So this is like Scheduled for Deletion in which I started writing a oneshot and it turned into something really long. I've written more than this... I think there's enough for another chapter, but it's 2 in the morning and I really have no desire to check.

And it's claimed that Clay was "kidnapped" in February of 2011, which I really have a hard time believing. Desmond was in the Animus for a month, if that, and he found maps, and even a Piece of Eden. I'm supposed to believe that Clay was subject to the Animus for a year and a half and Abstergo got no closer to a PoE? Yeah right. Besides, Desmond started feeling the Bleeding Effect within weeks of beginning Animus sessions. If the escalation continued in a linear pattern, he would've gone crazier way sooner than Clay did. Which is my reasoning behind him being captured July 25th-ish, 2012. "But he never would've been subject to the Bleeding Effect for that short a period and still kill himself", you say. I say that since he was kept in the Animus for dangerously long amounts of time, the effects of the Animus were intensified. Desmond, on the other hand, escaped Abstergo quickly and was given far more breaks while held captive than Clay was.

That's my rant. Deal with it.


Clay looked her up and down. Lucy stared right back. She wasn't going to be intimidated by some Assassin.

But that's what she was, wasn't it? Assassin? She mentally kicked herself. Now is not the time. Vidic's eyes were boring into her back, just waiting for her to mess up.

"Mr Kaczmarek, just try and remain calm."

He, in turn, raised an eyebrow. "I am calm." Was there a hint of mock in his tone?

Lucy blushed furiously and bit her lip, trying to figure out what next to say. Don't screw up, you idiot. You're on the brink of being fired. This is your first subject arrival. Do it right.

Vidic stepped in while she stood there, trying to get her brain to work. "You're going to be part of a fantastic new experiment, Mr Kaczmarek. It's called the Animus project."

"You seem to think that kidnappees are the new volunteers." Clay glared at the Templar.

"I would advise you to stop talking, Mr Kaczmarek," Vidic responded smoothly, though years of working with him taught Lucy to know when he was getting aggravated.

Clay, hands bound behind his back, stared back defiantly, but at least did what he was told. The idiot.

This was the man she was supposed to be saving. But one look at him told her that he was arrogant and ignorant. He hadn't been born into the Order, hadn't endured the brutal training she had, had no idea what she was going through—

"Something wrong, Miss Stillman?" Vidic was looking at her, Clay smirking over his shoulder. She realized her hands had clenched into fists, and immediately told herself to relax.

A deep breath and she shook her head. "Nothing, sir."

Vidic nodded. "Good. I will leave you to get our..." He turned and looked Clay over. "...guest comfortable." And with that, he exited the lab, leaving assistant and prisoner alone.

Lucy glared for a few seconds while Clay's grin grew wider.

"What are you smiling at?" she eventually demanded. "You're kidnapped, for God's sake!"

"Aw, but I have you here to rescue me," Clay mocked, imitating a child. Lucy nearly panicked - there were cameras everywhere, and what he'd just said could imply that she was a traitor - until she realized that it could mean anything. That was too close, however.

Clay hopped down from the Animus and pulled at his wrists. "Want to get these things off of me? They're giving me plastic-burn."

Lucy darted close to him, jabbing him in the chest so he was forced back onto the machine, then put her face up to his. "All right, listen," she hissed. "I don't know what you're trying to pull, but there are cameras fucking everywhere so if you want to get us both killed, I suggest you keep talking."

Clay finally shut up, but that stupid grin was still on his face. What was so fucking funny?

"Good." She backed off and he stood again. Withdrawing a pair of wire cutters from a drawer, Lucy cut the plastic binding his wrists. With her free hand, she pointed to a door opposite the window. "Your room's over there. It's unlocked." She looked him over once more, then spat, "Sixteen.

"We start at dawn tomorrow. Be sure you're ready."

Sixteen bowed deeply, and raised his head. "If you say so, mi'lady."

Lucy made a noise of disgust and poked him away with the cutters.

As he was entering his room, Sixteen called over his shoulder, "By the way, I could totally see up your skirt."

Lucy blushed furiously and her hate for this Assassin doubled.


The next morning, Lucy typed in the code to enter Sixteen's room. Normally she would've knocked, but after last night some revenge was in order, so she just entered, hoping to catch Sixteen doing something embarrassing.

Instead he stood up from where he was sitting on his bed, very much ready. Lucy cursed her luck, then realized how childish she was being. She was above him. She shouldn't need to get revenge.

"Ah, excellent!" Sixteen grinned like he was about to get a grand tour of the place. "I thought you weren't coming..." He paused. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name."

A glare. "Lucy."

"Lucy." Sixteen tested the word in his mouth. "I like it."

She breathed deeply, then slapped on a smile. If she wanted Sixteen to think she was an Assassin, she'd have to act like one. "Come on."

He dutifully followed her out to the Animus. Vidic was out somewhere, probably getting more coffee - the Templar had never been a morning person - so Sixteen's first Animus session was to be her responsibility. Again, a first. At least the pain and disorientation subjects normally experienced their first time around would wipe that stupid smirk off Sixteen's face. Lack of sleep the night before combined with an early morning did not reflect well on her tolerance level.

"Sit here." She pointed to the Animus while she went around and typed a few commands at its computer. Blue lights on the side of the Animus brightened and flashed back and forth.

Sixteen did as he was told, sitting facing her. Lucy stole a glance up and met his eyes. She started and looked back down, trying to stop the blood from dying her cheeks.

She straightened up. "Give me your arm."

He held out his right. Lucy blinked. "You're left-handed?"

Sixteen raised his eyebrows. "One in ten are."

"Unfortunately, I need your left." Lucy held up the catheter. "This tube is only so long, I'm afraid."

"Ah. Of course." Sixteen was being rather relaxed about the whole thing. Did he not know where he was?

He stuck out his left arm. "Poke away."

Lucy inserted the catheter, trying to keep an eye on Sixteen's face. His smile faltered for half a second as the large needle slid through his skin, but that was it.

"All right." She gestured to the Animus' head. "Lay down."

Sixteen again obeyed. Normally - or so she was told - test subjects made quite a fuss about being kidnapped. "I want to go home" this, "you can't do this" that. But Sixteen just... did as he was told. It made Lucy's heart twinge a bit.

"This isn't going to be easy," she told him instead of just putting him under right away. "The Animus is a very unpredictable computer." Why was she telling him that? Now this was a good way to get fired.

He just looked up at her. Was that a trace of fear in his eyes? "I'm ready."

These were the two words he would end up regretting for the rest of his life.


Seriously, I'm not sure if this is going to end up as fluff. I just can't decide.