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Avapithecus — Ragnarok: Chapter 1
#animus #assassin #brainwashing #cain #civilization #cole #creed #dusk #fanfic #first #isu #jacob #lucifer #morgenster #precursor #sheol #singer #templar #yolanda #assassinscreed #abstergo
Published: 2018-01-13 15:25:43 +0000 UTC; Views: 1402; Favourites: 0; Downloads: 0
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June 12, 2016; Indianapolis, Indiana“Goddammit! What the hell am I paying you for?!” Morgenster shouted at his sidekick.
“You don't pay me, Lucy. Abstergo does,” Sheol said nonchalantly.
“I pay you with the privilege to keep air in your lungs! And stop calling me Lucy!”
“Well no offense, boss, but Lucifer is surprisingly not that catchy a name.”
“Will you just fix the goddamned machine already?”
“You got it, boss. Might wanna check on morning glory over there while I do it. Looks like he's coming out of it and he's about to throw up.”
The Animus disconnected from Dusk, and like she said, he rolled to the side and began to vomit onto the floor. He couldn’t think straight. Everything still hurt. He looked around, grabbing the chair to stand, which felt impossible.
“I'm not cleaning that up,” Sheol said. Lucifer ignored her.
“Come on, kid,” he said. “Stand up straight. You’ve done it before.”
Dusk heard a voice speaking, but couldn’t place it. He looked around, everything a blur, but followed orders. He locked onto a dark blur behind the Animus, standing next to another. Morgenster. Right. That was Morgenster. The Leader. Dusk was… This was his initiation. The woman was Sheol. Morgenster’s right hand. He swallowed and cleared his throat. He could still taste bile, but he had to respond before his boss got upset.
“Yes sir. I… Apologies.” It hurt to speak. Although this scene was familiar. He’s gone through the same memory multiple times, each time getting a little further in. The thought was something to latch onto. He shook his head, the movement painful, but grounding. “It still feels like you’re trying to kill me, Morgenster. This isn’t just training to you, is it?”
“Oh I love watching you suffer, kid,” Lucifer smirked. “That's no secret. But if you manage to get through this, you might actually have a shot of being my lackey.”
“I'm rooting for ya,” Sheol told Dusk.
“Shut up,” Lucifer told her.
“Mkay.”
“Thank you, Sheol.” Dusk was starting to feel better. The sessions didn’t get any easier, but he got hardier with each session.
“Not gonna lie,” Lucifer said, pacing with his cane, “there's a part of me that's disappointed it's been this easy to break you. I was hoping for a bit more fun before the snap, but oh well.”
“I haven’t snapped yet, Morningstar. I still keep getting back in that awful machine. Bet I’m doing better than Yolanda ever did.” He looked over to Sheol. He wasn’t going to be satisfied with just being one of Morgenster’s lackeys. He’d probably have to kill her once this was over. Might as well start the rivalry now.
“Bruh, my Spartan ancestors were rad,” Sheol said. “There were spears flying all over the place.”
Lucifer shot her a look. “I never gave you permission to use the Animus! You should've been working!”
“You say that like I care.”
“Why do I keep you around?”
“Because I'm the only one that won't rat us out to mean ol’ mister Berg!” She gave a big, cheeky smile.
Dusk watched the two, threw up once more, and leaned against the chair. “Like I said… I still get in the blasted machine.”
“Which is exactly how I know I've snapped you,” Lucifer said. “You're all mine now, kid.”
“Not like I have much of a choice. If I wasn’t following you two the rest of the Templars would have slit my throat.” Dusk had a brief flash. He’d been taken in by a group of Templars who were “recruiting” and he didn’t see eye to eye with them. They’d been ready to execute him once they’d finally caught him, when Morgenster showed up. He thought Dusk had… Potential.
He blinked and furrowed his brow, thinking. “Morgenster, sir? How… How long ago was that?” His head still ached from the Animus. He couldn’t think right. He had a slight spasm, though, and one piece of information came through. Once he had caught his breath, and his balance, he coughed out. “Lucy. Apologies.”
