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Description
July 21, 1870; Toronto, Ontario

It was a bright sunny day, despite the mood Evelyn and her family were in. She supposed, in a way, it was fitting. It was the kind of day her grandmother always loved. It made her feel good. And given the condition Aveza was in right now, it was the kind of day she needed.

Evelyn sat in the living room with her father while her mother was busy upstairs talking with Aveza in her bedroom. Neither Evelyn nor her father said much. She sat on the couch with her head a bit hung while she twiddled her thumbs. Her father just watched her with a worried expression, pretending to be invested in the book in his lap. Evelyn did her best to stay calm. She knew it was going to happen any day now. The doctors told them how bad Aveza was. Sure, Aveza kept her smile and chipper attitude and everything, but it didn't change the fact that everything going on on the inside was not well. She had been bedridden for weeks, just like Evelyn’s grandfather Arnold was before he tragically passed away back in May. In fact, that day was the only time Aveza had taken off the mask and showed the pain she felt inside. Evelyn, her parents, and her Aunt Charlotte arrived in Toronto as soon as they heard the news. Evelyn had never heard her grandmother cry before… especially not that severely…

But after a couple weeks the mask was on again and Aveza seemed to be the one trying to comfort her family instead of the other way around.

“Oh dearies you worry too much about me,” she would keep saying. “I may be an old coot, but I'll be fine. Promise!”

They never bought it.

Evelyn was scared. Her whole business was in dealing death, but this… this was something she was never and could never be prepared for.

“Sweetheart, how about you go talk to your grandmum after your mother comes down?” her father suggested, his concern too much for him to just sit back.

Evelyn nodded. The two could already hear her mother walking down the steps. Evelyn took a deep breath. “I'm scared, dad…” she said, her voice a whisper.

“I know honey… I know…”

Evelyn’s mother entered the room with Charlotte trying her best to comfort her. She looked broken, almost corpse-like. It broke Evelyn’s heart. She stood and hugged her mother for a couple minutes before leaving the three of them alone to comfort one another. She made her way up the stairs and walked over to Aveza’s bedroom. After a quick knock, Aveza called for her to come in. She entered, and immediately felt a sting in her heart upon seeing her grandmother laying in bed, frail and sickly. The smile still masked Aveza’s illness, but even that seemed to be losing its credibility.

“Evelyn dearie! Come here and sit with grandmum!” Aveza said, weakly patting her bed.

Evelyn did as she was told and sat on the bedside next to her beloved grandmother. She held her wrinkled hand, more to comfort herself than Aveza.

“Your mother can be so dramatic sometimes,” Aveza joked. “Poor dear was in such a fuss and your Aunt Charlotte had to help calm her down. I suppose I can't really blame her though. I remember when my mother…” She shook her head a bit. “Nevermind. I'm trying to stay upbeat.”

Evelyn simply nodded somberly and did her best not to copy her mother. Aveza definitely noticed, and her smile dropped a little bit. She sighed. “I'm sorry dearie. I'm not trying to mock how you all are feeling. I hope you know that. I'm just trying to keep up the mood is all.”

“I know, grandmum… It's just… it's really hard…”

Evelyn felt the tears clawing at the back of her eyes begging to be let out. Aveza put her hand up to Evelyn’s cheek.

“I know it is, dearie, I know,” she said. “But this is something we all have to face eventually. We aren't meant to last forever. Nothing is. At least when I go, I'll be able to look back and say I had a good run.”

“But grandmum…”

“And hey, I lived long enough to see my incredible granddaughter grow into an amazing scientist and an even more astounding Assassin!”

That managed to make Evelyn smile a little bit. Just a little.

“I'm not that great…” she said. “I royally cocked things up between me and Edward…”

Aveza gave a passive wave. “I'm sure he'll come to his senses eventually, dearie,” she said. “Once the vengeance leaves his blood and he sees how terrible the Templars are, he'll come rushing back to the right side.”

“I wish I had the optimism to believe that…”

“Everything will be fine dearie, I promise. And that's coming from the old coot who's gone through two wars, two rebellions, and God knows how many negotiations to keep American settlement at a minimum.”

“You sure are a high pedestal to live up to, grandmum.”

“Nah dearie, I had just as much potential as you do right now.”

“Maybe, but you fought a war when you were just 17. When I was 17 I was all stuck in my books.”

“And what's wrong with that? Look how bright you are because of it! You're one of the smartest girls I've met and you have no idea how proud it makes me to be able to tell people that you're my granddaughter!”

