Chapter 65 Yeah No Yeah
Character Charolite
Charolite, Clementine, Lee, Kenny, Omid, Krista, Ben and Chuck were walking down one of the streets of Savannah. Everything seemed quite, no walkers to be seen, at least until a church bell started ringing.
"Oh no," Charolite sighed as the noise started up.
"What the," Christa started.
"Noting to worry about," Kenny said, "Probably just on an automatic timer."
"What sort of church bell goes off at two thirty-eight," Lee asked after he checked his watch then looked to the tower with the noise creating bell. "Somebody is up there!"
"What where I don't see anyone," Kenny said.
"I know what I saw," Lee stated but he couldn't say anymore as Clementine's radio buzzed to life with a warning.
"I'd get out of the street if I were you," A voice said over the radio before it went silent. Charolite was shocked at the radio contact, Clem had told her that the device was broken.
"Why, why did she lie to me, to all of us," Char thought as she looked at Clem. Clem just looked away but then let out an 'eep' as walkers started swarming the streets.
"Run," Lee yelled as he started leading the group down the street. Kenny was tripped by a crawling torso and Lee ran over to help him, Omid and Christa ducked down an ally to scout for houses that the group could use. Char, Ben and Clem were backed up against a wall with a mob of walkers coming at them. Char threw up an illusion around them to make them seem like walkers.
"Don't move," Char whispered at Ben as she saw him look like he was going to bolt, "You'll disrupt the illusion." Ben just nodded and stood frozen as a walker put it's face right in front of him before the group turned away from them.
"Over here," Chuck yelled as he swung his shovel at the walkers, "You all get out of here, I'll catch up with you later. Go!"
At that prompting Ben took off and Char and Clem followed. They were joined by Lee and Kenny as they ducked down a sidewalk that was walled off from the street so the walkers couldn't really get into the back yard of a large house. Christa and Omid were in the back yard, Omid was laying on the ground with his leg wound now reopened.
"Omid," Char sighed.
"I know, I know," He said with a laugh even though he was obviously in pain, "I don't guess you're up to playing nurse again?"
"I'll see what I can do," Char said, "If we could get inside that would be better."
"We'll look around then," Lee said, "find a way in." While Lee, Ben and Kenny tried to get into the house Char started working on Omid's leg, again. While her powers were not designed to heal with some creative thinking and a little bit of experimentation Char had discovered that she could rearrange the dead cells into a sudo-scab that could keep the wound closed and let it heal. This process however was a very detailed oriented one and took a good deal of Char's energy to manipulate the wound with such precision.
"Okay I've done what I can for you out here," Char said after resealing about a third of the gash. "Now we need to get this cleaned if I am to patch up the rest of it."
"Got it," Lee said. Char looked behind her to see that Lee had dug up a dog corpse. She was just in time to see the head fall off leaving Lee holding just the collar. Char just shook her head while Christa puked a little.
"Are you okay," Clem asked.
"Yeah I'm fine sweetie it's just the smell," Christa said.
"Why do you need the dog's collar," Char asked.
"To open the dog's door," Ben said, "It's an electronic lock."
"Oh cool," Omid said, "A neighbor of mine used to have one of those."
"You would know the only other person to have one of these things," Kenny remarked, "Come on Lee let's see if it works." Char and Christa helped Omid stand up and they followed Lee and Clem over to the door. Lee set the collar next to the doggy door and it unlocked with a click.
"Well what do you know it works," Kenny said. Lee got down on the ground and tried to reach through to open the door but he couldn't reach the knob.
"I can't reach it," Lee said, "Anyone have any other ideas?" Clem apparently did as she scampered through the doggy door. "Clem what do you see in there," Lee asked.
There was no response for a few seconds before the door opened and Clem jumped out with a "Ta-da. I did good right?"
"Yeah, yeah you did," Lee said as he rubbed her head. The group moved inside and started to search the house for any dangers or supplies. Omid lay down on the couch so Char could clean out his gash as best she could before closing it the rest of the way.
"Okay you're closed up again," Char said, "I hope this time we can keep it closed."
"You and me both," Omid replied, "I just hope there is less running."
"I think we can both expect more running," Christa said, "That train probably drew every walker within a hundred miles to us."
"And now you jinxed it," Omid said with a laugh.
"Oh shut up," Christa said when a gunshot came from upstairs. Char ran to the stairs to see what had happened when Lee came down them with the desiccated corps of a young boy. It looked like he had starved to death wherever he was hiding and then came back.
"Lee," Char started but Lee just walked past her and out into the yard. Char watched as Lee proceeded to bury the boy with his dog in the hole that Lee had made earlier while getting the collar. Char turned and went back inside when Christa and Clem came up beside her and tapped her shoulder.
"At least it is one boy who doesn't have to get disintegrated," Char said as she thought of Duck and what she did for him.
"Kenny's kid," Christa asked.
"Yeah," Char said, "It was that or..."
"I don't need the details," Christa said, "I'm sorry."
"It's not like you could have helped him anymore than I could," Char said. Their conversation was interrupted when Lee yelled from outside. The three ran back outside and were joined by Kenny and Ben.
"Lee what is it," Kenny asked.
"I saw someone on the other side of the fence," Lee said, "He was just watching me, watching us."
"I don't like this not one bit," Ben said.
"Yeah walkers are one thing but the thought of someone actually stalking us is another," Christa said. "Speaking of that when were you going to tell us the radio worked? I mean that could have been whoever was on the radio."
"We only found out this morning," Lee said, "But I think you're right, whoever was ringing the bells and messing with Clem on the radio is after us and we need to be ready to stop him."
"Screw that," Kenny said, "What we need to do is get out of Savannah as fast as possible, get out on the water where no one can sneak up on us."
"A boat," Christa remarked, "Really?"
"This isn't a debate," Kenny said, "We find a boat and get away from this stalker."
"Omid is in no condition to travel," Char said, "Not right now at least, and I need some time to regain my energy."
"How about this," Lee said, "Me and Kenny will go out and look for a boat, you all stay here and rest, maybe even scavenge for some more food or tools or whatever could be of use around here."
"That, sounds like a good idea," Christa agreed.
"What about me," Ben asked.
"Christa and I will probably be helping Omid," Char said, "You need to look out for Clem."
"I... yeah okay," Ben said.
"Ben whoever this person on the radio is seems to want to get Clem," Lee said, "Until we get back you shoot anyone or anything that comes through those doors."
"I can take care of walkers no problem," Ben said.
"Did you hear me," Lee asked, "I said anything or anyone."
"R-right," Ben agreed, "Nothing comes through the door except you two."
"Good," Lee said as he left to join Kenny in the search for a boat.
"What happens if they don't find a boat," Clem asked.
"We head out to the countryside," Christa said, "I think cities are a bad idea."
"Considering that we have a hoard of walkers coming from behind us, a stalker inside the city somewhere and who knows how many other dangers," Char said, "I agree with that. Hey Ben were there any beds upstairs?"
"Yeah," Ben replied, "Why?"
"If there is a real bed then I'd like to lay on that," Omid said, "Here help me up and let's get to that bed."
"Yeah a rest does sound nice," Char agreed, "Clem help Ben and Christa get Omid upstairs, I'll be out in the yard drawing in what energy I can."
"Okay," Clem said as she ran over to Ben and smiled up at him.
"Are you going to be okay out there by yourself," Omid asked.
"Really," Char replied as she raised her spectral arm.
