Marcus went on to explain the concept of anomalies, how they entered the world, and what the organization did to stop them.
By the time he finished, everyone including Cora, had a decent grasp of what Marcus was and what he did.
"…and now you have to take care of a powerful anomaly in New York?" Kira asked.
Marcus nodded as he slipped on his spare uniform. "Yeah, I'm still terrified if I'm being completely honest." He replied. "But, Kinsley got me to calm down, and now that I get this off my chest, I'm feeling a little better about things."
Kira giggled as she poked Kinsley's cheek. "You helped him calm down huh?" She teased.
Kinsley blushed. "Yes, I did, because he's my…." Kinsley paused, glancing over at Marcus who was now fully dressed with his bag in hand. "He's mine."
Marcus felt his cheeks grow hot as he stared back at her. "Is that what that means?" He asked.
Kinsley nodded. "Yeah, so try to come back in one piece." She said with a smile.
"Hey, if you really want some shower fun, I'm available," Kira said with a wink.
Kinsley frowned. "I don't care for your jokes." She said frustratedly, "You need to stop being a homewrecker."
Kira rolled her eyes. "Two months and a little shower sex, and now you own him?" She asked skeptically, "Honestly Marcus deserves to explore other options."
Marcus chuckled. "I'm happy with Kinsley." He answered with a smile. "And hopefully, when I get back we can do more shower stuff."
Kinsley turned beet red as Kira giggled. "Ahh, it's adorable." She said, "But honestly Marcus, you shouldn't tie yourself down to the first girl who gets you off, besides there are man-"
Kira was suddenly cut off by Kinsley gripping her hands around her neck. "Stop trying to steal him!" She said angrily. "You had your chance, and you let him get away, you aren't going to take Marcus too!"
"H-he's h-his own person." Kira struggled to say, gasping for air. "And so are you, options exist for a reason."
Marcus chuckled at the sight before suddenly his phone buzzed with a message.
Pulling out his phone to check, he realized it was Dr. Fletcher informing him of his ride to Airstrip 47.
Marcus felt a sense of dread deep within him, but he pushed it aside, opting to focus on Kinsley and her friends. "Well, that's my cue to leave," Marcus said with a soft smile. "I'll see you guys later."
Marcus and Luna then turned to head for the door after giving a quick wave to the three girls on the bed.
"Wait," Kinsley said as she rose from the bed.
"Hmm?" Marcus asked curiously, turning around he was quickly kissed by Kinsley.
She gripped her hands on the side of his head and continued to kiss him passionately.
Marcus felt himself slipping into the moment, slowly reaching for Kinsley's ass. Unfortunately for him, she pulled away from the kiss before he could reach it.
"Come back safe okay?" She said warmly.
Marcus smiled, "of course."
Kinsley then released Marcus from her grasp and headed back towards her bed, sticking her tongue out at Kira.
Kira rolled her eyes but smirked nonetheless. "I kissed him better." She replied.
"See you guys later," Marcus said with a chuckle.
"Wait, aren't you guys forgetting Marcus needs a keycard to leave once it's past eight?" Cora said, finally speaking up.
Kinsley immediately reached for her temples. "I… forgot."
Kira, sensing a moment to one-up Kinsley. Quickly sprung up from the bed and charged Marcus. Upon reaching him, she pulled out a keycard from her pocket and handed it to him.
Marcus naturally reached for it, when Kira suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.
If Kinsley was reserved, then Kira was an absolute freak. She stuck her tongue in his mouth instantly, touching hers with Marcus'.
Almost on instinct, Marcus reached for her ass, and this time, his hand found its mark.
Kira widened her eyes briefly before smiling.
She then pulled away from the kiss with Marcus, a long strand of saliva forming between their lips. "Mhmm," Kira said as she licked her lips.
"You bitch!" Kinsley shouted as she leaped from the bed.
Kira smirked as she hurriedly pushed Marcus out of the door. "Don't forget to bring my card back, byeeee." She spoke fast, before closing the door.
Marcus and Luna stood outside the room with confused expressions as the muffled sounds of violence erupted from the other side of the door.
"We should probably get going," Luna informed Marcus.
"Y-yeah." He stammered.
— — —
Marcus and Luna quickly made their way out of the dorms and past the campus gates, where a black car was parked on the side of the road.
Marcus quickly waved at the driver, who was standing outside the car with an impatient frown.
"What took you so long, kid?" The driver asked.
Marcus chuckled nervously. "My…. I got a few goodbye kisses." He replied.
The driver smirked. "Your girl must love you bad huh?" He joked before slipping in the front seat.
"Something like that," Marcus replied as he opened the door for Luna.
Luna slid into the backseat, her expression a mix of amusement and something else unknown. Marcus followed in after her.
As he settled into the backseat his mind began to churn with thought. He wondered if he did the right thing, revealing his secret to Kinsley and her friends.
But he also couldn't escape the thought of his shower escapade with Kinsley. He could feel something growing within him, though he still didn't know what it was exactly.
There was also Kira and her antics. Though Marcus tried his best not to, he could feel himself growing attracted to her as well.
Marcus signed as he crossed his arms.
That would be a problem for future Marcus, for now, he needed to focus on his upcoming mission.
A Rank-three anomaly wasn't going to be a walk in the park, especially since it was high-class.
Marcus turned to Luna. "What would you do in my shoes?" He asked.
Luna turned to him and smiled. "I would love the huggable companion you always bring along."
