Assassin's Creed: Vengeance
The Beginning of the End
September 10th, 1796
French Staging Ground, Germany
Louis Desaix stood rather uneasily in the presence of Jean Victor Marie Moreau. Moreau was reading through a report that had been sent to him two weeks prior but had only reached him now, seemingly delayed by the constant conflict across the southern Germany countryside. Moreau placed the document on the table in his tent and rubbed his temples as if he had a migraine.
"Jean Jourdan is dead. Murdered by the Assassins."
Desaix sighed. "How could we let this happen?"
"I underestimated the Austrian numbers and sent Abbatucci to Huningue. A costly mistake I shall not make again. These Assassins are parasites, difficult to find but easy to kill."
Desaix glanced at his boots for a moment. "What is our course of action, monsieur?"
Moreau looked at the young commander for a moment. "You will take a force and make for the north bank of Danube. Hopefully, Archduke Charles will divert his course to engage you, giving our men breathing room to take the fight back to them."
"What if Charles doesn't take the bait?"
"Que Dieu nous aide." (May God help us.)
/
September 12th, 1796
North Danube Bank, Germany
Louis Desaix had been followed for a few days at this point. Now, he was setting up a camp along the banks of the Danube river. Not a mighty river by any stretch of the imagination but still a vital point that was worth taking. His actions were being observed by August, who sat perched in the branches of a nearby tree, waiting for his moment.
He wanted so much to end Desaix right then and there, scratch another name off the list of his personal vendetta. The fact that the vendetta existed was a source of inspiration and shame for August as it kept him going but reminded him that his apprentice; Gunther, had fallen victim to August's warpath.
After Kehl, August had arranged Gunther's body to be transported back to the town where he grew up. Ulm. They had held a service, one August couldn't participate in because he was in no condition to travel after the injuries he sustained during the battle.
Now; however, he was ready to go and fresh from assassinating Jourdan just a few weeks ago at Amberg. Only Desaix, Kleber, and Moreau were left on his list. Kleber had been laying low for an extended period of time and was especially difficult to gain any information on his whereabouts, August would have to be patient. He'd promised Arno that he'd focus mainly on waiting until Huningue was weakened then finding Abbatucci and as a result, the location of Shay and the Ankh.
Finally, the guards in front of Desaix's tent were changing. This was his chance, August clambered down the trunk of the tree and cautiously approached the tent. He entered silently, Desaix was distracted by stacks of correspondents on the table and hadn't noticed the Assassin enter.
August crept up behind the Templar agent and bring his hidden blade to his throat, Desaix immediately tensed up.
"Assassin," he said. "What do you want, why not kill me where I stand?"
August pressed the blade closer. "As much as that would bring me satisfaction, you're not my target. I want a list of Moreau's movements."
Desaix scoffed. "And I'll just hand them to you?"
August took his second hidden blade and jammed it into the pit of Desaix's knee. Blood poured from the wound and Desaix made a whimpering sound.
"Scream and you die." August hissed.
"I'll tell you nothing!" Desaix hissed back, in extreme pain.
August twisted the blade.
Desaix winced. "I'll tell you everything!"
The blades retracted. "Good."
/
November 12th, 2017
New York City, New York
Kristoff had decided to go to the gym for some reason. He woke up that morning in his rented apartment and found extremely defined muscles rippling through his body. His time in the Animus was physically affecting him. The man who called him a Sage had referred to it as the Bleeding Effect. He'd seen the changes in his co workers as well, Oyovo was speaking fluent Neanderthal and Ingrid was off constantly talking about longships and their construction process. She even started talking about sacrifices to Norse Gods.
The Bleeding Effect was changing them slowly and Kristoff knew it. He took one look at a punching bag and the next thing he knew, he was attacking it with skills he hadn't had the day before. He walked up to a wall and climbed all the way to the rafters of the gym without breaking a sweat. He went over to the obstacle course and lept over the barriers, did flips, rolls, dives, climbed over walls and jumped over the other side. Something only people proficient in parkour could do and he was doing them all without ever attempting parkour in his life.
He went back to his shabby apartment and did about 200 pushups without stopping. Then, 100 one handed pushups without stopping. He felt like a superhero and he'd only just begun to perspire and didn't feel tired whatsoever.
Kristoff took a moment to look at himself. He hadn't been fat per say but he definitely wasn't ripped. Now he had an overnight six pack similar to that of some professional athlete. It was all crazy and it wall all thanks to a sedentary job looking at genetic memories for 300 hundred bucks a week.
But, now was not the time to admire his summer bod in November. He needed to find from his past self where the location of the Ankh was and keep it out of Abstergo's hands. They'd catch onto him eventually, thanks to the Bleeding Effect, he'd be ready.
