Robert Fraser

"If I were a true Assassin, I'd make use of the shadows, or hide in plain sight. But I'm just a mid-level employee at an entertainment corporation [...] My act of defiance must be different – and permanent."

―Fraser in his final letter, 2014.

Robert Fraser
Biographical information
Died	August 2014 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Species	Human
Political information
Affiliations	Abstergo Entertainment Assassins

Robert W. "Bob" Fraser (died 2014) was an employee at Abstergo Entertainment, tasked with reliving the genetic memories of Arno Dorian, a French Assassin living during the French Revolution. However, Fraser began to suffer from the Bleeding Effect during the project, eventually being encouraged by psychiatrist Victoria Bibeau to destroy all the information he had uncovered.

Biography

First weeks

"Just keep in mind that you are Bob Fraser, and Arno is Arno Dorian. Don't confuse the two."

―St. Claire in his review of Fraser's first report, 2014.

Fraser became part of Abstergo Entertainment on 18 June 2014, with his job being the exploration of Arno Dorian's genetic memories so a blockbuster product could be made out of them. After each Animus session, he was to write up reports detailing his thoughts, which would be evaluated by Project Coordinator and Fraser's personal supervisor, Aidan St. Claire. Unlike many other research analysts, Fraser preferred to study the era and its figures exhaustively prior to his sessions, compiling information in personal "Historic Personage Sheets".

Fraser's enthusiasm for the project led him to become very immersed in his research; he would draw many of the individuals he met as Arno and introduced his colleagues to Pharaoh, which he mastered easily thanks to his experiences in the Animus. However, complaints from other research analysts, who believed Fraser was cheating, led CCO Melanie Lemay to ban it and other games of chance on 25 June. St. Claire also contacted Fraser, notifying the man that he could be experiencing the Bleeding Effect.

On 3 July, St. Claire sent his review of Fraser's first report, titled "Childhood through Imprisonment", and commended him on his thorough work, but also warned against forming too personal an attachment. As Fraser ventured further into Arno's memories, Abstergo supplied him with information on the Assassin Order, hoping to prevent him from empathizing with them.

Arno's initiation into the Brotherhood in particular seemed to affect Fraser, as St. Claire noted in his response to Fraser's second report, titled "From Prisoner to Apprentice". An appointment with Abstergo Entertainment's chief psychiatrist, Victoria Bibeau was subsequently organized; while no physical evidence of the Bleeding Effect arose, Bibeau worried Fraser would be unable to keep a professional distance from his subject and recommended any outside activity related to Fraser's assignment be curtailed.

Descent into madness

"You've got to take me off this case. I can't possibly continue. Not unless I want to become Arno. There are times when I wonder if I am already Arno - if I always have been."

―Fraser to Bibeau, 2014.

Careful to take the necessary precautions, Fraser continued his research and began writing up his third report, detailing Arno's pursuit of de la Serre's murderer and eventual reunion with Élise. The first part was reviewed by St. Claire, who responded on 11 July, once more stressing that Fraser could speak to Bibeau whenever he became overwhelmed.

Taking St. Claire's advice, Fraser began corresponding with Bibeau, to whom he confessed that he had broken up with Anna, his girlfriend; Arno's memories had caused him to fall in love with Élise instead. Flashbacks of the Bastille plagued him on Bastille Day, with Fraser begging Bibeau to take him off the case. She believed they needed to continue their work regardless, but offered to supply him with medication that could help. Bibeau also recommended Fraser write whenever he felt the Bleeding Effect set in, in an effort to separate himself from Arno.

As Fraser continued his report, he began to hallucinate vividly, at one point believing himself to be in Paris during the Belle Époque. Once this came to light, he was made to take a medical leave of absence. On 29 July, Fraser reapplied for the project, claiming the week spent in the recovery center with Bibeau had worked wonders for his mental health.

Following his return, Fraser and Bibeau set out to destroy all documentation on Arno's life, deleting the files on Fraser's computer and burning the hard copies in St. Claire's office. They also leaked the unsequenced memories to the Assassins, but were caught thereafter and Fraser was terminated.

The remaining documents that Abstergo managed to salvage were subsequently examined by a Templar agent who would go on to replace St. Claire in his position as Project Coordinator.

Trivia

• Fraser was at one point sent various rough sketches to critique by Melanie, who was looking into the creation of figurines of Arno and Élise.
• At some point in 2014, the Assassin Bishop entered Fraser's apartment, although it is unknown if he was present when this happened.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Rogue (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Heresy (appears in a picture)

Source

• Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook