Chapter Two: Habeo Consilium!

Desmond awoke with a start when the van stopped and he rubbed at his eyes.

"We're here." Shaun told him from the driver's seat and Desmond responded with a grunt of acknowledgement.

The trip from the U.S. to Italy had been long what with driving and waiting included. He stretched as soon as he got out of the van and grinned almost instantly.

"Monteriggioni, it's been awhile." He turned to Shaun as the man began to unload the van. "You would have loved it here before the Borgia attacked."

"You know," Shaun set down a box. "I'm still struggling with the very concept you time-traveled. Let's not make it more awkward by saying stuff...like that."

Desmond smiled a little. "So what exactly is the plan? You seem to be taking orders, likely from my dad, right?"

"Right..." Shaun pulled out another box which Melissa had pushed towards the edge. "We're taking orders from him, but the plan...well, you're not going to like it."

"Time travel?" Desmond guessed.

"Worse." Shaun passed him a box. "We want you to infiltrate Abstergo."

"They can't actually expect me to infiltrate Abstergo!" Desmond scoffed as he and Melissa made their way into the underground maze, which would take them to the Sanctuary. "I mean, for her."

Melissa pursed her lips, watching as Desmond scaled the wall. "You're surprisingly good at this."

"Years of practice." Desmond replied after a moment.

"I've seen your file. You were recorded as mediocre in your training, which ended when you were sixteen. It was agreed you wouldn't be a threat."

"My dad always saw me as mediocre even when I was at my best." Desmond pulled himself up onto the top of the ledge. "Besides, I've had years of practice alongside Altair, Ezio, and Connor."

"So you say."

Desmond snorted as he pulled the lever.

"Yeah. So I say."

They didn't talk for a little while as they navigated the maze, concentrating on the work ahead of them.

"You didn't answer my question." Desmond finally pointed out.

"Which was?"

"Why are we doing this for her?" Desmond decided to rephrase it. "Why should we do this for her? I have far more pressing matters and just because I was given a second chance at it doesn't mean I have all the time in the world. I mean, I still don't even know what I'm doing really."

"Did you know?" Melissa smiled at him. "You speak kind of in a singsong way. Like an Italian. It's cute."

Desmond felt heat rushing up to his cheeks. "Yeah. Ezio's doing, I guess. I spent probably the most time with him. You're avoiding my question."

"I don't know Lucy." Melissa shrugged. "I didn't even know who she was until Shaun told me on the way to pick you up. Your little cryptic message really scared the Order, you know. They're frantic to find out the truth. They're also worried you're a, well..."

"Sleeper Agent?" Desmond chuckled. "Yeah. I was afraid they'd think that, but I'm not. I promise."

Melissa didn't respond to this and they continued the rest of their trip in silence.

Desmond opened the entrance to the Sanctuary and glared at Shaun on the other side.

"I thought it over and I still think it's a stupid idea." He growled at the ginger-haired man.

"Well, your opinion isn't really the one that matters here." Shaun shoved past him.

"That's what you guys were..." He paused from following the other man and smiled at the approaching woman. "Oh, hey, Rebecca. When did you get here?"

"Wow, you really do know me!" She laughed, holding up her fist for a welcoming punch, which he gave tentatively. "Hey, you wanna help me move Baby in here?"

"Sure." He chuckled, recalling she had called the Animus 2.0 by that nickname. "So why'd you make it red? Why not blue or something? Because of the Assassins or personal preference?"

"Well, when I broke my leg..."

"And became a computer geek." Desmond finished for her, causing her to grin back at him.

"Yeah. When I became a geek, I kind of got into superheroes for a little while. I thought hot rod red would be cool, like Iron Man."

"Awesome."

"I know, right? I'm not into superheroes anymore, really. I like the new movies they're coming out with though. Did you see "The Avengers"? That was tight."

"I actually haven't seen it yet. I couldn't get the right time off to see it back when it came out, so I thought I'd wait for the dvd."

"Way better on the big screen. Here. Grab this end."

Carefully, they pulled the Animus out of the truck and set it on the ground.

"How long have you been in Italy?"

"About a week. We were supposed to be meeting with Lucy in a few. Supposedly, she had info for us, but...well, now you come along and say she's a traitor and no one knows what to think."

"What do you think?"

Desmond hefted up his end of the Animus and they began to shuffle the heavy chair towards the stairs, which neither one of them was looking forward to scaling.

"I know Lucy." Rebecca quickly amended. "Knew. I mean, I haven't seen her for seven years, so I can't really say if she's the same person she was. The Lucy I knew, though, wouldn't help a bunch of dicks like Abstergo. They're pure evil, Desmond. It's Desmond, right? Anyways, I've heard and seen what they do and it's just wrong. And getting worse. I don't see Lucy siding with them."

"You knew Clay though, didn't you?" Desmond questioned. "Clay Kaczmarek?"

"Yeah. I was his teammate back when he was asked to infiltrate Abstergo Industries to find out what they were up to."

"And Lucy was supposed to help him get out." Desmond pressed.

"Yeah, but she wasn't able to."

"She couldn't. You're right." He grunted as he hoisted the Animus up the stairs. "But it wasn't because Abstergo made it hard for her. It was because he had found out about her joining their side and she couldn't let the Assassins find out. Something happened. I don't know what, but she's on their side now, Rebecca. I wish I had more proof."

"I don't think she'd let Clay just die though. She knew him."

"He wrote a message to me in his own blood." Desmond couldn't keep the growl from his tone. "Because he didn't want Lucy or Abstergo to be able to trick us. He also needed us to find the Temple."

"The Temple your father has already located, yeah." Rebecca winced and Desmond took it as a sign to set the Animus down.

"Break."

"Good." She set her side down and sat on the chair, Desmond soon to join her. "You really do know what you're talking about, but the whole Order is now tense...well, those who know. Your parents for example and stuff."

"I thought Shaun hadn't contacted them yet though."

"Your conversation in the van on the way to the airport?" She smiled when he glanced at her. "Yeah. That got recorded and sent off. They got your warning and left their base of hiding, but nothing's happened yet."

"Wait..." Desmond stood abruptly. "How do I get hold of my dad? I need to talk to him."

"Well, it's not as easy as all of that."

"I know it isn't." Desmond pressed hurriedly. "But I have a plan and I know it will work. I know it will prove my point and then...then we don't have to go to Abstergo. Please, Rebecca. It would be safer for all of us. You have to know a way."

Rebecca hesitated and then sighed heavily as she motioned towards the Sanctuary. "Shaun will know how to get hold of him, but you may as well talk to a brick wall for all the..."

"Got it." Desmond started towards the door.

"Des!" She called after him. "He won't listen to you! Trust me!"

"I'll get him to." Desmond ground out, determination in his voice. "He has to see reason sometime."

Woohoo! Chapter two! I meant to get this out last night, but lame me took my time and then forgot to save and lost half of it. Oh, well. I rewrote it and it seems even better. :D I hope you enjoy it! New chapter soon! :)