I looked around the twisting waves of pixels for a few seconds and then a bright flash of white light cleared them away until I was staring blearily at the white walls of the room in Abstergo. I groaned, feeling disoriented as the last of my ancestor's memories faded back into their hidden place within me. I heard Vega groan next to me. The clear visor in front of my eyes slid away and I stood to stretch.
"Whoa," I gasped, almost falling over.
"Careful," the voice of our guide stated, a hand on my arm. I shook him off and turned to see Vega stand slowly. She caught my eyes, blushed, and then looked away. I smirked, knowing what she had remembered before the memories we hadn't uncovered sunk back where they belonged. The whole ordeal felt like a misplaced dream we both shared. It was…interesting.
"You good? It is a little hard to focus again after time spent in there," the guide spoke up, getting my attention.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. You guys got a snack room or something? I'm starving and I need to use the bathroom," I stated bluntly. I swear my ancestor's personality came back with me along with the need that pulsed through me when I was near Vega. I looked back over at her to see her nod in agreement with me.
"Oh yes. Take a bathroom break and then consult your communicator to find the cafeteria. Will you be returning today? If so I can keep your session open here. It seems the Animus sensed you needed a break and let you out but you can always go back," he explained.
"What do you say, Vega?" I asked the quiet brunette standing there preoccupied.
"I think we should call it a day. I need to go home. We were in there longer than I planned to stay out," she confessed, playing with the hem of her shirt. She was acting shy or embarrassed about something. I quirked a brow but turned back to our guide.
"You heard her. Save up and shut down. We'll be back tomorrow though," I told him. He nodded and moved to do as I asked.
"T-tomorrow? Really?" Vega questioned me disbelievingly. I nodded slowly like she was dumb.
"Yup, that's what I said. Unless you don't want to. That's ok. We can reschedule if you want," I responded with a shrug.
"No! I mean, no, yeah, I'm open for coming back tomorrow," she exclaimed, rushing to correct her over eagerness. I laughed and picked up my communicator.
"Ok then, let's get something to eat and then head out. I wouldn't want poor little Vega to get in trouble," I teased. She scoffed and playfully smacked my arm. I only smiled and led the way out.
"Have a good day ladies! Looking forward to seeing you again!" the guide called to us. We both looked back to wave and then continued on. The high tech devices lead us to the bathrooms and then the cafeteria by the use of a detailed map. Once we were refreshed and full, we left, returning the communicators to the front desk. They stored them away in their own compartments. The woman at the desk explained that from now on they would be ours now that they were synced with us and our progress within the Animus.
"That was the best thing I have ever experienced in my life," Vega said with a big smile.
"I bet," I mumbled under my breath, remembering the heavy make out.
"What?" she questioned me. I just shook my head.
"Nothing," I answered. She watched me a few minutes more before letting it go. We slid into my car silently and I started it up. We were quiet the whole way back to my house. Once I shut the car off, we spent a few seconds sitting in silence.
"Vega, this doesn't have to be awkward you know. I mean, our ancestors may have had the hots for each other but it doesn't mean anything now," I said, trying to put to rest any of the thoughts running through her head. I knew Vega. She was overthinking things and it would surely weigh heavy on her. Why I cared was beyond me.
"What if I want it to mean something?" she muttered uncertainly.
"Huh?" I said, wondering if I heard right.
"Never mind. See you tomorrow, Jade," she spoke hastily. She quickly got out and rushed to her car. I followed just as swiftly. I stopped her before she could get in, gripping her wrist and pulling her back from touching the door handle.
"Tori, wait," I called to her, bringing her to a stop. My grip on her wrist tightened slightly, wordlessly telling her to stay put.
"Jade, please just…I need to think," she pleaded with me. I stared into her eyes, my determination still going strong. She seemed to finally see that I was serious because she sighed and looked down, no longer trying to escape.
"I just wanted to say…um, I like spending time with you. I think we should fully explore what happened between our ancestors. It'll be fun," I stated, speaking carefully. I never felt so vulnerable yet willing to put my feelings on the table for her to see and understand. She smiled thinly at me and then scuffed her feet on the ground, her eyes falling again.
"I'm not messing with you, Vega. I really want to try," I stressed, moving to grip her by both of her shoulders. Her head lifted quickly so that her chocolate brown eyes locked with mine.
"Really?" she asked me hopefully. I had no clue what I meant by that, friendship or more, and I wasn't sure how she took it, but I found myself being okay with either one.