Sheol snickered under her breath. Lucifer scowled at her. “Lucifer,” he said. “Idiots…”
“You chose us, sir. Not the other way around.” Dusk gave him a shaky smile, when a voice cracked through his skull. He had a second to ask “Abel?” when he collapsed to the floor, holding his head. He couldn’t scream. He couldn’t breath. He couldn’t cry. There was only pain and the bare image of modern day post apocalypse where he and his family lived. No. Wait. Dusk got out a breath, which he used to call for help, but only got a small whimper out.
“Boss, he's tweaking again,” Sheol pointed out.
Lucifer rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed grunt. “Get him in his cell to sit until he stops spasming out,” he told her.
“Why do I have to do it?”
“Because kiss my ass, that's why.”
Dusk made a noise that sounded like he was trying to say, “lame”. He might have also just been choking.
Sheol made a face and dramatically stretched out of her chair. “Alright spazzy, time to go to bed,” she said as she walked over and hoisted Dusk up by the collar. She dragged him down the hall and down a few stairs until they reached the holding cells, and then she tossed him inside one. She slid the door closed and locked it. “Have fun,” she said. “Be back in a bit. Imma go get some bagels. Don't tell Lucy.” And with that, she turned and left the room, leaving Dusk to spasm himself out.
Dusk curled up into a ball. He always tried so hard to make his mother proud, but he never seemed to get Morgenster’s orders right. He always screws up. His brother always got the best crop. And even on something simple. Like stopping an Assassin. He can’t do it right. Even though they obviously had no idea what they were doing. No leader? No progress? And yet he couldn’t stop them. Morgenster had told him exactly where they were. He had gone with the best his field could produce. The best livestock. And it wasn’t good enough. His brother got the approval, and the Assassins got away. At least he helped that poor old man. The monsters had attacked him on his way home. Cain at least got to help the man home. Even if no one wanted him.
The pain continued, until it stopped. Dusk had passed out, his fever finally breaking. Approximately 2 seconds later into his 3 hour nap, Sheol pushed the door open.
“Wazzup?” Sheol said as she walked in, a bag of bagels in hand. “How's it hangin, Duskie boy?”
Duskie? Why’s she calling him Duskie. His name was… He shook his head, and swallowed. He started to speak, but his voice cracked into a whimper. He leaned against the wall and breathed.
After a few seconds, he spoke up. “Where’s my Asiago?”
“Your wuh?” she asked.
He growled. “My bagel. My Asiago cheese bagel. You told me you’d bring me one. I want my bagel.”
“Ah okay. Here.” She took a bagel out of the bag and tossed it at him.
He grabbed for it, missed, and got hit in the face. Surprised, he scrambled for it, lost his balance, and fell to the side.
“Ha,” Sheol laughed.
Glad he’d made a fool of himself, he sat up with the bagel and began eating it, ignoring Sheol. He thought about how upset Lucy got when Sheol mocked him, and couldn’t help mimicking his expression.
“Ready to get back to Cain?” Sheol asked as he chowed down. “I've got some very important Tetris to play as I pretend to help Lucy monitor you.”
“No wonder it keeps kicking me out. The two supposed to be keeping me in don’t give a shit.”
“Correct,” Sheol grinned.
“Make sure you tell Lucy that-” He made air quotes, raising his voice. “-I’m learning from you.”
“I am the best teacher,” she smirked, looking all innocent. “Now come on, let's get a move on.”
He took a few seconds more for breathing, then stood up, using the wall for support. This crap took a toll on him, but it would be worth it in the end. He looked to Sheol, happy for the company, if slightly dampened by the other company, and nodded.
“Speaking of. Which one of us is going to die first?”
Sheol put her finger on her chin as they walked. “Hmmm… well I'm too awesome to kick the bucket first. Maybe second, but not first. My money's on Lucy tbh. Your friends are pretty determined.”
