Riser

Long Bay, Jamaica

August 1722

Laureano Torres was dead.

A steady stream of blood flowing from his neck displayed that fact proudly. The former Governor and Templar Grand Master’s body laying still against the floor, his rant against the man that killed him sapped the seventy-seven year old of what strength he managed to gain before the wound had taken him to the world that lied below.

Perhaps Thatch will keep him company with the devil...

The man that had taken his life, the feared Pirate Edward Kenway, stood over him. It was finally over. The Templar plot to bring the powers of Europe to their knees was broken. His hand was stained with the blood of his enemy. The hidden blade, once given because of lies in order to gain riches, was now earned because it had taken the life of his first true target.

His heart still pounded in his ears, but he could still hear the sound of footsteps coming up to the platform that held the armillary sphere. Edward turned to them, ready to talk to the Mentor about those glass vials. He opened his mouth in greeting, but was interrupted…

A golden light blasted between them, keeping the shore party separated. The digital rays shown like the sun, temporarily keeping everything in its glow. The three that held the skull were taken aback at the wall of dangerous First Civilization technology. Edward stared at them for what seemed like years before shouting above the din of the awakened Observatory.

“Stop! You can’t risk it. Throw it here! I’ll place it back where it belongs!”

Al Tabai narrowed his eyes through the glowing film that incinerated anyone that came into contact with it. While he didn’t trust him fully, Mary did…and that would have to be enough for now. He looked back at the others, seemingly uneasy; with the situation or with the Captain he wasn’t sure.The floors pulsated once again, making his stomach flutter with nausea. He didn’t like it, but there was nothing more he could do. Wordlessly, he tossed the artifact to the would be Assassin; The Crystal Skull sailing through the systems defenses and into the waiting hands of Edward.

The man caught the artifact without fail, his thumb sliding into one of the eye sockets with ease. He turned to face the armillary sphere. The bronze arms were spinning and gyrating in incomprehensible intervals. Edward brought the Skull to bear, his arm extending to the center, the only part not moving in the entire mechanism. As the artifact came closer, the spinning slowed, coming to a full stop as he slid the device into its home.

What the devil?

He couldn’t move his hands from it as he tried pulling back. It was as if the Observatory was keeping him from moving from his spot. It was incredibly familiar. The pull he felt was only ever felt one other time in his life.

When he was last here with Roberts. The Sage.

It’s activating?!

His eyes looked down in horror to the center slot. A perfect square held a vial that fit perfectly into it, the tiny reservoir of blood boiling as it interfaced with the Crystal Skull. His heart dropped.

Who am I watching in on this time? Is this another trap?

“Captain Kenway! We must leave this place!”

He tried pulling again, his voice rising above the din of the Observatory’s security system, “I can’t! This thing is keeping me rooted in place!”

Anything the old man had said in return was drowned out as his vision clouded once more. Images and voices rushed through his eyes like dreams, only he was completely aware of what was going on.

An evil laugh. “Hah. Huh?”

A thousand voices exhaled. It sounded like a breath of relief and awe. A younger sounding voice filled the fray.

“Behold! The Crystal Princess!”

Edward blinked in surprise. Princess?

Another voice, this time belonging to what looked like a small horse came into view. A horn and wings adorned it. Its large eyes went from shock, anger, then determination.

“The Crystal Heart has returned. Use the light and love within you to ensure that King Sombra does not.”

What seemed like no time at all passed before an unknown noise became as loud as the Observatory. An completely foreign chiming noise accompanying it.

A piercing scream filled the void. The once malevolent voice now filled with panic. “What? No... No! Stop!”

And then, all it once, everything was still. The security system still pulsed with energy, its odd sounding wails permeating the walls; The shore party…Their voices were silenced. One by one they tried getting through the wall of light, but each time repelled. Her skin felt as if it was set aflame. Anne Bonny fell to her knees and cried. Adewale stood back from the scene, his fists clenching and unclenching. Al Tabai, the old Mentor of the Caribbean Assassins stood silently; His arms crossed and head down in deep thought.

Edward’s former Quartermaster, finally admitting defeat, went to Anne. His rough hands pulled her up gently under her arms. “It’s no use Ms. Bonny. Let us go. The Guardians of this place will be out for our blood, of that you can be sure.”

The old Mentor agreed with them, but something weighed heavily on his mind. The parchment in his belt weighed even heavier. The news he carried, originally meant for Edward, would now have to be carried to someone else. Perhaps Anne Bonny or Adewale would accept the responsibility of raising a child…

The man that they knew was gone. Vanished into a plume of light. The artifact with him. Everything he was, every weapon, every strand of dark blonde hair, and every thread of the robes that suited him were lost to the world. Forever.

The security system that had consumed so many lives continued its assignment. The Precursor tomb known as the Observatory would, ironically, keep searching for the artifact that it had lost twice now, even if it would never find it on the face of the Earth again.