(A/N: I do not own Spiderman or Assassin's Creed. That right belongs to Ubisoft and Disney).
Peter was awakened by a wake up call by the hotel resort at around 5:30 in the morning. He quickly got up, took a shower, got dressed in his nice clothes, pulled his hair back into the little ponytail that Sofia had shown him before and went outside his room with about 10 minutes to spare.
The 17 year old was excited. Very excited. He would finally get to see this Observatory after hearing about it all week and there was also the chance he may be officially a Templar by the end of the day. Finally, he'd be a part of something bigger than himself. He'd never have to be alone again.
However, there was still the note from last night that gave him doubts. He didn't know what exactly these Assassins wanted from him but for now, he called their bluff. They were just saying that so Peter wouldn't help them get access to the Observatory. That was all. Everything else was just smoke and mirrors. However, he did keep the object they gave him close at hand. Just in case he may actually need to use it.
At around 6, Emmanuel, Chris and John came out of their rooms, all dressed and ready to go. However, it seemed Emmanuel was not very pleased at being up so early in the morning.
"Christ almighty, let's get this over with so I can get on back to bed" Emmanuel said, rubbing his eyes.
"Emmanuel, can you please get over this boo hoo attitude you've got. This is a day that has been centuries in making for us! We're finally going to see the Observatory!" Chris said, excitedly.
"I agree. I'm pumped" Peter said with a big smile on his face, already ready for action.
"See, this is the kind of attitude you should be displaying, Emmanuel. We're about to change the world for the better" Chris said, patting Peter's shoulder.
"So can we get going already? I'm ready to go" Peter said, practically jumping up and down.
"Yes, please. Let's just get this over with so I can be rid of you people and can see my beloved" John said, wanting this to be over as quickly as possible.
"While I don't agree with the sentiment, I agree with the message. Let's go. The moms are away and now the boys will play, gents" Chris said with a big smile on his face.
With that, they all went down the elevator to the lobby. At the lobby, there was a chauffeur with a sign that said 'Rikkin'.
"To the docks, my good man" Chris said, taking out a 50 and putting it in the chauffeur's front pocket.
"Of course, sir. Follow me, gentlemen" The chauffeur said and he led them all to a stretch limo. He opened the door and allowed them all in. Inside, there was a bucket full of ice, 4 champagne glasses and a bottle of cider. There was also a note that Peter could just about make out.
"Have fun on your trip, boys
Here's some cider to celebrate! Do us proud!
Sofia"
They got their glasses filled and drank their cider. John even reluctantly agreed.
"To a historic day, guys. This will be a day no other...for all of us" Emmanuel said, raising his glass to the other boys.
"Try me" John said, drinking his cider.
Peter didn't think he ever saw John smile once in all his time knowing him. He was quite an interesting character. He didn't really know if he believed all about this reincarnation and this 'wife trapped in computer servers' stuff but there was one thing he knew: This guy needed a friend and Peter could relate to this guy a lot. Not a whole lot of friends, not a whole lot of people to talk to. So...maybe they'd hit it off. Who knows? He made a note to talk to him on the boat.
The boys just sipped their cider as the boat took them to the Miami Docks where a yacht boat was waiting for them to take them to Long Bay, Jamaica.
*Miami Docks, 6:25 AM*
"Ok, listen Mr. Mystery hooded man. I know you said we'd be getting up early but I didn't know you meant literally at the crack of dawn" Mary-Jane whispered, yawning as she lied down on a nearby rooftop with a miniglare on her face, staring at AC looking through a pair of binoculars at the Miami Dock Pier
The young assassin was observing the Yacht docked in a pier that was crawling with Abstergo guards. Also on the roof were Gwen, Liz, Harry, Aapo, Rebecca and Shaun. All of them were also crouched down to avoid detection.
"Why do you think I told you to go to bed immediately after we got to the bureau? The Templars are leaving at 6:30, we leave at 7. We could have gotten more sleep in if rich boy here could have gotten us faster transportation" AC said, referring to Harry without even looking at him.
"Hey! I did the best I could! I'm sorry I caused all this and I'm sorry I made Peter join these freaks but can you cut me some slack? I'm just trying to make it through high school with at least a semi decent social life" Harry said, passionately defending himself and tired of getting picked on.
"Would you be quiet? You'll give away our positon" AC said, scolding Harry.
"...Sorry" Harry said, awkwardly.
"...Here comes the limo now" AC said as a stretch limo came around and drove in front of the docks. Out came England, Rikkin, Standish and Peter.
"They're all there and with the Sage, no less" AC said, sighing.
"Peter's with them?" Gwen asked, trying to look down at it but couldn't see anything.
"Yep" AC said as they began to go aboard the Yacht. They then started to get ready for departure.
AC lowered his binoculars and turned to the others.
"Here's the plan. In a half hour, we're going to leave on a boat and follow them. On the boat, we discuss what happens next" AC declared.
"Why not just stop them from leaving now?" Liz asked, curiously.
"There's too many guards down there. We'd get crushed and we can't risk any losses. Also, Peter would only take it as confirmation that we're the bad guys if we jumped them like this. We need to face them on more even ground" AC explained.
