Ruby woke from her slumber suddenly. She was being dowsed with cold water, soaking her. She abruptly scrambled out of bed only to see James standing over her bed with a pail of ice water. He had a smirk on his face, obviously enjoying what just happened, but it was quickly removed when he saw Ruby's pissed off expression.
"WHAT THE HELL JAMES!" Ruby screamed. James plugged one of his ears with his free hand.
"Lucas said for you to go back upstair and back into the Animus." He said apathetically. Ruby was twisting her hair and squeezing the water from it.
"Well you didn't have to freakin pour ice cold water on me! A gentle shake or a tap and maybe saying, 'Hey Ruby, time to get up?' That would have been nice." Ruby scowled and James mearly shrugged his shoulders, but he was holding back a grin. He liked to see her like this. Angry. It suited her, made her attractive. Well at least he thought so.
"Fine fine. I'll get ready." Ruby was about to take off her shirt when she paused and glared at James. He smiled and turned around without saying a word. Ruby waited for a moment before she changed her clothes. It seemed that someone, most likely James, brought her a new pair a clothes. A red T-Shirt that said Love Hurts with a broken heart and an arrow through it, and dark blue jeans.
Once she was fully dressed she told James it was okay to look. He mentioned she looked good and she blushed the same color as her shirt. James laughed and beckoned her over to the elevator. They both enetered the elevator and went to the top floor where Lucas Ration was waiting for them. He was at his usual spot, behind the desk overlooking the outside of Abstergo. When James and Ruby took their seats Lucas turned around and held a smile on his face, like usual.
"Ruby! I hope that you slept well."
"Well besides the water on my face... Yes, I did thank you." Lucas laughed and looked over at James who averted his gaze.
"Did he do that? I'm sorry. James is.. always a bit impatient and forceful."
"I've noticed." Ruby murmured under her breath.
Lucas kept the smile on his face and sat down at his desk and pulled out folders from his drawer. It was stamped with a red Top Secret stamp on the middle. Obviously that was the only countermeasure against someone stealing the folder. But it was doubtful for anyone to sneak into Abstergo, up to Lucas's office and obtain the folder. The chances were highly improbable. Lucas opened the file and flipped it so James and Ruby could see what it was. There were different portraits, pictures, documents, and sketches a few things. A picture of George Washington, Stalin, and Houdini. How odd. Another picture was that of Queen Elizabeth. On another set of sketches and pictures was several golden objects. One was an orb, a staff, a sword, and several others. They seemed to glow a strange aura even though they were pictures. Ruby felt drawn to them, she felt like she had seen them before. Perhaps in a dream?
Ruby touched the picture, she felt like she could grab the golden orb and hold it in her hand. She felt a strange sense of power and authority as she pretended to hold it. Ruby closed her eyes, thoughts swirled inside her head, flashbacks of her past presented themeselves and memories of her ancestor Prusias Keranos engulfed. Without knowing it Ruby was gazing up at the ceiling in a blank state. Lucas and James watched her with amazement and a bit of confusion.
"Ruby?" James said softly and immediatly she broke out of her trance. He swiveled her head around the room desperate to find the golden orb she was holding. She looked down at her hands, they were cupped together. Was it all a dream... A vision? What was that golden orb...
"That was a rather strange reaction. I've never seen anyone respond like that to the Pieces of Eden. Even if they are just pictures." Lucas said hoping to get a response from Ruby.
"Pieces of Eden?" She asked. "You mean the golden stuff. The orb, the staff-"
"Yes." Lucas cut her off. He must have enjoyed to do so or was boring already of her questioning even though she only asked a few.
"The Apple of Eden, Staff of Eden and many more. Tools created by The Ones Who Came Before. Some call them Gods."
Ruby was silent for a moment. She continued to stare at the pictures of the Pieces of Eden.
"Eden..." She whispered. James was the next to speak.
"Right. So shall we put you back in the Animus?"
Lucas's eyes shined with glee. He did a small jump and clasped his hands together.
"Yes yes! Ruby, into the Animus now!" Ruby was about to pipe up when Lucas cut her off as usual.
"No questions, no ifs, no buts, and no No's! Hurry hurry! We mustn't waste more time!" Lucas shooed Ruby hurriedly back toward the Animus.
Although Ruby didn't resist into the Animus, James and Lucas felt necessary to strap her down. For her own protection they say. Of course she didn't believe them one bit. The transparent screen appeared again, but a new date was shown. 350 B.C. Ruby was confused.
