Assassin's Creed: Immortality

Author's Note: My stories only use the first two games and Brotherhood as canon while disregarding the continuity of the rest. A few c haracters from later games are re-used in different contexts. Enjoy!

There is one other crucial difference in my canon: Lucy does not betray the Assassins and remains a loyal mole. I think she's more interesting that way!

This story is inspired by the fanfiction Above the Serpentine, which is honestly the direction I wish AC would have gone canonically. The plot is similar, but the details and prose are different enough that I think I can skirt plagiarism allegations. (And as with my TLOU fanfics: this isn't our IP anyways!)

My "stage play" sections will have lowercase titles this time so I can keep the accent on Altaïr's name.

Without further ado...

1191 - Masyaf

Altaïr: Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.

Al Mualim: So it would seem. You have won, then. Go and claim your prize.

Altaïr: You held fire in your hand, old man. It should have been destroyed.

Al Mualim: It is too late for that now.

Altaïr: What do you mean?

Al Mualim: It has left its mark on you. You will not sleep the slumber of the dead again. Enjoy your eternity.

[death.]

-aci-

CODEX:

I am not of this world.

Why am I so certain of this conclusion? Perhaps it is because of Al Mualim's words, but there is more to it than that. I cut myself earlier, and the wound healed instantly. Malik was most alarmed, and I explained what Al Mualim had said to me.

"Perhaps the gods exist after all," he said. "It is clear one has touched you and given you the gift of immortality."

Immortality? I do not know how to feel about this unexpected (and not entirely welcome) gift. But it seems that not everything is permitted: I am unable to die. So I must accept my fate, and lead the Assassins into the future.

I hope I am worthy of the gift bestowed upon me. I believe I am, but doubts still linger…

1227 - Xingqing

Altaïr: Where is it?

Genghis Khan: You insult me in my dying days, Assassin.

[confusion.]

Genghis Khan: I do not know what this "Piece of Eden" is. What I brought upon the world, and what I conquered for my people, is MINE. You hear me, Assassin? MINE.

Altaïr: …I see.

Genghis Khan: Now leave this place, or-

Altaïr: Or what? Your guards cannot stop me.

Genghis Khan: ...please, just leave me to die in peace. You know I am not lying.

-aci-

CODEX:

Strangely, I did know he was not lying.

My emotions are turbulent in this moment. For so long have I monitored the Mongols, convinced that their supreme skill on the battlefield must have been guided by Those Who Came Before. And yet it was not. It was nothing more than the skill and talent of their leader, and those who followed him.

What does this mean?

It could mean something wonderful. It could mean that human ambition is all that is necessary to conquer the world. Too many throughout history have become dependent on the Pieces of Eden, as if they were all that made humanity strong. But the Great Khan himself did not: he relied on his brain, and it won him an Empire.

I must reflect on this further. I feel…admiration for that barbarian. Intellectually I know I should not. Emotion is another matter entirely.

1476 - Florence

Ezio: The Auditores are not dead! I am still here! Me! EZIO AUDITORE!

-aci-

Ezio: Who are you?

Altaïr: That does not matter. I am here to give you advice: do NOT do that again.

Ezio: Do what again?

Altaïr: Assassinate a target like that! What kind of fool announces his name and kills someone so recklessly? Don't do it again.

[annoyance.]

Ezio: And what are you going to do to stop me?

[death glare.]

Altaïr: We will meet again. You have great potential, but you must be divorced of your youthful foolishness. Goodbye for now.

[leaves.]

-aci-

CODEX:

Ezio Auditore is a fool.

Perhaps that is to be expected, given his age. But still, it is frustrating to one that has mastered the art of stealth.

I cannot interfere directly, lest I become exposed. But Ezio can be prodded in the right direction.

CODEX:

I have met another!

He calls himself La Volpe - the Fox. He was granted immortality shortly after the fall of Rome to Odoacer in the 5th Christian Century.

To my frustration, he was unable to answer any of my inquiries about the nature of immortality - though perhaps I should be unsurprised by that. Regardless, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak to him. He has given me some useful advice regarding memories: focus on retaining the ones that matter the most. The human mind, he explained, is not meant to comprehend centuries of memory. We can only carry so much.

