As Marcus and Sang-hee made their way to the main gate, the tension between them was evident.
Marcus ignored Sang-hee for the most part, keeping his attention on making it to his destination, yet Sang-hee continued to push his buttons.
"So, you think just because you know how to do a few tricks you're hot shit?" Sang-hee asked mockingly, "I don't know how the hell you expect to train me, boss, because I'll surpass you within an hour, got that."
Marcus groaned as he grabbed at his temples, "do you not have anything better to do?" He asked, the desperation in his tone was evident. "Seriously, what did I do to piss you off this bad?"
Sang-hee crossed her arms as she glared at him. "You know exactly what you did, so don't play dumb, besides none of this would've happened if you left me alone in the first place."
Marcus furrowed his eyebrows in frustration, thinking back on every interaction the two had.
There weren't many, but the most notable was when he helped her down the stairs after a simulation.
He remembered she didn't want his help, she kept pushing him away and cursing at him, but eventually, he helped her anyway.
Could that be what pissed her off?
If it was, then Marcus could understand some anger being directed his way, but with how she was acting, you'd think he had killed her pet.
"If it's about the stairs thing then I'm sorry." Marcus said with a sigh, "Next time I see you struggling I'll just watch." He said with a sigh.
"You didn't have to do anything." Sang-hee hissed, "You think you're a good person, well take it from me, you're not. It's all an act, I know it is, and that's what pisses me off about you, I will never let you think for more than a second, that you've done anything good for me."
"Then why not just ignore me?" Marcus said angrily. "I get you don't like me, that's fine, but why keep fighting me?"
Sang-hee stopped walking, pushing Marcus's shoulder to make him face her. "You think I haven't tried that?" She asked angrily, "yet every time I turn around you're glancing at me, sitting by me, insulting Me!"
She pointed a finger to Marcus's forehead and mashed him. "Now I'm doing it back to you and you don't like it?" She laughed in disbelief.
"When have I–"
Sang-hee took a step closer, her voice now filled with irritation and frustration, "You really wanna play dumb, Marcus?" She hissed.
Marcus fell silent, closing his free hand into a tight fist. He knew she was right, there was no excuse for some of the things he'd done, but he still felt she was overreacting.
"That's what I thought." Sang-hee snarled, turning on her heel to continue towards the main gate.
Marcus sighed deeply in frustration. Continuing towards the main gate with his head low.
"Can I be honest Marcus?" Luna asked softly.
"You hate me too?" Marcus asked jokingly, attempting to cheer himself up.
"Of course not," Luna answered immediately.
"But she does have a point, even if it was by coincidence, you've made it hard for her to ignore you." She explained. "You should've left her alone from the beginning."
Marcus nodded his head. "If I had known then what I knew now of course I would've left her alone, but what's done is done, I'll just deal with it."
Reaching the main gate. Marcus was greeted by the sight of Volkov leaning on the side of a black, armored Sedan.
He was fully geared up, with his long hair tied in a topknot.
"I'm glad you too made it in one piece." He said with a grin, "You guys ready to go?"
Sang-hee nodded, glaring back at Marcus before sliding into the front passenger seat. Marcus averted his gaze as he approached the car.
"Are you ok?" Volkov asked, his gaze soft and his expression full of sympathy.
Marcus nodded as he opened the back passenger door, "yeah, I'm just a little scared." He lied.
Marcus helped Luna into the car before slipping in himself.
Volkov nodded before getting in himself. Settling into the front seat, Volkov began cranking up the car, a quiet chime beeped softly, indicating that the car was on.
Pressing his foot against the accelerator, Volkov quickly began pulling away from the complex, speeding towards the city.
"So we'll first need to stop by a safe house in the city, I need to talk with the officers there about the missing generators, in that time, Marcus I want you to teach Sang-hee about ether flow, by the time I'm done talking, she should at least be able to hide her hand in the darkness."
"Darkness?" Marcus asked in confusion, "What kind of implant does she have?"
"The Shadow Tamer implant, its ability includes hiding its user in darkness and shadows, creating clones from said shadows, disintegration touch/projectiles, and last but certainly not least, the ability to summon shadow creatures." Volkov then smirked, "teach her well, and she might become stronger than you." He said teasingly.
"Great, so my skills rely on his ability to teach?" Sang-hee said with a sigh, "A monkey would be a better choice."
Marcus sighed softly, "do I have to teach her?" Marcus asked, hoping the answer would be no.
Volkov nodded, "Yep, I can't hold an investigation and train two cadets, so you'll have to put on your big boy pants and do me this favor."
"How convenient," Marcus mumbled to himself.
"You should be more excited boss." Sang-hee hissed sarcastically, "I thought you loved forcing your help on me."
Marcus felt a pang of frustration at Sang-hee's words, if only he hadn't decided to play a hero that day, maybe he could've avoided all of it.
The drive to the safe house was a quiet one, filled with only the occasional sigh of impatience from Sang-Hee, or a yawn from Volkov.
Marcus spent most of the drive playing with Luna, rubbing his hand through her hair, or just poking her cheek as she read a book on his phone.
Finally, they arrived at the designated safe house.
It was a medium-sized, blue house hidden among rows of similar homes. It had a decently sized lawn, with a small garden. Parked outside the house was a white motorcycle, and a black convertible.
Volkov parked on the side of the street, opposite the house. He signaled for everyone to exit the car, waving his finger in a circle.
Stepping out of the car Marcus stretched out his arms wide as he yawned.
