(Events take place around the time of the Firestorm crisis of Tiberian Sun, simultaneously with the events of Syndicate in the Assassins Creed timeline.
WW2 Eva: Red Alert 2's Lt. Eva.
Desmond: Desmond Files (f-list))
Desmond wasn't going to say anything to Oxanna anymore when the machine started up, GDI as a global government wasn't a bad idea. It could bring people together but at the same time, something that big needed funding, manpower and facilities. Which leads to big fish trying to get into that pie, it could go wrong easily, having that much power and no overhead could lead to big egos and wars for domination. Not good, not bad, it all depended on how people decide to do things.
He noticed when Emir tensed up and hovered nearby, grabbing the other's hand to try and help him relax. He could feel the machine working and with eagle vision; it was weird as hell. He could see some of the color being pulled from Emir and into the other container with the body in it. That was very concerning in its own right.
He jumped a bit when the body suddenly woke up and punched out of the glass, it wasn't the reaction he had expected from someone who had just gotten into a new body. He didn't expect them to be that strong right off the bat. He quickly tried to rouse Emir so they can get out of there but the other was out for the count.
He turned in surprise when he was suddenly grabbed by his shoulders, a soft voice, not quite warmed up yet. He didn't think Kane would come up to him much less right up to his face. Desmond wasn't sure about the look in the other's eyes but it didn't seem hostile, every other thought was thrown out when Kane suddenly kissed him. He wasn't sure how to react, lots of confusion, surprise and questioning his reality again at how strange the situation had turned out. Once free, he fell back and had was trying to sort out what just happened.
Oxanna Kristos covered her mouth in shock at what she saw.
It was a very long moment, almost frozen in time. Too short for Kane, too long for almost anyone else in the room.
Kane wiped his mouth with his forearm, wondering if the formaldehyde affected how he tasted. The flustered Desmond crashed into the chair he was yanked from, possibly weak in the legs. Digital or not, this was too real of an exchange to process.
"It would be a grave error in judgement," the Messiah opened, "to mistake me for a man, either."
What Kane said was a bit foreboding, he wasn't human either? Which meant he had pegged Desmond for not being human anymore, his cover was pretty much blown from attacking the Montauk with a fucking canon. He'd have to deal with the repercussions of that sooner then he'd like. Emir was starting to stir which was good, and Ezio was trying to lighten the mood by saying that after a few years of being alone he finally found a partner to 'let loose' with. To which Desmond, Altair and Connor yelled at him to shut up and that this wasn't the time.
He steadily got up, finding his legs again and dealing with the shock of the kiss. "You were riding in Emir from Abstergo? You're the one I saw in the systems?"
Kane mused.
"In the flesh." He smirked, turning to face him. "...so to speak."
Kane started stretching. It felt like ages not being able to access a real body. He ignored the blushing Oxanna, trying her best to look away, and stepped towards Desmond once more.
"I would rather the blood of GDI filled these very hallways, which they shall soon," he gritted as he whispered to Desmond with much chagrin, "than let those -scum- touch a hair off you, let alone know anything about you."
He knew he didn't need to bring up the Templars. It's becoming more and more evident who has the upper hand and the global resources in this war. And it's not yet the Assassins.
Home, sweet home.
Desmond looked at Kane with eagle vision, he wasn't the same red as he had been at Abstergo. Now he was a tirade of colors, more normal when compared to everyone else, there was still a stain of red on him but there was a core of blue and white woven in. What that meant, he wasn't sure just yet. But he was surprised so see the AI was alive like this. It was oddly nice to have someone be so protective of him, granted it was extremely sudden and he wasn't sure where this had even come from. He glanced at Emir who was starting to wake up before turning back to Kane who seemed very at home.
"Um, thanks? I'm guessing you've done this before, with all of the... extras here?"
Kane laughed heartily.
"Actually, no. I anticipated the need for this type of contingency for any upcoming war. It keeps me ahead of the heathens running GDI. If anything, Cabal is the real backup, not these bodies."
Kane tapped his new head as he explained. Cabal was both inside of him, and...
"The situation has improved."
All in the room turned their heads to notice the blue visage that appeared on the monitors. Cabal has returned separately, confirming that the transfer was a complete success on Oxanna's behalf.
