Now or Never
Disclaimer: Assassin's Creed belongs to Ubisoft
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Chapter Two:
Desmond sat up and looked over to Rebecca who was staring at the computers in shock. "What the hell was that?" Desmond asked. Why was he suddenly following this Anna Connolly person? And why did that last name sound familiar?
"Everything alright?" William asked noticing that his son was out of the Animus earlier intended.
"Who is Anna Connolly?" Desmond asked.
William was silent before demanding "Where did you hear that name?"
"I didn't, I was her for a bit until she met up with Connor and Achilles." Desmond explained.
"What did she look like?"
"Just a couple inches shorter than Connor, brown hair and brown eyes, light skin." Desmond said "What's going on dad? Who is Anna Connolly?"
"Anna Connolly was an assassin who volunteered to go into Abstergo and take their Piece of Eden." William explained as Shaun walked over to listen in. "She was only there for three weeks. Something went wrong and she disappeared, neither the Brotherhood nor the Templars could find her. That was two years ago."
"Is this her?" Shaun asked looking over Rebecca's shoulder at the picture she found.
Desmond walked over to see Anna leaning against a post smirking at whoever was taking the picture. "Yeah, that's her." Desmond confirmed.
William looked at the picture before rubbing the bridge of his nose and said "Well I can call Michael and Lorena and tell them that you found their only daughter."
"So now what? Go back in the Animus?" Shaun asked.
"But why was I suddenly Anna though?" Desmond asked.
"Maybe because she's from the same time period we are." Rebecca said "But from the looks of it she's going to stick with Connor."
"Alright." Desmond sighed as he climbed back into the Animus. Though he was curious about Anna. Even though he was her for a brief time it was interesting thing to be in the mind and body of a modern assassin…even if it was the body of a girl.
((1772))
Outside Anna couldn't help but wince when she saw Connor climb up a tree like some ninja squirrel and look down at her expecting her to follow. Anna's eye twitched as she looked at the trees. "Do you have tree climbing experience?" Achilles asked Anna who had yet to move from her spot next to him.
"I ran through a tree if that counts." Anna said dryly while adjusting the fingerless gloves preparing for the inevitable.
"But you can't run through trees." Connor said.
Anna glanced at Achilles who just raised an eyebrow waiting for Anna to climb up the tree. "I'm going I'm going." Anna grumbled walking over to the closest tree and pulled herself up testing a limb before nodding to Connor to lead the way.
"Don't worry; I'll make sure that you won't fall." Connor said before jumping to another tree branch leaving Anna behind. Anna eyed the next branch before jumping onto the branch.
Running through the trees was almost like running on rooftops. The difference was Anna was in the air and in some cases Anna was using her arms to swing to another branch. Anna also found out that Connor liked to challenge himself and as by proxy her as well. He climbed higher and leapt faster, and for a while Anna had kept up with Connor. But the hours of running and leaping was slowing her down slightly. Luckily they came up to the side of a cliff.
"Is everybody in your family an assassin?" Connor asked when they took a break sitting on a small ledge sticking out half way on the cliff.
Anna swallowed the water from the water skin and nodded. "My parents and my brothers are all assassins. The Connolly's are one of the oldest assassin lines."
"When did you start your training?"
"When I was five years old, it wasn't until I was thirteen did I realize that I never had a normal childhood." Anna said. "When I was learning how to fight other kids were playing hide and go seek. When I was learning about the Templars other kids were learning how to speak Spanish. At first I was angry that my parents and the other assassin's stole my childhood from me but now." Anna sighed as she handed the water skin to Connor "Now I pity them. They don't know that the Templars are trying to take over the world."
"They need to be stopped." Connor said firmly. "Including my father."
Anna glanced at Connor but didn't ask about his father and said "And as long as there are assassins's the Templars will be stalled in their plans. Now shall we finish climbing this cliff?"
Connor nodded and pulled himself up with Anna behind him. "What's the future like?" Connor asked holding a hand out to Anna once he was standing on solid earth.
Anna grasped the offered hand letting Connor help her onto the ground before saying, "Well the Templars are still a thorn in our sides but to be fair…"
Connor turned to look at Anna who stopped talking. She was staring out into the frontier that was the Davenport homestead looking awe struck. "Anna?" Connor asked stepping up next to the silent girl.
"I've only seen painting of what the frontier looked like." Anna said softly not tearing her eyes away from the green forest in front of her. "I never thought that it was like this. The paintings don't do it justice."
"We should get back it's getting late." Connor said after a couple of minutes of silence.
Nodding Anna turned away from the forest and followed Connor waiting until he left the brush he used to cushion his fall. One Leap of Faith later and Anna was picking out small sticks as Connor led her back to the house.
Achilles was waiting for them on the porch, hearing a horse kick its stall and scream its displeasure. "The horse you came with has been like this for a while." Achilles said to Anna who looked concern. "If you can try to calm him down it would be appreciated, Connor it's time to work on your hand to hand combat."