"Yeah, really," I replied with a certain nod. She grinned, her bright features returning. She squeezed me in a death hug and I returned it. I tucked my face in the crook of her neck and held on to her, feeling safe in her arms. She hummed her content. It brought a smile to my face. I let out a chuckle and pulled back to look at her. She was smiling but biting her lip in a shy manner that made me grin. Without thinking it through I leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"See you tomorrow," I whispered in her ear before backing away. Her face turned red in a cute blush as her eyes widened and a hand rose to brush the cheek my lips graced. I gave her a smile and turned away to go inside. I heard her rush to get in her car.
"Bye, Jade!" she called, her voice ringing clear with a quality I hadn't heard in a long time. I looked over my shoulder to see her waving. I returned it with a single wave and then disappeared inside. I stood leaning against the front door and didn't move until she started up her car. I listened as she drove away and then all was quiet. I let my body finally relax from the live wire it had been then headed to my room to fall into bed. Today was the start of something new and exciting. I wished the weekend lasted longer than two days. I felt my mentally tired body ease closer and closer to unconsciousness. I let it consume me, grateful for the much needed rest.
"Jade! I'm heading out! Money is on the counter if you need anything! See you when I get back!" the sound of my mother's voice yelled up the stairs to my room and succeeding in waking me up. I groaned and rolled over, burying my head in my pillow. I listened as she packed up for work and left. My father was most likely already there. He practically lived at that corporation of his. My mother worked with him, possibly ignorant of everything or not. I wasn't sure which was better. They're both following the Templar order then. Were the Templars even around still? Were the Assassins still around? I hoped Vega asked her parents. I was in no rush to find out if the Templars were still around. Though I hoped they weren't.
I would be content to follow in West Blackheart's footsteps, to set my own course. The few memories she held gave me the impression she didn't agree with what the Templars believed in. If I wasn't mistaken, I felt like she would much rather have followed the Assassins before following the Templars. She would have had more of a reason to with Vega being one of them. I smiled at the thought and then frowned, rolling over on my back to stare at the ceiling. Were they not able to be together? Better yet, what could have drove them apart? I didn't have the answers yet, but today was a new day and I hoped to find out. My phone vibrated at that moment followed by a terrified yet cheesy horror movie scream. I picked it up off the side table to see it was a text from Vega.
Up for another history lesson? I'm game if you are ;{)
I laughed and shook my head. What a dork. I typed up my reply and sent it.
I'm game. Head over and we can go.
I waited for her reply as I gathered a new set of clothes. I set them in the bathroom and returned to my room just in time for the reply text.
Cool beans. See you soon :{)
I rolled my eyes at that, holding back a laugh.
No one says cool beans anymore Vega.
Her reply was quick.
How about awesome sauce?
I couldn't keep back a chuckle from slipping out. What was up with this chick? She managed to make me laugh twice today and I haven't even seen her yet.
No one says that either.
She didn't answer right away so I took the time waiting to strip and waltz into the bathroom stark naked. The freedom of having the house to myself. I loved it. My phone went off again and I picked it up.
Killjoy :{(
I typed up a reply, hit send, and set my phone aside.
I may be a killjoy but you still like me.
I decided to see what she said after I had my shower. I took my time washing and even relaxed a little under the jet of warm water. I got out after that and dried off, my eyes on my phone curiously. I was halfway through getting dressed when I picked it up.
Yep, I sure do. Be there in fifteen minutes :{)
Geez, she was a total morning person. How many smiley faces did she use so far? It's like double the happy with those stupid mustaches added to them. Despite being a corny cheeseball I couldn't stop myself from liking her reply. I sent her confirmation that I received her text and then rushed to finish. I deemed myself ready just as I heard a car pull up outside. I peeked out the window to see that it was Vega.
"Right on time," I mumbled to myself. I went downstairs to get the door, opening it before she could knock yet again.
"You really have to stop doing that," she complained good-naturedly.
"And you really need to stop whining," I informed her, brushing her cheek as I walked past her to my car after locking up. Her face lit up in a blush instantly. She shook her head and turned to follow me into my car. We rode in oddly comfortable silence. Walking into the grand building this time around would be almost surreal now that we knew what awaited us just inside. As we crossed the lot, Vega began to talk.
"Hey Jade, where exactly does your dad work?" she asked. I pondered that for a while before coming up empty. I had never found it necessary to ask or find out so I didn't. Now that she asked I wondered the same thing myself.
"Does this have to do with the Assassins and Templars?" I responded with a question of my own. She looked at me and then averted her eyes.
