Adventure Time With Altaïr

by Mystic Blade

Vivian's life takes a turn for the odd when she wakes in 12th century Jerusalem with no logic to explain it all. When she's unwillingly dragged along for Altaïr's new adventure for the pieces of Eden with Malik, she'll travel the world to find her own scientific answers. What mayhem awaits Altaïr's Crusade? Facing deadly enemies and wildlife, the adventure never ends. Post-AC1 AU

51. Labored and Lost

Music Inspiration: Jesper Kyd and Lorne Balfe- "Labored and Lost" and Steve Jablonsky- "Lockdown"

---

Labored & Lost

---

The three stood in tense silence before the temple's inhabitant as they grew one step closer for answers. Hopefully, answers that would come quick.

"By now, you must have noticed memories that are not yours begin to filter into your mind" Hermes explained nonchalantly as if it were an everyday occurrence and Altaïr scowled for that unwelcome surprise. So they were intentionally playing with his mind? The being paid him no mind as he declared, "During the war, I was ordered to erect this temple to shield all against the coming inferno. The others were working on a solution to save our world and people while I was tasked in developing metals strong enough to survive the cataclysmic fires, tsunamis, and earthquakes that would result in the worst case scenario. This land was meant for new life as it always had been with the unique wildlife that my team and I engineered to maintain this natural world. Minerva offered a glimpse of hope near the end but something happened and my temple, my safe haven, became a tomb."

The emotion through the hologram's voice was incredibly realistic to the point that she didn't want to know more. It sent a chill down her spine that she didn't want to investigate further. If they connected all the clues and the implications of this being, then they were standing in the remains of a once great temple.

Hermes tilted his head slightly as his voice lowered somberly, "I want you to know what happened eons ago to grasp the severity of what will be."

Altaïr expected a story like Isis had done but Hermes placed him in the front lines of that fateful day eons ago instead. Gone were his friends as everything in his line of sight turned bright and for the blink of an eye, he felt weightless. It seemed he was determined to have him endure what occurred.

He opened his eyes to stand outside in the humid rainforest of the island as he spoke to another human in a different dialect. The ground under his feet was covered in white flooring that resembled marble while the rainforest was separated by the same material, resembling a garden. Excited sounds filled the air to his left and he looked to see how high the land had been during that time. The blue sea sparkled far below and away from them but in the distance, a green glow spread over the blue sky and quickly engulfed the portion over his own head.

What was that?

Seconds passed before lightning shot over the sea and thunder over the land brought him to his knees with its painful volume. When had thunder become that loud? Lightning and gusts of wind picked up over their rainforest, soon falling victim to strikes. The green trees of the land were quickly set ablaze by lightning and orders to put out the fire were echoed as people ran from the forest. Cracks and screams could be heard as trees began to collapse from direct strikes and Altaïr looked around his world as the peace was shattered.

"Evacuate to the temple! This is not a drill! Evacuate to the temple!"

Immediately, his legs ran to the navy temple that towered over their city as dozens hurried for safety. Shrill alarms could be heard echoing through the air over the yelling and cries as children, elderly, mother with babies, and people of all ages ran for the large entrance. Not only human people but those that resembled the other species as well. Were they coexisting here? The screaming soon broke as the earth trembled beneath his feet and a flash of brown caught his peripheral vision. Turning, he saw fragmented pieces of the earth rising as the island endured shattering earthquakes that ripped the crust apart.

People fell into the chasms that appeared and he struggled to his feet to flee as fast as possible. Fear gripped him as he saw individuals disappear to the sides into the open earth and when lightning struck the right side of him, the heat licked painfully at his skin. Still, he continued towards the entrance of the temple until he heard, "Lockdown initiated."

Abandonment filtered into the terror he felt when a heavy metal door lowered horizontally to seal the temple from the inside. Screams of agony and despair were heard as people were crushed under the metal door in their last haste to seek refuge. Those that survived were left to the brute force of the elements and slammed their fists against the door in the hopes for salvation. His chest rose rapidly as he was left behind and quickly dodged a small hairline fracture that appeared below his feet. Seconds later, it widened into a chasm to swallow people that lingered in place.

Standing up, he could hear crashes and explosions in the distance. The coastal city. Nothing but fire remained as the buildings appeared jagged and broken in the distance. The sea had changed as well, the waters had receded away from the earth at an alarming speed. Where had it gone?

Dust covered his eyes as the trees he'd looked to minutes before were yanked into the open ridges from the earthquakes. Coughing into the air, he abandoned the idea of remaining in the temple and ran away towards the coast to escape the wailing. He had barely reached the circular white steps that led to the temple of their city before he saw the return of the ocean. The normally peaceful waters that provided leisure for their people rose up against them to match the height of their tallest building.

The last thing he heard and saw was the sound of rushing water and seafoam white waves engulfing the sky itself.

Instead of returning to the present, he was shoved into another's mind as he became a young child. If there was one thing he never assimilated into his career, it was witnessing the fatality of innocent children.

The navy walls with its blue light was supposed to provide protection but he'd been separated from his mother and couldn't find her anywhere- neither her nor the rest of his family. He couldn't hear over his own voice as people ran forward to the next chamber of the temple. He didn't understand what this lockdown was but his mother had been insistent he head inside. There had been drills over the year so he wasn't sure if this was simply another one.

It was crowded beyond belief as dozens ran into the temple with haste. He almost tripped over his own two feet as he tried to catch glimpses of anything but failed. He was too small to peer over anyone but it allowed him to squeeze through small spaces.

Movement through the chamber resembled a school of fish as everyone attempted to move deeper inside. He didn't know what direction he was moving in until he found himself touching one of the black walls of the temple. Following the direction of people, he stayed close to the wall and called out to his family.

His voice drowned under the yells and screams to the point he coughed from a dry throat. How would anyone hear him like this? It was pointless and fear began to settle in as he moved further inside. If he could get to the second chamber, maybe he could find his family. The crowds would eventually thin out, right?

He found the metal gate in his path north but he stared in horror as it closed before his eyes. Screaming could be heard further up ahead as some were not lucky to be on either side of the heavy gate. He didn't want to be there anymore as chaos erupted with their path being blocked. All he could do was resort to calling for his family in dire hope that they hadn't been separated. He covered his ears to subdue the piercing voices echoing in a myriad of emotions in order to prevent his head from hurting.

A minute hadn't passed before he felt the earth shake under his feet and he stumbled to catch his footing. What was that? The horrible trembling grew stronger and he backed up against the wall for support. Where were his parents when he needed them?

He almost sighed with relief when the movement decreased but screamed a second later when a stronger wave hit the temple. What was going on outside? This time, the shaking didn't relent and he could hear the softest groans of metal overhead. Was something hitting the temple from outside? The fearful screams grew worse at the front as the horrible sound increased and a single, 'the gate is breaking!', sent everyone scrambling for safety.

People pushed against him with unrelenting force and banging could be heard echoing from the second closed gate. Weren't the people inside hearing them and working to open it? Were they going to deny their people refuge? It was suffocating as people surrounded him on all sides and he kept losing his balance under the shaking of the floor and people pushing him.

The floor gave way and ripped open the main gate that was meant to protect everyone inside the vault. The gaping earth devoured those near the entrance into its endless dark depths. Screeching metal hurt his ears as the strong gate gave way under the pressure and fell onto the innocent people on the other side. He screamed in horror to what he witnessed, praying it would all stop soon. It had to!

The beautiful green forest that had always been visible from inside had been submerged under rock. The earthquake was so great that everything was crumbling into nothing and visibility was sparse beyond that. What was happening to his world? He didn't have time to ponder about the outside as the entrance of the temple began to cave in from the aftermath. Without the gate, nothing supported the entrance as the earth opened up horribly.

