"What is that weird clingy noise?" Desmond and Ezio had just finished "researching" about their "topic", and they were now taking their sweet ass time to get back to the Bureau.

"Nothing that concerns you, mio caro amico," Ezio replied cheekily.

Desmond quickly realized the contents of Ezio's pocket, having to become him for a little while (Animus). He sighed and face palmed. "I told you to only steal the necessary materials from the target!" he scolded, exasperated.

"It's not like he needed it."

Desmond just shook his head, not even bothering to convince the Italian otherwise. It is near impossible to change his habits.

They maneuvered through the huge city and reached the Bureau shortly (strangely, Ezio's pockets had been getting heavier as they did). Desmond hopped through the non-existent "door" with ease, while Ezio had some difficulties (pockets).

"Ah! Altair! You're back!"

"Yes. I am back! And I shall tell you of my findings!" Desmond declared, though just a little too un-Altair like.

"Errr... yes. So enlighten me."

"Garnier does his stuff inside the Order's hospital, northwest from here." His "stoic" mask was crumbling. People like him were not meant to do things like this. "I heard rumors about the bad things that he does to the people. They are innocent too. I'm pretty sure that they were kidnapped."

Now the Rafiq was really suspicious. Desmond withered under his scrutiny. Crap. I've really done it now. (And if you stay really silent, you can just barely hear Ezio's sigh of disappointment. And if Ezio is disappointed, then you know that you are really, really, stupid)

"You are not Altair. Impostor!" At the word impostor, the other Assassins that were staying at the Bureau jumped up and grabbed both Ezio's and Desmond's hands and put them behind their backs. "Take them to Al Mualim. And you," he pointed to another Assassin. "Finish the mission that they started."

The Assassins began to drag the "impostors" to the entrance gate. I suck at this, Desmond thought. They were tied to their horse, quite uncomfortably Desmond might add, and escorted dishonorably back to Masyaf. Hmph.


"Safety and peace, Malik."

"Your presence deprives me of both," the handicapped Assassin harshly replied. He looked up and scowled. "What do you want?"

"I know where Talal is. I'm ready for my mission."

"That is for me to decide."

"Fine. He is a trafficker. He kidnaps innocent human lives and sells them to slavery. His base is a warehouse in Barbican, north of here. Currently, he is preparing a caravan for travel. I'll strike while he is inspecting his stock. If I can avoid his men, Talal will prove to be of little challenge."

Malik scoffed. "Little challenge? Listen to yourself, such arrogance."

"Does my information satisfy you?"

"No, but it will have to do." Malik reached under the counter to retrieve a pure white feather, and he placed the delicate object on the mahogany counter. "Rest, prepare, cry in the corner, do whatever you have to do to prepare for a mission."


"Impostors?" Al Mualim raised a snowy white eyebrow.

"Yes, Master," one of the Assassins that had a hand in capturing the two more modern Assassins stepped forward. "He was caught impersonating Altair."

A chuckle was heard at the other end of the room. "Ha! Altair is slacking off? I've waited to see this day!" Abbas shouted in glee.

"He could have done it without Altair's knowledge!" another man defended his idol. He sounded crushed at the idea of Altair slacking off.

"No, I know these two people," Al Mualim looked at Desmond and Ezio, who were unconscious. "I sent them off to accompany Altair. And they would have no reason to impersonate the man, unless they were ordered by Altair himself." The Master then sighed in disappointment. "I will wait for him to return, then I will speak to him. Meanwhile, send these two into the dungeon. Altair will join them later."


"Come down here! Let's settle this with honor!"

"Don't be foolish," Talal smirked. He snapped his filthy, blood-soaked fingers (from the slaves), and guards from all directions jumped down, surrounding Altair and Connor.

The two Assassins readied their stance, preparing for the guards to make the first move.

Then finally, after what seemed like hours of the waiting game, one of them attacks. He must still be a recruit, because he left his stomach wide open. STAB! He fell, drowning in a pool of his own blood. They kept coming after that, one by one. SLASH! STAB! SLASH! Altair stabbed a guard. SLASH! Conner cuts open another's stomach. Soon, all of the guards lay on the ground, with Altair and Conner towering over their dead bodies, mostly unharmed.

