Location: Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan
Time: 1600
"His name is Hannad 'Ikrimah Jal." Lieutenant Jamson said.
On a white screen projected an image of a man that was Hannad. He was an older man of about fifty with a rather large nose and bushy eyebrows. David could make out at least five other men with their target. They were not identified. Turbans and shawls covered their faces. Hannad was the only man who was not afraid to show his face to the Americans.
"The SEAL team have been out posted near a village where they believe Hannad is said to take residence with his children." Continued Lieutenant Jamson. "This is the only clear picture we have of this man. It seems Hannad does not like his pictures taken. Intel from the SEAL team have been keeping a close eye on the village and from the Air Force Intel, radio signals have been confirmed that this is in fact Hannad."
David looked around him as the lieutenant kept talking about their objective. There was to be three teams consisting of Alpha Team, Bravo team, and Delta team. They were to be heading out to a small village just outside Charikar, but not to close to the US base. It was very remote in the mountains. Maybe about one hundred people lived in such closed quarters. It was an easy target for Al-Qaeda because of how close the village was. With convoys going in and out of the base, they could see their chance and attack. Luckily there was no such attacks, yet. As was stated by the lieutenant, they were in search of a man that has been in hiding since the invasion of Afghanistan. The locals have called him the "*Abn Awaa".
Not much has been known about Hannad (only that he comes and goes when shit was about to go down). The locals said that he was in search of something and would kill if he found it. What Hannad was looking for could only be described by Intel that he was looking for something big. He was leaving behind bodies in search of something. He was considered dangerous by the US and a wanted man for attacking a convoy run who got to close to his hideout without the knowledge of the Americans. They were not sure if it was WMD's, chemical tactics, but whatever this man was after scared many of the locals. Under the order of congress and the Secretary, they wanted Hannad.
Intel have been pouring in information for months about his whereabouts after the attack on the convoy. Special forces have been trying to track down Hannad, but like his nickname, he would run into the mountains and hide. Hannad has been spotted and deemed highly armed with men from Al-Qaeda and rumored to have connections to Osama Bin Laden. But it was only rumors from scared civilians.
"Do you have any questions about your task?" Lieutenant Jamson asked looking to each soldier.
"Rules of engagement?" Asked one of the Sergeants.
"You are to only fire when necessary. We want Hannad alive."
Hannad was a name David will never forget. That day lead to a death of his soldier. Those flashes of light when he closed his eyes, he could hear the shouts of command. He was seeing symbols and maps. Everything was a blur with sand blowing all around him. What he saw inside that building haunted his dreams. He lays in his bed looking up at the window. It was still night and the walls were cold. In just a few hours he was to seek his punishment. Sighing deeply, David sat up not feeling the need to sleep. He dreams the same thing every night.
His muscles ached and stomach growled for food. Wiping away the sleep from his eyes, David moved his feet to the cold floor. Standing up he dressed himself in his assassin attire and boots. Nothing made sense anymore. He was still lost in a time he did not belong. No one was giving him an answer. No divine God was showing him the way. He was losing his sanity slowly trying to comprehend it all. He grew tired. He wanted to return home to his family (who were probably still searching for him). No matter how hard he wanted to, he had to continue on to find those answers.
...
He walked to the tower in dread. The clouds turned grey with a cold wind blowing through the mountains. He was asked by Al Mualim to go to the tower in the morning. For what reason David could only guess that it had to do with what happened yesterday. Even so, there was no reason for punishment. Abbas got his ass kicked. He deserved it. He was acting out like some bratty child who was trying to show off to his friends. David had to put him in his place. He did not feel anything for kicking Abbas's ass. Al Mualim must have seen the fight.
Of course he saw. David was inside the building now. Torches lit to bring in some light. The inside was a structure to behold. Not a stone out of place with banners depicting the symbol of the Brotherhood. In front of David was a ladder leading up to the towers. It was high, but he has seen higher. Heights did not scare him so much. Maybe in basic training where they had to repel down a tower that was about eight stories high to build the new soldier's confidence.
Taking in a deep breath he began to climb up the ladder. It creaked against his weight. Once he reached the top, David noticed that there were at least ten assassin's ( including Altair) and their master in the middle. Keeping silent David bowed in respect to the older man.
"I brought you here to give you your punishment." Al Mualim said placing his hands behind his back.