“Thank you, grandmum.”

Aveza nodded. She fidgeted in her bed. “Come on, help grandmum sit up so that I can give you a hug,” she said.

Evelyn nodded and carefully helped her sit up against her pillows.

“Ugh,” Aveza groaned as her bones creaked. “You know, I miss the good old days when movement was easy. Don't take it for granted, dearie. Trust me.”

Evelyn managed to chuckle. “Okay grandmum.”

Aveza chuckled back, and gave her granddaughter as tight a hug as she was able to give. That was enough to make Evelyn really smile.

Unfortunately that smile was soon interrupted. Aveza suddenly started coughing hard. She bent over a bit and Evelyn panicked.

“Grandmum?!” she said, holding Aveza. “Are you okay?!”

Aveza waved and her coughing slowly died down. “I'm fine dearie,” she choked. “I'm fine. Just the kind of rubbish you have to deal with when you're 75 and sick as a hound. Help me lay back down, will you dearie?”

“I… yes.”

“Thank you, dearie!”

Evelyn simply nodded, her hands shaking in anxiety. She slowly and carefully helped her grandmother lower her head back down to her pillow.

Aveza’s smile was fading more and more. Evelyn noticed her getting pale.

Aveza sighed. “I hope Arnold reserved a room for me up there…” she said. “He knows how much I like a good room when moving in to a new place.”

A tear suddenly escaped Evelyn’s eyelid and dropped onto Aveza’s hand, which Evelyn was still holding. Aveza looked over at her granddaughter.

“I need you to stay strong for me, okay dearie?” she told her. “For me, for your mum, and for the Brotherhood. Those Frye twins might have gotten rid of the grand master in London but there's still dozens of Templars trying to ruin this world.”

“Like Joseph Leidy and Edward…”

“Aye. I've played my part, and now it's your turn to play yours. I get the feeling you've got a long adventure ahead of you.”

“But… but I want you to be there to guide me, grandmum…” Her control was breaking down. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She saw her grandmother's eyes fluttering ever so slightly as she did her best to smile at the young girl. Evelyn didn't let go of her hand.

“Dearie, I will always be with you. You know that. Your grandfather and I will be watching you all the way, cheering you on.”

“But grandmum…” Her breathing was hard and ragged, her lip trembling as she struggled to see through her tear-blurred vision.

Aveza looked up at her, smiling an old wrinkled smile. “I love you so much, Evelyn,” she said. “Be sure to tell your mother and aunt I told them the same…”

“I love you too, grandmum…”

Aveza simply smiled, her eyes slowly shutting and her chest slowing down. Evelyn felt her hand going limp. She started to panic again, but this time that panic locked her body in place, too terrified to move. Aveza’s chest stopped moving. Her smile drooped a bit. She was still.

Completely still.

Evelyn sat in shock and stared. “...Grandmum?” she choked. She gently shook her grandmother's shoulder. “Grandmum…?” No response. She shook a little harder. Still no response. Evelyn knew what had happened but her mind refused to accept it. She shook a little more, but all she received was silence and stillness. Evelyn started breaking down, crying as the reality hit her like a freight train. Her whole body shook as the warm tears rolled down and burnt her cheeks.

“No…” she croaked. She bent down and hugged her grandmother as tight as she could, crying and sputtering as she soaked Aveza’s nightgown with her tears. She didn't even notice her father enter the room upon hearing the wails of his daughter.

“Evelyn?” he asked. “Is everything- Oh…” He could tell what had happened the second he walked in the room. He walked up to his daughter and hugged her tight. She switched from soaking the nightgown to soaking his waistcoat.

“She's gone, dad…” she cried. “She's gone…”

“Oh Evelyn… I'm so sorry… I'm so so sorry…”

Evelyn simply continued to cry into his shoulder as he gently rocked her back and forth trying to comfort her. Soon they were joined by her mother and aunt, who also broke down crying when they saw the still state of their beloved mother. The four of them huddled by the bedside in a grieving group hug, each doing their best to comfort one another while they themselves cried and cried. Evelyn sat at the center of it all, unable to focus on anything else but her grief and whisper muffled and sputtered goodbyes to one of the most important and loving women in her life.

“...Ruby I want out,” Ava said. The simulation warped a bit when she spoke and broke away from Evelyn’s consciousness. “Please…”

“Sure, Champ. Hold up. I'll have you out in just a sec.”

