[closed] Beginning Anew

John quickly wiped the tears out of his eyes and straightend himself up. "Alright, umm...I think I have enough money to get us from here to New York, which is where....I guess the new hideout is what I should call it. Before we leave make sure you get any remaining loot or gear we may need. When you're done, let me know and we'll be out of here." John said, in a commanding and serious tone before continuing to deal with the dead bodies.

Gabriel nodded and retreated to the hidden room once more. There were several chests lining the floor on the left wall. He quickly rummaged through them and smiled ruefully. Inside were thousands of coins. If he had to guess, Gabriel would say that the chests were filled with the money that Orville needed to pay out to his group upon completion of a contract. It was his bank. They would take the money with them when they brought the wagon. Gabriel wanted to strip the hidden room and set it up again at their new destination.

For the time being, they would simply take what was able to be carried. Gabe pulled a pair of pistols from another crate and slipped the holsters under his coat, placing both pistols in the small of his back where they could be concealed and not be in the way of his sword.

After packing his gold pouch with coins, he nodded to John and made for the exit. It was time to move on.

John was just about done putting the bodies into the training room. "Okay...good lord am I gonna hate going back here....alright, lets go." John said, before heading out of the room, climbing the ladder and walking towards the place where John knew that the Wagon usually was at. John then gave the man about £50 from his own money and almost commanded "Okay, take us to New York, we've also got a bit of luggage." "Sure thing, John!" The man said, almost in a...scared tone of voice. John then put the luggage he was carrying, put it onto the wagon, climbed onto the wagon and sat down.

Gabriel followed John back to the city. While John negotiated price with a wagon driver, Gabriel found the nearest stable and purchased himself a horse. A strong and tall chestnut. As he trotted back to John, he considered naming the beast. It was probably premature to do that though, he thought. The more pressing idea in his head was that he had likely paid too much for the horse. He hadn’t even tried to haggle honestly. Doing so was more likely to make him look the fool than to save his purse.

When he arrived back to where John was waiting, he realized that the cart driver was still with them. He shot a warning look to John. The man should have known better. They needed to go back to the Assassins vault and clear out the hidden room. Following that they were going to burn the barn to the ground so that the fallen could be left in piece, undisturbed. It was not a journey for an outsider. The fewer people exposed to the power struggle between the Templars and the Assassins, the better.

He wasn’t good at negotiating, but they did have a little money to spare thanks to the hidden funds Gabe took from the hidden room. “Sir,” he called to the wagon driver, “Might you know the going rate for a wagon and team?”

The wagon driver looked up at him from his seat on the wagon. “Well I’d wager the current price is upwards of two hundred pounds for the wagon and one hundred for each of the horses. Why do you ask?”

Gabriel nodded and pulled his purse from his belt. “Here is four hundred for your wagon and one-fifty for your horses. We will buy them from you and you can keep whatever John has already given you. That pays for your cost of a new wagon and team and something extra for the trouble we’ve caused. Do you accept?”

The cart driver looked from Gabriel to John and back again. A man wearing a strange sword with a long scar from his ear to his chin, and John Ambrose… whose reputation was well known to include copious amounts of violence.

“Are you outlaws or something?” he asked cautiously.

“Nothing as grandiose as that I’m afraid. Our destination is easily enough found, but the stops we must make along the way are best left undisturbed. I’d sooner see you safe and ignorant than knowledgeable and dead. Do you understand my meaning? Best you not lose your life over a cave in or some such just to transport our goods, yes?”

The man considered for a moment again then nodded. “Deal. Carts all yours.”

Again, Gabriel well overpaid. But an Assassin's mission was best left to the skilled, not to the innocent. Gabe looked over at John and nodded in satisfaction. “We should be underway shortly. But we need provisions. New York isn’t just down the bend. Take the rest of my purse and see that we get well supplied please. Sleeping rolls, dry goods, water. I’ll meet you back at the farmhouse. I’ve got a few preparations to make. “

Gabe tossed John the money bag and began to ride off but turned around again after only a few feet.

“Provisions John. Not alcohol…”

He was falling back into the leadership role easily. It was a pair of shoes he had worn for the other trainees in Japan. He had been senior in their ranks and had taken up the position of buffer between trainer and trainee. He would guide, and direct. It wasn’t a position he coveted for himself. But taking down Mr. White and his ilk was Gabriel’s responsibility. If John insisted on helping, he would have to follow Gabe’s lead. If not, then he was free to go. If he chose none of the options, and insisted on following Gabriel around as he had before –

Well, Gabriel Winters was a professional. He would leave no loose ends. He hoped that it would not come to that. But taking down the Templars was much too important to botch up with unneeded quarreling.

Gabriel left John and made good time back to the farmhouse now that he wasn’t walking everywhere. He dismounted upon his arrival and tied his reins to the hitching post. John would likely be an hour or more. He had time to figure out how he was going to seal the vault holding his mentor and brethren.

The problem was, he was getting that eerie paranoia feeling again. He’d been getting the feeling of being watched ever since he’d stepped off of the boat. So far it had proven his instincts true. But it had happened so often that Gabriel was starting to wonder if he wasn’t just becoming increasingly more and more paranoid. He’d been proven right twice. What if this time was nothing? How would he continue going forward when he felt like every step he made was under scrutiny?

It was a question for another time. Gabe needed to focus on the present. He casually flicked his eyes to any number of the hiding places he had identified upon his first trip to the Barn. But he found nothing. He made forward to open the barn door, and shut it behind him.

Perhaps he really was going crazy. He and John would have a lot in common soon, it seemed.

