Chapter 1
(January 31st, 1459. Center Town. Late Morning)
(Zack: Age 5. Sam: Age 3. Gabby: Age 1)
*Zack is standing on a ledge on top of a small building looking at a cart full of hay about four meters below. He is dressed in his Assassin robe with his hood up*
Zack: I can do this; it's not that long of a drop.
*Zack takes a deep breath and runs toward the precipice, but hesitates to jump. He takes a few steps back and runs toward the ledge again and jumps. He lands in the hay bale then emerges with a traumatized expression. He inspects his body finding not even a scratch. He smirks then brushes the hay off of him. A farmer shouts at him*
Farmer: Eh! Stare fuori della mio fieno! (Hey! Stay out of my hay!)
*Zack quickly glances at the farmer then runs toward home. On his way, he pushes the crowds of citizens out of his way, causing most people to drop what they're carrying, some of it fragile. He also climbs buildings, scaffolding, and other objects which people react to by staring at him in confusion. Some of the people react to all of this abnormal behavior by angrily shaking their fists in the air as he runs away. When Zack arrives at his house, Nicolas is standing in before the front door with his arms folded*
Zack: Buon giorno, Papá. (Good morning, Dad)
Nicolas: *Talks in a firm voice* Zacharias Warner.
Zack: Is something wrong?
Nicolas: Do you take me for a fool?
Zack: Uuuuuhhhh… Do you really want me to answer that?
Nicolas: I know all about your fight.
Zack: What fight?
Nicolas: Don't play dumb with me! News spreads quickly. I know all about your fight this morning.
Zack: The other kids made fun of me.
Nicolas: And then what about this little swim you took in the river? People described you as a demon.
Zack: I needed a bath!
Nicolas: Zack, your behavior is socially unacceptable.
Zack: You're going to punish me now, aren't you?
Nicolas: Hm… Nah, I'm in a good mood today. Plus disciplining you like this reminds me of my own youth. *Smiles* You'll stay out of trouble for the rest of the day, right?
Zack: Si Padre. (Yes Father)
Nicolas: Good. Oh, and one more thing. Come with me. *Nicolas walks inside the house and goes upstairs and Zack follows* What is the meaning of this?
*Nicolas opens the door to the Warners siblings' bedroom and sees that Sam is tied to a chair*
Sam: Help me!
Zack: He was hungry. I tied him up so he wouldn't eat the furniture. I'm surprised he didn't eat through the ropes.
Nicolas: Hahahahaha!
Sam: Just untie me! I have to go really really bad!
Zack: Alright, calm down.
*Zack unties Sam from the chair and Sam runs as fast as he can to the bathroom*
Nicolas: That was good thinking, but you should've put something over his mouth so that no-one would hear him shout for help.
Zack: I thought of that, but I figured that if I put anything over his mouth he would've eaten it.
*Nicolas and Zack laugh*
Nicolas: Go see if you can help your mother with any chores.
Zack: On it. *Walks downstairs into the kitchen. Gabrielle is carrying Gabby* Hello, Madre.
Gabrielle: Hello Zack; figlo mio. (my son) How are you?
Zack: Same as always.
Gabrielle: I'm going to go into the basement real quick and I don't want your sister following me and getting lost in there. Hold her for me.
*Gabrielle hands Gabby to Zack*
Zack: I got her. *Gabrielle heads down into the basement. Zack smiles at his sister in his arms* Hello Sorella. (Sister)
Gabby: Zack!
Zack: Good job! You're getting better with words!
*Zack sits down on the couch, still cradling her. Gabrielle returns from the basement*
Gabrielle: I'm back! *Closes the basement door then walks into the living room and catches Zack holding his sister* Awww. You two are so cute together!
Zack: Heh heh.
*Sam enters the living room from upstairs*
Sam: Zack!
*Sam glares at Zack and growls. Zack smirks at him*
Zack: Hey, Little Brother. You were in the bathroom for a while. Did your stream last long?
Sam: I'm going to hurt you for tying me up!
Zack: Oh take a joke, Fratello! (Brother)
Sam: *Sighs then climbs on the couch and sits next to Zack then smiles* Okay. Play with me!
Zack: Alright.
*Zack sets Gabby aside and starts to tickle Sam. Time passes about twenty minutes*
Sam: This is fun!
Zack: Yup.
Gabrielle: Zack, time passes quickly when you're having fun. Don't you have training today? Spazzo is waiting in the backyard.
Zack: Oh shoot! I forgot! We'll play later, Sam.
Sam: Oh, okay.
Zack: *Leaves the house and goes to the backyard* Buon giorno, Maestro. (Good morning, Teacher)
Spazzo: Zacharias! My apprentice! Good timing! Before we begin your daily training, I have an errand to do. I'd like you to join me. Follow me.
Zack: Sure thing.
*Spazzo begins to walk down the street and Zack follows*
Spazzo: So, how was your fight earlier today?
Zack: Fight? Uuuuuhhhhh… I have no idea what you're talking about.
Spazzo: Hahaha… Seriously, how much pain did you deliver them?
Zack: Some bruises on the eyes, some sore rear ends, and some popped egos.
Spazzo: Hahaha! I assume you had a good reason for this. You're normally not one who would get in fist-fights with kids you don't know.
Zack: What kids in the city do I know?
Spazzo: Well… *Chuckles* Still, why did you beat them?
