A/N:
An A.U. I've had in my head for a bit, but is finally fleshing out in my head; what if Richard Sonnac at some point became part of Orochi? What would drive him to it? How would he feel about it?
Slight notes on the timeline I'm using:
- Basically this is during the South Africa Mission, but it takes a more drastic turn when the Bee goes missing. Let's just say the Old Guard was not amused.
- Dragan is back from the Carpathians and back working for Orochi. Basically because I wanted him to. He's far too fun a character to be stuck in the snow.
- While not explored in this particular story, this WILL be part of a rather massive crossover I'm planning to eventually write more in. See you in Landmark City.
Anyway, with that out of the way; hope y'all have fun with it.
It was all gone.
That was what went through Sonnac's head.
Everything he worked for his entire life….
It was all gone in an instant.
"We warned you, Sonnac. Keep that Pet of yours in line. I figured you'd both learn after the Kaidan incident."
Richard swallowed, tasting blood as it went down his throat. His wrists rotated in the manacles that suspended them above his head.
"Sir, if you would just give me some more time. I-I'm sure I can find him. I…"
"Resorting to pleading? Surely I taught you better than that." The other man approached him, looking at him with piercing blue eyes.
"You also taught me to do anything to stay in control, Leon…" Richard tried. This seemed to anger the grey haired man in front of him, as he was grabbed by the throat.
"You've lost the privilege of being that casual with me." Leon hissed. "Such a pity. I had high hopes for you after I took you under my wing."
"Why am I still alive?" Richard asked, ignoring Leon's mock kindness. "If this was the final straw, why haven't you disposed of me yet?"
"To set an example once we find your runaway Pet, of course."
"And a corpse wasn't a good enough example?"
"You of all people should know that Death isn't the ultimate deterrent. Sending your physically broken but still alive body will do a far better job."
"You really think you can break me? You must have no confidence in your own lessons." Richard said, and managed a defiant, yet still polite smile. Leon chuckled.
"Oh, Richard." He said, stroking the other man's face. "By now you should know everyone has a breaking point." His thumb went upwards, closer and closer to Richard's left eye. "You just have to apply the right amount of…" With that he drove his thumb into Richard's eye, who couldn't help but scream. "Pressure." He took his finger out, leaving the other man shaking in his chains, feeling blood run down his cheek. Leon started cleaning his hand almost nonchalantly as he turned around. "I'll leave the rest to the experts." He said, leaving the cell they were in. Two painfully familiar, masked figures entered in his place.
"Gentlemen…" Richard tried, but as the two loomed over him despite being strung up, he knew this experience would be far worse than previous ones.
That evening…. At least Richard figured it was evening, since why else would they give him what looked like dinner?
Regardless, he found himself free of his chains, yet still in the cell where they… punished him. He managed to get himself in a corner of the barren chamber, looking at his food. It was surprisingly luxurious. Foie Gras and even some wine.
"Bloody typical…" Richard growled, managing to swipe the entire meal against the wall. He knew Leon longer than that. Far longer. After his parents died… Leon was the one who took him under his wing. Taught him all he knew. Until he met Engels, Leon was probably the Templar he was closest to.
He remembered Engels hating Leon. Calling him a groomer, of all things.
Looking back there was probably a good precedent for those words.
God, he felt like such a fool.
And now he was paying for it.
He carefully touched the left side of his face. It was caked with blood in various stages of drying up. His jaw was swollen, too. Breathing hurt, probably some bruised or even some cracked ribs. All in all though… Nothing too bad.
He supposed they kept that for later, once his missing charge was actually found.
Just thinking about it made his heart ache. Where were they?
"Not important right now…" Sonnac told himself, leaning his head against the concrete wall. "Right now I need to… escape." He told himself. The problem was… how? Richard knew how to take care of himself, but not only was he injured, the guards were going to be more physically powerful than him. His weapon was knowledge, words. Both were worthless now…
He sighed. All he could do now was try to survive and hope…
How long has it been? Days? Weeks? However long, the hope Richard Sonnac was clinging to was starting to fade. He tried to cling onto something… anything, but he found it increasingly difficult. He could barely move, just being crumpled in a heap where they threw him after today's… session. At this point they advanced from beatings to adding implements. Be they blades, bludgeoning tools and even fire.
