Music Inspiration: Nick Cave and Warren Ellis- "Song for Bob" and Daft Punk- "Disc Wars"
Shadows of the Past
Supper had been a quiet affair once the entry point into the temple had been exhumed completely. The voyage into the ancient ruins would be a mystery and it would bring change to Altaïr's life, whether he wanted it willingly or not. Malik had set up their backup emergency tent so he could sleep there for the night and allow his companions privacy. It didn't take a genius to grasp that the two needed time to process their emotions and frankly, he did not want to hear any odd noises or shuffling during the night. He wanted to return to Masyaf with some hints of sanity left in his mind.
Altaïr poked the campfire with a stick as he mused on forming his hectic thoughts into words, disapproving of how emotions tended to cripple one's spirit. He had never felt the need for them years ago but his personal growth had made leeway room for them and now, they were a pain in his backside. He peeked at Vivian through his peripheral vision as she buried herself inside a blanket, her raven hair spilling out over the cloth obscuring her cheeks. The silence was suffocating as he tried to form words while Vivian merely smiled to the coziness of the fire.
She had slowly caught onto his nonverbal cues and spotting his right foot tapping intermittently, along with the prodding of the fire, led her to observe him closely. When she caught the quick flicker of his eyes as he shifted his weight on the log, she turned to him and rested her head on his shoulder. His posture straightened to the contact and she shushed gently, "Clear your mind, you've enough to worry about as it is."
"It isn't about trying to save the world but us . . . two simple human beings on this planet" he murmured softly about his ruminations because playing hero could be stored on the back shelf for another day. Tonight, he would focus on his personal life- a rarity through the years. Her green eyes glittered like emeralds in the light and he found amusement in her odd cocoon state. She had stayed by his side through thick and thin over the years, leading him to cast aside all of his roles for the night. For now, he would be the simple man from Masyaf.
"Who survived a lot of crazy hijinks in our days" she agreed with a modest smile to their adventurous journey and had to admire their resilience. She melted with glee to the warmth he provided when his right arm wrapped around her shoulders and scooted closer. The man was a perfect human oven during the cold hours and she'd bake happily next to him. Her lips uttered a sigh of content as he embraced her close and she peered at the diamond stars twinkling overhead to murmur softly, "We're very small in our spot within the galaxy but we've done our best to do good in this world."
The tip of her nose brushed against his right ear and she mused softly, "You changed me, you know, for the better. Besides the fact that I've gained survival skills if there's ever a zombie apocalypse in my time, you taught me a lot," his eyebrow quirked in question and she continued sheepishly, "I always kept to myself with school, taking care of my sisters, and attempting to start a career. It's safe to say I was the one nobody took notice of. Though I appeared smart-alecky to you, my shield was sarcastic defense because I was still very naively young with my grasp and experience in the world. Being in yours, I was at a complete loss on how to adapt. But you . . . you pushed. . ."
Her right hand popped out from underneath the blankets to grasp his cold chin to tilt his head towards hers and she grinned impishly, "And kicked me all over the place to help me survive in this hard world. I was not the nicest person those first few months out of fear but you managed to weave yourself past my shields and I'm grateful for that."
"Vivian, I kicked you into mud several times . . . and thorny bushes" he reminded her flatly to the not-so-nice actions on his behalf when she'd enraged him. He had not been the kindest person back then either due to his inability to trust anyone after the Al Mualim fiasco. Despite all that he'd thrown at her, she survived his actions and words, leading him to smile faintly, "You are a tiny, fierce, unrelenting woman that deserves the same recognition for closing all of the chasms of distrust, anger, guilt, and pain that scarred me over the years."
Her lips touched his for a chaste kiss since everything she'd done had been for his benefit to grow and be a competent leader. Their time together just happened to flourish deeper sentiments that grew even at that very moment. She wagged her brow humorously as she peered at him and joked, "Now you can write the bestselling novel 'Taming of the Little Badger'."
A soft laugh broke past his lips as he grasped what she'd just said and covered his mouth to the rare occurrence. He'd only ever laughed in her presence in the past years and the motion clenched his abdominal muscles to the odd new exercise. Vivian merely kept her Cheshire grin plastered on her face as he laughed and broken speech filtered into the air, "You. . .know the majority. . .is not for children's ears."
"Altaïr, none of it is" she pointed out as she slapped a hand to her face in embarrassment, nudging her shoulder against his. They lived in such a dangerous environment that no child should hear tales like the ones they had lived through. Even witnessing and enduring one of their missions could scar someone for life. There was a reason the Ubisoft franchise had a Mature rating but this was their true reality- a harsher one than the game.
He poked the fire with his stick as he calmed his laughter before it woke Malik and cleared his throat, "Vivian, you're not tame at all . . . I would hate that."
His cold lips still brought warmth to her cheek as it flushed coyly and he confessed with amusement, "You're the fire that melts the ice cage that keeps all at bay. You help me focus, even if it means drawing my anger against you to keep me safe. If you were tame, I'd be a reckless mess and a very uninterested party. If we were sane folk, I would question it too."
She blinked with confusion to the last portion and he smiled faintly, "Our lives are hectic and you've seen our less than smooth interactions with civilians. Assassins keep to the shadows- we are not meant to belong with them. Our work is dangerous and pieces of our minds can be fragmented along the way with what we endure. It takes a strong will to do what we do, to accept our actions and observations, and continue doing so. Malik was very cold after losing his family and arm, I barely uttered words and avoided bonds, and you invented personas to shield your mind from the traumas encountered but we moved past it eventually. We are not normal people, Vivian."
"I still make personas, for the sake of missions" she pointed out since slipping into another role was as easy as trying on a glove. However, she could understand how her other quirks within those roles absorbed the psychological damage that she could toss aside once she was done. Snuggling against him, she pondered aloud, "Though I haven't recently. I should create Nelly: Madagascar Explorer Extraordinaire! Join her as she travels the perilous jungles and forges a path-"
"Hush and kiss me, you silly little woman" he interrupted her narrator monologue before she caused his belly to ache from laughing so much.
Vivian turned to him with an affectionate smile to the order but her voice was anything but that, "Join Vivian as she romances a stoic assassin and smooches him to give him the strength of Popeye-"
Risking a badger's ire, he grasped the back of her neck to pull her into a searing kiss as the rest of the words died in mumbled gibberish. If she didn't feel like a pig-in-a-blanket before, she did now as the heat from his mouth and the fire dealt a double whammy. This time, their kiss was anything but innocent as his lips sealed around hers and she allowed his tongue to lead their dance. She had to admit their secret meetings in Quelimane paid off as he knocked her socks off.
Sneaking a pocket of air between their kiss, she pondered, "I. . .are we each other's coping mechanism?"
He paused to the faint tone as he cupped her face and answered honestly, "Yes and no. No, because I care very deeply for you. Yes, because I need your presence to feel at peace."
She smiled tenderly to the reply since the sentiments were requited and pressed her lips to his. He kept her grounded when bad times struck and had been her stubborn but loyal rock for almost two years. She wanted to bathe in his affection for as long as she could but time was ticking away, stabbing a dagger deeper into her heart every time an hour passed by. Her partner wanted comfort but she needed to remind him of the truth with a heavy heart and low wavering voice, "My presence is not guaranteed, Altaïr."
He sighed softly with regret to the road they stood on and whispered, "Whatever happens tomorrow, I want you to know that I will respect your choice and appreciate everything you've done for me."
"Who knows, your attempt to open the door could be anticlimactic and leave us locked outside" she attempted with light humor as she felt the start of desperation to prolong heading inside as long as possible. The deadpan expression he aimed in her direction reminded her that defeat was not in the job description and she sighed morosely. Well, that hopeful bubble burst.
