That night Marcus slept uneasy, while he wasn't as stressed as he was before, his mind still churned with thoughts and reservations.
He was at the point of questioning everything he believed, yet at the same time realizing there was nothing he could do about it, and that frightened him to no end.
In the morning, Marcus awoke to the sounds of the dorm shower running. He was confused for a brief moment, wondering who could've possibly woken up before him.
Luna was still by his side sleeping peacefully, when Marcus realized it was Felix in the shower.
"That's right." Marcus said to himself as he sat up in bed, "Felix has to have his surgery today." Marcus groaned as he rubbed his eyes, slowly sitting up in bed.
Suddenly the shower stopped running, and the sound of a glass door opening could be heard from the bathroom.
Marcus began to hear the sound of sink water running, followed by the sounds of Felix brushing his teeth.
Marcus felt rather lost at the moment, it was usually him who took care of his morning routine first, now not only had Felix beat him to it, but as far as he knew, there was nothing on his schedule today.
He essentially had a free day.
As Marcus pondered over what to spend his day on, the bathroom door opened, revealing Felix wrapped in a towel with a cloud of steam following behind him.
"Marcus, so this is what it feels like to be you," Felix said with a chuckle before navigating toward the closet.
Marcus smiled. "I guess I know how it feels to be you too, sleeping on the bottom bunk and all."
Felix nodded as he slipped on a T-shirt. "Yeah, it's great right?" He said with a light laugh.
Marcus shrugged his shoulders. "Something like that, anyway, how are you feeling about your surgery?"
Felix shook his head. "I don't know. There's a pretty high chance I died after it, yet I'm not afraid, does that make me weird?"
Marcus thought about it for a moment, on paper that would probably be enough to classify him as a psycho, but in reality, that mentality was probably the difference between life and death at this place.
"No," Marcus answered. "I think it makes you well-adjusted."
Felix nodded as he stepped out of the closet fully dressed. "Well, that's a relief," Felix said with a smirk as he walked toward the door. "Well, I'll be out getting my organs rearranged."
"Wait," Marcus called out. "I never asked, but how did you know you were getting your surgery today?"
"Oh," Felix said, reaching into his pocket to pull out his phone. "They uploaded the schedule on our phones, just go to that TA app, should be the most recent thing uploaded."
Marcus nodded as he began patting around the bed for his phone, eventually finding it just underneath Luna.
"Got it," Marcus answered.
Felix nodded his head. "Well keep your fingers crossed for me bro," Felix said as he exited the door, leaving Marcus and Luna alone.
Marcus sighed as he watched Felix go.
He sat in the bed motionlessly, attempting to clear his mind and boot up his systems. The void in today's schedule left him directionless.
After a moment of wallowing, Marcus grabbed his phone and navigated towards the TA app as Felix suggested, opening the app and using his fingerprint to reaffirm his identity, the first thing Marcus came across was a schedule of all appointed surgery dates.
After scrolling for a bit, Marcus finally came across his own scheduled date, which was tomorrow, his appointed surgeon was Dr. Fletcher, room A-10, in the training center.
Marcus felt an uncomfortable shiver down his spine, he knew he'd be fine at the end of the day, but just the idea of surgery added to his mounting unease.
"Well, I guess I can worry about that later," Marcus grumbled. "Still got an entire day to kill."
Just then, Luna stared awake, her silver eyes glancing around the dimly lit room, before finally landing on Marcus.
She smiled almost immediately, her small frame rising. "How did you sleep?" She asked, poking his arm.
"I slept fine, you?"
"I slept well, I think being next to you helped," Luna said with a chuckle.
Marcus smirked. "I know, it's like when I'm with you, the world just melts away, leaving nothing but peace."
Luna rolled her eyes. "Now you're just talking nonsense."
Marcus sighed before smiling. "I have to talk nonsense, otherwise I think about how cold the world is."
"That sounds like something Felix would say."
