"This is not good." He said.
She looked up from her computer screen, wondering what made him upset. "What is it?"
He looked away from his computer. "His vital signs are going off the charts. We cannot sustain him under the coma much longer. We have to force him to end this."
"What? What do you mean? Force him to do what?" She was not liking this. The bad feeling in the pit of her stomach was growing tightly into a knot.
"We have little time to waste. His brain is beginning to show signs of shutting down from being in this prolong coma. But there is something blocking his brain from doing this." He looked at the monitor. Unsure of what to make of this discovery.
"Could it be possible that his blood... his DNA is keeping him from dying?" She wanted to believe in something. No human could be normal after being in a coma for such a long time. Some come out of it and they are not the same. Some die. David was something else. Being a reincarnated Sage might have something to do with keeping him alive.
But they know that the more he is in this sleep, the worse the bleeding effect becomes. David may not be normal after this, but it would give him a new sense of his purpose. Or so she hopes.
"Possible. The human body can do mysterious things to keep it from dying. But... We never had a Sage in our hands. Not like this at least." He stated.
"It is only going to become worse then it already is for him. His mind can only handle so much. The war has changed him very much so, but to have the bleeding effect and being a Sage, we could only keep our eyes on him." She was afraid to admit to it. David was already changed when he came home from Afghanistan. The war changed a lot of soldier's. There was a surprising number of deaths over seas and it had it's effects in America.
This weakness is what gave Abstergo the clutch it needed. They preyed on those coming home and needed a way to come over their mental illness. Abstergo hid under a false plan. They wanted David for what he was, not to help him overcome those invisible wounds. They lied and she was happy he did not go with them.
"Everything will be alright." She whispered, trying to keep herself calm.
He looked at her, seeing the frighting look on her face. She was close to crying and there was nothing he could do to help her. For weeks now, they have been keeping watch as a man was lying in a bed, studied by monitors to keep him alive. It could weigh down on someone. Even if that someone was a wife and mother.
David stood by the side of King Richards men. By the order of the King, they were to surround the two men in the middle. In the distance the fighting continued unaware of a new fight. Men were killing each other for the sake of religion and under close inspection politics and land. David felt anger as the King turned away from both Altair and de Sable. King Richard had to take command of his army and the duel between two sides was less important knowing his life was not on the line.
This was a given chance for David to rest his weary body. The knights around him were cautious and kept their weapons at close perimeter. They did not trust the tall man; even if he held resemblance to the men from France and England. He was their color and spoke like them- other then the accent that came from his speech. The men wanted to ask were he held from and how he ended on the side of assassin's? But, they kept their mouth's shut and from order of their King, to not disturb him unless he attacked.
For now, David was not a threat to anyone. He kept his eyes on both Altair and de Sable. Both men circling each other, waiting for one to make the first move. Altair was quick and capable of moving in unimaginable flexibility as he was trained to be such. Robert de Sable was a soldier. David knew that a soldier's training was much different then an assassin's. Robert was skilled to use his feet and watch his opponent no matter their training and background. The large sword in Robert's grasp was made to inflict damage but it made the user slow. It would give Altair the advantage he needed in order to defeat this man.
Watching the two men fight- speed against strength- it was anyone's guess as to who would come out the victor. The knight's waited in anticipation as the two men circled one another, throwing blow after blow against each other. De Sable moved and turned as Altair threw his hand and moved his feet. But the knight was observant. Altair had the advantage of speed on his side and kicked the knight against his knee, causing him to fall to the ground. While they fought, David noticed that both men were exchanging words. What they spoke, David did not know or could understand them.
In one quick movement, de Sable was left open giving Altair the chance to strike with deadly precision. David saw it. He saw how quickly the blade went straight into de Sable's chest. It might have punctured a lung for the knight's breath was knocked right out of him.
Altair clung to de Sable as te knight spoke once more. Blood coming from his mouth and his cold eyes staring straight at David. The former soldier wanted to back down, but he wasn't bothered by what he saw. De Sable raised a weak arm and pointed straight towards David. Speaking in Altair's ear, the assassin lowered the knight to the ground and waited for death's embrace.
The King saw the spectacle and made his way towards them. David moved forwards to the side of Altair. The surrounding knights were silent with only the sound of the battle raging on.
"Well fought, Assassin. It seems God favors your cause this day." Said the mighty voice of the King.
"God had nothing to do with it. I was the better fighter." Altair spoke.
The assassin looked worn and tired. David looked to the King, waiting for their fate to be decided here.
"Ah. You may not believe in him, but he believes in you. Before you go, I have a question." Altair was too tired, his body ached, and all he wanted was rest. The King eyed both assassin's and was rather curious about the silent tall man. He would ask but it was best to not know.
