- "We fight so we can safeguard humanity's freewill, their right to choose their own path. Now, I'm giving you the option to choose yours."
- ―Hayley Yasutake to Horatio Pierce, 2017
| Hayley Yasutake | |
|---|---|
| |
| Biographical information | |
| Born |
1 January 1992 |
| Political information | |
| Affiliations |
Assassins (2012) |
| Real-world information | |
| Appears in |
Assassin's Creed: Heritage (modern day) |
Hayley Yasutake (born 1992) is a Master Assassin of the American Assassin Brotherhood of the Modern day. She is the leader of her own Assassin Cell compromising of the Assassins Horatio Pierce, Jason Hart and Erica Boyd.
In 2017, Hayley aided Horatio Pierce in locating his father and the Sources of Eden through the genetic memories of his ancestors.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Hayley's parents were field agents and members of the Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins before moving to The Farm in South Dakota, United States where Hayley would be born.
In 2000, amidst the Great Purge, her parents were killed leaving her orphaned. Hayley would then be taken under the wing of Master Assassin Arnold Pierce to be personally trained by him, the two have a father-daughter like bond and she cares deeply for her mentor.
In late 2016, Arnold mysteriously went missing. Due to her being close to him, she was tasked by Gavin Banks and given leadership of her own team compromising of the hacker Jason Hart and the historian Erica Boyd.
Abstergo Industries, Ontario[]
Hayley in 2017.
In June 2017, she learned of the existence of her Arnold's son, Horatio Pierce. She kept tabs on him to see if he knew anything about his father's disappearance only to discover he had been captured by Abstergo Industries.
As a way to get to him, she decided to infiltrate Abstergo's Ontario facility by willingly allowing herself to be captured by Juhani Otso Berg and Sigma Team. A few days later she finally met the young man and informed Horatio that everything would be okay.
A month later, the Assassins attacked the Ontario facility as a distraction so Hayley and Horatio could escape with his father's clues.
Hunt for the Sources[]
On the drive to Minnesota, Horatio explained to Hayley that Abstergo were trying to create their own Piece of Eden and then proceeded to tell her what the Sources of Eden were and that Abstergo were using his ancestor's genetic memory to look for them.
Upon arriving to her hideout in Minnesota, she allowed Horatio to gather her bearings and she contacted William Miles to inform him of what's transpired. William deduced that Horatio's father's disappearance may be linked with the Sources of Eden and Project Omega, William advised that they'd explore Horatio's genetic memory to find these other Sources before Abstergo and find Horatio's father.
Later on, Hayley offered Horatio the chance to join the Assassins to which he accepted. Happy with Horatio's choice, she provided him with a Hidden Blade and welcomed him to the Brotherhood.
Training Horatio[]
Before exploring the genetic memories of his ancestor, Horatio desired to know the name of his father. Hayley told Horatio that his father's name was Arnold, Arnold Pierce and that he was one of the greatest men she has ever known. Still holding some resentment toward Arnold, Horatio didn't fully believe her.
After that, Horatio began reliving the memories of his ancestor Kenneth Ravensdale in the year 1768. Hayley and the other's monitored Horatio's health during these sessions. A few days later, during an Animus session Horatio pulled himself out of the Animus, confused, he asked what had just happened and if the Animus was glitching. Jason went on to tell the team that in 1769, Kenneth and Coahoma has conceived a child and due to genetic memory, the Animus focuses on the next ancestor in the bloodline. Hayley asks what happens now, if they can't view Kenneth's memories how would they find the next Source of Eden.
Erica then pulls up a historical record on the Assassin, Osyka and states in the 1790s he and his father came across the exact same Source that Kenneth and Richard were searching for in 1770 and that there was clearly more to the story. Hayley also states that they could use this to kill two birds with one stone and use the memories of Osyka to train Horatio through the Bleeding Effect.
A few weeks later, Horatio completed the first sequence of Osyka's memories from 1770 to 1787. Because of this, Hayley pulled Horatio from the Animus, Horatio was confused as to why she took him out of the Animus session. Hayley informed Horatio that staying in the Animus for too long is dangerous and that he needed a break, Hayley also stated that he should test out the new skills he's learned from Osyka. Horatio and Hayley left the hideout they were currently staying in and began freerunning through the city, Horatio was confused to how he was doing this so naturally which Hayley commented "that's the beauty of the Bleeding Effect".
The two finally stopped on a rooftop of a building. Hayley then placed her fists up in a defensive stance and told Horatio to try and hit her, being raised as a person to not hit women he declined until Hayley started attacking Horatio herself, through muscle memory and the Bleeding Effect, Horatio was able to block and counter most of her attacks and the two entered a sparring session. Hayley gets the upperhand and knocks Horatio to the ground, Hayley helps Horatio up and states he won't be a complete pro straight away and the two laugh about it. Horatio and Hayley begin to share a moment but it is cut short when a spotlight beams on them, the two see a helicopter with an Abstergo insignia on it and a smokescreen is thrown at them.
Hayley asks if Horatio has his Hidden Blade to which he does. Abstergo agents begin descending from the helicopter and the two begin the Abstergo agents, suddenly a Templar agent named Kyle North drops down and attacks Hayley. Hayley orders Horatio to take out the Abstergo agents while she combats Kyle, although Hayley is downed and almost killed by him. Horatio quickly jumps in and attacks Kyle but is quickly disabled by him, Hayley stabs Kyle and takes Horatio to flee Abstergo.
Escape to New York[]
Hayley and Horatio flee to their hideout, the two notify Jason and Erica that Abstergo's discovered them. It was an amount of time this would happen, the team pack up their things and put them in the van and leave Minnesota. Hayley tells the team that there is a hideout in New York and that's where they'll be headed, Erica suggests that Horatio continue digging around Osyka's memories in the meantime.
During the 20 hour drive to New York, Jason is monitoring Horatio's vitals inside the Animus 5.0 interface while Hayley and Erica converse. Erica shows her skepticism and wonders if this is all just some wild goose chase, Hayley states that they need to have faith, Erica expresses her worry that Abstergo is exploring Horatio's genetic memories and that they may find the Sources before the Assassins.