Marcus nodded, "Yeah, yeah it does." He then shrugged. "I guess that's what happens when you're couped up with someone long enough."
Marcus then stretched out his arms as he yawned. "Still." He said in a stained voice. "I got a whole day to kill, but there's nothing to do."
Luna fell silent for a moment, clearly thinking about something. "Well, I remember you were asking for a normal day, so you can watch porn and play video games."
Marcus' cheeks flushed as Luna mentioned his earlier tirade. "Hey, that stays between us." Marcus joked. "But on a serious note, I've always wanted to play games with you."
Luna gestured towards Felix's gaming system. "Well, here's the opportunity."
Marcus smiled, feeling a sense of relief and growing anticipation. "Hey, Felix and I never finished GTR V, do you wanna play story mode?" Marcus asked, getting off the bed, turning on Felix's console, and grabbing a controller.
"I don't think I'm good at games like that." Luna answered, "It seems complicated."
Marcus scoffed as he sat beside Luna. "You mean to tell me an anomaly from a dimension I probably can't even comprehend, might have trouble playing a twenty-year-old game about stealing cars and robbing banks?" Marcus chuckled as he placed the controller down on the bed. "Finally, something I can teach you." He smirked as he patted his lap.
Luna giggled as she rolled her eyes. "I'm sure there's a lot of stuff I don't know, so I hope you're this happy every time."
Luna then settled into Marcus's lap, her back leaning against his chest. Marcus then picked up the controller and reached for Luna's hands.
"Alright, so you put your hands on the handles like so….."
Marcus spent about ten minutes ensuring Luna understood the basics of handling a controller. He then spent another twenty minutes explaining the game's mechanics to her, until finally, she began playing the game decently on her own.
"Luna, you gotta chase him down!" Marcus exclaimed, pointing at the screen. "Tap B, Tap B!"
"That doesn't make any sense!" Luna exclaimed, "Why can't I just hold the button down? Who designed this game?!"
Marcus laughed heartily, his earlier tension fading away as he was sucked into the moment with Luna. He watched with glee as Luna hunted down her target and tackled him.
"Wooo, yeah baby, that's what I've been waiting for!" Marcus exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around Luna's waist and nestled against her cheek.
"I've subdued the criminal!" Luna exclaimed with joy. "I'm becoming a natural." She said smugly.
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but you're playing as the criminal." Marcus said with a chuckle, rustling Luna's silky smooth hair, "That guy we've been chasing, he's an IT tech wizard, they're going to use him as a hacker."
"Spoilers!" Luna shouted with a chuckle.
Marcus smirked as he shook his head. "Come on, you had plenty of time to see the game's story."
"Oh ha, ha." Luna replied sarcastically, "But, on another note, this is pretty fun." Luna commented, "It is almost as good as reading."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so you think reading is better than video games?" He asked curiously.
Luna nodded as she paused the game. "Oh absolutely," Luna commented. "Books provide something video games can not, engaging your mind, creating visual stimulation without any distraction or physical effort, not to mention I'd say reading allows you to truly engross yourself into a world without much thought."
Marcus shrugged his shoulders. "Sounds like you need a role-playing game, the VR ones specifically, it's like you're in another world entirely, until you start sweating about thirty minutes in."
Luna chuckled and sighed deeply with satisfaction. "You know, Dr. Fletcher was right." She said with a reminiscent smile, "I've enjoyed letting myself get comfortable with you, it's been fun."
Marcus nodded. "I'm glad you listened to her then, the thought of us being distant for our entire lives sounds like a drag, not to mention you're like a lifeline in this place."
Marcus knew how bad it could get with someone to vent out to, those nights sleeping alone in his bed, the nightmares from the simulations, the stress from the exams, the anxiety from being in an unfamiliar place.
It quickly added up and overwhelmed Marcus almost regularly.
"You know." Luna began. "Dr. Fletcher has been waiting to talk with you since the falling out you had, she wanted to apologize to you around the same time I did, but she felt it was too soon, and would overshine my apology."