"Good point," Omid conceded as he was helped up the stairs by Christa and Ben with Clem running ahead to open the door. Charolite went and lay down in the yard. The grass was cool and soft but it also had energy, energy that Char could transfer to herself. With the flip of a mental switch Char was in her meditative resting state her necrotic aura pulling in the energy of the life that surrounded her. Char was shaken awake sometime later that day. It was approaching evening from the way the sun lay in the sky. Char woke to see Clem smiling down at her.
"Hey Clem," Char said giving the younger girl a smile in return. "What did I miss?"
"Well we didn't find any boats but we met some new people," Clem said.
"We," Char asked, "You mean Lee and Kenny right?"
"No she means all of us," Lee said, "She came out to find us, good thing to otherwise Molly wouldn't have helped use get back here."
"Molly," Char asked.
"She's new," Lee said, "A local to Savannah and I met a guy named Vernon and his rehab group. Vernon is a doctor, he and his cancer survivors are hold up in a morgue."
"Well if that isn't irony," Char remarked as she got up off the grass. "So you come to get me so I can meet the new people then?"
"Actually I was looking for Clem," Lee said, "What were you doing out here?"
"I was resting for a bit," Char said.
"I know, I could tell I was talking to Clem," Lee said with a chuckle.
"I was going to go look in the shed," Clem replied.
"Huh I guess we should check it out," Char said, "I don't sense any walkers in it."
The three looked towards the vine covered shed and Lee stepped towards it. He tried the door but it was locked. Looking around the three found a hole that Clem could fit through and she slid inside so she could unlock the door.
"Oh wow," Clem gasped from inside, "Lee, Char you won't believe it!"
"Well open the door so we can see it," Char said. The click of a latch later and Lee opened the doors to reveal a thirty foot motor boat in almost pristine condition. Lee just stared at the boat.
"See it's awesome right," Clem asked.
"Whoa," Char whispered.
"This whole time it's been right here," Lee remarked.
"Hey Lee," Kenny said, "The new guys want to meet..." Kenny trailed off as the clink of his beer bottle hitting the ground resounded and he came to join the three in staring at the boat. Char clapped him on the back with her physical hand as a smile spread across Kenny's face.
"You three get inside and introduce Char to the new people," Kenny said, "and send Ben out here to help me look over this baby."
"On it," Char said as she, Clem and Lee headed inside the house.
"Hey, Vernon, Molly, come meet Charolite," Lee said once they were inside the house, "Ben go outside and help Kenny, we've found us a boat!"
"What really," Ben asked as he came into the living room that was by the back door, "Awesome." He headed out to help Kenny as two people Char didn't recognize entered the room.
"Oh my," the elderly man said as he saw Charolite.
"That looks useful," the other person, a young woman, remarked.
"Char this is Vernon and Molly," Lee said, "Vernon is a doctor and Molly helped get Kenny and Clem to safety when we were back at the river."
"Well it is nice to meet you," Char said.
"You were not kidding about that arm," Vernon stated, "Dare I ask what happened?"
"You probably don't want to know," Char said.
"Okay guys I've looked over the boat," Kenny said as he and Ben came in and Christa joined them in the living room. "I've got some good news and some bad news."
"Let's hear the bad news first," Char said.
"The boat has no fuel or battery," Kenny said, "The good news is that is all she is missing, we find those two things and we are golden."
"Okay but according to you two the town is basically stripped of any resources," Christa said as she pointed to Molly and Vernon.
"Yeah Crawford took everything," Molly said, "Well anything of value anyway."
"Then would this Crawford guy have what we need," Char asked.
"Crawford is not a person," Vernon said, "It's a place. Part of the city that was sealed off by the inhabitants when the walkers started showing up. Then they started getting rid of any unnecessary drains on their resources, like me and my patients or children or anyone with any sort of medical condition."
"Okay the question still stands then," Char said, "If they didn't have a lot of people to use up the resources then would they still have something we could use?"
"Probably," Molly said, "But you wouldn't be able to trade them for it."
"What if we don't trade them for it," Lee said, "What if we borrow it?"
"You mean steal it," Vernon said, "That could work. I had thought of the idea myself since I know all the tunnels that run under the city but never had the manpower to pull it off... with the two of our groups though we could do it. You guys wouldn't happen to have a map on you?"
"Actually yes," Lee said as he pulled out the map that he, Clem and Char had used on the train to plan what they were going to do while in Savannah. "What would we be looking for?"
"Fuel, batteries, medical supplies, and anything else we can get from those monsters," Molly said.
"Vendetta much," Christa asked.
"Maybe," Molly replied.
"I got it," Vernon said, "We can use this tunnel here to come up right by the old school, that is where they are housing most of the supplies. I'll go get my people ready and meet you all back here in a few hours. Be ready when I get back."
"We will be," Lee said as Vernon headed out through the front door.
"So we're resulting to thievery now," Char asked.
"Those people in Crawford are just getting what they deserve," Molly said.
"We need the stuff for the boat," Kenny said.
"Omid could use some of those meds," Christa added.
"Let's get our stuff together then," Lee said, "Char, Clem, I got you two something while I was out." Lee waved the two over and handed each of them a gun. Clem got a semi-auto like she used on the train and Char was handed a revolver.
"Where did you get these," Char asked as Clem turned her gun over in her hands looking it over with a mix of both awe and a little fear.
"Do you want to know," Lee asked.
"Chuck had them didn't he," Char continued as she used her necrotic abilities to review the weapons. "He didn't make it back did he?"
"I... uh, no," Lee said with a sigh, "No he didn't."
"Lee," Clem asked, "Do you think my parents are in Crawford?"
"Well Molly did say it was the only place left with people in it," Lee said, "I suppose we could keep an eye out for them. But Clem if they decided to stay in Crawford instead of come back to find you..."
Char got Lee's implication but Clem didn't seem to as she replied, "But we went out to find them remember. If they are here then we will be where they are tonight."
"We sure will sweet pea," Lee said as he got up from his kneeling position to help Kenny who was waving him over.
Once Lee was out of earshot Char asked Clem, "Do you really think we will find your parents?"
"Yes," Clem said, "We will find them."
"Okay maybe I should rephrase that," Char said, "Do you think they will still be alive when we find them?"
"I think so," Clem said with less confidence than her previous statement, "I hope so..."
Char put her hands on Clem's shoulders saying, "I hope so too. Come on do you have anything you need to take with you?"
"Maybe a couple of things," Clem said her face scrunched up in thought, "Come on let's see about getting them." The next few hours were a blur of preparation for the mission. Dealing with the walkers was one thing but fast, armed, people were a much more serious threat. Vernon returned with a friend of his named Brie. She had been a student at the school and knew the layout of the inside quite well. Vernon seemed like he was going to object to Clem and Char's presence on this mission but one glare from Char caused him to hold his thoughts. The group spent the next hour working their way through the sewer system of Savannah until they came up next to the school that Crawford was using to hold all their supplies.
"Something isn't right," Char said once they were out of the sewers, "I feel the walkers around here. Why would there be walkers in Crawford?"
"Maybe something happened," Kenny said, "Either way we know how to take out walkers and avoid them. That may make this easier than if we are having to fight armed guards."
"Agreed," Lee and Vernon said.
"If there are walkers here then is that guy over there a walker," Ben asked as he pointed to a guy in a leather motorcycle jacket that was standing several yards away with his back turned to them. Char scanned the person in question and confirmed that yes it was a walker.