I carry those who I cherished the most with me. Among friends: Malik. Among love: Maria.

Always Maria.

1505 - Rome

Ezio: No! I do NOT want this!

Altaïr: Neither did I, but the Vault has left its mark on you. It seems you have no choice.

Ezio: Rosa…

Altaïr: Will die, as did Maria, my love from so very long ago.

[crying.]

Altaïr: You do not cry.

Ezio: What other time to do so then now? I will watch everyone I love and care for die of old age. That's an impossible burden to carry, especially for one who cares as much for his family as an Italian does!

Altaïr: I felt similarly when Maria died. Nay, I felt similarly when I watched her grow old. At first she joked about my youth. Then, when she learned the truth, she resented. She never said it out loud, of course. But love teaches you how to read your partner.

[silence.]

Ezio: …will Rosa resent me?

Altaïr: Yes.

Ezio: Why?! I did not ask for this!

Altaïr: Is it not obvious?

Ezio: No…

Altaïr: Jealousy.

-aci-

CODEX:

Ezio will accept his fate. I am certain of it. If I am to have a companion through the centuries, I am grateful that it is him.

Still, his emotions are an unknown factor. I have long since learned to tame my passion, but I suspect Ezio is one who feels passion far more strongly than I. Said passion can be harnessed for the cause of the Assassins, but only with careful husbandry.

The cause of the Assassins - I have never doubted the righteousness of it, but I have often doubted my effectiveness. Over three centuries after the beginning of my immortality, I am still fighting the Templars in much a similar fashion as I did in the 1191st year of the Christian calendar. What have we accomplished beyond maintaining the eternal struggle?

I cannot stop. But I can doubt, and criticize myself.

1754 - Theatre Royal

Author's Note: Dialogue for part of this chapter is lifted from the LOST episode Ab Aeterno.

Haytham: You are real. The Man in White.

Altaïr: Indeed. And you know what that means.

[sigh.]

Haytham: Before I die, may I ask a question?

Altaïr: Very well.

Haytham: How? How have you survived for this long? For over five hundred years you have hunted us in the shadows. Twice we succeeded in killing you, yet you were resurrected. Are you…

[pause.]

Haytham: Are you the Devil?

Altaïr: No.

Haytham: Then what are you?

Altaïr: My name is Altaïr.

Haytham: That's a Mohammedan name.

Altaïr: The correct term is "Muslim". And I am not one. I have discovered the same truth that you have.

Haytham: Nothing is true…

Altaïr: …and everything is permitted.

[pause.]

Altaïr: It is not entirely true.

Haytham: What do you mean?

Altaïr: I am not permitted to die. You are, however. Goodbye, Haytham Kenway.

Haytham: Wait-

[assassination.]

-aci-

Ezio: I miss Italy.

Altaïr: And I miss Masyaf. But we are needed in the Americas.

Ezio: Where to next then?

Altaïr: The Natives. We must rally them to the cause of the Assassins. They will not survive the expansion of America, of this I am certain. But some can be recruited to fend off the colonial Templars.

Ezio: Sounds good. Say, want to get a drink at that pub over there?

Altaïr: That sounds quite appealing.

1987 - Black Hills

William Miles: I can't believe you're real.

Altaïr: I have heard that many times. It is rather tiresome after nearly eight centuries.

[shock.]

William: Wait a minute. Why the fuck haven't you been helping more?! We're kind of losing this war!

Altaïr: You are not.

William: Well you could've fooled me!

Altaïr: The destined Desmond has been born.

[pause.]

William: Desmond? My baby boy?

Altaïr: Yes. We must keep him safe. He is the one who will lead us to victory over the Templars once and for all.

William: How can you be so sure?

Altaïr: I got confirmation.

[Enter: EZIO.]

Ezio: Greetings, William.

[shakes head.]

William: Christ, what a day. My son is born, and I meet the Men in White and Brown.

Ezio: I rather like that sobriquet.

Altaïr: We could have done worse.

William: So…keep Desmond safe?

Altaïr: And ensure he is trained to respect our traditions.

William: I will see to it. You have my word.

2003 - New York City

William: That little shit!

Altaïr: Do not be alarmed, William.

