Unmei Force: Solitary Legends: The Creed of Fate
Interlude: Discussion and Decision
Modern Day
As the group was pulled out, Siege was seen manning one end of the computers, but on the other end was a new guy who was managing the computers, who actually wasn't so new, as Raditz noticed him with a confused look.
"Ehm…. Siege, why is Mugen-" Raditz began to say, before Siege looked at him.
"He doesn't go by that name anymore." Siege said, looking over to him. "His name is Yun, Richard's childhood friend we managed to save while we… were gone and left you all here in the Animus. Don't worry, those that were left here maintained you all and made sure you were doing fine."
"Yo." Yun answered back, with a raised hand and a smile. "I suppose that you guys have been having fun in the Animus. Only got here in time to see Braddock go. Either way, nice to meet you all."
"Er… yeah?" Velouria remarked.
Richard then entered the room. "How far have we reached along the timeline, Siege?" Richard asked. "And Yun… Thanks for staying to help."
"No problems, Richard. I suppose that those new talents I learned through all that journeying came in handy, heh heh…" Yun chuckled, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Either way, couldn't leave until I paid you back fully for that favour. So I'll crash in here for a while, before me, Selv and Rys."
"We just finished up the part where Haytham and Ziio reveal their love for one another, but after looking at things and seeing them pan out okay for the future, I think it's safe for us to skip and brief them on a few things, including the main thing I want to talk about." Siege said.
"Yeah, I think that this might be something I might argue against or agree, depending on where this goes." Richard sighed deeply, before he then sat on the side of one of the pods. "Alright, Siege, out with it, give the group a run-down brief, while we're on intermission for this little… trip of ours."
"Alright, so basically, what we're skipping are crucial points in this timeline, so pay attention: Haytham, the entire time, has been of the Templars." Siege said, causing the entire group to look at one another.
"You… had us with a Templar!?" Selkie yelled with outrage.
"For a reason. Even though he is one, he helped out in many ways, as you all witnessed." Siege said. "Of course, in the universe, when you all caught wind, you were disgusted at the idea, and didn't attend their meeting, where Charles Lee was brought in as a member of the Templar Order. Then we come to the story-line of Connor, where his village is burned by the Templars, led by Charles Lee, and his mother is killed. From there, he learns from a vision given to him by Juno, that he must go out and fight the Templars, and to seek the Assassin's symbol, and a man named Achilles. The part where you all are coming in is when Achilles takes Connor in for some training, and they're on their way to Boston to get supplies for his house. Now, this is the first of multiple anomalies I'm finding in the timeline, because a British patrol stops them to ask their business. This is where you six come in, having caught wind of an Assassin in Training, wanting to bring down the Templars. So, the first anomaly is easily avoided with your intervention. Before I continue though, Koyomi, I need to address this specifically to you." Siege explained.
"What is it?" Koyomi asked, as Richard sighed into his hands.
"...So we're past that point, huh…" Richard remarked. "Would have been nice to give Connor some peace of mind… But with how the timeline is, risking nothing is the best outcome."
"Hey, bright side, we might actually find a way to convince Connor, with mutual goals to take down the Templar Order." Yun suggested, trying to be optimistic.
"Wait, before we go through all of this, could you back up to the part about those Templars?" Velouria asked back. "What's all of this and Assassin Order?"
"Hoo boy, that's a long, long story." Richard answered back. "But I'll make it in cliff-notes: Templars want the world ruled under an iron fist and regime, and will stoop at any cost to achieve that. Assassins are their nemesis, who actually fight to keep the world as peaceful as possible, with just enough freedom to give to everyone. Mostly good figures are associated with Assassins, and the bad with the Templars. Charles Lee being one? A good example of the latter."
"I suppose… But Haytham was so reasonable… that I thought he was good." Koyomi answered back dejectedly. "Siege… Sorry for the delay, what did you want to tell me?"
"Now, going forward into the future in the Animus, for most people if they're acting as a similar image to themselves, is no issue. You, on the other hand, are a different story. Looking at the timeline, you'd be advancing about 20 years in age in total by the time we'd be finished scouring the timeline. You're already jumping up around…. Anywhere from 7-9 years already, which could alter your DNA in the Modern Day, making you seem and act like, well, the age you end up in the Animus. Now we have a solution to avoid taking this risk if you would prefer." Siege said.
"And what would that be?" Mai asked back.
"You would still grow some in the Animus, but not as much." Siege said to Koyomi. "Your previous character could be killed when you had a gun and sword fight with the Templars. In exchange, we can rewind just a bit, because you could then be a girl from the same Tribe that Connor was from, and try to convince him that you want to help him."
"Yeah… not the most smooth way, but it's the only way to avoid most complications regarding physical and mental age of the traveller." Richard answered back, getting up. "So this question goes two-fold. First to you, Koyomi. Are you prepared to face the trauma of knowing one of your selves was killed, that it was discarded just like that. And then to the rest of you, are you prepared to act as if Komi Heraldsin truly perished that day, and keep it convincing?"
"Or, if Koyomi is willing to take the risk, this could also be averted." Siege reasoned. "So ultimately, this is her decision on whether or not she risks the DNA alterations. She still faces it on the other path, just not as drastic."
"...I faced death many times before… And even though I am unsure about how I'd feel if I looked at my own corpse, and heard about my own death…" Koyomi answered back. "If it's for the best… Then I'm willing to do so. I'll choose to die as Komi Heraldsin and be reborn anew then."
"...I'd be honest about this." Velouria stated with a grim expression. "I don't like it, but like Koyomi said, it's for the best. It might not be just the age gap that might result, if she kept her old self. Ultimately, she made her choice, and I'd… no, we'd respect that."
"Then it's settled. We'll be rewinding a bit. Koyomi, you will meet Connor as he's closing in on Achilles, having been sent by the village elders to make sure he succeeds." Siege said, consulting the Animus for names. "Your new name will be Kanemik:zo. Achilles will later on name you Mizo."
"I understand." Koyomi answered back.
