Souls Through Time (EzioxOC/DesmondxOC)

Chapter 24 - Claire

November 16th 2012

The van hummed steadily beneath them as the faint static of the radio broadcast filled the silence, detailing preparations for the solar maximum. The voice of the announcer was calm, oblivious to the reality Claire and her team were all too familiar with.

"...local utility companies have assured the public that they're completely prepared for the upcoming solar maximum. Disruptions to service are expected to be minimal..."

Shaun rolled his eyes, muttering dryly, "If only they knew..." The hint of sarcasm in his voice cut through the tension, and Claire couldn't help the small, wry smile that tugged at her lips.

Rebecca shifted in her seat and reached into her bag, pulling out a small device and passing it to Desmond. He turned it over in his hands, examining it.

"What's this?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Remote-operated camera," Rebecca replied, her tone brisk and businesslike. "It'll provide us with a feed while you're on mission. This way, we can talk to each other, keep track of you in real-time." She flashed him a quick, reassuring smile before glancing back at the screen where she'd set up their feeds.

Desmond nodded, pocketing the device, but his attention shifted as William turned in his seat, his face cast in shadow but his eyes sharp and alert. They were nearing their destination, and the quiet hum of anticipation settled heavily in the air.

"We're almost there, so listen up," William began, his voice calm yet commanding. "The artifact is in an office penthouse in lower Manhattan. At this time of night, direct infiltration is going to get you noticed. I think we're better off having you drop in from above."

Desmond's expression twisted into a frown as he stared at William, processing the implication of his words. "What do you mean, above?"

Without another word, William reached under his seat, pulling out a backpack and tossing it to Desmond. The weight hit his lap with a thud, and as he opened it, the realization set in—parachutes. Desmond glanced over at Claire, sharing a mutual look of disbelief.

Before she could protest, William turned to her, holding out another pack. She took it reluctantly, eyeing the bag, then him, her expression darkening with suspicion.

"This is payback for pulling a gun on you, isn't it?" she muttered, trying to keep her tone light, though a flash of anxiety betrayed her.

"Yes," William replied deadpan, his face devoid of any hint of humor.

Claire scowled, her fingers gripping the bag tightly as she fought to push down the spike of anxiety coiling in her chest. Heights weren't her favorite, and the thought of dropping into Manhattan from above added a weight she wasn't quite ready for. She turned the bag over in her lap, her fingers tracing the straps as she tried to steady herself, inhaling slowly.

"Great," she murmured to herself, almost too quiet for anyone to hear. "Just what I needed..."

Desmond reached over, his hand finding her arm, offering a gentle squeeze. His expression was calm, but there was a glint in his eyes that spoke of both understanding and shared nerves. "If it makes you feel any better," he whispered, his voice laced with a hint of amusement, "I don't exactly love the idea either."

Claire gave him a half-smile, the reassurance grounding her. She straightened in her seat, her grip on the bag loosening slightly as she forced herself to focus on the task at hand. They'd done crazier things, she reminded herself. Together, they could handle this.

The van came to a halt, its tires crunching over loose gravel as it pulled up alongside a towering structure draped in scaffolding and half-finished walls—a construction site in the heart of Manhattan. The skeleton of the building loomed above them, stark and shadowed against the night sky. It was quiet, the typical hum of city life muted in this area, with the occasional clang of loose metal or distant traffic filling the silence.