Luther: An Underworld Odyssey

Luther opened the door to an office room of men crowded around a small television. On the black and white screen was a broadcast curated by the Italian government. In the corner of the room, Luca was taped and gagged to a chair, helpless to watch at what would come next.

Dictator Mussolini moved to the center of the television screen, standing behind a podium with the Italian flag on it. Behind him stood a row of his top Marshalls, including Balero. He looked confident and collected, a warning of bad news ahead for the NLC members sitting beside Luther and Jack. In the address room, Mussolini cleared his throat before speaking to the nation.

"Fighters of land, sea, and air. Blackshirts of he revolution and of the legions, men and women of Italy, of the empire and of the Kingdom of Albania, listen!" Mussolini spoke as the rest of the room remained in silence.

Mussolini gave a raised fist to the camera before continuing, "The hour destined by fate is sounding for us. The hour of irrevocable decision has come. A declaration of war already has been handed to the Ambassadors of Great Britain and France—"

In the NLC office, Ezio is quick to grab a nearby vase in a moment of heated rage and hurl it to the wall. Luther takes notice and backs away from the television. Their hand hovered over their holstered gun.

"Fascist dogs!" Ezio exclaimed as he looked for something else in the room to take his anger out on.

The television continued to broadcast Mussolini's declaration of war and siding with the Axis powers. Luca takes a brief smug smile to seeing his captors filled with anguish. Ezio notices the smiling brat and reaches for his gun.

"If the plan isn't even going to work. Then I don't see a reason for keeping the kid around," snapped Ezio as he took aim to Luca.

Before Ezio could even consider pulling the trigger and taking the life of a child, Luther was already aiming the barrel of their handgun at the NLC leader. The other NLC members took aim at Luther and Jack as the room turned into a standoff.

To take the edge off, Ezio and Luther both lowered their guns first.

"Let's not get too hasty here," Luther advised.

Luca's attention is no longer at the chamber of firearms that surround him, but rather, his father that had taken stage on the television screen. Marshall Balero began his portion of Mussolini's public address.

"My fellow men. For years I have served as your Military Marshall. I have always, and will always, dedicate my life to our strong nation; and I am proud of all the work I've accomplished. It is with a heavy heart that I resign from my position as Marshall and leader of our great army," announces Balero.

On the side of the broadcast, Mussolini's face noticeably changed to that of disapproval. This announcement was not in his script.

Balero continued his speech, "I know we are entering an era of perilous uncertainty. But there are exterior forces outside even my control. I am pleased with the work we've accomplished with our heroic leader—"

Marshall Balero gave a gesture towards Mussolini. Mussolini's mask is back on as he nodded towards the gesture, but underneath the surface he is calculating his next move. 

"—But it is at this time that I must step away. Italy will continue it's rise in my absence. There is no doubt we will guide both our allies and enemies to a better future. Credere, obbedire, combattere. Thank you," concluded Marshall Balero

Everyone in the room placed their guns away. Luca was fighting to get out of his binding as tears began to roll down his eyes. Luther walked over to the exasperated child and untied him. They tore off Luca's gag.

The child screamed out, "You god damn monsters! How dare you!"

The boy scratched and pushed to get out of Luther's grip, but Luther wraped their arms around him, refusing to let go. Jack approached the injects Luca with a needle to make him fall unconscious. Luther carefully lifts him up to their shoulder.

"We're leaving to return the kid. Congratulations on your success captain," said Luther.

Ezio lowered his head in shame, the room had turned cold.

"Our failure will lead to the destruction of this country," said Ezio

Luther left the room carrying Luca. Jack began to follow before stopping and turning to the NLC members, "It takes more than a single action to make a change; and even then, nothing is given. Don't forget that."

Jack followed after his partner in leaving the building. Ezio and his man sat in defeat, unsure of what to do next.

Outside of the building, Jack entered his vehicle. Luther is already in the passenger seat and Luca is unconscious in the back. Jack started up the ignition and began to drive towards the opera house.

Jack turned to his partner as he drove down the vacant night streets. "What's the plan? What's the endgame to all of this?" he asked.