Sure enough, the scene of the somber Toronto bedroom broke apart into a digital void of white. Ava regained feeling in her body as her mind took the wheel and history was left behind. Ruby pulled the headset off of her face and put a hand on her shoulder as she sat up.

“You okay?” she asked Ava.

“Yeah…” Ava said, rubbing her head. “Just… that really hurt, ya know?”

Chelsea and Ben walked over to help out. “Everything okay?” Ben asked.

“Evelyn had to sit through Aveza’s death…” Ava explained.

“Oh…” said Chelsea.

“I guess after spending all that time in Aveza’s memories from 1812, I kinda… you know… grew attached to her. So when she passed away like that…”

Ruby hugged her girlfriend. “At least she was happy in her last moments,” she said. “I'm not really a religious person, but I bet if there is a heaven then she's watching over you just like she watched over Evelyn. I bet she's proud.”

That made Ava smile. “Thanks Rubes.”

“No prob, honey.” She gave her a quick kiss. “You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah yeah. I'll be fine. Just kinda need a minute.”

Ruby nodded and rubbed Ava's shoulder as she shook off the feeling.

“So… what's new in the present?” Ava asked, trying to take her mind off things.

“Not much,” Ben explained. “Carter and Jess are down in Indianapolis getting supplies and making sure everything is okay.”

“Cool cool.”

“We've been monitoring our intel trying to find some leads on the Scythe of Eden thing,” Chelsea added.

“Any luck?”

“None at all! Because the wifi down here sucks!” She turned toward the hologram of Gabriel as she said that.

“Hey!” Gabriel said. “It's not my fault! You try keeping a 75000 year old temple in good condition when you are literally just a hologram!”

Ava laughed. “Well at least there aren't any big threatening surprises,” she said as she stood up and stretched her legs.

Suddenly there was a loud crash that came from the entrance hall. The gang all turned to see what it was. They heard a muffled “Aw crap,” and then a brown-cloaked figure suddenly stumbled into the chamber entryway. All four Assassin’ eyes widened, and words were ripped from their mouths as their jaws dropped.

“So uh…” Jacob said as he faced them. “I might have broken the door a bit. I thought it was a push.”

They all just stared.

“...What?”

Description
July 21, 1870; Toronto, Ontario

It was a bright sunny day, despite the mood Evelyn and her family were in. She supposed, in a way, it was fitting. It was the kind of day her grandmother always loved. It made her feel good. And given the condition Aveza was in right now, it was the kind of day she needed.

Evelyn sat in the living room with her father while her mother was busy upstairs talking with Aveza in her bedroom. Neither Evelyn nor her father said much. She sat on the couch with her head a bit hung while she twiddled her thumbs. Her father just watched her with a worried expression, pretending to be invested in the book in his lap. Evelyn did her best to stay calm. She knew it was going to happen any day now. The doctors told them how bad Aveza was. Sure, Aveza kept her smile and chipper attitude and everything, but it didn't change the fact that everything going on on the inside was not well. She had been bedridden for weeks, just like Evelyn’s grandfather Arnold was before he tragically passed away back in May. In fact, that day was the only time Aveza had taken off the mask and showed the pain she felt inside. Evelyn, her parents, and her Aunt Charlotte arrived in Toronto as soon as they heard the news. Evelyn had never heard her grandmother cry before… especially not that severely…

But after a couple weeks the mask was on again and Aveza seemed to be the one trying to comfort her family instead of the other way around.

“Oh dearies you worry too much about me,” she would keep saying. “I may be an old coot, but I'll be fine. Promise!”

They never bought it.

Evelyn was scared. Her whole business was in dealing death, but this… this was something she was never and could never be prepared for.

“Sweetheart, how about you go talk to your grandmum after your mother comes down?” her father suggested, his concern too much for him to just sit back.

Evelyn nodded. The two could already hear her mother walking down the steps. Evelyn took a deep breath. “I'm scared, dad…” she said, her voice a whisper.

“I know honey… I know…”

Evelyn’s mother entered the room with Charlotte trying her best to comfort her. She looked broken, almost corpse-like. It broke Evelyn’s heart. She stood and hugged her mother for a couple minutes before leaving the three of them alone to comfort one another. She made her way up the stairs and walked over to Aveza’s bedroom. After a quick knock, Aveza called for her to come in. She entered, and immediately felt a sting in her heart upon seeing her grandmother laying in bed, frail and sickly. The smile still masked Aveza’s illness, but even that seemed to be losing its credibility.

