Lucy woke up to the sounds of metal clashing, bolting from her bed she rushed to the source of the sound and found herself in a large sparring room. Inside the assassins and Heather had gathered, they watched Desmond and Holliday sparring with batons. The two men seem to be really going at it and Lucy noticed that Desmond had gotten considerably faster since Vidic last found them and she also didn't fail to see Desmond employing more footwork in his fighting.
As they fought Holliday gave Desmond tips, Desmond made for a swing at Holliday's legs, but the more experienced fighter deftly avoided it and struck Desmond on his wrist as his arm swung by. "Keep your wrists loose, You don't need to swing a baton like it's a caveman club." Desmond gave his arm a shake and this time avoided a swing aimed at his leg and landed a blow on Holliday's ribs causing the man to grunt before he narrowly avoided to thrusts aimed at his face. Holliday grinned clearly impressed, "good, adapt and use the unorthodox." Desmond stepped forward and aimed another blow to Holliday's head but he caught sight of Lucy losing himself for a second. Holliday took note caught the arm with his free hand pulling Desmond in before landing a blow to the stomach with the back end of his baton. Holiday then twisted Desmond's arm and spun around now with both hands armed with batons.
Desmond panted and rubbed his belly, and looked over to Holliday who had just disarmed him. Holliday waved Desmond's baton at him as a teacher would to an ill-behaved student. "Distractions can happen, always expect them and they'll never bother you." He gestured towards Lucy.
Desmond nodded and took back his baton, Holliday patted him on the back. "Never fear Angel Eyes we'll make a regular terror of you yet so the next time Dr. Wiley comes calling he'll have quite a surprise waiting for him."
"I don't think he'll come personally after the disaster he had the last time," Desmond japed with a grin causing both men to laugh.
Lucy observed them and she couldn't help but feel that Holliday seemed like more of a mentor to Desmond than his father had ever been. Perhaps he would be a fully trained assassin if William Miles had been better not just as an assassin leader but as a father. For in both cases he had failed miserably. Pity Holliday was not an assassin or has any intention of joining them. They could do so much with his skills, the Templars too now that she thought about it. But right now he was just an ally and a good friend to Desmond and that ws good enough for her.
Lucy then approached the pair with her eyes on Desmond, "feeling better?" she asked.
Desmond nodded with a smile, "much better."
Holliday nodded, "well proper rest from that dream machine and some real exercise will do wonders for you."
Desmond nodded, "I did need the break, but I need to get back to it soon time is running out.
Holliday smirked, "You should get some rest before we leave. But first, let's sharpen your marksmanship. Blades and batons are fine but this is the 21st century and guns are quite useful.
Desmond nodded and followed him to the basement. once they left Lucy went to talk with William. "How are preparations going?" She asked.
Wiliam frowned, "everything has been packed and loaded, Gavin and Harlan are taking it to the airport. We figure a smaller convoy would attract less attention."
"How will we get to New York?' Lucy asked, the Templars likely have the airport under surveillance
your new friend managed to secure us a flight to New York where this 'Master Temple' is by a private plane. He didn't clarify how he managed this and I decided not to ask we'll be leaving at 4 am.
Lucy nodded, whatever reservations she might have about Holliday, no one could deny he was sure proving useful. 'I just hope there's not some giant string attached to whatever his endgame is.'
Meanwhile, Desmond and Michael were practising with sidearms or more accurately Michael was teaching Desmond a new shooting technique. Desmond was holding a gun below him was a trash can where a small group of flies had gathered to the smell.
"I want you to go back to that night Desmond," Holliday said. "When Juno took hold of you."
"I try not to think about it," Desmond replied.
"Which part?" Holliday asked his tone intensifying, "The fact that she tried to make you kill the woman you love or the fact that you had to nearly kill yourself to save her?"
"That will not happen again," Desmond insisted. "I made a mistake, I let my guard down. But I swear I won't let her hurt Lucy I'll fight her to the end."
"Juno is a godlike she control's the apple, how do you hope to stop that if you can't keep your head on straight."
"I did it before," Desmond said through gritted teeth. "I'll do it again and this time I'll be stronger."
"Yes," Holliday continued, "hold on to that determination, let the rage you feel against Juno flow through you and then take both elements and focus them."
The intense emotions increased his heart rate Desmond could now hear his heart beating loud and fast. Then it happened, it was as if time slowed down and suddenly Desmond could see it, the wings on the flies now had become visible enough to see and now to shoot. Instinctively Desmond fired the gun shooting a pair of wings off the first fly. He fired, again and again, hitting the second then the third. He emptied the gun until the clip ran out and Desmond let out a sigh of relief as he took a moment to catch his breath.
Holliday smiled and patted Desmond on the back, "see, you can do it."
"H-how did I-" Desmond wondered confused about what just happened. "it was like time slowed down."