"Return the kid to his father." Luther answered. They paused for a moment, looking at Luca in the backseat through the rearview mirror. "Then we leave the country"

"Where will we go? France is a Nazi filled warzone."

"We can go somewhere safe and neutral. Perhaps Spain or Switzerland. Maybe even America."

"I hate the cold," Jack informed.

"But you hate making your way around the nazis more. Spain's a bordering country, and with our line of work, it poses a larger risk."

Jack gave out a sigh as he made a right turn.

"You never make shit easy, do you?" he said.

Jack's car comes to a stop at the light.

"I thought about ditching the kid earlier. It would make the chances of seeing tomorrow a lot higher." Luther admitted.

"Yeah, well statistically speaking, we are walking into a trap," said Jack

"I'm not one to leave a loose end behind, plus the NLC isn't a group I'd want to cross while I'm still in the country."

"They won't be around much longer. Mussolini is going to drown them all out and hang them for public display. This country is too far gone."

"You believe that?" asked Luther.

"I don't know what to believe anymore."

The light changed to green and Jack continued to drive forward. There was a brief silence between the two partners.

"I had that dream again." Luther stated.

"Which one? The dream where we all die in a blaze of glory. The dream where you finally admit that I'm right about everything. The dream where you kill Anderson in a bout of unfiltered rage against his constant belittlement. The dream where you fall down and can't get up."

"The dream where I drown."

"Oh – that dream," said Jack.

There was another pause between the two. Jack turned on his blinker for a left turn.

"You remember the time we had to go to Croatia?" Jack asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Luther let out a nostalgic chuckle, "of course I do. I totally thought you were going to bite the bullet."

"Train full of assassins—" Jack interjected.

"—And us, the oblivious targets." Luther finished.

"That shit hurt you know."

"Yeah, when Miguel threw you off the moving train. I kicked his ass to return the favor though," Luther said proudly, as though that was going to heal Jack's fractured body.

"Next time do that before I get thrown overboard. I'd appreciate it."

"I'll see what I can do."

"You know I haven't been on a train since." Jack pounds on the dash of his rusted steed. "It's why I got this hunk of junk."

As the two comrades reminisce on better times, the opera house came into full view. Jack drove into a closed alleyway that is attached to the back exit of the building. The two partners exited the vehicle and headed to the trunk. Opening the back of the car, Jack grabs an old, bolt-action sniper rifle. Luther looked at their watch to check for the time.

"We have a few minutes to kill. You should get to the roof and set yourself up," Luther instructed.

Jack gave a nod and began to climb up the emergency fire escape. On the roof of the opera house is a glass dome-ceiling. Perfect to make into a sniper's nest. Luther placed an earpiece from their walkie talkie into their ear so they can easily communicate with Jack. They returned to the backseat door in order to grab Luca.

Inside the opera house, there are an assortment of old props and stage backgrounds littered all over the place. Luther sets Luca down as he begins to wake up. Luca rubbed his eyes as he awoke.

"Where – where are we? He asked. His eyes still blurry from the drugs.

"Don't worry kid. You're going to see your dad soon." Luther said as they readied their pistol.

Luca was overtaken with an aura of reserved excitement. "Do you really mean it?" he asked.

"Promise," responded Luther.

Luther looked out from the stage. The opera house auditorium was enormous. Rows of empty, cob webbed seats filled out the arena. Three aisles led to the stage. Box seats filled out the sides of the second and third floors. A large glass dome towered over the entire room. Luther could see where Jack broke a glass panel to place his sniper. He was nested and ready in position.

Luther glanced up at Jack and gave a hand signal that it was almost time. They turned back to Luca, who was now on his feet and complying with directions.

Outside of the opera house, a few cars could be heard pulling up to the front of the building. Their engines roared in the dead of the night as their emergency breaks squealed to a frigid stop. The outside noise went temporarily silent. Luther waved at Luca to remain back, behind them.

"Do exactly as I say kid," Luther instructed.

Luca gave a quick nod in acknowledgement of Luther's instructions. They were just excited to see their dad again.