When arriving in New York, Horatio finishes his Animus session. Hayley books a motel which confuses the team, Hayley states that while it's not what they expected the motel is still a hideout either way. Before going to bed, Jason asked Horatio accompany him to get supplies while Hayley and Erica stay in the motel and keep watch.
The next day, after breakfast. Horatio continues exploring Osyka's genetic memory.
Finding Arnold[]
Weeks later, during an Animus Session. While watching a feed through Horatio in Osyka's avatar, they would see that a member of the Isu communicated directly to Horatio explaining that he must find and keep the Sources from Templar and Assassin hands. Horatio pulled himself out of the Animus to tell his team but before he could say anything, the team informed him that they already knew as they were viewing the footage.
Hayley is frustrated at the fact that "1768" was their last clue to finding Arnold and they still had no idea where he was. Putting the information together, Horatio realized that Osyka hid the second Source of Eden in a Temple in Mexico and that must be where Arnold had gone to. Erica applauded Horatio for his puzzle solving skills and the team immediately left for Mexico.
Horatio led the team to the Temple by remembering the steps he took as Osyka. There, the team arrived at the Temple to find a man standing outside the entrance. The man turned around to look at Horatio and the team and uttered the words "Son, it's about damn time".
Angered by this, Horatio cursed his father with the latter responding he probably deserved the indecent comment. Despite this, Hayley embraced her mentor stating she was glad to see him while Jason and Erica introduced themselves stating they knew of his work and were glad to meet him. Arnold goes on to ask Horatio and the team if they had seen the message that the Isu told Osyka in 1797 to which they confirmed. Arnold then stated that they must know the Source is inside the Temple.
Realizing this, Erica asked why Arnold hadn't entered the Temple himself yet to which Arnold replied with the Temple is coded to Isu DNA and that his wasn't high enough. Arnold, Hayley, Erica and Jason all look to Horatio hinting that he has a count high enough to unlock it, Horatio sighed and approaches the Temple entrance but before opening it, Arnold pushes Horatio away from getting shot.
Kyle North had returned with more Abstergo agents. Arnold asked how Abstergo found them, North answered their question by stating he discovered the location of the Temple through the memories of Osyka. An irritated Arnold asks Horatio how he could be so careless, Horatio simply responds with another "fuck you", Hayley chimes in by stating now is not the time for a father-son squabble. Arnold agrees and tells Jason and Erica to take cover as they were not field agents, Hayley asks if Arnold should do the same but Arnold rebuffs stating that Ezio Auditore was fighting armies at 52 years old.
The three Assassins entered battle with the Abstergo agents once more, Hayley and Arnold being the more experienced Assassins fought off North while Horatio fought the Abstergo agents. Although, Kyle's skills proved too great once more and he began overpowering the two to which the younger Assassin, Horatio came to their aid to buy time. With more reinforcements arriving, the Assassins flee inside the Temple and lock it on their way in so that Abstergo can't get in.
Ugochukwu[]
Upon entering the Temple. Arnold suggests they set up a hideout in the Temple to which everyone agrees. Horatio was shot and grazed in the shoulder in the skirmish and Hayley volunteered herself to bandage Horatio's shoulder. In the meantime, Arnold, Jason and Erica will search for the Source.
While bandaging him up, Hayley asks that Horatio not be so hard on his father to which Horatio retaliates and calls Arnold a "dick". Hayley tells him she understands his resentment as she knows what it feels like to be abandoned, ignorantly he asks what she knows about abandonment which leads to her revealing that during the Great Purge of 2000 her parents were killed. Unaware of the Great Purge, he asks her what that was, Hayley explains to him that the Great Purge was the near eradication of all the Assassins in 2000 due to the turncoat Daniel Cross. Horatio realizes that the Great Purge must have been the reason his father left him and his mother which Hayley confirms, Horatio goes to further state that while he understands it won't magically repair what little relationship they already had. Hayley understands this.
Suddenly, Arnold, Jason and Erica return with bad news. An irritated Horatio asks what happened which leads Jason to state that the Source is gone, Horatio states that it's impossible as Osyka locked the Temple in 1797. Erica suggests she may be able to pull up some historical records regarding Assassins and Pieces of Eden post-1797. After a few hours, Erica discovers Arnold and Horatio had an Assassin ancestor who wielded a Piece of Eden during the Civil War era. Arnold suggested that he enter the Animus as soon as possible which Horatio states that the two agree for once.
After a few days, to no avail, Horatio found no leads regarding the Source of Eden over the years exploring his ancestor's memories. Angered by this, Horatio exits the Animus and rants to the team that they're wasting their time, that Ugochukwu was a no one and probably had nothing to do with the Source of Eden which leads Arnold to correct Horatio stating that Ugochukwu was a heavy influence on the abolition of slavery.
Frustrated, Horatio leaves stating he needs a break. Hayley follows him deep inside the Temple and asks what's going on with him. Still frustrated, Horatio states the a few months ago he was just an ordinary college student with his whole life planned out and now he's descended from a whole bloodline of Assassins and contains DNA of a race that predates humanity while also being some sort of pre-destined Source of Eden hunter since even before his ancestor's were born and now his father, who he hasn't seen in seventeen years has returned to his life and he's supposed to act like everything's okay.
Hayley holds his hand and tells him everything will be okay, he's not alone and that he has them for support. She goes on to say that over the past few months she's grown to care deeply for Horatio as well as the rest of the team and that she will protect him and the rest of them with her life and that they'd do the same. In this moment, she realizes that she's developing feelings for Horatio and the two return to the team.
Return to Abstergo[]
A few days later, Hayley and the team discover an S.O.S from the Assassins that rescued Hayley and Horatio from the Abstergo facility in Ontario and discovered that some had been captured and being experimented and tortured by Alexandre Bacque. Hayley takes Horatio out of the Animus and informs him of what has transpired. Horatio states that he needs to help them to which Hayley and Arnold agree but Arnold states that he can't go alone to which Hayley volunteers into accompanying Horatio.
