AC: S16 Escape the Memories

Ear pressed against the door, Clay listened intently for any sound from the room outside.  The only sound he could hear, however, was the buzz of silence broken occasionally by his own breath.  Still, he remained frozen.  He would only receive one chance.  For that he needed to be absolutely positive that the connecting room was unoccupied.  After five more agonizing minutes, his impatience outweighed his need for caution.  He unlocked his door with a security card he had lifted off one of the animus technicians who had come to repair the machine earlier that day.  

At the first crack of freedom, Clay exhaled and stepped into the lab.  He only gave the animus a passing glance as he jogged for the main door.  He knew that if he even saw the machine now; he might lose all sense of who he was again.  Once more he paused at the obstacle in his path but did not hesitate as long as the first.  With a defiant swipe of the keycard, the door parted before him.  Cautiously, he peered out and once he ensured the hall was clear; he stepped out of the lab.

His feet padded silently down the hall and all he could do was attempt to keep all thoughts from his mind.  He could not lose who he was now.  The thought of one more moment feeling, thinking, or being someone different was overwhelming.  

He pushed himself faster, in an attempt to outrun the memories.  He made it to the elevator without incident.  He had clocked long ago when the rotations of guards and scientists passed.  In three minutes and forty-seven seconds the next security guards would roam by.  The button caved under his furious punch and he stepped back to await the small room that would deliver him to freedom.       

Lights flicked on as a soft grinding noise filled the hall.  The last ding echoed in his mind as the doors began to open.  With a soft curse he threw himself at the wall just as the metal parted.  At the last moment he had remembered the danger that could step out of the metal box before he could enter.  Heart pounding, he stood frozen until he finally peeled himself away from the white wall and stepped over the crack in the floor and entered the elevator.  

The door slid shut behind him as he swiped the card once more through the security override and pressed the floor to Abstergo's parking garage.  The override would prevent any unwanted Abstergo agents from discovering his escape.  He stared impatiently as the lights winked out and a hysterical giggle escaped his lips.  His eyes widened in terror as he felt his mind slipping between his own thoughts and the memories of another.      

"No … no…. no," he gripped the railing in a last ditch effort to keep himself grounded.  "No!"

The sand was firm under his sandaled feet as the roar of the crowd filled the arena around him.  His hands were empty as the gate before him opened revealing the blaring sun and the arena crammed with shouting spectators.  He blinked once, then twice as he edged hesitantly onto the floor.   

"My Lord, protect me …" he said; his Roman language sounded strange in his own head.  

He turned in time as an alarmed cry sounded from his right.  Another gladiator rushed toward him spear in hand.  Acting on instinct he twisted out of the way to the pleasure of the crowd.  He was favored among many.  The roar blocked out the sound of the other two who had snuck up behind him.  The only hint he reserved before the blow to the back of his head was the shadowed movement on the sand at his feet.  

With a grunt he collapsed to his knees.  His vision blurred and he rolled away from the next attack, but he failed and received another connecting hit to the temple.  His world went black.  In that moment all he could think of was his three children.  They would be left alone in the world now and in all likelihood become servants themselves.

"Please my Lord…" the pray escaped his bloodied lips as the crowd cried for him to be spared.  "Please…"

The stadium grew silent and he knew that the emperor would have stood to present them his judgment.  Cheering erupted and he cringed as he awaited the strike that would finish him.  Instead, he felt arms lifting him up and drag him away.  He fell into unconsciousness as he passed under the gate that had led him onto the arena floor ….

…And he awoke with Vidic glaring at him.  "Emperor…" the word caught in his throat as the haze lifted and he returned to himself.     

"I'm afraid we are not through with you yet, Mister Kaczmerak," Vidic made no comment on the error, and his voice held no anger.

Clay shook his head and stared up groggily.  Yes.   He was Clay Kaczmerak, and he knew that no matter what the doctor said; they were going to kill him.  

"I'm afraid we underestimated your abilities," Vidic stated as he stood stonily at the foot of the table Clay lay on.  "And those issues will be addressed.  As for know since you're awake…"

Clay's eyebrows knitted together as he followed slowly followed the conversation.  His fingers curled around the table in fear but froze mid-grip.  His right hand gently slid over the surface again and at once he recognized his mistake.  It was no table … he lay once more on the animus.

"No!" he shouted as his world disappeared in a brilliant flash of white.