ACS 39
Hey, guys! Now, in the last chapter, a lot of things happened. I have to admit, I was honestly surprised when more people were commenting about how Plague was dying then when Chris died and came back. I literally could not think of anything to say about that. Of course, then I wondered if-
(TheOfficialPlague - Hey there, readers. You already know who this is, so I'll make this short. It means a lot to see how much people actually care about Plague. Thanks for reading! Now excuse me while I skidaddle out of here before the author gets mad at me for interrupting him. He should have stopped babbling by now)
-which ended with a whole different problem, but that's not important. Getting back on track, let's answer some comments.
Kira Torak: You are aware that Dominik and Diana are technically siblings, right? As for Nocturnal and Sam, you haven't been the first to mention that, though it seems that specific pairing is becoming popular. I don't know where people got the idea for it, but, whatever.
Guest: Trust me, I was as surprised as you were.
Man-Bat: I don't know. Time will tell. But, hey congrats on being the first to actually say something about that pairing,
Star Wars Trek: He'll probably find out at some point. It all depends on if i can make it work with what's happening at that moment. I don't want it to be completely random.
FTJ: I'd have to say Sam, just because his mind is so completely broken as Daedalus.
Yuri: Christian get's along with Casper a lot better. It wasn't that Chris didn't like Casper, it's just that he didn't find Casper trustworthy.
Don't forget to ask me any questions you might have. Also, it'd be nice to get more feedback on the story itself. Anyway, you guys didn't come here to hear me just babble nonstop. Now, on with the show!
Scarlet climbed up onto the roof off the bar. Chris was there, waiting for her. The teen now wore a white button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top three buttons unbuttoned. He also wore black dress pants, with the shirt tucked into them, black fingerless gloves, and no shoes. He was smoking a cigar, peering down at the streets below him.
"This city can be amazing at times. Ask anyone on Beale street, they'll tell you they think the city's at its best and it's worst at night. There's just something about the night that's appealing." Chris said, still unaware that Felix had his sights focused in on him, although the German boy didn't know where to aim, the head or the chest, he just stayed in the middle, aimed at his throat as he thought it through.
Chris turned to Scarlet, who promptly slapped him in the face, hard.
"Okay, I guess I deserved that." Chris said, as he rubbed his cheek, which was now red, and not from blushing.
"I thought you were dead for a full year. Every assassin in the whole fucking world literally found out you were "dead" at the exact same moment. The creed was literally out of commission for weeks, sending our higher ranking allies up in the nation's capital, who were already on high alert, into panic mode. You didn't even think it would be a good idea to at least leave a note or something?" Scarlet said, her voice dangerously quiet.
"In my defence, the first few weeks after I came back were loud and a blur. I probably did a lot a stupid shit, but I don't care to find out. Since I managed to get back into my regular state of mind, I've been extremely busy, even with the help from the horsemen. Trust me, if i'd had time, I would have let at least you know, something was off, but the last year has been a really big pain in the ass. Trust me, half the people i've tried talking to have tried to take advantage of me, and i've had to make examples of them. No one ever listens to you if they think you're not important enough, so at least half of my free time has been spent taking care of loose ends, which also means i've been finding myself having to avoiding authorities all over the world constantly. If things had been any different, I could've considered it a world tour. "
Despite the circumstances, Scarlet laughed slightly. "It's nice to know you still act somewhat like your old self ."
"I didn't completely change, Scarlet." Chris replied. "Just partially. Now, you said you had questions." From seemingly nowhere, he pulled out two root beers and tossed one to Scarlet. "So, ask away."
Scarlet opened the root beer and sniffed it. "Is this-"
"Vanilla Root beer with a tinge of tequila, just to spice it up, imported directly from Mexico. You're favorite."
"How'd you manage to smuggle this across the border?"
"Like I said, I've been busy. The cartels will do a lot for you if they have enough respect for you, fear you, or if they owe you favors. Just bribe the right people, and nobody says anything. I could smuggle pure weed over if I wanted."