Anna walked down to the horse barn where the horse she had stolen was kicking his stall door. "That can't be good for your feet." Anna said picking up a brush and a comb. She leaned against a support beam watching the horse pace from one end of the stall and back. Frowning Anna stepped up to the stall door only to jump back in shock when the horse reared up hooves kicking the air. She could only give the horse fresh water and grain before being in danger of being kicked. Putting the brush and comb back where she found them Anna went back to the house to watch Connor get handed by an old man.
For the next couple of weeks Anna would help Achilles train Connor. She would also take time to work with the abused horse, now able to get into the stall and brush the scared thing. Anna also dusted the house in a day, which she was proud of, and found paintings stored away in the attic. She eventually went back to Boston to pick up female hygiene products for herself. She had also stopped by a tailor and bought bolts of white and blue fabric intending on making a spare outfit for her and Connor when he got his coat. Anna also took the opportunity to arm herself going by the leather maker first to get a pair of new leg guards and several water proof packs that would rest on her lower back attached by her belt, then by the general store to get a flintlock pistol with ammo. She picked up throwing knives and arrow heads from the blacksmith and the shafts and enforced bow from the wood craftsman. All the while avoiding the British soldiers and Templars when she was there.
The day before Anna left for Boston she and Connor had moved the horse into a large round pen, hopping that it would allow the horse to burn through its pent up energy. Connor was sitting on the fence watching the nameless horse graze and keep an eye on him. "He's calmer than when I left." Anna commented from behind Connor. He turned around and saw that Anna now had a bow and a quiver full of arrows with white and red fletching. A pistol rested on her hip along with new pouches and he didn't doubt that she had hidden throwing knives as well.
"How was your trip to Boston?" Connor asked hopping off the fence and led her down the trail towards where the Aquila was docked and waiting for them.
"A little tense, I spent a good amount of time avoiding the soldiers there." Anna said as she spotted the ship "We going for a ride?"
"They finished repairing the ship after you left and Achilles suggested that we wait for you." Connor explained as they walked down the pier towards a gruff looking man with dark hair growing gray who was already on the ship. "Though I still don't understand why they call it a 'she'." Connor muttered to Anna.
"It's an endearment." Anna explained "The sailors are out on sea for months on end with only a ship to protect them from the elements of the sea. Like a mother protecting her child." She had gotten that explanation from her father when she had asked him about her oldest brother's obsessions with cars. It was more understandable and less likely to get a violent reaction from her. When her brother had told her that she wouldn't understand she had reacted like any normal ten year old. She dislocated her brother's shoulder and ran like hell.
"She's right you know, names Robert Faulkner Miss Anna." The man introduced himself before spreading his arms open and said "Come aboard and feast your eyes, boy! The lass is welcomed as well."
Connor and Anna exchanged looks before stepping onto the ramp. "No no no no, not the left foot!" Anna looked down seeing her right foot on the ramp. "Never the left foot. Horrible luck. Step with your right foot first." Robert explained to the two teens. Connor looked down and adjusted his stance so he was stepping with his right foot instead of his left.
"What about women being supposedly back luck?" Anna asked as she stepped onto her very first ship. She would have been sad if she couldn't go sailing with Connor all because of a stupid myth.
"Bah, you're an assassin lass. You are good luck to have on the Aquila." Robert said before turning to Connor who was testing the post on the ship. Connor lightly kicked the post before turning to Anna and Robert.
"She is…solid." Connor said much to Anna's amusement. Though she managed to keep her expression neutral as she explored the deck of the Aquila.
"Aye. Weatherly and sleek. She'll fetch 21 knots in a stiff gale, ne'er a ship from here to Singapore can out run her on her best day." Robert clapped Connor on his shoulder before walking over to Anna with Connor following. "Wha'dya say we take her out and show you what she can do first hand?"
"Where would we go?" Connor asked watching Anna kneel down to look at the square gaps on the ships railing.
"As it happens she still needs guns and officers to command them." Robert explained "We'll launch straight away. Don't worry, lad, I'll make sure you sprout good sea legs. The both of ya." Nodding to Anna as he chuckled then ordered "Haul in the main sail! Get up the rigging!" Anna stumbled as the Aquila lurched forward gripping Connor's shoulder to steady herself. "Hand over fist! Come on, men! Let's get her out where she needs to be!"
Below deck Anna had her head between her knees as Connor rubbed her back. At first she was fine, looking around in wonder with Connor trailing behind her. It was her first ship, her first proper ship. Anna almost couldn't believe it. Then the rocking became more apparent upsetting her stomach, but regardless of the nauseating rocking Anna hadn't thrown up and they were getting close to their destination, Maria's Vineyard.