By now his coat had been gone, tatters of it spread across the room. His blouse probably wouldn't be far off, though it was holding on at this moment.
"At least they didn't bring out the bloody whip…" He muttered to himself, only half awake at this point.
A commotion startled him to a more lucid state. Were those… gunshots? He raised his head slightly… and then was startled upright when someone kicked in the door rather violently.
"Fuck… they weren't kidding about Templar Firepower being something else…"
"W-who…?" Richard asked, as the man propped him up against the wall. Red eyes behind dark sunglasses and an… Orochi uniform? "What…?"
"Listen up, we don't really have much time for explanations. For now, I'm the guy getting you out of here, understand?" Richard shook the fog out of his head before nodding.
"Not the time to look a gift horse in the mouth." He said, managing to get himself standing, at least. Still, he had to wince as his hand went to a rather nasty gash in his side. "Though I will not be of much use in the escape you've planned."
"Can you walk?" The man asked, before grabbing Sonnac's arm and throwing it over his shoulder. "We're going to make a run for it." He said before Sonnac could answer and soon he found himself dragged through the dark hallways below Temple Hall.
"Never figured I was on Orochi's radar…" Richard couldn't help but wonder out loud. Or as loud as he could, really.
"You've been talked about." The man said. "Someone up high has a soft spot for you."
"At least someone has…" Richard said, as he could feel his vision blur, however, not before he saw two rather familiar forms approaching. "Well there's a spot of bother."
"They just send two freaks? This is easier than I thought." The man holding him said, as Sonnac couldn't help but frown.
"Just run." He answered. "You have no idea what they're capable of." The man carrying him just placed him against a wall.
"Just watch." He said.
"W-wait!" Richard tried, as he was already seeing his chance to get out of here slip between his fingers. He forced himself to his feet. "I can't… I can't let this… fail…" While he felt himself standing up, his injuries made him feel like he was about to get swallowed by darkness.
Crack
No… swallowed by light. A deep, golden light.
Crack
He was falling, falling, as everything around him shattered.
When Richard came around again, he didn't know where he was. Just that it wasn't anywhere near Temple Hall.
He slowly got up from the bed he was laying in, noticing his wounds were bandaged, including his eye.
The first thing he did was letting out a long, weary sigh, cradling his head in his hands. This was getting too much. Saved? By Orochi? He barely processed his capture, and now this on top of it…
"This is getting too much…" He muttered to himself.
A door opened, and Richard almost immediately straightened up, folding his hands in front of him neatly.
"About time you woke up." The man entering said. The same one that facilitated his escape.
"I haven't had a good night's sleep in a long while." Richard said with a wry smile, before noticing the sling the other man was wearing. "I warned you. They are dangerous."
"This? This is all you." He said almost casually.
"Me?"
"Yeah. Lit the entire place up. Broke my clavicle in the process." The man said, as Richard was just getting more confused. "If you could do that the entire time, you might've saved yourself a lot of pain."
"I don't… remember. Nor that I have that kind of power." Richard said, bowing his head as he tried to think. "I know some magic, though I usually need the appropriate book or gesture…" He held his head. "You'll have to forgive me, the past month has been… a lot."
"I'll leave you to it. Just wanted to see if I actually managed to do my job." The man said, before heading out again.
"Before you go, might I know the name of my saviour?" Richard asked.
"Dragan will do."
"Thank you kindly… Dragan."
"Just doing my job." With that he left, and Richard was once more alone with his very confused thoughts.
A couple of days passed, and it felt so… mundane that Richard felt ill at ease. Like it was just a normal hospital stay. He tried to ask the nurses for more information, but that was gently yet firmly denied.
"Just focus on getting better, dear." The nurse bringing him his breakfast told him. Richard sighed.
"It would really help the process if I knew what I could expect." He tried. This was met with silence as she left. Richard just looked down at his hands, grasping the sheets. While far more comfortable then his previous accommodations, he couldn't help but still feel like a prisoner…
After about a week, Richard's restlessness was reaching its peak, as he got out of bed more and more, even if it was to just pace.
What else could he do?
Even if he was fit enough to try and escape, he doubted they'd just let him.
"You really shouldn't be standing yet." The nurse said, entering with a laptop, of all things. Sonnac just sighed, sitting down on the bed.
