Gosh darn it, I only realized I forgot to mention just how Haytham woke up when you lovely anons brought it up. I really have to stop forgetting to put in key things, I’ll make sure I address it later don’t worry. If not I’ll make sure I explain it in one of these top updates. And I like the ideas you have given me anons, I thinking I may indeed explore this delightful second ending. Sorry Connor. So here is the next update, thank you for reading and reviewing everyone!
***
Kanen'tó:kon had been taken aback by Washington’s allowance for them to prepare their ship for the battle. As he had climbed into the small rowboat alone he said that they would be the one’s to initiate the start of the engagement the following morning. His face was blank of emotion, stoically regarding them as he awaited their answer. mFrowning in suspicion he hesitantly agreed as he watched the man row back to his ships, disappearing amongst the crowded vessels once far enough away. Hearing Charles Lee mumble something behind him he turned around with a raised brow. The man was whispering something to Achilles, eyes darting to watch the ships dotted along the horizon. Achilles looked rather annoyed, taking moments to even move a slight space away from Lee, clearly irritated with him being so close.
“What is it?” He asked the two lightly who paused in their secret discussion, Achilles speaking for them both.
“We were deciding what our plan of attack should be tomorrow. I say we go back and evacuate the homestead tonight, do so quietly and efficiently and tomorrow when they come to investigate there will be no trace of us here.” Kanen'tó:kon shook his head before Achilles could go into further detail.
“No, no more running away. Washington will continue to chase us, continue to kill and enslave innocents in his wake because of us. Because of me. If we end him here we will not have to run and hide from him in fear anymore. If we stop him here the people under his cruel hand will be able to go back to their normal lives, move on and go back to the people they were before. He will never be able to rise up again if we kill him here, destroying his fleet would severely cripple him if we fail to take his life tomorrow.” He argued, watching as Achilles face fell into that of frustration.
“I don’t think you realize just how powerful, Washington’s fleet will be against our single ship.” Charles interrupted, casting a glance to his side as Faulkner came over to join them. “You are not a captain, neither am I but I know just how dangerous the engagement tomorrow will be. We must all sit down together and agree on a single plan, perhaps combining ours all together?”
“The crew is ready to sail into anything if that helps.” Faulkner replied gravely. “No matter the risk, we will fight if it means our deaths to save the captain.” He glared lightly at Lee, distrust evident in his eyes and even more so in his voice. As much as Kanen'tó:kon would appreciate if they could in fact agree to trust each other he settled for them just doing their jobs right. Whatever the job may be.
“I don’t think your deaths will be necessary, however helpful they maybe.” Charles snapped lightly making Faulkner’s eyes narrow.
“Now who would fill in the roll of the pest if we were gone?” The smile that crossed his lips might have been in jest but the seething tone as a threat in itself.
“Enough.” Kanen'tó:kon barked, annoyed. He needed no fighting amongst what little allies he had left. “Lee did you have something in mind that could prevent bloodshed on our part?”
“Well I don’t know about saving us from bloodshed.” He began exasperatedly, eyes flicking up to the manor on the hill for a moment, glinting with worry. “But I know what ship the tyrant to be aboard.”
Kanen'tó:kon’s eyes widened in surprise and opened his mouth to demand what ship it was before Faulkner cut him off.
“Well that’s all fine and dandy, but the fact remains that there tons of ships out there armed to the teeth and only one of us. Sure we know what ship to make sure we don’t sink, but how are we supposed to keep ourselves becoming residents of the sea floor graveyard before that? I will say that I can sail decently, but I don’t think even the captain could get out of that mess without a scratch.” Kanen'tó:kon held is tongue for a moment as he thought, the silence enveloping the group was more than just awkward. After a moment he heard the two men begin to argue again, making him instead fall deeper into his own thoughts. It was true, just knowing where Washington was didn’t exclude all the other ships they had to fight through. Would they even stand a chance against it after going through a long and lengthy battle with each? He rubbed his temples as his head began to ache, a bit of fear filling his chest at the overwhelming possibility of losing entered his mind. He could not afford to lose now that they just got Connor back, now that they just gotten the upper hand on the tyrant, now that his people could be facing mass killing once more. That didn’t mean however he should throw the lives of the Aquila crew away, they were just as precious as those whose fates awaited the finally outcome. If only there was a way for him to get onto Washington’s vessel, surely his men would not fire upon their own ship? He groaned in annoyance as the bickering besides him became louder, perhaps if he smashed their head together they would quiet down. He froze as the idea jumped into his head as unexpectedly as their day had been.
