Assassin's Creed: Modernity - Book 1

IV

Location: Boston

EST: 12:06 February 7

Mission: Infiltrate Abstergo HQ

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Ethan peered over the edge of the building, into the black abyss of the shadow of the building. He couldn't even see the ground from this height. And he was going to jump. He muttered something to himself about being insane and began to loosen up his limbs. He shook his arms violently, trying to get the blood circulating in the chilly air.

He walked back to the edge and glanced over the small lip once again. "Well, it's now or never," he told himself.

He checked the coiled rope that was wound around the concrete base of the heating unit. It was still secure, like the last six times he had checked. He tugged the rope experimentally, and was satisfied that it was safe. Well, as safe as diving off a building can be.

Unlike the previous times, he did not drop the rope after he had inspected it. He stood, in his battle gear, with Connor's tomahawk strapped to his back and Jacob's hidden blade gauntlet on his arm. His grip tightened and loosened on the rope and he wound it loosely around his hand. 

Ethan's heart beat quickened and his blood began to warm, against the cold December air. Shaking off any thoughts of doubt, he began to run towards the ledge. The neatly coiled rope began to unravel as Ethan pulled it. He quickly neared the edge and half a meter from it, he dove. Arms stretched out forward, his body stretched out as he dove off the building.

He began to plummet towards the earth, with his life in the hands of a rope. The large pile of coiled rope quickly vanished as Ethan fell, pulling it with him. The rope around Ethan's arm tightened and his arm was jerked upward stopping the down and outward movement, reversing his direction as he began to swing towards the building.

His free hand began to search for the gun on the back of his hip and he yanked it out of its holster. He rapidly charged at the building, unloading the entire magazine of his pistol into the window he was on a collision course with. 

The glass cracked with each impact and Ethan smashed through the weakened window rolling sloppily on the glass fragments. Ethan staggered to his feet and glanced around the neat grid of desks. Two private offices were situated at the end of the room, with an elevator in between them. Ethan raced towards the left office where he knew the list of known Assassins was stored. 

He reached the office and slipped through the doorway. Flopping into the chair, he grabbed the USB cable on his gauntlet and plugged it into the monitor. He'd copy all the information and search through it later. 

The elevator dinged and Ethan glanced up. The doors parted and half a dozen men poured out of the small elevator. Ethan yanked the USB cable out of the port as soon as the transfer was complete and stood abruptly, sending the chair flying behind him. 

As one, the guards snapped their eyes to his direction. The guards all reached into their blazers and produced a pistol, but Ethan had already closed more than half distance to the door. He ran and jumped up on the nearest guard, engaging his hidden blade and ending the man before he realized what had hit him. 

Ethan used the downward momentum of his attack to roll and took two guards' legs out from under them. As he stood from the roll, he stabbed another stunned guard and grabbed the tomahawk on his back into his next victim's chest. As Ethan whirled around to face the last guard, he heard the man's intake of breath and ducked, knowing a shot was coming. 

Ethan brought the tomahawk in a whirl and knocked the guard's feet away, burring the hatchet in his ankle. Ethan stood and surveyed his handiwork. He scanned the rest of the room, searching for a brief case. 

Emptying its contents, he stripped off his combat gear, revealing the suit that lay beneath it. He picked his way over the bodies and stepped into the elevator, still wondering how six people could fit. Then again, he had just stuffed combat gear, a tomahawk, and two metal gauntlets into a small attache case.

The elevator dinged as Ethan smoothed the last of the creases in his suit. He put a smirk on his face as he walked off the elevator into the lobby. He nodded greeting to a few people. He also wined at one particularly attractive secretary.

The door man opened the doors. "Have a great lunch," he said.

Location: San Fransisco

PST: 19:36 February 7

Mission: Debrief 

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Ethan scrolled through the seemingly endless amount of files on the hard drive that he had copied. It had been over an hour and still he had found nothing. Frustrated, he stood abruptly, sending his chair sprawling on the floor. 

Stared at the plain wooden table that acted as a desk and the wall of Assassin outfits behind it. He paced around the basement staring at the concrete ground. He ran his hands through his hair.

He was merely combing through data. But that data could possibly lead to the future of the Assassin's Brotherhood. And the Brotherhood was the only thing that stood between the Templars and the free will of mankind. 

"It is at times like these, when one feels the weight of the world on their shoulders." Ethan spun towards Ella who stood at the base of the stairs. She had that warm, welcoming smile on her face that seemed it would solve all of his problems. 

He noticed a jacket draped over her arms and she followed his glance. "I've been working on this for years. I was hoping that you might be able to get some use out of it." She held out the jacket, displaying it proudly so that he could see it. 

It resembled Jacob Frye's coat, with the quilted leather lapels and collar. It was primarily made of a wool-like material in a dark grey shade. "I'm especially proud of the cuffs," she said, holding it out for him the try on.

Ethan slipped into it easily, liking the feel and fit of it. Closer examination of the cuffs revealed small slits at the edge of the cuff to hold hidden blades. He smiled as he realized what they were for.

"I figured you couldn't wear that," Ella said indicating the combat gear tucked in a corner, "on the streets, without drawing attention."

Ethan smiled and embraced the elderly woman. "Thank you. You have been too kind."

"Well, it's nice to have a fresh face around the house. Clark can be a bore sometimes."