"What else can I do? I usually at least have a book with me…" He said. The nurse just tutted and gave him the laptop before promptly leaving. Confused, Richard simply looked at the black item in his hands. While he learned how to use computers, he never quite felt at ease with them. Still, this was about the only thing he could do, so he opened it.
It almost immediately turned on, the Orochi symbol almost mockingly appearing.
"Good morning. I hope you feel better." A voice came from it. He knew that voice… even though he never heard it. At least not this directly.
"Samuel Chandra…" Richard said.
"So you do know…" The voice said. "I'm guessing you have lots of questions."
"To say the least." Richard answered. "I wouldn't even know where to start. But I suppose the easiest one is… why?"
"You interest me, Richard Sonnac." The voice said. "You have been interesting to me for a long time."
"For my own sake, I will take that as a compliment." Richard said. "I didn't know I was on Orochi's radar but I won't feign humility, either." He coughed. "So is this where you'll give me an offer I can't refuse?"
"But of course. It would be a waste to not use your… talents." Samael told him. "You were always a grade above your… associates."
"And I'd be better off working for you?" Sonnac finished. He was aware of what was happening. Better to cut to the chase.
"Let's be honest with each other; do you have any other choice?"
This caused Richard to pause, before looking away from the screen for whatever good that did.
"I suppose I haven't…" He conceded. It was the truth. What other option did he have? If he refused, the best outcome was that he was put out on the streets of… wherever he was and then… Where would he go? Venice? Whatever pride he had left would not allow him to do that. To reduce himself to a fugitive. But was that much better than just surrendering himself to someone like Chandra?
"Give it some time." Samuel said, as the screen turned black. Sonnac closed the laptop, set it aside and took a deep breath to centre himself.
Whatever he would do… it would be something he'd told himself he'd never do.
More days passed and soon, Richard was well enough to be excused.
He was escorted to what looked like a rather luxurious apartment, as he couldn't resist and immediately went to the bathroom.
Just as luxurious, though Richard Sonnac didn't mind. He almost casually dropped off his hospital clothes and went into the shower, letting the hot water spray over him, soothing his aching body. He tried his very best to ignore many of the welts and scars his body had now… Which became harder once he got out and looked at the mirror.
He still carried a medical patch over the hole that once contained his left eye. Seeing it so clearly for the first time, it… it broke something in him.
There were clothes ready for him. A suit. Stark black and white, compared to his usually warm brown. Still, maybe if he put it on, the feeling would go away.
It didn't. If anything it was a confirmation that his old self was on the verge of dying even more. The longer he stared, the longer he just…
Crack
He couldn't see himself.
Crack
Just a stranger wearing his skin.
Crack
Without warning the mirror shattered. Richard hardly noticed.
At least his fist wasn't bleeding this time. He walked back to the apartment's living room.
Very likely his new home…
He picked up a vase from the coffee table and threw it.
Soon. Everything was breaking.
Samuel Chandra didn't often appear to people in person, so when Dragan saw him walking down the hallway, he couldn't help but be surprised.
"Sir?" He couldn't help but stammer as his boss wanted to enter their new… guest's living quarters. "Are you sure you should be…?"
"If I want this to work, our esteemed guest needs more than just a voice on a screen." Samuel said, approaching the door.
A rather heavy object slammed itself in the door.
"I don't think now's the right time." Dragan said.
"Now is the perfect time." Samuel answered, as he entered the room. It was a mess. Broken.
And in the centre, stood Richard Sonnac, facing away, shoulders heaving. After a while, he turned around.
"Not what you wanted, is it?" He said, sounding… bitter. Samuel simply sat down on the couch, not saying anything. "What? No sweet nothings to butter me up?"
"Please. Have a seat." Samuel said, and Richard couldn't find it in himself to refuse, as he hesitantly also sat down on the couch, still keeping his distance from the other man.
"Don't think you can fool me. I know who you are. What you are." Richard almost hissed. "And I'm not willing to sacrifice myself for you."
"I'm not asking you."
"Don't play me for a fool. It's what's always asked of me."
"This might sound obvious, seeing how we found you, but the Templars never treated you properly, did they?" Samael's kindness was… surprising Richard. Even if it was fake, even if it was all to make him easier to manipulate… It felt so refreshing and he couldn't help but open up as he took a deep, shaking breath.