"How are you tired?" Luna asked with a chuckle, exiting behind Marcus.
"Watching you read." Marcus commented with a smirk, "Words on a screen rolling by, it was sorta mesmerizing."
Luna rolled her eyes as she reached for Marcus's hand. "You're one to talk, I'll have you know I didn't appreciate being treated like a toy."
Marcus chuckled as he accepted her hand. "Stop being so adorable, and I might stop."
"Ugh, I didn't come all this way to hear that shit." Sang-hee groaned as she exited the car. "Start walking."
Marcus glared back at her with a frown. "And I didn't care for your opinion, so shut the fuck up." He said coldly.
"Make me," Sang-hee replied as she flipped Marcus off.
"Alright you two, don't embarrass me in front of my colleagues," Volkov said with a chuckle. He began making his way toward the safe house, and Marcus followed close behind.
As the group approached the door, Volkov began adjusting his gear, checking pockets, and straightening his jacket.
"Boss, I've been meaning to ask," Sang-hee said, studying Volkov's officer uniform. "What with the outfit you officers wear, like it doesn't really look like a uniform, more like clothes you'd see a tech-bro wearing or something."
Volkov chuckled. "It's civilian tactical gear, it's made to be resistant to most weapons and blades, within reason of course, it can also store various gadgets and equipment, all while looking like civilian clothing."
"Yeah, sorry to tell ya this boss, but somebody fucked up during the designing phase, because all of y'all look like edgy teens."
"I see," Volkov said in a soft tone, his gaze lingering on his clothes for a brief second.
Volkov knocked on the door, a few seconds passed before the sound of heavy footsteps could be heard approaching the door.
The door then opened to reveal a tall, burly guy, looking to be in his early twenties. He stood at the door with narrowed eyes, scanning everyone with scrutiny.
"Boris!" Volkov said with a wide grin, "It's me, Volkov." Volkov's tone was slightly ecstatic, almost as if he and this man had history.
*" Volkov knows to greet Boris in Russian, you're a fake."* the man said in what sounded to be Russian, yet Marcus wasn't sure.
*" You may be blind but you are stupid Boris."* Volkov replied in the same language as Boris.
A faint grin spread across Boris's lips. *" Yes, you know I love to tease you brother, come in Xavier is inside with the information."*
Volkov grinned in return before turning to Marcus and Sang-hee. "Come on you two, I have a debriefing to attend."
Marcus nodded, nervously scratching behind his ear.
Stepping inside the safe house, Marcus immediately noticed that it was similar in appearance to the one Kenji and Elissa shared, the same large black boxes, which now Marcus knew were Force Field generators.
Empty take-out boxes, papers scattered across the floor, and those same smart-boards.
"Sorry for the mess," Boris said in English, his voice deep and rough. "Xavier barely cleans, and I can't see anything without a pulse." He said with a deep chuckle.
"It's fine Boris," Volkov answered. "Where is Xavier anyway?"
"In the basement," Boris answered. "We caught someone who we suspect had ties to the thieves, but he's been quiet."
Volkov nodded, his expression turning serious. "I see, I'll join you downstairs in a minute, but first I need to talk with my cadets."
"Take your time baby brother, the chicks we raise today shouldn't become hens and roosters by tomorrow," Boris commented before turning away.
"What does that even mean?" Volkov said with a chuckle as he watched Boris navigate towards the basement.
"Don't rush!" Boris said with laughter, it echoed as he disappeared into the basement.
Volkov smiled before turning his attention towards Marcus and Sang-Hee.
"Alright you two, the plan remains the same, Marcus I want you to teach Sang-hee how to control her ether flow, and I want results." He demanded with a stern smile. "She doesn't have to reach your level, but she should at least be able to defend herself."
"Screw that, I wanna see the interrogation!" Sang-hee exclaimed, a glint in her eyes as she crossed her arms.
"What is it with you and violence?" Volkov asked in disbelief. "Can't you do what I ask, just this once?"
"Fine." Sang-hee said with a reserved sigh, "I don't even care." She mumbled before turning towards a chair.
Volkov sighed as he turned his attention to Marcus. "I'm counting on you Marcus, don't let your frustration get in the way of her progress, whether you like it or not, she's training to become an officer like you, and she deserves our full support and resources."
"It's a waste of resources," Marcus grumbled under his breath.
"What did you say?" Volkov asked. "I didn't catch that." He explained genuinely.
"Nothing. Marcus said with a sigh. "I'll give her my full attention, just as you wish," Marcus said sarcastically, yet he did mean it, he would give her everything he knew, even if he hated it.
"Thank you," Volkov said with a nod before turning to the basement. Leaving Marcus, Luna, and Sang-hee alone in the living room.
Marcus glanced over at Sang-hee, who was staring him down with a wide grin.
There was a devious glint in her eye, almost as if she was waiting for this moment.
"Please don't make this hard," Marcus said with a reserved sigh, already regretting the choices that led him to this point.
"That all depends on you boss, so I suggest you play by my rules," Sang-hee commanded.
"You're pointless." Marcus commented, "Your entire existence is pointless."
"See, you're already fucking up," Sang-hee said with a sigh as she waved her finger.
"Whatever," Marcus said coldly, before turning his attention to Luna.
"Here."
Marcus handed Luna his phone and key card. "It's the only two things I keep on me so don't lose them." He said jokingly.
"Why are you giving them to me?" Luna asked curiously.
"A precaution," Marcus said as he glanced over at Sang-hee.