The gaps grew wider in the chamber as people screamed desperately as they were cornered. With each shake, the jagged cracks widened and he backed up against the wall with tears in his eyes to what he witnessed. Had his family perished already? There was no escape as the second gate failed to open and he curled up in the farthest corner he could find to block out all of the horrible noises and sights.

When he felt the earth weaken under his body, he hoped his family had made it to the other side of the chamber.

Altaïr yelled with a protective tone that nobody had heard from him but Malik ordered Vivian to stay put. They didn't know what would occur if they attempted to snap him out of it. Vivian worried as the sight reminded her of those under the Apple's influence and wanted whatever was haunting him to end. He was fighting it but they didn't know how long he'd be able to hold out.

This time, he became a young woman with a child in her arms as she huddled against the last door of the temple. It was painfully silent in the second chamber as people murmured with terror to what was occurring outside. Faint trembles of the floor had come and gone, worrying them. They yearned to help those trapped in the first chamber but they had no training to the layout of the temple. All of it was under the control of Hermes and his team.

Her baby cried at seeing the fear in his mother's eyes and she drew him close to soothe him. A soft lullaby escaped her lips to calm both of them as she focused on something else. Unfortunately, the tiniest sliver of hope gave way when groaning echoed through the temple.

At first, she hoped that the temple was activating to provide them with everything Hermes claimed it would do against catastrophes. Instead, everyone realized that the sounds originated from the front gate and increased over the passing seconds. She scrambled towards the third gate and banged on the cold metal to alert anyone somewhere that they needed help.

People around her followed because they were alone and needed whoever was within the temple to do something. Anything! There were families trapped throughout the chambers, at least the children needed escape. Their calls went unanswered and desperation increased when the metal gate began to bend inwards.

Whatever force was behind the door was a powerful one that bent the strong metal at the center, stressing the support on the edges. When the earth began to shake again, the groaning grew louder and everyone moved to the interior of the chamber. They didn't know what was outside and didn't want to find out.

Her hand ached horribly from banging on the door to no avail, her fear turning numb to the possibility of not escaping. She wanted her child to survive at the least, yelling at the top of her lungs for the door to open. Was anyone watching their current status? What kind of government had she entrusted in to protect her? The Council had lied about keeping their world safe!

Screams echoed when trickles of water began to seep through the edges of the gate and she closed her eyes. Was the temple buried underwater? Is that where the horrible shaking originated from? Had the earth grown angry and was wielding the sea to extinguish them all? The water rushed into the chamber through the crevices and it was all that it needed to bear its full weight against the door.

People screamed for the last door to open since the sea hadn't broken through yet but the horrible groaning of the metal grew at a louder pace. The gate gave way seconds later as the upper right corner bent inwards and water erupted into the chamber, soaking everyone inside. Everyone scrambled away from the gushing water and all they could do was watch the metal bend inwards at an alarming speed. The ocean was tearing the gate apart under its weight as the temple's support beams gave way, dangling over what remained of the left wall. The water was a never-ending cascade as it filled the chamber quickly and residents huddled together to what awaited them.

She held her crying baby against her chest as she tried to keep afloat desperately. Her feet could no longer touch the floor as she treaded water and the gate bent more, creating a wave that sent her crashing against the other gate. This was it, wasn't it? The feeling of helplessness in her last moments was horrible and all she could think of was her child. Brown eyes peered at her fearfully and she smiled one last time before the rushing water engulfed them completely.

Altaïr couldn't bear anymore and protested greatly to no avail the being's grasp on his mind. How was he able to affect him when his genetics could fight off any of their technology? He didn't want to watch the demise of people who had existed long ago, especially not children.

This time, he was shoved into the mind of one of the ancient beings as luminescent fingers hovered over a brightly lit panel. A male voice echoed from his lips as he yelled, "The mechanisms aren't overriding to open the doors!"

"Minerva told me they would activate the moment she used the Eye, everything goes through the Grand Temple" Hermes snapped firmly as his face shifted into confusion to what was happening within the temple. Around him, panels that Altaïr could only describe as windows with moving pictures provided views of what occurred inside the temple. He could see the complete destruction of the first chamber as the sea had overtaken it. Hermes' fists slammed on the metal panel and he told himself, "All of the temples should be activated and under our control at this moment."

Hermes opened a new panel before him, white filling the screen, and ordered, "Minerva! What is going on? Nothing is activating."

A woman's voice came through the channel before her calm face appeared, "We've been betrayed and I will not activate the Eye."

He saw his leader stiffen immediately and Hermes yelled, "You're dooming my people! All of the controls run through the Grand Temple, I've just entombed them if this is true. You can't do this to them, I have families here!"

"I am sorry, Hermes, but it is the safest alternative to potential chaos" she apologized before the screen turned blank again.

His leader's normally stoic façade was cracking at the destruction as he looked over each panel. The being who he inhabited typed against nonexistent keys that resembled symbols on metal more than anything, calling out, "Nothing is active, everything is in emergency mode! I can't override anything! Our people are dying, Hermes!"

Slamming his fists against the panel, Hermes typed again and snapped firmly, "Apollo, I need to evacuate my people."

A man's tense voice spoke through as he tried to maintain neutrality, "You and everybody else- everything is either burning or collapsing. How many survivors?"

"Less than 300 now" he replied tersely as his people were succumbing to the elements.

Apollo's face fell to what his decision would be and he stated with apology, "I will have to help Diana first, her land is becoming an island and she has a higher number of survivors. We have to rescue by the numbers but I will send my next team to you. Stay strong, my friend."

The screen went blank again as they were all left alone to survive. Hermes moved to the nearest console, quickly typing to enlarge all of the moving panels with pictures, and ordered, "Open the gates manually! If we can't get them out through the command center, we're doing it ourselves. I am not waiting for help."

Altaïr motioned to the panels that had lost visuals on the outside of the temple and first chamber. As everyone scrambled to regain control of the temple, another from the team called out, "The main gate is destroyed. Gate 2 is breaking at an alarming rate with 88% damage from water pressure."

He watched as the second chamber flooded with people clinging to the gate and Hermes ordered heavily, "Abandon the second chamber, we cannot help them from our position and. We can save those in the third chamber so we will need to move them quickly into our chamber."

One of the scientists shot him a look of disbelief for abandoning them and Hermes replied, "In times like this, we have to make the hardest decisions for the benefit of all. We will risk losing not only the third chamber but all of our lives if we open the second."

Altaïr looked away from his leader and shook his head to the madness occurring.

"I'm taking a team to open 4 and get those people in here" Hermes decided instantly to avoid losing everyone in the process. He pointed to two of the five team members and ordered, "You're coming with me. We need to open the last chamber and move everyone here as quickly as we can. I need to activate the reinforced wall at the last chamber to come down to ensure we all survive this."

"But what if something happens to you?," one of the other scientists called out as they gathered around their leader with worry.

"I've trained you well but our people need to be rescued quickly" he replied matter-of-factly as he walked over to the same staircase Altaïr had met him at with his team. Pointing at Altaïr, he looked to him with certainty, "I am entrusting you as my second. Try to reestablish a connection and contact as many of the Council as you can for aid, which I know will be hard in the middle of this catastrophe. I will return promptly with our people."

Vivian and Malik were terrified completely as they watched their leader collapse to his knees. Each story hit him hard, especially at knowing these were real people that existed long ago and perished tragically. If this was to happen to those in his descendant's time . . . no, he couldn't allow it. The traumatic loss of all those lives were tragic and if he could prevent it, he would.