She shut her mouth quickly, giving him a look. Dusk’s eyes narrowed, an almost sad expression crossing his face.
“I mean… You are obnoxious. But I didn’t know you’ve made attempts yet…” The words stuck with Dusk, albeit skewed. He didn’t know of any other friends. Maybe it’d come to him once he’d finished with the Animus.
“I can smell the bagels,” Lucifer snarled as the two came back into the Animus room.
“You want one?” Sheol asked him.
“I want you to get his ass in the machine.”
“Lucy, it goes on my head. I thought you knew this.” Dusk was fishing for another bagel. “And take one. She got plenty.”
“Both of you just shut up and get in your spots.”
“Loading Tetris,” Sheol said, hopping into her revolving chair and turning on her monitor.
Dusk slid into the Animus, singing. “Let’s do the timewarp again.”
“Die in a hole,” Lucifer said before turning to his monitor and activating the genetic memory program. The endless void of the Animus filled Dusk's vision and he immediately felt it grab a hold of his DNA. The program wriggled into his brain like a snake, engulfing it and constricting it until it was warped into that of someone long in the past. He felt himself walking along the charcoal grounds with only his supplies on his back. The smokey air filled his lungs yet again. His eyes were heavy. He had been walking all day and night. He didn't know how far he had gone, and for the most part he didn't care. He managed to lift his head up to gaze at the mountain range in front of him. One mountain stood out high above the others, one cracked open like an egg, with rivers of lava leaking out the sides. He didn't know why, he didn't really care why, but that mountain was drawing him in, summoning him almost. And so that was where Cain decided to walk towards.
------------
November 20, 74984 BCE; Mount Toba
So, this was where it all ended.
This was where the solar flare that had destroyed this entire planet had struck first. This mountain was the site of the apocalypse, the place where the world first turned to ash.
Cain found himself standing at the base of this horrific place. It looked dead, foreboding, and yet something about it was drawing him forward, into the caverns that led into the volcano’s fiery depths. He was surprised to find remnants of isu technology hidden inside as he walked further and further down. They had long lost their vibrant glow. Not even the isu could build something that could withstand the raw power of the sun’s wrath. He continued his descent, the caves becoming hallways to some lost temple. He eventually found himself standing in awe at the entrance of a massive room, one filled to the brim with shattered isu technology. He could hear the roar of a magma pit outside the window.
One piece of tech still seemed to be relatively intact. It was a small pedestal at the center of the room, with a flickering red light on top of it. Cain stared, finding himself drawn forward yet again. It was almost calling to him…
He approached the pedestal, and as he did, it seemed to glow brighter and brighter, flickering malevolently as it did. Suddenly, a figure started forming in the light, one that seemed like a man with wings jutting from his back. It jerked and twisted in unnatural ways as it tried to come into clarity. Cain froze, unable to look away. The figure’s cracked armor and scarred face became clear. It's bloodshot eyes opened up, and they slowly glared down at Cain. Cain’s brain told him to run, but his body refused to listen. For a moment that felt like hours, the two simply stared at one another.
And then the winged man grinned.
“Well what do we have here?” he said casually. “Been awhile since I got any visitors!”
“Who… who are you?” Cain stuttered.
“What your mommy never tell you about her old pal, Lucifer? Oh don't give me that look. You're the spitting image of Eve and her dumbass boyfriend.”
“I…”
“So what’s your name, kid?”
“Uh… Cain. I am Cain.”
“Cain? That's a dumb name. I expected Eve to do better.”
“Hey!”
“Ah shut up. Don't be so sensitive.”
Cain started getting mad. His face turned red. “I've taken enough abuse from everyone today! I don't need to take it from some holographic angel too!”
Lucifer's grin seemed to take on a different quality, a hidden expression that Cain couldn't quite place.
“Rough day then, kid?” he asked Cain.
“You have no idea…”
“Why don't you take a seat and talk about it with your good buddy Lucifer?”
