The Order of the Black Knights

Chapter Eight

Chrysler Building, Midtown Manhattan, New York City

New York USA

December 1st, 2040, 9:14pm

Luna Transmitting

Target: Kill Blue Sparkler.

Noise, that’s the best word I would use to describe this place. This city I have been in is noisy. I don’t know why people can stand all this noise, the brightness of these lights, and the fact that this city never seems to sleep. Andrew was right when he said that City life was not for everyone. In fact, I wasn’t sure it was for me. While it may be noisy, crowded, ever moving, and unforgiving, this place was filled with so many wonders that I could not even begin to full imagine.

It was also the only life I had ever known up until that point. All I knew about myself was my name, Luna. Other than that, my past was a mystery. One I was determined to find out. That was why I joined the Order. There was something within me that told me I would find my past through them. It seemed I had yet to be wrong; Andrew, Jezebel, Lsyric, and others were all so helpful in my training. For everyone one course on the body, there were two on the mind. Each were extremely difficult at first.  Though I trained harder and harder, without their guidance I never would’ve lasted.

It was thanks to my training that I discovered many wonders about myself as well. I could use magic, and apparently an advanced form of magic. I could levitate objects, transport myself from one place to another, and even create magical wings to help me fly over short distances. But my most greatest trick was my ability to enter people’s dreams. However, I felt it was an impersonal trick so I rarely used it. The rest of my magic tricks  would help me in my future endeavors

Now I was off on my first mission. My pulse raced and I never felt my heart race faster. Two days ago, Andrew had promoted me from the rank of Recruit to Virgin. Now this was my first mission and would pop my killing cherry. I stood upon one of Chrysler Building’s gargoyles high above the city, meditating. Both Andrew and Jezebel told me that permission meditation was a great way to calm my nerves and prepare me for the mission ahead.

To my amazement, it wasn’t working all that well. However Andrew also mentioned that I would never rid myself of doubt or worry, so I should never try. Maybe that’s what was still making me nervous, doubt and worry if I would succeed and survive my first time. I continued to meditate for a few more minutes until I was confident enough. When I was, I rose to my feet and walked onto the gargoyle’s head. When I was comfortably perched, I pressed my Bluetooth earpiece, “This is Virgin ready to begin operation.”

“Roger that Virgin, target has been located near Central Park. Report to that area and neutralize the Union officer.” Samantha informed me.

“Roger, Virgin out.” I answered raising my hood. If I was going to be happy about anything after this, it was that I would no longer be called Recruit or Virgin. I took a deep breath and focused on my magic. Out of my back drew two large wings, their color matching my hair. Once they were fully erect, I simply let myself fall off the gargoyle.

The sensation of forward motion was my indication that I was flying. I soared over the city in a northern direction, already with a clear visual of Central Park already. After gliding for a good distance up Lexington Avenue, I landed atop a building on East Forty Fifth Street and began running East atop the roof tops. I may not be a master at Parkour like Andrew, but I’m getting better and I’m able to jump from roof top to roof top without incident. I didn’t stop until I hit Fifth Avenue, it was then I turned North on a direct route to Central Park.

Whatever gap wasn’t jumpable; I simply deployed my wings and glided across. It was an easy run north, all the while my only focus was successfully managing my way across the rooftops of Manhattan while remaining unseen. My head was still ringing of Andrew’s tips and rules on how to be a successful Black Knight, many of those tips I didn’t know if I’d ever get the opportunity to use.

Before I reached the park, I did a quick survey to check to see how many people were in the park. Another magic trick I found out I could use, Andrew called it Eagle Vision. But it wasn’t anything like that at all; at least it had nothing to do with my eyesight being as sharp as an eagle. I closed then reopened my eyes, instantly my vision zoomed into the park almost like I was looking through a pair of binoculars.

As I looked, I could see mostly homeless people either walking around the sidewalks or sleeping on the park benches. I couldn’t find my target at all. At least not anywhere near the streets. It was then I remember something Andrew told me; if I wasn’t sure, it was perfectly okay to ask for help from the base. I kinda felt embarrassed asking for help, but I also didn’t want to seem more like a fool by guessing.

“Base this is Virgin, what was the last confirmed sighting of the Target?” I asked.

“Good job Virgin,” I heard Andrew speak. He must have been listening in to make sure I did a good job. I actually heard pride in his voice, “Target was last seen on West 59th heading in a northwesterly direction towards The Pond.”

“Roger, Virgin out.” I said then turned my vision towards The Pond. Sure enough, there she was, sitting on a rock overlooking The Pond. Now I got a little nervous as the gravity of my mission hit me. But I took one of the deepest breaths I could ever imagine my lungs doing and took off towards my target. I had learned in training that landing right near your target was a very bad idea, as that would put me at risk to fall into whatever possible trap could be waiting for me. But I also learned that walking in from a distance might be a bad thing too. Approaching a target took finesse, Lsyric once told me, and that I had to keep my eyes sharp otherwise I might lose.

