Disclaimer: I do not own these characters.
A/N: Back to Marcus!
un-beta'd
Something deep within Marcus tells him not to obey or trust. He defies orders at every turn regardless of the punishment. This feeling, this process, repeats itself countless times to the point where he enjoys the fights. Each challenge tears his limbs and breaks him but he doesn't stop. Not when he knows he'll be whole again by the following morning.
"I'm not yours to command."
There's something close to pleasure every time Krane's face twists in fury. It's amusing to see the skin turn bright red with anger and bionics go haywire at the loss of control. The way Krane's voice rises in pitch is laughable. Marcus' smile is all teeth when a gasket near Krane's collarbone blows sending him into another fit.
"I only obey my creator."
The android takes in the madman's moment of vulnerability. He debates on whether or not he should kill him. It would grant him his freedom along with Mr. Weber's, too. It would be easy to wring Krane's neck. He could apply enough pressure to asphyxiate him or just break his neck. Marcus tilts his head slightly thinking he could blind him, too. He would take special care with how he scoops out the altered eyes. The irises would probably be packed with hidden data. He could cut key areas of the body to leave the human powerless while he bleeds to death but that would be a waste.
The android grins because he wants to take Krane apart piece by piece.
A hit to the back of his head jars him out of his thoughts. Marcus falls forward, mouth already curling in a snarl and eyes turning green to attack. His eyes narrow as he watches S-3 and two others step towards Krane as if to shield the bionic man from him.
'How sad', he thinks, 'protected by children.'
Mr. Weber has told him repeatedly not to retaliate and he obeys. Krane is pitiful in his attempts to gain power and Marcus will enjoy the moment he ends the bionic man's life.
::O:O:O::
"You need to stop agitating him."
Marcus' rebellion is a product of his creator's emotions. Mr. Weber throws, more often than not, barbed words and blatant disrespect at Krane's face. Each word of criticism is met with bruised skin but the human is defiant regardless of the pain. So, Marcus chooses to be defiant as well. It's easy to mirror the words of his creator as each taunt passes his lips. He enjoys it because he's obeying his creator and it's familiar. It's familiar and yet alien.
"Marcus, are you listening?"
The android looks up from his corner of the small room. He watches the other work on a project with little interest while replaying the question in his mind.
"Sir, you know I'm not programmed to obey his commands. You could give him access."
"No."
Marcus frowns, "He will punish you."
"No," the human growls, "I'm not giving you to him."
Marcus blinks slowly, hands fisting as if unsure of what to say or do. He almost snaps that he's being stupid. There will only be one outcome in the end if this continues.
"The only reason he hasn't hit me with his mind voodoo is because he needs my mind clear and focused. The human brain deteriorates faster with his Triton App since we don't have a chip for him to control."
His creator turns back to the metal on the table in a huff. The android watches as several of the iron bars connect together and it starts to resemble a large satellite dish.
"I won't be me anymore if this thing gets turned on," Mr. Weber whispers, "You'll do everything in your power to override any command I give you when that happens. I'll be under Krane's influence so you've got no reason to obey me, ya hear?"
Marcus shifts uncomfortably under the hard glare.
"Yes, sir."
A feeling of dread claws at Marcus.
::O:O:O::
Marcus stumbles upon S-1 while patrolling the edges of the perimeter. The scowl on her face makes him tread carefully around her but he never turns his back on her. There's little doubt he can defeat her but he's not sure if she's alone this far from the base. There might be others watching from the trees or hidden in the brush, waiting. For a moment S-1 stares at him, eyes roving from head to toe as if evaluating.
"You know," she says conversationally, "Krane is going to kill your creator."
Marcus makes no outward reaction.
"It's not a secret he hates him. Probably hates him more than Douglas but that's up for debate. He's always going on and on about what he'll do to Jim and Douglas. Says he'll off them together."
Marcus' eyes slide sideways as he scans the perimeter again for anyone in the vicinity. When nothing appears on his radar he steps closer. S-1's face isn't happy. She's growling in anger and Marcus wonders why she seems upset at the thought of his creator and a stranger dying.
"He'll dismantle you. No matter how many times you pull yourself back together he'll take you apart over and over until nothing is left."