"I have given you my hospitality. I have given you food to eat and clothes to wear. My assassin's train you and Altair looks out for your well being." He continued. Altair kept his eyes on David without moving a muscle. Even if the foreigner did not know, Altair keeps his eyes on him. He reports his success and his failure to his master. All the assassin's looked like perfect statues. Only their chest moving under their clothes from their breathing. David had to be cautious. His eyes looking at every assassin. He felt trapped and vulnerable. His heart was racing against his chest. He could hear his blood pumping through his veins.
Keep calm. He thought to himself. He could feel it rising. Those flashbacks of war.
"I should whip you for your disobedience. Your actions yesterday has shown that we have failed to discipline you. You and Abbas will receive a different punishment." Al Mualim walked towards David. "But I will not leave you weak for your next task. You may have no discipline in our order, but you have shown skill against an opponent."
Placing his hand on David's shoulder, Al Mualim motioned for David to walk to an open structure and a wooden plank that was not supported.
'This is taking my punishment to far.' He thought with little humor.
"Step to the edge and follow Altair."
Swallowing some spit that was building in his mouth, David looked over to Altair. The assassin was walking on the plank to the edge. This was an all to familiar scene. When Robert De Sable attacked the fortress, three assassin walked the planks and fell to the depths below. David mentally yelled at his feet to move and run, but he did not do it.
Putting his left foot in front of him, David tested the plank. It was sturdy enough for his weight. Breathing in deeply, his heart continued to race. All the assassin's were surprised to see the foreign man actually take his first step. Al Mualim kept his eyes on David.
"Before I make this jump," David said not looking down, "I want to know something."
"What would you want to know." Al Mualim asked.
"There was a man in the hospital. He was sick and frail. He said Sage." Looking behind him, Al Mualim's expression changed for a moment. Altair was interested to know too. He only knew from stories what a Sage was. All assassin's have heard the stories, but David heard this from a sick man. Why hasn't he said anything regarding this? Altair wanted to question David. But the two have not been eye to eye since David discovered Altair could speak his language.
"Your answer will be ready when you take the jump." Al Mualim said. Altair wanted to look at his master. The assassin's themselves talked in whisper's to each other. Their master always kept secrets. Altair was becoming restless with his riddles. These tasks, Daivd himself... what did it all mean to him? Why was he making Altair do this? Al Mualim ordered for Altair to take the leap of faith. He did not stop the fight and David was his responsibility.
I'd kill David myself if he wasn't much of a liability. Altair thought.
David turned back around to the mountains. The morning sun looking beautiful and an eagle flying high above. The breeze feeling good against his face with the bristles of the hair moving against his beard. Closing his eyes to breath in the fresh air, the thoughts of his pain flashed before his eyes. Blood, smoke, screaming, and death. Clenching his fists tightly he looked to Altair now with eyes open. The assassin made movements for him to follow and fell in a graceful manner. Following Altair, David prayed to some God and fell far below in a haystack.
...
"A Sage were once men with the blood of the first people. They no longer live and have not since man first came to be." Al Mualim said.
"But why would the man say something like that?" David asked feeling confused.
"You said he was a sick and frail man. They go mad with their sickness and believe what is said to them. You may leave now and go to Altair. It is time for you both to go to Jerusalem." Al Mualim motioned for David to leave.
"But.." Al Mualim raised a hand to silence the former soldier.
"I have given my answer."
David did not feel any closure to his question. He knew Al Mualim was hiding more than what he was saying. After completing his punishment, Al Mualim asked for David to his study. Altair was curious and followed behind, but was stopped and asked to wait. Al Mualim did not want any more ears to hear. A Sage was a topic that has not come up since the last died in the first crusade. The assassin's only know them to be stories, but Al Mualim knew something they did not.
David knew he wasn't going to get anything more out of the older man. Defeated with a bow in respect, he left Al Mualim to his studies.
When the foreign man was no longer in sight, Al Mualim walked to the bookcases and searched. Each book was older than man and in many different languages. Gathered from the known worlds, Al Mualim has one of the largest collections.
Maybe David's coming to Masyaf was no coincidence. It was written in the scripture.
A.N: Abn Awaa- Jackal
If anyone has another translation for jackal in Arabic let me know please. This was the only translation I could find and I usually dont trust google. Next chapter we finally see Malik and the next target. Who is Hannad? What is he looking for and why do the American's want him alive? It will make sense as we continue.
Thank you caliginous47 and Fukage653 for following my story.
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