August, 1866, Dubai town, Dubai

The corridor they were in smelt of age and air that had not moved in millennia. Their footsteps echoed all across the corridor, up and down it, the blackness surrounding them absolute save for the glow of Hawk's Apple. "Do you think we're close?" he asked, his voice automatically hushed, even though there wasn't another soul here for miles.

There was no answer at first, "We can't be far," was the answer from the ancient man behind him. Hawk was old, but Altair had been ancient when Hawk had been born. "Can't you hear the singing?"

"I think you have cotton in your head," said Ezio, the only one who did not lower his voice. Hawk couldn't say he was surprised, Ezio was not the most subtle person. He could be sneaky and unseen yes, but subtle? Hawk was sure the Italian didn't have a subtle bone in his body.

"And I think you're close to getting killed again," Altair snarled in a whisper.

"You like me too much."

"Hawk is better company than you," Altair scowled. "He is not annoying."

"He is annoying in his own way," Ezio waved him off, Hawk just sighed but said nothing to they're friendly bickering. He was used to it. As often as Altair pretended to hate everyone he really didn't and as much as Ezio frustrated him Altair wouldn't hurt him on purpose (at least not usually. Though there was that one time in Milan…). They were more like brothers than anything. The most dysfunctional brothers Hawk had ever met, though he'd been an only child so he didn't know if this was actually normal.

"Oh," Hawk said suddenly as they stepped into a larger cavern and the bickering tapered out.

"We're here," Altair said, "Make it brighter," he encouraged. Hawk concentrated and the Apple glowed brighter. Despite his age the Apple was still something he was not used to using it still. Altair said it was normal, the Apple was not something to be bent easily to the will of a human and even one bonded with Hawk would be difficult, though every year it got a bit easier.

They were in a large cavern, deep underground, it's walls lined black with the surface of an Ancient's temple. Only unlike any temple Hawk had seen this one did not glow, or react to them, which was why they'd had to bring the Apple. At the center of the cavern was a great box, about twelve feet square, carved all over with intricate geometric deigns. "Pretty," Ezio said and Altair elbowed him in the ribs.

"This is the Vault," Altair said. "I found it in the fourteenth century, before I met Ezio," he continued and had his hand to his temple as if he was starting to get a headache.

"You never showed me before," Ezio said in an offended tone.

"It didn't matter," Altair said. "Also you were very adamant on ignoring me after your first Waking," he scowled at him.

"So what is it?" Hawk asked, stepping closer to it, the light from the Apple casting long shadows.

"A Vault," Altair said, "Before I got rid of my Apple I saw it. It is like a safe…" he trailed off, now both hands on his temples.

"Are you well Altair?" Ezio asked, and put a hand on his shoulder, Hawk turned and looked at them, head cocked to the side. A ghost of what worry once had been flickered through him, but he was more curious then concerned for the other man.

"It is just very loud," he said.

"Loud?" Ezio was confused.

"Are you both so deaf?" he snapped, the obvious pain in his head making him angry. "Or are you both just so stupid to not understand?"

"I hear nothing as well," Hawk said. "But I understand," Ezio just looked confused. It was not an uncommon look on his face to be honest. Hawk and Altair were similar, they both had a more intimate relation to Pieces of Eden then Ezio did, the only thing was that Hawk's intimacy was only with his Apple, Altair was sensitive to all Pieces. "How do you use the Vault?" he asked.

"You have to unlock it," Altair said, jaw tight and he was rubbing his temple, that one eye slammed shut. "It opens with an Apple. Inside is infinite space, it's a perfect safe."

Hawk only understood half of that but knew what he had to do. Even as Ezio clucked over Altair and his head pain he went over to the Vault and looked for a key hole. He found it on the left side, a perfect cup for an Apple to fit into. He looked back at Altair who had both his eyes squeezed closed and fit his Apple into the hole.

He stepped back, wary, as suddenly the grooves on the Vault began to glow blue, the cut circles around the Apple began to slowly turn and lock into place, around in the cavern the rest of the area began to light up as well, including the corridor they'd just come from. Then a door opened to the side, a small one, one tall enough for Hawk to get through but Ezio and Altair might have to duck a bit to enter. "Well, that was cool," he said.

"Greetings Master," said a voice that made them all jump.