"Yeah, it's just, well, I got curious about it all and brought it up to my parents. I told them where we went yesterday and my dad kinda froze up, like it was a big deal. My mom just went quiet. Eventually she persuaded him into sharing with me that the Assassins are still around, just well hidden. Over the many years their numbers have taken a downturn because of the Templars which seem to be growing thanks to Abstergo. He believes they are behind it all, creating a scam to gather information and history on people so that they can track down the rest of the Assassins. Without proof he can't do anything to stop them but I was thinking we could help him out," she shared. Her acquired knowledge amazed me.
"You want us to, what, spy on them? Collect information?" I questioned her. She simply nodded.
"I asked about your parents because when he heard you had gone with me he almost freaked. I guess he hadn't known I was friends with you or else he wouldn't have allowed us to get so…close I guess," she continued, shrugging at the end uncertainly.
"He didn't want a Templar like me learning anything," I spat, strangely hurt by that. I would never back stab Vega, and that included her family. No matter how much I despised Trina.
"Yeah, pretty much. Look, he may not trust you Jade but he trusts me and I trust you, so really, he should have faith that you're on our side," she reasoned.
"Are you sure about that?" I asked her cynically. She smacked my arm and I feigned hurt.
"Yes, I'm sure," she said with a narrowed gaze.
"So uh, what's his excuse for not telling you all this sooner?" I wondered.
"He said that all members join and begin training at eighteen," she replied.
"You have a few months left," I reminded her. She nodded.
"I'm pretty sure he would have waited to say anything but since I asked earlier than he planned he had to tell me," she guessed.
"Most likely. Hey, at least you aren't too far away. My father told me I would start training at eighteen but I had to join him the day I turned twenty. In fact, that was going to be my big present," I shared, my voice carrying a mocking quality towards the end.
"That sucks," she remarked.
"You have no idea," I grumbled. We stopped outside the front doors, anticipating our next visit.
"Hey, Jade?" Vega suddenly questioned. I looked over at her concerned features and once again went with my instinct to hold her hand in mine.
"What's up?" I replied.
"I was told West Industries is a form of Templars during this time, creating the Animus as a way to view what had happened in the past to get an upper hand for the future. The Templars really are behind Abstergo," she whispered, voice calculative.
"The only way to find out is to start by going back. Come on," I urged, pulling her forward to head for the front desk. I was more than ready to fall back into the frame of mind granted to me by my ancestor. We picked up our communicators after giving them our names. Once we had them we were intercepted by our guide on the way to the elevator.
"Hello ladies. So, I see you've returned. Want me to show you your rooms or do you remember?" he said, a smile on his face I wasn't at all comfortable with. Ever since getting out of the Animus I had this feeling, like my intuition had sharpened somehow. Crazy, yes, but that's just how I felt. My body also remembered every skill my ancestor knew. If I wanted to I was sure I could kick someone's ass before they even knew what I was doing. I was also pretty sure I could steer a ship too if I had the chance.
"We're fine. Right, Jade?" Tori spoke up. I pulled myself from my thoughts and sent an unintentional glare at our guide as I agreed with her, even though it was a simple nod.
"Very well then. I'm sure you can find the assist option on your devices should you need it just in case," he reminded us, bowing and then leaving. I glanced at Tori to see her watch him go with a thoughtful expression. Did she sense the same thing I did?
"Come on, Vega," I urged, brushing the back of her hand with my fingers as I walked forward. She jumped to attention with a small blush which made me smirk. She gave me a reprimanding look that I ignored. We took the elevator to the second floor but found a new room as our previous one was now occupied. Once we were settled in the comfy chairs I sighed.
"Here we go again. Hopefully we can get some answers this time," I mumbled.
"I hope so. Listen, Jade…about our ancestors…" she began, looking over at me.
"Save it or you'll ruin the moment. Excuse Blackheart for finding you incredibly attractive and excuse me for agreeing. If you do that and stop worrying you'll be fine," I advised with a suggestive half grin directed at her. Her blush increased and her eyes widened.
"So, just go with it?" she simplified. I laughed but nodded.
"Yeah, just go with the flow," I confirmed. She let out a hesitant laugh and then leaned back, closing her eyes. I did the same, feeling the machine under me whir to life. I began to wonder if the guide being in here before was necessary or if he was lying to us the whole time in order to spy or something. But I lost my train of thought when the familiar feeling of weightlessness swept me up in a flurry of blue and green pixels.