Music Inspiration: Sam Hulick- "I Was Lost Without You"

Across Space and Time

Vivian's miscarriage brought grief she'd only endured once after being cut away from her family but this time, she'd lost her child without its father by her side. True, the heavy weight of being pregnant that had been placed on her shoulders worried her because it was of her own making but she wanted her baby. She felt something genuinely real for Altaïr and it had culminated in a child but it ended abruptly. It was a solemn reminder that she wasn't of his time and didn't belong anywhere near him. She began to question what she could've done better to save her child and it always returned to leaving when Hermes had asked. If she would've returned home, maybe her baby would've had a fighting chance but now she'd never know. Everything had blown up in her face.

Malik had forced her to eat light meals but she'd been dazed and monotonous in demeanor during the first week. He couldn't blame her as the loss was tragic enough and she'd taken good care of herself- enough that he hadn't realized the pregnancy. Her baby bump had been barely noticeable but she had felt her clothes slowly tightening as the loose feminine robes helped to conceal her figure. Now, they would become loose as they had been back in Quelimane.

"I shouldn't have meddled with him" she murmured softly one day as they sat on the deck watching the endless horizon. The loss of the baby only served to cement her fears to the risks of drawing Altaïr's eye. She wanted to curl up under a rock and never see the light of day for the rest of her life for ignoring her instincts. If she had never accepted his affection, she wouldn't be feeling so horrid with failure. Her deepest desire was to have her little baby back but it wouldn't happen. They were gone now, never to take their first breath, and she cursed herself, "This was all my fault and I deserve-"

"Vivian, you are the last person that should receive pain like this" Malik contradicted immediately due to her helpful and cheerful nature. The loss was devastating enough for anyone but without Altaïr, Vivian was alone to mourn the loss. His friend was regretting every action and analyzing each choice in her life- an action he'd done plenty of times as an assassin. He wasn't going to let her wallow in self-pity and pointed out firmly, "Although I chastised Altaïr about pursuing you, he does care for you and nobody should be punished for that. I might not agree with him creating offspring at an unbelievable rate but you share a connection with him. It doesn't matter that you're not from here, what matters is the quality of life you've given him."

Her gaze shifted from her wringing hands to his face and he soothed, "You're here with us now and it was an honorable choice to help us in this fight. Tragedies happen, my friend, but you did not cause this one."

"I keep questioning it because I accepted his affection and I shouldn't have" she admitted sullenly to her original stance against the assassin. Unfortunately, she didn't count on his tenacity and her weakening resolve as they bonded more each day. They had started off as polar opposites but eventually, balanced each other to delve into a romantic entanglement. Her shoulders slumped as she frowned to her choices, "A stronger person would've smacked him away but I didn't- I couldn't. I pretty much raised a white flag and gave him the key to board."

A bittersweet smiled touched her lips to the memories they'd shared and sighed, "I nurtured that flame of affection when I should've extinguished it . . . but I couldn't, not to him, not after the life he's endured. I . . . I thought I was strong but now . . . now I'm not so sure."

"It takes a strong woman to earn his sentiments and you deserved it, Vivian" Malik counseled gently since his friend would've made anyone a proud husband. She was incredibly loyal and lent a hand without even needing to ask her. Altaïr was a dreadfully stubborn one with grumpy tendencies but he had a good heart in the end.

She smiled faintly to the kind compliment and spoke softly, "I'm not sure if choosing to go home would've avoided this. I will, however, help you in this journey for their sake because I won't have this loss be meaningless."

"Life throws us many curveballs but we have to keep pushing forward, as much as it might hurt" he advised gently to help soothe the questions of 'what if' that ran through her mind. Everyone endured loss along the road in life but only the strongest survived the scars left behind. Hers were still gaping open at the moment as the shock wore off to make way for guilt but he'd be there to walk her through each step of her grieving process.

Malik smiled as he saw the old fire return to her eyes for a moment and she stated firmly, "You're right, I am here and I won't be going anywhere. It won't be easy, not now, but you have my loyalty to your order."

"And we're glad to have you" Malik encouraged for her years of loyal friendship and hugged her by the shoulders. Vivian chuckled sadly as she wished to have both Altaïr and their child at the end of the journey but that wouldn't be. Her heart warmed to having her closest friend by her side during one of her worst moments. She was lucky for that and the affection increased when he reassured, "You will have a place in Masyaf to build a life if you wish it. You're a part of our family now because I know how important that is to you. I will be there to guide you to ensure your safety and so will Altaïr."

She wiped one tearful eye to what he offered and chuckled softly, "You sure know how to charm a gal with the sense of home. I never expected to stay here permanently on day one but . . . if I can't have my family, you guys are the next best thing."

Her lips lifted in a fond smile to the bright side of her recent disaster and she admitted, "Besides, I always wanted a cool older brother that could kick butt."

Malik chuckled softly to her attempted joke, hoping to keep drawing that dominant aspect of Vivian. The coming days would be hard at sea as she coped with the loss but he'd be there as the older brother that he was. From day one, she'd looked to him for advice and he never failed her. She smiled faintly to her cheerful friend when he promised, "You tell me whose butt to kick and I will."

If she wasn't so heartbroken, she would've been jumping all over the place to having a dai as a big brother. She appreciated the offering nonetheless and whispered, "Thank you, Malik."

Sunsets over the ocean allowed the lingering loneliness to seep through as the gorgeous orange-red with the pale hues contrasted with her sadness. She missed these moments with Altaïr since the two would share this and stargaze when they had the time. He'd wrap his arm around her under the guise of body warmth but she never complained, merely snuggled against him. Was he still seeing sunsets wherever he was? Was he safe?

"I called them Peanut, you know" she informed weakly to the nickname she'd given their child. They had started off the size of a peanut and it sounded cuter to her than other nicknames. Malik grinned to her odd name since most mothers to-be picked out actual names rather than nicknames. She waved her hand to his look of amusement and quickly corrected bashfully, "Of course I wouldn't have named them that but I thought Akylas sounded pretty awesome for a boy eagle or Brockley for badger recognition. Fiona was the first name I liked for a girl before it happened."

She managed a ghost of a smile when she shook her head with melancholy and added in, "I wouldn't have picked Brockley though because it rhymes too much with broccoli."

Malik smiled to himself about her humorous musings and encouraged his friend, "Mourn all you need, Vivian. We still have weeks until we arrive back at Quelimane."

"The only thing I want is what I no longer have and what I need. . .I don't even know where he is" she murmured sadly to missing the one she loved, yearning for his company more than ever. They were all scattered across the globe and she hoped to find her way back to him soon. She hugged herself as she watched the glowing sun set over the glittering ocean and admitted quietly, "I didn't realize how much I loved him until I lost him."

The dai wasn't surprised by that heartfelt confession after watching their interactions and she sought his advice, "Am I crazy for saying that? Knowing my origins, should I even dare to explore that?"