John caught the money bag before Gabe made a smartass style comment about getting what they needed. John simply rolled his eyes at this and went to the general store, to go get what they needed. John walked into the store with the money, chucked it onto the counter and simply said "I'll need 5 sleeping bags, fresh clothes, 5 bottles filled with water if possible and some food." John casually said, as the man at the cashier just looked at him and his over the top request. "Umm...do you have the money to pay for this?" The man asked. John sighed, impatiently before looking him in the eye and saying "Count the money, if it's not enough let me know. Anyway, just be quick with this shit alright? I'm not the most patient man in the world."

So there John was, sitting there in a general store, bored out of his mind. Although he was starting to get a feeling of paranoia. "Hmm...well, if they slaughtered the assassins, then they probably were expecting some kind of backup maybe, if so then they could be anywhere...oh shut up, John, it's just you getting paranoid, just keep your eye out for any redcunts and you'll be fine." John thought to himself.

Ten people were now dead. Ten lives were lost over this. They had been friends, mentors, sons, daughters, fathers...... and now all that was left of them was their memories. The ruthless redcoats hadn't even left behind a corpse to which they could properly bury them. The woman could feel the tension spread to her face as she gritted her teeth.

How she survived was only thanks to the mentor. 'Fool'.... it was the only bitter thought that ran through her mind at the moment. But she didn't mean it.... the pain in her heart when she had found out what happened couldn't be consoled by any means. She had been sent away for a short time on a mission, and the timing had seemed so off, but she was not one to question the orders of the mentor. She had lost almost them all, and between Benjamin and her mentor, she had felt as if she could have just shattered. To make matters worse, it didn't go unnoticed that there were survivors, though she hadn't seen sight of them since. Hoping for the best, she couldn't stop the worry that came with what might have become of their fate. Were they being tortured? Though she didn't have any leads of their capture.... and with her social standing, she would have at least heard rumors of that.

To say the least, the woman was both physically and mentally exhausted. She had hardly slept, and the majority of her time was spent tracking down every shred of evidence she could find. All of the hours spend lurking, listening, tailing.... it had been for nothing. This far and she had no clue as to who had done it. She almost felt as if she was going slightly mad. But she had to hold strong. She had to finish this. She had to avenge them. Thankfully, the woman was an expert at stealth, because today she felt as if all the waiting had paid off.

The redcoats and Templars were always coming and going. She had kept a careful eye on the hideout, but there were always too many around, not even knowing exactly what they were guarding. Not only did she feel like she had failed at protecting her brothers, but now she couldn't even give them a proper burial. The bastards wouldn't even allow that.... they were heartless, cruel beings who would let a man rot. So today, when she saw some rather suspicious figures around the area, she had to keep watch.

From what she could tell, they were both very skilled, in one way or another. Normally with only two targets, she would never even hesitate to attack them. But these two were different. What little strength she had would be wasted on the man with brown hair.... he seemed rather strong, and while concentrating on his attacks, she felt the other man, the one with long black hair, could then attack. Which lead her to believe that he had something to hide as well. It was the way he moved that lead her to believe that between the two of them, she had no chance. How dare they! They had no right. Whatever the hell they thought they were doing down there.... she would make them pay. All she had to do now was wait.

For her patience, she was being rewarded. She was not entirely sure what they were up to, but fortune smiled upon her, and the two were splitting up. Any rational thought, and she would have waited to strike... but the woman didn't have time. The two could meet back up and it would cause her even more trouble. From her guess, the brown haired man was heading towards town.... that was too many people for now. The other, however, was heading where there would be less people.... and this was to her advantage. Giving plenty of distance, she watched her pace, and carefully followed this man.

It infuriated her even more, enough so that at one point in time, she was almost caught off guard by her actions. How could he return here yet again? The man seemed to be smart enough to know when to be cautious, and she felt as if she were almost caught. Once he had closed the barn, she waited for a long moment before moving closer. There would be no point in heading there right away. It was best to give him a moment in case he had really caught on to her and was waiting.

As she approached, she made her presence well aware to the horse, and gently moved closer and placed her hand upon his shoulder, grazing it lightly up the neck of the beast and to its nose. Petting the nose, she then slipped away. Best not to surprise a horse.... their whinny could alert anyone around, and that would be bad for her.

Instead of using the door of the barn, she slipped around to the side. Years of training made the side of the barn easy to scale, and she found herself in the window and up on the high loft within a matter of moments. Someone was a traitor.... or not careful. However this man had discovered the hideout, he would not have the benefit of leaving today. Gracefully balancing her footsteps, she made her way to the edge of the loft, being careful not to cast any shadows. Holding her breath, she waited for the right moment......

Landing with little more than a thud, she dropped right next to the man. Dropping directly on top of him, though a smart move, was not good enough for her. It would not help this feeling she needed to feed. Without giving him much of a reaction time, she brought her elbow down as hard as she could to his rib cage, and dropping low, she swung her own leg towards him, hoping to knock him from his feet. In a swift movement, she produced a dagger from her side, preparing to stab it where ever she could make him feel the bite, but her main goal was to drive the blade close to his neck, enough to pierce the collar of his clothing into the ground. That would at least buy her a few moments to decide her next move.... after all, she wanted him able to answer her questions before she killed him, and she was still not certain of his skill.

Redcoats

A squad of British soldiers marched down the street by the general store, not beating the cadence upon their drums to announce a sound that typically preceded their presence. This squad was different, led by a man wearing a Major's uniform. His gear, unlike the previous Captains, was in pristine condition. His squad were all trained veterans. Three of which carried rifles, the remaining five carrying a vast arsenal of knives and swords befitting their rank and skill. These men were more dangerous than the common British soldiers.

And today, they were following a civilian who had witnessed a certain battle not hours before.

The man was shaking with fear as he met up with a friend in the street across the way from the general store. They conversed quietly for a moment and then the man turned to the Major with a nod, pointing at the General store.