“We smash our ship into Washington’s.” He stated softly, the two men stopped in their bickering and turned to him a tad confused.
“What?” Charles Lee asked, a hint of dread in his voice.
“We smash our ship into Washington’s. That would surely get us aboard and that would make sure Washington’s men do not fire upon us as they might hit his as well.” He explained as he felt a grin tug at his lips, the act of continuously smashing their ship into Washington’s would surely take away the risk of enemy fire.
“It isn’t that simple, boy.” Faulkner sighed lightly as he rubbed the back of his next, taking a moment to think of how t give a reasonable explanation. “ Smashing ships together like a pair of rocks won’t do us any good, we’d sink the ship if we did enough damage to one of it’s sides and Washington could use our ship as a shield from cannon fire so the others could fire upon us. We couldn’t board it by just bashing into it either, he would just turn her away leaving us to fall into the water as midway through, then what’s to stop another one of his ships from coming up along our side and boarding us? As great as it sounds it isn’t that well of an idea for taking down that tyrant.”
Kanen'tó:kon paused for a moment to rethink his strategy before speaking once more. “I am the only one who needs to board the ship. All you have to do is ram the ship a single time, I will leap onto the ship and take out Washington. The crew just then has to hold on until I successfully take him out.”
Faulkner let out a troubled breath, sounding a little frustrated as he replied. “Letting you go on alone to take him out? I don’t think you should go by yourself, you’d be dead before your feet even touched the wood of the deck. Besides just because you take out Washington doesn’t mean the rest of his fleet would surrender, we’d still be in high water until the whole lot of them are gone.”
“No.” Charles interrupted a little surprised and a grin spreading across his lips. “Washington’s controlling the soldiers in a way you will never understand and in a way that would take much more time to explain to someone who shouldn’t even have any knowledge about it in the first place. If the boy and I board the ship together we will have much more of a chance, as soon as Washington is taken care of consider the rest of his fleet nullified. I trust you can hold your own for longer than a second, if not we were doomed from the start.”
Faulkner looked like he was contemplating tearing Charles’ head off before he sighed in resignation. “I suppose you two wouldn’t have done much aboard the ship anyway, seeing as you both lack even the most basic of knowledge when commanding a ship.” He paused, even though it was an insult addressed to the two of them it was directed at Charles who fumed silently with a heated glare. “Then I will do so, only if Achilles however allows it.”
Kanen'tó:kon turned to the old man who had remained silent through their whole discussion. He was sitting back a few steps in a poorly made chair that was no doubt brought to him by one of the Aquila crewmen, staring at the ground. They stared at him for a few moments, waiting for him to either agree or disagree with what they had in mind. He lightly glanced up after a few tense moments, looking at them solemnly.
“As I stated three years ago I shall say again, I have retired from my Assassin role. I will not be the one to send you all to your deaths, such a heavy burden would break these old shoulders of mine. “
“Achilles,” Kanen'tó:kon began softly, making to be careful with what he said, “we are not going to our deaths, if I had any doubt that this plan would not work I would have chosen another way. There is none, well not that I can tell, so please if you know of a better way then enlighten me so I can make sure the risks have been lower.”
“If you trust in Faulkner’s abilities to get you aboard that ship while making sure to stay alive long enough that you may take out Washington, that you trust in yourself to not make any mistakes when getting onto the ship so that you can put a stop to Washington’s tyranny, if you trust that Lee will not betray you and stay by your side to defeat him then you have made the wisest choice.” Achilles took a moment to get up from his seat, his legs wobbling lightly making Kanen'tó:kon jerk forward to help him but held back when the man held up a hand. “ I will remain here to treat your wounds when you return. Just make sure you don’t ruin those robes.” He moved inside Faulkner’s small home before he could protest in response. He sighed softly before he turned around to face the two men who shuffled softly in response.
