Chapter 29

11/10/2013

22:05

Gravesend, New York, USA

The wind whipped over the assembled Assassins as the great, darkened shape of the Altair II pulled up to the shoreline. Lucy shivered a little, despite her coat, Kyle nestled snugly against her chest in a harness, and Desmond wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. His hood was pulled low, his golden gaze glinting from beneath it as a boat splashed into the water, a light searching along the shoreline before settling on the group.

The boat came closer, and a tall form stood up in it, tossing them a rope, which John and Michael caught deftly, towing the boat to the shore. Gavin stepped from it, his features weathered from sun, his green eyes bright.

"You said you might be late, so I was surprised to see you here waiting, Desmond."

Desmond's jaw tightened. "I'll explain when we're aboard."

Gavin nodded. "Come on then, women and children first."

Lucy stepped onto the boat, steadying Kyle against her, followed by Rebecca, Trish, Christine, Ansa and Minerva who looked decidedly unnerved by the swaying of the boat.

"This is a crude thing..." she said, nervously. Rebecca steadied her with a hand. "It'll be okay, Min. It's not a long trip to the ship."

The boat moved towards the ship, and Desmond's eyes remained on Lucy the whole way there. As the boat came back empty of passengers,

The remaining Assassins and Juhani crowded onto the boat. Desmond was happy once his feet touched the metal decks of the Altair II. Gavin grunted as he began to pull the boat up, and Desmond stepped forward to help him, along with Michael and John.

Gavin looked at them as they pulled a tarp over the boat.

"Thanks. Not used to having so many aboard ship at once...so apologies, but you're gonna have to share bunks."

Desmond nodded. "Not a problem, Gavin. Thanks for coming all this way."

Gavin grunted. "I still want to meet him." Desmond nodded, and in an instant, Altair stood on the decks of his namesake.

Gavin's eyes widened.

"Mother of God, Desmond...you weren't kidding."

Desmond smiled. "Altair's been wanting to meet you too."

Gavin offered the ancient Assassin a grease-smeared hand, remembering at the last minute to wipe it clean on his worn coveralls.

"Ah...sorry. I rarely have passengers..."

Altair smiled. "No need to apologize. I have heard much of you, Gavin, and of my namesake. It is clear you care for her deeply."

Gavin blushed a little. "I was born to roam the seas. The only marriage that lasts in that situation is that of a man and his ship."

Altair nodded. "Indeed." Gavin motioned them below decks. "Weather's going to turn sour tonight, sir. You picked a good night to slip out...there's a fair snow storm coming in behind us. It chased me most of the way here."

They moved towards the bridge, and Gavin snorted.

"The Port Authority will take to shelter when the snow starts. They almost never follow through on any searches...unless they're looking for something in particular."

Desmond frowned.

"Don't be so sure they won't be out in force, Gavin. Thanks to some...interesting developments earlier today, they're probably gonna be out looking for me."

Gavin nodded, his eyes narrowed shrewdly.

"I thought that might be the case. Heard it on the radio as I was coming in. Something about an explosion on the Brooklyn Bridge?"

Desmond sighed.

"Yeah. That was my fault."

Altair's expression set, and Gavin noticed. "I take it you don't approve?" Altair nodded. "You are correct, though Desmond and I have already spoken at length about his actions earlier. What matters now is that we evade our pursuers...even at the cost of time. For once, I believe that to be in our favor."

Desmond's gaze narrowed, and he growled, "Anyone ever tell you about a guy named Murphy, Altair?"

Gavin laughed, and Altair frowned, his golden gaze settling on the matching one, his expression stern.

"I do not know anyone named 'Murphy' Desmond." Desmond sighed. "Never mind. Let's just say I hope he doesn't get any ideas tonight."

Gavin snorted. "Now you've done it. Find something wooden to knock on fast..." Ezio's voice echoed from behind them, and Gavin's eyes widened.

"If Desmond needs something wooden, he can use his head."

Desmond sighed. "Are you guys about done?" Ezio and Altair looked at each other, and Ezio shrugged. Altair spoke quietly. "You frightened us earlier, Desmond. You know us both well enough to know we handle such things...poorly."

Gavin looked at Desmond as they entered the bridge and he started the engine with a practiced hand.

"Sounds like what happened on the bridge was more serious than I thought Des, if you freaked out your own ancestors doing it."

Desmond growled, looking out the windows towards the dark roll of the sea. He could see the snow Gavin had mentioned, rolling like a blanket over the ocean, stilling the waters and shrouding them in gray.

It was somehow peaceful, watching the motion of the water and weather, and Desmond's voice was calmer as he spoke.

"Yeah Gavin...what happened on the bridge was that for a moment...I lost control." His voice was low as he said, "It scared me."

Gavin's voice was gruff as he said, "Hell, Desmond, that kind of explosion would scare anyone...but there was more to it than that, wasn't there?"

Desmond's voice was a low growl as he said, "I wanted to destroy them, Gavin. For one moment...I almost did. Had I released that power, half the bridge and part of the coastline would have been leveled. I'd have killed hundreds of thousands in a matter of seconds." Gavin went silent, and Desmond closed his eyes for a minute.

"I just wanted them to leave us alone. Since the Temple...we've only had a few months of peace...a few months to be...normal. I don't want the same life I had for my son, Gavin...but if this war doesn't end...if they don't stop chasing us...it will never end."

Gavin's voice was quiet as he said, "Well, isn't that what you're doing now, Desmond? You're going to Rome to kill Rikkin...and you managed to get that Templar to help you – though I tend to agree with Harlan that might not have been the best idea – he seems helpful enough, and quite attached to that lady-doctor you picked up."

The grizzled Assassins eyes settled on Desmond, and he said, "I've been an Assassin all my life Des...I was there when the Mentor before Bill was killed. You're the first Mentor I know of in our history who's ever tried...and succeeded, in convincing a Templar to help you."

He looked at Altair and Ezio. "Of course, you guys would know more history than I do..."

Altair nodded. "My beloved wife Maria was a Templar. As I recall, she tried to kill me when first we met. But since that time...I do not know of any other Templars who had willingly joined us."

Ezio shook his head. "Si, there was a woman who aided the Assassins in my time...after Borgia betrayed her, much as happened to Juhani."

Desmond was silent, and Gavin said, "You've made a huge difference, Desmond...in the way we operate, and the ones we call allies. I'm old-school, like your Dad and Harlan...but as much as I hate to admit it...you might be right about needing to work with them to survive."

Desmond nodded, his eyes once more on the gray swell of the sea.

"Thanks, guys. It means a lot to hear that from you."

Gavin's eyes narrowed as searchlights cut through the fog.

"Looks like you were right, Desmond...we've got company. I need you to go and ready the guns. You know your way around a ship?" Desmond nodded. "Connor captained the Aquila, I'm sure I can figure it out." Gavin nodded. "Get on it then. They're coming up fast."

Desmond moved for the door. "Aye, aye, Captain."

A/N: No, not much happens in this chapter except meeting Gavin. Action next chapter when they get to Rome. Opiu18, I looked up your reference and you were actually correct, so I've fixed Ezio's dialogue. Thanks for the catch!