Chapter 29
Desmond struggled uselessly against the grips of the Abstergo guards, seeing the others similarly restrained as a tech sat at Baby's console. "Get away from her!" Rebecca cried, and a guard viciously drove the butt of his rifle into her stomach, knocking the wind from her.
The geometric patterns under his skin flared brightly, and Vidic smiled at him. Lucy struggled in Daniel's grip. "Take her out to the van." Lucy screamed for Desmond as Daniel began to drag her out of the Temple.
"No!" One of the guards surrounding Desmond stunned him with the butt of his pistol. "Quiet!"
Vidic frowned. "Now, Mr. Miles, our host tells me you've been most...uncooperative." Desmond's gaze narrowed as Juno appeared, the cruel smile on her face. Vidic turned to her. "Ah, there you are. This Temple is a wonder. Thank you kindly for inviting us in."
Juno actually smiled at Vidic.
"It is quite a welcome change to meet a man who knows what it is to be civilized. Ah, if only your bloodlines had been suited to this task..."
Her gaze shifted to Desmond. "Unfortunately, only he contains enough of our essence to do what must be done." Vidic frowned at Desmond.
"And what exactly is it that you need him to do?"
Juno contemplated Desmond silently, whose muscles were tense against the grips of the guards, his gaze burning bright gold.
"Their machine will provide the means by which he will perform the duty I brought him here for. First, he will find the key his ancestor hid, and once that is done, we shall speak of what is to come."
Desmond snarled low.
"I won't help you. Either of you."
Juno laughed.
"You will or you will never see your mate and child again." Juno looked thoughtfully at him, her eyes narrowed. "Or perhaps you require more...immediate motivation?"
Vidic nodded at the guards, and they dragged Kyle forward, forcing him to his knees.
"Mr. Miles, for every 30 seconds you delay, we will shoot one of your friends."
Kyle looked up at Desmond, his expression resolute.
The guard leveled the gun against the back of Kyle's head, and Desmond saw the blue eyes close.
"N-No..." he moaned. Vidic's voice spoke. "Time's up, Mr. Miles."
The gun went off, and Desmond's cry of anguish echoed in the Temple.
Desmond could barely see through his tears as they dragged John forward, kicking Kyle's body out of the way. John was forced to kneel where Kyle had been seconds before.
The gun was leveled again, and Desmond sobbed.
"Stop...stop...please." He bowed his head. "I'll...I'll do it."
Vidic held up a hand, looking at Juno, who had watched the display with an impassive expression.
"Does that suit your needs?"
Juno nodded. "It does. Put him in the machine."
Desmond didn't resist as he was forced once more to lay in the Animus.
Lucy eyed Daniel from across the van, her hands bound behind her back. He looked impatient, but as he noticed her watching him he frowned.
"Eyes on the floor, Stillman."
He cocked the gun, and Lucy's gaze obediently went to her feet. From outside, Lucy heard a cry of anguish...it sounded like Desmond, and she swallowed hard, tears stinging her eyes.
Her mind immediately began to conjure up what they might be doing to him, and she shivered, doing her best not to cry. Daniel noticed her shaking, and his voice mocked her.
"Aww. Don't cry, Lucy. I'm sure they'll let Dezzy-boy live long enough to find whatever it is the space lady is looking for before I kill him."
Lucy shivered, and her voice was low and hoarse as she said, "The only way you'll kill Desmond is if he's not able to fight back. In a fight he'd wipe the floor with you, Cross."
Daniel snarled, and Lucy's head rocked back from his slap.
"You don't know that! Now keep your mouth shut, bitch, or I'll forget about Vidic's orders and kill you and Desmond's brat!"
Lucy settled her gaze back onto her feet and wished with all her being there was something she could do, but at this point all she could do was wait.
She hoped Desmond was alright.
The Templars herded their prisoners into an alcove of the Temple, forcing them to kneel along the wall, hands above their heads. William looked at Vidic, his voice hoarse. "If it's the last thing I do, I'll see you dead, Vidic."
Vidic smiled at William. "Raise too much trouble for us William, and you'll join Desmond's friend there." They had dragged Kyle's body to a corner, and it steamed in the cool air of the Temple.
William swallowed the lump in his throat. He'd recruited Kyle himself, and the man's loyalty to the Assassins had been unquestioned. Though his own pain ran deep at losing another Assassin when there were so few left – he knew that for Desmond the death was personal. Kyle had been his closest confidant, and he bowed his head, grieving both for Kyle and for the pain the man's death caused his son, who tossed restlessly in the Animus.
He wondered what they could do now – with the Templars helping Juno with whatever her goals were – how would they save the world?
A/N: Obligatory - "You bastard, you killed Kyle!"