"I'll skeletonize it," Char said as she threw one of her red orbs at the walker, "it would be handy to have some extra back up out here just in case."
"Path to the school looks clear," Brie said, "Assuming the skeleton doesn't try to attack us."
"It won't," Char said as her skeleton turned and waved at them before returning to it's watch.
"Okay that is a little sick," Christa said.
"It does prove her point though," Vernon said as the group moved into the school.
"Be careful," Char said, "I sense a lot of walkers in here."
"Well as long as you don't sense them in front of us we will be okay yeah," Molly said.
"Right," Brie said, "Follow me then and Charolite let me know if there is anything dangerous up ahead."
"I will," Char said as they all started to go deeper into the school. After about seven or eight minutes they arrived at what looked to be the old HQ for Crawford. From the maps there the group was able to decide on three location to search for the supplies they were looking for, meds, a battery, and gas. Kenny and Brie went to get the gas since it was in a shed and Brie knew how to get to it, Lee and Molly went to get the battery from a mechanic shop that was just across an ally from the school, Vernon and Christa were getting the meds from down the hall in the nurses office and Ben, Char and Clem were in the HQ room trying to get through a door that was labeled Armory.
"How are we supposed to get through this," Ben asked after he had looked over the door. It was a sturdy door that led to a stairway which ran up to the old bell at the top of the school.
"Dead-bolted, locked, reinforced and we don't have a key," Char said, "We could try picking the lock."
"Do I look that urban," Ben asked.
"I didn't mean you," Char said as she started searching around for something to pick the lock with, "I'm an infiltrator remember, while I am finding a pick though see what you and Clem can do to that door, can we unscrew the hinges or anything?"
"Yeah yeah right on it," Ben said as he went back to testing the door's integrity.
"Can I help," Clem asked.
"Yes, look around for a paper clip or a thin piece of wire anything that would be small enough to fit into that lock on the door," Char said.
"So Char why did you stay with us," Ben asked as the three went about their various task.
"Well not to alarm anyone but we are currently in a building that is crawling with undead and with currently only one way out of this room," Char said, "If I can give us advanced warning we won't get trapped in here. Also I can call my skeleton up here to help fight off the walkers if I need to." Ben just nodded and went back to working on the door with more earnestness. "Just don't damage the lock if I find a pick that will be the best option to open that door."
"Would this work," Clem asked as she held up a hair pin after another ten minutes of looking and Ben coming up empty on opening the door via force.
"That would work perfectly," Char said as she took the u shaped piece of thin metal. "Ben Clem guard the door while I work. After about three more minutes with Char slowly working her way through the locks on the door Kenny and Brie came back in with Lee following.
"Where is Molly," Clem asked.
"She is getting something," Lee said, "but she also has a battery. With it and this gas we can get the boat moving. Are Christa and Vernon back yet?"
"No," Char said, "You could go look for them instead of interrupting my concentration while I work on these locks... I'm sorry that, … just sorry."
"Well you have a point," Kenny said, "Come on let's let her work, Ben Clem with me let's go guard that door. Some of the walkers inside are starting to wander this way."
"I'll have the skeleton move up then," Char said.
"No leave him at the doors, we don't want any more of these things getting in," Brie said. "I think we can handle a few of them that are wandering the halls."
Char stopped her lock picking to look at Brie considering her words before nodding and returning to the lock. Brie stayed in the room with Char but she remained quiet so Char could work. After another seven minutes the other locks on the door had been picked and Char opened the door.
"Is there anything in there," Brie asked.
"No just the stairs up to the bell... wait," Char said as she ventured into the stairway. There was a weapon rack with a shotgun in it and a box of shells. "There is a shotgun in here and ammo for it. Oh no, Walkers are on their way! Brie take this gun and go get the others. We need to get up and out of here now." Brie caught the shotgun and the box of ammo and loaded it as the rest of the group, including Molly bust back into the room.
"Good door's open," Kenny stated, "everyone up."
"My skeleton is moving in from the bottom level it will keep stuff from below us off of us as we climb," Char said as everyone ran into the stairway. As they moved up walkers started coming in from the other levels and from the bottom. Below them Char's skeleton was using a fire ax to hack it's way through the walkers but in front of them Brie was blasting a path through with the shotgun. They reached the top of the tower with Char's skeleton only three floors below them and that meant three floors of walkers that was coming up towards them. Vernon and Kenny got on the roof through a window and Lee and Molly started passing the gas and battery through to them. That was when the bell started gonging and the walker that was tied to it grabbed Brie, who in turn grabbed Ben as he was the closest one to her.
"Help," The two screamed as they were pulled off the edge and were dangling above the abyss of the seven story stairwell. "Ah," Brie screamed as the walker that had grabbed her bit into her shoulder then into her neck. As she died Brie dropped Ben but Char was reacting by this time and had her skeleton jump out and catch Ben while catching itself and him on the wall with the ax.
"Ben hold onto the skeleton," Char yelled at him, "Then I can have it climb up the walls to get you back up here!" Lee and Molly had taken up a position by the stairs to keep the walkers away while Char directed the skeleton back up to them bringing Ben back with it.
"Okay, I'm okay, I'm okay," Ben said as he was deposited on the landing by the skeleton.
"Come on we can't hold out here any longer," Kenny said, "through the window." With that the group ducked through the window and started making their way back across the rooftops to the house that they were staying in.
"Vernon," Char said, "I'm sorry about Brie."
"I... thanks I know I should be torn up about it," Vernon said, "I was when my daughter died, but now it's just something I expect I guess."
"It's only been a few months," Char said, "Either you are very quick to adapt or you're very quick to give up hope for people. It's not my place to determine that though."
"Huh you know I was thinking the same thing," Vernon sighed, "You've got thoughts in your head that are far beyond your years little girl."
"Yeah, I do," Char agreed as she briefly reflected on all the events in her troubled life that led her to this point. The group entered the house and Lee, Christa, Vernon and Char went to check on Omid while Kenny and Ben went to fuel up the boat and Molly and Clem went into another room in the upstairs. Upon entering Omid's room he looked dead with the way he was sprawled out on the bed. Char could tell he wasn't with her powers but the others couldn't have been so sure. This caused Christa to gasp and Lee to put a hand on her shoulder until Omid woke with the noise the group was making and looked at them.
"Hey baby," Omid said to Christa.
"How's your leg," Char asked, "Still closed up?"
"Yeah," Omid replied, "Still infected too from the feel of it."
"Well we got some medicine," Vernon said as the doctor took over and shooed everyone else out of the room. Char went off to find Clem, she and Molly were in a study. It had a wall of bookcases with an oak desk, a mid sized red couch and a lined windowsill that acted as another couch, or a small bed.
"Oh hey Charolite," Molly said, "I was just saying goodbye to Clem..."
"You're leaving," Char asked, "That is a first, someone who doesn't want to stick around the undead slaughtering necromancer... I can understand wanting to be on your own in something like this."
"I... thank you," Molly said as she hugged Char, "Be safe, and keep her safe." Molly pointed at Clem as she said this before she walked out of the room.
"Do you think she will be okay," Clem asked.
"I think she will be fine," Char said, "Molly is a strong one and clever. That ice pick she has can get her out of just about any situation she finds herself in."
"I saved her," Clem said.
"What," Char asked.
"Back in Crawford," Clem clarified, "She was grappling with one of the walkers and I shot it. She was thanking me for saving her." Char couldn't help but smile at this news, Clem could protect herself and those around her.
