In a towering high rise, a self-assured looking man was leaning back in a plush padded chair, looking down at the war-torn city. This was Perelli. At that moment, there was a knock at the door.
"Enter," Perelli called. The door opened and two men entered. "Ah! Mr. Coffin!" Perelli smiled, recognizing Benny, and scrutinizing the other man, who was looking at him with unblinking green eyes. "What brings you here? And who is your friend?"
"Davis, sir," The young man replied evenly. "I wish to join your Enforcers."
"Do you now? I see. And what makes you think you could be of use to us?"
"If I might, Perelli," Benny inputted. "I've known Davis personally for many years now. I can honestly say that he will finish any task given to him, due to his nature of being more stubborn then an old mule. And he's always ready to do what needs to be done."
"Is that right?" Perelli looked Roger up and down. "I might just have use for this one. After all, Mr. Coffin, you've never presented me with poor offers. Take him to the initiation room. Davis can wait there for a few moments, so I can summon a superior Enforcer. That way, the new recruit can learn the ropes easier. Welcome aboard, Davis."
"Thank you, sir," Roger nodded quickly, and stepped out of the room with Benny. The two moved down the corridor calmly, with neutral expressions on their faces. Once they rounded the corner, however, Roger gave out a low groan and rested his forehead against the wall.
"You okay?" Benny asked.
"That was harder then I thought," Roger admitted. "My friends, Maureen, Collins and Mimi. They're dead, or worse. And it's all because of him. And that's not including the fact that Mark is…"
"I know. You wish you could just kill him, right then and there," Benny nodded in understanding. "You just have to remember that doing so would make you no better them him."
"Yeah. I know," Roger took a steadying breath to collect himself. "Well, let's do this."
"Okay, then. This is where I leave you," Benny gestured to a room nearby. "I have other things to do."
"Hey, Benny," Roger called as he started to walk off. "I forgot to tell you before. Thanks."
"For what?"
"Penny told me how you lost your arm, Ben." Benny blinked in surprise, his real hand instinctively touching his prosthetic arm. "And you didn't just risk your life for her, but you're doing the same thing every day for the rest of us. So, because of all that, I have to say, thank you."
"What can I say?" Benny nodded. "I may have lost my way once, long ago, Roger. But I've never forgotten that you and I were once friends. Good luck, Roger." Without another word, Benny exited the hall.
The processing camp's gates opened, letting in the group of enforcers. From his place outside one of the wooden huts, a weary-faced Mark watched the group line up for orders, as the head Enforcer of the camp gave each one a post and command. Two of them eventually made their way over to him. Lowering his head, Mark listened as one of the enforcers rattled on about protocol to the other, who obviously was recently brought on board.
"Bear in mind, it's been a long time since we had anyone here who was contaminated with the virus," the Superior Enforcer was saying. "Perelli's master plan successfully wiped them out of existence. Mostly, it's just low-lives and troublemakers, now. Like this one here." Without further warning, the superior enforcer dealt a hefty blow to Mark's temple, knocking him to the ground. "Caught this one during a round up of illegal solicitors. But he'd been trouble long before then." Mark bit his lower lip, holding back a reply as the Superior Enforcer moved on. He'd learned long ago that it was best not to answer back. Out of the corner of his eye, Mark saw the Novice Enforcer walk up to him. He instinctively tensed up, bracing himself for the blow that was coming. However, instead of being struck, the Enforcer crouched down and placed a gentle hand on his back.
"Where's your scarf, Cohen?" A voice whispered into his ear. Mark's eyes snapped open in surprise. That voice! He'd know it anywhere. Looking up slowly, Mark looked at the very familiar green eyes and dirty blond hair.
"Roger?" Mark croaked in disbelief. "You're alive?"
"Miss me, buddy?" Roger grinned cheekily. Before Mark could reply, an enforcer approached.
"Davis, is this one bothering you?" The Enforcer barked, glaring at Mark.
"N…" Roger stopped, coming up with a split-second idea. "Actually, he is. I request permission to deal with him on my own. I'm not exactly thrilled with the way he just looked at me." The Enforcer looked from Mark to Roger with a wicked smile.
"Permission granted. It's not everyday we get a recruit who's so eager to get started in keeping them in line on the first day." Roger pulled Mark to his feet, trying to appear rougher then he was actually being, and led him into one of the huts. As soon as they were out of sight, Mark turned to Roger and broke down, pulling him into a brotherly hug which Roger returned.
"You're alive!" Mark gasped between long suppressed tears. "How did you…"
"Does it matter?"
"No. Guess not. Roger, what are you doing here, of all places?"
"To get you out, of course. To get you back to Alpha Base."
"Alpha Base? You mean it's not gone? They haven't discovered the location yet?"
"Yes, it's still there. And we're getting you back there."
"You… you're not serious," Mark's eyes widened in stunned fear. "Escape the processing camp?"
"You got it, Mark." Roger nodded, and told him the plan Benny had came up with. "So, we're getting you out on Wednesday."
"Can we?" Mark asked unsurely.
"Of course! You want to, don't you? There's no way you want to stay here."
"I… I do want to leave but…" Mark turned away, looking very hesitant. "My courage, my spirit.... It's… so much less then it once was." Roger was quiet for a moment, contemplating this. Mark had been here for over a year, from what he'd been told. A year of undergoing who knew what kind of harsh and cruel treatment. It must have been enough to dishearten anyone. Roger knelt next to Mark, laying a sympathetic hand on his best friend's shoulder.
"Mark, Emily would be very happy to see you again." Mark looked up slowly upon hearing this. "Think about that, buddy. She's waiting back home for you. I know you don't want to disappoint her, right?" For a brief second, Roger noticed a hopeful, determined gleam shine in Mark's eyes. Taking this as a good sign, he persisted. "We can get you out of the processing camp, believe me." Mark remained quiet for a moment, but then replied.
"Yes." Mark smiled slightly. "I think I do."