"Albert ses' ees in the store Majuh...the one that killed them red boys before..."

The Major was deathly calm. He glanced at the store idly then reached into his pockets and produced a few coins for the civilian man. Without even addressing his new whistle blower, the Major turned to his men and spoke evenly.

"Fan out. Surround the store, front and back. This man does not escape."

His men jumped into action. No questions just movement. The Major waited 30 seconds before drawing his pistol and advanced a step into the center of the street, facing the general stores door. Two of his riflemen were standing on his left and right with their rifles trained on the door along with a burly soldier carrying a rather large and nasty looking axe. The other sniper and four of the bladesmen were covering the rear exit of the store.

"To the man in the store! In the name of the King, you are under arrest charged with the murder of His Majesties soldiers! Exit the shop peacefully with your hands in sight and we will detain you for questioning. Resist, and you will be gunned down without mercy! You have one minute to comply!"

The Majors voice carried a good ways. No doubt if John didn't do something quick, the sound of the conflict would draw even more Redcoats to the area...

-----

Gabriel Winters

Gabe was about to make for the hidden trap door under the hay bale when he heard the little thud. He had just finished reassuring himself that his paranoia was unfounded when the noise brought his attention to full alert. His head snapped to the side to take his assailant in an instant before she struck. He had time for only one thought...

..Oh shit...

Her elbow connected solidly with his ribs and drove the air from his lungs. Stunned, he could do nothing to avoid the followup leg sweep that dumped him to the ground. But Gabriel recovered quickly. He'd been trained how to fall when hurt. He'd had the wind knocked from him many times before and had to figure out how to defend himself without drawing breath.

He landed on his shoulder and immediately rolled to his back. Instinctively, he threw his arms up in an 'X' and trapped his attackers wrist before the knife came down to skewer it's intended target. At the same time, Gabe pulled the wrist towards him to throw his opponent off balance, while he rocked back onto his shoulders and planted a boot in their chest, he grunted as he kicked forward with the leg and sent the attacker sailing over his head.

Gabe quickly rocked back a second time and sprang from the ground without using his hands, kipping back to his feet with practiced ease.

He wanted to draw his sword but regardless of how far he had flung the person, they were right back on top of him by the time he got his feet under himself.

They're fast..., he thought.

So he did only what he had time to do. He centered himself and pulled his own dagger from it's sheath under his coat, by his new pistols. He snatched it up in a reversed grip and closed with his attacker.

Again and again they clashed, the clink of metal on metal echoed off of the empty barn walls. It was as if the battle had been choreographed with the level of skill being displayed between the two. Both went blow for blow with parries and wrist locks. Gabe would throw in a kick now and then but kept them to a minimum so as not to get his shin stabbed.

It was an equal contest of close quarters combat. And was so intense in speed that he still hadn't gotten a good look at what his attacker was even wearing. It was all he could do to watch their movements and keep himself from being impaled...

John having been waiting there, had actually been thinking about what he had become. He looked towards his alcohol addiction and how he fucked whores almost everyday and started to realise something "I'm no better than my cunt of a step father like this...well, it's time for a change." John thought to himself, before asking to go into the bathroom in the store, which the guy at the register allowed. John then went in and started washing his face of the dirt that had not left his face, before looking in the mirror, and slicking his fringed hair back. He then heard a voice..."To the man in the store! In the name of the King, you are under arrest charged with the murder of His Majesties soldiers! Exit the shop peacefully with your hands in sight and we will detain you for questioning. Resist, and you will be gunned down without mercy! You have one minute to comply!"

John then thought about it, before chuckling to himself about it. "Well, they found me. Usually I think I would of gone out there to try to beat the crap out of them, but knowing those idiots out there, they've surrounded me. And I probably would of been gunned down, but the funny thing they don't know is...that I'm sober right now." John said outloud, before walking out of the bathroom and looking outside. John had an idea, a suicidal idea granted, but an idea. John then walked out of the store, calmly, arms by his side. John slowly walked towards the redcoat, his hands in the air, before quickly breaking into a massive dash when he was only about 8 feet away from the man, grabbing the gun, kicking the redcoat in the balls, turning him around and using him as a human shield, pointing the gun at the redcoats surrounding him.

John then started to almost rant "You fuckheads...you all seem to think you're the law around here, you think you can just take what you want and you all have the BALLS to have any relations to the Templar cunts! Listen here, if any of you idiots come anywhere near me with your silly little GUNS and that includes the fuckheads who I KNOW are behind me, I will put a bullet in this idiots head, before I one by one kill you all, regardless of if I live or not because do you wanna know what separates me from anyone else you fools would of fought? I have nothing to fucking lose if I die. So COME OOOON THEEEEN!!!! Your turn, YOU SONS OF WHORES!"

Indeed, her assumption had been correct. This man was very skilled, and before she could even pin him, she found herself thrown over him. Rolling, she was back to her feet in no time, and back at trying to get blood from him. He didn't belong here. That was was kept her fighting. He had no right to be here, in this barn, and who knows what he had done earlier. She would make him pay.... after all, he was more than likely one that was returning once again to get what little was left. This helped her fight for the moment, and she was relentless in her attacks.

Clashing with the man, she had a worthy opponent in skill. It seems he had a strange sword he could be using, but she didn't dare give him the chance to pull it out. Knowing her skill limitations, she couldn't give him the opportunity to use a heavier weapon against her, or she would surely fail here. It was this that lead her to her small attacks with speed. This stranger was keeping up with her though, but she had to keep at it. There would be a moment, however brief, that she would have the time to strike.