Zack: They were making fun of me and my siblings. And they bring their stupid Christianity into their insults. They said that God created human beings in his own image. They also said that God created me in the image of the devil. Christianity is just bagianatti (nonsense) if you ask me, but it still hurts.
Spazzo: I've never been much of a believer either, Zack. I guess that's how it should be. As Assassins, we shouldn't let such things influence us; influence our motives. We know that nothing is true and everything is permitted, but most religion would contradict that. *Spazzo and Zack arrive at a blacksmith shop* Here we are. *Directs his voice to a person in the shop* Do you have my sword ready, Vincenzo?
Vincenzo: *Comes to the counter* Si, signore. (Yes, sir) Here you are. *Hands Spazzo a fine crafted sword* What do you think?
Spazzo: Molta bella (Very beautiful) as always, Vincenzo.
Vincenzo: You flatter me. So who's your friend here?
Spazzo: This is Zacharias Warner; my apprentice and Nicolas Warner's son.
Zack: Nice to meet you, sir.
Vincenzo: It really is a pleasure. I served your father, you know. He's a very great man- er uh… person?
Spazzo: Heh heh. I don't know what to call him either. *Chuckles* I'll be by later, Vincenzo.
Vincenzo: Okay, arrivederci (Good-bye) Spazzo.
*Spazzo and Zack leave the blacksmith to his work*
Zack: Is that all we came for?
Spazzo: Yup. I had my blade mended. This beauty has served me for a long time. *Sheathes the sword* Back to the house so we can train.
*Zack and Spazzo start walking back home*
Zack: It's just stupid that people think that there is an all-knowing person in the sky that controls everything. Zack Warner is controlled by no-one, especially not by "God"; I do what I want.
Spazzo: I say let them believe in what they want, Zacharias. They have a choice of what to believe in, and if they choose to be religious, then that is their own business. Forcing someone to believe in something never brings out good. That's what we fight for after all.
Zack: But people should look for answers that make sense.
Spazzo: "The people have the right to know the truth, but very few will accept it." Your father once said that.
Zack: Hm…
Spazzo: It's funny talking to you about stuff like this. I feel like I'm talking to your father; he used to always prattle on about this stuff. Your mother was forced to grow up to be a Catholic, and when she met Nicolas, she was convinced otherwise.
*Zack and Spazzo arrive at the house, and walk to the backyard*
Spazzo: That's enough of that discussion, let's start training for today. Let's review what I taught you last time. What is our creed?
Zack: Nothing is true; everything is permitted.
Spazzo: Good. Let's practice combat now. No weapons.
*Zack positions himself in a fighter stance*
Spazzo: Now remember, never blindly charge into battle. Wait for your opponent to make an open- *Zack jumps up and kicks Spazzo in the face* OW!
Zack: Does that count as an opening?
Spazzo: Urgh. *Wipes his mouth and checks for blood then smirks* Yes, that counts.
*Time passes to sunset*
Spazzo: Well done, Zack. You exceed my expectations.
*Zack gives a respectful bow to Spazzo*
Spazzo: Well, that's enough training for one day. Go wash up for dinner.
*Scene transitions to dinner time in the dining room*
Zack: *Singing* Sitting at the table! Sitting at the table!
*Sam joins along in a lower pitch*
Zack and Sam: Sitting at the table! Sitting at the table! Waiting for our- *Gabrielle enters the dining room with everyone's dinner* FOOOOOOOOOD! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food! Food!
Gabrielle: *Glares at Zack and Sam* Enough! *Takes a couple of breaths then serves everyone their meals* Okay you. *Picks up Gabby from the floor and puts her in a highchair and ties a bib on her* Let's see if you can get this down like a good girl.
Sam: If Sorella won't eat her dinner I will! *Stands up in his chair*
Nicolas: Samuel, sit.
Sam: Yes, Father.
*Sam sits down in his chair like a dog. Nicolas facepalms and smiles*
Nicolas: Hahahaha! Not that kind of sit!
*Scene transitions to the bathroom after dinner. Gabrielle is bathing Zack, Sam, and Gabby*
Zack: *Singing* Sitting in a bathtub! Sitting in a bathtub!
*Sam again joins along in a lower pitch*
Zack and Sam: Sitting in a bathtub! Sitting in a bathtub!
Gabrielle: Zack! Sam! Enough! *Splashes a bucket of water on Zack and Sam's heads and Gabby laughs at them*
Zack: Just remember that Gabby is going to be our falsetto!
*Zack and Sam simultaneously shake their heads dry*
Gabrielle: Heh heh. We'll see.
*Scene transitions to the Siblings' bedroom*
Gabrielle: Buonanotte.
Zack and Sam: Goodnight Mom.
Gabrielle: Pleasant dreams.
*Gabrielle leaves the bedroom and closes the door behind her*
Sam: So Zack. What about that fight?
Zack: There's really not much to say. It was a fight and it's over now. Those kids made fun of us and they got what they deserve.
Sam: What'd they say?
Zack: Just the typical discrimination: Long ears, beady black eyes, white spooky faces, weird tails, red noses.
Sam: Oh... Why are we different than everyone else, Fratello?
Zack: I don't know, but I consider us to be special. *Smirks* We are cute after all.
Sam: *Chuckles* Yeah. Well, goodnight Fratello.
Zack: Goodnight, Fratelli. (Siblings)