Note ~ SCHOOL'S OUT! *cue dance party* Anyway, that means updates will be much less scarce. A little forewarning, the bulk of this chapter is a flashback, NOT something that is currently going on. I apologize for its measly length, but it fulfills its purpose. If I made it any longer, I would risk giving away all my precious secrets! :O I want to thank you guys again for all the support and reviews! And a special thanks goes to the 'Goddess of Awesomeness' for pulling me out of a hole. You know who you are.

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Altair wandered down the ominous stretch of hallway that loomed before him. It was the corridor to what would become the greatest challenge of his life; a challenge of self-control. He ran a hand through his hair nervously and worked to steady his breathing. But he could not be anxious. No, he had to stay calm.

He had been practicing for almost a year. His thoughts were almost perfectly aligned. His connection to the world was almost completely cut, save the critical bond to it that had to be maintained.

How long would it take? How dangerous? He had asked these questions dozens of times, all with the same answer: 'We don't know'. But it had to be him, not because of his choice, but due to that of others; traitors. Traitors to everything the Assassins had ever held to be their law, their Creed. And now it was up to Altair to repair the damaged citadel.

He hated it, hated being used to clean up someone else's mess. But he had been told that it would be worth it, that the girl was more important that they realized. What his heart told him mattered little now. He had to do it. He had to protect the Creed. He had to remove himself. Her life was in his hands, as well as that of the Brotherhood.

It was all up to Altair.

He cleared his mind as he reached the halfway point of the hallway and heard the sickening clank of a door sealing behind him. There was no turning back. He had to be who he they needed him to be. He had to disregard his previous life. He had to make the sacrifice.

The door at the end of the hall hummed at his approach, beckoning him forth, singing of his task. As he neared its curved frame, a fluorescent beam sprang from its base and crawled along its edges, calling the portal to life. There was a loud 'whoosh' noise as it unlocked and crept open to reveal the room.

Bathed in the pale light of computer screens, the small chamber pulled on Altair with intense gravity, centered around the unrefined machine sitting in its belly. He slowed his pace a little in amazement, having never actually seen the fabled creation before. It smiled up at him with pulsing blue lights and glistening metal, almost like something that would be better suited for outer space. But he could not risk allowing the abomination to distract him any further. His thoughts had to be sterile, pressed in the deepest depths of his subconscious. He had to bury himself, allowing the desert to take over.

He could no longer be the Altair he knew. He had to be the Altair they knew, the Altair she knew, else he would never succeed in his mission. The memories, of pain, of love, of joy, were nothing to him now. He was not even allowed to acknowledge the existence of anyone outside of the circle of crucial personnel who would accompany him on his journey. He was alone in his false thoughts, so terribly abandoned by his own free will.

"Are you ready?" a voice called when as he stepped into full light of the room.

Altair stared at the face of the woman who had spoken. Who was she? He had known at some point, but he had been forced to dismiss it. All he knew was that she was part of the team, part of the project. Even that small knowledge he would need to banish.

"How long will I have?" he asked absently.

"We don't know."

~.~.~.~.~

"Damn it! This is bad. This is really, really bad."

"Don't worry."

"Don't worry? They're separated!"

"They've been separated before."

"Only last time his identity wasn't left out in the open! They know!"

"I realize this. Initiate fire walls. I want nothing infiltrating his subconscious."

"Will it be enough?"

"For a while. His brain won't be stable for much longer."