Was it wrong to want to stay beside him to the end? Yes, they lacked heavily in their finances, food, clothing, and shelter- pretty much everything- but he was enough to keep her happy. He was her hero as he fought to save the world, whether people cared or not, and she was committed to seeing the end of that journey if she could. Or was she selfish for wanting that when her original plan was to get the heck back to normalcy in her own time? . . . Life was incredibly hectic- he was right.
Vivian smiled sadly because it wasn't a certainty that she'd be able to leave either and for all she knew, a trip home could work or possibly kill her. Nobody knew the scientific theory and mechanisms behind the time shift for her. The warmth from his palms seeped through her skin to touch her heart in that familiar vice grip every time she thought of him. The rough callouses that brushed against her cheeks served to remind him he wouldn't be a permanent presence in her life and she whispered with melancholy, "I . . . you and Malik gave me a life here, a chance to survive here that I wouldn't have had on my own. Our travels might not have been the best but it certainly didn't lack adventure. It's been an honor being a part of your team."
Altaïr chuckled with a twinge of nostalgia as he mused, "Yes, I remember the white flag you made a month into the journey with my first letter in Roman script."
"It's not my fault your first letter bears the same design as the assassin's insignia" she scoffed dismissively to remain innocent in all matters and flashed him a sweet smile. She made so many jokes regarding that first letter that he'd flung the flag into the forest. Diffusing a tense situation was one of her odd quirks but she found it extremely hard when it concerned matters of the heart. It was easy to slap a smile on while she cried and shattered tons of imaginary porcelain vases on the inside.
"I grew accustomed to having you here, in my life, so it was easy to forget that you aren't from here" he said wistfully as the fire turned his eyes a molten amber shade in its glow when he gazed at her. Her arms encircled his neck immediately to draw him close to soothe his pain and nuzzled his neck to continue that skin-to-skin familiarity. His fingers grasped the cowl of her gray robe and commented simply, "You dress and live as one from this century, with a few verbal and behavioral liberties, of course," his fingers combed through her unruly hair as his nose touched behind her ear, "It is selfish to even wish for you to stay, knowing you have your home . . . but I will miss you greatly, Vivian."
"You're inciting serious waterworks here" she stated thickly as tears stung her eyes and it didn't help that pregnancy hormones were likely floating about. She had a tough choice ahead of her: either to leave all of it behind and provide a future for her child or stay there and live out that current life. The former was appealing beyond anything but her ties to Altaïr had been cemented and denying him the right to know about the little bean within her was not honoring his meaning to her. Or would it be a crueler fate to give them a better life in her time, even without him in the picture?
But he'll be there, every time I look at them, she thought miserably to the agonizing idea and wiped her right eye before it leaked. With her shoddy luck, they'd be the spitting image of the man.
Her throat ached horribly from the constriction as she managed to say, "My interference isn't normal . . . I don't know why or how I came here, we need that solved. You've given me memories to last a lifetime and I will miss you with the same intensity, I . . . you've ruined me for any other man out there. Who can compete with a badass Syrian assassin?," a gentle bat to his shoulder caused him to smile, "I'm . . . I'm afraid that I won't fit in back home again. I'm not the same person that arrived here."
"You have the skin of a chameleon, adaptation is your skill" he comforted gently and pressed a soft kiss to her jaw, rubbing her arm to bolster her courage. If anyone could hide in a box and make it out of a farmhouse on fire, it was her. She was resilient against the elements and humankind which is why he had no doubt she'd be fine in her world.
"Thanks for the encouragement" she sighed softly after all of the antics she'd pulled to ensure the success of a mission. If she went home, would she grow tired of the old generic routine she'd had and crave the need for her adventures? Would she revert to the witty nervous woman she'd been or maintain the new assertive identity?
"I wish I could keep you by my side until I fade from this world but I can't- it is not my decision but yours" he whispered somberly and kissed the top of her forehead, embracing her close. Vivian's fingers grasped his tunic as his voice broke her completely and she clenched her teeth painfully to stop the cascade of tears. She'd be soaking both of their clothing at that rate. The cold had been cast out of their bodies as they huddled together like two caterpillars under their blankets and he admitted quietly with regret, "As much as my heart's been aching since landing on this place, I have to let you go. I don't know what exists past this life but if we should ever be in the same place, do visit me. You can sing and joke all you want, I'll never utter a complaint against you."
Her brow furrowed to that private admission since he hadn't behaved differently since landing, leading her to admire his willpower at subduing his deepest emotions. If anything, she'd been the one to break first and had flown at him like a crazy koala. Her hands grasped the edges of his hood to meet his lips with hers, salty tears staining her taste buds as she hiccupped, "I . . . don't want you in any pain, you have enough to bear as it is."
"Allow yourself to be a little selfish by acknowledging your meaning in my life" he stated gently, squeezing her affectionately and resting his head against hers. She smiled to the rare opportunity she'd been given, not only in meeting him but falling in love with him. She didn't realize how deep his emotions for her delved until the recent weeks, always placing the reason to either loneliness or physical attraction. It made life easier to think along those lines rather than the thought of pure honest sentimentality that her psyche nagged her about constantly. Love was a powerful emotion as well as debilitating but he deserved every ounce of it after everything they'd been through.
Seeing the hints of worry in her eyes, he pointed out firmly, "And don't tell me it risks the future because I carve my destiny, nobody else, not even these annoying dead beings that claim to know everything. You literally jumped into my life, taking a bite out of me, and although I'm not ready for you to jump back out-"
She pressed her lips lightly against his to smile at the prickly stubble that brushed against her skin and whispered, "I'll miss you too, my stubborn eagle, unbearably so. I've grown rather accustomed to seeing your hooded face every day and watching you slice Templars into deli meat."
Altaïr smiled with amusement to her colorful words and kissed her cheek, his lips tasting the salty river of tears trailing down her face, and wiped away the droplets with his thumbs. He didn't like seeing her cry at all after always seeing a smile on her face and whispered, "No more tears, there's been enough shed in this world as it is."
"Blame your awesome ability to incite waterworks" she sniffled softly with affection because farewells were just horrible.
"I'd rather hold onto you for whatever hours we have left" he proposed quietly to throw the future out of their conversation and locked their gazes. This was the end of the road for them and he wanted a meaningful end to it that didn't include tears. He wanted to hold his partner and simply be a normal couple like every other that existed in the world at that very moment (well, except royalty since they were poorer than poor). They hadn't had a chance to even explore that chapter of their complex relationship and he squeezed her once to request gently, "Just . . . stay with me in our tent. I don't care about destiny at this hour of the night."
Looking to him, her heart melted immediately to his longing amber gaze and she buried her face into the warm crook of his neck. It was an agonizing tear in her heart to think of leaving him and she tightened her grip with tears in her eyes, nodding in agreement. She loved him, what else could she say? He had infuriated her from day one but now, she couldn't budge him (or their growing little peanut) from her heart. She managed a soft chuckle before breathing against the warm fabric of his hood, "You sure know how to charm a gal with words alone."
He pressed a soft kiss to her temple, uncaring to the public affection, and chuckled lightly, "You're the only one I intend to pull into my amorous web."
She blinked comically to the last words and sputtered out with disbelief, "I can't believe you said the word amorous. The world's gonna crash down on us any minute now."
"Let's get out of this bitter cold and into our bed" he ushered gently to refocus her curious mind back to the task at hand and stood up.
Vivian gathered her blanket to wrap it around herself like an overlarge cape. Looking at him with a fond smile, she repeated with interest, "Our?"
She'd heard it twice in his sentences and it warmed her heart to hear it. He could bear the cold for a minute so he draped his blanket over her shoulders, dwarfing her completely, and led her towards their tent as he agreed tentatively, "Yes, our bed. We have a tent- a temporary home- of our own. I thought it would be a fitting end . . . to all of this . . . something to have that can't be."
Was he unintentionally luring her to stay with those heartfelt words? Leave it to final moments to draw what each heart contained and Vivian was surprised by how sweet the man could be in private. She'd shot herself in the foot by fueling his romantic chase of her a week ago by divulging what she truly felt but this. . .
