Hi everyone I didn't expect to write a second story but New Generation sort of just evolved. I got new ideas I couldn't fit into the first and so this was born. As an historian myself I find the idea of the Animus fascinating and I'd like to try and explore that a little more. I really appreciate all the views and reviews I get from you all it's brilliant. As before I, unfortunately, do not own Assassins Creed or the idea of the Animus. All the characters are my own.
The afternoon and evening passed quickly as the Assassins talked, ate and caught up on events with each other. Sometime later Dave and Danielle arrived back; they looked tired and weary from their mission and their journey from further south. The sun had begun to set darkening the kitchen and the warmth from the stove made Michael sleepy. He felt relaxed surrounded by his new family and at ease for the first time in about a week.
'Wakey wakey.' Emma taunted poking him in the face.
'Ow.' Michael yelped straightening up in his seat.
The back door clattered open and Sarah, looking slightly haggard and wild eyes at the same time, burst in.
'Hi everyone, ready to go?' She asked.
'Go where?' Dave inquired.
'I just need to everyone out in the garage for about half an hour.' Sarah responded.
Michael grinned at how jumpy she seemed. Clearly she'd been using caffeine rather than actual sleep to stay functional for the past few days.
The Assassins trooped out of the kitchen one by one, through the yard into the garage. Michael liked it in here it was full of weaponry and explosives as well as Sarah's equipment. It had an ordered kind of chaos about it that Michael enjoyed.
'Sarah what is this?' Emma asked nervously spotting the strange illuminated chair hooked up to several keyboards and monitors.
'It's my version of Abstergos animus.' Sarah answered proudly walking over to the nearest monitor.
'Why? What?' Emma asked shocked.
'I know what they did to you with this technology was horrible. But used correctly with a willing subject imagine what we could do with it? What we could learn?' Sarah asked excitedly.
'I was reading their files. They thought by using this machine they could train their agents to fight like us in a fraction of the time it would normally take...' Sarah began.
'...at what cost?' Brendan intoned, 'what are the side effects?'
Sarah looked at him; silent for a moment.
'Mike and I saw what Abstergo had done to one of our own using that infernal machine.' Brendan growled.
'That won't happen.' Sarah insisted, almost pleadingly.
'Over exposure will cause what's called a bleeding effect. The memories and personalities of the ancestors will meld into the subject if the subject is kept in the machine for too long.' Sarah answered, 'with careful monitoring there is no reason that should happen.
Brendan continued to look angrily at the machine.
'I made several improvements, safety features that will shut down the machine and sever the links between the subject and their ancestors if they're kept in for too long. The benefits far outweigh the risks Uncle.' Sarah argued.
'How so?' Brendan asked.
'Imagine if we could see the lives of the older Assassins how they fought the Templars? It could show us new tactics and strategies. We could train new recruits far more quickly and most importantly give us an insight into real historical events. Stuff we could use to fight the Templars tainted view of history.' Sarah said passionately.
Brendan furrowed his brow.
'I just don't know.' He said exasperated.
'I volunteer.' Michael said.
The group turned and looked at him.
'I don't know how much use I'd be but I'm curious. Ever since I start reading that library we have I've developed an interest in history I want to see the actual events.' Michael insisted.
Brendan looked at him worryingly.
'Let me do this boss please.' Michael pleaded.
Sarah's face visibly brightened with the prospect of a willing subject. Emma looked nervous and non-committal. The rest hung back watching the scene unfold.
'Fine. But if anything goes wrong get him out of that bloody machine quickly.' Brendan ordered.
Michael smiled and sprang forward.
'Ok I need you to sit down.' Sarah said, 'we're going to hook up a blood pressure monitor to you and a pulse gauge to make sure you're ok I'll be monitoring your vitals the whole time. This first time will just be to scan you and see if you've any interesting ancestors ok?'
Michael, sitting in the machine, nodded nervous and excited as he was hooked up.
Sarah walked over to the monitor she had been standing by earlier.
'Ready?' she asked.
'I was born ready.' Michael answered cockily.
The jolt was sudden like an electric current shooting through his system. Strange numbers and text floated across his field of vision. Faces, places, seemed to lunge at him. It was strange he felt as if he knew these unusual faces and had been to these places. As soon as it had started it was all over. His vision cleared and his immediate surroundings came back into focus.
'That was quick.' Michael said groggily.
'Just a quick scan. I'll go over what I extracted and call you back if I find anything interesting ok?' Sarah said.
Michael sat up.
'Are you ok?' Dave asked nervously.
'Yeah I feel fine.' Michael answered smiling.
'Any other volunteers?' Sarah asked.
'Me.' Dave said.
'Me.' Danielle piped up.
'It doesn't look so bad.' George reasoned.
Sarah beamed at her fellows as Brendan huffed.