Some Disturbing News
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Chapter 16: Some Disturbing News
"And now we shall begin." Jackson spoke as he stepped out of the shadows.
Man it's no wonder this guy is a mentor of the Assassins.
"You know of our targets, their goals, and their visions. You will also know of their origins and their prominent role throughout history. Along the way, you will also learn of our principles, our origins, and our role throughout history. You will understand why we, the Assassins fight. Why we have to kill."
"Because in order for any change to happen, sometimes, people have to die." I responded.
Jackson looked up at me with a pleased look on his face. "Very good." He said.
"Now I can just give countless demonstrations of the skills we have mastered and lecture you for hours, but experience is the always best way to go. Do you have your gun on you by any chance?"
"Yeah, right here." I opened up my sweater and pulled out my gun from a concealed pocket and passed it to him.
"You continue to impress me Zeke. In this time and age, it is always wise to conceal our weapons." He reached out to grab my gun, and then reached into his pocket. He pulled out a gun silencer.
Makes sense.
Once he placed the silencer on my gun he gave it a few trial shots to make sure the silencer was properly installed.
"Alright. Now, I was recently informed that one of Conney's close associates, Travis McKinney is in the city tonight. If we wish to get a firmer grasp on this situation, we must follow him to see what he is up to. New Marais is heavily guarded by Conney' army; if word gets out that we are trailing him Trey may flee. And he is as slippery as they come so trying to re-pin down his location would not be easy."
"I understand." I responded.
"Excellent. Now follow my lead." Jackson took off and jumped to a nearby rooftop.
"At your own pace Zeke. By the time we reach Trey, this will be second nature to you."
I certainly hope you're right.
I took a few steps back, got a running start and jumped. I managed to land on the nearby rooftop with space to spare.
Well, would you look at that?
Jackson had a pleased look on his face which was soon accompanied with a large grin.
We continued on and I surprisingly was able to keep up with Jackson. Even when jumping through the wider gaps.
"Alright, look. Do you see him?"
I couldn't see with my sunglasses so I moved them up. There were dozens of guards in this area, all of them glowing red. Some areas glowed white, but I guess I'll learn about that later. I spotted someone glowing golden in the center.
That must be Trey.
"Yeah, I see him." I responded. I kept my sunglasses perched on my head so I could keep a better eye on Trey.
"Stay low; we mustn't be detected." Jackson said.
Can't be too safe. Even if we're on a rooftop. You just never know who's watching you these days…
Trey was standing in the bright spotlight of a light post, while everything else remained in the darkness. He was dressed pretty formally, the typical suit and tie.
"What is he up to?" I muttered to myself.
"What are you two doing up here?"
Oh boy.
Without any hesitance, Jackson turned around and slashed the guard in his neck with a blade that was sticking out of his sleeve. The guard fell back dead and slid off the rooftop. Jackson retracted his blade.
Damn, I wonder when's he's going to teach me that.
I looked over towards Trey location and noticed he was on the move.
"Alright let's do it. Keep an eye out for guards."
~IF~AC~
We followed Trey for quite a while. I could tell that we were now in Ascension Parish. Trey had arrived at a building, opened the door and walked in.
"Come on, there must be a back door." I suggested.
We navigated our way to the back of the building and jumped down from the rooftop.
"Ah damn, the door is locked." Jackson said.
I looked around to see if there was anything that could aid us.
"There's an open window up there." I pointed out.
"I guess that will have to do, come on."
Jackson began to climb up with ease, grabbing window sills, loose bricks, anything he could get his hands on. While I, on the other hand, was still a bit of a rookie when it came to the climbing aspect. Plus I'm not in the best shape in the world.
But I managed to luck out, there was a ladder leading up to a fire escape fairly close to the window. I climbed the ladder and made my way up the fire escape. After that it was just a short leap to the open window. I can manage that.
With balance and poise I didn't think I possessed, I climbed onto the railing of the fire escape and stood up. I jumped and reached out my hand to grab onto the window sill. I caught the window sill and moved to grab it with my other hand. Then I pulled myself up and over and landed inside.
Well that wasn't too bad.
I spotted Jackson sitting Indian style on the ground with his arms crossed.
Jeez, was I taking that long?
"Sorry that took so long. I'm not used to-"
"Do not concern yourself with that Zeke. As I said before, at your own pace."
He stood up, made his way over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder in reassurance.
"You're on your way Zeke." He spoke softly. He patted on me my shoulder. "Now come, I can hear footsteps above us; they must be having their meeting upstairs."