"Altaïr, I've never wanted you more than I do at this moment- you ridiculously sweet man" she confessed with a caring smile as he held the tent flap open for her and she tugged him inside by the front of his tunic. He didn't resist the tempting pull as lighting became incredibly dim and she declared, "You have earned a bear hug for the next five minutes."
"I, uh, do not know what that is . . . but all right" he agreed with hesitant awkwardness to the future jargon and wondered what he'd just stepped into. All he grasped in comprehension from that was a hug and it was better than none . . . he hoped. For the moment, though, he was at home by her side.
"You go on ahead, I will meet you there" Altaïr informed his friend as Malik carried his satchel of essentials on his shoulder for the trip. The most important item was their candle lantern since the place would undoubtedly be dark inside unless it had its own artificial lighting. The dai aimed a placid stare at the man for being told to head out alone and before he blew into a lecture on propriety, the assassin corrected, "Nothing improper is going to happen. I. . .I just need to speak to Vivian alone. . .before we finish this."
Malik nodded in understanding since the heart could be a fragile thing and advised, "Say all that you need to so you have no regrets."
With that said, the dai left camp to head down the incline towards the temple. He wished the two the best because nobody had an idea of what the outcome would be by the end of the day. He had added all that he could into the pool of thought and now it was up to the two to finish whatever it is they called their odd entanglement.
Altaïr scuffed the earth with his feet to pent out his frustration to the unfairness of it all. Vivian caught him nudging pebbles with the tip of his boot as she parted the tent flaps. It was such a boyish move that it brought a smile to her face to see him frown at the earth. He caught a hint of gray in his peripheral vision and turned to meet her gaze, leading her to lecture gently, "Altaïr, you're displacing your feelings to the earth. It's an innocent bystander."
"But it's easier blaming inanimate things" he pointed out wryly and she exited the tent to squeeze his arms with support. Seeing that she carried nothing, it only cemented the fact that she knew it was a one way trip. What was he supposed to do with all of her trinkets? They would be cruel reminders of what he'd lost. When her sympathetic gaze met his, she asked the wrong question by inquiring what was the matter. His muscles tensed immediately to the broad subject and he pointed out grimly, "A lot, Vivian, many things are wrong. I want to fix all of it but I can't! I have to be like this simple mindless rock that can only watch as everything changes around it but it can't do anything about it. I'm a rock!"
She rubbed his back before he went into mad hysterics and drew him close to allow the physical contact to cool him. He was not coping well to the endgame situation but she appreciated that he was attempted to do so rather than avoiding it. She cupped his face to lock their gazes to prevent further stimulation and spoke gently, "You're not a rock, Altaïr. You've done well bringing us this far but sometimes, certain situations don't end the way we wish them to. We can't change it but we make the best out of it until it's time."
His forehead pressed against hers as he exhaled softly to accept her words. She could calm him down when he was a furious whirlwind ready to rampage and he worried once that safety net would leave. His fingers squeezed her shoulders before he began quietly, "Before we venture inside, I wanted to say-"
"I took your soap because I wanted a quick bath, I promise its squeaky clean" she interjected quickly because her hair had been oily and clumped after last night's tent events. She had expected his acute senses to pick up on every detail that was different but the assassin was on emotional overdrive at the moment.
Altaïr shook his head to the last thing he expected to hear and stated swiftly, "No, that's . . . you know how I don't like sharing soap, its unsanitary."
He backtracked from that thought as well before they veered off and admitted, "No, I meant . . . whatever happens, I need you to know that you've brought an array of emotions in me since meeting. I never thought I would feel or even fathom this for another . . . I lo-"
"Don't. . .don't drop this on me now" she interjected swiftly because hearing those words would tear her heart apart after fighting to keep him in Maria's sight. She was departing and those words would only serve to tear their hearts apart. Shaking her head, she dissuaded what she assumed he would say, "What can this possibly give us but heartache at this point?"
He was ready to argue his point but in the end, she was right. She would leave and he'd be stuck in his own time to carry on his work. Their intertwined lives would sever as they were originally meant to be, no matter how painful it was to each party. Again, it was just another sacrifice in his life. All he could do was surrender the matter and sighed dejectedly, "I just . . . needed you to know."
She smiled faintly to his admission and embraced her strong assassin for one last hug before delving into the temple. He squeezed back with the same force and leaned down to kiss the petite historian, shifting from a soft peck to a passionate tongue hockey game that left her clutching the front of his robes. If this was his last time holding her, he wanted to remember each feature of her face. They had spent almost two years together but it wasn't enough for him. He wanted to wake up next to her, hear her say his name, watch her run from fat bugs, sit with him to keep him company. . .everything a man could ever hope to have with their life partner.
She smoothed out her robes and sighed loudly as she chuckled bashfully with a shaky voice, "Well, you certainly don't disappoint a lady."
He remained quiet, leading her to cup his cheek before kissing him lightly on the lips to soothe, "Everything will be okay, you persevere against all of the odds. Our main priority is everyone's safety and getting this piece, whatever happens. . .remember it's been an honor traveling by your side. Never admit defeat and never allow anyone to betray or break you."
"Emotions are doing a pretty good job right now" he whispered sullenly to the internal war raging within him, abhorring every moment of it. His eyes narrowed for a moment as he muttered flatly, "You forgot to mention how contagious 'feelings' are. They're a crippling and annoying phenomenon- they're like a disease! I can't sleep, food tastes bland, and I swear patches of my hair are falling out!"
"Be strong, my eagle" she encouraged gently before pressing her lips to his. He mumbled under his breath that he'd feel better if they could rewind time to have more moments together. Meeting his gaze, she strengthened his resolve by reminding warmly, "We will walk this last step of the journey together, not alone. I will be with you every step of the way so you won't falter."
She squeezed his hands one last time and smiled faintly to confirm, "You're not alone in your feelings, never have been for a single second."
"I suppose this is just another sacrifice in my journey" he murmured quietly and she leaned against him to offer support. Once he entered that temple, she would not be there ready to comfort his woes or listen to his complaints. Who would he whine to when Malik grew bored of him? Grumbling under his breath, he sighed softly, "I doubt I'll find another like you-"
"She'll complement you just like I could've" she assured softly since he needed that confidante to keep boosting him through his journey, lending whatever aid possible. If he wasn't cherished the way he should be, she'd . . . well, she'd be centuries away but hoped science would kick Maria or whomever else in the rump. Tears prickled at her eyes but she blinked them away and cleared her throat, "Let's not keep Malik waiting."
It felt like someone had torn open a recent surgical wound and poured acid into it.
The three stood around the closed door on the ground that they had been led to two days prior. Caked dirt and rock had been removed completely to uncover the door in its entirety to ensure it would open correctly. The same blue lines ran down the door in a similar fashion to the rest of the temple. During nighttime, they had only seen the door itself but sunlight had allowed them to discover a small dome shaped outline next to the door.
The three had breathed in relief that they had one possibility of opening the door that didn't involve riddles and puzzles. It had been agony holding the torches back in Egypt and hoping they didn't burn out while they cracked their brains opening the last temple.
"So there should be a mechanism to open this" Altaïr mumbled as he concentrated on finding a clue. His fingers outlined the door to scrutinize every inch for any leeway that would show the entry point.
The two watched him fiddle with the door since he was adamant that they not touch a single thing. He was concerned for their safety and had agreed to his order. Unfortunately, they didn't expect to grow bored rather easily at watching him work.
"Well I been workin on top of roof
Goin down, down
To get alien tech proof
Workin on the top of a roof
Whew! About to slip down
Five o'clock in the mornin
I'm up before the sun
When my work day is over
I'm too tired for havin fun."
"Vivian, that is not making me feel any more comfortable about this weird door" Altaïr pointed out quickly before she continued any further. She offered an embarrassed smile for the whoopsie in lyric choice and waved a dainty hand to usher him back to work.
"Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the campfire
Pour myself a cup of ambition
And yawnin', stretchin', try to come to life
Jump in the river and the blood starts pumpin'
Out on the field, the birds start chirpin'
With folks like me on a mission from dawn to dusk
Workin' dawn to dusk, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
Ancients just use your mind and they never give you credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Dawn to dusk, for service and devotion
You would think that I would deserve a fair retirement
Want to move ahead but those Templars won't seem to let me
I swear that they're always out to get me
They let your dream, just watch 'em shatter
You're just a step away from home
But you got dreams they'll never take away
In the same boat with a lot of your friends
Waitin' for the day your ship'll come in
And the tide's gonna turn an' it's all gonna roll you away
Workin' dawn to dusk, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by, it's all takin' and no givin'
Ancients just use your mind and you never get the credit
It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it
Dawn to dusk, yeah, they think they got us where they want us
There's a better life and you think about it, don't you?
It's a good guy's game, no matter what Ubisoft calls it
And you spend your life putting money in their wallet."
Just as Vivian imitated pocketing a hoard of money into her robe, Altaïr declared loudly, "It's moving! Step back."
The ground under their feet shook and he motioned for them to scatter back the way they came for safety. Vivian skittered after the assassins and as she avoided rocks in her path, piped up nervously, "You think they heard my siren song?"
Well, that definitely broke the ice.
Altaïr grabbed her by the hand to keep her close as they hopped over a mound of earth. Deeming their distance safe, he turned to face her nervous wide-eyed face and smiled softly, "You silly little badger."
What am I to do without your ridiculous tension diffusers?, he thought with lament as she offered a lopsided smile of uncertainty. She was hiding her fear under humor again but it wasn't as strong as it usually was. Squeezing her hand to offer support, her smile became even on both sides and he released it.
"Let's hope our actions won't cause an earthquake of any kind" Malik murmured as the earth continued to shudder under their feet. Centuries had passed since the temple thrived in its glory and who knew how long it would take the derelict technology to re-activate. Placing his hand over his eyes for a better view, he stated calmly, "The temple of Giza was in much better condition and accessibility than this one. Hopefully, it will not take long for the door to open."
"Well, in case it does, our butts can have nice massages if we sit down" Vivian suggested helpfully since it had been ages that she'd gotten a good massage. Her poor derrière deserved a well-earned victory for its hard work.
Dust flew into the air as the door retreated into the roof of the temple to reveal their entryway. The shaking increased with every movement of the new entry and only until it stopped completely did Altaïr let them approach. Cautiously, they stood around the new entryway to peer inside. Trickles of dirt fell inside as they kneeled over the pitch black darkness lingering below them.
The silence that settled in once the door fully retreated didn't decrease any of the worries in their minds either. What was in store for them below?
"Well, good thing we didn't put out the campfire" Altaïr stated with a small sigh as their way inside was revealed so that was a good thing. The downside was walking back to camp to create torches to ensure their safety within the temple.
Thankfully, the way down the open shaft was a metal ladder that was soldered against the temple wall. Altaïr had gone first to scope out the area and remove any lingering traps the beings might've placed to protect the place. Everything that the torch illuminated was covered in dust, a stark difference compared to the temple in Egypt. The eerie silence around him was not comforting either and he fought a flinch when Malik's boots echoed as he landed beside him.
Shaking away the uncertainty, he straightened his shoulders and hovered the torch over the walls to find a doorway. He did not open one doorway to be trapped behind another. The walls were barren of any designs as the simple black and teal material suffocated every inch of the room. Even the odd foreign teal symbols that were present in Giza were absent.
Vivian quietly slunk into the dark room as she held a lit torch in her left hand and her cheerfulness plummeted halfway down. She heard nothing from the assassins as they observed the room and she sang quietly to lighten the mood.
"Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near the rain cloud disappears, boy,
And I feel so fine just to know that I have friends.
My life is sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
That's how this refrain goes, so come on, join in everybody!"
Her head flicked to both sides as nobody joined her kooky lyrics and her shoulders slumped. It seemed her siren music changed nothing and she mumbled morosely, "No takers then."
When she caught Altaïr's silhouette heading into a dark corner, she moved to follow obediently like a puppy. Part of her worried he was going to slam his face into a corner but when her torch and Malik's followed him, the assassin discovered an open doorway. He raised his arms in the classic 'you see, doubting Thomas?' pose as he stated with confidence, "I've never felt happier for having this odd blue vision."
Malik could've offered a sassy remark about the torches lighting the way but allowed the man to have his victory. His special sight did give him insight to hidden secrets in their surroundings. Vivian gave him a perky thumbs up as he turned around to step through the door, the tail of his robes fluttering confidently behind him. Malik shared a look with the historian and he murmured privately, "Let's make sure he doesn't accidentally set himself on fire."
"I heard that!"
Altaïr stepped away from the tiny room to enter a larger one occupied by dilapidated machinery. At least, that is what he could call it. There were darkened panels with buttons on rectangular tables (what else could he call the odd contraption?) with chairs that were connected to the flooring. Curious, Vivian raised a torch over one of the panels in the hopes of finding some kind of language but it was futile. Only black, empty buttons remained of the lost technology. At least they resembled similar technology from her own time.
The assassin dared to poke the smooth cold buttons to test the temple but nothing occurred. After a minute, he looked to his group from the shadows and murmured, "Let's keep moving."
Altaïr had to admit the hallways were indeed larger than the cramped spaces of the temple in Giza. On the other hand, that particular temple had been hidden well beneath the ancient pyramid. The current hallway was long with no visible paths in sight with his eagle vision while his companions strained their own to accommodate the darkness that shrouded them.
"I don't like these large hallways, I'm expecting something to pop out any minute" Vivian grumbled to voice her nervousness in the darkness for the first time. She had survived fighting Templars in Egypt, escaping a fire, horrible sunburns, and fat bugs, but this situation unnerved her. It was easy to blame the potential return home or her pregnancy that fluttered her stomach but her instinct told her that wasn't the reason. No, it was something else she couldn't pinpoint. To settle the nervous sweat accumulating in her hands, she chuckled awkwardly, "I'm not tasty at all. Nope, nope, nothing but sweat and undernourished meat."
Malik aimed his torch towards the side to widen the diameter of light, assuring gently, "It will catch fire before it touches you."
"You're an awesome hero, Ubisoft should give you your own game!" she piped up with admiration as her best friend protected everyone like a father bear. Malik merely chuckled to her compliment while Altaïr resisted the urge to remind her he was the hero. Well, at least her hero.
The hallway opened up to a large rotunda filled with more monitoring panels for work and Vivian pondered aloud, "This has a scientific atmosphere to me."
She'd seen enough films, television, and games to recognize panels that resembled the ones of modern time. They were void of energy whenever Altaïr touched them and as he lingered over one, he murmured with curious agreement, "True, they were void in Giza. That temple had a direct route to its core and was completely clean- even after centuries."
Malik didn't dare touch anything but took scrupulous glances to mentally note down every item. Back at camp, he could sketch his observations and relay them to Altaïr to help them gather information or build theories.
As they each split apart to observe every nook and cranny, Altaïr took the lead when he found the next exit. He was glad they were all in one specific direction rather than a fork because then, he would be risking extra time on their exploration. Altaïr noticed a shuffle ahead with fluttering robes catching his peripheral vision and he strode forward quickly. The color had been gray in his eagle vision and he entered the new room to hiss, "Vivian, where are you going? Be careful-"
The corner of the room was empty.
The last word died on his lips as he met nothing but thin air on the other side and suddenly grew uncomfortable. He was certain he saw attire similar to the one his companion wore and just to double check, called out, "Vivian?"
Far behind him, in the previous room, Vivian's voice piped up with a mock salute, "Loyal minion awaits orders."