"I think you deserve to when he more than likely feels the same" he replied earnestly with a kind smile to her worried face, "There's no need to fear that. We only have one life in this world, it is better to explore our dreams than run from them."

Her face relaxed visibly to his wise advice as her worries were able to be locked away for a moment. She hugged him with appreciation for his support and thanked, "You're right, thank you."

Altaïr stared at his surroundings with distrust as he kept the bag containing the scepter in his hands. He had been training in different areas surrounding Masyaf where neither civilian or assassins wandered. The only downfall of traveling with the item of Hermes was that he could land in a specific area where there could be a potential danger. Appearing in a nearby mud pit had not been fun when he almost slipped and had thanked his honed reflexes for avoiding a fall.

Bashir had been jotting down notes throughout all of his practicing for any suspicious occurrences. So far, this specific item seemed to be the only one that listened to him and he hoped it stayed that way. He wanted his return trip to go as smoothly as possible and had increased his two-way trips every few days to test its capabilities. So far, it hadn't failed and increased his trust in its abilities that he wouldn't be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

He had practiced enough that he felt confident in his skills to create his next plan. The sooner he returned to his friends, the sooner they could continue onwards. Looking to Bashir, who sat on a wooden crate with his handy journal, he ordered, "Start the count when I leave."

With every trip he made, he had Bashir keep track of time to determine if it all added up equally. It turned out that although time was bypassed for the most part, there was no shortcut. The longer the trip, the longer it took to return back to his origin location. Since it was a one-way trip to Quelimane, Altaïr was not worried about the time frame. A month had not passed since his leave and it would take longer for his friends to return from Madagascar.

In case he ran into a sticky situation, he could use the piece of Eden to leave a dangerous situation for another. The question, though, was whether he could bring company along for the ride. Even the myths with Hermes had him traveling alone. . .but then again, many things had been falsified and fallen into legend.

Holding the shortened scepter in both hands, his fingers wrapped around the cold metal as he closed his eyes. His first and only thought was the full blue river in the outskirts of the village of Masyaf. The blue river ran alongside the road as the two welcoming arches of white stone signaled a welcome to his home to the right of it. His train of thought was traveling to the river's edge rather than the road to avoid scaring any visitors or residents of the village. If an assassin managed to see him, they would wonder why he had returned alone.

A pinch to the back of his skull was the only signal the item gave before a soft pop resounded in his ears. A bright flash of white prevented him from opening his eyes and as soon as it appeared, it dulled to a yellow shade. Knowing that was his sign to open them, he found himself standing in the middle of a river's edge as trees surrounded him. To his left, the roaring current of the river filled his ears.

Perfect, he'd arrived at his destination yet again.

Just as he was ready to declare a victory, his right foot moved in something warm and squishy. Glancing down in curiosity, his face fell with clear annoyance to what lay under his foot. Flatly, he muttered to himself in disappointment, "Great, cow dung."

Being alone in the outskirts, he quickly wiped his shoe over the grass before a nasty smell settled in. Poop and leather did not mix well together, especially if it weaved into his boot's creases. When he was satisfied with cleaning his boot, he stood straight as always and sighed aloud, "Still better than being abandoned in the middle of nowhere though."

He didn't want to linger too long with Bashir counting down to test the item's travel range. If his practicing allowed his fellow assassin to draw theories at the same time to find answers, he would do his best to help.

The only issue he had with the item were the dizzying effects it could leave as it strengthened with longer distances. He didn't want to end up vomiting or falling unconscious if he underwent this cross continent trip. His arrival to Masyaf had left him fine for the first hour but he'd endured nausea afterwards that led him to taking a nap. However, the good part was that it was short term and nothing lingered. So far, the short distances did not bring those effects so he counted himself lucky.

Clutching the scepter close, he painted a clear image of the site where his friends stood. With the dry season in full swing, every clearing looked about the same but Bashir had placed a wooden stake in the ground that he'd painted red. The scientist figured it would be a constant to ground him to the site just as he'd done with numerous others with different colors. It hard worked twice so Altaïr had allowed him to continue the practice.

The yank to the back of his skull intensified with light irritation as the shorter time between two trips, the stronger the pull. He'd attempted to try three locations once and had collapsed to his knees by the third as he pushed both himself and the item to its limits. Now he knew to give the item pause in between trips to calibrate and rest whatever power source it held. Bashir had been happy for the data collection but Ilias had sent him to bed for the rest of the night as he played doctor. Otherwise, his cover would've been blown if they involved Masyaf's medical staff.

When the pain subsided and the tweeting of birds filled his hearing, he opened his eyes to find his friends reaching out for him. Stuffing the piece of Eden in its rightful leather pocket, he sealed it away before it decided to take all three for a trip. Altaïr raise his hands to reassure his friends that he was fine and informed, "It worked."

"It does seem to take away one's sense of balance" Bashir commented with intrigue since he noticed his leader lost some of the natural finesse in his gait. Altaïr simply discarded the matter with a wave of the hand because he'd endured worse than a headache in his entire life. The young scientist, however, quickly jotted down the findings.

Ilias held out a water canteen to his friend and Altaïr declined, telling the two flatly, "Your concern is appreciated but I don't require a mother."

"It's called friendship, you stubborn man" Ilias replied simply with a light frown to his tendency to shrug everything off. There was a limit to how much you could do that before you collapsed under its accumulated weight. Crossing his arms, he allowed his friend to do as he wished and asked, "How was your trip?"

"Another success" Altaïr stated with finality since he'd used the item enough to be certain he could make his way to his friends. There was no question now that it allowed one to travel to locations on Earth but the science behind it was lost to him. Maybe he was never meant to know.

His friends looked to him with intrigue to his verdict and he explained, "It has worked every time with no other abilities that can be seen. Each of my attempts to move to a specific location has worked and I haven't been lost either."

"How do you know it will return you to this Quelimane place?" Ilias asked quietly with concern to the advanced technology. He didn't trust something he couldn't understand and the pieces of Eden fell into that category. His friend placed trust in this recent one out of the desire to rescue his team but Ilias was cautious.

"It brought me here from far away so I've no doubt it can send me back" he replied easily as he shrugged simply because he was getting back to his friends no matter what. Ilias wasn't convinced at all but he was naturally impartial to technology. Glancing at the blue sky, Altaïr sighed to convince him, "In case I land somewhere else, I can just reuse the item until I get there. It's far easier to wait and use it than travel two extra years back to that place."

Bashir pointed to his leader's head and advised, "Make sure you eat adequately in case it does draw from your energy to fuel itself for the traveling distance."

Ilias' eyes narrowed as a new idea popped to mind and he stated, "We don't even know the long term effects of using this thing."