"That is wonderful," Char said, "What hasn't been wonderful is the lack of time we've had to try and find your parents."
"They are here in Savannah," Clem said, "We should look in the Marsh House, that is where they stay."
"I remember, from the train ride," Char said drawing a smile out of Clem. "We may not have time to go looking in the morning... Clem can you describe your parents to me or better yet let me borrow something that they gave you?"
"Well my dad gave me this hat," Clem said as she handed her prized ball cap to Char. Char took it and pulled the residual signature of Clementine's parents from it.
"Thank you Clem," Char said as she placed the hat back on Clem's head. "I know what they look like now and how they feel through magic. I can take the rest of the night and head to the Marsh House to see if your parents are there... Clem I can't promise you that they will be alive."
"They will be there," Clem asserted, "They will be."
"Okay I'll go look for them," Char said.
"Go look for who," Lee asked as he came into the study.
"Clem's parents," Char said, "I can get by the walkers with ease and if I go tonight we can know by the morning what we will need to do. If that means getting into a boat then I can catch up on my missed sleep once we are in the water."
"You're going back out there," Lee said in a hushed voice, "The others will not be happy about this."
"Well it's not like any of you could stop me," Char said as she deployed her cloaking illusion and walked out of the room. She checked the map on the table to see where the Marsh House was from their location and then headed out. Char spent the better part of the early morning making her way to the restaurant/hotel only to discover that which she had feared all along. Char did find Clem's parents but they were hungrily wandering the streets with a mob of other walkers. "Oh Clem... I'm so sorry," Char whispered upon seeing Clementine's deceased parents. Char's return trip was filled with heavy thoughts the primary of these being how she was going to tell Clem. Upon returning she saw that the core of her group. Lee, Kenny, Ben, Christa and Omid were standing outside and all looking at Lee. Two things stood out immediately; one was Lee had Clem's cap and the second was the very visible bite mark on Lee's arm.
"Lee," Char gasped as she came up to the group startling them all. "What happened?"
"Clem's gone Char. Someone took her," Lee said, "I got bit while I was picking up her radio."
"Recent then," Char said, "I might be able to save this then. Let me have a look at that arm." A quick scan with her powers told Char that the only possible hope Lee had was if she took the arm off. "Well I can take the arm off and we can hope that the infection doesn't get into the rest of you before then but other than that... I'm sorry Lee I can kill the walkers not stop people from becoming them."
"Then we have two reason to go looking for Vernon," Kenny said, "He would have surgical supplies and if he has Clem..."
"No need for the supplies," Char said as a red orb formed in her spectral hand, "Lee if you're
willing."
"Even if it just gives me enough time to find Clem I'll take it," Lee said. As he held out his arm which was skeletonized a moment later. Lee screamed in pain as Char's spell dissolved his flesh but the side effect was Lee now had a functioning skeleton arm.
"Vernon didn't take Clem," Char said after she made sure that Lee was adjusting to his revamped appendage, "You said the guy on the radio told Clem he had her parents. Her parents are by the Marsh House, they are... turned. If this guy want's Clem so bad then he would be where her parents are we need to head to the Marsh House. Actually scrap that we need to head inside there are walkers closing in on use from everywhere. Lee's scream probably drew them."
"Sorry, I didn't think it would be that painful," Lee said as the group rushed inside while Walkers crawled over the fence into the backyard. Char set her Skeleton to guard the back door but when the front door and windows all broke to the wave of undead thrashing at them the group retreated to the upper floor and used a bookcase to block off a hall way.
"Even I can't kill all of these guys," Char said, "How much ammo do you all have?"
"Five," Kenny said.
"Three," Christa added.
"Four," Lee said.
"Two," Ben said.
"Also three," Omid said. The six lined up their shots as the walkers came around the corner. Char had her skeleton standing just behind the bookcase and it was using it's ax to deadly effect but the hoard of walkers was simply pushing past it even with Char's spells distracting and destroying them. Once the group ran out of ammo the walkers really started to push them back. Char was trying to hold three skeletons together but commanding so many was taxing her.
"We need to go," Char gasped, "I can't keep this up much longer."
"Up," Lee said as he pulled the stairs to the attic down and the group ascended before Lee closed the stairs back up. Char saw a couch and started making her way towards it but didn't make it there before she passed out from exhaustion.
Character Daisy Noire Belladonna (Noire)
Noire checked her appearance in her mirror. She looked a lot like Blake, okay she may look almost exactly like Blake except for three very important differences. Noire had hot pink irises, two little fangs that poked out from under her upper lip and she was generally bustier than Blake. Noire smirked as she tied the strands of her wavy, black hair out of her face and into a ponytail where it belonged. She walked out of her bathroom and picked up Cat's Tail, her Dust enhanced, chain, rapier. She then got dressed in her combat outfit: A turtle neck that cut of just below her breasts, Black cargo pants that tucked into high heel, black combat boots, (don't ask how that works for Noire it just does.) She slid on her black, metal plated, fingerless gloves and then scratched one of her cat ears before turning to the portal that had opened up in her room. An old friend had said she could go help a group called Dragon Company, he had said that they had two version of team RWBY in it and the Reds and Blues from her all time favorite show. Noire stopped for a moment and twirled Cat's Tail around for a minute. She would miss her universe's RWBY, probably because of all the fond memories that she had made with the team as they all staved off insanity one summer by watching the first ten season of RvB. Also because if that hadn't of happened then she would never have been drawn out of Blake and probable never become a person.
"Screw it," she said as she stepped through the portal. On the other side was a team RWBY or two that needed her help and the RvB crew and that meant Tucker and Jr. would be there, or at least she had been told they were there and Tucker was her personal hero. She even modeled her own catch phrase after his 'Bow-chicka-bow-wow.' Noire's version was meow-chicka-meow-meow, since she was a cat Fanus and she loved to make references to that heritage, even if it was technically Blake's and Noire was just copying it. Also if there was any chance that Noire could marry her hero she was going to take it. Noire appeared in a flash of pink light amidst a most peculiar battle. Of the combatants Noire recognized Agent Main from project Freelancer, though he didn't seem to be possessed by evil AI, another Spartan that looked like Main but with the Meta symbol on it's armor, and... Florida, aka Captain Flowers. "Oh my God, Captain Flowers is alive in this universe." Noire thought as she stared at the three as they decimated a wave of creatures that looked like some cross between a bear and a squid. "and he's actually good at fighting." Noire added after seeing Florida drop five of the creatures with his pistol and combat knife. "I wonder who the other spartan like Main is," Noire wondered as she approached the three. With a dust powered strike from Cat's Tail Noire set fire to another seven of the bear, squid, demon things. This also drew the attention of the three Spartans.
"Well hello there miss," Flowers, Florida, whichever, said. "I don't believe we've met, though you look similar to a friend of mine."
"Blake right," Noire said, "Yes I know. I'm Noire, you must be Flowers, and you are Agent Main but who is the third one?"
"I am Sigma," the other large Spartan said, "How do you know of us?"
"Let's just say your exploits are of great value to other worlds," Noire said, "Though it would seem some of the stories are incorrect."
"If you are referring to my possession of Main along with the other AIs that did happen," Sigma said, "We are just not those AIs and Main is restored from death as are many other Freelancers."
"Oh so that's why you're alive then," Noire said to Flowers.
"That would be correct," Flowers said, "And we have God and Cloak to thank for that."