I landed gently in a tree about twenty meters from her. Slowly I looked around to see if any guards or escorts were nearby. Fortunately there were none. I lowered myself on to the ground level and approached my target. I was sure it was her, not only because I trusted base, there was something deeper within me that told me it was her. My feeling was confirmed when she slowly got to her feet and turned around.

“An Assassin,” She murmured, “I should’ve guessed they’d be so bold to send one after me.”

“Blue Sparkler I presume,” I said back to her.

Sparkler smirked, “Oh you presume right Knight, but I would never guess they’d send one as stupid as you.”

“Define stupid, last I checked it was just you and me?” I shot back. However I knew that it was going to become a false statement, except I couldn’t hear anyone approaching.

“That may be true, but to face me mono e mono, not one of their best moves.” She said. Before I could blink, Sparkler attacked me. From her sock she drew a tiny but still deadly dagger and aimed it straight for my chest. I dodged the first attack and swiped her with one of my blades, creating a gash within her sweater. She spun around and tried to hit me again, to which I again dodged and added with a stab into her side.

I felt the blood squirt onto my glove knowing I had gotten a good hit on her. As I pulled the blade out, I felt Sparkler try to hit me again. Again I dodged and kneed her in the stomach. Sparkler staggered away from me, but I knew she wouldn’t run. She clenched her wounded side and looked at me, “You’re good Knight, better than most I’ve faced. But I will not die today.”

Andrew would’ve answered that statement but I didn’t. I didn’t think it was proper to dignify that statement. I drew my blades and went at her again. She thought she surprised me by drawing a pistol she had tucked in her pants, but I simply rolled underneath the line of the shot. That put me in perfect position to finish the job. I shoved my hand into her chest between her two breasts, blade breaking her breast bone and dealing the fatal blow.

I felt Sparkler go limp on my shoulder, but I also heard her gasp in horror. “No,” she whimpered, “No, I don’t want to go yet. I don’t want to die now; I had so much to live for. I don’t want to go.”

“We rarely do when we have to.” I soothed rolling her off my shoulder and gently placing her on the ground. It was then I looked into her face. She was scared, scared of what was happening to her. And I brought that fear upon her. I killed her, and I made her face the greatest fear ever known. It was a sickening feeling and sight. But I had a job to finish. “Do not fear the blackness, for it will comfort you like the softest blanket. Rest in Peace.” I said closing her eyes.

Then I felt my heart become extremely heavy. I was almost about to cry. I couldn’t believe what I had just done. It almost didn’t feel right. But my training was screaming at me to keep it together and escape. I gave Sparkler one more moment of prayer and peace before I headed off towards the street and my escape.

The next day, after morning training and everything, I went straight back into my room. I sat at the head of my bed and rested my knees onto my chest. My heart and head were still spinning after last night. Worst still, Sparkler’s blood still felt like it was on my hand. I knew I wasn’t the only one with blood on my hands in the order, and I also knew that neither Sparker nor the Union were innocent victims.

But that didn’t make me feel any better. My dreams the night before all included her face and the horror of her facing death. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t bury my guilt over what I had done. It was then I began to question why I had joined the Order in the first place. Andrew was right on all accounts, maybe I wasn’t ready.

My thoughts were broken up by a knock on my door. “Come in,” I said in a surprisingly even voice.

It was Andrew. He poked his head around my door and looked at me with a stoic face that badly hid proudness, “I came to tell you your incitation ceremony will be in about three hours. So until that time please don’t leave the dorm level.” Then he saw my uncertainty and entered. I could tell I didn’t need to explain to him what was getting at me at all, so I didn’t even try. “Your conscious bothering you?” he asked me.

I nodded.

“Let me ask, is it the fact that you have killed or is it the fact that you’ve seen someone die.” He asked.

I nodded, “Both, it’s not that I’m upset over a death. I just can’t come to grips with it.”

Andrew sat down at the foot of my bed and looked at me, “I understand completely. And I also know all the questions you’re going to ask me too. Truth is, this is not a joyous or easy field to be in Luna and most are not equipped for it.”

“But I wanted to join so badly,” I whimpered.

“I know you did, and I’m not kicking you out unless you want to leave. But I will give you this advice. Death is the scariest thing that a human will ever face, and taking a life is never something to cheer or condone. That is why you’ll never see a kill tally in any of the Order’s HQs.” He explained, “But we Assassins have a task. And that task is to kill killers. Believe me when I say, it’s easier to live with yourself when you take one life knowing you’ll save thousands more. I’m not saying you’ll be happy with yourself, but it’ll be easier to live with yourself.”

“But, she was scared.” I whispered.

“As she should be, which is it is our job to comfort and sooth them on their path to the beyond. I taught you those lines and to always say ‘Rest in Peace’ not because they’re a good catchphrase, I taught you those lines to help ease the dying to their deaths. It is our way of preserving our humanity.” He told me. Then he comforted me with his next line, “Besides, I’m sure the life they are heading to will be a much better one than this will ever be.”

“You think there is a life after this?” I asked.

“Yea I do think there is. Why do you think no one ever returns from death?” he answered with a smile. Then he got up and headed towards my door.