Altaïr appreciated their concern since nobody knew anything about the piece of Eden, himself included. Although there were possible risks associated with using them, he shook his head and stated, "It outweighs risking the lives of the others. We need to finish this mission."

Taking a deep breath, he tore his gaze away from the sky to inform them, "I will be leaving in three days."

There was no use in arguing with him since his goal after arriving had been to return to them. He needed to see them and rescue his friends if he had to in order to settle the worry in his mind. Their perfect team had been fractured while undergoing the mission but he would ensure it never happened again. This time, he wouldn't underestimate the items and he'd stuff the next one into a bag to prevent touching it altogether.

Ilias wasn't overly happy that he was leaving so quickly while Bashir was simply curious to the science behind it. Altaïr clasped the two on the shoulder and smiled warmly to reassure, "It will all work out fine."

Altaïr looked to the night sky, the twinkling stars overhead bringing melancholy. It had been his pastime to stargaze with Vivian while Malik had read his novels. Waiting at Masyaf while his friends traveled overseas (at least he hoped so) once again worried him and at times, he grew very impatient. There were dangers with sea travel and if they weren't careful, their enemies could pounce. He wanted to be there to lend a hand but he couldn't exactly use Hermes' item and land in the middle of the ocean. That would be the shortest and most fatal trip in history ever.

He would return to Quelimane and await them there, hoping they would both return safe. At the same time, he would be able to arrive somewhere close to the sea town to prevent setting back their journey. Guilt struck him for being able to come home temporarily while Malik would not see Masyaf for years to come. Since the new item worked only for old places in one's memory, they could not skip ahead to their destinations. That had been one of this goals in case it was possible to make the journey shorter but that wouldn't happen now. They couldn't skip ahead to save time but if he discovered those locations, it would create a map that the item could follow for future trips. At least in that manner, he would never have to risk the lives of his assassins and could go in their stead.

Sitting at the desk of his private quarters, he leaned back in the wooden chair to massage his temples. On the desk, numerous books were piled on top that he'd read to ensure he wouldn't be lost when heading to the western side of the African continent. Even with the small trip home, he wasn't wasting time by relaxing but maintaining his strict work schedule. The only moments of freedom he had were at Darim's side to ensure he remembered him in years to come.

Nighttime had fallen upon Masyaf and through his open window, he could see the mountains shrouded in a black veil. Speckles of twinkling diamonds danced overhead and sparing the night sky a glance, he couldn't help but think of his friends.

I need to draw plans for the next step of the journey, he pondered with determination to finish what he started. If I can get to Quelimane safely, then we can continue on our road. We'll need transportation again and I have to debate traveling in open areas versus closed terrain.

Grabbing a stack of blank parchment, Altaïr grasped a piece of nearby charcoal to sketch an image. The long hours of work had tired his mind and it was best to rest it before he forgot anything. For the moment, however, he could indulge in practicing one of his growing skills. He didn't want to forget the one he longed for and immersing himself in memories would help settle his worries. Placing the tip of the charcoal on the paper, he began by sketching an oval in the center.

He didn't have the color green for her eyes as the piercing hue was one of his favorite features. What he could sketch very well, however, was the black mop of wavy hair that never straightened out under his fingers. No matter how much he'd brushed it between his fingertips in the early morning, it failed to stay straight. She'd appreciated his effort as always and doted him in kisses. After months of intermittent learning on how to draw decently, he would take his time and use all of his skills on his first sketch. If he managed to do a half-decent job, Darim would be the next so he could remember his son's face when he did return to his team.

The nights were long and empty without his companions but this maintained that connection. His drawing skills had been lousy years ago but he hoped that they had improved. Malik had whacked him on the head long enough that he must've learned something at this point. Otherwise, his poor cranium endured useless abuse. Vivian, however, had been his supportive mentor even when he'd snuck kisses in back in Quelimane and she'd kept rebuffing him.

"If you spent as much time focusing on this leaf sketch as my lips, you'd be a master at this."

"I hope you're thinking of me without pain because I'm safe and I wish the same of you" he whispered softly as he sketched her thin concave nose, remembering the fond nose tapping habit he'd picked from her. She had been the first to make him feel like a human man, not a silent messenger of death and faceless hero. Being unaccustomed to normal civilian interactions and everyday customs, she had helped him blend into an unknown world. It had helped to grasp and acknowledge the emotional side to who he was as a normal man that Al Mualim had deemed unacceptable in older days.

"You have the healthiest skin color I've seen on any person here, your hair is ridiculously soft for a man, and you have these gorgeous jewel toned eyes. . ."

His gaze flickered towards his large bed, the mattress that had brought him freedom with its size now casting a lonely aura. He longed for his thin uncomfortable bedroll full of blankets because at least then, he had his partner. If he didn't have her, what good was a large bed for one person? For the first time, he realized just how solitary of a bachelor he'd been until he lowered his shields against Vivian. She had embraced him without judgment and he'd fallen into those accepting arms with relief that he had someone who understood him.

"You brighten up my days, even during the bleakest of moments. The joy of waking next to you is something I never thought I'd experience and every time you kiss me, it compares to a beautiful explosion in my heart."

"I miss you in a way I never imagined" he whispered somberly to the horribly abrupt separation as he drew her full lips. It had been a risk kissing her the first time but he had read her body language for weeks before doing so. Their affection peaked in Quelimane and he would return there to wait for his friends. It was the only solution at the moment and as he shaded in her lips, he smiled faintly, "But you are here, in my time, and I will find you."

Quickly glancing to a small sketch in the corner that had their arms crossed with a humorous frown on their face, he added in, "You too, Malik."

Altaïr had bid goodbye to his son, one that had not gone easy on his part. Darim had been more than happy to keep napping but his father had been reluctant to leave his side. He didn't know when he'd see him again or if Darim would remember him but Altaïr reminded himself that his missions guaranteed his safety.

As he finished closing his newest pack, he hoped it would go along for the ride. If all of his other belongings came with him, he figured he'd give it a try. Besides, he was more than certain his friends needed supplies as well. Maria had been kind in packing whatever a 'womanly care package' was for Vivian since being the only woman in a group of men could turn awkward once a month. Ilias had given him two new books for Malik and art supplies to make his friend's trip easier.

His second-in-command stood at the edge of the clearing where they'd been training for the past weeks. It was best to depart from that location and in case anything happened, he wanted Ilias to be there. Altaïr was determined to find his way back so if he had to make multiple trips with the item, he'd do so.

"If I somehow end up close to home, I'll send a letter" he informed his friend as he checked his attire and pack to ensure it was all tightly sealed. He didn't want anything to break off last second and ruin his carefully hatched plan.

Ilias crossed his arms in thought and asked simply, "And if I don't receive a letter?"

"Expect me back in a long while or not at all" his leader replied truthfully since their lives would always be shrouded in danger.