Noire mentally took a step back at that comment, "Wait God, does he mean, no he doesn't mean UknownHero... Oh he means, okay much bigger stakes with this group got it."
"We can talk later," Main said, "More come and Carolina wants us to regroup with them before the next assault against the capital of Atlas."
"Wait I thought you were on RWBY's side," Noire said.
"We are," Florida said, "This Remnant has been overrun by the demons and we are helping the surviving members of this world retake it."
"So that is what the bear squids are," Noire remarked, "and what about the Grimm?"
"Still plenty of them around," Sigma said, "they are crossed with a life form called Necromorphs however so they are even worse than before, with the spike throwing tentacles and all."
"Tentacles huh," Noire said with a smirk. Then as if to mock her a huge tentacle burst up out of the ground and swatted at them while depositing Necromorphs in the area.
"Hunters," Main said as he pointed at two large hominid shaped variants of the flesh creatures. In addition to that were several Creeps that had tentacles which were capable of throwing spikes and a Boarbatusk that had large stabbing appendages growing out of it's sides.
Noire searched for a semblance to copy but there were none in her range. "Well shit, I guess I'll be doing this the hard way then." Noire charged Cat's Tail with ice dust as the large tentacle came crashing down towards her and the Spartans. Noire slashed the tentacle with an upper cut, the chain like blade of her rapier extending and freezing a good two-thirds of the tentacle. Sigma then hit the frozen flesh with some grenades and it shattered and retreated back into the ground. Noire then charged Cat's tail with electricity and spun it around in front of her and the Spartans to redirect the spikes that the Creeps threw at them back to the offending Grimm.
The Boarbatusk had reached the group by this time and was rolling at the four, it's spikes acting like blades as it rolled. Noire switched dust modes yet again and used a strength enhancing dust as she jumped over the Grimm and sliced it cleanly in half. She landed to have Florida block a strike at her from one of the Hunters with his knife. Noire switched to fire dust and stabbed the Hunter through before detonating the charge sending smoldering bits flying into the air and knocking herself and Flowers back from the second Hunter. Main intervened as the two picked themselves up.
Main countered a strike with his Brute Shot before using the blade on his weapon to slice off the spikes before he impaled the Hunter and threw it into the air where Sigma hit it with a volley of grenades. The creature landed on the ground as Noire and Flowers finished picking themselves up.
"Noire hit it with that fire you've got," Flowers said, "Otherwise it will just get back up."
"Seriously," Noire asked then she looked to the Hunter that was already regrowing it's limbs. Noire sighed and struck the Necromorph with her fire attack and it shrieked as it burned to ash. "Now try getting back up."
"You're obviously from Remnant," Flowers said, "That was dust no doubt about it. Are you like a twin of sister of Blake?"
"Nothing so simple," Noire said, "Look if you want to now more about me then read a story called React, Watch, Believe, Yikes. You will pretty much get all you want to know from there."
"React, Watch, Believe, Yikes," Sigma repeated, "RWBY... interesting coincidence. Hmm, ah here it is let me just download it and, done. Well you are indeed an interesting person Noire, I believe that Jinx, Lilith and C would be very glad to meet you."
"Later," Main stated, "We get to Carolina now."
"Of course," Flowers said, "Follow us then. It is dandy to have you along."
"So do you go by Florida or Flowers," Noire asked after a few moments.
"Well either one will work," Florida said as the four made their way across the snowy hills of Atlas. They were surrounded by a graveyard of crashed airships and other vehicles, even a few frozen corpses that the Grimm were unable to get to.
"What happened," Noire asked they made their way through the hull of a crashed airship.
"Cinder and a Magog demon happened," Flowers said. "Team RWBY was apparently deceived into helping Cinder since she took over politically instead of running her crime syndicate. Cinder also may have been possessed by a Magog, basically sin given form and consciousnesses, they didn't think that one world was enough for them to rule so they used all the resources available to them and met up with a faction called the Sith. From them Magog-Cinder got spaceships and developed interdiminsional travel and now she can strike out at just about any world at any time."
"And these Necromorphs as you called them," Noire continued as she jumped out of the crashed ship.
"Followers of the Magog side of our foe," Sigma said, "They feed off of the dead that are left in it's wake."
"The whole world can't be dead," Noire said, "Surely some of them made it off."
"About forty according to Shade," Main said.
"Shade," Noire asked.
"She was this Remnant's Ruby," Flowers said.
"What do you mean was," Noire asked.
"Shade says she is not worthy of the name since she led her team to help Cinder, even if it was unintentional," Sigma said, "She is a Sith lord now, Shade. She still has those silver eyes though, very unsettling in her seven foot tall, cloaked shadowy form."
"I heard that there are two team RWBY with you guys, I'm assuming that Shade and her team is one of them," Noire said. "Who is the other set then?"
"The other set is the normal ones I guess," Flowers said, "Assuming that any of them could be called normal."
"They are more like your RWBY than Shade's team," Sigma said. "Though instead of watching a show based on our lives they are actually living with us. Take that how you will."
"So Tucker is really with all of you guys then and Jr." Noire asked.
"That he is," Main confirmed.
"You know Main, you are a lot more talkative than I would have expected," Noire remarked. Main just looked at her and continued walking. The group had reached the top of a hill and a base could be seen below them. It was constructed of what looked like shipping containers and had power cables running all over the place. The unmistakable figure of Shade could be seen in the middle of the camp as she gave out orders to the Sith that she commanded.
"We are just getting the bases established," Flowers said, "Carolina will be meeting us here soon, until then you may want to explain your situation to Shade, she can bring you up to speed with what happened."
"Sure," Noire thought as she waved to the three Spartans and headed towards Shade. "Because I'm sure she isn't going to be terrifying at all."
"Hurry up we need to get these generators protected," Shade said to two of the soldiers that were standing in front of her. "We leave them out here like this and they will get damaged in the next snowfall."
"Yes ma'am," the men said before falling out to go get the generators covered. Shade then turned towards Noire.
"Hey there Noire," Shade said, the power and commanding presence that had been in her voice just a few moment ago was gone, replaced with a sadness and tiredness. "I always wondered if you would find a way to visit with more of us."
"You know who I am," Noire asked in shock.
"All of us do, the Ruby that you know is the same Ruby that I was and is the same Ruby that is in DC. It's just a matter of if we came before or after you showed up that will determine if we remember you," Shade said.
"Wait if you are... then how did Cinder trick you," Noire asked.
"She was a political figure head, a person that most of the world looked up to," Shade said, "I had thought that maybe she would turn out like DC's Cinder, I hoped and I was fooled. I was only able to save a few from across the world, and that with Finis' help. Without anywhere else to turn to I hid us all within the ranks of the Sith until we became powerful enough to gain our own following and meet up with DC. I had years to plan this but unfortunately our Ruby memory is not as collective as we would like it to be. I remember Cinder and Adam, K, you, and a few others but I don't remember this Magog-Cinder or how to really fight her. I just have to keep acting like I know what I'm doing and despite my best attempt the Sith influence is strong, we, RWBY is not the same as the team with DC or the one you knew, most of us are filled with anger. My sister is a good example of that."
"What about you," Noire asked as she put a hand on Shade's shoulder.
"I am a tired old woman filled more with memory than with hope," Shade said quoting Director Lenard Church, well almost quoting.
Noire closed her eyes and lowered her head as she understood what Shade was saying, "You don't look all that old," Noire whispered.