Talal stood above them all, not believing his eyes. So they are not just all bluff, he thought. With that in his mind, Talal cursed and turned to run.

"Halt!" Altair shouted, and ran after him. Conner silently followed in suit.

Altair ran around a corner and jumped to another building. Damn. This guy is fast. But of course, no one can outrun the great Altair, because soon, the great ex-Master Assassin jumped on the other man's back and stabbed him through the neck while pulling him into the white abyss.


Conner saw Altair stab Talal through the neck. Then somehow they both disappeared into thin air, like they never existed. What? Conner thought, as he came to an abrupt stop.


Altair gently set the dying man on the floor. "You've no where to run now. Share your secrets with me."

Talal chuckled. "My part is played. The Brotherhood is not so weak that my death will stop it's work."

"What Brotherhood?" Altair pressed, confused. He remembered that Tamir said something about a Brotherhood.

"Al Mualim is not the only one with designs upon the Holy Land. And that is all you'll have from me."

Altair sighed, "Then we are finished. Beg forgiveness from your god."

"He's long abandoned us. Long abandoned the men and women I took into my arms."

"What do you mean?"

Talal chuckled again, although this one seems to have caused him more pain than the last. He is close to the end. "Beggars, whores, addicts, lepers. Do they strike you as the proper slaves? Unfit for the most menial task? I took them in not to sell but to save! And yet you kill us all, for no other reason than it was asked of you."

Altair inwardly scoffed. "No. You profit from war, from lives lost and broken."

"Think what you want, but war is what defines me. They say it's what your kind do best. Do you see the irony? Not yet, but you will..." At last, Talal breathed his last breath, and his head rolled back onto the floor.

Altair felt disappointed. He did not get enough information. He had a feeling that the last 2 men he had killed were part of something bigger. He took the white feather from his robe and dipped it into the man's blood.


Conner walked around the spot where Altair and the man had disappeared. Faintly, he recalled the Master Assassin explain to them about another perk of Eagle Vision. Yes, that must be it, Conner mused.

And just as suddenly when he disappeared, Altair reappeared, this time with a corpse in his hands. He closed the man's soulless gazes and stood to face Conner. "These victims, so far they talked about a Brotherhood. Do you know what they are saying?"

The Native crossed his arms and frowned. "I assumed you knew, but now it is obvious that you do not. These men are Templars."

"How are you so sure?"

"They were wearing crossed rings."

Altair's eyes comically glazed over. "Oh."

Conner fought back another frown and marched toward the Bureau. "We better leave before the guards come."


"Altair! Welcome back!"

Altair, hearing the obvious falseness in his voice, winced at the greeting. "Talal is dead."

Malik chuckled. "Oh, I know." Then his face quickly morphed into irritation. "In fact, the whole city knows. Have you forgotten the meaning of subtlety?"

"None of that matters," Altair brushed off. "The deed is done."

Malik huffed in disgust. "Go back to the old man. Let us see who he sides with."

"We are on the same side, Malik."


It's been a few hours since they left the Bureau, and the two Assassins stepped into the castle (For some reason, Conner has this bad feeling).

"It should be three down, if the others did their part," Conner muttered.

Altair only humphed and nodded. Silently, they stepped to the desk and awaited to gain their master's attention.

"You've returned."

"Yes, Master," Altair loyally replied, bowing his head in respect. Conner discreetly narrowed his eyes at this. The Assassins around this age are too easy to be pushed around. He tries to blend in, though he thinks that he may have over done it.

"You've done well."

"I am yours to command, master."

"This should be your second one." Al Mualim then leaned forward and raised an eyebrow. "Or perhaps it is your third?" At this, several guards jumped down from the ceiling and tied both of the convicted Assassins' hands behind their back and gagged them.

"You are under arrest for hiring another to do your redemption task for you."

Conner heard Altair's breath hitch. He too felt surprised, but it quickly faded away. He actually should have expected this. Though Altair and Desmond have the same looks, their personalities are worlds apart. He really should have expected this.

"Take them to the others," Al Mualim waved away the guards, and Conner found himself being half escorted and half dragged to the dungeon. He really wished that he was home now.