The plane rolled over and over and had I not been wearing a seatbelt, I would have been thrown everywhere. Ethan wasn't so lucky. He had still been standing when the plane was hit. He yelled as he was tossed all over the cabin, before the plane righted itself and he fell to the floor, swearing.
We were going down fast. Even in the darkness outside I could see how close the ocean was. Our only hope was that we'd be able to land in the harbour and swim to shore.
Ethan was back on his feet. The plane wasn't quite upright, and he stood awkwardly.
"Guys, get ready to swim. We're gonna have to ditch this bird."
We unbuckled as fast as possible and scrambled for the door. The co-pilot came out and said, "We're about to land! Brace yourself!"
The plane hit the water, and we were flung forward. Recovering quickly, Vince helped me open the door.
We were floating, for the minute. And luckily, we were only a short distance from the Sydney Opera House, lit up like it was New Year's Eve.
"Let's go guys, jump!" I said, before another missile hit.
I was flown out of the plane and into the water. It was freezing, and it took me awhile to recover and surface. The plane was a burning wreck, the debris falling into the water. Rescue boats were already on their way, lights flashing. But where was my team?
Something touched me, and I turned around to see the corpse of one of the Assassins. He was burnt, and more like a skeleton with clothes. I prayed that it wasn't anyone on my team.
"Ryan!"
"Angela?"
"Over here!"
I swam towards her, fighting the current. She floated next to me, dazed but alive.
"Where are the others?" I asked, fearing the answer.
"Vince and Charlie swam for shore. Dave went looking for you, and I don't know where Ethan is."
"Alright, it's not safe. We gotta swim. Can you do that?"
"Yeah, I'm okay."
We swam for þe rescue boats, where the crew pulled us aboard.
"It's alright mate, we got you," said a bald man with a grey beard.
"Did you see any other survivors?" Angela asked, dripping all over.
"I'm afraid not," said the second crew member, a woman with blonde hair, "We saw the plane go down and we set out and found you two."
The sun began to rise over Sydney Harbour as the boat sped towards shore. The burning plane wreckage sank into the water, leaving smoke and oil behind. News helicopters hovered above the scene, and I saw a number nine printed in blue on one of the white choppers. We made it back to the pier sitting by the bridge, our clothes still damp. Relief flooded me as I saw Vince, Charlie and Dave waiting with police. But I still pondered over Ethan's fate.
"Oh thank God," Charlie sighed, embracing me as we stepped onto the pier.
"How's Ethan?" ANgela asked, clad in a blue blanket.
"He's been taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital," one of the officers said. The four men wore dark blue pants, a light blue short-sleeved shirt and a vest with 'POLICE' printed on the front, "He's suffered some nasty burns, but he's in stable condition."
Angela and I sighed with relief.
"So what happens now?" I asked the team.
"We stay here until Ethan's recovered," Vince replied, "Until then, we enjoy ourselves."
We checked in at a nearby hotel. Really classy place. Everyone shared the room with someone else, and I shared with Angela. Ethan got out of North Shore Hospital after a few days. He had a few burns, but he was well on his way to recovery.
Two nights after our arrival, I was browsing through channels on the TV, and I came across a news report on the crash. Again, I saw the number nine logo of National Nine News.
"Good evening, and welcome to Nine News," the brown haired, well dressed anchorman said in a noticeable Australian accent, "A plane has been shot down in Sydney Harbor during the early hours of Saturday morning. The plane, carrying members of the up-until now secret Assassin Brotherhood, was fired at from an unknown location behind the plane. The once powerful corporation Aberstgo Industries has been suspected of the attack. Prime Minister John Howard has condemned the group, describing it as "a threat to everything this country has fought for". Assassin bureaus have been set up in cities in town across Australia for anyone wishing to join the anti-terrorist group."
A knock on my door reached my ears and I got up off the couch to answer it. My father was outside.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Change of plan," Charlie said. I noted that he was dressed in a white sweatshirt and black pants; traditional Assassin attire, "Troy's been spotted in Canberra. Our spies are saying he might be involved in a plot to attack Parliament House."
"Oh shit," I exclaimed, "When do we go?"
"We're going to the airport in 20 minutes. Get your gear ready."
I was ready in half the time. I went down to the lobby and we were escorted by police to the black van waiting outside. Dave and Vince got in, then switched seats as Dave reached for the steering wheel, only to see that it was on Vince's side. Vince was at his laptop monitoring radio traffic in the area. The rest of us fell silent as Ethan talked. He had a nasty scar on his face from the burns, but it would be gone in a few weeks.
"Now listen up. The bureau in Canberra believes that a bomb has been planted somewhere in or near the Parliament House. We don't know how it got there, or where it is, but we do know that it will take out everything in a half-mile radius, including the Parliament Building. The Prime Minister, Minster for Foreign Affairs, Senators and Minister for communication will be in that building, along with countless others. If they die, Australia's government could fall apart."
"So what's the plan?" I asked.
"The bomb's on a timer and we can't evacuated the area, so we'll have to split up and search the area. Ryan, Charlie and Angela, you guys will have the House of Representatives and Member's offices. Dave, Vince and I will handle the Senate, Cabinet Room and Minister's offices. The bomb squad will handle the rest. If you see Troy, use of deadly force is authorized. If he takes a shot at anyone, don't hesitate to drop him. Everyone clear?"
"Yes sir!" We chanted.
By the time we arrived, we still had five hours to stop the timer. It was still early, and the House of Representatives sitting wouldn't start for another hour. Police were already at the building, keeping reporters out. The Parliament House was a modern white structure with white concrete pillars built in front of it's main entrance. The wide pathways surrounding the fountain were colored in the brown and reddish pink of Aboriginal artwork. High atop the structure, the flag of Australia displaying the Union Jack, Federation Star and Southern cross flapped in the breeze.
"Alright guys, search for the bomb, try not to disturb the politicians, and DO NOT break anything," Ethan said before we entered the magnificently-decorated entrance hall with it's marble floor and columns, and high windows letting the sunlight in. Only a few people were going about their work at this hour. Nobody stood out until...
Then I saw him. Disguised as a security guard, his left side turned to me, heading for the stairs, was Troy. He walked with a purpose, and I could guess what it was.
"There he is!" I shouted, "Get him!"
He turned in alarm, then ran. Knowing I wouldn't be able to catch up, I drew my handgun and fired two blind shots. One hit him in the shoulder, but he kept running. His blood splattered all over the marble floor. People screamed and ran in all directions. The security gave chase after him.
"Fuck!" I yelled.
"Worry about it later!" Ethan told me, "Now get him!"