Slowly sitting up Anna kicked away the empty bucket one of the sailors put before her. The men that was below deck grinned at each other seeing that her complexion was no longer green, "are you alright?" Connor asked.
"No longer nauseous." Anna said grinning as she stood up. Connor stood up as well and the way out onto the deck with Anna a few steps behind. On deck Anna and Connor looked around before hearing Robert call out to them.
"Come on, lad! No time like the present!"
Connor walked away as Anna slowly turned around taking in the sounds of the seagulls crying, the smell of the sea, and the sight of other passing ships. So much more amazing than any painting could produce. The wind picked up tossing Anna's hair straight into her eye. Wincing Anna pulled her hood up to block some of the wind and prevent her hair from hitting her face again as she walked past working crewmen and up the stairs to see Robert explaining how to sail the ship. Leaning against the railing on Connor's right she watched him turn the wheel.
"Your hood is up." Connor stated after several minutes of him calling out commands and navigating through sandbars and rocks.
"We are about to dock, I made the mistake of having my hood down when I first went to Boston and now they know who I am." Anna explained "I don't know if they sent out word to be on the lookout for me or not."
"I see."
"Drop anchor." Robert ordered "We'll go ashore, buy our guns and find out officers."
Anna followed Robert off the ship with Connor behind her. Anna knew the older man heard what she and Connor talked about and was making an effort to keep her behind him to provide a way to escape if the need arise. If she was in her time period Anna would have moved so she was walking next to him not in between two guys, but she wasn't and she wasn't going to spit this offer back in Robert's face because of her pride.
Robert led the two to a tavern and opened the doors. The smell of ale and food hit Anna as she followed Robert inside. Looking around Anna took note of where everything was. "Oh, hullo, Miss Mandy." Robert greeted "You're looking every bit as ravishing as I remember."
A gray haired woman turned around spotting the trio. "After all these years you sail all the way to the Vineyard to pay me complements?" Connor raised an eyebrow as Anna covered her mouth to hide her grin with a cough, both waiting to see how Robert would steer the conversation to safer waters.
Anna leaned over to Connor and whispered "I bet you ten pounds that they were lovers."
Connor glanced at Anna and whispered "I have no money to make such a bet."
Anna stared at Connor incredulously but couldn't say anything as Robert was talking again and she was rather interested on what he would say to get out of the situation. "We're looking for David and Richard Clutterbuck."
Miss Many scoffed nodding to a table replying "Nice to see you to."
Anna smiled and thanked the woman before following Robert and Connor to a small table where two men were nursing their respected tankard. One of them looked up as the trio approached the table and said "Robert Faulkner. Where the hell you been?"
"Sorry for leavin' like I did lads but where I was going…no one could know…" Robert said sitting down. Anna raised an eyebrow Connor and Achilles told her that Robert was drunk when Connor first met him. "You two working much?"
Anna zoned out the conversation as Connor walked around her to stand on her other side. She listened to the people around her talk about normal things, trade ships coming in and leaving, the massacre that took place in Boston, and the increase of British soldiers.
"Looks like your friend's about to catch a beatin'."
Anna looked to her right and saw that Connor was no longer standing next to her. Turning around Anna saw Connor stand before two men, one older and one younger, and demand "Where is Charles Lee?" she couldn't hear what the man wearing the wig said but immediately moved towards Connor when the second man, dressed in captain clothes, stood up.
"Hey…" Robert chided placing a hand on Connor's shoulder. Anna glanced at the wig haired man before stepping behind Robert and Connor cursing in her mind. Why was Church here? "You don't want to be doin' that, Biddle."
Biddle looked away from Connor as Anna prepared herself for the worse. "Bobby Faulkner turned to wet-nursing?" Biddle said scornfully stepping up to Robert. "Good you finally realized you're a SHITE sailor."
"Whoa whoa whoa!" Miss Mandy said stepping between the two captains. "Not in here gentlemen. Better still, not at all." Miss Mandy turned to Robert and practically yelled "Bobby, take your friends and get out!"
"Let's go boys." Robert said ushering Anna to start walking to the doors. "Our guns ought to be ready. Come on." Anna grabbed Connor and pulled him with her out the door.
Connor and Anna walked along side each other listening to Robert, David, and Richard talk about their old days. "Why do you want to find Charles Lee so bad?" Anna asked glancing at Connor out of the corner of her eyes.
The boy next to her tensed before finally speaking, "Charles Lee had a hand in burning down my village and killing my mother. I want to return the favor and make sure the Templars could never do it again. Even killing my father."
That was the second time Connor mentioned his father with the question begging to be asked "Who is your father?" she finally asked.
"Haytham Kenway." Connor said walking several yards before realizing that Anna was no longer with him. Turning around he saw Anna standing in the middle of the street shock showing on her lower half of her face. "Anna?" Connor asked when he walked back to the girl.
