Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is Assassin's Creed. I just enjoy pretending I do.

Chapter 1

Abstergo Industries

It was a blistering cold day in New York City. Dark clouds covered the sky as the icy drops hit the tall buildings. The rain hasn't stopped once for the whole day. I found the weather absolutely abhorrent. I hate the cold, I hate the rain, and I hate cloudy days. It was September, why was it so damn cold? The complaints kept penetrating my mind as I trudged through the crowed streets of Time Square.

I tightened my grip on my soaking coat. I didn't know how cold I was until I realized my teeth were chattering uncontrollably. The weatherman said the rain was suppose to stop by now, and if that had been true I would have been fine, perfectly dry and presentable to my boss.

Why should I care about what my boss thinks I look like! He was the one who called me down here on a cold and rainy day.

I bitterly thought as I pushed past more people, towards the large white building ahead. It overlooked most of the city, giving the Empire State building a run for its money. I looked up at the sign at the very top of the white building. In aqua blue letters the sign read; Abstergo Industries.

It was a very well-known company, a company an ordinary person heard of every day of their life. The company I worked for, with my team. It was a team of archaeologists, that is.

Archaeologists that work for a pharmaceutical company. Hmm, that sounds a bit off, doesn't it?

Well, my team and I do, but no one knows about us or other of the other strange teams Abstergo employs. My team is a special unit. Even the people inside Abstergo don't know what we do, except for the higher ups. It can be very stressful at times, especially when you can't tell anyone about it. But then at other times it is very slow and boring. Our team is only used when Abstergo's other teams can't find something, or the object in question is too important for anyone else to lay eyes on.

When I signed the contract, I basically sold my soul to Abstergo. So if I do anything that Abstergo doesn't want me to do, I would probably be scraped off the face of the Earth as if I had never existed. My family probably would become nonexistent, too.

Despite having your life threatened by the very company that you work for, I love my job very, very much. Not many people can say that they have been to the lost temple of Osiris and dug up the patron deity's secrets. I have seen the remains of the once great city of Atlantis. There are scrolls holding knowledge that would have blown any philosopher off his feet, and I'm quite sure no one has seen the lost treasures of Alexander the Great like I have.

Seeing remnants of the past was probably the best part of my job. I get to travel the world and make the greatest discoveries in mankind. Discoveries that have changed the world completely. (Though I never get acknowledge for the discoveries. Nor my team.) But what's really odd is that Abstergo doesn't take the credit for these discoveries, either. They pick out another small company or just one single man or woman to take the credit.

My team and I are forbidden to speak of all of this or about our adventures to anyone, not even our own family. It makes me angry at times when I can't say,

I found that! Not that grumpy old fart! It should be me on the news!

I can't even tell my father how successful I really am, that I'm really making my dreams come true and that I'm making him proud. He thinks that I'm a secretary at a bank only making seven dollars an hour, four days a week, but I'm actually making a hundred million every expedition I go on.

He says that I should have gotten a better job, for I was the top of my college class graduating in 2010. But every time he brings up the subject, I have to lie so I can keep my job.

A very loud sigh escaped my lips as the rain continued to pour down on me. Yes, I loved my job, but I hated Abstergo Industries. They have five whole levels in the white building that employees like me are not allowed to go in at all. It hasn't bothered me before, but just a few weeks ago I heard agonizing screaming coming from one of those floors. I didn't dare say anything to my boss for fear of losing my job.

But I've had terrifying dreams ever sense I heard that screaming. I just keep telling myself: If they're not hurting any of my teammates,do not worry about it. Though it still doesn't make me feel any better about it.

I pushed my thoughts out of my head as I pulled open the white building's large glass door, walked out of the rain and into a warm lobby. It was a very large lobby, too. The ceiling went up maybe three stories with giant signs that said Abstergo hanging down from it. Pure white tiles that shined even on a cloudy day like today covered the floor. The walls containing the entrance where made out of glass. The other walls in the lobby were a light gray, almost giving them the look of steel. Many aqua blue and white chairs were scattered around the lobby; a few people sat in them reading magazines of some sort.

I walked up to the large white and gray desk in the middle of the lobby where two young women sat. See-through screens floated in the air in front of each of the their faces; millions of words and pictures flashed by. The long blonde haired woman looked up at me as I approached the desk. She smiled at me, flashing her bleached white teeth.

"Hello, Alice. Mr. Coleman and your team are waiting for you on floor fifty-six. You should hurry; it is a very important meeting," she said as she touched her screen, making ripples float across it as though she touched the surface of water.

"Thanks Megan," I said as I began to walk away, but then I turned back. "Oh, and Megan, do I look okay?" I asked, playing with my drenched short hair.

"Just wipe under your eyes; your eyeliner is running," Megan said plainly as she dragged a picture across her screen with her index finger and made it disappear.

"Thanks again, see you later," I replied as I walked away hurriedly to the elevator past the front desk.

