XVI

                                    

                                          
Song: Fatum Iustum Stultorum I by Trocadero and David Levy #1 
                          
At Bottom
                          


                          
Ethan ran on the roof of the building where a helicopter was landing as two Templars carried the Sarcophagus towards it.  Alan Rikkin boarded the chopper. In a bid to prevent the artifact reaching its destination, Ethan shot the two Templars. Their knees buckled as the bullets buried into their targets, and the sarcophagus hit the ground with a resounding thud.  The bodies folded to the stone as Utah burst out of the stairwell. 
                          
Meanwhile, Jersey blocked and dodged all the jabs and hooks Dakota threw him. Dakota pivoted using all her momentum to direct a punch that sent Jersey staggering back. Launching herself in the air she connected with his chest using both feet. The move caused her to land heavily on the ground but she quickly regained her balance once she flipped back up onto her feet. 
                          
The ground shuddered violently as the Rook launched the second shot at the ceiling of the cavern. Rocks, loosened from their positions molded a millennia ago, were suddenly worked loose from the reverberating blast. Some crumbled completely, exploding into vast clouds of dust raising an impenetrable wall of cough inducing matter. More still, fell from the ceiling, crashing and crumbling creating a deafening crescendo and spewing up the already powdered rock that had covered the floor.  Alex called for a retreat and the Rooks booked it back through the tunnel.
                          
As the ground shook from the blast, Ethan was thrown off his feet. Rikkin was trying with all his might, to single-handedly steer the Sarcophagus to the helicopter as Utah approached Ethan. The ground shook once more, but this time Ethan was prepared and planting his feet firmly, he maintained his balance. Utah jabbed at his head, but he ducked and quickly grabbing Utah's attacking arm, flipped his opponent over his shoulder. He engaged his hidden blades and lunged at the man's chest. Utah rolled away, barely avoiding the murderous stab.
                          
Bending back, Dakota expertly dodged Jersey's punch. She grabbed his arm and with full force, brought her knee up to his stomach. Just at the point of impact, the building shook violently again and an audible crack reached her ears. The building began to tilt. Jersey, oblivious to the pending threat of the building's collapse, recovered enough from Dakota's maneuver and once more reined punches at her. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the papers sliding from the desks as the building's position changed drastically.
                          
Jersey began to notice it too. "Seriously!?" The two ran up the rapidly falling building, still throwing the odd punch or kick at the other. As the floor inclined to a vertical, Dakota and Jersey drove their knives into the floor. 
                          
With the building about to crash, Rikkin had no  other choice but to take off. Ethan and Utah ran up the rapidly inclining building and hauled them selves up and onto what used to be the wall. Ethan and Utah flipped to their feet and continued their vicious dance. As the building was about to collide with the ground, Ethan and Utah jumped.
                          
Dakota and Jersey hung, suspended by their knives, still kicking and punching. The building crashed to the ground and dust erupted. The rest of the glass shattered as the building collapsed with a resounding thud. Dakota dropped just before the building hit, along with Jersey. Dakota slid under the mess of desks and chairs, vaulting and hurdling the obstacles as she raced out of the ruined building. 
                          
Ethan crawled out of the foam mat. The Sarcophagus lay several meters away. He walked over to it, making his way around the rocks and debris that littered the ground. The Sarcophagus lay upside down and Ethan set his feet and pushed it with his shoulder. Stubbornly, the artifact gave way and rolled upright. Ethan pushed the lid open and unloaded all of his grenades into the Sarcophagus. He slid the lid closed and lay his last grenade in the crevice, so that it was visible.
                          
Ethan saw Dakota running through the mass of debris, followed closely by Jersey. Ethan moved up the slope, away from the Sarcophagus. As Dakota neared he turned and drew one of his pistols. He carefully aimed at the Piece of Eden and squeezed the trigger.
                          
The first grenade exploded, followed by the rest. Finally the Sarcophagus exploded, leaving a large crater. Parts of the Sarcophagus flew through the air. Rocks were shaken loose  and they tumbled down the hill. Ethan turned to Dakota who stood ready to fight. Dirt was also dislodged and more rocks fell down the slope as well. As Jersey slowed to a halt, the crumpled building groaned and creaked. Slowly, it began to slide forward. It picked up momentum and even more earth began to slide downhill.
                          
Song: Fatun Iustum Stultorum I by Trocadero and David Levy #1 
                          
At Bottom
                          
"Oh, now this is just ridiculous!" Jersey shouted as the ground beneath their feet started to slide. The three were swept off their feet as the ground picked up speed. They began to plummet downhill, followed by the building. Jersey drew a pistol and began shooting at the two Assassins that were sliding next to him. Ethan drew his own pistol and shot back, but in the rapid landslide, all of the bullets went wide. 
                          
Jersey spun away to avoid an oncoming tree. Dakota and Ethan did the same as a small cluster of trees approached. Behind them, the building bared down on them and rocks toppled past them. Slowly, the ground began to level out and their speed slowed, marginally at first. The ruined building continued to gain ground, however. 
                          
Dakota and Ethan swerved to the right and drew their knives as a clump of trees neared. They lodged their blades into the trees. The Assassins were jerked to a stop and  the building slid quickly past. Further down the path, they saw Jersey do similarly. 
                          
Chunks of earth slid by until the landslide gradually came to a stop. Ethan yanked his knife out of the tree. He and Dakota approached  Jersey who was holding his bleeding side.
                          
"That wasn't too hard," Ethan commented.
                          
Jersey chuckled and coughed up some blood. "That's what she said." He was breathing heavily and he was on his knees. Jersey tried to draw a knife and stand, but he crumpled and dropped the knife. 
                          
"Give it up Jersey," Dakota said quietly.
                          
"No. As long . . . as I'm breathing . . . it will never be over," Jersey panted. He rolled his head back and looked into his former teammate's eyes. Dakota saw determination in his fading eyes. Ethan looked at her.
                          
"As long as-" Ethan shot Jersey mid-sentence. The former Assassin keeled over and crumpled to the ground, lifeless.
                          
The sun began to rise over the horizon. Dakota sat down, exhausted, as it began its arch. Ethan sat down next to her, wearily, staring into the dazzling sunrise.
                          
"What do we do now?" she asked as she glanced at the completely destroyed building below them.
                          
"We do what we've done for centuries. We rebuild."
                          


                          


                          


                          


                          


                          


                          
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Special thanks to @NightElflady who got me back on track with the story. I hope you enjoyed it, the crazy fight scenes were definitely fun to write. Thanks for reading, I hope it was as fun to read as it was to write.
                          


                          


                          


                          


                          
#1 Fatum Iustum Strolorum I