“We best get to work then.”
The preparations took all night and even went into the early hours of the morning as the morning fog rolled through the bay. Kanen'tó:kon shuddered lightly from the cold as he pulled the robes closer around himself before resuming his task of moving a box of cannonballs onto the ship. He rolled his eyes as he heard Lee grumble in anger behind him.
“We are trying to get onto the ship as fast as possible, I don’t know how he expects to do that with all this blasted weight!” Charles snapped as he set down another box of cannonballs, stretching out and rubbing his back with a light wince. “What’s the good of sending us out to battle without being at the top of our condition.”
There’s a light chuckle behind him as Faulkner set down the last box of cannonballs. “How do you expect us to defend ourselves with out ammunition? The Aquila is a fast ship no matter how much weight you try to hold her down with. She will get you to Washington’s side before you even expect it.” Charles grumbled and pushed past them as he headed back onto the dock and over to the fire to warm up.
“Listen, Kanen.” Faulkner started, the nickname was used because of the man’s inability to pronounce his full name, looking somber. He pulled out a small bundle of cloth from his pocket, glancing at it for a moment. “Connor and I had found this together on one of our expeditions for the treasure of the famous Captain Kidd.” He didn’t go onto explain what he meant despite the confused look he gave the man. “We found something incredible, but strange. He asked me to hang onto this before he well fell into Washington’s hands. I don’t need you dying on me and causing us to go through two incredible losses.” He uncovered the cloth to reveal what looked like a small ring that was a strange greenish blue color. Kanen'tó:kon picked it up, glancing at the object strangely as the man placed the cloth back in his pocket. “Make sure you wear that and never take it off.” Before he could ask why Faulkner had already moved away, taking his position at the wheel as the final members of the crew, including Charles, boarded the ship. He lightly slipped it onto his finger before the man joined him at his side, shivering as he rubbed his hands together. Glancing at the ring one last time before looked ahead into the clearing fog, the bows of Washington ship’s looking like sharp arrows.
“Of course we’d have to fight in this frigid winter weather.” Kanen'tó:kon chuckled lightly as he glanced over to the cranky man. “We’ll freeze to death before we’re even across the bay, let alone this whole battle.”
Welcome to the New Age - Part 21/???
***
Kanen'tó:kon had been taken aback by Washington’s allowance for them to prepare their ship for the battle. As he had climbed into the small rowboat alone he said that they would be the one’s to initiate the start of the engagement the following morning. His face was blank of emotion, stoically regarding them as he awaited their answer. mFrowning in suspicion he hesitantly agreed as he watched the man row back to his ships, disappearing amongst the crowded vessels once far enough away. Hearing Charles Lee mumble something behind him he turned around with a raised brow. The man was whispering something to Achilles, eyes darting to watch the ships dotted along the horizon. Achilles looked rather annoyed, taking moments to even move a slight space away from Lee, clearly irritated with him being so close.
“What is it?” He asked the two lightly who paused in their secret discussion, Achilles speaking for them both.
“We were deciding what our plan of attack should be tomorrow. I say we go back and evacuate the homestead tonight, do so quietly and efficiently and tomorrow when they come to investigate there will be no trace of us here.” Kanen'tó:kon shook his head before Achilles could go into further detail.
“No, no more running away. Washington will continue to chase us, continue to kill and enslave innocents in his wake because of us. Because of me. If we end him here we will not have to run and hide from him in fear anymore. If we stop him here the people under his cruel hand will be able to go back to their normal lives, move on and go back to the people they were before. He will never be able to rise up again if we kill him here, destroying his fleet would severely cripple him if we fail to take his life tomorrow.” He argued, watching as Achilles face fell into that of frustration.
“I don’t think you realize just how powerful, Washington’s fleet will be against our single ship.” Charles interrupted, casting a glance to his side as Faulkner came over to join them. “You are not a captain, neither am I but I know just how dangerous the engagement tomorrow will be. We must all sit down together and agree on a single plan, perhaps combining ours all together?”