“Evelyn dearie! Come here and sit with grandmum!” Aveza said, weakly patting her bed.

Evelyn did as she was told and sat on the bedside next to her beloved grandmother. She held her wrinkled hand, more to comfort herself than Aveza.

“Your mother can be so dramatic sometimes,” Aveza joked. “Poor dear was in such a fuss and your Aunt Charlotte had to help calm her down. I suppose I can't really blame her though. I remember when my mother…” She shook her head a bit. “Nevermind. I'm trying to stay upbeat.”

Evelyn simply nodded somberly and did her best not to copy her mother. Aveza definitely noticed, and her smile dropped a little bit. She sighed. “I'm sorry dearie. I'm not trying to mock how you all are feeling. I hope you know that. I'm just trying to keep up the mood is all.”

“I know, grandmum… It's just… it's really hard…”

Evelyn felt the tears clawing at the back of her eyes begging to be let out. Aveza put her hand up to Evelyn’s cheek.

“I know it is, dearie, I know,” she said. “But this is something we all have to face eventually. We aren't meant to last forever. Nothing is. At least when I go, I'll be able to look back and say I had a good run.”

“But grandmum…”

“And hey, I lived long enough to see my incredible granddaughter grow into an amazing scientist and an even more astounding Assassin!”

That managed to make Evelyn smile a little bit. Just a little.

“I'm not that great…” she said. “I royally cocked things up between me and Edward…”

Aveza gave a passive wave. “I'm sure he'll come to his senses eventually, dearie,” she said. “Once the vengeance leaves his blood and he sees how terrible the Templars are, he'll come rushing back to the right side.”

“I wish I had the optimism to believe that…”

“Everything will be fine dearie, I promise. And that's coming from the old coot who's gone through two wars, two rebellions, and God knows how many negotiations to keep American settlement at a minimum.”

“You sure are a high pedestal to live up to, grandmum.”

“Nah dearie, I had just as much potential as you do right now.”

“Maybe, but you fought a war when you were just 17. When I was 17 I was all stuck in my books.”

“And what's wrong with that? Look how bright you are because of it! You're one of the smartest girls I've met and you have no idea how proud it makes me to be able to tell people that you're my granddaughter!”

“Thank you, grandmum.”

Aveza nodded. She fidgeted in her bed. “Come on, help grandmum sit up so that I can give you a hug,” she said.

Evelyn nodded and carefully helped her sit up against her pillows.

“Ugh,” Aveza groaned as her bones creaked. “You know, I miss the good old days when movement was easy. Don't take it for granted, dearie. Trust me.”

Evelyn managed to chuckle. “Okay grandmum.”

Aveza chuckled back, and gave her granddaughter as tight a hug as she was able to give. That was enough to make Evelyn really smile.

Unfortunately that smile was soon interrupted. Aveza suddenly started coughing hard. She bent over a bit and Evelyn panicked.

“Grandmum?!” she said, holding Aveza. “Are you okay?!”

Aveza waved and her coughing slowly died down. “I'm fine dearie,” she choked. “I'm fine. Just the kind of rubbish you have to deal with when you're 75 and sick as a hound. Help me lay back down, will you dearie?”

“I… yes.”

“Thank you, dearie!”

Evelyn simply nodded, her hands shaking in anxiety. She slowly and carefully helped her grandmother lower her head back down to her pillow.

Aveza’s smile was fading more and more. Evelyn noticed her getting pale.

Aveza sighed. “I hope Arnold reserved a room for me up there…” she said. “He knows how much I like a good room when moving in to a new place.”

A tear suddenly escaped Evelyn’s eyelid and dropped onto Aveza’s hand, which Evelyn was still holding. Aveza looked over at her granddaughter.

“I need you to stay strong for me, okay dearie?” she told her. “For me, for your mum, and for the Brotherhood. Those Frye twins might have gotten rid of the grand master in London but there's still dozens of Templars trying to ruin this world.”

“Like Joseph Leidy and Edward…”

“Aye. I've played my part, and now it's your turn to play yours. I get the feeling you've got a long adventure ahead of you.”

“But… but I want you to be there to guide me, grandmum…” Her control was breaking down. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer. She saw her grandmother's eyes fluttering ever so slightly as she did her best to smile at the young girl. Evelyn didn't let go of her hand.

“Dearie, I will always be with you. You know that. Your grandfather and I will be watching you all the way, cheering you on.”