The confirmation of her position beckoned further questions as he realized Vivian had been in the room the whole time. She hadn't scuttled forward, especially while holding a torch- he would've seen it! Had he mistaken the shuffling of an animal? A gray one, maybe a rat? Could animals even survive in the sealed temple? There had to be a logical explanation for that.
He snapped out of his thoughts when a hand touched his right bicep and he tensed immediately. Expecting the worst, he breathed in relief when Vivian's face was illuminated by the torchlight and she asked softly, "What's wrong? You're very tense."
"Nothing, this darkness is. . .uncomfortable" he admitted earnestly about his current mood and she gave his arm a supportive squeeze. Her eyes peered into his for hints of what put him on edge but he revealed nothing. He didn't want them to begin worrying about his sanity and offered a small grateful smile for the concern before shifting back to his stoic mask.
"I want all of us to stay close, no wandering" he ordered swiftly to ensure nothing peculiar occurred again. He wanted to ensure all of his companions were nearby and accounted for. The idea of facing something alive and ancient unsettled his stomach, especially if he fell into a game of cat and mouse. He would not be anybody's mouse!
As the trio walked together, Malik wrinkled his nose at the walls and asked aloud, "Is it just me or does every path look the same?"
"Maybe the architect had a really lazy design or maybe they were strapped for money?" Vivian piped up helpfully as she imagined a government treasurer waving a hand at cutting every expense possible. She pretended to scribble in midair as she used the torch to illuminate her hand, declaring with drama, "An intricate wall design for each hall? No, what you should do is give it a uniform look to confuse all of your residents. Different outline colors for every black wall? In this economy, forget it! What about automatic lighting with emergency generators? Please, who will be needing lights a century from now?"
Vivian was inclined to give it her best material to keep everyone's stress at a minimum. If Altaïr was tense already, she didn't want it increasing to maximum overdrive by the time they reached the interior of the temple. In the ancient bowels of the dark temple, she treaded forward and piped up, "Say, who's up for riddles?"
The tension had failed to decrease as they walked on for an hour with no end of the temple in sight. They had taken a fork that led nowhere, pushing them back on their schedule. Altaïr had been none too happy but their second choice yielded a large cavern of a hall filled with vertical columns on both sides of the room. They were very similar to Greek architecture as the teal columns contrasted greatly against the black walls. The sheer size of the room left the three in awe as they felt tiny to even walk through the area. There were three corridors that branched away from the hall and they stopped momentarily to ponder their path.
"It looks very empty . . . the atmosphere feels simply dead, doesn't it? It just feels different than the other temple" Vivian asked them quietly as she expected a loud bang or something fearsome to jolt her nerves. She couldn't help but keep close to her friends like a baby lamb and watched every corner with her eye. Movement or not, it would unsettle her and she murmured softly, "Not even cleaned out like the other one."
Altaïr halted immediately when he swore a white figure walked behind the columns, setting off the alarms on his instincts. This was the second time it happened and he set off to investigate on his own immediately. If he wanted to catch something, he had to be fast. He bolted down the left hallway of the corridor to see whether the temple was actually inhabited by its ancient residents. His companions followed from the main hall, determined not to be separated. Had he cast caution to the wind this quickly? Malik refrained from calling out to him to maintain their stealth but the man was fast.
Altaïr saw wisps of white to his left and increased his pace to catch up to whatever it was. The corner would be sharp but if he timed himself, he wouldn't waste seconds. Ready to make the left turn, he shifted his weight onto his left foot but he only made it three steps before grinding to a sudden halt.
"What in the world. . ."
He narrowed his eyes at reaching a dead end, narrowly avoiding a collision that could've sprained a limb. His fingers reached out to touch the wall that closed off the corridor, wondering if his eyes had been playing tricks. Had he really seen something or was the dark starting to tease him again? . . . No, he had seen something. His senses were too acute to make that kind of mistake twice.
What was going on?
Footsteps caught up to him and torches illuminated the corridor in its golden glow for a better view. He was surrounded by a wall on all three sides, leaving him with more questions as the smooth material could not even hide a secret door. Vivian and Malik looked to him with concern, leading him to hide portions of the truth, "I thought I saw something but I was wrong."
"What do you mean?" Vivian asked quietly as the aura of the place crushed any fun jokes she might've had. A pin dropping would've sent her scattering like the Roadrunner. Giza had been a tricky temple but it did not hold a cold or serious aura about it. Although his face was the picture of strict calmness, his straight shoulders and clenched fists were a giveaway to his agitation.
"It's nothing, let's resume the other path" he instructed with a wave of his hand to leave that corridor alone. He couldn't leave that area fast enough as he tagged behind Malik and Vivian to ensure nothing decided to pop out again. If it did, he wasn't certain that he wanted to face it.
Once they reentered the main hall, he took the lead as his eagle vision made everything far easier to see. The path off to the left was a similar hallway to its adjacent counterpart but the center path across from them appeared half open. That was a new sighting after every corridor had allowed them free access with no doors barring them. Not even a single puzzle had sprouted against them.
After a minute of internal deliberation and a cozy backside from the torches glow, he decided, "We're going through the center, I have a good feeling about it."
Malik furrowed his brow to his choice in words and stated uncertainly, "I'm not sure 'good' should be attached to an empty and most likely, hazardous temple."
"Malik, if I am to battle with ancient beings or their technology, I will not have you sassing me in the last hour of life" the assassin retorted sarcastically and his companions laughed to the stress relieving joke. Well, he was indeed getting better with comedic relief. With a wave of the hand, he ushered his group forward, "Let's carry on."
Vivian scuttled behind him with her torch to light the way and piped up,
"When you get in trouble and everything goes wrong,
Give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
When you meet danger and the fear is strong,
Give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
Not just a little squeak,
Pucker up and blow
And if your whistle's weak, yell 'Altaïr!'
Take the unexpected rocky path
And if you start to slide,
Give a little whistle!
Give a little whistle!
And always let the Assassin's Creed be your guide."
The assassin in question couldn't help but ruffle the top of her head affectionately. Today was not the day to chastise her off-key yet catchy rhyming songs. Malik glanced at the woman, who had regaled them with song and diversions for two years, and suggested aloud, "Now that I think about it, we should have a bard in Masyaf that sings of old tales-"
"If that bard tells of the time I evaded a dog-sized bat, their lute is meeting their head" his friend cut in hastily because there were certain tales that should never be written down or told to others. Not only would it be a tad embarrassing but he wanted his assassins to see him as a competent leader. Who would follow a man that's been bitten by a snake, flattened a squirrel by accident, chased by a hippo, and other countless altercations?
Vivian groaned as the covetous position came at the worst time and reminded the man, "But those are the best stories! You battled a crocodile barehanded like a valiant assassin!"
"I still remember you chasing her down with only one shoe on" the dai chuckled softly, his voice echoing quietly in the eerie stillness of the temple. They had never joked in a mission until now, the foreboding sense persisting with each step. Altaïr thinned his lips at the memory but stopped when Malik pointed out warmly, "We've had quite the adventure for two years."
They approached the doorway leading into the next area, noticing there was a metal door closed halfway. Had it malfunctioned ages ago? Altaïr stepped up to the door, its material ever the same, and idly tapped it to see if it would react to him. When nothing happened, he gave it an uncharacteristic kick and reasoned to the bewildered faces of his team, "Just in case it decides to close on us."
"Great, I wasn't even thinking of the idea of resembling paste" Vivian muttered darkly to having life end when she was steps away from home. Altaïr shushed her fretting before walking (in a sideways crab walk) through the half opened door without fear.
The trio squeezed through the opening and stumbled into a larger chamber unlike any other. It was cavernous as every visible inch lay empty and clear of objects as they traveled further inside. The decorative columns from the anterior chamber were void in the new one as only the ancient walls surrounded them. For as far as their eyes could see, everything had been wiped clean and abandoned.