It was an acceptable response and just as Altaïr opened the bag containing the pieces of Eden, Bashir bounded up to them. The two paused when they noticed him wearing his white assassin's outfit, rather than his gray clothes for research. With his hood drawn, his features resembled Altaïr's in his adolescence. As if that didn't draw their curiosity, the fat traveling pack he carried did.

Before they could even ask, Bashir smiled at the two in greeting before looking to his leader in request, "This will be a long shot considering the nature of this technology but I'm going to ask anyway. Do you think. . .is it possible to go with you?"

"There's only one way to find out" Altaïr answered frankly because even he didn't know the behavior of the items. At the times, they would listen and at other instances, they would disobey or do something entirely different. They were items to be cautious around and he advised carefully, "We don't know what it will do but I am willing to risk the consequences for my team. Can you do the same, Bashir?"

The young scientist didn't hesitate at all as he smiled enthusiastically, "I wouldn't be a man of science if I said no. Whether I make it or not, it will be hard evidence collected for research. No matter the outcome, I am prepared to travel that road."

Despite his low number of yearly missions outside of Masyaf, Bashir didn't lack dedication to their cause. Altaïr smiled faintly to his little speech since he never expected him to make that kind of request. It was a daring one but he respected his subordinate's determination, nodding to him to say, "Request granted."

Bashir grinned with excitement to the new adventure, whether short or long. Ilias' brow lifted in amusement to his boyish appearance and the scientist chuckled, "Try not to miss me too much."

"I'm crying a waterfall of tears on the inside" the other assassin replied flatly to counteract his infectious mood. Due to his lack of experience in the outside world, Ilias hoped the trip would sharpen his senses and do away with the lingering naiveté of his youth. Still, he wished his comrade the best and assured, "I will make sure nobody enters your laboratory. Keep an eye out at all times and trust no one."

"Will do" he promised with a bright smile as he readjusted his pack now that he'd gotten the go ahead. Glancing back in the direction of Masyaf, he informed quickly, "Oh! I left Rafiki's feeding schedule on the desk of my quarters. He's molting his feathers so he's more likely to bite off fingers right now."

Ilias furrowed his brow at that information and turned sharply to his leader, "Wait, he's been feeding your falcon this whole time you've been here?"

"I required a caretaker while fatherly duties took priority, nobody suffered from this" Altaïr reasoned simply like it was nothing and Ilias resisted from whacking him in similarity to Malik. Being the oldest out of them, he often had those 'what is going through their heads?' moments. He saw the parental glare sent his way for taking advantage of Bashir's kindness and Altaïr sighed aloud, "Fine, I'll pay him for his hours of labor and none of these stares when Darim is around. He needs to have the natural fear everyone has of me once puberty hits."

"I promise you'll retain that frightening right" Ilias said dryly as he realized that his friend had slowly gained a sarcastic edge to his personality.

Altaïr nodded proudly at that fact and motioned for Bashir to approach, "All right, let's do this and hope for the best."

"Now you're just poking fate to jinx it" Ilias warned him to cut any melodramatics since he wanted the two to arrive safely at their destination. His friend needed to come back to lead their order and raise his son while Bashir. . .well, science was his only love at the moment.

Altaïr grabbed the shortened scepter out of the bag and grimaced visibly when Bashir hugged him. His light brown eyes widened slightly to the sudden physical contact since he only allowed Vivian into his personal space. All of his muscles tensed and slowly, he asked with hidden warning, "Bashir, what are you doing?"

"I figure there should be a connection if there's any hope for transporting two people instead of one" the young man replied with a nervous smile as their faces were less than a foot apart. Already, he could see his grand master was not ecstatic to being touched at all. Before Bashir had the man to stab him multiple times and leave him in a bloody heap, he added hastily, "This is for the sake of science to either prove or disprove my hypotheses. I'm no happier with this than you are, sir."

"I'm barely ten years older than you, Bashir" Altaïr reminded to their age difference but figured it was due to their ranking. That, and the numerous times he'd made him cry from training. The young man merely blinked in confusion as if he'd spoken another language entirely and the assassin sighed flatly, "Never mind, let's go."

Ilias truly tried his hardest not to laugh at the comical scene of Bashir hugging the man in resemblance to a child. He had completely thrown out the rules on personal space as he grinned in excitement to what awaited them. Ilias had to cross his arms and placed a hand over his mouth to hide his breaking smile when Bashir called out, "Make sure Rafiki gets enough exercise in-"

Unfortunately, this was the exact same moment Altaïr activated the device and the two were gone in a flash of golden light. Ilias released a sigh and hoped Bashir's mouth hadn't led them elsewhere.

Altaïr felt a sharp pull to the back of head, stronger than the one when he'd practiced at home. He was right that the longer the distance, the stronger the pull to his mind. It had become noticeable during his sessions with his comrades and hoped it was true. If so, it would allow him to yield it easier.

The pull always brought an intense light that prevented him from opening his eyes when he thought of his destination. Once it cleared, it allowed him to gaze at his new surroundings and he opened his eyes. The desert clearing of Masyaf's land was no longer the one filling his vision as a lone dusty road surrounded by trees. His boots crushed grass underneath them as he stepped forward and he smiled faintly at seeing a light gray outline in the sky's horizon.

The Indian Ocean.

He was near Quelimane, in the outskirts by the look of it, because he remembered the sight quite well. His team had been walking the lonely road for two days as they used the sun and stars to guide them. The sight of the sea in the horizon had ensured them they weren't lost and they had headed onwards to live fake identities for a month.

Bashir opened his eyes nervously to determine whether he was still home, with his leader, or somewhere random. That was the best case scenario while the worst was a lost limb, a shattered bone, or just plain death. The first color to fill his vision was white and quickly, he heard a voice order sharply, "Bashir, you're cutting off my arm's blood supply."

Seeing his leader at his side, he was relieved immediately and looked around his new surroundings. He was in the outskirts of a forest by the roadside but he blinked when he was greeted by both the sea and sky in the horizon. Well, that had gone rather well and he sighed in relief to being alive, "We made it!"

"Quelimane" Altaïr stated with a hint of victory to his return and strode forward with confidence. The piece of Eden hadn't failed him and he pocketed it immediately with gratitude. Now, it was just a matter of returning to the town and waiting for his friends to return safely. Things were indeed looking up for him and he hoped his earnest that his team was on route to the mainland.

Bashir quickly scampered after him to avoid being abandoned and Altaïr instructed, "You will use a different identity while here. Be at your sharpest because I am not sure whether our enemies have managed to find their way here."

"An identity? How exciting!" the young man declared with smile as he followed his leader diligently. Altaïr refrained from sighing to his endless enthusiasm and made a note to have him meet Vivian to determine who had more energy.

When he began babbling about the numerous identities he could use, Altaïr retreated into his own thoughts and carried on.