"So...what do we do?" Mary-Jane asked.
"We wait...that's all we can do" AC said as he just lied down on his stomach and watched the boat depart from the docks and into the Gulf of Mexico.
*Private Yacht*
Peter stood on the side of the yacht as it left the docks, watching the ocean, seconds turning into minutes since the boat started moving. The land was quickly disappearing from eyesite.
The boy smiled as he felt the Ocean breeze on his face. There was nothing quite like a boat ride though he had never been on one quite like this as one could imagine given his upbringing but he figured this was another thing he could get used to. Limo rides, private jets, private yachts, luxury resorts. This was definitely something to get used to.
However, could do without the armed guards though as they positioned themselves around the boat. They kinda set out a bad vibe but with those Assassins around everywhere, he guessed they couldn't take any chances.
Peter walked to the cockpit where Emmanuel, Chris and John were sitting, watching the ocean in front of them as they went towards their destination.
"Hey, guys" Peter said, greeting everyone.
"Hey there, Pete. What's up?" Emmanuel asked, turning and smiling at the brunette.
"Not much. Just enjoying the breeze outside. Don't really get to go to many tropical settings like this. So how long will the ride be?" Peter asked.
"About 6 hours with the speed we're going. We have to go around Cuba and everything" The Helmsman said.
"I guess that's to be expected. Kinda worried I'll get bored soon though" Peter said, sitting down with them.
"Oh I don't think that'll be an issue. Tell me, Peter...know any sea shanties?" Chris asked with a smirk.
Peter looked to Chris with a raised eyebrow.
"Not particularly. Why?" Peter asked.
"Well...come on. Follow me up to the top deck, boys. We're going to raise some voices here" Chris said, standing up from his seat and gestured for all of them, even John to follow him.
"Well now...this is gonna be interesting" Peter said, smirking. He thinks he may like what was about to come next.
*6:55AM, Miami Docks*
The boat that was taking the Assassins and teens to the Observatory had arrived 10 minutes after the Templars left. It had been set up for the remainder of the time.
The teens would follow AC and Aapo through the Jungle as they cleared out the Abstergo guards that may be patrolling.
Shaun and Rebecca would be on the boat, acting as lookout and monitor the seas in case any Abstergo guards follow them.
Gwen, Liz and Mary-Jane sat down at a table inside the cockpit having girl talk, Shaun was navigating the boat with Rebecca sitting near him.
AC and Aapo were talking just outside on the poop deck.
Harry...was just being Harry. By himself as he has been the last few days.
"Do any of you guys have dramamine? It's just I've been known to get seasick in my family" Harry explained as he was leaning on the side of the boat on the poop deck.
"Blow your chunks off the side of the boat for all I care" AC said, shoving aside Harry's concern.
"AC!" Rebecca scolded as she heard from the cockpit. She came out, took out a pillbox and took out a pill. She passed one to Harry.
"Here you go, hon" Rebecca said, smiling at Harry.
"Thanks...I can tell he's still mad at me" Harry said, lowering his head as he took the pill.
"Ah, don't worry about him. He's always been a soreass" Rebecca said, waving off his concern.
"I...I really am sorry about all this. I...I had no idea it would come to this" Harry said, sincerely.
"It's alright. It was probably going to come to this sooner or later...but really...I don't think it's just me you have to apologize to" Rebecca said, narrowing her eyes at him.
Harry looked up at her. "What do you mean?"
"Don't you think you have someone else you need to apologize to. A friend maybe? A friend you weren't really there for?" Rebecca asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh….Peter" Harry said, suddenly feeling guilty.
"Yeah...what you did to him wasn't cool, man" Rebecca said, shaking his head.
"Hey. They both were conspiring against me! What was I supposed to do? Sit and take it?" Harry asked, getting defensive.
"Yeah, that wasn't right of them but if they're truly in love with each other then forcing her to stay with you isn't helping either Peter, Gwen or you. You're forcing them to live a life of despair simply to allow yourself to pretend you're actually happy" Rebecca explained.
"Well...I…" Harry tried to say but he didn't really have any good defenses.
"Listen, hon. Despite what AC says, I don't hate you and neither does Shaun, Aapo or even AC himself. Frustrated maybe but we don't hate you. You've just got to stop pretending to be someone you're not" Rebecca explained to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Harry asked, looking to Rebecca with a raised eyebrow.
"I know it's tough to be a teenager but changing who you really are inside is not going to make you feel any better about yourself. I mean, seriously kid, I look over your school record and...you ain't no football player" Rebecca said, chuckling, looking at Harry's scrawny figure up and down.
Harry just blushed.
"Honey...Peter's your best friend. Cutting him out of your life because he made you mad isn't going to make your life easier...and neither will guilting Gwen to keep dating you. Now while some damage has been done, it's not too late to fix it. Just...keep your chin up and when the time comes, let Peter know you've changed for the better" Rebecca suggested.
"...But what if he doesn't want to be friends with me anymore? The last time we talked was...pretty bad" Harry said, recalling that morning at school.