"Then let's resume. Everyone, hop back into the Animus when you're ready." Siege said.
"Good luck to you all… And I pray for peace on Haytham." Richard remarked. "You're staying, Yun?"
"Yeah, someone got to keep watch in case, any more surprises come in the Animus itself." Yun nodded back.
Everyone soon did as the Animus whirred to life, focusing on Connor.
Sequence 04: The Story of Ratonhnhaké:ton and Kanemik:zo
Part 1: A Boorish Man
Frontier, 1769:
"Leaving home was harder than I imagined." Spoke the voice of a teenage Connor. "I thought it would fill me with a sense of pride, a sense of honor… but instead came many questions. Was this right? Was I too hasty? Even Kanemik:zo… I felt bad for leaving her behind, she was my best friend. But I knew I had to press onward, to continue my journey and find Achilles, this was the right thing to do… But even still… I have some regrets."
Connor was prepared to make his way to Achilles, when he heard a noise from behind, as he quickly turned. "Who's there!?" He called out. When no answer came, he readied his hatchet. "Come on out! I know you're there, whoever you are!"
With that response, a pair of hands appeared out of the bushes, as Koyomi appeared, this time in tribal clothing, as her hair was slightly bound together by bands.
"Ratonhnhaké-ton!" Koyomi exclaimed in their native language, speaking Connor's tribal name. "Don't shoot! It is me!"
"Kanemik:zo? What are you doing here? I thought you decided to stay in the village? I thought the village elders wanted you to stay?" Connor asked back in his native tongue.
"I couldn't bear it long to leave you going alone. Ever since your mother perished in the flames… You've changed greatly. I worry that if you left, I'd never see you again." Koyomi answered back, before pressing her hands together. "Please, you have to allow me to come with you. You know that there is no second to me other than you. I know that the elders will frown upon my unexcused leave, but your safety concerns me the most. I fear not the dangers, for I have bow and hatchet at the ready, if any fool provokes me."
"I know that. You always were a great warrior… As much as our village elders would frown, I'm sure they understand that you chose to do this. For me it is an obligation. But I will not stop you from coming. In fact I welcome it. It has been lonely, travelling this far with no one to speak with." Connor said to Koyomi with a slight smile.
"Oh, I am truly honoured." Koyomi smiled. "Hopefully, the man who bears the sigil will find it in him to take me as well."
The two of them soon journeyed to the house on the Davenport Homestead, as they approached the door.
"This is the place." Connor said to Koyomi in English, since he knew that she knew the language just as well as he did, considering that she learned it from a more friendly settler. Connor soon knocked on the door.
Achilles opened the door, as he gazed at the two of them, unamused.
"Um… We were told… you could train us-" Koyomi asked, before Achilles shut the door in her face, with a firm 'No.'. "Hey!"
Koyomi then banged her fist against the door, as Achilles answered back.
"Go away!" He shouted.
"We're not leaving!" Connor exclaimed back.
However, there was no response, as Koyomi shook her head.
"No use, let's find somewhere to camp." Koyomi suggested.
Connor soon saw a shed not far to their right. "Let's use that."
The two of them soon went inside the shed, rolling out their mats for them to sleep on as they would use that to sleep for the next upcoming nights, since they tried the house again, but Achilles kept shoving them away, even threatening them with death.
With a frustrated sigh, Connor and Koyomi returned to their shed for another night. That night, it was storming pretty good as there were two men walking by their shed, seeming to talk about something, which woke both Connor and Koyomi up.
"What in the spirits…?" Koyomi remarked, before they both scrambled up, and peeked over the side of the shed, seeing the two men walk by.
"He's a square toes, this'll be easy." One of them started.
"That's what you said last time, and I wound up with a dead 'orse and a dark eye." The other argued, prodding the chest of his partner with a finger.
"Ratonhnhaké-ton, these people have ill intents for the elder…" Koyomi started, before noticing Connor walking up to them. "...Ooh… damn this…"
"Who are you?" Connor asked the two men.
"No one you need to concern yourself with, little breeches." One of the men snarled.
"Best cut 'fore something bad 'appens." The other man threatened.
"Hey, watch your tongue, don't you try anything!" Koyomi snarled back.
"Ah, a lass. This will be fun. Can't say we didn't warn you." One of the men remarked. "Oi! Brothers!"
Suddenly, Connor and Koyomi were surrounded by bandits, as they pressed back to back with each other. They then fought off the bandits together, as they beat down on the enemy with stone hatchets. Eventually, they defeated the bandits, as one of them was left laying on the ground, as Connor seized him.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" Connor demanded.
"Best ask the bossman." The bandit grinned, before he heard Koyomi yelp, as she was being strangled by a strong-man with a wooden club, as Koyomi was struggling against him, with both hands on the club itself.
"You working for the old man, then? That it? Drop your weapon, leather-skin, or the brat get it." The bandit boss threatened, shifting his club a little bit further on Koyomi's throat, causing her to gag and cough.
Connor was about to slowly put down his weapon, before his eyes caught something behind the bandit boss, as it was Achilles himself, with hidden-blade at the ready. Before the bandit-boss could realise what happened, Achille stabbed him through the throat, as Koyomi dropped onto the ground, gasping for air momentarily.
"Clean this up, both of you." Achilles told them. "Then I suppose we should talk."
Achilles then returned to his mansion, as Koyomi caught her breath, before she and Connor hid the body in the shed's haystack, and entered the manor, where Achilles was sitting inside the living room.
"Uhm… thank you." Connor said to Achilles, regarding him saving Koyomi's life.
"I suppose that it was a coincidence." Achille answered back. "Please take a seat."
Koyomi and Connor went for seats, although the moment they sat on them, they collapsed on their weight, eliciting a yelp from Koyomi, who nursed her bottom, while Connor apologised. "Sorry." He stated.
"Not your fault. This whole place is ready to come down. Goddamn miracle it hasn't already." Achilles answered back solemnly. "Anyways, who are you both?"
"My name is Ratonhnhaké-ton." Connor introduced, before gesturing towards Koyomi. "And this is Kanemik:zo, my companion."
