some of the recruits that come in?" Desmond broke the silence they had fallen into for the past several hours. Apparently his question was very unexpected and Altair jerked violently in Desmond's arms. Ezio, who was driving right beside them on their right side, swerved slightly on the road. Desmond snorted feeling slightly triumphant on having startled the two master assassins.
"Think about it Desmond, not everyone is cut out for being a field assassin." Altair spoke up first.
"Infatti (indeed). Desmond, take into consideration what we have shown you. An assassin had to have the ability to judge distances; they have to be in peek condition to run across the tops of buildings. they must have enough upper body strength to climb up a vertical building face and reach hand holds or jump to platforms on a building face. They also must not be afraid of height to perform Leaps of Faith from any height." Ezio put in.
"One must also know how to outrun enemies and think on their feet. A split second decision can be the difference between life and death for yourself and another and a civilian. They must also know how to fight. There are times when your target will fight back or you will need to extract information the hard way from people. Then people have to know how to blend in with a crowd and not move for long periods of time. You also can't have a fear of blood or killing someone." Altair picked up. Desmond nodded in understanding. It made sense after all. His body was still sore from the climbing and running he had experienced with the two assassins. Sure he could get used to the jumping from heights if he did it more often but the climbing bit might take a little work, even though he had a knack for it a little already.
"But being a field assassin can't be the only job in the assassin community." Desmond countered; he didn't want to go in there thinking there was only one thing he could be.
"True being a field assassin isn't the only option out there. There is a Rafiq, which is what Malik now is, they run the Bureaus around the world. There are technical assassins, such as Shaun Rebecca and Lucy, who work behind the lines. They often times steal digital information and protect against viral attacks to our brotherhood. They also provide communication and technical support when we are on special missions." Ezio listed off.
"Then there are informants and double agents, some who infiltrate the Templars from the inside and provide Intel about them. But all these jobs require you to understand that every job you go into could possibly be your last so you can't have a fear of death. You must also understand that whatever relationships you form with others could possible one day be used against you. You also need to have a strong will and not break under pressure and enemy fire. There are just some people who can't handle that kind of pressure…." Altair finished his tone hinting he had seen several assassins crack under the guilt and pressure of the assassin life. Desmond didn't respond, he only nodded against Altair's back and watched the moon as they drove.
They lapsed into silence once again. The moon slowly and sluggishly crawled its way across the black blanket of the sky above. Once again the scenery about the flip flopped dangerously. The land became more rocky and small mountain like formations could be made out on the horizon as they drove jutting up into the sky threatening to slash at the heavens above them. the once paved road they had been traveling on became more of a well worn dirt path with many tire tracks and ruts dug into the cracked ground beneath their wheels. The ride became more bumpier and Desmond slightly tightened his hold on Altair, trying desperately not to be bucked off the bike as they hit rough patched in the dirt. Altair and Ezio both reduced their speed to manageable levels as they drove as they paid more attention to the road to try not to wreck the bikes.
"Desmond looked there is Masyaf." Ezio piped up. Desmond peeled his head from Altair's back and peered over the Syrian assassin's shoulder. Off in the far distance was a mountain, built on and around the mountain, lit only by the lights inside and around the buildings, was a fortress style building from long ago in the past. High on the top of the mountain was the actual building that towered high into the sky, high mountain walls and a lake at the bottom seemed to be natural barriers around the fortress. At the base of the mountain was a military grade compound surrounded by barbed wired and electric fences. There was a large gate by the front with large posts with several guards out front all dressed in the same stark white garb with gray sleeves and hoods similar to those that Kadar wore except these had a red sash around their middle with a large brown belt and a large gun in their arms. but they didn't wear their hoods pulled up over their head like Altair and Ezio did.
Altair pulled the bike to a stop in front of the gate and next to one of the guards. Behind them Ezio slowed to a stop. The air around them suddenly became thick and tense. Desmond watched as the guard cocked the gun and moved closer. Altair straightened up from his slightly hunched over position. Desmond unwrapped his arms from the master assassin's waist and sat back on the bike suddenly unsure of himself. The guard came forward.
"show your face and state your name." the guard ordered in a harsh monotone voice. Altair reached up and pulled the helmet off his head, showing his full face to the guard without hesitation, his hood down around his neck no nothing hid his face from view. He then raised his left hand which held the fingerless glove showing the absence of his ring finger.
"I am Altair ibn-la'ahad; I have come with Ezio Auditore da Firenze. We have come to present Al Mualim with a new recruit." Altair reported as he waved his hand back at Ezio who must have also removed his helmet seeing as the guards eyes narrowed in the dark to get a better look at the Italian's face. Suddenly the man's attention turned to Desmond who had yet to remove his helmet. He would have had his body obeyed his orders to move but he was frozen to the seat of the bike. His hands locked in their clenched position on the warm metal above the rear tire of the bike. His heart beat quickened several notches under the man's look.
