Flight

Desmond and Bourne made their way to the hideout through narrow alleys and streets. Desmond wasn't comfortable bringing a stranger to an Assassin cell but he knew the streets would be crawling with Templars and policemen. In any case, Bourne was unarmed and Desmond still had his USP 45 tucked inside. Rebecca opened the door with a grim smile after Desmond knocked the password in Morse code.

Shaun was looking at Desmond with an accusatory stare.

"I didn't know we were having guests Desmond" he called out sharply.

Desmond usually ignored Shaun's quips but this one had to be addressed. Bourne was puzzled as much as Shaun and Rebecca.

"Guys, this is Jason Bourne. Bourne, this is Rebecca and that's Shaun. We were sifting through the files Abstergo when we found an audio log about you. An Abstergo agent identified you. Luckily, Rebecca managed to erase the files from the Abstergo database. I think it's safe to say that your identity is safe for now."

Bourne looked unconvinced. He questioned.

"Who are you people?"

Desmond chuckled.

"It's a long story Bourne. All you need to keep in mind right now is that the Templars are looking for you. And we hate the Templars. We are your best bet of getting out of here alive."

Bourne replied swiftly.

"Listen. I don't know who you people are or what you want, but I am more than capable of making it out on my own. I've been on the run for a while now. So unless you tell me everything I'm leaving right now."

Desmond shook his head in frustration. Bourne was more than capable of remaining out of the CIA's surveillance. But he was in no way aware of Abstergo and their extensive reach. Desmond wouldn't be able to convince Bourne. He knew what needed to be done. He nodded to Rebecca and sat down.

Rebecca nodded back and looked over at Bourne. She tapped something on her computer. She smirked and said to Bourne,

"Your name is David Webb. You were an assassin for a CIA sanctioned Black Operations programmed called "Treadstone". You served Treadstone from Paris in a luxurious apartment that you used as a Sleeper Cell. You have committed several assassinations on behalf of Treadstone. Your service came to an end when you attempted the Assassination of a politician called Wombosi. Treadstone tried to have you killed when Wombosi's Assassination failed. You've been on the run ever since. You briefly had a romantic interest who I will not dwell into to respect your privacy. You are a Priority level 8 target of the NSA. You have been hunted by American and Russian Intelligence agencies for quite a while now. There a total of 4 video footages that identify you in 3 different countries. Your name has been entered into the ECHELON grid. Anytime your name is spoken in a telecommunication line, it is picked up by the CIA. So far, your name has popped up twice. You are highly trained in Ninjitsu, Krav Maga and Hapkido. You have a military history that has been erased by the CIA and you are currently a high value target for Abstergo Industries."

Bourne went unnaturally quiet. There was an awkward silence for a full minute. Finally Bourne spoke.

"So who are these Templars?"

It was Shaun who spoke this time.

"Look Bourne! We are being hunted by an organization more powerful than the United States Intelligence. They are crawling through the cities at this very moment block-by-block. They use cell phone signals as surveillance. They will find us in a matter of hours. So we need to get going. I'll personally answer all of your questions when we are safe. So please, if you don't mind, help us load our equipment into a van we've parked downstairs."

Bourne looked rattled enough with Rebecca's demo. He didn't need to be told twice. In 15 minutes, the van was loaded. Desmond gestured Bourne to join him in the back of the van.

Shaun and Rebecca sat in front. Shaun drove the van while Rebecca guided Shaun through the multiple checkpoints that were being setup throughout the city. Armed men were asking for passports and checking all vehicles. Desmond knew that the situation could get worse. They had to be ready.

He searched around for a while and pulled up an old guitar case. Inside were various powerful handguns and SMGs. He nodded to Bourne. Bourne carefully picked up a Beretta 92fs and 2 magazines. He put the gun inside his coat pocket.

"This'll do for now."

Desmond nodded and picked up two Glock 19 handguns. He passed them over to Shaun and Rebecca, muttering "Just in case".

Desmond himself picked a Colt 1911 and stowed it inside his belt, out of sight.

Shaun was driving in a brisk pace, regularly cutting red lights and making illegal turns. Rebecca was listening to her headphones; she had hacked into the police radio frequency.

"Shit!" She called out loudly.

"What's wrong?" Desmond asked.

"I just heard a patrol unit ask for backup. He said Interpol agents are looking for two terrorists who blew up a hotel. I'm betting 'Interpol' are the Templars. They think that the 'terrorists' are being transported in a getaway vehicle. The Templars probably pieced together that we might be involved with Bourne. They've put out an alert on all vehicles, especially vans!"

Bourne spoke out this time.

"That's quite alright. There are only two ways out of this highway, at least officially. They'll be guarding those points. Shaun, take a right on the next intersection and cut into the docks. There's an old railway system that was abandoned right beneath the docks."

Bourne guided Shaun into the railway system. It was unfinished and empty, except for a few homeless people.

"We can take this tunnel. In a mile or two it evens out to a dusty off road track. We can take it through the track and onto a highway."

Shaun started the engine and was about to step on the gas when gunfire exploded around the van. Everyone ducked beneath their seats and Shaun blindly pressed the accelerator. The van picked up its pace and entered the tunnel. The assassins could hear the sound of a vehicle pursuing them. Luckily the tunnel wasn't large enough for two vehicles to pass side by side. Desmond emptied a metal drawer of its content and opened the back of a van. He then tossed the drawer towards the pursuing vehicle. The drawer shattered the windshield and the vehicle swerved, scraping its body on the narrow tunnel. Desmond's plan had worked. The vehicle slowed down to a stop. Shaun accelerated the van and soon enough they were outside the tunnel.

"Keep going Shaun, it won't be long before backup arrives and they'll be pursuing us again." Rebecca said.

Desmond shook his head and called out.

"No, you guys aren't safe here. See that house, stop the van there. Bourne and I will prepare an ambush. You two get to the road and find a place to lay low."

Bourne nodded in agreement.

In a couple of minutes, Shaun and Rebecca had backed up the data into the Initiates server and destroyed the papers and documents inside the van. They proceeded towards the road cautiously.

"The men that are following us, these Templars, they will smell a trap the second they see the van is parked." Bourne said to Desmond.

"I know. But if we don't stop them now, they'll call for reinforcements and simply overwhelm us wherever we go." Desmond replied.

The sounds of several vehicles could be heard near the tunnel.

Desmond and Bourne cocked their weapons and ran inside the house.

"Here we go!" Bourne replied as the vehicles stopped outside the house and several men climbed outside, powerful rifles in their hands.

The two men took deep breaths and popping out of their covers, fired.