As the fight wore on, she could feel her body getting tired with the effort of all the stress from everything, along with this fight wearing on her. Her muscles were soaked with tension, and aching, but that pain was easily pushed from her mind with all of her training. Despite their protests, she held her body ready to attack, again and again. She was not without her share of injury from this battle either. Jumping a bit ahead of herself a bit earlier, she had left herself open to attack, and only pulled back when she had felt the metal biting into her arm. It was no matter though.... the wound wasn't that deep, and it was higher on her arm. Though it stung, she would have no problems. But he would pay for that too....

The woman moved again, striking fast, and as they began the entanglement of their weapons, she saw one small chance and she took it. Once again, this man was quick, and her dagger did miss its intended mark, but she could feel the blade bite into the flesh on his face, and that alone gave her some hope that she was getting somewhere in this fight, no matter how shallow the cut may have been. She knew this wasn't just over though. Her hood hid her emotions well at least, and she was able to maintain keeping it up so far as to hide who she was. What would this man care at all anyway? He would sooner have her killed and the other two, wherever they were. He would not leave here.... even if it killed her, he would not leave. This is what drove the woman to act as she had, less clearly than ever before. Again, giving him little time to react to the cut her blade had made, she rushed at him again.

Redcoats

The Major hadn't really expected the murderer to come easy. But he also hadn't expected to be kicked in the balls either. The sudden tasteless move and conduct of a man on the edge of out of control had taken him completely by surprise. He hadn't even gotten a shot off from his pistol, so surprised was he.

It was likely the smartest move that John Ambrose could have made. Any other course of action would have given any of the three gunmen a chance to load him full of shot. By taking the Major hostage he had not only created a shield for himself, but had simultaneously cut off the decision making of squad. Not a one of the remaining men had ever had to take charge before and now held little else but concern for their commanding officer.

The Lieutenant of the squad stepped forward raised his rifle, trying to get a shot on John from directly in front. But there was just no room for error. Accuracy with a musket was mostly luck at any range. There was no way he wouldn't hit his commanding officer with a stray shot. He waved off the team behind John, who had just come in to sight.

"Don't try it fools! He'll kill the Major!"

He slowly lowered his rifle to the ground and put his hands to his sides in a non-threatening gesture. "Take it easy there... We'll do as you ask, just let the Major go...What do you want?"

The Lieutenant's eyes flicked to the best knife wielder of their group. He had been their most successful scout for years. He was now raised up on the balls of his feet and creeping in behind John silently as the second in command stalled.

The rest of the squad stayed put, anxious and now on edge.

-------

Gabriel Winters

The pace of battle kept up to a full blown roar. There was no sound besides the clink of steel and heavy breathing, feet shuffling in the straw and dirt. Gabriel had scored a glancing blow on his opponents bicep, but he knew better than to think the battle was won. His cut had barely cut through the cloth of their sleeve.

The sleeve of a robe.

Gabriel was momentarily confused, and in the instant of hesitation, his opponent locked daggers with him and brought him in close. He was only just fast enough to dodge his head to the side as the edges of their blades slid off of each other. His enemies weapon scored a long (albeit shallow) cut across his right cheek. He didn't have much time for thought on his mistakes though. He felt a boot in his chest and went sprawling backwards into a pair of wooden barrels. Gabe tumbled over top of them and landed on his back.

Time seemed to slow. Gabe could hear his heartbeat pounding a steady staccato in his eardrums. He watched in horror as his attacker leaped off of the barrels and came down at him. They seemed to hover in the air for an instant, knees tucked to their chest, robes flowing behind them. Hidden blade ejected from the wrist that wasn't carrying the dagger. A move he had seen performed hundreds of times before in training.

His attacker was an Assassin.....

Gabriel struggled for words in that instant. Out of sheer instinct he ejected his own hidden blade and brought his knee up to his own chest, though he was still on his back.

Time picked back up.

The Assassin landed full force on his leg, driving his knee back to his torso but the maneuver stalled their momentum and transferred the kinetic energy into Gabriel's chest, forcing the air from his lungs for the second time.

Their dagger came down, he crossed his own to catch blade on blade.

Their wrist blade swooped in for Gabriel's neck to probably deliver the coup de grace. But Gabe swung his own wrist blade up under the Assassin's arm aiming for the same spot.

He gasped for breath in that instant, trying desperately to get one word out of his lungs.

Gabriel felt the tip of the hidden blade prick the flesh of his neck as he hoarsely whispered....

".....Brother.....!!!"

He looked up and saw that his own wrist blade was still a half an inch from his target. They had him dead to rights...

John, looked at the soldier, watching his every movement, before noticing him look behind John. John on instinct quickly took about 10 steps backwards before bumping into another redcoat, John then quickly shot the scout before kicking the Major to the ground, picking up the Scouts knife and picking the Major up once again, the knife to his throat. "Do you take me for a dumbass, you piece of shit? I may be crazy, but I'm not an idiot, it only takes common sense and good eyes to notice when a man looks at the man about to stab you in the back. Now, since we're all here, let me tell you why even if you fools are surrounding me, trying to kill me is the biggest and the last mistake you ever made." John said, calmly but actually quite...straight forward and coherently, which was odd for him due to his insane and almost frantic movement and kind of speaking.

"I watched as my mother was raped by my father, before he was arrested and I never seen him again, I lived in a shack for over 10 years of my life eating animal corpses and drinking animal piss, with my mother. I then watched as my mother got abused by a junkie, before then watching her be stabbed in the chest and raped senseless. I lost the only thing that was dear to me, I have absolutely NOTHING! I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE ALONE! FILLED TO THE BRIM WITH MISTAKES! I MAY PUT THIS FUCKING FACADE OF BEING A CRAZY SON OF A BITCH, DESTINED TO LIVE AT THE BOTTOM OF A BOTTLE! But that's the only way I can live with myself, I watched as everyone close to me either died or betrayed me before there was no junkies, no hobos and no whores. JUST ME! And the only reason I have for going around the taverns, drinking my days away is because I was only doing it hoping that I would die of liver failure! I have nothing to lose if you kill me, but I now have someone I care about, and I'm done giving this facade of insanity. So all I ask you is this. You think you can kill me? I dare you to try it. Because all I've ever wanted in my life is for someone to take it, but now my life has a purpose and I for damn sure am not gonna die here, when my life has shared no purposes for anyone that I have known. Now, I would just let you kill me now but I have a reason to live now, and that is why I will not let you kill me today. Because I have seen things...things that I must never speak of, things that would make the normal mind BLAZE!" John shouted before slitting the Majors throat and throwing the knife into the Lieutenant's heart, quickly running into the store.