"Right… Well, I'm not even going to try and pronounce those names. Now tell me why you're both here." Achilles stated.
Connor then showed the paper with the Assassin sigil on it. "I was told to seek this symbol." He answered back.
"Do you even know what that symbol represents? Or what it is you're seeking for?" Achilles questioned back.
"No." Connor shook his head.
"And yet here you are, with a curious companion as well." Achilles answered back.
"The spirit said that- I've-" Connor tried to explain.
"These 'spirits' of yours have been harassing the Assassins for centuries. Ever since Ezio uncorked the bottle. Ah- but you don't even know what an Assassin is, do you?" Achilles interrupted.
"Not… quite." Koyomi admitted.
"Well, best settle in then, I've got a story to tell and it's gonna take a while to get it all out." Achilles stated, as Connor moved for another chair, although Koyomi remained standing. "You're not going to sit?"
"I prefer to stay standing." Koyomi answered back. "I'll be fine."
Achilles glanced at her, before he then told the story of the Assassins to both of them, as Koyomi was intrigued by the full tale.
"...And so this is why the Assassins have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of the Templars." Achilles answered back. "Because if they succeed, your spirit's visions will become reality."
"Then I… we, will stop them." Connor declared, looking towards Koyomi.
"Oh, I have no doubt you'll try, the both of you." Achilles answered back, before he then got up. "Come on, I've something to show you two."
They soon got up, as they slowly moved through the mansion.
"Careful. Wasn't a joke when I said this place was coming apart." Achilles said as he led them through the house.
"Why don't you repair it?" Connor would ask.
"I'm much too old. Besides, I don't have the materials." Achilles said.
"So buy them." Connor replied.
"Haha… you think I can just walk into a store, bag full of coins, and do business?" Achilles asked Connor and Koyomi, glancing back at them.
"...No.." Koyomi answered back. "There must be something that stops you… The Templars?"
"Not quite, but you are on the right track." Achilles answered back, before he then pushed open one of the walls, revealing a hidden passage to the basement, where they found a stand holding a set of Assassin robes, as Connor reached for it, before Achilles slapped his hand away with his cane.
"Don't think you can just come in here, throw those on and call yourself an Assassin." Achilles stated. "As for you, young lady. I have something more… suited for you, should the time come."
"I… did not. I would never presume." Connor answered back.
"That's alright. I know they've a certain allure." Achilles stated, before walking over to them. "Very well, I'll train the both of you. Then we'll know if you've the right to wear those robes."
"We are most grateful… Um…" Koyomi stated.
"Achilles." Achilles introduced himself, before he then walked towards a wall covered by a wooden panel. "Come on then. We've got work to do."
Connor and Koyomi then took off the panel, as it showed a set of pictures, which consisted of Haytham's party.
Koyomi and Connor looked towards Charles's picture, as Koyomi narrowed her eyes. "So that devil-cursed wretch is one of the people we seek to hunt down…" She remarked. "His days are numbered, as we grow in power to challenge him."
"Him, and especially your father, boy." Achilles said, looking to Connor. "The Templars want what they've always wanted. Control. They see the colonies as their chance to have new beginnings. And your father holds the entire thing together. Let's not delay the matter further. Your training begins tomorrow." Achilles said.
Part 2: A Trip to Boston
Six Months Later…
"And so our training began. Running, Fighting, Falling. With every movement lesson there was a mental lesson. Anything from economics to the arts. Achilles taught us most about the Templars. How they acted, how they fought. We would need this information going forward… especially if we wished to take our vengeance out on Charles Lee… and my father." Connor said in voice over as the scene transitioned to the two approaching Achilles in the snow covered Homestead.
"Good morning." Achilles greeted Connor and Koyomi, sitting at the driver's seat of a horse-driven carriage.
"To you as well." Connor answered back.
"So, I suppose that you've finally made your choice to do something about your home, right?" Koyomi asked back.
"Precisely. And you two are going to help me." Achilles said. "Hop in." He added, gesturing to the carriage.
Frontier, 1770:
As they rode along, Achilles soon had to stop, as a British patrol was heading towards him.
"Oh this can't be good…" Achilles said, slightly concerned by the patrol.
"Halt! We will need to-" The Officer said as he approached, before 4 flint-lock shots rang out, killing the rest of his squad, before he too was shot, leaving only the drummer. In shock, the drummer tried running…
Only to be stabbed by Raditz, as he smirked as the drummer fell, dead.
"Tch. British scum." Raditz said, soon looking up at Achilles. "Usually, we wouldn't waste time, dealing with issues such as this. How are you, Achilles?"
"Ah, Riccard…" Achilles answered back. "I suppose that you must have kept an eye on me, if you were there to catch the problem in the bud."
"Eh, more like my patrol and I were following these suspicious pricks." Raditz said, as Selkie, Velouria, Mai, and Aerith came out, reloading their flint-locks, though Achilles noticed that "Komi" was missing from the ranks.
"...One of your number is missing. And it has only been around a year since I last met you all." Achilles stated, before he then noted the miserable looks on the group's faces. "...Ah. I see… My condolences… How did she…"
"It was taking out an officer." Velouria explained. "Turns out they were on the alert for us. We managed to fight through the guards, and she managed to finish the job, but she took a rifle round through the heart. No saving her from that, we at least buried her body at a familiar place."
"Mr Achilles? Who are these people?" Koyomi asked. "Are they Assassins like you?"
"No, but if I could induct them, I would have done so in a heartbeat." Achilles answered back. "They knew Haytham personally, considering that they worked with him for a while, until they turned away due to circumstances…"
"Haytham's methods were becoming unsound." Mai explained. "And the people he works with… They're no better than the people we had to deal with in the past. It took us a lot of time to convince Achilles that we worked towards a shared goal, and that is to bring down the Templars."
"To see two of you having convinced the old man to take you in as Assassins, you must have a charm to you." Raditz said, soon looking towards Koyomi. "...You… you remind me a lot of Komi… the kind smile… the innocence in your eyes… but also the ferocity of a warrior…"
"Sir?" Koyomi asked back, before Raditz shook his head.