"I've never seen a room this large in my life" Altaïr murmured as his sight was able to pierce the darkness and found the ceiling overhead. Even then, the sheer height was swallowed slightly by the darkness.
A few meters to the center and they found what remained of the society. Malik narrowed his eyes as all their ancient belongings (machines, furniture, etc.) lay cluttered against the farthest wall on the right. All of it was stacked neatly in one line with a few random objects escaping the form but it struck him as odd. He'd never seen anything like it and commented aloud, "Either it was swept to one area by something or they were making a blockade. I've only seen such things during war."
Altaïr stopped in his tracks to his newest discovery with his vision and waved the others down immediately, "Here! Bring the torches here!"
Vivian cursed her short legs as Malik beat her with seconds to spare but trusted her bright torch to light the way. She didn't need to accidentally trip in a dark abandoned sanctuary and break something. Looking to the surprised faces of her friends, she followed their gazes to the left and her eyes opened wide.
"I have a bad feeling about this" Malik murmured uncertainly as he felt tinier than ever before in his young existence.
"I was going say that" Altaïr shot back quickly as his friend stole the dramatic cue and crossed his arms.
"I said it first" the dai replied matter-of-factly because the early bird caught the worm.
"It doesn't matter who said it first!" Vivian quieted the two, being the peacemaker, for the first time on their journey. Wait, that was Malik's job! The action left her completely dumbfounded because it was usually the other way around. Unfortunately, the two had a competitive moment despite the sight before them should've sent them scrambling like chickens. It was the reason she reacted so quickly and cleared her throat to state awkwardly, "Sorry, I switched roles for a moment there."
Before them stood a large- no, a gigantic door- that stretched from the ceiling to the floor. The size of it was unimaginable as it dwarfed them completely but that was not the shock to their system. No, it was how the door was twisted open from the left side inwardly while the adjacent wall suffered deep crevices that had shattered the ancient stone.
"What happened here?" Malik whispered as he voiced their thoughts to the sight in front of them. Something with great strength had to have pressed against that metal way for it to give way and bend horribly. Even now, he didn't feel safe staring at it. Looking to his friends, he spoke softly, "The damage is extensive so I can't fathom the strength wielded to break that open."
Altaïr, always the brave one, strode forward to investigate what lay hidden behind that door. Vivian tightened her grip on the torch and grasped the back of his robes, "Where are you going? That doesn't look safe."
"I need to know, I'll be very careful" he reassured calmly to settle her worry but she wasn't convinced. What if that door fell down now of all times and decided to flatten them into pancakes? He patted the top of her head as he read the worry on her face and pointed out, "That wall behind us is open with no scratches or cracks in the wall while this one looks like a giant struck it. I will be fast but you two move where it's safe."
Vivian was reluctant to budge but he pointed towards the opposite gate to get those little feet moving. Malik expected a standoff between the two but Vivian released a defeated sigh and scuttled off to find cover. Well, that was unexpected. The dai followed her quickly to let Altaïr investigate, leading him to remark, "I am surprised you let him escape rather easily."
"He has to carry on without my worries and I have to let go" she reasoned simply with a light frown to how things were meant to be. Every fiber in her being wanted to turn around and follow him to nag about safety but she had to stay behind.
Altaïr carefully slipped through the opening between the bent gate and shattered wall, recoiling instantly before he took another step. If he had, he would've fallen into a dark chasm right in front of him! He withheld any peeps from leaving his mouth to prevent echoes from reaching the ears of his friends. Otherwise, they'd come barreling into him. Standing completely still, he assessed the other side with his vision. There was nothing left of what could be flooring in the anterior chamber, everything was a jagged chasm that led up to the wall. What had caused that?
He feared stepping forward near the edges surrounding the wall to the left, not willing to risk testing how solid the ancient earth was. Whatever damage it had caused had left its mark forever in time and he would not trespass. If he hadn't felt the aura of death in the temple, he definitely felt it now.
Returning to his comrades, he was comforted by their presence as the torch light warmed his face. It was hard not to feel abandoned and cold when the teal lines were the only colors illuminated in the darkness. Malik looked in the direction of the broken gate and asked quietly, "What did you find?"
"Nothing but a chasm" he replied simply and the two stiffened at knowing such a dangerous piece of landscape stood before them. Malik was quick to question why there was a chasm within a manmade temple. He led them away from the area towards the next gate and explained his findings, "It was too dangerous to explore but whatever occurred, it contributed to that bent door. The darkness was too strong to determine how deep it was but we should keep away from it."
They moved forward towards the intact gate as it lay closed before them and Vivian muttered flatly, "This is like Lord of the Rings meets Alien."
Malik winced at hearing the last word and quickly reprimanded, "Vivian, you said you'd never speak of that story again!"
She squeaked in alarm since the sci-fi horror flick had actually instilled horror in the dai. Out of all the countless films she'd recounted, that one had gone into the vault of no return. Altaïr, on the other hand, had been criticizing the actions of every character and chastising their friend that humans were more likely to kill assassins than monsters. Vivian clapped him on the back to prevent any nightmares from recurring that night and encouraged perkily, "Fear not, those foul creatures shall never touch the awesome dai of Jerusalem."
Approaching the gateway that lay partly open, they quickly skittered to the other side to avoid any accidents. Being crushed under an ancient metal gate was not exactly a heroic way to end things. Once on the other side, Altaïr dared to risk touching the material for guidance (and hopefully, not odd specters in his peripheral sight).
When he touched the door, he was pulled away from the temple as the darkness transformed into bright light. He was transported to an entirely different time frame as the temple's blue lines glowed vibrantly and people were now surrounding him. His friends were nowhere to be seen when he turned his head to both sides, noticing how brightly lit the chamber was. Nobody appeared to notice him as they walked leisurely around the temple grounds. They wore different clothes that oddly resembled those of ancient Greece in neutral colors but what threw him aback weren't the people.
It was the fact that they weren't entirely human.
Humans walked by in a hurried pace while others that resembled the figures he'd met in the temple did the same. Were they working together? Weren't they at war for previously enslaving humans? Or was this before that time? Or after? Where was he? He didn't have long to ponder, however. A thunderous crash that echoed in the chamber caused many to jump at the great sound and he assumed there was a storm outside.
Seconds later, the ground shook violently below him and screams began to fill the air from the mouth of the temple. He could see the large gates begin to close as everything surrounding him was in spotless pristine condition. Nothing was broken, dusty, and decrepit. Immediately, people began pouring into the current chamber with panic and he was yanked out of the scene.
His eyes opened to find Vivian's green shade peering into his and she asked worriedly, "Altaïr, what is it? Can you hear or talk to me?"
"I. . .I'm not sure- visions, dreams, memories" he murmured uncertainly to what he witnessed as he regained the use of his senses and movement. Was it truly the past? Was the temple somehow awake and sentient in its own way? Or was it a work of something more insidious? He didn't understand it at all. His friends observed him worriedly as the light from the torches filled his vision and he explained, "I've been seeing odd glimpses of visions since I entered but I cannot explain them."
"Are they trying to harm you?" Malik asked carefully to see whether the temple was a trap waiting to happen. If his friend's senses were being altered since entering, it did not fill him with comfort. Quickly, he advised firmly, "Listen to your instincts, do not allow whatever is here to manipulate them."
"I'm not sure, it's. . .I feel it is trying to communicate its past to me" he answered slowly as he tried to find the best way to explain it. He had never experienced anything like that in his life, not even while wielding the items of Eden. Seeing flickers of the past was one thing but clear and live visions were another world entirely. It was unnerving to be pulled away from his own reality to witness another without his willing consent. He wasn't entirely certain that they were harmful but he wasn't certain they weren't.
Vivian grabbed his right arm to steady him and she soothed with a protective tone, "I'll be right with you to stop any otherworldly shenanigans."