Altaïr waited diligently for days for his friends to return, pacing every day down the docks to witness each incoming boat. The people at Quelimane still remembered him as the sign maker and he'd lied that he'd come back with his younger brother, Bashir, on a previous ship since the piece of Eden made travel super convenient. The young scientist had explored on his own but he kept an eye on him due to his tendencies to study everything in sight. In another time, he could've imagined him and Vivian as siblings.

He was anxious to see the two return since he was no longer there to watch them and boats could sink at any moment, leaving them stranded or worse. What if someone decided to pick a fight with Malik? What if someone discovered Vivian wasn't a normal woman? Water travel prevented them from escaping conflicts and that worried him the most. What if one of them required medical aid? What if their food supply ran out?

The extended worry ended when a ship docked one early morning, the air cold against his skin as he clutched his white hood close to his face. He'd been waking early every day to wait for them on the dock like any loyal friend. Bashir, on the other hand, was freezing since he wasn't accustomed to living by the seaside. Nonetheless, he followed his leader faithfully after donning a warm cloak to wander the docks as well.

With each boat that docked from the eastern trade routes, he would seek them and watch everyone exit. He probably resembled a lost loyal dog to the residents but he needed to reunite with his friends. Even a shred of information on their wellbeing or whereabouts would do good. Although he had Bashir for company, he missed Malik's brotherly lectures and Vivian's horrible singing. He never imagined himself actually admitting it but he did.

When he finally spotted their familiar faces descending down the wooden platform one cold morning, he'd almost run towards them. They were alive in front of him, he wasn't hallucinating out of worry. Of course, he remained the epitome of calm and approached them with confident steps to greet the two weary travelers. They appeared in the same condition as he'd left them, grateful that they were safe on land once more. He bypassed the arriving passengers easily with his dodging skills as he made a beeline for his friends.

"It is good to see you two" he greeted with a friendly smile, not conserved at all to the outward emotion, to their return.

They were both clearly surprised since he'd disappeared in the blink of an eye with no clues to his whereabouts. He shook Malik's hand before pulling him into a brotherly hug, taking the dai aback to the display of affection. After releasing him, his gaze shifted down to catch the familiar oval face with the bright green eyes and unruly black mop of hair he adored. Immediately, her eyes softened when their gazes met and he didn't break it until they were a foot apart. She was the same as he'd left her and he restrained himself from crushing her petite form to his in relief.

"Vivian" he greeted sincerely with a smile but it softened when Vivian embraced him tightly, holding him close as she whimpered her relief over his safety. Her worries melted away instantly at seeing him and no longer having to plan their next steps without him. Her fingertips sought his strong shoulders, her nose inhaling his familiar leathery scent, and hearing her name in her ear was overwhelming. He was alive and safe in her arms now; there was no need to worry anymore. Her eyes stung with unshed tears to the emotions he stirred from her heart but pushed them back for the time being.

"I thought I'd never see you again" she whispered worriedly to the days she spent thinking of him at sea. Oh, she could just burst from happiness at just being able to touch. The sound of his voice and his familiar face shed her fears away immediately.

He reciprocated her embrace with a fond squeeze despite he wanted to kiss her in private and asked, "How are you?"

"You just made my day" she murmured against his neck and felt safe once more, happy to know that he was safe. She wanted to nestle against him for hours and could feel the same on his end as he refused to let her go. Her voice shook with overwhelming relief as she whispered tenderly, "I've never been happier to see you."

"I'm alive and in one piece, you don't need to worry" he assured fondly and squeezed her petite frame tightly, deciding to indulge for just a second. Oh, how he'd missed holding her like the rare treasure she was to him. His little badger of a woman had stayed and he wouldn't take it for granted after caring so much for her. He cupped her right cheek as he held her tightly, not wanting to release her for a second, and whispered, "I've missed you dearly."

Her eyes were full of unanswered questions and she asked uncertainly, "But how? At the temple-"

"We should discuss both of our voyages elsewhere" Malik suggested as they stood on a crowded dock while people disembarked and loved ones met other passengers. It was not the ideal place to debrief each other and bask in their reunion. Their lives were secret and no tidbits could be discussed with civilians. That and the two were pushing their unmarried etiquette to the maximum with their public behavior. Also, Malik was fairly sure they had all arrived in Quelimane under the guise of siblings' months ago so that would draw a quizzical eye.

The dai's face lightened when he spotted a familiar face among the food stands at the port and asked, "Is that Bashir?"

"Yes, I brought him with me . . . he's taken a fancy with fishing" Altaïr explained with a small chuckle and led the two towards the old inn they had stayed at. The little old housekeeper had been happy to see him return and had offered his old room.

They stopped behind Bashir as he bought a fish and Altaïr withheld a sigh to his spending tendencies. The young assassin quickly turned around when sensing someone close to his personal space and faced the trio. Well, at least his senses were satisfactory but Altair would need him to do better. He held up his new purchase, waving the fish by its midsection, and asked cheerfully, "Isn't it a fat one? It'll be great to fry it for lunch."

Altaïr wanted to smack him upside the head but Bashir's eyes brightened when he saw the dai, "Malik!"

Looking at his hands holding the fish, he paused with bashful embarrassment, "I'd shake your hand but then you'd smell like fish."

Malik sighed to the eccentric young man and Bashir's curious gaze landed on Vivian, leading him to squint, "I remember you from somewhere . . . oh! You broke one of the vials in my lab when Altaïr imprisoned you."

Her face fell in dismay when he added in nonchalantly without censorship, "Though I will say I'm surprised you're alive, given his temperament that day. I assumed you had perished and quite painfully, I might add."

Altaïr coughed awkwardly to the offhanded comment and pointed out sharply, "Bashir, this is Vivian. She is our friend so no testing whatsoever."

Bashir's interested twinkle in his eyes faded at that and he asked hesitantly, "Can she at least assist me?"

All Altaïr had to do was point in the direction of the inn and Bashir's shoulders slumped to the silent reprimand. That was his cue to be silent and go home like a good scientist, leading him to walk away from the docks. Malik joined him since it was good to see a familiar face so far from home and asked amicably, "How are things at Masyaf?"

"Good, no attempted mutinies or recent petitions to replace Altaïr" Bashir replied chirpily with a proud grin to the peace within Masyaf. Hopefully, it would stay that way and nobody would try to pick the lock to his lab. Otherwise, it would not end well for that person due to the numerous explosives and poison traps rigged in there.

"Petitions?" Altaïr questioned with outrage that someone dared to do as such and demanded, "How in the world does a person have time to write a petition with all of the work we do? It's obvious they're not pulling their weight and need a heavier workload!"