Scarlet smirked as she took a sip. She was an assassin, yes, but that didn't mean that she wasn't a teenager.
"So, did you have actual questions, or did you just want to spend some time with me?" Chris asked, crossing his arms and leaning against the building ledge.
"I have questions." Scarlet said. She took a sip of her drink. "One: where have you been for the last year?"
"Like I said, I've been making friends. Mostly hackers, crime lords who control a city at most, black market dealers, info brokers, some slightly crooked politicians, a couple cartel leaders, etc. Basically people who can be helpful for achieving my goals. But, also, I've been looking for my siblings."
"So what do the horsemen have to do with it?"
"They help look for my siblings, but also help persuade the more stubborn people to help me. There have been plenty of people like that."
"I'd imagine. You are dealing with hardened criminals."
"Not all of them are."
"That doesn't change anything." Scarlet said. She set the bottle down and crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not new, Scarlet. I've dealt with these types of people before." Chris said.
"Moving on, why all the shadows and mystery and shit? You're acting like some Batman knockoff"
"I find that it's easier to intimidate people if i don't let them know what i look like. The people's imagination will run wild, and they'll refuse to cross you. It's like the case with The Minotaur and the Labyrinth. Minos had a monster, but didn't let people see it. Imagination went wild, the fear went viral, and no one crossed Minos until Theseus came along. Besides, I pull of the whole 'dark and mysterious' cliche pretty damn well. Besides, Batman doesn't kill people on a regular basis."
"How long does Marc have?" Scarlet asked, deciding now would be a good time to change the subject, before Chris started getting of track.
"To be honest, I have no idea." Chris said. "I've talked to some of the brightest minds on the planet, young and old. Even Sam has no idea what this disease is or how much longer Marc will be able to last, though, in his current state, that's not really a surprise." Chris took a puff of his cigar. "To be honest, I envy the guy. He's only 17, yet he already knows how he's gonna die. Most people worry constantly about how or when they'll die. He knows it won't be any person who'll put him down, so he's got this sense of peace about him now. He has his demons, yes. Everyone does. But he's able to beat them down and prove he's in charge."
Scarlet looked at Chris. The memory of him dying in her arms appeared in her head. Without thinking, She grabbed his face and kissed him.
Felix, still scoped in on Chris, didn't know what to do now, his hands trembling as he was now thinking of three things at once. Why would Scarlet kiss him? Should he fire? If so, where should he aim? All of this running through his mind at once, soon just brushing it off and focussing in on Chris' head now.
Scarlet broke the kiss and backed away, breathing heavily. Chris stared at her, his face flushed. "What was that for?"
"You've been gone for a fucking year, and you suddenly lose your composure over one kiss?" Scarlet asked. "Trust me, you have no idea how long I've wanted to…"
"Hold up." Chris said. He looked around.
Within a second of him saying that, a shot rang out, soaring right past Chris, only hitting the tip of his ear. Suddenly, Felix picked up his rifle and began to relocate from his position, using his pitch black uniform to cover his movements.
"Get down!" Chris said, while clutching his ear. He had an incredibly annoyed look on his face, like this had already happened to him more than enough times. Felix had already set up in another location, firing again, the abnormally loud bang that followed it seemingly got closer this time. The second shot flew right past his head as he ducked down, the bullet soaring past both Chris and Scarlet and hitting an air conditioning unit on the roof.
"Who the hell is shooting?" Scarlet asked.
"I don't know. Could be a friend of the guy I just beat up. Could be a templar. Could be anyone." Chris said. Immediately following, another shot rang out, this one soaring straight towards Chris' chest, where his heart was. However, Chris lept to the side, behind the other entrance to the roof, dodging the bullet. Scarlet took shelter behind another vent, one across from Chris's hiding spot. She looked over at him. "Where'd you get the bow and arrow?"
Chris now held a glowing red and black bow with an arrow of the same color. Felix saw the red glow of the weapon behind the vent and aimed down his sights once more, firing a shot which penetrated the metallic structure, soaring between the two of them and slamming against the bricks behind them. With that, the German boy picked up the rifle and slowly moved up, hopping from rooftop to rooftop, only this time having a clear shot at Chris from his location.