/
November 20th, 2017
You're running out of time, Ronny.
"I know, stop telling me." Salen replied.
Just saying, dude. Those Directors are gonna find out you're a sham and they're just gonna erase you from existance.
Salen slammed his fist down on the desk. "I won't let that happen! I'll find the Ankh, then I'll find a way to get you outta my head!"
Salen could almost hear the smile of delight from inside of him. You think I wanted to possess you? You were the first dude in four years to go near that thing, beggars can't be choosers, y'know. Not my fault you touched it.
"Yes, but it is your fault I'm going insane!" Salen shouted at nothing.
Moira poked her head into the office. "Everything alright, Dr. Salen?"
Salen smiled and put up a hand. "Fine, just in a conference call."
Moira smiled also and returned from whence she came.
You like her.
"What? No, I do not?" Salen said with a gasp.
Dude, I'm in you head. Trust me when I say, you like her.
Salen sighed. "Fine, I guess I do like her Moria somewhat. She's helped me since I took over this job and stepped into some mighty big shoes. I wouldn't be the person I am without her keeping me steady."
That was probably the mushiest thing I've ever heard.
Salen smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment, Mr. Miles."
Outside the door to Salen's office, Moira smiled. She heard every word Ronald had said, it was nice to know her boss cared that much.
"But that last thing I want is her roped into this." Salen continued.
Yeah, I get that. I had someone I cared about once.
"What happened?"
She died… I…. killed her.
"I'm sorry, if I had known."
Save it, Ronny. You knew, Lucy Stillman. You two met six years ago if I remember correctly. Funny, six years ago I was working at a bar in New York.
"The Bad Weather. I remember. I was one of the agents who scouted you, verified who you were. You know what tipped me off?"
No, I don't.
"You sold me a Shirley Templar. I ordered four of them."
That was you? Damn, you hold your liquor.
"I had to be escorted out, remember?" Salen laughed. "That was a different time altogether."
Too true, Ronny.
/
September 19th, 1796
Outskirts of Kehl, Germany
Victor Marie Moreau watched from the distance as the Austrians mounted a counterattack against the once occupied city of Kehl. The thunder of their cannons from a distance was enough to send shivers down the decorated French general and Templar's spine. Moreau turned to one of his lieutenants.
"Where is Desaix? He should be here by now?"
The lieutenant gave him an apologetic look. "Desaix's force was cut off by the Archduke. He cannot help us now."
"They will come for us, our backs are against the wall. Signal the captains, order a full retreat of our forces."
"General? Are you sure?"
Moreau snapped. "Yes, I'm sure dammit, get our men out of that city. Now!"
"Oui, General Moreau. Right away!"
The lieutenant rode of on the back of his mount, leaving Moreau to contemplate the coming storm. He swore he could see hooded figures atop Kehl's ramparts, laughing at him as he sat there helpless. Soon, the whole army knew it was time to leave and the whistles blared out for the whole company to retreat back to the woods.
When they were in full retreat, Moreau turned his horse and began to gallop away from the incoming danger. He rode for what seemed like hours, then he heard some of his men shouting towards the tops of the trees. They began to shoot, Moreau looked up and saw dozens of figures clambering gracefully through the trees, keeping pace with the general as his horse galloped along.
"Kill them! Kill the Assassins!" he shouted. Moreau withdrew his own pistol and fired at them but failed to hit anything.
Then, as fast as they had appeared, one of them leapt from the top of the tree and landed in the saddle facing Moreau. It was the same Assassin he had vanquished twice already.
"We'd best stop meeting like this, Frenchman." he said with a smile.
Moreau took a swing at him with the butt of his flintlock, but the Assassin parried and jammed a hidden blade into his throat. Moreau sputtered before falling from the horse and onto the ground. The soldiers paid little mind to the Assassins, for they were too busy fleeing for their lives.
Moreau; still clutching his neck, looked up at his murderer. "You think this is the end, Assassin? We will rise up stronger than before, you and yours shall be eradicated." he hissed.
August crouched beside Moreau. "Do you remember what I told you, right out there?"
August pointed to the field where he had been shot while trying to defend the city.
"I will never stop fighting, until you're all dead."
Moreau laughed, you have what you wanted. I am moments from death's door."
August stood up. "But my mission is not yet finished. Rest in peace, my worthy adversary."
Moreau's last breaths escaped him as he succumbed. August stared at his lifeless body for several moments before Arno came up beside him.
"It's done then?" Arno asked.
August nodded. "He's left this life, but it is far from over."
Arno nodded also. "Come with me to Huningue. It is under siege as we speak. I must find Abbatucci and the information he holds."
"Alright, I'll help you finish your fight. This is between us and them now. We're brothers by our Creed and we shall never stand alone against the Templars."
