As Viper agents rushed around to do Marcus' bidding, the man himself sat in his leather office chair. He liked to think of it as his throne. The distant sounds of shouting and running brought a smirk to his face. This was how the world should be. Everyone obeying a higher authority. The only authority. Him. 

A couple doctors shuffled nervously into the glorious office. They both trembled and their eyes darted anxiously at the pistol on the luxurious desk. They knew how much pride Marcus had in the gun. He was constantly boasting about how it was his father's gun. The very gun he used to put a bullet in his father's skull. 

'Martin. Julie." Marcus' voice sounded friendly enough and the two straightened their backs, relaxing a bit. "How did our visit from the two lovebirds go?" He smiled warmly and clasped his hands, leaning back in his chair. 

"We did exactly what you asked, sir." The taller reported, adjusting her glasses nervously. "We left the infirmary. Leaving everything they needed out and ready." Marcus nodded approvingly. His eyes drifting down to the woman's bandaged left hand. "And what happened to your hand?" He jerked his head to her cradled limb. 

Julie shuffled her feet and adjusted her glasses, slowly pushing her hand behind her back. "N-Nothing, sir. I-I just burned it on some chemicals in the lab." Marcus leaned forward, resting his clasped fingers on the desk. "A burn you say? How interesting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't burn's supposed to be open and aired out?" 

Marcus cracked a 'warm' smile. "Such a well-educated doctor such as yourself should know that." Martin glanced cautiously at his colleague before taking a small step away from her. For his own safety reasons. He didn't like how close Marcus' hands were to his gun. 

"I-It was a serious burn, sir." Julie stuttered. "Oh, yes. It must have been a terrible burn," Marcus' voice was calm yet it spat sarcasm like an adder. "If it is bleeding through the thick gauze in one place." Julie began to tremble. She risked a glance down at her hand. It was, sure enough, bleeding through. Her heart stopped.

"So I will ask you one last time, doctor." Marcus leaned back in his chair. "What happened to your hand?" Julie opened her mouth and began to stammer. 

"We..-I improvised." She blurted out. "I-I thought that if I attacked...put up a fight, it would look more believable and they wouldn't get suspicious." There was a piercing dagger of silence. Neither Julie, nor Martin, nor Marcus spoke.

"You went against my orders." His voice was grave and emotionless. His gaze could kill a lion. "S-sir I just thought-" 

"Yes, and that is the problem, doctor. You thought. How many times must I tell you people that I am the only one that does the thinking around here?" Marcus' eyes bore holes into hers. "Sir, I-" "But maybe thinking isn't such a bad thing." Julie's shoulders' relaxed slightly. "Maybe since you think your version of my plan needed an upgrade then surely you must be a better suit to rule this city." 

He stood and gestured to his chair. "Here. Take control. Claim Viper as your own." She trembled. "N-no...sir I would never think that! I just wanted the plan, your plan, to succeed." Marcus smiled and leaned forward, resting his palms on the desk. Gradually sliding his right hand towards the gun. 

"Too bad your life won't succeed long enough to see my victory."

~ ~ ~ ~ 

A low groan echoed against the solid walls of the cell. Scott sat up sluggishly and opened his eyes, looking around wearily. The energy to hold his eyes was too much alone. "We were drugged." The weak voice made Scott's hangover-like headache grow worse. "Shuddup..." He slurred, pushing himself up against the wall. 

"Hey, Scott, about Amber-" "Sshhh...if you don't shut up, I'm gonna kill you..." Scott slapped his hand over Mark's face. "Can we just get along?" Mark blurted, peeling the other man's hand off of his face. 

Scott was silent. 

"Look we are kind of stuck together here so we might as well make the best of it. Besides, I hate fighting with someone who's supposed to be on the same side as me."

Silence.

"Or you could just not talk to me....that would work too." Mark huffed and whacked his head against the concrete wall. 

"Engaged." Scott murmured after a couple dark moments of silence. "What?" Mark tilted his head to look at him. "The day before she was taken...I purposed to her." Scott's head was hung. His shoulders drooped and a lone tear travelled down his cheek to his chin where it lingered before falling to the dust-covered ground. 

Mark's heart went out for the guy. All this time he had given Scott the worst time. "We were going to get married. Raise a family. Grow old together. Live a normal life. No Viper. No XForce. No danger." Scott's voice choked with emotion. "Not having to live constantly looking over our shoulders."

Mark was silent for a good while. The cell was cloaked in a cold emptiness. "I'm sorry," Mark stated barely above a whisper. "I've given you a hard time. I didn't allow myself to get to know you. I've been judging the fact that you used to work for the guy who wants to take over the entire city."

Scott let out a humourless laugh. "You're a good guy, Mark. You've got a good heart and you want the best for everyone."  He dragged his sleeve across his eyes. "To be honest, I wouldn't trust me either. I mean, I was second in command to Marcus. Not the most trustworthy position. I don't blame you. Completely." 

A smile crept up Mark's lips. "Stop tearing up on me, Livingston." Scott punched his shoulder. "We still need to get out of here." Mark chuckled. 

They stood and began inspecting the room. "So what happens when we get out of her?" Mark questioned, checking the walls for any hidden buttons or loose bricks. Scott stared at the metal door, rage burning in his hazel eyes. 

"We find Marcus. And I kill that bastard."

WHOOOHOOOOO!!!! NEw Chapter!!!! Hope you enjoy it!

~Keziah