Chapter 8 – The Island

We left the cargo ship when it docked at an island. Mousethief soon picked us up in the car and we drove to the far side of the island. “This place we are going to is the headquarters of the Covenant Assassins. Most people would guess that we would be based out the Warrior’s Cathedral, the headquarters of the Church of the Covenant,” Mousethief explained using the full official name for the Covenant Church when referring to their main location.

I was in the front seat and my father sat in the back. He said he preferred the back of a car. I kept an eye on the scenery as I listened to Mousethief. “There is no official name for the training facility and headquarters except The Island. The locals call the chain the Sheltered Rocks, with this being Middle Rock. Not something to talk about or share. The cargo company we use is based out of the port here, which makes it perfect to get most places.”

“There isn’t much history that is shared about this place. But the prevailing theory is that it was founded by a paladin of the Church who wanted to fight darkness with darkness. To go and do things, the Covenant Church could not visibly endorse. To bring creatures into the light of the Warrior and serve the Church.” He was clearly referring to cats with that last sentence.

“As you can probably guess, cats are often hired as Covenant Assassins. But there are a wide variety of creatures. Even a rat, Southpaw as one the Master Assassins. You will be entering as a Neophyte. Most new recruits, unless they are personally selected by the Covenant Church and already have training start off as Neophytes.”

“After the Neophytes, come the Journeymice. Sent out on simple missions to get their feet wet and evaluated. After enough successes a contract is offered, and one becomes a full fledged Assassin of the Covenant Church.”

“Are there that many missions?” I asked. It was hard to imagine.

“We are a global organization. And the cultists and heretics always climb out of the woodwork. Even with countless crackdowns and purges, there is no end to the stupidity of creatures,” Mousethief said and shook his head. “It can get slow sometimes, but then some cult surges out. We break them up and a few escape and the process repeats.”

“We try and hunt them down, but like weeds they keep coming back and repeating the cycle,” my father jumped in to add.

“Exactly what Tom Cat said. There are higher ranks above Assassin, Master Assassin for the best of the best, and the greatest rank for the absolute best is rank of Warrior’s Shadow. Creatures not cut out for the assassin work often become support personnel like me. My official title is Chief Technician, which is the equivalent of a Master Assassin. Below that is Technician and then Trainee to match up with Neophyte.”

“A good technician is important Mittens. As much as Mousethief can grate on my nerves, he is the best of the best,” my father said.

“What rank are you father? A Master Assassin?” I asked, not wanting to ask if he held the title of Warrior’s Shadow, in case he didn’t and I embarrassed him if he didn’t have it.

“Something like that. The headquarters is up ahead, I am going to go. You get her settled,” my father said as Mousethief opened the sunroof. He leapt out of the car and disappeared into the forest. The warm air blew in as Mousethief closed the sunroof back up.

“What rank is he?” I asked Mousethief, almost entirely sure now he was the best of the best. He was my father after all.

“Your father is a bit notorious. My advice is to focus on doing your best and not thinking about him, until you are no longer a Neophyte and become a Journeymouse,” Mousethief said. Was he the top assassin? He had to be. I couldn’t imagine anyone better. I wouldn’t let him down and would do my best.

“Got it Mousethief,” I said with determination, all fired up. I still hadn’t had a good time to check my skills. Mes was floating about listening in. Their presence was a comfort. If they disappeared, then I would worry a bit and pay attention. It was a good way to know when there was some kind of Ancestral Spirit danger lurking about.

“Well good luck. It isn’t going to be easy,” Mousethief said as he pulled into a parking lot. I unbuckled myself and got out along with Mousethief. I made sure to grab the pack of my personal items as well.

“Come on, this way,” he said, and I nodded. I looked up at the three-story building. It was very modern, with lots of glass. I had expected the Covenant Assassins to be in a stone building, ancient and like many of the churches and cathedrals of the Covenant Church. There were no guards or anyone else around either. I did notice a lot of cameras on roof of the building.

I kept my mouth shut so I didn’t embarrass myself as I followed Mousethief into the building. He pushed the glass doors open and I followed him inside. There was a large plain lobby with no decoration with a single mouse sitting at a large desk and elevators at the far end of the lobby.

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There were no pictures, inscriptions or anything else of note. Even the female mouse was wearing a non-descript pants suit. There was no name tag or any identification. Mousethief walked up to the desk and pulled a card out of one his pockets and placed it on the desk. It appeared to be an ID of some kind. The desk mouse took the ID and carefully looked at it, before she passed it back.

“Welcome Chief Technician Mousethief,” the desk mouse greeted him, and he nodded.

“Thank you, lass. Now, I just need to enroll Mittens here as a potential Neophyte.” The desk mouse’s gaze hardened. “Approved by the higher ups and read in.”

“I see. This is highly unusual and outside the regular channels. The paperwork?” the desk mouse asked.