"I gave up everything. I gave up my life. My brother. Her…" He held his head in both hands. "And this is how they treat me. How they've… always treated me…" He could feel tears seeping from his remaining eye. God, when was the last time that happened? His parents' funeral?
A hand, both gentle and strong, was placed on his knee.
"It won't happen with me." He said, a voice sweet like poisoned honey.
"What if I fail?" Richard had to ask. "You don't look like one for second chances."
"You won't fail." Samael said, no, ordered. "But if you want some assurance… it will be swift and painless."
"That's probably the most reasonable I'll be able to get." Richard said, smiling despite everything. "You got yourself a deal."
A few more days and a room cleanup later, Richard was feeling much better about the entire arrangement and even allowed himself to enjoy the comfort of his living quarters.
"It's been too long since I had a break…" He muttered to himself, nursing a glass of wine as he lounged on the couch.
Soon, however, there was a knock on the door. A doctor entered with a small chest.
"What is…?" Richard started, as the screen of a rather big flat screen television in the room sprung on.
"Consider it a welcome gift. The eyepatch feels a little… unfitting for a former Templar." Richard could hear Samael's voice say, as his hand went to the medical eyepatch he was still wearing.
"I feel like a Damn Phoenician…" He muttered. The doctor opened the chest to reveal…
A bright red eye.
"That's… not much better…" Richard couldn't help but stammer. "I'd look like some sort of demon…!"
"What are you implying?" Samael said, and even though only his voice was heard, Richard knew he had to thread carefully. Richard coughed, as the doctor just shuffled uncomfortably.
"I suppose I should try to let go of several preconceived notions in my mind." Richard eventually admitted. "You'll have to forgive me."
"Once a Templar…"
"Never. Again." Richard said, almost fiercely taking the eye.
"U-uhm, if you'd just let me…" The doctor said, carefully taking it back. "Please, sit down." As Sonnac did so, the doctor carefully removed the patch and inserted the eye in the socket. It took longer than Sonnac imagined such a procedure, but then again, it probably should. "And… done." The doctor said, as a whirring noise made itself known inside Richard's head. He couldn't help but hold it and let out a slight noise of discomfort. "Don't worry. It will eventually fade." The doctor said, as he held up a mirror. One dark brown and one bright red, gleaming eye looked back at him. Was it… glowing? "You like it?"
"It's… different." Richard said, sounding somewhat apprehensive. "May I have some time to acquaint myself?"
"Of course." With that, the doctor left and Richard was left alone.
Physically, anyway.
"Now that you're whole again, it's time you actually go out there and do some work." Samael said.
"No rest for the wicked, after all." Richard said, straightening himself. "What did you have in mind as my first assignment?"
"Nothing too groundbreaking, but it will kill two birds in one stone. Not only starting your work for Orochi, but making sure the rest of our little world knows…"
"Venice. Of course it comes back to Venice." Richard said as he sat in the plane.
"I do wish we could use the hallowed halls of Agartha…" He muttered to himself, looking out the window of the private plane. Well, almost private.
"We've been over this. That would mean sending you alone and that would be too risky." Dragan, who came with him as a bodyguard, told him. "Wouldn't want to lose you on your first job."
"I can handle myself…" Richard said, though he couldn't hide that Dragan was right and that he really couldn't go alone.
"He wouldn't have stuck his neck out for you if he thought you couldn't."
"Have you stick your neck out for him, to be more precise."
"What can I say? He's the boss." Dragan said, though Richard could hear the underlying reluctance. Still, he decided to ignore it. Everyone had their own way of coping with their situation. He returned to looking out the window for the rest of the trip.
The Sunken Library looked the same.
Why wouldn't it be? It hadn't changed for centuries. Maybe a bit wetter…
"Ready?" Dragan asked Richard, taking him out of his musing. "I'm not qualified for this room, but I will be outside if you need me." Richard nodded as he opened the door to the room where the meetings usually were held. In the centre was a large table, for all the delegates. The meeting hadn't properly started and there was chatter between people.
The chattering stopped dead the moment he entered and all eyes were on him. He almost had to laugh. Even Kirsten Geary, who seemed to have a barb ready at any second for him, was at a loss for words.