John then screamed with all he could muster, so everyone nearby could hear, while extending his arms, tears rolling down his face "SO COME OOOOON THEEEEEEEEEEEEN!!!!!!!! TAKE IT! TAKE IT ALL BABY! HAVE IT! YOU TRY TO TAKE IT! I FUCKING DARE YOU ALL! before slamming the door shut, waiting for them to enter via both the back and front doors, silently crying, leaning against a wall, as the shop keeper just stood there, in shock.

Though it seemed as if she had this down, she was still not rejoicing just yet. In that instant of confusion, she was able to throw that man off balance and into some storage barrels. As he landed, she did not even give him a moment for the confusion to settle. Climbing over the barrels, she used them as momentum to attack and pounced for her prey.

What she didn't expect was the fact that he still had a bit of fight in him. Clashing with her dagger yet again, she was ready for that. The hidden blade had already been slid from its hiding spot, and was moving quickly to his throat. What surprised her was when the man maneuvered gracefully and had his own hidden blade close to her throat.

She stopped, and for a moment, his words escaped her as her gaze fell upon him sternly. Her breath was held inside her chest and she didn't move at all. After a long awkward moment of silence, reality seemed to set back into her and she retracted the blade, his words finally making sense to her. She quickly got off of him and backed up, offering a cautious hand to him. Once she had helped him up, she stepped back a few steps, putting a small distance between them. For now, she was choosing to trust him. The way he moved, held his hidden blade..... they all pointed to him being an assassin. But after all that had happened she wanted to be positive before she completely trusted him. After another moment of silence, she finally spoke to him again.

"What are you doing here?"

Perhaps it may have been a bit harsh.... but if he was an assassin, there was no need for an apology for their actions. She did not expect one either. After all, she had attacked without question herself, and deserved what had happened in the fight. She watched him carefully, ready, if needed, to flee herself. What worried her was that if she had followed him, what if more Templars were coming for them? This place had been under constant watch, and she doubted that if he had killed the guards, it would go unnoticed for very long.

Spoiler:

Redcoats

The remaining soldiers witnessed three of their best go down like nothing. The unit might be elite, but they were not trained to deal with psychopaths. Some of the men ran for their lives. Others ran for reinforcements. Others still just flat out ran.

Not a one of them tried to breach the store, leaving John, and the shocked store keeper harassed no further. The shop keep, for his part had finished loading the supplies into John's wagon just as the Major and his squad had shown up.

Also, for his part. Upon entering the store and seeing the bloodshed just outside the door, the keeper had also wet his trousers....

--------

Gabriel Winters

Gabriel took the uncertain hand up. Thank God she had been paying attention.

Wait... She?

Yes the voice had sounded genuinely feminine. Too much had just happened. Gabriel's mind was reeling. They'd been a split second away from murdering each other.

Gabe put both hands on his knees and gave a wheezing hack, trying to regain his breath. He'd been trained to fight after having the wind knocked from him...but his Masters had neglected to do it twice in the same fight.... All Gabriel wanted to do was go into a small, dark corner and throw up for all the punishment his organs had just taken.

But she'd asked him a question, and it would be rude of him not to answer after all. Gabe slipped his coat off of one shoulder and rolled up the sleeve of his left arm. Once the gauntlet was exposed with his hidden blade, he slid it up a bit to cover his palm, exposing the flesh of his bare forearm to the woman Assassin. Plain to see, was the permanently raised burn tissue in the perfect depiction of the Assassin's crest, the tip pointed towards the bend in his elbow, as if it was meant to be an identifying mark for someone looking directly at him, not for his own personal viewing pleasure.

When he was sure she'd seen it, Gabriel re-clothed himself and sucked in a lungfull of sweet sweet oxygen, finally able to draw wind freely. He leaned back against one of the barn's posts and sighed in relief.

"What I am doing here is simple.... My name is Gabriel. Gabriel Winters. Your Mentor here, Orville sent for reinforcements across the sea..."

Gabe spread his hands wide for a moment, so that the woman could take him in fully. "...I'm it."

He pointed to the covered trap door. "My associate and I found the remains below. They have been organized and given final honors. He has returned to town for some supplies, and should be back soon with our wagon. I was... *cough cough* ... excuse me please... I was going to empty the vault of useful equipment and intelligence and start a new base of operations. If I am not much mistaken, you are one of the survivors? I'm glad to see that not everyone was lost."

Now that his chest was recovering, Gabriel noticed the stinging in his face. It didn't bother him much honestly. He'd had ten times worse. But facial wounds tended to bleed profusely. He pulled a cloth from his coat pocket normally reserved for wiping his katana clean, and stuck it to his face to stop the bleeding. Now that he was caught up and in control of his senses again, he took the woman in for the first time.

Hazel eyes by the look of them, not very tall but that likely added to the agility she'd just used to nearly kill him. Her robes were light gray and a pleasant shade of teal. And to Gabriel's surprise, she was far from ugly.

Not that it mattered, but he flushed slightly in the face. One thought repeated itself over and over in his mind....

... I almost just got killed by a petite woman...oh if the Masters could see me now in all my glory...