"Sorry, I'm still reeling from her loss. Either way, let's move, before we are seen responsible for all of this." Raditz apologised, as the group moved into a small alley. "Achilles, what is your purpose here? I'm sure that we can help."
"Oh, just going into Boston for a few things, for the house, as I said." Achilles said. "Those two young ones in the back are helping me."
"Fair enough. Being a general, I can pass you lot into Boston easy, without any suspicion. Come then, let's head off to Boston." Raditz said.
Boston, 1770:
The carriage soon came to a halt as Connor and Koyomi exited the carriage, as Raditz soon stepped next to Achilles.
"You and I need to do some catching up. I have a feeling we'll be closer for quite a while, considering we'll need to unite to beat the Templars." Raditz said. "Ladies, you wouldn't mind showing our two young ones here to the General Store, would you?"
"Certainly not." Selkie said, as Achilles nodded, before handing Connor the list and Koyomi some money, before stopping them.
"Before you go any further, you two need new names. You, boy, would pass for someone probably of Italian or perhaps Spanish blood. And as for you, young lady, you could likely pass as one from the colonies, just dressed a little differently." Achilles said.
"Then what would you name us?" Connor would ask.
"Connor and Mizo. Yes, that will be your new names." Achilles said. "Now go, Riccard and I have some catching up to do."
"Come along then. Best you don't get lost in a city like Boston." Selkie said, as the ladies began escorting Connor and Koyomi to the General Store.
As soon as Koyomi and Connor entered the general store, Connor looked around the store, while Koyomi quickly made his way to the shop-keep, who was a middle-aged man.
"We require the items on this list." Koyomi stated, as the shop-keep looked towards Connor for a moment. "Don't mind him, he's just looking around at the wares."
"Will you be paying with coin or trade?" The shop-keep asked, before Koyomi produced the bag of coins, as the shop-keep counted the coins inside, then looking at Koyomi. "Afraid that I don't have some of the things on there. Lumber's hard to come by, since my supplier up and vanished. I have the tools and pitch, though. Nails too. Where do you want this to be delivered?"
"Our wagon near the statehouse." Koyomi answered back, as the shopkeep returned the portion of the funds dedicated for the lumber, and she took it.
Koyomi then gestured for Connor to leave, as they headed out, while the rest of the female members got up.
"You're just out in time, the scene's getting rowdy." Velouria told the two of them. "We should get out of here, before you two get dragged deep into something."
"What do you mean?" Connor asked, before he then noticed the unrest among the people, as British guards patrolled the streets, apprehending the unruly and disgruntled.
"I think that the best choice in this situation is to find Achilles and leave fast." Mai suggested. "Follow me, we can't afford delays."
The group immediately slipped past the crowds of people on the street, as they found Achilles and Raditz waiting for them.
"You heard all that, didn't you, Achilles, Riccard?" Velouria asked. "And the unrest here… I can see it's a social powder-keg here. But where…?"
"No point dawdling here and wondering. I feel there's something rather ill coming here." Achilles said.
"And no doubt that Haytham will incite something. Come on. We're going to see if my theory about this is right." Raditz said, walking with Achilles towards the scene of a familiar event in American History: The Boston Massacre.
The group saw that Thomas himself was standing at the front of the statehouse, dressed in British uniform, as he tried to disperse the crowd of protesters.
"I say again: disperse! Congregating in this manner is forbidden!" Thomas declared.
"We're not going anywhere, bug!" A male civilian roared back.
"Oi! Why don't you go back to England!?" Another shouted at Thomas.
"No good can come of this chaos! Return to your homes and all will be forgiven!" Thomas continued.
"...Look at this, Thomas, an uptight guardsman… Heh, I'd believe that when pigs fly." Velouria snorted, as the group was nestled deep in the crowd. "Goes to show how much they've fallen since we took out Braddock."
The crowd around them began to hurl insults at Thomas and the guards, while Connor and Koyomi noticed Haytham talking to a black-suited man.
"Is that my father…?" Connor remarked.
"Looks like it… And the man he's with… I can tell it's shady business." Koyomi remarked with narrowed eyes.
"It seems that Haytham did intend to cause trouble. As Victoria said, this crowd is a powder keg, waiting to be lit at the slightest hint of hostility." Achilles remarked. "You two, tail his accomplice. The rest of us will try and see what other ploys he has planned."
Koyomi and Connor nodded, before they left the crowd, stealthily tailing Haytham's accomplice, right on top of a building, as he took aim at the crowd, as if preparing to create chaos. However, Koyomi swept him off his legs, and Connor smashed his head open with the tip of his tomahawk.
"Your plan has ended." Connor declared.
"Not… quite…" The assassin defiantly wheezed back.
"What do you mean-" Koyomi demanded, before her eyes met a certain figure, Charles Lee himself, as her expression contorted with anger. "YOU…!"
Charles merely shook his head, before firing a flint-lock shot into the air, as it was the breaking point, as a British soldier cried. "Damn you, fire!", as the British soldiers fired into the crowd. While Connor and Koyomi watched the massacre unfold, they saw Haytham spot them out for the soldiers below, while Charles slunk into the shadows silently.
"Curse that soul-less wretch!" Koyomi swore, before dragging Connor. "We have to go! The entire town is going to be on alert for us!"
Connor and Koyomi parkoured across the buildings, evading the pursuing soldiers, before diving into a river, where the soldiers lost sight of them. As soon as they left the waters, they were found by Raditz and the others.
"Thank goodness you're safe." Aerith remarked. "You're both becoming wanted here. It's a miracle that Haytham didn't mark us as well."
"What do we do now?" Connor asked back. "We certainly can't return to Achilles with the soldiers after us."
"I might have a solution for that." Raditz declared. "Follow me."
Connor and Koyomi did so, as they found a fairly posh man waiting for the group, as he walked towards them.
"So you managed to find Achilles' boy and girl couple, didn't you?" The man spoke.