The team then book plane tickets and head back to Ontario. Horatio, feeling confident in his abilities inherited from Osyka and Ugochukwu accompanies Hayley into the Abstergo Ontario facility. Upon entering, the two were greeted by Bacque through an intercom, he welcomed them and stated he knew they'd be returning for their Assassin brethren and proceeded to demand the Abstergo agents to attack Horatio and Hayley.
The two fought valiantly, together they made their combat look like a well choreographed dance, killing Abstergo agents with such efficiency. Through the intercom, Jason and Erica informed Horatio and Hayley that the Assassins were being held at a upper level in the facility and that reinforcements were on the way. Realizing that they can't take the elevator, Horatio and Hayley freerun their way to the upper levels. There, they were met with more force, the two fought them off but suddenly Hayley saved Horatio from being shot by North although she was grazed in the arm. Horatio came to her aid but Hayley told him to go on without her and that she'd be fine, caught up in the moment, Horatio realized that there was no better time than now to show Hayley how he felt and so he kissed her passionately and she reciprocated.
Not long after, a band of Assassins that have been freed by Horatio find Hayley and help her out of the facility. Horatio would eventually exit the facility and inform Hayley and the team that Bacque was dead and Project Omega no longer had the files regarding his lineage and DNA. With that, they return to Mexico.
Completing Ugochukwu's memories[]
Upon returning to the Temple, Hayley's injuries were tended to more thoroughly. Hayley and Horatio went on to discuss where their relationship goes now to which Hayley decides her feelings for Horatio are too strong to ignore and while they won't label what they have they will enter a romantic commitment of sorts and that she couldn't be happier that she is by his side.
With that, Horatio returns to the Animus and completes Ugochukwu's sequenced memories. After doing so, Horatio informed the team of the Source's whereabouts, Arnold would go on to say that if the Source was still in the Factory in Africa, it would be safe. Despite this, Horatio stated that his work was far from over and that the Isu have tasked Horatio with finding these Sources and keeping them away from the Assassins and Templars.
The team informed Horatio that they would accompany him on his journey, Horatio thanked them and allowed them to help him which also led Arnold to say that during this mission that the two could make up for lost time to which Horatio agreed.
Horatio, Hayley, Arnold, Jason and Erica then left the Mexican Temple to embark on their new mission.
Kyle North's resurgence[]
Hayley Yasutake in 2022.
Hayley and her team spent the next five years hunting for Sources of Eden, keeping them out of both Assassin and Templar hands. During this five year period, Hayley's relationship with Horatio strengthened and the two were utterly committed and devoted to each other.
In March 2022 while in Japan, Hayley was contacted by Gavin Banks in which he revealed that recently acquired intel detailed that Kyle North had resurfaced. Believing to have killed him, Horatio interrupted the call and asked how that was even possible, leading Hayley to reprimand him on its relevance. Continuing, Gavin went on to explain that Kyle and a team of his own had been te object of multiple Assassin sighting over the last few months and it was only recently confirmed. Finally, Gavin concluded by revealing that Kyle had been located in the vicinity of various Isu temples such as the Observatory, the Vatican Vault, the Grand Temple and more, meaning that North and the Templars were up to something. Without hesitation, Hayley volunteered to look into it.
Following the conclusion of the call, Hayley gathered the others and relayed what Gavin had told her and Horatio, informing them that they had now been assigned to finding out what he's up to and putting a stop to it. The team devised a plan to infiltrate an Abstergo facility in Ontario where they would find out what Kyle and the Templars were up to.
In Ontario, Horatio infiltrated Abstergo while Hayley and Arnold remained with Jason and Erica in case their location was compromised. Some hours later, Horatio confirmed the mission was a success and they rendezvoused with him at another location before making their way to another safehouse. Going over the data recovered, Jason discovered and revealed to the group that North had been in a coma for the past four years and then vanished in mid 2021, he has gone rogue. The team begin to theorise with Hayley pondering as to what North could be up to if he was no longer working for Abstergo, Erica made a comment on his rogue status being a result of the bleeding effect. Arnold piggybacks on this, wondering if that was the link as to why North was visiting so many Isu sites.
The team's theorising was cut short when, in a nervous tone of voice, Jason reveals that he also discovered Horatio's mother, Jennifer, had become a person of interest to Abstergo. Panicked, Horatio asks if she is in danger to which Jason is unsure of, all that he knows is that Abstergo has been surveying her for some months and is interested in her ancestry. Further information by Jason also revealed that Abstergo theorises that Kyle's sudden disappearance is linked to a person of interest in Jennifer's ancestry. Immediately, Arnold swivels the car around and begins heading toward the nearest airport, knowing that Jennifer would be at her safest with them.
Upon landing in Toronto, Jason and Erica got to work in locating Jennifer's current residence while Horatio and Hayley took the necessary precautions in case things went south. A few hours later, Jason and Erica successfully managed to track Jennifer down before being informed to stay put by Hayley while she and Horatio went out to get her.
Hijacking a car, Hayley and Horatio drove to Jennifer's new home. During the drive, Hayley could sense the tension that Horatio was currently feeling, placing her hand on his she reassured him that Jennifer would more than likely be fine if Abstergo just had her under surveillance. It didn't do much to calm his nerves but he appreciated Hayley's attempts. After some time, the two arrived at their destination and immediately felt something was off - it was the early evening but no one was home, a woman her age would most likely be returning home from work.
Cautiously, the pair of Assassins entered the house and began investigating inside. During their search, Hayley discovered signs of a struggle and she called out to him in order to inform him. As he came down the stairs, a series of small cannisters broke through the window, spraying smoke and filling up the house. With it, came a team of Abstergo agents, Sigma Team. The duo engage the team with Hayley using the smoke to her advantage and kill the members of Sigma Team while Horatio fought Juhani Otso Berg.
Repelling Sigma Team, the Assassin duo were able to escape Sigma Team's attack when Hayley utilised a member's smoke cannister and used it to help their escape.
Escape to Ohio[]
- "After losing so many people over the years, I just... I don't want to lose him. I can't."