We made our way upstairs and found an open door leading to a brightly lit room. We heard footsteps coming our way and quickly went against the wall, making us hidden in the dark.
I peered around the corner and spotted Trey walking down the hallway. He stopped at the brightly lit room and knelt before it.
"Enter." I heard a gruff voice say.
Trey stood up and walked in.
"We have to get closer." Jackson whispered.
"How? If we get any closer they'll hear us coming. No doubt they'll see us too" I responded.
"I have my ways." I saw Jackson move his hands around in the air. I briefly felt a sense of dread come over me and my vision blackened a bit before returning to normal, or as normal as it get in a dimly lit hallway.
"What did you…?"
"I will explain later. Now let's go."
Despite our short distance from each other, his voice sounded distant and muffled.
Weird.
We each took a side by the doorway and knelt by it. Jackson gestured at me to peer my head into the room.
"But what about-?" I quickly placed my hand over my mouth. I hope I didn't blow our cover. I seem to have a knack for messing shit up.
"It's alright. They can't see or hear us." Jackson spoke up.
"How?" I asked.
"All in due time Zeke. Now…" he trailed off as he peered back into the room.
"How's his progress? Has contact been made?" Trey asked.
"Initial contact has been made. He's been inducted into the order."
"And with Subject M?"
"Not yet. But we anticipate that contact will be made during a specific event in Italy's history; The Bonfire of the Vanities."
"Ah yes, yes." Trey moved aside to reveal a man sitting in a machine of sorts.
"He's making excellent progress. If this is successful, it will only be a matter of time before this country; this world is inducted into a new world order. Can you imagine not only one but two of them, who are in possession of undeniably the greatest power in history, standing at our side?"
"It is certainly remarkable sir."
The man in the machine suddenly let out a scream, lifted his hand, and shot out red lightning into the wall. Jackson quickly moved out of the way and shielded ourselves from the blast. The strike left a dark splotch on the wall.
"Should I restabilize him so he can continue?"
"No, I suppose that's enough for today. We are being careful, unlike that fool Warren Vidic. If he hadn't pushed Subject 16 so hard we'd already have what we needed and more."
"What should I do with him?"
"Sedate him and make sure he gets plenty of rest. We have a lot of ground to cover and the better rested he is, the better."
"Yes sir." The man had injected a needle into the other man and he fell back limp. He picked him up, threw him over his shoulder and carried him out of the room. Once the man he was carrying was in dim light, I was able to make out that he had pale, grey skin, and was wearing a red shirt. Trey walked out of the room behind them.
"Let us move inside." Jackson said.
"Stay in the dark part of the room, I'll be right back." Jackson said.
I stayed in a corner of the room while Jackson went to go do his… work I guess.
Jackson made his way to a desk and began to sift through some papers. He pulled out his phone and began to take photos of the papers he found. Must be important.
Then I heard a gun click near the doorway.
"So nice of you to finally visit me Jackson." Trey said. He walked into the room and pointed his gun directly at him.
"Hmm. Have you finally come to your senses and realized that it is here that you belong? Or are you here because you still believe in your shattered brotherhood?"
Jackson must have sensed that I wanted to move because he discreetly signaled at me to stay put.
"Well which one is it hmm?" Trey asked almost mockingly. Then two more people walked with assault rifles.
"I really do pray that you have made the right decision. It would be saddening to see such potential squandered away."
Jackson signaled at me again, this time with an upside down L. That must mean gun.
I reached into my sweater and pulled out my gun. Better make this count…
He signaled at me to take aim but to still my hand. I raised my arm to take aim at Trey's head.
He signaled at me 'no' and then with two fingers. He wants me to take out the other guards. I think it would be better to just end this idiot's life but hey, there is a reason that Jackson is a mentor of the Assassins. He obviously knows something I don't.
I took aim at one the guard's heads.
"Well?" Trey asked.
Jackson raised his hand and then clenched it into a fist.
I pulled the trigger and shot one guard in the head, reloaded and took down the other one. Then Jackson threw a punch in the air and Trey went flying out of the room.
"Zeke, get out now!"
"Guards! GUARDS!" Trey cried out.
Leaving through the hallway was out. I made my to the window opened it and began to climb out. Luckily there was a large pile of flowers at the bottom, large enough to break my fall or at the very least prevent a serious injury.
I turned around and saw Jackson surrounded by about five guards with guns. I took out my gun and shot two of them in the head.
"Zeke go! I will hold them off!" Jackson said.
Well might as well do this with style.