“The crew is ready to sail into anything if that helps.” Faulkner replied gravely. “No matter the risk, we will fight if it means our deaths to save the captain.” He glared lightly at Lee, distrust evident in his eyes and even more so in his voice. As much as Kanen'tó:kon would appreciate if they could in fact agree to trust each other he settled for them just doing their jobs right. Whatever the job may be.
“I don’t think your deaths will be necessary, however helpful they maybe.” Charles snapped lightly making Faulkner’s eyes narrow.
“Now who would fill in the roll of the pest if we were gone?” The smile that crossed his lips might have been in jest but the seething tone as a threat in itself.
“Enough.” Kanen'tó:kon barked, annoyed. He needed no fighting amongst what little allies he had left. “Lee did you have something in mind that could prevent bloodshed on our part?”
“Well I don’t know about saving us from bloodshed.” He began exasperatedly, eyes flicking up to the manor on the hill for a moment, glinting with worry. “But I know what ship the tyrant to be aboard.”
Kanen'tó:kon’s eyes widened in surprise and opened his mouth to demand what ship it was before Faulkner cut him off.
“Well that’s all fine and dandy, but the fact remains that there tons of ships out there armed to the teeth and only one of us. Sure we know what ship to make sure we don’t sink, but how are we supposed to keep ourselves becoming residents of the sea floor graveyard before that? I will say that I can sail decently, but I don’t think even the captain could get out of that mess without a scratch.” Kanen'tó:kon held is tongue for a moment as he thought, the silence enveloping the group was more than just awkward. After a moment he heard the two men begin to argue again, making him instead fall deeper into his own thoughts. It was true, just knowing where Washington was didn’t exclude all the other ships they had to fight through. Would they even stand a chance against it after going through a long and lengthy battle with each? He rubbed his temples as his head began to ache, a bit of fear filling his chest at the overwhelming possibility of losing entered his mind. He could not afford to lose now that they just got Connor back, now that they just gotten the upper hand on the tyrant, now that his people could be facing mass killing once more. That didn’t mean however he should throw the lives of the Aquila crew away, they were just as precious as those whose fates awaited the finally outcome. If only there was a way for him to get onto Washington’s vessel, surely his men would not fire upon their own ship? He groaned in annoyance as the bickering besides him became louder, perhaps if he smashed their head together they would quiet down. He froze as the idea jumped into his head as unexpectedly as their day had been.
“We smash our ship into Washington’s.” He stated softly, the two men stopped in their bickering and turned to him a tad confused.
“What?” Charles Lee asked, a hint of dread in his voice.
“We smash our ship into Washington’s. That would surely get us aboard and that would make sure Washington’s men do not fire upon us as they might hit his as well.” He explained as he felt a grin tug at his lips, the act of continuously smashing their ship into Washington’s would surely take away the risk of enemy fire.
“It isn’t that simple, boy.” Faulkner sighed lightly as he rubbed the back of his next, taking a moment to think of how t give a reasonable explanation. “ Smashing ships together like a pair of rocks won’t do us any good, we’d sink the ship if we did enough damage to one of it’s sides and Washington could use our ship as a shield from cannon fire so the others could fire upon us. We couldn’t board it by just bashing into it either, he would just turn her away leaving us to fall into the water as midway through, then what’s to stop another one of his ships from coming up along our side and boarding us? As great as it sounds it isn’t that well of an idea for taking down that tyrant.”
Kanen'tó:kon paused for a moment to rethink his strategy before speaking once more. “I am the only one who needs to board the ship. All you have to do is ram the ship a single time, I will leap onto the ship and take out Washington. The crew just then has to hold on until I successfully take him out.”
Faulkner let out a troubled breath, sounding a little frustrated as he replied. “Letting you go on alone to take him out? I don’t think you should go by yourself, you’d be dead before your feet even touched the wood of the deck. Besides just because you take out Washington doesn’t mean the rest of his fleet would surrender, we’d still be in high water until the whole lot of them are gone.”
“No.” Charles interrupted a little surprised and a grin spreading across his lips. “Washington’s controlling the soldiers in a way you will never understand and in a way that would take much more time to explain to someone who shouldn’t even have any knowledge about it in the first place. If the boy and I board the ship together we will have much more of a chance, as soon as Washington is taken care of consider the rest of his fleet nullified. I trust you can hold your own for longer than a second, if not we were doomed from the start.”