- ―Hayley to Erica in 2022
The two Assassins returned to their team, informing them of what had happened and that Jennifer had been taken by North. The only clue they had to finding her was through an ancestor of both her and Horatio, someone called 'Ari'. Immediately, Erica began searching through the Assassin database and searched for anything that could help them. Meanwhile, Jason began updating the Animus 5.0, knowing that Horatio would need to use it again. Knowing that they were also compromised, Hayley and Arnold suggested they also begin looking for a new hideout. After locating a new hideout, the team began the drive to Ohio.
After some hours, Erica cross-referenced the data they had retrieved from Abstergo's Ontario facility and the Assassin database, discovering that a Viking named Ari Einarrson was a member of the Hidden Ones who had travelled with Leif Erikson to North America in the eleventh century. Following a brief exchange, regarding Horatio's curiosity about the Hidden Ones, Jason also revealed that he had updated the Animus' software and it was available to use when Horatio was ready. Horatio tried to access a specific memory they believed related to what North was searching for but was immediately dejected when his mind rejected the memory. The two bickered briefly before Horatio agreed to go back to an earlier memory.
As Horatio went under, reliving the memories of his Viking ancestor, the group continued on their way to Ohio. After over a day's drive, they finally arrived at the safehouse and subsequently pulled Horatio out of the Animus. The group then spent a few hours setting everything up at their new hideout, a cabin located deep in the woods. With everything now set up Horatio requested to go back into the Animus but Hayley immediately refused, reprimanding him that he knew the risks of overexposure.
Frustrated at her lack of cooperation, Horatio rebuttled that his Isu DNA would protect him and that they his mother's life was at risk, they needed to make haste. Hayley counters, stating that his high count of Isu genes doesn't make him immune to the consequences. With the two then devolving into an argument, Arnold eventually steps in and reminds Horatio that North would need Jennifer alive in order to access Ari's memories, and due to her inexperience with an Animus she would progress at a much slower rate than Horatio.
Horatio storms off and exits the cabin, Hayley prepared to go find him but Arnold proposed he would instead - as she already had enough to deal with. Following Arnold's departure, an awkward silence filled the cabin before Jason tried to break the ice with a joke relating to what had transpired, Erica quickly reprimanded him for making a joke so soon.
Hayley simply waved it off before sighing and sitting down, stress clearly getting to her. Erica then seated herself next to her and spoke on Horatio's behalf, stating he's stressed about his mother, his behaviour was understandable. Hayley acknowledges this, empathising with Horatio's ordeal but she then confessed that she had lost so many people over the years that she couldn't lose him too.
Jason chimes in that they care about him too, that they were all the closest thing to a family unit. He then told her that she shouldn't be so harsh with him right now, the news of his mother is still so fresh.
Eventually Horatio and Arnold make their return with Horatio apologising for his behaviour. The cell spend the rest of the night going over the footage of what Horatio had uncovered in Ari's memories, trying to figure out what made him so important. Erica correctly surmises that the Piece of Eden that Ari and his father recovered during the raid was certain to have something to do with it, and that his revenge quest was leading him to something bigger.
That night, while in bed, Horatio apologised for lashing out earlier and that it was out of line. Accepting his apology, she kissed him and empathised with his current feelings. Telling her he loved her and wouldn't know what he'd do without her, the two then spent of the rest of the night together.
The Conservatory[]
Over the next few weeks, Horatio managed to synchronize with Ari's memories and access the traumatic memory that he was unable to view before. While in the Animus session, the group monitors the feed showcasing Ari's memories in real time. They witnessed Ari's discovery of the Conservatory in Newfoundland, Livius' revelation as a Sage and betrayal, fighting Livius, and Livius' and Hilda's death. Horatio emerged from the Animus, in tears, feeling the emotions Ari felt at the time. He was devastated, it was as if he too went through the same loss as Ari, to which he did. Hayley consoled Horatio until he gathered his bearings and grounded himself back to reality.
They all then put the pieces together. The ramblings North was spouting in the security recordings pointed to him being a Sage, recollecting his life as Livius, and that remembering what Ari told Livius a millennia prior - he wants to know what Magni did so he could find his 'beloved'.
Upon travelling to Newfoundland, the group managed to locate the 'Frænda' tribe village. The group began digging around the area, searching for Hilda's grave and in-turn the key. Horatio, through the Bleeding Effect, recollected Ari burying Hilda and the Key. Finding the key, they made their way to the Conservatory and gained entrance with the Key thay had collected. Navigating their way through the Conservatory, the Assassins finally arrived at the large platform where Ari, Hilda and Livius had their showdown a millennia prior. As a historian, Erica commented how amazed she was at physically being inside another Isu structure with Jason adding that the footage paled in comparison.
Interfacing with the central console, Horatio activated what was locked behing the door and that Livius had so desperately tried to gain entry to.
The Isu Re-awakened[]
Hayley and the others accessed the chamber that Horatio had opened, discovering a chamber of vats containing members of the Isu. They were perfectly preserved and in stasis, it all began to make sense, Livius and North were trying to revive the Isu.
Kyle North, with Jennifer captive, would then make his presence known, garnering the attention of the Assassin cell. Holding Jennifer hostage, he then went on to explain his plan, stating he'd waited a millennia to reunite with Shakuru - what was a few more moments? North first praised Magni posthumously, stating that locking the key within his bloodline was nothing short of genius. He continued stating that he and Shakuru had been planning this since before the first Catastrophe, that she and a few hand-selected Isu would undergo stasis while he reincarnated into humanity to release them from their sleep, then they could assume their rightful place as humanity's rulers.
Magni, however, had interfered as they all knew and North had to 'waste' several lifetimes looking for Magni's descendants. Thankfully, due to Abstergo's Animus technology, finding Magni's descendants was a lot easier. He then gleefully found amusement in Magni's 'failure'. Bringing attention to Jennifer, he confessed the only reason that she was alive was due in part to needing her DNA to access the stasis chamber but now, she had no use to him. North aimed his gun toward Jennifer's temple, preparing to pull the trigger but Hayley reacted quickly and hurled a throwing knife in the Sage's direction, knocking the gun from his hand.
