Desmond's mind was racing with everything he had just seen. A vision of what was to come, or what could be avoided.

The world turned to ash as the sun flared, lashing the Earth causing a global catastrophe. People ran, trying to flee their inevitable demise. The skies exploded with rain of fire, and the earth opened up to swallow the scattered victims. Survivors took shelter where possible, not all of which safe. Those who the cataclysm spared were distraught. Lost souls in need of guidance. Desmond had witnessed two great men rise up and become great leaders among their brothers. He knew it was his duty to do as Altair and Ezio had once done.
So he gave guidance to those he could. Days of educating, organising, rebuilding. Then weeks, months, and into years. He saw himself an aged man, still brandishing the tribal tattoo he obtained in a past world. People gathered at the cave where the Grand Temple of an ancient race they never knew existed was buried. They gathered to listen to Desmond, ushering them into a better life. More years would pass, and he witnessed a funeral. A revered, old man who had experienced not only his own trying life, but the lives of many others. Like his ancestors before him he passed a leader, respected and loved.
But great fires rose, and men rallied mass crowds. Crowds riled by the twisted words of others. Men who strayed from the path they were once set down. Words changed. Lives changed. History, remained the same.

The entire course of mankind's future just passed his eyes in mere moments. He was still in the open, cold, ancient room. His friends were still behind him. In front of him, Juno and Minerva the two "Goddesses" were exchanging hasty words. Regardless of what had just transpired, Desmond still understood their words, heard what they were saying. Bickering about Desmond's fate, and so the fate of the World. He was to either walk away and allow the vision to set it's course, or do what he worked so hard to get to and activate the pedestal. Now was the time.

"ENOUGH!" The past few minutes went like hours. He had already decided what his destiny was.

"You must not do this..." Minerva pleaded.

"Whatever Juno's planning - however terrible it might seem today - we'll find a way to stop it. But the alternative, what you want... There's no hope there."

"If you free her - you'll be destroyed!"

Juno came close, her voice soft, gentle. "It will happen in an instant. There will be no pain."

"You mustn't!" Minerva was persistent. There was anger and fear in her voice.

Desmond felt a wrenching knot in his stomach. "It's done, Minerva. The decision's made." His words didn't feel real.

"Then the consequences of this mistake are yours to live - and die - with." Now there was only sorrow present in Minerva's tone. She backed away, and walked from the others vanishing in a light. Desmond didn't stop to watch her depart. He turned to his friends and his father. "You need to go. All of you. Now." He had no idea what might happen, he feared for their safety. "Get as far away from here as you can."

His father approached him, grabbing him by the shoulder. "Come with us. We'll find another way!"

"There isn't time.." There wasn't any time at all. It was already December 21st, the day of the flare.

"Son.."

"You know it's true. It's already started. I need to do this now. So go!" He watched his father turn to his friends. Rebecca teary eyed, left lead by William. Shaun hesitated, gave Desmond a solemn nod, and left to catch up with the other assassin's.

Desmond turned to see Juno fade in a low flash, and approached the pedestal. He raised his right arm and hovered it above the pale blue orb, the Eye of Eden. He thought of the sacrifices made for the Order of Assassins and for humanity. The difficult choices he witnessed being made through the Animus.. and of Lucy's death. Clay's fall to insanity. Juno's words echoed - "There will be no pain.." His hand touched the orb.

In an instant centuries of unique DNA reacted with the ancient technology. A pale blue aura shot around Desmond's body. His body shook violently, his voice muffled by the loud humming of the device. His body began to resist, but he held on. A reaction made him grab his arm but he wouldn't budge. His arm was hot and the pain intense. Soon, his body grew limp, his screams stopped, and the aura dispersed. He fell back to the cold stone floor, smoke emitting from his lifeless body, his right arm dark with burns. He did not move. He lay still. His job was done. Beside his body, a faint light shone, then Juno emerged. She looked down at the Assassin.

"You played your part well, Desmond." Her voice was shrill, haunting, menacing. "But now.. Now it's time that I played mine." She walked over Desmond's body, leaving her former home, alive.

The Assassins walked briskly to the exit of the Temple. They walked past the Animus, the equipment, food, computers. They didn't need it. They were going to heed Desmond's words and leave. They got to the great door when a sickening realisation struck. The Apple is what allows entry through this door. They didn't have it. Desmond had been carrying it in his backpack up until moments ago. They needed it to leave. William sighed with sadness. He turned to Rebecca and Shaun. "Wait here. I'll go back for the apple.." Rebecca hugged him and told him it'll be okay.

He left the others and made his way back to the door once again, fearful and weary of what was to greet him. He passed the equipment, looking around at the black rock and grey walls that shone with strips of ancient light sources. The strange, fascinating detail in the architecture. It's amazing what you notice when avoiding a difficult task, he thought. He looked at the animus, remembering the argument he had with Desmond. Hitting him. How he regretted it. He had apologised, but that didn't banish his guilt. He never really understood just how much pressure had been placed on Desmond until now. He appreciated everything he had done, but he never expressed it as much as he had liked to. He had hardly gotten to be with Desmond as a Father since he woke up from his coma. In fact, the most father-son type of moment they shared was a brief hug when Desmond rescued him from the Templar's grasp in Abstergo Industries, where Desmond had been kidnapped and brought to all those months ago, unaware of what was to come. William sighed again, and walked on to where they left his son. He took the long walk ahead slow, staring at the ground, tears forming around the Mentor's eyes.

The Eye of Eden still pulsed with a pale blue light, projecting a ghostly glow on Desmond. His body had cooled in the freezing remains of the temple. Then there was another glow, coming from underneath Desmond. A familiar humming noise, rays shimmering from under his body. As the Apple came to life, Desmond's charred right arm surged with a strange blue pattern for a split second as it had once before has he awoke from his coma, leaving the Sync Nexus. A peculiar occurrence. His arm shimmered again and a brief image of a man kneeling beside his body glimmered for a moment. He was reaching towards Desmond's arm. Suddenly a long radiant light shone and the room turned to a white, continuous plain. The man who appeared in the mirage moments ago was now a full figure, smiling down at Desmond. The smile spoke of respect, of pride. He held Desmond's hand and called to him.

The limp arm stiffened, the loose fingers twitched. His eyes slowly opened. Groggily he sat up, and his eyes met those of a familiar man. "...Clay?"