Anna shook her head and said "Sorry I wasn't expecting that person to be your father."
"I'm sorry if it makes you uncomfortable around me." Connor said looking down at the ground. With the short time that Anna has been around at the homestead it seemed as if she had always been there, there were some things that she did from time to time to remind him that she wasn't truly from this time period. For some reason the thought that Anna would no longer want to be around him because of his Templar father hadn't crossed his mind until now. He liked having Anna around the homestead.
Instead Anna placed a hand on Connor's shoulder and said "It's alright my mother was a Templar before she met my father. You're not alone in this. If you want me to help you get back at Charles for what he did to your people all you have to do is ask and I'll be there." She grinned at him and said "After all you're stuck with me now."
Connor was quiet for a moment before pulling Anna into a hug he'd seen her give Achilles when he said that Anna could stay with them. "Thank you."
Surprised Anna returned the hug and said "We are friends Connor and soon when you finish your training we will be fellow assassins."
"Oi! You two love birds are going to get left behind if you don't hurry up!" Anna jumped back face bright red as people around them turned to stare at her and Connor.
"I'll kill that old man." Anna grumbled making Connor smirk.
Back on the ship Anna was walking around with a pen and parchment writing down all the supplies that they had picked up and carried on board. With everything taken down and tucked away in the captain's quarters she ventured up to the ships wheel where Robert was explaining how the swivel guns worked. Loud gun fire filled the evening sky as Connor tested the newly acquired cannons. Men and their toys, Anna thought amused leaning against the railing watching the ship come raining down. Looking up into the sky Anna saw dark gray clouds roll across the sky. Anna jumped when the swivel cannon close to her fired again.
"Easy there lass." Robert chuckled having seen Anna jump. "Don't want to be fishing you out of the sea due to your jitters."
Anna rolled her eyes and said "That would require me falling sideways Old Man. I have wonderful balance."
Robert laughed before turning to Connor "You are a fast learner."
"Provided something interests me." Connor responded watching Anna jump onto the rail and cross her legs.
"Ah…getting a taste for the open sea are we?" Robert asked with a grin. "We'll make a jack tar out of you yet. Now we should be getting back. The Old Man is like to have my hide for keeping you two out so long."
Anna grinned as she pulled her hood down Connor was smirking as well. Both seemed amused that Robert was afraid of Achilles' wrath. Aged as he is, Connor went back to steering the ship as Anna looked back up at the darkening sky, wishing that she had something to draw this scene with. A sound of a distant cannon going off had Anna looking over her shoulder. The feeling of something flying inches from her head had her crashing into the deck by Connor's feet.
"Are you alright lass!" Robert yelled in shock as the sound of cannon fire grew closer.
"I had a freaking cannon ball fly past my head, how do you think I'm feeling?" Anna shouted back.
"Why is he shooting at us?" Connor asked as Anna stood up and dusted herself off with shaking hands. That was too close. A couple more inches to the left and Anna would have been dead.
Anna watched the ship skink courtesy of the men on the Aquila as Robert answered "Destroying property of the crown. Disturbing the King's peace. Take your pick."
"To be fair." Anna said "The sunken ships no longer belong to the crown, they belong to the sea."
"What do we do?"
"Naught else to do but fight back!" Robert answered "Sink the bastard!"
Anna grabbed onto the railing as Connor turned the ship as hard as he could. Cannon fire from the other ship alerted the crew just seconds before the cannon balls crashed through the railings. Another ship sailed up to match with the Aquila, close enough that Anna could see the other men readying their own cannons.
"Brace!" Robert yelled ducking down. Anna, who was running to a swivel gun stopped long enough to grab the underarms of a wounded sailor and pulled him behind a stack of crates.
"Hold pressure! It will slow down the bleeding." Anna ordered once she found and pressed a rag to the cut on his leg. When the Aquila began firing back Anna leapt up and ran to the swivel gun, swinging it so it was pointing to the exposed ship and fired. Being kicked back in the process apparently her spot hit where the stored gun powder was lighting up the dark sky. Sitting up amongst the ropes and netting Anna watched the crew cheer as the enemy ship sunk. Laying back down Anna closed her eyes and allowed her body to relax.
"Are you alright Miss Anna?" one of the sailors asked bending over Anna.
"I think so." Anna groaned as she sat up. Rubbing her lower back as she stood up and walked over to the injured sailor, "We need to get this cleaned and wrapped before infection sets in. Do you think you can walk?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Good there should be alcohol down below, we can use that to clean the cut." Anna said supporting the man walking over to the stairs that led to the lower deck.
"See lass!" Robert called out "I told you were good luck!"
Anna just rolled her eyes.
This chapter was going to be longer but I didn't want to type anymore...again please tell me what you think, sorry for any spelling or gramar errors.
Behind the Story fact 1:
The title of the story is a title from a song that gave this story it's lift.