Annoyed, North threw Jennifer toward the platform's ledge forcing Horatio and Hayley to reach her before she fell. Utilising this distraction, North made his way toward the Stasis Chamber quickly despached Jason and Erica, knocking them out. Arnold then engaged North to prevent him from reaching the stasis pods. Managing to bring Jennifer back up to the platform, and the mother and son quickly embraced before he told Hayley to get her out of there and make sure she was safe. Hayley argued, stating she was leader of the cell but Horatio rebuffed, stating there was no time to argue. Reluctantly, she agreed to escort Jennifer out.
Hayley led Jennifer toward the Conservatory's exit, in the midst of all of it, she asked who she was to which Hayley replied saying "I'm your son's girlfriend". Finally the two made their exit, but Hayley was itching to return as her anxiety over Horatio and the other's safety began to eat away at her. After some time, Jennifer tugged Hayley's hand and told her that if she could fight she needed to go and aid her son. Agreeing, Hayley made her way back to the entrance but was met by North and the other Isu. Horrified at what could have happened inside, she quickly engaged North but was knocked out by the Sage after a short fight.
A new goal[]
Some time later, Hayley is woken up by Jennifer. Dazed and confused, Jennifer reminds Hayley that Horatio and the others may be in danger which snaps Hayley back into action. The two rush back inside the Conservatory and make their way to its Stasis Chamber entrance. There they find Jason and Erica standing and watching Horatio in silence, Hayley and Jennifer approach the two Assassins and realise why.
Horatio is still cradling Arnold's lifeless body in silence. The two remained behind and watched in respectful silence, allowing Horatio to mourn. At the sigh of Arnold's body, Jennifer immediately begins crying whereas tears silently begin to stream down Hayley's cheeks.
They bury Arnold a few miles outside the Conservatory, Jennifer tearfully remarks at how she hates the fact that Arnold is being buried in an unmarked grave, like a piece of trash. Erica counters Jennifer's statement, explaining that the nature of their work is secret and a public burial puts them at risk, as well as this, Arnold's body would be an asset to Abstergo as they could freely extract the genetic memories of his ancestors. Horatio remains silent through the entire exchange, leading Jason to call for his attention.
Finally speaking up, Horatio vows to kill North and the Isu. Later on, Hayley makes an encrypted call to William Miles and debriefs him on the situation at hand. Acknowledging this, he assures her that he will make it a top priority to find North and the Isu's whereabouts, and that he will inform her if he learns of anything.
Another day passes, and the team of Assassins arrive in Nigeria to locate the Factory, the Isu temple where all humans originated. Powered by a Source of Eden, it was able to be used as a sort of 'factory reset' to send humans into a docile state, therefore making them easier to be controlled by Pieces of Eden. Horatio remembers that they left the Source there after completing the memories of Ugochukwu and that North and the other Isu may make the Factory their first target.
Küpeyakwüskonam's memories[]
Horatio and the others entered the Isu temple where he would guide the others to the location of the Source of Eden through the Bleeding Effect. Locating the Source, Horatio breaks the lock of the box it was hidden in and picks up the meteorite fragment, it activates at the touch of his DNA. Despite not being placed on the activation pedestal, the Factory begins to awaken as Horatio's Isu genes interface with the Source. Triggering a Bleeding Effect, Horatio passes out.
Hayley elects to place Horatio in an animus and allow him to safely explore the memories of the individual that the temple had triggered the bleeding effect for. A few hours later, Horatio reawakens and asks what had happened with Hayley explaining that contact with the Source and the Factory's activation seemed to have triggered a Bleeding Effect. Jason informs him that he was pulled out of the simulation when the Factory suddenly powered down. Meanwhile, Erica theorises that the Factory specifically showed him this ancestor for a reason and that it must be linked to North and the Isu. Horatio comments that the Isu were a crafy people, specifically Magni. Believing to have found a lead, the team exit the Factory but take the Source with them in case the other Isu come to use the Factory.
Hayley, Horatio, Jason, Erica and Jennifer are in a van travelling through Nigeria, on their way to a hotel in Onitsha. While on the drive, Horatio swipes through pictures on his phone of him and Arnold. Jennifer notices the pictures and tells him that she was happy that the two managed to reconcile, and that she misses him too, wishing she'd have gotten to hold him one last time. The two embrace for a brief moment before Erica calls for everyone's attention. After conducting some research, cross referencing historical documents and documents from the Assassin database, Erica has gathered more information on Horatio's ancestor.
She explains that his ancestor, Küpeyakwüskonam, was a Cree warrior who aided members of the Parisian Brotherhood in New France. Confused, Jason asks what made him so relevant with Horatio adding that he wasn't even an Assassin. Hayley states that whatever the reason, there was something that happened in Horatio's ancestor's life that the Factory wanted him to see. Erica cautiously pondered if Küpeyakwüskonam's life were even relevant to their mission to stop the Isu, Jennifer adds that they will have to take a "leap of faith".
The group arrive at a hotel and temporarily settle there while Hayley contacts the Altaïr II and arranges for pick up at the nearest port. Horatio proposes getting a start on reliving Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, or Küpeyak as he calls him, commenting on how difficult his name is to pronounce.
Some hours pass and Horatio exits the animus after witnessing the feed of Küpeyakwüskonam learning of the Eden Engines. Jason sarcastically comments on how the name didn't seem ominous at all. Hayley declares that's why the Factory triggered the Bleeding Effect, showing Horatio Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, theorising that Magni manipulated events from the past, knowing this is what everything was leading up to. Erica then adds that the Eden Engine must be what North and Shakuru are searching for, what it does, they can only guess.
Hayley orders Horatio to take a break for the day, which he agrees with. Meanwhile, Jason and Erica tasked themselves with finding more information about the Eden Engines.
A day later, the Altaïr II arrives in Nigeria and the Assassin cell board the ship and sail to sea. The team update the crew of the Altaïr II on their findings and their current task of finding the Eden Engine through Horatio's ancestor's memories. Gavin Banks tells the Assassin team that they can remain on the Altaïr II for now, as they were all in this together and needed to stop North and the others. Gavin also expressed his sympathy for Arnold's death, telling Horatio that he was one of the best. Erica informs the crew that they hadn't come up with anything on the Eden Engine yet, their best bet was to keep going through Küpeyakwüskonam's memories.
