AN: The final chapter of this journey (after five medium sized notebooks later). Thank you to everyone who has stuck with me. I will be going on Hiatus till my Law School Summer (maybe in Christmas break I'll upload a short story in this universe). You can still send me a PM but just know that it may take awhile for me to respond. While I wish this story was a bit longer I sadly cannot control my Law School, my Law School controls me.
Chapter 13 - Something Ends, Something Begins.
Lurezzi mansion ruins, Outskirts of New York, Tuesday,11:30 PM
"Why am I not surprised to see the three of you here?"
"Do we really need to answer that?" Uma asks as she carefully looks at Marron and his troops and looks back at the two revealed siblings who were looking tense. The five of them who had emerged plus Clover and Alex stand outside the slab entrance. The sphere and the key being in Tim's jean pocket showing an obvious bulge. Marron's troops had surrounded them. He steps forward lighting a cigar that he got from his jacket and blowing a puff of smoke in the air.
"By the looks on your faces, I assume that the two of you know more or less the full story of the events that happened 26 years ago. And I assume that the two of you" he points his cigar at Tim and Geraldine. "know of your blood relation with each other?"
"We know, Marron get to your point."
"Very well Geraldine. It seems we find ourselves at an impasse. You obviously don't want to allow the Templar community to conduct research on your bodies because of something related to human dignity and human rights or whatever reason you would like to give us, and the world still won't move into the direction of progress. May I ask how could you be so selfish? Isn't that what constitutes goodness? To give one's life for the benefit of others? You two have rarw genes that would make a difference. The ability to manipulate the pieces of eden, such as that Sphere that you have in your pocket and to be immune to its effects is a gift that should be shared. Especially to people who are more than qualified to make a better world. Why should their ideas and dreams go to waste simply because they don't have the genes."
"Sorry but I don't get it." Marron's attention turned to Sam who interrupted his monlogue.
"If you're so desperate for their genes, why kill their family? Doesn't that just make your job harder?" At this Marron scoffs at Sam.
"I don't know who you are, but do you really think that me killing them off is a hindrance? Danella is not the only descendant of Ezio Auditore, just as those two are not the only descendants of Altair. But I do need a sample of their genes and those damned Assassins refused to give us their bodies." Tim narrows his eyes.
In the memory shown by the sphere his mother was unable to control Marron's mind. And thus this lead to his father fighting with him in hand to hand combat. His mom was a little bit closer and Marron was already technically within range.
And yet Marron is still unaffected.
'Hmm'
"Because that isn't your only goal isn't it? You're also a descendant of Altair and Ezio." Marron's eyes narrowed.
"I don't know what you are talking about Subject 20." At this Tim laughs sarcastically.
"Come on you bastard. Let's not be shy around here. You can also control the pieces of eden, and you are also immune to it's mind controlling effects. That's why my mother wasn't able to knock you out or kill you with the Sphere before she made the last wish. She was your competition wasn't she? And to top it all off she was your political enemy." Tim smirks as he notices Marron become uncomfortable.
Getting warmer son. Getting warmer.
'Thanks Spiridon.'
He then moves forward and points at Marron.
"You only want your line to be the ones to control these artifacts. Because it is only your line whom you will have control over. And when the whole world is relying on your family to make sure the world is a better place, it will give you unprecedented power. Especially among the Templars."
"But there's a problem isn't it?" Sam adds now realizing where Tim was going and what Marron's motives really were.
"You are sterile or infertile, you can't have any children with any woman. The momentary pregnancies that Uma had with you always ended in a miscarriage. Uma has polycistic ovaries but polycistic doesn't mean infertile. You were hoping to get the sphere before Danella or Stefano used its last wish to remove your sterility. With them gone, only you can make the last wish without going crazy. That's why you were so pissed off when she used the last wish as you were fighting with Spiridon. Because that was your last if not only chance to become fertile and start your dynastic monopoly. And while you could've had that with Geraldine as your adopted daughter, in your mind she was still competition."
"Deep in your heart it still wasn't the same. She was still the daughter of your competition. She was still my sister. But the moment she officially becomes a Templar, she has other people protecting her. Other people whom you can't afford to step on. Oh sure, she may still be manipulated into their research experiments-"
"Hey!"
"No offense." He looks pointedly at Geraldine who has an annoyed look on her face.
"But she wouldn't be under your control anymore. She wouldn't need to do your dirty work to keep WOOHP busy and off your back as you continue killing off your competition." Marron looks at Tim enraged.
"How did you know that?!"
