Martin didn't want to play double agent at all in his life.
But now, since he is holding Carmen hostage for VILE, and that he also made a deal with her to expose Sterling, he guessed he had to be what he tried to avoid being all this time.
As he guarded Carmen, in case she woke up, he started to reflect on what had happened only a few hours ago.
Was this really what he wanted to do? Did he really want to just..throw Carmen to VILE like he didn't care about her at all?
Martin looked back at the beautiful young woman laying on the floor. Her hair had fallen loose as auburn strands fell over her shoulders. Her cinnamon skin gleamed under the sunlight that was shining through a small window in the room. She really took after her mother a lot.
Martin's mind then switched over to Dexter. If the man were still alive, if that Interpol agent hadn't shot him, then..would he be proud of what he's done? Especially when it included his only daughter?
Then, his mind switched back to VILE. They wouldn't be okay with him letting Carmen go. And after Carmen was turned in to them, they would quickly cast him aside and even possibly kill him.
Or just wipe his memory.
Suddenly, something popped into Martin's head. An idea. One that could work, or could not work.
He could kill two birds with one stone. He could get rid of VILE, and he can also expose the Sterlings. But..how?
Martin fixated his gaze back onto Carmen.
__________________
"Do ya think Carm's alright?" Ivy asked the others, as they sat at the table. Waiting for Carmen and Martin to return.
"She's been with Martin for a while now."
Zack shrugged his shoulders. "She said Martin had a clue to her past. You know Carm wouldn't pass on an opportunity like this!" He said, putting his cup of Coco-Cola down.
"Yeah, but that's the problem! Carm's wicked determined to find out more about her parents. Where she came from! We don't even know this guy, and yet he somehow has a link to her past? Isn't that shady to you?" Ivy said, being the only voice of reason besides Shadowsan.
Shadowsan grunted in agreement. "Ivy is right, Zack. Martin is different from the last time I saw him at VILE. He is more..closed in."
"Wait, so that means that.." ivy started.
Shadowsan nodded. "Carmen may be in trouble."
Ivy's eyes widened in panic, as she took out her phone and quickly dialed Player's number.
"C'mon..c'mon..pick up!" Ivy murmured, as her phone continued to ring.
Player finally answered after several rings. "What's up, Ivy?"
"Player, Carm may be in danger! Can ya trace her location?"
Player nodded, typing away on his keyboard rapidly. "On it. I'll see if I can find out where she was last. Her comms broke off."
Ivy sighed in relief. "Thanks Player. We're lucky to have ya."
Player smiled at her. "Anytime guys!" He said, before going radio silent.
__________________
Carmen's eyes fluttered open to see nothing but a plain grey ceiling in her line of sight.
She groaned in pain, sitting up from her previous (and rather uncomfortable) position, and getting a look at her surroundings. Which were of nothing much, to her dismay.
Carmen then saw an all too familiar face in front of her. Sitting in a chair. Asleep.
She scowled at him. He is the man who betrayed her for VILE. He is the man who she had grown up and spent a lot of time with, besides the Faculty, and now..he's her enemy after so many years of being in hiding from VILE?
Did he even leave VILE in the first place?
Carmen stopped herself there. Okay, she was probably overreacting a little bit there, she'll admit. If Martin was still with VILE after all these years, he would've captured them all on sight and turned them in. But he didn't.
So..what was going on here? Why did Martin suddenly decide to start working for VILE again after being a traitor to them for more years than she could count?
Carmen's mind then wandered over to Martin's company and his son Rodrick, who was the heir. He did say that Sterling's press conference did cause a huge drop in Mccoy Auto's profits.
And without money, Rodrick's career is in jeopardy. Because if the company doesn't have enough money left, then that means Rodrick can't be a racer anymore.
The thought of Rodrick made Carmen finally realize why Martin was doing all of this. He was not only trying to boost the company's funds, but he was also doing this for his son's future too.
Martin wasn't a bed person overall, he was just..trying to give his son a good future.
Even if he could find more ways to get more money than working with a top secret criminal organization.
"Oh good, you're awake."
Carmen snapped out of her train of thoughts to see Martin standing before her. His face expression neutral.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, ignoring the fact that she was still mad at him despite figuring his reasons for capturing her out.
"Alright, I guess." She decided to respond with.
Martin noticed the betrayed and hurt feelings Carmen felt. Since her voice was practically describing them.
He sighed. "Look, I know you're mad at me, but you have to understand-"
"You did this for your son and not just your company?" Carmen interrupted, examining the change of Martin's expression. Which changed to one of surprise.
"How did you-"
Carmen smiled at him. "I woke up before you did. And I had some time to think, so..I started to quit making assumptions and think deeper. And..voila!" She said, doing jazz hands.
Martin chuckled. "You're just like your mother in that department. Always trying to figure out why people do what they do."
Carmen frowned. "You met her?"
"Not physically. Your father and I always face timed whenever he was available. He had your mother with him one time."
"What was she like?" Carmen asked, propping her elbow up and resting her chin on her palm.
Martin chuckled. "She was a lot of things. Kind, resourceful, intelligent, beautiful.." he paused and looked at the young woman. "Stubborn. Just like her daughter." He said, that last part being said jokingly.
Carmen dramatically placed her hand to her chest in mock offense. "How dare you!" She said. Making them both share a laugh.
There was a silence between them after that. After a whole minute, Carmen was the one to break that silence.
"So..what now? Are you gonna just..turn me in to VILE like you never gave a damn about me?" Carmen asked, looking down at the floor. Knowing that this was the end of the tranquillity they just shared between each other.
Martin took a deep breath. "No."
Carmen looked back up at him, shocked. "What do you mean "no"? You've captured me for them, didn't you?"
Martin nodded. "That was my objective, yes. But then, I also did some thinking." He said, walking over to Carmen's cell.
"I thought—I could kill two birds with one stone. I can expose the Sterlings. And disband VILE for good." He said, while reaching into his pocket and pulling out the keys to the cell's lock.
He put the keys into their slot and turned them to the right. And a click was heard.
Martin opened the door and stepped aside so Carmen could walk out.
"And I cannot do it alone."
Carmen stared at him skeptically. Before slowly getting up and walking to the opened door. Hesitantly stepping out of the cell.
She held out her hand for him to shake. "Then, what are we standing around for?"
Martin smiled at her and reached his hand out. And then both their final decisions were made.
They will take down VILE and take the Sterlings off their high horse.
Together.