"Who's that?" Ezio demanded.

"That was the voice I was just hearing is what," Altair growled, it seemed his headache had vanished and he shoved Ezio's concerned hands aside.

"Are you the master?" Hawk asked him.

"No, you are Master Micheal Hart," the voice said again and suddenly a woman appeared before the three. Hawk scrambled back and actually fell onto his ass, for the first time in a long time, fear lacing through him. He scrambled back on his hands and feet, and hid behind Ezio's legs. "Is something wrong?" she asked.

"It's one of the Ancient hologram things," Ezio said bluntly.

"Hawk?" Altair looked behind the other man at the youngest who was positively cowering behind his legs.

"Make her go away!" he cried, arms above his head.

"Hawk, what the hell is wrong?"

"Just make her go away," he stammered.

"Is this form displeasing?" the hologram asked.

Altair turned away from the younger man who looked like he was about to have a break down. "Who are you?"

"My name is Venus," she said in a beautiful, angelic voice. "I am the keeper of the Vault."

"I see. Why is Hawk so freaked out by you?"

"I don't know," she said truthfully. "I thought he'd be pleased."

"Stop looking like her!" Hawk yelled.

"She looks like Sarah," Ezio said to Altair who was still confused. Ezio was always better at understanding relationships than the elder man, though it was possible that that was because of Altair's age and distance from the normal world. He was disconnected from regular folks and their problems.

"Oh," Altair suddenly understood. "Could you stop that Venus?" he asked.

"It's my programming to look whatever shape my Master most desires," and they all felt sick hearing that. Sarah was long dead now, though neither of the elder men knew Hawk still hadn't gotten over it. Behind Ezio Hawk whimpered.

"I don't think he likes it," Altair said blandly.

"I apologize, I did not mean to upset him."

"Can I just say; I like this one. She's a lot nicer than the other's I've met."

"That's because this isn't a temple," Altair rolled his eyes. "Temple guardians were like important members of the Ancient's society. Venus just said herself, she'd the keeper of the Vault," and the hologram nodded. "What is your function?"

"I guard and maintain the Vault," she recited, going through her core functions. "I am to assist and offer information on all objects that reside within and keep out any who try to gain entrance without the key."

"Which is an Apple?"

It took her a second to respond, "No. Only the current key may be used to open the Vault."

"So only Hawk's Apple?"

"Yes," she nodded cheerfully.

"And let me guess, you only change shape on your master's desires?"

"That is correct," she smiled.

"Wonderful," Altair pulled at his face and crouched next to Hawk. "You're ganna have to suck it up kid," he told the younger man.

"But-

"That or get over her," and Hawk was silent and glared at Altair as if he'd just told the American to do something obscene. "That's what I thought. Now act your age and deal with the problem."

"Would you? If it was your wife?"

"Maria would have kicked my ass if she saw me act as disgraceful as you," he said and Hawk bristled but did stand up with the older man.

"Okay," Hawk said facing Venus.

"I did not mean to upset you Master Micheal."

He blanched in dislike, "Rule one Venus," he said voice amazingly firm, Altair put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't call me Micheal ever again. Or master."

"Then what should I call you?" she asked him standing in front of him, standing on the ground before him the spitting image of Sarah, only as though she'd been washed in gold.

"Hawk."

"Okay Hawk," she smiled widely. "What can I do for you?"

Hawk looked at Altair.

"We've got some things for you to hold," Altair said.

"Oh good, new inventory has not been added in a very long time."

"There's things in you now?"

"Yes. My last Master was a collector and inventor."

"Where is he now?"

"With the Seventh," was all she said, it made sense to none of them.

"So gone?" Altair made sure, she nodded. "Okay. Hawk, talk to your new friend, Ezio and I will put away the artifacts," and Altair walked past him, Ezio following. Ezio was carrying a large bag over his shoulders.

"Is that allowed?" Venus asked Hawk.

"Yes, do whatever they ask and assist them," he said.

"Very well," and the Vault suddenly started to move again and the previous small door grew tall enough for the both of them to enter. "How else may I be of service?" she asked.

Hawk frowned at her sadly, "I'm going to hide you away, where nothing and no one can get you," he said softly, she never stopped smiling. For the first time in a long time, his heart hurt.

-fin-