Vivian rubbed circles over his back as the two took the rear position in the group. It was all he needed to calm down and his anger towards lazy folk simmered for the moment. The other assassins supplied answers but they were ignored as Altaïr basked in having his partner returned to him. Her touch was magic against his skin as he shifted from a man-eating lion to a content kitten. Barely a few minutes in and she'd already grounded him, leading him to whisper in private, "I wonder if you're a sorceress at times with your actions."

She smiled sheepishly because having him by her side brought back all of their natural habits together. There was nothing that could gauge the sheer happiness at seeing him safe. As they walked away, Vivian sneezed softly and covered her face to state with disappointment, "Sorry, I might be sick with a cold. I haven't had the best voyage this time."

"Now you understand the true treachery of the sea" Altaïr stated matter-of-factly and she smiled after missing his smartass quips. Even after learning to swim, the man abhorred large bodies of water. Although he carried no extra garbs for warmth, he wanted to help his companion however he could. Eyeing one of their friends, he proposed to her with an innocent charm, "Now if I were to tear off Bashir's cloak for you-"

"No."

"But he assumed you perished at my hand!"

She smiled sneakily to his justification for robbing a man's clothing and teased gently, "Just like anyone who dared to face you. We did have quite the debate that day."

Debate? That's what she calls it? I hunted her down all over Masyaf, he thought with amusement to their first and only day in Masyaf. They had been at their worst moments that day and he'd been anything but kind towards her.

He frowned visibly to that perfect remark about him and pointed out flatly, "Wasn't it the other way around with me yelling when you tried stealing things?"

"I have kicked the habit for a while now" she admitted with proud pep since it had been months since she'd swiped something. She'd wanted to during the arrival to Madagascar but he'd stopped her before someone decided to chop off her hand. Altaïr merely eyed her with amusement in his brown eyes because he knew it was only a matter of time before he found something in her pockets.

When they left the sea port completely, the crowds thinned out as they walked the residential streets. Always cautious of his surroundings, he kept his senses sharp but took one gamble. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he tucked her close to his side like he'd done during their time in Madagascar. Her eyes widened to the physical contact in public but she had to admit that he radiated heat like nothing else on Earth. At that moment, her body yearned to be close to something soft, plush, and warm.

Malik and Bashir were invested in their conversation, allowing the two to bask in their old familiarity. She had missed him immensely and merely being in his presence melted away all of her stresses. Her fingers reached up at one point to intertwine with his and the tension in her muscles relaxed when he squeezed her fingers. It was a private and heartfelt moment for the two after weeks apart.

Soon, they arrived to their homely little inn and Bashir quickly blurted with enthusiasm, "Come! Let us prepare this fish for a meal!"

Before they could all reply, he practically flew through the open doorway to enter the establishment with his bought fish. Altaïr hoped he'd set the fish down in the kitchen rather than heading upstairs with it. Otherwise, he'd have to lecture the young man on prioritizing his activities and tweaking his common sense.

Vivian looked to Altaïr with curiosity and asked with a small pout, "Am I really that energetic?"

He simply offered her his classic smirk before ushering her inside the inn. The four piled inside for warmth with Bashir leading the way to their current lodgings. To Altaïr's relief, he set down the fish before doing so. At the moment, both assassins shared the room but they would request another for their friends. Altaïr knew right off the bat that he'd be kicking out Bashir (he wouldn't dare to trifle with Malik) to share his nights with Vivian. He missed holding her during the night as their last week in Madagascar had led the two to pushing their bed rolls together.

"You've no idea how glad I am to see you safe" she murmured softly as he put away their belongings in a corner to give the two a rest. He nodded quietly as she sat down on the nearest mattress and sighed with relief to its plush softness. It wasn't soft like the mattresses of modern times but for her, it was heavenly. After spending weeks on rickety floorboards and rolling gently with the sea currents, she craved anything but wood.

Altaïr was ready to reply but he paused when he realized how small their room currently was with four people inside. He met her gaze with an apologetic look but Malik excused himself to allow them their reunion, dragging away a curious Bashir. He could help him make lunch and the other two needed a moment alone after everything that had happened. Not only were there questions regarding his disappearance but their time away from each other led to other events.

When the door closed, Altaïr cast aside his leadership role for the civilian man that she'd chiseled him into. Kneeling before her, he brushed back stray strands of hair behind her ears and pressed his forehead to hers. The fond smile that touched her lips to the action set him at ease and his lips returned a smile when she cupped his face. His unshaved stubble tickled her fingertips but she didn't care- he was there beside her. The mere sensation of his skin alongside hers was therapy enough for her troubled mind.

Her skin color was paler than when he'd last seen her but blamed that on the illness. It sent him into a protective mode to ensure her health no matter what and he grabbed the ends of the bedcover to drape it over her shoulders. Vivian didn't protest the appreciated warmth as he explained, "I've been waiting for a week or so for you two to return. I chased down every boat each morning to see which one had you. I didn't expect to find you ill at all."

The back of his hand touched her forehead for any sign of a fever and he admitted, "Frankly, I have a hard time believing it's possible with all the energy you contain."

She chuckled softly since she wasn't immune to illnesses but let him carry on. If assessing her would set him at ease, she'd allow it. She would do anything just to see him happy at this point in her life. When he was satisfied with his results, she motioned for him to sit beside her and assured as best she could, "I'll be fine in no time. When do we leave?"

He stared in surprise since she didn't appear ready to hike anywhere and pointed out, "Not until you regain some color in your face. I didn't wait this long just to see your demise."

"I'm stubborn" she chirped with light hints of pride to her resilience. It wasn't as peppy as her old self but she tried her best for him. Sitting beside her gracefully, her palm sought his cheek to cup it affectionately. He was still as handsome as they he'd left and she smiled warmly.

Leaning down, he kissed her on the lips after missing being in her presence for weeks. A little cold or not, he was not going to let that stop him. His honey hued gaze lingered on her lips as he waited a few seconds for her response to gauge a possible rejection. After endless lonely nights of wondering where he was, Vivian returned it wholeheartedly and cupped his face to deepen it. That single act allowed him to kiss her without restraint as he embraced her tightly against his chest. He'd missed every single day without her as life lacked the excitement she stirred by his side.

When she pulled away to catch her breath, he cupped her chin to lock their gazes and whispered, "I'm not done yet."

"You'll get sick" she reminded hastily since one kiss was one too many and wanted him healthy. There was no way she had just returned to see him ill.

"I've survived worse," was his simple reasoning and he stuck by it.

She only managed a half-formed objection before his lips descended onto hers. Self-imposing an Altaïr ban on herself was not going well already and she decided to build stronger resolve. . .later. Each kiss undoubtedly raised her temperature as she fell prey to his advances and her fingers clutched him like a life preserver. Still, she couldn't deny that not having him in her life for weeks didn't fuel her own passion. Gone were their old soft pecks on the lips from their first stay in Quelimane as he ravaged her with open mouthed kisses.

