[b]Thanks. Now for the final chapter, the "boss battle" and preceding fight. The reason for the moniker "The Devil's Child" will be revealed as well.[/b]

[size=4]Chapter 3: Freedom to Decide[/size]

Tracking the trail had taken some time, detours and the like, but it seemed they had found their preferred location. A large, wooden warehouse, surrounded by the usual stone walls and close to the Vista Mansion where the mercenaries were based, though not a primary target, it seemed. Especially since the two Assassins didn't exactly... use the front door.

Azumi scanned the area. From a few flashes of her VISR interface, she could see targets in the distance, but nobody hostile, at least except that one guy, but he was dead in a few seconds anyway. She did watch over, the same entryway. Speaking to Ezio, she didn't even look this time. "Anything we can use? Any way in that's not covered? See her?"

She could hear shouting and gunfire coming toward the research laboratory they were near, the location of this "Naomi." A swear on her lips. "And a way to make sure we can get in and out without being caught in a gunfight. Or get a good position for one."

"I see an opening on the warehouse roof, scaling the building should not be a problem. Though we will need to take care to avoid detection. Disabling patrolling soldiers around the area is out of the question however, we cannot risk anyone finding a body and raising the alarm." Said Ezio, who briefly tuned into Eagle Sense. In the distance, he could make several red silhouettes with the bodies of a human female, although their armor made it difficult to distinguish between the two genders initially.

"It seems we have another complication..." Ezio muttered, keeping an eye on the soldiers. They were obviously different from the common grunts they'd seen so far, the question lay in their capabilities.

Azumi tilted her head, looking back the way they had come. She did see the black silhouettes, yes. Raising her gun, she looked down the sights to get a better look... and they jumped, jumped higher than seemed humanly possible, up into the atmosphere...and down, landing on the ground and halving the distance. "Well crap."

[url=http://images.wikia.com/metalgear/images/d/dd/Haven_TrooperMGS4.jpg]They[/url] were indeed female, as she could see, their armor fitted to a woman's body, with Belgian P90 bullpup submachine gun held in their right hands. Machetes in sheathes along their right legs. Seven of the women, fully outfitted, with black masks that seemed to have enlarged filters for gas attacks and red eyepieces. "FROGs", as Drebin had called them. If they were here, it was serious.

Azumi ducked behind a nearby drum can of gasoline, motioning Ezio over. It was best not to engage them, given their capabilities. Especially as they jumped once more...

Ezio was astounded that a human being could jump that high and land unscathed, though his amazement gave way to caution as he ducked behind a drum can nearest to Azumi. While he did not put stock into odds being a major factor in a battle, he had a feeling that a fight between seven of those soldiers would not end well. [i]Luck does not seem to favor us today.[/i]