Shaun Hastings

"What am I – who are you, my mum?"

- Shaun Hastings, addressing a curious Desmond.

Shaun Hastings is a supporting character in Assassin's Creed II and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. He is modeled after and voiced by British author and comedian Danny Wallace. His job is to assist Desmond Miles by creating database entries on various people, places, and buildings that he encounters while in the Animus 2.0. As well as this, he gives tactical support, as well as relays messages from the higher command, to other Assassin teams across the planet, particularly to those who are on field duty.

Early life
From an early age, Shaun was always interested in conspiracy theories and the unknown. Though initially unaware of the existence of the modern-day Templars and Assassins, he did some investigating into a company called Abstergo Industries, and realized that they were "up to no good" and thus decided to try and stop them. Shaun dug up as much information as he could on Abstergo's activities, and then tried to tell others about his findings by reporting it to Wikileaks. Unaware that the Templars would try to silence him, he was eventually found by Alan Rikkin, and he was kidnapped by Abstergo on December 10, 2010. However, he was able to escape in 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.

Hideout
After Lucy Stillman and Desmond Miles escaped to the hideout, Desmond entered the Animus to relive his ancestor, Ezio Auditore's memories. Whilst inside the Animus, Shaun supplied Desmond with informative database entries, and the occasional piece of advice on glyph puzzles. However, as the de facto historian of the Assassins, Shaun was constantly working on his computer, and rarely had the opportunity to speak with Desmond – telling him to "go away."

Sanctuary
Upon escaping Abstergo and setting up camp at the Sanctuary in Monteriggioni, Shaun continued his research, as how he operated in the previous hideout. However, he was more respectable and tolerate towards Desmond now, probably due to their only discussion involving Shaun's topics of interest. Though he is still disrespectful towards Rebecca, which causes Lucy to give him more work than the others. After Desmond completes the 9th Sequence of Ezio Auditore's memories, they are still left with the mystery of the location of the Apple of Eden. Desmond points 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 states, is the same year that Rome's Colosseum was built. They all conclude that's where the Apple would be found, and begin their long road trip.

When they discovered the Apple, Desmond uses 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 both come together in only one place. However, before he could finish, 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 collapse (once the scene is revised after the credits), Shaun and Rebecca are still visibly conscious, and apparently 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 is often cynical, condescending, sarcastic, and pessimistic, but does have a playful side, often inserting humorous tidbits into the database entries he creates. He will often have too little patience to talk to Desmond, though at other times, he will lead off into a long conversation. While Shaun's annoyance is usually directed at Desmond, he also insults Rebecca, and comments on her immaturity by saying "the grown-ups are talking now" – even though she has saved his life multiple times.

During the modern segments, Shaun is desperate to enter the Animus, even resorting to begging Lucy through her e-mail, which she silently declines by not replying. Although when he is confronted about it, he'll say that "the job behind the desk" is much better. When talking about his status as an Assassin, Shaun states "I've killed before, I expect to kill again. It's just that I’d prefer not to". He often portrays the rather sarcastic role of the one who does all the work and never gets noticed or rewarded, as he has complained more than once, saying "no one missed me." His cynical attitude can be observed, when he points out that the Assassins are still killers, whatever their motives; making them no more the "good guys", than the Templars.

Despite his attitude towards Rebecca, he holds her in higher regard than he likes to admit, since she did save him from Abstergo. Only Lucy seems to be above his snide remarks, either as a sign of greater respect, or because he knows not to insult her.

Trivia

 * 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, 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 priest saying "You know too much for your own good".