The android stops an arm's length away from her. S-1 is sneering as she speaks of Krane's plans to kill him and his creator that may or may not be true.
Marcus frowns, "Why are you telling me this?"
S-1 smirks, "Because you're going to help me get rid of him."
Marcus doesn't tell Mr. Weber about S-1. He keeps it to himself when asked if there were any threats. S-1 isn't a threat, not yet because this could be a trap, so he replies with a no.
Understanding dawns on the android a few days after the impromptu meeting with S-1. The First Five, his mind whispers when he walks around a group of bionic humans. S-1 is glowering because it's not her giving orders to the rest of her siblings. S-3 is the leader and it's clear with the way he speaks and preens under the other's gaze that Krane favors him over the others. Marcus briefly wonders why the bionic woman hasn't tried to reestablish her position in the hierarchy.
S-1 spots him at the edges of the crowd. Her eyes narrow and her lips thin. She stares pointedly at him before he manages to slip away into the small shack he shares with Mr. Weber.
It takes Marcus three hours to make his way back to the place where they first met. He checks and double checks and then triple checks to make sure no one follows. S-1 is already there by the time he reaches the familiar outcrop of trees. She's seething as she paces back and forth like a caged animal.
"He loves him," she cackles, "He calls him father like it means something! He's an idiot if he thinks we mean anything to Krane! We're expendable! We're nothing!"
Marcus watches in silence as she continues her tirade. It goes on for some time but he doesn't interrupt her. When she quiets down she lets out a broken laugh that sends shivers through his frame.
"It's going to happen soon and when it does…"
Her arm snaps out, fist exploding through a boulder with one punch. A shower of dirt and rocks hit Marcus but he stands his ground. He almost flinches when her eyes meet his.
"You and I are going to make sure he stays down."
There's a coldness that makes him believe her.
::O:O:O::
They don't meet again when Krane moves everyone to a different location. The machine Mr. Weber took weeks to build is taken away. Afterwards, Marcus and his creator are kept firmly away from the others. The only light he sees nowadays are from the cracked window of the abandoned garage they're holed in. There's no furniture so Marcus does his best to huddle next to his creator to keep the human warm on cold nights.
While the change of scenery doesn't bother him, he worries for Mr. Weber. His creator is thinning and he's become less talkative. Marcus can't help but grimace at the sling keeping the man's broken arm in place. His mind wanders back to S-1's last words.
He spots her every now and then through the window. She never looks towards his direction but she does make hand signals telling him to wait. He wonders when he'll get the signal to start their revolt.
S-3 and several others show up in their prison a week later. They haul Mr. Weber to his feet and plan to take him away. Marcus grits his teeth because he's ready to start the uprising now.
"Stand down, Marcus."
The android lets his arms fall to his sides and his stance becomes loose. His creator shakes his head sadly as he disappears through the doorway.
::O:O:O::
Mr. Weber's eyes shimmer from the mind control. His words are short and clipped but Marcus does his best to pretend he's following his orders. If he doesn't show some form of obedience Krane will most likely melt him.
S-1 watches him carefully now that he's free to wander. Her fingers fold carefully when she signals him. Marcus turns away from her and responds, 'We wait.'
::O:O:O::
S-1 sends a signal to lure the Davenports to the satellite. She had planned to take advantage of Krane's distraction and sneak up on him while he faced his enemies. It's unfortunate S-3 is able to trace the signal back to her. Marcus goes to her aid when she finally stops trying to stand. She's bleeding too much but her siblings are still angry.
Marcus fights back. The problem is there's too many of them and only one of him. Krane steps out of the crowd, eyes fierce when he stares down at Marcus.
"It seems you and Mr. Weber are no longer needed," he scoffs at S-1's direction, "Et tu, daughter?"
S-1 is barely conscious but she manages a grin, "Go to hell, Krane."
The bionic army whispers.
They want justice.
They want an execution.
Marcus struggles when they're lined up on their knees. S-1 leans heavily against him on his left and Mr. Weber sits in a slump on his right. Marcus closes his eyes when he hears the whir of energy building up behind him. He can feel the heat and static of several bionics accessing their ability to project energy. Somewhere in the background he thinks he hears the sound of helicopter blades and rumble of thunder in the distance but he's distracted by S-1.
She shifts up and whispers, "Now."