#10- Unspoken Goodbye

Type: One-shot

Timeline: Before EomE 1

Summary: In the aftermath of the attack on the New York Base, Maya tries to come to terms with her loss and chooses the next path.

The bar was the noisiest that it would ever be. The last night partiers, blissfully unaware of the war being fought under the shadows, were loud and were enjoying themselves, pushing their alcohol levels to their limitations. While the bar was filled with people enjoying their weekend, or college-aged students experiencing the buzz of alcoholic beverages, there was one person, sheltered in the shadows of a corner booth that wasn't quite enjoying herself.

Maya Abigail Everton stared at her untouched whiskey with red-rimmed, unseeing eyes. Tears fell from her steel eyes, her dark mood contrasting with the celebratory mood that surrounding her. The events of earlier played on in a torturous loop in her mind.

Too late….

Maya had left the base in New York, angry at herself and her mother.

She was…

She had turned her radio and tracker off so she could go beat some criminals without being given a lecture by her paragon of a brother.

Always…..too late…..

Too late, did the cement feeling in her stomach weigh heavily in her gut. And when she switched on her radio, when she sorted through all the S.O.S messages and alerts, did she realize something was wrong.

She hated how she took too long getting there.

She hated how, when she got there, she couldn't get through the police barricade.

She hated how broken she felt, how utterly destroyed she was as she watched as her mother's body was loaded into a black body bag. Eric was already there, splattered in blood, a with a silver shock blanket around his shoulder, talking to a policeman. Maya wasn't worried about the story he would tell, or what the Assassin leaders would release to the press. Eric was a well-respected, senior member form a long bloodline of Assassins.

It was the fact that her mother had perished in a supposed attack.

Without even seeing if her brother was alright, Maya left, robotically mounting her motorcycle and driving off, not knowing exactly where she was going. It took her a moment to figure out her next destination, but she knew it was some place where she could get slam-drunk. But as the night continued, Maya never was able to take that first drink. Mostly because of the little life that was growing inside of her. Which was probably why she was swirling a glass of lukewarm whiskey instead of downing it straight up.

There was a tingling feeling on the back of her neck.

"I want to be alone right now, Eric."

"Well, I don't think you should be." Her brother sat down in the seat across from her, gesturing to the bartender for a drink.

"I'm not in the mood for games tonight."

"Funny. Neither am I." The server placed a Jack Daniels on the rocks in front of Eric. "Thanks."

"Then why are you here?"

"Can't a brother and sister just have a drink together?"

"Not on the worst days of our lives." Maya continued to twirl her glass. "Where's the Council?"

"Scattered. We figure this attack was an attempt on their lives so the main body has gone into hiding."

Maya's eyes misted as she asked, "And dad?"

"Relocated. He'll contact us when he finds somewhere secure to communicate from."

"Well, that might be awhile." Her drink had become watered down so much that she figured the alcohol wouldn't have the desired affect so she nudged it towards the edge. A busser silently picked it up. "Any new targets or objectives?"

"The last thing the Council said was to stay low and monitor your targets, but don't engage."

"Hmm..." she snagged the first drink that had been placed on the table. "Maybe we should start recruiting bussers. Those guys are as good as we are when it comes to being undetected."

Eric gave a laugh as he took a sip of his drink.

"What are you going to do?"

"Mmmmm, probably gonna sign up for some more hours at the restaurant since there'll be a freeze on all major operations. What about you?"

Maya already knew what she was going to do while the council regrouped. And she knew that Eric would try to stop her. So, she answered, "Nothing. I'll probably be alternating between bases, doing some coaching or something but nothing too particular."

"Well, if you ever have a night off, then hit me up."

Maya stood, placing some money on the table. "Yeah. I'll definitely do that. I'll see you around. Alright?"

Eric looked a little shocked out the abrupt ending of the conversation but adjusted himself accordingly. "Y-yeah. I'll see you."

Maya made her way out of the restaurant and onto the sidewalk. She took in the crisp night air before stalking towards her motorcycle. It had a bag strapped to it that contained some clothes, and supplies that she was going to need for her hunt. The Templars and Assassins had been fighting for control of North America since the first settlers had arrived on the shores. There was something about the continent that had the Templars wanting it so badly.

Maybe because they could set a foundation for an empire that they alone could build.

Maybe it was the abundance of resource.

Or maybe this land held more knowledge about the Isu than any other part of the world.

Whatever it was, Maya didn't care too much. The Templar presence was a rot that would slowly lead to the destruction of America. So, Maya saw this unexpected sabbatical as an opportunity to start cutting the infection out.

She hoped Eric would forgive her if something happened.

He would, her mind supplied as she made double sure that everything was secure and strapped down tightly.

There had been plenty of times when either of them had gone on a last-minute mission or when a mission had been botched or sabotaged and there was a fear of never coming back. The two had an unspoken agreement between the two of them that nothing would unresolved.

Just in case either of them didn't come back.

An unspoken goodbye was always a looming possibility when you're an Assassin. Maya never got to apologize to her mother. She never got to tell her mother that she was going to be a grandmother. She gave one last look over her shoulder towards the bar, hoping that her brother would forgive her.

This was on unspoken goodbye she hoped would be resolved.

Maya revved her motorcycle and drove off into the night.