He chastised himself mentally. It didn't matter if she was a woman. She was skilled, it was part of why she had been inducted into the Brotherhood, he was certain. Few people had matched Gabriel so evenly with edged weapons in a very long time. If people like this woman existed in America and they still needed aide against the Templars... things were going to be a lot more difficult than Gabe had anticipated.

John, having stood there, in front of more than 10 soldiers, who were there to kill him and showed who he truly was after so many years of keeping it hidden from anyone, had been sitting on the general store floor, against the wall for about 5 minutes now, just silently crying to himself, John decided to just sit there and continue to wait for either some more reinforcements to kill him or for Gabe to get here so they could both get out of here.

Since he had been waiting for about 30 minutes now, John got up. "Gabe's been gone for a bit too long...better see if he's alright." John thought to himself, exiting the general store and walking back to the barn, his eyes red from the tears while he slicked his hair back into a smarter and nicer looking style of hair before he walked in to see Gabe "Hey, what's taking you so lo-..." John started to say before seeing the woman "Umm....hello..." John said, with a slight frown.

The woman still eyed him cautiously, her gaze following his every move. As he removed his bracer, her eyes immediately settled upon the insignia. He really was a brother in arms...... though the woman still felt on edge, for the moment, she knew this man meant her no harm. She wasn't letting her guard down, but at least the immediate threat was now gone.

As he mentioned his name, Felicity froze in place. Orville had mentioned him.... it was highly unlikely this man would know that much detail and for that reason, she felt she could now trust him. There had been talk of reinforcements.... she only wished they could have gotten here sooner. But that was not his fault. Bowing slightly, she removed her hood and pulled the collar of her robes down slightly to reveal the scarred symbol just below her collar bone on her left.

"I am Felicity Mercer.... there are two others alive..... at least from the attack. However, I am not sure where they are. Thank you for seeing to that. The Templars have had this place constantly under watch, and in great numbers. The fact that we are here now with no watching eyes has me worried...."

As she watched him tend to his wound, she pulled a small bandage from her own pouch, and wrapped her arm up. She let silence settle upon them, thinking of what she could say to him. She did want to know what he might be up to.... but the noise of the door opening made her jump, and her immediate instinct was to pull her hood up and jump back a bit of distance, readying her dagger for another attack. Her gaze fell coldly to the man who had just made his entrance, and she recognized him as the man who had been with Gabriel earlier. Her eyes flicked between them for a moment, and after a pause, she slid her dagger away since Gabriel made no move to make her believe this man was a threat.

"Hello...."

"Right, umm...everythings packed and ready to go when you and....I guess you." John said before pointing at the woman "Although, there was...ahem, a bit of bloodshed, I got surrounded, by a bunch of elite redcoats. Actually I think some of them ran for reinforcements....yeah, we might wanna fucking haul ass as quick as we can otherwise well...we're probably gonna be here a while and with a lot of company." John said, quite calmly and coherently, in a way that seemed too sane for a person like him

Gabriel acknowledged Felicities marking with a thankful nod. Anyone could have disguised themselves as an Assassin by wearing the robes of the Order. But few people would go so far as to permanently scar themselves for the sake of a story.

He pulled a few pieces of straw from his hair and tossed them to the ground, still in a bit of a sour mood after having come so close to death and simultaneously helping to bring a permanent end to the rest of the Order in the region.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Mercer. Truly." He said evenly. And he certainly was happy to see a kindred spirit, even a confused one. Now things wouldn't be so lonely, that was, if Felicity decided to go with them.

John came ambling through the door shortly after that. Immediately Gabriel saw the streaks from tears and his bloodshot eyes. Something had happened. He saw Felicity tense but as she looked between the two men, Gabriel gave her a subtle gesture for calm. She had nothing to fear from them. He didn't question John. If the man wanted to talk about what had happened, he would. Something about his demeanor had changed though. He seemed more... focused.

After hearing John talking about the supply run gone awry, Gabe sighed.

"Yes it seems like we have overstayed our welcome in Boston, short though it was. And this is John Ambrose by the way. John, this is a friend." He knew what first impressions would be like. And seeing that Felicity likely didn't fully trust him let alone another new face, he would let her introduce herself. Even he had given John a false name upon their first meeting. It was just something you did when you didn't trust people.

"We are heading to New York to start over." He said with a glance to Felicity. "The Bureau needs to be reestablished. The Templars believe most of us dead and out of the way and I am more than willing to let them go on thinking exactly that. I don't expect you to trust me yet, but you know better than I, the enemy we are going to be hunting. I would be remiss if I didn't say it would be quite the boon if you were to come with us. We will of course look for the other survivors as well. In the meantime..."

Gabriel looked over to John, then back to Felicity. "John is right. We need to leave here as soon as possible. If this vault has been under surveillance as you say, then I am inclined to agree with you that the lack of activity is somewhat disconcerting. But we still need to empty the hidden room and seal the entrances before leaving. John, if you would be so kind as to bring the wagon around close so we can load up?"

He turned back to Felicity. "What do you say, Sister? Will you help us? We.... I, need you. If you would trust me until I can prove my intentions to you, then I promise, we will exact retribution for the murder and desecration of our people."

John listened intently before nodding, walking out and getting onto the wagon before realising..."...yeah I have absolutely no idea what the fuck I'm doing." John thought to himself outloud, before grabbing the rope attached to the two horses, hitting it down and causing the horses to start moving very very slowly, before he then had to make a right. John tried to lean the ropes to the right and hit the rope down before...the horses started to sprint through Boston "OH SHIT!" John screamed while the horses started galloping.

