Chapter Eleven: The First Mission
"I-I don't understand." Mark said, eyes wide as he stepped back from Ian.
"It's all a test, Mark." Felix chuckled, "I wanted to know if you already have what it takes to be a super spy. And based on the results, you're doing pretty well for a newbie."
Mark appeared to be perplexed, but deep inside he was screaming with joy.
"Congratulations, Agent Bumbum." Tyler's voice came from behind, he had just entered the room and joined the three.
"Wha-" Mark glanced at Tyler, "You're in it too?!"
"Yeah... kinda, since I was expecting the test to be later rather than sooner." Tyler shrugged, breathing out of his nostrils.
"So that's that." K said, "You're ready for your first mission."
"M-My f-first mission?" Mark twitched, feeling fear and excitement mixing up inside him.
"Yeah, you're ready to chase down Darkiplier."
"R-Really?"
"Yes." Felix chuckled.
"I bet you'll do well, man." Ian interrupted, squeezing Mark's shoulder, "We thought we had him back in Sacramento last year, but no, that dickbiscuit keeps on coming back."
"Really?" Mark raised an eyebrow.
"He nearly destroyed the town after that stunt." He chortled, "Nearly killed Anthony, even."
Mark gulped. He realized how deep of a shit he had gotten himself into. He never knew Dark was capable of doing such act.
"This might be some cliched, overplayed plot but," Felix breathed, "You're our only hope, Mark. Only you can outsmart Dark, like how you've outsmarted the 'thugs'."
Mark glanced at Ian and Felix, unsure of what to reply as the fear of the consequences should he fail his first mission. They were talking about saving the world, so Mark had every right to be worried.
"I'll come with you, man." Tyler said, "I got your back."
He did not know whether Tyler's reassurance encouraged or terrified him, he was way past the point of no return. He could not let all his three weeks worth of training be for nothing, and he could not let the people of Y.A.S.S. down.
"Alright." Mark nodded, agreeing even though his mind still hasn't made a clear decision.
"Okay, I believe it's off to Brighton." Felix announced, "Bob, Wade, will you guys please assist Mark in using the necessary tools he might need for this mission and book us a flight to Brighton?" He pressed on the radio on his desk.
"Right away, K." Wade's voice came from the speakers.
"You and Tyler will take the earliest flight to Brighton to meet up with Crank. I'll meet you there." Felix said.
"Can I take Chica with me?" Mark asked, "I can't leave her behind here, there'll be no one to look after her."
"Of course." The boss nodded.
"After all, she saved me back at my house." He adjusted his glasses, "Thanks, K."
"Don't mention it."
A few minutes later, Bob and Wade came to the office and surrounded Mark,"Let's go, Agent Bumbum." Wade said, "We've already packed your stuff."
Mark still cringed at his agent name as he followed the two out.
The three got out of the room along with Ian, leaving Tyler and Felix alone. Tyler turned around to face Felix, looking confused.
"You're really gonna let him go without proper training?" Tyler asked.
"I made a judgment call, Tyler. We've discussed this before, haven't we? And you yourself told Mark to believe in himself."
"I know, but... He failed his Physical Examination. He kept on slamming into that wall."
"But he excelled in the other fields." Felix replied, "It isn't always brawn. And brains beat brawn all the time, Mark has all the brains he needs to get through this."
Mark stared outside the window deep in thought, seeing nothing but the calm blue sea down below. He could hear the muffled sounds of jet engines outside as the flight attendant chatted with the other passengers inside the cabin.
"Hey, Mark." Tyler said, who was sitting next to him, "Is there something wrong?"
He turned to face his friend, meeting his gaze. Mark cracked a smile and shook his head, "Nothing."
"Come on, I'm not used to you looking all silent and shit." Tyler sighed, "Tell me what's wrong."
"How do you handle the pressure of being a spy?"