"I'm a hundred and three," Shade replied drawing Noire's attention again.
"A hundred and..." Noire almost choked. Shade didn't look older than maybe forty. "I'm only twenty seven! At least I think I'm twenty seven. Do I get to count the time I was dormant in Blake's head, do I count it twice once for me and once for her... if that's the case I'd be forty four and if I don't get to count it then I'd be what ten? You know what I'm going with twenty-seven."
"Shade," Carolina's voice called as the aqua Spartan walked up. "and... is that what Yishi looks like when she's not in those robes?"
"No this is Noire," Shade said, "An old... friend of another RWBY."
"Right," Carolina replied, "Well that may be helpful then, Church is pinned down and needs some support, I was going to ask you but instead I'll take her so you can stay here and guard the camp. Come on Noire and welcome to DC."
"Thanks Carolina," Noire said, "You're shorter than I was expecting."
"That's because we are standing next to Shade," Carolina remarked as she led Noire out to meet back up with Main, Sigma and Flowers. "Everyone looks short compared to her... well most everyone."
"Back with us are you Noire," Flowers said as the two women approached the three. "Your skills will be appreciated. From what I hear the Blue team is in quite a mess."
"How so," Noire asked. "It's probably nothing I can't handle... I mean I crushed those other demons and I didn't even have my Aura generator on."
"The Magog part of our foe is here," Sigma said, "It is unlike the other ones we've fought before. It is not massive but it is agile and cunning, wreathed in fire and shadow an ash wraith of what used to be a person. Yet it still has the strength of it's kind so even the Spartan suits don't match up to it in speed and strength."
Upon hearing this Noire turned her Aura generator on and also cast out to see if there were any semblances that she could copy, she found that through Shade she could copy the semblances of the other dark RWBY members. Noire smirked as she got into the Sith drop ship, "this will work out nicely."
"What's with the smirk," Carolina asked.
"Oh you'll see," Noire replied as she set her Aura generator to also play the song God in Fire by Kidney Thieves. The door opened up to reveal a battle raging below them. Church and Jr. were backed into a corner where they were holding off fire throwing, man like, demons. Tex, Caboose and Tucker were engaging a solitary figure that was a smoldering husk of a man. The demons were winning, Main and Sigma jumped down to help Church and Jr. Carolina and Florida jumped out and had to run to Tex and Caboose's aid as the two were thrown back by the Magog demon. Noire was waiting for the right time to make her strike as the drop ship carried her closer to the fight between the demon and Tucker.
"Just a little closer," Noire thought. The demon landed a hit on Tucker throwing him back into a crashed ship and Noire jumped out. As she fell Noire's Aura generator, a small triangular object that she mounted on her left shoulder started playing the song she had cued.
Gone in a second
Ultimate destruction Gods are warring Sorrow never-ending
Noire landed between the Magog and Tucker and brought up Cat's tail to block a strike that the demon was aiming at Tucker's head.
Endless chaos For an eternity Welcome to the abyss
Noire activated the ice dust and knocked the Magog back with a wave of frozen spikes.
Backwater town where nothing happens Don't let disguises fool you Evil is coming from everywhere Destroying all that we believe is good
The Magog countered the ice with a wave of lava that spewed from it's mouth.
My mother's ghost still haunts me now Fortune abandoned by God Nothing can bring her back to me Now I will seek to rage heaven's doors
Noire countered the lava with a glyph thanks to the copied semblance from Weiss.
There is no mercy, compassion in the world Embrace the chaos For in the end that is All
Noire lashed out with a electrically charge strike that caused the Magog to reel back as the electricity coursed through it's form.
Now the universe is broken, lost its force Turn your back on all you have loved For it is
The Magog roared and split into six copies of itself before they all came at Noire.
Gone in a second Ultimate destruction Gods are warring Sorrow never-ending Endless chaos For an eternity Welcome to the abyss
Noire weighed her options. She wasn't going to dodge because that would let the demon get to Tucker. Deciding to just take the hits Noire switched Weiss' semblance for Yang's and brought up Cat's tail to try and deflect some of the incoming blows.
Creation desperate Waiting for a Miracle to transcend all war Watch how the blood-lust of the divine Throw out its hatred for all time
Noire took twelve hits from the demon, she blocked half of them but the other six landed and threw her back to land beside Tucker. Noire looked at her hero and saw he was out cold and with a shattered face plate for his helmet.
There is no mercy, compassion in the world Embrace the chaos
The Magog advanced but Noire felt Yang's semblance kick in and her strength returned to her. Noire hissed at the demon as she picked herself up. The demons came in but Noire unleashed the pent up power of Yang's semblance, bursting into a roaring inferno as she did so. One arcing strike from Cat's tail knocked the Magog's forms back and felled three of them.
For in the end that is All Now the universe is broken, lost its force Turn your back on all you have loved For it is
Seeing as multiple forms wouldn't help it the Magog pulled itself back into on form as Noire now advanced on it.
Gone in a second Ultimate destruction Gods are warring Sorrow never-ending Endless chaos For an eternity Welcome to the end, to the abyss
Noire pulled on Ruby's semblance and covered the distance to the Magog in a moment while landing three strikes with her strength enhancing dust against the Magog. The Magog retaliated with a fire explosion that threw Noire into the air. From this height Noire saw that Tucker was picking himself up and the the rest of the squad was being kept out of the fight by a mass of demons that ranged in size and shape from dog like creatures that were drooling acid to massive beasts that were wielding swords and axes to flickering wraiths that struck out with lightening.
End as beginning And so it will be Alpha Omega The end that you see {Gone in a second}
Noire used Blake's semblance to avoid a strike from the Magog and land another hit of her own as she landed behind the creature, drawing it's attention away from Tucker as she did so. Then Noire used her own semblance to become a shadowy figure herself and phase through a molten punch that the Magog threw her way.
{Gods are warring} Gone in a second Ultimate destruction Gods are warring Sorrow never-ending Endless chaos For an eternity
Without the resistance of Noire the Magog's punch threw the demon off balance and allowed Tucker to stab it through the back with his sword. Noire materialized beside the Magog and cut it's head off with a swift dust powered strike from Cat's tail.
Welcome to the end, to the abyss
The demons around the group all dissolved as their master exploded throwing Noire and Tucker into each other and leaving the two on the ground and winded.
"Wow that was some amazing fighting from a sexy thing like you," Tucker said as he lay under Noire. "So you wouldn't happen to be single would you?"
"As it turns out I am," Noire replied as she rolled over and looked at Tucker. His face was round and clean shaven, he had short black hair that was in a buzz cut which matched his brown skin and chocolate eyes. "Hello Lavernius Tucker, I am Daisy Noire Belladonna. You're my hero, I love you, ask questions later." Noire then kissed Tucker before getting off of him and saying, "meow-chicka-meow-meow."
"Yeah, Bow-chicka-bow-wow-wow," Tucker exclaimed. Then after a moment and after accepting Noire's hand to help him up. "Wait Belladonna, like Blake Belladonna. You two are related?"
"Something like that," Noire said, "But not to the Blake you know. Now come on let's go help Jr. get Church out from under that massive demon dog corpse."
Character Diablo
It had taken Diablo, Leah and Ezio five days to find Claudia. They ran across her on the road to Monteriggioni. To say that she was relieved would be an understatement. Claudia also displayed the same level of curiosity at Diablo's presence as Leonardo. Now they were all within the city and Claudia was bringing Ezio and Leah up to speed on the events of the past couple of years. Diablo was waiting outside the manor house since he couldn't fit inside.
