Ch.1 Welcome to the Animus

"There was once a brotherhood, a creed of assassins that had broken off from society. They dedicated their lives to the study of the deadly arts; they can blend in with any crowd, attack from any direction, eliminate their target, and then disappear like the wind. Their skills were so incredible, some people believed that they had made a deal with death: In exchange for not being killed, they will deal death's card and use this ability to keep order and peace. Other men blindly follow the "truth" they remember: nothing it true. Other men are limited by morality or law, they remember: everything is permitted."

"Izzy, that is the cheesiest beginning I have ever heard," Tai groaned. He eased himself back; his messy, chocolate-brown hair shook at little as he leaned back.

"What?" Izzy protested. "I just wanted to let you know what we'll be looking at."

"I told you, I don't really care."

"Just because you flunked every history test you had in college, doesn't mean you have to hate your ancestors' history!"

"And, how am I supposed to learn about this, again?"

"The Animus, I built is myself." Tai cleared his throat in annoyance. Izzy scratched his spiky, almond-brown hair, thinking of a way to put it.

"Ok, I'll put it in a language you'll understand. What is a memory?" Tai paused to think for a moment to describe it.

"Umm… a recollection of previously experienced events?" Tai said, trying to sound smart.

"Yes," Izzy said happily.

"I don't even know what I just said," Tai quietly muttered under his breath.

"Well, just recently, I discovered that your history is also imprinted on your DNA!" Tai stared at Izzy, not seeing the point of what was being said.

"So…you can read my DNA to see what I had for supper last Easter."

"No, no, no." Izzy quickly corrected. "Your ancestors' histories are imprinted in your DNA. You remember your biology classes? How do animals remember when and where to go to reproduce? How do birds know where to migrate and what path to take?"

"Umm…instinct?"

"All of these animals have a recollection of these events, held in their DNA. Their genetic memory tells them everything. Humans never needed to do something like that, so we lost the ability to read our DNA. The Animus will not only read your ancestors' memories but project it in your mind, and I can keep track of it from this podium." Izzy tapped the white control panel in front of him.

"And, what about this brotherhood of assassins you're talking about?"

"It's a creed," Izzy corrected. "In the three times you've been in it, I discovered that at least one of your ancestors is an assassin." Tai scoffed skeptically.

"An assassin? I've been in that thing three times and it's now that you realize I'm an assassin."

"The genetic memory of your assassin ancestor is at least six-hundred years old! I didn't even notice it was there at first."

"I guess assassins are good," Tai shrugged. "I'll get to be a ninja! But, wasn't there a power surge that destroyed everything in your workshop?"

"I rebuilt the Animus, this one should be better than the one before."

"Better, how?"

"It can recall older memories with increased accuracy. With Joe's help, I was hoping to also give you your assassin ancestor's abilities: their climbing, fighting, and stealth techniques."

"I Get To Be A Ninja!!!" Tai yelled gleefully, jumping up.

"Sit down; you're going to break the machine!" Izzy yelled. Tai sat back down as Izzy shook his head. He never understood why some college students have to be so immature sometimes.

"Sorry. Have you done this to Sora or Matt?"

"Not yet, I'm more interested in your assassin ancestor. Once we do this, you'll be free to go."

"What do I do?" Tai sighed.

"Just lay on the bed," Izzy said, pointing at the white, curved bench Tai was sitting on. Tai slowly laid down on it, positioning himself right between the rows of lights on the side, and groaned in discomfort.

"Bed, it's more like a board!"

"Just relax," Izzy said, pressing a few buttons on the control panel. There was a low hum as Tai's head slowly sank into a depression in the bench. Suddenly, everything in Tai's mind went white. Tai tried to speak, but could not move his lips. He began to panic; he was at least able to talk when he sat in the first Animus. Then, he realized that if Izzy was looking into his mind, he could read his thoughts, it was worth a shot.

"Izzy, where am I?" Tai thought.

"I'm still downloading your memories," Izzy said. "Give it a sec."

"Shouldn't this be easy?"

"Recalling genetic memories isn't like reading out of a book. These memories are so old they might not be completely accurate."

"Why can't I talk?"

"If we want these memories to be accurate, you have to limit your brain-activities."

"How is moving a "brain-activity"?"

"If you want to move, you need electrical signals from your brain. Don't worry; I'll be at the controls the entire time."

"And, if there's another power surge?"

"Don't worry about those. At worst, you'll simply be brain-dead, it's nothing to be worried about."

"Yeah, I'm real comforted," Tai thought sarcastically. "How long do I have to be in here?" Tai heard Izzy sigh in disappointment.

"Once we've gone through one memory, I'll let you out. I'll be very quick. You should be able to look at your ancestor's physical body now." An image began to appear in Tai's mind, which he knew was his ancestor. The image cleared up to show a young, teenage boy. His hair was as brown as Tai's and his face looked just like Tai's, but…

"ARGH!"

"What is it, Tai?!" Izzy asked, panicked.

"His Hair! He has flat hair!" Izzy groaned in annoyance when he heard this. Out of all the things Tai could complain about, he was complaining about his ancestor's hair.

"Spiked hair wasn't much a fashion back then," Izzy said.

"Back when?"

"According to this… we are in Florence Italy, 1476." Tai scoffed when he heard this.

"Ok… I am definitely not Italian!"

"Turns out, you are." Tai took to time to look at his ancestor, carefully examining his leather vest that laid over his, what can best be described as, white shirt.

"What is his name anyways?"

"Ezio. Ezio Auditore."

"No Kamiya?"

" We'll be following his life as he becomes an assassin, you'll be seeing what happens through his eyes. One more thing, before we get started. When the memories are playing, your mind will not be able to think unless I turn off the projection, only observe."

"How am I supposed to get out?!"

"Trust me, I'll know. I'll pull you out to let you rest once and a while. One last thing, welcome to the Animus."