'I didn't I just guessed.' Tim thought with a smirk as he watches the man responsible for tearing his family apart become irrationally enraged.
"And when she was done with her usefulness. You would begin your experimentations on her. Even if it ends up killing her." Sam finished. Looking even more horrified at the man who had forced himself on her own mother.
Feeling enraged Geraldine feels her hands clench as Raphael places his hand on her shoulder to calm her down.
"I knew I wasn't worth anything to you. But am I really just another subject to experiment on?"
"Were you really expecting anything more?" And that was the trigger before she felt herself want to run and attack him but was held back by Uma and Raphael.
"You wouldn't come here without a reason Marron. Do you really want to still grab them for your experiments?"
"Careful Uma." Marron brings out a slightly bigger ball that was similar to the sphere that was in Tim Scam's pocket.
"I know how to use the Apple of Eden. You would easily lose." He demonstrates this by controlling Raphael causing him to nearly breaking and crushing Geraldine's arm.
"Ouch! You son of a -"
"Marron! Please stop this!" Marron removes the control he has on Raphael. Raphael then briefly apologizes to Geraldine which she nods, now knowing the power of the apple. She goes up to Tim Scam's side and whispers.
"We need to get him alone with us. We're the only ones aside from him who are immune to the mind controlling effects and can use the Apple without going crazy."
"On it, I've got my knife ready."
"Are you crazy? He can easily kill you with the said knife. All he has to do is use the apple to lift the knife and slit your throat."
"Well we can't go be alone with him unarmed."
"Can you kill him by twisting his neck or suffocating him?"
"Yes"
"Then we don't need weapons." She then walks on front of Marron.
"Fine you can take us, but only if none of your troops accompany us. We'll go willingly."
"WHAT?!" Everyone asks astonished.
"Good choice: I ask that none except the two of you to come with me."
"May I have the Hot and Spicy gum?" Tim asks before following Geraldine and Marron.
"What are you going to use it for?"
"Something that you're too scared to do, blondie. It's one of my creations I know how to use it." Before Clover could retaliate further Sam hands him his her pack. While he would've wanted it to last longer he can't let this bastard know what they're up to. He quickly arrives in Geraldine's side and behind Marron. When he notices that Marron's troops have not followed them but instead started attacking the company they've left behind, he rapidly pushes Marron down and hold him down.
"Get the Apple!" He screams as he holds Marron down and Geraldine grabs the Apple from Marron's grasp. Marron with his free hand will not let it go. Tim unwraps a Hot and spicy gum and quickly places it in Marron's mouth. This caused Marron to choke letting go of the Apple. Tim quickly stood up as Geraldine flings Marron to the side as he was experiencing pain in his mouth from the capsaiacin chemical that causes spiciness to have that burning effect in your mouth. Geraldine seeing that the troops had pulled out their most deadly weapons on Uma and Raphael, went within their range. She stopped them by controlling their minds causing them to freeze and fall back down.
"We don't have time come on." Their company reaches the road outside of the ruins.
"Let's go to the Hellfire Club in New York. No one can touch us there."
"Um, Uma in case you're forgetting Clover and I aren't Hellfire members."
"I never said that we were going to the restricted area. We're just going to a lounge room in level 5. Accessible but discreet. Get in, we need to go there now."
Seeing Marron starting to get up, Raphael and Tim get back in their own ride and start driving away. The spies ride with Geraldine and her mother.
They got their quickly as there was no traffic. Geraldine gets a text from Raphael that they are already waiting in the lounge room in level 5.
However when they arrive they see Gabby and Reginald talking to a police.
"Danggit, I told my parents that you guys were lost in the city and needed me to go around as a guide."
"Well in a way we were." Alex said as Clover has a sweatdrop from her head.
"You have a stronger Alibi with me around. Let's get on it shall we." They step down from the car as Uma hands over the keys to the valet. When Gabby sees Sam she runs to her and embraces her. Reginald catches up.
"Dear you had us worried. You weren't answering your phone it's past midnight-"
"Don't worry Gabby, I decided that the latest addition to the Hellfire Club should have a tour around New York with her friends whom we've found near a Mcdonald's." Uma's voice startled Gabby. And Sam couldn't blame her mother for not knowing how to react.
"Uma, thank you for bringing Sam and her friends to us. It's morning already-"
"-and she, her friends and I have one more matter to settle with before all else. Time is of the essence Reginald. Don't worry, I won't -"
"Uma...can I have a word please with my daughter. You can go ahead."