"And now, you can grasp a shred of what occurred that day" Hermes stated with perfect calm to the destruction that occurred eons ago.

Malik held Vivian back from rushing to his side to prevent snapping him out of whatever trance he'd been pulled into. Altaïr's hands were clenched into fists as he supported his upper body from collapsing to the ground. When they heard a yell of defiance as he broke free from the spell and opened his eyes, Vivian ran to him.

Her priority was his safety, not her own, and she pulled him into her arms for support. One hand cupped his face to meet their gazes to show him she was there and she beckoned firmly, "We're here, Altaïr. Don't let them pull you in, come back to us."

His eyes blinked rapidly as the focus came back gradually and she soothed, "I'm here, it's ok. Listen to my shrill nagging voice."

If anybody could pull his mind free from those beings, it was his partner. She knew how to use the right words to incite a reaction from him and he was grateful for her help. His forehead touched hers and she felt his weight shift against her as he murmured weakly, "Silly little woman."

She drew him close in an effort to shield him from harm but she knew it was futile. How could she protect him against these beings? All she could do was hold and support him from her end. Malik sympathized with her but he didn't trust their environment, bringing up quietly, "I suggest we leave before this worsens."

Immediately, Altaïr grasped her shoulders as his back straightened and he declared, "No! I am getting this item."

Vivian peered at him with worry and he offered a faint smile of reassurance, "Trust me this time. We did not come all this way for nothing."

"You are more stubborn than I anticipated" Hermes mused with faint intrigue to the human defying his tricks and the assassin fought back a glare. If anything, the comment fueled him to stand on his own two feet again to prove his worth. He waved away Vivian's help because he wanted her safe behind him. His partner returned a stubborn expression of defiance herself but his 'get your butt back there before I throw you' look won over.

The assassin stiffened when the being disappeared for a brief second before reappearing less than a foot away. For the first time, he was able to inspect one of them at close range as their height ranges were similar. The only difference he could see was the unnatural luminescence they emitted but they had the same amount of limbs, fingers, lips, nose, and eyes. Well, Altaïr could boast an inch or two of added height in this case. Regaining full control of his motor capabilities helped in standing tall against him.

Brown eyes peered at him with shrewd intelligence and Hermes stated neutrally, "I expected a defunct temple buried underground to break your resolve. Even the memories failed to deter you."

Altaïr refused to back down from the analyzation, remaining in place until Hermes turned around with a wave of his hand, "I agreed to grant you the technology if you passed my barriers and you have."

He felt the ground tremble under his feet as Hermes ascended the staircase, brown robes billowing behind him. Altaïr trailed after him immediately to collect the new item but remained tense if he had to pass another of their hurdles. Vivian and Malik followed him quietly to remain together as Hermes spoke, "I test one's resolve via the mind compared to physical strength. Each temple holds its specialty as well as an aura of welcome. I am sure Isis greeted you kindly being under Vesta's watch but I am not as concerned with formalities. Others will simply test you without a care out of obligation to Jupiter."

Isn't that nice?, he thought sardonically towards all of these unknown beings.

"I'm sure you've met all kinds of people in your line of work" the being replied and Altaïr almost faltered in his steps. Were they reading his thoughts as well? Unlike Isis that had carried warmth, Hermes was frank about everything like a true scientist. As he ascended the stairs, his voice lowered slightly, "Do not take my apathy for lack of emotion. When you lose more than half of your people on this land, it takes a toll on your resolve."

"Then I hope my travels will help in preventing countless deaths for future generations" the assassin replied earnestly in regards to the lengthy journey he'd set out on. He would be in his thirties by the time he returned home and he was certain he'd be traveling for years to come. His road in life wasn't meant to be easy and for the briefest of seconds, yearned to hold Vivian's hand in his for that extra support.

Hermes halted in the center of the platform before turning around to inform, "Head northwest to the mainland continent. The next temple shall await you and you will require your strength for your travel to the offshore islands."

"Which island?" Vivian whispered to herself in curiosity because the Canary Islands had never been part of Altaïr's plan. He had traveled to Madagascar for her sake to make true on his promise because most off-shore islands weren't densely inhabited.

The flooring rose behind Hermes and Altaïr stopped his team immediately before they crashed into him. Adrenaline began to jumpstart his fight-or-flight response but the flooring did not rise past his waist. The black material with the teal lines formed a rectangular shape and he wondered just what its origins were because stone never moved like that in his time. He doubted it occurred in Vivian's too by the wary curiosity in her gaze. Was it being controlled? Or did it have a mind of its own? The temples could confuse any mind.

The shape reminded him of a small podium until the center of the top opened as Hermes waited patiently. For what, Altaïr wasn't sure. The first thing he noticed was golden metal protruding before two wings ascended to give him the first peek at the new piece of Eden. Below the two delicate wings of metal, two snakes were intertwined as their heads almost touched underneath them. What he didn't expect was the long length of the item as he realized he was staring at a staff.

Not any staff but the famous caduceus that Hermes was known for in mythology.

The item of Eden stopped moving halfway and Hermes spoke simply, "You may collect it without worry for retribution. It is yours for I no longer have need of it nor do my disciples."

Altaïr stepped forward and gripped the rod with both hands to stabilize the item before withdrawing it from its safe spot. When he pulled back to weigh the entire item in his hands, he was surprised to find the golden material extremely light. It weighed even less than his sword! The design at the top was indeed familiar as the caduceus was indeed a popular motif that transcended through time. The motif was gorgeous as it was intricately carved in comparison to the other items and wondered if Hermes had designed it himself.

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. Malik eyed her with intrigue as he failed to hear anything and put clues together by what he heard his friends say.

"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."

This caused Vivian to 'eep' nervously as attention shifted to her, not wanting any of it. 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 in the harsh environment of the 1190s 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.

Vivian wished she could see these beings rather than just their voices, "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."

Altaïr watched his angular face shift with light distaste to what had occurred and he continued, "I wanted for this world to be free and thus, my work turned to protecting lineages. I saw no interest in tinkering with 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 as well as Minerva. 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 delve in 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. Could they really control time? Or specifically, probability within time? Had they managed to solve time travel itself before becoming extinct? Numerous questions surfaced in her mind but they were interrupted by his voice, "All of the present realities- yours, Desmond's, countless others. You do not know that each of your footsteps is a grain of sand on a beach that is threatened to become engulfed and extinguished. His realm is not the only one at risk for extinction- everything that uses the unit of time itself is threatened."

"You're telling me my people only have three years- one if time is flowing the same over there- before extinction?!" she yelled with fretful panic and looked to her friends with fear. The crazy conspiracy folk were actually right?! How long had time passed in her realm? She needed to see her family and hold them one last time in case the catastrophe happened. Her youngest sister had yet to experience the world at her young age of five. It wasn't fair! She waved her torch in fury as she yelled, "You expect me to swallow the thought of my family, not to mention Earth itself, burning? Why has nobody acted within all of these realms?!"

"Templars, Assassins, religion, cultures, humanity itself- all of them were borne from us" he pointed out sharply as he tore away her belief system completely. What was she supposed to have faith in if nothing was true? What was the meaning of life in the end then? She began to hyperventilate to the thought of parallel worlds rotating at the same time, never knowing of each other's existence.

His cold voice cut through her frantic thoughts to hammer in that reality, "This realm binds all the rest together and once those lines are cut with a blast from our enraged sun, they are nothing. All of this is real, young one, just not in the perspective your world was led to believe. Many of our remaining artifacts can still transcend to your time, why do you believe they fall into myth? Because they travel between time, between dimensions of what existed, what is, and what will be. It is why Vesta chose you to aid Altaïr in his goal and strengthen his resolve. These memories will remain locked away to the best of my capabilities because even in your time and Desmond's, your technology is no match for mine."