The only different reaction was from the Dragon's delegates, Daimon and a lady he never met before. The latter immediately snapped a picture with her phone while the former looked absolutely delighted.
"Let me guess… All according to your Organisation's Plans?" Richard asked him as he took his seat.
"Not at all. You've made yourself a veritable anomaly! And I for one, can't wait how this turns out."
"Well, I'm always happy to entertain people." Richard said, before turning to the Templar delegate. Leon. Because of course. He looked like he was moments away from tearing his head off, and Richard couldn't be happier.
He ignored him for the rest of the meeting.
After the initial shock of his shift in allegiance, the rest of the meeting was, quite frankly, somewhat boring. Attempts were made, but in the end no real changes came of it. So now everyone was winding down, having idle conversations over some wine. Richard found a quiet corner of the library and took out a book to read, waiting until they could officially leave.
Soon enough, he could hear the familiar clacking of designer heels, as he looked up at Kirsten Geary.
"Miss Geary. I must say I honestly have missed you." Richard said with a wry smile.
"You've got some balls. After you dropped off the radar we were sure your old pals disposed of you. But not only are you alive but with Orochi?" She inclined her head. "I'm missing something here and I fucking hate it."
"Not surprising, considering you're part of a Faction that claims to be all-seeing." Richard said, going back to his book. "But I prefer to keep the details to myself."
"Well, at least you got yourself a glow up out of it. Loving the eye." Geary said, as Richard smirked. "Gives you that grit that your whole 'Noble Knight' persona was missing."
"Don't really need your approval but thanks for the compliment." Richard said, gradually losing interest. Other footsteps approached, and soon he found himself dragged away to a darker, more secluded part of the library, most likely leaving a somewhat insulted Geary behind if the 'Excuse me?!' was anything to go by.
"How DARE You?!" Leon hissed, slamming Richard against a wall. He almost instantly wrenched the other man's hand off his shoulder.
"How dare I? That's rich coming from you." Richard said, straightening himself. "I would like it if you didn't touch me again. Assaulting someone of another Faction is most certainly forbidden."
"I'm this close to dragging you back into Temple Hall and have you executed for treason."
"Not. Another. Word." Came from behind Leon, as Dragan aimed a gun at the back of his head. Soon enough, several Venice Guards were around them.
"You think you can do this? Threatening a delegate of the Templars?"
"You were threatening my charge first, if I recall."
"Gentlemen, please." Richard said with a smile. "Let's not cause too much of a scene." He shot a look at Dragan, who sighed, before holstering his gun. "Leon was just about to leave." Richard said, as Leon bristled, but made no further moves against him. "Weren't you?" There was a moment of silence.
"This… isn't the end of this." Leon said to him, before rather dramatically turning, his cape flowing behind him. And despite his calm and almost jovial demeanour during all this, Richard took a deep breath.
"We should leave." Dragan said, as Richard nodded, noticing that everyone was looking at them again. With a nod goodbye, he quickly made his exit.
They were back on the plane.
"That could've gone better…" Dragan said, looking at him with crossed arms. "This 'Leon' guy… you two have history?"
"History both ancient and recent." Richard admitted, hand subconsciously going to his eye. "And I need to re-evaluate a lot of my life as a result."
"Don't let it get to you. Those types of people will get their due."
"I will personally see to it." Richard said, as his face darkened, while his new eye started glowing, though he himself didn't notice.
"Just do it on your own time." Dragan said, relaxing a bit, looking out the window. "Whatever Orochi has planned for you, it's probably not for something petty as revenge." Richard couldn't help but snigger in his hand. "Did I say something funny?"
"No. No." Richard tried to recover. "Do forgive me. I assure you that it won't intervene with my work."
"Good." Dragan said, before pulling something from under his chair. A tablet. "Chandra told me to give you this if the meeting was a success and… I feel it was."
"I'm flattered, truly." Richard said, sincerity overriding sarcasm, as he took the table. An awkward tap showed a file in it that was labelled as confidential. "My first true assignment."
"It's not going to be easy. But I can tell you got the best backup this side of Orochi."
"I'm certain I do." Richard said, putting things together as he read the file.
"Let's see what this 'Glass Babel' has to offer us."