"Is That a Mauser Tankgewehr M1918?"
Felix turned and looked at the location where the voice had come from. Standing on a nearby rooftop was none other than Plague.
"Who are you?" Felix asked, the larger boy simply chuckling as he stepped out from the shadows, his veins glowing a light green along with his eyes, his pale grey skin not easily visible in the darkness.
"I'm the guy who makes bending metal look easy."
"Meaning what?" Felix asked.
"The only person your little, German toy…" Plague started, grabbing a hold of the barrel of Felix's rifle and bending it upward, curving it at least eighty degrees before it simply snapped off.
"...is just a piece of wood to." The large boy then reeled back a leg and shot it forwards, slamming into Felix's chest and sending him soaring backwards. Felix slammed into the air conditioning unit Chris and Scarlet hid behind, slowly getting back to his feet as Plague approached him.
"Turns out dying can have it's benefits." He said as he then gripped the boy's throat and lifted him up, turning and slamming him into the roof, cracking the concrete layer beneath their feet.
Felix got up slowly and got in a fighting stance, a bit dizzy. Plague laughed as he saw this cracking his knuckles together and soon his own neck.
"You have one chance to turn around and run, kid. It's your call." He said to Felix, the German boy running towards Plague and punching him in the stomach, which didn't seem to do anything. He looked up at him and gulped as Plague simply backhanded him back against the air conditioning unit.
"Can't say he didn't warn you." Felix turned to the voice, only to get knee'd in the jaw by Chris, knocking out a tooth and causing blood to start dripping from Felix's mouth.
Plague raised his eyebrow. "What're you doing here? Enjoying some kind of concrete jungle scenery?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Chris replied, as he kicked Felix towards Plague.
"I heard gunshots, and pretty loud ones too." He responded, not doing anything except for gripping Felix's wrist as the boy seemed to draw a combat knife from his uniform and slowly make it's way to Plague's heart. The two stood there for around half a minute, Felix putting all his strength into inching the knife closer before Plague simply tossed him over his head, sending him backwards, onto another roof. Chris attempted to go after Felix, Plague holding out a hand silently as he picked up a loose brick from the platform below them and threw it in Felix's general direction. To his luck, the silhouette of the sniper could be seen jerking its head back and falling down, but still on that other roof.
"Good enough, that'd teach him a lesson." Plague responded before turning around and seeing someone else behind the air conditioning unit that Plague smacked Felix into twice, slowly approaching it with a reeled back fist.
"And who is this?" Clearly, he did not know it was Scarlet. Once around the corner, he lowered his fist and crossed his arms.
"Now.. What are you two doing- Oh, wait a second.. Wait a second. I see what's going on here now." Plague said, removing his respirator for once as he showed his normal, bright, sarcastic smile and laughed.
"In my defence, She kissed me." Chris said, folding his arms.
"Even better!" Plague said, now laughing so hard that his sides hurt..
Scarlet was blushing furiously by now, but Chris simply rolled his eyes and walked over to the opposite rooftop, where Felix lay unconscious. Chris then removed the boys wallet from his pants and opened it. "Ah. So this is why he looked familiar."
"You've met this guy before?" Scarlet asked.
"He was with Marina when I found her. I never talked to him directly, or at all, really. He must've been looking for little sister. Says here His name's Felix. German descent. This is an ex-KGB identity card, which explains how he got the weaponry, though I don't know how a German kid got into the KGB."
"Has this happened to you before?" Scarlet asked.
"Getting shot in the ear, or just having some try and shoot me in general?"
"Both."
"Yep."
"So what do we do with him?" Plague asked, finally managing to compose himself.
"I'll take care of him."
The two turned and looked at Scarlet.
"You sure?" Chris asked, as he raised his eyebrow. His ear had finished healing, somehow, so it looked good as new.
"Yeah. He's dealt with some of the assassins before, so he might be more agreeable if we take him in for questioning."
