Shaun Hastings

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"What am I do – who are you, my mum?"

―Shaun Hastings, addressing a curious Desmond.

Shaun Hastings was a member of the Assassin Order, whose main role consisted of assisting Desmond Miles during his time in the Animus 2.0. This help most usually came in the form of the creation of Database entries on various people, places, and buildings that he encountered.

He also gave tactical assistance to Assassin teams other than his own across the planet, sometimes by relaying messages from higher command. His support was often targeted towards Assassins who were "in the field".

Biography

Early life

Originating from England, Shaun was interested in conspiracy theories and the unknown from a very early age. Though initially unaware of the existence of the modern-day Templars and Assassins, he did some investigations into a company known as Abstergo Industries, and realized that they were "up to no good". This inspired him to prevent their wrongful activities in any way he could. While working as a junior professor, Shaun took the pseudonym "Guy Fawkes" (after one of the co-conspirators of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot) and published articles detailing Abstergo's inner workings to WikiLeaks and other news organizations.

Unaware that the Templars would try to silence him, Shaun was eventually found out by Alan Rikkin, and kidnapped by Abstergo on December 10, 2010. Fortunately, he was able to make an escape from the van that was taking him to Abstergo. He was then contacted by Rebecca Crane, who "rescued" Shaun, and recruited him into the Assassin Order.

Hiding out

Explaining to Desmond about the new location where he'll be... the Italian Renaissance.

After Lucy Stillman and Desmond Miles escaped Abstergo, and reached the hideout, Desmond entered the Animus to relive his ancestor, Ezio Auditore da Firenze's memories. Whilst inside the Animus, Shaun supplied Desmond with information, in the form of Databse entries, as well as the occasional piece of advice on glyph puzzles. As the de facto historian of the Assassins, Shaun was constantly working on his computer, and rarely had the opportunity to speak with Desmond – often telling him to "go away."

Escape to the Sanctuary

Upon escaping Abstergo and setting up camp at the Sanctuary in Monteriggioni, Shaun continued his research, operating similarly to the way he had in the previous hideout. In contrast, he was much more respectful and tolerant towards Desmond now – though he was still rude and disrespectful towards Rebecca – which caused Lucy to give him a greater workload than the other Assassins.

Journey to the Colosseum

After Desmond located the Apple of Eden through Ezio Auditore's memories, the modern-day Assassins were still left with the mystery of how to get to the Apple's vault. Desmond pointed out to the numbers on the wall, as well as the triple triad symbol, upon which Shaun correctly deduces, that they are relevant to God and God's number, 72, which he also stated, is the same year that Rome's Colosseum was built. They all concluded that's where the Apple would be found, and began their long road trip.

File:Modern Assassins Inside the Vault.JPG

Shaun and the Assassins before the Apple of Eden

On finding the Apple, Desmond used it to ask where the Temples are located. Shaun, upon seeing and identifying the Phrygian Cap (which stands for freedom) and the Eye of Providence, said that both objects come together in only one place.

However, before he could finish his explanation, Juno possessed Desmond through the Apple, causing a temporal freeze in time to those around him, and forced Desmond to stab Lucy in the abdomen.

At the point where Lucy and Desmond collapsed, Shaun and Rebecca were still visibly conscious, and appeared unaffected by the Apple's power despite standing in the same positions they were since previously frozen.

Characteristics and personality

"England is not in Europe actually, Rebecca; we, we tolerate Europe, you know? Like, like a person tolerates herpes."

―Shaun to Rebecca in Monteriggioni

Shaun was often cynical, condescending, sarcastic, and pessimistic, but did have a playful side, often inserting humorous tidbits into the database entries he crafted. He would often have little patience with talking to Desmond, though at other times, he would converse with him at length. Whilst Shaun's annoyances were usually directed at Desmond, he also insulted Rebecca, and commented on her immaturity by saying "the grown-ups are talking now" – neglectful of the fact she had saved his life multiple times. Strangely, he did not get involved in the bickering between her and Desmond in Monteriggioni.

Shaun was desperate to enter the Animus, and even resorted to begging Lucy through her e-mail, which she silently declined by not replying. Although when he was confronted about it, he said that "the job behind the desk" was much better. When talking about his status as an Assassin, Shaun stated "I've killed before, I expect to kill again. It's just that I’d prefer not to". He portrayed the rather sarcastic role of an individual who does all the work and never gets noticed or rewarded, as he had complained more than once, saying "no one missed me." His cynical attitude was observed at many times, such as pointing out that the Assassins were still killers, whatever their motives; making them no more the "good guys", than the Templars.

He was also skeptical of most institutions such as the church and governmental institutions; he noted in one description of Venice that the city's past "followed the historical norm: The people got screwed.". Despite some of Subject 16's puzzles implying that the Assassins had actively resisted Abstergo's use of capitalism as a mechanism of control, Shaun's dialogue contradicted this as he uses the word "Communists" as a jibe directed towards Lucy and Rebecca.

Despite his attitude towards Rebecca, he held her in higher regard than he cared to admit, most probably because of the numerous occasions on which she had saved his life. Only Lucy seemed to ignore his snide remarks.

Shaun's interest in history was shown clearly through database entries (along with one indicating a fondness for fly-fishing). This was also highlighted in an email from William M. who claimed that Shaun would enjoy the area in which the Assassin leadership were based. This was perhaps contradicted, though, by one occasion; on an assumption of Desmond's that Shaun was interested in Monteriggioni, Shaun responded on the contrary; that Monteriggioni was no longer alive as a town, as it had not changed for centuries.

Trivia

File:Othershaun.jpg

An earlier design for Shaun, created prior to Wallace's casting.

• Danny Wallace, the voice and model of Shaun, was contacted by Ubisoft when he attended the BAFTA video game awards with a friend. He was e-mailed and asked if he would like to be a character in an unknown video game, which he accepted. The game turned out to be Assassin's Creed II.
• Shaun's recruitment into the Assassin Order was rather unconventional, as Assassins are usually born into the Order.
• Shaun states during the corrupted sequences in Assassin's Creed II, that he forgot Rodrigo Borgia eventually became Pope, even though there is a portrait of him on the wall next to his computer.
• In one conversation with Desmond, Shaun tells him that he has his own special type of ability, which allows him to see information and decode it more easily. He compares it to Desmond's Eagle Vision, only more "useful" in his opinion. He is referring to his high intellect though, rather than some kind of super-human ability.
• The character Shaun Hastings is named after Sean Hastings, a cult hero in the computer industry.
• In Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Shaun has a portrait of Cesare Borgia near his desk, as well as pictures of famous landmarks in Rome, such as the Pantheon, and some of Leonardo da Vinci's designs, such as the crossbow.
• Shaun once dated a girl named Kate, whom he fondly calls "Kitty-Kat". However, he is embarrassed when Rebecca reveals that, over lunch, Kate had told Rebecca that Shaun had never made it to second base.
• Shaun's password for his e-mail account is GuyFawkes23, which likely refers to Guy Fawkes, a man who was instrumental in the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
  • Guy Fawkes was also the pseudonym Shaun used for his attempted revelation of Abstergo's true nature, according to the inbox of Abstergo employee James Morse.
• It is hinted that Shaun was an altar boy at some stage in his childhood, due to his mention of a priest who once informed him, "You know too much for your own good".

Video

Interviews

thumb|right|300px|Danny Wallace Interview Part 1

thumb|right|300px|Danny Wallace Interview Part 2

Others

thumb|300px|left|Shaun arguing with Desmond.

thumb|300px|left|Shaun Hastings reveal video.