Altaïr added one last kiss to her upper lip before letting her go with a fond whisper of her name. Her lips kissed the top of his hand as he released her chin and she fought down the blush on her cheeks. She returned to her business façade as best she could with burning cheeks and asked curiously, "I'm assuming you returned somewhere near Masyaf, given Bashir's presence?"

"Yes, it was unbelievable" he explained softly and eyed every crevice for unsuspecting ears. Vivian merely waited for him to declare the room safe and settled into the warm cover. When he turned to her, she almost yelped to the lightning speed of his movements and he began, "It turns out that the item can bring you to whatever location you focus on- mine just happened to be Masyaf because of the comments back at the temple. I debriefed everyone at the castle and Ilias advised that I keep it for an emergency while Maria told me to chuck it into the ocean due to its power. I kept it because I needed to ensure you were safe."

She tried to keep the surprise off her face at knowing the two reunited and part of her hoped they'd rekindled the romance to keep on track with history. However, she doubted it after the passionate kiss he'd just given her. It hurt to give her heart such an emotional thrashing but she'd known better than to care for the assassin. She'd stuck herself in a lose-lose situation to begin with and losing their child had fractured her hopes for a future in his time. Her fingers idly picked lint off the covers as she stated evenly, "I'm glad to know they're all right up there, given the Templars. I assume you and Maria bonded over Darim?"

"He's grown faster than I realized and I want to have a stable role in his life, which is why I stayed" he answered with a modest smile to being a father now and she found herself eager about the baby bits. She couldn't imagine Altaïr being an everyday father and wondered how their first meeting had gone. Little Darim would be living a safe life but hearing of him fleshed out that he wasn't a fictional character anymore. Hints of awkwardness showed on his face to his new handle on fatherhood and he admitted, "He crawls all over the place now like a cat to the point that I lose him in under a minute. Not bad for a child of mine. He cried at my presence at first but he's slowly melted into it. I felt guilty for having to leave so I did it during his nap to make it easier."

"I'm sure Maria will tell him about you" she comforted gently since Maria appeared like a reasonable woman (from the baseline she'd gathered) and smiled. He shrugged uncertainly because Darim would see more of his mother and Ilias for the next year. His son would be walking and talking by the time he returned and her voice pierced his thoughts, "I'm happy that you were able to live at home, at least for a little while. When you return home permanently, he will be able to build long-term memories."

"Since you're bedridden for two more days, I will tell you a few highlights of my short trip" he offered amicably after missing the open trust in their friendship and her comforting presence at Masyaf. His nights would no longer be lonely as she would be within an arm's reach . . . hopefully, if she agreed to his request. For a moment at the dock, he believed she'd left for her own home after his sudden disappearance but was relived to find himself wrong. It was a selfish wish but he'd fallen in love with her, a fact that soothed yet plagued his heart. Even thinking of returning to Maria had left his mind as the old flame had definitely extinguished long ago. His heart belonged to Vivian before their arrival to Quelimane and it hadn't been an easy road which is why he was adamant on working on it.

"That sounds perfect, thank you" she accepted softly with a small smile, her brow furrowing with constrained emotion when he leaned down to kiss her forehead. He had changed into a wonderful, albeit grumpy, man over the years and she loved that about him. His hands smoothed back her hair as he whispered that he'd missed her and she returned the sentiment. As long as he was safe, that was all that mattered.

When his lips pecked hers lightly in affection, she smiled bashfully and whispered, "I am glad to see you in good health after all of this."

"It might be contagious" he joked gently, hoping to see the familiar smile lighting up her face but only caught hints of it. It wasn't the same perky ear-to-ear smile or the cheeky lopsided grin that he was receiving today. Her subdued expressions reminded him of a dying fire and he asked softly with concern, "Are you all right, Vivian?"

"Of course, nothing can stop me" she answered perkily, a wider smile breaking through but it wasn't enough to deem it Vivian worthy. The petite historian could make quite the facial expressions but he felt something was missing. It wasn't something tangible that could be explained but instinct. Her thumbs smoothed over his cheeks as her gaze swept over his face and she said, "I'm just . . . really glad to see you again."

He smiled widely to her admission as he noticed her close proximity and replied, "As am I, Vivian. I will return with some soup, which Bashir made earlier today with some nagging, and regale you with stories."

Her face fell to the image of him bossing the poor man around and he shook a finger to declare, "I will warn you though, you might send soup flying with my anecdotes."

"Doubtful, humorous tales from you is quite the rare treat" she replied warmly to hearing him play storyteller this time and smiled when he embraced her once more. Had their separation affected him profoundly as well? Her fingers dug into his iconic robes to have that physical contact again and she murmured against his neck, "I'm so glad you're back."

When he released her, the strings of fear in her heart were plucked and she hesitated. If the items were even on his person, she wanted them gone to prevent another teleportation horror. He saw the unspoken worry in her eyes and kissed her forehead to murmur softly, "I'm not going anywhere."

She believed his promise and embraced him once more, grasping him tightly. Her life had been horrible the moment he'd stepped out of the picture and she didn't want a repeat. He kept her grounded in the chaos around her and she pleaded, "Please don't. You give me strength in these trying times."

"Vivian, I was very lost without you" he confessed in a faint whisper as he held her tightly. It wasn't something he admitted every day to just anyone and his face betrayed that vulnerability. She was the one he trusted with his innermost secrets and should know his regard for her. He wasn't as strong as she gave him credit for but the fact she believed in him so deeply always boosted his confidence. A shaky smile formed on her lips for the touching words and he deliberated with distaste, "It was horrible. Food didn't taste the same, my nights were long and lonely, and you were in my mind more often than not."

"And I without you" she agreed fondly and felt tears welling in her eyes as she gazed at him. Her entire being was soothed by his presence and she smiled when he pressed his lips to her cheek. The rough stubble that scratched her cheek brought a tender chuckle just as tears began to cascade downwards. She didn't care if he saw the crystalline droplets since he already knew every inch of her heart.

"I will never leave your side again" he vowed firmly as he held her tightly, kissing her temple affectionately.

A/N: So sorry for being late on the chapter updates, school and work overloaded me pretty badly this time. I also took time away from writing the chapters on Vivian's baby loss after we had a maternal demise at work and it left both Labor and Delivery and Postpartum shaken since we never saw it coming. Even now, it's in the back of my mind whenever I'm at work admitting a patient since births are supposed to be happy moments. Due to that, I updated other fanfictions with happier tones. Apart from that, this chapter gave me a bit of writer's block too in relation to the pieces of Eden but we have a new team member on board Altair's squad of awesomeness! Bashir is very similar to Vivian but with twice the energetic doses so they might drive Altair mad by the end of the trip. Vivian, just like any person who lost a child, will be grieving naturally as the chapters progress and with the stress of the kind of lifestyle she lives, I can't imagine it'll be an easy road. Altair will find out in the next chapter so he'll be going into overprotective/sad daddy mode.

