Mark

Once Mark appeared at his friend's window, he'd seen Jack exit the bathroom. Despite that being slightly creepy, Jack was his best friend, they'd been friends for most of their life. So to think that his friend had been hiding something was starting to weigh on him. He knew that something was wrong with Jack the moment he noticed his friend's eye color started changing from the startling blue to the strange electric green. Something he hadn't seen before. Pushing thoughts aside, he and Jack were on their way to the Salon when Mark looked in the rearview mirror and saw a black Chevrolet following them.

"You noticed the car too right?" Mark asked. He tapped Jack on the shoulder and looked behind them. "How long has that car been following us?"

Jack turned, the minute he saw the car the two of them began to speed up. The car sped up. Mark's heart started to race as he had heard things about the government following people around and eventually vanishing without a trace. It happened years ago, a young boy had gone on a walk when suddenly a black car followed him. The same black car had kidnapped him and taken him to a hidden government facility. Even before then he knew much about the government. He recalled what his parents had talked about when the government first started taking power.

*~*~*

Mark was sitting on the couch in his parents living room as his parents were talking in hushed tones back in the kitchen. He was young, around fourteen years old. And just as curious as he'd always been.

"I don't like how fast the government is taking over Cliff," His mother, Sunok said.

"Honey, I'm sure that it's nothing," Cliff responded. "Why would the government kidnap innocent children?"

"I don't know but I know that half of those children recall seeing a black car before they disappeared," Sunok answered. "I'm not going to let that government take my child, they already took my oldest, we can't sit around and do nothing,"

Curious. Mark got up from the couch and made his way over to the kitchen. The kitchen had a sliding door on it but it made things easier for him to eavesdrop.

"What do you suggest that we do sweetheart?" Cliff asked. "We can't pack up and leave the government will find us and they will take Mark and kill us,"

"I don't care, the government has no business taking innocent children to create this... army of robotic soldiers!" Sunok's voice rose.

Mark was shocked his mother had never raised her voice before. Especially not around him or his dad. But he also thought back to when his brother got snatched. The car was after him, but his brother took his spot. Now here he was unsure of what to do. So rather, he did exactly what he wanted to do. Mark pushed the doors open and stepped inside the kitchen. His parents stopped talking. Shocked by their son's reaction.

"I want in," the fourteen-year-old said.

*~*~*

Mark snapped out of his thoughts when Jack started shaking him. "We need to try and lose it,"

"But how?" Mark asked.

Jack didn't say anything, however, the two started to run faster until eventually they arrived at a small salon in California with a neon light that said Hair-to-die for.

The two friends ducked into the salon and closed the door as quickly as they could. Of course, they had to stay away from the window so the car would drive by. The black car passed by the Salon without stopping. Relieved, Mark and Jack looked around to see the many eyes staring at them. Some were the hair designers and the others were the customers. Most of which were in the middle of doing their hair.

The two friends approached the counter where a young brown-haired lady stood clacking away at her keyboard. She paused when she looked up from the computer to see the two teenagers waiting to be served. However, the minute she looked at Jack, distaste fell over her face.

"Excuse me, ma'am," Mark said. "My friend would like his hair colored,"

The woman hesitated.

"I didn't think something like that would want hair colored," the woman said.

Mark had been surprised, the woman was talking about Jack as if he weren't human.

*~*~*

Jack

I was embarrassed. My face heated up and I couldn't figure out what the woman's deal was. That explained why people were staring at me weirdly. As if I wasn't human. I remained quiet, not willing to take my chances. I may be an A honor roll student, but at least I was smart enough to know when someone called me a terrible name.

"Look lady, we just want you to color his hair," Mark said. "I don't know why you're making such a big deal out of it,"

The woman paused. At first, she hadn't said anything, but after a while when it was clear that neither of us were going anywhere, she stepped out from behind the counter.

"Please follow me sir," the woman said.

She brought me over to an empty chair and allowed me to sit down. "What color would you like today?"

I thought about it.

"Green," I responded.

The woman nodded and pressed a green button. The machine booted up and lowered over my head. Engulfing me in darkness. I wasn't in there for more than ten seconds before the machine rang and lifted from my head. I looked into the mirror and to my surprise I saw green and brown hair.

I glanced at Mark and saw that he was smiling at me. I got off the chair and together the two of us paid for the coloring with six bitcoins before walking out of the salon. The next place I knew we were heading was at a tattoo parlor. I hadn't paid any mind at what time it was, but as we neared the tattoo parlor, my head exploded in pain. I stumbled. Nearly running into Mark who thankfully caught me.

"Jack?" Mark said.

The sound of Mark's voice echoed as if I were starting to fall unconscious. Please God don't let me pass out. Another pain, I cried out and fell to my knees as a voice exploded into my brain.

"J13k, listen to me right now, you are ordered to go back home!"

"What?" I said to no one in particular.

"You must come home now!"

"Stop!" I screamed.

Mark stared at me, and I took off running in the opposite direction until I came across my father's electric car. He sat in the front seat and rolled down the window. I didn't want Mark to see me like this and the fact that my father was here, made things worse.

"Jack! I get in this damn car," Jensen exclaimed.

I flinched and looked back at Mark who was standing there dumbstruck.

"You too, Mark, get in this car now," Jensen ordered.

Mark walked over to the car and climbed in followed by me.

*~*~*

Mark

Mark watched his friend take off running. Worried about him, Mark followed only to stop in front of Jensen's car. He flinched knowing full well that Jensen was pissed.

"Mark, don't look," Jack said. "I don't understand what's happening to me,"

Mark couldn't describe it but he could see that Jack's eyes were blue and green like before. But this time Jack seemed to be holding onto his head like he was having a migraine.

"Want to tell me what the hell happened?" Mark asked.

"I told you I can't explain it," Jack said.

"Your part robot and part human," Jensen chimed in starting his car. "No you aren't a cyborg, you are bionic,"

The rest of the trip back to the house was silent. Jack didn't say anything and neither did Mark. To be fair, Mark knew that there was something more to Jack. But a bionic man? How could that even be possible? Whatever Jack and Jensen were hiding, Mark wasn't going to give up, not that easily. Upon arrival at the house, the trio got out of the car and walked into the house. Jensen guided them toward an elevator and pressed a button. Together, they walked inside and headed down to the basement.

"Dad, are you going to tell me what's going on?" Jack asked.

"Yeah, let me know also because I am completely thrown in a loop here," Mark stated. "We haven't even tried going to school yet,"

Jensen remained silent.

"Dad?" Jack started. Still Jensen didn't say anything. "Dad!" he exclaimed.

The elevator doors opened and they walked out into the basement. Or what Jack thought was the basement. The basement was covered in computers, beakers, clipboards. Anything that a lab scientist would need.

"Would you please talk to me!" Jack begged.

In a fit of anger, Jensen turned toward Jack. "I warned you to be careful out there! You were supposed to be in school. Both of you, why the hell would you sneak off and miss a whole day of school?!"

"I can explain," Jack said.

Mark started to sneak off but Jensen stopped him.

"Not so fast, your part of this too Mark! Now both of you better give me a good explanation,"