Here's chapter 27, which was already under development after 26. It's fairly short, however, but should keep you guys on your toes before the next ones. Enjoy.

Chapter 27: Minutes to Midnight

"Are you ready for liberty?" Nesirus asked Zhao. "Once we finish off the Necromortalis, I shall order the Angel of Death to obtain a list of names for me—the names of The Executives!"

Zhao nodded, but kept quiet.

"You're still concerned about Tsau," Nesirus said. "Don't worry about him. I will deal with him personally. They couldn't have killed him."

"I shall face him in battle," Zhao said. "It was as if we were ordered back onto the battlefield…except that we're on different sides."

Nesirus chuckled. "My counterpart has little battle experience anyway. Tsau didn't kill anyone while in the rebel forces, remember?"

Zhao looked at the man who resembled Tsau. "That's what Tsau doesn't remember. He had an accident during his years as a rebel fighter. One day we were scaling the rocks to get a vantage point on our enemies. I was supposed to look after him, and he slipped. His head smashed into one of the rocks, and was out for days."
"You never told me this," Nesirus said. "So he has had prior battlefield experience."

"The best of my personal unit," Zhao boasted. "Tsau killed several men during small battles. He was a natural soldier. After his injury, he had forgotten all of his kills…but remembered his soldier training. However, he had changed. He couldn't face battle like he usually did, and never killed any more after that."

Tsau's counterpart scoffed and crossed his arms as the ship sailed slowly. "It does not matter. He is falling apart anyway. Killing him should be quite easy."

"They should be expecting us," Blackwell informed. "I recommend an advance in our troops. We are running out of time."

"Far ahead of you already, Augustus," replied Nesirus. "Our spies have found them near Shipwreck Cove."

Zhao, who still had Tsau on his mind, lightly smirked. "I'm guessing that they're using it as a base."

"Tsau is not with them," Nesirus then said. "With Jack's persuasion and reasoning, I'm sure that they will go out searching for him sooner or later. Tsau is most likely stationed at the nearby town, Shipwreck. It should make for an interesting battle. The docks are crowded with civilians."

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"What do you mean 'he's gone'?!" Jack exclaimed loudly. "Don't you realize that he was our only bargaining chip?! This is the last time I appoint any scoundrels to supervise my ship!"

Zi didn't reply and hung her head low.

"Now, how are we going to manage this situation?" Jack lowered his voice. "He is a threat to my—I mean, our success."

Elizabeth finally remembered that she left the prison cell unlocked last night. After looking at Zi, she guessed that Tsau had a run-in with her right before he left. It must've been pretty bad. "Leave Tsau alone. He doesn't matter," she told him.

"I need…time," Zi finally said. She ambled unsteadily away and down to her cabin, leaving the rest of the crew members pondering what happened while they were busy deciding what to do.

"We don't need her on our minds at the moment," Elizabeth said. "I should talk to her later."

Jack then stormed into his captain's quarters, most likely on a journey for more rum.

Elizabeth turned to Will, who returned her gaze. "Whatever happens during the following day, I just want you to know that I love you."

Will smiled. "I know. That's why I want you to stay."

Her eyes widened. "What? I cannot stay, Will. You can't just—just make decisions like that!"

"You must stay with our son," Will said in a sorrowful tone. "He is quite busy with watching over that young lady from the burning ship."

"No, Will," Elizabeth firmly stated. "I love you. If you're going to die, I'm dying with you."

He rubbed his forehead stressfully. "Do this for me, please…"

Her eyes began to water. "I have. I waited 8 years for you. 8 years of loneliness, of independent parenting, of pain, of suffering. I've done my share, dear husband," she passionately stated, leaving painfully into the cabins.

Will sighed and went over to sit on a crate. This journey seemed long; perhaps too long. When will fate allow him his liberty? His freedom is getting closer by the minute, but at the same time, he is at a lost for hope.

Standing up, the captain began to make a quick journey back to his ship. "Tell her I love her," he told Gibbs. "I'm…not sure I'll see her again anytime soon."

"Aye, I shall, Cap'n Turner," Gibbs replied with a nod. "Do not worry. Mr. Cotton, Marty, and I will stay to watch over the Cove. She can stay with us."

"Thank you," he said gratefully. "And tell Sparrow I'll be at my ship. If he has any more ideas, please inform me right away."

"Aye, sir."

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I'm no good man, no hero…never was…never will be. Just another killer…hired to clean up the trash.

Tsau opened his eyes as he rested silently on the bed. The state of inner conflict that brewed within in seemed to spark an unusual amount of ambivalence. The hotel beds were in fair condition. This part of town seemed to lack the attention of pirates, so no further killing—in self-defense, of course—would be necessary. Sitting up on his bed, he looked over to the small chair that was provided for him. The Falcon outfit was hung over the chair, along with his equipment.

How does a good man decide when to kill?

Then he thought about what Zi said. It was the first time that any comment ever hurt him so much. All he did was listen to her. He stared at the Falcon outfit for just a bit longer. Although it was the clothing of sin, he knew that this piece of clothing was his pride. His work was his pride, his twisted peace, and at the same time, his curse.

He doesn't choose when to kill. The time to kill chooses him. But…does he have a choice? Can he choose if he wants to kill or not?

Tsau scoffed and laid back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling with more thoughts floating in his mind. Even if he got what he wanted…even if he obtained salvation, what would he do? Where would he go? Was there any point?

I won't expect a warm welcome from Zi and the others. All of the Falcons are gone. Hassan is gone. How do I start over? Can I even start over? I know what I am fighting for…but why am I fighting? I don't remember there being a point. What the hell am I supposed to do?