"Umm... Lucas, James..."
"Yessssss~" Said Lucas fluttering his eyes. He's not only scary... But creepy thought Ruby.
"Why is the date new?" She asked.
"We already met your ancestor when he was a boy. Now we will visit him at a much older age." Said James monotonously. "Are you ready?" Ruby nodded. She closed her eyes and drifted off to a sleep like trance. Entering the memories of her ancestor.
Prusias was standing outside a large stone building, a palace. It had the flags of the ruling family of Macedon. King Philip II. The symbol resembled a sun with sixteen points, six being longer while the other ten where shorter. In the middle it was a token. Prusias wore light, but effective iron armor. Strapped to his back was a light oak bow with iron quivers. Citizens of Macedonia frolicked around. It was a time of great peace. The king bore a son six years ago and has been under the tutelage of the famous Aristotle. People were happy.
"Prusias." Spoke a familiar voice behind him. He turned to see Philip, the King himself honoring Prusias's with his presence. Prusias bowed respectively toward his elder. King Philip smiled warmly and signaled him to stand.
"Dear Prusias. How have you been these past weeks. I'm afraid I've haven't seen much of you. Busy as of late I assume?" Philip II was now beside Prusias striking up a normal conversation like long time friends. The young man smiled faintly and nodded.
"Yes Your Majesty. The Order can be... trifling at times, but it is for a good cause. Our aim is righteous and the Gods watch over for us to succeed in our quest."
"Yes yes... You may be young- How old are you now?" Philip II asked as he waved to some nearby guards walking by. They acknowledged him with a bow and went on their way.
"Twenty one sir."
"A young member... But you are skilled and graciously accepted in our Order and to our cause. May you stay safe and May the Father of Understanding guide you." Philip II made a small bow before walking down the stone steps and leaving the premises.
Young Prusias remained at his post until dusk, where a new guard relieved him. He walked down the cluttered streets of people. Beggars and nobles alike. A few Macedonian guards were harassing a small group of beggars. Prusias did nothing about it, nor did he want to. He had to admit that they were annoying even though they were just trying to feed their families. This sort of madness had to stop. He would help make a utopia where everyone had a purpose, a cause, a reason to live. Where no one would live in the streets and starve. A grand idea. Of course he couldn't take credit for it. It was the leader of the Order's idea. Those born to be warriors and wanted to be warriors would be warriors. Everyone would pull their own weight, those who can't would have to be dealt with.
Passing all the madness in Macedon Prusias finally reached his clay and wooden home. It was small and square, clumped together with other small houses. The roofs were flat, but occasionally had houses on top or a parapet for a school for the children. Prusias didn't mind, he believed that teaching was necessary, for both men and women, even if many disagreed.
Prusias entered his home, it was quiet and lonely. He lived by himself, no servants or slaves to serve him. He didn't like the fact of having others do stuff for him for what he could do himself. The man groomed back his dark hair and readjusted his bow around him. Around his neck was a cross, he grabbed it and squeezed it.
"Still no whereabouts of that Assassin. No matter... He will be found soon. Then I can personally slit his throat for killing my father!"
"Plotting to yourself about past events Prusias?" Spoke a cheerful voice, Prusias turned around in surprise only to see his longtime friend. A dark haired individual with amber eyes. His nose was sort of hooked and eyes were slightly narrowed.
"Demetrios? Gods you scared me. How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me?" Prusias smiled and hugged his friend.
"Well I called out to you, but you seemed lost in thought so I followed you. I knocked on your door- actually that's a lie. I just invited myself in." Demetrios gave a cheeky smile. "Oh, good news. We have new information on the Assassins, especially the one you have been searching for. Hard to track if I might add."
Prusias anger and hatred swelled again, his eyes seemed to flare with anger as he grabbed Demetrios shoulders and shook him violently.
"Where! Where Demetrios!"
"S-Struga! D-Down by Ohridsko Ezero!" Said Demetrios while getting a severe case of vertigo. Prusias released him and began pacing.
"That's down Southwest of here. A two to three day ride. Are we striking at them any time soon?" Demetrios didn't reply right away, he was trying to regain his breathe.
"I.." He coughed. "Yes, they plan to attack in two weeks time. We are hitting the Assassins were they are so we must be prepared. Well I'm going to leave... before you try and kill me again. See you later Prusias." Demetrios left Prusias's house, but taking a several pieces of gold as he did.