"I've been traveling for two years and only now I've been told of this?" she demanded fiercely to what had been hidden away from them, "Why the hell would you leave something this vital out of Isis' chats or the damn game cliffhangers?! It's what they're designed for!"

"Because Isis knew not of your line or your destiny" he replied firmly and both men stared at the companion in fear that she'd anger the being. Her voice was rising to decibels never heard of in their time together but they understood her concern. She felt like a tiny ant that was at their command, whether she wanted it or not, and he continued, "Now, you have fulfilled your purpose for what I was instructed by Vesta. As for Altaïr, Minerva still has much for her champion to solve. This timeline for the year 2012 will avert the disaster if it progresses in this manner so I ask, are you ready to return to your old world? If so, I will grant the knowledge to lead you there."

I swear he's using the word champion in sarcasm, Altaïr thought with annoyance but failed to voice it in fear that the being might retaliate. His concern was for Vivian as she communicated with it and she was not faring well emotionally.

"I. . ." Vivian hesitated since her deepest desire was to return home but it would mean abandoning Altaïr. He didn't need her now so why was she stupidly adamant to consider staying? This wasn't her time and their way of living contrasted greatly to her own lifestyle. Why would anyone give up modern medicine and a decent standard of living for the chaotic Middle Ages? The fact that her family was near extinction not two seconds ago was also incredibly life altering. She needed to see them one last time.

Altaïr opened his mouth to request she stay but what right did he have? This wasn't her life; she would be safest back with her family. No voice left his lips as he choked down his words and forced himself to stay in his spot. Vivian, however, caught the pained expression on his face and her feet pointed towards him as she yearned to go to him. Was this what she truly wanted? To live in a time wrecked with war and oppression, just to stay by a man's side? A man she wasn't mean to be with but one she truly loved? The one who had given her a child? A child that she wanted to do right by since their father deserved the right to know. An innocent son or daughter whose life and responsibility was in her hands. What of her family? Would she abandon them because she'd fallen for someone and had a child to care for?

Nervously, she stammered the first thought that came to mind, "I-I. . .I don't know. I just. . ."

"You will not have another chance and consequences will be had for balancing your presence here, bring forth your necklace" Hermes warned and Vivian's stomach clenched to the truth. His voice was stern and not as calming as Isis' had been, leading her to fight against appearing weak. His voice rang in her ears when she didn't budge, "We are your tether to your world, your actions against the cross warranted your presence here for a time but it will not end well as it does for many following Minerva. We have foreseen it and if you wander off-course, there will be dire consequences to bear. The key to your freedom is within the only item brought with you from your realm. Do not maintain the emotional stubbornness of your species and see true logic."

Her hand flew immediately to her chest where her necklace lay, the item appearing innocent like any other. Was he implying that she'd been carrying her escape from this realm the whole time?! Ever since meeting Altaïr? She could've been home over a year ago?! How would it even help? Her mind ran a mile a minute since the news were daunting but gazing at Altaïr sunk her heart. The answers were right at her fingertips the whole time. . .

Why was she hesitating?

"It's just an heirloom, what is special about it?" she pointed out with disbelief as the little pendant teased her to whatever it hid. The round metal pendant had dulled with time, scratched in multiple areas, and she was gluing on the little emerald stones around it every so often.

Altaïr jumped back when Hermes' golden form blurred and transformed into a slender woman with golden hair cascading down her shoulders and a yellow Grecian gown. The similar golden jewelry that the females wore adorned her attire with a headdress that swept her hair back. Wait, he remembered seeing her in one of the memories! She was the one trying to calm Hermes from his grief at losing his temple. Out of worry, he stood in front of Vivian protectively just as the newcomer spoke, "Unfortunately, Hermes did not decipher all of the variables up to this point as that assignment fell to me. Welcome, my name is Vesta, or should I say, what lingers of my old uploaded consciousness."

Vivian's flinched to the unexpected new voice change and she smiled faintly, "Do not fear me, young one, I have seen every decision you have made up to this point and past the possible future realities. Hermes acts out orders I have given but he is not privy to what I know nor are we privy to what Diana knows."

"And what do you know?" she asked tentatively as the new voice was oddly soothing but was wary to trust it. Just how many of these beings still held lingering remains of their consciousness on Earth. They all seemed to know either more or less than others which was not a generally trusting sign.

"Loyalty for your hero turned to fierce devotion and that has changed you in more ways than one" she pointed out with a warm smile and Vivian refrained from facepalming with embarassment. Did those beings see everything that she'd been doing since day one? Part of her worried that all of her actions up to that point were manipulated by them as well. They were confusing life for her in general today and she continued, "You are struggling with your choice but I would heed you to remain. Unfortunately, staying will require sacrifice as all decisions for the good of the world do. From the knowledge I have learned and what is still being put together even now through calculations crafted by hands long extinct, strength will be needed for the coming conflict. I need you to solidify a foundation to protect coming generations, particularly with Altair and his order."

"What conflict?"

"That is not for you to know, it falls to Diana's champion" she replied and Vivian ground her teeth together as another poor person would be confused like hell in another era. Or was this champion one of the new unseen game characters? Ugh, she was tired of playing guessing games at this point of her life. Apparently, the projections failed to understand her irritation and Vesta continued, "I chose you for your inner strength and tenacity but you have a heart full of compassion to show your leader a wise path. He needs that for the road ahead. That heirloom was placed centuries ago in your time to find its way into your hands and now, you are here. If you truly want to make a difference not only for this realm, but yours, I recommend you staying."

Her brow furrowed because there were two people telling her what to do and she questioned, "And if Hermes decides for me?"

"I have directed him to let you choose freely but I have prepared for any insubordination" she assured but Vivian still felt that she was being played if she chose either. It was not a comfortable feeling knowing that she'd become a pawn in their game. If she wanted to help Altaïr, was that a good or bad thing? What did they plan for the one she loved? She wanted to protect him but what if she inadvertently caused harm? Her mind was on overdrive and Vesta added in, "I am merely here to advise you on the choices and the repercussions. You can aid your leader in heralding a new age for his order or can return to live your own life once more."

Vivian furrowed her brow to ask carefully, "Not to sound vain or selfish but why me? Why not a smarter or more highly important person of my time?"

"If I brought a very well-known person, your timeline would notice and could dampen many variables in time" she replied easily with an amused smile and went on, "Yes, a diplomat could have been brought here but then, what would the repercussions be? The same would apply for a scientist, what if a cure that could've been invented was thwarted by our hand? You were unimportant, Vivian, nobody knew who you were nor would they acknowledge the loss publicly. If you breached even the slightest hint of popularity, you would be a liability to me and you've seen what has happened to those that do in his order."

She frowned as her importance in the world became the size of a microscopic subatomic particle and Vesta soothed, "It sounds cruel but do not take it that way. Yes, it would have been easier to place someone with better fighting skills but I brought you here for your heart. I do not require fighters- that is Diana's and Ares' domain. You strengthened Altaïr in a way others would not have accomplished it and in return, he has done the same for you. Balance is key with the matters of time."

"Can these beings be any less complicated?" she muttered under her breath and felt like hurling her torch at something. Unfortunately, that would hinder her sight and she demanded sharply, "You ripped me away from my family to place me in a harsh world and now I've been told that they could be killed, possibly within a year! Not to mention, I was a random pick because my life was not worth much in comparison to others. I don't like being manipulated merely because I'm fodder to you. I'm a living person with thoughts, feelings, and dreams, just like you once were. Why would I want to stay here after hearing that?"