"You got it," I heard Megan voice say as I pressed the sliver button next to the glass elevator doors. I waited for a few moments until the aqua blue elevator slowly descended in front of me. The glass doors slid open and I stepped into the elevator. I hit the silver buttons inside and waited for the elevator to rise. I wiped under my eyes trying to get rid of the black smudges. When I thought I got it all, the glass doors opened and a feminine computer voice said: "Floor fifty six". I exited the glass elevator walking down the white and gray hallway towards silver doors.

The silver doors slid open when I stepped up in front of them. A large common room with a long glass table sat in the middle. Megan had been right about everyone waiting for me. My teammates' annoyed expressions were clear messages that I was very late.

I glanced at the large man in his black pin-striped suit sitting at the end of the glass table. Mr. Coleman was a middle-aged man with dark brown hair that was always neatly combed to the right side of his head. He also had a neatly trimmed beard that was speckled with gray. He displayed a very grim frown upon his lips. It didn't help that the giant window behind him contained dark clouds, making him appear even more sinister.

"I'm very sorry for being late, Mr. Coleman," I apologized quickly as I entered the large room, taking a seat next to Birger, our team medic.

Mr. Coleman nodded slowly and then turned back to Max, our very stubborn team leader. Max was always on my back for being so careless and sloppy. I just ignored him, because I knew he would never suggest to get rid of me. I was too precious to his "perfect team" to lose. Max is an all American. His bright red hair and don't mess with me attitude defines it very well. I have no idea why Abstergo would have picked him for this team. He was just a man that seemed to have skeletons in his closet and little interest in history.

"I can guess that you all are wondering why I called you down here today on your four month vacation," Mr. Coleman began, watching all five of us nod our heads. He took a dramatic pause, making me more anxious by the minute. I watched him look down at his folded giant hands on the glass table. Then he looked up at each of our faces.

I was at the point of yelling at him: Just spit it out already!

But I didn't, and I just waited for him to say something as I bounced my knee under the table anxiously. I saw Birger shoot me another annoyed look. Then Mr. Coleman opened his mouth at last.

"We have finally pin pointed the coordinates for the Pieces of Eden," His voice was deep and filled with excitement despite his usual menacing grumble. I felt my heart jump with excitement as soon as I heard the words.

"For real this time? It's not a hoax like the last time they figured out the coordinates?" Kareema asked as she sat on the edge of her seat. Last week my team and I were in the Amazon for three weeks looking for the supposed Piece that was there. After twenty-one days of no progress, Abstergo called us back to New York.

"We have the real coordinates, no hoaxes, nothing but the truth. We've even found the a Piece to prove the coordinates right," Mr. Coleman explained, returning to his normal plain tone.

"Can we see it?" Chisulo asked his deep voice bellowed through the conference room. Mr. Coleman's head snapped towards Chisulo.

"Of course not. It is under heavy research and it is not allowed to leave its chamber until we collect all the Pieces of Eden."

Chisulo just shrugged his giant shoulders and took the pitcher of water that had been sitting on the table untouched and poured water into his glass. I frowned at Mr. Coleman.

"Yes you've found the coordinates for the Pieces, but how long will it take to find them and how many are there?" I asked pulling out a notebook from my bag that hung on the steel chair.

"Well, that is the other reason why I called you all here today. This is probably going to be the most important expedition of your lives. You're going to travel around the whole world to find these Pieces; to places Abstergo hasn't sent you yet. It will also be your longest expedition as well." Mr. Coleman got up from his chair and paced towards the window as all of our eyes watched him. "These Pieces are going to change the world as we know it. It will end wars, poverty, and everyone will live in peace if we have all of these Pieces together." He stood there at the window with his hands folded behind his back. "You five are Abstergo's best archeologist team, which probably means you are the best in the world. So I have faith that you will find all the Pieces of Eden. We expect you to start your mission next week on September 13th." Mr. Coleman turned back to us, slowly stepping forward.

"But what about our four month vacation? We just got back from the Amazon a week ago. My sister will not be happy with me," Birger demanded his brow creased with confusion.

Mr. Coleman just stared at him coldly. "We are not the only ones who have the coordinates, Mr. Johansson. We cannot waste four months lying around while others make these great discoveries. It could ruin our chances for world peace," he explained in the deep menacing voice we have heard many times before.

"So we will start our expedition on September 13th," Max interjected. "Where is our first destination?"

Mr. Coleman turned to Max and smiled plainly at him. "I like your spirit, Mr. Powell."

Suck up.

I thought as I wrote our main goals on the dampened paper that had gotten soaked from my walk over here.

"Your first destination starts in the Middle East, in the Holy city of Jerusalem. You will look through any buildings that date back to 1065 A.D. from 1207 A.D. Some men in those times moved this Piece of Eden into a building in Jerusalem, hiding it from the-"

"Templars, yes, we know, Mr. Coleman," I cut him off without thinking as I wrote down all the information he was giving us. It was silent, and then I realized what I did and looked up at Mr. Coleman. "Oh, excuse me for my behavior, Mr. Coleman. I do those things automatically," I apologized for the second time today.