But I couldn’t let him go without one last question, “Do you…do you see your victims in your dreams?”

He stopped dead in his tracks but did not look back at me. “Don’t ever try to bury them Luna,” was all he said before walking out.

I didn’t understand what that had meant, but the tone of his voice told me he had. In an odd way I felt better. I knew I would never be totally happy, but I was surrounded by people would understand my sickness. And if the afterlife was anything Andrew had made it sound, I’m sure the life I would send my targets too would be a good place for them to go.

I looked out my window, which had a decent view of the Statue of Liberty. From what I had learned from history, good men had died trying to bring the world the freedom it had so rightly deserved by killing the bad guys who wish to deny it. Now we Black Knights were doing the same. Andrew’s line of “killing one to save thousands more,” was the most comforting thing about that whole advice statement. And I began to feel much better about my choice.

Exactly three hours later I was summoned to the main level for my initiation. On the projector was the Black Knight’s symbol, and in two perfect lines were the members of the New York, New Jersey, and General Headquarters. All had black jackets on with hoods up, even the ones who were not field agents. I stood near the far side of the room in between both lines.

On the other side of these lines under the projector was Andrew, Marcus, New York’s leader Erie, and New Jersey’s leader Boss Jovi. Only Marcus had his hood down. Andrew and Erie were standing next to a locker that held a black jacket, Andrew holding a hidden blade in his hands while Erie held a long rifle.

After a few moments of silence, I heard Marcus speak. “Nothing is true, everything is permitted. This is the line that acts as the mandate and rule for all Assassins throughout history, from the soldiers of Alamut to the agents of the Cold War. To say that nothing is true is to realize that the foundations of society are fragile, and that we must be the shepherds of our own civilization. To say that everything is permitted, is to understand that we are the architects of our actions, and that we must live with their consequences, whether glorious or tragic.

“We Black Knights guide ourselves by this law as well as the four rules set by our founder Master Thomas Kincaid. Now we welcome another into our fold, another who wishes to work with us to restore the world to its greater good. Assassin, please step forward.” Marcus commanded.

I did as ordered, walking in between the two lines until I reached Marcus. He then motioned for Boss Jovi and Andrew to approach. The two of them helped me remove my navy blue jacket and Boss Jovi escorted it away from me. Andrew meanwhile walked back to the locker and picked the Black Jacket off its rack as well as pick up the hidden blade he was once carrying, when he did that he walked back to me. Erie also walked over to me with the rifle in hands. She turned the rifle so that is but would face me and handed it to me. I took the gun and rested the barrel on my left shoulder while I rested my right hand over the breach. It was the rifle that Thomas used in his vendetta against the Union, all GHQ Assassins swore their loyalty upon it.

All this was a carefully crafted choreography Andrew and Deseret taught me the day before my first mission. It was all a part of my initiation ceremony. I looked up into Marcus’s eyes while Andrew stood next to me with the jacket and the blade.

“Miss Luna,” Marcus asked, “Do you swear that you will not work for the light of fame and fortune?”

“I swear,” I answered.

“Do you swear that you will defend the innocent with all you might?” he asked again.

“I swear,” I answered.

“Do you swear that you will be silent with your blade, never entering the light that wishes to expose you?” Marcus asked.

“I swear,” I answered.

“And Miss Luna, do you swear that you will keep your identity hidden from the world?” Marcus asked one more time.

“I swear,” I answered, feeling pride swell within me.

Marcus nodded, “The Virgin has been taken, and it is time for us to welcome her with our shield.”

I handed Erie the gun, which brought it back to where it originally was. Andrew removed the jacket from its hooks and approached me, “Miss Luna, this is the Black jacket all Black Knights wear. It is our shield and our cloak. We offer this jacket to you now to welcome you into our order. Do you accept our gift?”

I nodded with a warm smile, “I do.”

Andrew then unbuttoned the jacket and handed to me. Once I had in my hands, I put the jacket on, buttoned it up, but kept my hood down. I knew it wasn’t time yet. Andrew then offered me a pair of hidden blades, “These were the Blades of your predecessor Mercury. It was his wish that if his life was ever taken that his blades be given to the next in line so that they may carry on his work. Do you wish to honor his wish and accept these blades, if you do not you will receive a new pair of your own and the next Virgin will be offered them?” Andrew asked.

“Would be my honor to accept the blades of Mercury.” I answered sticking out my arms. With a happy grin, Andrew fitted the blades upon my wrists. Once he had them on, I turned to my fellow knights and raised my arms within the air and deployed the blades. This was the sign of my indoctrination. Now all there was left was to have my callsign added.

Marcus asked, “Now what will we call you Miss Luna.”

I pondered the question for a bit before looking back at Marcus. I had one name that just felt right, “Nightmare, Nightmare Moon.”

Marcus nodded as I lowered my arms. He then approached me from behind and grabbed my hood. While he raised it, he spoke, “Then let us welcome our newest member, Assassin Nightmare Moon!”

A soft applause came from the crowd. A warm, accomplished, and somewhat arrogant smile adorned my face.