Tyler shifted on his seat to face Mark, clearing his throat as he did so, "Honestly, I have no clue how I've survived this far. Maybe keeping a cool head helped since I've arrested countless bad guys, way before you came along... until Darkiplier entered the scene."
"What makes Darkiplier different?"
"He's not the typical evil genius who lets his henchmen do the work for him, he tends to spearhead his dastardly deeds."
"I figured." Mark then kept on listening.
"He's a very skilled fighter, able to bring down five agents in a single brawl with his skills. Recently, Ethan came across him and barely escaped with his life.
We've sent countless people after him, sure he got caught once, but he only stayed in prison for a month before escaping."
"What makes you sure I can do it?" He asked, "That I can take down Darkiplier?"
"Aww, come on, dude, you and Dark are technically the same person, the only difference is he still had that bright red hair while you don't. Which is why we need you, Mark. Because you know how he moves, how he thinks."
Mark broke from Tyler's gaze, he was now staring into blank space.
"You were brought in for a reason, you know Dark more than we do. You and Warfstache were his childhood friend."
Mark sunk in his seat, those words stung his heart. He balled his fists, "Does Felix know?"
"Yes. We do."
Mark nodded, "Damien was always the black sheep of the three of us. I sensed darkness in him as we grew up, he despised people, often creating fights with the other students at our school. What severed our friendship was him dating my high school ex-girlfriend behind my back."
"I'm sorry, Mark. I know it's hard for you to do this-"
"But I'm gonna do it, I will catch Darkiplier. He's already ruined my life and Will's, I can't let Dark ruin other people's lives." Mark said, exhaling, looking out of the window and still seeing nothing but the seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean and the horizon.
"I was preparing a long speech to comfort you but I'll take that response." Tyler shrugged.
"Are there any rules?" Mark looked back at his friend, "Of being a spy?"
"Okay, the first rule of being spy is to never tell that you are one to the people you know. I'm sure you're well aware of that. Especially in your case, Mark. If Dark finds out that you're working for us he'll attack you where it hurts the most."
"In the balls?"
"Wha-NO! What I mean is that he'll beat you by hurting your loved ones. Your friends, your family..."
"Amy." Mark finished.
"Yeah, Amy."
"Oh dear." He gasped. "I've been trying to call Amy a lot the past few days and she hasn't answered any of my calls."
Tyler's eyes grew wide, his jaw dropped.
"We'll call her once we get off this plane." He assured, looking out the window and seeing the famous Brighton Pier down below.
The second Mark got off the plane, he dug out his phone and dialed for his girlfriend. His heart raced, his foot tapped, anxiously waiting for Amy's answer.
"I'll get Chica from her kennel." Tyler said, heading to the luggage counter.
"C'mon, babe. Pick up." He bit his lip, hearing the dial tone.
"Hello?" Someone answered, Mark immediately knew it was Amy.
"Oh thank God!" Mark sighed, looking all giddy when he heard his girlfriend's voice.
"Mark?" She replied, her voice always soothing to him, "Mark! Thank God you called!"
"Wh-what's wrong, babe?" The smile on the YouTuber's face disappeared. "And why haven't you picked up my calls?"
"I tried so many times to call you too. I wanted to tell you that I won't be home for two more weeks."
His eyes widened, "What? Why?!"
Tyler returned, now accompanied by Chica who was tethered to him with a leash. "What's going on, man?" He asked, Mark just responded with a wait gesture.
"New York's been struck by a strong blizzard. I was snowbound with my family for the past three weeks, it's only now that we were free and had proper reception. All flights in and out of NY are delayed until further notice." Amy explained.
"Oh... good." Mark sighed in relief.
"What did you say?" Amy asked, sounding surprised.
"Uh, I mean, good that you're safe, not that I want you to be stranded, but I'm thankful that you're not kidnapped or held against your will somewhere."
Tyler slapped Mark's arm, "Dude, too much!" He whispered through gritted teeth.