"I understand Miss Griffin. We hired you for that reason, to know everything," Mr. Coleman mumbled as he took a seat back in his chair. "As I was saying, if you find anything unusual, anything that could be a Piece of Eden, report it immediately. Even if it is a strange coin, old and dirty, turn it in. When you have found the Piece in Jerusalem, I will send the next destination to you."

Max and Kareema nodded as I ended my notes and closed my water damaged notebook.

"You all will report at Abstergo's private airport with your supplies. You will also be given all of the equipment on the plane needed for finding the Piece. Abstergo agents will be meeting with you outside of Michmash to help you settle in Jerusalem."

This part caught my ear. We usually don't have "Abstergo agents" to help us. We know the areas we are working in like the backs of our hands. We're archeologists; we know all the geography there is. Abstergo must be very worried about getting these Pieces to have sent men to the searching sights. Probably men with guns, too. As I've said before, I knew Abstergo wasn't your regular pharmaceutical company.

"So go now, gather the things you'll need. Tell loved ones you'll be gone for maybe a year or more. I will see you on September 13th to see you all off. You're dismissed," Mr. Coleman said, waving his hand towards the silver doors.

All five of us stood up and left the room quietly, not saying a word. When we got to the elevator, I let out a very loud frustrated sigh.

"Can you believe this? We're going to be on this mission for more than a year! And we're going to have men trailing us, following our every move!" I complained as everyone just rolled their eyes.

"You think that's bad? Just wait until my sister hears about this! She won't ever talk to me again, or worse," Birger leaned his head against the back of the elevator.

"You two are always complaining about the expeditions in the beginning, but then when you get there you can't get enough of it!" Chisulo's deep voice rumbled, making me smile.

"Yeah, you're right, Chisulo, like always," I said playfully as a wide smile appeared on his lips.

Chisulo Kossingou was a gigantic African man, standing almost seven feet tall. He was a refugee from Ethiopia twenty-two years ago when he was four. His father and mother managed to make it to the United Kingdom and to put him in a regular school, away from the violence and death. He grew up there knowing how to speak Ethiopian and English and became extremely smart. Though Chisulo is very smart, he likes the physical stuff better, probably because of his size. He towered everyone, and his strength was unbelievable. His parents named him right when they gave him the name Chisulo, meaning "strong as steel".

He came from England to America to find a nice job and from what he told me, Abstergo picked him because he was smart and strong. Mostly because of his size, or that's what he told me. He also knew a lot about Africa, which was very handy when we were there on African expeditions. Even though more than half of the continent was unhabitual and deadly to even go near, he knew about it all.

"You guys busy tonight? We should get together have dinner and, you know, go over our expedition," Max said, breaking the silence as the elevator doors opened to the lobby.

"Can't, I have to drive all the way to Pennsylvania to drop off my plants and Logan with my Dad," I explained as we gathered in a circle in the lobby.

"You still have that stinky Shepard?" Kareema asked in disbelief, her words heavily covered with her Arabic accent. Logan was my six year-old German Shepard that I got when I graduated from high school in 2006.

"Hey, he doesn't smell bad!" I said in defense to my dog.

Kareema Musa was the engineer for our team. She had long, coarse black hair and copper brown skin, telling you of her origin. She was an immigrant from Saudi Arabia fifteen years ago when she was ten years old. It was only her mother and two brothers who were able to make it to America. She has no idea what happened to her father and her other sister, but she doesn't like to talk about it. Kareema went to college and was also top of her graduating class in mechanics. Though she never really liked history that much, she was thrilled when she went on her first expedition.

"I can't, either; I have to tell to my sister tonight about the expedition, and you all know how that will end," Birger explained, scratching the back of his head. Everyone groaned in agreement.

Birger Johansson, as I said before, is our team medic. He is also my best friend. He was the grandson of a pure line of Vikings from Sweden. His grandfather came over to America and took a wife, ruining the pure line of Vikings. Or that's what Birger's stories say. I don't really think there was a pure line though, but you can tell just by looking at him he is of Swedish decent. He is six four with long, sandy blonde hair and electrifying blue eyes. He went to medical school for eight years, coming very close to becoming the greatest doctor in the U.S., but Abstergo got a hold of him first.

Birger says he would rather be here than a doctor, anyway. He has always loved history, but he liked helping people more. So when Abstergo offered him this job, he got the best of both worlds and he was thumbs-up on that idea.

"Alright, fine, we'll do dinner tomorrow: three days before the take off," Max ordered, pulling on his leather jacket.

We all agreed as we parted and headed our separate ways. With a quick goodbye to Megan, I headed for the giant glass doors again. Getting ready for the rain I pulled up my collar and buttoned up my wool coat. I pushed through the doors and began to walk hurriedly down the sidewalk, back to my apartment to pack up all the things I just unpacked.

Author's Notes: Thanks for reading, I hope that you have enjoyed it and contiue reading. I am revising these chapters with the help of S.J.Endeavor. Thank you for your lovely editing, I very much appreciate it! This series may take some time on the account of my schooling, but I love Assassin's Creed and history. So I plan to finish this story in the future. Please feel free to comment on anything in my story. I don't mind criticism or suggestions, I welcome them with open arms.