He offered her an amused glance to her protectiveness, especially with her size, and replied earnestly, "I don't think your bloodline allows you to."
"Can't blame a girl for trying" she chuckled softly to lighten the mood and hoped that whatever was affecting his mind wouldn't linger past their stay there. He risked his life every day to improve the world and she did not want her hero to change for the worse. Otherwise, she'd chuck those items into the sea and tell those ancient beings to do their own dirty work. She raised the torch to his head to peer into his eyes for any pupillary changes and ordered, "Don't risk your mind over an item."
"I agree with Vivian, if this becomes too much for you, we will go in your stead" Malik offered freely since the two had agreed long ago that Altaïr mattered most in the end. He did not have the abilities that he had and Vivian was still a civilian compared to them but they would protect him.
The assassin scoffed to the unfathomable idea, not to mention reckless, and refused, "If you think I'd ever let harm befall either of you, you're insane."
Vivian grasped him by the chin to lock their gazes and pointed out with certainty, "But we know that without you, this will all fall apart. You're the only hope for our world."
"Vivian, you've any idea of the kind of pressure that puts on me?" he sighed with exasperation to the guilt he'd feel at losing his friends, especially the one he loved. Having the fate of the world on your shoulders only heightened that stress level. Who wanted control of the entire planet?! It was madness. Malik had already lost enough in his life and Vivian was an innocent person in the battle between Assassins and Templars. He didn't need more on his figurative plate.
She bit her bottom lip for the snafu she caused and quickly dissuaded, "Stress is the last thing I'd want to put on your shoulders! I merely meant . . . you're the one I'm willing to sacrifice for."
Her fingers intertwined with his in the darkness to reinforce her devotion to him. It was a private and swift gesture as her smooth hand slipped into his calloused one. One squeeze was all he gave before releasing the hand of his partner, grateful for her affection. He placed his free hand on top of her head to downplay their hidden gesture (as if Malik couldn't catch that) and chided gently, "Good try with the wordplay but it didn't lessen it any."
Together, the team huddled onwards as she made true on her promise to be with him every step of the way. Even if she had to hobble or crawl on all fours like a cat, she'd be with him till the end. She hoped nobody was toying with them though, especially him, or she'd find a way to dismantle something in revenge.
Altaïr was wary of touching the next door but the temple was reacting to his identity so he really didn't have much of a choice. Staring at the closed dark door, he uttered an irritated sigh at risking another mind trick. Releasing Vivian's hand, he placed his over the cold metal to await the next pull to his mind.
Instead, the closed gate lit up in neon teal immediately from the outer edges turning inward. At the center near his height, an outline resembling an orb glowed similarly to the roof shaft that had granted them entrance. The bright teal circle pulsed with increasing intensity with each second while the door remained closed. Retrieving the Apple, he pressed it against the domed indentation to see if the technology really was synchronized at each temple.
The item locked into place immediately and sent a pulsating wave of heat that pierced his mind to transmit a message. It was nauseating to say the least as his left arm tingled to the energy that had just been transmitted. The orange glow of the torches and the worried faces of his friends were the last he saw before his vision clouded over in white.
In front of the door stood eleven beings of different heights, all in different colored garbs of varied styles. Immediately, Altaïr noticed the door was open to the previously closed chamber and took a chance by waving a hand to see if anybody noticed him. No, not a single tilt of their heads. Well, if he ever pondered about what ghosts endured, this was it.
Before the group stood an older man, wearing a golden metal helmet and brown cape that cascaded down his left shoulder alongside his armored garb. He'd never seen armor designed in such a way and Altaïr wondered how odd it was that they were so very similar to humans in physical appearance. Had they truly engineered humankind? If so, why enslave the children you created rather than nurtured?
"A tragedy has befallen our people but we must endure for those who survived" he spoke firmly with a voice that told Altaïr that he was possibly their leader. Out of the eleven he could see, the man was the oldest by appearance and wore the most elaborate of dress. The fabrics were luxuries with intricate designs etched onto each one, alongside with foreign symbols on their sashes, capes, or headdresses. He'd no idea what they meant but possibly their rank, name, or organization?
"It wouldn't have happened if you'd utilized the Eye!," a woman in a light pink gown with a gold headdress exclaimed sharply towards another in white. He had no idea what they were speaking of but it was obvious that there was discontent among the group. His concern was the horrible mess the temple was in as stone debris laid everywhere and the shattered gate could be seen in the foreground.
"You would rather have her ruling this world for her personal whims than letting it be free?" the woman in white replied calmly as she ignored the blame, her golden helmeted head turning away from the former. The others shared looks of uncertainty to her question but her expression remained neutral as she stated firmly, "I made the choice and I stand by it."
"And for what? To finally bridge peace between our kind and the humans" another man, was covered from head to toe in silver armor, demanded sharply. The crimson fabric of his attire only increased the hostility that carried over with his voice. The woman in pink shook her head as the two sided against the other woman and he scoffed, "You certainly handed them a victory now that they dwarf us in numbers based on Apollo's data."
"They are merely preliminary readings from the Aioan continent alone" a young man, with light silver armor over his torso and blue Grecian attire, corrected. He was the only male whose legs were exposed in a similar fashion to Vivian when she raised her breeches over her knees for cooling. That was an interesting fashion.
Waving his left hand, a map similar to the one displayed by the Apple floated above them and Apollo pointed out, "We have only visited the eastern hemisphere due to its geographical size and original population. I will be heading there next with Hermes to assess the situation further. The humans are as horrified with this as we are so inciting old feuds will get us nowhere at this time."
"Agreed, we need them as much as they need us right now" another woman, dressed in armored attire similar to the leader but in ivory, spoke up alongside Apollo. A hood covered her face from sight and the outline of the figure was androgynous until he heard her speak. Sharp blue eyes peered out from underneath the hood but her voice was low and firm as she suggested openly, "We need to heal and rebuild. From what Minerva tells me, we must ensure future generations can prepare and avoid what we have."
The raven haired woman in white, nodded quietly, and Altaïr assumed she was the one called Minerva. Was this who Vivian spoke of whenever world cataclysms were involved? The white attire presented her as a peaceful figure, especially when she'd spoken freely without worry against her accusers. She wore the most elaborate golden helm that he'd seen in his lifetime and he could see where the truth turned into legend concerning the so called 'goddess'.
"Does this look habitable to you, Diana?" a man, in a brown and white Roman gown, asked quietly from the left end and motioned to the shattered gates. Finally, somebody would point out Altaïr's worries. It was natural to have discord after a destructive event but the priority was to ensure safety which was something these beings needed improvement on. The man, who also wore a hood over his young features, pointed out coldly, "This temple lies in ruins with only a tenth of its inhabitants having survived. The island is submerged halfway under the ocean and aftershocks are still occurring days later, it is not habitable for life anymore. There is nothing but death on this earth."
A woman in a yellow dress, its canary color fading to white at her legs, turned to him and comforted, "We have all lost in this catastrophe but we must stay united in the coming days."
"That is easy for you to say when Isis has saved your acolytes" he replied sharply and Altaïr could read the tense grief in his body posture instantly.
The female in armor, Diana, raised her arm and spoke with authority, "Enough. We are not here to fight amongst ourselves, our people look to their Council for leadership now."
"Salvage what you can and we will use this territory for agriculture" their leader instructed to a fair haired woman in a pale green dress, who nodded hastily. She lifted her left arm and a glow encompassed her forearm as her right fingers began to type against the light. Was that how advanced their technology was? They could merely touch a glow of light and orders would be carried out to their whims?
Altaïr grasped his head to the uncomfortable feeling of being yanked back and forth like a piece of string. He absolutely abhorred being controlled against his will and it served to strengthen his core beliefs. He would not be someone's puppet! The well-lit chamber darkened considerably, frightening him for a moment as all his senses were blinded, and everything faded.
