KO

Chapter 19: K.O.

We ran through the city, killing numerous guards along the way. And boy did these guards put up a fight. They were really determined to kill us. But we, as we always seem to, prevailed.

We arrived at another sealed door.

"Aprite la porta! Aprite la porta! Presto!" Caterina cried out.

"NOW!" I heard a voice scream.

"It an ambush!"

Can't anything be simple?

A group of guards came running towards us guns blazing. Fortunately, this group wasn't anything special from the other guards that we've fought before.

With time, the number of guards began to dwindle. We were almost done. As I finished off another, I noticed a brute with an axe running towards Ezio. And he none the wiser because he is busy tending to another guard. The brute began to wind up his attack. Ezio still doesn't notice.

"EZIO! DUCK!" I shouted.

He heard my command and just managed to dodge the attack with his head still on his shoulder. I raised my hand and let off a barrage of lightning bolts at a fast pace. The brute seemed to be slightly disturbed but was holding strong.

I shook my hand and decided to change things up. I switched to my most powerful variation of bolts; the magnum bolt. Where it lacks in speed, it makes up in power. With each attack, the bolt ate away at his armor, making him more and more vulnerable to attacks. I saw an opening in his chest. I aimed at his chest and launched my attack. The lightning had pierced right through him, killing him instantly.

Not bad at all.

Whenever I used my bolts in rapid succession without rest, I was always left over with a bit of a tingling sensation in the hand I use. I gently shook my hand to relieve the sensation and it went away after a few seconds.

"Now THAT was impressive." Caterina exclaimed with a smile. "Now quickly, into the Cittadella!"

We ran inside and I took the time to catch my breath. Using that much energy at once was bound to drain me but seeing as there no place to recharge, I guess I have to depend on time to replenish me.

"Bambini!" Caterina hugged her child. "… But where are Bianca and Ottaviano!?"

"Forgive me, Signora. They were playing outside when the attack began… I don't know where they are…" A woman responded.

"Reinforcements from the mountains! They are breaching the Citadel!" A guard from the rooftop yelled.

"Ezio, Cole! Don't let those bastardi get in here!"

It's raining guards…

I was about to create my electric blades, when I realized I don't have to anymore.

After I became an official member of the brotherhood, I was given my own custom hidden blades to wear on my wrists. Thanks to Leonardo's modifications, it was specially made so I could channel my electricity through them a lot easier. With just a flick of my wrist, my electricity would immediately surround my blades with no further effort on my end. How he managed to pull that off I don't know. I guess that's why he's one of the greatest.

Now let's have some fun.

~AC~IF~

When we finished off the last of the guards, Ezio and I made our way to meet Caterina who was on top of the fortress. Our next possible goal is to track down and find Caterina's children. Hopefully they're okay.

Before we were able to get a single thought in, we were interrupting by a voice below us.

"Caterina! Caterina Sforza! I know you're in there! I have something you may want back!" The voice yelled. "Are you missing any children?"

Asshole.

We made our way to the edge to find the source of the voice.

"And Ezio Auditore… ! What a pleasant surprise."

"I take it you would be the Orsi brothers." Ezio said.

"Ludovico-"

"-And Checco. At your service." They both bowed their head.

"Basta! Where are my children! Let them go!" Caterina yelled.

"Of course, Signora. We'll be happy to give them back-for something of yours. A certain map?"

"And a certain Apple, brother."

"Si, a certain apple indeed. Or shall I slice your babies' necks ear to ear!?" Checco menacingly said.

"Bastardi! You think you can threaten me!? I'll give you NOTHING! You want my children? Take them! I have the instrument to make more!"

Caterina punctuated that statement by lifting her dress and flashing the Orsi, and anyone who happened to be passing by.

Talk about BOLD.

"When you change your mind, they'll be in the village outside the city. You have one hour." Ludovico said.

Caterina turned around and began to sob.

"Caterina, no… I can't ask you to sacrifice your children." Ezio said.

I understand that life is about making sacrifices, but if it regards children, it should be completely out of the question.

"Look, why don't-"

Bring the apple to us…

I was cut off by a sharp pain in my head. 'Urgh… not now…'

I fought through the pain to continue. "Why don't Ezio and I split up to find and rescue your children? We have a small window of opportunity to do this, and it will be faster this way." I suggested.