"No I will wait here until you've finished." Uma leads Geraldine and the rest to the café to order some coffees as Reginald and Gabby talk with Sam in private.
"Sam, I don't know how you met her but I don't trust her. Be careful not to trust every word she says." Gabby says with a serious tone in her voice. She looks straight into Sam's eyes.
"I know mother, I won't."
"Starlight listen to me." Reginald says as Sam faces him.
"Uma is someone who is on top of the Hellfire food chain. She's probably in the Inner circle. And she is dangerous when you offend her. We don't know why she took an interest to you and your friends. But be aware that in every action she takes, there's a political motive underneath it all. And that might end up getting you hurt if you are not careful."
"I will Daddy." She hugs both of her parents as they escort her to Uma's company.
"Our room is on the sixth floor Room 21. Uma can there be exceptions?"
"Sorry Reginald there can be no exceptions. But we do have guest rooms in Level 5. I already had them arranged. The sooner we start the sooner she'll be with you and Gabriella." Uma walks briskly away and after a final reminder on how to reach them Sam along with the rest went to the lounge room in level 5.
The lounge room was in Black, White and Red. Much like Danella's attire, the colors complement each other through its elegant and classy design. The most open places were the tables in the middle. Each and every booth could hold at least 8 people and were secluded from each other. Tim and Raphael were already in a booth. Drinking Coffee as the rest arrive.
"The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can all sleep. Tim I suspect you recognize the place of the last scene shown by the sphere. Where is it?"
"That's my first foster home. Now that I know my older sister was sold off-"
"Let's focus on finding your sister. To save energy can you ask the sphere to show us where Mira is currently in now?"
"Uma are you nuts? we aren't the only ones here."
"Then close the curtain of our booth Raphael. These booths were made for discretion and privacy." Reluctantly Raphael closed the curtains and Tim brought out the Sphere and twisted the key till it glowed.
"Show us where Mira Lurezzi-Skailinski is right now." The sphere showed a holographic image of a now grown up Mira, in a town square. She then turns to a priest who came out of the Church.
"Mi scusi, Padre, ma sai quale sia la strada per Firenze? (Excuse me father, but which is the best way to get to Florence?)"
"Il modo migliore è perdere, è quello di viaggiare Napoli (The best way Miss is to go via Naples.)"
"Grazié Padre (Thank you, Father)" She tries to rush off but her stomach growls loud enough for the priest to hear. And now as they see her she looks too skinny to be healthy. The priest who could be in Gabby and Reginald's age, goes closer to her in concern. Especially as she clenches her stomach in pain.
"Calma la mancanza. Sembri che ti serve il riposo e il cibo. Vieni nella Chiesa, fornirà quello che ti serve. (Calm down miss. You look like you need rest and food. Come inside the Church, we'll provide what you need.)" At this her eyes widened in panic.
"Ma il padre, ci sono alcune persone che mi seguono e che mi seguono. Non sono sicuro che sia sicuro.(But father, there are some people following me and stalking me. I'm not sure it is safe.)" The priest calmly waits for her to calm down before speaking gently.
"Dove il Signore, è sicuro. Devi solo avere fede. Vieni, devi mangiare.(Where the Lord is, it is safe. You just need to have faith. Come, you need to eat.)" This was the last thing he said before Mira's stomach growls again. Point being proven, she follows the priest inside the church. And then the Sphere stops glowing. The hologram now non-existent.
"Okay, so she's been in Italy for some time now since she's fluent in Italian. And someone or some people are following her. She's also been starving for some time now." Raphael observed.
"Hopefully the priest will take care of her for us. While we regain our energies. We also know that her destination is Florence. Probably via Naples as the priest had suggested." Uma said as she took down notes.
"There is another issue that's hanging around us right now that I would like to deal with already. The grounds of whether or not I go back to the WOOHP prison."
"Which you should Scam so that Jerry can finally move on." Clover said getting tired and irritated.
"Clover, you do know that now that he knows both of his sisters he'll probably break out again and Jerry will have to call us again..."
"Alex I can't believe you."
"She has a point Clover, I actually think that right now going back in the WOOHP prison will do more harm than good. I'm not the only Templar who's got agents inside of WOOHP. Tim Scam going back there is almost like him going back in the Abstergo facility. And I'm not sure if my Assassin allies have resources for another breakout."
"I won't even comment since he and I more or less share the same sentiments when it comes to going back to that hellhole. Raphael what are your thoughts?"