After a long amount of learning right then and there and after a lot of destruction, John finally was able to start slowly driving it to the barn, before climbing onto the back of the wagon and sitting on the bench, quite tired and exhausted, from the last few days. John then shouted towards the barn "Right! I'm out here, I'd suggest someone else drives the wagon since I have no idea what on Earth I'm doing when it comes to using a wagon, or a horse for that matter."

For now, Felicity was glad that Gabriel had kept her name. She did not go throwing her identity out to just anyone after all. It was hard enough to hold the farce of her life, being the daughter of a wealthy businessman, and hiding the fact that she was an assassin.... if more people knew who she actually was.... she was sure it would be more troublesome than it already was.

So they were planning to go to New York? This seemed a rather helpful idea... if they could pull it off. The amount of resources she could pull in herself.... well.... it would be a start. She had the money to back up their funding. It was what the Templars tried to do to her as well, though at least she always found the means to shoo them away. As John left, she looked back to Gabriel, going over her thoughts carefully before speaking again.

"I will join you.... anything is better than sitting here waiting. If we do this, I am sure the other two will find us. I need to prepare, and I can have a carriage to follow you shortly. Do not worry, it will not draw suspicion."

What she didn't tell the man was that she had every plausible reason to head to New York. With the responsibility of her missing father's company, she often traveled there anyway on business, so staying some time there would not raise any questions. The most would be airing out the house that was waiting empty. It would only take a short amount of time.

"I have money and I can easily get the resources we will need for anything..... but I think it best if we do not travel together anyway.... or at least in the same carriage...... though I do believe to fool anyone, you and your friend could pose as my guards for the trip to New York...."

Again, this ruse would not draw suspicions. The family that she had stayed with for so long always insisted that someone travel with her while she was on business. Being the daughter of a wealthy family came with its disadvantages as well. There were those that would capture her and use her for their wishes. Though if the man did not agree to this, there would be no reason for her to be upset either.

"Either way you choose, I still need to prepare and get what I need for this...."

It would not take her long though. With the help she had, her carriage would be loaded in no time. Hearing the horses protest to their driver, she gave another glance to the door, knowing that John had returned before he even stepped inside. She gave the man a nod, and turning back to Gabriel, she spoke to both of them.

"As I said, it would not be suspicious if we traveled together.... if you want to get a head start, we can meet up on the trail. However, if you were to wait by my house by the barn, no one would think it odd. I often take trips for business..... you would be safe there until we left."

Gabe thought for a moment as John left. He immediately had his thoughts interrupted as the ruckus of the wagon storming off at John's apparent ineptitude at driving. He stared deliberately at Felicity until the sound receded and then shook his head wearily.

"He means well, and is a good pair of hands to have in a fight..." he said by way of explanation. Still, he shook his head ruefully.

After hearing Felicity out, he grinned slyly. It was good she would be along. If nothing else, he would need a steadying hand in the days to come. John was a good man, Gabriel had no doubt. But not being a member of the Order was going to put him into some awkward positions sooner or later. He would have to make certain choices that a man conscious of himself and his needs would likely miss.

"I think it's best we stick together as much as possible, at least for a while. I like your suggestion of traveling as guards. I should already look the part and if we splash some water on John then he would fit the bill as well. Go and make your preparations Felicity. I will see to the loading of the supplies. If you want to say your final farewells however... Now will be time time. Once we are finished here, John and I will meet you at your barn."

Gabriel strode forward slowly and placed a comforting hand on Felicities shoulder.

"I'm glad you decided to come with us." he said, giving her a genuine smile.

With that, he stuck his head out of the door, seeing John returned. He nodded for the other man to follow him down into the vault. He would need an extra pair of hands if the work were to be done expeditiously.

They cleared the hidden room in tandem, walking past the covered bodies of the fallen, again and again. Gabriel focused on his work. He had enough coin from the final chests in the room to get them started on construction for a new base of operations, assuming John's place fit the bill. Secret passages would need to be built, underground training centers would need to be dug out and furnished.

The paintings were loaded under linen sheets to conceal their depictions from prying eyes. Weapons were stowed in a couple of the extra sleeping mats that John had purchased. Finally, when the room was bare. Only then did Gabriel make his way to the main chamber again to look upon his brethren. They were arranged in a half circle, one body for each empty armor stand against the wall. Orville was at the end. Each corpse had had a sheet draped over them.

Gabriel stood at the center of the room facing them. He'd left his hat on the cart as they loaded supplies. He now pulled his black hood up over his head and thrust his features into shadow. He slid easily to his knees and tucked his feet beneath him in a meditative pose, removing his katana from his belt and placing it gingerly on the floor to his left. Gabe brought his right fist into his left palm, which was held rigid, his elbows extending straight out horizontally. He bowed at the waist only slightly, showing a sign of Japanese respect for all those before him.

"Heiwa, no kyōdai de no kyūsoku" (Rest in peace brothers) he said quietly with flawless a Japanese accent.

Then to Orville's body he placed both hands horizontally on the stone floor and bowed his entire frame to the ground in a sign of submission and respect.

"Watashi o hozon shite itadaki arigatōgozaimasu, Senpai..." (Thank you for saving me, my Teacher..)

He held the post for a long moment, then rocked back on his knees, snatching up his sword and rolling to his feet in a fluid motion.

Gabe ascended the ladder and left the hatch unconcealed by more hay. He and John met at the wagon.

"John, I know you don't want to hear this, but we are going to need you to drive the wagon. It's much easier than teaching you how to ride a horse in the time given, but I'll instruct you in that as well when the time is right. You've got the basics of driving down but a softer hand will make life much easier, let me show you..."

True to his word, Gabriel gave quick instruction on how to handle a team of horses. Light touch, he explained. The horses knew their jobs. Light snap of the reins to get them moving, harder snap to get them to go faster. Slow pull back on the reins to slow down, slow-hard pull back on the reins to stop. Foot brake to lock in place to prevent rolling. For traveling purposes, he said, they shouldn't need to go above any more than a trot, otherwise they were like to lose some cargo in the bumping.