"Why?" The King asked making both Assassin's look to him with surprise in their eyes. "Why travel all this way? Risk your life and that of your friends' life a thousand times? All to kill one man."
"He threatened my brothers and what we stand for."
King Richard nodded his head in some understanding. David was not so sure if Altair meant it the way he did. There was a motive. There was a reason Al Mualim had sent them on those missions. To gather intelligence. It was not vengeance.
"No. Not vengeance. Justice. That there might be peace." Was it really true? Could Altair believe in his own words.
"Peace? Do you see the contradiction?" Richard looked about the battlefront. The bodies of his men and that of Saladin. Dead. Rotting. The vultures flying above the carnage. This was not the peace that many have longed for. The Holy Lands were tainted by the blood of men trying to find some answer. David clenched his fists in anger. What was there to say in such a consequence?
"Peace is something that can be achieved." David spoke. The King- curious of what he had to say- looked from the dead to the tall assassin that stood before him.
"How can peace be achieved when we have fought many wars, Assassin?" Altair took a moments peace to catch his breath.
"I cannot have an answer. No one has an answer. Your men and that of Saladin's fight for something. Assassin's want peace for all and it has to take reason, then so be it." David stood against his argument. His training with the assassin's has given him knowledge of what the outside world can achieve. They strive for something greater then man and the Templar's wanted to take it away. But, at what cost?
"Some men cannot be reasoned with." Altair spoke.
"Like that madman Saladin." Richard countered.
"I think he'd like to see an end to this war as much as you."
"So I've heard, but never seen."
Both assassin's were tired. They were far away now from the battling armies to get rest. Altair had suffered wounds that were not deep, but he needed the rest before they returned to Masyaf. David found a small palm tree to rest by. The shade giving relief to him as he wanted to sleep. Altair had dressed his wounds and found a small stream near them.
"What are we to expect on our return?" David asked.
Altair wiped his face from the dust and grim. It felt refreshing on his skin. "We are to keep what we know hidden. Al Mualim has much to answer and he will not easily give it away."
"As expected from one of his rank." David rubbed his head.
"Before de Sable died, he told me what I had expected. I was raised to believe in the Creed as my father before me has. We are those who hide in the shadows. Those who do what is right for man. I may have been wrong."
David closed his eyes and felt the wind gently touching his face. Altair took in a deep breath to the fresh air. The assassin turned around to see David at peace. Robert de Sable also spoke of something that disturbed Altair more then he already was.
'That man who you have taken in. He is something more. Do not let Al Mualim get to him. Sages are dangerous. Kill him.'
Altair was not sure if he could believe the dying man's words. People say things before they die and sometimes it is the truth. How could de Sable know of such a thing? It might explain why David was found that very day the Apple was retrieved. But, how could de Sable know it was David? The dying man's words were riddles before he took his last breath.
'Were they trying to find David?' Altair thought.
David was sound asleep underneath the palm tree. Altair took a step away from the small stream. Standing beside David, Altair flicked his wrist. The hidden blade unleashed and clean from blood. Altair had a moment to think if he wanted to or if he had to kill David for what he was. Though, Altair could not kill his friend. David showed no signs of being a threat. Sage's were myth. They all died long ago.
'That man you keep by your side. I know what he is. I have kept my ears and my eyes on the city you roam. My intelligence tells me many things. When you killed that doctor, one of his men sent word to me. A patient kept yelling and spoke only one word: Sage.'
Altair flicked his wrist once more to hide the blade. He could not kill David. If Sage's were as powerful as the books say, Altair could have this man's help if it came down to a battle. The brotherhood would be on Al Mualim's side if Altair accused Al Mualim. No one would believe him and he gained back his reputation. He had to place those doubts aside.
David was a strong man. He deserved to live even if he was something humanity hated. Altair sat down beside the sleeping man. The sky blue with no clouds in sight. Peace was something all men wanted. Fearing for the worst, Altair closed his eyes. Soon sleep took over and both assassin's rested, not knowing their fate would be intertwined.
Author's Note: So Altair knows of David's secret. Kinda anticlimactic, but it is of you are wondering, how could Robert de Sable know? Well, there has to be communication between him and the others that Altair has killed throughout the game. We do not see him until way later. We do not know what de Sable has been doing throughout the coarse of the game, but there had to be communication there. The nine men tie in together and someone had to have known about David sooner then later. David seems to have little to nothing to say. Well, I do not want him to steal the spotlight during important scenes. David is an observer.
Shout out's:
Alexe-audon: I am happy to see that you have come to this story. I always try to incorporate more detail and try not to make confusing chapters. Thank you for your review. :)
Please review or like. The more people read, the better it is for me to continue. Whether it is one or two people, I know people are reading. You reader's are awesome.