Assassin's Creed: Winter's Falling

Chapter 15

Clover swore as she tried to clean the mess of gooey, white toothpaste that had exploded all over her hair. She had thought for sure she was going to die at that moment, but it had all been a nasty trick by that pipsqueak with the two-colored pigtails. Clover swore she'd get back at her, but for now she had to focus on the mission. She had been hopping not to let this drag out much longer. The Templar leaders needed the boy as soon as possible, and Clover was eager to join the party happening everywhere else in the world. Now she had to resort to plan B. Come quickly, Little Shadow. Mama won't wait much longer.

* * *

Ann and Lightning stumbled up to the door of the den. It was only a little past noon, and yet they both felt as if they had done a full day of hard labor. The dense jungle had been extremely hard to push through. Ann knocked on the door. It was thrown wide open by an overexcited Nerida.

"YOU'RE OKAY!" She yelped as she grabbed Ann into a bear hug.

Andy appeared next in the doorway; followed by a rosy cheeked Lazerus. Andy quickly ushered everyone inside and shut the door behind them. Michael, Johnny, and Joy where brought into the room by their curiosities. Once they were sure the girls hadn't been followed, everyone began speaking at once. Everyone wanted to know what had happened. Ann shushed everyone.

"Guys, we don't have time for that now. There's something wrong with Sol," Ann pointed at the unconscious girl still hanging limply from Lightning's back.

Sol's wounds were clearly deep. Jagged cuts and scrapes lined her arms and legs. Her clothes were torn and caked in dried blood that was clearly her own. The bottom half of the back of her head had been completely shaved, and in the cleared section of her head was a row of thick, black stitches holding the bloody and slightly green skin of a perfectly straight cut right at the base of her skull. Her eyes where glazed over in pain. Andy acted quickly, he reached over and lifted Sol into his arms. He lowered her to the ground.

"Oh, god," Andy patted Sol's cheek gently. "Stay with us, Sol."

"My head... they put something in my head," Sol turned to stare blankly at Andy as she spoke, trembling from the effort.

"Quick," Lazerus approached. "Show me the back of her head."

Andy carefully shifted Sol. He pulled her back into his arms and held her to his chest. Lazerus drew close, inspecting the cut in her head. He turned slightly pale. He cursed.

"The cut is surgical," Lazerus got up slowly. "And it's infected. Whatever's in there needs to come out. We need to get her to the infirmary."

Andy nodded, adjusted his hold on Sol, and got to his feet. He moved swiftly to the infirmary. Lightning and Joy quickly followed; ready to help Sol with their knowledge of the human body. Lazerus took another swig of his third bottle of whisky before heading there himself. Andy settled Sol down on her back on the operating table as the doctors and nurses in the room got ready. Joy placed an IV into Sol's arm and then took a quick X-Ray of her brain. She stepped back as lightning approached.

"Don't worry, Sol," Lightning held the plastic oxygen mask to Sol's face. "Just relax, and soon you'll be good as new. Trust me."

"Okay," Sol replied; her eyes closing as the anesthetic took effect.

"Whatever happens," Lazerus walked over. "We have to keep her awake. But I don't want to hurt her, so make sure to keep her anesthetized."

Joy pulled a small, steel rolling table covered in surgical equipment towards the bed. Once they were sure she could feel no pain and was properly wired to all the necessary equipment, they began the operation. Lightning stood by the monitors. It was her job to remove the stitches and then keep watch of the monitors for any unusual heart or brain activity. Joy would assist Lazerus; who would be preforming the operation. I swear on my life, Lazerus thought to him as he signaled Lightning to begin removing the crude stitches, I will make sure she survives this.