Kane then responded to them all.
"If you'll excuse me," he said as he walked away, fluid still dripping off his nude figure, "I have some wardrobe to get to, for our army's morale."
He left the room, still under the spell of his revered and sudden return.
Desmond found the screen lighting up had been interesting, the floating head had been weird and... there was the creeping red again, only this time it was settling into the place like it belonged rather then trying to take over like before. As Kane turned to leave and get himself some clothing, "Hey, um... I guess happy re-birthday."
He turned to get Emir out of the machine and help him up. Try and steady the man who had just had his brain squeezed, how was he supposed to get them back to the USA and the Assassins? Oxanna seemed to be in a happy haze now that Kane was back she was still hanging around.
"Oxanna, do you mind if we get Emir checked out? I'm assuming you have some kind of medical facility around here, and we need to discuss about borrowing a ride home."
Kane looked in the silver mirror hanging at his private barracks. He wore his eponymous Black Hand gloves and suit, finally wrapping the cape.
He tried out the hood he'd used months ago to enter this temple for his "cloning" - facial restructuring for some of his finished body doubles. Back then, being on the run from GDI, he couldn't risk facial recognition.
As he looked at his concealed visage, an epiphany struck him. Kane recalled a certain Italian he was forced to feel much affection towards, while experiencing those odd visions within Emir's mind. He smirked as he grabbed the cape, and pulled it to one side, before throwing it back over his shoulder.
"Completo," he joked with his reflection, only his smirk visible from underneath the black hood.
Kane followed his own trail of fluid out of the barracks, then changed directions towards the Temple's infirmary. Much was left to be desired, after the place had been destroyed, but reconstruction was well underway. Oxanna seemed extra obedient towards Desmond and his fellow assassin, whom she instructed their field medic to treat.
Kane stood at the doorway before entering - he looked at his wrist for a minute. It felt like something was missing, something from those memories. He'd ask Desmond later about it if he got the chance.
"Saluti, fratello!" he walked in, announcing his return. Emir was already regaining his strength seated in one of their pods, Oxanna having used their experimental technology to attempt full body recovery, before tending to any actual wounds that needed more surgical precision later.
Kane wondered if Desmond would notice the adjustment to his outfit, hood still on.
Desmond followed Oxanna to the infirmary, keeping on eye on everything around them. Just because they were friendly now didn't mean NOD could be trusted just yet. Though he was glad for the respite as he helped Emir along to get checked out. Thankfully there wasn't anything fishy about NOD's medic though he still kept an eye on everything and kindly turned down any medical attention aimed in his direction. Emir needed it more and Desmond could fix himself up if needed and honestly he hadn't taken much damage from the fight earlier that he couldn't fix on the fly.
He looked up at the sudden italian, not expecting it from the NOD leader but he did raise an eyebrow at the similarities if Kane's current clothing. Ezio whispering in the back of his head about imitation and flattery.
"Huh, looks like your still being a copycat. But it looks good on you." He smiled a bit at that, A bit of the Italian accent slipping in for a moment before he shook it off. Ezio needed to cool his jets.
Kane stifled his laugh, not wanting to reveal too much. "Your modesty flatters me, signore. But it seems there's more to my memories of current events than meets the mind. Are you adept with hidden blades?"
He had already held up Desmond's hand with both of his, before the latter quickly slipped his arm from his grasp. Kane took a good look at him as he did so.
Desmond was surprised when Kane mentioned the hidden blades but, considering he was in Emir's head and the bleeding episode then some information could have slipped through. He'd have to see how much had slipped and hopefully what Kane had learned wouldn't compromise anything for the Assassins. He pulled away quickly when Kane checked his wrist, he didn't exactly appreciate being grabbed suddenly and considering what happened last time he wasn't sure he wanted to risk it.
"You picked up some things from Emir? hmm, I'd say I'm pretty proficient with them. Sort of a family tradition."
Kane looked down on Desmond from atop a ledge above the hallway. The ceiling had giant holes exposed from the Ion Cannon blast during the second tiberium war, now currently getting reconstructed. Kane had already climbed to the edge of the damaged roofing, glancing at the exposed desert wasteland they were hidden in. Beige, dull skies, the light shining in red from the tainted NOD glass decorating the hallways.