"Alright. The last thing I need is him trying to "help" Marina." Chris said.
"What are you going to do now?" Scarlet asked. Felix groaned silently, beginning to wake up, but Chris, not even bothering to turn around, kicked him in the side of the head, using enough force to knock him out, but not enough to do any serious damage. Plague, on the other hand, was already making his way downstairs.
"I'm going to go, leave you two alone for a while. I'm going to be talking to someone who, in my opinion, actually matters."
"Do what you want. Just make sure your not followed." Chris said.
"Nobody we know, besides the assassins, would be stupid enough to try that.
"As for your question, Scarlet, I'm probably gonna go home. Lord knows I need to practice guitar a little."
"But aren't your guitars back at the base?"
""Nope. I've already taken care of it. If you check my room when you get back, you'll find it stripped bare."
"When did you have time to-"
"Does it matter?"
Scarlet muttered to herself, but she didn't press for answers. She knew Chris well enough to know that he didn't answer questions when he didn't feel like it.
"Anyway, I'll see you later." With that, Chris vaulted over the edge of the building. A few seconds later, Scarlet heard the roar of the motorcycle's engine, and watched as Chris drove off.
Scarlet shook her head and pulled out her phone. She heard the other end of the line ring for a few minutes, then heard the click as the phone was answered. "Hello?"
"I wake you up, Maria?"
"Nah. I haven't even gotten ready for that yet. What's up?"
"I just got done talking to Chris."
"You find anything out?"
"I was about to, until some Ex-KGB German kid started trying to shoot us with a modernized Mauser Tankgewehr M1918 from the opposite rooftop, though he didn't have the best aim, especially compared to the ex-KGB we have in the creed."
Maria whistled. "Wow. It ain't easy to get your hands on an antique like that nowadays, even harder to get one modernized. Kid must be friends with some arms dealer. I'll ask around later. Also, you and Chris were on a rooftop alone?"
"Shut up." Scarlet muttered.
Maria had been an arms dealer before she'd been an assassin. Scarlet had to hand it to Chris, he wasn't picky about who he recruited, or who he trained. He'd recruited everything from a sadist to a millionaire philanthropists.
"So where is this guy now?" Maria asked.
"He currently on the ground in front of me, and he might have a concussion, but it's not likely. He got a brick thrown at his head."
"You need me to come pick you up?"
"That'd be nice, thanks. And bring some handcuffs. The creed'll be interested with this kid."
"What makes you say that?"
"He's had contact with one of the younger hosts, I think her name was Marina."
"Be there in a few." With that, the call ended.
Scarlet put away her phone and looked at the unconscious Felix. "Now, let's figure out how to get you downstairs."
Beale Street.
Virgilia was walking down the street when a motorcycle zoomed passed her, nearly knocking her down.
"Hey! Watch it!" She yelled.
The driver didn't even slow down, though she could've sworn she heard him laugh.
"Maniac." She muttered as she dusted herself off.
"What'd you really expect from Chris, exactly?" A voice responded to her, coming from right beside her. It was none other than Plague, standing there and for the first time being seen without his respirator.
"So he's still a psychopathic daredevil? That's reassuring. I didn't expect him to drive a motorcycle down Beale street." Virgilia muttered, not even bothering to ask like she was surprised. Almost nothing could surprise her at this point. Almost.
"Again… What did you really expect?" He said once more, shoving his hands in his pockets as he let out a light chuckle.
"I expected him to be on some rooftop without a shirt on." Virgilia said. "Duh."
"Well, you were half-right. He was recently on a roof, so was Scarlet… And that German kid who tried to shoot Chris, who surprisingly enough really sucks at aiming." Plague explained, looking over at her. "I ended up nailing him in the forehead with a brick."
"Wait, so Scarlet and Chris were on a roof alone?"
"And they kissed. I didn't even have to ask them." He responded with a smile, letting out another chuckle.
"Well, jesus, it's about fucking time."
"That's the truth." He responded, sighing as he began walking along the street, gesturing for her to follow. "So, how have things been lately? I'm guessing the others are just waiting for me to drop dead, huh?"