"Indeed Sam. Connor, Mizo, meet Samuel Adams… call him a friend of mine for simplicity sake." Raditz said.
"Considering what happened at the Town Hall, it was a miracle we got them just here." Aerith said.
"The whole town's looking for them. Look over there." Samuel responded back, before gesturing at a town-crier, holding a wanted poster with a drawn image of Koyomi and Connor.
"Oye! Oye! A pair of criminals stalks the streets, wanted in connection with the massacre at the Town House! Citizens are advised to call the guards if they see them! Ten pounds to whoever brings these lunatics to justice!"
"Now, watch this." Aerith said, as Selkie was soon seen walking up to the town crier, whispering something into his ear, before paying him a nice sum of money out of sight of everyone, as the town crier soon nodded.
"Oye! Oye! Some new information has come forth! The pair that may have instigated the incident may have been in disguise! There were wigs and makeup equipment found near the site of the Massacre! Be aware and on the lookout for these shady individuals!" The town crier yelled, as a Redcoat was there, having seen Koyomi and Connor, but upon hearing the new information, he nodded towards them before walking away.
"Money can do a lot of things in Boston." Aerith chuckled.
"Come on then, there is still the matter with the posters." Samuel told the group. "If there are more posters, then it'll be hard to bribe the town criers to disguise you two, or all of us, in the same case."
"There should be a printing facility nearby. Throw some mischief in the works, and see what they'll do about that." Velouria suggested. "I should introduce you guys to a little secret that we use to move around place to place without being seen at all."
As they walked to said location with Velouria and Selkie leading them, the two of them being most familiar with where they were going, the group ripped down as many posters as they could, before reaching a wooden doorway to the underground.
"While most of us got acquainted with this little system, Victoria and I became most acquainted with this." Selkie said as she and Velouria opened the doors. "Welcome, to Underground Boston."
The group soon went in as Velouria and Selkie soon lit a pair of lanterns, as all 6 of them were now underground, Aerith and Mai staying above ground to take down as many posters as possible.
"Follow us, we've lit quite the amount of wall hanging candles down here." Selkie said.
The group followed, before they reached the North Port exit, as Velouria tried to open it, although it was locked from the other side.
"Argh… I forgot that we locked this one, just in case some nosy guards wanted to peek in." Velouria growled, before she then produced some lock-picks. "Good thing we all come prepared for this. A moment, if you will."
Velouria then carefully picked the lock, before the door was opened, allowing them access to the tunnel exit, which was nearby the printing facility.
"Come now. It isn't far from here." Raditz said, leading the group towards the print shop as he soon opened the door, as the printer looked at him.
"Ah, Riccard. How are you doing this fine day?" The printer would ask.
"Rather well, all things considered. I need you to do me a favor. You do owe me after all." Raditz said.
"Aye. I do. What is it you need?" The printer asked.
"I need you to reset your presses. Don't want false information getting out anymore." Raditz said.
"You're pulling my leg. You know how time consuming that is? How costly it is!?" The printer yelled.
"I know. I can assure you this is the only time I'll ask for it without payment." Raditz said to the printer, as he sighed and began his work.
"Fine. But from here on, keep that promise and pay me well for this!" The Printer said.
"Of course. Thank you, my friend." Raditz said.
"Aye…" the printer responded in slight annoyance as they left the print shop.
"There. Now, you know the ins and outs of how to keep your names clean here in Boston, or, well, anywhere really." Selkie said.
"So basically, let me make this a simple lesson: Don't draw the crowd with anything visually illegal, and you should be fine. If you do annoy the guards, try to do it in a way that is least irritating. They'll just look around for you, and threaten with a few slaps on the wrist." Velouria explained. "Pull something like what you were IMPLIED to have did, or worse… And you just let loose hell-hounds on you. If that happens, do anything and everything to throw the attention off you two, by doing what we demonstrated."
"This feels wrong… Why not just speak to someone and explain our innocence?" Connor asked back.
"Well, you try doing that with someone who would happily pop your head with a rifle-shot on sight." Velouria growled. "Look, I don't know what method you have for taking care of deceit like this, but this isn't your homeland, you're under Boston law, so trying to be an honest man will only get you laughed at, or worse, shot dead."
"Come now Victoria. Don't be so harsh on the kids." Samuel said to her. "They are, after all, only learning this. You don't have to be so rough when talking to them."
"My apologies, I didn't mean to sound ungrateful." Connor apologised.
"Yeah, I accept those apologies. You're from the tribe, of course this is foriegn to you." Velouria sighed. "You know, we'd all happily talk it out if we could, but that's just how bad the world is right now… people are on the edge of paranoia these days. Still, honesty is rare, so keep that to your heart, trust me."
They soon reached the harbour, as Samuel saw the group off. "Here we are. Speak to the harbour-master, and he'll see you home. He knows where the Davenport residence is, since it has a private harbour for it." Samuel told the group.
"Thank you for everything, Sam. I promise one day to repay the favour." Connor answered back.
"I, as well, hope to do so." Koyomi bowed as well.
"Oh, I'm counting on it." Samuel smiled back. "See the kids off, won't you?"
"We'll be doing a bit more than that." Selkie said with a smile as Mai and Aerith had rejoined the group, Raditz having gone to Achilles as they both had already made for Davenport Homestead.
"Now then, shall we?" Aerith asked as she approached the Harbormaster.
"Wait… are you coming with us?" Connor would ask.
"Of course. I think it would do us a lot of good to get some fresh air over at Davenport." Selkie said. "Besides, if you two are training under Achilles to become Assassins, you'll need a bit of extra expertise from more able bodied individuals."
This statement caught Connor off guard. "Wait… then are you all…?"
Selkie soon showed him the Assassin's mark branded in a hidden spot on her uniform. "Branded by Achilles himself, after convincing him we were on his side."
"Convinced?" Koyomi would ask.
"It was no easy task." Mai answered back. "Considering our acquaintance with Haytham's crew, he outright refused to accept us as allies back then. In fact, he tried to kill us a few times, although he failed, since we were just trying to prove him wrong. We did get through to him, when we managed to stop a large patrol from grabbing him for an untimely execution. Since then, he's grown to trust us well."