"The sacrifice of one for the many" she stated simply and Vivian clenched her jaw to the valid point. The being knew what strings to pull as she continued, "I watched all of the variables when assembling your profile, comparing it to other potentials. You survived not only the shift of time but his hand as well which even I admit is commendable. Each of you strengthens the bonds for the coming generations and they will need all the support they can get. Your world is bound to ours, not the other way around. It is difficult to accept after being brought here without your consent but a decision must be made. I chose you for a reason just as Minerva chose him. I beseech that you look to the bigger picture, young one."

So what, she should be grateful for being yanked away from her home without warning? That she'd endured the possibility of death every day and a near mental breakdown during her first year? It sounded easy to hear but unless this Vesta walked in her shoes every second for the past two years, she wouldn't understand the pain at being alone centuries from home.

"You want me to abandon my family? Yet going to them could ruin all of this too" she murmured sadly as she would lose either way with her decision. Leaving this realm, she'd put multiple worlds at risk and her family could die either way. If she stayed, she'd never see her loved ones again. It was a sacrifice with either decision and she sighed, "I didn't even get to say goodbye to them and you're completely ripping out my belief system in one painful tug. It would be selfish for me to either stay or go- there is no right choice!"

She dug her hands into her hair to the stressful situation she'd been placed in. How could she decide on a whim? This was a life altering decision! Her old life, her dear ones, and a chance for safety awaited her but everything she'd believed in . . . her entire world had been a lie crafted by those beings. Her current world was real to the point that numerous others revolved around it in parallel realities but they were all bound. What manner of science was that?!

"Have you made your decision?," Hermes' impassive voice caused her to flinch and she couldn't stop her hands from trembling. Tears prickled the inner corners of her eyes and she looked to her friends for input, reaching out to Altaïr for support. The assassin broke etiquette by pulling her tightly into an embrace as it all came down to this moment for her. Her left hand yanked Malik unceremoniously to force him into their group hug after building a makeshift family with them. The dai was quick to remind her they were carrying flammable torches in their hands.

They had helped her grow from the squeamish and smart-alecky young woman to one who could stand her ground. She'd stood firm against her no parkour rule but she learned to survive against the odds- is that why Vesta decided to use her as a variable in their experiment? Because she was tough to kill like a stubborn cockroach? Her fingers cupped the back of Altaïr's head to prolong that familiar intimacy and couldn't deny that their child had a say in her decision. Would they survive the journey home if she chose the future with medical care or would they resent her for leaving them without a father?

"I don't want to give up my family, I didn't ask to sacrifice my life for this" she whimpered as she allowed herself a moment of weakness. She didn't want to be heroic and help save the world by casting aside her old life. Her sole reason for accompanying the two was to return home but the revelations split her down the middle, "It's not fair that they get to use us as pawns when they all should've been gone ages ago! We aren't their slaves anymore! How can I abandon one for the other? I don't. . .you've been my makeshift family in all this chaos."

Malik offered a brotherly squeeze to her shoulder and reassured, "We'll be fine with whatever option you choose. You've earned the right to go home and owe nothing to them, Vivian."

Altaïr was already biased with his opinion so he couldn't say the same and held onto his partner for as long as he could. He didn't want to lose the one he depended on for emotional support and advice, especially after hearing what Vesta said. She could continue helping him . . . but at the cost of her family and who knew what else? Her life would remain in danger which was not ideal at the same time.

Vivian parted from her companions but met his gaze as she weighed in the benefits and danger of both choices. Her original goal was to return home to continue leading the life she wanted but she'd preached to Altaïr that all of his sacrifices were for the good of mankind. Was she being hypocritical by choosing to return home and abandoning him to continue his fight? Was it fair to abandon future generations simply because she wanted to go home? Closing her eyes, she imagined what her parents would say since they were her shelter against the storms and she'd always heeded their advice.

"I . . . he needs my help" she reasoned as she turned around to face whoever the heck failed to show in her vision. It looked so much fancier and dramatic in the games but in reality, she appeared like a dunce talking to thin air. Using her old shield of sarcasm, she began hastily with a trembling voice, "Malik will probably be driven insane within months and the dai can only handle so much from Altaïr. I know that I'd be safer at home where I could eat chips and shower every day but Desmond and his century need help, they can't do everything alone."

Her breath hitched with fear to what she decided and her voice wavered, "As much as I hate to admit it, sacrifices do indeed have to be made for the greater good. I'm honored to be helping Altaïr and if he needs me to finish this journey, I won't turn him away. This is why you all chose him and the others, to end whatever the hell is threatening life as we know it. I can't leave them all alone just so I can be comfortable in my own time. It would be cowardice, no matter how much I want to see my family."

Twiddling her thumbs nervously, she stated with a clear voice, "I guess what I'm saying is. . . I'm staying with my team."

She didn't hear any more words from Hermes and assumed he'd left to yell in another dimension. A moment later, however, he spoke coldly, "I see your choice and it's the least preferred possibility to our solution. Time is not one to be taken lightly, even with dimensional travelers like yourself that are lured here for Minerva's plans."

They seriously unnerved her when they did that future talk and paused in their speech that allowed them to see through time itself. Just who were they exactly or had been? She had to admit Hermes was right about their strange species having ulterior motives with them popping everywhere in different numbers. Just how many had worked on this project. Was Vesta truly looking out for the best with her and helping Altaïr? Or was she just another pawn in the game, a means to an end?

His next words drained the color from her face as he stated apathetically, "You will never have this opportunity again for as long as you live and as thus, you are on your own. I hoped you would fulfill your purpose but now, you will face the repercussions."

Wait, what?

"No, I thought this was temporary! I-" she began desperately as the entire hope for a future back home was squashed into the dirt. She'd expected a few years at the most but not a permanent stay!

She was ready to demand alternatives since they needed the assassins to win, looking to her friends for help. Altaïr, however, was shamefully pleased to this outcome but tried not to let it show on his face. Otherwise, he would get a tongue lashing of epic proportions from the distraught woman and she needed him now more than ever. Her home had been denied by the ones who brought her there but he'd provide her with one that was even better (hopefully). He squeezed his new item with pride now that Vivian would stay alongside him and approached her with a modest smile, "Don't worry, Vivian. When we're back at Masyaf-"

As soon as he said this, the item activated with its bright golden glow and engulfed Altaïr. He disappeared in a flash of bright light a second later and the others cried out in surprised horror to where he'd gone. What had the item done?!

Vivian demanded answers and batted at the air in the hopes of catching the being's attention, "Damn these holographic AI's. I know you're there, where is he?! Where did you send him?!"

The two were left alone in the dark chamber with the suffocating silence and Vivian turned to Malik, both asking the same question, "Where's Altaïr?"

"What just happened? Answer me! I can hear you when you've talked to him" Vivian demanded shrilly from the being that dwelled with the temple and strained her hearing just to catch something. Anything! It had just declared her mission home to be void, leaving her stranded and they'd made Altaïr disappear. It couldn't have been a coincidence! Were they that pissed off that they could manipulate time within time itself? They weren't minions to do their bidding like their ancestors were!

She was an enraged badger seeing red as she demanded loudly, "Where's the ass on this AI so I can kick it? Why can't you conduit me home when I need to like in Mass Effect?"

She punched the air in the hopes for a rebuttal and yelled harshly, "And why do both that and AC have the word ass in it? Did you specifically invent that for my realm too?! Because it's damningly catchy!"

Only silence filled the temple and the two companions felt more alone than ever.

"Where did you send him? You can't take him away like that!" she yelled mournfully as the one she depended on was whisked away from her. He'd been no more than a foot away and he's disappeared! She pent out her frustration over the losses in an uncharacteristic scream that echoed off the walls and caused Malik to wince at the volume. They had singlehandedly torn out her belief system, the possibility of seeing her family, and sent away the man she loved.