The front doors swung open. Six Italian military soldiers in unison marched forward in two rows. A pair walked halfway down each aisle row and took position. Then Balero and two other Marshalls enter from behind.

The two Marshalls led Balero down the middle aisle. Balero was handcuffed and his face was bruised swollen. One of the Marshalls knocked Balero to his knees in an execution position. The other took a step forward to make an announcement.

"My name is Marshall Davinci. Behind me is Marshall Christ. We are here to collect sir Luca Balero. Bring the boy out at once or we will storm forward."

Marshall Davinci was in his late twenties. He wore an Italian military suit that lacked medals compared to his compatriots. His slicked back jet black hair was straightened to hide his natural curls. Despite being younger than others in his position, he was powerful, intimidating, daunting, cold-blooded and manipulative. He was roguish in the "stab you while they smile" variety. A rotten egg wrapped in a cunning shell. Unchecked ego personified.

Behind the stage Luther began to internally strategize. While they planned to shoot their way out, they weren't expecting Balero to be courted in as a hostage. Luther reached for their earpiece.

"Do not engage first Jack. We need to keep this cool," Luther whispered into the earpiece.

"Understood," Jack's response distorted through the walkie talkie.

Luther signaled for Luca to come by their side. In the auditorium, Marshall Davinci waved for Marshall Christ to ready his weapon and execute Balero.

"I'm going to give to the count of three. Show yourself with the boy or this man dies. One—" ordered Davinci.

"Luca run!" Balero yells out before getting thrashed with the blunt stock of the weapon. His nose breaks and begins to bleed profusely.

"Two," Marshall Davinci counted out.

Marshall Christ clicked off the safety in preparation for firing the rifle.

"Alright! Hold on for just a second," Luther answered.

Luther slowly walked out on-stage holding Luca in front of them. A single stage spotlight shines upon the pair in the darkened room. Davinci grinned at the sight of his target.

"Release the boy so he can join his father," Davinci instructed.

Luther removed their pistol and aimed it at Luca, they gripped him tight and pulled him close. Luca put on a frightened face as he was unsure of what would happen next.

"After I hand the boy over, are you going to kill him?"

The soldiers took aim at both Luca and Luther, but Davinci waved at them to hold their fire.

"What we do with the boy, and his traitorous father is of no concern to you, monster. We know you are only here to deliver him. Now, if you play along, you can still leave with no consequences," Davinci said.

As Luther's grip began to loosen, Luca looked up at them. Luther glanced down at the distraught child and lets out a begruntled sigh.

"What about a trade? You know who I am, don't you?"

Marshall Davinci showed slight hesitation. Marshall Christ stepped back and whispered into his ear, "That's the Witch of Verdun. We should take her in"

Davinci played along with Luther's request, although his mind was already made up.

"The Witch of Verdun. A valuable asset for Mussolini to hand over to his new German allies," Luther said.

"A valuable asset indeed. One that I might be in need of." Davinci looked down at Balero, who was staring down at the floor in an unsuccessful attempt to not show tears or look weak. He continued, "you would trade places for this scums freedom?"

"I would," Luther responded as the soldiers began to creep forward down their aisles.

Marshall Christ's gun lowered as he listened to the conversation, waiting for his next order. Balero took notice of his relaxed stance.

Davinci lifted his own gun and pointed it at Luther. He gave a grin as he said, "What's stopping me from taking you both"

Luther heard the back door to the opera house open slowly, if they didn't act fast they were going to be surrounded. Above the confrontation, Jack took aim at his targets, waiting for a signal to open fire. A drop of sweat beat down Luther's face as their heartrate began to quicken.

In the blink of an eye, Balero lunged upwards and wrestled, with his shackled hands, the gun away from Marshall Christ. Davinci's attention is diverted away from Luther for a brief moment. Christ's gun goes off in the struggle. Unable to see the outcome, Luther pushes Luca to the ground and turns around to shoot the soldier behind them that snuck into the backstage. From up above, Jack begins to fire his rifle and shoot at the soldiers down below.

 Luther shoots at the spotlight above them and the opera house turns pitch black.