"That's…" Koyomi answered back, before their boat arrived.
"Come on, let's go." Velouria. "To Davenport!"
The group immediately boarded the boat, as it sailed through the waters, and arriving in Davenport with no issues at all, as they entered the manor, as Raditz and Achilles were waiting for them.
Part 3: River Rescue and The Hard Way
"Welcome back." Achilles stated.
"You left us in Boston!" Connor exclaimed, quite annoyed.
"And you learned a lot about intrigue while you evaded the attention." Raditz added. "Experience is a very good teacher."
"What of my father then?" Connor asked back.
"...Is that really a question you would like to start with?" Raditz asked with a disappointed expression.
"But he's out there plotting who knows what-" Connor exclaimed, before Koyomi stopped him, by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Not yet. We need to start by taking down the Templars he works with. Patience, friend, we'll have our vengeance on him, and the devil that caused our village's ruin." Koyomi declared.
"She makes a strong point. You stand no chance in a proper fight with him, let alone with the safe-guards he has made throughout the nation, through the Templars. You need more experience, and the Templars weak enough to be unable to save him, when the time comes." Achilles added. "However, for now, I have gifts for you both."
Achilles then handed Connor and Koyomi two boxes, as inside were Hidden Blades, much to the duo's surprise. "Go on. Before I change my mind-" Achilles stated, before they heard the sound of something thumping against the room window. "Hm..?"
"Hey! Heeellpp!" A bearded man cried through the window, muffled by the window itself, slamming his hand against the window.
Koyomi and Connor headed outside, as the man turned his attention to them. "You, sir please! Help! He's going to die!" He desperately begged.
"Who?" Koyomi asked back.
"There's no time to explain! Please come!" The man frantically shouted, before then running off, as the group followed him, heading towards a river with a strong current, as there was a man holding onto a log, drifting down the river helplessly. "Down there! He's just passed under the bridge! Please help him!"
Connor and Koyomi looked at each other, before they chased after the drifting man, who was crying out pleas for help, as Connor took the path inside the river, leaping between rocks and branches, while Koyomi sprinting along the edge of the river, keeping pace with the drifting man.
With their coordination, they managed to catch up to the man, leaping into the river as one, and hefting the man over their shoulders, as they kicked across the water, before getting out, as the man wheezed and coughed, while the other man rushed over.
"What this door-knob is trying to say, is he's forever in your debt, sir and madam!" The man said.
"Who are you calling a knob-end, Godfrey!?" The other man shouted.
"You, because you are one, Terry!" Godfrey exclaimed back.
"What were you doing on those logs?" Connor asked the two of them.
"One of the dangers of lumberin'. We've got the camp set up a few rods off of here, as were' cuttin' timber. We're hoping to open a mill in the area." Godfrey stated.
"Lumbering…? Wait! This is a perfect opportunity to get the lumber, Connor!" Koyomi exclaimed with joy.
"Right. There is a good place not far from the manor on the hill where I am staying." Connor told Terry and Godfrey. "We are in need of lumber ourselves, so you'll have a client for yourselves."
"Ha! I like you two already! We'll have a look." Godfrey laughed heartily. "Come on, Terry!"
Godfrey and Terry left the area, as Koyomi and Connor followed after them, as they quickly went to their camp, and quickly moved the necessary equipment to set up the mill, creating it nearby the mansion, as they started work immediately.
"I'll miss the peace and quiet." Achilles remarked, as he came in to see the mill in operation. "But we can certainly use the wood."
"But we need lots more to finish the work, right?" Koyomi asked back.
"Exactly. And other things too. Meet me at the small shack by the shoreline when you have time." Achilles told the two. "There's something else you need to see. A very… useful asset."
"Actually, we'll need to wait a while for the lumber to be produced, so we'll come with you right now." Koyomi answered back.
"Good, come with me." Achilles answered back with a nod, as they followed him.
They soon reached the small shore-line shack, as they waited by the doors, before Connor knocked on them.
"GO 'WAY!" Was the gruff response inside.
"Oh for God's sake…" Raditz said, arriving, as he soon pushed Connor and Koyomi out of the way. "OI! You old sea dog!" Raditz yelled as he opened the door. "Get your head out of the damned bottle!"
When they looked inside, they found there was an old bearded man, lounging on a chair, with a bottle of swill in his hands.
"Oh, I didn't see you there, Riccard." The man answered back. "I'd of set my home in order if I'd known you and the old man would be calling."
"Oh there's the classic excuse, you drunkard…" Raditz sighed. Like Godfrey and Terry, Raditz and this man got into squabbles quite often. "Look, I need you a little more sober because I've news for you, lad. We've got Connor and Mizo here to give your old girl some much-deserved care!"
"You do?" The man stated, before he slammed his bottle on a table nearby, before getting up, and walking out. "She's still the fastest in the Atlantic, but sure, she needs some attention, some minor things mostly. But with a little affection, she'll fly again!"
"Who is 'she'?" Connor asked, earning a glare from the elderly man.
"Who is SHE!? Why, the Aquila, boy! The Ghost of the North Seas!" The man declared, gesturing at the slightly damaged war-ship in the distance.
"The bo-" Connor was about to say, although Koyomi predicted how it might infuriate the man further, and covered his mouth.
"So do you think that we'll be able to give her what SHE needs?" Koyomi asked back.
"Of course, I can refit her, but I'm lacking in the proper supplies. Some real quality timber would help me get started." The man answered back.
"We'll see to that. How long will it be, before she is able to sail again?" Koyomi asked back.
"Lass, just get me the lumber, and I'll raise a crew." The man declared, before heading back inside to drink some more swill.
"...Robert Faulkner, ladies and gentlemen." Raditz sarcastically declared. "He might be a mean and gruff sea-dog, but he does have the skill and leadership to lead the Aquila. We'll need to take some time to get the lumber for the manor repairs and for the Aquila as well. By the way, I think that we can get the lumber quickly. Come back to the manor with me."