They had taken everything from her.

Malik was at a complete loss since he'd heard nothing of the conversations and one of his friends had been stranded in his time while the other had vanished completely. He understood Vivian's frustration and approached her quickly to draw her into an embrace. She had become his little sister sheep to shepherd and he could see it the emotional distraught on her face. Her clenched fists relaxed to the empathetic comfort as she allowed her sadness to surface and she breathed heavily through her sniffling, "They have to bring him back, Malik. They can't . . . they can't take him from us like that."

"We'll find a way to get him back ourselves, we don't need them" he agreed to reassure her and she managed a weak smile as her eyes filled with tears. At least she had her friend by her side for the next obstacle in their life. It lessened the guilt of wanting to return home because she couldn't imagine both of them leaving him stranded on the island. Turning away from the abandoned remains of the ancient ones, he reminded her with a kind smile, "We've done well enough on our own without them so we'll find him."

She nodded weakly as their trio became a duo and now, they had to find the missing piece to their team.

"For what it's worth, I'm glad you're with me" Malik encouraged with a warm smile and squeezed his petite friend. Her sniffling had become quiet sobbing as the separation switched between her and Altaïr. He couldn't imagine how it would've been if he'd been left with Altaïr instead. The man would've been on a rampage but Vivian allowed her walls to come down as the pain overwhelmed her.

She never imagined this outcome at all and clutched her chest as the aching tightness of her chest increased the burning in her throat. Malik's features blurred through her tears but she managed a weak smile for having him by her side, "I'm. . .thankful. . .for you too."

---

Altaïr landed unsteadily on his feet as the ground beneath his feet changed from black solid stone to dirt. The bright light that had blinded him gave way to a clear blue sky and a familiar fortress rather than the dark empty temple.

Masyaf.

His brown eyes couldn't believe what he was witnessing and knew his people would believe the same, deciding to obscure himself from them. As much as he was in shock, he had to control the situation quickly. Quickly, he hid behind one of the corners of the lookout towers to gather his thoughts. He didn't trust a single thing about this new situation.

Masyaf . . . was he really home? How?

It was an unbelievable sight and he drew his hood closer to his cheeks as he stepped up to the walls of the fortress. His gloved hand touched the warm smooth stone and hearing the ongoing conversations echo in the background told him he was home. Closing his eyes for a moment, he felt the first inklings of relief at being so close to it. He'd missed its safe confines for so long after enduring the harsh elements and wildlife. No matter how much he traveled, his heart belonged to the Levant.

I'm home, he thought with warm fondness to his return to the land that bore him.

When he remembered that one of his team had lost theirs completely, guilt struck for his opportunity. Immediately, that sense of home was stripped away as he failed to see Vivian and Malik beside him. Had they truly been left behind in Madagascar? Were they safe? How would he even reach them? If he was indeed home, it would take two years to return to them!

He couldn't abandon his friends like that and regretted being careless with a new object. He should've placed it in a bag to prevent any activation but it was too late now. If he was indeed home . . . he had taken Vivian's place in her original plan.

I failed them, I failed all of them!, he thought with frustration as he hid behind a stone column to grasp his hood. What did I do? Am I even in my own realm or is this an alternate time elsewhere? How am I going to get back to them?

If this was indeed Masyaf, he'd never felt lonelier while being so close to home. He watched the movement in his periphery, noticing nothing was amiss. Assassins from Masyaf blended silently with the villagers and he regretted being there at that moment. He wanted to return home with Malik and if possible, Vivian.

I need help in finding my way home- back to them, he thought with determination because he wasn't abandoning his friends. I can't worry about my own fears. There's only a handful I trust in my life and with half of them stranded on that island, I have to plan.

With that in mind, he headed towards the rear of Masyaf to enter the fortress in secret. He would have to enter the castle by using old entryways to maintain anonymity. If anybody discovered his presence, it would raise questions to an early arrival and he needed the items to be kept secret. They were too dangerous to fall into the hands of others. Abbas was already none too happy with his leadership and the last thing he needed was a revolt on his or Ilias' hands.

He didn't realize how much he longed for scaling walls when he ascended the fortress. Oh, he'd forgotten the rough stone against his hands as he shifted his weight! After leaving Egypt, scaling walls hadn't been the same as the architecture changed drastically. It was harder to do as well when his friends couldn't do it.

The reminder of his friends brought back that wave of melancholy but he was doing this for them. With every lift of his body as he headed for the tower housing the quarters of Masyaf's inhabitants, he repeated it in his head. He needed to return to his friends, especially when knowing they had descended into the dead remains of an ancient temple. The fact that their food stores were very low was another worry when Malik was missing an arm and Vivian lacked long range training.

When he noticed a familiar window belonging to his private quarters, he used his hidden blade to break the window lock. It could be repaired later but for now, he found his way inside the fortress. Climbing inside, he entered the silent room and surveyed the old quarters quickly for any signs of danger. For all he knew, there could be an enemy around the corner. Now that he was a grand master, he had a tendency of changing his rooms to maintain safety and would do the same for his assassins to keep them all safe.

People called him paranoid for it but he always played it safe. It seemed that in his absence, his room remained his own when he noticed the familiar burgundy bedspread on his mattress. He'd gone all the way to Damascus for the fabric and would only keep it at home. His bedroom looked exactly the same as he'd left it! His footsteps were quiet as he basked in the familiar view around him after never expecting to see his home for years.

"Hmm" he mumbled as he noticed with amusement that his old cloth slippers were still under the bed. He knew he'd forgotten them somewhere.

Sitting down on the hay mattress for a mere moment, he reflected on his restrained emotions. His fingers brushed against the plain white blankets that he washed himself when at home and missed his partner immensely. She had been wrapped up in his blankets for so many days after leaving Quelimane, remembering how her arms would embrace him every morning. It wasn't fair that he was there after she agreed to stay by his side, forsaking her family and home. She deserved to be at his side and he'd forsake his comfortable bed for the bedroll with blankets as long as she was there.

"I'll come back to you" he promised quietly to that unexpected loss in his life but remembered her last words. She had given up the safety of her home to stay with them and he would honor it by returning. He wouldn't allow the piece of Eden to keep them separated, not after everything they'd endured.

Standing up with a greater resolve, he locked away his sentiments to walk out of his bedroom. He didn't want to be reminded of being home yet until he found who he was looking for. With that in mind, he headed down the empty hall and thanked the stars that everybody was undertaking their morning tasks. Otherwise, he'd be the talk of the town rather quickly.

Ascending to the next level, he headed for the floor where his confidantes' quarters and the children of Masyaf resided. With his current rank, he wanted the little ones to remain close to the master assassins for protection in times of danger. That and to encourage them that they walked honorable paths to make the world a better place. Malik had complained the first day but soon, the children had won him over as he became their favorite.

Unfortunately, as he walked the hallway, he caught sight of a young man whose station he distinctly remembered placing in the highest level. Bashir, the young scientist, walked down the hallways with a roll of parchment in his hands as he focused on his reading. Altaïr tucked the corners of his hood further close to his cheeks to avoid detection and hoped that he'd focus more on that than him.

Bashir passed by with his similar robes and Altaïr almost smiled with pride to his success until, "I know that sword anywhere! Grand Master!"

Undone by his own weapons and a scientist's knack for attention to detail . . . perfect.

He could've either bolted or faced the truth like any assassin. The former was highly tempting knowing the young man's eagerness but oddly enough, he was rather glad to see a friendly face. Despite the tense situation he'd just gotten out of, his people made him feel at peace. Knowing that Bashir recognized him, it cemented the fact that he was back home among his own.

