Author's note: R-L is a real Assassin's Creed character. R-L is the modern-day player of Assassin's Creed IV. R-L can either be male or female, but in this story R-L is female. Why? Well…find out for yourself.

And no, this R-L is NOT me so don't ask. As such, any views here are ARE NOT my true personal views. R-L is a fictional character!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything – Everything Assassin's Creed belongs to Ubisoft. Heck, I barely own R-L.

Doubt's Beginning

"Thank you!" I waved my new boss, Melanie Lemay, goodbye. I put my new communicator pad down on my new desk as I turn in my new comfy desk chair to my Animus computer.

This whole place stank. Not of garbage, but of falseness. It lingers like a thick mist of smog in the air of this place. It's too perfect.

According to the Ads, Abstergo wants to give both its employees and its costumers everything so we can want for nothing. But it all feels false, like some kind of performance. When I look around at the co-workers, I sense disquiet.

Why?

Where did this all begin?

When I feel so…

Doubtful?

Yes, I've been feeling doubt. About what you may ask?

My whole world.

I was born in the 90s. I can remember those days when computers and their software had a presence, but not an overwhelming certainty, in people's lives. In fact, it wasn't until after 9/11 I knew what the Internet was and got seduced into it. That's what happens when you learn that your brother living in New York City is suddenly gone forever. And for no reason other than he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

But I was always told by my parents to be careful with it. You never know who is watching you over the Internet and whether or not what's on the Internet is the truth.

"The 'net is like TV," my father cautioned me, "You can't believe everything you see to be true."

Wish I had listened.

For a guy born in the chaotic 60s, Dad is a hell of a wise man. Wonder what he would think if he knew what I do now.

Probably tell me that he told me so.

He told me not to get involved in that game. Said it was full of...inaccuracies we'll say.

Okay, let's start at the beginning…

September 30, 2010: that's when it began.

The starting point: Project Legacy.

I was teenage kid right out of high school, looking for a job because her parents wanted to, and I quote, "get off my lazy bottom" since I refused to go to college like they did...like responsible and mature kids did. I wanted to have fun. I loved my computer and my game consoles. I loved the Internet and all its open vastness and continue growth. I was a kid in the candy store going through the websites; learning, playing games, reading, you name it. The Internet was an ocean, and my consoles were my ships and I was the Captain of them all. The websites were the islands, and their contents were my treasure to plunder.

What could college give me that the Internet could not provide?

I wanted to stay and play because then I would have an easy life. There was nothing to worry about when I was emerged in the Internet. I didn't want the responsibility, or hurdles, that real life gives you. I just…wanted to have fun.

Stupid, stupid.

Abstergo Industries threw me the perfect bait. A job ad appeared in my e-mail one day. It talked about this new software, Data Dump Scanner, or DDS, kind of like software of a Nintendo DS or DS3, but much more sophisticated and advanced. Anyway, Abstergo was looking for young people to try out this software and get paid good money for it.

Of course I leapt at the chance. Without my parents knowing, I downloaded the software onto my laptop.

Who would have thought that it would be the beginning of a major eye-opener?

Anyway, even with the software now on my laptop, according to the fine, I boy I mean fine, print at the bottom of the AD, recruitment of Project Legacy was not like drawing names out of a hat. To be chosen was like a one in a million because Abstergo was looking for very precise details about the recruit's blood lineage. They were looking for those who could handle the project's Animus machines without going bonkers. I suppose they wanted to limited the amount of "security leaks." If the world knew about any negative threats when involved with the Animus, then Abstergo would be facing a crisis.

'course, I didn't know any of this at the time.

Let it be said I went crazy on how excited I was when I got the e-mail that I was chosen to be a part of this project. I was deemed worthy. I was euphoric! My first step toward an easy, fun, happy life had been taken and my life was underway.

My parents...

God, I can never forget the look in their eyes. They weren't in on my euphoria, and for good reason.

My parents were good, honest, hard-working folks who had to raise five kids without the support of their parents. They worked long hours and weekends to give my brothers and I a good home, good food, good schools, you name it. Even when they lost their eldest, they persevered. They mourned their son, but forced themselves to continue living on, espcially when my first niece, Mariana, came into the world not six months after the tragedy.

Me? I disappeared into the Internet.

Again ANYWAY, my folks and I had a row. A bad one at that. It ended with me packing my bags and making my way to New York. I stayed with Mariana's mother, my deceased brother's former girlfriend. I guess the only reason she took me in was because she needed someone at home to watch and take care of Mariana, who was almost eight and half years old at the time, while she worked extra shifts at some bar called Bad Weather. Because Abstergo allowed me to work at home in the apartment, it was a hand-in-hand deal. Besides, I love my niece.

Between taking Mariana to school, getting her home safely, feeding her, helping her with homework, playing with her, I was on my computer doing my "research" for Abstergo and answering their surveys. But looking back, but I think that they were more interested in how I responded to the questions, rather than wether my answers were correct.

For example, "History is accurate."

My response: "History is only as accurate as the author of the book."

Their back response: "What if you could meet the author of the book? Observe a battle from either side? This is why you are so important to our project. By reliving actual memories, you will help us uncover the truth. Together, our team will rewrite history."

Then there was: "I have Italian ancestors."

While I was typing my answer, I got another e-mail. But not for Abstergo. No, the name was "Erudito." I would have no idea how familiar I would become with that name. (I don't know if Erudito is male or female, I called Erudito "They")

They were warning me: "Careful... I'm all for sticking it to Abstergo, but open defiance will get you cut off."

What did that mean? It's not like I could offer Abstergo my genealogy. I never did any research on my own bloodline before and I told them so. I didn't expect them to say that they would help me. All I had to do was go to the nearest Abstergo office and I would be provided with a "quick and relatively painless" genetic test. They went on to say that each person contains valuable knowledge passed along through something called genetic memory, and that perhaps I held within my blood answers to some of history's greatest mysteries.

Propaganda.

After I sent my e-mail, Erudito responded back: "You offered Abstergo a list of your ancestors? I'd avoid sending them that list, if I were you. Haven't you wondered where they farm memories for the DDS?"

A big question mark must have appeared floating over my head that night. But I deleted Erudito's messages. Probably just junk mail, was my thought.

Right. Junk.

And yet, I didn't go take that genetic test. I chalked it up by telling myself that I was too busy watching and taking care of Mariana.

Author's Note: My first attempt in posting this story yesterday turned out to have the been the uncompleted document. I then accidently deleted the story instead of replacing the chapters. Whoops!