Chapter 21
"YOU DID WHAT" I glared at him and he grinned "I gave him my power" "why" "he is a Usurper and he will take my place after all the next events are going to help him unlock his powers ", I summoned my scythe and sliced him in half but he laughed "only he can end me now go back to playing pretend I'll enjoy the show" he put himself back together and I clenched my fist but walked away "I wonder why you bother with him do you think he won't kill you for his own ambitions" "be silent" "we both know how things we'll end but I suppose you can try to delay the inevitable".
All POV
"Connor the readings you sent us on Marik aren't good" "what do you mean" "his powers have become more unstable than they used to be, there was a spike in his readings but they're not going back down" "do you know what I should do" "…maybe keep him from going to kill Jack" he turned to look at the room they were in "you realize that will be impossible right" "I don't know what else to tell you but at the rate its going we're not sure what will happen to him" "…I understand I'll talk to him".
He walked into the room and could already tell Marik was pissed "Marik we need to talk" "bout what" "just c'mon" he followed him out the room and they stood in the hallway, "Marik promise me you'll listen to all I have to say alright" "ok" "…you can't go with the others to kill Jack" "WHAT" "your powers are unstable but unlike the other times something like this happened they're not returning to a stable level" "I know that but Jack deserves to die do you have any idea how much suffering he's put Angel through and then he kills Roland and captures Lilith" "Marik calm down" he noticed his marks were glowing before his scanner went off "I will not forgive him I will… RIP OUT HIS SPINE, CRUSH HIS HEART AND BURN ALL THAT REMAINS" he screamed and Connor backed up as a large ribcage surrounded him "MARIK I SAID CALM DOWN" "I WANT HIS HEAD AND I WILL GET IT" it began getting larger before forming arms "nothing will keep me from his throat let him send as many loaders as he wants" he grinned and looked up at his Father "I'll tear them all to shreds". "What the hell" Marik looked over to the others before closing his eyes "…I suppose I can keep myself calm" the skeleton disappeared and he walked out and past his friends and hopped over the ledge then to the edge of Sanctuary and sat down.
"What the fuck was that" Axton asked but Connor stood there trying to figure it out himself "I don't know… whatever it was it came out when Marik got angered" "I think I know what it is" they turned to look at Angel "you do" she nodded and told them about what happened in the Vault, "restrictions of death" Axton asked confused "yes I believe that was his first restriction being released but he stopped before it was fully released" "so what do we do about him" he asked looking at Connor "you are the one who ran tests on him and I don't need him dying or going crazy on us" "… I don't know we were stuck on trying to open the dark vault… it appeared when he was angered so maybe the restrictions are tied to his emotional state specifically his anger" "so keep him calm" "yeah" Axton thought for a minute before smirking as he came up with an idea "ok what's a great stress reliever" "writing a book" Maya said "no that's boring and Zero no haikus" he displayed a :-( emoticon "MEAT" "no ok Gaige what is a great stress reliever" she stared at him before figuring out what he was implying and blushed "sex" "wait how does that help" Angel asked "simple Gaige fucks him we get him drunk and then he passes out" "you are not getting my son drunk" they turned to look at Jessamine "but-" "no… I'm going to go talk to him" "but Jessamine" "Axton in case you've forgotten Marik gets his anger from me and we both know how to hold a grudge" "so how is talking to him gonna help" "well I am good at keeping him distracted" "with what he's really fucking pissed if you haven't noticed I don't think a simple talk about the weather or some shit is gonna help" "trust me Axton I'm his Mother and if there's one thing children love it's hearing about their parent's life" "I don't enjoy hearing about my Dad's life" "yeah well most kids have two arms instead of a mechanical one" the room was filled with silence as she left and Zero turned to look at Gaige "what" "you got fucking burned" "shut up Zero you want a high-five oh wait that's right" "duel now".