Marcus chuckled as he wrapped his arm around Luna. "I already do."
— — —
After a long flight, Marcus arrived at airstrip 17. There he was greeted by 'Alfred' the save man who chauffeured him around last time.
"Are you ready to depart?" Alfred said, opening the back passenger door of the SUV.
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, thanks, Alfred."
Sliding into the backseat alongside Luna, Marcus felt his anxiety rising. He was getting closer and closer to the point of no return.
Luna, sensing Marcus' inward turmoil, grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "You'll be fine Marcus, you're going to get in there and take that anomaly down, like the badass I know you are."
Marcus chuckled as he kissed Luna's forehead.
She giggled.
"Thanks, Luna, I just hope your confidence translates to my actual ability," Marcus replied.
Alfred quickly made his way to the front seat and hopped inside. "Given the evacuation order, the road may be a little… interesting."
Marcus nodded. "I understand."
Alfred nodded as he turned the ignition, "Very well sir."
Alfred quickly rolled off the tarmac and onto the streets.
The ride to the rift site was a tense one.
Marcus watched out the window as dozens and dozens of cars were lined up to leave the city. While the roads to enter were practically barren.
The closer they got to the construction site, the more organization checkpoints they came across. Some were guarded by police, while others were guarded by soldiers.
They all wore gas masks to keep up the façade, of a dangerous gas leak.
"I wonder if people actually believe there's a gas leak, surely there's someone attempting to test if there's actually one happening, especially at this scale," Marcus commented.
"I assure you, if anyone has attempted to stay behind in an attempt to prove the leak false, they're dead," Alfred answered.
Marcus felt his heart drop. "D-dead?" He stammered.
"Mhmm, there is indeed a nerve agent being used to keep people at bay, those who ventured into it, or never left the area to begin with were incapacitated by it." Alfred then sighed. "Then shot."
"Jesus," Marcus whispered to himself.
"I feel the same but it's necessary, could you imagine how the world would react to the information of what's to actually come?"
Marcus sighed. "I don't know…" he answered.
"It would be chaos," Alfred answered. "Humanity is already fragile and fractured as is. I would only imagine it would break completely under the truth."
Marcus wasn't sure about that, especially since Kira was so excited about everything. Then again, both Cora and Kinsley could barely process the information.
"So, will the nerve agent affect me?" Marcus asked.
"No, organization personnel is fine, it's engineered to feel like nothing more than a little buzz," Alfred explained.
Marcus nodded.
It wasn't long until they finally arrived at the construction site. Stepping out of the SUV, Marcus was greeted by a heavy organizational presence.
Guards and equipment were everywhere surrounding a large sectioned-off area that buzzed with ether. The air seemed almost electric and burning.
Marcus coughed as he walked further into the sectioned-off area, walking past unfinished construction and large machinery.
"Hey Marcus, long time no see." A familiar voice called out.
Looking around, Marcus was greeted by Kael walking up to greet him. Kael looked a little tired, with bags under his eyes and his hair messy.
"Hey Kael, where are the other officers?" Marcus asked.
"Sergeant Daniel and the others are talking with Dr. Fletcher," Kael replied, pointing to the area where eight massive generators were, creating a large force field brimming with power.
Just off to the side were four people talking.
Marcus recognized Dr. Fletcher and the two officers from the local team. However, the fourth person, he did not know.
The man was tall and had muscles upon muscles. His hair was short, like a buzz cut short, and blonde.
His eyes were light brown and brimmed with authority.
"Sergeant Daniel," Marcus said to himself.
Kael nodded. "That guy's a beast, I think he might steal Dr. Fletcher from you." He joked.
Marcus rolled his eyes. "As if I had her in the first place." He replied. "Besides, I have more than enough problems with women."
Kael chuckled as the Trio approached the others.
"Is that so?" He asked. "You have a girlfriend?"
Marcus shrugged. "I have a girl that that's interested in me, and I'm interested in her," Marcus answered. "But her friend, a girl named Kira, she's been getting touchy with me too."
Kael smirked. "You lucky bastard."
"I'm lucky until it's time to choose," Marcus replied.
When Kael, Marcus, and Luna reached the others. The first to greet them was Dr. Fletcher. "Hey you, you've finally arrived."
Marcus nodded. "Yeah."
Sergeant Daniel narrowed his eyes. A frown crossed his lips as he crossed his arms. "This is supposed to be our ace?" He asked in disappointment, his voice deep. "He looks like a terrified child."
The other two officers, the one with the ginger hair and the one with the Mohawk, both approached.
"Bro looks like he's been pulled out of heaven." The officer with the Mohawk joked, her grin wide.
Dr. Fletcher narrowed her eyes. "I assure you, his presence here today is necessary."
Just then, a loud bang rocked the surrounding area, sending alarms blaring out of control in nearby homes and cars. The faint energy that Marcus felt from earlier began to circulate like wildfire, increasing in intensity.
Marcus turned to look towards the containment barrier, where now a large, black sphere growing at the center. It began growing rapidly, and clouds of fire began circulating around it, spreading embers of fire along with smoke and clouds of dust.
Sergeant Daniel narrowed his eyes at the sight. "I guess we're about to find out what this kid's made of."
Marcus felt a shiver run down his spine as he eyed the sphere. It grew larger by the second, and the air that surrounded them seemed to become burned like the ozone itself was on fire.
Marcus stepped back from the containment barrier. He knew there was no turning back, now it was about survival.