"Diablo," Ezio called from the porch, "We may have a problem."
"Really," Diablo replied, "I wouldn't have guessed."
"Sarcasm does not suit you," Ezio remarked.
"Neither does you sitting around talking about what should be done," Diablo replied, "If these Templars are a threat then we need to subvert them or destroy them."
"Then let us subvert them if we can," Ezio said, "They are a world power if we destroy them
that will just leave a power vacuum."
"But if we subvert them then we can get them to work towards our goals without them realizing it," Claudia said as she joined her brother on the porch. Looking between the two Diablo was once again reminded of the striking similarity that they shared. "I like the idea, but how would we pull it off?"
"I usually operate over several hundred years to get people to bend to my plans," Diablo said. "I somehow doubt you want a solution that takes that long though."
"Right," Leah said as she joined Ezio and Claudia, "We don't have a few hundred years, from what you told us then we not have a few days."
"The situation is that critical," Diablo asked, "Why?"
"The Templars control Rome," Ezio said, "Rome has the largest stockpile of Artifacts like the Apples that I know of. The only catch is no one has figured out how to activate them... well until now. Perindi showed me that the Apples are the keystones for the artifacts. It was an accidental revelation but it is one nevertheless. If I can control the artifacts, I can control the world. My Earth and Sanctuary under one rule..."
"That's a lot of responsibility," Leah remarked.
"To much responsibility," Ezio said, "The artifacts are the items creating the portals between our worlds. For once K is not to blame for this."
"That is surprising," Diablo remarked, "But I fail to see how this will help us if you are unwilling to use the artifacts to counter the Templars."
"I didn't say I was not going to use them I said it was to much power for one person," Ezio said, "I am already the aspect of death and these five Apples are bound to me, but I'd like for Leah to control the Artifacts." There was a silence after Ezio said this before Leah spoke.
"With my powers that I inherited from Dad I could control the Artifacts," Leah said quietly.
"I could too," Diablo said, "and I have many more years at... convincing people to do what I want them to do."
"That is why you will be the adviser," Claudia said, "you are much to demon in appearance for our deception to work."
"Adin," Diablo thought, "Are you still swimming around in there?" When he didn't get an answer Diablo smiled, well his fangs separated as it is hard to smile when one does not have lips to smile with. His outline shimmered and Diablo slowly collapsed into the body of a man. The man was Adin, he was the oldest son of King Leoric and had been foolish enough to try and use his body to capture Diablo's soulstone in. Now Diablo had the use of Adin's form. That form was a commanding six foot three with broad shoulders and etched muscles. "Well I'll need some cloths and armor to match the regal roll this body is used to," Diablo said, his voice now a strong commanding voice instead of the terror inducing rumbling that it usually is. There were a few noteworthy inhuman traits about this form, one Diablo's soulstone was embedded in the chest where the breast bone would be, two if you look deep enough into his eyes and for long enough you would still see the eyes of the lord of terror and three Diablo was not limited to the physical limitations that this form would normally have given it's size and structure so he was still as strong as he ever was and just as durable.
"That is an impressive feature," Claudia said. "I believe we can outfit you properly if you intend to use that body."
"I do," Diablo said as he jumped up to the balcony and entered the house, "Even though I do not like using it. If this will make our stay here shorter then I will do what is needed."
"We have some plate armor inside that would make you look like a king," Ezio said.
"We don't need plate armor," Diablo said, "I am plenty durable in this body, we need some of those robes like the man you said you chased into the portal had."
"I may be able to help with that," a woman's voice said as a red portal opened up before them. "You left these in my realm when you were here last." The woman, who was tall with long black hair, dressed in red and black with a mask of a Nevermore on her head and a sword that was as big as she was strapped to her hip, held out an armored plated robe that looked like it belonged on a Cardinal or a Bishop. Diablo took the robe and put it on. "Once you all are done here I can get you back to Remnant, I'll be watching." With that she turned around and disappeared back through the portal she had created.
"Do you think she is up for hire," Claudia asked after a few moments, "My assassins could really use that portal ability."
"That one is both very powerful and has a very unique gift," Diablo said, "I doubt it."
"Has she been watching us this whole time," Leah asked.
"It is possible she did say that we had watched over some friends of hers from Remnant," Ezio said, "Maybe this is her way of repaying us for that."
"We can speculate about her later," Diablo said, "Now we need to start planning."
"I have a map in the other room with all the information on the Templars we have," Claudia said, "follow me."
The map that Claudia mentioned covered an entire wall of a fairly large study. On it were detailed positions throughout Italy and Rome of Templar and Assassin power. Accompanying these positions were the names of any high level officials that either group had in the area.
"Impressive isn't it," Leah asked.
"Adequate," Diablo replied, "Now Perindi called the owner of these robes the Architect. Since we have a set of his robes from a future that now never happened we can remove him from the game and replace his piece with me."
"So we just need to know which leader is the Architect," Ezio stated, "With Rome controlled as it is getting that information might be harder than usual."
"Maybe maybe not," Leah said, "Those mercs that brought Leonardo to us seemed to know who you were and I would guess they didn't inform anyone else about your arrival otherwise we would probably have been chased."
"Wait which mercs," Claudia asked.
"Iron Shield," Ezio replied, "They seemed to know you."
"They should I basically formed an alliance with them, they would protect me and my girls and we would provide them a place to sleep, eat, be entertained get jobs etc," Claudia said. "I could see about getting a message to them to see if they know of this Architect."
"How long would that take," Diablo asked.
"About four days," Claudia said, "Assuming that the mercs have the information handy, if not upwards of a week."
"That is to long," Diablo said, "I've got another idea. With this body and my strength I can run back to Rome tonight. Leah can use our shared power to contact me and relay any information that I need and I can send the information I get to her."
"Wouldn't having two people in those robes tip the Templars off to our plan," Leah asked.
"Not if I am quick enough," Diablo said having already made up his mind. "I'll contact you when I get to Rome." With that he jumped out of a window ran to the outer wall of the city, jumped over that and headed back towards Rome. He soon felt the annoying pressure in his temples that meant someone, probably Leah was trying to contact him mentally. Diablo grunted as he opened the power channel and heard Leah.
"Watch out for Templar patrols on the roads," Leah said, "There are going to be four of them between you and Rome and if they see you then everyone will know that something is up as we can be very sure that this Architect is not where you are."
"Where along the roads are these patrols going to be," Diablo asked.
"We don't know for sure, they move around just keep and eye open for a large group of people with shields and horses," Leah replied after a moment.
"I am already doing that," Diablo said, "Tell Claudia not to have you relay useless information." With that Diablo closed the he didn't tell any of the three was that he didn't actually plan to run all the way back to Rome. Diablo looked around to make sure no one was around him. In the gloom of evening it was easy for him to make sure that no one could see as he summoned a winged moloch to be his mount. Soon Diablo was soaring through the clouds keeping him and his ghastly mount out of view from the ground. From the air it only took about three hours to reach the city. It was about eleven at night when Diablo dropped from the sky to land on the top of a watch tower. His moloch went back through the rift that it had come from as Diablo scanned the surroundings. "I'm in the city," Diablo thought to Leah after requesting that she open her mind to his. "what am I looking for?"
"The Iron Shields still use the Rosa in Fiore as their headquarters," Leah replied a moment later, "Find that and see if the Iron Shield have any information on the Architect."