I let go of the window and fell backwards.
Soon enough I felt myself landing in something soft.
I climbed out and took a moment to catch my breath. I've never done that before. It felt exhilarating, exciting even, but goddamn terrifying.
A few seconds later I saw Jackson land in the pile. He climbed out the pile and shook the lingering pieces off.
"Are you alright Zeke?" He asked with concern lacing his voice.
"A little shaken up but I'm alright."
"Good good. Okay we must leave this area now; the guards are on high alert and actively searching for us." He grabbed my hand and I felt light headed. My body felt limp and weak and I felt my legs give out. Jackson caught me as I slipped into unconsciousness.
~IF~AC~
When I came to, I found myself lying in bed. Jackson was sitting at my side looking intently at his phone. Then he looked up.
"Oh good, you're awake. I'm sorry but that the only quick escape I could come up with."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"I will explain at a later time, now come we must discuss what we have found."
He made his way out of the room. I got out of bed to follow him.
We walked into a room where everyone was either sitting on a chair, couch or floor, or standing around.
"Hey you were there earlier!" I exclaimed. The man I saw working with Trey earlier was sitting here with us.
"Yes this is Jefferson; he is doing undercover work for us."
"Oh cool." I responded.
"Now speaking of, Jefferson, do you have any new intel for us?" Jackson asked.
"Yes I do. I have made and brought copies of files on this infamous Subject C V2. A manifestation of all the good that was not done, Subject C V2 is highly unstable, making him immensely powerful, as you and Zeke witnessed. Even the smallest amount of time in the Animus increases his instability. The power of the gene and the animus are never meant to combine." Jefferson said.
"Moreover, if the First Sons are successful with their plans, I fear that they will become unstoppable."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. The First Sons are involved with this Templar-Assassin business too?" I asked.
"Yes. And they are very powerful. Technology developed far beyond our time, as it always has been these past hundred years."
"So what do we do now?" A woman in the group asked.
"The only thing we can do is hope. The crossing of Desmond's ancestor and Cole MacGrath is working for the best as it stands right now. Cole's mind is strong as his moral, but his consciousness still continues to bicker. One side wanting to do the best for the people; which is safe guarding their free will. Meanwhile the other one side wants to take it away, believing that the only true path to stability means stripping them of their free will. Our only saving grace is Subject 16, but he is running out of time." Jefferson said.
"But what we must also do is continue taking out the Templar agents in power."
"So… what we find a way to take down the top dog and everything will fall apart?" I asked.
"We can't attack him directly right now. His agents are powerful and not to mention everywhere . They will kill us before we even have a chance to get in range. We must take down the least powerful first and work our way up. Once his foundation has been shaken, he will be left wide open for us to deliver the final blow." Jackson said.
That makes a lot of sense. It explains the pyramid they have in the other room.
"But this must be done precisely . We simply cannot tolerate any more mistakes." Jackson stated firmly. Everyone in the room suddenly stood up straight; the people who were sitting down quickly stood up.
"After many years of defeat and moving backwards, I believe that we can turn the tides of this war. But you must believe in yourselves that you can do it as well."
Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement.
"Where other men blindly follow the truth, remember…"
"Nothing is True." Everyone said in unity.
"Where other men are limited, by morality or law, remember…"
"Everything is Permitted."
"We work in the dark, to serve the light. We are Assassins."
"Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted." Everyone, including Jackson said in unity.
And then there's me just sitting there, awkwardly silent. No big deal…
Everyone dispersed and went off to do whatever it is they had to do.
"Jackson, Trey is requesting that I meet him at the St. Charles Cemetery." Jefferson said.
"Hmm. Curious. Very well, go on. Stay in touch."
Jefferson nodded before he walked out of the room.
"Now Zeke, come with me." Jackson said.
He made his way over to a drawer, reached in and pulled out an object.
"Give me your dominant arm."
In reality, I was good with both arms, but I gave him my right arm.
He strapped the object to my wrist.
"There now flick your wrist."
I flexed my wrist and a large blade protruded out. I relaxed my wrists and the blade retracted.
"Now what do you say we knock some of those guards silly? Like I said, experience is the best teacher." He said with a smile.
Well, don't mind if I do.
Sorry if this chapter is a bit late. Writing this was a bit tricky(which means there are bound to be mistakes somewhere… or everywhere xD) and came out to be a lot longer than I intended it to be. But ah wells, I hope you enjoyed it regardless =)
Graduated high school! Class of 2013! =)
Please review if it isn't too much trouble :3
