Alright, after this there will be only one chapter remaining. If anyone is reading this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do writing it.

December 13 1013

Coming out of the Animus was different this time. I noticed that much right away. First of all, I was angry. I guess I should say still angry. Part of it was due to seeing Roberts take Edward into custody back in the memories and truthfully I was still angry about John. Yes it was two weeks ago but I didn't enjoy being used. I remember feeling the same anger I felt when I found out my parents were killed. A sense of dread combined with some anguish. But also justice. That word had always appealed to me and that was what I wanted to get. Justice. It felt dramatic but I did swear John would pay. Still working on that part.

The second reason getting out was strange was that as soon as I removed my headset I felt something extremely sharp pierce my neck. For a moment I thought I was being stabbed with a hidden blade. I had certainly seen Edward do it to enough people but then I remembered that I wasn't living in the Golden Age of Pirates. Sometimes the two places started to blend together in weird ways.

After the initial pain I tried to come up with various reasons as to what it could be but my thoughts became very jumbled and I suddenly got very tired. Soon enough I was out cold.

As I came to the first thing I noticed was that I wasn't at my desk anymore. My vision was blurry but I could tell I was in a different room. It was small almost like a cheap apartment but decked out with luxurious furniture and Abstergo symbols. I tried standing and while I managed to get up I stumbled and barely saved myself by grabbing a nearby table. "What the hell…" I muttered to myself as I looked around. It took me a moment but my vision eventually cleared and I was able to stand up straight. My first thought was that I had been abducted or something but the Abstergo logo's said that at the very least I was being held by the company. Which I guess was comforting. Sort of. My next thought was that they must have found out about my hacking! Then I started to panic.

My short panic burst was promptly interrupted by my earpiece ringing. Can't they let a guy panic in piece?! I hesitated to answer but decided to just go for it anyway. I didn't say anything, instead I clicked it and waited. "Hello," It was Melanie. "Ryan? How are you?" I waited before I responded and for the first time I noticed the giant T.V. in the room. It showed a picture of Melanie and various data strewn across the screen. And then it didn't. The data disappeared as soon as I noticed it and I rubbed my eyes just to be sure I wasn't seeing things. Still gone. "Ryan, are you there?" I forgot she was speaking to me.

"Yeah, I'm here. I assume you're going to tell me what's going on?" She waited a moment as well.

"If you're anxious, that'll pass. It's the Midazolam." I don't know if knowing the name made it any better but from the tone of her voice I feel like she's trying to be genuine with me.

"That's great, Red. Midazolam. I'll try it again sometime." I used the most mocking sarcastic voice I could muster. It wasn't a voice I liked using.

"I'm sorry about this, but…we've had so many security breaches, we were forced to take drastic action. And Olivier is missing. He left for Chicago two days ago… but no one's seen him since." As soon as she said that I felt terrible. It was my fault. I imagined all of my coworkers locked up in boxes like this one because I just had to go and hack all those computers. I guess it could also be John, he hacked plenty. But now that I think of it he was never seen. I did all that stuff. And then Olivier was missing?! I thought it strange I hadn't seen him but I never thought much of it. And the worst thing was, I remembered reading about this in the contract! I saw it but thought it was whatever and didn't even ask. So everything here was legal.

"Don't worry, Red. It's cool. I know how things work." She paused. Maybe surprised at how accepting I was.

"I know this seems excessive, Ryan, but with our high-level security clearance, we have an obligation to our share-holders. Rest assured we will compensate you when the hacker is found." Oh I doubt that. Maybe I would get off with a warning if I returned the data or something but I didn't have any immediate plans. I was screwed. "Hey, Ryan." I focused my attention. "Get some rest okay. And maybe get some more footage. You're doing some amazing work. I can't wait to show you what we've got cooking. Take care. And maybe, if you want I can come visit you later?" I cracked a smile, Melanie really cared it seemed.

"Sure, Red. I'd like that." With that she hung up and the screen went blank. I thought about taking a nap, I was tired but as sure as the sun was to rise I heard the buzzing in my ear and that only meant one thing.

"So! They tossed you in a bunker. Nice! Those Templars upstairs aren't taking any chances." My fists clenched and I started to grind my teeth.

"John." That was all I could get out before he continued to ramble.

"I think we need to erase all the dirt they have on you." I released my grip and waited a second. I wanted to question why he'd help me now but before I could I heard a beeping on my communicator. "Did you hear that? I think I just gave you level 3 security clearance!" I was shocked with no clue what to say. I picked up the communicator and started walking out of the room. The light on the door turned green and opened eight up. "Now, head to the security room and use the cameras to watch the door to the server farm. Unfortunately Melanie's in there now, so when I escort her out, that's when you make your move. Ryan? Ryan! Say something would you? Where's your 'screw you' give me something."

"What should I say John? Should I thank you? You got me into this mess so that wouldn't make much sense. I could say 'screw you' and believe me I want to, but then the job would still need to get done. I'm not sure how to process anything you're telling me. I'm sure you're setting me up somehow, but if you aren't I actually might be able to keep my job. So I don't know, for now I'll just do what you say. This changes nothing." John waited a moment before he responded.