Mark made an inaudible gasp. His tongue was a bit too slippery.
"What made you say that?" His girlfriend said, "Are you involved in something that you're not telling me?"
"Uh... uh..." He tugged on his collar, "So how was your time with your family?"
"I told you we were snowbound. Please don't change the conversation." She lowered her voice, "Mark... are you hiding something from me?"
He froze for a few seconds. Then he covered the microphone on his phone.
"What do I say now, Tyler?" Mark whimpered, "You have no idea what happens when Amy's angry, she suddenly morphs into a fire breathing dragon."
The taller of the two shook his head, "Use your head, Mark."
The YouTuber faced the wall, prepping to bang his head against it, "I should knock myself out then?"
"You've gotta be joking." His friend rolled his eyes.
"Mark Edward Fischbach, I'm talking to you!" Her voice loud enough for Tyler to hear from the phone's earpiece.
Mark looked down at Chica, who was sitting on the floor looking up at him with her adorable eyes.
"Chica! Give me back my phone!" Mark screamed, forcing the phone between the golden retriever's jaws, "CHICA!" He repeated.
Chica however, kept it clamped in her mouth as she motionlessly sat there watching her master freak out like a crazy person. Tyler tried his best not to laugh.
Mark retrieved the dog slobber covered phone and put it on speaker, opting not to put it anywhere near his face.
"Sorry about that, babe. Chica's been moody today."
The dog tilted her head and let out a soft whimper.
"Did you forget to feed her again?" Amy asked, and to Mark's relief, she bought it.
"I suppose so, heh." Mark chuckled, "Anyway, please be careful. I love you so much. I'll see you in two weeks. And please stay away from men in black suits."
"S-sure thing?" She replied, "Bye, I love you too."
"Bye." Mark hung up. He let out a loud sigh, making the people around them turn his head at them. "I'm so good at making alibis." He said, bathing in his somewhat victory.
"Let's go, we have to meet up with Agent Crank at the town park."
They arrived past noon at the park, and very few people were there out in the open. They were either the homeless or the caretakers who brushed off the snow to maintain the beauty of the park. Midday in Brighton was not cold compared to morning and nighttime, and the layer of snow were thinner.
The two men were wearing a thin black jacket over their casual clothes. Mark was wearing his favorite green Reptar shirt that had his sleeves cut off, and Tyler had a plain dark blue shirt under his jacket.
"Where is he?" Tyler said, eyes squinted from the heat shining down on them. He scanned the park.
"What's he wearing?" Mark said, scanning the area. "You see Ethan, girl?" He asked Chica, who was restless in her place, her movement limited by her leash.
"He says he's in a disguise." Tyler recounted, "He's carrying a box with him."
Then, as if right on cue, Mark spotted a man wearing navy blue mailman's uniform of average height, pale white skin, and slim frame sitting on the bench opposite them. Underneath his left arm was a small box, he was using it as an arm rest.
"I think I see him." The YouTuber blurted out, "He fits the description you gave me."
"Approach with caution." His friend instructed, "Somewhat inconspicuous."
"You got it." Mark handed Chica's leash to Tyler then dove behind one of the benches, humming a butchered Mission: Impossible tune as he ran from his current hiding spot to the trash bin.
"Are you kidding me?" Tyler rolled his eyes, and Chica turned her head away from the scene.
"What? You said 'approach with caution', right?" Mark looked over his shoulder at Tyler, raising an eyebrow.
"But not this type of approach." He breathed, "What I mean is to get your guns ready."
"Oh, alright." Mark pulled out his custom made mustache gun from a holster under his jacket and cocked it before putting it back. He took a glance at their target.
Only to find him staring back at them.
"Oh shit, I think we're compromised." Tyler said.
The mailman ran off, taking the box with him.
"He's running away!"
Mark removed his jacket exposing his well-defined arms. "I'm going after him!" He said before running after the target.