Warren Vidic

"I believe there was a book that claimed the world was created in seven days. Best-seller too!"

- Dr. Vidic on the Bible.

Warren Vidic is a member of the Templar Order and a scientist employed by Abstergo Industries. He is also the head of research for the genetic memory and the Animus project.

Early life
Almost nothing is known about Warren's life. Vidic claims he has spent the last 30 years studying genetic memories in the opening cutscenes of Assassin's Creed, meaning either that he has been employed by Abstergo for 30 years or that he had only been working on genetic memories for that time and had been working for Abstergo for even longer.

Subject 4
In 1985, Vidic started to experiment on Daniel Cross, who would be called "Subject 4". He put Cross in the Animus to relive the memories of his ancestor, though he also experimented on Cross with a replica "Piece of Eden". Cross also had a secret impulse embedded into his subconscious that would drive him to assassinate the Mentor of the Assassin Order, should the opportunity to do so arise. In 2000, Cross met with the Mentor in the Assassin Order's headquarters in Dubai, where he unwillingly killed the latter. He returned to Abstergo Industries' headquarters in Philadelphia, where Cross' own memories where used to find all the Assassin camps and exterminate the Assassins.

Subject 17
In the year 2012, Warren Vidic holds the position of head of genetic research at Abstergo Industries; part of his role including looking after test subjects for his Animus project. That year, he authorized the capture of the seventeenth test subject; a bartender named Desmond Miles. At first, Vidic found the new test subject both unwilling and, subconsciously, not confident enough to explore his ancestor's memories. After making it clear to Desmond that failure to cooperate would entail a medically-induced coma and abandonment to die once finished, Vidic managed to gain his cooperation.

Despite Desmond's cooperation, however, progress was slow. Vidic's assistant, Lucy Stillman, was overly protective of Desmond's health, and insisted on only short stints within the Animus, lest their latest test subject begin to hallucinate as the previous one did. Disheartened but compliant, Vidic ordered Desmond to his quarters and left the laboratory. The next day, Desmond awoke to Vidic standing over him, eager to progress with the days work. More cheerful, Vidic humored Desmond's curiosity and willingly answered some of his questions, but eventually insisted on him re-entering the Animus.

As the week went on, and Desmond made progress within the Animus, Vidic's mood swung between calm and collected to irritable and short-tempered. During one such day, whilst looking out over the skyline outside his laboratory, Vidic unknowingly left his access pen in plain sight; Desmond managed to acquire it without Vidic becoming aware. Towards the end of the week, as Desmond began to approach the conclusion of his journey within the memories, Vidic started to become much more insistent on a quick closure.

After witnessing the death of Al Mualim and activation of the Piece of Eden in Desmond's genetic memories, Vidic recorded the map displayed within the memory, commenting "We've got it". As Desmond awoke, he saw three suited individuals in the laboratory's conference room. The three begun discussing with Vidic the results, and insisted upon Desmond's "retirement"; Vidic agreed, but was cut short by Lucy, who insisted that Desmond's use had not yet ended. The two argued to the point of Vidic claiming that Lucy was undermining his authority, and Vidic stubbornly agreed in Lucy's assessment to let Desmond live; to "leave nothing to chance". Ordering Desmond back into his room, the Doctor left the laboratory.

After the escape
"We miss you terribly. There's still so much work for us to do together."

- Dr. Warren Vidic to Desmond, during his attempt to capture him

The next day, Vidic received word of Desmond's escape, and the assistance Lucy had given him in executing it. The Templar quickly set about tracking down the Assassins, and within two days had accomplished his goal and set about capturing the two.

Locating the hideout, Vidic took a contingent of Abstergo security guards to apprehend Desmond and Lucy, arriving just as Desmond finished exploring the memories of another of his ancestors - Ezio Auditore da Firenze. Cutting off the Assassins' escape, Vidic attempted to coerce Desmond into coming peacefully whilst berating Lucy for her apparent betrayal. The two rejected him, and so Vidic ordered his guards to apprehend them. Minutes later, following the death or incapacitation of his entourage, Vidic was confronted by Desmond at the rear of his vehicle. Commenting that the Assassins should enjoy their temporary victory, he fled, leaving the Assassins to escape to a cabin northwards.

After that, Vidic went on to initiate and train a team of Abstergo's loyal agents into more "subjects" like Desmond, through the use of several Animi, and the Bleeding effect.

At the end of The DaVinci Disappearance (DLC) Vidic can be heard, with 2 other unknown men who seem to have caught Desmond (after the event of Assassins Creed: Brotherhood), talking about another temple in New York.

Personality and characteristics
Dr. Warren Vidic was a hardened scientist and fanatical member of the Knights Templar during the early 21st Century. Although an intelligent man, Vidic was somewhat forgetful, and would often need reminding of pass-codes and the likes; he also tended to leave his access key on display, and had on more than one occasion lost it outright.

An atheist, Vidic believed wholeheartedly in the non-existence of God, suggesting that many religious artifacts such as the Holy Grail, the Ark of the Covenant and the Apple of Eden were simply technology left behind by Those Who Came Before as gifts to the Templars; a belief which he thought to be fact. Ruthless, yet clumsy, Vidic had a short temper and showed little care for the welfare of his test subjects.

On at least one occasion, as in the case of Subject 16, Vidic's insistence that his test subject remain in the Animus for dangerously long periods of time, sometimes even whole days, led to the subject's suicide. Despite this, Vidic was unfazed, merely requesting another test subject. This seventeenth test subject – Desmond Miles – eventually succeeded where his predecessors had failed, and obtained the map indicating the location of the Pieces of Eden. This success, however, did little to ingratiate him in the eyes of Dr. Vidic, who agreed with the assessment of his superiors that Desmond should be executed. His mind only changed after being convinced by his assistant, Lucy Stillman, that Desmond could still be of further use.

Warren's relationship with Lucy was frosty at best. Despite saving her life and taking her under his wing, Warren seemed to barely tolerate her presence, and found her insistence on prolonging the project irritating. Despite this however, he did care for Lucy, and would withhold information from her that he knew would force his hand had she known; such as the circumstances surrounding the death of her friend Leila Marino. Following her and Desmond's escape, Vidic located and intercepted the two assassins as they attempted to flee their hideout; he commented on her treachery and how she had helped him cause pain and misery to his test subjects.

Trivia

 * His first name means "Guarded" or "Of la Varenne" (La Varenne is a suburb of Paris, indicating that this is where he may have come from) in Old English.
 * Although his last name Vidic is a common Serbian surname (Serbian latinic: Vidić, pronounced: ˈʋiditɕ) and roughly translates to "the one who sees" or "of those who see", it was never stated that he is from that country.
 * Desmond taking Warren's access pen is (so far) the only example of pickpocketing shown in modern times. Whether this is a manifestation of the Bleeding effect, or Desmond is simply skilled at picking someone's pocket is unknown.
 * Warren's face seems a lot more detailed in "Assassin's Creed" than "Assassin's Creed II". The reason behind this could be that he has a minor appearance in Assassin's Creed II, and the developers just implemented Warren's key features to save time.
 * Vidic owns a Lamborghini and another sports car, as seen in the garage where Desmond and Lucy fight off the Abstergo guards.
 * In the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer, Vidic features in the introductory video, and as the narrator for the training program.
 * Certain letter within the Rift Cluster puzzles are signed with the initials W.V. Such as a letter discussing the partial reproduction of the Pieces of Eden's mind control signal over a television network.

Video
thumb|480px|left|Real life storyline: Desmond Miles, Lucy Stillman and Warren Vidic. 

Notes and references
Warren Vidic