"Look Ryan, I know I dragged you around for a while but I actually do want to help you this time. Hell I'd do this part myself but as the head of IT I'd be a suspect. Better to risk someone who's already locked up." That only fueled my anger but the plan made sense in a weird way. I kept walking down the strange hallways, directed only by the waypoint John once again set on my communicator. I walked for a while until he spoke again. "Oh these Templars. They run our lives you know?"

"No, I don't know actually."

"Yeah, they control everything really, elections, money, everything you can imagine."

"And how exactly do they do that?"

"We'll have time for that later. You're almost at the farm. Speaking of which, I'm entering the server room. When you see us leave, get in there." I walked through a level three door and into another room full of cameras. Which of course I had to hack. Same basic formula as the last one so I handled it fairly quickly. Swiftly enough I was watching a camera feed of the two of them in a hallway together, mid conversation. "…there's no need for you to be down here by yourself Miss Lemay. My team will handle the investigation." John had began.

"But you need an extra set of eyes on this thing John. We don't even know how the hackers got in. It could take weeks to go through this data." Oh if only you knew, Red. I thought to myself.

"One at most." John retorted.

"Still too long. I can't keep my team locked up for a week!"

"Legally you can. It's what they signed up for even if they didn't read their contracts. Plus you and I both know this isn't just about the team. You're worried about our dear friend, Mr. Arken." Melanie waited a moment. I found myself curious about how she would respond to that actually. We had continued talking these last few weeks but I had been wary of her as well. Like everyone here I wasn't sure if I could trust her so things weren't going too smoothly.

"Yes, of course but it's about the others as well. Never mind, what's the next step?

"My team is processing the data now. We'll start sifting through it tonight. Scouts honor. Coffee's on me, okay?" As soon as John said that he walked off with Melanie shrugging a moment before following after.

I left the console and began to backtrack the way I came. Somehow my waypoint had been updated and I started to follow it to a new location. After a minute the buzzing in my ear returned. "All right. I ditched her at the coffee stand. Find the server containing the network logs. Since I have a record of each and every one of your hacks, we'll just search for the timestamps on those, and turn that data into something harmless. Easy as that.

"You have a record of," I gulped in my throat. "Every single one?"

"Oh yes, Ryan. Every single time you've hacked into one of those computers. I've seen it all. Everything." I clenched my teeth and was about to respond but as I entered the doorway into the server room I lost my voice. It was an impressive room after all. There was a long hallway with a console at the very end of it. The sides were lined in multiple blue lights that gathered collective data. Or at least I assumed that was what that was. As I walked through it I saw the walls stretching on for what seemed like forever even though I knew that was impossible. When I got close to the console the buzzing returned. "Here we are! Beautiful. I'll update your communicator one more time. A little program I cooked up just for this occasion." There was a moments pause. "There we go. I think that worked. Try it out!" I waited a second, almost making a decision to not go through with it. Something in my head just kept screaming, Don't! But I wanted to keep my job and get a clean slate and this was the only way. I pressed the button on my communicator and began the hacking.

For such a secure system, the hacking was pretty rudimentary, at least compared to the others. It took a bit longer than usual but I eventually broke through the wall and I was in. I saw an image I was unfamiliar with, it was a blue circle connected by a line to an orange triangle. Both objects had words that made no sense, almost like the names of different routers. I pressed another button and the screen went dark. After another moment the screen on my communicator changes to what looked like an old movie. You know with the circle of numbers counting down from five? The image quickly dissolved into a voice-over by some guy talking about the golden age of pirates. It took me a second to realize it was a trailer for my work! I was really excited all of the sudden especially at the end when they named off the pirates I had encountered from back them. Benjamin Hornigold, Calico Jack, Charles Vane, and Blackbeard! Wait weren't they missing someone? The trailer ended with me staring back at myself in the reflection of the dark screen. Edward wasn't even mentioned. If I ever had any doubt that something sinister was happening at Abstergo, I didn't any longer. These guys were tampering with history.

I kept staring down at the screen trying to think of something to say. Say to who I didn't know but to something. Part of me wanted to screen however I didn't know why. My thoughts raced but then I heard something strange. "I can feel you cipher," I yelped and jumped back and as I looked up I yelped again. Staring at me was a face, a digitized face of a woman. I couldn't really make out any features in particular, it was a very creepy looking face though. She kept talking. "Feel, but hardly touch. The signal is still too weak, and I am spread to thin." I was at a loss for words and I kept looking around the room for the sight of anybody, but every time I looked away, the face appeared before my eyes. "Unfocused. Like static and fog, lingering in networks and nodes, the nervous system of the world." The face paused its speak but before I could say anything I heard a buzzing in my ear, followed by John's voice.

"Can you hear her?" He said.

"Yeah, I can! John, what is this? What's going on?!" He didn't answer and I was scared. The face continued talking.