All agreeing, Horatio re-enters the animus and continues to progress through Küpeyakwüskonam's memories.
Working with Meaghan Allard[]
A day later, during Horatio's animus session, he gets a firsthand look of what an Eden Engine looks like. Upon seeing it, Erica immediately recognises it and requests to pull Horatio out of the animus. Hayley orders Jason to do so and he ends the simulation, returning Horatio to reality. Initially confused, Erica reveals that he Eden Engine that was shown in the feed of Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, she recognised it. She goes on to explain that she came across it when she was in Cuba during her gap year in college, Hayley adds that she's surprised that Abstergo didn't snag it but Jason added that Abstergo overlook Pieces of Eden from time to time. Horatio asks Erica whereabouts the Eden Engine was in Cuba with her answering that it was located within a museum last time she was there.
Gavin Banks acknowledges this and informs the group of an Assassin cell located in Santa Clara, Cuba led by Meaghan Allard, assuring them that he would contact her asking her to lend aid in their search. Erica uncharacteristically expresses her excitement to meet Meaghan and her cell, confused Horatio asks why with Hayley explaining that she is the descendant of legendary French Assassin Arno Dorian, and great-granddaughter of Isabelle Allard. With that, the Altaïr II makes its way to Cuba.
A day later, the Altaïr II docks in Havana and the team bids Gavin Banks and the other Assassins farewell, with Jennifer remaining behind at Horatio's wishes due to the risks of going up against Abstergo. They then rent an RV and making their way over to Santa Clara to meet Meaghan Allard and her cell. A few hours later, they arrive at the cooridinates just outside of Santa Clara, where Allard's camp should be located, and upon arrival the group are met with hostility by Allard's team. Threatening to open fire, Hayley implores for them to listen and informs them that they are Assassins and Gavin Banks should have notified them. Horatio brandishes his hidden blade, ready to engage but tensions are eased when Meaghan orders her team to stand down.
With the arrival of Meaghan and the threat of combat at rest, Hayley introduces herself as the leader of her cell as well as its members with Meaghan doing the same. Horatio asks what Banks had told her before their arrival, Meaghan explains that she was already aware of the Assassins top priority to locate Kyle North and the other Isu, and that Gavin explained that they'd found something that could throw a wrench in the Isu's plans. Horatio then reveals the nature of an Eden Engine, at least what they've learned so far, and that it was allegedly located in Municipal Museum Emilio Bacardi Moreau, Santiago de Cuba. Hayley is quick to assume that Abstergo are hot on its tail as well and need to work fast.
The Assassins begin to formulate a plan with Meaghan proposing that they utilise guerrilla tactics to combat any potential enemies there and retrieve the Engine. Jason and Erica motion to remain at the camp and provide tactical support for the Assassins going into the field consisting of Horatio, Meaghan, Hayley, Jacob Richards, and more. The field Assassins set off for Santiago de Cuba.
Operation Puma[]
Arriving at the museum 3 hours later. Scouting a top a nearby rooftop opposite of the museum, the Assassins spot evidence of Abstergo's presence within the vicinity. As an expert in guerrilla tactics, Meaghan lays out a plan of action which first involved them utilising stealth to infiltrate the museum. Following Meaghan's plan, the Assassins manage to surprise Sigma Team and garner the upper hand for once. Clearing through some of the Sigma Team agents, Berg then arrives with more leading Meaghan and Hayley to urge Horatio into locating the Eden Engine on his own.
Meaghan attacks Berg while Hayley focuses on eliminating the other agents, using a rifle, Hayley saved Meaghan from being killed by Berg whom had her in a choke hold. She then turned her focus to aiding Allard in engaging Berg. Hayley and Meaghan's skirmish with Berg manages to find its way to where Horatio was engaging North, Leah Chavez and Shakuru. The Assassins prove a more formidable force through the tactics taught to them by Meaghan, as well as their unified front as opposed to the disjointed cooperation between Berg and Leah, and the undisciplined Isu.
Horatio is able to manipulate North's emotional weakness by injuring Shakuru by throwing a kukri blade at her thigh. Distracted, North disengages and attacks Leah before she could deal a finishing blow to an injured Shakuru. Remembering her mission, Leah manages to retrieve the Eden Engine. Horatio attempts to seize the opportunity to kill North and Shakuru, avenging his father, but Meaghan notices this and reminds him of what's more important - keeping the Engine out of both the Isu and Templar hands. Snapping out of it, Horatio gives chase to Leah while suggesting that the other Assassins retreat for now.
Catching up to Leah, the two engage in a short fight with Horatio coming out on top as the more skilled of the two. Retrieving the Eden Engine, he bolts toward the nearest window breaking through it and performing a Leap of Faith into a pile of leaves. Once Meaghan saw Horatio leap out of the museum, she ordered each fighter to throw a smoke bomb, and on her command, they did and the UAF fighters and Assassins fled, and grouped up with Horatio and traveled back to their camp in Santa Clara.
Upon their arrival back at the Santa Clara camp, Jason and Erica congratulated all who were involved. Before departing, Horatio elects to leave the Eden Engine with Meaghan's cell entrusting her to keep it as far away from Abstergo as possible.
After departing Meaghan's camp, Hayley and the others take shelter at a motel in the city. There, they plot their next move deducing that another Eden Engine and its whereabouts must be hidden in Küpeyakwüskonam's memories. With that, Horatio elects to return to the animus and continue exploring through his ancestor's memories.
Allying with the Templars[]
As Hayley and the others tried to have Horatio access a later memory of Küpeyakwüskonam's, he expressed difficulty reliving the particular memory. Hayley eventually ordered Jason to pull him out as he was beginning to show signs of pain within the animus. After being pulled from the animus, he asks if this is another Ari situation, in reference to his previous inability to access a certain memory of the Viking Hidden One due to the subject's stress at the time. However, Jason refutes this and states that it is something different, explaining that Küpeyakwüskonam is exhibiting a memory within the current event he was in at the time. Jason further explains that the animus is having difficulty interpreting the Küpeyakwüskonam's simulated memories with the memories he actually experienced at the time.