Faulkner looked like he was contemplating tearing Charles’ head off before he sighed in resignation. “I suppose you two wouldn’t have done much aboard the ship anyway, seeing as you both lack even the most basic of knowledge when commanding a ship.” He paused, even though it was an insult addressed to the two of them it was directed at Charles who fumed silently with a heated glare. “Then I will do so, only if Achilles however allows it.”
Kanen'tó:kon turned to the old man who had remained silent through their whole discussion. He was sitting back a few steps in a poorly made chair that was no doubt brought to him by one of the Aquila crewmen, staring at the ground. They stared at him for a few moments, waiting for him to either agree or disagree with what they had in mind. He lightly glanced up after a few tense moments, looking at them solemnly.
“As I stated three years ago I shall say again, I have retired from my Assassin role. I will not be the one to send you all to your deaths, such a heavy burden would break these old shoulders of mine. “
“Achilles,” Kanen'tó:kon began softly, making to be careful with what he said, “we are not going to our deaths, if I had any doubt that this plan would not work I would have chosen another way. There is none, well not that I can tell, so please if you know of a better way then enlighten me so I can make sure the risks have been lower.”
“If you trust in Faulkner’s abilities to get you aboard that ship while making sure to stay alive long enough that you may take out Washington, that you trust in yourself to not make any mistakes when getting onto the ship so that you can put a stop to Washington’s tyranny, if you trust that Lee will not betray you and stay by your side to defeat him then you have made the wisest choice.” Achilles took a moment to get up from his seat, his legs wobbling lightly making Kanen'tó:kon jerk forward to help him but held back when the man held up a hand. “ I will remain here to treat your wounds when you return. Just make sure you don’t ruin those robes.” He moved inside Faulkner’s small home before he could protest in response. He sighed softly before he turned around to face the two men who shuffled softly in response.
“We best get to work then.”
The preparations took all night and even went into the early hours of the morning as the morning fog rolled through the bay. Kanen'tó:kon shuddered lightly from the cold as he pulled the robes closer around himself before resuming his task of moving a box of cannonballs onto the ship. He rolled his eyes as he heard Lee grumble in anger behind him.
“We are trying to get onto the ship as fast as possible, I don’t know how he expects to do that with all this blasted weight!” Charles snapped as he set down another box of cannonballs, stretching out and rubbing his back with a light wince. “What’s the good of sending us out to battle without being at the top of our condition.”
There’s a light chuckle behind him as Faulkner set down the last box of cannonballs. “How do you expect us to defend ourselves with out ammunition? The Aquila is a fast ship no matter how much weight you try to hold her down with. She will get you to Washington’s side before you even expect it.” Charles grumbled and pushed past them as he headed back onto the dock and over to the fire to warm up.
“Listen, Kanen.” Faulkner started, the nickname was used because of the man’s inability to pronounce his full name, looking somber. He pulled out a small bundle of cloth from his pocket, glancing at it for a moment. “Connor and I had found this together on one of our expeditions for the treasure of the famous Captain Kidd.” He didn’t go onto explain what he meant despite the confused look he gave the man. “We found something incredible, but strange. He asked me to hang onto this before he well fell into Washington’s hands. I don’t need you dying on me and causing us to go through two incredible losses.” He uncovered the cloth to reveal what looked like a small ring that was a strange greenish blue color. Kanen'tó:kon picked it up, glancing at the object strangely as the man placed the cloth back in his pocket. “Make sure you wear that and never take it off.” Before he could ask why Faulkner had already moved away, taking his position at the wheel as the final members of the crew, including Charles, boarded the ship. He lightly slipped it onto his finger before the man joined him at his side, shivering as he rubbed his hands together. Glancing at the ring one last time before looked ahead into the clearing fog, the bows of Washington ship’s looking like sharp arrows.
“Of course we’d have to fight in this frigid winter weather.” Kanen'tó:kon chuckled lightly as he glanced over to the cranky man. “We’ll freeze to death before we’re even across the bay, let alone this whole battle.”
“Well good thing we will win quickly then.”