“No offense, but you don't exactly look like the kind of guy who would make a good therapist.”
Lucifer put his hands on his chest in mock hurt. “You wound me with such cold words!” he said. “Come on, Cain, not like you have many other people to talk to based on what you've said already.”
Cain crossed his arms, hesitant. “Nothing I do is ever good enough for anyone…” he said. “I've worked my fields for as long as I can remember, and yet my brother gets all the glory for his work and leaves mine in the shadows. They chastise me for not doing enough and yet they themselves are so stuck up in their Creed that they won't allow any changes that would speed up the process! The looks they give me when I try to propose something more… I feel like such an outcast.”
Lucifer put a finger on his chin. “Well then why not just take matters into your own hands?”
“I can't.”
“Eeh! Wrong answer.”
“But-”
“Come on, kid think of it. You're clearly the only smart one in that group of idiots. Who better to rise up and take control than you?”
“And how exactly would I do that?”
“Well, there's always the Apple of Eden. It was literally designed for taking control.”
Cain felt a bitter taste in his mouth. “Like I could ever get my hands on that,” he said. “My mother entrusted it to my brother because she knew he'd keep it from ever being used by anyone.”
“Hmm… I see. I see. Well you know, there's always one sure fire way to get people out of your way.”
“And what is that?”
“Stab them through the heart.”
Cain’s jaw dropped at the idea. “What?” he said. “Are you suggesting that I kill my brother?!”
“Sure why not?”
“I… he is my brother!”
“And?”
“And?”
“Yeah. And. What does it matter? What has he ever done for you but take the spotlight away from you, cast you in his shadow, take everything in your life and step on it?”
“I… No! I could never-”
“Oh yes you could, I know you can. You know you can. I can see it in your eyes. You're thinking about it. You can imagine the Apple in your hands right now, can't you? You can see yourself standing on a hill with that thing, forcing all those little cretins to finally listen to you. You like that image, I can tell. So why not make it a reality?”
Cain fought with himself in his mind, the images and possibilities clashing back and forth. Could he really do it? Could he really kill his brother and steal the Apple from his dead corpse? He'd be able to make a huge difference with that artifact. He could shape the world into a better one according to his desires. He would be a king, a god. Maybe the small sacrifice would be worth it…
“I… you're right…” he decided. “The only way this world will get better is if someone like me is in charge. Freedom has allowed this planet to suffer for too long. I have to take it all away, and in order to do that… I must also take my brother's life.”
Lucifer smiled again. His hologram began to flicker and glitch. “Excellent,” he said. “It'll be a lot of fun watching the results.”
And then he vanished as the image violent shattered and disappeared back into the pedestal. Cain stared for a while, and then turned to leave. He set his course for home again. If he hurried, no one would even realize he was gone. He'd have the element of surprise working perfectly at his side.
It was time to make a difference. It was time to put an end to the Creed. It was time for a New World Order.
“Uuuuhhh… boss? Something's getting screwy with the readings.”
He started feeling weird as he walked out of the temple. His brain was pulsing, as if it was trying to escape his skull. He grit his teeth and clutched his head.
“What? What is it?”
“That's a good question.”
“Dammit Sheol, give me a straight answer!”
He buckled over. Suddenly he felt like… like he should run. Like he should try to get away. This wasn't right… He didn't know why, but it wasn't. He needed to get away. He needed to escape!
“It's like… his brain won't follow the memory pathway. Like his DNA is actually resisting the simulation!”
“Then pull him out!”
“I can't!”
“What do you mean you can't?”
“Something's overriding the eject function. Dude's brain is screwing up my programs!”
He had to run. He couldn't run. Not with his legs at least. He had to run… somewhere else. He couldn't stay here. Something was telling him to get away from the voices outside. He had to figure it out!
“How is that possible?”
“Probably shouldn't have been playing so much Tetris.”
“Fix it!”
“I've lost the readings!”
He forced the voices away.
He ran.