"I'm going to be the Devil's advocate and say that he should go back. But not for long, there are some Assassins in WOOHP who could make sure that he doesn't fall into Abstergo's hands again-"
"Raphael, Abstergo sent an IT virus to sedate me in my cell, then they kidnapped me. I doubt that your Assassins could come up with something to counteract that."
"On the contrary Timothy, I've witnessed the IT weapons of the Assassins. While I agree with you on not going back to WOOHP, I highly disagree with you on the Assassin's capabilities. You severely underestimate them." Geraldine retorts.
"Samantha what are your thoughts?" All eyes are now on Sam.
"I think...you guys should talk with Jerry."
"Excuse me?" Uma asks with an arch eyebrow.
"Uma, you obviously know more or less the true extent of how deep Abstergo or Templar agents have infiltrated WOOHP. Same thing with you Raphael. And Abstergo easily taking Tim the first time around gives us a high probability that they wouldn't hesitate to do it again. And while countermeasures can be done to prevent that or to be prepared when they do attempt to take him again, Tim not going back to WOOHP is actually better in the long run. But I doubt he'll listen to me-"
"Don't be ridiculous Sam, I do listen to you girls." Jerry voice and figure startling her as she moves inward to the booth and closer to Tim's side from her surprise. Raphael thus removes the curtain to reveal Jerry Lewis in the flesh.
"Jerry how long have you been there?"
"Long enough Clover. I see that the circumstances have changed. Well here I am." Tim sighs as he starts the negotiations. After going through the things Vidic, Marron and Leiman, had him put through, it was refreshing to see Jerry Lewis. Somehow Sam's presence in being beside him and physically closer to him helped.
"Well Jerry, as I've said many times before, I'm not going back in the WOOHP prison. But now, there are more reasons from different people supporting the idea. For one thing, after the little stunt Abstergo did to kidnap me a few things are obvious. As confirmed by Uma Husk here, there are Abstergo agents among WOOHP agents. It has been deeply infiltrated so much that me going back there is like me going back to Abstergo. There are also Assassin agents among WOOHP agents. But they may be fewer and may not be enough to make sure I'm protected from whatever plans Abstergo has it in for me."
"I see, and what is your proposition?"
"Mr. Lewis, I'm Uma Husk. Well in a few months I'll be Uma Gilden again. My ex-husband is targetting Geraldine and Tim to kill them. Under me he cannot touch them unless he wants to be excommunicated from a special group that we're in. I know he cannot afford that, financially or politically. Also if you didn't know already these two are full blood long lost siblings-"
"Mother!"
"Uma!"
"Trust me you two. He needs to know, don't worry I am confident he'll keep this a secret."
"Wait- you two are brother and sister?"
"Let me finish Mr. Lewis, and listen well." She said in a dangerous tone. Jerry had to swallow back a few words, then made a gesture to continue.
"They are currently high up in Abstergo's retrieval list for their Animus project. It is because they have special genes that makes them immune to the mind control effects and allows them to control artifacts known as the pieces of eden. You can read the Abstergo file on them from your own copy that Samantha gave you. But this Mr. Lewis is the reason why they are on Marron Husk's hit list. He wants to be the only one to be able to control these artifacts. These two among a few others are his competition that he would like to kill. Do you understand why it is critical for them to stay away from Abstergo and Marron?"
"How do I know that you're not just making this up?" Everyone except Uma sighed and reacted in annoyance.
"Mr. Lewis, I may be and have done many things. But I'm not one to break the promises I made to their mother's dying wish. And I promised her that I would make sure everyone of her children is safe."
"Which leads us to the current situation. We are looking for our older sister. We know that right now she is hopefully being saved from starvation from a priest's generosity somewhere in Italy."
"She is also being stalked. By whom, we don't know yet. But we have to get to our sister soon." Geraldine finishes. Her eyes feeling more and more tired.
"Mr. Lewis, you can sleep on it before you say anything. We are all exhausted."
"I see Ms. Gilden, very well we shall discuss it more tomorrow when we've all rested."
New York, Hellfire Club headquarters, Level 5 Lounge, Wednesday, 9:30 AM
Tim arrives there earlier than the others. His body had rested but ultimately he cannot sleep. Or he cannot sleep fully knowing that all that has happened in the last 24 hours had not been a dream. He ate his breakfast quickly as it was delivered to them via room service under Uma's orders.
While waiting, he brought out the sphere. Making sure the curtain was closed in the booth, he twisted the key until the sphere glowed.
He asked the first question that came in his mind.
The Sphere showed a scene of when he was a toddler sleeping on the couch. On the otherside was the bastard Tier writing and filing what looked to be important documents on the kitchen table. He's the only man he could recall that did nearly everything intoxicated.