"Well, no, they're more worried than anything."
"You're kidding, right? Huh." He contemplated this for a second before turning back to her. "You're also worried, aren't you?"
"Why wouldn't I be? You're my friend, Marc. Besides, you can barely take care of yourself, so someone has to watch out for you."
"Tha- Wait a second, what? I'm your friend? Didn't I nearly kill you like.. Two days ago or something?" He asked, looking over to her with a raised eyebrow.
"Technically, it was yesterday, but that's beside the point-" She replied with a light blush before Plague began speaking again.
"I can easily take care of myself, even with this thing slowly killing me from the inside out. You don't really need to worry about me, besides, we all have to meet our inevitable death someday, mine just so happens to be coming faster than everyone else."
"Don't think like that! I'm sure we can find something to help-"
"Don't bother. Chris already tried, without much luck. Anyways, I actually don't mind death, in all honesty, I can just imagine how relaxing it would be. Besides, I don't exactly have anything that I want to do before that time comes."
"Then why are you helping Chris?"
"I have nothing better to do, so I thought, 'hey, why not?,' and just decided to help him." He said, sighing as he looked up to the sky, taking a deep breath before refocusing back on the sidewalk.
"So it isn't because he's your friend or because he bribed you?"
"No, I had nothing better to do, nothing to look forward to."
"So then why did he have to bribe you?"
"He didn't have to bribe me. I just chose to. Like I said, I have nothing to really keep me going. Nothing to accomplish."
Virgilia shook her head. "So, what exactly have you been up to?"
"Plenty of things, actually. Just occasionally talking to this really nice girl who I had no idea likes me. I have to say, she is quite attractive as well, you'll like her."
"What about the van? That still your pet project?"
Plague sighed, only to let out a chuckle again. "It's a humvee. And less of a project and more of a product."
"You keep updating the humvee, so it's a project."
"Eh, just updates.. But, Virgilia, I wanted to ask you something too." He said, looking down at the sidewalk as he seemed to stop in his place. "Just curious, how long do you think I have left to live?"
There was a silence between the two as Virgilia attempted to think of how to respond to the sudden question. Plague looked over at her, raising an eyebrow as he turned to face her.
"Aren't you going to-"
"Why are you so focused on your own death? Don't you want to live a longer life?"
"That doesn't answer my question. How long do you think I have?" He asked once more.
"I don't know! Okay? Does that help?" She suddenly blurted out.
"Yeah.. Because I don't know as well. And I'm contemplating if I even want to know. But you know one thing.." He began, Virgilia looking him straight in the eyes as he spoke. "For someone I nearly tried to kill, and someone I've practically known as an assassin and.. Whatever the hell I am now, you're not that bad at being friendly."
Plague smiled and let out a small laugh as he continued down the sidewalk, Virgilia catching up to him after a moment.
"You are being serious, right? You aren't.. Drunk, or being sarcastic, are you?" She asked.
"Heh. It's a new concept, but yeah, I'm being honest. Besides, I don't drink." He responded to her question, making a few adjustments to his respirator before putting it back on.
"In other words, short story even shorter.. I actually think of you as a really good friend. And yeah, I forgive you for knocking out a few of my teeth back then."
Virgilia smiled slightly, nervously folding her hands together. "Well, in my defense, you did walk in on me undressing during that blackout."
Plague recalled the memory as clear as day, laughing a bit more. "Yeah. My bad. Honestly forgot our rooms were right next to each other. I didn't even see anything, I'll say that."
"Well, that's kind of a relief-"
"That was a lie. I did see something. It was your fist soaring towards me."
Virgilia blushed as she heard the first part of his statement, slugging him in the arm as she looked away, a bit embarrassed.
"Good to know you haven't completely changed. But, can I ask you something?"
"Ask away." He said with a smile, his hands back in his pockets.
"What...exactly happened to Chris?"
"Do you want the short, long, or truthful answer?"
"Truthful."
"Basically, I have no idea. Similar to like how I ended up like this. I really have no idea."