“But grandmum…” Her breathing was hard and ragged, her lip trembling as she struggled to see through her tear-blurred vision.

Aveza looked up at her, smiling an old wrinkled smile. “I love you so much, Evelyn,” she said. “Be sure to tell your mother and aunt I told them the same…”

“I love you too, grandmum…”

Aveza simply smiled, her eyes slowly shutting and her chest slowing down. Evelyn felt her hand going limp. She started to panic again, but this time that panic locked her body in place, too terrified to move. Aveza’s chest stopped moving. Her smile drooped a bit. She was still.

Completely still.

Evelyn sat in shock and stared. “...Grandmum?” she choked. She gently shook her grandmother's shoulder. “Grandmum…?” No response. She shook a little harder. Still no response. Evelyn knew what had happened but her mind refused to accept it. She shook a little more, but all she received was silence and stillness. Evelyn started breaking down, crying as the reality hit her like a freight train. Her whole body shook as the warm tears rolled down and burnt her cheeks.

“No…” she croaked. She bent down and hugged her grandmother as tight as she could, crying and sputtering as she soaked Aveza’s nightgown with her tears. She didn't even notice her father enter the room upon hearing the wails of his daughter.

“Evelyn?” he asked. “Is everything- Oh…” He could tell what had happened the second he walked in the room. He walked up to his daughter and hugged her tight. She switched from soaking the nightgown to soaking his waistcoat.

“She's gone, dad…” she cried. “She's gone…”

“Oh Evelyn… I'm so sorry… I'm so so sorry…”

Evelyn simply continued to cry into his shoulder as he gently rocked her back and forth trying to comfort her. Soon they were joined by her mother and aunt, who also broke down crying when they saw the still state of their beloved mother. The four of them huddled by the bedside in a grieving group hug, each doing their best to comfort one another while they themselves cried and cried. Evelyn sat at the center of it all, unable to focus on anything else but her grief and whisper muffled and sputtered goodbyes to one of the most important and loving women in her life.

“...Ruby I want out,” Ava said. The simulation warped a bit when she spoke and broke away from Evelyn’s consciousness. “Please…”

“Sure, Champ. Hold up. I'll have you out in just a sec.”

Sure enough, the scene of the somber Toronto bedroom broke apart into a digital void of white. Ava regained feeling in her body as her mind took the wheel and history was left behind. Ruby pulled the headset off of her face and put a hand on her shoulder as she sat up.

“You okay?” she asked Ava.

“Yeah…” Ava said, rubbing her head. “Just… that really hurt, ya know?”

Chelsea and Ben walked over to help out. “Everything okay?” Ben asked.

“Evelyn had to sit through Aveza’s death…” Ava explained.

“Oh…” said Chelsea.

“I guess after spending all that time in Aveza’s memories from 1812, I kinda… you know… grew attached to her. So when she passed away like that…”

Ruby hugged her girlfriend. “At least she was happy in her last moments,” she said. “I'm not really a religious person, but I bet if there is a heaven then she's watching over you just like she watched over Evelyn. I bet she's proud.”

That made Ava smile. “Thanks Rubes.”

“No prob, honey.” She gave her a quick kiss. “You gonna be okay?”

“Yeah yeah. I'll be fine. Just kinda need a minute.”

Ruby nodded and rubbed Ava's shoulder as she shook off the feeling.

“So… what's new in the present?” Ava asked, trying to take her mind off things.

“Not much,” Ben explained. “Carter and Jess are down in Indianapolis getting supplies and making sure everything is okay.”

“Cool cool.”

“We've been monitoring our intel trying to find some leads on the Scythe of Eden thing,” Chelsea added.

“Any luck?”

“None at all! Because the wifi down here sucks!” She turned toward the hologram of Gabriel as she said that.

“Hey!” Gabriel said. “It's not my fault! You try keeping a 75000 year old temple in good condition when you are literally just a hologram!”

Ava laughed. “Well at least there aren't any big threatening surprises,” she said as she stood up and stretched her legs.

Suddenly there was a loud crash that came from the entrance hall. The gang all turned to see what it was. They heard a muffled “Aw crap,” and then a brown-cloaked figure suddenly stumbled into the chamber entryway. All four Assassin’ eyes widened, and words were ripped from their mouths as their jaws dropped.

“So uh…” Jacob said as he faced them. “I might have broken the door a bit. I thought it was a push.”

They all just stared.

“...What?”