When they were finished and Gabriel was confident in John's abilities. He explained that they were to act as bodyguards to Felicity, though he didn't actually give her name, instead referring to her as their new friend.

Taking one final look back at the barn, Gabriel mounted his horse and pulled away a few feet. He then rummaged in his pockets and pulled a match free. He reached down and struck it against his stirrup and tossed it into the trail of hay he'd left leading to the barn. In only a few moments, the barn was ablaze. No one would disturb his comrades ever again.

On a whim, Gabriel looked around his surroundings. It was night time now, and any light in the area was dominated by the blaze that he'd set. But Gabe had always had good eyesight. There was a singular man watching the fire from afar, atop a black horse. Gabriel had little doubt that the man was a Templar, as he did nothing to help with the fire, nor did he flee from sight. He just waited.

Gabriel pointed one gloved finger at the man in the distance. Indicating that he'd saw him. The implication of what would happen later was left to the other's imagination.

Gabe Winters was sure they'd meet eventually...

"Let's go John. Best not to keep the lady waiting..." he said airily.

He spun his horse around and clucked his teeth, squeezing the flanks of his Chestnut into motion. He and John rode off in the direction that Felicity had (presumably) given them hours prior.

John was able to somehow get the hang of it and began to follow Gabe, keeping at a fast yet steady speed. "Hey, when we get a chance, I think I wanna ask you something...important, I'm telling you this because well, I dunno when that time will come so I want you to know to come see me when we have the time to take a breath." John shouted to Gabe, while driving the wagon. John admittedly was at this time very conflicted with himself, trying to decide if he should continue drinking his sorry life away or to take a route that he was beginning to think he should of taken a very...very long time ago.

Gabriel raised an eyebrow under his hood and glanced back over his shoulder at John. He had an idea about what John was about to ask but he let the statement hang in the air for a few moments, answering John Ambrose in silence instead of speech.

It remained that way for five more minutes as they traveled. A small smile spreading on Gabriel's face. It was a favored technique his masters had sought to instill. A lesson of patience. But he finally relented, his back still turned to John as he led the way. He picked up the conversation as if nothing had ever happened.

"Well? Out with it then man, lest fear snatch the very breath from your lungs. Now is as good a time as any."

With her trust placed in him to give their fallen friends a proper farewell, Felicity gave Gabriel the direction towards her home, and left the men and slipped out. She had to get ready..... and for all that she wanted to be there, she doubted she would offer them much help. It was true that Gabriel would hold a feeling of regret..... but he had not been as close to them all as she had. Biting her lip to concentrate, she would have to push her mourning off again. There would be time for that.... but it was not right now. Keeping to the shadows and staying hidden, the woman made it home in little time.

Once there, she slipped inside, and gave word to her most trusted help, Gregory, at what needed to be done. Within moments, the man had set preparations, and the carriage was already being loaded. Plenty of food, water, and even some wine and ale was being loaded, along with the provisions for the horses. By the time the sun had set, they were loaded and ready to go, and Felicity was finishing the rest of packing from her room. For this, so as not to draw attention, she was dressed in a day dress, fitting for one of her social status. After all, she wanted to be able to come to New York without any trouble for her or her friends.... and arriving as Felicity Mercer would have the shop owners and other businessmen giving her space. As for the smaller house her father had purchased there, Gregory had insisted it be ready for her arrival, and had sent a young man ahead on horse back. Letting her eyes roam over her room, she double checked that she had everything she would need for now. Her robes, and the damned glasses she was cursed with were hidden and tucked safely away with the rest of her luggage.

Nodding in satisfaction, she stepped from her room, pulling the trunk along with her. Upon stepping into the hall though, the trunk was taken from her and easily taken down the stairs by Gregory. Sighing, she shook her head and followed after him. The team of horses was all lined up and ready to go, and her personal horse, Clover, was tied at the side, and ready as well. She smiled and thanked him, walking with him towards the carriage. Another driver, one whom had been in service to her for as long as she could remember, nodded as she came closer. She gave him a smile, and looked towards the street, where she could hear a team of horses approaching. She had only hoped nothing had caused them much trouble. She had told them these were guards she had hired, but she suspected Gregory had known more than he was actually letting on. Still, she bowed to the man as he went back inside to make sure the house was in running order while the Lady Mercer was gone.

Waiting for her new friends to approach, Felicity stroked the mare's nose, talking to her gently.

John looked at Gabe, thinking about if he should ask the question now or if he should wait for another time. "Nah, I wanna tell you somewhere quieter, since I'm gonna have to explain a lot of shit to you, so it'll have to be somewhere that we can just pull two chairs up and talk about. Lets just get to your friends house or wherever we're going!" John shouted.

Gabriel shrugged lightly from ahead. "Suit yourself John."

He looked up the road a ways and saw some lanterns. It would certainly be more dangerous to travel at night, but it couldn't be helped. Any more time spent in Boston was likely to see them captured or killed.

Gabe smiled as they approached. Mercer must have been one of the best stalkers in the Bureau. For she had shucked her Assassin's garb and replaced it with a regal looking dress. He had to admit to himself as he saw her in the lantern light, she cleaned up pretty well.

After lowering his hood, he leaned forward in his saddle.

"Good evening Madam... I trust you are waiting for us?"

She had an impressive setup. Her own horse and a full set of supplies in her carriage by the looks of it. Her own driver. That was a bit irritating. It meant that they would have to watch their conversation on the road. John and Gabriel would both need to act the part of bodyguards for the duration of the trip, not just put up the appearance of them. But it couldn't be helped.

They had double the provisions that were likely necessary, but it was always good to have backups.