"Really?" Marcus asked in disbelief, "I was sure I'd have to prostrate myself before her, beg for her forgiveness, you sure you aren't just pulling my leg?"
"It's the truth, but it seems neither of you is interested in making the first move, and it didn't help that you burst into her office and shouted at her about things she couldn't control."
Marcus felt a pang of guilt, he understood that he was being a little too irrational, but in his defense, Dr. Fletcher wasn't exactly an open book.
"I guess you're right." Marcus said with a sigh, "She's just a different woman to read, but I miss her a lot, she didn't show much emotion, but when she did I felt good."
"You'd be surprised how much she has to say, she's a very kind woman with terrible social skills, and it doesn't help that she almost completely ignored things that don't interest her, is a lot of bad communication mixed with a difficult situation."
Marcus sighed as he fell into deep thought, he knew he was a shitty person, that wasn't new, but even he could see that he was a brat to her.
"Yeah, I've been terrible for both of you, huh?"
Luna shook her head. "Marcus, Dr. Fletcher aside, I'm glad I chose you, I mean even though I fully planned on killing you once I was free, I've grown to enjoy your presence greatly."
Marcus smiled. "Right back at you, I was practically praying Kenji and Elissa took you out, but now I'm praying I never have to wake up without you."
Luna chuckled as she closed her eyes. "We should get breakfast to confirm our feelings for the third time, I'm thinking fruit and green tea?"
Marcus chuckled as he nodded. "Sure, let's eat."
After a quick breakfast, Marcus decided to spend the rest of the day exploring the complex with Luna.
There wasn't much to "explore" per se, but with Luna by his side, Marcus found wandering around quite enjoyable.
However, during lunch when Marcus was enjoying a turkey sandwich with a black tea beverage, Officer Volkov entered the eatery along with Sang-hee.
Marcus noticed them and tried to keep his head down, hoping to avoid having another situation like yesterday.
Unfortunately for him, fate had other plans.
"Ahh, trying to hide are we?" Officer Volkov asked teasingly as he approached Marcus's table.
Marcus frowned as glanced at him. "What do you want?" He asked, disdain evident in his tone.
"I've just come to talk to a future officer, or a corpse depending on how you handle the ether shock, whatever you prefer." Officer Volkov joked as he sat across from Marcus.
"I prefer you leave me alone," Marcus answered with a sigh, watching as Sang-hee sat beside Officer Volkov.
"What's with her anyway, I haven't seen Sang-hee stick around anyone longer than two seconds," Marcus said, his tone a mixture of curiosity and reserved anger.
"That's funny boss, I remember you crying in the hall like a lost child yesterday, yet here you are like nothing happened, funny how shit changes," sang-hee answered with a contempt grin.
"Fuck you." Marcus shot back with a snarl.
"I bet you wish you could, but we both know you're too much of a pu–"
"Sang-hee." Officer Volkov's tone was one of frustration. "I made you a promise but will not hesitate to throw it away, antagonize him again, and will show you better than I can tell you."
Sang-hee scoffed as she rolled her eyes. "Tch, whatever."
Marcus was genuinely surprised that Sang-hee obliged Officer Volkov's orders.
Whatever he promised her must've been good.
"Back to the topic at hand, I have a proposition for you."
A knowing smile played on Officer's Volkov lips, he leaned forward, placing a finger down on the desk. "As you know the second exam involves you becoming proficient with the use of an implant, learning how to control ether, and using basic combat techniques."
Marcus nodded, "yeah?"
"And you also know that an officer is assigned to teach you those skills, yes?"
"Yeah, I guess, where is this going exactly?"
"I want to become your assigned instructor."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, giving Luna a side eye before turning his attention back to Officer Volkov. "W-what do you get out of that exactly?"