“Ah, well we were in a bit of rush, but these somehow fell into my lap,” Mousethief suddenly had a box in his hand. I hadn’t even seen him carrying a box?! Where had it come from. He pushed it across the desk. The desk mouse gave him a look and opened it up. She picked up a cookie. She nibbled one slightly.

“Chocolate chip, my favorite. Say no more Chief Technician. I will handle it, but you need to get me the paperwork in the next three days. Any later and there will be trouble. No excuses. I can’t push things past that,” the desk mouse said.

“You are a lass, and thanks. I will have it sorted out, don’t worry. Also, can you keep her sponsor’s name hush hush. I don’t want to create a stir, if it can be helped,” Mousethief said and gave the desk mouse a wink.

“Your charm doesn’t work on me. But these cookies are good enough. Bring another box when you bring the paperwork, and I will stamp it all Secret. That is the best I can do. But it will draw some attention,” the desk mouse said.

“Don’t worry. Just don’t want it all coming out right away. An initial delay of a couple months is fine,” Mousethief replied.

“Alright then. Name?” the desk mouse asked me.

“Mittens,” I said a bit nervously.

“Mittens. This is your temporary badge.” She pulled out a big orange badge on a lanyard. “Don’t take it off until you get your permanent identification or are instructed to do so. There is an incoming cohort scheduled for three days from now. You will be placed with them. As long as I get the paperwork.” She looked at Mousethief who smiled and nodded.

“For now, you will be allowed to stay in the critical guest rooms. Food will be brought to you, but you are not to leave unless there is an emergency. If there is an emergency, someone will come and get you, remain at your door. Do not leave under any circumstances or wander about. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I understand mam,” I said, and the desk mouse nodded.

“Good. Mousethief you can escort her to room 107. I will put her on the meal schedule.”

“Thanks, lass,” Mousethief said.

“Thank you, mam,” I said and quickly followed after Mousethief. We went to the back of the lobby, and I followed him inside. He hit a button with the number 1 and the elevator doors closed and began to descend.

We got off and I followed him down a concrete hallway with florescent lights to a metal door with a small label to the side with the numbers 107. Mousethief opened the door, and I stepped inside. “Good luck Applicant. Spend your time wisely,” Mousethief said and then closed the door. That was it and now he was gone. Mes was still floating about, so no worries there.

I looked around. It was more a prison cell than anything else. A single room with a bed, toilet, and sink. I walked around looking at every nook and cranny. There was a mirror glued to the wall above the sink, but nothing else. Nothing under the bed, not a speck of dust either. I tested the doorknob, and the door could open, but I didn’t open it.

There was an air vent in the corner of the room, fresh air blowing inside. At least it was warm. I set my bag on my bed and began stretching. My father hammered it home that I should always stretch to increase my flexibility if there was nothing else to do.

It was a way to pass the time and improve myself. He had also mentioned there would be constant tests. I bet there was going to be an alarm to see if I would leave the room. The fact that Mousethief hadn’t said anything more had made that clear.

I thought about the spacing of the doors and the size of the room. The walls were either really thick, or something was going on behind them. I didn’t look at the mirror or the vent. The best option was to wait and keep stretching like my father had shown me while I recalled some of the things, he had told me that applied to this situation.

“Mittens. Patience is key. When you act. Act decisively. But most of the time an assassin is spent sitting around and waiting for that precise moment to act. You might have gotten the wrong idea after the last two missions you accompanied me on.”

Well, I knew it wouldn’t all be giant snake slaying, and car jumping. But I was going to succeed and be as great as my father. With Mes’ help nothing was impossible. There was no clock and only a single light switch. I didn’t have a watch, which I was regretting at the moment.

I slowly contorted my body and focused on my breathing. This place seemed oddly deserted but there was a group coming in two days. I was feeling a bit nervous, but I had chosen this path. I couldn’t go back to being just Mittens.

Looking at my dyed paws, I vowed that I would not give up or cry again. I wasn’t going to be weak or bullied. I was going to be strong like my father. He was clearly someone important in this organization if Mousethief wanted to hide our connection and he left before we arrived.

I was almost able to do a complete split. I was getting close, but still struggling. I kept my breathing steady as I leaned into the split to keep pushing my body further.

“Slow and steady. You won’t ever improve a lot all at once. But over time, you can make great gains. The key thing is to slowly build up your foundation. All the fancy moves you have seen me do will come later.”

It was the cluelessness on what was going to happen, that was stressing me out currently. When would there be a surprise? Would creatures burst into my room at night? Poison gas? I steadied out my breathing. The only thing I could do currently was focus on improving myself and waiting. So that was what I was going to do.

I didn’t dare look at my Interface. I was probably being watched at the moment, no need to draw undo attention to myself. Better to just stretch, practice my Movement skill with precise movements, and my Listening skill by paying close attention around me.