"You're back already? Unbelievable!" Bashir exclaimed with amazement to the quick trip since the entire continent would've taken years! His young mind ran through dozens of questions at knowing his leader had traveled far. What had he encountered? The questions alone on the wildlife, geography, and cultures were monumental. He tucked the parchment roll underneath his trademark leather belt and asked eagerly, "How did it go? Where is dai Malik? How-"

"We may speak later in my quarters, Bashir, but I must see Ilias first" Altaïr interjected since he needed to know how their order was faring and explain his arrival.

The young scientist pointed towards the east bedchambers and informed him, "He should be in his quarters. He's usually there around this time before lunch. Is something wrong?"

"No, I will explain later but is everything well at home?" he asked quickly before he left his young friend. He hoped nothing had changed drastically with his leave since his order needed firm structure after what they'd endured.

That and ask if he survived Rafiki, he thought with a hint of amusement.

When he nodded, Altaïr headed on his way to determine whether his friend was indeed inside. Bashir was quick to grab him by the shoulder to halt his haste and suggested, "Maybe scaling the wall might be safer if you wish to remain inconspicuous, sir."

The grand master waved away his young friend and hoped his assassin skills weren't too rusty. Finding the nearest empty room, he trespassed quickly and found his way onto scaling another wall. Calculating his route, it was easy to find his friend's bedroom after memorizing the entire layout of Masyaf.

That, and peering into the window to find a familiar bookcase that his friend kept in his room. He remembered it distinctly because it hadn't been fun lugging it up the stairs and when Malik pointed out that it could've just been built there on the floor, it was stuck in his mind. He almost smiled in relief at seeing his dark-haired friend through the window but when a familiar woman stepped into his line of sight, he balked.

"Maria?!" Altaïr shouted in disbelief when he caught his friend and his ex-lover in each other's arms, leading them to snap their heads towards the open window.

"Altaïr!" they exclaimed in horror as Maria let out a shriek of surprise to seeing him of all people lurking outside a window like a monkey.

---

Malik and Vivian glanced at the fire as sunset began to settle in the background, the beautiful blend of colors failing to cheer them up. They had waited inside the temple to see whether their friend would return but out of worry that the entrance could close at any moment, they left. Altaïr had taken the pieces of Eden with him and without them, a closing door would mean certain death for them. They opted to wait for him at camp but hours passed and nothing occurred.

The dai had no idea where his leader was and without him, assumed leadership in his stead. It wasn't an easy decision for him but Vivian was in no shape to think logically. She was too emotionally distraught at losing her route home and Altaïr, running over scenarios of where he could be. She had poured over the journals in Altaïr's pack and her own for desperate answers but found none. He had to tell her at one point to take a nap before her mind became more fragile to the separation.

Malik had expected the day to end with one heavy heart, not two. Anger had welled up within him during their escape from the temple, cursing the ancient species for interfering in the lives of others. He understood that the world's survival was at stake but people deserved the chance to make their decisions, not be forced against their will. If so, they were no better than the Templars.

He solemnly watched Vivian as she hugged her knees in an effort to comfort her pain. Why would those beings separate them? What was the purpose of that? What was their journey (Altaïr's and Vivian's) if not a union of two similar souls bonded together through hard work? He had seen them transform into two very different people over the years as they balanced each other. Was that not why those beings chose her to be at his side for the conflicts to come? To break them apart was unbearably cruel and it hurt his heart to watch two people, so clearly devoted to one another, have to separate for something as paltry as time and dimension. Not to mention, divide his friend from their order that sought to save the world.

"Malik, what will we do?"

He didn't have an answer to that, feeling lost himself, and replied honestly, "I don't know, Vivian."

She nodded quietly and hugged herself, wishing she had the tiniest clue to where he could be. Altaïr was the one who mattered most and losing him was devastating, leading her to missing him even more. She yearned to hear his voice just to know he was all right. Nothing made sense to her now and that loss of control was horrible to bear as answers were lacking heavily.

"Our food is running low and our path here wasn't short" Malik stated with the facts before them to begin planning their next steps. He had to make a tally of their resources, the travel time, and what they could spare to wait for their friend. There would be hard decisions to make and he suggested gently, "If Altaïr does not return by tomorrow, we will have to decide whether to wait another day or head to the mainland to purchase food. Even if we decide to return here, I don't think our currency will last to even make the trip. Altaïr calculated our money for one two-way trip, not two."

"We can't leave him, Malik" she whispered mournfully to the thought of him returning and finding nobody there. It was a horrible feeling to be abandoned and nobody deserved that, no living creature did.

Her friend offered a sympathetic gaze to her worry and spoke sincerely, "It's not about leaving him, Vivian. He wouldn't want us to risk our health for his sake and we both know he is more than capable of caring for himself. It's why we follow him and I know he will find us because he mapped out the routes himself."

She hesitated to agree with that option due to her loyalty and he assured, "I know you're worried about him, so am I. We will stay for as long as we can but we cannot jeopardize our health. Otherwise, he will yell at us for daring to do so for his sake."

Vivian shook her head as her mind agreed with Malik's logic because it would be exactly what Altaïr wanted. Her heart, however, was another matter as it yearned to stay put where she'd last seen him. You didn't abandon the one you loved so readily but she knew if the shoe were on the other foot, she'd understand. It was a hard decision to bear but her mind knew he would want the mission to continue. After all, she had stayed to give the future a fighting chance and she had to continue on the road to that objective. Otherwise, it would all be for nothing.

"I. . .give him two days at least, I will hunt for food in his stead" she compromised with a whisper as it came down to planning their next steps. She was now a permanent member in his time and therefore, would be following the map trail they had charted. This life had begun to teach her that sacrifices were needed and she had a long road ahead.

"We can do that" Malik agreed with a relieved smile as they reached a consensus and hoped luck was on their side.

---

A/N: And many chapters later, we reach the climax- not the end- of the story! I have a lot of fun writing this story, especially with the different characters in this, and now we'll have two separate settings with Altair's leave. Altair has always been the hero of the franchise and now that he has been removed temporarily, we will see how his team bands together to keep pushing forward. The separation of him and Vivian will not be easy since they were prepared for her leave, not his. The ancient ones are a picky bunch and we won't be seeing the last of them anytime soon since I definitely want to explore more of who they were and the impact they'll have in the future where Juno has been unleashed.

Thank you as always for reading and reviewing, it makes my day!

Sarah Victoria Cullen: Haha, thank you so much for reading the last chapter right after waking up! I love the dedication to understand all of it by re-reading. Inevitable separations hit hard so I was glad to have reached my readers with it when it came to these two knuckleheads.

Nana Ean: Altair is a quiet one when it comes to being hurt emotionally so his one-liners have to be great to draw the waterworks with fans, haha.

Failisse: I had to use your lines from the last review for Malik in this chapter, it was just soooo perfect to me. I do wish Ubisoft would've explored more of the origins of the beings that preceded humanity but I guess that gives me freedom to explore it myself with this story. I will be using the mythological Roman Council of 12 for the governance of this race with Jupiter being the leader, Juno and Minerva being his advisors, and Diana and Ares being his military leaders. We've met Hermes and Vesta now so we'll see who pops up next. Since they're powerful enough to breach through time, they're not shy about tinkering with the lives of others and choosing their champions- both within the orders of the Templars and Assassins to reach their goals. I can see Juno twisting and utilizing the Templars beliefs for her own means of controlling humankind again. We'll be seeing more of them and I'm tinkering on how to expand this tale into the future tense with Desmond's folk since I wasn't keen with him dying off and would rather see him be a hero than a martyr. Vivian loves her 'little peanut' despite her worries but Altair will find out about it. I love the 'she's got his bun in her oven', I have to use that quote in upcoming chapters, haha.