"It's rather complicated, but you see out in the field I work alone, I've tried to work with partners that have been trained and provided by the organization, but none of them fit my needs, so I've decided to come and train my partner."
Marcus nodded his head hesitantly. "Ok…. But what would I get out of this?"
"You join me, and I tell you all I know, everything I've learned, my trials and errors, everything."
"But I can just get that from any instructor, what makes you so sure I'll even survive the surgery?" Marcus asked skeptically.
Officer Volkov leaned back in his seat as he crossed his arms. "I understand there's a chance you might die. That's why I have her for insurance." He said, gesturing a thumb to Sang-hee, "Just like if she dies I'll have you, and if I'm lucky and both of you survive, then I'll train both of you."
Officer Volkov's tone then softened. "And the training I offer isn't something to scoff at, you may be registered as rank-threes, but I can have you on the level of a rank-two, so… what do you say?"
Marcus fell silent as he pondered over the offer.
It was interesting, but Marcus wasn't quite sure if he wanted it. Especially since he could probably just take lessons from Luna, seeing as he has her core.
Still, there was the human aspect to consider, Luna probably didn't have the slightest idea of what it felt like to control it as a human, so she might not be the ace he thought she was.
But there was also the matter of Sang-hee, Marcus had always known she was stubborn, obnoxious, and annoying, but that doesn't excuse how she treated him.
"No." Marcus answered, "Not if Sang-hee is involved."
Officer Volkov frowned, giving a side eye to Sang-hee, who didn't look surprised. "Makes sense, you look like the guy who lets feelings overcome logic," Sang-hee said, her tone full of malice, a faint smirk on her lips.
Marcus ignored her, turning his attention back to Officer Volkov, "You want me, get rid of her." Marcus demanded. "Otherwise this conversation is over."
"I can't agree to that, as I made a promise, however, there is something that I can promise you if you'll take my offer."
Marcus raised an eyebrow, "like what?"
"Whatever you want, of course, it has to be reasonable, but if it's in my power I'll grant it."
Marcus took a deep breath, deciding to take his time to consider what he wanted.
After a long moment of silence. Marcus finally came to his conclusion, "I want information, everything you can find about the final exam, the opponent I'll face, its length, everything, you do that and I'll join you, but if you lie to me or Sang-hee bothers me, I'll drop you faster than a bad habit."
Officer Volkov gave Marcus a long appraising look, his crystal blue eyes scanning Marcus's face with scrutiny. "Alright then." He said, hesitantly nodding. "I'll get that information to you as soon as possible, in the meantime, enjoy your meal." He said with a wink, standing up and smoothing out his uniform.
"You shouldn't take today for granted, because after tomorrow you'll be floating in a vat for 12 hours." Officer Volkov commented in a joking manner, with a hint of serious undertones.
Marcus nodded, watching as Officer Volkov and Sang-hee exited the eatery.
Once they were gone Marcus slumped down in his seat, sighing heavily as massaged his temples.
"You certainly handled yourself well," Luna commented, nudging Marcus with her elbow, a genuine smile on her face. "You didn't get mad or nervously mumble through it."
Marcus chuckled as he rolled his eyes. "Trust me my nerves are still there, I just hid them, I didn't feel like getting ridiculed or pushed over today."
"Well, I think you did great," Luna commented.
"Thanks." Marcus replied as he sat up, "Well, given that it'll be right back into the furnace after tomorrow, why don't we spend the rest of the day reading, your choice."
Luna's eyes widened slightly. "Oh." She said with a smirk on her face. "Do you want to read with little ole me?"
Marcus chuckled. "You better stop wasting time with jokes, daylights burning, and tomorrow I'll be as good as a rock."
Luna chuckled, "Very well then."
With their plans set, Luna and Marcus spent the rest of their day in the dorm room reading various books.
Chatting about the stories they read, enjoying each other's company and eventually falling asleep together.
Marcus knew that whatever he faced, he'd have Luna by his side, never alone in whatever he chose to do.