Having been in a similar situation before, Horatio gathers that they're going to have to synchronise with the memory that Küpeyakwüskonam was experiencing to fully interprete the actual memory they need to access. Jason confirms this and with a sigh, Horatio readies himself to access the memory in question. Horatio progresses through Küpeyakwüskonam's memories, and Hayley alongside Jason and Erica witness the moment Horatio is contacted by Magni directly through Küpeyakwüskonam, urging the Assassins to ally with the Templars in their goal to stop North and Shakuru.
Horatio exits the animus and is met with a joke from Jason, stating that Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona were terrible at retrieving Eden Engines. However everyone ignores his joke and moves on to the elephant in the room, that being Magni's message to both him and Chavez, also realising that she must be currently reliving the genetic memories of Ramona. Erica agrees with Magni's message, that currently, a temporary alliance would achieve results quicker as opposed to being in contention with each other as well as with the Isu. Hayley agrees, however, she expresses concern that the Templars may not see the bigger picture. Horatio then adds that they at least have to try. Jason volunteers to make contact. Hayley tells him to do it.
Jason manages to send a message to the Templars, telling Chavez and Berg to meet them at a specific location in Cuba at a specific time. A day later, the Assassins are at the meeting spot located in Cuba. Erica expresses her apprehension to this with Jason adding that they could have just handed themselves to Abstergo on a silver platter. However, Horatio confidently rebukes this stating that the Templars are, in a sense, in service to humanity like they are and that the Templars know that the Isu are the greatest threat to humanity right now.
Berg responds to this, agreeing with Horatio as he emerges from the shadows alongside Leah. Berg informs the Assassins that this is not his first time working alongside their Order for the greater good. Leah then adds that they will be able to locate the Eden Engines faster together than alone, Hayley shows her awareness that once the Isu threat is dealt with and asks what Abstergo plans to do with the Eden Engines after. Berg confirms that the capabilities of the Eden Engines are too dangerous for humanity to hold, revealing that Abstergo plans to keep them separated but locked away. Leah asks if the Assassins have the Eden Engine they recovered from the museum and Horatio confirms that they do but it has been hidden.
Hayley and the others head over to France where they are to begin working with the Templars. After sharing their discoveries within the animus, the two groups come to realise they have recovered similar information. Following this, Horatio and Leah return to the animus where their sessions are to be monitored side by side in the hopes of finding out information one or the other may not have access to due to the constraints of Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona's memories.
Following a few hours in the animus, Horatio and Leah are brought out of the animus to take a break much to Berg's dismay as he argues time being of the essence. However, Hayley argues that Horatio and Leah's health and mental state are a priority as well, overexposure within the animus would make them liabilities if they were to re-encounter North and Shakuru again. Following this, Erica mentions that she noticed the day Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona are in Pachena Bay was the same day of the Cascadia earthquake of 1700. She reveals that the earthquake caused a tsunami which struck the west coast of North America and the coast of Japan, including Pachena Bay, wiping out the Huu-ay-aht village with no survivors.
Expressing their shock, Leah is surprised to find out that Ramona and Küpeyakwüskonam were capable of surviving that earthquake. Berg then states that if the Eden Engines are powerful enough to cause a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, North and Shakuru acquiring all three Eden Engines was more dangerous than they realised. When combined, they had the potential to wipe out all of humanity through creating large scale earthquakes across the world. Horatio then recalls Canaqueese telling Küpeyakwüskonam that the Eden Engines were sought for in order to "create a new world", Leah adds onto this and realises that the Eden Engines must have restorative properties as well as destructive.
Mesmerised, Jason comments on how the Eden Engines are one of the most powerful Pieces of Eden in existence. Hayley begrudgingly adds that Berg was correct in wanting to keep them out of both Assassin and Templar hands. To Berg's dismay, Hayley proposes that Horatio and Leah take a break while she and Berg attempt to formulate a plan on what to do with the Eden Engines upon recovery.
Horatio's Sacrifice[]
The following day, Horatio and Leah return to the animus and pick up where they left off in their respective research target's memories in 1700. The Assassin and Templar are able to successfully locate the remaining two Eden Engines following synchronising with both the memories of Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona, respectively. Returning to the present, and without having to discuss what they found with the others, all prepare to split up and recover the Eden Engines.
The Assassins are accompanied by Leah, Berg and Sigma Team to Champ de Mars with the plan of flying over to the Algohoma District in Northeastern Ontario, once they recover the Eden Engine in France. The Assassins and Templars arrive in Paris 7 hours later at 1:00am, making their way over to Champ de Mars Horatio finds a dug up hole where the Eden Engine is supposed to be. The group are horrified to realise that they have been beaten in recovering the Eden Engine, Jason rationalises this and comments that the Eden Engine they recovered in Cuba was safely hidden but Berg refutes this, stating that the revived Isu are just as dangerous with two.
Suddenly, Horatio's precognitive Eagle Vision is triggered when he begins loud ominous whispering, alerting the others that the Isu are still here. Following this, Sigma Team members who suddenly kill themselves. They are then met by North, Shakuru and the remaining Isu clad in armor and wielding Swords and Apples of Eden. Shakuru mocks the two groups, calling their war pathetic and miniscule in the grand scheme of the Isu's resurgence, and it was this very reason as to why they needed to be wiped out.
Horatio asks how it is they located the other Eden Engines to which North reveals that D'aureville was a reborn Isu and he was able to access his past memories much faster than an animus. Leah comments on how that doesn't explain how they managed to find the Eden Engines specifically. North reveals to the Assassins and Templars that during D'aureville's fight with Küpeyakwüskonam and Ramona, the explosion that occurred when Küpeyakwüskonam separated the Eden Engines, D'aureville was granted a vision of the Eden Engines across time, including where they would be in 2022. Shakuru then adds that they also recovered the second Engine in Canada, confirming they have two now.