William: How the FUCK are you always so calm?! My son just ran away to this godforsaken city! Ran away to do nothing productive, in all likelihood!

Altaïr: I will monitor him. Ensure no harm comes to him.

William: …good. Christ, now I have to explain this to Desdemona…

Altaïr: Your wife is a smart woman. She will understand I can keep him from the Templars.

-aci-

Desmond drank.

There was not much else to do but drink and smoke weed. He had no purpose, no direction without the Assassins.

Well, fuck them. I didn't ask for this.

But he could not escape it.

2012 - Abduction

Lucy Stillman: I can't-

Altaïr: Believe that I am real, yes yes. Well, I am. And you, Lucy Stillman, are being activated. Code Rosenberg: confirmation Apple-Tango-Numeric-Jackson-Fortuitious.

Lucy: Jesus…so it's finally time, huh?

Altaïr: Indeed. And we must ensure that Desmond sees what I saw all those centuries ago. It is essential.

Lucy: So that's why you let him get abducted?

Altaïr: He was not harmed. And provided you monitor him properly, he WON'T be harmed. Once he completes the memory of Al Mualim, we will be able to free him and return him to the Americas to find the Temple.

Lucy: But where IS it?

Altaïr: He will know.

Lucy: How can-

Altaïr: I be so sure? Simple, Lucy Stillman. I was told by Ezio Auditore da Firenze. You might know him better as The Man in Brown.

Lucy: …oh.

-aci-

Desmond: Well, another animus mission completed.

Lucy: Good.

[silence.]

What's going on here? What's up with everyone?

Shaun: Desmond, there's someone that you need to meet.

2012 - Meeting

Desmond: Thanks for bringing the vodka, Shaun.

Shaun: As if I would ever deal with this bollocks sober.

Altaïr: Keep your wits about you. We must make for the Temple soon.

Rebecca: Is it really as simple as you're making it sound? Just bring Desmond there, and boom, world is saved? Kinda cool, but I don't buy it.

Altaïr: You will see the truth soon enough.

-aci-

Isu: You are the one.

Desmond: So I've been told.

Isu: For many years we have waited for you. Or rather, the memory of us has waited. The battle between the two factions has defined human history. No more. You are destined to terminate the slaughter. Which is why your time on Earth has come to an end.

Desmond: Wait, what?!

[death.]

[victory.]

-aci-

Shaun hated funerals. ESPECIALLY funerals with this many people.

Still, he couldn't deny Desmond had earned it. The Assassins had WON! Every known member of the Templars had dropped dead of sudden brain aneurysms as soon as Desmond had passed away. The "Father of Understanding" clearly didn't know shit, and that truth was undeniable now.

Not that such an event went unnoticed, of course. Atheists were quickly going extinct, but nobody was quite sure which god to turn to...

"Pretty crazy week, huh?"

Shaun scowled. "Rebecca, now is NOT the time for your personality."

"Fuck off."

Shaun's eyes widened. Rebecca never spoke to him like that.

"You think this is easy for me? For any of us? Not everyone deals with pain by being an annoying British asshole."

"Hey-"

"Stop it, both of you," Lucy interrupted, disdain clear in her tone. "This day is NOT about you."

-aci-

And so Desmond and the Templars were laid to rest, one more respectfully than the other.

Epilogue: The End

Lucy: You're aging?!

Altaïr: I am.

Ezio: As am I. At long last.

Shaun: I figured you'd be a bit more upset!

[laughter.]

Ezio: Immortality is not all it is cracked up to be. It has been an honor watching human history unfold. But truthfully, I am tired.

Altaïr: As am I.

Lucy: Fair enough.

Rebecca: Yeah, if anyone deserves a rest, it's definitely you guys! We'll miss you, but you've earned your retirement.

Shaun: Where are you going to go, anyways?

Altaïr: Beirut.

Ezio: Florence. Home.

Lucy: Why not Masyaf, Altaïr?

Altaïr: My entire life, all eight centuries of it, has been defined by the Assassins. I wish for my final years to belong to myself and myself alone. I will read, write. Perhaps try some video games, since I am unfamiliar with the medium.

[pause.]

Altaïr: But what I will NOT do is think for one moment about the Assassin Order for the rest of my mortal life.

Ezio: You took the words right out of my mouth!