"You have many gifts Desmond," Holliday explained. "It wasn't time slowing down but rather your brain accessing the situation quicker than normal. A very rare number of people, when they get a certain amount of adrenaline into their brain are able to see and react faster than others."
"But this was only from increased stress," Desmond pointed out.
"It usually starts out that way," Holliday replied. "Given enough time you can learn to control it so that you can use it at any time. Which will especially be useful in dire situations."
"I suspect you can do this,? Desmond asked knowingly. Holliday nodded, "and you can teach me?" Holliday smiled and nodded again.
Holliday then took a seat and beckoned Desmond to join him, "speaking of which, I've been thinking about Lucy and her hypothetical role as a Templar. It occurs to me that the Templars are power-hungry but they're not stupid. I highly doubt that they haven't anticipated being infiltrated. So it stands to reason they would have developed a defence against it."
"Like what?" Desmond wondered.
"Methods can vary, from blackmail to threats to bribery. But for these templars, I believe they would do something more elegant, something to ensure that they're able to keep tabs on everyone under their employ whether they be loyal or double agents. On this hunch I had a contact analyse one of my victims and confirmed that she found a transmitter in his neck.
"You mean like tracking devices?"
"Considering the Templars tech level likely something undetectable through conventional means. But perhaps something able to control minds or even eliminate a liable asset. I figured that the same may be true for Lucy, something the Templars could have to ensure her loyalty."
Desmond's eyes widened, "you think she's got a gun to her head."
"I couldn't put it past the Templars to resort to such a thing."
"So she is a prisoner as much as I was," Desmond realized with horror
"Moreso I think then you were," Holliday replied.
"If the Templars are coercing her then we need to help her."
Michael nodded, "I agree, but unless we know what they did to her we would just be grasping at straws and if we inadvertently alert the Templars that we know they may decide to take drastic action." Holliday sighed, "of course this is all Hypothetical and nothing is really certain." He clasped Desmond's shoulder, "you should get some sleep. You said you need to use the animus soon so you'll need all the rest you can get." Desmond nodded then headed for his room.
Vidic sighed heavily as he prepared to face Rikkin with the latest report. Lucy was finally able to give a report since Holliday had robbed him of the animus tapes. Sadly though the report detailed much information it was more disturbing than helpful and it greatly jeopardized their plans. Vidic did his best to keep a calm demeanour despite the fact that he was sweating bullets. He knew his superiors will not be pleased with this lack of progress.
The screen lit up and Alan Rikkin appeared his hands behind his back and his face stern. "I trust you finally have news from your asset."
Vidic frowned and nodded, "I do but I wish it was better. Lucy's report confirms what Daniel uncovered a decade ago," Vidic began. "A repeat of the Toba Catastrophe is about to occur. Though it won't be as destructive as the first one it will still cause the deaths of at least 90% of the earth's population."
"So the General's suspicions were correct," Rikkin concluded. "When is this disaster set to happen," he asked.
"According to Miss Stillman, on the exact same day Eye-Abstergo it meant to be launched December 21st 2012." Vidic sighed, "I do not know if that is either a coincidence or fate."
"Is that apple relevant to this Catastrophe?" Rikkin wanted to know if the assassins still needed the apple."
"The apple is apparently one of the keys from what I was able to gather, Vidic replied.
Rikkin's rubbed his chin, "so it seems we are in an impossible position. If we let them use the apple then Eye-Abstergo will never be launched. But if we get the apple for our project then the world will be destroyed."
"What are your orders then?" Vidic wondered, all that was needed was the all clear and he would send a team to retrieve the apple but doing so without consent was a risky move which could either get him a reward or a blade to the back.
"Let them be for now," Rikkin said after a moment. "I'll have to speak with the General about this, you'll have your answer then. But now let us discuss the new element, this addition to the assassin team."
Vidic nodded, "I have contacted everyone we can but we have been unsuccessful in learning anything about this Michael Holliday. It's as if he doesn't exist and his files are kept under multiple firewalls which we have been unable to crack. I sent word to our contacts to dig up what they can from the underground. perhaps there is something on him in the dark web."
"Have we sent people after him?" Rikkin asked.
Vidic nodded, "we have and none have returned, I believe it is safe to assume that Holliday was able to dispose of them. This man has killed many templars in the past, and is now guarding the apple."
Rikkin was not impressed, "well you better figure it out quickly before I decide to take a personal hand in this."
"That lies another problem," Vidic said reluctantly, "It seems that Holliday has been using the animus, Lucy reports say that not only is he seems barely affected by it but it appears as though his ancestors has knowledge of a place called the Observatory."
Now Rikkin's expression changed and his eyes widened in surprise and interest, "the Observatory you say?" Rikkin smiled, "I've heard of the place, and if it can do half the things I heard about it would a very valuable tool for our cause."
"My thoughts exactly," Vidic replied, "which is why we need to figure out a way to capture him alive."