Marik's POV
I looked at my marks before clenching my fist "damn it why'd the King have to interfere" "I don't know Boss" I looked at Spectre as he appeared next to me, "he thinks of you as a Usurper" "what is that anyway" "basically it means you're going to kill him and take his place as King" "huh… wait how do you know that" "I get around" "but you're a part of me and I didn't know that" "you're thinking too hard… your Mom's coming and I don't want to be here for mushy crap so we'll talk later" "alright" he disappeared and I turned to look at Mom.
"Marik can we talk" "of course" she sat down next to me and hugged me "…I haven't been truthful with you" "I'm not adopted am I" she smiled and I smiled back "no I gave birth to you but anyway-" "and Dad's my real dad right" "yes he is now then… I think I need to at least let someone else know about my past or at least the full truth" I raised an eyebrow when she said that "…I worked for the Crimson Lance as an Assassin alongside my partner Athena, we'd killed countless people for them but it never bothered me. However when Athena defected she killed the other members of our group and tried to kill me but couldn't" "why" "we were evenly matched we'd trained together since we were kids so instead of her continuing to try and kill me she tells me to leave the lance and make a life for myself out of there… so I did after faking my own death with a black hole I disappeared and left my armor in the Vault. After that I tried many things but nothing worked unless it included killing… but then I met your Father during an Assassination, we both had the same target however it was a trap and we fought together to get out and after that we became partners which let to us becoming intimate and then you were born" "so you're an Assassin" "yes" "…can I see you in your armor" "why" "because you'd look freaking awesome" she sighed before nodding and opened a black hole "wait here".
I obeyed and grinned as I waited for the hole to open and when it did she stepped out, "you look fucking awesome" "language" I ignored her and circled her looking at the armor. The shoulder blades are freaking badass and the cloak she was wearing with the hood really completed it, her knee pads were nice too however one thing bothered me "you kinda messed it up when you tried to cover up the emblem" "well sorry I didn't want to go running around with a big target on me" "c'mon let's go find Scooter" "why" "c'mon".
We walked in the shop and he was… sleeping "well let's look for a blowtorch" "a blowtorch", I looked through his things and smiled as I found it "ok take off your shoulder pads" "fine" she removed them and I removed my jacket "hold this up for me" she did and I stared at my emblem then back at the one on her armor and began working.
"And… done" I turned it off and showed it to her "a skeleton with a hood" "yup" "…well it's better than nothing" "hey that wasn't exactly easy" she smiled and kissed my forehead, "I really appreciate it Marik" "good that makes my day… why are you trying to distract me" she frowned when I said that "Marik we're all worried about you and with your powers evolving the way they are we're not sure if you'll be ok" I looked at my markings before at her "I'll be honest Mom I don't know what's going on with my powers and now I have to get one of the beings living in the Vault to give me his powers before I awaken the other one's all the way" "what happens if he doesn't" "I lose my identity… even the ones I thought I made to fill the hole that was left when I lost you and Dad lost theirs and only adopted the ones I made for them because they were lost… the King calls me a Usurper but I just want to end the suffering we have to go through yet the odds are stacked so high against me" she placed a hand on my shoulder before hugging me "Marik we'll always be here to help you don't forget that" "I won't and thanks Mom".
All POV
"You have to give Marik your powers" "…no" "why" "because I don't need another copy of 'Kessler' in this Vault" "has he already unlocked your powers" "the King has taken my power from me" "how" "because we're the same" Spectre turned and glared at the King "for centuries I've tried to kill you I separated myself to try and make two beings to kill you but it failed you may have been the first but Marik will be the one who kills you and takes my place" "damn you" "I've planned for this ever since you took my place I was only missing a proper host but Marik is the one I need, did you believe I would allow him to lose himself to become like my first subject… the minute he kills the Warrior everything will have fallen into place his hatred for Jack will be my insurance and no matter what you do you can't stop him" "what do you want from me" "nothing you failed me I desire someone who can bring order to this world and then the universe and Marik has so much to lose he can't afford to fail he's perfect and once I've molded him into a proper King he may usurp my throne and fulfill the true purpose of the Reapers".
End Chapter