He thought for a few more moments before a somewhat old saying finally hit him. The Necromortalis came to mind, and visions of it chasing him through the Persian streets came to his mind, notably the chase right before Hassan told him about the pirates of the Caribbean—before all of this started.

Death is the only way out

A smirk came to his face. Maybe the answer was right in front of him the whole time. He never even saw it, and it was right under his nose; just a memory pushed back far into his mind.

Yes…perhaps this is the way it has to be. How did it know…no. It can't be true.

The way it had to be. Tsau was always one to challenge fate, but now that he thought about it, there was nothing to control. How did everything end up like this? Zi is officially angry at him, the pirates have forgotten his siding with them, Hassan is dead, the Falcons are dead, Ramadi was murdered by his own hands, and once again he is alone. He shook his head. He was always alone. There would be nothing to return back to after this ends. Tsau shut his eyes in hopelessness. The true fear behind everything was eating him up.

There is a plan for us all…a contract with our name on it. Death truly is the way out. There's still a contract for Zhao and Blackwell.

Remembering about that contract, the Falcon reminisced about going through his bag once and finding it. Hassan must have left it there, but he denied it. It could have been the Executives. They seemed to be tracking Tsau's movements throughout his life. He should at least finish this contract, out of his dedication and pride in his work.

Who are you kidding, Tsau? The Falcons have been totally eliminated. You are no longer the Reaper…no longer the legendary White Falcon. Aswad Mohit must be in a total uproar right now because of the lack of assassins. The poor shall have to steal again, the rich shall become corrupt again, and the city guard shall accept bribes…again.

"Die and let your sins be atoned," Tsau said. "Or live and fight your sins away."

Hassan's words floated in his mind irregularly, along with several other sayings by people he has met. All of the advice he was given, all of the experiences he had, and everything he has ever known seemed so insignificant all of a sudden, for the realization that he was an unmoving stone beside time brought out some of the worst emotions he had felt in a long time.

"I have to talk to you about fate," Hassan said. "What do you think of it?"

"I think it's a load of crap," Tsau said. "I believe that us as men are free to do what we want."

He chuckled at his memory. It was so odd how naïve he was back then, yet now that he's older and grown he still hasn't grown. A repetition of the same mistakes over and over again. Human intuition is trivial, and badly flawed. He wondered if he could still change. As he sat there and thought about who he used to be…could he ever forgive himself? Then, at that sudden moment, he finally questioned for the first time in his life.

Why…?

Never once did he question what he did or why he did it. Tsau was finally playing against his own philosophy.

"What am I doing here?!" he asked loudly towards the ceiling. The people downstairs couldn't hear. "All I wanted was my salvation…how much more do you want from me?!?"

He sat up and rested his forehead on his palm. "…how much more will you take from me…?"

"Oh, Zi…how the hell could I do that…"

Tsau struggled within himself for several longer minutes, letting out some of the frustration that resided in his head. After he finally calmed down, he sat on the bed and took a long breath.

No…you're an assassin. You don't need to worry about these dilemmas. It's not your pain to bear. It's not your fault. You still have a job to do.

Returning to his normal, controlled state, Tsau pulled the sheets over him and shut his eyes as the hands on the clock struck midnight, but Tsau knew that all arrows pointed to death, but it did not seem so bad anymore, given his circumstances.

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The morning was quiet and cloudy. It looked like rainfall was inevitable from Jack's small window. He got out of bed, pulled on his clothes and snuck outside. It must have been very early, because everyone else was asleep. Quietly waking up Gibbs, who woke the crew up, he snuck outside and attempted to leave, with Will and the others following. Luckily, Elizabeth and Bill had slept in her King's chambers, which gave them a quick advantage. Mr. Gibbs, Cotton, and Marty all stayed in the Cove, awaiting the small army that Nesirus sent.

Bill awoke from his sleep and opened his eyes. "Mum? Where are you going?"

The little girl with him, Maria, was already up, and staring at the ships as they went away. Elizabeth threw on her coat and walked up to her son, who was out of bed.

"I know you are strong, young one," she told him. "Just like your father. I must go now. Please watch over Maria."

"The Falcon flies," Maria spoke.

Elizabeth turned to her, happy that she was at least talking. "What did you say?"

"Today the Falcon must be freed," she repeated. "You will come back. When the Falcon is free, you will come back. You must help free the Falcon, or you shall perish with him. Go. You will come back."

Mrs. Turner gave Maria an odd stare, standing back up straight and grabbing her rapier. "Please don't go anywhere. The pirates here will protect you."

Rushing out the door, Elizabeth was still mad at Will, but more concerned for him. She hurried down to the dock and hopped into a small rowboat. Most likely the two ships will be headed out near Shipwreck port.

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Tsau stared out his window far past the busy docks. A few small little specks were in the distance, but growing larger by the minute. Nesirus was here. He slowly put on his clothes, keeping an eye on the specks. The Falcon uniform was ready today. Tsau popped the wristblade open and closed to test out the spring. Taking his time, the Falcon also packed his small weapons, his blade, and lastly, he tightened his coat for a fierce battle.

Nothing was present in his mind. It was cleared of all thoughts, of all emotions, of all problems that troubled him in the past. Tsau threw on his hood.

A long period of silence inside his hotel room developed. The sound of light rain and busy people were muffled by his door.

The assassin waited.

After the specks grew large enough to launch an attack, Tsau kneeled down and held his hands together.

In a soft voice, he prayed one last time.

And so, it begins…hope you guys stay tuned for the next few chapters!