Raditz then guided the two back to the manor, as Achilles was waiting for them, holding a black book in his hands.
"Ah, there you two are. I've something to show you." Achilles said, before opening the book, as it was a ledger of orders and sales for the residence. "This is a ledger. It lets us manage the homestead's dealings."
"And these…?" Koyomi asked, gesturing at a certain page, detailing a few names.
"Ah, these were years ago. Before the slow fever. Before the Templars. Before everything collapsed…" Achilles sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "But that's in the past, focus on what's in front of us. Take up the ledger and I'll teach you both how it all works."
What ensued was a miniature lesson from Achilles about how the convoys owned by the homestead could purchase and sell materials, and that it was managed from the ledger itself, which it read by the convoy drivers. After a while, the dark lumber needed for the Aquilla arrived quite quickly, from a nearby town.
Six Months Later…
"Time passed quickly, ever since then." Connor stated, writing his words in a small diary. "My days, a blur of study, training and work. What little free time Achilles allowed me and Kanemik:zo was spent learning about the Templars. Everything about them, and how to comfort them. Speaking of Kanemik:zo… She has been working ferverently. Time to time, I watch her work with the others to renovate the homestead. She is a fairly dilligent worker, I almost could mistake her as a head worker for all of the building done around here."
"Ratonhnhake:ton! It's time we head for the Aquila! Faulkner has stated the ship repairs are complete!" Koyomi shouted for Connor.
Connor then closed the diary, before he then left the homestead, with Koyomi and the rest of the group following, heading for the small harbour, where the refitted Aquilla laid on the short, looking proudly majestic, as Faulkner and his crew were preparing the ship for the sea.
"Come aboard and feast your eyes, boys and girls!" Faulkner declared with passion, before Connor was about to board it first, with his left foot, as Faulkner stopped him. "No no no no, not the left foot! Never the left foot! Horrible luck. Step with your right foot first."
Connor retracted his left foot, before stepping onto the ship right foot first, as the others did the same, boarding on the deck of the ship, as they inspected every part of the ship.
"She's… sturdy and solid." Koyomi remarked, tapping her knuckles against the wooden mast.
"Aye. Weatherly and sleek. She'll fetch 12 knots in a sturdy gale." Faulkner proudly declared. "Ne'er a ship from here to Singapore can outrun her on her best day. Wha'dya say we take her out and show you both what she can do first-hand!"
"Where would we go?" Connor asked back.
"As it happens, she still needs guns and the officers to command them. We'll launch straight away." Faulkner answered back. "Don't worry, lad and lass, I'll make sure you all sprout good sea legs."
The Aquila then took off from the harbour, as it entered the East Coast region, as Faulkner brought the ship to a full stop, leaving the wheel.
"Come on, lad. No time like the present!" Faulkner shouted, beckoning for Connor.
Connor looked around, as the group and the rest of the crew were properly keeping the ship at the ready, with Koyomi taking her place on the crow's nest, for the time being. He then walked towards the wheel, as Faulkner moved aside for him.
With Faulkner's guidance, Connor smoothly guided the Aquila through the seas and shallows, reaching Martha's Vineyard, on a small island, as they docked at the pier.
"Drop anchor. We'll go ashore, buy our guns and find our officers." Faulkner stated, as the Aqulla dropped its anchor.
Faulkner led the group into a small tavern, where they were greeted by its female barkeep.
"Oh, hullo. Miss Mandy. You're looking every bit as ravishing as I remember." Faulkner flattered the female barkeep.
"After all those years, you sail all the way to the Vineyard to pay me compliments?" Mandy responded back.
"We're looking for Richard and David Clutterbuck." Raditz answered back.
"Heh. Nice to see you, too." Mandy responded back, before gesturing to one of its tables.
The group approached the table, as there was a pair of brothers, one bald and one bearded.
"Robert Faulkner. Where the hell have you been?" The bald one remarked. "And who's those with you?"
"Sorry for leaving like I did, lads, but where I was going… No one could know. I'd introduce you to all of these men and ladies, but trust me on this, they're hellishly reliable." Faulkner answered back. "You two working much?"
"Nah. Between contracts at the moment." The bearded brother answered back.
"Well, we're looking for gunnery officers. What would you two say to working with me again?" Faulkner offered back.
"We'd be for getting into a few more scraps." The bearded brother answered back with a nod.
"Good show." Faulkner agreed. "The Aquila is a fine vessel. We're fitting all the guns as we speak-"
"Looks like one of your friend's about to catch a beating." The bald brother warned the group.
"What are you talking-" Koyomi remarked, before she then looked behind her. "Oh, spirits be damned…!"
Connor soon looked towards a man as Koyomi knew what he was about to do, quickly stopping Connor before he could do anything, and shoving him back.
"Not now!" Koyomi harshly whispered back to Connor.
"What are you doing? I need to fi-" Connor began to ask, when Koyomi shut him up.
"I said not now! We're not ready, Achilles said so! You can worry about going after Charles when we're properly ready, until then I would prefer if we didn't end up like what happened that night at the Massacre, only this time, the accusation won't be false!" Koyomi spat in whispers at Connor. "Now spirits be damned, keep your head straight!"
Connor, reluctantly, put his hands in the air. "Alright… alright… sorry, Mizo…" Connor apologized.
"I know you want revenge. So do I. But not right now. In due time." Koyomi said, before letting Connor go.
The group walked over to Connor. "Hey, you're not going to start trouble, are you-" Velouria was about to say, before she and Connor's intended target, who was Benjamin Church, locked eyes. "Oh… Well, ain't this just dandy… A reunion with another member so quickly. What's next? Pitcairn staring us down the sights of his rifle?"
"Victoria, no-" Selkie was about to whisper to her, but it was too late.
"You five…" Church growled. "So you've decided to roam about like the rats you are…"
"Don't make things difficult, Church. You know where this will go, if you push it." Velouria threatened, with a frigid look in her eyes.