Thank you, thank you to all of the new readers and faithful ones, I appreciate you reading my long tale.

3: Haha, I remember asking that aloud one time and thought it would be fitting for Vivian's character to ask about the animal differences. I can already imagine her playing possum too.

justagenericusername: Everyone in Assassin's Creed seems to have bad luck of the draw in life and this will be Vivian's first scar as she sticks by the Assassins. I tried to make Darim as cute as imaginable since he has really bright blue eyes in the game so he must've been an adorable kid. Altair is definitely one of those awkward dads but he'll grow into those shoes as the years pass so teenage Darim will test him.

Failisse: Juno is indeed one scary being and Vivian's subconscious is more feisty than her conscious portion, haha. Time is pretty much what will help her process everything and heal her pain. The conversation will have him lashing out at Malik for being completely in the dark as Malik plays brother bear. He'll be diffusing most of his friend's anger and guilt as he goes through the steps of the grieving process. It will be awkward between him and Vivian since the two have an odd relationship as it is but the two do love each other, not to mention the reservations of his culture. As for the Ancients, Hermes is definitely the guy that just wants to focus on his work and not get involved in politics like the triad did. For me, each of them had a role in running their government so he pretty much tells it like it is since the leaders pretty much left his region to sink in order to save others. I've always liked Diana and Minerva but the latter seems to be playing politics, aka Game of Thrones, with Juno while Diana is pretty much the general that has the best interests of the people at heart. For Athena, it's been about containing Juno but yet never thought of telling either Ezio or Desmond about it at all. That was rather odd to me so I do suspect something else is at play (or Ubisoft just didn't want to develop it further) while Diana would utilize her military strategies and build an army- maybe been bridge an allegiance between templars and assassins- to defeat Juno. While Minerva would talk, Diana would interfere directly as she did in the last chapter. Thank you as always for reading my story, I absolutely love to read your reviews every time and I'll be using the 'bun in the oven' joke to confuse Malik.

theforgottenreader: The ending isn't soon but it's eventual. The team still has to make it back to Masyaf so they're at the halfway point now but with tricky pieces of Eden, they can be blown off course at any moment. Thank you so much for following loyally since chapter 30, I appreciate it! Well, when I finish this story, I want to write a sequel for sure and already have a plan in mind.

Killerbee77: Thank you for liking the story! :)

Nirvana-af: Haha, Vivian was indeed a feisty angry badger in the earlier chapters.

Carelise682: It's incredibly hard to lose a child, lose a mom, and see women struggle with infertility. I've been working between Labor and Delivery and Postpartum in a high risk unit since last year and there's days I leave work wanting to cry. This week alone I had a mom with a special needs child and her newborn was in the neonatal intensive care unit and another who had an emergency c-section from a severe car collision and wasn't certain if her baby would survive. I commend every single person that endures a pregnancy because they aren't easy and it's never your fault on the outcome- you did the best you could do with what you had available. I'm sorry that you have to endure the aftermath but you're a brave person for going through all of that and sharing it. Heartfelt hugs from my end.

Next Time: On The Road Again

The reunited team didn't dwell long in their stay at Quelimane, regardless of its peaceful ambience. They needed to carry onwards to the west of the continent to begin the second half of the entire journey. Their goal was to reach the western coast of the southern continent and Malik proposed chartering a boat to the coastline. Altaïr was quick to object after his horrid experience on the first trip to Madagascar and wanted to avoid a repeat. Both modes of travel carried their risks but water travel would be faster for them.

"The faster we finish, the sooner you can return to Darim" Malik reasoned as they all huddled in Altair's room over a table filled with maps. Bashir had humorously enough stuffed maps of the African coast in his pockets before leaving Masyaf. Although it was a help, Malik had kept his own maps safe to continue charting their path. The entire right side of his map was covered in markings as a reminder of how long they'd been away.

Altaïr didn't bite on the opportunity and shot back, "I'd rather return in one piece."

"The ocean won't be riddled with dangerous wildlife because we won't be on any paths- it's uncharted!" the dai pointed out as they headed deeper than they ever had on their travels. It was risk either way but the ocean provided more safety from dangerous animals. When he saw that Altaïr was not budging in the slightest, he sighed, "We have nothing of importance between here and there. We used a canoe to reach Lake Victoria before we were forced on foot. Could you imagine how long it would've taken for us on foot during that portion of the trip?"

"He's right, we cannot take risks when you must return to lead us" Bashir agreed with a nod towards the dai as they sided for what was best for the Order. Altaïr was not happy to the logic in their suggestions since his body behaved lousily over water.

"Sea travel will increase the odds of having corpse to take home because my body cannot handle it" he pointed out with disgust to his physiology and wanted to kick himself. He hated to admit vulnerabilities to anyone, trusting only Vivian in the most private of settings.

As for Vivian, she let the three talk out their strategy as she sat on one of the beds eating roasted nuts. She would've nibbled on fruit but with maps being handled . . . well, she'd end up with paper stuck to her. It wasn't hard to see that Altaïr was not accepting the negotiation to travel by sea again.

"Can we just take a ship down the coast to where the midline for the western trek is then?" she suggested to compromise with both parties since the last boat trip hadn't left her happy. It wasn't easy being stuck to a boat for weeks and although the sunsets were great, the rest was tedious.

Altaïr turned around with a frown for her two cents and she shrugged noncommittally, "It's just a suggestion."

"If we go by land, we must leave tomorrow" Malik stressed to avoid delays in their journey and to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Remaining in one place for too long was careless and dangerous, no matter how reluctant Altaïr was to leave.

Altaïr crossed his arms over his chest and declared, "I'm not going-"

Two days later, he glared at his team with all of his glower power, "I hate you all."

They had decided, much to Altaïr's chagrin, to charter a boat to head south of the coast and they would take the land route to the west. It was to maintain their anonymity and safety on the road but the latter route would be for Altaïr's health. The assassin had not been happy about it all but he conceded as both parties received what they wanted.

"You've said that so much it's lost meaning" Malik replied with amusement to his subdued tantrum and headed onto the platform to the boat. He didn't mind sea travel at all nowadays, unlike his companions.

Bashir eyed the plank with both suspicion and curiosity before stepping onto it. This was all so new to him! A new land to explore had been fun and now the sea awaited him. Smiling at his friends, he spoke rapidly, "I've never been on a boat before, this will be fun! I will chart everything and maybe I'll find answers on how to distinguish the wind currents. Oh, and-"

"Bashir . . . get on the boat now" Altaïr ordered calmly but his serious face was another story altogether. The scientist nodded nervously and ran up the plank, bypassing the dai in a hurry. When it came to his leader, he would not risk angering him. . .especially when the high seas were a good place to throw someone overboard.