"Quite a few things I picked up indeed. These climbing skills are extraordinary. I should look into replicating it..."
Kane had already shivered with the excitement of a possible NOD Assassin unit, exhibiting Desmond's abilities. Infiltration efforts would be tenfold through the ranks of GDI with this type of unit.
"You wouldn't mind, would you, mi fratello?" He asked, climbing down.
Desmond watched with interest, it seemed like Kane had picked up on some reverse bleeding affect from Emir. His new body already being at a point where it could handle to movement all he needed to do was apply it and he was doing it pretty well. He sighed as the other was mentioning the training of people to possibly imitate that ability, assassin ability.
"There are people with skills similar, but if you've seen this much from Emir and Yusef then you have to understand some for our ideology. We aren't in a good position and you doing this might paint a bigger target on us."
He was concerned about this compromising the Assassins. He didn't know Kane well other then the reports and the short time talking to the man, but if he was going to imitate Desmond and Emir's skills then there was a chance the Templars would notice and back GDI if they already hadn't. The assassins couldn't take on anything that big even with Desmond's current abilities. William will already have his head on a platter for blowing his cover and ending up outside of the country. He wasn't looking forward to that and he wasn't really going to try and contact the man at the moment.
Kane chuckled at the troubled entity.
"Oh, lighten up, sorellina. You're with the only army capable of standing up to them. You don't wanna know what we could possibly do to your beloved little Templars."
He meant it. NOD may be a more appealing choice for Desmond, considering who they've been fighting, but the horrors NOD is capable of are equally unspeakable. Kane wondered if Desmond would be repelled by their troubled history. But the truth remains: if this alliance was meant to be, they'll work through it somehow.
"How did you come to learn this? Inheritance? Or training?"
Desmond frowned a bit at the teasing, "stai zitto tesoro, and if that's the case you're just as troubling." His accent was bleeding through again, Ezio was enjoying all of this too much though not enough to forget the situation. He always did enjoy flirting with danger literally much to Altair's annoyance.
From the looks of it Kane was enjoying himself allot with the mimicry and interest in them, he was in Emir's head so it was likely that he saw allot of interesting things. "Bit of both, for us its the family business." He was referring to himself and Emir, born assassins. He wasn't sure of Emir's past history but Desmond had his time in the light before the shadows had claimed him again and pulled him back to defend everyone.
Kane grinned.
"So... inherited, then. Excellent. Do you plan on passing it on yourself? Are you aware of the origins of your skills?"
Ahead of everyone in the room, Kane was already beginning to design the NOD Assassin unit. It would fit the Black Hand army like a glove, figuratively speaking. If Desmond can be persuaded to train at least one other person for a few days, Kane can oversee the evolution of his army, as it prepares for his Last Order: Ascension.
Desmond sighed a bit at that, all this prying made him nervous but he couldn't risk pissing the other off when they were in the middle of their territory. "Unfortunately I know exactly of the origins, as for passing it on I don't think I can have kids anymore... medical condition."
He had heard that there was a group of assassins that were working with someone who was his kid. He had a son. He hoped to meet the kid someday soon but right now he wasn't about to tell Kane that, But as far as he knew he couldn't have anymore kids anyway. Unless he meant training, in which case Ezio was the better teacher and he didn't know if he had the heart for it. At least not the way he was trained anyway and there was no way he was shoving anyone into the animus.
Kane sighed with him.
"Shame. I've always viewed the ability to create human life as... uniquely divine to your species. Then again, considering how supernatural you are in your current state, I shouldn't really be viewing you that way either."
Kane showed a slight bit of chagrin at Desmond's continued distrust of him.
"Desmond, I've witnessed the dawn of humanity. Personally. I've known every civilization, every empire that ever rocked this planet with war and turmoil... personally. It's no surprise to anyone that I can be viewed as a god, if need be. I've known how it started. How it all began."
He inched closer, his inhuman presence prevailing over Desmond's.
"You still have questions. You should ask those questions. Ask me... about -them-."
He said it with a straight face, waiting for a reaction. He certainly wasn't talking about the Templars, or GDI anymore. Certainly not when referring to this far past in human history.
((?!))