Chapter I - Part I

It was quite silent for some minutes now already. The red haired Brit sat on his chair right in front of his desk. There were some photographs at the wall ahead, little marks on maps, lines that connected them with each other. Some nice design, that was. He used drawing pins which were linked to each other with fine red threads, so he wouldn't need to print the maps out over and over again when there had something changed in his conclusions thanks to new events.

"Oi, Shaun. Think they made it out?"

He had almost forgotten about the woman sitting some steps away in his back and got now pulled out of his thoughts about the connections between Leonardo da Vinci and Cesare Borgia by her - for a woman rather dark - voice. Very few moments he had to think about an answer - for him though, a few moments weren't even a second in that case.

"Well, since I haven't heard any squealing tires yet, nor shots, I assume they indeed are on their way still and with a bit of luck, they weren't followed either - in case Lucy managed to follow my instructions, that is."

Just when the Briton had finished his sentence, he heard the sounds in the hall on the lower floor - announcing the arrival of the two members of their new team. A satisfied smile crept up his lips when he heard the cars doors. So they finally made it to their hideout. Obviously they weren't followed for they didn't hurry at all. Sure, this was a good thing - but, damn, it wasn't like they'd have all the time in the bloody world now!

As soon as they entered, Shaun greeted Lucy with a small hug and let Rebecca do the same then. While the girls exchanged some words, Shaun eyed the stranger that was supposed to turn the tables now and make the whole operation on saving the world a lot easier. First of all his ancestors and hopefully secondly his bleeding effect were supposed to do that - and the not yet discovered skill to adapt to situations and learn new things rather fast would add up to that. In time, of course.

"So, you must be the infamous subject seventeen..", he murmured.
"And you are?" Desmond eyed the Brit up and down in a skeptical way. He didn't like it to be called like that, nor did he like that tone of the guy.
"Oh, where are my manners? Why, my name is Shaun Hastings and this is Rebecca Crane."
The dark haired mechanic flashed Desmond a grin. "Hey Desmond. Great to have you on board."
Lucy got the memory core out of her pocket and gave it to the other woman. "A parting gift from Abstergo.", she commented with a plain smile.
"Whoah! The memory core! That'll make things a lot easier! I'll just have to insert it and-..."
With that she was off already and took the core to her Baby. The blonde went to her laptop in the corner of the little loft and sat down behind her desk then, leaving the guys to each other.

Both eyed one another for a few moments, then the Brit just turned around and walked back to his own desk, leaving Desmond alone at his position, staring blankly for a moment. So much for British politeness, huh?

The American stopped playing the statue-game and walked around a little to explore his new home. Well, if you wanted to call it that way. Golden eyes tried to catch every detail, beginning with the red lounger, which was supposed to become his best friend in future, and the cables that vanished under some dark cover so no one would stumble over them. There was some small screen too, right on top of some construction that seemed to be for getting the DNA information. Some of the cables led to servers which were lined up at the walls. After some moments in which he stood closer to Rebecca, she looked up at him and grinned.

"'Sup?"
"Uh, just wondering what exactly your part is in this.", he murmured then - not really being honest at that part now. Actually, he didn't. It was obvious. And so he didn't even listen. Just when she spoke of some baby, he repeated the word, making her explain. When she finally released him, he went closer to Shaun. Maybe he was just not the group person.

"Hey.", he greeted with a little smile. Maybe they just had a bad start?
"Hello, Desmond. Go away.", the Brit replied.
"Hey!"
"You said that already."
"What-? Hey!"
"Indeed. Ensuing from your word pool you have to be a genius beyond comparison."
"You..! You..!"
"Thanks for the reassurement.", Shaun mumbled and continued to click with his mouse.

Desmond took a deep breath and tried again now. He bent down to the Brit a little and looked over his shoulder right at the screen.