"One thing at a time my friend," Rikkin replied, 'For now "let's focus on this 2012 Disaster. Until then you must find another apple we can use if we can't have Desmonds. Vidic nodded and with that Rikkin cut off the feed leaving Vidic alone with Daniel and his own thoughts.
Vidic sighed and headed back for the office, Project Siren had been going well until this Holliday Character showed up and practically beat the machine with a giant wrench. He didn't know who he was all he knew was that he had to get rid of him. But things grew more complicated when Lucy informed him that Holliday's ancestor possessed information about the observatory an Iso temple long sought after by the Templars after losing it in the 18th century. Now the higher ups consented that killing him was no longer an option.
"Why not send me?" A voice said off to the side, "I can get this apple and be back before you know it."
Vidic shook his head, "whoever Holliday is he's well trained and until we know more about him he is a new and present danger to the Order. Now we have to figure out a way to get him without killing him."
As Vidic pondered his predicament, he saw a man inside watching footage of Desmond during his time in Abstergo through a viewing screen. The man was powerfully built with long brown hair and a neatly trimmed goatee. He wore a formal business suit, with a pair of guns holstered to his hips.
Daniel drew his gun as Vidic called for security. He briskly entered the office and Cross aimed his gun but the man paid him no mind as he continued watching. Vidic cleared his throat to get his attention, the man held out a finger, "One second," he said. Vidic was surprised by his nonchalantness. Looking around he noticed a drive plugged into his computer apparently downloading something.
"I don't know who the hell you think you are but your trespassing," Vidic said trying to have authority. The man paused the footage and looked at Vidic.
"I demand to know who you are and how you got in here?" Vidic continued trying to keep his bravado.
"And you are right to ask," The man said as he as he held out his right hand revealing a templar ring. Vidic's eyes widened and his face paled as he saw that the ring had a black cross in place of the usual red one.
"Stand down Cross," Vidic said quickly. The younger man holstered his gun as Vidic quickly called off security. "A-apologies," he said, "a Black Cross will always have the full cooperation of Abstergo. Though you didn't need to break in, I would have gladly shared the footage with you."
The Black Cross shook his head, "I wished to observe the subject in privately Mr Vidic, so to get a proper analysis of the situation without any...bias."
Vidic simply nodded, "Rikkin didn't tell me he was sending us a guardian."
"Guardian Rikkin didn't send me," the Black Cross said, "his superior did."
Vidic swallowed a huge lump in his throat, there was only one person in the Templar Hierarchy that had authority over someone like Rikkin. Black Crosses were extremely rare and were usually used as Inquisitors to the order, rarer still to have one was sent by the General of the Cross. If the supreme leader of the Templar Order felt the need to send such a person meant that they all had to tread lightly. Since he was handpicked by the General meant that he could even overrule the inner sanctum and even the council of Elders if necessary. "I still don't understand why you were sent?"
The Black Cross smirked, "my superior is concerned that the complications are stemming from the fact that your assistant has succumbed to her feelings for Subject 17."
Vidic shook his head, "Lucy has proven in the past to be our best mole within the Assassin Brotherhood, it would be a shame to lose such a valuable asset. Whatever romance that may be blossoming between them is little more than a ruse one that I have big plans for in the future. She will not betray us, besides she knows what will happen if she does thanks to the fail safes we have in place."
"Project Siren was an awful risk for the Order, when we gave you the go ahead, you assured us we would not experience any complications."
"That was before this Michael Holliday sprung out of the ground. He prevented us from getting the animus tapes and has slain all the agents we sent anywhere near the subject."
"Indeed," the Black Cross said though he didn't sound convinced, "but what if Ms Stillman has turned."
"I have considered that, but then I started thinking that we can still use that to our advantage. Only time will tell if it comes to that."
The Black Cross nodded, "in any case, we need a new solution to our apple problem."
"Rikkin has requested that we find another one," Vidic explained. The assassins need the pone they have for now."
The Black Cross frowned and rubbed his chin, "another apple?" He thought for a moment, "as it happens my superior has been studying another subject to replace Mr. Miles once he outlived his usefulness. Perhaps we ought to bring him in early."
Vidic smiled, "that's good, it will make our job easier." His smile turned to a frown as a thought occurred to him. Though once the assassins are done with the apple it will still be difficult to retrieve it with Holliday guarding it."
"Yes," the Black cross agreed, "a hard situation but far from impossible. If we can't take the apple from them then we will make them surrender it willingly."
Vidic hmphed, "William Miles will never let any of the assassins do that."
"Considering his history I suspect not," the Black cross agreed. "The Father will not break, but the son certainly will."
"Good luck convincing him," Daniel mumbled.
"That will not be a problem," the Black Cross replied as he started going through the footage. "Mr Miles is a young, passionate man, prone to follow his impulses, it is unlikely he has gone this far without developing some form of..."
He stopped the footage again and observed one person in particular. "...Weakness." He finished as his mouth curled into a smile and his silvery eyes fell upon the face of Lucy Stillman.