Shakuru then activates the Apple of Eden which she uses on the Assassins in an effort to make them kill themselves, however, due to Horatio's high concentration of Isu genes, he is able to resist its effects. Picking up a pistol from one of the dead Sigma Team members, he shoots at Shakuru but a Ring of Eden she is carrying prevents her from being shot, however, it was enough to break her concentration on the Apple. The others are broken from their compelling and Horatio urges them to rid themselves of all their weapons so the Isu cannot compell them to commit suicide.
Berg refuses revealing that Abstergo had created a prototype device that protected humans from the effects of Apples, using it on himself and Leah they aid Horatio in his fight against North and the others. Weaponless, Hayley aids them as well. Meanwhile, Jason and Erica are forced to remain on the sidelines as they aren't field operatives. During the skirmish, Horatio and Leah were able to remove an Eden Engine from North and Jason and Erica are able to recover it, fleeing toward Dupleix. North and Shakuru give chase with Horatio and Hayley following suit. Berg elects to remain behind and handle the other Isu, ordering Leah to follow the Assassins.
Horatio, Hayley and Leah come to find Jason and Erica have been forced to hand over the Eden Engine by North through the Apple of Eden, and that Shakuru has proceeded to unify the two Eden Engines together to destroy France. Resuming their fight against the reborn Isu and his lover. Hayley and Leah manage to disarm both North and Shakuru of their Apples, and Jason and Erica are able to kick them away, keeping them out of the Isu's grasp.
During this fight, the Eden Engine inches closer and closer to merging - Erica theorises that the energy generated from the complete union of the two Eden Engines was enough to completely wipe out France. North elects to stay behind to ensure that the Eden Engines unification is successful, hesitant at first Shakuru agrees and promises him that his sacrifice will not be in vain before quickly knocking down Hayley before preparing to flee. However, she is stopped by Leah with the Templar slicing at her throat with a knife, Shakuru drops to the floor, gargling on her own blood before dying. Enraged at the death of his lover, North attacks Leah but Horatio steps in, engaging him briefly once more before assassinating him, killing him for good. Watching as the reborn Isu dies, Horatio reminds him that that was for his father.
The Eden Engines are close to completing their unification when the surrounding area begins to rumble, showing signs of an impending earthquake. Horatio tells the members of his team to flee, reminding them that his Isu genetics will be able to separate the Eden Engines and if he was unable to, they would all have a head start at making their escape. Hayley, Jason and Erica initially refuse but Horatio manages to convince them that its the right thing to do, and that they need to go on to fight another day. Hayley tells Horatio that she loves him with him reciprocating.
Hayley and the others make their way to the exit with Leah telling the others to escape before Berg calls for reinforcements, offering to lie to the Master Templar and say that they escaped during the chaos. Jason asks why she, a Templar, would do this with Leah stating that she'd seen enough death for one day. With that, the Assassins flee into the night as Hayley struggles to keep her bearings knowing that the love of her life is about to sacrifice his life.
Hayley, Jason and Erica see the Dupleix collapse and know that Horatio has perished. Hayley begins crying and is comforted by Jason and Erica before they move to make their escape again.
One life ends, another begins[]
A week later, Hayley begins experiencing morning nausea which leads her to take a pregnancy test on the day of Horatio's funeral. Before she can see the positive result, however, she leaves to attend the service of Horatio and Arnold. A great many Assassin cells have rendezvoused to pay their respect to both Pierces. Hayley meets up with Jason and Erica who go to find Jennifer who is still distraught, Hayley comforts Jennifer as she assures her that her son's sacrificed helped save France from destruction as well as humanity. Commenting on how his unwavering faith and hope in humanity is what led him to his decision.
Following the funeral's events, Hayley is met by William Miles who expresses his condolences. Hayley asks William for permission to recover Horatio's body from Abstergo as well as destroy the data that Abstergo no doubt have harvested from his body. William agrees.
Later on that night, Hayley returns to find the test is positive and is both scared and happy by the news. Happy by bringing a piece of Horatio back into the world, but scared at the repercussions of having a child in her lifestyle. Hayley later informs Jennifer of this news, who is emotionally overwhelmed by this revelation - sharing the same feelings as Hayley, but more so happy. She also informs Jason and Erica who are also ecstatic to hear the news, asking them if they wish to be the child's godparents. Jason agrees instantaneously but Erica declines, appreciating the thought, but expressing in her disbelief in all of that.
The next day, Hayley would meet up with Meaghan Allard - who also attended the funeral the day prior. As the pair strolled the streets of Havana, she informed Meaghan of the news and that she wished for her to be the child's godmother. Without hesitation, Meaghan said yes.
Nine months later, Hayley would give birth to her and Horatio's children. Discovering she was carrying fraternal twins months prior. On January 19, Hayley delivered a son, Cassius Pierce and a daughter named Cora Yasutake-Pierce.
Personality and characteristics[]
When thing's were at stake, Hayley was a hardworking and determined individual with a no-nonsense attitude and a 'the mission before anything else' mentality, a trait she obtained from training with Arnold Pierce. She could also be empathetic and caring for her comrades when needed, not totally devoid of compassion.
Hayley carries a deep trauma from the loss of her parents during the Great Purge of 2000 as well as the friends and comrades she had lost during her time as an Assassin. Because of this, she is fiercely protective over the people she cares about due to her deep rooted fear of loss. Since entering a relationship with Horatio Pierce, she is also very protective of him, bordering on overprotectiveness. Despite this, she can be incredibly affectionate with Horatio, showcasing her emotional growth over the years.
Equipment and skills[]
Like all of her Assassin brethren, Hayley was trained in stealth, combat and freerunning. While she is proficient enough in combat to take on multiple Abstergo guards at one time, she mainly excels at stealth and freerunning. She is equipped with dual Hidden Blades.
Trivia[]
- The name Hayley is an English given name It is derived from the English surname Haley, which in turn was based on an Old English toponym, a compound of heg "hay" and leah "clearing or meadow". While it can be used for males, Hayley is most commonly a female given name.
- Hayley stands at 5'7" and weighs 120lbs
- Hayley is Asian-American, being of Japanese and Korean descent.