"Hey what are you doing up here," A voice broke through the mental conversation.
"What was," Leah started but Diablo shut her off.
"Do not provoke me, guard," Diablo commanded as he turned around and stared down the guard that had come up behind him, "I go where I wish and do what I please."
"Oh, Architect I, I apologize I did not know you had left your room in the Vatican," The guard said hastily upon seeing the robes.
"And do I report to you that which I do," Diablo said, "Why you most likely don't even know what room I am in."
"I only know you are in the east wing in a private room," The guard said. Diablo smiled at the guard, as he put a hand on his shoulder. The fatherly smile and display of comfort was only an illusion though as Diablo used his other hand to punch into the man's chest and rip out his heart. Showing it to the man before Diablo incinerated any evidence that the guard had come upon him in the tower. Diablo left the tower, he knew right where the Vatican was from his previous time on Earth. This was going to be easier than he thought. With his inhuman strength and speed Diablo made his way across the city jumping from tower to rooftop to wall all the while avoiding being seen by any of the guards.
Diablo made it to the roof of the Vatican in a half hour. From there it was a simple matter of getting into the east wing and finding the real Architect. Luckily Diablo had minions that were perfectly suited for this job, the terror demons. In form they were like smaller version of his natural Prime form but the terror demons only existed in the physical plane for a brief time, either to cause harm or to avoid being harmed. They would be the perfect way to take out this Architect. Diablo summoned four of the demons to him and sent them into the building with a simple instruction, kill the Architect, tell Diablo where he was and do not get detected. Now it was just a matter of waiting.
The waiting came to an end ten minutes later then the demons returned and reported that the Architect was found and that the guards in this wing of the building had been dealt with however, the Architect himself was not dead as the demons simply couldn't materialize near him. When they did if they got close to him they would be forced back out of the physical plane. Diablo snarled, he hated complications but he was also used to dealing with them. With a flick of his wrist he sent the terror demons back through the rift he called them from and made his way inside the building. Diablo noticed as he moved towards the Architect's room where the demons had taken out the guards, just a few drops of blood was all that remained of the people that used to patrol the halls. Whatever power the artifact that the Architect had apparently only protected the one who was using it.
"So assassin," a voice said from behind Diablo, "You finally show yourself. A double, I'm impressed, the robes and armor are exactly like mine but, now you die." Diablo felt a force try and lock him in place. Diablo's own power was enough to counter it but he remained motionless and allowed the Architect to approach him.
"And what deviltry is it that allows one to hold a man without the use of his own strength," Diablo replied as he waited for the Architect to get closer.
"The same one that will let us control the thoughts of this world," the Architect replied as he stepped in front of Diablo. That was all Diablo needed as he ensnared the man in a bone cage and lightening infernoed the Architect. Nothing remained except ashes and a single glistening pyramid shaped object. Diablo picked it up and tucked it into his robes before heading out to alert the guards to an assassin attack against his, the Architect's, life.
"I'm in," Diablo relayed to Leah.
"Good," Leah replied, "Now what do you plan to do?"
"Use an attempt against my life by an assassin to galvanize the Templars into following me," Diablo said, "Once I get them to show me the artifact vault then I can use it to control them."
"Well keep us updated," Leah said, "That bout of you cutting me off for an hour got Claudia and Ezio really concerned."
"I'm touched," Diablo replied sarcastically, "I'll do what I do and you all focus on getting the Assassins together to take out the Templars that resist the Artifacts."
"We will," Leah replied as the mental link closed again.
Diablo made his way out of the east wing and towards the center of the Vatican. On the way he would order any guard he passed to follow him. He used the artifact he had picked up to locate the Templar's leader and Diablo was heading to him. Upon arriving outside the door to the Templar Commander's office Diablo was stopped by a guard.
"Architect," the man said, "What brings you here this late?"
"An attempt on my life by the assassins," Diablo replied, "I need to access the Artifacts, now."
"Only the Grand Master can allow that," the guard said, "Why come here?"
"Did you not hear me," Diablo said icily, "The assassins tried to kill me, the commander and these guards and yourself are going to escort me to the Grand Master in case another attempt is made against me."
"I must admit I'm somewhat skeptical of this, did not the guards that were in your wing protect you," the guard said, "And if not how were you alone able to overcome an assassin that took down so many others?"
Diablo was growing tired of this charade so he used the artifact to lock the obstinate guard in place as he walked past him and banged on the commander's door. "I am not so helpless as to be killed by common swordsmen like yourselves," Diablo said, "However I do not intend to be a target of opportunity for a stray knife either. Commander!" Diablo heard a muffled scream and the shuffling of bodies behind the door before the commander of the Templar regiment came out.
"Cortez I told you not to," the Commander started, "Oh Architect, my apologizes. How can I be of service?"
"These are your men correct," Diablo asked as he indicated the twenty or so guards that he had follow him.
"They are," the commander answered.
"Then you will lead them and escort me to the Grand Master I need to see the Artifacts right away," Diablo said as he released Cortez, "an assassin tried to kill me and if the men in the east wing were yours you will need to be letting the families know of their passing."
"My God," the Commander breathed, "Right men form up. This might be the most important thing you've done with your lives so be in your best form! Architect, follow me if you will."
"I'm going to meet with the Grand Master," Diablo relayed to Leah.
"Let us know when you get to the artifacts," Leah replied.
Diablo and the troop of guards made their way out of the gusts wing and towards the Papal residence. "The Grand Master is the Pope," Diablo thought, "That might complicate things. Then again it might not." Diablo adapted his plan as they made their way to the room where the Grand Master sat.
"Commander Fredrick, Architect," the Grand Master said from his chair. The man was about five ten or so and looked like he belonged in the chair of red velvet and gold that he was sitting on. However this man was not a Pope, in fact he didn't seem to be any sort of priest at all more like warrior. Which made sense when one thought about it. "It is rather late to be coming here is it not?"
"It is but the urgency of this matter demands it," Diablo said, "I can get the Artifacts working tonight and an assassin has already tried to kill me, he left nothing but drops of blood in the east wing where the guards used to be."
"I know about the fate of the guards, an invisible enemy, the trade mark of our adversaries," The Grand Master replied, "I detect you still have the Binder, good. Let us seal the fate of the Assassins tonight." The Grand Master rose and waved for the group to follow him. They were led down into the catacombs that ran below the city then further down into ruins like the ones that the other Rome had blown open when the portal was created. They entered a room that looked a lot like one of the bridges from DC's ships. "Here we are," the Grand Master said, "Activate the Artifacts."
Diablo called upon his power and funneled it through the Binder, as the Grand Master had called it. The room woke up at Diablo's display of power. Diablo quickly use his power to hijack the automatic boot sequence of the device and override it's default commands. Diablo then used it to alter the minds of those around him, The Templars all eventually fell to their knees as the device altered how they saw the world, pouring into their heads the atrocities that the Templar had done over the years, changing the Templars' view until it matched that of the Assassins. Once he was finished Diablo looked around and saw that the Templars were unconscious around him. They would recover and when they did they would be willing to work with the Assassins. He turned to leave but the strange woman in red stopped him.
"You could fly back or I could take you back to your daughter," she said as a red and black portal appeared beside her.
"Well it will be faster," Diablo admitted before walking through the portal halfway through he stopped and turned around, "Who are you?"
"I am Raven Branwen," she replied, "I am Yang's mother."