His hearing returned first as Vivian called his name and felt himself being lifted up to his feet. His legs had the composition of fresh clay as he regained control of his muscles and mumbled a barely audible thanks as he struggled to stand. His friends supported him by the sides to prevent him from falling and hitting his head, leading Malik to state firmly, "If we see another door after this, we are leaving."
"But we're close" Altaïr refused as he insisted on staying and caught his breath. True, he wasn't making the best argument at the current moment but he wasn't budging.
The door creaked as it opened to reveal its ancient secrets to the first humans to reach it in centuries. They felt the ground tremble as the gate lifted upwards to grant them entrance and they spilled inside quickly before it malfunctioned from old age. Vivian held onto Altaïr to make sure the man didn't collapse from all the mind warps that were occurring and muttered, "I hope we're reaching the end soon."
The room was small like the original chambers at the start of their journey but was void of any machinery. Only a single stairway stood before them that led upwards to a lone circular platform, its contents hidden behind the borders. Altaïr blinked to ensure he was still in his own time frame and quickly grabbed Malik before he walked ahead of them. He understood his friends were becoming protective but this was not the time to do so.
Not when at the top of the stairway stood one of the ancient beings.
He didn't want anything happening to his friend and pushed him behind him as he informed tightly, "We're not alone."
The being didn't move from his place at the top, the white aura emitting from his form rather eerie against the pitch black darkness. His friends looked to him with confusion to his announcement and Malik stated, "I don't see anyone."
So the being isn't alive . . . unless it can go invisible to humans, Altaïr pondered to himself as the ancient species confused him to no end. Was he meeting an old remnant of a being who once lived?
It wasn't comforting to him at all as he noticed the same garb that the people in his transplanted memories wore. The pieces were all converging to point out the visions were indeed of the past if this was one of the beings. Conservative Roman styled robes of white and brown covered him from the neck down while a brown hood hid most of his features. At least, he thought it was a male.
Wait . . . he recognized him! He was the man in the brown robes that had argued with one of the females.
"And Minerva's champion arrives, just as expected," the monotone words echo through the chamber and he feels comforted when Vivian flinches behind him. The manner of speech is calculative and dry, leading him to pin the being as a scientist type. A day with Bashir gave him insight for a lifetime to differentiating that branch of professionals. Well, that and the numerous technology lying around.
He wasn't keen on the confrontational greeting and he stepped forward protectively to demand, "Who are you?"
Altaïr could see the subtlest hints of stubble as the being raised his head and informed confidently, "I am the one you humans fabled that touched continents in mere seconds . . . all of which are true. I am Hermes."
A/N: We're so close now, readers! We can see our two lovebirds are fretting over their separation and the new temple is quite different than the other they visited. I want to make each temple unique as each member of the council led one under Jupiter's leadership. The ancient ones faded a bit in the games so I definitely want to bring them out more in this story, especially since I loved mythology as a kid. I'm so excited for the next chapter since this one and the next are meant to flow together.
Thank you, thank you to all of my readers and reviewers! Times have been hectic for me with starting a new job, resigning from another, starting my next degree, and personal life stress, but my stories take me away when I find the time.
Bajazzo: Thank you so much, I'm glad my story snatched your attention for the long term!
Endertopaz: I'm glad you love the quotes and long chapters! I think there's a mobile site for but I'm not sure how I can send a copy due to it's huge size. lol
keptinjamestiberiusperfecthair: Thank you so much, I appreciate it a lot. Malik needs his love eventually since his friends have turned to smooching inside their shared tent.
Hack Generation: Vivian will have tons of nicknames for him, mostly the great dai. Hahaha. And yes, he is the king of romance in their era while Altair is awkward at best until he opens up.
Falisse: I absolutely adored the beginning on your last review, so much that I'd love to use it through Malik's thoughts in the following chapters with your permission. :) It is heart wrenching and Altair is feeling it the most since he has to continue his journey. I implore you to keep reading because I always like adding twists to the tale that isn't canon and can verge on the AU. I'm glad I was able to bring a myriad of emotions out in all of my readers and it did the same for me during turbulent moments in my own life.
HiOmgCupcakes: Thank you for the critique, I won't be using any Mary Sue comments in this story anymore since I've been shifting it to a different tone and theme.
Guest: I actually have a Connor story in my story bank taking place within Homestead. :)
Carelise682: Thanks so much, I will be writing this story all the way to the end so don't worry about a hiatus.
Next Time: Labored and Lost
The end of the scepter touched the floor and the top hovered over his head by a few inches. He was not sure what power the weapon wielded but the size of it alone was enough to have him frowning, "How am I going to hide this from enemies?"
Hermes waved a hand and the lower end of the staff retracted into itself to create a smaller versatile version. The new size downgraded small enough that it resembled a mace at the length of his forearm. Well, that was indeed handy. The being's tone was firm as he advised, "Wield it with caution. I could touch the corners of the Earth in seconds with this and transcend realms that no human mind could ever comprehend."
"Time travel?" Vivian suggested quietly since they seemed to enjoy tinkering with the lives of others. If they fancied their science very much, it was possible that millenniums of advancement could achieve that. After all, this species came first so they knew the galaxy far better than humankind in that time.
"No, such a feat could cause anomalies that would be too dangerous to repair" he replied earnestly and confirmed the mere possibility of it.
"The items just keep drawing more questions" Malik murmured to question the logic and power behind the extinct species. To know that a race could create another and build technology to subjugate them was a theory no single religion had even dared to touch. Yes, there was slavery but to know it had existed at the dawn of mankind was a little frightening.
"And now, we come to your companion," caused Vivian to 'eep' nervously as attention shifted to her. Would he tell her how to get home or talk riddles? She'd been waiting for almost two years for this moment and couldn't believe she'd come this far. Scratch that, the fact she managed to survive was surprising. Altaïr saw him glancing at her with a calculative gaze he didn't like, "Minerva's calculations for her work were unheard of but she wasn't alone in her endeavor. Just as both Juno and Minerva took an interest in your lineage, Vesta took an interest in her timeline. To even speak on how many individuals across time and space that we tinkered countless hours over would be . . . unfathomable."
"Just how many people participated in this odd project?" Vivian wondered aloud to her friends as each temple seemed to have an assigned leader. What were the projects they had worked on in each one? What was the purpose of each? The more she heard from these beings over the years, the more she felt trapped on a Lost series episode rerun.
"I participated in the program to preserve the engineering work of my people once we faded from this world- it was inevitable by my calculations. I failed to delve further into the prevention of the second cataclysm because as it progressed, ulterior motives appeared within the ranks and I wanted none of it" he stated with light distaste to what had occurred and continued, "I wanted for this world to be free and thus, my work turned to protecting lineages. I saw no interest in delving in the lives of others who were not of my time but others did to prevent a second catastrophe. Diana was our protector, over humans and our people without discrimination, and Vesta created a failsafe for her should Minerva fail. You have unbridled potential and loyalty to protect this man- the fact that you've survived to this point is proof of Minerva's calculations. Your world knows of us through fiction and what better way to test devotion but through heroic tales and the possible brink of extinction?"
"Oh geez, I never should've bought that cutout" she mumbled under her breath to her impulsive tendencies towards the game franchise. Wait, did this mean if she'd chosen Ezio, would she have been his failsafe in the odd chess game Minerva played? Wait, did that mean whoever bought him was blasted to that era? Or was it some other random person in her realm? Were they enduring the same hell she was? The thought of even another human being like her undergoing the same experiences didn't make her feel so lonely.
Her head shot up to another thought and she demanded, "Wait, what do you mean possible extinction? That is in this world, not mine. I don't- I've yet to even grasp how they're even related and my presence here. How can you even tinker with my world and time?"
"Child, if Minerva could conjure multiple realities to twist the variables in our favor- where do you think she derived them from?" he posed the question so casually that she felt her stomach clench.
I cannot wait to unveil the next chapter to you readers! Thank you again for reading!