"Was there anything different about him after he came back?"
"Only thing that changed was how much of an edgelord he was… Well, in this case is. Honestly, thinks he's some kind of hot shot almost twenty-four seven because he can beat the shit out of people who can't even defend themselves. I can do that even better, but only they can defend themselves. But, what was surprising was how vicious he was, the amount of brutality he used. It was like he lost all empathy."
"From what he told me, he'd been dealing with multiple people of interest, even some cartel's."
The two turned around. Scarlet was standing in the doorway, dragging the still unconscious figure.
"He also said that the cartels would do plenty for you if they respected and feared you enough, or if they owed you favors. So how much did Chris change after he came back?" Scarlet's tone had the undertone that she was not in the mood for bullshit.
Virgilia, though surprised that Felix was there, turned to Marc and raised an eyebrow. "Cartels?"
"More of just gangs.. Cartels are mainly in Mexico, but call them whatever you want. Just a bunch of low-life, drug-dealing, scum bags who get their hands on a few guns, get their way with a few women and call it a day."
"Then how the hell did Chris manage to smuggle tequila mixed with root beer over the mexican border?"
"Because we don't have a wall to stop smugglers… At least not yet."
"So you're telling me he hasn't had any help from smugglers?"
"Not that I'm aware of, but, then again, he does occasionally disappear without saying anything, so it's possible."
"Where exactly have you been since Chris came back?"
"Plenty of places. Look, it's been a long night, why don't we just continue this conversation another time?"
"You weren't the one who nearly got stabbed in the eye or shot in the face." Scarlet muttered.
"You're acting like I can't hear you, Scarlet.." Plague said sarcastically in a relatively loud voice, soon turning back to Virgilia. "So yeah, we can talk about it some other time. I'm exhausted."
"Okay. See you later."
With that, Marc walked off, sighing to himself as he began to hum a song to himself.
Scarlet looked at Virgilia. "Do you two have something going on?"
"I honestly have no idea." Virgilia replied. "Any idea why Felix was trying to shoot you?"
"That's what I'm hoping to find out. I called in a relief squad to come and take him back to base. He should be able to talk by then. And if he doesn't talk at first, well..."
Scarlet balanced her knife in her hands. Virgilia saw a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"...there's more than one way to persuade people."
Divine beings home base, 5:05 A.M.
Michael and Taiyang arrived at the Being's home base, accompanied by Osiris, Kyle, Diana, and Alexander. Thomas and Blake stood at the door. Without saying a word, the two horsemen stood aside, letting them in. Barrett stood at a control panel overlooking a room similar to the simulation dome at the Assassins base.
"Barret. Has Chris gotten back yet?" Osiris asked.
Taiyang and Michael shared a quick glance, but Barrett noticed it nonetheless. Before he could answer, however, a scream was heard from the room. The group walked up to see what was going on.
Barrett was looking over multiple medical devices, no doubt created by a pre-Daedalus Sam. They displayed multiple different things, such as heart rate, x-ray, and brain activity. Michael and Taiyang didn't notice that, however. They were busy being horrified at the site before them.
Chris was standing in the room, no shirt on, his chest and arms covered in blood. He was standing in front of a figure strapped to a chair, using a scalpel to dig the man's eyes out. The man was screaming rather loudly, though none of the other divine being hosts seemed to notice.
"What you're looking at is Chris's torture chamber. He uses this room to make examples out of people who've pissed him off. The guy who's crying like a fucking bitch is some fucker who tried attacking an old friend of Chris's at Alex's bar." Osiris explained, in a rather bored tone.
Barrett pressed a button and spoke into a microphone. "Boss, your last siblings are here."
"Send them in, I'm almost done."
Michael and Taiyang walked down to the entrance of the room. As soon as they walked in, there was a snap, and the sound of flesh and muscle being torn away from the body.
Chris tossed the head he'd literally torn off to the side, before turning and smirking at the two templars. His face had blood all over it. "Hey, guys, how's it going?"
That's when Taiyang puked.