"Get them back for me, Ezio… Cole… please."

"Si, you have our word. The Apple needs to remain in the citadel. Keep this safe" Ezio spoke. He handed the bag containing the Apple to Caterina.

Ezio and I jumped off the top of the fortress.

Before I headed off, Ezio stopped me.

"Cole, are you sure you are alright?" He asked.

I shook my head with a smile. "Sì Ezio. I am alright. I assure you. Now go, we're running out of time." I responded.

He exhaled sharply and shook his head, before running off.

We can worry about me later Ezio, we have two innocent children to save.

And two *stronzi to kill.

~AC~IF~

As I approached a village, I heard a young girl's voice speaking harshly.

"Is this all the men you have to hold me? Stolti. It won't be enough. My mama is fierce. We Sforza women are no wilting flowers. We may look pretty to the eye, but the eyes deceive. Just ask babbo."

Yup, that's definitely a child born of the Sforza. She's already taking after her mother… how frighteningly sweet.

I swiftly moved in and took down the guards. Then I went over to the captive girl. I took out my dagger and began to cut the rope restraining her.

"You are Bianca, correct?" I asked. It never hurts to check.

"Sì, sì! Grazie! Grazie, Messere! But my brother-! They are holding Ottaviano at the lighthouse."

"Un amico mio, Ezio, is already on the way to find him. Your brother is in good hands. In the mean time, I will escort you back to your mother and make sure you reach her safely. She is worried sick about you."

"Bene." She responded happily.

~AC~IF~

When I reached the front of the fortress, I found Caterina, sporting a wound on her side.

"What happened? Are you alright?" I channeled some electricity in my hands, walked up to Caterina and placed my hands over her wound. Her wound closed up and I stepped back. She began to cry.

I didn't hurt her further did I?

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry…" She cried.

"What happened?"I asked concerned.

"It was a trick. It was all a trick to lower our defenses." She responded.

"As soon as you two left, they attacked again. Checco Orsi- he has the Apple." Niccolò said.

"Diavolo! Where is he?!"

"We chased him out here. But he's escaped to the mountains. Ezio already took off after him."

"I will find him." I said. I ran off to the mountains.

He's not going to get away with this.

~AC~IF~

When I reached the mountains, my gut was screaming at me that we were crossing into forbidden territory; confirmed when I saw more than a handful of guards patrolling the area.

I got to play this safe. If Ezio hasn't already found Checco and the guards spot me, he could be alerted and run off, escaping with the Apple. We just can't afford that.

I felt a twinge behind my eyes and my vision darkened. All the guards were glowing red.

Good grief that's a lot. I REALLY have to watch my step here.

I spotted a blue figure in the crowd and I presumed that to be Ezio. Trying to meet up with him would be risky, suicidal possibly. I should just hang back and let him do what needs to be done. If he needs back up, I'm right here.

I'm right here…

I hid in a nearby haystack and waited for the sure fire sign Ezio had done the deed.

Some time had passed.

Something feels off here. Ezio shouldn't be taking this long. Especially in a confined area like this.

I jumped out of the haystack and looked around. Most of the guards had left the area and it longer felt like I was a crime to be here. My vision had darkened again and I surveyed the area. My gut feeling that something had gone terribly grew more and more with each passing moment.

The confirmed when I saw two distinct bodies on the ground. One glowed red, and the other glowed blue.

Oh no.

My vision returned to normal and I ran over to the bodies. Checco is definitely dead… but where's the Apple?

When I turned my attention to Ezio, he had an open wound on his abdomen. He was stabbed in the same place Rodrigo had stabbed him before.

I placed two fingers on his neck.

He's… alive… he's alive. He's just unconscious.

I went to examine his wound. His wound was fairly fresh; Checco didn't stab him as deep as Rodrigo did.

"Vi troverete bene." I said to him as I channeled some electricity to my hands.

"Nothing Mother Nature's fury can't fix."

Just before I placed my electrified hands on his wound I felt a sharp blow on the back of my head. My eyes rolled back as I fell back, unconsciousness.

You're at my mercy now…

~*Sequence 12: 86% synchronized.*~

Searching for next available memory…

Synchronization rate: 57%


*Plural form of stronzo (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

=You'll be okay (please correct me if I'm wrong!)

Ooooh a cliffie! xD

Please review & thanks for reading! =)