Benjamin's partner then stood up, as he was a bulky sailor. As he did though, Faulkner stood up to intervene.
"Hey… You don't want to be doin' that, Biddle." Faulkner warned the sailor.
"Bobby Faulkner turned to wet-nursing?" The sailor mocked, eyeing Koyomi and Connor. "Good, you finally realised you're a SHITE sailor."
"You want to go, flat-face?" Velouria swore, her eyes burning. "I'll smack you through the floor so hard, you'll need ten people to baby-sit your bulky ass!"
"We uh, we should be going now!" Selkie said, dragging Velouria, as the group and their gunners left the Tavern.
When they got outside, Selkie promptly punched Velouria in the shoulder, enough to get her attention.
"Ow! What the hell was t-" Velouria yelled before Selkie shut her up with a glare in her eyes.
"Mizo had that under control, and then you had to let your temper get out of hand! I understand that you want revenge, because that bastard had a hand in Komi's death, but I'm not about to put Connor and Mizo in immediate danger, because you couldn't keep a level head! Now goddamnit Victoria, get it together or do we need to keep you with Achilles so the old man can give you some lessons on your temper?" Selkie spat at Velouria. "It pains me to yell like this, but I am not fooling around, am I clear!?"
Velouria was silent for a moment, before she then cradled her shoulder, and shook her head.
"I guess I deserve that one, definitely." Velouria answered back, before she then took a long breath. "Alright, you have my word this won't happen again. No handles flying off. If that boy can learn some restraint, then I can prove that I have enough in me."
Selkie nodded, before the group boarded the ship, as they loaded the cannons and swivel-guns onto the Aquila.
"Alright, I can see bad blood when it first hits my eye." Faulkner said to Velouria. "What was that about?"
"...Old grudges resurfacing. Don't try to tear my ear, Selda did enough of that on me." Velouria grunted back. "Speaking of which, who's the hulking mass of flesh that is his acquaintance?"
"That was Nicholas Biddle. Nobody. Sails before the mast, midshipman for the Crown." Faulkner stated.
"Well, if it'll help cool the temper a little… I'll have my hand on one of the swivel guns. Don't worry, I won't flip on it or something." Velouria stated. "Are they ready?"
"Hold on, we need to test the main cannons first." Faulkner answered back, as Raditz helped to prepared one of them. "But otherwise, feel free, lass."
The group found a half-sunken ship-wreck, where they used the cannons to shoot out a large chunk of it, before the swivel guns were used to detonate the active powder-kegs inside it, blowing the rest into pieces.
"For a ship of this age… this ship is quite powerful." Mai remarked, amongst the cheers of the crew, after a spectacular performance on the guns, as the ship sailed towards the Davenport residence.
"You can say that aga-" Aerith said, before seeing something concerning. "Uhm… Captain! Ships spotted from the stern!"
"There's more!" Koyomi declared. "We got frigates narrowing towards the port and starboard sides!"
"Alright men, to battle! Boy, I trust this on you! Get us through!" Faulkner yelled.
"I understand!" Connor shouted back, as he brought the ship around, to aim its port cannons at the frigates on the same side, as the bald gunnery officer called for fire, as the round cannon-balls sunk the frigates with a single shot.
"I might not be able to do much before… But I'll happily vent some anger on you bastards, who think it's a good idea to pick a fight with us…!" Velouria growled, before she then took a shot with her swivel-gun, as it broke through the mast of a frigate, severely crippling it. "How's that!"
The frigate didn't survive long, as it was blasted to smithereens with the next volley of cannon shots. The other frigate didn't last very long either, being destroyed as well, leaving the ship behind them.
Connor, wanting to try a risky manoeuvre, immediately whirled their ship in a 180, which Faulkner didn't like but trusted. As Connor planned, the enemy ship fired too early, as their shots sailed past, as Connor righted his ship to fire.
"FIRE!" Yelled Connor, as both cannons and swivel guns rang in unison, like the death-knell of a bell, as the shots tore the body of the enemy ship to shreds, as it sunk into the ocean, with all hands lost.
"Risky manoeuvre, but you pulled it off thoroughly. Carry on, sailor, we'll make a sailor out of you, yet!" Faulkner declared. "Now then, we best be getting back or the Old man will have my guts for garters."
"Don't worry, I'm sure he might be proud about what he did." Velouria chuckled, before turning to David, the bald Clutterbuck. "Anyways, good shooting,and apologies for the tension at the Vineyard."
"Eh, you got spirit, I'll give you that, but listen to your girl, she talks sense." David answered back sincerely.
As they returned, Faulkner advised Connor and Mizo to return to Achilles, as they promptly did so, as Achilles was waiting for them. "Three weeks. And not even a goodbye before you left."
"Sorry…" Connor said.
"Well, what are you two waiting for?" Achilles said, leading them downstairs, as Connor looked at the clothes again. "Put them on, Connor."
Connor did so, as he adjusted the robes. "Once upon a time, we had a ceremony on such occasions. But I don't think either of us are really the type for that." Achilles answered back, before turning to Koyomi. "Come with me, I have something for you as well."
Achilles soon procured a large chest, of rather older looking style, around the 1500s era to be exact. "I found these, finally. I figured they would fit you, considering you have just as much grace and ferocity as she did."
Upon opening the chest, Koyomi found the Assassin's clothing of Shao Jun, as well as her katana. "This is…!" Koyomi remarked.
"Shao Jun left me these, in case there would be young women like you, who would take up a role similar to hers." Achilles answered back, as Koyomi retreated to change into them. "She has not been heard from for a while… But I suppose that means that she is still properly doing her duties."
Koyomi then returned, wearing the Asian Assassin robes, as they seemed to fit her quite well. The sword and its sheath fit well as well.
"You've your tools and training." Your targets and your goals. And now, you both have your titles." Achilles declared, before he then placed a hand on Koyomi's and Connor's shoulder. "Welcome to the Brotherhood, Mizo and Connor." He stated warmly.
SEQUENCE 5 COMPLETE
FULL SYNCHRONIZATION