"What's that name again? Skane? Skine? Or was it a 'C'? Uhh what a hangover. Huh, Ishki? Nah I know that it starts with an 'S'. But that last one does sound like Whiskey." He stood up and went to his liquor cabinet. But then yelled out in anger when he discovers that he doesn't have Whiskey. To make matters worse, he saw his toddler self begin to cry loudly.
"Shut up! You little Scam!" He yells slamming the door to the liquor cabinet.
"I'm a Scam?" He asks softly as he starts to wake.
"Yes, maybe that's your name. Scam, uncomplicated little Scam. Let's just remove the 'Ishki' beause it reminds me of Whiskey."
"Anything new?" A voice asks as the scene fades and he opens the curtain. Seeing his sister, as usual dressed in white.
His sister.
It was strange to acknowledge that as a fact. He wasn't idealistic in that they would automatically bond or even openly acknowledge it. But even just the thought that all this time...they were family. Even that thought alone needs to have some time to adjust to.
"Just wondering how Skailinski became Scam. I shouldn't be surprised that it was a result of a drunken stupor."
"I see, at least you're not undergoing an identity crisis." She sighs sadly. Strangely the fact that he is her brother...while it is surprising it was somehow one of the few stable things she can cling on to. The only thing that was strangely constant after all she's been through.
Marron using her all these years.
Him and his fanatical Templar allies who are in power.
How 26 years ago they used that power to make a family tragedy.
A family tragedy where she, the youngest was only 6 months old, when it happened.
And all this time, it turns out she was helping them slowly turn her brother insane. To them, it's a minimal price for the answers they need.
"Hey, hey, are you okay there?" She is snapped out of her thoughts by her brother.
"Just...overwhelmed. Everything is changing so rapidly, there are things I want to question...but I just..." Tim sees that she is starting to be disillusioned by the things that were once so sure, that are now uncertain. She's still in denial. But she can't stay there for too long. If she does, she'll be stuck. And that will end up killing her.
"You're neither the first one nor the only one who feels that way."
"Let me guess, you felt this way when WOOHP fired you?"
"No, I felt much worse. But I have an idea what you're feeling. There's no point in denying that."
"What is your point?"
"That you can't be in denial forever. Everything is changing. The difference is how you deal with it once you've slowly accepted the facts."
"Is that why it took you four years? Four years to seek revenge."
"It took me 2 years. Implementing my plans took another 2." He looks up and sees that the rest of their company was entering the lounge. He looks skeptically at Jerry as he keeps Sam in his peripheral vision.
"I've decided...that you'll be under Uma's protection in the meantime. Your quest to finding your sister should be updated to me via Uma. You've implied last night that you believe our communications was compromised. Uma being a cryptographer will handle it. Additionally your blood relation will be kept hidden since you've mentioned that Abstergo agents are also within WOOHP."
"Also in the meantime Sam will be the liaison between Mr. Lewis and us who will be involved in finding Mira and evading Marron. Clover and Alex needs to get back and also they are not Hellfire members. Sam on the other hand just activated hers and has the Hellfire's resources and protection. She doesn't have any classes and her theses advisers are my loyal agents-"
"Wait, so you knew my theses all this time?!"
"Do you really think I only use spies to spy on enemies? I use mine to seek out talent and innovation. Knowledge is power after all. Don't worry they'll understand." Tuening back to the siblings Uma continues.
"In summary, she'll be with us in our endeavors to look for Mira. Mr. Lewis, please escort Clover and Alex outside before you use that ridiculous way of travelling back to your WOOHP headquarters. Do your job while we do ours." Tim inwardly smirks as he sees the look on Jerry's face. He also catches a glance at Sam who is assuring the three that she will be fine.
Don't waste this chance. This is the best opportunity to get closer and woo her. Like your mother she's intelligent, beautiful and empathic. You're bound to have some competition.'Well noted Spiridon.'
"Very well, come on Clover, Alex." As the three of them leave the lounge, Uma then turns to everyone else.
"Now let us begin. I know someone who is a close political ally of your mother. He is actually indebted to her till now. He has the resources to help us."
"And who is he?"
"His name is Daniel Lombard. He's the father of Diana Lombard. A divorced man, he is one of the richest members of the Hellfire Club. But more importantly I am confident he will help."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Tim says as he stood up.
"Let's go."
AN: A big thank you once again to everyone. The end of this journey as I embark a new one. Feel free to review or PM me during my hiatus (because of Law School).