"So, what is that stuff all about?"
"That stuff?" Shaun now pulled away from him a little and turned onto the chair to face him better, adjusting the glasses while he spoke. "Oh, that - that stuff, actually, is just the stuff that keeps the whole operation together and working. And it requires a great deal of concentration to do it, so if you wouldn't mind to just leave me be now and do my work, I would really appreciate that."

And with those sentences he turned back to the screen again and continued to click and type some commands here and there, leaving Desmond startled another time. Nobody had ever managed to do that in that short period of time yet.

"You.. still haven't told me what you're doing anyway.."
A resigned sigh followed and Shaun turned around another time after he pressed enter, flooding the screen with some automatic commands now for a while and keeping it busy for now. "I am providing you information about places your ancestors have been, people they met and some strategic hints when you are inside of the Animus and finally would start your work."

Desmond tried to interrupt him and parted his lips to tell him that Rebecca wasn't ready yet, but Shaun just continued.

"Additionally I supply the other assassins with information and strategies. You know, those that are out there. Actually doing stuff."

Again, he turned around and left him with his mouth open.

"Oh, come on..", Desmond murmured.
"I'm busy. Go away now."
"Shaun! " Now it was the blonde that interfered. "Be nice to Desmond.", she added in a warning tone.
"Wha-What? He - is - disturbing my work!", Shaun protested right away.
"Hey guys, it's alright, I'm done with the configuration! Dez, you can enter the Animus 2.0 now.", Rebecca announced and interrupted Shauns starting argumentation.

Desmonds eyes wandered the room for a moment, then he walked up to the lounger to lay down. Rebecca told him to take a deep breath and he did, trusting her fully. Then he slowly drifted off and was introduced to Ezio Auditore da Firenze - luckily not starting at the state of a baby but some years later.

Just like he promised, Shaun gave him information on his surroundings. To not interrupt the conversations he should listen to, he did so in writing. Something that irritated him a little on the first time. But, at least, nothing would change in the past and he could just talk to Shaun and the rest. The first fight started fast - a bit too fast for Desmond, who had to remember what he had learned thanks to Altair.

It took some tries to get to used to Ezio though.. but he somehow managed to synch the memories anyway. When they pulled him out, he was alone with Rebecca and Shaun.

"Lucy's buying some groceries. We thought you might be hungry.", Becca said and grinned again in that absolutely not lady-like-way.

Shaun remained silent at his desk, while Desmond slowly got up. His hand wandered to the forehead and he shook his head a little.

"Are you alright, Dez?"
"Yeah.. yeah, I'm fine. Thanks, Bexx.", he said and smiled at her a little.

He really was. But it felt strange to be pulled out or pushed in again. There were just so many impressions for his brains to get along with and work with now, that he almost couldn't handle all of it. For a few moments he just sat there, then he got up again.

"Oh, shit. I gotta go, I'll be right back, guys, don't kill each other, okay?"

Right away, Rebecca got up and ran a few steps, then he remembered his headset and put it down onto the desk, put the earpiece into his ear and ran outside finally. The barkeeper looked around. The room was only dimly lit now for it was evening already and the sun had already set, though they didn't want to draw any attention to their little hideout inside of the former company. Somehow it felt strange to be alone with Shaun.

"Hey, uh... Good work today."

Somehow he felt like he'd be supposed to start a conversation, so Desmond just tried with a little smile on his lips. But the Brit didn't feel like talking, obviously.

"I mean - thanks. I really, uh, appreciate that you're helping me to understand what's, uh, up there."
"Was."
"What?"
"What was going on. Don't forget, it is distant past. This Ezio is not you. Never forget about that. Or you might end up in some clinic because of some mental disorder."
"Wait, you mean I can go nuts by being inside of the Animus!"
"Oh, Desmond, people can and will become insane everywhere because of everything. It is about control. You have to control it and you won't have any problems."

Desmond came closer now and looked over Shauns shoulder then.

"Actually, it is quite good to have you alone now, Desmond. There is something I would like to talk about with you..."