Geldidastulto: Thank you so much, I am indeed humbled by your review. I've written to expand my creativity on fandoms I love and reach readers to brighten up their days while building my own writing skills to one day begin writing my own fictional tale. Oddly enough, this story has created the foundation for at least three of them. I'm so glad you found a connection to Vivian as I've tried to chisel her a normal woman but her resolve to overcome troubles that could break some increases with the help of her friends and she tries to do the same for them. The romance between her and Altair is a long complicated road like any love of a modern couple and I'm no fan of sudden romance either but I think the readers know the two are pretty much destined to be stuck like two syrupy waffles. I will gladly type up more chapters like a chipmunk on sugar because I want to see this story to its final end and thank you again for reading it!

Hack Generation: Haha, the last chapter was indeed a mysterious one with an ancient one popping out to say 'boo'.

Carelise682: Thank you, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well.

Guest: No worries, this story will be here till the end and we'll see the end of Vivian's and Altair's true destiny.

Next Time: Life & Death

Vivian and Malik waited a week for Altaïr to return but none of their searches retrieved any information. He was lost to them and they had no idea of where he could've gone. In the end, they were forced to call it quits when the next boat returned to the port and they boarded with heavy hearts as they carried his belongings. They needed to stay one step ahead of their enemies and lingering behind was just inviting trouble.

Vivian hadn't released his pack since his disappearance, bearing the extra weight because it was all she had of him. She didn't know the weight maximum a pregnant woman should carry but she wasn't parting with it. This wasn't how she expected the trip to turn out but was glad to remain because leaving Malik alone would've left her guilty. She wouldn't have known if she actually chose to return but still, he was her friend.

She found herself overlooking the water often, missing Altaïr's cranky seasick rants and longed to hear that grumpy tone. If she felt miserable without him in this time, how would she have fared back home? Would there be the possibility of another chance? If so, would she want to? She'd yet to begin studying the necklace because she wanted him back to help her sort through her questions and hypotheses. He was her partner in the learning process and the one she relied on to understand her. How could she have worn her ticket home and not known it? The better question was: how to utilize it to send her back? What was the mechanism and science that worked to allow her presence there? Without him, she lost that drive to unearth who these beings were and why they were adamant in tinkering with their lives. It wasn't just his but hers as well. Who else was experiencing this as well?

"Ugh" she gagged dizzily as a wave of nausea struck, reminding her that there was still a trace of Altaïr lingering around. Her hand absentmindedly stroked her lower abdomen, feeling the growing bump of their child. Her clothes had started to become a little snug in the chest and stomach area, leading her to alter her robes in an attempt to hide it. She was an unmarried pregnant woman in the 12th century. This would have her stoned rather than bring her a reality to show for exploitation like in modern times; truly, what the hell happened to society on both ends there?

"Little peanut, you're already causing chaos" she whispered lovingly to her tiny rascal in the oven. It was hard not to smooth her hands over the baby with her nervousness as a new potential mother. The Middle Ages were not the best time to bring a child into the world and it frightened her considerably. She hadn't even had time to tell Altaïr and now, she longed for his presence to share her worries. Remembering his variable moods, she chuckled softly, "You're like him already."

I miss you so dearly, she thought to the bittersweet moment as she bonded with their unborn child and he was somewhere unknown. She longed to sense a trace of him as the sea voyage had grown lonely for her. You were whisked away before you knew and I need you at my side now more than ever. You helped me endure this horrible morning sickness and now, I'm . . . we're . . . alone without you.

She kept trying to hide everything as the voyage allowed her to barf and blame any nausea or lethargy on it. The passing weeks had strengthened the morning sickness (more like all-day sickness) to unbearable levels for her. However, when she started sleeping well into the afternoon, Malik became curious to that new change. A curious dai with questions didn't bode well for the pregnant little badger in sheep's clothing.

He found her nibbling on a ginger root as she laid down in a shady corner at the back of the ship and commented, "I can't help but notice you resemble a cat nowadays."

"I like sleeping" she piped up impishly and placed the small root in a little bag for safekeeping. Tucking it into her pack, she patted the bag with a fond smile to her helper with morning sickness. Malik shot her a look of amusement to her words since she was energy itself and she evaded innocently, "It's better than bearing the hot sun. I could fry an egg on those planks . . . mmm, fried egg."

"You were quite active during the first voyage" Malik pointed out curiously and watched her scratch an itch behind her back. His friend had shifted from an energetic puppy to a lethargic cat since traveling on the boat. It was an odd behavioral shift which led him to investigate, especially after her emotional loss of Altaïr.

"Once you tour it once, it never changes" she reasoned with a perky smile to lie her way out of it but Malik wasn't budging. Unlike Altaïr, who exasperated you into giving up your secret, Malik guilt tripped you. The puppy eyes expression mixed in with the brotherly 'what have you been up to?' look were quite potent for poor Vivian. Her hormonal flux caused her to cave in after four minutes with 'the stare' since she couldn't exactly disappear under the floorboards.

Patting the hardwood floor to motion for him to sit, she wanted to keep their conversation private and glanced around for any lookieloo's. There was absolutely no way she'd risk outsiders knowing about her little peanut. When he sat down and looked to her for answers, she smiled nervously and tapped her fingers together. Well, there went the element of being nonchalant and playing it cool.

How could she begin to tell him the news? She hadn't even told Altaïr. Even his name brought intense melancholy but she shoved it aside for the time being. Raising her hands peacefully, she admitted carefully with a low tone, "Please don't freak out but I am . . . um, I'm pregnant."

"Oh, is that all the- wait, what?! How?!" Malik hissed frantically to the unexpected news and his hand flew into the air. His little sister sheep was pregnant?! How had he not realized this sooner?! A second later, he realized the last blurt and pinched the bridge of his nose to groan, "Wait, I know the last one so spare me that detail. My question narrows to who?"

His brow furrowed as he went into investigation mode and pondered aloud, "Seeing as I've been conscious for the past year on my whereabouts, this had to be recent. You've never left our sight for more than a few hours and that was only in Quelimane and nowhere else. Given the short time of your condition, I can only deduce that it's either a man from there or more likely, that stubborn brother of mine!"

"Yes, well, say hello to his stubborn offspring" Vivian mumbled sheepishly as she admitted the paternity and tapped her fingers over her lower abdomen. Quelimane had indeed flourished her feelings for the man to the point that a night (or ahem, two) of passion led to her current predicament. They were both adults that knew the consequences - scratch that, she knew them- and there were no regrets.

"Altaïr? Oh my, I should castrate that man!" Malik growled since he was already going to have two children out of wedlock and within three years. Where was his child? He'd be more than happy to have a family without leaving illegitimate children in his trail of travels. When would it be his chance to have a little Malik running around and whacking Altaïr's offspring? More importantly, "How did- never mind, I don't want to know what you two have been doing in your spare time."

Vivian's face resembled a tomato to the flurry of words leaving his mouth, "Wait, it wasn't in my tent, was it? Or my bed in inns? It wasn't anywhere that I sat or slept on, was it?!"

Vivian wanted to self-implode as he played overprotective brother and shook her head with embarrassment. At least he wasn't admonishing or disgusted by their actions and she appreciated that. She and Altaïr had a complicated romance life but for the small moments they had been able to share, it was mutual. He was the kind of man that could drive her to pull her hair out but one she'd cherish and protect fiercely for earning his affection.

---

Thank you for reading as always and please review if you can. May you all have great days or nights around the globe.