Chapter Seventeen: Et Vota et Vitia

"Wait..." Malik held up both of his hands, an action Desmond admittedly had never seen him do before. "What do you mean Kadar can never come home?"

Desmond knew anything short of a logical and legit explanation would not satisfy Malik. With a sigh, he did his best at playing confident in hopes his half-thought-out theory would be bought as fact.

"If he returns, he will die." Desmond stated sternly. "The past is strict. When I lived it last time, Kadar died, killed in Solomon's Temple. I hoped to change this, but in doing so I have made it impossible for him to return home. If he returns, he will die because he was never meant to live. By staying here he ensures his own survival. Returning would mean his death. I know this is complicated, but..."

"It must be complete?" Malik frowned, narrowing his eyes. "Are you saying the past can never be changed then?"

"Yes...no. Not exactly. It can be, but to make these changes means Kadar can't go home. He mustn't return because he's not meant to."

"Why?" Malik argued. "Why can my brother not come home?"

Desmond steeled himself against Malik's throaty response. "Because what if he had children?"

Malik's eyes narrowed. "What if?"

"Then his children would have children and those children would have children and eventually there would be Kadar descendants wandering around in this time...in my time."

"And?"

"They aren't here." Desmond explained. "Which means they can't ever exist. Can you imagine the amount of change they could wrought? What about Kadar himself? He could be the downfall of the Templars...or of the Brotherhood. Maybe one of his descendants changes the course of history so we don't advance any further after the Renaissance! We don't know and we can't take that risk. I selfishly saved Kadar...not because of Kadar, but because of you and because of Altair. I feel for you both. You are my friends and I wanted to ensure your happiness, but it was selfish and it was dangerous. By doing that, I put the whole world in danger. It wasn't until I learned the limit. The past must be completed. Kadar must "leave" your time and he has come here instead. In your time, he is dead. Do you understand?"

Malik swallowed hard, glaring at Desmond bitterly.

"I did what I could, Malik." Desmond gazed back at him apologetically. "He is alive, which is a hundred percent more than he was the last time around. I wish I could say this time you got to enjoy his company and got to keep your brother, but...but it's just not meant to be, Malik. I'm sorry."

Kadar placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, worried, but attempting to be reassuring.

"If this is all you can do..." Malik patted his brother's hand. "Than I am grateful. I simply wish there could be more."

"Me too." Desmond motioned towards the door. "I have stuff I need to do, so I'll let you two...you know...uh...say goodbye."

Kadar's face seemed to twist with sorrow and Desmond wished he could have worded it better. Malik's gaze fell and he nodded solemnly. Taking his leave, Desmond sought out Shaun, hoping to get rest and food before sending Malik on his way and taking his own leave back to the Holy Land. He found the man in conversation with Sergio.

"Ah, Desmond." Sergio motioned for him to follow the Italian while Shaun continued on his way. "Your father contacted me."

"Great." Desmond perked. "And?"

"He wants you to speak to Lucy."

Desmond's shoulders immediately sagged. "I'm probably the least qualified."

"He believes you're the best qualified." Sergio stopped to lean on the railing overlooking the garage below. "Given your experience and the fact you "saw" Lucy last, you "know" her better than the rest of us. You understand her betrayal, so to speak. You can comprehend this riddle. Hopefully, too, you can get her back on our side."

"I'm not as sure..."

"She won't speak to any of us."

"I'm a stranger to her." Desmond insisted. "I mean, it'd be one thing if she did know who I was, but even then...even then...I don't know her. She lied to me. She was nothing, but a fake and I...to be honest...I'm still not sure if I'm over it. She resulted in the deaths of so many Assassins, people she knew! I...I've been the death of Assassins, but I still did it for the Order. I worked towards the Order's goals and if my brothers and sisters got in the way because of it...well, I'll lose sleep, but I'm not going to let it stop me. She caused the death of Assassins for Templars because that's what she is: a Templar. Sure, she was an Assassin, but she isn't anymore. It's not uncommon. Haras? Cross? Lucy isn't any different and she's also not special enough to be concerned with."

"But she is." Sergio corrected him. "She knows what Abstergo is planning."

"So do I."

"But she has an inside view that you don't." Sergio straightened. "Look. I don't want to coarse you, brother, but these are orders from the top. Lucy is an asset and if you can get her back on our side, we can use her."

"We can never trust her."

"No." Sergio shook his head. "No...you're right. We can never trust her."

Desmond rushed a hand over his head, agitated by this new predicament.

"God...uh...ugh...fine." He faced the Italian. "Fine. I'll talk to her, but don't get your hopes up. I still think she's a traitor who will stop at nothing to ensure we fail against the Templars. Understood?"

"Yes." Sergio motioned ahead of himself. "This way, Desmond."