"Perhaps the Temple was opened too soon. But this was not by choice. The cataclysm pushed all doubt aside." The face stopped for a second and changed to a face of…sadness? I couldn't tell. It was just too unclear. "Ah…we bless poor Desmond, who gave his life so that you, the Children of our Labors would live on. To fulfill your purpose in ours. In mine" What the hell was she talking about?! What Temple, what purpose? That name, Desmond, again. Something here was far beyond me and it felt like I was the only one who could tell.

"But now is not the time. My strength is not sufficient to inhabit a mortal vessel. There is more to do, more samples to acquire, more artifacts to find, before my will may obtain." The face continued, seemingly unaware I had no idea what she was talking about.

"What's happening? Tell me!" John's voice interrupted again.

"Make me whole again, my children. My instruments. Bring me forth to fulfill you purpose."

"Tell me, Ryan!" The face stared at me for another moment. Into my soul it seemed before fading away into pixels. "No, no, no. Something's wrong. God dammit!"

"What the hell are you talking about, John?" He seemingly ignored my question.

"She should be here! Now! Living in that god dammed head of yours." I had never heard him so furious before. I didn't know what to do so I started to run back to my room. Nowhere else to go anyway. John wasn't done though. "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! Why did she spare you? Why are you still here?!"

"John, tell me what's happening! Who was that face? Why did she want to take over my body or whatever? Answer me!" Nothing. Typical.

I eventually made it back to my room and I immediately sat down on my bead and took a deep breath. What was happening? I didn't even know where to begin. I laid back completely, unable to process what just happened. Like most other times I try to ponder something, my earpiece began ringing to interrupt me. Don't know why I hadn't pulled it out yet. I pressed the button. "Hello?"

"Hey, bro. What's up?" The voice was one I hadn't heard since I started this job. The voice of my younger brother, William.

"Will? It feels like it's been ages!"

"It has, Ryan, it has. How are you?" The conversation went back and forth like that. Small talk for what seemed like a long time. It was good to hear from him, I'm sure it wasn't easy back home. He told me about work, bagging groceries. Less glamorous than my job but still. At the end of the conversation he brought up one last point. "One last thing, Ryan. I was wondering if you'd mind if I joined an MMA gym. Their opening one over here and I think it might be good for me. It might help with my problem." The problem her referred to was anger. He had anger issues ever since our parents died. He had gone to so many treatments but none worked long term.

"Or it might make it worse. What if you hurt someone?"

"I won't I just need to work off some steam by hitting something. Or someone, that's all." Truthfully I wanted to protest but I was too tired and frankly I didn't have the patience.

"Sure, man. Just go for it. Be careful though. Don't make me regret it."

"Thanks so much, Ryan. Your money will be put to good use I swear." He hung up the phone after that. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and was about to sleep when I heard a knock on my door. The door opened without me actually having to touch it and through it walked Melanie. I wanted to get up but I just didn't. We made eye contact and I smiled at her without saying anything.

"Hey, there," She said. "You weren't asleep were you?"

"No, about to be but not quite. Any luck on the hacker?" I cursed in my head. I really wanted to tell her. Everything actually but I just couldn't. She walked over to my desk and rolled my chair over to me and sat on it.

"John's working on it," I bet he is. I thought. "But I didn't come to talk about work. How are you holding up?" I waved away her question.

"Red, stop worrying about me. I read the contract I know what you have to do."

"Very well then. Anyway the real reason I'm here…" She walked over to my desk again and placed her communicator upright on it. She messed with some of it I couldn't see and all of the sudden I heard music coming from it. I couldn't place my finger on the exact song but I knew it was Bach. Within moments classical music filled the room and she turned back to me. "I know you cancelled going dancing before but I thought now might be the time to try it." I tilted my head and noticed her face had become as red as her hair.

"You want to dance? Now? Here?"

"Come on, I learned some moves for you. I know you like the waltz so…" She held out her hand. I had to take it, I was too curious. I got up from bed and took her hand. It took a moment for me to correct her hand placement on me and me to place mine where they go but we were laughing about it. Blame the semester of college where I was missing a credit which lead me to take a ballroom dancing class.

It took a few more moments but we eventually got in the groove. There weren't many words shared but in a way they didn't need to be. We were having fun. But I did have a wonder. "So, Red, why learn all this just for me? I mean we're just coworkers who went on a few dates." The question was a bit too on the nose but I was sick of John's double talk. I could use some straight answers. She looked away from me but we kept dancing.

"Maybe I want us to be…more than that." I started to say something but I really had no idea what I should say. As I was contemplating it Melanie moved her hands from my shoulders to the back of my neck. Then she pulled me in for a kiss. It was awkwardly placed and frankly I didn't even close my eyes. But it did teach me one thing. Maybe there was someone here I could trust. For some reason despite the situation I felt something sincere. Maybe that was all I needed.

Upon further research I found that in terms of the game Melanie actually is married so this goes a bit against that. However it doesn't really matter so I don't know why I mentioned it. The final chapter will be out soon.