"Just keep with the positives, Harry. I have a feeling that everything that should happen will happen. Now I gotta go back and make sure the limey egghead isn't steering us the wrong way. Just think about what I said, alright?" Rebecca asked. After another quick pat, she went back into the cockpit.
Harry just sighed and stared back at the ocean as he went into deep thought. He needed to find a way to make this up to Peter, beyond getting a new mattress for his aunt. How exactly he would do that was beyond him though.
He just continued looking out to the ocean as they followed Peter and his fake Templar friends to the Observatory.
*2 hours later*
"Goodbye, fare-ye-well! Goodbye, fare-ye-well!
An' over the water to England must go!
Hoo-raw me boys! We're homeward bound"
The boys and some guards sang. As they finished the song, Emmanuel, Chris and Peter laughed on the top deck, them leading the songs.
"Oh you were right, Chris. That was great" Peter said with a big smile on his face as he let out a breath.
"There's nothing like a good sea shanty to complete a good ride out at sea" Chris said, smirking, patting Peter's arm.
Peter turned and saw John leaning against the rails of the top deck. He raised an eyebrow.
"Can uh...I talk to you guys later? I wanna talk to Mr. Happy over here for a second" Peter suggested.
Chris shrugged. "Go right ahead. Though be warned, he's as moody as he looks"
"You'll get no arguments from me" Emmanuel shook his head.
"Cool. I'll talk to you in a bit" Peter said, walking towards John. He stood by him and leaned against the rails with him.
"Hey, John" Peter said. John, disinterested, turned his eyes towards him for a second before focusing out to the sea again.
"Parker" He said, greeting him.
"So...how's the ride for you?" Peter asked, trying to break the ice.
John shrugged and shook his head.
"Alright, considering. I'm used to sailing, just not in a motorized boat" John explained.
Peter looked confused before he remembered something.
"Ah, yeah. You were Black Bart Roberts, the deadly pirate, even more so than Blackbeard" Peter said.
"I was, yes. Ah, that was a good life. A merry life and a short one as I always said then" John said, smiling fondly at his days upon the Royal Fortune.
"Hm...you really are a reincarnation, aren't you?" Peter asked, finally coming around to accepting the fact that there was something modern day science couldn't explain.
John nodded. "I am"
"...So...what happened, if you don't mind me asking. You know, to cause something you to constantly be reincarnated? I mean as far as I know, something like this can't just really happen" Peter asked.
"Hmm...you want the short version or the long version?" John asked.
"Somewhere in between" Peter answered, shrugging.
John nodded and began to tell his story.
"Well...let's just say that my wife, who was of a people far beyond human beings today, conducted an experiment on my dying form to come back again and again and again...until I could find a way to revert myself back to who I was" John explained.
"That doesn't sound very reasonable. The technology today isn't nearly that advanced for something like that. We're centuries away as a race from something like that actually and that's assuming something like that can even exist" Peter said, raising an eyebrow.
John chuckled.
"You don't know what technology is, boy. You think the Observatory is the most advanced device you'll ever see?….No. Not even close" John said, shaking his head.
Peter was getting curious.
"I...I don't really understand" Peter said, getting more confused by the second.
"I don't expect you to understand. Only remember this one thing: The people that I talk about are long gone and their technology is scattered all around the world in little pieces of what was a grand arsenal in my time...though they may return one day...and maybe one day soon...but not today. No. Today I indulge you and your Templar friends in this little fantasy of yours" John said, scoffing at the end of his statement.
"You have an issue with peace and order?" Peter asked, noticing his scoff.
"No...though these Templars and you acting like you have any idea of what that means is laughable. My wife understands. Many people in my time understood. If only if it weren't for that fateful day when the sun reduced them to ash...maybe they'd be here today and the world wouldn't be the insane and disordered mess it is today" John said, explaining his reasoning.
Peter was getting weirded out now. He didn't know what to make of all this.
"...So you have a wife then?" Peter asked, trying desperately to change the subject.
"Yes...She's trapped deep in the computer servers, ready to come again in this world to bring balance to a world full of chaos but most importantly, I miss her. I loved her...I still do, actually. To do anything to talk to her would mean the world to me...even giving up one of my proudest creations" John said, looking somberly down at the ocean.
Peter understood little to nothing what he was saying or whether or not to turn the boat around and check John into the nearest loony bin in Miami...but even he could be sympathetic in a situation like this.
"Well..I hope you do get to talk to her again. She sounds lovely" Peter smiled, patting John's shoulders.
John didn't say anything and just continued looking out to the ocean. Peter got the message that their conversation was probably done so he turned and began to walk away.
"Oh and Peter...one other thing: These people aren't your friends. Just remember that" Was all John said on the matter which caused Peter to raise an eyebrow, his memory going back to this Deacon's letter.
Peter wasn't suspicious but he was curious. Why did everyone keep saying that?
However, he didn't think too much on it before Emmanuel and Chris invited him to lead in a new round of sea shanties as they continued riding to their destination. The Observatory was practically in their grasp at this point. All that was in their way was an ocean...and very territorial natives.