Altair came to his rescue by twisting around in his seat and pulling the helmet off of Desmond's head and placing it in the American's vacant lap. The man's eyes trailed painfully slowly over his features making the younger feel as though the man was dissecting his very soul inside his body. Finally the man nodded all the same and moved to the small box like room by the gate and pulled a lever inside and walked back outside just as the gates made a horrid screeching noise. Altair placed his helmet in his lap and revved the engine slightly. Desmond robotically slipped one arm around the man's waist and held the helmet to his lap with his other. The guard waved them through just as gates opened. Altair nodded and proceeded slowly into the compound. Ezio revved the engine behind them and moved through. the gates screamed once again as they closed behind them trapping them in the compound. Once they were away from the gate Desmond let out the breath he didn't know he was holding when his lungs began aching for air.
"I thought for certain he was going to like arrest us or something." Desmond admitted to Altair.
"it is his job to make sure we are not enemies of the brotherhood." Came Altair's quick reply. Sensing the other didn't want to talk at the moment Desmond shut up quickly and resolved himself to looking around the military grade compound around them. most of the buildings were three or four stories tall and were fairly large and reminded Desmond greatly of The Farm back home in the U.S. there were shooting ranges, schools, arms dealers and gear shops along with other various store, grocery stores, restaurants and other small buildings. really it was a mini community within the confines of a gate. The tanned assassin guided the bike to a garage where many cars and other model bikes were parked in parking places. Altair pulled up into one and Ezio followed in suit into an empty one next to them. all three of them dismounted. Altair removed his jacket and helmet and hung them on the handle bars after turning the bike off and placing the keys in the jacket pocket. Desmond removed his and hung them across the seat. Ezio sighed greatly and set his stuff on his bike as well.
"what now?" Desmond asked in a whisper not entirely sure why he was whispering.
"As far as I know, you Desmond are to spend the night in a room with the other recruits till the morning, when we come to retrieve you for the ceremony." Ezio replied rubbing the back of his neck.
"you haven't done something like this before have you?" Desmond asked.
"Le mie scuse, non(my apologies, no) no I haven't." Ezio admitted giving Desmond a sheepish, apologetic smile. Desmond looked over at Altair who refused to meet his gaze as well.
"you haven't either?! Well shit I'm screwed then aren't I?" Desmond groaned dropping his head into his hand.
"you are not boy, now hush. I have a better idea of what to do that Ezio does. Now come along." Altair countered and placed a hand on Desmond's shoulder and led him from the parking garage and into the 'main street' of the compound. Ezio walked calmly by Desmond's right and Altair on his left as if the two were shielding him from something. It was then he was aware of the looks around them. many assassins in stark white hoodies were walking along the street. Many people regarded them with interest some looked at them in disgust others with pure anger. Desmond blinked in confusion and tensed us slightly. But Altair squeezed his shoulder in reassurance and continued to move onward. Ezio only moved closer to Desmond's side to protect him from the more harsher glares from those around them. the two assassins led him to a large building. opening the door Altair led them to a small elevator which they entered and went up two floors before exiting. The doors opened to a large room where at least 10 or 12 beds were placed against the walls. In the room 9 heads turned towards them. all of the people in the room dressed in different types of cloths. Desmond was the only one wearing a white hoodie and a black backpack and a hidden blade on his arm. Altair gently nudged him into the room.
"we will come for you in the morning. Try and rest. It will do you little good to be sleepy tomorrow." Altair advised.
"and don't worry you are safe here." Ezio added. Desmond only nodded still a little lost.
"good night." Desmond muttered.
"good night Desmond." Altair replied.
"Buonanotte giovanne (good night, young one)." Ezio nodded and smiled gently at him before Altair pressed a button on the panel in the elevator and the silver door slid shut and shut desmond off from the only two people Desmond trusted in this entire compound. Slowly the conversations in the room began again but Desmond could feel the eyes of the other recruits on his back as moved stiffly one of the unoccupied beds in the room. Removing his backpack he set it down on the lower shelf of the nightstand and sat down on the bed. Taking off his hidden blade as Altair had told him, he sat it beside the pillow and lay down. he turned his back to the others in the room not really feeling like talking with them. slowly he managed to fall asleep. His last coherent thought he sent toward the heavens. I'm almost there mom, dad, Connor, clay. Just watch I'll be an assassin soon. I hope….
assassin's creed: lover's in arms chapter 11
Hello everyone. It is me again. I have gotten several questions about clarifying a few things and to explain a little more of the world this is set in. I hope this chapter here has answered a few of those questions. Also it has come to my attention as I have been writing this that I am not exactly portraying Jerusalem as I should. Please I wish to know if you like the description I have created. If there is any problems please let me know and I will try my best to correct the world if need be. Though some don't seem to mind. I also must thank all the reviews I have gotten in support of this story. They really do help I must say. Also you help me to improve and build me up and I do read every single comment.
Thank you for the continued support of my story!